1 Samuel 14:7 "His armor bearer said to him, 'Do all that is in your
heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your desire.'"
The Israelites were in trouble. They were surrounded, pinned down, and severely outnumbered by the Philistine army. Saul's army had melted away, most of the soldiers having gone into hiding. Where was Saul? Sitting under a pomegranate tree, wondering what to do.
Saul's son, Jonathon, decided to stir things up. Accompanied by his armor-bearer (kind of like a pro golfer's caddy), he sneaks over to the nearest Philistine garrison, ready to attack if the Lord gives him the green light. Just before he climbs up over the precipice to engage the enemy, his armor bearer says, in so many words, "I've got your back!" The two of them go on to slaughter the twenty soldiers in the garrison and God responds by sending an earthquake to throw panic and confusion into the rest of the Philistine army.
"I've got your back." That's what God promises His children. Psalm 34:7 says, "The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them." We never have to worry about God deserting or turning His back on us. He's got us covered!
I am blessed to have a few friends who resemble Jonathon's armor bearer. I've heard this kind of person described as a "mortgage friend" - someone who would mortgage his house if need be to help me out of a jam. These friends would do whatever it takes to help me, and I would do the same for them.
What a sense of peace and security to have a Heavenly Father and His host of angels, as well as Christian brothers who "have my back!"
Lord, thank You for Your promise to never leave or abandon me, and thank You for giving me a "band of brothers" who watch out for one another. You are amazing! Amen.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
EBENEZER...
1 Samuel 7:12 "Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and
Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."
The Lord had just rescued Israel (again!) from the armies of the Philistines. God had thundered His judgement against the pagan army and the men of Israel routed the confused soldiers. As the battle drew to a close and the soldiers found their way home, Samuel the prophet found a large stone and engraved on it a single word.... "Ebenezer". Translated from Hebrew, it means, "stone of help".
This isn't the first time we see people setting visual reminders of God's intervention. Jacob did it at Bethel after seeing the vision of the angels ascending and descending from Heaven. Joshua did it in the middle of the Jordan river as the Israelites crossed on the dry riverbed into the Promised Land.
I think it's a good practice to set "Ebenezer stones" when God intervenes at significant points of our lives. It may not be a stone pillar. Maybe it's a photograph or a small memento. I need those tangible items to remind me of God's faithfulness, of His providence and protection, of His answers to prayer. Touching them, remembering, restores my faith in times of doubt; it rekindles hope when I am worried; it replaces fear with courage.
Lord, thank You for your faithfulness over the years. Thank You for the reminders that keep me walking close to You. Please help me to live today in an attitude of thanksgiving and peace. Amen.
The Lord had just rescued Israel (again!) from the armies of the Philistines. God had thundered His judgement against the pagan army and the men of Israel routed the confused soldiers. As the battle drew to a close and the soldiers found their way home, Samuel the prophet found a large stone and engraved on it a single word.... "Ebenezer". Translated from Hebrew, it means, "stone of help".
This isn't the first time we see people setting visual reminders of God's intervention. Jacob did it at Bethel after seeing the vision of the angels ascending and descending from Heaven. Joshua did it in the middle of the Jordan river as the Israelites crossed on the dry riverbed into the Promised Land.
I think it's a good practice to set "Ebenezer stones" when God intervenes at significant points of our lives. It may not be a stone pillar. Maybe it's a photograph or a small memento. I need those tangible items to remind me of God's faithfulness, of His providence and protection, of His answers to prayer. Touching them, remembering, restores my faith in times of doubt; it rekindles hope when I am worried; it replaces fear with courage.
Lord, thank You for your faithfulness over the years. Thank You for the reminders that keep me walking close to You. Please help me to live today in an attitude of thanksgiving and peace. Amen.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
"It's hard to say no..."
1 Samuel 3:13 "For I have told him that I am about to judge his house
forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse
on themselves and he did not rebuke them.
Eli, the priest, had two rascally sons. Hophni and Phinehas profaned the Lord's Sanctuary, sleeping with the temple attendants, ignoring the laws regarding sacrifices and taking the best of the meat for themselves.
Because of their lifestyle and actions, these two men brought judgement upon their father's house. But was the fault theirs alone? If you read carefully, it is clear that God holds their father, Eli, responsible. Eli knew what his sons were like from a young age and he chose to turn a "blind eye" to their actions. They grew up without discipline.
I have worked with thousands of young people and their families over the years. For the most part, the parents have taken active roles in training their children ... setting boundaries, maintaining behavior standards, and the like. Recently, however, I am encountering more young parents who cater to their children's every desire. These little ones are growing up with a sense of entitlement, lacking respect for others, and demanding their "rights". They are headed down a road filled with unhappiness and pain.
God's Word is clear... it is the parents' privilege and responsibility to "train up a child in the way he should go..." When we as fathers abdicate that role, our whole family pays the price. It isn't always easy to say,"No!"; setting and consistently maintaining standards of behavior is hard work. But, diligence pays off in the end. What greater joy can a parent have than to see his children walking with the Lord!
Lord, help me today to encourage the parents I encounter, help me to mentor my children and grandchildren. Please use me, give me wisdom and discernment as I interact with those whom You bring across my path today.
Eli, the priest, had two rascally sons. Hophni and Phinehas profaned the Lord's Sanctuary, sleeping with the temple attendants, ignoring the laws regarding sacrifices and taking the best of the meat for themselves.
Because of their lifestyle and actions, these two men brought judgement upon their father's house. But was the fault theirs alone? If you read carefully, it is clear that God holds their father, Eli, responsible. Eli knew what his sons were like from a young age and he chose to turn a "blind eye" to their actions. They grew up without discipline.
I have worked with thousands of young people and their families over the years. For the most part, the parents have taken active roles in training their children ... setting boundaries, maintaining behavior standards, and the like. Recently, however, I am encountering more young parents who cater to their children's every desire. These little ones are growing up with a sense of entitlement, lacking respect for others, and demanding their "rights". They are headed down a road filled with unhappiness and pain.
God's Word is clear... it is the parents' privilege and responsibility to "train up a child in the way he should go..." When we as fathers abdicate that role, our whole family pays the price. It isn't always easy to say,"No!"; setting and consistently maintaining standards of behavior is hard work. But, diligence pays off in the end. What greater joy can a parent have than to see his children walking with the Lord!
Lord, help me today to encourage the parents I encounter, help me to mentor my children and grandchildren. Please use me, give me wisdom and discernment as I interact with those whom You bring across my path today.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Where do you draw the line?...
Esther 3:2 "All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed
down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning
him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage."
The king's edict was clear: bow down and pay homage to Haman, leader of the princes of Persia. God's command to His people was also clear: You shall have no other God's before me. Mordecai, a Jew, equated prostrating himself before Haman to be an act of worship, something he refused to do.
Today the line between right and wrong, moral and immoral is becoming fuzzy, blurred. The concept of an absolute moral standard has gone by the wayside. Truth and morality have become relative, defined by the vote of the majority. We've gone from respecting the right of someone to believe and act differently than what we believe, to being coerced into accepting wrong as right, immoral as moral.
Where do we draw the line? When do we take a stand? And... are we willing to accept the consequences for our decision? These are hard questions, but, nonetheless, they are questions we must not ignore. Now is the time to choose what we will do. God will make clear the timing.
Lord, thank You for giving me the absolute standard of truth and of morality. I trust You and I build my life upon your Word. Please give me the courage , wisdom, and discernment to know what, how, and when You want me to stand up. Amen.
The king's edict was clear: bow down and pay homage to Haman, leader of the princes of Persia. God's command to His people was also clear: You shall have no other God's before me. Mordecai, a Jew, equated prostrating himself before Haman to be an act of worship, something he refused to do.
Today the line between right and wrong, moral and immoral is becoming fuzzy, blurred. The concept of an absolute moral standard has gone by the wayside. Truth and morality have become relative, defined by the vote of the majority. We've gone from respecting the right of someone to believe and act differently than what we believe, to being coerced into accepting wrong as right, immoral as moral.
Where do we draw the line? When do we take a stand? And... are we willing to accept the consequences for our decision? These are hard questions, but, nonetheless, they are questions we must not ignore. Now is the time to choose what we will do. God will make clear the timing.
Lord, thank You for giving me the absolute standard of truth and of morality. I trust You and I build my life upon your Word. Please give me the courage , wisdom, and discernment to know what, how, and when You want me to stand up. Amen.
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