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Swim
UpstreamBy Paul Chappell
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Monday, May 21, 2012
"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith
that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother
Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in
thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou
stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting
on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound
mind."
2 Timothy 1:5-7
I heard about a dad who took his son on a fishing
trip to a nearby river. They caught a couple of fish
early in the morning, but the fish stopped biting. When
they were done they didn’t have enough fish for a meal,
so they released the ones they had caught back into the
water. "Will they be okay?" the boy asked his dad.
"They’ll be fine," the father replied. "Any dead fish
can go downriver, but when we put those fish in the
water they swam upstream."
We live in a culture that is filled with negative
influences, but ours is hardly the first generation with
that experience. I think of a young man who grew up in a
home without a Christian father, but with a godly mother
and a godly grandmother; and this young man became a
major influence for the cause of Jesus Christ in the
first century. His name was Timothy. How did a little
boy from the city of Lystra, a mystical place given over
to idol worship, develop into such a great leader for
the cause of Jesus Christ?
Paul tells us that Timothy had a real, living faith
in his heart. He had more than just a profession of
faith; he had an active faith. This faith equipped a
young man to rise up and go against the tide of the
world around him. God has given us the Spirit of power
that allows us to overcome the world through
faith.
Today's Rooted Principle:
Stand strong in your faith
today, and swim against the current of the world.
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Old Testament
Reading
1
Chronicles 13
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CHAPTER 13
1 And David consulted with the captains of
thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
2 And David said unto all the congregation of
Israel, If it seem good unto you, and
that it be of the LORD our God, let
us send abroad unto our brethren every where,
that are left in all the land of Israel,
and with them also to the priests and Levites
which are in their cities and
suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:
3 And let us bring again the ark of our God
to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4 And all the congregation said that they
would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all
the people. 5 So David gathered all Israel
together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of
Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.
6 And David went up, and all Israel, to
Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which
belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of
God the LORD, that dwelleth between the
cherubims, whose name is called on it.
7 And they carried the ark of God in a new
cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio
drave the cart. 8 And David and all Israel
played before God with all their might, and with
singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with
timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9 And when they came unto the
threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to
hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10 And
the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he
smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there
he died before God. 11 And David was
displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon
Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this
day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day,
saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to
me? 13 So David brought not the ark
home to himself to the city of David, but carried
it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
14 And the ark of God remained with the
family of Obededom in his house three months. And the
LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.
CHAPTER 14
1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers
to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and
carpenters, to build him an house. 2 And
David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king
over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high,
because of his people Israel. 3 And David
took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons
and daughters. 4 Now these are the
names of his children which he had in Jerusalem;
Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 5
And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet, 6 And
Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 7 And
Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.
8 And when the Philistines heard that
David was anointed king over all Israel, all the
Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard
of it, and went out against them.
9 And the Philistines came and spread
themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 10 And
David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the
Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand?
And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver
them into thine hand. 11 So they came up to
Baalperazim; and David smote them there. Then David
said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand
like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called
the name of that place Baalperazim. 12 And
when they had left their gods there, David gave a
commandment, and they were burned with fire.
13 And the Philistines yet again spread
themselves abroad in the valley. 14 Therefore
David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go
not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon
them over against the mulberry trees. 15 And
it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in
the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou
shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before
thee to smite the host of the Philistines. 16
David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote
the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.
17 And the fame of David went out into all
lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all
nations.
CHAPTER 15
1 And David made him houses in the
city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God,
and pitched for it a tent. 2 Then David said,
None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for
them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and
to minister unto him for ever. 3 And David
gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up
the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had
prepared for it. 4 And David assembled the
children of Aaron, and the Levites: 5 Of the
sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an
hundred and twenty: 6 Of the sons of Merari;
Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and
twenty: 7 Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the
chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:
8 Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the
chief, and his brethren two hundred: 9 Of the
sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren
fourscore: 10 Of the sons of Uzziel;
Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and
twelve. 11 And David called for Zadok and
Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel,
Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
12 And said unto them, Ye are the
chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify
yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye
may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto
the place that I have prepared for
it. 13 For because ye did it
not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon
us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified
themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of
Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites
bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves
thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the
LORD. 16 And David spake to the chief of the
Levites to appoint their brethren to be
the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and
harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice
with joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman
the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of
Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren,
Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 And with them
their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah,
Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni,
Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and
Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, the
porters. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and
Ethan, were appointed to sound with
cymbals of brass; 20 And Zechariah, and
Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab,
and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and
Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with
harps on the Sheminith to excel. 22 And
Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he
instructed about the song, because he was
skilful. 23 And Berechiah and Elkanah
were doorkeepers for the ark. 24 And
Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai,
and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests,
did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and
Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
25 So David, and the elders of Israel, and
the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of
the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom
with joy. 26 And it came to pass, when God
helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of
the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven
rams. 27 And David was clothed with a
robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the
ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the
song with the singers: David also had upon him an
ephod of linen. 28 Thus all Israel brought up
the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and
with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with
cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
29 And it came to pass, as the ark of
the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that
Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw
king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in
her heart.
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New Testament
Reading
John
7:1 |
1 After these things Jesus walked in
Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the
Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews'
feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His
brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go
into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works
that thou doest. 4 For there is
no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he
himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these
things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For
neither did his brethren believe in him. 6
Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but
your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot
hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it,
that the works thereof are evil. 8 Go ye up
unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my
time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said
these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
10 But when his brethren were gone up, then
went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it
were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought him
at the feast, and said, Where is he? 12 And
there was much murmuring among the people concerning
him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay;
but he deceiveth the people. 13 Howbeit no
man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus
went up into the temple, and taught. 15 And
the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man
letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus
answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but
his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his
will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of
God, or whether I speak of myself. 18
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but
he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is
true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19
Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of
you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a
devil: who goeth about to kill thee? 21 Jesus
answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and
ye all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave unto
you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of
the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a
man. 23 If a man on the sabbath day receive
circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be
broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man
every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24 Judge
not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment. 25 Then said some of them of
Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say
nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is
the very Christ? 27 Howbeit we know this man
whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth
whence he is.
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Proverb of the
Day
Proverbs
21 |
1 The king's heart is in the hand
of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth
it whithersoever he will. 2 Every way of a
man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD
pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and
judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than
sacrifice. 4 An high look, and a proud heart,
and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend
only to plenteousness; but of every one that
is hasty only to want. 6 The getting
of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed
to and fro of them that seek death. 7 The
robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they
refuse to do judgment. 8 The way of man
is froward and strange: but as for
the pure, his work is right. 9
It is better to dwell in a corner of the
housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his
neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. 11
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise:
and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 The righteous man wisely
considereth the house of the wicked: but
God overthroweth the wicked for their
wickedness. 13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the
cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall
not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth
anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do
judgment: but destruction shall be to the
workers of iniquity. 16 The man that
wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain
in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that
loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he
that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom
for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the
wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 There is treasure to be
desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a
foolish man spendeth it up. 21 He that
followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life,
righteousness, and honour. 22 A wise
man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth
down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue
keepeth his soul from troubles. 24 Proud
and haughty scorner is his name, who
dealeth in proud wrath. 25 The desire of the
slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but
the righteous giveth and spareth not. 27 The
sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much
more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man
that heareth speaketh constantly. 29 A wicked
man hardeneth his face: but as for the
upright, he directeth his way. 30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor
counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse
is prepared against the day of battle: but safety
is of the
LORD.
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