The Essential 100, Day 30 Love. We love our family and we love friends, and most importantly, we love God. Read the 4 chapters in the book of Ruth. Naomi was in a difficult situation. Widowed and alone, she made the decision to go back to her homeland and Ruth came with her. All through out this story we see how Ruth loves Naomi and how Naomi loves and cares for Ruth. Ultimately, we see Boaz’s love and care for Ruth and Naomi. When we look at our lives, how many ways can you identify God’s love for you? In what ways do you demonstrate your love for God? How…

The Essential 100, Day 29 Pride is a very dangerous thing. Samson learned this the hard way. Read Judges 13-16. Samson thought he had everything made. He was stronger than anyone, and he did whatever he liked, whenever he liked. God used him in amazing and awesome and wonderful ways to judge the Philistines and to help free the Israelites from their bondage. However, Samson struggled with pride. He was stronger than anyone else and he knew it. He stopped relying on the Lord to fight his battles for him. This became such an issue that even when the Lord had left him, he didn’t realize it. Do we rely…

The Essential 100, Day 28 “Who me? You don’t really mean me, right?” Sometimes when we see what God is leading us to do, our first thought is, “I can’t possibly do that.” We’re not alone. Read Judges 6-7. The Israelites were in trouble again and God was going to move through a cowardly, scared, man named Gideon. When God told him what was planned, Gideon said, “Who, me?” Are we afraid to be used by God? Most of us claim to want God to use us, but when He starts to move, we back up in the opposite direction. What is God calling you to do? Are you being…

The Essential 100, Day 27 Do we have a spiritual mentor? Who do we go to to check ourselves and ask questions and learn more about who God is and how God wants to work and move in our lives? Read Judges 4-5. Deborah was the leader of Israel at this point. People from all over the country used her as their spiritual mentor. They came to her and asked questions and looked for guidance. She ultimately lead them to one of their greatest victories. We need spiritual mentors. While it is true that we can learn everything we need to about God from his holy word, having other people…

The Essential 100, Day 26 To obey or not to obey, that is the question. As the Israelites continue, they were not completely obedient to the Lord. As a result, as the years go by, many of the nations that would be a temptation and lead the Israelites astray were left in the country. Read Judges 2:6-3:6. The Israelites got stuck in a pattern of disobedience, repentance, salvation, and more disobedient it. Unfortunately, they never made a commitment to the Lord that they would keep for years and years and through generations and generations. However, we must understand that in the end, our decision to obey the Lord is truly…

The Essential 100, Day 25 Has God ever asked you to do something weird? Something that seems completely off the wall or like it would never work? God did exactly that with Joshua and the Israelites when they went to defeat the city of Jericho. Read Joshua 5:13-6:27. The whole plan seemed bizarre from the start. I’m Joshua had plenty of moments of doubt as he heard the angel of the Lord explain it. It seemed like it would never work. It seemed crazy. Yet Joshua followed the plan exactly and God did exactly what he said. When God asks us to do the strange and unusual, and we do,…

The Essential 100, Day 24 Evidence and examples. We talk about our focus on God and our dedication to him, but what evidence are we leaving and what examples exist to share with the next generation? Read Joshua 3-4. The Lord did another amazing miracle in their midst. Most of these people had not been alive when God brought them through the Red Sea, so now he repeated this miracle for them so they could experience it for themselves. They were then to take stones and set them up as a reminder to themselves and to the next generations of how God had worked and moved in their lives in…

The Essential 100, Day 23 God goes with us! Wherever we go, he goes with us. We can know that we are never alone. Read Joshua 1. Moses is gone and now Joshua is in charge. He has an amazing and daunting task ahead of him. However, God reminds him to be strong, be courageous and remember that he is not alone. God has work for each of us to do. God has a plan for us and we need to remember God’s command to be strong and courageous and that we are not alone!

The Essential 100, Day 22 Consistency. When we make a commitment to follow God, how long is it good for? Do we show commitment in our decision? Read Exodus 32-34. The people of Israel didn’t. They quickly turned to other idols and gods to fulfill them. When we nake a decision, how steadfast are we in that decision? Are we focused on living out our decisions? We are only 22 days into the New Year, yet, there are multiple resolutions that have already been discarded. Are we following through on our commitment to God? Do we need to repent and get back on track?

The Essential 100, Day 21 God gave us rules. The commandments were given to the people as a way to help them see their need for God. God knew they would never be able to keep all of them, but man needed to be able to understand his own sinfulness. Read Exodus 19:1 – 20:21. As God gathered the people and gave them his law, he did so to help them truly understand his holiness. God is perfect and we are not. God expects perfection and we can’t give it. We need a Savior. The 10 commandments are important to understand, but God’s holiness and our sinfulness is the key…