August 31, 2010

1 Samuel 24

In my opinion this is one of the greatest acts of faith that David ever exhibited. Saul, who was seeking to kill David, was definitely within David’s ability to dispatch him. And David chooses not to have one of his men slit Saul’s throat. He wouldn’t have to do the dastardly deed himself. All he had to do was say the words, “Kill him,” and the deed would have been done. He probably was already in a part of the cave where he would not have to see or hear any part of the act. His nightmare of being the constant fugitive of the king would be over. Indeed he probably would be made king himself. Two little words was all it would take. No, he would not utter them. He would not allow his men to touch Saul. Why?

Yesterday we read where David’s was continually given information by the Lord on a need to know basis. David had learned to see the glory of the Lord in his awful situation. He had learned by experience that there is no safer place to be than to be where the Lord has told you to go. To harm someone anointed of the Lord would be to betray that experiential knowledge. To resort to his own means to accomplish a goal would be to reject the glory of the Lord to claim his own glory. He learned that we rally have no glory except when we permit the glory of the Lord to shine through us. ! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Nothing should demonstrate the glory of our Lord so clearly as communion. What do we see in communion? First, we see the sacrifice of His body and blood. He gave them for us! He purchased our pardon with His death. Second, we see His death inaugurated (but not completed) the New Covenant. What is the New Covenant? His Law will be written on our minds and hearts. He will be our God and we His people. We will know Him. Our iniquities and sins, He will remember no more. Third, we see His victory over sin and death in His resurrection. No one but Jesus has or will defeat sin and death. Of all the billions of beings in existence, only He alone defeated sin and death. Fourth, we see that He is coming again to receive us to Himself. This time He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will not come as a suffering servant. His suffering accomplished our redemption. His ruling will accomplish our obedience. Fifth, we see His healing. His body was broken for our healing. Consequently, when we approach the table in an unworthy manner, sickness sometimes ensues. Conversely, sometimes we see healing. He is our redeeming, empowering, risen, coming, healing King! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John