April 7, 2012 … A Godly Vessel Grows

A Humble Blogger’s Note: I hope you take in what I believe God’s Spirit gave for me to write in this journal entry. Why do I feel so compelled to ask this of any who might read this? Because I’m clearly not intelligent enough to write what came from my dig into God’s mine of wisdom this morning. What you read below was written without any editing on my part; and I’m simply not smart enough to write such thoughts. Hence, my charge to dig into these first three chapters of 1st Samuel and to read what God gave me to blog today. Thank you. <’wrb><

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Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: 1st Samuel 1-3 … To study these chapters, go to this link -

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Highlight Reference Passage : 1st Samuel 3: 19-21 … 19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

My Journal for Today: Well, we were quickly through the book of Ruth yesterday; and now, on to 1st Samuel, Chapters 1-3, where we’re introduced to an important character as the history of Israel transitions from the time of the Judges into the era of the Kings. And the character, Samuel, became God’s vessel of light during this transition.

There are many interesting and instructive things about which I could journal from these first three chapters in 1st Samuel. I hope you’ve read the entire reading segment. Not too many key characters in Scripture have the early part of their lives described; but Samuel is one; and we read of how his mother, Hannah, like some other key women in the Bible, was barren and prayed to God a vow to have her son, if God would so allow her to give birth to a son, to become a Nazarite, giving him entirely over to God; and that’s exactly what happened. From Hannah we learn that being true to our word to God will be honored by God.

There is the story of Eli, the Levite Priest, who was a much better mentor than he was a father; and he even abrogated his role as a parent, which allowed for the raising of two sons whom God had to discipline because Eli would not. Here we learn that parenting is a vastly important mission in God’s kingdom which should never be overlooked, … even by those who are in the role of “priesthood,” (which, by the way, are all Christian fathers in these New Covenant days).

And we are introduced to Samuel in his early years, who was raised under the mentorship of Eli to be a priest in the Tabernacle; and later we’ll see that he rose to be a Judge and Prophet for God’s people, a giant who would anoint the first Kings in Israel; and would carry the voice of God to His people. Here we learn how important it is to find and carry out the role which God has purposed for each of us.

As we read through the stories and are introduced to characters like Samuel, I am relearning that God has chronicled these stories – about these people – for a reason … His reason. And our Lord wants us to pay attention to their lives so that their stories, and the stories about His chosen people, can help shape our lives.

For example, I see, from my studies in recent days, just how important it is to be obedient to God’s lead through spoken (now written) word. I see from the life of Hannah, how God wants us to trust Him and His promises; and when we do, good things – Godly things – will happen. I see, from the life of Eli (and later Samuel himself), how important the ministry of parenthood is for God’s kingdom. And I see, in Samuel, just how our success for God’s purposes comes through a deep and abiding relationship with God, which must be fostered, if we’re to be used by God for His glory.

If you’re following along with me in this trek through the Bible chronologically this year, I hope you’re gleaning these lessons from God as well. Yesterday, we saw how Ruth faithfully followed God into His fields where she gleaned what was left in the field by God’s leavings; and her faithful gleanings led to her marriage to Boaz and her conversion to the one, true God from her pagan background. And today, as I scrounge through what God has left for me to glean from His bountiful field of truth, even the gleanings are gratefully gathered and I can amply feed upon God’s food for my life.

My Prayer Today: … Lord, thank you for leaving so much for me to feed upon in the harvest field of Your word. Amen

March 22, 2012 … The Prescription for Spiritual Success

Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Joshua, Chapters 1-4 … To study these chapters, go to this link -

Added Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Joshua 1: 1-9 … To study these chapters, go to this link -

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Highlight Reference Passage : Joshua 1: 8 … Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

My Journal for Today: My chronological read in the Bible today takes me from the “Book of the Law,” i.e., the first five books of the Bible, penned by Moses, into the chronicle of God’s people, led by Joshua, moving into the promised-land. And the highlight passage from these four chapters, which I was led to read/study today, and to which you’re linked above, was easy for me to pick. Joshua 1: 8, which was God’s specific prescription to Moses for spiritual success, is a passage which has helped to shape my life; and hence I have a particular personal/emotional investment in this blog this morning.

First, the key verse today lies at the outset of Joshua’s charge and encouragement – by God Himself – for Moses’ hand-picked leader to take the people across the Jordan, moving from what is now the country of Jordan into the designated and God-given promised-land in what we now know of as Israel. This was certainly a daunting task for the man who had been Moses’ right-hand warrior and co-leader for so many years. But here was Joshua, tagged as the complete and singular leader of God’s people; and he wasn’t used to wearing the mantle of leadership which Moses had held. So, at the outset of Joshua 1, verses 1-9, we read of God’s pep-talk to Joshua, encouraging him with a remembrance of the covenant that God would give Joshua and the people every parcel of property where they walked into the new land; and with their obedience to His word – past and present – God would be with Joshua in all he did.

But the highlight verse today, Joshua 1: 8, is key in this task directive God imparts to Joshua. And the Lord tells Joshua that for this task to which Joshua has been selected by God, Joshua must discipline himself to be in and stay in God’s word (and that would be those first five books of the Bible) day and night, being “… careful to do everything written in it;” … and if Joshua did this, God promised him success and power in carrying out God’s charge [i.e., His will].

My reading friend, I hope you can see the immediate application for you and me for this prescription for success when we are moving in life across whatever Jordan we must cross and when we move through life toward God’s promised-land. But whenever we know where God is leading us (i.e., His will or direction for our lives), it usually involves some decision to cross a “Jordan River” in our lives. Perhaps you know that you need to begin living in a manner which involves courage to change some habit or lifestyle pattern. At one point in my life I knew that God wanted me to turn from pursuing sexual sin and other habitual patterns of idolatry and/or covetousness in my life. The decision to repent and move from ungodly behavior to Godly behavior was my “Jordan.” Well, it was a mentor, the Moses in my life, who helped me, as his Joshua, to see the application of Joshua 1: 8 to the task that God was laying out for me … i.e., to be obedient and follow Him (much like Jesus instructed His disciples in Luke 9: 23).

So, using the instruction and personal interpretation of Joshua 1: 8 for the life choices which lay ahead of me, my mentor helped me realize that I was going to have to be in and stay in God’s word daily and continuously, letting God’s word and His purpose guide me, … much as is put forth in other Scriptures like Isaiah 55: 11 and 2nd Timothy 3: 16-17. So, needing desperately to reform my life under God’s will and direction and away from fleshly pursuits, with the help of my mentor, I got involved in a rigorous daily scripture memory process; and he helped me begin and develop the discipline of a daily morning Bible-led devotional, where I would be in God’s word daily and getting God’s word deeply into my being in a disciplined way. And that, my friends, is the essence of what God was instructing Joshua to do to be successful in carrying out the will God had for his life.

My dear one, how much is God’s word a part of your pursuing personal success with regard to God’s will in your life? Is there some task or direction which you know God is leading you toward; but you have retained selfish desires to satisfy your flesh rather than fulfilling God’s will successfully? Well, if so, have you tried carrying out and following through with the Joshua 1: 8 prescription?

And one of the scripture passages I was given by my mentor to contextualize, memorize, and internalize years ago was Psalm 119: 9,…11, where God’s word states - How can a young man (i.e., an immature Christian) cleanse his way? … By taking head to Your word. … Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.

My friend, I don’t know about you; but I want to be a Christian who is successful in the way I live, avoiding sin in my life, and being able to live in fulfillment of God’s will. And today’s prescription for success in living this way is the same for me (and for you) as it was for Joshua; and if we desire to be successful as “Christians,” being in, living in, and living out God’s word is the key to that success.

My Prayer Today: … Oh, Lord, how I desire to stay in Your word everyday of my life, letting Your word guide me and empower me to be successful in shining Your light in a very dark world. Amen

2010 – June 07 – Believing the Bald Truth

Study from God’s Word… 2nd Kings 2: 1 – 25; 2nd Kings 4: 1 – 44; 2nd Kings 8: 1-2; 2nd Kings 6: 1-7 … Passage for Reflection: 2nd Kings 2: 23 – 14 … NIV 23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

My Journal for Today: Today’s highlighted Old Testament story is an interesting – and curious one; and as Dr. Smith, the editor, who BTW is bald, says feels right for all those times when bald people hear those “bald jokes” and have no way of getting back at those who have jeered those, as Dr. Smith refers to, as “follicly challenged.” But it does seem a bit excessive that Elisha would call down God’s wrath upon a bunch of bullies who were jeering him and calling him a “baldhead.” But Dr. Smith is right. When you read the context of this passage, we see that the young men were actually jeering Elisha as a servant of Elijah, who was missing in action, having just been taken up to heaven in a chariot in a whirlwind. And Elisha was simply showing the people, through these misdirected boys, that God was not to be mocked and that he, Elisha, had been given a double portion of God’s power as promised by Elijah.

But it’s still a good idea to remember that it’s not wise to make fun of anyone’s weakness, such as baldness. And if you go to the web and see a picture of F. LaGard Smith, you’ll see why he felt that way.
[For those who follow this old warrior by reading here, see the enclosed picture of Dr. Smith to show why he’d feel vindicated by the “baldhead” reference in today’s devotional entry.]




Personally I’ve been taken by the devotion which Elisha, the mentee, had for his mentor, Elijah; and how after Elijah was carried away into heaven, leaving Elisha alone to carry the torch of prophesy from God, Elisha experienced an increase of spiritual power over that Elijah had exhibited on earth. Dr. Smith pointed out that Elisha was chronicled to have performed more than twice the number of miracles as did Elijah in the Old Testament. To me this shows the power of mentoring in the life of men of God, aspiring to become Godly men.

I bring this up to reinforce what I just said about the power and effectiveness of Godly mentoring. In my life and discipleship as a Christian, I was blessed to have been mentored by a mighty, yet humble, man of God who was willing to mentor me for about a dozen years. I met with him weekly for about 8 years, which became biweekly for the last 4 years of our relationship. And this man of God did all he could to help me become a Godly man, helping me to find the path God lays out for all Christians in/through the Bible; and “Dr. Bob,” a retired physician, was like a drill instructor for me as he took me through a Christian bootcamp and then trained me to be a swordsman for God’s army. And finally he helped lead me into leadership in my church, grooming me to become an Elder, which is a reality now, and truly a “God story,” when you realize where I came from as an atheist and angry sinner some 25+ years ago.

My friends, stories like the Elijah – Elisha story in the Old Testament and the Paul – Timothy story in the NT, resonate with me; because I’ve seen how the power of a mentor can be passed to the mentee and God can be glorified when this process is activated. My mentor, “Dr. Bob,” took me from a dark past into the light so that I could find God’s path; and he led and shepherded me as a lamb of God to become a stronger lead sheep in God’s flock. And I can only hope that any reader of what I’m saying today has either had a Godly, strong mentor or is in the process of praying for and finding such a Godly shepherd.

Maybe God imparted to you His strength and clear direction individually without a mentor, as God certainly is capable of doing. But I maintain that cases like Joseph in the OT or the Apostle Paul in the NT are rare, having been anointed with God’s power as leaders, without the need of a mentor. Most of us, however, require someone to lead us through the minefields of life because we just need to learn from someone else how to negotiate life’s mines by following first before we learn how to lead others.

That is what the story of Elisha and Elijah tells me; and I declare here my thanks to God for being an Elisha who was led to my own Elijah; and I have now been privileged to become the “Elijah” for several “Elishas” along the way in the last few years.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I pray that You have been glorified as I attempt to be an Elijah for some Elishas, or a Paul for some Timothys, as I traverse through the minefields of life, doing my best to show these men the way … Your way, which was shown to me by a mentor in my past. And I thank you for providing me with a mentor in my discipleship past to give me this ability. Amen

2010 – June 01 – Identifying with the Righteous

Study from God’s Word… 1st Kings 12: 1-19 [2nd Chron. 10: 1-19]; 1st Kings 12: 20; 1st Kings 21-24 [2nd Chron. 11: 1-4]; 1st Kings 12: 25-33 [2nd Chron. 11: 15]; 2nd Chron. 11: 13-14, 16-17; 1st Kings 13: 1 – 32 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Kings 13: 31 … NIV After burying him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.”

My Journal for Today: When one reads and studies 1st Kings 13: 11 – 32, the story of the interaction between two prophets of God, one younger and one older, the scenario can be perplexing. There is a younger prophet who has confronted the King of Israel and even refused to stay with him because of God’s decree. And he communicates that story of faith to an older prophet, who then lies to the younger man of God, luring him to eat at the table of the older prophet, which is against what God had told the younger prophet to do.

It’s all pretty confusing; but when it all sorts itself out, and the younger prophet is killed by a lion, apparently dispatched by God for the younger prophet’s disobedience; and we see the older prophet burying the younger man of God and instructing the son’s of the older prophet to bury him next to the bones of the younger man of God. Go figure! And to be honest I’m not sure I can figure this whole deal out, … except to agree what Dr. Smith says in his devotional today, which makes some degree of sense out of a very perplexing story.

Dr. Smith uses this passage and highlighted verse to teach that we need to identify with the lives of those who really have a heart for God and desire to be obedient to our Lord in what they say and do. I think of the man who mentored me for many years as I was being discipled from a new Christian into a more mature version of a sinner becoming the saint God desired for me to become. My mentor was not a perfect man, being a man, like all of us, with a sin nature. But Dr. G., my mentor, was like a David … a man after God’s heart; and he had the same attitude – and posture – of an Apostle Paul, … like when Paul said to the Church at Corinth (in 1st Cor. 11: 1), “You can imitate me because I imitate Christ.”

And I came to identify and follow the heart of my mentor, as well as many of his actions, decisions, and teachings. Like the younger prophet in today’s passage, my mentor was not perfect. The Apostle Paul was not perfect when he was in the middle of his years of ministry and mission work. King David certainly was not perfect, was he? But these were/are men we, as Christians, can identify and follow; because, like King David and the prophets in our story from God’s word today, these were men who had a heart seeking after God’s own heart. And when a believer becomes sold out and surrendered to God, he (or she) may, being human, make mistakes; but following God’s path as obediently as we can, especially by following His word, we will be led toward the righteous path in life; and that is the path to which we must aspire and walk with every fiber of our being.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, shine Your light on the path You desire for me to walk, … that I may follow the Light and be privileged to lead others to You. Amen

2009 – Day 181.July 1 – Mantle of Power

Blogger's Note: Two more days in my study of Elijah, along with Chuck Swindoll, before we move on to a study of Esther, which I do anticipate with great interest.

2009 – Day 181.July 1 – Mantle of Power

Passage of the Day: 2nd Kings 2: 9 – 13 … Linked for your study …

My Journal for Today: Swindoll posits an interesting and powerful observation as we see Elijah exit. He writes, “Exit Elijah. Enter Elisha. [And] God’s plan never missed a beat.” And we need to recognize, as Swindoll points out, that God has never lost out or been deterred by the loss of one of his Saints in history. Through the ages God keeps raising up His men or women to take the mantle of leadership or ministry to this world; i.e., … to carry the Great Commission forward.

Even Jesus proclaimed that greater things would happen for God’s kingdom when He left the earth; and that’s exactly what happened. And we see it even today. Some may wonder how God’s kingdom can do without a Bill Bright, the founder and leader of Campus Crusade; but this powerful ministry has grown in scope since the death of the man whom it is said brought the gospel to more people than anyone. What will we do when Billy Graham dies? Well already we see his kids are taking up the mantle of the gospel to many thousands in various crusades. Franklin Graham and Ann Graham Lotz are now preaching to mega thousands with two crusade organizations; and they are two and Billy was just one.

If we think God is going to be thwarted in carrying His message to a lost world, we have a small idea of our very BIG God. And I have experienced this in my life as well. I was blessed and privileged to study under a man of God for a dozen years; but when his wife became ill some years go, my mentor had to move on to take care of his beloved bride; and he charged me to begin mentoring others. Dr. Bob G. had mentored a number of lesser mature Christians, discipling them into biblically sound messengers of the gospel; and now I, along with the others Dr. Bob mentored, mentor others and share Christ whenever and however we can.

That is how God, our Heavenly Father, takes one man like an Elijah, or an Apostle Paul, or even His Son, Jesus, and He passes the mantle of power from one on to others – many others - and so it goes onward in the multiplication of the Gospel. And Swindoll asks a couple of key questions at the end of his devotion for this day. He asks, “Whose mantle have you received? And what are you doing with this inherited influence?” To this I would ask if we who’ve been discipled are discipling others. We need to take the mantle of the Gospel and take it forward in Christ’s name for God’s glory.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, use me to carry Your mantle of power to as many as I can in this life. Amen

2009 – Day 176.June 26 – Look Up

2009 – Day 176.June 26 – Look Up

Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 19 … Linked for your study ...

My Journal for Today: As Elisha left the cave where God had provided re-creation and renewal for His Prophet, we see God’s mercy and grace in abundance and a reminder that God wants us to live and work in community … what we know of as the fellowship of believers … or in this day, the Church.

As we read in 1st Kings 19, God leads Elijah out and provides him with a charge and a companion. In this case we’re introduced to God’s new standard bearer, Elisha, who not only was to be Elijah’s friend and co-minister; but God’s provision of Elisha was given to Elijah to minister to the needs of our Prophet-hero as well.

So, can we see how important it is look up to God and follow Him as God’s word instructs us in Luke 9: 23? For not only will The Lord provide us with a plan, His purpose, and His power; but He will also provide us with our needs in the community we know of as the Church. The promise of Matt. 18: 20 comes to mind here, where Christ says clearly to His disciples, … “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them.” And there is the exhortation of God’s word in Galatians 6: 9 – 10 as well as Hebrews 10: 24 – 25, which tells us that we should never be Lone Ranger Christians … that we were meant to live and work and have our being in community.

And in this passage today we see how God moves His plan and purpose forward, providing for the passing of the baton of service from Elijah to Elisha; and in the process God provides them both with friendship and a co-ministry companionship. I have experienced this type of torch passing in my life. God brought me to a man of God in my mentor, Dr. Bob, years ago. And he became my friend and biblical guide for a dozen years as he discipled and taught me. Then, he told me, “Bill, it’s time for you to be mentoring others;” and he passed the mantle of leadership to me with a commission to fulfill God’s Great Commission [see Matt. 28: 19 – 20]. Now, I have been given the charge and privilege to mentor several other men in the ministry God led me into a number of years ago; and all of these younger men have been friends, companions, and co-ministry warriors with me.

I pray that, as a “Timothy” in this life, God has provided you with a “Paul” to help shape you more fully into Christ’s image; and then I pray that once you’ve become a “Paul,” God will lead you to pass the torch of ministry on to a “Timothy” by mentoring others to carry the banner of Christ forward.

Look up, dear one, and let God guide you in this trek to Christlikeness and Godliness.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I look to you to bring me those I need to carry your standard in life. Amen