Guarding against the hubris of success and position

Guarding against the hubris of success and position 

S- 2 Chron 26 NIV

3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem.   4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done.   5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.

 16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.   17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in.   18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests,the descendants of Aaron,who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.” 

O- Uzziah was not a bad King,  he was simply human.    Time and again we see God’s leaders start off right and not finish well.   From Moses to David and from David to up to Jesus,  many sought to lead the Lord’s people well and sought the Lords’ guidance and direction in their daily roles as leader.  They all fell though,  and Uzziah was no different.   Once he became powerful, pride or “hubris” became his downfall.   

A-  The lessons from this are significant to me, as the Lord has given me people to lead.  He expects me to steward this authority well.    I though and no better than Moses, David, or any of the Kings we read about in the Bible.  I am vulnerable to allowing arrogance swell up and my own position or success cause me to become unfaithful.   So what can I do.   I am not exactly sure other than seek God on this matter.  From this passage of scripture in verse 5 we see a part of the answer:

1. Seek God - in all decisions you are making he will not let your arrogance get in the way of making good decisions.
2. Fear God -   Not sure what comes first,  but out of a healthy fear of the Lord I will always want to seek the Lord for his direction.
3. Put a trusted prophet or priest as your advisor at all times.    While prophets and priests can’t bear the burden of leadership,  they stand as those who are constantly seeking and hearing the Lord, and a good one will be willing to share with you the truth of what God is saying about a situation.

P -  Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s lesson,may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would guide me in every decision I make, and make known to me the prophets you have placed in my life.   I pray Lord that you would continue to guide and anoint me as a leader over your people and those you are calling to you.  I pray for protection from the Hubris that comes from success and positional authorities you have given me.  May I always fear you and seek you.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen. 

Godliness and contentment

Godliness and Contentment 

S- 1 Tim 6 NIV

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.   10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

O - This is Paul’s reminder to Timothy who he sent to a church (Ephesus I believe) to help them stay on track in their faith.  The young church, who likely received the Gospel with great joy was now in that period where the adrenaline of being saved begins to fade and the worries and wants of the world begin to draw you away from godliness and contentment.   He is instructing Timothy for himself as well as for those he is shepherding to be reminded how little we need, simply food and clothing and to learn contentment in all things, and to focus on the attributes of godliness and joy will be their’s.

A -  The application to me is to remind myself of this contentment.  My current circumstance has me abundantly supplied with food and clothing and shelter.  My work is very challenging and rewarding.    All seems to be falling into place for a season of peace and prosperity and I fully intend to enjoy this gift from God.  I however and keenly aware of the seasonal nature of this world, and that God has not called me to be a settler here.  So I must be content and focus on godly responses to my circumstances.   I cannot allow my circumstances to dictate my contentment or my responses.

P - Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s opportunity to reflect on all that you have done and are doing in my life.  I am content in you.  I pray that your spirit would guide me in godliness, and that I would continue to shine your light into this world.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Rejoice in the Lord, always

 Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!

S- Final Exhortations4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.   9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

O -  Paul’s word to the Phillipians came from a place of wisdom and revelation.     In comparison to Solomon Paul may not had been as wise, but because of his revelation of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of heaven,  he was strong in revelation.    Solomon got wisdom early and lived a great and abundant life but in the end was melancholy and depressed.  Paul was just the opposite, he  struggled in his early years, and even when Christ stopped Him on the road to Damascus,  his life changed, but he struggled still for many years as he boldly preached the Gospel and was persecuted for it.   But toward the end,  while in prison,  he wrote to the church’s he planted to rejoice in the Lord,  let it be all joy, be gentle to all.    He said we can do that because the Lord is near (revelation).   We are not to worry , but rather we are to pray, because god will give us peace and understanding.      We should spend our time not focusing on the negative circumstances that surround us,  but rather on what is good, excellent and true.

A-  The application for me is recognize how blessed I am to have both the wisdom of Solomon and revelation of Paul at my fingertips at all times.   Even more so the revelation of Jesus Christ and the good news of the Gospel,  and now I have the Holy Spirit in me to guide me.   With all this I can and should rejoice in the Lord always!   I need not be anxious about anything, but just look around me at all that God is doing and has done.

P -  Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.   

Be happy in what you are doing today

Be happy in todays activities

S- Eccl 3 NASB

17 I said to myself, "God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man," for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

18 I said to myself concerning the sons of men, "God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts."

19 For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.

20 All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.

21 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

22 I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

O -  Solomon’s reflections in Ecclesiastes comes from a place of having been the wise man of all time, who lived in a time of peace,  and had great wealth.  He explored wisdom, vanity, excess and even folly and sin.   Even though he sinned against God,  his wisdom never left him, so as he sits here in his later years we see the reflection which is the conclusion we all need to understand, and if we are wise we don’t wait until we are in our late years to heed these wise words.   Solomon’s bottom line is this - only God knows if you are chosen and will spend eternity with him in heaven.  This is just one of the fates that is possible for us.  The second described here is that we are like the animals of the earth who are created from the earth and return to dust upon their death.   Solomon then goes on to conclude in all his experiences and with all his wisdom he has seen nothing better than the man who is happy with what he is doing that day for that is where God has him and that is enough. 

A -  The application for me is to seek to be joyful in each day the Lord is given me, and to recognize that each day is enough for me to worry about.  All other energy is not necessarily wise.   I recognize the battle is with my flesh and my pride.  I like to think I am strategic and discerning, but when I review my record I am reminded that the Lords ways are better than my ways, and that I really couldn’t have planned my way to the life God has given me.   

P -  Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your patience with me as I grow in wisdom the hard way.  I thank you for the gift of Solomon’s inspired word, and that it would was over me and change my perspective.  Lord I pray that today you show me what it is to do, and who to interact with and I pray that in all things you would be glorified.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Commit you plans to the Lord

Commit your plans to the Lord

S- Proverbs 16 NASB

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.

3 Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.

O -  These proverbs are from the Lord, given to Solomon the wisest man for all time,  and tell us more about our character and God’s design for us.   Because of sin we often will fall short of living by these proverbs, heck even Solomon fell short of following his own advice.  I am reminded that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom because without a healthy respect that God will hold us accountable for what we know the right thing is now that he has revealed it.   That fear of being disciplined and corrected most of the the time is enough for me to give pause prior to acting.  In the case of these three connected proverbs I am reminded I have plans in my heart but they should not guide my words if the plans are not from the Lord (my plans are sometime selfish and more like wishes).  What comes out of my mouth needs to be from the Lord otherwise it is not true and causes me and others to stumble.   I of course act in a manner I believe to be right and even believe to be righteous, but I am too fall short in these areas as my motives are sometimes coming from a place of hurt and bitterness and with a desire for revenge.     In the end my work is important to me and I make my own plans and then ask God to bless it vice committing my job and efforts to the Lord and allowing Him then to establish my plan. 

A -  The application for me is to recognize that I must commit my life, actions, words, and job to the Lord as the starting point.  If I do this with all my heart, mind, and soul, he will guide my words, motives, actions each and everyday and I will be able to glorify him in all the things I do.   So easily written,  not so easily lived.  Despite that I am excited and encourage to give this my full effort.  

P -  Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for todays lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you would forgive me my transgressions and arrogance as I have made plans that I have not committed to you.  I do that now, lay down my life and ask that you would establish my plans, guide my words, and actions.    I desire to be your light in this world full of darkness.   I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

The house of the Lord dwells in my heart

The house of the Lord dwells in my heart

S -  2 Chron 7 (NASB)

12 ¶ Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

13 "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people,

14 and My people fnwho are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

15 "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the fnprayer offered in this place.

16 "For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

O -  The temple that Solomon built was intended to be the closest representation of the heaven on earth, and would be the dwelling place of the Lord.  God gave Moses a plan for a mobile temple, and promised him a permanent home in the promised land.  Moses faithfully followed the instructions, but made a few errors a long the way and never got to make it completely to the promised land.   The leaders that followed up to David, stumbled in many and varied ways to provide a home for the Lord.   Eventually David, a man after God’s own heart became a King to lead Israel who had rejected God alone as King.  David through war was able to claim his throne and lead his people.  The Lord told David because of the killing he did and even his sin, David wouldn’t build the temple, but his son Solomon would... and he did.  Solomon sought wisdom from the Lord to lead God’s people and it was granted to him, and when he finished building the temple the Lord was pleased and once again dwelled in it amongst his people.    The Lord though knows mans heart,  that even those called by name to be God’s people would once again sin, but “if they would humble themselves and pray, and seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways , he would forgive their  sins and heal their land.   He would entire the temple they prepared and be with them forever.  Now this is a foreshadowing of Jesus to come both the first time to lead God’s people back to him (David),  to prepare a temple (in our hearts),  to help reconcile our sin (the sacrifice on the cross).   

A -  The application for me is this, God has His final plan for me and His people whom he has called by name.     I am free and forgiven, because of the sacrifice of Jesus,  and now I get to invite God into my heart,  a temple which He has prepared that he might lead and guide me, and be the Lord of my life.    Even this is still a mere symbol of what more is to come.   When Jesus returns, after a period, there will be a conquering of sin and death, and Heaven will come down to earth and we will literally dwell in the temple with God.  The application for me is to understand I am both David and Solomon,  but sinful by nature, but seeking after God, and needing to humbly repent and allow God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in me, and to guide me.   

P-  Dear Heavenly Father, I do humbly come before you, repenting for my sins of pride and arrogance, and even disobedience.  I pray Lord that you would forgive me and guide my heart, head , and hands as I get to live this life for you now.    I pray today that you provide for my physical, emotional and spiritual needs today as I go before you with a hopeful and humble heart, full of joy at the opportunity to share your love with those I interact with.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

His ways are better than my ways

Gods ways are better than my ways

S-Psalm 71 NASB

1 ¶ In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed.

2 In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me.

3 Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the grasp of the wrongdoer and ruthless man,

5 For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth.

6 By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother's womb; My praise is continually of You.

7 ¶ I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge.

8 My mouth is filled with Your praise And with Your glory all day long.

9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies have spoken against me; And those who watch for my life have consulted together,

11 Saying, "God has forsaken him; Pursue and seize him, for there is no one to deliver."

12 ¶ O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help!

13 Let those who are adversaries of my soul be ashamed and consumed; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor, who seek fnto injure me.

14 But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.

15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the fnsum of them.

16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.

18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.

19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the fnheavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?

20 You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

21 May You increase my greatness And turn to comfort me.

22 ¶ I will also praise You with a harp, Even Your truth, O my God; To You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed.

24 My tongue also will utter Your righteousness all day long; For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my hurt.

O-  This is a psalm of David, likely written during a period in which Absalom his son, was chasing after him trying to kill him and take his throne from him.  What we know about David, is he is extremely loyal to his family and extremely loyal to God.  So observing him in this tension between what he knows (God has anointed him King over Israel), and what he feels (great love and responsibility to shepherd his own son).   So once again David cries out to the Lord the only place he knows he can go.

A -  The application for me is that it is not important who is coming against you, their motive, and their truth.  What is important is what God wants you to do in the circumstances.   He has the big picture and He knows when I should go or when I should wait.  He knows when I should speak or when I need to bite my tongue.   His ways are better than my ways.  

P - Dear Lord thank you for cementing into my heart and mind that your ways are better than mine. Help me to remember that I to seek your guidance in all things great and small, but especially in those moments when I am feeling attacked by those around me.  Help me to have a heart like David.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.