May 8, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Samuel 4-6 / Luke 23:1-26

 

 GOD’S WORD:

 2 Samuel 6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six
 paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Doing things for the right reason in the wrong way can be costly. For example, I worked for hours making an accounting sheet on my computer that automatically calculated numbers I entered into it. I was so excited about what I had done. When I showed it to a guy in church who did that kind of stuff often, I was expecting; “WOW, that is great.” Instead, in a respectful and polite way he said, “you know if you did this and that it would work a lot better.” Then with a few clicks and keystrokes in a few minutes he built something that took me hours. Not to mention, His worked better. If I had called him first, I could have used those hours to do something else for the Lord. I had the right motive but did not use the best method.

 

        King David decided to bring the Ark of God to the city of David to place it in a tabernacle he pitched there. It was a great idea and desire to have the Ark close by. But David had forgotten the importance of doing things God’s way. He did what he saw the Philistines do. He placed the Ark on a cart pulled by oxen. The problem was, God never intended for the Ark to be transported this way. It was to be carried by priest with poles placed in the rings on its corners. When the oxen stumbled, the ark shifted and Uzzah reached out to hold it up. When he touched it, which God said no one was to do, God took his life. David later realized his sin and had the Ark carried instead; God blessed it.  

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Just being busy for the Lord is not always doing the right thing. God intends for us to be a good steward of all He entrusts to us. Our time, our talent, and our treasure. Doing things God’s way always bring God’s blessings.

 

Do we ever miss God’s best, by settling for our good?

 

 

 May 6 & 7, 2023
 May 6 – Daily Reading – 2 Samuel 1-3 / Luke 22:35-71
 May 7 – NO READING

 

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Samuel 3:36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        We have all heard the old phrase, “Monkey See, Monkey Do.” Children are the ones who are most likely to emulate someone they respect. They see daddy with a paintbrush, they want to paint too. They see mommy putting on makeup, they want to put on makeup too. It is always so cute to see them copying their parents. That is until they blurt out a bad word that they have heard or ask an inappropriate question. Then the cuteness wears right off. We see it with teens and young adults as well, following after people they look up to in society. That could be a good thing, or that can have disastrous consequences. None of this is new. I think Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 1:9 when he said, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” 

 

        The People of Israel saw that David was mourning the death of Abner, and his sorrow quickly became their sorrow as well. In fact, the verse says; “as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.” Their high regard for David, caused them to also have a high regard for what David said and did. It was more than just, “Monkey See, Monkey Do.” It was a deep-down regard for this man and a care for what touched him. As with everyone, we are all influencing someone. We can use that influence wisely for God, or foolishly and selfishly. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        The people loved David, so whatever touched or moved David, touched, and moved the people as well. This should be our response to Christ. That we love Him so much that whatever touches or moves the Lord, touches and moves us as well.

 

Do we emulate Christ well with our lives?

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        Although we all know David made mistakes in life, one thing He did well was to be “Reverent Toward God.” We saw it many times this week in:

 

  ● Run Toward The Enemy
  ● Recognizing What’s Evil
  ● Respect Not Earned
  ● Righteousness Over Ego
  ● Reign Was Ended
  ● Respond With Emulation

      He did not push ahead of God, He did not touch God’s anointed, nor push his way into leadership. He kept moving onward with “Reverence Toward God.”

       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.

May 8, 2023	2 Samuel 4-6	Luke 23:1-26
May 9, 2023	2 Samuel 7-10	Luke 23:27-56
May 10, 2023	2 Samuel 11-13	Luke 24:1-35
May 11, 2023	2 Samuel 14-15	Luke 24:36-53
May 12, 2023	2 Samuel 16-18	John 1:1-34
May 13, 2023	2 Samuel 19-20	John 1:35-51
May 14, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Reverence Toward God

 

  May 5, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 28-31 / Luke 22:1-34

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. 

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        It says in today’s verse that Saul, his three sons, his armourbearer, and all his men were killed in the same day. This must be the day that the reign of King Saul and his family is done. (At this point I feel almost like Paul Harvey, and now for the rest of the story.) You see, all of Saul’s family was not killed in this battle. When we get into 2 Samuel, we find one of Saul’s remaining sons, Ishbosheth, is anointed King over a portion of the nation of Israel for about two years. In fact, later we will find that Saul has two more sons by the names of Armoni and Mephibosheth. Since the Reign of King is a matter of heritage in those days, when did King Saul’s reign really end?

 

        To find the answer for that question we will need to turn back in our Bibles to 1 Samuel 13:14. That is where Samuel tells Saul; “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” The reign of Saul actually ended years before he died. His kingdom and leadership were like a person being kept alive by life-support. He was there, but not really in charge. When did the reign of King Saul end? It ended when he decided he was above the law of God and could do whatever he wanted. It ended when God took his kingdom from Him. God is always in control.  

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        We must never confuse action with authority. Just because someone is going through the motions or being in charge, never removes God’s authority over an issue or His creation. The Lord has never stepped down from His throne. He will always be KING.

 

Do we follow the right leader?

 

 

  May 4, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Samuel 25-27 / Luke 21

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Samuel 25:33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        In 1 Samuel 13:14 it says; “…the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart,…” referring to David. You might think that this man would be a man who would do only those things that pleased the Lord. The scripture does record that for the majority of his life, David did follow the Lord’s leading. However, even a good and Godly man like David had moments of weakness. Times where God’s will and David’s will were not the same. Even for a man like David, the sin of pride and ego can lead us astray. How wonderful to know, God does not give up on us.

 

        In today’s passage, David is upset with a man named Nabal. Nabal had many men working for him, and David and his men had helped protect several of his shepherds out in the fields from predators. So, David sent men to Nabal and asked if he would give them just a small amount of the food he was preparing, since they had in essence been serving him in this way. Nabal’s response was not only negative, but his tone was rude. When David hears this, he sets out to kill not only Nabal, but also all the innocent people who worked for him. It is only when Nabal’s wife, whom God sent to intercede in this plan, that David realizes his sinful pride. He says in 1 Sam. 25:33 “…and from avenging myself with mine own hand.” God provided a way to escape his sinfulness, and his own will, and follow God’s will instead. David had a choice, righteousness over ego. He chose right. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        God still provides a way out of temptations. It says in 1 Cor. 10:13 “…but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” We always have a choice. God’s will, or our will. It is often a choice of righteousness, or ego.

 

Will you choose God?

 

 

  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?