Attain to The Three

Scripture: Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the LORD 1 Chronicles 11:18

Observation: David, sitting in a cave near Bethlehem, muses aloud about his longing to have a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem, currently held by the Philistines. Three men, three mighty men, risk their lives to bring their commander a drink. David is so moved by this act of loyalty that he feels undeserving and pours out the water to the Lord.
David inspires such loyalty for his men that they go above and beyond the expectation to serve their king. But David is astute enough to realize that only God deserves such loyalty, and directs his men’s eyes back to God.

Application: Reading through this passage, I am pretty impressed with David’s mighty men. These guys were the Dirty Dozen of their day. Some killed lions and giants. Others killed armies with only a spear. These were heroic brothers. Yet these heroics did not enable these mighty men to attain to “The Three.” Apparently, these three men who risked life to secure the drink for David were a part of some inner circle. Perhaps loyalty to David drew them where heroic deeds had not.
I am not sure what God is saying here to me. Certainly, I want to inspire such loyalty in those I serve with. Of course, I also want to direct people to devotion to God. But I also wonder what it takes to attain to the three. What sets a man apart from simple renown, to attain to the three? I want to take some more time and think about David’s mighty men, and what God has to say to me through it.

Prayer: God, I want to be one of your mighty men. I want to serve you with devotion and loyalty. With honor and bravery. Help me grow in manhood to become Your man.

Give From Within

Scripture: But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, n everything is clean for you. Luke 11:41

Observation: Jesus is responding to a religious professional who is aghast that Jesus did not ceremonially wash his hands before a meal. Jesus retorts that the real rules people should keep are not external, but internal. Instead of following traditions of men to please God, give your heart.

Application: Someone who prays before the meal is holding to a tradition, but if the ensuing conversation is dishonoring to God, then what is the point of the ceremony? Jesus would rather me give of my heart—thankful for the meal, seeking His opportunities during the conversation—than he would a tip of the hat to Him which I promptly ignore. What are rituals I follow that are external? Where is God calling me to give from what is within? I happily give 10% of my income back to God; where is the tithe of my heart?

Prayer: God, show me today traditions I follow that are not in sync with my heart. Show me where I need to give alms from within.

Spending on What Does Not Satisfy

Scripture: Why spend money on what is not food? Why work for what does not satisfy you? Isaiah 55:2

Observation: In a beautiful description of salvation, God invites His people to come to him, to come and drink of Him without cost. If we will listen and come to God, we will eat what is good and enjoy the richest food there is. In verse 2, God asks a great question: Since you can have what will satisfy you for free, why do you spend money on that which does not satisfy? In other words, why buy dissatisfaction when God offers satisfaction for free?

Application: Yet how often do I spend my money on that which does not satisfy? I know Jesus Christ will satisfy me. And I can have him for free. Yet I am enticed by all sorts of food that costs me time and effort, yet does not fill me up. Take my devotional time, for example. I always leave this SOAP time with You satisfied and full. Yet so often, it gets bumped in favor of reading emails or the news.
I was reading an article by Matt Chandler which posed two great questions:
1. What stirs your affections for Jesus Christ?
2. What robs your affections for Jesus Christ?
These are two great questions with which I need to wrestle as I look at the things I spend my money on and work for in life. Are these things that stir or rob my affection for Jesus? Some things might in and of themselves not be bad. But if they contribute to robbing my appetite for Jesus, if they fill me up, then they are like filling up on bread before the steak dinner arrives.

Prayer: God, today, let me see where I spend my money and effort. And help me honestly look at them and judge if they stir or rob my affections for You. If they stir, let those flourish. If they rob, let them wither.