Danny Panter – Page 41 – The Everyday Prayer

Low

Re:Verse reading–Judges 7:2-8, 15-22 (day six)

There is great value in being brought low. In those moments you might think God unfair, unkind or even sadistic, but nothing could be further from the truth. God is none of those things, especially in those seasons of life when we are brought low. Perhaps those moments are the greatest displays of God’s grace. Jesus’ brother James argued that we should “consider it all joy,” when we are brought low because God intends great good to come of it. That certainly was the case for Gideon and his men. Facing 150,000 Midianites, God took a sizable army of 32,000 and whittled it down to 300. How much lower could Gideon go? It was in those moments though that he could see beyond his own pride so he might more fully see and trust in the God of his salvation.

The same is true of us. Our hurt and hardship is grace to us, for it is there, in that low place that we often see God most clearly. It is often then that we can finally lean on the God that gives us the greatest assurances in the Gospel, assurances of victory and restoration!

Mighty

Re:Verse reading–Judges 6:1-2, 11-28, 36-40 (day six)

Really, what made Gideon mighty? Was it his extensive military training, or the way he held his sword…no wait, he didn’t have either of these things. Or maybe it was his keen ability to hide? How about his articulate, well-worded complaints about the absence of God? Those must have caught God’s attention. It was none of those things. Either God was being sarcastic or he has another definition entirely. I choose the latter.

By all accounts Gideon was a weak, inexperienced, reluctant farmer. He was not the ideal leader (he was no Samson), far from it. And yet God sees might in him. God saw the smallest amount of faith in Gideon; the size of a mustard seed. It was enough to make him mighty! God measures mightiness in units of faith, and the smallest amount goes a long way. How about you? Are you mighty by God’s standards?

Lead

Re:Verse reading–Judges 4:1-22 (day six)

I do not think the primary lessons in Judges relate only to leadership. They are there for sure, but they are not the POINT. At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite,…let me whisper to you today, “lead.” Who in your life are you calling to move forward, to take a step? With whom are you joining the fight? Are you speaking gracious truth to another? Are you willing to do the hard thing, not just the convenient one? Are you counter-cultural? Life-giving instead of draining? Inspiring instead of deflating? Loving even when it hurts? Forgiving even when it is unreasonable? Tough even when you feel as if you will break?

Who in your life are you leading? Your single friends? Your husband or wife? Sons and daughters? That neighbor, that friend, that colleague who you know needs SOMEONE? That stranger? Will you lead at home? In the hallways and offices of your workplace? At the Spurs watching party? Will you live out the Gospel in all of life, in all the places that you go? Will you lead?

Are you called, you may be wondering? Yes, let me tell you, you are called. That’s what the Gospel does; it raises you from death to life, and calls you to lead.

So let me whisper to you today…”lead.”

A Failure to Move

Re:Verse reading–Judges 2:1-3, 6-22 (day six)

I have a failure to move. Left to my own devices, my own will and wisdom, I am incapable of any forward motion in this life journey. It’s quite frustrating sometimes, no correct that, it is always frustrating. Have you ever felt that way? Even with the best intentions to change, we often just remain the same. That’s true of us, and it was true of the Israelites. In fact Joshua told them exactly that in Joshua 24:19, “You are not able to serve the Lord,” and that prophecy was fulfilled over and over in Judges. Left to ourselves we have no hope. That’s the rest of the story in Judges, that our hope comes not from human will but from God. He sends aid, makes a way, and provides the means. Always. Left to myself I cannot move; God must move me.

Do you know who the last judge (and King for the matter) was? It wasn’t Samuel. It is Jesus; he is our aid, the way, and our means.

Love

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 23; Joshua 24:14-15 (day six)

Joshua implored his people to commit to “love” God. The covenant between God and the Israelites was not a business contract; their obedience to God was not payment for services rendered, nor is it an attempt to repay Him out of indebtedness. That’s not the arrangement. Joshua told them to obey, worship, and love because the God of the universe first loved them, made himself know to them, rescued them out of idolatry, and in His love was great reward.

Stop doing business with God; love him with all your heart!

The Divine Invitation

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 9 (day six)

If you want my personal opinion, I do not think the outcome would have changed all that much even if Joshua had sought God’s counsel after meeting with the Gibeonites. The only change would have been that Joshua and the elders would have not looked so foolish. It is clear the Gibeonites acted out of a proper fear for the God of Israel; they acted in faith. I can’t presume to know; the Bible doesn’t hint one way or another, but like Rahab before them I believe God would have blessed their faith.

So, then what is the purpose of Joshua 9:14, “So the men…did not ask counsel from the Lord.” If the outcome likely would have been the same, why bother saying that at all. It is an essential part of the story because the emphasis in Joshua is God’s dynamic relationship with his people in the conquest of Canaan. He will lead them; he will fight their battles. The invitation is clear, “Come to me, seek my counsel. Meet with me and hear my voice.” Joshua and the men neglected that relationship. And we can too. Heed God’s invitation; it is where peace, contentment and joy is found.

Achan and the Cross

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 7, Mark 15:16-20, 24-40; Mark 16:1-8 day six)

Achan’s sin is catastrophic. Thirty-six people died, not including he and his family, as a result of his disobedience. Like a cancer it spread, and although it began with him, he could not control it or contain it. A whole people were left demoralized because of one man’s moment of greed. And it resulted in death.

Jesus went to the cross for Achan. Holy Week is a searing reminder that we are no better off than Achan. We are worthy of being stoned; we are worthy of the cross, and yet while we were still enemies of God Christ died for us. In the cross and resurrection we discover the cure for that uncontrollable, uncontainable cancer. And so we lament at the great cost of our sin, and yet we also rejoice knowing that it is finished!

He is risen!

Wonders

Re: Verse reading–Joshua 3:5-17, 4:14-24 (day six)

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5

Anxiety and uncertainty must have followed the death of Moses. Furthermore, once the children of Israel crossed the Jordan they were to provide for their own needs, no more food from heaven, AND begin a military campaign against the nations in Canaan. How could they do this?

How would He ease their fears? By exalting Joshua through doing wonders among them. They had to know that the one leading them into the Promise Land was walking with the Lord, that like Moses he could hear the voice of God, and would be faithful to follow Him. He had to be exalted, lifted up, glorified. Not unlike Jesus.

Consider the fear and anxiety of the Apostles after Jesus’ death? It all changed the moment they encountered the risen and exalted Jesus! God worked wonders among us
to secure our salvation and our trust in Christ the exalted one! We have no fear because he has overcome the world!

Rest

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 1 (day six)

The book of Joshua is a remarkable history, and it begins with a rousing introduction from God himself! The promise of presence and great success to Joshua, but most of all, the promise of rest to the Israelites in a land of their very own, indeed a kingdom. The Israelite people were no doubt desperate for rest and peace after forty years wondering in the desert and four hundred more as slaves in Egypt. And God would provide it to them, he would fight their battles, and lead them Joshua’s faithful leadership.

It is a picture of the Gospel. To the Church belong the promises of God made possible by the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. We are co-heirs with Jesus, and ours is not only the forgiveness of sin, but full restoration and rest in a new heaven and a new Earth. Aren’t you desperate for true rest (a life without sin)? I am. By God’s grace let’s continue to shake off the shackles of sin and press on in the hope of our future eternal rest as sons and daughters of God.

Disciples Making Disciples

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20 (day six)

Have you ever made a disciple of Jesus? Jesus makes himself clear that we are to go and make disciples. It is not really a recommendation or a suggestion, it is a command. It is a command that rests on his authority as the resurrected Son of God. The very existence of His church today is evidence that the disciples obeyed this great commission. What if the hope of this nation (and every nation) is not the next elected president, but His church (that’s us at FBCSA) obeying this command today? The truth is you were elected over two thousand years ago to be a disciple who makes disciples.

Do you know how to do that? It’s probably time we all learn. I’m in, are you?