Thur.’s Devo - Our Eternal Glory

Read: Job 37:1-39:30; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10: Psalm 44:6-26; Proverbs 22:13
Elihu finished his speech and God answered Job out of the storm. I’m sure it was a literal storm, but how fitting that God answered out of a storm. It seems like we hear him better when there is a storm… or could it be we are listening better then because we are desperate. I think that is it!
Anyway, God answered them in their language. They spoke the language of questions and philosophy so God answered them in the same way. God asked questions then answered them. God put Job in his place and he put himself in his place. He is the creator and knows his creation that he rules over.
Paul explained our trials as the very thing that is achieving our eternal glory. It is through our trials that we gain rewards in heaven. Life is temporary but our heavenly dwelling is eternal. Now we experience the presence of the Lord by faith, but then we will see the Lord face to face.
Since we have some time let’s look at our Proverb. The sluggard or slothful man is lazy. He sees danger and can only be afraid and pronounce doom on himself. He has no fight in him or desire to better his situation. We can be lazy in our walk with the Lord. We can see our situation and only imagine the worse scenario or we can see the worse situation and imagine God’s deliverance and power. We can sit and just let things play out or we can be proactive and pray and act on what God tells us to do. The thing we don’t want to do is try to control it with our own ideas. God’s are always the best plan…the only plan that will bring forth fruit and life.
Lord, help us to find your plan in the worse situations because we know that all things work for the good. May your glory shine through your church today.

Wed.’s Devo - The Resurrection and the Life

Read: Job 34:1-36; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 22:10-12
Elihu continues his banter condemning Job of sinning. He says that God repays men for what they have done and brings upon them what their conduct deserves. This is Old Testament law: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But, none of Job’s friends can prove or point to a specific incident that Job has done to violate God’s laws. Their defense is all speculation which would never pass in a court of law today.
Elihu argues that God is not answering him because of his pride and arrogance. He accuses Job of empty talk. Elihu thinks he is speaking for God and presenting his case.
If there is one thing I know about God, he is able to defend himself and who he is.
Reading Job again reminds me of all the times I speculate about other people and even my own situations. I am so quick to try to find the answer and fix the problem. I realize that I need to ask God more questions and pray more instead of jumping to conclusions. Thank God we have the Holy Spirit who can lead us into all truth.
Paul says that God blinds the eyes of the unbelievers so they can’t see the light of the gospel of the glory of Ghrist who is the image of God. We have this glory in us. We carry both the death and life of Jesus inside our soul. The cross is the death and the resurrection of Christ. We need both. We need to die to our old man and be resurrected to walk as a new man in Christ.
Lord, help our words to be life and resurrecting.

Tues.’s Devo - Our Mediator

Read: Job 31:1-33:33: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 22:8-9
Job continued to examine his life and defend his righteousness. He had always reached out to those who needed help or a place to stay. He challenged his accusers to put their complaints in writing and to back them up with facts. Job’s friends stopped their speeches because they were out of words. When Elihu saw that they were not going to say any more he decided it was his turn since he was about to bust to give his opinion. He rebuked Job’s friends for not being able to solve Job’s dilemma.
He does say some interesting things about dreams. He says that many times dreams are warnings to turn man from sin. He explains that sometimes God uses pain to chastise people. He despaired that God needed to send an advocate to mediate between heaven and earth. This mediator could tell men what was right and be gracious to him and spare him from hell. This mediator would give new life and restore men’s youth. Then men would be able to say, ‘even though I have sinned, I did not get what I deserved.’ He restored my life from hell. Little did Elihu know he was prophesying about Jesus, our Mediator.
Paul explains that it is not education or a committee of people who determine who is qualified to minister, it is the Spirit who has written his words on our heart and ordained us to minister his Word. This light that God has put in us is not something we have to hide but something we need to share. It reflects the glory of God and sets people free.
Lord, may we be transformed into your likeness and ever increasing in your glory.

Mon.’s Devo - The Aroma of Christ

Read: Job 28:1-30:31; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 22:7
Job begins by explaining how precious metals come from deep dark places that are deep within the earth and have to be found and searched out. He compares these to finding God’s wisdom; but wisdom is far more precious than anything we can find on this earth. Only God understands the way to wisdom and knows where it dwells. God says that the fear of the Lord is wisdom and to turn from evil is understanding.
Job remembers the day when he had intimate friendship with God and His blessing was on his house. He was prosperous in every way, but he thinks that God took all that from him. He says that God unstrung his bow and afflicted him. Job feels the affect of loss of reputation and dignity which are harder than the loss of material things. He has lost who he was as a person. I can’t help but wonder what his wife is going through.
Paul was a mentor and a pastor so when he didn’t find Titus in Troas where he thought he would be he was deeply concerned for his life. He left and went to Macedonia hoping to find him there. Paul was either loved or hated everywhere he went because he carried the aroma of Christ. To those who were drawn to the light and hungry, he was the aroma of life. To those who opposed Jesus, Paul was the aroma of death. We carry that same potential. The aroma of Christ flows from a vessel that has been crushed and broken. When we are empty of ourselves, the aroma of Christ flows the freest. We are also the most vulnerable in our emotions so we have to remind ourselves that the rejection we get from other people isn’t personal, it is a spiritual reaction to what we carry. People that are drawn to us are drawn to us because they are hungry for the light we have.
Our Psalm is such an encouragement to a downcast soul. Our hope is in You, Lord. We will praise you all day!

Sun.’s Devo - Stand Firm in Your Confidence in Christ

Read: Job 23:1-27:23; 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 22:5-6
Job brings their attention to all the suffering and wrong done to innocent people. He points out that you can’t judge a man’s righteousness by the way his life turns out. This life is full of evil men who prey on the innocent. So how can they look at what happened to Job and believe it is his fault this calamity has happened to him.
Bildad still asks Job how he can consider himself righteous before God since nothing is righteous but God. Job comes back with a discourse on the power of God over the earth but stands on his integrity. He has searched his heart, and there is nothing standing between him and God. I love that Job stands up for himself and doesn’t cave to condemnation. He is an example of what we are to be. We are righteous because of the blood of Jesus, but we can also walk with a clean conscience and do good and not sin because of Christ in us.
I think that his friends were afraid of what happened to Job. They had to wonder if it would happen to them also. What we tend to do with things we are afraid of is to try to figure them out so we can beat it. That is why Job’s friends were so adamant about making it Job’s fault and not just the sovereignty of God.
Paul says the same thing Job does. He defends his holiness and clear conscience. It is Christ in us that gives us confidence to stand against accusations of the devil and men.
In this letter Paul encourages them because he hopes and believes that they have righted all the wrongs he wrote about in his first letter. He wanted to give them time to set everything straight before he came so his visit could be a joyful one instead of one where he would have to discipline the people. He tells them that if they have disciplined and forgiven the man who was sleeping with his mother-in-law then he has too. Whoever they forgive, he will also.
Lord, help us to walk in love and confidence of the grace you have given us.

Sat.’s Devo - Be a Bringer of Comfort

Read: Job 20:1-22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 22:2-4
Today, Zophar speaks up defending him and his friends. He says he hears a rebuke that dishonors him and inspires him to reply. He explains how the life of the wicked is brief on the earth and only lasts a moment. He implies that this is Job’s plight and that his pride has brought him to this judgment. Job’s reply is to beg them to listen to him before they continue their mocking. He admits that he is terrified about what has happened to him but he argues that they can’t judge him by the outcome of his life because many wicked people live a very full and long life and don’t receive their judgment till they die. He continues that God is sovereign and who can figure him out or his ways.
Eliphaz takes his turn asking Job why he thinks he is so important to God. Is God rebuking him because of his righteousness? (Eliphaz almost got it!) Interestingly, no one has mentioned Satan in their speeches. Everyone believes in God…even atheists but few believe in a devil. All of Job’s friends say some great nuggets of truth, it is just not true about this situation.
Paul writes his second letter to the Corinthians. He speaks of the Father of compassion and the God of comfort. Times were very hard and persecution was rampant so Paul urged them to receive God’s comfort and then give it to those who needed it. Paul and his men had come close to death but God brought them through it. He wanted to comfort them with his story.
That is what life is all about. We lift each other up with our story of redemption. We are being saved everyday from some temptation, fear, sorrow, etc. We always have a reason to rejoice and help someone else.
Lord, thank you for the comfort of your words. Our Proverb says that humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. That is true comfort! May we be bringers of comfort to others today.

Fri.’s Devo - Be Strong

Read: Job 16:1-19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 22:1
Job fights back and tells his friends that if things were reversed, he would be comforting them instead of accusing them. Job feels like he has been turned over to the enemy with no one to defend him. But, he knows that heaven is his defense and they know the truth. Job longs for an advocate on earth.
Bolded speaks up for him and his friends. He doesn’t like being referred to as a beast. He goes on a tirade explaining the plight of the wicked as if Job is in this category. I don’t blame Job for being irate with his friends. He comes back with a vengeance defending himself and begging for pity.
In the New Testament, Paul urges the Corinthians to start setting aside a free will offering to give him for missions. They were to send some of their missionaries with Paul to Jerusalem for training. This money would fund their travels. Paul urges them of five things: be on their guard against the enemy, stand firm in the faith of their salvation, be men of courage and not fear, be strong, and do everything through love. These are five tenets to live by as Christians.
Lord, help us to live by these five things.

Thurs.’s Devo- Your Kingdom Come!

Read: Job 16:1-19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10: Proverbs 22:1
I do love Job’s sense of humor. He calls his friends miserable comforters with their long-winded speeches. His defense is that he does hear God’s voice and he is blameless before God. I also love the fact that as low as Job is, he still has fight in him. He has not let his circumstances defeat him. Job thinks that God has done all this to him when really it is Satan that has done this. This is such a common conclusion when bad things happen. Our first response is to blame God when it is Satan who attacks and destroys. God brings life and restoration. God allows everything that happens in our lives but he doesn’t do the killing or the hurting. He is there to comfort and assist. Life is full of trials because we live in a fallen world, but when we understand that we are not under that curse we will sail above our circumstances.
Just yesterday, I had to order more fabric because I didn’t have enough for the last window. I had to pay for that out of my own money only to find out I didn’t need it because I had misread my notes and there where only five windows and not six. It was frustrating but I was reminded that this is small stuff compared to eternity and God was able to replace that money. What God was looking for was my attitude about it. I think I passed the test! I certainly hope so, LOL!
In Corinthians, Paul explains the difference between the natural and the spiritual. God does the natural first which is a picture of what is coming spiritually. Yesterday, I was at a clients house and the television was on the stock market station…boring! I listened as they were talking about Disney. They were saying that Disney had sold a piece of the Kingdom and they were trying to get it back. I heard Holy Spirit say, that is exactly what is going on in the spiritual realm. We have let the enemy have a piece of the kingdom and we are having to get it back. That is what is going on in our nation also. Pretty exciting!
Lord, help us to discern your voice and your dealings in our lives. Show us how to get the kingdom back in our lives and our nation. Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!

Wed.’s Devo - The Gifts

Read: Job 8:1-11:20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; Psalm 38:1-22; Proverbs 21:28-29
I have to remind myself that Job and his friends were some of the wisest men of the day who had great insight from God even though they missed it on Job. Bildad understood God’s grace. He said that when you sin, God gives you the penalty of your sin unless you plead with God who will restore you. He, like Eliphaz believed that there was no way all this could be happening to Job unless he had done some secret sin that God was judging him for.
Job complains about his friends saying that a man in despair would have the devotion of his friends even if he was to forsake God, but his friends are as undependable as intermittent streams of water in the desert. They offer no lasting hope. Job accusses them of seeing something they can’t understand and being afraid of it.
Job feels like he is under God’s gun of trials. He is begging for a reprieve from God’s heavy hand. He also begs for his friends to pardon his offenses and forgive his sins: he know that God has. Our Psalm today would have been a great encouragement to Job.
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth where the church is out of order in every way. The women need to be quiet because they are not using their gifts to edify, and the men are speaking out of order also. Since they don’t understand the gifts, they are abusing them. Paul admits that he speaks in tongues much but when he is in the church it must be done orderly. Tongues is a prayer language between you and God, but there are times that God will prompt a person to speak a tongue out in a service. When it is done correctly, there will be a person who can interpret what the tongue said. This person will follow with the interpretation. It is amazing to watch and a wonder that will make a sceptic believe.
When Paul told the women to be quiet, he was talking to the women in Corinth. Many times, Paul explains that there is no difference between man and woman in the eyes of God and he even anointed women for deaconship and other offices. He had women prophetesses and speakers. The devil has taken this one scripture and twisted it to be something it was never intended to be.
Lord, may we be friends that pardon sin and bring encouragement to others. Help us to move in your gifts as you intended them to be used.

Tues.’s Devo - Empathy

Read: Job 4:1-7:21;1 Corinthians 14:18-40; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 21:27
When I read about Job’s friends I wonder, “with friends like these, who needs enemies.” It seems to be our nature to want to figure out everyone else lives which is just what Job’s friends tried to do. Instead of helping him through it, they tried to figure out why it happened. Eliphaz’s answer to Job’s dilemma was that Job was reaping what he had sowed. He recounted how Job had helped so many other people who were down and now he was not able to help himself. Eliphaz says that if God couldn’t trust his own angels, why does Job think he is so blameless. If Job would just call on the Lord and repent, he was sure that God would forgive Job. He suggests that maybe Job has resentment and unforgiveness that could be repented of.
Job responds that though his pain is beyond comprehension, he has not gone against the Lord or refused to obey him. He feels his friends have abandoned him and have no empathy for what he is going through.
We could learn from Job’s response. When we see people going through hard times, we need to be there for them to help not to give an opinion. We can pray for God to give them insight because God is trying to get their attention, not ours. Sometimes trials are the results of our choices but many times they are to teach us to persevere or how to fight.
Paul teaches about prophecy in the church. I used to attend a church where prophecy was a normal thing, but now I attend a church where it would be totally out of place. I don’t worry about those things because I know that God is restoring his gifts to the body and when they are restored it will be totally in place. God does teach us that prophecy is not a spell that takes over a person and they have no control, but it is a word that God gives a person and he can decide when he gives it is best to say it. Whether we have thought about it or not, we have all moved in this gift. It is as simple as us thinking about something we need to tell a person and telling them. God’s gifts are not as hard as we sometimes make them to be.
Lord, restore compassion and prophecy to the church. May we learn to walk in your spirit is a way that is not flamboyant or offensive.

Mon.’s Devo - The Trials of Our Faith

Read: Job 1:1-3:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1-17; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 21:25-26
It always encourages me that God would say about a man that he was blameless and upright, feared him and shunned evil. There were so few good kings so it is refreshing to read this about this wealthy man named Job. Little did Job know, he was being used as an example in the spiritual realm against God and Satan. God put his trust in Job, that he would persevere and win. Satan thought he could use his tactics to destroy Job’s faith. It reminds me that our trials are not always about us. We see our lives in micro-sight, but God sees it in the scope of eternity. Our lives are being watched by heaven and we have a cloud of witnesses watching and cheering us to victory. It is a race of our faith.
I think it is insightful to see that Satan used the things that he knew Job feared. (Job 1:25) Satan watched and saw Job’s love for his family and his fear that they might curse God and die so he killed them. Satan observed how much wealth and comfort Job lived in and put his trust in so he took it. Satan watches us and sees what we value and what our fears are and he attacks us in these areas. It is all a test to see our reaction and if we will praise the Lord no matter what.
Paul showed us the way yesterday, which is love. Now he tells us that prophecy is the gift we should desire. There is wrong teaching that you only can have one or only a few gifts but God says we can desire a gift and get it. We are to ask for the gifts of God - he promised that if we ask for bread, he will not give us a stone. Prophecy is hearing what God says about a situation or a person and saying it. We all need to know what God is saying. We all need this gift so we can ask for it and God will give it to us.
Tongues are great, especially for the individual because when we pray in tongues we are praying the will of God. We are praying the heart of God. But when we prophesying, we are speaking the heart of God for others. Both are essential gifts but one is more personal and the other is for the body. That is why Paul told them to go after prophecy - so they could edify the body. But if the tongue you speak can be interpreted, then the body is edified also. Both are valuable gifts from God.
Lord, help us to trust that our trials are here to make us strong. Help us to praise you in the midst of them and defeat the enemy. We desire to hear your voice and speak it out so give your body the gifts of tongues and prophecy. Help us not to be afraid of your gifts and your moving in our lives.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Unfailing Love

Read: Esther 8:1-10:3; 1 Corinthians 12:27:13:13; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 21:23-24
Today we see the turnaround that God did. What the enemy meant for harm, God meant for good. Xerxes gave Haman’s estate to Esther who gave it to Mordecai. He gave Haman’s position of honor to Mordecai but that was not enough. Even though Mordecai and Esther might have been saved, the Jewish nation was doomed for destruction in less than a year. Esther didn’t stop with her salvation, she put her life on the line again and petitioned for her people. Xerxes gave Mordecai the pen and told him to write the law to say whatever he wanted it to. So Mordecai wrote a letter saying that the Jews could defend themselves and fight and kill their enemies on the day appointed for their destruction.
We have petitioned for our nation and God is giving it back to us. We need to keep fighting and pressing in to getting laws that are godly and righteous. We need to be writing the laws. God is behind us. In our families, in the areas that the enemy has gotten a foothold, we need to write the laws of our family. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We need to stand against what the enemy has always done and gotten away with and say, “No more!”
Esther followed through and had Haman’s ten sons killed so none of the seed of Haman would rise up for revenge. I call that killing the little foxes that so easily beset us; cleaning house.
Mordecai’s law turned a holocaust into a victory and mourning into joy. Today, Jews still celebrate Purim with joy and feasting.
Paul gives us the offices of service in God’s kingdom: apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, those with service ministries, the administrators, and those who speak in tongues. These are all gifts of service but the way of excellence in these offices is love. Love is the fuel of the kingdom. It motivates everything that goes on. Love is God. When all is gone faith, hope, and love will remain
Lord, help us to choose your most excellent way of love. Even in warfare against our enemy we can rest in your unfailing love.

Sat.’s Devo - What Gift Does the Holy Spirit Want to Use Through You Today?

Read: Esther 4:1-7:10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-26; Psalm 36:1-12; Proverbs 21:21-22
Haman’s evil plot of killing all the Jews was proclaimed to the nation and the Jews mourned in sackcloth. Esther had to find out through Mordecai because she was sheltered in the walls of the palace. When Mordecai told her that she must petition for her people she gave her excuse why she couldn’t. To walk into the throne room without being summoned was instant death unless he held out his sceptre, and the king hadn’t called for her in 30 days. (Isn’t that our first response when God tells us to do something we think is uncomfortable or impossible. We think of all the reasons why we can’t do it.)
Mordecai didn’t listen to her excuse; he told her the truth. Just because she was in the king’s palace, she could not depend on that to save her. She was a Jew and that could not be hid. She would be killed along with all the other Jews but God would raise up a deliverer through someone else some other time. Then he told her that maybe this was the very reason God had promoted her to that position. He was giving her the choice of being the deliverer or just giving up. It doesn’t sound like it would be hard to decide but fear is a tough enemy. She had to overcome her fear.
God never meant for us to do it alone and Esther knew she couldn’t. She called for a fast and got her courage up to go into the throne room. God’s timing was perfect in everything she did. Once she stepped out, God was behind her every step. He was in control and orchestrated the rest of the scenario. Haman was exposed for what he was and Mordecai was exalted for what he was. Esther got to be a part in what God was doing for her people and learned that her life had so much more purpose than just being a pretty face. She rose up as a deliverer of her people.
In Corinthians we have the list of spiritual gifts that God wants us to know about: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.
We all have one or more or all of these gifts. God determines which ones you get for each situation. I picture this as a group of people meeting and God wanting to let each person experience him in a different way so they can share their part with the others and everyone can be edified. We don’t get a part of the Holy Spirit. We get all of the Holy Spirit so we can move in all of these gifts but he loves it when we move together as one.
Lord, help us to see how you want to move through us today and give us the power and the courage to step out to the task you have given us to do. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that equips us with the gift we need for the moment.

Fri.’s Devo - Esther

Read: Esther 1:1-3:15; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 21:19-20
When I read Esther I can’t help but remember what we read about yesterday about the role of the man and the woman. The king is a picture of God who rejected his first wife because of her disobedience. She refused to present herself before him. God rejected his first wife, the Jews for this very reason…they had rejected him first. His new wife is the Church of all nationalities: Jews and Gentiles, but mainly Gentiles. Esther was definitely not of the same origin as King Xertxes.
Esther showed that she could submit. She submitted to Mordechai at home first. Then she submitted to Hegai, the master of the harem. These were all preparation for being submissive to her husband, the king.
We have that same opportunity to learn obedience. We have to learn to be submissive to our parents, then our teachers, then our husbands. These all prepare us to be submissive to God or vice versa.
Esther was chosen as the bride by the king just as we are chosen if we submit to the purification process God puts us through in our lives. The more we learn to submit to authority around us the better we will be at submitting to God. God can use us better and more often when we are empty of ourselves and teachable.
The people in Corinth were not very teachable and had many divisions. Divisions happen when one side wants their way over another and there is no give. We are never to give in to compromise in the matters of sin but we can compromise our rights to rule. Even God is not comfortable in a church where there is division. The people in Corinth were letting their natural desires rule their bodies. They had no self-control. Paul told them to be prepared spiritually and naturally before they came to church.
Lord, may we be submit ourselves to authority as unto You. Develop self-control and humility in us today.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Dedication of the Temple

Read: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:3-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18
It is time to celebrate the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem and Nehemiah makes sure it is a great day of praise and joy. He brings in all the Levites from around Jerusalem to help in the celebration. Two choirs of Levites are stationed on the wall. One of them walks one way around the wall and the other the other way until they meet up together. All the while they are singing and praising God. It must have been an awesome sound and sight to see. It was recorded that the sound could be heard from far away! People brought tithes and offerings and gave them to the temple. Nehemiah rid the city of Ammonites and Moabites since they had tried to put a curse on the Israelites. God had turned that curse into a blessing.
Nehemiah left for a season and went back to Babylon to serve Artaxerxes and came back to find Tobiah, God’s enemy, living in a room in the courts of the house of the Lord. This is the very man that worked against the building of the wall. The enemy always tries to infiltrate the church from within and Tobiah was a plant of Satan’s. Nehemiah threw Tobiah out with all this belongings and ordered the Levites to purity the rooms he had used. He also learned that the Levites had not been paid for their job in the temple so most of them had had to go back to working in the fields. Nehemiah changed this and put trustworthy men over the finances of the temple. He also noted that the people were working on the Sabbath and also buying goods on the Sabbath. He put a stop to both of these things. Many had married foreign wives and their children couldn’t even speak the language of Judah - Hebrew. He rebuked them, calling down curses on them. Some of them he beat and pulled out their hair. Nehemiah didn’t play around when it came to purifying the people and following God. He was radical!
Paul explained that the man is the picture of Christ and the woman is the picture of the Church. Jesus is on the same plane as God and has the same authority. The church is submissive to Jesus in everything she does so since she is represented by the women, women need to submit to men out of obedience to God. Men have a great responsibility to use their authority to honor God and women have the same responsibility to honor men as unto God. When either of them get in the flesh and abuse their authority, God is the one who will punish and rebuke them.
Lord, help us to be like Nehemiah in our fight against sin and the things that offend You. May we purify our own hearts first, then the space around us that we have control over. Help us to be good representatives of your glory.

Wed.’s Devo - To the Glory of God

Read: Nehemiah 11:1-12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:2; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 21:14-16
The leaders wanted to fill Jerusalem with people so they asked for volunteers. When they still needed people they casts lots and one out of ever ten was chosen to move to Jerusalem while the others could stay in their towns.
A list was given of the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, the priests and the Levites. Some of the Levites were in charge of the outside work of the house of God. Some led in thanksgiving and prayer and some were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. Others were singers who were responsible for the service of the house of God. Pethahiah was the kings’ agent in all affairs relating to the people. Everyone had their gifts and places in the temple and they all did their work. Nehemiah was the governor and Ezra was the priest and scribe. When they worked together their was unity and joy.
Paul was trying to maintain that same unity and flow that Nehemiah had. It only works when the people are all worshiping the same thing and working toward the same goal. When idolatry slips in, their is division and many lines that should not be crossed are compromised. When we are under Christ we have freedoms others don’t have but that doesn’t mean we can flaunt them or defile their consciences. We have to be sensitive about what we do when it comes to others. If it offends them, then we need to abstain when they are around. This sounds hypocritical but what we do is judged by our heart and God is the judge of our hearts. Everything we do should be done to the glory of God.
Lord, help us to keep our eyes on You. Let the fear of You be on our land.

Tues.’s Devo - Learn From Their Mistakes

Read: Nehemiah 9:22-10:39; 1 Corinthians 9;19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10a; Proverbs 21:13
Nehemiah continues his retelling of Israel’s history. God had given them victory over the inhabitants of the land yet they were disobedient and rebelled against the Lord and his law. Even in their rebellion, God remained faithful to Israel. In his goodness, he turned them over to be slaves to other kings so that they could see the error of their ways and turn back to him. So they made a covenant to turn from their past life and follow the law and do what it said. They would give to the Lord what he required and not neglect the house of God.
In the Old Testament disobedience made them slaves but in the New Testament Paul who was free chose to become a slave to Christ that he might win others.
He explained the spiritual significance of the Old Testament. The children of Israel ate the passover lamb signifying salvation and the blood of Jesus. Then they went through the Red Sea which symbolized their baptism. They ate the manna which was their spiritual food like the Word of God is ours. They drank water from the spiritual rock which stood for Jesus. Everything they went through was to teach us spiritual lessons. They were an example for us not to follow. They set their hearts on following evil and it brought them bondage. We don’t have to experience that if we learn from their mistakes. God will make a way of escape from every temptation we face.
Lord, help us to learn from the mistakes of the children of Israel and choose wisely. We are blessed because we take refuge in You. Thank you that our faces are never covered with shame because we walk under the shadow of the most High.

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Selection

Read: Nehemiah 7:61-9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12
The priesthood had to be pure and the only way to make sure was to check their geneology. Their blood line had to be proven. It was a picture of God’s selection and predestination. Only those who have been predestined before the sands of time will be able to enter into heaven. They must have Jesus blood. There will be a certain time on the earth that Jesus will come back and judge the earth. It is represented by the Feast of Trumpets which happens on the seventh month the first day. On this day the people assembled (Nehemiah 7:73, 8:2) and read the Law. They met at the Water Gate which represented the Living Water. There, Nehemiah read the Law explaining to the people exactly what it meant. The people realized how far they had strayed from it and began to weep and mourn. Nehemiah told them not to mourn or weep because this was not the time to do that. It was a time of joy and celebration.
The Feast of Trumpets will be a great day for the Christian because our King will be crowned King of Kings but, it will not be a day of joy for those who have rejected Jesus. This was to be a day of joy for them as God’s chosen people. It was a day that God wiped their sins away.
They left the celebration to prepare for the Feast of Tabernacles where they were to construct booths to live in for seven days to represent the fact that this life is temporary and this is not our home. Our home is in heaven with the Lord. Every day during this week they met to hear the word of the Lord being read on the 8th day they fasted and mourned, confessing their sins. This will be the day of judgement where the world will be judged. It will be a day of sadness and mourning for those whose names were not written in the book of Life.
In Corinthians Paul defends the right of leaders in the church to receive a salary from the church. Sadly, Paul did most of his ministry for free because they didn’t value his work. It didn’t stop his preaching because he was compelled to preach and did it out of love for Jesus and the people. Paul will receive his reward in heaven which will be so much more than the world could ever give. This is a good concept to remember when we feel unappreciated. The greatest reward we can get is the one we will get from God in heaven.
Even our Psalms and our Proverbs today, remind us of how the Lord takes note of all that happens on the earth and rewards his children for their obedience and punishes those who reject him.
Lord, may we trust in your unfailing love for us. Great is your name!

Sat.’s Devo - Spiritual Warfare

Read: Nehemiah 3:15-5:13; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40; Psalm 32;1-11; Proverbs 21:5-7
The rebuilding of the wall is the perfect example of how everyone with totally different gifts can work together on the same task and accomplish it.
When their enemies led by Sanballat and Tobia realized the Jews were still building they came to discourage them. They attacked their goal questioning their strength, their timing, and the power of God. They called the Jews feeble and condescendingly asked if they thought they could build this wall in a day and if they could bring the stones back to life since they were charred by fire. All of these very things had been prophesied about Jerusalem. Yes, God would bring a nation to birth in a day. Yes, God would bring the stones back to life. They were prophets and didn’t even know it.
Instead of giving up, the Jews prayed and worked harder with all their heart.
Now, their enemies decided that words were not enough, they needed to physically foil their plans so they met to attack the Jews. Their mission was found out and the Jews fortified the wall with ammunition and fighting men. The workers worked with a sword strapped to their sides and a weapon in one hand. With the other they built the wall. That is how we are to work, always ready to fight our enemy, the devil.
Their other battle was from within. Some of the wealthy Jews had borrowed money to their brothers and were charging interest and making servants of their children. Nehemiah rebuked them and put a stop to both of these. He lent money to the poor without charging interest.
It is so true that we fight forces without and within. Sometimes we are our own worse enemies. We have to stop listening to the voices of condemnation and intimidation. The attacks we feel from people are not really from them, they are from the devil who is using them. We don’t fight flesh and blood but principalities.
Paul continues his talk on marriage. We live in a world where marriage is a status symbol and if we are not married then we think something is wrong with us. I personally know at least three unmarried women who are beautiful, bright and godly. They all long to be married. I see no reason why they aren’t. Paul is trying to get our attention off of marriage and onto what is most important which is living our lives for the Lord. I think you can do that married or unmarried it all goes back to your heart. I married a man who loves the Lord like I do so we are a team in the Lord. Bottom line is we are to be content whatever state we are in and grow in that place.
Lord, help us to see our status as our platform to do what You have called us to do.

Fri.’s Devo - The Goodness of God

Read: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 21:4
Nehemiah lived in the palace and was the cupbearer to the king of Persia. He was a devout Jew who overheard two men talking in Hebrew about Jerusalem. They told him about how the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and its gates burned. This news was so sad to Nehemiah that he fasted and prayed to the Lord. He reminded God of his promise to gather his people and bring them back to the place he had set for them which was Jerusalem.
When it was time to bring the king his wine, Nehemiah couldn’t put on a happy face and the king noticed. When he asked him why he was so sad, Nehemiah told him his burden for his people in Jerusalem. The king asked him what he wanted and Nehemiah asked for permission to go back and help them rebuild their wall. The king sent him with his blessing, letters to the governors there and supplies to rebuild.
When he got there, he went out at night to see the condition of the wall. Once he saw the damage, he approached the Jews living there and told him his plan. They were delighted with his plan and set out to divide the wall into parts and assigned them to different families. Everyone was glad except for Sanballat and Tobiah who were enemies to the Jews and didn’t want to see their welfare change for the good. Sanballat means “hatred in secret” although he didn’t remain secret about it. Tobiah means “the goodness of God”.
There are always enemies of God’s people and their hatred can bring out the goodness of God. When someone rises up against us and we call out to the Lord, he answers and saves us by his goodness.
Paul speaks on marriage which is always controversial. The bottom line is to let love rule over everything.
Our Psalm speaks of God’s goodness also. It is stored up for us who take our refuge in the Lord.
Thank you Lord. We bless our enemies and turn them over to you. May your goodness flow to your people.

Thurs.’s Devo - Putting Away Our Foreign Wives

Read: Ezra 10:1-44: 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 21:3
Ezra set an example of repentance and intercession which spread to the people causing many to join him. He was distraught that the people of Judah had married foreign wives taking up their religion and idolatry - many of these being priests. God heard their cries and turned the hearts of the people to repent. They sent their foreign wives away even though some of them had had children by them. If you think divorce is wrong under all circumstances, you need to read the scriptures. One of the stipulations is spiritual idolatry and one is natural.
Paul asks his congregation in Corinth why they are taking each other to court to be judged by ungodly judges. It is the church that should judge the church. Since we are dealing with divorce in the Old Testament, it makes me wonder about Christians who divorce. Do they take their disputes to the judge or the Christian counselor? Certainly they should take their matters first to the Christian counselor. If one or both parties are unwilling to align their lives to the Word of God, then they would be like the ones in Ezra who refused to leave their foreign wife. A foreign wife is any ungodly activity or mindset that we have put above God. It can be an addiction, a person, or something intangible like unforgiveness. All of these can be brought under the blood of Jesus and we can be free from them. It is our choice. Paul said it well, “Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything.” He summed it up with the fact that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is not our own body to do with as we please. We were bought with a price of the blood of Jesus. So, we should honor God with our bodies. Even our Proverb today says that to do what is right and just is more acceptable to God than sacrifice.
Lord, help us to honor you in what we do and what we think. If we have any foreign wives in our lives, help us to send them away.

Wed.’s Devo - Walk in Holiness

Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21:1-2
Ezra had his faith tested and upheld God’s integrity. He knew that they would be traveling with great amounts of gold and silver through hostile and unsafe land. He had told the king that his God could protect them so he had to refuse the offer of the kings soldiers. Instead, they fasted and prayed that God would protect them. God honored their trust in Him and protected them the whole way. After resting three days, they began sacrificing in the temple. The leaders reported to Ezra that many of the leaders, priests, and people had married outside of the Jewish race and mingled the holy race with foreigners. This greatly upset Ezra who grieved and repented for the peoples sin.
In Corinthians, we see the same thing happening. Sin has entered the church through one man and Paul explained how a little sin spreads and affects all the people eventually. Paul told them not to associate with Christians who called themselves Christians yet continues in unrepented sin. He said that is wasn’t the Church’s job to judge those outside the church, but they were to judge those in the church. God is coming back for a holy bride, so it is our decision whether we are the bride. The bride will live a sacrificed life of holiness and self-control.
Lord, help us to judge ourselves first by the Word of God and repent of our own sins then by love help us to admonish our brothers and sisters to walk in holiness.

Tues.’s Devo- The Favor of God

Read: Ezra 7:1-8:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 20:28-30
Ezra’s geneology was given to show that he was a direct descendent of Aaron qualifying him as a priest. Ezra left Babylon on Roshashana and arrived 5 months later. He had orders to pay all the expenses for sacrifices and the operation of the temple. All the priests were tax-exempt and provided for by the king. The king of Artexerxes wanted the law of God followed completely and was funding the whole thing. What favor!
Ezra was to take people with him that wanted to go back to Jerusalem. All the priests had to be able to prove by their genealogy that they were priests. I have heard that Levites can be identified by their DNA but I don’t know if that is true or not.
The priests were entrusted with the sacred things of God just as Paul reminds us that we as Christians are also entrusted with the sacred things of God. Those sacred things are the hidden things of God’s wisdom.
We all see each other in the natural, but God sees our hearts and when it is time, He will expose our motives. We should not exalt man but only God. Things are not always as they appear. One day, everything will be made known. Paul was telling them this because he had heard that some of the people had become arrogant and were exalting themselves above the Lord. Paul reminded them that everything they had came from God; they were nothing without him.
This is a good reminder to us. Everything in the world screams self-exaltation and performance. It is refreshing to see talented people give the glory to God because God entrusted them to carry the gifts they have. God is handing out gifts to us and it is so important to remember who gave them to us and why. Everything is to exalt God’s kingdom.
Lord, help us to do everything for your glory.

Mon.’s Devo - Revival to a Nation

Read: Ezra 5:1-6:22; 1 Corinthians 3:5-23; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 20:26-27
God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to stir up the people to rebuild the temple. When the governor and his officers found out what they were doing they questioned their authority to rebuild. They were given the history of the Jewish nation and the decree of Cyrus giving them permission. The governor sent this information to Darius the king of Babylon. Darius had his men search their archives till they found the decree of Cyrus and the Jews were right. Darius ordered the governor to help them with funds and supplies and threatened them with their life if they didn’t obey.
This was a turn of events! They were able to finish the temple right in time to celebrate the Passover feast. Passover is all about salvation by the blood of a lamb. It is revival of the soul. They shared this feast with all the exiles and anyone who wanted to separate themselves from their gods to follow the true God. It was a great celebration of joy because God had changed the attitude of the king of Babylon to help them in the work on the house of God. We need a change of attitude in America. If God could do it then, he can do it now.
In Corinthians, Paul continues to move the focus off of men in authority and on to the Lord who is the authority. In Ezra, they were building a physical temple for all to see, but now that temple is us. God is putting his presence inside of us to be the light to the nations.
Lord, we do pray for an attitude change in our nation. Give the people a hunger for You and your temple. May the temple you have established in all of us shine brighter and brighter and may revival come to our nation.

Sun.’s Devo - A New Thing

Read: Ezra 3:1-4:24; 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4; Psalm 28:1-9: Proverbs 20:24-25
Once the Jews that came back to rebuild Jerusalem were settled in their homes, they set about rebuilding the altar so they could institute sacrifices. They had it finished for the Feast of Tabernacles. It was time for God to tabernacle with his people once again. They did this in spite of their fear of the people around them. Revelation 12:11 says that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and the fact that we don’t love our lives unto death. In other words, we don’t fear what man can do to us. This was the attitude of the Jews.
They gave their money to rebuild the temple. They had a huge celebration when the laid the foundation for the temple. The people that had seen Solomon’s temple wept because it was nothing compared to it but the younger people wept for joy because they had nothing to compare it to.
Every generation God does a new thing. He changes the way we do church, the songs, missions, everything. It is easy to look back and only see the good in the past and wish it was like it was, but that is not profitable. We need to adjust our minds to the new thing God is doing and be a part of it.
We are not the only one who hates change…the devil hates change also when it is God’s changing. Satan raised up adversaries to discourage and stop the work of the Lord. He finally accomplished that and they were made to stop building.
It is easy to let discouragement steal our power and desire to press on, but we can’t let that happen. Satan will always fight God’s moving, but if we contend, we will win.
Paul taught the Corinthians about a wisdom that we have available that comes from God. We can know things that no man can conceive. God’s wisdom looks foolish to the world because they can’t understand it.
Lord, thank you for rebuilding faith in our nation. Thank you for raising up Godly men to rule us and reestablish your truth. May we not be afraid of the threats of the enemy but have your wisdom to see through them.

Sat.’s Devo - Rebuilding the Temple

Read: Ezra 1:1-2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 20:22-23
The book of Ezra is amazing to me. God put it on the heart of a non-Jewish king to send God’s chosen people back to their land to build their temple for God. He even told the people living in their towns to support them with silver, gold, goods, livestock and offerings. Cyrus brought out of his treasury all the articles that had been taken from the temple Solomon had built so they could carry them back. Almost 50,000 people responded and went back to rebuild Jerusalem. Talk about a life change!
To me, this means that during this time in our history there is a major shift in the church. The interesting thing is the outside world is going to fund this next move of God. The things that have been stolen from us like authority, the Holy Spirit, tongues, healing, deliverance, miracles, revelation, holiness, worship… the treasuries of God are going to be restored. We are living in exciting times!
Paul continues to teach the people of Corinth that it is not the wisdom and eloquent speech that has power but the simplicity of the gospel. Paul himself was not an eloquent speaker but he came demonstrating the power of the Spirit and teaching the truth. They needed to get back to the basics.
This is a good reminder to us. Because we have lost the demonstration of power, we have come to rely on people who can entertain us and speak well. I pray for less of that and more of the demonstration of God’s power.

Fri.’s Devo - Bad Kings…then Cyrus

Read: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21
Josiah follow the law and did everything it said concerning the Passover. The people enjoyed a passover celebration that hadn’t been celebrated in that way since David’s time. Josiah was responsible for setting the temple in order according to what God had written. Then Josiah got involved in a battle that was not his to fight. Neco, the king of Egypt told him so and he refused to listen. It costs Josiah his life, and Judah’s. His son, Jehoahaz became king and he did not follow the Lord. He was dethroned by the king of Egypt and his brother, Jehoiakim became king. He was not a godly king either. Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon attacked and bound him in chains and took Jehoiakim to Babylon. His son, Jehoiachin became king. He only reigned for 3 months and King Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon also. His uncle, Zedikiah was made king. He did evil in God’s eyes and refused to listen to the words of Jeremiah. He even rebelled against the king of Babylon. God sent them prophets to turn Judah back to him but the people ridiculed them and wouldn’t listen. Finally, God sent the Babylonians to conquer them. They robbed the temple, burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value. The people were taken captive to Babylon. The land lay dormant 70 years to enjoy all the Sabbaths it had been robbed of and to fulfill Jeremiah’s prophecy.
After the seventy years, God put it on the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia to send Jews back to Jerusalem to build the temple for God.
Many prophets today believe that this king Cyrus is like our president. He has been called to bring the temple of God back into our nation and be built up again. We know that this is not a physical building but a spiritual one in the hearts of all Christians. Our nation was built on the foundation of Christ and is returning to its roots, but not without a struggle.
We begin First Corinthians today. Paul established the church in Corinth during his second missionary trip and stayed there eighteen months. He had left to visit his other churches when he heard news that some of the members in the church in Corinth had become morally lax. Paul penned this letter to admonish them to lay down their differences and stop exalting their leaders over each other. The most important person to follow was Jesus.
We all have our favorite teachers and preachers but the bottom line is that they are only people. Jesus is the only one worthy of our worship and adoration.
Lord, thank you for what you are doing in our nation. Help us to not lose hope or courage. You are establishing your kingdom in our hearts and on the earth. May we look to you as the author and finisher or our faith.

Thurs.’s Devo - Great Epitaths

Read: 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:8-27; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19
Manasseh came home a new man. He reversed all the evil he had done and died in peace. His son, Amon became king and followed in the old ways of his father. He fell deeper and deeper into sin until his own officers killed him. The people of the land killed the officers and put Amon’s son, Josiah on the throne. This is the very Josiah that the prophet named would burn incense upon the altar in Bethel. God split the altar as a sign of his displeasure of Jeroboam in 1 Kings 13.
Even though Josiah was only eight years old and had a father that had been evil, he began to seek the Lord. He led a massive campaign to rid the land of idolatry. In his 18th year as king, he collected the offerings and started repairing the temple. One of the priests found a copy of the law and brought it to the king to read. When Josiah read it, he realized how far they had strayed from following it. He asked the priest to find a prophet to ask what to do. They found a prophetess, Hildiah and asked her. She sent word to Josiah that all the curses he had read would come upon Judah because they had rebelled continuously against him, but Josiah would not see this happen because he had humbled himself and his heart was right.
Josiah had the words of the law read to the people and had them make a covenant to God that they would follow him and his laws. All his days were spent serving the Lord. What a great epitaph!
Paul lists, by name, all the people who had been so faithful and helpful in his ministry. This is like their epitaphs. Just like them, our name is written in God’s book along with all the things we have done for him. One day, it will be read for all to hear.
I pray Paul’s blessing over us today…”May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.” May the mystery of our Savior be made known to all the nations. Amen.

Wed.’s Devo - How to Lay Waste a Curse

Read: 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13; Romans 15:23-16:7; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 20:16-18
Hezekiah was such a good king so the Lord gave him wisdom in how to defeat the Assyrians who were on their way to Jerusalem. He took away their water source outside the city and built up the walls around Jerusalem. The leader of the Assyrian army was Sennacherib which means “the thorn laid waste”. So this story is how to stop a curse since a thorn is the picture of a curse. Sennacherib came throwing curses at Hezekiah about his god. He even wrote these curses on paper insulting God. He told the people that no other nation’s god could save them so theirs wouldn’t be able to either. Instead of turning in fear and believing them, Hezekiah had already established the righteousness of God in his kingdom so all he did was find the priests to pray with him.
God’s angel slew all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. Sennacherib went home in disgrace knowing that the God of Hezekiah was no ordinary god. When he went into the temple of his god, his own sons killed him with the sword.
Hezekiah continued to prosper and become very wealthy and his kingdom very secure in the Lord until he died and his son, Manasseh came to rule. Manasseh rebelled against the ways of his father and did everything against the Lord he could do. He restored idolatry of every kind and brought it into the temple of the Lord. He was taken away by the very people his dad defeated. He was lead in chains with a hook in his nose. In prison, in Assyria, he cried out to the Lord and humbled himself. God heard him and brought him back to his land to rule his kingdom.
In Romans, Paul is ending his letter to the Christians in Rome. He loves the people in his churches, but he shares with these his own personal struggles and gives them details of how to pray for him. He shares how the Gentile Christians are reaching out to the poor Jews in Jerusalem. He makes the correlation about the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews shared with the Gentiles their spiritual inheritance and blessings so it is fit that the Gentiles share with the Jews in their material blessings.
Lord, may we freely give of our spiritual blessings and our material blessings for the kingdom’s sake. Thank you that we are blessed and not cursed.

Tues.’s Devo - Prosperity

Read: 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21; Romans 15:1-22; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 20:13-15
Since there was not time to get ready for Passover in that first month they decided to celebrate it a month late. God did not care that they missed the date, it was their heart that was right and acceptable to him. Hezekiah sent invitations to all the people of his nation asking them to join him in Jerusalem for the Passover and imploring them to turn back to God. The people scorned and ridiculed them but some did humble themselves and came to Jerusalem. These people enjoyed two weeks of fellowship, fun, and worship. The rest stayed home and went to work as usual. Sounds like today. God is doing and is going to be doing some amazing things. All are invited, but many will ridicule and stay home doing life as usual. They will totally miss out on the wonderful things God will be doing. But, the ones who hear the call and answer will come and enjoy the fellowship, fun and worship.
There were so many offerings offered the king had to build places to store them. When people’s hearts get turned toward the Lord, they give abundantly and everyone prospers. Hezekiah turned his nation back to God and sought God with all his heart. The last sentence says, “And so he prospered.”
Hezekiah did what Romans tells us to do…bear the weak and make them strong. When the Church walks in unity and love, they are unstoppable and totally blessed and fulfilled. There is no greater feeling than the one you get when you help other people get to where they need to be. Our goal is not to just give to the poor but to enable them to help themselves. Everyone needs to know that they are needed.
Lord, help us to bring out the best in those we are around today. May we use our gifts to help others use their gifts.