I love it. The Bible has some really funny stuff some times, and I found one yesterday.
1 Kings 18:26 "So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, 'Baal, answer us!' But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they did their lame dance around the altar they had made."
...they did their lame dance...
Sometimes there's just no other way to put it. Sometimes humans are just plain lame.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
What Do We Have In Common?
It seems that, for the time being, I'm going to be taking you through part of the book of 1 Kings.
Today, I was reading the beginning of Elijah's ministry in chapter 17. The first we hear of Elijah, he is telling King Ahab of Israel that there will be no rain in the land for years, unless Elijah prays to the Lord for it. Then he runs and hides. God told him to hide out at a wadi, or creek, and that the ravens had been commanded to feed him morning and evening. After the wadi dries up, Elijah is told to go Zarephath, a coastal city north of the tribes of Israel, yet well within reach of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, since that was her father's kingdom (1 Kings 16:31). God uses a widow woman there with a young son to provide for him by miraculously allowing her meager jars of oil and flour to never empty until the day it rains.
“After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness became very severe until no breath remained in him. She said to Elijah, 'Man of God, what do we have in common? Have you come to remind me of my guilt and to kill my son?'” 1 Kings 17:17-18
Truth be told, when bad things happen to us, isn't that how we feel with God at times? We want to ask, “What do we have in common? Why are You here with me? Have You come to remind me of the things I've done wrong and punish me more?” Sometimes we are so distraught that we need others to intercede on our behalf before God, as Elijah does for the widow. He pleads to the Lord to restore her son to her. Verse 22 says that “...the Lord listened to Elijah's voice, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.”
Are you trying to think of some people you lean on in those tough times? I pray that you do have some individuals you are that close to. While it does help, and is greatly appreciated, don't despair if you can't think of anyone. When you become a child of God's, you are given the gift of intercession from two different, very good, sources. Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.” A few verses later in Romans 8:33-34, Paul, the writer of Romans asks the rhetorical questions, “Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”
The Spirit pleads for us, and Jesus stands up for us.
Why then do we have to endure some of these seemingly pointless trails? The widow answers that question for us when Elijah hands her back her now living son. “Now I know you are a man of God and the Lord's word in your mouth is truth.”
Now I know: For certain.
Sometimes I believe God is allowing us to know – for certain – He IS God. Other times He might want us to know He has put a certain leader, teacher, or mentor in our lives to tell us the hard, loving truth. Whatever the circumstance, we can know, for certain, that if we have the strength to allow it, God can be glorified through it.
Today, I was reading the beginning of Elijah's ministry in chapter 17. The first we hear of Elijah, he is telling King Ahab of Israel that there will be no rain in the land for years, unless Elijah prays to the Lord for it. Then he runs and hides. God told him to hide out at a wadi, or creek, and that the ravens had been commanded to feed him morning and evening. After the wadi dries up, Elijah is told to go Zarephath, a coastal city north of the tribes of Israel, yet well within reach of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, since that was her father's kingdom (1 Kings 16:31). God uses a widow woman there with a young son to provide for him by miraculously allowing her meager jars of oil and flour to never empty until the day it rains.
“After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness became very severe until no breath remained in him. She said to Elijah, 'Man of God, what do we have in common? Have you come to remind me of my guilt and to kill my son?'” 1 Kings 17:17-18
Truth be told, when bad things happen to us, isn't that how we feel with God at times? We want to ask, “What do we have in common? Why are You here with me? Have You come to remind me of the things I've done wrong and punish me more?” Sometimes we are so distraught that we need others to intercede on our behalf before God, as Elijah does for the widow. He pleads to the Lord to restore her son to her. Verse 22 says that “...the Lord listened to Elijah's voice, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.”
Are you trying to think of some people you lean on in those tough times? I pray that you do have some individuals you are that close to. While it does help, and is greatly appreciated, don't despair if you can't think of anyone. When you become a child of God's, you are given the gift of intercession from two different, very good, sources. Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.” A few verses later in Romans 8:33-34, Paul, the writer of Romans asks the rhetorical questions, “Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”
The Spirit pleads for us, and Jesus stands up for us.
Why then do we have to endure some of these seemingly pointless trails? The widow answers that question for us when Elijah hands her back her now living son. “Now I know you are a man of God and the Lord's word in your mouth is truth.”
Now I know: For certain.
Sometimes I believe God is allowing us to know – for certain – He IS God. Other times He might want us to know He has put a certain leader, teacher, or mentor in our lives to tell us the hard, loving truth. Whatever the circumstance, we can know, for certain, that if we have the strength to allow it, God can be glorified through it.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
What Is My Ending
Something else about Solomon's life that touched me this morning. 1 Kings 11:1-13 tells us that Solomon slowly let his love of God fall away, until he worshiped just about any god. God had given him so much in his early life, yet he grew too comfortable.
What really scares me is the absence of Solomon's response to what God says to him in verses 11-13. “Then the Lord said to Solomon, 'Since you have done this and did not keep My covenant and My statutes, which I commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. However, I will not do it during your lifetime because of your father David; I will tear it out of your son's hand. Yet, I will not tear the entire kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son because of my servant David and because of Jerusalem that I chose.'”
Solomon does not fall to his knees and repent. He doesn't even take the time to make excuses to God. He's silent. That is the major difference between he and his father David. God says that David was a man after his own heart (Acts 13:22). Solomon was a man after women's heart.
It started me thinking about a new song by the Christian group named Barlow Girl. It is titled “Beautiful Ending” and has become a recent prayer of mine. King David had a life full of stress and difficult situations. He had an ugly life, to be honest. Solomon's life was as beautiful as it could get here on earth, but his ending was not. David had a beautiful ending. He held on tightly to God till the end.
Read through the lyrics and think about Solomon's, David's, and your own life.
Beautiful Ending
You have a choice as to what your ending will be. Will I remain vigilent and have a beautiful ending? Will you?
What really scares me is the absence of Solomon's response to what God says to him in verses 11-13. “Then the Lord said to Solomon, 'Since you have done this and did not keep My covenant and My statutes, which I commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. However, I will not do it during your lifetime because of your father David; I will tear it out of your son's hand. Yet, I will not tear the entire kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son because of my servant David and because of Jerusalem that I chose.'”
Solomon does not fall to his knees and repent. He doesn't even take the time to make excuses to God. He's silent. That is the major difference between he and his father David. God says that David was a man after his own heart (Acts 13:22). Solomon was a man after women's heart.
It started me thinking about a new song by the Christian group named Barlow Girl. It is titled “Beautiful Ending” and has become a recent prayer of mine. King David had a life full of stress and difficult situations. He had an ugly life, to be honest. Solomon's life was as beautiful as it could get here on earth, but his ending was not. David had a beautiful ending. He held on tightly to God till the end.
Read through the lyrics and think about Solomon's, David's, and your own life.
Beautiful Ending
Has taken so many
Love lost cause they all
Forgot who You were
And it scares me to think
That I would choose
My life over You
My selfish heart
Divides me from You
It tears us apart
So tell me
What is our ending?
Will it be beautiful
So beautiful?
Oh, why do I
Let myself let go
Of hands that painted the stars
And hold tears that fall?
And the pride of my heart
Makes me forget
It's not me but You
Who makes the heart beat
I'm lost without You
And dying from me
So tell me
What is our ending?
Will it be beautiful
So beautiful?
Will my life
Find me by Your side?
Your love is beautiful
So beautiful
At the end of it all
I wanna be in Your arms
At the end of it all
I wanna be in Your arms
At the end of it all
I wanna be in Your arms
At the end of it all
I wanna be in Your arms
So tell me
What is our ending?
Will it be beautiful
So beautiful?
Will my life
Find me by Your side?
Your love is beautiful
So beautiful
You have a choice as to what your ending will be. Will I remain vigilent and have a beautiful ending? Will you?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Queen Of Sheba
I came across something I had never thought of while reading 1 Kings the other day. 1 Kings 10:1-10 is an account of the splendor of King Solomon when visited by the Queen of Sheba.
1 Kings 10:1-5 “The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's fame connected with the name of the Lord and came to question him with difficult questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that was on her mind. So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba observed all of Solomon's wisdom, the palace he had built, the food at his table, his servant's residence, his attendant's service and their attire, his cup bearers, and the burnt offerings he offered at the Lord's temple, it took her breath away.”
Literally, “There existed no more spirit in her.” She was blown away by what she observed. In the next few verses, she tells Solomon that she hadn't believed the reports she had heard concerning his wisdom and wealth, but now that she seen for herself, the queen realized she hadn't even been told half of it.
Isn't this how we should seem to unbelievers? Shouldn't they be blown away by what the Lord has done for us? How wonderful it would be if they came to meet us because of the marvelous things they had heard and wanted to check it out. I really don't think this is too much to expect out of Christians.
I think it's funny that the old saying, “Who does she think she is? The Queen of Sheba?”, describes a person who thinks overly high of themselves. That's a great picture of what unbelievers tend to do. They think more of themselves than they ought to because they haven't recognized their sin and desperate need for a Savior. When they do come to us questioning what it is that's different – how we've endured with grace through a difficult situation – we need to blow them away with what our God has done for us. Then just perhaps, there will exist no more spirit in them, so that they can then be filled with the True Spirit.
1 Kings 10:1-5 “The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's fame connected with the name of the Lord and came to question him with difficult questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that was on her mind. So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba observed all of Solomon's wisdom, the palace he had built, the food at his table, his servant's residence, his attendant's service and their attire, his cup bearers, and the burnt offerings he offered at the Lord's temple, it took her breath away.”
Literally, “There existed no more spirit in her.” She was blown away by what she observed. In the next few verses, she tells Solomon that she hadn't believed the reports she had heard concerning his wisdom and wealth, but now that she seen for herself, the queen realized she hadn't even been told half of it.
Isn't this how we should seem to unbelievers? Shouldn't they be blown away by what the Lord has done for us? How wonderful it would be if they came to meet us because of the marvelous things they had heard and wanted to check it out. I really don't think this is too much to expect out of Christians.
I think it's funny that the old saying, “Who does she think she is? The Queen of Sheba?”, describes a person who thinks overly high of themselves. That's a great picture of what unbelievers tend to do. They think more of themselves than they ought to because they haven't recognized their sin and desperate need for a Savior. When they do come to us questioning what it is that's different – how we've endured with grace through a difficult situation – we need to blow them away with what our God has done for us. Then just perhaps, there will exist no more spirit in them, so that they can then be filled with the True Spirit.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Ask God
I want you to spend a few moments right now to ask God what He would like to teach you about this week.
It may be a fruit of the Spirit you need to work on or refine.
Do you need to work on being still and just knowing God?
Perhaps you need to work on getting busier for God – and less for you.
Is there a worry or cencern that's been eating at you which you need to hand over to God and let Him calm and care for you?
Has the Spirit been convicting you about memorizing more Scripture?
It could be that God just wants you to spend alone time with Him everyday, no matter if it's at different times each day.
Whatever it is, you will never know unless you ask: And then be quiet and listen.
It may be a fruit of the Spirit you need to work on or refine.
Do you need to work on being still and just knowing God?
Perhaps you need to work on getting busier for God – and less for you.
Is there a worry or cencern that's been eating at you which you need to hand over to God and let Him calm and care for you?
Has the Spirit been convicting you about memorizing more Scripture?
It could be that God just wants you to spend alone time with Him everyday, no matter if it's at different times each day.
Whatever it is, you will never know unless you ask: And then be quiet and listen.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tired
Do you ever get tired of Christianity? I'm not talking about being tired with God, Jesus, or the Gospel. I'm talking about Christianity; the Religion. I've found that sometimes I don't want to sit there and hear a lesson trying to tie together certain Scriptures into a convenient package. Are we afraid to admit that?
For those of you who attend my church, this has nothing to do with today's message. It was a very good sermon, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I'll be honest, it may be that I'm just in a cranky mood: It's happened before! Truly, it's as though I felt a sadness covering everything. Not from the individual people, but as though it was God's collective feelings for us.
Life is not always on schedule and seldom do we learn lessons in convenient, thematic formats. Do we leave ourselves open to God's guidance in how to worship Him enough? Once again, I'm not speaking against a church schedule. It would be chaotic if we didn't have some order of worship. I'm talking about leaving ourselves open to the Spirit's whispering of an occasional need to talk about something else. Something that is real and specific in the lives of those we gather with, and not just tailored to fit the masses.
I'm praying that the Lord leads me to write these blogs in a very relevant way. I want it to be real, inspirational, informative, and encouraging. This is one of those less-than-typical days that is very real and, I hope, encouraging to you that you are not alone.
For those of you who attend my church, this has nothing to do with today's message. It was a very good sermon, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I'll be honest, it may be that I'm just in a cranky mood: It's happened before! Truly, it's as though I felt a sadness covering everything. Not from the individual people, but as though it was God's collective feelings for us.
Life is not always on schedule and seldom do we learn lessons in convenient, thematic formats. Do we leave ourselves open to God's guidance in how to worship Him enough? Once again, I'm not speaking against a church schedule. It would be chaotic if we didn't have some order of worship. I'm talking about leaving ourselves open to the Spirit's whispering of an occasional need to talk about something else. Something that is real and specific in the lives of those we gather with, and not just tailored to fit the masses.
I'm praying that the Lord leads me to write these blogs in a very relevant way. I want it to be real, inspirational, informative, and encouraging. This is one of those less-than-typical days that is very real and, I hope, encouraging to you that you are not alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)