Tag: Glory

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Dangers of counting sheep.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

”God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it. Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” Then the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer. This was the message: “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭21‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David wasn’t counting sheep to try to sleep! David wanted to headcount of his people because of his own disordered desires. Counting constituents meant more glory and taxes for his treasury,

We don’t know who wrote the books of Chronicles, but the author wanted us to know this fact: Satan was behind the count! “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel” (21‬:‭1‬). That’s enough to know why this was such an egregious act towards God. Even Joab, David’s hitman, knew this was wrong, “why must you cause Israel to sin? (21‬:‭3‬).” I notice that leader’s choices have consequences on the followers!

God punished Israel. We don’t know what this first round of punishments were, but it Got David’s attention. Of course Satan probably laughed because he got a human to do his bidding! David repent, but wasn’t let off the hook by any means. Forgiveness doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences. God gave David a choice of punishment, and each choice was very harsh: famine, enemies, or a severe plague (21‬:‭12‬).

We don’t know if David did some quick math, thinking:
How many people would die from a 3 year famine?
How many people would die in a 3 month war?
And, How many people would die from a plague?

Here David wanted to count how many people called him King and how much taxes that would bring into his treasury. But now he’s forced to calculate how many people would lose their life because of his thirst for power and money!

David decided that God in his mercy and a possible plague would be less than the famine or sword. Immediately God sent a plague and 70,000 people died. But God wasn’t done. God also sent a powerful avenging or death angel to ravaged Jerusalem. The angel stood ready to act on God’s divine will when suddenly God said, “stop! That’s enough,” The angel paused but stood ready with sword drawn reaching out over Jerusalem. David saw this angel, “standing between heaven and earth.” In that moment David and the leaders of Israel put on burlap to show their deep distress and fell face down on the ground (21‬:‭15‬-‭16‬). The angel stayed, ready and sword drawn all the way until David paid for the place to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and prayed his guts out! Then, finally, “the Lord spoke to the angel, who put the sword back into its sheath‬ ‭(21‬:‭27‬).

Lessons for today:

  1. Stop listening to Satan’s lies designed specifically promising to fulfill our deepest, yet disordered desires.
  2. When one of our team leads says. “what are you doing… this is wrong!” lay down our pride and listen.
  3. Seriously and soberly think about our decisions that affect the people we are called to lead. Our sin may mean severe consequences for others.
  4. Offer sincere repentance. What would be an acceptable and appropriate gift to God, that would cost us, to make things right? And
  5. Stick to counting sheep for sleep, not for making ourselves feel important.

Prayer

Dad,
I see the gifts and grievances in David’s life and realize the highs were certainly high, but the lows were so devastating and destructive. Yet, somehow in all of that you both caught and punished David because you love him, but also he was willing to eventually admit his failures, sin, and he repented. David’s triumphs are celebrated but also his sins are on full display so we can learn. We can see the dangers, not just of sin, but specifically power and wealth as well. Thank you for your mercy and grace to me even in my own failures and sin.

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Tonight’s BIGGEST nightlight show on earth!

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You have the opportunity of seeing Psalm 8 in the night sky. Tonight’s show (8-30-23) can be seen just before 8pm PST. There is another August Super-moon. From NPR – A perigean full moon, better known as a supermoon, happens when the moon is full during the closest point in its orbit around Earth. This means it’ll appear about 8% larger than a normal full moon and 15% brighter than a normal full moon. So it’s rare for us on Earth to see two full moons in the span of a single month. When we do, we call it a “blue moon.” Tonight, this Psalm will be spectacularly displayed in full color.

The Psalmist declares this intense moment when every human being on the planet can simply look up at the night sky and actually see the glory of God displayed in wonder! Saying, “when I look and see,” it’s all there. Then, as though the psalmist allows his gaze to drift downward, he also sees his friends, possibly standing with him, also looking up in the night sky. He writes about God’s care for “mere mortals,” mankind that God should attend to/care about. God made humans just slightly lower than the angels, yet he crowns us with his own glory and honor. God shares some of what he is with human beings! God charged us and gave us the authority over everything he made. God made us the caretakers of this planet. He entrusted us to keep the beauty and sustainability of this beautiful blue planet! How are we doing with that? God declared what he made was good and gave us the job of keeping it good. Believers in God, followers of Jesus, should be the absolute best caretakers on planet! We should be the smartest, most fierce environmentalists ever known. Not because of politics! Not to fall prey to the lies of the Slanderer in believing the earth is to be worshipped, therefore bowing to sun, moon and stars. NO! But to acknowledge that this is our responsibility to manage what God has clearly given us the authority to maintain. We don’t look at a gorgeous blue moon and see an object to worship. We don’t study the stars, the monkeys or the whales because we are just in awe of them. We are overwhelmed by the God who created all things and gave us charge over all of it! When I look up at night, I see God’s glory. When I look around in the daylight, I see God’s glory. And, when I look at you, I see God’s glory!

Prayer

Dad,
Let everything that has breath praise You! As I look upon the wonder of a super-moon moment tonight, I will lift my voice to the heavens and declare that you are worthy of praise and all glory and honor is due to you and your majestic name fills the earth.

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Wearing a crown in heaven?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

John the revelator, has to break the news to the folks who call Smyrna their home and home church. Bibleplaces.com writes, “Smyrna sat 35 miles (56 km) north of Ephesus, built near the ruins of an ancient Greek colony destroyed in the 7th century BC. Lysimachus, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, rebuilt Smyrna as a new Hellenistic city in the 3rd century BC. The city was later established as a Roman commercial center with a port on the Aegean Sea. The name of the city since about 1930 is İzmir” But at the time of John’s writing it was not a good place for Jesus followers. They were dirt poor and under tremendous persecution for being Christian.

It is interesting that John forewarns this church of what is to come, with some very specific details. “The devil will throw some into prison for ten days!” Biblical scholars believe it may have been ten YEARS! How would you like that prophetic news to be read in your church this Sunday? The pressure of being poor and now prison?

John’s tender words from God Himself is moving. Like slave runners in the ancient Greek games, the winner would receive the ultimate prize – their freedom. And, they would be given their freedom, not with a trophy but a woven wreath placed on their head – deemed, “the crown of life.” Caesar’s gift of life after living as a Roman slave. Paul, James, Peter and John use this secular symbol to remind the church that God is the ultimate ruler over life and even though God did not enslave anyone (sin does this), His own gift of life would be found through the crown of thorns placed on Jesus, accurately but mockingly calling him the king of the Jews.

God’s crown would not only be freedom, which is obtained here while still alive on this planet, but also for those who suffer on His behalf. It appears there will be some kind of special, particular crown given as an eternal reminder for all to see. There’s a bit of discussion about this crown in the New Testament. John uses the word, “stéphanos,” a victor’s crown, verses the word, “diádēma,” a royal crown. This crown appears to be unique in that the only way to receive this crown is through suffering or Martyrdom.

Might it be that there are those who will be known in heaven by this crown of glory. Not for their own applause, but to the beauty, the gift that few can endure, of being put to death for their faith. This glory is shared because it reflects Jesus willingness and determination to go all the way to death for His mission of salvation for humanity.

Prayer

Dad,
Of all the crowns mentioned in the New Testament, this one seems to be the most treasured and honored. Reserved for folks like Blandina, who was so young and new to faith, yet she actually wore out her torturers because she just would not recant, nor release her will to live and suffer for you! Astounding. I am humbled by that tenacity of faith in you. Forgive me for thinking, even a moment, that I have suffered through anything equivalent. I am truly blessed.