Category: Daily Devotional

The Penalty for Murder

Scripture Numbers 35:30 ” `Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

Observation: There isn’t a day that the news doesn’t report a murder. Yet trials go on for months, murderers are making book deals and sometimes even suing the state for breaking their rights. So many millions of dollars are spent and murderers get out of prison and murder again. Our society has more pity on the convict than the victim’s family. God tells us what the penalty is for murder, a life for a life.

Application: I need to seek guidance from my Lord. My heart breaks for what we have done to this country that God has blessed us with. We make Sodom and Gomorrah look righteous. God has given us commands and He has placed His law on our hearts and I need to do whatever God calls me to do.

Prayer: My Lord forgive us for the way we have disobeyed you. Touch those that have been given the power to change things your law. We have made a mess of things please my Lord come and renew what we have destroyed.

The Lord is Commanding Us

Scripture Numbers 34:29 These are the men the LORD commanded to assign the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Observation: The Lord has specific commands for each of His children. They will incorporate the gifts and abilities that God has blessed us with and they will be commands that we will be able to accomplish with the help of our Lord. We will need to be in prayer and ask our Father what He desires of us and as we sit still He will reveal His plan for our lives. God will put people in our path that we are to witness to and people that will direct us as He used Moses to talk to the Israelites.

Application: I need to continue on the path God has put me on using my depression testimony to comfort His children and help grow them closer to Him. I also feel my Lord wants to use this testimony and gifts He has blessed me with to touch the people who don’t know God by comforting them with the comfort my Lord has given me. I need to listen when I pray for direction on not look for what I want to do, but what God wants to do through me.

Prayer: My Lord speak to your servant and command me to do your will. Please make it clear to me and that I will do all that you say and honor you. Give me wisdom and strength tonight has I teach the class and that I will encourage those that attend to draw closer to you for their comfort and purpose.

The Stages of Our Journey

Scripture Numbers 33: [2] At the LORD’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:

Observation: Our journey has been recorded in our mind and heart. I remember my journey before God it was a disaster and I always wanted to end it so I wouldn’t suffer anymore. The journey then was lonely since I wouldn’t let anyone in and was rocky. I remember the stages of this journey how I progressively got worst. Then Christ entered my life and even though there were rocky moments in my new journey it wasn’t bad because I was no longer alone and when I kept persevering with my Lord the more rewarding the journey became.

Application: I need to follow Jesus on this journey but seek directions for each stage of it. I no longer should go out on my own but seek guidance from my Lord in where He wants me to go and stay on the path He has chosen for me. I know where the end of the journey leads now and I want to arrive in style pleasing my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank for your love and sacrifice. I thank you for this new journey that I’m on and it is wonderful. May my eyes be fixed on you always and that I may see my surroundings through your eyes. Lead me home and strengthen me to finish with honor to you.

Can’t Hide Your Sins

Scripture Numbers 32:23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

Observation: I use to think there were things that I could do so God wouldn’t know what I was doing. As I grew stronger in my faith I realize there was nothing I could do to hide myself from God’s eyes and I didn’t want to. First I shouldn’t sin, but when I fail I need to go to God to direct me and discipline me so I won’t do it again. I need to grow in my walk and be more like Jesus. I know whatever sin I commit will find me out so I need to come clean right away and repent and go before my heavenly Father for forgiveness.

Application: Think before I act. Most of the time when I sin it’s without thinking and just doing. I need to put God first and my wants at the bottom of the list. Feeding my selfish desires is usually the thing that gets me caught up in sin. When I fall short I need to go to my Father and ask for forgiveness and wisdom to be a better man for Him.

Prayer: My Lord forgive the weakness of your servant and guide me each day to stay away from sin and draw closer to you. I’m here as a servant and your child, may I glorify you with the life I lead and learn not to sin and to stay away from temptation.

Making Atonement for Ourselves

Scripture Numbers 31: [50] So we have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired–armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces–to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”

Observation: These soldiers gave their offerings to the Lord because they went out to battle won and not one soldier of theirs was missing. They gave God all of the gold they plundered as an offering. God has led us in so many battles and has watched over us and kept us safe, so what is our atonement to Him. He doesn’t need gold, money or anything else of this world, He created it. All he desires of us is our genuine love and obedience, that is what He requires for our atonement and as easy as that sounds since He has provided everything for us we rarely give it to Him.

Application: I know God deserves my total commitment and love and I truly want to give it to Him, but my pride and sinful nature stops me from giving it completely. My focus is still too much on myself and I struggle each day to be obedient to all my Lord’s desires. I need to keep His commandments and know it is not an option to disobey. I need to show my Lord the love I have for Him and to draw close to Him each day.

Prayer: My Lord you deserve all of my love, praise and obedience and I want to give it to you. Help me stay focused on you and the task you set before me. I want to be the man you call me to be and do your will each day of my life. Help me honor you.

Keeping Your Vow

Scripture Numbers 30[2] When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.:

Observation: Every day I tell God I’m going to be a better man for Him and yet everyday it seems I break that promise. When I make a vow to God it’s biding and I have obligated myself to keep that vow no matter what. If I promise this day I will do better than I need to search for a way to accomplish that goal. God has made me promises and has kept each one so you know he doesn’t take it lightly and that He is a God of His word and expects us to be people of ours.

Application: This should not keep me from making vows but to think carefully to know how I will accomplish them. I need to have a plan of doing what I say and be a man of my word and that I will take the actions needed to keep my vow to God and others. By me keeping my promises to others glorifies God to them, it’s just one of the attributes of God that we should be showing to others.

Prayer: My Lord I do what to make vows to you, but I need your help to keep those vows. Give me wisdom and the discipline to follow through with everything I say to you and others, that I will be a man of my word and a lover of you.

Denying Ourselves

Scripture Numbers 29:7 ” `On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work.

Observation: That is one thing I have trouble with denying myself. I seem to put myself first and take care of my needs above others, the opposite of what God wants. Even doing work is something I feel I have to do. I find it hard to sit still without doing anything, even though God calls me to, so that I will spend more quality time with Him.

Application: I need to do what God calls me to do, put Him first, then my wife, others and then myself. I’m here as a servant and a servant serves others. I have a calling on my life a job do to while I’m here and I’ll never know what it is if I’m more focused on myself then what God wants me to do.

Prayer: Dear Lord fill me with your love and give me the wisdom I’ll need to fulfill the purpose you call me for. Show me how to rest and think only of you and your desires. I’m here because you chose me to be, may I complete the tasks you have set before me in glory and honor to your name.