Max Lucado Daily: Martha - July 6, 2022
“Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor and Martha served…” (John 12:2 NIV).
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were like family to Jesus. After the Lord raised Lazarus from the dead, they decided to give a dinner for Jesus, and Martha served. Listen, every church needs Marthas. Every church needs a hundred Marthas – sleeves rolled up and ready, they keep the pace for the church. You don’t appreciate Marthas until a Martha is missing, and then all the Marys and Lazaruses are scrambling around looking for the keys and the thermostats.
Marthas don’t seek the spotlight; they don’t live off the applause. If Marthas have a weakness, it is their tendency to elevate the mission over the Master. A younger Martha did that, but a mature Martha learned that just as there is a place in the kingdom of God for sacrificial service, there is also a place for extravagant praise.
1 Samuel 20
A Covenant Friendship in God’s Name
David got out of Naioth in Ramah alive and went to Jonathan. “What do I do now? What wrong have I inflicted on your father that makes him so determined to kill me?”
2 “Nothing,” said Jonathan. “You’ve done nothing wrong. And you’re not going to die. Really, you’re not! My father tells me everything. He does nothing, whether big or little, without confiding in me. So why would he do this behind my back? It can’t be.”
3 But David said, “Your father knows that we are the best of friends. So he says to himself, ‘Jonathan must know nothing of this. If he does, he’ll side with David.’ But it’s true—as sure as God lives, and as sure as you’re alive before me right now—he’s determined to kill me.”
4 Jonathan said, “Tell me what you have in mind. I’ll do anything for you.”
5-8 David said, “Tomorrow marks the New Moon. I’m scheduled to eat dinner with the king. Instead, I’ll go hide in the field until the evening of the third. If your father misses me, say, ‘David asked if he could run down to Bethlehem, his hometown, for an anniversary reunion, and worship with his family.’ If he says, ‘Good!’ then I’m safe. But if he gets angry, you’ll know for sure that he’s made up his mind to kill me. Oh, stick with me in this. You’ve entered into a covenant of God with me, remember! If I’m in the wrong, go ahead and kill me yourself. Why bother giving me up to your father?”
9 “Never!” exclaimed Jonathan. “I’d never do that! If I get the slightest hint that my father is fixated on killing you, I’ll tell you.”
10 David asked, “And whom will you get to tell me if your father comes back with a harsh answer?”
11-17 “Come outside,” said Jonathan. “Let’s go to the field.” When the two of them were out in the field, Jonathan said, “As God, the God of Israel, is my witness, by this time tomorrow I’ll get it out of my father how he feels about you. Then I’ll let you know what I learn. May God do his worst to me if I let you down! If my father still intends to kill you, I’ll tell you and get you out of here in one piece. And God be with you as he’s been with my father! If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend. And if I die, keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever. And when God finally rids the earth of David’s enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!” Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David. He loved David more than his own soul!
18-23 Jonathan then laid out his plan: “Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you’ll be missed when you don’t show up for dinner. On the third day, when they’ve quit expecting you, come to the place where you hid before, and wait beside that big boulder. I’ll shoot three arrows in the direction of the boulder. Then I’ll send off my servant, ‘Go find the arrows.’ If I yell after the servant, ‘The arrows are on this side! Retrieve them!’ that’s the signal that you can return safely—as God lives, not a thing to fear! But if I yell, ‘The arrows are farther out!’ then run for it—God wants you out of here! Regarding all the things we’ve discussed, remember that God’s in on this with us to the very end!”
24-26 David hid in the field. On the holiday of the New Moon, the king came to the table to eat. He sat where he always sat, the place against the wall, with Jonathan across the table and Abner at Saul’s side. But David’s seat was empty. Saul didn’t mention it at the time, thinking, “Something’s happened that’s made him unclean. That’s it—he’s probably unclean for the holy meal.”
27 But the day after the New Moon, day two of the holiday, David’s seat was still empty. Saul asked Jonathan his son, “So where’s that son of Jesse? He hasn’t eaten with us either yesterday or today.”
28-29 Jonathan said, “David asked my special permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Give me leave to attend a family reunion back home. My brothers have ordered me to be there. If it seems all right to you, let me go and see my brothers.’ That’s why he’s not here at the king’s table.”
30-31 Saul exploded in anger at Jonathan: “You son of a slut! Don’t you think I know that you’re in cahoots with the son of Jesse, disgracing both you and your mother? For as long as the son of Jesse is walking around free on this earth, your future in this kingdom is at risk. Now go get him. Bring him here. From this moment, he’s as good as dead!”
32 Jonathan stood up to his father. “Why dead? What’s he done?”
33 Saul threw his spear at him to kill him. That convinced Jonathan that his father was fixated on killing David.
34 Jonathan stormed from the table, furiously angry, and ate nothing the rest of the day, upset for David and smarting under the humiliation from his father.
35-39 In the morning, Jonathan went to the field for the appointment with David. He had his young servant with him. He told the servant, “Run and get the arrows I’m about to shoot.” The boy started running and Jonathan shot an arrow way beyond him. As the boy came to the area where the arrow had been shot, Jonathan yelled out, “Isn’t the arrow farther out?” He yelled again, “Hurry! Quickly! Don’t just stand there!” Jonathan’s servant then picked up the arrow and brought it to his master. The boy, of course, knew nothing of what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew.
40-41 Jonathan gave his quiver and bow to the boy and sent him back to town. After the servant was gone, David got up from his hiding place beside the boulder, then fell on his face to the ground—three times prostrating himself! And then they kissed one another and wept, friend over friend, David weeping especially hard.
42 Jonathan said, “Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in God’s name, saying, ‘God will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!’”
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Wednesday, July 06, 2022
Today's Scripture
Acts 14:21–28
The Return to Antioch in Syria
21 They preached the gospelv in that city and won a large numberw of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconiumx and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.y “We must go through many hardshipsz to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed eldersa a for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,b committed them to the Lord,c in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,d 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch,e where they had been committed to the grace of Godf for the work they had now completed.g 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through themh and how he had opened a doori of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.j
Insight
Without some familiarity with Paul’s missionary journeys and the geography in biblical times, passages like Acts 14 can be a bit confusing. While verses 21 and 26 both mention Antioch, the places aren’t the same. The one mentioned in verse 21 was in Pisidia (a district in southern Asia Minor); the one in verse 26 was in Syria. These two cities and fourteen others were named in honor of Antiochus, the father of Seleucus I Nicator, founder of the Seleucid Empire (fourth century bc). There were five cities named Antioch in Syria alone. The one mentioned in verse 26 was the third largest city in the Roman Empire in the first century and the most renown of all the cities. It became the hub of missions for believers in Jesus after Christianity took root there (see 11:19–30). In Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians (v. 26) there and all three of Paul’s missionary journeys began there (13:1–4; 15:36–41; 18:22–23).
By: Arthur Jackson
You Can Do It!
[Paul and Barnabas] returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.
Acts 14:21–22
Encouragement is like oxygen—we can’t live without it. This was true for nine-year-old James Savage. The boy swam more than two miles from the San Francisco shoreline to Alcatraz Island and back, breaking the record for the youngest person to accomplish the feat. But thirty minutes into the swim, the choppy, frigid waters made James want to quit. However, a fleet of paddlers called out, “You can do it!” The words gave him the boost he needed to finish his goal.
When the choppy, frigid waters of tribulation made believers in Jesus want to give up, Paul and Barnabas encouraged them to continue their journey. After the apostles preached the gospel in the city of Derbe, they “returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith” (Acts 14:21–22). They helped the believers to remain firm in their faith in Jesus. Troubles had weakened them, but words of encouragement strengthened their resolve to live for Christ. In God’s strength, they realized they could keep pressing on. Finally, Paul and Barnabas helped them understand that they would “go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (v. 22).
Living for Jesus can be difficult, and we’re sometimes tempted to give up. Fortunately, Jesus and fellow believers in Him can provide the encouragement we need to press on. With Him, we can do it!
By: Marvin Williams
Reflect & Pray
What people in your circles of influence need to hear, “You can do it!”? What specific words of wisdom and encouragement can you share this week?
Jesus, when I’m tempted to give up, please send people to give me confidence and courage to continue my walk with You.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, July 06, 2022
Visions Becoming Reality
The parched ground shall become a pool… —Isaiah 35:7
We always have a vision of something before it actually becomes real to us. When we realize that the vision is real, but is not yet real in us, Satan comes to us with his temptations, and we are inclined to say that there is no point in even trying to continue. Instead of the vision becoming real to us, we have entered into a valley of humiliation.
Life is not as idle ore,
But iron dug from central gloom,
And battered by the shocks of doom
To shape and use.
God gives us a vision, and then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of that vision. It is in the valley that so many of us give up and faint. Every God-given vision will become real if we will only have patience. Just think of the enormous amount of free time God has! He is never in a hurry. Yet we are always in such a frantic hurry. While still in the light of the glory of the vision, we go right out to do things, but the vision is not yet real in us. God has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and floods to batter us into shape, until we get to the point where He can trust us with the reality of the vision. Ever since God gave us the vision, He has been at work. He is getting us into the shape of the goal He has for us, and yet over and over again we try to escape from the Sculptor’s hand in an effort to batter ourselves into the shape of our own goal.
The vision that God gives is not some unattainable castle in the sky, but a vision of what God wants you to be down here. Allow the Potter to put you on His wheel and whirl you around as He desires. Then as surely as God is God, and you are you, you will turn out as an exact likeness of the vision. But don’t lose heart in the process. If you have ever had a vision from God, you may try as you will to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never allow it.
Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
No one could have had a more sensitive love in human relationship than Jesus; and yet He says there are times when love to father and mother must be hatred in comparison to our love for Him. So Send I You, 1301 L
Bible in a Year: Job 32-33; Acts 14
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, July 06, 2022
A World Running Out Of Time - #9258
Slang words are sometimes difficult to understand. Not so much the words themselves, but their meaning. I mean, there are cool slang words out there. For instance, when I just used the word cool, I wasn't talking about the temperature. If a young person today looked at me and maybe said "Sus!" Now, what is that all about? Well, that means you're suspicious. That's what it means.
And just because someone may have asked you, "Do you know what time it is, man?" That doesn't mean they really want to know the time. Back in New York City, when I was in that area, no, that's not what it meant. During that time, in New York, a lot of people were asking, "Man, you're out of it. You don't get it do you? You know what time it is? You don't know what's happening." They were really saying, (nothing to do with the time) "You don't have it all figured out yet, man."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "A World Running Out Of Time"
Our word for today from the Word of God comes out of Matthew 24. The disciples wanted to know what time it was. They said to Jesus, "Tell us when this will happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming at the end of the age?" And then Jesus began to give them some of the ways to be able to see what time it is on God's clock. "Many will come in My name" he said, "claiming 'I am the Christ' and will deceive many."
Now, let me give you five ways that He kind of let us know that the time would be near. First, Jesus said there will be lots of "christs." Now, it's pretty commonplace to believe that we're our own god, and we're our own creator. There's plenty of spiritual options out there. And then Jesus said, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars." So it's going to be a world full of war and combat and danger erupting all over the place. Kind of sounds like the evening news.
Thirdly, we'll know that it's coming down to D-Day on God's clock because there's going to be a lot of natural disasters. He said, "There'll be famines and earthquakes in various places." In the book of Luke He adds the word pestilences. We've certainly seen our share of frightening diseases and mutating viruses, and immunity to antibiotics. We've got whole new things that we can't fight. There's plenty of famines and earthquakes.
The book of Revelation says a third of the human race will be killed by something that looks like fire and brimstone. How could early Christians have ever imagined that happening? Spears, bows and arrows? We know fire and brimstone that could kill a third of the human race don't we? And then two more compound events to Jesus' coming. There has to be an Israel. There hasn't been one for very long, and today they're a nation. That's important.
Then it says, "Every eye will see some of the events that take place." Well, how in the world could every eye on earth see one event happen? Satellites? It's happening all the time. We see things going on all over the world.
It's amazing the kind of countdown time you and I are living in. I mean, I don't know when Jesus is coming back - no clue. I would certainly not even attempt to name a time. The Bible says not to. But I can say I think the world looks more today like the world Jesus said He'd come back to than maybe it's ever looked like before. It's kind of like that ball coming down on the building in Times Square on New Year's Eve - 3, 2, 1. I don't know, maybe Jesus is almost here. And He says that at that time, people will be in two groups.
The first group of people is the colder. The Bible says, "because of the increase of wickedness the love of most (and He's talking about His people) will grow cold." Sin will be everyday stuff, and they'll get numb, and they'll fit in and they'll do nothing. It will put them to sleep. You might be in that group.
The second group, they know what time it is, and they're going to become the bolder. Because it says "they're going to spread the Gospel of the kingdom as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." These are the people who are like going for broke. They see what time it is on the clock! They're going to clean the junk out of their lives and they're going to get other people to get them ready for Jesus.
Lots of christs, lots of wars, lots of natural disasters, lots of disease, lots of mega weapons. Yeah, that could be a world we're living in right now, and it's later than it's ever been on God's clock. It's time to live boldly, man; to go public for Christ; to be "all in," to attack the sin that we've been flirting with. Because sometime soon our Lord may just show up. Keep your eye on the clock. Do you know what time it is?