“When one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” – 2 Samuel 4:10-11

One of the things that made David who he was – a man after God’s own heart – is that he didn’t take immoral, unethical, sinful shortcuts to power. Though he’d long been anointed the next king of Israel, he was content to wait for God’s will to unfold in God’s timing. He didn’t assassinate rivals, and he punished those who did. He didn’t grasp for power, but received it through patient, faithful, obedience to God. He didn’t view rivals as enemies to be destroyed, but as God’s people, to be waited out. He didn’t reward treachery or ungodly means of advancement. He operated with integrity.

That kind of godly integrity matters. Especially for leaders. God’s timing is perfect and He doesn’t need anyone to help Him by sinful means. The way we do things matters more to God than the outcome. While waiting can certainly feel far too slow to us here on earth, it isn’t. Leaders who are godly don’t rush things along by ungodly means. They certainly don’t celebrate those who do. They punish them. Even if what they did advances the leader’s preferred outcome. That’s what it means to operate with godly integrity.

God’s people, all who follow Jesus, must operate with that integrity. We are to encourage others to operate with it as well. With godly patience rather than impatience that bears ungodly fruit. We should correct and condemn those who don’t operate with integrity. We should never condone those who claim to be advancing God’s will in ungodly ways. Because in God’s Kingdom, the means always matters and the end NEVER justifies the means. #FollowJesus

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.”
– Psalm 125:2

The Bible uses so many figures of speech to communicate this glorious truth. God’s love for His people is steadfast, faithful, and loyal in ways we can’t even fully comprehend. He is our rock, our refuge, our strength, our shield, our protector. He shields, shelters, guards, and protects His people spiritually like immovable mountains, like a great bird hiding us in its wings, like a fortress, like a rock, like a strong tower.

All we have to do to enjoy God’s steadfast protection and presence is to not wander away. Not go chasing after other things that take the place of God in our hearts, minds, energy, and attention. Not reject God’s leadership, lordship, and good will for our lives.

It seems so simple. Such a gracious offer – follow Him, obey Him, enjoy Him. And yet, we often ignore or reject the offer outright to follow ourselves, obey ourselves, and enjoy ourselves. Until we, hopefully, wake up and realize that hasn’t worked out at all. It’s so much wiser just to accept the grace of God and let Him be all that He has promised to be in Scripture. #FollowJesus

“When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, ‘Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.’” – 1 Samuel 25:39a

The foolish Nabal had viciously and publicly insulted David. In his flesh, David had been eager to deal with the man himself. He’d gathered his troops to bring death to the house of Nabal. Thankfully, the wise Abigail intervened and persuaded David not to sinfully repay Nabal’s insult with mass murder. God Himself later dealt with Nabal and his ungodly pride, greed, and selfishness. In doing this, the Lord reminded David of a fundamental biblical principle: God’s people must not be in the business of revenge. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, and only the Lord, because only He can handle it justly and without sin.

What was clear in the Old Testament was made even more explicit by Jesus. Followers of Jesus are to turn the other cheek. We are to repay evil with good. We are to make peace, not escalate conflict. We are to seek reconciliation and practice forgiveness rather than hold onto bitterness. We are not to indulge our sinful flesh by avenging ourselves. All those who trust Jesus with their life must also trust Him to act with perfect justice in His perfect timing rather than their flawed sense of justice and their preferred timing.

Christians must not be eager to deal in violence, death, and destruction. That is not the way of Jesus. Don’t follow the instincts of your flesh when it cries out for revenge. Don’t follow a culture that so often howls for blood. Follow Jesus to the cross every single day, trusting that God’s coming justice and timing will be perfect and everlasting. #FollowJesus

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!”
– Psalm 141:3

This is a fantastic prayer! The Bible – Old Testament and New – is incredibly clear from beginning to end about the terrible, destructive, and even demonic power of what comes out of our mouths. Jesus said that what comes out of our mouths reflects the reality of our hearts. James described the tongue as a fire that burns down our lives, a restless evil filled with poison.

What about YOUR words? What you speak? What you sing along to? What you type or text? What you like or share? Is this an area where you struggle with sin? What about when you’re hungry, angry, lonely, or tired? Have you confirmed your answer with God?

May we all take the words of Scripture seriously and guard our mouths. May we stop any toxic words that would flow from our tongues (or fingers if we use technology). Let us regularly ask God, with utmost seriousness, to actively guard our mouths from sin. To watch the door of our lips so that nothing vile would burst forth or sneak out. In our present age of manufactured algorithmic outrage, Christians need to pray this prayer with greater urgency than ever before. We must be different from everyone else! #FollowJesus

“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?”
– Psalm 27:1

God is bigger than any problem or any opponent you’ll ever face in life. Never forget that. Because humans are so strongly tied to our senses, the visible, obvious things that make us afraid seem massive and insurmountable. But our invisible God is infinitely bigger and stronger than all those things.

The world loves to stoke fear and anger. Draw near to God and find peace and comfort, instead! It’s not that there aren’t dangerous things in the world, but followers of Jesus don’t need to be controlled by fear of them. In Christ, we are eternally secure. God is with us and in us. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Spend quality time with God every day and throughout the day. Read and meditate on His Word. Pray and still your soul in His presence. He is your light and salvation if Jesus is your Lord. Make Him your refuge, fortress, and stronghold, no matter what may threaten you here on earth. #FollowJesus