STOP AND LOOK

READING: 1 SAMUEL 8:1-8

Verse 7: “And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”

Governments at all levels in our country today are vigorously removing Christian influence from their efforts to govern, with the result of limiting or removing Christian expression in American communities. This is a development that the founding fathers of our nation did not plan. Their intent was not to keep the practice of Christianity out of government. To the contrary, their purpose in separating church and state was to keep government from controlling the church in the manner that had developed in Europe. The bulk of their writings and speeches clearly and consistently called for godly influence in government as well as their personal lives. There is precedence in the Bible regarding choices in government. The nation of Israel made the choice to have a king to govern them. Today’s verse quotes God’s response to that choice. He acknowledged it as a rejection of Himself and His lordship. Subsequent events proved beyond doubt that that it was unwise to reject the Lord in their decision about government. If only we would, in this time and day, accept the painful lesson taught to the Israelites. If only we would adhere to the wisdom of our founders. If accepted, godly wisdom would certainly correct the decline that is evident daily, and restore the blessings that formerly existed. It is possible if our country will repent. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How is God responding to our country’s rejection of Him?

2. Is our nation any different toward God than the Israelites?

NO DOUBT

READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:15-24

Verse 19: “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us – by me, Silvanus, and Timothy – was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.”

Have you ever had this experience? Has anyone ever nodded their head to indicate yes to you while, at the same time, verbally saying “no”? Even if obviously done in fun it can still produce somewhat of a confused feeling. Or how about someone gesturing stop with one hand and come ahead with the other? You probably have been in conversations when people have said one thing while every other non-verbal indication by that person has been the opposite. All of us have said “yes” at times when we really have wanted to say “no”. All of this serves to establish that we certainly do experience times of confused or misleading communications. Therefore, it is a blessing to, without doubt, question or confusion; have confidence, one mind and clarity in Christ. This is a confidence that provides peace and allows us to glorify the Lord as established by verse 20. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What overall effect do God’s promises produce in your life?

2. What would you say to a new Christian who asked about the promises of God ?

INVINCIBLE

READING: EPHESIANS 5:8-14

Verse 8: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the LORD. Walk as children of light.” 

When the interactions between light and darkness are examined, there are consistent and predictable results and effects. These results and effects also hold true for spiritual interactions between the light of God and spiritual darkness. Both physically and spiritually, light dominates over darkness. Where there is light darkness cannot exist. Darkness occurs only when light is removed. It cannot invade a place where there is light. In fact, one definition given for darkness is that it is the absence of light. The darkness in even the darkest of situations is penetrated by even only a slender thread of light. Darkness simply cannot resist light. It can’t negotiate, bargain or offer compromise. It can only dissipate! There is no contest between these two qualities because of the complete domination of light. The power and dominance of this reality attributes to us in our spiritual lives as Christians. We have a powerful assignment as ordained in the verse above. As we are empowered to walk as children of light we are made formidable overcomers. Spiritual darkness is overcome in the light of the Lord. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is the most notable display of light overcoming darkness that you have seen?

2. Name some ways that you walk as a child of light.

ABOUT LOOKING AND LEAPING

READING: 1 SAMUEL 24: 1-12

Verse 10: “Look, this day your eyes have seen that he LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch our my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’S anointed.’”

Sometimes people conclude that situations, events and circumstances are acceptable simply because they occur. Particularly if something seems to be a favorable opportunity, people may step into it without much consideration or examination. In fact the counsel of the world is to take advantage, leap in and, “not look a gift horse in the mouth.” However, the counsel of the word is to “count the cost.” For Christians there times when righteousness demands that what appear to be opportunities are to be turned down. This was true for David, a man who was special to God. The Book of Samuel relates two times when David could have killed King Saul in defense of his own life. David refused those opportunities. There was a higher principle in operation, and His respect for God caused him to not harm the man who the Lord permitted to be king. As the people of God we should be like David. We should inspect our situations and not automatically be guided by what appears to be good advantage. After that our decisions should be made by applying godly standards as our guidelines. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How does a person “count the cost”?

2. What would have resulted from David killing Saul?

HOW TO LOOSE SOME WEIGHT

READING: MATTHEW 11:25-30

Verses 29 &30: “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The words above are those of the Lord Jesus. The yoke and burden to which He referred were the weight of Jewish law upon the Hebrews of that time. This was the invitation offered them by the Lord Jesus to take up His commands instead, so that it would be better for them. His invitation also has practical application today in our time. Everyone one of us is influenced to some degree by past experiences which leave us with expectations of ourselves. They take the form of “I should”, “I ought to” and “I have to.” Many of these expectations are yokes and burdens to us in our everyday lives. They cause us to be bound to conditions and influences that are no longer valid or productive for us. They cause distractions from benefits we could have otherwise. They should be “over and done with” because they result in labor and heaviness instead of freedom in Christ. The Lord has better for us! Jesus says, “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Can you identify a yoke or burden such as described above?

2. From what yoke or burden have you received freedom?

HARD LABOR

READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:8-14

Verse 12: “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.”

In the verse above, the Apostle Paul reveals an aspect of his ministry that he valued highly. It was important to him that he had conducted himself in a worthy manner as described by verse 12. In this verse the use of fleshly wisdom would mean being governed by human nature. Human nature relegates a person to decisions and actions based on what feels right or seems right at a moment, based on the human experience of that moment. That was not good enough for Paul. He was determined that his conduct would be governed by the grace of God. That attitude is well defined by the following quote: “Receiving the provision of the Lord, as He sustains and aids the efforts of people who labor for the cause of Christ.” Once more and again Paul is an example for every Christian. The correct choice is for us all to conduct ourselves by the grace of God. We will always find that His grace is sufficient. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Are you doing well at conducting yourself by the grace of God?

2. What do people get who do not “labor for the cause of Christ”?

HOW CAN THESE THINGS BE?

READING: MATTHEW 16:24-28 

Verse 25: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

The principles of Christian living are often dramatically different from what comes naturally. The verse above is a case in point. What is stated there just does not make sense to the natural mind or logic. Matthew 20 is also like this verse as it informs us that we become great leaders by being servants. Further, in 2 Corinthians 10 we encounter the following, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” That is another clash of mutually exclusive conditions. The understanding of principles like those above, does not come naturally. Statements such as these simply do not come from human thinking. The reason for this is that they are supernatural concepts. One meaning given to the word” understanding” is as follows: “knowing things in their right relationship.” Right relationship is instrumental to understanding. There is a right relationship that permits us to know and understand supernatural concepts such as above, even though they entirely confound the natural thought process. That right relationship is that which is established with Almighty God through Jesus Christ our Savior. That relationship transforms our perspective so that we are able to experience supernaturalunderstanding and wisdom. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is another scripture that is similar to the three quoted above?

2. Why is supernatural understanding so much different from the natural?