2 Samuel 11
1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
If you watch any television at all, I am guessing you watch at least one soap opera! If you watch CSI, or even Lost or Star Trek, there is a theme - a thread running through them. You get to know the characters. Most of these programs include at least one or more of the following: lying, cheating, murder, deceit, violence, injustice, disease, death, and yes, sex! Today I want to show you that nothing truly is new under the sun, and that soap operas were around before the time of Christ. I also want to show you how we are all characters in our own soap opera, of sorts, and I want to do so through the story of one of God’s favorite people… David. I believe that we are all modern-day Davids. Maybe we haven’t done all of the things that he did, but in our own way, we are all very much like him… AND… we all have the potential, at least, to develop a “David” heart… and the favor of God.
Now let’s look at this… David is a highly respected and skilled military leader. His troops are out fighting the Israelites, but notice that David is at home, in Jerusalem. And while he is at home, piddling around or doing whatever he was doing, he notices this beautiful woman, Bathsheba, and he wants her. So, being powerful and important, and more than a little self-serving, he sends for this woman, whom he KNOWS is married – and to one of his soldiers – and he has her brought to him anyway, and he sleeps with her, and she gets pregnant.
How many times have we behaved just like David? Let’s not even go into the fact that he had time on his hands and was not where he should have been… which I believe contributed to his problem. And I’m not saying we have wanted someone else’s spouse and conspired to get them… although some have… but how many times have you wanted something you shouldn’t have… and you began plotting and planning a way to get it?
Let’s search our hearts today and see where we are behaving like David. Our problems may not be as big as his, but they are hurtful just the same… to us and to God. Let’s make sure we are where we should be, doing what we should be doing, and let’s ask God to help us to keep our focus and to be obedient in things great AND small.
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 11
6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
Some of you know that I *try* to sell things on eBay. And lately, eBay sales have really been in a slump. I mentioned this to someone else who sells on eBay occasionally, and they asked if I had tried getting a second ID and bidding on my own things to get the price up. I don’t know if I am naive or what, but honestly, that had never occurred to me. And the more I thought about it, I realized that I don’t want to do that… it’s dishonest, if not unethical, and against eBay policy for sure. I do a lot of writing, and recently I discovered a new website that pays $100 - $200 for personal experience stories. Sort of a “Charles Kuralt meets the Internet” venue, where people share their experiences for others to read and enjoy. I was really excited… I mean, I have lots of great stories I can share, and the prospect of $100 - $200 per story sounded great. The first story or two I read on this site were heartwarming… one about a young boy and his dog, and another about a man whose wife had a cat that never left her side as she battled cancer. “I can write those kinds of stories,” I thought, and so I submitted several.
As I checked to see if my stories were accepted and published, I discovered that the stories were taking a little less desirable turn. One was about a college student who seduced her professor. Another was about getting high on drugs. Yet another was about a man who fell for his wife’s best friend and told about it in sordid detail. Now, I had a choice… I could keep submitting my little stories and hope for the big bucks. But did I really want to be published alongside this type of material? I’m not passing judgment on these folks for their choices, but I can choose my associates, and we are judged by the company we keep!
You see, my point is that we have all, like David, seen something we want… sometimes maybe even for reasons that are not all that bad or selfish… but what are we willing to do to get it? Are we, like David, willing to throw the rules away and take what isn’t ours? For David, it led to some pretty big consequences, and an even bigger mess. I encourage you to search your heart today and pray that God will give you the wisdom and the courage to make good choices that please Him. It may seem at the time like you are giving up something that seems really great or important, but in the end, you will receive a bigger blessing for your faithfulness.
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 11
13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
Okay, so it was bad enough that David took Bathsheba for himself and got her pregnant, but then, he panicked and tried to cover his tracks. If he could just get Uriah home and get him to spend some time with Bathsheba, everyone would think the baby was Uriah’s and he’d be off the hook! He even went so far as to get Uriah drunk, hoping THAT would cause him to go home to Bathsheba. WOW! We’ve all been there, haven’t we? We’ve all told our buddy, “If my mom calls, tell her I was with you all night.” Or we have made up an excuse or an alibi so we don’t have to go to a boring party. Or we’ve bought a new dress and hung it in the closet for a month or so, then put it on, and when our husband says, “Is that new?” we say, “Oh, no… I’ve had it a long time!” You know who you are!
Look, Satan will go to HUGE lengths to keep us on his side. He will convince us that “little white lies” are okay… and maybe even NECESSARY to survive in this “dog-eat-dog world” in which we live! That is “stinkin’ thinkin’!” If you find yourself in a situation where you even CONSIDER the possibility of covering your tracks, STOP! Ask yourself, “what is happening here? How did I come to this?” And realize that you are not in God’s will, and ask Him to help you find your way back to Him.
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 11
14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
I’m willing to bet that almost all of us have been dishonest or deceitful at some point in our lives and then tried to figure out a way to cover our tracks, and that’s just what David was doing on a much larger scale. And when he couldn’t get Uriah to comply, he had him killed. It was supposed to look like an accident of war … he just simply got too close to the front lines and was caught in the crossfire. And David might have gotten by with it, except for one thing… he didn’t realize how much he had angered God.
See, David was supposed to be a servant of God… a believer. Just like many of us, he “played church” on one hand, and served himself and the devil on the other. God had big plans for David… He wanted him, needed him, to fulfill His purposes. So He sent David a huge message.
Is God trying to get your attention? Are you “playing church” and serving yourself? Ask God to forgive you today, and start working on getting your priorities straight by studying the Bible, praying, spending time with Christian friends, and truly spending some time searching your own heart to see where you can improve. God doesn’t want to be upset with you. He loves you, and He will bless your efforts!
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 11
18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
20 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
Misery loves company, right? It’s bad enough that David did this horrible thing and Uriah was killed, but he involved others in his deception. Because Joab was David’s servant, he obeyed the orders, probably fearing punishment or death if he didn’t do as he was told. Notice he tells the messenger to be sure and tell David that Uriah is dead… because David will be upset about the skirmish and the way things were handled until he realizes that this was part of the outcome. So you see, Joab is caught up in this right along with David.
Have you ever been in this sort of situation? Have you ever covered for a friend? Whether you were the one who lied, the one who covered, or you asked someone to cover for you, all are wrong. And all have consequences. The next time you are even remotely tempted to travel this road, think of David and Joab, and ask God to help you to resist the temptation to deceive or provide an alibi.
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 11
22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
Did you ever notice how one lie just seems to lead to another, and they pile up like dirty laundry on the floor? Then, just like that one nice shirt you can’t find at the bottom of the pile, you have a problem figuring out what is really true… if anything… and if you are the one telling the lies, you may have trouble stopping. Here was David’s dilemma. He couldn’t hide his sin with Bathsheba by getting Uriah drunk and making him think the baby was HIS, so he sent him to the front lines of a battle. Not only was Uriah killed, but also some of the king’s servants.Adding insult to injury, so to speak, David involved his messenger, Joab, and probably others who “aided and abetted” in this murder.
Do you see how this mess just gets bigger and bigger and worse by the minute? Does this parallel with anything in your life? Are you in a mess of sorts that seems to be growing with no end in sight? There IS a way out! You CAN stop the madness… and right this minute! Ask God to help you. Just say a simple prayer… “Lord, I need You.” He knows you are in trouble. He knows all of the details of your particular mess. He is just waiting for you to admit you need help and to call on Him, and He will come to your rescue.
Will your troubles all immediately go away? Not necessarily. BUT… God WILL help you find your way back… He will help you crawl up through the pile of dirty laundry and come out on top! I encourage you to ask God for help today. Then keep reading as we see what happened to David, and how God helped him to deal with his problems.
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 11
26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
Well, well… David was surely a slow learner, wasn’t he?! Uriah is dead, and David is waiting in his home for the “appropriate” amount of time to pass before he calls for his lover, Bathsheba, to come to him. He has the “decency” to marry her before the baby comes, as if that will “legitimize” everything else. He seems to have covered all of his bases… right? The thing he didn’t consider was how much he had displeased God with all of this.
You see, we are often just like David. We do things we know we shouldn’t do, and maybe they don’t go just like we had planned, but in the end, we smooth them over and make it all okay… or so we think! But we don’t stop to consider how God feels about what has happened… or even that He is watching and KNOWS what has happened! We just bounce along through life, covering up our mistakes and messes and smoothing things over, and hoping nobody really notices.
I don’t know what your “mess” is. Maybe you slip things in your pocket at Wal-Mart and don’t pay for them. Maybe you gossip and tell half-truths about others to make yourself look better. Maybe you beat your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend. Maybe you have a drinking/drug problem. Maybe you are sleeping around and being sexually indiscreet. Maybe you’ve been chatting with someone you met on the Internet, and you are now talking about actually meeting. Maybe you are pitting one family member or friend against another… stirring up jealousies or hard feelings. It could be any number of things that seem far less “sinister” than a murder plot. BUT… to God… any deception is deception, and it grieves Him.
When it comes to your relationship with God, there is no such thing as acceptable levels of deception. He takes this very personally. Did you notice the first part of the word “sinister?” It is SIN… and in God’s eyes, there is no such thing as a rating scale for sins… lies are not a 1 and murder a 10. All sins grieve God, and once I truly understood that concept, I knew I did NOT want to cause Him any grief. Do you?
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 12
1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
Have you ever had a friend you knew was in trouble or having a problem, and you said, “I’ll go talk to him/her… maybe I can get through.” And you went to talk to the friend and told them, “Look, THIS is what is going on here… THIS is what people are saying/thinking. You’re in trouble, pal, and I’m here to help you figure out what to do.” Sometimes this information is well received… sometimes it makes the person angry. It’s a gamble, but as a true friend, you sometimes have to take this chance and confront the person in hopes of getting through to them.That’s what Nathan is doing for David. HE is intervening for God. Instead of just coming right out and saying, “Look, man, you have really made a mess of things here!” he tells David a story. I guess you could say he sort of “sugar coats” the situation, which seems funny to us, maybe. But in the Bible, a story (or parable) is often used to make a point. I am glad that we are more straightforward today. I, for one, am not always quick to “get it” when people skirt an issue, and in this particular case, I think just telling David that he had messed up might have been better. But it was God’s call, and He chose to send Nathan to tell the story.
Knowing that God’s ways are perfect, I know He had a reason for approaching David like this. And as we will see in coming days, it really WAS the right approach. My challenge to you today is this… when you see a friend who needs a wake-up call, ask God to show you: 1) if you are the right person to confront this friend; 2) the right approach for getting through to your friend; 3) courage and a loving attitude as you speak to this person. Ask God to work THROUGH you… to use you as His agent, as He used Nathan. And trust Him to work out the details.
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 12
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
WOW! This is powerful! In other words, David was saying, “That’s an amazing story… shame on that man for doing what he did,” and Nathan says, “Buddy, YOU are that man!” Talk about being “hit upside the head”! AND…even though David does realize what he has done and how serious it is, there are still consequences. Nathan speaks for God and tells David that the things he has done to others in secret, God will now do to him in public! Yikes!
I hope this never happens to you. I hope that your “dirty laundry” is never publicly aired. We all know instances where this HAS happened… primarily to public figures who believe they are above the law or apparently forget they are under constant scrutiny, and they get into hot water big time. One that comes to mind for me is Mel Gibson. Another is the actor Alec Baldwin, and the now-famous telephone message he left for his 11-year-old daughter. Think Lindsey Lohan, Brittney Spears, and Paris Hilton… or even those involved in Watergate in the 1970's or the Iran-Contra Affair of the late 1980's. I could go on and on, but that would start to smack of finger pointing, when we ALL have dirty laundry of some sort… and as I pointed out a few days ago, to God, sin is sin.
The point is this… God WILL forgive us, but there may still be consequences… a price to pay for our actions. Every action truly does have a reaction… and every sin does have a consequence. Remember that God is not waiting to punish you, but to deliver you from your sins. The journey back may be a little painful, and you may not like what He “charges” you for your sin, but the ultimate reward of forgiveness is well worth it!
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 12
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
Haven’t we all bargained with God? Haven’t we all said, “God, just do this or that for me, and I will never, EVER disappoint you again.” Or, “God, just heal my loved one this one time, and I promise, I will turn over a whole new leaf and spend the rest of my life serving you!” Or, “God, I promise, if you will just let me have this one last party, I will never, ever drink again!” OR… “God, if you will just help me pass this one course, then I promise, I will study from here on… I will never cheat, and I will never ask you to help me with school again! I’ll do it this time!”
You see, God knows us. He knows that when our back is to the wall, we will say and do just about anything to get His help. And it’s not that He doesn’t want to help us… He does! He wants it to be different. But until our hearts are truly softened to Him… until we are truly humbled and ready to serve Him completely, He knows our words are just like spit in the wind. And sometimes, in order to get our complete attention… and to truly capture our heart, He has to punish us. And that’s what He did to David.
REMEMBER… God is not punishing us to hurt us or to be mean or vengeful. He is trying to get us to realize how much He loves us and how important it is that we follow HIM instead of our own selfish desires (which in essence are Satan’s desires). He is reminding us that HE is in control, and we can live a far more abundant life on His terms than if we try to “have it our way.” Search your heart today and see where you need to line up more with God’s ways… then ask Him to help you make your way back to Him.
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 12
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
See, it wasn’t about the baby. I had some students in Sunday School once who were very upset with me… “What kind of God would kill an innocent baby?” I mean, they were ready to turn their backs on God, because they couldn’t understand how I could talk about a loving God who would kill an innocent infant. I’m here to tell you, God did not hurt that baby! That baby left this earth to live in heaven forever. To my way of thinking, God rescued this innocent baby. Suppose He had said, “Okay, David, I’ll save your baby,” and then David, like so many of us, said to himself, “Whew! I dodged the bullet that time,” and over time he forgot his promises to God, and he went right back to what he was doing, and his young child grew up seeing his or her father live life on his own terms and choosing how and when to serve God. What kind of life would that be for the child… what kind of legacy would that be?
I think that God knew David well enough to know that if He truly wanted his attention, and his heart, he was going to have to use drastic measures, and so he took David’s baby. And God may have to use some pretty serious circumstances to get our attention. I’m not here to tell you that God causes bad things to happen, because I don’t believe that. But I do believe that when circumstances present themselves in an unfortunate manner, God often looks at the situation and sees a way to use it to help us grow, or to bring us around to Him, and He never wastes an opportunity to reach us… to draw us to Him. But that is NOT the end of this story… we will look at what happened to David next.
©2007 Debbie Robus
2 Samuel 12
24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.
When it’s over, it’s over. David knew that. Sometimes, we make choices that end badly, and we suffer consequences. Sometimes, God doesn’t answer our prayers like we would like. But God’s plan and His answers are always the right ones… ALWAYS… and when God answers, it is up to us to accept that answer and move on. We can’t change the past. We can’t go back and undo the things in our own soap opera. But, with God’s help, we can write new chapters. Our story can go from “As the World Turns” or “Desperate Housewives” or “Lost” to “Andy Griffith” or “Leave it to Beaver,”… or “Father Knows Best”. Because you see, our Father truly does know best. We are not so different from David… even those of us with the biggest heart for God will stumble and fall at times… but like David, when God shows us our faults and our sins, we can truly, humbly ask for forgiveness, and then get up, move on, and forge ahead.
One last thing… notice that after all of this, David and Bathsheba had another child, and this child was Solomon, who became a king whom God loved and blessed and prospered. You see, if God can restore David and Bathsheba, He will surely restore us. If God will bless David and Bathsheba, He will surely bless us. If we will humbly fall before God and ask Him to forgive us and change our hearts, He will do it. We are all “David and Bathsheba” in some way… the question is, where will you go from here? Will you continue to wander in the darkness and allow Satan to write your soap opera? Or will you invite God to capture your heart and start living for him? The choice will always be ours… but God really, really wants you to belong to Him, and I promise, the blessings He will bring you will far exceed anything you could EVER hope to accomplish on your own.
Where will you land? Will you be like the old David, or will you humble yourself as he did and start writing a new story… one that has Eternal value and the favor of God. The choice IS yours.
©2007 Debbie Robus
These are the first few devotionals in a series I call "Operating in Love." If you want more of them, leave your e-mail address in comments, and I'll get back to you.
Operating In Love
Devotionals for the Lenten Season
©2007 Debbie Robus
Exodus 32:31-32
"And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written."
Have you ever offered to take someone’s place for something unpleasant? There are some people for whom I would make sacrifices… but probably not as many as I would like to believe, when it’s all said and done. I have “taken the rap” for others before, and maybe you have, too. And I guess I did it out of love for that person. Maybe you passed up your allowance when your parents were short on money, so that your siblings could get theirs. Or maybe you skipped a trip or something fun, so that someone else could have your seat or ticket. Or maybe you offered to be a blood donor… or kidney or liver… so that someone who was sick could have a shot at a healthy life. Or maybe you rushed into a burning building to save someone!
But the love of Moses for his people is astounding to me! He is offering to give up his home with God in heaven – is Eternal Life - if God will only forgive the Israelites for making this huge golden idol to another god. This man, who has done everything God has told him to do, is willing to give his very SOUL for the people he loves.
You and I are very much the “Israelites” for whom Christ sacrificed His earthly life. He said, in essence, “God, I am dying on this cross… suffering, bleeding, hurting… so that these people whom I love – and whom YOU love… can be with us in Paradise. Please forgive their sins. Let me bear them. Take MY life instead.” The GOOD NEWS is that, not only did Christ pay for our sins… He rose to sit on the throne with God, and we will see Him again someday. He’s waiting there, eagerly, to see those for whom He gave so much. He LOVES US with a love we cannot begin to comprehend. There is an old song made famous by the Bee Gees that asks, “How Deep is Your Love?” We see in Scripture the depth of Moses love for the Israelites, and Christ’s love for us. I am asking you today… how deep is YOUR love?
©2007 Debbie Robus
Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.org and do a passage lookup.
Leviticus 19:18, 34
"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."
When I was in the fifth grade, my family moved to Oklahoma so that my dad could get a good job as a welder, working on the McClellan-Kerr Navigation system, which was being constructed on the Arkansas River. Daddy built tainter gates, which were a type of radial arm floodgate used in dams and canal locks to control water flow. The town in which we lived was very small – just a few hundred in number – but swelled in population with the families of the construction crews who came for many months to a few years to work on this dam. Historically, the crew would do their work, then move on to another lock and dam project on this river or another.
The little community in which we lived had another component… a rather substantial Indian population. We lived near Muskogee, Oklahoma, and there were decendents in this area of the “Five Civilized Tribes” – Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole. We loved to visit the “Five Civilized Tribes Museum” in Muskogee and learn about this rich history, especially when we learned from our grandparents that our own heritage included Indian lineage. We made friends with fellow classmates who were full-blood Indians. My brother’s best friend in first grade was named Marvin Birdtail. My good friend was Leona – I have forgotten her last name. Often, Leona didn’t have money for morning milk, and I “shared” my extra pennies with her. My daddy was making good money working at his job, so I always had extra pennies. But nobody else gave Leona much attention, and I honestly “felt her pain” since I was somewhat an outcast, too. While I was not a happy camper when we lived in Oklahoma, I learned some valuable lessons, particularly about how to treat others.
Ironically, the people of the small town where we lived were not impressed… both by our Indian friends, nor with us. Where we had been well-respected middle-class members of the Heber Springs community, here we were considered lower class… something akin to “gypsies” because our families moved so often. The inference was subtle, but we felt it… and it wasn’t a good feeling. Probably our “saving Grace” - and notice the capital “G” – was that my family had a lot of musical talent, and we were able to contribute that talent to the small Baptist church we attended. They were thrilled to have ready pianists, organists, and soloists, and so we were a little better accepted than many of our friends and fellow construction families.
Looking back on this, I have to wonder if the folks of this little town knew about Leviticus 19. Did they understand that even in Old Testament times, God instructed his people NOT to see color, economic class, family history, talents and abilities. And I have to ask, some 40 years later, are we any better? Do we see the person, or do we see the potential pro athletic talent? Do we see the person, or do we see the cool car that person drives? Do we see the person, or do we see the dirty, outdated clothes? Do we see the person, or do we see the physical deformity?
DO we love our neighbor as ourselves? I encourage you to ask yourself this each and every day, with everyone you encounter. When you see someone you are tempted to judge – both negatively OR positively – ask yourself, “Am I evaluating this person like I would myself?” Remember that we are ALL God’s children, and He loves ALL of us equally. If he can love US… surely He loves the other guy. Your phrase for the day is “Leviticus 19” – I hope you will remember it as you interact with others.
©2007 Debbie Robus Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.org and do a passage lookup.
Deuteronomy 10:19
"Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Remember my story about living in Oklahoma? Do you remember when I mentioned that our “saving Grace” was being able to contribute to the musical pool at our church? Let’s look at this scripture again. It says to love the stranger, because, remember… we were once strangers! I believe this is exactly what happened to my family in Oklahoma. We WERE strangers there. We felt that sting. But GOD made a way for us. He gave us our musical abilities… and he put us in a position to use them as a tool to gain some acceptance in the community.
We are all “strangers” in an “Egypt” of sorts at some point. Maybe you are sick and have to go to a hospital where you don’t know anyone, and you are dependent on the doctors and nurses there. You surely want them to love you and be nice, don’t you?! Maybe you are on a sports team that travels to opponents’ territory, and you feel the antagonism… maybe you even feel unwelcome! You would love to have some of that “love for a stranger,” wouldn’t you?
So let’s turn the tables. When the opposing team visits OUR gym… let’s clap for them when they enter the gym instead of booing! When somebody in front of you in the line at Wal-Mart is dirty or dressed differently, let’s smile and not form an instant negative opinion in our heads. When you see someone of another race in the store, at your church, or at school, don’t stare and make them feel uncomfortable. If it’s appropriate (like school or church), introduce yourself and make a friend! If you have a job where you have to wait on customers, treat them all equally.
I don’t know what your “Egypt” is or will be, but we all have them. We would do well to remember this the next time we meet a stranger… and to remember Deuteronomy 10:19.
©2007 Debbie Robus Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.org and do a passage lookup.
Psalms 133:1-3
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."
I don’t know about you, but my sister and brother and I did a “whole lotta fighting” when we were kids. There was a lot of stress and tension in my family’s household, and we vented… a LOT! I’m betting that there is a lot of stress and tension in your family, too. Maybe your parents struggle to make ends meet. Maybe you live with just your mom, and she is always stressed about something. Maybe one (or both) of your parents drink or do drugs, and then they get angry, or violent, or sad… or all three.
Maybe you struggle to make good grades, or friends, or to be accepted in some way, and this is stressful for you, and so you “act out” or release your feelings in a way that is unacceptable. Maybe you struggle to get along with your family and/or friends.
God wants us to get along. The Bible tells us it is like precious ointment to him. It is a blessing. If you are struggling to get along, I encourage you to seek help. For starters, pray, and ask God to show you how to do better… and where to go for help. You can also talk to your counselors at school, your church leaders, or to someone else you trust at church. You may even feel comfortable talking to one of your parents, an older brother or sister, an aunt, uncle, or a cousin you trust and respect. But don’t let this fester. Get busy learning to get along. You will be glad you did!
©2007 Debbie Robus Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.org and do a passage lookup.
Proverbs 10:12
"Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."
Are you holding a grudge? Is there someone who pushes your buttons and makes you bristle and get all tense? Would you go so far as to say you hate some people? I have heard people say they hate Osama Bin Laden, or that they hated Hitler or Saddam Hussein. Is that you? Do you hate evil people who have done evil things?
The Bible tells us that hate… even of evil people… stirs up strife. One translation says it “starts fights.” And how true this is… isn’t that just how wars get started? But notice the rest of the scripture… “love covereth all sins.” You may have heard the saying, “love the sinner; hate the sin.” I think this is what we are being told to do in Proverbs 10:12. Certainly God does not approve of the sinful, evil acts of someone like Bin Laden, Hitler, and Saddam. NEVER!!! But, these men were all children of God… His creation. They all three made very bad choices along the way, and as a result, I cannot say with certainty that they and many other tyrants ever gave their heart to Christ and made it into heaven.
BUT… and this is important… WE, as believers in Christ, are not to hate them. For every tyrant who lives… whether a Bin Laden or Kim Jong-il – or that bully who waits for you every day at school or at work… we are to love them with the love of Christ. We are to pray for their soul – that they may be somehow reached by the message of Christ’s blood covering our sins – and that they will repent of their actions and come to Christ. We are to ask God to give us strength to show Christ’s love when we want to show hate and revenge. We are to ask for strength to speak kindly to a bully who is making life miserable for us. Remember, we may be the only face of Jesus another person ever sees. Let’s make it a face filled with love!
©2007 Debbie Robus Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.org and do a passage lookup.
More Glynda Turley Art for Sale
The items from Glynda's warehouse sale sold pretty well on eBay, so now I am trying a few of her prints. These are so amazing, and would be great additions to any home. I have such limited wall space that I really can't use the larger ones myself, unfortunately, so I am offering them on eBay in hopes they will find a good home. These photos are not the greatest... I had trouble getting the angle to cooperate with light and shadows. I still have two more prints (in several sizes) to upload to eBay... hopefully they will be a hit with buyers!
Trying eBay Again!!!
Well, here goes... I've listed more things on eBay, and so far, they are getting a few looks. Greg's mother and I went to an auction last Saturday, and I bought two things (which I hope to list tonight). We then went to a warehouse sale at Glynda Turley's, and I bought several accessories (no prints), and that's mostly what I've listed on eBay. There are some chabby chic decorative tin items, some magnolia picture toppers, and some vintage letter openers I had from a previous sale.
It was good to be at an auction again and see all of our old "bidding buddies!" Hopefully there will be some really good things this spring that grab the attention of the eBayers! Stay tuned!
It was good to be at an auction again and see all of our old "bidding buddies!" Hopefully there will be some really good things this spring that grab the attention of the eBayers! Stay tuned!
Buy My Book... PLEASE!!!
I've posted my book, What to Say and Do... When You Don't Know What to Say and Do, again on eBay. I'm hoping that I've used the right keywords to catch someone's attention and get this message out to the public. All proceeds still go to Hospice... I'm hoping to write them a BIG check soon!
You can find my book at eBay -- listing #290070438337.
Have a great day!
"Aunt Deb"
Devotionals for the Week of October 29 - November 4
October 29 Read 2 Peter 2:9
…then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.
God will take care of those who follow Him and resist temptation to sin. God will also take care of those who choose to give in to the temptation.
Have you ever known someone who seemed to “get by with murder?” It seemed this person could do whatever he/she pleased, and nothing bad ever seemed to happen. The next time this thought comes to you, remember 2 Peter 2:9 and remember that eventually, God will bring us all to judgment, and those who have let temptations have control of their lives will be punished.
In a way, it’s the old cliché “pay now, or pay later.” Except in this case, Jesus has “paid now” with his blood for our sins, if only we will follow Him. If we choose to have things our way instead of God’s way, we will pay later, with an eternity in hell. So choose to follow God, and let Him have control of your life and ensure your eternity with Him.
October 30 Read Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
It all comes down to this: Jesus is coming back, and He will evaluate each one of us for how well we observed His commandments; how true we were to His plan for our lives; how well we relied on Him and resisted the devil.
How will you measure up? What will be your final grade? It won’t always be easy. I promise you that much. Following Jesus will sometimes cost you – or at least seem to cost you. Life on earth is such a temporary assignment, but the consequences of our decisions will carry into eternity. So, how will you choose? Are you up to the challenge? Will we see you in heaven?
October 31 Read Luke 11:4
And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, there is only One Way to resist temptation successfully, and that is to turn to God. He will equip you fully with an armor against Satan. He will help you when you think nothing or nobody can.
Call on Him. Ask for His help and He will gladly be there for you. Ask for His comfort when your decisions are ridiculed, and He will give it. Ask for His strength, and it will be provided. Ask for His grace and mercy to defeat Satan in your life, and He will surely give it.
To God be all glory! Amen.
November 1 Read 1 Samuel 2:12-17
Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord. And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, ‘give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.” And if the man said to him, “they should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires,” he would then answer him, “No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.” Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.
I’ll admit – I had to find a modern translation of the Bible to fully understand this passage. But the bottom line is this: when an offering was made to the Lord, Eli’s sons (who were scoundrels) would come and take whatever of the meat they wanted. The most important part of the sacrifice was the fat, which was supposed to be burned on the altar first. Everybody said that they would be willing to give Eli’s sons whatever meat they wanted, if they could just burn the fat first. But no… Eli’s sons wanted the fat, too! They wanted whatever they desired at the moment, and they expected to get it. This greatly saddened and disappointed Eli, and more importantly, God.
In ways great and small, things are taken from us on a regular basis. People steal not only our belongings, but try to take our pride, or our privacy, or our friends, our safety… you name it. We hurry around trying to stay one step ahead… we try to outrun evil, so to speak. But try as we might, there are times when we are disappointed, when we are sad. But here’s the good news… in 1 Samuel 2:30, it says, Therefore the Lord God of Israel says, “I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever,” and “those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
So take heart. Stay close to God. Do what is right and remember that He is watching and will reward your patience and perseverance. AND… He will deal with those who do otherwise.
November 2 Read 1 Samuel 25:23-31
Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. So she fell at his feet and said, ‘On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. Now, therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”
If you go back and read this whole story in Chapter 25, you will see that David went to Nabal for help. Nabal, a rich man, was married to Abigail. As she pointed out later to David, his name, Nabal, means “fool.” Instead of helping David, Nabal insulted him and his men. Abigail, a much smarter person, brought David gifts of bread and wine, sheep, grain, and fruit, and begged him to ignore Nabal, pointing out that God would deal with him later.
The point is, there will be disappointments and sadness, and insults, and irritations, and we have a choice. We can choose to let these get us down, and we can choose revenge. Or, we can take the moral high ground, keep our faith in God to help us through these difficult situations, and move forward. It’s a tough choice sometimes. Revenge feels right! But truly it isn’t. And wallowing in our sadness and self-pity isn’t right either. We must be strong, we must be bigger people. We must keep the faith and rise above our circumstances. With God’s help, we can do it!
November 3 Read 2 Samuel 17:23
Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.
WOW! Talk about a drastic reaction to disappointment! Look, we are all going to have disappointments in our life. There are going to be times when people don’t behave like we wish, when things don’t work out as we plan, when we just plain don’t get our way. But God hasn’t promised us an easy life, or a road without some potholes.
When you are disappointed, ask God to give you comfort. Also ask Him to show you what you can learn from the experience, and trust Him to help you grow. Read your Bible, pray, stay close to God, and it will get better. I promise!
November 4 Read Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task god has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered. I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge. And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Let me tell you something… the writer of Ecclesiastes is having one MAJOR pity party, or so it seems. But if you keep reading, you will see that he realizes that this is actually a lot of vanity on his part. He has made himself out to be far more important in the scheme of things than he ought to, and given himself far too much credit. And he comes to realize that both he and the fool die in the end, so they really aren’t so different!
He also comes to the conclusion in Chapter 2, verse 26, that “... God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This is also vanity and grasping for the wind.”
So, if it’s all just “dust in the wind,” then why do we do it? Why do we try? Aren’t we doomed to be sad and disappointed? No! The Bible doesn’t promise us a life on Easy Street, but we are promised rewards from God for making an effort to please Him, and to live a life that honors Him and gives Him glory. Here’s what Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 says about this: “Here is what I have seen: it is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor – this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.”
So stay busy doing God’s work, and be busy with the joy of your heart!
…then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.
God will take care of those who follow Him and resist temptation to sin. God will also take care of those who choose to give in to the temptation.
Have you ever known someone who seemed to “get by with murder?” It seemed this person could do whatever he/she pleased, and nothing bad ever seemed to happen. The next time this thought comes to you, remember 2 Peter 2:9 and remember that eventually, God will bring us all to judgment, and those who have let temptations have control of their lives will be punished.
In a way, it’s the old cliché “pay now, or pay later.” Except in this case, Jesus has “paid now” with his blood for our sins, if only we will follow Him. If we choose to have things our way instead of God’s way, we will pay later, with an eternity in hell. So choose to follow God, and let Him have control of your life and ensure your eternity with Him.
October 30 Read Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
It all comes down to this: Jesus is coming back, and He will evaluate each one of us for how well we observed His commandments; how true we were to His plan for our lives; how well we relied on Him and resisted the devil.
How will you measure up? What will be your final grade? It won’t always be easy. I promise you that much. Following Jesus will sometimes cost you – or at least seem to cost you. Life on earth is such a temporary assignment, but the consequences of our decisions will carry into eternity. So, how will you choose? Are you up to the challenge? Will we see you in heaven?
October 31 Read Luke 11:4
And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, there is only One Way to resist temptation successfully, and that is to turn to God. He will equip you fully with an armor against Satan. He will help you when you think nothing or nobody can.
Call on Him. Ask for His help and He will gladly be there for you. Ask for His comfort when your decisions are ridiculed, and He will give it. Ask for His strength, and it will be provided. Ask for His grace and mercy to defeat Satan in your life, and He will surely give it.
To God be all glory! Amen.
November 1 Read 1 Samuel 2:12-17
Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord. And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, ‘give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.” And if the man said to him, “they should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires,” he would then answer him, “No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.” Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.
I’ll admit – I had to find a modern translation of the Bible to fully understand this passage. But the bottom line is this: when an offering was made to the Lord, Eli’s sons (who were scoundrels) would come and take whatever of the meat they wanted. The most important part of the sacrifice was the fat, which was supposed to be burned on the altar first. Everybody said that they would be willing to give Eli’s sons whatever meat they wanted, if they could just burn the fat first. But no… Eli’s sons wanted the fat, too! They wanted whatever they desired at the moment, and they expected to get it. This greatly saddened and disappointed Eli, and more importantly, God.
In ways great and small, things are taken from us on a regular basis. People steal not only our belongings, but try to take our pride, or our privacy, or our friends, our safety… you name it. We hurry around trying to stay one step ahead… we try to outrun evil, so to speak. But try as we might, there are times when we are disappointed, when we are sad. But here’s the good news… in 1 Samuel 2:30, it says, Therefore the Lord God of Israel says, “I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever,” and “those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
So take heart. Stay close to God. Do what is right and remember that He is watching and will reward your patience and perseverance. AND… He will deal with those who do otherwise.
November 2 Read 1 Samuel 25:23-31
Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. So she fell at his feet and said, ‘On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. Now, therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”
If you go back and read this whole story in Chapter 25, you will see that David went to Nabal for help. Nabal, a rich man, was married to Abigail. As she pointed out later to David, his name, Nabal, means “fool.” Instead of helping David, Nabal insulted him and his men. Abigail, a much smarter person, brought David gifts of bread and wine, sheep, grain, and fruit, and begged him to ignore Nabal, pointing out that God would deal with him later.
The point is, there will be disappointments and sadness, and insults, and irritations, and we have a choice. We can choose to let these get us down, and we can choose revenge. Or, we can take the moral high ground, keep our faith in God to help us through these difficult situations, and move forward. It’s a tough choice sometimes. Revenge feels right! But truly it isn’t. And wallowing in our sadness and self-pity isn’t right either. We must be strong, we must be bigger people. We must keep the faith and rise above our circumstances. With God’s help, we can do it!
November 3 Read 2 Samuel 17:23
Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.
WOW! Talk about a drastic reaction to disappointment! Look, we are all going to have disappointments in our life. There are going to be times when people don’t behave like we wish, when things don’t work out as we plan, when we just plain don’t get our way. But God hasn’t promised us an easy life, or a road without some potholes.
When you are disappointed, ask God to give you comfort. Also ask Him to show you what you can learn from the experience, and trust Him to help you grow. Read your Bible, pray, stay close to God, and it will get better. I promise!
November 4 Read Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task god has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered. I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge. And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Let me tell you something… the writer of Ecclesiastes is having one MAJOR pity party, or so it seems. But if you keep reading, you will see that he realizes that this is actually a lot of vanity on his part. He has made himself out to be far more important in the scheme of things than he ought to, and given himself far too much credit. And he comes to realize that both he and the fool die in the end, so they really aren’t so different!
He also comes to the conclusion in Chapter 2, verse 26, that “... God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This is also vanity and grasping for the wind.”
So, if it’s all just “dust in the wind,” then why do we do it? Why do we try? Aren’t we doomed to be sad and disappointed? No! The Bible doesn’t promise us a life on Easy Street, but we are promised rewards from God for making an effort to please Him, and to live a life that honors Him and gives Him glory. Here’s what Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 says about this: “Here is what I have seen: it is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor – this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.”
So stay busy doing God’s work, and be busy with the joy of your heart!
Devotionals for the Week of October 22, 2006
October 22 Read 1 Kings 21:7
Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
You may have heard the term “Jezebel” used to describe an evil woman. If you read the entire 21st chapter of 1 Kings, you will see that Jezebel was not a nice person. Her husband, Ahab, wanted a plot of land near his house, but it belonged to Naboth, and he didn’t want to trade it or sell it – even for better vineyards or a lot of money. This really upset Ahab, and Jezebel set out to fix it. She impersonated Ahab and wrote letters to elders of the city saying that Naboth was doing bad things and should be stoned. The elders of the city believed the letters and did just that, and then Jezebel told her husband, Ahab go take possession of the vineyard he wanted.
This backfired, because the Lord punished Ahab, and he said, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” Ahab sold his soul to the devil by listening to Jezebel, about whom God said, “The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.”
Ahab repented, and was spared God’s wrath, although God did punish Ahab’s son later on. But the lesson here is that we must be careful whom we associate with, and who we listen to. Ahab should have questioned Jezebel more about Naboth’s death, but he was so blinded by his desire for this vineyard that he readily accepted her story and did whatever she suggested. And Jezebel was listening to Satan when she concocted such a tangled web of deceit.
Keep your eyes and ears open. Make sure you are hearing from God and making decisions that are His and not those of Satan. Resist the temptations to be persuaded by others to do things that are wrong. Check out situations thoroughly and make sure that God is in control!
October 23 Read James 1:13-15
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “The Devil made me do it!” We laugh at this, but truly, it is serious business. Because God gives each of us free will, the devil is able to tempt us in a number of ways every day, and it is up to us to choose how we will respond. As I have said before, Satan looks for even the slightest opening to infiltrate our hearts and minds, and once he gets in, he worms around and expands and draws us into his world.
Here’s a great example. Suppose someone told you something in strictest confidence. They trusted you, and insisted, “You cannot tell anybody else!” You agreed. Then, it “slipped out,” as you were talking to someone… an “innocent slip,” and you begged that person never to repeat it. That person agreed. However, it “slipped out” from their lips, and soon it was common knowledge… the plea to “not repeat this” forgotten as the tale was passed on, and embellished. Ultimately, the person who first told you this information was deeply hurt, and your friendship and trust was ruined. You were now labeled a gossip, and someone not to be trusted – and not just with information. You lost friends, you were not given even simple responsibilities, because others felt you would mishandle them, and ultimately, you fell in with an unsavory crowd of like-minded individuals who didn’t care if you were honest or trustworthy, because neither were they. Do you see where I’m going with this? One “simple” slip of the tongue could lead to your downfall. And Satan would be standing on the sidelines, clapping and cheering, and marking one more victory in his little black book.
Don’t let this happen to you. Focus on God. Consult Him about everything in your life. Keep your heart and your mind on Him and His word and ways. Flee the devil and his temptations. As it says in James 4:7-8, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
October 24 Read 1 Timothy 6:9
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
When I was a teenager in the ‘70’s, it was quite common for girls to be encouraged to “marry a rich man.” Adults, especially people our grandparents’ age, were of the mindset that a successful life for a young woman would be one where her husband went off to work every day, while she stayed home, kept the house and reared the children, played bridge and had teas and coffees, and worked in the church. There were several marks of “success” for women: not having to work outside of the home; diamond rings, bracelet, and other jewelry; and a fur coat, to name a few.
You are probably thinking this is so stupid, and you’d be right! But this was just before women really began to enter the workplace as anything other than teachers, nurses and secretaries, and certainly before women made enough money to support themselves without additional income, usually from a husband. Our grandparents felt that a rich man could be our ticket to success and happiness. I also remember dreaming of perhaps becoming a registered nurse. My grandparents encouraged me to become a doctor instead – because “doctors make more money!” They weren’t bad people to suggest this, and there is nothing wrong with a career that pays well, or being married to a rich man or woman. But what is wrong is making money our goal.
If money is your goal, you may find that you forego other things in order to obtain it. You may work long hours that take you away from your church, family, and friends. You may do things that are immoral or illegal in order to obtain it. You may hurt others in order to prosper yourself.
There is nothing wrong with having money… if you use it for the right purposes. But having money, and the things it can buy, as your ultimate goal in life is a form of idolatry. It takes the focus off of God, and HE should be our focus, and His service should be our aim.
God will make you rich in ways you can’t even imagine. He will bless you if you use your wealth to further His Kingdom. He might even give you money, jewels, cars, big houses, and all the trimmings. But you must be a good steward of everything He gives you – no matter its size.
October 25 Read Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Have you ever known of someone who was convicted of a crime, and you said to yourself, “Good! They had it coming!” This scripture points out that we should be careful of this, because we are all sinners, and we are all tempted. At any given point, any one of us could succumb to Satan’s pull, if we don’t keep constantly focused on God.
So, the next time you hear about someone who has fallen, stop and pray for that person. Ask God to heal their hearts and to bring them into awareness and repentance of their sins. And thank God for His grace and mercy, as you stand up to Satan and resist his temptations in your own life.
October 26 Read Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I cannot stress enough how important this is. I truly believe we all have intention to do what is right – to follow Jesus and give ourselves completely to Him. But that is our spirit; our flesh is another issue.
How many times do we do something we know is wrong, and then we quickly say, “Oh, but I didn’t mean it!” And maybe we truly didn’t mean to do or say what we did, but it’s “out there” now, and we have to deal with it. Or, we may say, “I don’t know what came over me!” That’s an easy one – it was Satan! We gave him an inch, and he took a mile!!!We must stay close to God and ask Him to guard us and guide us every minute of every day. It will get easier, the more we practice it. That’s not to say we can’t stumble or be tripped up by Satan, but staying close to God will ensure that it seldom happens, and when it does, we know Who can help us repair the damage.
October 27 Read Matthew 6:13
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Where do we go to get help with temptation? We go to God. He will sustain us, strengthen us, and help us to resist. He is always the answer, in every situation, and resisting temptation will help us to manage every area of our lives.
When you ask God for help, even before you receive it, be sure to praise Him, and to thank Him. His is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever!
October 28 Read 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
You might think that this scripture is telling you that God will never tempt you with really BIG temptations, because He feels you might not be able to resist. But that is not the case. The fact of the matter is that, first of all, God doesn’t tempt you – Satan does. And secondly, God will give you the strength and whatever is necessary to escape/resist the temptation, no matter how large it is. You will not be tempted beyond what you are able to resist, if you stay close to God, because He will equip you with everything you need to resist!
Also, you may face temptations that are so alluring that you don’t see how you can possibly bear to resist. For instance, you may be encouraged to smoke or drink or do drugs at a party – or to have sex – and you fear rejection and ridicule if you don’t indulge. You may also just feel like you want to give in to the lure. But God will not fail you. He will help you bear the “consequences” of resisting temptation. He will take care of those who follow Him. It may not seem easy, but you will get through it.
Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
You may have heard the term “Jezebel” used to describe an evil woman. If you read the entire 21st chapter of 1 Kings, you will see that Jezebel was not a nice person. Her husband, Ahab, wanted a plot of land near his house, but it belonged to Naboth, and he didn’t want to trade it or sell it – even for better vineyards or a lot of money. This really upset Ahab, and Jezebel set out to fix it. She impersonated Ahab and wrote letters to elders of the city saying that Naboth was doing bad things and should be stoned. The elders of the city believed the letters and did just that, and then Jezebel told her husband, Ahab go take possession of the vineyard he wanted.
This backfired, because the Lord punished Ahab, and he said, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” Ahab sold his soul to the devil by listening to Jezebel, about whom God said, “The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.”
Ahab repented, and was spared God’s wrath, although God did punish Ahab’s son later on. But the lesson here is that we must be careful whom we associate with, and who we listen to. Ahab should have questioned Jezebel more about Naboth’s death, but he was so blinded by his desire for this vineyard that he readily accepted her story and did whatever she suggested. And Jezebel was listening to Satan when she concocted such a tangled web of deceit.
Keep your eyes and ears open. Make sure you are hearing from God and making decisions that are His and not those of Satan. Resist the temptations to be persuaded by others to do things that are wrong. Check out situations thoroughly and make sure that God is in control!
October 23 Read James 1:13-15
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “The Devil made me do it!” We laugh at this, but truly, it is serious business. Because God gives each of us free will, the devil is able to tempt us in a number of ways every day, and it is up to us to choose how we will respond. As I have said before, Satan looks for even the slightest opening to infiltrate our hearts and minds, and once he gets in, he worms around and expands and draws us into his world.
Here’s a great example. Suppose someone told you something in strictest confidence. They trusted you, and insisted, “You cannot tell anybody else!” You agreed. Then, it “slipped out,” as you were talking to someone… an “innocent slip,” and you begged that person never to repeat it. That person agreed. However, it “slipped out” from their lips, and soon it was common knowledge… the plea to “not repeat this” forgotten as the tale was passed on, and embellished. Ultimately, the person who first told you this information was deeply hurt, and your friendship and trust was ruined. You were now labeled a gossip, and someone not to be trusted – and not just with information. You lost friends, you were not given even simple responsibilities, because others felt you would mishandle them, and ultimately, you fell in with an unsavory crowd of like-minded individuals who didn’t care if you were honest or trustworthy, because neither were they. Do you see where I’m going with this? One “simple” slip of the tongue could lead to your downfall. And Satan would be standing on the sidelines, clapping and cheering, and marking one more victory in his little black book.
Don’t let this happen to you. Focus on God. Consult Him about everything in your life. Keep your heart and your mind on Him and His word and ways. Flee the devil and his temptations. As it says in James 4:7-8, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
October 24 Read 1 Timothy 6:9
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
When I was a teenager in the ‘70’s, it was quite common for girls to be encouraged to “marry a rich man.” Adults, especially people our grandparents’ age, were of the mindset that a successful life for a young woman would be one where her husband went off to work every day, while she stayed home, kept the house and reared the children, played bridge and had teas and coffees, and worked in the church. There were several marks of “success” for women: not having to work outside of the home; diamond rings, bracelet, and other jewelry; and a fur coat, to name a few.
You are probably thinking this is so stupid, and you’d be right! But this was just before women really began to enter the workplace as anything other than teachers, nurses and secretaries, and certainly before women made enough money to support themselves without additional income, usually from a husband. Our grandparents felt that a rich man could be our ticket to success and happiness. I also remember dreaming of perhaps becoming a registered nurse. My grandparents encouraged me to become a doctor instead – because “doctors make more money!” They weren’t bad people to suggest this, and there is nothing wrong with a career that pays well, or being married to a rich man or woman. But what is wrong is making money our goal.
If money is your goal, you may find that you forego other things in order to obtain it. You may work long hours that take you away from your church, family, and friends. You may do things that are immoral or illegal in order to obtain it. You may hurt others in order to prosper yourself.
There is nothing wrong with having money… if you use it for the right purposes. But having money, and the things it can buy, as your ultimate goal in life is a form of idolatry. It takes the focus off of God, and HE should be our focus, and His service should be our aim.
God will make you rich in ways you can’t even imagine. He will bless you if you use your wealth to further His Kingdom. He might even give you money, jewels, cars, big houses, and all the trimmings. But you must be a good steward of everything He gives you – no matter its size.
October 25 Read Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Have you ever known of someone who was convicted of a crime, and you said to yourself, “Good! They had it coming!” This scripture points out that we should be careful of this, because we are all sinners, and we are all tempted. At any given point, any one of us could succumb to Satan’s pull, if we don’t keep constantly focused on God.
So, the next time you hear about someone who has fallen, stop and pray for that person. Ask God to heal their hearts and to bring them into awareness and repentance of their sins. And thank God for His grace and mercy, as you stand up to Satan and resist his temptations in your own life.
October 26 Read Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I cannot stress enough how important this is. I truly believe we all have intention to do what is right – to follow Jesus and give ourselves completely to Him. But that is our spirit; our flesh is another issue.
How many times do we do something we know is wrong, and then we quickly say, “Oh, but I didn’t mean it!” And maybe we truly didn’t mean to do or say what we did, but it’s “out there” now, and we have to deal with it. Or, we may say, “I don’t know what came over me!” That’s an easy one – it was Satan! We gave him an inch, and he took a mile!!!We must stay close to God and ask Him to guard us and guide us every minute of every day. It will get easier, the more we practice it. That’s not to say we can’t stumble or be tripped up by Satan, but staying close to God will ensure that it seldom happens, and when it does, we know Who can help us repair the damage.
October 27 Read Matthew 6:13
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Where do we go to get help with temptation? We go to God. He will sustain us, strengthen us, and help us to resist. He is always the answer, in every situation, and resisting temptation will help us to manage every area of our lives.
When you ask God for help, even before you receive it, be sure to praise Him, and to thank Him. His is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever!
October 28 Read 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
You might think that this scripture is telling you that God will never tempt you with really BIG temptations, because He feels you might not be able to resist. But that is not the case. The fact of the matter is that, first of all, God doesn’t tempt you – Satan does. And secondly, God will give you the strength and whatever is necessary to escape/resist the temptation, no matter how large it is. You will not be tempted beyond what you are able to resist, if you stay close to God, because He will equip you with everything you need to resist!
Also, you may face temptations that are so alluring that you don’t see how you can possibly bear to resist. For instance, you may be encouraged to smoke or drink or do drugs at a party – or to have sex – and you fear rejection and ridicule if you don’t indulge. You may also just feel like you want to give in to the lure. But God will not fail you. He will help you bear the “consequences” of resisting temptation. He will take care of those who follow Him. It may not seem easy, but you will get through it.
Devotionals for the Week of October 15, 2006
October 15 Read Luke 4:13
Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
When the devil was unable to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, he finally gave up and left. But notice the scripture says “he departed until an opportune time. What do you suppose that means? You see, the devil is patient. He knew there would be other chances to tempt Jesus – and there were. In fact, the devil tempted Jesus to remove Himself from the cross, by saying “if you are the Son of God, save yourself.” And yet, Jesus resisted the temptation.
The lesson here is that temptation is not a one-shot deal. You will be tempted over and over and over. AND… the more you resist temptation, the MORE you will be tempted. Satan hates it when you resist him and refuse him. If thinks for one minute he’s losing you to Christ, he’ll try even harder to get you. While it may become easier to resist the temptations as you grow in your faith in God, it doesn’t mean they will stop coming. It just means the devil will become more creative, clever, and sneaky to try to get you.
See, Satan really doesn’t have to worry about those people who constantly give in to his temptations. But he does have to worry about those who follow Christ, because they are liable to convince others to follow, and that’s the last thing He wants. So, whom will you serve? Whom will you please? Choose wisely – choose God. Just say, “Get behind me, Satan!”
October 16 Read Job 1:6-12
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant, Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
It is good to look at other people in the Bible who were tempted by the devil and see how they handled it, since we could be “tempted,” ourselves, to just say, “It’s easy for Jesus to resist Satan, because he is the Son of God and not a mere ordinary everyday human being.” Well, Job was an ordinary human, and man, was he ever tempted! All sorts of things happened to poor Job, and you can read them all for yourself.
Because he was human, Job did question why God would let all of these bad things happen to him. He begged and pleaded with God to give him death and end his suffering. And his family and friends encouraged him to “curse God and die.” But he never gave in to the devil. He took every test he was dealt. And in the end, he cried out to God and said, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” And the Bible says all of Job’s losses were restored to him, along with his health, wealth, and prosperity. He lived a long time and died a very rich man.
October 17 Read 1 Chronicles 21:1
Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
Suppose you were planning a party with some friends. You were in charge of inviting people, but your friend was in charge of the refreshments, and he/she told you there would be plenty of food there – chips, soft drinks, desserts – even pizza and sandwiches. Before the party, you talked to a few friends and decided there might not be enough food, so you ordered some more pizza, expecting your friends to help you pay for it when it arrived. When the pizza came, your friends were upset, because there was already plenty of food, and they refused to help you pay for it, and you didn’t have enough money, so you had to call your parents and borrow some more? How would you feel? Would your fellow party hosts be happy with you? Would you feel their anger and disappointment?
That’s just how it was for David in this scripture. He listened to the devil and ordered a census of all of the people in Israel so he could see how many people he had who were eligible for the military. Now God had already told David He would handle this for him, but Satan convinced David to go ahead and do it himself. And it was one huge mess. In fact, God was so mad he offered David a choice of three punishments – three years of famine, 3 months of defeat by his enemies, or 3 days of plague. David begged for mercy, but God sent the plague, and it cost him seventy thousand men!
Was it worth it? In the case of David, it most certainly was not. In the case of the party, it isn’t as extreme, but it could make your life pretty miserable for a while. So the next time you are tempted to listen to the voice of the devil in a situation, think on David and his census, and then rethink your situation.
October 18 Read Zechariah 3:1-5
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will cloth you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they out the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
Zechariah was a prophet, and this was a vision that he had – a dream, if you will. In it, he saw the high priest, Joshua, standing before the Lord, and Satan was there, tossing all sorts of nasty accusations at Joshua. The Lord basically told Satan to get lost, that Joshua was special to Him, and He was going to reward him by forgiving any sins he had committed and robing him in “clean garments.” In many ways, this was a foretelling of how Jesus would wash away our sins and make us new and clean as Christians.
Has anyone every made ugly accusations against you? Maybe these accusations were all false, but perhaps some people believed them, just the same. How did that feel to you? Were you tempted to toss ugly accusations or comments back? Were you tempted to fight? I know that has certainly happened to me, and there was a time when I might have actually let Satan have the victory and answered my accusers. But that is not what Christ did, and that is not what we should do.
The next time you are tempted to issue a retort for false accusations or insults and hurts people have done to you, remember this scripture passage, and how the LORD will take care of the vengeance, and if you surrender to Him, and let Him have this situation, He will exchange the dirty garments of your hurts and disappointments – and sins – for clean robes and a clean turban. He has promised, as He promised Joshua, that you will be given places to walk among high priests. And I promise you, Satan will get what he deserves. Don’t let Satan have the victory over your life… resist temptation and cling to Jesus.
October 19 Read Acts 5:1-3
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back a part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and he brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Have you ever promised to give something to someone, and then you decided to keep part of it for yourself? Maybe you had some photos you took of you and a friend at a party, and you told your friend you would share them, but at the last minute, you decided to keep one of the “best” ones for yourself. You still had the negatives and could have made more copies at any point, but you decided that he/she wouldn’t miss this one photo, and you kept it out for yourself.
Now, this is a minor thing, you may think, but it speaks to your heart and your honesty. You told your friend you would give him/her copies of the photos you took. Then, for whatever reason, you kept a few for yourself and didn’t give them all away. Remember, the Bible says that God will not trust you with big things if He can’t trust you in the little ones. And once you start giving in to temptation in small, seemingly insignificant matters, it will get easier and easier to give in on large issues. Satan doesn’t need much – just a teeny tiny corner, and he can infiltrate our hearts. He loves this! Don’t give him the chance… be faithful in ALL things, no matter how small they may seem.
October 20 Read 1 Corinthians 7:5
Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
This scripture was written for husbands and wives, but I think it could also be directed at us with regard to any friendship or relationship with others. There are times when we need to be alone, to spend time all by ourselves with God, reading the Bible, praying, and just meditating in His presence.
But, we also need fellowship with other Christians. If we don’t spend time with other believers, we may be tempted to sin in some way. Other believers encourage us, uplift us, and help keep us accountable to God.
So, spend the appropriate time by yourself in communion with God, and then go look up a friend or family member who is also a Christian and spend some time with them. Don’t give Satan a chance to catch you off guard!
October 21 Read Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband, and he ate.
We all know this scripture. It’s the temptation of Eve by Satan. He showed her the beautiful, tasty apples, and she ate one, and then she showed it to Adam, and he ate one, too. This was the beginning of the sin of man, because God had told them specifically NOT to eat this fruit, and yet they listened to Satan, who told them it would not hurt anything – that actually God was just being selfish and not wanting them to do this because He knew that once they ate the fruit, they would be smart like God!
Every day, in a thousand ways, Satan tempts us. He shows us little “apples,” and says, “It won’t hurt a thing!” And he is very, very convincing sometimes. “It won’t hurt anything if you skip that class.” “Nobody will know.” “That’s not really that bad of a curse word.” “Everybody else is doing it!” Call out to God and ask Him for strength and protection. Ask Him to help you resist Satan at every turn. He will do it! He is waiting for your call!
©Debbie Robus 2004
Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
When the devil was unable to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, he finally gave up and left. But notice the scripture says “he departed until an opportune time. What do you suppose that means? You see, the devil is patient. He knew there would be other chances to tempt Jesus – and there were. In fact, the devil tempted Jesus to remove Himself from the cross, by saying “if you are the Son of God, save yourself.” And yet, Jesus resisted the temptation.
The lesson here is that temptation is not a one-shot deal. You will be tempted over and over and over. AND… the more you resist temptation, the MORE you will be tempted. Satan hates it when you resist him and refuse him. If thinks for one minute he’s losing you to Christ, he’ll try even harder to get you. While it may become easier to resist the temptations as you grow in your faith in God, it doesn’t mean they will stop coming. It just means the devil will become more creative, clever, and sneaky to try to get you.
See, Satan really doesn’t have to worry about those people who constantly give in to his temptations. But he does have to worry about those who follow Christ, because they are liable to convince others to follow, and that’s the last thing He wants. So, whom will you serve? Whom will you please? Choose wisely – choose God. Just say, “Get behind me, Satan!”
October 16 Read Job 1:6-12
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant, Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
It is good to look at other people in the Bible who were tempted by the devil and see how they handled it, since we could be “tempted,” ourselves, to just say, “It’s easy for Jesus to resist Satan, because he is the Son of God and not a mere ordinary everyday human being.” Well, Job was an ordinary human, and man, was he ever tempted! All sorts of things happened to poor Job, and you can read them all for yourself.
Because he was human, Job did question why God would let all of these bad things happen to him. He begged and pleaded with God to give him death and end his suffering. And his family and friends encouraged him to “curse God and die.” But he never gave in to the devil. He took every test he was dealt. And in the end, he cried out to God and said, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” And the Bible says all of Job’s losses were restored to him, along with his health, wealth, and prosperity. He lived a long time and died a very rich man.
October 17 Read 1 Chronicles 21:1
Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
Suppose you were planning a party with some friends. You were in charge of inviting people, but your friend was in charge of the refreshments, and he/she told you there would be plenty of food there – chips, soft drinks, desserts – even pizza and sandwiches. Before the party, you talked to a few friends and decided there might not be enough food, so you ordered some more pizza, expecting your friends to help you pay for it when it arrived. When the pizza came, your friends were upset, because there was already plenty of food, and they refused to help you pay for it, and you didn’t have enough money, so you had to call your parents and borrow some more? How would you feel? Would your fellow party hosts be happy with you? Would you feel their anger and disappointment?
That’s just how it was for David in this scripture. He listened to the devil and ordered a census of all of the people in Israel so he could see how many people he had who were eligible for the military. Now God had already told David He would handle this for him, but Satan convinced David to go ahead and do it himself. And it was one huge mess. In fact, God was so mad he offered David a choice of three punishments – three years of famine, 3 months of defeat by his enemies, or 3 days of plague. David begged for mercy, but God sent the plague, and it cost him seventy thousand men!
Was it worth it? In the case of David, it most certainly was not. In the case of the party, it isn’t as extreme, but it could make your life pretty miserable for a while. So the next time you are tempted to listen to the voice of the devil in a situation, think on David and his census, and then rethink your situation.
October 18 Read Zechariah 3:1-5
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will cloth you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they out the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
Zechariah was a prophet, and this was a vision that he had – a dream, if you will. In it, he saw the high priest, Joshua, standing before the Lord, and Satan was there, tossing all sorts of nasty accusations at Joshua. The Lord basically told Satan to get lost, that Joshua was special to Him, and He was going to reward him by forgiving any sins he had committed and robing him in “clean garments.” In many ways, this was a foretelling of how Jesus would wash away our sins and make us new and clean as Christians.
Has anyone every made ugly accusations against you? Maybe these accusations were all false, but perhaps some people believed them, just the same. How did that feel to you? Were you tempted to toss ugly accusations or comments back? Were you tempted to fight? I know that has certainly happened to me, and there was a time when I might have actually let Satan have the victory and answered my accusers. But that is not what Christ did, and that is not what we should do.
The next time you are tempted to issue a retort for false accusations or insults and hurts people have done to you, remember this scripture passage, and how the LORD will take care of the vengeance, and if you surrender to Him, and let Him have this situation, He will exchange the dirty garments of your hurts and disappointments – and sins – for clean robes and a clean turban. He has promised, as He promised Joshua, that you will be given places to walk among high priests. And I promise you, Satan will get what he deserves. Don’t let Satan have the victory over your life… resist temptation and cling to Jesus.
October 19 Read Acts 5:1-3
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back a part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and he brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Have you ever promised to give something to someone, and then you decided to keep part of it for yourself? Maybe you had some photos you took of you and a friend at a party, and you told your friend you would share them, but at the last minute, you decided to keep one of the “best” ones for yourself. You still had the negatives and could have made more copies at any point, but you decided that he/she wouldn’t miss this one photo, and you kept it out for yourself.
Now, this is a minor thing, you may think, but it speaks to your heart and your honesty. You told your friend you would give him/her copies of the photos you took. Then, for whatever reason, you kept a few for yourself and didn’t give them all away. Remember, the Bible says that God will not trust you with big things if He can’t trust you in the little ones. And once you start giving in to temptation in small, seemingly insignificant matters, it will get easier and easier to give in on large issues. Satan doesn’t need much – just a teeny tiny corner, and he can infiltrate our hearts. He loves this! Don’t give him the chance… be faithful in ALL things, no matter how small they may seem.
October 20 Read 1 Corinthians 7:5
Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
This scripture was written for husbands and wives, but I think it could also be directed at us with regard to any friendship or relationship with others. There are times when we need to be alone, to spend time all by ourselves with God, reading the Bible, praying, and just meditating in His presence.
But, we also need fellowship with other Christians. If we don’t spend time with other believers, we may be tempted to sin in some way. Other believers encourage us, uplift us, and help keep us accountable to God.
So, spend the appropriate time by yourself in communion with God, and then go look up a friend or family member who is also a Christian and spend some time with them. Don’t give Satan a chance to catch you off guard!
October 21 Read Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband, and he ate.
We all know this scripture. It’s the temptation of Eve by Satan. He showed her the beautiful, tasty apples, and she ate one, and then she showed it to Adam, and he ate one, too. This was the beginning of the sin of man, because God had told them specifically NOT to eat this fruit, and yet they listened to Satan, who told them it would not hurt anything – that actually God was just being selfish and not wanting them to do this because He knew that once they ate the fruit, they would be smart like God!
Every day, in a thousand ways, Satan tempts us. He shows us little “apples,” and says, “It won’t hurt a thing!” And he is very, very convincing sometimes. “It won’t hurt anything if you skip that class.” “Nobody will know.” “That’s not really that bad of a curse word.” “Everybody else is doing it!” Call out to God and ask Him for strength and protection. Ask Him to help you resist Satan at every turn. He will do it! He is waiting for your call!
©Debbie Robus 2004
Devos for Week of October 8, 2006
October 8 Read James 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
This scripture pretty much says it all. If you are tempted, it isn’t coming from God. He doesn’t come to you and say, “I dare you to do this… if you are as smart, funny, brave, whatever as you say you are, you will do this.” He cannot be tempted, and because He is our Almighty God, he doesn’t have any need to tempt others. He knows Who He is… do you?
October 9 Read Matthew 4: 1-10
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you.’ and ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Now, you do realize that Jesus could have done any of these things the devil suggested, don’t you? He could have chosen at any point to leave the wilderness, to feed himself, to have or do whatever He pleased. So why did He choose to suffer in the wilderness for 40 days?
I believe Jesus was all about example – He wanted to live His life as an example of how we should live ours. This was His example of how to resist the devil and his temptation. This was an extreme example, but if we can learn to follow Christ in the extreme examples, it will be just that much easier to follow Him in the “lesser” ones. And that’s what it’s all about – following Him all things, both great and small.
October 10 Read Matthew 16:1
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
If you read on in this passage, you see that Jesus said it wouldn’t really matter what he did – the Pharisees and Sadducees would twist it and turn it to fit their own uses. So much of life is like that. People see and believe what they want, no matter what you do, so trying to please others is a waste of time. Stay true to God, follow Him, answer to Him, and let others think what they will. In the end, they will see that you were true to your God, and you will be the winner. It may not happen immediately, or even in your earthly life, but yours will eventually be the victory if you stay close to Christ.
October 11 Read Matthew 16:23
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but of the things of men.”
To fully understand this scripture, you have to look back a few verses to see what was happening. Jesus was explaining to His disciples that He was going to have to suffer, be mistreated, and ultimately be crucified. Peter just couldn’t accept this, and he was pleading with Jesus to save Himself.
Jesus realized that Satan was using Peter to tempt Him to avoid the cross and saving all of us from our sins. Surely, were that you or me, instead of Jesus, we would have probably done whatever we could to avoid such incomprehensible suffering and pain. But Jesus knew what He had to do – what He had to endure for each one of us, and because of His amazing love, He did it all.
This scripture points out that Satan uses anyone he can to tempt us to do wrong. He used a disciple of Jesus to tempt Jesus Himself. We must guard ourselves and be very mindful of this and make sure that our friends, family members – the very people closest to us – are not used by the devil to tempt us to sin. Pray that God will grant you wisdom to recognize sinful temptation and to resist it, no matter who it comes from.
October 12 Read Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus understands temptation better than anyone else. How/why? Because He was tempted, over and over again, in every way imaginable. So, we say, “But, Lord, it’s just so hard not to overeat. Lord, it’s just so hard not to curse. Lord, it’s just so hard not to give in and have sex, drink, smoke, do drugs, overeat, gossip, or whatever is our downfall and temptation.” And you know what He says? “I know – I’ve been there.”
But there’s something else he says… “I’ve been there – and I did it (resisted the temptation) – and YOU can resist it, too.” He invites you to have faith, to “walk on water” with Him, and let Him help you resist these temptations and more. And you know what else? The more you do it, the easier it gets!
October 13 Read Hebrews 2:18
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Has there ever been a time in your life when something happened to a friend or someone you knew, and you thought, “I know just how he/she feels… I’ve been there myself.” Well, that’s how it is for Jesus – every day! He knows how we feel – He’s been there. Everything we feel and experience -- including temptations – He has felt and experienced already. So He is able to help us. Listen to Him, and let Him guide you. He knows – He KNOWS!!!
October 14 Read Luke 4:1-7
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan!”
I know we read an account of this same event just a few days ago, from the book of Matthew. But notice that it was such an important part of Jesus’ ministry that more than one writer records it. Here, Luke shows us that the devil had a lot of power – and he still does! He offers us what seems like the moon sometimes, but there is always a catch. In order to accept his temptation, we have to serve him, and any time we serve the devil, we are not serving God. In that light, it seems an easy choice, doesn’t it? But I tell you, the devil is smart, conniving, and very, very persuasive. He makes it all look so good and so easy and so harmless. And Jesus knows this, because He Himself has been tempted by the devil.
So flee the devil. The next time he tempts you, tell him to “Get behind me.” And then don’t look back – look ahead to Jesus.
©Debbie Robus 2004
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
This scripture pretty much says it all. If you are tempted, it isn’t coming from God. He doesn’t come to you and say, “I dare you to do this… if you are as smart, funny, brave, whatever as you say you are, you will do this.” He cannot be tempted, and because He is our Almighty God, he doesn’t have any need to tempt others. He knows Who He is… do you?
October 9 Read Matthew 4: 1-10
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you.’ and ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Now, you do realize that Jesus could have done any of these things the devil suggested, don’t you? He could have chosen at any point to leave the wilderness, to feed himself, to have or do whatever He pleased. So why did He choose to suffer in the wilderness for 40 days?
I believe Jesus was all about example – He wanted to live His life as an example of how we should live ours. This was His example of how to resist the devil and his temptation. This was an extreme example, but if we can learn to follow Christ in the extreme examples, it will be just that much easier to follow Him in the “lesser” ones. And that’s what it’s all about – following Him all things, both great and small.
October 10 Read Matthew 16:1
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
If you read on in this passage, you see that Jesus said it wouldn’t really matter what he did – the Pharisees and Sadducees would twist it and turn it to fit their own uses. So much of life is like that. People see and believe what they want, no matter what you do, so trying to please others is a waste of time. Stay true to God, follow Him, answer to Him, and let others think what they will. In the end, they will see that you were true to your God, and you will be the winner. It may not happen immediately, or even in your earthly life, but yours will eventually be the victory if you stay close to Christ.
October 11 Read Matthew 16:23
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but of the things of men.”
To fully understand this scripture, you have to look back a few verses to see what was happening. Jesus was explaining to His disciples that He was going to have to suffer, be mistreated, and ultimately be crucified. Peter just couldn’t accept this, and he was pleading with Jesus to save Himself.
Jesus realized that Satan was using Peter to tempt Him to avoid the cross and saving all of us from our sins. Surely, were that you or me, instead of Jesus, we would have probably done whatever we could to avoid such incomprehensible suffering and pain. But Jesus knew what He had to do – what He had to endure for each one of us, and because of His amazing love, He did it all.
This scripture points out that Satan uses anyone he can to tempt us to do wrong. He used a disciple of Jesus to tempt Jesus Himself. We must guard ourselves and be very mindful of this and make sure that our friends, family members – the very people closest to us – are not used by the devil to tempt us to sin. Pray that God will grant you wisdom to recognize sinful temptation and to resist it, no matter who it comes from.
October 12 Read Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus understands temptation better than anyone else. How/why? Because He was tempted, over and over again, in every way imaginable. So, we say, “But, Lord, it’s just so hard not to overeat. Lord, it’s just so hard not to curse. Lord, it’s just so hard not to give in and have sex, drink, smoke, do drugs, overeat, gossip, or whatever is our downfall and temptation.” And you know what He says? “I know – I’ve been there.”
But there’s something else he says… “I’ve been there – and I did it (resisted the temptation) – and YOU can resist it, too.” He invites you to have faith, to “walk on water” with Him, and let Him help you resist these temptations and more. And you know what else? The more you do it, the easier it gets!
October 13 Read Hebrews 2:18
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Has there ever been a time in your life when something happened to a friend or someone you knew, and you thought, “I know just how he/she feels… I’ve been there myself.” Well, that’s how it is for Jesus – every day! He knows how we feel – He’s been there. Everything we feel and experience -- including temptations – He has felt and experienced already. So He is able to help us. Listen to Him, and let Him guide you. He knows – He KNOWS!!!
October 14 Read Luke 4:1-7
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan!”
I know we read an account of this same event just a few days ago, from the book of Matthew. But notice that it was such an important part of Jesus’ ministry that more than one writer records it. Here, Luke shows us that the devil had a lot of power – and he still does! He offers us what seems like the moon sometimes, but there is always a catch. In order to accept his temptation, we have to serve him, and any time we serve the devil, we are not serving God. In that light, it seems an easy choice, doesn’t it? But I tell you, the devil is smart, conniving, and very, very persuasive. He makes it all look so good and so easy and so harmless. And Jesus knows this, because He Himself has been tempted by the devil.
So flee the devil. The next time he tempts you, tell him to “Get behind me.” And then don’t look back – look ahead to Jesus.
©Debbie Robus 2004
Devos for Week of October 8, 2006
October 8 Read James 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
This scripture pretty much says it all. If you are tempted, it isn’t coming from God. He doesn’t come to you and say, “I dare you to do this… if you are as smart, funny, brave, whatever as you say you are, you will do this.” He cannot be tempted, and because He is our Almighty God, he doesn’t have any need to tempt others. He knows Who He is… do you?
October 9 Read Matthew 4: 1-10
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you.’ and ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Now, you do realize that Jesus could have done any of these things the devil suggested, don’t you? He could have chosen at any point to leave the wilderness, to feed himself, to have or do whatever He pleased. So why did He choose to suffer in the wilderness for 40 days?
I believe Jesus was all about example – He wanted to live His life as an example of how we should live ours. This was His example of how to resist the devil and his temptation. This was an extreme example, but if we can learn to follow Christ in the extreme examples, it will be just that much easier to follow Him in the “lesser” ones. And that’s what it’s all about – following Him all things, both great and small.
October 10 Read Matthew 16:1
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
If you read on in this passage, you see that Jesus said it wouldn’t really matter what he did – the Pharisees and Sadducees would twist it and turn it to fit their own uses. So much of life is like that. People see and believe what they want, no matter what you do, so trying to please others is a waste of time. Stay true to God, follow Him, answer to Him, and let others think what they will. In the end, they will see that you were true to your God, and you will be the winner. It may not happen immediately, or even in your earthly life, but yours will eventually be the victory if you stay close to Christ.
October 11 Read Matthew 16:23
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but of the things of men.”
To fully understand this scripture, you have to look back a few verses to see what was happening. Jesus was explaining to His disciples that He was going to have to suffer, be mistreated, and ultimately be crucified. Peter just couldn’t accept this, and he was pleading with Jesus to save Himself.
Jesus realized that Satan was using Peter to tempt Him to avoid the cross and saving all of us from our sins. Surely, were that you or me, instead of Jesus, we would have probably done whatever we could to avoid such incomprehensible suffering and pain. But Jesus knew what He had to do – what He had to endure for each one of us, and because of His amazing love, He did it all.
This scripture points out that Satan uses anyone he can to tempt us to do wrong. He used a disciple of Jesus to tempt Jesus Himself. We must guard ourselves and be very mindful of this and make sure that our friends, family members – the very people closest to us – are not used by the devil to tempt us to sin. Pray that God will grant you wisdom to recognize sinful temptation and to resist it, no matter who it comes from.
October 12 Read Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus understands temptation better than anyone else. How/why? Because He was tempted, over and over again, in every way imaginable. So, we say, “But, Lord, it’s just so hard not to overeat. Lord, it’s just so hard not to curse. Lord, it’s just so hard not to give in and have sex, drink, smoke, do drugs, overeat, gossip, or whatever is our downfall and temptation.” And you know what He says? “I know – I’ve been there.”
But there’s something else he says… “I’ve been there – and I did it (resisted the temptation) – and YOU can resist it, too.” He invites you to have faith, to “walk on water” with Him, and let Him help you resist these temptations and more. And you know what else? The more you do it, the easier it gets!
October 13 Read Hebrews 2:18
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Has there ever been a time in your life when something happened to a friend or someone you knew, and you thought, “I know just how he/she feels… I’ve been there myself.” Well, that’s how it is for Jesus – every day! He knows how we feel – He’s been there. Everything we feel and experience -- including temptations – He has felt and experienced already. So He is able to help us. Listen to Him, and let Him guide you. He knows – He KNOWS!!!
October 14 Read Luke 4:1-7
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan!”
I know we read an account of this same event just a few days ago, from the book of Matthew. But notice that it was such an important part of Jesus’ ministry that more than one writer records it. Here, Luke shows us that the devil had a lot of power – and he still does! He offers us what seems like the moon sometimes, but there is always a catch. In order to accept his temptation, we have to serve him, and any time we serve the devil, we are not serving God. In that light, it seems an easy choice, doesn’t it? But I tell you, the devil is smart, conniving, and very, very persuasive. He makes it all look so good and so easy and so harmless. And Jesus knows this, because He Himself has been tempted by the devil.
So flee the devil. The next time he tempts you, tell him to “Get behind me.” And then don’t look back – look ahead to Jesus.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
This scripture pretty much says it all. If you are tempted, it isn’t coming from God. He doesn’t come to you and say, “I dare you to do this… if you are as smart, funny, brave, whatever as you say you are, you will do this.” He cannot be tempted, and because He is our Almighty God, he doesn’t have any need to tempt others. He knows Who He is… do you?
October 9 Read Matthew 4: 1-10
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you.’ and ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Now, you do realize that Jesus could have done any of these things the devil suggested, don’t you? He could have chosen at any point to leave the wilderness, to feed himself, to have or do whatever He pleased. So why did He choose to suffer in the wilderness for 40 days?
I believe Jesus was all about example – He wanted to live His life as an example of how we should live ours. This was His example of how to resist the devil and his temptation. This was an extreme example, but if we can learn to follow Christ in the extreme examples, it will be just that much easier to follow Him in the “lesser” ones. And that’s what it’s all about – following Him all things, both great and small.
October 10 Read Matthew 16:1
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
If you read on in this passage, you see that Jesus said it wouldn’t really matter what he did – the Pharisees and Sadducees would twist it and turn it to fit their own uses. So much of life is like that. People see and believe what they want, no matter what you do, so trying to please others is a waste of time. Stay true to God, follow Him, answer to Him, and let others think what they will. In the end, they will see that you were true to your God, and you will be the winner. It may not happen immediately, or even in your earthly life, but yours will eventually be the victory if you stay close to Christ.
October 11 Read Matthew 16:23
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but of the things of men.”
To fully understand this scripture, you have to look back a few verses to see what was happening. Jesus was explaining to His disciples that He was going to have to suffer, be mistreated, and ultimately be crucified. Peter just couldn’t accept this, and he was pleading with Jesus to save Himself.
Jesus realized that Satan was using Peter to tempt Him to avoid the cross and saving all of us from our sins. Surely, were that you or me, instead of Jesus, we would have probably done whatever we could to avoid such incomprehensible suffering and pain. But Jesus knew what He had to do – what He had to endure for each one of us, and because of His amazing love, He did it all.
This scripture points out that Satan uses anyone he can to tempt us to do wrong. He used a disciple of Jesus to tempt Jesus Himself. We must guard ourselves and be very mindful of this and make sure that our friends, family members – the very people closest to us – are not used by the devil to tempt us to sin. Pray that God will grant you wisdom to recognize sinful temptation and to resist it, no matter who it comes from.
October 12 Read Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus understands temptation better than anyone else. How/why? Because He was tempted, over and over again, in every way imaginable. So, we say, “But, Lord, it’s just so hard not to overeat. Lord, it’s just so hard not to curse. Lord, it’s just so hard not to give in and have sex, drink, smoke, do drugs, overeat, gossip, or whatever is our downfall and temptation.” And you know what He says? “I know – I’ve been there.”
But there’s something else he says… “I’ve been there – and I did it (resisted the temptation) – and YOU can resist it, too.” He invites you to have faith, to “walk on water” with Him, and let Him help you resist these temptations and more. And you know what else? The more you do it, the easier it gets!
October 13 Read Hebrews 2:18
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Has there ever been a time in your life when something happened to a friend or someone you knew, and you thought, “I know just how he/she feels… I’ve been there myself.” Well, that’s how it is for Jesus – every day! He knows how we feel – He’s been there. Everything we feel and experience -- including temptations – He has felt and experienced already. So He is able to help us. Listen to Him, and let Him guide you. He knows – He KNOWS!!!
October 14 Read Luke 4:1-7
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan!”
I know we read an account of this same event just a few days ago, from the book of Matthew. But notice that it was such an important part of Jesus’ ministry that more than one writer records it. Here, Luke shows us that the devil had a lot of power – and he still does! He offers us what seems like the moon sometimes, but there is always a catch. In order to accept his temptation, we have to serve him, and any time we serve the devil, we are not serving God. In that light, it seems an easy choice, doesn’t it? But I tell you, the devil is smart, conniving, and very, very persuasive. He makes it all look so good and so easy and so harmless. And Jesus knows this, because He Himself has been tempted by the devil.
So flee the devil. The next time he tempts you, tell him to “Get behind me.” And then don’t look back – look ahead to Jesus.
Devotionals for Week of October 1, 2006
Week 1: Temptation of God
October 1 Read Matthew 4:7
Jesus said, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”
Temptation… did you ever imagine that it affected God? Well, it did. God came to the earth in the form of His Son, Jesus, and the devil tried several times to tempt Him.
Now here’s the deal… if God Himself knows and understands temptation, doesn’t He surely understand how it affects us? Most certainly, He knows how hard it is to resist. But the fact is that He did resist. Jesus did not give in to the temptations of the devil, and if we want to be like Him, we have to do our best to resist, also.
Pray that God will give you strength to avoid and resist temptation, and that He will forgive you for the times when you may have given in. He knows what it’s like, and He will be ready and waiting to answer you.
October 2 Read Psalms 78:18-20
And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God: They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people.”
Have you ever tried to tempt God? Have you ever wanted Him to do something for you, and in order to “test” Him, you said, “God, if you are truly God, make this or that happen for me.”
If you have done this, you are not alone, but think about this. How do you like it when someone tries to use trick you into something? How do you feel when someone says something to you like, “If you are as cool as you say you are, you’ll do this or that.”? It’s much the same thing with God. Tempting him to help you or do something for you just to prove Who He is will never work. God knows His power, and He wants you to know it, too – by faith, not by yielding to temptation.
October 3 Read Psalms 78:21-25
Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation. Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven, had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them the bread of heaven, men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full.
Think about this. God has given us so much and blessed us far beyond what we can ever comprehend. Yet, quite often, we want to ask Him to prove Himself to us again. How do we do this? We bargain, we plead, we beg for Him to help us or to show his power and his glory by doing these things for us.
God doesn’t mind giving us things and meeting our needs. But, He wants us to ask Him in faith and humility, not because we “expect” it or demand it. His gifts cannot be demanded or threatened out of Him. He cannot be tempted to comply just to please us. Instead, we must seek to please Him, and to humbly request that He meet our needs each day.
October 4 Read Psalms 78:26-33
He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; and He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings, so they ate and were filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel. In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works. Therefore their days He consumed in futility, and their years in fear.
There used to be a margarine commercial in which a lady who was supposed to be Mother Nature tasted the margarine and thought it was pure butter. She was pleased with the “butter” until she discovered it was just very, very tasty margarine. She was not amused at being tricked, and the punch line to the commercial was “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!”
In some ways, that’s what happened in this Scripture passage. God was not fooled, but he was mocked and denied. He gave the Israelites everything they needed – AND wanted. He gave them so much food that birds literally fell from the air and covered the ground. Yet they refused to follow Him, to repent, and to obey. So, the passage says that God was very angered, and he let them have it! He made them angry, unsuccessful, and in some cases, He killed them.
Does this mean God will kill you or make your life miserable if you don’t follow Him, or if you tempt Him with your prayers and actions? Probably not. But it does show His power, and also His desire to be respected and revered. In may not be nice to fool Mother Nature, but it is a sin to try to fool God, and simply a waste of your time and energy.
October 5 Read Psalms 78:34-39
And when He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue; for their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; for He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.
WOW…this is pretty powerful stuff! When God got angry, the people repented and started claiming Him as their God, and praising Him. But they still lived a sinful life. In other words, they spoke one thing, and lived another. Yet, God realized that they were mere humans, and He forgave them.
Have you ever done this? Have you ever claimed to be a Christian, come to church, prayed, sung the hymns, and then gone out and lived the life of a sinner? All of us have at one time or another. The goal is to deepen and strengthen your daily walk with Christ, so that the temptations to sin lesson or are easier to resist, and the desire to walk with God and to glorify Him every minute of every day grows stronger.
October 6 Read Psalms 78:40-56
How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy, when He worked His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan; turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, that they could not drink. He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust.
He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. He also gave up their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to fiery lightning. He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, by sending angels of destruction among them. He mad a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the plague, and destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, the first of their strength in the tents of Ham.
But He made His own people go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; and He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And He brought them to His holy border, this mountain which His right hand had acquired.
He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them an inheritance by survey and made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God and did not keep His testimonies.
We are just like these people. God gives and gives to us, and we still test Him, provoke him, and do not keep His commandments. Why on earth would he continue to bless us? Because He is God, and He loves us, and He knows we are humans who are weak and sinful.
But, just because God forgives us doesn’t give us license to test His generosity… to tempt Him, so to speak. It should be our goal to live for Him, to serve Him in every way possible, and to follow His commandments and live by His word. We should aim to please God at every turn – not because we fear His wrath, but because we love Him in return.
October 7 Read Hebrews 3:7-11
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and say My words forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”
When you are tempted to do things you shouldn’t, do you ever feel that you hear “a little Voice” telling you “Don’t do this!”? Do you think that Voice is from God? How do you react to this Voice?
This passage tells us that Jesus was tested over and over, and He didn’t like this. Perhaps one of the ways He was tested – and still is today – is that He speaks to us and gives us guidance, and we ignore Him. He doesn’t like this, and over time, if we repeatedly ignore His voice, He will eventually pull away from us and become angry. Ignoring God is not cool, and it can lead to unbelief in Him, disrespect of Him, and denial of Him as the central focus of your life. And that can lead to eternal death.
So the next time you hear a “voice” – ask yourself, “Which voice am I hearing – my own, or that of God?” and make your next move accordingly.
©Debbie Robus 2004
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