February 18
Lev 6:1-7:27 | PS 37:1-11 | Prov 10:3-4 | Mark 3:7-30
We read in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." This verse and verses like it have been used and abused by many who adhere to a "name it and claim it" mentality. Applied in this way, like little spoiled children, many believe that God will simply give us everything that we want: riches, spouses, children, health, etc. if we desire it. But this is misapplied. If we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will become our joy and delight, and our desires will be for the things of God, a deepening relationship with Him, not a way to horde things for ourselves. As good as Scripture memory is, we must remember that it is always: "context, context, context". It is a dangerous thing to pull verses out of context to make it mean something other than what it was intended to mean. Remember the writers of Scripture did not write verses but books. Verses were inserted in the 1500's A.D. We must also be careful not to quote at people, taking our verses as little "christianese" phrases to place as a stamp over life's complexities. God's Word is meant to be a lifelong pursuit. His Word will be our tutor to be used for the light and difficult things in life, both for our lives and those around us. But we can only correctly apply it we abide in it, or live in it. Can you honestly state that you live in His Word?
As we enter into a relationship with the Lord it is of utmost importance that we are entering a life of servitude. Yes, we become servants. Unless we realize this we are not positioned rightly for use, and we could misuse that which God gives us. It is never about us. It is always about Him. In 1 Samuel 16:7, in choosing David, we read, "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”" We must remember this when we approach a familiar portion of Scripture when Jesus calls His twelve apostles, as we read in Mark 3:13-15, "And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:". We then read the now very familiar names like a roll-call. But among them were fishermen. A hated tax-collector. A member of a violent faction called the zealots. God could see that which most men could not. These men did not require an impressive resume, or a lofty education. These men simply needed to have a willing heart to be used by the Prince of Peace for His purposes, not their own.
We read in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God doesn't tell us to get ourselves right, then come to Him. He tells us to come to Him, and He will help make us right. He invites us to enter into relationship with Him. But in this relationship we serve Him. Serving the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords is the highest calling any of us can have, and he makes it available to all who have a willing heart. We need to remember that this means that we lessen, and He becomes greater. It means that we use opportunities for Him, not ourselves. It means that our thoughts and desires are for Him, not in satisfying our flesh. May we remember and never forget what a gift God has given us, our very breath and our lives, and offer these gifts to Him.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: