1 Chronicles 18
:6 God gave MAJOR victory over and over to David wherever he marched. Humble yourself, David. I Chronicles 21:1-2 says: "Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census." In verse 8, David confesses his sin---substituting statistcs for trust. And verse 14 - God sent an epidemic and it took the lives of 70,000! 70,000!!! How could David deal with God taking the lives of 70,000 because of his sin? David could smell the stench of death surrounding him at his expense for his arrogance. 70,000 lifeless warriors, abandoned parents, innocent children. Gone in one decision. So what did David do? David lifts forgiven eyes upward and humbly prays in verses I Chronicles 21: 16-17: "Please!" with his head bowed, heart broken, and body covered in rough burlap. God walked with David in victory and defeat. What about the numbers game in our own churches and ministries today? Do we do the same "substitutes for trust"? Do we think it's success if 70,000 people respond while we are giving glory to God. We honor those churches where 5,000 congregate.
I wonder if those who respond really change? Or do they live their lives secretly disdaining their neighbors, sweetly demanding their children respond a certain way, and slyly distancing themselves from their spouse. I read Phil 1:21 this morning: "For me to live is Christ. For me to really live is what? Numbers that prove my ministry is really something. Success that stamps me on the map. Recognition that I've done well with my life. Crabb puts it this way:
"We understand that progress on the journey is not measured by conventional external measures like:
achievement, prosperity or health
OR by conventional internal measures like:
self-esteem, social comfort, or recognition...
What therefore is wrong with each of us is
PASSIONATE ATTACHMENT TO THE WRONG THING.
For me to live is something other than knowing Christ better, enjoying Him more deeply, becoming more like Him, and revealing Him more clearly.
For me to live is ____________________________ ."
So where am I today?
"Substituting statistics for trust" reminded me of a lesson in the study of Esther by Beth More where she teachs us that "conditional trust leaves us in the tight fist of fear". I had so many conditions on my trust in my younger years. Now having lived through some "worst fears", I know without a doubt that God can and will take care of me.
ReplyDeleteI had dinner with a dear friend last night. She is very unemotional for the 30 years I've known her. But last night, she was telling me, "If there's one thing, I've learned, it's I want to be in the center of God's Will." She had big crocodile tears in her eyes. I saw her tender heart for all she'd been through, and knew God had her total attention right now. She testified--like David learned--we learn there's no other place like the center of God's Will.
ReplyDeleteCould you pray with me today for healing? It was supposed to be 2-3 weeks recovery and Wednesday was 4 weeks. I still am struggling, probably due to some infection that has set in at the incision site. I'm going in to the doctor today at 1. Sure appreciate you all.
I will pray for you today, Annette, that you will receive healing.
ReplyDeleteJehovah-Rapha, our God who heals, hear the prayers of your servant, Annette. Where she is weak, you are strong, where she is troubled, you provide comfort. You alone are our comfort and our strength. As in the 66 LL, "we are invited to delight in our distress, we don't see it because we expect his letters will be immediately revelant to our desires for a balanced, fulfilling and satisfying life." We don't see you are preparing us for the ultimate party with you. So, as you deal with Annette, in your loving compassionate manner, let her feel your healing love flow through her body, her heart and her mind today. Like David, we place our hope in you, El Shaddai, our all-sufficient one. Amen
David was into numbers and God removed 70,000. David's pride had severe consequences.
ReplyDeleteDavid acknowledged his sin and a repentant heart is revealed in 21:17. And David said to God, "Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep,what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O LORD my God, be against me and my father's house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued"
David's willingness for God's hand to be against him - "not these sheep" - reminded me of Jesus, who was willing for God's hand to be against Him - not the sheep. The difference between David and Jesus: David deserved God's wrath. Jesus didn't. "And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6b)
"If God were not JUST, there would be no DEMAND for His son to suffer and die. And if God were not LOVING, there would be no WILLINGNESS for His Son to suffer and die. (John Piper quote from The Passion of Jesus Christ)
Bev's comments go along with what A.W. Tozer writes in The Pursuit of God. He says God waits to be wanted. That we've lost the simplicity which is in Christ...we're into programs,methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities...things which occupy my time but can never fully satisfy. Shallow inner experience, hollow worship and imitation of the world shows how imperfect we know God, how scarce our peace is.
"Faith is the gaze of the soul upon a saving God" (Tozer) I so want the stillness that comes from that gaze.
There is a lot stirring in me these days. I've lost a friend this week. She is with the LORD. I will miss her.
Cici, I've thought of you and your busy life as a Mom. I believe you are doing a great ministry as CEO of your home. You struggle so well.
Annette and Bev, I will be keeping you both in my prayers. It is so easy to get weary. We have a picture of helping one another in 19:12...when the enemy is too strong for Joab, Abishai would help him...and when he was too strong for Abishai, Joab would help him. We are the Body of Christ. We need each other.
Blessings to all,
FG
I sit here today disappointed with how a couple of friends are choosing to respond to me. I understand that it's their "stuff" but it still hurts to be shut out. Their relational dysfunction has an impact on me.
ReplyDeleteSo, Bev, your question today is especially pertinent to me. What am I living for? Is it for people treating me well? No.
I would love to be able to say it is Christ but that's not really accurate. I want to pinpoint my idol, but I'm having trouble discerning the root of it. I'm going to keep thinking and praying about that one.
It's so interesting to read this book. It is more hopeful than the earlier books. I feel that even as I read it. And Joab seems like a good guy in this book - I didn't get that impression in the earlier books. It's easier to see the "glimpses of greatness" here than the "exposures of evil" (66 LL).
Chapter 18 ends with the statement "And David's sons held high positions, close to the king." I couldn't help but wonder what made his sons turn away from God. Did they not learn up-close from their Father what it looks like to love the Lord wholeheartedly? What was going on with them internally? Another reminder for me that there are no guarantees in parenting, and I can't put my identity there. All I can do is love my God with all of myself and pray like crazy for my girls.
Sorry for the random walk through my brain. It's one of those days... :-)
I'm praying for your healing today, Annette. Thank you for letting us know how to pray!
ReplyDeleteFG - I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement. Thank you!
Thanks for all your prayers and love. I receive a fresh portion of Grace to renew my strength and His healing Hand. Love, A
ReplyDeleteComparable time sequel fiscal loans are actually a make of cash loans made available
ReplyDeletefor that thirty days time around catastrophe cases. They will don’t need to
have a proof of situations’ urgent, nor they might require surety,
credit history or other things. It's possible you'll
schedule a vacation, a lot of crucial products and services or simply protect
your business expenditures – Exact morning fitting
personal loans will assist you to in a incidents. Right now such
mortgages are accessible on the web.
Here is my website: pożyczka na dowód
Exact same daytime installation fiscal loans can be a sort of pay day
ReplyDeleteloans furnished for that thirty days time through unexpected emergency circumstances.
Some people don’t will need the actual proof situations’ unexpected, neither of them they want surety, credit ratings neither other stuff.
It's possible you'll arrange a holiday, numerous essential brings home and even insure your business obligations
– Identical afternoon payment financial products will assist
you in different circumstances. At present all these mortgages are on hand on the net.
Here is my webpage ... pożyczka bez bik
Same working day setting up financial products really are
ReplyDeletea sort of payday advances granted for the month length for urgent scenarios.
They will don’t require the actual proof situations’
critical, neither of the two they might need surety, credit standing none other
things. You can schedule if you want a, a few fundamental acquisitions or
maybe protect your organization charges – Same working day payments loans will help you in any situations.
Now most of these financial loans are accessible via the internet.
Here is my blog; pożyczki pozabankowe
Similar morning set up borrowing products are actually a kind
ReplyDeleteof payday cash advances provided for the week stage around
unexpected emergency cases. Individuals don’t need all the proof of situations’ disaster,
niether they need surety, history of credit none other stuff.
You could arrange a vacation, numerous valuable expenses or
perhaps take care of your business fees – Same afternoon installation
lending options can assist you in different incidents.
Today these lending options are presented on the net.
Also visit my blog: pożyczki prywatne
Exact time of day fitting up lending products are usually a kind of online payday loans offered for a four weeks time period inside sudden cases.
ReplyDeleteMany don’t have to have the particular proof of situations’ critical, not they must be given surety, credit standing or other things.
Chances are you'll arrange a vacation, several crucial buys or maybe cover up your business charges – Very same moment installation funds will assist you to in a situations. At this time a lot of these lending options can be bought on the net.
Visit my blog - chwilówki
Comparable day time set up personal loans are actually a sort of payday cash advances provided for that month span through urgent
ReplyDeletescenarios. They don’t require this proof situations’ urgent situation, regulations they require surety, credit history none other stuff.
You'll method a holiday, a lot of crucial acquisitions or simply go over your enterprise costs – Same exact time of day payments funds can help you in a instances. Today all these loans are on hand on the internet.
Stop by my blog kredyty chwilówki
Equal morning set up lending options really are a sort
ReplyDeleteof payday advances furnished for that thirty days span inside urgent predicaments.
These people don’t need typically the evidence of situations’ urgent situation,
nor they must be given surety, credit report neither other stuff.
You might schedule a secondary, some critical
purchase as well as cover your small business fees – Same exact day time fitting up lending options
will allow you to in different conditions. Currently those financial products are available over the internet.
Feel free to visit my page: szybka pożyczka