The Greek word for overtaken implies an element of surprise, therefore the type of trespass here is one that overtakes a person suddenly rather than one that was deliberately planned. We are to be constantly on guard in our Christian walk to avoid stumbling along the way, but when someone suddenly falls, God’s heart is one of restoration. The word for restoration means repair or mend so our mindset is supposed to be constructive in regards to a brother or sister who has been overtaken in a trespass. The spiritual are commanded to restore such a person because they have a gentle (Galatians 5:23) mindset just like Jesus did when He ministered and because they will be cautious and take heed lest they also fall into the same temptation themselves.
Do you know a sister who has stumbled and is going through a difficult season, perhaps absent from church lately? Do you know a brother who has stumbled and has had to even step back from ministry? Our job is to reach out to them, encourage them with scripture, pray for them, and pray with them. Meet them for coffee, send them a text, be an encourager, because the enemy wants them to fall by the wayside and be forgotten. God’s heart, on the other hand, is that the person is restored and built back up. As the Proverb states, “Iron sharpens iron,” but the only way that happens is if the sharpening iron physically comes into contact with the blade being sharpened. We can only working at restoring a person by being in contact with them.
Jeff Mericle
Waiting is not something that comes easy to most of us. We look for the shortest line at the check stand and the fastest lane on the freeway. We ask how long the wait is going to be at the restaurant as the deciding point of whether to stay. We microwave our food instead of using the oven. How about sitting in the doctor’s office? Let’s face it, waiting is not fun! Time is a precious commodity that will never return to us, so it’s no wonder we are taught by the culture around us to be impulsive and always in a hurry. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to making poor decisions, such as running stoplights, texting while driving, not reading the fine print before signing on the dotted line, or not considering the consequences of engaging in a particular activity.
The psalmist would instruct us to wait patiently on the Lord. Therefore, we must yield to the Father and be led in the truth…His truth! When the Lord has something to tell us, it’s worth our time to sit back and listen. The more time we spend in devotion to Him, the more He will have to say to us. Before you know it, time will have passed and it won’t even matter. May our scripture today teach us to slow down and be mindful of our thoughts and actions while seeking approval from God in the decisions we make. Believe me, the time spent with the Lord listening to His still small voice is well worth the wait. After all, time is in His hands.
Patiently waiting,
Tom Moore
I find this passage to be both humbling and encouraging. Humbling because there are times when I think my presentation of biblical truth is rock solid. I did my research, I thought it through, and I articulated the truth with great care and persuasion. I thought for sure this would have all listening and begging to know Jesus only to end up feeling like it fell on deaf ears. It’s quite the humbling feeling when you feel like you prepared a perfect 10 to walk away looking like you scored a goose egg.
I find this passage encouraging for the very opposite reason. You can come into a situation where you feel like you communicated yourself horribly, that you made no sense at all when speaking to someone about Christ. You walk away thinking about all the things you should have said feeling like a dope because you missed the opportunity. Then, to your surprise, you later find out it was that conversation that led someone to get saved or turn back to Jesus. You get reminded of the fact that God can work through the mouth of a donkey, and that is exactly what you felt like. And that reminder encourages me because it’s all about Jesus and the simple message of the cross.
For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Keep it simple and just share Jesus, and leave the saving up to God because that’s His department.
Pastor Jason Witt
God knows our hearts and if we, for some reason, think we can go before the King or before others and act spiritual, we are dead wrong. Right before Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, He tells them what to do when they are about to pray. Go to their room and shut the door. You don’t have to impress God by using super cool words or stand in the streets to show people you are praying. Go, humble yourself, and pray to God.
If today you say to yourself, “But Joshua, I don’t know how to pray.” Good! God doesn’t have a prescribed method. Just go humble yourself before your King in your secret place and talk to Him. Tell Him what is on your heart. There is no need for secret code words or words with multiple vowels. Just give Him your heart and He will hear your prayers.
Joshua Navarro
The Lord intends to reign His love and mercy upon you and me. Why would we allow anything or anyone to stand taller in our view than Him? That’s a question we must ask ourselves today. What I regard is important, especially if it is taking up room in my heart that displaces the Lord. My idols (material possessions, self-pride, perfect health, that new [insert latest and greatest thing here], etc.) will bring nothing of eternal value to my life.
Today, let’s recognize this: Turning towards anything other than our Maker in the worship cathedral of our hearts leads to our own lack. We forsake the mercy He longs to provide to us. He is building us to last, and we need more of Him, not less. Thank you, Lord, for Your beautiful, satisfying mercy.
Jeff Deal
Fear is certainly something that everyone has experienced in one way or another. Sadly for many, fear becomes a paralyzing force that keeps them from realizing their full potential and keeps them from being all God wants them to be. That was the case here in Exodus 14 as God’s people were frozen with fear, with mountains on either side, the Red Sea in front of them, and Pharaoh’s army bearing down on them. God was taking them to the Promised Land but the fear of man stopped them in their tracks.
Don’t let the fear of the man or the circumstances you find yourself in keep you from accomplishing God’s will for your life today. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” It’s God’s will and plan for you to live a life of victory over your fears as you trust in His ability to overcome anything that troubles you.
Be assured today, God honors those who believe Him enough to step out in faith. He is faithful and all-powerful and, if need be, He will part the sea for you as you simply fear not and put your trust in Him.
Pastor Doug Hardin
If you are alive during the time I am writing this, you are probably very much aware that peace between people seems to be at an all-time low due to our polarizing political culture. Unfortunately, this is also leaking into the church. It may not be about world politics as much as church politics, but nonetheless this arguing only mirrors the rest of the world when we are called to be in this world but not of it.
Paul, writing to the Roman church, exhorts them to live peaceably with all men. He understands that isn’t possible with everyone, but as much as depends on you. When people look to the church, they should see men and women that are loving like Jesus and are living the truths of scripture where we read, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” It doesn’t mean there will always be peace, but it does show that we have a bigger battle than these petty things that bring great division. Imagine what a difference it would be if we as Christians were fighting the real battle, fighting for Christ, and if at all possible and as much as depends on us, lived peaceably with everyone.
Blessings,
Pastor Sean Boehm
It may be hard to admit, but all of us at some time stray from the path on which Jesus is leading us. To get back on that path, we are called to confess our sins and repent. In these verses, Amos gives us the steps to repentance and they are simple and straightforward. Seek and love what is good and hate and do not seek what is evil.
The promise that comes with repentance is that our relationship with God will be solid, and also that no matter how evil your country, state, city, or neighborhood is around you; you can be a remnant that through repentance finds the grace and forgiveness of God.
So seek the Lord today and ask if there is anything you need to turn from.
In humble submission,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
Deuteronomy starts by telling us these are Moses’ words to all of Israel before they entered the land of Israel. Moses himself was not going to be able to enter because of his disobedience to the Lord. However, there was plenty of disobeying around, because this trip to the Promised Land which should have taken 11 days took 40 years.
It was a whole new group of people to which Moses talked this day because God had used the 40 years for the first group of people coming out of Israel to die out. The only ones to survive were those who actually trusted in the Lord and believed Him, Joshua and Caleb.
I wonder if we sometimes find ourselves going in circles because we aren’t trusting the Lord. Oh, we’ll tell people we do, but truthfully we have our own plans and beliefs we follow. Let us take this example and trust in God so that He can keep us on the straight and narrow path and not the long and winding road.
Keep my foot upon Your path, Lord,
Pastor Ron Kitchell
This portion of scripture which describes Apollos’ ministry continues on to verse 28. We are told that Apollos taught accurately, spoke boldly, and helped greatly. The foundation of his ministry was a thorough knowledge of scripture and a strong relationship with God. From this foundation, he was able to step out boldly and preach the gospel as well as minister powerfully to the body of Christ. He knew scripture and doctrine so thoroughly that he was able to vigorously refute the false doctrines that he encountered in opposition to his ministry (Acts 18:28).
The word “mighty” in verse 24 can also be translated powerful or capable. Apollos became powerful by hearing the word of God to the point where he was indoctrinated in the ways of God. He was diligent in his study of scripture which gave him the ability to accurately teach it, and he maintained an intense, personal relationship with the Lord (“fervent in spirit”).
Can we duplicate this pattern in our own lives? Yes! We can attend a Bible study during the week in addition to Sunday service. We can diligently study scripture daily as we seek to know our God better, and we can pray that the Holy Spirit teaches us. Let’s be diligent in seeking the Lord like Apollos and then step out boldly and minister. May each of our lives be marked by a powerful ministry.
Jeff Mericle
