Key Verse: Deuteronomy 4:2

“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”

These words came from Moses (Lk. 24:44) to the people of Israel. This was a new generation of people, ready to enter the promise land with a new leader Joshua. These words are very similar to the words that Paul gave Titus. Paul told Titus to appoint elders (new leadership) in every town and train leaders who would “hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” (Titus 2:9)

There seems to be an important theme when passing a baton to a new generation. That important theme is the integrity of the Word of God.  Paul instructed Titus to hold fast to the faithful word. What did Paul mean by “hold fast?” Hold fast has a couple of meanings. One of the main meanings is to hold oneself opposite. Which means anyone who comes in and directly opposes the integrity of the Word of God, we cannot give in by letting someone or the culture to add or subtract from the Word of God. The Church needs to stand in direct opposition to that type of influence.

What exactly are we suppose to stand in opposition against? Here are two thoughts on this subject.

Salvation by works. We need to stand against a culture who strongly believes that the good that we do will bring salvation and a relationship with God.  People that believe this will one day ask: was the life I lived a life worth living? Or a salvation by works will lead people to disillusionment, and the meaning of their life will be meaningless. This is a perverted doctrine of salvation that leads to a life without meaning or a life that struggles to have meaning.  The only meaning of life comes through Jesus Christ who paid the ultimate cost for our meaning and purpose – death on the cross. (See Gal. 1:6-9)

Selfish ambition.  Which kingdom do we want to build? Do we want to build God’s kingdom or our kingdom?  We should always have an attitude of contentment of who we are and where we are at in God’s will.  So that we can teach the Word of God without the need to be grow our influence at all costs. We add or subtract from the Word of God, to make the Word of God more appealing and more adaptable to the culture around us which could help us move up the corporate ladder or stand in front of a bigger crowd. We need to be satisfied and content and become more concerned about the integrity of the Word of God then our popularity polls. The pure Word of God will bring true wealth. 

(See I Tim. 6:1-6, Phil. 4:11-13)

Starlight – The light in the darkness.

Key Scripture: Job 39:14-17 (NLT)

She lays her eggs on top of the earth, letting them be warmed in the dust. She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them or that wild animals might destroy them. She is harsh toward her young, as if they were not her own. She is unconcerned though they die, for God has deprived her of wisdom. He has given her no understanding.

The verse above speaks about the contradictions with the will of God. If God is a good God, why would he create an animal without any wisdom? In life we face a lot of contradictions similar to this one. Why did this bad situation happen to me? Why would God let this happen? In these types of situations do we tend to become bitter towards God?

When we face contradictions, it is as if we are walking in the dark as far as the will of God is concerned. The inability of us to fully understand the purposes of God in very trying circumstances darkens our world. It darkens our world to a point where it is hard to see God’s hand filled with his bright glory in it.

Gen. 15:2-6 (NLT)

But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since I don’t have a son, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no children, so one of my servants will have to be my heir.” Then the LORD said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own to inherit everything I am giving you.” Then the LORD brought Abram outside beneath the night sky and told him, “Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that – too many to count!”Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

 Abram faced a contradiction. Why would God promise someone that they would have many children and at the same time let a person to walk in bareness for a very long time? Abram faced this bareness for so long, that his body was as good as dead (Rom. 4:19). Why would God continue to promise someone children and let a person’s body die? Why would God let this horrible circumstance happen, when He promised to take care of me and lead me to a place of wanting nothing (Psalm 23:1). In times of darkness, we need to do what God told Abraham to do. We need to look up at the “stars of promise” (Jack Hayford).

When cold, dark times fall upon our lives; this is not a time to doubt God and his character. This is not a time to doubt the Word of God. But this is a time to BELIEVE: “Abram believed the Lord.” For we serve a God who can resurrect dead dreams, dead visions and dead plans for God is a God who “gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (Rom. 4:17).

Look to the stars in the darkness and strengthen your faith, do not waver in unbelief, but remember what an awesome creator we have who brought forth light and life in the midst of formless, and empty darkness. Be filled with the Holy Spirit who is hovering over your dark circumstances, like a mother bird caring for and protecting its young.

Gen. 1:2-3 (NIV)

“Now the earth was formless, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

Acts 10:9 – 16 | The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is impure or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.|

In this passage, Peter is confronted with a part of God’s character that is sometimes more challenging for us to wrap our minds around – God’s unconventionality. Peter’s perspective was that God was asking him to do something that the Law stood against, that being eating something deemed unclean. But God challenges Peter’s perspective on the matter – not once, not twice, but three times. The “box” that Peter had placed God in based on the Law, in an instant, was shattered. This moment in turn prepared Peter for his subsequent encounter with Cornelius and his men, a thought acknowledged in 10:28 – “He said to them, ‘You are well aware that it is against our Law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.’” How could Peter have gone and met with Cornelius and his men without this moment? What would Peter’s response have been if God had not challenged his presuppositions?

In my mind, this story breaks down into a few varying questions. Peter, it seems, had the perspective that he knew well enough God’s heart on the matter, because of the Law. But if that was indeed God’s heart, why did God challenge him about it? What about the New Covenant? What about Grace? I have to ask myself: Where do I “box” God in with Law? Legalism is a hard thing to combat sometimes, especially if it’s something you have grown up under. But those things…do they stand in opposition to the Grace and Mercy of God’s Love through Jesus? Where do they line up with the overarching goal of God for His Kingdom?

Secondly, God makes it clear that we are not to call anything impure that He has made clean. I mentally paraphrase this as, “Don’t speak words over things that God has already spoken over.” God is the final Word. All discussion ends with His declaration. The buck stops there. That being said, we need to constantly be asking God for His perspective on situations – and not resting in our own. This doesn’t even necessarily mean that we’re trying to pass judgment. Sometimes, we gauge situations based on previous experience, presuppositions or the experience of others that we know. We could have the best and purest of intentions in a situation, but it will not measure up to what God sees if we’re not asking Him for His eyes. We serve a God who makes old things new and turns hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. Would it not be best then to put our hope, trust and word at rest upon His perspectives, His Words, His Grace?

So, I guess the challenge that jumps out of this passage to me is…where do I , in my perspective, box my great, mighty, all-powerful, all-knowing, before-time existing, uncreated God in? And how can I see things properly without seeking His perspective first?

Brokenness is better than significance?

Today’s Daily Scripture: Jeremiah 7:22-23

When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Only do as I say, and all will be well!’

How much time do we concern ourselves with achieving a goal and accomplishing something significant? Do we feel that we should be admired if we lay down our lives for a good cause?

What should the focus of our lives be? There is a desire to achieve greatness not just for ourselves but to serve even a greater good. When we serve the greater good we tend to feel that we have achieved a level of significance that justifies our life and justifies our being here on earth.  Laying down our lives for a cause , calling, or a purpose is seen as valuable and even significant.

I believe this desire is a God given desire, but like all other parts of our human existence, even this desire has been diseased and corrupted by sin. Now, we feel that we can justify our lives by our performance.  This desire to accomplish something significant in life needs to be put in perspective.  The correct perspective is that God is the creator of the world. He is the great designer and architect of us and the world. God does not depend on us to accomplish anything.

Ps. 50:8-10

I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

What does God desire of us then?

Psalm 51:16-17

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

God does not desire our accomplishments but he desires our recognition of our nothingness without him. “..Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:39)

Let us put our lives in perspective. Let the greatness and the holiness of God break us and bring us to our knees every day. It is on our knees not on the pedestal of greatness that we will find that “all is well” (Jer. 7:24)

Sobriety Test

Zephaniah 1:7

“Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand”

Today’s scripture reading, the Lord is instructing us to “hold thy peace for the day of the Lord is at hand.” How do we hold our peace? What does this mean?

John Calvin writes that

“Thou whosoever hast been wont to speak against God, as if He had no care about earthly affairs, cease thy murmurs and self-justifications; submit thyself to God, and repent in time” In other words, those people who are inclined to speak against God because they feel they have a right to, stop it and hold your peace, or keep silent.

As followers of Christ, we should be the people who keep silent about our rights, and focus more time on our responsibilities to what God is calling us to do.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 list some of our responsibilities:

6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. 7 Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. (NLT)

Instead of thinking our lives are so important, and all of the problems that we are facing somehow justifies us to just constantly complain to God; let us hold our peace and become alert and sober about lives with the perspective that the day of the Lord is approaching. To be sober means calm and collected in spirit.

Remember that you live in the light, so protect yourself by making a faith stand, living a life of love and live always with an attitude of confidence that comes from our hope of salvation.

Zech 2:13

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.”
(NLT)

Sometimes God speaks to us through the profound and the miraculous. The signs and wonders of Scripture are hard to discount, as they show us the majesty of our God and His supremacy over the natural constraints of this world.  At other times, we find comfort in the prophetic proclamations that we see interspersed throughout the Scriptural record.

2 Thessalonians 2 is a fitting example of God’s ability to allow us to occasionally catch glimpses of the future.  Sometimes we are astounded by the strength of the prayers and Psalms we read, as they bring us comfort and courage. 1 Kings 4:33 which reads, He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish has always spoke to me in a very profound way.  This passage is not about the power of God.  This passage is not about about revelation.  It is simply about the observations of nature and the created order.  Solomon’s took the time to try and explain what he saw scientifically, teaching men about the beauty we are continuously surrounded by, and often fail to see.

The wisdom of Solomon let’s us see that life is about life, and that our faith can live in the natural.  This does not discount the supernatural elements.  Solomon received a supernatural impartation of wisdom as God communicated to him through a prophetic dream.  The extravagant intervention of our Lord is appropriate, and it should always be welcomed.  Solomon’s anointing with wisdom shows us that God loves to speak relevant words that benefit us, and more importantly, those around us as we walk with Him.  We should always be willing to listen to the ’still small voice’ of our God.

Sometimes though, He speaks simply through the profound revelation of His hand as it has been displayed in creation.  Also, this passage let’s us see that what we do in the natural can have a profound impact on us and those around us, if we open up our eyes and let God show us how important what we do is to His revelatory ability.  Teachers, teach as if God is revealing His knowledge to you.  Brokers, sell as if the hand of the Lord is providing you your opportunities.  Mothers, nurture as if God were the one offering comfort and security through you.  I say this because He is.

Fear is a creepy thing. It causes us to do things we don’t want to do. Fear puts into a flight or flight mode. When we are afraid, we can become like anxious like David was when he waited for word on Absalom’s fate while he was being pursued by Joab’s troops. Fear led the Pharisee’s to seek an audience with Herod to set a guard around Jesus Tomb following His crucifixion. Although they no longer feared Jesus ability to rally people around Him, they feared that His disciples would steal His body.

The Psalmist said something very profound in Psalm 56:3-4. He said that,

When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?

There is one adequate to the fears that lurk around us. We are to put our trust in the Lord, the one whom we praise and worship in the beauty of holiness. This Psalm does not tell us that our fears are not real, that we can think them away, or that we are without faith by having them. His analysis is simple. God is bigger than our fears and wherever their sources may be originating from. Let us do as the Psalmist did, and put our trust in Him, allowing Jesus to address our fears for us.

Consider, for a second, 1 Samuel 24: 4-16.

Here we have David, confronted with a choice. David knows that Saul is after him and, quite frankly, won’t stop until David ceases to exist. Now granted, Saul’s real issue is not so much with David but with the LORD’s decision, but that’s another matter for another day. David is confronted with a very real choice here to end this entire situation with a swift cut from his sword.

For a moment, ask yourself: wouldn’t David be justified in doing it?
Doesn’t he have the “right” to take Saul’s life?

David asks himself the same question, and with the encouragement of his men, even takes steps to exact his revenge on the man who had caused so many complications in his life: he cuts off the corner of his robe.

And then he stops.

And remembers.

David remembered that the LORD is the One with any right to do anything, not David. He asked himself, “What is God’s heart for this situation?” Because the interaction that follows between David and Saul is that of the heart. David asks, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm?’ Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hands in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against the Lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed. See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.”

David understood that we don’t have the right to simply cut when the sword and opportunity are available. We, as followers of Jesus, are bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6 mentions this fact in this way). We no longer have the “right” to react in whatever form or fashion strikes us in the moment. That’s not to say that there won’t be moments of temptation. Moments when the right word will cut to the very marrow of the person we’re dealing with. And maybe we’re even “justified” in responding that way. Maybe there is an offense that requires some form of loving confrontation. But the key there is love. There’s a song that says, “(In this hand) is bitterness. We want to taste it and let the hatred numb our sorrow. But the wise hand opens slowly to lilies of the valley and to tomorrow.”

We can choose to speak words of death into a situation and take revenge and have the matter cease on the spot. Or we can choose to speak life into the situation. We can choose to bless rather than curse, do good rather than mistreat and love rather than hate (Luke 6:27-29). We are bought at a price…do we even have the “luxury” of withholding grace? We live forgiven lives, and we forgive from that same place.

In verse 16, Saul begins to weep. Real and honest tears. And from David’s choice to let the “right” pass him by and surrender that choice to the Lord alone…to love rather than hate, to surrender whatever backlash or glory that would come of Saul’s death to the Lord…came the hope of real and full restoration.

Consider 1 Samuel 18:8

And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?”

Saul’s response here isn’t as much regarding David himself, but the work the Lord was doing through David.

Huge difference.

From time to time, when someone moves into a position of authority, it is forgotten that the position is truly God’s to give to whomever He declares. In forgetting this, when the time comes for a change in your role (as life often brings), it becomes a far more difficult transition than it needs to be. God has called us to be stewards of the places that we are influential-be that a job, at school or at church. Whatever your role might be, it’s never about title, but about the Lord’s purposes. So often we are enticed to a particular person or role simply by it’s title, not asking the Lord who He would see attending to the work of that role.

In a way, I find it a little ironic that we’re discussing stewardship of role when in the very beginning of 1st Samuel,  Hannah, Samuel’s mom, gives a stirring example of what good stewardship is. In 1 Samuel 1 (which we read a few days ago), Hannah presents a vow to the Lord that if He would bless her with a son, she would give him right back. And she did. Because Hannah understood that whatever good we have in our lives is from the Lord and in that, she was simply a steward.

So here we are, looking on at the inner struggle of stewardship, authority and anointing that was raging inside of Saul. One can’t help but wonder…do we hold on too tightly to the things that we call our own but truly belong to the Lord? How would it change our perspectives if we really understood that nothing we had was truly ours? Would it change our point of view on our jobs, our classes, our kids or our positions? Would it make us more thankful?

Key Thought

In times of recession and hard times, we need spiritual leaders to take the responsibility to lead us and especially we need Christian Men to stand strong in the face of adversity to be the spiritual leaders that we need them to be.

Key Verse

2 Cor. 11:28

“And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”

In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul is continuing his defense as the true spiritual leader of the Church in Corinth. Apparently, there were some influential leaders within the Church of Corinth that believed that Paul did not have the “right” to lead the Church of Corinth with Apostolic authority. “For they say, His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account (2 Cor. 10:10). Paul gave a defense with a lot of audacity to prove why he was the true leader of the Church of Corinth. “Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things…Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one (2 Cor. 11:6,23).”

In the beginning of Chapter 11 Paul clearly communicates his relationship with the Church of Corinth. “I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ (2 Cor.11:1-3)”

This jealousy that Paul talked about was a jealousy similar to a husband’s jealousy toward his wife. Paul, as an Apostle of Christ felt that his self-commendation in chapter 11 was honorable just like a husband would pull rank against any other man who tried to build an intimate relationship with his wife. A husband would say that, “I am the true husband of this woman; you have no right to develop a husband-like relationship with my wife.”

I think that the local Church today needs Christian Men to stand up and declare to be the true spiritual leaders of their families and in their communities. We need to have a godly jealousy for our families and for our communities as false leaders invade our areas of influence.  As followers of Christ we have the authority and ministry given to us by Christ to stand in the position of the true spiritual leaders in our communities. “ I will give you the keys [Keys represent Authority] of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven…All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (Matt. 16:19; 2 Cor. 5:19).”

People will only look to us as true spiritual leaders if we have credibility. Paul’s credibility is listed in 2 Cor. 11:23-28. We have been given the keys of true spiritual authority in our areas of influence, but if we not willing to take responsibility for spiritual leadership in the hard times, we lose our credibility. . If we drop the ball in these hard times, there will be other leaders who will pick it up and proclaim another way of salvation (2 Cor. 11:4) Let us look at hard times not as roadblocks, but as opportunities to be the “go-to” leader to lead our families and communities.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:2-5).”