April 27, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 9-11 / Luke 18:1-30

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 10:24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      A few years back there was this toy that came out called “The Transformers.” This toy started out as a car or truck and then with a few twists here, and a pull there, it became a robot. The animated movies which soon were produced about these transforming toys to robots soon took off. Next came a flood of marketing products on things like t-shirts, hats, pajamas, notebooks, lunch boxes, cups, and just about anything you could put a logo on had been touched by the transformer craze. However, these were not the original transformers. God had been in the business of transforming things long before that.

 

      In today’s reading we see God taking an ordinary young man and transforming him into a king. Saul originally was not extraordinarily brave. In fact, when Samuel was introducing him as the first king, they had to go find him because he was hiding. According to scripture, he was a tall, good-looking guy, which made him stand out in any crowd. Yet up until his encounter with Samuel, he had never even thought about being a king. He did not campaign or compete with anyone else to become king. Who or what then made this young lad a king? Simply put, God made him king. It was God’s words to Samuel that began the process. We read in 1 Samuel 11 how the Spirit of God came upon Saul and changed him forever. God transformed this common young man. The people loved him and said, “…GOD SAVE THE KING.” 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      God still transforms people today. Rom. 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 

 

Will you let God’s Word transform you?

 

 

  April 26, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 5-8 / Luke 17

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 8:19-20 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Why do churches have Communion Services? I guess the short answer would be because God said to. So here then is another question. Why do you think God said we should do communion? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 11:25 when it says, “…This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” The last four words are your answer. It is so we will be reminded of Christ and what He did for our sinfulness. You may be thinking to yourself, “how in the world could we possibly forget that?” It is just as possible for us to forget what God has done for us, as it was for the children of Israel.

      So far, God has delivered Israel from Egypt just as they asked. He provided them with a means of dealing with their sinfulness through sacrifice, which they needed. God has set up leaders, priests, judges, and prophets to guide them back to Himself when they have wandered. He has fought so many battles for them where they have had little to do but watch the mighty hand of God. In today’s passage, He gave them a judge, Samuel. He stepped between them and the Philistines, fought the battle for them, and restored all their land to them. Yet still we read in 1 Samuel 8, they have forgotten all that. Even after being warned what a human king would do, they wanted what the world had. The glaring truth is, man soon forgets God, if we are not reminded. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      The next time your church has communion, thank God for the reminder. He judged our sinfulness, stepped out of eternity into our reality, and won the battle over our sin and death on the cross of Calvary. He is still at the right hand of God interceding for us today.

 

Is He our KING?

 

 

  April 25, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 2-4 / Luke 16:18-31

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        I hate it when the power goes out. It seems as if life comes to a screeching halt. No TV to watch, no computer to work on, and even opening the refrigerator is depressing as the tiny light that welcomes me is not there. You search for candles, you sit and read a while, passing the time until the power comes back on. Even worse is when the power pops on for a few seconds and then drops out again. It is that glimmer of hope that pops back up. Like life is starting up again. Then, as suddenly as it vanished, it comes back on, and life is good. Well, at least we have power.

 

        Israel did not trust Eli and his family. His sons were stealing from the offerings and sacrifices given, so people just quit coming. We read in 1 Samuel 2:17 where it says, “men abhorred the offering of the Lord.” Since Eli would not do anything to correct his son’s behavior, no one came, no one sacrificed, no one brought offerings, and no one was right with God. There was no trust, there was no hope, no joy, and no blessings on these people. However, God raised up someone the people would learn to trust again. A young man by the name of Samuel. A light in a rather dark scenario. Samuel found favor with God and with Israel. In 1 Samuel 3:19 it says “…the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.” Which means people were listening to all Samuel had to say because he was speaking for God again. There was trust, and hope again. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        What we do in life as believers has a massive impact on those around us. God calls us to be a light in a rather dark scenario. When the light goes out, people do not know who to trust, they lose all hope. Sharing God’s Word, which they can trust gives people hope again.

 

Will you be that light?

 

 

  April 24, 2023
  Daily Reading – Ruth 3-1 Samuel 1 / Luke 16:1-17

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        The Mona Lisa is considered to be one of the most valuable paintings in the world. According to Wikipedia it is one of the most visited, most written about, and most sung about pieces of art ever. It has been said the artist, Leonardo da Vinci, had lingered over it for four years before adding touches here and there, and he died saying it was not complete. Much has been said about this painting from the placement of the hands, said to depict that she was a virtuous and faithful wife, to her smile which has had people talking for centuries. The mystique of the Mona Lisa is in the eye of the beholder..

 

         A good testimony is very much like the details of a piece of art like the Mona Lisa. Boaz said to Ruth in Ruth 3:11, “And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” What a statement buried in the middle of this book. Everyone in town, he said, knows that you are a virtuous woman. A lady of high moral standards. That kind of recognition does not happen overnight. It occurs after people have watched every movement, every action, and critiqued every detail of your life. They have listened to every word, how it is said, and to whom. In short, it means you have a good testimony among the people who know you best. People work years to obtain this testimony, which is all too easy to ruin.. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

         God intends for you to be His Mona Lisa. However, He allows you to apply the brush strokes forming the picture of your life. We cannot erase the past, but we can paint a beautiful future for others to see and admire.

 

What do people see, looking at the artwork of your life?

 

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

 

       The book of Ruth is a wonderful book with several applications to believers today. We see a picture of someone from a life of sin, such as the idol worshiping Moabites, not only welcomed into God’s family, but becoming a part of the lineage of Christ on earth. When we put our faith in Christ, we too are adopted into the family of God and become the bride of Christ. We see Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, realizing the blessings of God for a child of God, are not found in the world, pictured by living in Moab. It is when she comes home, God once again begins to bless her. While living in the world, she lost her husband, her sons, a daughter-in law, and her dignity. For the believer who wanders into the world, they too will find there are no blessings for them there. It is only when returning home, God will once again begin to bless their life. We also see He rewards loyalty.

 

        Ruth is loyal to the end. She is loyal to her marriage, even though she was free to marry again by the death of her husband, she decides to risk being single to be faithful to her mother-in-law. She is loyal to Naomi. She loved and respected her, and her beliefs. She is loyal to Naomi’s God. She says in Ruth 1:16, thy God shall be my God. She is loyal to the hard work of gleaning to provide for the two of them. In Ruth 2:12, Boaz says the rewards for your loyalty are found under the wings of your Lord. The Lord rewards loyalty even today.

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

 

    The devil and the world try to tempt you to wander. They entice you with glitz and glamour. However, for the child of God, they always leave you empty. Psalm 118:8 says, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” 
 

To whom will you pledge your loyalty?

 

 THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

 

    In each of the devotions over this past week we should ask the question “WHO IS LORD?” It would have settled the issues of:

● Who Will Lead
● Who Owns The Land
● Who Will Learn
● Who Is Leading And Lost
● Who Remembers Lot
● Who Rewards Loyalty

    It will also take care of the issues we face today if we will ask and correctly answer the question, “WHO IS LORD?”

 

     Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 

 SUNDAYS:

 

    Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

 

April 24, 2023	Ruth 3-1 Samuel 1	Luke 16:1-17
April 25, 2023	1 Samuel 2-4	Luke 16:18-31
April 26, 2023	1 Samuel 5-8	Luke 17
April 27, 2023	1 Samuel 9-11	Luke 18:1-30
April 28, 2023	1 Samuel 12-13	Luke 18:31-43
April 29, 2023	1 Samuel 14-15	Luke 19:1-27
April 30, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Who Is Lord