God is there for us

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12

Our verse today comes at the end of a great victory for Israel over the Philistines. There was fear in the ranks of the Israelites (verse 7), when they heard that the armies of Philistia were gathered to attack them. They begged the prophet Samuel to continue asking God to save the nation from the hand of the Philistines, which he did while offering a lamb as a burnt offering to the LORD.

While he was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines advanced to start the battle, but then God moved in, in answer to the prophet's prayer. He "thundered a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day" (verse 10). The enemy became confused, and were overthrown by the army of Israel.

In the wake of the victory, Samuel set up a stone pillar, in remembrance of the help God had given them that day. This was a monument, no small stone. It was to remind them of God's deliverance then, and to let them know that He would be with them in the future. The word Ebenezer means "Stone of help".

Are you taking note of the times God has helped you in your emergencies? Remember, God will help you through each difficulty you face. No problem of yours is too big for Him to tackle, for He directs the affairs of the universe! Our help comes from the Lord.

War in Heaven

"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found in heaven for them any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:7-9

This was the first war in the Universe. The angels took sides - good versus evil. God tells us in the Scriptures of the origin of evil - see Isaiah 14:12-15 & Ezekiel 28:12-15. Pride entered the heart of Lucifer, the covering cherub, the one who stood closest to God. He was created perfect, but he began to covet the position that only God could have; he wanted to be like God. And so he spread his poison among the perfect angels of God, and eventually gained loyal angels to his side. And war broke out in heaven. We have reason to believe, from Revelation 12:4, that he drew with him a following of one third of the angels in heaven.

Michael, translated in the Hebrew, is "who is like God". There is only One who is like God, the Father. He is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Commander of the angels who remained loyal to God.

We are not told how the battle was fought, but the good news for us is that Satan did not prevail - he lost the battle - he was cast out of heaven. He lost his place there, and he has lost every battle in the fight between good and evil since.

Christ will be victorious in the final battle, also. I choose to march under His banner. How about you?

God supplies strength for the weary

"He gives power to the faint and to them that have no might He increases strength." Isaiah 40:29

Today's verse is part of the prophet's anthem of praise illustrating God's power and might, found in verses 25 through 31. Read it and discover how great our God is!

Have you ever felt like the task is greater than the strength available? Then today's verse is for you!

The words " the faint" in our verse refer to those who are fatigued or exhausted. It's the kind of exhaustion that comes from a wearisome fight. When the battle of life has been too much for you, and your strength is gone - when you feel like you can't carry on, take hold of the promise in today's verse and know that God gives power to those who sense their utter weakness.

Your strength will return as you look to Him to renew it. By the way, the word "increases" appears to indicate a gradual return of strength, building up reserves until the warrior is fully strengthened for battle. How awesome is that!

Christ suffered, so that we can be healed

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah foretells the suffering of Jesus, the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

Again, as we see what Jesus did for us, to bring us forgiveness and peace, we get a glimpse of the golden thread of grace that runs through the entire Bible. Notice, four times in the verse, His interaction with us - 'He' and 'our/we'.

He was wounded because of our revolt.

He was crushed because of our wrong-doing.

He was punished so that we might have peace.

He was whipped so that we might be healed of sin.

The verse starts with the punishment Christ endured for our revolt and wrongdoing - then ends with His gifts to us of peace and healing. What grace! What love!

It's easy for us to casually read today's verse and miss the blood. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before He was killed, Christ wrestled with the prince of darkness and His sweat was like drops of blood, oozing out of His skin, and falling to the ground. The mob handled Him roughly; the soldiers struck Him, beat Him and whipped Him, opening wounds from which His blood flowed; the crown of thorns, thrust upon His head, caused more blood to flow. And finally, the nails in His hands and feet drained what little was left, as He hung on the cross.

But it's the blood that gives us life! The entire sanctuary service, given to the Israelites in the wilderness, pointed to Christ, the Lamb. (See Leviticus.) The slain sacrifice and sprinkled blood in that service was a symbol of the salvation that He offers, and pointed forward to Christ's death for us. What a fitting metaphor - "For the life of the flesh is in the blood." Leviticus 17:11 & Deuteronomy 12:23. "…and without shedding of blood there is no remission." Hebrews 9:22.

John the Revelator brings greetings from Jesus Christ - the One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. (Rev 1:5) This is heaven's forgiveness!

Today, as you think about Christ's agony and suffering, and the wonderful gift His spilled blood brings to us all, may you accept that gift and experience the peace and healing He gives.

Do Not Worry

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" Matthew 6:25

Jesus, in His sermon on the mountain, tells us not to worry about our life - food, drink and clothing. He goes on to say that the birds are fed daily by our Father in heaven. He tells us that the lilies of the field are clothed in greater splendor than was Solomon.

It's easy to get into the stream of worry. After all, we have to earn a living to pay the bills - those window envelopes that come in the mail. There is day-to-day stress arising from fast-paced lifestyles, deadlines and other worry-generating issues.

But Jesus tells us not to worry. The antidote for worry is trust. We need to trust our Father in heaven to supply our needs. Trust is a faith-based relationship with God.

Today, take time to connect with Jesus. Stop what you're doing for a while, and ask Him to show you how to live a life free from worry. Look around you at the birds and the lilies - and remember what He said.

I know that my Redeemer lives

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God …" Job 19:25, 26

Job's triumphant declaration (in the midst of incredible pain and suffering), as he looked forward to Christ's sacrifice, is ours also, as we look back at Calvary: I know that the One who gave His life for me is alive.

Job stated that, even though he may die and rest in the grave, he would see God in the resurrection of the righteous. He realizes that man is mortal, subject to death, but on that day, God raises the faithful, in immortal bodies, to eternal life.

Let this be your driving force today: I know that my Redeemer is alive!

God protects you each day

"The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore." Psalm 121:8

We noticed, in verse 7, that "preserve" means to hedge about, as with thorns. Verse 8 uses the same Hebrew word, and mentions two occasions of protection: when you go out, and when you come in.

What do the seven words, "your going out and your coming in", mean?

In the original Hebrew, the root word "going" is translated "to go out" or "bring out" and can also mean: come abroad, depart, escape, go to and fro. Primarily, the Psalmist is talking about our going out from our dwelling at the commencement of the day.

The Hebrew root word "coming" means to go, or come, and can also mean: abide, bring in, cause to enter in. And so we see that our coming in is to return to our dwelling at the end of the day.

The seven words can have further meaning: they can mean going out to the house of the Lord to worship, and returning home again.

They can also mean leaving (departing, escaping) a former sinful lifestyle and returning to God. Surely the Lord will make a hedge of protection around the one who recognizes that his help comes from the LORD (verse 2) and is coming back to Him! (Read Luke 15:11-24.)

From this time forth - What time period is the Psalmist talking about? From the time that you realize that your help comes from the LORD, and you turn your life over to Him. (See Proverbs 3:5, 6.)

And even forevermore - God is with us, like He says, "even to the end of the world", after which we will be with Him forever - when time, as we know it, will be replaced by eternity.

So, when you leave your house this day, ask the LORD to bless your going out and your returning, knowing that He is with you, and will bless all that you do. He will be with you and protect you with a hedge of thorns as you go out and as you return home. What an Awesome God!