by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 25-26
We see the natural side of David as he wants to avenge himself for Nabal’s refusal to help him. This rich man, whose herdsmen had been well treated when they were around the places David was hiding, turns a deaf ear to David’s request for help.
Nabal’s wife Abigail, discerning and beautiful, saves her husband’s life and saves David from bloodshed, as she honors the request for provision. A wise woman, indeed. Her reward: she becomes David’s wife as soon as her husband suffers sudden death.
Then we move on to one more encounter with Saul. After David had saved Saul’s life the first time, the king had promised to stop his pursuit. Yet wicked men don’t honor their word. The demons continue to drive King Saul
As Saul and 3000 men once again seek to kill him, David’s honor once again rises to the fore. He says to Abishai, “Do not destroy him (Saul), for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?”(26:9)
Let me add patience to David’s character traits. He knows that he has been anointed king, and he knows that Saul has lost the anointing. He also knows that Saul is driven by demons, seeking to kill him. Yet as long as Saul is alive, he is king. Until his death, David will wait patiently to come out of hiding and receive his God-given position.
Today we see people pushing and shoving, trying to establish their own positions. It seems that we could take a cue from David and let God establish our times and seasons of promotion.
There is such a rest which comes to those who truly wait for God’s timing in their lives. I’ve done it both ways. At times I’ve run out ahead of God and at other times I have waited on Him.
Waiting on God’s timing is so much better. When we do things His way, we know that He is with us, and He will never forsake us in our endeavors.
Luke 12:32-59
Stay ready! That’s a special Word from the Lord to all of us.
When the church gets into a slumber, the Lord’s work never gets done. People are going through the motions and may seem busy going to meetings, but their hearts aren’t on fire for His purposes. As the church gets into a slumber, people get very worldly – only consumed with their own ideas and desires.
When we are awake, we continue to spend time with our Savior, allowing Him to speak to us. His Words will encourage us, strengthen us, sometimes convict us to move forward in His plan.
When we are awake, we are consumed with the reality of our Father and His plans. No time for worry or fear. No time for doubt. Only faith and conviction to pursue His desires.
Lord, my prayer today is that everyone reading this word will have a fresh revelation of You – Your goodness and Your faithfulness. Touch all of our hearts so that we will be sold out to You in every respect.
And let us be about Your business.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 19-21
The Lord’s path may not always be easy, but it is sure. If the Lord has made a promise, He will keep it, but, as I said, the path may not be easy.
David surely discovers this after he has been anointed King of Israel. Saul’s jealousy and the demonic influence in his life cause great discomfort to David. Saul is determined to kill the newly anointed king.
Yet you can see God’s hand faithfully giving David favor and discernment, so that his escape is sure.
Favor comes to him through Micah, his wife, and Jonathan, his friend. Each of these defy their father, Saul, in order to save David’s life. They each risk the king’s wrath as they help David escape.
Discernment is what David needs as he runs throughout the land, trying to find safety. Saul’s henchmen are scattered all around so that David has to fabricate his mission – and even his sanity, in order to move freely.
God’s hand is sure, however, and the schemes work out for David’s good. He might not be comfortable, but he is safe.
In our lives, we might see the same thing occur. Our paths might not be comfortable, but God’s plan for us will be sure if we continue to listen to Him and obey. Our God is faithful, and He will bring us to the security of His Word.
Again, our job is to trust and obey.
Luke 11:29-54
In every generation, there have been those who try to turn their worship of God into an outward display of goodness – a show for all to see. Unfortunately, that evil still exists in our generation. It’s part of the fallen nature of mankind.
Pride is the problem. People wanting to be seen as great in the eyes of others will surely fall into this trap. Humility is the key to our walk with God, and that’s so hard for many to understand.
The Pharisees and lawyers who encountered Jesus, flaunted their holy garb and and their positions of authority, yet they were not sincere in what they were doing. They pretended to be pious, for everyone to see, but in reality, they were phonies.
This can be a problem today also. There are many who go to church, dressed in fine clothes, looking great on the outside, whose hearts are not truly to God. They are filled with self-righteousness, gossip, slander, and all sorts of sin. Yet they try to appear holy to those around them.
One of the attributes which stands out with people who are truly holy is their simple faith in their Father. These authentic ones will be like the Queen of Sheba and the people of Ninevah. They will earnestly trust God’s goodness and His Word. They will also see the fruit of that faith as they continue.
I want to be one of the authentic ones. I want the Lord to reveal any areas of my life which are not honest and holy, and I want Him to cleanse me of these things.
The true believers are rising up in this day, and I want to be one!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 17-18
How do you obtain a heart that pleases God? And how do you get the faith to fight giants?
These attributes don’t come over night. They come with a history of worshipping God and getting to know Him.
David’s father and brothers discounted David because he was the youngest, and because all he did was keep the sheep…they thought.
Actually, as David sat out on the hillside watching the sheep, he was looking up around him at the beautiful nature, and he was worshipping his Creator. As you read the Psalms of David, you see a man who was very mindful of God’s hand in everything. And you see a man who was continually praising God.
As he approaches the battle with Goliath, you also see a man who had a history of trusting God. This faith didn’t come over night. There had been a time when a bear had tried to attack the sheep, and God delivered the bear into David’s hands. Then there had been a time when a lion had tried to attack the sheep, and God had delivered the lion into his hands.
So here is Goliath taunting the armies of Israel. Day after day, the grown men would fear and tremble as they were being taunted, but David saw it differently. “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine to come against the armies of the living God?”(17:26) He doesn’t see the battle as man’s battle, but God’s.
Later he tells Saul that just as the Lord had delivered the lion and the bear into his hands, so will He deliver this Philistine. And he will do it with his own armor, which he has tested. He doesn’t need swords and spears, he will do it with a slingshot.
Such faith. We want it, but it only comes one way. It doesn’t pop out of nowhere; it comes from a life lived with our Father. A history of having won battles by His hand, and of knowing that God is on our side, and it is He who is our deliverer.
Are you going through a battle right now? Let this be part of your history with God.
Trust Him and be obedient, knowing that, as with David, the battle is His when you do it His way.
Luke 11:1-28
Are you praying for someone to come to know the Lord, and it seems that they never will? Well, don’t stop praying.
You are like the person who comes to acquire some bread for another. You have to be determined that you will not give up.
The verses which say, ” ask, seek, and knock,” have a different nuance in the Greek. The Word actually says, “keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.” Persistence is the key.
Why isn’t asking one time enough? Well, when we are praying for others to come to God, we are dealing not only with God but with them – and their wills. Our Father won’t violate their wills, but He will wait for the opportune moment to deal with them.
In the meantime, Satan is trying to deal with them also, so we have a battle in the heavenlies going on over your loved ones. God always wins, if we do things His way. So don’t give up.
If you feel the unction to pray, do it. If you feel the unction to speak to them, do that also. Follow His lead, but above all, don’t stop!
“Everyone who asks, receives; everyone who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks, it shall be opened to him.” (v. 10) What a promise.
I don’t know about you, but I am holding that one close!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 13-14
It’s amazing what a little success can do to a man’s character. Saul, who was taken from the smallest tribe and the smallest family, is getting prideful.
He’s the king, and not the priest. He has no business making priestly sacrifices to God, but he does. He over steps his bounds.
Obedience, and not sacrifice is what our Father wants from us.
Our Father is the one with the plan. We aren’t even capable of knowing all that He has for us, so we need to follow His scheme of things.
Yet, it’s so easy to do as Saul does, and “do our own thing.” Even in the name of religion.
Some of the greatest errors in our modern society emanate from this character flaw. So many ignore what God says about an issue, and make their own rules.
Proverbs says, “There is a way which seems right unto man, but the end of it is death.” (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25). It’s there twice – must be important.
It seems right to Saul to offer the priestly sacrifice since Samuel is a little late. Yet he loses the kingdom because of this decision. After his death, the kingdom will go to another lineage – one which will honor God and be obedient.
Listen closely to what your Father is telling you. Look closely at His word. Don’t try to make up your own rules, but honor His.
That’s the way of life.
Luke 10: 1-24
What makes Jesus rejoice? We have it right here.
As He sends out the seventy disciples, armed with His delegated authority, they return with a tremendous report. His plan is truly working. People are being healed and demons are fleeing as they go in His name.
Jesus rejoices that He sees Satan fall from heaven. This one who has tortured mankind will soon be thrown from heaven for good.
Then Jesus says something interesting. He praises God for “hiding these things from the wise and intelligent and revealing them to babes.” (v.21).
Why would that be? Humility is required in God’s kingdom. Only those who are willing to listen to Him are to be His representatives in the earth.
The wise and intelligent are not very teachable, because they want to believe only what comes to them personally. They get caught up in their own minds and leave God out of it.
God wants people who are malleable in His hands – people who know that they need to depend on Him. These are the ones to which He can delegate His authority. These are the ones He can send in His name.
Yes, Lord. Send me.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 10-12
Can you imagine what Saul is thinking? Put yourself in his shoes. You go out looking for some cows which had escaped the pen, and the prophet declares you to be king of Israel.
Samuel gives the new king several signs that this is truly God, but it has to be shocking.
You see, however, that God anoints Saul for the task. Not only does he prophesy with the prophets, but he also has tremendous courage and sympathy come upon him for the people of Jabesh-gilead. He rallies the troops and defeats the Ammonites on their behalf.
Yet Samuel has grave warning for the people. This was not God’s plan, but man’s. By wanting a king, the Israelites have rejected God as their king, and the prophet reminds them of that fact.
This is a reminder to us, also. If we insist on going a certain way, He will not stop us. God will honor our free will.
The blessed life, however, is the one that is lived according to God’s plan.
Luke 9: 37-62
Are you a true disciple of Jesus? Are you willing to follow Him wherever He leads?
There are always commitments which could keep us from following Him. Many of these are good things – commitments to family and community.
Do you think that Jesus wants us to forsake our families? Of course not. That is one of our biggest priorities – to be faithful to our loved ones.
However, there will always be something which will come up which will cause us to make excuses that we don’t have time to follow Jesus. There will always be a reason for not doing His will.
That’s why we have to be on guard. Instead of making excuses, we have to find a way to do His will.
When we are following Jesus, our families will be cared for, and our other obligations will be met. We will also have the time and energy to do His will.
It goes like this: love God; love people. Until we truly love God, we can’t truly love people.
Lord, empower me to do your will. No excuses; just your will.
