KJB Daily
Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Chapters: Judges 9-11
Message: Judges: Choose The Right Leader
Hello My Friend,
With campaigning in full swing in America as a new leader is chosen for our country one cannot help, but read through the Bible and wonder what is to come of our country when arrogant, self righteous men and women may be the only option. Now, I never mix religion with politics, but religion always finds its way into politics, and guess what, it is usually the faithful, born again Christian that is the target. So, what do we do when the wrong leader is chosen to rule our country? We look to our only leader, Jesus Christ. “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” - Psalms 33:8-12.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;” Most of us are born into nations, even though my parents have Italian, Hungarian, and Polish roots, I was born in America, therefore, I am natural born American. Anyone who comes here can become an American, they just in a sense, need to be adopted into the family either by marriage or legalization, which is the case in any country. A nation that is led under God is always a blessed nation, and at one time, America was blessed, but they have fallen away from their roots, God is no longer LORD. Israel had the same problem, their true leader was God, but they did not want Him, they wanted a physical person to tell them how do to things, which is why God appointed judges over them. Abimelech, Gideon's son from a woman not of his nation, wanted to be a powerful leader, he stooped to the lowest level anyone can, he killed all but one, of his seventy brothers (Gideon had many wives). Jotham escaped and did what he could to warn Shechem.
“And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.” - Judges 9:7-9,14,15,22-24.
“let fire come out of the bramble,” Jotham was trying to warn the people that Abimelech (bramble) would have done anything to be king, he already killed his brothers (trees) capable of being true leaders, and would kill anyone who was a threat. After three years, God got the vengeance on Abimelech when he allowed the devil to cause a war among them and was killed himself, by a woman. A leader is not someone who is arrogant and proud, they are humble and put the peoples lives over their own. Jesus put others lives over His own when He gave Himself as the atonement sacrifice needed to redeem our souls. Now, all who believe in and receive Him are adopted into the nation of God. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” - Galatians 4:4-7.
The problem is, there is a new form of Christianity out today, one that has nothing to do with Christ. I mean, so many people think that if they believe in God and join a church that claims to know God it automatically makes them a Christian. Sorry, a Christian is more than that, first, you must be saved to be considered a Christian, and second, you must be living a life that reflects Jesus Christ. No, we are not saved by our works, but the things we do after we are saved ought to show Christ in us. God will turn His back on any nation that turns their back on Him, including His own, we are no exception to Israel. Now, after Abimelech died Israel went through the same pattern for several decades, but this time they got an answer they did not expect.
“And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” - Judges 10:7-10,14-16.
“and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” God loves His people, and it grieves Him when we suffer, even when we are the cause of it. He might get upset with us, and in some cases leave us to deal with our problems on our own until we repent, but He is faithful and will help us when we come to Him. By His mercy we are His people, by His grace we are saved forever from eternal death and hell, being the faithful Christian we ought to be puts others needs before ours, and makes Christ LORD of our lives. “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” - 1 Peter 2:10-12.
Israel turned from their false gods and back to God, He heard their cries and sent a man named Jephthah to deliver them. However, the problem that many people had with him, he was the son of a prostitute. They picked on him and cast him out, but there came a time when they knew he was the only one who could help them.
“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him. And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head? And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.” - Judges 11:1-5,9,10.
“The LORD be witness between us,” Jephthah could have refused to help Gilead, but he knew that it was God's will that he go and that it was the right thing to do. God has a purpose and a place for everyone of us, whether we were naturally born or adopted into it. God is our witness, if we make Christ LORD of our lives He will help us get through the consequences of our nations choosing ungodly leaders. Remember, we have the power to do all we can do to get godly leaders in our nations, but no matter who gets in, Christ will keep us safe. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” - 2 Timothy 2:3,4.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through Jephthah's daughter as she wholly submitted to her father's will. Jesus, who is the Son of God, and God in the flesh, wholly submitted to His Father's will. “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” - Matthew 26:39.
Today's Prayer: God, I do want to be successful in all that You call me to do and know that with Your help I can be. I know that my failures are partially because I have not been patient or simply not in Your will for me. Lord, You are my leader, help me to walk the path You have given me, show me any detours along the way, and let me grow and become a reflection of Your Son. I want to be completely dependent on You, and trust Your decision. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Chapters: Judges 9-11
Message: Judges: Choose The Right Leader
Hello My Friend,
With campaigning in full swing in America as a new leader is chosen for our country one cannot help, but read through the Bible and wonder what is to come of our country when arrogant, self righteous men and women may be the only option. Now, I never mix religion with politics, but religion always finds its way into politics, and guess what, it is usually the faithful, born again Christian that is the target. So, what do we do when the wrong leader is chosen to rule our country? We look to our only leader, Jesus Christ. “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” - Psalms 33:8-12.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;” Most of us are born into nations, even though my parents have Italian, Hungarian, and Polish roots, I was born in America, therefore, I am natural born American. Anyone who comes here can become an American, they just in a sense, need to be adopted into the family either by marriage or legalization, which is the case in any country. A nation that is led under God is always a blessed nation, and at one time, America was blessed, but they have fallen away from their roots, God is no longer LORD. Israel had the same problem, their true leader was God, but they did not want Him, they wanted a physical person to tell them how do to things, which is why God appointed judges over them. Abimelech, Gideon's son from a woman not of his nation, wanted to be a powerful leader, he stooped to the lowest level anyone can, he killed all but one, of his seventy brothers (Gideon had many wives). Jotham escaped and did what he could to warn Shechem.
“And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.” - Judges 9:7-9,14,15,22-24.
“let fire come out of the bramble,” Jotham was trying to warn the people that Abimelech (bramble) would have done anything to be king, he already killed his brothers (trees) capable of being true leaders, and would kill anyone who was a threat. After three years, God got the vengeance on Abimelech when he allowed the devil to cause a war among them and was killed himself, by a woman. A leader is not someone who is arrogant and proud, they are humble and put the peoples lives over their own. Jesus put others lives over His own when He gave Himself as the atonement sacrifice needed to redeem our souls. Now, all who believe in and receive Him are adopted into the nation of God. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” - Galatians 4:4-7.
The problem is, there is a new form of Christianity out today, one that has nothing to do with Christ. I mean, so many people think that if they believe in God and join a church that claims to know God it automatically makes them a Christian. Sorry, a Christian is more than that, first, you must be saved to be considered a Christian, and second, you must be living a life that reflects Jesus Christ. No, we are not saved by our works, but the things we do after we are saved ought to show Christ in us. God will turn His back on any nation that turns their back on Him, including His own, we are no exception to Israel. Now, after Abimelech died Israel went through the same pattern for several decades, but this time they got an answer they did not expect.
“And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” - Judges 10:7-10,14-16.
“and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” God loves His people, and it grieves Him when we suffer, even when we are the cause of it. He might get upset with us, and in some cases leave us to deal with our problems on our own until we repent, but He is faithful and will help us when we come to Him. By His mercy we are His people, by His grace we are saved forever from eternal death and hell, being the faithful Christian we ought to be puts others needs before ours, and makes Christ LORD of our lives. “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” - 1 Peter 2:10-12.
Israel turned from their false gods and back to God, He heard their cries and sent a man named Jephthah to deliver them. However, the problem that many people had with him, he was the son of a prostitute. They picked on him and cast him out, but there came a time when they knew he was the only one who could help them.
“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him. And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head? And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.” - Judges 11:1-5,9,10.
“The LORD be witness between us,” Jephthah could have refused to help Gilead, but he knew that it was God's will that he go and that it was the right thing to do. God has a purpose and a place for everyone of us, whether we were naturally born or adopted into it. God is our witness, if we make Christ LORD of our lives He will help us get through the consequences of our nations choosing ungodly leaders. Remember, we have the power to do all we can do to get godly leaders in our nations, but no matter who gets in, Christ will keep us safe. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” - 2 Timothy 2:3,4.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through Jephthah's daughter as she wholly submitted to her father's will. Jesus, who is the Son of God, and God in the flesh, wholly submitted to His Father's will. “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” - Matthew 26:39.
Today's Prayer: God, I do want to be successful in all that You call me to do and know that with Your help I can be. I know that my failures are partially because I have not been patient or simply not in Your will for me. Lord, You are my leader, help me to walk the path You have given me, show me any detours along the way, and let me grow and become a reflection of Your Son. I want to be completely dependent on You, and trust Your decision. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.