Tag: Strength

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From the Heavens

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 13-17

Daily Thought

The Hebrew people were now a divided Kingdom, Israel to the north under Jeroboam its king, Abijah reigning over the southern kingdom of Judah. They were divided and different. Judah was ruled by a man born from God’s chosen line of David; Israel’s king was a rebellious son of Solomon’s servant, illegitimate to the throne. Judah followed the Lord God, whose priests were of God’s chosen line of Aaron and the tribe of Levi. In Israel, “whoever comes for ordination with a young bull or seven rams” became a priest (2Chronicles 13:9) and presented offerings to golden calves made by Jeroboam.

Judah was following God; Israel was not. However, one difference seemed to favor Israel–they had an army of 800,000, twice as many as Judah–and now they were at war. Judah was surrounded by an enemy twice its size, to the right and left, in front and behind, but Israel could not guard the skies, and Judah’s strength came from the heavens. God was on high, and he was Judah’s God–“Behold, God is with us at our head,” warned Abijah. “O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed” (2Chronicles 13:12). 

Jeroboam fought anyway, did not succeed, and never recovered–“The Lord struck him down, and he died. But Abijah grew mighty” (2Chronicles 13:20-21). Israel and Judah were divided and different, but only one difference mattered, “We keep the charge of the Lord our God,” said Abijah, “but you have forsaken him” (2Chronicles 13:11).

Daily Prayer

My Lord and Savior, You have placed me in a battlefield on earth, in a world that loves neither You nor Your ways. I cannot be a friend to the ways of the world and follow You at the same time. I must make a choice and I choose You, which means I fight the world and the world fights me. No matter, though, because You are with me and will never leave me, so I can stand in Your Name.

Thank You for so great a salvation. You are my strength and my confidence and I trust fully in You. My eyes will stay true, my heart pure, my path straight, so long as I love You, listen to Your Word, and follow Your ways.

Amen

Daily Question

What can you point to in your life that demonstrates your trust in God?

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Forever

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 9-12

Daily Thought

The Chronicles speak to Israel of its glory and its fall. Solomon’s reign was the kingdom of God’s favor, the apex of the nation. In the words of a foreigner, the Queen of Sheba, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness” (2Chronicles 9:8). 

But “forever” faded as the nation disregarded the words of Moses, “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). 

I grew up in Sacramento. Sacramento summers cook; north of a hundred degrees is normal. The American River, the cool run-off from the Sierra snow, was a popular solution. The flow of the river is mostly calm and mostly shallow, wonderful for rafting, and surprisingly dangerous for drowning. Life jackets are recommended. The victims are most often young and male. “We are old enough, we are strong enough, and we can swim,” say the young men. “Life jackets? We don’t need life jackets.” The danger of the river is not so much the current, but the misplaced confidence of young men who believe they are strong enough.

Solomon’s son Rehoboam inherited Solomon’s throne and his wealth, but not his wisdom. “When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him” (2Chronicles 12:1). Rehoboam thought himself strong enough on his own, so God went along. “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you” (2Chronicles 12:5) was God’s response, and “Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house. He took away everything” (2Chronicles 12:9). 

The Chronicles were written by a people who forgot God because they thought themselves strong enough, discovered they were not, and were now left wondering if God would ever return and remember them. 

He will, not because they were faithful, but because he is. Forever.

Daily Prayer

My forever faithful Father, You are the Rock, the foundation on which a life will stand firm. May I always remember that, when I am weak, but even more so, when I am strong. Protect me, God, from myself, from becoming full of myself. “I am not strong enough” are not words of the weak, but the wise.

What You say, You do. Your Word is true, right, and good. It shall be my guide in life, my constant companion. May I always seek not the pleasure of this world, but your pleasure, and remember that the world is not friendly toward me because it is not friendly toward You. May my love for Your Word continue to grow.

Amen

Daily Question

When have you discovered God’s faithfulness in spite of your own lack?

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The Mighty Men

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 9-11

Daily Thought

“This is an account of David’s mighty men” (1Chronicles 11:11), the exploits of these fierce warriors who stood beside David in battle. They guarded David when Saul was trying to kill him before David 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 an enemy 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 for his refreshment, and he would not drink it. “He poured it out to the Lord” (1Chronicles 11:18), an offering worthy only of God. These were his mighty men.

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.

With one exception, one king, the King of kings, Jesus Christ. In him, the roles are reversed, for his men and women become mighty because their King fights for them. Yet, still, Jesus 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

Daily Question

What mighty act has Jesus accomplished through you?

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One God

Daily Reading

2Samuel 22-24

Daily Thought

“So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, ‘Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” (2Samuel 24:2). David’s purpose in his census was to know the size of the nation’s army and its ability to win wars. He wanted to know how strong he was. “And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000” (2Samuel 24:9). 

That is a big army. King David was a song writer and his lyrics reveal his heart, both good and evil. “As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved,” from a song of David, Psalm 30:6. He liked the size of his army. This was evil. I’ll tell you why.

When David counted his soldiers, the king believed he had measured the strength of Israel, but he was using the wrong measure. David need count only one. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. He had let the size of his army supersede the strength of his God and David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done” (2Samuel 24:10).

We count our many gods in this world, gods of power, of status, of fame, of possessions, but I need count only my God and there is One. Any more would be less.

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold and my refuge,
my savior; you save me from violence.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.” ~2Samuel 22:2-4

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You are my strength. With you, I am are more than a conqueror. When I act on my own strength, I act on my own. Either I fail or my head gets big. Keep me from thinking I can handle the troubles and temptations of this world on my own. I can’t.

I must remember that when I am weak, that is when You go to work. I am strong, not because of what I am capable of, but because You are almighty.

Amen

Daily Question

What do you count on for confidence in your life?

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Stand Amazed

Daily Reading

Judges 6-7

Daily Thought

Gideon’s leadership was far from stellar: “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15). “Show me a sign that it is you who speak with me” (Judges 6:17). “Because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night” (Judges 6:27). “Behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said” (Judges 6:37). “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew” (Judges 6:39). “The Lord said to him, ‘If you are afraid, go down to the camp with Purah your servant.’” And he did; he went down with Purah (Judges 7:10-11).

This is anything but inspiring. Certainly God could find someone else in Israel with more faith and courage, but that’s not what the Israelites needed. When, finally, Gideon stepped up, God trimmed his army from 32,000 to 300, “lest Israel boast, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me’” (Judges 7:2). This is the “generation who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). It was time for the people of Israel to get to know again the might of their God, and a cowardly commander leading 300 men armed with trumpets against the menacing army of Midian was just the ticket.

When God chooses you to accomplish his will, do not imagine it is because of all that you bring to the table. Just do what he says. Then, be ready to stand amazed at the might of your God.

Daily Prayer

God, You are God. Simple as that. In fact, it’s Your Name, the Name You gave Moses. The Name we are to remember You by. “I Am That I Am.” You are God. There is no other.

What You say, You do. God, I pray that my faith is full, that my devotion is pure, that I follow You without fail, that I never take my eyes off of You. You are God. There is no other.

Amen

Daily Question

Do you operate more by what you can do or what God can do?

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Against Temptation

Daily Reading

Luke 4-5

Daily Thought

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” ~1John 2:16-17

Jesus went from baptism to battle, being assaulted by Satan in the wilderness. “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:3). Perhaps Satan had been eavesdropping at Jesus’s baptism when coming out of the water heaven tore open and God spoke, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). The challenge seemed reasonable, Jesus had not eaten for forty days, but behind hunger hid the temptation to clutch again his deity for himself, the desire of the flesh. “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4), easier said when one is not famished.

If “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16), Satan offered Jesus an easier way and showed him what he loved, “all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5), the desire of the eyes. All Satan demanded in exchange was Jesus’s heart. How often Satan need offer much less to get mine, but Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve’” (Luke 4:8). 

Finally, boastful pride, Satan set Jesus “on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here’” (Luke 4:9). The angels will protect and the world will know, but “not my will, but yours, be done” is the answer to pride and Jesus rebuked Satan, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Luke 4:12).  

Jesus knows the power of temptation and I only its sting because I so frequently give in, but I know the power of Jesus.  

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ~Hebrews 4:15-16

Daily Prayer

Dear God, I pray to You because You are the One true God. There are no others. I know that You are good and powerful and wonderful. I know that You care about me. I can’t quite figure out why, but I’m glad. You cared so much that You sent Your Son to heal me.

God, I need to be healed. I cave into temptation and sin leaves me broken, but by Your grace and strength, I am made new. You are the only wise God, my Savior. To You be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forevermore.

Amen

Daily Question

How do you best fight temptation?

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The Muddle of the Middle

Daily Reading

Nehemiah 4-6

Daily Thought

“So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. But…” (Nehemiah 4:6-7a). Discouragement had set in. “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall” (Nehemiah 4:10). There is enthusiasm at the beginning and anticipation when the end is in sight, but in the middle a weariness sets in. Enemies of the wall were plotting against its completion. “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work. You must return to us.” They were being called back home. The temptation was to drop their tools and return to their families and get back to the routine of life. The wall could wait.

It is in the muddle of the middle when a leader must remind the people of their purpose, refresh their vision, and renew their strength. Nehemiah stood tall and called “to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes’” (Nehemiah 4:14). We are building a fortress for our families and a kingdom for our God. Get back to work. The leader kept his trumpeter close at hand, rallying the people with the cry, “Our God will fight for us” (Nehemiah 4:20). 

God’s work may be thwarted in the middle by discouragement, by danger, by drudgery, and by despair. The leader, undaunted, must rise above. Nehemiah stood tall, the people responded, and “the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days” (Nehemiah 6:15). 

Daily Prayer

Almighty God, You are my strength and the desire of my life. You are my rock, the foundation of my life, and the fortress that protects me. You have called me to follow You and I am eager to do so. Keep me focused and renew my strength when I tire of the task. May I not grow weary of doing good, of living well, of pursuing justice, of loving others. May I stand tall and firm, keeping my eyes on You, that others may find encouragement and join in the work of Your Kingdom. 

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

Amen