Frank's Bible Blog

Psalm 35--When the Boomerang Doesn't Come Back

There is a large decorative boomerang that sits in my office. On the back is a sticker that says "guaranteed to return." I picked it up during a trip to Australia several years ago. Even though it says "guaranteed to return" I have never thrown it, for fear that it won't return. I've seen boomerangs thrown and know that for them to work, they have to be thrown a certain way. I don't want to take the chance that I'll throw it and it will just keep on going...and going. Life is often like a boomerang. When we do good for others we usually see that good returned to us--the boomerang that comes back. But what happens when we throw out our best efforts to help others and those efforts never come back? Or worse, what if they come back as something completely different--something very unpleasant? Do you pick up the "boomerang" and throw it again, or do you allow the hurt and fear of rejection to keep the "boomerang" in hand? David struggled with this in Psalm 35. "They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn," he said in verse 12. When others were hurting, he felt their pain. He prayed for them and mourned for them (vv13-14) but when he stumbled "they gathered in glee" and slandered him "without ceasing" (v15). He threw out the boomerang of compassion and care but it returned as evil and maliciousness. What did David do about this? He took it to the Lord. He asked the Lord to contend for him (v23) and vindicate him (v24). It was not for him to change others. David realized that only God could do that. So David kept on being David. He kept on doing what he knew to do and that was to give God "thanks in the great assembly" and praise him before everyone (v18). David would continue to speak of God's righteousness and praises (v28). He would continue throwing the boomerang and leave the outcome to the Lord. That's a good lesson for us today. Keep throwing our boomerang and trust God for the return.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 67-- Why Do You Want God's Blessings?

"God bless me today."

"God bless my family."

"God bless my church."

"God bless America."

Why do you want God to bless you, your family, your church or your nation? That may seem like a silly question at first glance. "Who wouldn't want God's blessings?" you ask.

But think again.

Do you want God's blessings so that you can have a better life? Do you want God's blessings so that you can accumulate more things? Do you want God's blessings so that you can boast of more people attending your church, ministry or programs? Do you want God's blessings so that you can experience prosperity in your nation?

Or do you want God's blessings so that you can be a blessing? Do you want God's blessing so that you have a message to take to those who don't know Him? Do you want God's blessings so that you can reflect God's glory into a world that desperately needs Him? Do you want God's blessings so that you can better accomplish His agenda?

Why do you want God's blessings?

The psalmist makes it clear in Psalm 67 that he wanted God's blessings so that God's "ways may be known on earth, your salvation among the nations" (v2). The psalmist craved God shining His face upon him so that all the peoples of the world would praise the Lord (v3). The psalmist desired God's favor so that those gripped in sin's prison would be set free and have a new song to sing (v4). The psalmist prayed for blessings so that "all the ends of the earth will fear Him" (v7).

Why do you want God's blessings?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 60--Moving from Politics to Prayer

Several years ago I had the opportunity to attend a dinner held in conjunction with the National Prayer Breakfast. The annual breakfast is actually more like a series of lunches, dinners and other meetings that culminate with the breakfast. Its history dates back to the 1930s.

The dinner I was at was made up of politicians, business leaders, and ministers all from the same state. It was an interesting group, with people holding polar opposite political views from each other. But for a short time they put aside their differences, visited with each other over a meal, and prayed together.

Too bad this is only once a year!

Yes, politicians need to spend more time considering the Lord and praying for their nation, but so do those of us who aren't elected officials. We all need to be in prayer for our nation. (This blog is read by folks all over the world--and whatever country you live in, your nation needs prayer as well.) We should pray for our lands and for our leaders that they would acknowledge God and bring Him glory in what they do.

Psalm 60 could be considered a national psalm or prayer. It was written by King David when his country was having a tough time militarily. The nation's enemies were winning some battles, but as David turned to the Lord, they experienced an overwhelming victory. Notice seven things about David from this psalm, and pray that our leaders would emulate them:

1. David looked at his nation from God's perspective. Were they pleasing Him or had they turned their back on the Lord? (v1)
2. Although David was a warrior and had an army, he knew that ultimately any victory would have to be from above (vv5,11). History is full of stories where smaller, less-skilled forces defeated large armies of skilled warriors. David's faith was in the Lord not his military.
3. David saw the hardships that were facing his nation as lessons God was using to get their attention (vv3,10).
4. David shifted his primary focus from politics and war planning to spiritual matters. He would pray and lead his people to seek God's face (v6).
5. David asked for God's intervention in the nation. He saw himself as a steward, not the owner, of the nation. It belonged to God (vv6-7).
6. David praised the Lord when God responded and the tide turned in his favor. He didn't take the credit for victory; instead, he gave all the glory to God (v12).
7. David continued his focus on the Lord after the crisis was resolved.

Stop now and pray these seven points for your political leaders. Then, let's not let prayer for our nation be just an annual event, but rather let's make it a regular part of our prayer life.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 35--When the Boomerang Doesn't Come Back

There is a large decorative boomerang that sits in my office. On the back is a sticker that says "guaranteed to return." I picked it up during a trip to Australia several years ago. Even though it says "guaranteed to return" I have never thrown it, for fear that it won't return. I've seen boomerangs thrown and know that for them to work, they have to be thrown a certain way. I don't want to take the chance that I'll throw it and it will just keep on going...and going. Life is often like a boomerang. When we do good for others we usually see that good returned to us--the boomerang that comes back. But what happens when we throw out our best efforts to help others and those efforts never come back? Or worse, what if they come back as something completely different--something very unpleasant? Do you pick up the "boomerang" and throw it again, or do you allow the hurt and fear of rejection to keep the "boomerang" in hand? David struggled with this in Psalm 35. "They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn," he said in verse 12. When others were hurting, he felt their pain. He prayed for them and mourned for them (vv13-14) but when he stumbled "they gathered in glee" and slandered him "without ceasing" (v15). He threw out the boomerang of compassion and care but it returned as evil and maliciousness. What did David do about this? He took it to the Lord. He asked the Lord to contend for him (v23) and vindicate him (v24). It was not for him to change others. David realized that only God could do that. So David kept on being David. He kept on doing what he knew to do and that was to give God "thanks in the great assembly" and praise him before everyone (v18). David would continue to speak of God's righteousness and praises (v28). He would continue throwing the boomerang and leave the outcome to the Lord. That's a good lesson for us today. Keep throwing our boomerang and trust God for the return.

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Genesis 25-- Are You the Next Reality TV Show?

It could have been a reality TV show. We'll call it "Isaac's Family." It is the true story that begins to unfold in Genesis 25 as Isaac and Rebekah start their family. It took them 20 years before they could have children, but once twins Esau and Jacob were born I doubt there was ever a dull moment. There were some interesting family dynamics that we notice as we open the window and look in on this family. First, these kids were "fighting" before they even came out of the womb (v22) with each destined by God to father a nation or people group. They may have been twins, but these boys were dramatically different. They looked different (v25), had different interests (v27), different personalities, and they approached life differently. Jacob was a thinker--he planned, thought things through, and even schemed. Esau lived for the moment. He was rugged, tough, and self-focused. The first sign of trouble we see is that Isaac and Rebekah played favorites (v28) with Isaac loving Esau and Rebekah loving Jacob. Then we see how short-sited Esau was because he was willing to throw away his future--his birthright--for some stew. Jacob is far from innocent as he took advantage of his brother. This was a pretty dysfunctional family (it gets worse as the story goes on!). What was the bottom line that caused all of this? Each family member looked only at his or her own interests  and not the interests of the whole family. They also didn't consider the long-term ramifications of their decisions and the impact those decisions would have on others. The more members of your family there are who look only to their own interests, the more dysfunctional your family will be. It is that simple! Don't become fodder for a reality show--consider others before yourself.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 11-- Whose the Center of Your Universe?

Unfortunately we see it all the time. From athletes to Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, we live amidst people whose worlds only revolve around themselves. They know little to nothing about generosity. Then there are the politicians who say we need to look out for each other and stop being so greedy--but when their own finances are revealed we discover that they made millions but only gave away a couple thousand dollars. We each have a fundamental choice that we must make. Are we going to live for ourselves exclusively or are we going to live for God and others? It is one thing to talk about being our brother's keeper; it is quite another thing to do it. This is the focus of Ecclesiastes 11 where we are told that we need to be generous to others (vv1-8) and not make excuses for not giving. Solomon, who spent years acquiring things for himself, finally realizes the shallowness of stuff and the importance of helping others. God does reward us when we give (v1) but that reward is not always immediate. Solomon also encourages us to give when we have the opportunity to do so and not delay (v2) because we do not know what might come in the future that would keep us from being able to give. Self-focused living is not only about what we do with our money and possessions, but whether or not we allow God to direct us. "Walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes," Solomon says, "but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment" (v9). When we live for ourselves we only end up bringing grief upon ourselves (v10). So today you have a choice. Who are you going to make the center of your universe?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Nehemiah 5-- The Hen and the Hog

You have probably heard the story of the hen and the hog that were walking past a church. The church's marquee announced a breakfast they were having that Sunday. "We should provide their breakfast," said the hen, "there's nothing like bacon and eggs on a Sunday morning." The hog turned to the hen and replied "for you, that would mean a minor inconvenience but for me it is a total commitment."  A lot of us are like that hen--we are willing to be slightly inconvenienced once in a while but like the hog, we won't make a total commitment. We don't want to go too far when it comes to making sacrifices. Serving Christ, however, is a commitment that often requires sacrifices. Nehemiah 5 is a great story of someone committed to pleasing God and doing the right thing, even though it cost him in the short term. Notice five sacrifices that Nehemiah made. First, he sacrificed a pay raise when he became governor (v14-15a). Second, he sacrificed power (v15b). Next, he sacrificed personal comfort (v16a) as he stayed engaged in the building project. Fourth, Nehemiah gave up investment opportunities (v16b). Finally, he gave much of his own income to feed and care for others (vv17-18). All that Nehemiah asked was that God would remember him for all that good that he had done for others (v19). I believe that God certainly did remember him--just like God remembers us and blesses us for doing what is right. So, which will it be for you today? A slight inconvenience or a total commitment?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 13-- The World's Most Misunderstood Word

It is the subject of fairy tales and fast-moving music videos. Scores of books have been written about it and it is the basis for many Hollywood productions. People laugh about it, cry about it, and even get angry over it. It unites as well as divides. It is amazing how something can be the focus of so much attention yet have so little known about what it really is. It is love. The Bible has much to say about love because it is fundamental to life. It is the fundamental reason Jesus died. It should be the fundamental reason why we live. It should permeate our attitude, actions and approach to all that we undertake. I Corinthians 13 has probably the clearest explanation of what true love--God's love (agape)--is all about. While the chapter lists several attributes of genuine love, you can sum it all up into two things. Love focuses on other people (vv4-5) and love embraces the positive (vv6-7). In addition to defining love, this chapter is a eye-opener to the stunning reality that we can do many good things in the name of Christ but not do it with love (vv1-3). No matter what it is, if we do it without love, it has no lasting benefit to us. Genuine love must be the driving force behind everything that we do and think.

Let me challenge you today to take the 1 Cor. 13 love test. Ask the question "why" for everything thing that do you over the next week. Why are you teaching that Sunday School class? Why do you tithe? Why do you work? Why do you make the family's meals? Why do you take the kids to soccer practice? Why do you attend church? If you cannot honestly answer that you are doing it out of love then it is time to refocus your life. Focus on the positive things in life and in others. Focus on the specialness of the people you are serving. Focus on the person and nature of God and on how much He has already done for you. Then, what used to be "tasks" that interrupted your day are transformed into expressions of love that bring fullness and meaning to your day. If we will embrace this concept, it will absolutely revolutionize our lives and the lives of those we touch.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Philippians 2--Others First

Let's face it--we live in a very "me" focused society. We look out after our own interests first, and then if we have the time or desire might consider others. We often expect everyone to cater to our needs. We are determined to climb the corporate ladder even if it is at the expense of others. As believers, however, we should be just the opposite. That is the message of Philippians 2 which provides the Bible's best illustration of selflessness: Jesus Christ (vv1-11). In addition, we have two other examples of selflessness in this chapter, Timothy (vv19-24) and Epaphroditus (vv25-30). Jesus not only suffered and died on a cross, but He gave up all of Heaven to come into this world to be born not in a palace but in a manger. Timothy was different than most of his time who sought their own, "not the things which are of Christ" (v21). Timothy had proved himself time and again by selflessly serving others. While we don't know a lot about Epaphroditus, we do know that he came close to death because of his work for Christ and service to the saints (v30). How can we truly be selfless and put others first? It all starts in the mind. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (v5). That mind does not focus on personal rights. That mind does not seek personal pleasure above all else. That mind does not look down on other people who are not what you are or who don't have what you have. That mind places enormous value on people, seeking to find ways to make their lives better. Do you have that mind? If not, ask God to give it to you and then look for ways where you must intentionally humble yourself for the betterment of someone else.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

3 John-- Hospitality and Hostility

I used to travel extensively as an itinerant evangelist. I was young and single and would often be gone for 30 days at a time. During those travel days, as I worked with churches, schools, prisons and anywhere else where people would listen to me, I was richly blessed by the hospitality of many people. Often a family would let me stay at their home while I was ministering at their church. Others would take me to dinner or fill up my car with gas. Many times I had just enough gas money to make it to the church where I was speaking. If they weren't generous, I wouldn't make it home. But I was never stranded--God's people always came through for me. During those years, I came to really appreciate 3 John. You see, 3 John encourages God's people to show hospitality to those who are traveling for the sake of the gospel (vv5-8). It also gives us an example of someone who did the opposite. A man named Diotrephes loved to "have the preeminence among them" (v9). This church member was self-serving, hurtful with his words, and hostile towards those who were traveling for Christ's sake (v10). The sad thing is that I'm afraid too many churches--maybe even most--have at least one Diotrephes in their congregation. Even sadder, there have been many church splits, church disbandings, and ministers forced out of churches thanks to modern day Diotrephes. May it never be said of you or me that we acted like Diotrephes. Instead, let us respond with love and selflessness towards others in our churches and let's do what we can to support those who tirelessly travel to proclaim Christ.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.