“Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” Mark 14:15
The disciples had asked Jesus where they were to make ready for the Passover. Jesus gave them directions to a place that was ready and waiting for this use. I had to pause when I read this because it made me think about my life.
Those who want to be used by the Lord must be furnished and prepared. We must live in the place of readiness, and if we truly love the Lord, we will live in this place of readiness because our love for Him will compel us to draw near.
What does a furnished and prepared life look like? I’d welcome your input on this. As I was thinking about this, the following things came to mind: being full of the Holy Spirit, being increasingly surrendered and yielded to God, being a person of the Word and prayer.
In verses 13-14, when Jesus was ready for that room He gave directions to the disciples:
Go into the city
There will be a man
He will be carrying a pitcher of water
Follow him to a house
Speak to the master of the house
Jesus knew exactly where the room was. And He knows exactly where we are. He knows those who have faithfully devoted themselves to drawing near to Him, and when He is looking for someone to use in this wonderful task of sharing the gospel, He knows how to find us.
Oh, that we would live in this place of readiness, free from the many distractions of this world, and with our hearts set on knowing Him. Lord, help us to be furnished and prepared.
“….but the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” 2 Samuel 11:27
David’s sin with Bathsheba started out with a glance, then a gaze, and then a summons. There is always a progression with sin. It begins subtly in our thoughts and the outcome is often determined at this point. The Holy Spirit will be faithful to warn us, but we must listen. If we choose to ignore the quiet voice, the gentle tuggings at our conscience, we will find ourselves soon heading full speed down the path of iniquity.
Surely at some point while David was gazing upon Bathsheba he felt that nudging. After all, he was a man after God’s own heart. But his desire to please his flesh at that moment was stronger than his desire to please God. And Bathsheba was summoned, a child was conceived and her husband was murdered. David married Bathsheba and life continued……
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
One of the most chilling phrases in the Bible to me is the prophet Nathan’s confrontation of David’s sin. YOU ARE THE MAN! Fear must have gripped David’s heart as he realized his sin was not hidden from the eyes of God. As a man that knew God’s law, he knew the penalty for what he had done was death.
And yet….
Although David did not escape this incident unscathed, God has extended a scepter of grace to him. Justice required his death. Mercy granted him life.
When I think of this story I am reminded of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. As she is brought to Jesus, it is recorded that he was writing on the ground. People have always wondered what he was writing. I think he was writing “David and Bathsheba”.
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
I have read my Bible faithfully (pretty much) for over 11 years. I’ve read through the New Testament more times than I remember. I’ve quoted this particular verse frequently. But I read it today and realized that I have read it incorrectly all these years.
I was reading this morning in a different translation than I usually use. Immediately I thought there must be a problem with the translation, so I looked at the verse in several other translations. And there it was in all of them – IF. Apparently it had been there all along and I hadn’t seen it. How could I not have seen it? For all those years my brain had substituted the word “because”. Maybe the reasoning behind that is that of course Jesus’ disciples would have love for one another. And so because of our love for each other people would know we are His disciples.
But it says IF.
Meaning maybe we won’t love each other.
I think that’s the saddest IF I’ve ever seen in my life.
“For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?” 2 Samuel 19:28
Sometimes I think I’m entitled to certain things, especially if I don’t see them as harmful. I have this bad habit of thinking I know what will make me happy. I’m not sure why I still find myself believing this from time to time because it has never proven true in the past. But there are times that I become convinced that THIS TIME I have really found exactly what I need to complete my life. And God says no.
This is where the rubber meets the road in our walk with God. What will you do with His no? I’ll tell you what I did – I cried over it, I tried to bargain with Him over it, I strayed into disobedience over it, and finally I got broken over it and let go.
I realized that I am a Mephibosheth who, by grace, has been given access to the King’s table always. Like Mephibosheth, there really is no good reason the King should have even allowed me to live, but He had mercy on me because He loves me. When I think deeply on these things I am very ashamed of how I have responded to His no.
Not only have I come to the conclusion that I have no right to complain, but I have no desire to either. Instead I will rejoice in this King who loved me enough to include me in His kingdom.
“Count the cost
Of being Mine”
Jesus says
“Deny yourself
Take up your cross
Lose your life for My sake
And for My gospel
Be hated of the world
And esteemed a fool
This is the lot of my disciples”
“Will you lay down your will
Your desires
Your plans?
And will you embrace Mine?”
“Yes, Lord”
Is my reply
“I will follow”
Because my heart
Has thus agreed
My mind believes
It has obeyed
Yet hear this heart
When denied
It’s desires or comfort
Hear it protest
Against the unfairness
Hear it cry
How miserable it is
As it languishes in self-pity
Where now is your “Yes”?
Merciful Lord, please give me a “Yes” that penetrates to the very depths of my soul.
During the Wednesday night service, Pastor Randy made this statement and I can’t get it out of my head.
“Watch my life and see how I trust Him.”
As he began his message on faith, he explained that he wasn’t going to be teaching us anything new or telling us something we didn’t already know. But as I listened, I was so encouraged to believe God. It’s not that I’ve been disbelieving Him, but I think there is a level of trusting God that I have never experienced. And this is the life that causes people to take note that there is something different.
When I can learn to REALLY cast my care upon the Lord and to leave it there – they will see how I trust Him.
When I no longer complain about things that are not fair – they will see how I trust Him.
When I can truly experience His peace that passes understanding in the midst of the most difficult trials – they will see how I trust Him.
“My faith in God is not just about me, but it is a testimony to others of His goodness and faithfulness.”
I want to be able to endure in faith and obedience, trusting God completely even when the situations I am trusting Him in haven’t changed.
Israel continued to march about Jericho even though the walls never showed any sign of weakening.
The priests stepped into the overflowing waters of the Jordan although the water had not receded.
Rahab hid the spies, believing that Jericho was given to Israel even before they had crossed the Jordan and while the walls of the city were still strong.
There was no evidence to prompt their obedience. But there was faith. So believing God, they were obedient, and in one moment God changed everything.
As the apostle Paul was aboard a ship on his way to Rome, in the midst of the tempest as the storm beat violently against the ship and all hope was lost that they would reach safety, he speaks these words:
“For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” Acts 27:23-25
The storm rages, the men were hopeless, and yet he says “I believe God.”
When I look back on my life (not to mention in the word of God) there is ample evidence of His faithfulness and trustworthiness. It is scandalous that I should not trust Him always.
I long for a radical faith that just trusts God like crazy in everything. What would be the outcome if I could really live like this?
Maybe they could watch my life and see how I trust Him.
“For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:43
From the beginning God created us for fellowship, both with Him and with each other. After creating Adam He said it was not good for him to be alone. So he created Eve and Adam now had human fellowship. And civilization from that time has enjoyed fellowship with others. But this fellowship was never intended to supersede or replace our fellowship with God. But our fellowship with each other was to be enriched and deeply satisfying because of our fellowship with Him.
Our creator knew that within each of us was a desire for acceptance. This was a desire that He intended to be met in Him. However, just as sin has distorted everything else, it has distorted this as well and we have looked to any number of places and people to find acceptance.
While we are exhorted by Scripture to live at peace with all men, we are never told to seek the acceptance of men. Many times, obtaining the acceptance of those around us will require compromise and this is a dangerous thing. Once we have begun down this path it is hard to find our way back, for then we risk losing the approval of those we have worked so hard to please.
The glory that comes from man is fickle and fleeting. It is never worth the price of obtaining it. Much greater and commended by Scripture is seeking the glory that comes from God. This is the acceptance that is the inheritance of those who belong to Christ.
Accepted in the Beloved.
Not because I did it right, but because He did it right. For those of us who have experienced many failures and rejections in life, this is a precious promise.
1 Samuel 23:16-17 “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.”
This is an amazing passage. Jonathan should have been the next king. Certainly he had been raised with this expectation and trained to fill that position after his father Saul. Yet he was aware who God had chosen for that role and it wasn’t him; and that was okay. He was able to see the bigger picture – who God had chosen and anointed. He didn’t feel threatened. He knew that he would be near the king and that was enough for him.
Saul on the other hand, although he also knew God had chosen David to be king, was tireless in his efforts to hunt down and kill David.
I have heard a term used for what there seems to be so much of in the church these days – “spiritualized ambition”. So many people are waiting for their world wide ministry to materialize. Not content with the ordinariness of now, we waste today by always looking off into the dreamed of tomorrow. Oh that we would turn our focus on what is truly important – not our ministry, but our King – Jesus. Whatever our role is to be in serving Him on this earth, it is enough that we shall be next to Him.
He is my Delight 