Today’s Reading: Jonah 1-4; Acts 15:1-21
“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened” (Jonah 3: 10 NIV).
Jonah was angry. He couldn’t understand why God would have compassion on the Ninevites, a horribly evil people. I don’t really blame him. I don’t always understand God’s compassion either. Here’s some of Jonah’s dialogue with God:
“He prayed to the LORD, ‘O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’
But the LORD replied, ‘Have you any right to be angry?’ (Jonah 4: 2-4 NIV).
Sometimes life is unfair. I’ll look at someone else and self-righteously declare that that person deserves to be punished. I’ll be driving down the road with someone tailgating me, and hope and pray that that person gets pulled over by the cops. It’s as if a part of me thinks that discipline is mine to determine, that I know best.
But 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us of an important truth: “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (NIV).
God looked at the repenting Ninevites. He saw a change of heart in them, and so, in His graciousness, He decided to save them.
Jonah didn’t understand why. With his own human eyes, he could only see everything the Ninevites had done wrong.
But God saw differently.
And although my self-righteous, condemning tendencies may come to the forefront from time to time, overall I’m thankful that God offers that same grace to each of us.
Because there’s certainly days that I don’t deserve to be a daughter of the Lord. There’s certainly days when I mess up royally, and need His forgiveness once again. There’s certainly days that I don’t look all that Christ-like to the world around me. But even on those days, God looks not at my outward appearance, but at my inner heart, which longs to serve Him with every ounce of my being.
He sees my longing to be better, my repentant spirit, and my love for Him above all else.
And He sends my faults as far away as the east is from the west:
“ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust”
(Psalm 103:11-14 NIV).
What area of your life do you need God’s compassion today?
Showing posts with label 1 Samuel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Samuel. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17-18; Luke 20:27-47
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47 NIV).
How often do we forget that the true battle belongs to the Lord? David knew that a man’s strength and power are nothing compared to that of God. He trusted that God would provide for him as he fought against Goliath. God works in seemingly impossible situations and provides for His children time and again.
There have been times when I’ve forgotten this truth. Times when I’ve tried to fight my own battles, and failed miserably. As I read the verses in today’s reading, I was reminded once again about how powerful and awesome our God truly is. I’m more than ready to give Him all my battles today, big and small. From conflicts with landlords, to this pounding headache, to how I’ll talk to my husband this evening, I pray that God will be seen in my every thought and action. Because for me, the greatest battles start in my mind, before I even speak a word. The battles start when I begin to decide how I’m going to respond to a situation.
I’m so thankful that all my battles belong to the Lord.
(Check out the lyrics to this song. I’m already singing the tune in my head. It’s just as true for David as he faced Goliath, as it is for each of us today).
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47 NIV).
How often do we forget that the true battle belongs to the Lord? David knew that a man’s strength and power are nothing compared to that of God. He trusted that God would provide for him as he fought against Goliath. God works in seemingly impossible situations and provides for His children time and again.
There have been times when I’ve forgotten this truth. Times when I’ve tried to fight my own battles, and failed miserably. As I read the verses in today’s reading, I was reminded once again about how powerful and awesome our God truly is. I’m more than ready to give Him all my battles today, big and small. From conflicts with landlords, to this pounding headache, to how I’ll talk to my husband this evening, I pray that God will be seen in my every thought and action. Because for me, the greatest battles start in my mind, before I even speak a word. The battles start when I begin to decide how I’m going to respond to a situation.
I’m so thankful that all my battles belong to the Lord.
(Check out the lyrics to this song. I’m already singing the tune in my head. It’s just as true for David as he faced Goliath, as it is for each of us today).
Monday, March 15, 2010
After God's Own Heart
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 15-16; Luke 20:1-26
“The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b NIV).
Today we come to a familiar portion of scripture, when Saul is rejected and David is anointed king of Israel. I’ve always loved the stories of King David. This man after God’s own heart had his weaknesses to be sure, but he was also such a great man of faith. The words he writes in the book of Psalms are some of my favorite in the Bible. They’re so honest and blunt at times, admitting sin, shame, doubt, and ultimately hope in God alone. As the prophet Samuel looked for God’s anointed one in today’s reading, he was reminded that God looks at the inward heart of a person. Outward appearance means little to Him, compared to how a person truly is on the inside. In David He found someone with a sincere heart. I wonder what He sees when He looks at me? Does He see someone distracted and downhearted, or does He see earnestness, love, and a desire to do good in this world? Does He see someone who desires to love and follow Him more than anything?
For I want to be a woman after God’s own heart. I strive for this each and every day. What about you?
“The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b NIV).
Today we come to a familiar portion of scripture, when Saul is rejected and David is anointed king of Israel. I’ve always loved the stories of King David. This man after God’s own heart had his weaknesses to be sure, but he was also such a great man of faith. The words he writes in the book of Psalms are some of my favorite in the Bible. They’re so honest and blunt at times, admitting sin, shame, doubt, and ultimately hope in God alone. As the prophet Samuel looked for God’s anointed one in today’s reading, he was reminded that God looks at the inward heart of a person. Outward appearance means little to Him, compared to how a person truly is on the inside. In David He found someone with a sincere heart. I wonder what He sees when He looks at me? Does He see someone distracted and downhearted, or does He see earnestness, love, and a desire to do good in this world? Does He see someone who desires to love and follow Him more than anything?
For I want to be a woman after God’s own heart. I strive for this each and every day. What about you?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Faithful Hannah
Today’s Readings: 1 Samuel 1-3; Luke 17:20-37
Yesterday we read the wonderful story of Ruth. Today we turn to another faithful woman, Hannah. Hannah was childless, and yearned more than anything to have a child. She wanted a child so desperately that she promised to give him completely to the Lord, if she was so blessed. God granted her wish, and Hannah faithfully gave Samuel to the Lord’s work. She tells Eli the Priest, “I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:27-28 NIV). What would this mean for Hannah? This would mean that young Samuel would live his life in the temple. Hannah would miss seeing him grow and develop, because he, instead, would be under the care of the Priest Eli. What a sacrifice Hannah made! I’m sure it would have been so easy to take back her promise when she found out she was actually pregnant. But she stayed true to her promise and gave up Samuel for the Lord’s work. And what a gift she gave! Samuel grew up to be a great prophet who mentored King Saul and King David. For Hannah’s faithfulness, the Bible tells us that she was given three more sons and two more daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). This was her blessing for remaining faithful.
I wonder if I could be so faithful in my own life. Do I always live up to the promises and vows I make? Am I someone to be counted on during the hard times? I’d like to say that I am, but I’m sure I’ve broken a promise here and there, making the excuse that it seemed too difficult to follow through. But I’m sure Hannah’s promise was difficult. I’m sure her arms longed to hold Samuel for the rest of her life. She was faithful, so I, too, should be faithful when it comes to the promises I make, big and small.
Lord, help me to be more like Hannah, who was faithful to you most of all. Help me to be someone who can be trusted, both by you and by the world around me.
Yesterday we read the wonderful story of Ruth. Today we turn to another faithful woman, Hannah. Hannah was childless, and yearned more than anything to have a child. She wanted a child so desperately that she promised to give him completely to the Lord, if she was so blessed. God granted her wish, and Hannah faithfully gave Samuel to the Lord’s work. She tells Eli the Priest, “I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:27-28 NIV). What would this mean for Hannah? This would mean that young Samuel would live his life in the temple. Hannah would miss seeing him grow and develop, because he, instead, would be under the care of the Priest Eli. What a sacrifice Hannah made! I’m sure it would have been so easy to take back her promise when she found out she was actually pregnant. But she stayed true to her promise and gave up Samuel for the Lord’s work. And what a gift she gave! Samuel grew up to be a great prophet who mentored King Saul and King David. For Hannah’s faithfulness, the Bible tells us that she was given three more sons and two more daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). This was her blessing for remaining faithful.
I wonder if I could be so faithful in my own life. Do I always live up to the promises and vows I make? Am I someone to be counted on during the hard times? I’d like to say that I am, but I’m sure I’ve broken a promise here and there, making the excuse that it seemed too difficult to follow through. But I’m sure Hannah’s promise was difficult. I’m sure her arms longed to hold Samuel for the rest of her life. She was faithful, so I, too, should be faithful when it comes to the promises I make, big and small.
Lord, help me to be more like Hannah, who was faithful to you most of all. Help me to be someone who can be trusted, both by you and by the world around me.
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