Holiness

Shofar Day 11 Dear Believers In Philadelphia

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Shofar Day 11 Dear Believers In Philadelphia

Rhonda Darville

February 2, 2026

Alive,Called,church,Grace,Holiness

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 3:7-11
Isaiah 22:15-25
Matthew 25:14-30
Psalm 23
2 Timothy 4:7-8

Letters written in the past invite us into an exciting journey of discovery! Even better, letters contained in the Bible serve as important sources of revelation of God, both to their original readers and to us today.  

In the biblical book of Revelation, we find 7 letters written to 7 different churches. Today, we’ll dig into the letter written to the church at Philadelphia. (Revelation 3:7-11)

This beautiful letter is significant in multiple ways. As an amateur linguist, I love words and their meanings! Let’s begin by looking at the meaning of the church’s name. Philadelphia means brotherly love or the one who loves as a brother; today, we’ll see how believers in Philadelphia hold fast to their love for God! Philadelphia was also the youngest of the seven churches and was placed for missionary work to counter the Hellenistic culture in ancient Greece.

The writer of the letter is called “the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, who closes and no one will open.” (Revelation 3:7)

Upon further examination, we learn these letters contain the words of Jesus; here, He is describing His character. His title of the “Holy One, the true one,” (Revelation 3:7) speaks to the very essence of who He is, not just what He does. (Hebrews 7:26-28, John 14:5-7) Furthermore, holiness and truth are aspects of the Holy Trinity and we are reminded that Jesus was the Word (Greek: logos) made flesh. (John 1:1-5) Jesus is God, come to earth for a time in human form. 

The “one who has the key of David” reinforces this idea, speaking to Jesus’ earthly identity from the line of King David. (Revelation 3:7) This moniker reveals Jesus’ divine and messianic authority. Also, the language of Revelation 3:7 is foreshadowed in Isaiah 22:15-25, when God transfers authority to a righteous leader, transcending human authority or power. Jesus’ heavenly authority and sovereignty are supreme, encompassing the power to govern and rule without interference. 

This may be hard for us to grasp in our world of self-appointed leaders and governmental power that seems limitless. As a missionary, I have needed to apply to countries such as the USA, Africa, Italy, and Malta for visas. I had to follow the guidelines provided, or my visa would be denied or revoked. 

Even within the Church, powers of welcome or exclusion seem to be held by fallible humans; yet in this passage, we see Jesus possessing the ultimate authority to His kingdom. I can personally attest, from the last thirty plus years of serving Christ in ministry, that this has proven true. Wow!! 

Daughters of God, sit up and take notice because that same authority works on our behalf! As we faithfully follow Him, He works on our behalf, opening and closing doors for His honor and glory and our good. We, like the church at Philadelphia, have unhindered access to every evangelistic opportunity God has ordained for us. 

Next, the church in Philadelphia is described as possessing little power but great faithfulness. (Revelation 3:8) This speaks to their reliance on God. When we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 2:9-10); it is an acknowledgement we can do nothing apart from the Almighty. 

The letter to Philadelphia continues with Jesus promising protection for the believers, both from hypocritical enemies within the church and larger societal upheaval. (Revelation 3:9-10) 

I am reminded of Psalm 23:5: 
“You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; 
my cup overflows.”

Jesus, in His ultimate and righteous authority, would deal with their enemies. 

Finally, Jesus exhorts believers in Philadelphia, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.” (Revelation 3:11)

This shofar call is to hold fast. Do not depart from the solid foundation on which the church of Philadelphia is built, for Jesus is returning soon. 

Like the church at Philadelphia, we are also told to hold fast to our firm foundation, Christ alone. Do not grow weary, sisters, knowing our strength comes from Christ and He covers our ministry opportunities with His power and authority. There will be trials, but Jesus will keep us. If we hold fast to the anchor that is Jesus Christ, we will be crowned with victory. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Like the church at Philadelphia, we must daily renew our love of and obedience to the Scripture and the example of Jesus Christ. Our actions must be in accordance with the Word of God. As we seek to honor the shofar call, may we hold fast to our love for God and one another, enduring the trials we face with full assurance His strength will carry us through. This is my prayer for myself and for you, dear friend. Amen!

“Let anyone who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches[!]”
(Revelation 3:13)

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Jesus,King,obey,Revelation,shofar
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Shofar, Day 12
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Even though theologians interpret these verses in different ways regarding how the end times will impact Christians, I find it comforting that Jesus prepares the Church for the trials that will come in daily life (John 16:33) and during the Great Tribulation.

Scripture is very clear, no matter what we face on earth, we never face it alone. (Joshua 1:9) In every situation, God is our Strength and our Shelter. (Psalm 46:1-2)
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Shofar Day 2 Hearing The Shofar: Digging Deeper

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Shofar Day 2 Hearing The Shofar: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

January 20, 2026

Amazed,Captivating,Faith,Holiness,Mighty

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Hearing The Shofar"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 1:4-8

4 John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is to come; and from the seven spirits before His throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father - to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7 Look! He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him.
And all the tribes of the earth
will mourn over Him.
This it is to be. Amen.


8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the One who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What does the introduction of this book tell us about the type of literature being written? (verses 4-5)

Viewed as apocalyptic literature (symbolic imagery, visions and divine judgment within a cosmic scenario) by most Bible scholars, the book of Revelation also contains elements of prophecy in the form of an epistle (letter). Understanding its apocalyptic nature provides readers with a basis to interpret many of its vivid symbols and dramatic events as metaphorical representations of spiritual truths and celestial battles. (Ephesians 6:12)

As a letter, it was written from and to someone with a purpose in mind. Most traditional Bible commentators hold the view that Revelation was written by the disciple John (Mark 3:17), though his identity is not explicitly mentioned. The message given to John was understood as being “of” or “from” Jesus (verses 1-2 and 5), meaning Jesus is both subject and revealer of the hidden realities unveiled in this book. (Faith Study Bible)

We know this kind of writing was common in times of persecution, offering hope to believers by affirming their eternal salvation and declaring God’s ultimate victory over evil. (2 Timothy 4:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, 2 Peter 3,  1 John 2:26-28) John wrote with this same purpose of informing and encouraging the believers.

The seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2-3 were not the only ones in the region of Asia, but they were influential due to their prime location. Symbolizing perfection or completion (Bible Study Tools), the number “seven” is used often by John throughout Revelation, therefore we should not miss its significance. Considering John’s use of this number, it’s reasonable to conclude that the “seven” spirits are representative of more than a mere number. John is possibly referring to the sevenfold description of the Spirit in all His fullness. (Isaiah 11:2-3) If so, this reiterates that this is a message from the Triune God as Father, Spirit and Son specifically to His people, the Church.

The Everyday Application

1) What does the introduction of this book tell us about the type of literature being written? (verses 4-5)

I don’t know about you, but it is tempting for me to get caught up in the unknown parts of Revelation and miss its whole purpose. Several Bible interpreters challenge our perspective by saying, “If you’re not comforted by Revelation, you’re reading it wrong.” Oh, Sister, be encouraged as you read these words, “Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness […]”. (verses 4-5)

Although we likely read this book with many questions swirling in our minds, there is no need to allow those questions to lead to fear. It is true that Revelation appeals to the readers’, or hearers’, imagination, but we want to carefully guard what the text actually says and means. Some would rather just ignore the book altogether, missing the beautiful promise of blessing we find therein. (Revelation 1:3)

Sweet Friend, don’t miss the purpose of John’s words. He wasn’t writing to hide or obscure the message from Jesus, but to encourage believers that our suffering will end! Neither did John distribute these words to the churches in order to satisfy their curiosity about the future. Rather, he wanted to encourage their faith as they were intensely persecuted. The encouraging words of John were meant to keep us from believing the false narrative that what we see around us is all there is to see. Sister, the daily headlines do not define our reality! We live in light of Christ and His kingdom even now as we continue to long for His appearing.

The Original Intent

2) Who is at the center of the message of the Revelation? (verses 5-6)

In the book of Revelation, God is delivering a message through John about Jesus, the Christ. The message is loud and clear: The time is near! (Revelation 1:1-3) We know this is a message about the Lord Jesus, God Himself (John 20:28-31), because of the clear connection made to the deity of Jesus elsewhere in the book of Revelation, as well as other New Testament Scriptures. (verses 7-8, Revelation 1:12-13, Revelation 3:14, John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:1-9, Colossians 1:14-20) Jesus is the forever One!

The concept of God’s eternal nature is not new to the New Testament. It echoes the Old Testament revelation of God as He identifies Himself as the “I AM” in Exodus 3:14-16. This self-identification indicates His self-existence and eternal presence. As verse 6 is often understood to refer to both God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, it highlights their unity and co-existence for all eternity. “To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever!” (verse 6) What an astounding proclamation!

As westerners, most of us read Scripture silently. Even if someone is reading it aloud, we are following along silently with the words in front of us. Most of us probably don’t take time to imagine sounds accompanying these words. If we were hearing these words with Jewish ears, however, we would possibly envision the sound of a trumpet, or shofar (Exodus 19:16-19), accompanying the announcement, “The time is near! The One who was and is and is coming […] to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:1-6)

From Joshua (Joshua 6:2-5) to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4:16-20), the shofar was a ready tool for alerting the people of what was ahead. Central to the book of Revelation is the essential message about the King of all kings: He is coming! (Revelation 1:5, Daniel 7:13-14)
Sound the Amen!

The Everyday Application

2) Who is at the center of the message of the Revelation? (verses 5-6)

The hymn writer put it like this, “When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” (Christ, the Solid Rock) At the center of Revelation stands the One who is worthy of all our praise and honor. He is the One, the only One, who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals. (Revelation 5:9-10)

Friend, it’s time to sound the horn for His victory! It’s interesting to note that the shofar has remained unchanged from ancient times. Let’s take a moment to listen with our ears, read with our eyes, and believe in our hearts that we are hearing the very words of Jesus! (sounds of the shofar) Sister, can you hear it … the sound of His coming?

Just after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to a couple of His disciples and began to explain to them how every story in the Old Testament had been about Him all along! (Luke 24:13-27) Although the resurrection of Jesus is itself convincing proof of His deity, He must have believed it would be even more convincing to reveal to those disciples that every single page of Scripture was all about Him. (Think about it! All those books in the Old Testament written by more than 40 different authors over the span of 1,500 years had consistently told one story!!)

Although we don’t know exactly what Jesus taught about Himself that day, we know He is at the center of everything we have in Scripture from the beginning to the end! At the sound of trumpet, we can do nothing less than fall down and worship Him.

The Original Intent

3) Who will be revealed in a Day that is coming? (verses 7-8)

Just as the Lord marked the sign of His presence with a sound (Exodus 19:16-19), the trumpet continues to sound to awaken the people spiritually and to call them to God. The book of Revelation ties the sound of a shofar to the voice of Christ and the coming of His Kingdom. (Revelation 4:1-3)

There will be A Day! (1 Thessalonians 5:2 and 22, Matthew 24:36-42) It is a Day when Jesus will return and “every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him”. (verse 7) This specifically references those who participated in the physical crucifixion of Jesus, but a poignant truth to note is that, not only were those physically present at the cross of Jesus complicit in His death, but all people who have sinned against Him have also ‘pierced Him’. (Acts 2:36, Romans 3:23) On The Day that is approaching, everyone who has confessed and has not confessed Jesus will see Him as the Lord and King over all. The declaration of Jesus’ sure return is central in all of Scripture, especially the New Testament. (Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:30-31, Matthew 26:64, Luke 21:27-28, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, verse 7)

The Bible declares to us that Jesus’ return as King will be two-fold; He’s coming to judge (2 Timothy 4:1) and He’s coming to justify (Romans 3:22-25). As King, Jesus has all authority and wisdom to pronounce the correct verdict for every human. (John 5:19-23, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 1:19-22) Through His servants and prophets, God identified Himself in the Old Testament by declaring His just judgment to come. (Psalm 9:7-10, Psalm 76:8-9, Isaiah 3:13-15) Here, in His own words, Jesus declares Himself as the God who is coming again, “I AM the Alpha and Omega … the One who is coming!” (John 1)

The Everyday Application

3) Who will be revealed in a Day that is coming? (verses 7-8)

Too-too-too-TOOOOM!! Do you hear it, my Friend? One day, the world will shake with the sound of the shofar again as Jesus the Messiah descends to the Mount of Olives. (Zechariah 14:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) It is no coincidence that our warrior King will come at the sound of a trumpet. It is to Him we give all the glory forever!

Do you recognize these lyrics?
“No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make His blessings flow
far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness
and wonders of His love.”
(Joy to the World)

While we usually sing it during the Christmas season, the hymn “Joy to the World” is probably not referencing Christ’s birth. Written by Isaac Watts, the song reveals A Day when all things will be made new and no tears will be present. Only joy and worship will rule the day. (Psalm 98, Revelation 21:1-7) As I read Revelation and ponder Watts’ lyrics, it is evident his lyrics are intended to celebrate the future reign of Christ and the restoration of all creation.  (Though His future reign certainly includes His first coming!)

As I consider this joy, I delight in how the book of Revelation is drenched with multi-ethnic worship that centers on the victory of the Lamb who was killed, was raised, and now reigns forevermore. (Revelation 7:9-11) Too-too-too-TOOOM!! Oh, my Friend, the shofar is so much more than a sound; it’s a divine instrument used throughout Scripture to rouse, alert, gather, and proclaim an urgent message from the Lord. Let’s hear the sound, watch for His return, and worship Him with all nations! (How Great is our God)

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glory,King,letter,Revelation,shofar
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Shofar, Day 1
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To hear shofar’s blow is to hear God’s voice. While powerful, it is not always loud.

God’s voice is in the quiet stillness as He beckons our hearts to Him. (1 Kings 19:11-14)

He gently calls us to accept His sweet biddings.
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King Day 4 Fit For A King: Digging Deeper

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King Day 4 Fit For A King: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

January 1, 2026

Discipline,Fear,Follow,Holiness,Lord

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Fit For A King"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 1:10-13

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is the meaning of the seven golden lampstands in John’s vision? (verse 13)

In a letter to seven churches in Asia that had sprung up after Jesus’ death and resurrection, John detailed the vision he had of the risen Jesus, standing in the midst of seven golden lampstands. (Revelation 1:13) In the Jewish tabernacle, there was one lampstand and seven lamps. (Exodus 25:31-37, Zechariah 4:2) In his prophetic vision, John sees not one but seven lampstands, indicating that each lampstand represents one of the churches John addressed in his letter. (Revelation 1:20)

The vision illustrates that each church should play the part a lampstand plays in making the light of the lamp more visible. Each church, and ultimately the global Church as a whole (1 Corinthians 12:27), plays a part in shining the Light of Christ before others. (John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16)

Matthew Henry explains, “The churches receive their light from Christ and the gospel, and hold it forth to others. They are golden [lampstands] . . . their light should so shine before men, as to engage others to give glory to God.” The lampstands are not the light, but just the way to display the light.

The fact that in this vision Jesus stands amongst the seven churches was “an image of great comfort for the first readers of Revelation, many of whom were experiencing persecution. Jesus is not apart from His church, but He stands in its midst. He does not leave His people alone to make it on their own in this world, but He is with us”. (Learn.Ligonier.org )

This is a comfort to God’s church today as well to know that Jesus stands in the midst of His followers, promising to be with us always (Matthew 28:20) as we shine the Good News of His love for others to see. (Mark 16:15)

The Everyday Application

1) What is the meaning of the seven golden lampstands in John’s vision? (verse 13)

One of my favorite places to visit is the US state of Maine with its fragrant pine trees, colorful lupine, clear blue sea, and rocky coastline. The small state of Maine’s rugged seascape boasts sixty-five lighthouses, reflecting the importance of maritime travel and trade in the state.

The first time I saw a lighthouse up close, I thought about a Gospel hymn titled The Lighthouse that compares Jesus to a lighthouse who saves us from the rocks of sin. It is a powerful comparison when you see for yourself just how dangerous the rocky shore would be to a ship in the dark.

Encountering a lighthouse also made me consider how Jesus calls His followers to be a light themselves. (Matthew 5:14) In Revelation 1:13, John describes a vision from Jesus that represents seven churches as seven lampstands with the Son of Man standing among them. Dr. Tony Garland suggests, “The central shaft joining these seven lamps and providing the oil for their continued illumination is Christ Himself.”

Just as Jesus Himself is the Light (John 1:4-5), He calls His disciples to reflect His life and light to the world. (Ephesians 5:8) John saw Jesus standing amidst the seven lampstands, giving us a picture of Jesus standing with His Church (Romans 8:37-39) as His people make His name known among the world. (Matthew 5:16) Take courage, fellow believer, your Savior stands with you!

The Original Intent

2) What is the significance of the Son of Man wearing a robe? (verse 13)

When John describes the Son of Man standing among the seven golden lampstands, he notes that He wears a robe. (Revelation 1:13) A robe is not the same as a tunic or cloak that men would have worn for everyday tasks or even special occasions. The Greek word for this robe, according to Dr. Bruce Hurt, is poderes, which means “reaching to the feet”.

This suggests the priestly robes of the Old Testament. (Exodus 28:4) Besides priests, the Bible also describes royalty using this same word, poderes, for King Saul’s robe (1 Samuel 24:5) and in describing princely robes. (Ezekiel 26:16) John’s vision of the Son of Man clothed in a robe shows us Christ as our High Priest and King.

Charles Ellicott describes Jesus as “arrayed in the apparel of kingly and priestly dignity.” God shows us this picture of Jesus as our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) because He took our sin upon Himself on the cross, doing away with the need for the priest to put people’s sin on a lamb and sacrifice the animal. Jesus paid for our sins in full by His sacrifice on the cross (Romans 5:8), once and for all atoning for the sins of the world. (1 John 2:2)

John’s vision also reinforces the truth of Jesus as our King (1 Timothy 6:15), enthroned on high, Whose train of His robe fills the temple. (Isaiah 6:1) John shows us Jesus as our Redeemer who will reign forever and ever. His portrait of our loving High Priest and King give us valuable insight into the character of our Savior and His faithful love toward us.

The Everyday Application

2) What is the significance of the Son of Man wearing a robe? (verse 13)

To me, our church’s large cache of Bible-time costumes are just a jumble of long coats, wide belts, and square scarves; when I design costumes, it is difficult to tell a wise man from a shepherd. We are blessed, however, to have an amazing volunteer with extensive theatre experience who takes those shapeless tunics and bits of fabric and transforms our little actors into priests, prodigals, angels and kings.

She can drape a head dress that won’t fall over a student’s eyes mid-production and expertly layers the precise garments to turn a restless 5th grader into a stately king!

When John describes Jesus as wearing a robe while standing amidst seven golden lampstands (Revelation 1:13), the significance may not be immediately obvious to us, which is why we must take the time to slow down and understand the first audience. Once we do, the fact that Jesus is wearing something only a priest (Exodus 28:31) or king (Revelation 19:16) would wear is of paramount importance!

Jesus isn’t wearing travel clothes or daily garments John was accustomed to seeing Jesus in when He walked the earth. He is wearing a long robe, clothing that set Him apart as someone dignified or important.

With his description of Jesus that played out literally in front of his eyes, John helps his readers grasp the reality of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (1 Peter 2:24) and His sovereignty (Revelation 15:3) in their lives. Those seven churches would have taken seriously their obedience to the One true King and rested with great assurance because they had direct access to Him at all times for He was their perfect priest. This picture of reality is just as true for us as it was the believers who first read John’s letter! Let’s be intentional in living out these truths today!

The Original Intent

3) Of what importance is the golden sash around the Son of Man’s chest? (verse 13)

Jesus wears a robe “with a golden sash wrapped around His chest” in John’s vision in Revelation 1:13. Similar to the robe, the sash also indicates that Jesus is High Priest and King. Marvin Vincent describes the belt as “an Old Testament symbol of power, righteousness, truth. (Isaiah 22:21, Job 12:18, Isaiah 11:5)” Additionally, each of these strong ties to the Old Testament spoke volumes to the first audience that Jesus was indeed the long-awaited Messiah.

The fact that the belt is gold, argues C. H. Spurgeon is “to declare the superiority of His service, the royalty of His person, the dignity of His state, the glory of His reward.” The placement of the sash across the chest rather than around the waist indicates that Jesus holds the greatest authority. Dr. Thomas Constable explains that the belt “placed about the shoulders or breasts indicates a magisterial function. (John 13:2-5, Revelation 15:6)

The sash placement symbolizes Jesus’ reign as King of Kings; none holds higher authority than He. (Revelation 11:15) The Revelation vision of Jesus is similar to the vision found in Daniel 10:5-6 of a glowing figure dressed in a robe with a golden sash. Both Daniel and John had a vision of God’s glory that reinforced the truth that the God who serves and reigns was with them, strengthening them, and enlightening them. Imagine how emboldening this was for the first recipients of John’s letter!

The Everyday Application

3) Of what importance is the golden sash around the Son of Man’s chest? (verse 13)

When my daughter graduated from college, one of her university’s treasured traditions was a ceremonial walk down “the hill” toward the ceremony site in the stadium. Friends and family stood on either side of the walkway while students, dressed in their gowns and regalia, walked to their graduation ceremony.

While waiting for my daughter’s school of study to walk past my spot, I observed hundreds of black caps and gowns strolling by, some wearing cords from organizations and some wearing stoles to indicate military service or nationality. Scattered throughout the bachelor degree candidates were students receiving their Master’s Degrees. They were obvious because they wore academic hoods, around their necks that draped over their shoulders and down their backs in the colors of their academic discipline. One look at these hoods told onlookers that these students had completed a degree above those walking down the hill with cap and gown only.

When John saw Jesus in a vision in (Revelation 1:13), he knew that the glowing figure in the long robe and golden sash was Jesus just by what He was wearing. That golden sash indicated Jesus’ elevated position as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) and King (John 18:36) without contest.

The gold sash “affirms His dual role as King and Priest, who reigns with all authority and intercedes with compassion. For believers, the golden sash is a symbol of hope and assurance, pointing to the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.” (Biblehub.com)

We can rejoice knowing that Jesus reigns on High (Hebrews 1:3) and ever lives to make intercession for us as our Great High Priest. (Hebrews 5:7-10) Your life is not randomly maintained by a cosmic force or by your own abilities; it is held by the King of All who loves you with the richest compassion fathomable!

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King, Day 3
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During Jesus’ earthly lifetime, the people of Israel were desperately awaiting a Messiah to rescue them from Roman oppression.

They expected a conquering king; when Jesus came as the Son of Man, a humble servant who lovingly sacrificed Himself to bring rescue from sin and death, they refused to recognize Him as their Messiah.
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King Day 3 Fit For A King

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King Day 3 Fit For A King

Carol Graft

December 31, 2025

Beauty,Christ,Clothed,Dignity,Flawless,Future,Holiness

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 1:12-15
Revelation 19:7-9
Daniel 10:2-6
John 3:13-15

Studying (or even simply reading!) the book of Revelation can be daunting. In parts it seems scary; in other parts, fantastical. However, once we dig into the symbolism, it becomes less daunting and actually encouraging and affirming. 

Shall we journey together? 

John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples and a founder of the early Church, was given the visions described in Revelation while in exile on the island of Patmos. John experienced a unique and dear relationship with Jesus Christ when He walked the earth; John understood and embraced Jesus’ divinity as the Messiah and Son of God. 

The Lord instructed John to write what he hears and sees of the revelations of Jesus Christ. This is a book of letters, written to specific churches of the time. However, there’s much we can learn from these letters! If we read carefully, we might see bits and pieces of ourselves reflected in his words. . . Ouch.

To deeply understand Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, we must first explore the Old Testament. For example, we can find many connections between the book of Daniel and Revelation. In many ways, Revelation echoes and builds upon the themes mentioned in Daniel. 

Daniel, a prophet who spoke to God’s people while they were in exile in Babylon, described Jesus like this:

“I continued watching in the night visions, 
and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Daniel 7:13) 

“I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist.” (Daniel 10:5)  

Isaiah, a prophet who declared God’s messages to the people of Judah prior to their exile, also mentions Jesus in a similar way:

“Righteousness will be a belt around his hips,
faithfulness will be a belt around his waist.” (Isaiah 11:5) 

With those images in mind, let’s consider how Jesus is revealed in Revelation. In Revelation 1:4-6 we see a coming King. He takes His place among seven lampstands, “like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash around his waist.” (Revelation 1:13)

The lampstands were immediately recognizable to John’s original readers, as lampstands were an integral part of the tabernacle, and later the temple, where God’s Spirit resided. In Revelation, the lampstands represent the churches to whom the letters were written. 

In John’s vision, the Son of Man is dressed in a robe of linen. 

According to Levitical law, the high priest was to be dressed in garments of holy linen when he went before the Lord. (Leviticus 16:3-5) Jesus’ appearance in similar dress both emphasizes his holiness and purity, and reiterates His role as great high priest: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens–Jesus the Son of God–let us hold fast to our confession.” (Hebrews 4:14) 

Additionally, the golden sash teaches us Jesus is a righteous and faithful judge. We’ve already examined Isaiah 11:5; Jesus’ own words in Matthew 25:31-46 outline how He will one day judge all people. 

Psalm 96:13 reiterates,
“[F]or he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the earth with righteousness
And all the peoples with his faithfulness.”

The sash’s golden color may symbolize the divinity of “a great God, a great king above all gods.” (Psalm 95:3)

Finally, John’s referral to Jesus as the Son of Man would have immediately recalled Daniel’s prophecies to the minds of his original Jewish audience. Furthermore, Jesus referred to Himself this way several times:

“No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up a snake in the wilderness [Numbers 21:4-9], so the Son of Man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:13-14)  

During Jesus’ earthly lifetime, the people of Israel were desperately awaiting a Messiah to rescue them from Roman oppression. They expected a conquering king; when Jesus came as the Son of Man, a humble servant who lovingly sacrificed Himself to bring rescue from sin and death, they refused to recognize Him as their Messiah. 

Shortly before His death, Jesus was on trial before the religious authorities. 

“The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ 

‘You have said it,’ Jesus told him. ‘But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” (Matthew 26:63-64)

As Jesus’ own words promise, the King is coming, for all who believe. His linen robes and golden sash will also adorn the Bridegroom as He comes for His bride (you and me, and all who follow Jesus). 

When we repent, turn away from our sin, and follow Jesus, we become the Bride of Christ and can eagerly await the day we see the Son of Man coming in glory! 

“Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.”
(Revelation 19:6-7)

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Just as Jesus Himself is the Light (John 1:4-5), He calls His disciples to reflect His life and light to the world. (Ephesians 5:8)

John saw Jesus standing amidst the seven lampstands, giving us a picture of Jesus standing with His Church (Romans 8:37-39) as His people make His name known among the world. (Matthew 5:16)

Take courage, fellow believer, your Savior stands with you!
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Table Day 4 Feasting At His Feet: Digging Deeper

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Table Day 4 Feasting At His Feet: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

March 28, 2024

Adoring,Captivating,Digging Deeper,Fellowship,Glory,Holiness,Worship

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Feasting At His Feet"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 24:1-12

Then he said to Moses, “Go up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders, and bow in worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone is to approach the Lord, but the others are not to approach, and the people are not to go up with him.”

3 Moses came and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. Then all the people responded with a single voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has commanded.”

4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early the next morning and set up an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel at the base of the mountain. 5 Then he sent out young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half the blood and set it in basins; the other half of the blood he splattered on the altar. 7 He then took the covenant scroll and read it aloud to the people. They responded, “We will do and obey all that the Lord has commanded.”

8 Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words.”

9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. Beneath his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. 11 God did not harm the Israelite nobles; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay there so that I may give you the stone tablets with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why was Moses alone allowed to approach the Lord? (verses 2 and 12)

In Exodus 24:1-2, God told Moses, “Go up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders, and bow in worship at a distance. Moses alone is to approach the Lord, but the others are not to approach, and the people are not to go up with him.” God allowed Aaron, his sons, and 70 elders to come closer to worship, but only Moses could approach God to commune with Him.

Author John Currid suggests why God invited Aaron, his sons and the elders to the covenant ceremony, “Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, [are] leaders of the future priesthood, and seventy ruling elders of Israel [represent] all Israel in their leadership positions.” These guests symbolized the priests and the Israelites and their role in the covenant between God and people.

Moses, however, had a larger role in the covenant ceremony, possibly because he already had an established relationship with the Lord. God had spoken to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3) and during the 10 plagues (Exodus 7-11) and during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 13). As God’s obedient servant, Moses had communicated God’s covenant to His people, and it would be Moses who would be present to finalize this covenant with God at Mt. Sinai.

Walter C. Kaiser also suggests, “Moses alone was to function as the mediator between God and the Israelites, just as Christ is designated the second Moses in Hebrews 3:1–6 and thus is the Mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 12:24)”

Moses represented the role Jesus would play in the New Covenant as the only Way for people to reach God. (John 14:6) In inviting Moses to mediate His covenant with the Israelites, the Lord was signaling the role Jesus would play in reconciling people to God. (Colossians 1:20)

The Everyday Application

1) Why was Moses alone allowed to approach the Lord? (verses 2 and 12)

Sometimes while teaching a large class, it’s impossible to hear each student’s thoughts or verify their understanding. One strategy to hear from everyone is to put students in groups and select a spokesperson from each group to share the ideas from that group. Ideally, this allows everyone to have input while streamlining communication.

In a similar sense, Moses was the spokesperson for the nation of Israel. God allowed Moses’ brother Aaron, Aaron’s sons, and 70 leaders to worship Him in a covenant ceremony, but only Moses could advance up the mountain to speak with the Lord. (Exodus 24:1-2) Moses was granted access to God so he could communicate God’s will to the people and deliver their promises of faithfulness and obedience to God.

The Israelites were afraid of hearing from God themselves (Exodus 20:19), so they were glad to have a go-between who would hear from the Lord, explain His plans and then deliver their vows to Him in return.

Today we don’t need a leader like Moses to approach the Lord for us because we have Jesus as our constant intercessor and advocate. When we trust in Jesus, He washes us in His blood and presents us blameless to the Father at all times; every sin has been paid in full. (Colossians 1:22) Because of this complete covering of our sin through Jesus who constantly intercedes for us, we can come boldly to His throne of grace to hear Him, receive from Him, and pour out our praise and our requests before Him. (Hebrews 4:16)

God sees True Believers as righteous because of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21), therefore He grants us access to His glorious presence. We don’t need to wait at the bottom of the mountain, as the Israelites did, to hear from God; we can seek His face and know we will be rewarded! (Hebrews 11:6)

The Original Intent

2) Why is the only description of their God sighting of the road beneath His feet? (verse 10)

When Moses, Aaron, Aaron’s sons and 70 of Israel’s elders came before God on the mountain in a ceremony to celebrate the covenant between humans and God, “they saw the God of Israel. Beneath his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.” (Exodus 24:10) In this encounter with the Lord, the only imagery provided describes the view from beneath God’s feet.

This description leaves it unclear as to what was actually seen. David Guzik states that what “they saw under His feet suggests that at the most they saw the footstool of God. (Isaiah 66:1).” In reference to the lapus lazuli, author Steven J. Cole suggests “the elders saw the sea of glass before the throne of God. (Revelation 4:6) Ezekiel 1:26 describes God as seated on a sapphire throne, over a crystal ‘firmament’ (Ezekiel 1:22). This thought is taken up again in the book of Revelation.”

Whatever the priests and elders saw of the Lord was enough to produce awe but not enough to kill them. (Exodus 33:20) Author James Burton Coffman asserts they “did behold a very wonderful display of God’s excellent presence, sufficiently miraculous to inspire them with the knowledge that it truly was God Himself who had given them the covenant and sealed it with blood.”

The priests and elders would have a spectacular story to tell when they descended the mountain, describing their phenomenal encounter with the living God to those waiting to hear about their experience. God gave them a glimpse of His glory, and it was enough to prove they served an awesome and mighty God.

The Everyday Application

2) Why is the only description of their God sighting of the road beneath His feet? (verse 10)

My friend was elated to receive a gift of concert merchandise from her favorite singer’s world tour. After loudly admiring the fluffy sweatshirt and showing it around, she gasped with glee at the 2 tiny tissue paper hearts that floated out of the package.

She explained that only specific concert items were packed with these hearts, and she was thrilled that a few had accidentally found their way into her box. She treasured them almost as much as the gift itself because they represented a special touch from her favorite artist to her loyal fans. I was amused that such a seemingly insignificant thing as tissue paper could produce such joy!

In reading the account of God appearing to the priests and elders on Mount Sinai in Exodus 24:10, I was similarly struck by how impacted they were by such a brief encounter with God. They did not see God’s form or His face, or even His arms or legs. All they described was the sparkling pavement beneath His feet. They apparently did not even see His feet!

The only thing they saw, or maybe the only thing they could bear to gaze upon (Revelation 1:16-17), was the splendor of the road beneath His feet. This peek at God’s glory was enough to overpower them with His wonder and power. Robert Rayburn asserts that their reaction describes “the transcendent glory of God, the distance that separates creature from Creator and the humility and fear that ought to mark man’s approach to the living God.”

May we treasure the Lord’s presence in the same way, letting His love and sovereignty humble and amaze us.

The Original Intent

3) Why did they eat and drink after they saw the Lord? (verse 11)

After God revealed Himself to Moses and the others, “God did not harm the Israelite nobles; they saw him, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus 24:11) Being in God’s presence could be a dangerous thing. (Genesis 32:30) God even warned Moses that humans couldn’t look at God and live. (Exodus 33:20) But in this instance, the Lord invited Moses and company to not only experience His presence, but also to eat and drink with Him in the sense of being near His presence in a sliver of a manner.

This meal celebrated a significant event: a covenant between the Israelites and God. The people promised to obey God and observe His commands, and God promised to bless their obedience. (Exodus 20) Bible student David Guzik notes, “It is true that a shared meal (especially involving salt) was a common way of sealing a covenant, from biblical times to modern days. However, it is also true that any form of worship which involved the sacrifice of ‘peace offerings’ (Exodus 24:5) would be naturally followed by a sacrificial feast.”

As a celebration of covenant and an observance of a peace offering, this meal in God’s presence was significant. Some theologians believe it was the herald of the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) when Jesus broke bread with His disciples just before His sacrifice on the cross. (Matthew 27) Bible teacher R. C. Sproul suggests, “Like the peace offering, we share a communal meal in the Supper, feeding upon Christ and the benefits of His sacrifice spiritually by faith. […] And like the peace offering, the Lord’s Supper is also a celebration of covenant fellowship and a pledge to praise God for all the benefits of salvation . . .”

Those who trust in God can partake of His Holy communion as a way to commemorate His sacrifice and appreciate the gift of His presence.

The Everyday Application

3) Why did they eat and drink after they saw the Lord? (verse 11)

One of my favorite things about the brief time I spent in Mexico as a student, teacher, and short term missionary was the amazing food I shared with incredible people at significant events.

I attended a child’s birthday party and savored the quintessential Mexican dessert, Tres Leches Cake, a richly decadent sponge cake. At a school fiesta, we marked the end of term with chicken mole, a flavorful sweet, spicy dish often served at celebrations. To commemorate the completion of building a small house, the volunteers and grateful homeowners relished a savory chicken roasted over an open fire in the front yard.

Making memories and marking milestones around a table with delicious food and good friends is a universal way to celebrate and form connections. It is no wonder, then, to see this concept of celebration and fellowship around a meal play out in Exodus 24:11, when God invited Moses, Aaron, the priests and elders to share a meal together before Moses went further up Mt. Sinai to signify the completion of the Mosaic covenant.

Author David Guzik suggests, “God wanted them to eat and drink in His presence because He wanted to communicate a sense of fellowship with these leaders of Israel.” God chose to commemorate the moment that the Israelites agreed to follow and obey Him by inviting them to eat together in His presence.

He wanted them to participate in the relationship building and bond-strengthening that comes with the shared experience of breaking bread together, an act that conveys emotion, culture, and relationship not only during the meal but also later whenever it is remembered.

We find this to be true with our own family holidays, church suppers, and neighborhood barbecues. What a wonderful method of celebration, love and remembrance our God has established for us through a shared meal at His Table!

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Incomprehensible. Unimaginable. Indescribable.

So ran the thoughts of the small band of men setting one trembling foot before another up the craggy face of Mt Sinai, terrified yet inexplicably drawn to the Presence awaiting them at the summit.

As the Israelites began to settle into the land God promised them, God had invited them to gather with Him around a table as He reaffirmed His covenant relationship with them and gave them laws to shape their new world.
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Devoted Day 12 A Gentle And Quiet Spirit: Digging Deeper

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Devoted Day 12 A Gentle And Quiet Spirit: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

March 19, 2024

Adoring,Fervent,Glory,Holiness,Holy Spirit

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "A Gentle And Quiet Spirit"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 3:9-12

[…] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.

10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is the difference between righteousness from the law and righteousness through faith in Christ? (verse 9)

In Philippians 3:9, Paul expressed the desire to “be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.”

If anyone knew about righteousness from the law it was Paul, who studied the law of Moses and knew all the Lord’s commandments by heart. (Philippians 3:4-6) He understood better than most that keeping all the laws and commandments is impossible and could not make him righteous. (Romans 8:3)

Even with Paul’s knowledge and strict adherence to the law, he discovered, “There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20) Righteousness from the law is based on what one does, the rules one keeps, and the steps one follows. It is based on adhering strictly to the commands and absolutely never failing. Paul understood “Our Creator revealed the Mosaic law to remind us that righteousness before Him demands perfection; to show us that sinners cannot meet this standard; and to make us long for a sinless Messiah who can keep the Law perfectly in our place.” (Ligonier.org)

Righteousness based on faith in God relies on the purity and perfection of Jesus Christ, not on anything a person can accomplish. Jesus became the spotless sacrifice for our sins (1 Peter 1:19) making a way for all who believe in Him to be blameless in His sight, washed of their sins by the Blood of the Lamb of God (Revelation 5:9). We don’t need to strive to become righteous because the work of Jesus on the cross cleanses us from all sin, making us righteous! (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Everyday Application

1) What is the difference between righteousness from the law and righteousness through faith in Christ? (verse 9)

While planning my wedding, my mother and I tried to save some money by making the wedding veil ourselves. We thought it looked pretty good, so we brought it with us dress shopping. When the bridal attendant brought out a beautiful veil to go with the dress I selected, I started to get our veil out of its bag, but my mother stopped me.

Beholding the satin and lace grandeur of the bridal shop headpiece made it abundantly clear we could not come anywhere close to the quality of a professionally produced veil, despite our best efforts and good intentions. My endeavors to be righteous by following the law on my own turn out pretty much the same way, underwhelming and far short of perfection.

The apostle Paul found this to be true of himself in Philippians 3:9, where he said he wanted to be found in Christ, not “having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.” Paul understood “no one alive is righteous in [God’s] sight.” (Psalm 143:2) Doing our best to fulfill all the requirements of the law will not work, because no one is able to keep all the commands without sinning.

Author F.B. Meyer asserts, “However zealous they may be in going about to establish their own righteousness, [people] discover that what has seemed a white and flawless robe is only as filthy rags, in the searching light of the great white throne.” Our standard of good is simply not acceptable to a Holy God. (Romans 3:23) This is why Jesus came to take our place, so He could present us blameless to His Father, having taken our sin upon Himself. (Colossians 1:22)

The Original Intent

2) What is the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings? (verse 10)

In Philippians 3:10, Paul claims he wants to know Jesus and the fellowship of His sufferings. Paul wanted to be like Christ in every way, even in how He suffered. Albert Barnes claims Paul “felt that it was an honor to live as he did; to evince the spirit that he did, and to suffer in the same manner. All that Christ did and suffered was glorious in his view, and he wished in all things to resemble him.”

To know the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings is to suffer for the cause of Christ just as He suffered for us to bring us salvation. When you are persecuted for your faith, belittled for your belief in God, or face loss because of your love for God, you are participating in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. Author Sinclair Ferguson argues that suffering as a Christian is “related both to the fact that we are so profoundly counter-cultural in our lifestyle, and also to the fact that the gospel has sensitized us to the horror that sin affects in the world.”

We suffer because we live in a sinful world, but our suffering can be amplified because of our love for Jesus. Author Andrew Murray suggests, “The sufferings of believers are as indispensable as are those of Christ. They are to be borne in the same spirit. They are the means of fellowship with Him, and conformity to His image.”

The fellowship of His suffering works the characteristics of Christ in us. We learn His humility, love, forgiveness and patience when we encounter the same kind of suffering He experienced. (Romans 5:3-5) It is a blessing to know that even our suffering can be redeemed by God to make us more like Him while also spreading the gospel! (Philippians 1:12-14)

The Everyday Application

2) What is the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings? (verse 10)
Though many lessons from my Psychology 101 class baffled me, at least one rang true. The course taught that a group of people who experience something difficult together will become strongly bonded over that experience. They come away with deep, close relationships, causing them to view the difficulty in an overall positive light because of the bonds created.

Paul probably experienced something similar in what he described as the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings in Philippians 3:10. Paul was no stranger to suffering. He endured many hardships, including beating, stoning, shipwreck and imprisonment, because of His faith in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 11:25) Author John Eadie explains that Paul “longed so to suffer, for such fellowship gave him assimilation to his Lord, as he drank of His cup, and was baptized with His baptism. It brought him into communion with Christ, purer, closer, and tenderer than simple service for Him could have achieved.”

For Paul, it was an honor to suffer as Christ suffered. It brought him closer to Jesus and closer to being like Jesus. The Apostle Paul “implies that this cross bearing . . . this acceptance of affliction of any sort as for and from Him, is a deep secret of entrance into spiritual intimacy with Christ. (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) If it brought him closer to Christ, Paul embraced it and its power to change him. He also knew that he was not alone in his suffering—God was always with him. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Ann Voskamp writes, God “enters into whatever pit that is — and He offers Himself as the road under you, the arms holding you, the comfort around you, the courage within you […].” When we experience the fellowship of His sufferings, it is blessed assurance to know He is always with us.

The Original Intent

3) What does it mean for Paul to assume he will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead? (verse 11)

Paul tells the Philippians his “goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11) Theologians debate whether Paul is talking about a literal resurrection from the dead if he is not alive when Jesus returns, or whether Paul references a spiritual resurrection, fully living out the resurrection life of Christ. (Steven Cole)

Author James Burton Coffman argues for the literal interpretation, citing Paul’s discussion about resurrection in Romans 6:5 saying that Paul desired to be like Jesus in every way possible, knowing Him as fully as He can be known. (Philippians 3:8) Given this, it makes sense that Paul would hope to identify with Christ even in resurrection from the dead. David Guzik suggests Paul “did long mightily for the completion of his salvation through the resurrection of his body. It was something that he had not yet attained and longed for.”

Paul did not know if he would die before the return of Christ or still be on earth when Jesus returned, making it unclear if he would be dead so he could be resurrected. “Paul did not know if he would gain his resurrection body at the final judgment . . . or by being alive when the Savior returned. But he did know that the righteousness imputed to him by faith in Christ alone guaranteed that resurrection would be his.” (Ligonier.org)

Paul hoped to experience resurrection from the dead to identify more fully with his Savior, but he knew that alive or dead, he would be changed at the return of Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

The Everyday Application

3) What does it mean for Paul to assume he will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead? (verse 11)

When my daughter was little, she went through a phase where she wanted to do everything that I did. If I sat down to pay bills, she sat across from me and used statement pages and envelopes to “pay” her own bills. If I volunteered at church, she would get up early to assist me as I prepped classes and materials for Sunday school teachers. She wanted to be like me, and that meant mimicking my actions.

In his quest to be like Jesus, Paul worked diligently to do everything he could to imitate Christ. This wasn’t to earn righteousness, of course, but out of love and desire to be like the One who rescued him from sin and death! Paul endeavored with all that was within him “to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)

Paul wasn’t just interested in the fun, exciting, enjoyable activities of Jesus. He was willing even to conform to His death, including resurrection, to have the full experience of knowing Jesus. He knew he would be with Jesus at the second coming either way (1 Thessalonians 4:17), but he hoped it would be as one resurrected from the dead so he could identify more closely with his Savior.

Lord, may we have the fervor and zeal of Paul to become more and more like You every day!

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Devoted, Day 11
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In the Christian journey, sometimes we get carried away thinking because we’ve done some good things, we deserve the best from God; we are the most righteous.

We might pile up our “Christian accomplishments” like stones in a monument . . .
head-knowledge of His word, charitable activities, and some awful sins in which we don’t indulge.

(Our sins, we might tell ourselves, are really very minor compared to the sins of others!)

Suddenly, the monument we’ve created is an idol of our own self-righteousness.
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The GT Weekend! ~ Devoted, Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Devoted, Week 2

Rebecca Adams

March 16, 2024

Adoration,Confession,Excuses,Genuine,Holiness,Holy Spirit

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Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Ah Lord God, it’s so easy to become smitten by the things we see in front of our eyes every day. It’s so easy to go hours, days, even months without a consideration of the unseen spiritual forces at work using what is seen to lure us away from adoring You in the unseen. Remind me, Spirit of God, remind me daily, hourly, to think of You and practicing dwelling in Your constant holy Presence, which is ready to embrace me as I am.

You are ready to teach me more of You at every moment. The key to turning away from my idols and resisting the power of their pull is to become ensconced in Your beauty. Pull me into Yourself, oh, Magnificent Strength. (Psalm 89:17) You alone are worthy; make all other lesser loves distasteful in my mouth that I might hunger and thirst all the more for Your righteousness! (Matthew 5:6)

I love you, Lord my Strength! (Psalm 18:1)
May my life and lips align with the praise in my heart!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

We’ve all done it. Categorized sin. Calling some grievances as “less than” offensive to the perfectly holy God of All. How dare we call good, or even “not as bad”, what the Lord has deemed putrid?

Several months ago, the reality of my own personal sin became shockingly clear, thank you, Spirit of the Living God! It was a rushed kind of morning and I was behind in a million things as is common in my everyday life. Relationship struggles were weighing on me, children’s squabbles filled the air, and seemingly everything that could wrong, did go wrong. Then, as if perfectly cued to bring out my worst, one child asked me a benign question and that was the end of my rope. I snapped rudely, spoke harshly, and carried no grace in my words, my tone, or my body language. Everything about my interaction was centered entirely around myself.

I sinned. I was rude. I was unloving. I was unkind. I lacked compassion. I focused on myself instead of honoring another. I saw none but me, and I certainly didn’t see the Lord. As I saw the shock and sadness unfurl across my child’s face I knew in an instant of my sin.

It was at this very moment the Spirit of God pressed in, “It only takes one sin to earn the penalty of eternal death in Hell apart from Me.” One Sin and my eternity is sealed for damnation apart from Christ and every aspect of goodness, graciousness, and love.

Praise God we have a Redeemer who is willing to forgive our sin because He paid for every single one! (1 John 1:9) Sister, there are no small sins, none. Let’s come to Jesus, confess our sin, and receive the forgiveness He offers so we can be right with Him and walk in His ways!

JOURNAL TWO

As believers, we long to be exactly where God has purposed while living out His call for us. As passionately as we desire this, Discouragement can creep in, along with its companion, Discontent. Both of these are sent by the enemy of our souls, and are meant to deter us away from the One our lips say we love.

As I was reading Psalm 119 this morning, I was captivated by the repeated phrases describing the author’s absolute love and total commitment to the Lord’s words, ways, and wisdom. The psalmist refused to allow anything to stand between his heart and following through on turning his feet to the Lord’s ways while rejecting his own. (Psalm 119:58-59) Under conviction, I turned over the question in my heart, “Will my actions, words, and thoughts reflect this same commitment today, or will I prove I love an idol more than the One my tongue calls ‘Lord’?”.

The man who penned the wonderful words and heart-felt commitment of Psalm 119 was also the man who fell prey to Satan’s snare of idolatry. King David began his descent into a sin that would mark his life, his marriages, and would steal away two innocent lives when he stepped away from the leadership role God had given.

All kings were supposed to be at war with their troops, but David stayed back. We don’t know why he chose to remove himself from his rightful place, but perhaps it was discouragement, discontent, over-confidence, or self-doubt. Whatever the reason, David’s departure from the Lord’s wisdom, led him to leave the Lord’s ways and abandon the Lord’s words.

As we rest this weekend, let’s refuse to let down our guard against the sneak attacks of the enemy meant to pull us away from the Only One Worthy of our full worship!

JOURNAL THREE

We need the Lord within us in order to worship the Lord rightly for “true worshippers worship in Spirit and in truth.”  (John 4:24) This reality anchored Michelle’s teaching in her Journey Study yesterday, and it should cut our hearts as we reflect on our own worship in regular, everyday life. As Paul taught in Romans 8:15, the Spirit of God within believers cries back to the Lord, “Abba!”, the name of familial intimacy.

If our worship wains, or if we find ourselves worshipping the “emotion of worship” more than the One we are meant to worship, Jesus’ words recorded in John’s gospel should penetrate our hearts. If we are true believers in Jesus and His Spirit truly lives within us, then He will continually be drawing us to worship.

The problem is when we choose to stop listening attentively to His drawing. Michelle pointed us to Tim Keller’s words on realigning our worship. Let’s make space in our weekend for the most important aspect of our lives, the very purpose for which we were made: worship.

What has our attention been given to this week? What does it reveal about that which we have truly worshipped?  What of our prayers, our engagement in conversing with the Almighty, and our response when prayers go un-answered? Consider also our worries from the week. Have our anxieties eclipsed our praise?

Lord, search our hearts that we might come to You in true adoration!
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Confession,idolatry,repent,Sin,worship
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Devoted Day 9 Lust’s Lie: Digging Deeper

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Devoted Day 9 Lust’s Lie: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

March 14, 2024

Adoration,Confession,Enemies,Freedom,Healing,Holiness,Holy Spirit

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Lust's Lie"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Samuel 11

In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. 3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hethite?”

4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterward, she returned home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to inform David, “I am pregnant.”

6 David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hethite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going. 8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house. 10 When it was reported to David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David questioned Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?”

11 Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and by your life, I will not do this!”

12 “Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote: Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies.

16 When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were. 17 Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hethite also died.

18 Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle. 19 He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle— 20 if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall? 21 At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died? Why did you get so close to the wall?’—then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hethite is dead also.’” 22 Then the messenger left. When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell. 23 The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the city gate. 24 However, the archers shot down on your servants from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s servants died. Your servant Uriah the Hethite is also dead.”

25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.”

26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband, Uriah, had died, she mourned for him. 27 When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the LORD considered what David had done to be evil.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why would David disobey the law of the Lord by committing adultery? (verse 4)

By the Lord’s own declaration, King David was a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) He was brave (Psalm 27:1), worshipful (Psalm 18:2), and full of faith (1 Samuel 17:45-47). He understood and loved God’s laws. (Psalm 119:16) In fact, the Bible proclaims that David did what was right and obeyed God’s laws in every matter but one. (1 Kings 15:5)

David disobeyed God when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the murder of her husband to cover up the resulting pregnancy. (2 Samuel 11:4) David understood that God forbids adultery. (Exodus 20:14) He allowed his lusting heart to overrule his head knowledge of God’s law. He permitted his physical desires to supersede God’s place of authority in his life.

Pastor Chuck Swindoll suggests, “As the dense cloud of his aroused passion closes in around him, all he knows is the present. Everything else is forgotten — his family, his kingdom, even his God.” Bible student, David Guzik, suggests David’s fall was more than a matter of the moment, and points to David’s harem as indicative of his problem, “David’s practice of adding wives showed a lack of sexual restraint and an indulgence of his passions. This corrupt seed, sown long ago, grew unchecked long enough and would bear bitter fruit.”

The Lord advised that a king must not acquire many wives lest his heart go astray. (Deuteronomy 17:17) Yet David had at least 8 wives (biblestudytools.com) plus even more concubines (2 Samuel 5:13). God provided David with ways of escape from his lustful temptations (1 Corinthians 10:12-13), but David chose to ignore all of them.

Rather than flee from sin (Matthew 6:13), David indulged his sinful passions until they grew stronger than his desire to cling to God’s Word. He fed his lust more than his worship of the Lord. When we are faced with temptation of any kind, we can ask the Lord to help us flee and thank Him that His grace frees us from the bonds of sin. (Romans 6:14)

The Everyday Application

1) Why would David disobey the law of the Lord by committing adultery? (verse 4)

When I was a kid, my dad managed a Christian radio station, so I occasionally met musicians on tour in our city, including my favorite group. They were role models I tried to emulate. When I learned that one member had abused alcohol and drugs and committed adultery, I was devastated. How could someone who knew Scripture so well and led worship so beautifully fail so catastrophically? In my eyes, it was on the scale of what happened to King David in 2 Samuel 11:4.

David proved his trust in the Lord and his reliance on God’s precepts time and again throughout his life. (Psalm 27 and Psalm 25) He knew that committing adultery with Bathsheba was not in God’s will, or even in his own best interest. Still, he disregarded God’s Word and gave in to his selfish desires, setting in motion a chain of disastrous events that changed his family forever. David did not rely on God’s strength; he trusted in his own, and it failed him miserably. (Jeremiah 17:5)

Scriptures tell us to live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. (Romans 8:4-6) When we rely on the Holy Spirit, He promises to help us escape temptation’s call by delivering us from evil. (Matthew 6:13) When we believe the enemy’s lie that we can better satisfy ourselves than God, we are deep into trouble.

When we pursue pleasures that take the place of God’s provision, we are left empty and devastated for sin always leads to death. (James 1:15) David Guzik asserts, “You can’t satisfy lusts of the flesh. They are primarily rebellious assertions of self. It wasn’t so much that David wanted Bathsheba, it was that he would not be satisfied with what God gave him.”

Stop chasing what will never fulfill! Instead, recognize and appreciate God’s will and work in our lives, only then will we find delightful satisfactions within God’s plan as we flee temptation.

The Original Intent

2) In their culture, what would happen if Bathsheba was found pregnant while her husband was away? (verse 5)

David knew there could be dire consequences for sleeping with Bathsheba. He knew Bathsheba’s “father and husband [were] both members of David’s elite vanguard (2 Samuel 23:34, 39); her grandfather . . . [was] one of the king’s wisest counselors” (Rachel Adelman) He also knew God’s law required death for adultery. (Deuteronomy 22:22)

Despite the deadly risk and his knowledge of God’s jealous justice, David disregarded the consequences for himself and others. Possibly, as king, he felt powerful, above the law, and immune to judgment. Bathsheba, however, did not have that security. While David was clearly complicit in this affair, Bathsheba’s compliance is questionable. David saw her bathing, but bathing in one’s own courtyard was common, and often even involved a covering cloth. (Bonnie Kirk) Author Carmen Joy Imes explains Bathsheba was “purifying herself ritually following menstruation (2 Samuel 11:4). This practice indicates that she was a pious keeper of Israelite purity law (and also that she was not already pregnant […].”

When summoned by the king, we only know Bathsheba obeyed the call. Author Subby Szertesky asserts, “Given the times and the culture in which she lived, Bathsheba almost certainly had no power to refuse the advances of an absolute monarch.” We only see Bathsheba report she is pregnant. (2 Samuel 11:5)

This revelation led David to deceive, and ultimately murder, Bathsheba’s husband to hide his adultery. When Nathan confronted David with his sin, it was only David he reproached, not Bathsheba. Bible scholar John Piper suggests Nathan’s word picture “re-created the adultery in the categories of theft and killing. Not Uriah’s killing — that’s an added evil — but as it were, Bathsheba’s killing represented by the little, little, helpless pet lamb being killed and served up as a meal.”

As king, David justified he could get away with adultery, but he exposed Bathsheba to the consequence of death for her part in the affair.

The Everyday Application

2) In their culture, what would happen if Bathsheba was found pregnant while her husband was away? (verse 5)

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is about a pregnant Puritan woman whose husband denied her child to be his. Her community forced her to wear a scarlet letter “A” for adulterer. She never revealed that her lover was the minister, but his guilt caused him to secretly brand his chest with a letter “A”. Her affair was volitional, but even women without a choice bear the consequences of sexual sin when they become pregnant.

For Bathsheba, her pregnancy (2 Samuel 11:5) could have brought her shame and death. Bathsheba’s volition in the affair is not known, but we do know that Scripture focuses on David’s sin. Rachel Adelman suggests, “As the story unravels, the narrative seems to exonerate Bathsheba of any guilt and is exclusively concerned with the king’s degeneracy.” David was at first reckless in sinning and then later desperate to cover it up. He should have remembered God’s teaching that your sins will catch up with you. (Numbers 32:23) He should also have considered the danger to Bathsheba.

When we encounter strong temptations, like David did, we can instead choose to be led by God’s Spirit and successfully avoid sin. We have a way to defeat temptations available to us by heeding the apostle Paul’s advice in Galatians 5:16 to “Walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

We can choose to follow the desires instilled in us by the Holy Spirit and refuse the wrong desires of our flesh. It is Christ alive in us (Galatians 2:20) that empowers us to follow Him even in the face of our wrong desire and the strong pull of sin. When we face the consequences of sin, whether our own or those committed against us, the Holy Spirit guides us through this as well (Philippians 1:6) for He desires our reconciliation back to a whole relationship with Him. Our God is faithful to give us a way out of temptation and to help us when we fall. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Original Intent

3) Why didn’t Uriah’s loyalty and faithfulness earn David’s respect and save his life? (verse 11)

When David discovered that Bathsheba was the wife of his faithful soldier, Uriah, that fact alone should have kept him from pursuing her. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David brought Uriah home from battle to make her pregnancy plausible. In 2 Samuel 11:8, David told him to “Go down to your house and wash your feet,” which was an idiomatic way to say “spend some time at home” with your wife in intimacy. (Preceptaustin.org)

David should have respected Uriah’s noble response, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and by your life, I will not do this!” (2 Samuel 11:11) Because David was trying to cover his own sin, he didn’t recognize or appreciate Uriah’s loyalty; in fact, it likely riled him all the more because Uriah was acting more righteously than he.

Joyce G. Baldwin notes, “David had expected and hoped that Uriah would prove to be like himself; instead he proved to be a man of integrity, whose first loyalty was to the king’s interests rather than to his own pleasure.” In his desperation, David tried to make Uriah contradict his values and forsake his convictions (Romans 14:13), but Uriah proved faithful and true where David had failed.

Instead of letting Uriah’s integrity move him to penitence, David allowed it to predicate his murder. According to author Adam Clarke, “This was the sum of treachery and villainy. He made this most noble man the carrier of letters which prescribed the mode in which he was to be murdered.”

David let his lust and his selfishness blind him to the respect due to his faithful soldier. His unrepentant heart led him to murder the man he should have been rewarding.

The Everyday Application

3) Why didn’t Uriah’s loyalty and faithfulness earn David’s respect and save his life? (verse 11)

I had a friend who loved his family very much and worked hard at a blue-collar job to meet their needs. His wife encouraged him to work as much overtime as possible for the extra income, which he gladly did, never suspecting she was trying to increase his salary so that when she filed for divorce her child support payments would be based on a higher salary.

My friend was devastated to find that the extra money he earned and the time away from his family were being used against him in divorce proceedings. Instead of being appreciated and valued for his contributions, he was being used like a pawn in his wife’s selfish plans for her future without him.

King David used his loyal soldier Uriah in a similar way. Uriah refused to indulge his own pleasures while his fellow soldiers were on the battlefield proving his allegiance to David and his army. (2 Samuel 11:11) This faithfulness to his king and country should have been valued. Instead, Uriah’s fidelity was the very thing that motivated David to kill him.

When David heard Uriah’s honorable words, all he could think of was how Uriah was thwarting his attempts to cover his sin. (Proverbs 28:13) One sin led to another sin (John 8:34), and eventually David had innocent blood on his hands for he had become a slave to sin. David returned evil for the good Uriah gave him, and it turned out badly for David. (Proverbs 17:13)

By the time David repented of his sins, there were consequences already set in motion that would plague David all his remaining days. (1 Kings) In our own lives, we can recognize that when we go astray we can turn from our sin (Acts 3:19), stopping the cycle of disobedience that David fell into and moving closer to the life God has planned for us.

Tags :
confess,idol,idolatry,lust,Sin,worship
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Devoted, Day 8
Journey Study

Have you ever felt like giving up on following Jesus? Have you ever thought, “This doing-things-God’s-way just isn’t worth it.”

I have.
Many times.

How we feel and what we think is important, but we must be willing to take our thoughts and feelings captive, holding them accountable to truth before we embrace them whole-heartedly. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

The easiest way to ruin God’s people is to distract them. Oh, how we love to be distracted!
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Devoted Day 6 Small Sins

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Devoted Day 6 Small Sins

Rebecca Adams

March 11, 2024

Confession,Excuses,Faithfulness,Glory,Grace,Holiness,Sin

Read His Words Before Ours!

I Samuel 15
Psalm 46:10-11
Psalm 135
Romans 7:14-25

“Samuel replied to Saul, ‘I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.’ When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes His mind.’”
(I Samuel 15:26-29)

“Lord, Your name endures forever,
Your reputation, Lord,|
through all generations. […]
House of Israel, bless the Lord!
House of Aaron, bless the Lord!
House of Levi, bless the Lord!
You who revere the Lord, bless the Lord!
Blessed be the Lord from Zion; He dwells in Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!”
(Psalm 135:13, 19-21)

“The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people Israel.
Now, listen to the words of the Lord.”
(1 Samuel 15:1, emphasis mine)

Even as I, Samuel, prophet and priest of the Lord Most High, rehearsed Yahweh’s words in my head, I knew in my heart Saul wasn’t going to listen.

There was no indication Saul had shifted toward whole-hearted righteousness.

Still, I approached Israel’s king, giving him the Lord’s command and explaining how he was to attack the Amalekites, completely destroying them for their oppression of Israel. (1 Samuel 15:1-3)

My insides ached at the just, divine repercussions to come if Saul chose again to directly disobey the Lord.

Of course, Saul didn’t see it as direct disobedience. For years, his deluded justification of his choices meant every small step away from the Lord’s ways seemed, to Saul, as if he were helping the Sovereign God . . . as if Saul saw himself as just a bit better than Yahweh.

Undoubtedly, these words would never cross his lips, but his actions proclaimed the true beliefs of his heart. Sinister deceptions had long plagued Saul, convincing him he had the authority to side-step Yahweh, just a little here and there. 

“It’s as if an enemy taunts him,” I muttered aloud in my tent, waiting for news from the battlefront. “A mastermind has been leading him along, preying upon his insecurities and creating the illusion that if he simply grasps at more control, he’ll gain it.”

My fingers gripped my staff as I forced my tired legs to propel me outside my fluttering walls. I needed to stretch my restless limbs beneath the night sky, and maybe hear from the Lord.

I thought back to the day Saul first became king. No, I shook my head as a knot formed in my throat, the idolatry started before then…with God’s chosen people.

They rejected their Sovereign, insisting on a human king “like all the other nations.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20) My fists clenched, and I increased my pace while crickets hummed. I wondered how history might be different if Israel had been satisfied with the Infinite Creator as their King.

I couldn’t stop the tears in remembering their rejection. My people, oh my people! The Lord’s words echoed in my ears,
“They have not rejected you, [Samuel,]
they have rejected me as their king.
They are doing the same thing to you
that they have done to me […]
abandoning me to worship other gods.”
(1 Samuel 8:7-8)

If my heart felt like bursting with grief, anguish, and righteous anger, I couldn’t imagine the heartbreak of Yahweh. He had birthed His people from an aged man and his barren wife, led Israel from slavery, held their toddler-like hands through the wilderness despite their rebellion, gifted them the Promised Land, and caused them to flourish in the face of countless enemies. Yahweh was the perfect King, a Shepherd King, but He was rejected for a king with a face they could see.

Fleetingly, I thought, “Would that You, Yahweh, wore skin, and we could crown Your head! How we would love You and follow You and obey every Word You spoke! If only Israel could see You, then they would never worship another idol, never again bending the knee to Insecurity and the illusion of power at the hand of Control.”

I felt I should repent at such a scandalous thought. How dare I imagine the Almighty humbling Himself to become incarnate!

Suddenly, the crickets fell silent and the air buzzed. I fell prostrate; I knew the Lord was coming; I barely breathed. Would He bring news of the battle?

“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away
from following me and has not carried out my instructions.”
(1 Samuel 15:10-11)

All the air left my lungs; in an instant it rushed back and I railed and yelled, pleading for mercy!

“NO! Lord God, NO!”

I knew those words well, “I regret that I made […]”. The Lord had uttered them before pronouncing judgment on wicked humanity in the days of Noah. (Genesis 6:5-8)
Saul’s days were short, perhaps even Israel’s.

Despite my pleading, I knew I, too, needed to surrender to His sovereign rule or allow space in my own heart for idol worship. The Lord had spoken: the kingdom would be torn away from Saul, for the Lord is a jealous God. He knows any idol that steals our love from Him must be torn out or it will strangle us to death.

Saul’s list of “small sins” and “minor compromises” as he twisted God’s Words to fit his own agenda all added up to an idol made by self-righteous hands. Its sum total was demonic evil as it spit in the face of everything good, kind, and generous in the heart of Sovereign Yahweh.

Saul’s idol mirrored my own as I looked at how violently I too had insisted on my way, my sense of justice. This deadly disease grew in me just as it did Saul.
If only there were a sacrifice to slay sin in me! (Romans 7:24-25)

As the Lord’s faithfulness danced in the glory of morning’s sun rays, I turned my face to the eastern sky and waited for the Lord. No idol was worth departing from His lavish goodness. “Lord, make me new again,” I whispered. As I breathed out praise, I knew He was tearing down my idols and restoring my soul, for “small sins” don’t exist in the eyes of the All-Seeing Almighty.

Tags :
forgiveness,holy,idolatry,justification,Sin
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Devoted, Day 7
Digging Deeper

When we embrace enemy lies, we open the door to all manner of sin to flow out from us, manifesting itself in everything from the words we say, to whether we insist on having regular time with the Lord, or in bigger things like how to spend our money, whether we take that job, or if we will be generous with our time.

Saul’s story proves we can justify any sin, it’s just a matter of the authenticity of our worship. When we are entirely devoted to Christ, justification simply won’t be found on our lips and our life choices will prove the genuine quality of our worship.

But if Self reigns, lies and inconsistencies will be made abundantly clear through our everyday life patterns.

We may fool others into thinking we are true worshippers of the King, but He will never be tricked. Who will you worship today?
For real.
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