April 1

Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20, Luke 9:28-50, Psalm 73:1-28, Proverbs 12:10



Pray: We are not called to be isolated. We have to interact with others, even those with whom we vehemently disagree on matters of politics, economics, religion, etc.. How do we do this without compromising our faith and relationship with God? In Deuteronomy 18:9-14, God gives instructions concerning this to His people: “…be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the people…For example…” and God gives examples of what the people were doing that should be avoided. As you go throughout your day or you look ahead to tomorrow, you likely will encounter people and practices that dishonor God. Pray to Him and ask for His help so that you can “be careful and not imitate” the practices our culture approves, but our Lord despises.

Read: God gives instructions to His people for when they go to battle in Deuteronomy 20. There was no question that battles would be fought and enemies would be faced. It was practically guaranteed. There are several instructions given, but the one that stands out to me is “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! (verse 1). We will face enemies. They may be spiritual, physical, relational, or emotional battles. They may even seem to be insurmountable. We may say to ourselves, “I just don’t know if I can get through this.” Hear the Word of the Lord: “Do not be afraid. I am with you!”

Edify: There is an old Southern Gospel song I’ve heard many times. The words ring out: “The God on the mountain is still God in the valley.” The disciples, of course, would not have heard this refrain, but instead they experienced it firsthand. Peter, James, and John were with Jesus on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured. They saw the Son of God in all His radiant glory. They saw Moses and Elijah too. What a magnificent vision the Lord gave them on that mountaintop. As is the case with life, eventually we wind from the mountaintop down into the valley. Life is different in the valley when compared to the mountaintop. What did they encounter when they came down from the mountain? Demon possession! It was so strong that only Jesus could cast it out. What a contrast it was from mountain to valley…from glory to demons! Through it all, though, the same Jesus was there on the mountain, there on the journey down, and there in the valley. Perhaps you just need to be reminded today that the God on the mountain is still God in your valley!

Practice: Have your emotions ever been misdirected? Have you ever been angry toward your wife/husband even though they didn’t deserve it? Ever lashed out toward your children over nothing? I think we’ve all been there. It’s in those moments where we must walk back into the room, humble ourselves, and say, “I’m sorry.” Then, hopefully, we look at all that is going on inside our spirits and inside our lives. We take a full self-examination in an attempt to discover what caused us to act out in the first place. When we are about to lash out at those closest to us, we would do well to remember the Lord’s instructions not to “cut down the trees.” He asks His people, “Are the trees your enemies, that you should attack them? You may only cut down trees that you know are not valuable for food” (Deuteronomy 20:19-20). In the midst of war, the Lord was concerned that in His people’s zeal, they would simply destroy everything around them, even those things that could prove most valuable to them, in this case fruit-bearing trees. When life is out of control and chaos, spiritual warfare, and stress seem to reign in your life, don’t cut down the trees God has planted in your life: your spouse, your children, your parents, a few(!) close friends, your life group, your pastor, your church. They may be just the people God has placed in your life to sustain you through the battle you’re in.