Psalm 23:3

A common misconception held in regards to the Human race is that we, like all the other species of the animal kingdom, are two part beings (i.e. body, and soul).  The truth is, however, that we are not part of the animal kingdom; and we as mankind were created specially in God’s image, making us three part beings (i.e. Body, Soul, and Spirit).

“Isn’t the soul and the spirit the same thing?” You might ask

No

The Bible clearly states in the Hebrew that the soul is not the same as the spirit.  The spirit is that within us that will move on into eternity; it’s the character image of God that is imparted unto us and shaped into His likeness while here on earth.  The soul, on the other hand, is the combination of the thoughts we think and the emotions we feel, knit into our makeup by God as tools He uses to shape our spirits to be as His own.  “Nephesh”-the Hebrew word for “soul” speaks of the mind and heart, the source of thinking and feeling.  A vital area within a person’s being, but not the inner being itself.

So what exactly is David trying to say as he pens the words, “He restores my soul…”?

He’s telling us that the Shepherd cares about what we as His sheep think, and He’s intimately concerned with how His sheep feel.  He desires to “restore”-or literally translated, “to turn around, or bring back” the peace of mind that He originally designed for us to enjoy while in relationship with Him.  He wants to turn around the misdirected thoughts and emotions that are negatively affecting our spirit, leading us out of the pain of the present problem, and into the assurance of His promised paradise.  The dilemma is that sometimes, like sheep, we get spooked easily.  Sheep have this strange tendency to panic when fearful (sound familiar?)Due to the panic they become unsettled and take off away from the Shepherd, leading them into unnecessary hurt, pain, and injury.   

Our thoughts and emotions can be a tricky area.  As Jeremiah the prophet said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)  Directly following those words the Lord replies, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind”.  You see, Our Shepherd sees the inner workings of our heart and mind.  Not only is He capable to diagnose our heart conditions, He is also perfectly able to restore and remedy those things which often lead to our breaking down and giving up.  There isn’t one person on this green earth that hasn’t experienced a time where they got depressed, disappointed, and disillusioned to some degree.  It happens so easily, and make no mistake, its not a “walk in the park” to snap out of it.  This is why David reminds us that the answer isn’t a self help book, positive thinking methods, or even Yoga positions…the answer is not in our ability, the answer is in the Lord.  For we too are like sheep, we get psyched out by the emotions which are triggered by our thoughts.  In effect we derail, falling out of step with the Shepherd, endangering our own lives, and sometimes the lives of those who are following us.

Who is it that reminds, returns, and refocuses our soul to where it needs to be? 

The good Shepherd…Jesus. 

How does He do it?

Psalm 51, another psalm where David speaks of the Shepherd Illustration helps us understand this secret. 

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies…Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom…Make me hear Joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.”

Psalm 51:1, 6, 8

When sheep get scared they scatter, inevitably leading to a harmful predicament.  Straying sheep often means injured sheep…maybe even dead sheep.  That’s not what the good Shepherd wants when it comes to the sheep He loves. 

So what does a loving, kind, merciful, tender Shepherd do to keep scared sheep from scattering? 

He breaks their leg. 

Calm down…I know your probably thinking, “How is breaking the leg of the one you love “kind, merciful, and tender”?

Before you begin questioning the love of the Shepherd, take a closer look at the result of His actions.   In ancient times, when a certain lamb developed the bad habit of consistently straying away from the Shepherd and endangering its life, the Shepherd would take the baby sheep that strayed and break one of its legs.  He then would masterfully set the broken leg, lifting the lamb onto His able shoulders, carrying it until the leg had healed.  During that time of close intimacy with the Shepherd that lamb would witness up close and personal the loving strength day by day as it simply rested upon the strong shoulders of the Shepherd to carry it through.  Eventually when the lamb was able to bear its own wieght again it has become only natural to remain, draw near, and abide with the Shepherd. 

Perhaps you might think, “That’s well and good for lambs Dan, but i’m no lamb…i’m not even a spring chicken!  I’ve been in this pasture so long, so set in my ways that I can’t possibly heal from a broken bone…much less have my old, overwieght body hauled around by the Shepherd.  If that’s you take heart.  The Lord is mighty and capable, “a thousand years are as a day, and a day a thousand years to the Lord” It doesn’t matter if you’ve been around for 80 years and you feel like God is breaking you down and carrying you through, your still a babe to the Lord.  Heck, He’s been around before Day 1 was measured out and listed as Day 1.  Your just a babe in His arms, He can carry you, He will carry you, If you just let Him.

The Shepherd desires that His sheep would know completely the truth of his love, kindness, and mercy no matter the situation or circumstance.  So when thunder claps, or the wolf howls, or the wind blows a little harder than what the sheep might feel comfortable with, the presence of the Shepherd speaks assurance and security to the easily rattled sheep, and so it is for you and me. 

When emotions tempt us to worry and whine, and we begin to feel as though life is bearing it’s fangs at us, we need not fear.  Instead, in those times we must remember how the good Shepherd has carried us with His strength. 

Simply place your faith in the One that has carried you this far, draw near to His love, and experience the restoring of your soul.

Genesis 24:1-4

The chapter to come is probably one of the greatest love stories in the Bible. It speaks of a Father’s concern for his son, a servants loving obedience to his master, and the love and commitment of a husband and wife. 

This account of relationship and marriage is painted by a couple key elements: Providence, Persistence, and Prayer. 

The same is true in the account of God honoring and successful relationships today!

God providentially brings them to be and orchestrates the process properly.  Then we as servants must serve each other persistently.  And at all times we must continue to sort through the journey prayerfully obeying and abiding in God’s truth and will.  As we do we see the molding and meshing of beautiful relationships that speak great depth of the character, intimacy, and blessing of our Lord.

Genesis 23:19-20

So we see that Abraham purchased the field from Ephron.  The field was in Machpelah, literally translated “Portion”.  Interestingly the only portion of the Promised Land that God had allowed Abraham to actually own was the plot of land in which he buried his love and greatest desires.  As time would pass this area would become the place where his sons and daughters to follow would lay to rest as well. 

So too, the only thing we really possess, or the “Portion” we’ve been bestowed with here on earth is the free will to bury our ambitions and greatest desires safely into the hands of the author and perfector of our lives.  As we purpose our lives to be submitted to God’s will we will see that His blessings and promise will expand into the lives of our children and on and on it goes. 

As Abraham set that example and received the portion the trees of Mamre, translated “strength” became the place where God met and blessed Abraham’s children.  In the same way the places in which we bury our will and say, “Lord your will be done” are the places that God will bless and meet us, and as our children follow suite they will experience the same with the Lord.  What seemed like death to our greatest love and desires will become the launch pad for abundant and blessed life not only for us but for many to follow. 

Abraham didn’t fully see the fulfillment of God’s promise in his lifetime, but his kids did.  Because of his example and the way he laid all things to rest in the portion of the Lord, the generations to follow entered into the fulfillment of the Promised Land.  Listen up parents, as you obey the Lord and lay to rest your personal desires and ambitions, as you deeply invest into the Lord and the portion He’s given you, you’ll see that your children will follow suite and will receive the fulfilled promises and blessings. 

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Hebrews 11:13-16

Don’t be discouraged folks; God isn’t slack on His promises.  You might not see all of the fruit of your life here and now, perhaps your children will see the blessing where you had to experience the death; the wonderful truth is God has prepared something abundantly more wonderful in heaven.  As we are faithful to receive this portion and invest into it we will see the return for eternity.

Genesis 22: 11-12

Once again we see “the Angel of the Lord” make an appearance in the life of Abraham.  As we’ve learned from the previous appearances, the Angel of the Lord is Jesus Himself.  The dialogue held in this appearance gives us a little behind the scenes insight into the perspective of the God the Father and us, his children.

Let me explain. 

As instructed Abraham was called to give up that which was most dear to him…literally.  The son that was promised to him by God was now being demanded from him.  At first glance this all seems a bit cruel, but it’s not a mind game, or a bad joke, God actually has a reason behind this whole process that He has asked Abraham to walk through.

What is this process?

It’s called, “Abiding”.

Jesus called to Abraham and said, “Stop!” “You’ve done everything I’ve asked and your obedience has proven your love for me!” 

God wasn’t trying to ruin Abraham’s life, He was refining it.  God didn’t desire to murder Isaac; He desired to draw him and his father into a deeper relationship of love.  As Abraham took each step of obedience we see a clear demonstration of that which was most important to him, and as we watch Isaac grow up its clear that his father’s demonstration of love and integrity toward the Lord deeply impacted him to do the same. 

Take note parents, with every God given instruction that you obey, your kids will take notice.  As you demonstrate your love and desire for the Lord you’ll see it impact your children deeper than any sermon, book, or class could ever teach them.  As Abraham abided with the Lord we see that he clearly led Isaac in the way to deeply love and know God.

It’s kind of like this, if my 8 year old nephew asked me for an ice cream cone, I could very easily explain to him how to get to the grocery store.  I could draw him a map and give very concise instructions on how to find, pay, and enjoy his ice cream cone.  The explanation would be spot on, but the facts are my nephew probably wouldn’t be able to do it on his own.  On the other hand, if my little nephew asked me for an ice cream cone and I said, “Sure buddy, hop on my shoulders and we’ll go get it together!”  As I carry him I no longer am giving directions…I’ve now become the directions.   I carry him there and walk through it all with him; and he will receive exactly what was desired.  So too, Jesus said, “I am the way…” As Abraham followed the Lord we see that Isaac abided in the direction and received deeply what Abraham was also experiencing as he abided with the Lord.

Not only did Abraham demonstrate direction for Isaac, he also grew in gratitude of God.  With each defining step Abraham deepened in his capacity of appreciation for what God had given him.  How does God help us keep blessings in perspective so that they don’t distract us from first loving Him?  He calls us to lay our “Isaac” down.  So that we begin to see and understand where the blessing came from and the heart of the one who gave it.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6, 7

You see as we obey the Lord and cast upon Him that which we care about, we’ll see that in due time He’ll lift us up, give us our Isaac back, and bless us with what’s best.

God not only cares about blessing us with His promises, He also cares about seeing us abide closer to Him.      

Below is a clip of a teaching that Dan gave on 2 Samuel 9 while in McConnelsville, Ohio.  Listen while he shares about Love instead of Hatred, Kindness instead of Anger, and how God makes good on His promises for everyday ordinary people! 

Dan\’s sermon on 2-samuel-9-at-mcconnelsville-ohio, USA

Genesis 19:27-29

Abraham gets up early and goes out to where God had made the promise of sparing the lives of the righteous.  I’m sure the sight wasn’t pretty, after some serious judgment the rubble and rising smoke could be seen for miles around; perhaps Abraham’s heart sunk as the evidence seemed to show that there weren’t enough righteous people for mercy to be given. 

We know, however, this wasn’t the case.  Although the standard of righteousness wasn’t met, God still sought a way to spare the lives of those who believed and committed themselves, never once compromising His judgment on sin.  This is a perfect picture of God’s heart towards all of us, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, “None are righteous, no not one.”  Although we didn’t meet the standard of righteousness we see that God still sought a way to give mercy through the death of His son Jesus, carrying out perfectly an uncompromised judgment through Jesus and at the same time accomplishing a rescue of those who would believe and commit themselves to Him.

There are a couple more interesting truths that are present here.  We see that the deliverance of Lot was partly due to the prayers of another.  Perhaps, like Abraham, your heart sinks when you see the outworking of destruction. 

You watch as he ruins his life with those habits. 

She’s returned to her old crowd and heads down the wrong road. 

The truth is God hears our cries on behalf of others and He is faithful to seek and to save those who are lost in sin. 

As easy as it is to pass judgment on Lot and see him as a backsliding screw up, a lost cause who continues to make poor decisions and just keeps drifting farther from what’s right, the Bible in fact calls him righteous.

“…turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly, and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations…”

2 Peter 2:6-9

Through the Lord’s eyes Lot was a righteous man, this sobers me up quite a bit because often I’m quick to write off this person due to the outward appearances and actions, on the other hand we aren’t the Lord.  God sees the heart, the righteous Judge knows exactly where that person is at inside and He is mighty to save them out of the oppressive temptations and atmosphere that is tormenting them. 

In the same way we have the responsibility to pray for those who are tormented in their soul by the life that they live, whether they have chosen that route or not, God is the one who discerns the heart, our job is to pray and desire that God grace and mercy be poured out on them.

Abraham chose to pray instead of pass judgment

God chose to seek and to save that which was lost

And Lot escaped through the flames

It’s a beautiful picture.

Genesis 19:17-22

As I consider this passage I’m convicted and driven to praise the Lord at the same time.  There has been so many times in my personal life that I, like Lot, have tried to negotiate the way my life should go with the Lord.  God sends a team of angels to get Lot out of the mess he’s in, and what does Lot do? He does things his own way yet again, instead of cooperating with the rescue he starts dictating his destination, his questions and hesitancy end up limiting what God was seeking to do in his life. 

God said, “Go to the mountains.”

In the bible the mountains represent consistency, solidity, security, and power.  When meeting with God to find their power, security, and solidity of faith men like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, and later Jesus would go up to the mountains to meet with the Father.  Here we see God telling Lot, “I know your needs, and because I love you and I want to supply your needs, I’m telling you where to go.”

Lot said, “I cannot go there lest some evil overtake me and I die, let me go to Zoar.”

Zoar literally means “Insignificant in Size”; ironically we see that Lot’s desired destination held the same proportion as his faith. 

So many times in scripture we see that in proportion to one’s faith was the miracle carried out.  The blind man, the leper, the woman who touched the hem of the garment, in proportion to their faith they received vision, the ability to walk, and a healthy life.  In the same way when we by faith go to Jesus and trust him in our ailing state we will receive fresh sight for our situations, we’ll be able to walk through life like never before, and we’ll have a healthy balance in our lives.  I’ve also found that when I ask for the easy way out, the road with fewer obstacles, my faith shrinks to be tiny like Zoar.

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Luke 11:10-13

The truth is if I’m asking for small blessings, and I want to settle for small faith, God will give it.  However our small portion isn’t reflecting God’s heart, No, on the contrary God desires to lavish abundance on our souls.  The angels didn’t argue with Lot, and they won’t argue with you.  Lot was allowed to go to Zoar as he wished.  Why?  John 14 tells us that Obedience is an act of love, not of obligation.  To truly love the Lord we must be willing to commit ourselves to obedience and submit ourselves to His goodness.  Lot chose to do neither and found insignificance in Zoar, and when we choose to do the same we will miss out on the massive wonders that God desires to put in our lives.

Genesis 18:16-17

As the men rose to go and they went on their desired way, so did Abraham so that he could send them on their way.  Then God say’s the most amazing thing (like God usually does), He says, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?”  In other words He says, “Shouldn’t I let Abraham in on my plans?”  I believe God says this for two reasons, because He got up and went with God after God got up to move, and He sent God on His way.  Abraham abided with God in His desire and moved when He moved and said, “Lord Your will be done” As He sought to send God on His way. 

When was the last time God filled you in on His plans?

Perhaps you’ve wondered why it has been so long that you’ve not heard from God.  Let me make a gentle suggestion that it could be that you aren’t rising with God.  When God gets moving to go His desired way perhaps you’ve just sat fixed on your own desire, leaving you out of unable to hear His voice saying, “Why shouldn’t I share this with you?”

This isn’t a rhetorical question; you’re the only one that can answer God’s question.  Why is it He shouldn’t share His plans with you?  Could it be you’ve only shown yourself interested in where you’re camped out?

 If so, be like Abraham, rise with God in the morning so you know the direction He’s heading. 

Listen to Him as He lets you in on His plans as you read the Word. 

Enjoy as the hidden things become entrusted into your knowledge.

Over the past few weeks there has been this recurring theme of offense in my personal time in the word.  As I was reading and studying this subject I realized that the principle of experiencing what you teach was exceptionally true for this topic of offense.  The fact is even yesterday I was struggling through this subject in relationships with others, and I’m sure the same is true for you as well.  Perhaps not yesterday, but at one time or another we all have either been offended or offended others.  While spending time with my mom she read to me the vignette excerpted from the daily devotional book “Daily with the King”.  It not only redirected my perspective on the subject, but it blessed and edified my soul with the knowledge and heart desires to abide with God’s will pertaining to this topic.  As you read and enjoy the following; may the Lord bless you abundantly and guide you as offenses come.

God bless

-Dan

“And while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously”

1 Peter 2:23

As a disciple of Jesus Christ I must learn never to give or take offense.  Jesus said that the world constantly offends us, but we as His followers must never offend (Matthew 18:7-9).  He was so strict about the matter that He said even an eye, a foot, or a hand must be cut off rather than offend someone else.  He meant this: get rid of anything that causes offense to someone else, no matter how painful to yourself.

                Yet, as a discerning disciple, I must expect offenses to come my way.  I must be wise as a serpent (in expecting offenses), yet harmless as a dove (in giving them).  It is only natural that somewhere along the way I will offend others.  The gospel itself is offensive to many, and if I preach it faithfully I will most certainly put some people out.  But that is not the offensiveness Jesus is talking about.  He is talking about the offense that comes from an evil mind.  He is thinking about the offense that comes from an evil intention.  We cannot make everybody love us; but we can, like Daniel, force those who dislike us to say, “It’s because of his God.”

                Taking offense is a different matter.  By God’s grace I must never take offense, as Jesus Himself did not.  Regardless of how evil the intention, how vile the source of offense, I must never attribute to a person’s action a malicious cause, but rather turn my case over to God and say, “Lord, You judge in the matter.”  Thus, vengeance is safely given to Him.

                The offenseless life is a rugged discipline for the follower of Jesus Christ.  Yet the same Jesus who exemplified it perfectly on earth will not fail to continue the good work in me.  The One who said I am to be as harmless as a dove (Matthew 10:16) will not ask me to do the impossible; He will energize me for it.

Excerpt from “Daily with the King” by W. Glyn Evans

Genesis 12:8-9

If you had the chance to invite anyone to dinner, who would it be?

Sometimes while on the road I ask myself random questions like this. I find myself imagining what it would be like to sit down in a local diner with a guy like Abram. Sure people might stare at his threads and unkept facial hair, but I reckon he would probably be one of the most interesting and heartwarming guys to share a cup of Joe with. Think about it, the man that we’re reading about at the moment is one of the rare few throughout the history of mankind to have journeyed to the inner circle of friendship with God. I would love to listen to what went on in his heart and mind while becoming “God’s friend” as the bible refers to him. Most people through history have barely bothered to even acknowledge God much less be His friend. The story of Abram is such a pleasure to read, it stands as the detailed trailblazer of how to abide intimately with God. As I read the word and witness the life of guys like Abram play out, it only stokes the combustion of passion for the Lord in my own heart.

We saw Abram’s response to God’s promise in verse 7, now we see what follows after the reminders have been established and the worship has been given. Abrams life and family go south.

I’ve often experienced the same thing in my walk with the Lord, I hear God’s voice, everything seems so awesome and I’m worshipping Him, and not soon after I set a memorial of the moment to remind myself of God’s promise, my circumstances take an ugly turn south. I believe this is of the Lord; He will lead us through a turn for the worse in life only to test and approve our character.

Why?

Because our time here on earth is only a preparation and molding for eternity in heaven.

Starting in Ur, which is translated flame, Abram travels just under 200 miles from the northwest coast of the Persian Gulf. He then hikes it about 600 miles northwest to Haran, meaning Mountaineer or Mountain. From Haran he traveled another few hundred miles southwest to the land of Canaan, meaning lowland. Passing through Canaan Abram now pitches his tent between Bethel, translated House of God, and Ai, meaning ruin. Abram’s life has been a long road, He’s been through the fiery suffering of loss, climbed the mountains of disappointment where he first began to hear God, then “Passes through” the lowlands only to hear God speak more blessing, and now he’s dwelling between God’s house and utter Ruin. On our own travels towards a deeper relationship with the Lord I believe all of us hit these places along the way. Life sometimes gets a bit fiery as we set out from the familiar to the unknown areas of faith. Then we seem to climb up and over the mountains to draw close to God and hear His voice in our personal lives. As we grow, circumstances in life sometimes bring us low, leaving us smack between God’s house and the utter ruin of our old natural life.

Not only does God allow us to suffer in life for our own character growth and development, but He allows us to go through the fire to be a living testimony to those around us. As Christians people are always watching us to see if the God we believe in is real. They want proof, and the way we walk through life is God’s way of displaying His truth to them. When Abram went through the ringer, He didn’t cave in and complain, He took the opportunity to proclaim God’s goodness to all those around. He “called on the name of the Lord”. The Hebrew suggests a public proclamation; Abram was literally the first dude in the Bible to be known for street evangelism. Even though he had every reason to complain, even though he seemed like the only guy seeking the Lord in the grossly idolatrous culture of Canaan (Genesis 15:16), Abram chose to praise the Lord and proclaim the good news to everyone watching and listening. In the same way, Jesus had every reason to complain, He was perfectly righteous in a fallen world, He was mistreated and life was hard…but He chose instead to Praise His Father, and proclaim to all the good news of salvation…in fact He laid down His life so we might see and follow His example in our own difficult circumstances.

You see all of us are between Bethel and Ai on earth. We’re between the House of God and Ruin. Abe chose to give glory to God when it got tough…what about you? When given life’s lemons are you surrendering those lemons on the altar and allowing God to alter your lemons to lemonade? Or are you just gripping those lemons and complaining about your sour situation?

It’s your choice.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:1-2