Deut 19:2-3 …then set aside for yourselves three cities…so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.
Of course it was the commentary that helped me see the connection between the cities of refuge and Jesus this morning. I was being incredibly literal as I read today’s text. But Jesus IS our refuge and strength, and I am eternally grateful for that fact.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The crucial difference between the cities of refuge and Jesus, again brought to my attention by commentary this morning, is that the cities were only refuge for the innocent. Jesus is a refuge for all of us, no matter our circumstances.
Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your steadfast love and presence. Thank You that You are our refuge and strength, no matter what we’ve done or what we face. Thank You for providing refuge and strength when life overwhelms us. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Peter 5:7 …casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
Have a blessed day.
Rejoice in the LORD…. (devo reflection)
Deut 12:12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God….
If God never did anything else for me save sacrifice His only Son so that I could be restored to a right relationship with Him, I would still have reason to praise His name for the rest of my life. But I am so deeply human, so often driven by my fickle feelings that I don’t always, maybe don’t often, praise Him as I should, as He deserves.
1 Thess 5:16 Rejoice at all times….
But God doesn’t want empty praise. He wants praise that overflows from a thankful, grateful, devoted heart, even when it’s hard. And, y’all, sometimes life is so hard—global pandemic, freak accident or illness, death of loved one—hard. A friend once related a story about her aunt. I don’t remember all the details, but she had dealt with sickness and death of several family members, and when she was told of yet another death, her response was, “God has been so good to me.” THAT is praise from a grateful heart.
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder to rejoice always in You. Thank You for the example of my friend’s aunt, who rejoiced in Your blessings, even in the midst of her loss. Help us to rejoice in You always, even when it’s difficult. Thank You for Your abiding love. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD….
Have a blessed day.
With us in this fight…. (devo reflection)
Deut 9:1 Hear, Israel: You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you….
The first sentence of commentary on today’s verse says, “God was leading Israel into something too big for them. It was a challenge they could only meet if they trusted in God.” These lines immediately brought to mind this global pandemic that we are experiencing. It is too big for us. It is a challenge we can meet only if we trust in God.
Deut 9:3a But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes ahead of you like a devouring fire….
But I’m left wondering how I can trust in God during this in a way that will make any difference, that will have an impact. Psalm 118:24 immediately sprang to mind when I asked that question: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” followed quickly by Luke 10:26: “‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Deut 9:3b …He will destroy them; He will subdue them before you….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for speaking to my heart this morning. We are in the midst of an incredibly frightening global pandemic. This situation is way too big for us. Thank You for Your reminders to rejoice always and to love You and love others. I don’t know how these things will make a difference in this fight, but I trust that You do. Help us not to underestimate the power of rejoicing, of loving, of trusting in You. Thank You for being with us in this fight. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 9:3c …And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
Have a blessed day.
As for me, I will always have hope…. (devo reflection)
Numbers 25:3 So Israel yoked themselves to Baal of Peor. And the LORD’s anger burned against them.
In light of the last couple of chapters where God keeps Balaam from cursing the Israelites, I find this chapter fascinating because the Israelites, God’s chosen people, curse themselves by their behavior. God loves the Israelites. He chose them. But He doesn’t protect them from themselves, and He makes them face the consequences of their actions. He doesn’t shield them from that.
Numbers 25:4 The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them, and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”
Not only does He allow the Israelites to suffer because of their actions, he also rewards the Israelites because of the faith of one man, Phinehas, because of his zealousness for God’s honor and his actions in light of that zealousness.
Numbers 25:11 “Phinehas…has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that our actions are important. In this unprecedented time, help us to strive first and foremost to honor You in our words and our actions. Help us to live faithfully Psalm 71:14: “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” Draw us closer. Amen.
Numbers 25:12 “Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him.”
Have a blessed day.
Following Your lead…. (devo reflection)
Leviticus 25:23 “‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine and you reside in My land as foreigners and strangers.’”
My church has been going through a visioning process for almost a year. A group of parishioners, made up of folks of varying ages in varying Sunday school classes and going to different worship services, are trying to ascertain where the LORD is leading us to be sure that we are serving as His hands and feet in our community.
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him.
Today’s scripture reminds me why this visioning process is so important—it’s not our church. It’s His. They are not our missions and programs. They are His. And if we are truly trying to be His hands and feet in this world, it’s important to be sure we are going where He leads us, which involves prayer and reflection on what we are doing and what He is asking of us.
1 Corinthians 10:26 For “the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that this world and everything in it are Yours. Thank You for allowing us to be Your stewards and for the reminder that as such, we need to be prayerful that we are following Your lead. Continue to guide us through this process. Help us to do Your will. Amen.
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor for everything in heaven and earth is Yours.
Have a blessed day.
To praise You…. (devo reflection)
Leviticus 9:4 “‘…For today the LORD will appear to you.’”
Lord, This is the day that You have made. Help me to rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) Help me to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and to run with perseverance the race marked out for me. (Hebrews 12:1)
Leviticus 9:23 … and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.
Lord, Your love is better than life. Help me never to lose sight of that fact. Let my lips glorify Your name always. (Psalm 63:3) I want to praise Your name as long as I live, to lift up Your name in praise. (Psalm 63:4) I cling to You because I know Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:8)
Leviticus 9:24a Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the alter…
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this opportunity to spend time with You, to praise You. Thank You for loving me so deeply, for writing my name in the palm of Your hand (Isaiah 49:16), for making a way in my wilderness, even when I cannot yet perceive it (Isaiah 43:19). Thank You, Lord, for Your love, Your grace, Your mercy, Your hope. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 9:24b … And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
Have a great day.
Making a way…. (devo reflection)
Exodus 14:13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today….”
One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness….” I cling to this verse especially when, like the Israelites in Exodus 14, I cannot conceive of a way forward.
Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.” (NIV)
As strong as my faith is, I still struggle in so many areas, but I am learning to trust God to make a way where I see no possible way. I am learning to trust that even as I realize I cannot make way own way forward, He is already at work, even if I cannot yet perceive it. This belief is a gift, and I cling to it, especially during difficult times.
Exodus 14:14 “The LORD Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (NLT)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for making a way, even when I can’t yet perceive it. Thank You for the hope that comes from my faith. It is beyond frightening when we come to a “stuck place,” no seeming way forward or back. Help us to remember that in those times as always, You are right beside us, fighting for us, making a way. All You need in those moments is for us to be still and know that You are God (Psalm 46:10). Draw us closer. Amen.
Exodus 14:31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in Him….
Have a blessed day.
A change of heart…. (devo reflection)
Gen 46:1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
Jacob, Israel, has had a change of heart. He goes from an attitude of “Everything is against me!” in Gen 42:36 to willingly moving his entire family and all of his possessions in Gen 46:1. His actions indicate solid trust in God, a trust that has often been sorely lacking in his actions of the past. His entire demeanor seems changed by God’s peace.
Gen 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
Today is a pretty appropriate day for me to read this chapter. It is the day before I go back to work after Thanksgiving break, the first day in almost a week I’ve had to set an alarm. It’s raining, and I have a lot of schoolwork to attend to today because I haven’t worked as studiously along as I had planned. It’s easy to default to “Everything is against me” instead of rejoicing in this day that the LORD has made (Psalm 118:24).
Gen 46:4 “I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder to rejoice in this day because You have made it and not to get lost in my circumstances. We all have a lot going on, Lord, and it’s not all pleasant, so help us to see You, to rejoice in You this day, no matter what we face. Thank You for being our shield and our very great reward (Gen 15:1) in this life. Your presence, Your peace, Your strength are more than enough for what we will face today. Draw us closer. Amen.
Gen 46:29b …As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.
Have a blessed day.
More faithful still tomorrow…. (devo reflection)
Gen 26:5 …because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.
Genesis 26 fills me with great hope. God found Abraham, who didn’t always obey fully or immediately, who didn’t always tell the truth, who didn’t always put God first, to be faithful because God grew him as a man of faith. He took that human, fallible being and gave him time, love, and opportunity to obey. Abraham was never perfect, but he came to a place of trust and obedience that allowed him to proceed confidently toward the sacrifice of his chosen son, knowing that God was calling him to it and would be faithful to His promises, even if Abraham couldn’t fathom how it would happen. The story of how God grows Abraham into a man of faith is a beautiful illustration of Psalm 103:12 He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.
Gen 26:7 When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” ….
Isaac’s behavior in this chapter illustrates Matt 26:41: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Isaac makes many of the exact same mistakes as his father. But God is patient. He remembers the strength of Abraham’s eventual faith and trust. He sets out to build the same faith in Isaac one experience at a time.
Gen 26:15 So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You know exactly how human and fallible we are. Thank You that You ask for and look for progress in our faithfulness, not for perfection. Help me to be more faithful today than yesterday and more faithful still tomorrow. Help me to quit battling with my deeply fallible humanity and focus instead on my progress in faith. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
Gen 26:24 That night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you….”
Have a blessed day.
Earnestly seeking…. (devo reflection)
Gen 24:12 Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.”
I am trying to be mindful as I read through Genesis not to just get caught up in the Biblical history. It is rich and fascinating, and I think God definitely has a purpose in my reading it, but I truly sense He also wants to reveal truths about His character, about His faithfulness, about His sovereignty, not just generic “Biblical truths,” but specific, “Beth I want you to understand and hold on to this as you walk this path” truths about who He is and what He promises.
Gen 24:15 Before he even finished praying….
I have gleaned, repeatedly, His reassurance that He is with me, that He doesn’t expect perfection, that He can use me in spite of all my flaws if I’ll let Him. I have understood in a new way that He loves me deeply, loves the children He’s entrusted to me, expects and intends to be an active presence in their lives as well as my life and my marriage. I have come to trust anew that He hears me when I call, responds before I even finish praying, that even if I cannot yet perceive it, He is making a way.
Gen 24:50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this enlightening journey through Genesis. Thank You for revealing more of who You are as I earnestly seek to know You better. Thank You for hearing me when I pray and for answering before I even finish. Thank You for Your overwhelming love, grace, and mercy. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 46:7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Have a blessed day.