Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
11 Have nothing to do with the useless works that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. 12 It is shameful to talk about what some people do in secret. 13 Light exposes the true character of everything 14 because light makes everything easy to see. That’s why it says:
“Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” [a]
15 So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people. 16 Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
This life is marked by a single choice: who or what or where or when or why we will we center our lives around really the one thing in our worlds that matters?
This choice takes each of us down either a wide a path or a narrow of decisions that shape who we are, what we feel, who or what we value, and what we will have accomplished at the end of our days.
To make the choice to exclusively center our lives only around ourselves or the things of this world leads only to the widest possible paths of our destruction.
But, to center our lives around meeting with God fills each moment with the glorious abundance of God’s love, provision, and transcendent peace.
I pray that just today, may your life be marked by union with your Creator as we explore what it means to intentionally centering our lives around meeting God.
Ephesians 5:15-16 warns us, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Our time is of the utmost importance here on earth.
We can never get back the days we spend frivolously pursuing the things of the world.
We will never get back the time we spent outside of God’s purposes of receiving God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness and giving and sharing in that perfect love.
Our time here is too limited and too important to spend on burdens, stresses, sin, and worldly pursuits.
If we’re going to make the most of this life, we must learn to center our time around the eternal value of meeting with God.
It’s for this reason James 4:13-15 says,
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
“Search me O’ God and know my heart, and see if there is any evil way in me” Exclusively seeking God, not self, looking at all the ways in which we spend our time is one of the best ways to assess the posture and the priorities of our heart.
If we spend all our time working for and thinking about the things of the world, we know we haven’t yet come into a right revelation of God’s purposes for us.
If we spend the majority of our time simply getting through our days trying to find “happiness” rather than seeking the face of our heavenly Father that we might receive sustaining, transcendent joy, we can know that we have yet to surrender ourselves to God’s searching our souls and our lives fully to our King.
The great thing about the nature of time is that it is completely ours to do with what we will.
We can, right now, decide to make the best use of our time according to the purposes of God as revealed to us through Scripture.
We can, right now, decide to stop wasting precious minutes on that which is fleeting and temporal and instead invest our days in the lasting, eternal, and fruitful purposes of our heavenly Father.
Psalm 90:12 , “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
God longs to teach us how to use our days wisely.
He longs to give us a heart of wisdom that we might center our lives around meeting with him.
You and I have God himself dwelling within us, ready to guide us into a lifestyle of intentional and purposeful living.
I pray we will choose today to more fully open our hearts and minds to the Teacher, the very Spirit of God, and live according to his will – may we find peace, joy, and purpose in the ways in which we will invest our time today.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Guided Prayer:
1. Meditate on the importance of using your time wisely.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any ways in which you’ve been using your time unwisely.
Know that he is not a God who takes away all the things you enjoy.
He’s not anti-entertainment, friends, and parties.
He’s a fun God who truly loves you.
Don’t mix religion and the heart of your heavenly Father.
Trust that whatever he leads you to change will result in the absolute most fun, fruitful, and satisfying way you can live.
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:13-15
3. Ask God to help you spend your time wisely today. Ask him to help you follow his direction as you go about the day set before you.
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7
You can trust that God has the absolute best plan for your time.
Matthew 6:8 promises, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
He has every one of your needs sorted out.
He will provide for you perfectly.
We can trust him with our complete life, we can know our jobs, family’s, and circumstances are better in the capable, loving hands of our heavenly Father.
Pray today we can choose to devote our time, job, money, and relationships to Him who is our Savior Jesus that they might be filled with the blessing of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Many of us are familiar with John 14, where Jesus tells His disciples that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
But what did that saying really mean for them, and what does it mean for us?
This short conversation happens on the last night before the crucifixion, during the Passover meal.
Before this, Jesus had washed all of the disciple’s feet, predicted his betrayal by Judas, predicted his denial by Peter, and told each of the disciples he would soon be going away (John 13) absent his specifying where exactly he was going to go.
All of this naturally prompted some direct questions from the disciples about where Jesus was going, and why it was that they could not follow with him:
John 14:1-7 Revised Standard Version
Jesus the Way to the Father
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe [a] in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” [b]5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.”
By him using this phrase, Jesus is establishing that knowing Him is not only the ultimate meaning and the ultimate fulfillment of life on earth, but it is the only way to really know the Father in heaven.
“I Am the Way”
As Jesus tells his disciples that he is the way, there are multiple meanings involved.
First off, he directly and decisively addresses our very human instinct to know where we are going before we start a journey.
The disciples wanted to know the next step, the next turn, the ultimate destination of where this journey in faith would lead them.
When we have a long trip ahead of us, we want to turn on our GPS and get an idea of how long it will take and the roads we will travel on to get there.
We determine the best, fastest routes and then start our journey.
Thomas was looking for the same kind of information.
However, Jesus makes it clear that they (or we) won’t know the defined way we are supposed to travel in life.
We are instead tasked with simply knowing and trusting in Jesus daily, and walking in faith that HE is, in immutable truth and undeniable fact, the way.
When we abide in him, we will not know a defined course, but we can rest in the comfort of faith – he will lead us exactly where we need to go as we walk in him.
This leads to the second meaning.
In John 10, Jesus compared himself to a good shepherd:
John 10:1-9 New American Standard Bible
Parable of the Good Shepherd
10 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them [a]meant.
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Jesus is comparing himself to a shepherd and us to his sheep.
Sheep do not choose their own path to safety and protection, but rely on the shepherd to guard and care for them.
In order to be safe, we have to trust the shepherd, and not wander off on our own adventures and try to find out own way.
That will lead us to danger and pain.
But when we follow Jesus, he leads us to exactly where we need to be.
Finally, he is making clear he is the way to the Father, by extension, to heaven.
He further says he goes ahead to prepare a place for us, and this suggests after we have completed the journey of this life, he would have already gone ahead, prepared that place, we’ll find ourselves in a place of rest where the Father is.
“I Am the Truth”
What is truth?
And how can we know truth?
After Jesus had been arrested, He found Himself standing before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea.
He had been accused of blasphemy, of stirring up the people to revolution, and it was rumored He called Himself a King.
In speaking to Him, Pilate found no evidence of any crime worthy of death, but was fascinated by His bold talk of a Kingdom “not of this world” (John 18:36).
Pushing back on the idea of whether this lowly carpenter from Galilee truly considered Himself to be some kind of King, Jesus replies, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate’s response comes in the form of a question, the exact same question that humanity has been asking for centuries, the same response to Jesus that keeps so many from faith: “Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?'” (John 18:38)
Jesus answered this question in John 14 with only the disciples present when he tells them “I am the truth”.
Jesus can testify to the truth, teach the truth because he himself is that truth.
In him there is nothing false, there is nothing misleading, and there is nothing even remotely fake or even remotely uncertain.
Each and every single of us are capable of knowing truth, but none of us can claim to actually be truth.
There are too many things we don’t know, too many things we will never come to understand and by far, too many things we get wrong throughout our lives.
Yet here, Jesus claims to be truth, and in doing so claims to be One with God.
The words of John 1:1 set the stage for this very fact: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In this one sentence, John is proclaiming Jesus as ‘the Word’, which would have suggested that Jesus is the beginning and culmination of all that has been true throughout eternity, and that to seek the truth ultimately leads us to seek him.
When asking God to “search our hearts”(Psalm 139:23) we seek to figure out just what is the truth, what is a lie, we can then try to measure it against the words of Jesus, who himself is the truth – “to lead us in the way everlasting”(139:24).
“I Am the Life”
This saying also draws us back to the shepherd analogy of John 10:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. … “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (emphasis added)
Here Jesus is not only painting a picture of how he leads, guides, defends and knows his sheep, but also foreshadowing his coming brutal death on the cross.
But if this is true, why do Christians still continue to struggle so much in life?
Why do we still endure pain and heartache?
Because, ultimately, this life is not the point.
This life is not our ultimate goal, doesn’t encompass the entirety of who we are.
This life is a mere drop in the ocean of eternity and serves as the starting block on the marathon that leads us to our ultimate goal of our eternal life with God.
We can try to slow it down, we can spend time money and energy working to fight tooth and nail against it, but we cannot stop it from marching forward.
Jesus is ultimately teaching us what we are to really be ultimately concerned with is not this life, but with eternal life.
Scriptures speak frequently and often of the life to come after our life on this earth, and as we seek after the Truth, following the voice of our shepherd, we can grasp what that “ONLY Way” to eternal life, is in the here and the now.
We can live this life in such a way that we are not chasing things that don’t last but chasing the things that ultimately do last and will have eternal significance.
This type of life has eternal impact not only for us but untold others around us.
When Jesus refers to himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, he is giving us an infinitely better way to ultimately live our lives penultimately through him.
He is showing us that through following him daily in faith, he will lead us to a fuller, better, richer, more meaningful life than we could ever find on our own.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 61 English Standard Version
Lead Me to the Rock
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David.
61 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah 5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8 So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b]3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c]5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The question is always asked: Why did God provide only one way to heaven?
Wouldn’t it have been more “user-friendly” to create many individualized narrow paths for God’s individualized children leading to eternity with Him?
In an honest attempt to illustrate God’s perfect plan, I picture a kingdom on a mountain – there is one well walked, well surveyed road to the summit, leading right to the kingdom’s front gates – a free map is offered to anyone who asks.
Yet, most people do not follow the map.
Yet most people will want to trod down their own paths figuring them to be well tamped down with those experiences successfully getting them into their gates.
Wide roads are so much easier for people to walk on because there are probably uncountable numbers of people struggling for their own individual space on the road-nobody want to bump into anyone else, no one wants to trip over another.
Wide roads hold more cars, sport utility vehicles and trucks and busses and motorcycles and God knows what else, their drivers and all their passengers.
Traffic Gridlock: Everyone is trying to get to their own destinations all at once.
For the road to the kingdom is narrow, gridlocked not always easy to navigate.
Instead, the travelers choose other roads.
Wide and easy, relaxed smooth driving, with beautiful scenery on the way, they convince themselves, the road they’re on must genuinely lead to the kingdom!
However, those winding individualized paths never truly reach the summit.
Inevitably, at some highway off ramp, they either take a detour or get off at the wrong exit, getting lost and cannot find their way back or they simply dead end.
As people continue to trek up, down and all around the mountain, I picture the Savior calling to all travelers, “Come, this is the way. Follow Me.” Yet, many go their own way, forging other paths and avoiding the One True Road at all cost.
So as those twelve disciples are all sitting together in that Upper Room, Jesus says the Way, the Truth and the Life – His way is sure and His path is open to all.
All twelve of these disciples will each walk out of that Upper Room on different paths in their coming ministries and missions on earth – and Jesus is #1 focus!
Acts 2:43-47 English Standard Version
43 And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 8:4-8 English Standard Version
Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city[a] of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
So many children of God each individually commissioned by their Savior Jesus.
Acts 1:8 English Standard Version
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Different, individualized ministries and missions-yea unto all ends of the earth.
To all of those so many points of the globe a simple compass carries their feet.
Isaiah 52:6-8 English Standard Version
6 Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion.
So much good to be done, much grace, forgiveness and love of One God to share.
But One Message on Earth to reach literally all ends of earth – “Our God Reigns!
Only One Way for each of us to reach our promised heavenly homes –
John 14:6 English Standard Version
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
“Turn right and Go Straight!”
What a divine blessing to be given the exact directions to eternity!
There is no guesswork!
There is no “re-calculating” the journey.
Only Jesus paved the only way once and for all without mistake.
God didn’t send His Son to provide only one way to heaven out of a sense of arrogance or control, as some might believe.
He lovingly and painfully carved out the only path that would reach.
Across the impassable chasm of man’s sin and straight on up to the top of the mountain of our individual life’s journey, God gave His Son—the perfect Way.
Every other road, every other highway man travels will fall short of His glory.
It will dead-end.
But, there is One who calls… “Come and follow Me.”
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 16The Message
16 1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense.
3 And these God-chosen lives all around— what splendid friends they make!
4 Don’t just go shopping for a god. Gods are not for sale. I swear I’ll never treat god-names like brand-names.
5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I’m your choice! You set me up with a house and yard. And then you made me your heir!
7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.
9-10 I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell— that’s not my destination!
11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
21 Then they went to Capernaum. On the next day of rest—a holy day, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their experts in Moses’ Teachings, he taught them with authority.
23 At that time there was a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit. He shouted, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 Jesus ordered the spirit, “Keep quiet, and come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out of him with a loud shriek.
27 Everyone was stunned. They said to each other, “What is this? This is a new teaching that has authority behind it! He gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him.”
28 The news about him spread quickly throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Babe Ruth was the great home run hitter for the New York Yankees baseball team.
During one particular at-bat, the umpire, called Ruth out on strikes.
There was a stunned silence in the stands. Ruth turned to the ump and said, “There are 40,000 people here who know that last one was a ball.”
The umpire replied, “Maybe so, but mine is the only opinion that counts.”
We live in a world of thousands of opinions.
Whose opinion counts?
Who has the authority that matters?
There are experts in every field imaginable, some of whom say conflicting things.
There are authoritative figures in command of those many imaginable fields and they have the authority to give commands, to promote and also to punish.
How well did we listen to the voices that said we should wear masks?
Or how well or better did we listen to the voices that told us wearing a mask is ineffective in spreading COVID – 19?
Do we listen to the authorities, the voices telling us climate change, is real and we need to act immediately, preferably sooner, if we hope to save our planet?
Or how well do we listen to the “authoritative” voices that debunk the idea of climate change as a hoax?
Who is in charge of the truth of these matters and who do we listen to when so many allegedly, or obviously smart people just espouse differences of opinion?
Who do we look to as our authority?
So when a person (like any of us in the room) has a difficult decision to make during a stressful time in life… like their marriage, personal finances, personal or professional conflicts or whatever, who do they listen to? Oprah? Dr. Phil? “Dear Abby”? Parents? Friends? Pastor? the Judge? Whose opinion counts?
When I’m deciding which movies I’ll see or preferred TV programs I’ll watch who do I turn to? Celebrities? Promos? Word-of-mouth among my friends?
Whose opinion counts?
When I am trying to decide what books I would like to read, who do I ask for a good review?
The New York Times Bestseller List? Good Reads? Amazon Book Reviews?
If I were making decisions about how to start a business or advance my career or handle a sticky situation at work—where do I get direction? Mentors? Fast Company or Forbes magazines? Pod Casts? TED Talks? United States Congress?
Who’s my authority? Who do I listen to?
In our text today, Mark 1:21-28, we read of some people, who though living in a different time, shared all of our same concerns and were pleasantly surprised to discover a person who had genuine authority and could answer their questions.
In our Gospel Narrative, there were people who were attending a service in their local synagogue and Jesus Christ just happened to be the teacher that morning.
From the Biblical account this is my first observation:
Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum.
When the Sabbath day came he went into the synagogue and began to teach.
The people were amazed at his teaching for he taught with real authority – quite unlike the teachers of religious law. Mark 1:21-22
At the time there was no resident teacher at any synagogue.
The teaching was done by lay-people.
A coordinator or facilitator supervised the services and scheduled the speakers.
Word had spread wide about Jesus, because he had been doing a lot of preaching throughout area.
When he came to Capernaum, they immediately invited him to be the speaker for as many times as he wished.
Verse 22 tells us that the people were blown away by his teaching.
Amazed – they didn’t know what to make of it.
His words had authority.
The scribes or teachers of the law knew the Jewish teachings of the elders.
They knew the different biblical interpretations that had come down through the centuries.
They could tell you, “Rabbi so-and-so said this.
But Rabbi such-and-such thought it meant this instead.”
They could teach you the options, but they couldn’t decide among them.
All they could do was repeat the traditions of the fathers long ago.
But when Jesus taught, he spoke with a certainty that came straight from God.
His words had authority.
They had the ring of truth.
And the people said: This is different than what we’re used to.
He’s not like the scribes or teachers of the law.
His words have an undeniable irrefutable authority.
When Jesus comes on the scene, something new happens.
Our hope, our longing for change, takes on a radically different shape.
On the sounds of His words, on His authority behind them, the hurting people, sinful temptations, human brokenness, disease are confronted with authority.
The people in this Gospel story recognized Jesus’ authority in regard to two specific things: his teaching and his power over impure spirits (demons).
There was something about Jesus that made him different from all of the other religious teachers of his day.
In fact, this is the first thing mentioned in Mark’s gospel about Jesus’ public ministry: it was a ministry of authority – the authority of God and not of man.
Without any exception, we long to witness the authority of Christ confronting diseases, financial hardships, broken friendships, injustices of all kinds today.
But we do not pause as often to consider the spiritual dimensions of our suffering.
The apostle Paul reminds us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12).
Rather, we contend with demonic powers that want every single one of us to continuously think that all our circumstances, not our hearts, are the problem.
It’s worth noting that Jesus’ teaching, not just his healing, triggered a reaction from the crowds.
But “being amazed,” by itself, is not a response to authority.
Jesus’ teaching demands either submission or rebellion-He calls us to bring our hurts, our diseases, and our hearts under his authority.
How will we respond?
How do we typically respond?
The fact that while most everyone hung on every word that Rabbi Jesus spoke… not everyone was impressed by him or pleased by his popularity which leads me to a second observation.
II. Jesus experienced resistance to his authority.
Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed with an evil spirit began shouting, “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Mark 1:23-24
Jesus cut him short.
“Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered.
At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and came out of him. Mark 1:25-26
So one Sabbath, something happened during one of their services that was definitely out of the ordinary.
A man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other,
“What is this? A new teacher—one who speaks with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
In verse 22 when Jesus taught the people were amazed.
It means they were blown away… astonished.
But in verse 27 where Mark wrote, “Amazement gripped the audience”
The word “amazed” in verse 27 is very different than the word used in verse 22.
Here in verse 27 the word amazement carries with it the idea of fear… that what they had just seen and heard was scary and they did not understand what had happened. It was a bit more than they could handle.
With us, it’s the other way around.
The contemporary thought of a demon actually being in someone, making them do something, sounds strange, even scary, to us-straight out of the “Exorcist.”
We seldom explain anyone’s behavior as being caused by a demon.
But at the same time, we have these unusual phrases that we use:
“What’s gotten into you?” or “What’s come over you?”
We use these phrases when the behavior is something we can’t explain.
It’s an indication that we know something else is seriously going on.
There are times when we come across some, what I think of as big time evil that is beyond our ability to comprehend or explain — evil that’s out of the ordinary, a thousand thousand thousand times far beyond any normal human sinfulness.
Adolph Hitler. Joseph Stalin, Mao, Charlie Manson. Ted Bundy. Jeffrey Dahmer. Brian and Wanda Mitchell… Elizabeth Smart kidnappers. Pedophiles. Rapists.
White collar cheats that devastate your retirement funds.
People like Ken Lay of the Enron Scandal and Bernie Madoff who easily bilked people of all they had conscientiously squirreled away for their retirement….. what kind of “possessed” person finds it in themselves to do that to anyone?
On a lesser scale, we sometimes encounter self-destructive behavior that just doesn’t make sense.
We observe people acting out in anger.
We do not appreciate a mean-spirited person who seems driven by the desire to humiliate or hurt others.
Narcissists and liars are not people we care to hang out with.
Sometimes we shake our heads and wonder, what makes them be like that?”
There is evil that doesn’t make sense.
In our passage today, Jesus shows for the first time his power to do something about evil.
He has absolute authority over the demon.
He simply speaks, and the demon has to leave.
There is no drawn-out ritual to cast the demon out—no incantation, mumbo-jumbo, incense, props, lengthy prayer, no prolonged struggle.
Jesus simply makes the decision that demon will no longer have control, and the matter is settled.
He just gave the order—”Come out of him”—and the demon obeyed. Jesus had authority!
We must come to grips with the authority of God Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit – choose to live accordingly.
I would like to make a third observation.
That was then and this is now and the question for you and me is a simple one…
III. Are we willing to live according to Jesus’ remarkable level of authority?
Amazement had gripped the audience and they began to discuss what had happened.
“What sort of new teaching is this? It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” And the news spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee. Mark 1:27-28
Their amazement has a bit of fear in it.
They’re not sure how to handle this level of authority.
As we ourselves grapple with the implications of this for us, are we prepared for this kind of authority in our lives?
Are we ready for an authority where his word makes it true and his decision makes it happen?
An authority where when he says something, we respond with obedience?
What does Jesus say about how I treat my spouse and family and co-workers and neighbors?
What does Jesus say about what I think about, read and watch and talk about?
What does Jesus say about my professional and business relationships?
What does Jesus say about my personal pursuits?
My goals in life?
What does Jesus say about my personal habits?
Internet use?
Do I just use my own “best” judgements?
Maybe ask ourselves, am I really the captain in complete command of my soul?
There is a point at which we all must decide if we are going to go with our own best effort or choose who will be the ultimate authority in our lives… who is the captain of my life and the commander of my heart and the Admiral of my soul?
If we are at all wise we will recognize our ultimate need for the grace and mercy and guidance of God.
We desperately need to intentionally hear the voice of authority and listen to Jesus and allow the Spirit of God to guide us as we read, study the Word of God.
Jesus has authority.
Not just rank so he can give orders.
Not just power so he can cast our demons or to just obliterate his enemies.
No, Jesus has true divine authority — rank, power, and integrity so that he can authentically subdue and destroy evil.
This authority should not just be admired.
This authority should not leave us spell-bound.
No, this authority should lead us to watch Jesus and learn from his actions, because they are gracious and compassionate as well as mighty.
This authority should make us listen to what he says because Jesus’ words are not only true, but they are also life-giving and liberating.
We should be hyper excited.
Matthew 28:16-20 English Standard Version
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We should go out into the world as we have been commissioned, to teach others all about Jesus, we should obey him, following his example of sacrificial service.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
My dear and precious Father, the one true and living God, please give me the courage to believe and obey the words of Jesus and to follow his example of sacrificial service. Savior Jesus, you rule over all things by your Word and Spirit. Enter our lives with your authority today, in the divine authority of Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Jesus came to live among us as the promised Messiah of God’s people.
Many of the people thought the Messiah would be a political king who would, free them from the grip of the Roman Empire.
But Jesus’ mission was not political.
He came to free sinners from the tyranny of sin and to give them new life with God forever.
In his teaching ministry Jesus clashed with the religious authorities.
He directly challenged them because they were more concerned with physical power and position than with leading people to live God’s way—by loving God and loving their neighbor first.
The religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus, so they plotted to kill him.
And they managed to get him executed by the Roman government.
So Jesus laid down his life for us by dying on a cross, and he was buried.
But then Jesus rose to life again, victorious over sin and death for our sake!
Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus told his disciples (and us!) that against all appearances, and against all odds, and at all costs, in a world full of tyrants and brutally powerful and lethal politics, all authority had been given over to him.
Then he said that as we are moving about in the world, we are to make disciples.
How?
By going into the world, among all of the nations.
Making disciples of all the nations they go into.
By baptizing them into the family of God,
and by teaching them to be obedient to his teachings.
And if we ever grow afraid of this task (for we will meet opposition), to recall that Jesus promised that he will always be with us through his Holy Spirit.
He will be with us – until the end of all the ages – meaning essentially forever.
Christ fulfilled the righteousness of the Law, which qualified Him to pay the price for our sins on the Cross.
His death, burial, and Resurrection conquered sin and Satan.
His death, burial, and Resurrection broke the power of sin and death forever in the lives of all who would believe on His name.
And as a result, God gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth.
Because of His coming, His life, His sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection, God has ascribed all authority to the Lord Jesus Christ Who was to become the federal head of a brand new creation of humanity – a new-creation ‘in-Christ’.
Jesus lived a sinless life so He could willingly give His life as a sacrifice for us all, and Jehovah God raised Him from the dead, gave Him authority to bestow His own eternal life on all who would believe on His name, making Him Head of the Body, which is the Church, so He Himself would have preeminence in all things.
Jesus had already demonstrated His God-given authority in His teachings, for no man spoke the gracious words that He spoke.
Throughout His earthly ministry He displayed His full authority over sickness, disease, and those being afflicted with various ailments and pains, and those oppressed by demons, the epileptics, and paralytics: “And He healed them all.”
He demonstrated His complete authority over Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness, over the heavily demon possessed “Legion” whom he healed.
He proved His absolute authority on earth to forgive sins by saying to the paralyzed man: “Arise, and take up thy bed and walk,”
and He proclaimed His full sovereign authority in the Temple of God when He accused the rulers of Israel, with the blistering words: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a den of thieves.”
We can have absolute confidence in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for there is no power in heaven or earth or under the earth that has not been placed under His supreme authority, in time and through eternity, for at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of things in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the max glory of God the Father.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, I stand amazed at Your grace and goodness, and that You would give Your only begotten Son to live a perfect life and die a sacrificial death for me. Thank You that all power in heaven and earth is His and that I am secure in His hand. Keep me from unfounded worry and foolish fretting, knowing that He is in ultimate control of my life and that Your perfect plans and purposes for all humanity will finally be fulfilled through Him. Lord Jesus, you have all authority. Help us to serve you faithfully, faith-filled in making baptized and educated disciples of all the nations under heaven and earth. To Him be all praise, glory forever and ever, AMEN.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ.[a] Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
37 “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. 38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.[b] But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”[c]
39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Imagine that we wish that success would be ours every moment of everyday.
Imagine ourselves in a world where the word failure was never inserted into Webster’s Dictionary, than in all the history of mankind failure did not exist?
Imagine God withholding failure from the knowledge and awareness of man?
Imagine that our ever vigilant God never allowed the Serpent into the Garden?
Imagine your own existence where everyone knew success 100% of the time?
Its great that we can imagine ourselves successfully living in such moments.
Never thinking, even realizing, that there was never another way to live life?
I can allow such fights of fancy to run through my imagination from time to time when I am being cascaded and marauded by all of the negative moments.
The biblical reality is, of course, that the serpent did slither into the Garden of Eden and the serpent did open its mouth and speak alternative words to Eve.
Then the knowledge of good and evil and of failure and sin entered Webster’s.
The reality which we have now is that failure is a very common experience and very defeating experience, with God’s help we can keep failure from being final.
Bob Hope, when asked about his early failures in stand-up comedy, said, “I would not have had anything to eat if it wasn’t for the stuff the audience threw at me.”
Do you consider President Abraham Lincoln’s life a life of success or failure?
a. Abe Lincoln once said, “I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so.”
b. Abraham Lincoln’s life is the best example of his own words, because he experienced more failure than success in most of his life.
c. Abraham Lincoln failed twice in business and had a nervous breakdown.
d. Abraham Lincoln was soundly defeated in elections 8 times for the seats in government that he ran for, and only won in the elections 3 times.
e. Two of those elections Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States.
The truth of the matter is that failure, even repeated failure, doesn’t have to be final or fatal because with confidence, endurance there can be success in failure.
1. Malcolm Forbes said, “Failure is success if we learn from it.”
2. Marilyn vos Savant said, “Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.”
Here’s a poem about failure that contains many truths:
Failing does not necessarily mean you have accomplished nothing;
It may mean you have learned something.
Failing does not necessarily mean you have wasted your time;
It may mean you have an opportunity to start afresh.
Failing does not necessarily mean you are inferior;
It does mean you are not perfect.
Failing does mean you are perfectly human;
All of us have felt the anguish and sting of failure, even repeated failure.
The ironic thing about failure is that “hindsight is 20/20 vision,” and with that hindsight we see very clearly how we could have done, should have done, would do things differently if we could go backwards in time and do them over again.
But since God did not put anyone else in charge of time, that is one more failure we repeatedly place in our path – that we know we can not change time, but we will certainly expend a great deal of effort to rent out space in our souls trying.
There are many different ways that we experience failure.
a. We make mistakes, we make bad decisions in good times and bad times.
b. We let ourselves down and we let others down and hurt those we love.
c. We don’t see or find success, we don’t live up to our goals and expectations.
d. We always successfully fail to live up to the life God intends for us to live.
But despite all of the ways we convince ourselves we have failed, the most important question we must answer is: What can we do about our failures?
Gaining Confidence Through Failure and Suffering
Hebrews 10:32-39 The Message
32-39 Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.
It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy.
But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
But We Are Not Quitters Who Lose Out ….
Oh, No!
We Will Stay With It and Survive, Trusting [God, Jesus, Holy Spirit] All The Way!
Here is a word of encouragement for those who grieve and for those who seek to comfort them.
Perhaps you or someone you know has faced personal tragedy recently.
Cannot get that tragedy out of their minds – walking through wet concrete.
Perhaps you yourself have unexpectedly lost a loved one, and the pain of the loss is so great, so catastrophically overwhelming, that you’re ready to quit.
Perhaps you’re feeling helpless, hopeless and burdened as you watch your brother or sister in Christ walk the painful road of failures and suffering.
Steady state, steady flowing and prolonged failure and intense suffering often causes us to stop our Christianity cold and question our faith and commitment.
But the author of Hebrews encourages us to remain steadfast as we call to mind our endurance through former hardship.
“Recall,” he says, “the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.”
And in light of this recollection, we must also avoid the temptation to “throw away … confidence,” knowing that our perseverance will be greatly rewarded.
The longer we go on in the experience of Christian life, the more trials we come through strengthened by God’s grace, and the more we can look back on them and think, “If I persevered through that, then I can keep going through this.”
You may be thinking, though,
“This is too much all at one time—perseverance is beyond me this time.”
If so, know this: acknowledge the feeling, then acknowledge it is in moments of great weakness that the Spirit strengthens us and helps us (Romans 8:26-28).
T often overlooked reality which is seldom recalled, taught or preached is that even when we do not know what to pray for or how to endure, the Holy Spirit of God simply intercedes for us and enables us to do the will of God (Romans 8:26).
The anonymous writer to the Hebrews exhorts us, as members of God’s family, united in Christ, to stand side by side and partner with those who are suffering.
Indeed, we are called by God, covenanted by God, to actively extend empathy and sympathy as we identify with our brothers and sisters in their affliction.
Proverbs 17:17 English Standard Version
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 18:24 English Standard Version
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 27:6 English Standard Version
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Proverbs 27:9 English Standard Version
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.[a]
Proverbs 27:17 English Standard Version
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.[a]
Such biblical partnerships may come at a cost of resources; early believers even had endured the “plundering of … property” as a result of their compassion for those already distressed, imprisoned-yet we must not let its costliness deter us.
In sorrow and in sympathy, we persevere because the Lord stands by us to strengthen and uphold us with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
As you and I successfully or in total failure, face life’s toils and troubles, don’t shrink from nor throw away your confidence or shrink back into the shadows.
Fix your eyes, and encourage those around you to fix their eyes, on a “better possession and an abiding one”: the true glory of eternity with Christ, who has walked the path of suffering before us and now beckons us on, on toward home.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 40 English Standard Version
My Help and My Deliverer
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
40 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear.[a] Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance[b] in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! 12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” 17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward [a]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The Bible is the best interpreter of itself, and when we come across passages which confound us, we first need to see what else Scripture has to say about the matter.
2 Peter 3:9 has proven to be a confusing verse to many, but we will investigate God’s Word for the correct interpretation of this verse.
What does 2 Peter 3:9 mean?
What is the Context of 2 Peter 3:9?
To better understand the verse, we need to examine the context of the passage, starting with 1 Peter.
In his first letter, Peter wrote encouragement to his readers who underwent suffering and persecution (1 Peter 1:6-7; 2:18-20; 3:9, 13-17; 4:1-4, 12-19; 5:9).
Peter called the long-suffering believers to look toward Christ’s return with the hope of being proven in their faithfulness.
He exhorted them to remain true to the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of such hardship.
Peter highlights who these believers are in Christ,
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
No matter how secular society viewed them, they were called by God for His purposes, and just as Jesus lived a life of righteousness, they were to follow His example.
As such, they were to live righteous lives in the presence of others so their opponents would see their godly behavior and perhaps be won to the faith.
Since this is Peter’s second letter to his audience (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 3:1), he was probably writing from his prison cell in Rome (2 Peter 1:12-15) to the exiled believers (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11)in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
2 Peter follows the encouragement of the first letter with warnings to the believers against false teachers and to practice godliness as they anticipate Christ’s return.
They were hit with remonstrances from unbelievers who sought to bring doubt with questions such as, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4).
Peter reminded his audience of the words of the prophets who said, “scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires” (2 Peter 3:3).
The environment in which the believers lived was full of the false teachers’ heresies, greed, sensuality, lust, wicked actions, rejection of God’s authority. (2 Peter 2:1-22)
These false teacherspromised freedom but instead were slaves to their sinful desires.
The CEV renders 2 Peter 2:3 as, “Those false teachers only want your money, so they will use you by telling you lies. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is still coming, and their ruin is certain.”
Our theological environment reeks of the same sinful actions by false teachers.
Peter confronted the false teachings with the truth of God’s character (2 Peter 2:4-10a), the absolute authority of Christ, the veracity of God’s Word, the authority of the apostles’ words (2 Peter 1:16-21), and the last things to come.
What does this Verse Mean?
The immediate context of this last chapter of 2 Peter has to do with the last days, especially the Day of the Lord (2 Peter 3:3, 10).
The exiled elect were anxiously waiting for the Lord to return, and some had lost hope, especially amid the persecution and scoffing they endured.
Just as we now long for vindication for our faithful obedience, so too did they.
Peter urges the believers to remember what the prophets said throughout the Old Testament, the command of the Lord Jesus (the Gospel) as given through the apostles (2 Peter 3:2).
Let’s start with the first part of the verse,
“The Lord is not slow (to fulfill His promise) as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,” (parentheses added).
1. “The Lord is not slow… as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,”
In 2 Peter 3:8, the verse which immediately precedes our key verse, Peter says, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
What does this mean but time — all time — is according to the Lord.
Time did not exist until God created the sun and the moon (Genesis 1:16; Psalm 104:19).
God Himself is timeless, and all moments are as the present to Him.
Christianity.com writer Alyssa Roat explains, “He (God) is simultaneously in the past, present, and future. When He tells what is to come, He isn’t making a prediction; He is already there” (John 4:24; Revelation 1:8).
Slowness is a subjective condition, and God is not subjective regarding humans, nor does He show partiality (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).
God is accountable to no one’s idea of what His timing should be because He alone is the Lord, and He is perfect and holy (Leviticus 18:4; 2 Samuel 22:31; Revelation 6:10).
Trusting Him is an obedient action.
As an example, in Malachi 4:5, the Lord spoke through His prophet,
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.”
When?
The prophet did not utter words of when; he spoke the words God gave him.
Four hundred years of silence followed Malachi’s pronouncement.
No further word came from the Lord during that time between the Old and New Testament times.
What the people were left with was the prophecy, “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes” (Malachi 4:5).
Voiced in Malachi’s time, that was according to God’s timing, and while the people waited, the geo-political landscape changed big time and the Jewish people then formed the Pharisees and Sadducees and built on their tradition.
Through all of history, we see God’s patience displayed.
In the Garden of Eden, God could have wiped out the first humans because of their sin, but He initiated His plan of redemption by His promise to Adam and Eve (and all humankind) (Genesis 3:15).
All of Scripture points to Christ, and history will be culminated in His return.
God was patient with the rebellious Israelites, the men He used to bear the good seed, men whose lives were touched by God as lessons for us (Job, Jonah, etc.), and with Jesus’ disciples as they walked with Him for three years on this earth.
Peter held all of this history, relayed the truth of God’s character to his readers.
2. “to fulfill His promise…”
This parenthetical phrase speaks of God’s character.
What God promises, God fulfills.
Our Bible’s New Testament begins with Matthew. Matthew launches his Gospel with the supreme fulfillment of God’s promises, the genealogy and birth of Christ (Matthew 1:1-25), an immediate look back at His lineage and a look forward as He is described as the long-awaited Messiah (Isaiah 7:14).
God’s promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
As we saw, God’s timing is perfect according to His standards, not ours, and it’s His standards alone which matter.
Why Do We Sometimes Think God Is Slow?
Our view of God and His timing is from a human perspective.
Most of us have been conditioned to a fast-paced life, from daily activities to our needs and wants, we want it all now – so any waiting, therefore, is hard.
God’s promises are the height of excitement for us because we know He will bring about what He says He will do.
Yet, we grow weary of this sin-sick world, where society has skewed God’s moral principles beyond any measure of recognition.
Babies are murdered.
Immature children aren’t only permitted but are encouraged to change genders.
Wicked immoral incomprehensible lifestyles are plastered on media outlets as today’s “chic” entertainment at least and an example to be followed to utmost.
The devil is hard at work seeking people to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
He is the father of all lies from the beginning (John 8:44) and he knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12)
Christians have the peace of Jesus within them, but we long for a peaceful world as soon as possible – we must just trust God to enact His will in His perfect time.
What Does the Second Part of 2 Peter 3:9 Mean?
2 Peter 3:9b tells us, (God) “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Since chapter 3 is about the coming Day of the Lord, judgment is at hand.
The church Peter writes to in his epistles was in we would say were dire straits.
They longed for the Lord to return to institute His kingdom on earth and exact vengeance on His enemies (2 Peter 3:7).
They were under severe persecution and feared they would perish before He returned.
Peter explained God was not acting in reluctance or slowness to save them; He was being patient in His dispositional will.
In a long yet well-defined article on God’s will, Dr. R. C. Sproul clarifies,
“We should understand God’s will as it is discussed in 2 Peter 3:8–9 as describing His will of disposition. Here, Peter speaks about God’s will through anthropomorphic expressions that describe God’s will and affections in a manner that we can understand by describing them in a way analogous to our experience. In this way, “God does not delight in the death of the wicked — He doesn’t get some great, personal thrill out of sending people to hell, even though He wills to do it.” He is just, and must serve His justice.
How Do We See God’s Patience and Love in This Verse?
God knows who belong to Him in Jesus Christ and who will be His (Matthew 24:22, 24, 31; Luke 18:7).
There will come a day of reckoning for the wicked when God will judge and God will condemn those who have refused His Son.
That time and action does not belong to sinful man; it rightfully belongs to our sovereign Lord.
We petition our merciful God to make everything right, and we are eager to see “His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
As of this devotions writing, more will be added to the Lamb’s Book of Life, for when the laborious work of men as the Lord’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) is finished (by God’s personal timetable), Jesus will return and Jesus will judge.
All who are elect will be saved and ushered into eternity with Christ.
Those who are not will be forever in hell, apart from the goodness of God (Matthew 13:47-50).
When we think, we ponder, of when we came to the Lord in repentance and faith and surrendered to Him, we are sternly reminded of God’s patience with us and our receivership of it thankful for His everlasting love (Psalm 103:17).
How Does this Verse Encourage Us in Our Daily Walk?
Just as Peter reminded his ancient audience to remember what the prophets, Jesus, and His apostles said, we as contemporaries, can immerse ourselves in the Bible and read about God’s provision, protection, and fulfilled promises.
All Scripture is for our use and betterment (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and through the Holy Spirit we are able to understand (1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 2 Peter 1:21), exalt (Psalm 34:3), and glorify the Lord (Psalm 86:12) when we obey His commands (2 Peter 3:2).
We thank God for His patience with us as we are being sanctified and conformed to His image (Romans 8:29).
We daily reflect His goodness when we display patience with others within and outside the church.
As Peter spoke of his ancient audience’s godliness perhaps winning some to the Lord, so too God may use our contemporary walk with our Savior Christ to spur others forward to repent in faith and to love and obey Him. (Psalm 32)
Even today, Christians all over the world undergo persecution, some to very small degrees of censure when families, friends, and/or others mock our faith.
And Christians in countries either politically ruled or culturally driven by false religions may suffer torment and even death.
Peter’s message to persevere and remain steadfast in our hope mimics Christ’s magnificent promise spoken to the disciples while Messiah Jesus was yet alive:
“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Our Patient and Active Missionary God
In his mission, God exercises a patient love as well as a vigorous engagement to defeat Satan and the forces of evil.
Already in Genesis 3:15 God’s promise looks ahead to Jesus’ victory over Satan.
We grow impatient and sometimes despair of evil and its effects in the world around us.
But the apostle Paul writes, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
The final, great victory of Jesus over evil is described in Revelation 20:10: “The devil … was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur” to remain there forever.
In the meantime, be aware, says Paul, that
“our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
That is why we need to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (6:10).
God is not forgetting us.
Our merciful, patient, and powerful God is moving forward with his mission for the salvation of the people he loves.
Hold on to Jesus’ promise: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Creator and Creating God. Heavenly Father, I praise Your wonderful name for your long-suffering attitude toward me, Your errant child, and toward the whole world. I am sorry for those times when I have wondered why Jesus has not returned yet. Help me see the unsaved world through Your eyes of love, that You want all to be saved. Give me a hunger to spread Your saving gospel of grace to a lost world. I know that my Lord and Savior Jesus lived, ministered, and suffered and crucified and died, was resurrected at the right time, seated with You and is coming back at the right time. I pray many may come to faith in You, while there is still time. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
45 David told the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the army of Israel, whom you have insulted. 46 Today the Lord will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head. And this day I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals. The whole world will know that Israel has a God. 47 Then everyone gathered here will know that the Lord can save without sword or spear, because the Lord determines every battle’s outcome. He will hand all of you over to us.”
48 When the Philistine moved closer in order to attack, David quickly ran toward the opposing battle line to attack the Philistine. 49 Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, and struck the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank into Goliath’s forehead, and he fell to the ground on his face. 50 So using ⌞only⌟ a sling and a stone, David proved to be stronger than the Philistine. David struck down and killed the Philistine, even though David didn’t have a sword in his hand.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
David’s triumph over Goliath is one of the best-known stories of the Bible.
An agile boy with a few smooth stones defeats a giant, armored warrior decked out with heavy weapons.
It’s a story of contrasts and ironies: tall versus short, strength versus weakness, arrogance versus humility, and too, glorious victory versus humiliating defeat.
In this ancient text, we find ourselves savoring in the triumph of the underdog.
But this impressive, miraculous story is not mainly about David and Goliath.
The core conflict is between the false gods of the Philistines and the God of Israel, Yahweh Sabaoth, “the LORD of Hosts” or “the LORD Almighty.”
Yahweh Sabaoth is one of the most widely used names for God in the Old Testament, occurring nearly 300 times.
The name Sabaoth comes from the Hebrew word for “that which goes forth” and for “armies” or “hosts.”
The name Yahweh Sabaoth declares God’s absolute reign, absolute sovereignty over heaven and earth and over all armies, both earthly and spiritual.
David, understanding the real conflict, declares that “the battle is the LORD’s.”
And through him, Yahweh Sabaoth, “the LORD of Hosts,” defeats the mighty Philistine Goliath, the Philistine Army and their gods.
A hymn of the church sings, “Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same”—and we can absolutely rely on all of his strength in our daily battles.
The Man in Between
1 Samuel 17:48-50 GOD’S WORD Translation
48 When the Philistine moved closer in order to attack, David quickly ran toward the opposing battle line to attack the Philistine. 49 Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, and struck the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank into Goliath’s forehead, and he fell to the ground on his face. 50 So using ⌞only⌟ a sling and a stone, David proved to be stronger than the Philistine. David struck down and killed the Philistine, even though David didn’t have a sword in his hand.
As previously stated, this is one of the most familiar moments in Scripture, but do not let that blind you to the extraordinary nature of the victory it describes.
A mere shepherd boy with his staff, five stones, and a sling brought down an experienced man of war, a giant, who came after him with mighty weapons.
It is maximum victory the fame of which hasn’t dimmed through the centuries.
At stake in David’s astonishing battle against Goliath was all of Israel’s future.
The army didn’t fight, no one moved a muscle to move forward.
Neither did their failed king, Saul – who sat alone despondent in his royal tent.
They only watched in disbelief, in their shame and guilt as their future hung on the shoulders of David, who was chosen by Yahweh to be “the man in between.”
David was the anointed, appointed, inspired and empowered servant of God—and in that respect, in that very real sense, he was the true prototype of Jesus.
Like that of Israel’s army, the present and the future of every man and woman and child for generations to come, hangs high in the life versus death balance.
Our ultimate defeat on the overwhelming battlefields of life is by our death, when the abundant life we’ve imagined and built for ourselves comes to a halt.
Our death, our inevitable mortality, terrifies us because it is the punishment for our sin (Romans 6:23) which not one single one of us are without (Romans 3:23).
The law of God demands perfection, yet none of us are perfect (v 10).
Death, then, is the undefeatable Goliath before whom we can but tremble.
We need someone infinitely mightier to stand in between us and our death.
We need somebody who is absolutely unafraid, to step forward where we refuse.
And He did.
Just as the fearless David moved forward where no one else dared step, he stood between the army of Israel and their defeat, so Jesus stood between us and ours.
His max victory in that moment is the greatest news the world has ever known.
The demands of the whole law were completely met by His perfect life.
The maximum, ultimate penalty of the law was carried out in His death in place of us, who deserved to die for complete, absolute cowardice, before our enemy.
And the power of death was 100% defeated by the power of God over death, His empty tomb, rolled away stone, witnessed resurrection as He triumphed over it.
As David in the Valley of Elah, alone on the field of ultimate combat won victory not only for himself but for the whole of Israel, so Jesus at Calvary, the rolled away stone, empty tomb won victory for all who are united with Him by faith.
No wonder Paul resoundingly declared 1000 year later, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)!
As we witness to David setting aside his mortality, believing in the sovereignty of God over his life, picking up his rocks and preparing his sling for combat, As we look upon the cross of Christ and the triumph of His resurrection today, we are looking at the eternally honored victory that has been won, won for us all.
Pause now if you dare, to pray, rejoice, singing songs of praise and thanksgiving because every single one of us have maximum, absolute victory through Him.
Then in the strength of that victory, in the power of God over life and death, go out into a not so courageous, not so empowered world that is both fractured and broken and scared to death of death, declare Yahweh Sabaoth, that people need not fear sin for in faith they too can take hold of Jesus, our victorious champion.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 46 The Message
46 1-3 God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says.
7 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”
11 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
Lord of Hosts, Lord God who goes before us, and remains with us in the fields of war, help us to rely on your strength to wage the impossible battles which we face each day against our own trials and temptations. We ask this in Savior Jesus’ name. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
41 The Philistine, preceded by the man carrying his shield, was coming closer and closer to David. 42 When the Philistine got a good look at David, he despised him. After all, David was a young man with a healthy complexion and good looks.
43 The Philistine asked David, “Am I a dog that you come to ⌞attack⌟ me with sticks?” So the Philistine called on his gods to curse David. 44 “Come on,” the Philistine told David, “and I’ll give your body to the birds.”
45 David told the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the army of Israel, whom you have insulted. 46 Today the Lord will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head. And this day I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals. The whole world will know that Israel has a God. 47 Then everyone gathered here will know that the Lord can save without sword or spear, because the Lord determines every battle’s outcome. He will hand all of you over to us.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Before, during and after a game, talking trash, trying to psyche out your next opponent, trying to demoralize their efforts while trying to encourage your own team on to victory is a practice dating back to long before professional sports.
When the giant Goliath, for instance, was “insulted” by a mere boy being sent to fight him, he began to shout out smack—and he “cursed David by his gods.”
Goliath’s cursing is significant.
He was trying to demoralize and intimidate David, cause David to question the “wisdom” of his actions, cause David to think a thousand times over about if he could, would, or should actually be on that battlefield, fracturing his courage.
Goliath’s goal was to be that one guy, one larger than all life enemy whom no one could defeat, no matter what their raucous shouts of bravado displayed.
For all his bravado, King Saul, for the most part, stayed in his royal tent, on his royal throne – his royal ” do not dare disturb me” backside firmly planted there.
Saul’s entire Army was “steadfast and immovable” and in battle formation, with their spears and with their swords waiting for any command to move up, any one man who would exercise enormous initiative and to enter the fray.
Saul stayed in his royal tent.
The Army stayed in its formation and no one exercised any initiative to take the battle to this Philistine – perhaps encouraging a few others to join in the battle.
But, NO! Everyone on that field of combat was “super glued” to the ground in front of them, swallowing their courage with each and every breath they took.
Goliath’s days long taunting had completely immobilized an entire nation.
But, if we look carefully, listen even more carefully, we see his weaknesses, the giant unwittingly acknowledged that what was about to take place was far more significant than a conflict between two people or two armies or two nations.
By invoking his gods, he demonstrated that the battle was ultimately between their so-called gods of the Philistines and the living God, the God of Israel.
Taking the time sort things out, to cut into all of Goliath’s bravado, we hear the words of fear, we hear an enemy admitting to their ultimate human weakness.
David knew that upon a mere moment’s reflection it should have reminded all the Israelites that the “gods” of the Philistines were not any impressive group.
Like all false gods, they had to be carried around and couldn’t act on their own.
Recall previously, the Philistines had had to set up their god Dagon after he had toppled over—eventually, his head had even fallen clean off (1 Samuel 5:3-4)!
It makes sense, then, Goliath’s insults, mention of his gods, didn’t scare David.
The shepherd boy , wise beyond his youthful years recognized that while the giant was terrifyingly large and came at him with many great weapons, he knew the giant was right about one thing: it was a much bigger event than a one-to-one combat—and the difference was David knew that the living God who had repeatedly saved his life, and trained his shepherd’s hands for battle, whom he publicly proclaimed before friend and foe, and served could save him and Israel.
David understood Goliath’s defeat was not about making a name for himself; it would be so “all the earth may know there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:46).
David’s lone entry onto the field of combat, hand to hand combat, against his greatest enemy with a sling and a rock, the victory was to be a testimony to the assembled crowd on both sides of the valley God was alive and powerful to save.
Save without the need of the sharpest sword and without the need of any spear.
The Lord of Hosts, Jehovah, determines the final outcome of every single battle.
No matter what the appearance or display of our enemies strength to our eyes, The Lord of Hosts, Jehovah GOD, is always going to be in absolute command.
The Lord of Hosts, Jehovah GOD, commands all battle grounds, determines the outcome, determines victory or defeat-the outcome will always belong to Him.
47 Then everyone gathered here will know that the Lord can save without sword or spear, because the Lord determines every battle’s outcome. He will hand all of you over to us.”(1 Samuel 17:47)
In these new covenant times, the battle today is likewise ultimately between the living God and the principalities and the evil powers of our age (Ephesians 6:12).
Ephesians 6:10-13 GOD’S WORD Translation
Put On All the Armor That God Supplies
10 Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. 11 Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. 12 This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. 13 For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days.[a] Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.
God tells us that the most lethal illness afflicting the entire human race is sin.
As Jehovah GOD, As our One great physician, He knows we need a cure, a Savior.
The only way we have to treat the malignancy of our sin is to receive His Son Jesus, God’s only Son, as Savior—he died in our place to pay the debt of our sin.
As we, like David, move forward to confront our greatest enemy, as we confess our sins and declare Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we receive new, eternal life.
Do we trust in God to save us through the victory, finished work of Jesus Christ?
Press your friends kindly, and ask how their gods—gods of ambition, politics, education, social media and so on—are working for them – do they have peace?
Do they have lasting confidence? Do they have contentment? Do they have joy?
DO THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ULTIMATE VICTORY THROUGH GOD?
Thankfully, we have something that gives all these things and infinitely more.
We have the God who doesn’t topple, know defeat, who needs nothing from us.
We know the living God who has been faithful for a thousand generations and who tells us, “I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isaiah 46:4).
Let all the world, your enemies around you see, hear who it is you serve today.
1 Samuel 17:45–47 Reminds Us God Will Only Glorify Himself
1 Samuel 17:45-47 The Message
45-47 David answered, “You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he’s handing you to us on a platter!”
And notice where this vocalized faith in his God leads David to act, with trust in God, to go out to this giant, Goliath, and to say, “This battle, for the glory of God, is not ultimately mine, it’s ultimately God’s. And he will glorify himself.”
This is Psalm 46:10, right? “Be still and know that I am God, and I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth.”
Oh, there’s so much here in 1 Samuel 17:45–47 and all over the Bible.
God will glorify himself among all the peoples of the earth.
There is always a battle going on every single day and multitudes, countless multitudes of countless ways for the glory of God to be known and exalted.
There’s an adversary prowling around, always at work in this world who is doing everything he can to keep God from being exalted in your life, in my life, among this people group, that people group, in this way, that way, every way.
We are all called to enter the fray with faith in God, to live day in, day out with zeal for the glory of God, trusting Him in the battles we face to glorify himself.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God help us to live in this sense, as David lived, with zeal for your glory, zeal for your honor, zeal for the hallowing of your name. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. We pray for the exaltation of your name in our lives, for the exaltation of your name in our families, for the exaltation of your name in our churches. We pray for the hallowing, the exalting of your name in the cities where we live. God, we pray for the exalting, hallowing of your name among all the nations of the earth.We pray that you would spend our lives toward this end. Toward the hallowing of your name. That we might live in a way that glorifies your name in everything we say and think and do, in the way we love, way we care for others, in the way we reflect your character. May your name be hallowed in us. Help us to do good works, that people may see us, proclaim, glorify your name in heaven. Make us salt and light like that in this world.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
38 Saul put his battle tunic on David; he put a bronze helmet on David’s head and dressed him in armor. 39 David fastened Saul’s sword over his clothes and tried to walk, but he had never practiced doing this. “I can’t walk in these things,” David told Saul. “I’ve never had any practice doing this.” So David took all those things off.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
From long years of personal experience growing up in the snow, it’s the type of helpful reminder that many mothers give younger children on a snowy day or older children before an interview: “Make sure you’re properly dressed.”
For King Saul, it was not any great worry over dessert weather conditions, but being properly dressed for war was the difference between victory and demise.
Thus, when David took witness of Saul against the Philistines, volunteered to face Goliath on Israel’s behalf, the first order of business was for him to suit up.
The king rested all his hope in the strength of his armor—his kingly armor fit for him alone in war and so here is a memorable scene, both comic and tragic, of a failed king and a boy who was so weighed down that he could not move.
King Saul was convinced that if he could dig out his old armor and put it on this boy, it apparent strength might just be adequate enough to see David through, despite the nearly impossible odds that were so clearly arrayed against him.
Yet Saul was a big guy (1 Samuel 10:23), and David was only a youth (17:33).
Reading this biblical passage, we can look into it and we come to the almost immediate conclusion that however desperate, it was never going to work.
Besides, if the armor was not sufficient for Saul to go out against Goliath and win, why did he think a shepherd boy in ill-fitting armor would stand a chance?
Saul was a failed king, he had lost his courage waiting for someone else or the Philistine Goliath and their army to disappear that he might be able to claim a false bravado and the wearing or not wearing of armor had zero to do with it.
David tried to wear it, tried to walk, but recognized that far from helping him, this heavy, ill-fitting armor would only hamper his efforts—so he cast it aside.
He knew that he could not be made into someone else, he knew didn’t need to be made into someone else, because he very much knew God would help him.
He knew he didn’t need to rely on anything else, because God was with him.
It’s a sad picture in Israel’s history, really.
King Saul wasn’t even close to a shadow of the strong person he had been.
There he stood, absent God’s Spirit, losing sight of God’s glory, his courage gone—and with it his joy, his peace, his vitality and the security of his mind.
We can imagine his empty hopeless gaze as it follows David heading off toward the brook in the valley and pausing to pick up five stones—the tragic gaze of a depleted king, his shadow growing long, longer in the light of his setting reign.
Let this picture of Saul invite you to consider: Are we relying on the illusion or delusion of great strength of his “oversized armor” as security in our lives?
In these days of mounting uncertainty, in what ways have we rested our hopes on human methods that will never fit, have never worked in a way that will last?
Like David, refusing all other “armors” looking to God who helps us, is with us.
Then we will be able to cast such useless failing “armor” aside and trust in God to lead you -then we can face the day, every day, with joy, peace, and courage.
David decided to overwhelm the overwhelming odds, take on a man who was several times bigger than himself because that man was blaspheming God.
A weakened defeated King Saul tried to give David the royal armor and sword.
But David could not because he wasn’t used to them.
When Goliath saw a boy with a sling coming at him he laughed and said,
““Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” David replied, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied…”
And the battle was over with just one small stone sunk into the skull of a giant.
David didn’t enter the battle armed with the strength of humanity nor win the battle because of fancy wear, the latest battle tech, or even the King’s “sword.”
He won the day through the power and might in the name of the Lord.
That same power a teenager used, that killed a giant can and will help you.
God can give you the strength to overwhelm impossible odds and to overcome.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 