That Ol' Funny Bone

David danced before the Lord with all his might. 2nd Samuel 6:14 (The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible)

I sometimes struggle with a happy God. And I’m not the only one. I’ve even met some folks in the past who said it was blasphemous to say Jesus even laughed or had a good sense of humor. Being made in God’s image, as Genesis records, doesn’t mean in His splendor and magnificence. Being made in His image simply means we, as humans, have the character qualities that God has. I think if He didn’t have a sense of humor he would have left it out when he created Adam from the dust of the earth.

As I grow older I am more of the belief that humor and joy are a basic part of our God-given character and that God loves for us to laugh and enJOY life. David wasn’t afraid to let a little joy show when the Ark of the Covenant was brought up from the house of the man Obed-edom to Jerusalem. The celebration was done with great excitement using musical instruments and David in his joy and abandonment danced before the ark and the Lord as it was moved on its way. And just like party poopers of today David’s wife, Michal, scolded him for being foolish and undignified by displaying unreserved joy before the people. It is appropriate here to mention that no prophet came forward to rebuke David for his leap into joy.

Ephesians 2:10 tells me I am Christ’s workmanship created by Him for good works which God prepared beforehand, that I should walk in them. Believers in Christ are real works of art. That includes, I firmly believe, an ability to laugh and be happy. Jesus loved to be in happy situations and never turned down a social invitation. It is difficult for me to imagine Him at one of these occasions sitting stone-faced with the disposition of a lemon. He was the Perfect Human who displayed every human characteristic perfectly, so why wouldn’t He have smiled, laughed and enjoyed Himself? Appropriate humor is OK. It was the Holy Spirit who inspired Solomon to write a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. I want to be more like David dancing. Laughter truly is the best medicine. And why not, wasn’t it the Lord who made the funny bone?

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

An Encouraging Word

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 (New American Standard Bible)

I love it when lives are changed for Christ within a different culture. Unfortunately when it’s come to foreign missions I’ve heard mostly about the need and seldom about any positive results. But I recently read in a December 13/20 issue of “World Magazine” a story about a Coptic Christian priest named Zakaria Botros who has taken to the airwaves of the Middle East and is bringing Christ to the Muslim world.

Brother Botros, an Egyptian, is 75 years old and began this ministry in an internet chat room where he engaged many Muslims concerning their faith. He was finding he was leading many of them to faith in Jesus Christ. His live radio program is broadcast in Arabic to an estimated 60,000,000 Muslims and in 2008 began to be translated into Turkish and Farsi to be aired in Iran. While he has an enormous following, he has many enemies. Jihadist groups have placed a $60,000,000 bounty on him to be paid for his death. Needless to say, Botros moves around a lot, keeping his locations mostly secret for his and his radio staff’s protection. He does a good job as during a live call in window one frustrated enemy said, “I want to kill you and I want to cut your neck but I cannot find you.”

With the world in the shape it’s in I sometimes wonder if the Gospel is having any effect. I am deeply encouraged when I hear stories like this. This story is just one of thousands of positive reports of Christ working around the world. It is an encouragement to myself that every nation, ethnic group and language will be represented in the New Kingdom, both those who have come to faith and those yet to do so. God is working around the world through Missions and courageous men and women who present the Good News of Jesus Christ to the nations. Brother Botros was asked what he feared. His reply was stunning; “Fear? My dictionary does not contain the word ‘fear.’ I believe in God and I believe that the epistle of Ephesians says we are created in Jesus Christ for a plan, which was engaged from the early beginning. No one can cut it, and when it is completed no one can continue it.” Encouraging words for every heart.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Fully Pasture-ized

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons. 1st Samuel 16:1 (New Revised Standard Version)

I do admit I struggle at times seeing people the way God sees them but I certainly believe He works in mysterious ways. The mystery isn’t so much in the “how” He chooses to do something as in the “why.” Thankfully He works apart from any other counsel or advice. He is sovereign.

When Israel faced the choice of another king to replace Saul God didn’t go into Saul’s palace and find royalty. He didn’t go to the Israeli War College and choose a mighty warrior. His choice came from a sheep pasture as a 16 year old shepherd with a humble heart. Of David it is said he was a man “after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). He was willing to serve as a shepherd or a king. Humanly speaking David wouldn’t have been Samuel’s first choice but he was God’s. He thought David’s older brothers better fit the kingly ideal. Samuel judged with the sight of his eyes while God judged the inward heart.

Seeing others as God sees them is where I need to be. Loving them for who they are and exactly where they are is my mission. I need not be offended or think less of a person because they aren’t cut of the jib I think they ought to be. Anyone He sends my way who might still carry the smell of the pasture could be a king in the making.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Oh The Rature of It

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18 (New American Standard Bible)

If there is anything I’ve discovered about life on planet earth, it is that it is difficult and, at times, discouraging. I’ve often felt like I’m on some kind of endless treadmill, like trying to find a square corner in a round room. Life can be tedious and mind-numbing. There is little comfort from the words of the world.

Hal Lindsey, the noted author of “The Late Great Planet Earth,” wrote that after he became a Christian he was made aware of the concept of the “Rapture” or the catching away of the body of Christian believers by Christ, both those who had died and those who were still alive at the moment.  He said it was one of the most exciting discoveries of his entire life. The thing that excited him was the hope of this coming event. The words “caught up” are from the Greek word “Harpazo” which means to seize with great force or to be snatched up. While it is true the word 'Rapture' doesn't appear in the Bible the meaning is derived from the Latin word rapturo which means 'caught up.' The Bride of Christ, the believing Church, will be caught up to meet her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, to be with Him forever.  Every person who was a believer at their death and those still alive will be forcefully and dramatically translated into new bodies by the power and authority of Jesus Christ into His literal presence.

For me, this is one of the greatest blessings and events I will ever experience. Whether I live to see it, or die trying, I will be part of it either way. I believe there is more to my life than a 6 foot hole at the end. The excitement for me is that I serve a Righteous and Almighty Redeemer who will transport me into His presence, whenever that will be. I don’t have to know the day or the time only that through His revelation He will be faithful to do it. There is no greater glory or greater hope for myself or you as a Christian believer. It is indeed something with which I encourage and comfort you. The Harpazo of the Body of Christ is something I anticipate with great joy. It is a blessed hope with respect to the dead in Christ as well as the living. Let us comfort one another with these words. Glorious.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Little

I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate, and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. Exodus 23:29, 30 (New American Standard Bible)

I had an interesting conversation with my friend, Jennifer, this past week. I was discussing with her how it often seems that years and years of prayer for certain things seem to have availed me tiny gains and, in fact, a couple of situations I am praying for seem to be growing more difficult. She reminded me of this passage in Exodus where the Lord promised to drive out the enemies of Israel from the Promised Land totally, but that, in His wisdom, He would do it little by little. He did it that way so His people would not be plagued by desolation of the land or overwhelmed by dangerous beasts of the field.

I could identify with this verse as there have been times in the past where I grabbed my sword and shield and was ready to rush into my Promised Land with reckless abandon. There was not a time I did not return bloody and bowed down due to my impulsiveness. I went in with the intent to possess the land but didn’t know there would be so many spiritual prowling beasts still there. I can see now why the Lord allowed his people to possess the land little by little. It was for their protection and safety. The responsibility was still theirs to go in and fight the battle but the timing was the Lord’s. He said He would send His angel before them (Exodus 23:23).

I appreciated Jennifer’s insight. Joshua and the Israelites did indeed finally get into the land and the possession was mostly finished when David defeated the Jebusites at Jerusalem (2nd Samuel 5:7). If one travels to Israel today there is no countrywide presence of Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites or Jebusites to be found; just Israelites. God did it in the four-letter word we all love to hate: T-I-M-E. I can more easily understand that concept now. Because my prayers aren’t being answered the way I want right now can only mean my promised land may not be totally prepared. Having it all handed to me would overwhelm me. It still means there are wild beasts and other dangers that need to be dealt with. As God has gone before all His saints in battle, so He goes before us all as we persevere; little by little but it’s still being accomplished. That’s pretty awesome.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

Good Tidings of Great Joy

And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people. Luke 2:9, 10 (New American Standard Bible)

I was recently thinking about how those shepherds must have felt on the announcement of Christ’s birth. I wondered how I would react to something like the glory of the Lord appearing to me on a dark and quiet night with an angel suddenly telling me something momentous the Lord was about to do.

Thankfully I’ve not experienced a supernatural situation like that. If I didn’t run into a wall trying to exit the room, I might likely faint. The shepherds on this night were pretty scared. As I read this passage, I am struck by how the Good News is given to all people yet still makes many uncomfortable or even afraid.

If God sent His Son to ransack the earth, then I’d have a reason for panic. But the word is He sent Him to reconcile me to Himself through His Chosen Redeemer and that fills me with a great sense of peace. It’s an amazing story from a God with enough flexibility to do it any way He sees fit. 

He brought Jesus to us through a humble birth with the words “Do not be afraid.” I need not fear anything He offers, or for that matter, anything the world throws at me. The ever-present Jesus provides me with peace and not panic. After the shepherds heard what the angel said they went to check it out. They came back with great joy praising God for all the things they had seen and heard which were just as the angel had told them. Lowly keepers of the sheep were the first to proclaim the Good Shepherd and those who heard them were amazed. Still after all these years the Christmas story still amazes and brings continual peace and great joy. Jesus’ birth may have been of very humble origin but with the angelic host’s appearance He definitely had Heaven’s stamp of approval. The Word made flesh among us. Good tidings of great Joy to all mankind with an encouragement not to be afraid. That’s peace and not panic.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

One in a Hundred

“What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.” Matthew 18:12, 13 (New American Standard Bible)

At times in my past I’ve viewed God as too preoccupied with other things to be concerned with my individual needs. Honestly, it wasn’t that I felt He wasn’t able to meet my need, I thought I didn’t have enough worth in His eyes to merit it.

Worth can be defined in many ways. There is my definition and there is yours. What might be of worth to one person would be something I would go out of my way to avoid-like tuna casserole. But my study of God has taught me that His view of my individual worth is very great, so-much-so that if I happened to wander away from the shepherd’s devotion He would drop what He was doing to find me and bring me back to His care. Jesus showed Himself to be that kind of Good Shepherd. My worth isn’t in being part of the hundred but being a worth of one.

When I have tended to wander I thought I was headed toward greener pastures but wound up in deepening darkness. It was at that time I found the Shepherd calling words of encouragement to me and felt His strong hands pick me up. How comforting and cozy it is to be cradled against His chest. There is no slow destruction when it comes to God’s sheep only safety and confidence in His presence. Even when I am the 1 who has wandered away Jesus is still willing to leave the 99 to bring me back into His care and safety. How can I define that kind of worth? The math doesn’t make sense at all yet it is altogether true. That is the worth of 1 and that’s the worth of me and you.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com