Live dangerously for the Lord!

History - Old Testament

S - Scripture
Joshua 3 v. 16  the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off, at Adon, the city that is besides Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, where wholly cut off; and the people passed over opposite of Jericho.

O - Observation
God will do mighty things if you live dangerously for him. In this verse, God instructed Joshua and the Israelites to go into the land of Canaan. But the problem was the Jordon river was flooded. God gave Joshua strict instructions on how to deal with this, have the Ark of the Covenant go first. When the feet of the men carrying the Ark touched the water, verse 16 happened. It was complete trust in God's power and control. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 v. 20b, "If you have faith of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." With God on your side, who can be against you?
 
A - Application
So.... Am I living dangerously for the Lord? Do I accept that God can do mighty things in my life?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Give me the faith and courage to live my life dangerously for you. Love Will

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Get Plugged in!!!

History - Old Testament
S - Scripture
Deuteronomy 3 v. 16   and to the Ruebenites and the Gadites, I give the territory from Gilead as far as the valley of the Arnoun with the middle of the valley as a boundary, as far over as the river Jubbok, the boundary of the Ammonites. 

O - Observation
God cares for his people when they are plugged in. Prior to this verse, the Israelites just defeated the armies of the land that is being divided up. This is right before they entered into the Promised Land. Two of the tribes of Israel, Ruebenites and Gadites really like the land they had just fought for. The key to this verse is that the Israelites were lock step in with God. They were dialed in. And when your in tune with the Maker of Heaven and Earth, mighty things happen, as the Israelites found out. Check out what happened prior to this verse. Deuteronomy 2 v. 24a, "Rise up take your journey and go over to the valley of Arnoun; behold I have given into your hand Sibon the Ammorite, king of Hesbon and his land."

A - Application
Am I plugged into the Maker of Heaven and Earth?

P - Prayer
Heavenly Father, Were you go, I will go, I will follow.  Love Will.

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Listen to what God tells you and then do it!

History - Old Testament
S - Scripture
Numbers 3 v. 16 So Moses numbered them according to the word  of the Lord as he was commanded.

O - Observation
Listen and do. In this verse God instructed Moses to number all the males of the house of Levi. This may have been mundane compared to some of his other commands, but Moses did it. Today we have been given a Commandment by God. Matthew 22 v. 37,39, "And he said to him, 'You shall Love your God with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Just as a census (numbering) provides the foundation for organizing, so do these commands. They provide the foundation for living a Christian life. If we strive to follow these commands, they will assist us in following God's greatest instruction, Matthew 28 v. 19a, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."

A - Application
Am I doing what God has commanded me? Especially the foundational commands?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Give me the strength, wisdom and desire to do the things you command me to do. Love Will

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God loves a cheerful giver!

History - Old Testament
S - Scripture
Leviticus  3 v. 16  And the priest shall burn them on the alter as food offered by fire for a pleasing odor. All fat is the Lords.

O - Observation
All fat is the Lords. An interesting comment in today's fitness driven culture. But if we think about it, back in Moses time, fatted animals were a sign of abundance or plenty. Otherwise the animals would be scrawny. We can apply that concept, fatted animals to today. All of our blessings, the things we have is a Gift from God. Recognizing this helps us put perspective on the things that we have. We need to remember it is not ours, its not because of our great skills, but it is a Gift from God. So in recognition of this we should give back to the Lord. So what is our approach to giving? 2 Corinthians 9 v. 7, 'Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.' A cheerful giver provides a pleasing odor for the Lord.

A - Application
Do I recognize the 'fat' I have is the Lords? Am I a cheerful giver?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Thank you for all my blessings. Love Will.

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God is NOT passive in his watching

History - Old Testament

S - Scripture
Exodus 3 v. 16  Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob has appeared to me, saying I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt.'

O - Observation
God sees and acts. God knows everything. He knows the number of hairs on my head, he knows my struggles and victories. He knows what has been done to me and others. But, unlike watching a news report or a show, God is not passive in his watching, he will get involved. He acts upon the things that are going on. Especially to one of his own. Matthew 6 v. 26, 'Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you NOT of more value than them?' Gods way of acting is by sending someone, and being with that someone. For Israel, Moses - for the World - Jesus.

A - Application
Are you the someone that God will use? Are you resisting being used by God?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Thanks for seeing and acting. Use me as you see fit.  Love Will.

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Be aware of the impact of sin

History - Old Testament

S - Scripture
Genesis 3 v. 16 To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your pain in child bearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.

O - Observation
The impact of Sin. This verse and subsequent verses is God's judgment on Adam and Eve when they violated God's command to NOT eat from the tree of knowledge of Good and evil. Webster defines sin as, "an evil act or the breaking of the law of God." Our sin separates us from God. Genesis 3 v. 23, "therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken." Our sin causes suffering. Both sexes. To them man, Genesis 3 v. 17b-18, "cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you." Because we sin, we need Jesus in our life. He forgives our sins.

A - Application
Am I aware of the impact of sin in my life? Do I realize how desperately I need Jesus?

P - Prayer
I need you Jesus to come to my rescue. Where else can I go?  Love Will.

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God's Love and Faithfulness!

Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

 

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 36:5 Your love, Lord reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies.

OBSERVATION: This is a Psalm of David, who even though he sinned and made many mistakes, just as we do, God never forgot him and always restored him when he repented.
David knew firsthand the great love and faithfulness of the Lord His God! That’s why he used these terms, “reaches to the heavens”; and faithfulness to the skies.” In other words His love and faithfulness are infinitely great, too great to measure!

APPLICATION: Therefore we too have access to God’s infinitely great love and faithfulness, it’s not just for those historical Bible characters. His great love and faithfulness are there for all who profess Jesus as Lord, enough for all the world as John 3:16 states; For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. The result of believing in Jesus is that we have full time access to God’s infinite love and faithfulness even when we are unaware of it! “The Goodness of God” is a song about God’s love and faithfulness.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your infinite love and faithfulness to Your people, help us Lord to share that love and faithfulness with the world around us.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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