Scripture:
I Samuel 15:24 "Then Saul said to Samuel, 'I have sinned. I violated the Lord's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men, so I gave in to them'".
Observation:
Saul had been commanded by God to utterly destroy the Amalekites. He decided to destroy alomist everything, but to save the best flock to bring back as an offering to God for His blessings and victory. It seemed like a good thing to do and his men were apparently telling him it was a good idea, but it was not what God had asked of them. In his explanation to Samuel about what had happened, Saul says he was afraid of the men so he gave in to them.
Application:
How many times do we give in to what we know is not God's best because we are afraid of man and what they might think about us? Saul lost his kingdom because he didn't fully follow the Lord's commands. He lost everything because of partial obedience and he even had a great explanation of how he was doing it for the Lord, in order to bring the best sacrifices and offering to the Lord. The bottom line is that obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings disaster. We must follow through on what the Lord asks us to do and not be afraid of man.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for Your word. It speaks to me daily and empowers my life. Help me to not give in on things I know I have heard from You. Help me to finish the work you have for me with excellence and to fulfill Your desire for my life. I surrender to You and Your will. Strengthen me to follow it completely and not fear any person.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Rejecting God
Scripture:
I Samuel 10:19 "But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, 'No, appoint a king over us.' So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans".
Observation:
God is speaking through Samuel to Israel at this point. He has just anointed Saul to be king because the people wanted a king like all of the other nations around them. They wanted to be like everyone else. Just one problem, God always wanted to be Israel's king. He didn't want them to have another king besides Him, but because of their constant whining about wanting a king, He gave them one. In desiring another king for their nation, God said that they were rejecting Him.
Application:
How many times do we reject God because we do things our own way instead of His? How many times do we reject God by trying to figure everything out on our own instead of asking Him? He desires to be our king still today, but we often reject Him by taking everything into our own hands and being our own king. We often reject His leadership because we think we know better what we should do. I don't want to reject God's leadership in my life any more. I want to follow Him fully and completely.
Prayer:
Father, I know it is easier to say these things than it is to live them, but with Your help on this I know I can do it. I want You to lead my life. I don't want to continue rejecting You because I am not doing what You want. Help me to follow You more closely than ever before in my life. You are awesome and I love you.
Your Son,
Jeff
I Samuel 10:19 "But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, 'No, appoint a king over us.' So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans".
Observation:
God is speaking through Samuel to Israel at this point. He has just anointed Saul to be king because the people wanted a king like all of the other nations around them. They wanted to be like everyone else. Just one problem, God always wanted to be Israel's king. He didn't want them to have another king besides Him, but because of their constant whining about wanting a king, He gave them one. In desiring another king for their nation, God said that they were rejecting Him.
Application:
How many times do we reject God because we do things our own way instead of His? How many times do we reject God by trying to figure everything out on our own instead of asking Him? He desires to be our king still today, but we often reject Him by taking everything into our own hands and being our own king. We often reject His leadership because we think we know better what we should do. I don't want to reject God's leadership in my life any more. I want to follow Him fully and completely.
Prayer:
Father, I know it is easier to say these things than it is to live them, but with Your help on this I know I can do it. I want You to lead my life. I don't want to continue rejecting You because I am not doing what You want. Help me to follow You more closely than ever before in my life. You are awesome and I love you.
Your Son,
Jeff
Friday, November 9, 2012
Guardian Redeemer
Scripture:
Ruth 4:14 "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!"
Observation:
The women who were friends of Naomi were speaking about Boaz being her family guardian redeemer and how he has rescued her family's lives. Naomi had felt before that God has forsaken her and left her alone with no way of being taken care of all her life. Now Boaz is taking great care of her and she will be taken care of the rest of her life.
Application:
God is in control! He loves us and will take care of us when we are committed to Him. There will be times, like with Naomi, when we feel like He is not doing a good job taking care of us, but He is there and will never leave us or forsake us. He is Good!!! He always comes through, even when it feels like the last minute.
Prayer:
Lord, let me know you more. Help me to trust You more in my life. Teach me your ways and help me to grow in You more every day. You are amazing. You took care of Naomi and you still take care of us today.
Yours,
Jeff
Ruth 4:14 "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!"
Observation:
The women who were friends of Naomi were speaking about Boaz being her family guardian redeemer and how he has rescued her family's lives. Naomi had felt before that God has forsaken her and left her alone with no way of being taken care of all her life. Now Boaz is taking great care of her and she will be taken care of the rest of her life.
Application:
God is in control! He loves us and will take care of us when we are committed to Him. There will be times, like with Naomi, when we feel like He is not doing a good job taking care of us, but He is there and will never leave us or forsake us. He is Good!!! He always comes through, even when it feels like the last minute.
Prayer:
Lord, let me know you more. Help me to trust You more in my life. Teach me your ways and help me to grow in You more every day. You are amazing. You took care of Naomi and you still take care of us today.
Yours,
Jeff
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
So Your Daily Life Will Win Respect
Scripture:
I Thessalonians 4:11-12 "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so you will not be dependent on anybody".
Observation:
Paul is writing to the Thessalonians and is giving them practical things to do in following the Lord until He comes again. He lets them know that Jesus is coming again, and also tells them how to live between now and then. He tells us to live a quiet life, mind your own business and work hard so that our daily lives earn the respect of those around us.
Application:
Our daily lives need to be earning the respect of those around us. They should look at our lives and not tell us what a great preacher we are, but how great of lives we live. He tells us that quiet, peaceful lives earn respect from those around us. We should have more peace than those unbelievers around us because the Prince of Peace lives in us. May our every day lives earn the respect of those around us.
Prayer:
Lord, teach me to live a quiet and peaceful life that brings you glory and earns the respect of the community around me. I want my life to be a life well-lived. Help me to have your attitude, thoughts and ways. Teach me to walk closer with you, that I may reflect you in the simplest parts of my everyday life.
Your Son,
Jeff
I Thessalonians 4:11-12 "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so you will not be dependent on anybody".
Observation:
Paul is writing to the Thessalonians and is giving them practical things to do in following the Lord until He comes again. He lets them know that Jesus is coming again, and also tells them how to live between now and then. He tells us to live a quiet life, mind your own business and work hard so that our daily lives earn the respect of those around us.
Application:
Our daily lives need to be earning the respect of those around us. They should look at our lives and not tell us what a great preacher we are, but how great of lives we live. He tells us that quiet, peaceful lives earn respect from those around us. We should have more peace than those unbelievers around us because the Prince of Peace lives in us. May our every day lives earn the respect of those around us.
Prayer:
Lord, teach me to live a quiet and peaceful life that brings you glory and earns the respect of the community around me. I want my life to be a life well-lived. Help me to have your attitude, thoughts and ways. Teach me to walk closer with you, that I may reflect you in the simplest parts of my everyday life.
Your Son,
Jeff
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
May Your Love Increase
Scripture:
I Thessalonians 3:12 "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and everyone else, just as ours does for you".
Observation:
Paul is writing to the Thessalonians and telling them how proud he is of them. He tells them how he has heard about their love for each other and their faith. He is like a proud daddy talking about his kids. He says how proud he is of them, but then goes on to ask God to increase them even more in it. He says, "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow". This is powerful stuff!
Application:
Love God and love others are the two commands that make up the greatest commands according to Jesus. God is love, therefore when we grow in God, we grow in love. It can also be said that if we grow in love, we grow in God. Love is the most god-like attribute we can exhibit to those around us. When we get ahold on this four letter word, our world will be turned upside down and the kingdom of God will grow exponentially. I want my love to increase and overflow more and more.
Prayer:
Father, help me love like you love. Teach me your ways. Show me how to love everyone better. I want to increase in this area because I believe it is the godliest attribute we can have. I want to be like my father who is love.
Yours,
Jeff
I Thessalonians 3:12 "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and everyone else, just as ours does for you".
Observation:
Paul is writing to the Thessalonians and telling them how proud he is of them. He tells them how he has heard about their love for each other and their faith. He is like a proud daddy talking about his kids. He says how proud he is of them, but then goes on to ask God to increase them even more in it. He says, "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow". This is powerful stuff!
Application:
Love God and love others are the two commands that make up the greatest commands according to Jesus. God is love, therefore when we grow in God, we grow in love. It can also be said that if we grow in love, we grow in God. Love is the most god-like attribute we can exhibit to those around us. When we get ahold on this four letter word, our world will be turned upside down and the kingdom of God will grow exponentially. I want my love to increase and overflow more and more.
Prayer:
Father, help me love like you love. Teach me your ways. Show me how to love everyone better. I want to increase in this area because I believe it is the godliest attribute we can have. I want to be like my father who is love.
Yours,
Jeff
Friday, November 2, 2012
We Will Possess
Scripture:
Judges 11:24 "Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess".
Observation:
Jephthah was a mighty warrior. As he conquered the Amorites, they asked what right they had to take over the land. He told them that whatever their god gave them, they should be able to keep, but whatever the Lord God of Israel gave His people, they should be able to possess. His idea was, whichever god demonstrates in battle that he is stronger, should get the land. I love his determination in that, if God gave you something, you need to possess it.
Application:
Jesus died to give us so much more than what we act like we possess. I want to say with Jephthah, "whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess". We must possess peace, joy, and love! We must possess healing, deliverance, and walking in the power of the Spirit. We must possess the blessings of our God. He has given us so much, we need to possess everything He has paid such a high price to get us. We are partakers of the divine nature. We have access to God at any time. We must possess it!
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, help me to possess what I profess. I want to live a remarkable life that shines forth for a remarkable God. You have given me so much, help me to use it properly and to possess everything Jesus died to give to me.
Your Son,
Jeff
Judges 11:24 "Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess".
Observation:
Jephthah was a mighty warrior. As he conquered the Amorites, they asked what right they had to take over the land. He told them that whatever their god gave them, they should be able to keep, but whatever the Lord God of Israel gave His people, they should be able to possess. His idea was, whichever god demonstrates in battle that he is stronger, should get the land. I love his determination in that, if God gave you something, you need to possess it.
Application:
Jesus died to give us so much more than what we act like we possess. I want to say with Jephthah, "whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess". We must possess peace, joy, and love! We must possess healing, deliverance, and walking in the power of the Spirit. We must possess the blessings of our God. He has given us so much, we need to possess everything He has paid such a high price to get us. We are partakers of the divine nature. We have access to God at any time. We must possess it!
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, help me to possess what I profess. I want to live a remarkable life that shines forth for a remarkable God. You have given me so much, help me to use it properly and to possess everything Jesus died to give to me.
Your Son,
Jeff
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Exhausted, yet keeping up the pursuit
Scripture:
Judges 8:4 "Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the puruit, came to the Jordan and crossed it".
Observation:
Here I see Gideon and his warriors in puruit of their enemies. They have been in battle for a while and are exhausted, but it says here that they were "keeping up the pursuit". They continued to go after the enemy through their exhaustion and refused to quit or give up.
Application:
Sometimes in life there are battles that we face that exhaust us. Those who win those battles are those who refuse to run, but rather keep up the pursuit until the enemy is vanquished and victory comes. It is easy to run away when things get difficult. When you have given all you have and fought with all your might, sometimes you have to "keep up the pursuit". When God says you will have the victory, it will come if we don't faint.
Prayer:
Father God, You are worthy of all my praise! Thanks for speaking to me this morning. Help me to keep up the pursuit until the enemy is defeated. Give me strength to keep on fighting until we see You will accomplished. You are amazing. Thanks for refreshing me today.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Judges 8:4 "Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the puruit, came to the Jordan and crossed it".
Observation:
Here I see Gideon and his warriors in puruit of their enemies. They have been in battle for a while and are exhausted, but it says here that they were "keeping up the pursuit". They continued to go after the enemy through their exhaustion and refused to quit or give up.
Application:
Sometimes in life there are battles that we face that exhaust us. Those who win those battles are those who refuse to run, but rather keep up the pursuit until the enemy is vanquished and victory comes. It is easy to run away when things get difficult. When you have given all you have and fought with all your might, sometimes you have to "keep up the pursuit". When God says you will have the victory, it will come if we don't faint.
Prayer:
Father God, You are worthy of all my praise! Thanks for speaking to me this morning. Help me to keep up the pursuit until the enemy is defeated. Give me strength to keep on fighting until we see You will accomplished. You are amazing. Thanks for refreshing me today.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
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