June 19

1 Kings 20:1-21:29, Acts 12:24-13:15, Psalm 137:1-9, Proverbs 17:16



Pray: Beware of Jezebels! They show up in your life pretending to be helpful. They seem to have your best interests in mind. Then, before long, they pretend, lie, scheme, steal, and sometimes do much worse. They’ll even try to bring you along for the sinful, evil trip they’ve plotted out. Pray to the Lord and ask Him for discernment and wisdom to identify them and deal with them appropriately. Beware of Jezebels!

Read: In the New Testament reading from Acts 12 and 13, we find a growing Church. More characteristics are present in a growing Church, but we find two in our reading today. We find a focus on the “word of God” (Acts 12:24) and a following of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:4). There were no programs in place for specific age groups. There was not a great music ministry (with neither a pipe organ accompanying a choir nor a cool band wearing skinny jeans!). The word of God was spreading, people were becoming believers, and believers were doing what the Holy Spirit was leading them to do. Christianity, perhaps, is not as complicated as we make it out to be.

Edify: Humility doesn’t come easily. That’s especially true today when you and I can have practically whatever we want almost instantly, or at worst, with a couple clicks and 2-day free shipping. King Ahab tells us, “A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won” (1 Kings 20:11). Humility wasn’t abundant in Biblical times, either, at least among leaders. Ben-hadad was boasting before the battle, but not for long. He loses the fight and is forced into humility. Let’s choose a different path. I don’t like being forced into anything. Choose humility and see what God can do with a person who doesn’t yet know everything and is willing to be teachable.

Practice: Ahab was a child. Yes, he was a king, but if actions and attitude define a man (or a woman), then Ahab was a child. He was pouting because he didn’t get his way. It happened twice (1 Kings 20:43 & 21:4): once because he was confronted with his disobedience and another because he simply couldn’t get what he wanted. Only a child would pout like this and even refuse to eat dinner...apparently so would a king. Inside all of us there is a little child. We want our own way. We can be prideful and selfish at times. What childish tendencies do you have? Do you pout, get angry and yell, throw items, spend without budgeting, tell others how to live without working on your own life, etc.? Don’t be an Ahab: stop acting like a child.