Thursday Thought – March 31, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“When we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. When we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. It turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-5)

It would be great if all we had to experience in life were pleasures and blessings. That’s not what we’ve been promised. Paul reminded the Thessalonians, “we were destined for (trials).” Jesus made the same promise, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) Trouble and trials are certain for those who follow Christ. Some trials come as a natural part of life -- the whole world groans and struggles because of the effects of sin. Some trials come as a result of walking with Christ. The world hated Him, and there will always be those who hate His followers, too.

Knowing troubles are to be expected should help us avoid being unsettled by them. That doesn’t take away the difficulty, but it should help us remain faithful through them and not give in to the temptation to abandon Christ.

Jesus promised that we would have trouble, but He concluded that verse with another promise: “I have overcome the world.” In the midst of the troubles you face, don’t focus on the troubles. Focus on the One who has overcome those troubles and is waiting to usher you into an eternity without troubles.

Remember, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:35) God will hold on to you through your troubles, so keep holding on to Him!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – March 30, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. We wanted to come to you -- certainly I, Paul, did, again and again -- but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20)

Paul understood. People matter more than anything, except God Himself. For Paul, there wasn’t anything in this world that held him. He could live with money or live without it -- he had learned to be content either way. Possessions didn’t matter to Paul. He had a few scrolls that meant something to him, but what he possessed were just tools that he could use in helping people. He didn’t have much comfort and found joy anyway. Worldly fame wasn’t his goal, he learned the folly of living to please men. There wasn’t anything in this world that held Paul -- except people.

He told the Philippians that helping people was the only thing that gave purpose to his life. There was no reason to live except to help people, because what was beyond death was so much better.

The importance of people is a hard lesson to learn. Many things in this world clamor for our attention. Our yards need maintenance, it’s important to keep our landscaping up to the standard of the neighborhood. Our houses scream for attention -- paint here, dust there, sweep another place, fix a leaking pipe, a thousand and one things that say they are important. Our jobs, our hobbies, our cars, there are so many important things in the world -- or so it seems. Often, too often, people and their needs have to get in line behind all of those other important things.

Seems out of balance, doesn’t it? What is our hope, our joy, our crown, our glory? People are -- and how God wants to use us to touch their lives.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – March 29, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“We thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14)

When I calculate my income taxes each year, I read the instructions and the rules carefully. I’m looking for loopholes and extra deductions that I wasn’t aware of before. Sometimes I find some new legal and ethical ways to reduce my tax liability. After all, laws are written by men and sometimes they miss some things and you can find ways around them.

I got a traffic ticket once that I didn’t think I deserved. I decided to fight it in court. It took several months for the case to come before the judge. When the date finally arrived I was at the defendant’s table and another driver was at the prosecutor’s table as the only witness to my crime. When the judge called for his testimony, he couldn’t remember what he’d seen that day and turned to me asking for a reminder. I kept quiet and the judge quickly brought the case to a close -- finding me innocent. In that situation, my guilt or innocence wasn’t the issue that was decided, it was a technicality -- no reliable witness -- that doomed the prosecution. That’s O.K., it was just a man-made law -- loopholes and technicalities are all it takes to get around them.

Some people approach the scriptures with the same attitude. They look for loopholes and technicalities. They look for ways to get around what the Bible teaches. They approach the Bible as though it was the word of men, but it’s not! Loopholes and technicalities don’t apply when it’s the word of God. The Thessalonians understood that. They recognized God’s word -- and they responded with the right kind of attitude. That is a good example for us to follow!

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – March 28, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12)

Paul uses interesting images of leaders in this passage, all taken from the human family. Each shows a different aspect of godly leadership.

“We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.” A godly leader has compassion on those being led. A godly leader wants those being led know they are loved. A godly leader can be compared to a loving mother, who meets the needs of her children with obvious compassion. Mothering is not a duty performed roughly, but an act of love performed with tenderness -- so, too, godly leadership.

“Surely you remember, brothers.” Godly leaders never forget that they are a part of the team, brothers to those they lead. They are not above those they lead as though they are more valuable or worthy. They are fulfilling a God-given ministry, even as the rest of the team is.

“As a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God.” A mother’s gentleness characterizes godly leadership, but so does a father’s challenge for his children to fulfill their calling. A godly leader doesn’t just provide for the needs of those being led so they feel loved and cared for, a godly leader spurs them on to be what God wants them to be, challenging them to growth and service.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – March 25, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed -- God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-6)

Whose approval matters most to you? We’re all influenced by the opinions of other people. We want to be liked and respected. But is the approval of other people the most important approval you seek? It wasn’t for Paul and those who traveled with him.

If their goal was to achieve the approval of men, then most of their efforts would have to be classed as failures. They were run out of city after city. That was certainly true of their visit to Thessalonica (see Acts 17). Some people became believers, but the crowds were mostly against them and Paul and Silas had to flee the city to preserve their lives and continue their ministry elsewhere.

Most of us would look back on an experience like that as a failure. Paul didn’t. He was not after the approval of men. He was seeking to please the Lord. The Lord was pleased with what Paul did in Thessalonica. Some people did become believers. A church was started there and it continued to grow and mature after Paul’s departure, as evidenced by this letter he wrote to them.

It’s difficult to do what you know will turn some people against you, but if God approves, it’s worth the disapproval of other people. After all, His opinion is the one that matters most!

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – March 24, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)

What kind of reputation do you and your church have among other people? Note the things the Thessalonians were known for …

They were known for their faith. They were known as people who had a whole-hearted commitment to God and a willingness to follow Him anywhere and do whatever He asked of them. They weren’t people who had to “do their own thing,” but those who did God’s thing.

They were known for the good reception they gave Paul and his message. The Thessalonians were willing to respond to Paul’s message even though it ran counter to their traditions and counter to what the majority of the people in their town did. They heard the truth and they followed it willingly, despite its cost.

They were known for their repentance. They turned from idols to God. They weren’t known as those who hung on to their sins, who justified their sins, or who diminished the severity of their sins. They owned their sins, acknowledged them to God, repented of them – gave them up!

They were known for waiting for Jesus to return. I’d say that means they were known among the people of the world for their foolishness and they were known among other Christians for believing what Jesus said, even when it was beyond what they could imagine.

The Thessalonians’ reputation is one that is worth imitating. What reputation do you have?

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – March 23, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“We know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. So you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-7)

The faith of the Thessalonians was not accidental. It did not arise through their own initiation. Their faith was the result of God’s work in their lives and their community. Paul didn’t go to Thessalonica by chance, or even by his own choice. He was sent by God. Paul wanted to preach in other places, but God, by His Spirit, closed those doors. Then a man from Macedonia, the region which includes Thessalonica, appeared to Paul in a dream asking him to come preach. That was God’s direction for Paul’s next preaching assignment. God loved the Thessalonians enough to arrange for Paul to preach among them.

God chose them to hear the gospel, and they responded in faith. That same statement can be made of every person who comes to faith in Jesus. A person doesn’t come to faith by accident, or by his own initiation. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44) God works miracles in people’s lives to draw them to Himself and see that the gospel is preached at just the right time when their heart is receptive.

Consider how God worked miracles in your life to bring you to Himself. Perhaps it was through your parents that God exposed you to Himself. Who gave you those parents? Perhaps it was a school teacher who showed compassion and shared Christ with you? Who assigned that teacher to you? A friend, a circumstance, an event, God has thousands of ways that He works in the lives of people like you and me.

It’s a miracle that you’re a believer! Thank God for His work in your life.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – March 22, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1-3)

If someone who knew you and your church well were to write a brief description of you, what words would he choose to describe you?

There are some negative ways some churches would be described.

We continually remember before God your whining and complaining.

We continually remember before God your apathy and lukewarmness.

We continually remember before God your self-centeredness and lack of compassion.

We continually remember before God your worldliness and sinfulness.

And there are other churches that would be described in very positive terms.

We continually remember before God your focus on others with compassion.

We continually remember before God your devotion to prayer.

We continually remember before God your outreach to others and concern for missions.

We continually remember before God your holiness and the way in which you are set apart for God.

Paul described the Thessalonians with three words: faith, love, and hope. These characteristics produced positive results among them. Their faith produced work, their love prompted them to labor for the Lord, and their hope inspired them to endure whatever they had to endure in order to continue to serve the Lord.

Faith, love, and hope -- would anyone describe you with those words? Could those words be used to characterize your church?

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – March 21, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Gad went to David and said, ‘Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.’ So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him and bowed down before the king. Araunah said, ‘Why has my lord the king come to his servant?’ ‘To buy your threshing floor,’ David answered, ‘so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.’ Araunah said to David, ‘Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king.’ … The king replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ David bought the threshing floor and the oxen. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings.” (2 Samuel 24:18-25)

God sent a plague on the people of Israel and 70,000 died. David was grieved and knew the guilt for disobedience was his but the punishment had fallen on his people. He pled to the Lord and the Lord told David to make a sacrifice at a particular spot, the threshing floor of Araunah. David obeyed and went to Araunah.

In a gesture of great respect, Araunah offered the threshing floor as a gift. David refused the gift and paid fully for the land. His reasoning was that he could not offer God something that cost nothing.

God is not pleased with gifts that are leftovers, that we don’t want, or that cost us nothing. God is pleased with sacrifice. Sacrifice of time … sacrifice of effort … sacrifice of finances.

It is not the value of the gift that impresses God. It is what a gift expresses about our heart that God seeks. God seeks hearts that they are willing to sacrifice for Him.

Do your gifts really cost you? Are your gifts a sacrifice from a heart of love?

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – March 18, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“These are the last words of David: The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs: The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.” (2 Samuel 23:1-2)

David was aging and knew his days on earth were growing short. He had written many psalms that expressed his heart and now he wrote a final psalm. It’s interesting to see how David identified himself as he began his final message. He could have identified himself as the great king of Israel, the great warrior who was victorious over his enemies, even the victor over Goliath. David accomplished many great things during his life. David would use none of those things to identify himself in this final psalm.

David called himself, “the man exalted by the Most High.” David knew all he had accomplished did not come from his own effort or merit. What David accomplished came through the blessing of the Lord. It was all to God’s glory, not to David’s and David was sure to give glory to the One who deserved it.

David called himself, “the man anointed by God.” He wanted everyone to know that his life had been touched by God. That was most important to him in his final days. What he had accomplished was not foremost on his mind. His relationship with God was on his mind. This was an encouragement to others to focus on God.

David called himself, “Israel’s singer of songs.” He didn’t choose to be known as king or soldier, but as worshiper. What was closest to David’s heart was that God would speak to him and through him.

As you age and your time on earth grows short, consider what will be most on your mind. It won’t be the list of your grand accomplishments. It will be your relationship with God and what He accomplished in you and through you. If that will be most on your mind at that critical time of your life, why not make it most on your mind today, too!

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – March 17, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

Much of David’s time as king was time spent at war. His kingship started with Saul pursuing him and trying to kill him. The rest of his kingship was filled with other enemies. Some came from within his household and from his army. His son betrayed him and tried to take the kingdom from him. Some of his advisors and leaders of his army would also betray him and try to remove him from the throne. There were internal struggles and enemies from outside Israel who were intent on destroying David. Time and again the Philistines gathered an army and rose up against Israel and David.

Throughout David’s reign, God delivered David from all of his enemies. Though sometimes outnumbered, David and his army would come out victorious in the end. David understood that it was the Lord’s blessing and protection that gave him victory over his enemies. David wrote a song and sang it before the Lord to declare his gratitude to God.

It began with these words,

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior - from violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” (2 Samuel 22:2-4)

It concluded in similar praise,

“The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” (2 Samuel 22:47-51)

David clearly understood that the honor for the victories that he had won in battle did not belong to him, but to the Lord. David gave praise to Him to whom it was due!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – March 16, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

After Absalom’s death, David returned to Jerusalem as king and was greeted by some who had betrayed him. They had gone to Absalom and left their loyalty to David. Some wanted these traitors killed. “Abishai son of Zeruiah said, ‘Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord's anointed.’" (2 Samuel 19:21) Putting enemies to death seemed the reasonable thing to do. Could they ever trusted again?

David responded, “‘What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?’ So the king said to Shimei, ‘You shall not die.’” (2 Samuel 19:22-23)

David wanted no more fighting in Israel. It was time to put enmity behind them. It was time for forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration and David would lead the way. David forgave and restored those who betrayed him.

That wasn’t easy for David. There must have been a sense in which David wanted vengeance for their betrayal. David said “no” to vengeance and “yes” to what would bring healing to Israel. How could David trust men who had betrayed him? Would there always be doubt in David’s mind about those men? David made a choice to trust them. It may not have been reasonable for him to do so, but it was what the Lord wanted him to do. Israel was to be brought back together again and David led the way by his willingness to forgive and trust again.

It’s hard to be betrayed, especially by those you trust. Having been betrayed, it’s hard to forgive and harder to trust those same people again. David trusted God first and in that trust he was able to set aside his desire for vengeance and his desire to turn away from those who betrayed him. We will probably never be betrayed to the extent that David was – they were seeking to kill him! But we will be betrayed in some less drastic ways. We all face betrayal at times. We all face the opportunity to show forgiveness and to trust again.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – March 15, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

Absalom, David’s son, plotted and schemed to take the throne from David and succeed. David and those loyal to him marched out of Jerusalem and Absalom and his army marched in. Absalom took up residence in the palace David had built and he was king in Israel. But Absalom was not content. He was afraid to leave David alone and brought his army out to find David, attack him, and put an end to the threat.

God was with David and when the battle came to him, God gave David’s army victory over the much larger army of Absalom. Absalom himself died in disgrace. “Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.” (2 Samuel 18:9) Joab’s men found Absalom hanging there and killed him.

The news reached David and he responded: “The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. He said: ‘O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!’" (2 Samuel 18:33)

Absalom was David’s enemy, his betrayer. He had taken David’s throne and sought to take David’s life. Absalom was also David’s son and David’s love for Absalom outweighed his fear and distress over Absalom’s betrayal. David did not rejoice in the death of an enemy, instead he deeply mourned the loss of his son.

God delivered Absalom and his army into the hands of David’s men. Logic said the battle should have gone the other way, but God intervened to help David. That didn’t mean that David needed to rejoice in the disaster that befell his enemy.

When we see those who oppose us disciplined and punished by the Lord, do we rejoice in their suffering or weep because of their pain? How we respond to the pain of others, and especially to the pain of those who oppose us, says a lot about our hearts.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – March 14, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

David forgave Absalom and took him back into relationship. He loved Absalom and trusted him. But Absalom brought rebellion to the house of David.

Absalom won the hearts of the people through deceit. “Absalom would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. When anyone came with a complaint to the king for a decision, Absalom would call out, ‘What town are you from?’ Then Absalom would say to him, ‘Your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.’ Absalom would add, ‘If only I were judge in the land! I would see that everyone gets justice.’ When anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. And so Absalom stole the hearts of Israel.” (2 Samuel 15:1-6)

Absalom asked permission of David to travel to Hebron to worship the Lord. In Hebron, Absalom declared himself king. “Absalom sent messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, ‘As soon as you hear the trumpets, then say, “Absalom is king in Hebron.”’” (2 Samuel 15:10)

David chose to flee from Jerusalem instead of war. He trusted God to restore his throne. David said to the priest, "If I find favor in the Lord's eyes, he will bring me back again. If he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good." (2 Samuel 15:25-26)

After David left Jerusalem, Absalom entered and declared himself king.

David was the God-appointed king. It was rebellion against David and God. It was done with deceit, not honor. Absalom lied in order to gain power and make himself king. There was no gratitude in Absalom for the forgiveness he had received.

Though it wasn’t right or done in a godly way, David did not fight. He cared too much for Absalom and for the people. He was unwilling to start a civil war and see brother killing brother. He trusted God to restore him to the throne at the right time and in His way.

When you are deceived and hurt by treachery, do you take matters of revenge into your own hands … or do you trust God?

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – March 11, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

David’s son, Absalom, killed his half-brother Amnon because Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister. Absalom then fled and hid lest he be caught and executed for his crime. A woman came to David to plead with him to allow Absalom to return and to forgive him. She said, "Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son? Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.” (2 Samuel 14:13-14)

God’s forgiving spirit is the perfect example of the forgiveness we should show others. No one deserves God’s forgiveness. We deserve for God to take away our life because of our sins. That is not God’s plan. God has a plan of reconciliation, to restore those who have broken covenant with Him by their sin. He does not hold our sins against us, but has devised a way to wipe the slate clean.

Paul reminded the Romans, “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)

God’s marvelous grace is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus. He didn’t wait until we pled for forgiveness. He didn’t wait until we had somehow earned forgiveness. While we were still totally estranged from God by our sins, Jesus paid the price of reconciliation and forgiveness.

It’s human nature to hold a wrong against the person who committed it. It seems like the right thing to do. They must feel sorry for their sin. They must pay for their sin.

Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t do that with us!

It was time for David to forgive his son and be reconciled  Is it time for you to do the same toward someone in your life?

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – March 10, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

David acted very selfishly in taking Bathsheba. He was concerned only with what he wanted. He saw what he wanted and he took it, without considering the consequences. As is so often the case, David lived to see his own weaknesses manifest themselves in the lives of his children!

Amnon was one of David’s sons and Amnon wanted Tamar, who was his half-sister, David’s daughter by another of his wives. He was afraid that his father would not allow him to marry Tamar because she was his half-sister. Instead, he plotted and planned to take Tamar. He pretended to be ill and asked his father to have Tamar come fix food for him. While she was in his home, he sent the servants away and then took Tamar by force, against her will. It was an act of great selfishness. He wasn’t concerned about how his actions would affect Tamar. He wasn’t concerned with how his family would respond, what the people would think, or what God would think. He was only concerned with what he wanted – so he took her. (2 Samuel 13:6-14)

He thought he loved Tamar, but having gotten what he wanted, his love turned to hatred. His action was not an act of love, it was an act of selfishness. When his desire was satisfied, his attitude changed. He sent Tamar away in disgrace and she lived her life in the home of her brother, Absalom, a desolate woman. (2 Samuel 13:20)

Amnon did not get away with his sin. Absalom seethed with hatred toward Amnon because he had defiled his sister and Absalom took revenge. He patiently waited for two years until the opportunity finally came and then he killed Amnon and fled from the country in fear that David would punish or even kill him. (2 Samuel 13:28-34)

Amnon and Absalom both acted in selfishness and David sat idly by and did nothing to discipline. David’s own sins and weaknesses were being manifest in his children.

I wonder what weaknesses of yours will show themselves in your children? Your sins won’t just affect you. They’ll affect your family and the people around you. That’s a powerful motivation to live a righteous life.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – March 9, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

When David acknowledged his sin with Bathsheba before the Lord, God forgave David. There were still consequences for it. “Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. Because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.’" (2 Samuel 12:13-14)

David began pleading with the Lord to save the child’s life. “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground.” (2 Samuel 12:16)

God did not grant David’s request. The child died and David’s servants were afraid of what David might do. “David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, ‘While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.’" (2 Samuel 12:18)

David did not respond as his servants feared. “David got up from the ground, washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and they served him food, and he ate. His servants asked, ‘Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!’ He answered, ‘While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, “The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.” Now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.’” (2 Samuel 12:20-23)

As long as there was hope, David prayed with great fervency. As soon as God answered, even with an answer he did not want, David stopped praying and accepted God’s answer in faith.

Whatever you are praying for … pray and keep praying until you see God’s answer. When you see God’s answer, accept it in faith, even if it isn’t the answer you wanted to receive.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – March 8, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

The Lord loved David too much to remain silent and allow him to get away with his sins. A barrier between David and God had been built by David’s sin and God wanted it removed. God chose an obscure prophet to confront David. Imagine standing before the most powerful man in the world and pointing a finger at him and telling him that he had sinned. That was the assignment God gave Nathan. David could have had him executed for his audacity. Nathan couldn’t be sure how David would respond. But with obedience and boldness Nathan did what God asked him to do and trusted the outcome to God.

He told David a story. "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. A traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him." (2 Samuel 12:1-4)

David responded with fury at the rich man. "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." (2 Samuel 12:5-6)

Nathan’s next statement cut David right to his heart. "You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7) Nathan proceeded to reveal to David that he knew about David’s sin.

How would David respond to the rebuke God had sent him? David admitted his sin. "I have sinned against the Lord." (2 Samuel 12:13)

If you had been Nathan, how would have responded? Would you have been obedient? Would you have shown boldness in confronting David? Would you have trusted God with the outcome?

If you had been David, how would you have responded? Would you try to keep covering your sin? Would you deny the charge? Would you find some excuses to minimize your guilt? Would you shift the blame to Bathsheba?

Nathan obeyed and David admitted – they both responded right.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – March 7, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

Bathsheba was pregnant and her husband would know she had been unfaithful because he was with the army at war. David sent for Uriah to try to cover their sin, thinking that if he was home he would lie with his wife and would never know that the child she carried was not his. David’s plotting did not turn out as he planned. Uriah was unwilling to spend any time at home while the army was fighting. He stayed with David’s servants. He would not enjoy his home and his wife while his fellow soldiers were suffering.

David devised a second plan. “In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. ‘Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.’" (2 Samuel 11:14-15) David plotted to have Uriah killed!

David’s sin started with idleness and lust and then quickly moved to adultery. Next came lies and treachery. It ended with murder.

Before this episode started David would never have believed that he would have a good man killed. He would never have imagined that he would stoop to such sinful behavior. Giving in to one temptation put him on a path that ended in murder. At any time he could have turned back to God in repentance -- but his sin blinded him and he kept walking from bad to worse.

Sin is a trap. James said, “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15) It starts with desire -- it moves to sin -- it ends in death. No one would choose death if the end of the path was clear at the beginning. When we give in to the temptation, we are blinded by our own desire and don’t see the pain that is at the end of the road.

The time to say no to sin is early in the battle, at the desire stage. If only David had said no to his desire for Bathsheba.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – March 4, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“In the spring, when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around the roof of the palace. He saw a woman bathing who was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, ‘Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, ‘I am pregnant.’" (2 Samuel 11:1-5)

David’s sin with Bathsheba began with David in a place he should not have been. It was spring, when kings go off to war. David did not go with his army. He sent the commander, Joab, and he remained in Jerusalem. It was an idle time for David and the devil found an opportunity.

David lingered on Bathsheba while she bathed. David looked long enough to determine that she was a very beautiful woman. Paul reminded us, “Flee from sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) Instead, David dwelt on the beauty of the woman he saw.

David knew she was married. Someone brought him the news of her identity. This was no sin of ignorance. David knew what he was doing. David had no right to take her, she belonged to another man. David wasn’t concerned about what was right that night -- only about what he wanted. He wanted Bathsheba -- and he took her.

God promises to always provide a way out of temptations that come to us. Paul said, “When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God gave at least three ways out for David:

He could have gone to war and avoided the temptations of idleness.

He could have turned quickly away when he noticed a woman bathing.

He could have found she was married and stopped his plotting.

David rejected all of those opportunities and any others God provided.

Look for the opportunities to get out from under temptation and don’t give in like David did.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – March 3, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

David prayed, "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? As if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD? What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.” (2 Samuel 7:18-21)

“O Sovereign LORD” is a combination of two Hebrew words: “Adonai Yahweh.” “Yahweh” is the Hebrew name of God. The Jews refused to say that name in Jesus’ day because they didn’t want to be guilty of taking it in vain. When they translated the Old Testament they wouldn’t even write Yahweh, they would substitute another word for it.

“Adonai,” comes from a root word that means “to rule.” It came to stand for the one who controlled -- whether talking about a man in control of something or God in control of all things. David was acknowledging that the Lord was in control of his life -- and in control of all things.

David did not believe he had risen to king of Israel because he deserved it or earned it. He knew it was the gift of God. The blessings he knew -- his palace, his wealth, his sons, his victories, the peace he enjoyed … did not come because he was great or righteous. Those, too, were gifts from the Lord.

David acknowledged to the Lord that he understood and expressed his gratitude for all God had done for him.

Life can be hard at times for all of us. But all of us know we have received blessings from God. Only someone blind to reality could say that God had given them nothing of value. We are recipients of God’s rich blessings -- a relationship with Him, forgiveness, the promise of heaven, the Holy Spirit, a church family, a physical family, material provision, and on and on.

Have you acknowledged to God that you understand what you have is a gift from Him? Have you expressed your gratitude to God for what He has done for you?

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – March 2, 2106

Good Morning Friends,

David final great dream was to build a grand temple for the Lord. He had defeated the enemies of Israel and was living in peace. (2 Samuel 7:1) He had a beautiful palace for himself and was enjoying life in it. (2 Samuel 7:2) Now, David wanted to build a temple that would honor God.

Before pursuing his dream he inquired of the Lord through the prophet Nathan about whether it would please God. Initially, Nathan gave David his own opinion that it would please the Lord and God would bless it. That night the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him that David was not to build the temple.

God gave David an even better dream. “The Lord declares to you that He will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. … Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

God promised an enduring kingdom, with his offspring sitting on the throne forever. God promised that it would be his son who would build the temple. It was a dream beyond David’s wildest imagination. David’s house would contain a long line of kings … with one King who would sit on the throne forever.

Sometimes God allows us to have our dreams, pursue them, and accomplish them. Sometimes our dreams are thwarted – by our mistakes, opposition, circumstances, even by God Himself. Sometimes when our dreams are thwarted, God has even grander plans for us. That is what God promised to us – the dreams God has for us will be even more amazing than any dream we would ever have.

Paul wrote, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – March 1, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

After Uzzah died because he touched the ark of God, David was afraid to bring it into the city of Jerusalem. For three months, he left the ark at the house of Obed-Edom. During that time Obed-Edom was greatly blessed by the Lord. (2 Samuel 6:11)

David heard about the blessings and realized they came because of the ark’s presence. So, “David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.” (2 Samuel 6:12)

It was in a great procession with worship and dancing. “David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Samuel 6:14-15)

The procession entered Jerusalem and David was dancing and leaping for joy, worshiping God with abandon. There was joy in his heart and appreciation for God’s blessings and the prospect of further blessings. He was willing for all the people to see him express love for God. When David’s wife, Michael, saw David dancing and leaping, she was embarrassed and despised him. (2 Samuel 6:16) She said to David, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” (2 Samuel 6:20)

David responded: “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” (2 Samuel 6:21-22)

David was willing to make a fool of himself before the people, if that’s what they wanted to think. It wasn’t the people he was trying to impress or for their benefit he was dancing. He was doing it for the Lord.

Do we ever worship with abandon, expressing our love and appreciation to the Lord with fullness of joy? Do we think more about how our worship impacts God or about what people think if we raise our hands, or sing a little loud, or close our eyes, or move a little?

His, by Grace, Steve