1 Samuel 2:25 "If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?"
Eli the priest has a couple bad sons. They are sleeping with the temple servants and abusing peoples sacrifices. Eli confronts them and points out the mistake of sinning directly against God.
Eli came long before Jesus' time. Jesus is our high priest and he does intercede on our behalf before God. He is our agent, our representative, and our spokesman before God. Jesus is on our side! Jesus is on my side today. He is pulling for me, directing me, counseling me, and cheering me on. With Jesus on my side I can do anything. What does he have for me today?
Dear Jesus, remind me you are on my side and I can do all things through you. Amen.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Our Kinsmen Redeemer
Ruth 2:12 "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."
Despite somewhat desperate circumstances, God blesses and rewards Ruth. He provides for her a kinsmen redeemer who essentially rescues her from her situation. God rewarded her for being a virtuous woman.
The historical application of Ruth's story is that like Boaz, Jesus is our kinsmen redeemer and has paid our debt and rescued us. We all have sin and shame and junk in our lives. We have this "debt" and Jesus has paid it for us. He stepped into our situation, out of his great love for us to redeem, rescue, and save us. I once was indebted to my sin, and now am forever indebted to Jesus. I was once a slave to sin, but am now free!
Dear Jesus, thank you for redeeming me! Amen.
Despite somewhat desperate circumstances, God blesses and rewards Ruth. He provides for her a kinsmen redeemer who essentially rescues her from her situation. God rewarded her for being a virtuous woman.
The historical application of Ruth's story is that like Boaz, Jesus is our kinsmen redeemer and has paid our debt and rescued us. We all have sin and shame and junk in our lives. We have this "debt" and Jesus has paid it for us. He stepped into our situation, out of his great love for us to redeem, rescue, and save us. I once was indebted to my sin, and now am forever indebted to Jesus. I was once a slave to sin, but am now free!
Dear Jesus, thank you for redeeming me! Amen.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
As He Saw Fit
Judges 21:25 "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit."
The book of Judges closes with this phrase. And by reading the last few chapters of Judges again, I clearly see that everyone indeed just did as they saw fit. Israel was a chaotic, violent, and sinful place to be at times.
I always want to do "as I see fit." I don't like anyone telling me what to do. I think I know best. But usually that doesn't bring me to a good place. When I am faithful in my devotions, and in prayer, that brings me to a good place. That is when I am most faithful and healthy. It is when I am obediently listening to God's voice and hearing him speak truth into my life. I would hate for my epitaph to ever read "Jake, did as he saw fit." I want to be known and remembered for following Christ.
Dear Jesus, help me trust you and not me today. Amen.
The book of Judges closes with this phrase. And by reading the last few chapters of Judges again, I clearly see that everyone indeed just did as they saw fit. Israel was a chaotic, violent, and sinful place to be at times.
I always want to do "as I see fit." I don't like anyone telling me what to do. I think I know best. But usually that doesn't bring me to a good place. When I am faithful in my devotions, and in prayer, that brings me to a good place. That is when I am most faithful and healthy. It is when I am obediently listening to God's voice and hearing him speak truth into my life. I would hate for my epitaph to ever read "Jake, did as he saw fit." I want to be known and remembered for following Christ.
Dear Jesus, help me trust you and not me today. Amen.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Real King
Judges 19:1 "In those days Israel had no king..."
This phrase is repeated several times in this portion of Judges. Israel had no king. They wanted one, but God was hesitant initially to place a king over them. It's interesting to see how often the writer of Judges mentions the fact that "Israel had no king." This was a big deal to him, and the nation.
Maybe Israel was missing the point? They seem very concerned with having a king (hence the continual reference to having none) but maybe they had one all along? God wanted to be their king. They were so super focused on an earthly, human, powerful king, that maybe they missed the fact that their God was right there with them the entire time! They looked past the real king to search in vain for their version of a king. The same thing happened with Jesus. Does the same thing happen today? With me? My king is Jesus and needs to be him alone.
Dear Jesus, help me to make you king in my life everyday. Amen.
This phrase is repeated several times in this portion of Judges. Israel had no king. They wanted one, but God was hesitant initially to place a king over them. It's interesting to see how often the writer of Judges mentions the fact that "Israel had no king." This was a big deal to him, and the nation.
Maybe Israel was missing the point? They seem very concerned with having a king (hence the continual reference to having none) but maybe they had one all along? God wanted to be their king. They were so super focused on an earthly, human, powerful king, that maybe they missed the fact that their God was right there with them the entire time! They looked past the real king to search in vain for their version of a king. The same thing happened with Jesus. Does the same thing happen today? With me? My king is Jesus and needs to be him alone.
Dear Jesus, help me to make you king in my life everyday. Amen.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Samson and Jesus
Judges 13:5 "...because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
An angel appears to the wife of a man named Manoah (she is barren) and tells her that she will conceive a child who will rescue God's people. Samson, the child to be, will be a Nazirite and set apart for God. Mom and dad are pretty excited.
This is the beginning to Samson's story but it sounds very much like that of Jesus'. Samson will be born to a woman who has not had any other children, he will be set apart for God, and he will rescue God's people. Does the life of Samson, even his birth, look forward to the coming of Jesus? I think so. Even in Judges, God is foreshadowing what is to come! God's word is so awesome! It speaks of things that have come, and things to come. God has a new word for each day! Even though I am reading Judges, I see Jesus. He is here in this story-in fact he is the story!
Dear Jesus, thank you for your story. Amen.
An angel appears to the wife of a man named Manoah (she is barren) and tells her that she will conceive a child who will rescue God's people. Samson, the child to be, will be a Nazirite and set apart for God. Mom and dad are pretty excited.
This is the beginning to Samson's story but it sounds very much like that of Jesus'. Samson will be born to a woman who has not had any other children, he will be set apart for God, and he will rescue God's people. Does the life of Samson, even his birth, look forward to the coming of Jesus? I think so. Even in Judges, God is foreshadowing what is to come! God's word is so awesome! It speaks of things that have come, and things to come. God has a new word for each day! Even though I am reading Judges, I see Jesus. He is here in this story-in fact he is the story!
Dear Jesus, thank you for your story. Amen.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Good Times and Bad
Judges 10: 14 "Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!"
The Israelites again have been worshipping false gods. They worshipped Baal, Asherah, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab to name a few. So when they get into trouble and come to God to save them, he tells them to turn to the gods they've been serving. "Maybe they will rescue you?" he taunts.
I don't worship Baal or Asherah. But what "things" am I putting my hope in? My job, my money, my home? God alone saves. In times of trouble, I can only rely on him. So maybe in good times, I should rely on him as well.
Dear Jesus, help me rely on you in good times and in bad. Amen.
The Israelites again have been worshipping false gods. They worshipped Baal, Asherah, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab to name a few. So when they get into trouble and come to God to save them, he tells them to turn to the gods they've been serving. "Maybe they will rescue you?" he taunts.
I don't worship Baal or Asherah. But what "things" am I putting my hope in? My job, my money, my home? God alone saves. In times of trouble, I can only rely on him. So maybe in good times, I should rely on him as well.
Dear Jesus, help me rely on you in good times and in bad. Amen.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Backseat Gideon
Judges 8: 23 "But Gideon told them, 'I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.'"
Gideon destroys the Midianites and because of this the Israelites want to make Gideon the king. Gideon responds that neither he nor his sons will be king, but God alone will rule.
Gideon has the table set for himself. He has this great opportunity to take control and be king. How many people work an entire lifetime for an opportunity like this? Yet, Gideon declines and instead points the people back to God. This must of required great self control! How often am I quick to take something for myself? How often do I have a "me first" attitude? I can do better at putting God ahead of my ambitions, wants, and desires.
Dear Jesus, help me remember to put you, then others, ahead of myself and my ambition. Amen.
Gideon destroys the Midianites and because of this the Israelites want to make Gideon the king. Gideon responds that neither he nor his sons will be king, but God alone will rule.
Gideon has the table set for himself. He has this great opportunity to take control and be king. How many people work an entire lifetime for an opportunity like this? Yet, Gideon declines and instead points the people back to God. This must of required great self control! How often am I quick to take something for myself? How often do I have a "me first" attitude? I can do better at putting God ahead of my ambitions, wants, and desires.
Dear Jesus, help me remember to put you, then others, ahead of myself and my ambition. Amen.
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