From: July 11, 2023
“These are the leaders of David’s mighty warriors. Together with all Israel, they decided to make David their king, just as the Lord had promised concerning Israel” (1 Chronicles 11:10 NLT).
David was God’s man, but he was also a man’s man. There was something about his heart that the Lord chose to anoint him king. And there was something about his manner that made men of action want to follow him. He was an amalgamation of eclectic talent and passion rarely found in one man. He was both a song-writer and a stone-slinger, a man of words and a man of war, a gentle lover and a giant-killer, a musician and a mighty warrior. David was the humble shepherd made mighty king and his mighty men would follow him anywhere.
David was a foreshadowing of the Messiah. The one who would be both Lion of Judah and Lamb of Jehovah. The one who was lifted up on the cross that He might “draw all men” to Himself (John 12:32). Those who follow Jesus as King are made His mighty “warriors” today.
PRAYER: Lord, help us to be men and women of God today that are being conformed to the image of Your Son, Jesus. We don’t want to follow the course of this world. We want to be what You want us to be. We choose to find our identity in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 11, 2022
DISASTER OR DIVINE OPPORTUNITY?
Luke wrote how the people on the island of Malta welcomed them with kindness after their ship wrecked on its shores. It must have been a wonderful relief after the terrifying time they had at sea, being blown from Crete to Malta by a storm. The sailors had lost their ship and all its cargo, but not one life was lost as the Lord had promised them through Paul.
They spent three months on the island of Malta after being shipwrecked there, waiting for another ship to take them to Rome. The apostle Paul used this time to preach the gospel and to heal people from all over the island, including the chief official’s father, in the name of Jesus. Paul had been rejected in Jerusalem, but he was honored in Malta. The gospel was going out to the Gentiles.
What should’ve been a deadly disaster turned out to be a divine opportunity. Yet, how many times do we miss such opportunities? We get so concerned about the loss of possessions, or the inconvenience of being delayed, that we fail to see God at work. How can we be like Paul and see divine opportunity when others see only disaster?
PRAYER: Dear Father, teach us to stay in Your presence when storms and disasters happen around us. May we learn to see You at work and join You there, so that we take advantage of the opportunities You open to us. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit that we might always walk in Your presence and power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 11, 2016
To Hebrew thinking, to know someone’s name was to know truly them. Those who know the Lord, know His character, know His power, and His promises. Those who know God have been brought into relationship with Him through Jesus, His Son. Knowing the Lord, they put their complete trust in Him. Knowing the Lord’s Name, they seek Him and are not “forsaken” (“abandoned, rejected, deserted, or left behind”). Growing in knowledge of the Lord, we grow in trust. The more we know Him, the more we trust and love Him. And the more we seek to know Him more.
From: July 11, 2015
What the evil one meant for ill, God used for good. The Jewish leaders that brought charges against Paul in Jerusalem actually ended up elevating his status, so that he preached before soldiers, centurions, governors, kings and even Caesar. His appeal to Caesar resulted in an all-expense-paid trip to Rome (albeit with shipwrecks and snake bites). Paul had a flourishing ministry at Rome while staying under house arrest in his own little “rented house.” He wrote several letters during this first “imprisonment” known as the Prison Epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. It’s amazing how God can use difficult circumstances to increase gospel access and receptivity when we are willing to be used in spite of them.
From: July 11, 2014
Paul was under house arrest in Rome for at least two years (Acts 28:30). During this time he was able preach the gospel without restraint to all who would listen. What the enemy had meant as death, the Lord had turned into a platform for declaring life. Paul’s captivity led to great freedom for his ministry and hearers. Instead of focusing on his difficult circumstance, Paul saw it as an opportunity to preach Christ. I wonder how many Roman guards became Christians during this 2 years? They were Paul’s captive audience day after day as he taught from the Scriptures.