A godly person chooses to prayerfully build on a sure foundation (the Word of God) and with the right materials. No excuses, and they wisely continue to persevere in and through trials, testing’s and temptations. King David did that.
Character or charisma — what do I want? I say accurately witness with both.. in that order. Let Jesus lead you. Yes, enjoy a close vertical relationship and godly character — that’s so important in our collapsing culture and world gone far astray!
Live it, but tell your story too. Enter their culture short of sinning.. to be and give witness. Use their language — those clean terms. Define and help em understand. Add in words when the time is right. Build the bridge and then get the Gospel Message on over it to the people.
“For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.” 1 Corinthians 3:11–1
Rome is famous for its ruins, architectural marvels from the ancient world. From the Colosseum to the aqueducts, there are many incredible constructions from the Roman Empire. However, not everything built in Rome was made to last. One cautionary tale is that of Atilius and his amphitheater in Fidenae. In AD 27, he commissioned a new stadium to be built, but despite his wealth, he aimed for a quick construction over a sturdy one. Atilius urged the builders to use cheap materials (mainly wood) to build the stadium, and it was erected on unstable foundations. Most of the information about the disaster tells a singular story: When 50,000 people flocked to Atilius’s stadium to watch a gladiator fight, 20,000 audience members fell to their death as the seating collapsed. Many of the remaining patrons were severely injured. Following the incident, the senate banned anyone from building a stadium unless their wealth exceeded 400,000 sesterces, and the stadium had to pass a safety inspection. This is considered one of the greatest tragedies in sports history.
Q: In what ways does taking shortcuts in production often effect the final product?
Q: How are we tempted to take shortcuts in building.. like in our walk with Christ?
Godly character is formed as we build a sure foundation and through a consistent close walk with Christ. Godly people go through with Jesus and perseverance in times of trial (James 1:2–4). David did that in the face of temptation and trial. He refused to take a shortcut.
I CHALLENGE YOU IN THE LORD TO..
PRE-THINK: What temptations repeatedly occur in your life? What is God trying to teach you through them? What tools can you use to build perseverance? How can you remember to keep alert and not let your guard down?
PRAY EARNESTLY: for God to grow perseverance in you. Ask Him to keep you alert, awake and sober minded so you will be ready for the attacks from the Evil One. Pray for God’s wisdom to know how to prepare yourself for times of temptation.
WISELY ACT: Turn and trust.. not in you or other mere humans. Come to the Lord By faith right now. Then turn to God daily, walk right with Him.. not lagging behind, or running out ahead of Him. Wait on the Lord and inquire often. Think about a difficult situation in your life right now. How can you choose to turn to God in that situation rather than trusting in man or in the things of this world to help you through it? Pray about how God is leading you to act in that situation and then take action that shows your trust in God.
“Now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.” 2 So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. When David learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 4 he sent out spies to verify the report of Saul’s arrival.5 David slipped over to Saul’s camp one night to look around. Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping inside a ring formed by the slumbering warriors. 6 “Who will volunteer to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother. “I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied. 7 So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.8 “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!”9 “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? 10 Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11 The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”12 So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.13 David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance. 14 Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner, “Wake up, Abner!” “Who is it?” Abner demanded.15 “Well, Abner, you’re a great man, aren’t you?” David taunted. “Where in all Israel is there anyone as mighty? So why haven’t you guarded your master the king when someone came to kill him? 16 This isn’t good at all! I swear by the Lord that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the Lord’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?”17 Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?” And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king. 18 Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? 19 But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the Lord. For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’ 20 Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?”21 Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.”22 “Here is your spear, O king,” David replied. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. 24 Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.”25 And Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home.” (See 1 Samuel 26:1–25 and Psalm 1 and 139:7–12 nlt)
What is the character of God like? .. can we have character like the Lord’s as well?
What does the Bible say about persistence?
What does it mean to count it all joy (James 1:2)?
Got any Bible verses about character?
How does the “testing of your faith” produce perseverance (James 1:3)?
What are some sinful character traits to not acquire?
What is the meaning of charis in the Bible?
Got some Bible verses about trials?
Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations?
How can I learn to trust in the faithfulness of God?
I want more good Christian character!
What does the Bible say about excellence?
What does it mean that God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)?
Is God perfect?
How do I develop real Christian character? .. how do I have virtue in my ethics?
King Saul had lame character — does bad company corrupt good character if I let it (1 Corinthians 15:33)?
Is God’s love really reckless?
What does the Bible say about Christian character?
Those promises are made to the real Christian (find the context and each reference). A person of godly character deserves the respect of his or her enemies right, but they remain loyal to God no matter what!
(That’s a general statement. Generally, godly people are respected by their enemies, even if their enemies don’t agree with them, because godly people have such a high level of integrity in their behavior and are able to disagree with others with real love and respect. Typically, an unbeliever might say something like, “I don’t agree with John’s views on marriage or politics, but he is such a kind, generous person with such a strong work ethic, and when we disagree about things, he speaks with such grace and compassion. Man, I can’t help but respect him.”)
Since 1946, Gallup has conducted an annual, nationwide survey to determine the most admired living man and woman of the year. Presidents and first ladies often take the top spot. Billy Graham and Queen Elizabeth II have ranked in the top 10 more than anyone else, Graham 61 times and the queen 52 times throughout their lives.
Back in December 2020, a random sample of 1,018 adults across America were surveyed. Guess who you believe were the top 5 of the most admired men and women of that year.
Men:
5. Pope Francis 4. Dr. Anthony Fauci 3. Joe Biden 2. Barack Obama 1. Donald Trump
Women:
5. Angela Merkel 4. Oprah Winfrey 3. Melania Trump 2. Kamala Harris 1. Michelle Obama
People of the world often admire other worldly people (not sayin’ all those above currently are).
Love not the world or the things in the world. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’” John 15:18–20
There is a type of love that God really hates. (read more..)
Q: It’s almost 2023 now–whom would you choose for the most admired man and woman now? And why?
Q: Is there anyone on the 2020 list you don’t endorse but do feel some respect for?
Q: Are there people in your life who disagree with your faith, but they still admire how you live your life? What specifically do they see, hear and respect about you?
David was on the run from Saul whose words couldn’t be trusted. There were some close calls for David. Multiple spears flung at him. It was a long period in the life of David — eight tough years. The Bible contrasts religious Saul and David, showing David’s integrity and his simple trust in the Lord.
At some point Saul chose to believe a lie about David, but he was proved wrong.
What did David mean when he asked God to “restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12)?
Why was David so loyal to Saul after everything Saul had done to him?
What is the significance of the words, “How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19, 25, 27)?
David was a godly man who understood authority and waited on the Lord!
Who was Jonathan in the Bible? He was a loyal friend to David.
Why are there contradictory accounts regarding the death of Saul in 1 and 2 Samuel?
Both were flawed men. David repented when he needed to, but Saul only made stupid excuses. So what did jealous, rebellious King Saul voice to the next king of Israel after David spared his life for the second time?
“Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 Then he said to David: ‘You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 18 And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.’ 22 So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.” 1 Samuel 24:16c–22 nkjv
