Wed.’s Devo - God Speaks

Read: Job 37:1-39:30; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10; Palm 44:9-26; proverbs 22:13 Elihu finishes his speech about the wonders of God and I have to say that he does sound much like God when he speaks. Maybe that is why God didn’t rebuke him in the end. Finally, God speaks and wants to know who questions his wisdom. He has some questions for Job and begins with, “where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” He takes Job through the creation and splendor of the things He made and the wonder of how they all work. God sarcastically tells Job that ‘of course he understands all of this because he was born before it was all created and is so very experienced!’ I’m sure Job was sitting or bowing down by this time. When God finished explaining the wonder of the heavens and how he controls it, he goes to earth and talks of some of the animals he created. If he so painstakingly created each animal with its own attributes and characteristics, what care did he take for man, made in his image, the culmination of his creation. All of creation was made to show man the attributes and ways of God. It all reflects his glory. We learn about God through creation according to Romans 1 and Psalm 19. Reading what God says to Job brings my own life into perspective. God is running the whole show and he is wisdom. We can trust that he is more than capable of running our lives with his perfect wisdom. In Corinithians, Paul explains why he has laid down his life and comfort for the gospel of Christ. He is looking forward into eternity and the reward of eternal life not only for himself but all he brings there. That is why he never gives up. Paul longs to shed this earthly body to put on his heavenly body but only when the time is ordained. He knows that we will all stand before God and account for this life and what we have done in our earthly bodies. Paul wants to have done all he can do for Christ before he leaves. Lord, may our lives be pleasing in everything we do. May we confidently run our race for your glory.

Tues.’s Devo - Life in Death

Read: Job 34:1-36:33; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 22:10-12 Elihu continues his banter against Job. He calls on his listeners to have discernment about Job’s dilemma. Job claims he is innocent yet he surrounds himself with evil men. (I wonder if Elihu counted himself as one of these evil men since he had been with him for a while.) Elihu says that Job deserves the maximum penalty for his sin. He has added rebellion and disrespect to his list of sins against God. He argued that whether man sins or doesn’t sin, it doesn’t affect God. Elihu concludes that Job needs to turn from his evil because God sent this suffering to keep him from a life of evil. He claims Job has no right to tell God that he has done him wrong. Elihu tells Job that he needs to worship God for who he is and repent. Paul explains that the mercy we have been given is so undeserved that it should encourage us not to give up on others who are perishing in their sin. We have the truth and need to be bold in sharing it. We bring the light of the truth to a dark world. Their response is not our responsibility, we are only charged to share the truth. Our trials are worth it for in death there is life. Lord, help us to be a light in the darkness and bring hope to the hopeless. May we hear your songs of deliverance and be encouraged.

Mon.’s Devo - Reflectors of God’s Glory

Read: Job 31:1-33:33; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Psalm 43:1-5; Provers 22:8-9 Job went through every accusation that his friends had made against him and addressed them one by one. In every one, he declared his innocence. He had not been unfaithful to his wife even in thought. He had not been oppressive to his servants, neglected or harmed the orphan or the widow. He had been generous, thoughtful and kind to everyone he met. He had not become proud in his wealth but had shared it with those in need. Job was finished with his argument and his friends were exhausted with theirs, but there was a man who had listened to all of it and he had something he wanted to say. His name was Elihu which means “my god is Jehovah”. He was younger than Job and his friends but he was full of fire and spunk. He was angry at Job because he still maintained his innocence and mad at his friends for not being able to talk some sense into Job. Elihu was ready to take them all on in his argument. He told them that if Job had been arguing with him, he would not have used their logic. He claims that God is greater than any human so man doesn’t even have an argument against God. God speaks all the time and man is not listening. Many times God uses dreams to speak to them. Dreams can be warning dreams to warn them of what will happen if they keep going the way they are going. They can protect them from dying if they listen to them. Another way God speaks to people is when they are sick and in pain. They are forced to think of their mortality and death. But if a messenger comes from heaven and intercedes for a person and declares he is upright, he will rescue him from the grave and be the ransom for his life. This is exactly what Jesus did for us. He came as a messenger from heaven and became the ransom for our life. He took our sin and proclaimed us forgiven and righteous. He rescued us from death and gave us life. The person that is saved will be able to testify his salvation to others. So far, everything Elihu said was revelation knowledge of a future time, but he was not perceiving Job’s situation right. None of them were. In Corinthians, Paul explained the difference between Job’s day and his day. The Old Testament brought condemnation which ended in death but the New Covenant that Jesus gave them made them righteous before God. It was so much more glorious than the first covenant. The new way gives us confidence which gives us the boldness to share it with others. Paul explained the veil that Moses had over his face because the people could not stand to see the glory of God on his face. It scared them and convicted them so Moses veiled himself. In the same way, God veiled himself from his people because they didn’t want to see his glory. The only ones who can take the veil off are Christians. When a person sees God’s glory reflected off of another Christian and wants it, they have to go to Christ to receive it. Then the veil is taken off their eyes and they can have the same glory for themselves. This is how the gospel is spread. Lord, may we be reflectors of your glory and humbly testify of your greatness and your love.

Sun.’s Devo -Our Refining

Read: Job 28:1-30:31; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 22:7 Job goes to great length to explain how to refine silver and gold from hard rock, then compares it to wisdom. Both are gotten from digging deep in the rock. Gold and silver come from a physical rock with great amount of effort and time. Wisdom comes from The Rock of Christ which also takes great effort and time. Job is getting closer to understanding that trials refine us and make us better if we allow the refining process to do its work. God understands this about man and custom orders our trials to help us gain wisdom which is better than gold and silver. Job remembers back before his trials at a time when all was going well and made sense. He was prosperous, honored and happy. Now he is totally humbled by God and feels abandoned by God. In Corinthians, we see the great concern and love Paul has for the church in Corinth. He cannot sleep well until he has heard how they are doing. Titus was to come give Paul the news of how they were doing and when he didn’t arrive when Paul thought he should, Paul went looking for him. Paul explains that the Good News is a message of gloom and doom to those who choose not to accept it but to those who do, it is the message of hope and life. Paul and his preachers did not say what the people wanted to hear to make them feel better, they preached the truth with conviction. Their message brought life or death depending on the heart that heard it. Lord, thank you for the trials we face today. May they be used to make us a better person for You. May we not blame you but let our tests refine us for your glory.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Court

Read: Job 23:1-27:23; 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 22:5-6 Job longs to come before God’s court and present his case. He doesn’t know that that is exactly what he is doing and that is what we do. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Lets us come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” God does have a courtroom and we can come to him and present our case and be heard. Satan uses that courtroom all the time to bring accusations against us. (Revelation 12:10.) We are to fight his accusations by bringing our case to God and presenting it to Him. Job explained all the things wicked people do and their end. Wicked people do their deeds at night where they will not be seen. Righteous people are not afraid of the light because they have nothing to hide. God sees everything done on the earth during the day and the night and he will have the last say about a person’s eternity. Bildad spoke of God’s dreadful power and how man is like a worm in comparison. Job asked his friends how they had helped the poor and enlightened him. He promises to defend his integrity till he dies. His conscience is clear. One day, the wealth of the wicked will be put into the hands of the righteous. Job definitely saw things before his time. Paul also claims he has a clear conscience and has lived with integrity in his walk with the Lord. He has told the truth and depended upon God’s grace and not his own human wisdom. He has told the truth and not been deceptive in any way. He hopes to visit the church in Corinth on his way to Jerusalem and his way back. He had promised to go there sooner and didn’t and explains that he didn’t come to spare them a rebuke. He is coming back to work with them and help them walk the walk of faith. He is giving them more time to get things straight so that when he does come it will be a joyful visit. Paul was referring to the man who was having an affair with his mother-in-law and Paul had told them to excommunicate him and turn him over to Satan for a season so he could repent. If he did, then they should forgive him and invite him back into fellowship. Lord, may we boldly approach your throne of grace and present our cases to You. May you judge justly and righteously. Thank you for grace and forgiveness.

Fri.’s Devo -Our Trials

Read: Job 20:1-22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 22:2-4 Zophar felt his responsibility to say what was on his heart so he spoke next. His argument was that the wicked’s reign is short and sooner or later they will reap what they sow. Their children will also reap the sins of their father’s and mothers. Job rebuttals that he has observed many a wicked person who didn’t seem to get what they deserved. They sailed through life without any consequences for their sins. His conclusion was that not everyone is punished here on earth. For some, their judgment comes after death. Eliphaz spoke and asked Job what he thought he could do to help God. Did Job think that his goodness would be a help to God? He disagrees with this. He believed that Job had done something really bad that caused his troubles. He tells Job to return to the Lord and he would be restored. If he cleaned up his life, God would rescue him. Paul explains that troubles come to everyone. We comfort others through the comfort we find in our trials. The greater the trial, the greater the comfort. (Job’s friends needed to read this.) Paul and his crew went through trouble in Asia that was so crushing, they thought they would not live through it and yet they did. Through it they learned to not rely upon themselves but upon God. They also understood that as long as they were on the earth, they would have more trials and God would deliver them from them also. They were thankful for the prayers of the Corinthians because they helped make a difference. Lord, I am so thankful for the people who have prayed for me and my family over the years. Thank you for all the trials that have come our way to help us grow stronger in our faith. May we be a comfort to others in their trials.

Thurs.’s Devo - Let’s Be Encouragers

Read: Job 16:1-19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10; Provers 22:1 Job called his friends ‘miserable comforters’. When he needed encouragement, they spouted off criticism. Job suffered by them if he defended himself and if he remained quiet. Job cried out to God but he needed a mediator between him and God. He begged God to defend his innocence since no one else would stand up for him. Job felt rejected by God, his friends, his servants, his wife, children and everyone he met. Job has almost lost his hope and is afraid he will die hopeless. He concluded that if he has sinned, that is his business and not his friends. But, he also believed that all his misery is coming from God… not Satan. He asked his friends to have mercy on him because God sure hasn’t. His only reprieve is that when he is judged then they will see that he was right. They should instead be afraid of their own judgment day. In Corinthians, Paul talked to them about a gift that all the churches where sending to the poor in the churches of Galatia. He suggested they give of their first fruits as soon as they were paid instead of waiting till he got there. Paul was hoping to be able to come and stay a while, the Lord willing. He was sending Timothy ahead of him and asked them to treat him with respect and honor. Apollos would also be coming later. Paul encouraged them to stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong and to do everything out of love. Lord, may that be our prayer also. We bless you today with our love and devotion and our lives. May we encourage others today.

Wed.’s Devo - Resurrection

Read: Job 12:1-15:35; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58; Psalm 39:1-13; Provers 21:30-31 Job accuses his friends of being know-it-alls and saying he is ignorant. They laugh at him because he believes God will answer him. They refuse to believe that Job is just and honest even though they have never known him to be anything but that. Job argues that all creation knows he is innocent. God is God and he can do whatever he wants to no matter what man does or deserves. Job says his friends are playing God by judging for him. Do they not fear God? Job is determined to argue his case before God and be told by God what he has against him. Job considers death and wonders if there is a resurrection. There is resurrection for trees and he hopes there is for humans. Job hopes that in death, God would cover his guilt and welcome his presence. God put that seed inside of Job to want salvation and a mediator to cover his guilt. God responded to this desire when he sent Jesus to be our mediator and take away our guilt. Eliphaz speaks again and calls Job a windbag full of hot air. He said that Job’s own mouth condemns him. He tells him that he does not have a monopoly on wisdom and that Job speaks evil things. God didn’t even trust the angels so how could he trust Job to be innocent or tell the truth. Yet, Eliphaz claims to have the truth. He claims that the evil live in fear of death yet they live their lives trusting in their riches to save them. It will all be taken from them in the prime of their lives. They reap what they sow. In Corinthians, Paul gives his argument for the resurrection. He talks about people being baptized for those who are dead. In my commentator it says that people often put off being baptized until they were almost dead. Baptism is a picture of the resurrection so if you didn’t believe in the resurrection, why go through the ritual. Paul explained resurrection like a seed planted in the ground that dies then resurrects into a tree. We are the seed that will go into the ground at our death and be resurrected a whole new person. What we look like in our glorified body no one knows and that is not the point. The point is to live your lives so that you will be glorified in death. Spiritually, we died to our sins when we became a Christian and were resurrected a whole new person in Christ. We look the same, except we have life in our countenance and we live our lives for Christ and not ourselves. We are Adam in our past life, but Christ in our resurrected one. In the end of time, all believers on earth and in heaven will be given new bodies. We will come back to earth and live a thousand years in that body. Lord, give us eyes to see and a heart to understand your truths. Thank you for being the resurrection and the life.

Tues.’s Devo - The Power of Resurrection

Read: Job 8:1-11:20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28: Psalm 38:1-22; Proverbs 21:28-29 Bildad, Job’s second friend speaks. Bildad from Shua means “confusing from depression.” He actually offers future hope that Eliphaz didn’t. Bildad claims that God is just and there is a reason for everything he does. He suggests that maybe Job’s children sinned and got what they deserved. How comforting was that? But, he adds that though he has nothing now, he would end with much, which was exactly what happened. He suggests that Job learn from previous generations how God works to see what happens to those who forget God. Bildad is confusing in that he goes from the most depressing thing - to hope. He talks one minute about plants that thrive then wither and die, then he says that Job will one day laugh and shout for joy. Job replies that he understands the principle and how could he stand innocent before God; no one can do that. If he did like Eliphaz had said and went to God’s court to present his case against God, his human righteousness would never stand against the holiness of God because God is not mortal like him. Job points us to Jesus. He shows us how people felt before Jesus came and gave us a way of salvation. Man was hopeless before Christ. Job wishes there was a mediator between God and man who could bring them together. That is exactly what Jesus did. Jesus took away the fear of approaching God and restored our relationship with our creator. Job is frustrated because he doesn’t understand what he has done to have brought all this calamity against himself. No one has been where Job is, so no one could possibly have an answer. Job just wants some reprieve and he thinks the only place to find that be would be in death. He explains death as a dark place of gloom and confusion. Sounds like his life at the time. Next, Zophar speaks up. He is Job’s third friend. With friends like Job had, who needs enemies? He told Job his many words would never make him innocent. He could never talk his way into righteousness. He accuses Job of mocking God. He ruthlessly tells Job that he is getting what he deserves, only he deserves much more. Zophar means “departing early” which is exactly what I would have told him to do. His advice to Job was to repent and watch God turn his circumstances around. In Corinthians, Paul gets back to the simplicity of the gospel. Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose on the third day. Many testified as seeing this with their own eyes. It is the Good News that saves you if you continue to believe it. Some of the preachers in Corinth were preaching that there was no resurrection from the dead. If that was true then Christ didn’t rise either and it is all useless and there is no hope. But the truth is that Christ did rise from the dead and so will every believer. That is the hope of our salvation, the pinnacle of our faith. Jesus rose on First Fruits making him the first fruit to rise from the ground. We are the fruit of his labor who will rise with him. Our bodies will rise when he comes back. Then the end will come. Christ will turn the kingdom of the earth over to God once he has destroyed every ruler, authority and power of Satan’s. The last enemy he will destroy will be death. Lord, may we endure steadfastly till the end. May our faith not waver because our trust is in You.

Mon.’s Devo - Job’s First Friend’s Response

Read: Job 4:1-7:21; 1 Corinthians 14:18-40; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 21:27 Job’s friend, Eliphaz from the south spoke after sitting with Job for seven days in silence. He that summed up Job’s situation and was ready to give his opinion of why this happened to him. Eliphaz knew that in the past, Job had strengthened so many other people when they were weak, but now that it was happening to him, he lost heart. He reminded Job that bad things done’ happen to people who live upright. He received a revelation in the middle of the night: ‘Can a mortal be innocent before God?’ His argument was that Job did something to offend God and he needed to own up to his sin. He told Job to take his case before God and he would understand. He was correcting Job because he wanted him to repent and be healed. God would rescue him if he confessed. What Eliphaz said was right, but not right about Job. Job disagreed with Eliphaz. He didn’t know of a sin he had done so he thought he had a right to complain. Job felt like God had struck him with his arrows. He was upset with his friends because they couldn’t have mercy or kind and encourage him instead of accusing him. They assumed his guilt without any proof. Job assured them he had done nothing he knew of to deserve this. In corinthians, Paul defends his right to speak in tongues all he wants to but at church he speaks their language so they can benefit from what he says. Isaiah spoke of these strange languages God would speak through in the future and now he was fulfilling that. In Church, when a person speaks in tongues the unbeliever will think it is crazy but when he hears the interpretation and it reveals his own heart, he will be amazed and repent. The way God set up church everyone brings their gifts to share with the Body. One sings a song, one teaches, another shares a revelation God gave them, One speaks in tongues and another interprets what God is saying in that strange language. It was all to be done in an orderly fashion and everyone could wait their turn to speak. Paul told the women to be quiet in church. The only time Paul spoke to the women was in the Greek churches. In their culture the woman was the head. They worshipped goddesses and women had much power. Paul had to shut them down to let the men rise up to their position but Paul never said anything to the Jewish churches about women because they needed to be brought forward not shut down. We have to remember that these were letters to these particular churches. Job needed to be read our Psalm for today. Thank you Lord that you rescue the godly and You are our fortress in times of trouble. You save all who find shelter in You. We find our help in You.

Sun.’s Devo - Job’s Test

Read: Job 1:1-3:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1-17; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 21:25-26 Job lived in the land of Uz, which means “counsel”. He was a wise counselor himself and the richest in his area. He had an impeccable reputation with man and with God. One day, God met with his heavenly court and Satan came also to report. When it was his time, God asked him what he had been doing. He had been patrolling the earth. God asked him if he had noticed Job who was the finest man in all the earth in God’s opinion. The Accuser accused God of putting a hedge of protection around him so, of course, he feared God. He wondered what would happen to Job if God removed his protection and let the devil in. He thought Job would curse God to his face. God took Satan up on his challenge and gave him permission to take whatever he wanted from Job, but not to harm him. Satan took everything. He took his farm animals, killed his servants and stole his camels. He even killed all his children. Job mourned, but he worshiped the Lord. At the next meeting of the heavenly court, God spoke to Satan again about Job. He commended Job for doing exactly what he thought he would do. Job had stayed true to the Lord and not fallen into sin and blaming God. Satan said it was because no harm had come to Job that he still trusted God. If he was able to harm his body, Job would not stand. God took the challenge and told Satan he could harm his body, just not kill him. Satan put terrible boils all over Job’s body. Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. He told her she was foolish and refused to blame God. Job had three “friends” who heard of his tragedy and the came to comfort and console him. They should have stayed home. When they saw Job and saw for themselves all he had lost, they sat with him in silence for 7 days. Job finally spoke and cursed the day he was born. In Corinthians, Paul claimed that prophesy was something all should want to do because it strengthens the whole body. Speaking in tongues is great for the individual and if you can interpret your tongues, it is great for everyone. Lord, may we covet to use our gifts to help others in the Body. God’s gifts are for us to use to serve, not hoard. May we use them to your glory the way you intended them to be used.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Happy Ending

Read: Esther 8:1-10:3; 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 21:23-24 Once the evil Haman was exposed, everything was brought to light. Esther introduced Mordecai to the king as her uncle and adopted father. Haman’ authority was given to Mordecai along with the king’s ring. Esther was given Haman’s property. Esther begged the king to reverse the order to kill the Jews. The king told Esther to write whatever edict she wanted to write to save the Jews and sign it with his ring. Mordecai had an edict composed giving the Jews authority to unite to defend their lives. They could kill the enemies and take their property instead. It was written in every language of the kingdom and sent to every town. The people of Susa celebrated the new decree for they loved their Jewish neighbors. The Jews everywhere were honored instead of looked down on. Many of the people of the land became Jews themselves for they feared what the Jews might do to them. In Susa, the Jews killed 500 of their enemies who wanted them dead. The ten sons of Haman were killed and impaled on the same pole Haman had been empaled on. Throughout the kingdom 75,000 of their enemies were killed but the Jews refused to take their plunder. This day became a national holiday known as Purim. It marked the time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies and their sorrow was turned to joy. Mordecai became the prime minister with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was honored because of all the good he did for his people. As the Body of Christ, we all have different parts to play in God’s church. First, apostles, then prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, those with the gift of healing, those with the ministry of helps, leaders, and those who speak in tongues. We cannot be all of those parts but we do our job and everyone else does theirs, we all benefit from everyone’s obedience. Chapter 13 tells us how we operate in our gifts and our positions…we do it all in love. Lord help us to love especially when it is hard to do. Thank you for the gifts and parts you have given each of us. May we not be jealous of another’s gifts but be satisfied in how God has made us to function and may we do that to the best of our ability and with your grace.

Fri.’s Devo - Divine Reversal

Read: Esther 4:1-7:10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-26; Psalm 36:1-12; Provers 21:21-22 One day the Jews are living their normal life and the next day they learn that their neighbors are going to be encouraged to kill them and take their inheritance. All this happened over night with out any warning. Mordecai and many of the Jews weeped and wailed and put on sack cloth to mourn and pray. Esther lived a sheltered life in the palace but Mordecai told her what was going down and asked her to go to the king and beg for mercy for her people. When Esther shared her concern that the king had not asked for her and it might cost her her life, Mordecai gave her the famous line, “Who knows if perhaps you came to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Then he reminded her that she would not be exempt just became she was in the king’s house. If she didn’t do this, God would one day raise up another to stand for them, but they would all die. She called a fast of the Jews living in her city and after three days, she did go before the king. He held out his scepter to her, sparing her life. She invited him and Haman to a banquet that night. Xerxes gladly accepted and Haman went home bragging. One his way home, Haman passed Mordecai who refused to bow. Haman was feeling so powerful now that he had been invited to the banquet with the king that he decided once and for all to get rid of Mordecai. He told his family and friends about his invite to the banquet but also his disgust of Mordecai. They suggested that he erect a 75 foot pole in his backyard to empale Mordecai on. He did and planned to ask the king permission to do that the next day. Meanwhile, he got ready and went to Esther’s banquet. At the banquet, the king asked Esther what he could do for her and she told him she needed one more night so if they would come back the next night, she would tell them. The king agreed. That night Xerxes could not sleep so he asked that the books of his kingdom be read to him. He came to the part where it was written that Mordecai had exposed the assassination plot that saved his life. He asked his reader what had been done to reward Mordecai and he was told nothing had been done. The next morning Haman came in to ask permission to empale Mordecai. The king asked Haman what he should do for the man that he wanted to honor and Haman thought this man was surely him. So he gave the king what he would want to happen to him. He would want to wear the king’s robe and ride on the king’s horse through the main street of the city with someone crying, “this is what the king does for the man he wants to honor.” The king thought that sounded good and told him to do that for Mordecai. Haman was humiliated. He had to place Mordecai on the horse and yell his praises to Mordecai. When Haman got home and told his friends and family what had happened they changed their tune. They now said that since Mordecai was a Jew, Haman would never succeed in his plans against him. It would be fatal to oppose him. Haman went back to the second banquet a more humble man. Esther exposed Haman and his wicked plan to Xerxes. Haman was taken off to be executed on his own pole he had erected for Mordecai. Talk about divine reversals! As God’s children, we can expect God to do the same thing for us if we stand for God’s truth. In Corinthians, Paul explained how the Body of Christ works. It works just like our natural body. We have different parts that all have their special function that only they can do. When they are all working well, our bodies are healthy and able to do great things. In the Body of Christ we have all been given special abilities or gifts. Some have been given the ability to give wise advice, another may be able to give a message of knowledge only God could know. Some can perform miracles, others can prophesy, Some can discern whether a message is from the Lord and some can speak in unknown languages and interpret them. Everyone has their gift and when everyone is flowing in their gifts, the Body is complete. Lord, help us to understand that we are made to need one another. We can not function properly without other people and the gifts God has given them. May we honor You in the way we honor one another’s gifts. May we use our gifts to help others.

Thurs.’s Devo - Esther

Read: Esther 1:1-3:15; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 21:19-20 King Xerxes was a king of great opulence and loved a party. He held one for his nobles and officers throughout his kingdom that lasted 180 days, then one for the common people that lasted a week. He was generous with his wine. While he was throwing his party for the men, Vashti, his queen was throwing a party for the women. When Xerxes got good and drunk he wanted to flaunt his trophy wife, Vashti and sent his eunuchs to bring her to his party so the men could see her. He instructed that she wear her crown and I wonder if that was all she was to wear. She refused to come naked to a party full of vulgar men. Xerxes was so offended he asked his advisors what he should do to her. They were afraid that her rebellion would spread to their wives and they would refuse them. So they had him pass an edict where Vashti would be exiled and replaced and all women would have to do whatever their husbands asked of them. It was a set-up and Xerxes fell into it. He passed the edict and Vashti was banished. The beauty pageant was now instated and all the beautiful virgins were brought to go through a year of beauty treatments. The king would then choose his new queen. There was a beautiful Jewish girl named Esther who had been adopted by her uncle Mordecai when her parents died. She was chosen and instructed by her uncle not to tell her origin. She was so favored, they fast-tracked her to the king’s harem. Mordecai checked on Esther daily to see how she was doing. One day he told her of a plot he had learned to kill the king. He told her to tell the king and told her the men’s names. She did and it was recorded in his book. The men were killed and the threat was over. Some time after that, Xerxes promoted an evil man named Haman to be over his nobles. Everyone was to bow down and show him respect. Mordecai, who was a city official refused to bow to Haman. This made Haman extremely angry. He found out that Mordecai was a Jew so he set out to kill not only Mordecai, but all the Jews. Haman deceptively got Xerxes to sign an edict to issue a decree that they all be destroyed. He offered to give 10,000 sacks of silver to the government as a bribe. The king agreed and the Jew’s fate was sealed. The edict gave the people of the kingdom the right to kill any Jew in the land and take their possessions. This edict threw the city of Susa into confusion. The date would be set at a later day. As the Jews got their death warrant, the king and Haman sat down to eat. In Corinthians, Paul had much to say about their meetings. They were having some heated discussions. They were meeting to fellowship but they were only concerned with their own stomachs instead of feeding the poor first. Some were even getting drunk…at church! They were calling this the Lord’s Supper. So Paul took them back to the last night Jesus had with his disciples and walked them through his last supper with them. He explained what each element stood for and how holy that supper was suppose to be. If they did not honor that supper they would bring sickness and maybe death on themselves. He told them to examine their hearts before they ate and drank the Lord’s Supper and to do it to honor God. The Lord’s Supper was not to fill them up physically, they should do that at home. The Lord’s Supper was a symbolic rite to remember what Jesus had done for them. Lord, may we honor all you have done for us by the way we live our lives. We thank you for saving us and giving your life as a ransom for us.

Wed.’s Devo - Celebrating the New Wall

Read: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18 To dedicate the new wall, the singers who had built houses on the outskirts of Jerusalem all came to the city and divided into two groups. They sang songs to the Lord as one group walked the wall to the east and one to the west. They began at the top of the wall and met at the bottom where they then walked straight up to the Temple. It was like having surround sound in the city. They all met at the Temple and sang praises to the Lord while the priests sacrificed and the people had such fun, their joy could be heard for miles. Men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the offerings. They were responsible for collecting tithes of people outside Jerusalem. All Israel was to use their tithes to pay the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Levites. The Levites were to give the priests their pay from what they received. That day, they read the law from the book of Moses and read that no Ammonite or Moabite would be permitted to enter the assembly of God because they had hired Balaam to curse Israel when they came out of Egypt. They had to do an immediate elimination of those among them. Before this had happened, Eliashib the priest had been appointed the supervisor of the treasury rooms. He was also a relative of Tobia who was Nehemiah’s enemy the whole time he was building the wall. Tobia had been given a room which was suppose to be used by the Levites. In Nehemiah 2:10 it tells us that Tobia was an Ammonite. When Nehemiah returned and found him there, he threw him out with all his belongings and restored the room with the Lord’s things. Nehemiah also learned that the Levites had not been paid so everyone who had worked at the Temple had to go work in the fields to provide for their families. Nehemiah brought them all back and the people began to pay their tithes again. He put new people over the storehouses that the people could trust. Next, Nehemiah saw that they were still doing business on the Sabbath so he closed the gates of the city on the night before the Sabbath and it stayed closed till the Sabbath was over. He told the vendors that they would be arrested if they didn’t stay away on the Sabbath. Then Nehemiah realized that some of the men of Judah had married strange wives. He confronted them and called down curses on them if they didn’t divorce them. This took care of that problem. Reading Nehemiah reminds me that there will always be problems when people are involved, even and especially in the church. It takes great patience and grace to be a leader in the church and I am thankful for the pastors who have been in my life. They are the fathers with all sorts of children to manage. In Corinthians, Paul reminds the people that he is their leader but the head of all men is Christ. Everyone submits to someone, even Christ. Women submit to men, who submit to Christ, who submits to God. God created Adam and woman came from man. The woman was made for the man. That flies in the face of woman’s lib. Men protect women and are responsible for the way they treat them. It should be an honor to be a woman not a burden to be liberated from. Everyone will be judged by the way they treated others and the way they submitted to others. We all need one another and are called to love each other. Lord, may we love you and how you created us. May we stay faithful in all we do and be thankful for all you have done for us.

Tues.’s Devo - Perspective

Read: Nehemiah 11:1-12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-33; Psalm 34:11-22; Provers 21:14-16 The leaders lived in Jerusalem. A tenth of the people were chosen by lot to relocate to Jerusalem and anyone who volunteered was appreciated. The list of people who lived in Jerusalem were chosen from Judah, and Benjamin. Their names were all listed. The other priests, Levites and people lived wherever their family inheritance was located. In God’s government, there was no separation of church and state. The religious leaders were the leaders of the government. The priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua were listed by name. They served while Nehemiah was the governor and Ezra was the priest and scribe. In Corinth, Paul went back to his discussion about eating meat offered to idols. It was all a heart matter. They took the Lord’s supper and setting food aside for that didn’t make the food holy but the intent in the heart was that it represented something holy. Food set apart for idols was really set apart for demons. Since the meat offered to idols was sold at the supermarket, it would be better for conscience sake not to ask if it was offered to idols. Meat was meat. And if someone asked you over to eat, don’t ask. Eat and enjoy their fellowship. Let your heart be clean. The bottom line was to do everything to the glory of God and try your best not to offend a new believer. Enjoy what God has given us to eat and keep things in perspective. Lord, help us not to trip up over the small things but to see things in your perspective and what you deem as most important. Help us to love righteousness, love You and love people.

Mon.’s Devo - Prayer For Righteousness

Read: Nehemiah 9:22-10:39; 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 21:13 The priest continued his prayer acknowledging God’s goodness and repenting of their rebellion. He concluded that they were slaves in their own land through no fault but their own. The people wanted to put in writing their allegiance to the Lord. It was ratified and sealed with the names of the governors, priests, Levites and leaders. The rest of the people bound themselves with an oath to obey the Lord with all their hearts. They promised not to let their daughters marry pagan men or let their sons marry pagan women. They also promised not to work on the Sabbath and to let the land rest every seventh year. They would pay the annual Temple tax of one-eighth of an ounce of silver to keep the Temple operating. And, they promised to bring their first fruits to the Lord for the priests and Levites. In essence they promised not to neglect God’s Temple. In Corinthians, Paul explained that he kept his personal temple in operation. His personal temple was his heart. Paul never lived to himself on the earth, he was always sacrificing his wants for the people he was with. He bloomed wherever God planted him. He kept his physical temple, his body, free of sin and evil. He knew that God is faithful and would not allow him to be tempted over what he could stand and would always make a way out so he could endure. Everyone has sinned, but once we come to Jesus, he can clean up our temple and give us a new heart that doesn’t want to sin if we submit ourselves to him. He gives us his grace that empowers us not to sin. Lord, thank you for your ways that are higher than ours. Thank you for your grace that gives us the power not to sin. May we choose the way out and not sin against you.

Sun.’s Devo - Celebrating as a Nation

Read: Nehemiah 7:73a-9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 21:13 The people all assembled in the seventh month of their religious calendar which was the first month of their civil calendar. The first day was the Feast of Trumpets. Trumpets were used to assemble the people together. Even though they didn’t know or realize it, they were fulfilling the meaning of the festival. One day on the Feast of Trumpets, Jesus will come a assemble his remnant which we call the Rapture. On the next day, the priest brought out the Book of the Law. The people stood to their feet when they saw him open the book and all praised the Lord. They bowed down and worshipped. I think this is what will happen in heaven when the people who are raptured get to heaven. There will be great celebration, then the law will be read to us and we will understand it like God intended it to be understood. As the priest read it, they explained what it meant and the people cried as they realized they had not be living it. But, the priests told them that today was not a day to cry but to celebrate. That is the picture of Jesus wiping every tear from our eyes as we realize the regrets we have that we have not honoring God like he deserved to be honored. They read how they were suppose to be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, so they went out and got the prescribed tree limbs and built booths all over Jerusalem and stayed in them with their families for a week. There was much joy and celebration as everyone camped out and praised the Lord together and enjoyed one another’s fellowship. On the eighth day, the day after the Feast of Tabernacles was over they celebrated Simat Torah which is a celebration of the Torah. Traditionally on this day they would begin to read the Torah from the story of creation and continue throughout the year. The Levites stood before the people on that eighth day and told them the story of the creation of them as a called out nation of God. He began with Abram and took them through Moses and their whole wilderness journey and how God preserved them and kept them in spite of their rebellion and sin. In Corinthians, Paul defended his right to be paid for what he had done. He explained that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. Paul had never charged or gotten paid and didn’t want to start now, but he was making a point for those who would go after him. He also wanted the people to stop being so entitled and to take responsibility and be gracious to others who preach to them. Lord, help us to be grateful and generous in what we have been given. May we be responsible members of your body and be examples of those who come behind us. May we generously bless those who have seeded into our soil.

Sat.’s Devo - Choose Love

Read: Nehemiah 5:14-7:73a; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 21:8-10 Nehemiah was the governor of Judah for 12 years. He never took a food allowance even though the governor before him had taken a large one at the expense of the people. Nehemiah feed his officers and visiting dignitaries out of his own salary because he feared God. Instead of acquiring land for himself, he devoted his time and effort toward building the wall. When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem found out they had finished rebuilding the wall and that all they had to do was to set up the doors in the gates, they sent a message asking to meet with Nehemiah at one of the villages. He saw through their lies and found out they wanted to lure him away to harm him. He refused to meet with them. They sent four messages and the fifth time, the message came verbally. They accused the Jews of planning a rebellion against the king and Nehemiah would be their new king. Nehemiah told them it was all lies and kept working. Next they tried infiltrating from the inside. Shemaiah asked to meet Nehemiah in side the Temple and hide because his enemies were coming that night to kill Nehemiah. Nehemiah realized his enemies had hired him to say that so they could accuse him of trying to save his own life. He refused to hide. Each time, Nehemiah would pray that God would remember all he had done and all his enemy had done against him. In all the efforts to stop the work, the wall was completed in 52 days. Many of the nobles of Judah had sided with Tobiah because of his family name. They tried to convince Nehemiah that Tobiah was a good man even though at the same time, Tobiah was sending threatening letters to Nehemiah. Once the wall was set up and the doors were in the gates, Nehemiah appointed gatekeepers and singers. He gave the governorship to Hanani and Hananiah. Hanani was his brother and Hananiah was the commander of the fortress who was a man who feared God more than most. He told the gatekeepers not to keep the gates open but to shut and bar them and set up guards of the residents. Jerusalem was large but the population was sparse and the houses had not been rebuilt so God told him to take the genealogical records of the first who returned to Judah and compare it to the people who lived there now. It was the same list as in Ezra 2 but the numbers had changed as people had died and babies born. By taking another census he was giving the people a sense of identity. They were reminded of who they were and how much had been given to God’s work so they would be reminded of its importance. In Corinth, they had had a discussion about eating meat offered to idols. In the pagan temple, part of your offering was not offered on the altars but given back to the priests or the people themselves. They would resell the meat or offer it at parties etc. Paul told his followers not to eat this meat but he told them to choose love above all the judgment. There was only one God and they had chosen to follow him. The ones who worshipped idols were worshiping the wind. Paul knew that eating meat offered to idols was a farce and it didn’t matter because he put no power in their God. Meat was meat. But to others, this was a great offense so he was trying to encourage them to honor one another’s beliefs. If it offended someone else, you should not do it in front of them or maybe not at all. Lord, help us to choose love today. May we love our enemies and those who persecute us. Thank you for the leaders who stand for truth and what is right.

Fri.’s Devo - The Opposition

Read: Nehemiah 3:15-5:13; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 21:5-7 When reading the different people who repaired the wall I was impressed that yesterday we read where the high priest, Eliashib repaired the wall from the Sheep Gate to the Tower of the Hundred. Today we read that someone else repaired the wall around Eliashib’s house. I think it is a tribute to the high priest that he did not care for his own house first but the part of the wall that he deemed the most important to his country. He was a true leader and man of God. Most of the others repaired the wall around their own houses which was what they were told to do. The last person repairer the wall to the Sheep Gate, where the high priest had began. Sanballat was afraid of what would happen if they built the wall and sent the army of Samaria to mock them. Sanballat must have known prophesy about Israel because of the questions he asked. He asked if they would sacrifice again. He asked if the end would come in a day, and he asked if they would revive the stone out of the rubbish. All of these questions came from prophesies the prophets had given about Jerusalem. Sanballat had done his research. Nehemiah prayed that his words would fall back on him. The wall was completed to half its height around the entire city because the people had a mind to work. Sanballat and his men wanted to come and attack Jerusalem and put it in confusion but the people of Judah prayed and guarded the city day and night. After a while, the people of Judah began to despair that the work was too taxing and they needed help. It didn’t help that their enemies were threatening them with attacks. Nehemiah posted guards on the low places in the wall. Half of them worked while the other half stood guard. All the builders built with a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stood to sound the alarm if needed.They were to rush to the sound of the trumpet when they heard it and help there. In Corinthians, Paul was dealing with men and women who were becoming new Christians. One of the couple would become a believer and the other would not. It was causing so much trouble that Paul referred to it as a distress or a crisis. So Paul was trying to bring peace. He told them not to marry for a while until things calmed down a bit. If they were engaged and couldn’t wait, then they should be married. Paul’s main goal was to get them grounded in their faith before making any important decisions especially marrage. Lord, may you be established in us before we make any rash decisions. May our heart be first to serve you and further your kingdom.

Thurs.’s Devo -Rebuilding the Walls

Read: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 21:4 Nehemiah was a cup bearer to the King Artaxerxes of Babylon. The cup-bearer was the one who drank from the king’s cup first to make sure the wine was not poisoned, then he would give it to the king. So he laid down his life for the king every day and was one of the king’s most trusted servants. Nehemiah was also a Jewish exile who loved his nation and honored God. He learned from his brother that had been in Jerusalem that things were not going well for the Jews in Jerusalem. The wall had been torn down and the gates and been destroyed by fire. Nehemiah sat in shock. He fasted and prayed. He repented for himself and his nation and asked God to help. He prayed for favor from the king. The next day the king asked him why he was so sad and he told him. He asked to go to Jerusalem and help his nation rebuild their walls and repair their gates. He also asked for protection, equipment and the time off to stay and repair the walls. The king and his queen listened and gave him everything he requested. He was given letters to help him travel, letters to give him timber and an army of officers and horsemen to protect him. He arrived in Jerusalem but Sanballat and Tobiah, officials in Jerusalem heard of his arrival and were not pleased that someone had been sent to help the Jews. They were not Jews and did not want the Jews to succeed. Nehemiah got up in the middle of the night to go and assess the damage of the wall and gates. He met with the priests, Nobels, officials and the people in administration and told them his mission. He encouraged them to rebuild the walls with him and told them of the favor the king had given him. They were in agreement. Sanballat, Tobiah and Goshen heard of the plan and came to stop them. Nehemiah told them that they were rebuilding the wall and the three of them had no right to the work because they were not Jews. The high priest and other priests began to rebuild the Sheep Gate and dedicated it and set up its doors and built the walls. Others joined and took a section of the wall to rebuild. In Corinth, there was so much sexual perversion going on, Paul agreed with them that it would be better to abstain from all sexual relations except between a husband and his wife. The only thing that should stop them from intimacy would be an agreement to take time off to seek the Lord. Then they would comeback together as not to give Satan an opportunity to tempt them. He told widows it would be better to say unmarried unless they could not control their desires, then they should marry. He told the married to stay together and work things out. If the wife is not a believer and chooses to stay with a believing husband then they should stay married. If a believing wife is married to an unbeliever, and he is willing to stay married to her, then she would not divorce The holiness the believer brings into the marriage makes the children holy. If the unbelieving spouse wants to leave then the believer should let them because God has called us to live in peace. Whatever state the person was in when God called them, they should stay in that state. Lord, help us to navigate your laws in a lawless world. May we put your Word above all else and honor you with our bodies and our lives.

Wed.’s Devo - Honoring God with our Bodies

Read: Ezra 10:1-44; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 21:3 Ezra repented for the nation’s sin of intermarrying with the pagans. Shecaniah, one of the leaders came to Ezra and repented because he had married one of these women. He suggested they all divorce their wives and repent and turn back to God. They would send their wives and their children away. How painful would that be! Ezra made them all swear they would do what Shecaniah said and they all swore an oath. A proclamation was made for every Israelite should come to Jerusalem in three days. If they refused to come they would be forfeiting their property and be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. It was in the middle of winter but they came and stood before the Temple. They were trembling because of the seriousness of the matter and because it was raining and cold. Ezra stood and told them to repent of marrying strange wives and to get rid of them and their children. Since there were so many who had done this they had to set up a schedule for the divorces. The priests who had married foreign wives were listed. Only four of the leaders opposed to what Ezra was doing. Two of them were Levites. In Corinthians, Paul rebuked the believers for not judging themselves in the church. One day we will judge the world so why would we let the world judge us now? Christians were suing Christians making a mockery of themselves to the world. He told them to instead, accept the injustice knowing that one day they would be judged for it by God. He explained what having sex with a heathen does to not only the person but the whole Body of Christ. We are all part of Christ’s body so what one of us does, affects all the others. Paul said to run from sexual sin because no other sin affects the body as this one does. It affects your physical and spiritual body. We were bought with the high price of Jesus blood, we need to honor that. Lord, may we worship and honor you with our bodies and not give ourselves over to sexual sins or even imaginations. May we honor the Temple of God within us and others.

Tues.’s Devo - Judging Ourselves

Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21:1-2 Ezra led a huge party of people out of Babylon to go and take the gold and silver and more of the treasures of the Temple back to Jerusalem. They would be traveling across dangerous land full of robbers and thieves but because they had told the king that their God protected all who worshipped him, Ezra was too ashamed to ask for soldiers to accompany him. Instead they held a fast to ask God to give them safe passage. God heard their prayer and protected them all the way. Twelve leaders had been appointed to carry the precious metals and when they arrived in Jerusalem it was all accounted for. They rested for three days then took everything to the Temple and gave it to Meremoth, Eleazar and Jozabad and Noadiah. They offered sacrifices and presented 12 bulls, 96 rams, 77 male lambs, and 12 goats to the Lord. They delivered the king’s decree to all the high officials of the land who cooperated in supporting their cause. The leaders came to Ezra and told him that the people had not stayed pure in their worship to the Lord and had joined in the pagan worship of all the people of the lands around them. They had married their women and given their daughters in marriage to their men. The holy race of the Israelites had been polluted. Ezra was utterly outraged and appalled. He sat in shock until the eventing sacrifice then he appeared before the people and offered a prayer of intense repentance for the sins of his nation. He repented of the continual cycle of sin his people chose to stay in and prayed God would forgive them once again. Paul was facing a similar problem in Corinth. A man in the church was sleeping with his step-mother and the people were proud that they were loving and accepting it. Instead, they needed to remove the man from their fellowship. We are called to judge one another in the family of God. Paul had already passed judgment on him. He told them to call a meeting of the church and throw the man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature would be destroyed and he would be saved on the day of judgment. If they didn’t get rid of him and make a spectacle of him, his sin would be like yeast and it would spread throughout the church. Paul had already told them not to associate with people who indulged in sexual sin in the church. In the world, people are always doing this kind of thing, but it cannot be allowed in the church. Paul concluded that it is not our job to judge those outside the church but it is our job to judge those inside it. Lord, may we be bold enough to judge the sins of the Body of Christ but may we start with ourselves. Forgive us of accepting sin because it is political correct. Help us to stand for righteousness.

Mon.’s Devo - Building For the Next Generation

Read: Ezra 7:1-8:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 20:28-30 Ezra was a priest from the lineage of Aaron. He knew the law of God and came to Jerusalem with the exiled of Babylon. They came in the 7th year of King Artaxerxes reign. They traveled four months to get there. Ezra came to teach the people the law of the Lord. He came with a letter from Artaxerxes saying anyone who wanted to return to Jerusalem was allowed to do so. Ezra brought with him gold and silver from the people in Babylon to be used to provide the priests with what they needed to worship God. They were given things from the treasury that had been taken from the Temple years ago. He gave the priests exemption from paying taxes and gave Ezra the authority to appoint magistrates and judges among the Jews who knew God’s laws. He made God’s law the law of Jerusalem. A list of the genealogy of all the returning exiles was given. Ezra noticed that no one on the list was a Levite so he sent for some Levites. He was sent Sherebiah with his eighteen sons and brothers and Hashabiah with twenty of his sons and brothers. He also sent for Temple servants who were assigned to assist the Levites. In Corinth, Paul made it clear that he was just a man trying to do God’s will. God’s wisdom is above all human reasoning and in the end, all in the dark would be brought to the light. Paul knew that he was a pioneer, taking all the persecution so that we could walk safely. He was willing to look like a fool so the next generation would be accepted. He did the hard work, plowing a very hard ground so that it would be easier for those who followed. Paul sent them Timothy who was young but was trained by Paul. He was to teach them what Paul had taught him so that when Paul did come, he could come with gentleness and not rebuke. Lord, thank you for the ones who have gone before us and plowed up the dry ground so that we can walk easier and grow. May we build for the next generation.

Sun.’s Devo - Finishing the Temple

Read: Ezra 4:24-6:22; 1 Corinthians 3:5-23; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 20:26-27 The work on the Temple had stopped for years. During the second year of Darius’ reign the prophets of Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem and they told them that God was with them and to start building the Temple again. The governor of the province, Tattenai came to Jerusalem to ask them who gave them permission to rebuild the Temple and restore worship. They responded that they were servants of God who had told Cyrus to decree that it should be rebuilt. He had returned the gold and silver cups which Babylon had taken from the first Temple. They were given them to bring back to the new Temple. The governor asked the king to search his archives and see if this was indeed true. King Darius read the letter and had his men look in the archives for the decree. They found it and it gave the dimensions of the Temple to be rebuilt, its three layers and how the expenses were to be paid out of the royal treasury. Darius instructed Tattenai to stay away from they construction and let them rebuild. He was also to help the elders of the Jesus rebuild it by paying for the construction costs from the taxes collected. They were also to provide all the animals they needed for sacrificing and to ask them to pray for the welfare of the king and his sons. If anyone disobeyed his request would be impaled on a beam and their house reduce to a pile of rubble. The Jews were very encouraged by this and continued building until it was finished in time to celebrate Passover. There was great joy in the land. In Corinth, the people had been arguing over which teacher they sat under and baptized them. Paul told them it didn’t matter who their leader was because they were all subject to Jesus. He was the one they should put their hope in and exalt. All of God’s servants do their part in the kingdom. Jesus has to be the foundation of every work or it will not last. Any work founded on a man will fall. Lord, may your rebuild your Temple on the earth and in our own hearts. Jesus, we follow you.

Sat.’s Devo -Rebuilding the Temple

Read: Ezra 3:1-4:23; 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4; Psalm 28:1-9; Proverbs 20:24-25 The Jews who resettled in Israel met to discuss their mission of rebuilding the Temple. The priests Jeshua and Zerubbabel wanted to rebuild the altar even though they were afraid of the people in the region who were not Jews. They did rebuild it and began sacrificing the daily offerings and celebration the feasts as Moses had prescribed. The first feast was the Feast of Tabernacle which was so applicable since they were rebuilding the tabernacle of the Lord. They had logs floated down from Tyre to build the Temple just as David had done. They hired stone masons from Tyre and Sidon just as David had. They began construction around the Feast of Passover and all the priests helped in the project. It was supervised by Jeshua and his family. When they had built the foundation they sounded the trumpets just as David had done. They praised the Lord and sang, “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” The people rejoiced and the sound of praise could be heard over the sound of crying of the people who remembered the first Temple. This was nothing compared to its greatness. The enemies of Israel tried to join them so they could stop their work but were not allowed to help. Instead the did everything they knew to frustrate their building. They continued their badgering through the reign of Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, and finally Artexerxes. During the latter reign, the enemies led by Bishlam. Mithredath, and Tabeel sent a letter to Araxerxes in their language. It implored him to look into the history of Jerusalem and see that it has bee a city of much rebellion and trouble. If it continued to be rebuilt, the people would rebel against the king and he would lose his power over that region of the world. So Artaxerxes agree and sent a letter back telling them to stop the work. So the work was stopped for a time. In Corinthians, Paul explained the difference between the world’s way of thinking and the spirit’s way of thinking. The world will never be able to comprehend the way of the Lord because they have not been given eyes to see into that realm. But we as Christians have. Our way looks foolish to them because they cannot comprehend it. We have been given the mind of Christ so we can think like God thinks if we tune in to the Spirit. In Corinthians, they were living like the world and being jealous of one another and quarreling among themselves. He told them that this was not how people filled with the Spirit of God act. Lord, may we be filled with your Spirit and not be afraid to stand up for You. May we live in harmony and not be jealous or envious. May we walk in the mind of Christ.

Fri.’s Devo - God Always Fulfills His Word

Read: Ezra 1:1-2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 20:22-23 God put it on Cyrus’s heart to build a Temple to God. This had been prophesied by Jeremiah. In Cyrus’s proclamation he told any Jew that he had permission to go back and rebuild the Temple. Their neighbors should give them silver and gold and supplies for their journey. Sounds just like what happened when they left Egypt. King Cyrus took things out of his treasury that had been taken from the Temple 70 years ago and gave it to them to replace in the new Temple. There were 5,400 articles in all. A list was given of all the people who chose to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. You will recognize Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, Mordecai and maybe others. Some of the people could not be found in the registry of the priests and were held for further proof. A total of 42,360 people returned with their servants and singers. They brought horses, mules, camels and donkey. They brought gifts of 61,000 gold coins, 62,50 pounds of silver and 100 robes for the priests. The people settled in villages near Jerusalem or in their own towns throughout Israel. I wonder is they knew what a great deal this was. God was fulfilling his word. In Romans, Paul explains that the cross is foolishness to those who are destined for destruction, but the power of God to those who are the children of God. Isaiah said that God would destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent. God made is so that the world would never know him through their own wisdom. The way of the cross is offensive to the Jews and foolishness to the world. But to those who are called by God to be saved, Christ is the power and wisdom of God. God uses simple people in his Kingdom to confound the wise of the world. God made Jesus to be wisdom and made us righteous, through Christ. Our boast can only be in the Lord. Lord, thank you for your power and strength. We wait on you to handle all our matters.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Fall of Jerusalem

Read: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21 Whenever a king came to the throne who wanted to return the nation to the Lord, they began with Passover. Passover stood for salvation from sin. Since the Temple had been profaned, the priests who stayed true to the Lord had carried the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders to the place of worship. Now, Josiah told them to bring it permanently into the Holy of Holies. The priests no longer needed to have other jobs to provide for their families but could now do their priestly duties full time. The priests were assigned their own distict to help the families bring their offerings to the Lord and sacrifice their lambs on Passover. The king and his officials gave their animals then the Levite leaders gave theirs. They began sacrificing all the offerings and brought the lambs out for their people in their district to eat. At the end of the day, the Levites and priests ate their lambs. In all, they sacrificed 41,400 animals that day. The blood of the lambs was sprinkled on the altar to atone for their sins. There was music and praise and worship. There had never been a Passover like the one Josiah had. They celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Unleavened Bread stood for the sanctification process we go through once we are saved. The great Passover celebration took place in Josiah’s 18th reign. When we experience a great high in our walk with the Lord, Satan always comes to take away our progress. He came to Josiah in the form of King Neco of Egypt. He marched toward Judah and Josiah thought he was coming for them so he marched his army out to meet him. King Neco sent a message telling him that he was not coming for him but he was going to fight another nation. God had told him to hurry and fight this other nation. Josiah refused to believe him even though he was telling the truth and Josiah engaged him in battle in the valley of Megiddo. This will be where the final battle of Armageddon will be fought. Josiah was badly wounded and went home to die. The people of the land made his son Jehoahaz the king. He was 23 and only reigned three months. He was taken prisoner by Neco and ordered Judah to pay him in silver and gold as tribute. Neco installed Eliakim, Jehoahaz’s brother as the king and took Jehoahaz back to Egypt. Jehoakim was evil and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and captured Jerusalem and took Jehoakim to Babylon. So one of Josiah’s sons was captive in Egypt and the other in Babylon. They also took some of the treasures from the Temple of God to Babylon. Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin became king of Judah. He only reigned 3 months and 10 days and he did evil. Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon with his father and other treausures from the Temple. Nebuchadnezzar installed Jedikiah, Jehoiakim’s brother as king. He reigned 11 years but was evil and stubborn. He refused to listen to Jeremiah, the prophet and so did the people. The priests and the people also became more and more unfaithful. God turned Judah over to the king of Babylon who killed their young men and had no pity on the people. They profaned the holy vessels from the Temple and used them in their pagan worship. They took many people as exiles to Babylon. At last, the land enjoyed its Sabbath rests. Jeremiah had prophesied all this. In the first year that king Cyrus of Persia came to power, the Lord put in his heart to build a Temple in Jerusalem to God. He put it in writing and sent it throughout his kingdom. Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth reminding them of who they were in Christ and all the things that were theirs because of Jesus. He encouraged them to live in harmony with one onshore and be united in purpose. I pray this same thing for the Body of Christ in the world. Thank you that you always do what you say you will do.

Wed.’s Devo - Josiah’s Reform

Read: 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:10-27; Psalms 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19 Manasseh began cleansing the land when he repented. He took out the idol from the Temple and rebuilt the altar to the Lord and sacrificed on it. He took away all the altars he had built in Jerusalem and cast them out of the city. The people continued to sacrifice on the high places to other gods. When Manasseh died, his son Amon became king. He was evil and sacrificed to all the carved images which his father had made. He continued in sin until his servants killed him in his own home. The people of the land rose up and killed all his assassins and made his son Josiah the king. Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He followed after David and did what was right. At the age of 16, he began to seek the Lord. At 20, he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem of all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles and carved idols and images. He had the altar of Baal demolished and the incense altars taken down. He scattered the dust of the images over the graves of those who worshipped them. At 26, Josiah appointed Shaphan, Maaseiah, and Joah to repair the house of the Lord who was his god. They took the tithe money and began reconstructing the Temple and getting it back into working condition. While they were repairing the Temple, they found a copy of the law. When Josiah heard the words of the law he rent his clothes because Judah had been guilty of so much sin. Josiah realized that they had made God very angry by the way they had lived. He asked his men to go and pray for the land and to go to Hilkiah the prophetess and see if she had a word for them. She told them to tell Josiah that God was angry because Judah had forsaken him. Because Josiah’s heart was tender, he would not live to see the disaster that would fall on Judah and Jerusalem. Josiah made a covenant with the Lord to serve him with all he heart, soul and deeds. He made all who were present join him. He took away all the abominations from the country and made all serve the Lord. They stayed true to the Lord as long as Josiah lived. In Romans, Paul continues his list of the men and women he served along side of, praising them for their lives. Then he gives us a warning to stay away from people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things not in the heart of God. They are serving themselves and not God, so they use smooth convincing words to deceive the innocent people. All glory to you, Lord because it is you who make us strong. You are the only wise God and you will soon crush Satan under you feet.

Tues.’s Devo - The All-Powerful God

Read: 2 Chronicles 32: 1-33:13; Romans 15:23-16:9; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 20:16-18 King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah. They conquered the towns on the way to Jerusalem. Hezekiah fortified Jerusalem preparing the wall and building another wall around it. He cut off the flow of water so the Assyrian army would have no water for their horses and themselves. Hezekiah encouraged his men that their army might be large, but they were mere humans. When the Assyrians got there they used intimidation and mockery. They taunted that no other nation was able to stand against them ever, so why would they think they could defeat them. They taunted God as if he was a mere statue made of wood. King Hezekiah cried out to the Lord in prayer and God sent an angel who destroyed the whole Assyrian army. Sennacherib went home disgraced and was killed by his own sons in temple to his god. God showed himself strong for Hezekiah. His fame caused him to became proud. Hezekiah became deathly ill and cried out again to the Lord. God healed him but he did not respond appropriately to the kindness of the Lord. He died 15 years later and his son Manasseh became king. He was only 12 and must have had terrible advisors. He rebuilt all the high places that his father had torn down. He reinstitute the worship of Baal and Asherah. He totally abandoned the Lord and was more evil than any king before him. God sent many prophets to warn him to repent but he refused to turn. Finally God sent the Assyrian army. They put a ring through his nose and bound him in chains and led him to Bablyon. There he repented and God brought him back to Jerusalem. In Romans, Paul is not afraid to talk about money. He tells the Roman church that they need to pay for his journey there. Then he talks about the believers at the church at Macedonia and Achaia. They are very poor but they took up an offering for the church at Jerusalem because they felt they owed them a debt for sending them Paul with the Good News. Paul asks for prayer for safety for himself because of the enemies of the truth in Judah. He also wants prayer that the church in Jerusalem would accept the gift he was bringing them from the other churches. He was sending a group ahead of himself and he names them by name and tells them about each of them so they will honor them and see them as a treasure. Lord, thank you that you sent the Good News to us and you see us as a treasure. Thank you that we don’t have to worry about the enemies we face because your army can defeat them with one angel.

Mon.’s Devo - Return to the Lord

Read: 2 Chronicles 30:1-1:21; Romans 15:1-22; Psalm 25:1-15; Provers 20:13-15 King Hezekiah sent word through all Israel and Judah inviting everyone to come to the Temple to celebrate Passover. Since the Temple had not been in operation for years the priests had had to find other employment to put food on their tables. They also had to go through the process of being sanctified to serve in the Temple which would take some time so Hezekiah put off the celebration of Passover one month. Many priests took part in the purification process and were able to serve. The people also had to get themselves pure. In his invitation, Hezekiah implored the people to return to the Lord and worship him. Many people laughed at the invitation, but many humbled themselves and came. When they came to Jerusalem, they removed all the pagan altars from Jerusalem which were on every street corner and took away all the incense altars and threw them in the Kidron Valley. Many of the people came with lambs but they hadn’t purified themselves. Hezekiah prayed form them to be pardoned and let them eat anyway. The Lord heard his prayer and healed the people so they were clean. They had a joyous celebration and the Festival of Unleavened Bread lasted for seven days so they all stayed and worshiped, sang and ate together. The king gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7000 sheep and goats for offerings so everyone had something to give. The officials gave 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. It was a huge party. When it was over, the people who attended went to other towns and cut down their Asherah poles and removed the pagan shrines and altars. Hezekiah organized the priests so they could take their turns in seeing in the Temple. The people responded by giving so many offerings to the Temple that the priests were able to be eat and have much left over. Hezekiah ordered a storeroom to be opened in the Temple to put the extra tithes the people brought so the priests would always be taken care of. Hezekiah sought the Lord with all his heart so he was very successful. In Romans, Paul gave them instructions to love one another and to get along with peace. He prayed for patience and encouragement to help them live together in harmony and to live a life of praise and one that gave glory to God. Lord, may we live in love and may our lives give you glory. May our nation return to the Lord as Hezekiah’s did.