Thursday, April 18, 2013

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CHANGE

Suggested Reading: 2 Samuel 20-21

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Israeli army recruits stand atop an old tank that was used in a previous armed conflict. There are hundreds of tanks on display at the Armoured Corps Memorial at Latrun, Israel.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: 2 Samuel 21:1, 14b

Now there was famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.”…So they performed all that the king had commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.

As the above photo illustrates, not much has changed in the human condition. Yes, there were no battle tanks mentioned in today’s reading, just swords and spears, but people are people … except for the night and day change that happens in the human heart when Jesus comes in to dwell. We may well have been discouraged after today’s reading. Just in case that is the case, our key verses point out to us that God answered prayer for people 3,000 years ago. He still answers prayer today. Samuel was dead. Nathan the prophet did not show up with a Word from God. It appears that the political and military leaders did their own thing. It’s important that we don’t blame God for the mess Israel was in. Even so today, it’s our fault that the world is so badly messed up. It’s the story of fallen humanity. A humanity given free will by God needs to turn around, repent, and find God’s will.

2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us that if we humble ourselves and pray, God will forgive our sins and heal our land. For encouragement we may want to read 2 Chronicles 7:12-18.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I humble myself in Your presence. I seek Your face as You told David’s son Solomon to do. I turn away from all wickedness, repenting with deep sorrow. I claim Your promise of forgiveness and healing. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve just finished reading a book called, “Rome’s Last Citizen,” the life and legacy of Cato, who is called by the authors the “mortal enemy of Caesar.” The years covered in the book are in the decades prior to the coming of Jesus. It describes a history of even greater evil than that of Israel in King David’s time. I studied the language of Rome, Latin, for four years, doing translations on examination papers and learning about the longest lasting empire ever. Rome, for some time, before the Caesar dynasty, had operated in a hit-and-miss fashion under a constitution. It sounded good on paper, but the reality was that the leaders manipulated the constitution and the people for their own self-centred purposes. In 1968 I made my first visit to the Soviet Union. I read carefully their constitution. It was filled with high ideals which would appear to be the fulfillment of the Words of the Bible, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” I was well aware that under that constitution Lenin and Stalin murdered millions of people. What evil there is in human hearts. My consistent longing, whether reading the history of Rome or the Soviet constitution, or today’s reading about Israel, is “O Jesus, only You can change the human heart. Only Your indwelling presence can enable me to live up to God’s standards of moral behaviour, truly loving my neighbour as myself.” In modern Rome, “Vivere al Cento Per Cento,” our Italian television productions, were released. The way of salvation, by faith in Jesus alone, was clearly presented. This was a first, to my knowledge. In the Soviet Union, the Crossroads Creation series and our children’s series, Kingdom Adventure, were released on state television across all 15 republics. This was another first for the message of Jesus in an officially atheistic state. In Israel, my son-in-law, Nizar Shaheen, who is ordained in the Nazareth Baptist Church, shared the Gospel of Jesus on Channel One in both of his first languages, Arabic and Hebrew. This was state television, and for several years prior to Christmas and Easter, Nizar was asked to explain how Christians understood the Hebrew prophecies concerning the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ. I’m more convinced than ever that “Jesus changes everything” when He lives in the hearts of people.

Yours with an expression of Joy as I heard a new believer say, “Three cheers for Jesus!”

David

P.S. Below are pictures of two of the three mobile TV production trucks that Crossroads supporters provided for Europe. They served in Rome, The Soviet Union, and Israel. They moved around to Belgium, Germany, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Austria and Finland. Our world desperately needs Jesus and His message. The latest report I have received shows that our School of Broadcasting graduates are serving the Lord in TV in at least 90 countries. These are spiritual battle tanks!

 

20 thoughts on “Thursday, April 18, 2013”

  2. I think you’re correct David, since the fall back in Genesis, man’s nature is to sin against God and to be occupied with the purposes of the ‘self’ life. Just pick up the daily newspaper and look at the front page, or go to the Yahoo news page just to see how obsessed we are with the ‘self’ life. Whether it’s political gain, celebrity gain, military gain or financial gain … we are all about self interest and self promotion even if it means beating someone else down to get this advancement. However this isn’t the Christian way at all. Christ was all about losing one’s self in good deeds, charity, love, compassion and good will. Jesus asks us to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and then everything else will be added as need be. To seek the Christ-like life is not a destination, it’s a journey, to be lived out moment by moment throughout one’s life. By keeping close to Christ and His principles, we will be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, thereby avoiding the ‘self’ life.

    A Pastor shared a few scripture references with me which I would like to share with you at this time:

    Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
    I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.

    Colossians 3:4 (NASB)
    When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

    Acts 2:42 (NASB)
    And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

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  4. Linda and Scott, the first two responders to today’s blog, are an encouragement to me, as are others who post comments. Thank You!
    David Mainse

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  5. First we’ve seen you in the comments section, David! Comments seem to be a way for us to stay “involved” and comitted to your Blog. They certainly reflect a reponse to your writings and how the Holy Spirit is moving through our beings! Amen to the above and those whom follow, as each signify growth and change, even in struggle. Have a great day!

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  7. I too am in agreement with Linda, Scott and Lianne. Excellent scriptures Scott!!! God Bless each one today and thank you again David for this daily bible reading, exposition and blog. 3 cheers – Hip, Hip, Hooray!!!!

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  8. Absolutely on the same page with everyone, this morning! We are so blessed by you, David Mainse! Thank you for bringing the love of Jesus into the lives of so many individuals around the world. Thank you to all those who have given to the Crossroads ministry to help spread the Word and Truth. Where would we be without Jesus?

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  9. We can all cheer at sports events but we need to cheer LOUDER for what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us.
    Amen to everyone’s comments and thank you David. I pray each morning before I rise as you are writing, praying and reading THE WORD, and then sending it on it’s way to those who study with you. Thank you Scott for the scriptures.
    God bless everyone today….cheerfully marching on!!!

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  10. Amen to all the above comments! I have been following this bible study from the beginning but have not been blogging myself but love reading it. But I was encouraged today and vow to be more deligent and making it a priority to do the study first thing in the morning. If David Mainse can do it than I have no excuse.
    God Bless!

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  11. Thank you again David for your words, I so appreciate your blog every day..I am thrilled to know that you are planning a trip to Israel again, last year was such a wonderful trip, someday I want to go again. But today I am planning a trip to Haiti where I started a Childrens Home 21 years ago, we, all 7 of us, will visit hearttohearthaiti.com and haitiarise.org to see what God can do when we listen to Him.

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  12. Amen, Amen. , to all the above comment, the sword of the Spirit,THE WORD
    of GOD Keeps us on the striaght and narrow we can’t falter in our walk of
    faith if we read the WORD as we are thanks to David.M. and this blog thank
    – you all ..R..

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  13. What blessings we share! Thank you David for your devoted ministry in spreading the Word for so many years. I had no idea it was so far reaching! It’s a privilege to be part of a worldwide outreach.

    Often at hockey games, concerts or any place where loud cheers and shouts of appreciation are expressed, I envision all those enthusiastic shouts being expressed openly for Jesus and what He has done for us, for me!
    All praise, honour and glory to Him! One day it will be so as “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He IS Lord”!!! Amen.

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  15. Amen to all the above blogs. To God be the glory, great things He has done, David in and through your faithfulness. And we are continuing to reap the benefits. Thanks!

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