Romans 8 is truly a big chapter when I consider all of Paul’s letters… there are so many amazing ideas, reminders, and encouragements within these verses. I encourage you to read this chapter more than just once to see what stands out to you each time through.
Woven throughout this whole chapter is the impact and role the Holy Spirit has in the life of a Christian. This gift is one that brings life, sonship, righteousness, advocacy, and victory. It makes sense why David is practically begging God to not remove it (Psalm 51:11) when he is caught in sin with Bathsheba!
In David’s example from Psalm 51, we are reminded of the contrast to Spirit-living: living in the realm of the flesh, which leads to death. In this instance, though the death was not his own, David’s acting on his sin did lead to the death of Uriah as well as his son who was conceived in sin. Not only that, but you have the heartbreak Bathsheba must have been experiencing by being taken advantage of, losing her husband, and her baby. And yet in all of this, David writes “Against you, you only, have I sinned…” (v.4). He understood the magnitude of his actions that caused him to be drawn away, into the realm of the flesh, which is full of death.
At times, I think we can forget about the power we have access to that connects us deeply with God and His Son. Sometimes, as non-trinitarians, I find we even tend to shy away from discussing the Holy Spirit. But when we do, I fear we truly miss out on one of the greatest gifts we have access to in this lifetime! Obviously, Jesus’ death and resurrection that bring about eternal life is truly the greatest gift. But that is a promised gift – something we will experience and reap when Jesus returns. The Holy Spirit is the gift we can use right NOW, a taste of what is to come…an appetizer to the Kingdom if you will. 🙂
Unfortunately for David, he did not have the bigger picture we have today to keep him going during times of struggle. He knew of a coming Messiah, but did not know who, or when, or how. As modern-day Christians, we have so many advantages we must remember and utilize. One of those advantages is access to the Scriptures. We are so fortunate to know of the final verses in Romans 8:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Reflection Questions:
There are many benefits we gain when we access the Holy Spirit, and those benefits are part of what make us so unique as Christians. Think about your own life, have there been moments where you have experienced a supernatural peace, joy, or patience? Have you been called to move in a way that brought about a significant change? Have you been at a time so challenging in your life you couldn’t imagine taking another step, and yet found strength to carry on? All of these are moments where the Holy Spirit may be interceding in your life.
What would you add as a reminder to yourself to Paul’s list of things that cannot separate you from God’s love?
What other verses or key concepts stood out to you today from our reading?
Prayer:
Dear God, I praise You for Your incredible love and mercy. Thank you for the incredible gifts of Your Son and coming eternal life and thank You for Your presence and Your Spirit. Help me live daily in Your Spirit!
Anyone else out there a rubric fan? You know, someone who absolutely LOVES a rubric… an exact description on how to get that A+… As a student, I would get so much joy in having a clear answer as to how to get 100% in class. If I knew the expectation, I could ensure I did exactly the right amount of work to meet the standard. The Israelites had the law as their rubric. The problem was, the law was essentially impossible to follow in its entirety to “get an A” with God. Enter, Jesus.
In Romans 7 Paul describes how the law interacts with sin and God’s grace. Though Jesus had already fulfilled the law, Paul is reiterating how the law still carries value when it comes to experiencing life and deliverance through Jesus Christ. How exactly does this work? It is through the law that sin is revealed in our lives – the law recognizes sin as sin, which is ultimately death (v.13). Sin is what keeps us from life, and if we do not know what sin is, how will we know what to avoid or rid ourselves of?
Paul’s personal confession provides a vulnerable look at the reality we ultimately all experience – “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (v.18). Even with a rubric, Paul was incapable of rising to the standard due to the sinful nature in his own life. This is the same for every Christian in all of history! Even at our closest to perfection, we are simply never going to be above a C average.
BUT, thanks be to GOD, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord (v. 25)!
From my perspective, this is the tension that every Christian walk holds: I am a sinner, yet I am redeemed. There must be humility and confidence in my identity; the recognition of the death that comes from sin allows for the opportunity of salvation through my Savior. These seemingly conflicting truths are our reality as born-again Christ followers. Thanks be to God indeed!
Reflection Questions:
As a Christian, what then is our response to the reality of these truths? Looking to Paul as an example, it seems to start with gratitude! How can you practice this today?
Reflecting on Paul’s vulnerability in verses 18-23, have you experienced similar feelings? How have you reminded yourself of God’s grace in these moments?
Prayer:
Dear God – You are worthy of all my praise. Thank You for Your holy, just and good law that shows us what sin and death is. Thank You for loving us even when we were stuck at a C average, or worse. Thank You for the new union You provided for us, to Your Son Jesus whom You raised from the dead. Help me to live each day in the newness of the Spirit, bearing fruit for You.
I am excited to be back with you all again this year! We will be focused primarily on our Romans passages this week, but will pop back and forth between our others as well. Be sure to take time to continue to read the story of David, and enjoy the Psalms!
In Romans 5, we read about the abundance of grace God offers to us through the death of Jesus. Paul begins chapter 6 assuming the rigid Romans would now be attempting to “logically justify” their own fleshly desires, to which Paul gives them NO opportunity to misinterpret his message. In verses 1 and 15 Paul calls out “By NO means” are we to continue to live in our sinful nature! We are set free from whatever struggles we may face, and instead bound to a loving, faithful, and holy God that promises us an everlasting life with Him when we become slaves to righteousness.
What’s more remarkable is that this ‘slavery to God’ does not fit the typical role of slavery. Slaves offered something to their masters – labor resulting in some profit. Their sacrifices brought about something of value and worth to their masters. In case you forgot, God needs no laborers. He needs no profit. There is nothing we could ever do that would give something to God He could not get Himself. There is no sacrifice we could offer that would bring more value or worth (see Psalms 50) to us in His eyes. AND YET, we are called to offer every part of ourselves as instruments of righteousness (v. 13). Why? Because we know the wages of sin is death, and we have been given a gift of eternal life (v.23) when we submit ourselves to the One who created us.
This simple truth of the gospel so easily loses its grandeur. Pause a moment here and reflect on this:
You are no longer bound to sin that leads to death.
You are free to accept the gift of eternal life.
Jesus Christ has indeed died to sin once for all, so we may reap the benefits of eternal life.
You are under God’s grace.
You too, may live a new life, my friend.
Reflection Questions:
Is there a sin in your life you are allowing to hold you captive? Confess it now, and experience freedom.
What practical way can you offer every part of yourself to God today?
Prayer:
Dear Father,
Thank you for being a great God and master who gives the incredible gift of grace through Your son Jesus. Thank you for making a way out so I no longer need to be a slave to sin. Help me walk in newness of life now and eternal life in Your Coming Kingdom.
Today we are sharing the second half of Brian K Froehlich’s devotion on 1 Samuel 9-12 which he posted on his facebook page on April 11, 2026. Brian has faithfully been writing and sharing his thoughts as he reads through the Bible chronologically this year. Become his facebook friend and read along with his I Believe series.
1 Samuel 11 – A Real Victory
Saul leads Israel against the Ammonites (11:6–11).
God’s Spirit comes on him.
He unites the people.
He wins a decisive victory.
This is important.
Saul is not useless.
He is not a joke.
There is real success here.
And the people say:
“Now establish the kingdom in Saul’s hands!” (11:15)
It feels like everything is working.
But success does not always mean approval.
Sometimes God allows something to work
to show something deeper.
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1 Samuel 12 – The Truth Comes Out
Samuel gathers the people and speaks plainly.
First, he asks:
“Have I wronged you?” (12:3)
They answer:
“No.”
Samuel has been faithful.
Then he reminds them:
God delivered you from Egypt.
God saved you again and again.
God raised up leaders when you cried out.
And yet…
“When you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.” (12:12)
There it is again.
God was already their King.
Their problem was not lack of leadership.
Their problem was lack of trust.
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The Key Lesson from These Chapters
God says:
“They have rejected Me as their king.” (1 Samuel 8:7)
But what does God do?
He gives them a king anyway.
A man:
Saul
This is the pattern:
God is the King.
God appoints a human king.
That king rules under God.
That matches what God had already said:
“Be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses.” (Deuteronomy 17:15)
The king is chosen by God.
The king is under God.
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Why Saul Was Not Enough
Saul had:
• The look
• The opportunity
• The support
But he could not fix the real problem.
Because the real problem was not enemies.
It was sin.
It was the human heart.
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Then Comes David
A better king.
“A man after His own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
But even David fails.
So the Bible keeps pointing forward.
God promises:
“Your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)
A future King is coming.
⸻
The One Who Could Do the Job
From David’s line comes:
Jesus Christ
And the Bible describes Him clearly:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
A man.
The right man.
⸻
He is:
• “A man accredited by God” (Acts 2:22)
• The one God raised (Acts 2:24)
• The one God made Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36)
And Jesus says:
“All authority… has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18)
Given.
Not taken.
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How the Story Ends
Even at the end, Scripture says:
“He hands over the kingdom to God the Father.” (1 Corinthians 15:24)
God remains the King.
The Son rules under Him.
⸻
Bringing It All Together
1 Samuel 9–12 is not just about Saul.
It is about a pattern:
God is the King.
People struggle to trust Him.
God appoints a human ruler.
Saul wasn’t the one.
David wasn’t the one.
But God never stopped working.
⸻
The Final Truth
We trust and receive the man Christ Jesus
to lead our world back to God.
Not because He replaced God.
But because God chose Him.
Because He obeyed perfectly.
Because He overcame sin.
Because He was raised to life.
⸻
Saul couldn’t do it.
David couldn’t do it.
Jesus WAS the one for the job.
Jesus IS the one for the job.
Jesus WILL BE the one for the job.
Reflection Questions
What are your impressions of Samuel?
What does the Bible tell us about who Jesus is? What is his relationship with God? What is his relationship with man? What jobs has he already done, is doing now, and will do?
Prayer
Dear God, I praise You for Your perfect plan. You are the All Wise & All Powerful King deserving of my allegiance, love, and obedience. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son to draw us close to You, to mediate between God and man, to show us how to please You, to conquer sin, and destroy the enemy, to rule for a time and then hand Your kingdom back to his Father and God. I desire to be a faithful, loving, obedient subject of You and Your perfectly chosen & anointed Messiah. Please show me how to serve well.
Today’s reading in 1 Samuel 5-6 is so thought-provoking. I can’t help but wonder, how could these people be directly confronted with the power of God and not be convinced to follow Him as the one true God and to forsake all other gods? They literally witnessed firsthand the terrifying wrath of God Almighty as they were plagued with tumors and their “god” Dagon was reduced to a beheaded and dismembered statue. In our modern times, it is truly mind-boggling to me that anyone can see the beauty and splendor of earth (the variety of flowers, trees, natural landscapes, etc.) and our amazing bodies (immune system, regeneration, etc.) and conclude it happened by mere explosive chance. It reminds me that we can’t take it personally when people don’t accept the gospel message in spite of our best efforts. We have to be faithful that God knows hearts and He can find a way to reach them if their hearts are open. Today’s reading in Acts 26 is such a great testimony to that concept. Paul testifies to King Agrippa about his actions toward Christians while he was a Pharisee:
9 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities. (CSBA)
God knew Paul’s heart and he used Jesus Christ to reach Paul. Paul had to literally be struck blind before he could finally “see” the light. We are wisely advised in Matthew 10:14 regarding what to do when others reject the gospel message we share:
14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
It’s also important to remember that we could be planting a seed that might bear fruit down the road because God will see to it that it comes to fruition based on that person’s heart. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 reminds us of this important point:
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. (ESV)
In the meantime, we must not give up as advised in Galatians 6:9:
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (ESV)
When I signed up for today’s devotion, I did so specifically because Psalm 46 is one of my absolute favorite passages in the Bible; therefore, I can’t end this devotion without tying in this beloved chapter. This passage is a great reminder that when we encounter trouble in this world (including resistance to the gospel message), we can be comforted by verse 1 that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (ESV) Be obedient and share the gospel message, and then give it to God.
9 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress . (ESV)
Reflection Questions
What were some of Paul’s experiences in sharing the gospel message?
What have your experiences been in sharing the gospel message? Do you let the fear of, or past negative reactions keep you from trying?
What can you learn from Paul?
What makes God and His Son so worthy of sharing with others? What happens when we don’t?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the One True God – worthy of all praise and worship and worthy of our dedication to sharing the good news. I confess the times I have not taken advantage of all the opportunities You place before me to share what a great, worthy God You are. Help me be who You want me to be. Help me learn from Paul and boldly, with a heart of compassion and urgency, share with others who You are and what You and Your Son have done and will do. Thank You for opening and changing hearts and being the help I need today.
I believe Psalm 45 refers to Jesus and the upcoming wedding of the bride, the Church, to her bridegroom Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1 confirms this assumption as it quotes Ps. 45:6-7,
8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (NIV)
I was especially struck by verse 5 of Psalm 45, “Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet.” (NIV) This piercing of hearts could be literal as Revelation depicts Jesus wielding a sword and subduing his enemies. “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” (Rev. 19:15, ESV) However, I couldn’t help but wonder if this verse also has some metaphorical significance. Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies. Do we pray that their hearts will be pierced by the gospel message so that they have the hope of salvation? Acts 2:36-38 beautifully illustrates what happens when our hearts are pierced by the gospel message:
36 ‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’
37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do? ’
38 Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (CSBA)
Are there enemies of the kingdom that you could pray for at this time? Remember, God’s heart in this matter: “This is good, and it pleases God our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4, CSBA).
Reflection Questions
Who are the enemies of the kingdom that you could pray for at this time?
Will you pray that their hearts will be pierced by the gospel message so that they have the hope of salvation? Are there other words and actions that you can take that would support this prayer?
In what ways can you pray for and act towards a heart that more aligns with God’s heart?
Prayer
Dear God, I praise you for being the perfect One True God. You are the absolute perfect God of love, compassion, mercy, grace, righteousness, truth, power and justice. Help me God to see Your heart and recognize where mine needs adjusting. Help me God to develop a heart, thoughts, words, prayers and actions that strive for salvation for all. I know that your justice and judgment and timing is perfect. Show me who are the enemies of Your Kingdom, and how You want me to pray for them, warn them, and model a better way that leads to life with You and Your Son.
Today, I’d like to focus on Boaz’s major role in the book of Ruth: his role as a “Go’el” or “kinsman-redeemer”.
As I talked about three days ago, Naomi experienced probably the worst hardship a woman can go through, losing her husband and her two sons. And, as I mentioned as well, being a woman in the ancient near east without a household-leading man leaves you destitute, without any social power in society. And, for Israel specifically, the matter of inheritance of property becomes a major factor in this loss of name-bearers.
This is where the go’el or “kinsman-redeemer” comes in. There are a few ways the go’el could act:
Redeeming land – If a relative had to sell the land due to poverty or debt, the go’el could buy it back so that it stays in the family name. (Leviticus 25)
Redeeming persons – Like above, but if a person sells themselves into slavery, the go’el could buy out their freedom.
Avenging blood – If someone is murdered, the go’el could enact justice by avenging their relative (Numbers 25).
Levirate marriage – Though this is separate, as we read in Deuteronomy 25, the go’el could marry a widow of a family member, and any child born as a result of the go’el and the widow would inherit the name of the dead relative.
This is an interesting situation, and Boaz’s role in Ruth is what explains how this law relates to being a go’el.
Before Ruth 4, almost all interactions with Boaz simply call him go’el (usually translated as some variation on family redeemer, though I just like the word kinsman). In Ruth 3, Ruth proposes to Boaz, asking him to be a go’el. His answer is seen in Ruth 3:10-13
10Then he said, “May the Lord bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. 11Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am. 13Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good. Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the Lord lives, I will. Now lie down until morning.”
The next day, Boaz follows through. He goes to the “other redeemer” and asks him to redeem Elimelech’s land. The other redeemer answers in Ruth 4:4
I thought I should inform you: Buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do it. But if you do not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am nextafter you.”
“I want to redeem it,” he answered.
Of course, Boaz left out a key bit of information there. He adds in verse 5, and the redeemer replies in verse 6:
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you will acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man’s name on his property.”
The redeemer replied, “I can’t redeem it myself, or I will ruin my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can’t redeem it.”
This is interesting. Why can’t this man redeem the land and marry Ruth?
The initial request was effectively asking him to “buy the land” per the Leviticus 25 law (point 1 above). But the addition of Ruth here complicates things. This means that he’d be buying the land just to pass it on to a son who, while biologically his, would, legally speaking, not be his. In other words, the redeemer refused because this was an entirely sacrificial act: the person acting as go’el does not gain anything from the deal. Now, it very well may be that this closer relative could not financially handle this strain, where he may have had the wealth to invest into the land, but would need the effective ownership of it to maintain financial stability. It is not said, just that he refused.
So, then Boaz fully accepts the role of kinsman-redeemer, which we read the acceptance speech in Ruth 4:9-10
9Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. 10I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today.”
With accepting this, we can now see the full context, which further exemplifies Boaz’s noble character. He fully understood that buying the land was a total loss of money, and that the children he would have with Ruth would not be his, as far as society cares, but instead be children of Mahlon. He prioritized the care of these two widows above financial gain.
Finally, I cannot talk about redeemers without talking about our own. How is Jesus our go’el?
Looking back to the list of potential responsibilities of the go’el, for us, I’d argue that we needed purchasing from slavery.
John 8:34
Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
Romans 6:6b, 16
6…so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin
16Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Romans 7:14, 18-19
14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin.
18For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.
Galatians 3:22
22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.
But while we were slaves under sin, with Christ, we’ve been freed. Most of these passages above answer their comments on sin saying as such.
John 8:36
36So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
Romans 6:6, 17-18
6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
17But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, 18and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
And we can even see how Peter and Paul both refer to Jesus as a redeemer, ransoming us from our sin.
1 Peter 1:18-19
18For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
Ephesians 1:7-8
7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace8that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Jesus is our go’el, buying us out of slavery from sin, redeeming us back into the family of God.
Reflection Questions
Are you finding yourself seeking out that slavery after you’ve been freed? If you haven’t accepted Jesus, yet, have you considered how you can be freed from sin? Are you willing to sacrifice your time and money if it would help your friends and family? Have you taken a moment to remember the price paid for your freedom?
Today we’re going to talk about some deep things. We mostly like to kind of brush past some of the harder bits of truth, but sometimes we need to acknowledge that they exist in order to appreciate the overwhelmingly high favor that we have been given without cause, and through no merit of our own.
**As a side note, I would also like to strongly encourage you to check it out every time scripture is quoted. Look up every bible verse anyone ever quotes (including me!) just to make sure they’re not mistaken, quoting partial truths, or being misleading: be a good Berean and check. Examine context, make sure it’s quoted correctly, and that it’s used properly.
I sometimes wonder at how much I should share, but this might be important to someone. This is the extremely edited version of a true story. An old friend of mine, back in the bad old days (see 2/5 devotional) and I were having an inebriated conversation. During this conversation talk turned to God, and he started saying the actual name of God, and I got scared (because we weren’t behaving properly), which amused him. He continued to do it a few times, then I bowed up and let him know that the next time he drew attention to us in our current state that he and I were going to have a full on brawl (I was a little scrappy in my youth). He laughed and moved on to other topics. A few months later, I had escaped from that life and was safe in a different state, no longer a criminal but attending a Bible college (talk about a culture shock!). A month or two after that I received word that he was dead. Let him who has ears, hear.
The name of God (YHVH, Yahweh, Yehovah) is a sacred name, and not to be used frivolously. It absolutely should be used in reverent prayer and meditation, but never frivolously. God will be treated as holy, and honored before all people (Lev 10:3). I believe part of the reason I’m alive today (aside from my parents’ constant intervention through prayer) is detailed in Malachi 3:16, and I remember Joel 2:32 as well, but I wonder at times at the cost of my freedom from that life that I was in. It is very sobering and very humbling. The price of soul is costly and beyond your ability to buy (Ps 49:8).
In our reading of Acts 12 today, we see this concept written painfully in blood, but most people miss it because it’s just a little blurb in the neat and somewhat funny (at points) story about Peter being freed from jail by an angel. We start out the chapter very seriously indeed with Herod beginning the first (but certainly not the last) persecution of the believers, the “ecclesia”, or what some would call “the church”. This would be Herod Agrippa I, the last “client king” of Judea, the grandson of Herod “the Great” (who was in actuality not so great). Herod (Agrippa I) was a skilled diplomat who gained favor in Rome by backing Claudius’ imperial succession, who leveraged his friendships with emporers Caligula and Claudius to reunify the territories of Samaria, Judea, and Galilee under a single rule (his).
Being a skilled politician who had just reunited rule on the territories around Judea, he sought to solidify his power by any means necessary. So while he maintained his Roman alliances and friends, he zealously sought and enforced orthodox Jewish policies in order to secure the loyalty of his Jewish subjects of that territory. So with that historical knowledge in the back of your head, now read in Acts 12:1-2 that after persecuting the early believers and killing James “and when he saw that it pleased the Jews” (Acts 12:3 LSB), he arrested Peter.
Remember that this is an ambitious politician, ruling over a territory of Jews, attempting to solidify his political strength in the land; so when he has Peter arrested, we can only assume it was to have him publicly killed later (since that is what pleased the Jews with James). What was the cost of one man’s life to him, in order to gain power? Just some fisherman, not anybody politically important, not even wealthy; a small price to pay to solidify your power over the territory, right?
So when Peter is arrested, he takes extra steps to secure his prisoner, because this is political gold for him. This is one of the leaders of that new upstart group causing dissension among the Jews, his subjects now. In Acts 12:4 it says, “When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to 4 squads of soldiers, to guard him…” (LSB). The actual word here translated as “squad” is “quaternion”, and a quaternion was composed of 4 soldiers each, so: 4 quaternions (of 4 soldiers each) equal 16 soldiers, trained and hardened professional Roman soldiers. When sleeping, Peter was chained with 2 chains between 2 soldiers, and there were other soldiers in front of the doors. Stop and think about the level of force here for a moment, Herod is not taking any chances. You don’t secure a prisoner that securely if you’re planning on giving public high fives when you bring him out, Peter was going to die here. It says at the end of 12:4 that he was “intending to bring him out before the people”, to kill him publicly in other words.
There follows an inspiring and miraculous tale of victory when an angel comes to free Peter, releasing him from prison, leading him through multiple obstacles safely and then departing. The story then becomes slightly amusing as Peter is left standing outside the gate of his friend’s house while the amazed servant forgets to let him in and rushes to tell the other believers that Peter is there, and after some disbelief, all of the believers rejoice. This is detailed very well in Acts 12:6-17.
In Acts 12:19, though, there’s a tiny little blurb that states: “And when Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution...”. Let me clarify that for you. A Roman examination was, simply put, torture. It consisted less of a close examination of facts, and more of horrific slow and painful torture until you confessed; less fingerprinting and more of a painful removal of the fingers, followed by death. 16 men were tortured and died in order that 1 man might go free. This is what I want you to consider today, because the cost of a soul is high.
That is why it is so important as slaves of The Christ, as servants of The Messiah, to know that when our lives were bought, we were bought at a price (1 Cor 6:20, 1 Cor 7:23); an overwhelming price higher than we could afford or deserved, the blood of God’s innocent servant (1 Pet 1:18-19), His Anointed One, whose blood was given for you. I remember my dead friend, I remember even more God’s chosen Messiah, the son of God, who willingly shed his blood for me. How much was my sorry life worth? The price of a soul is high, but my King, my innocent and humble King, paid it willingly for us. It makes me cry. Father God have mercy.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Do you think that Peter ever humbly meditated on the fact that 16 men died in his place when he escaped?
If you had the same experience, how would it make you feel (even if you knew that if they hadn’t died, you would have)?
Are we daily living in a manner that honors and respects the (too high) price that was paid for us?
PRAYER
Oh my Father God, have mercy on me. I am completely unworthy of the price that You paid for me. Please forgive me, help me to honor You in every word, in every action, in every thought. Thank You for redeeming me; without cause, and at too high a cost, but thank You. Please help me to live every moment from this point forward reflecting that overwhelming love and generosity towards You and Your creation. In the name of Yeshua, Jesus the Christ whom You sent, Amen.
Today we enter the time of the Judges, one of the most turbulent times in the history of ancient Israel. I would like to point out that the preceding books of scripture are exceptionally important and critical, not just to us of the Christian faith but also to the Jews and the Muslims. If you don’t study these early books often, I would encourage you in the strongest terms to do so.
Most folks don’t realize it, but this portion of “The Book” we share in common with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy combined are the Jewish “Torah” (“Law”, called in Hebrew Bereishit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, and Devarim), and called the “Tawrah” in the Islamic faith. Each of these religions shares this portion of scripture. All of the Children of the Book believe in them.
I am going to say something controversial here, but before you pick up a rock to stone me, consider it carefully: before we judge any of our fellow creation because they have theological differences, keep in mind that we are all children of the same God, we have all been given the scriptures as a guide, and that if we are being honest and scriptural that as gentiles we have the least legal claim to God’s mercy. We should be humble, and exist in a state of awe and wonder that God saw fit to include us at all. Simply put, the Jews are the chosen people of God according to scripture, but God made some very strong covenants with Abraham. Muslims are considered to be the spiritual descendants (and some to be the actual descendants) of Abraham through Ishmael as well. As Christians, we consider ourselves to be the spiritual descendants of Abraham through obedience, but most of us can’t claim a direct lineage.
So before we place ourselves in a position higher than we have earned or even have a right to: consider the character of God, who is the judge of all, who is the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious, and who extends His hand to all of His creation and offers salvation to those who will seek it, even the stubborn disobedient folks who have a hard time listenening (and thank God He does). Remember before we start to judge our fellow creation: we already have a judge, that position has been filled, and your services in that area are neither required or desired. Be humble.
Today, however, we have arrived at the time of the Judges in our reading, a constantly shifting political time, hugely turbulent in the Jewish history, and a very good template throughout it for “how not to act”. Keep in mind that prior to this book, from Exodus to Joshua, the Israelites had very strong leaders, Moses and then Joshua, leaders who God communicated with directly (usually through shaliah, see 1/27 devotional), and who unwaveringly did what God commanded. Then we come to the time of the Judges, and starting almost right away, things go sideways (as detailed here in Judges 1).
Judah started out pretty good (Judg 1:1-20), but then folks started making exceptions and taking the “easier” path. The sons of Benjamin didn’t dispossess the Jebusites (Judg 1: 21), the house of Joseph made deals with some of the inhabitants (Judg 1:24-26), and the sons of Israel seem to have decided largely at the time that free labor ( Judg 1: 28, 30, 33, 35) was pretty handy and forced a lot of the locals into “forced labor” (or, slavery). This was directly contrary to God’s instructions (see Josh 23: 1-16, among others).
Remember, that the covenenants that God made with the Israelites were in large part conditional. In Judges 2: 1-4, the angel of Yahweh shows up and chastises the people for not obeying, lets them know that since they have broken their promise and have not listened that the nations will become a “thorn in their side”, as promised. The people wept, made sacrifices, and then went to their own places and by the next generation had forgotten about God again (Judg 2:10).
Judges 2:11 starts a terrible cycle that is repeated throughout this book, “Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the eyes of Yahweh and served the Baals...” and as a consequence (Judg 2:14) “… the anger of Yahweh burned against Israel…” (LSB translation). Then after a time of punitive distress for the nation, “God raised up judges who saved them…” (Judg 2:16, LSB). This happens throughout this entire book.
This cyclical dysfunction is repeated nationally 7 times at least by my count in this book alone. Over, and over again: Israel sins (by forsaking God), God allows oppression, Israel cries out, God mercifully raises up a judge to deliver them, there’s peace during the lifetime of that judge, then the judge dies and the people return to idolatry which restarts the cycle. This is a truly painful book to read, particularly when given the recent miraculous and amazing redemption and direct intercession by God on their behalf. What about you, though? Do you remember and celebrate all of the times that God delivered you, in loving awe and obedience? Think about it.
Moving forward to our awesome NT reading today, we find a landmark that you should never, ever, ever forget: for the first time, salvation is shown to have been given to gentiles (that’s most of us) in Acts 10, and then acknowledged in today’s reading (in Acts 11:18). When Jesus came to speak God’s word, he went almost exclusively to the Israelites (See the story in Mark 7:24-30 for clarification, and a good sense of how humble we should be), but we know from scripture that he was to be a light to all the nations (Is 49:6). THIS is the time when that prophecy is fulfilled, and praise God for it!
Before this point in history, as a gentile, things were not looking so great for you. “But God…” (I love that phrase), being merciful and gracious, and showing overwhelming forgiveness and equity for all of His creation, made a way. Know in your heart that if you should be favored enough to enter into God’s kingdom, the one Jesus came to tell the world about, then know that it is not because of your righteousness or birthright but because of the overwhelming love and mercy from Yahweh God, our Creator and Father of all. Nothing you have ever done or ever will do is enough to grant you this privilege, “but God”… He is the most merciful, the most gracious, the one who constantly seeks to bring us back to His fold, who cared enough to send His own son for our redemption. You are not your own, you were bought at a price (1 Cor 6:20): be humble and fearfully obedient, and know that none of us are worth the price that was paid for our salvation. “But God…”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
In Judges, we can clearly see the cyclical dysfunction of the nation of Israel. Do you have any cyclical dysfunctions in your own life? Are they national, familial, or personal dysfunctions? How can you overcome them? (You should write these down).
Why do we tend to forget God, and how can we break this cycle?
Do we tend to judge our fellow human beings? Why?
Have you ever thought about how lucky you are that God made a plan for YOU, especially if you’re a gentile?
PRAYER
Father God, thank you. You have been merciful to me without reason, and gracious to me without cause. Your love overwhelms me. Please, forgive me my shortcomings, and allow me to overlook the shortcomings of others. Let me be an example of your love and mercy to my fellow creation. Please grant me Your spirit, and teach me the way to reflect Your character, and to enter in to Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today’s readings have such important, landmark verses and concepts in them that we’ll be bouncing around in all of them. First, let’s talk about discipline. I grew up (many years ago) in an age that believed in physical discipline; in a time that folks believed that if you lacked proper direction then a firm impetus on the posterior would propel you properly towards the direction of righteousness. I was personally propelled towards righteousness on a number of occasions, but I have to confess that it was always deserved and always administered fairly. Even so, when I was younger I did my absolute best to avoid being punished: I shoved books down the back of my pants once, I remember hiding my father’s belts on at least one occasion, and I took long extended walks to the river hoping that the extra time would cause my offenses to be forgotten. It was rather silly, really, the foolishness of a selfish child. Thinking back to some of those instances really made the Psalms reading today resonate within me.
In our Psalms reading, it says in 38:1: “…O Yahweh, reprove me not in Your wrath, And discipline me not in Your burning anger. ” (LSB). This is David asking for a “cool off” time, for correction with justice rather than wrath which could destroy him; not an avoidance of punishment but temperance in it’s administration. In v3-8 he freely confesses his sin, and is asking God to correct him, but in a manner which allows growth. This sentiment is echoed beautifully in Jeremiah 10:24, when the prophet says “Discipline me, O Yahweh, but with justice; Not with Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing. ” (LSB). The purpose of discipline is to correct behavior, but know also that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10) is not an idle statement. If you believe that your heavenly Father loves you, you will understand that the expression of that love is to correct your behavior at times before you continue in a course that will lead you to destruction.
Hebrews 12:6 says “FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE FLOGS EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” (LSB). It is the expectation that our heavenly Father will correct His children, in love, to prevent us from engaging in activities that will lead to our destruction. That’s just what a good dad does. The discipline of God can come in many forms; a painful conscience, an unrest in our soul when we know that we’ve done wrong, or even a more tangible and physical discipline. Is it going to always be comfortable, and in a manner that we prefer? Usually not. If we are NOT receiving that corrective discipline though, we should be very concerned and ask ourself “why?”. I’ve heard it said that God usually gently guides his children, but I can tell you truly that sometimes he picks them up by the throat and the short hairs (as in my case) until they listen. Do not run from, or dread, the life saving corrective discipline from our Father in heaven who loves you. Embrace it, and take to heart the lesson He is trying to teach.
When the Israelites, in our last chapters of Joshua reading this morning, are getting their last instructions and guidance from their leader Joshua before he dies they are reminded of all of the blessings that God has given them, and then warned of this very thing in Joshua 23 “…15 And it will be that just as all the good words which Yahweh your God spoke to you have come upon you, so Yahweh will bring upon you all the calamitous words, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you. 16 When you trespass against the covenant of Yahweh your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of Yahweh will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.” (LSB).
Then, Joshua tells the children of Israel that they have a choice, but clarifies his choice in one of the most beautiful (and most quoted) verses in the Bible, located in Joshua 24:15: “If it is evil in your sight to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.” (LSB).
In our reading of Acts 10 today, there is a landmark moment, a fulfillment of prophecy so huge that to give it proper scale of importance this entire chapter should be in huge bold font with giant exclamation points at the beginning and the end of the chapter. Every time you turn to this section in the Bible, you should hear the trumpets of angels sounding in your head, it’s that important. For the first time in recorded history, in this chapter, salvation is offered to the gentiles! That’s the majority of us, unless you’ve got some remote biological link to Abraham. This is in a direct fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 49:6 where it is written: “He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to cause the preserved ones of Israel to return; I will also give You as a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.‘” (LSB).
I will point out something that most folks conveniently overlook. This guy Cornelius, in addition to being a gentile (a Roman centurion, specifically), was “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the people and prayed to God continually” (Acts 10:2, LSB). He was a devout man, he practiced tzedakah (look it up, please!) and enacted God’s justice to the people, and prayed constantly. This is what got God’s attention, because God sees the heart of a man. This was not a random choice. In Acts 10:4 the angel of God says “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” This is a guy who put his money where his mouth was, and his wallet where his heart was. We should emulate his actions to the best of our abilities, if we desire to please our God.
After the events detailed earlier in the chapter, Peter goes on to say at the beginning of what could be considered his 4th recorded sermon in Acts 10:34 “I most truly comprehend now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears him and does righteousness is welcome to Him.” (LSB). He then finishes this sermon, as the holy spirit falls upon all those listening to his words, as the Jewish believers who came with him were astounded that gentiles had received the gift of the holy spirit, by asking “Can anyone refuse water for these to be baptized who have received the holy spirit just as we did?”
Today, with the overwhelming number of gentiles who profess to be Christians, we kind of take it for granted, but before THIS SPECIFIC MOMENT in history: salvation was for the Jewish people alone, the chosen people of God. This was the exact moment in time when God clarified for all humanity: it’s not who your father was (genealogically), but who your Father is (in your heart) that matters. This is what God has been saying from the beginning, in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, but now the gift of salvation is being offered up to all the nations, to all those who fear God and do righteousness (again, please go look up tzedakah for a clarification on this), to those who seek and accept the discipline of our Father.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Did you ever try to avoid being disciplined (by God or men), and what were the results?
Think of a time when you received divine discipline. What was the result?
Have your alms ascended as a memorial to God, or are they stacked up in your bank as a memorial to your own greed?
PRAYER
Father God, please discipline me gently and allow me to receive the instruction that is offered through it. Correct me when my course goes astray, and forgive me of my many shortcomings. Help me to reflect your love and character to all of Your creation. Thank you for all of the blessings, and especially for sending us Jesus and his words of instruction. In his name, Amen.
Seek Grow Love 