by George | Mar 22, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
A Cure For Distraction
“Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.”
Proverbs 4:25
When my kids were young, they liked to play video games on the TV in the living room. Things are not always quiet in the living room, especially with 4 kids and a dog.
When the one playing the game got to a crucial moment, invariably someone would say something or make a noise. “Uhhhh! You made me lose!” They had become… distracted.
God had given instructions to the children of Israel as they were going into the promised land.
“It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”
Joshua 6:5
They were also commanded to not to take the”accursed things.”
“And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.”
Joshua 6:18
The children of Israel did well going into Jericho. They obeyed. God gave them the victory.
Then came Ai. Small city.
Piece of cake, right?
Nope. They were defeated. Why? A Man named Achan got distracted. Lots were cast and they figured out it was him. He confessed:
“When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.”
Joshua 7:21
Instead of looking straight ahead, keeping his eyes on the goal, he looked down, or to the side, and saw “a beautiful Babylonian garment.” It may have been shinier and nicer than anything he had. Then he saw gold!
The wheels were turning in his mind. “No one will ever know!” So, he takes the items and hides them.
I won’t go into details here, but it doesn’t end well for him.
So, how do we keep from getting distracted? Solomon gives advice:
“Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.”
Proverbs 4:25
Also, Jesus showed us how to keep focused and not be distracted.
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2
Let’s try to be like Jesus!
Stay focused on the goal!
by George | Mar 11, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
More Than Enough
Last time we were together, we talked about the freewill offerings the Israelites brought to be used in the construction of the Tabernacle.
In this chapter, we find out that the need was met, and then some! They actually brought too much!
Can you imagine this happening at your church? The deacons or ushers count the offering and bring a joyous report to the pastor. “The offering plates are overflowing!!!”
While that is possible, it doesn’t happen all that often.
In today’s reading, the Israelites brought more than enough for the construction of the Tabernacle. The report was brought to Moses, and the people were told not to bring anything else for the work.
God had enabled the Israelites to give an abundance of materials.
God gives us an abundance of love, mercy and grace.
Here’s just a few examples of the “abundance” of God.
“And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,”
Exodus 34:6
“You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.”
Psalms 65:11
“They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.”
Psalms 36:8
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)”
Romans 5:17
“But God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:4-7
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
Ephesians 3:20
Father,
You are truly more than enough! Thank You for showering us with an abundance of love, mercy, and grace. Thanks for giving us abundant life and answering our prayers exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. In Jesus Name amen.
by George | Feb 25, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Speak LORD
“Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
I Samuel 3:10
Samuel was a young boy when his mother brought him to Eli. Hannah said: “For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.”
I Samuel 1:27-28
We don’t know how old Samuel was when he went to minister to the Lord. Some have said that he was probably somewhere between 3 and 7 years old.
“Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.”
I Samuel 3:1
“The word of the LORD was rare in those days…”
(Sounds like today, doesn’t it?)
The setting for chapter 3 is at night, sometime before dawn. Priests were supposed to keep the light of the lamp burning until the morning light. (Exodus 27:21)
God calls out to Samuel, but he doesn’t know it’s God’s voice. He thinks it’s Eli calling him. So, Samuel goes to him. This happens 3 times before Eli realizes that it is God calling him.
So, Eli gives Samuel some wise counsel. “Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”
I Samuel 3:9
Author David Guzik says:
“Eli told Samuel to:
- Make himself available for God to speak (Go, lie down).
- Not be presumptuous about God speaking (if He calls you).
- Respond to the word of God (Speak, LORD).
- Humble himself before God and His word (Your servant hears). Speak, LORD: We must hear from God. ”
Too many times I rush in and out of prayer time without listening to the voice of God.
Oswald Chambers gives us a challenge:
“Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance… Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen.”
*** May we all pray with a humble heart and say sincerely “Speak LORD for your servant is listening.”
