Prowess: Bravery in Battle

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. (1 Samuel 17:48-50)

Many of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath. If you are not, read all of 1 Samuel 17, it’s incredible! I just want to briefly point out that the prowess David showed is the same prowess given to all believers!

Matthew Henry says this: David did his business effectually, without any parade: he slang a stone which hit him in the forehead, and, in the twinkling of an eye, fetched him to the ground…

The word of God says this: When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:1&4)

but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them. You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.  (Psalm 44:3-7)

O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries. (Psalm 60:11&12)

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3&4)

Remember, the battles that we engage in this world are truly spiritual in nature. When we fight with the weapons the Lord provides, we will see victory!

The Wondrous Love of God

Dear one, do you know that the Father’s love for you is immutable, unending, extravagant, powerful, restorative, abundant, unconditional, tender, and…….so much more? Our words fail to fully summarize God’s love.

Paul reminds us that this love is irrevocable:

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation. (Romans 8:38&39)

And in the gospel according to Luke, Christ tells the parable of the lost son who left his father in haste and rebellion but when he eventually “came to his senses” and decided to humbly return to his father, the father behaved like this:

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him…But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ (Luke 15:20, 22-24)

And the whole household celebrated! This is a picture of our heavenly Father. He loves us with an extravagant, gracious, and compassionate love! No matter what you have done – your involvement in deadly things or a wretched life…no matter what rulers of darkness try to do…no matter what your current circumstances are or what is to come…no matter how man on this earth or spirits inspired by satan launch an attack upon you – nothing can separate you from the love of your heavenly Father. He loves you. Even if you have been an opponent of His...even if you are not interested in a relationship with Him...even if you have made a clear choice to live in opposition to Him  - you need to know that He loves you. Check this out:

Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us. Since Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God’s anger. If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. (Romans 5:6-10)

So this love God has for you…never ending. And, in fact, through Christ, He made sure that when you are ready, you could come to Him and live eternally in heaven with Him. Accepting the sacrifice of Christ is the key to living in this restored relationship.

So! If you’re living a rebellious life and don’t think that God wants anything to do with you, you’re wrong. He loves you and if you come to Him, He will welcome you with open arms and He, along with all of heaven, will celebrate.

If you are not living a rebellious life, and have accepted Christ as your Savior, but have deviated and gotten off track. God loves you too and will welcome you back with open arms and a celebration!

He who created us knows us! He knows every sin of our past, present, and future. And He sent Christ to pay the price for that sin (the death penalty) on our behalf so that we may freely accept His sacrifice and live the abundant life that He desires for us.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

No matter where you are in life, the Father, with abounding love, desires to be in restored relationship with you. Don’t worry about “getting it together” first. Come to Him and He’ll do the work of “getting it together”.

And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. (Philippians 1:6)

Thank You Lord for Your wondrous love!

A Word of Strength

Many of us may be familiar with this verse but I especially love it in the Amplified version and hope that it will encourage you today.

The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! (Habakkuk 3:19)

Loving God's Law

Studying Psalm 119 reveals a few themes but one of the sweetest is the psalmist’s absolute love for God’s law. It is wonderful how he reverences and values the precepts of the Lord and, in my opinion, it is a great example of how we too should hold the teachings of our Father in high esteem.

Vs 16 - I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Vs 20 - My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.

Vs 27 - Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.

Vs 30 - I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.

Vss 46-48 - I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.

Vs 62 - At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

Vss 69-72 - Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me     than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Vs 97 - Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

Vs 103 - How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Vs 111 - Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

Vs 113 - I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.

Vss 127&128 - Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.

Vs 129 - Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.

Vss 162-164 - I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.

Vs 167 - I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.

Vs 174 - I long for your salvation, Lord, and your law gives me delight.

As believers, we are often very occupied with obeying the Word of the Lord but we would do well to not just obey; but to love it. And from that perspective, our desire to live according to the Word of God will flow freely.

No Judgment…

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 - I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

…but accountability.

As we live within the Christian community with our brothers and sisters, part of our charge is to care for one another. We are accountable to one another: to be agents of restoration, to bear one another’s burdens, praying for each other, to rebuke, to stimulate one another to good deeds, to keep watch over one another, to build one another up, to sharpen each other, to teach, and to live in peace.

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian believers, informed them that if a brother or sister was given to a life of sin, they were not to be associating with that person. This is after they have diligently tried to lovingly restore that brother or sister to the truth of God WITH HUMILITY - understanding that they themselves could just as easily get caught up in sin!

Paul warns against allowing those who are caught up in sin to be our intimate associates. Later in this same letter to the Corinthians, he will remind them that bad company corrupts good character.

So believers, we need to be diligent to love our brothers and sisters into abundant living with our Father. With humility, we need to support one another in living life with integrity and honoring the Father. This is a challenge in this world where there is great competition for our affections and attention – and not all of this draw is for our good!

Let’s be diligent to support one another, to hold one another accountable, and to subject ourselves to loving accountability. Sound like a plan?

Being Up When You’re Down

Paul writes:  To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. (1 Corinthians 4:11-13)

We pray: Father, may we work hard with our hands. When we are cursed, may we, by Your Spirit, bless. When we are persecuted, may we endure triumphantly! And when we are slandered, may we respond with kindness. Lord, no matter what, may our hearts be filled with and focused upon You.

Trust in God

Psalm 107:24-25, 28-30 - They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

Why would God cause a storm and then wait for us to call on Him to relieve it? Is He an arrogant God who flexes His muscles and causes these circumstances just to solicit our praise when He delivers us? Is He some callous, hurtful spirit that derives pleasure in seeing us squirm? Is this His way of making sure we never forget who is really in charge? I say no to each of those theories.

Rather, I believe His word would support two things: 1) He allows and even creates circumstances which will serve to grow us and teach us. 2) He seizes these opportunities to show Himself strong on our behalf.

1 Peter 5:10 - And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Romans 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

2 Corinthians 1:9a - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Chronicles 16:9a - For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Our precious Savior assures us that we will face trials while on this earth but that we can rejoice because He’s overcome the world! Yes, there are trials but God’s plans for us – even in the midst of trials – are to prosper us and to give us a future and a hope!

Further, how deep would our faith and trust go in the Lord without experiencing Him in a personal way? How do we know if He is faithful or trust worthy if we’ve never experience Him keeping His word? Yes, reading the Word is very useful and should be our regular practice but we do not grow in intimacy with the Lord by just reading about Him. We can “touch” this concept by thinking about our earthly relationships: simply reading about your spouse on a daily basis could only take you so far! You need one-on-one time with him or her in order to truly learn about them and to understand them.

I love how Andrae Crouch expresses these sentiments:

“I thank God for the mountains,

and I thank Him for the valleys,

I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.

For if I’d never had a problem,

I wouldn’t know God could solve them,

I’d never know what faith in God could do.”

 

So, precious one, through it all, trust in God.