Modern day warriors

Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammi for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

2 Samuel 23: 8-10

Background

The beginning of this chapter chronicles David’s 37 mighty warriors. Read the whole chapter. The warrior’s exploits are crazy. Over the years I’ve read this passage numerous times to both my boys and girls. I’ve read this passage to my children to expand their faith. I’ve read this passage many more times by myself to expand my faith. The warriors step into danger and odds that made no sense. These guys weren’t making decisions to live a long life and build their retirement savings. They weren’t playing it safe. They likely weren’t motivated by a paycheck. They were motivated by a much higher calling…

These men were the physical glue that God used to establish and sustain David’s kingdom. But their substance went much deeper than what could be observed from the outside. They also demonstrated a ferociousness of character on the inside.

During this chapter we learn that 3 of the warriors came down to visit David at the cave of Adullam, while he was hiding out from the Philistines. During this visit the warriors heard that David was longing for a drink from the water near the Bethlehem gate. They broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well and returned to David.

Earlier in 2 Samuel we learned about the character of the #37 mighty warrior – Uriah the Hittite. You might remember that Uriah’s wife was Bathsheba, the woman that David summoned to his quarters after watching her bathe from his roof. David tried to hide the fact that he impregnated her by summoning Uriah back from battle for a few days in the hope they would have sexual relations. David’s plan didn’t work. David asked Uriah “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”

These were the type of guys you wanted in your inner circle.

Reflections

While the mighty men’s physical exploits are beyond impressive, it is important to remind ourselves that the exploits that will be most admired by God are those that are centered on wrecking havoc in the spiritual realm. He is looking for men to sell out for the pursuit of righteousness. He is looking for men to advocate for protecting the needy and poor. He is looking for men to unabashedly share the gospel. He is looking for men to step up and be spiritual leaders in their family. He is looking for men to make it a practice to build spiritual disciplines into their lives. He is looking for men to live faithfully.

If we pursue Him and ask the Holy Spirit to do a work in our hearts He will change us. I promise. Let’s join the 37 with a laser focus on a higher calling. Let’s pursue a legacy that goes much deeper than our accumulation of wealth or leisure or entertainment. Let’s be the kind of guys that if God needs an advocate to wipe a tear; feed the hungry; encourage the inconsolable; comfort the widow or take care of an orphan, our names register at the top of the heavenly list of “go to guys”.

Lord, please continue to change my heart and mind so that I can become that guy. I need you to do a work. You are more than able.

What if we spent more time planning for our heavenly rewards than for our earthly pleasures?

What if by making a decision to pursue Him with reckless abandon Satan quaked in disappointment about our engagement?

What if we realized that God can change us regardless of our background and past separation from him?

Breathing life

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:12)

Background

In this parable Jesus offers a glimpse of the Father. No one ever had a clearer picture of the Father’s personality than Jesus. Jesus had seen the Father up close and personal. Pay close attention and let this sink in. Notice that this story is framed from a father’s posture of looking for his son while he was a long way off. It was as if he was sitting on his porch and longingly looking into the horizon and just hoping. After seeing his son, the father doesn’t passive-aggressively let his son make those final steps alone…”because he hurt us so much”. No. The Father pursues his son. He doesn’t walk. He doesn’t even jog. No, this father runs. This father loves his son with abandon. And this is the picture of the father that Jesus wanted us to soak in.

We have enormous value and worth to our Father. He loves us and views us preciously in spite of our major shortcomings. In spite of our struggles. In spite of our seasons away. And when we return, He chases us.

Reflections

Let’s make this real. Earlier today I got off the phone with my daughter and was describing the modest size of my apartment. I said “when you get out here would you prefer to sleep in the closet or the tub?” In our family we joke a lot…and at times maybe too much. As I was laying in bed I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me “did that comment instill worth and value?” I called her back. I apologized. I shared how valuable she was to me.

This got me thinking. I wonder if I also need to be more careful with even using more casual or light-hearted names such as “goofball” or “goofy”? Do these terms instill a sense of value…or subtly erode it?

Let’s flip this. Nearly 45 years ago it was a warm summer evening and my father was tucking my brother and me into bed. My Dad started telling us how much he loved us and the conversation went something like this:

Me: “Dad, if someone ever took us would you give your car up for us to get us back?”

Dad: “Of course I would”

Me: “Dad, if someone ever took us would you give up our house for us?”

Dad: “Of course I would”

Dad: “Guys, let me put it this way – if someone ever took you I would give up everything I own…everything to get you back”.

And 45 years later I still remember my father’s words on that non-descript summer night. I will never forget it. He probably did. Words are powerful. They can breathe life.

I have increasingly been wondering if one of my primary duties as a spouse and father is to deliberately instill a sense of value in both my wife and kids. This is an area I need the Holy Spirit’s help to hone. It doesn’t come naturally. Some days I do ok. Other days I am sloppy. Other days I miss it big time.

What if each member of our family caught a breath of their worth and value because we were committed daily with reinforcing it?

What if we were as focused on prayerfully instilling worth and value in their unique love language as many of us (e.g. me) are with correction?

What if 45 years into the future our children remember a night when we breathed life into them?

Today – Day 1

If I’m honest, for the last few months I have been dreading the final few day build-up for my trip to the airport to Hong Kong. Here I am. Sherri dropped me off 30 minutes ago at the airport. Saying goodbye isn’t easy for me. The prospects of a different relational cadence with my family and friends is one of the last things I wanted.

As Sherri drove me to the airport this morning I struggled to find words to say. We did talk about how I was feeling…a bit. It is tough for me to name my feelings sometimes. After reflecting, it was simply a heavy heart. As we talked, there was one Christian song after another playing on the radio in the background that was reminding me that God is in control.

Sherri offered that “God has this”. The whispers through the songs seemed that the Holy Spirit was reminding me of the same.

Do you ever intellectually know something to be true in your head but your emotions haven’t caught up yet?

Lord, I need you. Please do a work that is deep and meaningful and has kingdom consequences. Draw me to You. Change and soften my heart. Please provide protection and favor for my family that is now managing through a different season that wasn’t their choice. Complete the work that you have started in their lives as well. You know how much they mean to me. You are more than able. Be lifted up and glorified. Amen.

These bible verses were part of my devotions and reading this morning:

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

Genesis 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”

Reflection

What if my emotions could catch up with my head and I could truly understand at my core that God is so much bigger than the mountain in front of me? How would I live my life differently?

God looks at the heart

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

Over the years no bible verse has consumed my thinking as much as this one.

Background

God’s favor with King Saul had begun to wane as the King’s reliance on God diminished. Israel’s priest, Samuel, had been tasked with anointing an heir and God had suggested that the new king would come from Jesse’s family. Samuel visited Jesse to identify and anoint the future king. As Jesse lined up his sons in front of Samuel it was clear they were impressive. They were gifted. They were handsome. In the eyes of this world many of the sons checked the box – they were fit for a kingly assignment. And yet…Samuel did not feel that God was providing the green light for the cast standing in front of of him. He asked Jesse if he had any other sons. Jesse suggested that he had one more son…but this son was out tending the sheep. David was called in from the field and in an act that likely surprised the whole family, Samuel identified him for one of the most important assignments in Israel’s history.

Reflections

The central messages of Christianity are frequently counter cultural. They don’t make sense. We frequently forget God’s formulas and subtly reset through our own cultural filter. The world looks at the outward appearance. Many in the church do the same. We look at giftings. We look at leadership skills. We look at eloquence. We look at management skills. We look at potential. And yet…we learn here that God looks instead at the heart.

The Bible is filled with person after person who was delegated major kingdom assignments, not because of their giftings or abilities, but due to the status of their heart.

Proverbs 4:23 sums it up:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Everything flows from our heart.

What if our lives were singularly focused on pursuing a pure heart in the eyes of God?

What if in our all-out pursuit of a pure heart, God issued a massive kingdom assignment to us?

Stepping In

When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. (Joshua 3:14-17 NIV).

Background

The Israelites had been waiting for 40 years to realize their promised destiny – to own and rule in the promised land. There must have been great expectancy as they were reminded over the years of the richness of this land through stories by Caleb and Joshua. There must have also been a lingering sense of anxiousness over the giants that were currently possessing the land. It was time.

The next step was not going to be easy. The Jordan river was raging. The river was at flood stages. This was dangerous. Seriously Lord? Wouldn’t your plan make more sense if we crossed once the flood stage resided?

As is frequently the case in God’s formula for executing His plan, He was not going to make this easy. It is always less about the success of an event. It is always more about what the process builds into His people’s character. We often forget this spiritual law. We like it easy. I certainly prefer it easy.

As directed by the Lord and relayed by Joshua, the priests carting the ark stepped into the raging water and then…the water resided.

Reflection

Exercising earthly wisdom and potentially waiting until the flood resided wasn’t God’s plan. Standing on the waters edge and engaging in a massive prayer service to ask for the water to reside before the Israelites would be subjected to risk wasn’t God’s plan. God’s plan was for His people to step out in action and obedience. And in God’s calculus, this was the formula that He wanted executed.

What if God has a future destiny and promise in our lives that requires us to take a step into the raging water as a first step?

What if His call defies earthly wisdom? Will we hear it?

What if it is easier for God to move in our lives if we prayerfully have a bias for movement and action?

Vigilance

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

The new testament is filled with this message – Be vigilant as the devil seeks to destroy and separate us from relationship with God. The frequency of this biblical narrative should be sobering. Make no mistake about it. The devil wants to destroy our future.

CS Lewis felt compelled to dedicate a full book to the devil’s strategies in The Screwtape Letters. The popular book chronicles in fictional form a series of letters from a senior demon called “Screwtape” to his nephew “Wormwood” a junior tempter. The following strategies as quoted from Screwtape are worth noting:

“There is nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human’s mind against the Enemy.” (Here, the Enemy being referred to is God).

“All extremes, except extreme devotion to the Enemy, are to be encouraged.” (this an important truth to remember).

“He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles. Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” (trusting and obeying in a good God even when we don’t understand).

“Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense, on the Enemy’s ground. I know we have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made the pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one. All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasures which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden.”

“A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all – and more amusing.” (let’s be careful to not ignore or deemphasize truths that may not be culturally popular or lined up to our personal preferences but nevertheless are part of the Bible and Christ’s teachings).

“Indeed the safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” (we easily recognize extreme sin but it is the gradual that many of us have more difficulty seeing).

“Tortured fear and stupid confidence are both desirable states of mind.”

“Surely you know that if a man can’t be cured of churchgoing, the next best thing is to send him all over the neighborhood looking for the church that ‘suits’ him until he becomes a taster or connoisseur of churches… The search for a ‘suitable’ church makes the man a critic where the Enemy wants him to be a pupil.” (this a big one in our consumption-driven culture).

“For as things are, your man has now discovered the dangerous truth that these attacks don’t last forever; consequently you cannot use again what is, after all, our best weapon – the belief of ignorant humans, that there is no hope of getting rid of us except by yielding.” (Good to remember that attacks will subside and to hang in there instead of yielding).

“…You will find that anything or nothing is sufficient to attract his wandering attention. You no longer need a good book, which he really likes, to keep him from his prayers or his work or his sleep; a column of advertisements in yesterday’s paper will do…You can make him do nothing at all for long periods.” (Today this could be internet viewing habits or sports).

So…what are some of the devils more popular current strategies not directly called out above?

He wants to hook us on secret sins and subtle idols that dull our pain and take the edge off (e.g. internet porn, food, alcohol, sports, excessive media and social media consumption, living our life vicariously through our children)
He wants to separate us from deep relationships with our spouses and others with endless focus on alternatives, including “not being present”
He wants us to value, invest and think more about our entertainment and personal consumption than on His promises and plans to expand the kingdom
He wants us to prioritize our children’s sporting activities above our involvement in the local church (this speaks volumes to our kids view of their parent’s priorities… and was one that Sherri/I struggled with in various seasons)
He wants to convince us that God is distant and uninterested and lacks power
He wants us to become more focused on how others view us…versus God’s view of us
He will do anything to distract us from daily spiritual disciplines such as prayer, bible reading and fasting that connect us to God

It is clear that God has more than equipped us by his Holy Spirit to win our earthly battle. And yet as Paul admonishes, it is important to understand and remember our enemy in this critical battle of life.

What if we asked the Holy Spirit to provide greater revelations for our internal weaknesses and vulnerabilities so we could be better equipped to battle?

What if we became more vigilant about putting on the armor of God, including bible reading and prayer, versus pursuing any of of life’s current distractions, including social media consumption, internet activities or sports?

The journey begins

The discussion with the company for this overseas position started late in the summer.

My August 22 journal included this prayer: “Lord, you have allowed us to build deep roots in West MI. You know. I am prepared to leave Rockford, however, since this a business move (vs. a ministry move) I need You to make this crystal clear. Too much is at stake for our family and relationships to be disrupted without You making this clear and providing affirmation. I don’t think this request is unreasonable. I want to be obedient. Please be glorified in the next steps. I want You. Amen.”

Over the course of the following month the Lord affirmed the move. We don’t know why. It doesn’t make sense. On many levels. We have no idea if the reason is for Sherri or me…or connected to our future…or for another relationship connection with our children…or to simply step into the furnace for a period of time. In either case, we no longer want “playing it safe” to be a primary family value. We want to be obedient.

Within a day of writing the above prayer in my journal, a good friend sent me this note “it is both our opportunity and our obligation to pursue His unique plan for each one of us within the body of Christ”. Yes, it is.

What if we truly understand how much more fulfillment and depth we can get in this life if we obediently follow Him?

What if we truly understood the depth to which our good Lord loves us and is desperate for relational intimacy? And is willing to allow pain and difficulty as a means to whisper to us so that we would draw near to Him?

Given my overseas geography these next few years, this blog will primarily be an opportunity to 1) share life reflections and communicate with my children and small group friends about what is real and important and going on inside me; and 2) serve as an opportunity for me to keep my mind on the Holy Spirit’s whisperings and on “things above”. The theme of “what if” will hopefully cast vision for a better future…because hope and faith can be a powerful mixture. A mixture that is part of our future in Christ.