365 Reflections

2 Kings 13:20–21 (ESV) So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. For 50 years, Elisha had been Israel's lifeline. Now, as the nation continues its descent into immorality and pagan heathenism, he dies. Imagine this moment if you will. Your nation seems to be on an irreversible course toward exile. God had already promised such in 1 Kings 14: 1 Kings 14:15–16 (ESV) the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and root up Israel out of this good land that he gave to their fathers and scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the LORD to anger. 16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and made Israel to sin.” You have to th...

It's one of the hardest theological constructs to come to terms within the modern west. But the reality on the page of scripture is men do not seek God. God seeks them. For proof, you can check the third chapter of Genesis. You can also check the Psalms. Psalm 14:2–3 (ESV)  The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. You can ask Paul: Romans 3:11 (ESV)   no one understands; no one seeks for God. We are in 1 Samuel. So far in 1 Samuel, God has brought great judgment upon His own people. The nation of Israel has descended through the time of the judges to Samuel's birth into a morass of immorality. On top of that, their leaders are dead and the symbol of God's presence has been captured in war. It's a tragedy. When the Philistines get the Ark they place it in the temple to D...

When a Christian enters into a new relationship with God, they enter into a fight for their lives. For some reason, we don't focus on this enough. We tend to want Godly living to involve as little confrontation and effort as possible. God spells out for us here in Numbers 33 that no such experience awaits the person who follows Him. With Israel on border of the land, God reaffirms His instructions to Moses concerning what awaits the people on the other side of the Jordan. It is not peace and tranquility at first, it is war and fighting and effort first. The peace comes later. Numbers 33:51–52 (ESV) “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. Look at this command. These are ornate altars and high places the people are going to have to...

God responds to faith. Sometimes we are so busy waiting for Him to do something for us or on our behalf when I believe He's waiting to honor an act of faith from us! At the last supper, Jesus spent a good deal of time imploring the disciples to act. It's almost as if He wanted to make absolutely sure they didn't for a second think this movement was about sitting in a church waiting to go to heaven: John 14:12–14 (ESV) “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. Look at these promises! Do greater works than Jesus? Whatever we ask? If we ask in His name He will do it? God wants to move in your life. I'll say that again. God, the Almighty creator of the universe... wants to move in YOUR...