Bible Reading: Psalms 17; 35; 54 & 63
Psalms 63:1
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.
Psalms 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
David was running from Saul and living in the wilderness. He was a wanted man by the king who should have been his friend. He was in a place that could easily cause incredible anxiety for anyone. Yet, he knew where to look for help and comfort.
David began and ended his day with a conversation with the Lord. David knew what it was to be thirsty from living in the wilderness of Judah. He wanted God like his body longed for water in the heat of the desert. Do you long for God like that? Do you thirst for him? Is he the first thought of your day and the last meditation before you drift off to sleep?
The testimony from Scripture is that David longed for God. He did not long for 'ministry'. He did not long for the things that God would give him. He longed for God. David did not use God to get what he wanted. David wanted God. He wanted a relationship with him. He wanted to know him and walk with God and talk with God.
This is what we should all long for. Jesus said:
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
To know Jesus is eternal life. What do you long for? Is it God's blessing? Is it what God could do for you? Or is it to know Jesus?
Is your soul thirsty?
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
In the eyes of the Lord
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 25-27
1 Samuel 26:23-24 The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord 's anointed. 24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
David and Abishai dad Saul and Abner dead to rights. A deep sleep had fallen upon Saul and his army and David and Abishai crept into their camp. David took the spear and canteen that laid by Saul's pillow and they went back to a hill a safe distance away. David would not kill Saul. He would not permit Abishai to kill him.
1 Samuel 26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord 's anointed, and be guiltless?
Saul wanted to kill David and was hunting him like an animal and yet David's integrity was impeccable. He would not touch the Lord's anointed. He would leave that to the Lord. However, he wanted Saul to know how close he had come that night to death. David could have killed him in his sleep. Now, all David wanted was for Saul to realize how much David valued his life. In David's eyes, Saul's life was precious.
Do you see life as precious? Do you value human life?
David also valued the anointing of God on Saul's life. God chose Saul and David knew that. However, when it came to the value of David's life, he did not ask Saul to value his life as David valued Saul's. Instead, David placed his life in the hands of God.
"Let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord and let him deliver me out of all tribulation," said David.
He wanted the value of his life to come from God. He did not want an 'even trade' with Saul and he made no covenant with him. Instead he trusted God with his life. You and I should do the same. Our value and security does not come from man or man's institutions. Our value and security comes from God. Let's trust him to provide, protect and define our life's purpose.
In Christ,
Rody
1 Samuel 26:23-24 The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord 's anointed. 24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
David and Abishai dad Saul and Abner dead to rights. A deep sleep had fallen upon Saul and his army and David and Abishai crept into their camp. David took the spear and canteen that laid by Saul's pillow and they went back to a hill a safe distance away. David would not kill Saul. He would not permit Abishai to kill him.
1 Samuel 26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord 's anointed, and be guiltless?
Saul wanted to kill David and was hunting him like an animal and yet David's integrity was impeccable. He would not touch the Lord's anointed. He would leave that to the Lord. However, he wanted Saul to know how close he had come that night to death. David could have killed him in his sleep. Now, all David wanted was for Saul to realize how much David valued his life. In David's eyes, Saul's life was precious.
Do you see life as precious? Do you value human life?
David also valued the anointing of God on Saul's life. God chose Saul and David knew that. However, when it came to the value of David's life, he did not ask Saul to value his life as David valued Saul's. Instead, David placed his life in the hands of God.
"Let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord and let him deliver me out of all tribulation," said David.
He wanted the value of his life to come from God. He did not want an 'even trade' with Saul and he made no covenant with him. Instead he trusted God with his life. You and I should do the same. Our value and security does not come from man or man's institutions. Our value and security comes from God. Let's trust him to provide, protect and define our life's purpose.
In Christ,
Rody
Friday, April 13, 2012
He went out and came in before them
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 18-20; Psalms 11 & 59
1 Samuel 18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
Why did all Israel and Judah love David? Because he was a leader who led from the front. He did not sit at his desk and tell people to go and do things that he was not willing (or able) to do himself. He went out and came in before them.
The women sang of David:
1 Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
This disturbed Saul greatly. However, the people knew the truth. David was capable and he was a leader.
Do you lead from the front? Maybe you don't even see yourself as a leader, but you are. You lead in your family and in your place of work. You lead among your friends. You lead even when you don't think about it. So, will you lead from the front? Will you let the Holy Spirit lead you so that you can lead others?
The key to Christian leadership is to be led. A man who follows Christ will be going in the the right direction and others can be influenced by that person. David led out of who he was and his relationship with God. You and I must do the same.
In Christ,
Rody
1 Samuel 18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
Why did all Israel and Judah love David? Because he was a leader who led from the front. He did not sit at his desk and tell people to go and do things that he was not willing (or able) to do himself. He went out and came in before them.
The women sang of David:
1 Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
This disturbed Saul greatly. However, the people knew the truth. David was capable and he was a leader.
Do you lead from the front? Maybe you don't even see yourself as a leader, but you are. You lead in your family and in your place of work. You lead among your friends. You lead even when you don't think about it. So, will you lead from the front? Will you let the Holy Spirit lead you so that you can lead others?
The key to Christian leadership is to be led. A man who follows Christ will be going in the the right direction and others can be influenced by that person. David led out of who he was and his relationship with God. You and I must do the same.
In Christ,
Rody
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
