“So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day” (I Kings 12:12).

The decision of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, would break or unite the kingdom that God brought together under the headship of David and Solomon. What would he do?

Rehoboam met with the older elders and then with the younger group, his peers. Who would he listen to? He didn’t listen to God who was above. Instead of turning to a multitude of counselors–he listened to his peers–he already knew what he would answer the people of Israel when they returned the third day.

If the decision does not lead by serving, to lighten the loads that people carry, and that which takes us to the throne of God, then it is a bad decision. The king used his people to build his agenda which resulted in a divided people and nation.

The Lord Jesus grew up with the people. He served them, loved them, and lifted their loads by taking the heavier loads. A leader leads by serving, asking God, and leaning upon Him no matter the cost.

Are you leading by serving or leading by selfishness? We are all leaders but the question is “How are we leading?” A true servant puts himself last while a selfish leader desires his desires.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

 

Why do we give? Is it because it is traditional, seasonal, or even promotional? God gave because He loves us and He desires to meet a need. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves–He forgave us and washed away our sin and guilt. We should give to others because we love and we desire to meet a need.

 

How do we give? We give according to our means. We don’t break the bank. Also, we should plan what we give ahead of time. It should be thoughtfully and joyfully given. Your presentation of the gift reflects a part of you and your love for them.

 

What do we give? When we give we do according to how well we know the recipient. What are their likes, needs, and experiences? Will the gift match them? It takes thought and contemplation to find the right gift for the right person.

 

How do we receive a gift? Remember that our relationship to the giver is more important than the gift. We should be thankful and appreciative for the thoughtfulness, effort, and cost of the gift. We should receive the gift with a humble attitude. After the gift is opened expressing gratitude sincerely is appropriate and right.

 

There are some gifts that cost little in monetary value. It could be to keep the children for an evening, helping a neighbor clean their house, taking someone to the doctor, helping to fix a dripping sink, etc. God blesses those who give and He enables all to give.

 

A New Start

“For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Paul went through much of living in a culture that was antagonistic toward Christ. So many problems came and went against him, trouble on every side of him, problems that pressed hard against him, and yet he learned the secret of contentment.

Look at yourself in the mirror. Tell me what you see? I see in the mirror a man who is aging and breaking down externally. But, again,  take a look in the mirror of the Word. What do you see? Do you see the eternal springing up within you, the everlasting joy that comes from looking away from the obvious to the real?

Paul did not faint because he kept his eyes on the eternal and the internal. His daily focus was disciplined upon Christ and His Word. He learned that the outward things were temporal and could be discouraging. The things not seen were eternal and were an eternal weight of glory. What is discouragement? It is a temporary loss of perspective.

Focus on that which is unseen, the truths you know in your heart, for it is that truth that is a reality. We need to focus on the inner man. Life is passing us by. We have the opportunity to focus on the eternal and internal daily for the next 364 days of the year.

“They will be called oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3, ESV). The King of Babylon had a bad night. And because he had a bad night everyone else was going to have one as well. He was confused about the dream he had. He did not understand it. The King’s advisers were stunned. They were asked to give the details of the dream and the meaning of it. How could they do this? Only the gods could’ve revealed what the King dreamed. Daniel was neither flummoxed (confused) or flabbergasted (stunned). He had FAITH in the living God. Daniel asked for an appointment with the King. He would reveal to the King what God would reveal to him (Daniel 2:16). Daniel asked to meet before he knew the dream and the interpretation of it. Now that is faith. That is counterintuitive courage. I will tell you the truth, I am flummoxed and flabbergasted.  How could this young man have been so sure? Daniel wasn’t stalling for time, he was asking for a time to meet with the King! The fact of the faith is this: Daniel knew who his God was and what He could do. Daniel was soaked and steeped in the sovereignty of God. Faith like that was not built overnight; it began somewhere and at some place. Here is what I want us to take from this lesson. Maturity is a slow process and so is the development of faith. But sometimes God breaks the mold and works swiftly in a man. But for the most of us, faith comes slowly, just as slowly as to the oak tree. But growth does come. Daniel knew God and so can you. God planted His seed in you when you were born again. Allow it to grow. Trust and obey for there is no other way.

“…for by works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16c). “…for in thy sight shall no man living be justified” (Psalm 143:2). Our Lord suffered in His death for our disobedience. In His life His obedience to the law was perfect. Since the Law was perfect (revealing the heart and mind of God), it says that any who break it is condemned to death. Jesus Christ is and was the only One who ever obeyed all points of the law perfectly and obediently. All that is required of us to be justified, therefore, is to acknowledge our sin and helplessness. We are to repent of our life of self-assertion and self-righteousness, and to put our whole trust and confidence in the finished work of Christ to save us. Faith in Jesus Christ is more than intellectual consent only, but personal commitment. We believe “into” Christ Jesus. It is through faith we are justified. The law kills but faith in Christ makes alive. “For it is through the law I die to the law, so that I might live to God” (Gal. 2:19). The law slays but Christ saves. So we have no good works we can do to earn justification. Because the works we do, under the law, only condemn us to death; while faith in Christ bypasses the law of condemnation for us but trusts in Christ who died according to the law for us, who did not bypass the law but died our death’s penalty. Salvation is an act of committal, not just assenting to the fact that Jesus Christ lived and died, but running to Him for refuge and calling unto Him for His mercy. Justification is not only a legal fact when we are saved in Christ, whereby we are declared righteous by a holy God; it is also a transforming experience through a living identification with Christ.  By union with Christ we are radically transformed; we can no longer go back to our old life, for in Christ we are “a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). We are saved by the faith of Christ: past, present, and future.