Fri.’s Devo - David Becomes King of Judah

Read: 2 Samuel 1:1-2:11; John 12:20-50; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 15:27-28 Three days after David had been home from his victory over the Amalekites, a man from Saul’s camp came to see him, He bowed down to him and told him he had escaped from the battle with Israel. David wanted to hear all about it. The man told him that Israel had fled in the heat of battle and Saul and all his sons had been killed. David asked him how he knew for sure that Saul and his sons were dead. The man told him that he had happened upon Saul while he was leaning on his own sword. Saul asked him to kill him because he was dying too slowly. So the man killed him and took his crown and bracelet to bring to David. *** David was overcome with grief and tore his clothes. He mourned, wept and fasted till that evening. He found out the man who told him was an Amalekite. He rebuked him for not being afraid to kill God’s anointed and had him killed. He then quoted a prophecy from the Book of Jashar about the death of Saul and the defeat of Israel. *** David asked the Lord what he should do next and the Lord told him to move his family to Hebron. The men of Judah came and anointed him as the king over the house of Judah. *** David learned what the men of Jabesh-gilead had done to Saul and his sons bodies and blessed them and promised to reward them. *** Meanwhile, Abner made Ishbosheth king over Israel. Ishbosheth was 40 years old and only reigned 2 years. David was king in Hebron over Judah 7 years and 6 months. *** In John, it was the time of the Passover so all the Jewish men had come to Jerusalem to celebrate. Some Greeks also came to the feast and were hoping to see Jesus. Jesus told his disciples that it was time for the Son of Man to be glorified. *** Jesus said that unless a grain of wheat dies, it will not bear fruit. He was that seed. For a person to find their lives, they would have to lose it. Whoever wants to follow him will have to lose their life to find eternal life. *** Jesus was troubled in his soul but knew he was brought to the world for this very purpose. He praised that God’s name would be glorified. When he said this, God spoke from heaven and said, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd only heard God’s words as thunder. Others thought an angel had said the words. Jesus told them that the voice they heard was not for his sake, but for theirs. Judgement had come to the earth and the ruler of this wold would be cast out. When he was lifted up from the earth on the cross many would come to him. When they didn’t know who the Son of Man was, he told them he was the light. If they believed in his light, they would also walk in light. *** Jesus left and hid himself. Many, though they had seen the miracles he did, did not believe in him. It was just as Isaiah had said, God had blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts or they would have believed. But, some did believe, but were afraid to admit it for fear of being kicked out of the synagogue. *** Jesus told him that he didn’t come to the world to condemn or judge it but to save it. He had spoken only what his Father had told him to say and his commandment brings eternal life to all who believe. *** Lord, thank you that you have given us eyes to see and a heart to understand who you are. May we always walk in your light and may our light show others the way to you.

Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Perfect Timing

Read: 1 Samuel 29:1-31:13; John 11:54-12:19; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 15:24-26 The Philistine armies met at Aphek to plan their attack on Israel. When Achish showed up with David and his men with him, the other commanders wanted to know why he had brought David. Achish defended David as a loyal ally, but the other officers remembered him as a fierce competitor. They refused to let David and his men fight with them. They feared he would side with Saul and turn against them in the midst of the battle. *** Achish had to call David in and tell him that the other officers refused to let them fight, so he and his men would need to go home, peacefully. David and his men left early the next morning to go back to Ziklag. When they got there, they found that Amalekites had raided their city and burned it with fire. They had taken all their women and children with them. David’s men were so upset with David, they talked of stoning him. *** David was in distress also, but he strengthened himself in the Lord. He told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod and ask the Lord if they should pursue the Amalekites and if they would be successful. The Lord told him to go and he would be successful. *** David’s 600 men left to rescue their families, but when they came to the brook Besor, 200 of his men were too exhausted to keep going. They stayed there and the other 400 continued. *** They found an Egyptian who had been left there by his Amalekite master because he had become sick. He hadn’t eaten in three days. David fed and him and found out he had been with the ones who raided their city. David promised not to kill him if he would take them to where the Amalekites were. He agreed. *** He took them to where the Amalekites were camped. They were eating and drinking and celebrating over their great spoil. David and his men attacked and fought them all day. He and his men recovered everything the Amalekites had stolen and took their spoil. *** They came back to where the 200 were that had been too exhausted to go on. Some of his worthless men didn’t want to share their spoil with these men, but David made it a statute that those who go to battle share their spoil with those stay with the baggage. David also sent presents from the spoil to all the places his men had stayed to thank them. *** Meanwhile, back at the battle between the Philistines and Israel. Saul and his three sons were killed in the battle. Israel fled. The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the ones who had died, they found the bodies of Saul and his sons. They cut off their heads and stripped them of their armor. They put Saul’s armor in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what they had done, they came by night and stole Saul’s body and the body of his sons and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted for seven days. *** In John, it was not safe for Jesus to walk openly among the Jews so he went to a town near the wilderness called Ephraim and stayed there with is disciples. *** It was the time of the Passover and the Jews had many looking for him so they could arrest him. 
 *** Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany to visit Martha, Mary and Lazareth. After dinner, Mary took a pound of expensive ointment and anointed Jesus feet and wiped it with her hair. When Judas saw this, he asked why her perfume wasn’t sold and the money given to the poor instead of wasting it on Jesus’ feet. Judas wasn’t worried about the poor, he was a thief and was in charge of the money bag, so he saw this as a lost opportunity *** Jesus told Judas to leave her alone because she would use the rest for his burial. He added that they would always have the poor to help, but they would not always had him. *** A large crowd heard that Jesus was at Lazareth’s house and they came not only to see Jesus, but to see the man that he had risen from the dead. The chief priest realized that they wold need to put Lazareth to death also. *** Many learned that Jesus was coming to the feast and took their palm branches and laid them at his feet crying out 
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” This is the song they would sing every year while walking to Jerusalem, only this time they sang it to him. *** Jesus rode in on a donkey. His disciples understood later, that the prophets had said this about him. The Pharisees saw that the whole nation was going after Jesus and he had to be stopped. *** Lord, your timing is perfect. It was perfect that David and his men were not allowed to go to battle against Israel. Many would have blamed David for Saul’s death, but not they couldn’t because he wasn’t there. Thank you that you see the end from the beginning and you save us from many troubles. Your timing in Jesus’ life was also perfect. Every act was orchestrated to teach us about you and your ways. May we always praise you and worship you.

Wed.’s Devo - God’s Sovereignty -

Read: 1 Samuel 26:1-28:25; John 11:1-53; Psal 117:1-2; Proverbs 15:22-23 The Ziphites came to Saul and told him where David was camping. Saul took 3,000 men to find him. When David saw Saul and his men he knew that Saul still wanted to kill him. He waited till night time and took Abishai with him to Saul’s camp. God had caused the men in Saul’s camp to go into a deep sleep. David and Abishai stole Saul’s sword and water jar. They put some distance between them and Saul before they woke them up. *** David yelled to Abner, Saul’s bodyguard and leader of his army and asked why he didn’t protect the king. David showed him his sword and water jar and told him he could have killed him but didn’t want to kill God’s anointed. He stated that as he had mercy on Saul and didn’t kill him, he prayed the Lord would return the favor and deliver him out of all his tribulation. (His tribulation had to do with Saul.) *** Saul prophesied that David would do many things and have success. They parted. *** It was obvious to David that he would never be able to live in Israel as long as Saul was alive, so he moved his 600 men to the land of the Philistines. He went to Achish, the same king he had acted like a mad man in front of and lived there with his household. Saul didn’t want to pursue David in the land of the Philistines. *** After living with Achish for a while, he asked him if he might have a city for him and his men to live in. Achish gave him the city of Ziklag. David lived there for a year and four months. *** David would take his men out to raid the Geshurites, the Girizites, and the Amalekites (Israel’s enemies). He made sure he killed everyone in the city so there would be no witness to tell Achish what he had done. When Achish asked him where he had been that day, he would tell him he had raided a city in Israel. So, Achish believed that David hated his land and his people. *** The Philistines came up to fight Saul and Achish told David that he and his men would be expected to fight with him. He wanted David to be his bodyguard for life. *** Saul was afraid to go out to war without asking the Lord if they would be successful. He didn’t have Samuel to ask and God wasn’t responding through the priest or the prophets, so he asked if anyone knew of a sorcerer to ask. He had had them banned from Israel, but one of his servants knew of a medium who lived in Endor. *** Saul discussed himself so she wouldn’t know he was the king and be afraid since mediums had been banned from Israel. He went to her and asked her to bring up a spirit from the dead. He assured her he wouldn’t kill her. *** She brought up Samuel for him. Immediately, she knew he was Saul. Saul promised again not to kill her. He asked Samuel if they would be successful the next day in battle against the Philistines. He explained that the Lord had turned away from him and he had no one else to turn to. Samuel told him the Lord had become his enemy and has torn the kingdom out of his hands and given it to David. He didn’t obey the voice of the Lord to kill all the Amelekites that day, so this is his consequence. He would die along with his sons, and the army of Israel would not succeed against the Philistines. *** Saul fainted on the ground in fear. The woman gave him some food and his men urged him to eat it. She fixed him his last supper - a lamb and unleavened bread. It must have been the season of Passover. The death angel would come for him the next day. *** In John, Lazareth, Mary and Martha’s brother became deathly ill. They sent word to Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus said that his illness would not lead to death, but the Son of God would be glorified in it. *** God had him wait till Lazareth had died before he sent him to where Lazareth was in Judea. His disciples discouraged him against going back to the town where they were trying to kill him. He told them that he must walk in the day (God’s light). Those that stumble are those who walk in darkness. He added that Lazareth had fallen asleep, but he was going to wake him up. He meant that he had died. *** When they got to Bethany, they found that Lazareth had been in his tomb dead for four days. Martha met him and told him that if he had been there, Lazareth would’t have died. Jesus said he would rise again because He was the resurrection and the life and anyone who believes in him will never die. He asked her if she believed in him. She proclaimed he was the Christ, the son of God. *** Martha went and got Mary who quickly came to Jesus. She fell at his feet and told him if he had been there, Lazareth would’t have died. Jesus asked where the tomb was that he had been laid. They took him there where Jesus wept. *** Jesus asked them to take the stone away and when Martha questioned this, he told her that if she believed she would see the glory of God. Then he prayed aloud to God. He then spoke to Lazareth and told him to come out. Lazareth came out with his death clothes on. Jesus told the people to take the linen strips off of him and set him free. *** Many believed in Jesus this day, but some of them went and told the Pharisees what he had done. The Pharisees gathered the council to talk about what their response would be to this. They knew that if they continued to let him do these signs, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and unseat them as the leaders of the Jews. *** Caiaphas, the high priest said, “Do you not understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, instead of the whole nation?” Little did he understand that he was prophesying exactly what Jesus would do. He would not only die for the nation but the whole world. From that day on they made plans to kill Jesus. *** God is sovereign, and it was his will that David become the king. No matter what Saul did, he could not kill David. The same was happening in Jesus’ day. They could not kill Jesus, no mater what they planned until God said it was time for Jesus to give up his life. God is the one in control, not man. *** Lord, it is easy to see that we are living in the same scenario. Those who are opposing what you are doing on the earth today are doing all they can do to kill our President who you have anointed. Obviously, his time has not come to leave the earth because God has protected him and kept him alive. May we be on the side of good and not evil in the days we are living. We trust in your plan.

Tues.’s Devo - God’s Perfect Timing

Read: 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44; John 10:22-42; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 15:20-21 Once Saul was finished with his dealings with the Philistines, he heard that David was in the wilderness of Engedi. Saul and three thousand men went to pursue David and his men. Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. Little did he know, David and his men were deep inside that same cave. David’s men thought this was David’s golden opportunity to kill Saul. It was like the Lord had given him into David’s hands. It was a test. *** David passed the test. Instead of killing Saul, he cut off a piece of his robe to use it as evidence that he could have killed him, but didn’t. When Saul had finished and was leaving the area, David came out and revealed to Saul what he had done. David asked Saul why he was chasing him to kill him when David meant no harm to him. *** Saul repented of trying to kill David and even told him that he knew that David would one day be the king. He asked David to please not kill his offspring and destroy his name when that happened. David swore he wouldn’t. Saul then left and went home and David stayed in his stronghold. *** Samuel died and all Israel met in Ramah to mourn and bury him. David went to the wilderness of Paran. There was a very rich but worthless man who lived there named Nabal. He had a wise and beautiful wife named Abigail. *** David and his men had protected Nabal’s shepherds while they were out in the fields and were like a wall around them. David sent his messengers to Nabal to ask if they could come and join them in their festival because they were hungry. *** The messenger explained how valuable David had been to them and how he and his men deserved to enjoy their harvest. Nabal foolishly refused to let David and his men come. *** When David heard this, he told his men to strap on their weapons because they were going down to kill the men of Nabal and take their harvest. 
 *** The messengers came to Abigail and told her what had happened and how Nabal had opened them up for an attack. She quickly had her servants prepare wine, bread and fruit to take to David. She rode out and met David. She repented for what Nabal said and gave them the food. She asked for mercy from David, and begged him to spare their lives. *** David blessed Abigail for her actions and told her that he would not attack them but let them live in peace. *** Abigail returned home to find her husband drunk from his feast. She waited till the next day to tell him what she had done. When she told him, he had a stroke and died ten days later. *** David heard about Nabal’s death and sent for Abigail to come and be his wife. She came with five young women who attended her. David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. Saul had given Michal, David’s wife and his daughter to Palti as his wife. *** Timing is everything in the Lord’s kingdom. It was not time for David to usurp Saul’s kingship. He would have to wait until God gave him the kingdom. On the other hand, Abigail had to act quickly or she would have lost everything to David’s men. Instead, she gained everything. ***In John, Jesus explained how his children can walk in his timing and his will. They hear his voice and follow him. God will give them eternal life and no one will be able to snatch them out of his hand. He told them that he and his Father were the same. *** Then the Jews picked up stones to stone him. Jesus reminded them of all the good works he had shown them and asked then which of them were they stoning him for. They answered that they weren’t stoning him for his works, but his words of blasphemy because he make himself to be God. *** Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6 that says to the divine council, “I said, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.’”He explained this was written to the ones the Word of the Lord came to, so how much more should he be able to say he is one with the Father since he was consecrated by God and sent to the earth. Jesus was doing the works of his Father. If they couldn’t believe he was from God, at least they should acknowledge that his works are from God. Then maybe they could believe that God is in him and he is in God. *** They tried to arrest Jesus, but it was not his time so he escaped. He went across the Jordan where John had began his ministry. Many there realized that he was everything John had said he was. *** Lord, may our lives reflect who we believe you are. We are your children and you live in us just like you lived in Jesus. May our works magnify you. May we respect and honor your timing and learn to wait on you.

Mon.’s Devo - Spiritual Warfare Personified

Read: 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29; John 10:1-21; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 15:18-19 David left the city of Gath where he had pretended to be a madman and about 400 men began to follow him. They were men who were disgruntled about the government, owed taxes they couldn’t pay, and were in trouble with the law. *** David took his men and his family to Mizpeh which was ruled by the Moabites. He asked the king to let his father and mother stay there to be safe. The prophet of Gad told him to go into the land of Judah, so David obeyed. *** Saul found out where David was from Doeg who confessed he had seen David in Nob. He witnessed that Ahimelech prayed for David, gave him provisions and Goliath’s sword. Ahimelech and all his house was brought before Saul and questioned. Ahimelech claimed he was innocent in acting against the king since he believed David was working for the king. Saul choose not to believe him. He commanded his servant to kill Ahimelech, but his servant would not kill the priest. Doeg was not afraid to kill God’s priest and not only killed Ahimelech and his family, but all the priests in the priestly town. He killed 85 people that day. *** Meanwhile, one of Ahimelech’s sons, Abiathar, escaped and found David. He told him what had happened back in Nob. Abiathar brought with him the ephod. David told him to stay with him and he would keep him safe. *** David learned that the Philistines were trying to capture the city of Keilah and were robbing their harvest. He had Abiathar inquire of the Lord if they should go and help the people of Keilah. God said they should go. David’s men didn’t want to go, so David asked the Lord again and he gave the same answer. So, they went and delivered the people of Keilah from the Philistines. *** Saul learned that David was in Keilah and came after him. David asked the Lord if the people of Keilah would surrender him over to Saul and the Lord said they would. In spite of the fact that David had saved their lives and their livelihood, they would not return the favor to David. Now, David and his men had to flee to the wilderness of Ziph. *** Jonathan found David there and told him not to fear, because Saul would never find him. David would be the next king and he, Jonathan, would be his second in command. He told David that Saul knows this, also. David and Jonathan made another covenant with each other and then they parted. *** The people of Ziph went to Saul and offered to give David over to him. Saul blessed them for the information and told them to go and spy on David and find out all his hiding places and come back and tell him. *** Saul and David both had spies that informed them of each other’s movements. They both ended up on the same mountain. Saul was closing in on David when he got a report to return home because the Philistines were attacking Israel. God saved David in the nick of time and Saul returned home. *** In John, Jesus used a story to explain the spiritual realm. He described the spiritual realm as a sheepfold. The gatekeeper was the Holy Spirit who opens the door when he hears the shepherd’s voice, who was Jesus. All who belong to Jesus follow him in. They know his voice and will only listen to it. They will be saved. Those who get into the spiritual realm another way are thieves and robbers. They are the sorcerers and false prophets. *** The thief is the devil and his only mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus mission was to give life. He would lay down his life for us to enter into salvation. Satan would abandon his followers to save himself. *** All who listen to Jesus and believe in him will be saved by him. He loves us, just like God loves him. Jesus willingly laid down his life to die on the cross. They didn’t take his life, he gave it up freely for us. *** Many who heard the words of Jesus thought he had a demon and, but others knew a demon couldn’t open the eyes of the blind. *** We see what Jesus was telling us in the lives of Saul and David. Saul was a picture of Satan trying to kill David. David was a picture of Jesus who refused to fight for his own life, but was not afraid of Satan. *** Lord, thank you for laying down your life for sinners like us. Thank you that through your sacrifice, we are saved and can walk in freedom from the power of sin.

Sun.’s Devo - The Blind Will See -

Read: 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15; John 9:1-41; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 15:15-17 Saul was bent on killing David so he had fled to Ramah. He met with Jonathan and asked him why his father wanted to kill him so badly. Jonathan couldn’t believe his father wanted to kill David so they came up with a plan to find out. *** David would stay hidden and Jonathan would return home for the new moon. If Saul missed David and was angry that he was not there, then they would know he wanted to kill him. If he was okay with his excuse to spend time with his family, then David would know it was safe to come home. *** David and Jonathan also devised a plan to warn David if Saul was indeed mad with him. They would meet again on the third day. *** Jonathan went home and ate with his father. Saul didn’t say anything about David’s absence on the first day, but he did ask about him on the second day. When Jonathan defended David’s absence, Saul lost his temper and cursed Jonathan for taking up for David. He told Jonathan that as long as David was alive, his kingdom would not be established. It would go to David. Saul wanted Jonathan to turn David over to him so he could kill him. Jonathan asked what David had done that deserved dying. Saul was so mad he picked up his sword and threw it at Jonathan. Jonathan then knew he was determined to kill David. *** The next morning, Jonathan went to meet David and gave him the sign that his father wanted to kill him. They had a very emotional meeting. They promised to keep the covenant they had made to take care of each other’s offspring forever, then they parted. *** David went to Nob to Ahimelech, the priest and asked for food and a sword. He told the priest he was on a secret mission for Saul. Ahimelech gave him the old holy bread and Goliath’s sword. How fitting that he should partake in God’s bread meant only for priests and take the sword of the giant he had defeated. *** Unfortunately, Saul’s herdsman, Doeg was present and saw this exchange. David left and went to Achish the king of Gath, in the land of the Philistines. Achish’s servants recognized David and took him to the king. David acted like he was insane which saved his life. The king wanted nothing to do with another madman. *** In John, Jesus and his disciples passed a man who had been blind since birth. The disciples asked him if he had sinned or his parents, to make him blind. Jesus surprised them by saying that neither had sinned but he was made blind so that his life could be an example of God’s power. Then Jesus spit on the ground and made mud with his spit. He anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. The man came back able to see. *** The man who used to be blind went and told his neighbors what had happened. They brought him to the Pharisees. It was the Sabbath and the man explained what had happened. The Pharisees claimed that Jesus was not from God because he didn’t keep the Sabbath. But, the people asked how man who was not from God do such miracles? They asked the man who could now see what he thought about Jesus. He said Jesus was a prophet. *** The Jews wanted to investigate the man and went to his parents to find out if his story was true. They agreed that their son was born blind and now could see, but they didn’t know who had healed him. They told the Pharisees that he was an adult, they should ask him. They were afraid of being kicked out of the sanctuary for confessing that Jesus was the Christ. *** So, the Pharisees went back to the man who had been healed and told him to give glory to God, because they knew that Jesus was a sinner. He told them that he didn’t know anything other than he was blind and now he sees. They had an argument and finally threw the man out of the sanctuary. *** Jesus heard about this and went and found him. He asked him if he believed in the Son of Man. He answered that he didn’t know who he was. When Jesus told him, he was the Son of Man, the man confessed he believed. Jesus said that he came into the world to help the blind to see and so that those who see, may become blind. The Pharisees asked if they were the ones who were blind. Jesus answered that if they were blind, they would not be guilty, but because they say they can see, they remained guilty. *** Lord, may our spiritual eyes be opened to what you want to do. May we not be blinded by our own opinions and perceptions and miss how you are working on the earth and who you are using to bring about your purposes.

Sat.’s Devo - The Clash of Kingdoms

Read: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24; John 8:31-59; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 15:12-14 David became so successful in his battles with the Philistines that Saul set him over all his men of war. David was very popular with his troops and the people. *** One day after coming in from a battle Saul hear the women singing about Saul killing his thousands, and David his ten thousands. He was very jealous that the women were giving David more honor than him. His jealousy led to a mental breakdown where he tried to kill David while he was playing his lyre for him. David evaded his attempts twice. *** This only made Saul more afraid of David because he knew that the Lord was with him. David had success in everything he did and all Israel loved him. *** Saul promised to give David his daughter, Merab to him in marriage, but gave her to another man instead. Then, Saul learned that his other daughter, Michal loved David. He told David he could marry her if he brought him 100 foreskins from the Philistines. He hoped that David would die in the hands of the Philistines but instead, David brought him 200. David and Michal were married. *** Jonathan went to his father to defend David. He reminded Saul of all David had done for Israel and for him. Saul promised not to kill David. *** War broke out again against the Philistines and David went out and fought valiantly. The Philistines fled. When David returned, Saul tried to kill him again as he played his lyre. David escaped. He went home, but his wife told him to escape because her father wanted to kill him. David ran to Ramah where Samuel was. *** Saul sent men to get David out of his bed only to find that Michal had replaced him with a stature and a wig. *** Saul learned that David was in Ramah and sent soldiers to take David but the Spirit of God fell on them and all they could do was prophecy. This happened with three different groups of soldiers till finally, Saul went himself. He stripped off his clothes and prophesied all day and night. *** In John, Jesus told the Jews that if they would abide him his words, they would be his disciples and his truth would set them free. They claimed to be offspring of Abraham and said they had never been enslaved to anyone. (Obviously, they didn’t remember too much about their own history.) They didn’t think they needed to be free. *** Jesus explained that they were slaves to sin and a slave doesn’t remain in the house forever, only the son. So, if the Son sets his slave free, he is totally free. He told them that he knew they were offspring of Abraham, yet they wanted to kill him because his words were not welcome with them. His father was God and their father was the devil. *** They claimed that Abraham was their father. Jesus told them that if they were Abraham’s children then they would do what Abraham did, but they were doing what Satan did. They claimed that God was their Father, but Jesus told them that if God was their father then they would love him because he came from God. *** Jesus told them again that their father was the devil and they loved his deeds. He was a murderer from the beginning and only speaks lies. *** They accused Jesus of being a demon-filled Samaritan. Jesus told him he didn’t have a demon but honored the Lord and anyone who keeps his word would not see death. Now they really thought he was full of demons. When Jesus told them that he lived before Abraham, they picked up stones to stone him. Jesus hid himself and left the Temple. *** Lord, thank you that you alone have the words of eternal life. Thank you that we have been given eyes to see and a heart to accept your words of truth.

Fri.’s Devo - God is the Victor!

Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11 The Philistines were camped in Socoh which was in Judah, about 14 miles southwest of Jerusalem. It was situated on a mountain and Saul and his men were on another mountain with the valley of Elah between them. The Philistines sent out a champion to represent their whole army. He challenged Israel to send out their champion to fight him. Whoever won, their nation would rule over the other nation. They sent out Goliath who was 9 feet tall and covered in metal armor and equipped with a spear, a sword and a javelin. The only people on Israel’s side that had a spear was Saul and Jonathan. Neither of them volunteered to go. *** David had been sent to the battlefield by his dad to bring food to his three brothers and find out how the fighting was going. He got there just in time to hear Goliath come out, as in times before, and threaten the army of Israel. David learned that whoever killed this Philistine would be given great riches and the king’s daughter in marriage. Also, his family would be exempt from paying taxes. *** David kept asking about Goliath and who this uncircumcised Philistine was that should defy the armies of the living God. He stirred up so much attention that Saul heard about him and had him brought to him. *** David told Saul that they should not be afraid of Goliath because he would go out and defeat him. Saul asked David who he thought he could take down Goliath. David explained that he had had to fight both lions and bears in defending his sheep, and this would be just like that. *** Saul had to admire David’s confidence and finally agreed to let him go. He first wanted to dress David in his own armor. When it only served to weigh David down, David insisted on going with what he had. He took his staff and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his pouch. With his sling in his hand he went out to meet Goliath. *** When Goliath realized what Israel had sent out to fight him he was so disappointed. He tried to intimidate David by cursing him and his gods. He told David that he was going to give his flesh over to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. *** David told Goliath that Goliath may have a sword, a spear and a javelin, but he had the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel who Goliath had defied. This was a battle between Goliath and his God, and his God would win. Then he proceeded to tell Goliath what he was going to do to him. He was going to strike him down, then cut off his head. He would give the armies of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts. Then all the earth would know that there is a God in Israel. *** David ran to meet Goliath and drew a stone from his bag and put it in his sling. He slung it and hit Goliath between his eyes. Goliath fell face down. David ran and took Goliath’s own sword and killed him and cut off his head, just as he had described to Goliath he would do. *** When the Philistines saw that their champion was killed, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah gave a shout and pursued them as far as Gath and Ekron. David took the head of Goliath and brought it back to Jerusalem along with Goliath’s armor. *** David was brought before Saul and was introduced to Jonathan who loved David immediately. Jonathan made a covenant with David and loved him as his own soul. He gave David his robe, his armor and even his sword, bow and belt. This was a prophetic act giving David his place as the next king. *** The biggest takeaway I get from this historic story is that like David told Goliath exactly what he expected to happen, we need to tell the devil just what is going to happen in our lives. We can declare our destiny when we know what God’s destiny is for our lives. David knew that the Philistines were not to rule over them. We know that Satan is not to rule over our lives, also. *** In John, Jesus did the same thing to his enemies. He told them that he was leaving and they would not be able to find him but they would die in their sin. They thought that Jesus was thinking of killing himself and go to hell but he told them that they were the ones from hell and he was from heaven. Unless they believed that he is, they will die in their sins. *** They didn’t understand what he was saying, so he told them that when they lift him up, they will know that he came from his Father and spoke for him, and did his will. Many did believe in him. *** Lord, may we declare our victory over sin and death. May we speak truth over our lives, our family and our nation. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Thurs.’s Devo - David is Anointed by Samuel -

Read: 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23; John 7:53-8:20; Psalm 110:1-7; Proverbs 15:8-10 God sent Samuel to tell Saul to annihilate the Amalekites because they had opposed Israel when they came out of Egypt. He was to kill everyone, along with their animals. *** Saul mustered 210,000 men to war against the Amelekites. Saul first sent a message to all the Kenites to get out of the city so they would not be killed. The Kenites had made a covenant with Israel of peace with Israel years before. *** Saul and his army attacked the Amelekites and saved their king, Agag and the best of the animals. Samuel heard of the outcome and came to confront Saul. Saul met Samuel boasting that he had done all the Lord told him to do. Samuel told him he had not. He had allowed the king to live, and took the best of the animals for himself. Saul defended his actions and said the animals were to sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel answered with his profound and much repeated answer: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” *** Saul was sorry he had done this and begged Samuel to return with him to worship the Lord. Samuel told him that he would not return with him and because he had rejected the Word of the Lord, so God had rejected him as king and was raising up his own man to be king. This man was better than Saul and would follow the Lord. *** Saul was sick with remorse and begged Samuel to return with him to worship the Lord. He wanted the people to see that him and Samuel were still tight. Samuel had Agag brought to him and hacked him into pieces before the Lord. Samuel left and went home to Ramah and Samuel did not see Saul again until the day he was dying. God regretted making Saul king over Israel. *** Samuel grieved over Saul until God told him to go to Bethlehem and anoint the new king. He had to do it secretly or Saul would have killed him. He went to the house of Jesse and invited him and his sons to a sacrifice. *** Saul went through all of Jessie’s sons from the oldest to the youngest and none of them were the Lord’s choice. He asked if Jesse had anymore sons and they brought in David, his youngest from watching the sheep. God said he was the one he had chosen. Samuel poured a whole flask of oil over his head and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. He then left but the Spirit of God fell on David from that time on. *** Meanwhile, a bad spirit fell upon Saul and the only way he could find peace was to listen to music. They found that David could play the lyre and brought him to Saul to play for him. David found so much favor in Saul’s eyes that he hired him to stay with him. *** When the Lord has a mission for us, he knows how to put us in the place we need to be. David was anointed king and yet he waited for God to put him in that position. It took years for God to get him there, but David let the Lord do it. *** In John, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray and spend the night. The next day, he went to the Temple to teach. The scribes and Pharisees brought them a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery and asked him what they should do to her. The law of Moses said to stone her. They were trying to trap Jesus. *** Jesus began writing in the dust with his finger. He finally stood and told them that the one who was without sin should cast the first stone. Then he bend down and continued to write. The oldest men left first, then the rest until the only ones standing were the woman and Jesus. Jesus asked her where her accusers were and who was condemning her. She answered, “No one,” so he told her to go and sin no more. *** Jesus taught that he was the light of the world and whoever followed him would not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. The Pharisees argued that his testimony about himself was the only testimony. It would not stand in a court of law. Jesus said his testimony was true because he knew where he was from and where he was going but they didn’t. They judged according to the flesh. He didn’t judge anyone, but if he did, his judgement was not alone, it was also the judgment of God’s. He and God were two witnesses. *** Then asked him where his Father was and he told them that they didn’t know him or his Father. If they knew him, they would know his Father. *** Many teach that all who worship God will be saved, but God makes it very clear that there is one way to him and it is through his son, Jesus. *** Lord, may we worship you in Spirit and in truth. Thank you that you don’t look on the outward appearance but on our hearts. May our hearts be pure and acceptable in your sight.

Wed.’s Devo - Israel is Saved

Read: 1 Samuel 13:23-14:52; John 7:30-52; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7 The Philistines had a garrison at Michmash and Jonathan took his armor-bearer to the Philistine garrison. He believed that God could save with a few the same as he could save with a whole army. It was the Lord who was going to give them the victory. His armor-bearer was willing to do anything Jonathan told him. *** Jonathan came up with a sign. The garrison was staying up on a rocky crag and if they saw him and his armor-bearer and wanted them to come up, then Jonathan would know that the Lord had given them the victory. *** They showed themselves to the Philistines who told them to come up, so Jonathan and his armor-bearer knew they were going to win. They climbed up the cliff and killed 20 Philistines. God shook the earth and it quaked so loud it threw the rest of the garrison into a great panic. *** Saul’s spies saw this and reported it back to Saul. Saul did a roll call and discovered Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing. He called for the ark to be brought, but the noise in the Philistine camp became so loud, he called his men to battle. There were Hebrew defectors who changed their allegiance back to fight for Israel. When the people of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing they came out of hiding and fought for Israel and it was saved. *** Saul was so determined to win, he put a curse on anyone in the army who ate anything before Israel was delivered. Jonathan hadn’t heard the rule and he ate some honey and was refreshed. When the battle was over and the men could finally eat. They were so famished they started eating the animals of the Philistines before they were dead. This was reported to Saul and he rebuked the people. He had a huge stone rolled over where they could kill their animals on it. He set up an altar to cook the meat and sacrifice to the Lord. *** Saul inquired of the Lord to know if they should pursue the Philistines, but he got no answer. He then asked the Lord who had sinned that he was not answering. Was it him or Jonathan or was it someone among the people? The Lord said it was him or Jonathan, not the people. Then the priest drew lots to find out it was Jonathan who had sinned. Saul asked Jonathan what he had done and he told him he had eaten the honey. Saul was going to have Jonathan killed, but the people stood up for Jonathan and saved him. *** This is a very good example of the power of our words. Saul’s curse, no matter how foolish or unfair, almost killed Jonathan. Our words are life or death. We need to wield the sword of our mouth very carefully and purposefully. *** In John, the Jews were trying to find the perfect time to arrest Jesus, but God’s hand would not allow them to do it till he said it was time. *** The Pharisees heard the people wondering if Jesus was the Messiah because of the wonderful miracles he did. They had had enough, so the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. Jesus told them he wasn’t going to be with them much longer. He was going somewhere they wouldn’t be able to come. They would look for him, but not be able to find him. *** They wondered if he was going to go and teach the Greeks. They didn’t arrest him. *** On the last day of the feast, the priests were doing the water libation where the priests bring water in a pitcher up from the Siloam Springs (the springs of living water) and pour it on the altar. Jesus stood and said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Then out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. *** The people heard this and some thought he was The Prophet who had been prophesied would come and some thought he was the Messiah. Some argued he couldn’t be either because the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem and all they knew about Jesus was that he was from Nazareth and no prophet was said to come out of Nazareth. Some wanted him arrested, but no one wanted to be the one to do it. *** The chief priests who had sent their officers to arrest Jesus asked them why they didn’t do it. They told him that no one spoke like him. Nicodemus declared that they needed to give Jesus a hearing before they judged him. *** Lord, may our words bring life as your words did. May we speak truth and not be afraid of the outcome. You are our defender. You alone have the words of life.

Tues.’ Devo - Saul’s First Big Test -

Read: 1 Samuel 12:1-13:22; John 7:1-29; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 15:4 Samuel gave a condemning speech testifying to his own righteousness, but pointing out the continual sins of their nation. He reminded them of all the Lord had done for them and yet, how they had treated the Lord in return. And, now they had asked for a king, and he had granted their request. *** God warned them that if they will fear him and serve and obey him and not rebel, then all will go well for them, but if they return to wickedness, they will be swept away. Samuel begged them not to get distracted and go after empty things that cannot profit or deliver. *** Samuel told them that God would thunder and rain that day to let them know how upset he was that they asked for a king. Samuel prayed and it did thunder and rain even though it was not the rainy season. The people were afraid of God. *** One year later, Saul became the king. When he had reigned for two years, he built up an army of 3,000 men who were with him in Michmash, and 1,000 who were with his son, Jonathan in Gibeah. Jonathan went out and defeated the Phillistine garrison in Geba. Saul blew the trumpet and declared war on the Philistines. He called for the men to come to Gilgal and fight with them. *** The Philistines came with 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen plus troops on foot that were enumerable. They came and set up their camp at Michmash. The Israelites near there to ran to hide in the caves. Saul led his fearful troops from Gilgal to Michmash. He had been told by Samuel that he would come in seven days and offer sacrifices to the Lord and ask for his help. When Samuel didn’t arrive on time and his troops were going AWOL he decided to offer the sacrifice himself. As soon as he had finished, Samuel arrived. When Samuel heard Saul’s excuse to why he had not waited, he told him he had acted foolishly. He had not done what the Lord said so his kingdom will not stand forever. God has found a man who will have his heart and obey him. Samuel left and went home. Saul took what was left of his army and went to Gibeah. *** Saul had about 600 men who camped with Johnathan at Geba. The Philistines were still at Michmash. The Philistines divided their army into three groups and sent some to Ophrah, another to Beth-horon and another to the Valley of Zeboim. The Philistines had gotten rid of all the blacksmiths in Israel so the only ones who had a sword were Saul and Jonathan. *** The odds were stacked against Israel and only God could deliver them. *** In John, the odds were stacked against Jesus also. He could no longer walk freely in Judea because they were trying to kill him. Jesus stayed in Galilee. The Feast of Tabernacles was nearing and all Jewish men were to go to Jerusalem. Jesus never missed a feast. He sent his disciples ahead of him to Jerusalem. They encouraged him to go openly and make a name for himself. Jesus explained that it was not his time yet. The people wanted to kill him because he exposed their evil works. *** After he sent his disciples ahead of him, Jesus went privately, Everyone was looking for him and giving their opinion about what they thought of him. The feast lasted for 7 days and in the middle of those days, Jesus went into the temple and began teaching. The Jews marveled that he spoke so well, yet they had not educated him. Jesus explained that his teacher was the one who sent him - God. God is truth. *** Jesus explained that they had Moses’ law, yet they didn’t even keep it. Then he asked them why they were wanting to kill him. One of the people answered that he must have a demon because no one was wanting to kill him. *** Jesus was not the one with the demon. He exposed their hypocrisy in circumcising on the Sabbath and yet not wanting him to heal on the Sabbath. *** Those listening saw that the authorities were allowing Jesus to preach and were not arresting him. It made them wonder if they really knew that he was the Christ. Then they reasoned that they knew where Jesus came from and the scriptures said that when the Messiah came, no one would know where he came from. Jesus perceived they were thinking this and answered their question. He had come from God, but since they didn’t know God, they didn’t know where he came from. *** Lord, may we not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver. May we remember that you alone have the words of life.

Mon.’s Devo - Saul Made King

Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15; John 6:43-71; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 15:1-3 Samuel spoke privately to Saul. He poured a flask of oil on his head and kissed him. He told him that he would be the leader over his people and save them from their enemies. He then gave him three signs that would happen to him on his way home. When he got to Rachel’s tomb he would be met by two men who will tell them that they found the two donkeys and his father is worried about him. Then at the oak of Tabor, he will meet three men going up to Bethel. They will be carrying three young goats, three loaves of bread, and a skin of wine. They will give Saul two of their loaves and he was to accept them. Thirdly, he would come to Gibeath-elohim and meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with musical instruments. The Spirit of the Lord will come upon Saul and he would begin prophesying like a prophet. After all that happened he was to meet Samuel at Gilgal. *** All the signs happened just as Samuel had said they would. When all the people met with Samuel at Gilgal, he reminded the people of how the Lord had brought them out of Egypt, but today they have rejected the Lord and asked for a king to rule over them. He told them to stand with their tribe. The tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. Then the clan of Matrite, then Saul’s lot was drawn, but Saul couldn’t be found. He was found hiding and was brought before the people. He stood a head taller than anyone. *** The people shouted, “Long live the king!” and Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship. He wrote them in a book and laid them before the Lord. Everyone then went home. Some were happy about the choice and others despised Saul. *** Nahash the Ammorite came up against Jabesh-gilead to take it. The people tried to make a peace treaty with them. THe Ammorites said they would make a treaty with them if they agreed to let them gouge out the right eye of all the men. The elders of Jabesh asked for 7 days to see if they could ask the other tribes to help them. If they wouldn’t, then they would agree to their treaty. *** When Saul found out about the threat, he was so mad he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces. He sent the pieces throughout Israel saying that whoever didn’t come with Saul and Samuel to fight the Ammorites, this was what would be done to them. Three hundred and thirty thousand people came from Israel and Judah to fight. *** On the day that Jabesh was to surrender to the Ammorites, Saul divided the army into three groups and they attacked the Ammorite camp and defeated them. Those who survived were scattered. *** The people wanted to put to death the men who had despised Saul, but Saul wouldn’t let them. Samuel led everyone to Gilgal to renew the kingdom. There they made Saul king and sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord. The men of Israel rejoiced. *** In John, everything Jesus talked about that Passover was explaining what the bread stood for. He was the bread of life - the living bread that came down from heaven. The manna that came down from heaven in the wilderness was a picture of him. He is the bread that gives life to the world. The bread is his flesh. *** They couldn’t understand that. Jesus told them that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life and be raised up on the last day. Even the disciples had a hard time understanding what Jesus was telling them. He explained to him that he was talking spiritually. The flesh couldn’t do anything, but his Spirit can give eternal life. To understand what he was saying, a person had to be able to see spiritually. Jesus lost many followers this day. He asked the twelve if they would leave him as well. Peter answered that they had no where else to go. Who else has the worlds of eternal life. Jesus explained that he chose them but even one of them was going to betray him. *** Lord, may we continue to believe, even when we do not comprehend what you are doing. May we faithfully follow you.

Sun.’s Devo - They Want a King

Read: 1 Samuel 8:1-9:27; John 6:22-42; Psalm 106:43-48; Proverbs 14:34-35 Samuel made his sons judges over Israel, but they were not like him. They took bribes and distorted justice. The elders came to Samuel and told him that they did not want his sons to rule over them when he died. They wanted Samuel to anoint a king to rule them. *** Samuel was sad to hear this, but the Lord encouraged Samuel. He reminded him that they treated him the same way, and they weren’t rejecting Samuel, they were rejecting the Lord. *** Samuel warned the people of all a king would do to them and how they and their families would be made to serve him, but they still wanted a king like other nations had. *** Kish was a Benjaminite with a son named Saul. Kish sent Saul along with his servant to find his three donkeys that had run away. Saul searched all through the land of Benjamin and then went into the land of Ephraim. They were getting far from home and Saul was afraid his father would begin to worry more about him than the donkeys. His servant realized that they were in the vicinity of Samuel, the prophet. He suggested they go ask him which way to go. He scrounged up some silver to pay the prophet. *** In the meantime, God told Samuel that he would meet a man from Benjamin at a certain time and he was the one who would rule Israel. At that appointed time, Saul met Samuel on the road and asked him where the seer was. Samuel told him he was the seer and invited Saul and his servant to eat with him and be the guest of honor. Saul was taken aback but agreed when he told him his three donkeys had been found. *** At the feast there were only 30 men present. Saul was given the best piece of meat to eat. Then Saul was given a place to sleep. Early the next morning, Samuel woke Saul up to send him on his way. He asked to speak privately to Saul. Cliff-hanger…we will find out what he said tomorrow. *** In John, Jesus had sent his disciples across the sea and then walked to them on the water. The next day, the people were on the other side of the sea looking for Jesus. They knew that he hadn’t been with the disciples in their boat. *** When they found him on the other side of the sea they questioned how he got there. Jesus told them that they followed him because he fed them, not because they were spiritually hungry. They should seek the things of God that lead to eternal life. When they asked him what the works of God were that they should be doing, he told them to believe in the one God sent to earth. Then they asked for a sign to help them believe. Jesus explained that Moses had given the people manna from heaven to eat, but now God was giving the true bread from heaven. They asked him to give them this bread continually. Jesus replied that he was the bread of life. Whoever came to him and put their trust in him would not hunger or thirst again. He will preserve them and raise them up on the last day. *** The people reasoned among themselves that Jesus came from Joseph, not from heaven. *** Lord, help us in our unbelief. May we hunger for the things of God, not of this earth.

Sat.’s Devo - Our Miraculous God

Read: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17; John 6:1-21; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 14:32-33 The Philistines had captured the ark and brought it to Ashdod into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon. That night, there must have been a battle, because the next day, they found that the statute of Dagon was bowing before the ark of the Lord, face down. They set it back up. That next night, the battle continued and they woke to find that Dagon’s hands and head had been severed and were lying on the threshold. The big God in the little box had won. *** Then the Lord began to strike the people of Ashdod. They became infested with tumors. They called a meeting with the other leaders of Ashdod and its territory and decided that the ark could not remain in Ashdod because its God was against Dagon. The lords of the Philistines met and decided to send the ark to Gath. The people of Gath began to get tumors so they sent the ark to Ekron. When the people of Ekron saw it coming to their city, they told them to send it back to the people of Israel before it killed them all. The ark had been in the country of the Philistines 7 months. *** The Philistines called for their priests and diviners to ask how they could send the ark back to Israel. They told them they must send a guilt offering with it. They made five golden tumors and five golden mice, one for every city the tumors had affected: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. If sending the ark away brought them healing, they would know that it was the God of the ark that had afflicted them. *** They were instructed to place the ark on a new cart hooked up to two milk cows who had never been yoked to a cart. They were to take their newborn calves away from them. In the cart was the ark and the box of the gold figures for their guilt offering. If the cows obediently and peacefully carried the ark to Israel, they would know that it was the Lord who had done this to them. *** A milk cow would never let his calf be taken from him without a struggle, so the miracle was that these milk cows walked peacefully to Israel. As the five lords of the Philistines watched, the cows took the ark straight to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there beside a great stone. Joshua’s men split up the wood from the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering. *** Joshua stood for God who was there to offer the sacrifice for the sins of the Philistines and the Jews. The cows were Jesus who willingly gave up himself to be the sacrifice. The cart was the cross, the vehicle of salvation, and the stone was the Spirit of the Lord - the testimony. *** Seventy of Joshua’s men were struck down because they looked at the ark of the Lord. They sent a message to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jerim to come and get the ark. They took it to the house of Abinadab and he consecrated his son Eliezar to take charge of the ark. The people turned back to the Lord for the next 20 years. *** Samuel told them that if they were truly turning back to serve the Lord then they must put away their false gods and serve the Lord only. He would deliver then from the Philistines. So the people put away their Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the Lord only. *** Samuel had everyone come to Mizpah and repent as a nation. They fasted and prayed for deliverance. The Philistines heard they were gathered there and came up against them. Samuel offered a burnt offering to the Lord and prayed for help. The Lord thundered so loudly that the Philistines were thrown into confusion and were defeated. The Israelites chased them back to their land. *** Samuel took a stone and set it up and named it Ebenezer which means “stone of help.” During the time that Samuel was their judge, God fought for them against the Philistines. They recovered their land that the Philistines had taken from them. Samuel would make a circuit every year to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah, then return to Ramah. He built an altar to the Lord in Ramah. *** In John, it was the time of the Passover and the theme of this Passover was bread. Jesus was at the Sea of Galilee when he saw a great crowd of people coming to them. He asked Philip where they could buy bread to feed them all. He was testing Philip. Philip said they didn’t have enough money to buy bread for that crowd. Peter chimed in and said there was a boy with five barely loaves and two fish, but there was no way it would feed this crowd. *** Jesus told them to have the crowd of about 5,000 men sit down. He took the food he had and blessed it and gave thanks. Then he distributed it to the people. His disciples picked up 12 basket of left-overs and the people saw this miracle and knew Jesus had to be the Prophet that had been prophesied would come to the world. *** Jesus perceived that if he didn’t leave, they would force him to be their king. He withdrew by himself and sent his disciples across the sea to Capernaum. After they had rowed a few miles, they saw Jesus walking toward them on the sea. They were very frightened at the sight. Jesus told them not to be afraid and when he got into the boat, it was immediately on the other side. *** Jesus didn’t just do miracles, he was the miracle. Everything he did was supernatural. He lived in another dimension - in the spirit of God. *** Lord, help us to live supernatural lives and be more aware of the spirit than the natural. May we be witnesses to the world of who you are.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Judgment on the House of Eli

Read: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22; John 5:24-47; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 14:30-31 Eli heard all the evil things his sons were doing as priests. He went to them and rebuked them, but he did not remove them from their position as priest. *** A prophet came to Eli and gave him a word that by taking the choicest meat from the sacrifices for himself, he was scorning the Lord. Eli also honored his sons above the Lord by letting them get away with the same thing. Since his family did not honor the Lord, the Lord will not honor them. God will cut off the strength of Eli’s legacy and there would not be an old man in his descendants. They would all die young. One would be left to grieve the death of all his descendants. His two sons would both die on the same day and God will raise someone else to be a faithful priest. Everyone left in Eli’s household will beg for silver and bread from that faithful priest. *** Meanwhile, Samuel continued to grow taller and in God’s favor and man’s. One night he heard Eli calling him but every time he went to see what Eli wanted, he said he had not called him. The third time this happened, Eli perceived that it was the Lord calling Samuel and told him to how to respond. *** When the Lord came the fourth time, Samuel was ready to listen. He told him that He was about to punish Eli’s house for their iniquity and his sons’ blasphemy. No sacrifice would be able to atone for their sins. *** In the morning, Eli made Samuel tell him everything the Lord had said. *** Samuel became known as a prophet. Everything he said came to pass. Israel went to war with the Philistines at Aphek. They were defeated the first day so they decided to bring the ark of the covenant with them to save them. Hophni and Phinehas, Eli’s sons brought the ark and all the camp of Israel gave a shout that shook the earth. The Philistines were filled with fear because they knew what God had done to Egypt. They told their men to fight harder and they did. They defeated Israel, stole the ark and Hophni and Phinehas were both killed. *** A man from the battle ran and told Eli who was sitting on his seat by the road. When he heard the news that his sons were killed and the ark was taken, he fell over backward and broke his neck and died. He had judged Israel for 40 years. *** Phinehas’ wife was pregnant at the time and when she heard the news, she went into labor and died giving birth to a son. In her grief, she name her son, Ichabod because the glory of God had departed from Israel. *** In John, Jesus is still speaking to the Jews who were mad because he had healed the paralytic on the Sabbath. Jesus explained how to receive eternal life. He told them what will happen to all the people who are in Sheol, when he dies. They will hear his voice and Jesus will execute judgment on them. Those who have done good will rise to life, and those who have done evil will be judged. *** God would testify on Jesus’ account. He had sent John to testify about Jesus. John was a light and those who heard him rejoiced, but Jesus testimony is even greater than John’s. The works God gave Jesus to do will bear witness that God sent him. *** Jesus accused them of searching the word to find eternal life, while missing that the scriptures talk about him. He is the way to eternal lie. He knows that they do not have the love of God in them because they could not receive the one who God sent. They do not seek God’s glory, but one another’s glory. Jesus will one day be their judge. Even Moses accuses them because they don’t obey his laws. If they can’t obey Moses’ law, how can they believe Jesus’ words. *** Lord, may we not be like the Jews who could not understand what was happening in their day. May we discern the day we are living in and stay faithful to our faithful God.

Thur.’s Devo - Samuel is Born

Read: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21; John 5:1-23; Psalm 105:37-45; Proverbs 14:28-29 Elkanah from Ephraim had two wives. One of them was Peninnah and the other was Hannah. Peninnah had many children, but Hannah was barren. Every year Elkanah would take his family to Shiloh to sacrifice to the Lord. As they sat to eat their sacrifice, Peninnah would provoke Hannah to tears about having no children. Elkanah tried in vain to comfort Hannah. *** One year, Hannah cried out to the Lord because of her bareness. She promised the Lord if he gave her a son, she would lend him to the Lord all the days of his life. *** Eli was the priest at that time. He saw Hannah whispering to herself and thought she was drunk. He confronted her about it and she explained that she was pouring her heart out to the Lord because she was very distraught. He prayed that God would grant her her petition. Hannah went home glad. *** She did become pregnant and had a son and named him Samuel. As she had promised, when Samuel was weaned, she brought him to Eli to raise in the service of the Lord. Every year she would bring him a new coat she had made. Eli would always pronounce a blessing on her to grant her more children. God blessed her with three additional sons and two daughters. *** In John, Jesus was in Jerusalem for a feast. There was a pool there called Bethseda that was by the Sheep Gate. Many invalids lay there waiting for the waters to be troubled because they believed that the first into the water, when this happened, would be healed. Jesus walked through this place and saw a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. The sick man explained how he couldn’t get into the water fast enough when it was troubled. Jesus told him to get up, take his bed and walk. The man was instantly healed and took his bed and walked. *** Of course, it was the Sabbath which stirred up the jealousy and religious spirit in the Jews. They wanted to know why he was carrying his bed on the Sabbath and who told him to do it. He didn’t know who had healed him. *** Later, Jesus found him and told him who he was. Jesus told him to sin no more so that nothing worse would happen to him. The man went and told the Jews that Jesus had healed him. When they confronted Jesus about it, he said that his Father was working on the Sabbath, so so would he. They were so mad that Jesus called God his Father. *** Jesus told them that he could only do what he saw his Father doing. His Father raises the dead, so so will he. His Father had given him the job of judging so that people would honor the Son like the honor God. If they don’t honor the Son, then they don’t honor God. I bet this really got them upset. *** I love that Jesus just speaks the truth, even though he knows they don’t understand it then. He knows that one day people would understand all he said. *** Lord, help us to be like that. May we speak the truth even if people think we are crazy and it makes them upset. May we speak what the Sprit tells us to speak and leave the outcome to the Lord.

Wed.’s Devo - Redemption

Read: Ruth 2:1-4:22; John 4:43-54; Psalm 105:16-36; Proverbs 14:26-27 There was a man named Boaz from Elimelech’s clan, Naomi’s husband. He was a wealthy man with a upright reputation. *** Ruth asked Naomi if she could go and glean behind the reapers and prayed she would find favor in the sight of the owner. By God’s providence, she ended up gleaning in the field of Boaz. He saw her and asked her workers about her. When he found out who she was, he spoke to her kindly and told her to stay in his field where she would be safe. He had told his workers not to harass her and to be kind to her, leaving behind plenty for her to reap. *** At mealtime, Boaz invited Ruth to eat with him and his workers and gave her plenty to eat. She ate till she was full and pocketed the rest to give to Naomi. *** That evening when she returned home she showed Naomi all she had gleaned and gave her the food from lunch. She reported how kind Boaz had been for her and shown her such favor. *** Ruth knew that Boaz was her husband’s relative and a redeemer. She gave Ruth instructions about what she should do. She was to go at night to the threshing floor and hide until the men laid down to sleep. When they were asleep, she was to go over and uncover Boaz’ feet and lay at his feet. She did, and when Boaz woke up and discovered it was her, he knew exactly what her act meant. She was asking him to be her covering and redeem her. *** He explained that he had already done the research and there was one relative ahead of him in the line of redemption. He would speak to him that day and find out if he could redeem her or not. If he couldn’t, then Boaz would. *** He sent Ruth home with six measures of grain and she told Naomi all that had transpired. Now they would wait. *** Boaz went to the city gate to catch the redeemer passing through the gate. When he did, Boaz explained the offer. The man was willing to buy Elimelech’s land, but when he found out Ruth came with it, he backed out. He gave Boaz the right to redeem the land and Ruth. *** Boaz married Ruth and they had a son named Obed. Boaz was from the lineage of Judah and Tamar who had had twins. Perez was one of the twins. Six generations later Boaz was born. His father was Salmon who married Rahab, the harlot of Jericho. Boaz had watched his mother transition from being a Canaanite to becoming an Israelite so he could relate to Ruth. Their son, Obed fathered the father of David. *** After Jesus’ two days in Samaria, he went to Galilee. The Galileans were happy to see him since they had witnessed his miracles at Passover. Jesus then went to Cana, the place of his first public miracle of turning the water to wine. An official from Capernaum came to him and asked him to heal his son who was dying. Jesus told him that unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe. The man begged Jesus to come and pray for his son. Jesus did not go with him, but told him his son was healed. When the father returned home, he found that his son was well and had become well the very hour Jesus said he would. This was the second sign that Jesus did in Galilee. *** Lord, thank you for the way you orchestrate our lives to be glorified on the earth. Thank you that you care for everyone of your children and you work everything for our good.

Tues.’s Devo - The Fields Are Ripe for Harvesting

Read: Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22; John 4:4-42; Psalm 105:1-15; Proverbs 14:25 There were only 600 men left in the whole tribe of Benjamin. The men of Israel met to discuss what would become of the tribe. They had all sworn not to let them marry their daughters, so the tribe would eventually die off. They wept, thinking they were losing one of their tribes and asked the Lord for guidance. *** There was one town who had not come up to Mizpah to swear not to let their daughters marry a Benjaminite, and that town was Jabesh-gilead. They sent 12,000 of their warriors to strike down the whole town and take all its young virgins as brides for the 600 Benjaminites. They only found 400 virgins. *** They came up with another plan to get the remaining 200. Every year at Shiloh they celebrated a festival where all the young virgins would do a dance. They told the 200 men who still needed wives to go to wait in the bushes until the dance and then go steal one of the women and take her as their bride. Then their fathers could not say that they “gave" their daughter to them. “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” *** A famine broke out in the land of Israel. One man took his wife and two sons to live in Moab to wait out the famine. The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They lived in Moab around 10 years. *** Elimelech died and Mahlon and Chilion eventually married wives from Moab named Oprah and Ruth. Then, Mahlon and Chilion both died without having a child. Ruth learned that the famine was over and decided to go home. Her two daughter-in-laws traveled with her at first, but Naomi encouraged them to go back home and remarry there. Orpah returned to Moab but Ruth clung to Naomi and refused to return. She swore that Ruth’s god would be her god and she would belong to Ruth’s people. She went with her to Bethlehem. *** The whole town of Bethlehem was glad to have Naomi return home and sad to hear she was a widow with no sons. It was the beginning of barley harvest. *** In John, Jesus came to a town in Samaria called Sychar. This was near the land given to Joseph and had Jacob’s well there. Jesus sat beside the well while the disciples went into town to buy food. Eventually, a woman from Samaria came to draw water. *** Jesus asked her for a drink. The women asked why he would ask for water from a Samaritan because the Jews hated the Samaritans. Jesus told her that if she knew who he was she would be asking him for a drink of water and he would give her living water. She questioned how he would be able to give her living water when he didn’t even have anything to draw water with. Was he greater that their father Jacob who dug this well? *** Jesus explained that everyone who drank from this well would be thirsty again, but he could give her water that would satisfy her thirst forever because it is eternal. She wanted that water. *** Jesus then began to deal with her heart. He asked her to go and call her husband. She said she had no husband. Jesus agreed and said she had had five husbands and the one she was living with she wasn’t even married to. She perceived that Jesus was a prophet since he knew this about her. She decided to ask her a question she had had about religion. Her fathers had worshiped on the mountain they were standing on, yet the Jews said that people should worship the Lord in Jerusalem. *** Jesus told her that it didn’t matter where you worshiped the Lord as long as you worshiped him from your heart. God is spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and in truth. *** She said that she knew the Messiah was coming and he would tell them what was truth. Jesus then told her that he was the Messiah. *** The disciples returned and marveled that Jesus was talking alone with a woman. She left and went back to her town and told everyone to come and see the man who told her everything she ever did. Could he be the Christ? *** The disciples gave Jesus some of the food they bought, but he was not hungry for natural food. He explained that he was sustained by doing the will of God. The world was ripe for harvesting souls. Many had gone before them and planted seeds into people’s hearts for this very day when they would reap their souls for eternity. *** Many from the town came out to hear Jesus because of the testimony of the woman. They asked Jesus to stay for a while there and teach them. He stayed for two days and many came to believe that he was the Christ. *** Both Ruth and the woman at the well were hungry for something that money couldn’t buy and this world could not give. They were willing to risk it all to find it. *** Lord, may we see the world as Jesus saw it - a field ready to be harvested. May we reap where others have sown and bring many to salvation.

Mon.’s Devo - The Levite and His Concubine

Read: Judges 19:1-20:48; John 3:22-4:3; Psal 104:24-35; Proverbs 14:22-24 This is the hardest story for me to read every year. It begins with “there was no king in Israel.” This tells us that there was no one leading them so they were doing what was right in their own eyes. God wanted to open their eyes to the sin they were in so we have this story. *** This story is about a Levite who was traveling in Ephraim and found a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. I had to look up the meaning of the difference between a concubine and a wife. A wife was a legally and socially recognized partner with full marital rights, while a concubine was a recognized relationship but without the full legal, social, or religious status of a wife. This Levite’s concubine was unfaithful and ran away and went back home. The Levite went to try to convince her to come back to him. The girl’s father welcomed the Levite into his home and they drank and partied for several nights. Finally, the Levite could stay no longer and took his wife and left in the late afternoon. *** They came first to Jebus but didn’t want to stay there since it was not an Israelite town. They went on to Gibeah which was in the land of Benjamin. They sat in the town square waiting for someone to welcome them into their home to spend the night. Finally an old man came who was from Ephraim but was working in Benjamin. He invited them to come to his house to spend the night. *** The townspeople came and surrounded the house and beat on the door demanding that they bring out the man so they could have sex with him. (This is the same thing that the men of Sodom did to Lot’s house.) Instead, the Levite threw out his concubine so they could violate her. *** The next morning when the Levite was ready to go, he found his wife dead by the door. He cut her body into 12 pieces and sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel. The people were appalled and met at Mizpah. Four hundred thousand soldiers came to fight for the Levite. *** They went down to Gibeah and demanded that the Benjaminites hand over the evil men of their town. They refused to do that and formed an army of 33,000 Benjaminites. *** The Israelites went to Bethel to ask the Lord which tribe should lead the battle and the Lord said that Judah should go first. The first two days of battle did not go well for the Israelites but then they fasted and wept before the Lord and gave offerings. They asked the Lord if they should continue fighting and he said they should. They did an ambush to draw the people out of the city. When they drew the people out of the city, they were able to enter the city and burn it to the ground and kill all of the inhabitants. The survivors of Benjamin fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. Six hundred made it safely to the rock and stayed there for four months. *** In John, John was having a conversation with his followers. They were concerned that Jesus was drawing more attention and followers than John. John explained that this is the plan. Jesus was from heaven which supersedes all born of the earth. He can tell them about heavenly things because he has been there. The Father loves his Son and has begin everything to him. Whoever believes in him has eternal life, whoever does not obey him will face the wrath of God. *** Lord, will you show us the secrets hidden in your Word and give us understanding. We trust that all you say is true and gives life.

Sun.’s Devo - You Must Be Born Again

Read: Judges 17:1-18:31; John 3:1-21; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 14:20-21 How quickly the children of Israel turned to sin and carved idols. Micah lived in Ephraim with his mother. He confessed to her that he had stolen 1,100 silver coins from her. She was so happy to get the money back, she dedicated it to the Lord and sent her son with 200 pieces of silver to the silversmith to make them a carved image and a metal image. They built a shrine and made an ephod for their household gods. Micah ordered one of his sons to become their priest. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. There was no king in Israel which means that God was not their king. *** A young Levite came their way looking for a place to serve. Micah brought him into his home and treated him as a son. He let him become their priest. *** Meanwhile, the tribe of Dan had still not taken their land from the enemies. They were traveling to their inheritance to scout out the land. They came to Micah’s house and saw that he had a Levite priest. They coveted Micah’s gods, the ephod, and the Levite. *** The men of Dan found a secluded town of the Sidonians that was wealthy and had no dealings with anyone else. They brought back the report to the rest of their tribe and 600 of them went to take the city. *** They stopped by Micah’s house and stole all his gods and his ephod. They asked the Levite to come and be a priest over their tribe and he agreed. *** Micah chased them and protested what they had done, but it was their 600 warriors, against him and his household, so he had to let them go. *** They attacked the city of Laish by surprise and killed all its inhabitants, then they burned the city with fire. They rebuilt the city and lived in it and named it Dan. They set up the carved images. The young priest, whose name was Jonathan, was their priest until the land went into captivity. Jonathan was the son of Gershom, Moses’ son. *** In John, there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He came to see Jesus at night and told him that he knew he was a teacher from God because no one could do the things he was doing unless God was with him. Jesus told Nicodemus that unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was only seeing the things Jesus was doing, he was not seeing Jesus as the Messiah. Nicodemus, who was a teacher of the law could not understand that Jesus was telling him that his spirit must be born again. *** Jesus told him that God sent him to the world because God loves the world and wants everyone to be saved, not condemned. But, the light that has now come to the earth would condemn those who loved darkness. This light would expose what they did in darkness. But, those who walk in the light will be drawn to the light and understand that Jesus came from God. *** Lord, may you expose the evil in the world and the sin that is in us. May we learn truth so we can be totally set free to manifest your goodness in the earth.

Sat.’s Devo - Samson - The Story of Redemption

Read: Judges 15:1-16:31; John 2:1-25; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 14:17-19 When Samson had cooled down after the wedding party, he went back to get his bride. When he found out her father had given her to another man, he felt justified in what he was about to do to the Philistines. He took 300 foxes and tied torches to their tails, then he lit the torches and let the foxes run through their fields. It was the time of the wheat harvest which means it was around the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. The fire burned up their stacked grain, their standing grain and their olive orchards. *** Pentecost is associated with the spreading of the fire of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also associated with the oil. In the story of Samson it was a time of the burning of the harvest of the evil. In the New Testament it was the time of setting on fire the hearts of the righteous. Spiritual warfare is also a theme of Pentecost. *** When the Philistines found out who had burned up their fields and why, they went and burned the woman and her house. Samson then when and struck the ones who killed his fiancé and then went and stayed in the cleft of the rock in Etam. *** Three thousand men came from Judah to reason with Samson and remind him that the Philistines ruled over them and he was stirring up trouble of them. Samson told the Israelites not to kill him, but to turn him over to the Philistines. They bound him with new ropes and gave him over to the Philistines. When the Philistines came to take Samson, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and the ropes melted off his hands. He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and killed 1,000 of them. *** We see another Pentecost theme. When God gave the law to Moses on the first Pentecost, three thousand lost their lives because they made the golden calf. In the New Testament, on the day of Pentecost, three thousand were saved out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. In the story of Samson, three thousand from Judah came to Samson to reason with him. Later will read that three thousand were killed. *** After the battle of one against a thousand, Samson was very thirsty and cried out to the Lord. God opened the hollow place in Lehi and it poured out water. *** Then, Samson went down to Gaza, another Philistine royal city and spent the night with a prostitute. When the Philistines learned he was there, they set an ambush for him. They planned to kill him in the morning. But, Samson left at midnight and ripped the gates the city out of the ground and carried them and set them on top of at the hill in front of Hebron. The gates of hell were not going to prevail against Samson! *** Samson fell in love with a woman from Sorek who would become his downfall. The lords of the Philistines came to Delilah and bribed her with 1,100 pieces of silver to find out the source of Samson’s strength. It took a while, but she finally drug it out of him. His strength was in his Nazarite vow not to cut his hair. *** She got him to sleep in her lap and had the barber come in and shave off his seven locks of hair. Then he was easily captured. They gouged out his eyes and put in prison. *** In prison, his hair began to grow and his strength grew with it. The Philistines planned to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and bring out Samson to show how their god had given Samson to them. They brought out blind Samson to tease him as their entertainment. He asked the guard to let him feel the pillars that the house rested on. The house had about 3,000 men and women watching. *** Samson cried out to the Lord for vengeance and prayed for strength. As he pushed on the pillars, the whole house came down and killed three thousand. He killed more in his death than in his life. Jesus, also, killed more of his enemies in his death than in his life. *** In John, it was the third day. There was a wedding in Cana and Jesus and his disciples were invited to attend. They ran out of wine and Jesus mother came to Jesus to do something. Jesus didn’t think his hour had come but his mother thought differently. *** Jesus obeyed his mother and told the servants to fill the six stone water jars, that were used for Jewish purification rites, with water. Then he told them to draw some of it and take it to the master of the feast. When he tasted the wine, he said that most people served the good wine first. When the people are good and drunk they bring out the poor wine, but you have saved the good wine till now. *** This was Jesus first public miracle. *** It was the time of the Passover and Jesus went to Jerusalem. He found the money-changers who sold sacrificial animals to the people. They were in the temple. Jesus made a whip of cords and drove them out and overturned their tables. He told them that his Father’s house was not a house of trade. When the Jews asked Jesus for a sign to show them how he had the authority to do such things, Jesus told them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” They didn’t understand this and said it took 46 years to build this temple, how would he build it back in three? They would find out later that he was speaking of his body. *** During the feast, many came to believe in Jesus. But, Jesus knew he couldn’t trust the hearts of man. *** Lord, may we have your heart that is trustworthy. May we ever be thankful for the miracle of salvation.

Fri.’s Devo - Jesus, the Ladder to God

Read: Judges 13:1-14:20; John 1:29-51; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 14:15-16 Israel went into idolatry again, so the Lord gave them over to the Philistines who oppressed them for 40 years. *** God was ready to begin delivering Israel. God went, in angel form, to a barren woman married to Manoa from the tribe of Dan. He told her that she would have a son. She was to drink no wine or strong drink and eat only what was clean. He would be born a Nazarite and stay one until he died. He would begin to save Israel from the Philistines. *** She told her husband what the angel had said. Manoa prayed that the angel would return and tell him what the mission would be for their son. The angel did return and told him just what he had told his wife. Manoah wanted to feed the angel, but God told him that he could offer a burnt offering, instead. Manoah asked the angel what his name was so that when what he said happened, he could honor that name. God told him that his name was a wonderful secret. Then he wondrously disappeared into heaven in the flames of the sacrifice. *** Manoah’s wife did have a son and they named him Samson which means “little sun.” When you think of God being “the Sun,” then Samson was His light dawning on the earth. We are God’s little suns and we are to walk in the power of the Lord like Samson did. *** Samson liked to hang out in the Philistine towns and fell in love with a Philistine woman. When he told his parents, they were not happy he had chosen a Philistine woman instead an Israelite, but they agreed to go meet her and her family. On their way, a lion attacked Samson. The Spirit of the Lord came on him and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands. He told no one about it. *** When Samson returned he saw the dead lion beside the road, and bees had made honey in its carcass. He scraped some of it and ate it. This gave him an idea about a riddle for his wedding. *** At the wedding feast, Samson proposed his riddle to the 30 friends. He gave them 7 days to answer it, and the loser would give the winner 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes. *** Around the fourth day, when they still hadn’t figured out his riddle, the men went to Samson’s fiancé and told her that if she didn’t tell them the answer, they would burn her and her father’s house down. She nagged Samson day after day till he finally broke on the last day and told her. She quickly told her friends and they brought their answer to Samson. *** Samson knew where they had gotten their answer and was so mad, he went to Ashkelon and killed 30 men and took their clothes and brought them to the 30 “friends.” Then he went home very angry. The woman’s father gave Samson’s fiancé to his best man to wed. *** In the New Testament, John had just told the Pharisees that he was not the Christ, but the Christ was coming. The next day, John saw Jesus and proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” This was the man he was talking about the day before. He told them how when he baptized Jesus, he saw the Spirit of God descend on Jesus and remained there. *** The next day, John saw Jesus again and told his two disciples that he was the Lamb of God. John’s two disciples then began following Jesus. When Jesus noticed them following, he asked them what they were looking for. One of these men was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew went and got Peter and when Jesus saw Peter he told him he would be called Cephas which means “a stone.” *** Just like Samson was the little sun, Peter was the little stone from Jesus, who was the Rock. *** The next day, Jesus went to Galilee and found Philip to be his disciple. Philip went and got Nathanael, but Nathanael was hesitant when he learned Jesus was from Nazareth. When Jesus told Nathanael he had seen him under the fig tree, this meant something so profound to Nathanael that he professed that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus told him he would see greater things than that. He would see heaven opened and God’s angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. *** Remember when Jacob saw angels ascending and descending on the ladder. Jesus is the ladder between heaven and earth. He is the only way to God. *** Lord, thank you that we have a ladder to you and his name is Jesus. Thank you that you have called us to be your disciples, your children and your friend.