THE LORD SPOKE (April 29)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 23-25

In sharp contrast to Saul, we frequently find that David "inquired of the Lord" (23:2,4,10,12 et al.). He did so through prayer and by listening to the Holy Spirit's voice through his own conscience (see 24:5). Beyond that, he frequently sought out and listened to (!) godly people who helped him determine God's direction for him. Look at the four examples given in these chapters:

Abiathar (23:10) - one who went through a personal holocaust (all his family was killed by Saul - ch. 22) and knew how to trust God through severe stress

Jonathan (23:16) - a man who was learning how to deal with an abusive father and could help David "find strength in God" (23:16) - what a friend!

The Giborim (25:13) - a motley crew of "mighty men" in distress, debt, and discontent (22:2) who, nevertheless, served David faithfully and were frequently his spiritual eyes and ears

Abigail (25:32) - a godly woman who learned how to deal with a worthless husband (ch. 25) and gave David some of the best advice he ever received (25:26-31)

Take a closer look at one phrase in Abigail's wise counsel to David: "The life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God." What is that "bundle of the living"? I believe it was exactly those spiritual friends around David who protected and preserved him from sin. Just as a valuable possession is carefully wrapped for safe-keeping, so we need some bubblewrap around our souls. Make sure you have friends like Jonathan who help you find your strength in God.


New Testament: Romans 2

The first sixteen verses of Romans 2 are written primarily for/about Gentiles. At verse 17, Paul switches his focus to Jews. He speaks of their privileges (vs. 17-20), their practices (vs. 21-24), and their position (vs. 25-29). In the next chapter he continues talking about the promise they received.

That’s an important observation if we’re to understand Romans 2:28-29 properly. A person is saved not by what he does but by faith in Jesus Christ. That’s true for both Jew and Gentile. The privilege came first for the Jews (Rom. 2:9-10) but with that privilege came responsibility. Being born Jewish, even being circumcised, is no guarantee of God’s favor.

True circumcision, the sign of a covenant relationship, must be that of the heart (Rom. 2:28-29). It is the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit that marks us as belonging to God. God evaluates us on the basis of truth (Rom. 2:2), good deeds (Rom. 2:6-11), and our response to the light He has given to us (Rom. 2:12-15). But does that mean our good works get us into heaven or that God grades on a curve? No! These things are meant to be the evidence of heart conversion.

It’s our own “stubbornness and unrepentant heart” that deserves God’s wrath (Rom. 2:5) but His grace is characterized by kindness, tolerance, and patience (Rom. 2:4).

Christ has for sin atonement made
What a wonderful Savior!
We are redeemed, the price is paid
What a wonderful Savior!

What a wonderful Savior
Is Jesus, my Jesus!
What a wonderful Savior
Is Jesus, my Lord!

I praise Him for the cleansing blood
What a wonderful Savior!
That reconciled my soul to God
What a wonderful Savior!

He cleansed my heart from all its sin
What a wonderful Savior!
And now He reigns and rules therein
What a wonderful Savior!

He gives me overcoming pow'r
What a wonderful Savior!
And triumph in each trying hour
What a wonderful Savior!

THE LORD SPOKE (October 12)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Jeremiah 1-3

“Missional church.” Have you heard that term lately? Have you wondered what it means? Is it just the latest buzz word? Will it eventually pass on like all the last several buzz words? Maybe it will pass. Maybe it is just a current buzz word. But, if so, it will have served its purpose. It has caught our attention, made us stop and think, and helped us refocus a little.

“Missional” is simply the adjectival form of the noun “missionary”. Missional churches do what missionaries do. (Try it out with “adversary” and “adversarial” and it makes better sense.) It’s been said, you’re either a missionary or you’re a mission field. There really is no middle ground. Jeremiah was missional. Chapter one of his book immediately persuades us that proclaiming the word of God was on his front burner. He is careful to establish his authority:

• “the word of the Lord came to me” (Jer. 1:2,4,11,13)
• “the Lord said to me” (Jer. 1:7,9,12,14)
• “I appointed you as a prophet” (Jer. 1:5)
• “you must go to everyone I send you to” (Jer. 1:7)
• “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you...” (Jer. 1:9-10)
• “stand up to them and say whatever I command you” (Jer. 1:17)

And that’s just chapter one of Jeremiah. Chapter two starts all over again with “the word of the Lord came to me” and it continues through all the rest of the book.

Do you have a sense of being commissioned with the word of the Lord that you are supposed to give to the entire world around you? You should...because you do!

Matthew 28:18-20 - “go and make disciples of all nations”
Acts 1:8 - “you will be my witnesses, in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”

Are you missional?


Psalms 51-52

Doeg caused a lot of damage. Many innocent people died because of his treachery. In fact, he killed them himself - eighty-five priests plus all their families and livestock (I Sam. 22:18-19).

When the priests of Nob, Ahimelech ben-Ahitub in particular, aided David in his flight from Saul, Doeg tattled (I Sam. 22:9-10). Saul sent his men to Nob and gave the order for his men to kill all the priests and their families. To their credit, they refused. But Doeg, the foreigner from Edom, jumped to the dastardly task. One of Ahimelech’s sons, Abiathar, escaped and told David, who properly took responsibility for what had happened (I Sam. 22:20-22). Abiathar went on to become the high priest under David.

Psalm 52 was written by David after these events and expresses a fearless confidence in God. Denunciation is hurled in the face of the evildoer. He is told in no uncertain terms that God will take him out (Ps. 52:5). His doom is sealed because he “did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth [Saul probably paid him well] and grew strong by destroying others” (Ps. 52:7).

What a sharp contrast between Psalm 51 and Psalm 52. Righteous indignation is written throughout Psalm 52 but David is on his knees in abject contrition and confession in Psalm 51. Only the one who has genuinely confessed and forsaken his own sin could ever speak like David does in Psalm 52.

His conclusion reveals so much. David recognized that, apart from being firmly rooted in his relationship to God, there is no satisfaction or hope.

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints. (Ps. 52:8-9)