Author: Brian Burdett

“The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
– Psalm 11:5

A helpful, and straightforward, reminder…

The righteous will be examined, tested, and evaluated. They will experience long seasons of stress, difficulty, pressure, suffering, and persecution which will prove, refine, and strengthen their righteous character in the Lord for all to see.

The wicked – HATED by the Lord. That isn’t popular to say in our culture, but it’s certainly biblical.

Those who love violence, who are excited by the prospect, seek it out, delight in it, and perhaps even pray for it – HATED by the Lord.

Be righteous. Don’t be wicked. Don’t love violence. #FollowJesus

“So they inquired again of the Lord, ‘Is there a man still to come?’ and the Lord said, ‘Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.’” – 1 Samuel 10:22

God had already anointed Saul to become the first king of Israel. However, when the moment came to reveal him to all of God’s people, Saul was nowhere to be found. Having heard his calling from God, Saul was overwhelmed and afraid. Perhaps he was afraid of how the people would respond… Would they follow him as king? What would they say to or about him? Perhaps he was afraid of how his life would be utterly changed forever by answering God’s call. Either way, Saul hid himself amongst the camp baggage. But he couldn’t hide from God and he couldn’t hide from God’s call on his life.

If Jesus is your Lord, then you, too, have a calling. In a general sense it looks like loving God, loving other people, and making disciples by telling people about Jesus and helping believers learn to obey Jesus. In a particular sense – who and how and what that exactly looks like – that’s between you and God. Perhaps you already know and are happily doing it. Or perhaps you know and are avoiding it, trying to hide from it like Saul. Or perhaps you’ve never wrestled with this question and sought God’s will for your life. It’s natural to have some fear about responding to God’s call on your life. To wonder how will people respond to you? What will they say? What if you mess up? What will it cost you? How could you possibly fit it in your schedule? How could you possibly take that step given your past or present situation?

Nonetheless, you can’t hide from God and you can’t hide from His calling! All you can do is miss out on some of the blessings of doing what God made you to do! To miss out on some of the great purpose and significance of your new life in Christ. You really don’t want to do that! So, are you answering God’s call on your life – whatever that call is? Are you avoiding it like Saul tried to do? Or have you not yet begun to prayerfully explore what God has waiting for you? #FollowJesus

“But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.” – 1 Samuel 5:4

God’s people had been thoroughly defeated. However, that didn’t mean God was defeated!!! Israel had been repeatedly defeated by the Philistines because their leaders were incompetent and their religious leaders were ungodly, corrupt, and abusive. When they foolishly tried to use YHWH’s power by carrying the Ark of the Covenant into battle, it didn’t change the fact that they were led by sinful, foolish, weak, and wicked leaders. So YHWH permitted Israel to lose badly. Those despicable leaders were killed and the Ark fell into the hands of Israel’s enemies.

However, that didn’t mean that Israel’s God had failed, as the Philistines imagined. Quite the contrary! Because YHWH is THE King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it was His will for Israel to be crushed for their sins. It was His will for the Ark to fall into the hands of the Philistines. And when the Philistines tried to celebrate their god’s “victory” over YHWH, YHWH repeatedly humiliated their god, Dagon.

Each morning, the statue of Dagon would be found having fallen over during the night in a posture of submission before YHWH. One night, the fall caused Dagon’s statue to break into pieces. Israel was defeated because of its many sins but Israel’s God cannot be defeated. Remember this and never confuse the worldly standing of God’s people (especially when they’ve fallen into repeated sin and are led terribly) with the unchanging reality that God is always on His throne! #FollowJesus

“And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant hears.’” – 1 Samuel 3:10

The young Samuel experienced a unique, dramatic, and unmistakable calling from God. An experience suitable for the man who would bridge the gap from judges to kings and who would restore integrity to the prophetic and priestly roles in Israel. Most of us won’t experience a calling from God nearly so dramatic. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t called. That doesn’t mean YOU aren’t called.

If Jesus is your Lord, then Scripture promises that God has prepared good works for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Do you know what those are? Are you doing them? Are you clear about your calling from God? Most people aren’t.

Broadly speaking, God’s calling is clear… Love God wholeheartedly. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love fellow believers so well that unbelievers know you’re a follower of Jesus. Make disciples. Live a holy life.

But what does your calling specifically look like within those big commands? How has God uniquely gifted and shaped you to do those things in the power of the Holy Spirit? Do you know? Are you even asking God? Are you trying to serve and love in various ways in order to discover where God may be calling you? Are you fasting and praying for clarity?

Life is too short and too precious to waste on the endless trivial amusements, distractions, and pursuits the world encourages us to go after! Seek the enduring joy, peace, and meaning that only comes when you do the things your Savior has prepared, invited, commanded, and called you to do. #FollowJesus

“No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” – Ruth 1:13b

When tragedy follows tragedy and the future looks to be full of hardship without hope, it becomes easy to convince ourselves that God is against us. That He has nothing good for us. No plan, no blessing, and no future. That was Naomi’s conclusion after losing her husband and both sons in Moab. In despair over her many losses, she tried to send her faithful daughters-in-law away by explaining that God was against her.

However, what Naomi could only see as God’s will against her was actually His greater plan unfolding to bless her, bless Israel, and bless the entire world! Her daughter-in-law Ruth stuck with her. Ruth left her homeland behind and converted to faith in the God of Israel. Ruth worked hard and provided for Naomi diligently, gaining the respect and favor of everyone who heard her story. What God was actually doing amidst Naomi’s suffering was weaving Ruth into His plan to redeem the world. Ruth would marry the just and righteous Boaz of Bethlehem. Her great-grandson was King David. Many generations later, Jesus of Nazareth would be be accounted a direct descendant of David from family line.

God was always working and He wasn’t against Naomi. Her situation was certainly painful and it’s easy to understand why she’d lost hope. But God still had a plan for her. It just was much, much bigger than her. It was a plan for the world and Naomi was an important part of it – both her sorrows and her later joy. Remember this, when the difficulties of the world begin to make you wonder whether God is against you. His plans are much, much bigger than any one person and He works across countless generations. Sometimes sorrow and difficulty are a necessary part to make way for greater joy and blessing. Have faith that God is indeed all-good, all-knowing, all-wise, all-powerful, and ever-present. #FollowJesus