Friday, October 28, 2011

A Better Position

Psalm 3:6
6I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

David's own son Absalom rose against him. Absalom was angry because his sister Tamar had been raped by their brother Amnon. Amnon claimed to be in love with Tamar and so he tricked Tamar to caring for him while he was sick. When she was close enough to him he forced himself upon her. All he had for her was sensual desire nothing more. And once he received what he wanted, he realized he didn't love her but he hated her. Absalom was angry and plotted to kill Amnon. But Absalom turned on King David when he felt David didn't do enough to punish him for Tamar's disgrace. And so Absalom made his own father his enemy and rose up amongst the people his own army. God told David that the sword would never leave his house. There would always be division because of his act against Bathsheba's husband. But David asked God for mercy in this psalm and for Him to step in and cancel his enemies. David never wanted to hurt his son. He loved him. And though so many in his own kingdom were against him, he still did not fear. He had faith that God's mercy was on him. And it was though David was paying a price for a mistake. Absalom was killed after being stuck in tree. It was not a sweet victory for David. He lost two sons whom he loved in the process. In the end, Absalom's own revenge was turned on him. He sought vengeance that was not his to take. It belonged to the Lord. And because he went about it the wrong way, he lost not only a battle but his life. Like David, some of us may have enemies closer than we think. But just as David sought the Lord, so we ought do the same. It is never for us to be an Absalom with an angry spirit, though he felt he was doing the right thing. His anger spilled over. We must inquire of the Lord through prayer as to how we must proceed but in the process do not sin. Lack of self-control in any area is dangerous. Surely, the Lord's victory puts our fate in a better position.

P.S. Remember to catch my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on www.Qliveone.com Saturdays at 8:30am CT, 2:30pm CT and 8:30pm CT and catch the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment! Also listen to my girl Stubbs of the Leap of Faith Show on www.leapoffaithshow.com on Sundays 6am-10am ET as well as Monday- Wednesday 6am-9am ET and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Acknowledged as One of His

Luke 12:8
8"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.

Jesus was frank when he said don't be afraid to claim Him. The Pharisees denied Jesus over and over. He warned what would happened. And He's the same today as yesterday. Don't be afraid to claim Jesus as your Savior!  Does this mean we have to beat people over the head with it? No. But it means if we know that Jesus is the reason for something happening in our lives, then let us not walk in fear of saying so. Yes, some of us are afraid because we don't know how people may respond. But when someone has a death in their family or something else tragic is happening, people latch on to something. So why not lift Jesus up if you're willing. How He's kept you in a rough time can show the person that they can make it through with His help. Some people may then hold you accountable when you claim Jesus as your Savior but is that a bad thing? No.  It ought not be as a way to shame you but your life being an example may open the door for someone to want to know who Christ is. Though we ought not do something just for acknowledgement's sake, people love public recognition more than anything. How great would it be to stand in front of Jesus and a host of angels and hear Jesus say, "You are one of my sheep."  Do your friends and family know you love Jesus? Or is He still the best kept secret? Do they see Jesus in you? Are you recognized here on earth as one of His sheep?

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Fountain of Understanding

Proverbs 16:22
22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.

The ever wise King Solomon noted that "understanding" ought to be a fountain. A fountain is a source where water flows. And according to King Solomon, understanding ought to flow in one's life. But as he said, "to those who have it". Not everyone has understanding and quite frankly, not everyone seeks it. There are some of us in life who deny every bit of understanding because gaining it means we have to be held responsible for our actions, and the truth of knowing that ignorance is not bliss in the long run doesn't seem as exciting to some. God is the source of ALL understanding that is true, that is right, that is pure. So why then do we deny it and Him? As King Solomon said, lacking it not only makes us a fool but we bring about our own punishment. Are we really willing to pay the price that comes along with our foolish behavior? For most of us, that answer is no but hopefully we get it before it's too late.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Where Credit is Due

John 1:8-9
8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

John the brother of Jesus gave testimony of John the Baptist's purpose. He very eloquently dispelled the myth that John the Baptist was the Messiah. This belief ensued for quite some time. But John said that John the Baptist was a "witness". A witness is a person with a firsthand account, someone that was present. Many of us as believers have to learn how to give our "firsthand account of what Jesus has done in our lives. We never know who may need to hear our eyewitness account. If we do not speak when the Lord gives us an opportunity is it because we are afraid or because we do not see evidence of Him in our daily lives? If we do not see evidence is it not because we fail to perceive or we simply haven't come to know Him yet? John also said "the true light that gives light to every man". In other words, Jesus will operate through any one of us, if we are willing. We alone cannot take any credit for what God does. We can only submit to being an instrument or lamp that Jesus is allowing His light to shine through. If we are not clear on who is in control, it can be very easy to attempt to steal the limelight. And our God is a jealous God. He will indeed demonstrate who is REALLY running the show. It's okay to say, "it's not me, it's Jesus." At that point, credit is going to where credit is due.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Courage of Conviction

Daniel 1:8
8But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Daniel had the courage to stand on his convictions though he was in a foreign land. It was customary for the food in Babylon to be offered to idols before being set at the king's table. Daniel who loved God and followed Jewish law would not participate in this ritual no matter who's table he entertained. Daniel had a strict regimen and stuck with it. Even at the risk of getting into trouble with others. But indeed he asked the official to test him and his friends first to prove his point. And so Daniel's point was proven. The way he and his friends lived left them in a better condition than the others being prepared for the king's service. As followers of Christ, we can take a lesson from Daniel. If we have convictions rooted in our faith about the way we live, we ought not abandon them just because we are in a new place. We must have the courage, like Daniel, to risk the "fitting in" or being liked factor because it's for God that we live. When we are at the judgement seat, the others can not give an account for us as to what we've done. It's human to want to be liked or to want to fit in with the crowd. But God has said that we must stand out from the crowd. How else can He use us as a light to bring others to Christ if we keep our light dim to please man. Our main purpose is to please God.