-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.**