Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
December 2005
December 2, 2005
Psalm 72:1 "Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son
with your righteousness." (Solomon)
Hey! You're the KING. You're the ROYAL SON! What help do YOU need? You're
finally in a place where people bow to you. Enjoy it while you can! If
you don't know what to do or say at any given time, you can fake it. Pontificate
a bit maybe, but make it sound good, like a wise king. They'll never know!
You're the honcho. You're the main man!! You don't need anyone!
Such counsel would have boggled Solomon's mind or at least greatly troubled
his heart, I think. His dad had specifically said to him My son, the Lord
be with you, and may you have success... may the Lord give you discretion
and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel. Devote your
heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. (I Chronicles 22:11-12, 19)
His dad had also made a pretty powerful prayer to the Lord on behalf of
his son (I Chronicles 29:19): Give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion
to keep your commands. What we see here is the faithful prayer of a spiritually
minded father on behalf of a son who has apparently appreciated the counsel
of his father. Oh, could the church use about 10 million fathers like
him today!
Then, in today's text, we see the son, now king, praying essentially the
same prayer on his own behalf. Also, in II Chronicles 1:10, we further
sense the sincerity of this young man's heart expressing what his father
had so lovingly prayed for him and had so faithfully counseled him in
his growing up years: Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this
people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours? Oh, could
the church use about 10 million sons like this!
Heavenly Father, may there be more fathers and sons whose hearts and
minds are more consumed with You and Your ways than they are with simply
being 'buddies', or simply talking about sports and other activities.
Raise up a new generation of dads and sons whose focus is truly JESUS!
Amen.
December 5, 2005
Psalm 105:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known
among the nations what he has done."
Prior to taking the gospel to other nations, one should have experienced
the goodness of the Lord himself! (I purposely did not use the word 'salvation'
when I made that statement.) There are many who are saved; and for some
strange reason, only few (comparatively speaking) who are grateful enough
to tell someone else. There are many who have experienced salvation; comparatively
few whose personal relationship with Christ will motivate them to go beyond
the self imposed parameters of their own faith and reach out to others.
Why? Perhaps because they have failed to see the goodness of the Lord
in their own lives. Failing to read and meditate on the Word of God which
reveals the purposes of God through suffering or difficulty (Romans 5:3),
for example, they have become bitter and the only 'missionary work' they
do is to make known their bitterness to others around them.
Ruth and I were involved in foreign missions for over 25 years. I can't
recall hearing someone specifically tell us that a major 'qualification'
for spreading the good news of what the Lord has done to the ends of the
earth was a life of thanksgiving, a well established habit of calling
on the Lord, and a powerful track record of His response. Consequently,
over the past few generations, the church has sent out undisciplined,
prayer less people who have "completed a program of study" but
who have never led someone to Christ here in the USA! People have been
qualified for missions based on the intellect rather than on the basis
of a heart that is personally (versus generally) and profoundly grateful
for the grace of God generously poured out on them. The quality of life
lived or the godly habits which have been cultivated through a close walk
with Jesus Christ have too often taken second place to more pragmatic,
earthly qualifications. This is to our shame.
Father, train us to be thankful. Teach us to pray, calling on Your
name in all occasions of life. Help us to see the clear connection between
those graces and the probability - or not - of our being world focused
missionaries! Amen.
December 12, 2005
Psalm 112:7 "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast,
trusting in the Lord."
The experiences of life for the righteous person (the born again child
of God) are fascinating, to be sure. For example, by nature we are 'fearful'
people. That is, since the entrance of sin into the world, we are prone
to fear at one time or another in our daily lives. Of course, that fear
takes on different forms for different people of different personalities
at different times and on different occasions. But, with the entrance
of Christ into our hearts and lives, we have the opportunity to experience
peace and safety, even in the midst of fearful circumstances. Solomon
tells us that we need have no fear because our relationship with God and
a knowledge of His wisdom is our confidence (Proverbs 3:25-26). He has
all the answers; He knows every outcome. He is our confidence. So much
so that whoever listens to His wisdom is able to live a life without fear
of harm (Proverbs 1:33); to be bold and courageous like Peter and John
in time of potential harm (Acts 4). And when I am afraid (honest confession
of David and each one of us), I will trust in you. In God, whose word
I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do
to me? (Psalm 56:3-4)
Here's an interesting thought: David reminds us in Psalm 27:1 that the
Lord is our LIGHT, so (obvious conclusion) whom shall I fear? Light illumines
my path in life (Psalm 119:105), both coming and going. Light exposes
the unseen or unknown motives of the evil one whose goal it is to derail
me (Ephesians 6:10-20). Light reveals to me His glorious presence, His
holy purposes, and His instructive Word, all of which are means by which
He gives me a steadfast heart and ultimate victory (I John 5:4).
Thank You, Father, for Your sovereign love and care for me. I truly
desire to be steadfast in my love and service for You! Amen.
December 19, 2005
Psalm 119:57 "You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey
your words."
I was captivated immediately by the word 'portion'. It basically means
'inheritance' or 'allotment in life'. In Psalm 16:5 we see deeper into
the idea when David says, "You, Lord, have assigned me my portion
and my cup." When you think 'cup', think of the natural - and limited
- boundaries of the cup which "hold things together".
So, when I glance back at my brief lifetime, or ponder my present circumstances,
or quickly glance into the future, all I 'hear' is: I am your portion,
past, present, and future. I was there with you in the past, in all the
difficulties and dangers of your life. I appointed those circumstances
to test you and to strengthen your faith (see Deuteronomy 8:2-3). The
dangers you faced were not 'happenstance'; they did not catch me by surprise,
nor were they ever out of My control. They had a divinely designed purpose
for your life.
When I ponder the present schedule and corresponding stresses, I take
great comfort in the fact that I am not alone. Though for a few moments
He may choose to be silent, He is fully with me in the sphere of my divine
allotment. He Himself is my portion; He is my allotment. He may be sleeping
comfortably in the boat as was Jesus in the time of storm (Matthew 8:23-35);
but that's to my advantage, because it is a clear signal that the outcome
is well known to Him and that there is nothing for me to get angry with
Him about or to get bent out of shape over.
The result of such insights? A growing desire for obedience to Him and
to His Word. The Lord is my portion. I am safe and secure in Him. Consequently,
I have promised to obey His words. Indeed, I find deep and abiding joy
in so doing! "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him."
(Lamentations 3:24)
Dear Father, YOU are my portion in the land of the living. (Psalm
142:5) Cleanse me of any dissatisfaction with You. Protect me from any
form of idolatry that diverts me from You and Your most holy ways in my
life. I confess that my flesh and my heart may indeed fail from time to
time; but the issue is forever settled in my heart: You are the strength
of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26) Amen.
December 22, 2005
Psalm 142:1, 6 "I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the
Lord for mercy. Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me
from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me."
Most war heroes would not be willing to admit moments of weakness, times
when they were compelled to seek help other than from within themselves,
a popular, almost 'required' trend among those who have no need for Almighty
God! To admit that the enemy is stronger than you are and that you're
running away or hiding from them like a scared rabbit, would be to relinquish
a significant portion of the 'hero' status in life, dismissing you to
the dubious rank of 'has-been'! And, let's be honest: not too many 'groupies'
out there looking for has-beens to follow and idolize!
David's bluntness here reveals a healthy, sincere measure of honesty and
integrity, both of which are required in the Christian soldier's heart.
To 'cry out' for God to hear (Psalm 77:1-2), or to cry 'aloud' as today's
text says, does not mean that God's hearing is impaired or that for no
good reason at all He heartlessly turns a deaf ear (Psalm 28:1) to the
earnest plea of His beloved child in need. Rather, to 'cry out' reflects
serious forethought by the one seeking help. What better time (not literally,
of course; for there is a better time!) to be brutally honest with my
Creator than when I am inside the belly of a giant problem (see Jonah
2:2) for which I should have long ago developed the habit of obediently
and confidently seeking His intervention and input?
Attentive and willing hearted Father, hear my prayer; listen to my
cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will
answer me. Amen (Psalm 86:6-7)
|
