Tag Archives: daily walk

April 10

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Judges 6:23-31, I Samuel 2:22-5:12

Every once in a while God allows us to see that he has a sense of humor. I think the story of the Philistine god Dagon is funny.

I always loved playing with my sisters’ children and now am enjoying my great-nieces and nephews. How many block towers have I built, then pretended to look away so the little ones can knock them down and I act surprised by it? That’s the picture I have here. God, when everyone is asleep, nudges Dagon with his index finger and the idol tumbles down. The people are surprised by it and put Dagon back up again. But God’s not done with this game. The next night, down Dagon goes!

I know God wanted the Philistines to recognize that the God of Israel is the God of the entire world. We read they didn’t and things got worse for them. Had they accepted the truth of their fallen god and the power of God, we would be reading a different story.

I am reminded that, as the creator, God invented fun. It’s not wrong to laugh or find humor in the day-to-day. I challenge us all today to try and find an example of God’s holy humor. And remember, he wants us to enjoy our journey as we walk with him.

Father, I thank you for laughter. Help us to recognize that you created everything about us, including a sense of humor. But may we honor you in our fun, always remembering that you are holy. 

April6

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Judges 19&20

It’s hard to read these two chapters. The violence and cruelty are unspeakable. Men lusting after other men, abusing women, and civil war show the nation of Israel is no better than the other nations around them. In fact, they are worse because they know the Truth. They know God. And they live like they don’t.

Beware, dear Christian. Just because we live in the twenty-first century doesn’t mean the rules have changed. It doesn’t mean the God of the Old Testament is different than the God of 2013. Truth is still Truth and holiness means the same today as it did back then.

I’m sad to think the lines between God’s people and the world are becoming so blurred we might not be any better than those who don’t know the Truth. We should be more moral, more kind, more honest, more joyful, more eager to help a neighbor than anyone else. And we should love our neighbors with God’s love.

Can we offer them something better than what they have right now? We should. And if we offer it, would they even recognize the Truth in us?

Father, may your people set themselves apart from the world in our speech and actions. May others see something in us that is better than what they have without you. May we determine today to be holy and stand for the Truth as revealed to us in your Word.

April 5

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Judges 10:1-13:25

I will admit Jephthah’s story upsets me. He made a stupid statement, a ridiculous vow and God held him to it. As the result of a hastily spoken vow, Jephthah sacrificed his own daughter as a burnt offering. I’m kinda mad God didn’t let Jephthah off the hook.

But wait a minute. What does that say to me this morning? Maybe God’s not the jolly old buddy we’ve made him out to be. Maybe he is holy. Maybe we need to honor his name. 

How many times have I heard, “I swear to God…” or how many times have I said, “God, if you… then I’ll…”

Is Jephthah’s story telling me there is no such thing as a casual vow? When before God a man and woman vow to love and honor each other does God really intend to hold them to that? When I promise God I’ll change, or stop doing something, does he really take me seriously?

Breaking a vow to God is a sin. And God is in the business of forgiving sin. I wonder if Jephthah had confessed his vow as a sin if things would have turned out differently for his daughter? I don’t know. But I do know God is faithful to forgive sin when we confess it.

Dear ones, we need to weigh our words carefully. Promising God – making a vow – is not something to take lightly. God is honest with us and demands we be honest with him.

Remember what he didn’t say to Jephthah. He didn’t say, “Oh, that’s ok, don’t worry about it”. He didn’t say, “Your heart was in the right place so just forget it.” What God didn’t say to Jephthah he is not saying to us today.

Holy God, may I not make promises I can’t keep. Help me to live up to the promises I’ve already made, knowing you take me seriously. And help me to confess the sin of broken vows. May my thoughts and the words of my mouth be acceptable to you today. 

April 2

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Judges 18:1-31, 3:7-4:24

Where did Micah get the idea it was ok to worship God and still have household gods and idols in his home? He even hired himself his own live-in priest. He must have been feeling pretty holy.

Another question I have is why did the Danites think Micah had a good thing going? They convinced Micah’s priest to go with them and stole Micah’s idols. When they moved into their new city they set up the idols and hired priests. But 18:30 says… until the time of captivity of the land.

Yes, eventually God will allow another nation to defeat the Israelites. This is the beginning of decades of the Jews obeying God, drifting away from God, disobeying God, suffering because of it, then repenting. And every time they repent we’ll see that God is going to come to their rescue.

It’s no different with us. As I look at my own life I remember times much like what I described with Israel. And yes, God is faithful to forgive every time I go to him. But if I shake my head at Israel and ask, why didn’t they learn… I have to ask the same about myself.

God is very plain to say that we cannot have him and household gods and idols, too. We can’t serve two masters. He is a jealous God who demands all of our worship. Period.

When walking with the Lord, living in the Promised Land is so wonderful. Why would I settle for anything less… especially knowing there are consequences for disobedience.

Father, help me to recognize any household gods or idols that are creeping up in my life. May I be quick to eliminate anything that would come between me and you. Help me put into perspective relationships, entertainment, commitment, or anything else that would compete with my focus on you. And may I walk with you today as you deserve.

April 1

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Judges 1:1-3:6, 17:1-13

Here’s something that made me sad. 2:10 tells us that after Joshua and his peers had died, another generation grew up who “knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.”

How was that even possible so soon after God had miraculously rescued them from slavery? How could they not talk about manna from heaven, shoes that didn’t wear out, water from rocks, crossing seas and rivers on dry ground, 24 hours of daylight, not to mention the pillar of fire and cloud? I know these people hadn’t witnessed many of these things first hand, but those things are what made them who they were in the sight of the nations. How could their children not know?

My dad loved history. He read about it, watched programs about it, talked about it. But I have to say I didn’t inherit his love of learning about the past.

Maybe that’s what happened to Israel. Maybe when parents talked about their grandparent’s journey, their teenagers rolled their eyes and thought, what does that have to do with me? Boring!

It’s our responsibility… and our privilege… to pass on to our children the good news of Jesus Christ. Not as some historical figure who lived an interesting life 2,000 years ago. But someone who is alive today, who radically changed our lives when we let him into our hearts, someone with whom we have a vital relationship today. And someone who wants to be as real to our children as we are.

Do your children know about how your life was changed when you met Jesus? Have you shared with your children how he is working in your daily life? Do they know what you are learning from your time in the Word? Can your children see in you that Jesus is more than an historical figure? Don’t assume they know without you intentionally sharing it with them.

If we don’t, we run the danger of raising a generation who neither knows the Lord nor what he has done for his people throughout the ages. Let’s determine to make Jesus real in their lives so that they will do the same for the next generation, too.

Father, again today I pray for parents. May they be intentional about sharing you with their children on a day to day basis. And I pray for grandparents, aunts, and uncles. We who love children not our own. May we be faithful as well, as we show our loved ones that Jesus is alive and relevant in 2013, that following you is the coolest, most exciting, and most blessed way to live.

March 31

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Joshua 22-24

Now the descendants of Abraham were going to be able to enjoy living in the land promised to him so long ago. There were no more enemies to defeat. They were home.

Before they all went their separate ways Joshua spoke to them. Listen to what he said:

Be very careful to keep the commandments and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

Jesus reminded us of Joshua’s words and added… love your neighbor as yourself

What is the purpose of our lives? What is the greatest commandment and the secret for happiness? We just read it today.

And by the way, it’s Easter Sunday morning. I attended the sunrise service at the pier on the ocean. Hundreds of us worshiped the risen Savior as the sun came up over the lighthouse. Was it a morning like this when Jesus walked out of that tomb? When the angel spoke those amazing words to the women… He is not here. He has risen as he said.

Dear friend, do we realize the truth in what we celebrate today? Jesus is alive. Really, physically, absolutely alive! What a privilege we have to love him with all our hearts and souls, to walk with him, to obey him, to hold fast to him and serve him.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

March 30

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Joshua 19-21, I Chronicles 6:54-81

I don’t totally understand the cities of refuge and avenger of blood. It sounds as if, when a person accidently killed another there was someone who was assigned the task of getting even. But if the guilty person reached a city of refuge first he was safe. Kind of like a game of tag. As long as you are touching home base you can’t be tagged. But step away and you are fair game.

Spiritually speaking, we all have someone after us trying to tag us, to destroy us. Satan is in hot pursuit. He is waiting right outside our door. 

God wants to be our city of refuge, our safe place, home base. When we are in His presence Satan cannot destroy us. Jesus said in John 10 that as the Good Shepherd, his sheep are safe. No one can snatch them from Him.

That tells me that as long as I stay close to Him, Satan can throw his best shot… but God will hold me strong. And Satan knows that as long as I stay in my city of refuge he can’t have me. 

God, I thank you for being my city of refuge. May I stay in that safe place as I read your Word, as I go about my day in an attitude of prayer, as I obey you. Thank you for the assurance that Satan cannot snatch me from you as long as I am tucked away in your care.

March 7

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Numbers 22-24

There is so much about this story I love. I can just picture Balaam and his donkey traveling along. All Balaam sees is his donkey being stubborn so he beats the animal. Eventually, after the third beating, the donkey turns around and says something like… Stop! What have I ever done to you!

Now here’s what I love. Balaam answers the donkey as though it was the most natural thing in the world. That makes me smile.

But there’s more to the story. God had put a road block in front of Balaam. For whatever reason, Balaam didn’t see it. In fact, he went to drastic measures to stay on the road he had chosen. Once Balaam was able to see the angel and hear from God what he was supposed to do, he was able to go on his way.

We all have a road to travel. Sometimes we get a little off the mark and at those times God might put a road block before us. Road blocks can look like failed job opportunities or just that uneasy feeling that comes from drifting. It could be a word from a friend or an illness.

I don’t know what your road blocks look like but I pray you won’t overlook them. They are there for a reason. And paying attention to the road blocks can make our journey so much better.

Father, thank you for caring about our journey. May we be sensitive to the times you place road blocks before us and may we understand that they are there for our good.

March 6

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Numbers 19-21

I am reminded again today that God’s demand for obedience is consistent for everyone. He doesn’t require complete obedience from one person and overlook disobedience in someone else… even if that person is Moses.

I’m not sure what possessed Moses to take matters into his own hands. Was it pride? Was he so caught up in his position as God’s spokesman that he felt tapping the rock would be a more impressive show than just talking to it? Did he have a moment of doubt that God would bring water from the rock with just a word and then Moses would look foolish before an already angry group of Israelites? He had tapped a rock once before and it had worked. Maybe he felt he could help God along just a little.

The reason behind the disobedience doesn’t really matter. We can rationalized Moses’ or our own disobedience all day long and it doesn’t change the most important issue… disobedience. And if it’s Moses or me, God does not excuse disobedience for any reason.

Father, help me to obey. Sometimes it’s hard because I’m afraid of looking foolish in front of others. Sometimes I have momentary doubt. But help me to understand that the “why” of my disobedience isn’t important. No excuses. I want to be your obedient child today.

March 4

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Numbers 14&15

Is the Promised Land heaven? I’ve heard it said that Canaan represents heaven and I can understand the comparison. We as Christians are promised an eternity so amazingly wonderful, and Canaan promised to be that for the Israelites. Well, except for the fact that they were going to have to fight their enemies in order to live there.

Instead, I see Canaan as the Christian life right here on planet earth. When we come to Christ we have available to us all we could ask or think. We can have peace and rest in our souls. Yes, there will be enemies to defeat and weeds to hoe. But Jesus promises to go with us and make us victorious.

Some of the Israelites didn’t go into Canaan. It’s not that they stopped being Jewish, but they never knew what it was like to live in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Some Christians never experience the deeper life. It’s not that they stop being Christians, but they don’t enjoy an intimate walk with their Savior. Maybe it’s because they are focusing on the giants.

My prayer for us today is that we will step into Canaan by faith. That we would spend time with our Savior, reading His Word, living in an attitude of prayer. That’s God’s plan for us and His promise to us. There are blessings to enjoy in that intimate relationship with Him today. Let’s not miss it.