Category: Daily Thought

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All I Got

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 22-24

Daily Thought

I can’t sing harmony. I can’t dance. I can’t dunk a basketball. I can’t play drums. I can’t paint a beautiful sunset. I’ve tried. Sometimes hours a day, day after day, for months, and even years. The motivational poster says, “You can do anything you set your mind to do.” Apparently not.

God’s temple would be built, not with the bloodied hands of David, but with hands that know peace, because peace is the character of God’s kingdom. The one who batters the enemies of God will not be the one who builds the house of God. “My son,” David said to Solomon, “I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth'” (1Chronicles 22:7-8). There are times when determination simply will not substitute for ability, opportunity, or permission. And that’s okay.

I still sing (in the shower), I have fun playing basketball (passing more than shooting), and I enjoy sunsets. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:6-8).

On the other hand, those things I can do, I give it all I got.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You gave me life, formed me, and filled me with abilities and talents. May I delight in them. Free me from any desire to be something I am not, and help me discover who I am and what I can do for You. I am individually designed by You, so I know it is a good work You have done in me.

I look at all You create, God, the majesty, the wonder, the beauty, and it works. The world holds together, everything in its place. I trust the sun to rise each day, because I trust the One who created it. You created me on purpose, from Your pleasure and for Your pleasure. Today, I am grateful for everything. Tomorrow, too. And the next day.

Amen

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Was It Not I?

Daily Reading

1 Chronicles 18-21

Daily Thought

“After this,” the first two words of 2Chronicles 18, point backward as the cause for what follows. God reminded David, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth (2Chronicles 17:7-8). Now watch what happens “after this”: “David defeated the Philistines and subdued them” (18:1); “he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David” (18:2); “David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah-Hamath” (18:3); “David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians” (18:5). In chapters 19 and 20, victories continued. He defeated the Ammonites and more of the Syrians. Rabbah was overthrown, and “David took the crown of their king from his head” (20:2). “Thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites” (20:3). Finally, the the giants of the Philistines “fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants” (20:8).

“The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went” (18:6, 13), but by chapter 21, after winning over and over again, David began to think he had more to do with the winning. That is the temptation of success: “Was it not I?” David’s pride began to grow, so God used the master of temptation to expose it, “then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel” (21:1). The census was designed by David to display his might, but it was designed by God to betray his heart. The sin of the census reminded David of his true strength and returned his heart to God. David’s sin became David’s confession, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people?” This is not a question, but a statement, the confession of a godly man, no justification, no rationalization, no shifting the blame. “It is I who have sinned and done great evil” (1Chronicles 21:17). The best confessions begin with the pronoun “I” and include no other. He owned it.

Daily Prayer

God Almighty, You are my Lord and my Savior. You go before me and I do well to follow You. You lead to victory over sin, over Satan, over death, and You give me faith, hope, and love. Yet, I continue to do things on my own, seek to be in charge, and steal the glory that rightfully belongs to You.

What amazes me is Your mercy and grace. When I confess my failures, when I acknowledge my sin and my need of You, You grab my hand again, forgiving me, and leading me again along that wonderful path of Yours, the path that leads to life. You are my true Strength, the Master of my life.

Amen

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Do Nothing

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 15-17

Daily Thought

David had learned to trust God when he had something to do, something to accomplish, something to conquer. When he was young, David stood before Goliath, a giant warrior, ”You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head” (1Samuel 17:45-46). Such was David’s faith and God was with him. David learned to seek God before each battle.as he did in his most recent, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand” (1Chronicles 14:10), and David trusted God and fought the Philistines and won.

David intended to build a house for God and this was a good intention. David saw that he had a house and God did not, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent” (1Chronicles 17:1), so build him one. Nathan the prophet agreed, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you” (1Chronicles 17:2). Then God visited Nathan and said, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in'” (v 4). God had other plans, but for a man of action, “Do nothing” is difficult to hear. For David, a hands-on guy with a vigorous faith, this may be the tougher test. Sometimes the hardest thing God wants us to do is nothing. David must trust God when he has nothing to do, nothing to add or accomplish. 

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). So David trusted God and did nothing.

Daily Prayer

Lord God, You delight in me. There is nothing I can add to Your worth or Your wealth. You have no need of my offerings or my sacrifices. You desire them, not for Your gain but for mine. When I give I gain. My faith and trust grows. My relationship strengthens.

All that I am, God, comes from You. I am happiest when I pursue what You have created me to do. Take my desires God and shape them to Your will. You delight in me. I long to delight in You. May I desire You fully forever.

Amen

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History Repeated

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 12-14

Daily Thought

The Chronicles follow the Samuels and the Kings, and there is a sense that we are reading the same stuff over again. The death of Saul and his sons in 1Chronicles 10 was told before in 1Samuel 31. David’s mighty men, listed in 1Chronicles 11, were listed before in 2Samuel 23. Uzzah and the Ark is found in 1Chronicles 13 and 2Samuel 6. Why was Chronicles written if the stories had already been told?

In 1Samuel, God spoke to David, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (1Samuel 7:16), but in 722BC, the northern tribes of Israel were conquered and taken captive by Assyria, never to return. All of God’s promises of an enduring, everlasting kingdom depended now on Judah, but in 586BC, Judah was exiled to Babylon. Forever seemed to be over. Seventy years of captivity followed. Then, as the Jews returned from captivity and began to rebuild Jerusalem, they questioned, “Are we still the people of God?” Chronicles is the answer. It tells the same story of the same history but with a different focus. God is still keeping his promises because God is forever faithful. 

Although Chronicles is placed after Kings in our Bibles, it is the last book in the Jewish Scriptures. It is a retelling of Israel’s story to a people returning from captivity, slavery, and exile, and questioning their future. The opening nine chapters of genealogy trace back, not just to Abraham, but all the way to Adam, to remind Israel that they are God’s people, and his plan for them extends from the very beginning, the first man. When God repeats the exact same story over again without changing anything, that is the good news–nothing has changed! Chronicles reminds God’s people that God’s promises are sure, but his blessings depend on their faithfulness, and they had been unfaithful. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14).  I am still your God, you are still my people, and this is how we will move forward.

Daily Prayer

My forever faithful Father, God of heaven and earth, Creator of all, Creator of me, I shall live my days serving You and Your desires in this world. Teach me and lead me into Your everlasting life, Your kingdom of grace and truth. I pray that my heart remains at all times true to You, for You are always faithful, worthy of my trust.

Your faithfulness is amazing, because if I were you, I’d be done with me. I am not always true. I am not often true. All too often I pursue my desires over Yours. Your patience is incredible, because I put it to the test, and yet, Your grace is there waiting. I ask for forgiveness and You grant it, and I return by Your side, walking again along Your path. Fill my heart with Your love, so that I will not stray, but will remain forever faithful to You.

Amen

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The Mighty Men

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 9-11

Daily Thought

This is an account of David’s mighty men (1Chronicles 11:10). What follows are names and exploits of fierce warriors who stood beside David in battle. They gathered around when Saul was trying to kill David before he was king, and stayed with David once he’d gained the throne. Their devotion was such that, when David yearned for a drink of water, they broke through a Philistine encampment to draw from the well of Bethlehem. When handed the cup, David looked at the water, then at the men, and thought the price too high to quench the thirst of a king. They had risked their lives, and he would not drink it. “He poured it out to the Lord” (1Chronicles 11:18), an offering worthy only of God.

The movie “Blindside” begins with a monologue, “One Mississippi. Joe Theismann, the Redskins quarterback takes the snap and hands off to his running back. Two Mississippi. It’s a trick play, a flea flicker, and the running back tosses the ball back to the quarterback. Three Mississippi. Up to now the play’s been defined by the what the quarterback sees. It’s about to be defined by what he doesn’t. Four Mississippi. The year is 1985 and Lawrence Taylor is the best defensive player in the NFL.  There will be no Five Mississippi. Quarterback Joe Theismann never played another down of football.”

Lawrence Taylor knocked Joe Theismann out of football. Lawrence Taylor and his kind are the reason why Tom Brady gave cars to Patriots linemen at Christmas, why Saints linemen had vacations of their choice paid for by Drew Brees, why 49er linemen sported Rolex watches, gifts from Joe Montana. “Watches. Custom suits. Stereo systems. Sony Blu-ray players before they even got on the market,” Indianapolis Colts linemen show off gifts from Peyton Manning. “He takes care of his guys.” Tom, Drew, Joe, and Peyton are quarterbacks, the kings of their teams. The king does not become king, does not remain king, without his mighty men.

Except one king, the King of kings. In him, the roles are reversed, for his men and women become mighty because their King gathers around them. And, still, he showers his mighty with gifts and we lay them back at his feet in worship. 

Daily Prayer

My King of kings and Lord of lords, great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God, having finished the work of salvation and now reigns in heaven. You have called us to battle, to stand strong in Your grace, and to take Your Good News into the kingdom of darkness.

Jesus, may I be among those who, through no strength of my own, but by the power of Your Spirit, become mighty, bringing light into darkness, bringing life out of death and love to the lost and lonely. You are for me, none can stand against me.

Amen

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United We Stand

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 7-8

Daily Thought

Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan (1Chronicles 8:33). Saul, the first king of Israel, began well, and his faithfulness is revealed in the name he chose for his first son, Jonathan, “The Lord Gives.” Saul looked to God as the giver of good. This is what you want in a king. Sign of Saul’s decay shows up, however, in the naming of son number for,  continues, Eshbaal. Baal, a borrowed god from foreign nations, was a constant disruption to Israel’s devotion to the one true God. Saul named his son Eshbaal, “Man of Baal.” Little wonder God spoke to his prophet Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me (1Samuel 15:11).

“And the son of Jonathan,” the list continues, “was Merib-baal” (1Chronicles 8:34). Merib-baal, “One Who Contends with Baal,” declares Jonathan’s response to the idolatry of his father. It also displays his heart, which explains the close friendship he enjoyed with David, a man after God’s heart. David would replace the failed king, Jonathan’s father, Saul.

Before a kingdom finds unity, we must answer the question, “What is it that unites us?” The answer will determine whether we are united for good or evil. But if there is no answer, there will be no unity. A divided kingdom, a divided family, springs from a divided heart. Saul’s wandering devotion led his family and his kingdom into disarray. Joshua had warned Israel of this before the kings appeared, as they first entered God’s promised land, “Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Daily Prayer

My God, You are One, the Only God, there is no other, and You alone have my heart, undivided, fully devoted to You. Keep my heart pure and strong, so that my eyes will not follow temptation. Protect my household, that we may always keep You first.

Each day, may I rise up looking to You, remembering that the day before me is a gift from You, and I should delight in it. Offering myself to You each morning, the day before me will be a display of my devotion, and the world will see that You are my God, and that my God is good and full of grace.

Amen

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Make Good Choices

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 6

Daily Thought

One of the lists in 1Chronicles 6 is “the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord” (v 31): Heman the Singer (v 33) and his two brothers, Asaph, who stood on his right (v 39), and Merari to his left (v 44). Among the names of their forefathers is Ebiasaph, son of Korah, which comes as a surprise. Korah was a rebel against Moses and God . 

Korah gathered 250 leaders to stand before and challenge Moses’s right to lead the people of Israel. Long story short, since God had chosen Moses to lead, his right to lead had been established and “the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods” (Numbers 16:32). God ended Korah’s rebellion quickly as a warning to others (Number 26:10). Among the others were sons of Korah who did not die (Numbers 26:11) because did not stand with their father or follow his ways. Character is not determined, it is decided. Make good choices. These sons of Korah included Ebiasaph.

Among the 150 psalms recorded in the book of Psalms, eleven are written by the sons of Korah (Psalm 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87, 88). They became leaders of worship rather than rebellion.

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
~Psalm 84:10, a Psalm of the Sons of Korah

These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord (1Chronicles 6:31).

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You seek to save, You delight in redemption, You loved me before I loved You. I was rebellious against my own Creator, wanting to make my own choices, take charge of my own life, and before I even changed, Your Son had already died for my sins. Your irresistible grace saved me. Thank You.

This world offers many passing pleasures, but there is a joy that is forever, surpassing all that the world offers. It is to be Your child, to know my God, to follow my Lord and Savior. You are my God and I delight in You.

Amen

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Trusting God

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 3-5

Daily Thought

First Chronicles begins with 9 chapters of names, family genealogies fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham, “I will multiply your offspring as the sand that is on the seashore” (Genesis 22:17). One long list after another, but look closely, there are shiny objects hidden in the sand. For example, the oft-overlooked Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, “valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him” (1Chronicles 5:18-20). Trusting God does not relieve us the responsibility to prepare ourselves, and these tribes came ready for battle, then followed God to victory. Neither is faith blind. God writes his greatness and goodness and grace in history and this history is recorded in his Word. His Word guides us to a mighty faith.

In the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” Indy is chasing the Holy Grail, the cup of legend, supposedly shared by Jesus with his disciples at the Last Supper. The bad guy wants the cup, too, so he shoot’s Indy’s dad, not dead, but dying.  “It’s time to ask yourself what you believe,” said the bad guy. Go get the Grail, Indy, it’s the only thing that can save your dad. Indy took a book, given to him by his father, that should lead him to the Holy Grail. Could he trust the book?

The book said, “Kneel.” Indiana Jones knelt, and blades of steel passed harmlessly over his head. The book said, “Proceed on the name of God,” and Indy stepped on rocks labeled I-E-H-O-V-A-H (with an “I” because it’s Latin) to safety. Then the book said, “Leap,” but there was nowhere to leap; just a deep chasm. He stepped forward anyway. It was a leap of faith, but it wasn’t blind, because the book had proven true. Indiana Jones trusted the book.

Followers of Jesus are those who trust the book. God’s Word proves true and we put our lives in the hands of its author. “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). We, like the Hebrews, discover and develop trust in God as we immerse ourselves in Scripture, even long lists.

Daily Prayer

God, You are faithful and true. I can trust fully in You. Build my faith, God, and strengthen my trust. You are certainly worthy of it. I know that if I seek You and only You, I do not need to worry or be anxious. All things are in Your hand. It baffles me how many things distract me when I only need to keep my eyes on One. You.

May I be faithful to Your Word, reading it, no, devouring it with delight. The more I am in it, the more I am overwhelmed by Your grace and truth. You search deep inside me with Your Words, and You clean house, and You lead me to a life fully of Your majesty and wonder.

Amen

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Two Genealogies

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 1-2

Daily Thought

The books of the Chronicles begin with the genealogy of humanity, which, of course, begins with Adam (1Chronicles 1:1), when “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). After Adam came “ Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech (1Chronicles 1:1-3), and Noah, and “the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart” (Genesis 6:6). 

Ten generations, that’s all. From very good to very bad, one bite from a delightful piece of fruit turned loose a terrible flood and nothing has changed since. The Chronicles genealogy continues from Noah through Abraham and Jacob to David and the kings, establishing the bloodline of the nation of Judah. It is, regrettably, a genealogy filled with sin and sinners, and still is. “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came…” (Luke 17:26-27). The generations continue, but the devil has done his damage.

Thankfully, there is another genealogy, and it picks up where Chronicles leaves off, following David to Solomon, to others, to finally “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:16). Just in time–at just the right time! “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5). Very good again.

Daily Prayer

Oh God, the record of my life matches the record of all lives, I seek my own way. I look at the fruit as Eve did, that it is pleasing to the eye and delicious, and I bite into it, as well. I’m so glad You had a plan to deal with that, to save me without me even asking for a Savior. You are my Creator, the author of life, and the Source of all that is good. I say that is what I want from life, goodness and love, but I found the opposite on my own.

God, You are good and You are love. I want to know You more. I want to know the depths of Your wisdom, and the breadth of Your love. May I always seek You and follow You. Lead me in the way of righteousness and life. Lead me always to Jesus.

Amen

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Happily Ever After

Daily Reading

2Kings 23-25

Daily Thought

A siege is slow relentless death, and, in the original Hebrew, the fall of Jerusalem is told in one long methodical twelve-verse sentence, 2Kings 25:1-12. (English adds periods to ease the read.) “The ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month” stretches “till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the fourth month” and in eighteen months all is done. The wall is breached, the Chaldean army rushes in, and the last king of Judah is chased into the plains of Jericho, the same place where it all began when Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the people shouted and the trumpets blew and the walls came tumbling down (Joshua 6).

There is no emotion in this account. God’s prophet Jeremiah weeps over the fall of Jerusalem in his book of Lamentations, but here in 2Kings is the dispassionate voice of a court reporter recounting the execution of judgment. Judah had her good kings, but not enough, and the country is judged for the whole of her sins. Josiah’s reign (2Kings 22-23) had been a brief righteous reprieve, but he was followed by Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin and Zedekiah and a nation cannot endure evil upon evil upon evil. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land (2Kings 25:21).

“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23) for nations, as well as for you and me. The story seems over, but fairy tales are not the only stories that end with “they lived happily ever after.” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). There will come to Israel and the world a new king, a righteous one whose reign will not be brief, but forever, bringing with him “the free gift of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Daily Prayer

My God, You are righteous and good and holy and just. I am not. Created in Your image, I chose my own way rather than yours, and my sin led to judgment and that judgment is death. There was such hopelessness in life without You. Thank You for rescuing me, for delivering me from death, returning me to hope, and giving me a life that overflows with Your love.

May my thankfulness be evident in a life changed by Your love. May I walk in Your truth, full of grace, sharing Your goodness by word and deed with all who cross my path. May I seek opportunities to share Your love in the same way You sought me. Thank You for so great a salvation, such a wonderful Savior.

Amen