Sparks, Triggers and Inspiration

Daily Reading: Malachi 1&2, Psalm 8, 38, 68

Psalm 68:27 “There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.”

Yes…I know…this doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with much of anything else, but this verse sparked a thought that triggered a memory and inspired a decision.

The Thought that was Sparked: As I read verse 27 I thought about Benjamin and the fact that King Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was so humble as he began his life of royalty but pride soon overtook him and he was lost to it. In his folly he made a way for a young soldier by the name of David to rise up and learn to follow the heart of God from an earthly throne. God had become displeased with Saul and found His own heart in David. David was from the tribe of Judah and I wonder…because I have not studied this…if the prophesies of the coming Messiah were spoken before or after David became king? Here’s where I’m going with this. Is it possible that Saul and the tribe of Benjamin would have been the ancestral line of Christ if Saul had not thought so highly of himself and sinned before God? Is it possible that God was looking for someone to do His will and at first Saul filled the bill but as things changed, God once again had to go on a search for a humble and willing heart? Is it possible that once God had favored David and promised him that his descendants would always sit on the throne of Israel, He had to look for a young woman to carry His son as Mary did? Is it possible that it could have been someone else if they had shown the humility and grace that Mary did? Is it possible that the Messiah could have come much sooner if there had been someone capable of being the virgin mother of Christ? Is it possible that even now God has prophesy to fulfill but He is searching for someone who is willing, able and humble enough to get the job done?

The Memory that was Triggered: Sunday, pastor Davis asked us if any of us felt that there was more we are destined to do in the Kingdom of God. Many of us raised our hands. He went on to talk about being in the river and that if you want to be used of God you have to be where the Spirit is flowing, allowing the Holy Spirit to carry you, move you and flow through you. God doesn’t choose his vessels from neatly stacked rows of shiny pots and glimmering vases. He goes to the river and seeks a stone. Just as David went to the river to get 5 smooth stones, one of which killed the giant, God goes looking for smooth stones. People who have been rubbed smooth by the water and the contact with so many other stones. God looks for ready warriors and humble servants. He has so much to get done and so few vessels to work with.

The Decision that was Inspired: I will go to the river…not just to wet my feet, not just to cool my throat, not just to wash my hands, but to take a dive. I will not let my mind continue to justify the world’s standards of morality and decency…I will be a smooth stone, found in the river and ready to be used. I expect this to take time. I expect to see other stones chosen before me and I expect to find the process uncomfortable. I will not leave the river. Yesterday afternoon, we saw a movie…a good, funny, even moral by many standards, movie. However…there was that one f word and a few s words and of course there was that little bit of story that turned out good despite the lie that birthed it’s plot. I still feel that it deserved a thumbs up. I want it to be a good movie because I liked it so much. I want to justify it and hold it up to God and say…this isn’t bad…but I can’t. No matter how hard I try…I can’t hold it up to the Word and still see it as what it should be. I can only see that it is lacking. It frustrates me, but truth is an ever burning fire that will devour what is false. If I do not turn and face God with repentance, I have stepped out of the river…that’s the key. I am not going to tell everyone what a horrible movie it was…in fact I’m not even going to say that I didn’t think it was good. I just can’t go that way myself any more. I have to hold up a standard. Not because I’m afraid of going to Hell. I don’t think that movie would send me to Hell. I must hold up the standard because I need to be used of God. I need Him to be able to look at me and say…she’s the one...she’s going to do that which needs to be done. I want to be chosen…I want to be ready and I must stay in the river. So what is my decision specifically? Well, it’s to be discerning and know what things will drag me from the cool water and throw me to the banks where I find myself dry and thirsty. I am just going to commit to being where God wants me at all times and specifically today I am going to get on my knees and do that repenting that I need to do.