Jan 16

Ravens and Lilies

Living in Christ Comments Off

Luke 12:24-29

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For the past few days, I was directed towards these verses by the Spirit of God. The Lord God who cares for the ravens and lilies, how much more should His care for man and woman be? He created us in His own image. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”. Should I or anyone of us fret about anything? Absolutely NOT! I Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Let us cast all our care upon Him for He cares for us more than we can care for ourselves! He who formed us in the palm of His hands, with His precious fingers and bought us with the highest price on the Cross of Calvary will certainly cherish in His most important creation, YOU and ME. Here I render my heart to you alone and surrender myself wholly to your care, my Jesus. Last night I was immensely blessed by the visit of my cousin’s husband Mr. Enoch Era and he sang a beautiful song in my native language Telugu just on the verses above. Truly His care for us is not to be undermined.

Ravens, the fowls of the air neither sow nor reap, neither have storehouses nor barn but they are fed by God. We are far better than the fowls in God’s eyes. In fact we are given the dominion over this fowls of the air (Genesis 1:26). We cannot even add a cubit to our stature; then why even take a thought for the rest?

Lilies, the flowers of the field, neither toil nor spin but how wonderfully we see them grow. King Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these lilies. The splendor of the lilies was greater than that of King Solomon’s. If God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and withers tomorrow, how much more will He clothe us? Let us keep up our faith and trust the Lord wholeheartedly. Let us not entertain an iota of doubt when it comes to trusting God.

Next: Michal – Part III

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Nov 20

Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon

Queens in the Bible Comments Off

I Kings 10:6-7

And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

Queen of Sheba was a wealthy queen who traveled all the way to Jerusalem to test King Solomon’s wisdom. She came not empty handed but with a train of camels that carried spices, gold and precious stones for King Solomon (I Kings 10:2). This is similar to the wise men of the east that came to see Jesus after his birth following the star in the east all the way to Bethlehem of Judah (Matthew 2:1-2). Queen of Sheba came to Israel following the outstanding report that she heard of King Solomon. She who was King Solomon’s equal heard of him concerning the God of Israel. She wondered if all that was told about him was true. She arrived personally to test the King’s wisdom and to hear his words of wisdom. She chose to commune with a godly man and to experience the truth herself. In doing so, she was bountifully blessed and in return blessed King Solomon. Out of royal generosity the King granted Queen Sheba what she requested and much more. What she returned with to her royal kingdom was not just material gifts but something that no man can ever steal from her… WISDOM!

King Solomon told her of everything and concealed nothing from Her Majesty. She personally witnessed the wisdom of the King, the house he had built, the meat at his table, the positioning of his servants around the table, the attendance of his ministers, their apparel, his cupbearers, and his ascension to the house of the Lord. She was so amazed that there was no more spirit in her. What is to be noted is that the queen surveyed King Solomon’s glory and the wisdom with which he ruled his kingdom and his passion to worship the Lord God by offering sacrifices. A gentile queen was thoroughly impressed by the King of Israel. She said that the report she heard in her own land of King Solomon was not even half of what she saw. She further added that King Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity exceeded the fame which she heard. The report of the queen after seeing with her own eyes surpassed what she heard. She was convinced about King Solomon’s wisdom and nobility that her report simply authenticated her conviction. May God transform our lives so that our lives reflect His divine wisdom and glory so that people around us truly testify of our faith! 

Remember, the people around you are watching you to see if you walk the talk of a Christian. You represent Christ’s Kingdom and His glory. Your life is a living testimony of Lord Jesus Christ and you are a light in the dark world. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” King Solomon represented his Lord by his divine wisdom which was talked about widely that this fell in the Queen of Sheba’s ears. She came to witness this wisdom personally. Are you a true witness of Jesus Christ that the words spoken about you depict your passion for the Lord?

Queen of Sheba chose to commune with a man of God and was awestruck by what she saw with her own eyes. How much more will you be satisfied when you commune with Jesus Christ? His divine wisdom will freely flow into you and your face will shine with His glory. The people around you will see you and praise the God you trust. May our lives exemplify the one in whom we trust and by whom we are sustained and of whom we boast about!

Tomorrow: Ruth at the Feet of Boaz till Morning

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Nov 09

Bathsheba, the Wife of Uriah

Women in the Lineage of Christ Comments Off

II Samuel 11:1-4, 27

 1And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
27And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

I have heard many preachers mention that “David was a man after God’s own heart” and “David was a man of war”. What confirms that David was a man of war is the verse from I Chronicles 22:8: “ But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.” In other words, David’s son King Solomon was to build the temple in Jerusalem because David was a man of war. II Samuel 11:1 says that David at this one point in his life did not go to war and instead sent Joab, his servants and all of Israel. Joab and the men destroyed Ammon and besieged Rabbah. While the nation of Israel was celebrating the great victory, King David committed a great sin by staying home and not going to war. David’s one gift was to wage a war and bring victory to Israel. This time he failed to wage a war against the Satan and yielded to temptation and committed a sin.

In the evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of his house. While taking a walk he noticed a beautiful woman washing herself. He was immediately filled with lust for her. He enquired who she was and got to know that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah, the Hittite. David sent messengers to her and committed the adulterous act. Bathsheba sent a word to King David saying she was with a child. When Uriah returned from war, David met up with Uriah and requested him to go to his home to be with his wife. Uriah did not go back to his home and rested in his bed with the servants of King David.

David came up with an evil plan and sent a note to Joab to set Uriah at the forefront in the tough battle where the valiant men were, so that Uriah would be killed. Joab followed King David’s plan and Uriah, the Hittite died. After a time of mourning by Bathsheba for Uriah, David sent for Bathsheba and took her to his wife. This act displeased the Lord God.

God sent Prophet Nathan to warn King David and to bring him to the knowledge of repentance. Nathan ministers to David’s heart by narrating a story and David immediately realized how great a sin he had committed. II Samuel 12:13 says, “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”

King David and Bathsheba had a child but God struck the child with sickness. Although David pleaded God for this child, the child died on the seventh day. Later God blessed King David and Bathsheba with a son who was the wisest King of Israel, King Solomon. God forgave King David for he repented of his sin and sought God’s forgiveness. My post from October 13, 2009, “Broken Spirit and a Contrite Heart” speaks on Psalm 51 that King David wrote immediately after committing this sin in his life. God accepted King David’s prayer and saw his broken spirit and a contrite heart and blessed him later. Thus Bathsheba too was blessed afterwards.

In Matthew 1 where the genealogy of Christ is mentioned we see a reference to Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah who later was the wife of King David. Matthew 1:6 says, “And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;” God did not choose Michal, King Saul’s daughter who was the wife of King David or Abigail or any other of King David’s wives but He chose Bathsheba with whom King David had committed adultery. God blessed Bathsheba because of King David’s wholehearted repentance. God chose a vessel of dishonor to make it honorable in His sight for His glory. God’s heart is after the people who break open their hearts and seek His forgiveness with humble hearts.

If any of you are suffering because of a hidden sin in your life, step out to the Lord God with a humble heart and seek His forgiveness and receive His mighty blessings. It is time now to be cleansed of all the spots and specks on your heart. He blots out all our transgressions and sets us free. You will be a mighty blessing to many souls that yearn for the true love of God. This true love was exhibited for you and me on the Holy Cross of Calvary by Jesus of Nazareth through whom our hearts will be made as white as snow.

Tomorrow: Little Servant Girl with a Mighty Blessing

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