by aubree davis | May 8, 2020 | Devotions
Moses’ mother was a descendant of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. Levi had participated in a plot against his brother Joseph (Genesis 37). On his deathbed, Jacob spoke a curse over Levi and his brother Simeon because of their acts of wrath and cruelty recorded in Genesis 34. It was an inauspicious beginning of the family. Living down a bad reputation can be challenging, but Moses’ parents illustrate it can be done. Their second child, Aaron was the first high priest of the Hebrew people, and the tribe of Levi assumed the responsibility of the spiritual leadership of the Hebrew nation.
Moses was born in dangerous times, as Pharaoh had ordered the murder of all Hebrew baby boys. Moses’ mother hid him for three months and then acted on a plan to help protect her baby boy. She laid him in a sealed basket and placed it in the Nile River under the watchful eye of his older sister, strategically in a place where the Pharaoh’s daughter would find him and rescue him. I cannot imagine the agony of placing that 3 month old baby boy in a basket and placing it in the river, but she did what she could, used what she had, and trusted God to take care of the rest.
Moses grew up in a palace, the adopted grandson of Pharaoh. As a boy he received the best education in all of Egypt. As a young man he made connections with leaders of Egypt and surrounding countries. He would learn to look past the title and see the man, which would serve him well in his adult years. There is no hint of Moses being intimidated when he stood before Pharaoh and demanded the Hebrew people be set free.
The Hebrew nation was delivered from Egyptian bondage because of the son of an obscure woman who dared to live down the bad reputation of her family, and who dared to trust Almighty God to protect her baby boy.
by aubree davis | May 7, 2020 | Devotions
My craft room has become a little mask factory, as we prepare for returning to public worship services and the need to supply masks. Some good friends have supplied fabric remnants and extra hands for the work, and I am grateful!
There’s been some confusion about how much our cloth masks really help in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and the prevailing reason for their use is to keep our own germs from others and train us to touch our own faces less. Object lessons abound these days!
At a certain time in Jesus public ministry, He got the crowd’s attention when He said, “What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes hm unclean.” (Matthew 15:10-20) So the most serious problem wasn’t what might be taken in, but what might be coming out!
You see, there had been nit picking from the religious about washing up, while other rules were conveniently being set aside. Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy and quoted the prophet Isaiah:
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. (verses 8 and 9)
The disciples weren’t getting it, and Peter, specifically asked for an explanation. “Don’t you see,’ Jesus said, “that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’ but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean.’ (v. 17)
In a spiritual sense, the “germs” we most need to be concerned with are those of the sin nature that infected all of Adam’s descendants. No amount of hand washing, mask wearing, or social distancing will remedy these matters of the heart. Only repentance will do.
In contrast to the Pharisees, the very next story in scripture is that of the Canaanite Woman who begged Jesus to deliver her demon-possessed daughter. (15:21-28) “Have mercy on me, Lord,….Help me!” Jesus responded to her faith and granted her request. He will do the same for all who sincerely cry out for mercy.
by aubree davis | May 5, 2020 | Devotions
Genesis 13 is a great text to consult when you are facing an important decision. Abraham and his nephew Lot had prospered to the point the land could no longer support them together, so they made a decision to part ways. As the elder, Abraham had the right to decide where wanted to live and order Lot to go in another direction, but he deferred to Lot’s choice of where to move. Verse 10 states Lot was drawn to the lush farming land near the Jordan River. Apparently not giving any thought to the decision
Lot did not give thought to the effect that decision would have on his family. He moved near Sodom, a community known as spiritually bankrupt, while Abraham remained in the area where God originally had directed him to live. A short time later, Abraham had to put himself and his household at risk to rescue Lot from danger. In a general sense, Lot got himself in trouble because he relied on what he saw, while Abraham remained blessed because he relied on what he knew God had already said.
When your business thrives, tough decision must be made. The easy part is deciding something must be done, the tough part is putting together a strategy to make the plan work. We only need to look at the decision to shut down our country and economy in response to the pandemic as an example. Shutting everything down was the easy part, but managing the effects of that decision have been problematic. This is not a commentary on the merits of shutting down our country; I have my opinion and I am sure you do as well. I am merely illustrating that prayer and care that must be invested for important decisions.
There are successful Christian businessmen and women no doubt could add to what I have to say, but let me offer these suggestions we glean from Lot.
- How does the decision fit into the overall plan of what you know God has called you to do?
- Are you feeling pressured to make a decision quickly? Take as much time as you can in making this decision, knowing the will of God is usually verified over time. If your sense of peace grows over time, you may have your answer. If your peace wanes over time, it is probably the Holy Spirit telling you to slow down and go in a different direction.
- Will this decision require you to compromise your character or values in any way?
- Identify you safety net. Who is helping you pray about this decision? To whom are you accountable and who has the right to express their concerns about the decision you are facing?
- How will this decision potentially impact your family in the long term? If you are married, are you and your spouse in agreement on the plan? If not, why?
Proverbs 19:21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’S counsel–that will stand.
by aubree davis | May 3, 2020 | Devotions
Three chapters of Genesis bear the tales of three people and their choices.
Eve doubted God’s word. The fall of Eve and Adam is summed up in a conversation between the serpent and Eve in Genesis 3. “Did God really say?” (V.1) was an attempt to get Eve to question what God said. The second statement was “you will not die” (V.4) which contradicted the Lord’s instruction in 2:16-17 stating that if Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die. Doubting God’s word led to disobeying God’s word.
Cain ignored God’s word. In Genesis 4:7 the Lord said to Cain “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Cain ignored God’s word and suffered the consequences.
Noah obeyed God’s word. In Genesis 6 Noah is described as “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God” (v.9); “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (V.22). Our appreciation for Noah’s testimony increases we read in verse 5 that he lived in a culture that was so vile God decided to destroy the human race and start over through Noah and his family. A great tribute to Noah is found in 6:22 & 7:5 where it says “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Eve doubted what God said, Cain ignored what God said and Noah obeyed what God said. In Genesis 9 it states that God blessed Noah and his family and established a covenant with him.
Doubting, ignoring or obeying God’s word – the choice seems simple enough.
by aubree davis | Apr 30, 2020 | Devotions
Like a modern “Deborah” Linda Bottoms rose to the challenge, coordinating the technical details of online network council. Linda serves as Assistant Church Ministries Director for Rocky Mountain Ministry Network (The Assemblies of God in Colorado and Utah).
All kinds of things have been preempted by the current pandemic. Today’s notable interruption was our annual, regional church conference (Assemblies of God Network Council). Our in-person gathering would have included rich fellowship with co-laborers, plus inspirational worship and workshops. But it was not to be, and our network leaders did a masterful job of adapting and conducting all the business and even an ordination service by video conference. We are grateful for solid, insightful leaders to navigate the challenges.
“Surreal” is the word my friend used to describe these days, but we understand that resilient people have weathered much more through the ages. The Prophetess Deborah, in her victory song, described a period of Israel’s history as lifeless.. After twenty years under the oppression of the Canaanite King Jabin and his cruel general, Sisera, Deborah said, “Village life in Israel had ceased…”
In a predominantly backslidden culture, Deborah stood out as a wise and God-fearing leader, to whom people flocked for advice and help. As Israel’s fourth judge, she was anointed with prophetic gifts, which enabled her to hear messages from God and to communicate his will to the people.
The Bible records that she “sent for Barak” and outlined God’s battle plan to defeat Sisera. Deborah accompanied Barak and, together, they recruited ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. Their advance began with Deborah’s famous charge: “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands.” Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” (4:14)
Read the entire account in Judges, chapter four, including the gory details of Sisera’s demise at the hands of Jael, another female character in this dramatic story. The poetic fifth chapter that follows is the song of Deborah and Barak, praising God for his mercy and righteous acts on behalf of Israel.
Deborah marveled that God used her in bringing about this military victory. “Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel.” It’s interesting that Deborah referred to herself, not as judge or prophet, but mother! (Side note: It may be the now home-schooling mothers, extra-motivated to return to some normalcy, who will rise to solve the current pandemic!)
Kidding aside, there are important lessons in Deborah’s story:
- Don’t shrink back from challenges “Get up!” “Go!” (4:14; 5:7)
- Continually seek God’s guidance and the path He has prepared. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you? (4:14)
- Recognize God will respond when you obey. At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera . . . (4:15)
- Appreciate those who are going with you! “My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!” (5:9)
Not many are called to lead an army, but many are called to lead a family or to influence co-workers and peers. There are examples all around of every-day but resilient friends who are courageously serving beyond their comfort zones. (Like our neighbor, a nurse, who collected gifts on her front porch. The parents of a newborn in her care had to forego their baby shower when quarantined, so the nurse put out a call for help from strangers.)
When it seems that “village life has ceased”, it takes a “Deborah”, and she just may look like YOU!
