11 JUL 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 11 JUL 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” 1 Samuel 15: 29

There is an interesting thing that happens when someone begins to share their faith.  You find that people will have all kinds of interesting ideas about God.  Some are rooted in religions that are false, but some are rooted in the person’s mind.  People create thoughts about what God is like and how he might treat people.  They are fashioning a god to suit themselves.

This is a violation of the second commandment given to Israel by God.  When a person doesn’t know God or doesn’t like what they have heard about Him, people tweak their idea or massage Scripture to make themselves feel better.  When you are faced with the reality that God is good, holy, and perfect, it can spark a bit of fear in you.  That is because we are not.

Fear is good, for it is the beginning of wisdom.  Isaiah experienced God in a way that shook him to the core and in the 55th chapter of his book he made the statement that “God’s thoughts and ways are not like ours”.  God does not lie, he is the truth.  There is no error, sin, or evil in God.  That is why he defines sin the way he does.  It is those sins that are counter to his nature and will.

He expects his creatures to do his will and to be like him, a reflection of him.  Saul sinned against God and it cost him his leadership over Israel.  He probably thought that God might overlook his sins by banking on the traits of mercy, love, or grace.  How many people when confronted with their sin think God will let them off the hook because he is loving? A ton! God has made a way to deal with our sins from before the world was created.  He doesn’t change his mind but does only what pleases him.

Do you know God’s nature and how he deals with your sin?

Reading Plan: Psalm 5, 6; 1 Sam. 15:24-35; Acts 9:32-43;  Luke. 23:56-24:11

8 JUL 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 8 JUL 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.  Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.  And Jesus replied I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23: 40-43

There is just so much that is beautiful about this passage even in the midst of being the most evil day of the ages.  Jesus demonstrated his love for all of us by taking our punishment and death on the cross.  He drank the full wrath of God so that we don’t have to, making the way possible for salvation.

Two criminals were also crucified on either side of Jesus and an interesting thing happened.   The religious leads came to gloat that Jesus was being crucified and soon would be dead thereby ending the problem.  They mocked him, telling him to heal himself since he was able to heal so many.  They taunted him to come down off the cross and prove himself one last time.

Jesus was able to do all of that and destroy all who resisted with a word, but he chose to lay down his life so that others might live.  Then, the two criminals begin to mock him, but one of them has a change of heart.  He confesses his own sin and owns the consequences.  He yells at the other criminal and rebukes him.  “Don’t you fear God? Don’t you realize who he is and that there is no reason for him to be on a cross?

Then he asks Jesus to remember him in his Kingdom.  Even a few hours away from death, Jesus shows mercy and grace to one.  Jesus says that he will be with him in paradise today.  All of the world religions including Judaism require good works to be done to earn favor from God or the universe.  There is no guarantee to be in a better place after death.  Not so with Christianity.  The Lord can choose someone to be with him at the last minute if he desires to.

Isn’t it a beautiful and wonderful thing when a sinner becomes a saint?

Reading Plan: Psalm 137, 144; 1 Sam. 14:16-30; Acts 9:10-19;  Luke. 23:32-43

7 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 7 JUL 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the way found there.  He wanted to bring them-both men and women- back to Jerusalem in chains.” Luke 9: 2

Take a minute to think of who some of the most cruel and evil people are today.  There are certainly people that come to mind, right?  Many of these people strike fear and anger in our hearts and minds.  They are doing things that are harsh, maybe thieves or murderers.  In our day, we remember their names like Dahmer or Bin Laden.

After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the church was born and began to spread like wildfire.  So much so, that Jewish leaders began to become jealous and angry.  They tried to stop it from taking root in Jerusalem and the surrounding cities and nations.  The Jews were terrorists to the Christians of that day.  The Christians were jailed without cause, beaten, and murdered.

Where was God in all this? Remember that Jesus himself was killed on the cross to fulfill the plans of God. Jesus told his followers that they would be hated because of Him and would face persecution and some even death. (Matt. 5) Rapid multiplication comes from the blood of martyrs.  At the same time,  the enemies of God will be dealt with, in His way.  Some of them will be shown mercy and grace, and others will be shown justice.

Paul is a great example of this.  He was a Bin Laden of the day and everyone knew his name and was afraid.  But Jesus sought out Paul and made him one of his Apostles.  That encounter changed Paul and he became a fantastic instrument in the hands of God.  He went on to reach many people for the Lord and start many churches all over the Middle East.  

When we face people wicked people today in our daily lives or see dastardly people on the news, pray for them.  You never know how God may change their lives and use them for His glory to bring many to saving faith.  God may do something special in you or through you in the midst of your trials.  Take heart, God is with you.

What do you do with cruel and evil people?

Reading Plan: Psalm 140, 142; 1 Sam. 13:19-14:15; Acts 9:1-9;  Luke. 23:26-31

6 JUL 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 6 JUL 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent! Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.  So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.  As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder.” Luke 23: 14b, 15b, 24-25

In the court case, Jesus versus humanity was judged and sentenced by Pilate.  This short case has an amazing shift in outcome.  If we were watching this on television and had no understanding of who Jesus is, we would be shocked by the outcome.  We would be very angry that Jesus who was pronounced innocent by two different Judges ended up flogged and crucified.

How can this be that an innocent man dies a criminal’s death? In Pilate’s initial conversation with Jesus, he is bold to tell Jesus that he has the power to pronounce life or death. Jesus tells Pilate that he would have no power if the Father hadn’t given it to him.  God’s plan had not failed but was successfully executed.  Every piece of this story is important and worth chewing on.

One of the pieces we miss or just let slide by is Barabbas.  This is a picture of what Jesus did for the elect.  The substitutionary atonement of Jesus for Barabbas, the holy spotless perfect lamb for an evil sinner.  This past week a female professional basketball player spoke angrily that a certain segment of our population killed Jesus.  But she left out her own name, her own sin, her own guilt and shame.  We could do that too if we are not careful.

Barabbas, son of the father, was a sinner and rebel, but so are we! Reread that verse and replace Barabbas’ name with yours.  “He released “me/your name” and sentenced Jesus to death.” That is the essence of the gospel.  Jesus died for me.  Jesus died for you.  You can die for your own sins, but that is not just one death, it is two.  The payment of your sin is satisfied either on the cross or in hell.  God is satisfied and glorified in either! 

Will you turn from your sins and trust Jesus or suffer the wrath of God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 131, 132, 133; 1 Sam. 13:5-18; Acts 8:26-40;  Luke. 23:13-25

5 JUL 23 Wednesday- A Closer Walk Devotional

 5 JUL 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Don’t be afraid, Samuel reassured them.  You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn back on him.  Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you-they are totally useless! But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away.” 1 Sam. 12:20-21, 25

People are interesting creatures, to say the least.  We establish habits and fall into some that are not healthy or offensive to God.  At the same time, we are blind to our own faults and evil.  Don’t believe me? Ask anyone you meet if they are a good person? The response of the majority is yes.  The standard for goodness is always set by the person being asked and it is always on a sliding scale.  They may admit to being a liar, adultery, homosexual, and murder at heart, but still tell you they are good.

This is what is known as self-righteousness. We are all guilty of this at one time or another.  Samuel, a Prophet of God, told the Israelites that they had done wrong in asking for a King instead of yielding to God’s leadership.  They would ultimately suffer for it.  But Samuel told the people what God expected for their lives and character.  The plumbline of what is right and good is defined by the Lord, not us.  

Today, if you turn on the news or look at your feed, you will see the redefinition of terms to fit peoples’ sins.  We figure if we control and define the definitions then our lives will be acceptable in society and thereby extension to God.  We naturally create gods to suit ourselves and we worship them.  In this passage, Samuel speaks against this stating that we are to worship God alone.  All other religions are worthless and useless.  

From the time this book (1 Samuel) was written until today, the Jews have gone back and forth seeking other gods.  Jesus came to fulfill their religion and set a new covenant to be right with God.  We who are Gentile Christians must understand that we too are vulnerable to the same sins of Jews.  God has expectations of us because we have been bought with Jesus’ blood and are commanded to live holy lives, not sinful ones.

In a world that is offended by everything, is anyone asking if what they are doing offends God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 33; 1 Sam. 11:1-15; Acts 8:1-13;  Luke. 22:63-71