Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — April 2010
Colossians 2 -- Giving Up A Little To Gain A LOT
"I want them to be strengthened and joined together with love so that they may be rich in their understanding ... knowing fully God's secret, that is, Christ Himself ... As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live in Him.
"I want them to be strengthened and joined together with love so that they may be rich in their understanding ... knowing fully God's secret, that is, Christ Himself ... As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live in Him. Keep your roots deep in Him and have your lives built ON Him ... It was through Christ's circumcision, that is, His death that you were made free from the power of your sinful self. When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive in Christ, AND He forgave all your sins. He canceled the debt .. He took away that record ... and nailed it to the cross... Man-made commands and teachings seem to be wise, but they are only part of a man-made religion ... they do not really control the evil desires of the sinful self ... ALL of God lives in Christ FULLY (even when Christ was on earth), and you have a full and true life in Christ, who is ruler over all rulers and powers."
Religion without the relationship with Christ "will not succeed in checking the indulgence of the flesh," my commentary said. "They are unable to restrain the passions and lusts of the flesh. The Christian attitude is that we have died to the flesh with all its passions and lusts, and from now on we live to the glory of God. We do this, not out of fear of punishment, but rather out of love to the One who gave Himself for US ... Love made the choice easy..."
Father, it's so easy, yet we try to make it so complex. Since Your Son died for me, and gave up His earthly life so that I could have a heavenly one, then I ought to gladly give up sin in this life as a way of loving Him back. Help me to do that every minute of every day, knowing that the farther I get from the pull of this life, the closer I'll be getting to You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Religion without the relationship with Christ "will not succeed in checking the indulgence of the flesh," my commentary said. "They are unable to restrain the passions and lusts of the flesh. The Christian attitude is that we have died to the flesh with all its passions and lusts, and from now on we live to the glory of God. We do this, not out of fear of punishment, but rather out of love to the One who gave Himself for US ... Love made the choice easy..."
Father, it's so easy, yet we try to make it so complex. Since Your Son died for me, and gave up His earthly life so that I could have a heavenly one, then I ought to gladly give up sin in this life as a way of loving Him back. Help me to do that every minute of every day, knowing that the farther I get from the pull of this life, the closer I'll be getting to You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Colossians 3 -- Living Like A Pickle
Casey Kasum, the DJ on Top 40 Countdown, always closed by saying, "Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars!" That's a lot like what Paul is saying in this chapter. In fact, my commentary said, "The
Casey Kasum, the DJ on Top 40 Countdown, always closed by saying, "Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars!" That's a lot like what Paul is saying in this chapter. In fact, my commentary said, "The Christian is seeking heaven and is thinking heaven. His feet are upon the earth, but his head is with the stars. He is living like a citizen of heaven here on earth."
There is so much great stuff in here about how God goes about transforming our lives from those of earthly citizens to kingdom citizens that it's tough to pick any one thing. What I came away with was this: Just as a cucumber turns into a pickle when it remains immersed in vinegar, we must immerse our minds and hearts in God's word and in the Holy Spirit to enable this transformation. The more often and the longer we are able to do that, the more success we'll realize in the transformation.
A cardinal rule seemed to pop out:
1) Our motivation should be love for God and Jesus and for others; and
2) That everything we do or say should be done to obey Jesus as our Lord.
"The covetous heart of man" is where our motives and actions begin, according to my commentary. Bitterness also starts there and begins to manifest itself. But looking on others with the love that God has for them can quench that bitterness. And immersing that heart in the love and will of God can soften it as well as vinegar softens a cucumber.
Putting that "rule" another way, my commentary said, "The great test should be: Can I do this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Would this be to His glory? Could I expect His blessing to rest on it? Would I want to be doing it when He comes back again? Note that this test should apply to the words we speak and to the deed we do." And I'll add: To the thoughts we think.
Also, our obedience is to be in all things. "This means not only in the things that are agreeable, but those which are not so naturally pleasing," my commentary said.
Father, this is exactly what I needed to hear today. Your timing is excellent, and You cut no corners. Thanks for waking me up with it.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
There is so much great stuff in here about how God goes about transforming our lives from those of earthly citizens to kingdom citizens that it's tough to pick any one thing. What I came away with was this: Just as a cucumber turns into a pickle when it remains immersed in vinegar, we must immerse our minds and hearts in God's word and in the Holy Spirit to enable this transformation. The more often and the longer we are able to do that, the more success we'll realize in the transformation.
A cardinal rule seemed to pop out:
1) Our motivation should be love for God and Jesus and for others; and
2) That everything we do or say should be done to obey Jesus as our Lord.
"The covetous heart of man" is where our motives and actions begin, according to my commentary. Bitterness also starts there and begins to manifest itself. But looking on others with the love that God has for them can quench that bitterness. And immersing that heart in the love and will of God can soften it as well as vinegar softens a cucumber.
Putting that "rule" another way, my commentary said, "The great test should be: Can I do this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Would this be to His glory? Could I expect His blessing to rest on it? Would I want to be doing it when He comes back again? Note that this test should apply to the words we speak and to the deed we do." And I'll add: To the thoughts we think.
Also, our obedience is to be in all things. "This means not only in the things that are agreeable, but those which are not so naturally pleasing," my commentary said.
Father, this is exactly what I needed to hear today. Your timing is excellent, and You cut no corners. Thanks for waking me up with it.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Colossians 4 -- Awesome Prayer Time
Paul says, "Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. Also pray ... that God will give us an opportunity to tell people His message ... in a way that will make it clear..." I liked several of the thoughts from
Paul says, "Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. Also pray ... that God will give us an opportunity to tell people His message ... in a way that will make it clear..."
I liked several of the thoughts from my commentary about these verses:
"Doubtless one of the regrets we all will have when we get to heaven will be that we did not spend more time in prayer, especially when we will realize the extent to which our prayers were answered."
Paul also speaks about vigilance while we are praying. We're to watch against falling asleep, wandering thoughts, listlessness, and unreality, it said. And we also have a duty to see that we are not robbed of time for prayer. Boy, that is a huge one for me!
I read this about our prayer life and the One we are praying to: "His love WANTS to best for us; His wisdom KNOWS the best for us; and His power GETS the best for us." Our prayers should therefore include asking God what His will is for our lives.
Father, I sure used to have more time for prayer than I seem to have now. The world keeps creeping in, attempting to strangle the time I have. Please help me to carve out the time I need to talk with You each day, and please let our conversations be awesome and not one-sided.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
I liked several of the thoughts from my commentary about these verses:
"Doubtless one of the regrets we all will have when we get to heaven will be that we did not spend more time in prayer, especially when we will realize the extent to which our prayers were answered."
Paul also speaks about vigilance while we are praying. We're to watch against falling asleep, wandering thoughts, listlessness, and unreality, it said. And we also have a duty to see that we are not robbed of time for prayer. Boy, that is a huge one for me!
I read this about our prayer life and the One we are praying to: "His love WANTS to best for us; His wisdom KNOWS the best for us; and His power GETS the best for us." Our prayers should therefore include asking God what His will is for our lives.
Father, I sure used to have more time for prayer than I seem to have now. The world keeps creeping in, attempting to strangle the time I have. Please help me to carve out the time I need to talk with You each day, and please let our conversations be awesome and not one-sided.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 The Struggle That Prayer Should Be
God really focused me again on prayer - particularly Hannah's continual prayer for a son. It says that she "cried and prayed to the Lord." She was "praying in her heart", and she was "deeply troubled".&nb
God really focused me again on prayer - particularly Hannah's continual prayer for a son. It says that she "cried and prayed to the Lord." She was "praying in her heart", and she was "deeply troubled".
The depth of her prayer experience, answered with the birth of Samuel, is shown in her song: "The Lord has filled my heart with joy; I feel very strong in the Lord ... I am glad because You have helped me. There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no God buy You; there is no Rock like OUR God ... The Lord is a God who knows everything ... He protects those who are loyal to Him."
My sidebar really brought it home. It said that the crux of prayer "is made up of the ability to hold on, to press on, to wait with unrelaxed and unrelaxable grasp, restless desire, and restful patience ... It's not a performance but a passion, not a need but a necessity. Prayer in its highest form and grandest success assumes the attitude of a wrestler with God ... The highest spiritual good is secured as the return of the outgoing of the highest form of spiritual effort.... Inflamed desires, impassioned, unwearied insistence DELIGHT heaven."
Wow, Father! That's how I remember my prayer life seven years ago when I was praying to find my son. I've let demands for my time get in the way of that. Stoke the fires again, Father, and let me taste the goodness of the struggle with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
The depth of her prayer experience, answered with the birth of Samuel, is shown in her song: "The Lord has filled my heart with joy; I feel very strong in the Lord ... I am glad because You have helped me. There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no God buy You; there is no Rock like OUR God ... The Lord is a God who knows everything ... He protects those who are loyal to Him."
My sidebar really brought it home. It said that the crux of prayer "is made up of the ability to hold on, to press on, to wait with unrelaxed and unrelaxable grasp, restless desire, and restful patience ... It's not a performance but a passion, not a need but a necessity. Prayer in its highest form and grandest success assumes the attitude of a wrestler with God ... The highest spiritual good is secured as the return of the outgoing of the highest form of spiritual effort.... Inflamed desires, impassioned, unwearied insistence DELIGHT heaven."
Wow, Father! That's how I remember my prayer life seven years ago when I was praying to find my son. I've let demands for my time get in the way of that. Stoke the fires again, Father, and let me taste the goodness of the struggle with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 2:11-2:36 Just Doing My Job
I often find myself asking, "What's wrong with this picture?" And those alarm bells were certainly ringing as I read today. First, there was Eli. He was the high priest, and people looked to him as the spiritual lea
I often find myself asking, "What's wrong with this picture?" And those alarm bells were certainly ringing as I read today.
First, there was Eli. He was the high priest, and people looked to him as the spiritual leader of Israel. Yet how could he presume to administer moral guidance to a nation when he failed to deal with immorality in his own family?
His sons had given up all religious pretense and openly flouted the rules for offerings. It had also become common knowledge that they were having sex with women who served at the entrance to the Meeting Tent.
Growing up in the middle of all of this was young Samuel. His position before God sounds uncertain at this point, even though his mother dedicated him to God at a very early age. 1:28 had said that Samuel worshiped the Lord" there, and 2:11 said that he "continued to serve the Lord." 2:18 said that Samuel obeyed the Lord" while 2:21 said, "Samuel grew up serving the Lord." 2:26 said that Samuel "pleased the Lord and the people". What's going to happen in chapter 3 will reveal that "Samuel did not yet know the Lord."
I just wonder how many people are exactly like these guys. They are at home in church, going through the motions, perhaps even serving in a church, but they simply do not KNOW God.
Father, I still grieve for that period in my own life when I professed that I was a Christian, but I had gotten about as far away from You as I could. I, too, served in positions in the church, but my life was far from You. Please see that my walk and my talk remain consistent. You have no place for sin in the lives of those who love You and who serve You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
First, there was Eli. He was the high priest, and people looked to him as the spiritual leader of Israel. Yet how could he presume to administer moral guidance to a nation when he failed to deal with immorality in his own family?
His sons had given up all religious pretense and openly flouted the rules for offerings. It had also become common knowledge that they were having sex with women who served at the entrance to the Meeting Tent.
Growing up in the middle of all of this was young Samuel. His position before God sounds uncertain at this point, even though his mother dedicated him to God at a very early age. 1:28 had said that Samuel worshiped the Lord" there, and 2:11 said that he "continued to serve the Lord." 2:18 said that Samuel obeyed the Lord" while 2:21 said, "Samuel grew up serving the Lord." 2:26 said that Samuel "pleased the Lord and the people". What's going to happen in chapter 3 will reveal that "Samuel did not yet know the Lord."
I just wonder how many people are exactly like these guys. They are at home in church, going through the motions, perhaps even serving in a church, but they simply do not KNOW God.
Father, I still grieve for that period in my own life when I professed that I was a Christian, but I had gotten about as far away from You as I could. I, too, served in positions in the church, but my life was far from You. Please see that my walk and my talk remain consistent. You have no place for sin in the lives of those who love You and who serve You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 3 -- Impeccable Timing AGAIN, God!
Father, Your timing is impeccable as always today! Samuel had been growing up as somewhat of an apprentice to the High Priest. He even slept in the Lord's house. Just before morning, he heard his name called. "Samu
Father, Your timing is impeccable as always today!
Samuel had been growing up as somewhat of an apprentice to the High Priest. He even slept in the Lord's house. Just before morning, he heard his name called. "Samuel?" He didn't realize how special that one word really was....
For over 300 years, God had been SILENT... Israel was being ruled by "judges" and the spiritual state of the nation was very poor. The sons of the High Priest had even disqualified themselves from inheriting the position by their sins.
When Samuel went to Eli, thinking he was the one calling, it dawned on Eli the second time that it was God who was initiating the conversation. And since it was being initiated with Samuel and not with Eli, the High Priest, I think Eli knew that the sins of his sons and his own failure to deal with them meant that God was bypassing him to get the job done. I think that's why Eli admonished Samuel not to hide any of God's words from him.
It mentioned that, until this time, Samuel had not yet known the Lord. I wonder if Eli ever DID.
In my own life, I remember asking a Sunday School class I was teaching just how one hears from God. I didn't know the answer, and no one there answered either. It was as though I'd turned on my "spiritual radio" and scanned all across the FM AND AM bands and gotten nothing.
It really wasn't until I went through the Experiencing God Bible study that my soul was awakened to the part about Jesus' lordship OVER my life. It seemed that I'd gotten the salvation part fine, but hadn't bothered (or been taught, maybe) about the lordship part.
Verse 21 contained a very valuable secret that I too discovered: "The Lord continued to show Himself ... and He showed Himself to Samuel through His WORD." God revealed - in the pages of my Bible. I just hadn't been reading it to know!
I like to tell the boys and girls I teach that now my "spiritual radio" seems to stop on every frequency, about like the car radio does while in Dallas. I like to let them know that I didn't have the Power turned on back then.
What's so special about the timing today? Samuel heard God calling his name and answered, "Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening." On August 5th, 2001, God called my name, and I in my heart I said, "Speak, Lord. I'm Yours. I'm listening." Seven years ago TODAY, God brought about what He told me He would do almost one and a half years earlier, and in a small courtroom in Ukraine a little 7 ½ year old orphan boy became my son, Josh!
Speak again, Father. I'm Your servant, and I'm listening!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Samuel had been growing up as somewhat of an apprentice to the High Priest. He even slept in the Lord's house. Just before morning, he heard his name called. "Samuel?" He didn't realize how special that one word really was....
For over 300 years, God had been SILENT... Israel was being ruled by "judges" and the spiritual state of the nation was very poor. The sons of the High Priest had even disqualified themselves from inheriting the position by their sins.
When Samuel went to Eli, thinking he was the one calling, it dawned on Eli the second time that it was God who was initiating the conversation. And since it was being initiated with Samuel and not with Eli, the High Priest, I think Eli knew that the sins of his sons and his own failure to deal with them meant that God was bypassing him to get the job done. I think that's why Eli admonished Samuel not to hide any of God's words from him.
It mentioned that, until this time, Samuel had not yet known the Lord. I wonder if Eli ever DID.
In my own life, I remember asking a Sunday School class I was teaching just how one hears from God. I didn't know the answer, and no one there answered either. It was as though I'd turned on my "spiritual radio" and scanned all across the FM AND AM bands and gotten nothing.
It really wasn't until I went through the Experiencing God Bible study that my soul was awakened to the part about Jesus' lordship OVER my life. It seemed that I'd gotten the salvation part fine, but hadn't bothered (or been taught, maybe) about the lordship part.
Verse 21 contained a very valuable secret that I too discovered: "The Lord continued to show Himself ... and He showed Himself to Samuel through His WORD." God revealed - in the pages of my Bible. I just hadn't been reading it to know!
I like to tell the boys and girls I teach that now my "spiritual radio" seems to stop on every frequency, about like the car radio does while in Dallas. I like to let them know that I didn't have the Power turned on back then.
What's so special about the timing today? Samuel heard God calling his name and answered, "Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening." On August 5th, 2001, God called my name, and I in my heart I said, "Speak, Lord. I'm Yours. I'm listening." Seven years ago TODAY, God brought about what He told me He would do almost one and a half years earlier, and in a small courtroom in Ukraine a little 7 ½ year old orphan boy became my son, Josh!
Speak again, Father. I'm Your servant, and I'm listening!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 3 & 4 -- Don't Treat God Like A Good Luck Charm
The Israelites went to war with the Philistines. There's no mention of what started the conflict. The location seemed to indicate a border dispute. The Philistines quickly got the upper hand, killing 4000 Israelite soldiers. &n
The Israelites went to war with the Philistines. There's no mention of what started the conflict. The location seemed to indicate a border dispute. The Philistines quickly got the upper hand, killing 4000 Israelite soldiers.
Regrouping, the Israelite leaders asked, "Why did the Lord let the Philistines defeat us? Let's bring the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord here from Shiloh and take it with us into battle. Then God will save us from our enemies."
Sounds like a plan - a very human plan. Perhaps they'd never stopped to consult God about starting the war in the first place. That likely resulted from the spiritual drought that the nation had been experiencing. Now they were compounding their problems by using the Ark like a good luck charm. Still they'd failed to consult God.
As a result, 30,000 Israelite soldiers were killed and their precious Ark was captured. When that news reached Eli, the old High Priest who'd taught Samuel, he fell backward in his chair and broke his neck and died. His two sons had taken the Ark into battle, and just as God had told Samuel, they both died on the same day.
We aren't to leave God out of our plans. Indeed, He wants us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives. He longs to give us guidance, but He won't force Himself on us. He wants the very best for us, and it will be impossible for us to attain it without Him.
Father, thank You for teaching me to rely on You for not just the big things, but for everyday guidance with even the small stuff. You seek my constant faithfulness, and every time I rely on You instead of myself, I am building more trust in You. You're such a great God!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Regrouping, the Israelite leaders asked, "Why did the Lord let the Philistines defeat us? Let's bring the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord here from Shiloh and take it with us into battle. Then God will save us from our enemies."
Sounds like a plan - a very human plan. Perhaps they'd never stopped to consult God about starting the war in the first place. That likely resulted from the spiritual drought that the nation had been experiencing. Now they were compounding their problems by using the Ark like a good luck charm. Still they'd failed to consult God.
As a result, 30,000 Israelite soldiers were killed and their precious Ark was captured. When that news reached Eli, the old High Priest who'd taught Samuel, he fell backward in his chair and broke his neck and died. His two sons had taken the Ark into battle, and just as God had told Samuel, they both died on the same day.
We aren't to leave God out of our plans. Indeed, He wants us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives. He longs to give us guidance, but He won't force Himself on us. He wants the very best for us, and it will be impossible for us to attain it without Him.
Father, thank You for teaching me to rely on You for not just the big things, but for everyday guidance with even the small stuff. You seek my constant faithfulness, and every time I rely on You instead of myself, I am building more trust in You. You're such a great God!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 6 & 7 -- "PUT Away" or "THROWN Away"?
Israel had just about reached their lowest point. The Philistines had been raiding and had taken several towns, much land, and even the Ark of the Covenant. They'd also begun to worship idols. But God was still at work. He
Israel had just about reached their lowest point. The Philistines had been raiding and had taken several towns, much land, and even the Ark of the Covenant. They'd also begun to worship idols. But God was still at work. He caused skin tumors to appear on all the Philistines, and rats began to infest their country. Getting their fill of this the Philistines sent the Ark back home on a cart pulled by two cows, along with a penalty offering.
When the Israelites spotted the Ark headed their way, they were overjoyed. Unfortunately, men from Beth Shemesh must have been curious about whether the contents of the Ark might have been removed by the Philistines. Sealing their doom, they opened the ark, and seventy of them were struck dead.
Samuel came to Kiriath Jearim to speak to the nation after the Ark had been moved there. "The people of Israel began to follow the Lord again," it said. Samuel's words are just as applicable to us today: "If you're turning back to the Lord with all your hearts, you MUST REMOVE your foreign gods and your idols of Ashtoreth. You must give yourselves FULLY to the Lord and serve only Him. Then He will save you ..."
I think that what the Israelites did next was significant: "So the Israelites put away their idols of Baal and Ashtoreth, and they served only the Lord."
"Put away" can mean several things. In my Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, it says "removed". That would be the proper thing - to get them out of their lives. At other times in Israel's history, such idols were ground to dust and the dust was spread over graves to defile the idols even further.
Earlier in Israel's history, as they left Egypt, they'd brought with them Egyptian idols, and they carried them during the entire 40 year trip to the Promised Land. They were being guided by God and set apart as His holy people, yet they clung tightly to the idols of their enemies.
Last night, our pastor made a particular point about those who are Christians continuing in particular sins and feeling somewhat of a level of comfort in doing so, as opposed to the disgust and shame that one would expect to feel as the Holy Spirit works from within to bring about repentance. It's hard to tell if these Israelites had done as their ancestors had and simply packed their idols away for another day.
Father, I too find myself "packing away" my own "pet sins" at times, much like these Israelites. I find it difficult to part with them fully and finally. I carry them as a burden, much as the Israelites had done, on my own journey with You. Please grant me the strength and the willpower that can only come from You to completely remove ANYTHING from my life that does not conform to Your will for me. Don't let me hold back. Make me as uncomfortable as the Philistines became - to the point that I am ready to do something about it and not look back.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
When the Israelites spotted the Ark headed their way, they were overjoyed. Unfortunately, men from Beth Shemesh must have been curious about whether the contents of the Ark might have been removed by the Philistines. Sealing their doom, they opened the ark, and seventy of them were struck dead.
Samuel came to Kiriath Jearim to speak to the nation after the Ark had been moved there. "The people of Israel began to follow the Lord again," it said. Samuel's words are just as applicable to us today: "If you're turning back to the Lord with all your hearts, you MUST REMOVE your foreign gods and your idols of Ashtoreth. You must give yourselves FULLY to the Lord and serve only Him. Then He will save you ..."
I think that what the Israelites did next was significant: "So the Israelites put away their idols of Baal and Ashtoreth, and they served only the Lord."
"Put away" can mean several things. In my Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, it says "removed". That would be the proper thing - to get them out of their lives. At other times in Israel's history, such idols were ground to dust and the dust was spread over graves to defile the idols even further.
Earlier in Israel's history, as they left Egypt, they'd brought with them Egyptian idols, and they carried them during the entire 40 year trip to the Promised Land. They were being guided by God and set apart as His holy people, yet they clung tightly to the idols of their enemies.
Last night, our pastor made a particular point about those who are Christians continuing in particular sins and feeling somewhat of a level of comfort in doing so, as opposed to the disgust and shame that one would expect to feel as the Holy Spirit works from within to bring about repentance. It's hard to tell if these Israelites had done as their ancestors had and simply packed their idols away for another day.
Father, I too find myself "packing away" my own "pet sins" at times, much like these Israelites. I find it difficult to part with them fully and finally. I carry them as a burden, much as the Israelites had done, on my own journey with You. Please grant me the strength and the willpower that can only come from You to completely remove ANYTHING from my life that does not conform to Your will for me. Don't let me hold back. Make me as uncomfortable as the Philistines became - to the point that I am ready to do something about it and not look back.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 8 -- Be Careful What You Wish For
God, in His infinite wisdom, had planned for Israel to be a nation unlike any other on earth. They were to live by His rules, and he was to be their king. Samuel had reached retirement age, and his two sons were beginning to take over
God, in His infinite wisdom, had planned for Israel to be a nation unlike any other on earth. They were to live by His rules, and he was to be their king.
Samuel had reached retirement age, and his two sons were beginning to take over the reins from their dad. If Samuel had a flaw, it was that he'd learned his parenting skills from his mentor Eli, whose own sons seemed to have rejected God's moral rules for living. Samuel's sons followed right along, even accepting bribes to alter their decisions. This caused the citizens to cry out to Samuel to appoint a king for them, citing the reason every kid gives his parents today: "Everyone else has one!"
It says that Samuel grieved about their request, but God told him, in effect, "This isn't about you. It's Me they are rejecting."
God still told Samuel to warn them about the result of their request: exactly what seems to be happening in American government today - great expansion of government bureaucracy, takeovers of certain industries, government intervention in personal lives, and taxes, taxes, taxes!
God's warning was crystal clear: "You yourselves will become his slaves. When that time comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose. But the Lord will not answer you then."
Responding with total disdain for what Samuel had prophesied, they said, "No! We want a king to rule over us. Then we will be the same as OTHER nations. Our king will judge for us and go with us and fight our battles." They were abdicating personal responsibility and also forgetting that God had done all of that for them - until they'd begun to worship idols again.
We today aren't all that far from where they were. My sidebar said, "Our desire to imitate the world may seem righteous at first, but the final result will be destruction. We need to show how cold, black, hard, and ugly we are, to get motivated to stay in that fire (the Holy Spirit's cleansing fire). Unless we do, we will never hate sin and fear sin and be repelled by sin enough to stay in the fire ... We must weep; we must mourn! We must hate what He hates! ... Let us see how our coldness, blackness, hardness, ugliness become colder, blacker, harder, uglier - unless in terror we wrench ourselves free and rush to His precious Fire!"
Father, I need Your cleansing fire; our nation does. We all do. But we have to first seek after You to be cleansed. Wake us from our self-induced apathy, ignorance, and laziness. Strip us of our sin entitlement mentality, and cause us to come back to You as a nation.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Samuel had reached retirement age, and his two sons were beginning to take over the reins from their dad. If Samuel had a flaw, it was that he'd learned his parenting skills from his mentor Eli, whose own sons seemed to have rejected God's moral rules for living. Samuel's sons followed right along, even accepting bribes to alter their decisions. This caused the citizens to cry out to Samuel to appoint a king for them, citing the reason every kid gives his parents today: "Everyone else has one!"
It says that Samuel grieved about their request, but God told him, in effect, "This isn't about you. It's Me they are rejecting."
God still told Samuel to warn them about the result of their request: exactly what seems to be happening in American government today - great expansion of government bureaucracy, takeovers of certain industries, government intervention in personal lives, and taxes, taxes, taxes!
God's warning was crystal clear: "You yourselves will become his slaves. When that time comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose. But the Lord will not answer you then."
Responding with total disdain for what Samuel had prophesied, they said, "No! We want a king to rule over us. Then we will be the same as OTHER nations. Our king will judge for us and go with us and fight our battles." They were abdicating personal responsibility and also forgetting that God had done all of that for them - until they'd begun to worship idols again.
We today aren't all that far from where they were. My sidebar said, "Our desire to imitate the world may seem righteous at first, but the final result will be destruction. We need to show how cold, black, hard, and ugly we are, to get motivated to stay in that fire (the Holy Spirit's cleansing fire). Unless we do, we will never hate sin and fear sin and be repelled by sin enough to stay in the fire ... We must weep; we must mourn! We must hate what He hates! ... Let us see how our coldness, blackness, hardness, ugliness become colder, blacker, harder, uglier - unless in terror we wrench ourselves free and rush to His precious Fire!"
Father, I need Your cleansing fire; our nation does. We all do. But we have to first seek after You to be cleansed. Wake us from our self-induced apathy, ignorance, and laziness. Strip us of our sin entitlement mentality, and cause us to come back to You as a nation.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 9&10 -- Saul's Divine Appointment
Talk about God changing a life! Saul left his dad's house with a servant, trying to locate donkeys that had wandered away, and he ended up being anointed as the first king of Israel! As he and his servant traveled farther and farther
Talk about God changing a life! Saul left his dad's house with a servant, trying to locate donkeys that had wandered away, and he ended up being anointed as the first king of Israel! As he and his servant traveled farther and farther from home in search of the donkeys, they'd ended up close to Samuel's hometown. They were about to turn around and head back when the servant suggested they ask Samuel about the donkeys' whereabouts.
What they didn't know was that God had caused the donkeys to wander that direction in order to bring Saul to his divine appointment. On the other side of this transaction, God had told Samuel that he'd meet a man that day who was searching for donkeys, and that he was to be anointed as the first king.
Samuel exhibited the quiet confidence of one who's been granted full access to God's amazing plan. He gave Saul three signs to watch for that would serve as confirmation of God's choice, then sent Saul home for a week. What happened next was vitally important: "When Saul turned to leave Samuel, God CHANGED Saul's heart." Saul would be able to look back on that defining moment and know with certainty that he'd definitely heard from God.
As I read all this, my thoughts went instantly to the third seat on the left side of a bus parked outside of an orphanage in Svir Stroy, Russia. God had already been at work in my life, putting the desires in my heart that had led me to that place, just as He'd led Saul to Samuel through those wayward donkeys. But as that bus pulled away for the four-hour trip back to St. Petersburg, God changed my heart, throwing some switch that would lead me then and there to know with absolute certainty that He had readied everything for me to meet, at the appointed times, two boys who would become my sons.
It's an amazing thing when God says, "I'm taking over now. You just watch and be amazed." The best illustration I've ever heard is that of a bicycle built for two. I'd been sitting up front steering, with God simply pedaling, I thought (I didn't realize that He'd actually been moving the road ahead to suit His purposes). That day in Svir Story was when God and I changed positions - He began to steer and He simply said, "Pedal, Gary - just pedal." It's been an amazing, wonderful ride, and I'm content to leave the driving to Him from now on.
Father, I'm so thankful to have experienced such a defining moment. I hope that my boys and everyone I know can experience something like that. It's an awesome thing to have You take the wheel!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
What they didn't know was that God had caused the donkeys to wander that direction in order to bring Saul to his divine appointment. On the other side of this transaction, God had told Samuel that he'd meet a man that day who was searching for donkeys, and that he was to be anointed as the first king.
Samuel exhibited the quiet confidence of one who's been granted full access to God's amazing plan. He gave Saul three signs to watch for that would serve as confirmation of God's choice, then sent Saul home for a week. What happened next was vitally important: "When Saul turned to leave Samuel, God CHANGED Saul's heart." Saul would be able to look back on that defining moment and know with certainty that he'd definitely heard from God.
As I read all this, my thoughts went instantly to the third seat on the left side of a bus parked outside of an orphanage in Svir Stroy, Russia. God had already been at work in my life, putting the desires in my heart that had led me to that place, just as He'd led Saul to Samuel through those wayward donkeys. But as that bus pulled away for the four-hour trip back to St. Petersburg, God changed my heart, throwing some switch that would lead me then and there to know with absolute certainty that He had readied everything for me to meet, at the appointed times, two boys who would become my sons.
It's an amazing thing when God says, "I'm taking over now. You just watch and be amazed." The best illustration I've ever heard is that of a bicycle built for two. I'd been sitting up front steering, with God simply pedaling, I thought (I didn't realize that He'd actually been moving the road ahead to suit His purposes). That day in Svir Story was when God and I changed positions - He began to steer and He simply said, "Pedal, Gary - just pedal." It's been an amazing, wonderful ride, and I'm content to leave the driving to Him from now on.
Father, I'm so thankful to have experienced such a defining moment. I hope that my boys and everyone I know can experience something like that. It's an awesome thing to have You take the wheel!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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