April 14, 2006 - I Samuel 25-26 and Luke 12:32-59
Anger can be a very destructive force in our lives. When we react in anger, we miss God's will, and we end up doing something that we later regret. That is one of the main lessons from this passage in I Samuel. As you read, think about your own experiences with anger.
In chapter 25 David reacts in anger to the insults of Nabal, a very foolish scoundrel of a man. It almost causes him to kill Nabal and all of his men. However, Nabal's wife, Abigail, intervenes on his behalf. She shows David that it is not God's will to act in anger, so David stops his men. In the end God takes care of Nabal, and David marries Abigail. Just think of how different things would have been if David not stopped. Just think of the regrets he would have had later in life. That is how anger works. It leads us down the wrong road. Often, it leads us to do something that we would never do if we were not angry. We must ask the Lord to free us from the control of anger and to control us by His Spirit.
Then, in chapter 26 we see the complete opposite. David has another chance to kill Saul. He does not act in anger. He is still confident that God will take care of Saul. Why was he not confident that God would take care of Nabal? It was because of the anger and acting in the flesh. When David took time to consider his actions, he did the right thing. In fact, he tells us his understanding of how God blesses righteousness. (v.23-24) When we act righteously, God returns that righteousness to us. When we act unrighteously, He returns that to us. Jesus said the same thing in the New Testament. He said that with the same measure we judge, it would be measured out to us. There are so many benefits to acting righteously, instead of reacting in the flesh.
Luke 12 shows us many spiritual principles that should lead us to act righteously. Your heart will be in what you treasure. To whom much is given much is required. There will be division between loved ones over the Lord. We must be a discerner of the times, and we must judge what is right and seek forgiveness quickly. However, the main point of this passage is that God rewards righteous actions. Blessed is the servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (v43) The opposite is also true. The unfaithful servant will be punished. If we are experiencing the displeasure of God on our lives, it is to our advantage to stop and ask Him to show us what we are doing wrong. If we are experiencing His pleasure, we should note what we are doing that He is smiling upon. God blesses His obedient children, and He chastens those whom He loves.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 27-29 and Luke 13;1-22.
In chapter 25 David reacts in anger to the insults of Nabal, a very foolish scoundrel of a man. It almost causes him to kill Nabal and all of his men. However, Nabal's wife, Abigail, intervenes on his behalf. She shows David that it is not God's will to act in anger, so David stops his men. In the end God takes care of Nabal, and David marries Abigail. Just think of how different things would have been if David not stopped. Just think of the regrets he would have had later in life. That is how anger works. It leads us down the wrong road. Often, it leads us to do something that we would never do if we were not angry. We must ask the Lord to free us from the control of anger and to control us by His Spirit.
Then, in chapter 26 we see the complete opposite. David has another chance to kill Saul. He does not act in anger. He is still confident that God will take care of Saul. Why was he not confident that God would take care of Nabal? It was because of the anger and acting in the flesh. When David took time to consider his actions, he did the right thing. In fact, he tells us his understanding of how God blesses righteousness. (v.23-24) When we act righteously, God returns that righteousness to us. When we act unrighteously, He returns that to us. Jesus said the same thing in the New Testament. He said that with the same measure we judge, it would be measured out to us. There are so many benefits to acting righteously, instead of reacting in the flesh.
Luke 12 shows us many spiritual principles that should lead us to act righteously. Your heart will be in what you treasure. To whom much is given much is required. There will be division between loved ones over the Lord. We must be a discerner of the times, and we must judge what is right and seek forgiveness quickly. However, the main point of this passage is that God rewards righteous actions. Blessed is the servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (v43) The opposite is also true. The unfaithful servant will be punished. If we are experiencing the displeasure of God on our lives, it is to our advantage to stop and ask Him to show us what we are doing wrong. If we are experiencing His pleasure, we should note what we are doing that He is smiling upon. God blesses His obedient children, and He chastens those whom He loves.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 27-29 and Luke 13;1-22.