Compassion and Reward

“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven…But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1, 3-4)

Be careful not to perform supposed godly acts with manufactured and false compassion so that people will perceive you as righteous. If you act with false godliness, you will have no spiritual reward from your Heavenly Father. Your reward will be people's praise.

What did Jesus mean when He said, “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing?” Your left hand, in some Jewish teachings, denotes weaknesses. The right had, in some Jewish teachings, denote strengths. Jesus’ phrase here means do not let your baser intentions and emotions attach themselves to your intention of giving to help someone in need. Instead, let honorable intentions and emotions be your motivator. When honest intentions to motivate people occur, the glory and honor go to God. When baser intentions motivate giving charity, the desire of the person is to take the honor and glory for himself, not God. Do charity secretly, to avoid people putting you on a pedestal and not to become prideful. Instead, give honor to God, who told you to help the person and gave you the means to help him.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned against seeking greatness and receiving adoration. People should focus on God. Instead of seeking personal adoration, Jesus taught people to give secretly. Help a person discreetly. The heavenly Father, who sees what someone does in secret, will reward him. God’s rewards are heavenly and eternal.

Jesus taught how to give:

·       In secret, privately

·       With righteous intentions, to help the person and not highlight oneself.

·       Not to grow one’s reputation or receive honor.

Why should you give this way?

·       If you act intending to make yourself known as great, then earthly honor is all you will receive.

·       If you act in compassion, which comes from God and is good, and you shine the resultant thanks towards God, the One who gives all good things, then other people see God more than oneself and God receives the honor.

What will occur if you act godly?

·       God will reward you. Jesus doesn’t say in verses one through four what the reward will be. Verses thirty-three and thirty-four do. People, God’s creation made in His image, who revere and follow Him, can be certain that their good God will provide for their needs. Remember, God is always faithful to His word.

·       The reward for God’s people is His care now and forever. This promise is for everyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Jesus concludes Matthew 6 with a promise. This promise tells of the reward for those who “do not let their left hand know what their right hand is doing.” He said,

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (your needs) will be provided to you. So do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:33-34a).

Do godly acts of charity to help a person and honor God. God gives you the motivation in your new heart. He gives you the resources to help the person. Understand that God will provide all your needs, so follow as He leads you to love others, just as He loved and loves you.

 

Beware and Seek

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Jesus taught His Sermon on the Mount to a multitude of people. Some were Jews, others were seekers, and some were His disciples. Jesus began this part of His sermon the way He ended it, with a command. He began the first command on a negative note. Jesus ending command was positive.

Jesus said in verse one, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.” He put people on notice not to do something in verse one. Jesus taught the people not to do things to “be noticed,” to receive honor, prestige, and glory. If you aim to do good things, those good deeds are ideas from God and He should receive the glory, not you. When you give to the poor, no one besides the person who you helped, God, and yourself should know. Jesus said the same thing about praying. You should not pray so people will notice you, but instead pray to God for Him to notice you, and to develop your relationship with Him. Prayer is about building your relationship with God and staying in a close relationship with Him. If you pray so others will see you and give you honor and praise, that will be your only reward. You get what you wanted-honor and glory. Your intention for prayer would not be for God to hear you, for you to hear from Him, and to have a deeper relationship with Him, but for people to recognize how “devout” you are. This desire for honor and glory is not righteous. Taking the honor and glory steals from God and makes you unrighteous.

What happens, though, when you pray so people will see or hear you or when you do good works so people see you doing them, the deeds God initiated in your heart? When you do these things to receive honor for yourself, the focus of your heart has changed from God to yourself. Instead of living a “top-down” life, that is acknowledging God and His will as primary in your life, you live an upside-down life with your will being primary in your thoughts, words, and actions. This leaves God to be secondary or non-existent in your life. The latter is of what Jesus told His hearers to “beware.” If you live an upside-down life, then your honor and glory, and your desires are primary motivators in your life. But, as Jesus pointed out in this chapter, you will end up worried and concerned about daily life things such as clothing, food, and drink. You might receive honor for yourself, but you end up worrying how you will provide for yourself and your family, basic things of life. You will have excluded God from your life and trust in Him that He will provide all your needs is nonexistent.

Why does this happen? It happens because God is not primary; He is not Lord of your life. When God is primary in your life, you can pray as Jesus taught in verses nine through thirteen. You reverence God and acknowledge He is the true God, and He is holy, not you. You seek His kingdom, His reign and wisdom, to come rule over earth just as it is in heaven. You desire God’s reign in your own life, too. For this to occur, you recognize only God is righteous and makes people righteous. In being made righteous by God, you want and sometimes must apply discipline to seek a growing relationship with Him. Your growing relationship with God teaches you that God will always take care of your needs. Just as He beautifully clothes relatively small, inconsequential creations like birds and the lilies of the field, He will clothe you, a human made in His image. As long as you stay in a relationship with God, Jesus said, you need not worry about what your body needs.

Jesus basically said to stay in a “top-down” relationship with God as primary in your life. With God at the head of your life, you recognize Him as God and King over you. You receive your righteousness from Him and acknowledge He is Lord. Your main goal in your connection with God who gives you righteousness is to stay in a growing relationship with Him. When you choose as the main thing in your life to have a growing relationship with God, then all other things fall into place. God remains King of your life, you give Him honor and glory, He provides everything you need, and your love for Him deepens so you obey Him.

 This is what Jesus meant in verse thirty-three when He told His followers, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Jesus emphasized this point for a second time in this chapter. At the beginning of the chapter, He spoke about it in a negative format using the command “beware.” At the end of this chapter, Jesus used the positive command “seek.” “Beware” of doing this (seeking your own glory) and, instead, “seek” for God is what He told His hearers. What did Jesus mean when He told the people to seek God’s kingdom?

Our primary task as Christians is to stay in relationship with the God of our salvation and righteousness. That should remain our focus. Being in a close relationship with Him means we will obey Him when He tells us to do good, pray, fast, visit the sick, teach, preach, or any other thing He commands us to do. Our obedience shows our love for God. When we seek a growing relationship with God so that our will is to obey Him, that is “seeking first His kingdom.” Because we seek God, He will provide for all our needs. We will not put our glory or honor first and seek to provide for ourselves what we think we need. Instead, we seek God first. Instead we give God the glory. Instead we let God take care of us.

As Jesus said, we cannot serve two masters-God and our own self. We will end up hating one and loving the other. Instead of trying to make yourself master of your life and ending up worrying how you will give all your family needs, pay your bills, or bring your prodigal home, let God be Master of your life. Let Him provide for you. Let Him bring your prodigal home. Let Him be your Lord and Savior, your King. Anything you give yourself and family will be destroyed, rust, or rot. God gives what you need, and it will last forever. Instead, do as Jesus taught and don’t worry.

“Seek first His [God’s] kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” [NASB]

Lord, please forgive me for trying to rule my own life. You’ve been patient and watched me as I tried and fumbled. Lord, I recognize You as my Savior and King. Please forgive me and take control of my life. Help me grow in my relationship with You each day. Give me the burning desire to seek You daily. Use me for whatever you want. Lead me in your ways. May You receive all the honor and glory. Provide everything I need. Help me not to worry but give all my cares to You. I am taking my hands off the steering wheel of my life, Lord. I give its control to You. Thank you for being King and ruling with unconditional love and wisdom. Amen.

It's Good to Draw Near

Psalm 73 speaks of jealousy of the foolish and arrogant rich. These people became rich by mocking and extorting men. These wicked rich spoke against God saying He had no power over them and could not judge them. They paraded their arrogance and enticed God’s people to drink from their cup and follow them.

The psalmist saw the things the rich had and experienced temptation until he went to the sanctuary of God. He remembered God would cast these wicked rich down to destruction and would allow them to be consumed with terrors. When the psalmist recalled this, he recognized his sin and repented.  

He remembered God is good to His children, those who are upright and pure in heart. God is continually with His children, holding their right hand and guiding them. He receives them into His glory when they die and gives them honor and glory when giving them their inheritance in His kingdom.  The psalmist recalled who God is – almighty, the true desire of our hearts, our Rock and Strength, and our Portion forever. This epiphany led to his testimony and profession.

The psalmist declared God is not God of those who are far from Him. He will not receive them into His kingdom, but will destroy everyone who is false to Him. His final profession, seen from renewed eyes and heart, juxtaposed with the start of this psalm when he declared himself a child who almost slipped. Now the psalmist drew near to God, keeping his focus on Him and not himself or his temptations. He recognized God anew, put His trust in the Lord again, made Him his refuge, and determined to tell about God’s works. This psalmist no longer focused on material things - what he didn’t have or what he wanted. Instead he focused on God, the One Who is good to Israel – the pure and upright in heart.

"Whom have I in heaven but You? I have no desire or delight on earth besides You. My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength.” (Psalm 73:25-26)

Father, help us to keep our eyes and heart focused on You and not things of this world. Help us not be jealous of the wealth of others, but find our contentment and purpose in You. Call us to draw near to You, keeping our focus on You and not ourselves. Use us today to give testimony about You to the people we meet. Amen

Enter His Sanctuary

²But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; my steps had almost slipped. 

³ For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 73)

How many of us can relate to what the psalmist said here? Does it appear the wicked continue to have good things, get fat, and receive no punishment for their rebellion against God? Does it appear your following God’s ways brings no positive benefit to your life?

The psalmist in this psalm speaks to the heart of each child of God who strives to obey God and follow Him alone. The people who do not follow Jesus Christ get wealthier and have no remorse for the way they attained their wealth. They have privilege and receive rewards now for their hard work and we appear to struggle and slough through days without recognition or reward for obedience.

This situation may make you bitter or frustrated as it did the psalmist (vs. 21). This bitterness can make you senseless and ignorant to the truth of God, like a beast who rants and rampages only wanting what it wants (vs. 22). This situation may make you want to give up and enjoy a life like the rebellious people.

Before you take that drastic step, do what the psalmist did; enter the sanctuary of God (vs. 17) and stay continually with Him (vs. 23). That sanctuary can be the physical place where you worship God with a family of believers. It can be the closet where you commune with God in quiet. The sanctuary can be wherever you worship the Lord in prayer, song, and Bible reading. The important thing is to enter the sanctuary of God when you feel down. Go to Him and speak your heart to Him.

When the psalmist with overwhelmed feelings of bitterness went into God’s sanctuary, he received balm and reminders for his heart, mind, and soul. What did he receive?

Ø  God’s counsel to calm and guide him (vs. 24)

Ø  Honor and glory from God because of continuing to follow Him (vs. 24)

Ø  Assurance he had the best on earth and in heaven, the Lord God (vs 25)

Ø  Reminders he wanted nothing on earth anyway (unlike the wicked rich) (vs. 25)

Ø  God’s strength to fortify his heart and life forever (vs 26)

Ø  God’s reminder the wicked will perish eternally because of their unfaithfulness to Him (vs. 27)

Remembering and knowing God continued to care for and guide him and would reward him with honor, calm, and eternal life for his faithfulness calmed the embittered psalmist. His realization that he had the best already with the LORD God as his God - a God who is stronger than any created thing, is a fortress in times of trouble, and the giver of eternal life - reminded him he could trust in the Lord.

Does your life seem like it is sinking in quicksand with no rescue in sight? Remember, if you are a Christian, God is your source of strength and power. He is your refuge. From Him you will receive honor and reward. He gives judgment and eternal punishment to the wicked in His time.  

You can have hope today remembering and knowing as a child of God, He will never leave you or forsake you. You can stand strong remembering what Paul wrote in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” The answer is no one because God’s might is greater than anything the wicked one can throw against us.

Draw near to God.

Enter His sanctuary.

Receive His counsel, honor, and peace.

Endure and Be Blessed - James 5:7-12

Introduction

Throughout James’ teaching in his epistle, he spoke to the Jewish Christians of Jerusalem and later Christians around the world (the diaspora) about four primary things – 1. The difference between believers and unbelievers; 2. The purpose of and difference between trials and temptations; 3. True faith shows itself in righteous works; and 4. Christians are rich no matter their physical circumstance because of having an inheritance in the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. As James began his conclusion of this epistle, he returned to these themes. In the six verses of today’s Bible study, he exhorted the Christians to be patient, strengthen their hearts, endure suffering and trials without complaining, not complain about their brothers and sisters in Christ, and be faithful to their promises and vows. When they did these things, James said God would bless them. Notice the Christians’ actions, as James taught, affected their temporal and eternal beings – their relationships with people and with God.

Be Patient 

In verses seven and eight, James reminded the believers to remain patient. Throughout this letter, he exhorted the Christians to endure suffering and persecution patiently. James reminded them to focus on the hope of their eternal inheritance in God’s kingdom. He taught them endurance came from God and His wisdom for which they could ask. James said the wisdom God would give them would produce perfection and completion in them so they would be Christlike.

In these two verses, James likened patience to a farmer who waited for the precious produce. The adjective “precious” comes from the Greek word timios, which means esteemed, especially dear, and precious[i]. Just as the farmer awaited his precious produce, which came from the nourishment of God’s rains, so God waits for His precious produce – mature Christians - and waters it with His rains – His blessings such as patience, wisdom, and endurance. Maturity in faith comes from patience and growth under trials.

James gave a reason the Christians could be patient and endure their suffering and persecution in verse eight. He said, “Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” The early Christians believed Jesus Christ would return to earth soon after his ascension. They waited with hope and, since the time of His return did not occur immediately, they began to lose heart. James told the Christians to be patient and endure, to strengthen their hearts and have faith because Jesus would return soon. He bolstered their faith by reminding them Christ was coming; continue being strong of heart – wait, endure, and live faithfully. James reminded the Jewish Christians they did not have to rely upon their own strength. God would give to them strength and perseverance through His wisdom as he said in James 1:5. Their power to endure would come from the Lord if they asked Him with unwavering faith.

Complain Not

No matter the circumstances, patience, endurance, and a strong heart that believes completely in Jesus Christ is necessary for life. James carried this lesson into the Christians’ daily lives. When people are overwhelmed with trouble and persecution, it would be natural to complain and quit. James taught them not to despair and quit. In verse nine, he taught them not to complain, too.

James specifically taught the believers not to complain against another believer. If you remember, he taught about this in James 4:11-17. When a person complained about another person, in his heart he judged the other person. When that believer did this, he placed himself above the other person and above God’s laws. God is the only judge of people. Jesus said he did not come to judge, but to save the world. Who are we Christians to judge other people? So, when a person complains about another person, he judges that person, puts himself above God’s laws, and through that puts himself above God.

James said in verse nine, “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” [NASB] He reminded the believers God would be the only Judge of people. James used imagery from a common practice in their lives so the believers would understand exactly. In those days, when the Israelites had a disagreement among themselves for which they could not find a solution, they went to the elders at the gates of the town, village, or city. The elders and judges stayed in the city’s gates for this purpose. Any disputes that could not be resolved at the gates went to the Levitical judges at the temple, and then to the king if resolution still could not be reached. Here in verse nine, James told the Christians God is the Judge. He sits at the door and is not far away. This metaphor provided another meaning for the believers. It meant God was not far away so do not fear. He is as close as the door, so do not stop standing in faith. Besides these two meanings, James meant, “Do not deign to judge for yourselves thinking God is far away.” As a last insight, the word “door” comes from the Greek word thura and is a metaphor for the door through which sheep go in and out[ii]. This door reminded the believers of the kingdom of heaven and their future hope so they could be patient, endure, not complain, and remain faithful children of God.

Jesus Christ was due to return imminently. God is always near and is the Judge. Complaining is not suffering with God’s wisdom and endurance knowing you will grow from the trial. James reminded the Christians of the prophets who spoke in God’s name (verse 10). He reminded them the prophets suffered trials, distress, persecution, and affliction with patience. If the believers felt they could not endure anymore, James told them to remember those who went before them. He told them to gain strength and endurance from the testimony of the prophets’ lives.

Be Blessed

In verse 11, James said, “We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” The endurance James spoke about is abiding in Christ and not falling in one’s faith in the face of trials and persecution. Holding fast to faith in Christ allows a person to endure trials, troubles, afflictions, and persecution bravely.

James reminded the believers about Job. Job was an exceedingly faithful man of God. Satan asked God permission to afflict Job. He stated he was faithful only because God blessed him with great wealth and many children. God permitted Satan to afflict Job. Satan destroyed Job’s wealth and family. Even though his friends told him he must have sinned and God was judging him, Job would not recant his faith in God. Though his friends told him God turned His back on him, he remained faithful to Him. Because of Job’s faithfulness to God through everything Satan did, God blessed him with more than he had before Satan destroyed his wealth and family. With this testimony of a faithful man of God, James reminded the Christians to take to heart. He told them to recall this it, hold it as a testimony of God’s faithfulness to them, and gain strength, patience, and endurance from Job’s faithfulness.

God always blesses His children who are strong, patient, and endure. James said God blesses His children because He is full of compassion and mercy. The Greek dictionary explains compassion as being full of pity and kindness[iii]. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to ease it[iv].” God is full of compassion. He knows of and cares about His children in distress and wants to relieve it. God is merciful, too, James said. Being merciful is giving relief from suffering[v]. 

God feels compassion and wants to relieve the distress of people and He can give relief from the person’s suffering. The Lord cares deeply about people and has the power to relieve peoples’ suffering from troubles, trials, afflictions, and persecution. He does not just stand idly by and watch as if He cannot change things. God can and does show His compassion by fixing the problem. He gives blessings to endure through trials and persecutions and gives blessings for being faithful after trials. God grows and sustains His children. He is omnipotent and faithful. God works to grow us toward perfection and maturity in Christ.

Be Honorable

James said in verse 12, “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but your yes is to be yes and you no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.” [NASB] How does this relate to the earlier verses? As do verses seven through eleven, this verse ultimately speaks about faithfulness to God. You will notice it reminded the Jewish Christians of the third commandment from Exodus 20:7, which says, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” The word “vain” means to consider something worthless or false[vi].

Considering this what did James mean in verse twelve? He taught believers to make promises or contracts without the necessity of swearing its validity of being fulfilled. Live a life that is honorable so that an oath by the name of God or His creation to confirm your promise is unnecessary. The Jews of the time were famous for swearing to confirm their promise or vow. They knew God commanded them not to swear by His name so they placed one of His creations in place of His name to infer God’s name. They swore by the creation attesting they would honor their promise as if they swore by God’s name. James reminded the believers God commanded them not to do this when he taught verse twelve. He exhorted them to be honorable and live so their lives proved they were children of God and mirrored His attributes of honor and faithfulness. When a Christian reneges on his promise, vow, or contract, he mars his and God’s names in the world. That believer should be faithful to God and care about keeping God’s name honorable in the world. He should live a life full of integrity so he would have no need to swear and confirm his pledge.

James reminded the believers if they showed unfaithfulness to their promises, God would judge them as He will judge every person. He taught them, too, that if they swore, God would judge them. James exhorted God’s children - the followers of Christ - to be faithful to God and other people. Be honorable and full of integrity and by doing so show God is faithful and honorable. To the Christians of first century Jerusalem, James exhorted them to put their faith in action and walk in their daily lives the new life given them by Jesus Christ. For James, faith without action is dead. Any action that did not support the new life Christ died to give believers shows lack of faith in action. Because of this, James repeatedly taught the Christians to be patient and strong, and endure.

Recap

As James began the final section of his epistle, he reminded the Jerusalem believers and every believer of the diaspora several things. He encouraged them to be patient, strengthen their hearts, and endure in their faith while living their daily life, and while going through trials, afflictions, and persecution. James reminded the believers God waited for them to ask for wisdom from Him. He promised to give it to those who asked without wavering. This reminded Christians what James taught about God’s wisdom. God’s wisdom brings purity, peaceable-ness, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, faithfulness, and good fruits (James 3:17).

James taught the believers complaining about other Christians was judging that person and God, things one should not do so as not to incur God’s judgment. He gave examples of people who underwent persecution, afflictions, and trials – Job and the prophets of God – to encourage them to keep the faith and keep walking a life that reflects Jesus Christ. James concluded this section by reminding the believers of God’s third commandment not to swear because doing so would bring dishonor on God and themselves and would break God’s commandment, both things for which God would judge them. He encouraged them to live honorable and upright lives so that when they made a promise or vow, the other person would believe them without an oath to confirm their promise. James told them to live with integrity like an ambassador for God in their world.

Relevance and Conclusion

What do James’ teachings have to do with us today nearly two thousand years later? James’ sole purpose for this exposition was to exhort the Christians of the first century to live out their faith in daily life, not just to believe it in their heads and hearts. He said, “Faith without works is dead” in James 2:17. To be a true Christian maturing toward Christlikeness means to live a life as Jesus did – with His attitudes and actions. If a believer’s faith does not show itself by what he does, then the Holy Spirit God gives to dwell in each believer is not visible in the person. This might occur because the person chooses not to live a life according to the conviction of the Holy Spirit or because the person did not truly make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Having compassion and mercy – feeling pity and acting upon it to relieve someone’s distress - is living in the image of God. This is what James said in James 5:11.

Today, each person who is a Christian, whether a full-time or part-time minister, or a Christian who works in a secular job, must ask him or herself if he or she is living a life that reflects God. Is your life one of honor, integrity, compassion, mercy, love, gentleness, patience, conviction, teachable-ness, joy, endurance, strength, peace, kindness, and self-control? Have you given your whole being - heart, soul, mind, and strength - to God so you serve Him because you love Him completely?

For those people who have never heard about the Gospel and want to know how to become a Christian, know that following Jesus and becoming a child of God requires nothing you can do. Nothing you can do earns you salvation, which makes Christianity unlike every other religion of the world. No action or work will give you salvation from your sins and eternal life with God. God knows that. He sheds His grace on us for that reason. God gives us what we do not deserve (forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Him) and He does not give us what we deserve (separation from Him forever because of our sins). That defines grace. What does each person have to do to get salvation from his or her sins?

Ø  Accept Jesus Christ is God’s Son.

Ø  Believe Jesus Christ died to pay the death penalty for your sins.

Ø  Confess your sins to God.

God promises He is faithful and just to forgive all sins (1 John 1:9).

Are you willing to do this and love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Today is the day for all of us to:

Take the step and give your life to God, accepting His forgiveness and grace, and loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

or

Take the step and renew your commitment to God to live a life of love and faith in this world.

It is up to you.

---

[i]Thayer and Smith, The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon, 1999. (http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/timios.html).  

[ii] Ibid. (http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/thura.html).

[iii] Ibid. (http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/polusplagchnos.html).

[iv] Merriam Webster Dictionary. (http://beta.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compassion).

[v] Ibid. (http://beta.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merciful).

[vi] Thayer and Smith, The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon, 1999. (http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/shav.html). 

1 Samuel 31:11-13 A Devotion

11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, 

12 all their valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth-shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 

13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

In this chapter, we read of the last stand of King Saul and three of his sons. They fought the Philistines and lost the battle. The Philistines did not honor Saul, but beheaded him and hung his body along with his sons on the walls of Beth-shan.

The people of Jabesh-Gilead heard of this tragedy and dishonor. They purposed, even though they were afraid of the Philistines, to sneak to Beth-shan and remove the men’s bodies from the walls. These men chose to put their lives at risk to show gratitude to Saul.

Prior to this time, when the city of Jabesh-Gilead was attacked by the Ammonites, their ruler, Nahash, would only make a treaty with the people of Jabesh-Gilead if he could gouge out the right eye of everyone in the city (1 Samuel 11). The people were horrified. They requested time to make a decision. During the seven days they were given, they sent S.O. S. messages throughout Israel. Saul, the strong, virulent leader of men, purposed and acquired the man-power to overtake the Ammonites. For this, the people of Jabesh were grateful to King Saul. For this, they chose to put into action their gratefulness to him.

This story should make us think back and remember those who did good things for us. Who affected your life in a positive way? Have you shown your gratitude to them? Have you acted upon that gratitude? Now is the time be thankful and act upon it. Now is the time to be grateful and show it to the person who was kind and good toward you.

Possibly, you need to consider what God has done for you in giving you salvation. Have you given Him thanks? Have you shown Him in action your gratitude? What have you done today?

Each day should be lived with an attitude of thanks and praise and with actions expressing this.

Philippians 4:1-9 A Devotion

8 “Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” [NASB]

In this chapter, Paul teaches and encourages the Christians at Philippi to have, do, and be certain things. The first thing he told them was to stand firm (persevere). He calls them his joy and crown. The Philippians are dear to Paul and he is proud of their testimony in the world. People from other cities and towns heard about them and spoke highly of them to other people and Paul heard. Paul gave a list of attributes for the Philippians to strive toward and to continue to be.

Paul told them to rejoice in the Lord always. No matter what occurred to or around them, to keep an attitude of joy and rejoicing. Rejoicing is the praise back to God for the joy that resides in a person. The joy comes from gratitude in what the Lord gave or did for a person.

Be joyful and not anxious about anything, remembering God provides. God wants you to come to Him with your requests and thanks. He wants to be in relationship with you in everything – good, bad, trials, temptations.

Have the peace of God, the one who is Creator, Provider, and Victor. Realize nothing can thwart God’s will.

Finally, think on the true and truthful. Dwell on the honorable and the things and people to be venerated and revered. Reckon with the right, righteous, innocent, and guiltless. Meditate on the pure from fault, sacred, chaste, and clean. Deliberate on the lovely, acceptable, and pleasing. Consider those people and things with good repute who and what are auspicious. Keep these things and people in mind. Consider them. Emulate them. See their effect. Keep your mind on that which God calls good, pure, etc. When you do, you will be less tempted and affected by evil and  to sin.

If there is anything of excellence, virtue, moral goodness and purity, and if there is anything worthy of praise and commendation, dwell on and consider them. Keep these things most in your mind so you will be like them for these are from God. Practice them and the righteous God of goodness, peace, and love will be with you. He will reside with you and lead you to continue walking in these attributes.

So we see that thinking on each of these things, makes us consider them, count them worthy, and then emulate them ourselves as good things. These things, we will see, come from God. We will have peace when we do the things of God and use the attributes God gave us and approves of.

We each want peace. Paul was proud of the Philippians. There are “Pauls” in our day, too. Maybe you have a Paul-like person in your life, if you don’t, place Jesus in his place. As you consider these things and decide to act, make sure the actions you do would make your “Paul” and Jesus long to see you and declare you his/His joy and crown.

This is our mandate today. Have these characteristics and live them out so that Jesus can be proud of you and declare you His, just as Paul declared the Philippians his brethren and was proud of them.