Category Archives: His Ways Are Not Our Ways

His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Love, Loving / Kind, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Through Prophets

Seek to Love and Honor God

I really appreciate the example David demonstrates in his relationship with the Father. He is not just looking for his own power and comfort. David also wants to honor the LORD.  Yahweh, knowing David’s heart to please and honor Him, wants to honor David as well. David accepts the blessing and honor from Yahweh and thanks Him with humility.

What a great roadmap for us to follow. Of course, sometimes the LORD may accept our offer to do something to honor Him, and then we should do it.  Worth mentioning is the fact that David sought the LORD through Nathan the prophet in order to see if he should proceed with what he thought would honor God. When the LORD said “no”, David accepted that answer.  I see this as another example where the LORD is pleased based on David’s heart, not his accomplishments.

1 Chronicles 17

God’s Covenant with David

      1And it came about, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under

curtains.” 2Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

      3It came about the same night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4“Go and tell David My servant, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in; 5for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another. 6“In all places where I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar?’”’ 7“Now, therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel. 8“I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. 9“I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be moved again; and the wicked will not waste them anymore as formerly, 10even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies.
Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you. 11“When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12“He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13“I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. 14“But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.”’” 15According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer in Response

      16Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far? 17“This was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree, O LORD God. 18“What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant? For You know Your servant. 19“O LORD, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things. 20“O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21“And what one nation in the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make You a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt? 22“For Your people Israel You made Your own people forever, and You, O LORD, became their God.

      23“Now, O LORD, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as You have spoken. 24“Let Your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Your servant is established before You.’ 25“For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build for him a house; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You. 26“Now, O LORD, You are God, and have promised this good thing to Your servant. 27“And now it has pleased You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O LORD, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”

It is good to seek the LORD in how we can honor Him. We should listen to His reply, whether “yes” or “no”. If our heart is truly toward pleasing the LORD, then He will know it and be pleased with us.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please give me a heart that wants to honor and glorify You above any of my personal desires or plans. Guide me in how I should please You. Help me to hear Your voice. Thank You for getting involved in our lives and allowing me into personal relationship with You. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Purposeful / Intentional, Submitted / Servant

Do All Things According to His Instructions Rather Than Your Own

In 1 Chronicles 13 we see David’s first attempt to move the ark and we can compare that to his second effort in 1 Chronicles 15. His first effort, which we explored in an earlier article, was based on doing things his own way. It was the same mission, a good one, to get the ark to Jerusalem. However in his first attempt, David did it his own way and it did not work out well. In his second effort, David did things according to Yahweh’s ways. Instead of a cart pulled by oxen, now the Levites carry the ark. Things go much more smoothly when David does things the way the LORD instructed. This is not simply about the ark. If we look with discernment we can see clearly that the same applies in any task we try to accomplish, even if the task is noble and intended to please the LORD. Will we do it our way? or the LORD’s way?

1 Chronicles 15:1-28

Plans to Move the Ark to Jerusalem

      1Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.” 3And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place which he had prepared for it. 4David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: 5of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his relatives; 6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives; 7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives; 8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and 200 of his relatives; 9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and 80 of his relatives; 10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.

      11Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab, 12and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; consecrate yourselves both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it. 13“Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” 14So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.

      16Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. 17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; 20and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah, with harps tuned to alamoth; 21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, to lead with lyres tuned to the sheminith. 22Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful. 23Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark.

      25So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore an ephod of linen. 28Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres.

The lesson we can learn in this scripture is not about moving the ark or about God wanting everything His own way. The lesson is about living submitted to the LORD our God in all things and doing things according to His instruction because we love and respect Him.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me submit to You and do all things according to Your ways instead of my own. Help me to joyfully submit to You and serve You. Let me not see this as a burden to know and obey Your instructions, but rather as guidance from a loving Father who already knows how I should be doing things and is trying to lead me. Thank You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Guide, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Purposeful / Intentional, Submitted / Servant

Whoever Has, to Him More Shall Be Given… Is That Fair?

By today’s culture, many likely read on the surface the following verse and think, “That is not fair.” More and more people are indoctrinated by the teaching of men with man’s concept of fair and somehow everyone is supposed to have equal outcomes.

Mark 4:25

25“For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

This same message is included in Luke 8:18 and Matthew 13:12 in the same context as Yeshua talks to His disciples about the parable of the sower.

There will never be equal outcomes because everyone is different and makes different choices. In fact, we are made intentionally different to serve the purposes of Yahweh (Romans 9) and for the purpose of functioning as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).

It is important to put aside man’s view of “fair” and listen to what Yahweh’s word actually says. Do not miss the context. Yeshua was speaking to the disciples about why He taught in parables.

Mark 4:10-12

10As soon as He was alone, [b]His followers, along with the twelve disciples, began asking Him about the parables. 11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes in parables, 12so that WHILE SEEING THEY MAY SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND IT WOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM.”

We may think it is unfair, but what we think does not define what is right. What the LORD says is right, is right, whether or not we understand it. Clearly the LORD is making a distinction about the level of knowledge of the kingdom of Yahweh that is being entrusted to the disciples vs. others who may come to hear what Yeshua was teaching. Some are given more insight and some very little.

To further clarify the bottom line of the message, it is helpful to review the parable of the talents in which Yeshua makes the same statement about those having more getting more and those having little, losing even what they have. The key is that those who are obedient in little things will be entrusted with much and will be given more. Those who can not be trusted with little things, will lose even what they have. This includes insights and wisdom about the kingdom, not just money.

Matthew 25:14-29

Parable of the Talents

      14“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17“In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

      19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

      22“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

      24“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

      26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

      29“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please guide me in Your wisdom. Please open my eyes to the truth of Your kingdom and how I should live. Help me to be trustworthy and obedient so that You would trust me with more. Let me never take for granted what You have given me so that I would lose it. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Humility, Parables, Seeking God, Thankfulness

Why Does Yeshua Teach in Parables?

Yeshua was asked by his disciples why He taught in parables. I used to assume it was because it made it easier for people to relate and understand, but His answer is different and it can really challenge us to think a bit differently  if we let it. Let us not take for granted that He has chosen us to understand. Let us be humble and thankful.

Mark 4:10-12

10As soon as He was alone, [b]His followers, along with the twelve disciples, began asking Him about the parables. 11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes in parables, 12so that WHILE SEEING THEY MAY SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND IT WOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM.”

More detail is recorded in Matthew.

Matthew 13:10-17

An Explanation

      10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14“In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

      15FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’

16“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17“For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Some have been granted the opportunity to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and some have not. Yahweh does not reveal Himself to everyone equally. Some He has chosen for honorable purposes and some for common.

Romans 9:21-24

21Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? 22What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

Thus Yeshua says He speaks in parables so that some will hear and understand and some will not. This may be very challenging for some of us to digest who have been taught that Yahweh wants everyone to be saved. Not all are chosen for special purpose of being in relationship with Him. Caution, however, do not let this lead you to stop praying for people who are lost. It is by prayer that some will be brought to relationship with our LORD.

Let us also recognize that this was always His intent, as it is captured in prophecy to which Yeshua refers.

Take time to reflect on the word. Let it challenge your comfort zone. Test what you have been taught against what the word says. Let us also change our attitudes a bit to be less confident in ourselves for our salvation and relationship with Yahweh and more grateful to the LORD for choosing us. Yes, we had to respond and choose Him, but He chose us first. Be humble and thankful in regards to your relationship with our Father.

Yeshua also refers to giving more to the one who has much and taking from him who has little.  I think this is in relationship to our faith and our corresponding relationship with Him. There is no middle ground. We are either with Him or against Him. Do not try to ride the fence between Yahweh and man.

Matthew 12:30

    30“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Revelation 3:15-16

    15‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Fear / Reverence for God, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Holy, Obeying God, Seeking God, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Focus on God’s Mission, Not Your Own, and Do It His Way

Sometimes we may have a tendency to get angry with Yahweh when something does not work out well, even if it was relating to the church or ministry or service to others. David experienced this when he tried to move the ark and Uzza was struck down by Yahweh for touching the ark. David became fearful, which is understandable, and paused the movement of the ark.

1 Chronicles 13

Peril in Transporting the Ark

      1Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader. 2David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us; 3and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

      5So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 7They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.

      9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. 10The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11Then David became angry because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day. 12David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.

A common attitude in reading this scripture may be that Yahweh was harsh or that David was only trying to honor Yahweh. However, if we look deeper the history gets more interesting.  David clearly asked the people if moving the ark was a good idea, and said he wanted to do it if it was from Yahweh. However, there is no firm indication that David went to the LORD in prayer and sought an answer from Yahweh about moving the ark. It is not clear if he did so, but its absence of mention may imply he did not as elsewhere in scripture that action is explicitly mentioned.

Further, David moved the ark his own way, not the way Yahweh had instructed. David used a cart where Yahweh instructed it was to be carried by men in a certain way. Yahweh also said noone should touch it and that was violated when Uzza reached up to stabilize it. It would not have tipped and needed to be stabilized if it was carried properly as Yahweh instructed.

I suppose a summary may be that David was so excited with what he wanted to do, perhaps with good intention for honoring the LORD, that he may not have consulted with the LORD on the mission and definitely went about it his own way instead of Yah’s way. The ark was holy and set apart for Yahweh’s purpose. It was not to be treated as common cargo.

I believe there is a lesson in this for all of us. It is not enough to seek to honor God in what we think is right and do it however we want. We must honor God how He instructs and seek Him to make sure we are lined up with His mission and not our own.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to stop and ask You about those things I want to accomplish, even if my heart is towards You. Help me pause and seek You. Let me hear from You. May the Spirit guide me. Show me how to accomplish all You call me to do in a way that is pleasing to You. Help me not to just hurry to do it how I think is right without seeking You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Church / Body of Christ, Courage / Fear, His Ways Are Not Our Ways

Bravery, Courage, Warriors and the Ability to Wage War… These Are All Good Things

Some people seem to get confused and associate all soldiers and all war with murder and act as if soldiers of war are bad. This is quite frankly not the case. The ability to wage war as a nation is very important for maintaining peace. The wicked will come on those who they perceive can not well defend themselves. This philosophy today is called peace through strength. Who wants to attack someone who has a better and stronger military than they do? Nobody with their wits about them.

In 1 Chronicles 12 we see David’s brave and powerful soldiers called out for their abilities to fight. They are portrayed rightly in glory and honor for their gifts. It is not the army or the ability to wage war that is bad, but only if some wage war for the wrong purposes. In that regard waging war is much like having a knife. If you use it as a cutting tool or, if necessary to defend yourself, then it is a valuable tool. If you use it to murder someone, than you, and not the knife, have sinned.

David’s Supporters in Ziklag

      1Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2They were equipped with bows, using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow; they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite, 4and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty. Then Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, 5Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, 6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Korahites, 7and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

      8From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains. 9Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh. 14These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army; he who was least was equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand. 15These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks and they put to flight all those in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.

      16Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17David went out to meet them, and said to them, “If you come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and decide.”

18Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said,
“We are yours, O David,
And with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
And peace to him who helps you;
Indeed, your God helps you!”
Then David received them and made them captains of the band.

      19From Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.” 20As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh. 21They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army. 22For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God.

Supporters Gathered at Hebron

      23Now these are the numbers of the divisions equipped for war, who came to David at Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24The sons of Judah who bore shield and spear were 6,800, equipped for war. 25Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26Of the sons of Levi 4,600. 27Now Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him were 3,700, 28also Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains. 29Of the sons of Benjamin, Saul’s kinsmen, 3,000; for until now the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30Of the sons of Ephraim 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ households. 31Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were designated by name to come and make David king. 32Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command. 33Of Zebulun, there were 50,000 who went out in the army, who could draw up in battle formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David with an undivided heart. 34Of Naphtali there were 1,000 captains, and with them 37,000 with shield and spear. 35Of the Danites who could draw up in battle formation, there were 28,600. 36Of Asher there were 40,000 who went out in the army to draw up in battle formation. 37From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons of war for the battle.

      38All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one mind to make David king. 39They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them. 40Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and on oxen, great quantities of flour cakes, fig cakes and bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen and sheep. There was joy indeed in Israel.

Today also “manliness” is under attack in many ways. There are many who want to push men and women to be more and more alike, instead of celebrating their differences.  Many want to discourage men from being the type of rough, tough, and brave men described in 1 Chronicles 12. Instead they want to encourage much more tame versions of men, that are more concerned with offending someone  who is very easy to offend than with embracing what God made them to be. There will always be someone who is offended, especially when we live for Yahweh. We must use discernment in how we let that affect our choices and attitudes. Yeshua offended many, and so did His disciples and the prophets. Offending someone can not be our measuring stick for godliness.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please open people’s eyes to Your word and Your truth. Let them not be confused on what is good and bad by the incorrect teachings of men. Help Your people focus on what is in Your word and give us insight to guide us. Deliver back to us a righteous nation and lift up the righteous. Help us to appreciate those soldiers and leaders who are part of a strong military so we do not have to fight to defend our nation. Help them to have courage and to embrace righteousness. Open their eyes to Your wonderful ways. Also, please help strengthen in our culture Your vision of what men should strive to become. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Guide, Healer, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Miracles, Miracles, Teachable

Did Yeshua Really Heal Everyone Who Came to Him?

It is interesting to pause and reflect on Yeshua’s ministry, that it was very demanding on Him. We don’t usually think of it that way, because He is God. However, He was also man. He slept, ate, drank, got tired, rested, etc.

As Yeshua healed people, His reputation spread and people came from farther and farther around. To be clear, it appears that most of these came for selfish reasons, for personal healing or healing of friends or family. They did not come seeking to hear His teaching. The miracles brought them in and then He was able to teach them while they were with Him.

Mark 3:7-12

      7Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, 8and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him. 9And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; 10for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.

This scripture also sheds light on the incorrect understanding that Yeshua came to heal everyone or healed everyone who came to Him. Some people take this to mean God wants everyone to be healed of all illness. It is not the case. Yeshua wanted to be able to get on a boat to keep distance from the crowds pressing in to touch Him and be healed. It is not that He did not have compassion, but rather that He was there to teach and guide people. He was not there to heal everyone. They were crowding so tightly they were impacting His teaching ministry.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to fully appreciate the tireless and difficult work that Yeshua did during His earthly ministry. Let me not take for granted the physical and emotional demands on Him personally. Help me in my life to seek You through Yeshua for who You are and what You teach and not just for my own personal healing or that of those around me. That said, thank you also that You invite us to come before You with our requests or personal needs and wants, including healing. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discerning / Judging, Grace / Forgiveness, His Ways Are Not Our Ways

The LORD Uses Unexpected People; You May Be One of Them

Matthew was not a popular person. No Jewish person liked the tax collector who was collecting for the Romans, and often taking more than they should so they had some profit for themselves as well. It has not changed all that much even today. When I do business with most, I get a name. When the IRS sends me something they do not give a contact name but some sort of code or ID. I presume they are shielding their people’s identity because they know most people do not like what they do even today.

Yeshua chose Matthew. He saw something in Him. Matthew immediately followed and left behind what he was doing. Do not miss both of these facts. If Yeshua can use Matthew, He can also use a lot of unexpected people, and you and I may be some of them. Answer quickly when He calls.

Mark 2:13-17

Levi (Matthew) Called

      14As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

Do not overlook that Matthew was likely turning away from a good personal financial situation to follow Yeshua. It was not simply convenient for him to drop everything and follow Yeshua. I also conclude that Matthew had heard of Yeshua or even heard Him directly, and was aware of the miracles. It was not as if a stranger came and called Him.

I suppose we can also keep in mind when we see others coming in the name of Yeshua, some of them may have unexpected background and we may be tempted to reject some on their personal history. Take care not to do this to readily. They may be one more unexpected person responding to the call of Yeshua to share the gospel. Test them on what they teach and the fruit they bear, not solely on their past mistakes or lifestyle.

Similarly, do not exclude the possibility that He will choose to use you because of your past either. Be ready to answer the call.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to have discernment to test others not by their past mistakes alone but by their fruit and what they teach and how they live.  Please help me be prepared to answer quickly when You call. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Children, Faith / Trusting God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Holy, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Obeying God, Study the Word, Traditions / Holidays

Yeshua Is the Passover Lamb

As the final days of his earthly ministry were passing, Yeshua led His disciples to prepare to celebrate Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Think about that for a few moments. Yeshua, God himself living among us, chose to spend some of the closing moments of His brief earthly ministry in preparation of Passover. It was clearly important to him and for good reason.

The timing is not coincidental that Yeshua would be sacrificed for our sins at Passover time. It was intended that way by our Creator. Passover not only reminds us of deliverance from bondage in Egypt but also foreshadows our deliverance from the bondage of sin through the sacrifice of Yeshua on the cross. Yeshua was sacrificed as our Passover lamb… dying for our sins so we can be set free from sin and death.

Mark 14:12-21

The Last Passover

12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 13And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; 14and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15“And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” 16The disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

17When it was evening He came with the twelve. 18As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.” 19They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl. 21“For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

These celebrations are not “Jewish” tradition. They are not just somehow a meaningless or obsolete instruction from our Creator either. Now we who believe in Yeshua as Messiah have more reason to celebrate it than ever before! Passover and Unleavened Bread are part of God’s tradition for celebrating and remembering our deliverance from sin through Christ! It is a wonderful way to teach our children about the Creator’s relationship with His people.

Exodus 13:6-10

6“For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. 7“Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders. 8“You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9“And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. 10“Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.

We should enjoy taking part in our Father’s appointed times rather than creating our own based on the traditions of men. It is not just that He tells us to… that got me started to look into it. Now I see how powerfully these celebrations tie into the core element of my faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and what a wonderful way it is to teach my children. As I reflected personally in this regard, it occurred to me. God has some pretty good ideas. (That is quite an understatement!)

I invite you to take some small steps even today to learn more about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread and how it is not only a celebration of Yahweh freeing His people out of slavery in Egypt, but also a celebration of our being freed from bondage to sin through the death and resurrection of Yeshua!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for preparing a path to redemption and reconciliation for us with You. Thank You for sending Your son, Yeshua, to die for our sins so that we can be forgiven. Help me to have a thankful and joyful heart and fully submit to You! Amen. 

To study more on this topic, please review our category of posts relating to Holidays/Traditions (scroll down to move from one post to another) and consider the following.

Here are a few resources where you can learn more about the Moedim, the Creator’s calendar (often called the “Jewish” calendar).

 

I encourage you to invest time studying this topic and do not dismiss it. I have found it to be powerful in transforming the focus of our celebrations off of ourselves and rightly focused toward our Creator and Savior!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Arrogance, Help / Serve Others, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Obeying God, Pride, Selfishness, Worldliness

To Truly Lead Is to Serve, Not to Be Put on a Pedestal and Admired

It is all together too easy to listen only to what Yeshua says we should do and overlook something equally important. Let us pay attention to the fact that Yeshua rebuked those who were doing wrong, even those in a place of authority. We do well to pay attention to what He tells them, and us, not to do.

Clearly He is not pleased simply with someone claiming the name of Yahweh. He wants us to truly worship and respect and obey the Father. It is in what we do, not what we say or how we look, that we demonstrate our righteousness, our love for Father, and our submission to Him.

Matthew 23:1-12

Pharisaism Exposed

      1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4“They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5“But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6“They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

When seated in the chair of Moses, they were to read only from the Torah. Thus Yeshua emphasizes that we are to obey the law of Yahweh. However, He also calls out the hypocrisy in how the Pharisees do not live out the law they teach to others. Thus, do as they say (when teaching the law), and not as they do.

When Yeshua speaks of tying up heavy burdens and not doing them, I believe He is referring to the Pharisees adding on to the law with their own instructions and commands. Their additions created a burden for people to follow, yet they did not even do God’s law themselves.

Yeshua calls out the Pharisees for their desire to be called out with special respect and emphasis among the people. They like having the spotlight and a place of honor. They were not seeking relationship with the Father, but rather focused on getting the attention of men. We should be the opposite of that, focused on pleasing the Father rather than impressing men.

There is also an important point made here about leadership. Do not seek to be a leader to lord it over people as one who is better than they. Do not seek to be called father or rabbi as a sign of respect as if you have some unique insight into the Father’s will. Instead carry the attitude of being brothers, all seeking and following our Messiah. Help, lead, serve. I close with the last two verses, which can not be emphasized enough.

11“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to be humble and to have a servant’s heart. Let me now lord over people any position of authority, but rather use it as an opportunity to serve them and help them. I pray You would raise up leaders with this attitude around our nation in political office and teachers of Your word. Cast down those who seek to elevate themselves rather than serve and help others, especially those who do so while calling upon Your great name. Help me and all of Your people to understand how to live out Your instructions according to the law. Raise up more workers for the harvest. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.