2017-07-22
Hebrews 6:12 NKJV
Here are three lessons from David’s life: (1) God makes the choice. When Samuel the prophet came to David’s house to pick Israel’s next king, David wasn’t considered. But God chose him anyway – just like He chose Deborah to lead the nation in a male-dominated society. Stop trying to figure God out! And stop comparing yourself to others! We’d have rejected many of the people God used – which shows how little we know. (2) God designs the plan. “Being confident of this…that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). Who designs the plan? Who performs it? Who should your confidence be in? God! His plan for David involved years of ducking Saul’s spears, living in caves as a fugitive, and working with six hundred misfits who redefine the word “dysfunctional.” God trains you through the difficulties you experience so you can handle the assignment He has in mind for you. (3) God sets the schedule. “Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Patience means standing firm under pressure. The prize belongs to the one who’s committed for the long haul. David was anointed king in his teens, but he didn’t take the throne until he was thirty. So be patient. God’s doing a work of preparation in your life so you’ll be ready when your time comes. Yes, waiting is hard. But if you run before the starter fires the gun, you’ll be disqualified from the race. Just keep your eyes on the prize and don’t give up.
Soul food: Hab 1-3; Mat 27:11-26; Ps 1; Prov 19:9-11
2017-07-21
Romans 8:28 NKJV
God said, “I have found David…a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22 NKJV). When God says that about someone, you’d be wise to observe that person’s life. David started out as a shepherd and ended up as king. The chances of that happening were zero. Shepherds were so low on the social totem pole they couldn’t testify in a court of law because their word wasn’t considered reliable. Yet David ended up writing the most widely read psalms of all time. Understand this: When you invite God into your life, He cancels the liabilities of your past and rewrites your future. But you must choose what God has chosen for you! There’s an interesting contrast between Paul and David. Paul lived his chapters of disobedience before he met Christ, then went on to live an exemplary life. David became king at thirty, and during his forty years in leadership experienced devastating failure, including adultery and murder. There are two important lessons here: (1) Don’t rush to judgement. It’s not over until God says it’s over! David’s story is a warning to the transgressor, a rebuke to the self-righteous, a verification of God’s justice that won’t allow you to escape your consequences, and a testimony to His love that will never let go of you. (2) God can bring good out of what seems like a bad situation. He can take every experience you’ve been through and make it work for good – either your own good or the good of others. Bottom line: He can make “all things work together for good.”
Soul food: Nah 1-3; Mat 27:1-10; Ps 65; Prov 19:5-8
2017-07-20
Ecclesiastes 9:10 TM
Solomon writes: “Seize life!…Each day is God’s gift…Whatever turns up, grab it and do it…heartily! This is your last and only chance at it” (vv. 7-10 TM). Professor Howard Hendricks writes: “Recently I lost one of my best friends, a woman eighty-six years young. She was the most exciting lay-teacher I’ve ever been exposed to. The last time I saw her on planet earth was at one of those ‘Christian parties’ where we all sit on eggshells and try to look pious. In she walked, looked at me and said, ‘Well, Hendricks, I haven’t seen you for a long time. Tell me, what are the five best books you’ve read in the last year?’ (That’ll change the group dynamic in a hurry.) Her philosophy was, ‘Let’s not bore each other…let’s get into a discussion. And if we can’t find anything to discuss, then let’s get into an argument.’ She was eighty-three years old on her last trip to the Holy Land. She went with a group of NFL football players. And one of my most vivid memories is seeing her out in front yelling back to them, ‘Come on, men, get with it!’ Recently she died in her sleep at her daughter’s home. Her daughter told me that just before she died she’d written out her goals for the next ten years!” So whether you are nineteen or ninety-nine, the word for you today is: “Whatever turns up, grab it and do it…heartily.” In other words: Put your heart and soul into it.
Soul food: 2 Pet 1-3; Mat 26:57-75; Ps 14; Prov 19:1-4
2017-07-19
Psalm 103:2 NLT
He sat on the park bench so depressed-looking that a policeman tried to console him. “Something the matter?” “Yeah,” he replied. “A few months ago my grandfather left me $500,000 and some oil wells.” The policeman responded, “That doesn’t sound like something to be upset over.” “Yeah, but you haven’t heard the whole story. Last month my uncle left me $1,000,000.” The policeman shook his head. “I don’t get it. Why are you so unhappy?” He replied, “So far this month, nobody’s left me anything.” Seriously, he’s part of a group of people who are unhappy no matter what they have. The Psalmist shows us how to overcome an ungrateful attitude by cultivating a spirit of thanksgiving. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Thinking and thanking go hand-in-hand. Memory is a catalyst for worship. An old hymn declares, “Count your blessings, name them one by one…see what God has done.” The Psalmist encourages us to do three things: First, think about what God has given us – His forgiveness, healing, protection, redemption, love, and compassion (See vv. 1-5). Second, think about what God has not given us – the punishment our sins deserve (See vv. 8-12). Third, think about what God is yet going to give us. “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (v. 17 NIV). God accepts you when you trust in Christ’s performance, not your own. So each morning look in the mirror and say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
Soul food: 2 Sam 22:31-24:25; Mat 26:47-56; Ps 146 Prov 18:23-24
2017-07-18
2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
One of the worst arguments recorded in Scripture took place between one of the most successful ministry teams of all time – Paul and Barnabas. What was it about? John Mark. Barnabas wanted to take him on their next missionary journey and Paul didn’t. Why? Because Paul was upset with John Mark for wanting to take time off to be with his family. (Sometimes passionate, purpose-driven people don’t see things clearly!) But after consideration, Paul changed his mind and wrote: “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:10-11). There are three important lessons here: (1) Everyone deserves another chance. After all, that’s what God repeatedly does for you. Now, in extending grace you can get hurt and disappointed, but if you’re going to be Christlike it’s a risk you must take. (2) Not everyone has the same calling. The person you’re upset with may not be called to do what you’re called to do, or they may have been called to do it in a different way. Never make your personal preferences a condition for loving, accepting, and working with someone. (3) Look for the best in others, not the worst. The Bible says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” That means everyone you deal with has “treasure,” but it comes in a flawed “earthen vessel.” It also means it’s your responsibility to look for that treasure and value it. Generally speaking, when people feel appreciated they try to rise and meet your expectations.
Soul food: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; Mat 26:36-46; Ps 140; Prov 18:21-22
2017-07-17
Psalm 39:5 NLT
After examining his patient, the doctor told him, “I have some bad news for you, and some really bad news.” Shocked, the patient asked, “What’s the bad news?” The doctor said, “You have twenty-four hours to live.” The patient said, “Well, I guess it can’t get any worse, so what’s the really bad news?” The doctor replied, “The really bad news is that I should have called you yesterday.” Seriously, the Bible says, “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty…soon they disappear” (Psalm 90:10 NLT). The average man lives into his mid-seventies and the average woman into her mid-eighties. So if you’re a man, take your age and deduct it from seventy-five. And if you’re a woman, take your age and deduct it from eighty-five. Whatever number of years you’re left with, multiply those by 365 and you’ll know how many “days” you have left. But don’t stop there. Take some sheets of paper and cut them up into little squares. Number each of them, and then put them in a box. That way you’ll know “[your] days are numbered” (Psalm 39:4 NLT). Then each morning take a square out of the box, roll it up, and toss it into the trash can. That little exercise will remind you that your days are getting shorter and time’s running out. Whatever you plan to do for yourself, your family and friends, and the kingdom of God, you’ll have a new urgency in doing it. Poet Charles Thomas Studd wrote, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Soul food: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; Mat 26:26-35; Ps 133; Prov 18:17-20
