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Would You Attend Solomon’s Conference? — Proverbs 22:17 – 23:22

June 3, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Christian Living, Goals, leadership, Proverbs, Success, The Power of Words, Word of God, Workplace with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 22:17 through Proverbs 24:34

A one-sheet is a single page document which is designed to provide a summary of information about the expertise of a professional speaker to prospective clients.  If Solomon had a “One-Sheet” it would have possibly looked like this.  I’m sure he could have preached a sermon or developed a seminar on each of these topics; now that’s a speaking portfolio!

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Solomon’s Thirty Wise Sayings

Proverbs 22:17 – 24:22
Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.  For it is good to keep these sayings in your hearts and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today—yes, you—so you will trust in the Lord.  I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.  In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you:

  1. Don’t rob the poor; don’t exploit the needy in court.
  2. Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people.
  3. Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.
  4. Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.
  5. Do you see any truly competent workers?  They will serve kings rather than work for ordinary people.
  6. While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.  If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat; don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.
  7. Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.  Be wise enough to know when to quit.
  8. Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.
  9. Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
  10. Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.
  11. Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
  12. Don’t fail to discipline your children.
  13. My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.
  14. Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.
  15. My child, listen and be wise; keep your heart on the right course. Don’t carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons.
  16. Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old. Get the truth, and never sell it; get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment. So give your father and mother joy!
  17. My son, give me your heart; may your eyes take delight in following my ways. A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.
  18. Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.  Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
  19.  Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.
  20. A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with sorts of precious riches and valuables.
  21. The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.  So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.
  22. Wisdom is too lofty for fools.
  23. A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.  The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.
  24. If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.
  25. Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “look, we didn’t know.”
  26. My son, eat honey, for it is good and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.  In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.  If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.
  27. Don’t wait in ambush as the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.
  28. Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.
  29. Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked.
  30. My son, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels, for disaster will hit them suddenly.

I know some of these sayings sound a little foolish, but if you read all of today’s scriptures Solomon explained the “why” of each one.  I could definitely see Solomon speaking at a mega church or leadership conference on one of these topics!

Would you travel to hear him speak?

We’re moving into Song of Songs, also known as Song of Solomon; we’ll pick up the rest of the Proverbs in a few days.  Can you believe we’re in our sixth month of this journey…amazing!

Blessings!

 

 ©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Song of Solomon 1:1 through Song of Solomon 8: 14

Why Do We Break Our Promises? Numbers 30:2

March 9, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Biblical Principles, Commitment, Giving Our Best to God, Numbers, The Power of Words with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Numbers 30:1 through Numbers 31:54

Then Moses summoned the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, “this is what the Lord has commanded:  A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it.  He must do exactly what he said he would do.”  –Numbers 30:2

Under the Law, if an individual made a vow (neḏer, a promise to do something) or a pledge (’issār, a promise not to do something), he had to keep it without equivocation (vv. 1-2).

Have you ever promised God to do something or promised God to not to do something?

Have you broken that promise?

I’m sorry to say that I have made promises to God that I haven’t kept.

So, if we believe that God is real and God means what He says, why do we break our promises to Him?

I think Paul gives the best explanations in Romans 7:15-20 of the struggles we go through:

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.  And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

From what Paul says, one minute we’re saying “yes, I will” and the next minute we changing our mind and saying “no, I won’t.”  I think James take this discussion full circle when he says … 

But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.  –James 5:12

Many people in today’s culture have decided to get around breaking promises by never making one.  Lack of commitment is not the answer.

As James says…

Count the costs

give a simple yes or no, not maybe or I’ll try

and then

be a person who strives to do exactly what he said he would do!

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for our sinful nature.  Help us to count the cost before we commit and then be a person whose yes is yes and no is no so that You will be glorified.

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Numbers 32:1 through Numbers 33:56

Are You a Complainer? 10 Reasons to Stop it!

March 2, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Choices, Numbers, Pride, The Power of Words with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Numbers 11:1 through Numbers 13:33

As I read today’s scriptures I kept saying over and over, “Lord, help me not to complain!” Here’s why:

  1. God doesn’t like complaining
  2. Step away from the complainers! People who are just going along for the ride can get you in trouble. The foreign rabble (11:4) were probably Gentiles who thought a trip to the Promised Land would be great, but when the going got tough, they began to complain and caused the Israelites to do the same.  We should take this lesson very seriously, “step away from the complainers!” (and don’t be one!)
  3. Complainers frustrate leaders.  Moses asked God why he deserved “the burden of all these people, since he didn’t give birth to them.” (11:10)
  4. Don’t complain, ask God for help. God hears the concerns of leaders and helps them WHEN they ask.  He devised a plan to take some of the load off Moses. (11:16)
  5. There’s something God doesn’t like more than complaining— being rejected and doubted.  Basically, when the Israelites said they would have been better off in Egypt, God took it personally. (11:18)  And, when Moses gave an assessment of the impossibility of feeding the 600,000 foot soldiers  God took it as an insult and came back with a hearty, “Now you’ll see whether or not my word comes true!” (11:23)
  6. Moses had a character trait all really great leaders have—humility.  He didn’t care who got the credit: But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake?  I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all.” (11:29)
  7. Sometimes the Lord gives us what we ask for and it isn’t what we need.  “But while they were gorging themselves on the meat—while it was still in their mouths—the anger of the Lord blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.  So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, which means graves of gluttony. (11:33-34) I’m sure there are many spiritual lessons in this scripture, but I can’t get past the words gorging and gluttony.
  8. Jealousy can get you in trouble.  Aaron and Miriam “thought” they were on the same level with God as Moses.  Let’s just say that God set them straight.  I love the Lord’s response to them in Numbers 12:6-8, that began with “Now listen to what I say:”
  9. If we think like a grasshopper we’ll be treated like one.  These people saw the power of God like no other people in the human race, yet they said, “We can’t go up against them.” (13:31)
  10. Caleb was the only one who scouted out the new land who said, “We can certainly conquer it!” (Numbers 13:30).

I want to be like Moses and Caleb, but sometimes I act like the foreign rabble and the Israelites!  Holy Spirit show me the things in my life that aren’t pleasing to you!

Pressing on towards our Promised Land!

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Numbers 14:1 through Numbers 15:41

When’s The Last Time You Blessed Someone? Numbers 6:24-26

March 1, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Blessings, Choices, Numbers, speaking God's Words, The Power of Words with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Numbers 6:1 through Numbers 6:27, Numbers 10:1 through Numbers 10:36

After just less than a year of being camped on Mount Sinai, the Israelites are finally moving toward their Promised Land…

They must have been so excited!  As they made preparations to leave, the Lord told Moses to have Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel with a special blessing:

  • May the Lord bless you and protect you.
  • May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
  • May the Lord show you His favor and give you His Peace. –Numbers 6:24-26

I love verse 27:  “Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.” 

If you have attended church for any length of time you may have heard your pastor “bless” you at the conclusion of the service.  Even though we’ve barely begun our journey through the Bible, but we’ve heard much about “the blessing.”  The first time the word bless (ed-ing) was used by in Genesis 1:22:

Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

It is used 508 times throughout the Bible.  God, our heavenly Father blessed his children and taught his children to bless their children and others.

508 times–it must be important!

Words are powerful.  With each word that comes out of our mouth we are either blessing or cursing.  Just yesterday I was speaking to someone I love and used my words to curse them.  No, I didn’t speak curse words. It was really worse than curse words, it was words that tear down rather than lift up.

I pray that we learn to speak beautiful blessings to others like the one we read about today, but I also pray we think about the everyday words we speak to the ones we love the most and make sure we’re blessing not cursing, speaking life not death.

Have a great week-end!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Numbers 11:1 through Numbers 13:33

How “Not” to Comfort Someone Who’s Grieving–Job 5:8

January 20, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Christian Living, Encouragement, Friendship, Job, The Hurting World, The Power of Words, Uncategorized with 2 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 5:1 through Job 7:21

Have you ever had someone say to you, “If I were you, I would…?”

Have you ever gone through some type of tragedy, loss, or difficult time and had someone say, “I know how you feel,” when you knew they didn’t know.

It just does more harm than good doesn’t it?

“If I were you, I would” is exactly what Job’s friend Eliphaz said to him (Job 5:8). There was no “I’m sorry for your loss”, “this is such a tragedy”, “I have no idea how you must feel” or “what can I do to help you?”

Nope. There was nothing but condemnation and “If I were yous.”

Have you ever been an Eliphaz to a family member, friend, or co-worker?

Have you ever been an Eliphaz to someone in your church family?

I’m sorry to say that I certainly have. There have been times when I have kicked someone when they were down–put my foot in my mouth and swallowed it! Most of the time I didn’t do it on purpose; I just didn’t realize how my words were affecting them.  There were way to many times when I didn’t say anything but I sure had Eliphaz thoughts.

So many times we completely avoid people who are grieving because we don’t know what to say. I sort of think it would have been good for Eliphaz to have stayed home and avoided Job that day. He certainly didn’t encourage Job.

Job said it best in chapter 6, verse 26:

Do you think your words are convincing when you disregard my cry of desperation?

Job needed someone to…

  • Cry with him
  • Acknowledge his pain
  • Connect with him at the heart level
  • Grieve with him
  • Help him rebuild his life
  • Comfort him
  • Encourage him
  • Let him talk

Job did not need someone to…

  • Preach at him
  • Criticize him
  • Tell him what to say to God
  • Say silly clichés like: “your loved ones are in a better place,” “God must’ve needed them in heaven”, etc
  • Accuse Job of sin

At the church I attend, Niceville Assembly of God, our Foc[US] statement addresses our desire to NOT be an Eliphaz…

Our commitment to love, acceptance, and forgiveness allows God to bring people to wholeness through restoration and spiritual formation.

Eliphaz was trying to bring Job to wholeness. While his intentions may have been to help, he actually did more to push him down than lift him up. All Job needed was someone to grieve with him. God and God alone is the only one who can bring us to wholeness.

As I bring this post to a close, my prayer is that I never become an Eliphaz to you as we take this journey. The fear of making that mistake could have kept me from starting the journey. But with the urging of the Holy Spirit, I stepped out on faith! My desire is to encourage you and lift you up in your relationship with Jesus Christ!

Blessings!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Job 8:1 through Job 11:20

Pass Me the Duct Tape—Matthew 12:36-37

October 5, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Choices, Luke, Mark, Matthew, speaking God's Words, Spiritual Disciplines, The Power of Words with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Luke 8:1-3, Mark 3:20-230, Matthew 12:22-45, Mark 3:31-35, Matthew 12:46-50, Luke 8:19-21, Mark 4:1-9, Matthew 13:1-9, Luke 8:4-8, Mark 4:10-20

And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.  The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you. Matthew 12:36-37

Every idle word…

Lord help me!  I’m in trouble.  Where’s the duct tape?

I looked up the word “idle” in Word Studies in the New Testament hoping for a reprieve, but none was to be found…

Idle (ἀργὸν). The word is compounded of ἀ, not, and ἔργον, work. An idle word is a nonworking word; an inoperative word. It has no legitimate work, no office, no business, but is morally useless and unprofitable.

Friends, Jesus wasn’t just talking about profanity, He was talking about gossip, criticism, whining, complaining, etc; anything that isn’t adding value to people’s lives.

Let’s look at the context in which this verse is written (Matthew 12:22-37).

Jesus was getting it from all sides:

  • The crowds were following Him everywhere; He couldn’t get enough time to Himself to grab a bite to eat
  • His family was trying to pull Him away from the crowds saying, “He’s out of his mind”
  • The teachers of religious law were saying He was possessed by Satan

When the teachers accused Jesus of being possessed by Satan He took great offense, not because they were doubting Him, but because they were speaking against the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit; which the religious leaders should have recognized.  Jesus gave a timeless warning that had grave consequences against speaking against the power of the Holy Spirit.

It was in this serious setting that Jesus warned us about idle words.  He prefaced His warning with a word picture, which was the common way to communicate in Jewish culture.

A tree is identified by its fruit.  If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. –Matthew 12:33

If our heart is good our words will be good.  If our heart is bad our words will be bad.

In Jesus’ day the only words they dealt with were spoken words; very few people could write. Fast forward 2,000 years…how many words to you speak, write, type, or text in a 24 hour period?

Before you run to the garage and get your duct tape, remember Jesus sees and know our heart, so even if we keep our “idle” words from coming out, we’re still accountable for them.

What can we do about our idle words?

Don’t focus on the words…

Focus on getting your heart tuned into the Holy Spirit; ask Him to create in you a clean heart (Psalm 51:10) and your words will follow.

Heavenly Father, we want our words and our heart to be pleasing to You.  Lord, You made us, You know our human failings. Please forgive us when we fail; speak loudly to us when we do.  We say with David, create in us a clean heart.  Jesus, make us like You!

In Your Holy Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

 
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Matthew 13:10-23, Luke 8:9-18, Mark 4:21-29, Matthew 13:24-30, Mark 4:30-34, Matthew 13:31-52, Mark 4:35-41, Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25

When Everything You’ve Hoped for is Lost—Lamentations 3:18-26

August 27, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Depression, Encouragement, Jeremiah, Lamentations, The Power of Words, Word of God with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Lamentations 2:1 through Lamentations 4:22

Hope is a powerful force.  When you have hope you can do the physically and mentally impossible, but when hope is gone you turn into an emotionless shell that just exists.

Most of my life I’ve been a person  full of hope. I love to plan and think about the future.  I’ve never spend a lot of time on the past; I’d rather dream about things to come.

EXCEPT

In a few

DARK and DESPERATE TIMES

When hope was lost

Times

When everything I had dreamed about and everything I thought I was supposed to be, was gone, seemingly forever.  In these times I knew what Solomon meant when he said in Proverbs 13:12 that hope deferred makes the heart sick.

Jeremiah knew how I felt and he knew how you feel:

I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!” The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.  I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. –Lamentations 3:18-20

When we reach a place in life where we don’t expect or believe things will get any better…

What do we do?

We do what Jeremiah did; we talk to ourselves.

“Self-talk” is a term psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, coaches and trainers use every day.  Just like most successful life skills, self-talk originated in the Bible.

Self-Talk is our internal dialogue, our thoughts. It is those thoughts, positive or negative, that end up shaping our lives, and results in the decisions we make, personally, professionally and spiritually.

The most important voice we will ever hear other than the voice of God is our own voice.  What we say to ourselves will either cause us to rise above life’s trials and tribulations or fall beneath the weight of them.

Jeremiah spent 20 verses venting, complaining, and laying his feelings on the table; then in verse 21 he grabbed himself by the collar, actually they didn’t have collars then :-) , and used one of the great eraser words--

Yet

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:  The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.   Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. –Lamentations 3:21-26  (emphasis mine)

Friends, we need to fight like Jeremiah to preserve our hope. When everyone says there’s no hope, we must say to ourselves, “No matter what the circumstances look like, I will hope in God!”  This is one of the few things in life that no one can take away from us, but we can give it away, if we’re not careful.

In Psalms 42 and 43, David said to himself three times:

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!

Psalms 42:11


Heavenly Father, help us to grasp the importance of our thoughts and our words.  Help us to daily work with You and not against You as we think and speak.  Holy Spirit, show us the thoughts and words that aren’t pleasing to You.  Teach us how use the weapon of self-talk to win the battle for our hope.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:Lamentations 5:1-22; Obadiah 1:1-21; 2 Kings 25:22-26; Jeremiah 40:7 through Jeremiah 41:18

A Lesson in Body Image from an “R” Rated Bible Study

June 4, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Depression, Divorce, Issues Women Face, Marriage, Rejection, The Power of Words with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Song of Songs 1:1 through 8:14

The Song of Songs, also called the Song of Solomon, is a collection of love poems between a husband and wife, with occasional sections attributed to friends or relative who share in the couple’s happiness.  There’s a great debate over what this book focuses on how it should be interpreted.

Is it simply a great lyric love poem?

Or is it intended to tell us something about God?

If it does not speak of God, then why would it be included in the Scriptures?

I’m definitely not going to attempt to answer these questions, but there is a very simple thought that came to mind as I blushed my way through Solomon’s “Song of Songs!”

I noticed as I read each verse; there’s a lot of talk from both the husband and the wife about each other’s physical features:  eyes, hair, teeth, smile, lips, cheeks, neck, breasts, heart, head, arms, body, legs, posture, mouth, sandaled feet, rounded thighs, naval, and nose.

But, there was one word missing:

Perfect

In today’s world we think that our body parts both individually and collectively have to be “perfect” or they’re somehow ugly.  We didn’t get that from the most romantic book in the Bible. This couple pointed out every wonderful detail about each other. We, in the 21st century, spend so much time grieving over not being perfect and trying to fix “stuff” that we miss the simple beauty of God’s creation when we look in the mirror.  Yes, guys, I’m talking to you too!

I hope you enjoyed today’s romantic poetry.  Maybe you should read it together with your husband or wife!  If you’re not married, I think you better not!!!  :-)

Don’t miss this video!  We are perfect just the way we are!

YouTube Preview Image

Thanking God for you!

 

 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 Kings 11: 1-43; 2 Chronicles 9: 29-31; Ecclesiastes 1:1 through 1: 11

BEWARE: What’s In Your Heart WILL Come Out of Your Mouth!

May 7, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Christian Living, Failure, Giving Our Best to God, God Speaks today, Holiness, leadership, Psalms, righteous living, Sin, speaking God's Words, The Power of Words, Word of God with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Psalms 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21

David speaking to the Lord:

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.

14 May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  –Psalm 19: 12-14

In this Psalm it seems as though David said everything that every human being trying to live for God has thought at one time or another.

It is comforting to me to pray this Psalm to my God.

You see, I have a problem; I tend to think I’m better than I am.

Don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of things that bug me about me, but I know that some of the things that bug me don’t bug my Lord and some of the things that don’t bug me really bug my Lord.

The problem is Satan, my spiritual enemy distracts me with silly things so I don’t notice the heart things—the hidden faults.

I’m worried about check lists:  Daily Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, etc. and my heavenly Father is looking to see why I am doing those things— He goes straight to the heart!

If my heart isn’t right it doesn’t matter how much I read, pray, or go to church—it’s the “why” that counts.

The interesting thing about the way God wired us is– what’s in our heart WILL eventually come out of our mouth.  David knew this and prayed for both to be pleasing to God.  So the lesson for us is:

  • If you don’t like what’s coming out of your mouth check your heart
  • If you’re controlling your mouth but have sin in your heart; watch out, it will come out when you’re least expecting it

In Psalm 119: 9-11, an unknown psalmist (it sure sounds like David to me) gave us instructions to keep our heart pure:

How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word.
I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Heavenly Father, we don’t want to be controlled by sin.  We  join with David and ask you to show us our hidden sins and faults.  We want a pure heart; continue to draw us to Your Word.  Help us to treasure Your word and read it, meditate on it, memorize it, and talk about it so that we might not sin against You!

Thank you Lord for speaking through Your Word!

 

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

 

Do You Have a Spirit of Absalom? 2 Samuel 15:32-38

April 28, 2012 in 2 Samuel, 2012 Journey, Christian Living, Forgiveness, leadership, Rejection, The Power of Words with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  2 Samuel 15:1 through 17:14

Today’s reading is not just another day in the life of David and his dysfunctional family.

The story of Absalom is a story that stands as a warning to all of us.  For every leader in any organization there are usually one or two subordinates or under-leaders who think they could do a better job than their leader.

Absalom…

  • bought a chariot and horses
  • Hired 50 bodyguards
  • Got up early and went to the gate of the city
  • Told people that David didn’t have anyone to hear their case
  • “Appeared” to be humble
  • Stole the hearts of the people
  • Had time for them
  • Stirred up a rebellion against his father, King David

He literally devised a plan to steal the kingdom from his father David.

What happened to Absalom to cause him to betray his own father?

  • Offense
  • Hatred
  • Unforgiveness
  • Bitterness

Have you ever been deceived by an Absalom?

It has happened to me.

While suffering at the hand of an Absalom is a tough pill to swallow, there is something worse—being an Absalom.

The next time you find yourself working in a team atmosphere where there’s an appointed leader, watch your self-talk (the thoughts that are going through your head).

Are you thinking things like…

  • This person isn’t that great of a leader
  • This person is insensitive to the needs of the people
  • I could do a much better job leading this team

Let’s go one step further; what are you saying to the other folks on your team or in your organization?

Does it sound anything like Absalom’s words in 2 Samuel 15: 32-38?

  • You really have a strong case here
  • It’s too bad the King doesn’t have anyone to hear it
  • I wish I were the judge
  • Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgement
  • I would give them real justice

Someone with an Absalom spirit is the under-leader with hidden agendas who eventually draws away disciples unto himself. An “Absalom” is the wolf in sheep’s clothing who steals sheep for his own gain.

This “spirit of Absalom” is rooted in pride.

I can’t believe how a five-letter word:  P-R-I-D-E can cause so many problems.  There is so much deception going on in this type of situation, but the person who is deceived the most is the “Absalom.”  He or she thinks their heart is right.

Friends, let’s make a commitment to check our motives daily.

Why are we saying what we’re saying?

Are we trying to elevate ourselves and put someone else down?

One of Satan’s greatest tools is the spirit of offense which he uses to breed disloyalty and rebellion.

Here’s a great motto to write on the walls of our hearts:

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.  –Author unknown

Thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit who shines a light in the crooks and corners of my heart!  Help me to always repent quickly and turn from my sins.

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

 

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 17: 15-29; Psalm 3; Psalm 63, 2 Samuel 18: 1 through 19:30

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