You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2012.
The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Psalm 28:8
Imagine what it was like for David, just a kid, a mere 16 years old or so. His idea of excitement was being in the mountain meadow tending a bunch of sheep. David spent more time alone than he spent with people.
One day all that changed. He was called in from the field and when he arrived, the great priest Samuel was there. Priests didn’t just ‘show up’ at your door for no reason. Especially someone as mighty as Samuel. When he came, there was a reason. What must have been going through his mind as the oil from the anointing ran down his cheeks and dripped from his chin?
The King? Me? I’ve never even been in the palace much less be king?
Anointing didn’t mean maybe. David was in! How or why or when didn’t matter at that time. Too much to think about. Scripture implies that at least for a while David returned to the fields. Same old sheep. Same long nights. But now, there must have been something different, and the difference was in David. Now he had hope. Now he knew God was going to use him for something wonderful. The songs of praise must have rolled off his lips.
The story didn’t end there of course. There were years of waiting. Years of scoffing by his brothers. Years of dodging spears and angry tirades by Saul. Years of hiding for his life in caves. Years of wondering when God’s promise would be fulfilled.
What was it that kept him going? What was it that made David get out of bed every morning and attack each day as a mighty warrior with victory in sight? The motivation for David’s persistence was his anointing. That was the promise that would never fail because that promise came from God.
As a follower of Jesus Christ you are anointed today. Whatever trial you are facing, whatever disappointment is trying to keep you from moving forward, whatever or whoever has hurt you with words or action, don’t forget the anointing.
The anointing David received was a promise of strength and a promise of the future. It was a guarantee that God the almighty, the Creator of the universe, the one who hung the stars in space and flung the galaxies into place has chose you for a task and he will see you through to the end.
There will be dark nights. There will be wilderness trails to endure. But when God anoints you, when He has chosen you, the outcome is sure and is in his hands not yours. A wonderful word of praise and reminder from the Psalms.
PRAYER: Father God. Worry seems to follow me. I doubt myself and at times I doubt you. People mistreat me and I make mistakes. But today I rest on the promise of my anointing through Jesus Christ. Today I rest on your promise to see me though. Amen.
Only you, Lord, are a mighty rock! Don’t refuse to help me when I pray. If you don’t answer me, I will soon be dead. Psalm 28:1 (CEV)
Government tells us that safety and prosperity will come from new programs and equality.
Religion tells us that safety and prosperity will come from following certain dogmas and rules.
Education tells us that safety and prosperity will come from new books, higher learning and giving everyone an equal chance.
Society tells us safety and prosperity will come from acceptance and loving relationships.
But governments come and go and things haven’t gotten much better; religion has failed to give us any assurance that life is better by following those rules; education hasn’t solved any major issues of late and society seems on the brink of collapsing within itself.
So what can we hang our hat on every night? What assurance do we have that there is something better ahead? What comfort can we have when the bills are more than the money, our health is failing and the relationship we are in is unsatisfying on the good days and unbearable on the bad days?
A rock climber will tell you that a good foothold in the sheerest of cliffs gives you all the confidence in the world to move on. I’m not a rock climber, but I know about sheer cliffs. I know about getting into a place where there seems to be no way out and having one thing you can count on makes all the difference in the world.
I’m reminded of an old joke I heard years ago. A motorcyclist was driving through the mountains. He navigated one curve after another with no problem. Then the unthinkable happened. He took one curve too fast and ended up going over a sheer 500 foot cliff.
Halfway down he managed to grab a scraggly pine tree growing out of the rock. Suspended 250 feet from the rocky valley below, he screamed for help.
“Is there anybody up there to help me? He screamed at the top of his lungs.
“I’m here,” he finally hears a voice coming from nowhere.
“Well, who are you and can you help me?”
“I’m God, and of course I can help you.”
A bit confused he yells, “Good, can you get me out of here?”
The voice answers back, “Sure, let go of the tree.”
After a moment’s hesitation the man screams again, “Is there anyone else up there that can help me?”
Too often we fail to trust God completely. We acknowledge him as creator God, as controller of the universe, but when life seems impossible we turn to our own resources instead of complete trust in God.
Are you clinging to a tree hoping for some magical rescue? Trust God for who he is and let go of the tree!
PRAYER: Father I’m facing obstacles in my life I neither understand nor have an answer to. I’ve tried everything I know of to get out of this predicament. Now I turn to you and ask you to help me trust you with my entire life. Amen.
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21
There are plenty of studies out there about how clothing affects the person. When we are feeling good about ourselves we generally dress accordingly. Doctors and medical professionals wear white because it garners respect from people. People in a suit and tie are usually considered successful regardless of their financial status. People in dirty or old clothes are generally considered poor or people of ill repute.
One day, Adam and Eve walked alone and naked in the garden. They were unashamed of their looks, unashamed and open about their feelings. They accepted each other completely and were totally transparent with one another. Scripture even suggests that they understood each other fully.
Then sin came into the picture and with that sin, came shame. Genesis tells us that when sin entered the picture it changed how the couple looked at each other, themselves and God. They looked at each other’s nakedness and felt shame and embarrassment. They heard God and felt fear. Remember, these were new feelings for the first couple. Shame, embarrassment and fear had never been a part of their emotional make-up to this point.
Genesis 3:21 is a beautiful story of grace. Grace because an innocent animal gave its life. Grace because neither the man nor the woman deserved God’s forgiveness. Grace because the creator himself not only made them their clothes, he clothed them.
The clothing God made for the man and woman covered far more that their physical nakedness, God’s clothing covered their emotional nakedness by covering their shame, guilt and embarrassment.
The fig leaves Adam and Eve covered themselves with were inadequate to cover the real issues in their lives. Nothing has changed today. We spend thousands of dollars every year to hide our shame and our guilt. We use clothes, new jobs, new relationships, new hairstyles, religion and all sorts of other things to try to cover up how we feel about ourselves but nothing works. Physical coverings will never cure the inner pain we feel.
Our creator God personally clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins as a symbol of a new set of clothing he offered through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one that will cover your guilt. Jesus is the only one who will cover your anger and your hurt. Jesus is the only one who can cover the scars of your past.
The real beauty of God’s clothing is that when you are clothed with Jesus Christ you are able to be fully free to be you. No more hiding. No more disguises. Simply free to be you! With Jesus your outfit is you and you are beautiful!
Built with Grace 
Recent Comments