A CLASSIC NO BRAINER

READING: JUDGES 6:11-16

Verse 12: “And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him ‘The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!’”

What a greeting! I can picture Gideon looking all around behind himself then saying “Who me?” The Angel of the Lord obviously saw Gideon as a powerful individual. Verse 15 in this passage reveals Gideon’s opinion of himself as he spoke of weakness as an established family reality. He was convinced he was the total opposite of, and anything but, a powerful person. So there are displayed in verses 12 and 15, two completely opposing views. Which was right? A choice between the Angel of the Lord and Gideon is what most would regard as a classic “no brainer”. That is confirmed later in Chapter 8, verse 22 which says: “Then the men of Israel said to Gideon ‘rule over us; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian’”. Gideon was indeed a mighty man. As always, God’s perception was right. Gideon just needed to be able to see it the Lord’s way. When Christians feel about themselves like Gideon did about himself, they need to see it the Lord’s way. He says we are more than conquerors and are able to do  all things in Christ. That is just for starters! Exactly as He was for Gideon, for us also God is right - and He will help us to see it His way! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What helps people to come into agreement with the Lord regarding their identity?

2. What robs people of their identities?

PEOPLE OUGHT TO PRAY

READING: ACTS 12:1-5

Verse 5: "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him from the church.”

This passage gives a vivid description of one way churches should function. King Herod’s attack against the Church using an execution and an arrest in quick succession, must have been terrifying to those in the Church. Think of what would happen today if a member of your church  would be executed, then another immediately imprisoned, all for the gospel. Various members of the church would want to react in different ways. There would be some who would want to apply political pressure. Others might demand legal process. Some might see the need to raise funds or prepare other resources. Verse 5 tells us what the first century Church did. They turned to the Lord in prayer! It seems they were unanimous in their agreement that the first thing to do was to pray. The result of their prayers was that Peter was released and God was glorified. Sometimes the results of our prayers are not as dramatic. Sometimes through our prayers we are led to take further actions. However, prayer is always the place to begin. When we seek the Lord first, all else is added. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Do you believe we need to be preparing for Acts 12 experiences, and why or why not?

2. Are you satisfied that you are well connected for prayer support for and from others?

FOLLOW THE LEADER

READINGS: GENESIS 12:1-5, JUDGES 11:29-40

Judges 11:30, 31 – “And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said ...‘whatever comes out of the doors of my house...I will offer it up as a burnt offering’”


Genesis 12:4 – “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy–five years old when he departed from Haran." It is far better for us when we follow in agreement with God rather than getting Him to permit our conclusions and our intentions. Jephthah’s experience is a case in point. The vow he made of his own volition as described in Judges 11, resulted in a horrible disaster. The consequence of the vow was that, in order in order to keep it, he had to sacrifice his daughter’s life. He chose a condition for himself, that caused a great loss to be suffered. On the other hand, in Genesis 12, we read of Abram saying “Yes” to the Lord, then obeying and following as God had chosen. The results obtained are historically glorious just as God had promised in verse 3. He fathered a great nation and all the families of the earth have been blessed. What an immense contrast between the two. It conclusively demonstrates that we should not create our own directions for our futures, about which we are relegated to total blindness. We should wait on the Lord and not take the lead. He understands our blindness and His scriptural promise is to lead we who are blind in paths we don’t know. Psalm 27:14 states it well. “...Wait, I say, on the Lord!” That’s a thought about God’s word.

RESPONSE

1. Fill in the blanks:
A. “I lead when I should be following ___% of the time.”
B. “I see the need to ___________________________.”

RIGHT BEFORE US

READING: PROVERBS 8:1

Verse 1: “Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?”

Proverbs 8 discusses the availability of wisdom. It says wisdom cries out and lifts its voice. It is making an effort to be heard! It tells us that wisdom stands on top of the high hills. It is trying to be seen! We are informed that wisdom is to be found where the paths meet. It directs us through the busy intersections of life! Wisdom is also at the gate of the entry to the city. It makes itself conspicuous to invite us in! What vivid descriptions are used to demonstrate how very thorough the Lord is at making sure wisdom is readily available to His people. However, after the Father has done all to provide this wisdom, a basic fact remains. No matter how available our Lord has caused wisdom to be, we still must turn to Him to receive it. Proverbs 8 also provides the promise of what  happens when we choose to look to Jesus for godly wisdom. The promise is that all who seek wisdom diligently will find it. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How should you respond when you are next asked about wisdom?

2. In general, what does the New Testament add regarding the availability of wisdom?

RIGHT BEFORE US

READING: PROVERBS 8:1

Verse 1: “Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?”

Proverbs 8 discusses the availability of wisdom. It says wisdom cries out and lifts its voice. It is making an effort to be heard! It tells us that wisdom stands on top of the high hills. It is trying to be seen! We are informed that wisdom is to be found where the paths meet. It directs us through the busy intersections of life! Wisdom is also at the gate of the entry to the city. It makes itself conspicuous to invite us in! What vivid descriptions are used to demonstrate how very thorough the Lord is at making sure wisdom is readily available to His people. However, after the Father has done all to provide this wisdom, a basic fact remains. No matter how available our Lord has caused wisdom to be, we still must turn to Him to receive it. Proverbs 8 provides the promise of what happens when we choose to look to Jesus for godly wisdom. The promise is that all who seek wisdom diligently will find it. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How should you respond when you are next asked about wisdom?

2. In general, what does the New Testament add regarding the availability of wisdom?

AN AGRICULTURAL TIP

READING: GALATIANS 6:6-10

Verse 7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

There is a question that every Christian should occasionally consider. The question is “What kind of fruit am I growing?” This question is not referring to fruit trees in a person’s back yard. It does have to do with what is happening in that person’s spiritual life. In addition to the point made by the verse above, there is also the wisdom of Matthew 7:17. This verse further refines the metaphor by stating that good trees bear good fruit and bad trees bear bad fruit. Finally, Proverbs 31:1 cautions that people will eat the fruit they produce. Through these verses the Bible is directly guiding us regarding the decisions we make. The quality of these decisions will determine the nature of our spiritual direction, and the value of our spiritual fruit. Since, according to Proverbs, we will be eating our own fruit, we want to be sure the fruit we produce is attractive, juicy and delicious. That is the Grower’s desire so that we will be blessed in our lives. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is most importantly determines the quality of our spiritual fruit?

2. How do you answer the question that asks what kind of fruit you are growing?

OUR GLADNESS, HIS GLORY

READING ACTS 13:42-47

Verse 45: “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.”

Acts, Chapter 14 provides a feeling for the power and attraction that were earmarks of the Apostle Paul’s preaching. Following his first sermon preached to the Jews in Antioch, the Gentiles begged to hear what had been spoken. At his second sermon, the Bible says that almost the whole city came to hear the word of God. Although most were properly enthused about the gospel, not everyone was. Some opposed what was spoken by Paul and conflicted with the Apostle himself. Why did those in opposition respond so differently from the others? It was because, as stated above, they were filled with envy. They were very threatened by the wide acceptance of the message preached by Paul. Envy closed the minds and hearts of some people even to the extent that they excluded the words of life. However, others were glad, and embraced the word of the Lord. As the Holy Spirit speaks to the hearts of people today, they too have the choice to accept or reject that same message. Let’s pray that many will accept, be glad and join others who glorify God. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is the major emotion that that closes minds and hearts today?

2. What is it in your relationship with the Lord that especially helps to keep your emotions in check?