Deuteronomy 22:1-30; Luke 10:1-12; Psalms 75:1-5; Proverbs 18:13

NT: “After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t move from house to house. When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:1-9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The first sending that Jesus performed was sending His 12 disciples to the lost sheep of Israel. His 12 disciples were symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel. This time, Jesus sent out about 70 followers (some texts say 70 and some say 72). He didn’t just send them to the lost sheep of Israel, but into every town that he would be traveling through on His way to Jerusalem. The 70 (or 72) is symbolic of the 70 nations of the world listed in Genesis 10 that descended from Noah. This second sending was a prophetic picture of disciples from every nation being sent out to reach every people group on the earth. The task was and continues to be immense. The harvest was and continues to be abundant. We don’t pray for the task to be easier. We pray for more people to join us in the labor. Jesus didn’t say to pray for the Lord to send someone else – which is often what we pray. Jesus said, as you are laboring, pray for the Lord to send you partners and co-laborers… not someone to do the work for you, but to work with you. We are to primarily be ambassadors of the Kingdom, agents of peace, and messengers of the good news of the present Kingdom, filled with power and authority to validate our claims. Anyone who welcomes and receives our message is able to receive the peace that we bear. The world needs peace and we are peace bearers and peace makers. The world is a dangerous place filled with wolves that want nothing to do with peace… and the task before us is great. Thankfully, He doesn’t send us out alone and without His grace – but now is the time to go. We, as the Lord’s disciples, need to both obediently go into the harvest and pray for more workers to join us. Just imagine: if there were faithful disciples going into the harvest field of the world out of every reached people group on the earth, how quickly the world would be reached by the good news of the gospel. If we truly want to see peace on earth – if we truly want to see true justice, we need to join in the work.

Deuteronomy 21:1-23; Luke 9:51-62; Psalms 74:12-23; Proverbs 18:11-12

NT: “When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem… As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Then he said to another, “Follow me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:51, 57-62‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Luke 9:51 is a passage from Luke that impacts me every time I read it. It marks the turning point of Luke’s Gospel. From this point on, Jesus is headed to the cross. A literal translation of the Greek would say that He stiffened His resolve and firmly set His face to Jerusalem, where He would fulfill and finish what He was sent to do. Jesus did not come to condemn people (John 3:17) or destroy people (Luke 9:56). Jesus came to save people. That was the Father’s will for Him, and He was determined to do it. On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus met 3 men who, at some level, desired to be His disciples – but they weren’t determined and willing to fully follow Him. The first man wasn’t willing to give up his comforts to follow Jesus. The second man was more concerned about His family’s affairs than the affairs of the Kingdom. The third man wasn’t fully willing to let go of his past and embrace his future with the Lord. The writer of Hebrews tells us to be faithful disciples of Jesus, we must lay aside any weight and sin that hinders us, look to Jesus the author and finisher, and take on His determination and endurance. For the joy of seeing souls saved, Jesus set His face to Jerusalem and endured the cross until all was finished. If we will not be like the 3 men Jesus encountered on the way, and will instead fully follow the Lord, He will grace us with His determination, His faithfulness, His endurance, and His ability to finish the work set before us – to see souls saved and disciples made.

Psalms: “Remember this: the enemy has mocked the Lord, and a foolish people has insulted your name. Do not give to beasts the life of your dove; do not forget the lives of your poor people forever. Consider the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of violence. Do not let the oppressed turn away in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. Rise up, God, champion your cause! Remember the insults that fools bring against you all day long. Do not forget the clamor of your adversaries, the tumult of your opponents that goes up constantly.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭74:18-23‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Psalm 74 is a prayer of lament to the Lord after Jerusalem was brought to ruin and the temple destroyed by the Babylonians. At the end of the prayer, Asaph was moved to hope and confidence as he remembered the Lord’s unwavering faithfulness to His covenant and His unrelenting determination to save His people. So Asaph calls on God to rise up and champion His cause to see His righteousness, justice, and glory fill the earth. The day of the Lord is coming. It is inevitable. God’s answer to the ills of the world is a spirit-filled, faithful, determined, and obedient church. The purpose He had for Jesus is now our purpose. He is looking for a people, though downtrodden by the world, will lift their heads to God, praise His name, and declare Him as Lord of all. He is looking for a church that will lay aside their comforts and their cares and seek first His Kingdom. The question is, will we stand with the Lord’s determination, and faithfully endure in the work He has called us to do?

Deuteronomy 19:15-20:20; Luke 9:37-50; Psalms 74:1-11; Proverbs 18:9-10

OT: “When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. He is to say to them, ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’” (‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭20:1-4‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

40 years prior to this, fear had kept Israel from entering the promised land, and the subsequent disobedience caused them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Fear is a natural reaction, but we can’t allow fear to overcome our faith and lead us to disobedience. Moses was preparing the people for the inevitable. They were going to face enemies that were bigger than they were. They were going to face enemies that were more powerful and better equipped than that were. He wanted to make sure that this generation of Israelites didn’t make the same mistake as their fathers. Their fathers compared the opposition to themselves and found themselves severely lacking. However factual the Israelites condition may have been, the truth was that the Israelites weren’t going into war alone. God would be with them. Moses wouldn’t be there to remind his people of the truth, so he charged the priests to remind the people. The same God who defeated the elite Egyptian army would go with them in battle and would fight for them and give them the victory. Instead of allowing themselves to be overcome by fear, they were to overcome their fear with faith in the Lord their God. There is great opposition to God’s word, will, and ways in the earth today. There are enormous enemies that stand against righteousness and true justice. Unlike the Israelites of old, our enemies are not flesh and blood. Our enemy is the kingdom of darkness and all the systems of the ruler of this age. Will we be intimidated into silence and inactivity, or will we stand with God and His Kingdom and know that if we are for Him, then He is for us and will fight with us and through us to see His kingdom advanced in the hearts and lives of souls across this earth.

NT: “The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he’s my only child. A spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; severely bruising him, it scarcely ever leaves him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.” Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all the things he was doing, he told his disciples, “Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them. But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts, took a little child and had him stand next to him. He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. For whoever is least among you — this one is great.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:37-48‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Just a few days prior to this, Jesus gave His disciples power and authority over sickness and the kingdom of darkness… and they went into the surrounding towns and villages healing people and casting out demons. Jesus didn’t rescind His delegation… they still had power and authority over the demonic. For some reason, while Jesus, James, John, and Peter were gone on their trip up the mountain, the remaining 9 disciples lost their faith. In other Gospels, Jesus not only rebuked them for their lack of faith, but their lack of prayer and fasting as well. While Jesus was away, they didn’t maintain their discipline of meeting with God the Father, and their faith in God and Jesus’ ability to delegate power and authority to them waned. So when a distraught and desperate father came to them to deliver his son, they couldn’t do it. I wonder if that is why Jesus reminded them quite seriously that He was going to be betrayed and wouldn’t be physically with them when hard times came. They couldn’t allow their faith in God and their faith in Him to be weak. Greatness in God’s kingdom isn’t determined by how big, strong, and blustery you are. Greatness in God’s kingdom is determined by how humble you are and how dependent you are on God the Father for everything. When we engage the enemy, our faith isn’t in our devotional habits or our own self-righteousness. Our faith is in the Lord our God, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the power and enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The Lord God is our strength. He is our advantage. He is our unshakable defense. As we engage the enemies of righteousness, as we remain in Him – submitted to Him – trusting in Him, we will be safe.

Deuteronomy 18:1-19:14; Luke 9:28-36; Psalms 73:21-28; Proverbs 18:8

NT: “About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men were talking with him — Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him!”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:28-35‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Isn’t it a little comical that Peter, James, and John (pre-Pentecost) had trouble staying awake while Jesus prayed. They couldn’t stay awake during Jesus’ prayer time on the mount of transfiguration, and the couldn’t stay awake as Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. They had some pretty powerful prayer times post-Pentecost, though. Oh the difference the baptism and filling with the Holy Spirit makes! That aside, what a powerful encounter. Moses (the representative for the law), Elijah (the representative for the prophets), and Jesus (the fulfillment of the law and the prophets) were having a conference on top of a mountain. The topic of discussion: Jesus’ departure (exodus in the Greek). Moses led the first Exodus out of slavery in Egypt that was preceded by the slaughter of the Passover Lamb. Not long after this meeting on the mountain, Jesus would be slaughtered on Passover and would provide for mankind’s exodus from enslavement to sin. This moment on the mountain would become an important milestone in Jesus’ ministry. Soon afterward, He would fix His eyes on Jerusalem and would not stop until all was accomplished. Peter, James, and John eventually woke up and witnessed what was going on… and to perhaps save face for falling asleep, Peter awkwardly suggested setting up memorials for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Then suddenly, God the Father interrupted Peter’s plans and thundered from heaven, “This is My Beloved and Chosen Son; listen to Him.” Jesus knew what must be done. While Peter, James, and John were a bit perplexed and confused, Jesus was perfectly clear. Peter didn’t need to stumble and fumble with what to do next – he just needed to listen to Jesus and follow His words. When we don’t know what to say or what to do or how to react, isn’t it comforting to know that Jesus does? We just need to listen to Him. In these uncertain times, oh how we need to listen to Jesus. He, through His Holy Spirit, will give us perfect clarity on what we should say, what we should do, and how we should or shouldn’t react. Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.

Psalms: “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me up in glory. Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever. Those far from you will certainly perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:24-28‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

At the beginning of this psalm, Asaph spoke about how he was dismayed with the state of the world: how evil people seemed to succeed while righteous people struggled. When Asaph was confused, he didn’t stumble around trying to figure out what to make of everything. He went to the sanctuary and asked the Lord. Asaph continues by saying, “You guide me with your counsel…” The Apostle James wrote that if we need wisdom, we just need to ask, and God will give us the wisdom we need. We just need to ask and listen. And in our listening and submitting to His words, He will supply what we need and transform us (our thoughts, attitudes, actions, understanding, etc.) from glory to glory to glory. Oh! Who is like the Lord? Our understanding will most definitely fail us – but God is the strength of our hearts and will provide what we need to know when we need to know it… forever, as long as we come to Him and listen.

Deuteronomy 17:1-20; Luke 9:18-27; Psalms 73:1-20; Proverbs 18:6-7

OT: “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, take possession of it, live in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations around me,’ you are to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses. Appoint a king from your brothers. You are not to set a foreigner over you, or one who is not of your people. However, he must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire many horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ He must not acquire many wives for himself so that his heart won’t go astray. He must not acquire very large amounts of silver and gold for himself. When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, he will not turn from this command to the right or the left, and he and his sons will continue reigning many years in Israel.” (‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭17:14-20‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Once Israel took possession of the promised land, it would be over 300 years before Israel would have a king – longer than the United States has been a country. Yet God knew that Israel would long to be like the other nations and desire a king – so He set forth guidelines. First of all, the king would be chosen by God, not appointed by the people… and the king was not allowed to become consumed by the world, nor use his position for personal gain. He was not to allow his heart to be lifted up above his fellow Israelites… and he was especially not to lift himself above God and follow his own ways and edicts instead of the word, will, and ways of the Lord. Israel did choose to become a monarchy, and sadly, not one king fully fulfilled the guidelines set forth here… and most kings used their position to gain the world, become corrupt, lose their soul, and lead their nation into idolatry. That is, until Jesus.

NT: “It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.” Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:22-26‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Jesus, the very Son of God, did not use His position for personal gain. Even when the devil offered to give Him rulership of all the nations, He refused. Instead, He laid aside His power and position and humbled Himself to become a man. And as a man, He was rejected by the world and killed in order to pay our debt and set us free from sin. Then He defeated death was was raised to new life, providing a way for those who identify with His death to be given new life as well. All the world offers us is lust and pride – and both of those drive us away from the abundant life that flows from the Creator. In order for us to truly live, we must, like Jesus, deny ourselves and all that the world offers us, recon ourselves dead to sin through Christ’s death on the cross, and allow ourselves to be made new as we surrender and dedicate our lives fully to the Lord. Compared to what we have in Christ, why would we ever give that up to gain the world?

Psalms: “God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart. But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray. For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well fed. They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people. Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment… Look at them — the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth… When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny. Indeed, you put them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin. How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:1-6, 12, 16-19‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The world and the god of this world has a way of rewarding those who forsake God and give themselves over to lust and pride… at least for a time. This caused Asaph, the writer of this psalm, great consternation. It wasn’t until he entered God’s sanctuary and received God’s perspective on everything that he could be at peace. Jesus said that the thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. While the god of this age may “reward” those who reject the ways of God, his ultimate purpose is to steal you away from blessing and purpose, kill you, and ultimately eternally destroy you. When your goal is to gain the world, you may be temporarily happy at best, but in the end are destroyed. When you are after the world, this life is the best your existence will ever be. If instead, you take up your cross and follow Jesus, then your eternal existence will only get better.

Deuteronomy 16:1-22; Luke 9:7-17; Psalms 72:15-20; Proverbs 18:4-5

NT: “When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.” “You give them something to eat,” he told them. “We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” (For about five thousand men were there.) Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did what he said, and had them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:10-17‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

When the 12 disciples returned from their first commissioning, Jesus wanted to take them away for a little R&R. The crowds, however, would have none of that, and followed them to their retreat. The disciples would soon learn another lesson about the Kingdom of God. Not only was the Kingdom full of power and authority – it operated on an entirely different economy. Luke records that Jesus talked to the crowd about the Kingdom of God. It wouldn’t be beyond reason that one of the things He talked about was seeking the Kingdom of God first in everything… and in seeking the Kingdom, your needs will be provided. Of course, I don’t know that for sure… but it stands to reason. The world’s economy is founded on the law of supply and demand. The Kingdom of God has no need to worry about supply, for the Kingdom has an endless supply of any and all things that are needed. Demand in the Kingdom is driven by the will of the King, and if the King wills it, it is supplied – either naturally or miraculously. When the disciples were concerned about the crowd needing food, Jesus told them to feed the crowd. When the disciples didn’t have enough, the laws of the Kingdom economy kicked in, and what they had multiplied into an abundance. In the world’s economy, lack is a problem. In the Kingdom’s economy, if we present the little that we do have to the King for Kingdom service, He is able to multiply what we have to bless others and provide for our needs as well. The key to experiencing Kingdom plenty is to be aligned and submitted to the will of the King.

Psalms: “May there be plenty of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains. May its crops be like Lebanon. May people flourish in the cities like the grass of the field. May his name endure forever; as long as the sun shines, may his fame increase. May all nations be blessed by him and call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonders. Blessed be his glorious name forever; the whole earth is filled with his glory. Amen and amen.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭72:16-19‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Again, this prayer was written primarily about King Solomon of old, but has its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the King of kings. In the Kingdom of God, there is plenty – and those who are Kingdom people (those who are firstly Kingdom-minded and are submitted to the word and will of the King and the ways of his kingdom) will flourish. God alone can do wonders. God alone can multiply nothing into abundance. The cool thing is, if we choose to live according to the Kingdom’s economy and trust our King instead of the world system, the King will bless all the nations through us. There is no limit to what the King will get to us, if He knows that He can get it through us.

Deuteronomy 14:28-15:23; Luke 9:1-6; Psalms 72:1-14; Proverbs 18:2-3

NT: “Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for the road,” he told them, “no staff, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:1-6‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

After traveling with Jesus for some time and learning from Him, the 12 disciples were sent out to practice what they had learned. Though they were not to take any provisions, Jesus didn’t send them out empty handed. He gave them power and authority. Power is the ability to do something, and authority is the right to do it. Jesus gave them both the ability and right to cast out demons and heal the sick. Their primary task, however, was to proclaim the kingdom of God – to herald the good news that the kingdom of God had come and was available to all who would repent and believe. The power and authority of the kingdom was given to them to validate their claims that the King had come to release the captive, to restore sight to the blind, set free the oppressed, and cancel every debt. So that is what they did: they went from village to village proclaiming the good news, and validating signs and wonders followed them as they preached. We have been given the same commission, and we have also been given abiding power and authority through the indwelling Holy Spirit. We just need to actually do what we have been commissioned to do.

Psalms: “God, give your justice to the king and your righteousness to the king’s son. He will judge your people with righteousness and your afflicted ones with justice… May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor… May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth. May the righteous flourish in his days and well-being abound until the moon is no more. May he rule from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth… Let all kings bow in homage to him, all nations serve him. For he will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. He will have pity on the poor and helpless and save the lives of the poor. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious in his sight.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭72:1-2, 4, 6-8, 11-14‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This psalm was a prayer, either written by Solomon over his own rulership, or it was written for Solomon by David his father. Though it originally pertained to Solomon’s kingship, it can also apply to the kingship of the Son of David, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. While this prayer was prayed for Solomon, it has it’s ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Our King rules in perfect righteousness and administers perfect justice. He will vindicate the afflicted, help the poor, and crush the oppressor. Pure, true, and lasting justice can only be found in Him as His kingdom is allowed to fully come. If we truly want to see righteousness and justice on the earth, then we need to submit to our Lord in prayer and say, “Let Your kingdom come. Let Your will be done on earth, just as it is in Heaven.” We need to proclaim the Kingdom.

Deuteronomy 13:1-14:27; Luke 8:40-56; Psalms 71:17-24; Proverbs 18:1

NT: “When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’s feet and pleaded with him to come to his house, because he had an only daughter about twelve years old, and she was dying. While he was going, the crowds were nearly crushing him. A woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all she had on doctors and yet could not be healed by any, approached from behind and touched the end of his robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped… When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched him and how she was instantly healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” When Jesus heard it, he answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved.” After he came to the house, he let no one enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But he said, “Stop crying, because she is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead. So he took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he gave orders that she be given something to eat.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:40-44, 47-55‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

What a day the disciples had! They sailed across the Sea of Galilee and nearly died in a sudden storm – but Jesus demonstrated His power and authority over the forces of nature by commanding the storm to be at peace, and they were all saved. Then they encountered a crazed demon possessed man that was completely out of control. Jesus demonstrated His power and authority over the kingdom of darkness by commanding the demons to leave the man. The man was completely set free and in his right mind. But the day wasn’t over yet. When they returned from their trip across the Sea of Galilee, they encountered two more people: Jairus, the wealthy and influential leader of the synagogue, and a nameless, penniless woman. Jairus had experienced 12 years of joy with his only daughter and was about to lose her to death. The woman had experienced 12 years of misery and wanted to be done with her condition once and for all. The two people came from opposite ends of the societal spectrum, but both were desperate, and both came to Jesus. In a matter of a few minutes, Jesus demonstrated His power and authority over sickness and death. The woman was healed by her faith in Jesus, and Jairus’ daughter was brought back to life. In each of the 4 situations, mankind had reached its limits and could do nothing further – but Jesus, a man filled with the power and authority of the Kingdom of God, did what no other man could do.

Psalms: “God, you have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim your wondrous works. Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come. Your righteousness reaches the heights, God, you who have done great things; God, who is like you? You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. Therefore, I will praise you with a harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing to you with a lyre, Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me. Therefore, my tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, for those who intend to harm me will be disgraced and confounded.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:17-24‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The psalmist, who was currently experiencing a challenging situation, instead of becoming discouraged and hopeless, looked over his life and saw the faithfulness of God. He had followed the Lord from his youth, and he knew that God’s faithfulness would last into his senior years and beyond… even to the grave. Though he had experienced troubles and misfortunes in his live, God had always been faithful to renew and restore him… and he knew that God would do it again. Therefore, instead of being downtrodden, he would lift up his head to sing and shout for joy, and fill his life with praise to the faithful Holy One of Israel, who was like no other. Who or what do we place our faith in? Do we place our faith in government programs? Do we place our faith in our abilities? Do we place our faith in our nation’s economy? Do we place our faith in political movements? Do we place our faith in good-hearted people? There are numerous people, processes, or programs that we could place our faith in – but none of them compares to the Faithful Holy One. If we desire to be at peace and filled with hope, then we need to place our faith in the one who holds all power and authority and will never ever fail.

Deuteronomy 12:1-32; Luke 8:26-39; Psalms 71:7-16; Proverbs 17:27-28

NT: “Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When he got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said in a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places… A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him to permit them to enter the pigs, and he gave them permission. The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned… Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’s feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid… The man from whom the demons had departed begged him earnestly to be with him. But he sent him away and said, “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:26-29, 32-33, 35, 38-39‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The man that Jesus and His disciples encountered on the other side of the Sea of Galilee was hopelessly possessed by the kingdom of darkness. We don’t know how he got to that state, but nevertheless, that is the state he was in. He had lost control of himself – and no one else could control him either. Not even chains could keep him bound. Nothing on earth or made by man could help him. Then Jesus arrived on the scene. Notice how quickly the demonic spirits that raged uncontrollably within the man, came into submission to Jesus the Son of the Most High God. The demonic knew who Jesus was, and they had no choice but submit to His authority… even asking permission to enter a herd of swine. Jesus isn’t just a good man and prophet… someone who spoke some wise words a couple thousand years ago. No, He was, is, and will ever be the King of kings, Lord of lords, Son of the Most High God, holding all authority on heaven and earth. What man could not do, Jesus did… and the once-possessed man sat with Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. When the man asked if he could join Jesus’ disciples, Jesus told him to stay where he was and spread the good news of what Jesus had done for him… that the Kingdom of God had come and freed him from bondage. That man became a living sign and wonder that no one could refute – a first-hand witness testifying to who Jesus truly was. That is what Jesus asks of all who have been saved and transformed by Him – to tell all that God has done for you. We don’t have to go to Bible school… we don’t have to join a ministry. We just need to be a living sign and wonder that no one can refute.

Psalms: “I am like a miraculous sign to many, and you are my strong refuge. My mouth is full of praise and honor to you all day long… God, do not be far from me; my God, hurry to help me. May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed; may those who intend to harm me be covered with disgrace and humiliation. But I will hope continually and will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell about your righteousness and your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up. I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:7-8, 12-16‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The psalmist knew that he was a living sign and wonder. All of the miraculous ways that God had saved him in the past testified to the goodness and faithfulness of God. His life was evidence of God’s great power. Though God had saved him in the past, he trusted in God’s unwavering faithfulness and knew that God would continue to save him presently and in the future. Therefore, with confidence, he said that he would hope continually… unceasingly in the Lord – and that his lips would always tell of God’s wondrous salvation. As long as he lived, he would be a walking, talking sign and wonder, pointing people to the one true God. Our lives should be no different.

Deuteronomy 11:1-32; Luke 8:22-25; Psalms 71:1-6; Proverbs 17:26

OT: “Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse: there will be a blessing, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you today, and a curse, if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God and you turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods you have not known.” (‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11:26-28‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

At the end of his life, Moses didn’t have the time to deal in subtleties. He needed to make sure that the new generation of Israelites fully understood what was at stake, so he laid out the conditions in clearly contrasting black and white. If you humble yourselves before the God of all creation and order your lives according to His words, will, and ways, then you will be blessed by the life, abundance, peace, protection, etc. that ever flows from Him. If you choose to go your own way and reject the way of the Lord, then you will experience the inevitable death that comes when you sever yourself from your source of life. Other “gods” may put on a convincing show – but in the end, they too have severed themselves from the source of life and have no life nor blessing to offer. Blessing can only come through a connection to the Creator and source of all good things… and that connection is retained and maintained through humble and loving obedience to His words, will, and ways.

NT: “One day he and his disciples got into a boat, and he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they were sailing he fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. They came and woke him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him!”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:22-25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The Bible teaches that at the fall of mankind, creation itself was subjected to futility. Mankind, who was the delegated authority over the earth, abdicated his role to the kingdom of darkness and creation was thrust into a rudderless existence. Life is full of tempestuous occurrences – some orchestrated by evil, some as a consequence of an out-of-control creation. No matter the cause, God the Creator is seated above it all. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit – the Triune Godhead – has the power and authority to silence the chaos, and bring peace and order to the storm. No matter how scary circumstances can become – no matter how tumultuous the times, those who have chosen to humble themselves under God’s mighty hand, to allow God’s word to abide in them, to follow faithfully after the Son and be found in Him – those who have chosen blessing instead of the curse can ever be at peace.

Psalms: “Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. In your justice, rescue and deliver me; listen closely to me and save me. Be a rock of refuge for me, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and fortress. Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive. For you are my hope, Lord God, my confidence from my youth. I have leaned on you from birth; you took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always about you.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:1-6‬ ‭CSB)

The author of this psalm chose blessing over the curse. Yet, as he was walking in obedience to the word, will, and ways of the Lord God, storms and threats were raging all around him. Opportunities for his demise lay around every corner and were hiding in every shadow. Instead of shrinking back in fear, he strengthened himself in the Lord by reminding himself of Who he belonged to… and he cried out to the Lord for help, knowing that God is faithful to hear those who are obedient to His word, will, and ways. Those of us who have chosen to live in the blessing of humble and loving obedience to the Lord can pray the same prayer and be at peace through all of life’s uncertainties.