Sat.’s Devo- God Speaks

Read: Job 37:1-39:30; 2 Corinthians 3:13-5:10; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 22:13
Elihu finishes his speech about the wonders of God in the storm. Man hears his voice in the thunder, sees his lightning and feels his rain and snow. After giving all the wisdom he knows about God he concludes that God does not consider those who think themselves wise. (I wonder if he put himself in that category. I’m sure he was blinded to how that sounded.)
Finally God speaks!!!! I am always so glad to finally end Job because it is exhausting to listen to Job get so beat up under the condemnation of his friends. He begins with telling Job to stand up and brace himself because God has some questions to ask him. He calls Job’s words ignorant but he is about to show him what is true. He starts out by asking Job how he knows so much if he wasn’t even there when God made the earth.
When God created the earth, he set up boundaries for the sea, God called up the light to chase the wickedness of darkness away. He asks Job if he had ever gone to the bottom of the ocean to know what was there. He hid the wicked so they would not see the light. How would Job know everything if he has never seen it or been there when it all happened at the creation.
God explains that he has storehouses for snow and hail to use in battle. Hail was one of the plagues of Egypt and according to Revelations will be used to destroy the earth in the end.
God talks of the stars as if they are friends of his that he named and he marches them across the sky in a procession each having a different affect on the earth below. God asks Job if he determines when it will rain or when the clouds will gather.
Then God asks if Job can put wisdom inside of a person’s soul or give their mind understanding. God moves on to the animals that man could not observe because they could never get that close to them. Every minute thing about the different animals, God created and watches over.
We now have cameras that can watch animals from a distance and show us the wonders of God’s creation. We also have underwater cameras that can observe the creatures under the sea. God is opening up man’s knowledge of his great creation to give us a closer look at his wonders. He is letting us see, inviting us closer so we can know him more.
Paul puts all this in perspective when he says that this earth is not our final resting place. We have a heavenly dwelling place that is waiting for us in heaven. Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we have to fix our eyes on that promise of eternity.

Fri.’s Devo - The Power and the Light

Read: Job 34:1-36:33; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 22:10-12
Where Job’s other friends suggest that Job might have some hidden sin in his life that he needs to repent of, Elihu is relentless in his accusations. He accuses Job of associating with wicked men. He says that God repays a man for what he has done and brings upon him what his conduct deserves. God doesn’t pervert justice and his judgments are right so behind a doubt, God is punishing Job for his sins. He tells Job that God is wooing him from his place of distress so he can bring him to a place of freedom.
The thing about all the words of Job’s friends is that they can be true in some circumstances, they just weren’t true in Job’s. They were not a word in due season. God is the god of justice and judgment and he does reward the righteous and punish the wicked, but sometimes we never see that here on earth. God is sovereign and his ways are not our ways but are higher than man’s.
I think it is fitting that every year we read the book of Job in the August which on the Jewish calendar is around the month of Av. In the month of Av much spiritual warfare goes on for Israel and for the world. In this month both of the temples were destroyed, Katrina hit New Orleans, the Jews were thrown out of Spain in 1942, the spies came back with their evil report about the promised land, Aaron died, WW1 began, the Battle of Bull Run was fought, the Crusades began, and Nebuchadnezar’s guard set fire to Jerusalem. These are just a few events that have happened during the month of Av over the years. Think back over this month and reflect on the spiritual warfare you have gone through. I know I have seen it.
In Paul’s letter he reminds us that the light we have in us is Jesus. He puts his light in our clay jars just like Joshua told them to put their torches inside the jars of clay at Jericho. When the time came to take the city, he told them to shout and break their clay jars to expose the light. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Our bodies are the clay jars that hold the power of God waiting to be released. The way it is released is to be broken. The less power we have in ourselves, the greater the power of God can be exposed in our lives. God is greatest in our weakness.
Lord, we trust in your right hand and the light of your face to bring us victory over our enemies.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Glory of God in Us

Read: Job 31:1-33:33; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Psalm 43:1-5a; Proverbs 22:8-9
Job begins by trying to prove his innocence going through his mental list. He doesn’t look lustfully at women, doesn’t walk in deceit, he stays on the path of God, he gives to the poor, clothes the naked, cares for widows and orphans, give justice to his workers, and hasn’t allowed his wealth to be a snare to him. He has never rejoiced when his enemy met misfortune, he entertained strangers who needed a place to stay and had never tried to hide his sins because he feared what people would say.
Job ends by challenging anyone to find a fault in him or a sin that he had not repented of. Then he closes his mouth because he has said everything he knows to say to defend himself.
Elihu was a young man who had been listening the whole time and waited till everyone was finished giving their opinion. Now he is relieved to be able to spew forth his ideas as if he has the answer. He spends a while just building himself up as if he just loves to hear himself talk.
Elihu does say some thought provoking things. Job had wanted God to speak to him and Elihu argues that God does speak to men. He speaks in dreams, through pain and illness and sometimes through angels.
Paul explained that Jesus was the Word of God that came down in human form and when we become his believers and followers that same Word is in us and we become the Word. We reflect the glory of our maker to the world.
Moses came down from the mountain with the glory of God shining so brightly on his face that the people asked him to veil his face. Ever since, the Word has been veiled from their eyes. The only way the veil can be lifted is for them to receive the Spirit of the Word which is in Christ. The new covenant that Jesus brought is so much more glorious than the first one that Moses had. Now, our faces reflect that same glory but even more glorious than Moses’ because we are have a better, more glorious covenant.
Lord, help us to remember that we carry the light of the world in our hearts and on our countenance.

Wed.’s Devo - Hidden Treasures -

Read: Job 28:1-30:31; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 22:7
Job tells of the treasures under the earth, hidden away in rocks that have to be mined to be found. People on the earth are oblivious to the hidden gems they are walking on, but the miner brings what is hidden to light.
Wisdom and understanding can’t be blasted from the earth nor bought with money. They are found in fearing the Lord and turning from evil. They are the hidden treasures of God that we have to seek. We usually find them when we are going through a dark time. I have found that I rarely understand what I am going through at the time…I’m in the dark. When I come through it I can look back and see the light and understand what the lesson was or at least see how God brought me through it. Sometimes it takes me years to see the beauty of a trial but it is always profitable.
Job reminisces about his past glory. He used to feel safe in God’s protection and grace. He lived in peace with his children around him living in prosperity and favor with man. He lost all of that in a day and now, the lowest of the low look down on him and mock his condition. His life is full of torment and pain and his prayers bounce off the ceiling. He has lost his song.
In Second Corinthians, Paul is desperate to find where Titus is. Since he isn’t in Troas, he goes to Macedonia looking for him. In his trial he makes some profound discoveries. We carry the aroma of Christ to God which makes us pleasing to him. We also carry this aroma to the world. To the world our scent smells like death making them oppose us. To the believers, our scent is life giving us fellowship with one another with no strings attached or desire for personal gain.
Lord, help us love one another with sincerity and always carry the aroma of Christ.

Tues.’s Devo - Job’s Integrity

Read: Job 23:1-27:23; 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 22:5-6
Job responds to Eliphaz who argued that God only punishes those who do wrong and brings justice to the innocent. He cries out to God and tells his friends what he would say if he could only get an audience with God. He would present his case and see if God would deliver him from his affliction. Job complains that God know everything about him and where he is but Job can’t find God anywhere. Job is afraid that he has not seen the worse and wishes that God would have a set times of judgement.
Everywhere Job looks he sees people who are cheating others out of their inheritance, stealing from orphans and widows, oppressing the poor, murdering and committing adultery, and stealing others property. They do their wicked deeds with no apparent judgment from God.
Even though they think they are getting away with their wicked deeds, God sees everything. They will die and not be remembered, they have no assurance in their life. Their rule will one day come to an end.
Bildad speaks up and asks Job how a man can be righteous before God.
Job explained that the dead and the living are all visible to God’s eyes. He went on to expound on Gods rule over all the powers of nature on the earth. This is the power that Job stands before and declares that he will die defending his integrity. His conscience is clear. He says that he understands the fate of the wicked.
In Paul’s second letter he assures the people that he has no hidden agenda, just to love and support them. Paul is sad that he has not gotten to see them though he had planned to be able to stop on his journey. He wonders why God didn’t give him His “yes” to come but he concludes that everything in Christ is a “yes”, even if we think it is a “no”. When God closes one door, it is to open another so it is always good.
Paul recalls the painful last visit he had with them because he had to rebuke them for the things they were doing. It was very hard for him to do that but he is so glad they listened and did what he told them they needed to do.
In Paul’s first letter he had advised him to give a man over to Satan for destruction. This man came back to be restored and Paul encourages them to forgive him and restore him back to the body of Christ.
Lord, there is a time to love, rebuke, restore and pray. Help us to know what season we are in and work with you.

Mon.’s Devo -Trials and Hope

Read: Job 20:1-22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 22:2-4
Zophar must have been offended that Job referred to him as stupid so he spoke up to defend his honor. He started out by explaining how the wicked will not prosper in death and everything they accumulated will be for naught. This man will have to give back everything he worked so hard for. Since he oppressed the poor, the tables will be turned on him. He will reap what he sowed.
Job’s friends are determined to argue that Job is responsible for what has happened to him. Job argues that he sees many wicked people on the earth who are prospering and seemingly happy. They are not getting what they deserve even though they have no respect or fear of God. Man’s fate is in the hands of the Lord. He exalts some and punishes others. God decides when judgment comes to every man but it will come either in this life or after.
Eliphaz spoke up and argued that God would not find pleasure in punishing a righteous person…if Job was righteous. God was punishing him because of his endless sins which he named. He oppressed the poor, refused to share his food with the needy, sent widows away empty-handed and abused the orphan. Eliphaz accused Job of thinking God can’t see him through the clouds.
His advise was to submit to God, repent and return to the Lord and he would restore him. Then when he prayed, God would hear him. (Their gospel was “cause and effect.”)
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he began by praising God who comforts us in our troubles so we can comfort others. Paul tells of the hardship that they faced in Asia which almost cost them their lives. Through it all they found that God was there for them and gave them much hope. He thanked them for their prayers and support.
Paul had fallen out of favor with the Corinthian church when they were having so many problems, but they had read his last letter and used it to right many of their wrongs. They were now grateful for Paul’s leadership and discipline. This was a great encouragement to Paul.
Lord, thank you for our trials that cause us to draw near to you and seek our comfort in you alone.

Sun.’s Devo - God of Justice

Read: Job 16:1-19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 22:1
Job tells his friends that they are miserable comforters. Instead of easing his pain and suffering they stand as his greatest accusers. He could say the same thing about them and they haven’t lost everything, so they are way off on their conclusions.
Job knows that he has an advocate in heaven who will one day plead his cause. He asks his friends if they see no hope for him.
Bildad defends himself asking Job why he thinks they are so stupid. He gives a description of the wicked as if Job should see himself there or maybe to contrast them to themselves.
Job feels the attack and wonders why they feel so superior to him just because he is going through the trial and they are not. Job still holds to his own innocence and says that he has been stripped of his honor. He feels estranged from his guests, his maidservants and even his own wife and brothers. He has been reduced to skin and bones and cries out to his friends for a little compassion. Job’s consolation is in the fact that he knows his redeemer lives and will one day stand upon the earth and bring judgement and justice.
In Corinthians, Paul suggests that the people start giving offerings weekly to pay for their missionaries they will send to Jerusalem. That way, when he gets there the money will be there and they won’t lose any time.
Paul promises to come to them when he has time to spend with them. At the time, Paul had more pressing ministry in Ephesus. He saw an open door for great work, but it would come with much persecution and opposition.
Paul endorses Timothy and tells them to accept him when he comes. He also wants them to accept Apollos who was timid about coming there. He encourages them to be strong and courageous and to do everything in love.
Lord, I thank you that one day you will stand on the earth and bring justice to every suffering and pain.

Sat.’s Devo - Resurrection and Life

Read: Job 12:1-15:35; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 21:30-31
I love Job’s sarcasm: “Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!” He has had enough of their empty wisdom which accuses him of what they can’t prove. He reminds them that he has a mind too and he is not inferior to them. Job makes the statement that men at ease have contempt for misfortune.
Job challenges his friends to ask the animals and let them teach him what they know of God. God is in control of all the earth and everything in it. The person who is deceived is his and the one who deceives is his. He exalts people and nations, and brings them down. No one can stop his hand.
Job explained that he desired an audience with God so he could present his case, but his friends were worthless physicians who only told him lies. Then he asks them how they would fare if God examined their lives like they were examining his. Then, what would become of their high and mighty counsel.
Job cries out to the Lord and begs him to meet with him and explain what He has against him. Job didn’t think it was fair to be punished for something he didn’t know he had done. He begs God to examine the good he has done instead of this secret sin he knows nothing about.
Eliphaz decided it was his turn to speak and questions Job’s wisdom. He describes Job’s speeches as hot air, valueless, and lies. He asks him if he thinks he knows everything and is above everyone else on the earth. Who was Job to think that God would think of any man as righteous. Eliphaz gives a vivid description of the plight of the wicked as a warning to Job that he might be getting close to this description with his arrogant claim that God was not fair.
In Corinthians, Paul explains that the resurrection is the power of the gospel. Without it we have no hope or future. The only way to have resurrection was to have death. Our bodies are made to wither and die, but our spiritual body is eternal and glorious.
Adam was the picture of the first man born of the dust of the earth. Jesus was a picture of the new man who came down from heaven. When we are resurrected, we will be spiritual. Death will be swallowed up in victory!
Lord, help us to number our days and see how fleeting life is and let us live fearlessly in total abandon to you.

Fri.’s Devo - Hope

Read: Job 8:1-11:20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; Psalm 38:1-22; Proverbs 21:28-29
Bildad has such a strong doctrine of God’s judgment that he tells Job that his children got what they deserved, but that there was still hope for him. (How Job took that is beyond me.) He goes on to say that no one has hope if they forget God. God would never reject a man who was blameless, so Job must have something that he has done to deserve this calamity.
Job’s response was very merciful. He agreed that no man can be blameless before God because God’s wisdom is profoundly above man’s. He went on praise God’s wisdom, his power, and his sovereignty over the earth. He agreed that he was not innocent before God, because no man could be. He didn’t even believe that God would listen to his plight and there was no way he would be proclaimed innocent before a holy God. He wished there was an advocate that understood man’s frailty and could speak up for him. If he could speak to God, he would plead with him not to condemn him and ask him what his charges were because he didn’t know what they were. He wonders why God created him, only to destroy him.
This was when Zophar decided he needed to respond. He was not going to let Job get away with saying he didn’t know his sin. He wished God would speak because then God would tell him his sin. He pleaded with Job to admit his sin so he could be saved and “rest in safety”, unafraid. Then he threw in the fact that the eyes of the wicked would fail and escape would elude them. In other words, they have no hope. He wanted Job to know that if Job continued believing he had done nothing to deserve what had happened to him then there was no hope for him.
Jesus was the answer to Job’s desire for an advocate. God sent Jesus to become a man so that he would experience the weaknesses and temptations of man. He brought flesh to God and was our bridge to God. The power of the gospel was the resurrection of Christ. Paul explained that sin came through man, Adam, so a man had to take it away. Jesus was that man. Jesus died and was resurrected destroying our last enemy which was death.
Lord, thank you that you are our advocate to the Father. Thank you that your blood covered our sin and we are hidden in you. We praise you because you are the resurrection and the life.

Thurs.’s Devo - Bildad’s Take on Job

Read: Job 4:1-7:21; 1 Corinthians 14:18-40; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 21:27
Bildad, the Shuhite was the first of Job’s friends to offer Job a comment about his situation. Bildad means “son of contention” and was a descendant of Abraham’s son Shuah also the name of the district in Arabia where he was from. The common thought of the day was that if you lived righteously then you would be rewarded on earth, but if you sinned, you were punished on the earth. That is true to an extent, just not true in Job’s case. Bildad went to great legnths to prove his point. He ended by advising Job to plead for mercy from God and repent. God loves those he corrects so this was nothing more than God lovingly rebuking Job for something he had done.
Job tried to explain that this was the lot that God has decided for him. He compared his life to living in the army with God as his sergeant. This was his assignment - suffering for a set time. I laughed out loud when I read Job’s complaint to God. He said, “Wont you ever take your eyes off of me, at least long enough for me to swallow my spit?” Job felt like he was under God’s heavy hand for God’s reasons, not because he did some big great sin.
In Corinthians, Paul is still addressing the issue of speaking in tongues in the church. He explained that he spoke in tongues much than even they did but when he is in church it is more beneficial to the people if he prophesied and they could understand what he was saying. A first time visitor was going to be afraid if someone spoke in tongues without interpreting the message. But if a prophet were to stand and give a prophecy and reveal what the man was thinking in his heart, then he would probably become a believer really quickly.
He addressed the order of giving prophesy and told them that if someone was prophesying and they got a word from the Lord, they had the power to wait until the person speaking finished. He concluded with telling them not to forbid people from speaking in tongues and to eagerly seek to prophesy, but just to do both of them with sincerity and order.
Lord, help us to trust you through our trials and not try to figure them out while we are in the midst of them.

Wed.’s Devo - The Trials of Job

Read: Job 1:1-3:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1-17; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 21:25-26
The name Job means “a cry of woe” and nothing describes Job’s life and his book more than that. He was from the land of Uz which means “counsel”. Job was a very wise man of whom many people came to for counsel. His friends seem to be counselors also, though not the best ones for Job’s case.
Job had seven sons and three daughters and a lot of wealth. He was considered the greatest man among all the people of the East. Whenever his children met and partied, he would follow it up with spiritual purification and a sacrifice to atone for any slip up they might have made which would have blasphemed God.
Apparently there was a regular meeting in heaven when the heavenly beings came to report. Satan was there since he was an angel of God’s and under his command. When it came his time to report he told God he had been roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. God asked him if he had noticed Job who was also greatly known in heaven. Satan had noticed Job, of course. God praised Job’s righteousness and goodness which probably made Satan extremely jealous since he had once been the recipient of such praise. Satan immediately belittled Job’s righteousness and said it was because God had blessed him so much. The Lord permitted Satan to try Job’s faithfulness and Satan leaped at the chance.
Satan sent enemies to capture his oxen and donkeys, fire to burn up his sheep, Chaldeans to take his camels, and a mighty wind to kill his children. All his servants except for four were killed by the sword.
Job’s response was mourning and worship. He never blamed God for his loss.
At the next heavenly meeting, Satan and God talked again about Job, and God praised Job again. Satan’s rebuttal was that he had only tested Job with his stuff, but Job wouldn’t stand if he touched his own body. God trusted Job’s heart enough to allow Satan to test him further but he told him he could not kill him.
Satan put boils on Job’s whole body that constantly itched.
Job’s wife advised Job to curse God and die. (That’s what I call a bad help-mate!) Job refused to curse God and called her foolish. He said, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” That is a good line to remember.
Job’s three friends came to comfort him. They didn’t even recognize him at first but sat with him for seven days in silence which was a very comforting thing to do. Too bad, they didn’t leave after that. Job spoke first and cursed his birth and wished he hadn’t been born. He didn’t say he wanted to die just that he wondered why he had been allowed to be born.
In reading Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth we have to remember that Paul was writing to answer questions that they had given him. We don’t have the questions they wrote to Paul, just the answers he wrote back. They must have written him asking him about the way service was being done. Apparently there was a lot of people speaking in tongues and singing in tongues and not a lot of speaking in Hebrew so the service was a little chaotic. Paul answered them by explaining that spiritual gifts are something we should go after but with the spirit of love as our motive. Then Paul explainrd what spiritual gift do.
Speaking in tongues is speaking the mysteries of God with a person’s spirit which will edify the person. Prophesying is to strengthen and encourage and comfort the church. In ministering to the people, the gifts that are needed are prophesy and tongues with an interpreter and songs that they could all sing the words to.
Paul, said that in his own personal life, he spoke both in tongues and in Hebrew, and he sang in tongues and sang songs he could understand so that others could join with him. If a person speaks in tongues he should ask God to teach how to interpret what he is saying.
Lord, help us to see our trials from your perspective and not jump to carnal conclusions. We might not understand what is going on at the moment but we can trust you because you do.

Tues.’s Devo - Promotion Day

Read: Esther 8:1-10:3; 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 21:23-24
Esther was given Haman’s estate and Mordecai was given the king’s signet ring that had been reclaimed from Haman. Esther appointed Mordecai the guardian of Haman’s estate.
Once again, Esther went before the king to plead for her people who were destined to die. Xerxes had no idea how to get out of what he had done so he told them to come up with a plan and he would sign it. Mordecai came up with an edict which read that the Jews would be able to defend themselves and kill their enemies. The edict was sent out to every province and there was joy across the kingdom for the Jews.
Mordecai left the palace wearing royal garments and a golden crown. All Susa celebrated.
When the day came, the thirteenth of Adar, the tables were turned and the Jews defeated their enemies and the ten sons of Haman were killed. Everywhere throughout the province the Jews won, but refused to take their plunder even though the edict had given them permission to do so. I think this was very classy of the Jews.
Mordecai made the fourteenth and the fifteenth a national holiday to celebrate annually and called it Purim. The Jews still celebrate this feast today.
Esther’s name means “I will be hidden” and she is a picture of Christ hidden in us. She is exalted in the eyes of the worldly kingdom yet she keeps her identity hidden until it is time to use it for the kingdom. Mordecai’s name means “bitterness of the oppressed”. He is a picture of the believers whose whole life is hard and tough yet in the end they will be exalted and given everything. The book of Esther is a great reminder that one day we will be rewarded for all the suffering of this world and the tables will be turned.
We can experience victories on earth as we walk in the Spirit but our great promotion is waiting in eternity.
Paul lists offices in the body and ministry gifts people are given to help one another but then he gives the way to operate in whatever gift you have and that is through love. Your gift is as powerful as your ability to love. It is the deciding force of whether you are effective or not. Love is the action to your words. Paul tells us what love is and what love is not.
Lord, help us to make love our only goal.

Mon.’s Devo - Be Brave

Read: Esther 4:1-7:10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-26; Psalm 16:1-12; Proverbs;21:21-22
When Mordecai learned of the edict of Haman’s he dressed in sackcloth and went to the king’s gate. He couldn’t go to Esther’s gate because no one could enter the king’s gate in sackcloth. This gives us a small glimpse into the character of Xerxes. He loved gayety and good news but tried to shut out any bad news. He didn’t even know that it was the Jews he had doomed to die during the 12th month. Haman had told him it was a “people”. All the Jews in Susa were mourning and crying in sackcloth and ashes and the king had no idea because he was secure in his ivory palace drinking wine and eating rich food. Esther hadn’t heard either. She could just see her uncle out of her window dressed in sackcloth.
When she did find out what had happened she gave all her excuses why she couldn’t do anything about it. The king, who hated bad news hadn’t asked to see her in 30 days and how could she bring him such a request without it costing her her life.
Mordecai explained that her being in the palace at this crisis might not be such a coincidence and what made her think that she would be saved just because she was the queen…think of Vashti. Esther considered everything and knew what she had to do. She had the Jews of Susa pray and fast for 3 days along with her and her maids. Then she came up with a plan that would speak to the party lover in her husband. She would ask him to a party.
She stood before him with her life in God’s hand and was saved. He agreed to come to her party. She asked that Haman also come. They attended Esther’s banquet but she asked for one more day before she would give her request. Haman was honored and happy until he walked home and passed Mordecai who refused to bow before him. He went home and built a gallows in his own land 75 feet tall to hang Mordecai on.
That night the king couldn’t sleep so he asked his attendant to bring the book of the record of his reign in and read it to him. He read the part where Mordecai saved his life and asked how they had rewarded him for his intel. They said nothing had been done.
The next day, the king let Haman choose the way Mordecai would be honored even though he thought it was him that was to be honored. He had to use his own idea for Mordecai. His life was slowly being sifted like sand in a seive. He went home humiliated and his own friends and family spoke his fate.
At the banquet that night, Esther gave her request because all the pieces were in place. The king had been reminded about Mordecai’s loyalty and he knew he was a Jew. He had also been reminded of Esther’s beauty and faithfulness to him. He had been betrayed too many times in his kingship to have much trust so the moment Haman was exposed, Xerxes was ready to act. Haman was hung on his own gallows. Haman was a type of Satan and that will be the fate of Satan’s in the end.
In Corinthians, Paul explained the many gifts God has given in the Church as body parts. They are all needed and important but not all looked at with the same honor. Some are hidden functions like intercessors and people who work behind the scenes. Some are very focal and up front. Our attitude should be the same for all of them. We need each other and the parts that each of us bring to the table. We all move out of the same Spirit.
Lord, help us to be brave and stand up when we need to make a statement. May we use our gifts for the Body and honor one another’s gifts. Help us move as one Body.

Sun.’s Devo - The Goodness of God

Read: Esther 1:1-3:15; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 21:19-20
Many of the Jews didn’t opt to go back to Jerusalem and the story of Esther is the story of those who stayed in Babylon. Babylon was taken over by the Persians and Cyrus, the Persian king had allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. Darius had made them stop rebuilding for a time but then allowed them to finish. Once they had completed the temple some of the enemies of the Jews had written a letter telling the king that they had built this temple to revolt against Persia. It was a lie, of course, but it shows us that the Persian government was very fickle when it came to the Jews. But, God was faithful to his people no matter where they were.
A new king had come to reign called Xerxes. He ruled over 127 provinces of which one of them was Susa. Susa was the summer palace of Xerxes and was a magnificent city. Xerxes was a very generous king who loved elaborate parties and invited the great and the poor. He served wine in golden goblets and had no limit. His banquets lasted weeks long. He was very wealthy and extravagant. His queen was Vashti who had her own banquet for the women. Vashti was summoned to the wild men’s side to show off her beauty at the request of her drunk husband. She refused to leave her humane party to attend her husband’s drunken orgy.
When the ordeal was over, the king was enraged and called in his advisors to seek help in settling Vashti’s act of disobedience. They were thinking more about what this might cause in their own families if the queen refuses her husband, what might that mean to them. They went so far as to tell the king that this information might get to their enemies and cause them to disrespect the king. It was enough pressure to cause the king to agree to banish Vashti and find another queen more qualified than her.
When Xerxes was ready for a new wife, his officials went throughout his kingdom gathering promising candidates. Meanwhile, in Susa, there was a Jewish exile named Mordicai who had adopted his niece named Esther. She was beautiful and one of the women taken as a candidate. Mordecai had warned her not to reveal that she was a Jewish exile. He checked on her every day through the fence around the courtyard where the harem was that she was staying. She had to go through a 12 month beauty regimen before she would appear before the king.
When her time came, she was chosen as the queen. As queen she had ear to the king so when Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king, she was able to warn the king and gave the credit to Mordecai. While God was planting his seed in the kingdom, Satan was planting his own. Satan’s seed was named Haman. He had gained favor of the king and was rising to power. He hated the Jews and especially Mordecai because he refused to bow dow before him. Haman was so insensed that he not only wanted to get rid of Mordecai, but the whole Jewish race.
Haman and king Xerxes were planning the calendar for the next year and when they came to the last month of the year, Haman unleashed his sly plan to kill the Jews. He convinced the king that there were a people in his kingdom who opposed him and needed getting rid of. The king allowed him to do whatever he wanted to to them. So a decree went out telling the people of the calendar and especially what would happen the last month of Adar.
In Corinth, the observance of the Lord’s Supper was looking like one of Xerxes’s banquets. Some got their early and were drunk before the others arrived. Paul reminded them of what the Lord’s Supper was about. It was not about eating a drinking but remembering their Lord and Savior. They were to wait till they could all get there and celebrate it together with soberness and sincerity.
Lord, today, may we go to our churches and worship you the same way and not just take for granted the freedom we have to meet and worship you as a body.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Devine Purposes

Read: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:3-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18
The wall was completed so Nehemiah had a great celebration. He gathered all the priests and Levites throughout the land to come and purify themselves, the people, the gates and the wall. He put the leaders on top of the wall and had two large choirs walk around the wall, each a different way so they would meet in the middle. They were to be singing praises to God with the people following. Talk about surround sound! They sang all the way to the temple where there was more praise and worship of God.
People brought gifts to the temple and they were distributed to pay the priests, Levites and all the temple workers. The priests read the law of Moses to them and they realized that no Ammonite or Moabites was to enter the temple since they had refused to give the children of Israel water as they were traveling to the promised land.
Nehemiah had been out of the country for about 2 years so he was about to learn all the things that had been changed under the Eliashib. Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms which was the finance of the temple. He had a friend that he let live in one of the storehouse rooms. When Nehemiah found out about it, he threw him out on the street with all his belongings and fired Eliashib. Then, Nehemiah found out that the priests and temple servants had not been paid so they had to go back to farming. He fixed that and brought them all back, rebuked their officers and put the finances in charge of Shelemiah the priest, Zabok the scribe and Pedaiah the Levite. With three in charge instead of one there would be some checks and balances.
On the Sabbath, Nehemiah noticed that they now allowed salesmen to sell their goods. Nehemiah fixed this also by closing the gates and warning them not to come back until the Sabbath was over.
The last thing Nehemiah discovered was that the men had married foreign wives. Half of their kids spoke the language of Ashdod or one of the other languages they were not to make covenants with. The priest, Eliashib had allowed his son to marry the daughter of Sanballat. Sanballat had been his main enemy who tried to discourage his work at the first. Nehemiah was enraged about these marriages and took the men by the hair beating and cursing them.
Nehemiah kept reminding them that these were the sins that had snared the nation in the past and had brought such damnation upon their land and themselves. He was constantly praying for God to remember his part in ridding the nation of this and not in participating in it.
Most of their sins had to do with money and greed but the other had to do with lust and sexual sin.
In Corinth it is good to remember that it was a Greek city. According to the Greek culture, women were considered gods and worship many female gods. The Jewish women were so proud that under Christ everyone was equal. They sometimes got their priorities mixed up and needed a little reigning in. Paul tried to explain that they were the same in God’s eyes but he had set up a certain order and he wanted them to keep it. It starts with women, then men, then Christ, then God. Women were to show that they were under the covering of men by keeping their heads covered. Men were to show that they were under the covering of Jesus by not wearing a hat. It was all to represent God’s divine order. I see it in the positive light: God protects Jesus. Jesus protects man. Man protects women.
Lord, help us to rejoice in the place you have put us.

Fri.’s Devo - New Life in Jerusalem

Read: Nehemiah 11!-12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:2; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 21:14-16
The leaders settled in Jerusalem and they chose, by lot, one out of every ten of the people to live there also. Anyone who volunteered could live in Jerusalem. Some of the priests and Levites chose to live in their own towns as the Levites were to be scattered throughout the people.
We have a list of the people from Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, the Levites, and the gatekeepeers who settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people went back to live in the land of their ancestors.
Zerubbabel and Jeshua had helped Nehemiah lead these people from Babylon to Jerusalem and finish the walls. Haggai and Zechariah both prophesied during this time and encouraged Zerubbabel and Jeshua in what they had come to Jerusalem to do and now it was done. It had to be a great feeling to have accomplished so much out of nothing. God had given them the promise that it is not by their power or might that this would be accomplished but by God’s Spirit.
The priests were assigned their order of service and the leaders of the Levites stood opposite one another singing and responding to each other as David had written they should do. Everyone did their task and there was safety and order.
In Corinthians, Paul addressed eating meat offered to idols. We don’t face that in our culture so let’s just take the example and look at what Paul was saying to us.
He is telling us that if we have a question about whether something is wrong or right, it is better not to do it. Some things fall in the gray area and we should choose the light, not the gray. It is better not to defile our own conscience or the consciences of others just because we can.
Paul sums it up with this: Do everything you do for God’s glory and don’t cause other people to stumble. It goes back to the fact that our lives are not our own because we have been bought with a price. Our two commandments are to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as Christ loved him. It is a tall order but that is what grace it for; it makes it possible.
Lord, help us to live our lives in honor of You.

Thurs.’s Devo - The House of the Lord

Read: Nehemiah 9:22-10:39; 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10a; Proverbs 21:13
Nehemiah went over thei history of their nation and instead of blaming God for all their misfortune he concluded with, “In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, which we did wrong.” Nehemiah took responsibility for the sin of his nation. What a great response. We want to blame everyone but ourselves but this is how to get God’s attention because he knows the truth.
Nehemiah and the people made a new covenant with God, wrote it down and all the governmental and spiritual leaders sealed it. The people bound themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God. They promised not to give their daughters in marriage to foreigners, not to let merchandise be sold on the Sabbath or holy days and to let the land enjoy its sabbath every seventh year. They also agreed to cancel all debts every seventh year, give the sanctuary tax annually, keep shewbread on the table for the priests and attend all the feast days and bring the appointed sacrifices. In essence, they promised not to neglect the house of the Lord.
We have many “houses of the Lord” that we need to keep up. The first one is in our own bodies which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have to nourish it, and keep it holy. The next one we are responsible to is our family. We have to raise it up to honor God. We are to pray and not lose heart or give up on our families but love them. The third is the local church that we attend. It is the heart of God and the Body of Christ so we need to love it and serve it with our gifts. Our nation is also the Lord’s so we need to pray for our leaders and the laws that are made.
Paul’s life was an example to the people and us of how our lives are not our own. We are not here to enjoy our own pleasure but to die to our own pleasure and do everything for the sake of the kingdom. Paul gave everything for the sake of other’s salvation. That is easy to say, hard to do. He does give us some great hope. Paul left us with the promise that no matter how strong our temptation may be, God is stronger and can give us the power to stand firm and not fall.
Lord, help us to take responsibility for our own deeds and stand firm when tempted. Help our lives to count for your kingdom.

Wed.’s Devo - We Live For Eternity

Read: Nehemiah 7:61-9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12
As the people came to Jerusalem to be a part of the celebration they found that some of them had not been written in the registry as being Jewish so they were not allowed to live in Jerusalem. The ones who said they were priests but whose names were not found were not allowed to move in that office. This was a picture of the final day of judgment when everyone will have to have their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life to enter into heaven.
Much silver and gold and other things were given to the Lord for his work. This is a picture of when we will throw our crowns at his feet.
The people settled in Jerusalem and in the seventh month on the first day (which was Feast of Trumpets - the day Jesus will return to the earth), Ezra brought forth the law and read it to the people. Every knee bowed before the Law as every knee will bow before Jesus the Word of God on that final day.
As Ezra read the law, the Levites explained its meaning to the people and taught them so they could understand. The people began to cry as they realized how badly they had transgressed the law. Nehemiah stood and told the people not to mourn for this was the day of celebration, not mourning.
I think this is a great picture of what it will be like as we hear the truth and realize how much we fell short of following God’s word but he will wipe away every tear and want us to rejoice because our name is written in the Book.
On the second day they were read about the Feast of Tabernacles which was coming in a few days. They went to cut down branches to make their booths so they could celebrate the feast correctly. The Feast of Tabernacles lasted 7 days and on the last day there was a day of fasting and confessing their sins and repenting of them. In the end, the Levites stood and prayed a long prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord who had forgiven them of so much and done so much for them.
In Corinthians, Paul was having to validate his own ministry as an apostle. To be an apostle you must have seen Jesus with your own eyes. Paul had not seen Jesus with his own eyes while he walked the earth, but Jesus had appeared to him in his resurrected form on the way to Damascus. Paul said that his followers and converts were the seal of his ministry. He was never paid as a minister but worked to support himself. He was proud to have done that but didn’t believe this was the way it should be. He believed that ministers should be paid as that was their work. He was not complaining because he knew that everything he had done would have its reward in heaven and that was where he wanted it.
Lord, may we have Paul’s attitude that our lives mean nothing here on earth, but our reward is waiting in heaven. It is our honor to work now.

Tues.’s Devo - Called to Complete Our Mission

Read: Nehemiah 5:14-7:60; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 21:8-10
Nehemiah was the governor of Jerusalem for 12 years and during that time he never imposed upon the people to pay him a salary even though he had the authority from the king to do that. The governors before him had. Instead, Nehemiah fed 150 Jews and officials from his own portion from the king. Nehemiah recounted his deeds in his prayer as he asked for God’s blessings on his mission.
Nehemiah had been repairing the wall and all that was left was to set the gates. Sanballat and Tobia had been their adversaries from the first day and now they were getting very nervous as they saw that Nehemiah had almost completed his task. They ramped up their attack and sent Nehemiah constant letters to meet with him. Every time Nehemiah answered the same: he was too busy with his work to meet with them. The fifth letter they sent was accompanied by a sealed letter to coerce him to meet with them. In the sealed letter was a copy of what they were going to send to the king. It said that the Jews were about to finish their wall and as soon as it was completed they were planning a revolt. Nehemiah had appointed prophets to proclaim him king.
When Nehemiah read it he said, “none of this is true and you have made it all up.” He still refused to meet with them because he knew that they had planned to draw him away from his bodyguards in order to kill him. Nehemiah prayed for strength to finish the work.
When Sanballat and Tobia saw that their plan had been foiled they came up with a plan to get him from the inside. They had followers with in the walls of Jerusalem so they called on Shemaiah to invite him to his house and entice him to hide out in the temple. He told Nehemiah that enemies were coming to kill Nehemiah. Nehemiah refused to run and hide in fear.
The enemies had tried fear, intimidation, isolation, and distraction to keep Nehemiah from completing his task of fortifying the city. None of these worked because Nehemiah knew his destiny and he knew that God was with him to help him.
He finished his wall and gates and appointed gatekeepers, singers and Levites over the city. Jerusalem was large but few people actually lived there and no-one had build houses yet. Nehemiah found the original copy of the list of families who came first from exile. He was looking for citizens and a reason to make the people feel connected to the city. He read off their names to give them pride in their heritage.
Sometimes we just need to hear our name called and know that we are needed and important. This was what Nehemiah was doing when he found their names.
In Corinthians, Paul tells us of our freedom from man’s self-made laws. He uses the example of eating food offered to idols. He knows that an idol is nothing so to eat food offered to idols is not going to affect him in any way because he is not afraid of offending a false idol. But other people, found this very wrong and offensive to their worship of Christ; so for their sake, Paul said that he would not do it in front of people it would offend. Man has come up with a lot of “religious laws” that God could care less about. He cares more about your motives and love and unity among his children. Those need to be our prime targets.
Lord, thank you that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that we should show forth the praises of you who have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light.

Mon.’s Devo - Our Enemies

Read: Nehemiah 3:15-5:13; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 21:5-7
As the repairs of the wall were being made, Satan raised up his adversaries to try to stop them. Sanballat means “hatred in secret”. He mocked their ability to do the job and exaggerated the enormity of their dream trying to discourage them. He attacked their future. Tobiah attacked their past. He ridiculed what they had done so far and said that it wouldn’t hold up to a fox, let alone an army.
Sanballat and Tobiah show us how the devil will try to discourage our future with our past. He certainly doesn’t want us to have victory over our past or we will surly have victory in the future as well. God wants us to prosper in both. But it is a fight.
The workers had to be encouraged by their leaders and warriors had to be posted to defend the workers. Even the workers wore weapons day and night. When we are under attack, we need to call our prayer warriors to pray for us. During those times, the Word of God has to be close to us and we have to stand on scripture and the promises God has given us.
The next problem they faced was internal in their own ranks. The officials had made their own Jewish brothers mortgage their land for food. Some had even had to sell their daughters as slaves to their own brothers. When Nehemiah found out what was going on he was most disappointed and called a meeting of the officials. He pointed out their sin and told them to give the people back their land because they were acting just like the Babylonians and Persians that took them into slavery.
The people repented and gave the people back their land and daughters. They no longer imposed interest on loans to their fellow Jewish brothers.
We enslave our brothers by not forgiving them. It is a different kind of prison but no less of a prison. It doesn’t matter what a person owes us our only debt is to love them.
When reading the letters to the churches we have to remember that these were specific problems to specific times and places. They were the answers to the questions the churches were asking Paul and all we get privy to is the answers. When Paul is answering the questions about marriage he states that “because of the present crisis”. That is the basis for his answers. The crisis they were facing was great persecution and the possibility of separation of husbands and wives. He suggested that it might be better for them to put off getting married at this time. Also, the Romans looked at celibacy as superior, so this might make them want to think twice about getting married. Paul basically tells them to stay as they are at the present time to wait and see what was going to happen.
In times of great persecution, thought processes and priorities change. Right now, Paul was wanting them to get their relationship with Jesus right and make it their priority because it would affect their eternity which could be very near.
Lord, help us to have the right priorities for the days we are living in. Help us to not get caught up in the things that don’t matter and miss our destiny. Let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Sun.’s Devo - Repair the Walls

Read: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 21:4
The Persian opinion of the Jew wavered throughout the exile years from wanting to annihilate them in Esther to wanting to build their temple in Ezra. Now the governor of Jerusalem who lived in Susa traveled to Jerusalem to assess the damages. His name is Nehemiah. It has been 12 years since the revival of Ezra 9 and 10.
We see right away that Nehemiah had a real heart for his nation and for the Lord. The first thing he did when he heard the news of the condition of Jerusalem is to weep and pray.
God had placed him in the position to make a difference as he was the cup bearer to the king. The cupbearer is one of the most trusted offices to the king because he must taste every cup that is brought to the king first to make sure no one has tried to poison the king. The king noticed Nehemiah’s long face and when he found out he was mourning his homeland and its condition, he granted him permission to visit it and repair the walls. He even provided the materials to do it with.
Jeremiah was given letters of passage from the king for his safety and to show he had the favor of the king. When he arrived at Jerusalem he immediately met his adversaries: Sanballat and Tobiah who did not like the Jews.
Nehemiah had to travel at night to survey the wall and its damages. After three days, Nehemiah met with the Jews and priests and told them why he was there and what his plan was for rebuilding the walls. They were ready to help. Sanballat and Tobia heard about it and came to mock their plan and discourage them. The priests took a section of the wall and began rebuilding at once. Section by section, other families began repairing and rebuilding.
The Bible says that our walls are salvation and our gates are praise but sometimes through bad decisions, tough circumstances, etc, our walls become like the walls of Jerusalem had become - torn down and in disrepair. We need to rebuild them. We will surely meet Sanballat and Tobia who will tell us that we can never be forgiven for… or we will never be able to repair what we have done to our lives. God is the god of the impossible, and redemption and rebirth is his specialty. He can help us to repair our walls and set up new gates. Nehemiah was to be an encouragement to all who were trying to rebound from impossible circumstances.
In Corinthians, Paul deals with marriage and circumcision. He pretty much says not to change your circumstances. If you are married then stay with your mate, it you are not circumcised stay that way. Remain in the place that God has called you to unless he calls you to a new place. If he does then he will give you confirmation after confirmation and it will not violate his law.
We read yesterday how God called them to divorce their foreign wives. Divorce is not a sin - disobedience is. So the bottom line is to obey God whatever he tells you.
Lord, help us to look to you as the answer to all our problems. You have a solution to every thing.

Sat.’s Devo - Get Rid of Evil

Read: Ezra 10:1-44; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 21:3
Ezra’s lamenting and repenting sent a ripple effect throughout the exiles. Shecaniah went to Ezra and told him that there was still hope for the people. They could make a new covenant with God and send their foreign wives and their children away. Ezra continued to fast while they sent a proclamation throughout the exiles to come to a mandatory meeting. If they didn’t come they would be forfeiting rights to their property.
They met on the twentieth day of the ninth month making it the time of Pentecost. Look at the similarities of this time and the Pentecost of the New Testament in Acts 2. The people were trembling and the rain was falling. In Acts they were trembling under the power of the Holy Spirit and the rain that fell was the Holy Spirit. The light inside them was visible on their heads as tongues of fire. What followed Pentecost was great spiritual and physical persecution yet great multiplication of souls. God was ushering in his New Covenant of grace and power.
In Ezra, the people met to get rid of the evil in their houses and the rebellion in their hearts and make a new covenant with God. What followed was a rending of their hearts as they had to tell their foreign wives to leave. They had to part with children from these wives. It had to be a hard time and it took them three months to review all the cases and divorce all these people. Talk about mass divorce!
We have to remember that these foreign wives stand for wrong covenants they made with evil. Along with these wives came false worship and idolatry. They were now breaking their covenant with evil and making a new covenant with God.
When we look at the list of offenders we see priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Israelites. No group was exempt.
Paul tells us that one day we will judge the saints, the angels and the world. He rebukes the church for taking their cases outside of the church to let an unrighteous judge judge their problems instead of handling it themselves. Everyone is one day going to be judged and the guilty will not enter the kingdom of God.
Paul talked about not letting sin be your master. We are free to choose what we do but when we choose outside of God’s will and framework then we have to divorce ourselves from God and marry another and it will be come our master. Sexual sin is different from any other sin because it is making a new covenant with your body which is suppose to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we became Christians we gave our body to the Lord so we must honor God with our body.
Lord, help us to honor you with our deeds and the motives of our hearts.

Fri.’s Devo - Walk in the Fear of the Lord

Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21;1-2
Ezra was feeling the weight of what they were about to do. He was going to lead several hundred people, cattle and millions of dollars worth of gold and silver across a path know for robbers and thieves. He didn’t want to ask the king for soldiers because he had already told the king that God’s hand was upon them. So he had the people fast and pray before they started. It was a miracle of God’s protection that they made the four day journey unharmed or unhindered.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they accounted for all the gold and silver and had a huge celebration with sacrifices and praise to God. Ezra met with the leaders and was told that some of the people, including the some priests and Levites had joined with the Gentiles and worshiped their gods. Some had intermarried with them. Ezra was appalled. At the evening sacrifice that day, he offered a prayer of repentance for his people. He laid out their many sins before God and asked for forgiveness and mercy.
Paul was facing the same sin in Corinth. A man was having an affair with his step mother. Yuck! Instead of being appalled like Ezra, they were proud and unrepentant. Paul judged this man because we are suppose to judge people of the faith if we are in the faith. We are not to judge the sins of sinners because they are not responsible. His advise to them was to hand them over to Satan that his sin nature might be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
When we turn someone over to Satan we are taking God’s protection from them and letting Satan “teach them a lesson” since they wouldn’t let God. This should bring a true believer back to the Lord for help. We only turn someone over to Satan when they have refused to repent and are truly rebellious in their sin. It is done because we love them and truly want them to repent.
Paul told the believers not to associate with Christian believers who were sexually immoral people or greedy, swindlers, or idolaters. We do not judge sinners outside of the Body of Christ, but we are to take care of business in our Christian family.
Lord, help us to walk in the fear of the Lord.

Thurs.’s Devo - Humble Servants

Read: Ezra 7:1-8:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 20:28-30
Ezra’s line of descendants went back to Aaron. He had been taken captive to Babylon but even there had stayed true to the Lord and taught the Torah in Babylon. Artazerxes sent him to Jerusalem and gave him everything he asked for because the favor of God on his life. The people of Babylon, their officials and the king gave gold and silver to fund the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The king allowed any of the Jews who wanted to return to their land, to return with his blessings. He commanded Ezra to teach the law to the people and anyone who refused to obey it would be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property or imprisonment. (That is what I call upholding the law.) He gave a list of all the family heads that left Babylon to return to Jerusalem and begin a new life.
Ezra gathered all the people at the canal and found that there were no Levites among them. He sent word to the prophets and scribes of the day and they got word to Iddo, the leader in Casiphia. He sent about thirty-eight Levites, and two hundred twenty Nethinims, the descendants of the Gibeonites, who performed the service duties of the temple.
In Corinthians, Paul told the believers that to be an apostle, you must be faithful because you are entrusted with the secret things of God. Then he let them know that they are not the judge of this; God is the judge. Paul said that he didn’t even judge himself. This is very wise. He left the judgement up to God and God alone knows the motives of our heart. We can deceive ourselves into thinking we are doing something great for God but God may see it totally different because he is looking past our deed to the “why” of what we are doing.
He warned them against pride of their knowledge and understanding of God. We all gain understanding from one another which is how God set it up. We are to need each other because no one person has the whole revelation of God. Paul rebuked them for becoming so spiritually fed by their favorite teachers that they were fat with knowledge but starving of wisdom which comes from experience and trials. They had teachers but no spiritual fathers that rebuked them in love or set examples of humility for them. Paul had been that to them at one time. They wanted all the blessing but no suffering which made them rich, fat and happy but not effective.
Lord, help us to realize that suffering and trials are our friends that shape us into the person we need to be to be effective in the kingdom. Thank you for the tests and trials you send to grow us up.

Wed.’s Devo - God’s Help

Read: Ezra 5:1-6:22; 1 Corinthians 3:5-23; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 20:26-27
The Jews had stopped building the temple for years but had begun again because of the words of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. They encouraged them that God was with them and that God’s edict meant more than man’s. The governor of the land, Tattenai sent men to ask them who had authorized them to build it. That reminds me of the scribes and Pharisees coming to Jesus and asking him under whose authority did he do miracles. It is rather comical.
Their reply was that they were God’s servants who had angered God years ago and the temple was destroyed and they were scattered. But Cyrus had sent them back to rebuild it with his blessing and the promise of supplies.
Tattenai sent all this information to King Darius and asked him to look into the archives and see if in actuality, Cyrus had issued a decree to rebuild this temple. Darius did just that and found the decree. He wrote back to Tattnai to leave them alone but to supply whatever they needed to finish their work.
If they had never ventured out to do something dangerous and risky, they would have never seen the great deliverance God was going to bring them. I wonder if we miss great things because we are too afraid of opposition or we don’t have all the money or supplies we are going to need. All God wants is for us to start moving toward what is in our heart and he will come with the supply and the deliverance.
They finished building the temple in the month of Adar which is the same month that the Jews were allowed to defend themselves in the book of Esther. It is a month of deliverance for Israel. That Passover season they celebrated the first Passover in the new temple. Passover was a month to celebrate their deliverance from Egypt. We celebrate Passover because of our deliverance from sin by the cross of Jesus.
Paul reminds us that God is building a temple in our hearts and in the earth. He is the foundation and anything that is going to last is built on Him, not a man’s name. We are all to do our part in the building of His name upon the earth.
Lord, help us to move out of faith and not fear. If you are putting on our heart to start something or do something then may we put our yes on the table and start stepping out. You will not disappoint us if it is your plan.

Tues.’s Devo - Follow God

Read: Ezra 3:1-4:24; 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4; Psalm 28:1-9; Proverbs 20:24-25
The seventh month of the second year arrived where they were to celebrate the fall feasts: Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippor and Feast of Tabernacles. They began building the altar to do sacrifices on the Feast of Trumpets. By the time of the Feast of Tabernacles came they were ready to burn sacrifices on the altar just like the law had commanded them to do.
They gave the money that Cyrus had given them to the masons and carpenters and began the building of the temple. The next month they started appointing Levites to supervise the building of the temple. When they had the foundation laid, they celebrated and worshipped the Lord. Many who remembered the greatness of the first temple cried with sorrow but those who hadn’t know the splendor of Solomon’s temple shouted for joy. They lifted up such a noise that people could hear it far away.
Enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that they were rebuilding the temple and tried to infiltrate their group to stop it. Zarubbable, one the the leaders saw through their lies and told them they had no part in the Lord’s work.
Next, they tried to discourage the builders and confuse their plans. When this didn’t work, they sent a letter to Artaxerxes who was then the king of Assyria warning him of the temple that the Hebrews were building. They reminded the king of all the trouble this nation had brought in the past and advised him to stop their work.
King Artaxerxes did a search in the archives and found that the Israelites were indeed a nation that had caused them much trouble so he commanded the work to stop.
The building of the temple is such a parallel to the temple of the Holy Spirit that God is building in us. Satan will do anything he can to discourage us, stir up dissension and oppose us and what God wants to do in us and through us. We cannot get discouraged but keep praising the Lord and keep moving forward.
In Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we are not of this world so our wisdom is not of this world. Our wisdom is from God who created this world and it is much higher. The world will not understand us or our wisdom because it is foolishness to them. They do not have spiritual eyes to be able to see. We do because we have the mind of Christ. The world thought that he was crazy so they will think the same of us. But we have the real truth so we don’t need to get side-tracked into fighting over what man we are following. We are following God who is higher than any man.
Lord, thank you that your wisdom is higher than ours and we always have access to it! Guide us today.

Mon.’s Devo - The Supreme God of Heaven and Earth

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 a testimony to the sovereign power God has over his earth. He is in control of every kingdom and every king. In the first year of Cyrus’ reign over Persia, he moved Cyrus to fund a rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Amazing! Jerusalem was nothing more than a heap of stones, uninhabited and seemingly forgotten. Cyrus sent as many Jews as wanted to return back to Jerusalem with all the articles that had been stolen from the temple. This was the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jeremiah 30:3, 33:7).
In Cyrus’ address he called God the God of heaven, not the God not the Hebrews. He knew that God reigned supreme over the whole earth and he was subject to him.
In the list of those who returned we see the names of Nehemiah who would lead the rebuilding of the walls and Mordechia who would foster queen Esther in years to come.
When they reached Jerusalem, many of the people gave offerings and gold to help pay for the rebuilding of the temple. The people returned to their home towns and began living as citizens of their own country.
In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth he goes to great lengths to try to explain God’s upside down kingdom. It looks like foolishness to the Greeks whose god was wisdom. And, it looked foolish to the Jews who were looking for a sign while they missed every blatant sign that God sent them. God chose people who were not the rich, important, gifted or lovely. He chose the ones who had soft hearts to believe. This also made the gospel look foolish to the world.
Paul, himself did not come as an eloquent speaker who was gifted in worldly wisdom. He came in weakness and fear, but God demonstrated through him his mighty power.
God’s power mixed with our faith is an unstoppable force that should dispel fear in us. We are more than conquerors in Christ.
Lord, remind us of who we are and who we belong to that we might demonstrate your power on the earth and many might come to believe in you.

Sun.’s Devo - Followers of Christ

Read: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-4; Proverbs 20:20-21
When the temple had been repaired, Josiah had a huge Passover celebration and did it right. He provided 33,000 sheep, goats and cattle for the people and his officials offered 2,600 sheep and cattle, and the Levites offered 5,000. So in all, they sacrificed 50,600 offerings to the Lord. They brought the ark, carried on the shoulders of the priests and put it in the Holy of Holies and sacrificed the animals and the people all ate and celebrated. The Passover had not been celebrated like that since the days of Samuel. This was Josiah’s 18th year of his reign.
The king of Egypt, Neco, went to wage war on Israel and Josiah went to oppose him with his army. God had sent Neco to fight Israel because Israel had fallen so far away from him. Neco tried to stop Josiah from entering a battle that had nothing to do with him but Josiah refused to listen and fought anyway. Josiah died in this battle and so began the downfall and judgement of Judah that had been prophesied by Huldah. Jeremiah gave Josiah’s eulogy.
Josiah’s son, Jeconiah reigned 3 months before he was taken prisoner to Egypt. His brother Eliakim was made leader and he was made to pay Egypt a heavy tax. Eliakim reigned in Jerusalem for 11 years and did evil in the Lord’s eyes. The king of Babylon came against Jerusalem and stole many of their precious things out of the temple. Eliakim was bound with shackles and taken to Babylon. Jehoiachin, his son became king and he only reigned for 3 months and 10 days. He was evil and the king of Babylon took him also.
Next, Zedekiah became king for 11 years. He also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He refused to heed the warnings of Jeremiah or any of the prophets. Instead they ridiculed and persecuted the prophets until Babylon came and took them captive to Babylon. Everything from the temple was taken and the building set on fire. The land enjoyed its Sabbath rests that it had not had during the time the people were there until the reign of king Cyrus of Persia. Cyrus proclaimed that God had appointed him to build a temple fo him in Jerusalem.
Paul wrote a letter to the church he had planted in Corinth. Corinth was formed when Claudius drove the Jews out of Rome. Many went to Corinth and their leaders were Aquilla and Priscilla. Paul had the favor of the leader of the synagogue in Corinth because he had become a believer in Jesus. Paul had gone on to visit his other churches but whenever he learned of problems any of the churches were having he would send a letter. He the church at Corinth that they were rich in the spiritual gifts. He told them that their faith would keep them strong till the end.
One of the problems they were facing was division in leadership. They were “followers” of certain people and God wanted them to be followers of Christ. Paul reminded them of whose name they were baptized into; it wasn’t his, it was Christ’s.
Lord, thank you for this reminder that your church is everywhere and You are the head of it.

Sat.’s Devo - Josiah’s Faithful Reign

Read: 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:8-27; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19
Manasseh was different from most of the kings who started out well and ended badly. He started out very bad and ended very good. Today we read about the good things he did. He rebuilt the altar of the Lord and fortified the city. When he died, his son, Ammon reigned. He only ruled for two years because he was so bad that his own officials conspired against him and killed him. He was twenty-four when he died and they made his eight year old son, Josiah the king. That means that Ammon fathered Josiah when he was 16.
Josiah was a good king who followed God with all his heart and didn’t stray. When he was 16, he began to seek the Lord and purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images. He went throughout the land purging it of idolatry. When he was 26, he set about the task of repairing the temple. While the priests were doing this, they found a copy of the law in the temple. They read it aloud to Josiah and he wept as he heard the words and realized that they had done so many things to provoke the Lord’s anger. He sent the priests to inquire of the Lord from the prophetess, Huldah. She told them that the Lord was indeed very angry with the idolatry of Judah but because of the humility of Josiah, God would not do anything while he lived.
When Josiah heard her answer he gathered the people to come and hear the words of the law. He made a covenant with the Lord to follow the words of the law. He remained true to his covenant all the days of his life.
In Romans, Paul urged the Romans to stay away from people who taught a different doctrine than his and those who stirred up division. He told them to be wise about what was good and innocent about what was evil. God came to bring peace and he would one day put Satan down.
Lord, may we be like Josiah who set his heart to follow you.

Fri.’s Devo - Stay Faithful

Read: 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13; Romans 13:23-16:7; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 20:16-18
Even in Hezekiah’s great faithfulness to the Lord, he was still attacked. We will always be attacked by the enemy whether we are obeying the Lord or weak in our faith. The devil is relentless and is no respecter of people. The way we handle the attack shows the depth of our faith. Hezekiah had great depth of faith. He encouraged his people that God was their defender and that He was able to deliver them. He wisely stopped all water sources outside his city so the Assyrians wouldn’t be able to water their cattle or themselves.
The king of Assyria used intimidation and boasting to weaken the spirits of the men of Judah. Hezekiah and Isaiah both cried out to the Lord and God responded. God’s army fought the Assyrians and won. All their big talk about none of the other gods of other nations being able to stand up against them all crumbled when they faced the true God. The king of Assyria went home humiliated, to be killed by the members of his own family.
God continued to bless Hezekiah and when it was his time to die, he cried out to the Lord and pled his case. God extended his life for 15 years and during that time Hezekiah had his son, Manasseh, who would be his heir and Hezekiah fell into pride and forgot the Lord. Sadly, he didn’t raise Manasseh to love the Lord.
When Manasseh became king he turned the nation away from the Lord and led them to worship all kinds of idols and evil. God sent prophets to turn him back to the Lord, but he refused until he was taken in shackles and led with a hook in his nose to Babylon. There he finally prayed and repented so God brought him back to his kingdom.
Yesterday, Paul talked about unity between the Jews and the Gentiles and today he commended the Gentiles for giving to the aide of the poor Jews in Jerusalem. He reminded the Gentiles that they owed a debt of love to the Jews because their salvation came through them.
Paul asked them for prayer for his own safety with the unbelievers in Judea and that his testimony would be received in Jerusalem where he had faced so much opposition in the past. Paul gives a list of the people he wanted to honor for their service to him and the Church. Paul was an example of a man who stayed faithful till the end.
Lord, may we serve you faithfully to the end of our days.

Thurs.’s Devo - Unity

Read: 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21; Romans 15:1-22; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 20:13-15
One of the first things Hezekiah did was reinstitute the feasts starting with Passover. Passover is the feast that commemorated their freedom from Egypt and looks forward to our salvation in the cross. It is the beginning of our Christian walk.
There were not enough priests consecrated to do the Passover in the first month of the religious calendar so they put it off for a month and did it in the second month.
Hezekiah sent out his officials with an edict to call the people back to the Lord. Many of the people mocked them but men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem for the Passover. The Feast of Unleavened Bread fell before Passover that year. The Feast of Unleavened Bread represents sanctification - the cleansing of sin. They cleared away the idol incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley on this day. They celebrated a great time of sacrifice and joy and asked the Lord to forgive their sins. The people were so glad to be returning to the Lord they asked to celebrate another 7 days. Hezekiah offered 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and the people celebrated and rejoiced in the Lord.
When it was over, the people went out and cleansed their land of the idolatry and sin in the high places. Then they returned home. Hezekiah reestablished the daily order in the temple and the priests were put back in their places doing what they were designed to do. The people responded with so many offerings they had more than enough to run the temple.
In have a tendency to think that God wasn’t very gracious in the Old Testament but somehow had an attitude change in the New Testament and became much nicer. That is a laugh out loud! This story totally shows us how God has always been the loving Father that is full of grace and mercy. Hezekiah broke all the religious laws and God still loved it because their hearts were in the right place. First thing he did wrong was to change the date on the feast. It would think that would be a big “no, no”! Then half the people who came weren’t sanctified and couldn’t even answer the one question right…”have you been near a dead person?” So they weren’t even allowed to sacrifice their own animal; the priest had to do it for them. Hezekiah prayed and asked God to overlook all this and he did. God wasn’t interested the letter of the law as much as he was interested in the unity of their hearts.
In Romans we see that God is still interested in our unity of hearts. He wants us to live for others, with their best interest at heart. God knew that it was going to take much love and patience to bring the Jew and the Gentle together as friends and brothers in the Lord. Unity is the struggle of the church but by the power and grace of God, we can obtain it.
Lord, help us to strive to live together in peace and love.