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Life of David Part 9: Faith to Let Vengeance be the Lord’s

8/25/2016

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Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
David was a man who trusted God to be his Justice and Avenger. That is not the easiest thing, especially when someone hates you passionately and is consistently trying to hurt you. Saul had chased David relentlessly for no reason other reason than his own jealousy and personal vendetta. Other men too wanted David to die, both at this time in his life and later. But David trusted God’s promise and command that vengeance is His. Deuteronomy 32:34-36 reads,
Is not this laid up in store with me,
    sealed up in my treasuries?
35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
    for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
    and their doom comes swiftly.’
36 For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone
    and there is none remaining, bond or free.

 
And Leviticus 19:15-18 commands us,
You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
 
It takes a great deal of faith in God not to hurt the people who hurt us, not to take vengeance on people who attack us, and not to hate the people who hate us. But David was a man after God’s own heart who did all the will of God. He trusted and loved the LORD, He knew God well enough to know that he would rather please his Lord than please himself or people. We begin today in 1 Samuel 26. David once again was given an opportunity to kill Saul who had again come after David in Ziph with 3,000 men. Saul and his men were encamped and asleep. Saul was in the center of the army, surrounded by soldiers and sleeping next to Abner, the commander of the army. Saul trusted his life to his men and to Abner. But David saw them all asleep. He asked two of his men Ahimelech the Hittite, and Joab's brother Abishai and aksed them to enter the encampment with him. Abishai went with him. Abishai was a courageous and mighty military man in his own right. The daughter of David’s sister Zeruiah, he alone was brave enough to trust God and follow David into the camp. He had the command of one of the three divisions of David's army at the battle with Absalom ( 2 Samuel 18:2 2 Samuel 18:5 2 Samuel 18:12 ). He defeated and killed the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who threatened David's life (2 Samuel 21:15-17 ). He was the chief of the second rank of the three "mighties" ( 2 Samuel 23:18 2 Samuel 23:19 ; 1 Chronicles 11:20 1 Chronicles 11:21 ); and on one occasion killed 300 men with his own spear ( 2 Samuel 23:18). He followed David as David followed the LORD and seeing all David did gave him faith in God.
The two men entered the army’s camp. They could be captured or killed, especially since the army’s sole reason for being there was to kill David. But no one stirred, no one was awake guarding the king. David and Abishai went directly to the sleeping Saul whose spear was in the ground at his head along with his jar of water. Abishai said, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” (Verse 8). Verses 9-12 record David’s response,
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
 
David could have been murdered as Saul so deeply desired, but he trusted God to protect him and God did. David refused to sin against Saul though he desired Saul to pay for his sins. God honored David’s faith and obedience and protected the man by putting the entire army into a deep sleep. David went to a place outside the camp and called to Abner who should have been alert in protection of the king.  Now awake the commander, army, and king were shown the spear and water jar David had taken. It was proved that though he could easily have killed Saul, David had spared his life again. David was hurt that he had been vanquished to serve other gods, though he refused to serve them and to serve other armies. David was innocent yet he was pursued as guilty.
Saul was once again convicted of his guilt in chasing this man who had once been so trusted and loved by him. Their exchange is recorded in verses 21-25.
 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
 
Saul once again swore he would not pursue David any longer. But David’s response showed he did not have to trust Saul, he trusted the Lord. Saul could keep trying to kill him, but David trusted justice to God not Saul.
1 Samuel 27 records that David left his beloved Israel and went to Philistia to escape Saul’s unyielding pursuit. He found favor with Achish who gave him a home in Ziklag, a home that remained the property of Judah’s kings. Verses 8-9 record some of David’s actions for Achish.
Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites,the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish.
David battled and killed the people Saul was rejected for sparing (1 Samuel 15). He made the Achish think he had utterly turned his back on Israel and Achish trusted David enough to bring him to war with him and let him be his personal bodyguard.
Saul meantime had been unable to hear any word from the LORD and knew a battle with the Philistines was coming. So although he knew it was a sin and had banned any necromancers and mediums form Israel he sought a witch and had her raise Samuel from his rest to implore of him what the battle would bring. 1 Samuel 28:16-19 records the ghost of Samuel’s response.
And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
David was about to go to that same battle but as we find out in 1 Samuel 29, the Philistines would not allow this devoted Israelite to fight with them against Israel. David was not safe in Israel and could not fight for Philistia. In 1 Samuel 30 he returned to Ziklag to find it had been burned to the ground and his wives captured by the Amalekites. I can imagine how frustrated and angry David was. I am sure he wanted to take his anger out on the Philistines, Amalekites, and Saul. But instead he turned to God and asked his will. Verses 7-10 record it.
And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.
They came upon an Egyptian servant of an Amalekite who fed them, confessed to all the Amalekites had done and led David to the camp. Verses 16-20 read,
And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.17 And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David's spoil.”
 
David and his men came back with all their possessions and more and when they came upon the two hundred who had not joined in the battle some of the 400 did not want to give them their possessions or any of the spoil. That would be the natural response of most of us. “You didn’t fight, you didn’t help. You lose out.” It seemed like the right payback for the 200 who were too exhausted to fight. But David was a man after God’s own heart and he said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.  Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.”  And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day. (Verses 23-25). David even sent part of the spoils to the elders of Judah, whom he still loved and honored as friends.
1 Samuel 31 records what happened to Saul and his sons fighting the Phillistines. Verses 1-7 read,
Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slainon Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.
 
David did not have to lift a finger to harm Saul. Saul’s own avarice and pride killed him. The Lord had avenged David and David never had to sin against Saul, show him hate, or even be unkind for God to justify him. 2 Samuel 1 records David’s reaction to Saul and Jonathan’s death. He did not rejoice, he lamented. He mourned his friend and he mourned the king, God’s anointed.
Believer, you do not ever have to worry about taking vengeance against the wrongs done to you. Every person on the face of the earth from the beginning of creation to the end of this earth will face Justice. He will either pay for his sins by his own blood or Jesus will have paid with His. We do not have to seek vengeance. We trust and love God. We seek God, His will, His kingdom, His heart, and to know Him. We have a different view of our enemies. In Matthew 5:35-45 Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Paul echoes Jesus’ sentiment in Romans 12:14-20,
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
​
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Romans 12 Let’s be Marked as Jesus’ Disciples Because of our Love not our Protests

5/17/2016

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A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
​Romans 12
What does a Christian life lived by faith under God’s grace look like? How does the Christian follow Jesus and not the Law? Walking in the Spirit with Jesus is characterized by love. It is a life that chooses to exude the character of God, who is Love (1 John 4:8). Love is a tangible choice which affects every action, interaction, and reaction.  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).
The world tells us to look out for ourselves, to stand up against those who do us wrong with anger, fists, and shouting. It tells us to be offended by everything that disagrees with us and to whine as loudly as possible about the offense. But that isn’t love. Love is more effective than bellyaching over affronts. Love leads people to The Lord, teaches them who He is, and shows them His grace and mercy. Love involves our entire being, heart, soul, strength and mind. Verse 1-3 read,
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Whether among the church or not, believers are not supposed to consider themselves as better than other people. That’s how the world does it. Each person fights and claws their way up and exalts himself. We know we’re not better than anyone. We were all born the same, in need of Christ.
The church is made up of many diverse people. Each has her own personality, experience, set of gifts and talents, and level of maturity. There is no one among us who is better than any other. Can you look down on a brother or sister because their gift is generosity and yours is service? Is the brother who prophesies more needed than the sister who administers? The church needs each one! Verses 4-8 read,
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
We are marked by our love. Love is how we are recognized as belonging to Jesus. Jesus said it this way in John 13:34-35,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We are supposed to be so united, so bonded to one another that we are like one body with one purpose, one Spirit, and one Lord. We each have functions connected to our gifts. If God has given you the gift of intercessory prayer, He means for you to pray for people. The church needs you to be a prayer warrior. The world needs you to be a prayer warrior. If He gave you the gift of prophecy, what good will you do the church or the world if you keep your mouth closed? It takes faith to exercise your gifts. It requires love to use your gifts for the building up of the church. Let’s love one another so deeply that the world takes notice. Let’s stop crying about being offended by words, laws, and attitudes and love people like Jesus loves people. Verses 9-13 read,
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
What if we outdid each other in respect, love, and service instead of looking for glory for ourselves? What if we loved each other so deeply that we responded with empathy, mercy, and grace instead of hurt feelings? The world would see Jesus alive in us. They would want to know more about how we are who they see. Currently, I don’t think the world looks at Christians and sees love. They see believers as self-righteous, judgmental, hateful, moaners who would rather fight over public bathrooms and the definition of marriage than choose mercy.
We are not better than anyone else. We know we didn’t save ourselves it was God’s graciousness that saved us and brought us where we are. I know if I’m living my entire life as worship that it extends beyond the few hours each week I am in church. If I am loving God with my entire life then I am loving others as He loves me. Why should I let a person who doesn’t know the Lord offend me? How could his opinions, which are based on all he knows hurt me? He doesn’t need my tongue clicking, judgement, or droning on about how offended I am; he needs Jesus. That means he needs me to love him as Jesus loves him, as Jesus loves me. Verses 14-21 read,
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Is your life marked by love or by law? Do you check off every sin you see your brother or a stranger committing? The lost sin, they live in sin; we cannot judge them for that. Your brothers and sisters are not under the law and so they cannot sin (Romans 5:13, 1 Corinthians 6:12). If they are walking outside the will of God in the flesh, then gently restore them (Galatians 6:1-2) but remember you are not to think more highly of yourself than you ought. You were brought to life from death, just like them. You may be further along in your transformation than they are and you may not be. It is the Lord who saves you and who saves them.
Let your life be marked by love. Let the Holy Spirit be who you are. What if we stopped being offended and started loving instead? What if we met the needs of the people in the world instead of shaking our heads in disgust? It is my active and concrete love that should tell people I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, not my T-shirt, bumper sticker, or protest sign.
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#Love God, Your Neighbor, Your Brother, and Your Enemy.

11/29/2015

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And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27
How are we supposed to love? We have different commands regarding love depending on the receiver of that love. Our first command regarding love, our priority, and the love that makes all the other loves align is recorded several places in the Bible,  Luke 10:27 says,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,”
This is to love God with our entire being, our passion, our will, our spirits, our actions, and our intelligence. It encompasses every part of who we are and what we do. There is nothing passive about this love. Everything we do, desire, seek to understand, and how we respond to situations is done in love and because of love for God. It involves fellowship with Him through prayer, getting to know Him through studying and prayer, and wanting His will the way we used to want our own because our will is His will. The first four of the Ten Commandments tell us how to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Exodus 20:1-11 list them.
“And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Another way that we love God with our entire being is to make Him, Who He is, His will, and His Kingdom our priority. In Matthew 6:30-34 Jesus said,
“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
In other words, don’t act like the lost who have to run around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to meet their needs, and love themselves with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind. Have faith, love God, pursue more and more of Him in every aspect of life and let Him be God for you and to you.
The next kind of love goes hand in hand with loving God. Let’s return to what Jesus said, were the two commandments that contain all the law and the prophets. The rest of Luke 10:27 reads,
“You shall love…your neighbor as yourself”
This is not about self-esteem, it is about our worth as people. It is not about “loving” ourselves. We are to care about and be as concerned with our neighbors’ well-being just as much as we are concerned with our own. We do not want to go hungry or naked, we don’t want to be injured, so we don’t want that for other people either. But who is our neighbor? The Greek word πλησίον or plésion means any other person that we come across in life or have the chance to come across in life. When the lawyer in Luke 10 asked Jesus “Who is my neighbor” as a way to justify himself because he believed that a neighbor was a fellow Jew and did not include gentiles or anyone else, Jesus told him the parable of The Good Samaritan recorded in Luke 10:30-37.
“Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Samaritans did not have a good reputation, they were hated by the Jewish people and considered “less than.” Even that person you want to hate for whatever reason, because of their sin, their race, their beliefs, or religion, is your neighbor. We are to do good for our neighbors and we are not to harm them. Exodus 20:12-17 are the portion of the Ten Commandments which tell us how to love our neighbors as ourselves.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
I have seen this love exhibited time and again. Yesterday, two of my fellow Christ followers and I were out on the streets and we prayed with several people. One person we prayed for appreciated the pray as “nice.” But then my brother, who does not have extra money to throw away, obeyed The Holy Spirit and gave this man a gift card with $45.00 on it. This tangible and active blessing moved this man. He immediately had us meet his wife, he shared their tragic story, and gave us testimony of miracles God has done for him, even though neither he nor his wife have yet given their hearts to Christ. But I know that God’s love manifested by my brother’s obedience will lead to that commitment because The Holy Spirit told me.
We are also supposed to love one another on a deeper level than we love the world. We love the people of the world by giving them as much concern as we do ourselves. But we love our fellow Believers, our brothers and sisters in Christ the way Jesus loves us. In John 13:34-35, on the night before His arrest, after Jesus did the job of the lowest of slaves and washed the disciples’ filthy feet, He said,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Just like our love for God, this exceptional sacrificial and serving love for one another makes us stand out from the world. How did Jesus love us? What is this greatest love of all? Jesus explained it like this in John 15:12-17 as He prepared the disciples for His impending death,
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
Our love for another is so deep it makes our love for our neighbors pale in comparison. Our love for our neighbors is so deep it is indistinguishable from our love for ourselves. The Lord described the difference in Malachi 1:2-5.
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”
God didn’t actually hate Esau, the way we think of hate. He didn’t have a special relationship with Esau, He didn’t choose Esau. He chose Jacob. Edom didn’t receive the blessings and provision that a relationsip with God gave Israel. Love is active, it is tangible. When it does not yield the blessings, it is passive and passive love is tantamount to hate. No one is exempt from the command to love. Even our enemies are included. In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Our love of God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind compels us to love the way He loves. He doesn’t leave anyone out of it. He loves the person who hates you. He loves the person who persecutes you. He loves the leaders of Planned Parenthood, Isis, and Westboro Baptist Church. The terrorists who hate, he loves. And because He loves them, so do we. We do not condone the evil they perpetrate. We do not fight hate with hate or terrorism with terrorism like Robert Lewis Dear who shot up the Planned Parenthood building in Colorado Springs. All he did was make people think Christians are extremist haters rather than revolutionary and radical lovers.
So Believer, love. Love God, love the people you encounter, love each other, and love your enemies. Be different from the world. Be like Jesus, the utmost of revolutionary and radical lovers.
 
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Pray for Everyone, Including That Person You Hate.

10/31/2015

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​1 Timothy 2:1-8
One day when I was out walking, I asked God to tell me who needed prayer so that I could pray and share Jesus them. God said, “All of these people need prayer, they all need me.” Every person you see is in need of something. No one, not a single person has it all together perfectly. The second chapter of 1 Timothy begins with an exhortation to action. Verses 1-3 read,
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
You mean God wants us to pray for mean people, people who are better off than us, and people who don’t agree with us? Yes. Not only those people but the people who govern us. Regardless of party affiliation or if we like them or not, they need prayer and we are called to pray for them. They probably need much more prayer than many people. They lead stressful lives fraught with responsibility. Our prayers for them result in our ability to lead peaceful lives. You just can’t feel hostility toward someone you are earnestly praying for. Our prayers for others benefit them, but they also benefit us, and it pleases God! Jesus wants every person to be saved and understand the truth.
We are supposed to pray for everyone that includes our enemies. I’ve heard the cop out that we do not have to pray blessings for them. People can be very creative about praying for people who harm them. Such as, praying that they will pay for their evil, or that they will see how they have hurt us. But that is not what The Lord tells us to pray. In Matthew 5:43-45 Jesus says,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
To be the sons of your Father, means we love and act the way God does. We share His nature and exercise His Spirit. God loves our enemies, and so then should we. We want for them what God wants for them and that means we want them to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We want them to know Jesus. So that is what we pray for, we pray for their salvation. Verses 5-8 read,
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;”
So many people do not know that Jesus wants to have a relationship with them, that God wants to shower them with blessings. Maybe they don’t know because we are sour-faced around our enemies. Maybe we are enemies to our enemies. Someone has to tell them about Jesus. Someone has to tell them the truth. Someone has to love them the way Jesus wants us to love them. We may be the only people who can show them who Jesus is. We are the ones who can pray for them. We are the ones who can tell them. Romans 10:13-17 says,
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Do you pray for everyone? Does everyone include the mayor, governor, and president? Does everyone include the man who punched you, the cop who gave you a ticket, and the waitress who was rude to you? I encourage you, if you haven’t prayed for them before, begin now. See how God will change your heart for them. See how He will take the chaos and anxiety out of your mind when the enmity you once felt for someone is replaced with genuine love and care. You will love because as you prayed for them The Lord replaced your thoughts, and feelings with His mind and perspective.
 
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Psalm 59 Let God be your Deliverer

7/19/2015

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Psalm 59

This miktam of David was written while King Saul was trying to kill David. He had sent men to watch David’s house so that he could have him murdered in his bed. (1 Samuel 19). Saul was God’s anointed king. But David had been chosen to succeed him. Saul grew ever more paranoid and angry. He didn’t care that David was married to his daughter or that his best friend was his son. His paranoia made him hate David. His anger turned to blind rage and he was desperate to kill David.

In verses 1-2 David calls on the Lord to deliver him and protect him from his enemies.

“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
    protect me from those who rise up against me;
2 deliver me from those who work evil,
    and save me from bloodthirsty men.”


David didn’t turn to his own strength, wits, or money. He turned to the Lord God his Maker and his Justice, Elohim. The enemy wants to destroy us as well. The devil doesn’t want us coming into our royal identities. He doesn’t want to be effective. He hates us because we are heirs to the Kingdom of God. He thinks that it ought to be him. (Isaiah 14:13-15). Verses 3-7 describe Saul’s men and their wicked behavior following a paranoid and hateful leader. It can also describe the behavior of the followers of the prince of the power of the air, Satan toward believers.

3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
    fierce men stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,
4     for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Awake, come to meet me, and see!
5     You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
    spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah


6 Each evening they come back,
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.
7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths
    with swords in their lips--
    for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”


People will hate us for following Jesus, like the Saul hated David for being chosen by God. They can hate us for Jesus’ sake, but they shouldn’t hate us for our actions. Our actions, our words, and our lives should be a testimony to God, lived in love and beneficence. In John 15:18-19 Jesus said,

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

But that doesn’t give us a right to hate them, to be hateful to them, or to be evil in return. In Matthew 5:43-45 Jesus said,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

The world is lost and their inheritance is eternal death, they crave to lift themselves up, to live in the moment and make themselves happy, rich, and satisfied. But we are eternal creatures and the present, the world, and all its offerings can’t satisfy. (James 4:1-9). Only the Lord God, our Savior, our Peace, and our Provider can truly satisfy. Psalm 107:8-9 says,

“Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
    and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”


But David trusted the Lord. He didn’t have to figure it out himself, defend himself, or take vengeance himself. He knew God is Just. He knew God was his Shield and his enemies couldn’t break through God’s defense. Verses 8-10 read,

“But you, O Lord, laugh at them;
    you hold all the nations in derision.
9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress.
10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
    God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.


11 Kill them not, lest my people forget;
    make them totter by your power and bring them down,
    O Lord, our shield!
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
    let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13     consume them in wrath;
    consume them till they are no more,
that they may know that God rules over Jacob
    to the ends of the earth. Selah


14 Each evening they come back,
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.
15 They wander about for food
    and growl if they do not get their fill.”


In this miktam David has refers to God as:

·         Elohim- Creator and Judge, the Lord of justice.

·         Yahweh- this is God’s own unpronounceable holiest name.

·         Lord God of Hosts- the powerful chief over the angel armies coming swiftly on hos noble steed to conquer the enemy for eternity.

·         God of Israel- Sovereign over His chosen people

·         My Strength

·         My Fortress

·         God in His Steadfast Love

·         Our Shield

·         Refuge

These names are all true of God. They describe His character. How can we be afraid when The LORD God loves us so much. How can we not choose to let Him take care of us when He is who He is?

The lost don’t know God. Verse 7 says they ask “Who” will hear them. They do not know who God is. But we can show them who He is by trusting Him and glorifying Him. By letting God be God and bringing them to a place where they will see their choice and make it.

In verse 11 David asked the Lord not to kill his enemies. He didn’t want them to die. He wanted them to fall and face their evil. It is in the face of our sins that we realize we need the Lord. And that is what David wanted for his enemies. That is what God wants for our enemies. He doesn’t want people to suffer an eternity separated from Him. (2 Peter 3:9). He longs for people to know Him and allow Him to lavish His perfect constant and never-ending love on them.

Rather than spend our time scheming against and wishing bad for our enemies, we can spend our time loving them and praising God. Instead of showing them how powerful and great we are, we can demonstrate God’s strength through our weakness as we depend on Him. Verses 16-17 read,

“But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love.”


So Believer, I encourage you to praise God everywhere, always, and through everything. Your praise and worship takes power away from the enemy and allows his followers to see the love and power of God Almighty, their Creator and Judge. Jesus’ righteousness lived out in your life makes their sin apparent to them so they can call on the name of the Lord.

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Psalm 52 God Loves the People Who Hate Him as Much as He Loves Those Who Love Him

7/12/2015

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Psalm 52

As believers there are often times when we deal with people who think our beliefs are foolish. Some of those people can be downright cruel. The cruelest can be people who grew up in church or gave church a try and were wounded there. In their defensive stance they lash out at us, they mock us, and they mock The Lord. What could have been a passionate love for God becomes a fiery hate for Him and His followers. King Saul was like that. He had been chosen by The Lord to be Israel’s first king. He was anointed with The Holy Spirit and prophesied. He relished the music and songs of God. But he never fully committed to love God with all his heart. He loved himself. He envisioned himself as great and mighty and assumed his legacy would be his descendants as kings. Because God anointed David to be Saul’s successor over his son Jonathon Saul selfishness, pride, and resentment turned to wrath against God and David. He did some wicked things trying to murder David.

David wrote this Psalm after he found out that Saul had ordered his guards to kill Ahimelech and the other priests at Nob for helping David and his men by feeding them the showbread and giving David Goliath’s sword.(1 Samuel 21 and 22). It was a horrific act done in a rage of hatred. Verses 1-4 read,

“Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
    The steadfast love of God endures all the day.
2 Your tongue plots destruction,
    like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
3 You love evil more than good,
    and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
4 You love all words that devour,
    O deceitful tongue.”


David was dismayed by Saul’s evil. Saul couldn’t see God’s love for him. Saul had become obsessed with the idea of killing David. This pursuit was eating him alive and he was blind to it. David was sickened by the idea that Saul could commit this ghastly evil when all he had to do was trust The Lord God who loved him and wanted good for him, who had anointed and gifted him so well.

David didn’t have to plot against Saul. We do not have to plot against God’s enemies either. We know that God will deal with them. He is the King, and Judge. He is the ultimate Avenger. We know what god can do and we appreciate His might. We understand that God is holding His wrath, but he doesn’t have to restrain it. Verses 5-7 read,

“But God will break you down forever;
    he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
    he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous shall see and fear,
    and shall laugh at him, saying,
7 “See the man who would not make
    God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
    and sought refuge in his own destruction!”


 

Saul was hurting but instead of taking refuge in The Lord, he hunted David with a violent hatred. David on the other hand took refuge in The Lord. He obeyed, trusted, and followed Almighty God. He didn’t hate Saul because God didn’t hate Saul, he pitied him. He shook his head at Saul’s ignorance.

Think about those people you come across who seem to hate God so vehemently, who say nasty things about Christians and Christ, and who feel justified in malicious acts against God and His children. They may hate us and hate God, but God loves them. He loves them as much as He loves us. They call us fools, but it is they who have been blinded and become irrational.

We like David can rest in God. We are a contrast to the people who worship themselves and therefore depend on themselves. We can live our lives with peace of spirit. We know God takes care of us, nourishes us, teaches us and molds us. David said it this way in verses 8-9,

“But I am like a green olive tree
    in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
    forever and ever.
9 I will thank you forever,
    because you have done it.
I will wait for your name, for it is good,
    in the presence of the godly.”


Do not hate those who hate you. Feel sorry for them. They don’t know what they’re doing. Be compassionate. Remember mercy. Keep your faith rooted in Jesus Christ. Be still and know He is The Lord. Don’t reciprocate the hate. Respond with love. In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus told us,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Psalm 41 Jesus said, Love Your Neighbor, One Another, and Your Enemies

7/1/2015

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Psalm 41

The love of Christ is not like the love of the world. It is different. It isn’t concerned with self. It trusts itself to God and sees the needs of others first. Jesus commanded us to love in two different ways. First He quoted an Old Covenant command that along with “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” sums up the entire law, “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31). This command was given to everyone, followers or not. How do we love ourselves? Our needs are our priority. Our concerns are known to us and those are the ones we meet. So to love someone else that way is to give their needs the same urgency as our own. But later when Jesus spoke to His disciples He gave them a new command, something that would only be possible because of faith, because of what Jesus would do for us. He laid down His life to forgive sin, He gave us the Holy Spirit to transform us to His image. In John 13:34-35 He said,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

How did Jesus love us? He put our needs above His own. He was willing to sacrifice Himself for us. He listened to the disciples, cared about them, taught them, and led them. He was empathetic. The only people He spoke ‘judgmental’ words to were the religious people who thought they were perfect. He saw us as the destitute people we were, gave us His righteousness and His name and made us royalty.

Because we have the Holy Spirit, we can love like that. And when we do, the world takes notice. They see the difference in us. They recognize their sin within them, so they are either drawn to Christ or they hate us passionately for Him. And so it was with David. He was a man after God’s own heart. He was righteous, not because he was perfect, but because he loved the Lord with all his heart and because he viewed the world through God’s heart. Verses 1-3 read,

“Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
    In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
    he is called blessed in the land;
    you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
    in his illness you restore him to full health.”


David was very sick when he wrote this psalm. He trusted the Lord to sustain him and carry him through it. He was the the powerful and wealthy King. But even in his suffering he was concerned for the poor. He knew they depended on him as he depended on God. But David had many enemies who wished to usurp his throne and abuse his power. They would be thrilled if he stayed sick and even died. Verses 4-10 read,

“As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
    heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
    while his heart gathers iniquity;
    when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
    they imagine the worst for me.


8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;
    he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
    and raise me up, that I may repay them!”


Just like our love for others distinguishes us, so does the world’s hate for us. Jesus told us the world would hate us. John 15:18-19 says,

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Does that mean we have license to hate them back? No, that is a flesh response. Later in the same chapter John 15:26-27 Jesus told the disciples about The Holy Spirit.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.”

Far from responding in kind, Jesus commanded that we are to love our enemies and pray for them. Matthew 5:43-45 reads,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Love is not a feeling, it is an action. It is borne by our kindness, gentleness, compassion, patience, and self-control. It is possible because we know God. We keep in mind what He has done for us. We remember who we were before Jesus was our Lord. We have God’s Holy Spirit within us. And we trust God to keep us and we know vengeance is His, not ours. David ended this psalm with verses 11-13.

“By this I know that you delight in me:
    my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
    and set me in your presence forever.


13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.”


Do you trust God enough to tangibly love your enemies? Jesus loves them. He commanded that we love them too. When you trust in God completely, when you love Him with your entire being, the difficult task of loving those who hate you becomes easier. God will not ever let you go. Your hope is Jesus Christ and the eternal life He gave you. God is within you, just as you are within Him. You can love with His heart because He gave you His Holy Spirit.

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Psalm 35 The Mighty Lord Fights for You

6/25/2015

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Psalm 35

What greatness is it that The Lord fights for us? How awesome is it that He defends us? He doesn’t take lightly when people mess with His children. When countries made war with Israel and took her captive, even when God used that war and captivity to discipline Israel, he still punished the countries in question.

Years ago, I was a nurse for a residential medical care home for severely disabled people. For some reason two of the other day nurses didn’t like me. Not only didn’t they like me, they maliciously planned to hurt me, to catch me at some wrongdoing and trip me up so that I would lose my job. Every time I turned around they were giving some false report to our supervisor. It was very difficult to go to work in such a stressful hate-laden atmosphere.

I have an anxiety disorder which often makes me cry when I try and speak in stressful situations. So when they would bring their attacks on me and we would try to settle it, I would sob. Not because I wanted to, and certainly not to get sympathy, but they used that against me as well, even stooping to childish name calling. That crying kept me from being able to speak for myself. But God was there. He spoke for me. He spoke to the nurse supervisor and opened her eyes to the situation. They went above the supervisor’s head to the administrator when they decided she was biased. But God kept defending me. The administrator got very tired of their juvenile antics and told the middle-aged women to grow up.

This Psalm, given to me by one of the techs on my team was a Godsend.

Verses 1-3 read,

“Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler
    and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
    against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
    “I am your salvation!”


A buckler is a type of shield, one used in combat and just as much a weapon as a protection. The Lord not only protects us but with the shield and buckler and spear and javelin He fights for us. Up close and long distance He is both an offensive and defensive fighter. He fights for us and He defends us. How glorious is that? And through it, He reminds us He is our salvation.

I don’t know if the two nurses, who were best friends and 25 years my senior ever felt the guilt of their acts. I did try and befriend them, but they were not interested.  I wanted them to admit their wrongdoing and hate but they refused. They just looked at me with disdain. I wanted so much for them to feel at least convicted. But I don’t know if they ever did. They felt justified in their war on me. But both women claimed to be Christians, and I know if they were, the Lord would deal with them, because He disciplines those He loves, and if they weren’t then they would eventually pay for their acerbic accusations and spiteful schemes.

David also asked The Lord to make His enemies feel the shame of their evil. He wanted to see them punished. Verses 4-6 read,

“Let them be put to shame and dishonor
    who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed
    who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!”


I think when someone is so viciously attacking us, it is easy to call down judgement on them. But it is better and easier on the soul to let God be God. We can trust Him to hold us, we can trust that Judgment Day will come for everyone.  He does punish those who hurt His children. He also loves people enough to want salvation for them.

After the tech gave me this Psalm, I read it and then God’s conviction filled me. I immediately prayed for those two women. I would go to their houses (at work) during my breaks and pretend I didn’t know they hated me. I was kind to them. I even prayed with them on a few occasions. I left the war up to my Lord and I loved those women. Whether it was the administrator’s admonishments to them, or my manifesting the fruit of The Spirit toward them, or The Lord’s conviction of them, I do not know, but they stopped making war on me. We didn’t become best buddies, but they decided to keep their disdain of me between the two of them.

Because someone is hateful to us, doesn’t give us the right to be hateful to them. Something is not improved by crouching down to the level of rabid dogs and joining in the evil. Something is made right by reaching up to the Lord, being like Him and giving it to Him. Verses 11-16 read,

“Malicious witnesses rise up;
    they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good;
    my soul is bereft.
13 But I, when they were sick--
    I wore sackcloth;
    I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
14     I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
    I bowed down in mourning.


15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
    they gathered together against me;
wretches whom I did not know
    tore at me without ceasing;
16 like profane mockers at a feast,
    they gnash at me with their teeth.”


God’s love is unconditional. He loves our enemies just as much as He loves us. If Jesus doesn’t pay for their sins, then they will. We don’t have to worry about vengeance. We can love them with God’s unconditional love, even while they mock, hit, and hurt. If we respond to them with the hate they shower on us, how will they witness Jesus in us? How will they see the awesomeness of The Spirit in us? How will they ever hear The Father calling their names?

I wanted those women to feel every bit of shame and pain they threw on me. But then I looked at them with God’s heart and eyes. I looked at myself too with His heart and I knew I could leave it all to Him. I could pray for my enemies, I could love them sincerely, even if they always looked down their noses at me. I stopped worrying about them. I left them to The Lord. I instead gave my energy to celebrating the awesomeness of God by giving Him that burden. There were plenty of people in my life who also chose to revel in The Lord. Verses 27-28 read,

“Let those who delight in my righteousness
    shout for joy and be glad
    and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord,
    who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
    and of your praise all the day long.”


I encourage you today, to let God be God to you. Trust Him. It is a faithful person who can trust The Lord for her complete welfare and love those who don’t deserve it. Remember, none of us deserve this awesome Salvation. It is a gift from God. He doesn’t withhold any good thing from us. We have no right to withhold His love and testimony from others.

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Leviticus 24:17-23 An Eye for an Eye is the Old Way.

5/17/2015

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Leviticus Chapter 24 Verses 17-23

The Old Covenant and the New Covenant have the same morality. It is our response to the wounds inflicted on us that has changed. Verses 17-20 read,

“Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. 18 Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life. 19 If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.”

Under the Old Covenant when a person sinned against another person, that same injury was done to him. If he stole his neighbors lamb and killed it, he had to give up an animal to his neighbor. If he broke someone’s arm, his arm would be broken in return. If he killed someone, he was killed.

But when Jesus came he paid for our sins, even the ones we have yet to commit. He came with grace and mercy. He forgives us and in our following Him, we forgive others. He said we are to go further than simply forgiving. In His revolutionary message Jesus turned people’s hearts from legalism to Love.  Luke 6:27-31 reads,

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

Rather than retaliate in our flesh, we are supposed to respond compassionately and gracefully. If a man is stealing money, he must need it is so give it to him freely instead. You have not only provided for him in love and mercy as your Father does for you, but you have taken that sin away from him. He can’t steal what is given to him.

If he hits us, we are not supposed to hit him back but actually offer him the opportunity to hit us again. Imagine his reaction to that? I doubt he would hit you a second time. He might yell at you to hit him back, he might ask if you’re crazy. Whatever his reaction, it is an opportunity to love him as Jesus loves you. How many times have you hurt God? How many times have you sinned, half a million times? God never hated you back. He never retaliated. Instead He came to earth and offered Himself to be beaten, tortured and killed because He loves you so much.

If perfect loving Almighty God could do that, can’t we emulate Him and have the same love, grace, and mercy He gave us to others? It takes faith to be able to love people like Jesus loves us. He loves completely and perfectly. He loves without expectation that we will love Him back. We can love Him because He loved us first. We can love others because we experienced His love and He fills us with Himself, and gives us a new heart and a new mind.  We can give generously and cheerfully because we know that God takes care of us. We can forgive, because we are forgiven. Luke 6:35-38 reads,

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Love is tangible. Your enemy will not know you love him, if you only tell yourself to have warm fuzzy feelings for him. He will know you love him, or at least know you are different by your forgiveness, your generosity, and your response to his hate. You may be his enemy, but he is your neighbor.

The Lord God took away the punishment for our many sins. We must do likewise for others. Our actions, our active love can lead people to Christ. We have the Holy Spirit, not solely for our benefit but for the glory of Christ. When we act in love and forgiveness of The Spirit, we give people a chance to find salvation. When we act and react in the flesh, we miss chances to lead people to Jesus perfect redemption. John 20:19-23 puts it this way.

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

As Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” You and I have great power. We can love people by demonstrating Jesus to them and lead them to His redemption, or we can react to their hate in kind and lead them away from Jesus to Hell.

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Ezekiel 35 Bystanders are Just as Guilty as Perpetrators

3/17/2015

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Picture
Ezekiel Chapter 35

Mount Seir in Edom bordered Judah. It was where Esau made his home. They could have helped Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar attacked but instead they eagerly waited for the city to be destroyed so they could take the left overs. The city could have been a neighbor and friend to Israel and Judah, but they chose hostility instead. They didn’t take part in the siege against Jerusalem. They stood back and watched as if it were a football game. They rooted for Babylon and cheered at the violence, blood, and tragedy that Babylon brought. Verses 5-6 put it this way,

“Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, 6 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you.”

Standing by and do nothing while the strong victimize the weak is the same as joining in.  The people in the circle watching the bully beat the smaller person are just as guilty of the beating as the tyrant. Regardless if they enjoyed the bloodshed or not, they did nothing. They allowed it to go on without an attempt to stop it, or even a protest.

Even worse for Edom was the fact that Israel and Judah belonged to the Lord. They still loathed them. They still chose to sit by and let disaster hit and even celebrated it. They let their envy turn to hatred. They puffed themselves up with pride and made excuses to pardon their wicked choices. But Israel and Judah did belong to God, and Edom had to pay for her sin. Verse 15 reads,

“As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Indifference to the hardships of others allows tragedy to flourish. Celebrating the misfortune of others is on par with perpetrating the blows yourself.

When God allows trials and tribulations it is for a good purpose. He sent Nebuchadnezzar to attack Jerusalem. But that doesn’t mean He was happy about it. And it doesn’t give others license to delight over their suffering or stand by then swoop in like a vulture and scavenge the remains.

We can find the encouragement in this chapter. God will protect and avenge His children. People may consider you odious just for proclaiming Jesus’ name. But you do not have to fight them. You do not have to return the hate. You are free to love them. Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Wouldn’t you want the people who torment you to have some compassion and forgiveness toward you? Then you ought to have some compassion and forgiveness toward them. Let the Lord deal with them. After all you want what He wants and that is for everyone to come to know Him and be saved. He’s got this. Don't reciprocate the hate.

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    Donna Campbell

    As I read the Bible every day, I take what God teaches me, what He says, and write it out. I then share that with you. It gives me a deeper understanding of the Word and I hope that it will encourage you as it does me, to put your love and faith into action.

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