Thoughts By Scott

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

While in Sin, God does Discipline His Own

Photo by Uyen Tran

Scripture: Hosea 2:6-7b

“Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her way with thorns, And I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths. “She will pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them.

Insights: What we learn from future chapters is that Hosea actually has to go and purchase Gomer from the slave block. After he has purchased her back, he does everything he can to demonstrate his love for her. He does it through discipline. In other words, he builds up hedges with thorns to prevent her from escaping. He builds walls so that she cannot find her path back to her false lovers. I can tell you that from Gomer’s perspective she is not seeing this situation as a good thing. Rather she is seeing her freedoms being removed, and therefore, it is painful for her. We are told in Hebrews chapter twelve that the Lord disciplines those whom He loves. We are told elsewhere that discipline does not seem enjoyable at the moment, but it reaps a harvest which is for our benefit. Beloved, I know it is a hard truth to accept when you are being disciplined by the Lord, but His discipline is an expression of His love for you. Rejoice in His love and rest in it. Turn from your waywardness and walk with Him. He is the only One who truly cares unconditionally about you. I say this because His love is perfect. Let me encourage you to run to Jesus and experience Him and all His fullness.

Questions:

1. Have you experienced the discipline of the Lord lately?

2. Did His discipline lead you to the proper response of repentance?

Prayer: Father, I do not enjoy Your discipline in the moment of my sin, but the joy from the restoration is always pleasurable. Thank You for not giving up on my when I am in rebellion to You. Thank You for Your constant hand of correction. Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter. If you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to live your thoughts. Thank you.

Monday, June 6, 2016

We do NOT See Clearly while in Sin

Photo by Paul Bence

Scripture: Hosea 2:5

“For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, Who give me my bread and my water, My wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’

Insights: In today’s verse we are given a glimpse of Gomer’s life. We begin to understand the extent of her sinfulness. She has conceived children as she played the harlot and acted shamefully. At the same time we learn her sin has prevented her from seeing her situation clearly. In other words, she believes her false lovers have provided her with bread, water, wool, flax, oil and her drink. We will learn later that her provider was actually Hosea. In her sin and rebellion, however, she has accepted the deceitful lie and believes her lovers are the giver of these provisions. Beloved, whenever we get ourselves wrapped up in our own self-service, we become blinded to the truth surrounding our lives. We grow cold to the truth of the Spirit’s promptings. We start to attribute our goodness and our gifts to ourselves and our own devices. Let me encourage you to take an honest evaluation of your life. Let the Lord Himself open your eyes to your situation. If He reveals sin, then repent and turn from it. Walk in the paths of His righteousness and experience His grace. Do not be blinded any longer because of your sin. I promise you it will be the best decision you have ever made.

Questions:

1. Is there sin in your life that is preventing you from seeing clearly?

2. Are you willing to repent of your sinfulness and walk in Jesus’ righteousness which has been inputed into your life?

Prayer: Father, forgive me for my sin and rebellion. When I am in my disobedience to You and Your ways, I am incapable of seeing clearly. Take the scales of sin from my eyes and let me see Your path correctly. Amen.

Friday, June 3, 2016

In War, Some People are Emboldened

Photo by Richard deal Cruz

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:8-13

It came about on the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. They put his weapons in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men rose and walked all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Insights: Yesterday we discussed how some people lose heart because of war. There is another group, however, that becomes emboldened because of war. In other words, these people understand the cause is more important than their own lives. They see the long view of what is at stack and are willing to face an insurmountable enemy in order to do what is right. I think about the battle of the Alamo. These soldiers knew they were going to lose their lives against Santa Anna’s troops. They also knew, however, that the troops of the Texas army needed more time to converge in order to face Santa Anna’s army. So, they stood their ground at the Alamo and were emboldened to fight even harder and longer than any thought possible to give more time. The same is true in the spiritual army. There have been men like Tyndale who were emboldened to stand his ground for the advancement of the Bible. He knew the Bible needed to be printed in volume and in the language of the common people. He paid a significant price, his life, for this belief. Beloved, the only One who can embolden our spirit is the Lord God Himself. Walk resolutely with Him and draw from His strength. Watch Him do great things through you.

Questions:

1. Would others describe your character as one being emboldened by the Lord?

2. Do you desire to have that kind of reputation?

Prayer: Father, I desire to be known as a valiant warrior in Your kingdom. Strengthen my heart and embolden me to acts of courage for Your name’s sake. May my life bring You glory and honor. Amen.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

In War, Some People Lose Heart

Photo by Jessica

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:7

When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, with those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; then the Philistines came and lived in them.

Insights: Today’s verse is a very sad verse. The men of Israel left their homes and cities. They abandoned them and the Philistines came in and possessed the Israelite lands. What happened that caused this horrific result to be experienced by the children of Israel? It is my opinion that they lost heart. They became afraid of the Philistine army after hearing about the death of Saul, his sons and the troops. There have been many over the course of history who have lost heart and abandoned their position and fled from war. The same is true in the spiritual war we battle. I do not have a machine that allows me to look into a persons heart to determine if Jesus is really residing in their hearts, but there is an old adage which I believe is true. Joel Gregory was the first one who I heard state it. It went like this: Faith that Falters was Flawed from the First. In other words, if one losses heart and turns from their faith, then they were never really saved at the beginning. Now, understand, I am not talking about losing battles in the great cosmic war. There are times in which I knew the Father was wanting me to do something and I refused do so because of fear. Later on, however, I was convicted of my sinful disobedience and I repented. Then the next time a similar situation occurred, I was able to stand strong and not lose heart. What I am referencing when I speak of this old adage is those who have lost heart and turned from their faith. In other words, they abandoned their cities and allowed Satan to take them over and reside in them instead of the people. These type of people that lose heart this way, I question the fruit of their “conversion”. Beloved, it is my prayer you do not lose heart, but that you turn to the Lord and let Him strengthen your resolve.

Questions:

1. Have you lost heart?

2. What do you think would be required to strengthen your resolve?

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I lose heart. I do not wish to live a cowardly life, but so often I find myself running from the enemy and away from You. Strengthen my heart and let me feel the fear, but walk valiantly toward You. Amen.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

War is No Respecter of Person

Photo by Gianni

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:4-6

Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and pierce me through and make sport of me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it. When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him. Thus Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men on that day together.

Insights: Today I am focusing in or the death of Saul and his armor bearer, but I also want you to recall from the other day that many regular foot soldiers also lost their lives in this battle. War is no respecter of person. Saul was king and he died. His sons were princes, but they died. His armor bearer was a type of trusted slave, but he died. Then there were recruited freemen who also died. Death does not care what your status is when it comes calling during war. I showed a clip of Major Moore from the movie We Were Soldiers Sunday. In this clip Major Moore explained how there were people of many ethnicities and faiths in his particular troop, but that did not matter while they were in war. They needed to look out for the back of their fellow soldier. He challenged them to live courageous lives and to remember for what they were fighting. He went on to tell them he was was incapable of promising to bring them all back alive, but, by God’s help, he would bring them all back. This concept of war having no respecter of person is also true in the spiritual battle with which we as Christ-followers engage. Jesus died for ALL races, tribes, tongues and people groups. The Lord God is no respecter of person. All people are His creation and He loves them so much He sent His Son to die for their sins. When we get to heaven we will be worshipping with all of these people groups. We might as well get used to it right here and right now at FBC Bowling Green. We need to become a multicultural community of worshippers for Jesus. It is my prayer you will work to make this aspect of glory a reality for us at FBC Bowling Green.

Questions:

1. Do you harbor prejudices?

2. Do you understand God is no respecter of person?

Prayer: Father, forgive me for my rebellious heart. All too often I judge a person before I even have a chance to know them. The color of their skin or the quality of the economic portfolio does not change Your love for them. Help my heart to love with the same kind of genuineness. Amen.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

War has Casualties

Photo by the U.S. Army

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:2-3

The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua the sons of Saul. The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was badly wounded by the archers.

Insights: Even back in verse one we learned that many Israelites lost their lives. In today’s verses we learn that Saul’s three sons also lost their lives and Saul was badly wounded. The point I want us to remember regarding war is that there are always casualties. People die in war. Civilians die, military personnel die, the innocent die and the guilty die. Death is an aspect of war, period. Here in the United States of America our freedom was purchased with blood. To this very day, our freedom is still maintained by blood. We have foes that battle against us and they have one intent and that is to destroy our way of life. Our military forces protect these freedom here and abroad. In regards to our spiritual freedoms, we must also understand that these freedoms were also purchased with blood. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin debt. Even since Christ’s resurrection, church history has been filled with the blood of the saints. We also know from the book of Revelation the blood of the saints will be spilt throughout earthly time. As a result of Jesus’ faithfulness and the faithfulness of His children, we know we experience spiritual freedoms. I challenge you this day to reflect and be thankful for those fallen heroes who have given us the national freedom and the eternal freedom we experience every day.

Questions:

1. Have you personally known someone who has fallen in spiritual war in which we battle?

2. In what ways can you support the families of those who have become casualties in both earthly war as well as spiritual war?

Prayer: Father, thank You for those who have paid the ultimate price for the earthly and spiritual freedoms with which I experience. May I never take for granted the freedoms I have. Amen.

Monday, May 30, 2016

War is Scary

Photo by Moyan Brenn

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:1

Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

Insights: Let me make a few preliminary comments in today’s Thoughts by Scott. Normally, if I am in a sermon series, I preach right on through and do not preach a “Mother’s Day” or “Memorial Day” sermon. Last week I started a sermon series on the family from the book of Hosea and had even planned to preach that sermon yesterday. On Friday, however, I felt the Lord tell me to change my sermon for Memorial Day. The instruments the Lord used leading up to His promptings were some conversations I had had during the week. I had several people ask me, and our worship minister on Sunday morning even got asked this question, if we were going to acknowledge veterans and have them stand. I instructed our worship minister to not have them stand because this was Memorial Day Weekend, not Veterans Day Weekend. Memorial Day is to commemorate the fallen of war not the living of service. Some where, and I don’t know where, we have merged these two days together and our veterans can go to the local restaurant on Memorial Day and receive a free meal or at least a highly discounted meal. I am grateful for our living service men and women. The purpose of Memorial Day, however, is not to honor them, but their comrades in the trenches who did not make it home. As a result of this misunderstanding, I felt the Spirit prompt me to preach a sermon about Aspects of War We Need to Remember. The first aspect is found in today’s verse and that is war is scary. Notice what the Israelites did. They fled from before the Philistines. Why did they flee? The answer is they became frightened. War is a fearful aspect of this world and we ought not to forget and glamorize war. To those men and women on the front line, they experience true fear. The same is true in our spiritual warfare. Satan is a vicious foe and at times he makes the battle hot in our lives. When those times come, fear is also present. In either kind of war, let me challenge you to turn your fear over to the Lord. He may not rescue you out of the situation on this side of eternity, but He will rescue you. This truth will give you a strength and comfort in the midst of your fear. Turn to Jesus and rest in Him.

Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced fear?

2. What were the circumstances surrounding your fear?

Prayer: Father, You are my fortress and strong tower. In You I have no need to fear. Yet, in my carnality, fear arises at times. Let me learn the grace of walking in Your sufficiency and help me to trust in Your protective eternal care. Amen.