Smiling with God...

“But what about you?” he (Jesus) asked. “Who do you say I am?” -Matthew 16:15 I love it how Jesus here gets right to the heart of the matter. He asks the disciples straight out, “Who do you say I am?” He comes forward and ask the tough question about what they really believe. But what is interesting is when Jesus asked this question. He didn’t ask this question in the middle of the Last Supper. But he asked this during the times where things were going good. But at least one of them, Peter, answered it right. But this is a valid question that should be asked of every person who is the follower of Christ. What if Jesus came today and asked the question right in my face? See what we answer will determine how your life is lived. When I hear this verse it reminds me to come back to the basics. Who is Jesus? Though I know the answer intellectually, but do I truly understand the answer and do I believe it with all my heart. That is what I have to determine. Who is Jesus to me? ...

But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hands.” 1 Samuel 27:1 It appears to be frustrating times for David and it doesn’t seem like it will change anytime soon. Tired of fighting the system and running for his life, he does something unthinkable, he joins the enemy camp. He becomes part of the Philistines. This is an ultimate betrayal, to put it in modern day times, it is like when Johnny Damon became a Yankee after he won World Series with the Red Sox, or like how I saw Hulk Hogan become a tool in the WWE. This idea David had, was crazy. I am not so sure that David was convinced that this was a great idea. But it seams like he had no choice. He had to make a call to on a difficult decision, a decision he knew that being king of Israel would haunt him in the future. However, ...

Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into you hand.” -1 Samuel 23:4 This seems to be a very common phrase I am reading in this book of Samuel, “David inquired of the Lord”. David was in constant communication with God. He asked God about every major thing in his life. He developed a habit and lifestyle that before any major decision he ask God before anything. It prevented him from making brainless decisions but it also give him a dependence on God. It is a very wise choice to make. Jesus in the sermon on the mount also said to, “ask... seek... knock....” He instructed to ask God for wisdom in all that you do. To me this is elementary in teaching, but really difficult to put into practice, especially here in the US. I am convinced that “rugged individualism” and “self made man” theories in life has really hindered our ability to be more reliant on God. Thus it is difficult for me to ask God...

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” -Psalms 34:8-10 Funny when you look at this you see how great these bible verses are. However, after you read about what is going on with David when he wrote this Psalm, it sounds more like he wrote this to himself so he would not go insane, even though he was pretending to be insane. In a short amount of time, David’s life turned upside down. He went from riches to rags in a heartbeat. From hero to zero like some celebrities we know. The difference is that he did nothing wrong. However, we see here that though his life was going downhill, his devotion and love for God never wavered. Through these verses he teaches us to do three things in times of adversity. Taste and see the Lord, Fear the Lord, and Seek the Lord. David was a gifted writer,...

“But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.” -Psalm 38:15 David must have been in pretty tough situation to be uttering these words of pain. The first half of this Psalm he cries out to God of his suffering. He gives God a brutally honest account of his feelings and what he is experiencing at that moment. Then he makes this beautiful transition, “But for you....” Though he is suffering and though he is going through anguish, David then expresses his trust in the Lord. He calls out to God and awaits His answer. God does answer. But for me do I take the position of David here where I will wait on Him, or do I take matters in my own hands and try to change the situation without waiting for God. There is this thing about God and waiting. He loves to just answer after we wait. But like most of us here in the modern age, I hate waiting. I like the instant answer, the immediate reply, and the quick response. I have grown accustomed to the speed of th...

“That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. But commission Joshu and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” -God (Deuteronomy 3:26-28). When I was young, I was taught that God answers in three ways, “Yes”, “No”, and “Wait.” As I grew with Jesus, I found that I love the answer “Yes.” I can cope with the answer of “Wait”. However, when God says “No”, it’s not always a pretty sight. So when I read this about how God said “no” to Moses, I had to start paying attention. Previously Moses requested to cross the Jordan and lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, but God says “No”. I can’t even imagine how Moses must feel at this moment. Granted he was talking to God, and experienced a touch of Him first hand, but t...

“Do your best to come to me quickly...” Paul (2 Tim. 4:9) “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.” -Paul (2 Tim 4:16) What is probably his last letter to everyone, Paul writes in the previous chapters some great theological teachings that have become the foundations for our faith today. But for some reason, the most intriguing words of this book come from the last few paragraphs, where most bibles title this section, “Personal Remarks”. Here he bears his soul just a little. He shows the personal Paul we don’t hear about too much. In this section we see a man who is hurt by betrayal, burned by others, and someone who craves for deep relationships. We don’t see teacher Paul here, but the man who in many ways is just like us. We crave for fellowship from other believers. Or maybe just in people in general. Everyone does. Even God. He has perfect fellowship in the Trinity. Jesus shows the example in the 12 Disci...