THE ROCK OF SALVATION

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 23-24

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This is En Gedi where David hid from Saul among the rocks and in the caves.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 1 Samuel 23:14b, 23:26, 24:12

Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand…Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them…”Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You revealed to David an amazing knowledge of Your suffering and death by crucifixion. I pray that as I wait before You today, You will reveal Yourself to me. May I, by the work of Your Spirit, identify so closely with Your sufferings that I can say with Paul, “I am crucified with Christ,” and “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m meditating often on the time leading up to Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection during these days leading up to Easter. Think about the following.

At the last meal shared by Jesus and the disciples, only three of the four cups of wine which normally accompany the Passover meal were served. Jesus prayed in the garden, “If it be Your will, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless not My will but Your will be done.” That fourth cup was received by Jesus as He hung on the Cross. In John 19:29 we read, “Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” “Hyssop” was used at the first passover in Egypt to put the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the lintels and door posts. At the very start of Jesus’ public ministry three years earlier, John the Baptist declared that Jesus is “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). I’ll attach a worship song in my P.S. so that all of us can worship “The Lamb.” I just read Revelation 5:9-14.

Yours for a constant confidence that we, like King David, are in a secure hiding place in Christ, where no enemy can draw us from that ultimate safety,

David

P.S. Worship along with the Hillsong choir as they sing about The Lamb!  (click here for “Worthy is the Lamb”).

The view from the Garden Tomb area towards what many believe to be Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, where Jesus was crucified. This is the north side of the ancient quarry dug into Mount Moriah, the same mountain where Abraham, about to offer Isaac, was told, “God will provide a sacrifice.”  Stones were taken from here to build the Temple. A Muslim graveyard is on top of the hill.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

THE SWORD OF GOLIATH

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 21-22

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This sword is on display in the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth in Greece. Here you can see the blade and the guard.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 22:2

And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I choose You as my King. Grant that I may humbly follow You, whatever it takes. I’m Yours! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have watched, from time to time, a very interesting man on the Fox News Channel whose name is Bill O’Reilly. He has written several books, among which are, Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy, detailing the historical events leading up to their assassinations. More recently he has written a new book…Killing Jesus. This got my attention. I’m reading the accounts of Jesus’ death from the four Gospels leading up to Good Friday. I feel compelled to pray for Bill. He’s touching the very heart of God in this new book. He’s also touching God’s ancient people, the Jews. I’m putting a copy of my email to him below.

Yours for giving allegiance to Jesus,

David

P.S. Here is my letter I e-mailed to Bill O’Reilly…

Dear Mr. O’Reilly,

Mel Gibson was made out to be anti-Semitic because of the way he portrayed the events leading up to the death of Jesus. I’ve done national TV across Canada for over 50 years. Before the release of “The Passion of the Christ,” I wrote Mel a letter like this one. After the release of the movie I was on TV with three Rabbis discussing their concerns of anti-Semitism. I pointed out that I believed that Mel was ill-informed in some respects, and that this was the reason for the anti-Jewish charges. I consider this to be an open letter which I’ve placed on my daily blog, 100words.ca.

First of all, Pilate’s judgment hall would’ve held a maximum of about 300 people. Jesus was brought before Pilate shortly after the 6.a.m. sacrifices. Almost all those present would have been on the payroll of the High Priest. In no way did they represent the average Jewish person when they cried,”Crucify Him” and when they said, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” They were under instructions from the High Priest whose office was highly political as well as religious. This has been twisted by anti-Semites in the church and beyond to indict all the Jewish people. What a tragedy!

Secondly, Mel Gibson had only three women weeping when Jesus was carrying His cross to Golgotha. Yes they were weeping, but so was a great multitude. Again this represents the blame some want to put on all the Jews. The facts are found in the Gospel of Luke 23:27 which says, “A great multitude of the people followed Him and women who ALSO mourned and lamented Him.” “Also” shows that thousands of the Jewish people, who were now up and in the city for 9 a.m. from a night in their tents outside the city, were mourning for Jesus.These were the pilgrims there for “Passover.” They had been exposed to the ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem, in Galilee and elsewhere. These people represented the Jewish people, not the paid lackeys of the High Priest. This fact is backed up in Luke 23:48 & 49, “And the whole crowd who came together to that site (Golgotha) seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood nearby.

I pray that you will have this passed on to you by your team members. I can hope for your eyes to see this. As you can tell I think this is very important for you, the “No Spin” man. The Jewish people are suffering because of the “Spin” of the 3rd and 4th centuries.

I watch you often and have read several of your books. I respect highly all you are trying to accomplish.

David Mainse

“I LOVE YOU!” – Jesus

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 20

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Dubbed the “Pompeii of the East,” Jerash is an ancient Greco-Roman city located 80 miles north of Amman Jordan. The impressive, beautifully preserved ruins of Jerash include places of worship and other buildings from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and early Muslim periods.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 20:3b & 20:17

But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death…And Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

When death stares us in the face, we tend to focus our minds on the most important issues of life. Loving one another becomes a top priority. Jonathan and David understood this. Their affection was demonstrated in commitment, in keeping their promises, and in their willingness to sacrifice their own lives for each other if necessary. Jonathan, although he was heir to the throne, was willing to give up his own rights because of love for David. The story of David and Jonathan provide a picture of Jesus. Jesus, in fulfilling His destiny, loved so much that He was willing to die. As we approach the time of year when we celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus, we may want to read the Gospel stories. John chapters 13 to 17 is the dialogue between Jesus and His loved ones during the Passover meal. Jesus begins by washing the feet of these whom He loved and ends with His prayer for them in these Words, “That the love with which You [the Father] loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” In these chapters the words love, loves, and loved are spoken by Jesus more than 20 times. Jesus then led His loved ones to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He would be betrayed by one of those He loved, Judas. First John 4:19 reads, “We love Him because He first loved us” (click here for 1 John 4:7-21).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, may my heart be filled with Your love, and may that love be expressed in my love for others. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Amen! Amen! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In my prayer time I pray for my immediate family by name, and I name before God many others for whom I’m committed to pray. As a boy, I remember at our family altar hearing this prayer and praying it out loud myself: “I pray for those for whom we should pray.” This would include people whose names we did not mention. I thought at the time that if we should pray for them, why not name them. Then I realized that it’s humanly impossible. However, “With God all things are possible!” There is a 24/7 family altar in Heaven where Jesus leads the prayers and in which we participate every time we pray. He knows every one of us by name. He knows us better than we could ever know ourselves, and He prays for us. He prays, not just a general prayer, but prays for me by my name. “Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). He knows us by our names. I’ve just read John 10:1-16. I don’t have any idea how He does it, but I know that every day I put at least 50 names into His prayer meeting. My Father and Mother are right now in that prayer meeting above. I believe they put my name regularly before God’s Throne of Grace. I desire intensely to love others. One of the primary ways I have found to love others is to take the time to pray for them.

Yours for loving one another,

David

P.S. [Originally written on March 27, 2017] Yesterday, Norma-Jean and I attended a Sunday morning service where our son Ron and his wife Ann were preaching together. It was at the New Credit Fellowship Centre on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario. Pastor Ken Sault felt led to honour Norma-Jean and me for our years of TV ministry and the impact it has had on First Nations communities across Canada. He had several of their leaders speak, and then their young people performed a worship “rain dance” as a prayer for God to pour out revival in Canada! (HERE is a short video that Ron shot with his iPhone). They also presented me with a ceremonial eagle feather (see photo below). The Lord gave me the strength to say a few words of encouragement and thanks to these very special people!

Holding my new eagle feather presented by the First Nations people at the New Credit Fellowship Centre.

Norma-Jean and I with Pastor Ken & Sonya Sault and Ron & Ann.

A TRUE FRIEND

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 19

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

These are marble heads in the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth in Greece.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 19:4

Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I give my whole life to You for this new day. I’m in Your Word daily. I’m in prayer daily. Please protect me by Your Word, Your Spirit, and by the solid Bible-based teaching of my local church. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve given a great deal of thought to what is called “prophesying” in the New Testament Church. Philip, a deacon of the first church, had four daughters who were “prophetesses” (Acts 21:9). I believe that we need to let the Bible interpret the Bible. Revelation 19:10 tells us that, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” I also believe that these Philip’s daughters were winning souls to Jesus on the streets of Samaria, where their Dad had a revival (Acts 8). The “Testimony of Jesus” happened on the streets of Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 2. Peter said on that occasion, quoting the prophet Joel, that “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy.” These girls were not foretelling the future. They were not lying naked on the ground like Saul in today’s reading (verse 24). They were telling everyone about Jesus! Witnessing for and about Jesus is the continuing evidence of keeping filled with the Holy Spirit. I don’t think that anyone should claim to be keeping filled with God’s Spirit if they fail to give the “Testimony of Jesus” consistently. Prophecy, one of the gifts of the Spirit, referred to in 1 Corinthians 12:10 and also in 1 Corinthians 14, is for the edification and comfort of believers. I need this gift. Prophesying, as it happened on the birthday of the Church, is something different which continues to happen every time we testify, in order to win a precious never-dying soul to Jesus.

Yours for New Testament prophecy,

David

WANT WISDOM?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 18

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Here is a spear and shield carved into what was a mantle in the ancient city of Philippi, Greece.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 18:14

And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, Your Word teaches me that “He who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30b). You’ve called me to be a soul winner. Therefore, I pray for wisdom to be given to me so that I may win someone to You. I believe Your Word, and I believe that when I engage someone in conversation, I will speak wise words. I pray this through Jesus Christ, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

From personal experience I know that when I’ve not prayed first for wisdom, I’ve done more harm than good. My passion is to win souls to Jesus. After He had given “living water” to the woman at the well, she brought the people of her village out to meet Him. As they approached, Jesus said to His followers, “Lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest” (John 4:35b). I’m deeply moved as I think of that scene. Jesus was so very wise. This precious woman had been married to five husbands, and at that point she was living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus didn’t condemn her. He quenched her thirst with living water. His Words are that “living water.” He changed her life forever! I’m drinking every morning and throughout the day by thinking of His Words which I’ve read earlier. Read with me if you have time from John 7:37-38.

Yours for winning souls to Jesus,

David

P.S. God surely gives our telephone prayer partners soul-winning wisdom. Feel free to give someone you want to bring to Jesus the toll free telephone number 1-866-273-4444. Every day and every night, without fail, precious people are being led to Jesus on those phones. If you need someone to pray with you about any concern, feel free to call. As the promotional slogan on the 100 Huntley Street telecast says, “We’re here for you!” For anyone who might want to help us out by becoming one of our telephone prayer partners, here is some info.

P.P.S. Yesterday’s blog had a picture of a poster signed by Mickey Rooney. Tomorrow, God willing, I’ll tell you about the wisdom which brought Mickey to Jesus. He called our prayer lines. Please encourage others to call us too!!!

David and King Saul, as depicted in the TV miniseries THE BIBLE.

GOD’S CHAMPIONS

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:2), where David picked up five smooth stones from the brook, one of which he used in his sling to kill Goliath.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 17:45

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You have defeated the last human enemy, death! Therefore, I have complete confidence that with You living in me I can win over every giant that I face. I pray for boldness to take that which I know You’ve done in the past, apply that knowledge to the present, and move forward into future battles with the secure knowledge of Your Presence. In Your strong Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When God gave us Canada’s first professionally equipped Christian television production studio back in 1977, I could not stand to see God’s resources sitting empty for much of the day after we went live to air with the daily 100 Huntley Street telecast. Therefore, we began producing telecasts in many languages other than English. We also did shows for children and teens. Nite Lite, an open-line show which ran live 5 nights a week from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., was what one of our hosts, Rev. Ken Campbell, called “the best fishing hole in Canada.” In one staff Chapel service in the early 1990’s, I shared that the challenge of the middle-of-the-night ministry needed a champion who would assume full responsibility for its future. Later that day, Jim Cantelon, who had been one of my co-hosts on 100 Huntley Street after returning from Jerusalem where he established a great Christian congregation, approached me with these words: “David, I want to be that champion for the middle of the night.” He covered not only Canada but the U.S.A. as well for many years. I’m excited to rise every morning to champion the ministry of this blog!

Yours, praying Jesus’ prayer request: “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers [champions] into the harvest field” (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2),

David

P.S. In the God Rocks children’s animated TV series produced by a champion, Bruce Stacey, the actor Mickey Rooney, certainly not a “giant” in stature, is the voice of “Bullseye”…the little rock that bopped Goliath. It’s a creative re-telling of today’s reading. Below is a poster from that episode (signed by Mickey). The episode is called “Splat Ball Square Off” and here’s a link to a trailer for it. Some of the God Rocks “Bible Toons” are archived online HERE. You might want to share them with the children for whom you can be a champion for Christ.

GOD’S CHOICE

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 16

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This is the entrance to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the hometown of King David. This is the oldest functioning church building in the world. It is believed to cover the stable/cave where Jesus was born.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 16:7b

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I ask that everyone I meet today will see You. You live in my heart. I am, according to Your Word, the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are looking on my heart. If You see anything that should not be there, please clean it out of me now and forever. May Your love, Your joy, and Your peace be seen by all those with whom I interact. In Your Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When Norma-Jean gets up, I may suggest that we sing together “The Solid Rock.” While it’s true that we are joined as one flesh before God, I’ll still have to stand as an individual at the judgment of the believers. Getting up at 4 a.m. is not Norma-Jean’s calling from God. When we were first married, I asked her to get up and pray with me. That did not go over too well. She spends considerable time praying before she sleeps at night. Whereas I’m far too sleepy at night to do more than a brief, “See You in the morning Lord.” I’m asleep long before my wife finishes reading my blog for the day, the suggested Scriptures and praying. So I concluded that between the two of us, we cover more of the 24-hour clock this way! She’s a night person, and I’m a morning person. Fifty-nine years of marriage (this September), and we’re still deeply committed to each other (that’s true love!). It’s a miracle of God’s grace! Amen! As I’m typing this, she’s still sleeping soundly. I often remind Norma-Jean before I fall asleep that over and over God promises rest to the weary.

Yours for seeing our hearts as God sees our hearts,

David

The stained glass artwork at the exit of the Church of St. Catherine, which is attached to the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem. This newer church is where the Christmas Eve celebration takes place and is televised live worldwide. In a cave beneath this building, St. Jerome translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into what is known as the Latin Vulgate Version.

BE QUIET

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 15

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Bedouins set up their transient homes wherever it is best for their livestock. Here they are located just below Mount Nebo. The promised land is seen in the distance.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 15:22

So Samuel said:

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Lord God, You have taken the judgment I deserved. Dear Lord Jesus, You suffered far more than King Agag and King Saul did for the evil of their sin. All I can do now is cry out to You, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” I say this with my whole heart, mind and soul. You’ve said, Lord Jesus, that I am now made right in the sight of God. I have no excuses for my sin, and like King David, I have found forgiveness. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I was compelled just now to meditate on God’s mercy. In the Virgin Mary’s prophetic utterance, she spoke these words: “He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:49-50). Later in his Gospel, Luke records the prayer of repentance and cry for mercy which God hears and answers with His assuring “Yes” (Luke 18:9-14). What comfort! I’ve also just read Hebrews 8, the entire chapter is my New Testament reading for today.

All who are in leadership, particularly Christian leadership, must be warned that God will never take excuses for sin. He only receives sorrow for sin…that’s being sorry enough to quit sinning…and that’s called repentance! Christian leaders have built memorials to themselves, as Saul did. I fall on my face and cry out for mercy. I take most seriously the Words of our key verse, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Once again I pray the sinners’ prayer, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” I remember clearly the words of John, who included himself, writing, “If we say that we have no sin [present tense] we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). What assurance!

Yours for constant cleansing from all sin (1 John 1:1 – 2:6),

David

The Memorial Church of Moses on Mount Nebo is currently getting a new structure built over the aging one. It was from here that Moses viewed the Promised Land. God forgave Moses for his sin, but there were still consequences of his sin (Deuteronomy 34:1-4).

THE MANY AND THE FEW

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 14

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This is an Akkadian cuneiform writing clay tablet piece and is the oldest document to mention Jerusalem. It was discovered in the south wall area of the Old City of Jerusalem and is dated at 14th century BC.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 14:6b

For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, as I read these words and pause often to worship You, I’m conscious that I’m partaking of the sweetness of Your provision for me. Like Jonathan, my countenance has brightened. I pray that this energy level will continue in order that I may “fight the good fight of faith,” as I read in 1 Timothy 6:11-16. In Jesus’ conquering Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In selecting the key verse for today, I thought of God’s provision over the years for the financial well-being of the Crossroads ministry. Sometimes God has used the many and sometimes the few. Without the participation of thousands of precious partners, this ministry, that has brought many to a saving knowledge of Jesus, would have shut down years ago. But the Lord has also used the few. Our former bank manager at the TD bank in downtown Toronto (gone to be with the Lord in Heaven now) knew our need the day that our lighting package for the new TV production studios arrived. I needed cash in order to have the shipment released. A line of credit had not been authorized. One of the “few,” whose name I do not know, sent through $50,000 directly to the bank, telling the manager that he could arrange a charitable giving receipt, but that I was not to know who it was that gave this money. The only information I was given was that it was someone from Ottawa who did not know of the need to pay for the shipment that very day but felt led of God to transfer the money. There are few who could give such a gift. Perhaps you are one of the few. We should perhaps read on in 1Timothy 6:17-19. One thing I’ve learned is that God uses BOTH the MANY and the FEW to support His work. When we sold the farm in which Norma-Jean, my wife, was born, we got to be one of “the few” one time, but every month we are one of “the many” that keep the ministry winning spiritual battles every day. That monthly offering, and the offerings of many more, are absolutely essential to the great cause to which God has called Crossroads. More of “the few” and more of “the many” would also be a big help right now. God is leading the Ministry in new initiatives for the Gospel that need us all to take up the challenge of giving sacrificially. The funds are not just sitting there in the bank doing nothing for Jesus! Crossroads continues to be a faith ministry. Please pray asking God for His instructions (click here for giving instructions).

Yours to encourage us all to be “the many” and some of us to be “the few,”

David

P.S. My granddaughter Elena has a beautiful baby girl named Chelsea (below is a photo of her at two years old). A few years back, 100 Huntley Street did a feature on the amazing story of how Bruce & Elaine Stacey adopted Elena and her brother Alex from a Russian orphanage in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Click here for the video.

Our great-granddaughter, Chelsea Gilmour, and her birthday buddy!

A MAN AFTER GOD’S HEART

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 13

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

A rectangular ritual bath (mikveh/baptismal tank) has been recently uncovered just beneath the southern wall of the Temple Mount in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park. You can see the Mount of Olives in the background.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 1 Samuel 13:13-14

And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

Understanding and obeying God’s Word is of eternal importance. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Word shall never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). God’s Word is forever! God’s Word has the power to do good, heal, bring judgment, and to save. The Word is like the laws of nature. King Saul failed to obey what he knew were God’s instructions, and now he must suffer the consequences. God would choose another King who would be careful to obey both the letter and the spirit of the instructions he received. By believing and doing God’s Word, we, like David, who is yet to come onto the scene, will experience the blessing of God. David would keep God’s Word and the result was that he became the father of an eternal dynasty through his Descendant, Jesus Christ.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that You’ll help me to wait for You. My natural tendency, like Saul, is to be impatient and to run ahead of You, but Your supernatural grace to do what is right is available to me when I wait upon You. You meet me every morning as I read Your Word and pray. I can always count on Your timing. Thank You for the peace and joy this brings me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Yes Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so!!! “FACT!!!” One day last week I read the entire book of Matthew over a period of three hours. Forty-one times either Jesus or Matthew quote from their Bible, the Hebrew language Scriptures. This is true Kingdom of God teaching/preaching!!! Oh, how I long to be a man after God’s heart. This is just another reason for this blog! I need to focus more and more on the “More sure Word” (2 Peter 1:19) and less on the thoughts of mere men which are not solidly and clearly founded on God’s revealed written Word!!!

My New Testament reading for today is Philippians 4:4-9.

Yours for grace to “meditate on these things,” (Read Philippians 1:15-18),

David