Two-Minute Manna

The Lord promised to establish Solomon’s kingdom if he walked before Him with as much integrity as David had. The Hebrew word for integrity speaks of singleness. David had flaws and failures. He fell time after time. But one thing he had was integrity of heart. That is, he never left the Lord to follow false gods. He sinned. He strayed. He erred, to be sure. But his heart was always for the Lord, and it is the heart that matters (1 Samuel 16:7). That is why the Lord used David as a standard by which all other kings in Israel and Judah would be measured.

So too, regardless of your failing, folly, and faults, God looks at your heart. Therefore, be encouraged in the fact that, if your heart is toward Him and you’re not leaving Him to serve other gods, He takes note.

In talking about Jesus, Isaiah was inspired by the Father to write . . .

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. Isaiah 42:1-3

In my garden, if plants aren’t looking good, out they go. If a campfire isn’t providing heat, out it goes. Not so with the Lord. He’s tender, compassionate, and exceedingly gracious. Therefore, I am increasingly convinced that, as Christians, we often expect more from each other than the Lord does. As Christians, we often expect more from ourselves than the Lord does. We picture the Lord as an angry God Who is out to quench the smoking flax and break the bruised reed. But that’s not the way He is.

As I was thinking about a brother in the Lord, I prayed, “Lord, intensify his devotional life. Make him more fervent in his witness. Shake him out of his apathy. Wake him out of his lethargy.” And the Lord impressed on my heart at that moment, quietly saying, “Be quiet. I’m happy with him. I’ve chosen him from eternity past. I saved his soul. I’ve embedded in his life a moral fabric that would have never been there apart from Me. I have a plan for him in eternity. He’s doing just fine.” And more and more, I’m beginning to see a different perspective. All too often, we punish ourselves and others, but that’s not the heart of God. Allow the Lord to minister to you His thoughts concerning you. The Lord truly loves you. And if you simply walk in uprightness of heart, like David, you’ll be established.