Judges 9-11; Psalms 17; Luke 23

”Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. And Gilead’s wife also bore him sons. And when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him.” Judges‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jephthah was chased out of the country by his half brothers. Even though his brothers’ rejected him, God still used him. He was called a mighty warrior. He is listed in Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith chapter for receiving what God had promised him.

“At that time the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and from there he led an army against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He said, “If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave him victory.” Judges‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These verses show me God’s continued faithfulness to Jephthah and his wayward people. It is a reminder of God’s rescue and how he pursues the lost. Even when someone might seem too far gone, God is always working. I am thankful that he pursues me.

”O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips. You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.“ Psalms‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-8 NLT

David was seeking justice. Will I focus on my injustices or seek God’s face, like David did? I am thankful for a God who protects me and shows me favor.

”By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.” Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭44‬-‭46‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus defeated death. He broke the power of sin. He takes away my guilt and shame. Am I still living in guilt and shame? Or am I living in the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority I have in him?

”It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭47‬-‭49‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Dear Father, thank you for your faithfulness and provision. For leading and guiding me when I ask for wisdom. For hearing my prayers and cries for help. I trust in You. Amen.

amy(amyctanner)

Joshua 18-21; Psalm 15; Luke 18

It’s amazing to me how detailed, how specific, and how ordered the genealogies and the boundaries of territories were described in the Old Testament. If you were of the chosen people of God, you knew your ancestors, your extended family, and the land on which your tribe could live. You belonged.

In contrast, I feel like a nomad, moving from one state to another, leaving family behind, and pulling up roots each time. I’ve lived long enough in one place to become attached to the land and its people, yet I was always a bit of an outsider (think Yankee living in Texas). I tried to return to the place of my birth, but experienced even worse isolation; not the homecoming I had imagined. Yet even the Hebrew slayer who accidentally kills a person could “return to his own house, to the city from which he fled.” (Joshua 20:6) I wonder if even he was warmly reunited.

I do relate, however, to God’s children in the astounding declaration upon receiving the land given to the descendants of the Israelites who crossed over the Red Sea.

Joshua 21:42-45: “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”

“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?” Psalm 15:1 Though I am an adopted child of God and privileged with the promise of salvation and God’s favor, I am well aware of my shortcomings. Unlike the answer to the questions in Psalm 15:1, I do not always walk uprightly, nor refrain from backbiting. I can hold a grudge for a long while. I sometimes fail to fulfill my oaths (promises) to God. Kneeling before the Lord Jesus, I confess and ask for mercy.

“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified…'” excerpt from the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Luke 18: 13, 14.

God never fails me. He has placed me exactly where I need to be and given me all that I need to follow Him. His promises are still true today as when I first gave my heart to Him. And when I stand before Christ Jesus one day, I hope to hear His sweet words, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…” Matthew 25:16 (By the way, Matthew who wrote this in one of the Gospels was a tax collector before He met Jesus.) I will shout with praise for His faithfulness, knowing that “All came to pass.”

God, You have prepared a place for each of us, Your beloved. A joyous homecoming. We are unable to earn our way into Your kingdom. We also do not know the hour that You will call us home. But all will be well; all will be done; all will have come to pass on that day. I look forward to spending eternity in Your house with You, with the saints, and with the angels! Thank You for knowing the longing of my heart to be with You. Amen!

Jansuwilkinson

Joshua 5-8; Psalm 14; Luke 15

One of the things I like about celebrating the new year, is the moment I take into account where my life is with God and where would I like it to be going. It is a moment that is built on resolve, vision, calling and purpose. I read that here as the people of Israel were preparing for a new life in the promised land. I loved their resolve to be blessed and not cursed, to follow God and to receive life.

Joshua built an altar for the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, as Moses, the Lord’s servant, had commanded. Joshua built the altar as it was explained in the Book of the Teachings of Moses. It was made from uncut stones; no tool was ever used on them. On that altar the Israelites offered burnt offerings to the Lord and fellowship offerings. There Joshua wrote the teachings of Moses on stones for all the people of Israel to see. The elders, officers, judges, and all the Israelites were there; Israelites and non-Israelites were all standing around the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord in front of the priests, the Levites who had carried the Ark. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Ebal, and half stood in front of Mount Gerizim. This was the way the Lord’s servant Moses had earlier commanded the people to be blessed. – Joshua 8:30-33 NCV

They followed God’s instructions on what worship looked like and they dedicated themselves to God. I love how they knew that the way to prosper in everything they put their hands to is to take God along with them, and in all their ways to acknowledge Him by prayer, praise and dependence.

What a contrast to the fool of Psalm 14 (in heart, word, and deed). The foolish person has left the Law and the Lord.

What I love about God is that He can still take a fool, move in their heart and change them.

I will leave and return to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me be like one of your servants.”’ – Luke 15:18-19 NCV

I can see the resolve of the prodigal son so clearly:

(1) He resolved he would get up and go.

(2) He resolved he would go to his father.

(3) He resolved to speak to his father.

(4) He resolved to be obedient to his father.

These steps are all homeward steps.

Father, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who does not leave me with a fool’s heart but empowers me and creates a resolve in me to hear Your calling, get up, and follow You.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

Deut 32-34; Psalm 13; Luke 13

“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak! Hear, O earth, the words that I say! Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God! He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Song of Moses gives a brief history of Israel and reminds the people of their sins so that they don’t repeat them. But, it also gives a hope that only comes from trusting God. Sometimes I can look back in regret and get stuck. That’s just where Satan would want me. So that I am ineffective for God’s Kingdom. I have to trust that God can use even my mistakes for good. His plan is bigger.

”Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past. Ask your father, and he will inform you. Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This passage takes me back to a sermon I heard where the pastor said that one of biggest sins in the Bible is forgetfulness. And I am so forgetful. I pray that the Holy Spirit would renew my mind in God’s truth. And recall God’s goodness.

”For the people of Israel belong to the Lord; Jacob is his special possession. He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes. He let them ride over the highlands and feast on the crops of the fields. He nourished them with honey from the rock and olive oil from the stony ground.“ Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, 13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am thankful for a God who provides. The Bible study book that I’m reading defines God’s Providence as derived from the Latin word providere, which means “to foresee.” It says that God uses certain people to fulfill special roles in His plan and purpose . God chose Moses, just like he chooses me to carry out his purpose.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35 NLT

Jesus grieved over Jerusalem because of his love for them. I pray that I would drop to my knees and grieve over sin before I pass judgment. That I would have the compassion of Jesus.

“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.“ Psalms ‭13‬:‭5-6 NLT‬‬

Dear Father, Your words bring life. Thank you for your unfailing love. Thank you for your faithfulness. I praise You for who You are. Amen.

These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.”“
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭47‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Amy(amyctanner)

Deuteronomy 1-3; Psalm 36; Luke 5

It has struck me, from time to time, how I missed some of the obvious connections between the people of Israel and the church. Goverance is one of those obvious misses. There were leaders who judged, then there was Moses and the final appeal could be made to God.

When you judge, be fair to everyone; don’t act as if one person is more important than another, and don’t be afraid of anyone, because your decision comes from God. Bring the hard cases to me, and I will judge them. – Deuteronomy 1:17 NCV

I am sure that I could not trust someone in my church to judge without conflict of interest. That is what makes this such a hard task. Yet, here I am tasked with the call to take up matters of injustice, to make sure I do not have sin in my own life so that I can be fair to everyone, and to refuse to be bribed, in any fashion, in order to give the right ruling.

The big idea is to create a world filled with a holistic sense of peace, of shalom, which means I cannot turn a blind eye to injustice, be it personal or structural. All people are called, as bearers of God’s image, to work for the restoration of the shattered and distorted social order in which we live.

They think too much of themselves
    so they don’t see their sin and hate it. – Psalm 36:2 NCV

I was given the macro version, now I am faced with the micro version. I have been blessed to have been called out by God on this a few times in my life. Each time, especially the first time, I remember the event and the sickening awareness of my sin that I did not see because I thought too highly of myself. This was the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately there are preachers today who feel it is their job to preach about the danger of damnation. They feel a need to awaken sinners and cry for reformation. Nothing can compare to the work of the Holy Spirit – preach Him and allow Him to search hearts. They will be changed and it will be real as the Holy Spirit transforms from the inside out.

 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” – Luke 5:8 NCV

Sometimes it simply is entering into the presence of Jesus that changes people. Jesus is the one working on this matter of reconciliation. He makes me feel my remoteness from God. I discover just how far away I am from Him. Complacency can only last so long and then there is the falling down on my face.

Father, I enter into Your presence in the name of Jesus along with the Holy Spirit. Reveal my heart, set me free from sin, empower me to help others walk with You.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)