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

Angelic Preaching

 Scripture:

“When the Lord’s messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

I never noticed this before, but a few verses before this, the Lord’s messenger was described as the Lord’s angelic messenger. Generally, when I think of angels in the Bible, I think of one on one personal encounters. In this passage, an angel is addressing “all the Israelites,” and the people wept loudly. God sent angels to speak to the entire nation, but they still went and followed the gods of the cities they had defeated.

Application:

Sometimes we think that if we had some dramatic encounter with God that we would follow Him the rest of our lives. There will be people who don’t make heaven and cry out saying that they had done mighty works in the name of Jesus, but God will say to them, “I never knew you.” Our walk with God must be a walk of obedience, not of convenience. Discipline always wins the day over signs and wonders. I love signs and wonders personally, but I want to be rooted in obedience to the voice of God above all else.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in complete obedience to You at all times. I want to follow hard and finish strong. I want to be welcomed with the grand entrance into the kingdom that Peter talks about. Let my life be used for Your glory. Help me to live in obedience over convenience. I want to answer yes to whatever You speak.

Yours,

Jeff

Retirement Thoughts

 Scripture:

“Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.”‭‭Acts‬ ‭28‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Paul lived a life of fluidity. He moved around a lot saw every opportunity as an opportunity to spread the Gospel. At this point in his life he had been thrown out of many cities where riots broke out because of him. He had been through some incredibly crazy situations, but always sharing Christ. He ended up in Rome at the end of the book of Acts where he spent two years on house arrest welcoming people, proclaiming the kingdom and teaching about the Lord Jesus with boldness.

Application:

You never retire from your calling and purpose. In today’s church we talk about retirement as a time when we can rest, focus on ourselves, and enjoy riding out our days in self-gratification. We must slow down as we get older, but our purpose never dies. When our purpose and passion leave, there is a slow death and a lack of a sense of fulfillment. As for me, I will follow the voice of the Spirit and keep on sowing into lives until Jesus takes me from this planet. 

Prayer:

Father, let my life be used for Your glory in every stage. I want to serve You until the end of my life, continually investing in those around me. Teach me how to walk out my future in wisdom and grace. Show me when to slow down and when to keep moving forward. Teach me to walk in step with You all the days of my life. 

Yours,

Jeff

Believe and Become Like Me

 Scripture:

“Agrippa said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

As Paul was standing before Agrippa he told his personal testimony. Agrippa then thought Paul was trying to persuade him to become a Christian during his defense. Paul responded to Agrippa by telling him that he prayed to God that Agrippa would believe and become like Paul, except for the chains on his wrists. Agrippa was very moved by Paul’s defense. Paul told him that he wanted all who heard him to be like him.

Application:

If I were defending myself before someone as high ranking as Agrippa, would I be sharing the Gospel with the judge, and those in the room? Would I be more worried about my own condition or the condition of those listening? Would I want people to have what I have, except for the chains? I want to serve God well in my generation and I want people to know Christ as I know Christ, but I want to be a better witness and have more concern for the souls of people.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be a soul winner. Let my heart be on the extension of Your kingdom in all the earth. Let me be ready for those who have questions to ask. Let my heart be so full of You that I would share about Your goodness, even while on public trial. Let me have a heart for the lost like the Apostle Paul had. Let me be more concerned about others than I am myself. 

Yours,

Jeff

In Him

 Scripture:

“For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭28‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Paul was addressing the people of Athens, who served and worshiped many gods. He explained that his God was the one they were looking for and then told them this phrase, “in Him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’” He was telling them that God was personal and involved in lives. He is so close that we can call ourselves His offspring. 

Application:

God is looking for people who will live, move, and exist, in Him. He wants children, not robots. He wants us to walk with Him, talk with Him, and work with Him. God wants to be the center of our lives, not ourselves. Life is meant to be about God and His desires, not us and our desires. Our very existence is about Him.

Prayer:

Father, You are amazing and I love You’re so much. I want to live, and move, and exist in You. I want to look more like You each day. Take away from me everything that doesn’t look like You. Help me to reflect my Father well. Let people see Your image in my life. Be a father to me in every way.

Yours,

Jeff

Seeking and Sending

 Scripture:

“While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

The church at Antioch is a great New Testament church model. They were Spirit sensitive and were a sending church. In this passage, the leaders were serving the Lord and fasting when the Holy Spirit told them to set apart Barnabus and Saul for the work they were to do. They fasted, prayed, and sent them to do what God was calling them to do. 

Application:

I want the church I pastor to be like the church of Antioch. I want us to be a seeking church and a sending church. I want our leadership to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit clearly and to send out those who are called into their destinies. I want to be a leader who sees callings and gifting, calls them out, and sends them when the Holy Spirit says it is time. 

Prayer:

Father, make me sensitive to Your voice. Help me to clear away all the other voices and to focus on Yours. Teach me to walk in obedience and to fulfill Your will in the earth. Help me to empower others and send them like the church of Antioch. Help me. Resource me. Empower me. I want to send sons and daughters into Your service.

Forever Yours,

Jeff