THE LORD SPOKE (May 7)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Samuel 12-13

At the Passover seder, the Jewish people sing a song called Dayeinu. The multiple stanzas, which sometimes stretch to dozens, list God's many blessings and after each repeat the title, "It Would Have Been Enough For Us". It's as if to say, if God had stopped at any point we would still consider ourselves greatly blessed, but He didn't. He just kept heaping on more and more of His grace.

Nathan's bold story and it's application, "You are the man!" (II Sam. 12:7a), remind David of where he was and to where God had brought him before his sin.

I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. (II Sam. 12:7b-8)

In return, David did evil but did you notice what exactly was his sin? It was to "despise the word of the Lord" (II Sam. 12:9). How might I be guilty of the same sin?

1. by disobedience to clear commands of Scripture
2. by grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit when He bears witness with my spirit
3. by resistance to His leading in all the details of our daily affairs
4. by not listening to the Nathans God puts in my life

The answer? Read how David repented and responded to God's grace in Psalm 51. Read it now!


New Testament: Romans 10

It all begins with (1) a preacher sent from God. Without a doubt, God has done His part. Throughout time, He has consistently called out and equipped men and women to be His instruments of grace through whom He will give His word. That requires their obedience individually and, by His design, it requires our participating in the "sending" process. He has chosen to work through people and we have the responsibility to fulfill His calling and to assist those who do so (financially, prayerfully, emotionally, and in every other way).

Then there must be (2) the proclamation of the message. If we fail to speak the words of truth the process comes quickly to a grinding halt. This is so often the problem with a so-called "silent witness" - he’s only about 50% successful! There must be verbalization of the message. It must be in a language and at a level that the receptor is able to receive. It needs to be contextualized. But, before anything else can happen, it must be proclaimed in a clear and understandable way.

Which leads to (3) the hearing of the message. It’s not enough to just throw it out, to simply broadcast it in monotone, or to dump the entire encyclopedic version on unsuspecting victims. True enough, some seed will fall on stony ground. But our communication of the message must take into consideration the receptivity of those who hear it - otherwise, how can it be said that they hear it? Do they have some responsibility in this also? Yes, of course, and that’s the beautiful part of this cooperative project. The Holy Spirit prepares both us with the precious seed and them as the receptive soil so that when the two come together there is germination. That germination is called "regeneration".

That’s what (4) believing the message involves. God Himself makes that seed open up in their hearts. New life is brought forth. A soul is redeemed.

But it all must begin with a preacher....