May 2023

May 3, 2023 – Respect Not Earned

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 Respect Not Earned

  May 3, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 21-24 / Luke 20:27-47

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 24:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:


        “Those kids have no respect for authority!” I cannot begin to tell you the number of times I have heard that statement made. Teachers have come to me in tears saying it. Older saints within the church have voiced their concern. If I am honest, I have said it a time or two, or more. The answer I believe is two-fold. Respect needs to be earned, and respect must be taught. Sometimes the person claiming they are not being respected has not earned that respect. They instead are trying to demand respect based on the position they hold. That usually does not work. However, I believe the biggest problem that we face today is respect is not taught. Very few people model respect for any authority before our youth today. Not for the Police, the President, the Pastors, and often not even for God. Respect must be modeled and taught if we ever have a prayer it will someday be received.

 

        David showed profound respect toward Saul in today’s passage. Saul has been hunting David down and trying to kill him. Saul has killed several others, just because they helped David. Saul has done nothing to gain David’s respect at all. Yet David shows him a great respect, that was not earned. WHY? Because David had respect for God, who placed Saul in the position of being his King. Even though Saul had not earned David’s respect, God had. Because of his God, David showed great restraint, and respect for whom God had placed over him. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:


        Do we really want the youth of today to show respect for authority at home, in the world, at church, for God? If we do, then we need to begin to model that respect before them. God is still on the throne. He, and His decisions are worthy of respect.

 

Are we modeling what we desire?

 

 Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
            … and the Word of God into people.”
                                        Romans 10:17

 Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
 Founder and Executive Director
 Hebrews 2:12

 

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May 2, 2023 – Recognizing What Is Evil

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 Recognizing What Is Evil

  May 2, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 18-20 / Luke 20:1-26

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:


        I have, in years past, gone to the county fair and went through what is often marketed as a “Haunted House.” While walking or riding through this attraction, things jump out at you and try to scare you. The ones that will catch you off guard however are the ones that start out as one thing, such as a guide or an announcer, and then suddenly change into something scary. Things jumping out at you, well, you know they are supposed to scare you. However, the ones that look just like everyone else, and then change, those are the ones for which you must watch.

        That changing character is somewhat how we see Saul in these passages today. Back in 1 Samuel 16:14 it said, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” This phrase: “Evil Spirit from the Lord,” or God appears a few times in 1 Samuel concerning Saul. Scholars have debated for centuries what that means. Some believe since the Spirit of God was taken from Saul, God then allowed an evil demon then to torment Saul. Others have said the word evil in its original context simply meant Saul was in a depressed or distressing mental state. Still, some say that God directed a specific fallen demonic angel to torment Saul. What we do know for sure is that in all of this, God was in control of the situation, however He accomplished it. By chapter 20, David had recognized the evil in Saul and departed. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:


        2 Cor. 11:14 say; “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” The sinfulness of the world, the Devil, and evil are all around us. Sometimes it is obvious. More often than not, it is deceptive.

Are you watching for evil?
It is looking for you.

 Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
            … and the Word of God into people.”
                                        Romans 10:17

 Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
 Founder and Executive Director
 Hebrews 2:12

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May 1, 2023 – Run Toward The Enemy

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Run Toward The Enemy

  May 1, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 16-17 / Luke 19:28-48

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 17:48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:


        Many years ago, in Mississippi at a local zoo with our family, something out of the ordinary happened. We were all just enjoying a fun day at the zoo when a cheetah broke free from its cage and was dragging a little boy by his clothing. The management of the zoo was directing people inside the buildings around us. However, my cousin and I could see the cheetah in a clearing, dragging the little boy and we moved toward them. When we did, the animal dropped the little boy and seemed disoriented. The little boy cried, “please help me mister.” I said, “just be still, do not move.” About that time a man stepped up beside me. I said quietly, “sir, if you are not with the zoo, do not go out there.” He said, “I am with the zoo,” and within a few moments the cheetah was captured, and the little boy was ok. What made us go toward the danger? All I can say is, that little boy needed help, or he may have been mauled. When the papers interviewed us, we both said; “God used us to help that little boy in his time of need.”

 

        When David stepped out to fight the Giant Philistine Goliath, God’s people Israel were being threatened. He knew God had delivered him in the past from danger and just thought he could help. He was not trying to be a hero. He was not trying to show off. He just saw a situation where someone was in danger, and he thought he could help. So, giving God the glory, David stepped toward the enemy. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:


        1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Someone out there is being attacked by the devil and needs your help.

 

Will you step in, toward the enemy for God?

 

 Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
            … and the Word of God into people.”
                                        Romans 10:17

 Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
 Founder and Executive Director
 Hebrews 2:12

 

Donate with PayPal button

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