Are you a Man of War or are you just playing?

Reading: Jeremiah 48-49 and Romans 4

Scripture: Jeremiah 48:14, How do you say, ‘We are heroes and mighty men of war’?

Thought:  As I was reading about judgment of Moab and all the things the Jeremiah was saying they did or didn’t do the passage above stuck me. We are given the Armor of God when we come onto the covenant with God that is offered though the death and resurrection, and as a kid in the church I sang about being in the Lords Army. Yet are we truly fighting in that Army are we claiming hero and men of war even though we are sitting back watching the fighting, or worse have are eyes closed and don’t see or acknowledge the fighting. We are in a war and yes God has already won that war but we still need to do our part and fight our battles in that war. Are we surrounding ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ that can come beside us and fight in that Foxhole with us or are we surrounding ourselves those who maybe unknowingly work for the enemy. Are you a Man of War or are you just playing?

Prayer: Father God, you are the one worth fighting for, you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I honor and praise you laying my life before you. I thank you that you are leading and guiding us, that you mold us and refine us every day leading us into a fuller understanding of you and your love. I ask that you help me to step out of my comfort zone and speak your word to those around me, help me to be a light in this world. 

Teach me

Reading: Jeremiah 45-47, Psalm 86, and Romans 3 

Scripture: Psalm 86:11-12, Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Thoughts: As I read this psalm of David, this man who had been promised the kingdom and anointed king, seeking God, and asking to be taught and to have his heart united with God’s heart. Are we diving into the word and seeking after the Father every day? Are we seeking for the outpouring of his wisdom in our lives? Do we want our hearts broken for what breaks the heart of the Lord or are we too focused on the world around us and the spiraling whirlwind of the of this fast-paced society? Let us slow down just a bit and just for a wile that we can get in the word, sit in His presence and ask Him to teach us and fill us with his love. 

Prayer: Father God, maker of all things, I honor you, I love you and I thank you for all that you do. I thank you that you give me the strength to get up and have this time with you. I thank you for the provision and blessing you are pouring out on us every day. I thank you that you are refining me and molding me into that vessel you have called me to be. I ask that you help me to grow deeper in understanding and wisdom. 

Who you talking to???

Reading: Jeremiah 1-2 and Acts 18

 

Scripture: Acts 18:6, And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

 

Thoughts: I know that I have been guilty of the mindset of I just need to invite someone to church then it is the pastors job to get them to come to Christ. Yes that can work and people can come to know God through a pastor, but we are not called to just drag people in off the street and expect that what ever the sermon that week is, that it causes this person that was come to Christ. It says that’s Paul taught every sabbath meaning he was there for an extended period of time, but it goes one to say the that after he was opposed he shook out his sandals said “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” How often are we truly living out the great commission and sharing Christ with the world around us or are we just dragging people in to try to get the pastor to do that work. I know that my biggest fear is that I would fail or look stupid when sharing the gospel. Are we letting our fears keep us from sharing the gospel, and when we do fail, then we fail and we move on, shake the dust out of our shoes and hair, get up and speak the word again. No matter when or how we fail it is not on us as Paul said “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent.” It is not up to us to convince someone they need Christ but we are to share Him with all. 

 

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for my voice, I thank you for the ability to speak and share what you have done in my life. I thank you that you are working in my life, growing and strengthening me every day. I thank you for the opportunity to steward the provisions you have given to me. I ask that you help me to walk in your ways, to spread your word to those around me. 

Gathering around each other.

Reading: 2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 34, and Acts 14

Scripture: Acts 14:20, But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

Thoughts: We so often get beaten down by this world, be it for our faith or just because we live in a fallen world that is striving blindly toward the gates of Hell. Paul after being stoned to death, got up and went back into the city but only after the disciples gathered around him. When we are attacked and beaten down, do we have a community that will come together, gather around us to call us back to life. Even though this passage does not say that these disciples were praying over him, but I believe that these disciples were praying over him until he rose. We need our community to gather around us. We most likely are not the solution to the situation and as a man that is a struggle because it is in my nature to fix things, but we are called to be in that foxhole with those are currently in a battle. We are all always at war but each day and each season there are different battles being waged. Right now, I feel there is a battle and war waging over marriage and family and when there is someone in your community being attacked, we need to get into that foxhole with them and declare victory in the name of Jesus. We are overcomers, it will not be easy, but we know who wins the war, we are to walk out this victory, putting on the full armor of God daily. 

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for all you are working in my life, I thank you for the abilities that you have given me to get me where I am today, I thank you for the community that I have and the men who gather around me in my struggles. I ask that you help me to gather around those who are struggling that  we can overcome these battles together. 

What are your high places?

Reading: 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33, Psalm 75, and Acts 12

 

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33:16-17, He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

 

Thoughts: Reading this passage about the different kings and how they either were for God or not I thought this was interesting. When Manasseh reigned he cleared the idols our of the city and restored the altar of God but the people still went to the high places. Going to the high places was one of the ways the other gods were worshiped. The people were holding onto traditions and practices that did not honor God. Today we do the same sort of things, we may not have these places of worship that were dedicated to other gods the way the people of God did but we have things in our lives that surround us every day that the Bible tells us to avoid. There are groups out there that all things are permissible even when the Word of God speaks against it. We all have to make a choice on where we come down on each and every topic and how we are going to walk through this world. Seek discernment from the Lord and God will reveal to you his heart in the situations of your life. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the creator of all things, your grace and mercy is abundant. I thank you that you called me into your family that you forgave me and adopted me. I thank you that you gave me the abilities that have gotten me to where I am today and that you are molding and refining me into the man you have called me to be. I ask the you help me to see your truth and your ways, help me to recognize and walk in your ways. I ask that you help me to overcome the temptations of the evil one and be strengthened in your love.