Author: David Short

Matthew 7:15-16

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

Personal Challenge

According to 1 John, what is the core essence that should be in the heart and life of everyone who proclaims to be a Christian? Love! Love for our God and love for our brothers and sisters, our neighbors. What does this have to do with false prophets and ravenous wolves? When our churches become more focused on the glorification of our liturgical and worship practices, the performance of choirs and leaders, the less we become focused on the simple, loving, and transparent teachings of our Lord. The practice of “doing” Christianity becomes our god that we worship rather than the God that calls us to “be” Christians. This is when even the leaders of our churches, the priests and the pastors, become the false prophets and ravenous wolves. This is when those who have a love for our Lord that focuses on being His light and salt are pushed out of the their churches because their message and belief is challenging and uncomfortable. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Genesis 50:19-20

So Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I belong to God. But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Personal Challenge

God is not our vending machine who delivers whatever we ask for when we drop a prayer in the slot. He is our Father. He is our creator. He is our Lord. And He desires that we be in a relationship with Him. Relationships are hard. They take work and and persistence. That is why Jesus instructs us to persistently ask for what we need, seek Him and our Father earnestly, and continually knock on his door desiring to be with the Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Genesis 45:4-8

But Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now therefore, do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to save life. For this is the second year of famine in the land, and five years still remain in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. For God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth, and to sustain you as a great remnant. So now, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Personal Challenge

Joseph’s brothers had done a very capricious thing to their younger brother. They were jealous of him and ultimately sold him into slavery and then faked his death so that his father would not suspect them. As a slave in Egypt. God blessed him because he stayed true to God. In this passage we find him sharing his feelings about these events with his brothers. God had a plan for Joseph. Joseph trusted in God. He looked back on everything that was done by his brothers, and others, as things that help God’s plan play out. This is always the way to look back on our lives… seeking to understand what God’s plan has been and how we can be used as part of that plan. Lord, have mercy! Lord have mercy, Lord, have mercy!

Matthew 6:31-34

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Encouraging Words

It is encouraging to hear from our Lord, that if we seek Him and His righteousness, then He will take car of us. This is a promise that He makes to us and He keeps His promises. We do not have to live our lives like those who do not know Him, always worrying about the things of this earth, for our treasures are in heaven. Glory be to God.

Genesis 24:8

And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.

Encouraging Words

This is a very interesting verse hidden in the depths of Genesis. Abraham has just made a covenant, an oath, with his servant whom he is sending back to his homeland in order to find a bride for his son. It is very important to Abraham that his son, Isaac, be wedded to a woman of his tribe. The servant expresses his concern that the woman he finds may not want to come back with him. Abraham assured him that if that was the case then he would be freed from the covenant. Abraham was not willing to force his will on any one else. This is an image of our God who is not willing to violate the freewill that He gave us. Glory be to God!

Matthew 6:30

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Personal Challenge

Trust can be a difficult thing to have in another. When the recipient of that trust is not visible, it can become even harder. God may not be physically visible to us, however, so much of His character and the nature of who He is is very apparent in our lives, especially if we keep our eyes open to what He has done in our lives. By doing this we grow to learn that God is indeed trustworthy and always active in our lives for our own good. Glory be to God!

Genesis 22:10-12

Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” He then replied, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him, for now I know you fear God, since for My sake you have not spared your beloved son.”

Personal Challenge

Sometimes God leads us to do things or make decisions that are challenging, like leaving the corporate world to serve Him in a foreign land. Sometimes the decisions do not make any sense, like resigning from a leadership position in your church and leaving the people that you have grown to love and respect in order to stay true to what you believe God desires for that body and is being ignored by the new leadership. Sometimes it its just little things. But in all cases, obedience is what God desires, even when it results in challenging changes and sometimes lonely results Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!