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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for November 2015
December 1, 2015
Judges 5:7 - The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
Thought: Deborah could have called herself many things in this song. She arose the only female judge of Israel. She arose a prophetess in Israel only a few others could claim. She could have even mentioned her victory over Sisera. Mothers were everywhere and yet she prioritized motherhood over all her other achievements. Of all the things to be proud of it was her being Israel’s mother. Ladies, there are many things you accomplish in life. Many of you are successful in the workplace, charismatic over others in life, and have accomplished many things. However, nothing is more important, nor should take priority, over your home and children. Your greatest achievement aside from being a godly wife is a godly mother. Make your children your priority if they are not already and fathers appreciate those godly mothers!
Titus 2:5
December 2, 2015
Judges 5:31 - So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.
Thought: At the conclusion of the song Deborah hopes Israel will be as the sun rising in the day. How can we be like the sun today? Consider that the sun covers the darkness in light. We must be the light of this world filled with darkness. Without Christians, the world has no light. Furthermore, the sun reveals that which is hidden. Some of us may have secret sin in our lives. However, it is time to admit them, reveal them to God, and ask for forgiveness. Lastly, the sun disappears from sight but never ceases to exist. We must remember we may leave this world’s sight one day but we will not cease to exist. Be like the sun today giving light to others, repenting of sin, and remembering that great day when life in this world ends. Are you ready?
Matt 5:16
December 3, 2015
Judges 6:10 - And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
Thought: How sad it was that after God had done so much for Israel they went back into sin yet again. How are we any better, brethren, when we go back into sin day after day? The reality is that God has done even more for us than He had them at that time. He sent His Son for us and how do we repay Him? I’ve said before and want to remind you again today that one of the greatest motivators to serve God isn’t just eternity, but also the goodness of God. Think of all He has done for you through Christ, family, friends, food, jobs, money, shelter, clothes, and so much more. Doesn’t that make you want to serve Him more? Remember that saying “no” to God means saying “yes” to Satan the adversary. We can’t serve both at the same time. Whose side are you on today and why?
Matt 6:24
December 4, 2015
Judges 6:12 - And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
Thought: Today’s thought is mostly informative relating to angels. Angels are an interesting topic as we only know so much about them. Notice the term “appeared” in this passage. This reminds us that angels are spiritual beings. While in the flesh we cannot see spiritual things like we will be able to in eternity. Angels made themselves visible to man but they had to become a physical form or they had to open the eyes of man to see spiritual things for a moment. Both occasions occur throughout the scriptures. This leads us to a simple question. Can you imagine that day when we see spiritual things for the first time? We will see God, Christ, and the Spirit. We will see the innumerable hosts of angels. We will see one another in a way we never have before. What a day that will be!
2 Kings 6:17
December 5, 2015
Judges 6:13 - And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
Thought: Gideon’s question may be one we have all asked, or been tempted to ask, once before. Sometimes we may question why God allows terrible things to happen around us and to us. We wonder why children are suffering, why terrorists are rampant, and why bad things happen to good people. We must remember these things happen because God loves us. That answer might surprise us! Well, God created us with free will. He loved so much He created us as free moral agents. However, because of this freedom, not all choose right. Therefore, people choose to hurt others, we choose sin at times and suffer consequences, and even the little ones suffer from diseases which came after man’s sin in the garden. In other words, it is man’s fault we suffer not God’s.
1 Peter 2:20
December 6, 2015
Judges 6:14 - And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
Thought: Gideon had a personal charge from God to deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites. What a moment that must have been to know God almighty is calling you to do His work. Some today might say they would be happy to go if God asked. Yet, we may not realize that is exactly what He has already done. When Jesus told the apostles to go and teach the world He then told them to pass these commandments on to others. Therefore, that commandment to spread the gospel falls on us today as well. In other words, God is personally asking you to go and teach this lost and dying world. He has given each of us a mission. We cannot sit around and hope others will take care of it for us. No matter how much work others do it will never remove the need for us to go as well. What will your response be?
Matthew 28:19
December 7, 2015
Judges 6:15 - And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
Thought: Gideon’s response to God’s call is similar to the response of many Christians today. We make excuses about how others could do better, about how pitiful our skills are to teach others, or about our failures in the past. Yet, we forget God isn’t interested in how good we think we are, how successful we will be, or any excuses we might create. God wants us to go anyway. He created us and knows what we are and are not capable of. If He tells us to go we must go and try. Wouldn’t you rather have taught one hundred people without saving a soul than to have taught none? Remember God told Isaiah to go and teach knowing that not a single soul would change. Get rid of the excuses and let’s get to work!
Isaiah 6:11
December 8, 2015
Judges 6:16 - And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Thought: Once again we are reminded of the power of God. We recognize that with Him on our side the victory is assured. But with this particular passage we see it described in a very practical way. Through Gideon’s eyes there was a large army, but God wanted him to see it through His eyes. A Christian’s vision is seeing things the way God does. In this case, Gideon could look through the eyes of God and see only one man. Gideon’s thoughts should have been confidence because realistically it was the army of God versus one soldier. Looking at it that way, the legitimate way, makes it much easier to have faith and overcome battles. Friends when our enemy seems large or our struggles seem too it heavy, it means we are looking at them the wrong way. Through God’s eyes our enemy is small and the weight is light. Always remember to see through God’s eyes!
1 Peter 3:12
December 9, 2015
Judges 6:17 - And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
Thought: We, like Gideon, might occasionally be tempted to desire a sign from God. Sometimes we think it would be easier to see Him, see a miracle, or see some sign of God in the world today. However, we must remember that those who did see miracles and signs were not all converted. In fact, most of them were not either. That being said, there are plenty of signs of God’s existence and work today. Simply walk outside and look at the design in the world around that demands His existence. Consider the apostles who died for their faith proving it wasn’t a hoax. Consider the word of God that is without contradiction and without end. We have plenty of evidence brethren so don’t get caught up in wanting to see more.
Rom 1:20
December 10, 2015
Judges 6:27 - Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
Thought: Gideon finally conceded and obeyed God. However, while his faith was growing it was not fully matured just yet. He was willing to do as God had asked but fear still played a role in his decision. Instead of going during the day he chose to go at night fearing what the results might be. As we grow in in Christ we begin to fear Him more than we fear man. As long as I am afraid to evangelize, speak out against sin, or any other activities for Christ I am lacking in faith. While God can still use me, as He did Gideon, He expects us to grow and mature. Eventually, that fear will subside and our faith will be completed in Christ. This takes a lifetime to achieve and therefore demands our focus. After all, our faith is like being in a moving stream. If I am floating I am losing ground. Likewise, if I am not growing my faith it is weakening.
2 Pet 3:18
December 11, 2015
Judges 6:31 - And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
Thought: Gideon might have been fearful but he was also brave to stand against his father’s wicked ways. When the men wanted to take his son’s life Joash spoke against Baal and for Gideon. What an encouraging study as we see Joash beginning to change his mind about his wicked ways. How wonderful it must have been for Gideon to see his father react in the best way to his defiance. This reminds us that there is always hope for our families. No matter how deep we may think our loved ones are in sin, there is still a chance something we say or do might lead them to Christ. We cannot lose hope or give up. If there is breath in their lungs then there is hope!
Ecc 9:4
December 12, 2015
Judges 6:39 - And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
Thought: Gideon needed more evidence from God that he would be victorious in saving Israel. Everyone has a stubborn side at times or at least the temptation to be stubborn. It can often take a lot for us to make a decision or move to take action in tough circumstances. Once again, being stubborn to do the Lord’ will shows a lack maturity in our faith. When my faith is weak I may be afraid to take spiritual action. A weak faith will hinder me from teaching as I ought, leading as I should, and being involved in the Lord’s work as a whole. Gideon may have gotten away with testing God a bit here but we do not need to take that chance. Who knows how much time we have to hesitate from our spiritual battles? How many times will God sit back and allow us to wait or avoid His work? I don’t want to wait to learn the last time do you?
Eph 4:16
December 13, 2015
Judges 7:2 - And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Thought: There are so many wonderful things about God’s love for us. In this particular passage we see how much God desires us avoid sin. He doesn’t make it hard on us or try and trick us into making mistakes. Here we see Israel has too many soldiers for this battle. God fears they may be tempted to boast about their own victory with that many people. To avoid the greater risk of their thinking they didn’t need God He decides to narrow them down to a smaller number. Friends, no matter how easy the battle may feel like it becomes, it is still God who is in control. There is never a time we can say we didn’t need God to accomplish that task. If nothing else, remember, without God you would not exist at all. For today, remember that God is on your team wanting you to succeed.
Romans 8:37
December 14, 2015
Judges 7:3 - Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
Thought: The first cut God made involved sending all the fearful back home. God told the fearful to leave first thing in the morning. Of the thirty two thousand people a whopping twenty two thousand went home the following day. While God gave them the choice, it certainly must have been disappointing for Him to see so many leave Him due to fear. Their actions suggested they feared the armies of man more than their Creator. Many today refuse to follow God because of fear as well. Some may never become Christians because they fear the reaction of their family or friends. Others become Christians but leave the Lord when persecution arises. When Jesus listed those who would be cast into the lake of fire at judgment His first sin on the list was the fearful. Friends, there is nothing in this world to fear more than God. Is fear keeping you from God today?
Rev 21:8
December 15, 2015
Judges 7:5 - So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
Thought: With the remaining ten thousand troops God had them go down to the water and drink. He decided that those who went down on their knees to drink the water would be filtered out of battle. Only three hundred drank the water with their eyes up, lapping it like a dog. Therefore, of the originally thirty two thousand only three hundred remained for battle. This test revealed those who were always vigilant, or watchful, of their surroundings. As Christians today we too must go about our daily lives always watchful for our adversary. When we lose focus of the goal Satan has much more room to work on us. Temptations become harder to resist and our influence begins to weaken. It was Christ who told His apostles to be watchful lest they fall into temptation. Likewise we can be sure He implores us to do the same today.
Matt 26:41
December 16, 2015
Judges 7:6 - And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
Thought: Again, of the thirty two thousand men only three hundred were left to fight in God’s army. It stands out to me that these thirty two thousand men were part of God’s people. Of course, He was not pleased with those who were afraid and not vigilant. What a sobering thought that on judgment day God will be separating even those who claim to be members of the Lord’s church into sheep and goats. Not everyone we sit with in the pews every week truly is following the Lord’s will. On that day we may find out some had secret sin they would not repent of nor confess for help. Some may be fearful or lacking vigilance and we have no idea. Friends you may be hiding your sin now but there is coming a day when it will be made public. Are you truly in God’s fold or are you pretending?
Luke 12:2
December 17, 2015
Judges 7:10 - But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:
Thought: That very night, after choosing His army, God called the men to battle. Even after narrowing the people down to three hundred some men were beginning to fear. When things became real they began to doubt. But God had provided them with someone who would encourage them and remove the fear. All they had to do was speak with Phurah who would give them strength through words. What a great lesson for us today when we become weak. God has always placed people in our lives to encourage us during times of weakness. The church is not only here to bring glory to God but also to build one another up as we grow in unity together. Everyone has weak moments and no one can make it alone. Let God answer your prayer through the brethren from time to time. Don’t try to tackle everything alone!
Acts 18:23
December 18, 2015
Judges 7:12 - And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
Thought: The armies of the Midianites and Amalekites were so large in number that God described them as being the sand by the sea side. Just envision every grain of sand at the beach becoming a soldier. That is a mind boggling amount of warriors. And they saw only three hundred men standing against them. Focus on the enemies’ perspective for a moment. Can you imagine how confident they would have felt if they saw their numbers? They were the overwhelming majority. We could doubt that any of them even took the battle seriously at that point. This reminds us of our enemy today. Satan has recruited far more to his side than we can imagine. The enemy mocks us, persecutes us, and is very confident that God does not exist. They lean on their numbers proclaiming the majority knows that there is no God and that science disproves Him. Yet, whose side would you rather be on? Let’s choose God and the minority because truthfully He is the majority.
Matt 7:13-14
December 19, 2015
Judges 7:20 - And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
Thought: Although the enemy was very large in number, Gideon came up with a very wise plan. He had the men divided into three companies and gave them pitchers, lamps, and trumpets. Together they surrounded the enemy, blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers. To the enemy their appeared to be great numbers and power among Israel and they ran in fear. Through the confusion Israel destroyed their enemy with God at their side. This exciting account reminds us that having physical power and having spiritual power are very different things. We may not have the largest numbers, most famous men and women, or the richest people on Christ’s side. But we have more power through Christ than all the world standing against us. They may not fear today but sadly they will no fear when Christ comes again. We must warn them!
2 Thess 1:8
December 20, 2015
Judges 8:1 - And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
Thought: After the victory was won the men of Ephraim became upset. While Gideon did call upon them it wasn’t at first like he did Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. That is, after the men were slain the princes of the Midianites were still to be destroyed. They called upon more men to find them and kill them. Ephraim let pride get in the way. Instead of looking at the great victory they had a part in they were upset that someone else was brought into the battle before them. In fact, this contention and strife lasted between them for many years. How sad it is when pride ruins relationships in the church. Men and women get their pride hurt when someone is asked to speak, lead singing, or teach before themselves. Envy begins to take over and they begin to despise their brethren instead of encouraging them. Friends the church isn’t a competition or a place of promotions. We all have work that needs to be done and that work is just as important as any other work.
Eph 4:16
December 21, 2015
Judges 8:3 - God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
Thought: The children of Ephraim cooled down a bit when they remembered how involved they still had been. Often times we may become bothered about things because we think about them all wrong. It is too easy to focus on the negative of a situation instead of the positive. When something goes wrong we let it overshadow all the positives. The worst part is that there are so many good things God continually rains down on us that we begin to forget about them. When, in fact, these blessings ought to cause us to rarely think or focus on the negative at all. As you go throughout your day today don’t let attitudes like pride get in the way. Focus on the good and we will find it isn’t hard to do. In the words of Paul, whatsoever things are good, think on these things.
Phil 4:8
December 22, 2015
Judges 8:4 - And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
Thought: The phrase “passed over” is found often in scripture. Interestingly, it is usually used in connection with deliverance or victory. For example, the children of Israel passed over the Red Sea when they were delivered from Egypt. In fact, Jesus passed over the land of Egypt in the final plague before they made their trip. Furthermore, Israel once again passed over the Jordan when entering the Promised Land. And so here is one more example of many others that could be mentioned. Three hundred men were going to be involved with God’s deliverance from the Midianites as well as their victory in battle. Friends we too will one day pass over the Jordan into our Promised Land if we are found faithful to Him. Once again the question is, are you part of the three hundred?
Num 32:27
December 23, 2015
Judges 8:6 - And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
Thought: These men were afraid of the Midianites more than they were God. How unfortunate that so many choose to fear man over God. Our job is to convince these precious souls of the true side of victory and awe. Our God is the only entity to fear. If all the world stood against Him we would still be on the winning side with Him. Friends when we teach others it isn’t just about teaching them about Jesus but also explaining the end. Fear can be a powerful tool in bringing others to Christ. Not fear in the sense of scared but in the way of respect. When man respects God man will obey Him. What can we do to better show others the One deserving of respect?
Prov 2:5
December 24, 2015
Judges 11:31 - Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
Thought: Jephthah made a careless vow to the Lord. Apparently he had a pet in his home, perhaps a ewe lamb, which usually greeted him first when he came home. So he carelessly vowed to sacrifice the first thing that came out the door to greet him when he returned from battle victorious. As you recall, when he came home it was his daughter who met him first. God has always taken our word very seriously. In fact, Jesus spoke about keeping our communication straight forward and true. We must be careful to make promises and commitments knowing we may not can keep them or fulfill them. Careless words lead to sin and discouragement. God cannot lie nor disappoint others but we can. Consider your words before thoughtlessly making a commitment you can’t fulfill. Let’s make sure our communication is “yea, yea; nay, nay”.
Matthew 5:37
December 25, 2015
Judges 13:8 - Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
Thought: Manoah and his wife found out they were going to have a baby boy. We know him as Samson. And while we may think of Samson’s strength when we hear his name, it was his father who did something very special before Samson was ever born. One of the reasons Samson chose the Lord before his end was because of his upbringing. Notice, Manoah went to the Lord to find the proper instructions for raising a child. He wasn’t interested in what the magazines said or anyone else around him. He wanted to raise him the way the Lord desired him to be raised. Could you imagine a world full of children raised by God’s standard? After all, one of the main reasons our country is heading south is because of the younger, more liberal, generations. The magazines may say to avoid spanking and demanding respect for authority in your home, but what does God say?
Eph 6:4
December 26, 2015
Judges 14:3 - Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
Thought: Samson’s parents wanted him to marry within the people of Israel as God would have wanted. But Samson wanted to do what Samson wanted to do. And while God used Samson’s decision to promote His will it didn’t make it acceptable to marry outside of Israel. Time and time again God warned men of such a choice and once again a man was pulled away from God for doing so. As human beings we sometimes forget that God’s commands are for our good. In the flesh we want to please ourselves and try to justify things in our own minds to get what we want. But we must realize that what we want is our flesh talking and not our spirit. Ask yourself who you really are and what you really want. Do you want to please the flesh or the spirit? The spirit within us is who we really are not the fleshly lusts that tempt us daily.
Heb 4:12
December 27, 2015
Judges 16:16 - And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
Thought: Delilah pushed Samson daily to find the real source of his strength. He knew he should not tell her, but he toyed with her day after day. He deceived her over and over again as he told her false sources for his strength. Finally she pushed him to the breaking point and he told her the truth. This reminds us why our Bibles tell us to flee sin. If we choose to toy with fire, stay near fire, or flirt with fire we are going to get burned. Man too often thinks that as long as he doesn’t sin he can get as close as he can to it. There is a reason Paul urged us not to be deceived into thinking that we are strong enough to be around sin and not fail. Friends don’t toy with sin. When temptation arises today remember to flee from it. Do not stick around to see what happens!
1 Cor 10:13-14
December 28, 2015
Judges 16:20 - And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
Thought: Samson woke up like he did any other time and had no clue that he had been separated from his Lord. How clever Satan can be to slip us away from God without our notice. It is like wading in the ocean looking away from the shore. Before long you turn around only to realize you drifted far away from your original location. We must always be aware of our spiritual location. The Lord may slip away from us without our noticing if we are not careful. Influences, work, time, and many other worldly barriers can get in the way of our vision. If we are not thinking about our spiritual state we won’t notice when Satan pulls from shore.
Heb 2:1
December 29, 2015
Judges 16:28 - And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
Thought: Samson had abused his gift of strength given to him by the Lord. He suffered the consequences as his eyes were removed and he was made into a mockery at the Philistines party. He was chained between to large pillars that held the house together. Samson realized the errors of his ways and called on the Lord to be with him one last time. Our loving Father heard his prayer and gave him his strength once again. Friends as long as there is breathe in our lungs it is no too late to repent and pray for God’s forgiveness. When we realize we have departed from Him we must come back before it is too late. One day we may realize our life is in shambles and finally call out to God. But why wait knowing it may be too late or the time may never come. Recognize now that your life is nothing separate from God. Use your abilities for God and turn away from the sin that may separate you from Him before it’s too late.
Luke 13:3
December 30, 2015
Judges 17:2 - And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
Thought: Micah was a descendant of Ephraim. He had apparently stolen money from his mother in the past. Obviously she was not too happy about it and let him know her disappointment. Micah chose to repent of his actions and return the money to his mother. This is a great example of true repentance. It is one thing to say “I’m sorry” and it is another to right your wrongs. Repentance means you choose to change your life and results in the actual change. If I have stolen it means I return what I stole. If I have harmed others it means I go to them and right the wrong. Lastly, it means apologizing to God and devoting oneself to Him from that day forward. Have you truly repented of your sins?
Acts 17:30
December 31, 2015
Judges 21:25 - In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Thought: As the book of Judges closes, we see that Israel had no king nor looked to God. Instead, their standard for authority was their own fleshly desires. They answered to no one and separated their soul from God. Friends we live in a world today that teaches there is no absolute truth. The reality is, that logic is no better for us today than theirs was in the time of the Judges. If there is no absolute standard for authority then everyone can do whatever they believe is right for them. Relying on the flesh for a standard will never lead to an abundant life. In a world teaching this false mindset we must ever strive to counter this thinking. We must be diligent daily to teach God’s absolute truth every opportunity that comes our way.
2 Peter 1:3
Read devotionals for January 2016