Courage!

2 Samuel 12: 5 - 7

⁵Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die,

6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man!

Can you begin to consider what courage it took for Nathan to tell King David the truth?

King David could’ve had Nathan’s hide, but Nathan was more interested in the truth.

Are you interested in the truth?

If you had a friend who you knew was disobeying God, would you have the stomach to tell them the straight up truth?

I’m not sure I see that as much as I used to.

In this politically correct circus we live in, I’m not sure I see people telling the truth, even if it meant their life was on the line.

I think we need more Nathan’s in this crazy, mixed up world.

I think we need men and women who are willing to tell it like it is, no matter the cost.

After Nathan mixed it up a bit with his King, David was quick to respond.

The consequence of David’s actions, surely followed him all the days of his life.

The good thing though, was that his relationship with God was restored.

Shouldn’t that be the sought after outcome of truth?

Who do you know right now, that needs to hear the truth?

Why would we knowingly cover something up, when we know God’s going to deal with it one day anyway...                     Light Reflections will return on 2/8/16...

Pay Attention!

Proverbs 7: 1

My son, pay attention to my words. Treasure my commands that are within you.

In yesterday’s devotion, I quoted the wrong address of the Bible verse I used.

I earmarked Proverbs 23: 27, when I should’ve ear marked, Proverbs 4: 27.

Only one person caught my slip of pen, or in this instance, the slip of my mind.

That actually happens more as a 58 year old, than it did when I was a 40 year old.

It made me wonder, of the 100’s of people I send this devotional to, how many truly caught my gaffe’?

I actually had wondered how many even read the devotional in the first place? The person that did, has been a great influence in my spiritual life.

It also made me consider...How close do we pay attention to God’s Words?

Do we treasure the commands that should be within us?

I remember leading a Bible study long ago, and almost no one brought their Bible’s.

I asked people why they didn’t bring their Bible’s, and for most, there was this completely blank stare.

If you don’t read your Bible, or use your Bible, then I could almost tell you anything, and you might even believe it.

PLEASE don’t take my word for it...take God’s Word for it!!

I love the people in my life who hold me accountable.

I love the people in my life, who for my own good, bring correction, and who pay attention to my words...and God’s Word’s...  

Hours of Influence!

Proverbs 23: 27

²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

I have people in my life on purpose, who influence my spiritual direction.

I spent some time last night with a group of men I’m accountable to.

These men influence me a great deal.

My sons are two spiritual giants that constantly keep my foot from turning toward evil.

I serve with men of God at my local church, who would influentially tell me the truth.

Do you have that kind of person or people in your life?

I surround myself with folks, who make me a better believer in Christ, when I’m with them.

Many of the men receiving this devotional, are men who are not afraid to tell me the truth.

I have people in my life who are influenced by Jesus, and who in turn influence me.

I’m about to go and spend some Bible study time at church this morning, with some folks who I am called to influence.

Who has God brought into your life, that He’s called you to influence?

Will you influence them with the Word, or with the World?

If you’re one of the many people receiving this devotional who influence me...Thank YOU!

If you’re not sure you’re a very good influence, it’s time to get some skin in the game!

Pay The Price!

Psalm 40: 7

⁷ Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me...

Have you ever tried to do something hard, without having anyone there to teach you?

Every time I try to counsel someone about life, I realize then just how hard life is.

God has given us every tool to teach us about life.

Then when someone comes to me about the tough issues of life, I wonder how much they study the word of God.

Actually, it’s one of the first questions I ask, when people come to me for help.

Generally, their time of worship or study of the Bible always seems to be on the back burner.

Some of those folks have even said to me... “I can’t tell you the last time I read from the Bible...”

Really? So we’re supposed to “study” to show ourselves approved, and we don’t read the Bible?

The word “study” (thank you Pastor Wayne), means to... “pay the price”.

So if we don’t read our Bibles, how in the world does anyone think they can be approved?

You don’t have to have any special training to understand the directive from God’s Word.

You need the Holy Spirit. Granted, if you don’t have Him, you’re in for a tough road.

The Bible is filled with thoughts about God, and about us.

Maybe we just need to stop thinking about ourselves so much... 

Have Nothing to do with it!

2 Timothy 2: 23 - 24

²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone...

Misunderstandings in the church, and in the workplace are pretty common.

Trust me on this one!

This weakness affects quite a few people...me included.

When we come across something that doesn’t make sense at first, it can take more time than we care to invest, to bring about clarity.

An emotional response doesn’t seem to get people any closer to solving the problem.

Getting frustrated never seems to work.

And then I read a verse in the Bible like this one, and it says I’m not supposed to become quarrelsome.

But let’s wait a second here, I think we’re not supposed to address foolish or ignorant issues, that could lead to a quarrel.

Now I feel a little bit better.

What good is it to have dialog with someone about something foolish or ignorant? There are some important issues going on in the church that we should address first.

I’m not supposed to strive to have an argument.

Actually, I’m supposed to be kind.

I think I just learned something about myself this morning.

How about you?

So Far...So Great!

Psalm 103: 11 - 12

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Every time I read and consider this verse, it just blows me away.

But something has to happen for this verse to come true.

The forgiveness of our sins against God can be removed, that’s true.

He removes them all right, but confession and repentance needs to come first.

God is merciful indeed, but mercy is just delaying the judgment we deserve.

The thought of that is just as incredible, as considering the removal of my transgressions.

I wondered why this verse didn’t clarify this truth by suggesting that the measurement could be considered from north to south?

Actually, there’s an exact measurement from north to south. East to West is hard to measure.

God recently reminded me that I sometimes have a hard time forgiving those who have wronged me.

There are times I just can’t shake that, and I need some help in that area of my life.

Can you relate? Am I the only one who has trouble in this spiritual area of my life?

Gracious Father, thank You for forgiving me of my transgressions, and not bringing them back up, when I confess and repent of them.

Help me in being the Kind of follower of Your Son, that not only finds satisfaction in this verse, but help me to leave the faults of others way behind me.

Help me to be an east to west lover of all my brothers & sisters in Christ. Amen.

Choose this day!

Joshua 24: 15

¹⁵ And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve...

Once again, each of us are faced with choices today.

I think if any of us are really honest with ourselves, we serve all kinds of things, don’t we?

I know people who follow their favorite presidential candidate from city to city in support of this person.

They choose to passionately serve in this area of their life.

I think serving in a passionate way is a good thing.

Have you chosen an area in your life, where you serve passionately?

When we serve an interest in our life, it should be for the right reason, and in the right way.

This people group wanted to serve the interests of God, but Joshua knew this was only idle talk.

Joshua knew that these people were serving other things in private.

The way they acted at home, was not the way the acted in church.

These folks could talk the talk, but they in no way, could walk the walk.

It seems that the western church is in the same kind of predicament.

That’s why I believe God called me to serve the interests of His Kingdom.

When you serve the interests of God’s Kingdom, you should probably plan on having fewer friends...