Tag: Bible

Little Children

Deuteronomy 5-6

Psalm 25

Mark 9

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

What is the simplest way to draw closer to God? To receive our children and teach them about their Lord.  Whether it is our blood, our church, or our villages, the relationship our Heavenly Father has with us is best understood when we become the loving adult meeting the spiritual needs of kids.  Invite them to talk about God. Remind them of His commands, His promise, and their purpose in Him.  Pray in the car. Read devotion at the dinner table. Take them to church.  Hold them in your arms while you worship. Admonish and acknowledge God in front of them in all your struggles and victories.

I think these thoughts are best shared today in seeing the through-line in our reading listed below.  Additionally, I have shared the words of a song recently inspired by these scriptures, which has acted as a daily reminder to the role I serve in my family, my occupation, my village, and my church.  I have also attached a link of a generated version of this song that you are welcome to listen to as you contemplate the fulfillments of the challenge in today’s reading.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord Your God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”- Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’  He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,  ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’” – Mark 9:35-37

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.  Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,  and my hope is in you all day long.  Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.” – Psalm 25:7

The Only One

God is not a man that he should lie

Every promise He has made, he will supply

If we wander through the desert

And our walk is filled with strife

We can look to the heavens

For the coming Bread of Life

Come sing with me, oh God we believe

You are the Only One

Here this old and young, He’s still not done

Til every battle’s won

Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart

Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart

His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One

God is not a man to change His mind

From beginning to the end there’s Jesus Christ

Though like sheep we’ve gone astray

He’s still searching for us now

Turn your eyes to God, ev’ry idol disavow

Come sing with me, oh God we believe

You’re the Only One

Here this old and young, He’s still not done

Til every battle’s won

Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart

Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart

His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One

Here is the link if you would like to listen: https://suno.com/s/tKPiG0mCfWYUqZnU

Reflection Questions

  1. What happens when we don’t live out Deuteronomy 6:4-9? Whether you are a parent or not, how can you improve the way that you live out this passage?
  2. Give some examples of what it could look like to “welcome a child”. From Mark 9:35-37 and your own experiences, what are the benefits of welcoming a child? When was the last time you welcomed a child? In what additional way(s) can you practice welcoming a child this coming week?
  3. How do you allow God to teach you, so that you in turn can share with others? How do you hold God’s words in your heart? What else can you do to be more teachable? What happens when we don’t let God teach us?

Prayer

Dear God, the One and Only god, that makes You worthy of our praise and of my love with all my heart, soul, and strength. Thank you for sharing Your precious words with us. I want to learn from You, God, more and more. Help me to be teachable. Open my ears and my mind to lessons from You. Help me hold Your words – not my own, and not the world’s – but Your words – in my heart, throughout my home, and spilling over into every conversation. Show me how you want me to welcome the children so they receive a bit of Your words and the love of You and Your Son through me.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

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

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

At the Edge of Promise

Deuteronomy 1-2

Psalm 24

Mark 8

Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

As an educator of a dozen years, I find that I have a handful of what I call “pocket TED talks” that I return to time and time again as a way of conveying convincing life lessons to students. These are well-practiced insights that I return to most upon hearing a common signal word or phrase. For example, one cue is the word “just,” which minimizes any role or behavior, demonstrating our belief in its importance. The second, and more relevant to today’s topic, is “what if…” I have heard this opening phrase almost every single day as a history teacher and a principal. “What if World War 3 started today?” “What if there was a real fire in the building?” While I might provide a framing or a forecast, I say you cannot predict the future, but you can look to the past as a tell of what is most likely to happen.

At the opening of Deuteronomy, we find Israel still moving, but now at the edge of the Promised Land. From both a literal and figurative mountaintop, Moses pauses to look backward. He recounts their journey; the victories, the failings, the wandering, and the waiting are all part of his retelling. It is the spiritual season recap for God’s people, who have the tendency to forget.

“The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” — Deuteronomy 2:7

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.” — Psalm 24:3–6

Below is a list of some of these important reminders we find in today’s reading. Reflect on the history that is presented to us and consider your own. As we stand at the edge of the coming Kingdom of God, take a moment to survey from the mountaintop.

– God gave manna when there was no food in the desert. Jesus duplicates this in the feeding of thousands while the crowd waited for spiritual sustenance. Reflect on your own blessings of daily bread and how God has given you what you need to live today.

– God directs Israel’s path, guiding them as a cloud by day, fire by night, and through his direction to Moses. Jesus duplicates this when he asks each of us to bear our cross and follow him, showing us the way to live. Reflect on your own walk with God and the path He has you on, and the people he has brought alongside you for the journey.

– God remained faithful to the people of Israel even when they worshiped other gods and disobeyed direct instructions. Jesus remains faithful to his disciples even when they gripe about not having bread shortly after watching the very same miracle performed. Reflect on the faithfulness of God to you. Remember how God has shown up in the most difficult seasons.

– God was on the side of his people in battle, bringing them victory. The death of Jesus, as God’s design, is a battle that Jesus came to fight on our behalf once and for all. While it might be easy to reflect on your current battle, reflect instead on God’s gift of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice of love, restoring us to Him.

If you are “just” waiting for an answer in the present, or you are reeling in “what ifs” about the future, pause to remember the Lord. The wandering has not been wasted. He has made a path with a purpose. No doubt, we are not out of the wilderness, but we are also at the edge of promise.

Reflection Questions

See bold faced reflection above

Prayer

Dear God Almighty – I praise You for Your faithfulness and mercy. Over and over again You provide for me and You show me which way to go. I thank You for being such a GOOD GOD to me, every day in my past, all day today, and every day in the future. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son and the Kingdom You are preparing for those who accept and follow Jesus. Everyday, it is getting closer. Everyday, help me move closer to You, too.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Miklat

Numbers 35-36

Psalm 23

Mark 8

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

On any given day in Israel, the sounding of an alert can send an entire city scrambling toward a miklat—a bomb shelter—seeking safety from the enemy’s incoming attack. While this would not be commonplace for most of us, this is just another routine feature of Israeli life, a reality woven into the mandated architecture of homes, hospitals, and schools. These shelters stand as silent witnesses to the real persistent threat, offering all within its walls refuge from the destruction.

We can find the use of this word in Ancient Israel too, describing again, protection from harm, although the enemies are more likely to be within the same walls. In Numbers 35:6–15, God commands the establishment of six cities of refuge, places where those guilty of involuntary manslaughter could flee for safety. These cities were not loopholes for the guilty, but lifelines for the vulnerable—spaces of mercy in the midst of justice. Without them, the accused would face certain death at the hands of an avenger. With them, they were given time, protection, and the hope of appeal and even restoration. God used the physical space to deliver a message of hope for his people.

That truth echoes in Psalm 23:4–6, where the psalmist walks through “the valley of the shadow of death” yet fears no evil. Why? Because refuge is no longer merely a place; it is a presence. “For you are with me.” In seasons of fear, sorrow, or struggle, our instinct is often to run—to escape, to deny, or to despair. Yet the Shepherd leads us differently. He guides us to green pastures and still waters (Psalm 23:2), even though it may look more like scorched earth than scenic mountain hike.  A family singing hymns in the dim light of a bunker, the shared hope in a friend’s embrace as we grieve, a desperate flight from addiction that leads you back to the Word of God, all can be reminders of a present, working God.

In the same manner, we find this constant companionship in Jesus Christ. As the fulfillment of the Law, He becomes our ultimate miklat, both the bearer and redeemer of our sin. In Mark 8:1–9, Jesus feeds the four thousand, revealing Himself as the true Bread who satisfies not only physical hunger but a far greater spiritual need. Just as those awaiting the Gospel message outside of the boat, we neither have the strength to stand judgment nor the ability to walk to the next town over. Our miklat is built in the foundation of salvation’s careful plan, so let us be constantly reminded we can run to His refuge at any moment.

Reflection Questions

  1. When and where have you experienced God’s refuge?
  2. What might God’s refuge look like in a current situation you face?
  3. How can you be a part of offering God’s refuge to someone who feels like they are in a dark valley?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, giver of all life and true refuge, thank you for providing refuge and giving the gift of Your Son and salvation. Help me see and feel that You are near. Even when my situation doesn’t change, Your presence calms and shelters me. Show me where and how I can share You, Your strength, Your guidance, and Your peace with others. In Jesus’ name I pray.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

The Heart of the Matter

Numbers 33-34

Psalm 23

Mark 7

-Devotion by Emilee Christian (MO)

We’ve all heard the saying, “it’s the thought that counts.” Intentions matter. That’s what Jesus is getting at in today’s scripture reading in Mark 7. 

Jesus tells the Pharisees actions without heart mean nothing. He quotes Isaiah 29:11 saying, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (NLT). It got me thinking about how easy it can be to practice routine spiritual disciplines without our hearts being fully present. The spiritual disciplines I’m referring to include tithing, regular church attendance, praying before meals, communion, prayer, worship, and reading of scripture. These are the things that easily become mundane for the longtime practicing Christian. It’s important to find ways to mix things up once in a while. We can easily get stuck hamster wheeling through the motions without taking the time to really consider what it is we’re doing. Taking a break from your normal routine can reignite your passion. When we feel like we’re going on autopilot, switching things up, practicing our spiritual disciplines in different ways, helps us refocus on the task and approach it with a renewed attitude. 

I understand not everyone’s mind works like this, so I’ve created a list of suggestions. This week I encourage you to choose one discipline to switch up. See if the task means more to you. If you get more out of the experience. Or, perhaps you’ll learn just how much you enjoyed doing it your way, which will hopefully renew your heartfelt intentions. The goal of this challenge is to bring yourself back to the heart of why we do what we do, by pausing and re-evaluating your intentions. 

Tithing 

  1. Write your check at a different time than normal. If you’re always doing your check right before the plate is passed, try preparing it at home first. If you always come with your check prepared, try writing it during the worship service. I personally really enjoy tithing during services. To me, there’s something intimate about listening to the worship music, getting on my phone and checking my pay stubs, doing quick math on the back of a bulletin, then placing my check in the offering box. 
  2. Include your children in tithing. This may be by encouraging them to put their own money in the plate, or giving them something to put in the offering. I still remember the feeling of importance I got as a little girl whenever I dumped my change into the offering. It felt good to give to God and made me feel part of something bigger than myself, even if all I contributed were pennies. 

Church Attendance 

  1. Go to service at a different time if your church offers multiple services. 
  2. Sit somewhere else during the service. 

Praying Before Meals

  1. If you typically pray silently, pray aloud.
  2. If your family is the fold hands type – try holding hands to pray. 
  3. Put your hands in a different position. 
  4. Start your prayer off with thanking Him for one specific blessing you experienced since your last meal. 
  5. Have your family take turns saying the prayer. 

Communion 

  1. If you know it’s communion Sunday, sit somewhere else during the service so you are taking communion in a new environment. 

Prayer

  1. Pray aloud.
  2. Pray at a different time in the day.
  3. Put your hands in a different position.
  4. Start a prayer journal. Or just simply write down your prayers. 
  5. Create a prayer chart with a white board. 
  6. Pray when you are bored or waiting. This is how we learn to pray without ceasing and be in constant conversation with God. 
  7. Take yourself to a quiet place and pray on your knees.
  8. End your prayer time with a worship song. 
  9. Pray with your children.
  10. Pray with your spouse.
  11. Pray in public. Without being the annoying guy in Luke 18:9-14. For example, you could end your coffee date with your friend by praying for her right there in the shop, quietly in the corner taking a private moment together. 

Worship

  1. If your church is a standing and singing church, sit down during a song, bowing your head in prayer. 
  2. Don’t sing. Listen to the words. 
  3. Do sing! Even if you are no good and you think no one wants to hear your voice – God does. 
  4. Do a mini worship session in the car on the way to work. Turn on the local Christian radio, or play some of your favorite worship music. 
  5. Take a Sunday off from leading worship if you’re part of the worship team. Sometimes it can be nice to simply be a part of  the service instead of leading it. This also may give the opportunity for others in your church to step up and serve. 

Reading of Scripture

  1. Sit someplace else in your house for your quiet time.
  2. Take a break from what you are currently reading. It’s okay to flip to a different part of the Bible, or a different devotional book. Doing it just for the sake of doing it and saying you completed something is exactly what Jesus was accusing the Pharisees of doing. 

Questions: 

  1. Which challenge are you going to choose? 
  2. Give yourself a heart check. Are there areas of your faith that have become mundane? 

Prayer –

based on the lyrics “The Motions” by Mathew West

Dear God,

I don’t want to go through the motions. I don’t want to go one more day without your all consuming passion inside of me. Let your love make me whole. 

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen. 

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Feeling Forsaken

Subscribe to continue reading

Subscribe to get access to the rest of this post and other subscriber-only content.

Walking on Water Again?

Numbers  29-30

Psalm 22           

Mark 6

– Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Mark 6:45-52 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him.
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

Mark! What’s the deal with saying our hearts were too hard???  Why would God have you write that in your gospel??

The official line about the gospel of Mark is that Peter and other original apostles are the source of the material he writes from.  They tell him what happened and then he writes it down. We need to ask ourselves so many times when reading these records about what was Jesus trying to teach his apostles and disciples?  Then what is the lesson for us in the recalling of them? 

The trip on the sea of Galilee that includes another walk on the water by Jesus comes after feeding 5000 men plus women and children (maybe 15-20K people).  He uses such the small amount of food to start with.  So many questions come to my feeble mind.  How did Jesus ever break up that much bread or fish?  How did God multiply the food to fill baskets full?  Where did the baskets come from?  Who ate the leftovers and for how long?  So many questions on these records.

What was the apostle’s reactions to helping to break and hand out the food to that many people?  Jesus says “you feed them” to the apostles.  Which is exactly what they proceed to do.  What should they and we learn from the experience besides astonishment at the event? 

I believe that the lesson for us and those disciples there is that God is the source of all blessing and sufficiency.  God alone is the giver of all that is good and fruitful, the only source of true food and health for all the people of the world.  Our very food we eat is only because of the grace and mercy of God to give it to us.  Jesus looks to God and then blesses this small amount of food, making it sufficient to do the humanly impossible.  What great power of God is at work in Jesus’ life and is still available to us today. 

Christians must bring their lives to God in an attitude of obedience and sacrifice. When we do this, we need to expect God to do far beyond what can be imagined.   We should trust that God not only wants to meet our needs, but that He wants to give to us with overflowing spiritual blessings.

Are our hearts too hard to believe our God’s promises?  “Hardened” here is to be “petrified” or maybe should mean “calloused”.  Our habits of life that don’t believe the promises of God cause our hearts by repetition to become calloused to the truth.  We develop a lifetime set of beliefs that doesn’t believe that God can do anything very miraculous.  We start to believe miracles and all that Jesus stuff died out with the apostles and isn’t that important today. 

We say we have faith but prove that we don’t by our actions and speech.  “You feed them” is what Jesus tells us to do, but we say, “OK we will, but here’s our few loaves and fishes.  Don’t blame me when it really doesn’t work out. I’ll do it but I don’t really believe that it will work with my resources.”  When we pray for someone to be delivered or healed are we really standing in our confidence of God’s help or do we just go through the motions?

I know that one of my lazy habits is to excuse my prayers by telling God that I will pray for people, but because I really don’t know what to pray for, I will just put them up before God and then go on with my life.  Ever been confronted with a specific situation that is right there in front of you with no apparent answers to it?  How did you react?  Our first habit needs to become the truth of God’s Word for us, not the calloused habit of our hearts to give Him our excuses.

So, I thought we were going to look at the walking on the water event.  More questions come to mind.  Why does Jesus send them off across the lake without him and just go pray by himself?  What happens that changes their hearts so much from this experience of the waves and wind?  Here they are again in a situation that faces them head on and close in.  No amount of rowing or sail handling will get them out of it.  Remember that they were experienced fisherman with a great deal of boat handling and weather experience.  “Jesus don’t worry about us we have it handled, have some confidence we are the experts”.  But once again we and they don’t really have it.  For the apostles it is that if God can feed the five thousand then He does have the answers for every situation. 

What is the lesson of the waves?  Once again that God has our care in place, and we need to put our trust in His promises.  Jesus says he will ever be with us to the end of the earth.  This is his church and he is building it and taking care of it.  We are not really in charge of what we think we are.  We are confident every minute until the wind and waves are overwhelming.  How many times God saves us from disaster and even death. 

Ephesians 3:20(NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Psalms 22:22-24(NLT) I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.

Questions:

See bold questions above

Prayer:

Father God, come to us with your promises and give us the heart that hears them and will believe You.  Thank you for the records of Your Word to give us confidence to do Your will.  Help us to see the Christ-in -us that will give us strength to act and speak.  Thank you that Your will is still to feed and save people from destruction.  Be with us this day as we hear you with our hearts.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

What are you trusting in?

Num 23-24

Ps 20

Mark 5

~ Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

Cayce Fletcher is a wife and homeschool mom of three. She writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com where she helps women cultivate a life of depth, discipline, and delight. Read the latest post on finding beauty in the everyday here. 

The streets were hot and crowded as the people jostled for space. In the midst of the dust and sweat, a woman with a trembling hand reached out and touched the rough-hewn cloak of the man walking and talking in front of her. 

She knew that this was a life-or-death situation. She knew she just had to reach him. If she could only touch him, the horror of the last decade would at last be finished. She shuddered. Years of being alone. Years of throwing her money at doctors for a cure. Years of being barred from the temple. 

With a look to the side and the left, she leaped at her chance and grabbed the hem of his cloak. Just then, the man turned and said, “Who touched me?” 

Fear settled in the pit of her stomach. Everyone looked around with a questioning glance. What was he talking about? But the woman knew – it was her. She spoke up, stammering, expecting a rebuke, “It was I, my Lord.” 

Instead of speaking harshly to her, he gently turned to her and said, “Go. Your faith has made you well.” 

Today, we read of this woman’s story and her miraculous faith in Jesus. We also read about Balaam’s curses (or lack thereof). Each of these stories shows the truth of Psalm 21:6-8: 

“Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;

    he will answer him from his holy heaven

    with the saving might of his right hand.

  Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

  They collapse and fall,

    but we rise and stand upright.”

Balak had chosen to trust in the curses of Balaam. He wanted Balaam to bring about the destruction of the Israelites, but he was thwarted because the people who trust in the name of God will rise and stand upright. Balaam was not even able to curse the Israelites because God as with them. The curses instead fell on Balak. 

The woman chose to trust in God through Jesus, and she was able to rise and stand upright, healed and made clean through Christ. Doctors, money, and status could not save her, but God did. 

We are constantly blown and tossed by the storms of life. When we go through suffering, when we go through pain, we have to turn and fix our eyes on the Lord. Others may collapse and fall, but if we trust in him, we will rise and stand upright. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What have you found yourself trusting in lately? 
  2. What are the chariots and horses of today? Why is it so much easier to trust in ‘chariots and horses’? 
  3. Is there a situation in your life where you need to trust God more? 

Prayer

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for the care that you give each one of your servants. Thank you for not neglecting us in our sorrow and need, but instead, providing for us in every way. Help us to trust in you more. 

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Where are you looking?

Num 21-22

Ps 20

Mark 4

~ Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

Cayce Fletcher is a wife and homeschool mom of three. She writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com where she helps women cultivate a life of depth, discipline, and delight. Read the latest post on finding beauty in the everyday here. 

The Israelites are approaching the end of their 40th year wandering in the desert. The older generation had passed away, and the new generation was rising up and being prepared to enter the Promised Land. 

At the end of Numbers 21, Edom had refused passage to the Israelites, so the people were forced to take the longer way back around the Red Sea. In the quintessential Israelite fashion, they began to complain about Moses’s leadership and the ‘worthless food’ they were eating. So, God sent ‘fiery serpents’ to attack the people. 

Why fiery serpents? The word ‘fiery’ here is seraph. This could mean a venomous snake – whose bite would sting. But the word seraph is interesting. Fire throughout the Old Testament is often used to describe God’s judgment and holiness. By sending a fiery snake, God was inciting judgment on the Israelites for their complaints. 

Why fiery serpents? Ever since the Garden of Eden, serpents are synonymous with evil. Why would God send those to the people? David Christensen writes, “The serpents point to “Egyptian symbolism.”” The people had desired Egypt and its God, so God effectively sent them these things. But, of course, the effect of this is the opposite of what the people wanted. When the people get what they desire, it results in death. 

This is true for us as well. Sometimes, we desire what we should not. We complain. We get bitter. We think, if only I could have that instead of the worthless things around me. But when we get that desire, it results in death. James 1:14-15 describes it like this: “But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Thankfully, our salvation mirrors the salvation found in this passage. Moses was told to put a bronze serpent on a stick, to lift it up, and anyone who looked at it would be healed. John 3:14-15 says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 

Left to our own desires and devices, we will follow a path that ends in death, but when we look to Christ as our sacrifice, savior, and King, we will find the path to eternal life. Where are you looking today?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt despite all they had seen? 
  2. Why do you think God sent the fiery serpents as a punishment? 
  3. How do you see yourself in the story of the Israelites? 

Prayer

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, whom we can look to for eternal life. Help us to follow after you in obedience and reverence. Let us not turn away to our own desires. Help us to flee from them and run towards you. 

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

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.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload