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?

Today’s Readings: Judges 17:1‐18:31, John 3:1‐21, Psalm 104:1‐23, Proverbs 14:20‐21

His Words: Judges 17: 5 And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes…  13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.”… 18:27 But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him…

Alter location in the Hebrew temple to Yahweh in Dan

my words: God’s Word told Israel that they should not make any images of worship and the priests could only approach him through sacrifices in the temple in Jerusalem.  However, they did what was right in their own eyes and expected him to bless it.  On our Israel trip, we saw a Hebrew temple to Yahweh located in the city of Dan.  How could they be so blind, to disobey the God they were trying to worship in the very act of their worship?

Apply:  I want to look at my life and see where my worship of God does not line up with his Word.

How do you know when you have gotten off track in your worship of God?

Today’s Readings: Judges 15:1‐16:31, John 2:1‐25, Psalm 103:1‐22, Proverbs 14:17‐19

His Words: Judges 16:15-17 And (Delilah) said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. And (Samson) told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

View of the valley where Samson grew up from Beth Shemesh

my words:  Context – Delilah has already asked Samson the source of his strength three times, he has lied to her, and she has immediately tried to use his words against him and remove his strength.  If he could think clearly in the face of temptation, Samson could see that Delilah is trying to destroy him.  Yet, he gives in and tells her the real source of his strength.

Apply: It is extremely difficult to think clearly in the face of temptation.  I see three things that would have helped Samson and should help us.

1. Recognize what sin is doing and can do to you.  Look at what the end result of falling into the temptation will be.  Accountability can help us with this.
2. Flee the temptation.  It seems crazy that Sampson is still showing up at her house when he knows Delilah is trying to destroy him.  How often do we do the same?
3. Decide how you will respond to temptation before you are exposed.  If you cannot remove yourself from the temptation, decide on your response before you are pressured.  Samson could not think clearly when Delilah was pushing him.  Do we think we are stronger than Sampson?

What has helped you in your battles against sin?

Today’s Readings: Judges 13:1‐14:20, John 1:29‐51, Psalm 102:1‐28, Proverbs 14:15‐16

His Word: Proverbs 14:15 The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

My words: Do you believe the world too much?

• Do you believe everything you read?  Are you monitoring what you are reading?
• Do you believe everything you hear?  Do you check what you hear against reputable sources?

Do you give thought to your steps?

• Prudent – wise or judicious in practical affairs, careful in providing for the future
• Have you thought and prayed through your future?  Check out this excellent post for ways to be intentional about your life plan.
• When was the last time you fasted over your steps?  Praying over my job and my marriage are two of the more meaningful moments in my spiritual life.

Apply: I need to think about where I’m going.

What helps you to live on purpose?

Today’s Readings: Judges 11:1‐12:15, John 1:1‐28, Psalm 101:1‐8, Proverbs 14:13‐14

John 1:4 – In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Observations:

• Him = Word = Creator = Jesus
• In Jesus was life.
• The life found in Jesus was light of men.

Do we truly believe that in Jesus we have life and we have it abundantly (John 10:10)?  Do we fully trust that eternal life is to know Jesus (John 17:3)?  If we did, we would live life differently and our life would be the light of men.

Apply:  I want to focus on the life found in Christ.

What keeps you from pursuing the life that Jesus offers?