Tues.’s Devo - Get Ready

Read: Judges 11:1-12:5; John 1:1-28; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 14:13-14
Jephthah might have been the son of a prostitute and a tough dude but he knew Israel’s history and what God had done for her. When he was asked to come back and lead Gilead’s army against the Ammonites, he was a great choice. He stood up to the Ammonites because he knew with God nothing would be impossible. God gave him the victory but sadly, Jephthah made a foolish vow to kill whatever came out of his door first.
In their rural lifestyle, animals came freely in and out of their house. He expected a goat or a lamb to come out, but instead it was his only child, his daughter. Her reaction was what is so Christ-like. She totally submitted to her father’s word and just asked for two months to mourn with her friends the fact that she would never marry. I wonder if Jesus mourned the fact that he couldn’t marry when he lived on earth? I’m sure he did.
Jephthah only lived six more years and then Ibzan led Israel from Bethlehem. He was another leader that the number 30 shows up. He had 30 sons and 30 daughters, and for his 30 sons he bought 30 wives outside his clan. He ruled 7 years, then Elon lead Israel 10 years. He died and Abdon led Israel. He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys. I wish I could tell you what all this means but I can tell you this…it is significant! Jesus began his ministry at 30 and he was the greatest judge and ruler of the world.
We start reading John today, the most beloved disciple. In starts his book so profoundly expressing that Jesus has been here since before “the beginning”. Everything came into being through Jesus and there is no life except through him. He illuminates the world and since he is in us, we illuminate the world.
After John explains who Jesus is he explains who John the Baptist was. John the Baptist was a voice in the wilderness preparing the people for the Messiah. He preached repentance of heart so they would be open and ready to receive the Lord. Everyone who comes to Jesus must first repent of their sins and ask forgiveness then they are ready to ask Jesus in to their hearts. John was sent to do the first part.
Lord help us to be careful to lead a blameless life and be ready for You when you come for us.

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Word is Faithful

Read: Judges 9:22-10:18; Luke 24:13-53; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 14:11-12
Blood must be satisfied with blood. Abimelech and the men of Shechem killed 70 of his brothers and in the end, Abimelech and the people had to pay with his own blood.
God stirred up dissension between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. The citizens robbed everyone traveling through their land, making Abimelech a target for revenge. A new family of Gael came to town and the people started trusting in him instead of Abimelech. Zebul was the governor of Shechem and loyal to Abimelech. He learned of Gael’s plan to usurp the government and warned Abimelech. Abimelech took his army and divided them into four parts. When Gael came into the city that day, they ambushed him and the citizens of Shechem that had joined Gael. They drove them out of town and scattered salt over the city then burned it to the ground. Some the citizens had run to the temple of El-Berith where they had worshipped the ephod that Gideon had made. Abimelech and his men burned the tower with the people in it…about a thousand people.
They went to the next town, Thebez and the people had hid in another tower. When Abimelech went to burn this one, a woman dropped a millstone on his head and killed him.
After Abimelech died, Tola ruled Israel for 23 years. If you look at the meaning of his father’s names you understand that he was a humble man who was willing to suffer and lay down his life for his country. He must have had peace during his lifetime because nothing is recorded about his reign. Next was Jair who led Israel for 22 years. He had 30 sons who had 30 donkeys and ruled over 30 cities. Meditate on that!
After he died, Israel went back to worshipping Baal’s and Ashtorahs. God sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites who shattered and crushed them for 18 years. Israel repented and got rid of their false gods. Then they were ready to defend themselves against the Ammonites. They promised that the one who lead their attack would be their leader.
In Luke, Jesus appeared and walked with two men who were his followers. They were leaving Jerusalem after the feast was over. They had seen Jesus die on the cross but also heard that he might have resurrected. Jesus explainsed from Moses to John the Baptist all the prophecies about his first coming and how he had to suffer and die before he rose to glory. They walked all day until they got to the next town. They begged Jesus to eat with them and when he broke the bread, they recognized him for who he was. He disappeared and they got up and ran all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples what they had seen. As they were telling them, Jesus appeared to them also and opened their minds so they could understand the words of the the prophets about his first coming.
I feel like that is what God is doing and going to do for us concerning his second coming. He is going to open our minds, when the time is right and reveal to us mysteries about his second coming that we have not been able to see.
Jesus pronounced a blessing on the people and sent them out to witness the good news of salvation.
Lord, let us be awake and ready to witness your salvation to those we meet today.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Maze

Read: Judges 8:18-9:21; Luke 23:44-24:12; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 14:9-10
Gideon caught up with Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian and asked them to describe the men they had killed. When they described them, Gideon knew they were his brothers. He commanded his son to kill them but he was afraid to being so young, so Gideon stepped in and killed them.
The people of Israel wanted to make Gideon their ruler but he refused saying the Lord would rule over them. That was a good answer although his next act led them to idolatry. He asked for the gold earrings from the spoils and made an ephod (a golden vest) as a memorial. The people took it and made an idol of it. While Gideon was alive, the people of Israel had 40 years of peace. When he died, they went back to idolatry and sin. They also forgot what Gideon and his family had done for them.
Gideon had 70 sons from his wives and one son, Abimelech, from a concubine who lived in Shechem. Abimelech gathered all the people of his hometown, Shechem, together to rally behind him. He wanted to be the ruler and not his brothers. They joined Abimelech in his insurrection and went to Ophrah and killed all of Gideon’s sons on one stone. They crowned him king.
One of Gideon’s sons had hidden and escaped being killed. He climbed up on Mt. Gerizim and shouted a curse on Abimelech and his followers, them ran for his life. Mt. Gerizim was the mountain that the tribes stood and read the blessings from, where Mt. Ebal was the one they read the curses from (Deuteronomy 11:29). He was making the point that he was on the blessings of God and they were on the other. The blessings of God proclaim a curse on those who refuse to walk in them.
In Luke, Jesus was on the cross and there was darkness over all the earth! I wonder what people thought in other parts of the earth. If you want to know what went on during that time it is found in 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18. They are the same word for word. It says that God wrapped himself in darkness and came down. He thundered from heaven and sent lightning and hail. It was like he was fighting off the enemy who had brought Jesus to the court of God. He was justified for his life and God delivered him from Satans’ accusations. He was deemed the spotless lamb that was worthy to take the sins from the earth. It was then that the veil was split in the temple and the invitation was open for all to come into God’s presence.
Joseph, of Arimathea, came and took Jesus’ body and placed him in his tomb. Joseph was a member of the council who did not approve of what they did to Jesus and earnestly sought the kingdom of God. His tomb was emptied just as Joseph’s tomb was emptied in the Old Testament to take his bones to the promised land and placed in a tomb in Shechem, which became a city of refuge. Both of Joseph’s tombs had to be emptied to go to the Promised land. Also, interesting…Shechem was in the valley between the two mountains: Gerazim and Ebal, the blessings and the curses.
Lord, your Word is truly a maze of your awesome genius! You are an amazing God and we are so grateful that you are our loving Father.

Sat.’s Devo - The Red Threads

Read: Judges 7:1-8:17; Luke 23:13-43; Psalms 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 14:7-8
When reading about battles in the Old Testament you have to look at it like demonic forces fighting angelic forces. God had to whittle down Gideon’s forces because he didn’t want him to think he had won the battle by his own strength. God doesn’t need numbers, he needs faith. One hundred can put 10,000 to flight if they have the Spirit of the Lord (Leviticus 26:8). God was trying to show Gideon this.
He encouraged Gideon all the way. He even sent him down to the enemies camp to let the enemy encourage him. God knows we are weak and afraid but he lifts us up if we look to him.
God’s strategy was to surround the enemy at night with torches hidden in clay vessels and trumpets. The three hundred soldiers had no weapons! They got in position, blew their trumpets, smashed their jars and let out a shout of proclamation, “For the Lord and for Gideon.” Then they just watched as the enemy killed themselves. That is truly how ignorant demons are when they are stood up to by a group of people walking in the Spirit.
The clay jars stand for our our natural bodies (clay vessels) and the torches are the Holy Spirit burning in us. The trumpets are our mouths proclaiming the Word of the Lord. All we have to do is be broken and let the Holy Spirit speak out the Word.
Gideon faced some trouble with his own people when the Ephraimites felt left out. If Satan can’t get us head-on, he will try to stir up dissension in our ranks. It is like a counter attack from within. We have to watch out that we don’t get swept into entertaining the little foxes that want to weaken our troops and cause division.
Gideon had to discipline the men of Succoth and Peniel for not supplying his troops with bread. This reminds me of the competition that reigns in the Body of Christ. Everyone wants support for their ministry and their cause. We should all help each other because we are all on the same team fighting one enemy and it is not each other.
In Luke, we see the lamb being examined by the leaders and they proclaimed that he was spotless, without sin. In an attempt to set Jesus free, Pilate offered another man Barabbas in his place. Barabbas was in jail for killing apostates, people who taught heresy. He was believed by his followers to be the Messiah. His name means “son of my father.” His father was the devil and he was a false messiah. The blinded people chose him and wanted Jesus to die. This is the picture of the two goats on the Day of Atonement. One would die with the sin of the people in the wilderness, untoned for. The other would die outside the camp and his blood would be sprinkled on the mercy seat in the Holy Of Holies to atone for the sin of the whole nation or in Jesus’ case, the sin of the whole world.
On the day of Atonement the priests would put a red thread on the horn of the goat who would take their sins into the wilderness and one on the neck of the goat that would die for the nation and one on the temple door. When the goat was killed in the wilderness the red thread on the temple door would turn white. The goat in the wilderness stands for sin being done away with because of the blood of the other goat that was slain for the nation. Jesus was the goat who was slain for the nation and they placed a red robe around his neck as his red thread. He did away with sin once and for all.
On the hill there were three crosses. On one was the goat who carried sin into eternity. The other was the redeemed who went to Paradise with Jesus and the last was the Lamb of God who took away sin. They represented the three threads.
Lord, thank you for taking our sin from us and removing it as far as the east is from the west.

Fri.’s Devo - Gideon’s Calling

Read: Judges 6:1-40; Luke 22:54-23:12; Psalms 95:1- 96:13;Proverbs 14:5-6
After Jabin and Jael’s mighty victory, Israel fell into sin again and did evil according to God’s perspective. God gave them over to the Midianites, who for 7 years oppressed them so badly they hid out in shelters in the clefts of the mountains. The Midianites would rob their crops every year during harvest until finally the Israelites cried out to the Lord.
God’s response was to choose Gideon to deliver them. He was the youngest son of a very poor Baal priest. God found Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress. Wheat needs to be threshed in the open air but winepresses are below the earth. That shows how afraid they were of being seen.
The angel of God called Gideon a mighty warrior because that was what he saw him becoming. Gideon felt anything but a mighty warrior. God’s answer to fear is always, “Go, I will be with you.” Gideon built an altar to the Lord and they ate a Passover meal together. Then the angel told him to take another bull that was seven years old, the same age of their years of rebellion and offer it where the altar of Baal now stood. So, he tore down Baal’s altar that very night and offered the second bull for his nation.
When the people of the town saw the burnt altar they came to get Gideon. Gideon’s father stood up for him and said that Baal could defend himself.
The Midianites, Amelekites and other eastern people all joined forces and crossed the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. The spirit of the Lord fell on Gideon and he blew a trumpet to gather the tribes that lived nearby together for war. Gideon asked God for a sign as a confirmation and God gave him two. God loves to confirm his Word and He doesn’t get mad if we ask for a sign. Signs are God’s language.
In Luke, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times just like Jesus said he would and when the rooster crowed he felt horrible remorse.
Jesus was taken to the high priest’s house where he was given a mock trial that lasted all night. When they asked him if he was the Messiah Jesus told them that if he told them they wouldn’t believe him. Then he told them where they could find him…sitting at the right hand of God. They asked him if he meant he was the Son of God and he told them that they said he was.
They took him to Pilate and told him that Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews and refused to pay taxes to the Roman government. When Pilate asked him if he was the king of the Jews he basically told him the same thing he told the Jews - they were answering their own question.
Both the religious leaders and the political leaders were saying who Jesus was with their mouth but they didn’t want to believe it was true. Jesus was the Messiah and he was the king of the Jews.
When Pilate found out Jesus was from Galilee, he got Herod involved since that was his jurisdiction. Herod was thrilled since he had heard of Jesus and wanted to see one of his miracles. Jesus did not entertain him or answer any of his questions. So, instead Herod and Pilate who were bitter enemies became friends.
We sing for joy to you, oh Lord, for you are the Rock of our salvation.

Thur’s Devo - Prepare

Read: Judges 4:1-5:31; Luke 22:35-53; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 14:3-4
When Ehud died, Israel went back to their sinning. God handed them over to Jabin who was a Canaanite who cruelly oppressed the Israelites for 20 years until they cried out to God for mercy. Deborah was the judge and a prophetess in Israel. She would listen to the people’s disputes under a palm tree. She sent for Barak to lead the army of Israel. He told her he wouldn’t go unless she went with him. Deborah told him that since he couldn’t trust God for himself, he would not get the victory but it would go to a woman.
He did go and defeat the whole army except for their commander, Sisera who got away. He ended up at the tent of a woman, Jael he thought was on his side. God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. Jael took a tent peg and drove it into his head and got the victory of the whole battle. I call that being more than a conqueror! Jabin did all the hard work and she did one thing and got the glory. A song was sung to honor God and what he did through Jael. It says that the stars from heaven fought against Sisera.
Everything was about to change for the disciples and Jesus was getting them ready for the change. It had been easy for them to travel without persecution but Jesus knew that after his crucifixion things were going to get worse. If they kill the shepherd then the sheep will be unprotected until the Holy Spirit was given. The disciples didn’t seem to be ready for what was about to happen - they couldn’t even stay awake and pray one hour with Jesus. Judas showed up and betrayed Jesus with a kiss and the ball started rolling. It was the hour of darkness.
Lord, prepare us for what is coming. I know we are headed for a time of great miracles and a great move of your spirit but the devil is not going to stand idly by and watch it. Prepare us to walk with courage and power.

Wed.’s Devo- Our Hidden Weapon -

Read: Judges 2:10-3:31; Luke 22:14-34; Psalms 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 14:1-2
The leaders of Joshua’s generation died out and the nation went to pot. We cannot continue someone else’s walk with the Lord; we have to have our own. The next generation intermarried with the people in the land and worshipped Baal. They soon became servants to the people they were suppose to rule and weak when they were supposed to be strong. God was angry with their decisions and their hard hearts and turned them over to the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim. His name means “their darkness”. For eight years they served under him until they cried out to the Lord and he raised up Othniel. They had peace for forty years (a generation).
Their reign of righteousness would last as long as the judge lived, then the people would go right back to their old ways, forgetting the consequences. The second time they had to cry out to God to help them out of the mess they had gotten themselves in, God raised up Ehud. Ehud means undivided. He unified the people under God and delivered them from the king of Moab. He did it with a hidden two-edged sword he strapped near his thigh.
We have a hidden two-edged sword strapped to us which is the Word of God that we have hidden in our heart. It makes us invincible against the enemy.
Through Ehud, they killed about 10,000 Moabites and the Moabites became slaves of Israel. After Ehud, came the judge, Shamgar which means “the desolate dragged away”. He dragged away 600 Philistines with an ox goad to save Israel.
In Luke, Jesus ate the seder with his disciples and it would be his last meal. He offered them the cup which was the third cup on the seder table. It stood for redemption. It was to remind them of their redemption from Egypt but to point to this very season that the Messiah would become their redemption. Instead of seeing the significance, the disciples argued about who would be the greatest in this new kingdom they thought Jesus was bringing. They were deaf to what Jesus said about suffering and dying. They had in their minds how it was going to happen and couldn’t readjust.
They ate the matza bread then the last cup which was the cup of praise. Then Jesus excused Judas and got the leaven out his group. Jesus encouraged Peter that he had fought for him in the spirit because Satan had wanted to get rid of him.
Lord, may we remember that we are armed and dangerous in the Spirit because we have the hidden weapon which is your Word.

Tues.’s Devo - Finishing Well

Read: Judges 1:1-2:9; Luke 21:29-22:13; Psalms 90:91;16; Proverbs 13:24-25
We begin Judges today which is a cycle of ups and downs with the children of Israel. It is the picture of a person’s life that walks an aisle to get saved yet never learns to walk in the spirit. It is painful to watch what they have to go through because they insist on doing what is “right in their own eyes”, but is evil from God’s perspective.
We sadly read the lists of tribes that didn’t drive out the inhabitants of their land so they allowed them to live among them. These inhabitants stand for addictions and iniquities in our own lives that we refuse to get rid of or let the Spirit of God help us get free of. At first they stayed as slaves, but eventually they were thorns in their sides that lead them to do the things they had hated before. Their gods were gods of pleasure and lusts which were hard to fight from a heart that was not totally God’s.
The angel of God spoke to them and told them that because they disobeyed him and refused to drive out the people of the land, he would not do it for them as he had wanted. He would never forsake his covenant with them but they would regret what they had done. The people responded with weeping but not repentance in action. They served God only until all the people who had seen the great things God had done for them had died.
How true that you cannot sustain a walk with the Lord on someone else’s experience. The children of Israel could not stay true to God based on what their elders had seen, they needed their own relationship with the Lord.
In Luke, Jesus gave them a hint to when the end was coming. It was the ripening of the fig tree. The fig tree is Israel, so when we see the Jewish nation start coming to the realization of Jesus as their Messiah, then we can know that it is getting close. Today we see individual Jews coming to salvation but I think Jesus is talking about the nation of Israel coming to the knowledge of their Messiah. We are not seeing that yet.
God had prepared everything for Jesus' last few days on earth. He arranged the room he would eat his last meal with his disciples and everything they would need for it. We can read this and see how God goes before us to prepare every good work he wants us to walk in.
Jesus spent much time in prayer on the Mount of Olives getting ready for his departure. He wanted to end well and finish his assignment.
Lord, may we walk with you consistently and in your Spirit.

Mon.’s Devo - A New Beginning

Read: Joshua 24:11-22; Luke 21:1-28; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 13:20-23
Joshua reminded the Israelites that Abraham was chosen from a family that served other gods. God chose him to begin a new family that would be God’s chosen people to demonstrate his love and laws to the rest of the world. I see this a lot working with the youth in my church. Teens come to church who have never been taken to church as a child and have no godly heritage but God saves them and redeems their family line.
Joshua went back over their history as a nation so they wouldn’t forget their inheritance and their heritage in the Lord. He had the people choose again which God they were going to serve. The people chose the Lord so Joshua recorded their oath in a book and took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree near the holy place of God. Joshua died at the age of 110, just ten years younger than Moses when he died.
In Luke, Jesus and his disciples were at the temple as people were bringing their offerings to the Lord. A poor widow gave everything she had to the temple while the wealthy were making a spectacle of their gifts. Jesus pointed out the gift of the widow as being worth more to God than all the coins the wealthy gave. She gave everything she had because of her love for God. They gave their wealth to be seen among men while they had much more at home. It is not the size of our gifts but the size of our hearts that honors God.
Jesus mentions many times that the stones of their great temple would one day be destroyed. This happened in 70 A.D. but is also a picture of the end of the ages. The temple would not be rebuilt till the time of the Gentiles is over. We are living in the time of the Gentiles, but when we are gone, the temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices will be done again. He even tells them of his second coming in the clouds. Jesus was always telling them of the future so they wouldn’t be so bound to the present. We are to live for the future, the bigger picture. Our assignment is to live our lives to leave a path for others to walk on that will lead to God.
Lord, may we honor you and get your perspective about our lives and what we should do today. May our lives inspire others to walk closer to you.

Sun.’s Devo - Setting Things Straight

Read: Joshua 22:21-23:16; Luke 20:27-47; Psalm 89:14-37; Proverbs 13:17-19
The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh went back to their side of the Jordan and built a memorial to the Lord. The other tribes despaired and came to them complaining that they had disobeyed the Lord by building an altar when God had told them not to. The Reubenites explained that they did not build an altar but a memorial in case the other tribes on the west of the Jordan turned away from the Lord and tried to get their descendants to follow. This memorial would remind them that God was their God and they would remember their history.
After hearing their reason for building the memorial, the other tribes were satisfied and went home.
After many years, the tribes had gotten most of their land and Joshua was old and about to die. He summoned everyone together to give his parting speech. He told them to be strong and careful to obey God’s law. He warned them against adopting the gods of the people in the land that still lived among them as their slaves. He warned them of intermarrying with them. If they did, they would become weak and their enemies would become strong.
The last thing he reminded them was that they had witnessed with their own eyes the way God stood by his word and it never failed. If they continued to walk in it, God would continue to honor it.
Today in Luke we hear from the Saducees. The Sadducee’s were a political group that believed that attending the synagogue readings was no necessary. They embraced Greek culture and believed they should assimilate into society. Their religious life consisted of having a Temple. They did not follow the Torah or the Oral law of the priests. They also didn’t believe that the books of the Prophets should be in the Bible. They consisted of mainly wealthy businessmen and the priests. King Herod and the High Priest, Caiaphas were Sadducees and were appointed by the Roman Government. They were politically minded.
So, when they asked Jesus the question about the wife and the seven husbands they were wanting to know Jesus view of the resurrection. He explained it in detail making them mad but pleasing the Pharisees for once. The Sadducees and the Pharisees were bitter enemies. The Pharisees were loved by the people and based their practice on the traditions of oral law mainly even though their foundation was the Torah. They had strayed from it with all their “add-ons”. They were the ones who followed Jesus and were more spiritually minded.
Jesus nailed both classes with his last statement about being hypocrites.
Lord, help us to honor your laws and your ways. This world will one day be over but what we do for you will last forever

Sat.’s Devo - The Uncompromising Word of God

Read: Joshua 21:1-22:20: Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16
It was now time for the Levites to step up and receive their inheritance. The Israelites gave the Levites land out of their territories for the Levies so they would have cities of refuge near them and a place to go and learn the law from the priests. There were three Levitical clans: the Kohathites who were descendants of Aaron, the Merari clan and the Gershonites. The Kohathites received cities in the land of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh. They got the city that Abraham and Sarah were buried in.
THe Kohathites go land from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, half of Manasseh. The Gershonites were given land in half of the tribe of Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali. The Merorites were given land from the tribes of Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad. There were 48 towns total given to the Levites.
Joshua called in the tribes that had requested land on the eastern side of the Jordan and commended them for fulfilling their promise. They had helped the other tribes conquer their land and now they were free to return home. He commissioned them to love the Lord and always remember his laws to follow them.
In Luke, I love how the Pharisees would ask Jesus a question that would require him to reveal who he was. Jesus was not ready to be mocked over his identity, so he would reply with a question he knew they didn’t want to answer because it would require them to say something they didn’t want to say either. It sounds like Jesus is being arrogant but he was really being wise.
Answering a question with a question was the Middle-eastern way of teaching. Jesus did answer their question in the parable he told them next about the owner of the vineyard and the tenants. The owner of the vineyard was God. The tenants were the religious leaders and the heir was Jesus. It was in essence telling them that the authority he operated under was God’s because he was his heir…his son.
They actually understood this parable and it started a campaign to find a way to kill him. They started by using politics to trap him. We can see that in the media today. Everyone wants the churches’ response to abortion and alternative lifestyles so they can trap us into seeming hateful. Our authority is the Word of God and we don’t ever have to make apologies for it. It is our manual for life.
Lord, help us to never compromise your Word.

Fri.’s Devo - The Lamb of God

Read: Joshua 19:1-20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 13:12-14
The rest of the tribes got their inheritances. When everyone had gotten their land, they gave Joshua the town he requested. He wanted Timnath Seriath which means “abundant portion”. God blessed Joshua for living a life of faithfulness. His tribe was Ephraim which means “double fruitful”.
Next, the Lord gave the Levites town within all the tribes to be designated as cities of refuge. They were for people who accidentally killed a person and had no witness to defend them.
They would run to one of these cities before the avenger of blood could get them. The avenger of blood would be the close relative of the one killed. It was his job to avenge his person’s death.
The priests would listen to the plea of the accused and they would investigate to find if he were in fact innocent. If the priest deemed him innocent, he was allowed into the city and was protected from the avenger of blood. He would live there until the death of the high priest; then he could go free.
This is a picture of the righteous that died before Jesus. They were guilty of sin but if they could prove that they didn’t sin intentionally and lived a life of faith in God, they were given a place of refuge in Sheol. When Jesus, our High Priest died, he went to Sheol and preached to the souls in Sheol. If they believed, they would be released to go free with Jesus to heaven. That is why the dead were raised with Jesus after his resurrection and walked the streets of Jerusalem (Matthew 27:51-53). The avenger of blood is the devil who accuses us constantly and is always looking for a way to steal, kill and destroy us.
In Luke, we have the ascention of Jesus into Jerusalem. He walked into Jerusalem at the same time the lambs were being brought into Jerusalem from the north. The people were singing the Hallel which is Psalms 113-118. In the Hallel, it praises God and sings Hosanna to the Messiah. All of Jerusalem was singing these songs as they came to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover.
When the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke his disciples for singing the Hallel to him, he replied that if he told them to be quiet the stones would cry out. What he was saying was, all the prophets before him had prophesied of him; they were the foundation stones of the faith. They would cry out in praise of Jesus but also in rebuke of the Pharisees. Their man-made foundations were going to soon fall to the ground because their foundation was not built on the Words of God.
Jesus went directly to the temple and began cleansing it. He was fulfilling Unleavened Bread where you clean out the sin of your house. He was cleansing the sin from his Father’s house.
Lord, as we get ready to receive the Lamb of God at Passover, help us to cleanse our hearts of any thing that needs to be cleansed.

Thurs.’s Devo -Being Double Fruitful

Read: Joshua 16:1-18:28; Luke 19:1-27; Psalm 87:1-7; Proverbs 13:11
Joseph’s inheritance was split between his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Manasseh was the oldest, yet when Jacob blessed the two he crossed his arms placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head and left hand on Manasseh’s head making the sign of the cross. That is the picture of their lives. Ephraim means “double ash heap: I shall be doubly fruitful” and Manasseh means “causing to forget”. Manasseh is a picture of our first birth into sin. We are an ash heap but we shall be doubly fruitful when we are born again. Ephraim speaks of our second birth when we are born-again. God will cause us to forget all the sorrow of sin and wash us clean. Interestingly, in the land of Manasseh’s territory is the city of Megiddo the place where Islam reigns and where the last battle will be fought. It is also the mountains: Ebal and Gerizim where the blessings and the curses were read from and the people had to choose which they would live in. It is also where the city Ashtaroth is which is a stronghold of idolatry. That is all in the unregenerate past.
In the land of Ephraim is Shiloh which is a name for Jesus meaning “the peaceful one.” Ephraim’s land was north of Jerusalem. Ephraim was much smaller than Manasseh’s land because the world is much larger than the remnant. Shiloh was also where the tent of meeting was set up.
Joshua encountered the same problems that Moses did. The people complained that they couldn’t take their land because it was too hard and the enemies were too powerful. Joshua was less tolerant of the people than Moses. He pretty much told them to put on their big boy britches and go fight and take their land. I have the feeling that if God had wanted to destroy the people for their complaining, Joshua might had let him. Lol!
There were seven tribes that hadn’t received any of their land yet and Joshua rebuked them for not taking their inheritance. We have the whole Bible full of promises that are ours. I wonder if God gets frustrated with us because we choose to live with the enemy in our houses.
In Luke, we see true repentance. Zacchaeus saw Jesus and Jesus called him by name. Jesus chose to fellowship with him and Zacchaeus repented for all the money he had extorted from the people. Not only was he sorry but he wanted to repay the people more than he had stolen from them and give the poor half of what he had.
Many people are sorry for what they have done but repentance is restoring also. Repentance requires an action.
Jesus gave them a parable about responsibility and honor. Those who honor him will take the gifts and talents they are given and use them to multiply the kingdom. Those who think their gifts and talents belong to them will keep them to themselves. Those who give away will be given back. Those who hoard will live in poverty. This is speaking of natural and spiritual things.
Lord, help us to honor the things you give to us and freely give.

Wed.’s Devo - The True Riches

Read: Joshua 15:1-63: Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 13:9-10
Today we read about the territory of Judah which takes up a lot of space to describe. We also find that Joshua did give Caleb the city of Hebron where all the patriarchs were buried. The Anaks occupied the city at the time. They were the people who wore neck chains and added them as they grew so that when they were adults their necks were very long. Caleb took Hebron and displaced the three descendants of Anak then offered his daughter’s hand for anyone who would capture Kiriath Sepher. Kiriath Sepher means “city of the book”. The man who took the city was called Othniel which means “seasonal speaking of God”.
This looks like a picture of God’s people reclaiming their godly inheritance. Our inheritance is God’s Word, written and spoken. God speaks very loudly through his seasons and feasts we have to reclaim them from the enemy just as Caleb did.
Caleb’s daughter was a lot like her father in that she knew what was valuable. She knew that her and her husband, Othniel would need water for their new land so she asked for the springs of water. We can have the Word, but without the Holy Spirit which is the living water, it is just words. The Holy Spirit gives it life.
In Luke, a rich ruler wanted to know how to have eternal life. You can tell by his response that he really couldn’t grasp eternity. He wanted his good life here and then a good life after death. Jesus wanted him to know that this life was not about what you can get for yourself, but what you can give. The next life is the life of abundance. When he told him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor, Jesus was dealing with his heart. We are to live in the knowledge that it is all God’s. God, himself is our inheritance.
Then Jesus took his disciples aside and told them what was going to be awaiting them in Jerusalem. It would be everything the prophets had said: he would be handed over to the Gentiles. They would mock him, insult him, spit on his face, flog him, and kill him. On the third day he would rise. The disciples were totally blinded to what he was saying.
Next, he meets a blind man who gets Jesus’ attention and he heals him and he can see. This is a picture of the disciples. They were totally blinded just like this man but soon they would see and praise God.
Lord, help us to see the invisible kingdom of God with our spiritual eyes and strive for what is truly valuable in your eyes.

Tues.’s Devo - Our Just Judge

Read: Joshua 13:1-14:15; Luke 18:1-17; Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 13:7-8
Joshua was growing old and there was still much land yet to conquer and take possession of. The land they had not taken was very close to where Jerusalem is now and was in the territory that was allotted to Judah. God told them that He, himself would drive out the people of the mountains. They were the Sidonites which means “hunters”. They were to divide this land among the tribes except Levi whose inheritance was the Lord.
We have a list of the land that Rueben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh was given east of the Jordan. I am looking at a map that shows the land each tribe received and Manasseh and Judah got the most land and Benjamin and Issachar received the smallest area of land, but in Benjamin’s land is Jerusalem, Jericho, Ai, Gibeon, Gilgal and Bethel which are very strategic cities.
Caleb, from the tribe of Judah (Numbers 13:6) went to Joshua and pleaded his cause for the city of Hebron. It had been called Kirath Arba which means “city of four” and was changed to Hebron which means “one who has crossed”. Hebron was the land that Abraham had bought to bury Sarah in. Four great men crossed over into Sheol from this land: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. These four crossed over into the promises of God even though they never saw them on earth. (Hebrews 11)
In Luke, Jesus told a parable about a woman going before an unrighteous judge who didn’t love people. She needed justice against her adversary. She kept coming till she got what she wanted.
We don’t have a unjust judge, but a just judge who loves us. We do have an adversary and he is Satan. Our just judge answers us quickly and brings justice.
Jesus then told them why some of them didn’t get their prayers answered. They were proud and didn’t humble themselves.
Then Jesus showed them how to come into the kingdom…like a child. In other words…believe that God can do anything!
Lord, thank you for being our just judge who advocates for us. Thank you for the blood of Jesus that makes us righteous to stand before you and present our case like Caleb did.

Mon.’s Devo - The Coming Kingdom

Read: Joshua 11:1-12:24; Luke 17:11-37; Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 13:5-6
Jabin, king of Hazor gathered the rest of the kings from the north, south, east and west to join together and fight Israel. God reassured Joshua not to be afraid because he would hand them over to them the next day. They were to kill everyone and hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.
They defeated two kings on the east side of the Jordan and gave the land to the Reuenites, Gadites and half of Manasseh. Thirty-one kings were defeated on the west side of the Jordan and the land given to the rest of the tribes. God gave them success in every battle, just like he said he would.
In Luke, Jesus healed 10 men with leprosy and told them to go and present themselves to the priest so he would do the Levitical cleansing rite for a person healed of leprosy. One came back and fell at his feet and thanked Jesus for healing him. This man was a Samaritan so he not being Jewish, he could not present himself before the priest. Instead he came and presented himself before THE priest, Jesus. Jesus marveled that he was the only one who did this. He told the man that his trust in him and saved him. Salvation comes by faith.
When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come he told them that GOd’s kingdom would not come visibly but spiritually. The kingdom of God is within us, not a building on earth. Then he described the Messiah’s ministry. He would be light that would light up the sky like lightning. It would start on one side of the sky and shoot to the other side, but first he would suffer and be rejected by their generation. When he returned it will be an evil time on the earth like the days of Noah where everyone was evil except one man and his family. It would end just like it did in Lot’s day when God rained down fire and sulfur and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
In that day, Jesus will appear and be revealed to the earth. He warned that people not to turn back like Lots’ wife because they too will be destroyed. God will rapture those that are his and the rest will remain for destruction.
Lord, help us to walk with you today and hear your voice.

Sun.’s Devo - Matters of the Heart

Read: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4
The men of Gibeon deceived the Israelites into thinking they were from a land way beyond their boundaries so Israel would make a covenant of peace with them. Joshua should have asked the Lord if they should make a covenant with them, but he thought he could make one decision on his own. He did, and it was the wrong one. If he would have asked God, he would have told him the truth. Joshua made a covenant with them only to find out that they were the next towns on their path. Israel wanted to go kill them anyway but Joshua made them keep their covenant and instead made them servants of Israel. They would carry their water and chop down their wood.
When the five kings of the Amorites heard what the little towns had done, they set out to kill them. The Gibeonites sent messengers to Joshua to come and help them. They marched all night to Gibeon and then fought all day. As Israel was chasing them home, God threw huge hailstones at them and joined in the battle.
During that battle, Joshua asked God to stop the sun at noon and let it stay there so they could finish their war. God listen to Joshua and they had daylight for a whole day. They captured the five kings and hung them the next day and put them in a cave with rocks the opening. Sounds like Satan got so mad at God for taking his main leaders and did the same to God’s son when he came. Satan is never original, he copies God.
Joshua led his army to Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir, destoying their cities, killing their kings and leaving no survivors. Joshua did exactly what God told him to do.
In Luke, Jesus tells a parable about a rich man who enjoyed his wealth while a beggar sat outside his house suffering and hungry. They both died. The beggar was taken by angels to heaven while the rich man was buried in the ground. The rich man begged for Lazareth to bring a drop of water to soothe his thirst. Their roles were completely reversed in death. The beggar became the king and the rich man - the beggar.
Jesus went on to talk about forgiveness. He explained that the Pharisees and religious leaders were trying so hard to do the tangible things in their law while forgetting the matters of the heart like forgiveness. Obeying their laws were what a servant was required to do and it would not make them worthy to get to heaven. Heaven is a matter of the heart.
Lord, help us to guard our hearts and choose forgiveness rather than revenge. Remind us that we can’t do anything on our own but your wisdom and guidance is available to us for the asking.

Sat.’s Devo - The Love of Money

Read: Joshua 7:16-9:2; Luke 16:1-18; Psalm 82:1-8; Provers 13:2-3
Be sure your sins will find you out. Achan found out the hard way. He coveted a robe, some gold and silver of the spoil of Jericho and it cost him his life and the lives of his family. His sin caused 36 men to die needlessly. Once Joshua dealt with the sin in the camp, they could take the city and hang the king. Remember that these cities are spiritual strongholds that have to come down. They stand for the “giants in the land of our soul”. The king stands for the principality.
In Luke, Jesus dealt with the love of money also. He told a parable about an unrighteous money manager who was about to be fired by his boss. The manager realized he had a few more days in his job so he quickly went out and cut in half the debts of those who owed his boss money. He hoped that when he got fired, these people would be kind to him; he was buying their favor. The boss found out about it and commended him for his shrewdness.
The boss stood for God and the man was the Pharisees. They had used God’s money and their position for their own gain. They needed to wake up and see that their time was running out and they needed to do something to redeem themselves like this man did. It still seems wrong to cut the debt in half but for once his selfishness was helping the poor and helpless.
Jesus explained that worldly wealth is for us to help others on earth because when you leave you can’t take it with you. If God can trust us to handle money on earth then he can trust us with the true riches of his Word.
Jesus added that a man who puts his wife away and doesn’t divorce her legally makes her and him commit adultery if they want to remarry. This is a strange thing to say here but what he was referring to was the new covenant he was bringing. They were married to the law through Moses. They had to divorce that old covenant to receive a new one or they would be committing spiritual adultery. Romans 7 explains this in detail.
Lord, help us to be trustworthy in all we do naturally and spiritually. Thank you for the new covenant of grace and power.

Fri.’s Devo - Jericho

Read: Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Provers 13:1
The kings of the Amorites heard of what God did at the Jordan River for the Israelites and they fell into fear and depression.
The Israelites were finally going to get to enter into the land they had spent their lives traveling to. God said it was time to circumcise the people since most of them were born after the last circumcision party. They named that place, “the hill of the foreskins” giving us a picture of what it looked like. This was a picture of Calvary. Jesus blood was shed on a hill. Now that they had received a type of salvation, they could cross over the Jordan River into the promises of God.
After the men were circumcised, it was Passover, the 14th of Nisan, the day Jesus died. They ate unleavened bread the next day, then on First fruits they only ate the produce of the land and the manna ended.
Joshua met a scout in God’s army who had come to recon the area to come up with a battle plan. God gave the plan to Joshua. He was to march the people quietly around the walls of Jericho, with the priest carrying the ark leading the procession. On the seventh day they were to walk around the city seven times and blow trumpets and shout. I can’t imagine the fear building up in the people’s hearts especially on the last day when they kept circling around the city. When they shouted, the walls came down and the people were destroyed except for Rahab and her family. God asked that the spoil of this city be given to him. This was the tithe offering. Achan, from the tribe of Judah, coveted some of the things they took from Jericho and hid them. They didn’t find out till they lost the next battle which was a very small city that should have been easy to take. When Joshua complained to the Lord, he told them why they had not succeeded. God told them to bring the tribes before him and he would chose the one who was guilty.
God also pronounced a curse on anyone who would try to rebuild Jericho. When that person laid its foundation, it would cost him his firstborn and when he put up the gates, it would cost him his youngest son.
I was told by our guide in Jerusalem that recently a wealthy man wanted to rebuild Jericho. He had three sons and when he laid the foundation, his firstborn son died. His youngest son begged him to stop building and he did. In 1 Kings 16:34 the same thing happened when Hiel went to build Jericho. He lost both sons.
God’s Word never “times out”!
In Luke, Jesus gives the parable of the prodigal son to explain to them why he ate and hung out with sinners. God doesn’t judge us by our wealth, clothes, or IQ. He created us and loves us all the same. It is the ones that stray that God has to go after and help, but he loves those who choose to stay close also. God doesn’t judge like we do with our natural eyes; God judges with his spiritual eyes that see down into the depths of our hearts.
Lord, thank you for your lovingkindness. You love us no matter how dirty or poor we are. You lift us out of the mud and wash us and make us righteous because of your blood.

Thurs.’s Devo - Crossing Jordan

Read: Joshua 3:1-4:24; Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 12:27-28
It was the day they were going to cross the Jordan River. It was the time of the year in which the river was overflowing its banks. God loves to show himself strong in the midst of impossible situations.
Joshua told the leaders of the tribes to come to the front and wait for the priest who were carrying the ark to go first. They were to stay a thousand yards behind the priests. When the priests feet stepped into the water the water would stop flowing and stand up like a wall upstream. All the nations who had spies watching would see the power of their god and be afraid. Also, the Israelites would recognize that God was exalting Joshua to be their leader.
When the priest got in the middle of the Jordan they stood and waited as the rest of Israel crossed. Each tribal leader was to pick up a stone out of the floor of the Jordan and carry it to the other side. It would stand as a memorial for generations to come. As soon as the priests stepped onto the other side of the Jordan, it burst forth with water.
God was teaching them to have memorials to remember what God had done for them in the past. We should do the same by writing down things the Lord does for us so we can leave it for our children’s children to read.
In Luke, Jesus was at the home of a Pharisee and he noticed how they fought for the important seats. Jesus told them that it would go better for them if they chose to let someone else give them that position other than themselves It might backfire if they exalted themselves.
Then, Jesus told a parable about a person giving the party and said that instead of inviting those that could reciprocate, he should ask those who can’t. He told another parable about a man who had a wedding feast and everyone of his friends that he invited had excuses why they couldn’t come. He went out and invited the poor and outcasts of society to fill their seats.
All of Jesus parables were teaching so much more than humility and honor. They were showing the Pharisees what God was doing in their generation. They had spent their lives trying to exalt themselves in front of man. They had invited the elite of society to be their priests and be a part of their religion, while making the rest of the people feel like outcasts. Because of their blindness about spiritual things, they would miss their invitation and it would be given to the very people the Pharisees thought were unworthy.

Wed.’s Devo - Moses Dies and Joshua Leads

Read: Deuteronomy 14:1-Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22-14:6; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26
Three times it tells us that Moses died at 120 years of age. Every number in the Bible is significant. Moses was given the law on the first official Pentecost and there were 120 followers in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell on them on the fulfillment of Pentecost in Acts.
Moses’ eyes hadn’t weakened or his natural strength diminished when God took him. Jude 9 tells us that the archangel, Michael contended with the devil over the body of Moses. We know that Michael won because we see his body reappear on the Mt. of Transfiguration in Matthew 17:2. There has never been a prophet like Moses who talked to God face to face.
God told Joshua it was time to step up and lead the people into the promised land. He reminded them of their borders and told him to be strong and courageous. He would be with him just like he was with Moses. That is our promise. We can remind ourselves that God is with us the same way he was with our greatest hero of the faith. God pours himself out without measure.
Joshua told the people to prepare provisions, because in three days they were going to cross the Jordan. He secretly sent out two men to spy out the land. He probably remembered that Moses sent out 12 and only two, himself one of them, came back with a good report, so he wasn’t going to take the chance of that. He sent only two! They went to stay at the house of Rehab the harlot. She told them of the fear her people had about them. She hid them and kept them from being arrested and killed. For payment she asked that her household be saved when they came and took the city. The spies agreed if she would use the same scarlet thread that they escaped on to hang outside her window they would be saved. She told the men to hide in the field for three days. The spies returned with their good news on the very day Joshua told the people to be ready to move.
In Luke, Jesus was asked if only a few would be saved. He said that the way was narrow and once the door was shut, no one would be able to get in even though they would beat on the door. This reminds me of Noah and the people of his day. They didn’t want to have anything to do with him while he was building the ark but once the storm came down, they all wanted in. It was too late and the door was shut.
Jesus said that the people would be surprised at the ones who God saved and promoted in his kingdom. The Pharisees didn’t like the sound of that because they did everything to let the people know how holy they were and how they would have the most important places in heaven.
The Pharisees tried to drive Jesus out of their town with threats of what Herod would do to him. Jesus couldn’t be intimidated but he was leaving because he had to die in Jerusalem where they killed all the other prophets.
Lord, your plan has been established from the beginning of time and all our days have been appointed. What do we have to be afraid of! You are in control!

Tues.’s Devo - The Blessings of the Tribes

Read: Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Luke 13:1-21; Psalm 78:65-72; Proverbs 12:25
Moses blessed the people but first he made sure that they knew that it was God who was their king who had brought them from Egypt to where they were now. The blessings he gave them complement the ones that Jacob gave his sons in Genesis 49. I noticed that Issachar was left out of Moses’ blessing and I have no idea why. In 1 Chronicles 12 we have the tribes listed and a description of their gifts. Of Issachar, it says in verse 32 that they were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. In other words, they understood what time they were living in and what God was doing then. Every Christian is a member of a tribe and they bear the gifts of that tribe. It helps to understand what tribe you are in so that you will know what your mission is. If you don’t know, ask God; he will show you.
In Luke, men brought news to Jesus of the violent deaths some of the Galileans had died of. Jesus reminded them of the 18 men who had died when the tower at Shiloh had fallen. He kept bringing them back to their lives. These people died a horrible death, but instead of dwelling on their death, they needed to pay attention to their own lives. Death will be their fate one day so they needed to pay attention to where they would spend the after life.
Jesus gave them a parable showing them how God looked at these people’s death. These men where like a fig tree planted in the vineyard. When they didn’t bear fruit, God cultivated their hearts and gave them one more year to repent and bear fruit.
He demonstrated this in his next miracle. A woman came to him who had a spirit of weakness. Because she humbled herself, Jesus set her free and caused her to stand straight and be able to walk in freedom.
The president of the synagogue, who represents the fig tree who refused to bear fruit, stood up and was indignant that Jesus would heal on the Sabbath. He was really indignant that Jesus would heal a woman who he didn’t think had worth and that Jesus could do what he couldn’t. Jesus called him a hypocrite and told him why. Jesus explained that the man unloosed his donkey on the Sabbath and He was unloosing a woman who was a daughter of Abraham which was so much more important than his donkey. Jesus was right when he said that the religious leaders strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel.
Lord, help us to see beyond our natural reasoning to see the kingdom of heaven. Let us be motivated by love and compassion.

Mon.’s Devo - Moses’ Last Words

Read: Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Luke 12:35-59; Psalm 78:56-64; Proverbs 12:24
Moses ended his song with hope even though the song is mostly filled with doom and destruction because of their disobedience. He called them senseless people with no discernment. He promised them that he would one day judge their sins and have compassion on those who had ruled over them. He would use their enemies to discipline them. God would kill and destroy that he might resurrect and redeem a people that loved him. Then he would take vengeance on their enemies and avenge the blood of their people.
Moses and Joshua stood together and said all God’s words to the people. Moses urged them that these were not just words but they were their life. Obeying them will cause them to live long in the land.
After Moses had delivered his speech, he went up on Mt. Nebo to view the land of Canaan. Because he struck the rock instead of speaking to it and ruined the picture God was going to use to teach his ways, Moses would not be able to enter the land he had spent over forty years traveling to. The cost of disobedience is high and God wanted the people to see that. God is no respecter of persons, he is a holy God.
In Luke, Jesus was talking in riddles about his second coming and the rapture. The rapture of the church takes place before the wedding. The second and third watch have to do with the other seasons when God will gather his people up. God has three great harvest times. The first is the barley harvest which happens around Passover, Unleavened Bread and First fruits. The church will be taken to be the bride and go to the wedding. The second harvest is at Pentecost when the 144,000 Jews will be martyred for their new faith in the Lord. That will be the ingathering at the wheat harvest. The last watch or harvest will be in the fall at the Feast of Trumpets when Jesus will come through the clouds with the saints and gather the last of the fruit into the barns. The fruit harvest is the grapes and the olives. They will go through the winepress of persecution.
Jesus is not the thief in verse 39; Satan is the thief. The day of the Lord is the last day when the world will be judged. The thief will break into their houses and destroy. First Thessalonians 5:4 says, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” His warning is to stay awake and doing his will, gladly anticipating his return.
Jesus came to bring fire to the earth and kindle an unquenchable thirst and hunger for him. This fire is not compatible with evil or complacency.
Lord, help us to keep our lamps full of the Holy Spirit and fire. May we not get weary in waiting for your return.

Sun.’s Devo - Remember

Read: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27; Luke 12:8-24; Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 12:21-23
Moses gathered the people together and told them he was about to die and would not go over the Jordan with them; Joshua would lead them. He encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous because it was God who would go before them. Then Moses wrote the law and gave the priest the copy so they could teach it to the people.
God showed Moses what would happen when he died. The people would turn from Him and forget God. They would go after false gods and all the cursed would fall on them. God gave Moses a song to teach the people so they would have the Word in their minds if not in their hearts. The song declared the goodness and the greatness of God. It reminded them of who they were and what God had done for them.
The way Moses led the children of Israel is our example of how to raise our children. We might not be able to make them do what is right when they grow up, but it is our responsibility to put the knowledge of God and the good news of Christ in their minds and their memories so that when they find themselves at the bottom of the barrel, those words can come to them and bring them deliverance.. Only the Holy Spirit can put it in their hearts but he is really good at doing that. He has had a lot of experience!
In Luke, Jesus was speaking before tens of thousands of people. Once he had outed the religious leaders he moved on to include the wealthy. The scribes and Pharisees taught that those that were rich were rich because of God’s favor on them. To appear righteous, they would do anything to become rich even if it meant not caring for their own parents, stealing from the offerings or cheating the people with dishonest weights. Jesus told them that greed would not get them closer to God. They had to be rich toward God. There is nothing wrong about being rich; as long as you are rich toward God also. It always goes back to the heart.
Lord, help us to remember all the Words and memories about you that you have given us. Help us to grow from them and not forget the goodness and greatness of your hand. Be with our children and bring them to the truth in their hearts.

Sat.’s Devo - The Choice is Ours

Read: Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:1-20
God warned his children over and over about the consequences of being deceived by the worship of other gods of the people they would encounter. To be turned away by the splendor and spirit of other gods would cause all the curses to fall on them. Their sin will eventually eat away all the good in the land and their children will inherit a land full of diseases and waste.
But… when they woke up and realized how they got where they were and remembered the Lord, he will have mercy on them and heal their land and all the blessings will return. God will change their hearts and give them new hearts and return their curses to their enemies where they belong. They would become a delight to the Lord and vice versa.
He told them that obeying his law is not impossible or beyond their reach but it is in their mouth and in their heart. It is out of our heart that our mouth speaks (Luke 6:45), so if we want to know how we are doing spiritually, we need to listen to the things we are saying.
God has always been about free choice and he gave them the choice of following him and receiving the blessings or following dead, fake gods and receiving the curses.
In Luke, Jesus started his “woes”. If the religious leaders were going to attribute his works to Satan, then he was going to expose their lies. He started with the Pharisees and told them they looked good on the outside but inside they were full of robbery and wickedness. He called them “Fools” because they loved the praise of men and looking righteous when they were really spreading their unclean doctrine.
The experts in the Torah told Jesus that what he said to the Pharisees offended them so Jesus turned to them and gave them their “woe”. Jesus told them that they made up laws that were ridiculously calculated and impossible to keep. Their man-made laws made it so hard to get to God that they couldn’t even jump through their own hoops. They were total hypocrites who built monuments to the very prophets that their fathers killed. The blood of all the prophets from Abel to Zachariah would be on their heads in judgment. They would also be responsible for the fall of their own generation.
Needless to say, this did not make Jesus popular with the reigning religious regime. They made it their mission to twist his words and find some kind of fault in him.
Lord, help us to have mercy on those who are ignorant but to stand up for what is true.

Fri.’s Devo - The Blessings and the Curses

Read: Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Luke 11:14-36; Psalm 77:1-20; Proverbs 12:18
Reading the blessings makes you wonder why anyone would choose to disobey God. During Solomon’s reign was the closest the nation got to living in the blessings. But, it didn’t take long for them to stray and move back to the curses. Proverbs 25:2 says that a curse will not come without a cause. We can read the blessings and the curses and examine our lives to see which we are living in. Most people blame God for everything bad that happens to them and never consider that it may be their fault. Bad things do happen to good people who are obedient and love the Lord. A trial is not a curse. Trials come to promote us; curses come to destroy us. Ask the Holy Spirit when you are in doubt.
In Luke, Jesus healed a mute man and he spoke. This was one of the Messianic miracles that the priests had deemed only the Messiah, when he came, would be able to do. When Jesus did this Messianic miracle, they had to respond. They decided that Jesus had to do it under Satan’s power and not God’s. This was the deciding moment for them and Jesus pronounced judgment on them from this time on. We will read about those woes tomorrow. Jesus ministry took a turn and he no longer did his miracles in the open, but in secret. He had been rejected from his own and now he would be less public and more discrete. He also would require that they had faith to be healed.
The crowds wanted to see signs that he was the Messiah and he had shown them every sign that the Torah gave and the still didn’t believe. So, Jesus told them the last sign they would see is him die and raise to life just like Jonah did. Of course, they didn’t understand… but what was new!
Our Psalms says that God walked through the Red Sea before them but his footprints were hidden. How cool!
Lord, help us to live in your blessings and grow through your trials.

Thurs.’s Devo - God's Covenant of Love

Read: Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26; Luke 10:38-11:13; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 12:15-17
Once the children of Israel had lived in the land for three years and had their own harvest, they were to bring their first fruits to the Lord. They were to put them in a basket and bring them to the priests who would put them at the foot of the altar. Then the people would declare their story of how their great God delivered them out of bondage and gave them this land. This was to remind them of where they had come from and who it was that had blessed them. Everything belonged to the Lord, but he was only asking for their first fruits and a tenth of the harvest. The rest of the harvest was theirs to enjoy. The tenth of the harvest went to feed the priests, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow. That was God’s plan for the welfare of his people. Next, they were to proclaim their obedience in following God’s laws.
When they crossed over the Jordan, they were to write the law on uncut stones and set them up as a memorial that this was the law of their land. Anyone who came into the land could see the laws of the land and know what they were entering.
We are to put the Word in our hearts and it is to be the standard of all that we do. In Deuteronomy 11:18, God told them to lay up God’s word in their hearts and in their soul, and to bind them for a sign upon their hand, that they might be frontlets between their eyes. David said, “thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” God’s Word is our instruction manual to life.
God told them to send half of the tribal leader to Mt. Gerizim to read the blessings and half of the leaders to Mt. Ebal to read the curses. These mountains are very close to one another. The people were to stand in the valley between the two and the acoustics were so perfect that they could clearly hear everything that was read without a microphone. The first curse had to do with man’s relationship to God and the others had to do with their relationship to each other. If we get the first one right then it will be easier to do the rest. At the end of every curse, the people were to agree verbally.
Tomorrow we get to read the good stuff - the blessings.
In Luke, we read the famous story of Mary and Martha. Mary stood for the new wineskin. She was a woman who was being taught the Torah by the very Word that became flesh. For a woman to be taught the Torah in her day was very unconventional. She should have been up working, but she chose to sit in a position of rest and receive. That was another break from tradition. Jesus said that she was choosing the most important over the natural. Martha stood for tradition. She was doing what was conventional for her to do. She was working to feed everyone and serve. It is easier to be busy about God’s business than to sit and receive and walk in the Spirit. But Jesus was bringing a new covenant and a new way of living. Mary just found it first.
Jesus taught them to pray and his prayer is still our standard. We worship God for who he is first because worship and praise is the way into the presence of the Lord. Then we pray his heart which is to bring his kingdom down to earth. This gives us a heavenly perspective about life. Then we forgive and pray for mercy.
Jesus demonstrated how to pray for one another. We approach him as a friend helping a friend. We keep praying till we see it happen. When we need our needs met we pray to our father who cares about our needs. When we are fighting our adversary, we approach God as the just judge who is the only one who can atone for out sins and judge the devil.
Lord, help us to keep praying for those who need our prayers. Thank you for all you have done for us and for your kingdom. Help us to bring that kingdom in heaven down to earth so that the world can see your goodness and chose you as their Lord.

Wed.’s Devo - God is Holy

Read: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19; Luke 10:13-37; Psalm 73:1-10; Proverbs 12:12-14
Every law in the Old Testament is a pictures to teach us godly doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16). In their camp was to be the dwelling place of God. It is like our body that is the temple of the Holy Spirit. All uncleanness and sin had to be put outside the camp just as sin cannot remain in us. They were not to allow the Ammonites or Moabites inside their assembly because they actively tried to bring a curse down on them and refused to help them. These stand for principalities in the demonic realm to us. We fight those that are warring against us but we leave at peace those that aren’t. We don’t go looking for a fight. God told them not to hate the Edomite or the Egyptian because the Edomites were their brothers and they had been neighbors with the Egyptians.
If there is one thing we can glean from God’s laws it is that he is a holy God and he wants us to be holy people, not like their neighbors. God held them accountable for how they acted and how they treated one another because they were to be an example of Him. He cared about the alien also. God is a just god who wants us to be just and not cheat or show favoritism.
God ended by telling them to blot out the memory of Amelek from under heaven. Amelek means “perversion”. It just means “the wrong version” of everything. God has a version and Satan has a version and we have to have discernment or we will be sucked into thinking Satan’s ways are the right ones because they seem right. “There is a way that seems right unto man but its end are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25.
In Luke, Jesus was talking to his seventy disciples. He condemned cities in which he taught and did great miracles, yet they still didn’t believe he was the Messiah. He reminded the 70 that they were going out as Him and if the people accepted them then they were accepting Jesus.
When they returned they were excited that the demons were subject to Jesus’ name. Jesus told them that more importantly than that was that their names were written in heaven. He had seen Satan fall from heaven so he was not the powerful one. Satan is way overrated. God is the one who is King and we are to love him with all our hearts and our fellow man as we love ourselves. Jesus told the parable about the good Samaritan to show that a neighbor is not just someone who agrees with you or but one who shows mercy. We must be kind to those who aren’t like us or believe like us the same way we are kind to those who do. It is the kindness of the Lord that leads us to repentance.
Lord, help us to walk in mercy and authority. Help us not to tolerate evil but bring your righteousness to the earth.

Tues.’s Devo - Kingdom Perspective

Read: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30; Luke 9:51-10:12; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 12:11
Today we read a lot of laws about murder and marriage…not that they are related, lol. When it came to murder, all blood had to be accounted for and atoned. If a person was found murdered and no one knew who did it, the nearest town had to remove the guilt by atoning for the blood or the people would be held responsible. God wanted to instill in his people the importance of a life. Every person was important to him.
God also wanted man to know that he was responsible for his actions especially towards another human being. We are to take care of one another.
A woman is not to take on the authority that God gave to the man and the man is not to shirk his responsibility as the head of his household, that would be exchanging clothes. God hates mixture because that is what muddies our conscience and leads to deception.
God also gave many laws protecting women. Women throughout history have been the most abused people group and God wanted them protected. Jesus reached out to women in his day and gave them dignity and love. The woman stands for the church and God wants to restore her dignity and honor.
In Luke, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him into a town in Samaria where they were going to spend the night. The people of the town refused to let them stay. James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven and destroy them, but Jesus just continued walking. They were on their way to Jerusalem and Jesus knew what was awaiting him there. The disciples were clueless.
On their way two men approached Jesus. One was zealous and said that he would follow Jesus wherever he went. Jesus reminded him that he had no home on this earth. Jesus asked another man to follow him but he asked to go and bury his father first. Jesus saw through his excuse and told him to let the dead bury the dead; he needed to go and spread the kingdom of God. He was trying to tell both of these men that the kingdom of God was not on this earth and was so much higher and worth living for than anything on this earth.
Jesus appointed 70 men to go work in his harvest. They were to walk by faith just as he had. God would provide their needs.
Jesus invitation to follow him and work in his harvest is still open to all who will heed the call. Nothing on this earth is going to last, but the things we do for the kingdom are eternal and will never die.
Lord, help us to have a kingdom perspective and spend our energy on what is eternal.

Mon.’s Devo - The Fulfillment

Read: Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20; Luke 9:28-50; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 12:10
The priests were not to get their inheritance in the world but their inheritance was the Lord himself. That is our inheritance as priests to the Lord. The priests were to get the meat from the burnt offerings and the first fruits of grain, wine oil and wool. The things given to the Lord were theirs also. If a Levite received an inheritance from his family and moved to a Levite town he was not to be penalized by having an inheritance but was to be paid the same as the other priests. God is not a socialistic god. Everything that Jesus received from his father is now ours also.
When they entered their land, they were not to use the spiritual methods of the people living in the land. They sacrificed their sons and daughters for favor, practiced divination and sorcery, interpreted omens, engaged in witchcraft, cast spells and used mediums and spiritualists who talked to the dead. In our nation they do all these things under the umbrella of energy, raki, shamins, etc. and “new age” techniques. Don’t be fooled by the new language, it is the same thing.
God would not use any of their techniques but he would speak through prophets. They would know if he was a true prophet because of the fruit his prophecy would bear.
When they got settled in the new land they were to set up cities of refuge close to where the people lived and make clear roads with signs to the closest city of refuge. If someone witnessed a fatal accident and there was no witness to exonerate him, he had to be able to get to the city fast, before the avenger of blood caught him and killed him. As they enlarged their land, they had more cities of refuge built. They started with six and ended up with 48 cities of refuge (Joshua 21:41).
God gave them instructions about who should go to war and who shouldn’t. We go to war when we fight spiritual enemies. We should not engage in spiritual warfare if we are walking in disobedience, or we have just finished a work and not rested, or we have not completed a vow we made to the Lord. We can not win if either of these things are not completed. We have to have all our armor on to be an effective warrior.
When faced with an adversary, they were first to ask them to surrender. If they did, then they became their slaves. If they didn’t then they attacked and completely destroyed their town and its people. If they were laying a siege to the city, they could not cut down any tree that was bearing fruit. Trees are people (Psalms 1). If people outside the city are actually bearing fruit, they were not to destroy them. These trees stand for people that have a heart to repent. They are not truly wicked just in the wrong camp. We witness to these people and cause them to bear fruit in the right camp - the kingdom of God.
In Luke, Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain with him to pray. This is the first time Jesus invited his disciples into his prayer time. They fell asleep, but awoke to see Jesus’ body glorified. Then they witnessed Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah about his own exodus from this earth. Both Moses and Elijah had been taken by God to heaven just as Jesus was about to be taken. They didn’t kill Jesus: he gave his spirit up to God (Luke 23:45). He was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.
When Peter wanted to make three shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, God spell from the cloud and told them to listen to his Son. Jesus was bringing a new covenant, not of a written law, but a law written on the heart of every believer.
Lord, thank you for your new covenant of grace and spirit. Help us to listen with our spiritual ears and obey.