All posts by Larry

Chess

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

When I teach chess, the very first thing I teach them after how each piece moves is that with each and every more there is the creation of weakness. It gets very complicated when you try and take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses without creating more of your own.

We have an enemy in Satan. He attacks our weaknesses. He knows where we are most vulnerable. He is an arch-angel, the Prince of the Air, this world is his chess board and we get played. Obedience of faith is our best move, every turn. We might not see the whole board, we might not understand the strategy, we might only see our own weakness.

While you might see our opponent as powerful without any flaws in his plan of attack, let me show you his weakness on each and every turn. Every move is built on a lie. If you can see the truth in that, obedience of faith becomes easier.

John 8:44b,c He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The Spirit of Truth has His hand upon you as you move. You are more than a victorious warrior, you are a knight of the King of Kings.

Gems

Matthew 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Do you have one verse of scripture that changed your life? Do you have “pearls” of wisdom that help you? I dare say that all the Christians I know have some if not many verses which they rely upon to get them through troubling times. They have verses which help to defend their faith when under attack. They have verses that give hope while their world is crumbling around them.

This morning as I woke up and starting thinking about what God should put on my heart to share, I saw an obscure line of verse that isn’t mind shattering. It isn’t anything to build doctrine upon. It wasn’t salvation based, nor what it wrapped in grace. It tickled me. I used in as a closing line recently. For some if not all, it held no particular meaning. So why did I quote the line? Because at that particular moment I found God speaking to me. A little pearl.

Job 4:12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

Secretly brought to me, a private moment, no one but me and God in that moment. Not earth shattering, not life altering, more like two friends sitting on a park bench. In that moment the world and all its woes are gone. Casual conversations do not have to be weighty. For a moment the awesomeness, holiness, and righteousness of God takes a back seat and we laugh together. For a moment.

John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

O what a friend I have in Jesus.