Frank's Bible Blog

God is Answering Your Prayers: Thank you!

In Jaunary I asked my blog readers to pray wisdom, clear direction from God and provision for MaxPoint (our ministry) and my family. I’m glad to report that many people accepted that challenge. Since then, I have been sprinting to catch up to all that God is doing—and that is a direct result of your prayers. Thank you!

Through that season of intense prayer, God showed me that clarity is absolutely vital, that wisdom often calls for thinking outside the box, that provision follows responding to God’s direction (not before), and that pride is an obstacle to realizing God’s provisions.

It became clear that direction was the most important of the three things we prayed about--even more important than wisdom. While the two are related, I see wisdom as showing us how to walk once we have chosen where to walk. During this process the Lord cleared the fog and clarified the vision for MaxPoint: Change the world by transforming villages into Christ-centered, self-sustaining communities (see more at www.maxpoint.org).

Second came the wisdom to know how to move within that path. God started bringing people to me who shared my vision and were interested in joining in its fulfillment. In order to fully utilize them, however, I would have to think outside the box. For MaxPoint, this means becoming a missionary sending agency with missionaries living both abroad and in the U.S. It also means a name change from MaxPoint Ministries to MaxPoint Missions, which our Board recently approved.

God convicted me a lot about my third request which was for provision. Even though I knew better, I had slipped into backwards thinking: Where God provides that’s where He guides. I had been looking for ways that God might provide rather than looking for the ways He was guiding. Throughout Scripture and history, however, we see God guiding first then providing for those who step out in faith.

I also saw that pride can block God’s provision. God is reminding me that when He gives a vision it is usually much bigger than the person He gives it to—and it requires the participation of others to be realized. Pride says don’t ask anyone for help. Pride says you can do this alone. But vision says you must bring others onboard, which means mobilizing laborers, prayer partners and financial supporters. When the Apostle Paul invited others to financially support his ministry, he gave them an opportunity to experience the power of God in their lives and receive His blessings (Philippians 4:10-20). Recently I shared my ministry vision and strategy with a friend and invited him to become part of our support team, which he gladly accepted. “Thank you for letting me be part of your team. I’m glad that I get to help reach these villages.” His words were a flashback to what Paul said and a reminder that I have to get pride out of the way and allow others to share in the blessings of the Lord’s work.

In the days ahead I will be reaching out to many more people to share this vision and the various ways they can get involved with MaxPoint. I would love to personally connect with you! If you have any interest please call, email or reach me through the “Contact Us” page at www.maxpoint.org and let's talk. Who knows but the Lord just might want us working together to impact this world for Him!

Thank you for your prayers—both past and future.

--Frank

Psalm 52-- Don't Want that on my Grave Marker!

Not far from where I live are two very small and very old cemeteries. Most people driving past them never realize they are there as suburbia has grown up around them. These cemeteries have a little metal fence around them and a handful of plots inside. The grave markers are still there, some dating back to the 1800s.

Imagine if you were looking at one of those tombstones and it read:

"Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!"

That certainly would be a sad commentary on one's life. Those words weren't written on any of the markers that I saw, but they could be written for many people. They certainly could have been on the tombstone of a guy named Doeg.

In fact, these are the words that David used to describe Doeg in Psalm 52. Doeg worked for King Saul while David was on the run from the king. Doeg lied to Saul and then went on to slaughter 85 priests as well as an entire town of men, women, children and babies (1 Samuel 22:1-23). He was ruthless, and David takes him to task in this psalm of instruction.

This psalm is a vivid reminder that there are and always will be ruthless people who will do anything to get themselves ahead. They will lie, cheat, destroy reputations--whatever it takes to get what they want.

While there may be those who are drawn to people like this, David reminds us that the righteous see through this (v6). They also laugh because they know the fallacy of such living. The contrast to this type of living is the one who trusts in "God's unfailing love for ever and ever" (v8).

Yes, it is easy to get discouraged when you see so many evil and selfish people in the world. But let these be reminders of our need to stay focused on God's unfailing love and living a life that brings Him praise.

_________________________

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 50-- Your Day in Court?

"All rise," the bailiff commands, "the honorable Judge Smith is now presiding."

A familiar scene played out in courtrooms all the time. The parties are assembled, the jury is in place, the judge makes his or her entry and takes control of the proceedings.

Now with that scene firmly in your mind's view, consider another courtroom as described in Psalm 50.

This courtroom is much greater than that which typically holds 2-3 dozen people. In this courtroom the whole world is assembled. Then the Judge makes His grand entry. Before the bailiff can give his command a hush fills the assembly as those gathered look on with awe at the presence of the Judge--no ordinary judge, but God Himself.

There is no jury.

There is no prosecutor.

They are not needed for the righteous, perfect Judge will handle this Himself.

There are two defendants on trial. The first is a believer who has all the outward formalism of worship but lacks it inside. He looks spiritual but is missing any real spiritual vitality. He does all the "church" things but his devotional life is nearly non-existent. He lives a self-focused life rather than a life of thanksgiving to God. When difficulties arise he turns to himself, others, or to worry in an effort to solve his problems.

The second defendant is not a believer but sure can talk like one. He knows the lingo, knows many of God's instructions, and often tells these to others. But he lives just the opposite. He lives a life that is wicked and opposed to God.

The Judge turns and addresses the first defendant.

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me" (vv14-15).

It is a stunning reminder of how this defendant used to live and a dramatic call to once again place the Lord first in his life.

The judge then speaks to the second defendant.

"These things you have done and I kept silent...But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue" (vv21-22).

A chill goes through everyone who heard these words. "He's giving him another chance," the crowd whispers to each other, "what will he do with it? Will he turn away from his sin and embrace God? Or will he one day have to face God's wrath?

If this scene were played out today, would you be one of the defendants?
_________________________

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 23--The Psalm You Thought You Knew

It is arguably the most well known passage in the entire Bible. Even many non-believers have heard of it. Countless numbers of people have turned to it for encouragement and strength in difficult times. You have probably read Psalm 23 many, many times. You may not, however, have read it in the way that truly unleashes its full power and meaning. Most of us read this beloved psalm with an emphasis on the words "me" and "my." The Lord is my shepherd. He leads me beside still waters. Though I walk through the valley, and so on. We make the emphasis of the psalm about us. It certainly does relate to us--but that is not where the power and real meaning is at. If you want to fully appreciate and really grasp what this psalm is all about, then you must read it with the emphasis on the Lord. He makes me lie down...He leads beside...He restores...You are with me...Your rod...You prepare...You anoint. Why does God do all of these things for us? Is it because we are so wonderful, great and deserving? No. It is "For His name's sake" (v3). It is not about us. It is about Him--and that's a good thing! You see, if it was about you then what happens when you blow it? What happens when you don't live up to your God-given potential? What happens when your faith falters? God's ability to be your good shepherd is all about His nature and character, not yours. Do you really want the power and comfort of this psalm? Then don't focus on what you get; rather, focus on who God is and what He can and is doing in your life for His name's sake.

_________________________
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 21--Lasting Leadership

"I guess it was easier to fire one guy than to fire 15." Those were the words of an NBA player following the announcement that his basketball team's head coach had just been fired. This particular coach had good success with the team early on, but as trades occurred and personnel changes were made the coach found himself having a difficult time leading. His style, personality and approach just didn't work anymore. It is common in sports for a leadership change to be made and then the team begins to flourish under the new coach.  Successful leadership in sports is one thing, but what about successful leadership in life? What about successful leadership for a business, ministry or even a nation? Psalm 21 is a great chapter on great leadership--godly leadership. Notice some things about the leader mentioned here, who happened to be King David, the leader of Israel. He found joy in God's strength, not his own (v1). God gave him his heart's desire because his heart was set on God (v2). Likewise, God listened and responded to his prayers (v4). This leader discovered his glory by focusing on God's glory (v5). This leader loved to spend time in God's presence and trusted Him fully (vv 6-7). This leader saw the big picture of what God was doing in the world (vv8-12) and realized that the world revolved around God and not himself. Finally, this leader publicly praised the Lord (v13). Do you want to be a great leader that lasts? Then learn some leadership lessons from David's example. Let your leadership be an extension of God's glory not you trying to create your own glory.

_________________________
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.

Exodus 10--The Long Anticipated Road Emerges

As I write this, I can hear heavy machinery moving dirt not far from my house. For years, the city has planned the expansion of a road and intersection near us. We've heard about it. Read about it. We've even talked about it. Now we are starting to see what it will look like and exactly where the road will go.

The current road is very narrow and is a traffic bottleneck. It intersects rail road tracks without crossing bars, making the intersection not only congested but dangerous. All of that, however, is about to change.

While we knew change was coming, we did not know the magnitude of the construction. We can now see that the roadway will be 4-5 times the size of what it was, with numerous traffic and turning lanes. It is one thing to understand something conceptually; it is quite another thing to actually start to see it now that the dirt is moving.

This is what took place in Exodus 10 as God unleashed two more plagues on Egypt. God began to pull the vail back so that Moses could see the bigger picture. The plagues and various altercations with Pharaoh was about more than just the Israelites leaving. They were about God doing something so incredible that people would talk about it for generations (v2). The plagues become a monument to the greatness of God and the destructiveness of sin.

Conceptually, people may have known about God's power, but it was another thing all together when they saw it for themselves. God had promised to not only make the Israelites a great nation, but He promised a land for them. They heard about the "future construction" plans but had never seen anything that would indicate it would happen. That all changed when the "dirt started to move" with the various plagues. Everyone could see God's power for themselves. Everyone could know that He had the might to do what He said He would do.

Even though God's power was on display for all to see, there were still those who failed to accept its ramifications. Pharaoh was so infatuated with himself that he would not listen to advice or accept the reality that Egypt was ruined (v7). He would try to bargain with the man of God, but would not accept the full terms that God had given. He saw God's might, but he still wanted to stay in control of the situation. The road was emerging but Pharaoh refused to accept it.

So what does this mean to us today? Well, this story reminds us that there are at least three action items we all need to take. First, look for God working around you. God is always at work--we just are oblivious to it most of the time. Second, remember that what you do see now is probably only a glimpse of what is to come. Finally, when you know that God is moving in your life, respond appropriately. Don't be controlling. Don't try to bargain with God. Just surrender yourself to Him as He unfolds the future.

_________________________ 

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and leadership developer. 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?

_________________________

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 52-- Don't Want that on my Grave Marker!

Not far from where I live are two very small and very old cemeteries. Most people driving past them never realize they are there as suburbia has grown up around them. These cemeteries have a little medal fence around them and a handful of plots inside. The grave markers are still there, some dating back to the 1800s.

Imagine if you were looking at one of those tombstones and it read:

"Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!"

That certainly would be a sad commentary on one's life. Those words weren't written on any of the markers that I saw, but they could be written for many people. They certainly could have been on the tombstone of a guy named Doeg.

In fact, these are the words that David used to describe Doeg in Psalm 52. Doeg worked for King Saul while David was on the run from the king. Doeg lied to Saul and then went on to slaughter 85 priests as well as an entire town of men, women, children and babies (1 Samuel 22:1-23). He was ruthless, and David takes him to task in this psalm of instruction.

This psalm is a vivid reminder that there are and always will be ruthless people who will do anything to get themselves ahead. They will lie, cheat, destroy reputations--whatever it takes to get what they want.

While there may be those who are drawn to people like this, David reminds us that the righteous see through this (v6). They also laugh because they know the fallacy of such living. The contrast to this type of living is the one who trusts in "God's unfailing love for ever and ever" (v8).

Yes, it is easy to get discouraged when you see so many evil and selfish people in the world. But let these be reminders of our need to stay focused on God's unfailing love and living a life that brings Him praise.

_________________________

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 50-- Your Day in Court?

"All rise," the bailiff commands, "the honorable Judge Smith is now presiding."

A familiar scene played out in courtrooms all the time. The parties are assembled, the jury is in place, the judge makes his or her entry and takes control of the proceedings.

Now with that scene firmly in your mind's view, consider another courtroom as described in Psalm 50.

This courtroom is much greater than that which typically holds 2-3 dozen people. In this courtroom the whole world is assembled. Then the Judge makes His grand entry. Before the bailiff can give his command a hush fills the assembly as those gathered look on with awe at the presence of the Judge--no ordinary judge but God Himself.

There is no jury.

There is no prosecutor.

They are not needed for the righteous, perfect Judge will handle this Himself.

There are two defendants on trial. The first is a believer who has all the outward formalism of worship but lacks it inside. He looks spiritual but is missing any real spiritual vitality. He does all the "church" things but his prayer and devotional life is nearly non-existent. He lives a pretty self-focused life rather than a life of thanksgiving to God. When difficulties arise he turns to himself, others, or to worry in an effort to solve his problems, rather than turning first to the Lord.

The second defendant is not a believer but sure can talk like one. He knows the lingo, knows many of God's instructions, and often tells these to others. But he lives just the opposite. He lives a life that is wicked and opposed to God.

The Judge turns and addresses the first defendant.

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me" (vv14-15).

It is a stunning reminder of how this defendant used to live and a dramatic call to once again place the Lord first in his life.

The judge then speaks to the second defendant. 

"These things you have done and I kept silent...But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue" (vv21-22).

A chill goes through everyone who heard these words. "He's giving him another chance," the crowd whispers to each other, "what will he do with it? Will he turn away from his sin and embrace God? Or will he one day have to face God's wrath?

If this scene were played out today, would you have to be one of the defendants?
_________________________

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 23--The Psalm You Thought You Knew

It is arguably the most well known passage in the entire Bible. Even many non-believers have heard of it. Countless numbers of people have turned to it for encouragement and strength in difficult times. You have probably read Psalm 23 many, many times. You may not, however, have read it in the way that truly unleashes its full power and meaning. Most of us read this beloved psalm with an emphasis on the words "me" and "my." The Lord is my shepherd. He leads me beside still waters. Though I walk through the valley, and so on. We make the emphasis of the psalm about us. It certainly does relate to us--but that is not where the power and real meaning is at. If you want to fully appreciate and really grasp what this psalm is all about, then you must read it with the emphasis on the Lord. He makes me lie down...He leads beside...He restores...You are with me...Your rod...You prepare...You anoint. Why does God do all of these things for us? Is it because we are so wonderful, great and deserving? No. It is "For His name's sake" (v3). It is not about us. It is about Him--and that's a good thing! You see, if it was about you then what happens when you blow it? What happens when you don't live up to your God-given potential? What happens when your faith falters? God's ability to be your good shepherd is all about His nature and character, not yours. Do you really want the power and comfort of this psalm? Then don't focus on what you get; rather, focus on who God is and what He can and is doing in your life for His name's sake.

_________________________
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 21--Lasting Leadership

"I guess it was easier to fire one guy than to fire 15." Those were the words of an NBA player following the announcement that his basketball team's head coach had just been fired. This particular coach had good success with the team early on, but as trades occurred and personnel changes were made the coach found himself having a difficult time leading. His style, personality and approach just didn't work anymore. It is common in sports for a leadership change to be made and then the team begins to flourish under the new coach.  Successful leadership in sports is one thing, but what about successful leadership in life? What about successful leadership for a business, ministry or even a nation? Psalm 21 is a great chapter on great leadership--godly leadership. Notice some things about the leader mentioned here, who happened to be King David, the leader of Israel. He found joy in God's strength, not his own (v1). God gave him his heart's desire because his heart was set on God (v2). Likewise, God listened and responded to his prayers (v4). This leader discovered his glory by focusing on God's glory (v5). This leader loved to spend time in God's presence and trusted Him fully (vv 6-7). This leader saw the big picture of what God was doing in the world (vv8-12) and realized that the world revolved around God and not himself. Finally, this leader publicly praised the Lord (v13). Do you want to be a great leader that lasts? Then learn some leadership lessons from David's example. Let your leadership be an extension of God's glory not you trying to create your own glory.

_________________________
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.

Zechariah 9-- The Only Thing Constant is Change

I enjoy learning about history and the epic stories of generations gone bye. Whether or not you are a history buff, one thing is clear from even a cursory look at the past--things change. One day there is a global power and the next day that nation or empire's power is gone. We often think things are static and will always be as we know them now. The Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman and other world empires all thought their power and influence would continue forever. It didn't. God reminds us in Zechariah 9 of how quickly He can change the global scene, especially when an entity is known for being evil. We are told in verses 3-4 about great cities which had amassed enormous wealth but God promised to destroy them. We are promised in verses 9-10 that there is a coming King, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change the global power structure once and for all. We also see in verses 11-17 the promise of the ultimate deliverance of God's people. These are all reminders that what we see now is temporary and that no nation is rich enough or powerful enough to sustain itself when God rejects it. This is also a reminder to each of us that we cannot expect the future to be the same as the present if we get too proud. Whatever wealth, prestige, power, or accomplishments we have amassed could be gone in a moment. 

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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.

Zechariah 1-- Learning from History

We probably are all familiar with the quote, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." It amazes me how much our society ignores history. I cringe when I watch politicians make the same decisions today that met with disaster 50 years ago, like somehow past mistakes will magically work in this era. I also cringe when I watch individuals and families repeat the past mistakes of their ancestors, or even their own past errors. Like the woman who got cancer after years of smoking. She underwent extensive chemotherapy and saw her cancer go into remission. What did she do next? Went back to smoking--and then couldn't believe it when cancer hit again. Or the family that is in a perpetual financial crisis because any time they do get some money they squander it on unnecessary things. Or the guy who can't hold down a job because he refuses to listen and learn from his bosses. I could go on and on but you get the picture. In Zechariah 1 God challenges the Jews who had returned to Israel from exile, and He exhorts them to remember their history (vv2-6). After 70 years of captivity, brought on by their forsaking God, they returned to their homeland only to repeat the sins of the past. With that exhortation, however, also came a wonderful promise (vv7-17). There was hope if they would learn from their past and return to the Lord. "My cities will again spread out through prosperity; the Lord will again comfort Zion" (v17). Friend, what blessings might you be missing out on today because you have failed to learn from your past? What mistakes do you repeat because you are too stubborn to repent of your sin? Let's learn some lessons from history.

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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.

Haggai 1-- How to Stop Spinning Your Wheels

It seemed like a good idea at the time. A buddy and I were on a fishing trip when we decided to drive down a dirt road running alongside a river. We were looking for a good fishing spot. We were a good ways along when we drove through a dip in the road with water in it. Well, the truck we were riding in got stuck in the mud. The more my friend pushed the accelerator, the more the wheels spun. We got out and tried to push it, but before we knew it we were both covered in mud. We were going no where! We finally gave up and called a tow truck. Haggai 1 describes a time in the life of Israel when they were spinning their wheels, figuratively. They had returned to Israel after 70 years of Babylonian captivity with the primary objective of rebuilding the temple. Opposition from non-Jews stopped the project, and it laid dormant for years. The people went on with their business and basically forgot about what should have been their top priority. God said that "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house, therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit" (vv9-10). They were sowing seeds but reaping little fruit. They were working hard but never seemed to be able to get ahead. They were trying and trying but coming up short. They were spinning their wheels! God said it was because their priorities were wrong. They had placed themselves and their comfort above honoring God, and God withheld His blessings from their lives. Do you feel like you are just spinning your wheels? Do you feel like no matter what you do, you can never get anywhere in life? Maybe it is because your priorities are wrong. Instead of falling deeper into the mud, take a step back and prayerfully evaluate how you spend your time, money, and other resources. Look at your attitude and the goals that you have. Consider what you are passionate about and the things that drive you to do what you do. Are you seeking God first in all of these things? Let's fix our priorities and stop spinning our wheels.

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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.

Ezra 10--High Value May Require High Sacrifice

Every day we make decisions about value and sacrifice. We decide if the price of gas is worth the value of our mobility. We decide if certain clothes rise to the value of sacrificing some of our money to purchase them. We decide to give up some of our time to do what we value, whether that is time with the family or time with our favorite hobby. If we perceive that the value is high enough, then we are willing to make greater sacrifices. Now ask yourself this: What value do you place on holiness? What sacrifices would you be willing to make to live right before God? Do you value God's pleasure enough to drastically alter your life if you discovered it was out of alignment with God's nature and will? These were the questions that needed to be answered by the Jews who had returned to Israel from exile. Some of them, including their political and even religious leaders, had intermarried with people from the surrounding pagan nations. This was the very sin that led to their destruction in the first place. In Ezra 10 the Jews face this issue head-on. Would they compromise and allow the sin to continue? Would they eradicate it, even it if meant making incredible sacrifices? Those sacrifices in some cases would include divorcing wives and leaving children. Could they make the ultimate sacrifice to get their lives right before God? Notice how the people handled the situation. First, at the insistence of their leaders and with just three days notice, they all gathered in Jerusalem (v9). Standing outside under heavy rain, they were confronted with their sin (v10) as Ezra pulled no punches in declaring their guilt and calling for repentance. The people then agreed to a process to deal with the situation because "Nor is this the work of one or two days, for there are many of us who have transgressed in this matter" (v13). As you can imagine, because of this kind of sin, it would take some time to put things in order. They did, however, follow through with that process. Repentance started with a decision, continued with confession, and completed with action. It is important to note that under the New Covenant of grace, God does not call us to divorce if we are married to non-believers, even though He says we should not marry non-believers in the first place. God, however, certainly does call us to eradicate sin in our life, even if that means making great sacrifices to do so. So, let's revisit the question we started with: What value do we place on holiness? What sacrifices are we willing to make to live right before God? Ponder these as you go through your day.
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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.

Psalm 10-- Where is God in the Wickedness?

Does it seem to you like the world is getting more and more wicked? You don't have to watch a TV newscast for very long or read too far into a news story before you see evil. Sometimes it is pure evil, like those who kill large numbers of people. Sometimes it is pure wickedness, those who openly rebel against anything and everything holy and righteous. Psalm 10 gives us some characteristics of people like this and a reminder that we all need to keep before us. The wicked are unrestrained (v3). They do whatever they feel like doing, with no sense of moral obligation. They are self-consumed and give no thought whatsoever of God (vv3-4). To others they seem unstoppable, and to themselves they feel invincible (vv5-6). The wicked look for easy targets, oppressing those who are the weakest and most vulnerable (vv7-10). Finally, the wicked think they can get away with what they are doing and will never have to face judgment (vv11,13). But remember this--God does see everything (v14). Nothing is hidden from God. He can, and has, brought the mightiest of this world to their knees (v16). In His time, God will bring justice (vv14,18)
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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.

Psalm 9-- Is 'God Bless America' Backwards?

Every U.S. president that I can recall in my lifetime has always concluded any major speech or address to the nation with, "And may God bless America." But I'm waiting to hear a president say, "And may America bless God." You see, it is great to ask for Divine favor and blessing on a nation--but it is even more important that a nation brings blessing to God. Now before you "amen" that statement too much, think about your own life. How many times do you go to God asking for some form of His blessing or intervention in your life compared to how many times you bless God? In Psalm 9 we see an example of what in means to bless God, illustrated by David in the first two verses. "I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart." Do you live a lifestyle of praise that comes from the very innermost part of who you are? Do you have an undivided heart that daily offers praise to the Lord? "I will tell of Your marvelous works." How many people this week have you told about the marvelous works of God? "I will be glad and rejoice in You." Does your joy in life stem from a deep understanding of God and a close walk with him? Are you deeply in love with the Lord--or has life detracted from that love relationship? "I will sing praise to Your name." Are you so focused on the Lord that you find yourself breaking out into songs of praise to Him, not on Sunday but in the middle of the week? The chapter goes on to chronicle why we should bless God--because He is a righteous judge, a refuge for believers, and a deliverer of those in need. Yes, let's continue to ask for God's blessing on our nation and on our lives, but let's also be sure that our nation and our lives are blessing God.
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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.

Psalm 5-- Two Kinds of Fish, Two Kinds of People

As the sun was rising on the lake near our home, we were already out on a friend's boat pulling in fish. As soon as the hook hit the water, we had a bite. We found the perfect spot, had the right bait, and saw lots of hungry fish. Now there really was only two kinds of fish there--keepers and non-keepers. What breed they were wasn't as important as whether or not they were big enough to keep. Were they usable or not? I'm a sport fisherman, but the guy whose boat I was on likes to eat them and also gives them away to others for food. So whether or not they were keepers was an important question. In this world there really are only two kinds of people. Those who live for the Lord and those who live for themselves. Those who are wicked and live for themselves, God takes no pleasure in them (v4). He has no use for them (vv5-6). For those, however, who live for Him, they are "keepers" who enjoy God's presence and favor (v12). They are usable to the Lord. The keepers have something to rejoice in because they have put their trust in God (v11). God fills them with His joy and defends them. Let's be a keeper for God!
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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.

Psalm 4-- Standing Out from the Crowd

Have you ever sat in a mall and people watched? Dozens of people walk by and you don't notice anything particular about them, they just blend in with the crowd. Then along comes someone who's appearance sets them apart from everyone else. Maybe they have brilliantly bright neon green colored hair or they are wearing clothes with colors that clash so bad you spot them a block away. Whatever the reason, they just stand out. Well, as believers we should stand out from the crowds around us--not because we dyed our hair or dress like it was 50 years ago--but because we pursue godliness. Psalm 4 discusses what it means to stand out from the crowds (vv1-2) as we seek to be more like God. The godly are special to the Lord--He sets them apart for divine service (v3). The godly know that God hears their prayers (v3). Godly men and women are careful to avoid sin and regularly evaluate their lives (v4). Godly people actively serve the Lord and have an unwavering trust in Him (v5). Godly people enjoy a unique joy and peace that is not dependent upon their circumstances (vv7-8). All of these things make the godly stand out in a world that pursues sin and self interests. What about you? Do you stand out from the crowd because of your godliness? Or does your life look like the unbelievers around you?
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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.

Genesis 41-- Your Big Moment

Have you ever been in one of those "big moment" situations? You know, where you have the potential for the opportunity of a lifetime if you don't blow your chance? Maybe it is interviewing for your dream job or auditioning for a theatrical or even television role. I had one of those big moment situations when I was a teenager. I grew up in southern California and had won several local talent shows doing ventriloquism. I managed to get an audition for a children's TV show. My big moment came in a small office in Hollywood as I performed for the show's executive producer and director. I think the director liked me but not the producer. I never got called back. So much for my big TV moment! Well, Joseph in Genesis 41 didn't have a big moment in front of TV producers, he had something even bigger. He had an audience with the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Joseph, as you may recall, was in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Pharaoh had a dream that greatly troubled him and no one could interpret it for him. His butler, who had spent time in prison with Joseph, remembered his cell mate and told Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams. After a quick shave and a change of clothes, Joseph now stood before the most powerful person in the world at that time. This was his big moment! He could plead his case and beg Pharaoh to release him from prison. This was possibly a once in a lifetime chance for a pardon. But that is not what Joseph did. Instead of focusing on himself, he focused on Pharaoh's situation and on the Lord. When asked to interpret, Joseph immediately replied, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (v16). You see, Joseph's life did not revolve around himself. His first reaction was not to save his own skin but to glorify God with the abilities God had given him. He put God and others first, and God greatly blessed him. He not only was released from prison but was made the number two leader in all the kingdom. More than that, he became the savior of countless numbers of people as a famine griped the world--a famine for which Joseph had prepared. "So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands" (v57). By placing his focus on God's glory and not his temporary gain, Joseph not only got what he wanted (freedom) but more than he could ever have imagined. You see, God's definition of "big moments" and how they are to be handled may be very different than ours. Let's seek to glorify God, use our gifts and abilities to help others, and then we can leave the "big moment" outcomes to the Lord.
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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.

Genesis 34-- Kids Gone Wild

There are some kids who you just know are going to get into major trouble as they get older. As someone outside the family, you look at how they are being parented and how they act when they are young, and you can predict problems. Now we know that some kids rebel and make bad decisions even with good parenting. As a parent, I ultimately cannot make choices for my children when they are grown, but I can do everything in my power while they are young to teach them how to make good choices. In Genesis 34 we see some bad choices made by some young people, and we see that the parents are at least partially to blame. Dinah, Jacob's daughter by wife Leah, decides to go "into town" and hang out with the pagan girls of the region. Some scholars think she wasn't more than 14 years old when this happened. She catches the eye of Shechem, the son of a prince, who was use to getting everything he wanted. He "violated her" (v2) and then decided he wanted to marry her. Like he probably had done a hundred times before, he went to his father demanding to have his way--in this case to have Dinah for a wife (vv8,18-19). So the father dutifully obliges his son and goes to work out an arrangement with Jacob (vv8-9). It didn't matter that his son had disgraced Dinah and Jacob's family. What little Shechem wanted, little Shechem got! Now when Dinah's brothers heard what had happened they "were grieved and very angry" (v7). That is an understatement! They went on to devise and execute a plan that incapacitated all of the men of Shechem's city. They then went in and killed all of the men and took their wives and children captive, along with all of their possessions. What was Jacob's response when he saw this? Was there moral outrage for needlessly destroying so many lives? No. His response was "You...have made me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land...and since I am few in number they will gather themselves against me and kill me" (v30). As you consider this passage, ask yourself "If the parents had parented differently, could this whole tragedy been avoided?" Should Dinah been allowed to hang out with that crowd? Should the world have revolved around Shechem and he get anything he wanted? Should Dinah's brothers have learned the moral ramifications of their decisions and not just the practical ones? Poor parenting does not excuse what these kids did, nor does it justify any of their actions. But could better parenting have led to a different outcome? This is something to consider for all of us who are parents.
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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.

Genesis 31-- When Your Dishonest Boss is also Your Father-in-Law

Talk about a hostile work and family environment! Jacob in Genesis 31 was getting it from both sides as his employer, who also was his father-in-law, was making life very difficult for him. Jacob could read people--and it was very evident to him that things had changed in his relationship to his father-in-law Laban. He had a sense that things were going to turn south in a hurry. God confirmed that to Jacob and told him to leave the area. It was time to go home to the land of his fathers (v3). God promised to be with Jacob in the midst of this transition (v3). He had protected Jacob and blessed him even though Laban was dishonest and tried to take advantage of Jacob (vv6-9, 15). Laban was greedy and lived for himself at the expense of his own family (vv14-15). Contrast that with Jacob who tried to do what was right for all in the midst of a very difficult work situation. Now God was giving him relief from this dishonest boss. Jacob slipped away with his family and possessions but Laban eventually caught up to him. Even then, God protected Jacob (v24). When Laban accused Jacob of stealing his "household idols," Jacob had enough and spoke his mind to Laban (vv36-42). In this he made it clear to Laban that God was the reason Jacob had been blessed (v42). Without God, he would have nothing. Jacob and Laban eventually come to terms that included staying separate from each other (vv51-52). Now let's draw out three principles from this story. First, God does not promise to always take us out of difficult situations, but He does promise to always be there with us and see us through. That was Jacob's situation as he labored for a difficult boss. Second, God does work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Jacob is a perfect example. Finally, sometimes in order to maintain peace, there are some people that you will have to agree to disagree with and then go on with life. Challenging work situations are a part of life. Let's learn from Jacob and rely on the Lord to navigate us through the troubled waters.
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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.

Genesis 29-- When Years Seem Like Mere Days

It reads like a great romance novel. "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her" (Genesis 29:20). That is romantic--but it also gives us a great principle for living. Hardships go much easier when their is a goal--a prize--for which to strive. A goal gives hope. This chapter describes Jacob's search for a wife (vv1-10), his love at first sight when he sees Rachel (v11), and their eventual marriage (v28). But it wasn't all storybook. To have Rachel, her father required Jacob to labor for him for seven years which, as we saw in verse 20, Jacob did with ease. Then the father does the bait and switch, substituting his older (an apparently much less attractive) daughter for Rachel on their wedding day (vv23-26). Imagine Jacob's shock the next morning when he finds out that the woman he worked seven years to marry wasn't the one he actually married! He could have Rachel, the father said, but Jacob would have to work another seven years. Jacob did his "time" putting in 14 years to get the love of his life. That is a long time and certainly was not part of his original plan. Now think about this: when things take a wrong turn in life and we end up facing something we didn't expect, it is easy to get swallowed up in self-pity. It is easy to want to quit. Things didn't go the way we planned so let's throw in the towel. But if we will set our eyes on something beyond the immediate, then we will have hope. What goals do you have in your life? What special thing do you have to look forward to? Everyone needs something. It doesn't have to be extravagant, just something that will encourage you and motivate you to press on. Marriages need this as well. We need something special that we are looking forward to doing together. Maybe it is an annual vacation, a weekend getaway, or just a relaxing day walking in the park, but we need something that we periodically plan for that will help us to look beyond the immediate.
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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.

Genesis 27--The Collapsing Family

Every so often it seems that there is a tragic story of a mine that has collapsed with workers trapped inside. Sometimes the workers survive, but too often we hear of lives that are lost. They are in the mine where they have been many times before, but on that tragic day something happens to weaken the mine's supports and it collapses on the workers. Far more frequent than mines collapsing are families collapsing. The supports give way and the world comes crashing down on many families. Tragically, some families disintegrate. In other cases, they survive. They are hurt, dirty, scared--but they continue. Such was the case in Genesis 27 with Isaac, Rebekah and their two children, Esau and Jacob. Notice some things that caused the "mine" to weaken and eventually collapse. We see that Rebekah elevated her child above her husband (vv5-10). She conspired to trick her husband in order to benefit her favored son, Jacob, and secure Isaac's blessing for him instead of Esau. She also directly lied to her husband (v46). In addition, she underestimated the pain that she caused Esau (v44). She assumed Esau would get over this in "a few days," but he didn't. We also notice that Jacob wasn't concerned with what was right or wrong, only with getting caught (vv11-12). Then we see Esau becoming desperate (v34) and rather than turn to God, he turns to rage (v41). He would harbor this intense anger and bitterness for a long time. As we look back on their lives, we see that Isaac and Rebekah did what many couples do today. They lost themselves in their children. Not only that, but they each had their own favorite child on whom they focused. I have seen this many times--after many years a couple ends their marriage because they no longer have an emotional connection to each other. Everything centered on the children and when the children leave home they have nothing in common. Don't live just for your children! The best gift you can give to your children is the example of a strong marriage. Put your priority on your spouse and then together seek to raise, guide, and nurture your children to realize their full potential in Christ. Do that and everyone will be better off.

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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.

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.

Genesis 11-- Are You Building a Babel?

It was an extraordinary scene. One of the most powerful persons in the United States standing before the Pope. It was February, 2009 and the The U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is second in line to the president, had a brief audience with the Pope. Arguably the most politically powerful person in America next to the president, the Speaker is Roman Catholic. In Catholic theology, the Pope speaks for God. What would the Pope say to the Speaker? How would she respond to what he would say? Well, he told her in the clearest terms possible that it was the duty of government officials to protect life from conception till natural death. This was contrary to her policies. I think about that scene when I think of Genesis 11, which is a chapter of transitions. We see the transition from people being of one language and living in one place to being scattered across the earth with multiple languages (vv1-9). We see the narrative of the book transition to focus one one family, Abraham and his descendants (10-32). What is particularly notable in this chapter is the story of the building of the tower of babel. This was man's attempt to "make a name for himself." God said to fill the earth. Man, instead, rebelled and decided stay together. Not only that but they created a place to demonstrate their power and ability in direct defiance to God. Things haven't changed any since then. People today are still rebelling against God, doing things in direct defiance of Him as they try to make a name for themselves. They refuse to be told what to do and will stop at nothing to maintain power and control over themselves. We see this played out especially among those who promote abortion. Every act of abortion is a reenactment of the tower of Babel. It is a person telling God they know what is best for their lives and that they will do whatever they want regardless of what God says. But it isn't just with abortion--it is any time we knowingly and willfully defy what we know to be the clear commands of Almighty God. So, we all need to ask ourselves today, "Are we building Towers of Babel in our lives?" Are we constructing something in our lives that stands in defiance to God? What if it wasn't the Pope but Christ we were standing in front of today? Would there be a Babel in our lives that He would tell us to stop building?
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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.

Genesis 10-- Standing Out from the Crowd Isn't Always Good

When you hear the names "Hitler" or "Stalin" what comes to your mind? Men like this stand out in history, not because of the good they did but because of how their lives negatively impacted the world. In Genesis 10 we see someone similar. His name was Nimrod (vv8-9). In the midst of a "begot" chapter that establishes Noah's descendants, one man stands out. Nimrod was the first person who sought to dominate his world. He went on to found what would become Babylon. He apparently gained such renown that everyone knew about him, but not always for the best of reasons. His self-exaltation stood out even before the Lord. We should stand out from the crowd--but in a way that honors God and brings glory to Him, not ourselves. We need leaders today, but not those like Nimrod who try to lord over others and exalt themselves. We need leaders who lovingly help those around them fulfill their God-given purpose. We need leaders who build people up not crush them in order to get their way. While we may think that we could never be a Hitler, Stalin or Nimrod, our lives could still have a negative impact if we adopt a Nimrod spirit. Christians can take their eyes off God, become filled with pride, and lead a self-serving life. Don't let that be you!
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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.

Genesis 6-- The Search for Another Noah

With each newspaper article, TV newscast, Internet story and even blog postings, I shake my head and wonder how much more depraved can man get. Just when you think you have heard it all comes another shocking story of someone doing something so outrageous that your jaw drops. Then I look at people in leadership--media, politics, and even sports--and their actions are appalling. They have a world view that elevates personal satisfaction, power, and fame above the sanctity of life and any resemblance of godliness or decency. They worship at the altar of humanism. In the midst of such a scene, God is looking for people to stand out. He is looking for someone to go against the flow of popular culture, workplace peer pressure, or deviant political agendas. He is looking for another Noah. In Genesis 6 the world had gotten so bad that everything was corrupt. Violence was everywhere (v11). All mankind could think about was that which was evil (v5). Every intent of their thoughts were wicked. Maybe this sounds like some people you work with, or the society in which you find yourself. Notice two words in verse 8: "But Noah." In the midst of all this garbage was one person who distinguished himself from everyone else. There was one person who "walked with God" (v9). One person who God knew would be obedient to Him (v22). Today, God is looking for men and women like Noah. Will you be one of them?
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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.

Genesis 5-- What's On Your Tombstone?

If you could choose how long you live, how many years would you pick? Would you be satisfied with the average? Or maybe you want to hit the century mark? But what if you could live to age 300 or even 600? I don't know that I would want to live quite that long--life can get pretty difficult at times. We see in Genesis 5, and the genealogy of Adam's family, that hitting your 800th or 900th birthday was commonplace. Try putting candles on those cakes! One person in this list, however, didn't make it that long. He went "early," not because he died but because "God took him" (v24). Enoch lived a mere 365 years, and in that "short" time, he distinguished himself from everyone else in the world. You see, Enoch walked with God. While others were pursuing their own ambitions, Enoch was spending his days pleasing God. Enoch was taken to heaven without seeing death. May it be said of each of us, no matter how many years we have on this earth, that we walked with God. I don't know of any better inscription for a grave marker or tombstone than he or she "walked with God."
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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.

Ecclesiastes 12-- The Ghost of Christmas Future

Do you remember the classic tale A Christmas Story? Ebeneezer Scrooge lost perspective on life. That impacted his priorities and how he treated others. It took the Ghost of Christmas Future to help Scrooge see how he would waste his life if he continued living like he was living. In a sense, Solomon is our "Ghost of Christmas Future" as he in Ecclesiastes 12 walks us to the edge of the end of our lives and invites us to look back. The time for procrastination will end. There will be no more "I'll get serious about this tomorrow" because the days of being able to do anything will have ended. Let me encourage you to carefully read Solomon's description of what it is like when we get older (vv 2-8). As he entered his later years, Solomon realized how much of his life he had wasted pursuing temporary things. Every day we spend focused on our own priorities and living for ourselves is a day that is wasted--and a day that can never be recovered. And it is a day that we one day will regret. So how can we live our lives without regret? How can we maximize our lives and live them to their fullest? Three things. First, start now (v1). Don't delay! No matter what age you are, this is the time to put God first in your life. Don't wait another day. Second, pursue wisdom throughout your life and not just knowledge (vv9-12). Learning is good and we should be life-long students, but knowledge for the sake of knowledge is shallow. Wisdom, however, will enable us to successfully navigate life and help others to do the same. Finally, do what God says to do (v13). It is just that simple. Have enough fear, appreciation, reverence, love, etc. for God that you follow what He says to do. That is our purpose. That is what life is all about. That is what will give our life meaning, fullness, and true joy. There is no such thing as the Ghost of Christmas Future, so if you are waiting for him to show up, you are out of luck. Learn from the mistakes of Solomon--don't waste any day of your 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. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/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.

Ecclesiastes 8-- You've Got One Request--Make it a Good One!

Imagine for a moment that you were standing in front of God today and He says to you, "I will give you anything that you want--anything at all." What would you ask him for? Ponder that question for a moment. You get just one request--what will it be? Solomon at one point in his life had an opportunity like this and he asked for wisdom. Why wisdom and not health or wealth or success? I remember when our family was going through an extremely difficult time, which lasted for several years. Friends would say "How can I pray for you." At first I had a variety of responses, but the more we got into the situation, and the more desperate I felt about it, I solidified my response. "Pray that God will give us wisdom," I asked. It took a while to learn this, but eventually it became clear that if we had God's wisdom then we could successfully navigate through our storm. Ecclesiastes 8 celebrates wisdom and the incredible difference in makes in living. Wisdom allows a person to discern what is really happening around him or her (v1). It affects our attitude and approach to situations and to others (v1). Wisdom knows how to act around those in authority (vv1-9). Wisdom shows us when we should discuss certain things and when it is best to keep our mouths closed. Wisdom keeps us from getting caught up in the moment and take a long-term look at life. It enables us to filter immediate circumstances through the truths of eternity. We don't assume that because evil people seem to be getting ahead in life that we should do the same. We recognize the shallowness of sin and self-centered living. (vv10-15). Most of all, true wisdom enables us to recognize the glory and greatness of God and the vast limitations that we have as humans. (vv16-17). I don't know what you are praying about today, but if it doesn't include getting wisdom from God, then you are short-changing yourself and those around you.
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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.

Ecclesiastes 5-- Your Money and Your Mouth

There are two things that can get us into quick trouble--our mouth and a love for material possessions. Every day I hear or see numerous advertisements either encouraging applying for credit cards or telling how they can fix your credit card problems. Here in the U.S. many people have taken the "I have to have it now" approach to things rather than asking if they can afford it or not. Materialism has led to all kinds of social and even political ills. And then there is our mouth. Every one of us knows what it is like for our mouths to get us into trouble! Ecclesiastes 5 provides an important lesson on the need to control both of these. So many times we are quick to speak but we don't listen--and we miss out. Even when we go to church we often don't listen. Solomon encourages us that when we go to God's house we should "draw near to hear" (v1). Guarding our mouth is important every day. We should not be so quick to speak that we don't think through what we are saying (v2). Rather, we should fulfill our promises (vv4-5) and not make excuses when we do say things we shouldn't. The other subject this chapter explores is that of materialism. One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible is the verse in James that says "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Many say that "money is the root of all evil." Solomon makes it clear here, just as James did in his epistle, that the issue isn't money or material things, rather it is our hearts and where we place our love and focus. When we love things we will never be satisfied (vv10-11) and we will spend our lives laboring in vain (vv12-17). When our focus is on the Lord and pleasing Him with our work, then we can be satisfied with what God brings our way because we see it as "the gift of God" (v19). We have a promise that our work will have significance "for he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart." Our work becomes our joy because we are doing it for the Lord. Let's take to heart the two great teachings of this chapter--let's be careful with our words and let's keep our hearts focused on God and not the "stuff" around us.

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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.

Ecclesiastes 4-- Championship Living

You see it every so often in professional sports--the hotshot rookie who thinks he is God's gift to the sport and who thinks he knows it all. It usually doesn't take long, however, for these athletes to get a rude awakening and a heavy dose of reality. They quickly discover that they are one among many on the team and that their coaches actually do know more than they do. If they don't make this discovery, they usually don't last long. The legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins, John Wooden, said "Individuals win trophies but teams win championships." There are two fundamental necessities to winning both in sports and in life--teamwork and being teachable. Ecclesiastes 4 drives these points home. There are those who labor alone and only for their personal gain (v8) but this brings exceptional emptiness. When we connect with others, however, there is synergy, encouragement, support and strength. We are stronger as an individual when we connect with a team (vv9-12). Someone who is teachable, even though he or she may not have the experience of some who are older, is in a much better position (vv13-14). We must never get to the point in our lives where we "will be admonished no more" (v13). All of us have more to learn. None of us have arrived yet. So if you want a rich and fulfilled life become a team player who never stops learning and who consistently allows others to speak into your life. That's the formula that wins championships.

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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.