Herod: led by sinful pleasure

One of the saddest stories in all of scripture, for me to have read lately anyway, is the death of John the Baptist.  It's not  because John dies either.  It's because of Herod.  

Here is this great and mighty ruler who succumbs to the thrills of momentary pleasure and the fear of man with the result being the death of a very Godly and righteous man.  This is how it goes down: Herod had married his brother's wife, thus committing adultery with her, and John had told him in no less words that it was wrong of him to do so.  Herod didn't stop what he was doing and the woman, now his wife Herodias, hated John and wanted to see him die.  Herod wasn't willing to do this though because he knew that John was a righteous and holy man and liked to bear what he had to say.  He did keep him in prison though, which still shows that his heart was hard to the message that John was preaching.  

As time goes on Herod has a birthday party, as we all tend to do from time to time, and at this party Herodias' daughter comes in to dance for them and Herod was so overcome with pleasure by her dance that he tells her he will give her whatever she wants, up to half of his kingdom.  Oh, the power of sinful pleasure, huh?

Anyway, the girl goes to her mother and asks what she should do.  The mother says to ask for the head of John on a platter.  OOPS! Now what is Herod to do?  He has just made this promise to give her whatever she wants; he doesn't want to look bad in front of his guests; so he does it.  He has John beheaded and the head actually brought in on a platter.  Now, this story could be dissected a lot, but it truly is a sad story because Herod knew who John was.  He knew the right thing to do; yet his lust and fear of man led him to do that which was so greatly evil.  Taking the life of another man.  

Have you ever been there?  Making dumb, sinful, decisions based on your own pleasure or on the fear of man.  I know I have.  It's a sad place to be.  Herod's life was dominated by those things.  Gratefully our lives don't need to be.  Jesus gives the power by His Holy Spirit to overcome our sinful desires and the fear of man in order that we might walk in obedience to Him and to His Word.  

The Coveted Coal Bowl

Here in rural western North Dakota, as in many small towns, football is kind of a big deal. On Friday night, the high school football season began. It was the perfect night for a football game: slightly chilly with a brisk breeze. But Friday night's football was not just any football game. Friday night was the Coal Bowl. [Insert wild excitement and amazement here.]

Beulah and her neighboring town, Hazen, are not in the same division; yet that's not enough to squash the rivalry and keep them from playing each other. Every year the schools begin their football season by competing in the Coal Bowl. The prize for winning? Besides gloating and bragging rights, the winning school receives a football trophy made of coal. For the past five years, Hazen has dominated the Coal Bowl, never having to surrender the beloved, coveted coal football. So this year, as the Beulah boys won by a single point in overtime, it's a bit of an understatement to say the Beulah crowd went wild. The team, the students, and the parents were ecstatic.

The Coal Bowl victory was finally theirs.

This morning, as I continued on my quest through Psalm 119, I couldn't help but think of the Coal Bowl. For the Beulah and Hazen football players and students, it is a sought after, coveted prize. There are many things that we seek in this world, aren't there? High GPA's. Good paying jobs. Entertainment. Popularity. Sometimes, we strive for these things so hard yet come up empty. And yet, how hard are we seeking after the Lord? How much time do we spend drinking in the Word of God?

"Your testimonies are wonderful;

therefore my soul observes them.

The unfolding of Your words gives light;

it gives understanding to the simple.

I opened my mouth wide and panted,

for I longed for Your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

after Your manner with those who love Your name.

Establish my footsteps in Your word,

and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

Redeem me from the oppression of man,

that I may keep Your precepts.

Make Your face shine upon Your servant,

and teach me Your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of water,

because they do not keep Your law." (Psalm 119:129-136)

When is the last time that you panted after the Word of God or shed streams of tears because of your sin? Do we truly consider the words of the Lord to be wonderful - so wonderful we could do nothing but be obedient to Him? Do we want to be established in the Word of God; firmly planted and growing in His Word?

"Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually." (1 Chronicles 16:11)

I pray that we would be a people who strive more after the Lord, than of temporary treasures made coal.

Bondservant of Christ

"Make me a servant, humble and meek. Lord let me lift up those who are weak..."

This simple, old song came to mind last night when I was sitting in a circle having my youth leader wash my feet. I was blessed to attend "Addicted: Hope, Faith, Love" - a one day get together with multiple youth groups from around the Twin Cities. We had a full day of worship, small group sessions, messages, recreation, and serving at Feed My Starving Children. We met in the morning and it wasn't over until late into the evening. By the end of the event we were all dragging our feet after a long day, more tired than most of us had realized.

We served at Feed My Starving Children right over the lunch hour; standing in the same position for over an hour while hungry doesn't make for happy and awake teenagers. However, that evening we heard a message from a local pastor who brought Pastor Jason Holt up to the front and asked him some questions about his wife. He began with simple questions such as "Do you love your wife" but further on asked "Does all that your wife do for you and your children make it easier for you to serve her?" After posing this question to the group, the pastor reminded us of everything that Christ has done for us.

So after volunteering and a long day together, Pastor Holt had our youth leaders wash our feet. We were tired and please believe me when I say that everyone's feet did not smell like a bed of roses after being in closed toed shoes all day! However, that question kept ringing in my head, only a little different now. Shouldn't all that Christ has done for us make it impossible not to serve Him?

Last week I spoke about prayer, this week I'd like to address what we pray about. When is the last time you prayed to ask God to help you serve Him? There is absolutely no way you can serve Him in your own power, I've tried for years and it doesn't work. If we prayed what that old song says, would we be ready for the results? Would we really want God to make us a servant?

But really, shouldn't all that Christ has done for us make it impossible not to serve Him?