Through Time

Doors

I love doors. I know that’s an odd thing to like. I find the craftsmanship and variety beautiful. Doors also represent hope…something new and exciting on the other side. They may also represent something familiar and inviting. Think of a Christmas wreath hanging on your loved one’s front door. You know that there are amazing things on the other side.

Doors can also bring fear and trepidation. They can bring us face to face with challenges of our past and anxiety if they lead to the dangerous unknown. Doors may look beautiful from the outside but hide something sinister behind them.

Our eyes and ears are the doors to our minds and hearts. What we allow through the doors will determine our destiny. They can derail our God-given anointing or lead us to it. Often, the choice is before us.

After a severe sickness (Isaiah 38), King Hezekiah opens his doors to envoys from a faraway land, Babylon. At this point in history, Babylon is a vassal state of Assyria. They are little known and have very little power. However, Hezekiah’s interaction with a foreign, ungodly nation shows that, at a minimum, he was shortsighted in his interaction with them.

In Hezekiah’s case, he did not just welcome them into his home but showed them everything the Kingdom of Judah possessed (Isaiah 39). Likely, the envoys were there to ally against Assyria, but they left with information about the wealth and power of Judah.

Isaiah visits Hezekiah shortly after the Babylonians leave the palace. His prophecy predicts a time when all that they saw, and Hezekiah’s sons (descendants) will be carried into captivity by the king of Babylon. In verse 8 of Isaiah 39, Hezekiah makes a very odd statement. “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.” NLT

Again, Hezekiah is short-sighted. He looks at how there will be peace in his day but does not think ahead of the ultimate destruction of his nation. Your decisions today may not cause you to lose your salvation, but they may set up the next generation for failure.

Judah goes into captivity because of its continued disobedience toward God. Hezekiah’s actions are not a direct cause of that captivity but are a symptom of the broader problem with Judah’s dependence on the God of Israel.

When my brother and I were young, we frequently played “King of the Mountain.” In this game, each participant tries to push the one at the top off and take their position. One fateful day, I was at the top of a pile of gravel…12 to 15 feet tall. I was winning as one kid from the neighborhood helped defend my position. Of course, that was until only two of us were left. While I thought he was helping me, I was helping him. I realized this as I tumbled down this massive pile of rocks. Ouch is an understatement, but yes, I played again.

The enemy consistently looks for doors, entry points, into our lives. That can come through our attitudes and our actions. They can be overt or descriptive, as with Hezekiah. As Christ-followers, we must be careful about what doors we open.

In his book Gift & Giver, Dr Craig Keener discusses the state of the Western church. He writes of five areas the early church understood as doors for the enemy, but we have normalized in the modern church.

Our excuses as they pertain to Entertainment. We open the wrong door.

Our disobedience in Stewardship. We open the wrong door.

Our unwillingness to Evangelize. We open the wrong door.

We are ignoring Justice Ministry. We open the wrong door.

A lack of Traditional Spiritual Disciplines. We open the door.

My question for you is, what doors are you opening in your life? Ones that let the Holy Spirit in and welcome His activity. Or are you letting the enemy in through your daily choices? Like the Babylonians, our enemy’s ultimate goal is to lead us into captivity. God desires to bring you freedom.

Open doors, but make sure they are the correct doors.

As the old Jamaican song goes, “Shut the door, keep out the devil…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmJZrJ2aEYM

The next time you see a door, remember that it can be an entry point for good or evil. The choice is yours.

Danger, Comparison Ahead

Comparing is human nature. We do it daily as it applies to many aspects of our lives. I compare menu items for lunch, fruit at the grocery store, the health of flowers at Home Depot, or the two socks that don’t match, but my teen wears them anyway. What’s up with that trend?

Caprison is natural and, in many facets of life, not unhealthy. However, comparing our lives to the lives of others is a slippery slope. In 1 Samuel 18:7, the women of Israel wrote this song to celebrate David’s victory over Goliath. “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” NLT From that moment, Saul compared himself to David: his strength, valor on the battlefield, reverence for God, and the love of the people for him.

When I was a young youth pastor, a fellow youth pastor was knocking it out of the park in every way. It was like everything he touched turned to gold. I struggled to accomplish my vision through those months. Though my friend seemed to have everything together, his life was a mess. No one knew, but poor choices led to a loss of everything.

Sometimes, a person’s success remains. From the outside, it looks like everything is easy. We do not know what challenges the other person went through to be where they are. We don’t know the spiritual battles they have fought silently. We do not see the hours of prayer or the countless meals fasted. In other cases, we do not know the mess that was their life before Jesus. Christ may choose to bless abundantly to show His faithful hand. Comparison is dangerous.

I want to share an illustration from Jonah Berger’s book Contagious: Why Things Catch On. “A few years ago, students at Harvard University were asked to make a seemingly straightforward choice: which would they prefer, a job where they made $50,000 a year (option A) or one where they made $100,000 a year (option B)? Seems like a no-brainer, right? Everyone should take option B. But there was one catch. In option A, the students would get paid twice as much as others, who would only get $25,000. In option B, they would get paid half as much as others, who would get $200,000. So option B would make the students more money overall, but they would be doing worse than others around them. What did the majority of people choose? Option A. They preferred to do better than others, even if it meant getting less for themselves. They chose the option that was worse in absolute terms but better in relative terms. People don’t just care about how they are doing, they care about their performance in relation to others.”

Comparison brings out the opposite of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. It is a battle between our two natures. Think of Paul wanting to do but not doing and not wanting to but doing. Our human nature is in a constant battle with the Spirit. Both are vying for control. Comparison leads to jealousy, coveting, and much more if we allow it to take hold of our lives.

It is easy to look at what another person has or what they’ve accomplished. Human nature is to be envious. The Spirit in us celebrates what God accomplishes in the lives of others. So, how, then, do we move past human nature into the nature of the Spirit?

First, Pray for the other person. Every time you begin to compare, stop and pray for them. Pray that God will bless them. It is hard to envy someone when you pray for their blessing.

Second, Pray that the Fruit of the Spirit will be evident in your life. If the Spirit grows in us, those things not of Him are pushed out. It is hard to be envious when the Spirit grows fruit in our lives.

Danger, comparison is ahead of you. Don’t let it gain a foothold in your life.

Change Is Needed

I am not a person who finds change difficult. I see change as exciting. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to find a new career every few months, but I love the progress that change brings. We have a new grocery store opening at the entrance to our subdivision. I could not be more excited. The possibilities are endless. I can imagine warm summer evening walks to the grocery store to buy my favorite carton or two of ice cream. Many in our neighborhood are not happy. There is more traffic, blah blah. Ultimately, they resist something different, which may bring more inconvenience to their lives.

I enjoy change until it affects my character. Parents are given to kids to help form them into responsible adults, while the Holy Spirit is given to believers to help change us into the image of Christ. Which do you think is easier? The process of change is difficult. Giving up our attitudes and opinions is not a natural process. When we throw our sinful natures into the mix, we really have issues. Thank God, He can change our stories.

King David struggled with sin at times in his life. His sin with Bathsheba was perhaps the most grievous. The Fire Bible notes that David broke commandments 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. As is often the case, one bad choice leads to another.

First, David was not where he was supposed to be. Scripture clarifies that David was at home when kings went out to battle.

Second, David allowed His eyes to wander and focus on Bathsheba. Indeed, this would be a natural reaction. We cannot always control what we see, but we cannot allow what we see to control us.

Third, David acted on his lust. Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount that we should deal with sin while still in our minds. That way, they never become an action.

Fourth, David sought to hide his sin. He even went so far as to get Uriah drunk to hide Bathsheba’s pregnancy.

Fifth, David’s first sin led to another murder. Not just Uriah’s murder but that of several other innocent soldiers that were loyal to David.

David needed his heart to change. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, he admitted his wrongdoing. He states in 2 Sam 2:13, “I have sinned against the Lord.” David sinned against many people, but above all, he dishonored the name of God.

Coming from this challenging situation, David pens one of my favorite Psalms.

Psalm 51 partially says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.”

This Psalm of repentance and rededication reminds me that Change is Needed. Sometimes, my attitude stinks. Sometimes, I don’t deal with hurt very well. So, I willingly pray, Change my heart, Oh God.” If you ask, He will come and change yours too.

Control

Its hands tightly gripped my neck. There was no place to go. I saw no way out. The room was dark except for a lightbulb blinking on the far side. I could not tell if I was above or below ground. All I knew was fear—fear of how this would end, fear of what I had become. Fear gripped my chest and choked every breath from my lungs.

There was an acrid smell that made me want to vomit. My mind reeled with questions of how I got to this point. How could life, my life, come to this? All I did was open myself to a relationship I thought was positive, but in the end, all it wanted was control. Now it had it. It controlled every aspect of my life: my money, my relationships, most of which were now broken, and my health. I could get close but stay in control. I was assured of so much that now seemed like a far-off and elusive dream.

With every thought and struggling breath, it tightened until I thought I would pass out. Images of my life passed in front of me. So many opportunities were wasted. So much time was ill-used. All for what? To find myself consumed by this thing that now controlled me. In this moment of desperation, I just wanted someone to help me.

Just as I began to give up and yield myself to the fate I helped create, I felt something. It was foreign to me. It started small but began to grow. I don’t know how to describe it. Maybe it was like a hot shower after being caught in the snow. There was a warmth to it, but something so much more. The warmer I became, the clearer I saw and the more my thoughts made sense. I vaguely began to see an image. I did not fully recognize the person but knew I needed to remember something. A name. A name. What name? Why a name?

As my mind searched for a name, it suddenly squeezed even tighter. I thought I was going to be free, but its hands seared my body, not like warmth but like acid touching my skin. I heard its voice shouting, “You are mine! You are nothing, and you will always be mine.” It was as if I was passing in and out of consciousness. One moment, I felt anticipation; the next, the reality of defeat.

In a moment of lucidness, I screamed, “What is the name?” But no sounds came from me. A wave of searing heat came again and again as it tightened its control. I began to lose consciousness again; I remembered an image. Nothing but an old dead tree. It was a fearful image as the tree was covered in blood. Pools of blood were all around its base. Though I knew the image should repulse me, the more I focused, the more warmth and clarity came. I shut my eyes, screaming, “I must be free of this.”

When I did, I softly heard a familiar and yet foreign song, quietly at first as if carried by breath. “There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth; It sounds like music in mine ear, The sweetest name on earth. Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!”

Every cell in my being was suddenly filled with a beautiful warmth, but this was stronger. With what little strength I had left, I pushed my voice to respond. Somehow, with its fingers still gripping my neck, in a raspy voice, I called “Jesus.”

My body shuddered, not as in death or a violent act, but the loss of control. The loss of my control. I gave up control of my life, all of it—every aspect. The more I gave up my own will, the freer I felt. Silently at first, then, with a rising voice, I cried out for God to take complete control of my life. At that moment, I experienced the total surrender of my control and of the sins that had fought to control me. In its place, I gave God control.

My blog today is presented very differently than usual. I sat at my computer, asking God for an illustration, and began to type. Thirty minutes later, these words were on the page. I am not by nature a storyteller or an author of fiction. I feel that God wanted me to present the idea of control this way. Perhaps this reading will hit you differently than usual. Maybe you will be ready to give up your control for God’s control.

To whoever reads this, know that someone or something will control you. It could be your desires, a person who has hurt you, sins, or God. 1 Sam 18:1-12 tells the sad story of Saul ceasing to be controlled by God’s Spirit. In the Spirit’s place, an evil, tormenting spirit came. Why? Because Saul rejected God and clung to his anger, jealousy, and rage. Stop trying to be in control. Give it to God. Let Him be in control of your life.

Donkey Party!

Have you ever been to a donkey party? Most likely, you have, though you may not know it. Donkey Parties were invented in 1887 by Philadelphia resident Charles Zimmerling. The party consisted of a group of guests, a large picture of a donkey, some tails, pins, and a blindfold. LIGHTBULB! Yes, you have been to a donkey party, now known as Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Donkey Parties took the US by storm in 1887. Everyone in every station in life fell in love with the simple game. Even halls of government were affected.

The Donkey Parties.

Jefferson City, Jan. 28.

Editor Bazoo: The very latest social wrinkle that is convulsing capitol society, is the “Donkey parties.” Everybody, “that is anybody,” is trying that dexterous feat of “tailing the donkey.” Unless one has tried that adroit deed, you have no conception how much mental and physical strain is required. I have seen grave dignitaries and wily Representatives waltz confidently up to the donkey and miss him by ten feet. Senator Jacobs came very near attaching the caudal appendage to the neck, and Speaker pro tem Russell left the rear attachment on the off hoof. Senator Gears the jolliest man in the senate, is contemplating giving a “Donkey party” in the basement of the capitol, to “donkeys” only of the two foot tribe, and demonstrate practically that no blinded man can successfully accomplish the act in one trial, only.

The Sedalia Weekly Bazoo (Sedalia, Missouri), February 1, 1887, page 5.

Zechariah 9:9 describes a different kind of donkey party: “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem. Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.

The account of this prophecy’s fulfillment is recorded in all four gospels. We call it Palm Sunday.

Matthew focuses on the prophecy. His audience was Jewish, so this makes sense.

Mark shares the account in a narrative or story form, fitting his abbreviated, though original, gospel.

Luke records Jesus’ mindset as He rode the donkey approaching Jerusalem. The crowds celebrated, but He wept over His people’s lostness.

John shows us how the disciples felt, which makes sense as John was one of the original twelve.

Jesus’ actions disrupted the norm. In fact, one definition of disruption is acting outside the established norm. Here are four ways that Jesus disrupted the norm.

First, Jesus rode a donkey rather than a stallion. Stallions were a symbol of power and wealth. A donkey symbolizes humility.

Second, Jesus came to conquer sin, not Rome. The people of Israel looked for a political deliverer. They found a Suffering Savior, as prophesied in Isaiah 53.

Third, Jesus wept over the city and the nation while the people celebrated. You would think that a leader who received palm branches and clothing in their path would be celebratory, but Jesus’ focus was how lost they were.

Fourth, Jesus disrupted the Pharisaical system of rule. The Pharisees were appalled by the crowd’s worship of Jesus, but He did not stop them. He said that if the crowds did not worship, the rocks would. This statement added to the Pharisees’ anger and ultimately led to Jesus’ death.

Jesus brought disruption everywhere He went. The established norm was not the will of the Father. So, the Son of God came to earth as a baby to disrupt the established system.

Today, Jesus wants to step into your life and disrupt the norm—the normalness of sin, idolatry, your thinking, and your actions. Jesus wants to change you.

In turn, we are also called to disrupt the lives of others by showing them the path to Christ and that there is freedom in His name. We further move to disciple those around us, helping them become more and more like Jesus…bringing further disruption.

The next time you see a donkey in a field or play Pin the Tail on the Donkey, remember that Jesus came to disrupt your life. When He does, that is the best party you will ever have, with or without the donkey.

“Drat and Double-Drat”

I love being a child of the 1980s. Maybe not so much now that I am middle-aged, but it was a wonderful time to grow up. The cartoons were continuous and clean. We rode our bikes with BB guns in tow. We scaled fences, cheered for the Goonies, and rocked to “Don’t Stop Believing.” Ronald Reagan was president. The Cold War was winding down. Life was good.

One of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons was Wacky Races by Hanna-Barbera. The best drivers in their radical (you’re welcome) cars raced for fame and glory each week. My favorite characters were Dick Dastardly (that’s a fun word to say, DASTARDLY) and his sidekick Muttley, a wheezing dog.

How would one incapsulate Dastardly to a generation that has never seen or heard of him? A wrestler named Gorgeous George once remarked, “Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!” That sums up Dastardly with one exception: he always considered himself a victim—a victim of his own cheating, the rules of an inferior car, or even Muttley’s schemes to right his owner’s dubious wrongs.

A victim mentality is pervasive in our culture. It is exemplified by believing that whatever goes wrong is always someone else’s fault. It may also come with a sense of one’s inability to accomplish what one can accomplish. This is illustrated in the account of David’s battle with Goliath, which you will find in 1 Samuel 17.

King Saul and the Israelite army believed that they could not beat the giant of Gath. Why? Well, he was big, and evidently, he yelled a lot. These are the people of the Lord Almighty. Fear of a mere man in battle seems odd. The fundamental problem was they viewed themselves as victims, incapable of accomplishing what needed to be accomplished.

Yet, a young man named David, hearing the giant’s rant and his blasphemy against the God of Israel, recognized that he had all he needed to win the battle. Scripture tells us that King Saul offered his royal armor, which did not fit the young man. So, David walked into the battle, not with a soldier’s armaments but that of a shepherd, his staff, a sling, and a pocket full of rocks. David knew that was all he needed.

How was he so sure? I believe there were four things that David knew.

David knew the power of his God.
David knew the history of his God.
David knew the giant was defying his God.
David knew his greatest weapon was God.

Our lives are filled with consistent stress, overwhelming circumstances, and situations outside our control. It is easy to take on a victim mentality, believing it is someone else’s fault, and I can’t do anything about it anyway. Nothing could be further from the truth. As one remarked, I and God are always a majority. David had faith to believe. He had past experiences where God had shown Himself faithful.

At the end of each Wacky Race, no matter what the situation, Dastardly always lost. He was either caught cheating or blaming others for his situation. Muttley would chuckle in his wheezy voice, and Dastardly would yell, “drat and double-drat.” I could not wait for next Saturday so we could do it all again.

In your life, you have a choice to yell “drat and double-drat,” always blaming someone else for your situation. Or you can choose to rise victorious in the name of your God. It’s our choice. Be a victor, not a victim like Dastardly.

Live A Life

Over the past weeks, the Holy Spirit has repeatedly led our church to the idea of cycles. Which, oddly enough, is in and of itself a cycle. There may be cycles of sin, desperation, anger, frustration, or addiction. Potential cycles are as numerous as the stars in the heavens.

King Saul’s life was marked by cycles. It was how he lived: cycle after cycle, day after day, through his choices: cycles of anger, jealousy, fits of rage, and revenge. While all these things are bad, they are symptoms of the broader problem: sin. This was how Saul lived.

The Prophet Samuel said these words in his farewell address to Israel. 1 Sam 12:14-15, “Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God. But if you rebel against the Lord’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.”

Samuel gives King Saul and Israel the formula for living a Godly life. Saul failed at this time and time again. Let me list a few occurrences for you: he failed to accept his call, sacrificed when it was not his duty, tried to kill David, made a rash oath that almost cost him his son, sought advice from a witch, and failed to be obedient in dealing with the Amalekites.

I would encourage you to read 1 Sam 15:24-31for context.

Saul lived a life of sinful cycles. God wants you to live a life of freedom. The Holman Bible Dictionary says this of Saul, “a tragic figure, Saul’s heart was initially changed, he even prophesied.” At some point, the Spirit that came upon Saul eventually left him.

So why did Saul continue to sin? In verse 24, we see Saul sinned because he feared the people. He obeyed the people’s voice rather than God’s. He lived a life of disobedience. God wants us to live a life of obedience.

In verse 26, we see Samuel walking away from his relationship with Saul because of his disobedience. Though he relents in this portion and does accompany Saul to worship the Lord, verse 35 says, “Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.”

Every time he sinned, he had an excuse: “It was not my fault,” “You were late,” “What else was I supposed to do?” “The Devil made me do it.” Repentance requires us to own our sins and seek forgiveness.

In verse 28, we see Saul kneeling, pleading with Samuel. He now reaches out and grabs the hem of Samule’s robe. It rips in Saul’s hand. Samuel then pronounces this judgment: As the rob ripped, so would the kingdom be ripped from him. Saul’s sin did not cause God to reject him as a person but as the king. Forgiveness for Saul’s sins was available, but God desired a righteous leader on the throne of Israel.

In verse 35, we see one of the saddest phrases in Scripture, “And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.” In Hebrew, this phrase says, “And YHWH regretted that He made him king.” How, then, do we ensure we live as God wants?

First, Live a Life in relationship with God.

Second, Live a Life of obedience to God.

Third, Live a Life that seeks to bring glory to God rather than yourself.

Fourth, Live a Life that focuses on things eternal rather than temporal.

There are many ways we can live our lives. Perhaps God is leading you to break the cycle and Live A Life for Him.

It’s Personal

I have never liked it when people comment, “Children are the future of the church.” The same applies to Whitney Houston’s hit song, The Greatest Love of All. Sorry, Whitney. It was not your best work. While I understand the intent, I have a fundamental problem with this assertion. To say that children are the future is correct in that they will one day grow to lead, but it is incorrect because it leads to the assumption that they are not a part of the Church now.

Children are vitally important to the church today. They are just as crucial as others within the congregation. So, yes, I do understand the future aspect, but I believe we need to spend time and energy on their discipleship. Not simply because they are future leaders but because they are children of God now, capable of sharing their faith and discipling someone else.

God gave the children of Israel instructions to pass the faith from one generation to the next. That is necessary for the continued propagation of the Gospel. We must never forget that it is also about seeing that individual child in a loving and growing relationship with Christ. It’s personal.

King David was a mighty leader of Israel. He led well in battle and spiritual matters. Of course, we know that he was not perfect. He made mistakes. Perhaps one of the saddest is recorded in 1 Kings 1:5-6.

The NLT says, “About that time, David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.” Emphasis Mine

Kind David led the nation of Israel but failed to lead his family. As a result, his son did not have a personal relationship with God, nor would he lead others into a similar faith. Instead, he sought to make himself king. He ignored God’s word, declaring Solomon the next king.

David was a warrior and was likely away from his family for long periods, including the formative years of his kids. In our American culture and way of life, we work hard to make that promotion or to advance our financial security. Too often, this is accomplished at the expense of our families. We focus so much on the job at hand that we miss the most important thing: ensuring that a deep and personal faith grows in our kids. Or, if you do not have kids, the next generation of believers where you have influence.

Last week, my blog focused on the beautiful words of King David in Psalm 23. I love this Psalm, and studying David for that matter, because he often uses personal phraseology. “The Lord is my Shepherd.” “I will dwell in the house of the Lord.” For David, it was personal, but he failed to make it personal for his kids.

It’s personal for our kids. It is eternally essential for them and those that they, too, will reach.

Why Sheep?

I have often laughed at the fact that Scripture refers to Christ’s followers as sheep. There are many reasons why this is an appropriate analogy. We will get into that later. The fundamental fact is sheep need a shepherd. They are not intelligent animals. Some might say they are dumb. I have heard farmers comment that their sheep would walk into a hole. I guess that’s why shepherds have a staff.

One interesting factoid I recently read explained that sheep cannot drink from moving water. Their nose and mouth are so close together that running water will cause them to be unable to breathe while drinking. They need still water.

Sheep are herd animals, but it is also not uncommon for one to wander off. Maybe they daydream. Perhaps the most interesting fact deals with their sleep patterns. When a sheep cannot sleep, they count humans jumping over a fence. Weird! 😊

They are beautiful creatures with helpful wool. They are gentle, loyal, and loving to their shepherd. They indeed learn their shepherd’s voice. They are also delicious with mint jelly. I apologize to my vegan friends.

One might ask, why sheep? Why would God compare us to sheep? Because sheep need a shepherd. Honestly, we are a lot like them. We wander off at times. I have been known to step into an obvious hole in front of me…more often than I care to admit. I also like to get too close to the wolf on occasion. I need a shepherd, and so do you.

Fortunately, Jesus is ready, willing, and lovingly able to shepherd His people. From the book of Isaiah to the Gospel of John, Jesus is proclaimed our Good Shepherd. So good that John 10 tells us He is willing to lay down his life for His sheep.

Psalm 23 is probably the most known portion of Scripture outside John 3:16. David writes about the Good Shepherd. While these verses do not explicitly use different names of good, His character is depicted in the text. Two names are used. I will mark those with an *. I will present this verse by verse with the NLT text of Psalm 23.

Verse 1, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

In Verse one, we see the first of two names written in the text: Jehovah-Ro’iy*, the Lord my Shepherd.

“I have all that I need,” Jehovah-Jireh.

Verse 2, “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful stream.”

This is a peaceful place where we see God as Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord my peace.

Verse 3, “He renews my strength.”

He is Jehovah-Raphe, the Lord, my healer.

“He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.”

He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord my righteousness.

Verse 4, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”

We see God’s nearness to us reflected in His name, Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord is there.

Verse 5, “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.”

He is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord my banner.

“You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.”

He is Jehovah-M’Kaddesh, the Lord who sanctifies.

Verse 6, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”

He is Jehovah*, YHWH, the covenant God.

It is interesting to contemplate the character of sheep and how we connect, but my goal is not to be like another sheep but like my Shepherd. Isn’t the character of our Shepherd amazing? He is truly our all in all. YHWH, the I Am that I Am. I encourage you to do the same. Strive to be like the Shepherd. Trust the Shepherd. Know His voice and love Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do.

Stay close to the Shepherd. Otherwise, the enemy of our soul may serve us up on a plate with a side of mint jelly. As the Facebook prophetess once remarked, “ain’t nobody got time for that.”

“Bring It On!”

The Emperor’s New Groove is one of my favorite movies. There are so many quotable lines. “Bless you for coming out in public,” “Lamma face.” Or my wife’s favorite when she doesn’t want to do something, “I’ve been turned into a cow. Can I go home now?” Then, there is the scene where there is imminent danger as Cusco and Pacha dangle from a frayed rope over a deep ravine with sharp rocks below. Cusco looks down and says, “Bring It On!”

David was a wise and spiritual leader. He never ran from a challenge but always sought the Lord’s direction before moving. To me, that is the very definition of a spiritual leader. Leaders lead. Spiritual leaders do so only at the direction of the Lord.

My sermon title from this week was also from a famous movie. “It’s a Trap!” My message focused on the struggles that often come against us—betrayal, offense, discouragement, anger, etc. I encourage you to check our YouTube channel to hear that message. You will find it under C3AGTV. For this blog, I want to focus on David’s willingness to seek the Lord’s direction. There is, of course, a crossover between the sermon and the blog.

Read 1 Samuel 23:1-12

In this short portion of Scripture, David seeks the Lord four times, in verses 2, 4, 10, and 12. Each time, the Lord responded in the affirmative. There is a significant detail that some might miss. In verses 2 and 4, David is praying on his own. There is no priest present to consult the Lord for him. Verse 6 tells us that the priest Abiathar arrives with the Ephod. So, in verses 10 and 12, David seeks the Lord through the priest and ephod.

Why is this significant? It shows that David had a vibrant relationship with God. He did not need to go through a priest. He trusted that he could hear from the Lord personally. Yet, we also see that David shows the utmost respect to Abiathar when he arrives. He honors this priest by asking him to inquire of the Lord on his behalf.

Both show David’s character. They both show that David would say, “Bring it On,” if he first sought the Lord. David’s spiritual leadership is based on four things evident in this account. These four are also applicable in our lives.

First, we must have a personal relationship with God. David prayed to the Lord without the ephod because he knew his God.

Second, we must seek God’s direction before we act. Four times, David sought the Lord.

Third, we must respect and honor spiritual authority. When Abiathar, the priest, arrived with the ephod, David honored him and sought the Lord through him.

Fourth, we must trust God to lead us and obey His words. When God said, “Go,” David obeyed.

In this life of faith, we face many challenges. At times, we may feel like Cusco hanging from the frayed rope. If we are faithful to seek the Lord, we can confidently say, “Bring it On.” If you seek Him, you will find Him. If you ask, He will answer. Face your challenges, knowing that God is on your side. Ask for his guidance and be ready to act when he answers. Spiritual leaders lead. So, lead on, my friend. Lead on. “Bring it on!”