Showing Kindness for the Enemy

In the days of Elisha, the prophet of Israel, the king of Aram had waged war against Israel. Each time this king planed his strategy to attack, the man of God, Elisha, knew precisely what his plans were. This word came to him from God.  Time and time again he warned his king of Israel. The king of Aram was befuddled! “How is this happening? Is there a mole in our ranks?”, he asked his officers. “Who among us is for Israel?” One of his officers said, “There are none of us who helps Israel. Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells his king the very words you speak in your bedroom.” And this was long before there were any wiretaps.

When the Aramean king heard this he was enraged. “Someone find out where this meddlesome prophet is”, he ordered. It wasn’t long before the king received the report that Elisha was in the city of Dothan. This pleased the king. He was going to put a stop to this blabbermouth once and for all. The king of Aram summoned the best of his fighting men, an imposing army, along with horses and chariots and sent them off to capture Elisha. They went to Dothan by night and surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant were sleeping.

Very early the next morning Elisha’s servant got up and went out on the porch to have his coffee. Before he took one sip he looked out and saw a great army awaiting with their horses and chariots surrounding the place where he and Elisha were. He ran back into the house, woke Elisha and exclaimed, “Oh no, my Lord! What are we going to do? What on earth is going to happen to us?” Elisha calmly took the young man outside and said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The servant must have wondered about Elisha’s math skills; I see you and there is me which makes two. And there are so many of them that it is impossible to count. Needless to say he was not comforted by what Elisha had just told him. He was scared out of his wits.

Elisha, prophet, man of faith, one whose ear was keen to God’s voice knew exactly what to do. He prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Immediately God opened  the servant’s eyes, and he looked up into the hills. To his surprise he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around. He saw the awesome, glorious army of God waiting to destroy these Arameans if God so commanded.  As the enemy approached to attack, Elisha prayed that the whole army be struck with blindness, and so it was. The entire bunch became blind as bats. Elisha told this weakened army that they were in the wrong city. “Follow me and I will lead you to the place you want to go.” So they “blindly” followed him.

Elisha led them into Samaria, the capital of Israel. Elisha prayed again asking God to open their eyes. Can you imaging what the king of Israel must have thought? The king asked Elisha if they should kill them. Elisha answered, “Do not kill them. Instead give them food and water so that they may eat and drink”. A feast was prepared for these men, and after they had finished eating and drinking they were sent on their way back to their king. After that the king of Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

This is a story of faith, trust, obedience and most of all forgiveness and grace. It sounds like something Jesus might have commanded. “You’ve heard it said love your neighbor, and hate your enemies. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Yes, I believe Jesus was actively involved in that situation on that day. And finally, for those of us who believe in the power and might of our God and the forever presence of the Holy Spirit, let us not forget that when we are under attack by the enemy, there are more of us and for us than there are of them who are against us.

2 Kings 6:8-23, Matthew 5:43-45

Dealing With the Impossible

He was only twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah. Hezekiah was one of the good ones. It was said of most of the kings of Judah and especially Israel, “They did evil in the sight of the Lord.”  But the word on Hezekiah was, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.” When Hezekiah became king he got rid of all of the idols and places where they were worshiped. The people of Judah turned to God because their leader trusted fully in the Lord their God. The Lord was with him, and he was successful in everything he did.

Hezekiah had been King of Judah fourteen years when Sennacherib, king of Assyria began attacking some of the fortified cities of Judah. Assyria’s army was a powerful force. Every nation feared Assyria. There seemed to be no way that Judah would be able to stop Sennacherib’s assault on Jerusalem. Sennacherib sent his supreme commander with a large army to the gates of Jerusalem. There he confronted King Hezekiah with a threatening message from Sennacherib. The message was full of blasphemous taunts toward the Lord God of Israel for the people of Judah to hear,  “Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Then he listed all the gods of the nations that had been defeated by Assyria. ‘How then can the Lord deliver a Jerusalem from my hand.’

Most kings and leaders of countries after hearing something like this would deliver some weak ill advised reply to Sennacherib and immediately prepare for battle. Not King Hezekiah! King Hezekiah went to the temple, humbled himself before God and prayed. “Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.” Then he sought word from God through the prophet Isaiah. Hezekiah before he acted on his own waited to hear from God.

Hezekiah got his answer from the Lord. “He (Sennacherib) will not enter the city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it. By the way he came he will return; he will not enter the city, declares the Lord. I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.” That very night God sent just one of his angels into the Assyrian camp, and he put to death a hundred and eighty thousand soldiers. The next morning Sennacherib and his surviving men were horrifically surprised to see all the dead bodies. They broke camp and high tailed it back to Nineveh and stayed there.

This story and its message are far reaching. The message speaks to nations and leaders, and it speaks to every believer who faces insurmountable odds throughout life. When there is a foe, a problem or situation that seems too big, too threatening and there are no answers what should be done? When the world laughs at us and ridicules us for standing up for what is right, and wholesome, and godly, how should we react? Maybe just a prayer, “Lord, give ear and hear, Lord, open your eyes and see, listen, Lord, how you are being ridiculed and dishonored. Lord I am trusting in you and waiting on you for the answer. May your Holy name be lifted high and may Jesus be glorified through me.”

Traffic Lights, Door Knobs and Smoke Detectors

Growing up in rural southern Kentucky I was not accustomed to traffic lights. We did have stop signs, but there really was no need for traffic lights. The little town where I went to school still doesn’t have any traffic lights. I’ve gotten used to those blasted lights where I live now. It seems I can’t drive a hundred yards without hitting a red light. I hate having to stop at a red light even when I’m not in a hurry. Sherri doesn’t care, and is annoyed with me when I get upset by having to stop. I have noticed while waiting for the light to change how many traffic lights there are especially at a large intersection. I have counted as many as 15 or 16 at one intersection. That is the truth! Count them if you don’t believe me. Multiply that by the many intersections, plus those places that may only have one or two. In a large metroplex there are probably tens of thousands traffic lights. It’s no wonder it takes an hour to drive 20 miles across town.

I’ve thought about that and considered how much money those who make traffic lights must make. Think about it! Just in the United States there must be billions of traffic lights. Whoever makes these things must be a billionaire. I’ve thought about buying stock in the company or companies that make these things.

Another product that would rival the enormous number of traffic lights is smoke detectors. We stay in hotels and motels a lot. There are hundreds of thousands of places where travelers can spend the night. Every room has to have a smoke detector or two. Get out your pencil and figure how many of those are bought in a years time. Think about how many you have in your house, where you work, and where you eat. Somebody is making a killing selling smoke detectors.

Finally, there is the door knob and door handles. Our new house has door handles which I like because I don’t have to set something down that I am carrying to open it. I think all of the houses in our subdivision have these because most of us are old, and some of us may have trouble gripping a door knob. I can’t even fathom how many door opening devices there must be. Have you priced a nice door knob lately? Have you bought a front door knob or handle? They ain’t cheap. I could keep going about this topic with doors, windows, cell phones, ATMs and hundreds of things that no one knew about when I was a boy. It is amazing how people in our country have become rich.

There is nothing wrong with being rich as long as we give credit to the one who has blessed us with the ability to be successful in that way. All of us are rich in the Lord if we have Jesus. If we know him our riches await us as we receive our inheritance in heaven. I just pray that there are no traffic lights up there.

A List for Everything

We have, over the days of our lives, created untold numbers of lists: to do lists, Christmas lists, grocery lists, guest lists, things I don’t want to forget lists (then as we get older we forget where we put that list), a bucket list, and many others. Some lists are very  important. Even Santa has lists: He’s making his list and checking it twice. Those who are naughty know about Santa’s lists. Lists remind us of important things which will need attention sometime down the road. They help us plan for upcoming events. They keep us on track. Lists prevent us from being embarrassed because we failed to tend to a personal responsibility. If we accurately follow  our lists we will be deemed dependable persons, people who others can count on, or perhaps viewed as smarter than we really are.

The most essential lists that a person can make are those which have to do with our walk with God. I’m not talking about lists like we made for Santa when we were children asking for things we wanted. God is not Santa Claus and his purpose for us is not to give us everything we would like to have. We need a prayer list. Reminders concerning those we should remember in prayer. A prayer list will be constantly changing so it helps to write these vital concerns down. It is good to note how God answers our prayers. Maybe a list of answered prayers would help us later when we become worried or discouraged. Keeping a daily journal is one of the most important things a Christian can incorporate in life’s journey.

One more list that is important is a thanksgiving list. This one might be and probably should be the longest list a person can make. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we can become discouraged because we don’t have something that others have, or we feel that we are not being given the credit that is due us. We may feel let out. We allow those feelings to blind us to the wonderful blessing that we receive every day. I’ve been a little down because I miss my larger, roomier house that we moved from three weeks ago. But the truth is, at this point in our lives, we are in a better house, and are greatly blessed to have such a nice place to live.

A prayer list, and a thanksgiving list will keep us focused on others and on God. We will better see the plans that God has ordained for us. When we come into the presence of God each day we will less likely be embarrassed because we have neglected to pray for others and pray about his kingdom’s purpose. Following our prayer list and daily adding to our thanksgiving list will encourage us because we know that God can count on us. We may not be smarter, but I assure you that we will be much wiser.

Who Murdered Jesus

There are many high level investigations going on in our world. It seems there have always been these kinds of investigations. The first one I remember was the Watergate Investigation. These investigations usually reveal several behind the scenes perpetrators who are fired, removed from office and even sent to jail. Very often the “big fish”, the ones actually responsible for the crime, manage to avoid prosecution. As I watch these investigations unfold it is evident to me that in the political process finding out the truth is not the real objective. The side being investigated does everything they can do to keep those who are suspected of doing the unlawful act from being found guilty even if they are, and those on the other side want the suspects impeached and incarcerated guilty or not. There is so much hate that the truth is most often lost in the angry debates.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see how an investigation into the death of Jesus Christ would play out today? I’m sure even in our time there would be some who would say that there is no need for an investigation. “The man was guilty. He got what he deserved.” More than likely most people would agree that those responsible for the killing of Jesus can easily be revealed by reading the gospel accounts of that terrible display of injustice when an innocent man was tried and found guilty. Who killed Jesus? Well that’s an easy question to answer.

There are a number of people who had a hand in the death of Jesus.  Judas played a big part in the plot that led to Jesus’ death. Caiaphas, the chief priest certainly could be one of the chief suspects. Most of the Pharisees were calling for Jesus to be crucified. What about the soldiers who whipped him and tortured him, and eventually drove the spikes in his feet and his hands and put him on the cross? Pilate was the one who sentenced Jesus to death. Was he more guilty than the others?  There were many who seemed to be guilty when it came to this murderous act. Which of these would you say should be deemed responsible for the murder of Jesus?

On the day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit had been given to the disciples Peter stood before the people of Jerusalem and thousands of God fearing Jews and proceeded to tell them and us who killed Jesus. Peter had preached a powerful sermon and in his conclusion he told who killed Jesus. He raised his voice and addressed this crowd. “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say... Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Peter laid the blame on all who were listening to him speak. He pointed to the whole crowd and said, "You Crucified him!" Most of these people were not even around Jerusalem during the time when Jesus was crucified. Peter did not mention Pilate or any of the soldiers. He said nothing about Judas’ part in all of this. “You crucified him,” Peter said. And if Peter could come today and preach to the world he would say the same thing. Everyone of us would hear him say, “You are guilty. You crucified the one whom is both Lord and Messiah.”

We are all guilty because of our sin. Jesus was crucified, killed, so that we might be saved from our sins. Jesus death was our only hope. As John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  Jesus died the sacrificial death for every person in the world. Trusting him is the only way to eternal life. So the result of this investigation is very personal. Jesus would have died to save you from sin even if you were the only person in the world.

School Bells Are Ringing

Social media posts are filled with first day of school pictures. Smiling students holding signs indicating the grade they are beginning for this year seem happy to be going back for another nine months of classes, homework, test taking and especially the extracurricular activities. These few pictures that I have seen represent millions of students across our nation who are beginning another year of academia. Many are fortunate to have someone who cares enough about making the first day of school a noteworthy experience. But there will be a substantial number who will begin another year with no encouragement, no well wishes, and no indication that anybody cares. Unfortunately when some of these student enter their classes on that first day they will sense that even their teacher may not have very high expectations for their successful achievement.

No one can predict what this school year will hold for students this year. I pray that this year will be a good one for all of them. I pray that each student will find that one person who will show them that they believe in them. I pray that a friend will show them that they care very much. I pray that at least one teacher will provide the encouragement they need. I pray that someone will include them in some positive activity throughout the year. I pray that there will be someone involved with them who will be incredibly patience with them. I pray that those in authority will have a forgiving heart and give them another chance. I pray that someone strong will take up for them. I pray that each student will find at least one thing in which they do well. But most importantly I pray that every single student will believe in themselves and gain confidence that they are able to be successful. Students need our prayers and so do the teachers and administrators.

This Is Life

Our new house is situated in a number of housing areas. We are in what is presently the last group of homes that are available. We probably have 150 neighbors in our section, and there are not many houses left. From the entrance of this area known as “The Traditions” back to where we live it is almost a mile. There are multiple homes on each side of the road—two story homes, town homes, large very expensive homes, patio homes and ranches. Land has already been cleared for more houses on down the road beyond us, and another large complex is already filling up with some very nice houses on past that. I wouldn’t even begin to guess how many houses there will be on this stretch of road which will extend for almost two miles.

The builders are doing all they can think of to bring in prospective buyers. Large strategically place signs are seen all along the road. They are very attractive with messages like “Find Adventure on Our Trails”, “Neighborhood Parks”, one with a beautiful poolside setting with beach chairs says,”Your Chair Awaits”. Then there is one that sums up all of it, “This Is the Life!”

“The Life” for the majority of modern day Americans is defined by the material things they own—nice houses, cars, clothes, trips to exotic places, a beach chair on the side of a pool, whatever brings pleasure.  For some life is in a bottle of alcohol, or in drugs, sex, pornography, gambling, and anything that feeds their selfish desires.

But real life is found in none of these things. Man receives Life in only one source. John 1:4 says, “In him (Jesus Christ) was life, and that life brought light to humanity.” He is the only one who will provide us with lasting satisfaction. Jesus changes sinful lives, struggling lives, lives stuck in a dangerous rut, and he makes them new, joy filled, peaceful lives.

I heard about a 40 year old man who had been a drug addict since his teen years. He was homeless, had no job, and did anything to get his fix. He was on a course to certain death, eternal death. One day he met a man who told him about Jesus. It was then that he found Life, the Light sacrificed for every man and woman, and his long road to recovery began. To make a long story short, this man became clean, received training, got a good job, met a wonderful Christian lady, was married and is now living the true life which he found in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Satan tries to fool us with a false sense of what life is, what will make us happy and will satisfy us; whatever will make us feel good. Remember, he is a liar, and what he gives us is only temporary, and leads one on a path to destruction. If you really want “The Life” look to the sign that says, “This Is the Life: Jesus Christ the Lord