In the Valley of Elah

There were three minds at work long ago in the Valley of Elah. I Samuel 17 tells of the armies of Israel prepared for battle against the armies of Phillistia. The quick version begins with Saul cowering as Goliath challenges while young David brings his brothers lunch. It proceeds to Saul watching as Goliath laughs while David fits a stone into his sling. It ends with Saul cheering as Goliath crumbles and David cuts off the head of the enemy.

Spiritual insight reveals three types of trust that were at work.

1. Saul had a Trust No One type of faith. Due to recent disobedience, Saul feared confrontation. Samuel had prophesied that the kingdom would be taken away from him because he had offered a sacrifice instead of waiting for the man of God. So Saul was hounded with fears and plagued with insecurity. The results -- he wouldn't fight.

2. Goliath had a Trust in Himself type of faith. Nine feet tall, all muscle, covered in armour, carrying a spear and a sword; Goliath was ready for whatever (Or so he thought). He cursed at the Israelites, even talked about their God, and all they could do was send out a boy!! Goliath was secure in the belief that he was more skilled, more prepared, more experienced and therefore more deserving of victory. Boy was he wrong. The results -- he literally lost his head.

3. David had a Trust in God type of faith. Past victories over a bear and a lion convinced David that God was with him. He was so convinced that he discarded Saul's arms and armour, went out with his shepherds gear and announced his holy intentions to Goliath. You know the rest. Goliath was defeated and Israel was victorious because David believed God for the incredible. Faith is the victory.

"And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his father's sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. And David said, Jehovah that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah shall be with thee (I Sam. 17:34-35)."

Next time you are in the 'valley' rely on the strength of God as you fight the good fight of faith.

35th Annual Southeastern Regional Lectureship

Thanks to Brother Stephens for sending this info. Looks like a great event in Durham, hosted by the Southside Church of Christ.

I’m Going! And I’m bringing the Thomas with me too.

For more info and registration forms go to-http://www.sside.org/files/35thAnnualSoutheasternRegionalPacket_Final.pdf




Update: Lectureship was great. Thanks Durham. Southside Church of Christ gets the job done. I even got a chance to participate. Expositionally, that is.

Celebrate to Emulate

We become what we worship. This is a principle of life. The people you admire, respect and esteem the most have qualities you wish to embrace. Sometimes this is good and sometimes not so good. A few times it is outright wrong. We need to be careful who we worship or celebrate.

This is why worshipping the Lord is essential. It is a celebration of God. We sing and pray in recognition and rehearsal of His great acts, lovingkindness and awesome glory. We clap our hands in applause; we lift our voices in songs of cheer at the incomparable majesty of God. We ask for blessings like a fan ask for autographs. We bring the gifts of our first fruits, tithes and offerings. We even get to hear Him speak to us, and tell us the secrets of life.

Something happens in this celebration, or rather, something should happen. As we celebrate God for who He is and what He has done, we are transformed into His image. Not an image of physical features of course, but the image of His character, the likeness of how He is, the semblance of what He does. This is what worship is for. We can Celebrate God in order to Emulate God. We become Godly by embracing the character and the likeness that we adore so much.

In fact, to do otherwise is a mockery of worship.

What sense would it make to;
- Thank God for loving you sacrificially, and then get into a fight over $20 with your sister?
- Praise God for His perfect holiness, and then pollute yourself with your iniquity of choice?
- Applaud God for His awesome works, and then laze back on the couch until next Sunday?
- Confess to God for His grace and mercy, and then hold a grudge for someone looking at you the wrong way?

If we celebrate Him we must emulate Him. True worship transforms the worshipper into that which He worships. Therefore, worship God for a change.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18).”