Yours, Mine and Ours

During one of my morning readings I came across a passage of scripture that I had read before and it has always made me stop and think a little bit. However this time it has been bouncing along in my head for a few days. It all began with 1 Samuel 9 and runs through 1 Samuel 15, these passages cover the anointing of Saul as first king over Israeli and the loss of his anointing because he failed to be obedient to the Lord. But the verse that has really had me thinking is found in 1 Samuel 15:15;

¹⁵ Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” (ESV)

 

and again in 1 Samuel 15:21;

 

²¹ But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” (ESV)

 

It struck me that part of Saul’s problem of disobedience stems from one little word in both passages; YOUR, as you read these passages of the history of the rise and fall of the first king over Israeli you notice that not once does Saul profess that he serves the same God as Samuel. Time and again he refers to him as your God and never aligns himself with Jehovah God. This got my attention because I was wondering how many people who call themselves Christians do it out of the fact that they were raised in a Christian home; being present at church every time the doors are open, only to walk away from the church and the faith when they become old enough to drive. It makes me wonder how many of them are like Saul. God has called them to something great anointed them with the power to do it and because the faith they have is not their own they have turned their backs and are living outside of the will of God.

 

You might be thinking what that has to do with me, well as Christians we have an impact on those who we serve in everything that we do from the person we only meet once in a grocery store to the our children that have to deal with us day in and day out. I honestly believe that if Saul had possessed a real relationship with God he would have been able to serve him honorable throughout his life. However because he did not recognize the authority and the voice of God he chose to do things his own way and it led to his fall from grace and eventually to his death.

 

For many people it’s easy to say I am a Christian to avoid the onslaught of those who try to witness to them continuously the problem is do you really know my God and His Son Jesus. Have you experienced the saving grace He has provided through the work of the Holy Spirit? Have you allowed that same Spirit to empower you for ministry and your walk with God? You see the God I serve should be the same God you serve we should establish how we live based on what we read in His Word and apply it to our lives so that when people hear you say you’re a Christian there is no doubt about what you stand for and who you follow. Is Jesus Christ your, mine and our God that we serve or do we see Him differently allowing others to misunderstand who He is and who we are in Him? That I guess is the question, “Who is Jesus to you?” If you answer that question like Saul did than maybe it is time to make a change in your life. Praying that the God you serve becomes the same God I serve. Be blessed as you walk in His Word.  

Mother's Influence

Happy Mother’s Day to all those who we call mom. I understand that not all countries celebrate it. However they really should understanding that at some point we all technically had a mother or we would not be here today; even Jesus had a mother. When I think about the impact my own mother has had on my life I have to be thankful for all she sacrificed for me and my brothers growing up. The things she put up with and the love that seemed to always be present even when we had done the wrong thing is something I can always remember.

As I was studying this morning I was thinking about the influence that a mother can have on their children. I am going to be honest and tell you it can be positive or negative. However, I have come to understand sometimes what they say or do is done in an attempt to push us into what we have been called to or to help us find our way. This is even recorded in the New Testament Gospel of John.

We read in John 2 about how at the Wedding of Cana Jesus’ Mother was a person of influence in his life and ministry. She understood that Jesus was called to something more;

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-6 (ESV)

 

            While she may have seemed to be asking a lot she knew that it was not beyond His ability to do something about the situation. As we look at this exchange Jesus does not call her mother and without misinterpreting the scripture it would seem that Jesus was almost on the defensive when He responds. How many of us have been there when our mothers ask us to do something? I am sure there are thousands of studies about what is called Jesus’ first miracle and the significance of it. What I can tell you is that it met an immediate need which was great for the groom and his bride. However the much deeper impact is seen in verse 11;

 

 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:11 (ESV)

            I do not want to overestimate the importance of the influence that Mary had on Jesus; however because she had faith in His ability to do all things, His ministry was launched and those who followed Him saw and believed in Him. The influence of a mom is something that we must not lay aside or overlook as we look at those who succeed in life. So I want to say thank you to all those mothers out there that have struggled and fought with their children hoping that one day they would become who God had created them to be. Have a happy and safe Mother’s Day as you walk in the Light of God’s Word.

Rejection; It's Not About You

You know one of the most challenging things and often the number one reason we fail to be witnesses for Jesus Christ comes down to a fear of rejection. To be honest this is probably true about most areas of life. However, this morning I am writing about how we serve God. I know sometimes it is easier to be quite and think that someone else will do it. Been there and have lived it. However, the truth is that God has placed each of us were we are for a reason. Recently I was reading in 1 Samuel and came across a verse that made me stop and realize something important. It is a simple truth when we try to do what God has called us too and people turn their back on us; it is not us that they are rejecting but the God who sent us.

7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV)

 

In our world today we have more than enough to keep us busy and in most cases those things really do dictate who we are and what we do. Samuel’s life is interesting; born to serve in the temple as an offering to God, living and learning under the Eli the High Priest. He served faithfully as the last judge over Israeli for twenty years. Only one day to be told by those he served that they wanted a king to rule them. It would be easy to take this personally. The difference is in our world today when you try to witness about Jesus people are not turning away from you because they want someone to rule over them. They are turning away because they want to rule over themselves.

Paul provides a warning and some understanding for us today about those who have reject the Gospel message. It is found in Romans 1:18-32;

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Romans 1:18-32 (ESV)

That list is long; however, Paul also tells us that some of us were once like this but by the grace we have received through Jesus Christ we no longer live this way. Since we have accepted Christ as Lord and Redeemer our lives while not always perfect from the worlds perspective are now made new before God. I leave you with this thought where would you be if the person who told you about Jesus had turned away when you first rejected the Gospel. God has called His people to be proclaimers of the Good News. People may not always appreciate or even accept what you say but if we say it in love God can and will do the rest. When God’s love overshadows your witness the rejection is not of you but the one who sent you. Have a blessed day as you seek to serve God wherever He leads you.