024 Exodus 9 – 11; John 14
Ten strikes and you’re out. Literally, you are out of the hole (430 years Israel had been enslaved, Ex.12:40) of being slaves to a gentile nation who has forgotten that Joseph had saved their hides. Are you amazed that Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go after the third strike, the sixth? What about the ninth? That is three innings of baseball! For me, Pharaoh is a picture of the human heart that says, ‘okay you can have your way God’ and then returns to the old habit of “my way” syndrome. By the way, what is going on here is brutal and violent, especially the last strike. This is satanic in all aspects because the devil knew the promise of the Messiah was coming through the Hebrew nation and the evil one was going to keep them down.
What battles are going on in your life that could be the evil one wanting to suppress the Savior who is in life? Not every battle is one with Satan but, do not be too quick to dismiss the struggle as just everyday life as well. Pray that God would give you discernment.
Perhaps you could choose a verse from John 14 to memorize this week.
Have a great battle, for our Lord has won the war--Amen!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
023 Friday, January 23, 2009
023 Exodus 6 – 8; John 13.18 – 13.38
God's plan is moving right along. The people have multiplied in Egypt and they are set to be released to go to their land.
God deals with us as people. The Lord knows we are not all powerful etc. God has been shaping a leader and his name is Moses and we are able to witness how God talks to, encourages, and builds faith in a person. Listen to these words, "God continued speaking to Moses, reassuring him, “I am God, I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as The Strong God, but by my name God (I-Am-Present) I was not known to them”." Two insights that are important for us to be aware of; God is reassuring Moses--God does care and understands the battle fear and doubt. Secondly, God is building up Moses faith by reminding of His name, “I-Am-Present”, letting him know that the spiritual giants before him did not know Him in this way, it is an intimate name, up close and personal. God is saying, “I am with you”.
The “I-Am-Present” God then shows up as Christ. It even got more personal. In John 13 Jesus reveals a new commandment, “In the same way I loved you, you love one another.”
John and the disciples have been living with God, who had moved into the neighborhood.
God is strong, He is presently with us and God loves us with an ever present strong kind of love. Make today a present, kind of walking around with God, kind of day. What battles are you facing? Are you lonely, discouraged, hurting, ensnared in some secret sin? Then let the ever present strong God speak to you.
God's plan is moving right along. The people have multiplied in Egypt and they are set to be released to go to their land.
God deals with us as people. The Lord knows we are not all powerful etc. God has been shaping a leader and his name is Moses and we are able to witness how God talks to, encourages, and builds faith in a person. Listen to these words, "God continued speaking to Moses, reassuring him, “I am God, I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as The Strong God, but by my name God (I-Am-Present) I was not known to them”." Two insights that are important for us to be aware of; God is reassuring Moses--God does care and understands the battle fear and doubt. Secondly, God is building up Moses faith by reminding of His name, “I-Am-Present”, letting him know that the spiritual giants before him did not know Him in this way, it is an intimate name, up close and personal. God is saying, “I am with you”.
The “I-Am-Present” God then shows up as Christ. It even got more personal. In John 13 Jesus reveals a new commandment, “In the same way I loved you, you love one another.”
John and the disciples have been living with God, who had moved into the neighborhood.
God is strong, He is presently with us and God loves us with an ever present strong kind of love. Make today a present, kind of walking around with God, kind of day. What battles are you facing? Are you lonely, discouraged, hurting, ensnared in some secret sin? Then let the ever present strong God speak to you.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
022 Thursday, January 22, 2009
022 Exodus 3 - 5; John 13.1 - 13.17
A burning bush, a killer, and an amazing God, are all out in desert doing "ministry stuff". God tells Moses from a burning bush (that will not burn up) that He wants to use Moses for setting the Hebrew people free. Moses must have been thinking, ‘I already tried that and that is why I'm in the desert talking to a bush!’
Moses asks one of the most famous questions of all time, "Who do I tell them that sent me? God gives Moses his name, "I-AM-Who-I-Am". 'Tell them, tell that Pharaoh that "I Am" sent you.' Moses was filled with doubt but he did obey. Read this section carefully, even how God sends Aaron along - although God told Moses, ‘You can do it man!’
What has God asked you to do? Surely God has said to you, “What is that in your hand?” Whatever is in your hand, use it for His glory!
A burning bush, a killer, and an amazing God, are all out in desert doing "ministry stuff". God tells Moses from a burning bush (that will not burn up) that He wants to use Moses for setting the Hebrew people free. Moses must have been thinking, ‘I already tried that and that is why I'm in the desert talking to a bush!’
Moses asks one of the most famous questions of all time, "Who do I tell them that sent me? God gives Moses his name, "I-AM-Who-I-Am". 'Tell them, tell that Pharaoh that "I Am" sent you.' Moses was filled with doubt but he did obey. Read this section carefully, even how God sends Aaron along - although God told Moses, ‘You can do it man!’
What has God asked you to do? Surely God has said to you, “What is that in your hand?” Whatever is in your hand, use it for His glory!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
020 Tuesday, January 20, 2009
020 Exodus 1 – 2; John 12:36 – 12:50
A new king came to power who did not know Joseph; a signal that all is not well for the Joseph's people. The new king tried to work them to death but they prospered and multiplied.
The order came that all Hebrew newborn's are to be drowned in the Nile; this sets the scene for God's unusual ways to be revealed.
When they could no longer hide the Hebrew boy they made a floating basket and put the little baby in the basket in the Nile. Hence, Moses (drawn from the water) ends up being raised and trained in Pharaoh's court. Who finds the baby? Why yes, it was Pharaoh's daughter! His ways are not our ways.
Moses sees the pain of his people and ends up killing some Egyptians and has to escape. At the end of the chapter we read these words--"Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God." Now who do think God is going to use?
Fast forward to John and Jesus speaking--" Their eyes are blinded, their hearts are hardened ..." Jesus is quoting the prophet Isaiah, who was speaking to Israel. Perhaps we could ponder how God over the years would hear Israel’s heart cry and then He would deliver them and they would be thankful for a while but then would turn away again from their God. A terrible habit perhaps the most toxic of all the habits of the heart.
God will hear our heart cries and will deliver us but may we stay on target and give Him thanks. Today thank God for hearing you and give Christ your heart once again.
A new king came to power who did not know Joseph; a signal that all is not well for the Joseph's people. The new king tried to work them to death but they prospered and multiplied.
The order came that all Hebrew newborn's are to be drowned in the Nile; this sets the scene for God's unusual ways to be revealed.
When they could no longer hide the Hebrew boy they made a floating basket and put the little baby in the basket in the Nile. Hence, Moses (drawn from the water) ends up being raised and trained in Pharaoh's court. Who finds the baby? Why yes, it was Pharaoh's daughter! His ways are not our ways.
Moses sees the pain of his people and ends up killing some Egyptians and has to escape. At the end of the chapter we read these words--"Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God." Now who do think God is going to use?
Fast forward to John and Jesus speaking--" Their eyes are blinded, their hearts are hardened ..." Jesus is quoting the prophet Isaiah, who was speaking to Israel. Perhaps we could ponder how God over the years would hear Israel’s heart cry and then He would deliver them and they would be thankful for a while but then would turn away again from their God. A terrible habit perhaps the most toxic of all the habits of the heart.
God will hear our heart cries and will deliver us but may we stay on target and give Him thanks. Today thank God for hearing you and give Christ your heart once again.
Monday, January 19, 2009
019 Monday, January 19, 2009
019 Genesis 48 - 50; John 12.1 - 12.36
Today we finish Genesis. The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all flawed but all were greatly used by God. Jacob, who became Israel, gives his last instructions to his twelve sons and then, "he pulled his feet into bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people."
What a funeral for Jacob! There was public mourning for him for seventy days. This is from the Egyptians, a gentile nation.
The funeral is over and Joseph's brothers are concerned that Joseph may be holding a grudge. Joseph reassures them that he does not take action that is rightfully God’s. Then he utters those famous words, "Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good."
God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. The first shall be last, up is down, sacrifice is life, these things are true and yet, are not part of the world system. Let God speak to you about His ways and thoughts. Ponder your life and let God reveal some of His mystery's of life.
One mystery that is revealed in John is the grain of wheat must die, be buried, for fruit to reproduce. Jesus was speaking of His own life that would soon be unfolded before their eyes. Think of the fruit that has sprung forth from Christ's sacrifice.
What has God used to your surprise that helped you die to yourself so fruit could be produced?
Today we finish Genesis. The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all flawed but all were greatly used by God. Jacob, who became Israel, gives his last instructions to his twelve sons and then, "he pulled his feet into bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people."
What a funeral for Jacob! There was public mourning for him for seventy days. This is from the Egyptians, a gentile nation.
The funeral is over and Joseph's brothers are concerned that Joseph may be holding a grudge. Joseph reassures them that he does not take action that is rightfully God’s. Then he utters those famous words, "Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good."
God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. The first shall be last, up is down, sacrifice is life, these things are true and yet, are not part of the world system. Let God speak to you about His ways and thoughts. Ponder your life and let God reveal some of His mystery's of life.
One mystery that is revealed in John is the grain of wheat must die, be buried, for fruit to reproduce. Jesus was speaking of His own life that would soon be unfolded before their eyes. Think of the fruit that has sprung forth from Christ's sacrifice.
What has God used to your surprise that helped you die to yourself so fruit could be produced?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
018 Sunday, January 18, 2009
018 Genesis 45 - 47; John 11.38 - 11.57
Joseph couldn't hold it anymore. He told them he was their brother. “They were speechless”, is probably an understatement. Can you imagine the relief, the fear, the unknown, all the stuff that would go through your head at that precise moment? He not only revealed that the he was Joseph, but that God was behind him being sent to Egypt. What a perspective! What perspective is God trying to teach you today?
To build a nation you have to have people and those people would have been in danger of dying of starvation if God had not sent Joseph to Egypt to prepare for the famine. Can you think of anything that on looking back you see God's hand in it? Perspective. Get all the perspective you can and make sure it is a perspective from God. So many things to learn from Joseph but this is his special gift to us. He was not bitter, but actually had become better. What a leader! May we all aspire to that level of Godliness.
Joseph couldn't hold it anymore. He told them he was their brother. “They were speechless”, is probably an understatement. Can you imagine the relief, the fear, the unknown, all the stuff that would go through your head at that precise moment? He not only revealed that the he was Joseph, but that God was behind him being sent to Egypt. What a perspective! What perspective is God trying to teach you today?
To build a nation you have to have people and those people would have been in danger of dying of starvation if God had not sent Joseph to Egypt to prepare for the famine. Can you think of anything that on looking back you see God's hand in it? Perspective. Get all the perspective you can and make sure it is a perspective from God. So many things to learn from Joseph but this is his special gift to us. He was not bitter, but actually had become better. What a leader! May we all aspire to that level of Godliness.
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