Devotionals

March 7, 2022

Today we will be learning from the first epistle (or letter) of John. Since we will be in the second chapter, let’s take a moment to recall how this letter began in the first chapter. John opens with an introduction, and he reminds us that he has actually seen and heard from the One who is Eternal Life, Jesus Christ. John wants us to have fellowship with Jesus, so that we may fully share in His light, love, and joy. John goes on to share the message of living in light. He declares that God is light, and that there is no darkness in Him. “So, we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.” (1:6) By living in the truth we are living in fellowship with one another and allowing Jesus to cleanse us of our sins so that we can live in His light and in true fellowship with Him.

When I think of fellowship I think of friendship or communing with someone. So, do you seek to sin against your friends? Do you want to hurt them with your words, actions, or inactions? If your answer is “no”…then, is your fellowship, or friendship, with Jesus less important than what you have with your friends? If again, your answer is “no”…then why do you sin against Jesus? Jesus tells us that when we sin against one another, or that whatever we do to His brothers and sisters, we are doing to Him. (Matt 7)

John urges us in today’s portion of his letter to not sin. He goes on to remind us that if we do sin that we have an advocate, One who will plead our case before the Father, and that is thankfully Jesus. He gives Jesus the title of “truly righteous”, and that means that He is in the right relationship with the Father, and with us, so He is the only One who can act as an advocate on our behalf between us and the Father. John also reminds us that we are to obey God’s commandments. Let’s face it, God is our Creator and only He knows what is best for us. His commandments come from a place of wanting the best for us. So, if we are seeking to grow closer to God, and if we truly love Him, then we must obey Him and His Word. In this place we are living for Him, and our lives should reflect the light and life of Christ.

1 John 2:1-6 NLT

1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for being my advocate to the Father. Help me, Lord, to be more and more obedient to Your Word, and to be growing in fellowship with You. I ask for Your forgiveness of my sins. If there is anything that is sinful against You that I am not aware of, please bring awareness to me so that You can help me to change it. I want my life to reflect You, Jesus. I pray all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

ommandments. ⁴ If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. ⁵ But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. ⁶ Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for being my advocate to the Father. Help me, Lord, to be more and more obedient to Your Word, and to be growing in fellowship with You. I ask for Your forgiveness of my sins. If there is anything that is sinful against You that I am not aware of, please bring awareness to me so that You can help me to change it. I want my life to reflect You, Jesus. I pray all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.
Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

Intro: Doing what is right in the eyes of the heavenly Father is not always an easy decision to make; we may not be eager to follow righteousness because most of the time it calls for a sacrifice to our souls. Our souls—minds, wills, and emotions—demand earthly fulfillment while our spirits crave and cry out for the things of heaven. Satan tempts us to follow our flesh, but the Spirit brings the power to follow righteousness. Therefore, there may be internal opposition in our souls. When we faithfully obey the Word of the Lord no matter how it affects our flesh/souls, we bring glory to God—we shine!

In our passage today, Jesus does not want to be separated from the Father; yet, to take on the sins of the world means he must be separated and judged in order to bring salvation. Christ has delivered us from Satan’s rule by his sacrifice. To remain free we must live by the Word of God and turn from evil. Jesus is the Light for the dark places in our hearts and in the world; he draws us to himself. We must walk in the Light, so we can become children of the Light.

John 12:27-36 (NLT)
27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

Prayer: Lord, help me live today in Your powerful Light of Truth.

Intro: Many people profess to know and love God; however, Scripture teaches we prove we know and love God by calling on the Spirit to help us obediently follow His commands. It is possible to love and honor God from a distance, but that spiritual stretch yields no power to bear righteousness in our lives. We must draw near, connect to Christ, pick up our cross, and follow him; He is the living Word of God.

The cross of Christ gives us a new relationship with God, draws us into an authentic posture of worship, helps us better understand our own hearts and desires, calls us to engage in God’s mission to the world, and gives us hope and courage to navigate our own challenges and sufferings. We know God, because we draw close and learn about His love and will for our lives. When we seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, He will give us everything we need (Mat 6:33).

In our passage today from the Psalter, David sings about the Lord coming as his Rescuer and Shelter. When David wandered into the wilderness of sin by his weakened flesh, he called upon the Lord for salvation and restoration. David realized his great need for God’s protecting guidance. God offers that protection to those who turn from sin and “dwell” or “draw near” to Him.

Today, Curtis Tumicki and I will be teaching the first session of our Lenten Bible Study: Drawing Near to the Cross. Please join us each week as we explore how the cross—the symbol of Christianity—reveals the true purpose of God, the way to salvation, and the eternal life that leads to victory over death. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (James 4:8).
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
1 
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 
This I declare about the Lord:He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;    he is my God, and I trust him.
9
If you make the Lord your refuge,    if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 
no evil will conquer you;    no plague will come near your home.
11 
For he will order his angels    to protect you wherever you go.
12 
They will hold you up with their hands    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 
You will trample upon lions and cobras;    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.    I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 
When they call on me, I will answer;    I will be with them in trouble.    I will rescue and honor them.
16 
I will reward them with a long life    and give them my salvation.”

Prayer: Lord, I am looking for even more growth in my relationship with You; I know You want that, as well. As I draw near to you in Christ, be my place of safely and protection. Help me to feast on your Word and produce with my life the things that are precious to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: According to Scripture, hypocrisy is a sin. A hypocrite has a spirit of self-righteousness while looking down on others. Humbly remember we are all sinful a part from the salvation of Christ and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. As fallen human beings sometimes we notice other people’s sin and shortcomings before we notice the Holy Spirit convicting us of our own. The arrogance that rises up to make such judgments is a part of our own sinful nature. As Christians, we must grow more mature in this area. God is not impressed when we outwardly sound or appear holy if inwardly our hearts are actually profane.

Sometimes people think because they have been faithful church attendees for many years, they are somehow “holier” than others and can stand in a place of judgement. It is possible to look righteous on the outside and still be a hypocrite on the inside. Perfect attendance does not equal perfect piety. As Christ’s followers, we are to avoid hypocrisy. How do we do it? We are to put on love and look for ways to bless and honor God, as well as be a blessing to others; to love others the way Christ loves us (John 13:34). God is not impressed with appearances; He is impressed with self-sacrifice!

In our passage today, Jesus helps us understand how we can love one another without being hypocrites: We give because the Spirit of compassion draws us to help the needy, we fast and pray in the Spirit to draw near and make ourselves available to God, and we sow financial seeds into the work of the Kingdom to share the gospel as the Spirit draws others to Christ…all without drawing attention to ourselves. Our motives matter to God; selfishness does not earn eternal rewards. We do these things in secret, because we love God and know that he sees the Truth in our hearts.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Teaching about Giving to the Needy
1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Teaching about Money and Possessions
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Prayer: Lord, during this Lenten season, let me reflect on the strength you displayed against sin while in the wilderness. Help me to approach this Lenten study with strength anew in your Spirit. Give me a humble and compassionate heart; to see others the way you see them and to offer them help in the power of your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NOTE: Hope to see you tonight at Bible Study (7PM). At the end of the study, I will offer the imposition of ashes for those interested.

Intro: No matter how far God’s children may wander from the Truth [Jesus], He is always ready for us to be reconciled (restored in peace) with Him. But, even though God is ready for us to return, how much better would it be if we would allow the power of grace to keep us from sinning. Let’s not forget, sin is rebellion against God’s commands [the Truth we were created to live], so living in sin and indifference to what we know is true is NOT a good place for us. We must repent and turn from what God identifies as sin, because it is reckless and dangerous to moved beyond His boundaries.  He is a good and loving Father, but let’s never forget He is also Holy!

We never have to be concerned that God will not respond to us when we cry out for salvation; unless of course in our stubbornness we wait too long. One day, Christ is going to return for His Bride—the obedient Church—and we need to be ready. No one knows that day, but when Christ splits the eastern sky, we want Him to find us faithfully living in the Truth of His love.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday; we will be starting our Lenten journey. We must recognize our sinful state as we honor Christ and his time of temptation and testing in the wilderness. We must draw near to the cross and gaze upon the extravagant gift of eternal life. May this time of reflection bring us closer to the heart of God.

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 (NLT)

5:20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin [to become sin itself], so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

6:1 As God’s partners,[as we work together] we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says,

“At just the right time, I heard you.

    On the day of salvation, I helped you.”[I responded to you]

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always being there for me; for being my sin offering and bringing me salvation. As I enter into these next forty days of reflection, may I not only be grateful for your gift of kindness, but may I respond quickly to you, Holy Spirit, as an obedient servant partner. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

February 28, 2020

If you have been a part of the Hebrews Bible Study, then you know that there has been much discussion about the Tabernacle, and so I’m excited for today’s passage. If you have not been following the Bible Study, you will have no trouble following today’s devotion.

Today’s devotion is on Exodus 35:1-3. Within these three verses we see clear instructions given by the Lord to Moses. These instructions are in preparation for the construction of the Tabernacle. You will notice that Moses calls together the entire community of Israel to receive these instructions, which are to observe the Sabbath. The construction of the Tabernacle will continue throughout 5 chapters until the end of Exodus, and the Lord is very clear that throughout this entire process the Sabbath must be observed, or there would be dire, if not fatal, consequences for anyone violating this very important law. We already know from Exodus 20, where the Lord gave Moses the 10 commandments, that one of those laws was to “remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (20:8) Also, prior to the construction process of the Tabernacle, we learn about its blueprints in Exodus 25 – 31, and the law of observing the Sabbath was outlined at the end of 31 in verses 12 – 17. So, the Lord emphasized the grave importance of observing the Sabbath after giving the blueprints of the Tabernacle and again before the construction process of the Tabernacle began.

Question: Since you and I live under the new covenant of Christ, are the instructions for observing the Sabbath relevant now since these instructions were given to Moses for the Israelites approximately 2,600 years ago in reference to the construction of the Tabernacle?

Note #1: ”1 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. 2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.” (Hebrews 8:1-2)

Note #2: Friends, Jesus is our High Priest. He ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, created by God (not man), and so we now have the privilege to go directly to him. We no longer need an earthly “tabernacle” (place or person), because we have direct access to the tangible presence of God when we “tabernacle” with His Son, Jesus, who is seated at His right hand in heaven.

Answer: YES! We need to set time aside, as our Sabbath, to rest in the holy presence of Jesus. The commandment is 6 to 1…6 days of work, and 1 day to be kept holy and for the Lord. Everything you and I have is thanks be to God…our families, friends, employment, retirement, housing, transportation, luxury items, health, time, etc. If the Lord gives us all of these people, places, things, moments, opportunities, etc…and we can’t even give Him 1 holy day, what are we saying to Him, or what are we not saying to Him? We must give thanks to the Lord, we must set time aside for Him and Him alone, we must honor Him for His holiness.

Exodus 35:1-3 NLT
Instructions for the Sabbath

1 Then Moses called together the whole community of Israel and told them, “These are the instructions the Lord has commanded you to follow. 2 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death. 3 You must not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath.”

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for being my dwelling place. I love being able to come directly to You any time and any place. Help me, Lord, to set aside more time to spend uninterrupted with You. I want my Sabbath time with You to grow. Everything I have and all that I am is because of You. I pray all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

Intro: Until Christ’s return, we will never experience a deficit of challenges or battles in this dark and sinful world. The world and human hearts are corrupt apart from the redemption found in Christ and the righteous renewal of humble hearts by the Spirit. To think things are going to get better—through external human effort and dialogue—is to live deceived. Satan is a liar! Evil lies in order to gain control! However, the Spirit gives Christ’s followers discernment: the Wisdom that comes from heaven. In other words, the ability to perceive the Truth.

Open your eyes and observe as evil prowls looking to devour what it perceives as vulnerable. You want a real time example? Russia using its lust and greed for more power and resources by attacking Ukraine. So, how do believers in the world shine as lights in the midst of these ongoing evil acts of injustice, corruption, and war? The answer is we, as believers, must consider the battles that are ahead, seek to live obedient to the Lord’s commands, reach for the endless supply of divine grace, and ask God to use us in the midst to draw more people toward the Savior.

The Old Testament history of Israel is essential for God’s people to know and internalize if we are going to understand our future and God’s work of grace. To get to the Promise Land, Israel had to understand God was greater and more powerful than any foe they faced; greater than any evil. Satan, the god of this world, is NOT God’s equal. Just to remind believers, evil has no power over you unless you give in to it, because Jesus—the name to whom all of heaven and earth must one day bow—lives in you. Victory is possible as we “partner” with God. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ!

In our passage today, God’s message through Moses may seem discouraging, but it is not meant to make the people feel defeated. God simply wants them to remember the truth about their poor level of commitment in the past, as well as their human weakness, so they will repent (turn away from evil) and trust him completely. The same God who wrote his commands on stone tablets, writes his commands upon our believing hearts to encourage us to place all of our trust in His sufficiency. The battle is the LORDs! As his soldiers of grace, may we humbly pray for God’s intervening salvation, resist the work of evil in our hearts, and live the Truth in LOVE!  “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world (1 John 4:4).

Deuteronomy 9:6-12 (NLT)
6 You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people.

Remembering the Gold Calf
7 “Remember and never forget how angry you made the Lord your God out in the wilderness. From the day you left Egypt until now, you have been constantly rebelling against him. 8 Even at Mount Sinai you made the Lord so angry he was ready to destroy you. 9 This happened when I was on the mountain receiving the tablets of stone inscribed with the words of the covenant that the Lord had made with you. I was there for forty days and forty nights, and all that time I ate no food and drank no water. 10 The Lord gave me the two tablets on which God had written with his own finger all the words he had spoken to you from the heart of the fire when you were assembled at the mountain.
11 “At the end of the forty days and nights, the Lord handed me the two stone tablets inscribed with the words of the covenant. 12 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Get up! Go down immediately, for the people you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your all-powerful care of Your children. I pray for the protection and salvation of the people in Ukraine. I pray for Mr. Putan to receive a visitation from You; may the scales of spiritual blindness be removed from his eyes to see the evil he is perpetuating against others. I pray for the people of every nation to turn to You for salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: It should become more and more apparent [revelation] to the human race that we have zero righteousness to live spiritually victorious in this dark world without God. Every day may we understand humanity’s need for humility before God; according to Scripture it will be survival in the days prior to Jesus’ return. I want you to think about that statement, because at God’s appointed time he will be sending his angels to harvest the wicked from the righteous (Mat 13:49). In the meantime, “God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus” (Rev 14:12).

In our passage today, Moses seeks to persuade the people to remain humble and confident in God’s guidance and protection. Israel is getting ready to cross over the Jordan and into the Promised Land; this is their second attempt. Forty years earlier the giants in the land intimidated the leaders; therefore, evil successfully robbed them of the experience of possessing the land through the mighty hand of God. This time Moses wants them to trust God and following His instructions. Victory rests upon their willingness to place their faith in God’s unfailing ability—Grace.

God’s children may face giants of some kind every day. Sometimes these giants are physical in nature: sickness, disease or harm. Sometimes these giants are emotional bullies: pride, anger, unforgiveness, and unholy desires. Sometimes these giants attack and rob us through relationships: friendships die, marriages reach for divorce, and betrayal wounds the soul. This one thing is always true: giants come to shake our faith through fear, so we are too weak to lay hold of God’s promises. Don’t let evil giants intimidate you; reach for God’s courage and speak defeat to your giants. Like David said to the nine foot giant Goliath, “I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands…the battle is the LORD’s!” (1 Samuel 17:46-47). Faith in God and trust in His grace is what brings victory over the works of evil!

Deuteronomy 9:1-5 (NLT) Victory by God’s Grace
1 “Listen, O Israel! Today you are about to cross the Jordan River to take over the land belonging to nations much greater and more powerful than you. They live in cities with walls that reach to the sky!

2 The people are strong and tall—descendants of the famous Anakite giants. You’ve heard the saying, ‘Who can stand up to the Anakites?’ 3 But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.

4 “After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. 5 It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Prayer: Lord, according to Your Word to Isaiah, no weapon turned against me will succeed. I will silence every voice raised up to accuse me. These benefits are mine to enjoy as a servant of the LORD. Thank you for going before me each day and subduing my enemies so I may conquer them! Increase my faith I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro:  Have you ever struggled to forgive someone who has deeply wronged you? If we wait to feel like forgiving someone, we will wait a really long time. Our flesh does not want to forgive; it wants to blame.  As believers, we don’t always understand how forgiveness and faith go together; however, we cannot truly forgive unless we use our faith and ask for God’s help.  We are the most like Jesus when we forgive; by the act of forgiveness we reveal the essence and wholeness of the eternal realm to others.  

In our passage today, Jesus is teaching the disciples [us] about forgiveness and faith.  We place our faith in God, trust he knows the truth, and will one day right the wrong.  God does not need us to hold onto anger in order to prompt his memory.  This anger is poison for our souls; a poison that grieves the Holy Spirit.  Nor does God need us to judge the sincerity of a person’s repentance.  If someone says, “I’m sorry” we must forgive him or her. It takes Christ’s compassion and power to genuinely forgive someone; as well, it takes admitting and knowing how many sins for which Christ has forgiven us. 

Therefore, forgiveness is an act of holiness. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph 4:32). When we forgive others our hearts remain pure; the enemy has no place to plant his evil seeds of offense, bitterness, or anger.  As incredible as it sounds, forgiveness is God’s way of delivering us from evil.

Luke 17:1-4 (NLT) Teachings about Forgiveness and Faith

17 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves!  “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the many, many times you have forgiven me for sinning against you.  Help me to follow your example of holiness in how I forgive others who sin against me.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Intro:  The caves in the wilderness of En-Gedi were used many times as places of refuge. En-Gedi was a town near the west coast of the Dead Sea in the Judean Desert.  David and more than likely 600 of his men hid in these caves.  Don’t be surprised by the capacity; many of the caves could hold thousands of people. The terrain around En-Gedi was rocky and home to wild goats, but also very beautiful.  The waterfalls made this area an oasis in Israel. Today, En-Gedi is a nature preserve and one of the most popular places in Israel for nature enthusiasts.

In our passage today, David and his men are hiding in the caves of En-Gedi, because they are being hunted by King Saul.  Even though David has displayed great respect for the king, Saul wants David dead.  He sees David as a threat to his leadership.  However, that really is not the case and our passage reveals it.  David understood God’s anointing on Saul. Saul was God’s choice; David respected God’s will.  Even when Saul was vulnerable and he had the chance, David would not harm Saul. 

Our lesson today is a good one.  Like David, we must trust the timing of God with our lives. If we try to make things happen in our own strength and in our own time, we will regret the outcome.  May the Spirit help us be patient as we rest in God’s plan. It always takes more courage to do what is right and wait for God’s timing than to rush in and make a mess of things.  David chose to be an example of honor.

1 Samuel 24: David Spares Saul’s Life

1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-Gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.

3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!

4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.

5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.

After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.

9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

12 “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”

16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. 19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. 20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”

22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.

Prayer:  Father, thank you for this lesson of honor and courage from David.  It is a wise word for our faith, because you are the One who makes good things happen in our lives.  May we live with patience knowing, as your children, we can trust you to position us for your will and work in this world.  Blessing be unto you, Lord, as we live each day for your glory.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.