Thoughts on Christ and His Word

Have you ever heard Christians make declarations? They declare this person healed or they declare that Satan must leave a particular city. Here's what the prophet Jeremiah said about these declarations. Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Lamentations 3:37 We cannot declare things over which we have no control. We can declare that we are trusting in God to answer our prayers.  We can declare that we have sinned and are repenting.  But we cannot declare things over which only God has control.

How do you feel when someone else's work is praised while yours is ignored or minimized? King Saul of Israel got angry. "When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”  Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “ 1 Samuel 18:6-8 NIV Even though this song was billboard's #1 hit song in that city, King Saul hated it. It made him jealous and very angry.  He was self-centered and arrogant.  Let us learn to humbly rejoice in the success and accolades of others, for this is God's will for us.

Good advice to pastor's from Chuck Swindoll: No one will ever demand that you pray and give priority to the Word of God. Physical needs will always bring the louder complaint. And the predictable will occur: we'll spend so much time greasing the squeaky wheels that we neglect prayer and the Word of God... If we let the demands of ministry determine the priorities of the church then the tail of the urgent will wag the dog of "the important"...The needs of ministry will always be greater than your ability to meet them. Always. Don't let them distract you. Does that mean we ignore the needs? Not at all. It's a matter of recognizing ones calling. By confirming your priorities the apostle also provided the opportunity for laymen to get involved in ministry... If the church leaders attempt to meet all of the churches needs themselves then two effect will occur. First as we've seen the spiritual leaders will neglect their priorities of prayer...

"What are you looking at?"  Some defensive people with low self-esteem ask that of others. But God doesn't need to ask us that, for He knows what's in our heart (i.e. what we value). When Samuel was about to anoint the next king of Israel, he thought for sure it would be this tall handsome guy in front of him. But God corrects his "looking".  But the Lord said to him, “Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 GNT May my eyes look at what God looks at. May my heart value what God values.

Reading about Samson (Judges 13-16), it occurred to me that Samson is the perfect poster child for those Christians who are always seeking love in all the wrong places. First he marries a pagan Philistine girl. Then we see him getting involved with prostitutes, and finally he falls in love with another pagan woman named Delilah.  This last bad choice cost him his life.  Now either all the Israelite woman were severely UGLY or Samson had a rebellious heart. I'm sure it was the later. Single Christians need to stop looking for love in all the wrong places and begin to obey God who said: "Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT