Listening to the Word

2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 51; Matthew 23 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1, 2 Every person knows the stain of sin on their own heart. No amount of contrition, repayment, remorse, or even avoidance, can cleanse our hearts. Only God can forgive, heal, and renew a sin-sick heart. Many turn to distractions in entertainment, or relationships, or self-medicate through alcohol or drugs, in an attempt to numb their pain. Jesus alone offers his blood poured out on the cross to cleanse our sin-sick, wounded heart. It was unfailing love for the Father and for us that took Jesus to the cross to pay our sin-debt. It is Christ’s blood which can blot out transgressions, wash away iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin. Will we bring our sin-sick heart into the light of God’s presence and repent for all that grieves God? In repentance, we agree with wha...

2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 20; Psalms 20; Matthew 22 “’Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 Love by its very definition cannot be forced. Love is a choice, an expression of free will. God’s commandment to love him with all our being must be our choice or it is not love, but rather, duty. The choice to love our neighbour as we love ourselves is different than living on mission because it’s the right thing to do. Love is birthed in a freewill choice and is expressed sacrificially without consideration of the cost. Love is not contractual or reciprocal favors; love is generous and free in its   gifts, attention, and affection. Does this describe how we love God and our neighbours? ...

2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18-19; Matthew 21   “In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines. David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought tribute.” 1 Chronicles 18:1, 2 When David fled from Saul he found refuge in Gath and then negotiated with the king of Moab to shelter his family. When David became king he defeated both Gath and Moab. Both the Philistines (Gath) and the Moabites were threatened by David’s leadership and represented compromise with his past. As we come to Christ, we, too, must break with that which seeks to weaken our spiritual authority in Christ. Habits and relationships in which we formerly found refuge are not going to help us going forward if they are not reflecting God’s ways. Paul reminds us to “put to death” whatever belongs to our earthly nature, including sexual immorality, lust, evil desires, and greed (Colossians...

2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalms 2; Matthew 20 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 2:8 “…’Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’” Matthew 20:6, 7 Have we been “hired” in the Kingdom, or are we still “standing around”? God gives both the call and the willingness to serve. God invites us to “ask of me”. Our will must be engaged. We have not because we ask not. However, the Lord of the harvest must also “hire” us and send us. What are we asking God for? Does our asking mostly focus on our needs and wants, or God’s glory and kingdom mission? When we align our hearts with God’s kingdom priorities and values we can ask whatever we desire. God values people, created in his image, covenanting their lives to him. This mission to “make disciples of all nations” can be our life-mission as well. “Lord Jesu...

1 Chronicles 16; Psalms 106; Matthew 19 “…Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers…With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever!.” 1 Chronicles 16:38, 41 “…Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise?...Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.” Psalm 106:1, 2, 4, 5 Obed-Edom from Gath was a Philistine son of Jeduthun who had been sanctified by the presence of God as he hosted the ark of the Presence in his home. This Gentile and his family were chosen and designated by David to be singers and gatekeepers in the tabernacle. They led the praises of God, “for his love endures forever”. Later ...

1 Chronicles 14-15; Psalms 132; Matthew 18   “’I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob…arise, O Lord, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.” Psalm 132:4, 5, 8 David’s passion for the presence of the Lord became a priority in his desire to build a temple for God. David desired a dwelling and a resting place for the glory of God. Later, it was the prophet Isaiah who heard the Lord ask the same question, “Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be (Isaiah 66:1)?” The Lord’s answer to his own question was, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). While David looked for a place to house God’s presence, the Lord looked for a person. David was that person, and so can we be the temple of the Lord, containing the glory of the “Mighty One”. Yet, we focus more on the buildings of wo...