Value a good reputation, but…

Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him. (1 Samuel 16:14–23)

Last week during a monthly meeting with a small group of quilters, one person brought a small accordion shaped storage box made of cloth that someone gave her. It looked complex and we could not figure out how it was made. Finally someone said to me, “You are good at finding information, so see if there is a pattern for it on the internet.”

That remark pleased me. People can have a reputation for many things, from playing a lyre to finding instructions, but having someone value what I can do well made me feel encouraged to keep doing it.

A few days later, another skill was pointed out and when no one seemed interested, I concluded that happened to keep my pride in check!

David likely didn’t have that problem. At least I couldn’t see any record of him boasting about playing music for the king. Not only that, that same king repeatedly tried to kill him. 

As I watch world news, it seems that there is a danger in doing well because attacks eventually come. Others are jealous, or consider the well-thought of person is a threat. Those or other reasons can even go as far as King Saul did. He enjoyed David’s skill but eventually tried to kill him. God can use a skill to help others, but sometimes that skill brings out the sinful attitudes of those who envy them.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

Jesus, I realize times where You do not want me to reveal what You have done in my life, perhaps because my talk does not match my walk. I need to be on guard against hypocrisy as well as boasting. However, if and when I do good, You should be praised. May my deeds match Your will so that others never criticize or find fault with You but give You glory.

Only a glove. . . .

 

While Christians cannot ‘save’ others, nor can unsaved people all by themselves make a decision to believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit works with God’s people to make things happen. Like a hand in a glove (we are the glove) He moves and reveals Himself through our obedience and our lives. Consider what the Bible says about the effect our actions can have:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

My obedience to God can cause others to glorify Him. Loving other Christians tells unbelievers that I follow Jesus. Obedience and a godly life may get me persecuted but when the Holy Spirit visits them, they will be receptive and glorify God because of what they saw.

I’ve heard said that as a forgiven child of God, I am free to live this new life, but that freedom is not about doing as I please. Gloves cannot move about or do anything without that almighty Hand that is in them.

Piper’s devotional points out that this is not just about spiritual activities. He talks about “all things” including business, industry, education, media, sports, arts, leisure, government, and all else. I’m aware that I’m not to be a mere ‘Sunday’ Christian, but to recognize Him and trust Him 24/7. Learning and doing this may take a lifetime, but His goal for me is transformation into the image of Christ. He exemplifies a perfect ‘glove’ in His yielded life.
Piper points out that there will never be a time before the return of Christ when all people will honor him as supreme. This emphasizes the importance of doing what He says now:

Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:6–10)

I’ve no idea whose lives will change because Jesus used me to show love to others, to behave as He obeyed in all areas of my life, to be motivated by the Spirit instead of following my “I-wants” instead of doing His will. But I’m finally learning that from the moment I rise up each day, to turn immediately to Him in worship and in an attitude of yielded listening. I’m only a glove so have no idea what He can do with that except that He says He can use it to change the lives of others.

PRAY: Jesus, You have a way of hugging me and making me feel very small at the same time.  I’ve no idea what this day will bring. I just want Your Spirit to keep my attention so that Your thoughts and Your will takes priority in whatever comes along.

Who is my slave-driver?

 

Our street is a U-shaped curve with both ends arriving at the same major road. One way is quicker because the other has a playground zone with a long stretch of reduced speed. Does that mean traffic slows down? Everyone knows that many drivers ignore a posted speed limit. What is the point of having a law if people do not obey it?

MacArthur says the same thing about the Word of God. We might assume that those who affirm the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of God’s Word would automatically submit to its authority, but that isn’t always the case. Even those who hold to a high view of Scripture sometimes fail to obey it.

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. (Isaiah 1:2)

The NT goes into this with more detail:

But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:17–24)

This condemnation is much like our society in which the Lord is ridiculed or ignored because of the sins of His people. It is said that Christians are the only Bible some will ever read but if they see us ignoring what God says, how easily this results in reasoning: ‘If they can do as they please, then so can I.’ God is aware so He says:

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

The NT also tells me that the OT disobedience of the Jews “took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did” and “they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”

In other words, just because the car ahead of me ignores the traffic rules does not ensure that I will avoid getting a speeding ticket if I do it. Right after the above admonition, the NT says:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:1–13)

God did not give me new life in Christ so I could be free to do whatever I please. That way of life is slavery to an ignorant and foolish taskmaster — me. If nothing else, God has taught me that I am oblivious to godly living apart from His instruction and enablement. His Word is clear and knowing it is like knowing the speed limit — which is totally useless unless I take my foot off the gas.

PRAY: Jesus, right away I can think of areas where I know what to do and do not do it. You invite me to greater prayer — and I can always find something else to do. You nudge me to call the shut-ins and needy folks in my life, and I easily think of reasons why this is not a suitable time. I sometimes procrastinate regarding the important things and instead do what gives me pleasure. I have no chapter and verses regarding my to-do list, but Your Word is loud and clear about listening and obeying Your voice. These things I confess.

PONDER: Yesterday I heard John Piper say that we may mean well, but without planning a time to pray, the chores of the day will distract us until the day is spent and the time has gone. I need to plan my days better than I do, not let my to-do list rob me of the most important things.

 

 

The main thing . . .

Daniel prayed with God’s glory in mind. He used words like “for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary” and “see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name” and “Pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” (Daniel 9:16–19)

Last night I praised God for what He is doing in a family member, however I realized that my words could be interpreted as praise for that person rather than the God who is changing his life. Today’s devotional is about giving God glory, about recognizing Him for who He is and to respond appropriately. The Word of God is full of ways to do that.

I can praise Him verbally: “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” (Psalm 86:12) Note, this is from the heart, not mere lip service. Speaking well of God is hypocrisy if it is not accompanied by obedience. The entire Bible calls us to do what God says and in that, we reflect His image to the world.

A third way is praying in Jesus’ name. “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). To pray in Jesus’ name is to align our prayers and desires with God’s purposes. That glorifies Him.

So also does spiritual fruit, those attitudes and actions that happen when my life is submitted to and ruled by the Holy Spirit. “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8). This fruit is outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, John 4:35-36, and Colossians 1:10.

God is also glorified when we do not sin with our body. “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20)

Being generous is another way to glorify God. Freedom to give is a shout out that God will take care of our needs, so we can gladly share what we have with others. 2 Corinthians 9:13 says it. My sister was totally convinced. She often gave to her own loss, only to have God take care of her needs in surprising ways. Her life and the lives of God’s generous people are a witness to God’s glory.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

These days, believers in many parts of the world bring glory to God because they do not back down under persecution, even when facing death:

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (1 Peter 4:16)

The list could go on, but it is summed up by this: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:31–33)

God’s desire is to reach sinners. Jesus died that people could be forgiven, changed, and spend eternity with Him. That message glorifies God. Oddly enough, many do not want to hear it. For that reason, I pray that God will change their ‘I wants’ to a deep love for God based on knowing He loves them and provides salvation for them. Seeking my own glory will not do that.

Jesus, I am Your ambassador to a dying world and have Your Spirit in my heart and your Word in my hands. I’m to speak your truth in love and live so I honor You. I do not deserve your mercy and grace, but ask You to grant me all that I need to glorify You. That includes the desire to do it, confessing sin and praying for others as well as doing whatever else possible to make known the wonder of You.

MORE: Using a good concordance or using ‘search’ in a computer Bible, do a word study on ‘glorify God’ and meditate on what the Bible says about this. Begin with Psalm 50:23.