Samson

From the book of Joshua we go to Judges, and it’s a fascinating period of time with a lot happening. Joshua dies, the tribes are still trying to conquer/divide/settle into land, and going through cycles of sin and depravity. Between Joshua’s death and until Saul is named the Israelites’ first king, we have “judges”. These judges are different than modern day judges and I love how they’re described in chapter 2 verses 16-18:

16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 

In our reading today, we focus specifically on Judges 16, which outlines Samson as a judge for the Hebrew people being oppressed by the Philistines (there are 11 other judges recorded in the book of Judges). If you’ve heard this one before, your high points might be similar to what stood out in my mind over the years:

  • God gave Samson supernatural physical strength, and if he cut his hair he would lose his strength – but no one knew that but him. 
  • Delilah tries to get the truth from him multiple times – in order to sell his secret to the Philistines. The first couple of times he tells her lies, but she tries to take away his strength with these lies… why does he keep trusting her and telling her?
  • Eventually (third time is a charm) he tells her the truth about his hair and she sells him out and Samson is captured. 

After spending more time in Judges and the life of Samson, a few new things came to light for me:

  • Samson was born to Manoah and his previously barren wife, after an angel appeared telling her she would bear a son that would be a deliverer for the Israelites. – Ch. 13
  • Samson was raised as a Nazarite and as he grew, the Lord blessed him. – Ch. 13
  • Samson desired/tried to marry women outside of his tribe (against God’s laws at that time) – Ch. 14 the woman from Timnah, Ch. 16 Delilah. 
  • Samson was betrayed by both women, both telling information he trusted them with. 
  • The situation with the woman from Timnah (his soon-to-be wife) is Lifetime Movie ready. He kills a lion on his way to ask for his bride.. then during the wedding feast creates a riddle for the Philistines to solve. His bride tells the secret answer, and it all ultimately ends in death. Samson was a great warrior and killed 1000 men without an army. Ch. 14-15
  • Samson has his “Hey there, Delilah” moments and we do not know how long she nagged him to reveal his secret, but in verse 16 it says she pressed and urged him daily until his soul was vexed to death. 
  • The Philistines gouged out Samson’s eyes upon capturing him. Samson, whose role was to help people keep their eyes on God, lost his way, and his own sight in the process. – Ch. 16
  • God gives Samson one last super strength moment during his captivity and he kills 3,000 Philistines before his own death. 
  • Samson is listed among the men and women of great faith in Hebrews 11! 

This deeper study of Samson has replaced my thoughts of “why did he spill the beans” with some areas of encouragement: 

After Samson is captured and realized he wrongly told the secret of his strength, he still had the courage to call upon the Lord for help. Wow!! When we mess up, we need God’s help to deal with the fall out. But sometimes we let our shame, pride, or doubt keep us from calling on God. What an awesome example Samson gave us to cry out with faith! 

Be wise about who you allow into the inner circle of your heart. Are they Christ Followers, encouraging you in your walk with the Lord? Is there anyone influencing you in ways that come between you and God? 

What strength did God entrust you with and how are you using it for His kingdom?   

How is that not stealing?

In the 1999 movie “Office Space”, a scheme is devised to take “fractions of a penny” from a company and put these fractions into a bank account that did not belong to the company. The plan was to do this millions of times and therefore generate a whole lot of money for the schemers.

In one scene the main character, Peter (Ron Livingston) tries to convince Joanna (Jennifer Aniston), that since they are taking only fractions of a penny, it really isn’t stealing, and besides the company where the money is coming from is evil. Through the course of the conversation, Joanna repeats some of his words: “You’re going to make a lot of money right… that’s not yours?”… “So you’re stealing…” … “How is that not stealing?” Peter continues to rationalize and suggest she doesn’t understand, but it is no use.

Taking something that isn’t yours = stealing.

$422.20

An employee of a company submitted an expense report for business travel. The company reimbursed the employee for the travel. There was a change in the travel itinerary resulting in a partial refund. The refund was $422.20 and appeared on the employee’s personal credit card.

No one will find out… just spend it and forget about it… you work hard, they owe you… you probably forgot to expense some things in the past so this makes up for it… God probably wants you to have it as a gift… Not like the company needs it, they have a lot of money… you deserve it…

The Enemy

Taking something that isn’t yours = stealing.

There is an enemy who has been trying to deceive since the beginning of creation. His plan hasn’t changed. Twisting the truth, attacking our vulnerabilities and seeking to destroy us.

Yes, this was a true story, I was the employee and yes I returned the money.

Black and White

In Joshua 6, God continues his eternal undefeated streak, once again showing his power and demonstrating his faithfulness as the walls of Jericho fall and the Israelites take the city.

But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.

Joshua 6:19

The Israelites had clear instruction as to what to do and not to do with the city’s assets.

Today’s reading is Joshua 7, and we learn that Achan defied the instruction by secretly taking beautiful clothing, silver, and gold; then hiding it. This sin brought harm on the people of Israel (defeat at Ai) along with the eventual stoning of Achan as a penalty for his crime.

I can imagine Achan heard some of the lies listed above… no one will know… you deserve it…

Jesus

God is serious about his commands and serious about sin. He loves us, he knows our hearts, and he knows our sins.

We have no secrets. Just as Achan had to pay for his sin, you and I are also sinners and have racked up debt against God. Thankfully if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit’s guidance (speaking into our hearts, guiding us when we are tempted), and then we have redemption through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection as payment for our sin.

As we go about our day, let us take in the words of Jesus as he instructs us on prayer; including the topics of forgiveness and temptation. Read it slowly, focusing on each phrase.

Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:9-13

May God bless and keep you today!

Strange Tactics

Today’s reading:  Joshua 6

On Monday I started a new job.  From the very beginning, my previous position hadn’t really been a good fit.  While the teams I led delivered great results over the course of my tenure, my leadership style didn’t really mesh.  After giving it two and one-half years, I left with a feeling of failure, frustration and hurt.

As you’d expect, B.J. wasn’t interested in listening to my pity party.  He questioned me on how I was measuring success, and specifically challenged me to consider whether I was measuring the right things.  Last Wednesday, after spending time with each of my Managers to let them know I was leaving, I concluded B.J. was right.  (That is very painful to admit, believe me!).  For two plus years, I drove significant results and left that department in a better place than it was when I got there.  More importantly, I positively impacted the lives of the more than eighty people I led and those with whom I worked side by side.  How do I know this?  They stopped by, they called, and a week later they are still sending me emails to tell me this.  By these measures, my tenure in that job was actually a huge success.

See when I arrived at the office last Wednesday morning, I had put my car in park and called my Dad.  That shouldn’t surprise most of you.  He is a wise man who is always ready to give me godly advice.  This time, however, I didn’t call for advice.  I called for a specific request.  I told my Dad the day was going to be hard for me.  I asked him if he would please pray me through the day. 

When I left to go home on Wednesday, I was feeling at peace.  I made it through the day because of the prayers my parents said on my behalf.  As I was driving, Casting Crowns song Only Jesus came on the radio and convicted me yet again.  I was feeling pretty good that my work associates were sad to see me leave, and hoped they would remember me as a great leader who cared about them.  But my focus was still on me when it should have been pointing to Jesus.  During my time in that position, I can name specific times I pointed people to Jesus.  But did I take every opportunity?  Did I do enough?

And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus(Casting Crowns, 2018)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXIBP2BdYR8

Why do I tell you this story?  Our scripture today in Joshua 6 has a parallel message.  God gave Joshua some strange, specific instructions for fighting the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:3-5) – March around Jericho one time a day for six days, then march around seven times on day seven, sound the trumpets, shout, and the wall protecting the city will fall down.  This sounds like a ludicrous plan for fighting a battle, so why was it the plan God chose?   By executing such a crazy battle plan, it would be absolutely clear God was responsible for the victory, not Israel’s weaponry or fighting skill.  There is no way Joshua’s army could have won this battle on their own.  It was only by the power of God.

My challenge for you today is this – What battle are you fighting that you need to turn over to God?  Will you trust him to get you through it?  He may use strange tactics, but he will be glorified in the end.

Joshua 2 – Rahab

Today’s reading is from Joshua 2. The book of Joshua is about the continued trek of the Isrealites to the Promised land. Moses died and the Lord chose Joshua to lead the people. God instructed him to obey the laws Moses gave and to be strong and courageous.

In the second chapter of Joshua, Joshua sent 2 spies to the city of Jericho to scope out the area and report back to him for the sake of planning his attack. The spies found their way to the home of Rahab, the prostitute. The King of Jericho heard about the spies and he sent men to find them. Rahab had the opportunity to give them up to her king but she did not. Instead she kept them safely hidden on her roof because she had heard the stories about their God. In Joshua 2:9-11 Rahab says,” For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.”

Rahab had been hearing the stories of the God of the Irealites. She feared the God of the Isrealites more than she feared the King of Jericho. Based on the stories she had been hearing about God, He was powerful, He took care of his people, and where He went the enemy was always defeated. The enemy here was Jericho and that’s where she lived. At that moment she made a choice to believe in God. And with her belief she was granted salvation from the destruction that would ensue on Jericho in the days to come. She believed and she asked to be saved – along with all her family. The spies agreed to keep her safe as long as her entire family stayed inside the house and she left the scarlet cord hanging out of her window. We don’t hear any more of the specifics of Rahab’s story in the Bible but we do know God had a plan for her life. Later in Matthew 1:5 she is one of 5 women mentioned in the geneaology of Jesus Christ. Because of her profession of faith she was saved from destruction. She became a part of the blood line of Jesus – a prostitute, a sinner, an outsider – part of the family. All it took was her belief.

No matter what our past holds, God has a plan for our future. Joshua 1:9 says “I command you – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. Rahab  no longer had to fear because God was with her wherever she went. Same goes for us. Today – be strong and courageous, no matter your past or where you come from. God has a plan.

Shelly

Loud and Clear

Good Morning Bible Journal fiends.  Today we will be reading Deuteronomy 28.  This chapter has 68 verses in it.  The first 14 verses provides us insights of the many blessings you will have when you fully obey the Lords commands. The next 54 verses cover the curses that will be faced when you disobey the Lord. Looking at these verses helps me to understand the heading Loud and Clear.  It seems like we would be able to obey. Yet, after reading this chapter my next step was to figure out how I apply this chapter to my life.  God what are you telling us? For myself,   I’m able to look at all the amazing things that God has provided.   Many blessings through faith filled relationships, physical needs being met, healings in the midst of pain, a heart transformation, and ultimately a true relationship with God.  All the good in our lives can always point  back to God.  “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. – Deuteronomy 28:1

On the other hand, all the bad things can often point to myself and my selfish desires. This can include pain that I have caused to others, my many years of confusion about life, seeking short term pleasures through worldly substitutes… these can all point back to me, and my selfish desires to fulfill my own will. When I don’t obey. 15 “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.

In Deuteronomy 28 Moses tells us through the use of repetition similar to what Lynden was saying yesterday with Dora cartoon connection ( have small kids too) What God desires from us and what will happen when do and don’t obey. Moses is telling the Israelites, and us, that God has always provided and always will.  These first 14 verses tells of the blessings of walking in covenant with our Lord. Moses also reminds us of our disobedience. This choice is ours. God loves us, He sent his only son to wash away all our sins. That even in our sinful nature, Gods love is always present for us.  For me this covenant language can be easy to read through, underline, highlight, and reflect on but, I need more than doing that .  It has to be in my heart.  Because when I just write it and not put it into my heart, I can easily forget. Deuteronomy 6:6 reminds me 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.   

Our small group is starting a 4 week study on family discipleship.  One of our first goals is to focus on our modeling.  Jim Probst shared a story before that has stuck with me for years.  Him and some other guys were meeting and thinking of ways to honor God.  Many people had great ideas of serving, additional financial giving, possible additional mission trips.  One gentleman said, ” I just want to obey. ”  In Luke 11:28 Jesus reminds us that, “28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

There was a Promise Land that the Israelites were looking for then, there is a Promise Land for us now.  In the midst of our lives, God has provided for us a way to get to this Promise Land.  His love for us is always there, our its our choice to be obedient and remain faithful. To know and apply this obedience into our lives we need to make His words an integral part of everyday of our lives. Think about the Parable of the Sower. 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Loud and clear, there are blessings and curses based on our faithfulness.

  • Pray continually – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
  • Set our minds on things from above. Colossians 3:2
  • Let the message of Christ dwell among us. Colossians 3:16

Dear God, Thank you for your living word that we can be in every day. Create in us a soil that will take your words  to grow closer to you.  We love you and pray for obedience and faithfulness to you. 

Amen

Dangers of Success

Todays Reading: Deuteronomy 8 

Different people can define the measure of success many ways.  

  1. Completing higher level of education 
  2. Getting the right career 
  3. Marrying the right person
  4. Buying a house 
  5. Having kids and putting them through higher level education
  6. Retiring and enjoying life. 

Moses gives a similar stance on the level of success in Deuteronomy 8:7 -10

7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

This is the promise that has been given to the Israelites from the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15.  It is a promise that the descendants of Abraham would take possession of a land that was prepared for them by God.  A land that only had to be entered into and the remainder of life would be almost a dream.  But with success we must be mindful of pride and humility.  Moses reminds the Israelites this several times in this passage.  Moses also reminds them to remember the Lord is in control.  

In these twenty verses, Moses say “the Lord your God” TEN times.  Being a father of a 3-year-old and 4-year-old daughters, I have had the pleasure to watch many cartoons and videos, but one that I truly didn’t understand until recently was “Dora the Explorer”. This show is written and intended for the appropriate age group: preschoolers.  One particular habit that the writers of the cartoon use to illustrate a point is repetition.  Sometimes this repetition will be twenty times in less than 45 seconds.  Now several days later you can hear the kids repeating the list of Dora’s to do list as we are traveling to and from school. Moses, like the writers of Dora, uses this repetition style throughout Deuteronomy to make sure that the point of humility and pride are automatic for the Israelites.  

From this passage there are a few take away points: 

  1. Find rest in the wilderness experience.  The Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years and God made provisions continually for them.  God was preparing the chosen generation for the promises of the foretold covenant.  
  2. Take nothing for granted.  The people of Israel were given bread (manna) from heaven daily.  This was a new style of bread that had never been seen before or imagined.  God will provide us with items that we cannot imagine in the times of need if we believe in his will and divine plan.  
  3. Be aware of the hidden blessings.  In the passage Moses reminds the people Deut. 8:4 “Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.”We can take for granted the daily things that we have been blessed with and not give God the praises for them.  The heat in our homes and cars.  The saving grace that allows us to get to the mechanic moments before the serpentine belt falls apart. The extra time that the doctor listens to your heart before sending you home. That delay of several minutes that allowed you not to be on the highway before the major-car-pile-up.  Just as God was protecting the clothing of the Israelites, He is faithful to his promises today to provide and protect us.  

Let us be mindful that it is through God’s grace that we are able to be where we are and not by our own actions.  – Lynden

Never Forget


Deuteronomy 4:9-14
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it bled with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. And the Lord directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

Moses was very intentional in making sure the people of Israel did not forget all of the amazing things they had seen God do. That is why he urged parents to teach their children about God’s great miracles.

This principle is still so important today! We have to share with our children our “God” stories. What have you seen God do in your life? We must never forget what God has done in our lives. Sharing these stories builds faith and keeps our eyes on God. Do not forget all of the amazing things that you have seen God do in your life!

God has given each of us a unique story. His plan for our lives is individualized. Do others know what you believe and why? Do your children and others around you know the story of how you came to faith and how God has worked in your life to strengthen your faith? Do they know how God has shown Himself faithful and has helped you through doubts and disappointment? The faithfulness of God is a story that we have the privilege to pass on. Never forget what God has done for you and share it!

Open Mutiny

In today’s reading, Numbers 14, we catch up to the Israelites as they’ve first encountered the abundant land of Canaan, the land of milk and honey which God has promised his chosen people. We’ve been reading very frequently lately about how good things come to those who trust in the Lord. We’ve also learned how since they’ve been rescued from Egypt, the Israelites have established a track record of being really bad at trusting the Lord when it matters. Luckily, the faithful few among the chosen people have kept God’s favor, but we see this ever-splitting dichotomy come to a head in today’s reading.

Previously, God commanded Moses to establish a team of twelve leaders, one from each tribe of Israel, to report on whatever they could find in the land of Canaan. These men went and scouted out the area, finding fertile lands and rich fruit. However, they also found enormous walled cities and intimidatingly large men inhabiting these lands. Clearly God had promised that this land would belong to Israel, and that none of these obstacles could overcome His guidance. However, choosing instead to trust only their own fear and doubt, determined to avoid encounters with these difficulties, they simply return to the people of Israel and lie, spreading a negative report and discouraging further attempts.

This incites a rather ugly and violent outcry among the people of Israel, wishing that they would have died in the desert, and wishing to return to Egypt where they did not have to fear for their lives. When Joshua and Caleb, the two faithful of those who’d spied on this new land, encouraged those affected to trust in the Lord’s protection, the people discussed stoning them to death! At this point, the Lord’s anger is rightfully raised against Israel – this marks the tenth time in their short time of freedom when everyone has stopped in their tracks and raised arms against God due to lack of faith.

We too often raise arms against the Lord, lashing out against His plans. We are ensured during times of ease that God has promised us many great blessings and that no trouble could stand against Him. But when we meet challenges in our paths with fear – putting our fear of sturdy citadels and mighty opponents over confidence in the Lord – we suddenly see no way to approach these obstacles other than through our own volition. When dangerous and unfamiliar circumstances present themselves, we wonder how we can deal with the situation we’ve found ourselves in, not how He helps us to rise to these circumstances. 

This passage forces me to reflect on such times when I’ve rebelled against God, angrily crying out for simpler times and swifter trials rather than rejoicing in Him acting on his promises and praying for help. I think back to times I have moved to a new city, wishing for a return to my comfortable former life and those I knew back home, rather than thanking God for new opportunities and finding ways to glorify Him living in new places. I’ve gone out searching for work with fear in my heart from my own incompetence and inability, rather than trusting that He would have a plan for me to use my gifts in ways that please Him. As God rebukes and decides how to deal with the rebellious Israelites, I too am reminded of the despair I ensure myself whenever I try to achieve great things solely by my own merit.

God sends a very clear message to the Israelites after this: without trust in the Lord, there is certainly nothing but death that awaits you. Those of the spies who would spread lies to the Israelites were immediately struck down by plagues, and those who spoke against His plans were promised to spend the next 40 years wandering the desert, perishing before they would ever be able to set foot into the promised land. But Caleb and Joshua, the ones who spoke out for Him, are promised the chance to set foot in that land as reward. When we too reject God’s ways and cast doubt on Him through our actions, we doom ourselves to wander meaninglessly through our lives with no hope and no possibility of seeing the great future God has promised us. But exercise trust and mindfulness in the Lord, and he will keep every promise to reward us abundantly. Only through God can we ever hope for peace, purpose, and a worthwhile destination of the lands promised for us.

I would pray that you could see to the trials ahead of you not through the lenses of your own doubt, but leaning wholly on His promises and His works. I pray that you would have honest and difficult conversations through Scripture and prayer that help you rely on Him in the most hopeless looking situations, looking past your limited self, instead joyous at how these situations can be overcome with the help of a limitless God. Have a wonderful day.

-Ross B.

Grateful

Our reading is Numbers 11.

Today, we learn about how God was not pleased with some of the Israelites striking them with a plague when they complained about only having manna to eat and no meat. We know from Romans 8:1 that now, “There is no condemnation for those are in Christ Jesus.” However, we see here He does not like ungrateful words and an ungrateful heart and prior to Jesus paying the price for our sins, and He took action against some of them for this.

First, the Israelites complained back in Exodus 16:3 that they had no food to eat and would starve in the desert and would rather be back in slavery after wanting to be freed for years. Now, after God provided them with manna from the sky to eat daily (Exodus 16:4), they have the audacity to complain that they had meat when they were in Egypt and would rather be back in slavery (Numbers 11:4-6 and Numbers 11:18). Really?!

It is easy to be quick to judge the Israelites lack of gratitude, until we take a closer look at our own heart and thoughts. How quickly do we forget about an answered prayer and go on to the next thing or even worse get a prayer answered and say things were better before like the Israelites. We want a change in career..now we’re not happy with our boss and want a new career..or even back to the old one. We pray to have a house to call our own and to stop renting…now we want a bigger house. We are lonely and pray for a relationship or marriage…now we are contemplating a divorce thinking our current marriage can’t be fixed. We pray to have children of our own…now life is just crazy and we never have time for ourselves. We pray for healing from a medical issue…now we complain about the medical bills. I can easily hang my head in guilt over many similar items in my own life.

God makes it very clear that it is absolutely alright to ask God for what you want as Jesus clearly tells us this in Matthew 7:7-11. In fact, He wants us to pour out our hearts to Him and trust and come to Him for what we seek. However, we have to search our heart to find our motivation…is it for His glory or our own? Paul states in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Jesus also teaches and models for us in Luke 22:42 that it is fine to ask God for what you want as He asks for the burden of the cross to be removed from Him, but He also teaches and models how we should ultimately want God the Father’s will to be done and not our own.

So, how do we improve and soften our heart to have an attitude of gratitude? One thing I’ve found very helpful is to start a journal or notebook to write down each morning 3 things you are thankful for that day. No matter how bad things are we can ultimately find things to be grateful for. I’ve heard it said that it’s impossible to be stressed and be thankful at the same time. Maybe there is also a song or something else which puts your heart and mind in a gracious state? At the end of this post is one that does this for me, Grateful by Elevation Worship.

Ultimately, we go to the living Word in Bible for the best way to do this which we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” No matter our situation, we all can be thankful that He gave His life on the cross for us and conquered the grave and through admission of our sins and belief in Him we can do the same and spend eternity in Heaven with no pain and problems regardless of what hardships we face today in this short life on Earth.

Obey My Instructions

Lev 26

The final verse of this chapter says, “These are the decrees, regulations, and instructions that the Lord gave through Moses on Mount Sinai as evidence of the relationship between Himself and the Israelites”.  This entire chapter explains God’s punishment for disobedience. It is a harsh chapter. God uses strong explanations and very descriptive words to tell the Israelites what will happen to them if they choose to disobey Him. He says, “ If you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, I will punish you.” Then the bulk of the chapter tells exactly what He plans to do if the people continue to turn away from Him. If you read through the list you know how heavy the consequences get for their choices. These are rough, life altering and sometimes life ending punishments…”those who hate you will rule over you”, I will punish you seven times over for your sins”, “your land will yield no crop”, I will send wild animals that will rob you of your children”, “your numbers will dwindle”, “I will send armies against you”, “I will leave your lifeless corpses piled on top of your lifeless idols”, this list is not close to exhaustive but I think you get the picture. 

All this harshness and punishment might make us question how our loving Father is capable of these decrees. I think we need to ask why. What is motivating Him to be so strong in His instructions? We have to be willing to see that for God there is so much more at stake here than just this group of Israelites obeying Him or not obeying Him. We need to realize that God is already at work completing his long-term plan. God knew His Savior of the world was coming through the Israelite people so they had to be preserved for Him to fulfill His promises. His lens for this chapter is so much bigger than what we see when we just read these verses. He was doing everything in His power, besides choosing for people, to preserve this group of people so not only the Israelites but all people through all of time could have a way to have relationship with Him. He was pursuing them (and us) with everything He had. He needed, at least a portion of these people to commit to His covenant to send Jesus to earth to pay the price for their and our sins.  So it was of ultimate importance that these people choose God. He wasn’t just being harsh or trying to get back at disobedient people. He was accomplishing His plan through people that He loved so deeply He was willing to give His Son’s life to save, and maybe grow and develop the Israelites along the way.

As I sit with this chapter today, I hear God say, this is how much I love you. This is how valuable you are to me. You are worth fighting to the death to keep, protect, and to preserve. I want relationship with you more than anything and I will go to extraordinary lengths to help you keep your covenant with me so we can maintain relationship.