Day 120: Not Like Us

The Daily Word: Thursday, April 30^th, 2020
Judges 11:1-12:15
John 1:1-28
Psalm 101:1-8
Proverbs 14:13-14
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” – Judges 11:2

Our natural tendency is to reject people who are not like us. Jephthah was “the son of a harlot,” so his brothers viewed him as illegitimate. They chased him out of the house, and denied him his inheritance. How often do you push others away because they don’t think and act like you? How many times have you been rejected because you don’t fit in the way others want you to?

But this is not the Kingdom. In God’s eyes, everyone has the opportunity for acceptance:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Gal. 3:28

God forbid you think you are not welcome in the Kingdom of God because of your background! It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, where you’ve been or what you’ve done: God loves you, and His arms are open. Come to Jesus, and receive Him into your heart.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for accepting me! I repent of the times in my life when I’ve driven others away because they’re not like me. I ask for healing for the times in my life when others have rejected me. Thank You for Your beautiful Kingdom, where everyone who has Jesus has everything they will ever need!

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Day 119: God Is Moving!

The Daily Word: Wednesday, April 29^th, 2020
Judges 9:22-10:18
Luke 24:13-53
Psalm 100:1-5
Proverbs 14:11-12
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. – Lk. 24:15-16

The disciples on the road to Emmaus missed Jesus in their midst because “their eyes were restrained.” They were talking about Jesus. They were wondering why the Crucifixion had happened, and when and if the Resurrection would take place. And as they talked about Jesus, He showed up in their midst! But they didn’t recognize Him because their focus was obscured by fear, instead of clarified by faith.

Our current condition is much the same. We talk about wanting to know Jesus more. We yearn for the day when His Body – the Church – will once again move in power. But how often does Jesus show up in our midst and we miss Him because our eyes are restrained? How often are we distracted from what God is doing and oblivious to His presence because our eyes are focused on the media instead of glued to His word?

Even in the midst of crisis: God is moving. Try this: instead of asking Him to move, ask Him to open your eyes. He is moving! Are you watching?

Prayer:

Father, help me to remove distractions from my life. I know You are moving. And today I pray You would open my eyes, that I might see what You are doing, in Jesus’ name.

Day 118: God Will Step In

The Daily Word: Tuesday, April 28^th, 2020
Judges 8:18-9:21
Luke 23:44-24:12
Psalm 99:1-9
Proverbs 14:9-10
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth. – Judg. 8:20

Jether wasn’t ready. He was just a boy! So when his father Gideon asked him to step up and kill the kings of Midian, Jether froze with fear. But when he froze, his father stepped in:

So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels’ necks. – Judg. 18:21b

Whenever you are paralyzed with fear, your Father will step in. God may ask you to do something that you don’t feel ready to do! He may ask you to step into a role for which you feel woefully unprepared. But don’t panic. God will step in. So step aside, and let Him do it through you.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for finishing Your work in me! I repent of not always having the courage to step up and do what You ask me to do. But I thank You that even when I can’t get it done, You will always get it done through me, in Jesus’ name.

Day 117: Thoroughly Examined

The Daily Word: Monday, April 27^th, 2020
Judges 7:1-8:17
Luke 23:13-43
Psalm 97:1-98:9
Proverbs 14:7-8
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.” – Lk. 23:13-15

The best judges available examined Jesus to see if He was guilty of wrongdoing. Herod Antipas, also known as King Herod, was the ruler of Galilee and Perea as vassal state of the Roman Empire. He found no fault in Jesus. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea under the Roman Emperor Tiberius. He acknowledged in front of the crowd that sought to kill Jesus that Jesus had done nothing wrong!

Even the most powerful rulers in the world were witnesses that Jesus was innocent. He did not deserve to die! And this is why the Cross is so powerful. Even though Jesus was completely innocent and everyone knew it, He still chose to hang on the Cross and die in your place. He refused to fight for His own life; and instead He died for yours.

Jesus was perfectly innocent. You and I are totally sinful. Yet the perfectly innocent died in our place so that we might be made perfect and innocent in Him.

“And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” – Lk. 23:41-43

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice! You didn’t deserve to die! But You chose to die in my place. You chose death, so that I could have life; and I am eternally grateful, in Jesus’ name.

Day 116: The Lies We Tell Ourselves

The Daily Word: Sunday, April 26^th, 2020
Judges 6:1-40
Luke 22:54-23:12
Psalm 95:1-96:13
Proverbs 14:5-6
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” – Judges 6:14-15

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and gave him a powerful message: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor” (v 12)! God had great things to say about Gideon! But Gideon’s self-concept – what he believed about himself – interfered with the word of God. He couldn’t believe he would do what God had called him to do because his self-expectations were so low. He couldn’t believe he was the man God said he was because he lacked confidence after years of living in fear!

Don’t ever let the lies you tell yourself interfere with the truth God declares over you. You are meant for great things. You have a destiny: a role to play on this earth that no one else can accomplish quite like you. So instead of talking yourself out of a miracle before it ever takes place, say yes. Take God at His word. Step out and do what He called you to do!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for speaking life over me. I believe that I am who You say I am! I pray that You would change my self-concept to match Your word. Help me to step out in faith and boldness and become the person You have called me to be, in Jesus’ name.

Day 115: Say Yes!

The Daily Word: Saturday, April 25^th, 2020
Judges 4:1-5:31
Luke 22:35-53
Psalm 94:1-23
Proverbs 14:3-4
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” – Lk. 22:35

Jesus asked His disciples a very pointed question. “When I sent you…did you lack anything?” Their reply? “Nothing.” The disciples gave up everything to follow Jesus. They gave up their jobs. Their livelihoods! They took a risk and followed a man who claimed to be the Son of God for three years! They must have had family and friends who thought they had lost their minds. But they never lacked for a thing. When you follow Jesus, He protects you. He provides for you! He does what does not make sense to onlookers, because with Him, failure is impossible.

What would you do for Jesus if money wasn’t holding you back? What is God calling you to step out and do that you just haven’t done because it doesn’t make sense on paper? Say yes. Follow Him! If He is calling you to do it – and that is key; it must be Him and not you! – He will provide. You will lack nothing.

Today is the day that money no longer has a hold on you. It doesn’t matter what it looks like on paper. All that matters is when Jesus says, “Follow Me,” you say yes.

Prayer:

Father, I am stepping out in faith! Money will not hold me back any more. I thank You for the wisdom to plan well; but I thank You even more for the BOLDNESS to take a step out and say yes to Your call on my life, in Jesus’ name!

Day 114: Testing of the Lord

The Daily Word: Friday, April 24^th, 2020
Judges 2:10-3:31
Luke 22:14-34
Psalm 92:1-93:5
Proverbs 14:1-2
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan… – Judg. 3:1

The people of Israel lost their focus. God brought them out of slavery in Egypt and into freedom in the Promised Land; but before long, His people forgot about Him! They turned a blind eye to His commandments, and a deaf ear to His word. So what did God do? He “tested” them. He wanted to see if they would turn to Him in times of trouble, or run away even further and faster!

God will allow your enemies to persist in order to “test” you: to see whether or not you will continue to worship Him in the midst of your mess. He wants to know if you are really worshipping Him, or if you are just worshipping what He can do for you. When God “tests,” the only way to pass is to keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep worshipping Him. Keep following Him! And as you do, 1) He will deliver you from whatever you are facing, and 2) He will trust you with more than ever before.

Prayer:

Father, help me to pass the test! You are faithful and steadfast. I pray You would help me to be the same. I want to keep my eyes on You; and I need Your help to do it, in Jesus’ name.

Day 113: It’s Better Together

The Daily Word: Thursday, April 23^rd, 2020
Judges 1:1-2:9
Luke 21:29-22:13
Psalm 90:1-91:16
Proverbs 13:24-25
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him. – Judges 1:3

Judah could have launched into battle on his own! But instead, he asked his brother for help. And the result was astounding. With Simeon’s help, Judah conquered the cities of Bezek (v 4), Jerusalem (v 8), Hebron (10), and Debir (v 11). And with Judah’s help, Simeon conquered Zephath (v 17), Gaza (v 18), Ashkelon (v 18), and Ekron (v 18). God gave His children substantial victory because they chose to work together.

Victory is possible in isolation; but it is virtually guaranteed when you work together with your brother. We are stronger together! Even though Simeon had no obligation to go up with Judah, he went because Judah asked! And in return, Judah and Simeon shared in a victory that was more momentous than either could have imagined.

With whom is God calling you to work in this season? With whom is He calling you to partner and co-labor? What victories might you see in partnership with others that would be impossible if you insist on working alone?

Prayer:

Father, I know there is strength in numbers. I want to see victory in Your name! And I am more than willing to work with my brothers to see it happen. Thank You for reminding me to work with others, in Jesus’ name!

Day 112: It’s Jesus

The Daily Word: Wednesday, April 22^nd, 2020
Joshua 24:1-33
Luke 21:1-28
Psalm 89:38-52
Proverbs 13:20-23
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“’So they cried out to the Lord; and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, brought the sea upon them, and covered them. And your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you dwelt in the wilderness a long time.’” – Josh. 24:7

At the outset of Joshua 24, God is talking to Israel in the first person:

“I took your father Abraham from the other sider of the River…” (v. 3)
“To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir…” (v. 4)
“I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt…[and] Afterward I brought you out…” (v. 5)
“I brought your fathers out of Egypt…” (v. 6)

But then look at verse 7: “So they cried out to the Lord; and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, brought the sea upon them, and covered them.” Why does God all of a sudden stop talking in the first person, and start talking about “the Lord?” Why doesn’t God just say “So they cried out to Me; and I put darkness between you and the Egyptians?”

Because “the Lord” is Jesus. “The Lord” is a theophany: an appearance of the preincarnate Christ. The Lord was the one who led Israel as a cloud by day, and a fire by night. Jesus was the one who saved and protected the people of Israel! Where God is, Jesus is too!

Jesus has been since before the beginning of time. And whether or not you acknowledge Him as the source of protection and provision in your life: it’s Him! Won’t you take a moment to say, “Thank You Jesus!” for the blessing He has been to you?

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You. Thank You for protecting me. Thank You for defeating my enemies! Thank You for providing for me every step of the way. You are good! And You are God. I worship You today, and I give you all the praise.

Day 111: Choose Joy!

The Daily Word: Tuesday, April 21^st, 2020
Joshua 22:21-23:16
Luke 20:27-47
Psalm 89:14-37
Proverbs 13:17-19
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. – Ps. 89:15

Do you want to be blessed? Make a “joyful sound!” A “joyful sound” is a shout of joy. But it is also a shout of war. [1] Are you willing to attack your day with praise? Are you ready to show the enemy that you are absolutely unwilling to let him mess with you this morning? Can you get excited to play anointed praise and worship in your home, and sing along? When you make a joyful sound and become immersed in an environment that has been impacted by God’s praise, you will walk in the light of God’s face.

Joy is a decision. I understand that your life is not perfect. I know you may be facing greater uncertainty that you ever have before. But you can still choose joy! Start every day by saying, “Lord, I am choosing to worship You today.” Respond to every threat by declaring, “I am blessed because I know the joyful sound!” Have confidence that you will walk in the light of God’s face – just like Moses did – because you choose joy.

Sure, you can grumble and complain. But wouldn’t you rather attack your day with joyful praise?

Prayer:

Father, I am choosing joy. I am making a decision to praise You unconditionally, no matter what I am facing. I am still alive and breathing; and that means I still have breath in my lungs to praise You. I’m going to use it, in Jesus’ name!

[1] Strong’s H8643; Hebrew taruwah

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