Thoughts on Christ and His Word

Is God happy today? Should I be happy today? Clearly God is angry at sin.  Paul wrote that "the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" Rom 1:18 But having a big picture/eternal perspective, God is a happy and satisfied God. Because He knows that in the end everything works out according to His purpose. While carrying  the cross Jesus had joy in His heart (Heb. 12:2) as He looked forward to the day  when all his redeemed children would be with Him in heaven forever. The purpose of the Apostle John writing the book of Revelations was to give us comfort in our trials and troubles knowing that everything will work out in the end - we are going to be with Jesus forever. First will meet Jesus in the air, then we get a brand new perfect body.  Then we get to rule a new Earth with Him for 1000 years and for the grand last scene,  we will spend the rest of eternity walkin...

It's hard to describe what a real man looks like nowadays. Many women are trying to turn men into women and some women are trying to become more like men. God describes a certain group of men from a town called Jabesh Gilead as "valiant men", a trait which God seems to praise. When Saul was first made king of Israel the town of Jabesh Gilead was surrounded by an enemy army. They asked for the surrender of the city and to gouge out the right out of every man. The people of Jabesh Gilead sent for help throughout Israel. King Saul led the Israelites and defeated the enemy force, thus  saving Jabesh Gilead from capture and humiliation. Fast forward to the end of King Saul's life. The Philistines fought the army of Israel and King Saul, his sons, and his army were defeated. The Philistines cut off Saul's head and hung his body and the body of his sons on the outside wall of a nearby town. When the men of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul... ...

David battled against feelings of revenge throughout his life. When King Saul pursued David on several occasions, twice David had an opportunity to kill him, but he would not touch the one the Lord had anointed king over Israel. In both cases he simply put it in the hands of God. He believed that God would judge between them and that God would bring about justice in the in His time. (1 Sam. 24:12) In 1 Samuel 25 David wants to take revenge against a man named Nabal. Nabal refused to send supplies to David even though David had protected his men and his livestock. But this man was ungrateful and wicked. So David descended with 400 men to attack and kill Nabal and all the men with him. Nabal's wife Abigail intercepted David with a lot of food and supplies. She spoke to him very intelligently and encouraged him not to take revenge on Nabal. She reasoned with David that if he killed Nabal and all his men, that he would have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed...

How active is God in the heart of people? 1 Samuel 24 has two fascinating verses that reveal the answer to this question from the perspective of two Old Testament characters: v.10 - [David said] This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ v.18 -  [Saul said] You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. Both David and Saul shared a common belief that God is actively involved in the hearts of men and women. It was God who made Saul desire to use the bathroom and he moved Saul to choose the very cave where David was hiding. Both believed that God delivered Saul into David's hand. God actively moved in Saul's heart to put him right where he wanted him. Of course God did not want David to kill Saul. Rather this was a...

Joy is elusive. Trials, troubles, and tribulations suck the joy right out of our lives. So here's a thought I just read on how to thrive in the midst of life's storms: "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." -Kay Warren

Have you ever wanted to say to somebody "You're crazy"?  This happens when someone's perception of reality is so off base that you almost can't believe what you're hearing come out of their mouth. I'm sure that in the case of the priest Ahimelech, he wanted to shout to King Saul "You're crazy". Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." "Yes, my lord," he answered.  Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?"  Ahimelech answered the king, "Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household?  1 Samuel 2...