The Reward For Inconvenient Living - 1 Samuel 26:23 - April 22, 2020

S. 1 Samuel 26:23-24

23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

O. David has several opportunities to kill Saul and to become Israel’s King. God had already selected David and rejected Saul. Who could blame David? His men who fought with him encouraged him to do so.

Yet David understood that the right thing to do was to wait and let God take Saul. It certainly wasn’t convenient for David but it was the right thing to do. He would remain faithful to God and to Saul, to do the right thing, knowing God blesses such thoughts and actions.

A. I often give in to my own convenience when I should wait upon the Lord and His reward. I desire God’s presence, leading and favor in my life. I will continue to pray and ask God for wisdom, insights, patience and provision to do the right thing rather than the convenient thing.

P. Heavenly father, thank you for David’s exemplary life. Holy Spirit provide me wisdom (resources) to live doing the right thing and not the convenient thing. In Jesus’ name!

God's Love and Faithfulness Keeps Me - Psalm 57:7,9 April 21, 2020

S.

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
    until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[c]
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

4 I am in the midst of lions;
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They spread a net for my feet—
    I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

O. In this Psalm, David describes being pursued by his enemies (he was running from Saul). But despite the situation, David paused and share that his heart was “steadfast” (unmovable, like a pillar). Because of the Lord’s presence in his lief, he could praise and sing of God’s love and faithfulness.

This reminded me of Paul and Silas (NT) in jail in Philippi. Though imprisoned, they were able to praise God through singing and lead many people to Christ.

God is able to give us a serenity, a peace, that stabilizes our hearts and allows us to praise him through tough times.

A. During these difficult times (quarantine) I will keep my focus on the Lord and allow His love and faithfulness to keep me (my emotions) in place (steadfast). I will use opportunities to sing and to worship of His love and faithfulness.

P. Thank you Father for your love and faithfulness. I desire to focus on you and not my circumstances. Grant me such peace as to sing and share with others of your love and faithfulness.

Asking God With Persistence - Matthew 7:7-8 - April 20, 2020

S. 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

O. Jesus is teaching that the key to making decisions or judgments in court or between people is to ask God for discernment. Jesus shares how hypocritical it is to make a decision against someone when you do the same thing.

Therefore, ask God, seek God out, keep asking. Be persistent and He will open the door and let you in on what you need or are asking for. He is our Father and wants so much for us to have the best and enjoys when we come to him often.

A. I used to teach this only in the context of “giving”; but actually its context is about judging or making determinations. I think it applies to all areas, asking God for His insight. Ask God for His provision and be persistent. He’s our Father and wants us to enjoy a good life.

P. Thank you Father for helping me to see the broader application. The context is about discernment but the application is broad. Therefore, I will come to you often about many things and seek your provision. In Jesus name!

** I give credit to our Heavenly Father and to Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church for introducing me to the idea of a broader application.