Humility isn’t found in too many places of power. So much energy is expended on leaders extolling their greatness and downplaying their weaknesses. Very few, if any, world leaders recognize the sovereign power of the Almighty Lord. King David was a sharp contrast to today’s governors. He exalted the Lord and always remembered where his power came from. You would do well to praise the power of the Lord.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭21:13

“Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.”

Psalm 21 is King David extolling the virtues of God leading a king. He spends the whole chapter praising God for the strength that God gives leaders and the benefits that come from that. When a king puts his trust in the Lord, he won’t be moved, and his enemies will be defeated. David lived by this, and God fulfilled all of it during his reign. He was the only king who abided by it entirely. The rest of the kings in Israel, save a few, either struggled to honor God or outright rejected Him.

I went bungee jumping once. Jumping would be a generous description. I got to to the top of the tower, looked down, and more or less leaned over and let gravity do the rest. There was no spring in my legs or lift off from my feet. As I barreled down to my certain death, I thought, “Why did I do this?” After several bounces, I finally rested in the airbag underneath me. It took a leap of faith to do it. When Jesus called his disciples to follow Him, it took another kind of leap of faith.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:19

“And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

These words changed these men’s lives. They were fishermen by trade, a demanding profession that often meant being up all night. Some nights were successful, but many weren’t. Now a rabbi comes and tells them to leave their nets because he will make them fisher of men. He was asking them to take a leap of faith from something they grew up doing to the unknown. Following Jesus is always a leap into the unknown, but they did it without hesitation and, in the process, was part of changing the world.

There are a lot of people that claim ignorance when confronted with something they have done. They think their reply, “I don’t know,” will get them off the hook. Paul could sense that when he was speaking to the intellectuals in Athens. You can’t claim ignorance about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That time is done.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:30-31

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

When Paul stood on Mars Hill in Athens addressing the philosophers, he told them the time of ignorance is done. They no longer could claim that they didn’t know about Jesus because he had preached the Gospel to them, and their only recourse was to repent of their sins. Paul also put a sense of urgency in his message because he tells them one day, the Man appointed by God will judge the world, and they will have to answer for their lives if they have rejected the Gospel. That Man has earned that position by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead.

Were you a good student in school? Did you get good grades and enjoy the classroom experience? Not everyone can say that, but you can be a good student of the Bible when you examine the scriptures. We see a group of people today who heard Paul preach and were eager to explore what God’s Word had to say.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:11

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

Paul got ran out of Thessalonica for preaching the Gospel and headed to a smaller village called Berea. When he got to the synagogue there, he preached the Gospel, and instead of getting upset and arguing, they received the Word and then went and examined the scriptures for themselves. They didn’t let other people tell them what to believe but were eager to see if what Paul told them was true. Many came back the next Sabbath and believed in Jesus, while some refused. Everyone was noble-minded about it, which means they were non-combative and listened with an open mind.

When farmers harvest wheat, they need to remove the stalk and the outer shell, called the chaff, to get to the kernel. They have to beat the wheat plant to separate what is useful from what is useless. Jesus uses this as an example of how God will come for His followers. One day God will come for His people like a farmer separating the wheat from the chaff.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:12

“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

A winnowing fork is used to separate the long stalks of wheat from the kernels. It also beats off the outer layer of the kernel known as the chaff. The heavier wheat kernel would fall to the floor, and the lighter stalk would be tossed into the fire. It’s the kernel that is ground to produce flour. Everything else is useless. Jesus uses this analogy to tell us how God will separate what is valuable from what is useless.

Most of you have encountered people who are straight-up evil. They don’t have any redeeming qualities, and their words and actions produce strife for all those around them. It’s been that way since the beginning of time. Today’s passage should give you some comfort. God gives a warning to those who plot evil.

‭‭Micah‬ ‭2:1‬

“Woe to those who scheme iniquity, Who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, For it is in the power of their hands.”

Micah is one of the minor prophets. His message isn’t less than the more well know prophets. He packs some powerful prophecy into his relatively small book. Here is this passage he sends out a warning to those who plot evil and comfort to those (read Israel) who are suffering from these scoundrels. He uses the term “Woe,” which loses some of its power in English but shouldn’t be overlooked. Woe means either pain or calamity, and here both could apply. Some severe consequences are coming for those who plot evil.

Ever heard the saying, “He swears like a sailor?” It refers to a person who lets loose with a string of profanities that would make most people blush. It is also symbolic of a person who can’t control their tongue. David knew the struggles that came with taming the tongue. That’s why he prayed that his speech would be acceptable to the Lord.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:14

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”

David knew the power of the tongue. He knew that his words were a result of what he was meditating on in his heart. If he was going to glorify the Lord, he knew that whatever he said had to be acceptable. There were many areas where David stumbled, but his speech wasn’t one of them. Even when he was justified to be angry, he was often humble. This was a result of the fact that he knew God was his rock and redeemer. David knew he didn’t deserve any blessing, and he deserved punishment for his sins, but God showed him mercy.

I am always amazed at the arrogance of some people. They are impressed with themselves, and they are not shy about telling people. This is especially true with professional fighters. Their whole mantra is to exude confidence and to intimidate their opponent. King David was a mighty warrior, but he knew where his talents came from. He shows us to give credit where credit is due.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:34-35

“He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great.”

David knew where his strength came from. He was an accomplished warrior, but deep inside, he knew where his abilities came from. It was from the Lord. His hands were ready for battle, but his victory was assured because a gentle God protected him. What made David special was that he gave credit where credit was due. He was humble.

As I write this devotional, I am exhausted. The last couple of weeks have had several significant events on top of my typical weekly responsibilities. The next couple of weeks are packed with similar events. It would be easy to sit here and feel sorry for myself. When life doesn’t seem to let up, you need to seek strength for your soul from the Holy Spirit.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:22‬

“strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

As Paul was planting churches all over the Roman empire, he would often go back and strengthen the disciples. This had to be a great encouragement as many had made a life-changing choice to follow Jesus. The Jew chose to leave the synagogue, which meant the Jewish community excommunicated them. For the Gentile, they were often seen as following a strange cult. Paul would come and encourage them to continue in the faith.

When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, it brought a curse upon the earth. That curse was that sin came with a price tag of death. Since all of us are born into sin, that curse is transferred to us. The only thing that can remove that curse is a perfect sacrifice that appeases God’s wrath. Jesus was that sacrifice, and the curse was removed when we put our faith in Him. In Heaven the curse will be gone forever.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:3-4

“There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”

Sin brought with a curse. That curse was death, along with all of the pain and sorrow that comes along with it. That will all be removed when we get to Heaven. Jesus will be on the throne. The Apostle John refers to Him as the Lamb of God. That is appropriate because Jesus made the necessary sacrifices to be in that place. He has removed the curse by defeating death and now holds all of the authority given to Him by His Father. That throne room is going to be a glorious place where you will freely worship Him.

One of the great things that happen in the church is to hear the testimony of how God set someone free from a lifetime of addiction. You hear how their life was near ruin, and Jesus was the only option left and how He came shining through when there was no more hope. Paul talks in Acts how you can be freed from all things by Jesus’ victory over death.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:39

“and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.”

Paul liked to debate in the synagogues in the cities he planted churches. He would start there first, and because he had the pedigree of being a Pharisee trained by Gamaliel, he was allowed to speak. He would use the Old Testament to prove that Christ was the Messiah they were looking for. Here in Antioch, he tells them that King David was laid with his fathers and his body turned to dust and bones, but Jesus didn’t see the corruption of turning to dust but was raised by HIs Father. Because of this, forgiveness of sin is offered, and those who believe can be freed from all things. That message usually got Paul booted out of the synagogue by week three, but many there believed and followed him.

There are events in your life that will leave you feeling like your world has been rocked. Successful navigation of those events requires depending on the Lord. There are also minor annoyances that can leave us frustrated and reeling. David understood those and determined in his heart, “I will not be shaken.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:8

“I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

There is a multitude of things that can rattle your cage every day. It could be something a simple as a misunderstood look that sets your day off on the wrong path. David understood this, and that is why he kept the Lord so close to him. The phrase “at my right hand” refers to something that is right there with you and is easily accessible. Think of your phone and how often you have it in your right hand or somewhere close by.

Every year, in one of my devotionals, I talk about the strawberry season. I do that because we have the best strawberries where we live. I also do it because it signals that spring has arrived. Spring is the season of new life. The dark days of winter are behind us, and more green starts to appear. Jesus says that when we are with Him in heaven, he will make all things new

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:5

“And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

When the tribulation is done, and after all the judgments are complete, this current earth will pass away, and a new heaven and earth will be ushered in. There will be no more weeping or sorrow because Jesus will wipe away every tear and make all things new. This will be the dwelling place of both God and man. It will be perfect in every sense because Jesus is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. It’s hard to picture, but it is exciting to think about.

Have you ever got into a predicament where it feels like the walls are closing in on you, and there doesn't seem like any way out? If that is the case, you can relate with Jonah. Whether your situation was self-inflicted or caused by external influences, Jonah shows...

What does the upright Christian life look like? There is a lot of debate that goes on about that topic, but David gives us a concise checklist that can keep us on track. He tells us to walk in integrity, do the right thing, and speak the truth.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭15:1-2

“O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.”

David asks the question, “Who is able to be in God’s presence?” and then answers by saying the one who walks in integrity. Now there is an Old Testament slant to this question. By the old covenant, Israel had to live by the law and keep it. If they didn’t, consequences would come. It was also understood that God wouldn’t have anything to do with unrighteousness. While that principle was true, God often made exceptions. He extended grace to the Jews more often than not.

If you have ever stood before a judge, you have felt that sense of judgment. Even if you were innocent, you still stood there with a sense of possible doom if things didn’t go your way. At the final judgment, it won’t be a courtroom but a throne on which God sits and judges those who rejected His Son, Jesus. It’s called the Great White Throne Judgment.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20:11‬

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.”

There will be two judgments at the end of time, one for believers and those who rejected Christ. For believers, you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of how you lived your life. Your reward in heaven will be based on what you did for God here. For those who rejected Jesus, there will be the Great White Throne judgment. This will be one of the most terrifying things ever! Here people will be judged by God and cast into eternal hell. I like how John calls it, “from whose presence earth and have fled away.” If that doesn’t send shivers down your spine, nothing will. As a believer, it should motivate you to take as many to heaven with you as possible.

Some of the biggest regrets people have are missed opportunities. If they would’ve taken a chance, their life would be so much better. Jonah was presented with an opportunity to be used by God, but he chose to run away, which led to a storm, followed by being swallowed by a fish and then being spit out.

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1:10

“Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.”

Jonah is a short book in a part of the Bible called the Minor Prophets. They are not minor because they are not equal to the other prophets, but their books are usually smaller. Jonah is a well-known Bible story because a fish swallowed him, but his book’s message much deeper. He was a prophet who didn’t want to do the assignment God gave him, so he ran away. God caused a massive storm which put the ship he was on in peril. The sailors were in disbelief that he would run from God.

Every report about the church today foretells bad news. More and more people are identifying as a “none” or are not affiliated with any religion. People don’t want to be affiliated with hate, or they just don’t believe what they were taught growing up. King David issued a warning for them. He said, “The foolish heart says there is no God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭14:1

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.”

David had a keen eye that was backed up by the Holy Spirit. He was able to look at the words and actions of a person and determine if they were Godly. A person could do all the religious deeds and impress people but still be corrupt. That was the state of Israel during His time. Saul was all about himself and did some horrible deeds. He had most people fooled. Contrast that with David, who is known as a man after God’s own heart.

Brides spend a lot of time and money getting ready for their special day. They want every detail to be perfect because it is going to be a celebration with loved ones. There is a lot of stress leading up to it, but in the end, it is all worth it. Did you know that the church is the Bride of Christ and that there will be a wedding? Are you making yourself ready for that day?

Revelation 19:7

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”

There will be a grand celebration when Jesus is finally wed to His Bride, the church. It’s is described as a marriage celebration with a great feast. As believers in Jesus, we should be looking forward to this day, and it should fill our hearts with hope and joy. Jesus has already won the battle on the cross, and nothing can take away our salvation, so in the meantime, we are making ourselves ready for that day. That is the mindset every believer should have.

Growing up, you hear things like “You get out what you put in” and “No pain, no gain.” All of it is meant to motivate a person to put the hard work in so that you will get the intended result. There is a flip side to that thinking. If you purposely do something wrong to hurt someone, it will come back on your head. That is what we see today as we look at Obadiah.

‭‭Obadiah‬ ‭1:15‬

“For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.”

I love saying the name “Obadiah.” It sounds cool but the meaning of his name in Hebrew is even more incredible. It means “Worshipper of Yahweh.” While we don’t know much about him, there are fifteen mentioned in the Old Testament. He is a prophet that is prophesying judgment on Edom. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Isaac’s son. Israel wanted to pass through Edom on the way to the Promised land, but they wouldn’t let them. They were a perpetual thorn in Israel’s side and laughed when Israel went through captivity. God sends Obadiah to tell them that their day of judgment is coming and everything they have done will return on them.