Author: Don Guthrie

Don Guthrie is the Senior Pastor at FBCSA.

Foreigner

Re:Verse reading–Ruth 2:1-12, 17-23; 4:1-14 (day one)

“Why have I found favor in your sight that you should notice me, since I am a foreigner?”–v 10

It is an ancient/modern story. Resonates with familiar issues.   Immigration.  Green cards.  Migrant workers.

Ruth was a foreigner.  (Hebrew–nokriy–” stranger, alien, outsider”).  But Boaz noticed her.  (Hebrew–nakar “to recognize, acknowledge, respect”) He could (and did) look past her skin color or accent or culture to see her loyalty, her hard work, her interest in the God of Israel.  See v 12.

Do we notice foreign people?  Not for the purpose of avoidance, resentment or fear.  Do we see them?  Recognize their hearts and their hopes?

At the deepest level for the believer, all immigration issues include some appreciation of the work of evangelism that is possible.  Behind the mass migrations of people (both ancient and modern) there are people who are searching for security in life that can only be found in God.

Savior

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 37:14-28, 50:15-21 (day one)

“God sent me before you to preserve a remnant on the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.”–Genesis 50:20 (American Standard Version)

When God intends to save, He sends a savior.  It is not an easy path.  God’s script for this life is not about comfort.  There is a higher purpose.

Joseph is one example.  Jesus is another.  Their lives have many similarities.  God was with both of them.  Both experienced unfair opposition and jealousy.

Salvation is hard and costly work.  Those who work with God on this divine project will certainly experience a share of harsh treatment.  Resentment.  Jealousy.  Anger.  Violence.  Lost people don’t make it easy.

None of us are saviors (it isn’t necessary, now) but we do stand with Jesus in His grand enterprise, willing to endure the turbulence that inevitably comes.

Do you share Joseph’s insight?  God’s purpose in your life is the salvation of others!

More love to Thee

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 22:1-19 (day one)

“And it came about that after these things, that God tested Abraham.”–v 1

“Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more.”–John 15:2

God tests faith.  Satan tempts us with an eye to our failure.  God tests us with an eye to our growth and progress.  Maturity.  Beauty.  Strength.  These are God’s goals for me and only gained through stress and challenge.

Love/trust always requires proof.  Declare that you love Him and He will certainly ask you to prove it. “Do you love Me, Peter?” said the Lord in John 21.  Then, “feed my sheep”.  True love must always be more than words.

When will we be finished?  Probably never.  Through eternity we will be growing in our love for Him and the fruit that comes from it.

“More love to Thee, O Christ.  More love to Thee. Hear, Thou, the prayer I make on bended knee.”–Elizabeth Prentiss.

Be careful how you listen

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 28:3-20; 31:1-6 (day one)

“A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.”–Proverbs 29:1

“Be careful how you listen; for whoever has (by means of listening), to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have (by means of not listening), even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”–Jesus (Luke 8:18)

Reflection on Saul’s life and death brings one clear conviction to my heart.  I must be careful to listen to God.  Must pay attention to what He is saying, not assume that I know, or give equal heed to others.  I must treat HIS words with holy respect.  His WORDS.

Saul never learned this lesson and the lack of it led him (and his family) to emptiness and destruction.

“My words are Spirit and life” said Jesus.  Saul’s story creates urgency and hope in me–in every situation to seek the Lord and listen to Him.

Submissive. Shrewd.

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 25:1-34 (day one)

“Let this gift. . .be given to the young men who accompany my lord.  Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant.”–v 25-28.

Not unusual, I suppose.  A beautiful, intelligent woman is married to a surly, foolish man.

1 Samuel 25 tells Abigail’s story.  When her husband makes a decision that endangers the family, Abigail intervenes with the skill of a diplomat.  She does not cover for Nabal (no excuses for him) but neither does she allow herself and family to be victims of his foolish choices.

When the Bible teaches a wife to be submissive to her husband, it does not mean for her to be paralyzed or passive.  Just as David found a way to honor Saul’s authority but to stay away from his anger (1 Samuel 20), so Abigail illustrates for us a path that is both submissive AND shrewd.”

“The children of this age are (often) more shrewd than the children of light”–Jesus (Luke 16:8)

 

 

Knowing God’s will

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 24 (day one) 

” ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed.’  So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul.”–v 6-7

It seemed obvious to 99% of the people in that cave.  This was God’s doing!  God’s will!  Let’s kill Saul and thank God for giving us this miraculous opportunity.

David saw deeper.  He believed the promise of God to someday make him King, but he also felt compelled to honor/respect the anointing that God placed on Saul’s life.  Opportunity is not permission.  Those who know God’s promises must also know the patience to wait on the Lord.

“My time is not yet here”, Jesus told His brothers.  How did he know this?  By time with God’s word and time with God waiting Jesus came to understand the will of God.

“All who are led by the Spirit, these are the sons.”–Romans 8:14

Who will tell me?

Re:Verse reading— 1 Samuel 20:1-17, 30-42 (day one)

“Then David said to Jonathan, ‘Who will tell me if your father answers harshly?’ ”  v 10

When you need information, to whom do you turn?  Google?  The Weather Channel?  Your Mom?  Recently, I’ve seen a new pattern.  “Facebook friends, does anyone know a good _____ that you can recommend?”

When David needed insider information, the only person He could turn to was his friend, Jonathan.  (Was the King’s rage a function of his mental/spiritual instability?  Was it something David have done?  Was he charged with a crime? ) Only Jonathan could learn the truth and only Jonathan would risk communicating with a wanted man.

Jesus is our Jonathan.  Our Friend.  Our Messenger from Heaven. The One Person who will communicate with us the truth about the King’s attitude toward us.

“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”–John 1:18

Friends and enemies

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 18:1-16, 19:1-7

“Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”–18:1.

“Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.”–18:12

The believer will always be a lightning rod.  Walk with Christ and people will feel threatened or intimidated by the implied lesson of your life.  Their reaction will not be pretty. Cain hated Abel.  The brothers hated Joseph.  Saul feared David and tried to kill him.  Long and sad reality in this dark world.

The sweet consolation is that you will also have friends.  True and loyal.  Strong and supportive.  As David walked with God, Jonathan became his forever ally.  Their souls were “knotted together” says the scripture.  A friendship stronger than the forces seeking to break them apart.

If I am to serve Christ, I must make my peace with this reality.  I will have enemies and critics and opponents.  I will also have friends.  God will see to it.

Opinions

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26-32, 38-51 (day one)

Notice the contrast?  David’s older brother says of him, “I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is”–v 28.  The Lord says of David, “He is man after my own heart.”–Acts 13:22.  Which opinion is true?

Same thing happened with Jesus.  The Father saw a “beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”–Matthew 3:17.  The leaders of the Jewish nation thought He was dangerous and demon-possessed.

“To me it is very small thing that I should be examined by you. . .but the one who examines me is the Lord.  Therefore. . . wait until the Lord comes who will bring to light what is hidden and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”–1 Corinthians 4:3-5.

To follow Christ I must be prepared to face the negative judgements of the world.  I must be satisfied with the Lord’s opinion of me, and it only.

The Morning after Mourning

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 16.  (Day one)

“How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him?”–v 1.

Samuel was heartbroken by Saul’s failure.  The old prophet genuinely loved the young king.  Had been a passionate and prayerful supporter.  Those days were now over.

With great patience, the Lord allowed Samuel the time necessary for mourning.  Time to grieve.  Time to recover.  (Compare the Lord’s kindness to Elijah in 1 Kings 19)

Eventually, however, it is the purpose of God for Samuel (us) to accept/release what is lost and move forward with faith.  “Weeping may come in the night, but joy comes in the morning”–Psalm 30:5.

A new and hopeful sunrise is coming for Israel.   A new king will soon be anointed and God wants Samuel (us) to be a part of it.

Lord, give courage when this call comes to me to count as loss things that were gain, and to do so for the sake of Christ! (Philippians 3:7)