Refreshing Humility

 

"Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. And said to him, Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel,

and I shall be next to you.

Even my father Saul knows that" (1 Samuel 23:16-17).

What a wonderful example of humility we see here in Jonathan. Being King Saul's eldest son, Jonathan was next in line to be king of Israel, yet we don't see him battling to keep his right to be king. Instead, we see him recognizing and submitting to what God is doing. I love the fact that he isn't even trying to hold onto any part of being king. He tells David, "I will be next to you", in other words, I will be your biggest defender and best support.  Jonathan doesn't demand to be co-king or vice-king, he just tells David he will serve him.

How refreshing this is for us, especially in these narcissistic times, when so much energy and time is spent on building image and status through every means possible. It seems every day a new something is revealed in social media to help you tell others about you and all the cool things you are doing. I wonder who would have more followers on Twitter, or Instagram....David or Jonathan?

We invent new titles for what we do, so as to impress.....barista (coffee maker), office administrator (secretary), flight attendant (stewardess), table host (waiter), collector of external residue (trash collector), community visionary (pastor!!). Again, how refreshing it is to see the heart of the young man Jonathan as he humbly tells David, "I will be next to you."

Of all people, we who follow Jesus ought to live in humility. In Jesus we see the greatest example of all...that God would become man! Let's be determined to live our lives free of selfish ambition, and oh, how refreshing that is.

Vigilant Prayer

"Continue earnestly in prayer,

being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;"

Colossians 4:2

I can't remember ever doing this, but I'm sure some of you have had this happen to you. You're in a conversation with someone and while the other person is speaking, a thought enters your brain or you get distracted, and stop listening. They continue to speak thinking they have your ear, but they don't, your expression may say you are listening but your attention isn't there. Then the unthinkable happens, the other person stops speaking and you realize they just asked you a question. They're waiting for an answer from you and all they get is a blank stare, because you have no clue what they asked. Of course I'm teasing when I say that I've never done that, it's happened and I've been embarrassed, and we can all agree it's a bit rude. I bring this up so that we can apply it to our conversations with God in prayer.

The Apostle Paul uses the word vigilant when speaking of our prayers for good reason. It means to be awake and watchful & to pay strict attention. If you're in prayer it's very important to be vigilant because you are in a conversation with God. Think about that for a moment, you are talking to and hearing from the God of the universe, this great privilege deserves our full attention. Even as I write this I feel conviction for the number of times I have been distracted or let my thoughts wander while praying. I cringe when I realize there are times in my prayers I've been disrespectful to my Jesus.

We all recall the apostles falling asleep in the garden when Jesus had asked them to be praying. If there was ever a time they should have been vigilant in prayer it seems it would have been that night in Gethsemane, but the weakness of their flesh got the best of them. Knowing that we all share in this same weakness, it would be wise to determine to be more serious and disciplined in prayer, giving the Lord our best time and attention. The Holy Spirit knows our weakness also, thus the command to be vigilant, for when we are strong in prayer we are strong in the Lord. When you pray, be alert and watchful!

In Due Season

"A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,

and a word spoken  in due season, how good it is."  (Proverbs 15:23)

A good farmer has the wisdom and patience to plant the right seeds during the right season so that those seeds will produce a fruitful harvest.  Of course to plant seeds during the wrong season would be a waste of seeds and would bear no fruit.

Solomon takes this simple, yet important farming principle and applies it to the spoken word.  We are first to be careful of the words we speak, then be careful when we speak those words.

As a pastor, there have been many times when I have the right words to say, I know exactly what a person needs to hear, but the Lord will stop me from speaking.  The season for planting was wrong, perhaps more plowing is needed, or softening of the heart.  Maybe the words would be more well- received coming from another.  I had good wisdom to share, but discernment said to hold that wisdom until the right season when it will bear good fruit.

Do you have something to share with your spouse, child or friend?  Pray first for the clarity and truth in what you say, then pray again for discernment as to the right season to share.  It may be that the Lord will have you hold your tongue.  If so, don't fret, trust the Lord. If this is a truth that they need to hear, God is more than able to deliver it to them when their heart is ready and it will bring forth much good fruit.