Pick A Side

1 Samuel 29:1-31:13
John 11:55-12:19
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 15:24-26

At the end of I Samuel, David is fighting for every side of the battle that one can fight on. First he's with the good guys, then he's with the bad guys, then he's good again. I just watch him and think, "that's nuts... pick a side!" Fact is, that David was a man being lead by God. In this story, he's flip-flopping all over the place... but here's what I notice. David's always winning. So, he may be here or there... he might be fighting this army or that one... but he's always where God needs him to be. David always wins with God. So, that's the moral to this one. Follow God! It may take us all over the place, but we must follow him! Those who do so, will experience great victory.

Jesus Wept.... Rather, Jesus Hurt

1 Samuel 26:1-28:25
John 11:1-54
Psalm 117:1-2
Proverbs 15:22-23

John 11: ³³When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. ³⁵Jesus wept.

I was reading from different versions for this text and got to noticing verse 33, saying that Jesus was troubled (some texts say angered). The Greek work for this "being troubled" is ἐτάραξεν with a wide range of definitions (click the word to read them). None of the definitions given seem (to me) very "Christ-like." That's just to say that when I think about Jesus, I never imagine him to be the things that this word is said to be.

This text gets me to thinking about the humanity of Jesus. Jesus hurt like they hurt. He understood human pain. I don't know what caused Jesus to weep. Was he upset by the situation? Frustrated with their faith? Did this event remind him of the problem of sin? Or did he just cry for a friend who had been hurting? Who knows. What is clear is that this event frustrated, confussed, perplexed, and upset Christ. So, that's where we find ourselves today. We sit here, with a good God who for whatever reason, cries when exposed to death. Does it bring peace? It can. Some will read and see what they need to see. They will look and find peace. They will see God's glory. Others won't. This verse encourages me. Jesus looked at this situation and was perplexed. He hurt and mourned in this moment. I find God's glory in Christ's humanity.

The Right Way To Knife A King

1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
John 10:22-42
Psalm 116:1-19
Proverbs 15:20-21

I Samuel 24: ³ He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. ⁴ The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' " Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. ⁵ Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.

I love this story. David's men here believe that God is giving Saul into their hands. So, David cuts off a piece of his robe. Then, moments later, David is sorrowful that he acted in such a way. This is just a reminder of what it means to have great integrity as David did. David didn't just read into scripture to find justification for his actions. Rather, when he acted, he realized that sometimes his understanding might be flawed. So, David seeks to be a man of integrity. In the end, David honored Saul by his actions, because his heart was broken before God.

The Difference Between Shepherds and Hired Workers

1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
John 10:1-21
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 15:18-19

John 10- ¹¹"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

What is the difference between shepherds and hired workers? Shepherds care about the sheep and workers care about themselves. Which one are you when you are working with people?

Bad Times

1 Samuel 20:1-21:15
John 9:1-41
Psalm 113:1-114:8
Proverbs 15:15-17

John 9: ¹As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" ³"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

This week I am attending two funerals. There is nothing fair about what is happening in the lives of our church members. Our good friends are suffering right now and we watch as they endure hardship. No words seem appropriate, no prayers seem sufficient, and we just hurt inside... for the hurt that they feel.

And then I run across John 9:1-3. Like before, I am reminded that pain and suffering happen and according to this verse, sometimes its just random. The big question is, "How will we see God's glory during this time?" I've been seeing God work this week. I saw God in the love and faithfulness of a friend as he compassionately served his hurting wife this week. I saw God's glory as family's discussed heaven, delivered chicken, and said broken prayers. Do I understand what is happening in the big scheme of things? Nope. Do I understand why God takes one and leaves another? No I Don't. Do I wonder "who sinned" when pain comes to a family? John 9 reminds me that these types of questions aren't worth my time. What is worth my time is turning to God in the midst of the pain. Good things can come, and they will come. Right now, I just need to turn to the source of peace. God is just in his decision making. So, we trust him, knowing that he will do the right thing. He always does.

Freedom

1 Samuel 18:5-19:24
John 8:31-59
Psalm 112:1-10
Proverbs 15:12-14

John 8: ³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Jesus offered them freedom, but many preferred to live in slavery. Why? Who knows? Maybe because people would rather enjoy painful lives filled with sin. Maybe the right road seems too tough. Possibly obedience is a characteristic that most would rather live without. Either way- when freedom was offered, the people chose slavery.

David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17:1-18:4
John 8:21-30
Psalm 111:1-10
Proverbs 15:11

In I Samauel 17 David faces his giant. It gets me to thinking about the giants in our lives that we sometimes let reign and rule, without actually addressing them and putting an end to them. David reminds us that there is no reason to wait. The time to face our giants is now.

God Sees The Heart Within

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
John 8:1-20
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 15:8-10

I Samuel - The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

The good news and the bad news are the same news. The good news is that God sees the heart, so we can be ourselves with him. We can know that he sees us as we really are, and not based on the trivial things of this world. However, that's the bad news too. Since we can't fool him, God sees past all of the ridiculous and self deceived fronts that we put up. He knows the real us, which is often times not very appealing.

So, what do we do? How do we respond to this challenge of God seeing the reality? We give our hearts to him. We speak openly and honestly with him, knowing that he can't be fooled. We love him, and confess our sins. Why? Because God sees the inside.

200% Satisfaction

1 Samuel 14:1-52
John 7:31-53
Psalm 109:1-31
Proverbs 15:5-7

John 7:37- "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."

I'm always amazed as I walk into Wal-Mart that they claim to offer 200% Satisfaction. Don't believe me? Just look up on their walls and see what's painted. Sure, when I walk into Wal-Mart I never see an employee able to help me, it takes me a ton of time to find what I'm looking for, and the lines tend to be longer than ever. However, I feel good inside knowing that my satisfaction is guaranteed to such a high percentage.

Honestly, we all know that these places are just offering gimics when they say they can satisfy to shuch a high degree. That's what seperates companies from Christ. They claimn it, and he does it. Come to him when you thirst, your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Was Jesus Who He Said He Was?

1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4

John 7:¹²Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people.

I've heard it said a dozen times. "Jesus was a good man but not the savior of the world." It's an easy statement for skeptics and atheists to make. After all, one can't help but look at his ministry and life and see that he does good things. Jesus heals and helps, so he must be good, right? The catch is that Jesus claimed to be more than good. Christ's ministry was more than helping and healing, he was the sinless savior of the world. The people in John 7 have a great point here. "No one is good if they claim something and then are actually something else." In other words, if Jesus heals people but also deceives everyone, does this really make him a good man? Of course not. So, Jesus is one or the other. Either Jesus was God in the flesh, our salvation, or he was a deceptive liar. He was never just "good." One who makes those types of claims and does those types of things can't be called good. He was either God or the devil, that's for sure.

The Food of Christianity

1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3

John 6: ⁵³Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."

I've been doing a lot of thinking this week about consuming Jesus. What does it mean to pu Christ deep within you? How does one drink deep of Christ and fill up with him? The thing is, Jesus for so many of us is just a hobby, just a trade that week can take on every once in a while and do from time to time. Christianity is more than just about taking on Jesus as a snack. We are to feast on Christ. We should be eating of him continually. Once Jesus is placed deep within us, only then will we know what it is to be full of him. So, we eat and drink deep. Only Jesus can satisfy our hunger and quench our thirst.

She Survived An Abortion

For King and Country

1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
John 6:22-42
Psalm 106:32-48
Proverbs 14:34-35

I Samuel 8- ⁶ But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. ⁷ And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

This is a sad day in Israel. The reason is simple... they have rejected God by saying that they need the leadership of someone besides him. I think about the founding fathers of this country, and the desire they had to have as little government as possible. As history tells us, the desire to live without a king and be governed by God alone was what made this country unique. Why choose to be ruled by another? Why ask for a yoke of slavery? It is God alone that is to be our ruler. And yet, people are constantly turning from God and towards government. So, there might be a message to us today. Turn towards God. Seek God first. Doing so will bring life, liberty, and tons of happiness.

We Can't Help You

1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
John 6:1-21
Psalm 106:13-31
Proverbs 14:32-33

John 6: ⁷ Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

"Fact is, we just don't have what it takes." Have you ever heard a company say that? McDonald's confesses, "We'd like to serve Billions, but are unable." Burger King states, "How can you have it your way? We have burgers and that's all. Go somewhere else if you want selection." No one says that they are incapable. No one confesses weakness. No one admits to inadequacy. No wonder we don't see miracles any more. Everyone thinks they can do it on their own. We need people willing to say the truth, "I can't do it. But, I know who can." That's the attitude we need. I am weak, but God is able.

Talking To God

1 Samuel 2:22-4:22
John 5:24-47
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 14:30-31

In I Samuel 3, Eli tells Samuel to respond to God by saying, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." In this text, Samuel doesn't know God's voice, nor does he know how to talk to God. Only with Eli's help can Samuel converse with the Almighty. This reminds me of the importance of teaching our children, disciples, and friends how to talk to God and listen to him. Jesus' disciples ask him to teach them to pray. We know that John the Baptist gave similar lessons to his followers. So, it stands to reason that we should teach the next generation about speaking with God as well. We are to share the message of communicating with God to those around us. How does one know God, how does one listen to God, how does one speak to God? This is a essential to the young disciple, desiring to be lead to know Christ. Through our teaching, they can know the truth that so many others must learn on their own.

Godly Mother

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
John 5:1-23
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 14:28-29

I Samuel 1 reminds me of the importance of having a godly mother (here's another Mother's day thought I suppose). The thing is, Hannah desires a child so much and prays for a blessing in the form of a son. God blesses her, and the response to that blessing is giving her son back to God. This is what it means to follow God. Just as my wife pointed out in the story of the miraculous catch of fish, the Apostles needed fish, miraculously caught fish, and then left that fish to follow God. What is it about God that causes people to forget their needs and desires to follow him? Sometimes, God gives us our desires. Often we might turn around as a result of the blessing and say, "Now I give this over to you." That to me is an incredible act of faith. It shows how priorities can shift as individuals discover God. Hannah was indeed a woman of faith. Her example reminds us that we shouldn't get caught up in the blessing, but more in the individual doing the blessing.

Home Is Where The _______ Is

Ruth 2:1-4:22
John 4:43-54
Psalm 105:16-36
Proverbs 14:26-27

Proverbs 14: ²⁶ He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.

When did homes stop being places of refuge and turn into places where kids became exposed to all of the world's evils? Why is it that the home is now a gateway to pedophiles, an open door to sexual immorality, and a window into the corrupt and perverse ways of the wicked. Children trapped like flies in the world wide web. Kids caught like fish in the broad-cast net of television corporations. Yes, the home used to be a place of refuge. But, when the home has been invaded, where does one hide? If the world and its ways have open reign within my house, where do my children go for an escape? Do they run to the world when I won't protect them from it?

Your God Is My God

Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22
John 4:4-42
Psalm 105:1-15
Proverbs 14:25

Ruth told Naomi "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." As I read those words, I remember the loyalty of a faithful daughter-in-law, willing to follow Naomi to the grave. However, these words don't just show the character of Ruth, they also show the character of Naomi. Had Ruth's mother-in-law never set the example, never braved the path, never lead the way, Ruth would not be seen as the woman she is today. Ruth was a faithful woman to God, because Naomi was also a faithful woman to God. After all, Ruth had said that she would do exactly what Naomi had done. So, they shared experiences, they shared people, and they shared God. The best thing that a mom (or even mother-in-law) can do is to pave the way. By Naomi's example of showing the path that was to be followed, Ruth became the woman obedient to God. Thank Heaven for those willing to lead by example. Through that example, others are able to find God.

May 4- Why Plot Evil?

Judges 19:1-20:48
John 3:22-4:3
Psalm 104:24-35
Proverbs 14:22-24

Proverbs 14- ²² Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

I don't really understand why Christians sometimes plot out ways to hurt other people. To me, this makes zero sense. And yet, they do. One might say, "If you're plotting evil, you've already gone astray", and that might be true. Still, the verse says that those who plot evil will come to that point. I just don't get why Christians would do this. Why try to hurt people? Why try and be destructive just because you can? Christianity is about something else entirely. Love and faithfulness mark Christianity. So, why plot evil?

May 3- Do You Believe?

Judges 17:1-18:31
John 3:1-21
Psalm 104:1-23
Proverbs 14:20-21

John 3:16- ¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

What if it were that simple? What if belief did result in eternal life? That's what the verse says. Sometimes we make things so hard, and yet Jesus calls us here to believe in him. Believe that he is the Christ, come from God to save us. Believe.

In a world filled with so much confusion and so many answers, I remember John 3:16 and smile. God says, "believe", and that is what we seek to do. Who would have thought? We were looking for the right answer, and it was always there in front of us. Believe.

May 2- Praise The Lord

Judges 15:1-16:31
John 2:1-25
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 14:17-19

Today's reading comes from Psalm 103, which is a great Psalm that focuses on praising God. The Psalm begins and ends with "Praise the LORD, O my soul", reminding the reader of the importance of praising God. So often in life, we get moving at a pace where we fail to remember that we should be acknowledging God in all that we do. God's purpose in the universe is to be praised. Our purpose is to praise him. When we fail to praise God, we not only stop ourselves from being all that we should be, but we make God less than he was meant to be. Today, we honor God and make him the object of our worship. Praise the Lord, O my soul!

May 1- Word To The Simple Minded

Judges 13:1-14:20
John 1:29-51
Psalm 102:1-28
Proverbs 14:15-16

Proverbs 14: ¹⁵ A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

Last month I was sitting in Subway with an old friend, frustrated beyond belief as he and I discussed the many many changes occurring right now in the world. Don't get me wrong, I loved the conversation. Still, like so many of these, I stand challenged as I consider all of the ways in which the world is moving (sometimes with me and sometimes without me). Political unrest, moral shifts, religious transformations... all of these things have been weighing heavily on me as I seek to be a man who stands up for the timeless word of God. As my friend and I spoke, I realized that so many of these challenges arise from people getting their eyes off of scripture and turning to the multiple answers that the world is pitching at them. Sometimes we sway from the truth, from the absolute, because we put our eyes focused in the wrong place. We become easily swayed, believing just about anything. I really feel that God is searching for a higher caliber of person today. Is there one who will remain solid on the things that count, while being flexible in the areas that he must remain flexible in? What a challenge! Being both unswayed and open-minded, being both secure and willing to listen. This is what we are being called to in our Christian walks.

(Thanks Mike Wiist for the great conversation and difficult challenges)