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Pathways of Life Devotionals The passage in parenthesis is where the lesson is taken from and will give you an overview of the entire Bible in a year, but you will not read through the Bible in a year. I pray that this is a blessing to you throughout the year. Each day has several scriptures listed in order to completely read the Bible through in a year.

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March

 

March 1

Deuteronomy 4-6 Psalm 128 (Deut. 6:1-9,20-25)
"Has not the Lord made them one? . . . And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth."
Malachi 2:15 (NIV).
Whenever Moses was giving Israel keys to remaining in the Promised Land and prospering, he constantly stressed the importance of the Word of God. In chapter 6, he emphasized the need for parents to teach diligently their children the Word of God and to share continually with their children what God had done for them. Wherever the Israelites were, they were to talk about God's Word. In whatever they did, they were to show by their actions what the Word of God taught.
There are two ways that we teach others: by our words and by our actions. What we teach them is the important thing, for our lives and words are always teaching them something. If our children see that God is not the motivating factor in our daily lives, we teach them by our actions that God isn't all that important.
Deuteronomy 6:24 says that God gave His Word for our good. If we love our children and want good for them, we will teach them God's ways. Church and Sunday School are not the primary source of Christian education, but the home is.
Fathers and mothers, how often do you really pray with your children--not just a bedtime or a mealtime prayer, but an earnest, effectual, fervent prayer? May God help us to be an example in word and deed so that we can raise up a godly generation.

March 2

Deuteronomy 7,8 Psalm 101 (Deut. 7:1-8)
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord, ."
Psalm 127:3
In chapter 7, God commanded Israel to cast out seven nations greater and mightier than they. If Israel would have obeyed (7:1,2), they would not have had the problem of their children marrying the heathen and eventually turning away from following Jehovah.
We fulfill this separation today by keeping our children from close association with the heathen. We want our children to be around those who wholly follow the Lord. As we look at Jesus' example, we find that although He ministered to the ungodly, His friends were those who desired God with all their hearts. Our children's best friends should be Christians who wholly follow God, and as parents we should go out of our way to see that they associate predominately with the righteous.
The judgment and anger of the Lord in Deuteronomy 7:4 was not against the sons and daughters, but towards the parents. What we permit our children to do will either be a blessing or a judgment to us as well as to our children.
Eli is an example. Because he failed to discipline his sons, the anger of the Lord was against him. Psalm 127:3 shows us that our children are the Lord's property and that He has lent them to us to train and to discipline in the ways of holiness.
Let us raise our children with prayerful care under a godly influence that the blessing of the Lord might be upon them as well as upon us.

March 3

Deuteronomy 9,10 Psalm 113 (Deut. 10:12-21)

"Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"
Isaiah 58:7
In Deuteronomy 10:12,13, God sums up what He requires of His children: " to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes ." Moses then describes the nature and attributes of God. One of His characteristics is His concern for the fatherless, widows, and strangers.
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (Ja. 1:27). How pure is our religion? The more we become like Christ, the more we will begin to look at the down and out with compassion and to reach out to meet their needs.
Why not look for a widow or poor person today, and show them the love of Jesus Christ? Begin to look for ways to meet others' needs, not just how others can meet your needs. May our religion truly be pure and undefiled.

March 4

Deuteronomy 11-13 Psalm 5 (Deut. 11:22-28)

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse."
Deuteronomy 11:26
Before Israel went into the Promised Land, Moses pleaded with them to obey the commands that God had given to them so that they could possess Canaan and remain there with God's blessing. There were only two paths to follow: one path brought a blessing and the other brought a curse. Moses enjoined them to obey God's ways " that it may go well with thee" (Deut. 12:28).
God wants every area of our lives to be under His blessing and not His curse. In Malachi 3:9, God's people were cursed because they were not giving God their tithes. Haggai, during the same time period, told the people to consider their ways (Hag. 1:5-7). The children of Israel were not prospering because they were not putting God first, and their money was put in "a bag with holes" (Hag. 1:6).
Finances is only one area in which we need to be in the flow of God. Is our home, marriage, giving, personal relationships, etc., obeying God's Word? Let us adjust our lifestyle in every area that God may be free to bless us indeed.

March 5

Deuteronomy 14-16 (Deut. 15:12-18)

" If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence."
Exodus 33:15
If a Hebrew could not pay a debt that he had incurred, he would become a slave to the one to whom he owed the debt. However, after six years the slaves were to be set free. When released, they had two choices: they could go out free with sheep, goats, produce, and other blessings of the master, or if they loved their master so much that they didn't want to leave, they could become a love-slave for the rest of their lives.
This choice was a choice between the blessings of the master and the presence of the master. Which would we choose? Many today are more concerned with having God bless them, than they are interested in walking in a deep love relationship with Jesus Christ. Their prayers reflect this attitude: "Lord, bless the business, bless the church, bless this, bless that, bless, bless, bless." Their prayers are not "Lord, draw me into Your presence; let me dwell with You, commune with You, and really get to know You."
How are our prayers? Moses was given a choice between the blessings of God and the presence of God, and he chose God's presence (Ex. 33:15). David had one desire: " . . . that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, . . ." (Ps. 27:4). Let us choose Jesus Christ as our goal and not just His blessings.

March 6

Deuteronomy 17,18 Psalm 31 (Deut. 17:2-8)
"A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter."

Proverbs 11:13

When an Israelite did wickedness in any way, such as worshipping the sun, moon, or stars (astrology), or any transgression against God, the sinner was to be put to death. If there was just one witness or accuser, however, that was not enough evidence, for there had to be two or three witnesses to have a court case. This was a safeguard against slander, false accusations, or any kind of gossip that might arise. If a person had just heard that someone had committed a sin, they were still not considered a witness. A witness is one who beholds an act with his own eyes.
How often do we say something unkind about someone else when we have not actually seen happen what we are talking about? Satan is called the accuser of the brethren in Revelation 12:10, and when we accuse someone of an act, we actually join forces with the devil.
God has a system for us to use if someone does something against us. He explains His method in Matthew 18:15-17. First, go to the brother. Then, if the problem cannot be solved, we must take several from the church with us to confront the brother, and so forth. What we are NOT to do is to tell everyone else what the person has done.
What is gossip? It is repeating something about someone that you would not like someone to say about you. Remember, gossip is a sin, and we will reap an evil harvest in our own lives if we gossip.

March 7

Deuteronomy 19-21 (Deut. 20:1-9)
"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief ."

Hebrews 3:12

When Israel was to go to war, they were to remember that the Lord God was with them. The priest was to speak to the people and tell them not to fear or be terrified, for God would fight for them. God wants His people to be men and women of faith who trust in His ability to deliver and who don't look to their own resources, but to God's ability.
If a soldier was still fearful and fainthearted after the priest preached the word of faith to them, they were to go home, "lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart" (Deut. 20:8). In Judges 7, Gideon started with an army of twenty-two thousand, but when the fearful left, he had ten thousand. Eventually, after God finished choosing those who were to be in the army, Gideon ended up with three hundred men. God can do much more with a few that trust Him than with a multitude that have been made fearful by someone spreading unbelief throughout the camp.
How do you make people feel? When people talk with you, do they leave feeling that God can do anything, or do they leave fearful and fainthearted? We are to be the salt of the earth. Let us salt the atmosphere wherever we go with faith and trust in God's power and in His Word.

March 8

Deuteronomy 22,23 Psalm 112 (Deut. 23:19-25)
"A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth ."

Psalm 112:5

In Deuteronomy 28, God told the Israelites that when they were lending to a fellow believer, they were not to charge them interest. God always instructs His children to be very generous and giving to others in every area of life, especially in finances and business dealings.
The Bible gives rules to be followed in business dealings. Here are a few Biblical principles about borrowing and lending:
1. If a person borrows something, he is responsible to return it in the same condition he received it in. If a person damages what he has borrowed, he must either replace it or pay for the damages (Ex. 22:14; 2 Ki. 6:5-7).
2. Don't charge interest to a fellow Christian (Deut. 23:19).
3. If someone asks to borrow something we have in our capacity to lend, we must not turn him away (Mt. 5:42; Deut. 15:8; Ps. 112:5).
4. If we give not expecting a return, our reward shall be great.
5. We should stay away from borrowing money (Pro. 22:7; Rom. 13:8).
God wants to bless every area of our life. Borrowing and lending are just two areas among many in which we need to take heed. The key in receiving a blessing is giving, for he who gives liberally shall receive bountifully.

March 9

Deuteronomy 24,25 Psalm 9 (Deut. 24:19 - 25:16)
" . . . You cannot serve both God and Money."

Luke 16:13 (NIV)

Over and over again God speaks to Israel about their financial lives. If God says so much about money, we must realize that our handling of money has a great bearing on our spiritual condition. Luke 16:11 lets us know that if we are not faithful in obeying His ways in our financial life, we cannot be trusted with true riches, that is, spiritual treasures.
Luke goes on to say that we cannot serve two masters, for we will love the one and despise the other. We can't serve God and money, but we are to serve God, and we are to make money our servant. Furthermore, in Deuteronomy 24 and 25, we find two principles that apply to our financial lives:
1. Generosity (24:19-22)
2. Absolute honesty and integrity (25:13-16)
In 25:4, an interesting phrase is used: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain" (NIV). Paul interprets this Scripture in First Corinthians 9:9-14 to mean that ministers are to be paid as they minister, or else they will not have the time that they need in prayer and in the Word. The result will be that they will grow weak and tired as an ox that cannot eat when treading the grain to separate the chaff and the wheat.
May we begin to realize how important it is that we are upright and generous with our finances. This will affect every other area of our life.

March 10

Deuteronomy 26-28 (Deut. 28:1-29)
" the honour of kings is to search out a matter."
Proverbs 25:2.
God doesn't repeat things just to make the Bible longer. Whenever He repeats something, He wants us to take notice and to not miss what He is saying. Hence, in Deuteronomy 27,28, God repeats two main words many times: blessed and cursed. He begins by declaring the blessings that will overtake those that hearken to His voice. But, then for fifty-three verses God goes over the details of what will happen to those who don't obey His Word. God wants us to get this message! In Deuteronomy 11:26-28, God said He has set before us a blessing and a curse. Then He repeats the same thing again in chapter 28 for a purpose: that we won't miss what He is saying!
There are consequences for disobedience to God's Word, whether in ignorance or knowingly rebelling. Let us begin to comb the Scriptures for principles that we can apply to our lives so that we can be set free in every area and sphere of our lives. Ignorance is no excuse. Let us indeed consider our ways and make sure we search for new areas in which to adjust our living patterns to His way of life.

March 11

Deuteronomy 29,30 Psalm 37 (Deut. 30:15-20)
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life for he is thy life ."

Deuteronomy 30:19,20

One way to never get saved is to try to be good enough to please God. As long as it is us trying, we will never please God. The sinful man can never be improved enough but must be reborn by faith into the kingdom of God. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Whereas many of us know the futility of trying to be good enough to be saved, many fail to remember this principle after they are born again. If they lack patience, they try to be patient; if they are lacking love, kindness, humility, joy, etc., they try to be that virtue.
Trying in our own strength to be like Christ will be painful and will create a tremendous burden upon us. This is why some get tired of trying to live like a Christian. Yet, there is good news, for one does not need to live this weary, exhausting "Christian" life. Paul gives us the answer in Colossians 3:4: " . . . Christ, who is our life. . . ." Also, in Galatians 2:20, he gives us the answer: " . . . I no longer live, but Christ lives in me . . ." (NIV).
The key is no longer "I" living, but Christ living in "me." The key is not imitating Christ's life; it is letting Christ live through us. No longer are we making resolutions to try to live the Christian life, but we see that we have been crucified with Christ and that now we need to let Jesus Christ's life come forth in us. Until we realize that we are useless, we will not have the joy of Christ's life.
Let us begin to ask Christ to be our life, living through us, not us trying to be like Christ. We can never trust in our own works, but we must cease trusting ourselves and look up to the Lord.

March 12

Deuteronomy 31,32 Psalm 85 (Deut. 32:48-52)
"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"

Jeremiah 32:27

Moses was not allowed to enter the land God had promised Israel. The reason is given in Deuteronomy 32:51: because he did not sanctify God among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Numbers 20:1-13 gives us the account. Israel was murmuring because there was no water, and consequently God told Moses to speak to the rock and then it would bring forth water. However, Moses in his anger smote the rock twice and said, " Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" (Num. 20:10).
At first glance, it would appear as if Moses' limitation came from striking the rock. But, Numbers 20:12 says it was because Moses did not sanctify God in the midst of the children of Israel. In his anger, Moses called Israel a bunch of rebels and inferred that they could never enter the land because they were too rebellious. He gave Israel the impression that their rebellion was too great for God to deal with, and therefore, they would die in the wilderness. Yet, God wanted Moses to let them know that he was able to bring the most rebellious into His best. No one is excluded!
God is big enough to make the vilest sinner into a mighty victorious overcomer. Let us never limit God's ability. Never write anyone off as too hard for God to do anything with. We are to sanctify God as the God who can turn the most impossible person into His path of righteousness and holiness.

March 13

Deuteronomy 33,34 Psalm 28 (Deut. 34:7-12; 33:25)
" as thy days, so shall thy strength be."

Deuteronomy 33:25

When Moses was 120 years old, God called him to come home. The Scriptures say that his eyes were not dim, nor his natural strength weakened. Physically, Moses was as strong at 120 years of age as he was at forty.
Caleb was another man who didn't lose his natural strength with age. In Joshua 14:6-14, Caleb came to Joshua asking for Hebron for an inheritance. At eighty-five, Caleb testified that his strength for war was as strong as when he was forty years old. While everyone else was dying in the wilderness, Caleb stayed strong. The key was that he "wholly followed the Lord" (14:9).
There is a supernatural strength that God wants to give each one of us in these last days. As we wait on the Lord, we can "renew" or exchange our strength for His strength (Isa. 40:31). God never calls us to do what we can naturally do, for He desires for us to work in the realm of the supernatural where only He can get the praise.
Does a task ahead of you seem too big? Why not wait upon the Lord that you might experience His strength. God is looking for those who will wholly follow Him; that is, those who by necessity of their calling rely on God's supernatural strength.
Both Caleb and Moses needed their strength for the job that God had called them to do. God will always give His strength to fulfill what He desires us to do. Our part is to wait in His presence to receive what we need.
May we spend time today just loving, adoring, and feasting in God's presence and in His Word. It is there that we can experience what Moses and Caleb experienced of the grace and power of God.

March 14

Joshua 1,2 Psalm 90 (Josh. 1:1-9)
"Now the overseer [bishop] must be above reproach He must not be a recent convert He must also have a good reputation with outsiders ."

1 Timothy 3:2,6,7

When Moses died, Joshua was the one who had been prepared by God to lead His people into their inheritance. God will always prepare a person for the work He wants him to do. We, like Joshua, also are called to lead others into their inheritance (what God has called a person to do) in God. Joshua's preparation will give us eternal principles that God has for all those who are to lead others into spiritual things:
1. He was born in Egypt - Therefore, he was acquainted with the people that he would minister to. He was not critical of them, but he had an empathy for them.
2. He lingered in the presence of God (Ex. 33:11) - A real ministry is born as we spend time in the presence of God just waiting silently while God puts within our hearts a receptivity and a sensitivity to Him. Then as we study the Word, it will thunder in our hearts, for our hearts have been prepared.
3. He knew what the land was like - We must have a goal to lead people towards and into, as well as having experienced it ourselves. A foretaste of the vision keeps us pressing on towards the mark.
4. He was a man of faith - Ten spies said the problem was bigger than God, but Joshua said that God was bigger than the biggest problem. He knew this because of His relationship with the Lord.
5. He withstood popular opinion - God expects us to stand for His ideas even if the majority is against us (Num. 13,14). God will test us to see if He is more important to us than popular opinion.
6. He was consistent in the wilderness - We must hold steady in spiritually dry times.
7. He was a servant - Joshua was Moses' servant for forty years. He had learned humility; he was teachable; and he was able to take orders from someone else.
These and many other things go into the making of a leader. Read back over them and ask God to make these a reality in your own heart and life.

March 15

Joshua 3-5 (Josh. 5:1-15)
"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

Philippians 3:3

After Israel crossed the Jordan River, they made two monuments of stones (which speak of death to the old man and life in the new man). Then they arrived at Gilgal where the Lord commanded Joshua to circumcise Israel again, for they did not practice it during the wilderness journey. This had to take place before they could possess the promised land and before Joshua had a fresh meeting with the Lord (5:13-15).
Philippians 3:3 tells us what circumcision is to us spiritually. It involves worshipping God in the spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and putting no confidence in the flesh. Natural circumcision is cutting away natural flesh, but spiritual circumcision is allowing God's Spirit to take away our human way of doing things that we can walk and live in the Spirit. At the Jordan River, the old man is crucified so that we can have the grace to let God cut away areas of our life that are not of Him.
It was in the wilderness that the Israelites did not circumcise their sons. Many times it is when we are going through a dry time spiritually, a trial, or hardship, that things develop in our lives that need to be cut away by the sword of the Spirit. There must be a fresh purging or cleansing so that we can meet with God afresh like Joshua did. Everyday ask God to let His Word cut away some unwholesome area of your life so that you can walk in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.

March 16

Joshua 6,7 Psalm 6 (Josh. 7:1-26)
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Matthew 6:21

When Israel defeated Jericho, Achan sinned by coveting and taking what belonged to God. God had said that all the silver, gold, vessels of brass and iron were to be put in the treasury of the Lord (6:19). But, Achan stole from the Lord.
When Achan stole from God, God judged the whole congregation of Israel. They had sinned inasmuch as one of their millions had sinned (7:11). The point is this: one member of a congregation can keep back the blessing of God from the whole church. We notice that even Achan's family was stoned. Why? Because according to Leviticus 5:1, if a person saw someone sin and uttered it not, he also would bear the iniquity. By not saying anything, the person condoned the sin and was as guilty as the person who had committed the sin.
Malachi says that we steal from the Lord by not giving God our tithes. One person not tithing in a congregation can keep a church from new conquests and can hinder spiritual warfare. The punishment for Achan was death. Many times one who refuses to let God deal with his finances will end up backsliding at sometime, even to spiritual death. May we make sure that we do not sin against God as Achan did.

March 17
Joshua 8,9 Psalm 33 (Josh. 9:1-21)
"The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever ."

Psalm 33:11

When the Gibeonites came to Israel dressed as travellers, with worn-out clothes, shoes, and socks, with moldy bread, and with old torn wine bottles, Israel listened to their story and decided to make a league with them. The Israelites listened to the story, weighed the evidence, and made a decision. However, their decision was wrong, for they did not ask counsel at the mouth of the Lord (9:14).
Many times we have to make decisions, and we do just like Israel. We listen to others, weigh the evidence, and make a decision without asking God what He thinks we should do. The incident with Gibeon had overwhelming evidence that they were from a faraway land, yet God knew the details and facts that neither Joshua nor the elders could perceive. Psalm 119:105 tells us to search God's Word for guidance in decisions we make.
Colossians 3:15 says that God's peace should "umpire" our lives. In other words, if after seeking God on a decision, we have no peace deep within, we should not go ahead with the plan no matter how reasonable it seems. Then, if we do have a peace in our hearts, we can begin to move in that direction (providing it is according to God's Word). But, we should always remain open to God's direction.
Let us not trust in our own reasoning, but let's inquire of God and His Word, for He is the only One who knows all the facts. Let us search in the Scriptures and pray for direction that we might always make right choices.

March 18

Joshua 10-12 Psalm 17 (Josh. 10:28-43)
"As for me I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."

Psalm 17:15

Under Joshua's leadership, Israel came to possess much of Canaan. But, not all the inhabitants were destroyed nor were all their cities taken from them (13:1-6), for God had decreed that they were to "put out those nations before thee by little and little, . . ." (Deut. 7:22). Eventually, as the Israelites increased, they were to take over all the land (Ex. 23:28-30).
When Joshua conquered the foes that rose up against him, Scripture repeatedly says this: "he utterly destroyed them," and "he left none remaining." This was the way God had said to conquer them. Any conformity to the heathen round them or any decay of the spirit in which they initially conquered the land would result in not only weakness, but eventually the enemy would possess the land again.
The Lord Jesus, our Joshua, has given us victories in many areas of our lives. However, at times one can become content to let areas of his life, habits, attitudes, etc., remain unChristlike. We need to have a tenacity that will not let us cease battling areas in our lives that are not pleasing to the Lord.
Let us not become tolerant in our spirit to things that displease our Master and that are enemies to our spiritual growth. Ask God to begin to deal severely in areas of your life that are not yet under His Lordship. May we begin to take the land little by little, attitude by attitude, sin by sin, as we war and fight the fight of faith. May we always keep pressing on towards holiness.

March 19

Joshua 13,14 Psalm 16 (Josh. 14:6-15)
"Fight the good fight of faith "

1 Timothy 6:12

Before the land was divided between the tribes, Caleb came with a special request. Moses had promised Caleb the opportunity to choose his own inheritance because he had wholly followed the Lord. When the twelve princes were sent to spy out Israel, Caleb believed and tried to encourage them to go into the land, for the Lord was well able to fight their battles for them. He went against the tide; he paid the price; and he received his reward in chapter 14.
It is noteworthy that Caleb picked Hebron, the dwelling place of giants. He could have relaxed and chosen a place where there was no opposition, but he chose to go where the battle would be the greatest. He would not take the easy way out. It had not been easy to go against the ten faithless spies, but it paid off. It would not be easy to take Hebron, but God would be with him.
How about us? Do we always choose the easy way out, or do we stand for what God stands for and fight against what God fights against? May we have the spirit of Caleb: one that chooses God's best no matter what the cost will be to our lives, popularity, or social standing. The path of least resistance is not God's path. May we be valiant men and women and be willing to stand on God's side at all times.

March 20

Joshua 15-17 Psalm 43 (Josh. 15:13-20)
"And it came to pass that she moved him ."
Joshua 15:18.
Caleb went to war and drove the three sons of Anak out of his inheritance. The Hebrew meaning of Anak's three sons' names reveal four things that need to be driven out of our lives:

Anak

- pride, arrogance

Sheshai

- self-righteousness

Ahiman

- independent, unsubmissive spirit

Talmai

- possessiveness, selfishness
After removing Anak's family from Hebron, Caleb gave a challenge to anyone who dared to smite the inhabitants of Debir. As a reward for whoever conquered Debir, Caleb said he would give his daughter Achsah in marriage. Othniel (later a judge) answered Caleb's challenge and obtained Achsah for his wife.
This was a tremendous reward, for in Joshua 15:18 the Scripture says that Achsah moved her husband. Because she petitioned her father on behalf of her husband, she obtained springs of water for her husband's inheritance. Women can move men, which can be both good and bad. But, wives, use this trait for your husband's good as Achsah did.
Wives, begin to ask God on behalf of your husbands. If your husband is not pressing in to God with all that is within him, then place your request before God as Achsah did before Caleb. A woman who prays can move her husband to God, as God irresistibly draws him to Himself. There would be more men of God today if there were more Achsahs at home.

March 21
Joshua 18-20 Psalm 47 (Josh. 18:1-7; 19:51)
"He shall choose our inheritance for us ."
Psalm 47:4
In Joshua 18:3, Joshua asked the remaining tribes how long they were going to be slack to possess the land that the Lord had given to them. They had fought in battles, but now the seven tribes who hadn't received their inheritance of land were just camped at Shiloh, where the tabernacle had been set up.
At times, we also find ourselves not wanting to leave the place where in the past we have really met with God in a special way. Yet, God is telling us to leave the place of ease and to begin to obtain our inheritance. Let us not be slack to possess the land. For example, you may be in a large church where all is flowing smoothly, yet God is telling you to move to a small church where things don't seem quite so good. Don't be slack in leaving all the wonderful programs to be in God's will.
We see in Joshua 19:51 that inheritances are determined by God. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are also determined by God, for First Corinthians 12:11 says He divides to each man severally as He wills and not as man wills. The problem is that many Christians are slack in pressing in for all the gifts to begin to function and mature in their lives. They sit back and say if God wants me to have a gift, He knows where I'm at. However, all of God's Word says that we are to aggressively seek to possess and to manifest all that God has as our inheritance spiritually.
Let us begin to seek God earnestly to come into our inheritance and to have His gifts be manifested in our lives.

March 22
Joshua 21,22 Psalm 23 (Josh. 22:10-34)
"He that believeth shall not make haste."

Isaiah 28:16

Have you ever jumped to a conclusion and done something that you were sorry for later when you found out that your conclusion was wrong? In Joshua 22, the tribes west of the Jordan saw the huge stone altar that the other two and a half tribes had built, and they decided to go destroy those tribes. The situation looked like the tribes east of the Jordan had turned away from following the Lord. As it turned out, the tribes east of the Jordan River explained their reason for the altar, and a bloody civil war was avoided.
May we make sure that we do not make hasty decisions or say hasty words. In Psalm 31:22, David said in his haste that he was cut off from God's eyes, but God heard his supplication.
"Lord, teach us to weigh our words, and let us make sure that we have the overall picture (Your point of view) before we make a move."
Remember that the Lord is your shepherd. He will lead you and never push you. Satan will push us, but God will draw us into His paths. Let us learn not to be impulsive or hasty but to move in God's wisdom and timing.

March 23

Joshua 23,24 Psalm 12 (Josh. 24:15-31)
"And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel."

Joshua 24:31

Joshua was a man who made a great impact on his generation. The words that he spoke convinced others of the necessity of following the Lord with all their heart. His words, family, life, and actions caused Israel to choose the Lord God as their God. He made such an impact on Israel and the elders of Israel that the entire generation that was alive at his death continued to follow the Lord. All those that had seen Joshua's life, faith, and works served the Lord after Joshua's death.
What kind of impact are we making on others? When they see our lives, faith, family life, and deeds, are they moved to follow the Lord as well? Matthew 5:16 tells us to let our light shine so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Do our homes challenge others to seek the Lord?
"Lord, may You so manifest Yourself in our lives that others will be moved to know You also."

March 24

Judges 1-3 (Jud. 2:1-15)
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14
Because Israel had failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land and had failed to tear down the inhabitants' idols, an angel of the Lord appeared and said that the nations would be a constant pricking in the Israelites' sides and the gods would be a snare to them. The people responded with great weeping and sorrow, but alas, the trend of apostasy and rebellion had begun to set in already. In the 350 years to follow, there would be constant cycles of idolatry, oppression, deliverance, and then rest, in that order.
Israel wept at Bochim, but they did not change their ways. They still lived with the Canaanites. True repentance goes beyond tears of sorrow and achieves an about-face. Repentance is turning one's life in the direction that pleases the Lord. God would rather have a change without tears, than tears without change. Repentance involves two things: acknowledging the truth about ourselves (2 Tim. 2:25) and turning to walk in the direction now indicated.
We must ask God to give us the gift of true repentance. True repentance involves receiving power and desire from God to turn from our sinful ways. Is there an area in your life that you've been weeping over but not changing in? Begin to seek God for the gift of true repentance that you might be delivered and washed clean in the blood of Jesus Christ.

March 25

Judges 4-7 (Jud. 5:14-31)
"Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field."

Judges 5:18

When Deborah and Barak were preparing to battle the Canaanites, there were various tribes that came to help: Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun, and Issachar. However, not all were willing to fight against the nine hundred chariots of King Jabin. The Scripture says that the tribe of Reuben had great searchings of heart, yet they did not rise to the occasion. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, and the tribes of Dan and Asher stayed by their seacoast and ships. On the contrary, Naphtali and Zebulun were willing to risk their very lives.
May we be like Naphtali and Zebulun who were willing to risk their lives. Although most of us do not have to risk our lives for the Lord, we may have to risk losing certain friends, or we may have to lay aside certain social activities to obey what the Lord is telling us to do. For example, if God is telling us to fight a battle against watching too much television, there may be other Christians that do not rise to battle that habit in their own lives. Thus, we may risk ridicule from even other Christians who like the other tribes didn't want to battle King Jabin. They were willing to live with areas of compromise and co-existence in their lives.
Let us not be like the inhabitants of Meroz who didn't fight the Lord's battles and were cursed by God. Let us always rise up to battle these areas in our lives that have us in bondage.

March 26

Judges 8,9 Psalm 27 (Jud. 9:1-6,50-57)
"Honour thy father and mother; which is the firstcommandment with promise."

Ephesians 6:2

The narrative of Abimelech is another tragedy in the time of the judges. With the support of the men of Shechem, Abimelech, son of a concubine of Gideon, went out and slew his brothers. However, God sees all and rewards men for their deeds of good or evil. The result was that according to the prophetic curse of Jotham the Shechemites were destroyed by Abimelech, and Abimelech was killed by a woman who dropped a millstone upon his head. His epitaph is found in 9:56: "Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren."
What we sow, we will always reap. Abimelech went against the commands of God, slew his brethren, and was later slain. The Scripture says that his sin was against his father. We are told to honor our father and mother that it may be well with us. This is not just in our growing up years, but it is forever. Abimelech dishonored his father after his father had died, and he was judged for it.
Let us look for ways to honor our parents whether they are dead or alive. Ask God for special ways to let our parents know that they are special people to us. As we honor them, we will find that we will receive the promise that accompanies the command to honor them: "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Eph. 6:3).
Let us sow honor to our parents and therein please the Lord.

March 27

Judges 10-12 Psalm 131 (Jud. 11:30 - 12:3)
"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me."

Psalm 131:1

There are two lessons to learn from today's reading about Jephthah. The first concerns his foolish vow. While facing a hard situation, Jephthah tried to twist God's arm by promising to do something for God, if God would only give him the victory. God did not want Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter. God would have given the victory without the vow.
Have we ever promised to do something "for God" to get God to do something for us? May we never follow Jephthah's foolish example, but may we place our trust in a loving God who will have mercy upon us without our own fleshly promises.
The second lesson is from the men of Ephraim. They were offended because Jephthah did not call them to fight against Ammon. Ephraim was a large central tribe, and they felt that their power and influence were being slighted. They had been angered before when Gideon did not invite them to join in his surprise attack (Jud. 8:1-3). Jephthah, however, lacked the diplomacy of Gideon and went to war against Ephraim defeating them. May we never envy another church or be offended when God blesses another church or another Christian, or we may find that we end up defeated like Ephraim.
Let us learn once again from the negative examples in the book of Judges. We are a body of believers, therefore, let us rejoice with others in their victories. We should neither consider ourselves superior to another group, nor should we be offended because we were not asked to do a certain job in the church. May God purge this evil, prideful ambition out of our hearts so that we can honestly rejoice when someone else receives honor or a position.
God is looking for those who will be servants and who are willing to serve out of the limelight but in the will and presence of God.

March 28

Judges 13,14 Psalm 141 (Jud. 14:1-7,19)
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief ."

Hebrews 13:17

Samson is often called the "tarnished hero." For although he was used by God in feats of might as the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, his character left much to be desired. God had commanded His people not to marry the heathen about them, but Samson disobeyed. Outwardly he was dedicated to God, but inwardly he was full of self-gratification. Judges 14:1 says that Samson went down to Timnath. Not only was he going down geographically, but spiritually he was going downhill as well.
Samson was wonderfully gifted, yet he would not let God deal with his terrible self-will. He ignored the advice of his godly parents and dishonored them with his actions. He failed to separate himself from evil companions, and he was going to make a covenant with the very people that God wanted him to overthrow and conquer! God intervened and saved him from this illegal marriage.
We may be extremely gifted, but if we don't let God deal with our will, we will miss what God has for us. Samson would not submit to those in authority over him because he was the one upon whom the Spirit of the Lord moved.
Today, there are those who will not submit to the authority God has place over them (parents, pastors, government) because they have certain gifts and abilities that others may not have. May we learn from Samson's life the necessity of submitting our will to God and to his delegated authority. This will save us a lot of grief and will enable us to accomplish all that God has for us to accomplish without getting off track.

March 29

Judges 15,16 Psalm 30 (Jud. 16:1-4,21-31)
" weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

Psalm 30:5

God had His hand of mercy upon Samson's life from the time that he was conceived in the womb. In spite of this, Samson lived a lifestyle that was deserving of hell. He lived a life of immorality, and until he allowed God to purge that out of his life, he was destined to spend eternity in judgment. But, God in His infinite love and mercy was determined that Samson would not be lost forever. Samson's immorality put him in the hands of the Philistines. He was blinded, bound, and doomed to grind out grain in the prison house. As he had time to think and meditate on his life, lack of submission, immorality, spiritual blindness, and carelessness with the anointing of God, God began to have opportunity to work a repentant attitude into his life.
In Judges 16:22, the Scripture says that his hair began to grow. His hair was the symbol of his consecration to Jehovah. At the Philistines' feast, Samson was ready to die in order that the things that blinded him might be destroyed out of his life. No longer was he willing to live a life of co-existence and compromise. Now, he was ready to destroy that which had caused him to fall.
It was God's mercy that allowed Samson's natural eyes to be plucked out. As a result, his spiritual eyes began to see clearly. After he died, he was listed in Hebrews 11 as a member of the faith hall of fame. God had to take drastic measures to deal with Samson, but it was God's way of being merciful to him.
God is not desirous to let us be afflicted like Samson was afflicted, instead He wants us to live a life of responding to Him. Samson rebelled against God, and God had to take drastic measures to draw him back into the kingdom. May we never rebel so that God does not have to turn us over to the tormentors until we return to Him with our whole heart.

March 30

Judges 17,18 Psalm 86 (Jud. 17:1-13)
"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

Judges 17:6

Judges 17:6 is a key verse for the book of Judges. There was no one to lead or command. Everyone did whatever they thought was the thing to do. The result was a mixture of worshipping Jehovah with heathen rites. Proverbs 14:12 tells us that there is a way that seems right to a man, but it leads to death. The Lord said that His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways, for His thoughts and ways are much higher than our thoughts and ways (Isa. 55:8,9).
Contrary to God's Word, many of us Christians go through life doing what we feel is right without ever searching the Scriptures to find out the truth. We don't recognize the kingly Lordship of Jesus Christ, but we go our own way. The end of our way is always death. God's way always brings life.
Let us earnestly analyze all our doings and ways and compare them with Scripture. We need insight that we might walk in His ways and not our own ways. The book of Judges shows that only disaster, judgment, and confusion comes from us going our own way.

March 31

Judges 19-21 Psalm 21 (Jud. 19:22-28; 20:18-42)
"Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."

Psalm 139:21,22

As the period of the judges came to an end, one can be sure that it did not come too soon. Backslidden Israel had displayed such immorality, civil strife, and rashness that unless revival changed the country, it would have soon disintegrated into nothing. Although there was a touch of religion left, it was overshadowed by a heavy cloud of judgment. In chapter 20, Israel fought against Benjamin because Benjamin had refused to renounce and surrender the immoral and sadistic men who had defiled and killed the Levite's wife.
There are some in the church today who excuse immorality. Adultery is given less offensive names such as cohabitation and living together. Yet, God still calls it sin. When the children of Israel were naked at the golden calf, Moses called out, "Who is on the Lord's side?" The Levites gathered and were commanded to purge out the sin with the sword (Ex. 32).
Today, the same cry goes forth: "Who will stand against pornography, immoral television programs, homosexuality, and adultery?" Let us arise with the sword of the Lord (His anointed Word) and fight the wickedness in the church and in our country.

April 1

Ruth 1-4 (Ruth 1:1-18)
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. . . ."
Psalm 55:22
The story of Ruth took place during the time of the Judges when " every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Jud. 21:25). During this time of judgment for apostasy, Elimelech did what he thought was best in his own eyes and took his family from Bethlehem (which literally means "house of bread") to seek out more favorable conditions in Moab. The Lord had told His people not to seek out Moab's peace or their prosperity (Deut. 23:3-7). Consequently, Elimelech died because God held him responsible for taking his family to Moab.
Bethlehem was the "house of bread," yet because God wanted to turn His people back to Himself, He sent a famine. But instead of responding to the Lord, Elimelech chose to try to get out of the situation God had created to bring His people back to Himself.
Even today, God allows certain hardships to come into our lives to purify us, to chastise us, and to cause us to seek Him with all our heart. The hardship may be our job, church, geographical location, economic sparseness, etc. We must be sure we don't ignore what God is really after. Our troubles will not cease by us running away from God's dealings. Instead, we need to run to God and meet with Him afresh. The Israelites that stayed in Bethlehem turned to God, had a fresh meeting with Him, and received their bread.
Are you in a famine of some sort? Don't leave your place allotted to you by God, but seek the Lord so that He will visit you in a fresh way. We will always find our provision in our "Bethlehem." Let us not run away from God, but let us run to His open arms of restoration and provision.

April 2

1 Samuel 1-3 Psalm 91 (1 Sam. 2:11,22-30)
" . . . for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
1 Samuel 2:30
In Samuel's and Eli's lives, we see two different types of service to God. Samuel is said to have ministered unto the Lord. In other words, whatever he did from the least to the greatest task, he did it to please Jehovah. Likewise, we are commanded that " whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus " Col. 3:17). We are not to serve as menpleasers, but we are to be those whose hearts' desire to do a job that is pleasing to the Lord.
Apparently, Eli lacked this consecration, for God said that Eli honored his sons above Jehovah (2:29). How did Eli do that?
When his sons were involved in greed and blatant immorality, Eli only gave his sons a mild rebuke when their sins should have been purged out of the house of God. Eli did not want to offend his sons and cause family problems; therefore, he did not judge his sons. He just let them continue sinning while they remained priests. By pleasing his parental affection instead of pleasing God, Eli honored his sons above God.
May our motive always be to please the Lord even if it will cause others to be displeased with us. In the end, those that honor God will be honored by Him, and those that try to please men will be lightly esteemed before the Lord.

April 3

1 Samuel 4-6 Psalm 63 (1 Sam. 4:10-22)
" I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."
Ephesians 3:14,19
Eli's sons went out with the Israelites to battle against the Philistines. Because Eli's sons were not upright, the Philistines smote Israel. Instead of repenting, they tried to use the ark of the covenant as a good luck charm. But, the ark and the glory of God were taken captive by the Philistines. Meanwhile, Eli waited at home, for his heart trembled, not for his sons, but for the ark.
When the messenger came, he didn't stop him until he heard the news of the ark. Phinehas' wife heard that her husband was killed and that the ark had been taken. As a result, she gave birth. She didn't regard the child, but she named him Ichabod (which means "Where is the glory?") and then died.
Church, how concerned are we about the lost glory of the early New Testament church in Acts? When we compare today's divided, weak church with the power of the church in Acts, we can come up with only one question: "Where is the glory?"
May we begin to cry out to the Lord to restore His church so that "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former . . ." (Hag. 2:9). The Lord is coming back for a church that has been restored from the Dark Ages. Luther, Wesley, Edwards, the Anabaptists, the Pentecostals, the Charismatics, and many others have been included in the restoration move of God. However, we still don't see or have the glory and power that God desires His church to have.
May we begin to travail in prayer so that a company of people that display the fullness of Christ and the glory of God would be birthed in the church. Are we concerned, or are we content to let the glory be "in captivity"?
"Lord, restore Your church till it perfectly shows forth Your image, power, love, humility, wisdom, and glory."

April 4

1 Samuel 7,8 Psalm 120 (1 Sam. 8:1-9)
"But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. Until I went into the sanctuary of God ."
Psalm 73:2,17
The elders of Israel approached Samuel asking for a king like the heathen nations around them. Things had not gone well under the judges because the people continued to forsake the Lord time after time. A judge's power was only as the Spirit of the Lord moved upon him, and the Israelites wanted someone whom they thought would be more permanent. They could not see God, and they were tired of living in the realm of the unseen.
This request displeased and hurt Samuel, for he saw this as a rejection of the very thing on which he had focused his life ministry. He had always taught the Israelites that if they would serve the Lord, then the Lord would deliver them (7:3).
Samuel's response to the rejection of his ministry was to go to prayer. When in prayer, the Lord showed Samuel that the Israelites were not rejecting him, but they were rejecting the Lord. They actually didn't want the Lord as their king, but they wanted someone they could touch.
When our feelings are hurt, it is easy to lash out at others instead of going to the Lord in prayer. Those that do go to the Lord first find that they spare themselves a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache.
Has someone spoken unkind words to you or offended you? Go to the Lord and see what He thinks. Maybe their words were true, and God wants to purify another area of your life. Maybe they are going through extreme stress, causing them to lash out at anyone. God did not want Samuel to be too touchy, and may we also learn not to react according to how we feel in our emotions. Let us learn to go to the Lord and find out what He thinks.

April 5

1 Samuel 9-11 Psalm 25 (1 Sam. 9:1-6,15-20; 10:1-13)
"The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way."
Psalm 25:9
Little known to Saul, he was about to have a change in his entire life and occupation. He had gone to find some donkeys that God had allowed to get lost and during the hunt, he met Samuel and was given a new direction in his life.
When God gives someone a new direction in life, He often begins with natural "unfortunate" situations: job lay-offs, judgment, loss of gods, etc. Hence, during this "unfortunate" circumstance, Saul met Samuel. Note that God didn't just have Samuel tell Saul that he was to be king of Israel and then send him away, but God gave Saul confirmation after confirmation. When God desires us to change our direction in life, he wants us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is calling us and is behind the change.
Let us look at the various confirmations that God used to speak to Saul: he was given information concerning where the donkeys were (9:20); Samuel brought him into the parlor and made him sit in the chiefest place (9:22); Samuel communed with Saul on the housetop (9:25); Samuel anointed Saul (10:1); Samuel prophesied and told Saul of things that were about to happen (10:2-6); the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul (10:10); and God gave Saul another heart (10:9).
When we make a major decisions, God wants to give us confirmations. Like Saul, we should seek counsel with those who have an ear to hear from God. Furthermore, God will cause many other things to fall into place as well. He will give peace within and confirmation without. When we weigh all the evidence, the direction that God has for us will become clear.

April 6

1 Samuel 12-14 Psalm 55 (1 Sam. 12:1-5,23)
"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you ."
1 Samuel 12:23
In Samuel's address to Israel, we see the integrity, honesty, and uprightness by which he judged Israel. He did not take bribes or oppress people as Eli's sons had. Samuel was a judge who desired his life to be pleasing to God. Therefore, because of his justice and good character, he found favor with men.
As Samuel's public ministry was ending and Saul's career was beginning, we find no bitterness in his voice even though he was grieved that the people rejected God as their king. Samuel did not turn his back on the people, but he said that he would continue to pray for them and to teach them God's ways. He said that prayerlessness would be a sin.
Lack of prayer for those God has in our sphere of influence is a sin. No wonder so many Christians do not live a victorious Christian life--they are walking in the sin of prayerlessness. We all know that prayer is the key to seeing the kingdom of God go forth, yet we sin in that we don't pray. Let us turn to the Lord in repentance and confess our sin of prayerlessness.
Without God we can do nothing. Only as we come to know that will we be moved in prayer. As long as we think we can do it, we will not call out to God. Are we trusting in our ability to do something? Are we apathetic? Do we really pray for others? God will move when His people humble themselves and pray (2 Chr. 7:14). Let us begin today.

April 7

1 Samuel 15,16 Psalm 40 (1 Sam. 16:1-13)
" . . . for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7
When Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint the next man who was to be the king of Israel, he had an idea what that person would be like. Saul, the previous king, was head and shoulders taller than anyone else as well as being handsome. However, God's choice was not Samuel's choice, for God looks on the heart and man looks on the outward appearance.
Just the opposite of Saul, David was concerned with his heart relationship with God. He desired to spend time in the presence of the Lord so that he might have the beauty of holiness on his inward man. God saw that Saul wanted to be honored before the people (15:30), but David wanted to be pleasing before the Lord.
What kind of beauty are we concerned about? Do we spend more time beautifying our outward appearance than we do in worship, praise, prayer, meditation in the Word, and study? If we desire to be those that God anoints as rulers in the millennium, then we need to be concerned about our inner beauty.
Let us begin to seek the Lord so that we too can be called a man or woman after God's own heart.

April 8

1 Samuel 17,18 Psalm 140 (1 Sam. 17:31-50)
" the battle is the Lord's ."
1 Samuel 17:47
Everyone, including Saul, was afraid to go out and fight Goliath. They all saw the great stature, strength, and confidence of the Philistine hero so their hearts failed them. Then along came David. While all others compared Goliath's strength to their ability, David compared Goliath's strength to God's ability. He looked at the situation from a completely different angle: the battle was God's battle, not man's battle.
Saul tried to give David his armor, but David refused it, being afraid it would be a hinderance to God moving through him. Saul's armor is a type of man's programs in the church. Often man thinks that if he can just come up with the right program, he will be able to defeat the hosts of darkness in his area. But no matter how wonderful Saul's armor was, it would have hindered the throw of the stone from the sling. By spending time with God, David had prepared for the battle. He was unencumbered by man's programs so that he was free to be used by God.
Let us prepare for battle, not by another program, but by preparing in the Spirit by prayer, fasting, praise, worship, etc. Then, we too will be able to slay the "giants" that come against us.

April 9

1 Samuel 19,20 Psalm 20 (1 Sam. 19:18-24)
" the glory shall be a defense and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain."
Isaiah 4:5,6
When Saul sent messengers to take David, they were helpless, for the Spirit of God so permeated the atmosphere where Samuel and the prophets were that the messengers began to prophesy. Saul sent three bands of men and all three times the glory of God so overwhelmed them that they prophesied and could not take David.
In the recent strife in Latin America, terrorists were seeking to capture hostages. A certain businessman, an elder in his local church, was alone in the church praying when two armed terrorists came through the doors. This man arose waiting for them to move, but the terrorists just stood there. Finally one of them said, "Who are those two big fellows beside you?" The man looked, and there was no one with him that he could see. But he knew that the glory of God is accompanied by mighty warrior angels. Then, the terrorists fled leaving the man unharmed.
In Jeremiah 2:11, the Israelites exchanged their glory for that which did not profit. Let us remember that real safety and protection is the glory and the presence of God. Isaiah said that the glory shall be a defense. Let us seek the Lord that His glory be manifest in our lives.

April 10

1 Samuel 21-23 (1 Sam. 23:1-14)
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Galatians 6:9
While David was hiding with his four hundred men near Keilah, the Philistines started fighting against Keilah and robbing their threshing floors. The Lord told David to take his small army, to attack the Philistines, and to deliver Keilah. David obeyed and delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.
One would think that the Keilahites would now be loyal to David, for he had risked his own life to save them. But, the Keilahites were prepared to turn David over to Saul (23:11). This campaign appeared useless, for David had to flee from the very same people he had just saved from disaster. But God is the rewarder of all our acts of obedience. We may not see the fruit of our obedience right away, but God will make sure that we are abundantly rewarded for our well doing.
Have you ever helped someone in desperate need only to have them turn on you? Don't despair or allow bitterness to creep into your heart. God is the rewarder, and He will reward. If we look for man's praise or approval, we will have that for our reward. But, if we do things as unto the Lord, the Lord will reward us in this life and in the life to come. Don't grow weary obeying God even if it seems fruitless at the moment. God will reward every kind act that we do in His name.

April 11

1 Samuel 24,25 Psalm 125 (1 Sam. 25:14-38)
"And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband."
1 Corinthians 7:10
Tucked away in the pages of First Samuel, we come across a gem, the lady Abigail. Her name carries the thought of "one who brings her father joy." She was not just one that brought joy to her earthly father, but also she was one that brought joy to her heavenly Father. In those days, marriages were often arranged by the parents, and Abigail found herself married to a rebellious, greedy, wicked, foolish man named Nabal. His name means "fool," and he lived up, or down as the case may be, to his name.
Being married to such a worthless fellow must have been hard for such a lady as Abigail. All that knew him referred to him as a worthless man. Yet, Abigail responds to the situation here with actions that show great character. David was on his way to destroy Nabal and all the males of Nabal's household. When Abigail found out that evil was plotted against her husband, she hurriedly prepared a feast and went to meet David. She extended herself to save her wicked husband. She could have sat back and said, "Now God is going to release me of this awful marriage by judging Nabal through David." But not so! She did all she could do for her husband. She was not looking for a way out of this marriage, but she was just looking for a way to honor, preserve, and serve Nabal.
Many today find that they are married to someone less than ideal, and consequently they begin looking for a way out of the marriage. But, may we be as Abigail. Let us please our heavenly Father by laying down our life for our marriage. May it truly be till death do us part no matter what so that God may be glorified in our lives.

April 12

1 Samuel 26-28 (1 Sam. 28:3-20)
"Without counsel purposes are disappointed . . ."
Proverbs 15:22
When the Philistines went against Israel, Saul was afraid. Therefore, he went to inquire of the Lord. But, Saul had so turned from the Lord that the Lord had gone from him, and he received no answer. Consequently, Saul went to a spiritualist medium. Deuteronomy 18:10-13 shows that divination, witchcraft, mediums, horoscopes (observing times) are an abomination to the Lord. Yet, Saul, knowing this, desperately sought anything that would help him to maintain his position as king of Israel.
The problem, however, had snowballed so that his fate was already decreed. He went to a medium to seek out the counsel of Samuel who had died. He had never sought out the counsel of Samuel while Samuel was alive. Now with his world falling apart, Saul realized that his downfall was in his not seeking out Samuel previously. Samuel represented access to God, for Samuel was the prophet, the one with the anointing and wisdom from God to counsel. If Saul would have closely followed Samuel, listened, and obeyed his counsel, Saul would not have had such a tragic end. Saul went his own way when God had given him a Samuel to lead and guide him.
Whom has God placed in your life as a Samuel? If you don't have a Samuel in your life, then begin to seek one who has the spirit of wisdom and counsel and who knows the ways of God and the Holy Spirit. By patterning your life after a godly example, you could save yourself from a disaster in the future.

April 13

1 Samuel 29-31 Psalm 117 (1 Sam. 30:1-25)
"For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ shall not lose his reward."
Mark 9:41
When David returned to Ziklag, he found that the Amalekites had invaded the land, burned Ziklag with fire, and had taken all the women and children captive. David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord told him to go pursue the Amalekites and recover all that had been taken. On the hunt, however, two hundred of his six hundred men became so faint from the last week's activities that they could go no further. Therefore, they stayed back and guarded the baggage while the others went and slaughtered the Amalekites.
On the return trip, some of the four hundred that went to battle did not want to share the spoils with the ones that had stayed behind with the baggage. But, David issued the following decree: "but as his part is that goeth down to battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike" (30:24). This became an ordinance in Israel from that day forward.
Not all Christians are called to go to be a missionary, an evangelist, a pastor, a teacher, a prophet, etc., yet, we can have the same eternal reward as they have. When we give to a minister, we will be rewarded (Mk. 9:41). If we meet a prophet's needs, we will receive a prophet's reward (Mt. 10:41). As we stay home but give ourselves to prayer and intercession, financial support, and meeting other needs, we can have the same reward as those who go out to battle in other places.
Do you desire a greater reward than just the reward for your own life's ministry, then invest your time and money in someone else's life and ministry. You will receive the same reward, even though you "stuck by the stuff."

April 14

2 Samuel 1,2 Psalm 75 (2 Sam. 1:1-16)
"For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another."
Psalm 75:6,7
While David was waiting for news of how Israel fared in battle with Philistia, an Amalekite came and reported that Israel had been defeated and that Saul and his son Jonathan were dead. The Amalekite took the credit for finishing off Saul after he had been wounded, and he held out Saul's crown and bracelet to David. This Amalekite man expected David to rejoice that his enemy Saul was finally defeated. Also, he anticipated getting a reward for killing Saul. He did get a reward, but his reward was not what he had expected. David had the Amalekite killed because he had dared to destroy the Lord's anointed.
David did not need, nor did he desire, man's efforts to bring him into what God had for his life. God had promised him that he would be king, and he would never touch Saul, God's anointed, even after that anointing had left Saul's life.
We must remember that promotion comes from the Lord. Many times the ungodly step over one another, speak evil of one another, and lie about one another to get a business promotion. But David knew that true promotion comes only from God and not by hewing down the people that were in his way.
Even after Saul's death, when it was only natural for David to begin to rule, David first asked God if he should go up to Judah, and if so, where in Judah he should go. He was not about to put himself in a position that was not of God.
Let us never put someone else down in order to elevate ourselves or make ourselves look better. Let God do the promoting in His timing. We will find that when God promotes, peace, contentment, and rest will come along with the promotion.

April 15

2 Samuel 3,4 Psalm 46 (2 Sam. 3:1,6,17-21)
"Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and
stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker."
2 Samuel 3:1
When David began to reign and set up his new kingdom, the old kingdom of Saul was not about to give in without a battle. The house of Saul fought against the new king. During the long war between the new and the old, the house of David grew steadily stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
This is a picture of what happens when we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour of our lives, and He comes and sets up His new kingdom in our lives. The old nature inside does not want to give up its throne. Many times we have turmoil inside because the battle between the flesh and the Spirit wages. But as we allow Jesus Christ to win victory after victory over our will, the kingdom of God within us will grow stronger and stronger. Likewise, the old fleshly desires will grow weaker and weaker.
The Christian life is to be a life of warfare, not one of ease. Which kingdom do you yield to in your life? Maybe you have not had the kingdom of God birthed in your heart yet because you haven't asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Why not do that now?
On the other hand, maybe you know the Lord, but you have not let Jesus be Lord over all your decisions. Today, let us make sure that in our lives the kingdom of God grows stronger, by yielding our ways and desires to Him. Let us battle everything in our lives that is not of God.

April 16

2 Samuel 5,6 Psalm 150 (2 Sam. 6:12-23)
"And David danced before the Lord with all his might ."
2 Samuel 6:14
After David had become king over all Israel and after he had subdued the Philistines, there was still something lacking in his life. For although he had been promoted by God, he still did not have the presence of God, the Shekinah glory of God, with him. Consequently, he sought to bring the ark of the covenant, where the manifest presence of God rested, to Jerusalem.
In the same way as David brought the manifestation of God's presence to Jerusalem, so we too are to have the manifest presence of God in our lives. Yes, God is everywhere, but in a way similar to the way that He manifested His presence at the ark of the covenant and in a way similar to the way He manifested His presence in the life of Jesus Christ, so He wants there to be a manifestation of His glory, power, and anointing in our lives.
How do we bring the manifestation of God's glory into our lives? Second Samuel 6 shows us some keys:

1. By sacrifice

(v. 13)--We must lay down our all and yield to God (Rom. 12:1,2).

2. By praise and worship

(v. 14)--Psalm 22:3 says that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people.

3. By shouting unto the Lord

(v. 15)--We are commanded to shout unto the Lord (Ps. 47:1,5), for the Lord Himself shouts.

4. By dancing and exuberant rejoicing

(v. 14,16)--We are commanded to dance before the Lord (Ps. 150:4).
As we give ourselves to worshipping the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength, we will begin to be aware of His presence in a greater measure in our lives. Let us not be like Michal who just watched others worship the Lord. She despised David's exuberant praise and worship, and as a result, she was barren the rest of her life.
May we begin to learn to shout, dance, and sacrifice unto the Lord. When we do this, we will begin to have a greater anointing and presence of God in every area of our lives as the "Ark" makes His abode in us. Will we be a Michal, whose actions caused her to have no more fruit in her life, or will we be like David, a man after God's own heart?

April 17

2 Samuel 7,8 Psalm 26 (2 Sam. 7:1-7,27-29)
"With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward."
Psalm 18:25,26

After David had brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem and had placed it in a tent, he began to contemplate the fact that he lived in a house while God's manifest presence dwelt in a tent. This greatly concerned David, and he began to make plans to build the Lord a temple to dwell in. Although this was not in accordance with God's will, God honored the desire of David's heart. Even though God wouldn't allow David to build the temple, He said David's son Solomon could.
Since David had such a desire to build God an enduring house, God made a covenant with David. In this covenant, God promised to build David an enduring house. "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever . " (7:16).
God responded to David in the way that David responded to God. If we are froward or perverse, God will respond in like manner to us. If we love, we will experience God's love. The principle is clear: the way that we respond to others and to the Lord Himself will determine how God will draw us to Himself and pour out His mercy upon our lives. For example, Pharoah hardened his heart against God and Israel, and God in turn hardened His heart toward Pharoah and brought destruction on him. If we forgive others, God will forgive us. If we love, we'll experience God's love. Let us live a life that causes God to be irresistibly drawn to us.

April 18

2 Samuel 9,10 Psalm 145 (2 Sam. 9:1; 10:1-5)
"Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy."
Proverbs 20:28
By virtue of his position as king over God's people, David is a type or picture of our King, Jesus Christ. As we look at David, we can see some characteristics of the King of kings and Lord of lords. In Second Samuel 9,10, we see David desiring to do two acts of kindness: one to Mephibosheth and one to the king of Ammon. However, the new king of Ammon thought that David was trying to bring some evil upon him, and he rejected the act of kindness that David tried to show.
Our Lord is One Who gives good gifts. He is continually showing us mercy and kindness. At times, however, we look at a situation sent from God and rebel against the situation designed to be a blessing in our lives.
Friend, God is love. He loves us so much that He wants what is best for us. May we learn to trust in His great kindness and mercy, and may we learn to not rebel against all that He brings for our benefit.
Hanun did not recognize David's consolers as a blessing, but he rejected them because he thought they meant evil. Does a situation look bad for you? It may be a blessing from God! You must seek God to know if the situation is to be received or if it is from Satan and is to be fought against. Whatever is from God is given to us because of His great love and mercy as our King of kings and Lord of lords. Praise the Lord!

April 19

2 Samuel 11,12 Psalm 69 (2 Sam. 12:1-14)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 6:23
After David's immorality with Bathsheba and his sin against Uriah the Hittite, the Lord spoke to Nathan about David's sin. Over nine months had passed, and David was still trying to hide his sin from God and others. David thought that he had covered over the sin perfectly. But, God had seen it, for no one can hide anything from God. All is open before Him.
When Nathan confronted David, David repented and God took away his sin. But there were consequences to be reaped. Whenever we sin, we will always reap its consequences. David's life began to be torn apart. His son conspired against him, and the sword never departed from his house. David paid dearly for his sin. May God put within us a knowledge that sin always brings destruction and judgment in our lives.
God would not let David get away with this sin because God knew it would keep David from being all that He wanted him to be. After fifteen judgments in his life, David was thoroughly delivered from his tendency towards immorality and lust. But it took the judgments to show David and all Israel that sin is never the smart thing to do. May God grant us a healthy fear of sin and a hatred for sin knowing that sin always brings death into our lives.

April 20

2 Samuel 13,14 Psalm 107 (2 Sam. 13:1-18)
"For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?"
1 Timothy 3:5
David's home life was a wreck. Not only did he multiply wives to himself, which was against Scripture, but he also did not stay in touch with his children. David was so caught up in the work of the kingdom that he did not have time for his children. Indeed, he did not know any of the struggles they were going through. He did not help choose their friends, and he did not cultivate a friendship with his children.
In Second Samuel 13, we see another reaping of David's home situation. Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, a very shrewd and wicked man. David should have been close to his son Amnon so that he could have severed the relationship between Amnon and Jonadab. But because David was not ruling his home well, Amnon was influenced by Jonadab to commit immorality with his own sister Tamar.
As is often the case after immorality, Amnon then hated Tamar. This relationship had not been in God's plan and love, but it was born out of lust. The gratification of lust will never bring love. Only in a relationship with righteousness and purity will godly love be able to grow.
What kind of home life do you have? Are you your child's best friend? Are your children comfortable sharing with you? Let us rule our own household well and not be so caught up with other good things (as David was) that our children suffer. Your children were given to you by God. They were entrusted to your care by God for you to raise them in a godly manner.

April 21

2 Samuel 15-17 (2 Sam. 17:1-14)

" forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."
Luke 6:37
During Absalom's revolt, one of David's long time counsellors and close companions, Ahithophel, turned against him. Ahithophel was so against David that he wanted to kill David himself (17:2). He had counselled Absalom to take David's ten concubines and to lay with them in open view before all of Israel.
What caused this loyal counsellor to turn so vehemently against David? Why, after years of cooperation, did Ahithophel desire to personally kill David with his own hands? Ahithophel had been with David through the wilderness and one of his sons was one of David's mighty men (2 Sam. 23:34). But something had been festering inside of Ahithophel that caused this suppressed hatred to now open up.
Scripture tells us that Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba. When David sinned against Uriah's wife, Ahithophel allowed bitterness and hatred to build up in his heart and eventually it consumed him. He never had met God on this issue but had harbored the bitterness for years inside himself. In the end, this bitterness and hatred caused Ahithophel to commit suicide.
Has someone ever done something to you that you always remember when you see them? If so, you have an unforgiving spirit. Ask God to give you a forgiving heart, and ask that person to forgive you if they know by your actions that something is wrong. As we forgive others, we will experience new releases in our spiritual walk, for God says that as we forgive others, we in turn will receive forgiveness.

April 22

2 Samuel 18,19 Psalm 38 (2 Sam. 18:6-17)
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 14:15
During the battle between David's armies and Absalom's armies, the servants of David prevailed. During Absalom's fight, he rode under an oak tree and caught his long hair in the branches, leaving him hanging in the air as his mule rode away.
David had given his generals specific orders not to harm Absalom, yet Joab went and killed Absalom while he was hanging in the tree. Joab was a servant that obeyed David as long as he agreed with David. How unlike the man that had told Joab of Absalom's plight and had obeyed David without any questions.
Do we serve our King only when we agree with Him or only when it is convenient for us? Are we willing to lay down our will and obey the Lord even if we don't understand why? Joab was judged (1 Kings 2:28-34) and later died at the brazen altar in the outer court of the tabernacle.
Joab also never got past the brazen altar or the outer court spiritually. The brazen altar speaks of salvation by the blood of the Lamb. Many Christians are saved and on their way to heaven, but they won't go any farther in their walk with God. Like Joab, they obey when it suits them, not whenever their master speaks.
Let us press on in God and let His divine will rule over our human ambition and will. Let us go past the outer court into the holy place and then into the holy of holies, the very presence of God.

April 23

2 Samuel 20,21 Psalm 13 (2 Samuel 21:1-14)
"Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"
Proverbs 20:6.
In chapter 21, we find David and Israel suffering for the sins of Saul. Saul had violated a pledge that Israel had made with the Gibeonites when Joshua was conquering the Promised Land (Josh. 9). Even though the oath had not been made in the will of God, the Israelites still had to honor it. Their failure to do so brought judgment on the land. Psalm 15:4 tells us that after we have made a promise, we are not to change our minds even if we find out that it is going to hurt us to keep it.
Are we men and women of our word? When we promise something, do we keep our promise? If there is some uncertainty as to whether we can or cannot do something, we should not promise to do it. To make promises and to go bankrupt on them is a reproach to the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we have made a vow or a promise in the past, let us never break it. Many lose God's approval on their lives by breaking marriage vows, business contracts, or other promises. Foreclosing on a promise may seem easy now, but in the long run, we will find that we have lost the true riches in exchange for earthly ease. God is looking for faithful servants, not ones that leave their commitments at the first sign of trouble. We all want to be able to hear God say to us, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."

April 24

2 Samuel 22-24 (2 Sam. 24:10-25)
" neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing ."
2 Samuel 24:24
In order to stop the plague that came as a result of the sin of numbering Israel, David had to sacrifice to the Lord. The spot the Lord picked was the threshing floor of Araunah. As David went to purchase the land, Araunah volunteered to give him the land and the oxen to offer as a burnt offering. Everything would be free. But David replied by saying that he would not give to God something that had not cost him anything. The offering would not have been a sacrifice of love if it hadn't cost David anything.
How unlike most of us. We probably would have been praising God for His supply. But David knew God's heart. God doesn't need our gifts, but what He desires is for us to love Him so much that no matter what the cost may be, we want to obey Him and have His approval.
God is not looking for leftovers. He wants our firstfruits, i.e., our best. He doesn't ask for five dollars left over after the bills have been paid, but He requires ten percent before taxes, bills, and necessities are paid. When what we are giving Him costs us something, He knows that we really love Him.
Israel had to offer lambs that were perfect and without spot, not the stragglers. What do we try to pass off on the church, on the ministry, on our missionaries, and on the Lord? Do we sacrifice our best, or do we try to appease God with leftovers and with that which does not require a sacrifice?
In Malachi 1:13,14, the people were giving God second best, therefore, they came under a curse. Let us be sacrificial givers who won't be satisfied in giving until we give God our best.

April 25

1 Kings 1,2 Psalm 35 (1 K. 1:5-40)
"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips."
Proverbs 27:2
When David was old and confined to his bed, Adonijah decided to promote himself as king. He exalted himself and prepared chariots, horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. Then after soliciting the support of General Joab and Abiathar the priest, Adonijah called a feast to inaugurate himself as king of Israel.
However, Solomon had been promised that he would reign in David's place. Nathan and Bathsheba went to David explaining the situation while Solomon just waited. Solomon was so different from Adonijah who was using every effort to promote himself. Solomon had the promise that he would reign, so he didn't need to struggle and strive to be king. He just waited until the Lord promoted him. Proverbs 27:2 says that we are not to brag, promote, or praise ourselves. If we have the goods, others will praise us instead of us having to praise ourselves.
The key, then, is for us to press into God so that we can be the kind of man and woman that God can promote and that we can be the kind of person that others praise. Psalm 75:6,7 tells us that promotion comes from God Who sets up one and puts down another.
We need not strive and push ourselves ahead, but we must make sure that we are pleasing to God. If we are a delight to God, then He will promote us to all that we are to be. We won't need to exalt ourselves or campaign for ourselves, but rather we will see others exalt us. Let us not brag or exalt ourselves, but let us praise and exalt Jesus and turn every eye upon Him. In doing so, we will become all that God has ordained for us.

April 26

1 Kings 3,4 Psalm 62 (1 K. 3:1-10; 4:29-34)
" let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."
James 1:19
When the Lord appeared to Solomon and gave him an opportunity to have whatever he desired, Solomon asked for an understanding heart. The Hebrew has the thought of a "hearing heart." In other words, Solomon recognized that he needed a heart that was sensitive to God and to others.
Many times people come to us to share a "problem" that really isn't the problem at all. Actually they have a much deeper cry coming from within their heart which they cannot express. We need to be quick to hear and slow to give our own thoughts and counsel. If we have a hearing heart, we can hear what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us and what the heart cry of the other person is. Many times we are too free to give our own opinions, too eager to share our own problems, or too busy to really stop and listen to what another's spirit is crying out for.
Let us ask God for a "hearing heart" that we might meet the needs of others and that we might not be so self-centered that we just think of ourselves and talk of our own needs.

April 27

1 Kings 5,6 Psalm 52 (1 K. 6:11-14,38; 7:1)
"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
Revelation 3:16
While Solomon was building the temple, the Lord again appeared to him with a promise that if he would walk in God's statutes and keep all God's commands, then God would not forsake Israel. God did not just want Solomon to build Him a house of stone, but He wanted first place in Solomon's heart. The Lord saw that although Solomon loved Him, he also had a lot of other loves for things that eventually hindered his walk with the Lord.
Solomon's priorities are shown in the fact that he spent seven years building God's house but thirteen years building his own house. God didn't have first place in Solomon's heart, but his own desires had first place. Because Solomon never wholeheartedly followed the Lord, he never obtained the promise God had given him in 6:13: "And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. In the end, Solomon's heart was turned away from the Lord.
What or who has first place in your heart? Are you busy working in the church, and yet you have not committed yourself to walk in God's ways in every area of your life? God is not interested in our busyness, but He wants us to be wholehearted in keeping all His commands.
Solomon was lukewarm, and in the end of his life, he was serving idols. God spued him out of His mouth. Let us not be content to let areas of our life undealt with, but let us obey the Lord in all we do.

April 28

1 Kings 7,8 Psalm 138 (1 K. 7:6-10)
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 2:5
When Solomon built the foundation for the temple, the stones were of tremendous size: ten cubits by eight cubits. Each of these numbers has a special significance in the Scriptures. The number eight is the number of resurrection life and the moving of the Holy Spirit. We base this fact on the many different things that happened on the eighth day in Scripture. Jesus was raised from the dead on the eighth day of the week, and He appeared to His disciples eight days later, He also had appeared to some of them before that (Jn. 20:26).
Another mention of eight in the Scriptures is concerning the flood. Eight persons received life at the time of the flood. The flood is a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pe. 3:20-21). Also, Scripture tells us that on the eighth day the new heavens and new earth will be created (cf. 2 Pe. 3:8).
Ten was the other number that was significant in the foundation stones of the temple. The number ten speaks of divine order and law as seen in the Ten Commandments that were given to Moses.
Just as these two numbers were significant to the foundation of a natural house, the spiritual significance of these two numbers are important to the foundation of the spiritual house that God is building. God is not using natural stones, but He is now building with His saints. He is not using natural dimensions to lay a foundation for His church, but He is using the spiritual connotations.
We all need the two-fold foundation of the moving of the Holy Spirit and of the divine order of God's Word in our lives. We need both to have a solid foundation and to be balanced in the kingdom. Are you weak in one of these areas? Let us begin to embrace both aspects in our Christian walk. Just as an eagle needs both wings to soar in the heavenlies, so also we need the Word and the Spirit to soar in the heavenlies with Christ.

April 29

1 Kings 9-11 (1 K. 9:1-9; 10:28; 11:14)
" let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ."
Hebrews 12:1,2
After Solomon had completed all his building projects, the Lord appeared to him again. Once again the Lord gave him an exhortation to walk in all His commands and statutes. But this time there was a stern warning included that said what would happen if he turned from following the Lord. God was trying to get Solomon's attention. Solomon still loved the Lord, but the thorns of the cares of this world were choking out his love for God.
In 10:14, Solomon is associated with the number of the antichrist, 666. God had instructed kings not to multiply to themselves gold and silver or wives, yet Solomon collected more and more of each. God had said not to go down to Egypt for horses, but Solomon went down to Egypt to buy horses (10:28).
In many ways Solomon was wise, but in many ways he was a fool, for he did not practice what he preached in Proverbs. Ecclesiastes is the testimony of this backslidden preacher who amassed things to himself. His cry is " vanity of vanities; all is vanity" (Ecc. 1:2). His life of amassing wealth, women, and fame left Solomon an empty void. These things never satisfy. Only a relationship with the Lord and loving Him with all that is within us will satisfy.
Let us cast off all restraint, and the sin that easily makes us stumble, and let us press on to know the Lord like we have never known Him before. Jesus will satisfy the thirsting of your heart if you will just come and drink of His living water.

April 30

1 Kings 12,13 Psalm 122 (1 K. 12:25-33)
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Hebrews 10:25
When Jeroboam became king over the northern tribes, he became concerned about retaining his kingdom. He saw that if the people returned to Jerusalem to worship as Jehovah had required, he would lose their allegiance. The people's hearts would want to follow the house of David. So Jeroboam devised a plan. He told the people that it was too hard to hike over all those mountains to go worship the Lord that God didn't always expect them to always go to Jerusalem to worship Him. They could worship God in their own way. Therefore, Jeroboam set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, the southern-most and northern-most cities in Samaria, the northern kingdom.
Today many in the church are confronted with an easy Christianity. "You don't need to go to church," they say, "worship God anyway you want to." Yet God has commanded that we do not neglect assembling together as a body of believers.
Let us not try a religion without commitment, but let us worship God the way His Word says to worship Him. God wants us to be committed to the local church where we can be encouraged and corrected and where we can serve others in a practical scriptural way. Jeroboam created religion without commitment. Let us make sure we are committed to the local church where God has placed us.