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Christian Devotional – August 6, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 31 VERSE: 1 Samuel 31:13–Then they took the bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. TRUTH: The king had died. The king had abandoned God and had led the people down a difficult path, but he was still their king and they gave him the honor and respect that his position required in this situation. As we are going through our day, do we give people the honor and respect that they deserve? This doesn’t negate our obligation to share the truth with them when they are going down the wrong path, but this means that we still…
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Christian Devotional – August 5, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 30 VERSE: 1 Samuel 30:6–David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. TRUTH: I imaging David was greatly distressed when his own men were talking about stoning him. These were his friends and the people who had stood with him. Yes, they had just realized that their families and belonging had been stolen while they were out helping David, so their anger and frustration is understandable. Still, what did David do? He didn’t whine to them. David found his strength in…
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Christian Devotional – August 4, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 29 VERSE: 1 Samuel 29:5–“Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” TRUTH: Our reputation stays with us for a long time. David had gained a reputation as a warrior and even years later, the people he was around had remembered his reputation. Regardless of whether that reputation is of doing good or evil, people will remember it long after. If we make a change in our life, such as giving our life to God, we will find that many people will still have difficulty accepting that there has been a change, but…
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Christian Devotional – August 3, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 28 VERSE: 1 Samuel 28:15b–“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” TRUTH: Saul had been disobedient and had rejected God. Because of his sin, God had rejected him. Now, instead of repenting to turn to God, Saul is resorting to the sin of witchcraft to try and find answers. Often when we want answers from God, we want them on our terms. We try to dictate to God when and how…
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Christian Devotional – August 2, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 27 VERSE: 1 Samuel 27:12–Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.” TRUTH: Achish allowed himself to be deceived by David. David was going about and doing what he wanted to, but because Achish trusted in himself and his own perception of people and events, not in God, Achish was deceived. When we start to follow our own perception of what people are doing or why they are doing , then it is easy to come up with wrong interpretations of events. We must trust in God, who sees…
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Christian Devotional – August 1, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 26 VERSE: 1 Samuel 26:9–But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” TRUTH: Even though Saul was bent on destroying David, David still recognized the importance of Saul’s position. Because of David’s reverence for God and the holiness of God, David would not do anything to harm something that God had once set apart. Saul had been anointed by God as King and David knew and respected that, even though he didn’t trust the man. Do we hold the same respect for all that God has done in our life and in the lives…
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Christian Devotional – July 31, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 25 VERSE: 1 Samuel 25:26–And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. TRUTH: In the last chapter we read how David had an opportunity to do harm to King Saul, but that he did not. Now, here, we read about a story where David intends to do harm to a foolish man. Instead, the man’s wise wife stops him. In her statement to David, she reminds him…
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Christian Devotional – July 30, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 24 VERSE: 1 Samuel 24:17–“You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.” TRUTH: David had an opportunity to kill Saul, but he refrained. When David confronted Saul, Saul responded with this statement. When we are confronted by others, how do we respond? Do we get defensive and combative or do we acknowledge how we can grow? We must be willing to admit our shortcomings and see how God desires to help us become more like Him. RESPONSE: Father, I want to thank You for helping teach me to grow and improve each day to become…
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Christian Devotional – July 29, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 23 VERSE: 1 Samuel 23:16–And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. TRUTH: We all need encouragement. David, the man after God’s own heart, even needed encouragement. His friend Jonathan came to him and met with him and, according to scripture, helped him find strength in God. We all need to be encouragers and work to help others see all that god has for them. Today, make a commitment to find someone and be a “Jonathan” to them. Encourage them and lift them up so that they can see how valued they are in Christ and find strength…
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Christian Devotional – July 28, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 22 VERSE: 1 Samuel 22:2–All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. TRUTH: The people who are the most ready to put action toward change are those who are the most discontent with the status quo. When you find people who are frustrated and disappointed with the way things are, they are the most ready to work toward change. As people who work in the church and seek to bring about God’s change, we must be looking for those who are dissatisfied with their life and are seeking…