-Thirty Nine- Grace Out Of Failure

Grace Out of Failure

Today’s Reading: Judges 16:23-30

Focal Verse: Hebrews 11:32a

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon…

Have you ever blown it so big that you thought God would never be able to use you again? Or, perhaps you have seen a Christian fall in a big way, and felt their time of service was over?

Judges 16:1-22 records how Samson falls prey, once again, to his weakness for women as Delilah charms the secret of his strength from him. The Philistines put out his eyes and put him in prison.

In his humbled state, Samson prays to the God from who his strength comes from. God gracefully empowers him once more, and in the moment of Samson’s death, he destroys more of God’s enemies than he did in his life.

Samson was a man of many weaknesses: temper and a weakness for women being two of them. He is rewarded for his faith, however, by being listed in Hebrews Chapter 11, and is one of the heroes of faith we are to look to.

Samson, weak and sinful, but faithful in the end – looking to God for grace.

God can use you again, no matter how hard you have fallen. Humble yourself before Him. Lift up those you know who have stumbled to the God of grace.

-Thirty Eight- Hannah

Hannah

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-10,19-20

Focal Verse: 1 Samuel 1:19b

And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife and the LORD remembered her.

Many women are married to wonderful men, yet they still carry the pain of childlessness. Hannah carried this pain and carried the additional burden of being mistreated by her husband’s other wife who did have children. She had a heartbreak her husband could not ease.

Hannah knew where to turn with her pain, though. Hannah prayed once again for a son. She made a vow to give him to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:11). And God answered her beyond what she could imagine.

The Lord gave her a son and Hannah kept her commitment, taking him to be left at the temple when he was old enough to be weaned (1 Samuel 1:24). God’s grace toward Hannah continued as He gave her five more children (1 Samuel 2:21), and the one she gave up became a man of God.

God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we ask, but one thing is certain……an earnest plea from one of His children will bring a response of grace. If we will just trust Him, we will be blessed in a way we could never imagine.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

-Thirty Seven- Ruth and Boaz

Ruth and Boaz

Today’s Reading: Ruth 3:9-11

Focal Verse: Ruth 3:10a

Then he said, “Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter!”

It is the holiday season as I am writing this and though there is joy and parties and celebrating all around, there is also sadness. Sadness for the widower spending his first Christmas without his wife of many years. Sadness for the parents of the child who no longer sees a reason to live. Sadness for the wife whose husband has left her. The holidays are a time of heightened joy for some and heightened despair for others.

Naomi was in a foreign land when both her husband and her two sons died. She felt bitter, alone, and without hope. But Ruth, her son’s young widow, follows Naomi to a land that is foreign to her. She could have sought a new husband in her country, from her own people, but accompanies Naomi home instead.

Once in her new land, again she could have sought a young husband, but instead works hard gathering food for Naomi and herself.

In enters Boaz….A godly, older man who is a relative of the family. Naomi sees a way to repay Ruth for her kindness and sends her to Boaz with the message you read in today’s reading.

What grace! Ruth, who lost her young husband, gains a godly husband to care for her. Boaz, who never knew the joy of marriage, gains a young, virtuous wife. And then, Naomi, who had not only lost her husband and her two sons, and her hope as well gained the following:



So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! And may he be to you a restorer of life and nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has born him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth 4:13-17

What seemed like loss of all hope became joy to all. Oh, the unmatchless grace of the God of Hope!

Is there something that has happened in your life to make you lose hope? Place it in God’s compassionate hands.

-Thirty Six- Samson

Samson

Today’s Reading: Judges 13:1-5

Focal Verse: Judges 13:5b

“….and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Who was your super-hero when you were a child? Mine was Superman. We had a cuckoo clock and everyday, when it struck 4:00, we ran inside to watch. I especially was enthralled with his x-ray vision.

The Israelites, once again unfaithful, were going to need a “super-hero” to deliver them. God prepared this “super-hero” in advance. His name was Samson.

When you think of Samson, you probably think of his great strength, or possibly how Delilah outwitted him. But I think of an Israeli woman. She was barren and I’m sure her heart ached for a child. God answered the emptiness in her womb with a son, and not just any son, but Samson. He would be dedicated to God, and God would use him to deliver his people.

Whether one person, or many people, God is watching. God’s grace to one woman, and His grace to a nation – all in one birth – Samson.

Talk to God right now about what is on your heart.

-Thirty Five- Jephthah

Jephthah

Today’s Reading: Judges 11:1-5

Focal Verse: Judges 11:1a

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot…

God doesn’t reject the rejected of this world. You may have been born into circumstances to people that were less than accepting of you. Perhaps you have been rejected in marriage, or have been fired from a job. I know some of you feel like your whole life has just been one long rejection.

But just as God lifted Jephthah up to deliver His people, He desires to lift you up today. Jesus, Himself, was criticized by the religious leaders of the day for spending time with the outcasts of the world.

God longs to take the “rejects” of this world into His family. You have value in His kingdom that has nothing to do with your ancestry, birth order, marital status or career. Accept His grace today.

If you have been judged harshly by the world, spend time meditating on the God who values you. If you have been judging others by the world’s standards, ask His forgiveness, and begin today learning to love others as He does.

-Thirty Four- Weak Faith

Weak Faith

Today’s Reading: Judges 6:36-40 and Judges 7:9-15

Focal Verse: Judges 6:39a

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more…”

Many times, we feel like God can’t use us if we don’t have the faith of a “Paul”. His word shows us, however, that He uses ordinary people with all their weaknesses.

Gideon is a wonderful example of this. Riddled with doubts and fear, he just brought them honestly before the Lord. Patiently and graciously, God answered him and gave him the strength and faith to follow Him.

He will do it for you, too.

What are your fears and doubts holding you back from?

Take them to God.

-Thirty Three- The Judges

The Judges

Today’s Reading: Judges 2:11-16

Focal Verse: Judges 2:16

Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.

This story saddens me, yet gives me hope. Time and time again Israel is unfaithful to God. Time and time again God withdraws His protection and allows other nations to oppress the Israelites so they would return to His care. They would cry out for help and He would send a “judge” to deliver them from the oppression.

What saddens me is their repeated rejection of God. What gives me hope is the grace He extends to them over and over again.

We all have some sin in our life that is harder to overcome than others. When we give in to sin, we turn our backs on God. He still gives grace.

No more, though, does He have to raise up a deliverer. He raised up the only Deliverer needed in Jesus Christ. For those who belong to Him, grace to overcome sin and mercy when we fail is given freely.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

**Go boldly before His throne and spend a time of confession and thanksgiving.**

-Thirty Two- Not Performance, But Grace

Not Performance, But Grace

Today’s Reading and Focal Verse: Joshua 24:13

“I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.”

I remember one Christmas when my husband surprised me by buying me an emerald ring. I hadn’t done anything special that year and I hadn’t even asked for it. He just wanted to show me that he loved me.

Sometimes God just wants to show us that He loves us. We didn’t make the earth. He did, and then handed it to us for our benefit. We cannot manufacture a child, yet He blesses many with children. I know those who don’t take any special care of themselves, yet they live long lives. The list could go on and on, but the fact is we didn’t earn these gifts from God. Sometimes He just reaches out in love and grace to give us a blessing.

Meditate on and praise God for the things He has graciously given you.

-Thirty One- Refusing God's Grace

Refusing God’s Grace

Today’s Reading and Focal Verse: Joshua 16:10

And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.

God gives us commands to follow for our lives that, when followed, bring peace to our lives. Many times we choose our own way, however, and chaos and destruction result. The Israelites were no different. In Deuteronomy 20:16-19, God gives instructions to destroy the nations living the lands He is giving them. These are wicked nations. Many even sacrificed their own children to false gods. God knew if these people remained in the land, they would influence His people toward wickedness and their peace would be gone. But they chose their own way…

The Canaanites who remained eventually turned the Israelites hearts away from God and away from the blessings and peace He so graciously wanted to give them.

Psalm 106:36-38 They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood.

　

**What “Canaanites” have you allowed to stay in your life? Say this prayer:

Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

For I believe Your commandments.

Before I was afflicted I went astray,

But now I keep Your word.

You are good, and do good;

Teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119:66-68**

-Thirty- Who Is In Charge?

Who is In Charge?

Today’s Reading: Joshua 5:13-15

Focal Verse: Joshua 5:14b

“…as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.”

I have faced many battles in my life and will face many more, but the hardest ones have been those involving my children. One in particular involved my son. For a year and a half, he hardly left home. I prayed continuously for healing. As I drew close to God, He showed me what I should be praying for – that my son would make things right with God. I had to release my son into God’s hands for God to fight the battle for my son’s heart in whatever way He chose.

It was a difficult time in many ways, but it was also a time of incredible peace. I didn’t have to fight the battle. The battle was the Lord’s. I just had to allow Him to be Commander.

Before Jesus Christ was born in human form, He came to Joshua to show him Who was in control of the victory the Israelites were about to enjoy. As Joshua realized who this visitor was, he obeyed Him in worship.

As believers, God never intended for us to battle life on our own. He graciously offers Himself to lead in our battles. We just have to move over and allow Him to take His rightful place as the Commander of the army of the LORD.

Are there any battles raging in your life that you need to give over to the Commander?

-Twenty Nine- Who is in Your Family Tree?

Who is in Your Family Tree?

Today’s Reading: Joshua 2 and Joshua 6

Focal Verses: Matthew 1:5-6

“Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.”

Have you, or someone in your family, ever researched your family tree? If you found someone of importance, maybe an author, politician or royalty, you were eager to tell others. What if you found a prostitute in the family tree? Would you be so eager to tell?

Rahab, listed above, was just that. She lived in a town called Jericho. The Israelites sent spies in to see best how to invade the city. Rahab sheltered them from the king because she recognized the God of the Israelites as the God. In Joshua 2:11b, she said, “The LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” Rahab believed this so firmly that she staked her life on this belief, and the God of grace saved her.

Rahab wasn’t an important person in her community. In fact, her community probably looked at her in much the same way you would look at a prostitute in your community today. God looked past her immorality and her earthly insignificance into a heart that expressed her faith in Him. In His grace, He saved her, lifted her out of the sinful life she led, made her the great-great grandmother of a king, and put her in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Thank you, God, for looking past my imperfections and insignificance, and making me into an important member of Your kingdom.

-Twenty Eight- The Wages Of Sin

The Wages of Sin

Today’s Reading: Numbers 21:4-9

Focal Verse: Numbers 21:8b

“….it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.”

We, as humans, have a “grass is greener on the other side” mentality. We have a very difficult time being happy with what we have.

The Israelites were no different. They were provided daily with food they did not have to labor to make grow. They only had to gather what was provided. They were so anxious to have “something better” that they began to despise God’s provision. This lack of thankfulness led them to speak against God.

Don’t we do the same thing? When is the last time you got on your knees to thank Him for the most basic provisions? Most of us are so busy looking for the next thing we “have to get” that we begin to despise what God has already given us. That is sin.

Romans 6:23a reads: “For the wages of sin is death.” Sin has consequences. The consequences of sin bite into our lives like the bite of these serpents with the fiery sting. But God, in His grace, provided the Israelites a way out of death from the sting of sin. They had to believe in His power to overcome death by looking at the bronze serpent set on the pole. They couldn’t overcome the consequences of their sin in their own strength.

Jesus foretold of His own death on the cross by using this illustration recorded in John 3:14-15: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

There is one answer to the sting of sin and the resulting death it brings: Jesus Christ, lifted up on a cross – the payment for our sins. Once again, we have to acknowledge our powerlessness to overcome sin on our own, and then believe in the remedy God provided: Romans 6:23b “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Have you accepted the gift of Jesus Christ?

Spend time thanking God for His provision in your life.

-Twenty Seven- We Don't Wanna Go!

We Don’t Wanna Go!!

Today’s Reading: Numbers 13 and 14:1-20

Focal Verse: Numbers 14:20

Then the LORD said, “I have pardoned, according to your word.”

The only time my son had a temper tantrum was when he was three years old and we went to the zoo. As the time came to leave, he didn’t want to go and screamed as we carried him away. Our son did not realize that life held many things for him that would be far greater than the zoo.

Sometimes in life, we become like this. We feel content in the place where we are and don’t want to leave, even if God is promising us so much more in another place or situation.

This was the state of mind of the Israelites. They had become comfortable with the nomadic life they led, but the time had come for God to fulfill a wonderful promise to them. They didn’t want it. They were frightened. After all the miracles God had performed during their lifetimes, suddenly they were too scared to go on with Him. They listened to the fears of the majority and would even have gone back to slavery rather than go forward with God (see Nehemiah 9:17).

God offered to disinherit the Israelites and make a new nation from Moses, but Moses reminded Him of His mercy, saying, “Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” And God did give them mercy. He did not destroy them. He did not send them back into slavery. They (the adults) also did not receive the Promised Land, because of their repeated rejection of God, but their descendants did. Most importantly, God did not withdraw His favor and presence.

As a believer, you can trust that, even if you throw a “temper tantrum”, He will not forsake you either.

If you have refused to go with God, ask for His grace and forgiveness now.