Seize the Moment – Day 793
Seize the Moment for Reconciliation!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, May 19.
After killing his brother Amnon, David’s firstborn son, Absalom fled to Geshur for three years (2 Samuel 13:37-39). David mourned for his sons, the one who was dead and the one who fled, but even upon his return to Jerusalem, David did not see him for two more years (2 Samuel 14:28). That’s five years of estrangement and the heart ache compounded over time, until Joab, the mighty general of David’s armies, intervened. It may be that Joab understood, in a unique way, the plight of Absalom because Joab had incurred the wrath of David for avenging his own brother’s murder years earlier (2 Samuel 3:26-30). Joab, more than anyone else, knew that reconciliation was possible, and necessary, so he facilitated the process.
Seize the moment and look for moments of reconciliation in your own life; be a peacemaker to those you encounter (Matthew 5:9).
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Seize the Moment – Day 792
Discipline is Designed for Good!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, May 18.
Have you ever experienced discipline that seemed hard, but later, you realized, was an important and essential part of your development? The Bible speaks of the importance of parental authority and the urgency of discipline for the character development of children.
Second Samuel 13 is a heartbreaking chapter as David’s children sin against one another, not because David was absent from their lives, but because he wouldn’t discipline them for their wrongdoing. David’s firstborn son, Amnon, lusted after his half-sister, Tamar, and devised a plan to take her as his own, but upon taking her he hated her with a greater intensity than his former obsession and abandoned her (1-19). This is an ugly tale that fueled a deep hatred within Absalom’s heart. Absalom was the full brother of Tamar, and upon seeing David do nothing in response to this situation (21), he devised a plan to punish Amnon (20-39). He murdered him and later sought the death of his father when he led a military coup against him (2 Samuel 15-18). Absalom’s hatred burned hot!
Could Absalom’s spiral into murder and betrayal have been avoided if David disciplined Amnon for his gross sin against Tamar? Hebrews 12:9-11 states the importance of a father’s discipline:
Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Seize the moment and submit yourself to the loving discipline of the Lord and His authorized agents in your life; God has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11).
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Seize the Moment – Day 791
We all Need a Nathan in our Lives!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, May 17.
When was the last time you were confronted by God through a person who loved you enough to tell you the truth? A person you trust who has permission to directly hold you accountable for your walk with Jesus. Do you have a Nathan in your life?
In 2 Samuel 12:1-15, Nathan the prophet used a story of injustice to confront King David for his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba. David was pierced to the heart through this direct confrontation, and by God’s grace, confessed his brokenness before God in 2 Samuel 12:13: “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.’” Even though David experienced mercy for his sin, it was not without grave consequences.
For thousands of years, David’s deep contrition for his sin, as recorded in Psalm 51, has resonated with countless people who have found themselves in a place of brokenness over their own sin. I, too, have prayed these words of repentance, as first heard in verses 1-4:
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.
We all need to experience brokenness over our sin; therefore, we all need a Nathan in our lives who has permission to speak truth to us with a genuine love and a gentle spirit (Galatians 6:1). Who is your Nathan?
Seize the moment and ask God to give you a clean heart, to renew a steadfast spirit in you, and to restore the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:10, 12).
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Seize the Moment – Day 790
Be Where You are Supposed to Be!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, May 16.
The situation got worse, and everyone knew about it, including Uriah, whom David had brought back from the front line in a failed attempt to cover his shame for his abuse of power. Uriah’s response to David in verse 11, when David asked him why he had not gone home to be with his wife, made the situation abundantly clear:
The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing.
Uriah was not letting David off the hook. He emphasized that everyone was where they were supposed to be, except David! Uriah refused to cover David’s shame, but instead multiplied it. The situation escalated out of control and David ordered his death. The chapter ends with David’s honor in doubt, as verse 27 declared, “the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Sin is progressive by nature, and while it may start small, it seeks to devour you in the end.
Seize the moment and be where you are supposed to be and do what you are supposed to do; don’t give evil a foothold in your life.
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Train to Live on Mission – Week 14
Battle Drill #14:
Plan Your Route!
Proverbs 7:1-27 (NAS95)
Today, we are going to walk through the four action steps of a soldier’s training routine to learn the next battle drill – “Plan Your Route!” I have some stories to help illustrate today’s lesson:
1) Learning land navigation in the military is a significant investment of time, energy, and resources for infantry soldiers. We spent a lot of time working on the skills necessary to do this during the day and in the night. My body has the marks to show how hard it can be, especially at night, just like our souls bear the scars of how hard it can be to plan our routes properly in life, especially in the valleys of the shadow.
2) Ranger school taught me the need to know my location when on mission. At any time, you may need to pivot in place due to attack or unexpected changes. You need to learn to know where you are on the map by looking at the terrain around you (providence).
3) On a road trip you can’t blindly trust your GPS, or you may end up a dead end or in a place you never intended. You need to know how to use a map to double check your route.
Let’s learn how we can train this battle drill so that you can live on mission today.
Action Step #1) Know the Field Manual.
The battle drill we are going to learn and apply this week is from Proverbs 7:1-3:
My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
To better understand how I am applying this Scripture to learning how to plan your route, you need to hear the rest of this passage so I will continue reading from Proverbs 7 with verses 4-27:
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your intimate friend; that they may keep you from an adulteress, from the foreigner who flatters with her words. For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice, and I saw among the naive, and discerned among the youths A young man lacking sense, passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the middle of the night and in the darkness. And behold, a woman comes to meet him, dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart. She is boisterous and rebellious, her feet do not remain at home; she is now in the streets, now in the squares, and lurks by every corner. So she seizes him and kisses him and with a brazen face she says to him: “I was due to offer peace offerings; today I have paid my vows. Therefore I have come out to meet you, to seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you. I have spread my couch with coverings, with colored linens of Egypt. I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with caresses. For my husband is not at home, he has gone on a long journey; he has taken a bag of money with him, at the full moon he will come home.” With her many persuasions she entices him; with her flattering lips she seduces him. Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, until an arrow pierces through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it will cost him his life. Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths. For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain. Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death.
We know what the Field Manual says, let’s now take the second action step to learn how to apply today’s battle drill to our everyday lives as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
Action Step #2) Train together as one unit.
1) Reading a map, to include plotting points and use terrain association skills along the route.
2) Using a compass to include setting an azimuth (the direction of travel between two points).
3) Learning your pace count (the ability to track distance traveled in a specific direction).
Here is how the two connect so that we can see how we are training them together as the church:
- The Bible provides us a map of where we were, where we are, and where we are going. Just like we read in today’s scripture from Proverbs 7:1-3, Psalm 119:105-106 also teaches, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances.” If we are going to find ourselves on the map, then we need to know it.
- Jesus is our compass and helps us set our direction. Paul teaches us Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” If we are going to know the way we are to live our lives, then we must set every direction according to Jesus Christ, our true north.
- The Spirit is our guide as we learn to walk in the way of Jesus. Jesus taught many things about the Holy Spirit, to include this in John 16:13, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” If we are going to remain in the way, then we need to listen to the Spirit at work in our lives.
Action Step #3) Seek the Commander’s approval.
There is an expression that I used earlier and that I now want to explain to you so that you can learn how to seek God’s approval in your life before all else and in doing so plan your route: “Jesus is our true north.” Allow me to explain this to you by sharing from a research article:
The expression true north is based on a fact that navigators and surveyors must deal with every day: a magnetic compass is not a terribly reliable instrument. A magnetic compass points toward the magnetic north pole, which is not the same as true north, or the geographic (or geodetic) north pole. The difference between magnetic north and true north is currently a matter of several hundred miles—but it changes, due to the fact that the magnetic north pole drifts several miles a year. The earth produces a magnetic field. The places where the lines of magnetic induction converge are called the magnetic poles. The location of the magnetic north pole changes over time. In contrast, true north is a fixed spot on the globe: the true north pole is found at the conjunction of the lines of longitude, the point at which the earth’s axis exits the globe. Magnetic north varies position from year to year; true north is unchanging. Because the needle of a magnetic compass points toward the magnetic north pole, not the geographic north pole, it is not entirely accurate. It may give a general idea of where north is, especially in the middle latitudes, but it can be wildly unreliable in the regions closer to the poles, varying by 20 to 60 degrees. The difference between magnetic north and true north is called declination, and it varies according to where one is located on the globe. To compensate for declination and find true north, we must perform some mathematical calculations using an up-to-date chart or calibrate our compasses. Adding to the confusion is magnetic deviation, caused when nearby metallic objects or electrical equipment influence the compass needle. Deviation is especially a problem inside ships and airplanes and in areas containing a lot of metal ore. Like declination, deviation must be overcome, usually by means of auxiliary magnets, in order to find true north.[1]
Therefore, when you hear it said that “Jesus is our truth north” you know now that means that Jesus is the constant, unchanging source of truth and life. As Hebrews 13:8-9a states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings…” Jesus concludes His sermon on the mount with these critical words of how we are to apply His teachings to our lives and in how we are to plan our routes, from Matthew 7:24-27:
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.
Action Step #4) Live on mission by keeping Jesus Christ as the true north of your life.
Is your life off course? Do you feel lost? Do you need a course correction or an altogether new route for your life? “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life… “ (John 14:6)!
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FOOTNOTES:
[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-true-north.html (accessed May 13, 2022).
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Seize the Moment – Day 788
Today’s hymn focus will be
I Must Tell Jesus
Hebrews 2:18 (ESV)
“For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
While pastoring in Lebanon, PA, Elisha Hoffman called on one of his parishioners and found her in great sorry and distress. She kept asking “What can I do…What can I do?” to which he replied “You cannot do better than to take it all to Jesus… you must tell Jesus!” She took these words to heart, meditating on them, then her countenance changed and her face began to glow and she became animated and proclaimed, “Yes, I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus!”
Leaving what was originally a sorrow-filled home, he walked home and his thoughts were filled with her joy-illuminated face, transforming her soul from a place of darkness into the light of the Lord. So he echoed those words in this song:
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
We need to wake up and realize like this woman did that we are to take everything to Jesus in prayer every day, and walk in the assurance that He has taken care of all of it.
YOUTUBE:
I Must Tell Jesus
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end. [Refrain]
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share. [Refrain]
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the vict’ry to win. [Refrain]
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Seize the Moment – Day 787
Focus!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, May 13.
Do you like to think of yourself as an effective multitasker? I used to! I learned that while it is possible to do two things at once, it’s difficult to give either of them my attention effectively. For example, I can’t listen to a person sitting in front of me effectively while checking my text messages. In that same way that I can’t attend to a phone call while reading emails. I need to pick one or the other to focus my concentration on one person or one task at a time.
Israel found themselves in a battle on two fronts and Joab, the general of their army, made the decision to give his full attention to one front and entrust the other to his brother, Abishai. He galvanized his brother into action with these words from 2 Samuel 10:11-12:
If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to help you. Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.
Joab knew that he couldn’t personally lead the battle on both fronts, so he delegated authority so that his attention was not split and both fronts had a leader with their full focus on the task. To win the battle, regardless of whether it is physical, mental, emotional, relational, or spiritual one, you must give your full attention to the situation at hand and trust God with the results on every front in your life.
Seize the moment and work with a whole heart and an undivided mind (Colossians 3:23)! Rather than multitasking focus on the person, task, or situation at hand and watch God win the battle.
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Seize the Moment – Day 786
Give Generously with a Clear Conscience!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, May 12.
Have you ever been exceedingly generous to a person, church, or charity only to wonder later if what they did with your generosity was the right thing or a good stewardship of your trust?
Sandwiched between chapters of war and conquest, today’s chapter stands out as a breath of fresh air as David, moved by covenant faithfulness to Jonathan, blessed Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, the crippled son of Jonathan. In 2 Samuel 9:9-11, David entrusted the care of Saul’s estate to Ziba:
Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.
Did David go too far in bestowing royal favor upon Mephibosheth? Was Ziba trustworthy of such a large stewardship responsibility? The answers to these questions are not clear as 2 Samuel 16:1-4 portrays Mephibosheth as being disloyal while Ziba comes across as a faithful servant, whereas, 2 Samuel 19:24-30 does the opposite, portraying Mephibosheth as the faithful one, a victim of Ziba’s duplicity. Regardless of what they did with David’s favor and generosity, what is clear is that David acted with a clear conscience as he honored his word to Saul and kept his covenant to Jonathan.
Seize the moment and give generously with a clear conscience. You are only responsible to do what God has put on your heart to do. Surrender the results to Him!
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Seize the Moment – Day 785
Be Faithful to Your Work!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, May 11.
King David was a military man with much blood on his hands from years of campaigning. This was the reason God did not allow him to build His temple (1 Kings 5:3; 1 Chronicles 22:8). Immediately after God established a covenant with him and his household in 2 Samuel 7, David went back out on military campaign and brutally conquered the Philistines, Moabites, Zobahites, Arameans, and Edomites. Essentially, David ran a textbook military conquest, which built a name for him and established Israel’s dominance over the Promised Land, as summarized in 2 Samuel 8:13-15:
So David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Arameans in the Valley of Salt. He put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went. So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people.
While there was still work to be done, as we will see in future chapters, the reality is that David did not sit back and sulk after God told him he couldn’t lead the building campaign of the temple; rather, David got back to the work he was called to do and built the kingdom of Israel through military conquest and right administration. He was preparing the way for his son Solomon who would build the temple because he would not have to dirty his hands with military conquest, as David had to do.
Each of us has been chosen by God to do specific good works for God’s glory. Paul taught us this in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Seize the moment and be faithful to the work God has chosen for you to do in this season of your life.
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Seize the Moment – Day 784
Trust God for His Better Yes!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, May 10.
Have you ever had a knee-jerk response to a person’s request and then later realized it was the wrong response? Were you able to go back to the person and rectify the situation?
In 2 Samuel 7:3, Nathan the prophet gives a knee-jerk response to David’s request to build God a temple: “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.” And why not?!? David was now the king of a unified Israel, anointed by the great prophet Samuel, victorious over his enemies, and the one who brought the ark of God to the newly conquered city of Jerusalem. Why would God not want David to do this for Him?
But Nathan was wrong! God’s plans were bigger than anything Nathan the prophet could imagine and more than anything King David was prepared to ask for. God’s “no” to David was because He had a bigger yes in mind. Thankfully, Nathan’s integrity went beyond the stubborn pride of keeping his own word and was the humble faithfulness to keep every Word of God. After faithfully going to prayer with David’s request, he gave this word to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13:
When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Thank God Nathan the prophet did not let his pride prevent him from rectifying the situation, so that God could use him to give David a better yes.
Seize the moment and be willing to put your trust more in God’s Word than in your own ideas and plans. Open your hands, mind, and heart to God’s better yes!
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