December 31 -- "Patiently Waiting"

 Today’s Reading: Psalms 26 & 40

"Patiently Waiting"

We often think of God being patient with us. But, are you patient with Him? With few exceptions, I believe that one of the most difficult things that we have to do in this life is to wait. For most of us, waiting is uncomfortable, or even frustrating. We live in a “right now” generation where we expect instant results. We barely tolerate waiting on God. We long for Him to answer our prayers, but often find ourselves waiting longer than we want. For many of us, it is easy to lose our patience. To be honest, sometimes waiting on the Lord can be like watching grass grow; when is it going to happen?

However, God has a greater purpose in our waiting. When we do it God’s way, there is great value in waiting on the Lord. God is truly desiring to work out patience in our lives. But what is our part in this?

The Lord wants us to wait PATIENTLY. Don’t rush the process. Rather, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). There is a surrender that is involved in this, because we have to allow patience to have its proper place in our life, with the end result being that we will be brought to spiritual maturity. Waiting patiently helps us to grow.

The Lord wants us to wait EXPECTANTLY. “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7). Expect God to work! But remember, He doesn’t always work in the specific way we are looking for, and He often doesn’t work on our timeline. Trust His timeline as you wait expectantly for His blessing.

The Lord wants us to wait STEADFASTLY. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58) There is a certain frame of heart, mind, and spirit that we should possess as we wait upon the Lord. We should remain resolute and firm. We should not allow anything to move us away from our expectation.

The Lord wants us to wait TRUSTINGLY. At times, we might feel unable to continue to wait patiently on God, but in fact, we have access to all the patience we need in Christ. We can trust the Spirit to give us the strength to bear our circumstances and enable us to use this time of waiting to grow in our intimacy with the Lord. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… PATIENCE.” (Galatians 5:22) Trust the Holy Spirit to bring forth true patience in your soul as you wait upon Him.

“In His time.  In His time. He makes all things beautiful in His time.” (Linda Ball; Maranatha! Music) Wait patiently for Him and He will incline His ear to you and hear your cry… in His time.

December 30 -- "Dying in Another's Place"

 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 18

"Dying in Another's Place"

David deeply loved his son, Absalom. His love for his son is considered one of the greatest examples of fatherly love in the Old Testament and one of the greatest examples of the grief that love can sometimes produce. David’s love for his rebellious son teaches all of us about God’s love for us when we, in our human sinfulness, rebel against Him.

Absalom was described as the “handsomest man in Israel” and was known for his luscious and thick head of hair. (2 Samuel 14) Other than being David’s son and growing up in the household of a father who was a “man after God’s heart,” not many positive things are recorded in Scripture about him. In fact, most of the Biblical record describes the evil things he did. He murdered his brother Amnon, committed fornication in public to torment his father, and rebelliously set up his own kingdom with the goal of overthrowing David as king.

In this final chapter of Absalom’s life, David sent out military troops to attack and defeat Absalom’s rebellious uprising. His command to his military leaders shows us the love and concern David still felt for his son: “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” David wanted the uprising to be put down, but out of love for his son, he ordered that Absalom not be harmed. David longed to be reconciled to the son he loved.

David’s care for his son is an example of our Heavenly Father’s love toward us. Although we are infected with a sinful nature, and commit sins that offend our Father deeply, and although we don’t deserve His love and forgiveness, He loves us and longs for us to be reconciled to Him. Romans 5:12 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  You may be far from God today. Perhaps you have offended Him by your rebellion and backsliding. But be certain of this – He still loves you and wants to restore you to a right relationship with Himself.

Tragically, despite David’s command to protect his son, Absalom was killed during the battle. When David learned of his son’s death, his heart breaks. You can feel the depth of his grief when he realizes that the son he loved so deeply is never coming back. David is so grieved that he actually wishes that he had died in Absalom’s place. 

Tragically, David could not die for Absalom’s sins. There is only One Man in history who could die for others’ sins – Jesus Christ. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for the purpose of taking our sins upon Himself and opening the door to be reconciled to Him. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24) 

Your Heavenly Father loves you so much that He sent Someone to die in your place! "I implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

December 29 -- "Contradictory Advice"

 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 17

"Contradictory Advice"

What do you do when you receive advice from two people and their advice is inconsistent or even contradictory? This was the dilemma facing Absalom in today’s chapter. Who should I listen to? Whose advice is the best and most sound? On occasion, we are faced with the same dilemma. Who should you listen to? The answer is simple… get the Lord’s advice on the matter before making your decision. This is something Absalom failed to do.

Ahithophel had advised Absalom that he needed to do only one thing to make his throne secure, and that was kill David. If he did this swiftly, without war or unnecessary bloodshed, the people would soon be fully behind him. After getting a second opinion from Hushai, Absalom decided to reject Ahithophel’s counsel and proceed with a full military attack. This would turn out to be a gross mis-judgement on Absalom’s part as David’s military might would prove to be too much for him and his supporters.

It turns out that, behind the scenes, God was protecting David and his throne. If Absalom had taken Ahithophel’s original advice, he would have defeated David and taken over the kingdom. But God had other plans. He sent Hushai to give Absalom contradictory advice, knowing full well that Absalom would choose the latter. For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel. Absalom failed to seek God’s counsel on the matter, and he trusted in his own wisdom to make the choice. Proverbs 18:26 tells us, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.” In this situation, Absalom acted according to his own human nature and his pride. A tragic mistake.

It is so important to obtain counsel from others before making important decisions. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” And again in Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.” A wise person will listen to wise counsel. But always remember – in the end, it is God’s counsel that matters. Don’t just accept human advice, as sound as it may seem. Listen to the Holy Spirit who promises to “lead you into all truth.” (John 16:13)

A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others. So, listen to advice and accept instruction that you may gain wisdom. But, be careful that you don’t act on all the advice you receive without consulting your God. And, don’t lean on your own understanding, or your own feelings when considering the advice you’ve been given. It may seem right in your own eyes, but remember your heart is deceitful and can cloud your judgment. Listen to God and His still small voice speaking to your spirit. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25) God is all-knowing. He has perfect wisdom and is capable of understanding the impact of every single decision on every single thing.

December 28 -- "A Walking Bible"

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 16 

"A Walking Bible"

When Ahithophel spoke, people listened! In 2 Samuel 16, we see Ahithophel giving counsel to David’s son Absalom. The advice he gave was considered “as if one consulted the word of God.” Although his name, “Ahithophel” means “my brother of folly; foolish,” his counsel was considered wise. When he gave advice, others considered his words to be as if God Himself was the one who was speaking. Whether the people’s perceptions were accurate or not, his reputation is one we should all seek.

When we speak - when we give advice to others – our goal should be that the words we speak are words of God’s wisdom and not our own earthly advice. What a wonderful reputation to have - as one whose words are as if “one consulted the word of God.”  Is that what others think of your words?

It is a mistake to rely on worldly wisdom as Paul suggests in 1 Corinthians 3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” It may seem “wise” by worldly standards, but if your counsel is not firmly rooted in the word of God, it is sheer folly.

The amazing thing is that God promises to enable all of His children to speak His word with power and authority. As we absorb His word on a daily basis and the Holy Spirit imparts to us God’s wisdom, it has the effect of shaping our thoughts and words. When we then speak under the influence of the Holy Spirit, our words will be “as if one consulted the word of God.”  People should come to know you as someone who knows and speaks the word of God – a “walking Bible” so to speak.

God has chosen to use human messengers to deliver His divine truth. Whether you realize it or not, those around you who know you are a Christian will take the words you speak and the advice you give as though they were God’s advice. As William Toms rightly said, “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.”  This is a solemn responsibility!  May your life be so saturated in the word of God that His wisdom and His counsel oozes out of your life. May you be one whose counsel is as if one consulted the word of God. May God transform you into a “walking Bible.”

December 27 -- "Casting Your Burden on Him"

Today’s Reading: Psalms 28 & 55 

"Casting Your Burden on Him"

The Hebrew word translated “cast” in verse 22 means to throw, cast, hurl, or fling. The Jews used this word in association with throwing something away. The definition of “burden” is a heavy load to carry, a difficulty, trouble, heavy trial.  Here in Psalm 55, we are exhorted to hurl our burdens onto Him - to thrust them forcefully upon the Lord.

Does your life seem overwhelming and stressful lately? Do you feel weighed down by worries and frustrations to the point of exhaustion? Are your shoulders sagging under the weight of your heavy load? Then it is time to hurl those heavy weights off your shoulders and onto the shoulders of your Great Burden Bearer.  But how do you do that? How can we, as Christ followers, cast our burden on the Lord? The simple formula is Come, Take, Let Go.

First, you must COME to Jesus.  When you’re overwhelmed by burdens, Jesus invites you to come to Him. This may sound like a simple task, but I’ve found that bringing my burdens to Him is often not my first instinct. I wrongly think it is my responsibility to carry the weight. But Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) So, the first step to casting your burden on Him is simply to COME to Him. Don’t run the other way. And don’t think you are alone. He is here and He is waiting.

Second, TAKE His yoke. A yoke was a wooden device that was placed around the neck of oxen or cattle and connected to the plow or cart they pulled. Most yokes in Bible times were “dual-passenger.” This means that two animals would share the yoke and carry the load together. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) For a weary and tired animal under the stress of a heavy burden, sharing a yoke made the burden lighter and more easily carried. Jesus wants you to slip your head into His yoke. Together, the heavy weight will fall off your shoulders and He will carry the burden. TAKE His yoke and feel the strength of Him pulling the load.

Third, and most important, you must LET GO of your burden. So often we reach back ready to hurl our burdens upon Jesus. Our throwing arm goes forward, but we keep a grip on the item that is weighing us down. Don’t hold on!  Jesus calls us to cast  – hurl, throw, fling – our burdens on Him. Take your heavy load to Jesus, and lay it down. Then, DON’T pick it up again. Let go and let Him bear the burden. Place your burden in your hands and then chuck it upward toward Heaven with your hands wide open. LET GO and let God carry the load.

In the words of the old Maranatha song by Chuck Girard, “Lay your burden down, lay your burden down. Take your troubled soul, your tired mind and lay your burden down. Lay your burden down, get your feet on solid ground. Take your worries to the foot of the cross and lay your burden down.” He will do the rest, and He will give you rest.

December 26 -- "Like Silver Purified Seven Times"

 Today’s Reading: Psalms 4, 12, & 13

"Like Silver Purified Seven Times"

In Bible times, silver was usually used for decorative purposes such as jewelry and household ornaments. Before silver could be used for these purposes, it had to be extracted from the ore of other metals. Silver was usually obtained as a by-product of lead mining. The ore would be purified in a clay furnace using an extremely hot melting process.  In order to separate the silver from the lead, the rough ore would be heated above the temperature at which silver melts (1750°F).  When the liquid metal then cooled slowly, the silver solidified first and it floated as a crust above the liquid lead. This crust would be skimmed off and prepared for the next phase of purification.

The rough silver still contained some small particles of lead that still had to be removed to obtain “pure” silver.  To purify the rough silver further it was melted again in the melting pot on the fire. This second purifying process resulted in silver that was typically 99% pure. Although the silver still contained some miniscule particles of lead, it was considered ready for trade. In very rare cases, the silver would be purified a third time resulting in silver that was 99.99% pure.

Here in Psalm 12:6, we are told that the “words of the Lord” are so pure that they are like silver that has been refined and purified SEVEN times. David is emphasizing that God’s word is so pure, it is like silver which is flawless. Not 99.99% pure, or even 99.999999% pure, but completely flawless and without any imperfection whatsoever.

This doesn’t imply that God’s words once contained flaws or impurities which had to be removed. God’s word is, and has always been pure, without any contamination or imperfections whatsoever. They were pure when they were first issued and remain pure to this day. The God who is holy, and pure, and perfect has given us His words, which are also holy, pure, and perfect in every way. His word is pure but never purified.

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” (Proverbs 30:5)  By contrast, human wisdom is flawed. It contains imperfections. The words of the wisest men and women in history come nowhere near the flawless wisdom of God.  God’s word contains not even the tiniest particle of human wisdom. Because it is pure, it can be received with readiness of mind and trusted with the depths of the heart. Put your trust in God’s words. They are pure. They are peaceable. They are able to bring you true wisdom and transform your life. “The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8)

December 25 -- "The Lifter of My Head"

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 15 & Psalm 3 

"The Lifter of My Head"

Merry Christmas to you from ‘A Word from the Word.’ May the True Spirit of Christmas shine in your heart and light your path today and through the upcoming year.

In Psalm 3, we read the words of king David as he is fleeing from his son, Absalom. This Psalm starts out with a sense of foreboding as David is tempted by others to focus his attention on the deep problems he is facing. Can you feel his worry as he says, “Many are my foes”? Can you sense his despair as he says, “Many are rising against me”? Do you get the feeling that the world around him is telling him to give up hope as he writes, “Many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God”?

But the Psalm doesn’t end there! In verse 3, David soundly rejects the world’s advice and turns his eyes back onto the God he loves. He wisely realizes that his help and salvation come from the LORD in this situation just as it has in every other situation.

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me.”  The shield was a defensive weapon used by soldiers. It’s purpose was to cover and defend the body from the strikes of the enemy. David here acknowledges that God is his Defender and Protector. What a joy to know that our Lord will stand between us and our adversaries, taking the blows and keeping us safe. I am safe when the Lord wraps around me like a shield.

“You are… my glory.” The Hebrew word for “glory” means honor, splendor, dignity, reputation. It carries the idea of majesty and magnificence. David, here, acknowledges that whatever glory there may be that comes from his life, it is not because of his own magnificence or self-doing. The glory of David’s life, and our lives as followers of Christ, comes solely from the One who is Most Glorious. Knowing this takes a lot of pressure off of David and us. It means that, no matter what happens, no one can take away the glory of my life because it isn’t about me, it is about Him!

“You are… the lifter of my head.” When the voices of the world start to get to us, we can start feeling down and we are tempted to look inward at our own weaknesses and failures. When we look away from God, we can get discouraged or even depressed. When this happens, it can actually have an effect on our body posture. Often unknowingly, our shoulders can bend forward and hunched over, and our head takes a downward-looking posture. It is a sign that we are “weighed down” by our challenges and troubles. David here declares emphatically that, in these situations, the Lord is the lifter of his head. He is the One who can turn our downward posture back into an upward-looking, optimistic and faith-filled position. As He lifts the burden from our shoulders, our head turns back up and the joy of salvation once again fills our heart. The problems are still with us, but Someone Else is carrying the load and lifting our head!

May the Lord be your Shield, your Glory, and the Lifter of your head this Christmas Day!

December 24 -- "Do the Right Thing"

 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 14

"Do the Right Thing"

After Absalom killed Amnon, he remained in exile, fearing retribution from king David. Joab, the king’s army commander, recognized that David had the ability to be reconciled to his son Absalom. He realized that the king really wanted to see his son, but because of his pride and stubbornness, he refused to make the first move towards reconciliation. So, Joab devised a plan to send a widow woman from Tekoa to speak to the king and persuade him to bring Absalom back home. The plan worked and, after a period of time, the two were finally reunited.

In the course of her conversation, the woman from Tekoa pointed out that David was a wise man – as wise as “the angel of God.” Because the LORD was with him, she recognized that David had the ability to handle things and discern good and evil. By saying this, she was suggesting that David set aside his stubbornness and pride and “do the right thing.”

It can be a hard thing to set aside our emotions when faced with a choice between right and wrong. If we’re not careful, we can let our stubbornness drive our decisions and cloud our ability to discern between good and evil. When you are full of pride on the inside, it makes you stiff, stubborn, and creates strife with others.  Perhaps it is anger, jealousy, pride, bitterness, or simply your selfishness that is keeping you from obeying God’s command to “love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)

Be careful of stubbornness. In the face of an obstacle which is impossible to overcome, stubbornness is simply unwise. If we desire to know the depths of the wisdom of God, we must learn to set aside our emotions and feelings and turn to Him for help. We, like David, can be as wise as the “angel of God.” We can do the right thing when we don’t let our humanity get in the way.

Discernment is not just the ability to know right from wrong. It is also the ability to know “right” from “almost right.” Oh, how we need God’s wisdom to show us this distinction, and to give us the wisdom to rise above our human stubbornness and do the right thing. May the LORD your God be with you and may you be “like the angel of God” in wisdom and discernment.

Who do you need to be reunited with today? Make the first move and set aside your stubbornness. Do the right thing!

December 23 -- "Consequences of Sin"

 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 13

"Consequences of Sin"

Here, we read of Amnon, son of King David and-heir apparent to the throne, who rapes his half-sister Tamar and later is murdered by his own brother for his sin. What a sad story illustrating the depths of human depravity.

Many people wonder why this disturbing story is in the Bible. After all, it doesn’t seem to have any mention of God’s grace or His redeeming love. It is a sad and tragic story about the dark side of human nature. But there is a reason this story is here – to teach us about the consequences of sin.  God has laid down the rules. If you follow the rules, you're going to find fulfillment and satisfaction, and a meaningful relationship with Him. But if you violate the rules, you're going to get hurt. You're going to get burned. This is the story of David getting hurt as a result of his sin and the sins of others.

Let me suggest some ways this passage may be instructive for us. First, and most obviously, we need to see that there are consequences for sin. Remember that David had committed the terrible sins of lust, adultery, deception, and murder in his incident with Bathsheba. After those sins, David repented and received forgiveness from God. He was genuinely forgiven but was informed that there would still be consequences for his sin. We must remember that God’s forgiveness doesn’t necessarily eliminate the after-effects of our sin. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) If we sow to our flesh, we will reap emptiness and heartbreak.

Secondly, we see that sin often starts small and privately, but if left unchecked, it can rapidly escalate into great sin that becomes public. It has been said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; keep you longer than you want to stay; and cost you more than you want to pay.”  An example of this is the sin of adultery. You let a small, private attraction for another person develop into acts of sin which lead to the after-effects of destroying marriages and families. Amnon’s lust for Tamar was hidden in his heart. Only God knew about it. Until that day when he let the power of sin and his selfish desire take over. He acted on his “innocent” attraction and the results were heartbreaking. This passage encourages us to stay out of sin, no matter how “small” or “innocent” it may seem. “Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:11)

Finally, this story teaches us the importance of discerning true love. Amnon claimed that he “loved” Tamar, but he was disastrously confusing “love” with “lust.”  True love is expressed by acts of selflessness and service.  You will know it is love when someone is willing to deny their own desires in order to serve and care for others. True love focuses on the well-being and happiness of the other person, selfish-lust prioritizes personal desires, needs, and gratification.

Our Creator is the grand example of true love: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

December 22 -- "Taught by God"

 Today’s Reading: Psalms 86 & 122

"Taught by God"

Psalm 86 is a “mash up” of various verses from the other Psalms. David takes verses that are dear to his heart from Psalms 18, 25, 27, 55, 71, 119 and various other Psalms and compiles them into Psalm 86. Practically every verse of Psalm 86 is taken from another Psalm someplace. This demonstrates David’s working knowledge of God’s word and reveals his heartfelt devotion to the Scriptures.

Psalm 86 is a prayer of David crying out for God’s active presence in his life. He prays for God to listen to him; to preserve him; to be gracious to him; to gladden his soul; to teach him God’s ways; and to give him a unified heart. In verse 11, he pleads with the Lord to “teach me your way that I may walk in Your truth.”  From this plea, we see that David understood the importance of being taught directly by God.

It is vitally important to every follower of Christ that we be taught by God. Directly by Him. It is a wonderful thing when God has placed anointed teachers and preachers in our lives so we can hear Scripture being taught by wise and learned men and women. We should be thankful for such a blessing. But… learning from the teachings of men should never, ever, be a substitute for learning directly from the Lord, Himself.

The only path to pure doctrine and correct belief is for each of us to be taught directly at the feet of Jesus. In Him alone is the Way. In Him alone is the Truth. As He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by Me.” (John 14:6)

David’s plea to be taught by the Lord shows that he grasped the truth that we all must be taught by God. This principle is repeated often in Scripture: “For you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:9); “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” (Isaiah 54:13); “For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him.” (Isaiah 28:26)

We must diligently seek to be taught by God. It must be the passionate pursuit of our heart and soul to search the Scriptures regularly under the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit. He is the One who will guide us into all truth. Along with David, we must pray, “teach me your way O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.”

Make it your heartfelt prayer today that you be taught by God. Then, be like the Bereans who “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

December 21 -- "Oh, How Happy!"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 20 & Psalm 32

"Oh, How Happy!"

The word “blessed” means “oh how happy.” Having confessed his sins and repented of them and having bowed before God with a contrite heart, David now expresses the wonderful and happy experience of having been forgiven! There is no greater happiness than to know that God has forgiven ALL of your sins and that you have been restored to a right relationship with Him!  If you’ve had this experience, oh how happy you must be!

True blessedness and happiness consists only in remission of sin and purification of the heart.  When people are honest with God and confess their sin to Him (as David did in Psalm 51), they experience the unspeakable joy of knowing that their sin is forgiven. When confession is made, forgiveness follows, the burden of separation from God is removed, and a fresh experience of God’s joy settles upon the sinner. Oh, what a happy moment it is when I have that assurance that my transgression has been forgiven, that my sin has been covered by the blood of Christ.

David here mentions three variations of the types of offenses that can separate us from God and take away our joy. The word “transgression” means a deliberate, willful disobedient act. David, in his incident with Bathsheba, deliberately and willfully disobeyed God’s commands regarding lust, adultery, deception, and murder. He knew where God had drawn the line, and he deliberately stepped over that line. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven.”

The second word David uses is “sin.”  There is a difference between a transgression and a sin. A sin is not always a willful act. The word sin comes from a root word used in archery which means, "to miss the mark." God says, "Here is the mark. I want you to hit it." All right. And I take aim, but I miss. We all have missed the mark even when it was our intention to hit it. I may not deliberately miss. I may be trying to hit it. I might just be a poor shot. But that is still an offense to God. “Blessed is the one whose sin is covered.”

The third word David uses is “iniquity.” This word refers to the inward depravity of nature that we, as human beings, are infected with. Every person is born with a sinful nature – a personality flaw that predisposes us to think, speak, and act in sinful and immoral ways. It is this sinful nature that has separated us from God and robbed us of our joy. And, if this predisposition to sin is not dealt with, it will separate us eternally from Him. The blessed truth here is that God has a way of not counting our iniquity against us. That way is the cross of Jesus, where He took upon Himself the sinful nature of humanity allowing God to no longer count our depravity and immoral nature against us. “Blessed is the one against whom the Lord counts no iniquity.”

Think of it! Your transgressions are forgiven, your sins are covered, and your sinful nature is not being counted against you! Oh how happy you must be!

December 20 -- "A Contrite Heart"

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 12 & Psalm 51

"A Contrite Heart"

The Hebrew introduction for Psalm 51 tells us that this is “A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.” King David’s incident with Bathsheba is a dark moment in his life and reveals to us the depths to which sin can drive an otherwise godly man. David’s sins in this moment included pride, lust, adultery, deception, and murder. Truly a dark chapter in his life. We see from this that David was a sinful man, just like you and me.  After being “found out” by Nathan the Prophet, David confessed and repented of his sin. In Psalm 51, with a deeply penitent heart, David pleads to God for the remission of his sins.

David was a great sinner, a human being just like all of us, capable of being enticed by the lusts of his flesh. But, at the same time, he was truly a man after God’s heart. Deep down, far below his sinful desires, he longed to do God’s will and was grieved when confronted with his failure.

A person after God’s heart loves the things God loves and the ways He prescribes. Though he may deviate from those ways at times, he will return—for God will not let him rest in his sin. All true children of God will be called back to Him when they wander.

David’s heart was truly broken over his sin and he came to God here in true heartfelt repentance. He mentions his contrite heart in verse 17. To be “contrite” before God means that we bow down with the awareness of our spiritual bankruptcy, our inner spirit is crushed with its guilt, we have genuine and deep sorrow for how we have offended our loving God, and we have a determined desire to do differently. A contrite heart does not seek to fool God or others, nor to rationalize or excuse our sin. A contrite heart produces true repentance.  As with David, we don’t ask God to ignore or disregard our sin.  Instead, we admit our sin and plead for God to have mercy according to His “abundant mercy.”

When we become aware of our sins, iniquities, and transgressions we need to know that God isn’t interested in empty apologies and He doesn’t want our promises to do better.  God desires a broken and contrite heart which is the true sacrifice of one who determines to turn from sin, to forsake sin, and to abandon it.

 

December 19 -- "David's Unguarded Moment"

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 11 & Psalm 70

"David's Unguarded Moment"

One evidence supporting the trustworthiness of the Bible is the remarkable honesty with which it tells us about its heroes like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, and the others. The portrait of each and every hero is painted with dark spots and all.  We are told of their failures as well as their triumphs. So it is with David – shepherd, giant-killer, poet, soldier, and king. Here is a very great man. Here is “a man after God’s own heart” who loved the Lord deeply.  But at the same time that David’s army is winning a military battle on foreign soil, Scripture records that he is losing a moral battle at home.

Second Samuel 11 records a dark day in king David’s life. This story of David’s moral failure is a vivid illustration of a principle taught in James 1:13-15 – “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

The principle is this: sin is not just a one-off event, it is part of a process.  Sin has, as it were, a ‘domino effect’.  Evil desire leads to sin, and sin leads to death.  In other words, there are triggers, and there are consequences. 

The trigger was an unguarded moment.  It was spring-time, the time when kings should be off to war with their troops.  David had sent his army, under its commander, Joab, to besiege the city of Rabbah.  But David stayed at home in Jerusalem, relaxing.  He could afford to.  This was a time of military strength, of material prosperity, of personal leisure.  This was his unguarded moment. In this moment, he allows the casual glance to become a lustful gaze which progresses into rationalizing thought and culminates in his tragic moral failure. He commits adultery then begins a tangled web of deceit to try to cover his sin.

David’s experience presents a stern warning to all of us – watch out for those unguarded moments! “Idol hands are the devil’s worship.” We are all susceptible to the lure of sin and, if we don’t constantly keep our hearts in check, we too could fall victim to our sinful desires. The words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12 drive the point home: “Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” Beware of the unguarded moment.

December 18 -- "Our Influence on Others"

Today’s Reading: Psalm 69

"Our Influence on Others"

King David is going through a rough time politically. His “poll numbers are down.” His popularity has been declining because he has made some decisions that were not popular with all the people. In his heart, he feels that his decisions have been consistent with God’s will, but he acknowledges that he is not perfect and that he may not have done everything completely right. In Psalm 69, David is grappling with all of this. He is feeling abandoned by his friends and hated by large numbers of his citizens. He is feeling like the waters of opposition are swirling over his head and his feet are sinking in the deep sludge.

The life of a leader is not always a “bed of roses.” Especially so for one who seeks to honor the Lord and infuse godly principles into his/her decisions as a leader. At times, doing the right thing can seem very lonely. Family, friends, employees, church members, and even whole nations can be soured by a decision (or group of decisions) the leader has made. This was the case for David, and it certainly was the case for our Lord Jesus Christ, whose zeal for God caused Him to be reproached and hated by many. It will be so for any of us who are called to lead others in any capacity.

The key thought in Psalm 69 is David’s concern for the spiritual condition of others. His prayer in verse 6 is a heartfelt request that he not be the cause of others’ shame or dishonor. In the midst of his own struggles, David did not focus on himself, but on others. He did not want his decisions to be a stumbling block to anyone who hopes in God and seeks Him. His desire was that his decisions as a leader would facilitate and encourage worshippers to become closer to God, not further away. “Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,” he prays. And “let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me.” David’s deep prayer was that his actions, however unpopular, would not have a negative influence on anyone seeking the Lord.

This should be the heartfelt attitude of every follower of Christ. All of us are in positions of influence to some degree or another. It should be one of our primary concerns that what we say, or do, or the decisions we make, does not influence another person to stumble in their relationship with Jesus. The Apostle Paul mentions this in 1 Corinthians 8:13, “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” Paul was writing specifically about eating meat that had been offered to idols, but you can substitute other actions in this verse and the principle remains the same: “Therefore, if [anything] makes my brother stumble, I will never [do that thing], lest I make my brother stumble.”

Others will not always agree with you one hundred percent of the time. But they should always find that you are being faithful to, and consistent with God’s will to the best of your ability. As expressed in the song by Steve Green, “O may all who come behind us find us faithful, may the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe.”

 

December 17 -- "Father of the Fatherless"

Today’s Reading: Psalms 67 & 68

"Father of the Fatherless"

What an amazing God we serve! Mighty in power and glorious in majesty while at the same time being tender-hearted and compassionate to our needs. Repeatedly in Scripture, Yahweh is described as a Father to the fatherless and a Protector of widows. “He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:18) “The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” (Psalm 10:14) “You defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” (Psalm 82:3)

Although Yahweh is “in His holy habitation,” He is not far from any one of us. Of all the ways the Lord God Almighty could have chosen to relate to humanity, He chose the language of family. He could have described Himself as a benevolent dictator, kind boss, or patient landlord. But instead, He chose the word father. He presents Himself as a Father because we all know what a father should be and do. Even if we did not have earthly fathers who treated us well, we have an intrinsic understanding of what a good father should be. God planted that understanding in our hearts. We all have a need to be loved, cherished, protected, provided for, cheered for, and valued. We all long to have a loving father look into our eyes and say, “I’m proud of you, son/daughter.”  Ideally, an earthly father will meet those needs. But even if he doesn’t, God will. Throughout Scripture, God describes His love for us as that of a caring parent.

God has a special place in His heart for the orphans and fatherless (see: Deuteronomy 24:20; Jeremiah 49:11; James 1:27). He loves to adopt new “kids” into His heavenly family. He loves it when His followers on earth heed the call to foster and/or adopt a child who is fatherless. This is a high calling and God will honor those who step out into the unknown and trust Him to bless such a family!

The Lord offers to fill the role of a Father in the lives of all, especially it seems, those with no father.  As a human father would do, so the Lord invites us to call out to Him when we are in trouble (Psalm 50:15), to cast all our worries on Him (1 Peter 5:7), and to enjoy His company (1 Corinthians 1:9: Psalm 116:1; 1 John 5:14).  He models for us the characteristics He had in mind when He designed fatherhood. Although many times earthly fathers do not live up to the ideal, God promises that, in Him, no one has to be without a perfect Father.

God is not aloof from the needs of people. Nor is He a mean old ogre just waiting to inflict pain on humanity. Our God is tender-hearted and compassionate to the needs of all. The world needs to hear about a God like that! 

December 16 -- "Don't Get Cozy With Sin"

 Today’s Reading: Psalms 65 & 66

"Don't Get Cozy With Sin"

Have you ever been in prayer and suddenly had a disturbing sensation that God simply isn’t listening? It has happened to all of us. Sadly, for many of us, we just limp along praying the same old prayers, half-hoping those prayers are heard and half-suspecting they are not. One of the reasons God may not be listening is because we’ve allowed iniquity to remain unchallenged in our hearts.

The Hebrew word translated “cherished” or “regard” in Psalm 66:18 literally means “to see” and it carries the idea of seeing something but not acting upon it. Thus, this verse is telling us, seeing iniquity in my heart and doing nothing about it, is a cause of the Lord turning His listening ear away from us. If I have known iniquity was there, or even encouraged it, or if I pretended it wasn’t there, or even loved my iniquity then God will not – cannot – hear my prayer. The Message* paraphrase puts it like this: “If I had been cozy with evil, the Lord would never have listened.” 

“Iniquity” means sin that is an inner act of willful disobedience to God. It refers more to matters of the heart than outward actions. Scripture specifically identifies the following iniquities: bitterness (see Acts 8:23), greed (see Acts 8:18–23), lust (Job 31:1–12), and stubbornness (I Samuel 15:23). Others include anger, clamor, slander, malice, cursing, rudeness, selfishness, irritableness, resentfulness, and jealousy. As human beings with fallen natures, we are all susceptible to committing these sins. But when we do, we must acknowledge, confess, and forsake our sin. We must not allow any of these sins to be welcomed into our hearts. We cannot allow them to take up residence inside of us. Getting cozy with these sins can cause the Lord not to listen to your prayers.

The idea is this: in order that prayer may be heard, there must be a purpose to forsake all forms of sin. If you long for God to hear your prayers, don’t let iniquity settle down and make itself at home in your heart – kick it out! Deal with it!

Take a moment right now to get alone with God. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Ask Him to shine His floodlight of truth into the dark spaces of your soul. Do any of these sins dwell there? Have you let these things take up residence inside of you? Have you become cozy with sin? When the Holy Spirit shows you the truth of what is hiding there, be quick to acknowledge, confess, and forsake your sin. “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” [or any other iniquity] springs up and causes trouble” (Hebrews 12:15).

(*© Eugene H. Peterson ; The Message; by NavPress Publishing)

December 15 -- "Your Part vs God's Part"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 19

"Your Part vs God's Part"

David and his troops were undergoing some difficult battles. As the clashes became more and more challenging, David’s army leaders (Joab and Abishai) devised an ingenious military strategy – we will do our part and let God do His part. With these words, they acknowledged that victory comes only when we diligently use the strength we have, while we let the Lord use His strength to bring the victory. They acknowledged that they were responsible for their personal efforts, but God was responsible for the results.

This is a lesson we must all learn – that God is responsible for the outcome. We are to diligently serve Him and use our spiritual gifts to serve the Body of Christ – but it is up to Him how things turn out. This doesn’t mean you don’t have a part to play. You do! His will is for you is to be on the spiritual front lines, using your strength to support the cause of Christ. We are repeatedly called to take action in our Christian walk. Psalm 2:11 says, " Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." Romans 12:11 exhorts us to, “Not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” These are commands for each of us to take action. We are not called to sit on the sidelines and watch God win the game. We are called to “get off the bench” use the skills and strength that we have. But, at the same time, we must let God decide the outcome.

We must learn to let the Lord do what seems good to Him. He has given you certain spiritual gifts and you must discover those gifts and use them with all of your strength to serve the Lord. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12:6)  Is your gift prophecy? Then prophesy in proportion to your faith. Is your gift serving? Then serve others with all your heart. Is your gift teaching? Then diligently hand out the truth of God to others through your teaching. Whatever your gift may be, “I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6).  

But always remember – God is responsible for the outcome. Two individuals may both have the gift of evangelism. God may use one to preach in giant stadiums to thousands of people, while at the same time using the other to quietly lead his coworker to Christ. The results are not your responsibility – they are His!

So, dear follower of Christ, don’t focus on the numbers. Don’t focus on the outcomes. You have your part. God has His part. Your part is to focus on diligently using your skills and strength to do the task the Lord has set before you. Use your strength for His people and His kingdom and His purposes, and may the Lord do what seems good to Him.

December 14 -- "Dealing With Defeat"

Today’s Reading: Psalms 10, 60, 75, & 76 

"Dealing With Defeat"

It can be hard to come back from defeat. Being defeated can have a domino effect in our minds. As we become overly-focused on our failure, our hearts and minds can go from simply “licking our wounds” to deeper discouragement and, if left unchecked, can spiral into full blown depression and, in some cases, feeling abandoned by God. Experiencing defeat is never easy. It can make us feel like we don’t even want to try again.

Here in Psalm 60, King David and his troops had undergone a series of defeats at the hands of enemy armies. David was feeling dejected and abandoned by God. He begins to wonder if God is angry with him and has rejected him. As he goes through a list of how he feels about experiencing defeat, you can sense that coming back from this could be difficult for him. Some of his feelings include: You have rejected us; You have broken our defenses; You have been angry; You have made your people see hard things. David’s complaints express his feelings of anxiety and dejection. He is having a very hard time with defeat.

But David doesn’t stop there. Thankfully, as he expresses his sorrow at being defeated, he simultaneously reminds himself that God is not finished with him and Israel, and he will once again experience victory. Interspersed with his complaints, we find prayers of faith: Oh, restore us; May your beloved ones be delivered; Give salvation by your right hand; Oh, grant us help against the foe. David wisely took his defeat to God and left it at His feet. In spite of his feelings of defeat and discouragement, he knew in his heart-of-hearts that the Lord would never abandon him. You can sense his heart and mind coming around from a place of dark discouragement back to optimism and faith in God.

David concludes this Psalm with these faith-filled words, “With God we shall do valiantly, it is He who will tread down our foes.” He wisely turned his eyes off of his defeat, stopped licking his wounds, and once again began to trust fully in God and His promises. This provides for us an example to follow when we experience defeat in our lives. We must not let our minds travel to dark places and discouragement. We, like David, must turn our eyes off of our hard defeat and back onto our Mighty God.

Are you having a hard time after experiencing defeat in your Christian walk? Do like David and turn your eyes off of the failure – stop trying to analyze it. Remember that God is not finished with you and He will bring victory. Stay the course! Try again, dear follower of Christ. Try again! Trust in Him to tread down your foes.

December 13 -- "Who to Call in Your Day of Trouble"

Today’s Reading: Psalm 50 & 51

"Who to Call in Your Day of Trouble"

In today’s key verse, we are exhorted by God, Himself, to call upon Him when we are experiencing troubles in our lives.

“Call upon me in the day of trouble.” The first part of today’s verse is a command from God to call on Him when we are in trouble. We certainly shouldn’t pray only when trouble comes, but according to this command, we should definitely pray when we are in times of trouble or affliction. God commands it. Don’t rely on your own ingenuity or your own determination to deliver yourself. Call upon Him and watch Him work! Are you having trouble or trials today? Call upon Him!

“I will deliver you.” The second part is an amazing promise God makes to us. If we call on Him, He will deliver us. He gives no limits as to how often we can pray. He only gives us His promise to answer. He doesn’t specify how He will deliver us (and it may not always be in the way we wish for). Sometimes He delivers us “out of” our trouble, and sometimes He delivers us “in the midst of” trouble. But, whatever His method, His promise is always, “I will deliver you.”

“And you shall glorify Me.” The third part of this verse indicates the real reason for prayer in the grand overarching plan of heaven. Prayer is not so much the mechanism we use to get rescued, as it is a means of displaying God and His glory to the watching world. When God provides, we may be tempted to forget Him and think we have taken care of our problem ourselves. But when we pray and He answers, we must recognize His hand of provision and are careful to honor (glorify) Him. We rob God of honor and fail to glorify Him when we don’t recognize that He was the one who rescued and provided for us.

Do you want your life to glorify God? To bring Him fame and honor? To influence a lost world with His light? Then pray dear Christian. Tell Him your troubles. Tell Him your afflictions. Call upon Him and He will deliver you. And when He does, a watching world will hear of His glory and power and grace and forgiveness!

“I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications.” (Psalm 116:1) The Lord wants to hear from us. He invites us to pray to Him without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He promises to hear us when we pray – “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (1 John 5:14) “As for me, I call to God … and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:16-17). 

 

December 12 -- "Dedicating to the Lord"

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 18

"Dedicating to the Lord"

After winning decisive victories against Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, King David had stockpiled a large collection of the plunders of war. These included all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze. It was customary in those days for the kings of victor nations to keep these spoils of war as a means of accumulating wealth for himself. Having a great stockpile of these items represented the grandness of the king’s majesty. As the collection grew, so did the king’s notoriety and renown among his citizens and neighboring nations.

None of these customs mattered to King David. He wasn’t interested in building his own wealth and fame. What mattered to him was building the fame of Yahweh. So, David took the articles of gold, silver, and bronze and dedicated them to the Lord. The Hebrew word “dedicated” in verse 11 means to set apart; to consecrate; to devote as holy. David literally separated these items from his own “bank account” and deposited them in the Lord’s “account.” By doing so, David was choosing to benefit his King and Lord rather than selfishly benefitting himself.

Dedicating something to the Lord means surrendering your personal control and use of an item (or person) and handing over control and use to God. For the follower of Christ, this often means giving up something of great worth and value. We must sacrifice what is dear to us. Perhaps, like David, it involves giving God control of our wealth and fame. Or, perhaps dedicating our homes and workplaces to Him. Or, as we see many times in the Bible, dedicating our children unto the Lord. Ultimately, we are told to “present our bodies to God as living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). This is the action by which we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.

It is important to note that dedicating something to the Lord is a voluntary act on your part. God never forces you to surrender anything or anyone to Him. Because of God’s great mercy, we are compelled to offer ourselves to Him as a way of worship – to offer our bodies to God for service. Every Christian should have a time in their life when they take this important step of presenting their body to God.

What is God calling you to hand over to Him today? Is it your bank account? Or your job? Or your relationship? Or your newborn child? Or your body in service to Him? Whatever it is, God will honor your gift and return blessings to you in “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38). The more you give, the more comes back to you, because God is the Greatest Giver in the universe, and He won't let you outgive Him.

December 11 -- "Unusual Kindness"

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 9 

"Unusual Kindness"

Under Israeli law, the ownership of property passed from generation to generation and, thus, was always retained within the family. However, Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, never received his inheritance. He had been taken away and hidden as a young child to protect him from the attacks on Saul’s family. As a result, his whereabouts were unknown and, lacking a proper heir, his property reverted to ownership by the king.  One of David’s first acts as king was to right this wrong. In verse 7, David said, “I will restore to all the land of Saul your father.” This was one of the many acts of justice, equity and unusual kindness performed by king David.

But David took things much further. Instead of just stopping with the restoration of Mephibosheth’s land, he showed him “great kindness” and invited him to “eat at my table always.” To be invited to eat a meal with the king was considered one of the greatest honors and blessings anyone could receive. But to eat at the king’s table “always” was an honor-of-all-honors. David remembered his close friend Jonathan and the covenant he had made with him before his death – to never cut off his lovingkindness to Jonathan’s descendants. So David not only spared the life of Jonathan’s sole surviving son, but treated him like royalty by giving him free access to the king’s palace. David, by his actions, demonstrated both justice and kindness.

I’m pretty sure Mephibosheth’s initial response to David’s kindness was something like this: “Wait! What?!? Did I hear that right? I must be dreaming or something! There’s no way I deserve such kindness. I thought I was going to be punished and die, but now look what the king has done!”  David’s treatment of Mephibosheth is one of the greatest illustrations of grace in the Old Testament. By law, David owed Saul's family nothing. In fact, it was customary that the previous king’s descendants be punished by death. But David knew that God wanted him to show kindness to everyone, even those who didn’t deserve it.

This is an example to us of what it means to be the recipient of God’s grace and kindness. Our Creator owed us nothing. In fact, we were sentenced to death for all of eternity, undeserving of any kindness or blessings from Him whatsoever. But then He says to us, “I will restore to you the life you have lost and you shall eat at My table always.” Such undeserved kindness. That’s what grace is all about. We have been shown kindness by King Jesus for our Heavenly Father’s sake. Because that’s just who Jesus is! And that’s who our Heavenly Father is!

Our response should be, “Wait! What?!? Did I hear that right? I must be dreaming or something! There’s no way I deserve such kindness. I thought I was going to be punished and die, but now look what the King has done!”