by David Scott Robertson
When I was a kid, the neighborhood boys and I liked to play football. We’d get everybody together, elect two team captains, flip a coin to see which captain got to choose first, then they’d begin “choosing sides.”
I don’t know where you come from, but growing up in suburban Chicago, the people chosen first were the biggest, fastest, toughest, most talented athletes in the neighborhood. You see, if I were captain, I would want the biggest guys on my team so I wouldn’t have to face them on the field! Strongest to weakest was usually the order in which players were chosen. Why? Because each captain wanted to build the best team so they could win the game!
In our neighborhood, maybe even yours, the scrawny guy with thick glasses was a late pick when we were choosing sides. So was the chubby kid with ruddy cheeks and freckles. And of course the kid who was born with a crooked arm and a limp, he got defaulted to whichever team was unlucky enough to get the last draw.
The entire process was quite humiliating, especially the longer it went on. As young men, our fragile egos and tender self-esteem were steadily deflated the longer we were not chosen. In choosing sides, it became abundantly clear what other boys thought of your abilities (or lack thereof).
Right or wrong, psychologically damaging or not, this is how young boys growing up in Chicago in the 1970’s chose sides to play football.
Not much has changed in the last 30 years. This is still how much of our world operates today. Employers choose employees based on what value they think they can bring to the organization. Universities choose faculty based on their pedigree and scholarly achievements. Ah, but it’s professional sports that exploits the principle of “choosing sides” to its maximum.
Nowhere else on earth is the principle of choosing sides based on perceived worth quite as blatant as in the arena of pro sports. We see the players in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB promoted and traded like stocks. The televised drafts are a spectacle to behold. Man after man is rated, assigned a value, and acquired by a team. Talent scouts make the farm league circuit in search of the next super athlete. Lottery-size contracts and salary packages are awarded to the most gifted individuals thus further (and artificially) inflating their egos and self-esteem to match their celebrity status. Aging or weak players are eventually cut from the team. Choosing sides in pro sports happens so owners and franchises can build the best teams possible. Why? To win, of course!
Now, let’s turn our attention from how the world (not always, but typically) chooses sides to how God chooses sides.
Obviously, being God, He has an advantage in knowing which “players” to choose. He’s got inside information on the track record, performance rating, character flaws, and the actual (not estimated) potential of every single person He brings on to His team. So how does He do it? How does God “choose sides"?
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Let’s look at one case study, one that I’m pretty familiar with…
* * *
RESUME OF DAVID S. ROBERTSON
CAREER OBJECTIVE: To develop an excellent and long-term relationship with God and return a 30-, 60-, or 100-fold return on His investment in me.
PERSONAL INFORMATION: Married (Monica, 18 years), father of one daughter (Abigail, 13), college graduate (MTSU), born in 1960, computer literate, hobbies include fitness training, biking, swimming and writing.
OTHER OUTSTANDING QUALITIES:
- Foolish
- Weak
- Lowly
- Despised
- Not much
REFERENCES: Available upon request
* * *
Years ago, I submitted my resume to God and was granted an interview! The interview took place in the summer of 1973 at an altar at an Assemblies of God church in Naperville, Illinois. The result? Did I get the job? Did God hire me? Did God want me to join His team? Did He choose me to be on His side?
I’m happy to report that I was hired on the spot!
Shortly after my interview, I began reading “letters of acceptance” written by representatives of God’s kingdom. These letters specified that I was…
- Chosen!
- Hired!
- On the team!
- Accepted!
- Anointed!
- Authorized!
- Appointed!
- Commissioned!
- Called!
- Sent!
The letters that gave me this “good news” are actually a collection of letters more commonly known as the “New Testament.”
I want you to know that I LOVE working for God! He pays so well! He offers great working conditions in a smoke-free environment! The benefits are excellent and the retirement package is without equal!
Presently I’m undergoing extensive OJT (On-the-Job-Training). I’m glad that God chose me to be on His side in spite of being eminently unqualified.
This thought today is for all readers who have for any reason ever felt “less than” or who struggle with self-esteem issues or you felt like you were near the bottom of the draw when others were “choosing sides.”
“Most gladly, therefore, I would rather boast about my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
DSR
3/28/05
Monday, March 28, 2005
Monday, March 21, 2005
God's Unlikely Warriors
by David Scott Robertson
God has at various times for various reasons used some mighty unlikely characters to fight His battles for Him.
Gideon - The least member of his family from the weakest clan in Manasseh to lead a successful rebellion against the Midianites (Judges 6:14).
Saul - A Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel and a member of the least clan of his entire tribe to lead the nation as Israel's first king and destroy the enemies of the Lord.
David - A ruddy shepherd boy to conquer the giant Goliath and eventually replace Saul as king over Israel and Judah (1 Samuel 17:45-50).
Jael - Wife of Heber to single-handedly kill the mighty enemy general Sisera by lulling him to sleep and driving a tent peg through his temple (Judges 4:17-23).
The list goes on and on of how God used weak human vessels to execute judgment on the strong and powerful enemies of Israel. But God's military genius embraces even more unorthodox and unlikely warriors than these.
Hornets - "I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way" (Exodus 23:28).
Snakes - "Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died" (Numbers 21:6).
Lions - "When they first lived there, they did not worship the LORD; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people" (2 Kings 17:25).
Tar pits - "Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills" (Genesis 14:10).
Vegetation - "The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword" (2 Samuel 18:8).
Hail - "From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible" (Revelation 16:21).
Sleet - "He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet" (Psalm 78:4).
Lightning - "He shot arrows and scattered the enemies, bolts of lightning and routed them" (2 Samuel 22:15).
Water - "He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love (Job 37:13).
Earthquakes - "At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven" (Revelation 11:13).
Wind - "No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff" (Isaiah 40:24).
Mildew - "I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD" (Haggai 2:17).
Germs - "He prepared a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague" (Psalm 78:50).
Confusion - "Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords" (1 Samuel 14:20).
God can use the least likely characters to deliver or destroy. Are you willing to be used in the hands of God for His glory? You may not be called a "mighty man or woman of God" but you will be remembered as "a man or woman of a mighty God."
DSR
3/21/05
God has at various times for various reasons used some mighty unlikely characters to fight His battles for Him.
Gideon - The least member of his family from the weakest clan in Manasseh to lead a successful rebellion against the Midianites (Judges 6:14).
Saul - A Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel and a member of the least clan of his entire tribe to lead the nation as Israel's first king and destroy the enemies of the Lord.
David - A ruddy shepherd boy to conquer the giant Goliath and eventually replace Saul as king over Israel and Judah (1 Samuel 17:45-50).
Jael - Wife of Heber to single-handedly kill the mighty enemy general Sisera by lulling him to sleep and driving a tent peg through his temple (Judges 4:17-23).
The list goes on and on of how God used weak human vessels to execute judgment on the strong and powerful enemies of Israel. But God's military genius embraces even more unorthodox and unlikely warriors than these.
Hornets - "I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way" (Exodus 23:28).
Snakes - "Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died" (Numbers 21:6).
Lions - "When they first lived there, they did not worship the LORD; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people" (2 Kings 17:25).
Tar pits - "Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills" (Genesis 14:10).
Vegetation - "The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword" (2 Samuel 18:8).
Hail - "From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible" (Revelation 16:21).
Sleet - "He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet" (Psalm 78:4).
Lightning - "He shot arrows and scattered the enemies, bolts of lightning and routed them" (2 Samuel 22:15).
Water - "He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love (Job 37:13).
Earthquakes - "At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven" (Revelation 11:13).
Wind - "No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff" (Isaiah 40:24).
Mildew - "I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD" (Haggai 2:17).
Germs - "He prepared a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague" (Psalm 78:50).
Confusion - "Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords" (1 Samuel 14:20).
God can use the least likely characters to deliver or destroy. Are you willing to be used in the hands of God for His glory? You may not be called a "mighty man or woman of God" but you will be remembered as "a man or woman of a mighty God."
DSR
3/21/05
Monday, March 14, 2005
Pattern of Disobedience
by David Scott Robertson
I love the Old Testament. As the pages unfold, so do history, drama, prophecy, adventure, tragedy, irony, humor, types, foreshadows, and patterns. The patterns are of particular interest to me. As the Holy Spirit enables, I pick up on cycles that I notice recorded in the Scriptures. Let me give you an example.
I'm currently reading 2 Kings. I see a pattern. It goes something like this: A king comes to power - he was evil - God got mad - the king repents - deliverance comes - the king/nation backslides once the trouble has passed. Let's take a closer look at the pattern of disobedience:
VERSE 1. THERE WAS A KING - (2 Ki 13:1 NIV) In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.
VERSE 2. THE KING WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT - (2 Ki 13:2 NIV) He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them.
VERSE 3. THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH THE KING AND NATION - (2 Ki 13:3 NIV) So the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.
VERSE 4. THE KING REPENTS AND/OR PLEADS WITH GOD FOR RELIEF - (2 Ki 13:4 NIV) Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.
VERSE 5. GOD SENDS DELIVERANCE - (2 Ki 13:5 NIV) The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before.
VERSE 6. ONCE DELIVERED, ISRAEL REVERTS TO IDOLATRY - (2 Ki 13:6 NIV) But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.
I see this six-step process recurring time and again in the times of the kings of Israel.
KING AHAB
1. THERE WAS A KING - (1 Ki 16:29 NIV) In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years.
2. THE KING WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT - (1 Ki 21:25 NIV) (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
3. THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH THE KING AND NATION - (1 Ki 21:21 NIV) 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel--slave or free.
4. THE KING REPENTS AND/OR PLEADS WITH GOD FOR RELIEF - (1 Ki 21:27 NIV) When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
5. GOD SENDS DELIVERANCE - (1 Ki 21:29 NIV) "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."
6. ONCE DELIVERED, ISRAEL REVERTS TO IDOLATRY -(1 Ki 22:6 NIV) So the king of Israel [Ahab] brought together the prophets [false prophets of idols]--about four hundred men--and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go," they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
(1 Ki 22:7 NIV) But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"
The pattern of disobedience is once again repeated and vividly illustrated in the reign of Manasseh, King of Israel. And so the vicious cycle repeats itself over and over again. What can we learn from this?
A pattern of disobedience to the Lord will bring a curse. A pattern of obedience to the Lord will bring a blessing. Get the pattern wrong and the judgment of God will fall on your house (or if you are king, your nation; or if you are a leader, your followers; or if you are father, your family, etc.). Get the pattern right and the glory of God will fall on your house.
Patterns are powerful because they involve habit. The kings of ancient Israel had a nasty habit of conforming to the patterns of the pagan nations they were commanded by God to displace from the land.
Whenever we read about a good king, we discover the pattern of fearing the Lord, consulting with the Lord's prophets, and abolishing various levels of idolatry during their reigns. And God responded mightily on their behalf.
Fast forward to our time. How do we apply this truth?
I suggest committing to yourself to do "the basics" well (in a spiritual context). Do things right (quality) and do the right things (priorities). Jesus was right: Seek Him first and His kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and everything else will work itself out for good (Romans 8:28). Good habits are as hard to break as bad habits. Get the pattern of obedience to God so ingrained in you that it becomes an unbreakable, unshakeable habit in your life. Do this and you will be well on your way to a lifestyle of pleasing God and will reap the corresponding rewards.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will' (Romans 12:2).
DSR
3/14/05
I love the Old Testament. As the pages unfold, so do history, drama, prophecy, adventure, tragedy, irony, humor, types, foreshadows, and patterns. The patterns are of particular interest to me. As the Holy Spirit enables, I pick up on cycles that I notice recorded in the Scriptures. Let me give you an example.
I'm currently reading 2 Kings. I see a pattern. It goes something like this: A king comes to power - he was evil - God got mad - the king repents - deliverance comes - the king/nation backslides once the trouble has passed. Let's take a closer look at the pattern of disobedience:
VERSE 1. THERE WAS A KING - (2 Ki 13:1 NIV) In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.
VERSE 2. THE KING WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT - (2 Ki 13:2 NIV) He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them.
VERSE 3. THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH THE KING AND NATION - (2 Ki 13:3 NIV) So the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.
VERSE 4. THE KING REPENTS AND/OR PLEADS WITH GOD FOR RELIEF - (2 Ki 13:4 NIV) Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.
VERSE 5. GOD SENDS DELIVERANCE - (2 Ki 13:5 NIV) The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before.
VERSE 6. ONCE DELIVERED, ISRAEL REVERTS TO IDOLATRY - (2 Ki 13:6 NIV) But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.
I see this six-step process recurring time and again in the times of the kings of Israel.
KING AHAB
1. THERE WAS A KING - (1 Ki 16:29 NIV) In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years.
2. THE KING WAS EVIL IN THE LORD'S SIGHT - (1 Ki 21:25 NIV) (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
3. THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH THE KING AND NATION - (1 Ki 21:21 NIV) 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel--slave or free.
4. THE KING REPENTS AND/OR PLEADS WITH GOD FOR RELIEF - (1 Ki 21:27 NIV) When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
5. GOD SENDS DELIVERANCE - (1 Ki 21:29 NIV) "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."
6. ONCE DELIVERED, ISRAEL REVERTS TO IDOLATRY -(1 Ki 22:6 NIV) So the king of Israel [Ahab] brought together the prophets [false prophets of idols]--about four hundred men--and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go," they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
(1 Ki 22:7 NIV) But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"
The pattern of disobedience is once again repeated and vividly illustrated in the reign of Manasseh, King of Israel. And so the vicious cycle repeats itself over and over again. What can we learn from this?
A pattern of disobedience to the Lord will bring a curse. A pattern of obedience to the Lord will bring a blessing. Get the pattern wrong and the judgment of God will fall on your house (or if you are king, your nation; or if you are a leader, your followers; or if you are father, your family, etc.). Get the pattern right and the glory of God will fall on your house.
Patterns are powerful because they involve habit. The kings of ancient Israel had a nasty habit of conforming to the patterns of the pagan nations they were commanded by God to displace from the land.
Whenever we read about a good king, we discover the pattern of fearing the Lord, consulting with the Lord's prophets, and abolishing various levels of idolatry during their reigns. And God responded mightily on their behalf.
Fast forward to our time. How do we apply this truth?
I suggest committing to yourself to do "the basics" well (in a spiritual context). Do things right (quality) and do the right things (priorities). Jesus was right: Seek Him first and His kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and everything else will work itself out for good (Romans 8:28). Good habits are as hard to break as bad habits. Get the pattern of obedience to God so ingrained in you that it becomes an unbreakable, unshakeable habit in your life. Do this and you will be well on your way to a lifestyle of pleasing God and will reap the corresponding rewards.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will' (Romans 12:2).
DSR
3/14/05
Monday, March 7, 2005
For Special Occasions Only
by David Scott Robertson
"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table" (Matthew 26:6-7).
* * *
Last Christmas some good friends of mine gave me a bottle of men's cologne as a gift. Giving gifts at Christmas and cologne to men are rather commonplace and don't draw much attention. However, there's more to this story.
This particular four-ounce bottle of cologne that my friends gave me was extremely rare, very expensive, and only through much research, calls, and effort, were they able to obtain it from an obscure location in Florida. Usually an advanced search of the Internet at Google.com will turn up about anything you're looking for. Not so with this Christmas gift. Even the Internet was uncharacteristically useless on this quest. Nevertheless, through determination my friends made it happen. All that to say that this small bottle of great smelling men's cologne is pretty special to me. It's the kind of item that you reserve for special occasions only.
It's sort of like a woman buying a beautiful dress to be Maid-of-Honor at a girlfriend's wedding. Or renting a limo to drive the newlyweds from the church to their reception. Or whispering to the waiter at the fine restaurant that you're there to celebrate a family member's birthday. Graduations, weddings, funerals, job interviews, awards banquets, appearing on television, and the like all fall into the category of "special occasions" that warrant special preparation, wouldn't you agree?
Well, I started out wearing my cologne only to church on Sundays. And even then, I limited it to one squirt only! After all, I reasoned, I have to ration it and make it last as long as possible, right? I got to thinking, at this rate, this four-ounce bottle should last for years!
I know this sounds silly, but this rare gift also got me to thinking about what constitutes a "special occasion." I actually pondered in my heart the question of how many men and women die every year with unused bottles of cologne and perfume in their cabinets back home? How many of us put off doing something, saying something, going somewhere…waiting for "just the right moment" - a moment that strangely, sadly, too often never comes.
For example, take the man who is so intent on waiting for the right moment that he never actually gets around to proposing to the love of his life. Or the parent who waits for a special achievement to tell his daughter he's proud of her. Or the Christian who never shares her faith with her co-worker because she never feels the timing is quite right.
As I processed such thoughts, I wondered if I were to suddenly and unexpectedly be taken out of the picture, who would get the rest of my bottle of cologne? More than likely someone who doesn't know the story or the value of what they hold in their hand.
So, these days I'm celebrating a lot of special occasions.
- My daughter's birthday came up and we took her out to dinner. Squirt.
- I had breakfast with my one-and-only mother the other day. Squirt.
- I scurried off to my weekly staff meeting at church. Squirt.
- I taught a class of new Christians last week. Squirt.
- I ran down to Wal-Mart the other day to pick up oil change supplies. Squirt.
As I write this, I'm getting ready to go to work. There's nothing particularly special going on today. Today, my friends, I'm going for two squirts!
What about you? Anything you've been putting off waiting for just the right moment - a special occasion - before you allow yourself to do it, say it, or experience it? You can avoid a disease worse than cancer called REGRET by simply making up your mind to live this day - no, I take that back, live EVERY DAY - as if it were what it actually is - a special occasion. Fact is, every day is a grace gift from God. And any gift from God is pretty special.
DSR
3/7/05
"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table" (Matthew 26:6-7).
* * *
Last Christmas some good friends of mine gave me a bottle of men's cologne as a gift. Giving gifts at Christmas and cologne to men are rather commonplace and don't draw much attention. However, there's more to this story.
This particular four-ounce bottle of cologne that my friends gave me was extremely rare, very expensive, and only through much research, calls, and effort, were they able to obtain it from an obscure location in Florida. Usually an advanced search of the Internet at Google.com will turn up about anything you're looking for. Not so with this Christmas gift. Even the Internet was uncharacteristically useless on this quest. Nevertheless, through determination my friends made it happen. All that to say that this small bottle of great smelling men's cologne is pretty special to me. It's the kind of item that you reserve for special occasions only.
It's sort of like a woman buying a beautiful dress to be Maid-of-Honor at a girlfriend's wedding. Or renting a limo to drive the newlyweds from the church to their reception. Or whispering to the waiter at the fine restaurant that you're there to celebrate a family member's birthday. Graduations, weddings, funerals, job interviews, awards banquets, appearing on television, and the like all fall into the category of "special occasions" that warrant special preparation, wouldn't you agree?
Well, I started out wearing my cologne only to church on Sundays. And even then, I limited it to one squirt only! After all, I reasoned, I have to ration it and make it last as long as possible, right? I got to thinking, at this rate, this four-ounce bottle should last for years!
I know this sounds silly, but this rare gift also got me to thinking about what constitutes a "special occasion." I actually pondered in my heart the question of how many men and women die every year with unused bottles of cologne and perfume in their cabinets back home? How many of us put off doing something, saying something, going somewhere…waiting for "just the right moment" - a moment that strangely, sadly, too often never comes.
For example, take the man who is so intent on waiting for the right moment that he never actually gets around to proposing to the love of his life. Or the parent who waits for a special achievement to tell his daughter he's proud of her. Or the Christian who never shares her faith with her co-worker because she never feels the timing is quite right.
As I processed such thoughts, I wondered if I were to suddenly and unexpectedly be taken out of the picture, who would get the rest of my bottle of cologne? More than likely someone who doesn't know the story or the value of what they hold in their hand.
So, these days I'm celebrating a lot of special occasions.
- My daughter's birthday came up and we took her out to dinner. Squirt.
- I had breakfast with my one-and-only mother the other day. Squirt.
- I scurried off to my weekly staff meeting at church. Squirt.
- I taught a class of new Christians last week. Squirt.
- I ran down to Wal-Mart the other day to pick up oil change supplies. Squirt.
As I write this, I'm getting ready to go to work. There's nothing particularly special going on today. Today, my friends, I'm going for two squirts!
What about you? Anything you've been putting off waiting for just the right moment - a special occasion - before you allow yourself to do it, say it, or experience it? You can avoid a disease worse than cancer called REGRET by simply making up your mind to live this day - no, I take that back, live EVERY DAY - as if it were what it actually is - a special occasion. Fact is, every day is a grace gift from God. And any gift from God is pretty special.
DSR
3/7/05
Monday, February 28, 2005
God's Homework Assignments
by David Scott Robertson
"In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now" (Jeremiah 36:1-2).
* * *
How would you like to have been in the prophet Jeremiah's sandals when God laid this homework assignment on him?
God basically was saying to Jeremiah: "I want you to write - word perfectly -no matter how long it takes - every single thing I ever said to you about Israel and Judah up to the present moment. Do not leave one detail out because thousands of years from now people will be reading this."
In the natural, of course, this assignment that God had given to Jeremiah would have been totally impossible! The prophet, left to his own intellect and memory, would have failed miserably in the task.
However, as Christ-followers who trust the reliability of Scripture know, Jeremiah completed his assignment flawlessly. How could Jeremiah have dictated to his assistant, Baruch, son of Meriah, every single word the Lord had spoken concerning Israel and Judah without leaving a single statement out?
I believe Jeremiah could successfully complete his homework assignment the same way that…
- Moses completed his assignment of writing the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch).
- Daniel completed his assignment of recording (in advance) the rise and fall of major world governments from his present day to the end of the age.
- Micah completed his assignment of predicting the Messiah's birth.
- Isaiah completed his assignment in describing Jesus' earthly ministry and subsequent suffering on the cross.
- King David completed his assignment and wrote (in the first person) about how Jesus felt while offering His body as the perfect sacrifice on the cross.
- Paul and the other apostles recorded New Testament scripture.
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21).
This being "carried along" - mere men inspired by the Holy Spirit - is the reason each homework assignment given to men by God was able to be completed in completely reliable fashion.
This is why we can read our Bibles and be fully persuaded that "every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him" (Proverbs 30:5).
The good news for us who find ourselves on the timeline of history in the 21st century is that this same Holy Spirit who helped Jeremiah is available to help us.
If you have been handed what you feel is a "tough assignment" from God to fulfill then simply do what all these men of God I've mentioned did - call out to God for the Holy Spirit's help. Whether they or we can theologically understand it is irrelevant. It is God the Holy Spirit who will become for you the "Divine Enabler" to cause your assignment to get completed, turned in on time, and make the grade God intends.
When God gives you a homework assignment, don't stress over it--call out for help from the Teacher.
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me [Jesus] by taking from what is mine and making it known to you" (John 16:13-14).
I encourage you to purposely demote (humble) yourself to the position of God's little helper, His assistant, servant, scribe just like Jeremiah had Baruch and Paul had Tertius (Romans 16:22) to help write the copy.
The next time you get a homework assignment, a marching order, a prescription to fill (choose your own metaphor)--in other words, when God tells you to do something call out to the Holy Spirit for divine recall, supernatural support, heavenly help, and ingenious inspiration.
"So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6).
DSR
2/28/05
"In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now" (Jeremiah 36:1-2).
* * *
How would you like to have been in the prophet Jeremiah's sandals when God laid this homework assignment on him?
God basically was saying to Jeremiah: "I want you to write - word perfectly -no matter how long it takes - every single thing I ever said to you about Israel and Judah up to the present moment. Do not leave one detail out because thousands of years from now people will be reading this."
In the natural, of course, this assignment that God had given to Jeremiah would have been totally impossible! The prophet, left to his own intellect and memory, would have failed miserably in the task.
However, as Christ-followers who trust the reliability of Scripture know, Jeremiah completed his assignment flawlessly. How could Jeremiah have dictated to his assistant, Baruch, son of Meriah, every single word the Lord had spoken concerning Israel and Judah without leaving a single statement out?
I believe Jeremiah could successfully complete his homework assignment the same way that…
- Moses completed his assignment of writing the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch).
- Daniel completed his assignment of recording (in advance) the rise and fall of major world governments from his present day to the end of the age.
- Micah completed his assignment of predicting the Messiah's birth.
- Isaiah completed his assignment in describing Jesus' earthly ministry and subsequent suffering on the cross.
- King David completed his assignment and wrote (in the first person) about how Jesus felt while offering His body as the perfect sacrifice on the cross.
- Paul and the other apostles recorded New Testament scripture.
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21).
This being "carried along" - mere men inspired by the Holy Spirit - is the reason each homework assignment given to men by God was able to be completed in completely reliable fashion.
This is why we can read our Bibles and be fully persuaded that "every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him" (Proverbs 30:5).
The good news for us who find ourselves on the timeline of history in the 21st century is that this same Holy Spirit who helped Jeremiah is available to help us.
If you have been handed what you feel is a "tough assignment" from God to fulfill then simply do what all these men of God I've mentioned did - call out to God for the Holy Spirit's help. Whether they or we can theologically understand it is irrelevant. It is God the Holy Spirit who will become for you the "Divine Enabler" to cause your assignment to get completed, turned in on time, and make the grade God intends.
When God gives you a homework assignment, don't stress over it--call out for help from the Teacher.
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me [Jesus] by taking from what is mine and making it known to you" (John 16:13-14).
I encourage you to purposely demote (humble) yourself to the position of God's little helper, His assistant, servant, scribe just like Jeremiah had Baruch and Paul had Tertius (Romans 16:22) to help write the copy.
The next time you get a homework assignment, a marching order, a prescription to fill (choose your own metaphor)--in other words, when God tells you to do something call out to the Holy Spirit for divine recall, supernatural support, heavenly help, and ingenious inspiration.
"So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6).
DSR
2/28/05
Monday, February 21, 2005
Grand Opening
by David Scott Robertson
"Then He [Jesus] said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.' AND HE OPENED THEIR UNDERSTANDING, THAT THEY MIGHT COMPREHEND THE SCRIPTURES." (Luke 24:44-45, emphasis mine).
* * *
In my Spirit-Filled Life Bible I have a bookmark on the page in which this text appears and I have boxed the verse in with a pen. Nearly every day before I read the Word, I go to this verse and pray that the Lord open my understanding that I might comprehend the Scriptures.
God is very apparently in the business of opening things…
- Jesus opened the eyes of the physically blind (John 9:17; Isaiah 35:5).
- God opened up the eyes of people who could see fine in the natural but failed to see supernatural provision (Genesis 21:19).
- Jesus opened the ears of the physically deaf (Mark 7:35).
- Jesus opened the mouth of the mute (Luke 1:63-64).
- Jesus opened the grave to give up its dead (John 11:34).
- The Lord opened the wombs of barren women (Genesis 29:31; 30:22).
- God opened the eyes of a skeptical servant to see angelic forces (2 Kings 6:17).
- The Lord opened the mouth of a donkey to rebuke a backslidden prophet (Numbers 22:28) then opened the eyes of the prophet to see the Angel of the Lord (22:31).
- God opened a path through the Red Sea (Psalm 106:9), opened up a rock that a river might gush out and refresh His people Israel (Psalm 105:41), and opened the doors of the heavens to rain down manna to sustain millions of people in a barren desert (Psalm 78-23-24).
- He's opened up the earth to swallow His enemies (Psalm 106:17), and promised to open up the windows of heaven to bless His faithful stewards (Malachi 3:10).
Revelation 4:1 talks about a door in heaven being opened and John being invited to "come up here…" That eye-opening experience is one that all true believers will also get to enjoy!
There were many more verses and examples I looked up in my research, but the point, I think, has been made: God is very apparently in the business of opening things!
What do you need opened that seems to be shut? Do you want, like me, for the Holy Spirit to "open your eyes" to understand the Scriptures more clearly? Do you want open ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church? Do you want a heart that is open and tender to the gentle wooing of the Spirit of Jesus? Do you want the Lord to open your mouth and fill it with good things to say? Do you want a broken relationship opened up that's shut down? Do you want something to open up in your job or new career?
I don't know what you need but I know that Jesus is the key that can open the thing that is locked.
Could the "grand opening" that you've been waiting for be just a short prayer away?
Why not pray it right now?
DSR
2/21/05
"Then He [Jesus] said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.' AND HE OPENED THEIR UNDERSTANDING, THAT THEY MIGHT COMPREHEND THE SCRIPTURES." (Luke 24:44-45, emphasis mine).
* * *
In my Spirit-Filled Life Bible I have a bookmark on the page in which this text appears and I have boxed the verse in with a pen. Nearly every day before I read the Word, I go to this verse and pray that the Lord open my understanding that I might comprehend the Scriptures.
God is very apparently in the business of opening things…
- Jesus opened the eyes of the physically blind (John 9:17; Isaiah 35:5).
- God opened up the eyes of people who could see fine in the natural but failed to see supernatural provision (Genesis 21:19).
- Jesus opened the ears of the physically deaf (Mark 7:35).
- Jesus opened the mouth of the mute (Luke 1:63-64).
- Jesus opened the grave to give up its dead (John 11:34).
- The Lord opened the wombs of barren women (Genesis 29:31; 30:22).
- God opened the eyes of a skeptical servant to see angelic forces (2 Kings 6:17).
- The Lord opened the mouth of a donkey to rebuke a backslidden prophet (Numbers 22:28) then opened the eyes of the prophet to see the Angel of the Lord (22:31).
- God opened a path through the Red Sea (Psalm 106:9), opened up a rock that a river might gush out and refresh His people Israel (Psalm 105:41), and opened the doors of the heavens to rain down manna to sustain millions of people in a barren desert (Psalm 78-23-24).
- He's opened up the earth to swallow His enemies (Psalm 106:17), and promised to open up the windows of heaven to bless His faithful stewards (Malachi 3:10).
Revelation 4:1 talks about a door in heaven being opened and John being invited to "come up here…" That eye-opening experience is one that all true believers will also get to enjoy!
There were many more verses and examples I looked up in my research, but the point, I think, has been made: God is very apparently in the business of opening things!
What do you need opened that seems to be shut? Do you want, like me, for the Holy Spirit to "open your eyes" to understand the Scriptures more clearly? Do you want open ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church? Do you want a heart that is open and tender to the gentle wooing of the Spirit of Jesus? Do you want the Lord to open your mouth and fill it with good things to say? Do you want a broken relationship opened up that's shut down? Do you want something to open up in your job or new career?
I don't know what you need but I know that Jesus is the key that can open the thing that is locked.
Could the "grand opening" that you've been waiting for be just a short prayer away?
Why not pray it right now?
DSR
2/21/05
Saturday, February 12, 2005
By Invitation Only
by David Scott Robertson
"Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.' And He went in to stay with them" (Luke 24:28-29 NKJV).
* * *
In the 24th chapter of Luke's gospel, we find a key to experiencing God.
Two followers of Jesus (Luke identifies one of the two as Cleopas, v. 18) were walking and talking down the road about the things that had just occurred concerning the Christ. They were confused and grieving. The Bible says, "while they conversed and reasoned" (v. 15), Jesus Himself showed up and joined their conversation. God was walking and talking with them but they didn't realize they were walking and talking with God.
Jesus asked them what they were talking about "and beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (v. 27).
As they were about to complete the seven-mile walk from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus, Jesus "indicated that He would have gone farther" (v. 28). Now here's the key to experiencing God that I want to share with you in this thought: The two disciples, in agreement, petitioned the Lord to do something for them.
"…they constrained Him, saying, 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent'" (v. 29).
Evidently, Jesus would have walked out of the conversation and their experience with Him could have terminated on the spot. However (and this is the key), they invited Jesus to stay and eat with them. And kindly, providentially, and I believe gladly, "…He went in to stay with them" (v. 29).
A key, then, to experiencing God is to invite Him to come to you, to stay with you, to eat with you, to fellowship with you, to walk with you and talk with you along life's narrow way.
Note seven things that happened to Cleopas and his friend because they "constrained" Jesus to sit with them for a while:
1. GOD WAS IN THEIR PHYSICAL PRESENCE - "Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them…" (v. 30)
2. GOD FED THEM - "…that He took bread…" (v. 30)
3. GOD SPOKE BLESSING - "…He took bread, blessed and broke it…" (v. 30). (Later they remarked how He was known to them in the breaking of bread - v. 35.)
4. GOD SERVED THEM - "…He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them" (v. 30).
5. GOD OPENED THEIR EYES - "Then their eyes were opened…" (v. 31).
6. THEY EXPERIENCED GOD - "…and they knew Him…" (v. 31).
7. THEY WITNESSED A MIRACLE - "…and He vanished from their sight" (v. 31).
Mind you, these seven things never would have happened had they not "constrained" Jesus to stay and fellowship with them. Their previous conversation and reasoning on the road did not bring about a "burning in their hearts" like spending time with Jesus did (v. 32).
Jesus expounded on the key to experiencing God in John 15:7:
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
When the two disciples on the road to Emmaus said to the Lord, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent" (v. 29), they were, in essence, putting Jesus' admonition in John 15:7 into practice by inviting Him to abide with them and making room in their schedule for His words to abide in them.
As long as the two asked each other for answers concerning the Christ, they would continue to be frustrated and confused. But when they began to substitute human reasoning with Godly wisdom through abiding in Christ late one afternoon, they experienced God and were later able to joyfully testify to their brethren about their encounter with their resurrected Lord:
"So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon!'" (Luke 24: 33-34).
I've already said this once, but it bears repeating: These seven things never would have happened had they not "constrained" Jesus to stay and fellowship with them!
What does this mean to us today in 2005? It means that unless you and I open our mouths and our hearts and invite the Lord to come to us, to abide in us, we are doubtless going to miss out on revelations, illuminations, and miracles that God has reserved for those who constrain Him to abide with them--not merely for a brief visit, but forever.
DSR
2/12/05
"Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.' And He went in to stay with them" (Luke 24:28-29 NKJV).
* * *
In the 24th chapter of Luke's gospel, we find a key to experiencing God.
Two followers of Jesus (Luke identifies one of the two as Cleopas, v. 18) were walking and talking down the road about the things that had just occurred concerning the Christ. They were confused and grieving. The Bible says, "while they conversed and reasoned" (v. 15), Jesus Himself showed up and joined their conversation. God was walking and talking with them but they didn't realize they were walking and talking with God.
Jesus asked them what they were talking about "and beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (v. 27).
As they were about to complete the seven-mile walk from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus, Jesus "indicated that He would have gone farther" (v. 28). Now here's the key to experiencing God that I want to share with you in this thought: The two disciples, in agreement, petitioned the Lord to do something for them.
"…they constrained Him, saying, 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent'" (v. 29).
Evidently, Jesus would have walked out of the conversation and their experience with Him could have terminated on the spot. However (and this is the key), they invited Jesus to stay and eat with them. And kindly, providentially, and I believe gladly, "…He went in to stay with them" (v. 29).
A key, then, to experiencing God is to invite Him to come to you, to stay with you, to eat with you, to fellowship with you, to walk with you and talk with you along life's narrow way.
Note seven things that happened to Cleopas and his friend because they "constrained" Jesus to sit with them for a while:
1. GOD WAS IN THEIR PHYSICAL PRESENCE - "Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them…" (v. 30)
2. GOD FED THEM - "…that He took bread…" (v. 30)
3. GOD SPOKE BLESSING - "…He took bread, blessed and broke it…" (v. 30). (Later they remarked how He was known to them in the breaking of bread - v. 35.)
4. GOD SERVED THEM - "…He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them" (v. 30).
5. GOD OPENED THEIR EYES - "Then their eyes were opened…" (v. 31).
6. THEY EXPERIENCED GOD - "…and they knew Him…" (v. 31).
7. THEY WITNESSED A MIRACLE - "…and He vanished from their sight" (v. 31).
Mind you, these seven things never would have happened had they not "constrained" Jesus to stay and fellowship with them. Their previous conversation and reasoning on the road did not bring about a "burning in their hearts" like spending time with Jesus did (v. 32).
Jesus expounded on the key to experiencing God in John 15:7:
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
When the two disciples on the road to Emmaus said to the Lord, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent" (v. 29), they were, in essence, putting Jesus' admonition in John 15:7 into practice by inviting Him to abide with them and making room in their schedule for His words to abide in them.
As long as the two asked each other for answers concerning the Christ, they would continue to be frustrated and confused. But when they began to substitute human reasoning with Godly wisdom through abiding in Christ late one afternoon, they experienced God and were later able to joyfully testify to their brethren about their encounter with their resurrected Lord:
"So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon!'" (Luke 24: 33-34).
I've already said this once, but it bears repeating: These seven things never would have happened had they not "constrained" Jesus to stay and fellowship with them!
What does this mean to us today in 2005? It means that unless you and I open our mouths and our hearts and invite the Lord to come to us, to abide in us, we are doubtless going to miss out on revelations, illuminations, and miracles that God has reserved for those who constrain Him to abide with them--not merely for a brief visit, but forever.
DSR
2/12/05
Monday, February 7, 2005
A Formletter of Encouragement
by David Scott Robertson
* * *
INSTRUCTIONS: Below is a "form letter" or "template" that you might consider customizing and then emailing or sending to a Christian friend you know is going through a tough time right now. Edit as necessary for an unsaved friend.
* * *
Date
Dear __________,
I thought the Lord would have me write you a quick note. Can you dare to believe that the BEST is yet to come? I can and I am for you!
I know you're going through a tough time but I want you to consider that "if God is for you who can be against you?" (Romans 8:31). I'm for you too! I've taken your name and your need to the throne room of grace to obtain mercy and grace in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
God's Word to you in your present situation is: "…'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Corinthians 12:9). And speaking of perfect, God is offering you His perfect peace to help you through: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you" (Isaiah 26:3).
As you trust in the Lord with all your heart, trying to make sense of things but always keeping in mind that God is in control (Proverbs 3:5-6), God will grant you what He described as "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" to guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
My sincere hope in writing you this note is that somehow the Holy Spirit will take it and remind you that because you are a Christian…
- God loves you (John 3:16).
- God has forgiven your sins and will not hold them against you (1 John 1:9).
- God does hear and answer prayer - in His time (Philippians 4:6).
- God supplies all your needs (Philippians 4:19) and doesn't even have a problem giving you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him (Psalm 37:4).
- God has given you power and authority over the devil (Luke 10:19).
- God has given you the power of His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and His Spirit (Acts 1:8) to work on your behalf.
- God has dressed you in the full armor of God to protect you from the fiery darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6:11) plus he has decreed that the devil's weapons formed against you will not function properly (Isaiah 54:17).
- One day in the not too distant future, you will join God in the place for you in the new heavens and the new earth (Isaiah 65:17) with a new body (1 Corinthians 15:54) living in a new mansion (John 14:2) custom-built just for you!
Forever with God is not a bad deal! Since your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Luke 10:20) you can rest assured that one day you can stand before God with confidence that your relationships with Jesus during your lifetime will make all the difference for you in eternity.
I am including lots of scripture verses in this note because God's Word is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12) and as you read it and believe it, the Lord promises "It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and succeed in the matter for which I send it" (Isaiah 55:11).
I want to end this note to you the way the Apostle Paul ended his second letter to the Christians in the city of Corinth because I want for the same thing for you that he wanted for his friends there: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).
In the peace that only Jesus gives,
Your friend, ______________
DSR
2/7/05
* * *
INSTRUCTIONS: Below is a "form letter" or "template" that you might consider customizing and then emailing or sending to a Christian friend you know is going through a tough time right now. Edit as necessary for an unsaved friend.
* * *
Date
Dear __________,
I thought the Lord would have me write you a quick note. Can you dare to believe that the BEST is yet to come? I can and I am for you!
I know you're going through a tough time but I want you to consider that "if God is for you who can be against you?" (Romans 8:31). I'm for you too! I've taken your name and your need to the throne room of grace to obtain mercy and grace in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
God's Word to you in your present situation is: "…'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Corinthians 12:9). And speaking of perfect, God is offering you His perfect peace to help you through: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you" (Isaiah 26:3).
As you trust in the Lord with all your heart, trying to make sense of things but always keeping in mind that God is in control (Proverbs 3:5-6), God will grant you what He described as "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" to guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
My sincere hope in writing you this note is that somehow the Holy Spirit will take it and remind you that because you are a Christian…
- God loves you (John 3:16).
- God has forgiven your sins and will not hold them against you (1 John 1:9).
- God does hear and answer prayer - in His time (Philippians 4:6).
- God supplies all your needs (Philippians 4:19) and doesn't even have a problem giving you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him (Psalm 37:4).
- God has given you power and authority over the devil (Luke 10:19).
- God has given you the power of His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and His Spirit (Acts 1:8) to work on your behalf.
- God has dressed you in the full armor of God to protect you from the fiery darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6:11) plus he has decreed that the devil's weapons formed against you will not function properly (Isaiah 54:17).
- One day in the not too distant future, you will join God in the place for you in the new heavens and the new earth (Isaiah 65:17) with a new body (1 Corinthians 15:54) living in a new mansion (John 14:2) custom-built just for you!
Forever with God is not a bad deal! Since your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Luke 10:20) you can rest assured that one day you can stand before God with confidence that your relationships with Jesus during your lifetime will make all the difference for you in eternity.
I am including lots of scripture verses in this note because God's Word is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12) and as you read it and believe it, the Lord promises "It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and succeed in the matter for which I send it" (Isaiah 55:11).
I want to end this note to you the way the Apostle Paul ended his second letter to the Christians in the city of Corinth because I want for the same thing for you that he wanted for his friends there: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).
In the peace that only Jesus gives,
Your friend, ______________
DSR
2/7/05
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Robertson Sets New World Record
by David Scott Robertson
MURFREESBORO, TN - January 27, 2005 - Middle distance runner David S. Robertson broke a world record today in the 5-mile run at Middle Tennessee State University's indoor track. The official time was 39:04:05. The record-breaking dash undercut the Olympic record by 3.25 seconds and the world record by a full two seconds. It was a personal best for Robertson at this distance.
ESPN2 caught up with Robertson at the finish line to capture these remarks:
* * *
ESPN2: Congratulations, David! Do you realize you've broken the Olympic record and the world record with tonight's performance?
ROBERTSON (breathing hard): Yes, I'm aware of that! It's also my personal best.
ESPN2: The crowd was certainly behind you tonight.
ROBERTSON: I appreciate that. I want to dedicate my new personal best time to the boys in the Lazarus Project, a ministry of the Hope Center. I'd like to dedicate the new Olympic record to my wife, Monica, and my daughter, Abigail. And I'd like to dedicate the new world record to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
ESPN2: Your run was incredible! You really turned it on that last 1,000 meters coming from fourth place to first to run right into the record books.
ROBERTSON: I'd like to give credit where credit is due…my Coach was with me every step of the way…my Coach's name is the Lord Jesus Christ…
ESPN2: Reporting live from MTSU, this is Randy Kazopolis, back to you, Bob,
at Sports Central.
* * *
The above scenario has been brought to you by my imagination. Most of it is true. My name is Robertson. I did run 5 miles at MTSU in roughly 39:04:05. There towards the end of my run I did jog past an old woman in Spandex, two college co-eds with pony tails, and what looked like a retired chemistry professor. Later, in the shower, I did actually dedicate my "personal best" and two "records" to those I mentioned. The only thing missing was ESPN2 and an audience.
I've discovered that for me it's fun and motivating to imagine what I would do and say if I were suddenly thrust into the spotlight for my "fifteen minutes of fame." I did this a lot while watching the '04 Olympics in Athens this past summer. I remember watching with great joy, delight, and admiration as many young athletes were bold with their faith and appreciation to God when the microphone came their way. Many times, the first words out of their mouth was not a message of self-glorification to tens of millions of people but a message of thanksgiving to an audience of One - to God.
My thought today is that the next time you accomplish a goal or achieve something worthwhile to you, be bold in your faith and give credit where credit is due, even if it is only to an audience of One, that is, to God alone. For example...
- You've just washed ten loads of laundry in record time! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You've mowed the lawn and weed-whacked faster than you've ever done it before! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You washed two cars, cleaned the interiors, AND properly inflated both sets of tires - all on your lunch break! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- Your husband arrives home after work and the toddlers are alive! You've done your job! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You've made the photocopies, finished the report, read the homework, written the paper, sent the faxes, purged the emails, made all your meetings…whatever it is that you have done of heroic proportions on the job, at school, or at home - rejoice! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
I think the Lord would very much enjoy hearing you give thanks with a grateful heart and rejoice over your accomplishment(s) by crediting Him for His kind (direct or indirect) assistance in your exploit.
Our names may never appear in the Guinness Book of World Records for some astonishing feat, but as the two scriptures below suggest that God is keeping score of our thoughts, words, and deeds in His record keeping system, then we've made the history books after all!
"…your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your BOOK before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:16 - emphasis mine).
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and BOOKS were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books" (Revelation 20:12 - emphasis mine).
DSR
1/30/05
MURFREESBORO, TN - January 27, 2005 - Middle distance runner David S. Robertson broke a world record today in the 5-mile run at Middle Tennessee State University's indoor track. The official time was 39:04:05. The record-breaking dash undercut the Olympic record by 3.25 seconds and the world record by a full two seconds. It was a personal best for Robertson at this distance.
ESPN2 caught up with Robertson at the finish line to capture these remarks:
* * *
ESPN2: Congratulations, David! Do you realize you've broken the Olympic record and the world record with tonight's performance?
ROBERTSON (breathing hard): Yes, I'm aware of that! It's also my personal best.
ESPN2: The crowd was certainly behind you tonight.
ROBERTSON: I appreciate that. I want to dedicate my new personal best time to the boys in the Lazarus Project, a ministry of the Hope Center. I'd like to dedicate the new Olympic record to my wife, Monica, and my daughter, Abigail. And I'd like to dedicate the new world record to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
ESPN2: Your run was incredible! You really turned it on that last 1,000 meters coming from fourth place to first to run right into the record books.
ROBERTSON: I'd like to give credit where credit is due…my Coach was with me every step of the way…my Coach's name is the Lord Jesus Christ…
ESPN2: Reporting live from MTSU, this is Randy Kazopolis, back to you, Bob,
at Sports Central.
* * *
The above scenario has been brought to you by my imagination. Most of it is true. My name is Robertson. I did run 5 miles at MTSU in roughly 39:04:05. There towards the end of my run I did jog past an old woman in Spandex, two college co-eds with pony tails, and what looked like a retired chemistry professor. Later, in the shower, I did actually dedicate my "personal best" and two "records" to those I mentioned. The only thing missing was ESPN2 and an audience.
I've discovered that for me it's fun and motivating to imagine what I would do and say if I were suddenly thrust into the spotlight for my "fifteen minutes of fame." I did this a lot while watching the '04 Olympics in Athens this past summer. I remember watching with great joy, delight, and admiration as many young athletes were bold with their faith and appreciation to God when the microphone came their way. Many times, the first words out of their mouth was not a message of self-glorification to tens of millions of people but a message of thanksgiving to an audience of One - to God.
My thought today is that the next time you accomplish a goal or achieve something worthwhile to you, be bold in your faith and give credit where credit is due, even if it is only to an audience of One, that is, to God alone. For example...
- You've just washed ten loads of laundry in record time! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You've mowed the lawn and weed-whacked faster than you've ever done it before! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You washed two cars, cleaned the interiors, AND properly inflated both sets of tires - all on your lunch break! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- Your husband arrives home after work and the toddlers are alive! You've done your job! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
- You've made the photocopies, finished the report, read the homework, written the paper, sent the faxes, purged the emails, made all your meetings…whatever it is that you have done of heroic proportions on the job, at school, or at home - rejoice! CELEBRATE TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
I think the Lord would very much enjoy hearing you give thanks with a grateful heart and rejoice over your accomplishment(s) by crediting Him for His kind (direct or indirect) assistance in your exploit.
Our names may never appear in the Guinness Book of World Records for some astonishing feat, but as the two scriptures below suggest that God is keeping score of our thoughts, words, and deeds in His record keeping system, then we've made the history books after all!
"…your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your BOOK before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:16 - emphasis mine).
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and BOOKS were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books" (Revelation 20:12 - emphasis mine).
DSR
1/30/05
Monday, January 24, 2005
Clean, Crisp, Refreshing
by David Scott Robertson
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders...no DRUNKARDS nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinithians 6:9-10 - emphasis mine).
* * *
Driving home from the local university from a workout recently I passed a beer truck. On the side of the truck in huge letters was the name of the beer being proudly advertised. Just below the product's name were stenciled these three words: Crisp, clean, refreshing.
I thought to myself, that's false advertising. Three alternate words came to my mind immediately: "dangerous, poisonous, deadly".
As a pastor, I've seen the horrific aftermath of those who bought the lie that alcoholic beverages were in fact crisp, clean, and refreshing. I've counseled with them in my office as they've held their heads in their hands, crying hot salty tears, because they're on the brink of losing everything dear to them due to alcoholism.
In so many words, they've desribed different aspects of their lives being destroyed by imbibing crisp, clean, and refreshing alcoholic beverages:
* * *
THEIR WORK LIFE IN THREE WORDS: tardiness, absentee-ism, fired
THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH IN THREE WORDS: sickness, cirrosis, obesity
THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IN THREE WORDS: addiction, anguish, bondage
THEIR FAMILY LIFE IN THREE WORDS: verbal-abuse, physical-abuse, sexual-abuse
THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS IN THREE WORDS: lack, collections, poverty
THEIR LEGAL STATUS IN THREE WORDS: fines, lockup, suspension
THE ACCIDENT THEY CAUSED IN THREE WORDS: child, tragedy, casket
* * *
Unless they repent, their eternal status can be summed up in three words as well: judgment, loss, hell.
It's not only mothers who are against drunk driving. It's not only police departments and school systems that are against substance abuse. God opposes drunkeness.
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).
God is not trying to steal your fun and rain on your parade. God is trying to redeem your life from destruction and surround you with lovingkindness.
God knows that it's not only the liquor stores and retailers that sell alcohol that gain a clientele from the users of this product - it's the doctor's offices, hospitals, counseling centers, and funeral homes that bear the increased burden.
Satan's tactics include tempting us to sin while witholding information about the consequences of such choices. Beer commercials portray happy, scantily-clad slim women and handsome men with flat abs enjoying their product but they conveniently leave out "the rest of the story."
The wars of Afganistan and Iraq (plus all other war-time casualties combined) still don't equal the staggering total of alcohol related injuries and death in our world today. We gasp in shock and horror (and rightfully so) as over 150,000 people's lives are swept away in an instant from earthquakes and tidal waves yet are strangely desensitized to the fact that millions more are gradually killing themselves through alcohol and substance abuse.
The remedy is not so much in adhering to the gospel of alcohol manufacturers to "drink responsibly"; instead, the remedy is to turn to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to "...open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness" (Isaiah 42:7).
If you or a friend you know are caught in the web of addiction to the crisp, clean, and refreshing taste of beer, wine, hard liquor, illegal drugs (or abuse of prescription drugs), may I encourage you to enjoy the crisp, clean, and refreshing invitation of Jesus Christ who alone is able to set you free from the law of sin and death.
DSR
1/24/05
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders...no DRUNKARDS nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinithians 6:9-10 - emphasis mine).
* * *
Driving home from the local university from a workout recently I passed a beer truck. On the side of the truck in huge letters was the name of the beer being proudly advertised. Just below the product's name were stenciled these three words: Crisp, clean, refreshing.
I thought to myself, that's false advertising. Three alternate words came to my mind immediately: "dangerous, poisonous, deadly".
As a pastor, I've seen the horrific aftermath of those who bought the lie that alcoholic beverages were in fact crisp, clean, and refreshing. I've counseled with them in my office as they've held their heads in their hands, crying hot salty tears, because they're on the brink of losing everything dear to them due to alcoholism.
In so many words, they've desribed different aspects of their lives being destroyed by imbibing crisp, clean, and refreshing alcoholic beverages:
* * *
THEIR WORK LIFE IN THREE WORDS: tardiness, absentee-ism, fired
THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH IN THREE WORDS: sickness, cirrosis, obesity
THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IN THREE WORDS: addiction, anguish, bondage
THEIR FAMILY LIFE IN THREE WORDS: verbal-abuse, physical-abuse, sexual-abuse
THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS IN THREE WORDS: lack, collections, poverty
THEIR LEGAL STATUS IN THREE WORDS: fines, lockup, suspension
THE ACCIDENT THEY CAUSED IN THREE WORDS: child, tragedy, casket
* * *
Unless they repent, their eternal status can be summed up in three words as well: judgment, loss, hell.
It's not only mothers who are against drunk driving. It's not only police departments and school systems that are against substance abuse. God opposes drunkeness.
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).
God is not trying to steal your fun and rain on your parade. God is trying to redeem your life from destruction and surround you with lovingkindness.
God knows that it's not only the liquor stores and retailers that sell alcohol that gain a clientele from the users of this product - it's the doctor's offices, hospitals, counseling centers, and funeral homes that bear the increased burden.
Satan's tactics include tempting us to sin while witholding information about the consequences of such choices. Beer commercials portray happy, scantily-clad slim women and handsome men with flat abs enjoying their product but they conveniently leave out "the rest of the story."
The wars of Afganistan and Iraq (plus all other war-time casualties combined) still don't equal the staggering total of alcohol related injuries and death in our world today. We gasp in shock and horror (and rightfully so) as over 150,000 people's lives are swept away in an instant from earthquakes and tidal waves yet are strangely desensitized to the fact that millions more are gradually killing themselves through alcohol and substance abuse.
The remedy is not so much in adhering to the gospel of alcohol manufacturers to "drink responsibly"; instead, the remedy is to turn to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to "...open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness" (Isaiah 42:7).
If you or a friend you know are caught in the web of addiction to the crisp, clean, and refreshing taste of beer, wine, hard liquor, illegal drugs (or abuse of prescription drugs), may I encourage you to enjoy the crisp, clean, and refreshing invitation of Jesus Christ who alone is able to set you free from the law of sin and death.
DSR
1/24/05
Monday, January 17, 2005
King David, the Man of Blood
by David Scott Robertson
1 Chron. 28:2-3 (NASB)
Then King David rose to his feet and said, "Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. [3] "But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.'
* * *
King David had the unique honor of being called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). There are a lot of noteworthy people listed in the Bible, but no one else gets this extraordinary comment made about them.
One reason for this might be David’s incomparable passion for God. David loved God so much that he was willing to become undignified in his worship before the Lord. This caused some to despise him for it (2 Samuel 6:20-21). God loves it when people fear God more than men.
Another reason David might have been called a man after God’s own heart is that David had an unparalleled understanding of and appreciation for authority. He demonstrated this time and again when he refused to kill King Saul even though he had multiple opportunities to do so as Saul relentlessly hunted David down like an animal.
David’s zeal for God is forever documented in the many Psalms that bear his name as author. His love songs were not to women but to his God. And God loved him for it and made a covenant with David establishing his dynasty forever.
Once God had firmly established David’s kingdom, it was in the heart of David to build a permanent dwelling – a magnificent temple – to house the Ark of the Covenant and to glorify the name of the one true God, Jehovah.
But here is where God draws the line and says no. He sends Nathan the prophet to the king to relay the message that it is a good thing for David to desire to honor God in building a temple. But that honor will not fall to David but rather to his son Solomon.
The reason? “But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.' (1 Chronicles 28:3).
There is no telling how much blood David shed on the battlefield. As a matter of fact, David was such a prolific warrior that the women of the day made up a song about David’s conquests:
(1 Sam 18:7 NIV) As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
Even on his deathbed, David, the man of blood, is plotting the murders of men. He instructs Solomon to execute Joah son of Zeruiah for his senseless murder of two of David’s army generals (1 Kings 2:5-6). And David also says this about a man named Shimei son of Gera, the man who cursed David with a terrible curse as he was fleeing from Absalom:
“[David to Solomon] You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him’” (1 Kings 2:9).
David was a man of war and a man of blood. But it’s not the blood he shed on the battlefield fighting the righteous battles of the Lord that I believe prevented David from building the temple. I believe there was blood on his hands that had nothing to do with the “tens of thousands” of deaths he was responsible for, both directly and indirectly as commander-in-chief of Israel’s armed forces.
The reason I feel David was called “a man of blood” was because he shed the innocent blood of one man: Uriah the Hittite. In his lust, David had an affair with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and got her pregnant. To cover up his sin, David plotted the death of Uriah, who incidentally was listed among David’s mightiest men. Uriah was part of a famous and elite group of David’s troops called “The Thirty” (2 Samuel 23:39) that put their lives on the line constantly in defense of the king and Israel.
Although David did not personally plunge the dagger into Uriah’s heart and take his life, God nevertheless held the king responsible for the death sentence that David had imposed on this faithful warrior. And because of that, I believe, the Holy Spirit who inspires the writing of all scripture, chose to have King David described as “a man of blood.”
Psalm 51 records the deeply repentant response of King David to Nathan the Prophet’s exposure of the conspiracy. And this repentance and subsequent reconciliation with his God saved the kingdom from being handed over to another more worthy to rule as God did in the case of King Saul who had disobeyed God so flagrantly.
David was forgiven but the consequences for David, the man of blood, were that the sword of violence within his own household would never depart. David made love to Bathsheba at the cost of three of his sons' lives (the baby from the affair, Ammon, and Absalom) and the privilege to build the temple to the great God Jehovah.
The book of Proverbs hosts a list of seven things that God hates. Included in the list are “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17). May we as modern-day Christians, the blood-bought church of the redeemed, treat the blood of men and of Jesus with utmost respect.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
DSR
1/17/05
1 Chron. 28:2-3 (NASB)
Then King David rose to his feet and said, "Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. [3] "But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.'
* * *
King David had the unique honor of being called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). There are a lot of noteworthy people listed in the Bible, but no one else gets this extraordinary comment made about them.
One reason for this might be David’s incomparable passion for God. David loved God so much that he was willing to become undignified in his worship before the Lord. This caused some to despise him for it (2 Samuel 6:20-21). God loves it when people fear God more than men.
Another reason David might have been called a man after God’s own heart is that David had an unparalleled understanding of and appreciation for authority. He demonstrated this time and again when he refused to kill King Saul even though he had multiple opportunities to do so as Saul relentlessly hunted David down like an animal.
David’s zeal for God is forever documented in the many Psalms that bear his name as author. His love songs were not to women but to his God. And God loved him for it and made a covenant with David establishing his dynasty forever.
Once God had firmly established David’s kingdom, it was in the heart of David to build a permanent dwelling – a magnificent temple – to house the Ark of the Covenant and to glorify the name of the one true God, Jehovah.
But here is where God draws the line and says no. He sends Nathan the prophet to the king to relay the message that it is a good thing for David to desire to honor God in building a temple. But that honor will not fall to David but rather to his son Solomon.
The reason? “But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.' (1 Chronicles 28:3).
There is no telling how much blood David shed on the battlefield. As a matter of fact, David was such a prolific warrior that the women of the day made up a song about David’s conquests:
(1 Sam 18:7 NIV) As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
Even on his deathbed, David, the man of blood, is plotting the murders of men. He instructs Solomon to execute Joah son of Zeruiah for his senseless murder of two of David’s army generals (1 Kings 2:5-6). And David also says this about a man named Shimei son of Gera, the man who cursed David with a terrible curse as he was fleeing from Absalom:
“[David to Solomon] You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him’” (1 Kings 2:9).
David was a man of war and a man of blood. But it’s not the blood he shed on the battlefield fighting the righteous battles of the Lord that I believe prevented David from building the temple. I believe there was blood on his hands that had nothing to do with the “tens of thousands” of deaths he was responsible for, both directly and indirectly as commander-in-chief of Israel’s armed forces.
The reason I feel David was called “a man of blood” was because he shed the innocent blood of one man: Uriah the Hittite. In his lust, David had an affair with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and got her pregnant. To cover up his sin, David plotted the death of Uriah, who incidentally was listed among David’s mightiest men. Uriah was part of a famous and elite group of David’s troops called “The Thirty” (2 Samuel 23:39) that put their lives on the line constantly in defense of the king and Israel.
Although David did not personally plunge the dagger into Uriah’s heart and take his life, God nevertheless held the king responsible for the death sentence that David had imposed on this faithful warrior. And because of that, I believe, the Holy Spirit who inspires the writing of all scripture, chose to have King David described as “a man of blood.”
Psalm 51 records the deeply repentant response of King David to Nathan the Prophet’s exposure of the conspiracy. And this repentance and subsequent reconciliation with his God saved the kingdom from being handed over to another more worthy to rule as God did in the case of King Saul who had disobeyed God so flagrantly.
David was forgiven but the consequences for David, the man of blood, were that the sword of violence within his own household would never depart. David made love to Bathsheba at the cost of three of his sons' lives (the baby from the affair, Ammon, and Absalom) and the privilege to build the temple to the great God Jehovah.
The book of Proverbs hosts a list of seven things that God hates. Included in the list are “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17). May we as modern-day Christians, the blood-bought church of the redeemed, treat the blood of men and of Jesus with utmost respect.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
DSR
1/17/05
Monday, January 10, 2005
For the Lord Was With Him
by David Scott Robertson
"David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him" (1 Samuel 18:14).
* * *
When I read this verse in my daily Bible reading in 1 Samuel chapter 18, I don't mind telling you that I wanted it to apply to me. I wanted it to become one of my "life verses" that I commit to memory and quote regularly. It's perfect for me. I know it refers to David, son of Jesse, whom Samuel anointed to be king of Israel. But what if I could somehow lift that verse from the Scriptures and have it apply to me, now? Wouldn't that be great?
"David [Scott Robertson] continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him."
There are other verses in the same chapter that are equally fantastic that illustrate that David's phenomenal success was due to the Lord's being with him:
- "Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander in his army, an appointment that was applauded by the fighting men and officers alike" (1 Samuel 18:5).
- "But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle" (1 Samuel 18:16).
- "Whenever the Philistine army attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's officers. So David's name became very famous through the land" (1 Samuel 18:30).
But alas, the Lord's presence in this ancient patriarch's life is an isolated incident, right? The Lord granting David of old unusual favor, incredible success, and supernatural protection were all a "one-time thing," right? God did this because He wanted to build a dynasty through David, and eventually through his son, Solomon, and ultimately fulfill the Messianic prophecies that the Christ would come through the house and line of David, isn't that correct?
Yes and no. While it is true that God had a sovereign plan for King David and his lineage, and it is true that the Messiah would eventually come through this natural ancestry, at the same time it is not true that God's favor and presence in David's life was an isolated incident, a one-time thing!
I believe with all my heart that God does not play favorites. If we as modern-day followers of Jesus, disciples of Christ, true believers in the Son of God, "fear God and keep His commandments" (Ecclesiastes 12:13), then it is my firm conviction that we can enjoy the same presence of God and subsequent success in life and times as King David did in his. I believe my statement here is more than "wishful-thinking" and really draws upon theological underpinnings to validate its truth to me and you:
- "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'" (Hebrews 13:5).
- "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
- "…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
- "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8).
What was it about King David that so drew God's attention that He instructed the prophet Samuel to fill up his horn with oil and go and anoint David, son of Jesse to be king?
- David's first love was God.
- David was a passionate worshipper.
- David was a humble man.
- David was obedient in all things to God and man.
- David had a profound respect for authority.
- David was loyal to his friends.
- David loved his family immensely.
- David was a man after God's own heart.
Would your friends testify that the above list of statements pretty much describe you?
Do you possess qualities such as these? Are you growing in these areas? Is Jesus truly your first love?
If so, then you have a heart after God and you can expect that His presence will go with you and He will give you rest (Exodus 33:14). As God was with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Moses and Elijah and Jeremiah and Samuel and David and Paul and Peter and James and John…so God will be with you. And if God is with you, success in whatever your hand finds to do cannot be far behind.
DSR
1/10/05
"David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him" (1 Samuel 18:14).
* * *
When I read this verse in my daily Bible reading in 1 Samuel chapter 18, I don't mind telling you that I wanted it to apply to me. I wanted it to become one of my "life verses" that I commit to memory and quote regularly. It's perfect for me. I know it refers to David, son of Jesse, whom Samuel anointed to be king of Israel. But what if I could somehow lift that verse from the Scriptures and have it apply to me, now? Wouldn't that be great?
"David [Scott Robertson] continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him."
There are other verses in the same chapter that are equally fantastic that illustrate that David's phenomenal success was due to the Lord's being with him:
- "Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander in his army, an appointment that was applauded by the fighting men and officers alike" (1 Samuel 18:5).
- "But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle" (1 Samuel 18:16).
- "Whenever the Philistine army attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's officers. So David's name became very famous through the land" (1 Samuel 18:30).
But alas, the Lord's presence in this ancient patriarch's life is an isolated incident, right? The Lord granting David of old unusual favor, incredible success, and supernatural protection were all a "one-time thing," right? God did this because He wanted to build a dynasty through David, and eventually through his son, Solomon, and ultimately fulfill the Messianic prophecies that the Christ would come through the house and line of David, isn't that correct?
Yes and no. While it is true that God had a sovereign plan for King David and his lineage, and it is true that the Messiah would eventually come through this natural ancestry, at the same time it is not true that God's favor and presence in David's life was an isolated incident, a one-time thing!
I believe with all my heart that God does not play favorites. If we as modern-day followers of Jesus, disciples of Christ, true believers in the Son of God, "fear God and keep His commandments" (Ecclesiastes 12:13), then it is my firm conviction that we can enjoy the same presence of God and subsequent success in life and times as King David did in his. I believe my statement here is more than "wishful-thinking" and really draws upon theological underpinnings to validate its truth to me and you:
- "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'" (Hebrews 13:5).
- "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
- "…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
- "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8).
What was it about King David that so drew God's attention that He instructed the prophet Samuel to fill up his horn with oil and go and anoint David, son of Jesse to be king?
- David's first love was God.
- David was a passionate worshipper.
- David was a humble man.
- David was obedient in all things to God and man.
- David had a profound respect for authority.
- David was loyal to his friends.
- David loved his family immensely.
- David was a man after God's own heart.
Would your friends testify that the above list of statements pretty much describe you?
Do you possess qualities such as these? Are you growing in these areas? Is Jesus truly your first love?
If so, then you have a heart after God and you can expect that His presence will go with you and He will give you rest (Exodus 33:14). As God was with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Moses and Elijah and Jeremiah and Samuel and David and Paul and Peter and James and John…so God will be with you. And if God is with you, success in whatever your hand finds to do cannot be far behind.
DSR
1/10/05
Monday, January 3, 2005
Seven Steps to a Blowout Year
by David Scott Robertson
How many of you reading this would like for the year 2005 to be the best year of your life? How would you like to surpass merely SURVIVING the year? Survival is good. Nearly 150,000 (so far) victims of the terrible tsunami in Southeast Asia weren't even able to accomplish this feat last year (through no fault of their own).
For us in America, surviving 2005 means that at the end of the year you were not only able to accomplish respiration, digestion, and circulation successfully for another twelve months, but you were also able to avoid a natural catastrophe or freak accident. That's great, but how many of you like me have set your sights for 2005 beyond mere survival?
How would you like to surpass even being SUCCESSFUL in 2005? Being successful means getting a few "wins under your belt" throughout the year. Maybe you've set your sights on changing careers, or obtaining a promotion and earning a higher wage. Perhaps your goals include getting on a budget and beginning a savings account, or starting to exercise and eat right and lose 15 pounds to improve the quality of your life. Maybe in 2005 you want to go back to school and learn a skill, a trade, or finish your degree. Once again, that's all good, but is worldly success - academically or economically - really all there is to life?
How would you like to stretch past survival and past success all the way to actually making 2005 the most SIGNIFICANT year in the history of you? Do you believe that this is possible? What if something bad happens? What if you get sick? What if you go to the doctor and he says the "C" word? What then? What if you get fired? What if you total the car in a ditch? What if somebody you love dies? Does that automatically disqualify 2005 from being the best year?
Not necessarily. You see, it's not what happens TO YOU, but what happens IN YOU that counts. A significant life is an inside job. It's getting a winning attitude inside you that comes through faith in God who is bigger and stronger and wiser than any obstacle you and I will face in the New Year.
I believe that we individually play a big role in whether or not 2005 is going to be best year of our lives. We've got to be serious enough to make a commitment. A commitment is when you give your word that you're going to do something and you do it. In this thought today, I'm going to challenge you to make 7 commitments to GOD and YOURSELF in order to assure your victory in the New Year.
COMMITMENT #1: I WILL DO THE SPIRITUAL BASICS WELL
For years I've been saying that "living the Christian life rarely goes beyond doing the basics well." Interview any respected and stable Christian and you will find three basic but common denominators that I encourage you to enfold into your own daily routine:
(1) I WILL READ MY BIBLE FROM COVER-TO-COVER IN 2005 - I recommend using the One-Year Bible format available at any Christian bookstore.
(2) I WILL HAVE A DAILY PRAYER TIME - Give the "first-fruits" of every day in '05 to the Lord. Make time to talk to Him in prayer and spend a few moments each day listening.
(3) I WILL WORSHIP GOD DAILY - Get a worship CD or tape and listen to it until you can sing the words to each song by heart. Then get another CD or tape and repeat the process. Just like "burning a CD" on your home PC, you need to burn worship songs onto the tablet of your heart so that you can recall them from memory. Worship is a weapon and powerful spiritual warfare.
COMMITMENT #2: I WILL GET AND STAY PURE
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
How serious is God about this purity thing? Well, according to the above scripture, without it you won't even make it to heaven. Let me make a statement: There will be no ongoing spiritual power in your life without purity. God is not going to dispense miracle-working power to lukewarm believers.
Personal holiness is not an impossible standard. When the Bible calls something holy, it means it has been "set apart for God's use." It is reserved, consecrated, dedicated to God exclusively. Is that something you desire?
To get pure, repent of known sin. Ask God to expose sinful tendencies in you. Examine your thought life. Avoid sexual immorality. Make personal holiness and sexual purity a priority in your life in 2005.
If I were king, I would require every married man in my kingdom to read the book "Every Man's Battle" by Steve Arterburn and Fred Stoeker. I would require every single man in my kingdom to read "Every Young Man's Battle." These books help men win the war for their purity in a sexually-charged society. "Every Woman's Battle" and "Every Young Woman's Battle" assist women in the same pursuit of sexual purity.
Why is this important? Because Internet porn is the #1 addiction in the United States of America. Because the divorce rate in the church and in the world are no different. Because sexually active church-going singles fill our churches in epidemic proportions. Few things short-circuit God's plan for your life faster than sexual impurity. The Ten Commandments condemned adultery, but Jesus took it a step further in the New Testament:
"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
The very (controversial) subjects of masturbation and "how far can a Christian go?" are robbing Christians of discernment and disqualifying many from the Christian race. A moral failure is not easily overcome. God's standard for purity is plain:
"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people" (Ephesians 5:3).
COMMITMENT #3: I WILL CONNECT WITH GOD'S PEOPLE
Don't connect with just anybody, connect with God's people who will "spur you on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). If you are a Christian, your best friend should not be an unbeliever. Establish and fiercely guard strong boundaries.
Why so dogmatic on this? Because God will not be mocked, "…Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Be faithful to attend church services. Get in a small group. Get a prayer / accountability partner whom you give permission to ask you the hard questions.
I assure you that all the Christian men who had an affair in 2004 and all the Christian women who caved into temptation in 2004 did not make and keep these first 3 commitments that I've described thus far.
If you don't want to lose spiritual ground in this New Year, then you must make a commitment to stay connected to God's people, the church, the family of God, the community of believers.
COMMITMENT #4: I WILL WIN SOULS AND MAKE DISCIPLES
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…And lo, I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
By making a decision to join God in His work of seeking and saving those who are lost you automatically have positioned yourself in the center of God's #1 priority for mankind. God is "not willing that any should perish" (2 Peter 3:9), but that all should come to repentance. And guess who He wants to enlist to fulfill this Great Commission? You. Accept the challenge and there's a great reward for you on the Day of Judgment; neglect it and suffer loss.
COMMITMENT #5: I WILL CONSECRATE EVERYTHING I HAVE TO GOD
This commitment is key. It's a major expression of your faith and trust in God to "let go and let God have His way" with all the variables and people that make up your life and lifestyle.
I implore you to completely give your marriage, your kids, your relationships, your job, your money, your time, your goals, hopes, and dreams to God. Lay them on the altar and echo Jesus' God-pleasing, world-changing profession: "not my will, but yours be done" (Matthew 26:42).
There is nothing you and I have and enjoy that did not come directly or indirectly from the hand of God. Our possessions are stewardship responsibilities - from our cars to our kids - for God to monitor how wisely we use these resources to see how He will use us in eternity.
COMMITMENT #6: I WILL RISE ABOVE THE LEVEL OF MEDIOCRITY
I am passionate about what I'm about to say to you on this point. I hate mediocrity with a perfect hatred and count it my enemy! I hate normal and usual and boring routine that sucks the adventure out of life!
God didn't make you and me to be turkeys scratching dirt but the more appropriate metaphor is majestic eagles fashioned to soar on the thermals and see things no turkey will ever see! I want to encourage you to live life on the edge - to push the envelope of your experience with God!
Live an expanded life. Like Jabez ask and receive from God an enlarged spiritual territory. Do that thing that God has been nudging you to do but you've been too chicken to do. Quit holding back in public and private worship for fear of looking stupid.
Rising above the level of mediocrity is removing whatever limitations that have intimidated the daylights out of you and tethered you like a hot air balloon on a rope and kept you from soaring to new heights in God.
Are you always playing it safe when it comes to the things of God? Are you too timid and shy to dare to believe God for more that you're currently experiencing? I've heard it said that "it takes guts to get out of the ruts." A rut is nothing more than a grave with both ends kicked out. Good, Christian people who would never consider commiting suicide will nevertheless live far below their privileges and fritter away their goal-less, aim-less lives one meaningless day at a time.
Don't let it happen to you! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct you into hundreds of opportunities this year to really live an expanded life that is anything but mediocre.
COMMITMENT #7: I WILL LOOK FOR JESUS TO RETURN IN 2005
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Jesus did not return in 2004, perhaps 2005. It's possible. The Rapture of the Church is a biblical fact. You may not understand it or you may not have heard many sermons preached on the subject at your church, but it nevertheless is an event on God's prophetic time clock.
This same Jesus who came to earth the first time as the Suffering Savior will one day return as THE Conquering King of kings and Lord of lords!
There are many compelling signs of Christ's return to this earth as prophesied in the Bible. I believe the catastrophe of the 9.0 undersea earthquake and subsequent tidal waves which massacured Sumatra, India, Indonesia, and other nations is one of those signs.
Luke 21:25 reveals that in the last days prior to Jesus' return: "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea." Are the nations not in anguish at this very hour at the roaring and tossing of the sea?
Plan like He's not coming back in your lifetime, but live like He's coming back today!
My friends, as we approach a New Year, we need to have tucked away in our hearts an expectancy that we will live to see the coming of the Lord and an urgency to get about the Father's business of winnings souls and making disciples.
DSR
1/3/05
How many of you reading this would like for the year 2005 to be the best year of your life? How would you like to surpass merely SURVIVING the year? Survival is good. Nearly 150,000 (so far) victims of the terrible tsunami in Southeast Asia weren't even able to accomplish this feat last year (through no fault of their own).
For us in America, surviving 2005 means that at the end of the year you were not only able to accomplish respiration, digestion, and circulation successfully for another twelve months, but you were also able to avoid a natural catastrophe or freak accident. That's great, but how many of you like me have set your sights for 2005 beyond mere survival?
How would you like to surpass even being SUCCESSFUL in 2005? Being successful means getting a few "wins under your belt" throughout the year. Maybe you've set your sights on changing careers, or obtaining a promotion and earning a higher wage. Perhaps your goals include getting on a budget and beginning a savings account, or starting to exercise and eat right and lose 15 pounds to improve the quality of your life. Maybe in 2005 you want to go back to school and learn a skill, a trade, or finish your degree. Once again, that's all good, but is worldly success - academically or economically - really all there is to life?
How would you like to stretch past survival and past success all the way to actually making 2005 the most SIGNIFICANT year in the history of you? Do you believe that this is possible? What if something bad happens? What if you get sick? What if you go to the doctor and he says the "C" word? What then? What if you get fired? What if you total the car in a ditch? What if somebody you love dies? Does that automatically disqualify 2005 from being the best year?
Not necessarily. You see, it's not what happens TO YOU, but what happens IN YOU that counts. A significant life is an inside job. It's getting a winning attitude inside you that comes through faith in God who is bigger and stronger and wiser than any obstacle you and I will face in the New Year.
I believe that we individually play a big role in whether or not 2005 is going to be best year of our lives. We've got to be serious enough to make a commitment. A commitment is when you give your word that you're going to do something and you do it. In this thought today, I'm going to challenge you to make 7 commitments to GOD and YOURSELF in order to assure your victory in the New Year.
COMMITMENT #1: I WILL DO THE SPIRITUAL BASICS WELL
For years I've been saying that "living the Christian life rarely goes beyond doing the basics well." Interview any respected and stable Christian and you will find three basic but common denominators that I encourage you to enfold into your own daily routine:
(1) I WILL READ MY BIBLE FROM COVER-TO-COVER IN 2005 - I recommend using the One-Year Bible format available at any Christian bookstore.
(2) I WILL HAVE A DAILY PRAYER TIME - Give the "first-fruits" of every day in '05 to the Lord. Make time to talk to Him in prayer and spend a few moments each day listening.
(3) I WILL WORSHIP GOD DAILY - Get a worship CD or tape and listen to it until you can sing the words to each song by heart. Then get another CD or tape and repeat the process. Just like "burning a CD" on your home PC, you need to burn worship songs onto the tablet of your heart so that you can recall them from memory. Worship is a weapon and powerful spiritual warfare.
COMMITMENT #2: I WILL GET AND STAY PURE
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
How serious is God about this purity thing? Well, according to the above scripture, without it you won't even make it to heaven. Let me make a statement: There will be no ongoing spiritual power in your life without purity. God is not going to dispense miracle-working power to lukewarm believers.
Personal holiness is not an impossible standard. When the Bible calls something holy, it means it has been "set apart for God's use." It is reserved, consecrated, dedicated to God exclusively. Is that something you desire?
To get pure, repent of known sin. Ask God to expose sinful tendencies in you. Examine your thought life. Avoid sexual immorality. Make personal holiness and sexual purity a priority in your life in 2005.
If I were king, I would require every married man in my kingdom to read the book "Every Man's Battle" by Steve Arterburn and Fred Stoeker. I would require every single man in my kingdom to read "Every Young Man's Battle." These books help men win the war for their purity in a sexually-charged society. "Every Woman's Battle" and "Every Young Woman's Battle" assist women in the same pursuit of sexual purity.
Why is this important? Because Internet porn is the #1 addiction in the United States of America. Because the divorce rate in the church and in the world are no different. Because sexually active church-going singles fill our churches in epidemic proportions. Few things short-circuit God's plan for your life faster than sexual impurity. The Ten Commandments condemned adultery, but Jesus took it a step further in the New Testament:
"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
The very (controversial) subjects of masturbation and "how far can a Christian go?" are robbing Christians of discernment and disqualifying many from the Christian race. A moral failure is not easily overcome. God's standard for purity is plain:
"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people" (Ephesians 5:3).
COMMITMENT #3: I WILL CONNECT WITH GOD'S PEOPLE
Don't connect with just anybody, connect with God's people who will "spur you on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). If you are a Christian, your best friend should not be an unbeliever. Establish and fiercely guard strong boundaries.
Why so dogmatic on this? Because God will not be mocked, "…Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Be faithful to attend church services. Get in a small group. Get a prayer / accountability partner whom you give permission to ask you the hard questions.
I assure you that all the Christian men who had an affair in 2004 and all the Christian women who caved into temptation in 2004 did not make and keep these first 3 commitments that I've described thus far.
If you don't want to lose spiritual ground in this New Year, then you must make a commitment to stay connected to God's people, the church, the family of God, the community of believers.
COMMITMENT #4: I WILL WIN SOULS AND MAKE DISCIPLES
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…And lo, I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
By making a decision to join God in His work of seeking and saving those who are lost you automatically have positioned yourself in the center of God's #1 priority for mankind. God is "not willing that any should perish" (2 Peter 3:9), but that all should come to repentance. And guess who He wants to enlist to fulfill this Great Commission? You. Accept the challenge and there's a great reward for you on the Day of Judgment; neglect it and suffer loss.
COMMITMENT #5: I WILL CONSECRATE EVERYTHING I HAVE TO GOD
This commitment is key. It's a major expression of your faith and trust in God to "let go and let God have His way" with all the variables and people that make up your life and lifestyle.
I implore you to completely give your marriage, your kids, your relationships, your job, your money, your time, your goals, hopes, and dreams to God. Lay them on the altar and echo Jesus' God-pleasing, world-changing profession: "not my will, but yours be done" (Matthew 26:42).
There is nothing you and I have and enjoy that did not come directly or indirectly from the hand of God. Our possessions are stewardship responsibilities - from our cars to our kids - for God to monitor how wisely we use these resources to see how He will use us in eternity.
COMMITMENT #6: I WILL RISE ABOVE THE LEVEL OF MEDIOCRITY
I am passionate about what I'm about to say to you on this point. I hate mediocrity with a perfect hatred and count it my enemy! I hate normal and usual and boring routine that sucks the adventure out of life!
God didn't make you and me to be turkeys scratching dirt but the more appropriate metaphor is majestic eagles fashioned to soar on the thermals and see things no turkey will ever see! I want to encourage you to live life on the edge - to push the envelope of your experience with God!
Live an expanded life. Like Jabez ask and receive from God an enlarged spiritual territory. Do that thing that God has been nudging you to do but you've been too chicken to do. Quit holding back in public and private worship for fear of looking stupid.
Rising above the level of mediocrity is removing whatever limitations that have intimidated the daylights out of you and tethered you like a hot air balloon on a rope and kept you from soaring to new heights in God.
Are you always playing it safe when it comes to the things of God? Are you too timid and shy to dare to believe God for more that you're currently experiencing? I've heard it said that "it takes guts to get out of the ruts." A rut is nothing more than a grave with both ends kicked out. Good, Christian people who would never consider commiting suicide will nevertheless live far below their privileges and fritter away their goal-less, aim-less lives one meaningless day at a time.
Don't let it happen to you! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct you into hundreds of opportunities this year to really live an expanded life that is anything but mediocre.
COMMITMENT #7: I WILL LOOK FOR JESUS TO RETURN IN 2005
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Jesus did not return in 2004, perhaps 2005. It's possible. The Rapture of the Church is a biblical fact. You may not understand it or you may not have heard many sermons preached on the subject at your church, but it nevertheless is an event on God's prophetic time clock.
This same Jesus who came to earth the first time as the Suffering Savior will one day return as THE Conquering King of kings and Lord of lords!
There are many compelling signs of Christ's return to this earth as prophesied in the Bible. I believe the catastrophe of the 9.0 undersea earthquake and subsequent tidal waves which massacured Sumatra, India, Indonesia, and other nations is one of those signs.
Luke 21:25 reveals that in the last days prior to Jesus' return: "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea." Are the nations not in anguish at this very hour at the roaring and tossing of the sea?
Plan like He's not coming back in your lifetime, but live like He's coming back today!
My friends, as we approach a New Year, we need to have tucked away in our hearts an expectancy that we will live to see the coming of the Lord and an urgency to get about the Father's business of winnings souls and making disciples.
DSR
1/3/05
Monday, December 27, 2004
Scripture Pep Talk
by David Scott Robertson
When the circumstances around you
Don't look so super great --
Just bear in mind, my Christian friend,
ROMANS 8 AND 28.
When you mess up one more time,
And fear your sin will prevent your entrance to heaven --
Remember that God's grace is sufficient in
FIRST JOHN 1 AND 7.
When your pathway seems so rocky,
And appears crooked as can be --
Remember who your Shepherd is in
PSALM 37 AND 23.
When you're tired and you're weary,
And your burden is too heavy a weight --
Just rest in the peaceful comfort of
MATTHEW 11 AND 28.
When you sense your enemy closing in,
And fear your protection is all but gone --
Don't worry, you're not helpless,
Declare all of PSALM 91.
Just look up to the Lord,
And know that He's always right on time -
Be strong and brave and daring
Directs JOSHUA 1 AND 9.
For if you trust in Jesus,
Whose grace and mercy are plenty -
That blessed day is coming soon
When we realize REVELATION 22 AND 20.
DSR
12/27/04
When the circumstances around you
Don't look so super great --
Just bear in mind, my Christian friend,
ROMANS 8 AND 28.
When you mess up one more time,
And fear your sin will prevent your entrance to heaven --
Remember that God's grace is sufficient in
FIRST JOHN 1 AND 7.
When your pathway seems so rocky,
And appears crooked as can be --
Remember who your Shepherd is in
PSALM 37 AND 23.
When you're tired and you're weary,
And your burden is too heavy a weight --
Just rest in the peaceful comfort of
MATTHEW 11 AND 28.
When you sense your enemy closing in,
And fear your protection is all but gone --
Don't worry, you're not helpless,
Declare all of PSALM 91.
Just look up to the Lord,
And know that He's always right on time -
Be strong and brave and daring
Directs JOSHUA 1 AND 9.
For if you trust in Jesus,
Whose grace and mercy are plenty -
That blessed day is coming soon
When we realize REVELATION 22 AND 20.
DSR
12/27/04
Monday, December 20, 2004
Are We There Yet?
by David Scott Robertson
* * *
"Are we there yet?" Any parent will tell you this familiar question from their child rates right up there with "What did you bring me?" or "Can I go, please, please, please?" Children are famous for their impatience. For them, instant gratification takes too long. Unfortunately, many children grow up to become adults who say the same things to God, albeit in more sophisticated language.
"How long, Lord, how long, before you come through on my prayer? I've done my part, now please do yours (ending the prayer "in Jesus' name," of course).
"Father, you know this is the desire of my heart; can't you make it happen?"
"Lord, I want your will in the matter but please, please, please let your will be that I can go!"
Adults are famous for their impatience. For many, instant gratification takes too long. We see it in biblical times and we see it in our time.
Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus
John 11:32 (NLT)
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell down at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
Mary basically is saying, "Jesus, you're a day late and a dollar short! If you had come when you were sent for we wouldn't be in this mess!"
JAIRUS, THE SYNOGOGUE RULER
Mark 5:35 (NLT)
While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus's home with the message, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."
The messengers basically were saying, "It's too late, now, Jairus. Your daughter has passed away. There's absolutely no use for Jesus to come to house now."
KING SAUL
1 Samuel 13:10-12 (NLT)
Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, [11] but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?"
Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. [12] So I said, 'The Philistines are ready to march against us, and I haven't even asked for the Lord's help!' So I felt obliged to offer the burnt offering myself before you came."
King Saul was basically saying to Samuel, the prophet of God: "Listen, Samuel, you're late! Since you didn't keep your word and show up when you said you would I felt 'led of the Spirit' to go ahead and offer up the burnt offering to encourage my soldiers. My army is down to about 600 men as it is!"
Two out of three of these stories had a happy ending. Jesus raised Mary's brother, Lazarus, from the dead as well as Jairus' daughter. King Saul, however, lost the kingdom through his impatience and disobedience.
The moral of this story is that whenever you are tempted to accuse God of dragging his feet, don't. Resist it. Take a thought like that captive. It is a lustful, carnal thought that does not come from God but from the evil one.
God is never late, ever. He knows exactly what He is doing and when is the best time to do it. God is not into "instant gratification" because it rarely benefits His children.
Psalm 84:11 (NLT)
For the Lord God is our light and protector.
He gives us grace and glory.
No good thing will the Lord withhold
from those who do what is right.
The Lord is not going to withhold anything from you that is good for you, including lessons, testing, and discipline.
Are you there yet? Have you come to the place in your walk with Christ that you trust Him enough to leave the timing issues in your life to Him without griping about it?
DSR
12/20/04
* * *
"Are we there yet?" Any parent will tell you this familiar question from their child rates right up there with "What did you bring me?" or "Can I go, please, please, please?" Children are famous for their impatience. For them, instant gratification takes too long. Unfortunately, many children grow up to become adults who say the same things to God, albeit in more sophisticated language.
"How long, Lord, how long, before you come through on my prayer? I've done my part, now please do yours (ending the prayer "in Jesus' name," of course).
"Father, you know this is the desire of my heart; can't you make it happen?"
"Lord, I want your will in the matter but please, please, please let your will be that I can go!"
Adults are famous for their impatience. For many, instant gratification takes too long. We see it in biblical times and we see it in our time.
Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus
John 11:32 (NLT)
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell down at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
Mary basically is saying, "Jesus, you're a day late and a dollar short! If you had come when you were sent for we wouldn't be in this mess!"
JAIRUS, THE SYNOGOGUE RULER
Mark 5:35 (NLT)
While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus's home with the message, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."
The messengers basically were saying, "It's too late, now, Jairus. Your daughter has passed away. There's absolutely no use for Jesus to come to house now."
KING SAUL
1 Samuel 13:10-12 (NLT)
Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, [11] but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?"
Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. [12] So I said, 'The Philistines are ready to march against us, and I haven't even asked for the Lord's help!' So I felt obliged to offer the burnt offering myself before you came."
King Saul was basically saying to Samuel, the prophet of God: "Listen, Samuel, you're late! Since you didn't keep your word and show up when you said you would I felt 'led of the Spirit' to go ahead and offer up the burnt offering to encourage my soldiers. My army is down to about 600 men as it is!"
Two out of three of these stories had a happy ending. Jesus raised Mary's brother, Lazarus, from the dead as well as Jairus' daughter. King Saul, however, lost the kingdom through his impatience and disobedience.
The moral of this story is that whenever you are tempted to accuse God of dragging his feet, don't. Resist it. Take a thought like that captive. It is a lustful, carnal thought that does not come from God but from the evil one.
God is never late, ever. He knows exactly what He is doing and when is the best time to do it. God is not into "instant gratification" because it rarely benefits His children.
Psalm 84:11 (NLT)
For the Lord God is our light and protector.
He gives us grace and glory.
No good thing will the Lord withhold
from those who do what is right.
The Lord is not going to withhold anything from you that is good for you, including lessons, testing, and discipline.
Are you there yet? Have you come to the place in your walk with Christ that you trust Him enough to leave the timing issues in your life to Him without griping about it?
DSR
12/20/04
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Lying Prostrate Before the Lord
by David Scott Robertson
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35).
* * *
As is my custom, I begin each day with prayer. The time may vary but the habit has been firmly established - the "first fruits" of each day belong to God.
On this particular morning, I was "lying prostrate before the Lord." No, I wasn't engaged in heartfelt prayer in the posture of being on my face (some call it "sucking carpet.") No, I was lying "prostrate before the Lord." That's code for "I was praying and fell asleep!"
Jesus had the right idea in that He "got up" and "left the house" and "went off" somewhere to pray. He knew the human limitations of a tired body and He also knew the incredible power of daily fellowship with His Father. So wisely, His custom was to get up, get out, and get going in communication with God first thing.
Have you ever prayed a sleepy prayer? I believe that sleepy prayers are better than no prayers at all, most especially if you pray in the Spirit! I can identify with the disciples who kept falling asleep while trying to pray and Jesus caught them cat-napping and said:
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Mat 26:41).
Whenever I find myself "lying prostrate before the Lord," I resist the temptation to feel guilty and self-condemning. I no longer feel like I've failed God. I used to think that way but I got over it.
Prayer is not a "pass/fail" proposition. Its quality cannot be measured in terms of quantity. What it all boils down to is that God knows our hearts. He knows our bodies too. He designed them (on purpose) with limited time, strength, and energy. Most important of all, He knows our spiritual hunger for more of Him.
He understands, more than anybody, that when we seek Him with our whole hearts that we will find Him. So even if I run the risk of "lying prostrate before the Lord" as I endeavor to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who apparently was an early riser, I am committed to rely on God's mercy rather than on my own expectations and performance.
I would think that God's "grading policy," if we can call it that at all, accentuates our effort, desire, and motives even more so than results.
Having said that, tomorrow morning, when my two alarms go off (one next to my bed and one way across the room), I'll drag my weary body out of bed and give it another shot. It may be tough but it's definitely worth it once I "break through" into the presence of God!
So my prayer to the Lord to end this thought is a slightly modified version of King David's found in Psalm 19 verse 14:
"May the words [or snores] of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
DSR
12/12/04
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35).
* * *
As is my custom, I begin each day with prayer. The time may vary but the habit has been firmly established - the "first fruits" of each day belong to God.
On this particular morning, I was "lying prostrate before the Lord." No, I wasn't engaged in heartfelt prayer in the posture of being on my face (some call it "sucking carpet.") No, I was lying "prostrate before the Lord." That's code for "I was praying and fell asleep!"
Jesus had the right idea in that He "got up" and "left the house" and "went off" somewhere to pray. He knew the human limitations of a tired body and He also knew the incredible power of daily fellowship with His Father. So wisely, His custom was to get up, get out, and get going in communication with God first thing.
Have you ever prayed a sleepy prayer? I believe that sleepy prayers are better than no prayers at all, most especially if you pray in the Spirit! I can identify with the disciples who kept falling asleep while trying to pray and Jesus caught them cat-napping and said:
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Mat 26:41).
Whenever I find myself "lying prostrate before the Lord," I resist the temptation to feel guilty and self-condemning. I no longer feel like I've failed God. I used to think that way but I got over it.
Prayer is not a "pass/fail" proposition. Its quality cannot be measured in terms of quantity. What it all boils down to is that God knows our hearts. He knows our bodies too. He designed them (on purpose) with limited time, strength, and energy. Most important of all, He knows our spiritual hunger for more of Him.
He understands, more than anybody, that when we seek Him with our whole hearts that we will find Him. So even if I run the risk of "lying prostrate before the Lord" as I endeavor to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who apparently was an early riser, I am committed to rely on God's mercy rather than on my own expectations and performance.
I would think that God's "grading policy," if we can call it that at all, accentuates our effort, desire, and motives even more so than results.
Having said that, tomorrow morning, when my two alarms go off (one next to my bed and one way across the room), I'll drag my weary body out of bed and give it another shot. It may be tough but it's definitely worth it once I "break through" into the presence of God!
So my prayer to the Lord to end this thought is a slightly modified version of King David's found in Psalm 19 verse 14:
"May the words [or snores] of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
DSR
12/12/04
Sunday, December 5, 2004
Lord, Help!
by David Scott Robertson
The next time you find yourself in a sticky situation, I want to encourage you to pray this two-word prayer: "Lord, help!" Never underestimate the power of this prayer. Psalm 107 describes four scenarios in which great distress was turned into great deliverance because the people cried out, "Lord, help!"
* * *
Scenario #1: The Israelites were wandering in the desert, lost and homeless, hungry and thirsty, and they nearly died (v. 4-5).
"'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (v. 6).
Results of this two-word prayer: He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live (v. 7)! He satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things (v. 9)!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them (v. 8)!
* * *
Scenario #2: Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, miserable prisoners in chains (v. 10). They were rebels scorning counsel the counsel of God (v. 11). That's why God broke them with hard labor, and they were falling under the heavy burden with none to rescue them (v. 12).
"'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (v. 13).
Results of this two-word prayer: God snapped their chains and led them out of darkness and deepest gloom (v. 14)! He broke down their prison gates of bronze and cut apart their bars of iron (v. 16)!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them (v. 15)!
* * *
Scenario #3: Some were fools in their rebellion suffering from their sins (v. 17). Their appetites were gone and they were on the brink of death (v. 18).
"'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (v. 19).
Results of this two-word prayer: God spoke and they were healed, snatched from the very door of death (v. 20)!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them (v. 21)!
* * *
Scenario #4: Sailors caught in a tempest, a hurricane so serious that these experienced seamen were cringing in terror, reeling and staggering like drunkards (v. 27).
"'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (v. 28).
Results of this two-word prayer: God calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves (v. 29)! He brought them safely into harbor (v. 30)!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them (v. 31)!
* * *
These are not bad results for a two-word prayer, wouldn't you say? To my understanding, it's not WHAT you pray but TO WHOM you are praying that is important.
"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21).
If you'll allow it to, today's thought will encourage you to pray "Lord, help!" in your time of need and you can expect fantastic results.
DSR
12/5/04
The next time you find yourself in a sticky situation, I want to encourage you to pray this two-word prayer: "Lord, help!" Never underestimate the power of this prayer. Psalm 107 describes four scenarios in which great distress was turned into great deliverance because the people cried out, "Lord, help!"
* * *
Scenario #1: The Israelites were wandering in the desert, lost and homeless, hungry and thirsty, and they nearly died (v. 4-5).
"'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (v. 6).
Results of this two-word prayer: He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live (v. 7)! He satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things (v. 9)!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them (v. 8)!
* * *
Scenario #2: Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, miserable prisoners in chains (v. 10). They were rebels scorning counsel the counsel of God (v. 11). That's why God broke them with hard labor, and they were falling under the heavy burden with none to rescue them (v. 12).
"'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (v. 13).
Results of this two-word prayer: God snapped their chains and led them out of darkness and deepest gloom (v. 14)! He broke down their prison gates of bronze and cut apart their bars of iron (v. 16)!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them (v. 15)!
* * *
Scenario #3: Some were fools in their rebellion suffering from their sins (v. 17). Their appetites were gone and they were on the brink of death (v. 18).
"'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (v. 19).
Results of this two-word prayer: God spoke and they were healed, snatched from the very door of death (v. 20)!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them (v. 21)!
* * *
Scenario #4: Sailors caught in a tempest, a hurricane so serious that these experienced seamen were cringing in terror, reeling and staggering like drunkards (v. 27).
"'Lord, help!' they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress" (v. 28).
Results of this two-word prayer: God calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves (v. 29)! He brought them safely into harbor (v. 30)!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them (v. 31)!
* * *
These are not bad results for a two-word prayer, wouldn't you say? To my understanding, it's not WHAT you pray but TO WHOM you are praying that is important.
"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21).
If you'll allow it to, today's thought will encourage you to pray "Lord, help!" in your time of need and you can expect fantastic results.
DSR
12/5/04
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Do Your Homework
by David Scott Robertson
John 7:40-43 (NLT)
When the crowds heard him [Jesus] say this, some of them declared, "This man surely is the Prophet." [41] Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still others said, "But he can't be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? [42] For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born." [43] So the crowd was divided in their opinion about him.
* * *
Pardon me, but would I sound crass and self-righteous if were to raise the question to those in the crowd the day these statements were made that were recorded in the gospel of John:
"Wait a minute! Has anyone bothered to ask Jesus where He was born? Where did He grow up? Let's ask Jesus right now to help us understand how His life thus far has fulfilled the prophecies concerning the Messiah."
The reason the crowd, both in Jesus' day and in our day, are divided about their opinion about Him is that they have not done their homework. Discovering the truth has rarely been a priority to a busy, self-centered culture. We are prone to make value judgments long before we have the facts established. We permit others to formulate our opinions for us, somehow trusting that they have done their homework when in fact they have not.
There were probably remnants of the multitudes that at various times may have approached Jesus after His public discourses and in essence said:
- "Excuse me, Jesus, may I ask you what you meant when you said…?"
- "Pardon me, Lord, I want to believe what you're saying but I'm having a little trouble understanding. Can you help me?"
- "Rabbi, I'm not a Pharisee, Sadducee, scribe, or teacher of the law. I'm an ordinary man. Will you explain the meaning of the parable you just shared with the crowd, please?"
It's people like these that went home with a revelation of who Jesus really was. It's no wonder why God plainly says through the prophet Hosea: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…" (4:6).
The reason those in the world at large who has heard the gospel message and still question or reject it is that they have not done their homework. If they had, they would come to the inevitable conclusion that Jesus is who He claimed to be - God's only provision for their sin.
Unfortunately, many stubbornly refuse to accept the fact that their personal sin has estranged them from the living God. In their heart of hearts, many sincerely believe that they are good enough to make it to heaven or at least not bad enough to be condemned to hell. They may be sincere but they are sincerely mistaken.
Many agnostics have embarked on a journey to disprove the Bible and the claims of Christ and have collided with the truth along the way and have converted to Christianity.
Christian apologist Winkey Pratney writes in his excellent article "Holy Bible, Wholly True?" that the odds that just 48 of the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ would coincidentally be fulfilled by someone else are 1 x 10to the 157th power (that's 1 x 10 followed by 157 zeros)!
Mr. Pratney goes on to say that Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies in His coming to earth (not even counting those He will fulfill in His return to earth)!
It amazes me how much homework American consumers will do before they purchase a new car, or secure a mortgage, or decide which university their daughter will attend. They'll spend hours on the Internet gathering information, interview friends, make on-site visits to car dealerships or banks or colleges investing money and time into what they consider to be an important decision for their future.
How much more, then, should we do our homework investigating the claims of Christ who alone can save our souls?
DSR
11/28/04
John 7:40-43 (NLT)
When the crowds heard him [Jesus] say this, some of them declared, "This man surely is the Prophet." [41] Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still others said, "But he can't be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? [42] For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born." [43] So the crowd was divided in their opinion about him.
* * *
Pardon me, but would I sound crass and self-righteous if were to raise the question to those in the crowd the day these statements were made that were recorded in the gospel of John:
"Wait a minute! Has anyone bothered to ask Jesus where He was born? Where did He grow up? Let's ask Jesus right now to help us understand how His life thus far has fulfilled the prophecies concerning the Messiah."
The reason the crowd, both in Jesus' day and in our day, are divided about their opinion about Him is that they have not done their homework. Discovering the truth has rarely been a priority to a busy, self-centered culture. We are prone to make value judgments long before we have the facts established. We permit others to formulate our opinions for us, somehow trusting that they have done their homework when in fact they have not.
There were probably remnants of the multitudes that at various times may have approached Jesus after His public discourses and in essence said:
- "Excuse me, Jesus, may I ask you what you meant when you said…?"
- "Pardon me, Lord, I want to believe what you're saying but I'm having a little trouble understanding. Can you help me?"
- "Rabbi, I'm not a Pharisee, Sadducee, scribe, or teacher of the law. I'm an ordinary man. Will you explain the meaning of the parable you just shared with the crowd, please?"
It's people like these that went home with a revelation of who Jesus really was. It's no wonder why God plainly says through the prophet Hosea: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…" (4:6).
The reason those in the world at large who has heard the gospel message and still question or reject it is that they have not done their homework. If they had, they would come to the inevitable conclusion that Jesus is who He claimed to be - God's only provision for their sin.
Unfortunately, many stubbornly refuse to accept the fact that their personal sin has estranged them from the living God. In their heart of hearts, many sincerely believe that they are good enough to make it to heaven or at least not bad enough to be condemned to hell. They may be sincere but they are sincerely mistaken.
Many agnostics have embarked on a journey to disprove the Bible and the claims of Christ and have collided with the truth along the way and have converted to Christianity.
Christian apologist Winkey Pratney writes in his excellent article "Holy Bible, Wholly True?" that the odds that just 48 of the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ would coincidentally be fulfilled by someone else are 1 x 10to the 157th power (that's 1 x 10 followed by 157 zeros)!
Mr. Pratney goes on to say that Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies in His coming to earth (not even counting those He will fulfill in His return to earth)!
It amazes me how much homework American consumers will do before they purchase a new car, or secure a mortgage, or decide which university their daughter will attend. They'll spend hours on the Internet gathering information, interview friends, make on-site visits to car dealerships or banks or colleges investing money and time into what they consider to be an important decision for their future.
How much more, then, should we do our homework investigating the claims of Christ who alone can save our souls?
DSR
11/28/04
Monday, November 22, 2004
The Book of Books
by David Scott Robertson
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…" (2 Timothy 3:16)
* * *
If there's one thing that's here to stay, it's change. Virtually everything and everybody in the natural world changes.
People change clothes, they change their minds, they change jobs, they change addresses, they change diapers, trash can liners and even spouses. The weather changes, the interest rates change, and public opinion changes depending upon which way the wind is blowing.
The birth and death rate changes ever single day. The calendar changes every 24 hours, the clock changes every 60 seconds, and our lives change ever so slowly or ever so quickly one meaningful or meaningless day at a time.
All change is not for the better but very often it is. Many times, pain is the traveling companion of change. In this ever-changing world, it's nice to know that God does not change. His Word does not change. The two, in fact, are as inseparable as they are solid.
- Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
- Jesus is the Word (John 1:1).
- Jesus was the Word made flesh that dwelt among men (John 1:14).
The infinite Word of the Lord has been forever recorded in the written languages of the world. Regardless of the native tongue, this supernatural book called the Bible possesses what no other book on earth does - the ability to reveal God's plan of salvation to its reader - that is, the revelation of Jesus Christ to a human being.
The revelation of Jesus as Savior and Lord is the overarching theme and message of God's Word to mankind. This is what separates the Bible from all other books on the planet. It is alive (Hebrews 4:12) and supercharged with life that can be transferred to the reader through a conduit called faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Bible indeed is the Book of books.
Its timeless doctrines are not subject to edits, revisions, improvements, deletions, modifications, and/or amendments to add to or take away from the fundamental truth it espouses. There are not many "truths" or multiple methods of reconciliation of fallen man with his Creator - the Book of books reveals that there is only one way, one plan, "...one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time" (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
When God's Word and man's opinion collide, when the dust settles, guess who will remain standing? God and His Word preceded your birth and will remain after your death.
The Word of God is the spiritual food of all those who lay claim to Christ as Savior and Lord. We must by all means feed on Jesus if we are to earnestly contend for the faith.
The unchanging Word of the Lord will encourage you, edify you, correct you, exhort you, instruct you, and transform you to the degree that you partake of it.
I suggest that you value it properly and feast on it daily. The light of the Gospel is to the Christian what sunlight is to the plant initiating the miracle of photosynthesis.
Multiplied thousands of books have been written about the Book of books, but none surpass its wisdom and knowledge. Truly, the Bible is the Word of God.
DSR
11/22/04
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…" (2 Timothy 3:16)
* * *
If there's one thing that's here to stay, it's change. Virtually everything and everybody in the natural world changes.
People change clothes, they change their minds, they change jobs, they change addresses, they change diapers, trash can liners and even spouses. The weather changes, the interest rates change, and public opinion changes depending upon which way the wind is blowing.
The birth and death rate changes ever single day. The calendar changes every 24 hours, the clock changes every 60 seconds, and our lives change ever so slowly or ever so quickly one meaningful or meaningless day at a time.
All change is not for the better but very often it is. Many times, pain is the traveling companion of change. In this ever-changing world, it's nice to know that God does not change. His Word does not change. The two, in fact, are as inseparable as they are solid.
- Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
- Jesus is the Word (John 1:1).
- Jesus was the Word made flesh that dwelt among men (John 1:14).
The infinite Word of the Lord has been forever recorded in the written languages of the world. Regardless of the native tongue, this supernatural book called the Bible possesses what no other book on earth does - the ability to reveal God's plan of salvation to its reader - that is, the revelation of Jesus Christ to a human being.
The revelation of Jesus as Savior and Lord is the overarching theme and message of God's Word to mankind. This is what separates the Bible from all other books on the planet. It is alive (Hebrews 4:12) and supercharged with life that can be transferred to the reader through a conduit called faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Bible indeed is the Book of books.
Its timeless doctrines are not subject to edits, revisions, improvements, deletions, modifications, and/or amendments to add to or take away from the fundamental truth it espouses. There are not many "truths" or multiple methods of reconciliation of fallen man with his Creator - the Book of books reveals that there is only one way, one plan, "...one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time" (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
When God's Word and man's opinion collide, when the dust settles, guess who will remain standing? God and His Word preceded your birth and will remain after your death.
The Word of God is the spiritual food of all those who lay claim to Christ as Savior and Lord. We must by all means feed on Jesus if we are to earnestly contend for the faith.
The unchanging Word of the Lord will encourage you, edify you, correct you, exhort you, instruct you, and transform you to the degree that you partake of it.
I suggest that you value it properly and feast on it daily. The light of the Gospel is to the Christian what sunlight is to the plant initiating the miracle of photosynthesis.
Multiplied thousands of books have been written about the Book of books, but none surpass its wisdom and knowledge. Truly, the Bible is the Word of God.
DSR
11/22/04
Monday, November 15, 2004
Statement of Faith
by David Scott Robertson
"'[Jesus speaking] You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven'" (Matthew 5:13-1)
* * *
1. Have you ever heard of a bird that's afraid of heights?
2. Have you ever heard of a cheetah that preferred walking to its prey instead of running?
3. Have you ever heard of a fish that didn't like swimming?
4. Have you ever heard of a Christian that was afraid to share their faith?
Why is it that first three statements seem abnormal to most of us while the fourth seems perfectly acceptable? How odd is must appear to God, who made birds, cheetahs, fish, and man, to see them acting contrary to His design for their lives!
Should not a Christian person sharing their faith in God with a friend be as natural as a fish in water? Why is it, then, that a zealous Christian who is outspoken about his or her faith intimidates the daylights out of most of us?
Are we under conviction or are we just lazy? Are we more afraid of offending someone than concerned for where they will spend eternity? If we feel ill prepared then why don't we prepare since we know that every day we will encounter lost people who need Jesus? Are we stuck in a mindset that it's the pastor's job to save the lost and not ours? Do we buy the lie the enemy sows into so many hearts that we can deal with this issue later, at a more convenient time?
Sharing the love of God with others should be the natural by-product of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It should also be an act of obedience to God's Great Commission:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
If God has spoken to your heart is it only because He wants you to be encouraged? Or is it so that you can strengthen the faith of others by passing along an encouraging word?
If God has blessed you financially, is it so that you can invest and store up (for a time you may never see) or is it to release desperately needed funding into the kingdom of God?
If God has revealed a truth to you from the Bible, is it so you can hoard the pearl of wisdom for yourself or spread the wealth of revelation liberally to others?
If God has saved you, is it so that you can feel good about your "fire insurance policy" or could it be that you are the very worker that Jesus was referring to when He exhorted His disciples to pray for more laborers to be released into the harvest field?
"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Matthew 9:37-38).
May I exhort you to be all that God has made you to be? He has made you to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14), and a beacon of truth to a world darkened by sin (Matthew 5:16). The Holy Spirit will help you to share you faith in appropriate, respectful, caring, and loving way. God gave us the Law, the Ten Commandments, as a key to help sinners comprehend how miserably they have missed the mark of God's righteous standard. Bypassing intellectual arguments, the Law can be a tool to help the pre-saved see their great sin, their great death sentence, and their great destruction in a place the Bible calls hell.
At that time, it can be your privilege and mine to share the gloriously good news of the gospel that "…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Let's determine in our hearts to allow our very lives to become our statement of faith.
DSR
11/15/04
"'[Jesus speaking] You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven'" (Matthew 5:13-1)
* * *
1. Have you ever heard of a bird that's afraid of heights?
2. Have you ever heard of a cheetah that preferred walking to its prey instead of running?
3. Have you ever heard of a fish that didn't like swimming?
4. Have you ever heard of a Christian that was afraid to share their faith?
Why is it that first three statements seem abnormal to most of us while the fourth seems perfectly acceptable? How odd is must appear to God, who made birds, cheetahs, fish, and man, to see them acting contrary to His design for their lives!
Should not a Christian person sharing their faith in God with a friend be as natural as a fish in water? Why is it, then, that a zealous Christian who is outspoken about his or her faith intimidates the daylights out of most of us?
Are we under conviction or are we just lazy? Are we more afraid of offending someone than concerned for where they will spend eternity? If we feel ill prepared then why don't we prepare since we know that every day we will encounter lost people who need Jesus? Are we stuck in a mindset that it's the pastor's job to save the lost and not ours? Do we buy the lie the enemy sows into so many hearts that we can deal with this issue later, at a more convenient time?
Sharing the love of God with others should be the natural by-product of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It should also be an act of obedience to God's Great Commission:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
If God has spoken to your heart is it only because He wants you to be encouraged? Or is it so that you can strengthen the faith of others by passing along an encouraging word?
If God has blessed you financially, is it so that you can invest and store up (for a time you may never see) or is it to release desperately needed funding into the kingdom of God?
If God has revealed a truth to you from the Bible, is it so you can hoard the pearl of wisdom for yourself or spread the wealth of revelation liberally to others?
If God has saved you, is it so that you can feel good about your "fire insurance policy" or could it be that you are the very worker that Jesus was referring to when He exhorted His disciples to pray for more laborers to be released into the harvest field?
"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Matthew 9:37-38).
May I exhort you to be all that God has made you to be? He has made you to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14), and a beacon of truth to a world darkened by sin (Matthew 5:16). The Holy Spirit will help you to share you faith in appropriate, respectful, caring, and loving way. God gave us the Law, the Ten Commandments, as a key to help sinners comprehend how miserably they have missed the mark of God's righteous standard. Bypassing intellectual arguments, the Law can be a tool to help the pre-saved see their great sin, their great death sentence, and their great destruction in a place the Bible calls hell.
At that time, it can be your privilege and mine to share the gloriously good news of the gospel that "…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Let's determine in our hearts to allow our very lives to become our statement of faith.
DSR
11/15/04
Monday, November 8, 2004
I've Been Thinking About You
by David Scott Robertson
I don’t know about you, but I enjoy getting emails, cards, calls, and visits from good friends. I like it when they let me know that they have been thinking about me and have taken the time to encourage and bless me.
Did you know that God has been thinking about you, too? For a very long time now you have been on His mind. He had you in mind before there ever was a you; before you were born, God was thinking about you. As a matter of fact, there are seven times that God was thinking about you that I’d like for you to think about today:
1. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE ETERNAL PAST
Before the world began, you were on God’s heart. If that were not so, then why was Jesus called “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8)?
You see, before God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the first man became a living being (Genesis 2:7), God absolutely knew that Adam would sin. Adam and Eve’s offspring all the way down the timeline of history to you and me would also sin, and God knew all this in advance.
Nevertheless, He created us and provided a way of escape from the sinful condition that we would eventually find ourselves in. Make no mistake, God was seriously thinking about you, yes you specifically, before the creation of the world.
2. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE
You and I were formed to be part of God’s family. He has always desired fellowship with human beings created in His image and in His likeness. This is easily shown by seeing God reaching out to man in the first book of the Bible – Genesis.
After God created thousands of species of beasts and birds, He brought each one to Adam to see what he would name them (Genesis 2:19). God was allowing man to actually partner with God in establishing order on the earth.
Apparently God’s custom was to walk in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden with Adam and talk and enjoy each other’s company (Genesis 3:8). The Lord still desires to walk and talk with us in covenant friendship to this very hour.
3. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
Moses and Abraham were both consider “friends” with God (Exodus 33:11; James 2:23 respectively). I see them as types of God’s great desire to have close friendship with those who are willing to believe in Him.
Thousands of years ago, God (who plays no favorites) was setting the stage for men to have communion with Him on a regular basis.
4. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES
God has always wanted to reveal Himself to mankind. He has always desired to make the revelation His love known to mankind. This is best illustrated through God’s gift of Jesus Christ to the world. Jesus spoke this plainly when He said:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him…Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:21;23)
Jesus painstakingly took the time to reassure His followers of how very much He and the Father long to be with us.
“In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).
When you and I are separated from a loved one, we use photographs, personal notes, memories, and other things to remind us of how much we love that person. God said through the prophet Isaiah: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me” (Isaiah 49:16). I think the Lord’s ugly crucifixion scars are one of the most beautiful reminders in the whole world that we have been on His mind for a very long time. The old hymn rightly says it: “when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.”
5. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE
From Genesis to Revelation, you have been on God’s mind. When Christ-followers die now, the Bible teaches that they go to a place called heaven. I don’t know where it is but it’s sure not here on earth as we know it. One day, however, instead of us going to His actual location, He is moving His actual location to where we are!
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).
Think about it! God, who wrote the end from the beginning was thinking about setting up His kingdom not only in your hearts but ultimately setting up His permanent dwelling place in your midst!
6. GOD WILL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE ETERNAL FUTURE
God’s experience with you (and to some extent your experience with God) is not limited to your life span from cradle to grave. For God it began before your birth and for us it never ends, even outliving our deaths.
The scriptures foretell of a time when we time shall become obsolete and transition into forever, infinity, eternity. When Jesus Christ returns to earth to claim His Bride, the Church, living or dead, from that point forward, we shall live forever with God in glorified bodies:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
It’s no wonder the Bible says: “Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)!
Forever with God! Truly, God had you and me in mind when He created creation and laid out His plan for the ages.
7. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW
Finally, I believe God is thinking about you right now, as you read these words. I believe this because His Word says:
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
I think it would make God smile if you were to think of Him right now too.
DSR
11/8/04
I don’t know about you, but I enjoy getting emails, cards, calls, and visits from good friends. I like it when they let me know that they have been thinking about me and have taken the time to encourage and bless me.
Did you know that God has been thinking about you, too? For a very long time now you have been on His mind. He had you in mind before there ever was a you; before you were born, God was thinking about you. As a matter of fact, there are seven times that God was thinking about you that I’d like for you to think about today:
1. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE ETERNAL PAST
Before the world began, you were on God’s heart. If that were not so, then why was Jesus called “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8)?
You see, before God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the first man became a living being (Genesis 2:7), God absolutely knew that Adam would sin. Adam and Eve’s offspring all the way down the timeline of history to you and me would also sin, and God knew all this in advance.
Nevertheless, He created us and provided a way of escape from the sinful condition that we would eventually find ourselves in. Make no mistake, God was seriously thinking about you, yes you specifically, before the creation of the world.
2. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE
You and I were formed to be part of God’s family. He has always desired fellowship with human beings created in His image and in His likeness. This is easily shown by seeing God reaching out to man in the first book of the Bible – Genesis.
After God created thousands of species of beasts and birds, He brought each one to Adam to see what he would name them (Genesis 2:19). God was allowing man to actually partner with God in establishing order on the earth.
Apparently God’s custom was to walk in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden with Adam and talk and enjoy each other’s company (Genesis 3:8). The Lord still desires to walk and talk with us in covenant friendship to this very hour.
3. GOD WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
Moses and Abraham were both consider “friends” with God (Exodus 33:11; James 2:23 respectively). I see them as types of God’s great desire to have close friendship with those who are willing to believe in Him.
Thousands of years ago, God (who plays no favorites) was setting the stage for men to have communion with Him on a regular basis.
4. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES
God has always wanted to reveal Himself to mankind. He has always desired to make the revelation His love known to mankind. This is best illustrated through God’s gift of Jesus Christ to the world. Jesus spoke this plainly when He said:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him…Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:21;23)
Jesus painstakingly took the time to reassure His followers of how very much He and the Father long to be with us.
“In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).
When you and I are separated from a loved one, we use photographs, personal notes, memories, and other things to remind us of how much we love that person. God said through the prophet Isaiah: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me” (Isaiah 49:16). I think the Lord’s ugly crucifixion scars are one of the most beautiful reminders in the whole world that we have been on His mind for a very long time. The old hymn rightly says it: “when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.”
5. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE
From Genesis to Revelation, you have been on God’s mind. When Christ-followers die now, the Bible teaches that they go to a place called heaven. I don’t know where it is but it’s sure not here on earth as we know it. One day, however, instead of us going to His actual location, He is moving His actual location to where we are!
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).
Think about it! God, who wrote the end from the beginning was thinking about setting up His kingdom not only in your hearts but ultimately setting up His permanent dwelling place in your midst!
6. GOD WILL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU IN THE ETERNAL FUTURE
God’s experience with you (and to some extent your experience with God) is not limited to your life span from cradle to grave. For God it began before your birth and for us it never ends, even outliving our deaths.
The scriptures foretell of a time when we time shall become obsolete and transition into forever, infinity, eternity. When Jesus Christ returns to earth to claim His Bride, the Church, living or dead, from that point forward, we shall live forever with God in glorified bodies:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
It’s no wonder the Bible says: “Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)!
Forever with God! Truly, God had you and me in mind when He created creation and laid out His plan for the ages.
7. GOD IS THINKING ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW
Finally, I believe God is thinking about you right now, as you read these words. I believe this because His Word says:
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
I think it would make God smile if you were to think of Him right now too.
DSR
11/8/04
Monday, November 1, 2004
The Black Highlighter
by David Scott Robertson
"Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes" (Jeremiah 36:23-24).
* * *
This passage of scripture shows us an interesting approach to Bible study. If you read something you don't like, just cut it out! Burn it. Delete it. Pretend that it doesn't exist. Ignore it. You be the judge instead of God. You override the prophetic word and let truth be whatever you determine it to be.
Instead of using a yellow highlighter to MARK passages you like use a black highlighter to MARK OUT passages you don't like.
To many this sounds absurd. Too many, however, act just as absurd when they read God's Word but don't believe it let alone act on it. Their unbelief is tantamount to them using a black highlighter to do away with a statement they don't want to deal with.
What color of highlighter do you use in your Bible study?
DSR
11/1/04
"Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes" (Jeremiah 36:23-24).
* * *
This passage of scripture shows us an interesting approach to Bible study. If you read something you don't like, just cut it out! Burn it. Delete it. Pretend that it doesn't exist. Ignore it. You be the judge instead of God. You override the prophetic word and let truth be whatever you determine it to be.
Instead of using a yellow highlighter to MARK passages you like use a black highlighter to MARK OUT passages you don't like.
To many this sounds absurd. Too many, however, act just as absurd when they read God's Word but don't believe it let alone act on it. Their unbelief is tantamount to them using a black highlighter to do away with a statement they don't want to deal with.
What color of highlighter do you use in your Bible study?
DSR
11/1/04
Monday, October 25, 2004
The JFL Challenge
by David Scott Robertson
(1 Tim 4:8 NIV) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
* * *
I recently completed the 12-week Body For Life Challenge (http://www.bodyforlife.com/). It is an 84-day physical fitness challenge designed to assist participants in achieving positive transformation in their fitness level and body composition (as well as reduce stress and receive emotional strength by establishing healthy disciplines in their lives.)
Motivational author Bill Phillips in his best-selling book "Body For Life" shares his own success story of how he dramatically transformed his health and appearance in 12-weeks of focused effort. He has challenged others to follow his lead and join him in experiencing a higher quality of life. So far tens of thousands from all walks of life have accepted his Challenge, with me among them.
Throughout the Challenge, I carefully planned (in advance) six small but healthy and balanced meals to eat daily as well as six 20-45 minute workouts per week involving cardiovascular exercise and weight training.
I focused on ten muscle areas: chest, shoulders, triceps, back, biceps, quads, hamstrings, calves, abs, and my heart. (Bear with me, I'm going somewhere spiritual with all this!)
I took a "before" and "after" photo and charted my progress in a training journal.
Perhaps the most significant day was "Day 85," the day after I had completed the Challenge. On that day, after my morning devotions, I went to the gym as usual to workout and returned home for a day of eating six small but healthy and balanced meals. To this day, I am continuing to workout six days each week because although I initially accepted a short-term challenge in reality I formed a long-term habit that has created a permanent commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Now, the reason I believe the Lord allowed me to complete the BFL Challenge was to prepare me for a far greater one which I call "The JFL Challenge."
The "Jesus For Life Challenge (or JFL) will require of me the same dedication, passion, and commitment as the BFL Challenge did but focuses on those areas that are analogous to my Christian life.
I chose ten "spiritual muscle groups" to concentrate on for the next 12 weeks or 84 days. They are: prayer, fasting, worship, Bible reading, personal growth reading, ministry, evangelism, family devotions, journaling, and writing "Thoughts about God" (like this one).
In the BFL Challenge, my goals included improved health, strength, flexibility, energy level, body fat loss, and lean muscle mass gain. I met all those objectives.
In the JFL Challenge, my goals include personal revival, renewal, revelation, revolution, refreshing, recharging, revitalization and reproduction of what I learn and gain into the lives of others.
In the BFL Challenge, there were certain things that I did daily (like eat nutritious meals and use supplements), and some things that I did three times a week (like weightlifting and cardio training.) Sundays were a day of rest.
In the JFL Challenge, I will similarly do some things daily and some things less often.
I'm still praying and meditating on how the Lord wants me to do this, but as an example, it could look something like this:
- 7 seven days a week I will pray, ready my Bible and worship.
- 6 days a week, I will fast TV and secular movies.
- 5 days a week I will concentrate on ministry and reading or viewing resources by godly authors.
- 4 days a week I will attempt to journal.
- 3 days a week I will try to have brief family devotions.
- 2 days a week I will dedicate the evenings to purposely involve myself in evangelism.
- 1 day a week I will share a new Thought about God with family and friends.
With the Holy Spirit's help, I'm not going to fall into legalism in this JFL Challenge, but I am going to purposefully structure and condition myself to shore up these areas of my spiritual life.
Through the JFL Challenge, I want improved spiritual wellness. I want to lay aside every weight that hinders me and strengthen the areas of my life that are weak. I want the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) to be so dramatically improved that I'm quite literally transformed in my walk with Jesus at the end of this 12-week Challenge.
There are probably some who will read what I've written here and summarily dismiss it as a lofty but ridiculous exercise in futility. I suppose all we have to do is look in the mirror at the condition we've allowed our physical bodies to get into to ascertain whether or not we are qualified to criticize someone else who's trying to do something positive for a change.
I love the ancient oriental proverb: "He who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of him who doing it."
Having just come through 84 consecutive days of the BFL Challenge successfully (and still going strong!) I have the confidence to move on to something I consider of far greater (and eternal) value - my spiritual fitness.
We can't take a "before" and "after" photo of our souls (mind, will, and emotions) and our spirits, but I assure you everyone will be able to tell the difference in my life if I'm able to pull this off.
What about you? Are you up for a Challenge? Are you ready to rise above the level of mediocrity and blast past excuses as to why you can't be a more powerful man or woman of God? Are you just going to sit there another day / week / month / year and accept your spiritual condition or are you going to get up and do something about it?
Nike said it first but you may need to say it to yourself at long last: "Just do it!"
DSR
10/25/04
(1 Tim 4:8 NIV) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
* * *
I recently completed the 12-week Body For Life Challenge (http://www.bodyforlife.com/). It is an 84-day physical fitness challenge designed to assist participants in achieving positive transformation in their fitness level and body composition (as well as reduce stress and receive emotional strength by establishing healthy disciplines in their lives.)
Motivational author Bill Phillips in his best-selling book "Body For Life" shares his own success story of how he dramatically transformed his health and appearance in 12-weeks of focused effort. He has challenged others to follow his lead and join him in experiencing a higher quality of life. So far tens of thousands from all walks of life have accepted his Challenge, with me among them.
Throughout the Challenge, I carefully planned (in advance) six small but healthy and balanced meals to eat daily as well as six 20-45 minute workouts per week involving cardiovascular exercise and weight training.
I focused on ten muscle areas: chest, shoulders, triceps, back, biceps, quads, hamstrings, calves, abs, and my heart. (Bear with me, I'm going somewhere spiritual with all this!)
I took a "before" and "after" photo and charted my progress in a training journal.
Perhaps the most significant day was "Day 85," the day after I had completed the Challenge. On that day, after my morning devotions, I went to the gym as usual to workout and returned home for a day of eating six small but healthy and balanced meals. To this day, I am continuing to workout six days each week because although I initially accepted a short-term challenge in reality I formed a long-term habit that has created a permanent commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Now, the reason I believe the Lord allowed me to complete the BFL Challenge was to prepare me for a far greater one which I call "The JFL Challenge."
The "Jesus For Life Challenge (or JFL) will require of me the same dedication, passion, and commitment as the BFL Challenge did but focuses on those areas that are analogous to my Christian life.
I chose ten "spiritual muscle groups" to concentrate on for the next 12 weeks or 84 days. They are: prayer, fasting, worship, Bible reading, personal growth reading, ministry, evangelism, family devotions, journaling, and writing "Thoughts about God" (like this one).
In the BFL Challenge, my goals included improved health, strength, flexibility, energy level, body fat loss, and lean muscle mass gain. I met all those objectives.
In the JFL Challenge, my goals include personal revival, renewal, revelation, revolution, refreshing, recharging, revitalization and reproduction of what I learn and gain into the lives of others.
In the BFL Challenge, there were certain things that I did daily (like eat nutritious meals and use supplements), and some things that I did three times a week (like weightlifting and cardio training.) Sundays were a day of rest.
In the JFL Challenge, I will similarly do some things daily and some things less often.
I'm still praying and meditating on how the Lord wants me to do this, but as an example, it could look something like this:
- 7 seven days a week I will pray, ready my Bible and worship.
- 6 days a week, I will fast TV and secular movies.
- 5 days a week I will concentrate on ministry and reading or viewing resources by godly authors.
- 4 days a week I will attempt to journal.
- 3 days a week I will try to have brief family devotions.
- 2 days a week I will dedicate the evenings to purposely involve myself in evangelism.
- 1 day a week I will share a new Thought about God with family and friends.
With the Holy Spirit's help, I'm not going to fall into legalism in this JFL Challenge, but I am going to purposefully structure and condition myself to shore up these areas of my spiritual life.
Through the JFL Challenge, I want improved spiritual wellness. I want to lay aside every weight that hinders me and strengthen the areas of my life that are weak. I want the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) to be so dramatically improved that I'm quite literally transformed in my walk with Jesus at the end of this 12-week Challenge.
There are probably some who will read what I've written here and summarily dismiss it as a lofty but ridiculous exercise in futility. I suppose all we have to do is look in the mirror at the condition we've allowed our physical bodies to get into to ascertain whether or not we are qualified to criticize someone else who's trying to do something positive for a change.
I love the ancient oriental proverb: "He who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of him who doing it."
Having just come through 84 consecutive days of the BFL Challenge successfully (and still going strong!) I have the confidence to move on to something I consider of far greater (and eternal) value - my spiritual fitness.
We can't take a "before" and "after" photo of our souls (mind, will, and emotions) and our spirits, but I assure you everyone will be able to tell the difference in my life if I'm able to pull this off.
What about you? Are you up for a Challenge? Are you ready to rise above the level of mediocrity and blast past excuses as to why you can't be a more powerful man or woman of God? Are you just going to sit there another day / week / month / year and accept your spiritual condition or are you going to get up and do something about it?
Nike said it first but you may need to say it to yourself at long last: "Just do it!"
DSR
10/25/04
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