-Fifty One- After Repentance

After Repentance

Today’s Reading: Psalm 51

Focal Verse: Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit

An amazing thing happens after true repentance and forgiveness

--God will restore your joy! Only in the light of God’s grace to us can our pain turn to gladness.

We have all experienced the difficulty of a relationship strained by sin. We do wrong, repent, and the other party says they accept our apology, but many times there is a wall that goes up between the two parties.

When we repent before God, God’s grace breaks down the wall – period. He lovingly gives us His presence, and then, once more, we experience joy!

Spend time thanking God that His grace breaks down walls.

-Fifty- At Least I'm Not As Bad As.......

At Least I’m Not as Bad As……

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1 – 12:25

Focal Verse: 2 Samuel 12:13

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

We have all played the game at some time or other. We might say, “Well, yes I lied, but at least I’m not a thief,” or “Oh, I gossip a little, but I don’t cheat on my spouse like ______does”. And worst of all, some of us think we have “arrived” and are virtually “sin-free”. It’s an ugly game that cheapens the blood of Christ.

I had always taken comfort in the fact that God forgave David of his adultery and murder. I thought I was pretty safe since I hadn’t sinned to this “degree”. But I don’t remember Jesus talking about different levels of sin. Whether it was an adulterer, a tax collector, a worldly young ruler, or the self-righteous Pharisee, it was simply sin. In fact, in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), it was the repentant and humble tax collector who went away receiving God’s grace. Christ died on a cross just as much for the snide remark I might make about someone else as He did for an imprisoned murderer. In John 8:1-11, the religious leaders wanted to stone an adulterous woman, but Jesus reminded them of their own sin.

What God requires is for us to come before Him when we sin, and say as David, “I have sinned before the LORD”. And, just as He did for David, and as He does for all repentant sinners, He gives grace.

Confess your sin before God. Praise Him for being the Grace-giver.

As David did (v.20), worship Him.

-Forty Nine- Follow The Leader

Follow the Leader

Today’s Reading: Psalm 33

Focal Verse: Psalm 33:b

The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD…

Do you love your neighbor? Do you care what happens to them? Do you even know their names?

So much of our lives today are centered on ourselves, or our families. We have very little concern for fellow believers, much less the lost. But is that the pattern God set for us?

Psalm 33 reminds us that the earth is full of His goodness (see also Psalm 104). It isn’t here just for His children, but for all the inhabitants of the earth.

Psalm 145:15-16 speaks of His provision for living creatures:

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

And You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Matthew 5:44-45 reminds us to do good even to our enemies: “…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”.

God cares enough about everyone He has created to give them some common grace. I think it is time we follow our Leader.

Read Luke 6:35. Ask God to show You those people in the world that He wants you to show grace to.

-Forty Eight- Not What We Deserve

Not What We Deserve

Today’s Reading: Psalm 78

Focal Verse: Psalm 78:38

But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,

And did not destroy them.

Yes, many a time He turned His anger away,

And did not stir up all His wrath.

It is the battle cry of every child: “That’s not fair!” As adults, we may not say it aloud, but we think it and even express it to God. But do we really want God to give us what we deserve?

The Israelites, God’s people, rejected Him and turned to sin again and again, yet He did not destroy them. Because of His compassion, He forgave their sins time and time again.

Thank You, Father, that You don’t give me what I deserve, but in Your grace You forgive me….time and time again.

Have you been whining to God, “It’s not fair!”?

Thank Him that He doesn’t give you what you deserve.

Thank Him that He did what wasn’t fair – dying on the cross for you.

-Forty Seven- It All Belongs To The Lord

It All Belongs to the Lord

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 30:1-31

Focal Verse: 1 Samuel 30:19-20

And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

It all belongs to the Lord. All your “stuff”, all your neighbor’s “stuff” – everything in the world belongs to the Lord.

David felt like he had lost so much. His enemy had taken from David’s people, not only worldly wealth, but also their families. Verse 4 says they “lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep”.

But God knew what was ahead. He was going to display His power and grace in a mighty way.

God gave back David and his people their “stuff”. He gave them back their families, and He gave them even more – He gave them their enemies “stuff”, too. What looked like a tragedy from the world became a blessing from God.

Grace….from the Creator and Master of all the “stuff”.

If tragedy has come into your life, talk to the Creator.

You may not get back all your “stuff”, or even a loved one,

But God, in His grace, still longs to bring a blessing into your life.

-Forty Six- Mercy In The Consequences Of Sin

Mercy in the Consequences of Sin

Today’s Reading and Focal Verses:

Psalm 31:9-10

Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble;

My eye wastes away with grief,

Yes, my soul and my body!

For my life is spent with grief,

And my years with sighing;

My strength fails because of my iniquity,

And my bones waste away.

Psalm 40:12

For innumerable evils have surrounded me;

My iniquities have overtaken me,

So that I am not able to look up;

They are more than the hairs of my head;

Therefore my heart fails me.

Grace doesn’t end when we sin.

We all know the horrible sense of guilt and failure when we really blow it. Even though repentance brings forgiveness, sin has consequences and sometimes those consequences can seem devastating to ourselves and to those we love. David has expressed perfectly how I have felt in these times.

Even in the times of discipline from the consequences of his sin, David knew to call on God’s mercy. It is God’s mercy that can bring us fruit, even from the consequences of sin if we are willing to be “trained by it”.

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

　

**If you are in the midst of the consequences from your sin:

1. Repent of the sin if you haven’t already done so.

2. Cry out for mercy from God.

3. Trust that submission to His chastening will bring joy and peace in the end.**

-Forty Five- Abigail

Abigail

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25:2-42

Focal Verse: Samuel 25:41

The she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”

God knows what your circumstances are. You may feel at times as if He has forgotten you, but He has not.

I wonder how Abigail felt. It must have been disheartening for her to be married to such a harsh, foolish man. I wonder if she ever doubted God’s love.

God saw Abigail. He knew her circumstances. At the right time, He delivered her. He not only delivered her from a bad marriage, but He delivered her to marriage with a king.

Abigail knew she didn’t deserve His grace. She expresses her humility in her answer to David’s servants:

“Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”

We don’t deserve God’s grace either, but He longs to give it anyway.

Psalm 18:19

He also brought me out into a broad place;

He delivered me because He delighted in me.

**Pour your heart out to Him about any bad circumstances you may be in. Trust Him to deliver you in His perfect timing and in His perfect way.**

-Forty Four- Grace In Place Of Hatred

Grace In Place of Hatred

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 24:1-22 and 1 Samuel 26:1-25

Focal Verse: 1 Samuel 26:23

“May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.

In this day and time, many people live their lives based on emotions. Emotions are wonderful and God-given, but our life decisions are to be based on God’s truths.

In a society where jobs, homes, families and spouses are discarded because they “don’t make us happy anymore”, even believers try to twist circumstances into being God’s truth instead of clinging to His word. We could all take a lesson from David.

David had been anointed by Samuel to be king; but Saul, also anointed by God, was still alive. His jealousy of David led him to a murderous rage and David was constantly on the run from him.

Twice, David had an opportunity to end Saul’s life. He probably could have felt justified in doing so, and could have convinced himself that God gave him the opportunity. But his love for God, a respect for who God had put in authority, and a confidence in God’s sovereignty allowed David the grace to spare Saul’s life. David didn’t allow his anger to make him take things in his own hands, but instead he relied on God’s very capable hands and God’s timing.

Are you struggling with difficulties in your life or relationships? Look at what God’s word has to say about your circumstances. Then ask God to give you the grace to do what is right.

-Forty Three- The Rock Of Escape

The Rock of Escape

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 23:26-28

Focal Verse: 1 Samuel 23:28

Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.

Do you feel on the edge of defeat? Like you are encircled by the enemy? There is One who is greater than any enemy, and He is the One who provided an escape for David.

In 1588, the Spanish Armada entered the English Channel with 130 ships and 30,000 men. The Armada seemed undefeatable, but Sir Francis Drake did what he could to break up their formation. What really turned the tide of the battle, however, was a storm sent by God. As the Armada tried to escape by sailing around Ireland, the fierce storm destroyed much of the fleet. What had looked like an eminent defeat, God turned into a decisive victory.

God providentially made a way of escape for David from what appeared to be eminent defeat. He still does the same for His people today. He truly is the Rock of Escape.

Think of a time when He was your Rock of Escape. Thank Him for His incredible grace.

-Forty Two- Fleeing From The King

Fleeing From the King

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 21 and 1 Samuel 22:5

Focal Verse: Psalm 34:4-5

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

The anointed king, on the run from the reigning king. I wonder if David ever questioned whether Samuel got it right when he anointed him as king?  But God did not leave David to face this trial alone.

He met David’s needs. He gave him food (1 Samuel 21:3-6), a sword (1 Samuel 21:8-9), wisdom (1 Samuel 21:10-15), and an army (1 Samuel 22:2). In His grace, God showed David he was not alone in this battle and the Lord was still in command.

God still gives grace to His people. He gives us all we need to do His calling and to fight the battles that rage against us. We can rejoice, just as David did:

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

　

**Seek the Lord.**

-Forty One- David And Goliath

David and Goliath

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Focal Verse: 1 Samuel 17:37

"Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Fee, Fie, Fo, Fum….I smell the blood of an Englishman.” We all thrilled, as in the fairytale, Jack defeated the giant. As children, so much of life seemed gigantic to us, and we loved seeing the “little guy” win.

We’re grown up now, and we still face giants…sickness, death, a hurting child, financial trials, rejection…the list could go on and on. We can have confidence in facing giants just as David did.

Goliath was “bigger than life” and a veteran in battle. David was little, young, and a shepherd. David had something that Goliath didn’t have, though—God. David had the confidence that the same God who delivered him from the lion and bear would once again give him grace…and He did!

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:10

**Let the God of all grace be your confidence against the “giants” you face now just as He has in the past.**

-Forty- Who Will Be King?

Who Will Be King?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 8 and 1 Samuel 9:16

Focal Verse: 1 Samuel 9:16

“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

Sometimes we refuse God’s best for our lives. He calls us to have faith in Him, but we look at the worldly way of doing things and we say, “God, I know You can do anything, but….” And then we go on to tell Him the “practical”, worldly answer we have decided on instead.

Israel faced this moment. God wanted them to follow Him. He didn’t want them to have to pay tribute to an earthly king or have to give their sons, daughters and lands into the king’s service. But they wanted a king, like other nations, and they demanded a king. God said, “They have rejected Me” (1 Samuel 8:7). As always, though, God gives us a choice. He gives them a king.

He could have given them a harsh king to prove the warnings He had given them about taking a king. In His grace, however, even being rejected by His people, He chose someone to deliver them.

If God can give grace to us even when we chose our own way, how much more grace will He give us when we choose to let Him reign in our lives?

In what area of your life are you choosing human wisdom rather than obedience to God? Have you chosen to make Him the King of your life?