Devotional Journal

WEEK 16 – 4/22/24

Monday, 4/22/24: “Under God’s Wings”

Bible Reading Plan: Ruth 1-2; Acts 3

Ruth 2:12 “The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

Whenever I read this passage, I make an instant connection with Christ’s frustration with Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37. What Boaz was pronouncing would happen (which it did) for Ruth because of her orientation under God’s wings, Christ wanted to see happen for the people of Jerusalem.

Let both of these passages in concert inform you of a good God who wants the very best for you! Read I Corinthians 2:9 quoting Isaiah 64:4! As I’m writing this, I plan to speak on Psalm 34:8 this coming Sunday, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.”

Have you experienced God’s goodness? There’s nothing that can compare in this world! If you’re not experiencing His goodness, it could be that like Jerusalem you are rejecting the covering of His wings!

Tuesday, 4/23/24: “Living inside limitations”

Bible Reading Plan: Ruth 3-4; Psalm 37; Acts 4

Ruth 4:6 “And the close relative said, ‘I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.’”

Limitations is another way to say boundaries. The difference is that limitations are externally placed on us (God, work, spouse, parent, etc) while boundaries are placed by us towards others. In a sense either of these things maybe taking place based on the reason for this decision in verse 6. Let’s explore both briefly:

(1) Limitations. We have finite resources, time, energy, focus, physical, etc. We cannot, like God, know all there is to know (Psalm 139:1-6). Nor can we be in all places at once (Psalm 139:7-12). The first is called Omniscience (“all-knowing”) and the second is Omnipresence (“all-presence”). Neither of these things we, as finite human beings, possess. We also have finite resources, unlike God (Psalm 50:10-12). In our text today, the “close relative” (unnamed to us), would ruin his own inheritance to his kids if he also had to provide inheritance to Ruth and an heir. Perhaps he saw “dollar signs” of what it might cost and had to say no because it was outside his ability? He was limited.

As hard as it is, we all have to live within limitations. This is called “contentment” (I Timothy 6:6). If we’re honest, we don’t like limitations and often try our entire life to expand them. But we’re all limited. We should instead, by God’s grace, find peace with them and operate within those we cannot change.

For instance, in the 21st century we often live outside limitations with something called “credit”. A simple google search resulted in 3 different types of credit (https://www.self.inc/blog/types-of-credit): revolving credit, installment credit, and open credit. There is a lot of wisdom in placing boundaries (self-imposed) on oneself so that we don’t live outside our limitations. In the financial realm, a boundary that we place on ourselves due to limitations is called a budget.

I look forward to this weekend’s opportunity to hear from Life Institute Sunday through Tuesday about ways we can better use the resources God has entrusted to our care. Some of this will be learning contentment and working within limitations created for us by God and others. Please be praying for this time, all of us who can use it, and for hearts to be ready to receive and implement God’s truth in this regard. And please make plans to attend if at all possible!

(2) Boundaries. While I’m not spending a lot of time interacting with why this “close relative” didn’t feel he could be a part of continuing the family line through Ruth, I want to show that he did draw a line in the sand regardless of his reasons – right or wrong. That line we draw with circumstances, family, friends, opportunities, etc is called a “boundary”.

For instance, Nathan is really good at saying “NO!” – almost too good! When Katie or I tell him to do something, his knee jerk reaction is “NO!” While we are undoubtedly going through a phase where he is learning “boundaries,” for us its generally annoying as it often brings about some disciplinary measures. “Nathan, go brush your teeth…NO!” Ya’ll can pray for us and his little heart that he would be a good boy and godly boy. Frankly, there are days we’d just settle for “good”.

While this experience is laughable, albeit frustrating, each of us needs to learn to say “NO!” when something is outside our limitations. Perhaps our limitations can and should change. But saying NO! is not always wrong. Sometimes it is exactly what God would have us do.

As this “close relative” said NO! it opened up a YES! for Ruth and Boaz. That YES! led to them being King David’s great grandparents and eventually our Messiah’s progenitor. This all happened because of limitations and boundaries. Used inside God’s will, these are important tools. May God help us see and navigate through the limitations He has for us and the boundaries He wants us to set to be in line with His will for our lives! In that sense, we too can be a conduit for God to do His work!

Wednesday, 4/24/24: “Publicly And Privately”

Bible Reading Plan: I Samuel 1-2; Psalm 120; Acts 5

Acts 5:42 “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

As many of you know, in September of 2017 two Category 5 hurricanes hit Puerto Rico. Grace Bible Church was gracious enough to send down a mission team to help in the aftermath. If you were a part of that team, you would probably agree that it looked like a zombie apocalypse. There was nothing green in sight and only the square cement houses were still standing. The first couple of weeks we spent going around in our town of Luquillo trying to remove the trees from blocking doors so people could get out. I remember one elderly man in particular who started crying and could not believe we spent all day trying to help him get out of his house. You see others had passed by with chainsaws, but would only help for thousands of dollars. Yet, we as a church helped him for free for the sake of the Gospel. Eventually, we were able to start meeting for church together as a whole weekly.

I share this because just like it says in Acts 5, we should be sharing the Gospel every day–“in the temple and from house to house” (v.42). It may be tempting to save spiritual conversations when we’re gathered as a church on the weekends, but we must also take it to the individuals and families we know in need. Let’s not only share the Gospel by bringing people to church, but as a church bring the Gospel to the people.

Thursday, 4/25/24: “Learning to hear God’s Voice”

Bible Reading Plan: I Samuel 3-5; Psalm 23; Acts 6

I Samuel 3:7-8 “(Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.) And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you did call me.’ Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy.”

Do you know how to distinguish God’s voice from all the others in your life? Think of the voices each of us encounters regularly: society – by way of social media, news, opinions – family, our own desires, neighbors, co-worker, boss, friends, and even enemies. While that list isn’t exhaustive…it does get exhausting trying to listen to them all, right? Wait, you might say, you didn’t include God’s voice! Hence our verse/thought today.

I ask again, do you know how to distinguish God’s voice from all the others in your life? Notice a few things from the text and context:

(1)  Confusion. Samuel wasn’t automatically able to detect God’s voice (I Samuel 3:7). He went to Eli 3x. But Eli wasn’t able to detect it was God speaking to Samuel until the third time. Maybe that’s because Eli was up praying that Samuel wouldn’t return by the third visit? Ha ha…I’m kidding about the last part.

(2)  Experience. Eli had it and Samuel didn’t. We all need human teachers to help us identify God’s voice in our lives. This undoubtedly came through an interaction with God’s Word as well as spiritual experiences. Even God’s Word is a mixture of human teachers (writers) under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:21).

(3)  Practice. Samuel found out through practice that what Eli was saying was true (I Samuel 3:9-15). We should never elevate the results of our practice (i.e. experience) above the written word of God – but neither should we ignore experiences that fall in line with what God’s Word teaches (Psalm 34:8).

(4)  Validation. God has given us others around us as Spiritual leaders and mentors to both guide and judge what we deem to be God’s voice. Lean into that – don’t run from scrutiny (I Samuel 3:16-18). Other places in Scripture help us with this: Proverbs 11:14; 15:22; 24:6; I Corinthians 14:29; 32. To be fair, a great majority could agree and validate something wrong. That’s where a knowledge and application of the Scriptures is our guiding principle.

Much more could be said and probably should be said. This is not exhaustive. Here are a few guiding principles:

(1) Get to know God’s voice through His Word. If you’re not in God’s Word regularly and accurately, then you will be led astray. Someone once said, “Either the Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible.” The same is true for “error” not just “sin”. (Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 4:12)

(2) Lean into God’s Church for guidance and protection. God’s Church is believers not a physical building. This starts in a local context although might expand throughout this world (Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Peter 5:5-11)

(3) Do today what you know to be the will of God from both of these above sources if you want to hear God’s voice for tomorrow. (Romans 12:1-2) If children aren’t listening to their parents voice (Ephesians 6:1-3), how do they expect to hear God’s?

Let me summarize some of this with an illustration. If your mom called you on the phone just now from a number she never had before, how long would it take you to recognize her voice? Probably not long provided you know her voice, right? You wouldn’t sit there with a checklist of: does she have the right tone, does she have the right speed, and right grammar to determine if it was her or not. You would just know. You would know because you had communicated with her before – listening (reading God’s Word) and talking (prayer). While you may seek validation if she started to ask for you to send money or what not, you would be able to recognize her voice. This is not unlike hearing God’s voice. Get to know Him through a careful, regular study of God’s Word in conjunction with God’s people (those who do know Him). Hearing and recognizing God’s voice is developed and matures each day we move closer to Him. It might continue or start with a simple prayer: Lord, help me to understand Your Word and develop an ear for your voice. Help me be willing to do not just listen (James 1:22-25).

Friday, 4/26/24: “Sinned Against but Saved from”

Bible Reading Plan: I Samuel 6-8; Acts 7

Acts 7:60 “And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’”

There is no doubt that in Acts 7 Stephen was wronged. He was stoned to death, and yet the last verse in the chapter is crucial. Instead of focusing on himself, Stephen spent his dying breath concerned about their salvation. I believe that’s indicated by his prayer. He desired for the Lord to forgive them and set them free through the Gospel. His prayer was answered eventually in part when Saul became Paul. How was Stephen able to do that in the midst of so much suffering? It’s because he mirrored the Son of God Who did and said the same.

Jesus said while on the cross in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In the middle of Him being sinned against in the most painful way possible, he was concerned about their future salvation as well. Jesus spent his last moments having a one-on-one Gospel conversation with the man being crucified beside him.

Are we like Stephen and more importantly, Jesus? When we’re sinned against, despite the pain we feel, do we desire forgiveness for those who have hurt us? Do we seek the work of the gospel? It’s natural not to, but with God we know the supernatural is possible. Let us meditate on the Gospel and God’s forgiveness of us daily so that we can easily desire it for others.