The Godfather

Readings for today: 1 Kings 2-3, Luke 22:39-71

Every time I read 1 Kings 2, I think of one of The Godfather. I picture Michael Corleone at the altar taking his baptismal vows as his henchmen settle score after score after score. Carlo. Tessio. Virgil Solozzo. Tattaglia. Cuneo. Stacci. Barzini. It’s a classic scene. At the end of David’s life, there is yet another struggle for power. His son, Adonijah, sees his opportunity to take the throne. He gathers some of David’s inner circle around him. He sacrifices sheep and oxen. He calls all the leaders of the nation to join him with a few notable exceptions. But he miscalculates. He moves too soon. David is not yet dead. The timing is not right. And the results are disastrous. 

Solomon is crowned king by David to the acclaim of all the people. But David’s not quite finished settling scores. He has a long memory. He knows who has wronged him. He knows who has betrayed him. And one gets the sense that he’s been waiting. Biding his time. Getting ready for the right moment to strike. Joab. Shimei. Abiathar. Adonijah. All fall to the sword or are exiled as Solomon works to secure his throne. This is real life in the real world and whereas we may not assassinate our political enemies anymore, we certainly do all we can to discredit them and “assassinate” their character. Things haven’t much changed since Solomon’s time. 

What do we take away from today’s reading? Well, the biblical authors make it clear that God is using broken, imperfect people to bring about His righteous judgment. Joab is executed for committing the cold-blooded murders of Abner and Amasa. Shimei is executed for the curse he put on David as he fled for his life. Abiathar is exiled for his treason, thus fulfilling a decades old prophecy about Eli’s family being expelled from service at the house of God. Adonijah is executed for his treason and sedition. Though it may make our modern sensibilities squirm, God’s righteous judgment is a critical component of His eternal character. 

A God without justice is a God who is powerless in the face of evil. A God without justice is soft and sentimental. A God without justice cannot stand against the violence and tyranny of this world. A God without justice is weak. But our God is a God of justice! And He executes His righteous judgment on sin and evil in this world! This is why the Psalmist can declare, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!...For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land...The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming...For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous....But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.” (Psalms‬ ‭37:1, 9, 12-13, 17, 20‬) Though it may not happen in this life, the promise of God is sure! Evil will get its due! Evildoers will not inherit the Kingdom! Satan and his demonic horde will eventually be bound and thrown into the lake of fire! God will make His victory complete! His justice will reign upon the earth! 

Until that great day comes, what to make this reading in our own lives? God is a God of justice. He sees our sin. He sees the evil we commit not just with our hands but in our hearts and minds as well. Our evil thoughts. Our evil intentions. Our sinful and selfish ways. Sins of commission and sins of ommission. We cannot escape the justice of God! And this should bring us to our knees in worship before the Crucified and Risen Christ who literally stood in our place. Took our punishment. Bore the wrath we deserved. Satisfied God’s justice once and for all!  Thanks be to God for what He has done!

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 4-5, Luke 23:1-25

Pride, Power, and Popularity

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 24, 1 Kings 1, Luke 22:24-38

More and more studies are being conducted on the impact of social media on our mental health. The results are scary. It is becoming clear that prolonged social media use presents like addiction with similar accompanying symptoms. (Neglect of personal life, mental preoccupation, escapism, etc.) When people attempt to stop using social media, they go through something akin to withdrawal. The more we use social media, the less happy we seem to be and the more socially isolated we become. The comparisons social media invites between our lives and those with whom we are connected is not good for our well-being. Furthermore, social media (which includes all the different apps with a social component to it) is specifically designed to trigger dopamine “highs” in the brain. Dopamine release is triggered by unpredictability, small bits of information that can be digested quickly, and most importantly, reward cues. (i.e. number of “likes” on FB, number of “followers” on Instagram, number of “retweets” on Twitter, streaks on Snapchat, etc.)  

I think about the number of people I know who draw at least part of their self-worth off of the number of friends they have on Facebook. The number of times people hit the “heart” button on an Instagram pic. The number of retweets and likes a pithy phrase gets on Twitter or the amount of views on a YouTube video. Especially young people. Especially the young people in my own home. But it’s not just social media. I think of the number of pastors I know who draw their self-worth off the number of people who show up on a weekend for worship. I think of the drive there is in most churches for numerical growth. I know some pastors who seem to live or die based on whether they make OutReach Magazine’s  Top 100 list every year. I think of the uncritical assumptions too many Christians make that larger churches must be doing something “right” and smaller churches must be doing something “wrong.” Or the reverse. I once belonged to a denomination where the salaries of all the pastors in each region were published and voted on each year. I remember one older man who came from a very small church standing up to rail against large church pastors whose salaries were more than his entire church’s budget. Never mind the differences in scale or complexities of the job. He just didn’t like big churches and made his opinions known.  

Why are we so obsessed with numbers? It does seem to be an American phenomenon. I travel the world regularly. I’ve been to China, South Korea, Mexico, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, etc. I’ve interacted with pastors in all of those settings and in my experience, they just don’t seem as hung up as we are on numbers. I think of one young pastor in his early twenties who leads a house church of thousands in China or the village pastor in Ethiopia whose church numbers around 50 of the poorest people in the world. I think of the South Korean pastor whose church is largely made up of teenage refugees from North Korea or the Rwandan bishop whose primary flock is the aboriginal people of the forests near his home. Each of these pastors cares deeply about his people. None of them ignores the numbers. They pay attention to their flock. They evaluate how they are doing especially as it relates to reaching the lost in their communities. They are wise and discerning. But there isn’t the emotional attachment American Christians, and especially American pastors, seem to have with attendance, buildings, and budgets. It’s like we get a dopamine “high” every time the sanctuary’s full.  

It’s why I find this story about David in 2 Samuel 24 so convicting. David wants to number his people. He wants to know the size of his army. He wants to measure his power. His influence. His accomplishments. He wants to feel secure. Safe. In control. The images I have in my head are of third-world despots throwing military parades to show off their strength. David is clearly feeling insecure and in that moment, Satan strikes. He comes along and tempts David according to 1 Chronicles 21 and God allows it to happen according to 2 Samuel 24. The results are tragic. “The word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭24:11-14‬) God is going to teach David a lesson in humility. He is going to teach David where to find his true strength. He is going to teach David where true security lies. 

70,000 die from the plague. This is horrific and we cannot understand why God would do such a thing. At the same time, we have to remember that such events take place at the mysterious intersection of God’s will and human freedom. David’s decision has consequences and because David is king, the consequences impact his people. The same is true even for today. The decisions our politicians make impact real people in real life and can cause real pain and suffering. David decides to number his fighting men and around the same time, a plague begins. It is brutal. Virulent. And it kills. Somewhere in David’s mind. In the prophet Gad’s mind. Probably in Joab’s mind and the minds of so many others, these events are related. The plague is perceived as God’s punishment on Israel for David’s sinful choices. And perhaps it is. We cannot dismiss the possibility out of hand for God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He has clearly told His people over and over again that there are consequences...real, life-threatening consequences...for sin. God’s justice and righteousness will not be mocked. 

So how do we respond? What does this mean for our lives? First and foremost, it leads us to confession. Repentance. It calls to mind all the times we too have placed our faith in numbers. Or our mental health and well-being in the number of likes we get from social media. I am not immune. Nor are you. So we confess our sin before God. Second, it leads us to the cross. To the place where the penalty for our sin was paid. To the place where God’s judgment was fully and completely and utterly satisfied by the death of our Lord. We am not condemned. We need not feel any shame. For God has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. Third, it inspires us to live for Him today. To live from that place of grace knowing God has torn down the dividing wall of hostility that exists between us and made peace with us by the blood of His Cross. We am forgiven so we can forgive others. Grace was extended to us so we can extend it to others. Love was shown to us so we can show love to others. We are secure in God’s hands.  

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 2-3, Luke 22:39-71

Our Only Hope

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 19-23, Luke 21:20-22:23

A few years ago, I attended a prayer luncheon where the keynote speaker shared his testimony. Brought up Communist, he became a rising star and leader in a student revolutionary movement in college. His influence became dangerous which led to him leaving his studies to hide out in the mountains of his country. There he continued to draw followers until he and his small group of friends had amassed an army of 150,000. They engaged in guerilla warfare for a number of years until they eventually invaded the capital city and overthrew their own government. He became Prime Minister. For five years he held his position until he was betrayed by his close friend and imprisoned on crimes of corruption. It’s tough to know what’s true and what was politically motivated but in the man’s own words, “he was the chiefest of the chiefs of sinners.” He was a man of violence. A man who lived with a gun in his hand. He was a man of power. A man who enjoyed exercising authority over others. He was a man of great appetites. Using his power and influence to gratify his own desires. His end came as swiftly as his rise to power. 

Because of his great influence, he was put in solitary confinement for years. No bed. No toilet. No place even to wash his hands. He suffered tremendously. He was lonely. He was afraid. One night, he had a vision. Jesus appeared to him. Offered him release in exchange for belief. He didn’t answer right away. Things got worse. In the depths of his pain and heartache, he cried out for Jesus’ return. The next night, the vision came back and this time the man got on his knees. He gave his life to Christ and everything changed.

As I listened to this man’s testimony, I was reminded of King David. David too was a man of violence. A man who was raised from a young age to a position of power and influence. A man who used that power and influence to gratify his own desires on more than one occasion. David too was a man of great contradictions. Capable of amazing love and generosity and grace in one moment and brutal, horrifying, seemingly capricious violence in the next. In many ways, he was just like any other ancient near east ruler and yet God still loves him. And he loves God. Even here at the end of his life, he is still finding new and fresh ways to praise God!

What are we to make of such a man? Wrong question. What are we to make of such a God? Much better question! What do we make of a God who would love a man like David? A man like the one I mentioned at the beginning of this devotional? A man like me? The reality is we are all people of great contradictions. All of us are capable of great good and great evil. Capable of great beauty and great ugliness. Capable of amazing acts of generosity as well selfish acts of greed. Perhaps this is why David kept writing his poetry? Perhaps he knew this truth deep down? Despite all his sin. Despite every mistake. Despite the people he had hurt along the way. David knew his only hope was in the Lord. 

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭22:2-4‬) Where is your confidence today, friends? Is it in the Lord? Is He your rock? Your fortress? Your deliverer? Have you taken refuge in Him?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 24, 1 Kings 1, Luke 22:24-38

Human Nature

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 17-18, Luke 21:1-19

In my devotional reading recently, I came across these words, “Deep in every human life there is somehow that which defiles it.” Written in 1943 in the midst of World War 2 by a prominent pastor in New York City. He saw firsthand the impact “crisis” made on people. He came of age during World War 1. He began his ministry in the Roaring Twenties. He served through the Great Depression until the end of World War 2. He was a national voice. He helped our nation process their pain. And the one thing he kept coming back to over and over again was how all these different crises revealed the “de-formation” of humanity’s soul. We just can’t get out of our own way. We keep striving in our own strength. We keep turning to our own wisdom. But it was clear to Rev. Scherer that the world’s resources were now played out. The highest ideals of secularism had descended into the horrors of the Holocaust. Science produced fearful and terrifying weapons of mass destruction. Set free from the shackles of religion, humanity pursued it’s own end with tragic consequences. All that was left was what Nietzsche called, “the will to power.” Millions died as a result. Millions experienced systematic abuse and oppression. Millions suffered the consequences of our collective anger and hate.

Tragically, humanity just seems to hit the “repeat” button every generation. The people of Israel abandon David. The once-great hero is now on the run for his life. All the power dynamics of this particular ancient near east society are thrown up in the air. Allegiances change overnight. Everyone casting their lot with the person they believe will eventually prevail. Ziba makes a play for his master’s wealth. Shimei takes the opportunity to take out all his frustrations. Abishai reverts to type, thinking he can solve every problem with violence. Ahithophel is so ashamed when his advice isn’t taken, he goes home and takes his own life. Joab seizes the opportunity to kill Absalom against specific orders from his king. David weeps over the death of his son. Israel will return to David but nothing will ever again be the same. Violence and suffering and warfare will mark the rest of David’s reign. There is just something dark and deep in our nature that continues to defile us.

Now consider our own situation. A pandemic still rages all over the world. The recent photos of the funeral pyres in India serve as a sobering reminder of the danger so many remain in. Yes, vaccinations are largely available but only in those countries that can afford it. Only in those nations who have the logistical infrastructure to transport and store them safely. And even after COVID fades, the deep political and social divisions it exposed remain. We are more polarized than ever. Those on the other side of the aisle are no longer colleagues with whom we respectfully disagree but enemies we must crush. Those who take a different position socially are no longer friends with whom we can respectfully disagree but hate-filled bigots who must be cut out of our lives. We are all looking for someone to blame. Someone to attack. Someone to degrade. But the sad reality is there is no win here. No way out. We’re engaged in a zero sum game. There is just something dark and deep in our nature that continues to defile us.

So where do we find hope? Only in Christ. Christ gives us the compassion to walk in another person’s shoes. Christ gives us the grace to allow people to make mistakes. Christ gives us love for those with whom we disagree or those who we call our enemies. Christ gives us joy even in the midst of our trials. Christ gives us strength to persevere through our suffering. Christ gives us the humility to ask for help. Christ gives us peace in the midst of the storm. Friends, we have reached the horizon of our lives. We have reached the end of our resources. No amount of government intervention or social engineering can possibly save any of us from ourselves. Only Christ can deliver us. Only Christ can save us. Only Christ can set us free.

Readings for tomorrow: None

The Tragedy of Unforgiveness

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 15-16, Luke 20:27-47

There are consequences when we fail to forgive from the heart. Consequences when we fail to reconcile. Consequences when we fail to follow God’s will and seek to restore broken relationships. The impact of those consequences tend to be commensurate with the authority and power and influence we wield. So a parent who refuses to take this step with their child can impact future generations. An employer who refuses to take this step with employees can cost a company. A pastor who refuses to take this step with her/his congregation can disrupt a congregation. 

David was a king. A man who held the power of life and death in his hands. A man whose authority was supreme and final. The impact of his decisions impacted not just him or his household but a nation. This is true not only in the Absalom narrative but also at other times in David’s life. There is a ripple effect to the decisions he makes. When he makes good and godly decisions, the nation is blessed. When he makes poor and ungodly decisions, the nation is cursed. As we read yesterday, David’s refusal to execute justice when his daughter Tamar was raped creates a crisis in his family that eventually spreads to the nation. Absalom takes matters into his own hands leading to his exile. David brings him back but refuses to forgive him from the heart and restore him to his place. In his isolation, Absalom’s bitterness grows and it leads him to conspire to steal the kingdom. David seems blissfully unaware as Absalom executes his carefully laid plans. He’s almost caught completely by surprise when the news finally comes and he has to flee for his life. The ripples grow as allegiances shift and new alliances are formed. Ahithophel sides with Absalom. Hushai with David. Joab goes with David so Absalom makes Amasa his new general. Abiathar and Zadok stay in Jerusalem as priests but remain loyal to David. Shimei curses David. Ziba makes his move to take over what’s left of the household of Saul. Everyone, it seems, is looking out for themselves. Such is the chaos that happens when forgiveness and reconciliation are ignored. It leads to all kinds of brokenness, suffering, and pain. 

We’ve all probably had this experience. A friend says something or does something that hurts us. We refuse to forgive. Now the rest of our friends are forced to choose sides. A marriage breaks up. Divorce papers are signed. Once again, friends and family feel forced to take sides. A business deal goes south. Partners split up. Lawyers are called to divide up the assets. Clients and customers are pressured to shift their loyalties. Seasons of ministry come to an end. Pastors are let go. Forced out in some cases. Congregations split. Such experiences are painful and never easy. Too many of us take the path of least resistance which is avoidance. Abandoning the relationships we once enjoyed because forgiveness is too hard. Reconciliation too much. The way of Jesus too difficult.  

And yet, Jesus’ words continue to haunt us…“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us...For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭6:12, 14-15‬) “Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew‬ ‭18:21-22‬) “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." (Mark‬ ‭11:25‬)

Friends, forgiveness and reconciliation are ESSENTIAL to the Christian life. Coming to terms with our brothers and sisters is REQUIRED by Jesus if we are to call ourselves His disciples. We are not given any other options. Any other choices. Jesus wants His family to be unified not just in name but from the heart. Think of the pain that could have been avoided had David listened to God. Think of the pain in our own lives that could be avoided if only we would listen to God. Who is Jesus calling you to forgive today?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 17-18, Luke 21:1-19

Hypocrisy

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 12-14, Luke 20:1-26

Hypocrisy killed my grandmother. Her life was one for the history books. Literally. Widowed at a very young age with three young children, she moved them all from a small farming town in western Nebraska to Switzerland to live for two years. She traveled all over Europe during that time. Her kids learned multiple languages as well as how to ski in the Alps. When they came back home, she settled back in. Ran the family farm. Eventually remarried and added three more kids to the mix. One of them died at age 18. She lost her second husband during open heart surgery. Once the kids were out of the house, she pursued her nurses’ license. Studied a foreign language herself. She literally never stopped moving. However, the grief in her life eventually caught up to her and she looked for a way to ease her pain and guilt. Tragically, she got caught up in a cult. They convinced her to give them her land and her wealth. They convinced her to move to California. Her relationships with her children became strained. Right before the end of her life, the cult leader died. His successors publicly repented of their ways. They let all their followers know they intentionally been deceitful. My grandmother’s heart broke. She realized what she had done. She had acted against some of her most deeply held convictions. She literally spent hours writing in every book she owned, “Esther is a hypocrite.” I remember talking to her towards the end of her life, attempting to win her back to Christ. She and I talked about forgiveness. We talked about unconditional love. We talked about God dying for all our sin and guilt and shame. We talked about the power of the Holy Spirit to renew and cleanse and make us whole again. I still remember the day she called the house. I picked up the phone. All she said was, “Doug, you’re right.” (She had significant dementia by this point.) And then she hung up. It was the last time I spoke to her. I will remain forever grateful to the Lord for those final words because I know she had finally let go of the shame she felt over her hypocrisy and accepted the grace of God into her life.

Hypocrisy always leads to death. For David, it led to the tragic death of his infant child. It led the death of the peace and prosperity and unity of his reign. David was nothing before he met God. He was a shepherd in a field of a small backwater town that barely appeared on a map. Everything David achieved was because of God. Everything David now owned came from God’s own hand. All his victories. All his success. All his wealth and power and privilege. All of it came from God. But it wasn’t enough. David betrayed his deepest convictions when he raped Bathsheba. He compounded his crimes when he ordered the murder of Uriah. He sealed his fate when he attempted to cover up his sin. So God sends him a prophet. Nathan confronts David. Forces him to face the consequences of his hypocrisy. Thankfully, David repents. “For thus says the Lord…you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭12:12-13‬) But it is too late for his household. He has sown the wind and will reap the whirlwind. Civil war. Exile. The death of so many of his children.

Hypocrisy is the reason our nation is dying. I forced myself to watch all the speeches last night from both parties. Once again, I was bitterly disappointed. It’s astounding to me how many of our political leaders twist one another’s words to further their own agendas. They refuse to share any credit. They assume the absolute worst of those on the other side of the aisle. They do not act in good faith. In some cases, they simply outright lie. And the lack of integrity is tragically bipartisan. As such, they betray the very oaths they took when they raised their right hand and promised to do what is best for our country.

Hypocrisy is the reason the church in America is dying. Far too many priests and pastors abuse their positions of spiritual authority in all sorts of ways. The widespread scandal of sexual abuse of the most vulnerable in congregations is horrifying. The spiritual abuse of the people they serve is more subtle but just as destructive. The lure of celebrity is seemingly too hard to resist. The opportunity to leverage one’s position to accumulate great wealth and power and cultural influence is too tempting for many. Add to that an inability to humbly confront our own sinful legacies of pride and hate and is it any wonder so many are leaving the faith?

Hypocrisy is the reason I am dying on some level. Every time I betray my own deeply held convictions, I reminded of how easy it is for me to play the hypocrite. Every time I fail to serve my wife. Fail to honor my children. Fail to listen to those who are hurting in my own congregation. Every time I fail to assume the best of my critics. Fail to love those who are hard for me to love. Fail to pray for my enemies. I too am “that man” that Nathan talks about. And I would be lost indeed without my Savior Jesus Christ. He alone is faithful. He alone is steadfast. He alone is true. He is my Rock and my Redeemer. And His grace is enough. It was enough for my grandmother. It was enough for King David. It is enough for you. It is enough for me. It is enough for the church. It is enough for our nation. It is even enough for the world. Thanks be to God.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 15-16, Luke 20:27-47

Amazing Grace

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 9-11, Luke 19:28-48

There’s a famous story told about John Knox, the founder of Presbyterianism in Scotland. He had a nightmare as he lay dying. When he awoke, he told all his friends that he had just been tempted to believe he had earned heaven through the faithfulness of his life and ministry. But he quickly followed that up with these words, “Blessed be God who enabled me to quench the fiery dart, by suggesting to me such passages of Scripture as these; “What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7) “By the grace of God I am what I am.” (1 Cor. 15:10a) “Not I but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Cor. 15:10b)

It is so easy to think we deserve God’s grace. It’s so easy to believe we’ve done enough. We’re good enough. We’re strong enough. We’ve worked hard enough. Yes, most of know the dictionary definition of grace - “unmerited favor” - but if we’re honest, deep down we like to think we deserve it. If you don’t believe me, take a moment and consider how much we tend to take God’s grace for granted. How little we value our time with Him. How easy it is for us to prioritize other things. Think about how hard it is for us to forgive those who hurt us. Reconcile broken relationships. Extend grace to others. Think about how easy it is for us to play the critic. To assume the worst rather than the best of others. Become angry or dismissive toward those with whom we disagree politically, socially, or spiritually. Yes, grace is a hard concept for us to grasp much less live out on a daily basis.

In today’s reading, we come face to face with a marvelous example of grace in the story of David and Mephibosheth. David is now king. He has the nation firmly united behind him. He is winning battle after battle. Expanding their territory. Gaining tribute. Philistines. Moabites. Syrians. Edomites. All fall before him. Most ancient near east kings, in their efforts to consolidate power, would seek out the last surviving members of the former royal family and have them put to death. After all, you do not want to give any of your enemies a potential rival to rally behind. Not David. David remembers his covenant with Jonathan. David remembers his promise to Saul. He seeks out the last surviving members of Saul’s family in order to honor them. Bless them. Extend grace to them.

Enter Mephibosheth. Crippled. Weak. Broken. Living in abject poverty - Lo-debar literally means “no pasture” - where he has fled to hide. For years, he has eked out an existence hoping to escape the notice of the new king. He knows what would likely happen should he be found out. But now he’s been betrayed. His location is known. The king’s soldiers show up to bring him before David. One can imagine his fear. One can imagine all the nightmare scenarios running through his head. He comes before David and bows his face to the floor at his feet. He begs for mercy though he knows he doesn’t deserve it. And what’s David’s response? Grace. 

Friends, we are Mephibosheth. We are crippled. Weak. Broken. We too live in abject spiritual poverty. We too have fled to hide from the King. Many of us have lived this way for years. Putting our heads down and barely eking out an existence. Enslaved to our sin, we tried as best we could to escape God’s notice. But the Holy Spirit sees all and knows all. He found us out! He sought us out! He brought us before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Perhaps you remember the day that happened? The first day you actually humbled yourself before Jesus? I remember it well. I remember the exact spot I was standing on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. I remember feeling the full weight of my sin for the first time. I remember the sense of despair I felt at the way my life was going. I remember how unworthy I felt before the Lord as I prayed to accept Him into my life. And what I remember most of all is feeling utterly overwhelmed as His grace washed over me. For the first time in my life, I knew things would be okay. I knew I was loved with an everlasting love. I knew I was not alone. My heart, once so dry and empty, was immediately filled with joy and peace. It was amazing.

Friends, grace has nothing to do with us. Nothing to do with what we’ve done. Nothing to do with how good we think ourselves to be. It has everything to do with God. By showering us with grace, God is being faithful to Himself. Faithful to the covenant promises He has made. Grace takes the wounded, crippled, and broken and sets a place for them at God’s table. Grace seeks out the spiritually disabled, those lost and wandering in darkness, enslaved to sin, dead in their trespasses and presents them before God. Grace goes to the most barren places, rescues the spiritually poor, and brings them to a place of plenty, where we are fed with the richest of fare. Most of all, grace takes those orphaned by sin and adopts them into God’s own family! 

Now here’s what we most often miss about grace. It doesn’t take away our brokenness. Mephibosheth remained crippled for the rest of his life. In the same way, we too remain crippled by our sinful nature. Why does God allow this? Again, the answer is grace. As Mephibosheth limped around the palace, leaning on his crutches, he was reminded over and over again of the amazing grace of the king. As you and I continue our struggle with sin. Tempted. Afflicted. Oppressed. We are being reminded over and over again of the amazing grace of our own King. That takes a wretch like me. Once lost. Now found. Once blind but now can see. 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 12-14, Luke 20:1-26

Unless the Lord builds the house…

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 6-8, Luke 19:11-27

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalms‬ ‭127:1‬)

One of the things I struggle with the most is my desire to be successful. To make my life count. To do something significant. To strive to be the best. These values were ingrained in me from an early age. They are not necessarily bad in and of themselves. The problem is I too often let these good things become ultimate things in my life. I start to pursue success at the expense of my relationship with God or those I love. I focus on the future rather than find contentment in the present. I covet what I don’t have rather than be thankful for what I do have.  

Several years ago, the Lord spoke to me during a time of prayer. It wasn’t an audible voice or a lightning bolt from heaven or anything like that. It was simply an impression in my heart. A feeling in my gut. A few random thoughts in my head that suddenly coalesced into a message I needed to hear. It was a short message. Three simple words. Obscurity. Anonymity. Insignificance. I was journaling and these three words started ringing over and over again in my head. Obscurity. Anonymity. Insignificance. Over the years I’ve learned to pay attention to these kinds of things in my prayer time so I sat back from my keyboard and asked the Lord to give me further insight into what He was saying. God said, “I want you to labor in obscurity. Embrace anonymity. Pursue insignificance.” To be honest, my first thought was, “Wait a minute! That doesn’t sound right! That’s not who I am! Frankly, it sounds unAmerican!” God’s answer? “Exactly.” :-)  

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” King David had a desire to build God a house. It was a godly desire. A good desire. One affirmed by Nathan the prophet. But it was not the Lord’s will. “But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?...'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭7:4-5, 8-13‬) I love how God flips the tables on David here. It is not David who will build God a house but God who will build David a house! It is not David who will make His own name great but God who will make David’s name great! 

Unless God builds the house. Unless God builds David’s house. Unless God builds our house. We all labor in vain. This was the message God was sending me during my devotional time. I was spending so much energy working hard to be successful. To stand out among my peers. To be faithful to God. And all the while God was calling me to rest. To trust. To stand back and let Him do the “building” of my life. Let Him guide and direct my path. Let Him have the glory for the success I was seeking to achieve. 

Since that time, I’ve continued to learn. Continued to grow. Continued to grasp on ever-deepening levels the meaning of those God-given words for my life.  

• Obscurity - I labor in a small town overshadowed by a big city. I work in a church on the eastern edge of that town off the beaten track. The church I serve is growing but we’ll never top the Outreach 100 list. We’re making an impact locally and globally but no one will ever write us up in the history books. We’re just an ordinary group of people seeking to serve God and love each other well.

• Anonymity - I am released from the pressure to perform. To succceed. To self-promote. No one knows my name. This work isn’t about me. I love the fact that I don’t always have to be up front. Don’t always have to preach. Don’t always have to be in charge. I am simply one of God’s many servants at my church.

• Insignificance - I am deeply aware of how truly insignificant my contributions to the Kingdom of God are in the grand scheme of things. The reality is I will be completely forgotten within a generation or so of my death. My own family won’t remember who I was or what I did. All my accomplishments and achievements will quickly turn to dust. And that’s okay. Because my significance is not found in what I do but in who God is and I am content simply to serve Him in whatever way He sees fit.

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Where do you need to step back and let God build in your life? In what areas do you need to hand over the tools, stop working so hard, and let God take over? Whose blueprint are you operating from? Yours or God’s? 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 9-11, Luke 19:28-48

The Secret to Prayer

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 1-5, Luke 18:1-19:10

I was recently talking to a friend about a situation they are facing in their life right now. It is hard. It is challenging. It is heartbreaking. It has to do with someone they love and the challenges they face. And my friend asked me how they should pray. You see, they are mad at God right now. Frustrated by the unjust treatment of the one they love. They want to know why God seems silent in the face of their fears. Why won’t He answer the deepest cries of their hearts? 

It’s a common experience. As believers in Jesus Christ, we find our hearts breaking for the world around us. It is full of so much depression. So much despair. So much disease. So much injustice. Tensions are high. Divisions are many. Distrust is the rule of the day. Natural disasters like hurricanes, cyclones, drought, and famine cause terrible suffering. Violence and wars rage around the globe and often in our own backyards. Our lives are touched by tragedy. We cannot escape it. And so we pray. We come before God. We lay our burdens before Him. We cry out to Him in the midst of our grief. We beg Him to act. We rage at Him when He seems silent and distant. We wonder why He won’t hear us? Why He won’t answer us? Why He won’t respond to ease the suffering of those we love? 

In today’s reading, Jesus teaches us about prayer. Three things, He says, you need when you come before God in prayer. Starting at the end of the passage and working our way back to the beginning, Jesus calls us to pray like children. “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke‬ ‭18:17‬) Children often don’t have the big picture. They often can’t understand the decisions of their parents. If your kids are like my kids, they often say things like, “I don’t understand why things have to be this way.” But as their father, I know better. I often know what they need even before they ask. I know their hearts. I know their fears. I know their struggles. I know what’s good for them even if they don’t know it themselves. We need to pray with the attitude and perspective of a child. Our Heavenly Father knows best. He knows what He’s doing. He has a plan and it is good.  

Second, we pray with humility. “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke‬ ‭18:13-14‬) We are sinners. We are broken. Our view of the world is warped. Our understanding of life is corrupt. Our feelings cannot be trusted. We do not place our faith in our own understanding. We do not place our faith in our own pride and privilege. We do not place our faith in our own wisdom and strength. Instead, we come before God on our knees. We bow before His wisdom and understanding. In all our ways, we acknowledge His Lordship and we trust Him to make our paths straight. He is gracious. He is merciful. He is steadfast in His love and faithfulness.  

Finally, we pray with persistence. “And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” (Luke‬ ‭18:3-5‬) God invites us not just to knock politely on the door to the throne room of heaven but to literally beat it down! We come before God continually. Constantly bringing our requests before Him. He never tires of hearing our needs. Never tires of listening to the desires of our hearts. Never falls asleep. Never gets bored. Never takes a break. Never slams the door in our face. He simply embraces us. Pulls us into His lap. He draws near to us when we are broken hearted and crushed in spirit. He is with us in the darkest of times to bring comfort and peace. And often in the fullness of time. According to His perfect will. An answer is waiting. 

I want to encourage you in prayer today, friends. Do not relent. Do not let go. Do not let up. Stay persistent. Come before your God humbly. With the faith of a child. And trust your Heavenly Father is good and has your best in mind. 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 6-8, Luke 19:11-27

Epitaph

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 30-31, Luke 17:20-37

My dad’s family comes from a small town in western Nebraska. If you go to the cemetery there, you will find all my relatives going back several generations. Grossbachs. Reslers. Arenz’s. They’re all there. You’ll see a headstone for my son Caleb and the plots where Kristi and I will be buried as well. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place. Every time we go back to Wauneta, we make sure we go out to visit. We walk among our ancestors. We read their names. Birthdates. Deathdates. And ponder the legacy they’ve left for us. 

In the final analysis, what message will your life send? What will be written about you after you die? What memories will your children and grandchildren hold onto? How will they speak of you? King Saul ruled Israel for a number of years. He started off well but quickly went off track. His life is one of half-measures. A part of him tries so hard to be faithful to God but a greater part keeps taking matters into his own hands. His fear gets the best of him on so many occasions. And now we read about his death. A horrible one. You can almost see him on top of Mt. Gilboa. Wounded. Pierced through by many arrows. The bodies of his sons lying on the ground around him. He’s in pain. Agony. Grief-stricken. Israel has fallen before the Philistines. The glory of the Lord has departed. He’s watching it all come crashing down around him and in his despair, he asks his armor-bearer to finish him off before his enemies come and torture him. His armor-bearer refuses so Saul falls on his own sword. 

What verdict does the Bible render about this man’s life? “So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.” (1 Chronicles‬ ‭10:13-14‬) Saul’s death did not come at the hands of the Philistines. Not ultimately. His fate was sealed when he broke faith with God. When he did not wait all those years ago for Samuel to come and make the right sacrifices. From that point forward, Saul was doomed to perish and every action he took to stave off his fate only served to seal it further. Seeking out the witch of Endor was simply the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Saul no longer sought God. No longer pursued God. No longer loved God. And so God put him to death and gave the kingdom to David. 

So back to us? What will future generations say about you when you’re gone? The writers of the Chronicles were looking back at their history. They looked back at their leaders and they judged them primarily based on their fidelity to the Lord. Good leadership looked to Yahweh. Evil leadership looked to other gods. A good life was one defined by faithfulness to God. An evil life was one defined by selfishness, greed, and the worship of idols. Saul will forever be remembered by his epitaph in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14. David will forever be remembered as the “man after God’s own heart.” What legacy are you leaving behind?

Readings for tomorrow: None

Servant-minded

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 27-29, Luke 17:1-19

I remember driving back from a weekend getaway in Boston with Kristi when it hit me. We had been married for three or four years. We had our ups and downs as we tried to figure out life together. Things got more challenging because of a heartbreaking pregnancy loss and a cross-country move. We were generally happy but I think we both felt like our relationship could be so much more. I remember looking over at Kristi as she slept in the seat next to me. I remember asking the Lord what I could do to make our marriage truly great. God gave me one word, “serve.” Serve her with all your heart and with all your might. Make it your goal in life to support, encourage, and empower her to be a strong woman of faith. Don’t be the stumbling block. Don’t let the temptation to be selfish get a foothold. When she’s hurting, drop everything to comfort her. When she’s angry and lashes out, let it all go and forgive her. When she succeeds, celebrate her for all she’s worth. Something changed in me that day. My attitude shifted. My perspective changed. And our marriage has only gotten better and better over the years. All because I dedicated my life to serve.

In the reading from Luke’s Gospel today, Jesus is teaching His disciples a similar lesson. They are never to put a stumbling block in anyone’s way. They are never to let their anger, their frustration, their selfishness, their desires tempt those around them to sin. They are to forgive easily and often. They are to serve faithfully and selflessly. I love the disciple’s response…“Increase our faith!”…because it was mine that day in the car! How else could it happen? How else could I become the husband I needed to be? I’m only human after all. Of course, so were the disciples. Broken by sin just like all of us. Subject to the same temptations and pressures and anxiety that everyone else feels. They are not supermen. They have no spiritual superpowers. They do not have the strength or wisdom to be able to do what Jesus is calling them to do. So they cry out for more faith. More faith to believe. More faith to live. More faith to be the servants Jesus was calling them to be.

All of us need such faith if we are to serve. For it is only by faith that we can let go of our need for recognition. Our need to have our desires fulfilled. Our need to have our own needs met. True servant-mindedness and servant-heartedness lets go of these things. The true servant understands they are simply doing their duty. Doing what’s expected. They find joy in the act of service for they know they are serving a Master greater than themselves. Jesus is both Master and Servant. He came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. He refused to use His power and authority in demanding or coercive ways. He refused to repay evil for evil. In short, He never put a stumbling block in anyone’s way. He forgave easily and often. He served faithfully and selflessly all the way to the end of His life. And He didn’t need any recognition for it. He simply embraced it as His role in His Father’s divine plan.

Jesus expects the same servant-mindedness from His disciples. He expects us to cultivate a servant’s heart in every relationship in life. He expects us to give away our lives in service to others. And this, indeed, will take faith. More faith than we can ever muster on our own. It will take faith to work for no earthly rewards. Faith to set aside any earthly desire to be recognized for all we do. Faith to trust Jesus with all our needs. It takes faith to work for no other affirmation than to hear those words from Him at the end of our lives, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.”

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 30-31, Luke 17:20-37

Letting Go

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 24-26, Luke 16:14-31

Imagine having everything you ever wanted within your grasp? Position. Power. Peace. You have the opportunity with a single stroke to bring it about. Imagine spending your life defending yourself against injustice. On the run for crimes you did not commit. Falsely accused by your enemy. And now you have the chance to end it. All you have to do is take matters into your own hands. A sudden strike in the darkness and you could lay hold of all God had promised. 

The temptation to bring about the will of God in our own way and own time is very real. David faced it in the cave when Saul came in to relieve himself. Jesus faced it in the wilderness when the enemy offered him all the kingdoms of the world without the cross. You and I face it everyday as well in big and small ways. Yes, we know the will of God for our lives. We know His Word. We know His Truth. We know His Law. We know what He desires for us. But we get impatient. We get frustrated. We get anxious. We get afraid. And in our fear, we take matters into our own hands. 

I remember vividly sitting down at a coffee shop one morning in Sun Prairie, WI. Kristi and I had been seeking God’s will for many months. God had led us to resign from a difficult and painful ministry position. He had led us to a great church family who welcomed us in to help us heal. He had provided a sixty day severance package that we lived on while we waited for Him to reveal what was next. Through a mutual friend, God had connected us to a church in Parker, CO that was just beginning their search for a new senior pastor. But these things take time and I was growing anxious. I was afraid. The church in Parker was literally my only job prospect. I had no other options. How would I feed my family if it fell through? How would I pay the rent? Was my career in ministry over? Was it time to go do something else? All these thoughts ran through my head as the weeks passed and the wheels of the search process slowly turned. I was getting about two to three hours of sleep a night. I would pace the hours away praying and crying out to God. 

One Saturday evening, I made up my mind. Enough was enough. I needed to expand my search. I needed to look at other ministry positions. I needed more options. So I told Kristi I would start looking the next morning. She and I went to bed. She tossed and turned all night, suffering from the sudden onset of a migraine. I did my normal pacing routine. We were both deeply unsettled. Eventually, morning dawned. I showered. Got dressed. Headed over to the coffee shop, laptop in hand to begin my day. I ordered my regular cup of black coffee. Sat down at my favorite table. Opened up the browser on my computer. Just as I went to type, I heard the word “NO” in my mind. It was clear. It was loud. It was startling. I looked around. Shook my head. Went to type. Again came the word...”NO!” This time I jumped a little. I looked around again. No one else was in the shop. Just me and the barista who was in the back. So I tried a third time to type. “NO!” I sat back. I looked out the window. I knew it was the Lord. Calling me to trust. Calling me to be patient. Calling me to wait on Him to reveal His will rather than make my own plans. I called Kristi. Told her what had happened. Told her God wasn’t allowing me to apply to any other positions and that we just needed to wait for Him to reveal what would happen with the church in Parker. Immediately she felt the pain from her migraine lift and relief flood her body. It remains one of the most incredible moments in our lives. 

God’s ways are not our ways. All of us would have counseled David to take Saul’s life in the cave that day. Put an end to the running. Put an end to the civil war. Kill your enemy and take your rightful place on the throne of Israel. All of us would have counseled Jesus to avoid the cross. To accept the deal the devil was offering. Accomplish all the Father has sent You to do without the suffering and pain. We all compromise. We all rationalize. We all have our excuses for why we don’t follow the will of God. Why we don’t walk in His ways. Why we don’t wait on His timing. The reality is we are always looking out for number one. We are always looking out for our own interests first before we look to the interests of others. Even God. But David was a man after God’s own heart. He refused to take matters into his own hands. He refused to lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed even though Saul was an evil and corrupt king. He trusted all God had promised would be fulfilled in God’s time and in God’s way. Just like Jesus did in the wilderness. Just like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Friends, take a step back. Take your hands off the wheel. Relinquish control. Let go. Trust God to fulfill His promises in His perfect timing and according to His perfect will. 

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 27-29, Luke 17:1-19

The God of Prodigals and Pharisees

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 20-21, Luke 15:11-32

I’ve read this story a thousand times. The story of the prodigal son is one of my favorites in all the Bible. Probably because I am the prodigal. I’ve been a drunk. I’ve engaged in all kinds of lustful behavior. I’ve been lazy and flunked out of school. I’ve lied to everyone I love. I’ve lived a double life. I’ve been arrogant and prideful. I’ve been selfish and vain. I’ve chased money and possessions. I’ve been blind to my own prejudices and biases. And I wish I could say I’ve grown beyond such sinful behaviors but the honest truth is they remain, lurking down deep in the depths of my heart.

For years, I believed the answer to my problem lay in self-discipline. After I came to know Christ, I fought hard to change these deep-seated patterns of behavior. I memorized Scripture. I went faithfully to worship every single Sunday. I did my daily quiet time with the Lord. I sought out accountability from my brothers in Christ. I prayed my heart out for God to change me. And I grieved every time I fell into sin. I was judgmental of myself and others. I was quick to condemn people for even the littlest mistakes. It was black or white for me with just about everything. There was so little grace in my life. Looking back, I realize now I had simply flipped to the other side of the coin. I had become a Pharisee. And I wish I could say I’ve grown beyond such sinful attitudes but the honest truth is they remain, lurking down deep in the depths of my heart.

Then a few years ago, I found myself focusing on the father in this story. I marveled at how he listened without bitterness or resentment or any apparent hurt to his younger son’s request. He knew his son was basically telling him he wished he were dead. He knew fulfilling his younger son’s request would impoverish the family. He knew what it would cost to let his younger son go and still he shows him grace. I marveled as well at his treatment of the older son. The one who did everything right. The one who remained faithful on the outside but on the inside was burning up with anger and hatred. He knew what it would cost if his older son refused to embrace his brother. He knew how it would impoverish the family and threaten their future together. And still he shows him grace. I marveled yet more at how the father runs to both his sons. Meeting them where they were at. Refusing to be separated from them in their shame. He embraces each of them in turn. Reaffirming his love for them. Reaffirming their place in the family. He simply will not let them go.

Friends, true freedom is not found in chasing every desire. True freedom is not found in exercising strict self-control. True freedom can only be found in the Father’s love. It is His love and grace that sets us free. It is His Son who breaks the power of sin in our lives through His death on the cross. And it is His Spirit who goes to work transforming us from the inside out. No matter where you find yourself today - playing the Prodigal or the Pharisee - may you place your trust in the God who loves them both with all His heart.

Readings for tomorrow: Samuel 22-23, Luke 16:1-13

Whole-Hearted

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 15-19, Luke 14:25-15:10

“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature...for the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Sam. ‭16:7‬) 

What does it mean to love God with a “whole” heart? To live a life fully devoted to Him? Does it depend on physical stature and strength? King Saul literally stood head and shoulders above his countrymen. (1 Sam. 10:23) Eliab, David’s older brother, clearly was an impressive specimen. (1 Sam. 16:6) Does it depend on a track record of achievement and success and wealth and privilege? I’m sure God could easily have lined up a hundred other men who had accomplished a heck of a lot more than David and had the receipts to show for it. What kind of heart does God treasure in a man or woman? The key is found in 1 Sam. 15:22-23..."Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.” Humility. Submission. Obedience. These are the qualities on which God places supreme value. Are we willing to listen? Willing to walk with open hands? Willing to surrender our plans in favor of God’s plan for our lives? Are we willing to trust God even when our circumstances seem bleak? Are we willing to obey even when it’s hard? 

King Saul was a half-hearted man. Though he was chosen by God and instructed by Samuel in the “rights and duties” of godly kingship, his heart was divided. At times, Saul was faithful and found great success. At other times, he was unfaithful and found only heartbreak. In times of conflict, Saul seemed to trust in God and therefore win victory after victory. In times of preparation or peace, Saul seemed to forget God and trust in his own understanding. The unlawful sacrifice at Gilgal. A rash vow during the heat of battle. A refusal to devote the Amalekites to destruction. These events illustrate the half-hearted devotion Saul paid to Yahweh and it eventually cost him everything. The kingdom was literally ripped from his hands. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. And he ended up tormented and paranoid. 

King David was a whole-hearted man. As we will see as we keep reading, David was a man after God’s own heart. This doesn’t make him perfect. His failures are massive and significant and costly. But through it all, David keeps seeking after God. David keeps humbling himself before God. David keeps returning to God in repentance. And God loves David. Honors David. Promises to give the throne to his descendents for generations.  

So time to take stock. Time to step back and honestly examine your own heart. Are you half-hearted or whole-hearted in your devotion to God? Half-hearted or whole-hearted in your love for Jesus? How do you know? We’ve already seen that it doesn’t necessarily depend on our outward appearance or achievement. It can’t be measured by the wealth we accumulate during the course of our lives. We can’t count on the image we project to the world to save us. No, we have to be courageous enough to take the inward journey into the heart. We have to plumb the depths of our soul. We have to plunge deep enough to come face to face with the real person we too often like to keep hidden inside. When we take this journey, who do we find? A man or woman after God’s own heart? A man or woman deeply and fully and completely in love with God? A man or woman of whole-hearted devotion to their Savior? Do we find in our hearts a hunger and thirst for righteousness? A deep awareness of the poverty of our own spiritual condition? Do we grieve over our sin? These are important questions that serve as a “diagnostic” to help us discern the spiritual condition of our hearts. 

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 20-21, Luke 15:11-32

Waiting on God

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 13-14, Luke 14:1-24

Recently, I took on the responsibility of taking our two dogs on their daily walk. Frankly, I got tired of the dogs tearing up my house because my teenagers would “forget” to take them. ;-) We go on a three and a half mile track around our neighborhood to wear them out and they love every minute of it. One of my dogs - Dusty - walks the entire time at my side. He never gets ahead. Never lags behind. He’s always in step with me. The other dog - Dusty Jr. - strains at the leash the entire time. He’s constantly pulling to get ahead. Constantly wanting to go his own way. Now, admittedly, DJ is still a puppy. Still learning. But it’s a great lesson for me on how to wait on God. You see, I am too often like DJ. Constantly pulling and straining on God’s leash as I seek to get ahead or go my own way. What I need to learn is how to be like Dusty. I need to learn that the destination is less important than simply being in my Master’s presence.

Saul strains at the leash. His anxious. He’s afraid. His people are trembling. They are beginning to desert in droves. Saul’s not sure he can continue to hold things together. He has waited the required seven days. He has done his part. Now is the time for action. Now is the time to make things happen. So he offers the sacrifice. Right as he finishes, Samuel shows up and asks Saul what he has done. Saul’s response is telling. “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭13:11-12‬) Saul lost faith. Lost faith in himself. Lost faith in Samuel. Ultimately, he lost faith in the Lord. All because he didn’t have the patience to wait on the Lord.

What was Saul’s problem? He saw God as a means to an end. He saw the sacrifice as a means to gain the Lord’s favor which in turn would give him a victory over his enemies. Saul didn’t have a “heart after God.” His heart was for himself. His glory. His power. His authority. His position as king. And that’s why Samuel responds the way he does. “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭13:14‬) Samuel could see the selfish nature of Saul’s heart. It was selfishness that ultimately drove Saul’s impatience. It was selfishness that drove him to offer the sacrifice too early. And it was selfishness that cost him the kingdom in the end.

Friends, waiting on God is different than waiting on an outcome or a particular answer to prayer or the fulfillment of a heart’s desire. Those things are not bad in themselves but if we find ourselves growing impatient with God’s timing, it’s most likely because we value the gift over the Giver. We treasure the answer more than the One who graciously hears our prayers. We long for the destination more than we long for the presence of the One who faithfully walks with us every step of the way. So where are you waiting on God today? And are you truly waiting on Him or are you waiting on an answer? Do you find yourself growing impatient? Stop straining at the leash. Relax. Rest. Abide in God’s presence and trust Him to carry you all the way home.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 15-19, Luke 14:25-15:10

The Spirit-Filled Life

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 10-12, Luke 13:22-35

“Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you.” (1 Samuel 10:6-7)

The people of Israel found themselves in a time of crisis. Samuel, the faithful judge who had led them for so many years, was failing. His sons did not possess the character of their father. It would not be much longer and Israel would have no leader. No spiritual authority. No one to point them to God and protect them from their enemies. So they called for a king. Giving into their fears and anxiety, they asked Samuel to anoint someone to take his place. Someone who would reign and rule over them like the other nations. Someone who would guide and protect them. Someone they could look to in difficult times. God grants Israel’s request. He gives them a king named Saul. A man with great leadership potential. A charismatic leader who can rally Israel and deliver them from their enemies. However, what truly sets Saul apart is the Spirit of the Living God. After Saul meets Samuel and is anointed king, Samuel tells him to expect something miraculous to happen. Saul will actually be changed into a different man by the Holy Spirit. God Himself will rush upon Saul, giving him all he needs to be successful. I love how the Bible describes it, “When Saul turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭10:9‬) Wow. What a gift! All Saul has to do from this point forward is walk in the newness of life he has received and Israel will be saved.

Friends, God is still in the salvation business. God still “rushes” on His people in times of great crisis. He is there to provide when our needs are great and our strength is small. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit rushes upon us and we are reborn. We are changed into different men and women. We are given new hearts. God empowering and strengthening us for the work He’s called us to in this world. Unlike in the Old Testament where the Spirit of God would come and go on a person, in the New Testament the gift of the Spirit is permanent. God comes to take up residence in our hearts. God comes to dwell with us on a regular basis. God fills us eternally with His very presence. The results are amazing. We are given gifts like wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discernment, boldness, evangelistic zeal, tongues, prophecy, even miracles. The list is endless because God is endless. We are also given great grace to become new people. The fruit of a life lived in humble submission to God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Taken together, these gifts and graces become the resources a believer draws on as she/he seeks to serve the world in Jesus’ name.

So far in our reading we’ve encountered some amazing spiritual leaders. Moses. Joshua. Deborah. Gideon. Samuel. All of them filled with God’s Spirit. All of them called to lead God’s people in times of great crisis. All of them given the gifts and graces necessary to do the work God has called them to do. It is tempting as we read the stories of these spiritual heroes and heroines to believe that could never be us. We’re too ordinary. Too weak. Too frail in our faith. It’s tempting to believe our calling is far more mundane. But nothing could be further from the truth! The same Spirit that empowered Moses to split a sea and Joshua to tear down walls and gave Deborah a song of victory to sing is the same Spirit that lives and dwells inside the heart of every true Christian! So in this time of great crisis…as so many live in fear and anxiety of contracting a deadly disease…as so many struggle with lost jobs and lost hopes and lost dreams…as so many feel the isolating effects of social distancing and depression…as so many wrestle with deep grief over those they’ve lost…we have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ! To offer a comforting word or comforting shoulder in the name of Christ! To point people to the eternal hope they too can have if they place their trust in Christ!

Don’t worry about having all the answers! Don’t worry about getting everything right! Don’t worry about making mistakes! Trust the Spirit to lead you! Trust the Spirit to guide you! Simply “do what your hand finds to do for God is with you!” (1 Samuel 10:7)

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 13-14, Luke 14:1-24

Walking with Open Hands

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 7-9, Luke 13:1-21

I am learning to walk with open hands before the Lord. He is reminding me that nothing I possess is actually mine to own. Nothing I’ve achieved is mine to hold. Nothing I’ve gained is mine to hoard. Not money. Not influence. Not position. None of it is mine to grasp. Instead, I must release. I must let go. I must walk with open hands and let the Lord fill them with whatever He may will.

Let me illustrate what I mean. When I first graduated from Princeton, I was blessed to be called to a special church in Mobile, AL. The people there embraced me and my family as their own. They loved me well and put up with my crazy ideas. They prayed for me. They challenged me. They accepted me. They followed me. The result was a wonderful six years of fruitful ministry as the Lord blessed the work of our hands. I was then called to plant a church outside of Madison, WI. The experience could not have been more different. I struggled. I suffered. I didn’t handle things well. My insecurities and fears rose to the surface and crippled my ability to see beyond myself and my own pain. I was rejected over and over again. I was abused in many ways. Those 19 months almost cost me my marriage. My family. My ministry. Everything I held dear was put at risk. In the wake of those two experiences, close friends asked me if I had misunderstood God’s call. If I had heard Him incorrectly. If I had made a mistake in leaving Mobile. The answer is no! As hard as it is to accept, God sometimes calls us to suffer. Sometimes calls us to experiences that are hard and heartbreaking. All to teach us how to walk with open hands.

Think of what we read today from Samuel’s story. Here’s a man who’s served God and His people almost from birth. He was born to lead Israel. Set apart by God for this purpose. His is was a testimony to God’s great faithfulness. He’s led Israel to great victories. He’s led Israel to spiritual revival. For decades, he’s gone from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah in order to keep God’s people on the right spiritual track. As he got older, he enlisted his sons to help him in his work. Tragically, they did not follow in the faithful footsteps of their father and Samuel’s credibility as a leader began to erode. His sons took bribes and perverted justice to the point where the elders of Israel finally came to Samuel and demanded a change. “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭8:5-6‬) No one likes to hear they are too old. No one likes to hear they are considered to be washed up. No one likes to be fired or let go because they simply don’t have what it takes to lead anymore. Samuel is hurt by their words. I imagine all sorts of responses ran through his mind. Perhaps he even had the votes to remain in power if he chose to go that route. But Samuel loved the Lord. Samuel walked with open hands. So instead of reacting in anger, Samuel went to prayer. He took their request and his disappointment to the Lord.

And how did the Lord respond? “And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7-9) What an affirmation and yet what deep conviction! You have not been rejected, Samuel. They are rejecting Me. I am sure this grieved Samuel’s heart even more. After all, Samuel’s greatest desire was for the people to return to the Lord with all their hearts, putting away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among them and directing their hearts to the Lord in order to serve Him alone. (1 Samuel‬ ‭7:3‬) But Samuel obeys the Lord. He gives the people what they desire. He identifies a king for them and humbly relinquishes all his power and authority.

I want so much to be like Samuel. I want to be the kind of person who walks through life with open hands. I want to hold onto the things the Lord brings into my life loosely. I want to place all that I have at His disposal. I want Him to take all my treasure, my time, my talent and use it as He sees fit. I want to be poured out like an offering before the Lord so that at the end of my life I can honestly say I held nothing back but gave everything up in service to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 10-12, Luke 13:22-35

New Hope

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 3-6, Luke 12:35-59

With God, there is always hope. As bad as things get, God always preserves a remnant. He will not abandon His chosen people. He will be faithful to His covenant regardless of how His people may or may not respond. As the Book of 1 Samuel begins, the people of Israel are in bad shape. They do not honor God. They do not have leaders who honor God. They are simply going through the motions of worship. Saying all the right things. Making all the right sacrifices. But in their hearts, they reject God. They rebel against His Law. Their priests are a disaster, engaging in sexual immorality. Making a mockery of the sacrificial system. Abusing their spiritual authority. Eli and his sons are the last in the line of the judges. A corrupt time in Israel’s history that heartens back to the days of the Great Flood, the Tower of Babel, and slavery in Egypt. But all is not lost because God is still at work! He raises up a new leader. A godly leader. A leader who would seek Him with all their heart and be “blameless” (not perfect) in their generation. Who was this great leader? His name was Samuel.

Noah. Abraham. Moses. God has used each of them in turn to spark revival. Spiritual renewal. To draw God’s people back to Himself. Now it’s Samuel’s turn to take up the mantle of leadership and do the same. Samuel represents a bridge from the time of the Judges to the time of the Kings. He will oversee a major transition in the life of Israel as they go from a bunch of tribes, each with their own identity, to one nation under a strong, centralized monarchy. Another thing that’s striking to note is Samuel’s age when he receives this call. Noah, Abraham, and Moses were all old men. Well beyond their prime. Samuel is a young boy. Not yet come into his own. The message here? God can use anyone at anytime to accomplish His purposes.  

“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭3:1-3‬)

Several things stand out in this passage. The Word of the Lord was rare. There was no vision. Eli, the current judge and spiritual leader of Israel, was going blind. All of these are connected and important. As leaders go, so goes a nation. Eli’s blindness is not just physical but spiritual as well and it has a devastating impact on the people He leads. Israel was so mired in sin that God had gone almost silent. But even though Eli may be blind, God is not. He sees all. He knows all. We see this dynamic in play throughout the Scriptures…

• “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

• “For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from Me, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.” (Jeremiah 16:17)

• “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” ‭(Hebrews‬ ‭4:13‬)

God will not allow His people to persist in their sin. When God’s people embrace sin instead of turning to Him in faithfulness, He will withdraw His presence. He will withhold His Word. He will “give them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity...give them up to dishonorable passions...give them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:24, 26, 28) God is as faithful to judge as He is to forgive. And that is exactly what took place in Israel and in Eli’s own family. Eli failed to discipline and restrain his sons. Hophni and Phineas are the very definition of corrupt religious leaders who manipulate the faith for their own benefit. By the way, we see these same things happening in our world today. I think of the health and wealth preachers who speak to thousands every week. The Christian self-help gurus who masquerade as preachers. The many preachers who have fallen into sin, reject any kind of accountability or spiritual authority or process of repentance, and then get back into the pulpit. As incredible as it seems, faithlessness is often very popular and faithfulness unpopular.

Thankfully, all hope is not lost! The lamp of God had not yet gone out! A young boy lies down in the temple of the Lord ready to receive His Word anew! Note the differences between Eli and Samuel. Eli is old. Infirm. Going blind. Samuel is young. Strong. His eyesight is clear. Eli is alone. Lying down in his own place. Samuel is also alone but makes his bed in the temple to be near the ark of God. Eli is associated in this passage with the rarity of God’s Word and a lack of vision. Samuel is associated with hope because light still flickered in the lamp of God.  

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man (or woman) fully consecrated to him.” (Attributed to Dwight L. Moody) Spiritual revival always begins with one person fully devoting themselves to God. Samuel was set apart from conception to be such a man. His mother gave him to the Lord to be raised in the temple. He was open to hear God’s call when it came. As a result, revival did come to Israel. “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭3:19-21‬) 

Where do you find yourself in this story? Are you like Eli, Hophi, and Phineas? Enslaved to your sinful desires? Pursuing a life apart from God? Is the Word of the Lord rare in your life? Let me strongly encourage you to go before the Lord in honest, even ruthless, self-examination. Ask God to show you the areas of your life that need to be surrendered. Are you like Samuel? Do you have a heart for God? Let me encourage you to dig deep into His Word. Dedicate daily time in prayer. Listen for God’s voice as it comes to you through His Word or through other believers or through your own personal prayer time. And when He speaks, may you answer with Samuel, “Speak Lord! Your servant is listening.”

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 7-9, Luke 13:1-21

God is Faithful

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 1-2, Luke 12:4-34

“And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭2:35‬)

Today’s reading represents a turning point in salvation history. The time of the Judges is coming to an end. Eli and his “worthless” sons will die and a new prophet will arise. One who will remain faithful. One whose heart will be true. One who will seek the Lord and lead the people well. Samuel will be the last of the judges. He will be the bridge from the days when Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes to a day when the Davidic monarchy was established and a golden age for Israel ushered in.

I love where Samuel’s story begins. With a barren woman who is losing all hope of ever bearing children. Sounds so familiar does it not? God bringing something beautiful out of our barrenness? Making a way where there seems to be no way? Making possible what otherwise seems impossible? He did it with Sarah. He did it with Rachel. Now He will do it with Hannah. Hannah is a faithful woman. She prays fervently for a son. So fervently, Eli believes she is drunk! Her desire is so strong, she promises to dedicate her son to the Lord from birth. “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭1:11‬) Miraculously, the Lord answers her prayer. Opens her womb. And Samuel is conceived.

Now is where the true test will begin. Will she make good on her promise? Will she dedicate her son to the Lord? Will she give Samuel over to Eli to be raised as a prophet and a priest for Israel? Hannah’s faith is amazing. Listen again to what she tells Eli after Samuel has been weaned…“Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And Samuel worshiped the Lord there.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭1:26-28‬)

It’s a powerful story of God’s faithfulness. God already knows what’s going to happen to Eli and his sons. He knows the plans He has for them and He has prepared a successor to be raised up to replace them. A priest who will be faithful and true. Who will lead Israel well as she moves through this transition. Samuel will seek God with all His heart and mind. He will love God and honor Him all the days of His life. And when the time comes for him to hand off his leadership to a king, Samuel doesn’t hesitate. He humbly submits to the will of the Lord.

Friends, God remains faithful! He will raise up leaders for God’s people who seek Him with all their heart and mind. He will judge the “worthless” who lead out of pride or greed or a desire for influence and power. He will replace them with men and women after His own heart. Even now, He is at work. Perhaps in ways we cannot see. Who knows how many Hannah’s are out there praying for a child? Who knows how many parents are out there who have dedicated their children to the Lord? Who knows how many of those children will rise up in the years ahead to lead us to repentance and revival? God is faithful. He will never abandon or forsake His people. No matter what you are going through, know He is with you.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 3-6, Luke 12:35-59

Finding Hope in the Ordinary

Readings for today: Judges 20-21, Ruth 1-4, Luke 11:13-12:3

Without a doubt, Judges is a tough read. Especially towards the end. It’s hard to see a culture descend into chaos. Hard to watch the people of God abandon the ways of God and do what is right in their own eyes. It’s hard to watch evil flourish and good languish. And if we are honest, it raises all kinds of questions. Where was God in the time of the judges? Why didn’t He do something? Was He powerless to stop what was happening? Or worse, did He just not care?

In many ways, the Book of Ruth is the Bible’s answer to these questions. “In the days when the judges ruled the land…” there was a widow named Naomi and her Moabite daughter-in-law named Ruth. Two ordinary people from an ordinary town called Bethlehem whom God would use to bring about His salvation purposes. The story is a tender one. Naomi initially has it all. A faithful husband who cares for his family. Two sons to carry on the family line. They have enough means to travel to Moab to escape a famine in their hometown of Bethlehem. Once there, disaster strikes. Elimelech dies followed by both his sons a decade later. This would have been devastating in the ancient world. The three widows would immediately drop to the lowest rung on the socio-economic ladder. Each day would be a struggle to survive especially since Naomi was so far from her home and kindred and country. With little access to resources and certainly no social net to protect them, Naomi makes the decision to go back home. She encourages both her Moabite daughters-in-law to return to their families where they can get the support they need and perhaps marry again. Ruth refuses and makes this incredible statement of faith, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth‬ ‭1:16‬) What transpires next is nothing short of miraculous. They return back home to Bethlehem. Ruth finds favor in the eyes of Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer. She eventually marries him and they conceive a son named Obed. Obed is the father of Jesse. Jesse the father of David. David will become the greatest king in Israel’s history.

So let’s just pause and reflect for a moment. The last verse in the Book of Judges says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges‬ ‭21:25‬) The final verses of the Book of Ruth give us the genealogy of David the king. The man after God’s own heart. The king who would lead Israel to a deeper and more righteous relationship with the Lord. No longer would the people of God do “what is right in their own eyes” because they now have a king who will show them how to do what is right in God’s eyes. It’s a beautiful picture of how God uses the ordinary things of this world to accomplish the extraordinary!

When we ask the question - “Where is God?” - in the face of all the evil and sin and suffering we see around us; we often betray our false expectations. Unless God acts in miraculous ways, we don’t seem to take Him all that seriously. We tend to discount the ordinary. The everyday. The moment by moment when God shows up in our lives. But if God can use the plight of three desperate widows in the time of the Judges to change the course of a nation’s history, why can’t He use you? Why can’t He use me? Ruth did nothing special except remain faithful. She loved her mother-in-law. She worked hard to provide for them. She took advantage of the opportunities God presented to them. She was both bold and humble. And God honored her prayers. What does faithfulness look like in your life these days? Are you working hard to provide for those who depend on you? Do you take advantage of the opportunities God sends your way in the ordinary course of daily life? Where do you need to act with humility and boldness? May the Lord honor your prayers as you seek to love and serve Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 1-2, Luke 12:4-34