But see first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
One lesson learned from the post “Stone Last Forever” is that we need to have more than just a symbolic relationship with God but build our lives on God’s solid principles that last this lifetime and beyond.
Some in society will go to extremes for false rewards but the guaranteed reward is serving the True God! Let’s start today on the path to victory in a time of praise with the song Come Let Us Return to the Lord by Matt Redman. In our brokenness of heart, let us consecrate our lives. Worship with song, pray for forgiveness, and for a blessing.
We need to pray and always do what God instructs in order to win our battles in life. Our relationship with God should be one in which we can work together with plans, decisions, and actions.
When my daughter was at school in Abilene Texas, we had several occasions to visit on weekends for school activities. On one occasion, we had some extra time so we went to visit Fort Phantom Hill which is about 15 miles north of the city. The fort was built to protect the westward-moving frontier of Texas settlement in the 1850s until it was abandoned by the army. Shortly after it was abandoned, a fire destroyed most of the log walls and thatched roofs of the fort but still standing to this day is the stone fire places and the stone jail house.
Stone will last a lifetime and beyond. If we build our life with the stones of God’s solid principles, they will last too. When we pray and arrange our activities each day as God leads, there is confidence because we are certain in every step we take because we will be involved in activities that lead to accomplishment of the plan. Today, we are planning with God as we read Judges 18.
In today’s passage, the Danites were seeking a place of their own to settle so they sent five men to spy out the land. They came to the hill country of Ephraim and spent the night at Micah’s house. It was there that they spoke to the Levite who was the priest of Micah. They probably didn’t understand why the priest would be isolated from a populated area and not serving a multitude of people but Israel was in an era of decline because of poor leadership.
The five spies went on to find that the rest of the land was good so they reported back that they should take the land. Six hundred men armed for battle were sent out. They came to the house of Micah again and this time took the idol overlaid with silver, ephod, household gods, and Jonathan (grandson of Moses) the priest.
Some men near where Micah lived got together and overtook the Danites. There was some arguments but Micah saw that the Danites were too strong so they went back home. This allowed the Danites to go on their way to Laish where they burned down the city.
The Danites rebuilt the city, settled there, and renamed the city Dan. Jonathan and his sons became the priests of the tribe of Dan but they set up the idols stolen from Micah to worship God. This demonstrates to us the corrupted era of decline during this time in Israel. God had given them victory but their behavior after the victory tells us they only had a symbolic relationship with Him.
One lesson learned from today’s reading is that we need to have more than just a symbolic relationship with God. We need to pray, have faith, and always do what God instructs in order to win our battles in life. Our relationship with God should be one in which we can work together with plans, decisions, and actions. Some in society will go to extremes for false rewards but the guaranteed reward is serving the true God!
This day with God, we seek a strong relationship so in our special undertakings we have a good plan that brings victory. God’s plan for us in Jesus is that plan. He is the Truth to set us free and provides a plan for us to step ahead on the pathway to victory. The pathway made of stone that will last forever. Amen
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. – Proverbs 16:3
Within the post “Be Led by Love From Above”, highlighted is the fact that Israel had no leader at the time and it was an era of decline. A nation that is not led by God is cut off from the love from above and is not fit for greatness. The people tend to get off track doing their own thing and there’s no way they can work together for the good of the whole.
There is a need for God’s love from above to enter into our heart. We need to focus on the things of God, be dedicated to His way, and be disciplined to daily go to Him for direction. This day with God, take inspiration from the song Build My Life by Pat Barrett (ft. Cory Asbury) and live for the Lord. Build your life upon the firm foundation of His love from above.
This day with God will be amazing because we are led by love from above. Day by day, little things become big things and lead to amazing things with Gods help. Each day, we read His word, document lessons learned, pray, and listen for the steps to take as we set out on our day.
Today, we are reading Judges 17. The recurring phrase in this passage is “shekels of silver”. Micah’s mother had silver in which she told a silversmith to overlay an image with in order to make an idol to worship. An idol is anything that comes between us and God and cuts off this love from above. In current times, idols may include things like luxury items, money, or even another person.
As written in today’s passage, Israel had no leader at this time and it was an era of decline. A nation that is not under God is cut off from the love from above and people tend to get off track doing their own thing. Then there’s no way they can work together for the good of the whole.
We are told that a Levite from Bethlehem was traveling through looking for a place to stay. We will later find out that the Levite is the grandson of Moses (See Judges 18:30) named Jonathan who needed a job during this time of moral decay in Israel.
So we know that Micah was an idol worshiper who knew he needed to get right with God. His idea was to pay for a priest thinking this would conveniently get him right with God so he offers the Levite the opportunity to stay at his house. Sometimes the main reason for our relationships with others is in gaining success from a worldly point of view.
Micah told the Levite he could live at his house and be his father and priest. He would pay him, give him clothes, and food in exchange for becoming his priest (vv. 10-12). What Micah did not understand was the need for God’s love from above to enter into his heart. He needed to focus on the things of God, be dedicated to His way, and be disciplined to daily go to Him for direction.
We come to You Lord this day and seek ways to fine-tune our daily routine. Ways to not live with fear, worry or doubt but to live by faith. By accepting Your love from above, You set us free to make choices. By being disciplined to make the choice to meet with You daily, released to us is the power known as the Holy Spirit that takes us new heights far beyond what we could imagine. We accept today the love from about that You offer in the name of Jesus … Amen.
This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 