GFB Christian Blog

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting, "I'm saved"
I'm whispering, "I get lost!"
"That is why I chose this way"

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride
I'm confessing that I stumble,
and need someone to be my guide

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong,
I'm professing that I'm weak,
and pray for strength to carry on

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success,
I'm admitting that I've failed,
and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
my flaws are way too visible
but God believes I'm worth it

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek His Name

When I say ... "I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority,
I only know I'm loved!

- Carol Wimmer


So Be proud of being a Christian!

"David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod. So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres. And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart." 1 Chron. 15:27-29

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Devotional Thought For The Day
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We must get past the issue that Michal raised in regard to this celebration. There were problems in this first marriage of David, to the daughter of Saul. The dynamics of power had changed - at first Michal was the royal daughter and David a mere servant of the king. After the defeat of Saul and his death at the hands of the Philistines, David became king. Now, he was the royalty and Michal belonged only by marriage. Further, David had taken other wives while he was on the run from Saul, and after his establishment as King we read that "David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David." [2 Sam. 5:13] This could only have added more salt to the already deteriorated relationship - and apparently Michal had become quite embittered. She not only despised David in her heart but pronounced the same to him - and the divorce was not formal but real [see 2 Same. 6:20-23].

Joy in the LORD contrasted with such bitterness of heart. Celebration at the entrance of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, the new capital of Israel and a rising world power, versus jealousy, despising, hatred, and malice. That Michal chose not to be part of the great celebration is revealing. But I suspect that we have all experienced the same on some occasion - when we are celebrating something and another person's hardened heart spills out its anger, vitriol, and hatred toward us. They think that they are identifying something untoward in us; but they are really revealing their own darkness of heart. Such occasions can permanently seal a relationship in antagonism and animosity. This is why we must take care not to allow anger, jealousy, envy, wrath, and malice to have any permanent residence in our hearts.

What of the nature of this celebratory worship - the dancing, the instruments, the great procession? Is this not what the gracious mercy, forgiveness, kindness, and love of God inspire in the hearts of believers? It was the Ark of the Covenant, with the mercy seat, that was coming into Jerusalem. This was the center focal point of faith, and for the blessings that come with faith, in Old Testament times. It was the promise and assurance of God's presence, His blessings, His forgiveness, His mercy, His eternal love for His dear people of faith. Remember that Jesus Christ is closely associated with the Ark, being described in the New Testament as both the "mercy seat" and the "blood of atonement" sprinkled on the mercy seat. The whole celebration centered in the glorious Gospel of God's gracious mercy, forgiveness, and covenant of eternal, unconditional love.

Although we are celebrating the same things in our worship - especially in the communion with Christ's body and blood, we tend to be quite a bit more somber and reserved. Perhaps David was also more reserved in worship after this reminder from Michal of the dire reality of human sin and wretchedness. We are well aware of our own continuing struggles with sin and darkness, our need for deep repentance and forgiveness. We also see the conditions which prevail in the world around us, and this is cause for grave sorrow. However, "where sin abounded, there grace abounded all the more" [Rom. 5:20], and "the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin." [1 Jn. 1:7] It is surely as the wise man wrote, that there is "a time to mourn, and a time to dance." [Eccl. 3:4] Perhaps we need to make sure that we do our share of dancing, lest we become like Michal, despising the joyful faith and celebration of God's love by others. So let us consider: when is it our time to dance?

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Prayer For The Day
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Dear Lord Jesus, too often we allow the reality of sin and its darkness to suppress the joy of Your salvation. We allow our own sin and guilt, and the sin of others to obscure the light of Your glorious grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation, that as You will, our joy may be full. Grant us courage to express this joy in worship, and in all of life. Amen.

We start with 1 Samuel 2:3, “Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

Next, we can read these words from Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

Turn to Matthew 5 and you will find, “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

In Romans 12:3 God says, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

And in 2 Chronicles 17 we can share, “Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.”

Let’s look at this from Deuteronomy 28:47-48, “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.”

Finally, from Exodus 22:2-3 God says, “If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.”

Are you an arrogant person? Do you know an arrogant person? How do you think you can follow God’s word with regard to arrogance? Write to me and share…

And, remember to always keep love, life and laughter in your heart and the world will smile with you.