Why it Matters - Help

Readings for today: Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130

I just returned from an international trip and one of the places I visited was Kazakhstan. I had never been there before and it is beautiful. I flew into Almaty and spent time with mission partners in the city. The city is located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. The peaks tower directly over the city to the south, some rising to over 16000 feet. They are glorious on a clear day. One of the main attractions in Almaty is a beautiful ski resort located about twenty minutes outside the city. Once you’re there, you can ride a gondola up into the mountains and catch some amazing views. Unfortunately, the day I was there it was cloudy but we were still able to get high enough to see the city below.

The city of Jerusalem is located in a similar spot, though the mountains are not nearly as high. It too is nestled on a plateau in the middle of the Judaean Mountains. The Mount of Olives lies to the east and Mount Scopus to the northeast. One of the most iconic views of Jerusalem is seen from a lookout point on the Mount of Olives and it’s where most tours stop on their way into Jerusalem. It’s spectacular. For the Psalmist, the view has a deeper spiritual meaning. As he looks out on the mountains that surround the city, he sees it as symbolic of how the Lord surrounds His people. Protecting them. Guiding them. Encircling them in His love. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, now and forevermore.” (Psalms‬ ‭125‬:‭2‬ ‭NET‬‬) It’s a potent vision. One I am reminded of when I look out on the mountains that lie to the west of my own city. I think about their strength and permanence. I think about their heights and majesty. Over the years, I’ve climbed many of those mountains and the view from the top is breathtaking. A taste of what the Lord sees when He looks down on all He has made.

In Psalm 121, the Psalmist poses this question…”I look up toward the hills, toward the mountains, from where does my help come?” Not from the hills. Not from the mountains. Not from any place in this world. His help comes from the Lord, who made everything in heaven and on earth. Is the Lord your helper? Do you sense His abiding presence with you each and every day? Do you lean on Him for strength and wisdom? Do you look to Him for guidance when you make decisions? Is He your protector? Do you find yourself living within His embrace? Resting in His everlasting arms?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Grace

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 28-31, 1 Chronicles 10

Grace is unmerited favor. It is unearned blessing. It is a free gift from God. David understood grace. He understood his entire life up to this point had been filled with grace. Grace brought him from a shepherd’s field to a powerful position within the Kingdom of Israel. Grace won his battle with Goliath. Grace delivered the Philistines into his hands over and over again. And because David walked by grace and lived by grace, he was able to extend it out to others. Like the two hundred men who couldn’t keep up with him when they went into battle. The normal thing to do would be to punish them for their faithlessness. Deny them any part of the victory spoils. But David knew it was God who had given him the victory not his own strength of arms so he could be generous even with those who had let him down. I love how he is so quick to give God all the credit and glory. “But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.” (1 Samuel 30:23 NET)

Over the years, I’ve become convinced that grace is the most powerful force in the universe. I have seen grace change the hearts of those I love in my own family. I have seen grace change enemies into dear friends. I have seen grace heal divisions in churches. I have seen grace have a transformative effect in ways judgment never could. Grace sees the best in people. Grace sees God’s image in people. Grace refuses to let any barriers get in the way. Just this past week, I experienced grace when spending time with people from multiple different cultures, speaking multiple different languages. My heart was filled by their joy and laughter and tears and sadness. All of it grace upon grace upon grace.

Where has grace changed your life? Where have you seen grace change the lives of others? How can you extend grace to those around you today?

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130

Why it Matters - Reputation

Readings for today: Psalms 35, 54, 63, 18

A prayer I’ve been praying in recent years includes the following line, “Deliver me from the fear of being calumniated.” I had to look that last word up the first time I saw it. It means “having one’s character attacked or questioned or maligned.” This one used to be a hot button for me. There have been several times over the course of my career as a pastor when certain individuals sought to tear me down, question my integrity, even have me fired. I disappointed them. I let them down. I didn’t agree with their particular point of view. And out of frustration, they began to attack me personally or attack my family. It was painful. It made me angry. It was unfair. There was a part of me that wanted to respond in kind. Address their allegations publicly. Prove to everyone that what they were saying wasn’t true. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit stepped in to remind me that it is God who protects my reputation not me. I didn’t need to give their allegations any oxygen. My job was simply to love them, speak well of them, maintain an open heart towards them, forgive them, and pray for them. I have passed this advice along to so many pastors and other leaders over the years.

David understood how it feels. As a leader, he too had his motives questioned. He too had his character attacked. He was falsely accused and even pursued by the very king he once served so faithfully and well. He had done nothing wrong. It was patently unfair. He would have been fully justified to be angry about it all. Fight back. Prove to everyone what Saul believed and was saying about him was not true. But David trusted God. He understood there was more going on that meets the eye. He even refused to take advantage of the opportunities that came along to take Saul’s life. Instead, he prayed. He asked God to intervene. He asked God to protect his reputation. “With all my strength I will say, “O Lord, who can compare to you? You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.” Violent men perjure themselves, and falsely accuse me. They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow. When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!) I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother. But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest. When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me. O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions! Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you before a large crowd of people!” (Psalms‬ ‭35‬:‭10‬-‭18‬ ‭NET‬‬)

The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once said, “If any man think ill of you, don’t despair or get angry. You are far worse than he could imagine.” I love that quote. I often think about it because it’s true. Sin runs deep in my life and though I seek to mortify it, I know how corrupt I am. I know my tendency towards selfishness and greed. I know my lusts and perverse desires. I fight them every day. The reality is without God, I am lost. I am far worse than what anyone has ever said or thought about me. I have no leg to stand on. I do not have integrity apart from Christ. I am not righteous outside of His saving work. Any godliness I possess is mine by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. So I don’t need to worry about my reputation. My only aim is to serve for the glory of God alone.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 28-31, 1 Chronicles 10

Why it Matters - Vengeance

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 25-27, Psalms 17, 73

Revenge is a powerful motivator. It is fueled by rage and a deep sense of injustice. It is the primal human response whenever we feel wronged or hurt or betrayed. Something deep inside us demands a response. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth or something even more disproportionate. We want the perpetrator to experience what we’ve experienced and to feel what we feel. We want them to taste the pain we have suffered. We want them to be punished for their crimes against us. Tragically, vengeance has created cycles of violence that have consumed families, clans, tribes, and even nations. Millions have perished as a result. Millions more suffer incredible pain and grief and loss. There is no end to it because violence simply begets more violence. Vengeance is never truly satisfied. And perhaps that’s why the Lord says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” He knows how deep this propensity runs within us and He knows it can never be truly satisfied.

King David felt this impulse. When rebuffed by Nabal, he is quick to respond with violence. He feels wronged so he straps on a sword and marches out to kill Nabal and all his men. But for the intercession of Abigail, David would have committed a grave sin. “The Lord has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid Nabal for his evil deeds.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭25‬:‭39‬ ‭NET‬‬) Taking vengeance into his own hands, he would prove himself to be no different than Saul. Thankfully, David was saved by Abigail’s quick and courageous response and it taught him a lesson that he soon employed when given the opportunity to take Saul’s life once again. David learned to leave vengeance to God. Let Him execute His justice in His time. Nabal suffers a stroke and dies. Saul eventually is killed in battle. David’s hands and heart remain clean. I love how Asaph reflects on this dynamic in his Psalm. His words are worth reading again in their entirety.

“Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure! But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me. For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked. For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well-fed. They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do. Arrogance is their necklace, and violence their clothing. Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful. They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence. They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth. Therefore they have more than enough food to eat, and even suck up the water of the sea. They say, “How does God know what we do? Is the sovereign one aware of what goes on?” Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle. I suffer all day long, and am punished every morning.” If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your loyal followers. When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me. Then I entered the precincts of God’s temple, and understood the destiny of the wicked. Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin. How desolate they become in a mere moment! Terrifying judgments make their demise complete! They are like a dream after one wakes up. O Lord, when you awake you will despise them. Yes, my spirit was bitter, and my insides felt sharp pain. I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you. But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor. Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire no one but you on earth. My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability. Yes, look! Those far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you. But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.” (Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭1‬-‭28‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Where have you been tempted to take revenge? Perhaps you felt insulted by a co-worker? Hurt by a harsh word by someone you love? Unjustly accused for something you did not do? Personally attacked? Maybe you’ve experienced discrimination over your ethnicity or gender? Maybe you’ve been dismissed due to your lack of education or economic or social status? Maybe someone has physically and violently assaulted you? Perhaps even taken the life of someone you love? Rather than allow yourself to become consumed with the desire for vengeance, turn those feelings over to God. Trust Him to make it right. Let Him set you free from the anger and bitterness and guilt and a hyper-fixation on past harms.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 35, 54, 63, 18

Why it Matters - Trust

Readings for today: Psalms 56, 120, 140-142

“What can mere men do to me?” It’s a question David asked after finding himself in the Philistine city of Gath. Having fled for his life from King Saul, he now found himself in danger once again as the servants of King Achish sought his life. They knew his history. Goliath, their ancient champion, had been from Gath. David had spent his entire military career up to that point killing “tens of thousands” of Philistines or at least that’s what the Israelites claimed when they sang about him. Now he was at the mercy of his enemies. In danger of being killed or imprisoned. Caught between the hammer of Saul’s armies and the anvil of the Philistines. Having jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire as they say. What did David do? Did he succumb to his fears? Did he become paralyzed by anxiety? Did he let his circumstances overwhelm him? No. He turned to God. “When I am afraid, I trust in you. In God – I boast in his promise – in God I trust, I am not afraid. What can mere men do to me?” (Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NET‬‬)

When I am afraid, I trust in you. What a statement! I think of a young woman I met this week. She recently relocated to the particular city I visited in a sensitive area of the world where Christians have to be careful because they are watched and monitored. It’s a Muslim dominated country where proselytization is illegal. You can be fined and imprisoned or deported for sharing your faith. She is on her own. Away from her family. She is so very young - in her early twenties- and the reason she came to this city is because she was being threatened in her previous location. The governing authorities had found out that she was evangelizing and they started to pursue her. The ministry she works for got word of their intentions and relocated her for her safety. Has that stopped her from sharing? Not at all. She helps lead the ministry among young college students. She is going to Korea in two months for seminary. She has dedicated her life to serving the Lord. This is what it means to trust God. This is what it looks like to take your fears and give them to God.

So many people today struggle with fear and anxiety. They fear the world. They fear the future. They fear responsiblity. They fear not measuring up. They fear not being accepted. They fear the stress and pressures of life. Our culture preys upon their fears. Monetizes their fears by selling them drugs that promise to numb their pain. The problem, of course, is you can’t selectively numb so their joy and excitement is numbed as well, leading to a dull and listless state. If it’s not prescription medication, it’s drugs like marijuana or alcohol. Addiction rates soar but the fear never actually goes away. They look for escape through online gaming or interactions with strangers or even AI chatbots. All in an effort to get rid of fear. But fear and anxiety are powerful. Persistent. And the only way to deal with them is by turning to something, or rather Someone, who is even more powerful. The Lord. When I am afraid, I trust in you. David acknowledges his fears honestly. He doesn’t pretend to be immune from anxiety. But what David does do and what the young woman I met does is trust in God. He knows and she knows God is all-powerful and God is good and God can be trusted to deliver those He loves.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 25-27, Psalms 17, 73

Why it Matters - Protection

Readings for today: Psalms 7, 27, 31, 34, 52

I am currently overseas visiting mission partners in sensitive areas. They live under the constant threat of persecution, imprisonment, and deportation. They are monitored and tracked by their local governments. They have to be careful how and when they gather and how they communicate. They can’t gather in large groups. Even when they do gather, they make sure to include a meal so if the police invade, they can say they are just spending time with friends. The pressure they are under is significant. They live in major cities where they can get lost in the larger population. Some of them recently relocated due to intense pressure at a previous city where they lived. It’s an eye-opening experience to say the least. At the same time, they laugh easily. They love being together. The joy of the Lord is truly their strength. They are open and vulnerable about their struggles with anxiety and fear. They don’t pretend any of it is easy. But they trust in the Lord to guide them and protect them. In a very real, literal way, He is their stronghold and shield.

Reading these particular Psalms when David was on the run from Saul hits different when spending time with the persecuted church. They know many of the same pressures David was experiencing. They know the same anxieties and fears. They know the same struggles. And yet, like David, they look to the Lord. Last evening we spent some time singing praise songs. As we did, I turned in my Bible to Psalms 31 and let David’s opening words wash over me. “In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated! Vindicate me by rescuing me! Listen to me! Quickly deliver me! Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe! For you are my high ridge and my stronghold; for the sake of your own reputation you lead me and guide me. You will free me from the net they hid for me, for you are my place of refuge. Into your hand I entrust my life; you will rescue me, O Lord, the faithful God.” (Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬) Though the words they sang were different, they expressed the same hope and trust in God. I found myself connecting to David’s heart in a new and fresh way.

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, once said that God speaks to us through the “tensions” of life. While we don’t suffer from persecution in the West, we do struggle with many of the same anxieties and fears. We struggle with a lot of pain and suffering. We struggle with a lot of disappointment, grief, and heartbreak. How is God speaking to you today about those things in your life? When you experience the pressure and stress that live inevitably brings your way, how do you respond? Do you turn to God like David? Like the believers I’ve met? Or do you try to manage things in your own strength and wisdom? In what way do you need God to be your shelter today? Your stronghold? Your protector and refuge? Ask God to lead you and guide you. Entrust your life into His hands. He will be faithful and true!

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 56, 120, 140-142

Why it Matters - Self-fulfilling prophecy

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 21-24, Psalms 91

It’s almost a cliche in the ancient world. The harder one tries to escape one’s fate, the more that fate finds them. You see it Greek myth after Greek myth. The Greeks were great at using stories to diagnose human behavior and our tendency towards self-fulfilling prophecy is one of them. Think about King Saul. He could have chosen any number of ways to respond to David. He could have chosen humility and rejoiced in the victories David won. He could have graciously chosen to relinquish his crown and endorse David for the throne. He could repented of his sin, asked God for forgiveness, and perhaps lived out his life in peace. Sadly, Saul did what we all do. He fought his pre-ordained fate with all his might. And the harder he tried to hold on to power, the more it slipped through his fingers. The more he focused on killing David, the more his behavior became erratic and evil. Decisions that would have once been unthinkable - like killing Ahimelech and the priests of Nob - suddenly become more rational in the mind of an irrational person.

I’ve seen this dynamic play out in my own life and the lives of those I love. The more we resist the will of God for our lives, the more we bring all kinds of negative consequences upon us. I think about a conversation I had recently where the person is struggling with so much anxiety and fear. Rather than turn to God for comfort and peace, he chooses alcohol and marijuana and ends up not only feeling worse but broke as well! I think of another conversation where the person is working so hard to do so much good in an underserved area with a challenging population of young people. They come home exhausted every night. They are in their twenties and already exhibiting a lot of signs of burnout. But rather than turn to God for strength and wisdom, they keep Him at arm’s length, determined to do it themselves. I think of how many couples I’ve counseled over the years who could have saved their marriages if they just took the time to humble themselves, ask for forgiveness for the mistakes they made, listen more attentively to each other, and make a few changes to how they operate. Instead, they chose messy divorces and spent tons of money on legal fees and the ripple effect financially and emotionally stayed with them for years. It’s painful to watch.

Think about your own life. Where are you actively resisting the will of God? Where do you need to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand? Where do you need to turn to Him for strength and wisdom, peace and comfort today? What’s stopping you? Is it pride? Fear? Confusion? Potential embarrassment? Let me encourage you with all my heart to repent! Ask God for forgiveness. Open your hands and heart to Him. Let Him lead and guide you on new paths.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Envy

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalms 59

“It’s amazing what can be accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit.” I don’t remember when I first heard that phrase or who said it to me but it’s true. If we can set our egos aside, it’s amazing what God can do in and through us. I think about the team I get to serve with. Elders and staff at our church. They are some of the most humble and teachable people you could ever want to meet. They aren’t territorial or prideful or power hungry. They don’t care about titles or position. They simply want to serve and I love that about them. It inspires me to do the same. Sadly, I’ve seen far too many ministries where the opposite was the case. Pastors and church leaders who craved the spotlight. Promoted themselves constantly. Refused to share the pulpit or the credit for the success of the ministry. In almost every case, it eventually comes crashing down around them as their envy of others gets the best of them.

Envy is a major part of what brought down King Saul. Having rightly identified David’s gifts and talents and raised him up to be the leader of his armies, he grew jealous when his people started to praise David more than him. He felt threatened and began to seek David’s life. “The women who were playing the music sang, “Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!” This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, “They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?” (‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬) Saul’s envy would result in a civil war that would last for years and cause not only his death but the death of his family as well. It’s a tragic end to a tragic story.

Do you struggle with envy or jealousy? Do you care who gets the credit for the successes you happen to be part of? Are you the kind of person who seeks out titles and position? Do you engage in self-promotion? Always making sure everyone knows your accomplishments? I see it over and over again. Especially on social media. The humble brag. The false modesty. The discreet self-praise. Honestly, I’d rather people just came out and shared their good news or at least deflect some of the credit to the people in their life who helped make it happen. For my part, I’m a huge believer in promoting others. Praising others. Lifting others up. The Lord convicted me almost twenty years ago at a time when I too was struggling with self-promotion. He turned my attention outward towards others and called me to labor in obscurity, pursue anonymity, and embrace insignificance. He led me to a prayer called the “Litany of Humility” which I try to pray on a daily basis. And I’ve never looked back.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 21-24, Psalms 91

Why it Matters - Character

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 13-16

Saul is a test case in character. He is raised up from the smallest clan of the smallest tribe to be the first king of Israel. God promises to make of him a great dynasty. One that will last for generations. But when Saul’s character is put to the test, he fails. He lets fear drive him to make unauthorized sacrifices rather than wait for Samuel. He spares the king of the Amalekites and keeps the best of their flocks and herds. He makes foolish decisions and a rash oath that almost costs him his son. As a result, God rejects Saul and looks for a man after His own heart. “Then Samuel said to Saul, “You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed the commandment that the Lord your God gave you. Had you done that, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever! But now your kingdom will not continue! The Lord has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him and the Lord has appointed him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Character matters. It doesn’t matter what age or ethnicity or economic status or professional position one holds. It matters at home with the family. It matters at school. It matters at work. It matters in life. And the more power and influence and responsibility one holds, the more one’s character is put to the test and revealed. It was Lord Acton who once said, “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” He’s exactly right. All one has to do is look at the number of political leaders who use their position to enrich themselves or the spiritual leaders who use their authority to take advantage of their congregations or the business leaders who are motivated by greed and selfishness rather than a heart to serve or the parents who act like dictators over their homes. The key to building godly character is humility. Submission. Trusting God over our own thoughts or feelings. Obeying God even when it’s hard or doesn’t make human sense. This is the essence of what Samuel tried to tell Saul. God wants obedience rather than sacrifice.

Godly character doesn’t just happen. It must be built over time. It takes daily intentional effort. Time with the Lord every day. Worship with God’s people every week. A small group of believers who can hold you accountable. A commitment to serve and share your faith with others. Do these things every day over the rest of your life and you will find your character being shaped and molded by God’s Spirit to reflect the heart of His Son.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalms 59

Why it Matters - Chosen

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 9-12

One of the fundamental themes that runs throughout the Scriptures is the idea that God chooses us before we choose Him. God chose Noah and his family. God chose Abraham and Sarah. God chose Isaac. God chose Jacob. God chose Joseph. God chose Moses. God chose Joshua. God chose each one of the judges of Israel. God chose Samuel. And today, we read about God choosing Saul. Saul did not set out to be king, in fact, he set out to find some donkeys! Little did he know what God had in store for him. God orchestrates a meeting with Samuel, tells Samuel who to look for, and the next thing you know, Saul is anointed Israel’s first king. No one is as shocked as Saul at this crazy turn of events. Born into the smallest clan of the smallest tribe, it seems Saul had no designs on leadership of any kind but after Samuel anoints him, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, equipping and empowering him for his work.

I often look back over the course of my life and marvel at all God has done. He chose me when I was a drunk and failing out of college at CU. (Talk about searching for donkeys!) He chose me when I had no ministry credentials or experience or background that would suggest I would make a decent pastor. He chose to send me to Princeton where I had no business getting accepted with my grades being as poor as they were. He chose Overlook Presbyterian Church in Mobile, AL to be my first call. An amazing church with an amazing heart for God where a young pastor could learn what it meant to love God and love His people. He chose Sun Prairie, WI to humble me and strip my life down to the studs so I would learn what it means to fear the Lord. He chose Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church to rebuild heal my soul, rebuild my faith, and restore my trust in Him and His people. It’s been an amazing ride. One I could never have planned on my own. Yes, every time God chose me, I needed to choose Him in return but God was always the initiator.

What about you? When you think back over the course of your life, where do you see the hand of God at work? Can you identify those moments when God chose to save you or set you apart for a special task? Do you believe in God’s providential plan for your life? Do you walk with open hands and an open heart before Him?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 13-16

Why it Matters - Rejection

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 4-8

No one likes rejection. Particularly when you have spent a lifetime serving a particular people or a particular cause. Samuel dedicated his entire life to serving the Lord and Israel. He led them for decades, serving as their spiritual, political, military, and primary religious leader. He led them faithfully and well which was a significant change of pace from Eli and his sons. He restored the true worship of God, calling the people to let go of their idols. He won a major military victory over the Philistines at Mizpah. Sadly, as he grew older, his sons did not follow his example. They walked in the footsteps of the sons of Eli, the former priest, taking bribes and perverting justice. As a result, the people rejected Samuel and called for a king.

As a pastor, I know a little bit of how this feels. Rejection is part of the job description. Every pastor knows what it feels like to walk with an individual or family in crisis. On call 24/7 for them. Sacrificing all kinds of time and energy to serve them. Offering them our best guidance and wisdom from God’s Word. Only to have them walk away when things get better. Leave the church because things didn’t turn out the way they wanted. Be attacked publicly for not meeting their expectations. It hurts every single time. But in those moments, I’ve learned to turn to these words from 1 Samuel. “The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you.” (‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬) I find these words comforting though I am cautious about equating someone’s rejection of me with a rejection of God. However, when an individual refuses to submit themselves to Scripture or the process of forgiveness and reconciliation laid out in Scripture, I do recognize something bigger is going on than just a rejection of me personally and that helps me gain perspective.

It also gives me an occasion to reflection on my own life. Where am I rejecting God as king? Where am I rejecting the Lordship of Christ in my life? Where am I seeking to compromise and live just like my unbelieving neighbors? Where am I giving into the temptation to pursue the American Dream over the call to deny myself and follow Jesus? You see, this isn’t just everyone else’s issue. It’s mine as well. And it brings me to my knees confession and repentance before the Lord.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 9-12

Why it Matters - Trust

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 1-3

Hannah is one of my favorite people in the Bible. Probably because I have met many women like her over the years. Women of great faith. Women of deep trust. Women who believe with all their hearts. They often endure incredible hardship and suffering. They are full of grief and pain. They’ve endured terrible trauma. But still they seek God. Still they serve God. One of the things I get to do when I travel to places like Ethiopia or South Sudan or Uganda is sit with women and listen to their stories. Many of them have been sexually abused. Many of them have lost children. Many of them have been beaten and bear the scars of physical violence on their bodies. Somehow they find the strength to endure. It’s incredible and frankly miraculous. Sadly, I see some of the same dynamics here at home as well. Despite the “progressive” nature of our modern, first world society, women still report being harassed and abused far too often. Many of them suffer deep grief at the loss of children through miscarriage or abortion. Many are beaten and bear the scars on their bodies. Many are treated as disposable in relationships. Many face discrimination in the workplace because of their gender. I’ve sat with them. I’ve heard their stories. And somehow they find the strength to endure. Again, I find it incredible and miraculous.

Perhaps that’s why I love Hannah so much. She reminds me of many of the women in my own life. She seeks God with all her heart. She trusts God even in the midst of her suffering. She is not afraid to bring to God the deepest desires of her heart. And God honors her. God answers her prayers. And even then, Hannah remains true. She never turns her back. She doesn’t seek to keep Samuel to herself. She fulfills her vow and dedicates him to the Lord. I can’t imagine the kind of faith it would take to leave your only child with the priests and return home with empty arms once again. But Hannah’s prayer says it all. “No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one other than you! There is no rock like our God! Don’t keep speaking so arrogantly, letting proud talk come out of your mouth! For the Lord is a God who knows; he evaluates what people do. The bows of warriors are shattered, but those who stumble find their strength reinforced. Those who are well-fed hire themselves out to earn food, but the hungry no longer lack. Even the barren woman gives birth to seven, but the one with many children withers away. The Lord both kills and gives life; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord impoverishes and makes wealthy; he humbles and he exalts. He lifts the weak from the dust; he raises the poor from the ash heap to seat them with princes and to bestow on them an honored position. The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord, and he has placed the world on them. He watches over his holy ones, but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness, for it is not by one’s own strength that one prevails. The Lord shatters his adversaries; he thunders against them from the heavens. The Lord executes judgment to the ends of the earth. He will strengthen his king and exalt the power of his anointed one.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭10‬ ‭NET‬‬) She knows God is sovereign. She knows God is good. She knows God sees her barren condition. And she knows He will provide according to His perfect will.

Prayers like Hannah’s humble me deeply. They expose how self-centered my prayers too often are. I long for a faith like Hannah’s. I long to trust like Hannah. I long to believe like Hannah. Thankfully, as I continue to seek God year after year, I find such faith stirring up in my heart. God drawing near. God making Himself known. God showing Himself trustworthy time and again. All that I have and all that I am belongs to Him. My life and my future and my family and the church I serve and the people I love and the partners I minister alongside are all in His hands.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 4-8

Why it Matters - God is always at work

Readings for today: Ruth 1-4

God is always at work. Even when we cannot see Him. Even when we cannot hear Him. Even when we cannot feel Him. He is working behind the scenes. He is working in the forgotten corners of our lives. The hidden places where we don’t often look. As we have seen this week, the time of the judges in Israel was a time of incredible brutality, hardship, suffering, and pain. The people of God slowly abandoned their faith with each passing generation. They traded in true worship for idolatry. They traded unity for division. They traded justice and righteousness for oppression and evil. It’s hard to see how any good can come out of it. But then we read the opening words to the Book of Ruth. “During the time of the judges…” All that will follow in this book is a reminder that God is at work even in the darkest of times.

Of course, God’s work often comes out of left field. In ways we don’t expect. A famine drives a family out of the Promised Land to Moab. They intermarry with the people there. The men of the family die, leaving the women destitute. Naomi heads back to home and Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, refuses to leave her side. They arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. They do what the desperately poor in Israel do to feed themselves. They go to the fields and collect the leftovers from the harvesters. Of all the fields Ruth could have chosen, she found herself in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s and a potential kinsman-redeemer. Of all the women who were gleaning that day, Boaz sets his eyes on Ruth. He protects her and guides her and provides for her so she and Naomi won’t go hungry. He then takes the additional step to “redeem” Naomi and Ruth and the property of their family. Finally, he goes even further. He marries Ruth and they have a child named Obed, the grandfather of King David.

It’s the most unlikely of stories and yet it makes perfect sense when one considers the salvation plan of God. God’s plan to save humanity always involves the family. Beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden, Noah and his family after the flood, Abraham and his family in the Promised Land, Moses and his brother Aaron and sister Miriam, the different families judged Israel faithfully, and now Boaz and Ruth. Yes, there all kinds of geopolitical forces moving in the world. Yes, armies march and wars are fought and people suffer and great evil often runs rampant. But in the midst of it all, God is at work. He is at work in me. He is at work in you. He is bringing about His will through His family, the church.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Inhmanity

Readings for today: Judges 19-21

In 1784, a man named Robert Burns wrote the famous poem, “Man was Made to Mourn: A Dirge.” It was a lament reflecting on human cruelty, suffering, evil, and the lack of compassion in the world. One of the most famous stanzas in that poem says, “Many and sharp the num'rous ills / Inwoven with our frame! / More pointed still we make ourselves, / Regret, remorse, and shame! / And man, whose heav'n-erected face / The smiles of love adorn, / Man's inhumanity to man / Makes countless thousands mourn!” That last line in particular hits hard. Especially as we finish the Book of Judges. It’s a brutal ending to this period in Israel’s history. Rape. Dismemberment. Civil war. Thousands dead. The almost complete annihilation of an entire tribe. The raid and abduction of the women of Jabesh Gilead. Man’s inhumanity to man does indeed make countless thousands mourn!

This is one of the many reasons I love the Bible. It doesn’t whitewash the horrors of humanity. It never makes excuses or justifies the sinful actions of God’s chosen people. The reality is God’s people are just as capable of great evil as the pagan tribes around them. They more they abandon the worship of the Living God, the more they descend into darkness. The more they resist God’s will and disobey His commands, the more God turns them over to their basest and most corrupt desires. We’ve seen this cycle before. Think of the descent of man from Cain to Noah. What does God do? He destroys humanity in a flood and starts over again with Noah. Think of the descent of man from Noah to the Tower of Babel. What does God do? He judges humanity, scatters them across the earth, and starts over with Abraham. Now consider the descent of man from Abraham through Moses and Joshua to where we find ourselves in Judges today. What will God do? He will start over with the prophet Samuel and King David.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat. This is the cycle we find ourselves in even today. Humanity has brief interludes where God raises up particular leaders who lead with wisdom and godliness which leads to blessing and abundance. However, our sinful nature always takes over. We soon find ourselves descending into darkness which leads to all kinds of suffering and pain. It’s spiritual entropy on display. Things always moving from order to chaos. And what is God’s answer? Jesus Christ. The Messiah God sends to deliver us from the endless cycle we find ourselves in. He defeats the power of sin in our lives. He destroys the works of the devil. He comes to make all things new and then He sends us, His people, out to proclaim this good news to the world.

Readings for tomorrow: Ruth 1-4

Why it Matters - Compromised Leadership

Readings for today: Judges 14-18

I’ve been a pastor now for almost thirty years. In that time, I’ve sadly had a front row seat to the fall of many of my colleagues. In fact, I’ve often been tapped to lead the investigation that led to their eventual removal from ministry. Some of them fell into sexual immorality. Some of them engaged in outright heresy. Some of them refused to submit to authority. What they all had in common was compromise. Somewhere along the way, they convinced themselves that the “ends justified the means.” They believed “God was using them” which, in their minds, meant they were above any kind of accountability. When I would confront them, they would marshal all kinds of evidence as to why they were right and everyone else was wrong. They provided all kinds of excuses to justify their sinful behavior. That’s usually when I would flip open my Bible to the Book of Judges and remind them of the example of Samson.

Samson is one of the more fascinating people in the Bible. He is raised from birth to be a leader for Israel but he is also one of the most spoiled, compromised leaders she’s had to date. His weaknesses, especially when it comes to sexual desire, are as great as his famous strength. He makes the same mistakes over and over again. He is a fool in so many ways. And yet God, in His providence, chooses to use him to deliver His people despite Samson’s sin. This doesn’t mean God approves of Samson’s character or behavior. It simply means God can use whomever He wills, whether it is compromised leaders like Samson or pagan kings and emperors like Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus later on in Scripture, to accomplish His plans for His people and the world.

This is a sobering truth. It should humble every single one of us. I hope we never find ourselves as compromised as Samson. I hope we learn from our mistakes. I hope we act in wisdom rather than foolishness. Most of all, I hope we commit ourselves to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. I hope we remain single-minded in our devotion to Him. But even when we fail, God is faithful. He will not allow His plan to be derailed. He will not allow His purposes to be cut short. He will use us in spite of our weaknesses so that He gets all the glory for what He accomplishes in and through us.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 19-21

Why it Matters - Syncretism

Readings for today: Judges 10-13

Next week, I am traveling to Ethiopia. One of the things we often do when we are over there is head into the rural areas to visit village churches. As we walk along the dirt paths, we pass home after home. Most of them are mud huts surrounded by a little brush fence. In the evenings, we see children driving whatever livestock (donkeys, chickens, goats, etc.) the family owns into the enclosure. This keeps the animals safe and the house warm. It’s a common custom all over the Middle East even to this day. 

Hopefully, this places Jephthah’s tragic vow in context. He fully expected the first thing to greet him when he returned home to be a goat or a sheep or some other animal. He most certainly did not expect it to be his daughter! So when she comes dancing out of the home with her tambourine, he tears his clothes. He instantly regrets the vow he made. He feels trapped. And how does his daughter respond? Her reaction is perhaps the most surprising part of this story. She willingly lays down her life for her father! She faces her fate with courage and faith. Taking two full months to say goodbye and grieve with her friends. Two full months to weep over what could have been. 

It’s a story that baffles us on a lot of levels. How could Jephthah sacrifice his own flesh and blood? How could Jephthah’s daughter willingly lay down her life? And where is God in all of this? Is He pleased? The cultural distance between this world and our own is almost insurmountable. However, the key to understanding comes in Judges 11:23-24, “Since the Lord God of Israel has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, do you think you can just take it from them? You have the right to take what Chemosh your god gives you, but we will take the land of all whom the Lord our God has driven out before us.” You see, everyone in the ancient near east believed in the gods. Dagon for the Philistines. Chemosh for the Amorites. Molech for the Ammonites. Every tribe had their own deity. Make the right sacrifices and you were awarded with great wealth, military might, and political power. Make the wrong sacrifices and your deity would turn his face from you, resulting in defeat. One some level, the same held true for Israel. The further they got from Moses and Joshua, the more they adopted the ways of the Canaanites. Yahweh ceased, on some level, to be the One True God and became just another tribal deity to be appeased. Thus, Jepthah’s tragic choice to sacrifice his daughter and her tragic choice to accept her fate. And the most important takeaway from the whole account is God’s silence. Nowhere does the Bible say God is pleased with Jephthah’s decision.

What about us? We claim to worship the supreme God of the universe. We claim to know the King of kings and Lord of lords. We claim to be heirs of His eternal Kingdom. But do our lives reflect this truth? How much have we accommodated to the ways of this world? Brought God down to our level? Limited Him to our tribe? Reduced Him to our personal deity? 

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 14-18

Why it Matters - Overwhelming Odds

Readings for today: Judges 6-9

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard someone say to me, “God won’t give us more than we can handle.” And first blush, it sounds good. It taps into God’s caring and compassionate nature and it makes us feel safe and secure and protected. The only problem is it isn’t true. I’ve read the Bible too many times and walked with too many people and seen too many things over the course of my life to believe this lie. In my experience, both personally and professionally, God often gives us more than we can handle so we will learn to rely on Him. He often takes us beyond our own strength and resources and abilities so we will learn to depend on Him. What God wants more than anything else is to teach us to walk by faith and not by sight and that doesn’t happen naturally. We must be pushed out of our comfort zones. We must be forced to come to grips with our weaknesses in order to experience God’s strength. It is only when we have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide and we’ve exhausted all our options that we experience the miraculous provision of God.

Consider the example of Gideon. Called to deliver God’s people from the hands of the powerful Midians, he would not be Israel’s first choice to be their leader. He comes from the weakest clan in his tribe. He himself is the youngest member of his family. He also lacks any kind of self-confidence which is why he has to test God’s call by putting out the fleece. Twice. And then when he summons the armies of Israel to fight against Midian, God removes almost all of them. He leaves Gideon only three hundred men to take on the combined might of the Midians and Amalekites. Their numbers were overwhelming. All the odds were against him. There is no way Gideon can succeed by human strength. Talk about God giving him more than he can handle! He’s sending Gideon on what looks to be a suicide mission by human terms! But Gideon trusts the Lord. Gideon takes God at His Word. Gideon believes God and obeys His will and follows through on His plan and the result is a miraculous victory. One only the Lord could orchestrate which is why He gets all the glory. And that’s really the point, isn’t it? God giving us more than we can handle so His power will be revealed in our weakness and we learn that His strength and grace and faithfulness is sufficient.

I don’t know about you but I can look back at several moments over the course of my own life when I was out over my skis. I was overextended beyond my resources and strength. I was failing and flailing as I tried every which way but sideways to extricate myself from my predicament. All to no avail. Finally, I prayed to the Lord. I asked Him to intervene. I stopped trying to strive in my own strength and instead began to walk in obedience to His will. Submit my life to His plan regardless of how crazy it seemed. Many of my friends and family didn’t understand. They gave me all kinds of advice and encouraged me to put my head down and work harder. But thankfully I knew the Lord was trying to teach me something important. And every time I opened my hands and opened my heart to His will, He came through. Faithfully. Miraculously. In abundance. Every single time.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 10-13

Why it Matters - Next Generation

Readings for today: Judges 2-5

I’ve heard it said many times that Christianity is one generation away from extinction. Another way I’ve heard it put is that God has no spiritual grandchildren. The idea, of course, is that every generation is responsible to pass on the faith to the next generation and each new generation is responsible for their own response to the Lord. They cannot rely on their parents or grandparents faith but must make it their own. This hit home for me yesterday in our worship services where we got the chance to hear from several of our young people as they shared their testimonies of how they came to saving faith. It was a powerful reminder that the work of discipleship is never done. We are responsible to teach the faith to every single child from the moment they’re born to the moment they get old enough to leave the home and strike off on their own. And woe to us if we fail in this task or lose sight of its importance.

Sadly, Israel lost sight of it along the way. The generation that had wandered in the wilderness, crossed the Jordan, and begun the conquest of the Promised Land eventually died out. And as much success as they had in fighting battles and claiming new territory, they failed in the most important task of all. Passing on what they had experienced with God over the course of their lives. “That entire generation passed away; a new generation grew up that did not know the Lord or the work He had done for Israel.” (Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬) I have to admit that last clause always baffles me. I can understand the new generation not experiencing the Lord’s presence in the same way as their forefathers and mothers in the faith. It’s hard to compete with the parting of the Red Sea, the pillars of fire and cloud leading and guiding Israel, manna raining down from heaven every day. But how can they not know what He had one for Israel? Did no one tell them the story of the Exodus? Did no one recount all the miracles they had seen and experienced? How was all that forgotten?

This is why it’s critical to share our own stories of faith with our children and children’s children. To recount for them all the Lord has done for us and all the miracles we have seen over the course of our lives. As my wife and I returned home from dinner with friends last evening, our twins were engaged in Bible Study with a friend. They asked us a few questions about how we learned to hear from God. It gave us a great opportunity to share some of our life experiences with them and the way God had met us along the way. I found myself thinking “I don’t do this near enough.” There are so many things I want to share with my kids about my relationship with God. So many things I need to share with my kids about my relationship with God. Passing on all that I’ve learned, all that I’ve seen, all that I’ve experienced so they can come to know God as I know Him. The last thing I want is for my kids to grow up not knowing the Lord or the things He has done for me and our family.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 6-9

Why it Matters - Worship

Readings for today: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1

Who do you worship? Whom will you serve? It’s the fundamental question every single human being must answer for themselves. Will you worship and serve the Lord or will you worship and serve other gods? It’s also a question we don’t just answer one time in our lives. In a very real sense, we must ask ourselves this question every single day. Who will I worship today? Who will I serve today? Will it be me? Will it be money? Will it be success? Will it be a particular celebrity or political figure? Or will it be the God who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ? Who we choose to worship determines how we spend our time, our money, our energy, and attention. Who we choose to serve determines how we prioritize our lives. If we worship and serve the Lord, we will put Him first, others second, and ourselves third. If we worship and serve other gods, we will put ourselves first which results in all kinds of brokenness and pain.

The people of Israel faced this choice. They were in the midst of another major leadership transition. Moses was long gone and now his successor, Joshua, had reached the end of his own long life. Unlike with Moses, there doesn’t seem to be a clear succession plan. This makes sense on some level because the different tribes were now about to go their separate ways and inhabit their respective territories. They would each now need to raise up their own leaders. In his final address to the people, Joshua recounts everything God had done for them going all the way back to the beginning. Back to when Abraham and his family were still living in Ur. It’s a stirring testimony with one underlying warning…the worship of other gods. Terah worshipped other gods when he lived beyond the River Euphrates. Their ancestors worshipped other gods when they were enslaved in Egypt. They themselves were tempted to worship the gods of the different tribes they met as they journeyed through the wilderness. (Remember the incident at Peor that cost them so dearly.) And now they found themselves in the Promised Land where once again they would be tempted to worship and serve the gods of the Canaanites. So Joshua issues a powerful charge to them. “If you have no desire to worship the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord!” (Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Choose this day. Choose today. Choose right now. In this moment. Will you worship other gods? The gods our culture lifts up for veneration? The false gods of other religions? The gods of our own making? Or will you worship and serve the Lord?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Borders

Readings for today: Joshua 19-22

We are living through one of the greatest periods of human migration ever recorded in history. The sheer numbers are staggering. As of 2024, approximately 304 million people live outside their country of birth. That’s 3.7% of the global population and a doubling of international migrants since 1990. 36.9 million are refugees and 8.4 million are asylum seekers. Much of the migration is due to conflict or poverty or some other form of life-threatening condition. The corruption and violence in some of the countries of origin is overwhelming and many of the migrants are simply looking for a way out for them and their children. However, things get complicated as soon as they cross borders. They run afoul of immigration laws. They struggle to find adequate social services. Adapting to a new culture and new language and new systems can be extremely challenging. Some suggest the problem lies with borders in the first place. They would prefer a world without borders or a world with open borders. Some flip to the other side and want to lock down borders. Deport everyone back to their home country. Still others want some form of middle ground between the two. It’s a complicated problem with no easy answers.

The Bible talks about borders. In fact, it is God Himself who not only establishes the borders of the Promised Land but also the borders of each tribe’s inheritance within the land. Why does God care? Why not let His people simply live wherever they want to live? Especially within the boundaries of the land He gave them? First and foremost, borders are essential for civic and social organization. It’s critical to know who owns what and where and who holds power in what areas. Without such clarity, there would be chaos. No one would know who is in charge. No one would know whose rules apply. No one would know who owns the resources in a particular place. Trust me, I’ve been in places where borders are not enforced and it is not good. Many innocent people get hurt as evil people take advantage of such situations to oppress and exploit the weak and vulnerable. Second, borders established a clear historical and cultural record. Each tribe had its own unique identity and that identity was strengthened by their connection to a particular part of the Promised Land. Finally, it served to confirm the fulfillment of God’s promise. God’s promises are not abstract. They are not simply philosophical ideas or concepts. They take concrete form in the real world. The people living in the Promised Land actually got to see and experience The fulfillment of God’s covenantal promise which is a powerful testimony.

Does any of this apply to today and the debates we’re having in our own countries about borders? Yes and no. Yes, all nations need borders to define their territory. They remain absolutely essential to establish some form of political and social order. Within the boundaries of clear borders, laws can be passed and enforced. Communities can flourish and thrive. Safety and security can be maintained. Borders also help establish a clear cultural and historical identity. Not that any culture or history is monolithic, of course. There are cultures within cultures and histories within histories but borders help define whose culture and whose history we’re talking about. At the same time, God has not made covenantal promises to any nation but Israel. No other modern nation on earth gets to claim God’s sanction when establishing their borders. And the modern state of Israel herself is certainly not beyond critique. Furthermore, as we seek to apply biblical principles to modern nation-states, we must remember God demands every leader of every nation establish justice and righteousness within their boundaries. They must seek the welfare of their people rather than the preservation of their power. Additionally, every nation should seek to establish good and just and righteous immigration laws so that those seeking asylum or seeking opportunity or seeking aid can come into their territory in a safe, legal, orderly fashion and receive the care they need.

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1