Daily Wisdom

“The Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.” 2 Sam 3:39

A hard verse to say the least, but appropriate the same. Joab, King David’s general had just killed Abner who was the general of Israel as revenge for the death of his brother at Abner’s hand. But, Abner just prior had made peace with David between their two armies, and Joab’s selfish actions were against David’s knowledge and will.  Righteousness will always prevail, but David erred early in his leadership and passed on his duty to stand on righteousness and gave Joab a reprieve, all be it temporary, by not holding him accountable. David was fearful of Joab’s power within his kingdom, more so than the righteousness of God. David’s decision not to stand on truth cost him in many ways and arguably the lives of Ishbosheth, Amnon and others, and possibly the rebellion of his own son Absalom. Righteousness supports the throne and will never shake it. Again, David’s reprieve towards Joab was passed on to his son Solomon to avenge the blood of Abner.  Don’t avoid being just by being a respecter of person regardless of the circumstances, because truth/righteousness itself is not a respecter. No matter how difficult or painful it may be to stand on what is right, refusing to do so will eventually cause pain for all.   Fiat justitia, ruat coelum - Let justice be done, though the heavens should fall asunder. Don’t let the fear of what could happen make nothing happen.

What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” Jam 4:10

If you’re fearful of falling, keep yourself planted on the ground. The harder you strive to gain great heights the more prone you’re to falling in the process. When David got word of Saul and Johnathan’s death before the Amalekites he mourned greatly, but he stated in 2 Sam 1:19; 27 “how the mighty have fallen…”   In Saul’s case, the fall came before the sword that killed him. Saul had already falling before God… 1 Sam 28:6 Saul inquires of the Lord who answered him not, prompting Samuel himself to tell Saul in (vs 16) “… seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy.”  Learning from Saul who was a great man and was handpicked by God himself to rule Israel, fell from God’s protection…  Unconfessed sin or an unwillingness to humble oneself before God will eventually bring anyone down.  Self-promotion will lead to self-destruction. Be less focused on the mountain’s peak and more focused on standing in the Lord’s will, and He’ll lift you to heights without you having to worry about falling (Pro 16:18).  Seldom does God pick one from the mountain top, unless it’s an unfortunate example; but He did choose the disciples from the lowest of elevation, from the sea shore!

Pride can be like bad breath, everyone knows you have it except you!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Rom 8:24-25

When it comes to the fulfillment of our hope, at present we are on the outside… the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they don’t make us fresh and pure. We cannot find true hope in the pleasures we see. But all the pages of the N.T. are rustling with the promise that it will not always be so. One day, God’s timing, we shall get “in”… we will put on glory… that greater glory of which Nature is only the first sketch.  But man gets lost in trying to find their hope where it does not exist, in nature and life around them. Hope is hopeless, and becomes diminished without being defined and practiced by our worship in Christ. Man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word “darkness” on the wall. Remove God from your purpose and you will eventually, like the setting sun see your hope disappear as well. God cannot give us a peace and joy apart from Himself, because it is not there… there is no such thing!

Hope is the fulfillment of our choice to worshipfully trust in God’s will.

HSAY … Todd 

Daily WIsdom

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col 3:2

Caution… Don’t use the church as the spectacle to view God, use God as the spectacle to view the church. Many Christians and the world a like utilize church as the visual edifice/structure in defining their relationship with God, people and their own spiritual health.  The church itself will always have a scratched lens or a needed renewal of its prescription when it comes to its focus on God, because it relies on the eyes of man. The spectacle of God is his word in which we are to use concerning all things that we look at, especially the church/body. It’s too easy for man, be it a pastor, leader or layman to be out of focus, and if you depend or utilize such for your focus it’s going to be flawed because you’re trying to use a temporal resource to view eternal truths. View any and every aspect of life through the lens of God’s word. It will never be out-of-focus, scratched or need cleaning. Like electrical conduit, the church is a source for truth to hopefully pass through to each other and the world. But, the power/truth itself is in the wiring (God’s word) that runs through the conduit. When the conduit gets broken it can disrupt the truth, but only in its flow; it never stops the truth itself.  Don’t be more focused on the conduit than the power that runs through it. Remember the church is only a semblance of the truth, don’t get out of focus and project on above the other or you’ll miss what God wants you to see.

If you try to view God through the church, both the church and God will be out of focus!

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28

So far you’ve survived 100% of your worst Days… Your struggle is part of your story, the truth is part of the test. Stay strong because things will get better. It might be stormy now, but it can’t rain forever because God gave us that promise.  It takes a strong soul with purposeful heart to develop smiles out of situations that make us weep.  No matter how long it takes, it will get better for those who plant themselves in God’s purpose. Keep going, tough situations build strong testimonies. But, there can’t be a testimony without the test. As a child of the King, the only thing eternal you’ll endure is his presence. Job never saw his storm brewing or the cause of it, but he did find its purpose for his life. His testimony is eternal because he owned it, lived it and glorified God through it. And we preach it today!  You may feel like a lighthouse standing alone in the storm, maybe so but you may be the light someone else needs to see; make sure they can see it! Live in His purpose, and you’ll dwell in His power.

Let him who steers the storm steer the vessel.

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” Isa 55:3 

God’s word, like his covenant was with David and us through Jesus, is perpetual; not a one and done promise. God’s covenant is one which promises great favors, it’s not abrogated, but it was perpetual for David and is for us as well. Isaiah instructs us to “Hear and your soul shall live” if you attend to God’s word.  He states it’s “Everlasting” eternal protector, friend, life everlasting. And adds “even the sure mercies of David. Meaning God has confirmed with us, N.T. saints, the same solemn promise he made with David (Psa 89:2-4) which shall be promised and established upon generations. The word “sure” denotes the assuredness, conformation and confidence can be placed in God’s word. This is God’s great invitation for us today through Jesus Christ. That allows us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16) This is what the promised covenant in God’s word affords his children. But, find caution and wisdom in vs 6 “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.” While God is equally near at all times, this figurative language is cautioning in that a time will come when it will be impossible to obtain his favor/s.  Don’t put off till tomorrow the promises God affords to day for those who earnestly seek him, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; thou knowest not what a today brings forth.” Pro 27:1

Words denote what you think, action defines what you believe.

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor on that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isa 55:2

Finally, something fattening that is good to delight in and good for you at the same time!  Isaiah warns us about laboring to spend money on that which is not bread (life… Jn 6:35) or satisfies the soul. While a man must work to live, he shouldn’t live to work for worthless gain. One will never find more than temporary happiness in worldly things. One toils, and expend the avails of their labor for that which does not produce satisfaction. What a striking description of the condition of the world! The immortal mind will not be satisfied with wealth, pleasure, or honor. It never has been. Where is the man who is satisfied with his wealth, and say, it’s enough? Where is there one who is satisfied with pleasure, and vanity? There is a void in the heart which these things do not, cannot fill. There is a consciousness that the soul was made for higher and nobler purposes, and that nothing but God can meet its boundless desires.  Where is the man who has ever been satisfied with ambition? Alexander wept on the throne of the world!  But, Isaiah does say eat, consume.  They were invited to partake of that which would nourish the appetite of the soul that sustains it with joy. Fatness in the scriptures is used to denote the richest food (Gen 27:28-39; Job 36:36; Psa 65:11) and is an emblem of the richness, blessings resulting from the favor of God “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.” Psa 63:5

The only one who can fill the human heart, is the one who created it!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“… the Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.” 2 Sam 7:26

God told Nathan to instruct David that He was going to establish through him the throne of His kingdom forever. Notice God was looking for a willing servant (vs 26) not a designer. David never constructed the temple it was his son Solomon who did, but it was established through David’s willingness to serve. Many Christians are willing to let God move in, but just don’t rearrange anything.  They are more interested in doing the design work themselves, they just want God to pay for it. Don’t relegate God to just being a landlord, that you just simply pay a tithe to occasionally but claim the structure as your own. Yet, when you get a few cracks or in need of repairs you quickly summon his ability to do so. 1 Cor 6:19 “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit… ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price…” Don’t be more worried about doing the designing and claiming ownership, but more so your willingness to serve in building it according to His design. God constructed your body, Jesus paid for your body, and the Holy Spirit designs it for their purpose. Your job is to be willing to be faithful in doing the labor.

Wonder all you want, but as long as you can see the Temple you’re never lost!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” Rom 5:2-4

This verse will never find meaning or accomplishment without perseverance.  You’ll never get where you want, Peace in and with God, if you never learn to persevere in process. Perseverance is a building block for our faith.  While faith is obedience in doing right, perseverance is the fuel that sustains us in doing so.  But what strengthens our perseverance, hope in the glory of God. And our hope and perseverance is strengthened in tribulation, patience and experience. Without such you’d never learn how to persevere, lose hope and miss your peace in and with God. Ordinary people with extraordinary perseverance will accomplish powerful things.  God’s not finished with you, so keep on moving forward (Phl 3:14).  Even the snail reached the Ark by persevering.

If you’re tired of always starting over, stop giving up!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” Heb 6:18

The two immutable (unchanging) aspects to God’s character are, his inability to lie and thus to change his word. In (vs 15; 17) Abraham obtained his promise from God in the covenant given through him for salvation to all. Without an objective, immutable plumb line for truth, no one can ever say that something is right or wrong. All they can ever say is that they like or dislike something. While they have that right, it doesn’t make them right. If you’re in disagreement with God’s word by how you live, you’re lying to yourself and one of you need to change your mind and position. To change your mind (repentance) as to God’s is not torture or torment, but transformation to his likeness. It’s not measured by the tears in your eyes, but by the change of your heart and mind.

You don’t have to change to go to God, going to God is what changes you!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.” Exo 14:3

The weakness to our faith is our failure to see as God sees. Notice God encamped the Israelite's against the sea.  In a military sense, it would be foolish to put yourself in such a position that entraps you against your enemy. God intentionally used the Israelite's to show Pharaoh and Egypt that He was the God of Israel (vs 4). But, God was asking for a little faith on Israel’s part that He would deliver them. Perspective is an either-or situation. Your perspective will be situated in faith that God will deliver or faithlessness that you’ve become entrapped. The proper perspective requires a faith that allows you to see as God sees. Faith goes beyond the surface of your situation, it may look hopeless or fearful but when we look again with your perspective in the promises of God things change. Moses told the Israelite's in (vs 13) “stand still and SEE the salvation of the Lord,” Get your eyes off the perspective of the enemy and see (look in faith) what God is doing. Your faith will always be a struggle if we focus on the problem rather than the promises of God.  Some of the greatest things (miracles) in your life will happen because you chose to look again with the right perspective and not give up in your hope. Whatever you’re about to walk away from because your current perspective is blinding your ability to see as God sees, can end up being your greatest victory when you allow God to part your Red Sea allowing you to walk through on dry ground. The Israelite's were looking at two things the enemy and the ocean, but their deliverance and promise was beyond the surface.  Their dry ground was below the surface… but their perspective could not see it!

Peace is not the absence of problems, but the presence and promises of God!

HSAY … Todd  

Daily Wisdom

“And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?” 2 Kg 8:13

Elisha the prophet had just informed Hazael that he would be the next king of Syria, but that he would also perform barbarous acts against the man, women and children of Israel. Hence, Hazael reply that one would have to be a dog to do such.  No, I’m not going to call you a dog. But, we do need to consider our contempt towards wisdom sometimes. While Hazael had the opinion of the sin to be a great wickedness, he was also entrapped by his inability to be convicted by Elisha wisdom. It’s difficult for one to be convicted or restrained in their natural conscience, because humility is not natural it requires a willingness to admit to their flawed nature and seek spiritual wisdom. Another struggle Hazael had, he garnered a good opinion of himself, much better than he deserved. He thought it impossible he should do such barbarous acts that Elisha foresaw. Man is apt to think himself sufficiently armed against sins that so easily beset him. Peter was apt to think he would never perform such acts of betrayal even though Jesus gave him wisdom to consider, and yet he refused… Mat 26:35 “Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee….” You know how that turned out for Peter! But sadly, Hazael fell in his pride. He was more focused on the thought of himself becoming king than the warning and wisdom of Elisha.  Honor changes man’s tempers and manners and seldom for the better… “thou knowest not what thou wilt do when thou comest king…”
The bible says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jere 17:9)  If we can't know it we better listen to HIM who can, and seek HIS wisdom!

IF you follow your heart, take your brain with you and make sure that's where God sent you!

HSAY ... Todd