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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…
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Christian Devotional – July 27, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 21 VERSE: 1 Samuel 21:8–David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear of a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.” TRUTH: David was on the run from King Saul, but he had to flee quickly and didn’t pack food or weapons or other supplies. David knows that he must get provisions if he is going to be successful in evading Saul. Do we take the time to stop and prepare when we are facing challenges? Or, do we just jump in head first? God desires to prepare us for the work He has for us,…
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Christian Devotional – July 26, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 20 VERSE: 1 Samuel 20:16–So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” TRUTH: At first glance, this sounds like just a regular oath of loyalty. However, Jonathan knew that his own father was one of David’s enemies. Jonathan was willing to renounce his family ties because he knew that the Lord was with David. Jonathan was more loyal to the Lord and all that the Lord has than he was to his father and family. When we come to the Lord, we are to leave behind all our other allegiances, as difficult as it may…
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Christian Devotional – July 25, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 19 VERSE: 1 Samuel 19:13–Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats hair at the head. TRUTH: Yes, Michal was helping her husband David to escape from a murderous King Saul, but my question about this verse is why did she have an idol sitting around handy to use? At this point, it draws into question whether Michal was fully devoted to God. When we have other things in our life, instead of God, we must realize that we are at a dangerous place where we will be tempted to rely on these things…
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Christian Devotional – July 24, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 18 VERSE: 1 Samuel 18:12–Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. TRUTH: To a person who has stopped being obedient to God, there is nothing more frustrating than to be around someone who is being obedient to God. The disobedient person gets angry and upset because they are being reminded of what they have lost. They see the peace and contentment, the trust and reliance on God and they become jealous and angry and afraid, just like Saul did. Instead, they need to recognize that God is still willing and waiting to restore them as well, if…
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Christian Devotional – July 23, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 17 VERSE: 1 Samuel 17:47–All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give all of you into our hands. TRUTH: David is preparing to fight against the Philistine champion Goliath. He makes this statement so that both the Philistines and the Israelites will know why he is going out to fight. Like David, we make a statement about God by the actions that we take and don’t take. Our actions are a direct reflection of God working and moving in our life. Do we act with courage…
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Christian Devotional – July 22, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 16 VERSE: 1 Samuel 16:7–But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” TRUTH: Have we looked in the mirror today? Many times we will use a mirror to review our outward appearance. However, do we ever use a spiritual mirror to review our heart? God look at our heart; what does He see? We can review our spiritual appearance through the reflection of God’s Word. How do we look today? RESPONSE…
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Christian Devotional – July 21, 2015
Read 1 Samuel chapter 15 VERSE: 1 Samuel 15:22–But Samuel replied, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” TRUTH: Saul had disobeyed God. God gave him specific instructions and Saul disobeyed them. Samuel came and when he pointed out Saul’s disobedience, Saul quickly tried to recover and give a pious sounding reason for his disobedience. He indicated that he was going to offer a sacrifice with the objects of his disobedience. Samuel responds with this verse. When God calls us to do…