Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 13:23‐14:52, John 7:30‐52, Psalm 109:1‐31, Proverbs 15:5‐7

1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

Observations:

• Context: Jonathan knows that the Philistines are the enemies of God.  The people of God have not attacked their enemy.  He wakes up during the night and says these words to his armor bearer.
• Come, let us go – he is leading him into battle
• Of these uncircumcised – they do not follow God
• It may be that the Lord will work for us – stepping out in faith does not mean we know the outcome.
• Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few – if God decides to save, he will.  Me + God = Victory

What challenges my faith in this passage is the “it may be that the Lord will work for us.”  The NIV and NAS use the word “perhaps.”  This is not the popular message from the pulpit when it comes to stepping out in faith.  Instead, we want to say things like: “God has shown me that our new sanctuary will bring in more people, this will be the greatest summer of your life, or if you do this, you cannot fail.”  Faith is not this way.  We don’t know what the end result will be.  Yet, within the context of prayer, God’s Word, and Christian counsel, we step out in faith believing that it “may be that the Lord will work for us.”

Apply: I want to move forward in doing good even if the end result is unknown.

For more on this passage, check out “Seizing Your Divine Moment” by Erwin MacManus.

How can we keep “it may be” from paralyzing us?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 12:1‐13:22, John 7:1‐29, Psalm 108:1‐13, Proverbs 15:4

1 Samuel 12:14 If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well.

Are you a leader?  On the job, in the church, in the community, in the home, etc.  Your obedience affects your wellbeing AND the wellbeing of those you are leading.  Your sin has consequence for you AND anyone that you lead.

Apply: This morning I am going to pray for the leadership at camp to fear the Lord and serve him obediently – those above me, me, and those under me.

Are you following any rebellious leaders?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 10:1‐11:15, John 6:43‐71, Psalm 107:1‐43, Proverbs 15:1‐3

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Observations:

• A response can change the other person’s emotions.
• To answer softly / gently / carefully turns away wrath.
  • In conflict, this is the opposite of human nature.
• A harsh word stirs up or increases anger.

Apply: Consciously look for ways to give soft answers today vs. harsh words.

Do you know anyone in your past that used soft answers in a Biblical way?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 8:1‐9:27, John 6:22‐42, Psalm 106:32‐48, Proverbs 14:34‐35

John 6: 27-29  Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”  Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”  Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Observations:

• Context: the day after feeding the 5,000.  They find Jesus and want him to feed them again.  In a little while, Jesus will tell them that he is the “Bread of Life.”
• Labor for what endures
• Labor for what the Son of Man will give to you
• What must we do, to be doing the works of God? – Believe in Jesus

In the midst of my busy season in Christian camping, God used this passage today to remind me that my main work is to believe.  He will give the food that endures to eternal life.  This is the gospel.

Apply: I have actually written “Believe in Jesus” as #1 thing on my ministry to do list.  I have to remember to believe in all things or my work will be in vain.

How you stay focused on God’s work and not your own?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 5:1‐7:17, John 6:1‐21, Psalm 106:13‐31, Proverbs 14:32‐33

1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”

Observations:

• Samuel took a stone and set it up.
• He put it in a prominent place between two cities.
• The stone had a purpose – it stood for something.
• It was to remind people “till now the Lord has helped us.”

Do you have Ebenezer stones in your life?  At the end of each week of camp we challenge the parents to summarize God’s work in their life through writing a word on an Ebenezer stone.  As I type, I am looking at the Ebenezer stones from 07-09 sit on my bookshelf – Edify, Fallen, String…  My stone from 2010 I used as an illustration during a sermon yesterday – Permanence.

Apply: I want to look hard at my life, see what God is doing, and set up a stone of remembrance for 2011.  I’m going to spend serious car time today on this thought.

What would your Ebenezer stone for the last year read?

Today’s Readings: 1 Samuel 2:22‐4:22, John 5:24‐47, Psalm 106:1‐12, Proverbs 14:30‐31

John 5:40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Observations:

• Context – the people are trying to gain salvation through religious actions.
• Some people refuse to come to Christ.
• In Christ there is life.

Often, I try to work my way into a fulfilling life.  Why do I refuse to come to Christ for life?

Apply: I want to go to Christ and experience real life.

What do you think Jesus means when he says “come to me?”

Today’s Readings: 1 Sam 1:1‐2:21, John 5:1‐23, Psalm 105:37‐45, Proverbs 14:28‐29

God’s Word: John 5:6-9 When Jesus saw him…, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?…” “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

The pool of Bethesda where Jesus heals in John 5

my words: Recently, someone pointed out to me that the vast majority of Christ’s healings were attached to a direct command that the one being healed had to obey.  Here, the man was told to “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”  It reminds me of the clear instruction in James 2:14-26 that faith without works is dead.  I do not believe that sickness is a result of a lack of faith.  But, the Bible tells us that prayer for healing must be done in faith (James 5:15).

Apply: As I pray for healing today, what is God asking me to do in faith?

Do you have any stories of healing in your life or in the life of someone close to you?

Today’s Readings: Ruth 2:1‐4:22, John 4:43‐54, Psalm 105:16‐36, Proverbs 14:26‐27

His Word: Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.

my words: The first half of the proverb seems like an apparent contradiction.  How do you find confidence in fear?  Within the context of the second half of the verse, it would seem to imply that the confidence we find in the fear of the Lord is a confidence in the refuge he provides.  Are you struggling with confidence?  Expose yourself to anything that prompts you to grow in a healthy fear of God.

Do you want your children to have real refuge?  Fear the Lord.

Apply: I want to spend time meditating on the holiness of God.

What stood out to you in the readings today?

Today’s Readings: Judges 21:1‐25; Ruth 1:1‐22, John 4:4‐42, Psalm 105:1‐15, Proverbs 14:25

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Context: Jesus tells his disciples this after he told the woman at the well that he was living water, and anyone who would come to him and drink would not thirst again.

Observations:
• Doing the will of God feeds us.
• Accomplishing God’s work feeds us.
• It reminds me of Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Application: When I am unsatisfied, I need to drink deep of Jesus and to partake in the life giving food that is doing his will.

Do you feel full after doing God’s will? Does it satisfy you?

Today’s Readings: Judges 19:1‐20:48, John 3:22‐4:3, Psalm 104:24‐35, Proverbs 14:22‐24

Scripture: Proverbs 14:23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Observations:

• Work brings reward
• Words alone will not be rewarded

Apply:  This is a busy season in my ministry.  I need to lead in toil and not mere talk.

How have you seen this Proverb play out in your life?