Category: Strength for Today

1 Samuel 13:11
“And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;”

A person doesn’t always have to commit the crime to be guilty, but contributing to the crime in some manner makes them an accessory to the crime. Likewise, it is not always the person who commits the sin who is the only guilty one, but oftentimes there was someone who contributed to their sin. The person who contributes to one’s sin may not be a bad person, but some action or inaction caused them to be an accessory to the sin.

One of the overlooked parts of Saul’s sinful sacrifice was that he did this because Samuel did not come at the appointed time. Saul was ultimately responsible for his own actions, but because Samuel didn’t keep an appointment and his word, another man committed a sin. If Samuel had been there when he said he would, Saul would have never been tempted to do wrong. Samuel’s lapse of character caused him to be an accessory to the sin.

You must always be careful that you don’t become an accessory to another’s sin. You may not think that one action is that important, but it was important to Saul doing right. It would be a terrible thing to let one action contribute to another losing the blessings of God. When I look at this story, I see some things that can contribute to another’s sin.

First, not keeping your word can contribute to another’s sin. If you tell someone you are going to do something, then you had better do it. For instance, if you tell someone you are going to pray for them, then pray for them. Your word can mean a lot to someone and when you don’t keep it, it could cause someone to make a wrong decision.

Second, not keeping your appointments can contribute to another’s sin. Samuel probably never thought that not getting to where he was supposed to be on time would cause Saul to yield to peer pressure, but it did. If you tell someone you are going to be somewhere at a certain time, then you need to be sure to be where you said you would be. I know this may seem petty, but if it contributed to Saul’s sin, then it can contribute to another’s sin.

Third, a lapse in your personal character can contribute to another’s sin. Samuel on the whole was a good man, but one lapse of character caused another to fall. Friend, you must do everything in your power to do right all the time. One lapse of judgment can influence another to make a wrong decision. One time of acting out of your character can impact someone’s life. You would never want your lapse of character to influence anyone for wrong.

Finally, you must always remember that you are ultimately responsible for your own actions. Just because someone else didn’t do right doesn’t give you an excuse to do wrong. You are to do right all the time. Another’s wrong action is never a permission to sin. Do right all the time and you will never allow another to influence you for wrong, and you will not influence another for wrong either.

1 John 3:17
“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

I’m afraid that oftentimes in Christianity we are filled with works that are void of love. We do what we are supposed to do, but the love of God is absent. We go soul winning because we are supposed to go soul winning. We perform a ministry on the weekends as we are supposed to, but give nothing more than our allotment of time. We read the Scriptures and pray on a daily basis, but walk away and feel we are spiritual for the day as if our daily walk with God is a penance we must pay.

God makes a powerful statement in the verse above when He asks the question, “…how dwelleth the love of God in him?” God is teaching that when you have the assets to help someone and won’t help them, then you are absent of love. You will notice that God says that when a brother sees someone has a need, but literally turns his head and never helps, then the love of God is not in him. God says that love is more than words, but love is an action of helping others “in deed and in truth.” There are some things that we must learn about God’s love that will help us.

First, God gives you what you have so that you can help others. He says, “But whoso hath this world’s good…” This is certainly talking about monetary things. Everything God gives us is for the purpose of helping others. I believe we can even look at it deeper in a spiritual realm. God has not given you the spiritual experience and background to hoard and never give out, but everything He has given to us whether it be monetary or spiritual was given to help others.

Second, God allows you to see the needs of others so you can help them. There is never a mistake with God. God brings people across your path who have needs for the specific purpose of you opening your bowels of compassion and helping them. If you walk through life with your eyes closed, then you will never see the needs of those whom you could help; however, if you will walk through your day with eyes wide open, you will see people all about you whom you could help.

Third, your measure of love is not dependent upon what you say but what you do. We can talk about love all we want, but love is not measured by how many times we talk about God’s love. It is measured by how much we give God’s love to others. In other words, you can measure how much of God’s love dwells in you by how much you do to help others whom you see in need. When you see someone in a spiritual or physical need, do you help them or do you move to avoid them?

Friend, people will know that God’s love dwells in you by how much you reach out to help others who are in need. Yes, God’s love will inconvenience you, but His love will change lives. I encourage you to daily keep your eyes open so that you can help others. Make it your daily goal to give God’s love to the person in need whom He has allowed to cross your path.

1 Samuel 3:19
“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.”

Throughout the Scriptures you will find that God began to work in the heart of His chosen when they were children. You must never underestimate God working in a child’s heart. Samuel was a child when God first spake to him, and from the first time to the end of his life he grew in the LORD.

When I look at my own life, I see that God certainly began to work through me as a child. I was only four years of age when I accepted the LORD as my Saviour. It was at 7 years of age when I led my first person to Christ. I was thirteen years of age when I surrendered to be a preacher of the Gospel. I was 15 years of age when I began to preach every week. I’m personally thankful that God does start working in the lives of individuals when they are children. Let me give you some suggestions that will help to create an atmosphere in your child’s heart to grow in the LORD.

First, never discourage the LORD working in their life. Samuel was just a child when the LORD spake to him, and Eli was wise enough not to discourage the LORD speaking to his heart. When it’s invitation time and your child raises their hand, don’t discourage the LORD speaking by grabbing their hand and lowering it. It should thrill your soul that the LORD is speaking to them. Never discourage them from walking an aisle. This is the LORD working in their heart.

Second, be sure they have a personal time with God every day. My parents oftentimes asked me if I read the Scriptures that day. As a parent, you need to stay on top of your child’s walk with God. It’s not how much they read the Scriptures and pray, but it’s the fact that they are reading and praying every day. God cannot speak to them if they are not daily praying and reading the Scriptures.

Third, take them to conferences to hear preaching. Anytime there was a conference within driving distance, my father would take me to hear the preaching. It was always a highlight of my life as a child to go with my father to hear preaching. You need to make much of preaching in your child’s life. When they see that you are taking time to get around preaching, then they will see the importance of it in their own life. God will speak to your child through preaching.

Fourth, talk with them about decisions they’ve made for the LORD. I oftentimes talk to my daughter about the LORD working in her heart. You should make every decision for the LORD a big thing. You just don’t know which decision will be the life-changing decision in their life.

Fifth, the greatest way to create an atmosphere for your children to grow in the LORD is to serve the LORD yourself. There is nothing like an example of a parent serving the LORD that will help the child to grow in the LORD. The life you personally live speaks volumes to your child. Never underestimate your example. If you live right, it will encourage them to live right.

These five suggestions are in no way an exhaustive list to helping your child grow in the LORD. These suggestion are important, and they must be present in your child’s life if they are to grow in the LORD. Be that encouragement to your child by creating an atmosphere for the LORD to speak to them.

Proverbs 22:1
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

One of the things people are always interested in is where to make an investment for their retirement. Trying to find the right investment that won’t squander your retirement is a challenge by all. One bad investment and your whole retirement can be gone, and you will be left trying to find a way to make a living for the remainder of your life.

I can remember when I was a teenage boy that many lost their whole retirement because of the stock market crash. People were so distressed over how much they lost that some committed suicide because they saw no hope. Others who were at retirement age were forced to stay employed because they had no other way to make a living.

This is no doubt a sad story, but this pales in comparison to the investment in your name. The verse above says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” God is teaching that the greatest investment other than salvation is an investment in your name. Sadly, some have made a bad investment that ruined their name for the remainder of their lives. All it takes is one bad investment to ruin the great investment in your name. I find there are three things that can ruin this investment.

First, your word will make or break the investment in your name. If you become known as one who can’t keep their word, then you will become known as someone who cannot be trusted. Telling the truth all the time must be the rule by which you live. Your name depends upon how much people can trust what you say. If they can’t trust you to pay your bills, then your name is a poor investment. If they can’t trust you to tell the truth at all times, then they will always question what you say. Every time you tell the truth you are investing in your name.

Second, your morality is an investment in your name. All it takes is one act of indiscretion and your name will forever be marred. Many people have lived a moral life the majority of their life, but had one small period where they were immoral and they lost their name forever. Being faithful to your spouse is an investment in your name. Keeping your mind pure is an investment in your name. Being proper with the opposite gender is an investment in your name. Don’t ruin your name for one moment of immoral pleasure.

Third, your disposition is an investment in your name. People will determine what type of person you are by your attitude. You can do everything right, but having a poor attitude will destroy the investment in your name. I’ve known people whose attitude kept them from getting a promotion on their job. Having the right attitude all the time is an investment in your name.

Friend, you can spend your whole life building a good name and lose that investment by messing up in one of these areas. You only have a good name one time. Don’t ever take for granted that one indiscretion in any of these areas won’t hurt that investment. Protect the investment of your name and you will always be one whom people trust and admire.

1 Chronicles 10:5
“And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.”

Saul never saw the fallout of sin when he originally rebelled against God. All he saw was the pleasure that sin gave. Yet, the final chapter of sin on Saul’s life was tragic. As he fought against the Philistines, the chief enemy of his life, he succumbed to their power all because of sin. He was struck by their arrows, and when he saw that they were going to capture him, he fell on his sword and died.

If that were the end of the story it would be sad, but tragically that was only part of the end. His armourbearer saw that his leader fell, and because he lost all hope he also fell on his sword and died. The tragic end of a life that should have never ended so early ended because of sin. Sin’s fallout caused this armourbearer to use the excuse of his leader’s fall to commit the same sin and kill himself.

Sin always has a fallout. You can choose your sin, but you cannot choose the consequences of sin. You may enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, but the fallout from sin is always tragic. Sin’s consequences are great, but its fallout is tragic. Others will always be affected by the consequences of your sin. You never know how deep the fingers of sin reach until the consequences from your sin happen. When your sin is discovered and your fall is seen, others will tragically be caught in the fallout. This story of Saul reveals some of the fallout from sin.

First, the fallout of sin causes others to see your failings and lose purpose in their own life. This armourbearer lost all purpose as to why they were in this war. When Saul fell, he thought there was no further purpose to fight. Many people have quit serving the LORD because of a leader’s failure. Before you ever choose to sin, somehow you need to look at how it will cause many to quit serving the LORD. They will one day see how their leader has fallen in sin and believe that there is no purpose for continuing on in their service for the LORD.

Second, the fallout of sin causes others to use your fall as their excuse to sin. When Saul fell on his sword, the armourbearer followed through with the same action. Many people have used the failings of a leader as their excuse to sin. Though this is not a valid excuse, the fact of the matter is that it will become their justification as to why their sin is okay. Friend, you are responsible for your influence on others, and you will not only be responsible for what you have done, but you will also be accountable for what you have influenced others to do.

Let me give a word of caution to those who have seen their leaders fall. When a leader falls, there is still a war to fight. Just because someone else has done wrong does not give you the right to do the same thing. You have to remember that this battle we fight in the Christian life is not about man, but it is all about truth. There are casualties in this war, but you must not allow those casualties to become your excuse to quit or to commit sin. If you will keep your eyes on Christ when others become a casualty of war it will still hurt, but you will continue on because Christ is your focus and truth is your cause.

Luke 9:57
“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”

The man in the verse above had great intentions, but when it came down to following up with his decision he failed. Jesus talked about three different people who said, “I will follow thee…” What these men were truly saying was, “I will follow if…” They had conditions to following Jesus. They would follow Jesus if all the right conditions were met.

I find in Christianity today that many Christians talk a good talk, but their follow-through is very poor. If you were to go to the average Christian and ask if they wanted to serve the LORD, they would respond in a positive manner; however, when it comes down to them following the LORD, they oftentimes attach conditions to their service. I find in these three men the four common reasons that keep people from following the LORD.

The first reason that keeps people from following the LORD is that they have the mentality, “Let me first,” instead of “Seek ye first…” One man said, “…suffer me first…” The other man said, “…let me first…” There are many Christians who serve God as long as it doesn’t interfere with what they are already doing. They say they love the LORD, but if serving the LORD interferes with what they want to do, then the LORD will have to wait. God never blesses a “Let me first” mentality. God blesses when you choose to seek Him first. When you decide to burn your desires and dreams to serve the LORD, it is then that He will bless.

The second reason that keeps people from following the LORD is that they are seeking temporal possessions instead of eternal rewards. When Jesus told the man in the verse above that He didn’t have a place to call His own, then that man would not follow. If your service to God is dependent upon how many things you will get, then you will never serve Him. Many people have quit serving the LORD because they thought it hindered them from obtaining worldly possessions that they desired.

The third reason that keeps people from following the LORD is that they are more interested in their own agenda instead of God’s will. The second man who Jesus talked about wanted to go bury his father first. This man was more interested in his own agenda than God’s will. You are going to have to bury your agenda if you are going to successfully serve the LORD. Your agenda and God’s will oftentimes disagree. You will never successfully follow the LORD until you bury your personal agendas.

The fourth reason that keeps people from following the LORD is that they want family approval instead of God’s approval. The third man wanted to first bid farewell to his family. In other words, he wanted them to approve his following Jesus. Many people have quit serving the LORD because family didn’t approve. There is nothing wrong with loving your family, but your family must always take second place to God. You should only desire God’s approval.

What is your excuse? What is keeping you from following the LORD? The reward for following the LORD is always much greater than any excuse you can give. Take the “if” out of serving God and simply say, “I will follow.”

1 Chronicles 4:23
“These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.”

Most people in life are average. When you look at the workforce of a country, most of those who make up that workforce are average people. When you look at a church, most of those who make up the workforce are average people. Yet, those who make up the workforce are those who make things happen. The talented few are not those who usually make things happen, but the average person who gets involved are those who make things happen.

When you read through 1 Chronicles 4, you see there were many different backgrounds of people who made Israel the great country they were. There were potters, landscapers, carpenters, military personnel, military leaders, seamsters, shepherds and average family men. Most of these in this list are not people whom you would think carry importance in a society, but God thought they were so important that He mentioned their names and their trades. I’m sure that many of these never thought that there was a place for them in God’s work, but He made it clear that there was a place for them in His work just like there is a place for you in God’s work. There are four lessons we can learn from this chapter.

First, everybody has a place in the work of the LORD. No matter what your talent may be, it is useful in the LORD’s work. As insignificant as you may think your talent is, God can use it. God gave you that talent because He knew He needed someone like you to use it for His service. There is a place for you in the LORD’s work to use the talent He’s given to you.

Second, no position is of less importance. If these positions were not important, then God would not have mentioned them in this chapter. The landscapers were as important as the military leaders. The potters were as important as the city leaders. The seamsters were as important as the rulers. Every position is important in the LORD’s work. Be careful about getting caught up in the mentality that makes one position of greater importance than another. Certainly, your position is important to you, and it should be, but in the whole realm of God’s work every position is important.

Third, every person is to be involved. God showed that every person involved with their talent helps His work to go forward. You must not use the excuse that you are not that important. Everybody is important! There is a place for you in the LORD’s work. Don’t hinder the LORD’s work by using the excuse that your talent can’t be used by God.

Fourth, one person absent from their position hurts the rest of those on the LORD’s team. All it takes is for one person to miss their position for the rest of the team to have to scramble and cover what you should be doing. When everyone is in their place of service, then the pressure of the LORD’s work is feasible and not as arduous.

Let this devotional be a reminder that there is a place for you in the LORD’s work. Simply find a place and jump in. Whatever talent you have can be used by the LORD if you will give it to Him.

2 Kings 20:13
“ And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.”

Hezekiah had seen great accomplishments in his life. He had rebuilt the military so that they were able to stand against the King of Assyria. He was used to bring one of the greatest revivals in history to Judah. He had rebuilt the treasures of the kingdom and experienced God’s healing hand. His success will be talked about forever. Yet, his success bred some classic mistakes that successful people often make. There were four mistakes he made that every successful person will have to guard against.

First, he became self-confident instead of trusting in God. You see in the earlier years of his life that he trusted God for every move. When the King of Assyria came against him, he trusted God; however, in the latter years of his life he became confident in his own power when he showed the King of Babylon’s servants the kingdom. You must always remember that you need God. Your past success doesn’t guarantee future success. You still need God after great success as much as you needed Him when you had no success.

Second, he became prideful instead of staying humble. Hezekiah was so proud of the riches of his kingdom. He wanted everyone to see what he had. What he forgot was that God gave it to him. When you have experienced success, you will have to guard against pride. It can become easy to take the credit for everything you have accomplished. It is easy to take the credit when everyone is patting you on the back, but you must remember that pride is the first step towards destruction. You must be careful to always give credit to God for everything you’ve accomplished.

Third, he became a legacy builder instead of building God’s kingdom. Hezekiah become more concerned with what others would think of him after he died than he was with the name of God. It can become easy to try and build your legacy the older you get. Nobody wants to be forgotten, but you must always keep in mind that you are to build the kingdom of God. You must not make everything about you. Legacy builders will start hurting those who helped them succeed if they start getting in the way of their legacy. You must not worry about your legacy and leave that up to God. Continue to serve those whom God has allowed you to lead, and God will take care of your legacy.

Fourth, he became a selfish man who was not concerned with how his actions affected future generations. When Hezekiah heard that God was going to withhold judgment during his lifetime he said, “…Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?” (2 Kings 20:19) Don’t let success cause you to forget that there is someone who must come after you. Don’t be so selfish that your whole concern is with what you get, with no regard for how it adversely affects future generations.

You will have to guard against these four actions the older and more successful you get. Always keep yourself in proper perspective. Stay focused on what you still need to accomplish and these actions can be more easily avoided.

Mark 14:34
“And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.”

One of the great things about Jesus’ life on Earth is that He gave us an example of how to deal with every emotion. That is why Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” He completely understands everything you face because He was touched by every emotion that you will ever experience.

One of those areas where Jesus left us an example is in dealing with sorrow. Jesus was about ready to go to the cross. He completely understood everything He was about to experience. We can only speculate as to why He was sorrowful, but we do know that He was “exceeding sorrowful unto death.” The sorrow He faced was deep, but He still did what was right. In these verses, you can see what you need to do when you are dealing with sorrow.

First, keep your direction right. In verse 35 it says, “And he went forward a little…” I know this is talking about leaving the disciples and going forward to get alone, but it was a direction. The worst thing you can do during a time of sorrow is to set up camp in your time of sorrow and go nowhere. Life still goes on, even in your time of sorrow. Life does not stop when you are going through a time of sorrow, and that is why you must keep going forward. In other words, stay in your daily routine. Keep doing what you have always done. This is what helps you to overcome your sorrow. Routine has a way of taking the bite out of sorrow.

Second, keep your attitude right. Jesus’ attitude when He prayed was, “…not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Sorrow can move anyone to become selfish. Many people have become self-centered in their life during a time of sorrow to their detriment. Certainly, you are hurting, but you must continue to want God’s will for your life. Always remember that God’s will is what is best.

Third, keep your actions right. Jesus prayed after determining to go forward. Your actions in times of sorrow will determine your outcome. The best thing you can do during your time of sorrow is to pray. Prayer is the only thing that will turn sorrow into joy. It is the life of prayer that gives the Christian the power to deal with sorrow so that the fruit of the sorrow can be realized. Don’t run to people for sympathy, but run to God for power to deal with your sorrow. It is the action of prayer which gives the eventual joy for which you are looking.

Fourth, keep your dependence right. Jesus said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee…” He still depended upon the Father during His time of sorrow. You must be careful not to turn your dependence to alcohol, vice or sinful pleasure, but keep your dependence upon God. Many people have turned to depend upon something that will give them a temporary reprieve only to see detrimental sorrow for the remainder of their lives. If you will keep your dependence upon God, He will give you the strength you need to deal with sorrow.

Sorrow is going to come, and how you deal with it will determine what becomes of your future. When sorrow comes your way, let these four actions become your life and you will eventually see your sorrow turned into joy.