Author Archives: lrbartel

Nov 03 2016
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Devos

“Thanksgiving Day” is just around the corner… But why not have a “Thanksgiving Month” (or more)?

Still Life of Thanksgiving Harvest

Well it’s early November and Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner in the United States! I’m grateful for a “day” publicly identified as “Thanksgiving Day,” but I really think EVERY DAY ought to be a “THANKSGIVING DAY” for a Christian, don’t you?

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage focused on thanksgiving and praise that I intend to “camp out” on for a while this month! It is King David’s song of thanksgiving and praise when the “Ark of the Covenant,” the symbolic “throne” of God’s presence among God’s people was brought back to Jerusalem. David’s song, in my opinion, provides a pattern (even the words) for a wonderful song of thanksgiving and praise for us when we do the right thing and devote ourselves to the Lord with all our heart!

I’m going to use it words to help form my thanksgiving a praise throughout the entire month of November and thus, not only celebrate a “Thanksgiving Day” on November 24, but a thanksgiving month! David’s song is found in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 (and portions of it are also found in Psalm 105:1-15; Psalm 96; and Psalm 106). Here is the part of it that captured my attention this morning and provoked my thanksgiving and praise today…

“Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…

“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

“Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness… Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.

“Cry out, ‘Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us… that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise!’ Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!

“Then all the people said ‘Amen!’ and ‘Praise the LORD!’”

(From 1 Chronicles 16:8–36 NIV)

 

Nov 01 2016
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Devos

News Flash: Sincerity does not cover disobedience of God’s will!

News flash! It is possible to have a noble, honorable desire… seek to fulfill it… and do it in such a way that it displeases God! The “how” matters… Not just the desire, or the “what!”
 
The sacred “Ark of God” – the symbol of God’s presence among His people – had been displaced. It had been taken out of the “Tabernacle” – from behind the curtain (the “veil”) – from the room referred to as “the Holiest of All” – and was in exile in Kiriath-jearim. King David had a noble desire to “bring back the Ark” to its resting place where “God enthroned (manifested) Himself” among His people. A noble desire – He just went about it in the wrong way. God’s law directed the sacred Ark to be carried on poles by prescribed individuals (Exodus 25:13-14). David probably thought, “What does that matter – let’s just get the Ark back where it belongs!”
 
So here is where the story I read this morning in the Bible begins…
 
“So David assembled all Israel … to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim… to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who sits enthroned above the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.” (1 Chronicles 13:5–11 ESV)
 
I mean it was a great day in Israel… The Ark – the sacred symbol of God’s presence among His people – was coming home! The worship was loud – they sang and danced and celebrated with all their might! And in the middle of all of that… Suddenly God’s holiness had been violated and Uzzah was dead! [Important lesson – Celebratory worship does not cover violations of God’s holiness and disobedience!] And then David was angry… angry at God! Figure! [Another important lesson! It does pay to be angry at God for our mistakes and violations of His revealed will!]
 
Above all, it seems to me this is what I need to remember… Sincerity does not excuse disobedience. It’s not only the “what” that matters to God, It’s the “how” – and when the Lord has prescribed not only the “what” that He desires, but also the “how,” I dare not ignore and violate the “how!” And loud, celebratory, worship does not excuse or cover that oversight and disobedience!
Oct 29 2016
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Devos

As a “Christian” I never, never, never want the term “sluggard” to be used to describe me!

A “sluggard” … What is one anyway?  When you’re reading the Bible you’ll come across the term in Proverbs quite regularly.  The context always presents whoever “a sluggard” is in a bad light.  Here’s how Webster’s dictionary defines the term… “A habitually lazy person.”  I’ve personally looked up the passages in the Bible that describe the “sluggard” and I can tell you I don’t want to be one!

In a church I attended we had one… claimed to be a “Christian” too (a “born again” Christian yet!)  Junk all over the yard, lawn never mowed, fence (or what was left over of a fence) falling down, roof covered with moss and falling in… And that was outside the house!  Inside a terrible smell, a single narrow path through all the junk, filthy kitchen and bathroom, beds never made… I could go on.  Able bodied guy (and his family) lived there too!  Smart – had an opinion (strong opinions) about almost everything.  Even a bit critical of others who disagreed with him.  Couldn’t keep a job, exhibited a complete lack of initiative, didn’t pay his bills, and worst of all gave the term “Christian” a bad name.

All of this came back to mind as I read the following words in my Bible this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”…

“I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.  Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:30–34 ESV)

How much better to live like 1 Corinthians 10:31 urges Christians to live:  “So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God!”  One more time… As a follower of Jesus – someone called a “Christian” – I never, never, never want to be called a “sluggard!”  Just say’n!!!

(Oh, the pics?  At one time we lived in the house with the car in front… and then a “sluggard” moved in)

 

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