I want to live right

“May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.”  1 Chronicles 22:12.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 1 Chronicles 22-24, and 1 Thessalonians 3.

David offered this blessing for Solomon, his young son.

Solomon would be succeeding David as ruler.

How we all need the qualities David prayed that Solomon would have; discretion and understanding.

Our lives are filled with decision making.  We must get our choices right.  But how do we know what choice to make?

The starting point in our lives must be with God.  We must be close to Him in every way possible.  Then when a decision is to be made, I already have Him onboard in my life.  His thoughts are more likely to be my thoughts in that arrangement.

Sometimes “right” and “wrong,” are clear.  Sometimes not.  However, if I am close to Him, I believe that the “right” things will be more obvious.

“Lord, I need You full-time in my life.  Apart from You I will mess things up.  I beg for Your correction in my life.  Get my attention so that I will stay close to You.  Bless me, I beg, as David did Solomon.  I need discretion.  I need understanding.  Have Your Way with me, Father.”

We need God-given help to live right.

St. Lucia

 

 

 

God only knows

“’Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.  It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.’”  2 Samuel 16:11-12.

Verses chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Samuel 15-16, Psalm 32, and Matthew 25.

I love to read the Bible for myself.  Why?  I often catch things that give me a better sense of how to live and how not to live.

It is easy to be filled with stereotypical imagery.  An example is in today’s story about David and Shimei.

David is fleeing Jerusalem because Absalom has become more powerful (so David thinks) than he is.  There is no communion, by David, with God.  He is resigned to a live away from Jerusalem.

Then he is confronted by Shimei.  This guy curses David and throws things at him and lives to tell the story!  David’s fellow travelers want to behead Shimei but David won’t let them.  Why?  David believes that Shimei is speaking the words of God against him.

Understand that David has had instances (Think Bathsheba) before in which God has been angry with him.

The point I’m drawing from this is that David realizes that God will do what He wants to do.  He tosses forward the possibility that because God sees David’s misery He will remember His covenant with David.  David, however, is not certain of it.

I have mentioned before the 6-year-old in my church community with Stage 4 cancer.  The situation is miserable to say the least.  What will God do?  He knows about Ellie.  He has heard the petitions on her behalf made by many in my church.  Yet we don’t know the mind of God.  He’s infinite.  We’re finite.

David seems to grasp those truths in today’s story.  “It may be that God will….,” is what David says.  David is trusting God to get it right.  He leaves the details to the God he loves.  And we must do the same.

“Lord, You do indeed know best.  You are trustworthy.  Forgive me for trying to script what You should do.  You are infinite.  You will get things right.  I rest in You.”

Do you think that God doesn’t know what to do about your “situation?”  He knows better than you or I ever will.  Trust Him to get it right.

St. Lucia

Lust

“….by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord….” 2 Samuel 12:14.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading:  2 Samuel 11-12, Palm 51, and Matthew 23.

David and Bathsheba.

How could he have done such a thing?

Someone else’s wife.  And David already had plenty of wives.

If you read 2 Samuel 11-12 you will discover how lengthy the slippery slope became after David impregnated Bathsheba.

We read the story and think, “That was then. Couldn’t happen to me.”  Wrong!  But there, nowadays, except for the grace of God go I.”

We MUST understand that, according to New Testament Scripture, if we lust with our eyes we commit adultery in our hearts.

The opportunities to lust are everywhere.  How can they be escaped?  You would almost have to be deaf and blind.

I use my computer every day.   I read plenty of news articles and sports articles.  What I have found is that the articles by themselves are okay because I have chosen them.  It’s what is on the sidebars that lure me to go where lustful temptations are a near certainty.  Sometimes it’s curiosity.  Sometimes it’s nothing better to do.  Sometimes it’s foolish confidence in my own ability to look and not lust.  Whatever the “sometimes” is, I will occasionally enter and always regret doing it.

I am sure that David would have insisted that lusting after someone else’s wife was wrong BEFORE he saw Bathsheba.  But seeing turned to lust which led to this verse (2 Samuel 11:27): “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”

I will only be able to please God if I am totally committed to doing what He wants.  When I choose, I lose.  I have good intentions.  I know Scripture.  But apart from Him, I will mess up big-time.

“Lord, guide my choices.  I commit to You.  Forgive me entering places that stoke lust.  Prick my conscience when I approach the threshold of such places so that I will turn back and not tarnish my love for You.  I love You, Father.”

We cannot enter places where the opportunities to lust abound.  Adultery, by the NT standard, awaits us there.

St. Lucia

 

 

Why are we afraid? Here’s why:

“Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David and had departed from Saul.” 1 Samuel 18:12.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 1 Samuel 18, 1 Chronicles 6, Psalm 11, and Matthew 3.

Here, in today’s verse, we can clearly see why someone (Saul) is afraid: God is no longer with them.

We can also understand why David was so fearless: He knew that God was with him and acted accordingly.

The “acting accordingly” part is very important.  It is like hearing the Gospel and claiming to believe it.  If there is no “acting accordingly,” then it is safe to assume that the so-called belief is NOT in place.

Being apart from God did a number on Saul.  He was angry.  He was moody.  He was unpredictable.  He was devious.  Godlessness will do that to us.

We must be careful not to assume that if we are Godly we will be successful by the world’s standards.  No, the standards will be God’s.  In our times of trusting Him He will lift our spirits and strength us as we are aware of His presence no matter what our circumstances are.

“I fear because I forget Your sovereignty.” – Tim Keller.

“Lord, some things in the Bible are very understandable and this is one of those times.  When I am full of You, I will not fear.  When I am full of me, I will be terrified.  David was on one side of this and Saul was on the other.  Fill me with You.  Remove the footholds that Satan has set up in me.  The inroads I have allowed him to make.  I want only You in charge.  I resist the Devil, in Your Name. Take me over, Father.”

Our fears reveal to us what we have placed our trust in instead of God.

 

Start right

“Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.”  1 Chronicles 22:19.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 1 Chronicles 22-24, and 1 Thessalonians 3.

We must commit ourselves to God first.

How often do we plow ahead and then seek God’s help?

How can God be pleased and willing to bless such an approach?  But we do it all the time!

David knew that Solomon was going to build the temple in Jerusalem.  David reviews the fact that God has blessed them.  Their enemies are subdued and the money/supplies to build the temple are extensive.  BUT before they start the building there needs to be a total focus on God’s place in what is happening.

Good structure for success, don’t you think?

My relationship to God must be unceasing.  There can’t be lulls in which counterfeit gods are given worship.

I put away my “Thank You” book a little while ago and I am now wondering if that was a mistake.  I am finding myself less likely to take note of things I should be thankful for.  I think what is going on is that my commitment to His will is not nearly as strong as I thought.  That’s why I’m not catching God in my midst.  The book kept me active on it.

“Lord, You are well worth following full-time.  You are all-powerful.  You are never overwhelmed or out of touch.  I need You.  Forgive me for ceasing to follow You full-time.  For finding better things to deflect my thoughts away from You.  I must be mindful of You.  I must see You in my midst and be thankful for it.  Help me, Lord, I beg!”

Are you starting with God before you start things?

+9 steady high

 

Fix the wrong

“After that, God answered prayer….” 2 Samuel 21:14.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Samuel 21-23, and 1 Thessalonians 1.

God knows what His followers are doing.  How often do we think otherwise?

“Wrong” does not have a size.  It is just plain wrong.  It is also wrong done against God.

Israel had done something wrong many years earlier and it had not been dealt with.  Three successive years of famine finally got David’s attention and he asked God what needed to be done.

David, many times the good role model, learned what the problem was and took care of it.

The closer I am to God the more sin bothers me.  I feel uncomfortable.  I feel troubled.  I can’t rest on it.  And I think that this reaction is great.  Sin must be dealt with at once.

How many believers carry sin and wonder why their relationship with God is thrown off?

One of the best things a believer can do is to ask God to point out sin that hasn’t been dealt with.  Things pop in there pretty fast!  We can still continue to minimize the sin but for the believer it just won’t leave our consciousness.

However, once sin is dealt with there is a peace that is amazing.  There still may be trouble.  The others involved may not be so sunny about our attempts at reconciliation but that isn’t the point.  The point is that we have gotten clean with God.  We can now move on with Him unencumbered.

“Lord, see if there be any wicked way in me and reveal it to me.  I want to be clean with You.  I want to travel “light” with You.  Prick my conscience when I am wayward.  Don’t give me any peace until I get things right with You.  I love You, Father.

A believer cannot live comfortably very long without dealing with past sin.

+9 turkey dinner

 

Dealing with sin the right way

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’  And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:5.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Samuel 15-16, Psalm 32, and Matthew 25.

The more you’re concerned about your sin, the closer you are following God.

Sin is a burden.  It holds you back.  It slows you down.

When we are close to God, sin gets our attention.  We instantly realize that we did something wrong.  We want to apologize to God.  We want to change the climate back to where we were close to God.

When I am having a “drifting” relationship with God, I will often ignore sin.  “That will pass,” I imagine.  “She’ll get over it, besides she deserved it because of what she did.”  Recognize the voice of Satan!

My Godly behavior has no circumstances impacting its direction.  There is Godly and there is ungodly.  There is no wiggle room in between.

David sinned (with Bathsheba) and then tried to make his sin go away by his own means.  He only made things far worse.  Been there, done that!

Instead of repenting at “go,” he waited until all sorts of damage was done before turning repentant.

If I am walking in unceasing fellowship with God, I will recognize sin and be driven to repent and be restored to God.  Sin is something I do against God!  I must start by repenting to Him.  From there I must lean on Him to help me clean up the mess I’ve made.

“Lord, I am a sinner and always will be one.  Therefore, I must get right what I must do when it happens.  Forgive me for minimizing my sin.  Prick my conscience when I have sinned so that I set the Godly after-sin process into motion.  I love You, Father.  Guide me, I beg!”

You want to deal with sin quickly.  Don’t wait!

+8 better

 

Nathan gets the word

“’Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.’  BUT that night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan…..”  2 Samuel 7:3-4.

Verses chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalm 2, and Matthew 21.

Nathan gives David the go-ahead on anything he wants to do.  That’s blind faith!

David wanted to build a fancy place for God to dwell in.  God’s abode had been a tent suitable for travel.  Now with settlement in Jerusalem something permanent should be constructed.

Seemed like a good idea to David.  Without hearing David’s idea, Nathan gives a carte blanche approval to anything David was thinking of doing.

Not a good idea.  Nathan learns from God that He doesn’t want David building a permanent structure for Him.

Credit Nathan for retracting his carte blanche approval.  Credit David for receiving Nathan’s updated information and being okay with it.

Not everything I want to do is a good idea.  An idea may make sense but is it what God wants me to do?

Therein is a very important point: I must run everything past God.  I am not capable of getting things right otherwise.

This brings me to the regular theme of needing to be walking close to God 24/7.  I must be in a position to hear His voice.  I must be quiet so that I can actually hear His voice.  I must act quickly to carry out what He tells me.

God’s blessing is the greatest blessing.  I want Him pleased with me.  I want to be an anonymous servant ready and willing to serve Him in any capacity.  A servant He can trust to do His will.

“O Lord, so much for me here.  I need You every second.  Forgive me for missing opportunities because I am not in position to get Your instructions.  I mess things up so much.  Forgive me.  You, the Messiah have come and transformed my life.  Help me to live a transformed life the rest of this day.  To You be the glory!”

Are you listening to God or just implementing any idea that comes into your head?

+9 Applebee’s

Telling God

“I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.  I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.”  Psalm 142:1-2.

Verses chosen from today’s Bible reading: 2 Samuel 2, 1 Chronicles 11, Psalm 142, and Matthew 14.

David is in trouble and he knows what to do about it.

Where do we go when things get tough?

David cries out to God.  He has plenty of friends but they don’t have his attention this time.   He goes where we all must go and that is to God.

David is NOT complaining about his treatment by God.  He knows better.  David is presenting his problems to God so that he (David) will put himself and his problems before God.

David knows that God has all the answers he (David) will ever need.  This is part of aligning with God.

How easy it is to ignore God and how foolish it is to do that.  God knows and controls everything.  Why would I run to counterfeit gods for anything?

How often do I return to this theme: My life must be lived in tight relationship to God.  If I am close to Him then I won’t be thrown off so completely when life’s variables kick in.

How silly of me to have to look for God?  He doesn’t go anywhere; I just lose my attentiveness of His presence.

I want be close enough to Him to hear His voice and walk where He wants me walking.

“Lord, I need You constantly.  Forgive my inconsistencies in our relationship.  Open my eyes/ears to see/hear You.  I love You, Father.”

Present your requests to the One who can do what is right with them.

+8 progress

My actions reveal the condition of my heart

“As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.”  1 Samuel 24:13.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 1 Samuel 24, Psalms 57-58, 1 Chronicles 8, and Matthew 8.

What we do reveals what is in our hearts.

This truth is so obvious.

I can claim to be Godly but if my actions betray it then who could I think I’m fooling?  People in my midst certainly aren’t fooled and for sure God isn’t fooled.

An important spiritual step is to take ownership of my behavior.  I need to “call out” my behavior when it needs calling out.  What do I mean?  If I do something wrong, I must not only recognize that it is wrong but I must also recognize that the behavior reveals that something is also wrong with my relationship to God.

This is important because wrong, untended to, is like a mustard seed – small seed but capable of becoming a bigger problem.

Festering, undealt with, sin will rear its’ ugly head over and over again.  A believer, in non-stop communion with God, will constantly be aware of such a festering heart problem.  The beauty of a close relationship to God is that sin cannot fester.  It gets pointed out or it exposes itself in behavior.

“Lord, make me mindful of sin in my life.  Do not allow it to take root.  I want a clean, unfettered relationship with You full-time.  Help me, Father, I beg!”

Our behavior reveals the condition of our hearts.  A believer will not let evil fester in their life.

+9 turkey dinner