Getting Inked In the Book of Life

709 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from a wrap up of the list of mighty men given in 2 Sam 23:20-39. I'm not going to list all the names again, but I do want to remind you that God keeps books, and it is of eternal importance for you and I to be found in the Lamb's Book of Life. It is only those whose names are in that Book who will enjoy eternal bliss in heaven. The Good News is that as long as you or I have breath in our bodies there is room for us in the Book of Life. The thief on the cross is the classic example calling out to Jesus in a spirit of repentance and acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior as he hung dying on the cross. Lu 23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." The thief on the cross did what was necessary in his final hour and Jesus inked his name in the Book of Life. What did the thief do? He admitted he was a sinner who justly deserved to die, and then acknowledged Jesus as Lord and King. The Bible assures us of life saving faith with these words found in Ro 10:8,9 “But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The thief on the cross acknowledged that Jesus was Lord and King, and as a King He had a kingdom. This means he believed in a coming kingdom of Jesus which can only mean he believed in the resurrection! How about you? Do you believe you are a sinner? Do you believe Jesus died for your sins? Do you believe that He rose from the dead? Have you acknowledged Him as both your Savior and King? Don't wait till the end like the thief on the cross! Today is the day and hour of your salvation. Receive Jesus and be inked in the Book of Life!

When the Role Is Called Up Yonder

708 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 23:20 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard. 24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all. Quite a list of names. It's like reading one of those “begatting” chapters of the Bible. Why bother? Why make mention of these mighty men of David? For one thing it adds to the veracity of Scripture as real men from real families performed real deeds in service to their king. This is flesh and blood with names and names are important to God. In fact in Re 2:17, we read, “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."' This portion of 2 Samuel reads like a roll call and the question begs to be asked as the old hymn puts it, “When the roll is called up yonder will you be there?” Bow your knee to Jesus now! Receive Him as your Lord and Savior and be counted as one of His mighty men.

Don't Forget the Gospel

707 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 23:18 Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 19 Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to notoriety of the first three. 2 Sam 23:18,19) The other three were mentioned in verses 8-12, but we don't find a lot of information about their exploits in Scripture. That's not the case for Abishai. We have read of him before and his exploits while serving David. The first mention was the time he volunteered to go with David into the camp of Saul. They were able to sneak in all the way next to a sleeping Saul and Abishai wanted to thrust Saul through with a spear, but David restrained him. Abishai and his brother were also involved in the slaying of Abner (who had killed his brother Asahel) It was Abishai who wanted to kill Shimei for his verbal outburst against king David, when they were fleeing Jerusalem, but again David restrained him. There were other exploits mentioned as well. There can be no doubt that Abishai was a great and mighty warrior, but sometimes a little over-zealous. We would do well to learn from the mistakes of Abishai and season our zealousness for the Lord with mercy and grace. I can't help but think of the Apostle Paul in his pre-conversion days and his zealousness as a Pharisee. He freely admitted in Php 3:6 his zealousness in persecuting the people of “The Way.” But then Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and everything changed. Jesus met him with grace and mercy and Paul became a spokesman for the grace and mercy of Christ to the Jew first and then the Gentile. From that day forward he determined to preach nothing but Christ crucified. Let us learn to do the same. Preaching Christ crucified involves the Law, (it is our breaking of the Law that put Him on the tree) but let us not leave out the sweet message of the Gospel, with the sure promise of forgiveness and eternal life for all who believe!

No Greater Love

705 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 23:15-17, “ And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. 17 And he said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.” Imagine yourself as one of the three here, who risked life and limb to bring David a drink of his precious water from Bethlehem. You hand the flask over to him and wait in eager anticipation to see the enjoyment on his face as he takes a long draft of this precious water. But then he simply takes it and pours it out on the ground, and says “this is for You Lord!” What? That's how you show your gratitude to us David? Yes it is! He was basically saying “Guys this is so awesome it belongs to God rather than me!” As he pours out the water unto the Lord, he acknowledges the fact that these men were willing to risk it all for the sake of their love of another. This incident should cause us to reflect on the words of Jesus concerning greater love. Joh 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. This is the love of Jesus and the kind of love He desires to awaken in us. Jesus is our greatest friend. He laid down His life for us, and now we ought to lay down our life for Him. We love Him (lay it down for Him) because HE first loved us (Laid it down for us.) Ro 12:1says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Jesus, you poured out Your life for me, help me to learn to pour my life out for others. Let me like Paul understand what it is to be poured out in the service of faith. ( Php 2:17)

Living Water Is Not Cheap

705 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 23:15-17, “ And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. 17 And he said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.” These three mighty men of David broke through the enemies camp in order to bring the water of Bethlehem to David. Much like God breaking through the enemy's camp and bringing His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, the Living Water of Bethlehem to the world. One lesson we can take from this incident is the price of this Living Water is expensive! It comes at the price of shed blood. As the writer in Hebrews states : Heb 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Heb 9:22) The water that gives eternal life to you and I through the forgiveness of our sins, came at the terrible price of the suffering and death of God's own Son! Who was poured out like a drink offering for us! David's water came at the RISK of bloodshed, and he poured it out on the ground as an oblation to the Father, how much more then should we esteem the offering of Christ! We are not at liberty to cheapen the offering of Christ. We are not at liberty to cheapen grace by spending it on fleshly lusts, (cheap grace) or attaching conditions to it. (legalism) Heb 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Living Water (Jesus) is precious and God desires us to treat Him that way. Forgive us Lord for those times we forget the price You paid for our redemption.

Heaven Is My Home

704 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 23:15 And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" David had been longing for a taste of home. He wistfully announced that he would like a drink of water from the well of his hometown of Bethlehem. This well water is meant to be a picture of the living water that came to the world through Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem. Every soul, every created being, has a vacuum in it that longs for it's true home. That longing can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ, and the homecoming can only be accomplished when He returns. Ro 8:19-22 says, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (This will happen in all its finality when Jesus returns) 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” It is as the old hymn goes: I’m but a stranger here, Heaven is my home; Earth is a desert drear, Heaven is my home; Danger and sorrow stand Round me on every hand; Heaven is my fatherland, Heaven is my home. Beloved, have you made your reservation? Underneath the layers of the trappings of this world is a deeper desire in your soul to know and be known by God. A deep desire for a quenching that can only come from the living water of Bethlehem. No need to be wistful about it like David. The living water is yours for the asking. Isa 55:1,2 says, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. No formula, no works, no hoops to jump through, just sincerely ask and your long parched soul will be satisfied as you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior! He is the Living Water of Bethlehem!

Oh That Someone Would Give Me A Taste of Home

703 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 23:13-15, “ Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" (2 Sam 23:13-15) The exploits of David's “mighty men,” continue to be recounted, but before we get to the next exploit, let's talk about David's yearning for the spring water of Bethlehem. David and his men were holed up in a cave, on the run from Saul, and the dreaded Philistines were in control of David's home town of Bethlehem. It's times like these that our thoughts often take us back to better days and David wistfully says, “oh that someone would fetch me some water from the well at Bethlehem.” In other words, “Oh that someone would give me a taste of home!” There is a spring located in the southern kettle area of Wisconsin where my father-in-law would take me after hikes or cross country ski outings. I cannot describe how delightful and refreshing that water was, and is to this day. Yet I know that it pales in comparison to the water at the well of Bethlehem. The water that David longed for at Bethlehem serves as a picture for us of the living water that would be born in Bethlehem and refresh the world...namely Jesus the Christ! It is the water that every soul has a longing for. The Apostle Paul spoke of it when he preached in Athens: Ac 17:26 "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; Men have been spread out around the globe since the days of the Tower of Babel, but one thing we all have in common is a yearning deep in our souls for God. The Christian mathematician and philosopher Pascal said, “ There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus. Friend, if you have not yet tasted Jesus, this offer is for you. Come to Bethlehem and drink, He is the living water and He promised in Joh 4:14 "whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."