Gtcotr/ss072008
God has a habit of calling greatness out of obscurity.
Key Scripture: Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
I have heard it said that every man will die but not every man will truly live … tell me – what is keeping you from truly living your life today?
Approximately one thousand years ago Sir Robert, the Duke of Normandy, fathered a son. This little boy was born to a woman who was not married to Sir Robert. In that day there was no future for an illegitimate child, not even one of noble blood.
This same little boy grew to be known as William the Conqueror, Ruler of Normandy and, from 1066 to 1087, King of England.
The story of his life is one of intrigue and adventure. Although continually faced with opposition, William managed to maintain law and order, he fortified the country by making alliances, building castles in strategic cities, dividing the land into districts with overlords and regional armies and he still had time to reorganize the church by placing well educated men of known good character to all important positions.
From his death bed in September of 1087, William gave orders as to who should succeed him on the thrones of Normandy and England and then he did something which perplexed many in his close circle … He gave orders that all of his wealth should be distributed between the poor and the Church.
A thousand years ago there truly lived a man named William the Conqueror … His legacy lives on today!
Two thousand years ago lived a man named Saul. He was born in Tarsus, a wealthy Roman city of the times known as a seat of higher learning with its University top ranked among the education centers of the day in comparison to both Athens and Alexandria. Saul’s parents were Jews who had obtained Roman citizenship. This made Saul a very privileged little boy.
Saul learned a trade as a young man which was a necessity of the customs and traditions of the time. He learned tent making, a common trade in Tarsus, and then at age 13 was sent to Jerusalem to enter the school of a well known teacher of Jewish law and culture, Gamaliel. It was decided that Saul would become a Rabbi, that is, a minister, a teacher and a lawyer, all rolled into one.
Later in life Saul’s convictions and zeal gained him work with the Jewish High Council in their efforts to seek out and imprison those Jews who practiced a belief in Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah. It seemed he was very good at his duties and was sent even to foreign lands to arrest and deport ‘Christians’ to Jerusalem for trial before the High Council. Some would no doubt be executed for their faith.
On one of these trips Saul had a spiritual encounter with Jesus, was converted to Christianity and forever changed. Saul’s soon became known as the Apostle Paul and following his conversion experience the Holy Spirit led him on many new and exciting adventures.
In defense of his ministry Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 11 NKJV
23 … I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
WOW! Now there’s an adventurous life … this man truly lived life to the fullest accepting every challenge with faith in His call.
However, the Apostle Paul was not finished yet, he went on to write two-thirds of the New Testament before appearing for a second time before the bar of Nero in AD66 in Rome. At the end of this trial Paul was turned over to the executioner, led out of the city with to worst sort of rabble at his heals, brought to a certain place and be-headed for his faith in Jesus as Messiah and Savior of the World.
Two thousand years ago there truly lived a man called Paul the Apostle … his legacy lives on today!
Three Thousand years ago God looked down upon the earth and found a man whom He could trust to do all His will … a man after God’s own heart. The only thing was, this man God found was not a man yet, but a boy … a young red headed, fair faced shepherd boy named David from the town of Bethlehem in Judea.
David was the youngest son of Jesse, a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, through the tribe of Judah. David’s family saw nothing special in him and so David was kept out in the fields tending a few sheep along with the hired hands. It was in those shepherd fields around the town of Bethlehem that David learned to play the harp, sing songs to his God and protect the sheep with only a rock and his courage as defense.
One day the Prophet Samuel came to Jesse’s house for a visit and through a divine encounter anointed young David to be King over all Israel. From that point it would be years of running and hiding, praying and fighting before David would actually sit on the throne as King. In the end however, David, although he made many mistakes along the way, had this testimony from God:
Acts 13:22 And when God had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’
It is believed that near the end of David’s life he wrote his longest Psalms as both a testimony for himself and as a reminder and guide for his son Solomon who would reign as King after him. The Psalms I speak of is Psalms 119.
Psalms 119 is an alphabetical Psalms which means that the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are used each in succession to begin a new verse or group of verses, 8 verses in each group in this case, 176 verses in all.
Besides being an alphabetical Psalms and the longest Psalms in the Bible, Psalms 119 gives an insightful glimpse into King David’s heart and mind as he is in deed at this time in his life, an old man, King of Israel, a wise old King after God’s own heart.
In all 176 verses there are only two verses which do not contain a direct reference to the importance of God’s Word. This, David had come to know and trust in, was the key to everything, especially to pleasing God.
What do I hear David saying in Psalms 119? More than anything else I hear him saying that when it’s all said and done and when we have fully lived our lives with all the challenges, the victories, the failures, the recoveries and the rewards, we learn --- it’s the word, the word, the word!
It’s the Word of God which is able to save you, secure you, build you up, give you hope, forgive you sins, strengthen your resolve, grant you courage, protect your children, grant you a future, take you home and leave you a legacy.
1000 years ago lived a man named William the Conqueror …
2000 years ago lived a man named The Apostle Paul …
3000 years ago lived a man named David the King …
But … Who is living today? Who is living today? You are! It’s Your Turn! What is keeping you from being that one who truly lives life to its fullest and in doing so leaves a legacy behind for others to follow?
Heroes are not only those who die, but those who live for Christ …
Those who die for Christ may leave a memory but it’s those who live for Christ who leave a legacy.
Its those who live their life to the fullest, unselfishly giving of themselves for others, not claiming hardship nor privilege but rather claiming Christ and salvation in none other, those who lay down their life, take up their cross and follow Him. And guess what … You’re It!
God has a habit of calling greatness out of obscurity and He just may be calling you. What is the answer? The answer is YES! Here I am Lord, use me! You may as well agree because … You’re It!
Without respect to whether you have been born into poverty or privilege, celebrated or forgotten, are in your youth or among the elderly … you can give your all to Christ today. He will take you, mould you, fill you and use you for His glory.
Won’t you say yes to him right now? Right where you are … say yes to Jesus and yes to His Word … Start living a life pleasing to God by living life according to the Bible. Read it, learn it, listen to it, obey it … it’s your link to God and your hope of eternity.
* Leave a legacy by living the legacy of Christ.
* The Word of God will:
… manage your marriage, fix your finances, bless your business, change your children and frame your future. It will challenge your attitude, sad-itude, bad-itude and deposit glad-itude. The Word will wash you, iron you, dress you in your best and put a smile on your face. Let the word work in your life - why not? btw … You’re It!
