365 Reflections

We are one chapter away from the infamous moment of David and Bathsheba. For all the ink that has been spilled over that moment, we do well to look at the preceding experience David has in 2 Samuel 10. 2 Samuel 10:1–4 (ESV) After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. David has shown kindness to as many as he can find...

You would think that David would want nothing to do with any person from the house of Saul. You would think he would be fully caught up in his own glory and kingdom having crushed his enemies on every side. You would think David was ready for "David-time." You would be wrong. In 2 Samuel 9, something wonderful happens for one of Saul's descendants. David is ready to bless someone for the sake of Jonathan. It just so happens that someone is a crippled boy named Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 9:1 (ESV) And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” We see here that David is unlike any other ancient king. Protocol required all living descendants of a former king to be put to death. But David does the opposite. He seeks out any living member of the house of Saul to BLESS! Let's see who he finds: 2 Samuel 9:3–5 (ESV) Ziba (Saul's servant) said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he...

Genesis 18:1–8 (ESV)   And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before the...

The rest of the story is going to be about what Paul does for Jesus Christ. He's going to reach the ends of the Earth with the Gospel message. He's going to be used far more than anyone except Jesus. He is going to suffer terribly, be delivered remarkably, and empowered tremendously for the sake of Christ. His Holy Spirit inspired writings will inspire Billions if not Trillions of Christians worldwide to love Jesus with all their heart. But before his story gets started, there was a man we hardly ever mention. Ananias. I've titled this post after him because he doesn't get much notoriety in the church. Yet his obedience in what seemed absolutely crazy proved to be the manner through which the Apostle Paul would be turned fully to the Lord. He puts up a fight at first. He tries to explain to the Lord what Paul was all about... as if the Lord needed the information... But in one simple act, Ananias' faithfulness in going to this former enemy with the words, ...

It is not a popular sermon topic. You won't see many sermon series based on it, but it sure is important to the new life we have in Christ. It's called kindness. And we are to imitate our God with it. I always saw Ephesians 5:1 as the start of a new thought for Paul. But the Greek text (without chapters and verses of course) could go either way. Looking at it like this may help: Ephesians 4:29–5:1 (ESV) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. The Greek preposition for "therefore" could be ...

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. (1 Corinthians 16:1-4 ESV) Paul ends this letter with an admonition to give to the needs of the Jerusalem saints. Interestingly enough the church there has been tossed into a financial difficulty. This is not an instruction on tithing. It is an instruction on giving to another church far away in a tough financial period. Two things on that... First: We need to stop idealizing the community of Acts 2 at the expense of our own times. Yes, they were generous and shared all their resources. But soon after there were complaints about who wasn't gettin...