NOT LEARNING FROM THE PAST

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place."

They answered, "If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to Him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why His hand has not been lifted from you."

The Philistines asked, "What guilt offering should we send to Him?"

They replied, "Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel's god. Perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land. Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When He treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

1 Samuel 6:1-6

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

After capturing the ark of God from Israel, the Philistines held it for seven months during which time they suffered great affliction from a plague that struck their land. From the scriptures, we know the plague involved tumors and rats since these seem to be the main components listed. Most probably, the plague was transmitted by the rats and those infected by the plague developed tumors. Whatever the case, the Philistines knew one thing. They had to get rid of the ark. How to get rid of it was the question that they brought to their pagan “priests and diviners”.

We read where the Philistines were advised to not send the ark of the god of Israel away empty but with a guilt offering to Israel’s God. Their pagan advisors told them that if they sent a guilt offering then they would “be healed and…know why His hand has not been lifted from you." So the Philistines then inquire about what guilt offering to bring and are told to take “five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers”. They were to “make models of the tumors and of the rats” that were “destroying the country and pay honor to Israel's god”. If they did this, then there would be a chance that the God of Israel would “lift His hand from you and your gods and your land”. Note that there isn’t a certainty given. For it is God and God alone who judges and pardons. No one can speak for God.

But the priests and diviners aren’t done counseling the Philistines. For they ask a very important question saying, “Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When He treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?” In other words, didn’t you learn anything from what happened in the past? You are repeating the mistakes of the Egyptians and Pharoah by hardening your hearts and stubbornly discounting the mighty power of Israel’s God. And like Egypt and Pharoah, the Philistines were paying a heavy price and learning about the power and might of God the hard way.

How often are we like the Philistines? We read the scriptures and see all these examples of stubborn, hardened-hearted people who willingly choose to either disregard or disobey God. We also see that God will not tolerate this attitude and behavior, dealing with it harshly with severe consequence. And yet we, like the Philistines, refuse to learn from the mistakes of the past. We repeat the stubborn, hard heartedness and find ourselves being disciplined just as God has shown He would do in the past.

And how many times do we repeat out past mistakes over and over again? We all have a certain number of weaknesses that we seem to struggle with. I know I do. So how do we deal with those weaknesses, especially when Satan knows how to exploit them and draw us into sin? We turn to the One and only One who can always lead us to righteousness and away from wickedness. For when we turn to the Lord and only when we turn to the Lord, can we find the strength to deal with our shortcomings…our temptations…our weaknesses. We are no way near strong enough to deal with them ourselves. If we were, we wouldn’t keep failing the same way.

So friends, it’s time for us to let go and let God. If we do then we will find ourselves able to withstand sin’s attacks when they come. If we don’t, then we will end up like the Philistines, the Egyptians, and countless other peoples who have had to learn the hard way through consequence and discipline.

Sin is not going away anytime soon and will continue to afflict us all until that day when we die. Until that time, we had better pay attention to guidance of the Holy Spirit and the scriptures, committing ourselves to willful obedience and loyalty to out Almighty, Infinite Father and Maker. He deserves and expects nothing less that that. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE DANGER OF REJECTION OVER ACCEPTANCE

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; He brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors. When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?"

They answered, "Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath." So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

But after they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.

As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people." So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people." For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy upon it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

1 Samuel 5:6-12

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The Philistines believed they had defeated the Israelite God when they defeated the Israelite soldiers and captured their hallowed ark. These same Philistines were well aware of the power of Israel’s God and how the ark was representative of Him. They knew that this God of Israel had “struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert” and yet they still chose to disrespect Him and the ark that represented Him by placing them before their god Dagon. And we know God had said that there would be no gods before Him.

And so it should have been of little surprise to the Philistines, or to us either as we study this passage, that they came under God’s judgment and suffered great affliction. The Lord had ensured the Philistine god Dagon ended up broken and prostrate before Him. Now He was going after the Philistine people.

We read where the “Lord's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity”, bringing “devastation upon them” and afflicting them with tumors. The men of Ashdod quickly figured out the source of the problem saying, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." And so they came up with a solution after conferring with the “all the rulers of the Philistines”. They decided to move the ark of God to another Philistine city called Gath.

Once the ark arrived in Gath, “the Lord's hand (went) against that city, throwing it into a great panic” as “He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors”. Thus Gath suffered the same fate as Ashdod and so the city quickly dispatched the ark to yet another Philistine city called Ekron.

The people of Ekron weren’t real thrilled to see the ark of God enter their city crying out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people." They were obviously aware of what had happened in Ashdod and Gath and knew that a similar fate would await them. Ekron wasn’t interested in adopting Israel’s God as their own. They were just interested in getting rid of the ark because “death had filled the city with panic” and “God's hand was very heavy upon it”. Scripture tells us that “those who did not die were afflicted with tumors and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.” Such was the depth of Ekron’s suffering. “So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, ‘Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.’ “

The Philistines thought their problems would be solved by getting rid of the ark of the God of Israel and in doing so ridding themselves of their hardship. In other words, instead of accepting God and choosing to follow Him, they chose to reject Him and send Him away.

How often are we just like the Philistines? We choose to turn from God in our lives and when we face His discipline, we tend to choose to further distance ourselves from Him even more. In the time we should be drawing nearer to Him, repenting from our wrongs and receiving His pardon and loving forgiveness, we instead blame God for all our troubles and harbor feelings of contempt for Him.

It’s sad to think that all the Philistines had to do was fall prostrate before the God of Israel like their idol Dagon ended up. Had they just repented and vowed to adopt the God of Israel as their own God it would have been so much better for them. But they didn’t and so they suffered the consequences of their choices.

Friends, we need to learn from their errors or be faced with like circumstances. For there is a definite warning within the words of this passage for all believers and non-believers. God, the almighty and infinite Maker and Creator of all things will not accept being rejected by the people He made. And thus He demands and deserves nothing short of our full acceptance and obedience to Him…now and forever.

My prayer is that we will one day heed these words of the Lord from the Book of Isaiah as He says to us all:

"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of Me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' " Isaiah 45:22-24a

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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NOTHING GREATER THAN GOD

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.

1 Samuel 5:1-5

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Chapter 4 of 1st Samuel documented two confrontations between the Israelites and Philistines. You’ll recall that the Philistines soundly defeated Israel in their first battle and so the Israelites sent the ark of God ahead of their forces in the second battle thinking the ark alone would bring them victory. You’ll remember that disaster followed as 30,000 foot soldiers were killed along with Eli’s two sons. Further, the Philistines captured the ark of God and took it to their camp. It’s at that point that we begin in Chapter 5.

The Philistines were obviously feeling very confident after their consecutive wins over Israel and it’s also obvious that they felt their gods had delivered them to victory. Specifically, we see in our scripture where the ark was carried into the temple of the Philistine God Dagon and set beside the idol. The Philistines who had once feared the God of Israel now placed the ark of God before their false god as if their god had triumphed. They were wrong.

For we read that “when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day”, they found their idol Dagon “fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord!” Not realizing what had happened…that their god was put in its proper place, bowing before the one true God, the God of Israel…the people of Ashdod “took Dagon and put him back in his place”. But the next morning “when they rose”, they found the idol Dagon fallen again on its face “before the ark of the Lord” only this time “his head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold” with only his body remaining”. God had told Israel that there would be no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3) and He made good on His word placing the idol Dagon where it belonged, bowing before Him. As we will soon see, the Philistine people would be next.

The Philistines had erred by placing God second to their own god. God asserted Himself to His rightful place, above all things.

Too often, we make the same mistake, placing God second in our lives as well. We seem to be easily distracted by the events of life that seem to always want to steal away our time and talent. So we are forced into constantly having to prioritize things and when we do, we take the wrong approach to prioritizing God in our lives.

This is because we tend to try and fit God in after we have set the rest of our schedule for any one day. After we have run to and fro all day, we too often try to get to God after things have settled down…and too often at that point, we are too tired to properly give God our best. Too often still, we just put God off until the next day and, in doing so, we squeeze God out of our life, allowing everything else to out rank Him. Maybe you can relate to this.

Now wonder how God must feel about that kind of attitude. The God who has given us everything and only wants the best for us…the God who gave His Son as a living sacrifice for you and I so we might not perish from our sins but instead have the opportunity for eternal life…that God who gave us His best first deserves far better than us making Him second to anything in our lives.

Friends, we need to get our priorities in order of God will put them there for us. If we don’t come before Him first with our face on the ground in homage to His almighty power and holiness, He will most certainly bring us there, just as He did Dagon. And if we resist this and insist that other things will remain above Him, then God might just break apart things that we place over Him, just as He did the idol Dagon the second time He placed the idol prostrate before the ark.

Yes, there is nothing and no one greater than our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, our Creator. It’s time we place Him where He belongs in the order of our lives. Always first and receiving our best…our first fruits…now and forever more. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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GIVE THANKS

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

Today, I want to take a pause from the scriptures in 1st Samuel to focus in on the Thanksgiving holiday and specifically, the matter of giving thanks.

Now we can (and do) give thanks for many things in life. We give thanks for life…for loved ones and friends…for our jobs and the money we make from working…for the food we eat for the nourishment of our bodies…and for the shelter we have as well as what we have within that shelter. Truly we could go on and on about all the things we should be thankful for but we could save ourselves a lot of time and space by just giving thanks to the One through which all things come from. In other words, our thanks, first and foremost, need to be directed toward the Lord.

God’s word has a lot to say on the matter of giving thanks to the Lord and I will use just a few of the many verses available to highlight just some of the reasons why we are to show Him our full gratitude and praise.

1. Give thanks to God for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

As we seek to associate with others in life, we want to make sure we affiliate with the right people…those who are good and trustworthy…loyal, faithful and loving. The problem is that it’s very difficult (and actually impossible) to find someone in this world who can be perfectly good and loving all the time. That’s why we need to turn our attention away from the world and to the One and only One who is perfect, not only in goodness and love, but in all things…not just today and tomorrow but forever. For this we are to give Him our thanks.

2. Give thanks to the God for His strength, His presence and for all the wonders and miracles He performs.

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.
Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced…
1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Paul summed things up when it comes to our reliance on the Lord’s strength saying, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) Left to our own strength and power, we are limited to what we can achieve and endure. But when we turn to the Lord in our lives, then we find the strength to do all things…to carry out His will…to handle any form of affliction or persecution…to deal with life’s difficult circumstances when they arise. And for this we give thanks.

We also give thanks because we serve a Lord who is ever in our midst. He is Emmanuel…God with us…though all of our life. And since He is always in our midst, He is always ready and willing to teach, guide, heal, correct and love in accordance with His perfect will for us. We need only seek His face always…asking, seeking, knocking and knowing He is there for us when we need Him.

This God who is ever present and all powerful is consistently performing great wonders and miracles. Indeed He is the Author of all miracles and wonders, having put them on full display when He created everything in just six days, beginning with the heavens and the earth. Think about that for just a minute and then ask yourself if there is any difficulty you will go through in life that God cannot work a wonder or miracle…in accordance with His will.

Friends, there is nothing beyond the power and work of God’s holy hands. Indeed, we should make known among the nations what He has done, telling all of His wonderful acts. Indeed, we should sing praise to Him. Indeed, we should glory and rejoice in His holy name. And in doing all this, we should ever and always give thanks to the Lord.

3. Give thanks to the Lord for He has given us the victory in Christ Jesus. His strength, His presence and for all the wonders and miracles He performs.

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:54b-58

Just think that before Jesus, perfect fulfillment of the law was the requirement for salvation. Unfortunately, keeping the law perfectly was an impossibility that even the most devout Jewish believers, the Pharisees and Sadducees, couldn’t maintain even though they did try and make everyone believe they were perfectly righteous…a hypocritical attitude exposed by Jesus.

No, all mankind was doomed to sin with no sacrifice suitable enough to atone unless there were a perfect unblemished Lamb that could be slain to pay the price. God gave all of us that Lamb in the way of His only Son Jesus who suffered and died for you and I so that the sting of death might be taken away…so that death might be “swallowed up in victory”..a victory that not only Jesus enjoyed but we can as well if we believe and trust Him to be our Savior.

Indeed, thanks be to God, not just this Thanksgiving, but on every day that we are allowed to go forth and fully give ourselves to the work of the Lord. For in Christ Jesus, we are set free to do as He commanded, making disciples of all nations while knowing that our eternal future is sealed by the atoning blood He shed for us on Calvary’s cross.

Yes…let us give thanks to God and to His Son Jesus...now and forever.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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LOSING FAITH…SURRENDERING HOPE

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.

Eli heard the outcry and asked, "What is the meaning of this uproar?" The man hurried over to Eli, who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes were set so that he could not see. He told Eli, "I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day."

Eli asked, "What happened, my son?" The man who brought the news replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured."

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel forty years.
His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention.

She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"-because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

1 Samuel 4:12-22

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The first part of 1st Samuel, Chapter 4, documents two battles between Israel and the Philistines with Israel being defeated twice while suffering heavy casualties, particularly in the second battle when 30,000 soldiers died along with Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. And if these losses weren’t enough, the Philistines also captured the hallowed ark of God.

As the chapter ends, we see continued fallout from the great loss suffered by Israel. We also see what can happen to God’s believers when they allow themselves to lose faith.

We have already seen earlier indications of confusion and despair from the elders of the people of Israel as well as the people they led. They wondered how any of this could have happened to them yet they had never turned to God for guidance before entering into battle…and thus could never have known if it was His will for them to do so. And after things don’t go well, they begin to wonder where they stood with their Father in heaven.

Going back to our scripture, we see where a “Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head”. Once in Shiloh, the Benjamite went to Eli who was “sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God”. After hearing an outcry from the town and inquiring as to what was going on, the man told Eli, who was “ninety-eight years old and whose eyes were set so that he could not see”, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day…Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured."

Eli didn’t take the news well. For we read where he “fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate”, breaking his neck and dying when the ark of God was mentioned. Interestingly enough, note where it wasn’t the news of his sons' death but the ark that troubled him the most. You’ll recall that the Lord had promised that his sons would die so perhaps it wasn’t as much a surprise as the news about the ark.

Still, it’s a bit fascinating to me that a man who had dedicated so much of his life to faithfully serving the Lord in His temple would all of a sudden lose his faith to the point of reacting the way he did and dying in the process. It reveals to us that Eli was just as imperfect as other prominent figures in the scriptures…and just as imperfect as we are as well.

After this, we read about Eli’s “daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas” who “was pregnant and near the time of delivery”. She too received bad news when “she heard…that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead”. This caused her to go into a fatal labor with great pain before she gave birth. And although the woman attending to her tried to comfort her despair by telling her she had delivered a son, Phinehas’ wife “did not respond or pay any attention”. And before she died, she named her son, Ichabod (which means no glory), while saying, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured." She had lost her husband and father in law and was now dying as well. Her faith was lost and with it her hope as well.

This entire passage raises one serious question we all need to ponder:

How do we handle tragedy when it happens in our lives?

For it’s easy to be faithful when everything goes right in life. In fact, there would be little need for faith if our lives were perfect and trouble-free. No…it’s in times of trial that our faith is tested and as we persevere through trouble, we find the Lord taking our faith and refining it…fortifying us so we might grow strong enough to overcome our present challenges.

As we have seen with Eli and Phinehas’ wife, one’s inability to properly cope with tragedy can sometimes be fatal. For when we place our hope in anything other than the Lord then we are running the risk of that thing, whether it’s a possession or a person, leaving our lives and taking our hope along with it. This is why people have such a difficult time handling the loss of a loved one. They place all their faith, hope and trust in someone who is not enduring and when that person dies, a void is left in their hearts…a void that can only be filled by the Lord…and it would have been so much easier if the Lord had been there in the first place.

Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) As Christians, we are to make Jesus our one and only treasure, for all things are by and through Him…the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). And when we make Jesus our treasure then we find ourselves ever in His spirit and strength, able to handle all circumstances whether good or bad with an unwavering faith and unmovable hope. This is good news for us to remember as we continue to praise and give thanks for all the Lord has done, is doing and will continue to do in our lives. He is so very good in every way. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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ALWAYS SEEK AND NEVER ASSUME

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the Lord bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."

So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

When the ark of the Lord's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?"

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.

Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!" So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

1 Samuel 4:2-11

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we enter the fourth chapter of 1st Samuel, we see where the relative peacefulness in Israel comes to an end. For the Israelites enter into battle for the first time with an adversary that will oppose them over and over again. That opponent was the Philistines.

Their first encounter did not go well for Israel. Scripture tells us that they were “defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield”. Such was the magnitude of loss that the Israelite soldiers were thrown into a state of confusion. When those who had survived the Philistine onslaught returned to camp and reported on the outcome, “the elders of Israel asked, ‘Why did the Lord bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines?’ “ Of note, we don’t see any inquiry of God before Israel entered into battle…no seeking of His favor before conflict. Now after the fact, the elders wondered why God wasn’t with their soldiers.

So instead of asking God about the matter and seeking His guidance as to what to do, Israel makes yet another fatal error. For they decide that the reason they were routed so badly was because the “ark of the Lord's covenant” was not with the men as they confronted the Philistines. So the elders ordered the ark to be brought from Shiloh and it was brought there accompanied by Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas…the two whose fate was already sealed in doom by the Lord for their wickedness. You can almost anticipate disaster about to happen again.

Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t sense any danger. In fact when the ark arrived, the people “raised such a great shout that the ground shook” and their clamor got the attention of the Philistines who “learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the (Israelite) camp”. We read where this brought on a great deal of anxiety for the Philistines and they became afraid. Why? Because they were very aware of the consequences that came about when the Lord fought on the side of Israel. They knew all about Israel’s God…the God who had “struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert”. Would they be next? They would have if God had willed that they would fall to the Israelites but it wasn’t their time and Israel would have known this had they just asked.

Well, the Philistine fear didn’t last long. Their soldiers pulled together and exhorted one another to “Be strong”…to “Be men, and fight!" And fight they did, once again defeating the Israelites with this time being worse than the first. Indeed, “the slaughter was very great” with “Israel (losing) thirty thousand foot soldiers” as well as Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, as God had promised. To add further insult to injury, Israel lost their beloved ark of God as well as the Philistines captured it and took it away to their camp.

So what went wrong for Israel? They assumed that God was everywhere that the ark was. Or in other words, they felt they had control of God’s presence by placing the ark where they wanted it…in this case in the midst of a battle they fought without seeking God’s guidance first. The Israelite assumption ended up being a very fatal one…a lesson learned with great loss attached to it.

We should learn two distinct lessons from the fault of the Israelites in this passage.

First, we should never move forward into any venture without turning to God first and seeking His will and guidance. As we get set to handle life’s situations and circumstances, we should ask God how he wants us to handle things…and then be obedient to the instructions He provides.

Israel’s problem was that they dove into battle not even knowing if it was God’s will for them to do so. And in turn, many Israelites died needlessly. In other words, bad things will happen to us in life when we decide we don’t need to seek God’s direction before we do things.

Secondly, we should never assume that God is confined to any one object or place. In other words, God isn’t under our control so that we can place Him in the position we want Him to be. God is where God wants to be and wants us to go where he wants us to go.

Israel had it backwards. They figured they had God in the ark and so wherever they decided to put the ark then this was akin to putting God in place for their use. Unfortunately, they discovered the hard way that God will be where God wants to be in accordance with His will and had Israel communicated with God before the battle, they would have learned that their intentions were not His.

Friends, God dictates all things, not us. He is in control but He will allow us to try to be in control just to show us how much we can make a mess of our lives when we’re in charge. I know I can relate to this and maybe you can as well.

And so to keep from learning the hard way, we need only ever seek Him…every second of every minute of every hour of every day…and trust and know He will always lead us where he wants us to be.

What an awesome assurance this is for us…to know that God cares for us so much that He will always shape each of us personally to be the kind of servant He wants us to be by leading us to the places and events He wants us to play a part in and telling us what we should do in the midst of every circumstance. It’s just another reason why we love and praise Him so much. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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MAKE THE LORD’S WORD YOUR WORD

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and He let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. And Samuel's word came to all Israel.

1 Samuel 3:19-21, 4:1

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Earlier in Chapter 3, we learned that a young Samuel had not known the Lord and that the Lord’s word had not yet been revealed to him as he served in the temple under Eli’s guidance. (verse 7). As Chapter 3 ends and Chapter 4 opens, we see where things have changed drastically.

For we see where the Lord didn’t just appear to Samuel on occasions when He wanted to have Samuel send a message but was with him as he grew up, helping him ever become stronger in His word and way. And not only was the Lord with Samuel but He ensured that everything that Samuel said was in truth…that “none of his words” would “fall to the ground”. This only happened because Samuel’s words were really the Lord’s words…and thus would always represent truth.

And what was the end result of this?

Samuel had credibility and respect amongst the people. Scripture tells us that “all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord”. This was because “the Lord continued to appear at Shiloh”, revealing “Himself to Samuel through His word”. And so in turn, Samuel's word, which was really the Lord’s word, came to all Israel.

This passage shows us what can happen to any of us when we decide to fully commit ourselves to the Lord and His calling. For when we, as Christians, offer ourselves up to Him as a living sacrifice, just as His Son Jesus did for us, then we surrender everything over to His will…our actions, our goals, our plans, our words, and our thoughts…or in other words, our lives.

In turn, everything that we are is of Christ and we gain credibility amongst our people because everything we do, say or think is done in truth and righteousness…because everything that is of the Lord is the same.

Have you, like Samuel, made the Lord’s word your word?

If so, then you’re reveling in the joy that comes from serving Him with everything that you are and in doing so, serving others in a special and edifying way…a way that supports the Great Commission which called us to make disciples of all nations.

If you haven’t made the Lord’s word your word, why not do it today? For the Lord is waiting to be with you, to reveal Himself to you and guide you in spirit and in truth, to ensure that none of your words fall to the ground and, ultimately, to make you respected among your brothers and sisters because they see you as an unique person…unique because every part of you is fully in harmony with the Lord.

Thanks be to the Lord who ever seeks to be with us and lead us to the best life imaginable, now and forever. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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WHAT'S GOOD IN GOD'S EYES

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

And the Lord said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family — from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' "

Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Here I am."

"What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes."

1 Samuel 3:11-18

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

At the beginning of Chapter 3, we saw where the Lord had been calling young Samuel who didn’t realize that it was the Lord, instead thinking it was Eli who was calling him. After going to Eli for a third time wondering what Eli wanted, it was Eli himself who discerned that it was the Lord who was calling Samuel and instructed Samuel to answer the Lord the next time as His servant and tell Him he was listening.

So what was God trying to tell Samuel? In today’s passage, we see.

For as Samuel listens, the Lord tells him that He was about to do something in Israel that would “make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle”. And what was He about to do? The Lord was about to “carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family — from beginning to end”, carrying out His promise to “judge (Eli’s) family forever because of the sin he knew about” for “(Eli’s) sons made themselves contemptible and he failed to restrain them”. To underscore the seriousness of the judgment, the Lord added that there would never be atonement for Eli’s family “by sacrifice or offering”. And with that, the Lord was finished.

Now Samuel was in a real quandary. He had received news of a terrible judgment that the Lord was going to impose on Eli and his family and found himself “afraid to tell Eli the vision” as the next day dawned. What he didn’t know is that Eli already knew of the Lord’s judgment because the Lord had sent him the message prior. (1 Samuel 2:27-36). So when Eli called for Samuel and asked, “What was it He said to you?", Samuel must have given him an indication that he didn’t want to tell because Eli followed up his question with a demand saying, “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." And so “Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him” while making Eli aware of the judgment and after hearing a repeat of what he had been told before, Eli made a remarkable statement saying, "He is the Lord; let him do what is good in His eyes.” Facing certain consequences from the Lord, Eli submitted to the Lord and trusted in His ability to know what was best.

Still, how many of us would have been so accountable before the Lord when faced with His judgment? Eli could have sulked and complained that he was being treated unfairly in the matter. After all, it was His sons who were the wicked ones. Why not just punish them? And what about all the years of service I have rendered to you Lord in the temple? Does that not count in some way toward deciding whether to punish me or not? Haven’t I earned your pardon?

But Eli did none of this. Instead, he submitted to the Lord’s judgment…to what was good in His eyes.

So what exactly is good in the Lord’s eyes? The answer can be put very simple. For anything that the Lord wills to happen is good because His will is perfect and He has a will for everyone and everything. And as the saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way. God’s will results in the way our lives go. Let’s examine a couple of examples from the Bible where God’s will was done in the way of acts that were good in His eyes.

We need only look at the beginning to see where things were good in His eyes right from the start. For in Genesis, Chapter 1, as we read about God’s creative work, we see where the scripture says over and over again that He saw where it was good. Indeed, all things created start out good because God created everything that way. This is affirmed by Paul’s words to the church in Thessolonica when he writes:

For everything God created is good… (1 Timothy 4:4)

We are created good and in God’s own image but once in the world we are afflicted by sin which strives to infect us and take us away from the goodness that God created in us. Sin seeks to make us wicked and carry us away from God’s will and in turn what is good in His eyes. Consider these words from Titus:

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
(Titus 1:15-16)

Eli’s sons had allowed themselves to be corrupted by their sinfulness and in turn, their actions showed they denied Him. They became “detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” and the same thing will happen to us if we allow sin to enter in and dwell in our hearts and minds. Under the influence of sin, we lose our ability to do anything good in the Lord’s eyes. And this can lead to the Lord deciding that judgment is necessary to get our attention and turn us away from our sin and back toward Him and His goodness. Sometimes we need corrected to get back on course. And this is good news for us…that the Lord will help us get back on track, even if it requires us to endure discipline. For we can correct ourselves, return to the Lord’s favor and remain there. The key is the continued renewal of our hearts, minds and souls by the Holy Spirit who leads us to live as Christ lived. Again, read these words from Titus:

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:3-8)

Indeed, we were all lost and doomed to destruction from the sin that afflicted us and sought to draw us away from God, our Maker. But then Jesus came to bring hope to a hopeless people…all by the grace of the Lord and His love for us.

Why did He do this? Why did He send His only Son to suffer and die on the cross for us…sinners who needed a Savior in order to have the hope of eternal life?

The answer is simple.

It was because it was good in His eyes.

Thanks be to God. Amen

In Christ,

Mark

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KNOW WHO'S CALLING YOU

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

Again the Lord called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." And the Lord said to Samuel…

1 Samuel 3:1-11a

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Unlike Eli’s wicked sons, Samuel grew up as a servant of the Lord and ministered to Him under Eli’s guidance. Scripture tells us that “in those days the word of the Lord was rare” and “there were not many visions”. This provides us the proper background to our scripture and helps us understand how “Samuel did not yet know the Lord” because “the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him”. That all was about to change.

For we read where one night as Eli and Samuel were settling down at the end of the day, lying in the temple under the glow of the lamp of God, the Lord entered the scene and called to Samuel. And Samuel, thinking it was Eli calling goes to him and says, “Here I am; you called me." Surprised because he hadn’t called Samuel, Eli replies, “I did not call; go back and lie down." And so Samuel did to only have the same thing happen…not just once but twice. And both times, he went back to Eli, certain that it must have been his voice calling because there was no one else in the temple but them. After the third visit by Samuel, Eli figured out what was happening and instructed Samuel to "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.' "

And so Samuel did exactly what Eli had said and when the Lord called Samuel for the fourth time, Samuel told Him to speak because he, the Lord’s servant, was listening. And with this, the Lord began speaking directly to Samuel.

This is a powerful message for us today because the Lord continues to speak to His people each and every day. Some will recognize Him and be able to communicate with Him, sharing His will and word with others in accordance with His will…the very will that the Lord communicates to all those who are in tune with Him and listen. Sadly, there are so many who don’t know the Lord or His word, will or way. They don’t know Him because they choose not to know Him. And so when He calls to them, they, like Samuel in our scripture, don’t even realize it is the Lord calling them.

Thank goodness Samuel had Eli to help him understand what was happening in his life and open the doors of communication with the Lord that Samuel served. This is why it is critical for all of the Lord’s servants to carry out the words of the Great Commission and actively seek to make disciples of all nations. For when we are actively seeking to make disciples, we are actively seeking to connect people to the Lord through His word and the power of the Holy Spirit. And we need only help them get connected because after that, the Lord takes over and He does the instructing and teaching and convicting and guiding.

So where are you today? Are you like Samuel, hearing the Lord’s call but unable to recognize that it is Him calling you? Or are you like Eli, discerning and able to interpret that the Lord is speaking when He does…helping connect Him with those who have difficulty perceiving Him?

Whether we are like Samuel or Eli, one thing is certain…the Lord is calling us and we should always be listening for His voice in our lives. Thanks be to the Lord for loving us so much and wanting to have a personal relationship with us…now and forever. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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IT TAKES HONOR TO GET HONOR

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the Lord says: 'Did I not clearly reveal myself to your father's house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your father's house all the offerings made with fire by the Israelites. Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?' “

"Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the Lord declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your family line and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man. Every one of you that I do not cut off from my altar will be spared only to blind your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.’ “

" 'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you — they will both die on the same day. I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always. Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a crust of bread and plead, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat." ' "

1 Samuel 2:27-36

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we have studied 1st Samuel, Chapter 2, we have read about the wicked ways of Eli’s sons…about how they had no regard for the Lord and treated His sacrifices with contempt…about how they shamelessly displayed sexual promiscuity in the vicinity of the holy Tent of Meeting by sleeping with women at its entrance. We have also read how Eli scolded his sons and warned them that there were dangerous consequences attached to willfully sinning against the Lord. In this study passage, we see Eli’s words validated as the Lord passes His judgment, not only on Eli’s sons but to Eli too.

We first see where God speaks to Eli through a man which is commonplace when He wants to send a message. For He typically does it by way of a messenger or sometimes in the form of a vision or dream.

As we read the first paragraph of God’s message to Eli, we notice how God reminds him what He has done in the past, another common element God uses when addressing His people. He does so to further illuminate the deplorable nature of man’s sin against Him. In Eli’s case, God reminds him of how he established the holy position of high priest that he serves in, having clearly revealed Himself to Eli’s “father's house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh” and later choosing Eli’s father “out of all the tribes of Israel to be (His) priest, to go up to (His) altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in (His) presence.” God also reminded Eli that He had given his “father's house all the offerings made with fire by the Israelites”. You’ll recall that Eli’s father was none other than Aaron, the first high priest.

After God had gotten done reminding Eli about what He had done…telling him how He had established him to his place of honor…He turns to a series of questions. For given all that He had done, God wanted to know:

“Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling?”

“Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?“

Although we might wonder why God would be chastising Eli for the actions of his sons, we need only consider that Eli had done nothing to stop his sons from doing what they were doing. His condoning their actions led to God holding him just as accountable as they were. If only Eli had spoke out against his sons in the act of their sinfulness instead of well after the fact, maybe things would have been different. But that’s not what happened.

We should learn a valuable lesson from this passage because God expects us to act when we see people openly sinning against Him. We are not to just look the other way or allow the sinful behavior to continue feeling like it isn’t our problem because we can see in Eli’s case that it indeed is our problem. Condoning sinful behavior is akin to being partner to that sin yourself. That’s the message God sends loud and clear.

And so what would come from this? What consequences would result from the actions of Eli’s sons and Eli’s inaction? God answered those questions with the remainder of the verses in Chapter 2.

We read where God intended on removing Eli’s right to serve Him…and his families right as well. For although God had “promised that (Eli’s) house and (his) father's (Aaron) house would minister before (Him) forever”, He would remove that promise from Eli, vowing to “cut short (his) strength and the strength of (his) father's (Aaron) house, so that there (would) not be an old man in (Eli’s) family line”. The family line of high priests under Eli’s lineage was going to end with every descendant either “cut off from (God’s) altar” or spared only so their eyes might be blinded with tears and their hearts grieved. In the end, all of Eli’s descendants would “die in the prime of life” with his “two sons, Hophni and Phinehas” dying “on the same day”.

So who would serve after Eli? God answered that question as well, telling Eli that He would “raise up…a faithful priest” to “do according to what is in My heart and mind”. God required that His servants be obedient and willing to partner with Him in a way that would show them as like-minded. For His selected priest, God promised to “firmly establish his house” so he could “minister before my anointed one always”.

And what would happen to Eli’s family members? Well, “everyone left in (his) family line (would) come and bow down before (the new priest)”, asking “for a piece of silver and a crust of bread” while pleading, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat." Indeed, hard times were ahead for Eli and his family…and it never had to be that way.

Friends, we need to wake up now to the fact that God despises sin and will not tolerate willing disobedience and disrespect to Him. He is GOD…and ALL things on heaven and earth are a result of His Almighty Power. This is not a GOD who is to be discounted or slighted. No…this is a GOD who is to be revered and honored always…now and forever. For God said in our scripture, “Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.”

I don’t know about you but I’m choosing honor because as we can see with Eli and his sons, being disdained by God is not a place any of us should want to be. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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WHO WILL INTERCEDE?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the Lord's people. If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?" His sons, however, did not listen to their father's rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.

And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.

1 Samuel 2:22-26

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

We have seen where the baby Samuel has been weaned by his mother Hannah, dedicated to the Lord at Shiloh and turned over to the care of the high priest Eli who kept a watchful eye on Samuel as he grew up and gained stature with the Lord and men.

Unfortunately, Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were anything but high in stature with the Lord because of their sinfulness. Earlier in Chapter 2, we saw where they deliberately violated the Lord’s guidelines for sacrifice with scripture telling us they had “no regard for the Lord” (verse 12).

Well in today’s passage, we see where the sons did more than just disobey the Lord when it came to sacrificing. They also “slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting”, sexual promiscuity that was strictly prohibited. All their acts were obviously well known for their father “heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel”. Imagine how embarrassing that was to the man who was the top spiritual leader of the people. Eli’s frustration finally boiled over and he confronted his wicked sons.

We read where Eli asks, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the Lord's people.”

Indeed, our actions establish our reputation and that reputation not only reflects on us but those who are close to us as well, particularly our parents. The actions of Eli’s sons not only brought discredit upon them but him as well and definitely violated God’s command to honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12)…not that Hophni and Phinehas even cared about that. They were all about honoring and pleasing themselves.

But Eli wasn’t finished admonishing his sons. He added, “If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?" Eli’s words carried with them great wisdom…and great warning as well…both to Eli’s sons and to us as well. For just as Eli’s sons weren’t thinking about needing an intercessor before the Lord, I wonder if we think about it as well. We should be because we all will need one before it’s all said and done.

So what does God’s word say to us regarding this matter of intercession? Consider these verses from the prophet Isaiah:

He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people He was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 56:2-12

Of course, Isaiah is writing about our Savior and God’s only Son Jesus who would bear the sins of all mankind and then make intercession for the same transgressors that He died for. Through His intercession, He justifies those who repent and turn from their sinful ways…making it just as if the sinner had never sinned. Indeed, for those who are in Jesus and believe and trust in Him with all their heart, the day when we stand in judgment before the Lord for our sinfulness will see Jesus step in as our holy, righteous defense attorney and testify that…”Yes, this sinner is guilty of the penalties mentioned but their debt to you Lord has already been paid. I know because I paid it!” This is the awesome mercy and grace that comes from our Savior and the reason why he tells us that no one comes to the Father except by Him…the Great Intercessor of us all. (John 14:6).

Before I close, picture now the scene that would occur when a sinner came before God without the Great Intercessor. For rejecting Jesus in life results in just that…not having anyone to stand before the Almighty God and provide rescue from pending destruction. This is the path that Eli’s sons chose for we read where they “did not listen to their father's rebuke” and, in turn, “it was the Lord’s will to put them to death”.

Friends, who will intercede for you when the time comes for you to stand before God and be accountable for your actions in life? I pray you will say Jesus because you have given your heart and soul to Him just as He gave it to you.

And if you don’t know Him, then you have no Intercessor before God. And unless you wish to stand before Him defenseless, then I would ask that you turn to Jesus right now and ask Him into your life forever. You’ll never regret that decision. Trust in that.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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A GRACIOUS BLESSER

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

But Samuel was ministering before the Lord -a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord." Then they would go home.

And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:18-21

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

To be gracious.

It involves an action that is marked by love or kindness or compassion or mercy or courtesy or generosity of spirit…or any combination of these.

Hannah had been in a spirit of despair and depression…barren and under verbal attack by her husband’s other wife who had already bore him children. So emotionally distraught that she refused to eat and could not control her weeping, she turned to the Lord and made an oath:

"O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:11

And in response to her plea, the Lord showed His love…His compassion…His mercy…and His generosity of spirit, opening Hannah’s womb and allowing her to conceive. She would give birth to Samuel and then make good on her vow to “give him to the Lord for all the days of his life”, turning Samuel over to the care of Eli, the high priest, where he would remain.

As this devotion’s scripture opens, we discover young Samuel busy “ministering before the Lord” while wearing a “linen ephod” (an apron worn for special rites). Unlike Eli’s sons, Samuel was obedient to the Lord and served Him with respect in the “house of the Lord in Shiloh”. We read where Hannah and Elkanah would come regularly to offer their annual sacrifice and during that time, Hannah would also bring her son a robe that she made especially for him.

Her actions did not go unnoticed for Eli recognized the love that Hannah had for not only her son but the Lord as well…and wished special blessings upon her and her husband saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord." And the Lord heard Eli’s words and responded…graciously.

For scripture tells us that Hannah would again conceive and give “birth to three sons and two daughters” all this while “Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord”. She had surrendered her son to God but gained an abundance in return for her faithful obedience and sacrifice. And the good news for us today is that God still is the same Gracious Blesser that He was back in Hannah’s time.

So just how does the God bless us graciously? Let’s look at other scriptures in the Bible to answer that question.

1. God blesses graciously through His compassion.

…the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Isaiah 30:18

These words from the prophet Isaiah tells us that the Lord is a God of justice. As such, He is free to dole out pardon or penalty, depending on what He sees fit given any given circumstance with us. Now considering we are all sinners, we could find ourselves under penalty most of the time if it weren’t for the God’s gracious compassion…a gracious compassion that He longs to give each and every one of us. We need only seek to walk in His ways every day and confess our sins when they happen, asking for His forgiveness and receiving His mercy.

2. God blesses graciously through His loving goodness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all;
He has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9

What a blessing it is to know we serve a God who is good to us! And not just a chosen few. No, God is good to all!

Indeed, God wants only the best for all His children…for all he has made…and stands ready to provide for our needs in accordance with His will for our lives. Such is the richness of His goodness and gracious love for us all.

3. God blesses graciously when His face shines upon us.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah, that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:1-2

We find favor with God when we stay obedient to His word, will and way. Hannah certainly was and in return she experienced the blessings that come when God’s face shines upon one He is pleased with. Like Hannah, we should ever seek to turn to God in times of trouble and sacrifice to Him just as He has sacrificed for us. Hannah gave her son to God and later, God gave His Son for us. And this leads to the final point on God’s graciousness…

4. God blessed us graciously when he gave us His Son, Jesus.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

God’s greatest display of graciousness, mercy and love came in Him sending His one and only Son, Jesus, to live and die for us. This God who created us…this Almighty, Infinitely Powerful Lord of the universe who can do anything without us…still decided to save us and to do so by sacrificing all He had.

Given this, should we not graciously give God everything we have as well?

Friends, let us never take for granted how good God is. He loves us dearly and blesses us all graciously.

I appreciate all of you so much who faithfully read the words God places on my heart every day and offer this prayer, echoing words from the Book of Numbers:

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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GIVING THE LORD REGARD

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.

Eli's sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord. Now it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand. He would plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and the priest would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give the priest some meat to roast; he won't accept boiled meat from you, but only raw."

If the man said to him, "Let the fat be burned up first, and then take whatever you want," the servant would then answer, "No, hand it over now; if you don't, I'll take it by force."

This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord's sight, for they were treating the Lord's offering with contempt.

1 Samuel 2:11-17

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

After Hannah prayed, she and Elkanah returned home, leaving Samuel behind to minister before the Lord under Eli. Samuel was a good boy who would grow up to be an obedient servant. This definitely couldn’t be said for Eli’s own sons who scripture describes as being “wicked men” who had “no regard for the Lord”.

How do we know they were that way? The scripture validates the assertion with an example.

For we read where “it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged fork” and “plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot”, taking “for himself whatever the fork brought up”. This was in direct violation of the law which set forth the following guidance in Leviticus:

The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'Anyone who brings a fellowship offering to the Lord is to bring part of it as his sacrifice to the Lord. With his own hands he is to bring the offering made to the Lord by fire; he is to bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast before the Lord as a wave offering. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. You are to give the right thigh of your fellowship offerings to the priest as a contribution. The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share. From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their regular share from the Israelites.' "

This is the portion of the offerings made to the Lord by fire that were allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the Lord as priests. On the day they were anointed, the Lord commanded that the Israelites give this to them as their regular share for the generations to come. Leviticus 7:28-36

Note here that there was a specific portion allotted for the priests (the breast) and the fat was to be burned on the altar. But Eli’s sons had no regard for the Lord remember. They didn’t care what He said. Instead, they were going to do what they wanted to do. And so they would take whatever meat that the fork would bring out of the boiling pot or, even worse, demand raw meat “even before the fat was burned” to roast themselves. Not complying with their demands or challenging their request would result in threats of force.

Indeed, the sin of Eli’s sons was “very great in the Lord's sight” because they “were treating the Lord's offering with contempt” and acting in direct disobedience to Him in the process. They had grown up under the priestly guidance of their father so they knew what was and wasn’t acceptable before the Lord’s eyes. And yet despite this, they still chose to do what they wanted to do, carrying out and satisfying their will before God’s.

As we study this passage, we have a real tendency to look down on Eli’s two sons with contempt ourselves. But then we have to consider how we might not be too far different from them when it comes right down to it.

For how many times have we been directly disobedient to God’s will and/or word?

How many times have we failed to give the Lord our regard, acknowledging that He is Almighty and Powerful…the source of all our strength for living?

How often have we disrespected the Lord by claiming to be Christian and then refusing to live as Christ lived?

Having regard for the Lord requires that we honor Him with every part of our lives, ensuring that everything we do brings glory to His Almighty Name.

So how are you living your life today? Are you meeting God’s expectations? Is God proud of who you are and what you’re becoming in Him?

My prayer is that we would be able to echo the praising proclamation of the Psalmist who held God in the highest regard when he wrote:

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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OUR ALMIGHTY PROTECTOR AND GUARDIAN

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Hannah prayed and said:

He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.

It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.

He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed.

1 Samuel 2:1, 9-10

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

This far, I have written six devotionals from Hannah’s prayer in 1st Samuel, Chapter 2…devotionals that have highlighted reasons that we should praise God. Today is the last devotional in this series, bringing the total to seven…fitting because the number “seven” is most associated with completeness or perfection in the scriptures. And we certainly serve a perfect and complete God who is worthy of all our praise and worship…a God who is our Almighty Protector and Guardian. We know this because the Bible tells us so.

Looking at our study verses, we see Hannah proclaim that the Lord will “guard the feet of His saints” and silence the wicked “in darkness”. In other words, the Lord guards His children…those He has chosen as His own, protecting them from the wicked. As long as we stay close to God, we can be assured that He will be close to us and shield us from danger. Where we often get into trouble is when we stray from Him and pursue our own desires which will always take us on a path away from the Lord. I believe it happens to all of us and hopefully we learn how much we truly need God by finding out how difficult and hazardous life can be without Him.

Note how God will reign over any enemy that might come forward, no matter how powerful they might be. We have already seen this evident in scripture as God handed over army after army in the Canaanite battles to win and possess the land He promised. We saw first hand where strength didn’t prevail and that the Lord did shatter those who opposed Him and His people…He thundered against Israel’s enemies and He will do likewise against ours.

Scripture also shares that the Lord is the judge of all He created and will eventually give strength to His king…His anointed one who will be David. We will see this as we continue our study of Samuel.

So what do we take away from these verses today? What is our reason for praise?

Well, we see that God does indeed look out for His children…for those who believe and trust in Him and walk in His light, away from the darkness where Satan resides and sin awaits. So walking in the light is where God wants us to be. There we can sing out our praises and testify to His greatness to all we see. Meanwhile, those who have chosen the path of darkness…the wicked…find themselves silenced and disempowered. For God and God alone is the source of power…and His power will never be invested in the wicked. No, instead, He shatters those who choose to oppose Him. He did it back in the days of Samuel and He still does it today. For His word is truth.

Friends, what an awesome comfort it is to know that we need not be afraid of things in this earthly existence as long as we stay near to the Lord…our Almighty Protector and Guardian. And with this sense of freedom and liberation from fear and anxiety, we can go forth and do what the Lord expects us to do…serve Him by serving others and seeking to make disciples wherever we go. And that is truly a reason to praise Him. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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PRAISING THE SOURCE OF FOUNDATION

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Hannah prayed and said:

For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's; upon them He has set the world.

1 Samuel 2:1, 8b

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Everything in creation has some foundation to it…something that supports it and keeps it standing. When we look at a structure, a strong foundation allows that structure to keep from collapsing and falling. When we look at anything else, the same principle applies. The good news for all creation is found in our scripture…that the foundations of the earth have come from one awesome, almighty Creator…the Lord. And He has set the world and everything in the world on that foundation.

If this weren’t amazing enough, consider that the Lord made everything in creation in just six days! (Genesis 1-2:1) He created the foundations of the earth and set the world upon them during that time. And then, He set out to lay down the foundations for living for all of His children.

These foundations for living needed to be established on a base and that solid base was built using a holy, blessed Capstone…a Stone that the builders rejected (Psalm 118:22) which ended up being the Author of our salvation and our reason for living, both now and in the future. That Capstone was none other than Jesus Christ.

Indeed, God sent His Son to live and walk among His people, teaching them then and still teaching today how to live a life of righteousness…a life that is built upon the standards of obedience and service and, above all, unconditional love for everyone. And God not only set His Son to teach us, to heal us and to lead us but He also sent Him to save us…to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins so we wouldn’t have to. And in dying for us, Jesus showed us the depth of the sacrifice required to be a servant of the Lord. In other words, Jesus set the foundational standard for all mankind…for all things.

So we are to build our own respective lives upon this Capstone…Jesus Christ. In fact, scripture further tells us this:

“…no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

There is no other acceptable way of building…and no other way to the Father except by way of the One who IS the Way and the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6) Given this, we should be ever seeking to learn more and more about the One through which we are building on…Jesus…the only true Foundation who was given to us by the Lord…the heavenly Father…the Maker of all foundations. And while we’re building, let us give thanks and praise for a Lord who loved us so much that He ensured we always would have support and a solid Rock to stand upon.

Truly…in Christ the Solid Rock we stand…all other ground is shifting sand. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE GIVER OF LIFE...NOW AND FOREVER

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Hannah prayed and said:

The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.

1 Samuel 2:1, 6

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

We have seen through studying Hannah’s prayer that there are many reasons to praise the Lord. As we continue this study, we come to the most fundamental reason to praise Him…because He blesses us with life…not just in the present but in the future.

Indeed, the Lord is the Giver of life…the Author of all mankind. We’re here because the Lord wished for us to be here and we belong to Him. And there will come a day when the Lord will end this earthly life we live…a day when we will die and be brought down to grave.

Now, consider that this scripture was written in Old Testament time at the tail end of the period of judges…long before Jesus came on the scene. If these words were a comfort and blessing to people then, knowing the Lord was in complete control, how much more are these words a blessing to anyone who would read them after Jesus died on the cross at Calvary and three days later arose victorious from the tomb to sit in honor and glory and power at the Father’s right hand.

For indeed, we know that the Lord not only ordains life as we know it on earth but He also has ordained our opportunity to spend all eternity with Him and Jesus. All we need to do is believe and trust in Jesus as our personal Savior, knowing that He died a sinner’s death on the cross so that we wouldn’t have to.

Friends, not much more needs to be said about this except for an endless stream of praise and thanksgiving spoken to the loving, powerful, compassionate Lord we serve…the Lord who makes us alive in life and death…the Lord who will eventually lift us up with Him at life’s end...the Lord who is the Giver of life…now and forever. Hallelujah! Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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OUR GREAT PROVIDER

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Hannah prayed and said:

The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.

The Lord sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 7-8

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

We serve a God who is infinitely powerful and sovereign above all…a God who is perfect in holiness and righteousness…a God who delivers and a God who knows us and everything we do. These are the reasons for praising God that Hannah highlights in her prayer of adoration in 1st Samuel, Chapter 2. But there’s more still. Far more.

In today’s scripture, we see Hannah reminding is that God is our great Provider and looks after those who are less fortunate. For those who stumble are given strength as they struggle to keep from falling. This is affirmed by the word of God in the 37th Psalm which tells us:

If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24

Given that God’s promises are always true, I’m sure there are many who can testify to the validity of these words and how God has worked wonders in their lives when they were in difficulty. I know I can. And if you are presently in tough circumstances, take comfort in these words because the day is ahead when God is going to make things work out for you. He does come to the aid of the poor and needy…His word assures this so be patient, trust Him and allow His will to be done in your life. He will not allow you to fall, will arm you with strength and will uphold you with His hand…just as He said He would. Indeed, He will make the way for us and help us until we get there thus we should always be in the spirit of praise, knowing that even when times are hard, God is working things out in and around us.

As in Hannah’s case and Rachel, Leah and Sarah before her, God blesses women with the privilege to bear children. In all these cases, He opened the women’s’ wombs and allowed them to conceive…taking them from the grips of cultural shame to the place of honor and joy and praise. And He did this because it was His will to do so. In our scripture passage, Hannah highlights that the barren woman did not just bear one child but seven, underscoring the rich bounty that comes when God blesses…and because of His blessings…all blessings…we are taken to a place of praise.

Finally, this scripture passage not only speaks to those who are in need but those who have plenty as well. For they have also received blessings because it was God’s will to bless them. Thus, they are not to be arrogant or prideful. They are not to become selfish and self-serving. They are not to carry themselves as if they are better than others. Because God can just as easily take away as He gives.

We know this because His word says so. For the “Lord sends poverty and wealth”…”He humbles and He exalts”. If you are wealthy, it’s because it’s the Lord’s will for you to experience a period of wealth. If you are going through a period of poverty, it’s because it’s the Lord will for you to be going through that as well. In either instance, the Lord is working to instruct you so you might become a more faithful, dedicated servant to Him and others. And if you choose to sin in the midst of any circumstance…rich or poor…remember that the Lord not only has the power to exalt but humble as well. I don’t know about you but I would rather choose to live humbly myself than have the Lord have to teach me a lesson in humility.

All and all, I’m so thankful that we serve a Lord who keeps us in check…who teaches us that all things come from Him. Indeed, He is our Great Provider and thus gives us one more reason to praise Him. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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A GOD WHO KNOWS

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Hannah prayed and said:

Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.

1 Samuel 2:1, 3

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Thus far in Hannah’s prayer in Chapter 2, we have seen more of an attitude of complete praise and honor unto God for His power, unique sovereignty, holiness and deliverance. As we get to verse 3, we see Hannah sound a tone of warning before giving us yet another reason to praise God. For we serve a God who knows us and is ever keeping a watchful eye on us.

We can’t help but think that Hannah’s terse words had to be intended for Penninah who had spent so much time provoking Hannah because she couldn’t bear children. Since every son and daughter birthed for Elkanah had come from Penninah, you can almost hear her bragging and boasting about it to Hannah, seeking to make her feel inferior and worthless. Hannah makes it clear that God knows what we do and will weigh the merit (or lack thereof) of all our actions.

Maybe you can relate to Hannah. Have you ever known someone who seemed to find pleasure in picking on others? Some people seem to actually get off on doing whatever they can do to bring another person down. And this is certainly against what God would expect from any one of His people…for He calls for us to support one another…to encourage and edify. Consider these words from the Apostle Paul:

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:17-19

Did you hear God’s word?

He said, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

And we had better be obedient to His word and will because He is watching…and thus He knows what we have either done or not done in compliance with His expectations…and He weighs how well we have done.

With this friends, we should praise God for being a God who knows us and keeps us honest because He does keep an eye on us. We’re not able to have any opportunity where we could get away with sinning…to do something we know is against the will of God with some chance that He wasn’t looking when we did wrong.

No…God is ALWAYS watching and thus ALL knowing. Thus we are accountable ALL of the time. Thanks be to God for this…and may our prayer before God be to ALWAYS be used as an instrument for His will and way. For it’s then and ONLY then that we can ensure that God will always like what He sees in us…to know that we are living a life that is pleasing to His sight…not just some of the time but ALL of the time. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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