What I Hope I Don't Hate

Scripture: You say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. Proverbs 5:12-13

Observation: Solomon is warning his son about the dangers of forbidden relationships. His instruction to his son about a forbidden woman is simple: Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house. What Solomon is trying to prevent is a lifetime of regret, where his son would look back and groan over the wasting of his life because of his immorality. He wants his son not to grieve over how he hated discipline and the reproof of others.

Application: A good friend of mine has made some immoral decisions. He has crossed a line. He knows it, and is open to counsel. Those of us who love him are going to meet with him this week, to outline a plan of restoration, to help him recover his life. This is a plan of love, but also has some hard truths to it. There will be discipline and reproof. I feel God is giving me Proverbs 5:12-13 to share in this meeting, to encourage my friend to not hate the discipline and reproof that is coming his way, but to embrace it. To listen to the voice of the other men in his life, playing the role of teacher in his life.

Prayer: God, I pray that I would always submit to your teaching and to your teachers in my life. I pray for great wisdom for us as we meet with our friend tomorrow, that we would be humble and strong instructors, and that his heart would love discipline and reproof.

What I Look for Most in a New Employee

Scripture: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Observation: The point of the entire book of Proverbs—that fearing God is the beginning of knowledge—is contrasted by a second statement, that those who despise wisdom are fools. Perhaps the core thing I have learned in the last few decades is how often people despise knowledge. They despise knowledge when they refuse to learn, when they stop growing, when they keep doing things their own way, when they ignore counsel, when they think they know it all. In other words, when they have lost teachability. In fact, teachability just might be my most prized trait when I am hiring someone. With it, there is not necessarily the guarantee of success, but without it, there is 100% chance of failure. I want people who never stop coming to God and others to learn and grow.

Application: I need to be teachable today on our staff retreat. One thing I am asking God for is the proper balance of confidence. I do not want to be so determined that I come off as dictatorial, but I also do not want to be so consensus-minded that I give no direction. I need God’s wisdom to know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em today. Fearing God is the beginning of this balance.

Prayer: God, I yield control today to you. Would you guide me and grant me wisdom to lead this retreat? I need your spirit whispering in my ear to speak or be silent. To know the right questions. To listen and learn, and to know when to decide. I pray for all of our pastors today as well, that our number one desire would be to fear God and from that would spring a thirst for wisdom.

The Slavery of Solomon

Scripture: …the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 1 Kings 11:2

Observation: Solomon, as wise as he was, allowed his love of the forbidden to override his love of God. Romans 6:16 reminds me that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.. Solomon became a slave to his desires. He thought the 700 wives and 300 concubines belonged to him, but in the end, he ended up belonging to them as their slave, for they wrested the love of God right out of Solomon’s heart.

Application: What is out there that can wrest my heart from God? What am I owning that might end up owning me? I am amazed at how easy it seems to be for us to take small steps into sin, only to find out we are miles deep faster than we could have imagined. The past two weeks of preaching on the tactics of Satan have opened my eyes to his efforts to gain footholds in my life through my sin. He certainly had 1,000 footholds in Solomon’s life. I must be on the alert. I am listening to God about hooks and snares that could trip me up.

Prayer: God, I love you more. Please help me submit to you anything that will turn away my heart from you.

My Hope in Spiritual Warfare

Scripture:
O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 97:10

Observation: The Lord reigns. Those who worship him can rejoice, knowing that God is in control. This control extends to the lives of his saints, especially when they face the wicked. God’s concern and care is not only global, but local. God cares for and can deliver his people from evil.

Application: I am in the middle of preparing this week to talk about spiritual warfare. While it is easy in this topic to get lost in debate, or to value experience over scripture, the simple truth is that God reigns. God reigns over Satan and all the demonic host. The Most High over all the earth is most high over all the enemies in the earth as well. There is victory and protection found in God and God alone. Not in formulas or objects, not in spiritual relics or human power. Our victory does not lie in our own ability to fight well. The Lord reigns. He alone is the Most High over the earth. He alone delivers us from the hand of Satan.
I need to remember this in my own spiritual battles. My victory is found in Christ alone. When it comes to the enemy, I must remember the words of Martin Luther: “One little word shall fell him.” That little word is Jesus.

Prayer: God, thank you for your complete power over all creation, both seen and unseen. Help me to truly have faith in you, and not in myself. Not in my words, my posture, my attitude, but to stand firm in my faith. I believe you when you said that everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Help me believe and preach You this week.

The Wisest Thing Solomon Ever Did

Scripture: Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” 1 Kings 3:9

Observation: As Solomon begins his reign as king, God appears to him and offers him an incredible gift. He can ask God for whatever he wants. Solomon recognizes his complete inadequacy to rule the kingdom, and asks God for wisdom. This is an act of dependence. Solomon here acknowledges his inability to lead in his own effort and wisdom. He must have the wisdom only God can supply. The wisest thing Solomon ever did was recognize his lack of wisdom and need for God.

Application: We face a threefold impossibility in this life. We are called to live like Heaven while here on earth. We are called to fight an enemy much stronger than us. We are called to live with desires that pull us towards evil. These three we are unable to pull off in our own strength. But God has promised to supply all we need to life this life he calls us to. However, it starts with the wisdom Solomon showed here. The understanding of complete helplessness, total dependency. That God and God alone is sufficient. This intentional dependence is tough to maintain in a world that calls us to self sufficiency. But the wisest thing we will ever do is recognize our complete lack of ability to live the live God calls us to on our own, apart from him.

Prayer: God, today I acknowledge I do not have what it takes on my own to lead our church. I do not have the ability to do this. In Christ, I do. I again proclaim my dependence on you and your Spirit. Will you give me your understanding mind today, that I might lead and love your people in your power?

The High Cost of My Sin in Others

Scripture: Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.” 2 Samuel 24:17

Observation: David conducts a census, counting his troops. One verse says God motivated him to do it; another says Satan did. Somehow, God allowed Satan to move David to conduct this census. And for some reason it was sin—maybe it was pride, or maybe reliance upon his forces and not God. But whatever the sin, David knew it and asked God for forgiveness. God tells him there will be a consequence to his sin where many people will die. David pleads with God that since it was his sin, not the sins of the innocent sheep, he should die. But God visits the consequence upon 70,000 men.

Application: What must it be like to know your sin caused the death of 70,000 men? And to know that despite your best efforts, you cannot fix things. You cannot pay for them. Sometimes, even with forgiveness, there are costs that cannot be prevented. That is sobering and a spur for me to live upright before God, lest my sins affect others I love. But it is also a reminder than I cannot control everything. David hoped that by offering his own life, he could control the consequences. He could not. One day, the situation would be reversed. A man would come from David’s own house, who had not sinned and had not done wickedly. For the sake of guilty sheep, he would find God’s hand against him.
I think God is reminding me that despite my best efforts, I sin. And my sin has consequences in people’s lives that I cannot fix. Ultimately, Jesus is the only healer and fixer of the terrible cost of my sin in other’s lives. While I need to live upright, and I need to offer to help—I must pray and trust Christ to redeem people from the effects of my life.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your redeeming power. Forgive me my sin. Thank you for opening the door for me to see the high cost of it in others. Thank you that you are able to step in and heal what I cannot. Let me trust you more.

Far-Reaching Ripples

Scripture: And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Samuel 18:33

Observation: Absalom, the rebellious son of David, has died. When a messenger brings the news to David, he is wracked with grief. Grief over his son’s death, and the now lost hope of reconciliation. I wonder also if part of the grief is his knowledge that he is partly responsible. The consequences of the sin with Bathsheba had farther reaching effects than he could have dreamed.

Application: One thing no one talks about is how far the ripples of our sin can reach. Sin that is forgiven can still have consequences in our life. Physical, emotional, financial consequences. Even as repentant and broken as David was when confronted by Nathan, this news of Absalom reopened the wound. Yes, God can forgive, but sometimes we have to live with what we have done. I wish I understood this better when I was younger, to see how decisions and sins and habits would reach out into today. This spurs me to look at my life now and see if there are any areas that will come back to me in the future.

Prayer: God, thank you for forgiving me and delivering me from the ultimate consequences of my sin. Thank you also for rescuing me often from the more immediate natural consequences. Help me to listen to your Holy Spirit to address issues in my life now, that they will not come back to haunt me.

Cinco de Mayo and the Robes of Righteousness

Scripture: But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. Matthew 22:11

Observation: Today is Cinco de Mayo, and it has me thinking about parties. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells the story of a wedding feast, where the initial invitees decline, and so the doors are thrown open to anyone. This symbolizes the offer and rejection of the kingdom to the Jews and the subsequent throwing open of the kingdom to the gentiles. But as the king walks around the party, he sees someone without a wedding garment. This man is kicked out of the party. So, invitation or not, there seems to be some garment required to participate in the party. If the part is heaven, then we need to be wearing something to get in. I think Jesus is referring to the robe of his righteousness. That we get into the party not because of how fancy the clothes of our effort are, but whether or not we wear his robes.

Application: Heaven is a gift, not a get. Our greatest effort are ratty, worn out clothes, unacceptable for a fancy feast. The only thing we can wear is His righteousness. I just needed to remember that today. That my entry into eternity is based on nothing I do, but what he has done. I don’t have to be good enough or prove myself enough.

Prayer: Jesus, thanks for the party clothes. May I today feel their weight as I go about my day.

God's Voice in Church Yesterday

Scripture: And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people. Acts 18:9-10

Observation: God is confronting Paul with the promise of his presence and protection. He is speaking directly to Paul’s fears. He is urging Paul to not fear, but to go on in courage, to keep speaking, to not stop.

Application: These were part of the verses that we looked at in church yesterday. Even though I already had a sermon studied and written on this, I did sense God speaking to me afresh during our listening to God together time in church. I have dreams and desires for where I think God wants to take Pulpit Rock. He has already begun moving us and restoring us. But sometimes I am afraid to tackle some of the tougher issues. I felt God encouraging me with these words to Paul. Encouraging me that we are on the right track and I need to keep on moving us that way. Encouraging me not to be silent but trust that as I speak, God is moving behind the scenes in ways I cannot yet see. Encouraging me that I am not alone, that there are many that desperately desire for us to be the place God wants.

Prayer: God, thanks for this encouragement. I pray for humility and discernment to know when to push and when to rest. Help me gain consensus and unity towards the vision you have for our church. Let me remember these words and act in loving courage. Pull me back from feelings of aloneness. I trust you to build your house.