Devotionals

The spiritual enemy of believers methodically endeavors to stack so much on us we reach a dangerous moment—the pressure to take matters into our own hands. There is always the “last straw” on that poor camel’s back. In these moments, we become rather irrational and our minds race to devise a plan to “deal” with it all. Handling difficult situations is God’s specialty and we must press in for sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9).

The enemy is behind these plans that have the potential to ruin our testimony and hinder God’s blessing over our lives. We cannot serve two masters (Mat 6:24). Therefore, in those moments, we need to de-escalate what is happening in us and around us and seek the Lord’s intervening peace. God always makes a way of escape from these compromising places, so we must identify what the enemy of our souls is trying to do, momentarily pause to receive wisdom, and move forward in Truth and power (1 Cor. 10:13).

In our passage today, we learn a lesson from three people: 1) David, the future king of Israel who has been running from Saul, 2) Nabal, a wealthy, crude, and mean sheep owner, and 3) Abigail, Nabal’s gracious wife who knows her husband’s flesh is wrong. David and his mighty men [approx. 600] have been hired to protect Nabal’s sheep from thieves and wild animals, but it is now shearing time (1 Sam. 23:13; 25:15-16). This means David and his men are expecting to get paid, but Nabal suddenly chooses not to pay these protectors and keep all the money for himself (1 Sam 25: 6-8,11).

As the leader, David is spiritually, emotionally, and physically spent and “hangry.” Thus, David reaches the proverbial “last straw.” He and his men want to annihilate Nabal and destroy all that is his, but David has failed to see his greatest enemy is not flesh and blood. God sends Abigail—a humble woman of discernment—to reason with David and urge him not to take vengeance into his own hands (Ro. 12:19). David must act like the anointed one God will one day position as king.

When our flesh is in control, we are not wise nor are we anointed by God’s Spirit. We must refrain from irrational statements or actions and recognize the enemy is seeking to get us to destroy our testimony of trust in God. We cannot retract the words or actions we have released in unhindered anger. The Spirit of God will help us de-escalate the situation in our minds, before we speak or act. The Helper is the Spirit of discernment, wisdom, and truth.

This fallen world is not fair, but God is good and, in time, he will take vengeance on those who mistreat his children. May we choose to operate in the spirit of Abigail and be a de-escalating vessel when others face that “last straw.” Or, may we approach things like David, who listens and responds to a voice that reminds us we serve the Lord of heaven’s army and some battles will be won by God alone.

1 Samuel 25:23-35 NLT Abigail Intercedes for Nabal
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say. 25 I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests [name means “fool”]. But I never even saw the young men you sent.

26 “Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, since the Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is. 27 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men. 28 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.

29 “Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! 30 When the Lord has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel, 31 don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!”

32 David replied to Abigail, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! 33 Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands. 34 For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.” 35 Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.”

Prayer: Lord, please help us share in the motive of Abigail who took action to de-escalate a bad situation and protect David’s testimony. We live in a very reactionary world where many people do not listen nor pause to seek Wisdom. Father, thank you for always making a way of escape for your children. Thank you, Jesus, for being wisdom for us. Holy Spirit, help us remember this Truth as we move through our day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Persistence is a biblical virtue. Whether we are talking about a course of action, prayer, or faith, we must be persistent in order to lay hold of God’s blessings. If our goal is righteousness, persistence is the Way—trusting in God’s character to provide. While we may face delays, God will answer and we will grow in spiritual maturity if we stay the course. When the going get’s tough, quitting is not a God-ordained option. We must pray without ceasing even while suffering hardships.

In our passage today, Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer and he uses a parable about a persistent widow to express a point. This widow has experienced injustice, but she persistently asks to receive true justice. She wears this unrighteous judge down even though he does not fear the Lord or care about people. Keep in mind God told Israel to be responsible for the widows and orphans, because they were vulnerable. To fail to care for them was to displease God. Jesus wanted his disciples to know that justice that fell short of God’s righteous standard, was not genuine justice.

If you have been persistently praying for God to move in your behalf, do not give up hope. God is righteous and he hears your cries for a move of justice. Hang onto your faith and trust God to provide. He is faithful!

Luke 18:1-8 NLT Parable of the Persistent Widow

1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy [Gk giving me a black eye]. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson on the power of persistent prayer. Help us to stay the course in spite of delays. Holy Spirit, be the strength we need to endure what is sent to make us stronger and to trust you will bring justice and goodness to our lives. Empower us to take care of the vulnerable population in our society, as well. You are the Righteous One and we follow your lead. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you have never been to Athens, Greece and have the opportunity one day to go, it would be an enriching time for you. The seas and land regions are extraordinary. The architecture is amazingly beautiful which reflects centuries of history.  In 2012, I enjoyed a short time in Athens with seminarian friends; just enough to “taste” history [and the delicious food].  However, sometime in the future I would like to return to travel the surrounding islands. 

Scripture recounts the spreading of the Gospel in Athens.  It was very important for the proclamation of the One true Living God to be shared in Athens, because the Greeks were polytheistic—they believed in many gods, as well as worshiped them as idols.   Athens was the center for culture, the home for major schools of thought—scholars and philosophers—and the hub for expressing literary skills.

Stoics and Epicureans—groups of philosophers—were open to debate about all aspects of life.  Interestingly, the Epicureans believed the goal of life was to seek pleasure and live in happiness; always trying to avoid pain or self-sacrifice.  This goal is contrasted with the Stoics whose focus was seeking human wisdom, gaining intellectual knowledge, and living as one with nature; they were very disciplined and suppressed the value of self-focused pleasure.  These philosophers and educators formed the Council called the Areopagus.  These groups managed to cohabitate, mingle, and respect their neighbor with differing thoughts.  What a concept!

The Lord sent the Apostle Paul to Athens and very quickly Paul realized the different viewpoints he would need to address if he was going to share the Gospel of Christ’s love and forgiveness.  So, he chose to connect with these philosophers based on respecting their current situation, beliefs, or level of understanding.  Paul found common ground, quoted the Athenian’s literature, and started a discussion to pique their interest in order to enlarge their understanding.

When we are sent or nudged by the Lord to talk to other people about our love for Jesus, we need to approach things in a similar way.  We hold things in common with other people, so we listen very carefully to identify them. Evangelizing is not a beating down of human ideas, it is a lifting up of the Truth of God’s wisdom, mercy, and goodness above all human thought.  When we speak the Truth in Love. we see more clearly the heart of God.

Acts 17-22-34 NLT

22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Prayer:  Lord, we thank you for Luke’s account of the Apostle Paul’s visit with the Athenians in Greece.  We are blessed to witness his approach to sharing the Gospel in the midst of such contrasting beliefs and mindsets.  As we live each day, please help us to listen to the people around us and learn more about them.  At your appointed time, please help us to talk about your saving grace and the way to breathe in the Life of heaven into our needy souls.  Maybe God will lead you, today, to plant a seed in the life of another person that he will later water and grow.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Although nighttime darkness occupies a portion of every twenty-four hours—because the sun has gone below the horizon—spiritual darkness does not have the right to occupy any of our days or nights. The Son never slumbers or has a vanishing point in the heart—he is the ever-present Light for our souls twenty-four hours a day. Thank you, Lord!

For this reason, the world needs Jesus; every heart needs to believe in Christ, because he lights the way that protects us from evil. Jesus said, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark” (John 12:46). Every heart needs to turn toward the Light. In fact, when God’s children one day occupy the Kingdom on earth there will be no sun, moon, or night; because Jesus the Light of the World will be in his proper place in every heart as Lord, Ruler, and King (Rev. 21:23-25).

In our passage today, the psalmist [most likely David] is secure in the help God offers; he knows God will take care of him, because he has done so in the past. Yet, David needs a lift for his soul. As he looks toward the temple, he knows that is not the only place he can experience God’s grace and love. Therefore, David’s responsibility is to spiritually drawn near and find his secure footing in the Lord who is the lifter or Light for his soul.

When you need a helping lift for your soul, please remember God is always present in the life of believers. Therefore, wherever we go, we can be assured God goes with us. The standing of the believer in Jesus is impressive, so we must reach for him by faith.
· We stand in grace (Romans 5:2).
· We stand in the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1).
· We stand in courage and strength (1 Corinthians 16:13).
· We stand in faith (2 Corinthians 1:24).
· We stand in Christian liberty (Galatians 5:1).
· We stand in Christian unity (Philippians 1:27).
· We stand in the Lord (Philippians 4:1).
· The goal: We will stand perfect and complete in the will of God (Colossians 4:12).

Psalm 121 NLT A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 
I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
2 
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!
3 
He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 
Indeed, he who watches over Israel [let God prevail]
    never slumbers or sleeps.
5 
The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 
The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.
7 
The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
8 
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

Prayer: Lord, in a spiritually dark world, please be our Light, strength, and protection. Watch over us, today, and help us realize the power of your saving grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Following Jesus requires a deep and abiding commitment from every disciple. It means picking up our individual crosses—denying self—and honoring God’s Word and guidance. We are following our Maker as he motivates and guides us through the obstacles of life [and there can be many] to bring the good news to anyone willing to listen. As Creator, Jesus wants to be known, because he already knows all of his creation.

In our passage today, Jesus is preparing and instructing his disciples and guiding them through the discipleship mission to reach out and help connect the lost [in this case, Israel] to Christ’s salvation. Jesus gives these willing disciples the authority to heal and perform other life-changing miracles in order to demonstrate the power and eternal reign of the true Kingdom of God. Everything Israel has prayed for—rescue, redemption, and restoration—is being offered in Christ, but they have to allow God to change their thoughts, desires, and ways in order to see.

The disciples are sent with a message for Israel at God’s appointed time, because they had the wrong idea about ‘how’ God would redeem them. They needed to know God was sending the Messiah to extend mercy, forgiveness of sin, and wisely lead them into spiritual freedom and peace with God. Israel would then be given the privilege of being the Light for other nations; a Light that would guide all creation back to their Creator. Some Israelites chose to listen and turn toward Jesus Messiah and some did not.

Rejection of God is always a human choice on the table, so Jesus reminds his followers—who are committed toward discipleship—to prepare for it. The biblical definition of “rejection” is “to throw back.” Believers are to set forth Truth—the human need to seek God and his forgiveness of sin. We should never be unsettled by rejection when we generously cast “Bread” on the water and it is thrown back or forsaken. We are call to share the Good News. We not called to worry about the outcomes. That’s God’s part.

Matthew 10:5-15 NLT
5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near [has come]. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

9 “Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. 10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.
11 “Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. 12 When you enter the home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the authority you have given us as your disciples and how you lead us forward with faith and grace. We cannot control how others are going to receive the joy of our salvation, but we offer it, anyway. Help us to stay passionate for you and stop feeling rejected or disillusioned by our challenges. You are still on the throne and you know everything that involves each of us. You know our hearts, our motives, and our weaknesses. So cover us, Lord, and as your disciples please provide all we need to be successful for your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In November of 2020, my family went to North Carolina for Thanksgiving and some of us hiked to the summit of Charley Bunion from Newfound Gap on the Appalachian Trail. The hike covers eight miles [round trip] and takes about four+ hours to hike [approx. elevation 1886 ft]. Hiking for pleasure involves discovering new sights and experiences. We had never hiked this trail before, so I had no idea what to expect on the adventure.

I prepared what I would take on this afternoon hike and thought I was ready with my sneakers, hat, coat, gloves, and a small backpack with snacks and water. But, I wasn’t ready, because my shoes did not have a good tread on the soles and the higher we climbed the the rocky path the more difficult it was to gain solid footing as toward the top we encountered a bit of snow and ice. Then, there was the biggest challenge of all—descending. Praise God my son, Joe, walked in front of me and kept reaching back for my hand giving me stability in the precarious places. Note to self: buy hiking shoes!

In our passage today, while in chains for preaching Truth, the Apostle Paul shares about our need to adequately spiritually prepare for the challenges that accompany the hike of faith. Paul reminds us the righteous “wrestle” an invisible adversary and his evil army for control of our lives. This evil enemy does not want Christ’s army of believers to ascend in Truth or live for God. The strategies of the devil are to keep us living for ourselves; rather than living to produce the character fruit and nature of Christ. Why? Because when we emulate the character of Christ, we have the power to advance the work of our King Jesus and his Kingdom. In the Light of Christ, we push the darkness back.

We cannot forget this very important aspect of the believer’s journey in Christ, because if we think hiking through the fath-life will be easy, we have not read the Word of God and have dismissed the enemy of our souls. Our hearts, minds, emotions, bodies are all involved in a spiritual wrestling match. The devil is fierce and advances by causing us to fear—spirit of fear is never from God (2 Tim 1:7). But, Christ leads the way and reaches back for our hands to stabilize us as we hike the narrow path by faith (Mat 7:13-14).

If we are going to ascend in the holy life with God, we are going to need to prepare for the struggle. Now, the spiritual terrain is strewn with challenges the enemy has designed especially for each one of us. Satan uses our weaknesses, limitations, immaturity, and even our lack of preparation to attack and disrupt our footing and slow our progress hoping we lose our motivation to press on. But our spiritual shoes of peace with God provides great power for perseverance—grace! It is hard to battle an enemy you cannot see. Yet, God has faithfully made a Way to prepare us in order to be victorious in our spiritual growth in Christ and to proclaim Jesus as our King! Raise the banner [a symbol of God’s presence, protection, and victory] for Jesus, today, and be the Light that pushes back the darkness.

Ephesians 6:10-20 NLT The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we [you] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared [to preach peace with God]. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil [evil one]. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere [those being made holy].

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Prayer: Lord, we prepare ourselves, commit our lives to you, and ask for the power to be victorious for the Kingdom, today. We submit to you and resist the adversary. You have made special armor to fit each of us as your sons and daughters who champion Truth. In Jesus’ name.

Have you ever told another person the details of when you turned your life over to Christ? If so, you must have shared how Jesus changed and softened your heart, how you began to take in information and make wise decisions, as well as how the Holy Spirit called you to live and love from the inside out! When Jesus comes to live in our spirits, we are never the same! When Truth comes to live in us for the first time, it is a radical life-changing moment that fills us with the glorious energy of heaven and the hope of eternity while living on earth.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is on trial and he asks to represent himself. What does he say in his defense? He shares his conversion story with the King. Paul shares how Jesus changed his whole mind-set and direction for his life. Paul had to submit, because everything he was doing was persecuting God’s people while all the time hurting himself and his relationship with God. Paul’s priorities, passion for God, and preference for people was flipped by the Lord and now Paul was a man on a new mission to share the Gospel message with the Gentiles.

We must thank God every day for his glorious salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Life is new and fresh each day. Thank you, Jesus!

Acts 26:1-18 NLT
 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ [only hurting yourself]
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding us how you love everyone; no favoritism is found in you. Your love is all-encompassing and amazing to behold. It is your love that changes us in radical ways. We don’t see things the same, anymore. We want you…more of you…each day. Every time we reach out for you, there you are waiting to be with us. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

There are so many lessons in Scripture that inspire me with hope and a sense of well-being. Every human being needs hope to face each day, because life can leave us feeling vulnerable or even defeated. Hope motivates our faith helping us look forward to a better future beyond adversity. When we are feeling weak, hope brings us strength. When we desperately need change in our lives, hope is there to lead us toward healing as we trust in God. Jesus is our HOPE! “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Ro 5:5).

In our passage today from Luke, a leper comes and bows before Jesus. Now, as a doctor, Luke frequently writes about the illnesses people face and the miracles Jesus performs to heal them. Our passage is very clear; Luke tells us this man has an “advanced case of leprosy.” In other words, this contagious progressive bacterial skin infection had severely damaged his nerve endings and this man’s face and body had become very disfigured. More than likely, his identity unrecognizable. With the assurance of hope to receive from the Lord, this man bows before Jesus—the One who knows his heart—and proclaims Christ’s power to heal. We, too, must remember no challenge we face is too advanced for the healing hand of Almighty God.

When we face certain kinds of adversity—long-term challenges that have tested our faith—we must hold onto hope. Due to the advance nature of our challenges, we may be tempted to feel like the Lord is not going to answer our prayers. Certainly, God’s perspective can be very different than ours. Yet, Jesus is all about taking what is unhealthy by bringing a healing that makes one whole, holy, and dedicated to God. This brings glory to God. Therefore, our Lord is always “willing” to be the healing we need. His methods many times remain a mystery and certainly the Lord’s timing is very different than ours, but according to the New Covenant, grace is generously given to those who call upon the name of the Lord for salvation (Ro 10:10-13).

Luke 5:12-16 NLT Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
12 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

13 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 14 Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Prayer: Lord, we are so grateful for this lesson today, because it fills us with hope that you understand the adversity that comes to every human being. This man with leprosy needed healing and you were willing to make him whole. You healed him physically, spiritually, and emotionally, Lord, so he could return to the Temple as your worshiper. We all need some kind of healing and again, we thank you for being willing to heal us and make us whole as your worshipers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Not everything in life is fair, because humanity lives in a fallen world and we can find ourselves wandering away from wholehearted devotion to God. But, in the midst of this worldly mess of lawless unbelief—this temporary exile from God’s heavenly realm—believers have been promised favor [grace] and the divine care of the Lord. In fact, we are promised the Lord will NEVER leave or forsake us; he will always be present to be a Helper when his worshipers [those who follow and honor God’s commands of love] need it most (Heb 13:5). We do, however, need to turn from our unrighteous ways, humbly ask for God’s help and live with faith that he will be our Provider. Faith-driven prayer is the position believers must assume. When life knocks us on our knees, we are in the perfect position to pray!

Yesterday, we looked at the story of the cursed fig tree (Mark 11:12-24). Many times in the biblical narrative, the Lord uses good figs to describe Israel and her wholeness with God. In his writings, the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah has a vision from the Lord that involves two baskets of figs—one basket filled with good figs and one basket filled with rotten figs—that are placed in front of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem (Jer. 24:1-10).
The basket of good figs represents the humble Israelites and leaders of Judah who choose to do what God asks by leaving the land and going as exiles to Babylonia; therefore, God promises to watch over them while in captivity as well as one day bring them back to Jerusalem and give them hearts to serve the Lord. They are leaving everything familiar and comfortable; but they leave with God’s blessing. The basket of rotten figs represents the Israelites and leaders who refuse to listen or honor God’s Word; therefore, God will not protect them. The choice is set before the people.

Our passage today, picks up with Jeremiah’s call from the Lord to those in both Judah and Jerusalem asking them once again to willingly follow God’s commands and go into exile. The Lord is still offering a time to recognize their sin against God, an opportunity to repent, and once again rest in his care—a picture of God’s faithful love, mercy, and grace. Yet, sometimes rather than get on our knees and pray for mercy, we dig our heels in and demand our own way. It’s always a mistake—a rotten choice!

Seventy years—a period of divine judgment—awaits Israel for her idolatry, but God will faithfully restore the faithful! Then, the Lord will serve up judgment for Babylon. Yes, the Lord uses even the unbeliever for his purposes of bringing people out of the world and into his saving grace and loving care.

Jeremiah 25:1-14 NLT Seventy Years of Captivity
25 This message for all the people of Judah came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign over Judah [605 BC]. This was the year when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon began his reign.

2 Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people in Judah and Jerusalem, 3 “For the past twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon,[627 BC] king of Judah, until now—the Lord has been giving me his messages. I have faithfully passed them on to you, but you have not listened.

4 “Again and again the Lord has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention. 5 Each time the message was this: ‘Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live in this land that the Lord gave to you and your ancestors forever. 6 Do not provoke my anger by worshiping idols you made with your own hands. Then I will not harm you.’
7 “But you would not listen to me,” says the Lord. “You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. 8 And now the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Because you have not listened to me, 9 I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you [give as offering] and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever. 10 I will take away your happy singing and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard. Your millstones will fall silent, and the lights in your homes will go out. 11 This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

12 “Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins,” says the Lord. “I will make the country of the Babylonians a wasteland forever. 13 I will bring upon them all the terrors I have promised in this book—all the penalties announced by Jeremiah against the nations. 14 Many nations and great kings will enslave the Babylonians, just as they enslaved my people. I will punish them in proportion to the suffering they cause my people.”

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for preparing and protecting us each day. Many times I’m sure you protect us from ourselves. Although this world is challenging for us, we do not navigate or travel it alone. Thank you for being with us, helping us to choose wisely, and promising to keep us in your tender care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Well-being [Heb. Shalom שָׁלוֹם] is like a barometer for the overall health of an individual or society. This well-being encompasses things like satisfaction or a sense of purpose in life, spiritual fruitfulness, peace, positive emotions, physical health, well-being, and thriving relationships. Shalom or well-being is wholeness with God. We must be self-aware as individuals and vigilant as a human race to measure our well-being, because it reveals the health of society. Keep in mind, obedience to God must rule above all else or well-being will not be the outcome.

In our passage today, Jesus is leaving Bethany—a small Judean village situated on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about two miles east of Jerusalem. This village is like a “home-base” for Jesus as he finds love, rest, and well-being here. The home of Lazarus is in Bethany; a place in which Jesus was always welcomed and honored. Therefore, Jesus was able to do many miracles in Bethany; the greatest miracle was the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

The word “Bethany” translates into several meanings, but we will focus on a definition many theologians agree upon, today—“house of figs.” In the Bible, figs are used symbolically of Israel and her prosperity [wholeness] when the people are obedient to God (1 Kings 4:25). As Jesus leaves Bethany he is hungry, sees a fig tree, and goes to pick some fruit. He does not find any fruit even though the leaves are green and lush. So, Jesus curses the fig tree.

Mark places this lesson of Jesus cursing the fig tree separated like bookends surrounding the cleansing of the Temple. If we read this passage as one whole lesson—which we should—Jesus is demonstrating an act of judgment against Israel for their spiritual barrenness. Neither the Temple worship nor the fig tree are producing fruit, even though they have the outward appearance of being healthy.

Believers, today, can have an outward appearance of being healthy without actually producing any fruit. Jesus is expecting his children to be fruit-bearing, because the world is hungry for God whether society knows it or not. In the Spirit, we can produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; a spiritually enriched diet that brings wholeness. When you share this kind of fruit with others through your actions, you are feeding the hungry. Feed someone today.

Mark 11:12-14, 15-19, 20-24 NLT Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

Jesus Clears the Temple
15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11).

18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.

19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city.
20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for letting us know your expectations for our attitudes and actions. Our faith must bear righteous fruit; otherwise, we are going through the motions without obediently submitting to your rule. Holy Spirit, please produce the fruit of genuine Love in us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.