Thursday, September 24, 2009

Giving an Answer for your Faith and Hope

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  ~1 Peter 3:15-16

I've heard the first part of these verses many times, but usually not the second part (amazing how much insight you receive when you start diving into the verses around those you've heard all your Christian life!)

It says when you give your answer to do this with gentleness and respect. How many times when we are questioned regarding our faith do we get defensive or even arrogant?  When asked about your faith do you remain gentle and respectful, even in the face of ridicule, mocking and even outright hatred?

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

David's Backstory - Saul - Self Esteem v. Humility

(Saul) - 1 Samuel 9-15

Israel insists on a king because they want to be like the other nations around them (1 Samuel 8:19-20). They had rejected God as their King (1 Samuel 8:7).

Samuel annoints Saul as directed by God. Saul has a good reputation, is handsome, strong and stands a head taller than anyone else in Israel. Similar to David, Saul when annointed and then later publicly appointed as king does not appear to let it go to his head. He did not try to build a palace or set up a throne. Instead, like David later does, he returns to his father's home and continues the work he was doing before he was annointed. And like David, we are told the Holy Spirit came on him in power.

We know David committed some very grievious sins later in his life. But what makes him different from Saul? God abandoned Saul, but never left David. Why?

I think the answer to this is very important. Not sure of the answer yet, but I do think I've pinpointed one thing that I need to address in my life.

One characteristic of Saul that stands out is that he was a people-pleaser and had self-esteem issues (when he was appointed king he was nowhere to be found because he was hiding in the baggage!) Self-esteem issues come from the same focus as those who are arrogant. The symptom which the world sees may be different, but the root is the same - a focus on self.

A lack of confidence does not equal humility. A truly humble person looks to the Master while a person with self-esteem issues is still looking to self. A truly humble person in reality has a great deal of confidence - not in themselves - but in the great God they serve.

This difference between lack of self-esteem and true humility is one I'm still trying to grasp - and one that I really don't see as being an issue in David's life. What do you think?

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Tormented in Your Righteous Soul?

2 Peter 2 starts off talking about false teachers and their destruction.  It speaks of the righteous and godly who were spared when God's judgment fell on the wicked.  It speaks of Noah being spared when God brought the flood to destroy the world.  It speaks of Lot being spared when the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

While reading this chapter, one verse stuck out and a question whispered through my mind.  Verse 8 says about Lot:
for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard.
The question I keep coming back to is "Am I tormented in my righteous soul by the deeds I see and hear all around me?"

In the past when I saw or heard things that were evil, things that went against God's Truth, I would become indignant.  How could they?  I would speak out at times, other times I would not, but either way I would smolder with righteous anger.

But lately I've noticed that has changed.  As I've prayed for the Lord to give me His Eyes and His Heart for others I've found that while I do still get angry about certain things, I am filled with an even more powerful emotion.  A soul wrenching sadness.  It is as if the Lord has begun to open my eyes to the person beneath it all.  Instead of seeing someone evil and defiant of God, I now more often see the deceived and lost soul underneath - the person who is hiding behind a facade of defiance and self-reliance.  A person just like I used to be and honestly still am at times.

There are times I actually find myself in horrible internal agony for a person, tears and sometimes sobs rise up in me for a particular person and the only relief is for me to pray for that person.

I would not say that I am necessarily in torment all the time regarding the evil around me, but the Lord has begun to transform my heart and open my eyes to how He sees others.  It is amazing and heartbreaking at the same time.

I never would have thought in the past that I would find myself praying for more torment in my soul, but I do find myself desiring this - to more fully understand how God sees and feels for others.  To feel the love He has for them and along with that the sadness that He feels when those He loves dearly choose to turn away from Him.