Category: obey God

The Man of God

*2 Kings 23-25

Psalm 69

2 Corinthians 13

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            There is so much going on in our 2 Kings reading today that it’s unlikely that we’ll have the chance to adequately cover it all.  Of particular note, there are some hidden gems, or “easter eggs” as the kids say, strewn about that you have to be looking for carefully or you’ll miss (*An Easter egg is a message, image, or feature hidden in various forms of media).  These were some of my favorite bible books to read as a child just because there was so much excitement and adventure going on, but looking closely you’ll find that there are quite a few nuggets of wisdom, but you have to dig for them sometimes.  Some are laying right on the surface, though.

            The first part of 2Ki 23:1-25 is detailing some of the things Josiah did as king.  Keeping in mind that he was only 8 years old when he took office (2Ki 22:1), I was wondering how old he was when he realized that his father Manasseh had led the nation astray and started working to correct it.  The closest I could come in the book of 2 Kings to finding that answer is in 2Ki 23:23 where it says “But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to Yahweh in Jerusalem” (LSB), for the first time since the time of the judges (back in v22).  So, is that in the 18th year of his life, or the 18th year of his reign?  I found the answer over in 2 Chronicles 34&35, which states that in the 8th year of his reign he started to seek the Lord, and that in the 18th year of his reign (after significant reforms had already been made) they celebrated the Passover for the first time since the time of the judges.  So, for you bible nerds out there, he became king at 8, was about 16 years old when he started seeking God, and was about 26 when he reinstated the Passover feast.

            Oh, and in case you were wondering if grandpa Manasseh was really such a bad guy, the biblical writers remind us again and again whose fault it is in 2Ki 23:26 and also 24:3, squarely blaming all of the misfortunes about to befall them during this time on him.  You know, in case you forgot, because apparently they did not: EVER.  Keep in mind, this is an epic time in history; the Assyrian kingdom was in decline, Egypt was still a force to be reckoned with,  and the Babylonian kingdom is on the ascension.  Up until the time of the Babylonian exile, the ancient Jews had a real problem with idolatry (you’ll recall that’s #1 in the list of ‘thou shalt not’s).  After the time of the Babylonian exile, you never hear about  idolatry again in the land of Israel (at least on a national level).   Think about that: just like when you got a spanking from your father as a child, God generally performs punitive actions to correct behavior.  This time it absolutely worked, check it out if you don’t believe me: the Israelites never again returned to idolatry once they returned from Babylon (at least on a national level).

            Here’s one “Easter egg” I found when doing a deep dive into this reading: I’d always assumed that the “idolatrous priests” (2Ki23:5) referred to, you know: priests who worshipped false idols or pagan deities.  Reading closely in v5,6,8, and 9 however we can see that some of these were kohanim, Aaronite priests of God, particularly in v9 where it states “…but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.” (LSB).  We can infer from these passages that even if you’re the right guy, serving the right God, if you’re doing it in the wrong way or in the wrong place: you might be idolatrous.  I’ve got a note in my bible that reads: “priests of God, but serving in the wrong place?”.  Just a little food for thought, something to consider.

            Do you like finding “Easter eggs” as much as I do?  Well, lucky day, here’s another one: read carefully 2Ki 23:15-18, about the grave of the “man of God”.  This is a great story, but to get the full scope of it, after you read the above verses, you’ll need to flip backwards over to 1 Ki 13.  We sadly never get to know the name of the man of God, we do however get to learn a valuable life lesson: listen to God if He’s talking, and absolutely ignore men if they are saying something different. 

            A  quick summary of the story is as follows: God sends a man, a prophet, to deliver a message to the king, which he does.  This prophet is commanded to “eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return by the way which you came”.  Then another prophet chases after him and says “uh, so God told me you’re supposed to come eat with me”, and he does.  Then the prophet who invited the first one to eat then says “why have you rebelled against God?” and tells the guy he’s going to die, which he does shortly after he leaves (by a lion).

            Then, to add insult to injury, when the second prophet realizes that the “man of God” has been killed (and while accepting absolutely no personal responsibility in this series of events as possibly overstepping by telling the first prophet that God had told him he should eat), he has him buried and mourns him saying “alas, my brother!”.  Then, as if that wasn’t enough, this second prophet then tells his kids “When I die, bury me with that guy, because he was a prophet.” (paraphrased and summarised, but accurate, go and read it: 1 Ki 13)!?  As a result, when all the other graves are defiled later on, the second prophet who misled and (indirectly?) caused the “man of God” to be killed was also left undisturbed when Josiah left the grave alone in 2 Ki 23:18.  Ironic, isn’t it?  The moral of that story is: ignore men, listen to God.

            Now remember as we continue on, Manasseh was a really bad guy.  So bad that even when Josiah did what was right in God’s eyes, God’s promise to Josiah was not that he would relent from His (righteous) wrath on the nation, but that Josiah would die before it happened so that he “would not see all the evil which I will bring on this place” (LSB, 2 Ki 22:20).  This happens in 2Ki 23:29, when Pharaoh Neco (AKA Necho II, @610-595 BC) puts him to death at Megiddo.  Does the name of that place sound familiar?  It should, in Rev 16:16 the “final battle” prophesied is to take place in what is translated as “Armegeddon”, which is literally “Har Megiddo”,  or the “hill” of Megiddo (an ancient city).  Same place (insert dramatic sound effect here). 

            In 2 Ki 24, we see the beginning of the rise of Nebuchadnezzar and the ascension of the kingdom of Babylon.  Later on in this chapter (v10) Judah goes into exile, and then in chapter 25 we see the fall of the last stronghold in Judah, Jerusalem.  It is notably at this point that the temple is burned, Solomon’s temple, one of the grandest architectural structures of the time.  The people had begun to think of themselves as untouchable, since they had the temple in their midst, even though idolatry was running rampant (See Jer 7:4 for the popular view of “the temple” at this time).  This effectively ended the “First Temple” period, considered to be the “golden age” of Jewish prosperity and centralized worship.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Can you think of a time in your life when it felt like God was punishing you?  Upon reflection and with the passing of time, were you able to see the lesson that was being taught? (I sure did.)
  2. Has there ever been a time in your life when even if you were trying to do the right thing, you realized you were in the wrong place?  Reflect on this quietly for a few moments, I can think of at least 3 personally (and I wasn’t even always trying to do the right thing).  How could you have had a better outcome?
  3. Why are we inclined to listen to men over God, sometimes?

PRAYER

Father God, please place me in the right spot.  Purify my heart, and give me strength so that when I am there, I can do your will.  Please let my ears hear Your whispering over the shouting of men, and guide my feet onto the path that leads directly to Your kingdom.  Thank you most of all for sending Jesus to teach us and to be a role model.  In his name we pray, Amen.

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In which the rebellious children of Israel sin against God, and receive instruction as a result.

*2 Kings 17-18

Psalm 68

2 Corinthians 10

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            In the beginning of today’s reading we are in an extremely tumultuous time in the history of Israel.  The kingdoms of Israel and Judah have split apart from each other and throughout the books of Kings they give a recounting of each nation separately.  Starting out today in 2 Kings 17, we begin in the nation of Israel, and in verse 6 we see that “the king of Assyria captured Samaria and took Israel away into exile”.  I’m sure some of the people back then were asking the age old question, “why would God let something like this happen?!”.  Well, as we read on, we’re told exactly why, and if we’re being honest we can probably apply that same answer to when this question is asked even now.

            In 2Ki 17: 7-18, it explains: “Now this happened because the sons of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God (v7)…And the sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against Yahweh their God (v9)…and they did evil things provoking Yahweh to anger (v10b)…So Yahweh was very angry with Israel and caused them to depart from His presence…(v18a)” (The LSB translation is used throughout this devotional, unless otherwise noted).  In between the lines of the above, scriptures give a pretty long laundry list of their offenses as well, including some pretty pronounced idolatry (which you may recall as being the first of the “Thou shalt not”s listed in Exodus 20, so… probably a pretty big deal).  They forsook the commandments of Yahweh (v16), sacrificed their children to other gods (passed through the fire refers to human sacrifice to a specific pagan god), and practiced sorcery (v17), among other things.

            Can you imagine the pain, as a Father, of your children acting in this manner towards you?  Especially considering that He had done so much for them, and saved them miraculously from their oppression in Egypt, feeding and caring for them as they went, performing miracles and signs and wonders.  Over and over.  I can imagine it, I’m a father now.  I was also that wicked, rebellious child who acted the same way towards my own father when I was younger.  I’m sorry Dad, and I’m sorry Father God.  My dad was a rock, he was faithful and true even when I wasn’t, and kept on loving me.  Just like my heavenly Father.  What can I say, words alone cannot express my sorrow or regret.  I hang my head in shame and weep, I repent of my foolishness; but just like my dad, my heavenly Father came running towards me when I began to come home.  It is heartbreakingly humbling, and still brings me to tears.

            All of this rebellion was in spite of the fact that our loving Father, the most merciful, the most gracious, continued to reach out to his children Israel.  In 2Ki 17:13-15 we see that even though Israel continued to be wicked and rebellious toward Yahweh God, He continues to reach out to them and warn them”by the hand of all of His prophets and every seer, saying “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments…“”, “However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in Yahweh their God…”.  How much foolishness can be tolerated, though?  We see in v18 God has finally had enough, and “kicks them out of the house” essentially. 

            In 2Ki 17: 24-28 there’s a great little sub-plot to the main story. When God kicks the Israelites out, the king of assyria moves some new tenants in.  I absolutely love the very tongue-in-cheek start of v25: “Now it happened at the beginning of their settlement there, that they did not fear Yahweh…” (LSB), and then, lions.  Eventually an Israelite priest was sent back to teach the new residents “how they should fear Yahweh“(v28b) but the lions had already given them a pretty good start, it sounds like.  God is holy, and  freely (and sometimes painfully) offers instruction to His children when they forget Him.  I like the phrasing of Ps 50:22 on this topic, it’s (not) subtle.

Meanwhile, back in the nation of Judah…A king is born who pleases God

            Enter Hezekiah, king of Judah, who “did what was right in the sight of Yahweh” (2Ki 18:3).  It goes on in the reading to list some of the good that he did, including a very interesting note in v4b, “…And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel were burning incense to it: and it was called Nehushtan“.  Wait, what?!  Stop for a moment and go read Nu 21: 4-9, it’s one of those little sub plots that passes by so quick that if you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss it entirely.  Then read that (2Ki 18:4) again.

            Here’s what to extrapolate from this: anything can become an idol to us, if we let it.  The bronze snake which once was a tool for salvation to the Israelites became an idol, an implement of destruction instead which led many astray.  I’m sure it even seemed right at the time.  Shema (Listen up, pay attention), ecclesia (church)!  Our prayers, our rituals, our practices, our doctrines, our holy days, our fasts, our scriptural readings, even the things which may have once saved us, all of these things are just tools to help us attain our true purpose: the unconditional and overwhelming love towards the Father that He deserves.   Use the tools you have to fulfill your purpose, but do not let them become the purpose.

            Here are some phrases that are used to describe Hezekiah: “He trusted in Yahweh…(v5), So he clung to Yahweh; he did not turn away from following Him, but kept His commandments…(v6), And Yahweh was with him…(v7)”.  This trust and seeking after God is what saves him, coming up in the next chapter, because God loves him back.  If you read 2Ki 18:13-37 you can see the situation setting itself up.  I don’t want to give any spoiler alerts from tomorrow’s reading, but in the next chapter is one of the most beautiful and humble prayers in the Bible (2Ki 19:15-19) and (spoiler alert) God saves him, and (spoiler alert) again in the next chapter.  The reason that God intervenes on his behalf is because he trusted in God.  He clung to God.  He didn’t turn away, but kept the commandments of God.  This is the description of a man trying to love God with his whole heart, as stated in Deut 6:4-5 and quoted in Matt 12:29-32 as the primary of all the commandments.

            We have one job: to love the Father with everything we’ve got.  When we do this, and understand, then we will also love our neighbor (our fellow creation) as ourself.  Everything else will follow.  We will trust Him.  We will cling to Him.  We will follow and obey Him.  If the things that you are doing are helping you to achieve that goal, God is good, give glory to God! If not, consider your ways and where they are leading.  We often in our arrogance and pride remove God from throne of our heart and sit there in His place.  That’s not your spot (as I often tell my giant dogs when they try to sit on the couch).  He has shown you, O man, what is good… (Mic 6:8).  He has “spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts” (Is 65:2).  Isn’t it time, like a small child wanting to be held, to hold out our hands toward our Father, and cling to Him?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

What are some practical steps we can take to trust God more, and ourselves less?

What things can we do differently to please our Father?

Is there an idol in your heart that you have clung to?

If yes to the above, what is it, and why have you kept clinging to it?

PRAYER

Father God, please forgive me for my many shortcomings.  Help to trust in You completely, to cling to You above all else, and to model the love that You have shown me to all of Your creation in order to honor You.  May the lips of all of Your creation offer You the praise You deserve.  Please instruct me, discipline me when I err, and guide me along the path that leads to Your kingdom.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.   

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God Still Speaks in the Silence

1 Kings 19-20

Psalm 63

1 Corinthians 16

-Devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL)

Right after the incredible victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah collapsed emotionally.

That may surprise some people.

Fire had fallen from heaven.
The prophets of Baal had been defeated.
Rain finally returned after years of drought.

And yet, when Queen Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah fled into the wilderness exhausted, discouraged, and afraid.

1 Kings chapter 19 is one of the most honest portraits of human weakness in all of Scripture.

Elijah sat down under a tree and essentially told God:

“I have had enough…”

This mighty prophet felt isolated, overwhelmed, and convinced he was alone.

That truth matters because faithful believers sometimes experience deep exhaustion too.

Even people who trust God can become emotionally drained.
Even strong leaders can become discouraged.
Even courageous servants of God can feel afraid.

And notice how God responded.

Not with cruelty.
Not with mockery.
Not with condemnation.

God gave Elijah rest.
Food.
Time.
Gentle correction.

Sometimes spiritual burnout is not solved by trying harder for five more minutes. Sometimes people genuinely need rest, nourishment, and renewed perspective.

Then Elijah stood on the mountain waiting for God.

A violent wind came.
An earthquake came.
A fire came.

But the LORD was not in those dramatic displays.

Then came a gentle whisper.

And God spoke there.

There is an important lesson in that moment.

God certainly can work dramatically. Scripture contains miracles, judgments, and astonishing displays of power. But often God shapes lives quietly through His word, His presence, faithful endurance, and steady obedience over time.

Many people constantly chase dramatic experiences while neglecting the quieter ways God is already speaking.

Meanwhile, chapter 20 shifts back to political conflict as God gives Israel victory over powerful enemies despite Ahab’s wickedness. Once again we see God showing mercy and patience far beyond what people deserve.

But Ahab continued struggling with partial obedience.

God gave clear instruction, yet Ahab compromised.

That pattern appears repeatedly throughout Scripture and throughout human history. People often want God’s help while resisting God’s authority.

Yet even through flawed leaders and discouraged prophets, God continued moving history toward His greater purposes.

Elijah thought he was alone, but God revealed that thousands still remained faithful.

Sometimes we also become convinced that truth has disappeared completely, that faithfulness no longer exists, or that evil has fully won.

But God always sees more than we do.

And His plan continues moving forward even when we cannot fully see it.

Ultimately, Elijah’s story points forward to the greater hope of God’s coming Kingdom — a future where fear, injustice, idolatry, exhaustion, and death itself will finally be removed forever.

Three Things to Remember
  1. Even faithful people become discouraged sometimes.

Elijah’s exhaustion reminds us that spiritual struggles are real.

  1. God often works quietly.

The LORD spoke to Elijah through a gentle whisper, not merely dramatic displays.

  1. You are probably not as alone as you think.

God still had thousands of faithful people Elijah could not see.

Sometimes the loudest moments in life are not where God speaks most clearly.

Sometimes His voice is found in quiet faithfulness, steady endurance, and the gentle reminder:

“I am still here.”

Reflection Questions

  1. When was the last time you tried sitting in silence?
  2. When have you felt alone? How were you proved wrong? Who do you know who might feel alone right now and how can you prove them wrong?
  3. What are helpful things you can do when you feel spiritually exhausted or overwhelmed? What are not helpful things?

Prayer

Dear God – I thank You for being constant and forever faithful. When I am overwhelmed or spiritually exhausted help me see You are there. Please show me that I am not alone. And help me share Your presence with others.

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When Truth Becomes Inconvenient

*1 Kings 13-14

Psalm 61

1 Corinthians 13

-Devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL)

These chapters are strange, tragic, and deeply sobering.

1 Kings chapter 13 introduces an unnamed “man of God” sent to confront King Jeroboam. Jeroboam had established false worship in the northern kingdom, creating golden calves and counterfeit religious practices to keep people politically loyal to him.

God sent a prophet to warn him.

And at first, the prophet stood courageously.

He delivered God’s message directly to the king. When Jeroboam stretched out his hand against him, the king’s hand shriveled instantly until the prophet prayed for his healing. It should have been a moment of repentance.

But Jeroboam’s heart remained unchanged.

Then comes one of the most heartbreaking twists in the story.

God had specifically commanded the prophet not to eat or drink in that place and not to return the same way he came. But an older prophet lied to him, claiming an angel had given new instructions. The younger prophet listened to the false message instead of obeying the clear word God had already spoken.

And it cost him his life.

It is a difficult story, but its lesson is painfully relevant.

Not every spiritual voice is trustworthy simply because it sounds religious.

People can speak confidently and still be wrong.
People can claim spiritual authority and still deceive others.
Even sincere believers can drift if they stop carefully testing what they hear against what God has already revealed.

That is why truth matters.

Not harshness.
Not arrogance.
Not winning arguments.

But truth.

The world often pressures believers to reshape God’s commands into something more convenient, popular, or culturally acceptable. Jeroboam did exactly that. He created a religion that was politically useful and easier for people to embrace.

And many people gladly followed it.

Counterfeit worship is often attractive because it asks less of us.

But convenient religion cannot save us.

Chapter 14 continues the tragedy. Jeroboam’s household faced judgment because he continually led the nation into sin. Yet even in the middle of judgment, Scripture notes something remarkable about Jeroboam’s sick child:

“In him there is found something pleasing to the LORD…”

Even in dark times, God notices sincere hearts.

That truth still matters today.

Our culture is filled with competing voices claiming to represent truth. Some are loud. Some are persuasive. Some are comforting. But faithfulness requires more than emotional reactions or popular opinion.

It requires humble obedience to God.

And ultimately, these chapters remind us why humanity desperately needs a better King than Jeroboam, Solomon, or any other flawed ruler. Human leaders repeatedly fail. Human religion repeatedly drifts.

But God’s future King will lead with perfect truth and righteousness.

One day false worship, deception, and divided hearts will finally end when God’s Kingdom fully comes and the earth is restored under His rule.

Three Things to Remember
  1. Not every spiritual voice speaks truth.

The prophet was deceived when he ignored God’s clear instruction.

  1. Convenient religion is spiritually dangerous.

Jeroboam created worship that was politically useful but spiritually corrupt.

  1. God still notices sincere hearts.

Even in a corrupt generation, God recognized what was good in Jeroboam’s child.

Faithfulness is not always easy.

Sometimes obeying God means standing against culture, pressure, convenience, or even respected voices around us.

But truth does not become false simply because it is unpopular.

And error does not become true simply because it is persuasive.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you tell if you are listening to lies or to the truth from God? How can you tell if you are speaking lies or the truth from God?
  2. When were you led astray by listening to someone who was not speaking the truth? What happened?
  3. What can you think of today that may be politically useful but spiritually corrupt?

Prayer

Dear God, You are giver of all truth. Help me to discern what is truth coming from You and what is not. Teach me what is Your voice and what is deception. May I not fall for what is convenient or popular but strive to always please You with authentic, sincere love, worship and truth. Please give me Lord, a true, undivided, faithful heart loving and serving You the only true God and Your Son Jesus, til his glorious return.

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The Question

*Deuteronomy 7-8

*Psalm 25

*Mark 10

“…Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)

            I suppose that this question directly and pointedly asks the question we all wonder at in our heart.  Hebrews 11:6 clearly states “…for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.“.   God doesn’t require blind and unthinking obedience, he is a God of reason, and wants you to understand that there is a reward for your obedience and faith; there’s a reason you should want to do what God tells us. 

            If this was not the case, this would have been the perfect opportunity for Jesus to say “Hey man, why are you being so selfish?”, but Jesus recognized the sincerity of the man’s question and answered him equally sincerely by saying, “…Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’” (Mark 10:18-19 LSB).

            There are 2 very important bits that we need to take away from this response.  Firstly Jesus said “Why do you call me good?  No one is good except God alone.”.  This is (yet another) clear delineation between our King, the Christ (anointed one),  and God Himself.  If you have a more “complex” interpretation of God than is explicitly stated biblically, this verse creates complex issues, if you’re being honest.  There’s a simpler reading.  Secondly, Jesus’ first “go to” response is “what do the commandments say?” (Exodus 20, for reference).

            Jesus then goes on to say the man should sell all that he has, and give to the poor.  Keeping the commandments alone isn’t enough.  This makes the man sad because it seems as if his priority is wealth.   If you like, do a study on the Jewish concept of “tzedekah”; it’s a great understanding of how we should view worldly wealth conceptually (and most Christians have never even heard of it).  We’ll have a devotion that focuses on that concept later.

            In this present evil age, it is very difficult to keep our priorities straight.  We are constantly bombarded with imagery and concepts that are intentionally designed to divert our attention from our Creator and towards…anything and everything else.  Jesus gave us our priority, and told us to actively strive for our reward in Matthew 6:33  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (LSB).  Our entire life should be focused on seeking God’s kingdom, and striving to have and exhibit the character of God.

            The word here used for righteousness is δικαιοσύνην and could be more accurately translated (as most places that righteousness is used) as “equity”, and I prefer that translation as it’s more accurate and has more depth and nuance to it.  Here’s a handy definition of equity as a refresher:

Equity (noun): (from the American Heritage Dictionary of Common Language, 5th ed)  

1.      The state or quality of being just and fair.
  • Something that is just and fair.
  • Justice achieved not simply according to the strict letter of the law but in accordance with principles of substantial justice and the unique facts of the case

            So we are to seek the Kingdom of God AND His (God’s) righteousness, or equity.  To be just and fair, not just by the letter of the law, but in our entire character and intent.  Note that this latter command to seek the righteousness of God is not only a job, but is in itself a reward, and is a necessary component to entering His Kingdom.  This character reflects not only how we are supposed to act, but how we are supposed to be, deep down inside where people can’t see.

“For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God…You shall know therefore that Yahweh your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His  loving-kindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments…Therefore, you shall keep the commandments…”(Deut 7:6&9-11, LSB) So, is it important to keep the commandments? Well, according to Jesus our King, it is.  Then after we submit to this foundational obedience we must go even further, not just obeying the letter of the law, but actually modelling the character of our amazingly wonderful Creator, Yahweh God.

            We’re easily misled, as humans.  Sometimes by people, sometimes by traditions that people have elevated, and sometimes even our own hearts can lead us astray. We know from scripture that “the heart is more deceitful than all else” (Jer 17:9 LSB), and that we are to “Trust in Yahweh…lean not on your own understanding” (Prov 3:5-6 LSB).  God gave us His word, the scriptures, to be our guide.  All of the scriptures.  In our reading of Psalms 25  today, we have some of our promises and instructions for being “qodesh”, or holy: “Make me know your ways, O Yahweh, teach me your paths…Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore He instructs sinners in the way…and may he teach the humble His way...for Your name’s sake, O Yahweh, pardon my iniquity for it is great…the secret of Yahweh is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.” (Ps 25:4,8,9,11-14 LSB)  This tells us clearly that even in this present evil age when we are so easily confused and misled, God Himself will instruct us, if we humbly and obediently seek Him.

            When Jesus was tempted, after fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, the first thing he was tempted with was food.  Have you ever fasted for more than a day or two?  Towards the end did you find that you were pretty focused on getting something to eat?  Jesus’ reply to the Accuser was to quote the scriptures, “…man does not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh” (Deut 8:3, LSB).  Interestingly, every rebuttal that Jesus gives while being tempted was from the book of Deuteronomy.  Jesus seems to have thought Deuteronomy was pretty relevant; when asked what the greatest commandment was, he quoted Deut 6:4-5 (The Shema, that story is found in Mark 12) first as the greatest commandment. Is the Old Testament relevant to Christians? Well, to the Christ, it was.  Is a servant greater than his master?  When you are tempted, follow Jesus’ example; quoting the scripture not only chastens our enemy, but edifies ourselves with our intent.  Memorize some key verses to help you in defending yourself.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Jesus saw the 10 commandments as basic foundational requirements.  Do you obey all 10 of the commandments, as they are explicitly written?  Why, or why not?
  2. We are to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness (or, “equity”).  How is that going for you?  What can you specifically do on a daily basis to more accurately reflect the magnificent love and character of God to your fellow creation?
  3. We are all tempted in a manner that is specific to our weakness(es).  Do you have at least 3 key scriptures memorized, to defend yourself from your specific temptations?  What are they?  If not, why?

PRAYER

Lord God Yahweh, please, teach me Your ways.  Straighten my paths before me, Father, and lead me along the path that leads to Your kingdom.  Circumcise my heart, and let me humbly seek your will through obediently following Your word and Your will, as given to us in scriptures and in the teachings of the Christ.  Father, forgive me for when I fall short, please be merciful and loving towards me, and help me to reflect that mercy and love to all of Your creation.  Thank you, Father, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Addition and Subtraction

Deuteronomy 3-4

Psalm 24

Mark 9

–Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

Many people know I love to write. I hope that is apparent as you read through my devotions when I have the opportunity to share with Seek Grow Love. Additionally, I love science and history. Having taught both of these subjects, I love the story that each tells about creation and humanity. A fact that fewer know is that I’m pretty good at math and love Excel with extensive formulas—in fact, that was my job at one point: building elaborate spreadsheets to compute cubic feet, pricing, man hours, and profitability. Consequently, I know that a single piece of punctuation or an added numeral can set off a chain of poor computations that completely miss the mark.

“You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God.” — Deuteronomy 4:2

Moses reminds the people of Israel of this principle long before spreadsheets. Do not add anything to the commands of God. Do not take anything away from them. Keep them. Jesus gives us a similar warning in the Revelation to John—addition and subtraction have a direct impact on judgment (Revelation 22:18–19). Let me say this clearly: God’s Word is not a suggestion. To knowingly misinterpret it or treat it without the greatest care—molding it to fit our preferences, our culture, or our experience—is to lose sight of God.

More often than not, we fall into the temptation not to change the Word itself, but to reshape its practice. We ignore what is divisive or costly and choose to emphasize what is comfortable and easier to manage. In the age of preference, our faith is on the line. Instead of forming our lives around God’s discernible commands, we cling to standards set by ourselves or the world. These can become idols—hedged assurances of our ego, stature, time, wealth, or sacrifice.

Who is the one who ascends the hill of the Lord? Whether it is David as he brings the Ark of the Covenant to Zion or the disciples witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus, the question remains (Psalm 24:3–4; Mark 9:2–7). The call is not based on effort alone. You cannot add to or subtract from your efforts to receive lesser or fuller reward as an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Because of this, purity is a whole, never a part. It is not achieved through addition or protected through subtraction, but through alignment with what God has already spoken.

Apart from the warning of Jesus—that judgment follows when we distort His Word—we will naturally drift. When we add, we place burdens, red tape, and elevation onto a grace that was freely given, though it still calls for obedience. When we subtract, we remove what is essential, lowering the standard and risking a faith that cannot hold. In trying to soften truth, avoid conflict, or live without conviction, we find ourselves living in tension—or worse, in the comfort of denial and ignorance.

The truth is this: God does not ask more than we can bear, but He also does not ask any less. The formula is not complicated, but the math is not easy. An errant doctrine is not the solution to humanity’s problem of sin. We may come to God through wandering, in our watching, or as a witness—but we are never called to customize the truth.

Reflection Questions

Consider these questions as you read today and place your obedience before the Lord:

Where have I added expectations for myself or others that God has never given?

Where have I subtracted or omitted truths that feel too difficult to hold?

Where is God inviting me to search His Word more deeply—and to truly listen?

Prayer

Dear God,

I praise you for being a righteous and holy God. There is none other. All your words are true and right. Thank you for the gift of the Bible where You reveal yourself and all truth, goodness, and the way to salvation. Help me see any errors I have committed in adding to or subtracting from Your perfect Word. May I stand alone on Your words which give life, never seeking to conform Your Word to my way, but always, always, always, changing and molding myself to reflect You and Your Son. May Your Spirit guide me in all things!

In Jesus’ Name I pray,

Amen

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Peace Or I’ll Squash You

Numbers 15-16

Psalm 18

Mark 3

–Devotion by Emilee Christian (MO)

When I was a little girl, my mom got her tonsils removed. My brother, sister, and I were all very young, probably all under the age of ten. The healing process of a tonsillectomy is intense, especially for adults. It is recommended you refrain from talking while in recovery. One day, while my mom was resting in bed, us kids played in the basement. We must have woken up Mom because I distinctly remember seeing her round the corner of the basement steps looking angry and disheveled. She held up two fingers, indicating the peace sign. Then, she clapped her hands very loudly. We later learned the clapping was to get our attention, since she was unable to talk. However, we all understood her message as, “Peace or I’ll squash you!” I can still picture it in my mind, today. Never had we been more afraid of Mom than in that moment. You can bet we played quietly afterwards! 

Now, my mom is not a violent person. Spankings were used sparingly in our household. We look back on that memory now and laugh. Yet I will never forget the way I felt receiving the “Peace or I’ll squash you” message. The fear and awe, wondering what exactly she meant by squashing but knowing I don’t want to find out. This was mixed with the knowledge that she is my mother who loves me dearly and whom I love in return. I have since come to realize that is the same fear and awe in which we should approach God. God loves us. Immensely. But He does have the ability to squash us. 

The fear of the LORD isn’t a hide behind a rock shaking and afraid sort of fear. It’s a healthy reverence. It’s recognizing God’s power over our lives, His ability to do miraculous things. It’s respect. 

We see a lot of God’s power in our readings today. We see his power to punish the wicked in Numbers and Psalms. Psalms 18:7-15 is an incredible visual describing God’ s power and sovereignty over nature. We see how God has power over our problems and our enemies as David tells of how the LORD delivered him. We see God’s power over demons working through Jesus Christ and His power to heal in Mark 3. Finally we see His power to forgive sins, explained in Mark 3:28 and throughout Numbers. 

So, what do we do with this knowledge of God’s power? Well, I think the answer is in Numbers 15:37-41. We would do well to remember. To not forget God’s great power. To look to Him as David looked to Him to be our supporter, our rock, our light as is described in Psalms 18. The LORD knew our fickleness. Our ability to forget. That’s why he instructed the Israelites to wear the tassels, to serve as a physical reminder. I believe we, today, could benefit from physical reminders as well. Our “tassles” may look different than they did back in Bible times. Maybe it’s a bible verse as our lockscreen on our devices or a notecard taped to the bathroom mirror. Maybe it’s a piece of jewelry you wear everyday. Maybe, not to get too controversial here, it’s a tattoo. Or, maybe, it’s a piece of decor someplace prominent in your house you’ll see everyday. Or it could be a bumper sticker you see every time you get into your car. A stone you carry in your pocket. A keychain on your keys. A water bottle or coffee cup with your favorite verse. A pen you use everyday.  

We should apply the idea of tassels to our own lives. In doing so, may we be humbled by this. May it lead us to stand in awe of God’s great glory. May we come to a healthy fear of LORD. 

Reflection Questions

  1. How would you explain the fear of the LORD to someone? How is it different from the fear in 1 John 4:18?
  2. Do you have a “tassle”? What is it? If not, what can you do to create one?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for your might, your strength, and your goodness. Thank you for your instructions. For keeping our best interest at heart. May we remember how great You are. 

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

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Rebellion

Leviticus 26

Psalm 14

Matthew 27

-Devotion by Maria Knowlton (IN)

I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. -Thomas Jefferson 

Jefferson wrote those words to James Madison in 1787 after a group of farmers physically fought their local government to protest high taxes. His argument was that rebellion is what keeps government accountable to the people it serves. 

He may have had a point and many people have used this quote to justify many acts of rebellion. However, there is one area of our lives where rebellion leads to destruction. 

In all three of our readings today, people participate in vile rebellion against God. 

In Leviticus, God decrees what happens when actions meet consequences. 

Praise God, follow His decrees, you will be richly blessed. Deny God, either by evil acts or general apathy, you will be cursed. It seems so odd that at time God spoke directly to His people, their society was set up to follow the decrees (at least physically)  and the consequences immediate, that so many people so often turned from God. 

But even centuries later,  people were still rebelling in Psalm 14, denying His very existence. They were so rebellious, not only did they want to sin, they wanted to take down everyone with them. Hmmmm 

In Matthew 27, we see the greatest rebellion of  mankind. The denial of God (or at least His rule) and consequently His son,  leads to the torture and death of our savior, Jesus. 

Obviously, we know the outcome of that… but what has the outcome of that meant for you? 

I wish I would have written it down.. but I saw a great quote that said something like, “ Don’t continue with the sin Jesus died to save you from.”   When we sin, we are in rebellion against the God of the Universe. The One who made all and yet cares about the hairs on your head. 

While Jefferson was talking about imperfect people rebelling against imperfect people to maintain justice, there is no need to rebel against the perfect One who cares for our every need. Allow the Lord to be your refuge in  this world of rebellion. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What do we learn about God in our readings today?
  2. Where have you seen rebellion against God today?
  3. How have you personally rebelled against God? Why? Have you experienced consequences from that rebellion? What would you tell others about your experience?

Prayer

Dear God – We praise You and thank You for being a just and true God of love and mercy who gave Your own Son for sinful, rebellious mankind, which includes me. I confess my times of rebellion. Help me see my own sins and rebellion and foolishness and turn from it. I seek You, Lord, and Your Way. Help me discern what is rebellion against You in the world today, and what leads to destruction. Help me speak for You, giving wisdom and warning from a heart of love for You and Your creation. Thank you for Your promises for those who follow You. May I be ready for Your Son’s return.

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Strange Fire

*Leviticus 10-11

Psalm 10

Matthew 23


Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            There are a number of cautionary tales in the bible.  Whenever I see a few specific characters, I mentally always add “The cautionary tale of….” and that character’s name to remind me that while every single one of us has a purpose, sometimes that purpose is just to be an example to others of what not to do.  The cautionary tale of Queen Vashti is one of my favorites (See the book of Esther), about privilege and responsibility.  Today’s reading is one of those, “The cautionary tale of Nadab and Abihu”, and it’s always intrigued me as well, primarily because I’ve always wondered what “strange fire” was.

            First, a little background.  Aaron and his descendants were designated (by God, see Leviticus 8 for details on their ordaining) to be the priests of Israel, the men who would stand before God and offer propitiation for the sins of the nation.  Aaron had 4 sons by his wife Elisheba (Ex 6:23), and Nadab and Abihu were the two oldest.  Aaron was the “High Priest”, and had some specific duties that only he was supposed to carry out, and his sons were all  priests.  All of his descendants are priests as well, but it should be noted that Nadab and Abihu did not have any children so their younger brothers stepped up to fill their role after the events in today’s reading (Eleazar and Ithamar, as noted in Num 4:4 and later in Lev 10).

            Keep in mind also that these newly appointed priests were just freshly put in the position, back in Lev 8.  We then have to go back a chapter from today’s reading to get the pattern of what a normal ritual should look like, going back and reading from Lev 9:1-23 for the particulars, and culminating in Lev 9:24 when “Then fire came out from before Yahweh and consumed the portions of fat on the altar.  And all the people saw it and shouted out and fell on their faces.” (LSB) .  I think I’d fall on my face too, it’s a pretty amazing scene.  It’s also pretty important to note that Aaron as the high priest was the one who was supposed to offer the sacrifices for the nation, as noted in Lev 9:6-10 and Ex 30:7-8.

            So, seemingly immediately after the miraculous fire coming out from before Yahweh and all of the people falling on their face, enter Nadab and Abihu, who “took their respective firepans and put fire in them.  Then they placed incense on it and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which He had not commanded.” (Lev 10:1, LSB)..  Then, as before, “fire came out from before Yahweh” but instead of burning up the offering, it burned up Nadab and Abihu.

            So what is strange fire?  I’ve honestly always wondered.  Carefully dissecting today’s reading,  there were probably a couple factors in their unfortunate demise.  First off, it was presumptuous of Nadab and Abihu to offer the incense before God, since that was the job of the High Priest.  Secondly, they used their own fire on the incense (Lev 10:1) instead of the “fire which came forth from Yahweh”.  The word that we translate as “strange” fire could also be equally accurately translated as “profane” fire, by the way.  This seems like a pretty cavalier attitude from a couple guys who just spent an entire week (Lev 8) preparing spiritually to enter the priesthood.  Then Moses says to Aaron “It is what Yahweh spoke, saying, by those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be glorified.” (Lev 10:3, LSB).

            While this was a bit presumptuous on Nadab and Abihu’s part, read on in Lev 10:8-11: “Yahweh then spoke…saying, “do not drink wine or strong drink…when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die…so as to separate between the holy and the profane…” (LSB).  It doesn’t seem likely that this was a random statement given the circumstances, but more likely a bit of preventative education from God  for future priests.  This seems to indicate that maybe they were impaired with alcohol as well, which might help to explain the (extremely poor) decision to offer “strange fire” on their own.  There was more than one thing going on, it looks like.

            What’s strangest to me in this story is that just prior to these events, both Nadab and Abihu were present with the 70 elders when God appeared to them in Ex 24:3-8.  These are men that should have had an extremely healthy respect for the most high God.  These are men that should have known with every fiber of their being that the Lord God Almighty is Qodesh (Holy, Set Apart, Seperated), and had seen with their own eyes the awesome and fearful power of the living God.  These are men that were likely in line to be High Priests themselves, but because they did not separate in their minds and actions between the holy and the profane, the clean and the unclean, they died in a fire.  They should have known better.

            When we approach our God, we need to make sure that we are not offering strange fire.  We should be sober (1 Pet 1:13) and focused.  We need to separate in our mind between the clean and the unclean, the holy and the profane, before we approach the altar.  We need to purify ourselves.  Consider for a moment a tiny ant, and your relationship with it comparatively.  Our role before our Creator is infinitesmally smaller than that, comparatively.  When we pray, when we seek God, we need to understand that this is the most important and critical moment in our existence, every time, and not a casual conversation: we are approaching the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, the master of all life who sustains us with His breath (Job 34:14-15) and we should tremble.   Approaching the Lord God Most High is not something that is to be taken casually or lightly, but with awe and reverence.

            Since God has sent us his Christ, we no longer need to make ritual sacrifices, the sacrifice has been made once and for all.   The sacrifices that we need to make, the sacrifices that our God desires from us are righteousness (which can also be translated as “equity”), and obedience (1 Sam 15:22). We need to reflect the amazing and awesome character of our God, and love Him with our whole heart, as well as loving the rest of His creation as much as we do ourselves (Mark 12:29-31), just like He has loved us. Jer 29:13 says “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”  (LSB).  If you go seeking inappropriately and offering strange fire, be very aware that instead of finding God, God might find you.  Don’t become a cautionary tale.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Lots of times when we pray, we basically just present God with our “to do” list.  Do you pause for a few moments and consider the level of interaction between a single tiny human and the omnipotent Creator of all things in the universe before you pray?  Every time?
  2. When you open your Bible to read it, do you pause for a few moments to wonder at the amazing grace and love of the Lord God most high who has given you His words as a guide, tiny human?
  3. Do you seek fully to know your God with the attitude of an unworthy servant seeking their hardest to please their master? All the time, or just on church days?
  4. Consider for just a moment, every day, what am amazing God we have.  It should melt your heart.   He sent His own son as a sin offering, to cut a covenant with us.  What are you going to do to show God how much you love Him back, today?

PRAYER

Father God, my Master and my Creator, forgive me, heal me, and teach me.  I am an unworthy servant.  You are wonderful and beautiful, and greater than all.  Help me to be a servant who pleases his master.  I was not worth the price You paid for me, have mercy on me Lord God.  Help me to love as You love.  Grant me your spirit, and teach me wisdom so that I can please you.  Thank you heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Two Sides of the Mountain

Exodus 31-32

Psalm 5

Matthew 19

Devotion by Jennifer Hall (IN)

Exodus 31 and 32 are full of some pretty exciting stuff. There seems to be good reason why Moses is a recurring character in children’s lessons and why illustrations of these stories made the cut for one of the rare colored pictures inserted into the old Children’s Bibles of my day! 

In this story, while the Israelites were busy stripping off their valuable gold to fashion it into a false god, Moses was busy encountering the LORD.  Unfortunately, not only were the Israelites just doing the handicraft work of sculpting calves with gold, we also see in Exodus 32:8, 

“. . .they have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt”

Umm, excuse me, who brought them out of Egypt??  The only God. The one true God. The LORD who was busy inscribing tablets for His people at this same time. God was writing. At a time where writing wasn’t something you did with a stylus on magic screens, when you didn’t highlight or color code or copy and paste. . .writing itself was more rare and precious. And while they were spouting lies and whining, God was inscribing His words in stone for them anyway.

As an occupational therapist, one thing I get to do quite a bit is assess how people write, how I might be able to make it easier, less painful, help children develop writing skills, etc. So, while I read this chapter, I couldn’t help but get intrigued wondering how He was doing it and how it looked. Is God right handed or left? Was He pointing with an index finger? Does He have an index finger? Were there any pink sparkles involved? Basically, I got distracted thinking about things through my filter and what I know. While these chapters don’t share this detail, Deuteronomy and later in Exodus tell us that these tablets were written by “the finger of God”.  That is some handwriting action I would LOVE to observe! But most importantly, given the God who parted the Red Sea for this crew to miraculously flee Egypt, was writing with His finger on stone for His people, one would assume these words were treasures. But. . .

How heartbreaking to see two vastly different things going on at Mount Sinai at the same time. A God who loves His people and knows them best writing a message for them. A people who claims to be His in one breath, yet lifting a golden cow as their god in another, all the while clueless to what the true God is busy doing for them.  Surely we can relate before we throw stones. We live in a world of gold, cows, false gods, lies, distractions, and people telling us other things are gods constantly. We also live in a world created by the one true God with a beautiful plan for renewal in the coming kingdom.  Maybe one day we can see God write, but until then, we have His living word, His spirit, and His love available to us. Let us purge our golden idols and seek to focus our attention on Him even if it means being patient, obedient in tough things, and focused on the promised land.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What can you learn and apply from the characters on the top and bottom of Mount Sinai in today’s story?
  2. What can you do today to treasure God’s word?

Prayer:

Dear God, You are the one true God worthy of all our praise. Thank You for loving us through all our faults. Help us remember to seek You first and cast aside any idols we have. Amen.

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