Saul was in a funk. You may know what that is, you've probably experienced one before. It's a time when things don't seem to be going right, the spirit within you is disturbed, the circumstances seem to be going against you, God seems to be distant, answers aren't forthcoming or easy, or quick enough. It's a personal darkness in the heart. And it's where Saul found himself.
He prayed, but never got an answer. The only thing he knew was that God turned away.
Interestingly, he never asked why...
...because he knew why!
I've heard this recently from someone else, that God wasn't speaking or making things clear. It's really quite simple, although difficult to accept. It's not that God isn't listening or even that God isn't speaking, rather God just may be saying something different than the ears or the heart wants to hear.
God turns away, until God hears the right thing from us.
I remember watching a teacher stand in front of a class (this has been many, many years ago) very quietly, almost staring, waiting. The class, paying little attention was abuzz with conversations, busyness, basic inattentiveness. But the teacher remained quiet, waiting for the awkward silence to creep throughout the room. It's interesting what silence can do.
She didn't yell, or scrape her nails against the chalkboard, she simply stood silent until she had our attention. She wasn't ignoring the class, rather was waiting on their appropriate response.
Saul was crying out, seeking the wrong things and God, not truly turning away, but simply stood, waiting, silent for a heartfelt response, that from Saul never came.
He's never far away. Nor is His eye ever shielded from our circumstance. But He may be silent...
...or saying something we don't want to hear...
...yet patiently waiting on our right response.
And the thing is, we know what God is waiting for, if we'll only admit it, confess it, and come humbly to God!
It's not God that's distant...
...it's us!
Peace ><>
pc
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Loyalty
I've been "stabbed in the back" before. It's not a nice feeling. It leaves a wake of hurt, broken trust, anger, and disappointment. It puts friendships into question, alliances at risk, and defenses on high alert. You've no doubt heard the term, "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me." Most of us are very careful after the first time.
Yet as Christians we are supposed to be trusting, gracious, and forgiving. Very difficult things to be when you've been wronged. But that's exactly what Jesus did, how he responded, how he lived. He never rolled over, but stood his ground. While he turned his other cheek, he never laid down and was walked upon. And in his journey to the cross, he continued to look those who condemned him right in the eye! They knew who were the true guilty ones. We, as Christians, need to learn to tap into this strength of character, of faith, of loyalty to a greater truth, even in the face of betrayers.
That was David's character and it needs to be ours! David was loyal almost to a fault. He respected the office of King and though Saul didn't earn respect as king, David gave it anyway, even when he had to continue running for his life. Given the opportunity, Saul would have literally stabbed David in the back, but David refused to retaliate or to defend himself with force. Rather, he showed grace under fire, forgiveness to one who didn't deserve it, a second (third, fourth, fifth...)chance to one who would betray it, in the name of loyalty to the office and ultimately to God.
While we may not be able to change our circumstances or stop betrayals that happen, we can choose how we handle such situations. We can react and respond on the same level as those acting inappropriately or we can turn and face these situations with grace and love.
Besides, backstabbing is a sign of weakness of the foolish, while facing betrayers with grace and love is a sign of wisdom, strength and faith.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving us your Spirit for circumstances like this and your example for grace under fire and strength in the midst of great difficulty.
Stay true to Christ and he will give you strength in all matters.
Peace ><>
pc
Yet as Christians we are supposed to be trusting, gracious, and forgiving. Very difficult things to be when you've been wronged. But that's exactly what Jesus did, how he responded, how he lived. He never rolled over, but stood his ground. While he turned his other cheek, he never laid down and was walked upon. And in his journey to the cross, he continued to look those who condemned him right in the eye! They knew who were the true guilty ones. We, as Christians, need to learn to tap into this strength of character, of faith, of loyalty to a greater truth, even in the face of betrayers.
That was David's character and it needs to be ours! David was loyal almost to a fault. He respected the office of King and though Saul didn't earn respect as king, David gave it anyway, even when he had to continue running for his life. Given the opportunity, Saul would have literally stabbed David in the back, but David refused to retaliate or to defend himself with force. Rather, he showed grace under fire, forgiveness to one who didn't deserve it, a second (third, fourth, fifth...)chance to one who would betray it, in the name of loyalty to the office and ultimately to God.
While we may not be able to change our circumstances or stop betrayals that happen, we can choose how we handle such situations. We can react and respond on the same level as those acting inappropriately or we can turn and face these situations with grace and love.
Besides, backstabbing is a sign of weakness of the foolish, while facing betrayers with grace and love is a sign of wisdom, strength and faith.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving us your Spirit for circumstances like this and your example for grace under fire and strength in the midst of great difficulty.
Stay true to Christ and he will give you strength in all matters.
Peace ><>
pc
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Covenants over Blood
I'm a family guy. I was raised with a strong sense of family. We met together often as an extended family. Most Sunday mornings we'd sit as a large family, taking most of 3 pews. There would be aunts, uncles cousins, grandparents and then the other extended family of second cousins and great uncles, etc. Many Sunday evenings someone would stop over at someone elses house for a shared meal, games, fun. Rarely did anyone move away, and even if they did it was only for a short time. Eventually most everyone came back. We were a rock solid family unit.
Then we moved away. (following the direction of God.)
Now it is true that we still feel connected to our family, but in a much different way. They are important to us and we to them, but we have discovered what David discovered in the wilderness of Judah (Judea), that covenants between friends can be just as important as family.
Many of you have heard me talk about the importance of our friendships. We depend on these friends every day to pray for us, encourage us, hold us accountable, love us and allow us to just be present with them and vice versa on all of these things. In many ways they are stronger than our family bonds.
David's friend Jonathan, Saul's son, was the true heir to Israel's throne. If anyone should have been an enemy to Jonathan it should have been David, a nobody who was put in line above anyone in Saul's family. Yet Jonathan loved David, defended David, befriended David. Maybe it was because he saw in David a great leader, or maybe it was a powerful warrior, but the scriptures simply reveal a deep sense of companionship and friendship. They were tight!
And that cost Jonathan the respect of his own family, because to Jonathan, the covenant he made with David was more important than blood that ran through his veins!
This is not to say that we should forsake our own families for greater friendships. Not at all! But we can seek those relationships that are the most productive for our lives. Family isn't always the best influence, neither are some friendships. But we can find which ones are the best for us and nurture them. Jon saw the struggles in his own family, the faithlessness and rebellion of his father and sought the influence of the integrity and faith of his friend David instead.
The right friendships can make all the difference in the world.
And not only was this friendship good for Jonathan, it meant life for David!
And for me.
Peace ><>
pc
Then we moved away. (following the direction of God.)
Now it is true that we still feel connected to our family, but in a much different way. They are important to us and we to them, but we have discovered what David discovered in the wilderness of Judah (Judea), that covenants between friends can be just as important as family.
Many of you have heard me talk about the importance of our friendships. We depend on these friends every day to pray for us, encourage us, hold us accountable, love us and allow us to just be present with them and vice versa on all of these things. In many ways they are stronger than our family bonds.
David's friend Jonathan, Saul's son, was the true heir to Israel's throne. If anyone should have been an enemy to Jonathan it should have been David, a nobody who was put in line above anyone in Saul's family. Yet Jonathan loved David, defended David, befriended David. Maybe it was because he saw in David a great leader, or maybe it was a powerful warrior, but the scriptures simply reveal a deep sense of companionship and friendship. They were tight!
And that cost Jonathan the respect of his own family, because to Jonathan, the covenant he made with David was more important than blood that ran through his veins!
This is not to say that we should forsake our own families for greater friendships. Not at all! But we can seek those relationships that are the most productive for our lives. Family isn't always the best influence, neither are some friendships. But we can find which ones are the best for us and nurture them. Jon saw the struggles in his own family, the faithlessness and rebellion of his father and sought the influence of the integrity and faith of his friend David instead.
The right friendships can make all the difference in the world.
And not only was this friendship good for Jonathan, it meant life for David!
And for me.
Peace ><>
pc
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