Title: Unappreciated / Topic: Serving God

Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 23; Psalm 31; Psalm 54; Matthew 7

Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:12 Again David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will."

Observation: After saving the people of Keilah from certain defeat at the hands of the Philistines, Saul has heard of David's whereabouts and is coming after him. Here, David asks the Lord if the people will hand him over to Saul and the Lord says, "They will."

Application: No good deed goes unpunished. Sometimes the people you help the most can turn on you. But we can learn to trust only in God, and to do all that we do for His approval only and not for the approval of others. This is far preferable to getting cynical against people or just deciding not to help people for fear of being burned. David did the right thing. The people of Keilah did not do the right thing. Keep on doing the right thing.

Prayer: Lord help me to do everything as unto you. And may I not worry about those who do not appreciate the care and assistance that I have given to them in Your name. May I continue to do right whether or not it is appreciated.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Title: The False Bargain / Topic: Lies Of The Enemy

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:8-10, 50-52
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." 10 Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other..."
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
51 ...When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

Observation: Goliath proposes a way to settle the dispute and avoid total war. But when David takes him up on it and wins the personal combat, notice that the Philistines have no intention of keeping their end of the bargain by becoming the subjects of the Israelites. No they retreat and there is total war anyway.

Application: The enemy is a liar by nature and will usually offer "deals" that are really false bargains. The offer usually says, make a compromise and get a benefit. For example, to Eve the enemy said, "eat of the fruit, you won't die and you will gain wisdom and become like God." A pack of lies it was. Why did the army of Israel listen in the first place? Never let the enemy dictate terms of engagement. First of all, they are based on lies, and secondly, the enemy won't follow them anyway. Follow God's agenda.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You tell the truth. You are the source of truth. Help Your servants to see the enemy's lies as lies and give us the wisdom not to listen to them. May we be dictating terms to the enemy and not the other way around. Make us strong and wise.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Fake Obedience / Topic: Self Will vs. God's Will

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 15; 1 Samuel 16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:8-9
8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

Observation: Saul had been instructed to completely annihilate the Amalekites -- not sparing or taking anything at all. (Today we cringe at such a thought, but let's just focus on the story.) They attacked and destroyed them, but notice that they did not carry out the full destruction that God had specifically instructed. Instead, they used their own personal preferences to determine what to destroy and what to keep. And notice that the things that they considered "despised and weak", these things they "totally destroyed." So I hear the tinge of them carrying out their own hatred or bigotry or prejudice here. Things they despised they destroyed. Not as an agent of God's judgment, but at their own personal wrecking crews.

Application: I find today that people can here what God has instructed and then rationalize their way out of full obedience into a kind of self-directed facsimile of obedience. From the outside, it looks very much like following God, but on the inside, it is borne of the person's own will, modifying and molding God's principles in a way that suits them.

Bottom line: I must hear and obey. It is not my place to argue with God or change His explicit instruction to suit my tastes or desires. He is Lord. I am servant.

Prayer: Lord, we need more people who understand their place before You. Help me to be a leader who follows You with such careful and joyful obedience that others will see and want to follow my example. I want to do Your will and not my own. Help me Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Compelling Conviction / Topic: Faith

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 14; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13

Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

Observation: I love Jonathan. His statement of the conviction of his heart concerning God is great! Notice that he does not presume to claim that God will act for them no matter what. He says "perhaps." (In the verses following this one, he proposes two options -- one where God will help them.) And he knows one thing for sure: "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few."

Application: I want to let this inspire me. Jonathan was facing ridiculously overwhelming odds. But he saw God as so much bigger than any enemy he could face. Think about that. It is truly remarkable that Jonathan is able to disregard the obviously-visible overwhelming, threatening force of the Philistines with their chariots, swords, spears, and large numbers, and to see his invisible God as more powerful, more reliable, and he is willing to lay his life on the line with this invisible God against the powerful army standing before him. How much must I choose to trust in God for my every need and against my every obstacle? I must with every fiber of my being.

Prayer: Lord, You are great. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Thank You for Jonathan and his great example for me. Inspire me to greater and greater faith. I know You will be there for me as I act with conviction and trust in You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Let's Do Something / Topic: Leadership

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 13; 1 Chronicles 2; 1 Chronicles 3; 2 Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:11-12
11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12 I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."

Observation: Saul is hard pressed as he and his army are vastly outnumbered and the enemy has chariots, swords, spears, and shields while Saul's army has no weapons, only agricultural implements like shovels, rakes, and hoes! And to make matters worse, Samuel is late in arriving. His men are melting away in fear. Saul has to do something! And he makes a fateful decision: he decides to take matters into his own hands by performing the burnt offering himself -- something that only the priest was supposed to do.

Application: This is a common tendency for leaders, particularly young leaders. "Nothing seems to be happening. Let's do something! Let's make something happen." Saul had self-limited his options. "Either wait for Samuel to offer the sacrifice, or do it myself." He viewed the sacrifice as the thing -- a kind of gimmick event to hold his troops together. In reality, the sacrifice is not an event, it is worship of God expressing dependence upon Him. When Saul took it upon himself to do the sacrifice, he expressed self-dependence and violated the very spirit of the sacrifice. It is hard for young leaders to wait on the Lord -- to be patient and wait and have faith that He will do what needs to be done in His time. (At no time did Saul simply ask God for guidance or help or confirmation.)

Bottom Line: Resist the temptation to act for action's sake. Wait patiently on the Lord. When there are road blocks, seek Him first. Granted, there are times for bold action (as when Jonathan attacked the Philistines), but we must submit everything before God. In our leadership, we must not get ahead of God.

Prayer: Lord, following You is the essence of what I want my life to be about. Thinking Your thoughts, walking in Your ways, doing what You do, saying what You say. Help me to do these things consistently. I believe in You. I have trust in You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Aggressively Protective / Topic: Responsible Leadership

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 11; 1 Samuel 12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

Observation: Paul is on a tear. He is taking on outsiders who have come into the Corinthian church, presenting themselves as "apostles," even using the term "super apostles." Paul considers them dangerous interlopers and does everything he can to convince the church not to follow these impostors. What I notice is how aggressive Paul is. He doesn't shade his words -- it's black and white to him.

Application: This is encouraging to me. I have had situations in my leadership where some have come in or risen up to rival my leadership in the lives of people who are under my care. My first response is to be defensive of the sheep -- not of myself or my position. Sometimes I have been attacked for this. But Paul, who did the exact same thing and even more, tells me that I am right on.

Bottom Line: Spiritual leadership must be aggressively protective for their people because subversive religious-appearing fakes will always appear to do damage to a church. The pastor must be vigilant and aggressive in neutralizing those who come in with less-than-holy motivations. (Some of these people may be unaware of their bad motivations.)

Prayer: Lord, help me to have discernment as I lead. Give me strength and wisdom to protect those whom You have given me the privilege to care for.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Zap Of God / Topic: Life Change

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 8; 1 Samuel 9; 1 Samuel 10; 2 Corinthians 10

Scripture: 1 Samuel 10:6 The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.

Observation: Samuel is prophesying to Saul about the immediate future. Among all the details of lost donkeys, and goats, and bread, and wine, and musicians is this amazing verse. What I particularly love about this is that it affirms the fact that a person can undergo a radical life change in an instant by God's power. Typically we tend to think that change can only happen over time with prayer, sweat, counseling, 12 steps, accountability, support, etc. (And of course, this is the way that change generally happens.)

Application: Be open to God's power to change you. He has the power to do in an instant what an army of psychiatrists cannot do over years. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't get help or make effort to do the things that will support the changes we seek. But I'd rather have God zap me than spend three years in counseling!

Prayer: Lord, please work Your supernatural change in my life. I know You have already and I look for more to come. Make me over in You image.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Rich In Every Way / Topic: God's Blessings

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 6; 1 Samuel 7; Psalm 72; 2 Corinthians 9

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Observation: This is a great scripture about the principle of sowing and reaping and the place of faith in prosperity. God is the ultimate source -- Paul uses the phrases "he who supplies seed to the sower and bread and food" -- a great description of Jehovah Jireh. Relying upon God as the source results in one thing: richness! Look how Paul pours it on: "Supply and increase," "enlarge the harvest," "rich in every way." But this is not just about money -- no, it is also about character: "righteousness" and "generosity" are also hugely prominent in these verses. It is quite clear that the person who submits to God in trust and faith not only will be blessed in finances, but also in character and as Paul says, "rich in every way."

Application: These are incentives enough for anyone to serve the Lord. But when you add the fact of God's great love and the desperate need of humans for redemption from our own brokenness, why would anyone not lay it all down for God?

Prayer: Lord, You are great. May I serve You in such a way that I am blessed and "rich in every way."
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: A Pastor's Fantasy / Topic: Great Giving

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 3; 1 Samuel 4; 1 Samuel 5; Psalm 77; 2 Corinthians 8

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:2-5
2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

Observation: Paul is writing about the Macedonian churches. He describes their amazingly great giving. These Christians literally begged to give, considering it a privilege! (Unfortunately, this attitude is almost unseen today.) And their giving came from hearts of submission to God, with a priority on pleasing Him first and allowing their giving to be guided by God's will for them. The result was giving beyond a level that Paul even thought possible of them.

Application: I have entitled this post A Pastor's Fantasy because the attitude of these Macedonian Christians is what any pastor would love to have in the people he leads. Not just the generosity in the area of finance (although that would be mightily refreshing), but the giving of themselves first to the Lord. What a blessing to have a group people who have made God the first priority in their lives not just in word, but in deed as well.

[Disclaimer: I want to make it clear that I, like every pastor, have some people in my flock that are like these Macedonians. What makes this group A Pastor's Fantasy, is the fact that the entire church was characterized by this wonderful commitment. That is unheard of among pastors I have met or churches I know of.]

Prayer: Lord, I pray that there would be more and more of Your people who are like these Macedonian believers. Guide me so that I can inspire people to greater and greater levels of intimacy and commitment to You as the #1 thing in their lives.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Broken Covenant / Topic: God's Promises

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 1; 1 Samuel 2; Psalm 66; 2 Corinthians 7

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:29-30
29 Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?'
30 "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

Observation: God rebukes Eli for his sons' misdeeds. Their abuse of the priesthood has caused God to retract the covenant that He made with Levi. Because Eli does not deal with his sons decisively, God tells him that He is scorning the sacrifice and honoring his sons more than God. (True, Eli rebuked them for their actions, but he himself took no action against them. They continued to flaunt their evil while Eli did nothing.) Notice that in verse 30 God says that He is going back on the promise He made because of their failure to honor God. The phrase, "far be it from me," indicates that it is not at all God's nature to make unconditional promises. When He makes a promise, it is dependant upon the obedience of the one receiving the promise.

Application: We can break God's covenant and lose His promised blessing, including our salvation. "Far be it from me," God says, to keep a promise with anyone who is abusing people in the name of God or living a lie that brings dishonor to God. Those who intentionally and habitually dishonor God have no reason to think that they will get anything but judgment from the Lord.

Bottom line: Stay close to God, seeking Him with humility. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be a keeper of Your covenant. Empower me by Your Spirit to walk in humble obedience to You always.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: A Life Of Contrasts / Topic: Discipleship

Today’s Reading: Ruth 3; Ruth 4; Psalm 64; Psalm 65; 2 Corinthians 6

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Observation: The contrasts of life for the disciple of Jesus are amazing. Here Paul lists some.
1. There is sorrow mixed with rejoicing. Sorrow for those who are hurting, lost, suffering because of bad choices, etc. There is sorrow and pain because of those who hurl attacks against the disciple. But there is rejoicing in the Lord as He sustains the disciple and the joy of sharing in the sufferings of Jesus.
2. Poor and rich at the same time. Poor because the disciple does not focus on the amassing of wealth. Poor because the disciple considers everything he has to belong to God and not to him. Poor because the disciple gives away much to help others. Yet rich because of the blessings of God and because of the truth that all of what belongs to God also belongs to the disciple as a joint heir with Jesus. Also rich because of the multiple blessings of God poured out on the life of the disciple.

Application: The life of the disciple is full of contradictions and contrasts. If I am to live this life, I must be content to live in the middle of this tension. It is a good tension because it reminds me that though I am richly blessed of God, I have not yet realized the fullness of the blessing. And this tension keeps me focused on Jesus and looking forward to the day of fulfillment, the blessed coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ when all things will be made complete.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You lead us forward even in this life of contrasts and contradictions. I know that You have given me everything I need, even though I sometimes don't see it. Help me to live by faith and not by sight.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: God's Kindness Revealed / Topic: Godly Character

Today’s Reading: Ruth 1; Ruth 2; Psalm 53

Scripture: Ruth 2:10-12
10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?"
11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

Observation: This is a touching exchange between Ruth and Boaz. The respect that each expresses for the other is wonderful. Boaz was an honorable and kind man and though Ruth was an alien to Israel, he treats her with dignity and gentleness. And I love what he says in verse 12: "May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." It is the Lord that we come to for refuge, but it is often good people that the Lord uses to bring us the blessings of the trust we put in God.

Application: I want to be a person whom the Lord uses to bless others. I want to be an extension of God and His blessing as Boaz was to Ruth. She learned about the goodness of God by seeing the goodness of Boaz. He put flesh and blood to the goodness of the invisible God. That's what I want my life to be all about.

Prayer: Lord, You are so good. I want to reflect Your goodness to others and to live boldly proclaiming Your name, Your will, and Your ways to anyone who is paying attention. Give me boldness and effectiveness in this pursuit, Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Death And Life / Topic: Resurrection Power

Today’s Reading: Judges 19; Judges 20; Judges 21; 2 Corinthians 4

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:10-11, 16-18
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body...
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Observation: I love these verses! This is the week we remember Jesus' death and celebrate His resurrection. And here, Paul explains that we undergo this death and resurrection experience in an ongoing way. We experience death through trials and struggles -- sometimes almost ready to give up. The frustration of our own weakness and inconsistency causes us great consternation, but also drives us to God and the throne of grace where we are lifted up through His divine power and His life is revealed where all we saw was death. The contrast between the death and renewal of life keeps reminding us that we are following in the footsteps of Jesus. We live because He lived. We die because He died. We are raised again because He was raised again. And I especially love verse 17 which describes our travail as "light and momentary troubles" but explains the wonderful truth that these troubles have the purpose of "achieving for us an eternal glory." Because of this, we have every reason to hang on to hope and look for the eternal payoff. We will ultimately be raised even from death to the perfection of God. Hallelujah!

Application: Keep on keeping on!

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are producing something beautiful in my life. I am so bless to be the recipient of Your grace and glory. May I walk in resurrection power every day as I love and long for Your appearing.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Celebrating Garbage / Topic: Depraved Culture

Today’s Reading: Judges 17; Judges 18; Psalm 89; 2 Corinthians 3

Scripture: Judges 17:1-2
1 Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim 2 said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it."
Then his mother said, "The LORD bless you, my son!"

Observation: This is the beginning of a very bizarre story. What I notice is that this mother is proud of her son for coming clean about stealing her money. There is no thought about the fact that he has bad character, being a thief who steals from his own mother, only that he admitted to stealing.

Application: I think it is a mark of a depraved culture where people take things that are shameful, or should be shameful, and elevate them as if they are good. And by that measure, we live in a depraved culture. Today, the lifestyles that are celebrated, the sins that are paraded, the bizarre that is normalized is remarkable. Just consider all the focus and frenzy about the recent death of a former centerfold model and the glamorizing of her sad and abused life as something worthy of celebration. Or the parades in various cities in which homosexuals demonstrate their pride in themselves and their practices in grotesque and unrestrained revelry. The mocking of purity, modesty, and virtue is another indication of the fallen society in which we live.

The bottom line is that we must not identify with this culture of sensuality and permissiveness. It is our duty to portray a distinctive holiness and purity that stands in sharp contrast to the popular culture.

Prayer: Lord help us to be beacons of purity in this dark world. May Your people portray your nobility through the way we live.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: He Believed Her / Topic: Trust

Today’s Reading: Judges 13; Judges 14; Judges 15; Judges 16; 2 Corinthians 2

Scripture: Judges 13:6 Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name... 8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."

Observation: I love the fact that Manoah did not doubt his wife's words, even though the story she told would have been hard to believe. Throughout this story we see that Manoah's wife is a spiritual, but levelheaded woman. She had earned Manoah's trust by being trustworthy. Because he believed her, he prayed for another visitation for further instruction in raising the child of promise and he got it.

Application: This has everything to do with trustworthiness and trust. I must conduct myself in such a way as to give others reasons to believe in what I say. And I should be willing to believe others who have likewise proven themselves as well. God does speak to people. Let's listen to what others share about His communications to them. And let us tune our ears to the Lord to hear Him and share it with others.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You speak to people. Help me to hear you. And help me to earn the trust of others with honorable and honest living and words.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: What A Deal! / Topic: Rewards

Today’s Reading: Judges 11; Judges 12; Psalm 50; 2 Corinthians 1

Scripture: Psalm 50:23 "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,
and he prepares the way
so that I may show him the salvation of God."

Observation: Talk about your good investment! Invest in God by bringing thank offerings and honoring God and that "prepares the way" for God's intervention and salvation. What a great deal!

Application: This is such a no brainer! Serve God, love God, worship God, honor God. And God works on your behalf. It's that simple.

Prayer: Lord, I do desire to honor You with my whole being. I ask for Your help and blessing on my life and my loved ones and my work. Pour out a blessing upon me and multiply my effectiveness and my fruitfulness.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Men Of Courage / Topic: Living Strong

Today’s Reading: Judges 9; Judges 10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

Observation: This phrase, "be men of courage," grabbed my eye. I think how few people truly act out of courage. There is a lot of cowering that goes on as people, even good people, don't want to draw attention to themselves or don't want to raise a stir, so we just let things go.

Application: There are three other things in this verse and I think that they are all connected. That is I don't think a person can truly be a man of courage without also, being on guard, standing firm in the faith, and being strong -- all as intentional parts of life. I want to do all this and be a man of courage.

Prayer: Lord, help me to stand firm in the faith, to be on guard, to be strong, and to be a man of courage in all I do and say.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: All For Naught? / Topic: Results

Today’s Reading: Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1 Corinthians 15

Scripture: Judges 8:33-35
33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and 34 did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show kindness to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for them.

Observation: Gideon won a great victory for his people. And he put up with a lot of grief for them and from them. This entire chapter is filled with Gideon's troubles. But the verses above show that the people did not appreciate what Gideon had done. They went back to their sinful ways as soon as he died. Their lack of gratitude for what he had done for them while he was alive just rolled right into full on rebellion after he died.

Application: You just have to do the right thing and not worry about the results. Gideon did what he did to help his people, whether or not they appreciated it. I want to be a man who loves people whether or not they appreciate it.

Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the call You have placed on my life. I want to be like You, reaching out in love and truth to everyone I can. Help me to be a faithful communicator of Your message.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Not A Time For Questions / Topic: Obedience

Today’s Reading: Judges 6; Judges 7; Psalm 52; 1 Corinthians 14

Scripture: Judges 6:12-14
12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

Observation: Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress at night to conceal the wheat and keep it from being taken by the Midianites. The above conversation happens at that place. The angel affirms Gideon but Gideon has an objection (see the italicized portion above).

Application: This is a question many people ask. If God is with us, or if God is real, or if there is a God, why are these bad things happening to us? (or happening at all).

Of course, Gideon seems to have forgotten that the Israelites have broken faith with God by their idol worship and pagan practices. Sin has many consequences and losing God's blessing is one of them. So many people question God's goodness because of suffering brought on by man's sinful condition. But responsibility for suffering belongs on the shoulders of man, not God. It is God's mercy that we are even alive.

And God is with Gideon and He is there to help Gideon to get a victory and deliverance for God's people, in spite of their sin. Notice that God does not answer Gideon's objection but simply tells him to get going. There is a time when questions are out of place and obedience is the order of the day.

Prayer: Lord, I am grateful that You provide deliverance even when we do not deserve it. Your continuing mercy upon us is amazing to me. Help me to be a man who hears and obeys Your call to action. And deliver us from our enemies that we may reach Your world with the Gospel of salvation.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Sin Habit / Topic: Life Patterns

Today’s Reading: Judges 4; Judges 5; Psalm 39; Psalm 41; 1 Corinthians 13

Scripture: Judges 4:1 After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

Observation: This first verse in chapter 4 gives us the sad recurring story of the book of Judges. After the death of the Judge, Ehud, "the Israelites once again did evil..." It is an unfortunate pattern, to be sadly repeated over and over again. The Israelites have the sin habit. That is, they have the natural inclination to stray from the narrow road of God's design for them.

Application: Now this is something that everyone has, to one degree or another. But not everyone responds to it in the same way. Some just let themselves be jerked around by this sin habit. It is like a leash that pulls them toward sin and they dutifully go there. Others resist this pull -- they rebel against the sin habit instead of rebelling against the Lord. Of course, to resist the sin habit, one first needs to be aware of it. To be sure, a lack of this awareness dooms a person to the control of the sin habit. And awareness in an of itself is not guarantee of victory over it. But with awareness, coupled with a consistent program of strengthening of the inner spiritual being with God's help and the support of others, the effects of the sin habit can be minimized and its pull becomes less and less over time.

Bottom line: Acknowledge your own sin habit. Invest yourself in a program of regular spiritual disciplines designed to strengthen your inner spiritual being with God's help and seek others with similar values to support you and hold you accountable to the standards that God holds.

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful that You have provided a remedy for the sin habit. It is so great to have a way to get out from under its cruel bondage. The liberty that You provide through the power of Your Spirit and the life of the Son is wonderful. Assist me to keep growing in my inner man that I may walk in consistent victory and lead others in it as well.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Lost Generation / Topic: Teaching The Children

Today’s Reading: Judges 1; Judges 2; Judges 3; 1 Corinthians 12

Scripture: Judges 2:10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.

Observation: The nation of Israel has had strong leadership in Moses and Joshua but now they are dead. And all those who experienced firsthand the miracles of God's deliverance and provision have passed away too. But look at the spiritual condition of the offspring of these generations that walked in miraculous times: they "knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel!" How is this possible? It is obvious that their parents had not raised them as God had proscribed. God had instructed through both Moses and Joshua that the Israelites were to tell and retell the stories of God's great works on their behalf. They were supposed to fill their homes with tokens of remembrance and to observe the festivals that spoke of the great events of the past. They were to obey the law and recite the works of God to their children at several intervals each day. What happened? Obviously, they did not do what God had told them to do, whether by design or neglect. But the result was the same: their kids did not know God. And the result was disaster for them and for the entire nation.

Application: I fear that we are doing the same thing. I see a generation of young people who don't know about God or His miraculous power. For the most part, the Christian church is doing a lousy job of building true faith into our children and youth. We must do better.

Prayer: Lord help us to figure this out. We seem to be fighting a losing battle over our kids. Help us to find effective ways to lead them into Your paths for their lives.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: More Harm Than Good? / Topic: Humility

Today’s Reading: Joshua 23; Joshua 24; Psalm 44; 1 Corinthians 11

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-18
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

Observation: Ouch! Paul lowers the boom! Imagine hearing this: "Your meetings do more harm than good." Time to readjust your church. The point I get here is that it is possible to start with good intentions and end up way off track. It is possible for a church to move in such a way that it ends up doing more harm than good. And one indicator of this is what is mentioned in verse 18: "divisions among you." When any church allows or even encourages divisions (some churches specialize in division) or distinctions between believers, their work is a destructive work on the whole. Yes, they may do some good things, but the overall impact on the kingdom of God is a negative one.

Application: Love God and love people. If in my loving God I should ever stop loving people or accepting people, reevaluation is required. If I see myself or my group as superior, I must repent of my pride and seek to return to humility. That is the only path to doing God's productive work.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the reminders to stay humble. I want to be a part of something that does much more good than harm. In fact, I don't want to do any harm at all. Help me to love people and accept people as You do -- with wisdom, grace, and discretion. And help me to do great good to all.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Don't Assume (Ass-u-me) / Topic: Jumping To Conclusions

Today’s Reading: Joshua 21; Joshua 22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10

Scripture: Joshua 22:11-12, 32-33
11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them...
32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 33 They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.

Observation: Following the conquest of the land, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh leave for their homes on the east side of the Jordan. As they leave, they build a monument, an imposing altar. The first two verses above tell the reaction of the Israelites. They immediately decide that it is a capital offense and they prepare for war against their brothers. Talk about jumping to conclusions! Why was there not one sane person to say, "Let's ask them why they did it." It seems that everyone was assuming the worst: "They intend to offer sacrifices on this altar to other gods! Let's git us a posse and kill 'em!" A simple inquiry into the matter would have avoided this whole mess. In the end, they do ask (with the armies ready to attack) and find out that the whole thing was a misunderstanding (vss. 32-33) "Never mind. It's ok. It wasn't what we thought. We don't have to kill them and devastate their land after all. Shows over. Nothin' to see here. Everybody go home."

Application: I don't have to tell you why you should never assume. :) This could have ended very badly. And many situations in churches and our everyday lives are made worse by assuming. And why is it that it is so easy to assume the worst about people? Let's try assuming the best. "Love believes all things." I take that to mean that love believes for the best in people.

Prayer: Lord, may I have Your positive and gracious view of people. And may I get the facts before I spring into action. I want to live wisely and prudently.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Going For The Gold / Topic: Victory

Today’s Reading: Joshua 18; Joshua 19; Joshua 20; 1 Corinthians 9

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Observation: Paul relates the life of the Christian to an Olympic race. (Of course it's a marathon and not a sprint.) He tells us that we are to run the race to win.

Application: So many Christians aren't in it to win. What I mean is that there is a general apathy and lax attitude about the things that make a Christian strong. Bible reading, teaching, prayer, fellowship, meditation, spiritual disciplines, and the like are seen as optional, or "a good idea if I have the time." The vast majority of us don't run to win. Many don't really even run at all. They stroll.

The Bottom Line is that it is time to get serious about being a follower of Christ. Jesus warned a group about being neither hot nor cold. These lukewarm believers were rejected in the end. It's time to get hot on the trail of the Gold Medal for the Christian Marathon. Let's start training.

Prayer: Lord, I want the prize. I don't want to miss the opportunity to go for the gold. Assist and empower me to put aside the value on comfort and take the narrow road to victory.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Knowledge vs. Love / Topic: God's Values

Today’s Reading: Joshua 15; Joshua 16; Joshua 17; 1 Corinthians 8

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-2
1 ...We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

Observation: Paul contrasts love against knowledge. The Corinthian Christians were living in a cosmopolitan Roman city. The Roman value of knowledge had affected their thinking. And of course, we in the Western World today have inherited this high value on knowledge. Paul points out that knowledge has the tendency to create and foster pride, which is counterproductive to spiritual growth as it puts up a wall between a person and God. Paul goes on to say that if a person believes that he is an expert on any subject, he is fooling himself and does not truly know anything correctly.

Application: This is just a reminder to humility and not putting too much value on knowledge for its own sake. Love is the highest value. Love of God, and love for others.

Prayer: Lord, may I be a man of love through and through. Help us to love and teach others with true humility.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Going, going... / Topic: Eternity

Today’s Reading: Joshua 12; Joshua 13; Joshua 14; 1 Corinthians 7

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:31 ...For this world in its present form is passing away.

Observation: I don't think Paul was talking about global warming, but this is a truth that is important to remember: The world that we know today is in the process of passing away. That is, things are constantly changing. And as time progresses, change comes more and more quickly and dramatically.

Application: This simply helps us stay focused on eternity and to not get too engrossed in this present world as if it were permanent. Every person in history had their moment in the sun and now they have moved beyond the veil of this world into eternity. Before long, this will happen to me. Even if it is 40-50 years off, that's not a long time. So it is wise to focus today on eternity. This world in its present form is passing away.

Prayer: Lord, I choose to look to You and to focus on eternity. Help me to not get wrapped up in the minutia of details and the stuff of this busy world. I want to invest in You and in eternity.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Purchase And The Gift / Topic: Victorious Living

Today’s Reading: Joshua 9; Joshua 10; Joshua 11; 1 Corinthians 6

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Observation: I notice that in these verses there is a purchase and a gift.

First the purchase: I was bought at a price -- that is, Jesus gave His life to buy me. But it is not like buying a slave at the auction block. No, He redeemed me from slavery and purchased my freedom at the cost of His own freedom. The price paid is His life. Because that is the price He paid, it tells me that this is the value He placed on me. That's amazing.

The gift is the indwelling Holy Spirit. My body is a "temple of the Holy Spirit." After God purchased me and I, by an act of my will, concurred with His purchase, God gifted me with Himself within me. The gift is as important as the purchase because it is the gift that allows me to live as the property of God, in His character and image and likeness. The gift is the empowerment to realize the potential of the purchase.

Application: We have so much to be thankful for and so much potential of which we are not fully cognizant. Having this awareness can help me to prompt myself with the empowerment that is truly mine. The saddest possibility is that a purchased person would continue living like a slave because they were unaware of the rights and privileges available to them through the gift.

Prayer: Lord, I am choosing to live up to Your potential more and more. Assist me to fully utilize the power and giftedness You have entrusted to me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: A Time For Action / Topic: Leadership

Today’s Reading: Joshua 7; Joshua 8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5

Scripture: Joshua 7:6, 10-11
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening....
10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep..."

Observation: Israel has been defeated at Ai. After the great victory at Jericho, Ai was considered small and easy and only a few thousand men were sent to do the job. But they were routed. Joshua and the people are discouraged and Joshua lays prostrate before the ark in prayer. When the Lord answers Joshua, he tells him to "Stand up!" and rebukes him. "What are you doing down on your face?" In other words, this is no time for prayer. This is a time for action -- a time for leadership. There was sin to confront, there was work to do to deal with problems among the people.

Application: There is a time for every purpose under heaven. There is a time for prayer, and surely I don't do enough of it. But there is a time when prayer is wholly inappropriate and action is required. The message here for me is this: there is no "one size fits all" approach to leadership and problem solving. Prayer is important, certainly. This cannot be stressed enough. But there is a time when action is what God wants and expects. And if we fail to act at those times, no amount of prayer will make up for it.

Prayer: Lord, help me be in tune with You to know exactly what to do at every moment. I want to pray when it's time to pray and I want to act decisively when that is what You are calling for. Give me ears to hear, a heart to obey, and courage to do whatever is necessary.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Prison Of The Past / Topic: Hope

Today’s Reading: Joshua 3; Joshua 4; Joshua 5; Joshua 6; 1 Corinthians 4

Scripture: Joshua 5:4-6
4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt — all the men of military age — died in the desert on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the desert forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD.

Observation: All the Israelites who wandered and died in the wilderness had resigned themselves to a life apart from God's will for them. They were part of a rebellious generation and they all took the identity of those who had failed. They saw themselves as failures. What is interesting is that they had the same attitude for their kids. That's why they didn't bother to circumcise them. Circumcision is a sign of surrender to God. They had surrendered only to failure. They saw no reason to circumcise the kids.

Application: Don't let a sense of failure cause you to project negatively on your children. It is possible to give up on yourself and your future because of some past struggle. I say, forget the past. Start today with a new attitude and let God circumcise your heart again. There is always hope for a new life.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You want to always give us a fresh start. Help us not to be imprisoned by our past. Circumcise my heart anew.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Delight In Imperfection / Topic: Spiritual Walk

Today’s Reading: Joshua 1; Joshua 2; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 3

Scripture: Psalm 37:23-24
23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Observation: This is a beautiful promise. I especially like the fact that it includes this phrase: "though he stumble..." Sometimes we think God expects us to be perfect, but that is not the case. Even this man, in whose way the Lord delights, has an occasional stumble. That is encouraging to me.

Application: Don't stop in your efforts to please the Lord. He understands that we will stumble and He is there to support us, not tear us down. He keeps us from having the stumbles developing into full-blown falls.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord for Your loving and encouraging nature. May I walk in Your way that You may delight in me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.