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Sow for Yourselves Righteousness

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you”(Hosea 10:12 NIV).

There is a description about the sins of Israel given in this passage. Yet in the midst of it there is a call to repentance. God is calling His children to sow righteousness in the place of wickedness. If they do so then they can reap good fruit instead of reaping evil.

It is the law of nature that you reap only what you sow. The Israelites had not sown righteousness and therefore had not reaped good. Through this passage God is asking us to sow good and righteous things. He promises us that we will reap the fruit of unfailing love if we do so. This is the lasting love of God that is ever full and never drained.

But how can you sow if the ground is not plowed? This question is answered next. You are asked to break up your unplowed ground. This is the most important step that you must take. The ground may be rough and tough. Yet with all your effort you shall plow it.

Every resisting piece of hard earth has to be broken and turned over. It should be broken so that the sown seed can sink into it. This breaking of your heart is right preparation for the sowing.

All this should be done because the time has come to seek the Lord. This cannot and should not be delayed. It is urgent. No more sowing of wickedness. No more reaping of evil. But only sowing of righteousness and reaping of God’s unfailing love.

At this right time when you do so, God shall send the showers which make the seed sprout and grow. God shall indeed rain righteousness on you!
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Forget the Former Things

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:18,19 NIV).

Here is God’s blueprint for our lives. He is telling us the secret of living continuously in the strength that He provides. If we follow the instructions given here we need not live a hit or miss Christian life.

The first instruction is not to think about former things. We are asked not to dwell on the past. This is because God always wants us to move in step with Him. The past with its glories is not sufficient to meet the dangers of today’s battles. The past with its sin has been dealt with by God (by the blood of Jesus). So the past stands sealed.

Now God is asking us to focus attention on the new thing that He is going to do for you. In fact, God has already begun the work. It seems that you are still so much engrossed in your past that you fail to see the budding of new growth around you.

The new growth around you brings you the message of hope that God is still at work on your behalf. And God is asking you, “Are you not aware of what is being done for you?” And God says that He is doing it “Now!”

If you have failed to see it, it can be because of only two reasons: You are so much looking to your past and its experiences are having a strong and negative grip on your mind. Or you are not able to see what God is doing for you because you think it is impossible.

The desert cannot prevent God from making a way there for you. The wasteland cannot but allow God to open streams in it for you. Look and see, God is working; it is happening now!
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If I Had Cherished Sin in My Heart

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me” (Psalm 66:18,19,20 NIV)!

The psalmist is here calling people to come and listen to what God has done for him. He says that he cried out to God and he was heard when he praised God. Then he focusses our attention to a condition that might have stopped his prayer from being heard. He points out the fact that if he had cherished sin in his heart, God would not have heard his prayer.

What is meant by cherishing sin in one’s heart? It means holding sin dear to us. It means loving sin so much that you find it very difficult to let go off it completely. Such a condition, the psalmist says, can prevent God from listening to your prayer.

Why is this so? This is so because our God is a holy God. And prayer is our channel of communication with God. If sin has found a strong lodging in our heart, our prayers would be corrupted by it. And a sin-stained prayer cannot be heard by God because He is a holy God.

Sin in our heart can block prayer because it is like a lot of interruptions on the telephone line that makes the voice unintelligible. It can be compared to a lot of impurities that get collected in a pipe so that the smooth flow of water is curbed. It is also like a strong acid that gradually corrodes the vessel that holds it. So, if sin can be removed from our hearts, God will not reject our prayer or withhold His love!
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Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land (Ecclesiastes 11:1 NIV).

What the writer is advocating is really surprising! He is asking us to throw our bread upon the waters. If we follow his instructions what could possibly happen? We may not know what happens to the bread after it is thrown upon the waters.

It may sink underneath the surface. Or it may float downstream. Or it might disintegrate into minute pieces. All these may happen. If this be the case, is it worth trying to obey what the Word of God says?

What the writer here actually intends is this that we should do good without thinking of the returns. We need not worry ourselves thinking whether the bread that we have given away will help those to whom we had given it.

We may not be able to predict what they might do with it. They may eat it, share it with others or even sell it. To seek what they do with it is none of our business.

But God’s Word promises that after many days we will find what we had given away. “How is it possible?” you may ask. It is a secret that only those who make it a habit of giving knows.

But you can be sure of one thing; that your finding the bread after many days will give you a lot of surprises. And you will certainly be surprised by the great amount of good it had done; something you had never dreamed to be possible.

So do good when you have the opportunity. It may mean giving to one more person than you had actually planned to; for your opportunity may not remain with you forever!
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In Spite Of This

In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go (Deuteronomy 1:32,33 NIV).

The Israelites are now in the border of Canaan. This was their fortieth year of wandering in the wilderness. And now Moses is recalling how they had lost their chance to enter the promised land 40 years ago because they were not ready to trust the Lord even after having seen what He had done to the Egyptians who oppressed them.

Here we find that our life too is a journey. We too have a chance to enter and conquer for ourselves vast spiritual blessings. For this we need to trust God. Lack of trust will mean defeat.

Sometimes it may lead to wandering in the wilderness for a long time. That will either delay or altogether prevent us from receiving God’s blessings. And it becomes indeed a sad experience when this happens after having seen some great deliverance that God brought about in our lives.

We are told here that God goes ahead of us in our journey. Whenever we may have to move forward, think of this fact. And then it will give us courage and strength to move on for God has already passed through ahead. Whether it is day or night we have His presence moving ahead of us. We need only to follow.

In such a journey God shows us where to camp and rest; for He knows that we need to be refreshed. He also makes known to us when we should move and tells us the way we should go. Trust! Wait! Move! He leads. We follow.
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Songs in the Night

Men cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’ (Job 35:9,10,11 NIV).

Elihu is speaking here. He is pointing out the fact that men cry out when they are oppressed. They want to get relief from their powerful oppressors. But he is surprised that no one cries out to God.

Here is a simple truth. Crying out for relief is not enough. The cries should be directed to the Person who can answer it; for God alone can deliver us.

Here it is pointed out that God gives songs in the night. If you are passing through distressing times, cry out to God. And you shall experience the songs that God gives in the night. The night may be really dark. You may not even have the desire to look up and see the stars shining in the sky.

Yet you will be given the melodies that you may never have heard before. These songs are God’s special messengers to you; to give you relief and hope.

These songs are given by God the Maker who created both man and beasts; and the birds of the air. Yet He does not teach them such special lessons as the songs in the night. He uses them to make us wiser in life. He teaches them to us when we cry out to Him.

These songs in the night remain with us long after the night is gone. They help us not to lose courage when the little boat of life is rocked by the waves. These songs in the night are like lights on the shore that cheers the sailor’s heart at night!
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I Will, Repay You, Years, Locusts Have Eaten

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten–the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm–my great army that I sent among you (Joel 2:25 NIV).

Prophet Joel describes a great invasion on the land of Judah by an army of locusts. Their devastation was thorough and complete. The prophet sees this as God’s judgment of their sins. But even in the midst of this great crisis the prophet sees hope. So he gives a call for repentance.

He is thoroughly convinced that repentance shall bring God’s favor upon the people once again. He says that when they repent God will repay them for the years the locusts had eaten.

Your heart may be bleeding right now! You may be crying over your sin and failures in life. Or you are so depressed because of the loss you suffered by a huge mistake you made. Sometimes some friends might have let you down. Or some others had exploited your good intentions. And as a result of all this you find that your best years have gone by.

As you take stock of the years past, you find nothing remarkable to show for your achievements. Now you are misunderstood and criticized. You feel worthless and a waste. And without doubt you can say, “Yes, the locusts have eaten up my good years!”

Do not give in to despair. There is yet hope; because God has promised that He will repay the years the locusts have eaten. He will remove your every disgrace. He will give you back whatever was lost.

He will pick up and join together the broken pieces of your dreams; and make it far better than your dreams. His blessings shall remain on you and your work. Yes, God will repay it ALL for YOU!
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He Stepped Down

Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down (Leviticus 9:22 NIV).

Aaron and his sons were ordained as priests to serve before the Lord. They were anointed with oil and also sprinkled by the blood of the sacrifices. Thus they were consecrated and ordained for ministry. Then they were commanded not to leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days. This was because the ordination lasted seven days.

On the eighth day, Moses commanded Aaron to offer sacrifices for himself and for the entire Israelite community. This was very significant because it really was the beginning of their priestly ministry. Moses also told them that the Lord will appear to them that day. So these sacrifices and regulations were a prelude and a preparation for the appearance of the Lord.

Aaron did everything as he was commanded. And after having blessed the people and having sacrificed all the offerings he stepped down.

“He stepped down.” These few words are so significant. It teaches us all an important lesson. We may be called by God to do some significant work for the glory of His name. It is important to do it well. But it is also equally important to step down once you have finished your work.

It does not mean resigning from your work. But it means to step back and allow God to manifest His glory. Here we see that the glory of the Lord appeared and fire from His presence consumed the offerings. We need grace and humility to step down after having done everything well. Then the Lord will appear!
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A Curse on Him Who Is Lax

A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work! A curse on him who keeps his sword from bloodshed! (Jeremiah 48:10 NIV).

The context here is God’s command of the destruction of the Moabites. That is why there is mention of bloodshed. The command is so important that God has put a curse on the one who does not carry it out with diligence.

This verse gives us a glimpse on the utmost importance God gives to His work on earth. We are engaged in doing the Lord’s work! And it has to be done with great care and with much prayerful effort. We cannot relax until the work is done.

Our work now does not involve the sword or bloodshed. But it involves the spread of the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” It involves the proclamation of God’s message of salvation to all the peoples of the world. It involves bringing the peace of God to men and making peace between man and man.

God is here calling our attention to the attitude we have towards the Lord’s work. We need to meditate on the careful ways in which we go about doing our own work and business. Do we show the same diligence and the same zeal in carrying out the Lord’s work?

To carry out His vengeance on the Moabites mention is made of a weapon in the form of a sword. To do His work now God has given to each one of us some grace, some gift, some talent or some ability. It has to be used for His glory. The sword can be used or it can be kept unused in a scabbard. If left unused, the curse shall fall!
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Joseph in Prison

When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined (Genesis 39:19,20 NIV).

Resisting temptation does not automatically bring praise or rewards to you. In fact, something opposite to this might be what happens. That was what happened to Joseph too.

Joseph resisted temptation. When it crossed all limits he just ran away from the source of temptation. But when he ran away he had to leave his cloak in the hands of his mistress.

At times it is wise to lose something than stay to yield to temptation. We often fall into sin when we wait to think of the silly things that we may lose if we run away from the source of temptation.

When Joseph had run away the mistress slandered him. She gave a very wrong report about Joseph to her household servants. And she produced the false evidence of the cloak too. She also said the same thing when her husband came home. And Joseph’s master burned with anger and put Joseph in prison.

Just because you resisted temptation you may not escape the wrath of the enemy. You may have to face false accusations and slander. Sometimes, like Joseph, you may not be in a position to defend yourself. And you may be unjustly punished too.

It may also happen that from the paths of duty which you faithfully followed you may suddenly find yourself in a prison. It may be a removal from greatness to obscurity. But take heart! It is the prison where the king’s prisoners are confined!
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Ran Out of the House

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house (Genesis 39:11,12 NIV).

Joseph had taken all precautions not to be in the presence of his master’s wife because she was constantly tempting him to commit sin with her. But at the same time he had to see that he was faithful to his duties that the master had entrusted to him. And one day as he went into the house to attend to his duties, the mistress caught hold of him.

The important lesson here is that temptation can attack us even in the path of duty. So we should also be on our guard when we are doing our duties faithfully. If we are on our guard the temptation that may come will not take us by surprise.

Again, in this particular situation, none of the household servants was inside the house. The Devil knows when to start his attack. Temptation often comes to us when we are alone. It often strikes us when we have no one else to depend on for help. So when you are alone, be doubly watchful and doubly depend on God.

Now Joseph when he was tempted by the lady the first time had tried to reason with her that what she said was wrong and sinful. But this time Joseph realized that she was mad with lust because she had caught him by his cloak. So he tries not to reason with her.

Any delay on the part of Joseph would have meant disaster for him. When temptation strikes with force do not try to reason. Just run away from the source of temptation. You may lose your cloak when you run, but you would gain your life!
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How could I Do Such a Wicked Thing?

“How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her (Genesis 39: 9b,10 NIV).

It is amazing to note that this incident is not from modern times. Actually this happened nearly 4000 years ago! So the first lesson to learn is that the Tempter or the Devil still uses the tricks that he had been using in the past to try to trap God’s children. In this context we learn that it is wisdom to learn from God’s Word as to how to avoid falling into sin.

Note that Joseph did not invite this temptation. But Joseph was subjected to temptation from a source he may have least expected this to happen. The lesson is that temptation can come from unexpected persons and in a least expected manner.

When Joseph was tempted he refused to sin because of his master’s trust in him. He also was not willing to violate the sanctity of a marriage relationship.

But more importantly, Joseph called sin as SIN itself. Joseph immediately saw that doing what the mistress wanted was wickedness. And he also said that this sin was against God. Remembering God when you are tempted is a sure defense against the devil’s schemes. More than against men, sin is wrong against God Himself.

The mistress persisted in her compulsions. She spoke to Joseph day after day. Temptation can keep knocking. But Joseph refused to yield. He not only refused but also kept away from her.

This is the best way to avoid temptation. To keep away from it. But this is where we fail often; because we stay to play with temptation! KEEP AWAY!
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A River that No One Could Cross

He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in–a river that no one could cross (Ezekiel 47:5 NIV).

Prophet Ezekiel was given a lengthy vision of the New Temple of God in Jerusalem. He was given a heavenly guide to describe to him all the aspects of the temple of God.

After having gone around the temple site and all its structures the prophet and the guide is now returning to the entrance of the temple.

There the prophet sees water coming out from under the threshold of the temple. And he also found that the water had begun to increase in measure with passing distance.

First, the water was ankle-deep, then it was knee-deep, and then the water came up to the waist and finally the water had risen and was so deep that one could swim in it. This is a lovely description pregnant with deep truths of God:

From God and the place of His dwelling the waters that bring life and healing shall proceed. This mighty grace of God towards sinful mankind has begun as a small trickle and has proceeded to grow into a river in which you may easily swim.

It shows that God’s work in your heart may seem to be small at the beginning. But the never-failing stream of God’s pardoning grace shall grow into a mighty river in your life.

In the beginning stages you may just understand only little of God’s love and mercy. But as you move forward in your life with God, you shall soon realize that with passing distance you are more and more immersed and surrounded in God’s mercy. This is the river that you can swim in.

The message here for you is the challenge to meet God at His Temple and receive His grace and then to follow it till it becomes a river of life!
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Like Men Who Dreamed

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them” (Psalm 126:1,2 NIV).

The people of Jerusalem were in captivity in Babylon for a long time. Then through the decree of a pagan king they were able to return to Zion. This experience is described here.

Though it was through the pagan king that the decree came for their return, the writer of this psalm rightly acknowledges the fact that it was God who had brought them back to Zion. Let us open our eyes to this truth; that it is God who sets us free from captivity and brings us back to the place (Zion) where His glory dwells.

The decree for their return had come so suddenly and unexpectedly that the people did not know what to do because of their great joy and surprise. They thought that their freedom was just a dream. It took some time for them to realize that in reality they were truly free.

This is how God will work for you too. God shall give you a sudden relief from whatever sinful thing to which you were captive to, and you shall be like one who dreams.

God bringing deliverance to you is for sure an occasion of joy and celebration. Not only has God delivered you, but He has also brought you back to the place of worship where you now have fellowship with Him. Let your mouth be filled with laughter and let you tongues be ever praising God with songs of joy, for God has set you free.

And when others see all this, they shall testify, “The Lord has done great things for you.” May it come true for you!
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You Will Be a Blessing

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing (Genesis 12:2 NIV).

This is God’s promise to Abram (later Abraham) when He called him to leave his country and go to the land that God would show him. Even though this was a special message to Abram, we can learn a few important truths from this passage.

The first thing we find here is that this blessing was subject to Abram’s obedience to God’s call. God is not at all reluctant to bless a person who moves out to do God’s will. Many people lose God’s blessing upon their lives simply because they fail to obey God’s call.

The second thing we find here is that there is definitely a reward for obedience. God’s blessing was wide in scope in Abram’s case. So being or becoming great by virtue of God’s blessing upon one’s life is a possibility in the life of any believer, who by faith, is a child of Abraham.

But the most important thing is the fact that Abram became a channel of God’s blessing to all peoples on earth. God blesses a person so that he may be a blessing. Many people are not blessed because they seek God’s blessing only for their lives alone. God’s blessing will come upon your life when you are ready and willing to be a blessing!

In Abraham’s life we find God fulfilling what He promised. Abram did what God asked him to do. And God blessed him to be a blessing. It is a great privilege to be called by God and blessed by God to be a blessing!
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A Freshly Plucked Olive Leaf

When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth (Genesis 8:11 NIV).

God may have caused you to be shut up in His ark. You may have thought that being shut up like that was a wasted exercise. But know that God did this for your own good. He did this so that you may be preserved alive in the land of the living. Otherwise you too would have been destroyed in the flood of God’s judgment.

While every possibility of your moving out into spheres of activity and usefulness you had once enjoyed seems to be cut off because you are now shut up in your home (or some other place for that matter); think of the safety to which God has enclosed you in.

Think of enlarging your understanding of God through much prayer and reading and meditation of His Word while you are thus shut up till the waters recede outside.

Wait till the appropriate time comes. Then you shall start to seek release from your current position. At first just inquire whether there is a possibility for you to move out as Noah sent the raven. Wait again for some more time. This time try another method if the need so arises as Noah sent the dove out. If it returns to you, sent it out again after waiting for some more time.

And then when it shall come with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak you shall know for sure that God’s time for your life is come. The freshly plucked olive leaf is God’s green signal to you. It tells you that the waiting period is almost ended and the fresh opportunity is now yours!
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Like Clay in the Hand of the Potter

Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel (Jeremiah 18:6b NIV).

God asked Prophet Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house. God promised to give Jeremiah a special message there. At the potter’s house Jeremiah saw him working at the wheel. He saw that the pot the potter was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands. So the potter formed and shaped another pot with it as he thought best.

What is the lesson that we have to learn from the message that God gave Jeremiah? The message is that God is the Potter and we are the clay. He is shaping us according to His sovereign purposes.

But it is possible for us to be unyielding to God when He tries to fashion us according to His plans. It is then that the pot that is being shaped at the wheel gets marred in His hands.

We can choose to yield to God when He works out His purposes in our lives. Or we can choose to resist His sovereign will. But the one thing that we need to remember at all times is that God is always working towards shaping a beautiful vessel of honor with the lump of clay that we are.

And if this plan is met with resistance, pride, stubbornness or sin; God can easily shape us into a pot that will tell the world that disaster and judgment had fallen upon us because we chose to resist God’s will for our lives.

This message also teaches us that God has power to uproot, tear down and destroy along with His power to build and plant. The good that He intends to do for us can easily be changed to evil; if we chose not to repent of our evil ways and reform our actions. So yield to the Potter!
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Enoch Walked with God

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; and then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:21,24 NIV).

Enoch is a very special person. Not much is known about him. But he occupies a significant position in the entire Bible. This is because it is written that he walked with God. In the end, we read that, Enoch was no more found because God had taken him away.

We do not know what made Enoch begin his walk with God. But his walk with God began soon after the birth of his son Methuselah. The life of Enoch tells us that it is possible to begin a walk with God even after a good number of years have passed in our lives.

The example of Enoch should teach us that, we, at whatever stage of life we are in can chose to begin a walk with God.

Enoch’s walk with God was a constant and consistent one. He did not walk with God for sometime and then leave God for sometime. Enoch had an unbroken and steady walk with God for 300 years.

The birth of other sons and daughters and duties of family life did not interrupt his walk with God!

Enoch’s life should also teach us that the end of the man who walks with God is blessed. It should teach us that God values him as precious who walks with Him. A walk with God prepares us to be ready to go home to be with God whenever He chooses to call us.

May the life of Enoch challenge us to have a continual walk with God!
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A Day of Good News

Then they said to each other, “We are not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace” (2 Kings 7:9 NIV).

Four lepers from the Israelite camp decided to risk their lives by going to the enemy camp of the Arameans. They had a good reason to do so. There was no food in the city because of famine due to the siege of the enemy. The famine was so severe in Samaria that mothers were eating their own sons!

But at the enemy camp a surprise awaited them. The Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army. Therefore they had fled. And the lepers found food and drink and great plunder in the enemy camp as it was left intact when they had fled.

And as the lepers were feasting and hiding the plunder; a sudden thought gripped them. They realized that it was a day of good news: Not only had the enemies fled but they also had left behind food and valuable articles.

No wonder it was a day of good news! So they decided to report it to the royal palace at once because they thought that keeping the good news to themselves was not right and was also worthy of punishment.

Good news is to be shared. If you have known the love of God in your life; it is not be kept to yourself but is to be shared. Go and tell your friends and relations that the enemy has fled. Go, tell them that God has given you food in the enemy’s camp.

If you delay, know that punishment will overtake you. Tell the good news at once!
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Once Again David Inquired of the Lord

Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand” (1 Samuel 23:4 NIV).

One of the great characteristics of David’s life is the fact that he always inquired of God whenever he wanted to take a decision. In the context described here, we find David fleeing from King Saul with his few faithful followers. While fleeing he heard that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah.

So he inquired of the Lord. And the Lord gave him the command to go and fight the Philistines and save Keilah.

Now David encountered opposing opinion. His men told him that they were in a very dangerous position already. So they told him that it was unwise to go and fight against the Philistines. What they said was true. On the one side they were being relentlessly pursued. So it was definitely not advisable to go and fight the Philistines and be caught between two enemies.

But instead of accepting the negative opinion he took the situation to God once again. Here God answered David and told him that He will definitely give the Philistines into David’s hand!

And as we read further we find that David saved Keilah. But a new emergency arose when Saul decided to come to Keilah to besiege David and his men. David did not trust in natural wisdom and think that the people of Keilah would help him simply because he had helped them. So he inquired of God again. And from God he came to know that Saul would definitely come and the people of Keilah would deliver him over to Saul. So he left with his men.

The great lesson here is that David ordered his steps accordingly after inquiring of God. Let us do likewise!
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Although

Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the Lord delivered into their hands a much larger army. Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash (2 Chronicles 24:24 NIV).

There are occasions in life where we meet with unexpected defeat. There seems to be no reasonable explanation for our defeat. We might have done all the things right. We may have made all the right decisions. We may have acted right on time.

Yet we had to face defeat. What could be the reason? Finding the answer to this question is very important for our spiritual growth.

Joash was a good king. He was by godly providence saved from being murdered while an infant. Then he was made king with the help of Jehoiada the chief priest. As long as the priest lived Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He even repaired and restored the temple of the Lord.

But when the priest died he listened to the officials of Judah and forsook the Lord and started worshipping other gods and idols. He also killed the son of Jehoiada when he brought the message of God’s judgement on Joash and the kingdom of Judah.

The lesson here is important. It is of great importance to note that our past experience of a godly life has to be continued in our present day life too. We cannot simply relax because we had been good in the past. What happened to Joash can happen to us too.

We need to guard ourselves against falling into sin. But when sin has mastered us, we are sure to meet surprising defeats: These defeats we might have never expected, because by all standards we had superior resources at our command!
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Destroyed Fruit Above and Roots Below

I destroyed the Amorite before them, though he was tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below (Amos 2:9 NIV).

In this passage God is declaring to Israel what He had done for them. God had dislodged and destroyed the Amorite people from before the Israelites. The Amorites can symbolically represent sin in the life of a Christian. And from this passage we can learn some important lessons in our fight against sin.

First of all we come to learn that God’s help is needed to destroy sin from our lives. We can never do it alone. We have to seek God’s help. Only God can destroy sin.

Again, we have to learn not to be frightened by the power of sin over our lives. Sometimes even after our “born again” experience we find that we are caught in many sinful habits. Often we do not fight against it thinking that the particular sin is very powerful.

Here, we see that the Amorite was as tall as the cedars. Their appearance was very imposing. Sin will always appear imposing when we try to conquer it. Again, they were as strong as the oaks. The bonds of sin are very strong. They cannot be broken easily. Even though sin is imposing and strong, it can be destroyed with God’s help.

We should determine to destroy sin in our lives. And this passage shows how to do it. God destroyed the fruit of the Amorite that was above. Fruit refers to the visible part of our sin. It means that we should STOP acting on sinful thoughts.

Again, the roots below were destroyed. We may stop sinning outwardly; but feast on sinful thoughts in our minds. This sinful thought life represents the roots. So STOP thinking sinful thoughts and sin will be destroyed!
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That Night God Did So

That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew (Judges 6:40 NIV).

Gideon stands here as a representative of all new believers. They are willing to believe and do what God wants them to do. But they just feel the need of some kind of reassurance.

And down through the centuries new believers have resorted to the method Gideon used to get confirmation that God would really do what He had already promised to do. This method asks God for some signs as assurance to take new steps of faith.

So Gideon first made a test with the fleece. His anxiety to know the result of the test is evident from the fact that he rose early the next day. And the whole ground was dry while there was dew only on the fleece as Gideon had requested.

Though his request was fully met, Gideon was still not convinced. He wanted an additional sign from God that He will truly deliver the enemy into his hands.

So, this time he reversed the test. He might have thought that he had made things difficult for God. He also asked God not to be angry with him for making one more test with the fleece. God did as he had asked.

God is not angry when new believers seek to strengthen their faith through such signs. Instead we find God, in His great love for us, encouraging us by meeting our conditions. It is a simple thing for God to perform the signs we ask. But it means a lot to us.

God sees it all as the need of an infant-in-faith learning to walk. When you have really learned to walk, you can go on to higher ways of faith, by taking God at His word and moving forward in the path of obedience and victory.
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I have Hidden Your Word in My Heart

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11 NIV).

We often think that many of the sins that we do affect only ourselves or sometimes other people. It may or may not be true. But all sin affects Someone else. This Someone is God Himself. All sin, whether we term it as small or big, is against God.

Since all sin is against God, this knowledge should become our motivation to enable us not to sin. We should determine in our hearts not to sin. But taking such a decision alone will not help us to stop sinning simply because the tendency to sin is very strong in us.

It is for this reason that the Psalmist says that he has hidden God’s Word in his heart that he may not sin against God. When the enemy knows that soldiers of the land are hiding in secret places and waiting for them, they will hesitate to make an open attack.

This is what God’s Word stored in our heart does. It acts as a checking force against the onslaught of the enemy.

Again, what we store as precious in our heart is brought back to remembrance quite often. Thus God’s Word hidden in the heart will help us to think of God and His commands often. As we meditate on God and His holiness, we will not be led to sin easily.

For this reason let us store up God’s Word in our hearts. Let us hide them in our heart that the enemy may not steal it away. Let us make room in our hearts for God’s Word.

Let whatever else that is of least importance be cleared away that God’s Word may be safely hidden.
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Prophet Uriah

They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people (Jeremiah 26:23 NIV).

Who was this Uriah? He was a prophet who lived during the time of Prophet Jeremiah. Uriah also prophesied the same things against Jerusalem and Judah as Jeremiah did. But when King Jehoiakim and the officials heard his words, the king wanted to put him to death.

But Uriah heard of it and fled to Egypt in fear. But the king sent some people and brought Uriah from Egypt and killed him.

Maybe you may not have heard much of Uriah in Sermons or in Christian Books. One reason perhaps is that nothing more is known about him. But the fact is that he was someone who faithfully proclaimed God’s word just as Jeremiah did. This fact is proved by the way in which he was tracked down, brought back and killed.

He died for his faith in God and for proclaiming God’s word faithfully.

But why did God allow him to die, while Jeremiah was spared? This is a question to which there is no easy answer.

Uriah is in fact a representative of the unsung heroes of faith. There are many people like Uriah in the world even today. We do not hear much about them. They are persecuted and killed in their lands for faithfully proclaiming God’s word. Nobody seems to be worried about such people. This is because it does not immediately concern us or because they are not known to us.

But let us at least remember in prayer the families of those who die for their faith and are buried without honor.
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Made Me Bold and Stouthearted

When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted (Psalm 138:3 NIV).

There comes some desperate times in our lives when the need is so great that we just call out to others for help. Those who trust in God immediately call out to Him in such situations. It is deep need and a feeling of helplessness that comes over us during such occasions that make us call out in despair.

Even then we may not feel any comfort since we feel that no one has heard. We then are tempted to think that even God may not help.

But here the Word of God makes it plain that God hears. And He answers. But God does a miracle first of all. It is a miracle that we do not expect. It is not something for which we hoped for. This is God’s surprising way of dealing with His children.

What is this miracle? It is not the answer to our prayers. The answer to our prayers is the second miracle. The first miracle is something else.

This miracle is that God changes the attitude of our hearts. He changes the fearfulness and despair in our hearts first. He pours strength into our wavering hearts. He makes us strong.

He makes our heart trust in Him completely and long before the real answer comes, He makes us believe earnestly in our hearts that the answer is coming for sure.

God and fear cannot reside in our hearts together. When fear has made a strong hold in our hearts then God finds it important to dislodge that fear. He does it by pouring His strength into our hearts. Then we are comforted by His love and ready to receive the answer to our prayers.

So, by all means let us call out to God in our deepest needs. He shall make us bold and stouthearted.
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The Fear of the Lord Is Wisdom

And he said to man, “The fear of the Lord–that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” (Job 28:28 NIV).

Job here is trying to find out where wisdom can be found. He is seeking the dwelling place of understanding as well. He makes a search and ends up saying that only God understands the way to wisdom and that only God knows where it dwells.

Finally, he comes to the conclusion that the fear of the Lord is wisdom and keeping away from evil is understanding.

Wisdom and knowledge are slightly different in nature. Knowledge is gathering of information. The more you know of things the more knowledge you have. But wisdom is making a good judgment based on what you know.

Imagine that you have great knowledge of Science and Arts and Business. But if this knowledge does not lead you to fear the Lord, then you are not wise.

To fear the Lord means to give respect to God. It means to trust in the unlimited knowledge of God for God is all-knowing. And being humble enough to accept this fact is the first step to wisdom. That means you are making a good judgment of God.

But this should lead you to something else that is also very important. This wisdom should help you understand that all evil is against God. You should come to know that evil is against the nature of a holy God.

Therefore our understanding of God should lead us to keep away from evil. We should avoid it at all costs.

A true fear of the Lord will make us sensitive to His commands. It will help us to know what is evil and avoid it.
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Confess and Renounce Sin to Find Mercy

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13 NIV).

This is very plain. It looks simple. But it is not easy. Those who have tried might have found it difficult and stopped trying. The problem is that when one sins, that person derives some sinful pleasure in it. But once the act is over he or she is left with a feeling of guilt.

The next thought that comes to mind is to hide the sinful act. The person does his best to see that other persons will not come to know of it.

But God’s Word here clearly states that the person who conceals or hides his sins will not prosper. First of all the sinner needs to know that he or she cannot hide anything from God. Then you may ask, “Why the need of confession?”

Well, unconfessed sin is like having all waste and garbage and dung piled up within your cupboard at home. It will stink and cause utmost discomfort to you; however neatly all the rubbish is stored within your home.

God wants you to tell Him that you have sinned. You have to tell God specifically in which way you sinned. Saying things generally won’t help much. It is when you confess to God your sins that He helps you clear your cupboard through the blood of Jesus that you may be clean and pure.

But confession alone is not enough. You have to give up whatever sin you have committed. This could be the most difficult part of it all because sin has a strong grip.

If you don’t give up sin you will be again piling up rubbish. So give up sinning and then God will show mercy to you.
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My Help Comes from the Lord

I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1,2 NIV).

Where do our eyes look when we are in need of help? First of all it will look inside us. That is, we will try to look at ourselves. This is to see whether some kind of magic is possible with our own resources to meet the need.

Sometimes we are delighted that our own arms can save us; sometimes we are dejected that our means fall short of meeting the need.

Next we look to our sides. This is to see whether our friends or relatives are near us to give us help in time of our need. If we see any possibility we grab at it with great relief and enthusiasm. Sometimes their help may give us hope; sometimes it leaves us wishing for more.

But the Psalmist had no trouble identifying his source of help. He was a man not with the inner look or the sideways look; but he was a man with the upward look. He looked to the top of the rising hills and towards the dwelling places of God. He knew that such a look always brought help.

His conviction told him that the Maker of heaven and earth can always come with help to his aid at all times and in all manner needed. He looked upward and beyond the majesty of created hills to see the bounty of help available with the great Creator God.

Let us look upwards to see the hand of God and His might and His willingness to help. He is the true source of help. It is never-ending and never-lacking in means and methods. Anywhere, anytime, in any manner needed it is available for the man with the upward look!
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Jehoram, to No One’s Regret

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings (2 Chronicles 21:20 NIV).

Jehoram was the first-born son of a good and godly king. His father’s name was Jehoshaphat. But in spite of having such a good father and a name and reputation to live up to; Jehoram proved to be a wicked king. He killed all his brothers and did evil things. And God raised up against him many enemies.

Prophet Elijah wrote to him declaring the end that God had determined for him. Yet he did not turn to God in repentance. And he died in great pain. When he passed away no one was sorrowful that he died. Such was his wickedness. He was not even buried in the tombs of the kings.

Let us think on our lives for a moment. We may not be as wicked as King Jehoram. Yet we have to analyze how people will feel when we die.

Will at least some people be sorrowful that we had died? Will they remember some kindness that we have shown them? Or will people not care that we died?

This is not to frighten you that these questions are asked now. But it is to make you more vigilant regarding how you live your lives on earth. In King Jehoram’s case, he had all the opportunity and power to prove himself a good king. But he wasted his godly heritage and made himself wicked. No one regretted his death.

Let us make sure by doing good that we will be missed by others when we die. For after death there remains no second chance to redeem a lost reputation.
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