Trials and Triumphs...

You will be lied about. Someday. If it hasn't already happened. You will be heartbroken. Someday. If it hasn't already happened. You will be disappointed. Someday. If it hasn't already happened.

All these things and worse were experiences known to David, and they are common to all of us at one point or another in life. Today's scripture passages are all from the Psalms--chapters 7, 31, 34, and 52. All written during difficult times of David's life.

If I had the ability to keep you from all hurt, harm and disappointment, I probably would--even though it would not be good for you to have a trouble free life. Why? Because character is built when we are forced to navigate life's rough waters. When David finally became King, he was a wonderful one because he had persevered in adversity, trusted in times of fear, been courageous when he faced incredible danger, and honored God when it was very tempting to dishonor him.

I pray that you will learn lessons the first time, and that life will be as easy as it can be in order for you to be your best (and most Godly) you--and that in every instance of adversity and trial you will, with the Psalmist David, believe these words,

Psalm 34
4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

For Leaders and Those Who Follow...

There are lessons in today's scripture passages that are so compelling I will get right to the point. These are lessons for leaders and for those who follow leaders (in other words for EVERY person).

1 Samuel chapters 21 through 24 continue the saga of Saul's pursuit of David with intent to kill him. As I mentioned yesterday, David had done nothing to deserve Saul's wrath, and yet Saul relentlessly pursued him with a determined assassination plot.

Here are the big take-aways that I want to highlight:

When David had the opportunity to kill Saul (as detailed in chapter 24) he did not take advantage of it. David was urged on by his men to kill his enemy Saul, but his response was amazing-- 6 “The Lord knows I shouldn't’t have done that to my lord the king,” he said to his men. “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.

Lesson to Those Who Follow:

This passage has been cited by well-meaning Christians as an admonition against or prohibition of ever challenging a Pastor or Leader. But are there times when it is legitimate to question a leader? Yes.

These verses do not teach that a leader or Pastor shouldn't be accountable for any teaching or conduct that is unBiblical or extra-scriptural--or that he or she is above reproach. A critical look at David's actions reveals that while he chose not to kill Saul, he did not shy away from humble confrontation of his sin. Scripture warns that there will be teachers in the last days who are not careful to rightly teach God's Word, and this verse should not be used to insulate them from accountability.

Lesson for Those Who Lead:

David knew what God had promised him (inheritance of Israel's throne) and it would have been easy for him to think it justifiable to hurry along God's promise by killing Saul when he had the chance. Instead, he resisted the temptation to take revenge because he trusted God completely and did not want to be guilty of disobedience.

It is always sinful to try to "help" God fulfill his promises by justifying wrong actions in order to receive his benefits. David's heart must have been so tender toward God because surely he was weary of the running from his evil enemy, yet he knew that God could take Saul's life without any help from him at any time He chose.

David was a follower who trusted God so much that he bowed before Saul face down, knowing that he was a target for instant death, yet he trusted that he would not die one second before God's will for his life was fulfilled. He was also an admirable leader, demonstrating that he understood that humility, obedience, patience, and submission would result in blessing, a priceless treasure for those who would genuinely desire to honor God as they lead others.

Leading and Following--we all do a little of both during our lives--and learning from David's example will serve us in each capacity.

He Reigns, He Rules!

In nightmares, I've had vivid dreams involving chase scenes reminiscent of one of the scary movies I saw as a teenager. Usually, I'm so afraid of whomever or whatever I'm running from that my feet won't move and my mouth won't scream.

Today, 1 Samuel 19 and 20 and Psalm 11 and 59 are the chapters that I read. As we learned yesterday, Jonathan, Saul's son, made a friendship pact with David. In these chapters, Saul's determination to kill David makes me think of those bad dreams I mentioned. David had done nothing to deserve Saul's wrath, yet the king attempted to execute him repeatedly, and without Jonathan's friendship and warning, he might have been successful.

Sometimes, it seems like the bad guys are in control--chasing the good guys into hiding and out of sight--but just as God was with David and knew exactly what was going on, he is still in control today. He is patiently watching, waiting, and wanting the bad guys to turn to him, but he doesn't ignore their terrible deeds--and he has promised to make all things right in His time.

There could be no more fitting way to conclude today's entry than to include Psalm 11, David's own words during his flight from Saul. These words are a healing, comforting reminder to me as I consider our world, our nation, and our situation today. God is still in control and for that, I praise him!

Psalm 11
A psalm of David.

1 I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
2 The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right.
3 The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?”

4 But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely,
examining every person on earth.
5 The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.
He hates those who love violence.
6 He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
punishing them with scorching winds.
7 For the righteous Lord loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face.

Father, thank you that you are surprised by nothing and aware of everything and forgiving beyond all comprehension. I thank you for your protection for my family and your justice for your people. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Gift of Friendship...

One of my favorite television shows of all time is "I Love Lucy". The old black and white episodes with Lucy and Ricky, Fred and Ethel crack me up because these four funny friends always manage to get themselves in and out of hilarious pickles in the course of a thirty minute show.

Of all the episodes I've seen, few are funnier than the one where Lucy and Ethel each buy the same dress for a benefit show they'll be appearing in, and each promises to return her dress and purchase another one so they won't show up in the same gown. Neither keeps her word, and on the day of the event they face each other on stage in the same dress singing a song called "Friendship," as they rip the flowers off of each other's dress.

In scripture, there is an account of one of the most beautiful friendships in all of the Bible--David and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 17 and 18 record the account of David's successful slaying of the giant Goliath and the celebratory conversation that took place with Saul after his incredible feat.

Chapter 18 says that after David finished talking with Saul, he and Jonathan made a pact of friendship because Jonathan loved David. In reality, Jonathan could and maybe should have felt threatened by David, yet he was able to look beyond jealousy, envy, competition, and ambition, instead appreciating that this was a man who shared his faith in God's mighty power and expressed similar determination to humbly honor The Lord rather than seeking self-glorification.

We all need friends like this--friends who see the good in us and celebrate it--friends who are not competing with us but who appreciate our "bests" as we appreciate theirs--friends who will guard our secrets and our confidences--friends who can be trusted to never betray us and vice versa.

If and when we find a friend like that, we are most blessed. I have a couple of friends who are so precious to me and I offer God my sincerest thanks for allowing me this good fortune.

My prayer for you is that you will find friends who love you like Jonathan loved David and that you will be that kind of friend to them. It is a beautiful, amazing thing to have a true friend.

Father, thank you for the precious friends you've given me. You know their names and you know how grateful I am for the gift of their trustworthiness, faithfulness, shared faith and values, prayer partnership, honesty, and love. I am so blessed and I pray that my precious children and grandchildren will experience the blessing of wonderful friendships. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Because of love...

As I begin writing today, it's after 11 p.m. and the man I love and have been married to for nearly 30 years, and the son I adore, are still at work. They have been working since 6:30 a.m. and they, along with several others, are trying to complete a job before tomorrow morning.

It is pouring rain outside and it's a Friday night, and my heart is more "there" with them, than "here" at home.

Only when you genuinely love someone is it possible to empathize fully with their circumstances--to weep when they weep, to laugh when they laugh, to rejoice when they rejoice--to sleep when they sleep!

Today's scriptures are 1 Samuel chapters 14 and 15, passages that explain another example of Saul's disobedience to The Lord. Through Samuel, God told Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites because of what they had done to Israel after their escape from captivity in Egypt.

Rather than destroying everything as instructed, Saul kept the best of their livestock, sheep, lambs, and virtually everything that he didn't deem worthless, and he also allowed King Agag to live. God was so upset with Saul's disobedience that he told Samuel he regretted having made Saul king. And despite Saul's admission of guilt, Samuel had to remind him that obedience is better than any sacrifice in God's eyes.

Interestingly, the Bible explains that Samuel was so grieved by God's rejection of Saul that he cried all night long. God was hurt, so Samuel was hurt.

When the things that hurt God also hurt us, it is evident that we genuinely love him. Our culture is so work and performance driven that this sometimes conveys to the spiritual realm, causing us to forget that not one "thing" we do means anything if our heart doesn't truly beat for God--hurting when he hurts, being offended by what offends him, rejoicing and celebrating over the things that please him.

Just as my heart is not going to be settled until my husband and son are safely home tonight, my heart isn't settled when I know there is something out of kilter in my relationship with God. In chapter 16 when God sent Samuel to anoint a new king, Samuel was told that it would be one of Jesse's sons. When Samuel saw Jesse's tall, handsome son, Eliab, he thought for sure that he was the one.

In one of the most compelling passages of scripture, God reminds Samuel that man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart--and for that reason, the good-looking guy wasn't to be king.

Now (as then) God looks inside--at the heart. He knows whether I serve him out of obligation, guilt, coercion or love. My deepest and most sincere hope is that when he sees me, he sees true love. And that is my prayer for you as well.

Father, please protect George and David and the others who are working late tonight and bring them home safely so my heart and mind can rest. And as I wait, I pray you are pleased by my heart that beats with love and praise for You, The Lord of Heaven's Armies, for it is in you alone that I have life and the ability to love at all. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Patience...

"Patience is the companion of wisdom." St. Augustine

"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Tolstoy

"Patience and fortitude conquer all things." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears." Barbara Johnson

"Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not in the one ahead." Bill McGlashen

The 13th and 14th chapters of 1 Samuel are packed with powerful punches of relevant reminders. The one I have chosen to focus on today is patience--or the lack thereof.

As Saul's name and fame grew, he faced tremendous opposition from formidable foes known as the Philistines. Their army was enormous and Saul's men were growing more afraid of them by the hour. Saul was waiting on Samuel's arrival so that the offerings and sacrifices could be presented to The Lord in order to seek God's favor. But when Samuel didn't arrive as expected (Saul had waited seven days) he sacrificed the offerings himself.

The Bible explains that as soon as he finished, Samuel arrived. If only Saul had waited one more hour! In assuming the role of a priest, he disobeyed God and totally blew it. Typically, the son of a king would become the next king, but because of Saul's impatience, there would be no Saul family dynasty. Verse 13 of chapter 13 provides a sad description of Samuel's confrontation with Saul:

13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Saul immediately offered excuses and tried to justify his sin rather than humbly confessing that he'd royally messed up--no pun intended. And that's what we are prone to do when we sin, too, aren't we? We live in a blame game culture. It's not "my" fault--"you/he/she/they" didn't do what "you/they" were supposed to do...and on and on the excuses can go. We are expert excusers who have no reasons.

What a shame that Saul missed the chance to see God do the impossible because of impatience. And what a sad thing to see a person with such potential try to minimize or excuse sin.

Thankfully, our wonderful Savior offers patience to those who are willing to wait on Him--and He offers the beautiful blessing of genuine justification when we confess our messes humbly. My hope is that I will never forget that God is seldom early but never late, and that my faith will always enable me to trust that He never fails--even when my flesh feels the torment of impatience.

Father, please forgive my messes--they are many and I offer no excuses. Thank you that you grant patience to those who wait on you and that you renew our strength when we are weak and weary of waiting. You are great and glorious and I praise your name. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Sinless Anger!

Question. Is it possible for a Christian to be furiously angry and right with God at the same time? Some--those who have a completely erroneous notion of what it means to be a Christ-follower--might say no. But they would be wrong.

Today's scripture passages are 1 Samuel chapters 9 through 12. In these verses, we meet Saul, the tallest and most handsome man in all of Israel. If there had been a People magazine in those days, he would have made the Most Beautiful People issue. When Saul's father sent him searching for a stray donkey, he and his companion made their way to Samuel's home where he learned that he was going to become Israel's king.

After Saul's anointing and Samuel's announcement to Israel that he was their new leader, King Nahash of Ammon led his army against Jabesh-gilead. This same wicked man had previously attacked the people of Gad and Reuben, gouging out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there.

When Saul received the message that Nahash planned to attack another Israelite town, he rallied the people to fight. Here's what verse 6 of chapter 11 says:
6 Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry.

This anger was apparently aroused by God's Spirit. Saul's anger wasn't the result of having been personally hurt or offended--instead it was a result of his concern that God's people were being wronged and attacked. These passages seem to indicate that there is a time for righteous anger that results in action. Saul and his armies fought and defeated the Ammonites.

The New Testament verse, Ephesians 4:26, tells us to be angry without sinning. Obviously, anger is an emotion that God created and there are repeated instances of God's having been angry with his children in the Bible.

Sometimes, I'm angered by the way Christians are portrayed or discussed these days. Suddenly, it has become socially acceptable to ridicule and even mock those who are Christian in movies, television, print media, and other prominent and visible outlets. The condemnation has become fairly commonplace and usually goes unchallenged.

I have to be honest and admit that the lousy example set by many visible Christians has probably contributed to the hostility expressed by those who do not share our faith, but nonetheless, it remains unacceptable to ridicule other segments of our population regardless of their questionable behaviors.

I will also say that as those who claim the name of the greatest Man to ever walk the face of the earth, there is a societal opinion that Christians are held to a higher standard--and I cannot disagree that this should be the case. That does not prohibit believers from expressing anger righteously when the occasion calls for it, though, as in this case when evil Nahash attempted to humiliate and defeat these Israelites.

There is a time and a season for anger that is followed by action, but careful, prayerful attention must be given to ensure that we aren't reacting inappropriately to personal offenses or selfish ambition. The terrible things that have been done by those who claim to be Christian, whether as a result of anger, stupidity, ignorance or a combination of all three, are not justifiable no matter how you slice it. But these passages do indicate that there is a time--only when God clearly leads--to express righteous anger. God's children, when following His lead, can be angry and sin not.

Regifting...

Throughout my lifetime I have enjoyed genuine freedom. I inherited this freedom simply because I was blessed to be born to parents who were United States citizens. I realize that I'm privileged to be an American, and yet as I read today's scripture I notice some uncanny similarities to Israel during the days of Samuel.

God had given Israel the promise of what was almost heaven on earth if they would remain loyal and devoted to him. Instead, they repeatedly rejected life under his authority and chased after foreign gods and idols.

As today's passages explain, the Philistines slaughtered 34,000 of Israel's men because God had removed his protection as a result of their abandonment of the covenant he made with them. Consequently, they were ready to throw in the towel and carelessly discard the freedom, protection and blessings that would have been theirs had they remained faithful to God.

Chapters 4 through 8 of 1 Samuel are difficult passages to read, especially in light of the fact that a current lack of appreciation for all that has been good about our own nation has driven us to such a similar precipice.

After Samuel was old and his two sons weren't as faithful in judging Israel as he had been, the leaders came to him and asked that they be given a king like the surrounding nations. Samuel was very displeased by their request and went to God for guidance. What happened next is sad, but not surprising.

Normally, I do not include such a lengthy portion of scripture, but each verse is enlightening, so I wanted you to read this in its entirety.

1 Samuel 8:

6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. 8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”

10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king.

11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said.

“The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots.

12 Some will be generals and captains in his army,some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.

13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.

14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.

16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.

17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.

18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.

20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

21 So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said,

22 and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home. NLT

Careless disregard for the freedoms we've enjoyed coupled with ignorance, greed and gullibility appear to be leading us as a people to seek a "king" rather than representatives, and as I write these words I cannot assume that you, my precious grandchildren, will be privileged to enjoy the same freedoms I was afforded.

I pray that God hasn't become so weary with our wandering that he will no longer rescue us (as a nation) when we cry out for his help, but I do believe that apart from a spiritual awakening of colossal proportions, much of what I've loved about life in this land will disappear before you've ever learned how amazing the gift of freedom really is. My hope is that we never "regift" our freedom by simply giving it away in submission to a "king" other than The Lord, and that you will be blessed to grow up in a land of brave, free people.

Father, please protect our nation and defend our freedom and rescue us from ourselves. We are ignorant and blind and we cry out for wisdom and vision. In Jesus' Name, save us. Amen.

In the Silence...

Torn Between Two Lovers stands out to me as one of my all time most hated songs from the 70's. It came out the year I graduated from High School if I recall correctly, and it prompted a swift switch of the radio station each time I heard the first two or three notes. To compare it to nails on a chalkboard is inadequate, it was nauseating to me.

In 1 Samuel chapters 1 through 3, we meet Elkanah and his two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Every year their family went to Shiloh to present offerings at the tabernacle, and along the way Peninnah (who had children) taunted and ridiculed Hannah who was childless.

I mentioned earlier in our scripture journey that God never ordained polygamy, and here is yet another example of its peril. Elkanah loved Hannah according to scripture and could not understand her grief over being barren. Peninnah may have realized that she was less loved than Hannah and possibly that is why she was cruel to her, but whatever the reason, there was obviously hostility between the two and Hannah was wounded to the core of her being that she was unable to conceive.

As the story unfolds, Hannah prays after the sacrificial meal as she cries in bitter anguish. According to the passage, her mouth was moving but nothing audible was heard by the priest, so he mistakenly thought she was drunk. In her prayer, she promised that if God would give her a son, she would dedicate his life to God's service.

We learn in these chapters that God heard her prayer and granted her request--she conceived and delivered a baby boy named Samuel. Hannah kept her promise to God and when Samuel was weaned, she delivered him to the priest to begin his life of service to The Lord.

There are many little lessons from these verses and some big ones, too. Some of them are funny in an ironic sort of way, others are sad in a tragic sort of way, and a few are just that--lessons--that we can all stand to remember as we deal with life's difficulties.

I've decided to depart from my usual format to mention a few of my observations rather than honing in on just one, so I hope you'll bear with me for not sticking to one primary point. Here are my thoughts:

1. Men don't get women, and women don't get men. Elkanah had no clue what was going on in Hannah's heart, and even though he loved her, he had no idea how deeply she was hurting. The Lesson? Accept that men and women really are extremely opposite "animals," so invest some time and effort in to understanding rather than criticizing our differences.

2. Women are sometimes catty--and jealous--and competitive. Penninah was blessed with children, but didn't resist the temptation to rub in her good fortune to her "rival" Hannah. The Lesson? Do not be Penninah-ish because you might go down in history for the wrong reasons.

3. Sometimes we think we are cursed because of unrealized dreams and hopes. The Lesson? It's possible that God's timing may not align with ours. He is seldom early, but never late, and when he says no, there is a very good reason that we may not discover in this lifetime.

4. Calling on "The Lord of Hosts" is the same as calling on "The Lord of Heaven's Armies," and that is exactly who Hannah cried out to in her desperation. The Lesson? "Lord of Hosts" is used about 260 times in the Old Testament and is a very good description of Our God who Protects and Defends. If you're feeling beaten up on, just call His name--He is the God who hears. I would be remiss not to qualify this "lesson" with a reminder that he hears those who are his.

5. You don't have to pray aloud to be heard by God. Hannah was praying silently, yet God heard her prayer and gave His answer to what was known only to them. The Lesson? Pray at all times, pray without ceasing and then pray some more. God hears even our silent prayers and that seems to indicate to me that he hears all sorts of other things, too. The admonition to take every thought captive is a good one to remember as you consider God's ability to hear our hearts.

6. Keep your promises. Hannah made a very costly vow to God, but she kept her word. God used Samuel in amazing ways all because Hannah was willing to surrender her right to renege on her promise. The Lesson? If you don't mean it, don't say it. God is serious about vows and vow-makers.

These and many other lessons can be gleaned from the first three chapters of 1 Samuel. God's Word is as relevant today as when it was written and I am so thrilled to get the privilege of searching his truth with you!

Dear Father, thank you for the lessons of scripture and the love of my Savior. You alone are the God who hears even in the silence and I am grateful and blessed. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Uncommonly Loyal...

Loyalty. A word that means commitment or allegiance to something or someone. It's a word that also describes the woman about whom today's scripture is written. The book of Ruth tells the story of a Moabite woman whose husband and father-in-law had died and who had the choice to stay in her homeland or return with her widowed mother-in-law to her homeland in Judah.

There wasn't really a logical reason for Ruth to go with her mother-in-law Naomi, but she was just seemingly uncommonly loyal--as we learn in chapter 1 verse 16:
But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

As the story goes, the women return to Judah and one of Naomi's relatives, Boaz, eventually buys the property that Naomi's husband had owned and then marries Ruth, ensuring that the family line and name continues. From gleaning the leftover grain in Boaz's fields to owning them by marriage, this is a miraculous story of provision and redemption.

One of the most amazing aspects of the book is that God blessed Ruth's loyalty to her mother-in-law by allowing her legacy to be recorded for all time in this book of scripture. Not just that, but the child born to her from her marriage to Boaz was the grandfather of King David and therefore one of the descendants of Jesus Christ. From poverty and hopelessness, Ruth and Naomi's story is one of God's restoration.

Sometimes, it's easy to forget that God is still in the restoration business. If it ever seems that God has dealt bitterly with you (Naomi once asked that she be called Mara meaning bitter, because as she explained, God had dealt bitterly with her) it will serve you to remember this story and the beautiful redemption and restoration that The Lord provided to Ruth and Naomi when they "returned" to him and to their home. Our kinsman redeemer, Jesus Christ, will never leave us the leftovers in his field when our loyalty belongs to him--because like Ruth, he is uncommonly loyal.

No King But Jesus!

"If it feels good, do it!"

"You deserve a break today, so get up and get away!"

"Follow your heart!"

"Obey your thirst!"

"Be all that you can be!"

"Double your pleasure, double your fun!"

These and many other famous ad slogans are messages I've heard during my lifetime. As time has passed, so has the "me-centeredness" of our culture--a shift not unlike the days of Israel during the period of the judges.

Judges 19 through 21 bring to an end the book of scripture that chronicles the 400 year period during which Israel is described as a people who had no king so each did what was right in his own eyes.

I touched on the topic yesterday, but a world without order and a people without a "king" will always decline socially and morally. The order of our own nation's government is a beautiful thing. Our representative republic was brilliantly conceived by our forefathers to ensure individual liberty and personal responsibility with the establishment of justice for all. I'm afraid though, that we are in danger of forgetting the high price that was paid by those who gave their lives for this costly freedom and liberty.

My hope is that we will not forget the King of Kings who has granted us his favor and showered us with blessings. In truth, we need no King but Jesus, and yet clearly there are many living among us who do not bow to him. My prayer today is that God will send a fresh wind of His Spirit's power throughout America so that there will be an awakening to the decline in our land that mirrors so much of what happened in Israel during the period of the judges, and that King Jesus will rescue us from ourselves before it is too late.

Father, save us from ourselves and from our ignorance. Send an awakening and a revival so that your people wake up and those who have never known the truth are enlightened. Move in power and might, but as you do, please protect those who trust you and love you and call you Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Not My Way...

A famous singer from the 60's, Frank Sinatra, recorded a song in 1970 that is regarded by many as one of his finest. The song? "My Way." It tells of a man who has reached the end of his life and has virtually no regrets because he can proudly declare that he lived life his way.

In today's scripture, Judges 17 and 18, a man named Micah did things his way. In fact, all of Israel was doing it their way, as we read in chapter 17 verse 6:
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Micah had stolen a fortune from his mother, changed his mind about keeping it, confessed, and was blessed by his mother for admitting the theft. She then told him to take part of the silver and have images and an idol made so they could have household gods to worship. To make things even more religiously authentic, Micah hired a wayward Levite to be his shrine priest.

As these two chapters unfold, we see the sad shape that Israel was in and the ultimate irony of Micah's foolishness when he had to attempt to rescue his own gods.

The God who loves us doesn't rely on us to rescue him, but we can count on him to rescue us from ourselves and from our sin. Everyone worships The One True God or a god of our own making, which as it turns out, is usually the equivalent of worshipping ourselves.

When individuals do what is right in their own eyes, the results are chaos and calamity, disorder and disaster...and yet we would so ignorantly boast and brag as if "doing it our way" is something to be proud of. My prayer, my hope is that the song of my life will instead be, "I Did It His Way," and that it will be the song of yours, too.

Father, I know that you are grieved when nations, people, or individuals worship images or idols. I thank you that you are a rescuing God who offers personal relationships rather than religious rituals, and that you have no equal. Help me and those I love to live our lives your way. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Wasted!

Wasted. It's a word that we use to describe someone who is intoxicated. It's also a word that defines the missed potential of something or someone. Today's verses conclude the story of Samson, the Nazarite we met yesterday. Judges 14 through 16 explain that he retaliated against the Philistines, then later met Delilah--a woman who loved money much more than she loved him and had no reservations about betraying him for cash.

Poor Samson had incredible potential and supernatural strength, and yet his failure to recognize the importance of honoring God in all of his choices and actions (Delilah was another Philistine woman) resulted in a tremendous loss of personal potential and ultimately, also, in his death.

At a time when Samson came face to face with the chance to prove his faithfulness to God rather than continuing an ungodly relationship, he chose the latter--giving in to Delilah's continual nagging about the source of his strength. In this story, the strongest man in the world was too weak to resist Delilah's taunting, teasing and tempting, and it cost him first his eyesight, second his freedom, and finally his life.

It's interesting to me that what got him into trouble in the first place (his vision) was taken from him when the Philistines gouged his eyes out. Next, the freedom he exercised by choosing to do things his way rather than God's was also taken from him when he was bound with bronze chains. The Bible doesn't state that these things were providential punishment, yet it seems a bit ironic that he lost the things he seemed to love so much. God clearly used Samson to accomplish his purpose despite his disobedience, but what might have been the outcome for Samson had he not chosen to rebel?

God's ways truly are not man's ways, but these and other Bible passages serve to remind us that even when God chooses someone and sets them apart to fulfill a specific purpose, he doesn't manipulate the person like a puppet.

Today, as then, God allows us the freedom to choose his way or our own. Samson's story is a powerful reminder that even when someone is called by God and equipped to serve in an incredible way, they can miss "their moment". And that is how I define wasted.

Father, don't let us waste any opportunities or miss any moments because of seeking what our eyes see or our flesh desires. Thank you for offering us your power over temptation and give it to us, please, in our times of need. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

No Sight Seeking...

Oh the misery of a messed up marriage between mismatched men and women. Sadly, I've known couples who are now divorced because they gave up trying to make it work when they found it too difficult to hang in there since they were unequally yoked.

Unequally what? Egg sandwich anyone? The word "yoked" has nothing to do with eggs in this case. A yoke is actually a bar or frame that joins two "work" animals together so that they bear equal portions of a load. In scripture, we are warned not to be unequally yoked, and while 2 Corinthians 6:14 is not necessarily dealing with the marriage relationship, Paul's warning to us regarding the difficulties associated with being in close or subservient relationships with those outside the Christian faith can (and should) be considered when we are thinking about marriage.

In today's scriptures, Judges 12 and 13 explain that the Philistines oppressed Israel for 40 years because of their return to disobedient living after their last rescue. At that time, a childless couple from Israel was visited by an angel of the Lord and told they'd have a baby boy who was to be dedicated to God as a Nazarite. This strictly required adherence to some very specific guidelines that were not asked by God of "regular" people, but God had plans to use this special child to rescue Israel from the Philistines.

In the span of just two chapters, Samson is born, grows up, demands that his parents get him a Philistine wife (because she looks good to him) breaks his Nazarite vows and makes a bet with some of the Philistine men at his bachelor party.

The story of Samson up to the time he succumbed to his first Philistine wife's nagging and ultimately suffered a broken relationship with her reminds us that love at first sight, especially when one's affection is for an "unbeliever," is a dangerous thing.

In addition, we learn that Samson was supernaturally empowered by God. Here is another reminder that one can be gifted by The Holy Spirit, yet disobedient and immature in their decision making. In the 70's, there was a song that said, "If loving you is wrong, I don't wanta be right...". Samson apparently shared this sentiment.

God doesn't make requirements or give us guidelines in order to rob us of life's good things. Oh the price paid by many who have married mates who don't share their faith. Love is blind for those who choose not to see, but those who seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness are promised everything they need. (Matthew 6:33).

Samson sought first what his eyes saw and liked, and the price for doing so was high. My hope and prayer for you is that you are willing to "pay the price" up front by seeking God's will and righteousness FIRST, because that price is very small when you consider the blessing and benefit of receiving HIS best for your life as a result.

Father, your Word is so honest, so relevant and so convicting. Often, I've wanted what my eyes see, but you've been so merciful to show me that seeking you first always serves to bless me beyond what I could ever imagine deserving. Thank you. I am amazed by your good gifts and I thank you for my precious marriage to a man who loves you first and most.

Be Careful Little Mouth...

Judges 10 through 12 are the chapters that continue this fascinating chronological journey through God's Word today, and in my opinion they present one of the most difficult and troubling texts yet.

Israel was again practicing idolatry and behaving rebelliously, and God was allowing them to suffer the consequences of their misguided choices. In chapter 10 we discover that things had gotten so bad they finally cried out to God, acknowledging their sin and begging for him to rescue them. At first he refused, but their repeated pleas convinced him to intervene because he was grieved by their misery according to verse 16.

It's amazing that God loves his children enough to be grieved by their self-imposed misery. What I want to highlight however, is what happened in chapters 11 and 12. Jephthah, a great warrior with a questionable pedigree (his mother was a prostitute and therefore he'd been shunned by his half-brothers and chased out of town) was summoned to lead Israel in battle against the Ammonites who were attacking them. His formerly hostile relatives promised to serve him and to elevate him to the position of ruler if he led them to victory.

Verse 29 of chapter 11 says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah and he led the people against the Ammonites. It was at this time that he made a vow to God promising that if God would give him victory over the Ammonites he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house when he returned in triumph.

Before I share the heart-wrenching details of what transpired, let me stop here and offer this warning: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU VOW. I imagine that in his zeal, he gave little consideration to what his vow might require, and it's likely that he made the vow hoping to ensure that God was on his side. We are wise to learn from the story of Jephthah that it is always better to be on God's side than to try to "bargain" him onto our side. We are equally wise to recognize that despite the Spirit of the Lord having been "upon Jephthah," he made a foolish vow. God's Holy Spirit resides in the life of every Christian believer, but we still have the freedom to do dumb things and make unwise decisions, as evidenced by the vow that Jephthah made that day.

When Jephthah returned in triumph, the first "thing" out of his house was his virgin daughter, an only child. Is it possible that it never occurred to ole Jep that a beloved family member would be first to greet him? We won't know that until heaven, but we can know this--his little girl was either sacrificed physically or consecrated to become a tabernacle servant. (Many scholars believe that she wasn't killed because human sacrifice was strictly forbidden by Mosaic Law {see Leviticus 18:21 and Deuteronomy 12:31}. Jephthah's negotiations with the Ammonites proved his familiarity with the law, so it is possible that she was consecrated as a tabernacle servant according to Leviticus 27 rather than being sacrificed as an offering.

Whichever scenario depicted the actual outcome, the Bible does say that Jephthah kept his oath to God. Ecclesiastes warns of the foolishness of making thoughtless vows. As Christians, there are appropriate times to make vows to God, but they are never to be treated carelessly or casually. God takes what we say in the form of a vow seriously, yet we have become a people who place little value on words, often treating the promises we make to God as little "huh ohs". But what if the cost for speaking hastily and foolishly was as great for us as it was for Jephthah? I think we'd be singing the song "be careful little mouth what you say," at least once a day, and taking its lyrics seriously.

Father, I plead for your mercy if I have broken a vow made to you and thank you that you are a God who forgives and who strictly prohibits human sacrifice and loathes the devaluing of human life. Thank you for life, breath, and words--but please help me and help my loved ones speak only with wisdom and integrity. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

A Bad Lead...

I have lived long enough now to have encountered individuals who could be defined as power hungry. Possessing an insatiable appetite for all that having power guarantees, they are rarely passive and are usually great orators. Most are gifted with the ability to convince others to jump on board the ship they command ensuring that the power they crave is realized; and while some are very admirable, honorable and upright, others use their power for evil.

Such was the case with Abimelech, one of Gideon's 70 sons. When he decided that he wanted to be king because of his quest for power, he had no qualms about killing his half brothers in order to achieve his purpose.

Almost as terrible as Abimelech's murderous rampage though, was the fact that the men of Shechem supported his plan because it was good for them. They apparently had no moral dilemma with following a ruthless leader as long as it ensured their future prosperity and success.

Since the earliest of recorded days there have been good and bad leaders, and these passages of scripture affirm that God doesn't prevent people from choosing bad ones or suffering the consequences of such choices. Sometimes it seems that evil leaders go unpunished as their reign seems to run smoothly--but God is never unaware of what is happening, and in his way and according to his sovereignty, he always deals with evil.

Take a look at this from Judges 9:

22 After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years, 23 God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted. 24 God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers.

It took three years, but this passage reveals that God did punish Abimelech and the people of Shechem for their despicable deeds. Still today, the choices we make have consequences and God is never unaware of what's up in our realm. Verse 23 is especially interesting because it says that God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble. Sometimes, we wrongly assume that all trouble comes from the enemy--but here we see that sometimes God allows trouble simply because we deserve it.

If there is a lesson to be learned beyond the obvious, I suggest that it might be that we should make sure to pray with fervor when selecting leaders or choosing "kings," because the gift of persuasive speech and convincing charisma (like that of Abimelech) does not guarantee moral, godly or ethical leadership.

God hasn't changed. He continues to raise up Godly men and women to serve in leadership capacities all these years later--but leaders that God raises up would not command those underneath them to participate in Biblically prohibited behavior or activity without anticipating God's correction. When a leader commands evil, we should wait and watch--the "spirit of evil that stirs up trouble" is likely waiting in the wings for God's "go".

Father, please give us the wisdom to see and know the difference between good and evil and the boldness to act on the enlightenment you give. Please save us and rescue us from those who would lead us into unGodliness, and give us your salvation as a people and individuals. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

When God is Father...

I've never been in a situation that is remotely comparable to the one that today's judge/rescuer found himself in, but it's a fascinating reminder that odds do not matter in God's economy.

Just before writing this, I watched a woman and her husband win a multi-million dollar home in Sonoma, California on HGTV's Dream Home special. It seems that she had entered a contest that over 34 million others also entered--and she was the one who was fortunate enough to win the prize. When they showed up at her current residence, a modest home in Lakeland, Florida, she was completely caught off guard and almost speechless, but she managed to mutter that it was like a dream come true. I entered the same contest, but had no real hope of winning because of such tremendous odds against being the one person out of so many who would win.

Today's scriptures, Judges 6 through 8, explain that after Israel had again returned to idolatrous living and suffered greatly as a result, God raised up a man named Gideon to be their new rescuer. The story is amazing on many levels and there are several lessons to be learned from reading the account of God's deliverance of Israel with just 300 men, but the one I will mention today is that odds mean nothing in God's economy. The men of Israel were outnumbered and they really didn't even have weapons--just clay jar torches and ram's horns.

So, why did God choose to allow such a small number of poorly armed men to fight against Midian? Here's what God said in verse 2 of chapter 7 about the original band of warriors that had been assembled:

...“You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.

Then, as now, God will not share his glory. When the Lord fought the battle for the men of Israel, their enemy lost 135,000 soldiers to an army that had begun their attack with just 300 men. Gideon learned a lesson that will benefit every person who discovers the same truth all these years later--obedience to God today means that He can be trusted with our tomorrow.

In obedience to The Lord, Gideon had released 22,000 soldiers simply because they were afraid, and then another 9,700 on top of that. The odds of successfully defeating the Midianites were incredibly grim from a logical perspective, and yet because Gideon followed God's instructions obediently, the victory was decisive.

I hope this journey through the Old Testament serves to keep us aware that our unchanging God is still able, capable, and willing to fight our battles for us, even when the odds seem overwhelming, because odds are not a factor when God is Father.

Thank you Lord that you are Father God, the One who gives victory to those who serve, obey and trust. Gideon's victory was yours alone, and so are all of mine. You are great, and greatly to be praised!

A Little Faith and Encouragement...

When I was a child, I loved playing "Simon Says" with my younger sisters. We also enjoyed "King of the Hill", "Mother May I", and "Hide n go Seek"--just to name a few of our favorites. As great as these games were, they were most fun when I was in charge--you know, calling the shots, making the rules, judging the competition, being "it".

Judges 4 and 5 tells the story of Deborah, a woman who judged not games, but disputes and dilemmas among the children of Israel. Apparently, she didn't have an office, but word spread throughout Israel that she could be found sitting under a tree that had been dubbed the Palm of Deborah, and it was there that she wisely settled cases each day.

One day, Deborah sent for a man named Barak because she had a message from The Lord for him. Here's what scripture records in Judges 4: 6-7:

...“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7 And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”

The Canaanites had been ruthlessly oppressing the children of Israel for 20 years at this point because Israel had once again done evil in God's sight. Jabin, a Canaanite king, had a mighty army led by a fellow named Sisera, and Israel feared them greatly because of the strength of their army's 900 iron chariots. The odds looked grim that Israel could victoriously oppose Sisera's warriors, and yet that's exactly what God instructed them to do.

When Deborah delivered her message to Barak his response was, "I will go, but only if you go with me." It seems that he was reluctant and doubtful, likely assuming that going up against Sisera was certain suicide. Deborah agreed to accompany him, but reminded Barak that victory over Sisera would be attributed to a woman rather than to him unless he accepted the challenge without her assistance.

Several things occur to me as I read these verses. First, Barak agreed to rally forces against Sisera despite his lack of faith. Sisera, on the other hand, didn't suffer any lack of faith--he trusted in his superior equipment and his army's strength, but his great faith was misplaced. As the story continues, Barak and his troops successfully defeated Sisera's army because God ensured their victory.

Scripture tells us in the New Testament in Matthew 17:20 what even a little faith can do:

...Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Barak exercised his faith, albeit minuscule, and God came through. The second thing I noticed is that God used a woman, Deborah, as an encourager at a critical time in Israel's history, a lesson to us regarding the power of a faith filled messenger.

I have to confess that I'm sometimes tempted to whine and complain rather than encourage and act when problems seem insurmountable from my perspective. It's at those times that I need to remember the promises of scripture. This story--along with other Biblical examples of God's ability to overcome any obstacle that stands in His way--should compel me to be a faithful encourager.

Chapter 5 of Judges records the song that Deborah and Barak sang after their amazing victory over their adversaries. The final sentence says: Then there was peace in the land for forty years. What a privilege to be used by God to bring about peace after such a time of trouble and turmoil. Everyone in Israel must have been grateful and gratified to know that God again fought for them as they followed the lead of Barak and Deborah into battle against a daunting enemy.

The lesson for us today? A little faith in a BIG God is greater than BIG faith in the wrong gods.

Father, forgive me for the times I've failed to encourage and believe. I have faith in Your ability to do anything, so please give me your help to overcome my tendency to discourage and doubt. Thank you for this reminder that even the tiniest faith in You is great enough to move a mountain. I praise you for reminding me of that today, and I pray that my loved ones remember this, too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Lefties are all Right!

Every accountant I've ever known is left handed which has always seemed interesting to me. I suppose that right handed people sometimes choose the field of accounting as their profession, but my experience with accountants has always proven to be consistently leftist.

I understand that if you are right handed, you are left brained and vice versa, so I am confident that there must some mathmatical significance to that, although I have known one or two left handed artists and a few right handed math teachers, so there are always exceptions I suppose. Anyway, the subject of left or right handedness leads me to the story of Ehud in Judges chapter 3, compelling me to avoid progressing to another chapter in the Bible today.

Ehud was a left handed man who was raised up by God to be a rescuing judge after Othniel. Here's how scripture puts it:

15 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. 16 So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot[b] long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. 17 He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.

I was surprised that scripture actually pointed out Ehud's left handedness, but apparently it served him well when he had the opportunity to return to see Eglon alone, ultimately fatally striking him in the gut with his hidden weapon. King Eglon would have assumed a defensive posture if Ehud has placed his right hand under his cloak, but I imagine he was completely caught off guard by Ehud's swift dagger retrieval via his left hand.

Sometimes, we eroneously assume that our "differences" are hindrances, but when we are walking by faith and intent on serving God, he uses us despite our perceived handicaps or hindrances.

I am not left handed, but my left handed friends all complain about the inconveniences associated with having to adapt or adjust to the use of right handed tools. What are the things that seem to be different or even annoying about the way you were created? It's just possible that God made you special--not different--because he has a very wonderful opportunity for you that will best be served when you use that "whatever" that makes you uniquely you.

Father, forgive me for grumbling about things that I perceive to be hindrances and help me look for ways to use my unique traits for your glory and purposes--and please do that for my precious loved ones as well. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Rescue Me...

I've often wondered what life was really like for my Grandmother Kiker. My memories of her from childhood involve enticing aromas that wafted from her kitchen, beckoning me to follow my nose to her table. She was the best cook in the world as I recall. Another special talent was her ability to sew. My Barbie always had dresses to match the ones she made for me, and I so wish I knew what became of those beautiful doll clothes that would be heirlooms today.

Grandma told tales of her one room schoolhouse and the red-haired boy who had a problem that resulted from eating too many beans. Sweet little Grandma Grace apparently always had to sit down wind of the stinky fellow, and she once got into trouble for whacking him hard with her spelling book.

I loved her stories--and regret deeply that I didn't know her as an adult so that I could learn more about what life was like for someone I love who'd lived through the depression, through marriage to an unfaithful husband when divorce was taboo, through poverty, and through the single parenting of her six children. These are a few of the things I know about her, but the main thing I remember is that despite a difficult life and many trials, she was one of the most content, unassuming people I've ever known. I never heard her complain once--even when her failing health had robbed her of any semblance of vitality and she was confined to bed.

These memories, when I think of them, amaze me, yet I rarely think of her anymore. My vague recollections are sweet, but seldom. Apparently, the children of Israel only had vague recollections of their history and heritage as evidenced by their rapid departure from Godly living or adherence to the commands of The Lord that had been handed down from their parents and grandparents.

After Joshua's death, the next generation of people in Israel did not follow God. In fact, scripture says that they abandoned him to serve other gods--and this made The Lord's anger burn against them.

Judges 1 through 4 explain the events that followed Joshua's death. I'm fascinated to read that as the cycle of disobedience continued its downward spiral, God mercifully sent "judges" to help them regain their focus and defeat their enemies--not because they deserved it, but because of His love.

When the people were desperate because things had gotten so bad, The Lord sent Othniel to be a rescuing judge among them. In the time of Othniel, scripture says that the men of Israel married women from the pagan nations who were living in their midst. This led them down the path of idolatry and into the place of peril, but almost certainly they justified their sin, reckoning themselves strong and wise enough to dabble in one area of disobedience but not another.

Often, it's easy to rationalize something that God says is wrong because it seems harmless on the surface, and only later when the damage is done, do we realize that one compromise usually leads to another.

In this case, their romantic entanglements with women from Canaan led them to eventually forsake God and worship Baal and Ashtoreth--and this was abominable according to The Lord, yet in their depravity, God rescued them.

Today, not because we deserve it but because of his love, God still offers us a rescuer in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. My hope, my prayer is that in writing these things to you, as your memories of me fade, my written words will serve as a testimony of God's faithfulness to me and to our family--and a strong encouragement to always follow the only One worthy of our submission in gratitude to Him for rescuing the undeserving.

Father, your mercies are amazing and I thank you that they are new each day. Please continue to extend them to me and to my precious family so that we will always walk in your favor, never forgetting your sacrifice. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Choosing Wisely...

Sometimes, choices are fun and easy--choosing between two good things for instance. Would you like a banana split or a hot fudge sundae? Either way, you're in for a treat, right?

Then there are those "other" times, those occasional opportunities where we can choose between something good or right, or something bad that feels good or seems right in the moment. Those choices are not so fun or easy, are they?

In Joshua chapters 22 through 24, the children of Israel had chosen to listen to Joshua, and God had fulfilled all of his promises to them. Joshua was an old man in these chapters when he called the people together to challenge them one last time.

During his address to Israel, Joshua presented them with a choice to consider:

14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

It seems that this choice would be a no brainer given all that they'd witnessed, experienced and encountered. But Joshua was wise to recognize that the people needed a reminder that they were active participants in choosing and that indeed they did have a choice to make. Notice however, the choice was not "if" they would serve, but "whom," and we are faced with the same choice today.

We all serve someone. The singer/songwriter Bob Dylan summed it up in a song, "Gotta Serve Somebody". I cannot improve on his poetic rendition, but this I know--we are all serving someone and scripture reminds us that if it isn't God--it is God's enemy. Here's how Jesus explained it:

Luke 11: 23 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me."

Choosing to serve God means making the best choice, but it isn't the easy choice. When we choose to serve God's enemy, we are actually taking the easy route because Satan delights in deceiving us, allowing us to believe that all is well and everything is good and we can just live it up as we indulge our flesh.

The decision to choose God means that sometimes we must deny ourselves, taking up a "cross" in order to obediently follow the One who died for us. This choice offers a path that is narrow and a way that is difficult because it means that we aren't in charge. In the end,though, it's the way of wisdom. Joshua knew it--and so do we. But the choice remains.

Father, I realize that the choice to follow you means that I am choosing to forsake this world. As you clearly explained through Joshua, it is not a choice to be taken lightly. Thank you for offering this choice to me--and I pray that my loved ones will choose the narrow way and follow you with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Promise Breakers...

There are very few times in my life that I can recall having been the victim of a broken promise. I realize this places me in the category of a select few individuals who are fortunate and blessed in this way. Being misled always results in disappointment, and I have acquaintances who have significant trust (or maybe I should say mistrust) issues as a result of frequently experiencing unfulfilled promises--especially as children.

One of the vows I made to myself when I became a parent was that I would not make promises to Leslie or David that I couldn't keep. That included rewards, adventures, prizes, gifts and other "good" promises, but it also included discipline or punishment promises. I hope that if they were asked today, they'd have as difficult a time recalling broken promises as I do--(at least from me!).

Today, I read chapters 16 through 21 of the book of Joshua as I continue with my study of the historical order of Biblical events. These chapters record the division of the Promised Land between the tribes of Israel. As chapter 21 concludes, I am encouraged by these words:

43 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. 45 Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

Remember if you will that I said I could only recall a few times that I was disappointed by broken promises--and yet when I think about those times, the painful memory still stings like a fresh cut dipped in salt water. It hurts when someone we trust lets us down or fails to deliver on what they've promised, but it's rare to make it through this life without experiencing the heartbreak of a broken commitment.

How blessed we are to know that even though people will fail us, we have a God who won't. He is the same today as when these passages were penned, and we can trust him to deliver on every promise he's made.

With that in mind, I'm rejoicing in some of those promises and I hope you'll be encouraged to remember these as well:

SALVATION: Titus 3: 4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

GRACE: 2 Corinthians 12: 9 ... “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me

VICTORY: 1 Corinthians 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

SECURITY: John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,

PROVISION: Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Father, these words are almost too overwhelming to fathom--that you would be mindful of me in my undeserving state is remarkable. I know it is by your grace alone that I am found worthy and I thank you as I rejoice in your steadfast commitment to keep your word even when I do not. Praise the matchless name of Jesus. Amen.

Peace and Prosperity. Really?

As I begin writing today, grim headlines top the early morning news. The stock market is still tumbling, unemployment is reaching record numbers, mega-companies are filing for bankruptcy protection, and America's largest automakers are seeking government assistance to avoid collapse. All of this is in the wake of the largest bank and financial institution bailouts in the history of our nation. These news stories do not make for light-hearted breakfast conversation, nor do they prompt optimism or a sense of security.

I'll repeat what I said yesterday. I am so thankful for a God who has recorded his promises to preserve and protect those whose hearts belong to him. And I'll mention here that his means of preservation and protection usually bears little resemblance to Hollywood's fabricated versions or our culture's romanticized notions--and yet we know it remains definite and assured.

Joshua chapters 11 through 15 provide details of the continued struggles of Israel to take the land they were promised by God while facing serious and forceful opposition from the inhabitants of the Promised Land. In these accounts we read that God reminded Joshua to stay strong and courageous, all the while inviting him to be an active participant in the process of conquering Israel's enemies.

In every case, when the children of Israel upheld their end of the bargain, God was faithful to deliver them. But when they deviated, a sharp contrast results. They were unable to defeat their foes whenever they were fighting "in the flesh".

Joshua 16:10 reveals one instance of their disobedience:

They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.

Disregarding God's command to completely drive the Canaanites out of the land because they wanted to utilize slave labor, the Ephraimites demonstrated disobedience to God's orders. Scholars surmise that if they had the power to make these people forced laborers, they were obviously strong enough to defeat them as God had commanded, especially given that Joshua had already conquered the city of Gezer.

Little compromises, especially those that we mentally rationalize as harmless or better than the alternative, have a way of backfiring if they are in conflict with God's prescribed methods or means of accomplishing his will. As a result of their disobedience, idolatry and immoral worship entered Israel's camp.

Historians and Biblical scholars agree that Israel did not fully conquer these enemies for two possible reasons. First, they wanted wealth and second, they wanted peace at any cost.

I started today's entry with a recap of this morning's headlines. When economic news is grim or peaceful existence is threatened, sometimes even reasonable people resort to unreasonable (or ungodly) methods out of fear and panic. We are a money driven culture. We want to protect and preserve our wealth at all costs--no pun intended.

We've also become a people who are afraid to fight--even for things that matter greatly to God. We have become weak and watered down, anemic and afraid. We'll take the appearance of peace over it's reality if it means we can ignore the need to be proactive.

Right now, there are terrorists who have no greater desire than to destroy The United States. They hate us and everything that America represents with every fiber of their beings and will stop at nothing (including suicide) to see that they are successful. Sadly, in the face of their threat, we have leaders who believe we can "reason" with these people and "rationalize" with them so that they will suddenly see us as allies rather than enemies. But that will never be the case with those who so radically, viciously hate us. All the good will and great intentions in the world will never end their hatred because it is a loathing of Biblical proportions and can only be quelled by spiritual means through God's intervention.

Today, I fear, but not as one who has no hope. I do not fear for my future or for the future of any believer in Jesus Christ, but I fear for our society if we remain willing to compromise integrity and ignore danger in order to protect our wealth and preserve the semblance of peace. After all, wealth without God's blessing is poverty. And peace without God's preservation is peril. We may not see it now, but one day, all that is cloudy will be clear and His truth will be revealed--and on that day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The good news for Christians is this: It is not too late to forsake the things of this world and turn to God for our real and true deliverance. He is still able to keep those who are His--to preserve and protect, to lead and direct--and I am so grateful to be sheltered from these storms by the One who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all that our minds can fathom.

Lord, when the news is bad, you are still good. When we mess up, your mercies are made new upon our humble confession and repentance. I plead Jesus' blood will cover the sins I've committed as well as the sins of our nation so that my little loves can sleep each night in heavenly peace until the day you return. Amen.

Faith over Fear...

Before reading today's encouraging passage of scripture, Joshua chapter 10, I read a discouraging breaking news bulletin. It seems that some deranged individual bolted into a church worship service in Illinois this morning and fired shots at the church's Pastor, killing him.

These days--these times--are troublesome indeed, and sometimes...scary. There is evil and wickedness reported in each day's news, accounts that are horrible enough to send chills down my spine every time I hear of the atrocities.

As I consider the realities of the world you will be growing up in, I confess that in my heart I believe that without a spiritual awakening that is unprecedented, things will only get worse and you will not be privileged to live most of your days in the relative peace and safety that I've been fortunate enough to enjoy, and for that I am grieved.

Because of these concerns, I am so grateful for the hope that is found in God's Word. His promises are real and true, and he is faithful to complete all of the good work he begins. (Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.)

When God is for us, nothing--NO ONE-- can succeed against us, and that is verified by events that happened when Joshua and his armies faced tremendous opposition after their peace treaty with the people of Gibeon. Scripture records that Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, sought the aid of and alliance with neighboring kings against Gibeon because of his fear of Israel.

It's interesting to note that Adoni-zedek means "Lord of Righteousness," but this man was anything but righteous. In fact, it's been said that he was the antithesis of righteousness, and instead might be considered a representation of the Anti-Christ. That observation, coupled with Joshua's comparison to Jesus (Joshua is considered to be an Old Testament representation of Christ) make Adoni-zedek's concerted effort to rally and lead many nations against Israel quite interesting.

Admirably, Joshua kept his promise to the people of Gibeon and came to their aid against these invading enemies. As God had promised, Israel was victorious in battle and they even witnessed the miracle of a hailstorm that took out many of their attackers.

It was after seeing God's divine and amazing intervention that Joshua had the courage to make a request of God that seemed almost ridiculous. Take a look at this:

12 On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said,

“Let the sun stand still over Gibeon,
and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.”

13 So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies.

Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. 14 There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!

The children of Israel had reason to be fearful from a human perspective as they faced their foes in Canaan that day. Instead, they exercised faith in the God for whom nothing is impossible and witnessed the miraculous defeat of their enemies as they were granted extra daylight. It's been said that the opposite of fear is faith, and I have discovered this to be true.

I began today's entry by admitting that there seem to be many good reasons to fear what might be in store for our nation, our world, and your futures. And yet I will only succumb to fear if I fail to exercise faith in the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God who made the sun stand still that day. There is nothing too difficult for him, and it is by reading his Word and knowing his nature that I am strengthened and encouraged--and enabled to overcome my fears.

It is inevitable that fear will sometimes rear its ugly head, but by God's grace we are equipped through scripture to remember the hope we have in our Almighty Lord. Here is just one such reminder from Isaiah:

25 “To whom will you compare me?
Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.
26 Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.
27 O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
28 Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Thank you Father that you have given me faith that overcomes fear. Please give that to my precious grandchildren and loved ones as we look to you alone--the author and finisher of our faith and the One who causes the sun to set and the moon to rise. In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.

Failure to consult...

Imagine being aware that your country was about to be overthrown and the liklihood of your survival was grim. That's exactly where the people of Gibeon found themselves after learning of Israel's victories in Jericho and Ai and realizing that they could be next in line. Joshua chapter 9 records the details of Israel's encounter with the Gibeonites, and these details are compelling.

The Bible explains that when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to deception to save themselves. What they did actually turned out to be clever because of the eventual outcome. They sent ambassadors to Joshua claiming that they came from a very distant land and asking that Israel enter a peace treaty with them. They offered "proof" that they lived far away by showing moldy bread (supposedly the bread had become stale and moldy as a result of the length of their journey). In addition, they had ragged clothes and sandals, as well as old wineskins.

What happened next is a lesson for us today. Here's what scripture records in verses 14 and 15:

So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath.

I am amazed but not surprised to read that they were deceived when they did not consult the Lord. I do not consider myself to be very shrewd and I have been deceived in the past because generally, I'm a very trusting person. But just like the nation of Israel, the option to consult God has always been available to me, so why wouldn't I?

Hopefully, this story will serve to remind me that our personal intellect and individual judgment is not infallible--but we serve a God who knows all things. My prayer is that when faced with any important decisions or choices, I will always consult The Lord so that I do not make treaties, agreements, pacts, or promises that could limit or inhibit God's perfect plan from being carried out in my life.

Lord, help me remember that your understanding is limitless and that I'll always benefit by first consulting you when there are decisions to make. Thank you for your faithfulness to be a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Amen.

Justified & Justifier...

Ah, the saga continues. In Joshua chapters 5 through 8, the children of Israel are victorious at Jericho, make good on their promise to spare Rahab and her family, and then endure an unexpected defeat at Ai.

There is so much to consider when reading through these chapters that it's difficult to narrow down just one area of focus, but I've decided to camp out in chapters 6 and 7.

First, in chapter 6 we discover that after the walls of Jericho fell paving the way for its invasion and capture by Israel, Rahab, the woman who had helped the spies who investigated the city before the attack, was spared along with her entire family.

Scripture explains that everyone in Jericho had heard about God's delivery of the children of Israel including their recent crossing of the Jordan River on dry ground, but only Rahab (a prostitute) responded positively in faith toward God. As a result of her faith, she and her family members were protected during Israel's invasion of their town. Although Rahab had lived an unquestionably sinful life, she was saved as a result of her faith.

In sharp contrast, we learn in chapter 7 that Israel was defeated during their next attempt to take possession of more land. The city of Ai withstood Israel's attack, and thirty-six soldiers died in the skirmish. Joshua was devastated, not knowing that God had withdrawn his support as a result of one man, Achan's, sin.

Against God's strict warnings, Achan had stolen some of the plunder from their previous victory. The details of how his sin was exposed are both striking and terrifying. In my worst nightmares I have never imagined being singled out by God in front of an entire nation and having my despicable sin exposed.

The death penalty was imposed because of the grievous nature of Achan's actions, and God's fierce anger was abated so that the nation could once again experience His deliverance.

Several things occurred to me as I read this account, one of them being that I expect that when Achan succumbed to the temptation to take the plunder, he probably justified his actions by telling himself things like, "who would this really hurt?" or, "nobody will ever find out," or possibly, "nobody will miss this stuff," and on and on the list could go. Rationalizing wrong is not very difficult, especially considering we have an enemy who delights in helping us make sinful choices.

But Achan's decision to disobey God's clearly stated orders was "found out" and it did "hurt" people. Thirty-six men actually lost their lives because of his sin, and the entire nation of Israel suffered.

The other striking thought that came to me while reading this account was that Achan probably felt terrible about his sin after he was exposed. But make no mistake, God knows the difference between someone who is truly repentant because they are grieved at having offended him versus someone who is remorseful simply because they got caught. After all, who doesn't regret their sin when they are found out? It's important for us to clearly distinguish between repentance and remorse when we sin because God certainly does.

In these two accounts we see that God is both merciful and just. Rahab (the prostitute) was saved from judgment for her sins by her faith. Achan (the thief) was punished by death. In each case, God looked at the heart of the sinner and dealt with them accordingly.

I'm so grateful to know that when we trust by faith in God's saving plan (Jesus Christ) we, like Rahab, are spared the punishment we deserve. As a result of this account I am also very aware that God doesn't nod at sin, and any attempt to excuse myself or justify my actions is an affront to his holiness that will be dealt with. Oh how I pray that I decide on the "front end" of sin that it's just not worth the price.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says this: The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

This is one of the first scriptures I committed to memory and is a wonderful reminder that there is no temptation beyond our ability to avoid with God's help. How awesome it is to know that we are promised victory over sin when we trust our Lord to be our strength.

Father, I am so grateful for your Word that reminds me of how seriously you take my sin. I thank you that I will never be faced with any temptation that is unavoidable because of my saving faith in Christ, your Son, and that because of Him I can ask forgiveness and know that mercy is granted and I am pardoned. Amen.

How To Be Brave...

Beginning a great book is always exciting. The anticipation of where the story will go and how its protagonists and antagonists will behave and respond, as well as how everything ends, motivates me to turn each page as long as the drama isn't bogged down by uninteresting plot lines or boring characters.

The story of Joshua, although not a work of fiction, is filled with intrigue and suspense, and is definitely a page turner. The children of Israel are poised to move into the Promised Land with God's blessing. Joshua, Moses' replacement, has been chosen by God to lead them with this specific reminder: be strong and courageous.

In the face of whatever situations he might encounter, God clearly expresses more than once that Joshua will need to exercise his courage and strength in order to accomplish the mission he's facing. That alone is a hint that the children of Israel aren't going to just mosey into Canaan and say, "Howdy, how about you people go ahead and move on out now if you wouldn't mind."

Chapters 1 through 4 set the stage for a compelling saga that is filled with lessons and reminders to us all these years later.

God explained to Joshua in the opening sentences of chapter 1 that everywhere they stepped foot would become their possession--in other words, he was giving them the entire land. But, what they actually took possession of would be the result of their determination to face enemy opposition.

The Lord could have instantly eliminated all of their enemies and turned the land over to them without conflict, but instead, he invited them into a partnership with him that would require their effort and willingness to press on no matter what, and he does the same with us today. It seems to me this would suggest that God's prescription for their victory is also the prescription for ours when we are facing obstacles, struggles, enemies and difficulties.

Verses 6 through 9 of Chapter 1 tell us exactly what God said to Joshua that day: “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

When my children were young, one of my daily prayers for them was a verse from Isaiah chapter 30. Verse 21 says: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

I asked God to always provide direction for their paths and that is also my prayer for you, because just as he did with the children of Israel, our Heavenly Father invites us to partner with him in this adventure called life. God's children encountered opposition and difficulty then--and so will we today. But when we remember his challenge to Joshua, our path will be paved with His continued presence as we walk in step with his lead.

We do ourselves and our Lord a tremendous disservice when we forget that it is by studying His "book of instruction" that we are equipped to face life's challenges, and from experience I know that it is then and only then that we're genuinely able to remain strong and courageous enough to fearlessly face the challenges that would prevent us from experiencing the "promised land" he has for us.

Father, order my steps and give me a passionate desire to pursue understanding of your Word, your book of instruction, so that my life is led by you alone--and then, whether I turn to the right or to the left, may my ears hear Your voice behind me saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Amen.

Those Who Live!

Today, the Word speaks for itself. Read these words from the New Living Translation and ponder them with me:

Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

I believe this Psalm followed the conclusion of Deuteronomy in the historical chronology of scripture as a result of when it was written, but maybe also because it is possible that Moses was the author. God knows for certain, but this we can be sure of, this passage is a comforting, reassuring, peace giving reminder that believers do not have to suffer God's wrath and that our eternal destiny is sealed.

Jesus Christ quoted this Psalm when he was tempted by Satan--not using it as a means to avoid the cross, but as a sword to fight the enemy's misuse of God's promises. His rebuke of Satan's misinterpretation of God's Word came in the form of a warning that we are never to test the Lord our God. It's important for us to follow our Savior's example by knowing what scripture teaches, and understanding the proper interpretation of the Word so that when we, too, face temptation, we do not lose the battle or test our Heavenly Father.

When Christ surrendered to his accusers and carried the cross of suffering, he drank the cup of wrath intended for every sinner. Today, we can recite Psalm 91 with confidence knowing that although we are not promised freedom from all earthly suffering, our eternity will be one in which God gives refuge, shelter, and salvation.

Thank you Father that with the Psalmist we know that our rest, our safety, and our protection is in you. You are almighty, holy, omnipotent King and Lord, and you alone deserve honor and praise. Maranatha and Amen!

A Singing Servant...

I will begin today by confessing that I feel like I've just been to a funeral. As the book of Deuteronomy concludes with Moses' death, I'm sad in the same way I feel when I've finished a great novel that has no sequel. The characters I've grown to love are not going to be a daily part of my life anymore and I've learned from experience that I eventually forget about them.

In this case though, Moses is gone but will not be forgotten. The man who led the children of Israel out of Egypt will show up again in passages from the New Testament. Many scholars believe that based on the circumstances of his burial and the right understanding of the last book of the Bible that he will be one of the two witnesses referred to in Revelation 11.

Two things stand out to me today. Chapters 30 through 34 of Deuteronomy not only provide details of Moses' death, they also include Moses' final words to his people. Specifically, in chapter 32, Moses recites (or sings) a song that God instructs him to share with the Israelites that is to serve as a reminder to them in the coming years of all that has transpired and what is promised to them for their future.

It's amazing to consider that God chose to use music as a means for expressing history and prophecy so that it could and would be chiseled in their minds for generations to come. As a music lover, I can attest to the fact that song lyrics I heard as a young child are still indelibly etched in my brain. I couldn't forget them if I tried. Sometimes, just a phrase, a picture, or a person can bring to mind an old song. Other times, an old song brings to mind a moment in time so clearly that it's almost eerie.

For that reason, I want to encourage you to listen at some point to a few very old songs that have messages that will serve you if their lyrics are committed to memory. These songs are rarely sung anymore in churches--they've been set aside for more culturally relevant and stylistically appealing tunes and choruses--but their messages are timeless, and during times of crisis, fear, and even celebration their words will offer comfort and peace in much the same way that scripture can.

So, here are a few songs that I hope you will listen to someday because their messages are timeless:

A Mighty Fortress
And Can It Be?
Be Still, My Soul
Be Thou My Vision
Blessed Assurance
Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Have Thine Own Way Lord
I Know Whom I Have Believed
It Is Well With My Soul
Nothing but the Blood
To God be the Glory
Trust and Obey
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

and finally, a favorite of mine, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.

Ater his song, Moses ascended the mountain in obedience to God's instructions, and was given one last opportunity to see the Promised Land from afar. Scripture says that he then died and was buried by The Lord. Imagine that, God himself buried Moses and then wrote his epitaph! Verse 5 of chapter 34 says, "Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in Moab..."

There are many good things we can aspire to in this life--but none more honorable than being rightfully called a servant of the Lord. It is the highest goal for us as Christians, but the truth is, it isn't desirable to serve, is it? Whether or not we are genuinely servant-hearted is usually revealed when we are treated like servants by others.

So, as I conclude today, I'm asking myself some tough questions. What is in my head and heart when I am treated like a servant? Is it humility and meekness or irritation and indignation? Am I even remotely close to becoming servant material? You may be wondering what difference it makes whether or not I'm able to serve others with the right attitude when that really doesn't have anything to do with serving God. But oh, it does. Consider the words of Jesus Christ from Matthew 25:

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[f] you were doing it to me!

Moses served God. Today, I pray with all my heart that when my time on earth is up, God would write my epitaph and it would read, Sandy, servant of The Lord. I have so far to go and so much growing to do, but it's a goal worthy of my best effort and I hope it will become yours too.

Father, I want to be your servant but I fail you every day. Thank you for reminding me that it's in humble submission and the practice of serving that I am most pleasing to you.