Humble Prayer

The Bible tells us that the prayer of Solomon “pleased the Lord” (1 Kings 3:10). It’s a simple phrase that we can read without giving it a second thought. But we ought to. Consider what a big statement that is. The content of Solomon’s prayer evoked pleasure in God’s heart. To imagine that something we ask for can have an impact on the way the Almighty God feels is a remarkable truth we find over and over again throughout the Bible. Yet as frequently as we read it in Scripture, I find that most of us fail to appreciate what an amazing truth this is. Perhaps because it is much easier to consider that our sinful actions affect God negatively, as when the Bible speaks of the sinful generation prior to the flood saying that they “grieved God to his heart” (Genesis 6:6). But the inverse is also true. “The Lord takes pleasure in his people” (Psalm 149:4), especially, the rest of that verse points out, when they are humble. That brings us back to Solomon. It was the humility of Solomon’s prayer that brought joy to God’s heart. When prompted by God to lay out his request with the promise that God would do it, Solomon humbly considered his need for wisdom to fulfill his job as the new king of Israel, and boldly asked for it. The Scripture then says, “It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this” (1 Kings 3:10). May the dependent attitude of our hearts bring joy to God’s heart today. May our selfless prayers and our concern for God’s people brighten the disposition of the Lord even now.

For more sermons and devotionals on Humble Prayer, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org. 

Scripture Twisting

Occasionally when reading the words of Christ we come across some jarring statements. For instance, in Revelation 2:6 Jesus says to the church in Ephesus, “You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Sentences like that should slow us down to consider the powerful concern motivating such strong language. Think of it, “hatred” in this case was praised as godly when directed toward the behavior of a group of false teachers making the rounds in Asia Minor. These Nicolaitans had already made inroads in the church of Pergamum just 75 miles away. Like Balaam of the Old Testament, the Nicolaitans, under the banner of “Christianity”, were persuading God’s people throughout the region that mirroring the culture’s values and indulgent practices was no big deal (Revelation 2:14-15). You can almost hear them, “It’s no big compromise.” “God is forgiving.” “He understands.” “We don’t live under the law.” “Don’t get so uptight about holiness and righteous living.” “Don’t be such a legalist.” As Jude had previously warned, this kind of distortion is insidious – and regrettably it’s been effective. “For certain people have crept in unnoticed… ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality” (Jude 4). Of course, we are called to be civil and gracious, but when it comes to this kind of Scripture twisting we need to remember that Christ hates it and so should we.

For more sermons and devotionals on Scripture Twisting, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org. 

Time

The Bible makes a sweeping and comprehensive point when we are rhetorically asked, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Consider the magnitude of that question. Scripture goes on to definitively clarify that the Source and Purpose of all the things we tend to feel so possessive of is in fact Jesus Christ himself – “all things were created through him and for him” we are told (Colossians 1:16). That undoubtedly includes time itself. Yet few things feel more “ours” than “our time.” But in reality it is not ours at all. As thoughtful Christians have always been careful to point out, we have no ability to make or retain time. We are transient recipients and stewards of each day and every hour. When we irrationally believe that our evenings, weekends or the years of our life are our own to spend as we please, we operate under a false pretense that will one day be suddenly dispelled. Recall how much of Christ’s teaching instilled the principle of accountability and stewardship. “Now after a long time,” Jesus continued to impress on his hearers, “the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them” (Matthew 25:19). Our time must be seen as a divine gift. It is not ours to spend, it is his, lent to us to invest for his glory and the advancement of his kingdom. So be wise and “make the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:16) knowing from whom it comes.

For more sermons and devotionals on Time, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org. 

Motives

The wisdom and appropriateness of our actions can often be assessed by asking ourselves the simple question, “Why?” Of course it should go without saying that nothing can be considered biblically wise or appropriate if it is biblically prohibited. A good motive cannot salvage a sinful action, but plenty of good actions have been polluted - if not completely annulled by a bad motive. Jesus taught us that even generous and sacrificial acts are in fact sinful when done for selfish reasons (Matthew 6:2). Regardless of the apparent “godliness” of an action, if a twisted reason is behind it, there is nothing righteous about it (Matthew 6:1; Matthew 23). Yet frequently we take this unnecessary risk by failing to ask ourselves why we are going to do what we are about to do. We may just assume that if it is not a prohibited act, then it’s fine and there is no need to go to all the work of trying to discern our motives. But God calls us to ask ourselves “Why?” “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes” the Bible tells us, “but the Lord weighs the spirit” (Proverbs 16:2). Our forthcoming evaluation by Christ will “disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5). So before you go there, do this, send or post that, be sure to evaluate your reasons.

For more sermons and devotionals on Motives, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org.