Teach Us
(NIV) 1Kings 8:35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
Today’s scripture is just a portion of Solomon’s prayer, whereby he asks God for His forgiveness of the sins of Israel in response to her repentance. Further, Solomon asks that the people be taught God’s laws, and as a tangible blessing, that God send rain.
I love that rain is both a way to increase prosperity and is thus a physical blessing and is a metaphor for spiritual renewal. Solomon reminds God of His own nature, knowing that God will not withhold His blessings WHEN we are obedient. Obedience is dependent upon two things: understanding what is expected and then fulfilling it.
Reminding God of His promises is not because we fear He may have forgotten, but rather it is about demonstrating our own understanding and trust in His word. By recalling His promises, we acknowledge His authority, our dependence on His faithfulness, and we reinforce our own commitment to His guidance.
In Solomon’s prayer, he invoked God’s promises as a way of seeking forgiveness, thereby renewing God’s blessings for Israel. This act signified Solomon’s recognition of God’s covenant along with his understanding that God’s mercy was dependent upon Israel’s fulfillment of their part of the agreement. This powerful form of prayer aligns our hearts with His will, and when we pray “in Jesus’ name” that is exactly what we are doing.
May we be diligent in learning and faithful in following.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God Is Our Shelter
(NIV) Psalm 61:1 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. 2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. 4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
As a pastor, I often suggested to people who were grieving that they read the Psalms. Why? Because although David was sometimes in almost hopeless situations, his inclination was always to turn to God.
God called David a man after His own heart, not because David was perfect, but because David was quick to turn to God for redemption and restoration when he sinned.
When David says in this psalm he is calling to God from the ends of the earth, he is not speaking merely of physical distance, but spiritual separation as well. Sometimes we can be overwhelmed by our circumstances, and in those moments it can seem that God has abandoned us. But Scripture assures us that God never has, nor ever will, forsake us.
(NIV) Heb 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you: never will I forsake you.”
6 So we say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
(NIV) Deut 15 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
David claimed God as his refuge, his rock, his high tower and his shelter. Believe that—hold on to that. Regardless of our circumstances, may we by faith cling to the promise that God will never leave us or forsake us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Being Led by the Spirit
(NIV) Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and the debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Did you ever notice that immediately preceding the scripture delineating the fruits of the Spirit is a dire warning concerning the acts of the flesh? Often the authors of the Bible use contrasts to make their point. There are few greater contrasts than the characteristics and behavior found in Galatians 5.
Paul instructs us that when we are led by the spirit we are no longer under the law. But the freedom we experience through Christ Jesus is never a license to sin. Rather, walking in the Spirit should produce in us a thirst for more and more of His righteousness.
As a young Christian when I first saw the fruits of the Spirit, I thought, “Oh my, I don’t think I can possibly live into this.” But then I saw that joy was one of the fruits. I said to myself, “ Joy! I can do that!” And so as I matured as a Christian I began to witness these fruits growing in my life.
When I look at the acts of the flesh, I shudder at the thought that I, as a Christian, would allow any of these behaviors to inhabit my being. But I know, understand and believe that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that I can turn from the sinful behavior as shown in verses 19-21, and embrace the qualities of spiritual fruit.
May we recognize today that as Christ followers we should grow into people who embody those qualities that are born of the Spirit of the Living God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Teachable Spirit
(NIV) Prov 15:30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.
32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD,
and humility comes before honor.
16:1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
Have you ever thrown up your hands before the Lord and said, “Ok, God, I give in. I’ve been here before—I recognize I’ve been here before, so if you’ll just tell me what I need to learn, I promise I’ll never do it again!” I have to say that is one prayer I have spoken more than one time, and it is the one prayer that has not been particularly effective. Why do we find ourselves in the same type of circumstances repeatedly? The singular reason, I believe, is failure to learn.
I consider myself teachable. I have even been told by others that I am teachable. Yet, sometimes these situations in which I find myself seem to disguise the very areas in which I need to grow. So I continue each day to read and meditate on God’s Word, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to me the the direction in which I should go.
May we today ask our Heavenly Father for insight into what is holding us back from moving forward, and may the Holy Spirit shine the light of truth over our circumstances, enabling us to see clearly the corrections we need to make in order to be more Christlike in everything we think, do, and say.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Draw Near to God With Confidence
(NIV) Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
In what or in whom do you place your confidence? When we cross a bridge, we trust that the structure will hold firm until we pass to the other side. When we board a plane, we rely upon that mechanical bird to transcend gravity to deliver us safely to our destination. And when we lift our voices in prayer, we believe our words will carry the weight of the Scriptures through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This morning, following my physical therapy, we stopped at The Toasted Yolk for breakfast. While waiting for our coffee, we began conversing with a woman at the table next to ours. She had just returned from a chemo treatment, and after a few more minutes I asked if I could pray for her. She readily agreed and I moved to her table where we joined hands and hearts as we approached our Heavenly Father. We exchanged names and numbers and I returned to my table.
After finishing our meal, our server stopped and told us our meal had been taken care of. I asked who had provided us with this kindness, and she pointed to the table. It had been occupied by four women, and one of them told our server that she had some extra money and wanted to pay for our meal.
I immediately thought of verses 24-25 of today’s scripture which I had read prior to my appointment— “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…”
I never hesitate to encourage others because that is my heart. And regardless of what obstacles these people face, I join with them in prayer, possessing the full assurance brought about by faith. May we remain aware of those around us whose day can be made a little better by a caring word, a friendly touch, and the knowledge that God patiently waits for us to draw near to Him.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Seeking Holiness 