Strengthen My Faith

 Scripture:

“He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This verse is speaking about the faith of Abraham, who at 100 years old didn’t waiver about the promise that he would have a child with his wife Sarah, who was 90 years old. This verse says that he was “fully convinced”  that God would do what He said He would do. He didn’t waver in his faith, even though it seemed ridiculous that it would ever come to pass.

Application:

Am I fully convinced that God will do what He said He will do? I have to ask myself whether my faith level needs to be increased. There are certain things that I feel like maybe I have given up on, though I know God can still turn them around. I want my faith to be unwavering like Abraham’s. I want to live as a man of faith and not one who wavers when things are not going how I thought they would. 

Prayer:

Father, increase my faith! Help me to believe that when You promise something, it will come to pass. Help me to live by faith and not by sight. Let my eyes be on You and not on the circumstances around me. I want to be “strengthened” in faith like Abraham. Let my life be a life of faith that pleases You.

Yours,

Jeff

By Grace Through Faith

 Scripture:

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Paul is arguing in this text with observing the law as a means to salvation. He lets us know clearly that Jew and Gentile alike have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. He continues to let us know that we are justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Though all have sinned, grace brings us to the redemption of Christ. It is by grace and through faith that we are saved. Works will never be enough to accomplish the Law.

Application:

I am justified because Christ was righteous, not because I am righteous. I am only righteous because of Jesus. Christ. I’m my own, I am filthy rags and dirty cloths. Apart from Jesus, I can’t save myself through my good works. Apart from Jesus, my debt cannot be paid. Thank You Jesus for taking my place, for bearing my shame, and for paying the debt I could never pay. You are incredible and it is a joy to serve You.

Your Son,

Jeff

I Need King Jesus

 Scripture:

“In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

The three chapters I read today told a terrible story about things that happened in Israel. It was a horrible time in God’s chosen family. There was division, death, destruction, and they almost totally annihilated one of their own tribes. The last verse in the chapter says, “In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.” 

Application:

Each man doing what they think is right never ends well in history. We are not islands to ourselves and cannot simply be led by our own hearts. Today, everyone seems to want to be aligning with “their truth.” This is very similar to the statement, “Everyone did what he considered to be right.”  We must realize that there is only one truth and His name is Jesus. Any other truth isn’t really truth. We must live accountable to authority and to God Almighty.

Prayer:

Father, help me to follow You completely all the days of my life. Teach me to follow Your word and not follow the imaginations of my own heart. Help me to do things Your way and not my own. I want to represent You and Your will to those around me. Let my life reflect Your glory. Help me to never settle for my truth, but to submit to Your truth.

Yours,

Jeff

Satan Wants Our Vision

 Scripture:

“The Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him in bronze chains. He became a grinder in the prison.” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭16‬:‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Samson had given the secret to his power to Delilah and she used it against him. The Philistines ended up capturing Samson and taking him to their place. The first thing they did was to gouge out his eyes. Even if his strength came back, then, he couldn’t overtake them. You can’t fight what you can’t see. 

Application:

Our enemy would like nothing more than to take our vision from us. Vision gets you up in the morning and keeps you moving all day. Satan likes to weaken us by stealing our vision or creating situations that make our vision seem hopeless. I can’t let the enemy steal my vision. I must remain clear and walking towards the vision God has given me. 

Prayer:

Father, I want to do what You want me to do. My vision is simply to accomplish all You have planned for me. Help me to remain focused on that at all times. Help me to evangelize the world and empower the church. Don’t let my vision grow dim or get too frustrated to follow it.

Yours,

Jeff

Called to Begin

 Scripture:

“Look, you will conceive and have a son. You must never cut his hair, for the child will be dedicated to God from birth. He will begin to deliver Israel from the power of the Philistines.”” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

When God spoke to Samson’s parents about the child they were going to have, He gave them certain instructions. He was to be set apart because he would “begin” to deliver Israel from the power of the Philistines. 

Application:

When God calls or when we step into something, we generally think that we will finish the work. From before birth, Samson’s parents knew he was going to begin something, not finish something. We like to accomplish and finish tasks, but sometimes obedience means starting something that someone else will finish. Other judges in this book delivered Israel from its enemies. Samson was told that he would “begin” to deliver God’s people. I’ve got to get better at thinking long term and generationally. Some things in life I am called to finish and some things I may be called to start. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to start what You want started and finish what You want finished. Let me accomplish all You want me to accomplish in my lifetime. Use my life for Your glory and help me to stay in step with You. Teach me to think about building things that someone else will finish. More than anything, keep me in step with You.

Your Always,

Jeff

What You Idolize Becomes a Snare

 Scripture:

“Gideon used all this to make an ephod, which he put in his hometown of Ophrah. All the Israelites prostituted themselves to it by worshiping it there. It became a snare to Gideon and his family.” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭8‬:‭27‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In the context of this verse, Gideon asked for one earring from each soldier from the plunder they took when they defeated the Midianites. He melted the earrings, along with other jewelry he had brought home from the attack, and made an ephod from it. The Israelites began to worship the ephod instead of the God who gave them the victory, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Application:

What you make into an idol will become a snare to you every time. In our generation, we would never make an image and bow down to it, but we make idols in other ways. The bottom line is that whatever we place ahead of Jesus in our lives will become a snare to us and bring defeat into our lives. When victory comes, we cannot worship the system, the weapons, the plans, or anything else. We must worship the God who brought the victory.

Prayer:

Father, never let me make any idols in my life of anything. Let my walk with You be pure and my relationship with You be red hot. Help me to follow You well all the days of my life. Teach me Your word. Show me Your truth. Keep idolatry from my heart and let me be pure before You. You are my rock and my fortress. You are the one  who receives all the glory in my life. Let that never change.

Yours,

Jeff 

Leaders Take the Lead

 Scripture:

““When the leaders took the lead in Israel, When the people answered the call to war – Praise the Lord!” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This verse is in the context of a song written to celebrate the victory of Deborah and Jael, who had defeated Israel’s enemies. The beginning of this verse stood out to me this morning. “When the leaders took the lead.” This verse implies that when the leaders took the lead, the people began to fight and the Lord was to be praised.

Application:

Sometimes we remain in stagnant places of defeat because God’s true leaders don’t take the lead. When leaders take the lead, the people begin to rally and show up to the battle. When leaders take the lead, God is praised and He works on behalf of His people. In my own heart I know that I don’t always take the lead as a strong leader, but I need to. I need to take the lead in certain areas of my life and church.

Prayer:

Father, help me to take the lead You have given me. Help me to hear Your voice, then act accordingly. Teach me to take the lead and to lead well. Help me to rally the troops for the right cause. Teach me to walk with You step by step and be bold enough to lead well, so Your name can be praised and Your people answer the call to war.

Yours,

Jeff