Day of Reckoning

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:13-17; Leviticus 19:16-18; Zechariah 7:8-10; Matthew 5:13-16 (day four)

From the very beginning of the nation, God had given instructions to Israel on how to treat their neighbors.  They were not to covet any of their possessions, they were not to take advantage of their weaknesses, and they were not to share in their sin.  For generations, Israel did not obey God.  They had not loved their fellow countryman and had taken every advantage of their neighbors for greed and self-gain.  At the time of Zechariah, God was pronouncing judgment on His people.  His command to “Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another “…had gone unheeded.  Their hearts were like flint and they would not hear the law.  We often believe we can ‘get away with disobedience’.  We ignore God’s commands or seek to reinterpret His truth to suit our needs.  There will be a day of judgment though for certain.  Ask God to search your heart and restore your relationship with Him.

Faithful Friends

Re: Verse reading–Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Samuel 20:1-17, 27-42 (day four) 

A friend is one who encourages and enables you to do God’s will for your life.  Sometimes it can be costly.  Jonathan was a true friend to David.  He did everything he could to enable David to fulfill God’s plan for his life…even though it came at great personal cost.  When God places a friend in your life and a need arises for them, we must go to God and ask what we can do to help.  Instead of looking at the drain on our time, energy, or finances, we need to come alongside them to enable them to accomplish God’s plan.  Ask God why He has put you in this place and what He wants you to do.  Maybe God has already placed resource in your life to assist.  Maybe you have been through circumstances that have given you insight and wisdom to pass along to them.  Whatever the cost, we must be faithful and loyal to our friends.

That You May Believe

Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31  (day four)
It was the ultimate goal of John when he wrote his gospel…verse 31, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”  It should be the goal of every believer to give this same witness to everyone we have contact with.  Why should this be our goal?  Just to have numbers to boast of?  No…it is like one beggar telling another beggar, where to find bread.  When Jesus breathed on the disciples so they received the Holy Spirit, they were a new creature.  They had a new perspective of life…they had new goals…they had a new love for others.  The same gift is ours!  John was bold in his witness and we should be the same.  Fear of man, lack of love, or disobedience may hinder our witness to others.  Ask God to remove any barriers in your life and to use you to lead others to Christ.

All the saints

“Be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints”.  (Ephesians 6:18)  Let’s do something together this morning.  Knowing that real prayer is never self-centered, let’s pray for the people of Egypt, specifically our brothers and sisters in Christ. ( There are many).  What do they need today?  Ask God to supply bread, water, jobs.  “Give us.”  Who do they hate/resent?  Ask God to forgive them and teach them to forgive so that they can be instruments of His peace. “Forgive us.” What do they fear?  Ask God to lead them and deliver them. “Lead us.” If Jesus has commissioned us to “go into all the world”,  part of our obedience is to pray for the people in it.  Somewhere in Egypt there is a teenage boy/girl whose future and outlook is being shaped by the events of the past few weeks.  Will you pray for him/her this morning?  Will you pray for Egyptian families and pastors and churches?  They are part of us.