Date: 09-10-2020

Title: A Purposeful Heart

(S) cripture:

    Daniel 1:8 (NASB) But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

(O) bservation:
    Daniel had been taken captive to Babylon and was put into training for service to the king. He and his three friends were bright and physically fit. The king provided the best foods and wine for them to eat but they were forbidden foods for these Jewish boys. Daniel asked that they be allowed to not defile themselves. It is interesting that Daniel first made this decision in his heart, then he asked permission. God then intervened for him.

(A) pplication:
    The tough decisions of life are first made in the heart. The decision to eat right and exercise consistently for me must be made in the heart as a decision not to defile myself. The Lord will use that decision to remind me to decide to exercise when I don’t want to, to put down the food that is not good for me. God will help me and call to my attention things that will defile me but the decision is still mine to listen to Him or not. Today I choose to not defile myself.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I need you constant help and deliverance. Call to my mind this decision when I am about to violate it. I thank you for your faithfulness and love to me. Amen

Date: 09-09-2020

Title: A Word Of Hope

(S) cripture:
    Lamentations 3:25 (NASB) The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

(O) bservation:
    This is a word of hope in Jeremiah’s lament.

(A) pplication:
    How often do I get ahead of the Lord and then get frustrated at Him for not doing what I think needs to be done. Most often that ends in defeat and even disaster. When I wait for Him, I experience his presence, confidence and power. What a difference in living that way than on my own. When I seek the Lord I just naturally live into God’s will for my life. I see his hand in every situation and circumstance. That is the way I want to live. Today I will seek the Lord and wait on Him.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for putting up with me and my impatience. Thank you for working in my life. Thank you for always being right on time. Teach me to wait on you as I seek you each day. Use me today. Amen

Date: 09-08-2020

Title: Spiritual Influencers

(S) cripture:
    Revelation 14:13 (NASB) And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

(O) bservation:
    At the time of the Tribulation the angels say, “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord…” Today we must understand that death for the believer is a blessing. We may not understand that but it is a blessing. The believer finds rest and their deeds follow them as part of their continued influence on those that remain.

(A) pplication:
    As I read this passage I began to think of and thank God for the spiritual influencers in my life that are now with the Lord. First thought were of my parents, Bob and Betty Crouch, my grandparents, Clyde and Beulah Crouch and Emmer Robinson, aunts and uncles, Ward and Evangel Robinson, Bill and Bernice Crouch, Jim and Gloria Crouch. I thought of others like Frosty Parsons, Golden Burgess, Bill Jones, Heidi Goodall, Bill Bright and many others. All these men and women are now in heaven with the Lord. Their spiritual influence continues on in the lives of many of which I am one. They certainly experienced what John wrote here in Revelation. They were blessed and so am I by their influence in my life. I want to be that kind of influence in others.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I thank you for the people you brought into my life to help me in my spiritual journey. Today I want to be that kind of influence in others. Let me share your love and grace today. Amen

Date: 09-07-2020

Title: Empty Promises

(S) cripture:
    Jeremiah 42:6 (NASB) “Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.”

(O) bservation:
    IN this passage the people made a promise to do whatever God said. They were in a mess and had asked Jeremiah to ask God what they should do. They promise to obey when Jeremiah gives them the word from the Lord. When the word is given though, they rebel. Their promise was empty. This empty promise brought God’s judgment.

(A) pplication:
    It seems to me that way too often when we are in trouble and ask for God’s help and instruction with the promise to obey, only to rebel when His instruction comes. These empty promises bring God’s judgment or discipline to our lives as well. Today I want to obey without reservation. Today I want to hear clearly from the Lord and obey that instruction.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I confess my empty promises. Today I will follow you. Speak to my heart and I will obey. Amen

Date: 09-06-2020

Title: Being a Faithful Voice

(S) cripture:
    2 Chronicles 36:15-17 (NASB) The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; 16 but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy. 17 Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand.

(O) bservation:
    Over and over God sent the prophets with a message for the people. Again and again he pleaded with them to be faithful to Him and warned them of the consequences. Regardless of the message the people and their kings did what was evil in the sight of God and judgment was coming. It is interesting that God worked and moved through an unrighteous king to accomplish his judgment. Sometimes God uses the ungodly to bring about his purposes.

(A) pplication:
    I am struck by two things in this passage:
        1. That God would use the unrighteous to accomplish his purpose. So often I simply write off the actions of the unrighteous to evil and yet here God used these kinds of actions to bring about His purpose. I need to be more discerning in my judgments in the future to see if God is at work even if it is in bringing judgment to his people.
        2. That God continued to send messenger after messenger to the people even though they did not listen. The messengers continued as the faithful voice of God even when the people were not listening.
    As we are coming up on the 19th anniversary of 9/11, I recall how millions of people flocked to churches in the aftermath of the attacks. Now it seems that we again have moved away from that. As a pastor I am called to be that faithful voice regardless of the response of the people.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, grant me the courage, strength, and resolve to faithfully declare your word. Help me to make my words reflect your words and my ways to reflect your ways. Help me to make a difference in the lives of those around me for you, Amen

Date: 09-05-2020

Title: When God Speaks

(S) cripture:
    Ezekiel 30:20 (NASB) In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh of the month, the word of the LORD came to me saying,

(O) bservation:
    Over and over in the reading for today we find statements like the one I chose. Ezekiel marked the day and year when God spoke and gave him a message to deliver to the people. Sometimes Ezekiel just declares that “The word of the Lord came to me…” but here the prophet gives the year, month and day.

(A) pplication:
    As I read the passage today, I was struck with how many times Ezekiel marked the year, month, and day that God had spoken to him. Was it for Ezekiel or the people that the event was marked that way? I am always suspicious when people say, “God told me to…” I am even more suspicious when people say, “God told me to tell you to…” There have been times in my life though when it seemed that God had spoken out loud. Now I didn’t hear any audible voices, but God was clear in His message to me. It might be helpful in the future to mark those days. There is power that comes from looking back and with confidence knowing that God has worked in your life. When it is marked it simply makes it easier to reference. I want to mark those times in my life so that as I speak of God’s work in our lives I can do so with confidence and power.

(P) rayer:
    Father, I thank you for working in my life. I thank you for directing my life and allowing me to be called your child. Help me to mark with certainty your works in my life so that I might declare your word with confidence and power. Amen

Date: 09-04-2020

Title: Clap Hands/Stamp Feet

(S) cripture:
    Ezekiel 25:6-7 (NASB) ‘For thus says the Lord GOD, “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have stretched out My hand against you and I will give you for spoil to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands; I will destroy you. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.”

(O) bservation:
    There was severe punishment for those who rejoiced and cheered at the downfall of Israel. God was still their God and in control. Punishment was on the way for those who rejoiced in the trouble of God’s chosen people

(A) pplication:
    There is a lesson here about rejoicing when others fail or are being punished or are receiving the just consequences of their sin. When I am glad or rejoice that certain people get their “just desserts”. At that time, I am a candidate for God’s correction. Why should I rejoice in the pain of another? Where is my heart of compassion? God will take care of my pride and teach me not to gloat or rejoice at the failure of others.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, let me see others as you see them. Let me be compassionate and not judgmental. Let me show your love and grace to all I meet. Amen

Date: 09-03-2020

Title: In The Gap

(S) cripture:
    Ezekiel 22:30 (NASB) “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

(O) bservation:
    Ezekiel has just given God’s judgment for the sins of Israel and in this one verse looks for one to stand in the gap for the land before God.

(A) pplication:
    This passage could be describing the culture I live in. The American culture is certainly just as guilty as the Israelites were in this passage. I have been called by God into pastoral ministry. Sometimes I lose sight that I am called not to a position of “church work” but rather a place of ministry. I am to be the one standing in the gap for the people the Lord has called me to serve. Administrative duties are important but not nearly as important as helping people bridge the gap between them and the Lord. I am to stand in the gap and pray for those who think they cannot pray for themselves. I am to call those who have strayed back into fellowship with the Lord and the church. I cannot be passive or silent. In the Ezekiel passage God did not find anyone to stand in the gap. Today I will seek to stand in the gap for the people the Lord brings around me. It is my calling and my honor.

(P) rayer:
    Lord I need your help and strength to do what you have called me to do. I am not capable of helping others without you. I ask for the Holy Spirit to guide and for the courage to follow. Help me to stand in the gap today. Amen

Date: 09-02-2020

Title: The Wonder of God’s Creation

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 111:2-4 (NASB) Great are the works of the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them. 3 Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonders to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and compassionate.

(O) bservation:
    The psalmist is praising God for his greatness and goodness. He looks at what God has made and done, and he is caught up in the wonder of it. His response is thanksgiving

(A) pplication:
    Each year Becky and I vacation sometime at vacation at the beach. As I walk along the shore or as I look at the dawning sun and rolling waves I am reminded again of the greatness of God. As soothing as the rhythm of the ocean was to me this summer, it was terrifying to the people in the path of Hurricane Laura. This is part of the wonder of God’s creation. Having spent most of my life in the mountains of West Virginia I have seen the beauty of the greening of the mountains and then the brilliant colors of fall, these too reveal the majesty of God’s creation. I have also lived in Mississippi, Southern California and Kentucky and Michigan. As I think about the ocean and the mountains of West Virginia I am reminded that I should also see God’s greatness and majesty in flat country of Michigan and the dry desert of So. California. Sometimes I fail to see God’s greatness where I am because I am looking somewhere else. Today I will thank again God for his work and majesty here in West Virginia as we transition into fall. I will celebrate His goodness and majesty and thank him for the reminder to see and celebrate his wonderful creation wherever I am.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, you are so gracious to me. Thank you for reminding me through your creation of your majesty and greatness. Let me see you today. Amen

Date: 09-01-2020

Title: The Gospel Is For Everyone

(S) cripture:
    Revelation 7:9 (NASB) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

(O) bservation:
    In John’s vision he first sees the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel then he sees people “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” God’s plan included faithful people regardless of their heritage.

(A) pplication:
    The Good News of Jesus has always been for everyone. It was never the exclusive right of the Jews but has always been for faithful people everywhere. We did not somehow sneak in under the fence but rather have always been invited through the front door. The invitation has always been to everyone who would respond in faith. It is still that way. We would never say the Gospel is not for everyone but the way we live and share the Gospel reveals what we really believe. I am sure there will be people in heaven that I will be surprised to see, and some will be surprised to see me. I must open my eyes to see people as God sees them. Each one in need of a Savior and each one loved by God. Why am I so reluctant to share God’s love with people when he has lavished his love on me? I think I need to focus on this vision of John a little more intently. Every nation, tribe, people and language – now that is the God I serve and want to serve more fully.

(P) rayer:
    Father let me see people the way you see them. Open my mouth and let me share the Good News of Jesus with them. Amen