3.14.2017
Scripture Read 1 Samuel 1-6
Nugget 1 Samuel 2:17, 22-25
“Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD; for they treated the offerings of the LORD with contempt. …. Now Eli was very old. He heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He said to them, ‘Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. If one person sins against another; someone can intercede for the sinner with the LORD; but if someone sins against the LORD, who can make intercession? But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to kill them.”
Devotional thought: Stubbornness in the face of accountability is dangerous. Stubbornness in the face of God is deadly. The sons of Eli, priests who serve God and are charged with the responsibility to offer sacrifice for the people’s sins are the biggest sinners in the community! Who is it God puts in front of you to hold accountable? Eli, the father, was responsible for his sons, he waited too late to challenge their misconduct. Therefore, they grew more boldly in their actions. God was not pleased. This day ask yourself, first what is it that I do that displeases God, and second, who is it God ask me to hold accountable for what they do that displease God and are you doing so? It is a matter of life or death. “Therefore the LORD the God of Israel declares: ‘I promised that your family and the family of your ancestors should go in and out before me forever’; but now the LORD declares; ‘Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be treated with contempt. … I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and I my mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed one forever.’” 1 Samuel 2:30, 35
Scripture Nuggets 3.8.2017
Scripture Nuggets 3.8.2017
3.8.2017 (3.15.2017)
Scripture Read Psalms 27-29
Nugget Psalm 29:3-4, 10-11
“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. … The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!”
Devotional thought: “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. …. ‘Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ … ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ … ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.’ … ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.’ … ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ … ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ … Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. … And it was so.” (Genesis 1:1-30) Yes the voice of God speaks thunderously, the voice of God creates majestically out of formless void and chaos, God strengthens His people and blesses them with peace. Is there emptiness (formless void) or struggle and hurt (chaos) in your life? Turn to God, the one who from the beginning breathed the Spirit of life into all creation. Everything He said, was so and it was good – very good. We are about midway through this season of Lent, isn’t about time you stepped into the promise of God? Allow God’s Holy Spirit to anoint you this day.