365 Reflections

We come to the fateful episode of David's life. His tryst with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. 2 Samuel 11:1 (ESV) In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. The first thing we see David doing wrong is not going out to fight when he should have. He is king. This is what they do. The reason spring is mentioned is because of the dry ground it affords military marches and conquests. On top of this, we must remember that David's chief gift is military strategy. This is God-given gift. He wasn't called to sit on it and relax. I find that the less I give myself to what I know God has called me to do, the more time I have to ponder the enemies alternatives and be tempted by fleshly indulgences. Why does David stay home? I believe it has to do with this enemy - the Ammonites. Remember the last chapter when David...

There's a very short story in 2 Samuel 2 that you may miss because of its brevity and the number of strange names it contains. Three brothers are part of David's army. Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now, these three men just won a hard-fought battle against the insurgent forces of Ish-Bosheth who has been thrust to the kingship by Abner, Saul's right-hand man. The text lets us know that after the battle, Abner flees. But here's where the story gets interesting. Asahel has a particular gift. He's fast. Look at the unfolding drama. 2 Samuel 2:18–22 (ESV) And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” 21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the ...

For what purpose is the gift of teaching? Exodus 35:30–35 (ESV)   Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. I love what this passage illustrates for us. Bezalel, first mentioned in Exodus 31 is now brought up again with the materials gathered for construction of the Tabernac...

When you think about it, the first act of the Spirit in accordance with the Word of God is to create! The universe and all that makes Earth wonderfully unique was created as the Spirit hovered over the surface of the deep. Now the temple needs to be wonderfully unique for the presence of God to dwell with man. And God fills a man with the Spirit to bring it to pass. Exodus 31:1–5 (ESV)   The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God , with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. When you think of being filled with the Spirit of God, what comes to mind? I was raised in a church where one word was the answer: tongues. I believe in tongues. I speak in tongues. I am thankful for the gift of tongues...

No single verse sums up the activity of God throughout scripture better than this: Genesis 29:31 (ESV) When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. The human desire to be loved is a strong as anything. People will do almost anything to be loved by someone. Leah wanted desperately to be loved by the man she plotted with her father to marry unbeknownst to him.  Some people may look at Leah's predicament and think she deserved what she got. After all, she should have refused to marry Jacob. But that argument assumes that young women in those days had the rights they have today. We don't know for sure. What we do know is that no matter how she got into this marriage, it was void of love, and it hurt badly.  But God saw Leah not being loved. And God acted on her behalf.  FACT: God choses the unlovely. The New Testament makes that plain as day. While Jacob met the love of his life at a well who was a virgin, pure and beautiful, J...

Earlier in Acts, the Holy Spirit prevented Paul and his team from going into Asia. Now we come to a point where we get a possible reason why (see later). God does some powerful things in this area that are reminiscent of the early days of Christianity in the book of Acts. Acts 19:1–8 (ESV) And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and...

Sometimes you need to be reminded what to PRAY for... Paul is going to spend the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians convincing us to put the gift of prophecy near the top of our list! Paul tells us to desire and seek the gift of prophecy in a loving heart. 1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV)  Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. When it comes to tongues or prophecy? Paul says choose prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:5 (ESV) Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. (Not to be lost on that passage is Paul's desire for all of them to speak in tongues as well.) But he clearly wants them to prophesy more... 1 Corinthians 14:19 (ESV) in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Paul uses the word for prophes...

Don't mistake gifting for godliness. I know it hard to hear but many gifted individuals have led miserable lives of ruin behind them. Case in point: The Church in Corinth. Paul opens one of his sternest letters to any church with this commendation to the Corinthian Christians: 1 Corinthians 1:7 (ESV) you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, They had ALL the gifts. The did not lack in any of them. In chapter 12 Paul is going to sort them out about how to use them. But that's the least of this church's problems.   There were factions. There was sexual immorality. A guy was sleeping with is step-mother and they were proud! There was chaos in the church meetings. There was disorder in their body. There were some who taught others the resurrection wasn't real. And this was a very gifted church in a very prominent city.  Sometimes I struggle with this reconciliation... Giftedness is not a sign of ...

Galatians 1:15-16 (ESV) But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,  16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; God works in mysterious ways.  I know that's not in the bible, but it's still true for many of us.  Jesus shows up to this man named Paul.  He is the leading Hebrew scholar of his day.  He is advancing beyond his peers in Judaism and zealous for the traditions.   God sends him  to the Gentiles who know nothing of the law.  But he only got to the Gentiles because he was able to start churches through local Jewish synagogues where he proved Jesus was the Christ from the scriptures he knew so well.  Could you imagine getting into a debate with Paul?  That would be no contest!  Yet this passion and zeal was not his ultimate calling.  It was God's programming...God used hi...

Most Christians of vast denominations agree, we should walk in the spirit. Most agree we should keep in step with the Spirit. Most believe we are or can be filled with the Spirit. But how many of us believe we should pray in the Holy Spirit? Jude did: Jude 20, 21 "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." I must always remind myself.  I am where I am today because of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  I'm surprised at how many times I neglect this tremendous gift that yields powerful results. Praying in the Holy Spirit or tongues is a gift given for personal benefit.  The other gifts are given for other people.  This one is for you.  If you neglect it, you're the only one who suffers.  Paul said "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself" 1 Cor. 14:4   This gift is for you...