Judg 10:15-16
15 And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” 16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. ESV
- There is a difference between admitting and repenting. They were seeking deliverance by confessing that they had done wrong but it wasn’t until verse 16 that we saw a change in their behavior. Once they began to change their actions God began to do a work in their lives. It is those who confess and forsake their sin that find mercy Prov 28:13. Lord, am I confessing, repenting, and changing or just admitting to what I can no longer deny. Lord, help me to both recognize my sin and to change, to turn from my old ways 2 Chron 7:14.
- 1 Sam 15:24-25 Saul wanted to blame the people. Even when he went to admit his sin he said “I sinned… please pardon… . Yet there was not a change in heart.
1 Sam 16:7
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart .” NKJV
- Ps 139:2; Prov 17:8; 21:2; Haggai 2:11-14; Matt 5:27-28; 23:5; 1 Cor 13:3; 1 john 1:6; Rev 2:4; 3:1;
- First off it is important to know that God is more concerned with the heart then he is with outer appearance. That is not an excuse to ignore our outer appearance. This verse tells us that man looks at the outward appearance. How are you presenting yourself? We are ambassadors of God 2 Cor 5:20. People look at us, how we present ourselves, and how we live our lives as Christians and see God that way. The Word tells us we are meant to be above reproach Col 1:22; 1 Tim 3:2;
Ex 16:3
3 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (NKJV)
- Your focus, not reality, determines what you see. You look through your heart, and it tints every picture you see. In their complaint they said, “We were better off in Egypt.” However, they complained when they were there too, saying “If only we were any where else.” Our choice of where to focus can always bring something to be thankful for or something to complain about. Prov 4:23 your heart is the lens that you see the world through.
- Since my focus determines which things I see and which things I miss, help me to choose my focus on purpose. Help me to always focus on the positives. I want to always be thankful. Help to remember how great my family is. Help me to always see the amazing things my wife dose. Help me not to take if for granted. Help me to see the time she put into making dinner because she wanted to impress me and the time she spent up with Beniah while she let me sleep. Help me to see the patience she had with me when I messed up what she was working on. Help me to see the love that she shows even when I can be a pain.
1 Cor 15:33
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” NIV
- Ex 23:33; judges 16:16; 2 Sam 13:3; Ps 78:6-7; 101:6; Prov 1:10; 14:7; Haggai 2:11-13; Acts 4:19-20; 1 Cor 5:11
1 Cor 15:34
34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. ESV
- They had been so caught by the culture and its way of thinking, that he calls it a stupor. They were in a daze, unaware of the affect that the people around them were having on them. What is pouring into our hearts? Are we aware of what is influencing us? God help us to meditate on Your Word. Prov 4:23;
Rom 1:12
12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. ESV
- Prov 27:17; whose faith encourages you? Are you building others up? There should be both in your life. If there isn’t any one around whose faith encourages or builds you up you need new friends. (Prov 13:20) Lord, help me to always surround myself with people that will sharpen me.
- In this verse we see something that is so important, yet so often missing. When someone is in ministry they often have a heart to serve which is good, but sometimes they get so focused on serving and helping others that things slide in their own lives. They build up others, they give others support, but they themselves need it. I know this because it has happened to me before. Lord, help me to always be surrounded by people that will pour into me and challenge me as we pour into others.
- “Don’t ever get so focused on what God is doing through you that you miss what He wants to do in you.” – I cannot remember where this quote is from.
Rom 2:12
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law. NKJV
- It is not the law but our own hearts that condemn us. “As many as have sinned without the law are judged without the law.” Vs 15 tells us their own thoughts accuse them. Rom 3:23 tells us all have sinned. Rom 2:1 tells that when we judge another, we condemn ourselves by showing we know it is wrong. The law is not to condemn us, but to show us that we were already condemned. Only when we recognize our sinful condition will we look for God’s forgiveness. The law is not an act of judgment, but of mercy. It is a map; it shows us that we are lost. I am not lost because of it, instead it helps me recognize my state so I can get back on course. Rom 3:19; Rev 20:12-15;
John 16:3
3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. NKJV
- John 15:21; Once again we see their actions are dictated by what they know. If my life is an overflow of what is in my heart Prov 4:23, all I know, believe, and desire determines what I will do. What am I filling up with? My choices and what I meditate on today are what determine what I will do tomorrow. Ps 119:11 states that he has hidden God’s word in his heart that he may not sin against God. He chooses what knowledge he would be full of today, so when he was confronted with a choice later, the overflow will determine his steps. Have you made a deliberate choice, on what you will fill up on? Prov 4:23 tells us to guard our heart. Prov 15:14 NLT tells us that the wise feed on truth while fools feed on trash. Prov 18:15 tells us that the heart of the prudent acquires knowledge. What are you feeding on? Rehoboam never set out to do evil. He just floated along wherever the wind blew him and therefore made bad choices. 2 Chron 12:14. Are you floating along or have you made a choice on what you will be full of? What will direct your steps?
John 14:1-2
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ESV
- There are several things that need to be noted. First, you can control the condition of your heart. You can keep it from being troubled. Turning your heart to God keeps your heart from being troubled.
- Prov 4:23; Heb 12:2;
Matt 28:11-15
11While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. ESV
- Knowing the truth and living by it are very different. They knew Jesus had been raised from the dead, but instead of worshiping they paid the guards to lie. What do you do when confronted with God’s word and the need for change? Do you change or ignore it? Choosing to ignore the truth you hear will harden your heart (Heb 3:8; Mark 4:23-25) James 2:19.
Matt 13:44-46
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. NKJV
-These two parables communicate the same thought. The kingdom is not something you do half way. When someone wants to be apart of the kingdom it cost them everything. The man in both stories gives up everything he has for something he views as more valuable. Have you given up everything to follow Jesus? Has He become your hearts number one desire? Matt 6:24 says that you cannot have two masters.
-God help me to set you first above everything else. I want to honor you with all my heart. I want to honor you with everything I do.
-Sam told this parable really well. As the little boy that found buried money and learned that he who owns the land owns whatever he finds in it. He went home and stared selling everything…. Everything… working… trying to get the money to buy the land… No one understood why he was living like this, why all the sacrifice. He was living for something they didn’t know about. ARE you living for something that nonbelievers don’t know about? Your life should be so different they wonder why you live this way, because they don’t know about the treasure that lies on the other side.
- Heb 13:6; Ps 118:6; Prov 29:25;
