2009 – Day 123.May 04 – Wise Protection

2009 – Day 123.May 04 – Wise Protection

Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 25: 1 – 19 … Link to 1st Sam. 25 for study …

My Journal for Today: I have to admit; when I read through Swindoll’s selected passage today before I read his devotional entry, I wondered what Pastor Chuck, the author and teacher was going to glean from this passage which could be applied for our growth as believers. But Swindoll exposed a good lesson we can learn from Abigail, the wife of the shepherd, Nabal.

I did see that David’s attitude left a lot to be desired when it comes to sending 400 armed men when Nabal refused to give anything to David’s cause. Yes, Nabal was a scoundrel of a man; and Swindoll rightly points out that Abigail could have laid back and gotten rid of a lousy husband by letting David’s men crush her abusive husband. But that was not what she did. No, … instead Abigail becomes an example of a protective wife, doing all she could to deter the anger of David’s soldiers.

So, what do we gain from this vignette? Well, first we see that David reacted with carnal anger to Nabal’s insult, sending 400 swordsman to eliminate one Bedouin shepherd. I agree with Swindoll’s assessment; … it’s like taking a shotgun to kill a roach. But in Abigail we see a woman that her husband, who obviously was a scoundrel, really didn’t deserve. And in this scenario, Abigail becomes a model of doing the right thing, the Godly thing, as opposed to the expedient thing.

How often would most people, when they have an opportunity to keep their mouth shut and get rid of a bad thing in their life would step up and do what God would have them do instead of doing the carnally expedient thing? It’s an example of the kind of tests which come our way occasionally to stand for Godly right or to do take the easy, very human, way out. I’ll bet you’re thinking of such a test in your life right now. I’ve certainly had them in my life; and I admit to taking the easy way out all too often.

And I’m also convicted by the fact that I missed the lesson when I read through this passage before reading Swindoll’s devotional to help me grow in my understanding and wisdom as I read God’s word. Oh, there is so much to learn and apply from the Bible; and I hope you, who might be reading along, grow with me as we continue to observe God’s account of the life of David.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, as I live for You, I see today’s lesson. Help me become responsive to Your will rather than reactive in my own flesh. Amen

2009 – Day 55.Feb.25 – Spiritual Ends

2009 – Day 55.Feb.25 – Spiritual Ends

Passage of the Day: Exodus 2: 15 – 25 … Linked to passage for study …

My Journal for Today: Again, we meditate upon what got Moses from his plush worldly control in Egypt to the ignominious desert place with the Midianites. And to highlight his devotional point for the day, Swindoll makes a stark statement of truth, illustrated by Moses’ decisions and actions. He writes, “Spiritual ends are never achieved by carnal means.” And a bit later in his piece for the day, Swindoll puts this truth into a word picture, by writing, “You cannot sow a fleshly seed and reap a spiritual plant.”

Do I sense an “Amen!” from any readers here? Perhaps you have memories of sowing carnal seeds and the resultant outcomes which followed. I sure do. And Swindoll, illustrates these points by such cases as one hedging on the income taxes and then trying to thank God for the resultant tax refund which comes from those choices. He rightfully says, God will never bless us with worldly results when we manipulate, scheme, and plan in the flesh. God’s empowering and enabling grace will only pour out on those who are obedient to His will and His way, through His word. I think of His promises in this regard from both the Old and New Testament … in Scriptures like Joshua 1: 8 and from Jesus Himself in John 14: 21.

The principle is simple and straight forward if one desires Spirit-blessed results in life; and that is … we must know and be obedient to God’s word, His principles, and His commands. When we are and act according to God’s will and in His way, He will bless the outcomes. But when we choose to do it our way, as the old song, My Way, by Frank Sinatra proclaims, we must reap the whirlwinds which follow, … the consequences of our own flesh-driven choices. And we must not try, if some worldly blessing of riches or sensational rewards results, to thank God for what comes down. When I do it MY WAY, it is MY RESULTS which are gleaned; but when I do it GOD’S WAY, it will be HIS RESULTS which pour forth.

I know this truth; and I just pray that I can learn the results from doing life God’s way. Moses had to learn this lesson with 40 years in the desert. And he learned the lesson big time! But I hope I can take the advantage of scriptural truths like the ones quoted above; and do it the right way – God’s way! – on the front end so that I’m not taken into the dessert because of living life out in my way.

And that’s my prayer for you as well. Living in the Spirit yields Spirit-blessed fruit (see Gal. 5: 22 – 23). Living in the flesh yields the fruit of the flesh (see Gal. 5: 19 – 21).

My Prayer for Today: Lord, help us to ALWAYS go to You for the righteous way first as You command in Matt. 6: 33; and then to follow You ALWAYS in what we choose to do. Amen