“For He spoke, and it was done.  He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Psalm 33:9)

Most people, at some point, will question why things are the way they are.  It is almost inevitable that with the inquisitive minds God has given us, we as humans are drawn to why rules exist.  From the scientific laws of the natural world to the laws of ethics laid down in Scripture – we have questions.

Having questions isn’t unhealthy.  It is part of what makes us human and even necessary at times if we desire to take dominion of this world as God has commanded us to, but all avenues of questioning lead to the same destination.  God is why.  God is why the world works the way it does.  God is why certain things are right and certain things are wrong.  He speaks, and it is done.  We can no more change the rules of the Bible than we can change the laws of physics.

The Bible tells us the way things are.  It isn’t proposing an option for how to live your life; it is describing how life is.  It is because God made it so, and His Word endures forever.

This Week’s Reading: 2 Samuel 3-12; Psalm 33; Proverbs 2 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“From His dwelling place, He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.” (Psalm 33:14-15)

Every action has a cause, and in the case of humans, that means every choice we make has a reason behind it.  The God who made our hearts also sees our works and understands the reasons behind them.

A life well-lived is both full of good works (see Ephesians 2:10) and righteous intention (Hebrews 4:12).  If we feed the poor and seek the well-being of the oppressed, but do so to be seen as altruistic – we have our reward in full.

The best actions are done with pure motives, and that often means doing them when no one else is watching.

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 in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:3-4)

This Week’s Reading: 2 Samuel 3-12; Psalm 33; Proverbs 2 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Is there anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1)

Jonathan had been a righteous friend in some of David’s darkest hours.  David could never repay Jonathan for the kindness he had shown him over the years when he fled in the wilderness like a flea, and by the time David became king, Jonathan had died.

So, what did David do?  He sought an opportunity to help someone who couldn’t help themselves, just like Jonathan had done for him.

If you want to make the world a better place, a more godly place, and let Jesus shine through you… go about doing good where you can, when you can, and fill whomever’s needs are right in front of you.

“And He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.’ ” (Mark 9:35)

This Week’s Reading: 2 Samuel 3-12; Psalm 33; Proverbs 2

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.’” (2 Samuel 5:2)

         To rule as a godly king meant to shepherd.  Ruler and shepherd are used synonymously.  Throughout the Bible, we are given a reoccurring picture of what God wants leadership to look like, and all leadership should look like shepherding.

         From fathers to upper management to little league coaches, the biblical model for leadership looks like taking care of sheep.  You lead by example and the sheep follow.  You keep track of the sheep and search for them when they get lost or off track.  You understand the sheep so that when they are ill or lame, you notice and mend their wounds.  You watch out for the wolves and fight them off with rabid intensity because the sheep matter to you.

         From the home to the local church to the Chief Shepherd, Christianity is meant to change the idea of what leading looks like.  Shepherds are sacrificial authority figures, not manipulative ones.

This Week’s Reading: 2 Samuel 3-12; Psalm 33; Proverbs 2 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.” (2 Samuel 5:12)

         There came a day when David realized everything he had been promised had actually happened.  He was living the dream that seemed so distant and impossible during his childhood years as a shepherd or the long days of exile.  Here he was – king of Israel.  He had the crown, the prestige, the power, and the wealth.  His enemies feared him, and his subjects adored him.

         And what was David’s conclusion?  God had done this.  David’s response to success was gratitude and a sense of duty.  David thanked God for establishing his kingdom, and he acknowledged that being king wasn’t about him; it was for the sake of God’s people.

         Power equals responsibility.  David is the anti-Nebuchadnezzar.  His response to the throne was to give thanks and get to work.  May we do the same when presented with seasons of prosperity.

This Week’s Reading: 2 Samuel 3-12; Psalm 33; Proverbs 2

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.” (2 Samuel 1:24)

A friend recently introduced me to a new word – hagiography.  Hagiography is the practice of writing about someone without revealing their flaws.  In some instances, this can be disingenuous – for example: if you tell stories about yourself where you are always the hero and others are the villians.

However, there is a time to hide the flaws of others and present them as the best version of themselves to others.  Proverbs 17:9 tells us that “whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.”

In David’s lament over Saul, he gives a hagiographic portrayal of the man. Saul was a deeply-flawed king who had made David’s life miserable, but in an act of quiet rebellion against hate, David covers over Saul’s offenses and focuses on the best part of the man.  To see the best in people is hard at times, but it is what those who seek love do.  If David could write Saul’s hagiography, perhaps we can do the same for our enemies, too.

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25-31; 2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 32; Proverbs 1 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.” (Psalm 32:3)

Living a double-life has consequences.  The cost of upholding an inauthentic exterior is a groaning and dying interior.  We aren’t meant to be two people living in one body – your soul can’t handle that sort of hypocrisy without being torn up by it.

But sincerity requires us to choose God or choose to leave Him.  No more hiding our faults, no more deception, and no more pretending we aren’t flawed, messy people who need forgiveness.  Expose our sin and free our soul to seek God… the darkness and deception will drown you.

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25-31; 2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 32; Proverbs 1 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you.” (Psalm 32:9)

How could an all-powerful and all-good God allow evil in this world?  Simply put – because He refuses to treat us like animals and force us to be good.  At the core of our humanity is the freedom to choose goodness, and that carries with it the freedom to refuse goodness.

If we were animals, He would force us to do what and go where He wills… but we aren’t – we are humans, and that is a much messier business than simply guiding by force.  Goodness must be chosen, not coerced.

“…that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.” (Philemon 1:14)

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25-31; 2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 32; Proverbs 1 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.  For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.” (Proverbs 1:31-32)

Naivety and complacency seem like such docile words.  This is likely the case because both words refer to being passive.

A naïve person is passive in their acquisition of knowledge.  They don’t know better and aren’t striving to rectify their ignorance.

A complacent person is passive in their behavior.  They are not actively malevolent or unkind, but they lack hustle and the discipline to get done what they know they ought to.

Naivety is understandable in a child, but when an adult remains that way, it becomes a willful decision.  Complacency may sound polite, but it is just a euphemism for laziness.  These sins, like all sins, have consequences.  If you don’t know better and do better, then you fail to be what you ought.  Life is short – be active.

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25-31; 2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 32; Proverbs 1 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5)

Never, ever stop learning.  Surround yourself with wise people who will challenge you, challenge your views, and force you to articulate why you are who you are.  Reasonable people reason over things and are noble-minded enough to examine evidence that threatens their current lifestyle.

False teachers and corrupt leaders cannot strong-arm churches that are full of reasoning Christians, thinking through their faith.  Satan cannot overthrow faith that has been pinioned deeply into the Scriptures by free-thinking saints.

“Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25-31; 2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 32; Proverbs 1 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision