Don't Promise

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Don't Promise

1 Samuel 24:1

"And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."

One of the mistakes many people make is in making promises that they knowingly cannot fulfill. Making a promise should be something that is taken very seriously, for your name is put on the line with every promise. David made a promise to Saul that he knowingly couldn't fulfill. Saul asked David to promise when he became king that he would not have his family killed. It was a normal practice that when a king from a different family took the throne that he would kill the family of the preceding king. The purpose of this was to protect their throne from any uprisings. David, being a sincere and upright man, promised Saul that he would not destroy his family. However, in 2 Samuel 21:6-8, David was faced with having to destroy the family of Saul. Though David still kept his promise by keeping Mephibosheth alive, he destroyed the rest of Saul's family. Though David was sincere with his promise, he made a foolish promise that was difficult to fulfill.

Let me warn you about making promises that you cannot guarantee. Many times in your sincerity you make a promise without really thinking through the ramifications of your promise. You can't always guarantee what the future holds, therefore you should be very guarded with promises that you make for a lifetime. For instance, when you get married you are making a promise that is for life. This is why you should be guarded about whom you marry. Once you say, "I do," then you have made a promise that you must fulfill for the rest of your life.

Furthermore, don't promise what you can't always do. Many times you will make a promise to your spouse that you don't know you will always be able to fulfill. Likewise, parents must be careful about promising their children something that they don't know for sure that they can do. This is what leads to hard feelings between a child and their parent. If you promise your child something, then you better be sure that you carry out your promise. If you don't know that you can carry out your promise to its fullest, then don't promise at all. It is better not to promise than to promise and not be able to follow through.

Moreover, don't promise something that could be taken away. For instance, be careful about promising money for a lifetime. I have watched churches promise a retiring pastor a salary for the rest of his life, then not be able to fulfill that promise because of rough financial times. Though they were sincere in their promise, they could not see what the future would hold for their finances. When you promise something forever, then you better have the capability already in place to fulfill that promise.

Making a promise should never be taken lightly. Many relationships have been damaged because of broken promises. Whenever you make a promise, be sure to follow through. Though you may have good intentions with your promise, good intentions can't fulfill a promise. Be sure when you make a promise that you have the wherewithal to completely follow through with it. If you can't, then don't make the promise.

First impression((Tag:Devotional by Allen Domelle))

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The Importance of a First Impression

1 Samuel 17:45

"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."

They often say that your first impression is a lasting impression. Sadly, we make many judgments off the first impression of a person. However, how you present yourself will make a lasting impression on how people will judge you.

When I read the story of David and Goliath, I find that both men presented themselves in two very different ways. There is no doubt in my mind why God used David the way that He did. Throughout the life of David you will see that he carried himself in a proper way. However, when I look at how David and Goliath presented themselves, I see that many people must choose one of these ways to make a good lasting impression. Let me show you three ways that these men presented themselves as they came to each other.

First, Goliath came with the physical, but David came with the spiritual. Goliath came flaunting his sword, spear and shield, whereas David came lifting up the name of the LORD. Christian, you can choose to live your life with the physical, or you can choose to live your life in the spiritual. There are many Christians who keep their eyes upon the physical aspects of life, and they will only do so much for Christ. However, there are others who choose to use the spiritual and accomplish great things for God. The sword and spear is no match for prayer and the power of God. The sword and spear are no match for God's presence with someone. Too many times we focus upon the physical in our church work, when we need to get back to the spiritual if we want God to do something great. Yes, you need the physical to get things done, but the physical without the spiritual will cause you to utterly fail in the Christian life.

Second, Goliath came by sight, but David came by faith. Goliath came looking at his own stature, whereas David came looking at the magnitude of a great God and what He could do. Goliath came flaunting his past victories, whereas David came by faith and trusted that God would help him to overcome Goliath. Christian, you will never be able to serve God if you must live by sight. The Christian life is not a life of sight, but it is a life of faith. Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that you will never please God without faith. The success of your Christian life will be determined by whether you live by sight or faith. Yes, there is an unknown in faith. However, if you are a Christian who needs to live by sight, then place your sight on the past works of God as you step out by faith. When your faith is weak, then place your eyes on the sight of God's past works to give you the confidence you need when you step out by faith.

Last, Goliath came arrogantly, but David came humbly. Goliath came telling David what he would do to him, whereas David came humbled that God would use him to fight His battles. One of the determining factors of how much God will use you is how much credit you give God. If you become arrogant in the Christian life, then your usefulness to God will be very little. However, if you will stay humbled that a great God would use you, then God will have the capacity to do great works through you.

Let me ask you, how do you present yourself in the work of the LORD? Don't follow the world's model of serving God, for the only thing the world's model will give you is failure and death. Look at how David presented himself and follow that model, for his model is the model that God can use to do great works through you.

Tongues

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Medicinal Tongues

Proverbs 15:4

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit."

Most often when you hear a sermon on the tongue, you hear about how the tongue is used in a negative way. Sadly, this is most often the case. However, the tongue that has been used to destroy can also be used to heal. The verse above talks about the "wholesome tongue." The word "wholesome" means, a healing or medicinal tongue. Just like you go to the doctor to get medication to heal an infirmity, likewise the tongue can be used as a medicine to heal different situations that it faces. The power of the tongue can be a healing power. There are four ways to use your tongue as a medicinal tongue.

First, use your tongue to appease a wrathful situation. Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." This verse is teaching that you need to use your tongue to diffuse explosive situations. When you see people coming who have a countenance that is filled with wrath, instead of answering in a sharp way, answer them with a soft answer. For instance, when someone comes to accuse you of things that are wrong, then you would be wise to diffuse their wrath by acknowledging they are right. I recently had a pastor tell me about a man who came to him and told him that he wasn't right with God. This pastor responded back to this man by telling him he was right. This pastor told the man that he is constantly working on making sure he was right and asked the man to pray that one day he would be right in all areas of his life. This man who came to accuse and attack with his tongue was diffused because of a soft answer. You don't always have to retaliate with your tongue. Learn to answer softly so that you can diffuse explosive situations.

Second, use your tongue to heal a broken spirit. The verse above says, "...perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." The medicinal tongue will be used to help heal those whose spirit has been broken. Learn to use your tongue to let those with a broken spirit know that you are praying for them. Just a simple statement of encouragement can be used to help heal the broken spirit.

Third, use your tongue to refresh someone's soul. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Using pleasant and graceful words can be refreshing to someone's soul. In other words, giving a right answer can help refresh someone's soul. Knowing what to say at the right time can make or break someone's thoughts of you. Always ask God for His wisdom so that you will have the right answer for every situation.

Last, use your tongue to create a happy atmosphere. The word "pleasant" not only talks about having the right answer, but it also means to be cheerful. There is nothing like being around people who use their tongue to lift the atmosphere. Let your tongue bring happiness to people. Work hard at using your tongue to cause people to be happy that you have been in their presence.

Christian, don't let your tongue be used to destroy, but let your tongue be used to be a medicine to everyone with whom you come in contact. When you have a medicinal tongue, then you will find that people will want to be around you because your tongue helps make them feel better.

Where?

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Where Do You Draw the Line?

Ruth 1:17

"Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

Whenever you read the Scriptures, you should always look for pictures of Christ. The story of Ruth is one that resembles the relationship of the Christian and Christ. When Ruth was asked by her mother-in-law to go back home, she replied by saying the only thing that she would allow to separate her would be death. This is dedication to the core! Though Ruth owed nothing to Naomi, she decided that she was going to stay no matter what came her way.

This world is in desperate need of Christians who have the dedication of Ruth. Quite often little things will cause Christians to quit on God, when we need Christians who will decide that death will be the only thing that will cause them to stop serving God. I find in Ruth 1:16-17, five things that can cause Christians to draw the line and quit on God. I ask you, will you draw the line with God and quit serving Him if these five things happen, or will you be like Ruth who will say that death will be the only thing that you will let part you from serving God?

First, will you let the Christian path be the line that causes you to part ways with God? Ruth said, "...for whither thou goest, I will go:..." She made very clear that the Christian path would be the path that she would walk. Many will think the Christian path is too demanding to walk with Christ, but you must decide that whatever this path demands that you won't draw the line with God. The Christian path demands that you forsake all to follow Christ. Have you drawn a line with God and said that you would only go so far with Him?

Second, will you let family be the line that causes you to part ways with God? Ruth said, "...where thou lodgest, I will lodge:..." She made it very clear that she was willing to leave her own family for God. There are many Christians who for the sake of family quit on God. However, Luke 14:26 makes it clear that you must be willing to leave your whole family if needs be to serve God. If your family said they would forsake you if you continue to serve the LORD, is that the line you will draw with God?

Third, will you let friends be the line that causes you to part ways with God? Ruth said, "...thy people shall be my people,..." She was choosing Christian people to be her friends. Many people will allow their friends to pull them away from serving the LORD. You should never choose your friends over God. Simply put, would you be willing to lose every friend for the sake of Christ? If your answer is "No," then your line with God is your friends.

Fourth, will you let other gods be the line that causes you to part ways with God? Ruth said, "...and thy God my God:..." Ruth was willing to put aside all other gods to serve God. What god is it that will cause you to quit serving God? Is it wealth, status, job promotion or fame where you draw the line with God? Whatever you would be willing to put ahead of God is the line that you have drawn with God.

Last, will the loss of loved ones be the line that causes you to quit on God? Ruth said, "Where thou diest, will I die,..." Many Christians have quit serving God over the death of a child, spouse, pastor or friend. Will you allow the death of a loved one to be the line that causes you to quit serving God?

What is the line that you have drawn with God? Don't draw any lines with God, but say as Ruth said, "...the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

Leadership

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The Absence of Leadership

Judges 18:1

"In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel."

One of the well known quotes of Dr. Lee Roberson was, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." I often repeat this quote to those who are in leadership as I find that leadership today seems to be very weak. The verse above says,"In those days there was no king in Israel:..." This phrase is mentioned several times in the book of Judges. God was showing us what would happen without leadership. An absence of leadership is not always that there is no one to lead, but it could also be that those in leadership are not leading. In any case, we find in the book of Judges that the absence of leadership always leads to adverse results.

First, the absence of leadership leads to self guidance. In Judges 17:6, the absence of leadership caused God's people to do that which they say was right in their own eyes. When the husband won't lead in the home, then you will have children do what they think is right. When leadership in a country won't lead, then the absence of leadership will cause every person to do what they think is right. Leadership helps to enforce the rules that were set up by God.

Second, the absence of leadership leads to a lack of motivation to conquer. The verse above shows us that Israel stopped conquering the land. This was brought about because those in leadership were not leading. One of the purposes of leadership is to motivate people to do more than they think they can. A good leader will bring the best out in people. If there is no leadership, then people will lack the motivation to shoot high.

Third, the absence of leadership leads to careless living. In Judges 18:7, we see that the lack of leadership caused people to live carelessly. In other words, they were not guarded with their lifestyle. The lack of leadership will cause people to live for the present without a thought of tomorrow. This is evident in our current society when you see people who have spent on possessions and have nothing for retirement. The lack of leadership will always cause people to be careless with their money as well as careless with their lifestyle. Leadership is to remind people that they must live tomorrow with the consequences of today.

Fourth, the absence of leadership will lead to squabbling. In Judges 18:25, you will see that the tribes of Israel were fighting among themselves. Anytime leadership is weak, you will have fighting among the people. Great leadership gives a stability that will cause people not to feel that they need to fight. Likewise, great leadership will not allow fighting among the ranks.

Fifth, the absence of leadership leads to wrong priorities. In Judges 19:24, you see the priorities of a husband were wrong. Leadership's responsibility is to help people keep their priorities straight. When leadership fails to lead, then people will get their priorities of life wrong.

Last, the absence of leadership will lead to illicit living. In Judges 19:25 you will see the wicked lifestyle that was brought about by a lack of leadership. Weak leadership will think it is loving not to correct people who are living an illicit lifestyle. However, true love will cause leaders to let people know when their lifestyle is wrong.

Let me ask you, do the areas where you lead have an absence of leadership because you fail to fulfill your responsibilities? You can guard those whom you lead from straying if you will be the leader God intended for you to be.