April 14 - The Deceitfulness of Sin

 Read today’s texts first:  1 Samuel 15,16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 
Shifting blame or justifying disobedience hardens the heart; remorse and repentance softens it. 

As we read through the life of Saul we’ll notice a gradual hardening of his heart. He started off soft and teachable, very aware of his humble beginnings. He was reticent to be chosen as King because his family was insignificant (9:21), he was afraid to tell others about his anointing by Samuel (10:16), and when it came time for the big reveal, he was hiding in the baggage area (10:21). But soon he began to enjoy the public accolades and the power he was given went straight to his head, just as God predicted (8:4-18; 15:17-19).

Eventually Saul became more concerned with pleasing the people than pleasing God. He made a show of seeking God, like offering sacrifices himself (13:8-12), building an altar, and even inquiring of the Lord (14:35,37), but it seemed to be a pretext of spirituality. When confronted about not fully obeying God’s commands, he would justify himself (eg. 13:11,12). Our reading today is a classic illustration of the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13), where Saul actually starts to believe he knows better than God.

After being told by God to completely destroy the Amalekite’s livestock, he decides to save the best. When Samuel shows up to confront him, he finds Saul building a statue to honour himself for his victory over the Amalekites. Saul proactively greets him with this deluded statement: “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions” (15:13). Yah, right! When Samuel cups his hand to his ear and asks Saul, “what then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” (15:14), Saul is ready with his planned response, “the soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God” (15:15 - notice he said “your God”, not “my God” or “our God” – very telling). 

Shifting blame or justifying disobedience hardens the heart; remorse and repentance softens it. When Saul did finally repent, it was because Samuel told him, “because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king” (15:23-30). But notice his main concern was getting Samuel to be seen with him while he makes a public show of worshiping God – can you say “photo op”?

“Lord, I want to always remember that ‘obedience is better than sacrifice’ and should I ever forget, I want to be quick to repent, to be like David, ‘a man after God’s own heart’ (15:22; 13:14).”

April 13 - The Power of One (or Two)

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Samuel 14; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
Our choice of friends today can make
or break our future. 

The book and the movie called The Power of One is based on the life story of an English boy named Peekay (PK) growing up under apartheid in South Africa during World War 2. It is an inspirational testimony of what one person can do to change their world against overwhelming odds. The Bible has many such heroic stories of the power of one man or one woman, but the effect is even greater because they are not really alone. When God is with us the odds are always in our favour.

Today’s OT reading is the story of Jonathan and his armour bearer taking on the Philistine army by themselves. Not only were they vastly outnumbered, but the Philistines held positional advantage in an outpost surrounded by steep cliffs. Jonathan’s test for God’s will was an invitation from the Philistine soldiers to scale the cliffs untouched: “come up and we’ll teach you a lesson!” (14:12). Well instead, Jonathan plus one (plus God) schooled about 20 of the Philistine guards, throwing the rest of the army into panicked pandemonium (with God providing some earth-shaking special effects - 14:15,20). His father, King Saul, the rest of the army, and some Israeli defectors, were inspired by Jonathan’s example and carried out the mop up mission, subduing the rest of the Philistine army.

While rereading this story, two things caught my attention. First, how did Jonathan turn out so well when his dad became such a failure? I think part of the reason was Jonathan’s friends, like his armour bearer and David, both men of great faith. Choice of friends can make or break a teenager’s future and Jonathan chose well.

The second observation was how much one or two faith-full people can accomplish when they know God is with them.  This Bible promise from Deuteronomy explains how Jonathan could be successful against such odds:  How could one soldier chase a thousand enemies off, or two men run off two thousand, unless their rock had sold them, unless God had given them away? For their rock is nothing compared to our Rock; even our enemies say that (32:30,31). False gods will sell out those who serve them because they are powerless against our God, the one true God. Remember Dagon, the Philistine’s god, falling on his face before the Ark (1 Sam. 5:1-4).

“Lord, so often what the enemy is doing in our world seems overwhelming. But Your story, the story of Jesus, and the stories of those who follow in His footsteps, remind me of the power of one. Let me be among the ones powerful enough to put a thousand to flight!”

April 12 - Public Enemy #1

Read today’s texts first: 1 Samuel 13; 1 Chronicles 2,3; 2 Corinthians 12

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 
Those who crave the spotlight on the outside
often have darkness spreading on the inside.

While our reputation is important, it can never be our focus. The only way we can develop a reputation for integrity is by prioritizing our relationship with God. If we become a people pleaser instead of a God pleaser, we are heading toward a life of hypocrisy and our own self destruction. The contrast between King Saul and King David illustrates the difference.

Saul was the people’s choice. He was tall, dark and handsome (9:2), literally head and shoulders above the competition, and he quickly gained popularity as King (11:12-14). Now Saul started out right, humbled at being chosen as a leader (9:21), anointed by God (10:1), filled with God’s Spirit (10:9,10), and dependent on His leading when he began to fight for His people (11:6).

But soon our number one enemy, pride, began to replace God in Saul’s heart. He became more concerned about his public image than his personal relationship with God. In today’s reading we see two of the common symptoms of pride: taking credit away from others (13:3,4), and making excuses for sin, justifying, even spiritualizing his reasons (13:11,12). This was the beginning of the end for Saul (13:13,14), as God begins to look for “a man after his own heart,” who we learn later is David (more about him in the days ahead).

David illustrates how we develop a reputation for integrity, by pursuing God’s heart and letting Him take care of our reputation. When we concern ourselves with our public image by kissing babies, making speeches, spinning press conferences, and covering up sins and weaknesses, we soon see a growing disparity between who we are and who people think we are. Those who crave the spotlight on the outside often have darkness spreading on the inside.

It’s called hypocrisy (play-acting) and it can be a chronic problem for Pharisees, politicians, kings, and preachers! When we spend our mornings primping in the mirror instead of examining our soul, we are heading for self-destruction (Prov. 16:18). “Lord, my prayer today echoes Paul’s words: You  said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me (12:9).”

April 11 - The Oration of Reputation

Read today’s texts first: 1 Samuel 11,12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 Let your reputation speak for itself. If you blow
your own horn, you’ll be playing a solo.

My dad often told me, “let your reputation speak for itself.” Then he showed me what he meant by that, living a consistently reputable life. He made some mistakes, but he is remembered today by all who knew him as a good man who loved Jesus with all his heart. Our readings today all reflect on reputations:

Samuel, defending his honesty so Israel will heed his warnings (12:1-5); the Chronicler (likely Ezra), listing all the generations, good and bad, leading up to the exile (ch. 1-8); and Paul, talking about his sacrifices so the church of Corinth will believe him over false apostles (11:23-28).

Normally you wouldn’t want to or need to defend your reputation. If you blow your own horn you’ll be playing a solo. In other words, no one will back up a braggart! But we should be prepared to give a defense when called upon (1 Peter 3:15).

Samuel wants Israel to affirm his honest heart and God’s faithfulness before he delivers his final words: be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away (12:24,25). His desire is that Israel will follow his example and leave behind their own legacy of faithfulness.

The genealogies in 1 Chronicles may be boring to some, but I find them fascinating. First, I marvel at how and why God keeps such accurate records of every life. That speaks to me of the importance of every moral decision I make. Second, I noticed how some of the faithless generations later became the mortal enemies of Israel, which challenges me to pass on my love for God to my children and grandchildren.

Paul’s defense is a list of his sacrifices. False prophets are motivated by selfishness but a real Jesus follower will have a résumé of selfless sacrifice. “Lord, that is how You lived for me, and that is how I want to live for You. I pray that You will help me leave behind a reputation that speaks volumes, not about me, but about You!”

April 10 - Commended by God

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Samuel 8-10; 2 Corinthians 10

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 It is not the one who commends himself who is
approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Paul, in defending his authority to advise the church of Corinth, gives us insight into our OT readings for today: it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends (10:18). Now let’s take that principle and apply it to Samuel, Saul, and our own lives.

Samuel was clearly called by God at a very young age to lead His people. He served God faithfully throughout his life but, when he reached the age of retirement, he made the same mistake as his adopted father Eli. He appointed his sons, even though they were not following God, to rule in his place. This tells me two things: first, it is possible for godly parents to have ungodly children (and it may not always be the parents’ fault - see March 31) and second, having ungodly children does not necessarily negate the parents’ right to lead others (1 Tim. 3:4,5 says it can be a factor but apparently not a disqualifier). Despite Samuel’s poor judgment in appointing his sons, God continued to speak to him and use him.

God commends whom He wants. That also explains why he chose Saul to be king knowing generally what that kind of power would do to a man (8:6-22) and specifically what it would do to Saul in the future. These leaders, Paul, Samuel, and Saul, illustrate how God sovereignly works out His will while factoring in our human will.

For us, this is a reminder that God is the One who calls us into ministry. I have never campaigned for any position I’ve held over my 47 years of ministry. That’s not to say I shouldn’t, or anyone else shouldn’t, pursue ministry. But we do need to realize that ultimately it is God who commends. That doesn’t reduce us to fatalism - God has freely given us free will. But it does replace a spirit of striving and worry with trust and peace.

“Lord, I am so thankful that every position I’ve had has been through Your commendation. I can trust You to lead me and give me opportunities to serve You.”

April 9 - Golden Hemorrhoids?

 Read today’s texts first: Samuel 6,7; Psalms 72; 2 Corinthians 9

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
When we are distant from God, we try to appease Him, but when we are in right relationship with Him, we want to please Him.

It’s a serious mistake to underestimate God’s holiness and power, but the things we do to appease God are downright funny. Using the Ark of God’s Presence as a magic amulet proved to be a serious disaster to the Israelites who lost it and the Philistines who captured it. But it is funny seeing Dagon, one of the Philistine’s idols, falling face down twice before the ark, especially when he lost his head and hands the second time. You would think seeing their god literally powerless before the one true God would have converted the Philistines, but instead we see them illustrate one of the chronic mistakes we as humans make in trying to relate to God - we try to appease Him, instead of please Him.

After passing the ark around from city to city like a hot potato (here you take it, no you take it), plagues broke out everywhere the ark went. The tumors referred to were likely open sores, not internal tumors, possibly bubonic plague because rats seemed to be involved. I prefer the King James reference to hemorrhoids, though, because I like to imagine what the golden replicas looked like. Picture a golden hemorrhoid proudly displayed on your fireplace mantle for friends and family to admire!

Samuel helps us understand what went wrong here. When Israel wanted to appease God, he explained that they first had to turn from their own idolatry (7:3). Relating to God starts with a surrendered heart. When we are distant from God, we try to appease Him. Gifts, offerings, worship means nothing to God when our hearts are far from Him (Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:8). But when we are in right relationship with Him, we want to please Him. Paul is saying the same thing to the Corinthian Christians in our NT reading today: each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (9:7).

“Lord, may I never try to appease You out of fear. Your perfect love for me casts out all fear. Today I want to love You and please You because You first loved me!” (1 John 4:15-19).

April 8 - In His Eyes

 Read today’s texts first: 1 Samuel 3-5; Psalms 77; 2 Corinthians 8

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 Instead of us doing what seems right in our eyes,
let God do what is right in His eyes!

I love the comparisons and contrasts we see so often in Scripture. The theme of this era of OT history is repeated often in the book of Judges: there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). But notice the words of Eli, a priest in Shiloh: He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in His eyes (1 Sam. 3:18). The reason we should let God do what is good in His eyes is simple - He is the Lord! We are not, and what looks good to us may be really bad for us (like the chocolate peanut butter ice cream I had last night).

What is remarkable is that Eli made this statement right after Samuel prophesied that he and his family would die as a result of God’s judgment!  It’s one thing to trust God when things are going well but when circumstances are bad and may be getting worse, do we still want God in control? The answer is a resounding yes! God is good all the time; we are not. His heart is pure; ours is deceitful and wicked (Jer. 17:9). He sees into eternity; we are sadly very short-sighted!

Unfortunately, my prayer life consists too often of a list of things I see that God needs to do for me right now. But the words of Eli hit me between my self-focused eyes today. My prayers have changed: “God, You are my Lord - do what is good in Your eyes. Help me see what You see so I can pray for Your will to be done, not mine.”