May - Day 3

​1 Samuel 6-8 - If you are serious about returning to God you must get rid of the idols and false gods - the things that get in the way off you fully following Jesus. Obey only the Lord and turn to him and he will rescue you. The Philistines got rid of the ark of the Lord because the tumors it was causing in the towns that kept it. They made gold tumors representing the Philistine rulers and five gold rats that represented the five towns in afflicted as an offering and sent it with the arc when they sent it back to Israel. They strapped cows that had never pulled a cart before to the cart that carried the art and let them wander. When the cows return to the Israelite town, it proved the plagues were from God. 70 Israelite men died simply because they looked inside the ark. They did not handle the ark of God with the reverence it required. Samuel gathered all of Israel to pray for them and confess their sins. While they were gathered the Philistines came to attack but God fought for them and defeated the Philistines. Even so, Israel still rejected God as their king and demanded Samual give them a king so they could be like all the other nations. Even with all that God has done for us often we so quickly abandon him in our pursuit to be like those around us, even though only Jesus offers a full and satisfying life.

Psalm 97 - God is supreme over all the earth. All that is seen and unseen is beneath him. He alone is God. He has conquered evil and will one day remove it completely. In the meantime, let your light shine on us for the glory of your name, O God.

Mark 10:17-34 - The rich man was not willing to forsake all to follow Jesus. Jesus wants full and total devotion. God will restore all that we have to give up in order to follow him and even more. The greater reward is eternal life with him.

2 Corinthians 2 - We should rebuke people in love and be quick to forgive them. We get to share in Christ Victory, but as captives of his love. We get to spread the message of salvation which is good news to those who will receive it!