Don't Let It Come To This

# 343 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 25:13 Then David said to his men, "Every man gird on his sword." So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies. (1 Sam 25:13) Uh oh. Nabal's tight-fisted approach with his money is about to cost him big time. The one who had been protecting him and making it possible to have a profitable year was about to punish him for his lack of gratitude. Since David often serves as a type of Christ in the Scripture, and I believe his role as Nabal's protector is a classic example of being a type of Christ, can we infer that our lack of proper giving can stir up the wrath of God against us? Most of the passages in Scripture about giving are associated with promised blessing, but is there a time when God raises His hand in wrath against the ungrateful heart? Isa 1:2-4 says, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; 3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider." 4 Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.” What is the Lord saying here? He says, “look, I nourished and brought up the children of Israel like a farmer provides for his animals, but My people, did not consider it, and they have provoked Me to anger, just as David was provoked to anger for Nabal's ungrateful response. I don't think scare tactics are God's first choice to warm people's hearts to giving, nonetheless we cannot deny that there are times when His patience wears thin. (Something to consider if we drag our heels in showing our own gratitude to the Lord.) “Father in the matter of my offerings to You, don't let it come to this, grant me a thankful and generous heart. “

Jesus Take the Wheel

# 80 – Today's Du-votional comes from 1Sa 6:10 Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they set the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors. 12 Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.” (1 Sam 6:10-12) What a miracle! Consider the facts. Two untamed cows hitched to a wagon with no driver. The sounds of their bawling calves still ringing in their ears as they are yoked to this wagon. The cows themselves lowing in distress because they want to be with their calves, but something bigger and stronger than their maternal instinct drives them to Beth-Shemesh. It's called grace. The divine impulses of God! Consider this too: How did the cows know that Beth- Shimesh was a Levite city and a place where the ark was suited to reside? What is going on here? Well, remember that this cart was not as driverless as we might imagine. The ark of the covenant was placed in it. The very presence of God was in that cart and without the use of reigns or whip, He prodded the cows onto their destination. This is just as much a miracle as Jesus calming the raging sea. Remember the disciples response to that? "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!" We should read this story and say, “Who can this be, that even wild cows obey Him? You see, cows, and all of nature do not resist the grace of God. They move in accordance with His divine impulses. We on the other hand can and do resist God's grace. Isa 1:3 says, “The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider." Therein lies our problem. We don't consider the benefits of Gods rule in our lives. Beloved, turn the reins of your life over to God. Let Jesus take the wheel.