Connecting Points

Monday, April 14, 2014

Today’s Topic: The Cross Qualifies

Today’s Text: Colossians 1:12-23 (ESV)  …giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Recently I was asked to make application to serve on the board of directors of a world-wide mission organization. As a part of the application process, I need to furnish the president of the mission with a full resume listing my experience and qualifications for the position. As with any application for a position, whether volunteering or seeking employment, there is always a question of whether or not the boss will think we are qualified.

It is very easy to live under the burden of performance-based qualification. The chains of this bondage are powerful, causing us to live in constant fear that we haven’t done enough to be qualified or that others have not noticed what we have done so that they will qualify us. “Who has qualified you?” That question drives us more than we might be willing to admit.

I discovered the answer to that nagging question many years ago, and because I have told the story before I won’t go into detail.  But for me, the chain-breaker was the following passage of Scripture. I simply want to share it with you and let the Holy Spirit minister God’s grace to your heart as you study it. I think it is an appropriate place to start this holy week of remembering Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. It resolves the eternal conflict of qualification once and for all.

Colossians 1:12-23 (ESV)
¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. ²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Now, who has qualified you?

Connecting Points

Thursday, April 10, 2014

 Today’s Topic: Ask It!

Today’s Text: Psalm 77:2 (ESV) In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;

When it comes to finding something that has been misplaced, I am the worst! What’s really upsetting is that I am usually the one who misplaced it. You’d think I’d be able to remember where I put it, but I waste a lot of time looking in all the wrong places.

When we are searching for something we must look in a lot of places where it isn’t before we find the place that it is. Sometimes we are fortunate and find it quickly. Other times we search for days. In the midst of the physical search we are also doing a mental search of all the possibilities. We ask ourselves all kinds of questions about what we were doing, where we went, and so on. That is all part of the process of reaching a solution.

I think the same thing is true about our search for the peace of God when we are in trouble or when we are hurting. There is a process that is affirmed in Scripture, and maybe if we accepted the fact that God understands the process we could unload a lot of guilt from our hearts.

I find the process illustrated in the life of Asaph, who wrote the seventy-seventh Psalm. Read these verses carefully. (This is your chance to meditate on God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit teach you, not me.)

Psalm 77:1-15 (ESV)
¹ I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. ² In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. ³ When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah ⁴ You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. ⁵ I consider the days of old, the years long ago. ⁶ I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search: ⁷ “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? ⁸ Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? ⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah ¹⁰ Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” ¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. ¹² I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. ¹³ Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? ¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. ¹⁵ You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

Now, check out verses seven through nine. Asaph has just stated that his spirit is making a diligent search to find comfort in the time of trouble. His search begins with questions:

• Has God stopped being good?
• Has God stopped loving me?
• Are God’s promises no longer valid for me?
• Do I now have to earn everything from God because He forgot His grace?
• Doesn’t He care about me any more?

Most of us would beat ourselves up over asking such questions. Maybe our well-intentioned Christian friends would advise us to repent of such questions because they show a lack of faith. We certainly feel guilty for even starting down the road of doubt. But look at the process through which Asaph goes. After asking the questions, he indicates he took a break to meditate and contemplate what God would say in response. That’s what Selah means. As his mind gets clarity, he identifies where God wants him to find the answers to his questions. He will appeal to the previous faithfulness of God and his work.

• God’s right hand has never failed to uphold me.
• His mighty deeds are consistent throughout history and testify to his faithfulness.
• The path God has chosen for me is in perfect harmony with His holy nature.
• What other option do we have that can give such hope and security as our great God?
• I am one of your redeemed people. You bought me with the price of your Son’s life. I am a child of God.

And Asaph rested! Selah.

Go ahead. Ask your questions. But after asking them, take a break and listen for God’s response. You will find the hope and peace for which you are searching.

Connecting Points

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

 Today’s Topic: Seek It!

Today’s Text: Psalm 105:4 (ESV) Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

I’m not sure we fully grasp the concept of victory. We may understand it in some things, but I’m convinced we don’t make the same application to our spiritual lives. Let me explain.

Last night the University of Connecticut defeated the University of Kentucky for the NCAA basketball championship. The winning team had their picture taken as they hoisted the national trophy above their heads. They were wearing t-shirts that read “Lone Star Statement”. For as long as the members of that team are alive, no one will ever be able to take that away from them. They will always be able to say they were the victors. Those who call them losers can be corrected with a reminder of the trophy. Each team member can reject any and all temptations to believe that they fall short of the glory of final victory. Each and every accusation of inability can be dismissed as inaccurate. For the rest of their lives they carry the testimony of victory.

Why is that so hard for us in our spiritual lives? Why do we so easily succumb to the accusations that we are inferior, unqualified people who fall short of the glory of God, when in Christ Jesus we have been made victorious for all eternity? Why is Satan given so much authority to influence our thinking and behavior when he has already been defeated?

The answer to all of the above questions is the same – we choose to deny what victory means and believe that it has not really been accomplished. We choose to ignore the Presence of the Victor in our lives and allow the one who has been defeated to convince us that there is something left to accomplish.

That’s why studying God’s Word and absorbing it is so important. That’s the reason the Apostle Paul said to not be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). The renewing of our mind is based on the established fact already presented by Paul in Romans 8 – ¹ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS! Why is it so hard for us to understand that? The indwelling Presence of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit has already won the victory for us because Jesus was not defeated on the cross. He rose from the dead and conquered Satan. Jesus cannot be defeated. His victory is eternal, and it is the present reality of all who are in Christ. We cannot be defeated. Christ’s presence in us has sealed us as His forever. We do not have to live in the agony of defeat any longer. We stand with Christ on the highest pedestal hoisting the trophy of the cross over our heads, wearing white robes that read “Eternal Statement.”

F.B. Meyer puts it this way: The disinfectant of Christ’s Presence is ever warding off the germs of deadly temptation. The mighty arm of the Divine Keeper is always holding the door against the attempts of the adversary.

Christ is victorious. In Christ we are victorious. “Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) The Presence of Christ means we walk as victors in all things.

Connecting Points

Monday, April 07, 2014

 Today’s Topic: Hide It!

Today’s Text:     Ps 119:11  Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

Quick, what’s the shortest verse in the Bible?  Right! John 11:35 – Jesus Wept.

What’s the longest verse? You had to think a little more didn’t you. It’s Esther 8:9. I will let your curiosity be satisfied through personal investigation.

What’s the longest chapter in the Bible? Psalm 119.

We find pleasure in knowing Bible trivia. But I wonder how many of us really know the subject of the trivia. How many of the following questions could we answer from memory because we have truly studied and absorbed God’s Word?

• Where can we look to find encouragement when we are discouraged?
• Where can I look to get help for someone who is grieving?
• Where can I look to answer someone’s question about the existence of God?
• Where are the verses that reveal the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
• Where can I turn to show someone the forgiveness that is available from God through Jesus Christ?
• What verses would I show someone to help them get saved?

It sure would be nice if we could all have such information stored away in our memory banks so that we could use God’s Word to help people in everyday life. But so many of us fall short of being able to do this. I know we want to, but life is so busy with so much stuff that we just don’t take the time to study the Bible for ourselves. We hope to go away from church on Sunday morning with one little nugget that we can remember and we hope our memory doesn’t fail when we need it. But very few of us really take the time to prepare for the mission to which God has called us.

Let’s compare it to our place of employment. Those with a good work ethic do everything they can to learn everything they can about their job so they can excel at it. Some people even take additional training and classes. Many do research on the internet in their own time so they can understand their job better. Good employees are familiar with the job manual and the company policy manual so they know they are working within the prescribed guidelines. Great employees are both teachable and self-taught.

In the 119^th Psalm, the phrase “Teach me Thy statutes” occurs eight times. Followers of Jesus are to be constantly praying this to God. Those who have been called to the mission of Jesus Christ are to be passionate about knowing Him, knowing His commands, and knowing His policies and procedures so they can serve Him faithfully and effectively. This takes determination to study His Word. Read the Bible. Don’t start by reading a book about the Bible – READ THE BIBLE! Let the Holy Spirit be your teacher, not your pastor or some famous preacher. READ THE BIBLE. Study it. Memorize it. Hide it away in your heart as your own commitment to holy living and to helping others.

Do you remember the story of William Wilberforce? He was the British politician who pursued the abolishment of slavery. In the midst of a London political crisis, he wrote in his diary: “Walked from Hyde Park Comer, repeating the 119th Psalm in great comfort.” He had memorized the longest chapter in the Bible. British art critic John Ruskin said: “It is strange that of all the pieces of the Bible which my mother taught me, that which cost me most to learn, and which to my child’s mind was most repulsive, the 119th Psalm, has now become, of all, the most precious to me in-its glorious passion for the law of God.”

Read the Bible. Study it. Hide it away in your heart. It is the instruction manual for God’s service. You have been called to an eternal mission. How are you preparing to serve faithfully and to the fullest capacity?

Connecting Points

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Today’s Topic: Conquer the Beast

Today’s Text:  John 5:44 (ESV)  How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?   

The itch of self-regard craves the scratch of self-approval.

That opening line of today’s Solid Joys devotional (http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en ) by John Piper captured my attention. I kept reading.

That is, if we are getting our pleasure from feeling self-sufficient, we will not be satisfied without others seeing and applauding our self-sufficiency.

My heart was being pierced as I realized that the fierce beast of approval had appeared again and needed to be dealt with. You probably understand because this beast attacks all of us, and under the direction of the enemy of our souls he knows the perfect time to seek to devour us. He stalks us waiting for those moments of rejection and conflict, resulting in doubt of our identity. Immediately he is right there to convince us we are correct in our assessment of our worth. He offers us a solution that is ultimately destructive, but we choose the lure of the immediate that disguises the destructive outcome. We choose to seek self-approval.

The devotional continued.

This is ironic. Self-sufficiency should free the proud person from the need to be made much of by others. That’s what “sufficient” means. But evidently there is a void in this so-called self-sufficiency.

The self was never designed to satisfy itself or rely upon itself. It never can be sufficient. We are but in the image of God, not God himself. We are shadows and echoes. So there will always be an emptiness in the soul that struggles to be satisfied with the resources of self.

This empty craving for the praise of others signals the failure of pride and the absence of faith in God’s ongoing grace. Jesus saw the terrible effect of this itch for human glory. He named it in John 5:44, “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” The answer is, you can’t. Itching for glory from other people makes faith impossible… if you are bent on getting the satisfaction of your itch from the scratch of others’ acclaim, you will turn away from Jesus.

I immediately went to God’s truth. It was time to flush. ( https://lifelinkdevo.wordpress.com/2014/02/19/a-cleansing-word/ )

• Colossians 1:11-14 (ESV) ¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
• Titus 2:11-14 (ESV) ¹¹For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹²training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
• 1 John 3:1 (NIV)  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

 I belong to God through Jesus Christ my Lord. He has delivered me. He has redeemed me. He has qualified me. He has lavished love on me. I am His child. I need no other approval. I am zealous to do His work, and I am doing it.

Thank you Jesus for your grace.

Connecting Points

Monday, March 03, 2014

Today’s Topic: Don’t Quit

Today’s Text:  Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV) ⁹ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  

On Saturday my wife and I attended a wedding in Duluth, Minnesota. It was no ordinary wedding. The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom wore almost identical dresses that had been made for them 5000 miles away. The groom, the groomsmen and the father of the bride also wore suits that were custom-made in the same location. They were transported to the wedding by the groom and his entourage from Sierra Leone, Africa.

The bride and her family are friends of ours from a previous ministry partnership. But it goes much deeper than that, and the story of our relationship emphasizes the importance of prayer partnerships.

Twenty-one years ago, as a part of a sermon series on prayer, I challenged the adults of the congregation to connect with one of the children or youth in the church and adopt them as a prayer partner. I had hoped that the connection would lead to a life-long relationship of prayer support and encouragement for each of them.

I really can’t remember how we decided to get the adults and youth connected, but I do remember this – a 12-year old girl named Christie standing in front of me and saying that she would love to be my prayer partner. That moment began a relationship that has lasted for 21 years, and will continue.

It was such a joy to be a part of Christie’s wedding day. For the past several years Christie has been serving with Jonathan House Ministries ( http://www.jonhouse.org ) in Sierra Leone, Africa. It was there that she met James, and together they will now serve the Lord as husband and wife. We had such a precious time watching two cultures come together in a wedding ceremony that honored the Lord Jesus Christ.

It had been clearly stated by the groom that their married life would always honor God, and that the morning after their wedding night was not the time to start skipping church. So we had church. Following breakfast, two of the African pastors conducted a worship service for the family and friends with the bride and groom in attendance. We sang, we prayed, and we heard God’s word on the subject of love. Then, in a moment of honor that will rank with one of the top moments of my life, I was asked to close the service in prayer, blessing the couple as they begin their life together.

After a few comments, I had the couple kneel in front of me, surrounded by the African pastors, parents, family, and friends, and we laid hands on them. I cannot tell you what a joy it was to pray over my prayer partner Christie and to realize that after 21 years of praying for her I was now praying with her.

Christie has grown into an incredible woman of God, and has married a man who is passionate about Jesus Christ. Together they will serve Him for the rest of their lives, ministering to orphans half a world away.

Thank you Jesus for connecting us and for Christie’s faithfulness to pray for me. Thank you for the privilege of praying for her, and for your faithfulness to answer those prayers. She knows your will and has your wisdom. She is walking worthy of you. She is pleasing to you. She is bearing fruit in all of her work. She is growing in her knowledge of you. Thank you Jesus for letting me be a part of her life.

Don’t quit praying for people, especially the ones God has put in your life. You will experience great joy as you see God answer your prayers in their life.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Today’s Topic: He Is Near

Today’s Text:  Psalm 145:18   The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Busy doesn’t begin to describe what life is like right now. The activity of church life and personal life has captured not only every spare moment of time but also every resource of human strength. I fell asleep last night on the couch at 7:30!

Add to that the number of great people who are passionate about using their gifts to serve Jesus and are inviting me into their ministries, and I’m overwhelmed. I hope they understand when I have to say no and that it’s not a statement of disinterest in or non-support of what they are doing. God has connected all of us in the Body of Christ, the church, with unique passions and gifts and when we are all doing our part it brings glory to Him. We don’t all do the same things, but we are all connected and growing into the stature of the fullness of Christ.

This morning the Lord helped me to understand my specific need right now by leading me to several verses that helped me re-focus my heart and mind on His purpose for my life and how to handle all the activity that surrounds me.

Psalm 34:18 — The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 46:1 — God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

James 4:8 — Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 — Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Psalm 145:18 – The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

I discovered that I was doing most of this in my own strength, exhausting myself with a to-do list and ignoring my time with Jesus. I was more concerned about working for Him than resting in Him. As a result, I began to see people who were demanding things from me as “pains” rather than “partners.” I began to focus on the external negatives of their behavior rather than the humble condition of their heart. I formed opinions about their motives. I began to blame myself for not having more energy or more time to do what they wanted. I began to believe the lie of the Enemy that I was no longer spiritual enough because I didn’t do everything they needed.

Then this morning I fell into the arms of Jesus and rested. He assured me that I was right where He needed me to be so that His grace could take over. He assured me that I am just one small piece of His body the church and that not everyone is called to be passionate about the same thing, except to love Him and love others. I knew I was not focused on love, but on labor, and He assured me that He wasn’t. He loves me. He will use me if I love Him. That’s all I need to know.

Charles Wesley wrote,

Be Thou, O Rock of Ages, nigh!
So shall each murmuring thought be gone;
And grief and fear and care shall fly,
As clouds before the mid-day sun.

Jesus spoke to me through these words in a devotional this morning:

Take courage. Often turn to the Lord, who is watching you, poor frail little being as you are, amid your labors and distractions. He enables you to bear your troubles patiently and gently, for love of Him who only allows you to be tried for your own good. Raise your heart continually to God, seek His aid, and let the foundation stone of your consolation be your happiness in being His. All trouble and annoyances will be comparatively unimportant while you know that you have such a Friend, such a Stay, such a Refuge. 

Connecting Points

Monday, February 24, 2014

Today’s Topic: He’s Within Reach

Today’s Text:  Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV)  Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; ² but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Last March during severe blizzards in Japan, a father froze to death while sheltering his daughter. Mikio Okada died as he tried to protect his only child, Natsune, against winds of up to 68 miles per hour and temperatures that plunged as low as 21 degrees, making for windchills of 10 below zero.

Mr. Okada called his relatives to say that he was stranded and that he and Natsune would try to walk to their destination. But they were both found just 300 yards from the truck. Mr. Okada was reportedly found hunched over his daughter, cradling her in his arms and apparently using his body and a warehouse wall to provide shelter. He had taken off his jacket to give to the child. The young girl was taken to a hospital near their home where she was found to have no serious injuries.

That story illustrates several principles, not the least of which is that true love is sacrificial. The apostle John wrote, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

But the principle that sticks out to me this morning is this – God is able to save us if we will stay within His reach. No matter what our situation or circumstances, God has not moved away to become simply an observer from a distant vantage point. If there is an apparent distance between us and God it is because we have moved, not Him. His arm has not been shortened. His ears have not become dull so that He cannot hear our cries for help.

The problem is not with God, who never changes, but with us because we change all the time. We change our minds about whether or not we can trust God and His Word. We change our minds about whether we will obey Him or follow our own personal plan of performance. We make choices every day to love Him and then turn around and love ourselves more. But what we may not consider as we think about those choices is that every choice we make to leave God out of individual moments in our lives makes us responsible for the outcome of those choices.

God made a choice to love us and reach out to us in His Son Jesus Christ. His choice will never change. God also made a choice that those who reject Jesus will suffer severe consequences, not only in this life but in eternity. That choice will also never change. Our choices either bring us into the arms of Jesus for protection against all the storms of life, or they move us away from God’s protection and make us vulnerable to the storms of life.

God has put Himself between you and the storm of sin. He has offered to save you from the storm, not so much by wrapping you up but rather by filling you up with the eternal warmth of His love. His Holy Spirit, dwelling in all who have repented of their sin and have run into His arms for forgiveness, provides a constant fire of holiness within us. Never again do our hearts need to grow cold. Never again do we need to fear being out of reach of the arms of God. He is in us, and His love never changes.

If you feel distant from God today, it is not because He has moved – you have. Run to Him, and discover that the fire of salvation is still blazing, and it will never be extinguished.

Connecting Points

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Today’s Topic: True Friends

Today’s Text:  1 Samuel 13:3-4 (ESV) ³ Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” ⁴ And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines…

Last night I had the privilege of being the speaker at AWANA Council Time for the 3^rd through 5^th graders. I started by asking the students who they thought was my favorite Bible Character. I called on one of many children that had raised their hand and after hearing his response I clarified the question to state “Other than Jesus, who is my favorite Bible character.”

After two dozen incorrect guesses, I finally revealed the answer. The life of Jonathan, King Saul’s son and King David’s best friend, has always deeply touched my heart with its principles of friendship and love. Two of the three principles of a good friend I shared last night are still on my mind this morning.

As Saul’s son, Jonathan was next in line for the throne of Israel. He became a mighty warrior, but even in his military success he was learning an important principle of friendship and success – do your best without concern for who gets the credit. Jonathan had just won an incredible battle with only a few men, and yet his dad the King took all the credit.

Former United States President John F. Kennedy said, “There’s no limit to what a man can accomplish if he doesn’t care who gets the credit.” Too many friendships are ruined by a self-exalting competitive spirit that seeks honor and recognition for everything done. This was not Jonathan’s way, as we will see.

Through the course of his reign, Saul became disobedient to God and his Kingdom was taken from him. Without Saul’s knowledge, David was anointed as the next King of Israel.

Then came the day of David’s victory over Goliath, the Philistine warrior. After the battle, Saul took David into his household and made him his chief warrior. David was unprepared for being a military leader, but God had ordained a plan. When Saul was finished talking to David, the Bible says that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (1 Samuel 18:1)

This is utterly amazing. Jonathan had every right to be angry with his father for messing up his future. His chance to be King was gone. GONE!  And now, standing in front of him, was the young man who would be king; the one who would get all the honor and recognition that could have been his. OUCH!

Yet notice the Spirit of God in Jonathan’s heart. He chooses to love David rather than hate him. He chooses to put action to his love and stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. ⁵ And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. (1 Samuel 18:4-5). David took the very position that Jonathan had held, and Jonathan helped him get it.

Jonathan showed no anger toward the person who took his job and his title. Instead, Jonathan came along side David and assisted his success. That’s what true friends do.

After I was done speaking last night, one of the AWANA Commanders came forward to give the students the evening’s results of the ongoing missionary offering contest. One of the teams had taken a huge lead over the other. He asked the team that was behind to cheer for the team that was ahead. The response was not good. I actually heard booing. I guess I need to tell the story over again. But before I do, I’d better make sure I’m cheering others who are getting ahead of me, especially those times when I think I deserve to get ahead.

Connecting Points

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Today’s Topic: Clear and Clean

Today’s Text:  Psalm 51:2, 7  ² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! ⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

There is a word that has captivated my thought life since last week. I sincerely have used this word in every prayer I have spoken to my Lord since I believe He gave it to me as a word picture that I needed. I am certain that when you first read this word you will react in some way. The word may capture your mind as it has mine, or you may reject it because you may think it is in bad taste. It all depends on what you think it means and what it reminds you of.

The word has multiple meanings. It can mean “a sudden rush of intense emotion.” It can also mean “a reddening of the face or skin.” (At this point I assume you are either trying to guess the word or you have already read ahead to see what it is.) The word is used to describe things that have become even or square with one another. In slalom skiing it is “a consecutive series of vertical gates.” In the medical field it is used to describe procedures intended to cleanse wounds and clean debris. In the military and in hunting it is used to describe an action that chases the enemy or the wild game out of hiding. The word is used in card games to describe a certain winning hand. And in the bathroom, it is the action of using water to eliminate waste and replace it with clean water.

FLUSH.

Lord Jesus, I surrender my will to yours so that it is flush with your purpose.

Lord Jesus, grant to me in moments of quietness and prayer a flush of your presence.

Lord Jesus, cleanse the wounds of my heart with the Living Water so that there is no debris hindering the fullness of the Holy Spirit in me.

Lord Jesus, flush the enemies of righteousness from hiding in my life that they may be exposed and taken captive by truth.

Lord Jesus, flush from my mind all thoughts that you declare to be waste.

Lord Jesus, may every step I take pass only through the flush you have prepared for me to direct me on the slopes of life.

FLUSH.

Now it’s in your head too, isn’t it?