To Binge, or Not to Binge?

By D’Ann Davis

“In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, ‘Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.’ But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.” 

2 Chronicles 28:22-23

Times were stressful in the life of King Ahaz. He was designated as a king who did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord earlier in verse one. As a result, the Lord gave the nation of Judah into the hands of the Syrians and the Israelites, and He had allowed the Philistines and Edomites to invade and win victories throughout Judah. Continuing in his sin, Ahaz did not humble himself and seek help from the Lord, but instead sought help from the Assyrians, a nation that would ultimately be a tool of the Lord to bring down Israel.

Verses 22-23 give some insight into the mindset of Ahaz as he responded to the extreme stressors in his life. He figured since the gods of Damascus had defeated him before and seemed to help his enemies, then he might as well bow down to those gods as well. This refusal to repent and seek the Lord led to his downfall.

A shallow reading of the text might tempt one to judge Ahaz as more foolish than one’s self, but it would be negligent not to realize that anyone can fall prey to this mindset. A fall to a habitual sin does not lead to getting up and walking in repentance, but a further indulgence in the sin. A minor defeat leads to a major acquiescence on the sinner’s part. It is not a minor fall to fantasy, lust, or pornography. It’s a three-day binge. It is not a failure to ignore an ex’s text, it’s a weekend-long or years-long return to sin and death.

As believers we have got to remember that losing a battle to the enemy does not excuse turning to worship that enemy and looking for our salvation from the one who got the best of us in that particular battle. A loss calls for a return to our Deliverer. It calls for repentance to the one true God and King. Let’s stop returning to sin because we took a few steps backward. Let’s get up, move forward, and seek the Lord with all of our hearts and souls, knowing that we have a Great High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses. Let’s stop binging and start repenting. Let’s find life in Christ and avoid ruin. Let’s learn from King Ahaz’s mistakes.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your mercy and grace that You freely offer us in our times of need. Thank You that it was for freedom that You set us free and thus we need not seek salvation in the slavery we fell prey to in our sin. Help us to only worship You and to love You with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength. Help us not turn away from You to serve other gods but please keep our eyes on You, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Thank You for Your forgiveness and grace dear Lord. We love You. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Vision

By Darrel Auvenshine

“…the Lord had put in my heart to do…”

Nehemiah 2:12 

Remain true to the vision God has placed in your heart. Is there a certain path God seems to have placed you on; a direction, passion or ministry you feel especially called to? One place we see vision being imparted from God to man is in Nehemiah 2:12. Nehemiah uses the words, “The Lord had put in my heart to do…”.

Vision can be the deposit of dreams or vision for life purpose, direction or a specific task at hand. Certainly God did give Nehemiah the vision of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The report of the condition of Jerusalem came to Nehemiah and with the report came a vision from God. The vision was founded on the point of God’s word, “If you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.”

Nehemiah’s vision was much more than the rebuilding of walls architecturally; the vision was in regard to the return of God’s people to the place where His name is honored.

If possible, complete this statement from your own experience:  “The Lord had put it in my heart to __________.”

What is the foundation or beginning point for the vision? What promise of God are you leaning on in regard to the vision?

Revelation Leads to Intimacy

By Darrel Auvenshine

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel which means God with us.”

Matthew 1:23 

God reveals Himself and our response is worship. The more we see God the deeper our intimacy with Him grows.

Consider human relationships. One of the most meaningful gifts I have from my Dad who passed away in 2005 is a book of questions he took time to answer about himself. Memories from childhood; fears; achievements: favorite foods, sports, hobbies. Etc. The book provided an avenue for Dad to share more completely, who he was with his children.

Or consider the relationship between husband and wife. There is an exposing of oneself to his or her spouse that is unlike any other relationship. Intimacy requires revelation. Of course this applies in the sexual relationship, but goes far beyond that into other areas of marriage. Kim (my wife) knows things about me that no one else knows. The longer we are married the more intimate we become. 

God gave a beautiful example of this reality by sending His only son, Jesus, to be born a man. They called His name Immanuel—God with us. How intimate that God chose to reveal Himself in the form of a man. Not just a man, but a baby. He was so small and tender. 

When you think of your relationship with God, would you say it is intimate? 

Has your intimacy grown as God has revealed Himself to you?

God Reveals Himself in the Resurrection

By Darrel Auvenshine

“…Woman why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?...He said to her, ‘Mary’, she turned and said to Him, ‘Master’.”

John 20:11-18

I cannot get over the beautiful revelation; so personal and intimate. There is Mary Magdalene in the garden with the empty tomb. Everyone else had run away, but Mary is still there searching. She is looking with hope and deep expectancy. Christ was her life. He had cast 7 demons out of her and she had never been the same since meeting Jesus. Her whole life was centered around Jesus and now His body is gone.

She looks again, with hope of finding Him, though she had looked already. Then He spoke to her in a most intimate way. Jesus said, “Mary." And upon hearing Him speak her name, she turned and saw Him and with one word replied, “Master." How beautiful. And so we see God revealed in the resurrection. 

John 11:25 Jesus says, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life.”  Death is swallowed up in victory. We must see the Lord, risen. 

How much importance do you place on the resurrection of Christ from the dead?

What difference does it make in your relationship with God, when you consider the resurrection?

God Reveals Himself on the Cross

By Darrel Auvenshine

“They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.”
Matthew 27:28

Could there be a more intimate place than that of the crucifixion? There the Son of God, revealed, Emmanuel God with Us, fulfilling the Father’s plan for redeeming mankind to Himself. There He is stripped of His clothes and a scarlet robe placed upon Him. God Himself was there hanging, suffering on the cross, taking upon Himself the punishment for us all. “No greater love has anyone than this, that he lay down his life…”

This old Hymn so beautifully communicates this revelation of God. There we look upon the Savior, completely vulnerable and seen and there He is dying for us.

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” – by Isaac Watts

“When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God.

All the vain things that charm me most. I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet. Sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet? Or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small.

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Take time to read Matthew 27:11-66 and mediate on the intimate love of God revealed for you on the cross. 

God Reveals Himself in Relationship to the Son

By Darrel Auvenshine

“…glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You…”

John 17:1-6

This portion of Jesus’ prayer gives us a glimpse into the intimate relationship within the Trinity. Verse 3 says, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Verse 5, “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was.”

I love my dad so much. It’s been over 9 years since he died and there is never a day that I don’t think of him. He wasn’t perfect, but he was a good dad. Forever I am his son. Nothing can change that and in many ways the substance of my dad is revealed in his children. I find myself doing things and saying things very similar to dad. My expressions are similar and the older I get the more I resemble his appearance.

God the Father revealed Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. When we wonder about God; His character, His ways, we have only to look at Jesus. 

How would you describe God the Father?

How would you describe Jesus?

How has the revelation of God in Jesus affected your view of the Father? 

Do you find that you relate more intimately with the Father or with Jesus?

God Reveals Himself to His Disciples

By Darrel Auvenshine

“…He loved them to the end.” (v.1b)

John 13:1-17

Perhaps one of the clearest displays of intimacy between God and His followers is found in John 13 when Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. An often overlooked portion of this passage gives insight to the depth of love with which Jesus cared for those closest to Him on earth. When Jesus “knew that the time had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” In verses 4 and 5 we see a most beautiful revelation of Jesus. He “got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking the towel, He girded Himself.” Here we see Jesus becoming vulnerable before His own and taking the position of servant.” Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”

All of this was just too much for Simon Peter. He refused that Jesus should wash his feet, but Jesus insisted: “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” At that moment Peter was all in. His response says it all: “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Wash all of me. The revelation of Christ to Peter was overwhelming and Peter responded with expectancy and hope. He could not be satisfied with only part, he wanted all.

When you read, “He loved them to the end,” what is your response?

Does the intimacy seen in this passage make you uncomfortable?

In light of the cleanses power of the shed blood of Jesus, would you say with Peter, “wash all of me” ?