God is in Samson's (Bad) Choices

In Judges 14.4 this morning where God is in Samson's choices, in this case even bad choices. The writer doesn't bother working out the theology of this truth or the implications; he just states things as they are. It would be nice if the author HAD worked out the theology, but this is often the case in the Scriptures. The authors of Scripture (and here especially) do not seem troubled in these things in the least.


- "Grace is the glory of God, not the merit of him who has been freed." Prosper of Aquitaine

Location:DEN

The Greatest Commandment

Reading in Mark 12.29, this morning where someone asks Jesus, "What is the greatest commandment?" His answer is here. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength."

He begins, however, not with the commandment but with a statement. "Listen Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one." An emphasis on the fact that he is the only God and reminder that the tendency of every heart is to create idol after idol?

Whatever else one may say about this statement, Christ is certainly pointing out that any commandment has authority only if it is grounded in the character of God the Father.


- "Grace is the glory of God, not the merit of him who has been freed." Prosper of Aquitaine

Location:ATL

What is Servant Leadership?

I wish I understood. I'm wondering especially what it means to be a servant leader in one of these influential mega-churches. The difficulty being that large organizations need strong leaders so the question arises, "How can one be both a strong leader and a servant leader?" I suppose the best way to answer the question is to find a model of someone like that. Of course the difficulty is that, in general, those who rise to leadership at large organizations are generally people with great gifting and it is almost a certainty that people with great gifting also have great weaknesses (which I think God brings with the territory for purposes of humility).

No answer yet...

Matthew Henry: Those that shall be put under your charge, must be as sheep under the charge of the shepherd, who is to tend them and feed them, and be a servant to them, not as horses under the command of the driver, that works them and beats them, and gets his pennyworths out of them.

On the Poverty of Seeking a Sign (from Christ)

The miracles, like the teaching, of Jesus were not offered as signs to convince spectators; they were done as acts of love to people in need. They only became signs for those with the humility and openness to perceive and receive the meaning. This the Pharisees clearly did not possess, as their attitude towards him shows. (BST)

Thus points out the BST commentary on Mark 8.12. The Pharisees seek a sign from Christ and his response is to sigh deeply in spirit (the Greek word is used only here in the Scriptures). He is not here to be a magician and they are completely missing the point of Christ's miracles. They will receive no sign and he emphatically tells them so.

He Worshiped

The Scripture is so succinct in explaining Gideon's reaction to hearing the Midianite warrior interpret the dream of his friend. Gideon realizes that God has given the man a dream and that the dream will come true; through him. One would expect this verse to say, "As soon as Gideon heard he ran back to prepare the men for attack." Instead, as soon as Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation he worshiped. Pretty cool. He praised God for revealing what he was going to do THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE, and he worshiped. Our inclination when we receive a blessing from God is to run off with the blessing. The lesson for us here is to worship BEFORE we take advantage of the blessing.

The Timidity of Gideon

Thinking about Judges 6.27 and how much like Gideon I am. God told him to tear down the monuments to Baal. Gideon obeyed. However, he tore down the monuments and built an altar to God at night because he was afraid of his father and the men of the city. I take from this that it is good to obey God even when we struggle with out own timidity and fear. Down the line, Gideon became a mighty warrior for God, here he is an exercise in timid obedience.

The Heart is an Idol Factory

Reading in Joshua 23.16 this morning. The last thing that Joshua leaves to the people is the dangers of idolatry. It is a prescient comment, since it would be idolatry that brought them into exile. I think it is safe to say that idolatry has been and is the chief failure of humans. As someone once said, "the human heart is an idol factory." Just so. Always and everywhere it wants to make an idol of something.

In all this exhortation we see how closely Joshua copies the example of his great master Moses. See Lev. xxvi. 7, 8, 14, &c.; Deuteronomy xxviii. 7; xxxii. 30. He was tenderly concerned for the welfare of the people, and with a deeply affected heart he spoke to their hearts. No people ever were more fairly and fully warned, and no people profited less by it. The threatenings pronounced here were accomplished in the Babylonish captivity, but more fully in their general dispersion since the crucifixion of our Lord. And should not every Christian fear when he reads, If God spared not the natural branches, take heed that he spare not thee? Surely a worldly, carnal, and godless Christian has no more reason to expect indulgence from the justice of God than a profligate Jew. We have a goodly land, but the justice of God can decree a captivity from it, or a state of bondage in it. The privileges that are abused are thereby forfeited. And this is as applicable to the individual as to the whole system. - John Trapp

The Cry of Every Heart (That Loves God)

Pondering Psalm 143.7, this morning, which strikes the reader as so contemporary, so parallel to one's own thoughts and experience. When I am in difficulty, I want to know that the Lord knows. I want him to hear when I cry out to him, and I want to know that he hears. Just like David. This is what I believe he is crying for here. It's not that David does not believe that the Lord hears him. He does believe that. It's that he wants to be certain that the Lord knows. He wants a response (Answer me quickly, O Lord!...Hide not your face from me).

This is a great example why so many believers across so many cultures love the Psalms. They speak so universally to our own experience and desires.

The Single Goal of the Sentry

Ps 130.6 - I long for the Lord, more than sentries long for the dawn, Yes! More than sentries long for the dawn.

I know from my experience in the Marines that sentries have one goal, aim, and desire - to get off duty. When you stand a night watch the time drags by and you watch and wait for the end of your duty period with focused single-mindedness.

The imagery in this verse paints just such a picture. One who longs for the Lord does so with the focus of a sentry on duty longing for the dawn.

Do I? Do you? Long for the Lord like that?


- "Grace is the glory of God, not the merit of him who has been freed." Prosper of Aquitaine