FRIENDSHIP

Reading from the Bible:

14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. 15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. 16 And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hands in God. 17 And he said unto him, fear not: for the hands of the Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. 18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. 1 Samuel 23: 14-18

Summary:

Friendship is one of the life’s greatest gifts. True friends seek a special kind of good for their friends: the highest good, which is that they might know God and love Him with all of their heart, soul and mind. German pastor and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “ The aim of friendship is exclusively determined by what God’s will is for the other person.”

                                                                    Jonathan, David’s friend, is a sterling example  of true friendship. David was in exile, hiding in the Desert of Ziph, when he learned that “Saul had come out to seek his life”. Jonathan went to Horesh to find David. The significance of this scene lies in Jonathan’s intent: He helped David find strength in God or, as the text puts it, he “strengthened his hands [grip] in God” (v.16).

                                                             That is the essence of Christian friendship. Beyond common interests, beyond affection, beyond wit and laughter is the ultimate aim of sowing in others the words of eternal life, leaving them with reminders of God’s wisdom, refreshing their spirit with words of His love, and strengthening their grip on God.

                                      Pray for your friends and ask God to give you a word “in season” to help them find renewed strength in our God and His word. ---David Roper

                  

                       Dear Lord, thank you for loving us. May your

                       Love compel us to show love to others. Give us

                       Sensitivity to your Spirit that we might know how

                       To encourage them in their walk with you.

                                                                                                                 

  A true friend is a gift from God and one who points us back to Him.

THE BLESSING OF GIVING

Reading from the Bible :

38 Then He said to them in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in log robes, love greetings in the market places, 39 “The best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 “Who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” 41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how people put the money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans . 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them. “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those  who have given to the treasury; 44 “For they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” Mark 12:38-44

Summary

It made no sense for a widow to donate her last few coins to a corrupt institution in Jerusalem, where scribes who were dependent on those gifts “devour[ed] widows’ houses” (Mark 12:40). But in that woman’s act, Jesus saw a moving display of the proper attitude towards money (vv.41-44).

                                   Gordon  Cosby, while serving as a pastor of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC, tells of a widow whose income was barely adequate to feed and clothe her six children. Yet every week she faithfully placed $4 in the offering plate. A deacon suggested that Cosby go to her and assure her that she could use the money instead for her family’s benefit.

                                                          Cosby followed the deacon’s advice---to his regret . “You are trying to take away the last thing that gives me dignity and meaning,” she said. She had learned a key to giving: It can benefit the giver more than the receiver. Yes, those in poverty need financial help. But the need to give may be as important as the need to receive.   

                           The act of giving reminds us that we live by the grace of God---like the birds and the flowers. Those creations don’t worry about  their future; neither should we. Giving offers us a way to express our confidence that God will care for us just as He cares for the sparrow and lily (Matt. 6:25-34).--- Philip Yancey  

                 Whatever, Lord, we lend to thee,

                Repaid a thousand-fold will be;

               Then gladly will we give to the

              Who givest all---who givest all. ---Wordsworth

                                                                                                 

                               

  We disarm the power of money by giving it away.

ON HELPING OTHERS

Reading from the Bible:

And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither thou shalt gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God. 11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. 12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither thou shalt profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. 13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord. 15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor. LEVITICUS 19:9-15

SUMMARY :

When snowstorms bury the grazing lands, ranchers must feed their herds by hand. As hay is tossed from wagons and trucks, the strongest animals bull their way to the front. Timid or sickly animals get little or no feed unless the rancher intervenes.

                                                   Working in refugee camps and food pantries report a similar pattern. When they open their stores to those in need, the weak and timid may not make it to the front of the line. Like the ranchers, these human lifelines must take steps to ensure that their services reach the feeble, weary and sick at the edge of society’s attention.

                        They are carrying out a principle set forth by God long ago. In Leviticus 19, Moses instructed Israel’s farmers and vintners to leave portions of their crops so the poor and stranger could have something to eat (vv. 9-10).

                                                       We too can serve as caretakers to the weak and weary. Whether we are teachers coaxing quiet students to open up, workers coming alongside a struggling co-worker, prisoners looking out for new arrivals, or parents showing attention to their children, we have ways to honor God by helping others.

     As we seek to serve those in need, may the grace of God that reached us in our need move us to reach out to others in theirs.---Randy Kilgore

              

               Father, open my eyes to those struggling to have

              Enough food, enough love, enough hope; then open my

             heart to find ways to help them receive love, using my

            hands in service to them---and through them, to you.

                                                                                                                                                    

          

By serving others, we serve God.

SPIRITUAL SIGHT

Reading from the Bible:

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 Which he worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality and power and might and domination, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also I that which is to come. EPHESIANS 1:15-21

Summary :

A prisoner who survived 14 years in Cuban jail told how he kept his spirits up and hope alive: “I had no window in my cell, and so I mentally constructed one on the door. I ‘saw’ in my mind a beautiful scene from the mountains, with water tumbling down a ravine over rocks. It became so real to me that I would visualize it without effort every time I looked at the cell door.”

                          Ironically, some of the most hopeful books of the Bible---Philippians , Colossians and Ephesians---come out of Paul’s house arrest in Rome. The letter to the Ephesians gives a hint as to what the apostle Paul saw when he thought about life beyond his place of confinement.

                             First he saw the spiritual growth in the churches he left behind. This book opens with a burst of thanksgiving for the vitality of the Ephesian church (Eph. 1;15-16). Then he sought to open the eyes of their hearts to even more exalted sights: the “exceeding riches” of God’s grace (2:7). When Paul cranks up the volume to express God’s plan of  love, not one low, mournful note sneaks in.

            If you feel discouraged or question whether the Christian life is worth it, Ephesians proves to be a great tonic. It prescribes the riches in Christ available to all. ---Philip Yancey

               

                     Heavenly Father, thank you for the staggering

                    good news of the riches of your infinite grace.

                     Thank you for the encouragement and hope

                            We find in Ephesians. Amen.

                                                                                            

      

No one is hopeless whose hope is in God and His word.

WHAT IS THAT TO YOU?

Reading from the Bible :

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, ”Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to Him, “Feed My sheep. 18 “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish,” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death He would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 20 Then Peter , turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to Him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Summary:

When you attend a children’s choir concert, you’re not surprised when the children look everywhere but at the director. They wiggle, squirm, and poke each other. They stand on tiptoes to search for parents in the audience. They raise there hands to wave when they see them. Oh, yes, and they occasionally sing. We smile at their antics. The behavior is cute in children. It’s not so cute when adult choir members don’t watch the conductor. Good music depends on singers who pays attention to the director so they can stay together as they sing.

                                          Christians sometimes are like singers in a children’s choir. Instead of looking at Jesus, the great Conductor of the symphony of life, we  are busy squirming or looking at each other or watching the audience.

                   Jesus admonished Peter for such behavior. After He told him what would be required of him, Peter pointed to John and asked, “What about him?” Jesus answered with a question: “What is that to you? You follow Me? (John 21:22).

       Sometimes we are distracted by what others are doing. We think God’s plan for theirs life is better than His plan for ours. But God’s plan for each of us is the same: Follow Jesus. When we watch Him intently, we’ll not be distracted by God’s plan for anyone else.---Julie Ackerman Link

                              My times are in my father’s hand;

                           How could I wish or ask for more?

                        For He who has my pathway planned,

                     Will guide me till my journey’s o’er.---Fraser

                                                                                                 

                   

Every child of God has a special place in His plan.

Put The Name To Work

These things  I have written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God; that ye may know that ye may have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the son of God ( John 5:13 ).

Notice the underlined construction. The Apostle John says, “…that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of son of God .” He’s simply saying, “ put the Name of Jesus to work!”

   The Name of Jesus is the Name that opens every door in every city and every nation. That’s the Name you need for a life of constituent victory, anywhere. For example, when Jesus gave the great commission in Mark 16:15 to “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature ,” it was in his Name. He gave us his Name, and that’s bigger than the whole world. Philippians 2:10 says “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth,” This is the reason you can be comfortable in any place, any city, region or nation. You’re on a divine assignment, sent forth, not in your own name, but in that matchless Name of Jesus.

                                          Luke’s report in Acts 3 about Peter and John is a detailed example of men who dared to use the Name of Jesus. Incidentally, this was their first miracle after Jesus’s ascension. When Peter met the crippled man at the gate of the temple called Beautiful, he said to him “…such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The man couldn’t walk in his own name or in his father’s name. Niether was he able to walk in Herod’s, Pilate’s or Caesar’s name; but he did in the name of Jesus! Acts 3:7-8 says Peter “…took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked….”

        The reason for the failure, defeat, sickness and weakness in the lives of many people is failure to trust and use the Name of Jesus in the crises of life. Psalm 20:7 AMP says “Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God.” Put the Name of Jesus to work in every area of your life. The word says to do all things in the Name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

                            PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the power in the Name of Jesus, and the authority I have to use that Name against the devil, sickness, disease and everything that hurts or binds. By the power of that Name, I declare that I’m living the higher life of glory that you prearranged for me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study : Acts 3:16 , John16:23.   

TIME OUT

Reading from the Bible :

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon whom was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them,” 3 Then having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. ACTS 13:1-3

Summary  :

El Bulli restaurant, 2 hours north of Barcelona, is so popular that customers must reserve a table 6 months in advance. But noted Spanish chef Ferran Adria decided to close the doors of his award-winning restaurant for 2 years so he and his staff could have time to think, plan and innovate. Adria told Hemispheres Magazine, “If we are winning all the prizes, why change? Working 15 hours a day leaves us very little time to create.” In the midst of great success, they took time out for what is most important to them.

                                                The first-century church in Antioch experienced a time of exciting growth when “a great number believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). As a result, Barnabas and Saul came to teach the new believers (vv.25-26). But along with the hard work, they took time to seek the Lord through prayer and fasting (13:2-3). Through this, God revealed His plan for taking the gospel into Asia.

                             Few people can take 2 years off to think and plan. But all of us can build time into our schedule to seek the lord earnestly through prayer. As we open our hearts and minds to God, He will be faithful to reveal the steps of life and service that honor Him.---DavidMcCasland

                    There is a blessed calm at eventide

                    That calls me from a world of toil and care;

                   How restful, then, to seek some quiet nook

                  Where I can spend a little time to prayer.---Bullock

                                                                                                

             

                           

Prayer is as important as breathing.