“Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD’s commands.”
Judges 2:17
On a pretty regular basis I arrange with the Red Cross to donate my blood. I figure, freely I have received, freely I can give. While that may not be the true point of that verse (Mt 10:8), it does make for a laugh, or at least a smirk. Yes? Anyways, I have been donating my blood for some time now and for the most part know all the pre-giving questions that I will have to answer. I know what countries affect my ability to give, as well as my general overall health. So far I have never been turned down. But one question always catches my attention. It isn’t that I have done it, but that for me it is something I have never even considered. “Have you, even once, traded money for sex?” Honestly, while I know people do it, I cannot say I have ever, nor would ever. Yet while this may be true in the physical, I wonder if it is true in the spiritual.
The last few months I have been reading through the Bible. I recently finished the book of Joshua and found this fact. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua speaks to the masses that they needed to choose for their own selves who they would serve, the one true God, or other gods. The people answered in the verses to follow that they would serve the one true God. But in Joshua 24:19 Joshua says to the people, “’You are not able to serve the LORD…’” Why? Was God too much God for the people? Were their motives wrong? Were they just saying what Joshua hoped they would say? Regardless the answer, the nation again declared they would serve the true God. To this Joshua called them out as witnesses to their own words and choice, ordering they throw away whatever gods they happened to have, and yield their hearts solely to God.
The book of Joshua ends and the book of Judges begins. Joshua has now passed and the people begin to work to rid their new land further still of the ungodly inhabitants. Because the people of Israel were unable to cleanse the land fully, though, the evil began to sneak back in. This is in many ways the same lesson we see when looking at the account of Lot. In being close to Sodom, he eventually gave into the lifestyle of Sodom, even to the point of offering his own daughters to a sex-hungry people. But Israel’s giving in was not an overnight thing. In fact, we read in Judges 2:10 that when those who had followed Joshua passed, a new generation arose who neither knew the LORD, nor what He had done.
Now hold on! You mean to tell me that none of the fathers taught their sons the ways of God? None of the mothers taught their daughters the truth of what God had done? How can this be? Abraham passed his beliefs to Isaac, who passed it to Jacob, but the men who fought alongside Joshua failed to pass it on to their children?
Looking at the verses to follow we read of the problem this brought about. “Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals” (Jud 2:11). By not having the faith of their fathers passed to them, this new generation of Israel gave into the worship of idols and foreign gods. Maybe as a last ditch effort, God sent judges to save the people (Jud 2:16), yet they would not listen. Instead they prostituted themselves to these other gods, refusing to give up their wicked ways.
So that brings me back to my original thought - while I may not prostitute myself in the physical, or have been with anyone that has, have I prostituted myself in the spiritual? I have not bowed to other gods made of wood, stone, iron, gold, or materials like that, but have I bowed down to other gods in any other fashion? Am I guilty of prostitution? Have I taken the world’s payment in exchange for my allegiance to Him? If God is looking for a heart sold out for Him, for a person who will be obedient to His ways, and for a life that reflects His, then yes, I am guilty for I have not been all these things. As sad as it is, I have prostituted myself spiritually in exchange for the world’s payment. What then is to become of me and this behavior?
The answer for me is the same answer given to the people of Israel who constantly were wayward in what God decreed. Turn back to Him. Each time Israel went off track they went into bondage. But when they confessed and got right with God, the chains of their bondage were broken. Spiritual prostitution is sin and puts me in bondage. Therefore, like Israel, I too must confess it as sin and turn. When we confess our sin God forgives our sin. He cleanses us, forgives us, and forgets the actions done.
https://www.onthevanguard.com/
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
GOOD OR GOD?
Video devo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_fB-I-4a70&feature=c4-overview&list=UUBpDAju7oW9cppxV0BUIAXQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_fB-I-4a70&feature=c4-overview&list=UUBpDAju7oW9cppxV0BUIAXQ
SO YOU WANNA GO BACK TO EGYPT
“All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?’”
Numbers 14:2-3
Do you ever finding yourself remembering the good ole’ days? I’m not necessarily talking about the days when a soda pop cost only five cents, but the days when you were a free bird. I remember them. I remember my single days in college, when I would spend my summers overseas on missions, or stay out late with the guys, or even go to Wal-mart by myself. But then something happened. I got married. Suddenly my alone time was couple time, which in time turned to family time. Gone were the days of being the free bird, now I was a papa bird. If you know my story, though, you know that after nine years of marriage I became a single papa bird. Over time I missed what I had had, that sense of a complete family with my kids and a wife. So I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and invited you to pray, and prayed some more. Then something else happened. I got married again.
I have been married now for a little over four months, and I have to admit, sometimes I miss those free bird and single papa bird days. Sometimes I miss jumping on a plane and taking a trip, or splurging some money on myself, or even being able to waltz around Wal-mart alone. I think back and recall my freedom…but I never get too far. Why? Well it is because with all the good ole’ times also came a great deal of pain. When I was a free bird I suffered from being lonely. I had no wife or children to keep me occupied. And the same feeling of loneliness followed me when I was a single papa bird. I wanted the adult companionship that my children could not offer.
So which is better? Does the thought of missing the alone times sound better than the thought of being lonely? Or better yet, why is it that when we receive the blessing of God we soon long for the days before the blessing came? What do I mean? To help explain this thought, let’s look at the times of Moses. With the people of Israel enslaved to the Egyptians, they called out for a deliverer. When the time was right and the prophecy given to Abraham fulfilled, God sent Moses. Out of their slavery they came, a nation so numerous, yet thanking God that He had heard their prayers and made a way. But it didn’t take long before their joy turned back to sorrow. Exodus 14:11-12 records the people of Israel saying to Moses, “Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone and let us serve the Egyptians?” And this was not the only recording of their desire for the good ‘ole days of slavery. The Israelites are also recorded in Numbers 14:2-3 as saying, “’If only we had died in Egypt!’”, and in Numbers 16:12-13, “’Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert?’” And what is so sad about this last passage is that they considered Egypt to be the land flowing with milk and honey.
As I contemplate my life now, I can see where I too tend to have this same mentality. I fail to see just how God saved me from my ‘slavery’, be it my loneliness or what have you, just like I prayed He would. And now, when even the smallest of trials comes along, I desire to go back to the good ‘ole days, back to my slavery, with the thought that slavery is better than freedom. I have it wrong, thinking Egypt was the land of milk and honey when I know for a fact it is not. But I venture to say I am not the only one who does this. If you were to be honest with yourself, would you agree that you too have at times desired to go back to Egypt? Sure we survived in Egypt, but did we really live? God’s desire is for us to live in the Promise Land. So let us not find hardship and give up half way, travel back to our slavery and tarry. Let us live!
Numbers 14:2-3
Do you ever finding yourself remembering the good ole’ days? I’m not necessarily talking about the days when a soda pop cost only five cents, but the days when you were a free bird. I remember them. I remember my single days in college, when I would spend my summers overseas on missions, or stay out late with the guys, or even go to Wal-mart by myself. But then something happened. I got married. Suddenly my alone time was couple time, which in time turned to family time. Gone were the days of being the free bird, now I was a papa bird. If you know my story, though, you know that after nine years of marriage I became a single papa bird. Over time I missed what I had had, that sense of a complete family with my kids and a wife. So I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and invited you to pray, and prayed some more. Then something else happened. I got married again.
I have been married now for a little over four months, and I have to admit, sometimes I miss those free bird and single papa bird days. Sometimes I miss jumping on a plane and taking a trip, or splurging some money on myself, or even being able to waltz around Wal-mart alone. I think back and recall my freedom…but I never get too far. Why? Well it is because with all the good ole’ times also came a great deal of pain. When I was a free bird I suffered from being lonely. I had no wife or children to keep me occupied. And the same feeling of loneliness followed me when I was a single papa bird. I wanted the adult companionship that my children could not offer.
So which is better? Does the thought of missing the alone times sound better than the thought of being lonely? Or better yet, why is it that when we receive the blessing of God we soon long for the days before the blessing came? What do I mean? To help explain this thought, let’s look at the times of Moses. With the people of Israel enslaved to the Egyptians, they called out for a deliverer. When the time was right and the prophecy given to Abraham fulfilled, God sent Moses. Out of their slavery they came, a nation so numerous, yet thanking God that He had heard their prayers and made a way. But it didn’t take long before their joy turned back to sorrow. Exodus 14:11-12 records the people of Israel saying to Moses, “Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone and let us serve the Egyptians?” And this was not the only recording of their desire for the good ‘ole days of slavery. The Israelites are also recorded in Numbers 14:2-3 as saying, “’If only we had died in Egypt!’”, and in Numbers 16:12-13, “’Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert?’” And what is so sad about this last passage is that they considered Egypt to be the land flowing with milk and honey.
As I contemplate my life now, I can see where I too tend to have this same mentality. I fail to see just how God saved me from my ‘slavery’, be it my loneliness or what have you, just like I prayed He would. And now, when even the smallest of trials comes along, I desire to go back to the good ‘ole days, back to my slavery, with the thought that slavery is better than freedom. I have it wrong, thinking Egypt was the land of milk and honey when I know for a fact it is not. But I venture to say I am not the only one who does this. If you were to be honest with yourself, would you agree that you too have at times desired to go back to Egypt? Sure we survived in Egypt, but did we really live? God’s desire is for us to live in the Promise Land. So let us not find hardship and give up half way, travel back to our slavery and tarry. Let us live!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
THE WORD OF GOD
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
Awhile back I wrote a devotional about the sword Excalibur. As a lover of history, the age of knights and fair maidens is one of my favorite times to study. So it is then that I know well the tale of Excalibur. English history tells the story of a young knight who would become the British leader of the late fifth and early sixth century. That leader would be known in history as King Arthur. Although much of the life of the brave knight who became king is composed of folklore, due in part to the writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth, there is little doubt that he did in fact exist. Perhaps the greatest debate then is the method in which he obtained this sword known as Excalibur.
There are two stories that continue to circulate, but the commonality to each is the sword’s magical powers. The first tale explains that Excalibur was the Sword in the Stone. In this account, the pulling of the sword from the stone was a feat that only a “true king” could perform. With his future rule as king granted because of his ability to lift the sword from its stone, he also won the rights to the sword itself. However, there is a second tale. It is in this folklore that the Lady of the Lake extended her hand from the waters to give Arthur his destiny, the enchanted sword named Excalibur. In both tales, the power of the sword is defined, for it is able to cut through iron as though it were wood and bring healing to its owner if he be injured in the fight.
While we may never know the truth of the sword that tall tales confuse for us, we do possess our own enchanted sword. The powers that cover our sword are not fabled uprisings or extensions from the waters, though, but rather a power that comes only from God Himself. We have the Word of God. This lamp unto our feet (Ps 119:105) is sharper than any double-edged sword. It is said that it can penetrate so precise, even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. And it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. It is this sword that we must take up daily as part of our armor (Eph 6:17). For how able to defeat the opponent is the knight who has no sword?
And while the sword may show itself needed for battle, it also shows itself needed as the medicine and healing agent for the wounded. It is to be hidden in our hearts so that we may not sin against God (Ps 119:11). It is to be obeyed so that the enemy does not have grounds to produce worse actions in our life (Jn 5:14). And it is God-breathed and useful for our teaching, rebuke, correction, and training (II Tim 3:16). This sword, the Holy Bible, inspired by men who followed hard after God, holds the key to eternal life and the power over eternal death.
You have been given this sword, this Excalibur, from God Himself. What are you doing with it? Is it sitting on the shelf collecting dust? Is it being used to ward off the enemy? It is the mysterious lamp unto your path, or the weapon that you’ve tossed to the side because you feel it doesn’t work right? Are you nurtured by this sword, or too afraid to consume it because it will change your life? God is no Lady of the Lake, but He has given you the power you need for every obstacle you will meet. He is handing you His sword now. Take it, and rise up as the warrior He is calling you to.
Hebrews 4:12
Awhile back I wrote a devotional about the sword Excalibur. As a lover of history, the age of knights and fair maidens is one of my favorite times to study. So it is then that I know well the tale of Excalibur. English history tells the story of a young knight who would become the British leader of the late fifth and early sixth century. That leader would be known in history as King Arthur. Although much of the life of the brave knight who became king is composed of folklore, due in part to the writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth, there is little doubt that he did in fact exist. Perhaps the greatest debate then is the method in which he obtained this sword known as Excalibur.
There are two stories that continue to circulate, but the commonality to each is the sword’s magical powers. The first tale explains that Excalibur was the Sword in the Stone. In this account, the pulling of the sword from the stone was a feat that only a “true king” could perform. With his future rule as king granted because of his ability to lift the sword from its stone, he also won the rights to the sword itself. However, there is a second tale. It is in this folklore that the Lady of the Lake extended her hand from the waters to give Arthur his destiny, the enchanted sword named Excalibur. In both tales, the power of the sword is defined, for it is able to cut through iron as though it were wood and bring healing to its owner if he be injured in the fight.
While we may never know the truth of the sword that tall tales confuse for us, we do possess our own enchanted sword. The powers that cover our sword are not fabled uprisings or extensions from the waters, though, but rather a power that comes only from God Himself. We have the Word of God. This lamp unto our feet (Ps 119:105) is sharper than any double-edged sword. It is said that it can penetrate so precise, even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. And it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. It is this sword that we must take up daily as part of our armor (Eph 6:17). For how able to defeat the opponent is the knight who has no sword?
And while the sword may show itself needed for battle, it also shows itself needed as the medicine and healing agent for the wounded. It is to be hidden in our hearts so that we may not sin against God (Ps 119:11). It is to be obeyed so that the enemy does not have grounds to produce worse actions in our life (Jn 5:14). And it is God-breathed and useful for our teaching, rebuke, correction, and training (II Tim 3:16). This sword, the Holy Bible, inspired by men who followed hard after God, holds the key to eternal life and the power over eternal death.
You have been given this sword, this Excalibur, from God Himself. What are you doing with it? Is it sitting on the shelf collecting dust? Is it being used to ward off the enemy? It is the mysterious lamp unto your path, or the weapon that you’ve tossed to the side because you feel it doesn’t work right? Are you nurtured by this sword, or too afraid to consume it because it will change your life? God is no Lady of the Lake, but He has given you the power you need for every obstacle you will meet. He is handing you His sword now. Take it, and rise up as the warrior He is calling you to.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
PLAYING WITH FIRE
“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 16:8
When I was in my pre-teen years, I suffered briefly of being a pyromaniac. I know, you may think it hard to believe, but it is true. It started when my best friend and I were messing around with lighter fluid. We would squirt little patterns on the ground and then stand back, dropping a lit match. The fluid would burn up and leave us wanting to do it again. The patterns got more elaborate until one day I got the ‘bright’ idea to make a design from the ground up to his club house. I loaded the wood floor with fluid, being sure it was good and soaked, and trailed my path down the stairs, through the brush, and to our starting point. Then, standing a little distance off, I lit the match and watched as the liquid burned up and black smoke appeared. My ‘bright’ idea wasn’t that smart, though, and soon we were panicked, trying to grab the hose quickly to put out the fire that was eating away at the floor boards of the club house now. Between a mixture of water and sand, we got the fire out. I can still remember to this day the fear I felt, with legs shaking, as I think back to the potential blaze we just about had.
These days my pyromaniac-ism is under control. Sure, since then I have poured gasoline on a few hot wheels and watched them melt. Yes, I have made a bonfire in my BBQ. And true, I have tried to repeat the fiery furnace from Daniel 3 in my fireplace, but other than that it is under control. The fires I want to set these days, however, are of a different sort. I want to set people on fire with a passion for God.
I think of the words penned by David in Psalm 42:1. Just as the deer desired a drink, so David’s soul thirsted for God. Or how about Psalm 57:7 where David wrote that his heart was fixed on God. To me this speaks of passion. In Psalm 40:8 David even states he delights to do God’s will and His law is within his heart. But the one that sticks out to me most is Psalm 16:8, where David boldly proclaims, “I have set the LORD always before me.” The Message translation reads, “Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.” Yet what does this mean? The word ‘set’ is the Hebrew word SHAVAH, meaning to agree with, become like, or resemble. David was so passionate about his relationship with God that he worked to resemble God.
So then, the next question I pose is how? How do we resemble God? Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us to be imitators of God and live a life of love. I Corinthians 11:1 tells us to follow Paul’s example as he follows the example of Christ. So perhaps the answer to how is in doing the things we know Christ did, which even Christ says were the things God did (Jn 5:19). Christ burned with passion to see people reverse their evil ways and come in surrender to Him. Christ portrayed a life of passion in healing people from all wounds, physical, emotional, spiritual, everywhere He went. And Christ etched out a life of passion in that while we were sinners He died for us.
I may have been a fire starter of sorts back in the day, but these days I want to set a new blaze. I want to reach out to people and extend the blaze I have for God to them, and walk in the example that Christ left for me. I am not the way to heaven, but I just may be a vessel God can use to start a flame in someone else. That said, I want to burn with a passion so blazing for God that it leaps off me and sparks a wildfire for God in someone else. I want to play with fire.
***check out this song by Britt Nicole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHIPe0JOr4w
Psalm 16:8
When I was in my pre-teen years, I suffered briefly of being a pyromaniac. I know, you may think it hard to believe, but it is true. It started when my best friend and I were messing around with lighter fluid. We would squirt little patterns on the ground and then stand back, dropping a lit match. The fluid would burn up and leave us wanting to do it again. The patterns got more elaborate until one day I got the ‘bright’ idea to make a design from the ground up to his club house. I loaded the wood floor with fluid, being sure it was good and soaked, and trailed my path down the stairs, through the brush, and to our starting point. Then, standing a little distance off, I lit the match and watched as the liquid burned up and black smoke appeared. My ‘bright’ idea wasn’t that smart, though, and soon we were panicked, trying to grab the hose quickly to put out the fire that was eating away at the floor boards of the club house now. Between a mixture of water and sand, we got the fire out. I can still remember to this day the fear I felt, with legs shaking, as I think back to the potential blaze we just about had.
These days my pyromaniac-ism is under control. Sure, since then I have poured gasoline on a few hot wheels and watched them melt. Yes, I have made a bonfire in my BBQ. And true, I have tried to repeat the fiery furnace from Daniel 3 in my fireplace, but other than that it is under control. The fires I want to set these days, however, are of a different sort. I want to set people on fire with a passion for God.
I think of the words penned by David in Psalm 42:1. Just as the deer desired a drink, so David’s soul thirsted for God. Or how about Psalm 57:7 where David wrote that his heart was fixed on God. To me this speaks of passion. In Psalm 40:8 David even states he delights to do God’s will and His law is within his heart. But the one that sticks out to me most is Psalm 16:8, where David boldly proclaims, “I have set the LORD always before me.” The Message translation reads, “Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.” Yet what does this mean? The word ‘set’ is the Hebrew word SHAVAH, meaning to agree with, become like, or resemble. David was so passionate about his relationship with God that he worked to resemble God.
So then, the next question I pose is how? How do we resemble God? Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us to be imitators of God and live a life of love. I Corinthians 11:1 tells us to follow Paul’s example as he follows the example of Christ. So perhaps the answer to how is in doing the things we know Christ did, which even Christ says were the things God did (Jn 5:19). Christ burned with passion to see people reverse their evil ways and come in surrender to Him. Christ portrayed a life of passion in healing people from all wounds, physical, emotional, spiritual, everywhere He went. And Christ etched out a life of passion in that while we were sinners He died for us.
I may have been a fire starter of sorts back in the day, but these days I want to set a new blaze. I want to reach out to people and extend the blaze I have for God to them, and walk in the example that Christ left for me. I am not the way to heaven, but I just may be a vessel God can use to start a flame in someone else. That said, I want to burn with a passion so blazing for God that it leaps off me and sparks a wildfire for God in someone else. I want to play with fire.
***check out this song by Britt Nicole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHIPe0JOr4w
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