by David Scott Robertson
So you want to change the world, huh?
You want to be a citizen of earth that makes a difference, do you?
You want your life to count for something significant, right?
Moreover, this is not just talk, mere “lip service” --
You are prepared to back it up with action.
In fact, you are willing to involve yourself,
Sacrificially if necessary (up to and including death),
In a cause that is larger than life,
Greater than yourself,
Farther-reaching than your life span.
Such a desire in your heart is indeed a noble thing.
It is a good and proper thing.
Depending upon your motives,
I would even venture to guess that it is more than likely a God-thing.
After all, no sane, reasonable person
Would actually believe that he or she can change the world.
And please note,
When I say “change the world” I am not referring to “your world.”
For example, your neighborhood, your workgroup, your family, your region, etc.
Those are all valid and figurative expressions of “the world,”
But in this context I am referring to “the world” as the global community
That which makes up the civilized and uncivilized people groups of the earth.
Having clarified that…
If it were possible,
Just how might
One man,
One woman,
Go about changing the world?
Here are a few simple steps to follow:
1. Admit that one person – acting alone – cannot change the world.
An individual needs help, for you see, changing the world is an exceedingly large task.
2. Realize that world change comes in two forms: change for good or change for evil.
With power to change comes a stewardship to act responsibly.
3. The job is so enormous it will take a miracle.
There are only two sources of miracles available to a human being: the power of God or the power of satan to work false signs and lying wonders.
4. You must choose to partner with one or the other.
Not choosing Jesus as Lord defaults you to satan’s camp in advancing his cause on the earth. Choosing God is an act of your free will that positions you for true greatness.
5. You must understand that to possess the authority to bring about world change you must be under authority.
Both God and satan have the ability, willingness, and passionate desire to work in you and through you to change the world. Both offer to you their authority to wield power in their name.
6. You must know that your choice will determine your eternal destination and the destination of your followers.
Never sacrifice long-term goals for short-term gain. Choosing to partner with God opens up limitless possibilities. Electing to partner with satan forces you and those you lead to be consigned to inherit the same destiny and condemnation of the devil and his angels.
The conclusion of the matter:
To change the world you must first hold an election.
Each man and woman must decide who will rule in the government of their heart.
There’s only two candidates in the running – Jesus Christ or Lucifer.
And if you opt to vote for neither and claim to reign in absolute self-authority,
Then …
Whether you like it or not or believe it or not
Your vote is automatically cast to install the prince of this world – satan
(Who is more than willing to allow you to believe that you can rule as good as God
Just like he convinced Adam and Eve through delusion and deception.)
Once that profound choice has been made,
The new administration of government begins to download into our souls a new agenda.
Transference of power begins immediately to take effect in ever-increasing measure.
We begin to discharge our duties as ambassadors of
Our new King, Lord, and Master (if we have surrendered to Christ) –
Or our new king, lord, and master (if we have willfully or unwittingly surrendered to satan.)
We then begin to live our lives in the dispensation of the new government –
Either living by faith and grace through Jesus Christ
Or practicing lawlessness under the father of lies.
Once the decision of lordship has been settled in our hearts
We begin to be conformed into the image of the one we have elected to serve.
Henceforth, our actions are extremely purpose-driven
To line up with the (supernatural) program, scope and sequence of our new leader.
Simply put,
The candle of our life is now lit,
And we go around lighting other unlit candles --
One soul at a time,
Teaching them to go and do likewise.
The Great Commission of both God and satan is…
Therefore go and make disciples.
And thus and at last,
The potential for genuine world change becomes reality.
One man,
One woman,
Called and commissioned,
Appointed and anointed,
For good or for evil,
Is strategically “sent” to an unsuspecting global community
With marching orders of universal conquest.
Friend,
For which cause will you die for?
DSR
6/17/02
Monday, June 17, 2002
Monday, June 10, 2002
The Holy Place
by David Scott Robertson
I want to tell you about a holy place.
A sacred place.
A secret place.
A place so special to me that I used to meet with God there on a regular basis.
Different religions have different holy places.
The Jews have Jerusalem.
The Muslims have Mecca.
The Mormons have a central temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Various shrines and mosques and temples and altars
Dot the global geography designating some type of “holy place” for their various brands of religion.
Let me describe my holy place to you.
My holy place was approximately three feet wide by four feet long.
It was dimly lit and had an exhaust fan in the ceiling.
It had a little latch on a hinged door that I could close and lock for privacy.
The holy place had a paper dispenser on the wall
So I could have plenty of tissue to wipe my tears away as I prayed to my God.
Underneath my feet was a simple tile floor that was mopped daily.
There were about three more holy places right next to mine
With a handicapped-accessible holy place down on the end.
The predominate fixture in my holy place that took up nearly half the space
Was a white porcelain bowl half-filled with water.
The bowl is called a toilet bowl.
By now you may have correctly identified my holy place as a typical bathroom stall.
This bathroom stall was located at
The Nissan Motor Manufacturing automotive plant located in Smyrna, Tennessee
Where I used to work for three years -
But I will tell you that this stall was anything but typical.
While my co-workers would reach for their morning cup of coffee and donut,
My custom was to go directly to “the holy place” to reach for God
And receive my “manna in the morning.”
I went to the same bathroom stall each day.
Closing the stall door behind me,
I would began to worship and magnify and glorify the Lord with raised hands
In soft tones so as not to disturb the other “worshippers.”
It was here in this place
That I would call out to God and ask for grace to succeed that day,
For the unction to function well for my employer,
And represent him and the Lord Jesus Christ appropriately throughout the day.
I asked for wisdom to solve the problems that I would face as a computer technician.
I needed physical and emotional stamina to withstand the rigors of a stressful job.
I need the moral fiber to overcome temptation and spiritual warfare.
And I certainly needed the ability to get along with my workgroup
And the people whose computers I would be fixing.
And you know what?
God heard my prayers in the holy place.
And He answered them.
For three years I flourished at a job
For which I had no professional training,
No formal education
And no previous experience whatsoever.
I became known as an excellent and very competent computer technician
Who brought favor and a good name to my employer.
The “end users” whose computer problems I fixed daily enjoyed me as a person
And the quality of my work spoke for itself.
Word would get back to my boss and his bosses that I was an asset to the organization.
May I point out to you that
This is the finger of God!
This is the Lord’s activity in and through me
Enabling me to do my job “as unto the Lord.”
I believe that the raises and the promotions and awards
That I earned during that three period of employment in an automotive factory
Was a direct result of time spent in the holy place --
Which ironically, was a simple ordinary bathroom stall.
It was there that the presence of God would show up in power and anointing
To equip me for yet another day of gainful employment.
By the way,
The holy place worked so well
That frequently while I was out in the plant working around the assembly lines
I would pop in other “remote holy places” that were strategically set up throughout the plant!
Thank you, Nissan, for constructing so many holy places for me to meet with my God
During that wonderful season of my life!
DSR
6/10/02
I want to tell you about a holy place.
A sacred place.
A secret place.
A place so special to me that I used to meet with God there on a regular basis.
Different religions have different holy places.
The Jews have Jerusalem.
The Muslims have Mecca.
The Mormons have a central temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Various shrines and mosques and temples and altars
Dot the global geography designating some type of “holy place” for their various brands of religion.
Let me describe my holy place to you.
My holy place was approximately three feet wide by four feet long.
It was dimly lit and had an exhaust fan in the ceiling.
It had a little latch on a hinged door that I could close and lock for privacy.
The holy place had a paper dispenser on the wall
So I could have plenty of tissue to wipe my tears away as I prayed to my God.
Underneath my feet was a simple tile floor that was mopped daily.
There were about three more holy places right next to mine
With a handicapped-accessible holy place down on the end.
The predominate fixture in my holy place that took up nearly half the space
Was a white porcelain bowl half-filled with water.
The bowl is called a toilet bowl.
By now you may have correctly identified my holy place as a typical bathroom stall.
This bathroom stall was located at
The Nissan Motor Manufacturing automotive plant located in Smyrna, Tennessee
Where I used to work for three years -
But I will tell you that this stall was anything but typical.
While my co-workers would reach for their morning cup of coffee and donut,
My custom was to go directly to “the holy place” to reach for God
And receive my “manna in the morning.”
I went to the same bathroom stall each day.
Closing the stall door behind me,
I would began to worship and magnify and glorify the Lord with raised hands
In soft tones so as not to disturb the other “worshippers.”
It was here in this place
That I would call out to God and ask for grace to succeed that day,
For the unction to function well for my employer,
And represent him and the Lord Jesus Christ appropriately throughout the day.
I asked for wisdom to solve the problems that I would face as a computer technician.
I needed physical and emotional stamina to withstand the rigors of a stressful job.
I need the moral fiber to overcome temptation and spiritual warfare.
And I certainly needed the ability to get along with my workgroup
And the people whose computers I would be fixing.
And you know what?
God heard my prayers in the holy place.
And He answered them.
For three years I flourished at a job
For which I had no professional training,
No formal education
And no previous experience whatsoever.
I became known as an excellent and very competent computer technician
Who brought favor and a good name to my employer.
The “end users” whose computer problems I fixed daily enjoyed me as a person
And the quality of my work spoke for itself.
Word would get back to my boss and his bosses that I was an asset to the organization.
May I point out to you that
This is the finger of God!
This is the Lord’s activity in and through me
Enabling me to do my job “as unto the Lord.”
I believe that the raises and the promotions and awards
That I earned during that three period of employment in an automotive factory
Was a direct result of time spent in the holy place --
Which ironically, was a simple ordinary bathroom stall.
It was there that the presence of God would show up in power and anointing
To equip me for yet another day of gainful employment.
By the way,
The holy place worked so well
That frequently while I was out in the plant working around the assembly lines
I would pop in other “remote holy places” that were strategically set up throughout the plant!
Thank you, Nissan, for constructing so many holy places for me to meet with my God
During that wonderful season of my life!
DSR
6/10/02
Monday, June 3, 2002
The Grace to Hear the Voice of God
by David Scott Robertson
I came in this morning to my prayer closet with an expectation to experience God.
I came to worship,
To intercede for others,
To present my personal petitions,
To read His word and reap,
And hopefully, ideally, to hear His voice.
My understanding of how the pattern works
In order to get into the presence of God and hear His voice
Goes something like this:
First, I enter into His presence with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.
I begin to thank Him for everything I can think of that He’s done for me in the last 24 hours.
I thank Him for the simple pleasures.
I thank Him for the complex pleasures.
I thank Him for the hidden pleasures and the things He’s done for me of which I’m oblivious.
I thank Him for who He is
His unchanging character
And the fact that He alone is God.
I repent of my known sins
And invite the Holy Spirit to search my heart
And see if there be any wicked way in me that I might quickly
Repent,
Renounce,
And break any of sin’s power of me
While counter-attacking and “sealing the deal” by speaking the Word of God over myself.
I’ll read my daily quota of the Bible,
A selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs –
All neatly arranged in my handy devotional Bible.
Perhaps I’ll take communion.
Then I’ll intercede for my “prayer list” of close relationships,
My wife, my parents, my daughter, my pastors, my president, my small group, and so on.
After that I may put in a worship CD and sing along
Or pull from my memory a half dozen hymns or contemporary worship choruses
And croak out a “joyful noise unto the Lord.”
And then I’ll try to be quiet…
To shut up and listen,
To be still and know that He is God.
(This is the tough part for me when 5 minutes of silence seems so sacrificial, almost unbearable!)
Now here’s the climax of the whole experience:
For God to have His chance to speak to me.
This “stillness” is God’s cue to begin to speak to me.
I’ve done my part
Now it’s His turn to do His part.
I punched my “devotional” time clock and did my spiritual duty
And now,
(So I think, reason, and ignorantly understand)
He is scheduled to arrive “on time” and speak to me
So that I can go write it down it a journal as a spiritual marker and date it.
What do you think?
Is that a corny way to approach God?
Is that an absurd approach to a quiet time to obtain “manna in the morning” from God?
Would you counsel a brand new Christian to begin a short devotional life
That at least somewhat resembled this format?
The ultimate goal is this scenario,
Obviously and ideally,
Is to hear God’s voice.
To experience God through intimate communion and fellowship with His Son, Jesus.
To have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.
C’mon, doesn’t that all sound logical, reasonable, maybe even spiritual?
Perhaps, like me, you’ve observed that God
Has this way about Him that explodes our thinking.
Imagine! The infinite God doing anything at all my way!
Why just this morning…
Today when I came into my prayer closet with an expectation to experience God,
To worship,
To intercede for others,
To present my personal petitions,
To read His word and reap,
And hopefully, ideally, to hear His voice…
Ready for this?
I used “the approach”, “the prescription,” “the order,”
To “get the pattern right so the glory will fall”
To “set the mood” (what a religious thought) to become eligible to obtain a word from God.
Almost immediately this morning as I quietly knelt down before the Lord
Ready to “do my little do and say my little say”
The Lord God began to speak to me.
His word to me was something that I will try to paraphrase to you here:
“David, there’s nothing you have to do or can do to earn your way into My presence.
If that were the case it wouldn’t be grace.”
With that the Lord began to gently and kindly admonish me as only He can with words of
Edification, exhortation, and comfort.
At this point I now have a choice.
I can leave my prayer closet,
Eat a bowl of cereal,
And jump right on into my day because, after all, I’ve already gotten “a word” from God.
I’ve already heard His voice and that’s the point, isn’t it?
Well, yes and no.
I still think I need to enter my prayer closet with an expectation to experience God.
To worship,
To intercede for others,
To present my personal petitions,
To read His word and reap,
And hopefully, ideally, to hear His voice…again.
Consider grace.
Explore grace.
Experience God’s love through grace.
It is true that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
But it is also true that it is a wonderful thing to fall into the hands of the loving, gracious God.
DSR
6/3/02
I came in this morning to my prayer closet with an expectation to experience God.
I came to worship,
To intercede for others,
To present my personal petitions,
To read His word and reap,
And hopefully, ideally, to hear His voice.
My understanding of how the pattern works
In order to get into the presence of God and hear His voice
Goes something like this:
First, I enter into His presence with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.
I begin to thank Him for everything I can think of that He’s done for me in the last 24 hours.
I thank Him for the simple pleasures.
I thank Him for the complex pleasures.
I thank Him for the hidden pleasures and the things He’s done for me of which I’m oblivious.
I thank Him for who He is
His unchanging character
And the fact that He alone is God.
I repent of my known sins
And invite the Holy Spirit to search my heart
And see if there be any wicked way in me that I might quickly
Repent,
Renounce,
And break any of sin’s power of me
While counter-attacking and “sealing the deal” by speaking the Word of God over myself.
I’ll read my daily quota of the Bible,
A selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs –
All neatly arranged in my handy devotional Bible.
Perhaps I’ll take communion.
Then I’ll intercede for my “prayer list” of close relationships,
My wife, my parents, my daughter, my pastors, my president, my small group, and so on.
After that I may put in a worship CD and sing along
Or pull from my memory a half dozen hymns or contemporary worship choruses
And croak out a “joyful noise unto the Lord.”
And then I’ll try to be quiet…
To shut up and listen,
To be still and know that He is God.
(This is the tough part for me when 5 minutes of silence seems so sacrificial, almost unbearable!)
Now here’s the climax of the whole experience:
For God to have His chance to speak to me.
This “stillness” is God’s cue to begin to speak to me.
I’ve done my part
Now it’s His turn to do His part.
I punched my “devotional” time clock and did my spiritual duty
And now,
(So I think, reason, and ignorantly understand)
He is scheduled to arrive “on time” and speak to me
So that I can go write it down it a journal as a spiritual marker and date it.
What do you think?
Is that a corny way to approach God?
Is that an absurd approach to a quiet time to obtain “manna in the morning” from God?
Would you counsel a brand new Christian to begin a short devotional life
That at least somewhat resembled this format?
The ultimate goal is this scenario,
Obviously and ideally,
Is to hear God’s voice.
To experience God through intimate communion and fellowship with His Son, Jesus.
To have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.
C’mon, doesn’t that all sound logical, reasonable, maybe even spiritual?
Perhaps, like me, you’ve observed that God
Has this way about Him that explodes our thinking.
Imagine! The infinite God doing anything at all my way!
Why just this morning…
Today when I came into my prayer closet with an expectation to experience God,
To worship,
To intercede for others,
To present my personal petitions,
To read His word and reap,
And hopefully, ideally, to hear His voice…
Ready for this?
I used “the approach”, “the prescription,” “the order,”
To “get the pattern right so the glory will fall”
To “set the mood” (what a religious thought) to become eligible to obtain a word from God.
Almost immediately this morning as I quietly knelt down before the Lord
Ready to “do my little do and say my little say”
The Lord God began to speak to me.
His word to me was something that I will try to paraphrase to you here:
“David, there’s nothing you have to do or can do to earn your way into My presence.
If that were the case it wouldn’t be grace.”
With that the Lord began to gently and kindly admonish me as only He can with words of
Edification, exhortation, and comfort.
At this point I now have a choice.
I can leave my prayer closet,
Eat a bowl of cereal,
And jump right on into my day because, after all, I’ve already gotten “a word” from God.
I’ve already heard His voice and that’s the point, isn’t it?
Well, yes and no.
I still think I need to enter my prayer closet with an expectation to experience God.
To worship,
To intercede for others,
To present my personal petitions,
To read His word and reap,
And hopefully, ideally, to hear His voice…again.
Consider grace.
Explore grace.
Experience God’s love through grace.
It is true that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
But it is also true that it is a wonderful thing to fall into the hands of the loving, gracious God.
DSR
6/3/02
Saturday, May 18, 2002
My Offering to the Lord
by David Scott Robertson
What do you give a God that’s got everything?
I mean, He created it all,
He owns it all
In fact, the great I AM is all in all.
You can’t add to Him, because He’s infinite.
You can’t take away from Him, because He’s omnipotent.
What have you thought up that He has not altogether known in advance?
What new thing under the sun could you and I possibly offer to the Lord
Since He knows the sum of our words and actions before our birth?
What, then, is a mortal man to do when trying to present an offering to God?
What thing or act or expression of value can we as created beings offer to a priceless Diety?
Just what does He want and expect from us anyway?
Apparently, incredibly, God saw value and worth in us in that
While we were yet sinners – Christ died for the ungodly.
You see it was Father God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…
And, like Father like Son, Jesus so loved the world that He voluntarily agreed to come and pay sin’s penalty…
And as if that wasn’t enough, the Holy Spirit so loved the world that he consented to stay and lead and guide us into all truth.
What an outrageous arrangement!
Now here’s the bizarre part…
Although we as human beings have been created in the image of God
And represent His divine genius in its highest form,
Nevertheless we have inherited from Adam and Even the flaw of the sinful nature.
Therefore, we have, as it were, eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,
And it has skewed our view of the Tree of Life.
With the power of choice comes the ability to make poor choices.
To eat forbidden fruit or not to eat, that is the question.
To love God and one another or not, that’s the option.
To obey or disobey, these are the choices.
Who among us has not through either willful disobedience or passive indifference
Chosen bad over good and good over best?
And so, the plot thickens.
Not only did God create us and loan us His breath
(Which by the way He reserves the right to withdraw at any time)
But lo and behold we use the power of free choice to ignore His commands.
We are a sin-tainted people group,
Covering our nakedness and feebly attempting to hide from Creator God.
So what is the Lord’s response to this incredible predicament?
The Lord Jesus Christ comes to each of us and asks us a question:
“Will you marry Me?
“I want to spend the rest of My eternal life with you.”
“I have chosen you to become My bride.”
But we, gasping, respond:
“Lord God, I’m not worthy to be Your bride.”
“Lord, I’m damaged goods.”
“You found me in the scratch and dent section.”
“My wineskin has burst and my wine is spilled out and ruined.”
“I’m not Your type.”
“I’m not holy, like You, Lord.”
“I’m too young.”
“I’m too old.”
“I’m disqualified.”
“I’m ugly.”
“I’ve been unfaithful.”
“I’ve experimented with other lovers and gave away my virginity long ago.”
“You deserve better than me for Your bride.”
“Lord, surely not I.”
Patiently listening, the Lord responds: “Will you marry Me?”
“But Lord, what will your Father think?”
Jesus replies:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions, one of which I have prepared for you, My dear Shulammite.”
“Marry Me.”
“Follow Me.”
“Come away, My beloved.”
So, at last, I’m convinced. I’m convicted. I humbly accept
His astonishing invitation to me to become His bride,
Though I am ugly and scarred in my own eyes,
He has declared me altogether lovely,
Thus I have become in His eyes like one who brings contentment.
So Lord, here, now, I present to You my freewill offering…myself.
Just as I am, such as I am, O Lamb of God I come.
Though ten thousand voices tell me “no” – still, I come.
Though the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve counsel me otherwise,
Still, I come to You, Lord.
I love You, because You first loved me.
I love you with all my heart, mind, body, soul, and strength.
And with Your help, I’ll love others as you have loved me.
I covenant with You, Lover of my soul, to be Your bride.
I accept the terms of our betrothal.
I gladly receive the gifts of Your redemption, Your Word, and Your Holy Spirit.
Spread the corner of your garment over me
And let your banner over me be love.
“Lord, may I ask what will be the time and season for the wedding?”
“Surely,” says Jesus, “I will come quickly for you, My beloved.”
“Amen, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.”
DSR
5/18/02
What do you give a God that’s got everything?
I mean, He created it all,
He owns it all
In fact, the great I AM is all in all.
You can’t add to Him, because He’s infinite.
You can’t take away from Him, because He’s omnipotent.
What have you thought up that He has not altogether known in advance?
What new thing under the sun could you and I possibly offer to the Lord
Since He knows the sum of our words and actions before our birth?
What, then, is a mortal man to do when trying to present an offering to God?
What thing or act or expression of value can we as created beings offer to a priceless Diety?
Just what does He want and expect from us anyway?
Apparently, incredibly, God saw value and worth in us in that
While we were yet sinners – Christ died for the ungodly.
You see it was Father God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…
And, like Father like Son, Jesus so loved the world that He voluntarily agreed to come and pay sin’s penalty…
And as if that wasn’t enough, the Holy Spirit so loved the world that he consented to stay and lead and guide us into all truth.
What an outrageous arrangement!
Now here’s the bizarre part…
Although we as human beings have been created in the image of God
And represent His divine genius in its highest form,
Nevertheless we have inherited from Adam and Even the flaw of the sinful nature.
Therefore, we have, as it were, eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,
And it has skewed our view of the Tree of Life.
With the power of choice comes the ability to make poor choices.
To eat forbidden fruit or not to eat, that is the question.
To love God and one another or not, that’s the option.
To obey or disobey, these are the choices.
Who among us has not through either willful disobedience or passive indifference
Chosen bad over good and good over best?
And so, the plot thickens.
Not only did God create us and loan us His breath
(Which by the way He reserves the right to withdraw at any time)
But lo and behold we use the power of free choice to ignore His commands.
We are a sin-tainted people group,
Covering our nakedness and feebly attempting to hide from Creator God.
So what is the Lord’s response to this incredible predicament?
The Lord Jesus Christ comes to each of us and asks us a question:
“Will you marry Me?
“I want to spend the rest of My eternal life with you.”
“I have chosen you to become My bride.”
But we, gasping, respond:
“Lord God, I’m not worthy to be Your bride.”
“Lord, I’m damaged goods.”
“You found me in the scratch and dent section.”
“My wineskin has burst and my wine is spilled out and ruined.”
“I’m not Your type.”
“I’m not holy, like You, Lord.”
“I’m too young.”
“I’m too old.”
“I’m disqualified.”
“I’m ugly.”
“I’ve been unfaithful.”
“I’ve experimented with other lovers and gave away my virginity long ago.”
“You deserve better than me for Your bride.”
“Lord, surely not I.”
Patiently listening, the Lord responds: “Will you marry Me?”
“But Lord, what will your Father think?”
Jesus replies:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions, one of which I have prepared for you, My dear Shulammite.”
“Marry Me.”
“Follow Me.”
“Come away, My beloved.”
So, at last, I’m convinced. I’m convicted. I humbly accept
His astonishing invitation to me to become His bride,
Though I am ugly and scarred in my own eyes,
He has declared me altogether lovely,
Thus I have become in His eyes like one who brings contentment.
So Lord, here, now, I present to You my freewill offering…myself.
Just as I am, such as I am, O Lamb of God I come.
Though ten thousand voices tell me “no” – still, I come.
Though the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve counsel me otherwise,
Still, I come to You, Lord.
I love You, because You first loved me.
I love you with all my heart, mind, body, soul, and strength.
And with Your help, I’ll love others as you have loved me.
I covenant with You, Lover of my soul, to be Your bride.
I accept the terms of our betrothal.
I gladly receive the gifts of Your redemption, Your Word, and Your Holy Spirit.
Spread the corner of your garment over me
And let your banner over me be love.
“Lord, may I ask what will be the time and season for the wedding?”
“Surely,” says Jesus, “I will come quickly for you, My beloved.”
“Amen, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.”
DSR
5/18/02
My Offering to the Lord
by David Scott Robertson
What do you give a God that’s got everything?
I mean, He created it all,
He owns it all
In fact, the great I AM is all in all.
You can’t add to Him, because He’s infinite.
You can’t take away from Him, because He’s omnipotent.
What have you thought up that He has not altogether known in advance?
What new thing under the sun could you and I possibly offer to the Lord
Since He knows the sum of our words and actions before our birth?
What, then, is a mortal man to do when trying to present an offering to God?
What thing or act or expression of value can we as created beings offer to a priceless Diety?
Just what does He want and expect from us anyway?
Apparently, incredibly, God saw value and worth in us in that
While we were yet sinners – Christ died for the ungodly.
You see it was Father God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…
And, like Father like Son, Jesus so loved the world that He voluntarily agreed to come and pay sin’s penalty…
And as if that wasn’t enough, the Holy Spirit so loved the world that he consented to stay and lead and guide us into all truth.
What an outrageous arrangement!
Now here’s the bizarre part…
Although we as human beings have been created in the image of God
And represent His divine genius in its highest form,
Nevertheless we have inherited from Adam and Even the flaw of the sinful nature.
Therefore, we have, as it were, eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,
And it has skewed our view of the Tree of Life.
With the power of choice comes the ability to make poor choices.
To eat forbidden fruit or not to eat, that is the question.
To love God and one another or not, that’s the option.
To obey or disobey, these are the choices.
Who among us has not through either willful disobedience or passive indifference
Chosen bad over good and good over best?
And so, the plot thickens.
Not only did God create us and loan us His breath
(Which by the way He reserves the right to withdraw at any time)
But lo and behold we use the power of free choice to ignore His commands.
We are a sin-tainted people group,
Covering our nakedness and feebly attempting to hide from Creator God.
So what is the Lord’s response to this incredible predicament?
The Lord Jesus Christ comes to each of us and asks us a question:
“Will you marry Me?
“I want to spend the rest of My eternal life with you.”
“I have chosen you to become My bride.”
But we, gasping, respond:
“Lord God, I’m not worthy to be Your bride.”
“Lord, I’m damaged goods.”
“You found me in the scratch and dent section.”
“My wineskin has burst and my wine is spilled out and ruined.”
“I’m not Your type.”
“I’m not holy, like You, Lord.”
“I’m too young.”
“I’m too old.”
“I’m disqualified.”
“I’m ugly.”
“I’ve been unfaithful.”
“I’ve experimented with other lovers and gave away my virginity long ago.”
“You deserve better than me for Your bride.”
“Lord, surely not I.”
Patiently listening, the Lord responds: “Will you marry Me?”
“But Lord, what will your Father think?”
Jesus replies:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions, one of which I have prepared for you, My dear Shulammite.”
“Marry Me.”
“Follow Me.”
“Come away, My beloved.”
So, at last, I’m convinced. I’m convicted. I humbly accept
His astonishing invitation to me to become His bride,
Though I am ugly and scarred in my own eyes,
He has declared me altogether lovely,
Thus I have become in His eyes like one who brings contentment.
So Lord, here, now, I present to You my freewill offering…myself.
Just as I am, such as I am, O Lamb of God I come.
Though ten thousand voices tell me “no” – still, I come.
Though the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve counsel me otherwise,
Still, I come to You, Lord.
I love You, because You first loved me.
I love you with all my heart, mind, body, soul, and strength.
And with Your help, I’ll love others as you have loved me.
I covenant with You, Lover of my soul, to be Your bride.
I accept the terms of our betrothal.
I gladly receive the gifts of Your redemption, Your Word, and Your Holy Spirit.
Spread the corner of your garment over me
And let your banner over me be love.
“Lord, may I ask what will be the time and season for the wedding?”
“Surely,” says Jesus, “I will come quickly for you, My beloved.”
“Amen, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.”
DSR
5/18/02
What do you give a God that’s got everything?
I mean, He created it all,
He owns it all
In fact, the great I AM is all in all.
You can’t add to Him, because He’s infinite.
You can’t take away from Him, because He’s omnipotent.
What have you thought up that He has not altogether known in advance?
What new thing under the sun could you and I possibly offer to the Lord
Since He knows the sum of our words and actions before our birth?
What, then, is a mortal man to do when trying to present an offering to God?
What thing or act or expression of value can we as created beings offer to a priceless Diety?
Just what does He want and expect from us anyway?
Apparently, incredibly, God saw value and worth in us in that
While we were yet sinners – Christ died for the ungodly.
You see it was Father God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…
And, like Father like Son, Jesus so loved the world that He voluntarily agreed to come and pay sin’s penalty…
And as if that wasn’t enough, the Holy Spirit so loved the world that he consented to stay and lead and guide us into all truth.
What an outrageous arrangement!
Now here’s the bizarre part…
Although we as human beings have been created in the image of God
And represent His divine genius in its highest form,
Nevertheless we have inherited from Adam and Even the flaw of the sinful nature.
Therefore, we have, as it were, eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,
And it has skewed our view of the Tree of Life.
With the power of choice comes the ability to make poor choices.
To eat forbidden fruit or not to eat, that is the question.
To love God and one another or not, that’s the option.
To obey or disobey, these are the choices.
Who among us has not through either willful disobedience or passive indifference
Chosen bad over good and good over best?
And so, the plot thickens.
Not only did God create us and loan us His breath
(Which by the way He reserves the right to withdraw at any time)
But lo and behold we use the power of free choice to ignore His commands.
We are a sin-tainted people group,
Covering our nakedness and feebly attempting to hide from Creator God.
So what is the Lord’s response to this incredible predicament?
The Lord Jesus Christ comes to each of us and asks us a question:
“Will you marry Me?
“I want to spend the rest of My eternal life with you.”
“I have chosen you to become My bride.”
But we, gasping, respond:
“Lord God, I’m not worthy to be Your bride.”
“Lord, I’m damaged goods.”
“You found me in the scratch and dent section.”
“My wineskin has burst and my wine is spilled out and ruined.”
“I’m not Your type.”
“I’m not holy, like You, Lord.”
“I’m too young.”
“I’m too old.”
“I’m disqualified.”
“I’m ugly.”
“I’ve been unfaithful.”
“I’ve experimented with other lovers and gave away my virginity long ago.”
“You deserve better than me for Your bride.”
“Lord, surely not I.”
Patiently listening, the Lord responds: “Will you marry Me?”
“But Lord, what will your Father think?”
Jesus replies:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions, one of which I have prepared for you, My dear Shulammite.”
“Marry Me.”
“Follow Me.”
“Come away, My beloved.”
So, at last, I’m convinced. I’m convicted. I humbly accept
His astonishing invitation to me to become His bride,
Though I am ugly and scarred in my own eyes,
He has declared me altogether lovely,
Thus I have become in His eyes like one who brings contentment.
So Lord, here, now, I present to You my freewill offering…myself.
Just as I am, such as I am, O Lamb of God I come.
Though ten thousand voices tell me “no” – still, I come.
Though the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve counsel me otherwise,
Still, I come to You, Lord.
I love You, because You first loved me.
I love you with all my heart, mind, body, soul, and strength.
And with Your help, I’ll love others as you have loved me.
I covenant with You, Lover of my soul, to be Your bride.
I accept the terms of our betrothal.
I gladly receive the gifts of Your redemption, Your Word, and Your Holy Spirit.
Spread the corner of your garment over me
And let your banner over me be love.
“Lord, may I ask what will be the time and season for the wedding?”
“Surely,” says Jesus, “I will come quickly for you, My beloved.”
“Amen, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.”
DSR
5/18/02
Monday, May 6, 2002
My Thoughts About Adventure Racing
by David Scott Robertson
“Adventure racing” is a relatively new sport
That has captured the attention of millions.
Teams of four persons, three men and one woman (or the other way around)
All compete against other teams to be the first to cross the finish line as a group.
If any one member of the team cannot continue the race, the entire team is disqualified.
The sport is well named because the event truly is an “adventure.”
It requires participants to engage
In all sorts of rigorous and physically challenging events such as
Hiking, mountaineering, orienteering, rafting, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
These and other rugged outdoor activities advance teams towards the finish line
At the fastest pace their human bodies can tolerate.
The finish line usually is over 200 miles away,
Strategically placed at the end of a perilous course
That often requires a 10-12 day non-stop adventure to get there.
The entire race is meticulously recorded by agile television crews
So that racers experiencing the most incredible physical and emotional challenges
Can literally be seen and heard on tops of mountains,
Crossing icy cold rivers,
Navigating their way across desserts,
Rappelling down steep cliffs,
Pushing mountain bikes up vertical inclines
Or picking leeches off of their bodies in a steamy jungle.
One of the most fascinating aspects of adventure racing
Is that both participant and spectator have the rare opportunity to observe human beings Who are pushing themselves to the very limit.
At the front of the pack,
Experienced teams display almost super-human strength, stamina, and endurance
Battling for first place by forgoing sleep for days and pressing on at an unbelievable pace.
At the rear of the pack,
Teams struggle to accomplish their dream of simply finishing an adventure race.
All of this extreme human drama and extraordinarily innovative competition
Unfolds before a backdrop of intense natural beauty
In a different exotic location each year.
That, in an overly simplified nutshell, is adventure racing.
Those who race and those who watch the race will not soon forget the experience.
Curiously, I have found myself to having become an enthusiastic fan of adventure racing.
I am drawn to watch and witness each of these televised competitions (there are a couple of major events each year)
I think the major magnetic pull that draws my attention to these races
Is how similar they are and closely related to the spiritual race we run as Christians.
There are, quite frankly, striking parallels that motivate and challenge me
As a follower of Jesus Christ in the life-long race towards Christ likeness in this life and heaven in the next.
That is not an original thought,
I got the idea from the Apostle Paul who was a top competitor in his own spiritual race:
(Gal 2:2 NIV) I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
(1 Cor 9:24 NIV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
(1 Cor 9:25 NIV) Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
(1 Cor 9:26 NIV) Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
(1 Cor 9:27 NIV) No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
(Acts 20:24 NIV) However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
(2 Tim 4:7 NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
The Apostle Paul was an adventure racer.
He competed, he ran hard, and he finished the course.
As I watch adventure races,
I study with interest the hard to believe personal sacrifices and pain that racers endure
Just to win an earthly prize (the first-place finishers barely receive enough money to cover their expenses.)
They race for pride, they race for prestige, they race to see how fast and far they can go against all odds and human limitations.
And as I watch these teams compete in adventure racing,
I can only conclude in my own mind,
In my opinion,
In my situation
For me, it is just not worth it to compete in an adventure race.
I am not willing to undergo the extreme conditions of cold and heat and sleep deprivation
To push so hard for so long to win an earthly prize.
But the reason that I am drawn to watch these competitions
Is to gain motivation, incentive, drive, inspiration, enthusiasm, impetus, and stimulation
To spur me on in the Christian race towards the finish line of heaven.
Whether we realize it or not,
The race we are running on our spiritual journey has many viewers:
(Heb 12:1 NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Someone else in the crowd is my little daughter, Abigail.
I want her to see her daddy run the race with integrity and character,
Diligence and faithfulness,
Heart and soul,
Grit and determination not to quit the race of a lifetime.
Perhaps, she too, will be motivated to do the same when she sees that the impossible becomes possible through God.
I do hope you’ll take the time to view an adventure race and see for yourself
The unmistakable similarities that are analogous to the Christian life.
Perhaps like me, you will be encouraged to run harder.
Below are a few other observations I have noted after watching an adventure race:
* I’d rather come in dead last with a good attitude than first place with a bad attitude.
* When the pressure is on, what’s on the inside is squeezed out.
* Wisdom and strategy trumps strength and muscle any day of the week.
* It is possible to have a good time under excruciating circumstances.
* If you’re not careful the only time you’ll enjoy an adventure is while reviewing the film.
* The art of enjoying racing is superior to the art of winning races.
* Races are won in training, not on race day.
* A human prize fades quickly, but eternal rewards are just that.
* To have your lowest moments preserved on video is both a good and bad thing.
* Without teamwork nobody wins.
* A team can win but words spoken hastily along the way can make it a hollow victory.
* There is no prize worth sacrificing your character and integrity for.
* To lose with dignity is a fantastic victory.
* Not everyone who finished the race is a winner and not everyone who fails to finish is a loser.
* To face your fears and beat them is better than a plaque on the wall.
* To be nervous is one thing, to be scared another, but to not try at all is unacceptable.
* Adventure racing has innumerable spiritual parallels to the Christian life.
* The accomplishments of the human spirit pale in comparison to the accomplishments of the Holy Spirit.
* The rocks that some adventure racers climb over, in some cases, are not nearly as hard as the hearts of the racers themselves.
* It would be possible for some to adventure race through the Garden of Eden and miss all the beauty because of crushing competitiveness.
* It is a good thing to pray before repelling down a 2,000 foot cliff.
* Winston Churchill was right, never give up.
* Life is an adventure race without corporate sponsors.
* Risk taking is not an option in adventure racing…or life.
* Men and women will gladly endure the temporal inconveniences of sleep deprivation, pain, suffering, mental and physical agony and anguish in exchange for the memory of having endured it.
* People who criticize those who adventure race have very obviously never done it.
* There is as much motivational value in watching an adventure race as there is in participating in one.
* It’s amazing how few of us ever “push the envelope” of our human experience.
* If we are willing to forego a little sleep, a little inconvenience, a little suffering, we can reap major benefits.
* If you are willing to endure great sacrifice, people are more apt to listen to what you have to say.
* If I were a prospective employer looking for a high power executive, I’d consider the racers to be excellent prospects.
* Discipline on the field of competition can successfully translate to discipline into many other areas of life.
* There are long term benefits to be reaped both before and after a huge event in one’s life for which you have trained hard.
* The needs of the team transcend the individual desires of the team member.
* When a team pulls together it is hard to pull them apart.
* When all is said and done, it is God who should ultimately get the glory.
* To cross any finish line and say “I did it by my own strength” is an inaccurate statement.
DSR
5/6/02
“Adventure racing” is a relatively new sport
That has captured the attention of millions.
Teams of four persons, three men and one woman (or the other way around)
All compete against other teams to be the first to cross the finish line as a group.
If any one member of the team cannot continue the race, the entire team is disqualified.
The sport is well named because the event truly is an “adventure.”
It requires participants to engage
In all sorts of rigorous and physically challenging events such as
Hiking, mountaineering, orienteering, rafting, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
These and other rugged outdoor activities advance teams towards the finish line
At the fastest pace their human bodies can tolerate.
The finish line usually is over 200 miles away,
Strategically placed at the end of a perilous course
That often requires a 10-12 day non-stop adventure to get there.
The entire race is meticulously recorded by agile television crews
So that racers experiencing the most incredible physical and emotional challenges
Can literally be seen and heard on tops of mountains,
Crossing icy cold rivers,
Navigating their way across desserts,
Rappelling down steep cliffs,
Pushing mountain bikes up vertical inclines
Or picking leeches off of their bodies in a steamy jungle.
One of the most fascinating aspects of adventure racing
Is that both participant and spectator have the rare opportunity to observe human beings Who are pushing themselves to the very limit.
At the front of the pack,
Experienced teams display almost super-human strength, stamina, and endurance
Battling for first place by forgoing sleep for days and pressing on at an unbelievable pace.
At the rear of the pack,
Teams struggle to accomplish their dream of simply finishing an adventure race.
All of this extreme human drama and extraordinarily innovative competition
Unfolds before a backdrop of intense natural beauty
In a different exotic location each year.
That, in an overly simplified nutshell, is adventure racing.
Those who race and those who watch the race will not soon forget the experience.
Curiously, I have found myself to having become an enthusiastic fan of adventure racing.
I am drawn to watch and witness each of these televised competitions (there are a couple of major events each year)
I think the major magnetic pull that draws my attention to these races
Is how similar they are and closely related to the spiritual race we run as Christians.
There are, quite frankly, striking parallels that motivate and challenge me
As a follower of Jesus Christ in the life-long race towards Christ likeness in this life and heaven in the next.
That is not an original thought,
I got the idea from the Apostle Paul who was a top competitor in his own spiritual race:
(Gal 2:2 NIV) I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
(1 Cor 9:24 NIV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
(1 Cor 9:25 NIV) Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
(1 Cor 9:26 NIV) Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
(1 Cor 9:27 NIV) No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
(Acts 20:24 NIV) However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
(2 Tim 4:7 NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
The Apostle Paul was an adventure racer.
He competed, he ran hard, and he finished the course.
As I watch adventure races,
I study with interest the hard to believe personal sacrifices and pain that racers endure
Just to win an earthly prize (the first-place finishers barely receive enough money to cover their expenses.)
They race for pride, they race for prestige, they race to see how fast and far they can go against all odds and human limitations.
And as I watch these teams compete in adventure racing,
I can only conclude in my own mind,
In my opinion,
In my situation
For me, it is just not worth it to compete in an adventure race.
I am not willing to undergo the extreme conditions of cold and heat and sleep deprivation
To push so hard for so long to win an earthly prize.
But the reason that I am drawn to watch these competitions
Is to gain motivation, incentive, drive, inspiration, enthusiasm, impetus, and stimulation
To spur me on in the Christian race towards the finish line of heaven.
Whether we realize it or not,
The race we are running on our spiritual journey has many viewers:
(Heb 12:1 NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Someone else in the crowd is my little daughter, Abigail.
I want her to see her daddy run the race with integrity and character,
Diligence and faithfulness,
Heart and soul,
Grit and determination not to quit the race of a lifetime.
Perhaps, she too, will be motivated to do the same when she sees that the impossible becomes possible through God.
I do hope you’ll take the time to view an adventure race and see for yourself
The unmistakable similarities that are analogous to the Christian life.
Perhaps like me, you will be encouraged to run harder.
Below are a few other observations I have noted after watching an adventure race:
* I’d rather come in dead last with a good attitude than first place with a bad attitude.
* When the pressure is on, what’s on the inside is squeezed out.
* Wisdom and strategy trumps strength and muscle any day of the week.
* It is possible to have a good time under excruciating circumstances.
* If you’re not careful the only time you’ll enjoy an adventure is while reviewing the film.
* The art of enjoying racing is superior to the art of winning races.
* Races are won in training, not on race day.
* A human prize fades quickly, but eternal rewards are just that.
* To have your lowest moments preserved on video is both a good and bad thing.
* Without teamwork nobody wins.
* A team can win but words spoken hastily along the way can make it a hollow victory.
* There is no prize worth sacrificing your character and integrity for.
* To lose with dignity is a fantastic victory.
* Not everyone who finished the race is a winner and not everyone who fails to finish is a loser.
* To face your fears and beat them is better than a plaque on the wall.
* To be nervous is one thing, to be scared another, but to not try at all is unacceptable.
* Adventure racing has innumerable spiritual parallels to the Christian life.
* The accomplishments of the human spirit pale in comparison to the accomplishments of the Holy Spirit.
* The rocks that some adventure racers climb over, in some cases, are not nearly as hard as the hearts of the racers themselves.
* It would be possible for some to adventure race through the Garden of Eden and miss all the beauty because of crushing competitiveness.
* It is a good thing to pray before repelling down a 2,000 foot cliff.
* Winston Churchill was right, never give up.
* Life is an adventure race without corporate sponsors.
* Risk taking is not an option in adventure racing…or life.
* Men and women will gladly endure the temporal inconveniences of sleep deprivation, pain, suffering, mental and physical agony and anguish in exchange for the memory of having endured it.
* People who criticize those who adventure race have very obviously never done it.
* There is as much motivational value in watching an adventure race as there is in participating in one.
* It’s amazing how few of us ever “push the envelope” of our human experience.
* If we are willing to forego a little sleep, a little inconvenience, a little suffering, we can reap major benefits.
* If you are willing to endure great sacrifice, people are more apt to listen to what you have to say.
* If I were a prospective employer looking for a high power executive, I’d consider the racers to be excellent prospects.
* Discipline on the field of competition can successfully translate to discipline into many other areas of life.
* There are long term benefits to be reaped both before and after a huge event in one’s life for which you have trained hard.
* The needs of the team transcend the individual desires of the team member.
* When a team pulls together it is hard to pull them apart.
* When all is said and done, it is God who should ultimately get the glory.
* To cross any finish line and say “I did it by my own strength” is an inaccurate statement.
DSR
5/6/02
Monday, April 22, 2002
Jesus Went His Way
by David Scott Robertson
(Luke 4:28 NIV) “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
(Luke 4:29 NIV) They got up, drove him [Jesus] out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
(Luke 4:30 NIV) But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Can you imagine the drama of this scene in the Bible?
Think about what was going on behind the scene between the angels and demons!
Were there any words spoken by Christ that persuaded the enraged crowd to change their mind?
Did He do something spectacular or miraculous that -
Suddenly, dramatically, amazingly -
Transformed a bloodthirsty mob into a passive crowd of spectators
Who cleared the way as Jesus walked (casually I’m sure) through the crowd?
Let’s quickly recreate the scene.
Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth.
He was in church as usual (Luke 4:16) among His family and friends that He had grown up with.
Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah and He began to read:
(Isa 61:1 NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
(Isa 61:2 NIV) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor….”
Jesus stopped in mid-sentence on the last verse and sat down.
Everybody was staring at Him when He said:
(Luke 4:21 NIV) “…’Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’"
What was their reaction?
(Luke 4:22 NIV) “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn't this Joseph's son?’ they asked.”
First, be careful when all speak well of you.
Mankind is so fickle.
They can bless you one minute and curse you the next.
It comes so, so natural to us.
Secondly, it seems that this last part of the people’s statement is what got Jesus explicit attention.
Their question absolutely demanded a response from the Messiah.
Whether He heard their whispers with His ears
Or He received the revelation by the Spirit as a word of knowledge,
The Lord discerned their question:
“Is this not Joseph’s son?”
(No as a matter of fact,
Jesus was not merely a man’s son with a little “s”
But God’s Son with a capital “S.”)
It was Jesus’ response to that question that tipped the scales against Him in their eyes.
When their wonder turned to
Religious fervor,
Righteous indignation,
And murderous rage.
Jesus spoke 100% truth when He replied:
(Luke 4:23 NIV) “Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
(Luke 4:24 NIV) "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”
Then He began to cite two examples,
One a Sidonian widow who Elijah ministered to
And next a Syrian leper whom Elisha healed
Of how Jehovah had mercy
On foreigners who accepted Him
Over His elect people who rejected Him.
Well, with that, the congregation of the local synagogue determined
That Jesus Christ of Nazareth was not fit to live.
(Luke 4:28 NIV) “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
(Luke 4:29 NIV) They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.”
What?
They “drove him out of town?”
They “took him to the brow of the hill?”
They desired to “throw him down the cliff?”
Part of what amazes me is that Jesus allowed them to do this.
It reminds me of when He allowed Satan to led him to the pinnacle of the temple
To tempt Him to jump off (Luke 4:9).
Another thing that intrigues me is that if this was His home synagogue where He had grown up,
Where was His family?
If Jesus were speaking at church that Sabbath, surely they would be there.
So where were His earthly brothers, sisters, and mother?
Were they in the press of the crowd screaming in His defense?
Were they fighting for Him?
Were they struggling against the mob to try and pacify them to leave their loved One alone?
Now comes the climax of this incredible scene
Where they are actually at the brow of the cliff
Ready to physically and forcibly toss Jesus over the side.
Then the most awesome thing happens.
(Luke 4:30 NIV) “But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Now I want to return to my original questions:
Were there any words spoken by Christ that persuaded the enraged crowd to change their mind?
Did He do something spectacular or miraculous that -
Suddenly, dramatically, amazingly -
Transformed a bloodthirsty mob into a passive crowd of spectators
Who cleared the way as Jesus walked (casually I’m sure) through the crowd?
My answer?
I don’t know!
Only God knows.
One thing I do know
Is that according to the scriptures,
The Lamb of God was born to die nailed to a cross to atone for the sins of the world.
He could die in no other way,
At no other time,
For no other reason.
The scriptures could not (and cannot and will not) be broken.
That is the answer for “why” Jesus did not get tossed over the cliff that day.
But as for the “how” He turned around and walked through the crowd…
I’ll guess we’ll just have to wait until we get to heaven
And watch the instant replay – in slow motion, I hope!
DSR
4/22/02
(Luke 4:28 NIV) “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
(Luke 4:29 NIV) They got up, drove him [Jesus] out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
(Luke 4:30 NIV) But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Can you imagine the drama of this scene in the Bible?
Think about what was going on behind the scene between the angels and demons!
Were there any words spoken by Christ that persuaded the enraged crowd to change their mind?
Did He do something spectacular or miraculous that -
Suddenly, dramatically, amazingly -
Transformed a bloodthirsty mob into a passive crowd of spectators
Who cleared the way as Jesus walked (casually I’m sure) through the crowd?
Let’s quickly recreate the scene.
Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth.
He was in church as usual (Luke 4:16) among His family and friends that He had grown up with.
Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah and He began to read:
(Isa 61:1 NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
(Isa 61:2 NIV) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor….”
Jesus stopped in mid-sentence on the last verse and sat down.
Everybody was staring at Him when He said:
(Luke 4:21 NIV) “…’Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’"
What was their reaction?
(Luke 4:22 NIV) “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn't this Joseph's son?’ they asked.”
First, be careful when all speak well of you.
Mankind is so fickle.
They can bless you one minute and curse you the next.
It comes so, so natural to us.
Secondly, it seems that this last part of the people’s statement is what got Jesus explicit attention.
Their question absolutely demanded a response from the Messiah.
Whether He heard their whispers with His ears
Or He received the revelation by the Spirit as a word of knowledge,
The Lord discerned their question:
“Is this not Joseph’s son?”
(No as a matter of fact,
Jesus was not merely a man’s son with a little “s”
But God’s Son with a capital “S.”)
It was Jesus’ response to that question that tipped the scales against Him in their eyes.
When their wonder turned to
Religious fervor,
Righteous indignation,
And murderous rage.
Jesus spoke 100% truth when He replied:
(Luke 4:23 NIV) “Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
(Luke 4:24 NIV) "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”
Then He began to cite two examples,
One a Sidonian widow who Elijah ministered to
And next a Syrian leper whom Elisha healed
Of how Jehovah had mercy
On foreigners who accepted Him
Over His elect people who rejected Him.
Well, with that, the congregation of the local synagogue determined
That Jesus Christ of Nazareth was not fit to live.
(Luke 4:28 NIV) “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
(Luke 4:29 NIV) They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.”
What?
They “drove him out of town?”
They “took him to the brow of the hill?”
They desired to “throw him down the cliff?”
Part of what amazes me is that Jesus allowed them to do this.
It reminds me of when He allowed Satan to led him to the pinnacle of the temple
To tempt Him to jump off (Luke 4:9).
Another thing that intrigues me is that if this was His home synagogue where He had grown up,
Where was His family?
If Jesus were speaking at church that Sabbath, surely they would be there.
So where were His earthly brothers, sisters, and mother?
Were they in the press of the crowd screaming in His defense?
Were they fighting for Him?
Were they struggling against the mob to try and pacify them to leave their loved One alone?
Now comes the climax of this incredible scene
Where they are actually at the brow of the cliff
Ready to physically and forcibly toss Jesus over the side.
Then the most awesome thing happens.
(Luke 4:30 NIV) “But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Now I want to return to my original questions:
Were there any words spoken by Christ that persuaded the enraged crowd to change their mind?
Did He do something spectacular or miraculous that -
Suddenly, dramatically, amazingly -
Transformed a bloodthirsty mob into a passive crowd of spectators
Who cleared the way as Jesus walked (casually I’m sure) through the crowd?
My answer?
I don’t know!
Only God knows.
One thing I do know
Is that according to the scriptures,
The Lamb of God was born to die nailed to a cross to atone for the sins of the world.
He could die in no other way,
At no other time,
For no other reason.
The scriptures could not (and cannot and will not) be broken.
That is the answer for “why” Jesus did not get tossed over the cliff that day.
But as for the “how” He turned around and walked through the crowd…
I’ll guess we’ll just have to wait until we get to heaven
And watch the instant replay – in slow motion, I hope!
DSR
4/22/02
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
Momentos of a Hard Day
by David Scott Robertson
This morning I sat in a chair drinking a cup of coffee.
Enjoying the quietness of the moment,
I glanced down at my fingernails and saw dirt under them,
The remnants of working in the garden yesterday.
A tiny reminder, a memento of working hard out in the hot sun.
There are other mementos of the hard day I had yesterday…
Playing hard.
Today I have sore muscles from playing racquetball yesterday with a good friend.
I am sore from the lactic acid still in my muscles
The stiffness reminds me of the fantastic fellowship and good healthy exercise
I enjoyed with my partner.
Thinking hard.
This morning my mind still entertains some thoughts resulting from an engaging conversation
I had yesterday with a good friend.
I’m meditating hard on what was said.
I’m pondering its meaning and application to my life.
Laughing hard.
My thoughts drift this morning to the funny things I saw and experienced yesterday.
Playing tag with my daughter and watching her run through the creek to get away from me.
Listening to our crazy cockatiel whistle the most original tunes.
Laughing at the corny jokes and puns of friends as we work together on a project.
Praying hard.
I am living out today
Some of the things I began to pray yesterday.
I am reaping what I have sowed in prayer.
I tarried before the Lord yesterday and as a result today peace abides.
Studying hard.
I’m still challenged in my spirit
By what I read in the Bible in my personal devotions yesterday.
I’m reading the account of Noah and God’s covenant with this man who found grace in His eyes.
This morning I saw a rainbow on the television
And again I was reminding of the doctrinal truth that God is a covenant keeping God.
As you can see,
A hard day is not necessarily a negative thing at all.
To press in and grind forward with good things and through tough things
Grants you the right to enjoy the mementos of a hard day.
Even a scar can generate a good memory if the incident
Produced in you the fruit of righteousness.
Take it from a man after God’s own heart, King David,
Who clearly understood the benefits of a hard day:
(Psa 63:8 KJV) “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”
DSR
4/2/02
This morning I sat in a chair drinking a cup of coffee.
Enjoying the quietness of the moment,
I glanced down at my fingernails and saw dirt under them,
The remnants of working in the garden yesterday.
A tiny reminder, a memento of working hard out in the hot sun.
There are other mementos of the hard day I had yesterday…
Playing hard.
Today I have sore muscles from playing racquetball yesterday with a good friend.
I am sore from the lactic acid still in my muscles
The stiffness reminds me of the fantastic fellowship and good healthy exercise
I enjoyed with my partner.
Thinking hard.
This morning my mind still entertains some thoughts resulting from an engaging conversation
I had yesterday with a good friend.
I’m meditating hard on what was said.
I’m pondering its meaning and application to my life.
Laughing hard.
My thoughts drift this morning to the funny things I saw and experienced yesterday.
Playing tag with my daughter and watching her run through the creek to get away from me.
Listening to our crazy cockatiel whistle the most original tunes.
Laughing at the corny jokes and puns of friends as we work together on a project.
Praying hard.
I am living out today
Some of the things I began to pray yesterday.
I am reaping what I have sowed in prayer.
I tarried before the Lord yesterday and as a result today peace abides.
Studying hard.
I’m still challenged in my spirit
By what I read in the Bible in my personal devotions yesterday.
I’m reading the account of Noah and God’s covenant with this man who found grace in His eyes.
This morning I saw a rainbow on the television
And again I was reminding of the doctrinal truth that God is a covenant keeping God.
As you can see,
A hard day is not necessarily a negative thing at all.
To press in and grind forward with good things and through tough things
Grants you the right to enjoy the mementos of a hard day.
Even a scar can generate a good memory if the incident
Produced in you the fruit of righteousness.
Take it from a man after God’s own heart, King David,
Who clearly understood the benefits of a hard day:
(Psa 63:8 KJV) “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”
DSR
4/2/02
You Have My Attention
by David Scott Robertson
Prayer.
A vital component of any Christian’s lifestyle.
Believers in Jesus can do more after they have prayed
But they cannot do more until they have prayed.
God, it seems, has linked the internal workings of His activity on earth
To the effectual, fervent prayer of righteous men and women.
As I understand it,
There are different types of prayer,
All of which find valid expression in the scriptures.
I want to share a prayer principle and then give you three Bible references
Just so you don’t think I’m making this stuff up:
There is personal prayer – praying on behalf of yourself.
1. (James 4:2 NIV) You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
2. (Phil 4:6 NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
3. (Mat 7:7 NIV) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
There is intercessory prayer – praying on behalf of others.
1. (Ezek 22:30 KJV) And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
2. (1 Sam 7:5 NIV) Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you."
3. (1 Ki 13:6 NIV) Then the king [King Jeroboam] said to the man of God, "Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored." So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king's hand was restored and became as it was before.
There is prayer with fasting – a dynamic duo.
1. (Mark 9:28 KJV) And when he [Jesus] was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
2. (Mark 9:29 KJV) And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
3. (Ezra 8:23 NIV) So we [Ezra and leaders in Israel] fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
(Est 4:16 NIV) "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me [Esther]. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
There is “agreeing” prayer – the principle of divine synergy.
1. (Mat 18:19 KJV) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
2. (Deu 32:30 NIV) How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
3. (Eccl 4:12 KJV) And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
There is praying in the Spirit – in perfect harmony with God’s will.
1. (1 Cor 14:14 NIV) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
(1 Cor 14:15 NIV) So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
2 (Eph 6:18 NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
3. (Jude 1:20 NIV) But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
You must believe and not doubt when you pray.
1. (James 1:6 NIV) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
2. (Mat 9:28 NIV) When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.
(Mat 9:29 NIV) Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you";
3. (Mat 21:22 NIV) If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
You must have faith that God hears and answers prayer.
1. (1 Ki 9:3 NIV) The LORD said to him [Solomon]: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
2. (2 Ki 19:20 NIV) Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.
3. (2 Chr 30:27 NIV) The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.
And now I want to share with you something that was a revelation to me.
I had been familiar with these aforementioned types and characteristics of prayer,
But yesterday, out in the front yard, I discovered a new type of prayer.
I was enjoying my day off work,
And boy was it a beautiful, warm Spring day in Tennessee (tennis anyone?)
I had plenty of chores and errand to do and the thought of sneaking off
And hitting some tennis balls or pleasuring riding my bike was tempting.
En route to tackle my todo list or pursue my wish list,
My father-in-law drives up
With his pickup bed full of all sorts of plants, shrubs, and a few trees to plant in his yard.
Well, I had a decision to make.
What do I do?
Do I tend to my own business
Or do I help my father-in-law tend his yard?
I chose to put my own agenda aside and help.
A half an hour or so later,
On my knees in the dirt digging a hole to put a plant in,
Right then and there in this most unlikely spot,
I heard the Lord speak to me…clearly.
Here I had been minding my own business,
Or, more accurately, minding someone else’s business,
When God unexpectedly showed up on the scene.
I hadn’t even been thinking about God.
I hadn’t been thinking about anything spiritual.
In fact, knowing me, I was probably doing a little mumbling under my breath
Griping to myself that now I won’t have time to get the oil changed on the van today.
But I heard so clearly the voice of the Lord say to me:
“You have My attention.”
A few more phrases came explaining to my heart
The principle of getting the attention of God when I am serving others.
God so gently, so sweetly, began to bring revelation to me that
When you are doing something that you don’t necessarily want to do,
But you do it anyway,
You draw the attention of the Father.
When you do something
Because it is the right thing to do,
The selfless thing to do,
The sacrificial thing to do,
The thing that Jesus would do if He were there…
That moment is sacred in a way and garners the attention of God.
In that moment,
I felt the irresistible urge and prompting of the Holy Spirit to begin to pray.
To pray those types of prayer that I mentioned earlier.
I prayed personal prayers.
I prayer intercessory prayers.
I happened to be fasting all day yesterday
So the divine synergy of fasting was in effect.
I prayed in the Spirit in my heavenly prayer language.
I prayed in faith and did not doubt that God was hearing me, clearly.
Later in the day,
I mowed the lawn for a friend
And felt the irresistible urge and prompting of the Holy Spirit to begin to pray again.
So I made my requests known to God.
Later that evening,
I helped two other friends move to their new apartments.
As I was picking up chairs, a microwave, and lots of boxes,
Once again, I felt the irresistible urge and prompting of the Holy Spirit to begin to pray.
So as I worked, as I served others, I called on the name of the Lord.
So, yesterday, on a Monday,
I got a massive sermon preached to me out in the yard.
And to me, it was revelation.
The point and principle I carried with me to bed,
And awoke with this morning to write it down so you could read it later,
Was that if I want to “turbo-charge” my prayer time,
One additional way to accomplish that
Is to find a need and meet it.
To seek out somebody who could use a helping hand and lend it.
And while I’m lifting, or mowing, or digging for others,
As an act of service to them,
I have discovered that it becomes a spiritual act of worship to God.
And in those precious times of serving others,
There is a clear word from heaven that will come:
“You have My attention.”
DSR
4/2/02
Prayer.
A vital component of any Christian’s lifestyle.
Believers in Jesus can do more after they have prayed
But they cannot do more until they have prayed.
God, it seems, has linked the internal workings of His activity on earth
To the effectual, fervent prayer of righteous men and women.
As I understand it,
There are different types of prayer,
All of which find valid expression in the scriptures.
I want to share a prayer principle and then give you three Bible references
Just so you don’t think I’m making this stuff up:
There is personal prayer – praying on behalf of yourself.
1. (James 4:2 NIV) You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
2. (Phil 4:6 NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
3. (Mat 7:7 NIV) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
There is intercessory prayer – praying on behalf of others.
1. (Ezek 22:30 KJV) And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
2. (1 Sam 7:5 NIV) Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you."
3. (1 Ki 13:6 NIV) Then the king [King Jeroboam] said to the man of God, "Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored." So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king's hand was restored and became as it was before.
There is prayer with fasting – a dynamic duo.
1. (Mark 9:28 KJV) And when he [Jesus] was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
2. (Mark 9:29 KJV) And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
3. (Ezra 8:23 NIV) So we [Ezra and leaders in Israel] fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
(Est 4:16 NIV) "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me [Esther]. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
There is “agreeing” prayer – the principle of divine synergy.
1. (Mat 18:19 KJV) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
2. (Deu 32:30 NIV) How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
3. (Eccl 4:12 KJV) And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
There is praying in the Spirit – in perfect harmony with God’s will.
1. (1 Cor 14:14 NIV) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
(1 Cor 14:15 NIV) So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
2 (Eph 6:18 NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
3. (Jude 1:20 NIV) But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
You must believe and not doubt when you pray.
1. (James 1:6 NIV) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
2. (Mat 9:28 NIV) When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.
(Mat 9:29 NIV) Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you";
3. (Mat 21:22 NIV) If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
You must have faith that God hears and answers prayer.
1. (1 Ki 9:3 NIV) The LORD said to him [Solomon]: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
2. (2 Ki 19:20 NIV) Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.
3. (2 Chr 30:27 NIV) The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.
And now I want to share with you something that was a revelation to me.
I had been familiar with these aforementioned types and characteristics of prayer,
But yesterday, out in the front yard, I discovered a new type of prayer.
I was enjoying my day off work,
And boy was it a beautiful, warm Spring day in Tennessee (tennis anyone?)
I had plenty of chores and errand to do and the thought of sneaking off
And hitting some tennis balls or pleasuring riding my bike was tempting.
En route to tackle my todo list or pursue my wish list,
My father-in-law drives up
With his pickup bed full of all sorts of plants, shrubs, and a few trees to plant in his yard.
Well, I had a decision to make.
What do I do?
Do I tend to my own business
Or do I help my father-in-law tend his yard?
I chose to put my own agenda aside and help.
A half an hour or so later,
On my knees in the dirt digging a hole to put a plant in,
Right then and there in this most unlikely spot,
I heard the Lord speak to me…clearly.
Here I had been minding my own business,
Or, more accurately, minding someone else’s business,
When God unexpectedly showed up on the scene.
I hadn’t even been thinking about God.
I hadn’t been thinking about anything spiritual.
In fact, knowing me, I was probably doing a little mumbling under my breath
Griping to myself that now I won’t have time to get the oil changed on the van today.
But I heard so clearly the voice of the Lord say to me:
“You have My attention.”
A few more phrases came explaining to my heart
The principle of getting the attention of God when I am serving others.
God so gently, so sweetly, began to bring revelation to me that
When you are doing something that you don’t necessarily want to do,
But you do it anyway,
You draw the attention of the Father.
When you do something
Because it is the right thing to do,
The selfless thing to do,
The sacrificial thing to do,
The thing that Jesus would do if He were there…
That moment is sacred in a way and garners the attention of God.
In that moment,
I felt the irresistible urge and prompting of the Holy Spirit to begin to pray.
To pray those types of prayer that I mentioned earlier.
I prayed personal prayers.
I prayer intercessory prayers.
I happened to be fasting all day yesterday
So the divine synergy of fasting was in effect.
I prayed in the Spirit in my heavenly prayer language.
I prayed in faith and did not doubt that God was hearing me, clearly.
Later in the day,
I mowed the lawn for a friend
And felt the irresistible urge and prompting of the Holy Spirit to begin to pray again.
So I made my requests known to God.
Later that evening,
I helped two other friends move to their new apartments.
As I was picking up chairs, a microwave, and lots of boxes,
Once again, I felt the irresistible urge and prompting of the Holy Spirit to begin to pray.
So as I worked, as I served others, I called on the name of the Lord.
So, yesterday, on a Monday,
I got a massive sermon preached to me out in the yard.
And to me, it was revelation.
The point and principle I carried with me to bed,
And awoke with this morning to write it down so you could read it later,
Was that if I want to “turbo-charge” my prayer time,
One additional way to accomplish that
Is to find a need and meet it.
To seek out somebody who could use a helping hand and lend it.
And while I’m lifting, or mowing, or digging for others,
As an act of service to them,
I have discovered that it becomes a spiritual act of worship to God.
And in those precious times of serving others,
There is a clear word from heaven that will come:
“You have My attention.”
DSR
4/2/02
Monday, April 1, 2002
The Devil Goes to Church
by David Scott Robertson
(Mark 1:23 NIV) Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
(Mark 1:24 NIV) "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
(Mark 1:39 NIV) So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
The devil goes to church.
Demons go to church.
The scriptures prove that.
Hiding behind a human host,
Tucked away in the crevices of a tormented man or woman’s soul,
Demons do their wicked master’s bidding
Enslaving the lives of human beings.
Whatever the root cause –
The lust of the flesh,
The lust of the eyes,
The pride of life –
Some human decision of the will has given the underworld the legal right
To encroach upon forbidden territory;
To inhabit a domain designed for the Holy Spirit of God.
Nonetheless,
By invitation
Through passive indifference,
Willful disobedience,
Or just plain careless abandon to the paranormal and esoteric as a thrill-seeker,
The demons come.
They camp, crouch, confuse, and control an unwitting victim
Who has been foolish enough to lower the barrier of the free will
And cross boundaries that God firmly established that they should not.
I’m not sure how the demonic hierarchy functions,
But I imagine it is more prestigious
To occupy a man than a pig:
(Mat 8:31 NIV) The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
I also imagine the more powerful and influential the human host the better.
I wonder if one of the high points of a demonic career
Is not so much “GOING” to a church service in a human host
But “LEAVING” a church service STILL in the human host.
This may be a high water mark for a demon
But it is a sad commentary on the powerlessness of a community of believers.
But such was not the case when Jesus went to church.
(Mark 1:25 NIV) "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
(Mark 1:26 NIV) The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
(Mark 1:27 NIV) The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."
When Jesus came, demons left.
When He showed up, they shoved off.
As a matter of fact,
Jesus was so full of the anointing of the Holy Spirit
That when He merely set foot on the shore of “occupied territory”
Deliverances began to take place!
(Mat 8:28 NIV) When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
(Mat 8:29 NIV) "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
One word (what authority!) sent a legion of demons scurrying: “Go!” (Matthew 8:32).
That’s where this awesome power of God in us leads to…
His very presence, get this, IN US, generates results.
(1 John 3:8 KJV) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
(Luke 10:17 NIV) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
(Luke 10:19 NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
(Mark 16:17 NIV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
(John 14:12 NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
So the next time you go to church,
Don’t make a beeline for your normal pew.
Ask the Holy Spirit who you should sit next to.
You just never know how many may be occupying the seat next to you.
DSR
4/1/02
(Mark 1:23 NIV) Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
(Mark 1:24 NIV) "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
(Mark 1:39 NIV) So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
The devil goes to church.
Demons go to church.
The scriptures prove that.
Hiding behind a human host,
Tucked away in the crevices of a tormented man or woman’s soul,
Demons do their wicked master’s bidding
Enslaving the lives of human beings.
Whatever the root cause –
The lust of the flesh,
The lust of the eyes,
The pride of life –
Some human decision of the will has given the underworld the legal right
To encroach upon forbidden territory;
To inhabit a domain designed for the Holy Spirit of God.
Nonetheless,
By invitation
Through passive indifference,
Willful disobedience,
Or just plain careless abandon to the paranormal and esoteric as a thrill-seeker,
The demons come.
They camp, crouch, confuse, and control an unwitting victim
Who has been foolish enough to lower the barrier of the free will
And cross boundaries that God firmly established that they should not.
I’m not sure how the demonic hierarchy functions,
But I imagine it is more prestigious
To occupy a man than a pig:
(Mat 8:31 NIV) The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
I also imagine the more powerful and influential the human host the better.
I wonder if one of the high points of a demonic career
Is not so much “GOING” to a church service in a human host
But “LEAVING” a church service STILL in the human host.
This may be a high water mark for a demon
But it is a sad commentary on the powerlessness of a community of believers.
But such was not the case when Jesus went to church.
(Mark 1:25 NIV) "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
(Mark 1:26 NIV) The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
(Mark 1:27 NIV) The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."
When Jesus came, demons left.
When He showed up, they shoved off.
As a matter of fact,
Jesus was so full of the anointing of the Holy Spirit
That when He merely set foot on the shore of “occupied territory”
Deliverances began to take place!
(Mat 8:28 NIV) When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
(Mat 8:29 NIV) "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
One word (what authority!) sent a legion of demons scurrying: “Go!” (Matthew 8:32).
That’s where this awesome power of God in us leads to…
His very presence, get this, IN US, generates results.
(1 John 3:8 KJV) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
(Luke 10:17 NIV) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
(Luke 10:19 NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
(Mark 16:17 NIV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
(John 14:12 NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
So the next time you go to church,
Don’t make a beeline for your normal pew.
Ask the Holy Spirit who you should sit next to.
You just never know how many may be occupying the seat next to you.
DSR
4/1/02
Monday, March 25, 2002
The Hard Sayings of Jesus
by David Scott Robertson
(John 6:53 KJV) “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
(John 6:60 KJV) Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?”
This statement was a turning point in Jesus’ public ministry.
After the Lord made this one comment,
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
(John 6:66 KJV)
This was a hard saying.
The Rabbi did not pull any punches.
He meant what He said and He said what He meant.
He told it exactly like it was and most of the people couldn’t accept the truth
And didn’t stick around to ask the Master what the hard saying meant.
This wasn’t the only occasion when what Jesus said was very hard.
It was not harsh, just plain hard.
He gave some pretty tough commands that might not be what you’d expect
And as a matter of fact had an opposite effect.
Instead of people leaving Him because of these hard sayings,
They were rather drawn to Him by the multitudes…
THE BLIND MAN
(Mark 8:25 KJV) After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
(Mark 8:26 KJV) And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
“What?
Tell no one that my blindness is gone?
Tell no one that I have been set free from permanent, debilitating blindness?
Now I can work! I can marry! I can participate in social, religious life! I can live!
This is a hard saying!”
THE LEPER
(Mat 8:3 KJV) “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
(Mat 8:4 KJV) And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”
“What?
Tell no man?
My rotting, smelling flesh is now totally clean and you want me to say nothing?
For the first time in no telling how long
I can walk into town and not have to shout “Unclean! Unclean!”
And you want me to hold my tongue?
This is a hard saying!”
THE DISCIPLES
(Mat 16:19 KJV) “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(Mat 16:20 KJV) Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”
“What?
Tell no one about the long-awaiting Messiah?
The Hope of Israel is here and Jesus is absolutely, positively Him and we are to keep quiet?
This is a hard saying!”
FRIENDS OF A DEAF MAN
(Mark 7:32 KJV) “And they [apparently the people of the Decapolis region] bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
(Mark 7:33 KJV) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
(Mark 7:34 KJV) And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
(Mark 7:35 KJV) And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
(Mark 7:36 KJV) And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;”
“What?
His ears are open and his speech impediment is gone and he is perfectly normal
And, Lord, you instruct us not to tell anybody about it?”
This is a hard saying!”
PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN
(Mark 9:2 KJV) “And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
(Mark 9:3 KJV) And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
(Mark 9:7 KJV) And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
(Mark 9:8 KJV) And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
(Mark 9:9 KJV) And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.”
“What?
We’ve just seen a miracle!
We’ve seen with our own eyes Moses, Elijah, and the Christ transfigured before us!
We’ve just heard with our ears the audible voice of Almighty Jehovah Himself!
And You tell us to tell no one about it?
This is a hard saying!”
JAIRUS AND HIS WIFE AND THE THREE
(Luke 8:51 KJV) “And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
(Luke 8:52 KJV) And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
(Luke 8:53 KJV) And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
(Luke 8:54 KJV) And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
(Luke 8:55 KJV) And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
(Luke 8:56 KJV) And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.”
“What?
Our dead daughter raised to life!
The mourners outside will obviously demand an explanation!
You want us to tell no man what was done here in her bedroom?
This is a hard saying!”
Jesus knew what He was doing when He gave hard instructions.
But many times, probably most of the time, when He had compassion on a severely sick person
And healed them, they found it difficult to contain themselves.
“And he [Jesus] charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;” (Mark 7:36 KJV).
The point here is that the hard sayings of Jesus
May take a form that you might not expect.
How could it be so wrong to tell of something so good?
It only becomes wrong when we are told not to by the Lord.
While it is true that obedience brings the miraculous.
In many cases, those who experienced the miraculous spurned obedience.
This too, is a hard saying.
DSR
3/25/02
(John 6:53 KJV) “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
(John 6:60 KJV) Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?”
This statement was a turning point in Jesus’ public ministry.
After the Lord made this one comment,
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
(John 6:66 KJV)
This was a hard saying.
The Rabbi did not pull any punches.
He meant what He said and He said what He meant.
He told it exactly like it was and most of the people couldn’t accept the truth
And didn’t stick around to ask the Master what the hard saying meant.
This wasn’t the only occasion when what Jesus said was very hard.
It was not harsh, just plain hard.
He gave some pretty tough commands that might not be what you’d expect
And as a matter of fact had an opposite effect.
Instead of people leaving Him because of these hard sayings,
They were rather drawn to Him by the multitudes…
THE BLIND MAN
(Mark 8:25 KJV) After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
(Mark 8:26 KJV) And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
“What?
Tell no one that my blindness is gone?
Tell no one that I have been set free from permanent, debilitating blindness?
Now I can work! I can marry! I can participate in social, religious life! I can live!
This is a hard saying!”
THE LEPER
(Mat 8:3 KJV) “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
(Mat 8:4 KJV) And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”
“What?
Tell no man?
My rotting, smelling flesh is now totally clean and you want me to say nothing?
For the first time in no telling how long
I can walk into town and not have to shout “Unclean! Unclean!”
And you want me to hold my tongue?
This is a hard saying!”
THE DISCIPLES
(Mat 16:19 KJV) “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(Mat 16:20 KJV) Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”
“What?
Tell no one about the long-awaiting Messiah?
The Hope of Israel is here and Jesus is absolutely, positively Him and we are to keep quiet?
This is a hard saying!”
FRIENDS OF A DEAF MAN
(Mark 7:32 KJV) “And they [apparently the people of the Decapolis region] bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
(Mark 7:33 KJV) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
(Mark 7:34 KJV) And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
(Mark 7:35 KJV) And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
(Mark 7:36 KJV) And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;”
“What?
His ears are open and his speech impediment is gone and he is perfectly normal
And, Lord, you instruct us not to tell anybody about it?”
This is a hard saying!”
PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN
(Mark 9:2 KJV) “And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
(Mark 9:3 KJV) And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
(Mark 9:7 KJV) And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
(Mark 9:8 KJV) And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
(Mark 9:9 KJV) And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.”
“What?
We’ve just seen a miracle!
We’ve seen with our own eyes Moses, Elijah, and the Christ transfigured before us!
We’ve just heard with our ears the audible voice of Almighty Jehovah Himself!
And You tell us to tell no one about it?
This is a hard saying!”
JAIRUS AND HIS WIFE AND THE THREE
(Luke 8:51 KJV) “And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
(Luke 8:52 KJV) And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
(Luke 8:53 KJV) And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
(Luke 8:54 KJV) And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
(Luke 8:55 KJV) And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
(Luke 8:56 KJV) And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.”
“What?
Our dead daughter raised to life!
The mourners outside will obviously demand an explanation!
You want us to tell no man what was done here in her bedroom?
This is a hard saying!”
Jesus knew what He was doing when He gave hard instructions.
But many times, probably most of the time, when He had compassion on a severely sick person
And healed them, they found it difficult to contain themselves.
“And he [Jesus] charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;” (Mark 7:36 KJV).
The point here is that the hard sayings of Jesus
May take a form that you might not expect.
How could it be so wrong to tell of something so good?
It only becomes wrong when we are told not to by the Lord.
While it is true that obedience brings the miraculous.
In many cases, those who experienced the miraculous spurned obedience.
This too, is a hard saying.
DSR
3/25/02
Monday, March 18, 2002
God Showed Up Where?
by David Scott Robertson
(Rev 1:9 NIV) I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
(Rev 1:10 NIV) On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…
Patmos was a small island (ten miles by six miles) in the Aegean Sea located about thirty-seven miles southwest of Miletus.
The Romans used such places for political exiles.
The Apostle John's mention of the island in Revelation 1:9
Probably means that he was such a prisoner, having been sent there for preaching the gospel.
Eusebius (an early church father) wrote that John was sent to Patmos by Emperor Domitian in A.D. 95 and released after 1 1/2 years.
And it was here, on Patmos, of all places on the planet,
That John had a magnificent encounter with Jesus Christ.
God shows up in the most unusual places!
Whereas some people may imagine a location as “God-forsaken,”
Ironically, that is precisely where the Lord very often chooses to display His revelation.
The backside of a dessert – God shows up to a man named Moses and a bush begins to burn and a mighty deliverance begins (Exodus 3:2).
In the belly of a large fish – God shows up to a man named Jonah and a missionary is dispatched to a cruel and wicked people group (Jonah 1:17).
In a cave with special effects – a rock-shattering wind, an earthquake, a fire, followed by a gentle whisper of the voice of God to a man named Elijah – and the order to anoint two kings (Hazael and Jehu) and a prophet (Elisha) is given (1 Kings 10:12-16).
On a dirt road to Damascus – God shows up to a man named Saul and the vessel through whom most of the New Testament would be penned is called (Acts 9:3-6).
On a ship caught in a tempest somewhere off of Crete in the Adriatic Sea– God shows up to a man named Paul and grants the request that 276 sailors and passengers not die and God grants the safety of every single one (Acts 27:23-24).
In a filthy Roman jail – God shows up about midnight to Paul and Silas who being held as prisoners for preaching the gospel and an earthquake facilitates every prisoner’s chains falling off (Acts 16:25-26).
At a despised tax collector’s booth – God shows up to a profiteering Jew named Matthew and an apostle is called is to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9).
On a beach at the Sea of Galilee – God shows up to invite two brothers, Peter and Andrew, to change careers and become “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
Do you see the trend?
Have you noticed where God shows up?
Crazy places at unexpected times.
Does this instill hope in you that He is willing and able to show up right where you’re at
At just the time you need Him?
Can you believe that God can show up…
…at the photocopier at work?
…out by the garbage dumpster?
…in the pickup truck?
…in the shower?
…on the racquetball court?
…in a classroom at school?
…at the grocery store in the produce department?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes to all of the above questions!
I believe!
How about you?
I believe that God is not limited by space or time
In the way He elects to show up in our lives.
I also believe that many times He moves in by our invitation.
Also, if you can get you a buddy to join you in your pursuit of an encounter with God,
I strongly believe that God will especially honor that and show up based on
(Mat 18:20 NIV) For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
“Where” God shows up is not nearly as important as “that” God shows up.
Let’s see to it, then,
As far as it has to do with us,
That we prepare a habitation for the Lord to come and sit with us,
And visit with us,
And walk with us,
And talk with us,
And lead, guide, and direct us,
And comfort us,
And grant to us revelation of His will and way for our lives.
One final word,
John was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10),
When he had an incredible encounter with God and penned the book of Revelation
Under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
May I submit to you that TODAY and EVERY DAY can be the “Lord’s Day”
If we make seeking God with all our hearts,
Drawing near to Him,
Calling to Him and expecting an answer a priority in our daily lives.
(Psa 118:24 NIV) This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
DSR
3/18/02
(Rev 1:9 NIV) I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
(Rev 1:10 NIV) On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…
Patmos was a small island (ten miles by six miles) in the Aegean Sea located about thirty-seven miles southwest of Miletus.
The Romans used such places for political exiles.
The Apostle John's mention of the island in Revelation 1:9
Probably means that he was such a prisoner, having been sent there for preaching the gospel.
Eusebius (an early church father) wrote that John was sent to Patmos by Emperor Domitian in A.D. 95 and released after 1 1/2 years.
And it was here, on Patmos, of all places on the planet,
That John had a magnificent encounter with Jesus Christ.
God shows up in the most unusual places!
Whereas some people may imagine a location as “God-forsaken,”
Ironically, that is precisely where the Lord very often chooses to display His revelation.
The backside of a dessert – God shows up to a man named Moses and a bush begins to burn and a mighty deliverance begins (Exodus 3:2).
In the belly of a large fish – God shows up to a man named Jonah and a missionary is dispatched to a cruel and wicked people group (Jonah 1:17).
In a cave with special effects – a rock-shattering wind, an earthquake, a fire, followed by a gentle whisper of the voice of God to a man named Elijah – and the order to anoint two kings (Hazael and Jehu) and a prophet (Elisha) is given (1 Kings 10:12-16).
On a dirt road to Damascus – God shows up to a man named Saul and the vessel through whom most of the New Testament would be penned is called (Acts 9:3-6).
On a ship caught in a tempest somewhere off of Crete in the Adriatic Sea– God shows up to a man named Paul and grants the request that 276 sailors and passengers not die and God grants the safety of every single one (Acts 27:23-24).
In a filthy Roman jail – God shows up about midnight to Paul and Silas who being held as prisoners for preaching the gospel and an earthquake facilitates every prisoner’s chains falling off (Acts 16:25-26).
At a despised tax collector’s booth – God shows up to a profiteering Jew named Matthew and an apostle is called is to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9).
On a beach at the Sea of Galilee – God shows up to invite two brothers, Peter and Andrew, to change careers and become “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
Do you see the trend?
Have you noticed where God shows up?
Crazy places at unexpected times.
Does this instill hope in you that He is willing and able to show up right where you’re at
At just the time you need Him?
Can you believe that God can show up…
…at the photocopier at work?
…out by the garbage dumpster?
…in the pickup truck?
…in the shower?
…on the racquetball court?
…in a classroom at school?
…at the grocery store in the produce department?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes to all of the above questions!
I believe!
How about you?
I believe that God is not limited by space or time
In the way He elects to show up in our lives.
I also believe that many times He moves in by our invitation.
Also, if you can get you a buddy to join you in your pursuit of an encounter with God,
I strongly believe that God will especially honor that and show up based on
(Mat 18:20 NIV) For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
“Where” God shows up is not nearly as important as “that” God shows up.
Let’s see to it, then,
As far as it has to do with us,
That we prepare a habitation for the Lord to come and sit with us,
And visit with us,
And walk with us,
And talk with us,
And lead, guide, and direct us,
And comfort us,
And grant to us revelation of His will and way for our lives.
One final word,
John was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10),
When he had an incredible encounter with God and penned the book of Revelation
Under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
May I submit to you that TODAY and EVERY DAY can be the “Lord’s Day”
If we make seeking God with all our hearts,
Drawing near to Him,
Calling to Him and expecting an answer a priority in our daily lives.
(Psa 118:24 NIV) This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
DSR
3/18/02
Friday, December 28, 2001
The Deep Things of God
by David Scott Robertson
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV
Do you love God?
If so, then you have some great things to look forward to.
You are destined to see things you have not seen,
And hear things you have not heard,
And experience things that have never entered your mind in your wildest dreams!
The verse above talks about hidden “things” which God has prepared for those who love Him.
Since God Himself is preparing them,
We can have full assurance and confidence that these things are good things,
Perfect things,
Unimaginably wonderful things.
The mystery of these things might even be called “the deep things of God.”
So, are we destined to remain in the dark until these things be revealed?
Do we have to wait until we get to heaven to discover the wonder of it all?
Or do we, in fact, get glimpses of God’s glory like Moses did hidden in the cleft of the rock? (Exodus 33:22).
“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” 1 Corinthians 2:10.
Who is more qualified to talk about the deep things of God than the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit, exclusively, is:
The Third Person of the Trinity…
The One who operates in perfect unity within the Godhead…
The One who totally knows the mind of Christ…
The One who absolutely understands the perfect will of the Father…
The One who was there and actively involved in the creation of the universe…
The One who was there and actively involved in the creation of the first man, Adam…
The One who was there and actively involved in forming you and I in our mother’s womb…
Consider the deep things of God:
1. It is God’s will for you to have been born.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 KJV).
2. It is God’s will for you to have been born again
(2 Pet 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
3. It is God’s will for you to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower your life for service
(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
4. It is God’s will for you to know the deep things of God.
(Jer 33:3 NIV) 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
So, when life’s circumstances force you to…
…search for the meaning of your suffering…
…search for understanding into your complex situation…
…search for knowledge of what your next move should be…
…search for insight into the trial…
…search for comprehension of the apparent paradoxes of life…
…search for an awareness of God’s will for your life…
…search for a perception of how to obtain a maximum impact life…
When you are in a “search mode” concerning the deep things of God,
I want to encourage you to spend time talking to the Holy Spirit of God --
For it pleased the Father to delegate revelation and illumination and inspiration to Him.
The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into all truth
(John 16:13 KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
(John 16:14 KJV) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
And you will discover truth to be a Person (John 14:6).
(John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(John 14:7 KJV) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
And you will recognize that all truth flows out of and empties into Jesus Christ:
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3 KJV).
And you will come to know by experience the mystery of the ages:
(Col 1:26 KJV) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
(Col 1:27 KJV) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Yes, many of the deep things of God can be known.
Not all of them, but some of them.
(1 Cor 13:9 NIV) For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
(1 Cor 13:10 NIV) but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
But God encourages us to search out the deep things:
(Prov 25:2 KJV) It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
I recommend to you that as you search out a the deep things of God
That you invite the Holy Spirit to be your Guide on this exciting adventure of exploration.
DSR
12/28/01
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV
Do you love God?
If so, then you have some great things to look forward to.
You are destined to see things you have not seen,
And hear things you have not heard,
And experience things that have never entered your mind in your wildest dreams!
The verse above talks about hidden “things” which God has prepared for those who love Him.
Since God Himself is preparing them,
We can have full assurance and confidence that these things are good things,
Perfect things,
Unimaginably wonderful things.
The mystery of these things might even be called “the deep things of God.”
So, are we destined to remain in the dark until these things be revealed?
Do we have to wait until we get to heaven to discover the wonder of it all?
Or do we, in fact, get glimpses of God’s glory like Moses did hidden in the cleft of the rock? (Exodus 33:22).
“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” 1 Corinthians 2:10.
Who is more qualified to talk about the deep things of God than the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit, exclusively, is:
The Third Person of the Trinity…
The One who operates in perfect unity within the Godhead…
The One who totally knows the mind of Christ…
The One who absolutely understands the perfect will of the Father…
The One who was there and actively involved in the creation of the universe…
The One who was there and actively involved in the creation of the first man, Adam…
The One who was there and actively involved in forming you and I in our mother’s womb…
Consider the deep things of God:
1. It is God’s will for you to have been born.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 KJV).
2. It is God’s will for you to have been born again
(2 Pet 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
3. It is God’s will for you to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower your life for service
(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
4. It is God’s will for you to know the deep things of God.
(Jer 33:3 NIV) 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
So, when life’s circumstances force you to…
…search for the meaning of your suffering…
…search for understanding into your complex situation…
…search for knowledge of what your next move should be…
…search for insight into the trial…
…search for comprehension of the apparent paradoxes of life…
…search for an awareness of God’s will for your life…
…search for a perception of how to obtain a maximum impact life…
When you are in a “search mode” concerning the deep things of God,
I want to encourage you to spend time talking to the Holy Spirit of God --
For it pleased the Father to delegate revelation and illumination and inspiration to Him.
The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into all truth
(John 16:13 KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
(John 16:14 KJV) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
And you will discover truth to be a Person (John 14:6).
(John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(John 14:7 KJV) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
And you will recognize that all truth flows out of and empties into Jesus Christ:
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3 KJV).
And you will come to know by experience the mystery of the ages:
(Col 1:26 KJV) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
(Col 1:27 KJV) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Yes, many of the deep things of God can be known.
Not all of them, but some of them.
(1 Cor 13:9 NIV) For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
(1 Cor 13:10 NIV) but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
But God encourages us to search out the deep things:
(Prov 25:2 KJV) It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
I recommend to you that as you search out a the deep things of God
That you invite the Holy Spirit to be your Guide on this exciting adventure of exploration.
DSR
12/28/01
Thursday, December 27, 2001
Ninety Minutes Before
by David Scott Robertson
Right now,
As I write these words,
It’s exactly 90 minutes before the time I’m supposed to conduct a church service.
I will be leading the worship time,
Walking the congregation through communion,
Preaching a sermon,
And concluding the service with an altar call.
This is something that I don’t normally do.
For some I’m sure, this is not a big deal.
They do it all the time
And could do it far better than I.
But for me, it is a big deal.
I wonder, what “big deal” are you facing in your future?
At one time or another,
Haven’t we all been thrust into the uncomfortable but necessary situation
Of having to wait on some big event in our lives to come to pass?
And there comes a point in time
When it’s exactly 90 minutes before
The big deal,
The big event,
The huge occasion.
It’s the kind of event
That makes your palms sweat,
The spit in your mouth to dry up,
And all sorts of neat sensations to flare up in your stomach.
Is it just me, or does it seem like “the waiting part” is actually harder than “the doing part?”
Have you noticed that
As the final hour and a half counts down,
Depending upon the nature of the event,
Either the minutes tick by agonizingly slow or painfully fast.
A bride 90 minutes before her wedding.
A interviewee 90 minutes before appearing as a guest on Larry King Live.
A defendant 90 minutes before having to appear in court for sentencing.
An astronaut 90 minutes before takeoff.
A freshman at college 90 minutes before his first class.
A musician 90 minutes before her first concert.
A surgeon 90 minutes before his first operation.
A president-elect 90 minutes before his inauguration.
You and I could list a hundred different scenarios that are “big deals” to people.
And sooner or later,
It all comes down to 90 minutes before the event.
At that point, it’s crunch time.
So then, what can we, could we, should we do 90 minutes before the big event?
May I suggest four things that we as Christians might consider?
1. We should pray. We can do more AFTER we have prayed but we cannot do more UNTIL we have prayed. I recommend that you invite the Lord to help you speak and teach you what to say (Exodus 4:12). Confess any known sin and make sure your heart is right before God. Then we can and should ask the Lord for wisdom to think, speak, and act appropriately in the upcoming event. We can consecrate the situation totally to the Lord and trust Him to help us and He will.
2. We should worship. We need to express our faith in God by declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord of our situation. When we think of what Jesus accomplished on the cross of Calvary, everything else pales in comparison. No good thing will God withhold from them that walk uprightly before Him. And God knows exactly what you need when you need it. Come to Him in worship with a humble and contrite attitude. God inhabits the praises of His people and worship is a weapon that calms us and frustrates the enemy of our souls.
3. We should give thanks. While worship acknowledges who God is, giving thanks acknowledges His sovereignty and power to help us in our time of need. God’s credit is good. He can be trusted. We can express our confidence in Him by giving thanks on the front end of the situation. This is called faith. And faith excites God.
We can even do this in song. One time in the Bible, God ordered a king to send out singers in front of the soldiers into a battle chanting “praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever” (2 Chronicles21-22). As they began to sing and praise, the Bible records that the Lord sent ambushments against the enemy and victory was won without having to fire a shot. An attitude of gratitude packs incredible power!
4. We should enter God’s peace and rest. Once you have turned the situation over to God, you can relax. Pledge that with God’s help you’ll do your best and leave the results with Him. The Lord gave us a wonderful promise in Isaiah 26:3 that says: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Maintain a steady gaze on the Lord and like Peter walking on the water, God will help you do what may seem impossible to you.
Hebrews 4:1 contains another fantastic guarantee of God’s faithfulness to us: “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” Knowing that God is for you and not against you will help usher you into a peaceful, restful place as you wait for the final minutes to elapse.
One of the greatest things about facing a difficult challenge in our life is what happens next.
While it is true that there is a point
When you are 90 minutes BEFORE the big event,
There is also a point
When it’s 90 minutes AFTER the big event!
Satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, celebration, victory…
These feelings are reserved for those who patiently endure and conquer life’s challenges.
And when you have done what you have done
Out of obedience to something God has told you to do,
All of these feelings are intensified and magnified a thousand fold!
DSR
12/27/01
Right now,
As I write these words,
It’s exactly 90 minutes before the time I’m supposed to conduct a church service.
I will be leading the worship time,
Walking the congregation through communion,
Preaching a sermon,
And concluding the service with an altar call.
This is something that I don’t normally do.
For some I’m sure, this is not a big deal.
They do it all the time
And could do it far better than I.
But for me, it is a big deal.
I wonder, what “big deal” are you facing in your future?
At one time or another,
Haven’t we all been thrust into the uncomfortable but necessary situation
Of having to wait on some big event in our lives to come to pass?
And there comes a point in time
When it’s exactly 90 minutes before
The big deal,
The big event,
The huge occasion.
It’s the kind of event
That makes your palms sweat,
The spit in your mouth to dry up,
And all sorts of neat sensations to flare up in your stomach.
Is it just me, or does it seem like “the waiting part” is actually harder than “the doing part?”
Have you noticed that
As the final hour and a half counts down,
Depending upon the nature of the event,
Either the minutes tick by agonizingly slow or painfully fast.
A bride 90 minutes before her wedding.
A interviewee 90 minutes before appearing as a guest on Larry King Live.
A defendant 90 minutes before having to appear in court for sentencing.
An astronaut 90 minutes before takeoff.
A freshman at college 90 minutes before his first class.
A musician 90 minutes before her first concert.
A surgeon 90 minutes before his first operation.
A president-elect 90 minutes before his inauguration.
You and I could list a hundred different scenarios that are “big deals” to people.
And sooner or later,
It all comes down to 90 minutes before the event.
At that point, it’s crunch time.
So then, what can we, could we, should we do 90 minutes before the big event?
May I suggest four things that we as Christians might consider?
1. We should pray. We can do more AFTER we have prayed but we cannot do more UNTIL we have prayed. I recommend that you invite the Lord to help you speak and teach you what to say (Exodus 4:12). Confess any known sin and make sure your heart is right before God. Then we can and should ask the Lord for wisdom to think, speak, and act appropriately in the upcoming event. We can consecrate the situation totally to the Lord and trust Him to help us and He will.
2. We should worship. We need to express our faith in God by declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord of our situation. When we think of what Jesus accomplished on the cross of Calvary, everything else pales in comparison. No good thing will God withhold from them that walk uprightly before Him. And God knows exactly what you need when you need it. Come to Him in worship with a humble and contrite attitude. God inhabits the praises of His people and worship is a weapon that calms us and frustrates the enemy of our souls.
3. We should give thanks. While worship acknowledges who God is, giving thanks acknowledges His sovereignty and power to help us in our time of need. God’s credit is good. He can be trusted. We can express our confidence in Him by giving thanks on the front end of the situation. This is called faith. And faith excites God.
We can even do this in song. One time in the Bible, God ordered a king to send out singers in front of the soldiers into a battle chanting “praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever” (2 Chronicles21-22). As they began to sing and praise, the Bible records that the Lord sent ambushments against the enemy and victory was won without having to fire a shot. An attitude of gratitude packs incredible power!
4. We should enter God’s peace and rest. Once you have turned the situation over to God, you can relax. Pledge that with God’s help you’ll do your best and leave the results with Him. The Lord gave us a wonderful promise in Isaiah 26:3 that says: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Maintain a steady gaze on the Lord and like Peter walking on the water, God will help you do what may seem impossible to you.
Hebrews 4:1 contains another fantastic guarantee of God’s faithfulness to us: “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” Knowing that God is for you and not against you will help usher you into a peaceful, restful place as you wait for the final minutes to elapse.
One of the greatest things about facing a difficult challenge in our life is what happens next.
While it is true that there is a point
When you are 90 minutes BEFORE the big event,
There is also a point
When it’s 90 minutes AFTER the big event!
Satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, celebration, victory…
These feelings are reserved for those who patiently endure and conquer life’s challenges.
And when you have done what you have done
Out of obedience to something God has told you to do,
All of these feelings are intensified and magnified a thousand fold!
DSR
12/27/01
Saturday, December 15, 2001
The Greatest Military Assignment of All Time
by David Scott Robertson
“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment” (Acts 27:1 NIV).
The life of a solider in any age of history is a difficult one.
Whether we’re talking about a medieval knight or a modern-day Green Beret,
They all experience incredible training,
Unprecedented dangers,
Unusual hardships,
And bizarre missions unique to each solider in their respective era.
But there was one solider,
In one army,
In one culture,
In one period of history,
That quite possibly received the greatest military assignment of all time.
The soldier’s name was Julius.
Julius served as a centurion in the Roman Army.
His unit was called the “Imperial Regiment.”
One day,
One fateful day,
Julius’ commanding officer issued him an order that was to change his life:
ASSIGNMENT: Deliver some prisoners to Rome to stand trial.
Sounds rather mundane, doesn’t it?
It is unless one of the prisoners happens to be the Apostle Paul.
Paul was no ordinary man and he would make no ordinary prisoner.
Unlike Julius who took orders from a man,
This prisoner, Paul, on occasion took orders directly from God:
“He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:4-6 NIV)
This prisoner had Jesus personally stand by his bedside and guarantee the success of Julius’ assignment:
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" (Acts 23:11 NIV).
This prisoner had angels visit him:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
“and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar…” (Acts 27:23-24a NIV).
This prisoner had the ability to foretell the future:
“Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them,
"Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also" (Acts 27:9-10 NIV).
This prisoner had the ability to inspire hope when all hope of survival was gone:
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved” (Acts 27:20 NIV).
“Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
“They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves” (Acts 27:34-36 NIV).
This prisoner’s intercessory prayers would result in 276 people surviving a hurricane:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
“and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you' (Acts 27:23-24 NIV).
“Altogether there were 276 of us on board” (Acts 27:37 NIV).
This prisoner would become so influential that even Julius himself would heed him:
“Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."
“So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away” (Acts 27:31-32 NIV).
This prisoner would boldly demonstrate God’s loving care in front of pagans:
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat” (Acts 27:35 NIV).
This prisoner life would save his fellow prisoners from death at the hands of men:
“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
“But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land” (Acts 27:42-43 NIV).
This prisoner would seem invincible against death:
“Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
“When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
“But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
“The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god” (Acts 28:3-6 NIV).
This prisoner’s presence would result in the entire crew receiving royal treatment:
“There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably” (Acts 28:7 NIV).
This prisoner would perform supernatural healings in their midst:
“His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
“When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured” (Acts 28:8-9 NIV).
This prisoner would bring great honor to Julius and his companions:
“They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed” (Acts 28:10 NIV).
This prisoner would be accessible for three months to personally mentor Julius:
“After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux” (Acts 28:11 NIV).
This prisoner, remarkably, had friends and “brothers” in remote regions of the world:
“There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
“The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged” (Acts 28:14-15 NIV).
To be sure, Paul was no ordinary man and he would make no ordinary prisoner.
And so it was that the greatest military assignment of all time came to an end:
“Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him” (Acts 28:16 NKJV).
Julius had completed the assignment.
The time of his departure was now at hand.
Julius had fought a good fight,
He had finished his course,
He had kept the faith of his Roman duty.
Or was the greatest military assignment of all time really over?
You see, there was a solider that stayed with Paul for two more years
And lived with him and guarded him and protected him
In order to stand trial before Cesar.
This soldier, whether by Roman legal requirements or by choice,
Became Paul’s constant companion…
His protégé, I mean, his guard.
“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
“ Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31 KJV).
I wonder,
If it were possible,
If Julius volunteered for the assignment.
DSR
12/15/01
“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment” (Acts 27:1 NIV).
The life of a solider in any age of history is a difficult one.
Whether we’re talking about a medieval knight or a modern-day Green Beret,
They all experience incredible training,
Unprecedented dangers,
Unusual hardships,
And bizarre missions unique to each solider in their respective era.
But there was one solider,
In one army,
In one culture,
In one period of history,
That quite possibly received the greatest military assignment of all time.
The soldier’s name was Julius.
Julius served as a centurion in the Roman Army.
His unit was called the “Imperial Regiment.”
One day,
One fateful day,
Julius’ commanding officer issued him an order that was to change his life:
ASSIGNMENT: Deliver some prisoners to Rome to stand trial.
Sounds rather mundane, doesn’t it?
It is unless one of the prisoners happens to be the Apostle Paul.
Paul was no ordinary man and he would make no ordinary prisoner.
Unlike Julius who took orders from a man,
This prisoner, Paul, on occasion took orders directly from God:
“He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:4-6 NIV)
This prisoner had Jesus personally stand by his bedside and guarantee the success of Julius’ assignment:
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" (Acts 23:11 NIV).
This prisoner had angels visit him:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
“and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar…” (Acts 27:23-24a NIV).
This prisoner had the ability to foretell the future:
“Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them,
"Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also" (Acts 27:9-10 NIV).
This prisoner had the ability to inspire hope when all hope of survival was gone:
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved” (Acts 27:20 NIV).
“Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
“They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves” (Acts 27:34-36 NIV).
This prisoner’s intercessory prayers would result in 276 people surviving a hurricane:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
“and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you' (Acts 27:23-24 NIV).
“Altogether there were 276 of us on board” (Acts 27:37 NIV).
This prisoner would become so influential that even Julius himself would heed him:
“Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."
“So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away” (Acts 27:31-32 NIV).
This prisoner would boldly demonstrate God’s loving care in front of pagans:
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat” (Acts 27:35 NIV).
This prisoner life would save his fellow prisoners from death at the hands of men:
“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
“But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land” (Acts 27:42-43 NIV).
This prisoner would seem invincible against death:
“Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
“When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
“But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
“The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god” (Acts 28:3-6 NIV).
This prisoner’s presence would result in the entire crew receiving royal treatment:
“There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably” (Acts 28:7 NIV).
This prisoner would perform supernatural healings in their midst:
“His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
“When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured” (Acts 28:8-9 NIV).
This prisoner would bring great honor to Julius and his companions:
“They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed” (Acts 28:10 NIV).
This prisoner would be accessible for three months to personally mentor Julius:
“After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux” (Acts 28:11 NIV).
This prisoner, remarkably, had friends and “brothers” in remote regions of the world:
“There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
“The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged” (Acts 28:14-15 NIV).
To be sure, Paul was no ordinary man and he would make no ordinary prisoner.
And so it was that the greatest military assignment of all time came to an end:
“Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him” (Acts 28:16 NKJV).
Julius had completed the assignment.
The time of his departure was now at hand.
Julius had fought a good fight,
He had finished his course,
He had kept the faith of his Roman duty.
Or was the greatest military assignment of all time really over?
You see, there was a solider that stayed with Paul for two more years
And lived with him and guarded him and protected him
In order to stand trial before Cesar.
This soldier, whether by Roman legal requirements or by choice,
Became Paul’s constant companion…
His protégé, I mean, his guard.
“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
“ Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31 KJV).
I wonder,
If it were possible,
If Julius volunteered for the assignment.
DSR
12/15/01
Sunday, December 2, 2001
The Four Trees
by David Scott Robertson
I just returned from walking on my “prayer path.”
I like to prayer walk a 30-minute path
That meanders through the streets of my suburban Tennessee home.
Each time I prayer-walked this summer on my special route,
I happened to pass by this one house that had four special trees in its yard --
Four pear trees to be exact.
I remember marveling at how many pears those four trees produced.
Bushels and bushels and bushels of beautiful pears.
This summer the limbs were literally bowing and bending over
Because they were so heavy laden with fruit.
Their beautiful green leaves spoke to me of life.
Their remarkable fruit production reminded me of thriving, flourishing, profitable orchards.
Today, my thoughts could easily traverse a variety of steep and deep trails
On the topic of the four trees.
I could describe to you in detail how neighborhood children
Would ride their bikes to the four trees
And frequently help themselves to a delicious and readily available snack.
I remember seeing one boy this past summer riding past me on his bike
With one hand on the handlebars
And the other tightly clutching his shirt filled to overflowing with freshly harvested pears
To no doubt proudly present to his mother.
I could write about the fact that the owner’s of the trees never seemed to harvest the pears.
For the most part, the bumper crop just hung on the branches until it ripened
And gravity forced it to the ground to rot and provide a lavish banquet for insects.
Today our thoughts could wander and ponder waste, stewardship, or squandered opportunity.
I could write about how many professional fruit growers
Might benefit from studying the soil composition and any other unique combination of conditions whose synergy stimulated a phenomenally prolific crop.
In that vein of thinking, we could talk about
Sharing knowledge, pooling resources to heighten quality, discipleship, mentoring, and so on.
But I don’t want to go there today.
This morning, what most noticeably caught my eye and attention
Was the fact that, today, the four trees looked practically dead.
It’s December in Tennessee and it’s cold.
As I walked in the early hours of the day I could see my breath with each act of respiration.
Another Tennessee winter is upon us,
And although they are relatively mild compared to most of the rest of the United States,
The frigid weather and frost nonetheless performs its amazing effect on deciduous trees.
The four trees that had all summer long seemed so alive now seemed so dead.
I stopped for a few moments to study them and noted that there were no leaves on them.
There was, of course, no fruit, nor even any remains of fruit on the ground.
The trees were gnarled and a bit twisted and rather ugly to the average passerby.
When the fruit was at its peak I had never noticed the flaws and blemishes the trees bore.
As I walked off, I began to consider how similar our lives are to the four trees.
King Solomon once wisely observed that
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” (Eccl 3:1)
God has woven into the fabric of our lives a series of seasons in our pilgrimage toward death.
Some seasons are lush and fruitful.
Others seem gnarled and a bit twisted and rather ugly.
Some are a growing seasons where progress is measured by leaps and bounds
While others offer microscopic gains measured in centimeters.
Other seasons provide us with times of sifting and separating
To purge and cleanse and burn away impurities in our lives.
Just like a surgeon requires clean instruments to safely operate,
So the Lord God prefers to operate with clean instruments to promote healthy relationships.
While some seasons are mercifully short
Others linger on for what seems an eternity.
Some seasons are like football teams who finish the season with a 11-0 record
While other teams shuffle back to the locker room with a 0-11 record.
It’s like the difference between receiving the long touchdown pass
And gracefully gliding into the end zone
Versus grinding your way to the goal posts one long, hard yard at a time
Getting knocked to the ground ever four yards before scoring.
Ah, but this crucible is where valor and courage and grit and patience are forged.
Unlike the four seasons spring, summer, fall, and winter that the four trees enjoy and endure,
Our lives are subject to many more seasons that these.
Yet, I am discovering that seasons are a natural part of a supernatural process at work in us.
I believe that not only does our Heavenly Father allow them,
But that He skillfully, lovingly, and to be sure unapologetically arranges them.
Just as each ripe, mature pear on the four trees is a wonderful product of an incredible process
God’s sovereignty masterfully helps us navigate
Through the ebb and flow of our own life development process.
But we’re not talking about spiritual fruit, we’re talking about pears.
Or are we?
For those that have an ear, a heart, and a mind to hear,
Can you receive the truth that the fruit of our lives is important to God?
Father God, unlike the owners of the four trees, is very interested in fruit.
Fruit is mentioned 208 times in 184 verses in the King James Version of the Bible.
“This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb 12:11 KJV).
Today, you may not feel like your life is producing a bumper crop of fruit for Jesus.
You may look at yourself in the mirror and determine that
Not only is your hair falling out but many (or most) of your leaves have fallen off.
You may have imagined yourself (like Abraham and Sarah)
To have surpassed your most abundant, most fruitful, maximum bumper crop season.
I find that difficult to accept.
The seed of fruit resident in you may be dormant for now,
But faith can cause it germinate rapidly and yield a thirty, sixty, or hundred-fold return.
I encourage you to avoid uprooting yourself from the good soil and other unique conditions like
A good church,
A strong friendship circle,
Good accountability from close advisors,
Along with a solid routine of prayer, Bible reading, worship, and service to others.
In due season you shall be reaped if you faint not.
DSR
12/2/01
I just returned from walking on my “prayer path.”
I like to prayer walk a 30-minute path
That meanders through the streets of my suburban Tennessee home.
Each time I prayer-walked this summer on my special route,
I happened to pass by this one house that had four special trees in its yard --
Four pear trees to be exact.
I remember marveling at how many pears those four trees produced.
Bushels and bushels and bushels of beautiful pears.
This summer the limbs were literally bowing and bending over
Because they were so heavy laden with fruit.
Their beautiful green leaves spoke to me of life.
Their remarkable fruit production reminded me of thriving, flourishing, profitable orchards.
Today, my thoughts could easily traverse a variety of steep and deep trails
On the topic of the four trees.
I could describe to you in detail how neighborhood children
Would ride their bikes to the four trees
And frequently help themselves to a delicious and readily available snack.
I remember seeing one boy this past summer riding past me on his bike
With one hand on the handlebars
And the other tightly clutching his shirt filled to overflowing with freshly harvested pears
To no doubt proudly present to his mother.
I could write about the fact that the owner’s of the trees never seemed to harvest the pears.
For the most part, the bumper crop just hung on the branches until it ripened
And gravity forced it to the ground to rot and provide a lavish banquet for insects.
Today our thoughts could wander and ponder waste, stewardship, or squandered opportunity.
I could write about how many professional fruit growers
Might benefit from studying the soil composition and any other unique combination of conditions whose synergy stimulated a phenomenally prolific crop.
In that vein of thinking, we could talk about
Sharing knowledge, pooling resources to heighten quality, discipleship, mentoring, and so on.
But I don’t want to go there today.
This morning, what most noticeably caught my eye and attention
Was the fact that, today, the four trees looked practically dead.
It’s December in Tennessee and it’s cold.
As I walked in the early hours of the day I could see my breath with each act of respiration.
Another Tennessee winter is upon us,
And although they are relatively mild compared to most of the rest of the United States,
The frigid weather and frost nonetheless performs its amazing effect on deciduous trees.
The four trees that had all summer long seemed so alive now seemed so dead.
I stopped for a few moments to study them and noted that there were no leaves on them.
There was, of course, no fruit, nor even any remains of fruit on the ground.
The trees were gnarled and a bit twisted and rather ugly to the average passerby.
When the fruit was at its peak I had never noticed the flaws and blemishes the trees bore.
As I walked off, I began to consider how similar our lives are to the four trees.
King Solomon once wisely observed that
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” (Eccl 3:1)
God has woven into the fabric of our lives a series of seasons in our pilgrimage toward death.
Some seasons are lush and fruitful.
Others seem gnarled and a bit twisted and rather ugly.
Some are a growing seasons where progress is measured by leaps and bounds
While others offer microscopic gains measured in centimeters.
Other seasons provide us with times of sifting and separating
To purge and cleanse and burn away impurities in our lives.
Just like a surgeon requires clean instruments to safely operate,
So the Lord God prefers to operate with clean instruments to promote healthy relationships.
While some seasons are mercifully short
Others linger on for what seems an eternity.
Some seasons are like football teams who finish the season with a 11-0 record
While other teams shuffle back to the locker room with a 0-11 record.
It’s like the difference between receiving the long touchdown pass
And gracefully gliding into the end zone
Versus grinding your way to the goal posts one long, hard yard at a time
Getting knocked to the ground ever four yards before scoring.
Ah, but this crucible is where valor and courage and grit and patience are forged.
Unlike the four seasons spring, summer, fall, and winter that the four trees enjoy and endure,
Our lives are subject to many more seasons that these.
Yet, I am discovering that seasons are a natural part of a supernatural process at work in us.
I believe that not only does our Heavenly Father allow them,
But that He skillfully, lovingly, and to be sure unapologetically arranges them.
Just as each ripe, mature pear on the four trees is a wonderful product of an incredible process
God’s sovereignty masterfully helps us navigate
Through the ebb and flow of our own life development process.
But we’re not talking about spiritual fruit, we’re talking about pears.
Or are we?
For those that have an ear, a heart, and a mind to hear,
Can you receive the truth that the fruit of our lives is important to God?
Father God, unlike the owners of the four trees, is very interested in fruit.
Fruit is mentioned 208 times in 184 verses in the King James Version of the Bible.
“This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb 12:11 KJV).
Today, you may not feel like your life is producing a bumper crop of fruit for Jesus.
You may look at yourself in the mirror and determine that
Not only is your hair falling out but many (or most) of your leaves have fallen off.
You may have imagined yourself (like Abraham and Sarah)
To have surpassed your most abundant, most fruitful, maximum bumper crop season.
I find that difficult to accept.
The seed of fruit resident in you may be dormant for now,
But faith can cause it germinate rapidly and yield a thirty, sixty, or hundred-fold return.
I encourage you to avoid uprooting yourself from the good soil and other unique conditions like
A good church,
A strong friendship circle,
Good accountability from close advisors,
Along with a solid routine of prayer, Bible reading, worship, and service to others.
In due season you shall be reaped if you faint not.
DSR
12/2/01
Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Joses
by David Scott Robertson
“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement, a Levite of the country of Cyprus…” Acts 4:36 NKJV
Everybody needs a Joses in their life.
Everybody needs a “Son of Encouragement”
To help spur them on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).
I have yet to meet the Christian worker who is so hyper-spiritual
That he or she does not, at times, need encouragement.
Encouragement is powerful.
It is potent.
It is a powerful and potent motivator.
Just a dash of it,
A touch of it,
A pinch of it,
A few careful but kind words
Can be the catalyst for explosive production,
Incredible bursts of productivity,
And change that is so positive it is staggering.
And blessed is the man or woman, boy or girl, through whom it comes.
Joses knew the potential of encouragement.
Joses obviously had discovered that
Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pitchers of silver (Proverbs 25:11).
Joses knew that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Joses knew that if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.
Joses knew that sowing discord among the brethren made the list of the seven things God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Joses knew the power of the tongue.
The apostles whom Joses apparently spent regular time with
Recognized in this lay person a gift that they evidently did not possess themselves.
Instead of being nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” like the apostles James and John by Jesus,
Joses’ ability to encourage earned him the nickname Barnabas or “Son of Encouragement.”
And please note that Barnabas did not only encourage with words alone.
He put his money where his mouth was.
“…[Joses] having land sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet” Acts 4:37.
Barnabas encouraged the apostles
With a generous and intensely practical gift.
The spiritual math on this looks something like this:
GOOD WORDS
+ GOOD WORKS
--------------------
= GOOD REPUTATION
Now Abraham is known as the father of faith.
King David was a man after God’s own heart.
Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived.
Enoch had the testimony that he pleased God and God took him to heaven alive.
Paul wrote much of the New Testament.
Peter’s shadow drew crowds of sick folk to be healed.
Elijah’s words stopped rain for three years.
These are all splendid examples of mighty men of God
Who we read about in the Bible and perhaps aspire to be like.
Unfortunately for some of us,
The sheer magnitude of their exploits can be intimidating
As often the perception is that these biblical figures
Possess characteristics about them that are hard to reproduce in these modern times.
But Barnabas is a guy that we can relate to.
He seems to be one of us.
He’s a fellow that probably had a firm handshake,
A positive attitude,
Quick to laugh,
Smiled a lot and was a good listener.
These are characteristics that I can wrap my mind around.
With the help of the Holy Spirit,
I can see myself imitating Barnabas.
We too can determine that we are going to allow the Lord to make us encouragers.
And we can start the moment we finish reading this today.
The next person we call, email, or meet face-to-face
Can be the first of many persons to whom we will endeavor to somehow encourage
Through uplifting words or practical works.
On our pathway towards being like Jesus Christ,
Practicing to be like Barnabas may be a good start.
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25 NIV).
DSR
11/28/01
“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement, a Levite of the country of Cyprus…” Acts 4:36 NKJV
Everybody needs a Joses in their life.
Everybody needs a “Son of Encouragement”
To help spur them on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).
I have yet to meet the Christian worker who is so hyper-spiritual
That he or she does not, at times, need encouragement.
Encouragement is powerful.
It is potent.
It is a powerful and potent motivator.
Just a dash of it,
A touch of it,
A pinch of it,
A few careful but kind words
Can be the catalyst for explosive production,
Incredible bursts of productivity,
And change that is so positive it is staggering.
And blessed is the man or woman, boy or girl, through whom it comes.
Joses knew the potential of encouragement.
Joses obviously had discovered that
Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pitchers of silver (Proverbs 25:11).
Joses knew that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Joses knew that if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.
Joses knew that sowing discord among the brethren made the list of the seven things God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Joses knew the power of the tongue.
The apostles whom Joses apparently spent regular time with
Recognized in this lay person a gift that they evidently did not possess themselves.
Instead of being nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” like the apostles James and John by Jesus,
Joses’ ability to encourage earned him the nickname Barnabas or “Son of Encouragement.”
And please note that Barnabas did not only encourage with words alone.
He put his money where his mouth was.
“…[Joses] having land sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet” Acts 4:37.
Barnabas encouraged the apostles
With a generous and intensely practical gift.
The spiritual math on this looks something like this:
GOOD WORDS
+ GOOD WORKS
--------------------
= GOOD REPUTATION
Now Abraham is known as the father of faith.
King David was a man after God’s own heart.
Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived.
Enoch had the testimony that he pleased God and God took him to heaven alive.
Paul wrote much of the New Testament.
Peter’s shadow drew crowds of sick folk to be healed.
Elijah’s words stopped rain for three years.
These are all splendid examples of mighty men of God
Who we read about in the Bible and perhaps aspire to be like.
Unfortunately for some of us,
The sheer magnitude of their exploits can be intimidating
As often the perception is that these biblical figures
Possess characteristics about them that are hard to reproduce in these modern times.
But Barnabas is a guy that we can relate to.
He seems to be one of us.
He’s a fellow that probably had a firm handshake,
A positive attitude,
Quick to laugh,
Smiled a lot and was a good listener.
These are characteristics that I can wrap my mind around.
With the help of the Holy Spirit,
I can see myself imitating Barnabas.
We too can determine that we are going to allow the Lord to make us encouragers.
And we can start the moment we finish reading this today.
The next person we call, email, or meet face-to-face
Can be the first of many persons to whom we will endeavor to somehow encourage
Through uplifting words or practical works.
On our pathway towards being like Jesus Christ,
Practicing to be like Barnabas may be a good start.
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25 NIV).
DSR
11/28/01
Saturday, November 17, 2001
The Flaw of Familiarity
by David Scott Robertson
A very beautiful woman marries a very handsome man.
The perfect couple, so it seems.
A few years go by and they divorce.
Why?
The flaw of familiarity.
We see this phenomenon at work all the time in our society.
No degree of physical beauty,
No level of mutual attraction between two individuals,
However intense,
Can overcome the internal flaw of familiarity.
Time sees to that.
What is the “flaw of familiarity?”
It’s the force behind billions of dollars of annual sales of products and services in our economy.
It’s what makes the man sell the bass boat to get a bigger, faster, better equipped model.
It’s the influence behind trading a perfectly good car for one of another color.
It’s why the pontoon boat,
The cabin at the lake,
The 4-wheeler,
The Harley,
The pickup truck,
The wife,
Just does sparkle, glitter, and shine quite like it/she used to.
Even our beloved pets are not immune to it.
The kitten or puppy that once evoked such giddy delight from a child
Sooner or later succumbs to the flaw as the poor creature falls from grace in the eyes of the child
And is replaced in their hearts by the latest toy or doodad.
Why? How?
The flaw of familiarity.
The most dramatic and traumatic expression of this is in the arena of human relationships.
It’s in that context that the maximum amount of emotional fallout occurs.
The ultimate demonstration of the flaw among married people is a horror called divorce.
No matter who marries who,
Regardless of how pretty, attractive, sensuous, or appealing they are at the time,
The relationship is on an inevitable collision-course with the flaw of familiarity.
Whether or not I can adequately explore and explain the flaw,
I do know this to be a fact:
If you are a member of the human race,
Sooner or later you will discover the meaning of it.
I’m not implying that the flaw of familiarity is sin
Like the flaw of the fallen nature
That we inherited by virtue of being born
A son of Adam or daughter of Eve.
No it’s not a sin issue until it begins to manifest in
Deviant, rebellious, selfish, unlawful and/or anti-Biblical behavior.
Think about it.
We see it all the time.
A woman will violate her marriage covenant and sleep with a man who is not her husband.
A man will trade wives like he trades cars.
A couple will acquire unnecessary debt that erodes away their financial stability,
All because of the almost gravitational pull of desire to have, to possess, to“prosper.”
So what’s the antidote?
Jesus Christ.
“ 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." (Heb 13:5 NIV)
DSR
11/17/01
A very beautiful woman marries a very handsome man.
The perfect couple, so it seems.
A few years go by and they divorce.
Why?
The flaw of familiarity.
We see this phenomenon at work all the time in our society.
No degree of physical beauty,
No level of mutual attraction between two individuals,
However intense,
Can overcome the internal flaw of familiarity.
Time sees to that.
What is the “flaw of familiarity?”
It’s the force behind billions of dollars of annual sales of products and services in our economy.
It’s what makes the man sell the bass boat to get a bigger, faster, better equipped model.
It’s the influence behind trading a perfectly good car for one of another color.
It’s why the pontoon boat,
The cabin at the lake,
The 4-wheeler,
The Harley,
The pickup truck,
The wife,
Just does sparkle, glitter, and shine quite like it/she used to.
Even our beloved pets are not immune to it.
The kitten or puppy that once evoked such giddy delight from a child
Sooner or later succumbs to the flaw as the poor creature falls from grace in the eyes of the child
And is replaced in their hearts by the latest toy or doodad.
Why? How?
The flaw of familiarity.
The most dramatic and traumatic expression of this is in the arena of human relationships.
It’s in that context that the maximum amount of emotional fallout occurs.
The ultimate demonstration of the flaw among married people is a horror called divorce.
No matter who marries who,
Regardless of how pretty, attractive, sensuous, or appealing they are at the time,
The relationship is on an inevitable collision-course with the flaw of familiarity.
Whether or not I can adequately explore and explain the flaw,
I do know this to be a fact:
If you are a member of the human race,
Sooner or later you will discover the meaning of it.
I’m not implying that the flaw of familiarity is sin
Like the flaw of the fallen nature
That we inherited by virtue of being born
A son of Adam or daughter of Eve.
No it’s not a sin issue until it begins to manifest in
Deviant, rebellious, selfish, unlawful and/or anti-Biblical behavior.
Think about it.
We see it all the time.
A woman will violate her marriage covenant and sleep with a man who is not her husband.
A man will trade wives like he trades cars.
A couple will acquire unnecessary debt that erodes away their financial stability,
All because of the almost gravitational pull of desire to have, to possess, to“prosper.”
So what’s the antidote?
Jesus Christ.
“ 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." (Heb 13:5 NIV)
DSR
11/17/01
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