What is seen in the occasions

King David’s reaction to Saul entering the cave where he and his men were hiding amazes me – always has. To see David’s turmoil in thought and deed has always intrigued me. To the normal eye, it would seem that God might have given Saul over to David so that David could begin his reign as king – he was not getting any younger. To men following David, it definitely seemed providential that Saul was at their mercy.

Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you.^c]”>[c] I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord‘s anointed.’ – 1 Samuel 24:10 ESV

The issue was not killing or sparing a life, the issue today becomes the same as with David – how does God want me to use this occasion?

David knew the law – eye for eye – and he also knew that God took life seriously and does not forget or take things lightly. He also knew that God made people in His image and anything done to His image was being done to Him. David knew and then lived out his conscience – he could never justify putting his hands on the Lord’s anointed even if that anointed one was cruel, wrong and had no cause for being so.

I think about the workplace as one of the roughest parts of relationships. In particular, those who serve over us. This should be a great time to ask God how He wants to use this occasion.

Saul had his failings. He seemed not to have any character. He was easily swayed by events and by people.

And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? – 1 Samuel 24:9 ESV

He also demonstrated an incredible, instant repentance that was so deep and yet, unfortunately, so short lived.

I am challenged today to forgive those who have broken my trust. David demonstrated what forgiveness looks like. If anyone had a reason to be against someone in both their soul and in their being, it was David.

So I am back at the beginning again – not every opportunity that comes my way is of God. Not everything that would give me personal gain is to be accepted, and definitely cannot be so simply believed as God sent. However tempting an open path to success may come as a result of my doing or with an opportunity of my choosing, I need to understand that it does not mean that it is necessarily in harmony with God’s will.

It means that I still need to examine and prayerfully seek God’s purpose. The test is one of faith, discernment, blessings or a trap from the evil one.

Psalm 57 reflects about David’s time in the cave.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    till the storms of destruction pass by.
I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me. – Psalm 57:1-2 ESV

I think David put the burden of his purpose back on God instead of on his own ability. This teaches me to honour God’s process. He will fulfill His promise for me.

Ultimate priority

Israel Houghton – Everything

The apostle Paul saw so many things in life that took away from the opportunity of ministry. Along with business, joy and grief, he did comment on marriage too. It was not that Jesus said anything differently – the gospel has always been the ultimate priority.

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 ESV

I know I have used my family as my spiritual trump card for not doing something God has called me to do. I have openly said that because of my family obligations I could not worship, help others, teach Bible classes, open up my home for Bible discussions and many other ways that I could have helped to serve in the kingdom of God. Here I am again today being challenged to prioritize the gospel.

My takeaway is that my priority calling is more important than my secondary calling. My priority is to love and honour Christ as His disciple. In so doing, I pray this prayer:

Make your face shine on your servant;
save me in your steadfast love! – Psalm 31:16 ESV

Broken

Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) – Hillsong Worship

King David was such a great warrior and it is hard to believe in his earlier days that in fleeing Saul, his rough and broken beginnings made a difference.

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul,^[a] gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. – 1 Samuel 22:1-2 ESV

Here are broken men fleeing for their lives and many of them became great warriors and giant killers, just like David. David discipled these men, and they became like him. When I disciple people, I can teach what I know, but will reproduce who I am.

“God must love common people. He made so many of them.” – Abraham Lincoln

The same could be said of many of the disciples who later became apostles – they were fishermen and there was even a tax collector.

No matter where I stand, one thing that is common to all of us is that we are called to imitate God. God uses marred and imperfect vessels and that should give all of us hope. It is a way that ensures that none of us can boast about ourselves and He gets all the glory.

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 ESV

No words could more vividly express what happens between our relationship with Jesus as His disciple.

It is the essence of my identity. It would be interesting, in a small group setting, to have everyone write out what they believe is a job description for a “Disciple of Jesus Christ.” With that identity comes responsibility of life and we have some strategic instructions that will enable us to navigate the increasingly murky immoral waters of our post-Christian society. We are not called to live in a corner somewhere, immune to these noxious and defiling influences.

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. 1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

While I am very familiar with the call of purity from the first part of the verse, I can say that I have been missing the latter part of this verse.

The missionary is one in whom the Holy Ghost has wrought this realization — “Ye are not your own.” To say “I am not my own,” is to have reached a great point in spiritual nobility. The true nature of the life in the actual whirl is the deliberate giving up of myself to another in sovereign preference, and that other is Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit expounds the nature of Jesus to me in order to make me one with my Lord, not that I might go off as a showroom exhibit. Our Lord never sent any of the disciples out on the ground of what He had done for them. It was not until after the Resurrection, when the disciples had perceived by the power of the Holy Spirit Whom He was, that Jesus said “Go.” – Oswald Chambers

Presenting the kingdom of God

Kingdom Of God – Luke and Anna Hellebronth

Remember the instructions Jesus gave the 72 missionaries He sent into the world? He told them they would be accepted and that they were also going to be rejected. However, in every case He told them to announce or proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near.

Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ – Luke 10:9 ESV

We are the people who present the kingdom of God, not only in deed but in our hearts.

I am sure the communities that these teams entered were filled with sick people, especially those who were excluded from society because they were lepers or demon possessed. The kingdom of God is a new way of living and living together with others. It is a new way of being and thinking.

The message of the kingdom was not new – John the Baptist declared the same. The kingdom of God is near because the King is near. Healing of the sick was only a manifestation of kingdom nearness if you will – proof of what was being preached.

Not to poke at any one but it is healing that brings the awareness of the kingdom, not riches or power.

I have been pondering my own experience in this matter and can truly say that no one has been healed because I prayed for them. Not sure what that means yet, but I am committed to preach the kingdom’s nearness and continuing to pray for people to be healed. I continue to embody the gospel and proclaim it. I want the gospel authenticated and represented in my life for I know the two cannot be equated or separated. While I figure out what that means in my life, I volunteer, whenever I can, to walk with the street people where I live to demonstrate the love of Jesus and presenting Him to them.

Language of seeking

Check out the language here in 2 Chronicles when referring to a time when Israel was seeking God.

But when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around. – 2 Chronicles 15:4,15 ESV

I love that God is not just waiting to be found, He seems to be active in the process of my seeking Him. In fact, I might not be able to find Him unless He is ready to be found. I believe that to be true because I know that my seeking allows me to grow and change and not only me, but those around me. Seeking brings me to a place where I can receive Christ into my life and then continued seeking allows me to grow in the character of Christ and I become the person who has learned to live in the interactive presence of God.