So what was it about King David that made him a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22)? He was a great king. He was a fearless warrior. He was fiercely loyal. He had an unparalleled way of expressing his heartfelt emotions. He was also an adulterer, liar and murderer. He was hardly an exemplary father. So what earned him the unique distinction that showed he was great at the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30)?
More than anything else, David had a complete and unwavering confidence in the faithfulness and forgiveness of God. Though he sinned many times, he was quick to confess his sins (2 Samuel 24:10). His confession was from the heart and his desire to restore relationship with his Heavenly Father was genuine. He never took God's blessings for granted. As a result, God never held back his forgiveness nor the consequences of his actions. David would gladly pay for his sins than miss the joy of forgiveness and a restored relationship with God.
David sinned greatly, but he didn't sin repeatedly. He was keenly aware that the most devastating consequence of sin was separation from God and that was the last thing he ever wanted. We can all probably relate to David's failures but the big question is how well do we relate to his desire to seek the Father. Are we--like David--men after God's heart?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Whose In Charge Here
When we read the Gospels and see how Jesus touched and healed many people, the thought of spiritual warfare probably doesn't come to mind. Yet notice what happens in Mark 1:32-34---That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Amidst all the healing, Jesus proved who was really in charge. The demons certainly knew who Jesus was---they were among the fallen angels who followed Satan in his rebellion against God. By commanding the demons to remain silent, He proved his power and authority over them. Matthew 8:29 even suggests that the demons are aware of their ultimate fate in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Jesus also wanted the people to believe he was the Messiah because of his own testimony and not from a source of evil. Jesus showed the powers of darkness that his glory would be revealed in God's timetable and no one else's.
As God's men, we can apply these truths to our lives as we boldly love and serve our Heavenly Father. We know whose really in charge, we know that evil can never defeat our Lord and we know that God will always accomplish his purpose and plan in his time.
Amidst all the healing, Jesus proved who was really in charge. The demons certainly knew who Jesus was---they were among the fallen angels who followed Satan in his rebellion against God. By commanding the demons to remain silent, He proved his power and authority over them. Matthew 8:29 even suggests that the demons are aware of their ultimate fate in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Jesus also wanted the people to believe he was the Messiah because of his own testimony and not from a source of evil. Jesus showed the powers of darkness that his glory would be revealed in God's timetable and no one else's.
As God's men, we can apply these truths to our lives as we boldly love and serve our Heavenly Father. We know whose really in charge, we know that evil can never defeat our Lord and we know that God will always accomplish his purpose and plan in his time.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Count It All Joy
One of the most difficult things we struggle with as believers in the person of Jesus Christ is why bad things happen to good people. Today brought to me yet another example of this---one that hits really close to home as the father of a six-year-old girl. My friends Cody and Maria Whittaker found out that their four-year-old daughter Susana has a malignant tumor in her stomach. The Whittakers are faithfully serving the Lord as missionaries in hurricane-stricken Haiti; helping to spread the Gospel in one of the world's poorest countries. You can read more about their incredible journey of faith on their website: www.howcantheyhear.org
I can cite many other examples of suffering and difficulties experienced by God's people and they remind me of the words of James 1:2-4---Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Notice that these verses say when, not if, we meet trials. Here we have a guarantee that believers are not immune from suffering, yet we also have a promise that God in his infinite love and mercy has a purpose and plan behind it.
Our limited human perspective makes it difficult to count it all joy during these times until we consider God's divine perspective. Our faith is tested to allow us to become steadfast and this is an ongoing process to shape us to be more like Jesus. We know our Savior cries when we cry (John 11:35), he sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15) and our Heavenly Father desires for us to become more and more like Him.
I can cite many other examples of suffering and difficulties experienced by God's people and they remind me of the words of James 1:2-4---Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Notice that these verses say when, not if, we meet trials. Here we have a guarantee that believers are not immune from suffering, yet we also have a promise that God in his infinite love and mercy has a purpose and plan behind it.
Our limited human perspective makes it difficult to count it all joy during these times until we consider God's divine perspective. Our faith is tested to allow us to become steadfast and this is an ongoing process to shape us to be more like Jesus. We know our Savior cries when we cry (John 11:35), he sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15) and our Heavenly Father desires for us to become more and more like Him.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Show Us a Sign
How often do we hear words like "Seeing is believing" or "Show me something" or "I'll believe it when I see it." The reality is that it doesn't take much faith to believe something that you can actually see with your own eyes. 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that as God's men, we walk by faith and not by sight.
Jesus had some pretty harsh words for the religious leaders of his time when they asked him to show them a miraculous sign (Matthew 12:38). Aware that they had personally witnessed several miracles that he had already performed, he replied, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it..." (v.39). Our Lord knew that no amount of miracles would change the Pharisees closed minds and closed hearts.
The same mindset exists today for many unbelievers and Jesus' response today is the same as it was then--no sign will be given. His birth, death and glorious resurrection from the dead; along with centuries of His work in the lives of believers all around the world is the only sign we need.
Jesus had some pretty harsh words for the religious leaders of his time when they asked him to show them a miraculous sign (Matthew 12:38). Aware that they had personally witnessed several miracles that he had already performed, he replied, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it..." (v.39). Our Lord knew that no amount of miracles would change the Pharisees closed minds and closed hearts.
The same mindset exists today for many unbelievers and Jesus' response today is the same as it was then--no sign will be given. His birth, death and glorious resurrection from the dead; along with centuries of His work in the lives of believers all around the world is the only sign we need.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Keeping An Eternal Perspective
Living in a fallen and sin-saturated world can sometimes make us forget the promise of eternal glory that awaits us as God's men. I have personally been inspired by godly men of faith who persevered through trials that would break most people and yet I can still find myself becoming discouraged at times by the apparent unfairness of human suffering.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 provides some powerful encouragement for keeping an eternal perspective: "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Paul faced intense hardship and suffering as he preached the Gospel, yet he kept his focus on the eternal goal. Rather than giving up when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit. He wasn't about to allow present pain to rob him of his eternal reward. He knew God's strength would carry him through his own weakness.
As God's men, we shouldn't let our current troubles diminish our faith. Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing pain and suffering is knowing that God has provided a place for us without the consequences of sin and He will be there with us forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 provides some powerful encouragement for keeping an eternal perspective: "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Paul faced intense hardship and suffering as he preached the Gospel, yet he kept his focus on the eternal goal. Rather than giving up when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit. He wasn't about to allow present pain to rob him of his eternal reward. He knew God's strength would carry him through his own weakness.
As God's men, we shouldn't let our current troubles diminish our faith. Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing pain and suffering is knowing that God has provided a place for us without the consequences of sin and He will be there with us forever.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Follow-Up to Romans 12
At Men's Night 1212 a few weeks ago, our pastor challenged us to read through Romans 12 to the end of the book. His analogy about Romans 12 being a lot like a favorite place he likes to visit is spot on target. There's nothing like visiting an old familiar place that brings enjoyment to lift our spirits. And like our pastor, I have a similar fondness for Romans 12 as one of my favorite spots in the Bible.
This incredible chapter in many ways is a starting point for God's man on how to live the Christian life. Paul went into great detail up to this point about God's saving grace and mercy through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross so that we would have complete and total confidence in our eternal destiny. The remaining verses in Romans tell us what it means to live a life that is pleasing to God. As we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, wholly and pleasing to him as our act of worship (v.1) and we begin to allow our minds to be renewed and transformed (v.2), we begin to set ourselves apart from the world. The remainder of Romans 12 deals with realistic self-appraisal and defining our spiritual gifts to serve others (v.3-8) and our relationships with others (v.9-21).
The following link is a great resource for further study on Romans 12 and helps provide solid, biblical answer to the issues we face. I encourage you to check it out and make Romans 12 one of your old familiar places.
http://r12online.livingontheedge.org/
This incredible chapter in many ways is a starting point for God's man on how to live the Christian life. Paul went into great detail up to this point about God's saving grace and mercy through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross so that we would have complete and total confidence in our eternal destiny. The remaining verses in Romans tell us what it means to live a life that is pleasing to God. As we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, wholly and pleasing to him as our act of worship (v.1) and we begin to allow our minds to be renewed and transformed (v.2), we begin to set ourselves apart from the world. The remainder of Romans 12 deals with realistic self-appraisal and defining our spiritual gifts to serve others (v.3-8) and our relationships with others (v.9-21).
The following link is a great resource for further study on Romans 12 and helps provide solid, biblical answer to the issues we face. I encourage you to check it out and make Romans 12 one of your old familiar places.
http://r12online.livingontheedge.org/
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The Way, The Truth, The Life
John 14:6 records for us one of the most powerful and absolute truths in the Bible. As believers in the person of Jesus Christ, it is the foundational statement for our faith. It's what separates us from all false religions and faulty belief systems. It complete and succinctly sums up God's plan for all of mankind: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
It only makes sense that the One who can bridge the sin-induced gap between God and man is the only one who is both God and man. As the way, Jesus is the path to the Father. As the truth, he is the reality of all of God's promises. As the life, he joins his divine and everlasting life to ours--both here and now and in the future for eternity.
Christians have been criticized for being narrow-minded by claiming this fundamental promise as absolute truth but the reality is that Jesus' invitation is open and available to everyone who confesses him as Lord and Savior. Talk about all-inclusive! Let us boldly proclaim this truth to all who will hear and extend the invitation to eternal life.
It only makes sense that the One who can bridge the sin-induced gap between God and man is the only one who is both God and man. As the way, Jesus is the path to the Father. As the truth, he is the reality of all of God's promises. As the life, he joins his divine and everlasting life to ours--both here and now and in the future for eternity.
Christians have been criticized for being narrow-minded by claiming this fundamental promise as absolute truth but the reality is that Jesus' invitation is open and available to everyone who confesses him as Lord and Savior. Talk about all-inclusive! Let us boldly proclaim this truth to all who will hear and extend the invitation to eternal life.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
He Has Risen
Of all the powerful verses in Scripture; of all the amazing promises contained in God's Word; of all of the wisdom, knowledge and truth that pours off the pages of the Bible, Matthew 28:5-6 sums up the basis of our faith and hope: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen."
Jesus' resurrection is the absolute key to the Christian faith. Had he not risen from the dead, he would have gone down in history as another in a long line of martyrs who died for a cause. Had he not risen from the dead, he would have left unfulfilled a promise he made to his disciples (Matthew 17:9, 22-23). Had he not risen from the dead, he would not have defeated death and paved the way for eternal life (John 14:1-6). Had he not risen from the dead, we would still be lost in our sins and our faith would be useless (1 Corinthians 15:14-19).
Celebrate each and every day---especially today---that He is risen. The shed blood of Jesus has washed away our sins and our hope is built on nothing less than his perfect sacrifice and righteousness. He has healed our past, He walks with us in the present and He has secured our future!
Jesus' resurrection is the absolute key to the Christian faith. Had he not risen from the dead, he would have gone down in history as another in a long line of martyrs who died for a cause. Had he not risen from the dead, he would have left unfulfilled a promise he made to his disciples (Matthew 17:9, 22-23). Had he not risen from the dead, he would not have defeated death and paved the way for eternal life (John 14:1-6). Had he not risen from the dead, we would still be lost in our sins and our faith would be useless (1 Corinthians 15:14-19).
Celebrate each and every day---especially today---that He is risen. The shed blood of Jesus has washed away our sins and our hope is built on nothing less than his perfect sacrifice and righteousness. He has healed our past, He walks with us in the present and He has secured our future!
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