Bible Minute

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 12, 2011
Topic: Service/Servanthood

Work with Eternal Value

One of the notable feats in World War I was the nearly single-handed victory of Sergeant Alvin York in his attack on German machine gun positions in the Argonne Forest. On October 9, 1918, York, a Tennessee sharpshooter and hunter, led 17 American infantrymen into battle against an unknown number of gunners. Four of his men were killed. York sniped at the machine gunners, who began losing men one-by-one. Finally, the whole enemy unit surrendered. Sergeant York and his few surviving men brought back 132 German prisoners of war. For his valor, York, a Bible believer, received the U. S. Congressional Medal of Honor and highest honors from France. We see men of similar valor in the Bible.

Receive

In the Book of Judges, as well as in some other Old Testament books, you will sometimes come across this phrase: "The Spirit of the Lord came upon him," followed by extraordinary deeds of the person on whom the Spirit came. Here are a few examples to read. Note the person involved and what he did following the Spirit's anointing.

Judges 3:9-10
Judges 6:33-35
Judges 11:29
Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14

Reflect

In the New Testament, after the Resurrection of Christ, you will find a change in the way the Holy Spirit works. Jesus promised the disciples concerning the coming of the Spirit, "You know Him, because He abides with you and will be in you" (John 14:17, NIV). Today, in fulfillment of Jesus' promise, the Spirit dwells in every believer (1 Corinthians 3:16).

But one thing is sure, any work for God that has eternal value is accomplished through the energizing power of the Holy Spirit, not through mere natural enthusiasm. It is the Spirit of God working through you, not you working for God, that lays up eternal treasure in heaven and builds lasting memorials of "gold, silver and precious stones." Look up the following verses and note some critical work that the indwelling Holy Spirit performs for you:

John 14:26
Romans 8:26
Romans 15:13; Ephesians 4:30
1 Corinthians 12:7
Acts 1:8
Acts 20:28

Does this mean a Christian is to simply kick back and do nothing? Of course not! In Colossians 1:29, NASB, the apostle Paul perfectly describes the relationship of the believer's work and the power of the Holy Spirit: "For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me." You labor; He empowers!

Respond

Take some time now to review the list above. Write down any areas in your life where you see that you are attempting to do things without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Then jot down what you intend to do about any inconsistencies. Pray that the Lord will give you wisdom and grace to understand your relationship to His Spirit.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 13, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Doubt/Fear, Bible Characters

Trusting God's Word

A man fell off a cliff but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. As he hung there, the following conversation took place:

"Is anyone up there who can help me?" the man called desperately.

A voice replied, "I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?"

"Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can't hang on much longer," the man replied.

"That's all right; if you really believe, you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch," the voice said.

There was a moment of silence; then the man said tentatively: "Is anyone else up there?"

That was Gideon's situation. He knew what God wanted him to do, but he was struggling with trusting God's word. Would God do what He said He would?

Let's unpack the story and see what happens.

Receive

"So Gideon said to God, 'If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said--look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it isdry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.' And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.' And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground" (Judges 6:36-40, NKJV).

    Read Judges 6:16-18. What similarities do you see between these verses and the passage above?
    Why does Gideon put out the fleece?
    What do these verses reveal about God's character?

Reflect

Notice the phrase "as You [God] have said" occurs twice Judges 6:36-40. Gideon was not trying to discover God's will. He knew God's will. God had told Gideon what He wanted him to do. Gideon understood what God wanted him to do. Gideon's problem was trusting what God said.

Before we throw stones at Gideon, however, how often do we fail to trust what God says in His Word? The Bible is God's way of speaking to us today just as surely as He spoke to Gideon thousands of years ago. Read each of the following verses and indicate how it might change your life if you truly trusted it.

Isaiah 41:10

    If you trusted this verse, how would you approach life differently?

Philippians 4:6

    If you trusted this verse, what would you do differently?

Luke 6:35

    If you trusted this verse, who would you treat differently?

2 Corinthians 6:14

    If you trusted this verse, how would it affect your choices in the area of relationships?

Respond

Go to our reading guides and download your free Bible reading guide. As you read God's Word, keep a notebook handy. As you come across verses you find difficult to trust, write them down. Ask God to help you trust and apply these verses to your life. As the story of Gideon proves, God is more than willing to help you trust His Word.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 14, 2011
Topic: Hope, God's Care, God, Bible Characters, Faith/Trust

Always Enough

Enough. A simple word, really. It means "sufficient," "ample," "as much as is required." It's a great concept; one that can lead us to trust and contentment when we realize that God is enough. He covers and provides all we need. That's what we see in God's Word.

Receive

Let me give you an example from Gideon's life. God called Gideon to lead an army against the Midianites. For years, the Midianites had raided and plundered Israel's crops, livestock and people. Thanks to the Midianites, Israel lacked "enough" to keep themselves fed. (We first meet Gideon in Judges 6 as he hides grain from the raiders.) In Judges 7, Gideon's 32,000 volunteers were whittled down to just 300 men to face a fully-equipped army of thousands. Oh, and thanks to God's instructions, Gideon "put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars" (Judges 7:16, ESV).

Yes, that's right: trumpets, jars and torches. Hardly "well-armed" soldiers. But they had one thing going for them: God was on their side.

Well, the rest of the story is in Judges 7:17-25, where thanks to the power of God and a crashing surprise in the middle of the night, the Midianites were defeated and Israel won an amazing victory. Why? Because with God, even a little light, noise and pottery is enough to win the battle.

Reflect

When all you have is God, you have enough. Not barely what you need to scrape by. He is fully sufficient, often going even beyond what's required.

As you read these passages, pull out 1) the need, 2) what was required and 3) how God answered.

Exodus 16:1-26
Matthew 15:32-38
1 Samuel 17:26-50
2 Kings 4:1-7
John 6:1-14

Respond

We live in a world and culture that says "enough" really isn't good enough; we must have more and more and more. We're trained to be discontent. And that discontent reveals a lack of trust in God, our own failure to put our confidence in His sufficiency.

    What does "enough" look like in your life?
    What needs are you trusting God to meet sufficiently?
    Where have you found discontent and distrust creeping into your life?

In the Bible, when God steps in and does the remarkable like He did for Gideon, He often makes it clear why He chooses that method: So that His people [we] know it's all His work and not their [our] own strength or cleverness or power. Jot down ways you've seen God be "enough" in your own life, and take a moment to praise Him for His sufficiency.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 17, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational

Ending Well

An old German proverb says, "The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing."

That sums up a challenge facing most people, not only in their normal workday world, but in the spiritual realm as well. The apostle Paul asks the Christians in Galatia:
"You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth (Galatians 5:7, NASB)? The Galatians had averted their eyes from the "main thing."

Let's look at a man who ran well but crashed before reaching the finish line.

Receive

The man was Gideon--instrument of God's Spirit; victor in battle against enormous odds; hero of Israel and trusted judge over the nation. You may read his story in the Book of Judges, chapters 6-8. Let's look at some highlights.

The terrible conditions in Israel [c. 1150 – 1100 B.C] (Judges 6:1-10)

    What nation was oppressing the Israelites (v. 2)?
    How did the Israelites react (v. 6)?

God's call and Gideon's response (Judges 6:11-23).

    Who appeared to Gideon (vv. 11-12)?
    How did Gideon feel about his call (vv. 14-15, 22-23)?

Gideon's source of power (Judges 6:34).

    Where did it come from (v. 34)?

Gideon, nicknamed "Jerubbaal" (Judges 6:32; 7:1) won many victories and led Israel for a total of 40 years.

    How did Israel react to his leadership (Judges 8:22)?
    How did Gideon react to their request (Judges 8:23)?

Up to that point, Gideon stuck closely to the "main thing." He followed the Lord and stood for God's truth and purposes. But one day when he was older, he lapsed into greed and pride, which derailed him from finishing well.

    After declining the offer to be king (Judges 8:23), what did Gideon decide to ask for (Judges 8:24-26)?
    What did Gideon do next (Judges 8:27)?

(An ephod was sometimes a breastplate made of precious stones and metals, usually used by the priests for determining the will of God. However, we don't know the form of Gideon's ephod).

    What did the ephod become to the Israelites and Gideon's own household (Judges 8:27)?

Reflect

Spiritual downfalls usually affect more people than the person who lapses. Gideon had years of faithful service. He had one major breakdown. What lesson do you find in Judges 8:33-35?

Gideon was not alone in getting his eyes off the "main thing." You may know people personally who have "run well" spiritually but later fell into serious sin. There are several you can read about in the Bible. Here are a few:

    2 Samuel 11:2. His spiritual decline began with wandering eyes.
    2 Timothy 4:10. His descent began with love for the glittering lights.
    Deuteronomy 32:48-52. His downfall began with anger and led to disobedience to God.

And a warning for us all--trouble begins with the heart and the thought life (Matthew 15:19).

Respond

Well, how are you doing? Are you keeping the "main thing" as the main thing in your life? Do you detect any potholes in your daily walk that can put you off the track God wants you to stay on? Are you able to say with the apostle Paul, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14, NASB)?

Hey, that's a good verse to memorize!

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 18, 2011
Topic: Service/Servanthood, Christian Living/Situational, Bible Characters

Comfort for Castoffs

When it comes to serving the Lord, what excuses hold you back? Fear, failure--a seemingly endless list of flaws? Maybe there are just too many skeletons in your closet; too many dumb choices and embarrassing flops from your past. Maybe you feel as if the word UNACCEPTABLE is stamped permanently across your forehead. Open your Bible to Judges 11 and dig into Jephthah's story. Today you'll discover how God plucked an outcast from the crowd and turned him into a hero!

Receive

Jephthah was a fierce warrior, the toughest of the tough guys. He roamed the southeastern regions of Gilead with a gang of salty "adventurers"--soldiers of fortune who spent their days riding and raiding, staying true to Jephthah's name: "an opposer."

So, why would God choose a guy like this to lead His people? What's more, just look at the young warrior's past: a prostitute for a mother, raised in an atmosphere of hatred and hostility, kicked out of his home before he reached adulthood, denied his inheritance--labeled an outcast!

Yet, flip through the Bible and consider how God operates. In chapter after chapter, book after book, He chooses the hurting Jephthahs of the world, heals their wounds and puts them to work for Him. And that's good news for misfits like you and me!

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29, NIV).

Reflect

Look over these passages to learn more about the kinds of people God chooses.
Luke 19:1-10
1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 6:9-11

    Think about the excuses you give when you're asked to serve God. Is it time for a change of heart? What do you think God is telling you about His will for your life?
    We all deal with flaws and shortcomings--everything from fear to physical limitations. How has the Lord helped you to overcome your own struggles?
    How do you think our Heavenly Father wants to use you in the future? (Are you ready to say, "Yes, Lord--send me"? Are you willing to trust Him?)

Respond

In Judges 11:1-40, an unlikely leader offers a message of comfort for the castoffs of this world. (In other words, colossal rejects like you and me!) Be encouraged by Jephthah's example. Get out of your comfort zone and seek new ways of serving the Lord.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 19, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Bible Characters

To Vow or Not to Vow

Have you ever said, "God, if You will (fill in the blank), then I promise I will (fill in the blank)? It might be something we want with all our hearts. "God, if You heal my child, then I promise You I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life."

But is this type of bargaining with God something we could or should do? Jephthah did, and let's look at the consequences.

Receive

"Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, 'If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."...When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, 'Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot go back on it'" (Judges 11:30-31, 34-35).

    What does Jephthah's vow indicate about his view of God's character?
    How does Jephthah view his vow?

Reflect

There is nothing in Scripture that says a person shouldn't make a vow to God. Some look to Matthew 5:34-37 where Jesus says,

"But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.
"Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil."

Is Jesus saying we should never make vows? No, He's saying, "Don't get God involved in your vows to others. Don't make God your co-signer. Don't make God responsible for you fulfilling your vows." This puts God in a bind--a position He finds totally unacceptable.

But keep in mind, when we try to bargain with God like Jephthah did, we make some questionable assumptions:

    Assumption #1: We know what's best for us and others. But what does the Bible say?
        Proverbs 3:5
        Proverbs 14:12

    Assumption #2: We know what the future holds and thus the best way to get there. But what does the Bible say?
        James 4:14
        Ephesians 2:10

    Assumption #3: We have to bargain with God in order to get Him to do what's best for us. But what does the Bible say?
        Jeremiah 29:11
        1 Corinthians 2:9

Respond

While vows are not forbidden, they are risky (consider Jephthah's experience) and, if we rightly understand the character of God, they are not even necessary. But what if I have already made a vow? Then do as Ecclesiastes 5:4 says, "When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!"

But what if you've made a vow you find impossible to keep (note: "impossible" not "difficult")? Then you need to go to the Lord and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9). A broken vow is not unforgivable, but it should not be taken lightly.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 20, 2011
Topic: Faith/Trust

Jephthah's Critics

A story is told about D.L. Moody, the famous American preacher of the late 19th century. After a sermon one Sunday morning a man approached Moody and said, "I don't like the way you preach the Gospel."

D.L. Moody answered, "You know, I'm always willing to learn. Tell me about the method you use."

The man stammered a moment and said, "I guess I don't really have one."

"You know what?" Moody responded, "I like the way I do it better than the way you don't do it."

Mr. Moody may have silenced one critic, but you and I will face many others in our lifetimes. Let's look at an example from the Bible on dealing with our detractors.

Receive

In Judges 11 we read of Jephthah, one of the judges of Israel. When Israel cried out to be delivered from the Ammonites, God raised Jephthah up and used him to drive out the invaders. But while most of the nation was celebrating, the tribe of Ephraim had a bone to pick with this judge.

"The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, 'Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire'" (Judges 12:1, ESV).

In the fight for their national honor, the Ephraimites felt they had been left out. But Jephthah didn't have to think much about how to reply.

"And Jephthah said to them, 'I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand. And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand'" (Judges 12:2-3, ESV).

In other words, the tribe of Ephraim had plenty of opportunities to take care of the Ammonites themselves, but they wouldn't lift a hand to do so. And, finally, when somebody did step up, the Ephraimites had the gall to be offended when they weren't asked to help.

Reflect

    What was the key to Jephthah's success in fighting the Ammonites?
    What does that imply about the Ephraimites?
    Where is your trust?

Respond

The sad thing about the Ephraimites is that they were more willing to fight their brothers over a perceived insult than they were over a foreign power oppressing their people. People like that exist in every age and require a special measure of patience and grace. If you're working today with people who would rather gripe than help, ask God for the patience and wisdom you need to be a good witness among them.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 21, 2011
Topic: God's Care, Salvation, Bible Characters

Wake Up Call

I'll admit it; I'm a fan of Doctor Who, the television series about a time-traveler with a soft spot for human beings and a knack for rescuing Planet Earth. And I've noticed that in episodes where the Doctor must save Earth from strange and alien threats, he's usually the first to recognize something is wrong. All the normal humans around him just go on about their business, oblivious that the life they know could soon be gone.

Receive

It reminds me of Judges 13 and the people of Israel. For years they had fought invaders and raiders, but now they couldn't see the enormous threat on their doorstep: the Philistines. The Philistines were a neighboring people and the threat to Israel was assimilation, and Israel's own apathy towards God. Judges 13:1 says, "And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years" (ESV).

Remember the cycle of Judges? Israel would turn away from God, get into trouble, ask God for help, follow Him, then turn away again. Here, for the first time, they do not cry to God in their distress. In fact, they don't even realize the trouble they're in! But the Lord saw what they did not and put His plan in motion. His solution wasn't an alien traveler in a blue police box. He didn't even call up a military leader, a prophetess or a vigilante as He'd done earlier. He...sent a baby.

"There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, 'Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines'" (Judges 13:2-5, ESV).

Why a baby? It's not clear. Perhaps God wanted to give His people more time to figure out they were in trouble. Or maybe it was His sneak preview of the future, eternal Savior. Judges 13 doesn't spell out the divine reason, only the divine purpose: The baby would grow to be a man who would begin to save his people. "And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol" (Judges 13:24-25, ESV).

Reflect

God chose to use a baby, but then the Lord often chooses what surprises us to accomplish His task. But, more importantly, God chose to intervene despite the apathy of His people. In Deuteronomy 31:1-47, we see that God, who chose Israel to be His people, will judge but also save. As you read that passage, look for the promises of God's faithfulness even when His people are not faithful.

    What is the blessing for being a person who remembers the Lord and doesn't settle for apathy?

Psalm 106:34-46 echoes Deuteronomy 31 but with a clear reference to the time of the Judges and Israel's turbulent relationship with God.

    Jot down the ways Israel was disobedient and unfaithful to the Lord.
    How did He handle their unfaithfulness?
    What changes in 106:44?
    What hope does this give you, knowing the times you've forgotten, ignored or turned your back on God?

What does Isaiah 17:10 say that we lose when we forget God is our salvation?

Respond

The faithlessness of His people does not change the faithfulness of God. And that's good news for all of us. What do you need to do with that truth today?

The announcement of Samson's birth provides another challenge. In Judges 13:5, the angel says that this boy will "begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines" (emphasis added). Samson wasn't there to complete the fight against the Philistines--that honor would go to David a few generations later.

Samson was the wake-up call; his opposition to Philistines sparked a changing awareness of the threat. By 1 Samuel, Israel was no longer ignorant of the Philistine threat but frequently in active conflict. And eventually David stepped into the fray and finished the job.

Do you see a need, a calling, a cause for Christ where others see nothing or they can't be bothered to care about it? Maybe God is prompting you to be the wake-up call to those who are apathetic. You may not be the one to finish the job, but you can sound the alarm and start the ball rolling. Like Samson, you can begin...

Pray for boldness and wisdom in the opportunities God puts before you and for sensitivity to see, listen and act on what He has to say.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 25, 2011
Topic: Holy Spirit, Sin/Temptation, Bible Characters

Spiritual Workouts

Do you think Samson worked out? Or was his strength such that he never needed to do push ups or weight training? It has nothing really to do with this study; I just wanted to ask the question.

Well, maybe it does have something to do with it. You see, whether or not Samson could handle a kettle bell, he was apparently a little weak on his spiritual workouts. And he lost everything!

Receive

Samson was the strong man of Israel. He could rip apart lions, decimate a crowd with a jawbone and haul city gates around. But he lost it all--in a big way--with a woman named Delilah (read Judges 16:4-16). Samson had a history of uncontrolled lust, and while the Bible says he loved Delilah (16:4), he was not wise in his relationship with her. He lost first his good sense; when she pleaded for the secret of his strength, Samson wasn't wise enough to suspect her motives or to deal honestly with her. He trusted his strength to get him out of the jam, and three times it did. Three times he fell for the same trick--and he didn't have the good sense to leave the situation!

Samson also lost his strength. This strength was a gift from God and his Nazirite vow (including the cutting of his hair) was the seal of that gift. Look at verse 17, "And he told her all his heart, and said to her, 'A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man'" (ESV). Delilah spotted the truth, shaved his head and Samson awoke a weak and captive man.

Which led to the worst loss of Samson's career: The Spirit of the Lord left him. Judges 16:20 states, "And she said, 'The Philistines are upon you, Samson!' And he awoke from his sleep and said, 'I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the Lord had left him" (ESV). And the Philistines, for added insult, blinded him and make him a slave-laborer in the prison mill.

Reflect

Sin will undermine your spiritual strength. Samson shows us that throughout his life. He couldn't discipline his lusts and desires the way he disciplined his body and strength. He thought he was strong enough to handle the stuff he shouldn't have handled--ungodly alliances, lust and a persistent, sneaky enemy. We also fall for the same lies and traps.

Real spiritual strength, the kind that helps us fight temptation and keeps us from sin, comes from God who has given the Holy Spirit to empower us and His Word to instruct and encourage us.

John 8:34. What does Jesus say that sin does to us?
Romans 8:1-2. What has freed you from the power of sin?

Read Romans 8:5-11. Jot down what happens when we're controlled by the sinful nature. Then look for the effects of the Spirit's control. What should you do to develop spiritual strength, instead of letting sin control you?

As for the spiritual workout--maybe Samson lifted weights when he should've trained as a runner! Joseph had the better tactic: he turned away from the temptation and ran (Genesis 39:12). What other "workout" advice do you find in these verses?

1 Corinthians 6:18
Ephesians 5:3-21

Respond

We have help from the Holy Spirit of God. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might" (ESV). And we can draw on the strength of the Lord, no matter what we face (Isaiah 40:29-31).

It's hard to build and maintain spiritual strength when temptation surrounds us and sin entangles, clings or trips us up (Hebrews 12:1). What are you given for the fight (Ephesians 6:11-18 )?

What are you doing today to help you develop spiritual strength?

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 26, 2011
Topic: Sin/Temptation, Bible Characters

Lust Control... Thought Patrol

While people focus on outward appearances, God sees our hearts. He knows our deepest secrets, and He understands our true motives: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked" (Galatians 6:7, NIV). That's why we must never toy with sin or attempt to hide it. God wants us to confess it quickly and repent immediately. Allowing sin to have a foothold in our lives can be deadly. Consider Samson's demise.

Receive

His story is tragic: What "might have been" didn't exactly come to pass. Set apart by God to accomplish great things for the kingdom...and then destroyed by character flaws. Samson, the strongest man of his generation, was literally brought to his knees. Why? This he-man had a weakness. The warrior who once struck down a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey was unable to conquer his tendency toward lust.

"Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, 'See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him'" (Judges 16:4-5, NIV).

Samson's lust for foreign women and ultimately his pride in his physical strength proved to be his downfall. Yet Samson's story points to a heart problem that every man, woman and child struggles with: sin. And the only way to fix a mixed-up, sin-filled heart is by having a daily truth encounter. That means spending time in God's Word and in prayer.

Reflect

Look over these passages to learn more about our tendency to sin and the power of confession.

Romans 6:12-14
Romans 7:21-25
1 Corinthians10:13
1 John 1:9

    Even though you've committed your life to Christ, the bent toward sinning still exists. And if you allow it, those habits and desire which were developed under your sin nature will literally takes control. The result is a strained relationship with God. What's the key to overcoming and winning this battle?
    Once we confess our sins to Jesus Christ, can we be confident that they are totally forgiven? Is our relationship now fully restored with God?
    Can we trust that when the pressure heats up, Jesus will intervene?

Respond

Everything you say, everything you do, every place you go, every thought you think is known by the Lord. Nothing can be hidden from Him. So, when you find yourself drawn to an immoral act--anything you would want to keep secret from others--don't make Samson's mistake. Instead, (1) consider the consequences, (2) get on your knees and pray and (3) run from the temptation.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 27, 2011
Topic: Sin/Temptation, Bible Characters

Loose Cannon

Do you know what a "loose cannon" is? It's an old nautical expression from the days when ships were armed with banks of cannons for defense. These cannons were so heavy they had to be securely lashed to the deck because if a cannon ever broke loose in a storm, it could do serious damage to the ship, not to mention the sailors.

Samson is a good example of a loose cannon in the Bible. A powerful man, raised up by God to defend the people of Israel. But a man who could never quite control his lusts. As a result, his life was chaotic and ended tragically.

Receive

Judges 16:21-31 tells of Samson's last days. Samson had always been a burr under the Philistines' saddle. Not long before, Samson had struck down 1,000 Philistines single-handedly with only a jaw-bone as a weapon.

When Samson fell in love with Delilah, the Philistines paid her to find the secret of his strength. Samson finally told her of his Nazirite vow to never shave his head. While sleeping, Delilah had a man cut off seven locks of his hair and the Philistines were then able to capture and subdue him. They blinded and imprisoned him. While in prison, they forced him to spend his days doing the humiliating task of turning a grindstone (a job normally done by oxen).

Lastly, he was dragged into their assembly to be mocked. Blind and powerless, Samson appeared defeated. But it was to God that he cried for mercy. "Then Samson called to the LORD and said, 'O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes'" (Judges 16:28 ESV).

We'll see how God answered Samson's prayer in the next section.

Reflect

Read Judges 16:21-31 and think about the following questions.

    How did God answer Samson's prayer for strength to avenge himself?
    How did God show mercy to Samson before Samson even asked for it?
    What lessons about losing control can you learn from Samson's life?

Respond

Nearly every boy who grows up hearing the stories about Samson dreams of being as strong as he was. But the tragedy of Samson's life is that he wasn't strong where it counted. He never had control of his lust; and, in the end, it got the best of him.

Read Genesis 39:6-10 and contrast Samson's inability to control his lust with Joseph's reaction to the same temptation. Write down the attitudes and actions that made Joseph successful at overcoming temptation. How can you adopt those same attitudes or actions to help you be spiritually successful?

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 28, 2011
Topic: Worship/Praise/Worthiness

Inventing Your Own Religion?

The Bible clearly reveals that there is only one way to be saved from sin and forgiven. That is by receiving God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Every other way offered is man-made, leaving its followers uncertain and tragically lost forever.

Still, people persistently try to invent or discover some more "acceptable" ways to control their eternal destinies, filling the world with a trash heap of false religions and doomed souls.

Judges 17 gives us an overview of the birth and consequences of a man-made religion. Open your Bible to that chapter, and let's summarize how one man's pride and errors led to the pollution of God's truth in one entire tribe of Israel.

Receive

Read Judges 17:1-5. You can learn a lot from these verses about how false religions can get started.

    This religion begins with a man named Micah, who lived in the hill country of the Hebrew tribe of Ephraim (which just happened to be where the Ark of the true God was stationed at Shiloh in the time of the Judges).
    Micah's mom is missing about 27 pounds of silver (1,100 pieces), so she calls down a curse on the person who took it.
    Micah hears the curse and fearfully tells her, "Look, Mom, I'm the one who made off with it; but I still have the money." His mother then blesses Micah in the Lord's name!
    Micah returns all the money to his mom, who in turn dedicates it all for the purpose of making two idols--one of wood, covered with silver and the other of solid silver. A silversmith does the job for 200 pieces of silver.
    Micah makes a shrine and places it in his house with other religious trappings and idols. He consecrates his son (not a Levite as required by God's Law) to be a priest.
    Finally, Micah, with his mother's help, owned his personal, full-fledged false religion--a mixture of superstition, idolatry, ignorance and misplaced faith. The consequences of his foolishness and disobedience are recorded in the rest of Judges 17 and 18. Read the next portions in your Bible and answer the questions so you may see the outcome:

        Judges 17:7-13. What kind of man showed up at Micah's house (17:7-8 )? What did Micah hire him to do (17:10-12)? What was Micah hoping to get for himself (17:13)?
        Judges 18:1-10. Which Israelite tribe was searching for a place to live (18:1)? At whose house did their spies arrive (18:2-6)?
        Judges 18:14-20. What happened to Micah's shrine and his priest?
        Judges 18:30-31. What did the tribe of Dan do with the idols and the priest? What was the priest's name? An interesting note: he was a grandson of Moses!

Reflect

Heresies and false religions usually take root in the minds of people who feel they have some better answers to life than God and the Scriptures. They depart and drift away from biblical truth, adding their own favorite opinions from Eastern religions, cults, the occult and humanistic philosophies. Finally, anything that is God's truth is overshadowed by Satan's lies and another deceptive religion is hatched.

No wonder the writer of Hebrews 2:1 (NASB) says, "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it."

Respond

Remember these facts about idolatry:

    Worshiping anything besides God Himself is idolatry.
    Trusting anything other than the Lord Himself is idolatry.
    Any philosophy or person you allow to take the place of God in your heart is an idol.

Memorize 1 John 5:21. It is a very short verse with clear instruction for you! Take stock of your own life in order to detect any tendency to drift.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 31, 2011
Topic: Bible Characters, Faith/Trust

Eve

Mrs. Obama is often introduced as the "First Lady of the United States." What a title! To be first is almost always special. What about the first woman created? Not only was Eve the first female God made, she was also the first wife and the first mother. She is even given the title "Mother of All the Living."

Read

Eve is mentioned by name in only two chapters of the Old Testament:

"Then the man--Adam--named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live" (Genesis 3:20, NLT).

"Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, "With the Lord's help, I have produced a man!" (Genesis 4:1, NLT).

She is also mentioned by name in two chapters in the New Testament:

"For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result (1 Timothy 2:13-14, NLT).

"But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent" (2 Corinthians 11:3, NLT).

Eve is remembered most because--and this is another first--she was the first person to sin. She sinned when she doubted God and believed the serpents' lie: "You won't die!" (Genesis 3:4, NLT).

    Who was the first person God created?
    What name did he give the female God created?
    Why did he name her that name?
    Who did the serpent deceive?
    What should you be cautious about according to 2 Corinthians 11:3?

Reflect

Make a list of the times that you, like Eve, doubted God or acted in a way that indicated you did not really believe what God said.

What do the following Scriptures tell you about believing God?

"Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true" (Romans 3:4, NLT).

"Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he" (Deuteronomy 32:3-4, KJV).

Now, write down at least two occasions when you personally experienced that what God said was true.

Respond

Right now, why not commit your life to trusting and living out God's truth. You can do that if you trust Him.

"For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does" (Psalm 33:4, NLT).

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 1, 2011
Topic: Holiness, Christian Living/Situational, Obedience/Discipleship, God

Clean & Pure

We're good about washing our hands, keeping our clothes clean, or even tidying up the house once in awhile. But that's how we view "clean": the removal of dirt on the surface of things. Purity goes deeper; it's cleanliness to the core. And purity is what God wants to see in us.

Receive

Psalm 24 makes the case for purity as a necessity or requirement for enjoying God's presence.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation" (Psalm 24:3-5 ESV).

This psalm is focused on coming into God's presence. As a holy righteous God, He can't keep company with sin, filth and impurity. So, we, as sinful, impure people need a good cleaning inside and out in order to enjoy His presence. Clean hands are a great start: hands free from the stain of sin, hands that are not busy in doing what's dirty or wrong in God's eyes. The Hebrew word used here for clean refers to innocence and being free from guilt. So, these clean hands (or feet, ears, eyes, etc.) have nothing to be guilty about.

But it's more than our outward actions that need to be clean. The psalmist includes the need for a pure heart. Purity carries an idea of absoluteness; a complete lack of anything that would soil or mar or affect its quality. An ounce of pure gold is completely gold through and through, with no other minerals or particles present. A pure heart means that our motives, our desires, and who we are to our core is clean and true and unstained according to God's standards.

Right now, you may be thinking that level of purity is impossible. You know the mess of your mistakes, failures and sin, and all the spots and stains in your heart and even on your hands. But God Himself makes it possible for you to come before Him with clean hands and a pure heart. You can see that 1 Peter 1:13-21; Hebrews 9:11-14; and 1 John 1:5-10, and in our coming studies.

Reflect

In Psalm 26:1-12, David asks God to test him to make sure he is clean and pure, acting in integrity. What are some ways he keeps himself clean? What do you see that may reflect a pure heart?

How does Philippians 2:14-16 describe being clean and pure? What will we look like if we are clean and pure before God?

In 1 Timothy 1:5, what comes from a pure heart? What other companions does a pure heart have? How do you see God's standard of cleanliness in those companions?

Read 1 Peter 1:14-22 and describe the two ways we are purified. What does a pure heart help you do for others?

In 1 John 3:2-3, what can motivate us to be pure today? Why?

Respond

Purity allows us to enjoy the presence of our holy God. That's what David calls us to in Psalm 24. And in Matthew 5:8, Jesus says "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (ESV).

And there's a benefit to purity for us. Not only can we enjoy the presence of God, but we enjoy His blessings and we are made righteous (Psalm 24:5).

So, how would you rate your clean hands today? What actions or pursuits are making you dirty before God? What about your heart? Is it pure or does it need a good scrubbing down of wrong motives or sinful desires?

David knew that he could take his impure heart and dirty hands before God and have them cleansed (Psalm 25:6-7; Psalm 51:1-7). You can too. Purity is possible and you can start today. "If we confess our sins, he [Jesus] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 ESV).

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 2, 2011
Topic: Jesus, Christian Living/Situational, God's Love

Washed in the Blood

I'll be honest; I'm not that great at washing dishes. Oh, I had plenty of practice when I was younger, thanks to my parents: ("We don't need a dishwasher, we have kids!") But most of my time in the kitchen was spent arguing with my sister over whose turn it was to wash--somehow, it was always my turn.

But even though I'm not that great at washing dishes, I do know you can't get a greasy pan clean using only water. You need soap, and better yet, soap designed specifically for "powering away grease!"

Purity in our lives works the same way. There's a trick to getting rid of the sin that stains our soul; a special ingredient that will make even the blackest spot, "white as snow!" We'll find out more about that spiritual soap in the next section.

Receive

The need for, and benefits of purity are given for us in Psalm 24. Verse 1 says, "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein."

When you understand that sin is what makes us impure, and that sin is acting against God's will, then the reason for purity becomes clear: We live on God's earth and are His people, and having broken His laws, we need to make ourselves right with Him--we need to become pure. We'll look more at how to become pure in the next section, but first, look at verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 24.

In Psalm 24:3-4, David explains why we need to be pure in the first place.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully."

The holiness of God demands purity in His presence. And while that may sound like a permanent block between mankind and our Creator, the Bible has some good news: there is way to become pure.

Reflect

In Isaiah 1, the prophet offers this invitation from God:

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD;
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool" (1:18 ).

Later on, Isaiah adds this,

"But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed. ...
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5,11).

This was Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah who we know to be Jesus. Paul, in his letter to the Romans elaborates. Read Romans 3:20-26 and think about the following questions:

What does Paul say is ineffective in making us right before God?
Who needs, and who can receive the gift from God?
How is it that Jesus can accomplish what the law cannot?

Respond

Are you trying to wash yourself clean with good works? Before you go any further, accept the offer of Jesus; the salvation made possible through His blood. That's the only way you'll ever be truly clean.