Danny Panter

A Good Fit

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

I am reminded this week that the small things matter. Why tell the story of Ruth? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful, even quaint love story, but why tell it at all? Why is it in the Bible? One of the reasons, I believe, is to remind us that God is deeply involved in our lives, even in the mundane. Or another way to say it is, God is even involved in the mundane to further his redemption story. Ruth’s story is not just a story about personal redemption, it is a story about God’s redemption of the world.

So, never forget that God is engaged in your simple daily interactions with others; your simple story fits into God’s grand narrative of redemption.

Blessing

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

I’m sure Joseph had his down days, but on the whole it seemed that he always was a blessing to others. It didn’t even matter who they were, baker, governor, or pharaoh; he blessed them all. This is remarkable given his circumstances. He never allowed his hard circumstances to dictate his behavior or how he treated others, and people took notice.

Will you bless others even when life has treated you harshly? There’s a gospel story there; let it be told.

Justice/Love

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

This is a hard story for some. Seeing redemption through God’s baffling ask of Abraham leaves some with a sour taste in their mouth. “Why would God even ask him to do that?” Understanding historical and cultural context certainly helps, but knowing the spiritual context helps even more.

Here’s the spiritual truth, God would have remained just if he had allowed Abraham to follow through. His glory, infinitely displayed through his holiness would have remained untarnished. Because of his sin, Isaac was worthy of the fullness of God’s wrath. The wages of Isaac’s sin is death. The miracle of redemption in this story is not the just-in-the-nick-of-time replacement for Isaac, but rather, even though he was a despicable sinner, God provided a sacrificial lamb to die in his place.

We can never fully understand God’s extravagant love for us (rescue and redemption)until we understand his terrible wrath against our sin, even Isaac’s.

God’s Voice

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

“He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”-Jesus, Luke 16:31

God’s allowing Samuel to rise from the dead is most definitely curious, surprising even, but the message he delivered to Saul most certainly was not. The message was the same message he had heard several times before, to no avail. These hard words had never led Saul to repentance, nor would they now.

Never take God’s Word for granted; never pass by His voice heard in the Scriptures. You never have to go elsewhere to find the will of God for your life, and though His words can be hard at times, they are meant from your good. So, seek God now; listen to His words today; repent while repentance can be found.

Fool

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'”-King David, Psalm 14:1

Nabal seems to be an intelligent man. He runs a sizable business; he’s done very well for himself. Not to mention, he clearly knows a good woman when he see one. But for all his wealth and discerning eye, the Scriptures make it abundantly clear that Nabal is a fool through and through. There are many signs that give this away in the story. He is known to behave badly, he doesn’t listen, he’s unreasonable, he’s a drunkard, etc. But the clearest indication of his foolishness is this-he rejects the coming king. He doesn’t just say “no” to the soon-to-be-king’s request, no he goes even further in his foolishness and refuses to acknowledge who David is.

Now, that’s foolishness, rejecting the requests of the coming king and pretending he doesn’t even exist. Let’s not be foolish.

Joy

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

Where does joy come from? Where is contentment found? Is it derived from being true to self? Pursuing your own ends at all cost? Is it found in pleasing those around you, always bending to their will?

They say, you will only truly be happy, when you are true to yourself. They say, pursue your dreams; let nothing or no one stand in your way. Will Joy be found there?

Saul would say, “no.” That was the life he led. He was willing to put David to death for his own contentment. So overcome with selfpreservation that he could not delight in God’s anointed. Saul would die a miserably jealous and angry man.

Joy is not found from within, but from without. We find joy not by pursuing our own ends, but His. This is why Jesus prayed, “Father, may our joy be made full in themselves.” David knew this, do you?

God’s Economy

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

The Gospel is not idle in our life; it shouldn’t be. Its affect is not a one time happening; by the power of the Spirit of God in the believer’s life, it is ongoing, always transforming, bearing fruit in an otherwise desert of a life. We know that to be true, but isn’t always our experience, is it? We wonder, “Why do I struggle so with the same thing over and over?” Or, “Why am I not more faithful to seek God each day?”

What if in God’s economy of sanctification he has chosen the pathway of true Gospel friendship? What if our transformation, or overcoming, requires the attention of a someone who is knit to our soul (like Jonathan to David)? Even more, what if your friend’s sanctification requires a gutsy friendship you are called to provide?

Sometimes we lament that we don’t have a Jonathan in our life, when the whole time God is expecting us not to wait, but take the initiative to be a Jonathan to someone in need.

Trouble

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 18:1-16, 19:1-10 (day six)

Reading about David’s struggles reminds me of something Jesus told his disciples: “In this world you will have trouble. But have no fear; I have overcome the world.”

David, had to really wonder if he really was chosen by God to be the next king! Why did everything have to be so hard? Why were there enemies on all sides? I’m sure he faced some serious doubts. But here is the truth, the righteous will always face adversity, sometimes it is more than we can bear, but it is never more than what Jesus can bear!

Ease is not a sign of God’s favor; we should not expect it when we seek the purposes of God. Furthermore, we don’t do things because they are easy; we do them because Jesus has asked us to, because His reward far outweighs the short-lived promises of others, and because he has promised to walk with us every step of the way!

Not So Small

“Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?”-Eliab to David, 1 Samuel 17:28

Eliab, David’s older brother, with his ego bruised, tried to make David feel small and insignificant. There is much irony here, not least of which, David would be king over his brother in several years. He would go from shepherd, to instrumentalist, to warrior, to commander, to king.

Also, although David was smaller because of his age, and his day job less significant, his faith made him great. He found it impossible that the Israelite army had not already responded to this giant’s taunts. For David, there was no question as to what needed to be done quite simply because he believed God, and so he took action when others would not.

Let me encourage you today in three ways. First, be reminded, greatness is never determined by the external appearance of things, but by the caliber of one’s heart, i.e faith, love, character, courage, integrity. Second, faith, no matter how small, is never idle, it takes action when others will not. Third, be careful what you say to others (or about), they could be the next king, or in our case, the son or daughter of THE KING.

New

1 Samuel 16 is pivotal in many ways, but perhaps the most profound is that David is a type of Christ for us. His heart and kingship is a symbol of greater fulfillment to come in Jesus. David clearly has the kind of heart that God is looking for; a heart that is devoted to knowing, loving, and obeying Him. (Acts 13:22) We are desperate for more of a heart like that, right?!

How can we know when our hearts are sick, or not in the right place? What can God do with sick hearts? Only he can make all things new.