David had a relationship with GOD

David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead.  “Is the child dead?” he asked.  “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

Then David got up from the ground.  After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped.  Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way?  While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.  I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.’  But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting?  Can I bring him back again?  I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”    2 Samuel 12:19-23 NIV

The understatement of the year award goes to the one who simply says, “David had a relationship with the LORD.”

David knew death.  Even though he was a man after GOD’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14, I Samuel 16:7, Acts 13:22), GOD did not allow David to build the temple because of the blood he had shed (I Chronicles 22:8).

So why do I share this passage as we approach Easter?  It comes to mind when I think of death.  David’s child—a child that he, the king of Israel begged to be spared—and GOD said no.  GOD struck the child ill and then took him (2 Samuel 12).  And how did David react?  With worship to GOD.

David said about his child: I will go to him, but he will not return to me.  Physical death is not the end.  That is the promise.  But GOD will rescue me from the power of death.  Psalm 49:15 CEV.  And my response?  Always, it should be rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NASB.

Yes, David indeed had a relationship with the LORD.

About an odd man who loved his wife

Come, and let us return unto JEHOVAH; for HE hath torn, and HE will heal us; HE hath smitten, and HE will bind us up.  After two days will HE revive us: on the third day HE will raise us up, and we shall live before HIM. Hosea 6:1-2 ASV

Does anyone else think Hosea is an odd book?  Granted, he’s not as nutty as Ezekiel.  On the days when I feel like I’m losing my mind, Ezekiel is an excellent book to read.  “At least I’m not as crazy as he was.”

But Hosea, what about him?  The LORD calls him as a prophet.  He cries out, “Destruction is coming, Destruction is coming!”  And does GOD leave it at that?  Mere words?  A warning?

No.  GOD does what HE always does.  He takes it farther.  “Hosea, let me use you as an object lesson.”  Hmm, sure… okay?

When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.”  Hosea 1:2 NIV

The LORD tells him to marry a ‘worldly’ woman?  And what does Hosea do?  Obeys.  Did he lecture her?  Make her realize the errors of her ways?  Condemn her?  “Only I could love you because GOD told me to.”  No.  Hosea loved his wife—even when she ran away.  He paid for her.  Heartbreak and fifteen pieces of silver along with some grain.  Why would GOD tell Hosea to do this?  Why would Hosea obey?

Come, and let us return unto JEHOVAH; for HE hath torn, and HE will heal us; HE hath smitten, and HE will bind us up.  After two days will HE revive us: on the third day HE will raise us up, and we shall live before HIM. Hosea 6:1-2 ASV

Did Hosea somehow understand the depth of love GOD has for us?  GOD loves HIS people--I preach that all the time.  Even when Israel left HIM, HE still loved them.  And today, when we leave HIM?  HE still loves us.  HIS desire is for all of us to come back.

The LORD is not slow in keeping HIS promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead HE is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9 NIV

As Easter approaches, what can I take from this text?  I take that I will never understand the depth of love GOD has for us.  For me.  But some days, I think I catch a glimpse.

Considering the Cost or Maybe Not

Don’t you know that all who share in CHRIST JESUS by being baptized also share in HIS death?  When we were baptized, we died and were buried with CHRIST.  We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as CHRIST was raised to life by the glory of GOD the Father.  Romans 6:3-4 CEV

My seven year old was baptized Sunday.  A joyous time.  A time to celebrate.  A time of new beginnings because the road she has chosen is long and narrow… few find it, few stay on it.

I hold tight to believer’s baptism.  The choice to follow CHRIST—each person must decide for themselves.  But as I think on believer’s baptism, I wonder, “can a child truly decide to become a disciple of CHRIST?”  The choice is lasting and the stakes are high… so GOD leaves the choice to a child?  How is that possible?

But I would never deny my child, or any child, the choice to love GOD.  The opportunity to tell all, “I have decided to follow JESUS.”  But how much can she understand?  How much does she know?  It is an important decision, can a seven year old even consider the cost?  The cost of discipleship?

And then she hands me a prayer-poem she has written.  She says she forgets to pray and wrote this to hang on her wall as a reminder. 

LORD, I pray forever, even when I am Blue

YOU are my LORD my Savior
YOU’re with me every day
When I’m sad YOU wipe away my tears
When I’m mad you calm me down
When I come up with YOU, I’ll worship YOU FOREVER.
Amen

JESUS said "Permit the children to come to ME; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these.  Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of GOD like a child shall not enter it at all." (Mark 10:14-15 NASB)

On the Fence

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7

On the fence of mercy or justice, where do you fall off?  I suppose it depends on who it is. If it’s me, I want mercy.  If it’s someone who’s wronged me, I want justice.

So where is the line?  When are we to extend mercy?  When do we get hard-nosed and demand justice?  Why must I choose?

JESUS took our place and justified us.  When we accept HIM, we are in right with GOD.  So we are to extend mercy to all?  But there are wrongs in the world.  Extending mercy seems too much like… excusing.

Is there a way to show mercy while delivering justice?  Can I be compassionate on those who have wronged me?  Not excusing, still expecting them to receive the consequences, but to love them as they endure?  Maybe endure with them?

I don’t know the answer.  I see evil in the world.  And I want justice.  But no one person is completely bad.  And only JESUS was all good.  He tempered justice with mercy.  But I worry I don’t have enough compassion.  Enough love to do something about the evil in the world.  I have only selfish desire.

Do we need more justice?  Yes.  Do we need more compassion in the world?  Absolutely.  How do I not forget justice but yet be more merciful? 

Lord I pray we will be a living and holy sacrifice for YOU.  I pray we will transformed so we may show YOUR mercies on others.  I pray for justice.  I pray for mercy.  And, most especially, I pray for YOUR will to be done.

What Scripture Indeed?

I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me.  That part is: CHRIST died for our sins, as the Scriptures say.  HE was buried, and three days later HE was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.  CHRIST appeared to Peter, then to the twelve.  After this, HE appeared to more than five hundred followers.  Most of them are still alive, but some have died.  HE also appeared to James and then to all of the apostles.  I Corinthians 15:3-7 CEV

Pop quiz: What “as the Scriptures say” is Paul talking about?  What scriptures?  A. New Testament B. Old Testament.  Hint: The New Testament was still a bunch of letters being passed around.  Ah, then the answer is the Old Testament.

But wait, I thought the Old Testament didn’t have a fully developed theme of life after death?  I’ve always been told the full understanding came with the New Testament.  But Paul says as the Scriptures say.  Does that mean the ones who understood the Old Testament knew we would have a Messiah come, die for us, and rise again?  Really?  Paul seems to think so.

Maybe, just maybe, these Jews of old knew a little more than we give them credit for.  After all, they had to learn the first five books by rote memory.  Us?  Well, I have several commentaries I can read instead.

What scripture indeed… maybe I need to look to them more.  And let the scripture do surgery on my heart of stone.

 
LORD thank you for YOUR WORD, for it is alive and active.  It is sharper than any double-edged sword.  Thank YOU for YOUR WORD which can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow.  We thank YOU for ITS discoveries of the desires and thoughts of our hearts.  And we pray those discoveries will lead us back to YOU.

Not Worried About Forgetting My Camera...

I am your chosen one.  You won’t leave me in the grave or let my body decay.  Psalm 16:10 CEV

What is so sad about death?  That I’ll miss my loved ones?  I had a dream that I had forgotten to take my kids to see my grandparents.  I woke up and for a confused moment, I planned when I and the kids would go visit them.  But then I remembered… they were dead and my kids wouldn’t be able to meet them.

It strikes me that one of the saddest things about death is no more new photos of my loved ones.  What I have is all that I have.  No more new photos showing everyone growing older.  No more laughing when we see how much change has occurred from year to year.  The finality of it is overwhelming.

But with a life in CHRIST, death is not the end.  JESUS promises a new life.  Spiritual renewal now and bodily renewal in the future.  The grave cannot hold me or my loved ones in CHRIST anymore.  Because of HIS work, we are free.  I suppose I won’t mind not having a camera for new photos then.  I’ll have my loved ones instead.

 
LORD, thank you for the promise of new life.  We have new spiritual life when we chose to follow you and bodily resurrection when YOU come again.  We thank YOU that YOU won’t leave us in the grave or let our bodies stayed decayed.  We are indeed a new creation.

Forgiveness, how about I only do it when I'm in the wrong?

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8 NASB

From now until Easter I wanted to focus only on resurrection verses.  But as I thought on the resurrection, it dawned on me to write on forgiveness.  After all, JESUS defeated death but if HE chose not to forgive us, it would be curtains for us, right?  So here I go, delving into a topic I love in theory but don’t like to practice.

Forgiveness: when I’m in the wrong, I support it fully.  I preach it, teach it and beg for it.  I really want to experience it from the one I have wronged.  And it is so sweet and freeing when it is extended to me.

But what about when I’m in the right?  Do I extend forgiveness to those who wronged me?  Unfortunately, not so often.  So I’m in the right, and GOD calls me to forgive?  My reaction?  I pull a Jonah and run the other way.  I haven’t been swallowed by a big fish (yet) but I extended forgiveness kicking and screaming the entire way.

Maybe one day I’ll grow up.  When I’m in the right, and someone else has wronged me, GOD will call me to forgive and I’ll willingly forgive.  No complaints.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  No letting GOD know how much it pains me to let go of my rightness.  HE calls me to forgive, I obey.  Sounds easy?  I pray one day it will be.  But I’m not there, yet.

LORD, that you for the gift of forgiveness.  Thank YOU for letting us experience it from YOU and I pray we will learn to extend it to others, quickly and completely

A New Hope: NOT the Star Wars IV Kind

My flesh may be destroyed, yet from this body I will see GOD. Job 19:26 CEV

What an odd verse.  As I grow older, and find mysterious aches manifesting, I wonder about this verse.  What did Job know?

How can I see GOD from this physical body?  A body bound to a promise of decay and eventual death.  But then I think on another promise.  A new one.  As a believer in CHRIST, I am a new creation.  The old may have been promised to death but the new?  What is the new promise?

With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of GOD’s trumpet, the LORD will return from heaven.  Then those who had faith in CHRIST before they died will be raised to life (I Thessalonians 4:16 CEV).

Is that too much to hope for?  GOD gave us a spiritual resurrection but HE gives a physical one as well?  JESUS did it.  He came back from the dead.  Is that too much for me to hope for?  I mean, HE is GOD.  What am I?  Merely a fallen creature?  Yes.  But something more too.  That lovely tension that comes with being a CHRIST follower.  Yes, this body will die.  But HE who crushed death for HIMSELF will defeat death for me.  I can look around and though I see loved ones in CHRIST die, I know that is not the end game.  I have a new hope.

LORD, we thank you for sending YOUR SON to become one of us—ones with physical bodies.  JESUS died so HE could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil—and YOU have freed us who were slaves because of our fear of death.  We do not have to fear death anymore.

What's the point?

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that HE shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.  Job 19:25 KJV

What’s the point?  Why do we follow a man who lived two thousand years ago?  There is no one correct answer—or maybe there is.  We are to worship GOD.

Okay, so we could worship HIM during this lifetime.  And when we die, that’s it, we’re done.  Game over.  There are plenty of people, one of them could take my spot when I’m dead and gone.  But there is more.

Back in the beginning, GOD told Adam: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:17 KJV).

Eve and Adam ate the fruit.  And [cue drum roll] they still stood there?  Yes, they died.  For spiritually, it was immediate.  Physically, not for a few (hundred) years.  And now all of us have the promise of physical death to look forward to.

So back to the original question.  Why do we follow a man that lived two thousand years ago?  Because HE died?  Yes, BUT (this is the kicker) HE rose again.  One man, fully man, fully GOD, defeated death.  HE burst out of the chains of death.  He not only lives today.  But invites us to join HIM in life.  And life after death.  This life is not all there is.  There is more to come…

LORD, I thank YOU that my redeemer lives and that HE was not bound to death but lives again.  And knowing that, I pray we will not walk by sight but by faith.