April 22-Meditating on God’s Word
Here is the passage for the week:
Judges 6:17-24, Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” 19 Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace…
Praying the Word: “Lord God, in our faith journey, we often need an encouraging sign that You’re at work in our lives. Out of your graciousness, you reveal Yourself in many ways to let us know that You’re right there with us. It may not be a dramatic miracle or fire from heaven, but You send us an answer to prayer, You send the right person to guide us, You provide an opportunity, You time events to work out perfectly, You send a messenger to give us a word that we need to hear, You speak to us through Scripture, You give us an answer in a dream or vision, and You give us peace in the midst of our disturbing circumstances. Thank You for loving us and bolstering our confidence that You’re working for good in our lives. Amen.”
April 23-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:17-18, Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”
Observe what it is saying.
After Gideon had been approached by an angel to deliver the Israelites from the devastating invasion of the Midianites, Gideon needed additional proof to believe the messenger so he asked for a sign. We understand his desire. We often ask for signs when making important decisions. Jesus himself produced many signs to convince others he was the Messiah. So, when sought in an authentic manner, God hears our plea and offers the help we need.
Relate it to your life.
My need for a sign is an appropriate request when I am seeking clarity in God’s will.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, help me not to miss the many signs You offer for Your leading in my life. Amen.”
April 24-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:19, Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
Observe what it is saying.
Gideon was acting as a hospitable host in preparing this meal for the angel of the Lord. An ephah of flour is half a bushel, weighing 30 plus lbs. He baked a lot of unleavened bread! He took a precious supply of meat, a young goat, and gave it as well. In normal times, this would’ve been considered an overly abundant gift. However, we remember the enemy was ravaging Israel’s crops and livestock so Gideon’s offering was a sacrificial gift of the highest magnitude. Such extreme generosity gives us insight into Gideon’s inner character and why God chose him.
Relate it to your life.
Inner character is the first and highest qualification to look for in a leader.
Do something.
“Jesus, build my life upon Your holy way of truth, life, and love. Amen.”
April 25-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:20-21, The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.
Observe what it is saying.
The angel treated Gideon’s gift as an offering to the Lord by asking for it to be placed on the rock. Through the simple touch of his staff, fire broke out and consumed the whole thing. Then the angel was gone. Gideon got the sign he was asking for! This was no ordinary man he had encountered. He had been talking with a heavenly messenger. God was faithful to give Gideon what he needed to believe that he was being called to be Israel’s deliverer.
Relate it to your life.
If we’re sincere in our asking, God gives us what we need to believe His word to us.
Do something.
“Jesus, thank You for giving me signs along my faith adventure to strengthen my belief. Amen.”
April 26-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:22-23, When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”
Observe what it is saying.
After the angel struck his offering with fire and vanished, Gideon finally believed that he was a messenger from heaven. God answered his prayer for a sign and what a sign it was! Then Gideon was hit with the reality that he had seen an angel face to face. Throughout this passage, the angel and the Lord have both been used to describe the same messenger. In some sense, Gideon thought to see an angel was to see the Lord, and he knew enough of Scripture that to see the face of the Lord would cause death. However, the Lord spoke to him a common encouragement, “Shalom. Don’t fear.” May we hear the same bolstering word as we go in the strength of the Lord living out His call to be holy and loving people for the sake of the world.
Relate it to your life.
If we’re trusting in the shalom of the Lord, then we are experiencing God’s best.
Do something.
“Jesus, may I hear and trust the message you often speak, ‘Peace! Don’t be afraid.’ Amen.”
April 27-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:24, So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace…
Observe what it is saying.
Because Gideon had encountered the Lord of peace, he marked the experience by building an altar of worship to the Lord. The verse goes on to say that it still stands there until this day. So, this became a well-known encounter that was passed along to each generation. Gideon gave testimony to what the Lord had done. Gideon experienced peace, and through God using him, the nation would soon experience the Lord of peace as their Rescuer. Have we built an altar recognizing the Lord of peace in our lives? Maybe, it’s not a physical altar but a spiritual one where we have marked our holy encounter by telling others what God has done!
Relate it to your life.
Altars are markers in our faith story where we have experienced the Lord of peace at work.
Do something.
“Jesus, our peace, the day we place our full trust in You is an altar to be celebrated. Amen.”
Here is the passage for the week:
Judges 6:17-24, Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” 19 Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace…
Praying the Word: “Lord God, in our faith journey, we often need an encouraging sign that You’re at work in our lives. Out of your graciousness, you reveal Yourself in many ways to let us know that You’re right there with us. It may not be a dramatic miracle or fire from heaven, but You send us an answer to prayer, You send the right person to guide us, You provide an opportunity, You time events to work out perfectly, You send a messenger to give us a word that we need to hear, You speak to us through Scripture, You give us an answer in a dream or vision, and You give us peace in the midst of our disturbing circumstances. Thank You for loving us and bolstering our confidence that You’re working for good in our lives. Amen.”
April 23-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:17-18, Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”
Observe what it is saying.
After Gideon had been approached by an angel to deliver the Israelites from the devastating invasion of the Midianites, Gideon needed additional proof to believe the messenger so he asked for a sign. We understand his desire. We often ask for signs when making important decisions. Jesus himself produced many signs to convince others he was the Messiah. So, when sought in an authentic manner, God hears our plea and offers the help we need.
Relate it to your life.
My need for a sign is an appropriate request when I am seeking clarity in God’s will.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, help me not to miss the many signs You offer for Your leading in my life. Amen.”
April 24-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:19, Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
Observe what it is saying.
Gideon was acting as a hospitable host in preparing this meal for the angel of the Lord. An ephah of flour is half a bushel, weighing 30 plus lbs. He baked a lot of unleavened bread! He took a precious supply of meat, a young goat, and gave it as well. In normal times, this would’ve been considered an overly abundant gift. However, we remember the enemy was ravaging Israel’s crops and livestock so Gideon’s offering was a sacrificial gift of the highest magnitude. Such extreme generosity gives us insight into Gideon’s inner character and why God chose him.
Relate it to your life.
Inner character is the first and highest qualification to look for in a leader.
Do something.
“Jesus, build my life upon Your holy way of truth, life, and love. Amen.”
April 25-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:20-21, The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.
Observe what it is saying.
The angel treated Gideon’s gift as an offering to the Lord by asking for it to be placed on the rock. Through the simple touch of his staff, fire broke out and consumed the whole thing. Then the angel was gone. Gideon got the sign he was asking for! This was no ordinary man he had encountered. He had been talking with a heavenly messenger. God was faithful to give Gideon what he needed to believe that he was being called to be Israel’s deliverer.
Relate it to your life.
If we’re sincere in our asking, God gives us what we need to believe His word to us.
Do something.
“Jesus, thank You for giving me signs along my faith adventure to strengthen my belief. Amen.”
April 26-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:22-23, When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”
Observe what it is saying.
After the angel struck his offering with fire and vanished, Gideon finally believed that he was a messenger from heaven. God answered his prayer for a sign and what a sign it was! Then Gideon was hit with the reality that he had seen an angel face to face. Throughout this passage, the angel and the Lord have both been used to describe the same messenger. In some sense, Gideon thought to see an angel was to see the Lord, and he knew enough of Scripture that to see the face of the Lord would cause death. However, the Lord spoke to him a common encouragement, “Shalom. Don’t fear.” May we hear the same bolstering word as we go in the strength of the Lord living out His call to be holy and loving people for the sake of the world.
Relate it to your life.
If we’re trusting in the shalom of the Lord, then we are experiencing God’s best.
Do something.
“Jesus, may I hear and trust the message you often speak, ‘Peace! Don’t be afraid.’ Amen.”
April 27-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Judges 6:24, So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace…
Observe what it is saying.
Because Gideon had encountered the Lord of peace, he marked the experience by building an altar of worship to the Lord. The verse goes on to say that it still stands there until this day. So, this became a well-known encounter that was passed along to each generation. Gideon gave testimony to what the Lord had done. Gideon experienced peace, and through God using him, the nation would soon experience the Lord of peace as their Rescuer. Have we built an altar recognizing the Lord of peace in our lives? Maybe, it’s not a physical altar but a spiritual one where we have marked our holy encounter by telling others what God has done!
Relate it to your life.
Altars are markers in our faith story where we have experienced the Lord of peace at work.
Do something.
“Jesus, our peace, the day we place our full trust in You is an altar to be celebrated. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals