June 7, 2011 … Integrity Conquers Fear

Passage of the Day: Daniel 1: 10 - 14 … 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you." 11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

My Journal for Today: John MacArthur in his Strength for Today devotional for this date uses this episode in Daniel’s continuing saga of intervention with the Babylonian officials to illustrate how boldness to act for God is one of the most important elements of Christian spiritual integrity. Today’s text shows us Daniel’s boldness to act as juxtaposed with the fear of Ashpenaz, the Babylonian official who was responsible for the fate of the Hebrew youths under Daniel’s charge.

Here was Daniel being put to the test; and, who, in faith under pressure, came up with a daring plan to give Ashpenaz a way to “save face,” still allowing Daniel and his friends to maintain their dietary laws. Daniel tapped into God’s wisdom (see a NT charge in James 1: 5 - 6); and then assertively, yet in meekness, stood in the gap for his faith, trusting that God was going to deliver His people – somehow. And in today’s passage we read that Daniel was blessed and rewarded by God with the listening favor of Ashpenaz.

This is a great example of the principle I wrote about yesterday, “First obedience, then the blessing!” Daniel, boldly – by wisely – believed that God would protect those who carry our The Lord’s will; and he set about – with humility/meekness – exercise his face, giving the Babylonian, Ashpenaz, a trial case to see if Daniel’s plan would work for the boy AND the king as well. No one says that boldness should shut down our intelligence. We should always strive to boldly witness our faith … BUT … to do so in ways that don’t attack the sensibilities of those around us if at all possible.

The Apostles Paul (see Phil. 1: 20) and John (see 1st John 3: 21 - 22) were great examples of New Testament integrity and boldness. I always love, when I’m fearful, to recall the bold declaration of Romans 8: 31, which, if truly believe, Christians should be willing to stand for Christ with boldness anytime … anyplace … and, like Daniel, under any circumstances.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 8: 31 … If God is for us, who can be against us?

However, I must admit that all too often, in my past days as a Christian, I have retreated in fear when given the opportunity to witness Christ to family or friends, especially those whom I know or suspect are lost. I’m getting stronger and bolder in my later years; however, prayerfully, I will become more like a Daniel one day. Though, in truth Daniel, in today’s highlighted verse, puts me to shame being so bold and yet only a “boy” in my comparative mind.

My Prayer Today: Lord, may I be bold today as a warrior like Daniel in Your Name. Amen

2009 – Day 341.Dec 8 – An Heroic Moment

Passage for Study: Acts 26 … Acts 26 linked for study …

My Journal for Today: In the chapter accounted today from Doctor Luke’s Book of Acts, we definitely read of a bold, heroic encounter between the rabble rouser evangelist, Paul, and the powers that be of that day, the Hebrew King and the Roman Governor. These leaders just didn’t know what to do with this man who would not stand down from his Christian witness, even though there were those in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council of the day, who wanted Paul killed. And so, we see the Roman Governor bringing the Hebrew King to Caesarea to hear Paul’s testimony. And that’s exactly what Paul presented, … the facts and his testimony.

Paul, to the Hebrew King, simply recounted the truth and gave his testimony; and this is a model for how any of us should speak when we have an opportunity to share our Christian witness with others, especially skeptics. As I learned years ago, no one can argue with a testimony. It is a personalized story of truth; and it cannot be denied because it’s your story and no one else’s. And the skeptic cannot deny the facts of what happened to you. If you quote the Bible, though its truth, a skeptic can simply deny its relevance. But he/she will never be able to deny the relevance of something which happened to you.

So, Paul was able to boldly stand before Agrippa and tell his story, appealing to Agrippa’s knowledge of Jewish Scripture and his sense of reality, being a Roman citizen in front of a Roman Governor with Paul having an undeniable right to go before the Emperor in Rome with his case. And Paul’s witness was very compelling. As we read in Acts 26: 28, Agrippa was very close to surrendering to Christianity (go back and read just how close). But we don’t know just how much Paul’s witness that day ultimately did for God’s kingdom. We only know that it had an impact on two government officials of his day. Paul planted some powerful seeds that day; and that cannot be denied.

If I might have a writer’s license to share a similar moment in my personal life, I can recall a time when my wife, Elly, and I were asked by leaders in our church to give our testimony of deliverance to about 350 people at a large dinner. And we were asked to do so because the church leaders knew how God had transformed my life, saving me and delivering me from a past life of infidelity and sexual sin. And they also knew how God had restored and renewed our marriage. Well, we were hesitant to stand, “emotionally naked,” and tell the whole truth about our past, especially with our daughter being in the audience. But we did. And because we took that God ordained appointment to share our story, truthfully and openly, many others came to us and have been ministered to, allowing God into their lives and marriages to heal, restore, and renew their marriages as well.

Anyone can be a “hero” for God, when he/she is given a divine appointment to share a testimony or give witness to how God can change a life – your life. I pray that when God opens the door for you to be His witness that you’ll follow Christ’s command of Acts 1: 8 and be the Lord’s witness, remembering that God is not only with you; but He will give you the thoughts and words to say.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, may I boldly tell my story, which is Your story, whenever and wherever You lead me to do so. Amen

2009 – Day 313.Nov 10 – Tangled in the Tangibles

Passage for Study: Acts 13: 45 - 48 … 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: “ I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.” [Is. 49:6]
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

My Journal for Today: I really like Swindoll’s title for today’s devotional, “Tangled in the Tangibles.” It certainly expresses where we 21st century Christians find ourselves all too often. But it certainly didn’t define the lives of Paul and Barnabas in their missionary journeys to Asia Minor. In our text story for today we read how, though it was their custom to preach/teach in the synagogues first in any new town, they ended up evangelizing mostly to the Gentiles, who were positively disposed to hear rather than getting hung up in religious issues or cultural hang-ups.

In other words the Jews got tangled in the tangibles; but the Gentiles did not. And Paul and Barney certainly did not as they witnessed for Christ; because they were not deterred by either pursuit of riches or fame. These two had a calling and they didn’t want to dampen their anointing or spiritual power by letting themselves get wrapped up in tangible pursuits, cultural legalism, or the opinions of others.

Oh, how much more potent would the witness be of Christians in today’s Church if we disciples of Christ could avoid getting “tangled in the tangibles.” I admit that many times I either enjoy the applause or the accolades of others too much; or I become restrained in my witness out of fear of the opinions of others. That’s entanglement in the tangible elements of life; and when they hold me back, I’m responding to the lies of Satan, the pressures of the world, or the siren call of my own flesh.

But when, like Paul and Barney, I can break free from these tangibles with the Christlike attitudes of humility and meekness exhibited by these two men, I am empowered by God’s grace to be witnesses for the calling placed upon all Christians (see Acts 1: 8 and Matt. 28: 19-20). Again, if we can memorize and internalize God’s truths, such as those in 2nd Tim. 1: 7, Phil. 4: 13, 1st Cor. 10: 13, and/or 2nd Cor. 12: 9, which come to mind as I write this, we can become untangled from the tangibles and move forward empowered by God’s intangibles (i.e., the Spiritual fruit we are all given in Christ (see Gal. 5: 22-23).

That is my prayer for all of us today.

My Prayer for Today: Lord God, untangle us from the tangibles of life; and empower us with your intangible grace so that we can witness Your truth and be salt and light in this world. Amen

2009 – Day 111.Apr. 22 – “The Battle Is Mine”

2009 – Day 111.Apr. 22 – “The Battle Is Mine”

Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 15: 40 – 47 … Link to study passage …

My Journal for Today: Let’s make this morning’s message simple. Go to the last verse (v. 47) in today’s highlight passage, as David cries out to this giant before him, “Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.“ And I have underlined the operant truth for emphasis.

David knew, in his heart, that this battle would showcase God’s strength in the face of his (David’s) weakness; and David had experienced that many times out in the fields, taking defenseless sheep from the mouths of hungry bears/lions. David KNEW that this battle was God’s; and David KNEW that God would prevail. How about you? When you face your Goliath today, will you be able to rely on your deep and abiding relationship with Christ, to let you face down your fears and let God do battle – for His glory – through you?

And I’m telling you that unless you are a practiced warrior, as was David, it will be highly unlikely that you face down your Goliath KNOWING that the battle is God’s, not yours. David had faith; but beyond his faith, David had experience and practice with that faith. He just KNEW that this battle was God’s battle; and so he boldly went forward. Fellow warrior, if you don’t believe that God’s truths like the ones I referred to yesterday (again see Isaiah 41: 10, Romans 8: 31, 1st Cor. 10: 13, and 2nd Cor. 12: 9) and you have not experienced those truths operating in your life, you are not likely going to march out to face those giants in your life.

But if you KNOW those truths; and you’ve practiced life with them to see them operate, you can and will face down your Goliaths and let God have the glory. That’s why I’m such an advocate of a battle plan which saturates our minds/hearts with God’s truth from His word. My weapon of choice to do battle with my Goliaths is God’s Sword. And I’m saying that if you’re not a warrior who carries a sharpened and practiced sword of the Spirit (see Eph. 6: 17) with you at all times, you’ll not likely be able to give God the battle and let Him win it through you. And if you don’t carry that sharpened and well practiced sword, you will likely cower before your Goliath rather than to face it down boldly as did David.

David’s weapons of choice were a few smooth stones and his sling, with which he was well practiced and skillful. So, my prayer today for all of us is that we take up God’s weapon (which is His truth) and practice with it (memorizing it and meditating on it daily as exhorted by Joshua 1: 8) so that when we are confronted by Goliath, we can pick up that practiced sword or those smooth rocks and let the battle be The Lord’s.

My Prayer for Today: Help me to be Your warrior, Lord; and my battles today are Yours. Amen