Those Who Turn From God Bring Disaster Unto Themselves

Scripture: Obadiah 1: 5-8

If thieves came to you, if robbers in the night – Oh, what a disaster awaits you – would they not steal only as much as they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes? But how Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged! All your allies will force you to the border; your friends will deceive and overpower you; those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it. “In that day,” declares the Lord, “will I not destroy the wise men of Edom, men of understanding in the mountains of Esau?”

Scripture Commentary: God has the power to save you from your disasters and calamities.

God pronounced disaster against Edom to bring justice. Our God is not a vengeful God, but he is a God of perfect justice. He is morally perfect and demands complete fairness. God will not give you eternal life in return for sin and disobedience. He will not show mercy unless you ask for it and show your dedication and love for him.

The Edomites murdered, robbed, and took advantage of others. Don’t talk yourself into sin, thinking that “nobody will know.” You will get caught because God knows all your sins, and he will be just.

Anyone who hurts God’s people is God’s enemy.

Anyone who does not help God’s people is God’s enemy too. If you have withheld your help from someone in a time of need, that is a sin. In other words, inaction can be as sinful as unholy actions. Don’t ignore or refuse to help those in need. Instead, be an instrument of the Lord.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Obadiah Chapter 1

God’s House Is a House of Prayer

Scripture: Mark 11: 15-17

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Scripture Commentary: God says that his house is a house of prayer for all nations.

How would Jesus react if he walked into his father’s house today? Would he find a house of prayer or a den of thieves? Is the work of our God the focus in our places of worship? Or, are we more concerned with how much money we raise?

Using the church setting as a business draws in more money than it does people.

The purpose of the church, of having a space to come together with fellow Christians and worship our Lord, is to cultivate community and bring in nonbelievers to teach them God’s Word. As instruments in God’s kingdom, we are to bring people to the Lord, to his salvation and mercy.

In these verses, Mark tells the reaction Jesus had when he entered his Father’s house of worship. The question now is would Jesus react the same way today? Are we in a store selling earthy objects or are we engaged in worship in God’s house?

Read the Entire Chapter:

Mark Chapter 11

Serve Only the Lord Your God

Scripture: Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Am’-or-ites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Scripture Commentary: Who or what you serve is your choice

Who or what do you serve? Yourself? Money? Another person, maybe?

In life, obstacles are placed in your path to distract or inhibit you from reaching your destination. Often, those obstacles are choices you make. They are decisions between the way of the world or your walk with God.

The nation of Israel had a choice, the same choice you face today. Follow God or follow gods. “Gods” refer to man-made idols, but it can be symbolic of the other material/worldly things that you idolize; like money, attention, and people.

You may boldly claim that you’ll never forsake God, but if you follow the way of the world then you are doing exactly that by are turning your back on God and the life he chose for you.

Accepting God into your life means accepting the commandments.

Breaking one is equivalent to breaking them all. God knows you are weak. He grants forgiveness only if you are truly sorry and repent.

Joshua told the Israelites – and is telling you – to throw away foreign idols and follow God. You are to love and serve God alone. Each day that God gives you is a day that you can serve him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Joshua Chapter 24

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

Scripture: John 5: 4-6

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever desire he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Scripture Commentary: “Wilt thou be made whole?”

When Jesus asks, “Wilt thou be made whole,” he is asking you. We live with sickness in our spirits because everyday life makes us forget about Jesus. We get so caught up that we don’t see the cure in front of us.

No matter how trapped you feel in your infirmities, God can minister to your deepest needs. Don’t let a problem or hardship diminish your hope. Have faith.

God has a special job for you in spite of your condition; maybe even because of it. Jesus healed this man both physically and spiritually.

God’s forgiveness is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Don’t neglect his gracious offer.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 5

Call on the Name of the Lord to Be Saved

Scripture: Acts 2: 20-21

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Scripture Commentary: We can call on the name of the Lord at any time, and during any situation.

To call on the name of the Lord when we are in need, and living a Christian life can be two different things. When you ask for forgiveness, for salvation, do you change your ways? Do you avoid repeating the behavior that you needed the Lord to save you from? Often times we do not.

We go through life making mistakes but God forgives.

We ask for God’s forgiveness and go on living our lives, not the life God planned for us. We go through life making mistakes. At times we may think God has not forgiven us.

He doesn’t just forgive our first folly; he forgives again and again and again. He promises to forgive us if we are willing to give ourselves over to him and what he wants for us.

Peter was an unstable disciple during Jesus’ ministry. He let his bravado be his downfall, and he went as far as denying Jesus. Jesus forgave and restored him. In the end, Peter became powerful and dynamic. He spread the Gospel.

God will always forgive you.

There is always a place for you in his house as long as you are willing to walk in.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 2

Follow Jesus and Become Fishers of Men

Scripture: Luke 9: 57-59, 61-62

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” (57-59) Jesus said to him, “let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still, another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”(61-62)

Scripture Commentary: Are you willing to follow God?

Jesus wants total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We can’t pick and choose among Jesus’ ideas and follow him selectively. We have to accept the cross along with the crown, judgment, and mercy.

Will you count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given you security?

Focusing on Jesus means nothing else distracts us from the manner of living God set out for us. Our motives become pure and our actions are for the kingdom of God. A wholehearted commitment means putting all of our faith in God. It means making sacrifices that he knows we can make. It means trusting that whatever cost we have to pay is part of God’s plan for us.

We must make sacrifices for our salvation.

In this scripture, Jesus doesn’t teach us to forsake responsibilities to family. He perceives the real motives and excuses behind the men’s words. They were not willing to give themselves over to Jesus fully, and Jesus would not accept them partially.

God gives us eternal life, and in return, he asks for our absolute dedication. In return for his love, he asks for ours. There is a cost to following Jesus. As Jesus sacrificed his life for the forgiveness of our sins, we must make sacrifices for the kingdom of God and for our salvation.

Will you follow God?

Will you walk with God? How dedicated are you to your relationship with Christ?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 9

Do You Deny Jesus By Your Actions?

Scripture: Matthew 26: 34-35, 75

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. (34-35) Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.(75)

Scripture Commentary: We deny Jesus when we deny the truth

We all are or have been Peter. At some point in our lives, we have or will deny the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. We, like Peter, are in denial.

When we know we are wrong, we try to divert attention from ourselves. If we are in the act of doing something wrong, then for that moment we do not know Jesus. And, if confronted with our wrongdoing, we refuse to acknowledge it. By denying the truth, we turn our back on Jesus.

Do not reject the God who saves you from disaster.

Acting in the ways listed above flatly deny your relationship with Jesus. If any of those descriptions apply to you, then you are on the road to rejecting Christ.

In our minds, we declare that we will not disown Him, but in our actions, we scatter like the disciples.

It is easy to say that we are devoted to Christ, but our words don’t hold weight until they are tested in the face of persecution. If you live in the way Jesus teaches, then you will never reject him.

You know that he will never reject you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 26

Ask, Seek, and Knock on God’s Door

Scripture: Luke 11:9-10

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Scripture Commentary: Ask and God shall give it to you.

But, what are you asking for? It seems like we constantly ask God for things. To name a few, we want him to give us houses and cars and money … and forgiveness. How often do you stop and reflect on what God has given you instead of asking him for more?

Before you ask God to forgive your transgressions, make sure that you don’t harbor ill feelings toward others in your heart. Jesus taught his disciples to forgive. But if we cannot forgive others for their transgressions, then how can we expect God to forgive us? Forgiveness is the cornerstone of a relationship with God. Therefore, God has forgiven our sins over and over, so in turn, we must forgive those who have wronged us.

We are all God’s children.

Some are good; however, everyone needs help. As members of God’s kingdom on earth, it is our job guide others to Christ. Ask God to guide you. Let him strengthen your light so that he can enable you to lead others out of the darkness.

God prepares to give us what he knows we need. When we ask, seek, and knock, we receive, find, and open.

Open the door. Find what God has for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 11

We Need a New Heart and a New Spirit to Live Right by God

Scripture: Ezekiel 18: 30-32

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Scripture Commentary: Create in me a new heart, O God

God gives everyone a moral compass, a way to distinguish good from evil and right from wrong. When you do something wrong you tell God that you are deviating from his path. The wrong action calls for punishment, and we almost always believe it is unfair. We call God unfair when in reality we need to live up to his ways of fairness and follow the path he has set for us. We need to take on a new heart and a new spirit according to God’s ways.

Our God is a God of love and perfect justice.

He shows mercy on those who recognize their sin and ask for forgiveness, but he cannot tolerate those who knowingly go against him.

Wicked people die both spiritually and physically.

God takes no joy in these deaths. He would prefer they turn away from their ways and do good. He wants to give them a life of love.

What do you choose?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 18

Additional Reading:
Psalms Chapter 51