Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 24:1‐25:44, John 10:22‐42, Psalm 116:1‐19, Proverbs 15:20‐21

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Observations:

Jesus’ Sheep:

1. Hear His voice
2. He knows them
3. They follow Him

Apply: I need to hear and obey the voice of God.

Do you remember the last time you consciously followed the voice of God?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 22:1‐23:29, John 10:1‐21, Psalm 115:1‐18, Proverbs 15:18‐19

1 Samuel 22:1-2 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

One of the many caves at Adullam where David hid with those in distress

I was reminded in my reading today that David’s followers and friends were very needy. If we are surrounded by people that think and look like they have it all together, we may be doing something wrong. Jesus was known as someone who spent time with the tax collectors and sinners.

Apply: I want to remember to spend more time with the needy.

What currently prompts you to get time with the needy?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 20:1‐21:15, John 9:1‐41, Psalm 113:1‐114:8, Proverbs 15:15‐17

John 9:39-41 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

Beware of the spiritual pride of the Pharisees. If we think we can see, our guilt remains. Our spiritual condition may be the opposite of what we think.

Apply: I need to repent of spiritual pride. I want to live like a blind man.

What helps you to see how blind you are?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 18:5‐19:24, John 8:31‐59, Psalm 112:1‐10, Proverbs 15:12‐14

John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Observations:

• Said to believers
• If you abide in my word, then you are true disciples
• If you abide in my word, then you will know the truth
• The truth will set you free

Apply: To make sure I abide in God’s Word through the busy season of summer, I am committing to Bible reading before breakfast.

What does “set you free” mean to you in the context of this passage?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1‐18:4, John 8:21‐30, Psalm 111:1‐10, Proverbs 15:11

1 Samuel 17:39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.

You cannot fight with what you are not familiar.  David could not fight with Saul’s armor.  Saul could not fight with David’s faith.  They had not tested out those things.

Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath - Most scholars think the battle took place just below my right wrist

Apply: I want to make sure I am well acquainted with living by faith and not sight.  I have to daily be in prayer and the Word.

How do you test out the needed weapons for spiritual war?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 15:1‐16:23, John 7:53‐8:20, Psalm 110:1‐7, Proverbs 15:8‐10

1 Samuel 15:24&30 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice… 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.”

Observation:

• Context: Saul has been told by Samuel that God would reject him as king because of his disobedience.
• Saul said the reason for his sin was because he feared the people and obeyed their voice.
• Even after knowing he will be removed as king, Saul is concerned with being honored before people.

Sin in our life happens when the fear of people and the desire for their approval surpasses our fear of God and our desire for his approval.

Apply: I want to make a conscious effort to keep God’s response, and not people’s response, as my goal.

Is the fear of people’s approval pushing you to sin against God?

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?