by David Scott Robertson
"Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him" (Acts 23:17).
* * *
I guess we're never too young or too old for God to use us. One outstanding example of this principle can be found in the book of Acts.
It seems the Apostle Paul's nephew, whose age remains a mystery, "accidentally" overheard a plot to assassinate his uncle. (I heard one person comment that "coincidence" is when God chooses to remain anonymous.)
"The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot…But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul." (Acts 23:12-13,16).
When the lad related the story to Paul, the Bible says: "Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him" (Acts 23:17).
Now this next verse convinces me that Paul's nephew was just a kid: "The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?" (Acts 23:19)
The reason I'm convinced that the little boy was a little boy is that I was a little boy once. I remember appreciating adults addressing me as "young man." That spoke to my ego and gave me hope of one day becoming a man. The other thing I remember is that little boys don't mind when an adult male holds their hand. Try calling a teenager a "young man" and leading him around by the hand! He'd probably be so offended that he couldn't even remember the reason he was brought to the commander in the first place!
So what's the big deal? Why is establishing the fact that Paul's nephew was a little boy so important to this thought? Well, have a look at the words that come out of this "little boy's" mouth to the commander:
"He [Paul's nephew] said: "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. Don't give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request" (Acts 23:20-21).
Did you catch that? I think what we're seeing here is a supernatural gift from God operating through a little boy! The kid didn't miss a detail! He seemed to know what he was talking about, speaking facts and details and numbers to the commander in such an intelligent way that the commander immediately acted upon the kid's counsel to "not give in to them." (The youngster had accurately retold the details of the plot TWICE - once to Paul and then to the commander.)
The statement from this lad amazes me! But why should it? Why does it seem amazing that God uses children to do His bidding?
Jesus was right again when He quoted Psalm 8:2, "Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" (Matthew 21:16 KJV)
Jeremiah was called to be prophet of God from his youth. When he objected to the Lord and attempted to use his young age as an excuse to disqualify him from God's assignment, God's response was rather shocking:
"'Ah, Sovereign LORD,' I said, 'I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.' But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, "I am only a child." You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your mouth'" (Jeremiah 1:6-9).
What an encouraging word to babies, toddlers, kindergartners, elementary school age kids, junior high and high school students! Your age does not disqualify you from speaking for God! The same goes for those who are "young in the Lord" or recent converts to Christianity!
Remember, your availability gives God opportunity to do miracles through you!
DSR
3/30/05
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Monday, March 28, 2005
Choosing Sides
by David Scott Robertson
When I was a kid, the neighborhood boys and I liked to play football. We’d get everybody together, elect two team captains, flip a coin to see which captain got to choose first, then they’d begin “choosing sides.”
I don’t know where you come from, but growing up in suburban Chicago, the people chosen first were the biggest, fastest, toughest, most talented athletes in the neighborhood. You see, if I were captain, I would want the biggest guys on my team so I wouldn’t have to face them on the field! Strongest to weakest was usually the order in which players were chosen. Why? Because each captain wanted to build the best team so they could win the game!
In our neighborhood, maybe even yours, the scrawny guy with thick glasses was a late pick when we were choosing sides. So was the chubby kid with ruddy cheeks and freckles. And of course the kid who was born with a crooked arm and a limp, he got defaulted to whichever team was unlucky enough to get the last draw.
The entire process was quite humiliating, especially the longer it went on. As young men, our fragile egos and tender self-esteem were steadily deflated the longer we were not chosen. In choosing sides, it became abundantly clear what other boys thought of your abilities (or lack thereof).
Right or wrong, psychologically damaging or not, this is how young boys growing up in Chicago in the 1970’s chose sides to play football.
Not much has changed in the last 30 years. This is still how much of our world operates today. Employers choose employees based on what value they think they can bring to the organization. Universities choose faculty based on their pedigree and scholarly achievements. Ah, but it’s professional sports that exploits the principle of “choosing sides” to its maximum.
Nowhere else on earth is the principle of choosing sides based on perceived worth quite as blatant as in the arena of pro sports. We see the players in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB promoted and traded like stocks. The televised drafts are a spectacle to behold. Man after man is rated, assigned a value, and acquired by a team. Talent scouts make the farm league circuit in search of the next super athlete. Lottery-size contracts and salary packages are awarded to the most gifted individuals thus further (and artificially) inflating their egos and self-esteem to match their celebrity status. Aging or weak players are eventually cut from the team. Choosing sides in pro sports happens so owners and franchises can build the best teams possible. Why? To win, of course!
Now, let’s turn our attention from how the world (not always, but typically) chooses sides to how God chooses sides.
Obviously, being God, He has an advantage in knowing which “players” to choose. He’s got inside information on the track record, performance rating, character flaws, and the actual (not estimated) potential of every single person He brings on to His team. So how does He do it? How does God “choose sides"?
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Let’s look at one case study, one that I’m pretty familiar with…
* * *
RESUME OF DAVID S. ROBERTSON
CAREER OBJECTIVE: To develop an excellent and long-term relationship with God and return a 30-, 60-, or 100-fold return on His investment in me.
PERSONAL INFORMATION: Married (Monica, 18 years), father of one daughter (Abigail, 13), college graduate (MTSU), born in 1960, computer literate, hobbies include fitness training, biking, swimming and writing.
OTHER OUTSTANDING QUALITIES:
- Foolish
- Weak
- Lowly
- Despised
- Not much
REFERENCES: Available upon request
* * *
Years ago, I submitted my resume to God and was granted an interview! The interview took place in the summer of 1973 at an altar at an Assemblies of God church in Naperville, Illinois. The result? Did I get the job? Did God hire me? Did God want me to join His team? Did He choose me to be on His side?
I’m happy to report that I was hired on the spot!
Shortly after my interview, I began reading “letters of acceptance” written by representatives of God’s kingdom. These letters specified that I was…
- Chosen!
- Hired!
- On the team!
- Accepted!
- Anointed!
- Authorized!
- Appointed!
- Commissioned!
- Called!
- Sent!
The letters that gave me this “good news” are actually a collection of letters more commonly known as the “New Testament.”
I want you to know that I LOVE working for God! He pays so well! He offers great working conditions in a smoke-free environment! The benefits are excellent and the retirement package is without equal!
Presently I’m undergoing extensive OJT (On-the-Job-Training). I’m glad that God chose me to be on His side in spite of being eminently unqualified.
This thought today is for all readers who have for any reason ever felt “less than” or who struggle with self-esteem issues or you felt like you were near the bottom of the draw when others were “choosing sides.”
“Most gladly, therefore, I would rather boast about my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
DSR
3/28/05
When I was a kid, the neighborhood boys and I liked to play football. We’d get everybody together, elect two team captains, flip a coin to see which captain got to choose first, then they’d begin “choosing sides.”
I don’t know where you come from, but growing up in suburban Chicago, the people chosen first were the biggest, fastest, toughest, most talented athletes in the neighborhood. You see, if I were captain, I would want the biggest guys on my team so I wouldn’t have to face them on the field! Strongest to weakest was usually the order in which players were chosen. Why? Because each captain wanted to build the best team so they could win the game!
In our neighborhood, maybe even yours, the scrawny guy with thick glasses was a late pick when we were choosing sides. So was the chubby kid with ruddy cheeks and freckles. And of course the kid who was born with a crooked arm and a limp, he got defaulted to whichever team was unlucky enough to get the last draw.
The entire process was quite humiliating, especially the longer it went on. As young men, our fragile egos and tender self-esteem were steadily deflated the longer we were not chosen. In choosing sides, it became abundantly clear what other boys thought of your abilities (or lack thereof).
Right or wrong, psychologically damaging or not, this is how young boys growing up in Chicago in the 1970’s chose sides to play football.
Not much has changed in the last 30 years. This is still how much of our world operates today. Employers choose employees based on what value they think they can bring to the organization. Universities choose faculty based on their pedigree and scholarly achievements. Ah, but it’s professional sports that exploits the principle of “choosing sides” to its maximum.
Nowhere else on earth is the principle of choosing sides based on perceived worth quite as blatant as in the arena of pro sports. We see the players in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB promoted and traded like stocks. The televised drafts are a spectacle to behold. Man after man is rated, assigned a value, and acquired by a team. Talent scouts make the farm league circuit in search of the next super athlete. Lottery-size contracts and salary packages are awarded to the most gifted individuals thus further (and artificially) inflating their egos and self-esteem to match their celebrity status. Aging or weak players are eventually cut from the team. Choosing sides in pro sports happens so owners and franchises can build the best teams possible. Why? To win, of course!
Now, let’s turn our attention from how the world (not always, but typically) chooses sides to how God chooses sides.
Obviously, being God, He has an advantage in knowing which “players” to choose. He’s got inside information on the track record, performance rating, character flaws, and the actual (not estimated) potential of every single person He brings on to His team. So how does He do it? How does God “choose sides"?
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Let’s look at one case study, one that I’m pretty familiar with…
* * *
RESUME OF DAVID S. ROBERTSON
CAREER OBJECTIVE: To develop an excellent and long-term relationship with God and return a 30-, 60-, or 100-fold return on His investment in me.
PERSONAL INFORMATION: Married (Monica, 18 years), father of one daughter (Abigail, 13), college graduate (MTSU), born in 1960, computer literate, hobbies include fitness training, biking, swimming and writing.
OTHER OUTSTANDING QUALITIES:
- Foolish
- Weak
- Lowly
- Despised
- Not much
REFERENCES: Available upon request
* * *
Years ago, I submitted my resume to God and was granted an interview! The interview took place in the summer of 1973 at an altar at an Assemblies of God church in Naperville, Illinois. The result? Did I get the job? Did God hire me? Did God want me to join His team? Did He choose me to be on His side?
I’m happy to report that I was hired on the spot!
Shortly after my interview, I began reading “letters of acceptance” written by representatives of God’s kingdom. These letters specified that I was…
- Chosen!
- Hired!
- On the team!
- Accepted!
- Anointed!
- Authorized!
- Appointed!
- Commissioned!
- Called!
- Sent!
The letters that gave me this “good news” are actually a collection of letters more commonly known as the “New Testament.”
I want you to know that I LOVE working for God! He pays so well! He offers great working conditions in a smoke-free environment! The benefits are excellent and the retirement package is without equal!
Presently I’m undergoing extensive OJT (On-the-Job-Training). I’m glad that God chose me to be on His side in spite of being eminently unqualified.
This thought today is for all readers who have for any reason ever felt “less than” or who struggle with self-esteem issues or you felt like you were near the bottom of the draw when others were “choosing sides.”
“Most gladly, therefore, I would rather boast about my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
DSR
3/28/05
Monday, March 21, 2005
God's Unlikely Warriors
by David Scott Robertson
God has at various times for various reasons used some mighty unlikely characters to fight His battles for Him.
Gideon - The least member of his family from the weakest clan in Manasseh to lead a successful rebellion against the Midianites (Judges 6:14).
Saul - A Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel and a member of the least clan of his entire tribe to lead the nation as Israel's first king and destroy the enemies of the Lord.
David - A ruddy shepherd boy to conquer the giant Goliath and eventually replace Saul as king over Israel and Judah (1 Samuel 17:45-50).
Jael - Wife of Heber to single-handedly kill the mighty enemy general Sisera by lulling him to sleep and driving a tent peg through his temple (Judges 4:17-23).
The list goes on and on of how God used weak human vessels to execute judgment on the strong and powerful enemies of Israel. But God's military genius embraces even more unorthodox and unlikely warriors than these.
Hornets - "I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way" (Exodus 23:28).
Snakes - "Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died" (Numbers 21:6).
Lions - "When they first lived there, they did not worship the LORD; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people" (2 Kings 17:25).
Tar pits - "Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills" (Genesis 14:10).
Vegetation - "The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword" (2 Samuel 18:8).
Hail - "From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible" (Revelation 16:21).
Sleet - "He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet" (Psalm 78:4).
Lightning - "He shot arrows and scattered the enemies, bolts of lightning and routed them" (2 Samuel 22:15).
Water - "He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love (Job 37:13).
Earthquakes - "At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven" (Revelation 11:13).
Wind - "No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff" (Isaiah 40:24).
Mildew - "I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD" (Haggai 2:17).
Germs - "He prepared a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague" (Psalm 78:50).
Confusion - "Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords" (1 Samuel 14:20).
God can use the least likely characters to deliver or destroy. Are you willing to be used in the hands of God for His glory? You may not be called a "mighty man or woman of God" but you will be remembered as "a man or woman of a mighty God."
DSR
3/21/05
God has at various times for various reasons used some mighty unlikely characters to fight His battles for Him.
Gideon - The least member of his family from the weakest clan in Manasseh to lead a successful rebellion against the Midianites (Judges 6:14).
Saul - A Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel and a member of the least clan of his entire tribe to lead the nation as Israel's first king and destroy the enemies of the Lord.
David - A ruddy shepherd boy to conquer the giant Goliath and eventually replace Saul as king over Israel and Judah (1 Samuel 17:45-50).
Jael - Wife of Heber to single-handedly kill the mighty enemy general Sisera by lulling him to sleep and driving a tent peg through his temple (Judges 4:17-23).
The list goes on and on of how God used weak human vessels to execute judgment on the strong and powerful enemies of Israel. But God's military genius embraces even more unorthodox and unlikely warriors than these.
Hornets - "I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way" (Exodus 23:28).
Snakes - "Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died" (Numbers 21:6).
Lions - "When they first lived there, they did not worship the LORD; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people" (2 Kings 17:25).
Tar pits - "Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills" (Genesis 14:10).
Vegetation - "The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword" (2 Samuel 18:8).
Hail - "From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible" (Revelation 16:21).
Sleet - "He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet" (Psalm 78:4).
Lightning - "He shot arrows and scattered the enemies, bolts of lightning and routed them" (2 Samuel 22:15).
Water - "He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love (Job 37:13).
Earthquakes - "At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven" (Revelation 11:13).
Wind - "No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff" (Isaiah 40:24).
Mildew - "I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD" (Haggai 2:17).
Germs - "He prepared a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague" (Psalm 78:50).
Confusion - "Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords" (1 Samuel 14:20).
God can use the least likely characters to deliver or destroy. Are you willing to be used in the hands of God for His glory? You may not be called a "mighty man or woman of God" but you will be remembered as "a man or woman of a mighty God."
DSR
3/21/05
Monday, March 14, 2005
Pattern of Disobedience
by David Scott Robertson
I love the Old Testament. As the pages unfold, so do history, drama, prophecy, adventure, tragedy, irony, humor, types, foreshadows, and patterns. The patterns are of particular interest to me. As the Holy Spirit enables, I pick up on cycles that I notice recorded in the Scriptures. Let me give you an example.
I'm currently reading 2 Kings. I see a pattern. It goes something like this: A king comes to power - he was evil - God got mad - the king repents - deliverance comes - the king/nation backslides once the trouble has passed. Let's take a closer look at the pattern of disobedience:
VERSE 1. THERE WAS A KING - (2 Ki 13:1 NIV) In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.
VERSE 2. THE KING WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT - (2 Ki 13:2 NIV) He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them.
VERSE 3. THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH THE KING AND NATION - (2 Ki 13:3 NIV) So the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.
VERSE 4. THE KING REPENTS AND/OR PLEADS WITH GOD FOR RELIEF - (2 Ki 13:4 NIV) Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.
VERSE 5. GOD SENDS DELIVERANCE - (2 Ki 13:5 NIV) The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before.
VERSE 6. ONCE DELIVERED, ISRAEL REVERTS TO IDOLATRY - (2 Ki 13:6 NIV) But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.
I see this six-step process recurring time and again in the times of the kings of Israel.
KING AHAB
1. THERE WAS A KING - (1 Ki 16:29 NIV) In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years.
2. THE KING WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT - (1 Ki 21:25 NIV) (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
3. THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH THE KING AND NATION - (1 Ki 21:21 NIV) 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel--slave or free.
4. THE KING REPENTS AND/OR PLEADS WITH GOD FOR RELIEF - (1 Ki 21:27 NIV) When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
5. GOD SENDS DELIVERANCE - (1 Ki 21:29 NIV) "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."
6. ONCE DELIVERED, ISRAEL REVERTS TO IDOLATRY -(1 Ki 22:6 NIV) So the king of Israel [Ahab] brought together the prophets [false prophets of idols]--about four hundred men--and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go," they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
(1 Ki 22:7 NIV) But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"
The pattern of disobedience is once again repeated and vividly illustrated in the reign of Manasseh, King of Israel. And so the vicious cycle repeats itself over and over again. What can we learn from this?
A pattern of disobedience to the Lord will bring a curse. A pattern of obedience to the Lord will bring a blessing. Get the pattern wrong and the judgment of God will fall on your house (or if you are king, your nation; or if you are a leader, your followers; or if you are father, your family, etc.). Get the pattern right and the glory of God will fall on your house.
Patterns are powerful because they involve habit. The kings of ancient Israel had a nasty habit of conforming to the patterns of the pagan nations they were commanded by God to displace from the land.
Whenever we read about a good king, we discover the pattern of fearing the Lord, consulting with the Lord's prophets, and abolishing various levels of idolatry during their reigns. And God responded mightily on their behalf.
Fast forward to our time. How do we apply this truth?
I suggest committing to yourself to do "the basics" well (in a spiritual context). Do things right (quality) and do the right things (priorities). Jesus was right: Seek Him first and His kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and everything else will work itself out for good (Romans 8:28). Good habits are as hard to break as bad habits. Get the pattern of obedience to God so ingrained in you that it becomes an unbreakable, unshakeable habit in your life. Do this and you will be well on your way to a lifestyle of pleasing God and will reap the corresponding rewards.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will' (Romans 12:2).
DSR
3/14/05
I love the Old Testament. As the pages unfold, so do history, drama, prophecy, adventure, tragedy, irony, humor, types, foreshadows, and patterns. The patterns are of particular interest to me. As the Holy Spirit enables, I pick up on cycles that I notice recorded in the Scriptures. Let me give you an example.
I'm currently reading 2 Kings. I see a pattern. It goes something like this: A king comes to power - he was evil - God got mad - the king repents - deliverance comes - the king/nation backslides once the trouble has passed. Let's take a closer look at the pattern of disobedience:
VERSE 1. THERE WAS A KING - (2 Ki 13:1 NIV) In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.
VERSE 2. THE KING WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT - (2 Ki 13:2 NIV) He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them.
VERSE 3. THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH THE KING AND NATION - (2 Ki 13:3 NIV) So the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.
VERSE 4. THE KING REPENTS AND/OR PLEADS WITH GOD FOR RELIEF - (2 Ki 13:4 NIV) Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.
VERSE 5. GOD SENDS DELIVERANCE - (2 Ki 13:5 NIV) The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before.
VERSE 6. ONCE DELIVERED, ISRAEL REVERTS TO IDOLATRY - (2 Ki 13:6 NIV) But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.
I see this six-step process recurring time and again in the times of the kings of Israel.
KING AHAB
1. THERE WAS A KING - (1 Ki 16:29 NIV) In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years.
2. THE KING WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT - (1 Ki 21:25 NIV) (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
3. THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH THE KING AND NATION - (1 Ki 21:21 NIV) 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel--slave or free.
4. THE KING REPENTS AND/OR PLEADS WITH GOD FOR RELIEF - (1 Ki 21:27 NIV) When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
5. GOD SENDS DELIVERANCE - (1 Ki 21:29 NIV) "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."
6. ONCE DELIVERED, ISRAEL REVERTS TO IDOLATRY -(1 Ki 22:6 NIV) So the king of Israel [Ahab] brought together the prophets [false prophets of idols]--about four hundred men--and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go," they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
(1 Ki 22:7 NIV) But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"
The pattern of disobedience is once again repeated and vividly illustrated in the reign of Manasseh, King of Israel. And so the vicious cycle repeats itself over and over again. What can we learn from this?
A pattern of disobedience to the Lord will bring a curse. A pattern of obedience to the Lord will bring a blessing. Get the pattern wrong and the judgment of God will fall on your house (or if you are king, your nation; or if you are a leader, your followers; or if you are father, your family, etc.). Get the pattern right and the glory of God will fall on your house.
Patterns are powerful because they involve habit. The kings of ancient Israel had a nasty habit of conforming to the patterns of the pagan nations they were commanded by God to displace from the land.
Whenever we read about a good king, we discover the pattern of fearing the Lord, consulting with the Lord's prophets, and abolishing various levels of idolatry during their reigns. And God responded mightily on their behalf.
Fast forward to our time. How do we apply this truth?
I suggest committing to yourself to do "the basics" well (in a spiritual context). Do things right (quality) and do the right things (priorities). Jesus was right: Seek Him first and His kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and everything else will work itself out for good (Romans 8:28). Good habits are as hard to break as bad habits. Get the pattern of obedience to God so ingrained in you that it becomes an unbreakable, unshakeable habit in your life. Do this and you will be well on your way to a lifestyle of pleasing God and will reap the corresponding rewards.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will' (Romans 12:2).
DSR
3/14/05
Monday, March 7, 2005
For Special Occasions Only
by David Scott Robertson
"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table" (Matthew 26:6-7).
* * *
Last Christmas some good friends of mine gave me a bottle of men's cologne as a gift. Giving gifts at Christmas and cologne to men are rather commonplace and don't draw much attention. However, there's more to this story.
This particular four-ounce bottle of cologne that my friends gave me was extremely rare, very expensive, and only through much research, calls, and effort, were they able to obtain it from an obscure location in Florida. Usually an advanced search of the Internet at Google.com will turn up about anything you're looking for. Not so with this Christmas gift. Even the Internet was uncharacteristically useless on this quest. Nevertheless, through determination my friends made it happen. All that to say that this small bottle of great smelling men's cologne is pretty special to me. It's the kind of item that you reserve for special occasions only.
It's sort of like a woman buying a beautiful dress to be Maid-of-Honor at a girlfriend's wedding. Or renting a limo to drive the newlyweds from the church to their reception. Or whispering to the waiter at the fine restaurant that you're there to celebrate a family member's birthday. Graduations, weddings, funerals, job interviews, awards banquets, appearing on television, and the like all fall into the category of "special occasions" that warrant special preparation, wouldn't you agree?
Well, I started out wearing my cologne only to church on Sundays. And even then, I limited it to one squirt only! After all, I reasoned, I have to ration it and make it last as long as possible, right? I got to thinking, at this rate, this four-ounce bottle should last for years!
I know this sounds silly, but this rare gift also got me to thinking about what constitutes a "special occasion." I actually pondered in my heart the question of how many men and women die every year with unused bottles of cologne and perfume in their cabinets back home? How many of us put off doing something, saying something, going somewhere…waiting for "just the right moment" - a moment that strangely, sadly, too often never comes.
For example, take the man who is so intent on waiting for the right moment that he never actually gets around to proposing to the love of his life. Or the parent who waits for a special achievement to tell his daughter he's proud of her. Or the Christian who never shares her faith with her co-worker because she never feels the timing is quite right.
As I processed such thoughts, I wondered if I were to suddenly and unexpectedly be taken out of the picture, who would get the rest of my bottle of cologne? More than likely someone who doesn't know the story or the value of what they hold in their hand.
So, these days I'm celebrating a lot of special occasions.
- My daughter's birthday came up and we took her out to dinner. Squirt.
- I had breakfast with my one-and-only mother the other day. Squirt.
- I scurried off to my weekly staff meeting at church. Squirt.
- I taught a class of new Christians last week. Squirt.
- I ran down to Wal-Mart the other day to pick up oil change supplies. Squirt.
As I write this, I'm getting ready to go to work. There's nothing particularly special going on today. Today, my friends, I'm going for two squirts!
What about you? Anything you've been putting off waiting for just the right moment - a special occasion - before you allow yourself to do it, say it, or experience it? You can avoid a disease worse than cancer called REGRET by simply making up your mind to live this day - no, I take that back, live EVERY DAY - as if it were what it actually is - a special occasion. Fact is, every day is a grace gift from God. And any gift from God is pretty special.
DSR
3/7/05
"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table" (Matthew 26:6-7).
* * *
Last Christmas some good friends of mine gave me a bottle of men's cologne as a gift. Giving gifts at Christmas and cologne to men are rather commonplace and don't draw much attention. However, there's more to this story.
This particular four-ounce bottle of cologne that my friends gave me was extremely rare, very expensive, and only through much research, calls, and effort, were they able to obtain it from an obscure location in Florida. Usually an advanced search of the Internet at Google.com will turn up about anything you're looking for. Not so with this Christmas gift. Even the Internet was uncharacteristically useless on this quest. Nevertheless, through determination my friends made it happen. All that to say that this small bottle of great smelling men's cologne is pretty special to me. It's the kind of item that you reserve for special occasions only.
It's sort of like a woman buying a beautiful dress to be Maid-of-Honor at a girlfriend's wedding. Or renting a limo to drive the newlyweds from the church to their reception. Or whispering to the waiter at the fine restaurant that you're there to celebrate a family member's birthday. Graduations, weddings, funerals, job interviews, awards banquets, appearing on television, and the like all fall into the category of "special occasions" that warrant special preparation, wouldn't you agree?
Well, I started out wearing my cologne only to church on Sundays. And even then, I limited it to one squirt only! After all, I reasoned, I have to ration it and make it last as long as possible, right? I got to thinking, at this rate, this four-ounce bottle should last for years!
I know this sounds silly, but this rare gift also got me to thinking about what constitutes a "special occasion." I actually pondered in my heart the question of how many men and women die every year with unused bottles of cologne and perfume in their cabinets back home? How many of us put off doing something, saying something, going somewhere…waiting for "just the right moment" - a moment that strangely, sadly, too often never comes.
For example, take the man who is so intent on waiting for the right moment that he never actually gets around to proposing to the love of his life. Or the parent who waits for a special achievement to tell his daughter he's proud of her. Or the Christian who never shares her faith with her co-worker because she never feels the timing is quite right.
As I processed such thoughts, I wondered if I were to suddenly and unexpectedly be taken out of the picture, who would get the rest of my bottle of cologne? More than likely someone who doesn't know the story or the value of what they hold in their hand.
So, these days I'm celebrating a lot of special occasions.
- My daughter's birthday came up and we took her out to dinner. Squirt.
- I had breakfast with my one-and-only mother the other day. Squirt.
- I scurried off to my weekly staff meeting at church. Squirt.
- I taught a class of new Christians last week. Squirt.
- I ran down to Wal-Mart the other day to pick up oil change supplies. Squirt.
As I write this, I'm getting ready to go to work. There's nothing particularly special going on today. Today, my friends, I'm going for two squirts!
What about you? Anything you've been putting off waiting for just the right moment - a special occasion - before you allow yourself to do it, say it, or experience it? You can avoid a disease worse than cancer called REGRET by simply making up your mind to live this day - no, I take that back, live EVERY DAY - as if it were what it actually is - a special occasion. Fact is, every day is a grace gift from God. And any gift from God is pretty special.
DSR
3/7/05
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