Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — November 2007
Daniel 5 -- Seeing The Handwriting On The Wall
when we do, it won't be good
Belshazzar had become king and Daniel must have faded into obscurity. The king seemed to desire setting new records for drunken parties and disrespect for God. Although God is patient and longsuffering, He'd reached His limit with Belshazzar when the king decided to get his entourage drunk using the golden cups from the Temple, which his grandfather had looted.
Seeing a human hand materialize out of nowhere was absolutely startling. The four words written could not be deciphered by the best minds in Babylon. Then the queen mother remembered Daniel. He was summoned to the event and promised gifts and a share in ruling the country if he was successful.
The cryptic message simply said, "Measured, measured.... weighed, and found wanting." In itself, the message held no meaning for the king, but God had given Daniel its meaning: King Belshazzar didn't measure up to God's requirements. He'd been judged unworthy of kingship, and his kingdom would be ripped from him. (Where Nebuchadnezzar had been given a year to change, Belshazzar didn't even receive a warning.) That very same night the Medo-Persian army swept into town and Belshazzar was killed. In its drunken state, the leadership of Babylon went out with a whimper instead of a bang.
Father, help me never to be ignorant of thoughts I might have or actions I might take that are disrespectful of You. Burden my heart to immediately correct them. Father, You are supreme and You deserve so much more honor and glory than I'm even capable of giving. Help me to praise You and glorify You among men.
Daniel 6 -- Working As If For The Lord
having a good work ethic
As a kid, my memories of the lessons taught on this chapter always seem to center on Daniel's great faith and how God honored it by saving him from the lion's den. But this morning I felt more compelled to look at not even what got him in the lion's den, but instead why his enemies thought to attack him in the first place.
King Darius had appointed 120 governors to rule in his stead over the various provinces. He wisely chose three supervisors over those governors to, in effect, audit the governors and establish accountability. Daniel was one of those supervisors.
"Daniel showed that he could do the work better than the other supervisors and governors, so the king planned to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom."
Daniel was giving an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. It's apparent that he wasn't simply completing a daily checklist and heading home. He was self-motivated and he looked for work that needed doing. Despite his position, he apparently never felt that he was too good or too high up to do a job. He also wasn't claiming seniority rights to mark time in his job until retirement.
In fact, if you do the math, Daniel wasn't a young buck. He was past retirement age. He was over 80 years old, and he'd never stopped having integrity. In fact, he'd never stopped, period! He was simply doing his absolute best in the spot where God had placed him. There's no mention whatsoever of discontent or ill will. Even after being released from the lion's den, he did not hold a grudge.
There's a lot worth imitating in Daniel's life. He worked as though he was working for the Lord. And he was! His example spoke volumes to the leaders and the common people, even causing a king who was a nonbeliever to praise God. His attitude still speaks to us today.
Father, help me to be a man like Daniel in all that I do, and particularly let me exhibit his qualities at work. Keep me from becoming disgruntled or disenchanted. Help me to cheerfully get the work out and to never hold a grudge. Let others see You through my actions at work.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Daniel 7 -- God Filtering Out The Unimportant Stuff?
just the important stuff came out of this
I think God really knows how I try to overanalyze passages like this one, and how I can get sidetracked easily from the main message. I had been sick yesterday yet needed to keep one of Josh's friends last night while one of his parents had surgery today. This friend was also under the weather and his coughing kept me awake for awhile as well last night. The combination of all this led me to find myself reading this chapter but also finding it impossible to focus or even stay awake through much of it. The same thing happened when I read the commentary.
Yet certain parts came through loud and clear -- the descriptions of God on His throne and Jesus Christ returning in power. It all resembled a bumper sticker I once had on my car: "I Know The Future -- God Wins!" And after all, that is all that matters.
Father, I thank You for being the powerful and sovereign God that You are and have always been. I thank You for helping me to know that no kingdom on this earth can stand against You, and that those who try will fail. Help me to use this firm belief to understand that any time I struggle against You, I too will fail. Be Lord of my life. Reign in me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Daniel 8 & 9 -- A Perfect Thanksgiving set of verses
Thank You, Father
More than the fantastically accurate prophecies in these chapters, I was directed to Daniels' attitude and response.
After the first vision in Daniel 8, Daniel indicated his desire and willingness to try to understand. Someone "like a man" standing beside him ordered Gabriel to explain. This indicates to me God's presence among those who seek after Him and His willingness to reveal Himself. Realizing God's presence, Daniel was very afraid and bowed facedown on the ground -- a ready admission of God's majesty, holiness, and sovereignty.
Once this recognition of God's presence had been made, Daniel is brought back to his feet for the conversation to take place. God ( and those He chooses to use) stands alongside us as He reveals Himself to us. He is not a distant God.
After receiving God's word about the vision, Daniel was very weak and sick for several days. There was a physical effect that manifested itself in Daniel's body from such closeness to God.
In chapter 9, Daniel is reading Jeremiah and discovers that the captivity is almost at an end. This shows the importance of refreshing ourselves regarding Scripture. We may overlook vitally important wisdom which may be revealed to us upon a second or third reading.
Daniel's first reaction was sadness, not gladness, for he realized the depth of national sin that had cost Israel 70 years of captivity. He understands that this was God's love crying out to them in discipline, not His anger. He admits personal and national sin and realizes that we are so beneath God that we cannot begin to compare ourselves to Him. He understands God's mercy DESPITE our sin. He understands that God is a promisekeeper. holding us accountable and being consistent with His word.
He begs God: "Hear our prayers ... Listen... Pay attention...Open Your eyes and see .... SEE.." and he does it in the right way: "We do not ask because we are good. We ask because of Your mercy."
Because he was penitent, Gabriel's next appearance was unlike the first. Now, Daniel wasn't afraid of him (of divine revelation) -- he welcomed it. God had sent Gabriel to give Daniel wisdom and understanding. He also gives Daniel a reassurance: "When you first started praying, an answer was given, and I came to tell you, because God loves you VERY much!'
Father, help me to approach You with penitence, realizing my position as a sinful human. Help me to marvel at Your glory and the fact that You choose to make Your presence with me. Thank You that I can beg You in prayer. Thank You for caring enough about me to want me to have wisdom and understanding about You. Thank You for letter me know that when I first start to pray, an answer is given. Thank You for loving me very much!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Daniel 10-12 I Know Who Wins!
God does
There are many more fantastic prophecies here, and my commentary did a great job matching many of them up with historical events. The accuracy is stunning!
There was still that future component that, if I let it, tends to draw me into lots of wasted hours of speculation and study. Instead, I've discovered that I know the future -- God WINS. We as Christians WIN. And even a believing remnant of the Jewish people win. Satan is finally defeated.
That's all that's important to me. I neither know the time or the place, but I know the Father and I know His Son. I know His love and His grace. And that's enough for me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 1 -- A New Lifestyle And Attitude
I don't remember any other kingdom on earth that starts when the monarch departs. But then again, this was the kingdom of heaven.The tiny band that had stuck by Jesus for the most part during His life on earth now faced their greatest chall
I don't remember any other kingdom on earth that starts when the monarch departs. But then again, this was the kingdom of heaven.
The tiny band that had stuck by Jesus for the most part during His life on earth now faced their greatest challenge. Without Him physically present on earth, what would they do?
In the sidebar for this chapter, Charles Stanley mentions that God wasn't asking the apostles to simply do their BEST. If that were the case, there wouldn't be a need for the Helper to come. He said, "Jesus let it be known, however, that God was looking for more than our best. He was looking for a lifestyle and attitude that superseded our best, a lifestyle and attitude that we could never attain through our own efforts ... The quality of life Jesus expects from His followers is unattainable apart from outside intervention."
Father, these men had been right there with Jesus for years, listening as He imparted His wisdom and watching as He performed miracles. If they needed a Helper, than we would need Him all the more. Please help me to realize that, on my own, I cannot attain the lifestyle and attitude that You desire of me. Help me to humbly submit to the Spirit's power in my life, and let me not squander any opportunities You put in my path.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 2 -- Is The Cup Half-Full?
fill it to the brim
Verse 4 says they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They weren't simply indwelt by Him. They were filled. My commentary said, "We are indwelt by God's Spirit the moment we are saved, but to be filled with the Spirit we must study the Word, spend time in meditation and prayer, and live in obedience to the Lord. If the filling of the Spirit were automatically guaranteed today, we would not be exhorted to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18."
I would guess that would make the big question for each believer, "Am I filled, or simply indwelt, or somewhere in between?"
To discover the answer, I guess we'd have to answer a few more questions:
-- Am I studying the Word regularly?
-- Am I spending time in meditation and prayer?
-- Am I living in obedience to the Lord?
Father, if this truly is the measure, I know that I'm not at this time filled to the brim. Encourage me and strengthen me in the areas of my life that need work. I want all I can hold, Father, and if sin or laziness or lack of commitment is limiting my capacity, then please grow me and then fill 'er up!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 3 -- God CAN Use Us Warts And All
There's a call here to the ordinary person, not the staff of a church, to get busy telling those around us about Christ and what a change He's made in our lives.Peter and John were outside, not in a church, when an opportunity from God arose.
There's a call here to the ordinary person, not the staff of a church, to get busy telling those around us about Christ and what a change He's made in our lives.
Peter and John were outside, not in a church, when an opportunity from God arose. A man born unable to walk asked them for money, and Peter basically said, "I can't give you what you want (what you think you need), but I can give you what you need (Christ)." Hearing Peter's story caused the man to believe and be healed.
Peter first helped him up, then God performed the cure. My commentary called it "a curious mingling of the divine and the human ... We must do what we can do; then God will do what we cannot do."
I noticed too that Peter chose to help someone right in his path who had a need, rather than bypassing him to go into a service to preach. My commentary added: "If we are led by the Spirit, we will fix our eyes on those whom God intends to bless, instead of firing blank cartridges and beating the air."
The sidebar in my Bible by Charles Stanley seemed to tie it all together nicely: "God is looking for imperfect men and women who have learned to walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit -- Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures."
Father God, You've spent the last 15 years helping me to come to terms with my inadequacies, my fears, and particularly my failures. I am as imperfect as they come, yet I've watched as You have changed lives and blessed others in Your own power and not through anything of mine when I simply made myself available to You. Please keep reminding me that my inadequacies, fears, and failures do not disqualify me from service to You. In fact, they help me to better identify with those You are placing in my path.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 4 -- Watching It Happen In 2007
joy in worship
Peter and John, now Christians on fire for their Lord, spent a night in jail for preaching about Jesus in the Temple before being called before the leaders. The religious establishment was getting antsy because people in their flock were bailing out, turned on spiritually by belief in Jesus -- the very man they'd had taken out by making shameless deals with the occupying army that they despised. They wanted to be in control of the people at all costs, and they were losing that. My commentary said, "Dry, formal religion is ever intolerant of enthusiastic, VITAL evangelism that produces results in hearts and lives."
Those in control probably wore faces that looked like they were constantly eating sour pickles, and the thought that someone might actually display joy in worship was abhorrent to them. They were all about "Thou shalt not!" It's terribly unfortunate that there are still people today who seem to function this way in church!
One thing they could not deny, though, was "the boldness, self-control, fearlessness, and empowered lives" of these two men. They had changed as a result of meeting Christ, and no one can meet Him and remain unchanged. "The argument of a redeemed life is unassailable," my commentary quoted from J. H. Jowett.
Verse 12 is also a great verse to use when working with an unbeliever: "Jesus is the only One who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save people. We must be saved through Him."
Father, I thank You for breaking through the cold, crusty, stale, and controlling hearts of those who, like these Jewish leaders, thought that they were "protecting You" by trying to quash praise and worship in our church. Thank You for letting us be unafraid of a less-than-unanimous vote and for bringing Your man to lead us in worship. You've allowed joy to burst forth in our worship of You, as it should! It's been a long road and You've answered the prayers I've been lifting up for years! Thank You!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Acts 5 -- The Honor Of Suffering Disgrace For Jesus
felt that yesterday
There is a boldness to the apostles that the world found inexplicable. They were not afraid to call out sin in the early church. When Ananias dies as a result, they didn't cower, nor did they gloat in self-righteousness. They simply continued with his wife, and watched as God delivered the same results.
They met on Solomon's porch, part of the Temple, despite the opposition of the Jewish leaders. After being jailed, they followed the instructions of the angel of the Lord as he amazingly released them, returning to the Temple to teach again rather than hiding for self-preservation. Beaten for this, they were filled with joy over being counted worthy to suffer disgrace for Jesus.
The angel had told them, "Tell the people everything about this new LIFE." As my commentary said, "It is not just a creed or a set of doctrines, but a Life -- the resurrection life of the Lord Jesus imparted to all who trust Him."
Yesterday, I needed to respond to emails an employee had received from a bank customer who had misunderstood or forgotten the way his account would be charged if the balance requirement was not met. After completing an explanation of the whole situation, I had decided to use grace and I refunded his charge, telling him so in the email. As it always does, my email program appended my "signature" which begins "Your Brother In Christ," and ends with a Bible verse.
I received a scathing reply that he wasn't a Christian and that he was incensed and deeply offended "at being preached to!" I was stunned and sickened by such a reply. I had to stop and pray for wisdom to respond in the right way. I finally wrote, "I was the only bank officer who did not want to immediately close your account and send you a cashier's check for your balance. No one else wanted to refund your fee. I had wanted to help you."
The reply I received was humble to say the least. He said, "Thank you for the refund and the explanation. I appreciate all your help." I imagine that, upon receiving my email, he imagined what our meeting must have been like. With his "world's view" he probably saw himself agreeing with everyone else about closing the account of someone getting that belligerent. Hopefully, he saw my response as something he would never have done, and something he didn't deserve. And this Christian, whom he had just deeply offended probably, did what he wouldn't have done at all!
I pray that God will use a $5 refund to bring another person into his kingdom.
Father, thank You for helping me to control my anger and to respond as Jesus might have responded. Work in that man's life to bring about eternal life for him. And thank You once again for Your incredible timing this morning. I am filled with joy that I was "given the honor of suffering disgrace for Jesus."
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
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