Worship with Abandon

2 Samuel 6:20-22

When David returned to bless his household, Mikhal the daughter of Sha’ul came out to meet him and said, “Such honor the king of Isra’el earned for himself today—exposing himself before his servants’ slave-girls like some vulgar exhibitionist!” David answered Mikhal, “In the presence of ADONAI—who chose me over your father and over everyone in his family to make me chief over ADONAI’s people, over Isra’el—I will celebrate in the presence of ADONAI! I will make myself still more contemptible than that, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes, but those slave-girls you mentioned will honor me!”

 

I must be like David worshiping with every fiber of my being and without regard to what others might think. It is only when I let go of everything else and focus exclusively on praising ADONAI that I can enter into His presence and be blessed, just like David when he answered his wife that it was because he abandoned everything for praising ADONAI that he would honored by those around him. Lord let my witness be as strong as David’s, I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Truth over Tradition

Matthew 16:8-12

But Yeshua, aware of this, said, “Such little trust you have! Why are you talking with each other about not having bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you filled? Or the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets you filled? How can you possibly think I was talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the hametz of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim!” Then they understood—they were to guard themselves not from yeast for bread but from the teaching of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim.

 

Too many times I have been like the Talmidim of Yeshua, focusing on the physical needs of the moment and forgetting about the spiritual needs of eternity. As Yeshua reminded the talmidim ADONAI will see to our physical needs (that’s needs not wants) but we have to guard ourselves against teachings that are not from the Word of God. In doing so we show our obedience to Him. Lord Your Word is so powerful that men have twisted it to use as a rod to rule others for their own enrichment. Lord do not let me fall in that trap but always seek out Your will through Your Ruach. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Vengeance is God’s

2 Samuel 3:28-30

 

28 Afterwards, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent of the death of Avner the son of Ner. 29 Let it fall on the head of Yo’av and all his father’s family. May Yo’av’s family always have someone with a hemorrhage or tzara‘at, or who has to walk with a cane, or who dies by the sword or who lacks food.” 30 Thus Yo’av and Avishai his brother killed Avner, because he had killed their brother ‘Asah’el during the battle in Giv‘on.

 

Vengeance outside the will of God has a devastating price, eventually costing Yo’av his life. We as believers should never try to do what is reserved for God. Lord keep me from harsh words and offense so I do not fall into the same trap as Yo’av. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Sorrow to Serving

Matthew 14:13-14

On hearing about this, Yeshua left in a boat to be by himself in the wilderness. But the people learned of it and followed him from the towns by land. So when he came ashore, he saw a huge crowd; and, filled with compassion for them, he healed those of them who were sick.

 

I have been taught that Yeshua became flesh so he could experience all that we are challenged with and be the worthy sacrifice for our sin. I believe this is one of the times he experienced sorrow and loss at the death of His cousin Yochanan. In that pain Yeshua looked to isolation but ADONAI in His wisdom gave Him tasking with others for consolation. I may be putting my own experience on this but when I lost my first wife to MS I wasn’t even fit to be with my grandchildren. Still God in His wisdom put people in my life to keep me occupied and return to being a working member of His kingdom. Lord thank You for putting people in my life who kept me from falling into my own selfish pit of despair and sorrow. Thank You of the time You gave me with Ellen and the healing You have gave me with Sherri. Keep me always in Your will so I may always serve You. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Weeds and Wheat

Matthew 13:16-30

When the wheat sprouted and formed heads of grain, the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them up?’ But he said, ‘No, because if you pull up the weeds, you might uproot some of the wheat at the same time. Let them both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest-time I will tell the reapers to collect the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned, but to gather the wheat into my barn.'”

 

These are the times we live in. Believers are the wheat while those who practice lawlessness are the weeds. Two things are happening, the lawless that are the weeds are exposed to wheat so have the opportunity to learn about ADONAI and turn to salvation through Yeshua, and the believers that are the wheat are exposed to the hardships and persecution of the weeds that strengthen them all the more in their salvation. In the end all will be rewarded according to what they produced, Trust in God or Trust in Self. Lord, thank You for difficulties that bring me closer to You. The pruning and ox goading of my life so that I can serve You better. Lord keep me in Your will and not my own I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

What Power?

Matthew 12:22-24

Then some people brought him a man controlled by demons who was blind and mute; and Yeshua healed him, so that he could both speak and see. The crowds were astounded and asked, “This couldn’t be the Son of David, could it?” But when the P’rushim heard of it, they said, “It is only by Ba’al-Zibbul”—the ruler of the demons—”that this man drives out demons.”

 

Yeshua had just performed a miracle that is one of the defining points of the Mashiach, the Messiah, healing a blind and mute man. Yet the P’rushim were so worried about their power base they immediately try to discredit Yeshua. The failed to see the Mashiach that they said they had been waiting for to deliver them from the evil of this world, even though they understood Yeshua was fulfilling the signs. In fact they ask for more signs as if this wasn’t enough. They knew heaven walked among them, they chose to ignore it. For many years I have been like the P’rushim, book smart but dumb to the movement of the Spirit. Lord forgive me for my own folly. Yet that same Spirit tended me through all my wanderings until I realized His hand in my life. Abba thank You for Your grace in providing salvation through Yeshua’s blood. Bind me ever closer to You so I do not fall into the habits of the P’rushim. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Blessed

Psalms 109:26-27

Help me, ADONAI, my God!

Save me, in keeping with your grace;

so that they will know that this comes from your hand,

that you, ADONAI, have done it.

 

Every good thing in my life has come from ADONAI. I may not always recognize it at the time but it all comes from a loving and caring Father, who wants to see the best from me. When I fail in that best, He supports me. My life is a testament to the hand of God changing my life for the better. Abba Thank You for all that You have done for me. Keep me close in Your protective hand and let Your face shine upon me in the days ahead. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Convicted

Matthew 10:32-33

“Whoever acknowledges me in the presence of others I will also acknowledge in the presence of my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others I will disown before my Father in heaven.

 

God forgive me for my failures to stand up for You. How many times have I caved to the pressures of this worldly life, seeking the wide and easy path of destruction over the narrow and hard path of salvation. Forgive me of my laziness and sloth in searching out Your will for my life. I ask this all in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Closing the Day with God

Psalm 63:6-7

I am as satisfied as with rich food;

my mouth praises you with joy on my lips

when I remember you on my bed

and meditate on you in the night watches.

 

I begin my day with prayer and study of ADONAI’s Word but unlike David I don’t always end my day with the same. I have been missing out of the feeling of satisfaction in taking time to praise and be thankful to God for the day I have had. Lord forgive me for my shortcomings and let this strengthen me into focusing more on Your hand in my life. I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.

Commitment

Matthew 8:21-22

Another of the talmidim said to him, “Sir, first let me go and bury my father.” But Yeshua replied, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

 

We can have nothing to tie us to this world and truly serve the kingdom of God. We must hold nothing back from ADONAI when we come to trust in Him. Lord let me always be faithful to You in all ways, I ask this in Yeshua’s name, amen.