March 31: Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1Corinthians 16

Giving

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Observation: Paul was encouraging the churches to give an offering to be sent to help the church in Jerusalem. The area around Jerusalem was experiencing a drought. Food was scarce and expensive.

Giving was to be in accordance to one’s income. Even the poor can experience the joy of giving. Giving was to be as regular as their income. They received their income weekly; they met together weekly; and they could give weekly. Faithfulness in the regular giving of a smaller amount is much better than the infrequent giving of a larger amount.

Application: I should give in accordance to what I have received and as regularly as I receive.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the Great Giver. Thank you for teaching me to be a giver and allowing me to experience the joy of giving. Amen

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Observation: In this we see that the Omnipotent and Omnipresent God is also Omniscient. He is all knowing and all wise. He knows how to be perfectly Holy and perfectly Loving at the same time! Man was created sinless, yet yielded to temptation and became sinful. God could not just wipe out sin and pretend it never happened. A proper holy payment had to be made to equal the sinfulness of sin. The proper payment (eternity in hell) would be required from everyone who sinned. That is unless someone without sin would offer himself to be sacrifice on behalf of the sinners. The loving God sent His Son to be that very sacrifice!

Application: In Adam, God’s holiness demands I pay for my sin by spending eternity in hell. In Christ, my penalty has been paid and I will spend eternity in heaven in the Presence of a Holy and Loving God! It is truly amazing!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, this week as we celebrate the death and resurrection of Your Son, thanksgiving overflows for your great mercy and grace. Father, thank you for Jesus! Jesus, thank you for dying and resurrecting! Holy Spirit, thank you for leading me to Jesus! Amen

Scripture: Judges (NIV) 7:7 The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let the other men go, each to his own place.”

Observation: In Judges 6:5, we read that the Midianites had come into Israel as “swarms of locust. It was impossible to count them…” Gideon had raised an army of only 32,000 of which 10,000 went home because they were afraid. God told Gideon that 22,000 was too many and gave instruction for reducing the number. Now there are only 300 left! BUT GOD SAYS, “That is enough!”

Application: Numbers may be small. Money may be insufficient in my eyes. I may be desperate for someone to help. But if God says it is enough, I need to be listening for His plan! He is about to do something that will give me the victory and Him the glory! Everyone will know that the victory did not come by my wisdom and strength. What I have is all He needs!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I am depending on you! I trust you to use the little I have to bring the needed victory. For you, what I have is sufficient! Amen

Scripture: Judges (NIV) 5:3 Hear this, you kings!
Listen you rulers!
I will sing unto the LORD, I will sing;
I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel

Observation: This is a song written by Deborah, one of the judges in Israel. Israel had sinned and God raised up the Canaanites to rule over them until they repented. After they repented God gave them victory over Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army. In the King James Version, the third line is “I, even I will sing unto the LORD.”

Application: It is proper for others to praise God because of what He has done for me, but I must not rely on others to give my thanks. It is my responsibility to give Him thanks. “I, even I will sing unto the LORD!”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I, even I praise you for your loving care. I, even I praise you for the victories you have brought into my life. I, even I praise you for the victories yet to come. Amen

March 27: Judges 1-3; 1Corinthians 12

Many parts/One body

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 12:19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Observation: God designed the church to have many similarities to our physical bodies. In this chapter, Paul is referring to the church as a body. A body is a combining of different parts. A body in which every member was a right hand would not be much of a body. Some parts might be similar to each other like a right and left hand, or a right and left foot, yet they are important because of their differences. Some parts are so different like a shoulder and a kidney, or a lung and an ankle. Yet every part is important.

Application: How do these different parts form my body? First, they are connected and committed to express Leon’s life. Second, Leon’s blood carries Leon’s life to every member. Third, Leon’s nerves carry the direction from Leon’s head so that different members of Leon’s body move in coordinated action.

How do the different members in the body of Christ become one body? First, our commitment to God and to each other links us together. Second, His blood/His life is in each member. We have been born again! Third, like a great nervous system, the Holy Spirit directs each member. Though we are different, our coordinated efforts bring us joy and make God look good!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, coordinate my words and actions with the other members of the body of Christ. Coordinate our differences to be a benefit in accomplishing God’s plan. Amen

March 26: Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 11

Not their power/Not their numbers

Scripture: Joshua 23:9 The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

Observation: Joshua was giving Israel his farewell message. He encourages them by recounting what God has done and he warns them of the dangers of breaking God’s laws. It was not their power, but their God who made them victorious over their enemies. It was not their numbers, but their God that sent the enemy running.

Application: My God’s presence is more powerful than my problems. His presence changes the odds to my favor!

Prayer: Mighty God, You are my God! Nothing is impossible with you! With you all things are possible! You are not tired or worn out. I count on you to work all things together for my good. Amen

March 25: Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1Corinthians 10

The Importance of History!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians (NIV) 10:1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

Observation: Paul understands the importance of the Israelites knowing their history. Their history would build their faith as they considered what God had done for the nation of Israel. Their history would also serve as a warning if they would consider how unbelief and sin brought national disasters.

Application: How appropriate this message is for the United States of America. As late as 1954 President Eisenhower encouraged congress to add the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance to our flag. Indeed, we are “one nation under God…” Today, many, even in places of government, are ignorant of our history. They seem to have no concept of the place God had in the founding and preservation of our nation. By ignoring God we miss both the blessings of encouraged faith and the warnings of impending judgment for sin.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the rich heritage we have. Holy Spirit, continue to bring history to our thoughts. Help us to be wise enough to understand our history and change our ways accordingly. Amen

March 24: Joshua 18-20; 1Corinthians 9

Running to win!

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to gat a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

Observation: Paul was comparing his spiritual life to Olympic type of games. If one is going to participate, it is best done with all one’s heart. Preparation and participation become one’s priority. Sacrifices are made for the sake of competing at one’s best.

Application: It was between my junior and senior year of high school. I remember sitting at my desk at home and thinking, “If everything I know about Jesus is true, then it just does not make any sense to go half way! If I am only going to live for God half way, it is just not worth the effort. I might as well get as much out of the world as possible. If I am not going to live for God with all my heart, I am just wasting my time.” I decided to go for God all the way.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know the times I have been totally sold out to you and the times I have slacked off. Forgive me for the times I did not serve you as you deserve, with my whole heart. Again sitting at my desk, I now recommit myself to live for you whole-heartedly. You deserve nothing less. Amen

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Observation: Paul knew that idol gods were really nothing and that meat sold in the market that had been dedicated to those idol gods was good meat; he was free to eat that meat. But if someone believed the idol was really a god and saw Paul eating meat that had been dedicated to that idol they may be offended and their spiritual life hindered. So Paul would refrain from eating so that he would not offend his brother. Paul’s love for his brother or sister in the Lord was greater than his desire to exercise his freedom. Giving up his freedom was not done begrudgingly, but willingly and lovingly.

Application: The principle in this verse goes far beyond eating meats dedicated to some idol. Sacrificing something I am free to do or something that is dear to me should not be a heavy burden when it is for my brother. I am reminded of the song, “He ain’t heavy; he’s my brother.” (A phrase popularized by Father Flanagan as the motto for Boy’s Town)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to love my sisters and brothers as you love them. Amen

March 22: Joshua 12-14; 1Corinthians 7

Eternity in View

Scripture: 1Corinthians (NIV) 7:12 …If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him…15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Observation: Our marriage/our parents’ marriage(s) is/are an important part of our lives. The Bible gives clear instructions about marriage. How are we to face difficult relationships? Are we to run? Are we to give up on our marriage? In the above verses I see two things. First; the breaking of a marriage should never be the believer’s choice. And second; we need to live with eternity in view.

Application: I need to look at my wife, not just what she means to me now, nor what she can accomplish now, but to look at her with eternity in view. How is eternity being affected by her life? What rewards will be awaiting her in heaven? How is her life bringing joy to our Heavenly Father and how can I encourage her in pleasing Him more?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be a source of encouragement for my wife to live her life in a way that best pleases you. Help me not to hinder her but to encourage her to be all she can be in Your Kingdom. Amen