Acts 5: 1-11 (NIrV)

A man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also sold some land. He kept part of the money for himself. Sapphira knew he had kept it. He brought the rest of it and put it down at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your heart? He made you lie to the Holy Spirit. You have kept some of the money you received for the land. Didn’t the land belong to you before it was sold? After it was sold, you could have used the money as you wished. What made you think of doing such a thing? You haven’t lied just to people. You’ve also lied to God.”

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. All who heard what had happened were filled with fear. Some young men came and wrapped up his body. They carried him out and buried him. About three hours later, the wife of Ananias came in. She didn’t know what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me. Is this the price you and Ananias sold the land for?” “Yes,” she said. “That’s the price.” Peter asked her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! You can hear the steps of the men who buried your husband. They are at the door. They will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at Peter’s feet and died. Then the young men came in. They saw that Sapphira was dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. The whole church and all who heard about these things were filled with fear.

Explanation:

In the above passage we enter into a scene where Ananias and his wife Sapphira had sold a piece of their property and were going to bring all the money they received for the land to give to the church. However, before he gives the money, he and his wife decide they are going to hold some money back and not tell anyone about it. Peter calls him out, and instead of telling the truth, Ananias keeps lying. Peter questions him in front of the whole church, and says you chose to follow satan and lie to the Holy Spirit and us. When Ananias hears this truth, he dies. His wife comes 3 hours later and keeps the lie going as well, not knowing her husband just died because of it, and Peter confronts her as well and the same happens to her.

You might think to yourself “WOW… that is harsh”, but lying to God is a BIG deal. This was a young church, and they had to address dissention in the room, or it would take down the church. Lies are from satan, and God knows the destruction they can cause. One little lie has to be covered up by another lie and then another and another until they are out of control. God cares so much about your heart that He needs to address the lies with you.

When I was in high school I once asked my mom if I could go swimming at my friend’s house after school. She said no but I did it anyways. She didn’t find out right away because I tried to cover it up, but she caught me in my lie. I am so glad God put in her heart to know when I was lying so it could be addressed and fixed in my young life. I know it is hard to be called out sometimes, but if you are God’s kid, He is always going to call you out because He wants the best for you.

Application:

1. What lies are you keeping that are destroying your life?

Last week we taught on lying to Tree Church Kids. Here are their tips that they were taught:

1. When you are about to lie, go to God first.

2. Then choose honesty

3. Lastly, be brave and tell the truth.

Devo Plus:

Read John 8:42-47.

Prayer:

Father, help me to come to You when a lie is starting to come out of my mouth. Holy Spirit, nudge me to tell the truth even if it will get me in trouble. Change and heal my heart to know that the truth is always better. Help us to become a church that is following You with all of our hearts. Love You Father!

Ephesians 5:5-7 (ESV)

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them.

Explanation:

I sometimes turn on episodes of old TV shows like “Fantasy Island” in the evening after dinner. (For those who were not alive in the late 1970’s/early 80’s, Google it sometime. It’s a classic!) The premise of the show is that people pay a man named Mr. Roarke, the “owner” of a tropical island, for an opportunity to make their dreams come true over the course of 48 hours.

In one episode, a wealthy elderly man asked Mr. Roarke to allow him to see his family for “their true selves” so that he knew which family members to leave his fortune to. He wore a disguise and asked probing questions to the family members about the old man. One by one, everyone in his family had their motives revealed. In the “real world” they acted sincere and true toward the old man, knowing that he was aging and they stood to gain a huge inheritance. Behind closed doors, however, their behaviors were corrupt and greedy. Eventually the teenage granddaughter, often thought of as the “outcast” of the family because she acted differently than the others, was the one who the man chose to inherit his fortune. He revealed to the others that because their closed-door behaviors were immoral, they didn’t meet his standards.

In the text leading up to this passage, Paul gave examples of negative behaviors that we should avoid. In the same way that the old man in the TV show was seeking out true and sincere behavior, God is asking the same of us. Paul reinforced that God’s children are to live for the good of the church, and that these negative things are not the image that God wants us to portray of him. It’s not enough to put on a good “outward appearance” and hope that will give you the eternal benefit. If we call ourselves God’s children, then our thoughts and actions must reflect how God would have us live, and do so consistently.

Application:

1. Have you ever put on an “outward appearance” to disguise a flaw? When you peel away the mask, what remained?

2. When you think about eternal inheritance, what images come to mind?

Devo Plus:

Read more about our heavenly inheritance in 1 Peter 1:3-5. There are four key qualities to reflect on in this passage in regards to our inheritance: it is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and reserved in heaven for you.

Prayer:

Father, today I thank You for Your grace. I thank You that when You look beneath the surface, You expose my true feelings and behaviors to lead me to repentance. It is my desire to earn the inheritance You have set aside for me, and I ask You to guide me each moment as I walk through this life. Forgive me of my sins and shortcomings and give me the strength to be bold and courageous in Your name. Thank You for all that You’ve done to help me shine brighter for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 115:1-11 (NIV)

1 Not to us, Lord, not to us

but to your name be the glory,

because of your love and faithfulness.

2 Why do the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in heaven;

he does whatever pleases him.

4 But their idols are silver and gold,

made by human hands.

5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see.

6 They have ears, but cannot hear,

noses, but cannot smell.

7 They have hands, but cannot feel,

feet, but cannot walk,

nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

8 Those who make them will be like them,

and so will all who trust in them.

9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—

he is their help and shield.

10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—

he is their help and shield.

11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord—

he is their help and shield.

Explanation:

This is a Hallel psalm of praise (Hallelujah), and it has been sung in joy on Jewish holidays since the days of Jesus. In fact, Jesus sang these words not twenty-four hours before He was to be crucified. “Not to us” is repeated for emphasis. God deserves all glory.

Verses two through four show non-believer mockery toward the God of Israel. They didn’t understand how Israel could worship a God they couldn’t see. Believers then chant in response that their God is in heaven doing exactly whatever He wants. They see the shiny idols of the non-believers, powerless and empty because they were made with human hands.

Verses five through eight explain the emptiness in idol worship (eyes cannot see, mouths cannot speak, ears cannot hear). I mean no disrespect, but Mr. Potato Head came to mind. In 1949, when George Lerner was home with his bored children on a rainy day, they added toothpicks and buttons to potatoes. Mr. Potato Head became a huge success! In 1952, Hasbro did what no other toy company had done. They advertised on television and reached approximately eight million people. One million units were sold in the first year. But with all his success, he is still a hollow, plastic shell. No matter how much he changes or what shiny pieces are added to his costume, he is just as empty as ever. He can’t guide, counsel, heal, or save. He is useless. The psalmist instructs us to trust in the Lord. We put our lives and salvation into the hands of who and what we worship, so we must be careful and purposed. False hope is dangerous. It matters where we turn in chaos. If we make idols, we become like those idols. Worshiping God means abandoning false hopes, no matter how shiny they are.

Verses nine through eleven are calls to look to God as a help and shield, again repeated for emphasis. The house of Israel, the house of Aaron (high priests), and those who fear the Lord (Gentiles who honored God but did not formally convert to Judaism) are addressed. The psalmist cries out to all to remember, big or small, He will be our shield. A soldier’s shield provides protection and can be interlocked with the shields of other soldiers to fortify the position. We are the body, and God has given us His shield. We must have faith and hold the line.

Application:

1. Make a list of your idols. Have you been worshiping hollow shells? What do you put your time and energy into? What are you all-consumed by?

2. Look around your community this week and pay attention to idol worship. Does this apply to your life?

Devo Plus:

Research what the Soviets said about God during the Space Race in the 1960’s. How does this relate to Psalm 115:2?

Read Matthew 26:30.

Prayer:

God, help us identify the idols in our lives and reject them. Remind us of Your sovereignty, patience, and grace. Let us be in awe of only You. You are so far beyond our comprehension. We don’t understand Your realm, but You have provided us with shields to fortify Your line. Thank You for Your protection and love. Amen.

Ezekiel 14:1-8 (NLT)

Then some of the leaders of Israel visited me, and while they were sitting with me, this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests? Tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin, and then they go to a prophet asking for a message. So I, the Lord, will give them the kind of answer their great idolatry deserves. I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people who have turned from me to worship their detestable idols.’

“Therefore, tell the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent and turn away from your idols, and stop all your detestable sins. I, the Lord, will answer all those, both Israelites and foreigners, who reject me and set up idols in their hearts and so fall into sin, and who then come to a prophet asking for my advice. I will turn against such people and make a terrible example of them, eliminating them from among my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Explanation:

I was in a social setting when another person mentioned that if we eat anything with sugar at night, we wake up ravenous. I did not know that.

I started paying attention and realized sugar revved up my appetite whenever I ate it. Then I learned something else. My taste buds regenerate every ten days and can be reset. After eating healthy things, my body started craving healthy food, and what was once appealing became unappealing. I also realized that certain foods left me feeling satisfied for long periods. The correction began with one piece of good information that I contemplated and implemented.

Did you know idols are like sugar? One idol in your heart rearranges the dynamics of your heart in such a way that it throws off your spiritual balance, and soon more cravings begin. Using an idol to quench spiritual hunger will lead to a pattern of using props to try to satisfy your soul, and you will feel the emptiness.

Idols can’t nurture or fill what only God can. Do you know what has to be created in order to demolish idols?

Hunger for God.

When you hunger and long for God your heart is not satisfied with imposters.

If I were to hold you under water for an extended period of time, it would soon become very evident what you longed for: oxygen and only oxygen. Eventually you would fight with all your might to free yourself from whatever was keeping you from getting oxygen. There are needs in our spiritual hearts that can only be filled with God, as plainly as our lungs need oxygen.

Creating hunger started small for me. I set my alarm early to give myself time to tell God I loved and needed Him, read a few verses in John, meditated on what I read, and then listened to worship music as I dressed for high school. Then I found myself hungering for more. I bought a study Bible, and my conversations with God matured as I began the practice of enjoying His presence. Here I am 50 years later still longing and living in the reality that only Jesus can satisfy my soul.

Examine the thoughts and desires that captivate you. That’s where you’ll find answers to sin and failure in your life. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you need more willpower.

What you need is more of God.

Application:

1. As only oxygen works for our lungs, only more of God works for our spiritual lives. We are tempted by idols when it’s God's presence we are really hungry for. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness…you will be filled (Matthew 5:6). Are you ready?

2. Your heart will be full of something. Why not Jesus?

3. Ezekiel 14:3b above says “They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin.” How does this illustrate the need to be spiritually preemptive?

Devo Plus:

When we fail to believe the truth about who Jesus is and miss the impact of His astounding work in suffering and dying for our sin, it will be impossible to resist the allurement of the gods of this earth as they whisper their promised pleasures to us.

- Elyse M. Fitzpatrick

Prayer:

God… I need YOU. I feel wonky and anemic in my spiritual life. Give me eyes to see what I don’t see. Give me ears to hear what I am missing. I’m exhausted by my wandering, and I long to be close to Your heart. Draw me in and free me from the tentacles of idols in my heart. I invite Your Holy Spirit to set my spirit free. Amen.

Numbers 25: 1-13 (ESV)

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

And the Lord said to Moses, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy, Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

Explanation:

As we see in the above passage in Numbers, breaking God’s commandments has serious consequences. I remember reading this account of the Israel leaders executing God’s judgement on the Israelites and thinking, “Wow…. that was really extreme, did I read that correctly?” You may be thinking the same thing, especially because it is a story that not many of us are familiar with. However, it is in the Bible, so that means it is important for us to learn from and also get a better understanding of who God is and what He wants from us.

A quick backstory is that God commanded His people the Israelites to remain “set apart” or segregated, and not arrange marriages with the other tribes that were living in and around their promised land. In many instances God told them to conquer, destroy, and drive out the inhabitants when they entered a new territory. This may sound crazy to us now, but there were specific reasons why the sovereign God commanded this of His people, one being the pure bloodline that would eventually lead to the genealogy of Jesus. In any case God knew that if His people were tempted by the worship of other gods, such as Baal (the Canaanite fertility god), they would be less likely to pursue a relationship with Him, the only real God that could help them. God does not need anything from us but offers an invitation for us to follow and trust Him. The Israelites did not just want God; they wanted to worship many gods. Several key points can be learned from this unusual event.

1. Phinehas was the only one who saw what God said was wrong and acted on it immediately. One person’s just action can save others.

2. Phinehas was zealous for what made God jealous, “in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them.” The word zealous means showing a strong and energetic desire to get things done; passionate; spending a lot of time or energy in supporting something they believe in.

3. God takes our worship of idols very seriously. This can be anything that takes our time from Him.

4. God can become jealous of our worship of other things, including our jobs, relationships, hobbies, and possessions.

5. There can be severe consequences from bad choices we make. Sin leads to death both physically and spiritually.

6. God remembers when we obey Him and can show blessings to us over generations. “Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood.”

What we do with our time matters to God. As a loving Father who wants what is best for His children, God will not take a back seat to anything else. He deserves all the glory.

Application:

1. You probably don’t have an idol or statue of Baal in your house, but what do you have in your life that take your time and energy from God?

2. What changes can you make today that will help rid you of distractions so you can focus on God and the plans He has for you?

3. Think back to a time you were zealous for God. What changes can you make to regain that mindset?

Devo Plus:

What similarities are there in this Bible story in Numbers and the story of the worship of the golden calf in Exodus 32?

Prayer:

Holy Father, You are good and I thank You for all that You have given me. I want to make You the main priority in my life. When distractions come and life gets busy, help me slow down and seek Your presence. I want You to have my time and attention. You deserve my worship! Amen.

Exodus 32:19-29 (NRSV)

As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.

Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are bent on evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off’; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

When Moses saw that the people were running wild (for Aaron had let them run wild, to the derision of their enemies), then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. He said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side, each of you! Go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor.’” The sons of Levi did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand of the people fell on that day. Moses said, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of a son or a brother, and so have brought a blessing on yourselves this day.”

Explanation:

As we read the Old Testament, in many passages we see that God’s chosen people, His children, sinned a lot. There are so many stories where we see time after time, they are disobedient and allow the culture around them to dictate their lives. Today’s passage is no different. The people of God were allowing the culture around them that worshipped many gods to dictate their actions. They made a golden calf they began to worship and lived in a manner that was not pleasing to God. They were God’s chosen people who were supposed to be set apart, and yet they were not living in a manner that was pleasing to Him. There are always consequences to our sin, and this passage is a great reminder of this.

Yet as I read today’s scripture it caused me to pause and think about how often I do the same thing. No, I don’t have a golden calf displayed in my house that I worship, but there are so many things that can become idols when I put them before God. Just like the Israelites, the voice of culture is always right there screaming in my ear, too. Whenever I feel the temptation to sin, to make idols, I must be purposed to go back to what I know God’s Word says. His Word says that I have a higher calling for my life, that He chose me, designed me, and created me to live out His purpose. I have to remember that I am set apart to live in a manner that brings honor and glory to God. I don’t want to be like the Israelites. I want to be someone who lives out a life that leads others to God. I want to live a life that is different and points the world to a better way. I need to depend on God to teach me, lead me, and guide me every step of the way.

Application:

1. What was your initial response to today’s Scripture reading?

2. What are some of the idols you struggle with in your life?

3. What does it mean to be set apart?

4. What do you need to do to put God back as the number one priority in your life?

Devo Plus:

Take some time to listen to the song “Nothing Else” by Cody Carnes. I think this song is a great reminder for us when we begin to see other things taking precedence over God. May this song remind us that the most important thing we need is more of God in our lives.

Prayer:

God, it is so easy to look at the Israelites and judge their actions. Yet we do the same thing. We put other things above You and often do not live our lives in a manner worthy of You. Today we want to cast down our idols and lay them at Your feet. We want You to be the One we worship and live our lives for. Help us as we continue to walk in faith. Amen.

Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV)

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Explanation:

In Greece, there is a place called Delphi high in the mountains of Peloponnesus, where the most famous ancient oracle of the Greek god Apollo was located. This oracle was built around a crack in the mountain where smoke and natural gases came up to the surface, and in ancient times people thought Apollo touched the earth here and could give them a word or prophecy for their futures. Grecians of all walks of life would make this long uphill pilgrimage to the oracle of Delphi, and would pay their respects to their god with elaborate sacrifices and gifts. Even the richest people from all over the world would travel to Delphi, bringing gold statues and jewels to the imposing marble treasury where the sacrifices were stored, hoping to get a word from this oracle. I will never forget this testament of how hard the ancients searched for something to worship, and how far they traveled to get a word from something they thought was higher than themselves.

The concept of sacrifice is lost on us today. We’ve gotten so accustomed to a God who lives inside of us once we put our faith in Jesus Christ, who we can talk to at any time of day and under any circumstance, a God who never sleeps and never slumbers, and who asks for nothing more than our hearts in return. We have the word of God for free in over 50 different translations and a myriad of languages at the touch of a button. We don’t need to offer sacrifices to placate an unknown god, or bring something costly for a prophecy or some wisdom for our futures. Our God doesn’t require any of these things. He is a good and personal and loving God!

… Yet, how often we take for granted the goodness of our God! The definition of sacrifice is “the offering of something precious to God as an act of gratitude.” How much more than the ancient Greeks should we strive to offer our gratitude to this amazing Almighty God, who loved us so much He gave His Son to die for our redemption so we could have a relationship with Him? We have a God who deserves the very best we have to offer of our lives, our hearts, and our devotion!

Application:

1. How important is it to you to please God?

2. We often operate in the delusion that we have a long, complicated, costly list of things to accomplish before God is really pleased with us. This passage is very clear: continually praising Him, doing good, and sharing what we have are the sacrifices that please God!

3. What fruit have your lips been producing lately?

Every sentence that comes out of our mouths produces an outcome with the potential to reproduce. When we give voice to our anxiety and fears, it affects the atmosphere to perpetuate doubt and trepidation for those listening. When we let out complaints and griping, it creates the fruit of discontent. But when we speak forth praise, it creates awe in the spirit of the hearer, spreading the honor of God and acknowledging His goodness. Keep watch over your lips today and see what fruit you are really producing.

Devo Plus:

Listen to “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake. One of my favorite lines says, “I know it’s not much, but I’ve got nothing else fit for a king, except for a heart singing ‘Hallelujah, hallelujah.’ So I’ll throw up my hands, and praise You again and again...”

Prayer:

Lord God in Heaven, You are El Elyon, the Most High God, the Sovereign and Almighty God, and the great I AM. You are the only true God, and the world in all its fullness is Yours. Yet all You require from us is a sacrifice of thanksgiving, a heart that glorifies You, lips that produce praise. Help us to never take Your goodness for granted, but to continually offer up sacrifices of praise all our days! In Jesus’s precious and holy name. Amen.

Mark 7:6-7 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,

‘These people honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship is a farce,

for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’

Explanation:

For a large part of my life, I thought worship was only what happened during the song portion of church. I was raised by Pentecostal pastors and actually lived a holy roller childhood.

I LOVED it.

We had an insider phrase called “singing the power down.” As kids, we knew when the adults sang something over and over again we were headed for the power falling, which meant there would be no sermon and the saints were going to run the aisles. I loved a good Jericho march around the sanctuary, the tambourines banging, saints dancing in the Spirit, and people loudly calling on the name of God. Some of my fondest memories are the altar calls, joyful hand clapping, and hankies waving as the music stirred spiritual emotions.

However…

My saddest childhood memories include two of the most demonstrative parishioners making Mom cry and Dad extra quiet with their flare for gossip through the week. Their tongues praised God on Sunday and divided His church on Monday. They were exactly what Jesus called out when He quoted Isaiah. Hypocrites.

To worship means to make God known and to give God the glory, no matter where I am, who I’m with, what I’m doing, or how I am feeling. As much as I love a strong drum, a thumping woofer, riffs, close harmonies, and soaring melodies of praise, I can’t call it a day when I walk out of the sanctuary. I have to worship God with my mouth, my actions, and my inner heart every day/all day.

I am married to a powerful worshipper. Skip is full of the Holy Spirit, and the proof is his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He worships God with his life so consistently, and God has lovingly used him to help me comprehend the fullness of true worship.

I’ve come to a place where I embrace the physical response to worship music I developed in my childhood AND understand the power of worship in my daily disciplines. Skip is a runner. It melts my heart that for years, at the end of every run, he bows on one knee and sings:

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

God must eagerly anticipate my husband's runs, and delight in his sidewalk sanctuary.

Application:

1. David danced his clothes off, Moses removed his shoes, Job stood silent, Noah built, Paul and Silas sang hymns, John fell on his face, Isaiah said “send me,” Mary wept and washed His feet, the healed went “walking and leaping and praising God,” Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego refused to bow, Elijah recognized the whisper, and Daniel defied a king. There are as many expressions of worship as there are people, but the true test of worship is if God is exalted and glorified. Does your response pass the test?

2. Our smallest moments of surrender can be our loudest acts of praise. How can you praise Him today?

3. We worship God because He is God. Period. How does that affect your feelings or lack of feelings?

Devo Plus:

Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.

(Webster's Dictionary, 1828)

Prayer:

God, I want to live a life of worship. I am asking Your Holy Spirit to soften my heart, strengthen my resolve, and renew my emotions. I want to live in excessive submission to You. Help me.

Micah 6:6-8 (NLT)

What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give him?

Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves?

Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Explanation:

Micah, like Malachi, is a prophet from the Old Testament whom God appoints to deliver a similar message to Israel: the Lord is coming, so you better get to repenting. The Bible never mentions exactly when Micah was called as a prophet, only that “the word of the Lord came to him” (Micah 1:1). God’s words through Micah are clear: my people keep asking what more they can do for Me, but I want them to get back to the basics. Forget the extra stuff. Never mind the ridiculous, over the top offerings and promises. The only offering I am interested in is their hearts.

By His example in Jesus, God has shown us what is good in His sight. Through His Holy Spirit, He even offers us help with recognizing these things. True mercy is going out of our way to be caring, understanding, and compassionate to EVERYONE, not just those that show us grace in return. In fact, the real test is to show mercy in the face of criticism, correction, and discipline. God wants us to love the concept of mercy so much that it pours out of us regardless of the situation.

And as for our daily walk with Him, I found it interesting that in every translation I studied for this devotion, the word “humbly” remained the same. This shows just how important our humility is in following God. When we feel His conviction, it comes from His great love for us, and we are to honor Him by accepting this because of who He is. It is when we truly lower our opinions of ourselves that we have a genuine chance of experiencing His love in earnest.

To do these things is a choice we must make every day: will I run ahead of God and hope He catches up with my plans at some point, or will I knowingly lag behind, secretly hoping He will ignore my disobedience? These verses show that what He wants most is for us to walk alongside Him every moment of our present and in doing so, He promises to redeem our past and guide our future.

Application:

1. Aren’t justice, mercy, and humility what we desire in all our human relationships? Why, then, do we consider our relationship with God so differently?

2. In Micah’s time, sacrifice was often seen as an entry fee, not an invitation to a deeper relationship with God. Have you thought about the things you have “given up” for God in this way before? If so, God wants to remind you that your sacrifices are only a pathway to your heart, which is what He truly desires.

3. The Message version titles this passage “What God is looking for.” Does this present tense make these verses more significant to you that what God was looking for in the Old Testament is what God is still looking for in us today?

4. So often we try to complicate hearing from God. But a wise Pastor (Pastor Phil) often tells your children that if you want to know you are hearing from God correctly, simply ask yourself: is it something that pleases God? Such an easy way for us to understand, and these Scriptures prove it really is all God wants!

5. Make a list of all the different roles in your life, and spend time asking God to show you how He wants you to “do good” in each of these relationships, including your relationship with Him.

Devo Plus:

Here are other examples in Scripture of what God desires instead of meaningless offerings:

- 1 Samuel 15:22 - for us to “obey and listen” to Him

- Isaiah 1:11-17 - for us to “learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression”

- Hosea 6:6 - “steadfast love and the knowledge of God”

- Matthew 23:23 - “justice, mercy, faithfulness”

Prayer:

Dear Lord, so often we try to complicate the things we think You want us to know and do. But You tell us in Your Word that all You desire is more of us. When we choose to look for Your Love daily, we can’t help but pass along all You have shown to us: mercy, forgiveness, commitment. You are such a good Father, and we humbly ask for Your help in staying near You when You promise to do the same for us. Thank You for offering to show us what is right, and please open our ears and eyes to hear and see it today. Amen.

Isaiah 58: 1-7 (NIV)

Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. Why have we fasted, they say, and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?

Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Explanation:

When I first saw the title of my assignment for this devotion, it made me pause and think about its significance. The title “Real Fasting” should make us all think that if there is a real way to fast, then there must be a wrong way to fast.

In this passage, there is a warning to the Jews that they need to fast for the right reasons. While preparing to write this devotion, I read that fasting combined with sincere prayer can help you prepare yourself and others to receive God's blessings. As you read in verses 4-5, the people's fasting is described in very selfish ways: you do as you please, you exploit others, and cause quarreling and strife. I don't think any of those things sound pleasing to God.

Verse 6 shows us what the Lord wants to do for us when we humbly fast and pray before our God. He wants to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke. In other words, God wants us to be freed from the bondage of sin and heartache that accompanies a life focused only on ourselves.

If God calls you to fast and pray for a specific reason, do it with all humility and sincerity. Don't do it for selfish reasons. God loves us so much and truly knows the condition of our hearts and our motives.

Application:

1. This life is not about us. It is all about Jesus and giving Him the glory and honor and praise. Do you live your life in this manner?

2. Do a self-check of your motives for all you do each day. Are you doing things for your own recognition, or are you wanting people's attention to be drawn to our Lord?

Devo Plus:

If you want to know all the Bible says about fasting, go to the website www.bible.org and type in fasting. You will find an immense amount of information and scripture references regarding fasting.

Prayer:

Father God, You have set up for us guidelines as to how to best live our lives. Through the Bible and the fellowship and teaching of other believers, we can learn to live and grow to be more like Jesus. We are broken humans who still sin and do things for selfish reasons. Help us to change our motives so that we are more centered on Jesus Christ, who is our only hope for a joyful life while here on the Earth and for life eternal. I pray these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen!