The past several years have been a significant training ground in surrender. Confronted with the truth of God’s Word, my husband and I realized that much of the way we had been doing ministry previously did not reflect the call to discipleship so resonant throughout all of Scripture. Our hearts ablaze with passion and zeal, we put our plows to the soil in obedience. Today, eyes filled with the dust of breaking dry ground, we live by that same conviction for the things to which God has called us. Our experience, however, has not been without questions and tears.
Running from a man with deep insecurities, David knew no place that would guarantee safety. In a time fraught with danger, a seemingly innocent bystander became a menace to David’s life and to the well-being of those who aided him (1 Samuel 22:21-23). But no matter what others thought of him, David’s heart beat with a love for God’s people. When he heard of the distress of Keilah, David acted in obedience to God (1 Samuel 23:5).
As we consider David’s victory, it’s ironic that the same people he saved would be willing to turn him over to Saul (1 Samuel 23:12). Why would they agree to betray him? They knew the awful things Saul had done to the people of another town—Nob—when they had helped David (1 Samuel 22:9-23), and they were afraid. David, however, maintained his belief that God had been and would always be his safety—the One who would guard and defend his life (1 Samuel 23:16,18).
David knew the choices of man couldn’t deter the ultimate will of God. He placed his life in the secure knowledge that “the Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). David kept moving forward with his faith firmly anchored in the Rock of salvation. So should we.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Philippians 2:1-18
More:
Read 1 Peter 2:19-25 and Romans 12:18- 21 to see how we are to respond to those who leave us feeling defenseless.
Next:
How have you regretted helping someone because of the way that person later treated you? How does God’s sovereignty play a vital role in the way we should view our circumstances?
tim gustafson on December 3, 2011 at 8:54 am
Regina, I really needed to read this post this morning. I think that we who follow Christ easily make the mistake that we should not have questions and doubt. But those questions and doubts are the very things that ultimately drive me to Christ.
regina franklin on December 3, 2011 at 9:17 am
Dear Tim,
Thank you–God is so very good in gently reminding us that He has not forgotten us, nor does He reject us for our wrestlings. Daily, I face the choice to see from His perspective (requiring trust) or my own (staying in control). I want to choose His, and I am so grateful for His patience with me in the places where I weepingly surrender and voice my confusion.
By the way–thank you for being someone who believed in me as a writer. Every time I see your name come up, I am reminded of the goodness of God’s hands. Blessings to you and your family.
sowharvest on December 3, 2011 at 10:44 am
Regina
I like Tim thought this message was so timely today as I wrestle with disappointments and questions. The scripture reminded me that GOD knows and that it’s ok. Ok to come GOD just we are [i.e. with our questions and/or doubts]–because the most important thing is that WE COME. The old adage spoken so often in my life rings true– that is “GOD will have the last say about EVERYTHING” not man… GOD!!!!!
It is struggle when we are going the “valley” to remember that GOD is in control even when things are happening that hurts.
Thank you so much for this message. May continue to bless you and your family and your ministry. Praise be to God.
regina franklin on December 3, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Dear sowharvest,
Thank you for your words of encouragement! May the Lord continue to speak His direction and peace.
I have also found it helpful to seek out healthy, godly relationships with those who will keep pointing me to the mountaintop on the days when the valley seems dark and frightening. Praying the Lord sends people to hold your hands up in the battle.
dianalovesjesus2 on December 3, 2011 at 12:27 pm
In ‘Next’ you ask, “How have you regretted helping someone because of the way that person later treated you? ”
I remember when I visited Brussels, many, many years ago, a child begging at the subway. And I gave him some money. One of the passengers later scolded me, saying, “Don’t you realize you encourage that when you give!!” Although I understood his French, I was not fluent enough in the language to give him my response.
…which was, I gave money to Christ that day….”as you do to the least of these….” …and that leaves little room 4 worry about any ‘later treatment’….or even what was done with the ‘gift’….at least, 4 me. 🙂
regina franklin on December 3, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Dear dianalovesjesus2,
Good point! Nothing we do for Him is meaningless.
iamahumbleservant on December 3, 2011 at 12:47 pm
‘ David knew the choices of man couldn’t deter the ultimate will of God. He placed his life in the secure knowledge that “the Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles” ‘
this part really rejuvenate my faith in God and my perspective in circumstances.
I was struggling with a bunch of questions and frustrations earlier. Yet reading to this devotion has assured me that there is no wrong in feeling frustrated and confused with God and He is in control of everything despite seemingly disappointing situations.
Reading everybody’s comments also comforts me.
Thanks everyone for your input.
God Bless you guys
regina franklin on December 3, 2011 at 11:08 pm
Dear iamahumbleservant,
It is such a blessing to see God use hard places in my life to speak encouragement to others. May you continue to be strengthened in His Word!
daleproulx on December 3, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Regina,
My wife and I have been engaged in ministry for twenty years. I’m intrigued by your first paragraph. I find that God renews, deepens, and strengthens our calling. If you’ve fleshed out somewhere what you allude to in the paragraph, your brothers and sisters would be blessed to engage with it.
In Christ,
Dale
regina franklin on December 3, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Dear Dale,
Yes–God is so faithful to remind me who He is, just when I feel like giving up.
I have been thinking for some time about what the Lord desires to do with the journey we’ve been on. In all honesty, I am still seeking His will on the venue where I am to lay out those things.
As you and your wife well know, ministry can be a refining fire–and it is renewing when we know we are not alone in the things we experience. But ministry can also be a deep privilege. I think it’s important to be honest about those places–I’m asking the Lord for the time and the method.
I can say with confidence, however, that if we have learned anything through the difficult places of the past several years, we are learning what we love about Jesus and the things He has specifically wired us to do. Five years ago, I could have told you that we loved young people and we wanted to serve the Lord. Today, we have a specific vision statement for how we want to live out ministry. It may sound inconsequential, but it is something we own deep inside us. As such, it is helping to direct our next steps, to see what it is we want to spend the rest of our days doing for Jesus.
pri1465 on December 3, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Dear Regina,
Thanks for your message.
I wondered how you talk about Jesus to belivers of other faiths.
I’ve had religion poked down my throat before I became a committed Christian and I know I didn’t like it at all when someone tried to force their views on me.
Now I know for everything I can depend on my Heavenly Father. I would like to share this and I do. In my work place all know that I depend on God for everything and God has always seen us through the toughest of projects. But when it comes to people of other religions who are in trouble, I don’t like to tell them to pray to Jesus because they might think that I am trying to convert them. So I tell them, you all know how God has helped me and the factory with his wisdom and guidance and help. you also believe in some God so pray to who you believe in because you need God in your life
I don’t think this is OK, but I don’t like telling people you must pray to Jesus becase my relligion is the only true religion and all you believe in not true.
Would really appreciate your comments on this.
I am from Sri Lanka and all of my workers are Buddhists. Everymorning in the factory before starting work we all gather together and I give thanks and pray for all of the workers and their families and ask for wisdom and guidance. I have told the workers that I must pray and I need them there and they don’t have to pray to the God I believe in, they can pray the way they believe. None of this are against this as they know I am not trying to convert them.
regina franklin on December 3, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Dear pri1465,
When I was in college, I served as a nanny for a summer. The people I worked for were devoted to their Hindu faith. The family knew I was a Christian, and while it was the mission of my heart to share the gospel with them in as many ways possible, I also knew that the Holy Spirit had to be the one to change their hearts. God opened up many conversations in my time that summer with them.
Later, after I was no longer nannying for them, I stayed in touch with them and when one of their children became seriously ill, I had the opportunity to share even more about what I believed. However, I also felt it was important for them to know that when I prayed, I wasn’t praying to numerous gods but to the One I believed was the only true God. I spoke very openly that I believed that Jesus was the true healer.
While I still see them on occasion around town (and we share a fond regard for one another), the busyness of life has separated our paths, but I knew it was important for me to live my life in such a way that they would know that I believed in and worshipped Jesus, the Son of the living God. Because of the polytheistic nature of their belief, I wanted to be clear and loving at the same time.
My situation differs from yours in that I was the employee and not the employer. I do feel that as believers, we can acknowledge that others have every right to believe as they wish. However, I do not think we can ignore that all other gods stand powerless. I think Paul’s example in Athens serves as an example where he used the references to their false gods to open up a conversation about the One, true God. Scripture is clear time and again that any other god is simply a creation of our own making and as such it offers no hope from the spiritual death of our sin.
As I type this, I am praying that the Lord will give you wisdom. May your life be the loudest speech your employees hear, and may the Holy Spirit fill you with boldness to speak the Word of God without fear.
The gospel does offend. We should never be harsh with His truth, but we seek to stand in God’s place when we try to “adjust” scripture to make it something that others will find acceptable.
Share your story, faithfully dig into the Word and lean on the Holy Spirit. God does not fail in the things He undertakes.
OnMyWayHome on December 4, 2011 at 1:34 pm
David knowing what the outcome was going to be as God told him I see that David could’ve lashed out at them. Yet he didnothing to them and did what God told him.
After coming this site I’ve noticed a sense of family as you Regina responses to Tim and the other posts.
Thank you for such a site to see and hear the many different views and beliefs and the compassion of the Lord.