Monday - God's Call - 1 Kings 19:11-13 
We have read throughout the Bible of the different ways the Lord, God speaks to individuals and groups. God has spoken th ough what sounded like thunder on Mt. Sinai. He spoke with the sound of rushing waters to the prophet Ezekiel. He spoke out of the clouds and heavens in the Gospels declaring Jesus to be, "My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (listen to Him)." Yet to the prophet Elijah it was not though the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire; but it was with a still, small voice.. .a whisper. Yet however God speaks, His message is one that calls for a response whether verbal or experiential. God calls for action.

Tuesday - Consecration - Romans 12:1 
Just as the call of God comes in different ways, our response to His call begins with an act of consecration. We humble ourselves before the Almighty God and enter His Presence with care and praise, adoration and yet also fear (a reverent awe). When God called the people to Mt. Sinai, they were consecrate (prepare, cleanse) themselves to draw near to this Holy God. Paul speaks that in view of all the God has done though grace and mercy, that we must offer ourselves to Him in total dedication and humility as a sacrifice that would be pleasing in His sight. And Paul reminds us that it is our reasonable (logical, smart) response filled with love.

Wednesday - Divine Messenger - John 6:38-40; 7:29 
Heavenly messenger have often been sent in biblical times. The most important messenger that was sent from the presence of God has been Jesus Christ. Jesus came to bring the word of God by living His life as an example for all of us throughout the ages since His birth. Jesus came not to do or speak of His own will but to speak and do the will of the heavenly Father who sent Him. We are to take up that task as well through being disciples of Christ, living and speaking not of our own wills but just as Jesus did, speak and live out the will of our Father in heaven so that "His kingdom comes and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Thursday - Spiritual Blindness - John 12:37-41 
Isaiah's recorded message comes to fulfillment here in this passage from the Gospel of John. After Jesus had done many signs and wonders, miracles that could not be denied as being from God, there were those who still could not see and believe that Jesus was the One sent by God. That God was fulfilling the Promise of Messiah through the Son, Jesus of Nazareth. It is not that God did not want men to see and believe in His Son, but God wanted to make sure that their unbelief was seen as a spiritual blindness that came from within them, from their hearts. No matter what miracles and signs would have been done, they would not believe.

Friday - Spiritual Deafness - 2 Timothy 4:1-5 
In loving compassionate care, Paul encourages his spiritual son Timothy to stay true to the calling that God had laid upon Him. Paul instructs Timothy to do the work of preaching and pasturing, even when those who have the Word declared to them may not receive it but turn away from it initially or after time. Paul knew what it was like to have people suddenly stop and not listen any further , and he also knew of those who received the truth and them left it behind and moved on. Paul tells Timothy to continue faithfully and leave the rest to God.

Saturday - Worldly Fullness - Revelation 3:17-18 
Jesus writes a letter to the Church of Laodicea that could be descriptive of a church of today. Those who were a part of this church thought of themselves as having it all, yet they were considered by God to be wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Yet even with all of those strikes (so to speak) against them, Jesus was willing to make all that they needed available to them so that they could be rich in what really counts, clothed in purity and brilliance, healed of all the corruption that had come their way that would keep them from seeing what God had made ready for them and for us to see. But we cannot receive it all until we see our need and turn to the Provider of Blessings.

 Monday -Affliction - Matthew 23:37-39 
Many times in our lives we are affected by the sight or stories of the afflictions of other people. It was the same in the time of Nehemiah as we shared in the Sunday message. Jesus had those same kind of feelings when He looked at Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Jesus wept over the scene of the need of God's people represented in Jerusalem. He later said that He would have loved to gather the people into His arms like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings to protect and keep safe, but that they would not come to Him. The affliction of even the people who hesitated to come were loved by Him

Tuesday - Fasting - Joel 2:12 
As we know, fasting was done in such a way as to make us more sensitive to the leadership of God and His Spirit. Nehemiah fasted in a way as to give more time to prayer and bringing his petitions to God with a humble and contrite heart. Denial of even the most common of acts (eating and drinking) brings with it a demonstration of the desperation of our needs. The will to sacrifice and submit to God above and beyond shares how much we are wanting the will of God to be done. God spoke through Joel that things will take place if they would just humble themselves, fast and return to the Lord with their all (heart, body, soul, mind).

Wednesday - Prayerfulness - Luke 2:37 
Along with fasting comes the idea of prayerfulness. A great example of this is found at the occasion of Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the Temple to be named and circumcised. A woman named Anna was there serving in the Temple and had been for many years. She was a widow until she was 84 years old, but she had never left the Temple, but worshiped day and night, with some sort of fasting and much prayer. God blessed her by allowing her to see the Holy Son of God, Jesus for herself.. .and she praised God.

Thursday - Despondency - Luke 24:17 
Nehemiah was downcast, filled with sorrow, broken in spirit, when he heard of what had become of the city of Jerusalem and the survivors that were there. His heart ached to the point of not knowing what to do or say, or how to respond. We see the same type of emotion and heartfelt grief on the road to Emmaus, as two of Jesus' disciples walk and discuss the events of their most recent days. In both of these situations and others (Joshua, Elijah, David) God had a tendency to draw ever nearer to help work a mighty act of His will that changed the downcast hearts and gave them a gentle warming that remained.

Friday - Kings Favor - Luke 24:45-46 
The servant who is willing to do the master's or kings bidding, is the one who will be treated well by the king and be granted freedoms and special gifts. We see this happening in other passages of scripture. Nehemiah was granted freedom to return to his own city of Jerusalem and rebuild it. Nehemiah was granted letters to receive the resources to do the construction, to have safe passage throughout the lands, and to have the support of the king to see that all was taken care of people, Temple, gates, and moral. It was by the grace of God that this king came to feel this way.

Saturday - Divine Hand - John 10:28 
As we learned from the scripture this past Sunday, Nehemiah won the favor of his earthly king and was granted so much support and given so much leadership that he knew that it was the hand of God upon all that he felt led to do and say. From the point of explaining to the king what was going on at home and how he felt about it, Nehemiah knew that God not only gave him the words but the strength to carry out all that the Lord wanted for His people. In our lives today, it is only by the divine hand of God that we are able to accomplish what is best for all...His Will!!!

Monday - Brotherly Love - 1 Peter 1:22 
Showing brotherly love was a part of being obedient to what Jesus had taught about our relationships here on earth so that our relationship with the Heavenly Father would even stronger. Obedience brought about a purity that allowed the truth to lead us everyday, and in that obedience we are never led to do the wrong to our brothers and sisters of the faith but to do the good and to do that in ever increasing fashion. We all long to be loved and appreciated and it can begin with us showing that love and care first.. .just like Christ loved us first.

Tuesday - Duty to Strangers - Matthew 25:35 
Jesus taught that one of the areas of service that we will be judged by was how we treat others. How we serve others would reflect how we would serve Jesus Christ, Himself. The writer of Hebrews speaks of entertaining stranger as if they may be angels sent by God, and to visit prisoners as if we were right there beside them in the cell. Again these are some of the acts of discipleship, of love, that Jesus and God the Father will bless and approve at the time of the judgment. ".. .as you have done to the least of these you did it to Me."

Wednesday - Contentment - Philippians 4:11 
Thinking over this past week, did you ever complain about how tough you have it. I understand how at times it is rough on us when things do not go the way we feel is right for the effort we have made or for the circumstances we find ourselves in. But in those moments I think about those who suffer all the time. Paul shared that in his travels and by what he saw and experienced, he found himself to be content (not overly happy, but content) with the way things were going because he knew that he was not alone in it all. As we learned from the passage from Hebrews 13, God (Jesus) will not leave us or forsake us.. .He will be there with us. With that in mind I can be content.

Thursday - Confidence in God - Psalm 23:4 
In the most famous of the Psalms, we hear David share about that relationship between he and his Shepherd that is grounded in trust. That trust was found even in the most unlikely of places.. .the valley of the shadow of death. David said that there was nothing to fear because even at death's door the Good Shepherd was with him, protecting him with both rod and staff. The rod being used in those close encounters and the staff when tough situations were being held off beyond arms length for safety's sake. We, too, can trust in in the Lord during those not so comfortable times. We have confidence in the Lord that He can do it again.

Friday - Security - 1 Peter 3:13 
In those moments of the confidence that we grow to have in the Lord we come to that point where we do not fall back into times of fear but know with certainty of the security that we can have in the Lord. Just as Peter came to know and live. There was that truth that who can harm us if we are eagerly pursuing the opportunities to do good to those around us. The witnesses of what we involved in will hold us up for the sake of the good deeds even if they are unbelievers or are those who are not sure in their own faith.

Saturday - Honor - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13  
Paul shares that as Christians we are to give honor and respect to those who are working among us, showing us what living for Christ means. There is an honor that ought to be given to those who lead us by more than just words but by example in living as Jesus lived. This honor too is to be based in a love for them as they are active in doing the will of God. The writer of Hebrews agrees with Paul that to imitate these leaders that give of themselves in so many ways is proper but also respectful and supportive. We are to encourage one another in love and service as if it were to Christ.

Monday - Divine Protection - Daniel 6:22 
As we learned from the story of Daniel and the lion's den. The Lord, God sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions so that they could not even follow their instincts to kill and eat Daniel even though they were hungry. God has a way of intervening for us in ways that can not be easily explained away. Miracles happen in situations where it cannot be given to coincidence or happenstance, but it was truly the Lord God's grace and mercy.

Tuesday - Strength in Weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Just as we saw in the list of heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, Paul shares with the church at Corinth that he was thankful for the moments in his life when he felt weak in certain situations. It was in those moments when he prayed and trusted the Lord to give him the strength that was needed so that people would see the hand of God at work. For the sake and glory of Jesus Christ, Paul was not ashamed to be known as one who had weaknesses for he trusted in the Lord to gain the upper hand through the strength given Him.

Wednesday - Resurrection - Matthew 27:52 
When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary outside the city of Jerusalem, the scriptures tell us of some of the events that took place. The curtain or veil in the Temple was torn from the top to the bottom, earth shook and rocks split, and the graves opened up and the bodies of many holy people (saints) were raised to life to walk again. As a part of the power of God demonstrated resurrections have taken place both in the times of the Old Testament prophets and the ministry of Jesus and His disciples. We have to remember that Jesus let us know that He was the Resurrection and the Life and that life eternal was to be found in Him. 

Thursday - Persecution - John 15:18-21 
Jesus told His disciples that persecution would come to them because it came to Him first and if we are His then it would come to us because the world did not understand the purpose for Jesus' coming and they will not understand the purpose in our living. Back even in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the crowd that if they were ever persecuted for His name sake that they were to consider themselves as being blessed: Suffering for Jesus will be worth it some day. 


Friday - Martyrdom - Acts 7:54-60 
Stephen was one of seven that had been selected to serve the Lord as deacons to free up the disciples to share the Word of the Lord concerning Jesus and how we are to follow in His footsteps. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit and a servant in every way, also had the opportunities to share in the preaching of the Good News of the gospel. In the service of the Lord, he found himself in a situation of either standing up for what he believed about Jesus or denying Him. Stephen chose to tell about Jesus even though it would cost him his life. They stoned Stephen and even in that he followed the example of Jesus and prayed for the forgiveness of those who threw the stones that killed him.

Saturday - Delayed Blessings - Hebrews 11 
In this chapter we read of the lives of faith lived out and given, not yet receiving the reward of the Holy Spirit or the promise. Yet they did all that they were called to do believing that God's blessing and promise would be theirs in God's own timing and the writer of Hebrews suggests that time will come as we join with them in that something that God has planned for us to share in to usher in the perfection that they gave their lives for. Let us help them in finding the gift.

 

Monday - Holy Articles - Numbers 3:30-31 
From the very beginning of the setting up of the tabernacle and later on the Temple, there were certain goblets, the ark, the table, the lampstand and other articles used in the worship of God that were set aside (sanctified) to be only used by the priests in those worship services. These items were not for everyday or common usage but for the specific services in worship of God Most High. And only certain priests were placed in charge of them. In the story from Daniel we see that these sacred items were being used in unholy ways.

Tuesday - Finger of God - Luke 11:20 
Throughout scripture when God revealed His power and mighty it was talked about as the moving or working of His mighty right arm. But to relate how strong God was in wisdom and justice the Bible speaks of the finger of God. In Luke, Jesus shares that if He cast out demons using the power of just the finger of God that the people would know that the kingdom of God had come. Jesus was sharing that the will of God is so powerful that God's finger could make all the difference in the world. In the story of Belshazzar in the book of Daniel, the handwriting on the wall was done by the finger of God and delivered a powerful message that brought fear to the king and his partying companions.

Wednesday - Guilty Fear - Hebrews 10:26-27 
The writer of Hebrews shares with us that when we deliberately continue to sin without regard to the will, calling, and commands of God, there will be no sacrifice left to be offered. And when there is no sacrifice that would be acceptable then only the fearful expectation of God's judgment is left for us to receive and with that comes the unquenchable, all-consuming fire of destruction. When the handwriting of God appeared for Belshazzar, he was filled with a guilty fear to the point his knees knocked together. 


Thursday - Hearts Searched - Jeremiah 17:10 
God deals with us in a fare and appropriate way according to what our life's deeds deserve. In the verse we see that God declares Himself as the One who can rightly search a man's heart, discovering his motives, and He can examine the mind, understanding the logic that we use to guide our actions, and with all of that information brings the correct reward to go along with the conduct that we demonstrated. That reward may be one that is uplifting if our actions and motives have been right, but the reward could also be destructive if we have acted in such a way as to destroy the honorable relationship that we ought to have with God and with others.

Friday - Divine Balances - Revelation 6:5 
In the story from Daniel we saw how Belshazzar had been put on the scales and weighed and was found to be lacking in what counted or what brought about balance in life. In this passage from the book of Jesus' Revelation to John, we see that again the idea of a set of balance scales will be used to balance out the blessings of God to the value of the individual that is being weighed. Belshazzar was found not to be of the proper weight and so was seen as need to have done more but it was too late. What we have need of will also be measured out to us in an appropriate ways according to the balance of God's marvelous grace that is extended to us. 


Saturday - Sins Penalty - Romans 5:12 
Just as in the time of Belshazzar, sin will be dealt with in a most just fashion. Paul shared that sin came into the realm of this world by one man and through that action of influence death also came. It comes to all men, for all mankind have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God's blessing. In chapter 6 and verse 23 it tells us that what is earned by wrong doing (sin) is death, and that is seen in the idea of both physical and spiritual death. There is no escape from the judgment of God, for the opportunity to repent and gain forgiven (eternal life) is just as available, if accepted by men who pray.

Monday - God Knows David - 1 Samuel 13:14 
In this passage of scripture we see how Samuel declares to Saul that God knows the overall heart of each man and knows whether we are seeking after God or not. Samuel tells Saul that the future of the kingdom has been taken out of the hands of Saul and given to one whose heart is and will (overall) seek what God's will might be for himself and for God's people. That man would be David, who Samuel has anointed to be the next king of Israel. God knows our hearts as well and will bless us and make us a blessing for His kingdom's sake.

Tuesday - God Exalts - 2 Samuel 7:8 
God sent Nathan, the prophet, to speak to David about a promise that God had for him. Verses 8-16 share how God has been with David and how God will continue to be with David's descendants, keeping them on the throne forever (this being accomplished through the coming of Messiah, Jesus). But the whole promised is based in the fact that it is and always will be the hand of God that lifts shepherd boys to kingly heights.

Wednesday - Divine Favor - Acts 7:45-47 
In relationship to the worship of God and God's knowledge of the motives of the heart, favor was extended to Israel's leadership like Moses, Joshua, Samuel and David. David had the desire to build a place of permanent Worship of Yahweh because of the shame of living in a beautiful palace while God was being worshipped in a tent. David was allowed to help gather the building materials, but because of his hands being stained with the blood of war, his son Solomon was allowed to build the Temple for him. When we desire to do the work of God, having the right motive as the center, we may experience the favor of the Lord and the richness of His blessing.

Thursday - David's Humble Repentance - Psalm 51
There have been those who ask the question how can a man who committed grievous sins such as adultery and murder, be considered a man after God's own heart? We must look at David the way that the Lord looks at him and us after the time of repentance, turning from the life of sin. David's cry was that God would not look at his sin any more but wash him with whatever it would take to cleanse his heart to make him worthy of being found in the Presence of God. David knew that the work of cleansing could only be done by God through the power of His forgiveness. 


Friday - Son of David - Mark 12:35-37 
Jesus shares in this revealing scene that He is a Son of David and can be Lord or Messiah at the same time. For Jesus uses the very words of this patriarch to point out the fact that the Messiah would be Lord even to the beloved king of Israel that all Israelites looked up to. Jesus knew that some were hung up on the fact that He was known as Jesus of Nazareth, not remembering or knowing that He was born in Bethlehem the city of David.

Saturday - God's Promises - 2 Corinthians 1:20 
Paul here shares the truth that all the promises that God has made find their fulfillment in Jesus being the Christ, the omnipotent Messiah, who allows and provides for all those promises to be completed to the full meaning of "Amen," and let it be so. Paul when speaking of what God was and is doing through His Word that was being preached as not vacillating, but being constant and as true as God Himself. We need to rely upon the promises of God without worry For His promises are true.

Monday - Courage - Deuteronomy 31:6 
God gives us a command of sorts that we ought not to be fearful when we know that He is with us. This command comes with a promise that if we are faithful to follow after the Lord and abide with Him, He will be there to tight the battles, to give of His strength when we are weak, and to never ever leave us alone or forsake us. God is there to strengthen us and keep us in every situation that we face in life as we walk with Him. So "be strong and of good courage!" He is there.

Tuesday - Strength - 2 Samuel 17:35 
There are many times that we have received a strengthening of our spirits to make the right decisions or to get through and emotional time. There are those situations where a strengthening of spirit may not be all we need, but we need a physical strengthening to accomplish a task. It may be a situation where we find ourselves tired and weakened by the stresses or labor that we have been involved in... and then suddenly we are desperate to get what some may call our "second wind." God knows about our needs and when those types of moments come He is there with all the additional power that we would have need of. Again God is there.

Wednesday - Living God - Matthew 16:16 
There has always been a distinction between the Judeo-Christian God and all others. Yahweh, or Jehovah, has been distinguished by both Jew and Gentile as being the Living God. In stories in both the Old Testament and New Testament, God has been referred to as the God who is Living and in the passage from Sunday we hear David explain that he will overcome the Philistine by the power given him from the Living God because Goliath had insulted the Living God. Peter when he made his confession did not just say that Jesus was the son of a god, but Son of the Living God. What a joy to know that God is a God who lives, abides, and interacts with us. Glory to His Name! 


Thursday - Confidence in God - Psalm 23 
David, when writing the Shepherd's Psalm, gives us insight into the fact that when we face any hardship in our lives lived for God, we can have a confidence that He is there. With that in mind, we can be at a stage of peace of heart and mind for God is present in the midst of the uncertainties of life in this world. When we are caught off-guard, there is one, God, who has the situation covered and takes care of the unseen and unexpected. In those times we gain more confidence in the One who watches over us.

Friday - Name of the Lord - Philippians 2:9 
There is a name that we can call upon that opens up all kinds of potential for victory and joy and praise. It is the Name of Jesus. Just as in the Old Testament, when people would call upon the Name of the Almighty God, they would soon find out that there is no one else like Him. The Mighty God has given Jesus a Name that is like unto His own Name.. .full of grace and truth, glory and grace.

Saturday - Israel Victorious - Joshua 6 
The story of the fall of Jericho is one of many that depict the provision of victory that God gives to His people. When His plan is followed, however strange it may sound, God grants a victory that leaves no question but that He is with them. It is the same way as with us in these days. God provides the victory over the many battles we face, but we have the truth of His written Word that the war has been won through the power of God seen in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. What was accomplished on the Cross sealed the victory for us all.

Monday - Trust - Psalm 37:5 
We arc commended to put our full trust in the Lord and not to worry about what we are to do for He will accomplish His will, His way. All we have to do is be obedient and follow His instructions. In the passage from Sunday we saw how Moses had to put His trust in God about leaving the fighting and military leadership up to Joshua and go up on a hill to raise his hands and the staff of God up in the air. Joshua trusted the Lord in the selection of men to serve as an army and that the battle plan was the Lords. Do we trust enough to let the Lord have His way and to direct our daily decisions and interactions without inserting our way of thinking. Trust? 


Tuesday - Dependence - John 15:5 
Jesus shared that if we want to bear fruit.. .if we really want to see and accomplish the will of God for us and our families, we have to become dependent upon the Lord for in and of ourselves we can accomplish nothing but getting in the way. Moses along with all of Israel were dependent upon god to defeat the enemy in that wilderness battle. Moses holding his staff-filled hands in the air, was dependent upon God to give the upper hand to the army of Israel over the Amalekites. Moses was also dependent upon the strength of the two men that God sent with him to help uphold those hands to heaven. That dependence was putting trust into action. 


Wednesday- Cooperation - Matthew 18:19 
There are many passages of scripture that speak to the idea of the cooperation between God and mankind to accomplish what is best for all. But in this verse as in the story from the scripture on Sunday there is a cooperation that needs to take place between men in order to fulfill the will of God. When two or more of us agree upon what ought to be done to please God and accomplish His will, God brings about the success of the task in His timing and in His way of thinking. When we lake the time to come to a unity of thought, the best ideas and plans can be seen and accomplished. Remember it was when the 120 or so disciples came to that point when they were of one mind and desire that the Holy Spirit was outpoured. 


Thursday - Human Weakness - John 16:12-14 
Moses came to the realization of his human weakness when after holding up his arms for a period of time they began to shake in weakness and needed the support of Aaron and Hur. We find ourselves in times of weakness without the power of His Holy Spirit strengthening us to accomplish the task given to us of the mind to remember what we ought to say and do in sharing the truth of Jesus Christ. We ought not to put our faith in our own strength or understanding.

Friday - Strength in Weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 
Paul shares that even though we know that God loves us and wants the best for us, to keep us humble in heart and lifestyle, he himself was afflicted with a "thorn in the flesh" of some type that even after praying several times about, God did not take it away. But .. .Paul goes n to say that in the weakness that this thorn brought on Jesus Christ gave him the strength to carry on and to fulfill the will of God for his life in a perfecting way (a way according to God's perfect plan). And that is perfection when things go according to God's plan.

Saturday - Israel Victorious - Exodus 17:12-13 
I am reminded again and again that it was only when Moses hands were held up steadily before the Lord that Joshua was able to battle on throughout that day and win the victory over the enemy. It is only when we recognize the Heavenly Father as being the One we look to for the victory in the battles of our faith, that we are strengthen to the point of overcoming the adversary. God's plan is that we should be overcomers and we see how as the Church of God in Jesus Christ is addressed in the Book of Revelation, the great gifts from God are given "to those who overcome." Let us allow the Lord to bring to us the victory by the strength that He gives us to overcome. Amen and amen!

 

Monday - Iconoclasm - Exodus 23:24; 39:13 
In these two passages of scripture we see that instruction had already been given at the time of the presentation of the Law, that all idols, all sacred stones and all Asherah poles were to be destroyed so that they would not become a temptation to the Israelites as they came into the promise land to possess it as their inheritance. God knew that it would be too easy to attach oneself to the religious idols (icons) that could be seen on the high places throughout the land of Canaan especially after seeing how fertile these fanning valleys were. The Lord wanted the temptation to be eliminated so that the Israelites would remember that all good things come from Him.

Tuesday - God's Voice - Matthew 17:5 
The voice of God was heard in various ways and in a variety of volumes. There were times when His voice was heard as loud, rolling thunder, as a whisper, as the roaring seas, and also as being angelic. But when the message was important, needing to be heard, it came through loud and clear. The voice of God in the passage from Sunday's message, may have been heard by only one but was understood and acted upon till it touched the lives of the many. Have you heard the voice of God recently?

Wednesday - Altars - 1 Samuel 14:35 
We know that from the time of Abraham the building of altars had taken place to give opportunity to worship and thank God for the blessings seen in the areas. Israelites were a nomadic people, being shepherds, traveling to find pastures for their livestock. But now many of the altars on the high places were used to worship Baal and other false gods of fertility and pagan rites. God gave instructions on the type of altar that should be built to worship Him and that all others were to be destroyed, torn down.

Thursday - High Places - Leviticus 26:30 
God had set a standard of judgment about the disobedience of idolatry. Idolatry broke so many of the Laws of God that he held the punishment as being severe yet right in His sight. The whole of chapter 26:14-39 speaks of the judgment of God against those who would not adhere to the Law that He had given and covenant that He had made. These places of worship were set on hill and mountain tops so that all who passed by could observe the worship that went on there. 


Friday - Fear of Man - John 12:42 
Down through time even to this day, we often fear the opinions and reactions of people who may or may not believe in God or Christ Jesus. In the passage from Sunday, Gideon was fearful of the reaction of the men from town and even his father about what he had done in obedience to the command of God given through the angel. In the gospels it tells us how there were many of the leaders in the temple and on the Sanhedrin that believed in Jesus but were afraid of the opinion or reactions of their spiritual leaders. But we must make a choice whom we will serve and to whom we will be devoted.

Saturday - Obedience - 2 Kings 18:6 
There are many biblical examples of those who learned to obey God's commands and live as followers of Christ. But just as the words of the obedience of Gideon inspire us to also obey, what is said of Hezekiah in 2 Kings speaks volumes to how we ought to trust and obey. Holding on to God and His commands and promises, without neglect or ceasing, reminds us of the joy of walking with our Savior and Lord.

Monday - Spiritual Conversation - Luke 24:32 
Have you ever had a time when either through the words of a song of scripture, an inner awareness, or a still small voice you had a conversation with Jesus Christ? When Jesus comes plainly to us sharing what we need to hear.. .need to know, there is a warming of the heart that takes place. For some it may be chills on the back of the neck, but even that is not out of fear but out of the exciting awareness of His Presence. It is in those times as well that we hear and remember what came to our minds and hearts as the message we needed from the Lord. And that feeling lingers so that we can speak back to Him whether in praise or petition.

Tuesday - Fellowship with Christ - Acts 4:13 
Just as the two on the road to Emmaus came to realize the sweet comforting moments that they experienced was a time of fellowship with Christ, Peter and John came to be witnesses of the effects of their fellowship with Jesus Christ. It was also seen in them by both friends and those who were adversaries. There was something about the disciples that let people know that they had been with Jesus. Can people tell that you have been in fellowship with Jesus Christ? 


Wednesday - Dark Days - John 8:12 
Jesus had already taught that He was the Light of the world, following Him we would experience the light of life. There may be times when we allow our emotions to rule and we can get to wandering in the darkness. Jesus wants us to travel in fellowship with Him on the road of life and so find ourselves in the light of His love and grace. I we find ourselves in darkness, we should call on His name so that we can see clearly in His marvelous light

Thursday - Christ's Glory - Luke 9:32
The glorious light that is a part of the glorified being of Jesus was revealed to the disciples and will be revealed again to us one day. On the Mount of Transfiguration Peter, James, and John were awakened by the revelation of the glorified Christ, when they saw Jesus, Moses and Elijah speaking to one another in the bright brilliancy of heaven's light. The reflection of the glory that comes from being in the Presence of God the Holy One. With the two on the Emmaus road, they saw Jesus' glory revealed in the recognition of how Jesus broke the bread.

Friday - Breaking Bread - Acts 2:42 
Just as Jesus was revealed by the breaking of bread to the Emmaus travelers, He has been revealed throughout scripture every time the bread of covenant fellowship has been shared. Could that have been the guiding force that kept the practice of breaking bread from house to house going for so long. The very love of Christ was felt in those moments as it drew believers closer to one another to become the Church, the Body of Christ.

Saturday - Burning Hearts - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 
There is the witness to our souls that God has revealed Christ and His words to us.. .at times it may be that warming of the heart. Even though we might not understand it fully or be able to see it as a clear vision, God has a way of revealing the truth of the wondrous things He has prepared for those who love Him. The two that had the opportunity to share their love for Jesus Christ, did not understand what was going on right then. They could not even conceive the plan that God was unfolding but they realized, after-the-fact, that Jesus had come to them when they thought of the warming of their hearts.