18 May 2010
Psalm 97, 99; 1 Sam. 16:1-13a; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 8:18-27

Saul has failed to obey the clear word of the Lord in re the Amalekites and has therefore been rejected by the Lord as king over Israel. Why does the Lord not simply take his life? Instead Samuel is sent to the house of Jesse to anoint one of the sons of this man. The Lord does not tell Samuel which son he will anoint as the next king of Israel, often we are given one piece of instruction at a time so that we will develop the habit of constant prayer and reliance on Him. As the sons of Jesse pass before Samuel he is tempted to anoint each in his turn and after the last has come and the Lord has said no to each, Samuel must surely have wondered if the whole thing was a fool’s errand before asking if these were all the sons. David was an afterthought even to his father, shepherding the sheep, but the Lord knew the heart of this one and chose him. We tend to make the same kinds of mistakes all the time in the church today, judging by the world’s standards rather than hearing God.

Jesus won’t take commitments that aren’t complete. Several offer to follow but Jesus is looking for those who follow knowing the cost and without looking back. What we don’t understand is that we have it comfortable and follow from a safe distance and what Jesus is looking for are those who are willing to leave comfort behind and follow closely. The disciples get an object lesson in what it means to follow and to believe as He comes to them in the midst of a storm and speaks to the wind, and it obeys! Who are they following? Even they have not yet understood who this is that has called them.

Paul’s prayer is for the Ephesians to know the fullness of God, both in knowledge and in their lives. He asks for strength and power and love in the indwelling of Christ in their hearts. Those things are for living. He also asks for comprehension but acknowledges that the comprehension they need is beyond knowledge, it is comprehension of truth that transcends what our minds can contain. The knowledge and love of God is greater than anything on earth. God is a concept that we can scarcely begin to understand with our minds and the love that brought Jesus to take on flesh and die for us is greater love than we can imagine. The benefits of His death and passion for us will likely stagger our imagination when we finally see Him. Are we prepared to yield fully to Him in order to see His power working in us?

Let them praise your great and awesome name!
Holy is he!
The King in his might loves justice.
You have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt the LORD our God;
worship at his footstool!
Holy is he!