‏‏‎ ‎90 Day Bible Challenge

Day 21 of 90 - 1 Samuel 20:18- 2 Samuel 3:21

Day 21 - COMPLETE!

On Day 21, we completed 1 Samuel 20:18-2 Samuel 3:21, and In most of 1 Samuel, David seems to be running away from Saul, in the hopes that he will not die. But Saul’s behavior reveals something important about those who repent versus those who say I’m sorry. Evidence of true repentance is changed behavior. Evidence of an apologetic pretender is pretty poetry. We see this clearly in 1 Samuel 24, when David tells Saul that he could’ve killed him in the cave, but he did not. Saul’s response is problematic for several reasons. First of all, he asks “is that your voice, David, my son?” Then he weeps. Then he gives a full Broadway drama by declaring truth without conviction. He says to David,” You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.” All of this is theatrics without true transformation.

What’s interesting is that Saul starts calling David, “my son” only after he gets caught. But if he were really his “spiritual father” he wouldn’t be plotting to kill his seed. True fathers aren’t intimidated by their sons; they are inspired by them. But in actuality, these words are said to distract David from Saul’s deceptive nature. Saul was not David’s father; Jesse was. Saul was not even a mentor to David; Samuel was. But many times, imposters will try to impose a role onto your life that you don’t need, or they can’t be, in order to make you feel like they are more significant to you than they really are. Don’t be deceived. Respect but don’t accept. David never calls Saul “Father.” He only calls him Lord or King. This teaches me that I can still honor Saul for the position he holds without subscribing to the position he wants. In short, stop letting people call you “son” when they “are NOT your father.”

There are several “spiritual sons” damaged in life because the wrong leader claimed them, and then named them without authorization. But they weren’t your parent; they were your peer. It’s ok to have mentors, and teachers, but there are not many fathers (1 Corinthians 4:15).

Secondly. Saul proves to us that deception reveals itself in the dramatic. He makes all of these emotional claims to David and still doesn’t change. As soon as the curtain closes, he begins another plot to kill David. But God gives David self-control because the same man who could sling one stone and kill Goliath, does not strike with one sword and kill Saul. In this chapter, God is giving you the restraint to win without retaliation.

Day 20 of 90 - 1 Samuel 9-1 Samuel 20:17

Day 20 - COMPLETE!

On Day 20, we examined 1 Samuel 9-1 Samuel 20:17, and I have never had as many notes and “spiritual epiphanies” as I had today. But I really want to be practical this week, so I’m pointing to verses that most might overlook, in the hopes that we can humanize these biblical characters and see ourselves in them.

Now I don’t know how you’ve been taught to look at Saul, but I’ve only ever seen Saul through the lens of his mistakes. I’ve only seen Saul as a pre-cursor to David. The sermon typically goes, Saul was first, BUT DAVID, now THAT was the king. Saul, then, becomes the appetizer to a main course, or his role in our sermons, are reduced to the protagonist that incites a climax of some sort, before the real “hero” takes the baton and carries us to the finished line. But this time, when I read 1 Samuel, I paid attention to who Saul was before he messed up. Saul was a regular guy. He was respectful, humble, giving, and really tall. He stood out, so he had that “kingly” appeal, but I think I forgot two simple things about him. He was the first to do it, and he reigned as king for 42 years. That is major for a lot of reasons. As the first King to do it, he was prone to mess up. He had no template; no one to compare his job to; he didn’t have a job description or a handbook. He was also selected because the people wanted a king, not because he wanted to be one. He’s found in the beginning of his story, looking for some lost donkeys; not knowing his entire life is about to shift. In a way, he reminds me of a child protege who becomes famous too soon, and now he’s managing a success he never imagined he’d have.

On top of that, his tenure wasn’t tentative. He was king for 42 years. And that’s a long time when you think about it. I always thought that he was King for a quick second, then he half-obeyed God, and was fired; then David came along and saved the day. But technically, Saul was king longer than David (40 years). Now let’s go really practical here. How old are you right now? What has changed about you over the last 20 years? Would you make the same decisions you made 20 years ago about love, leadership, and money? NO! So why do we judge Saul so harshly when he literally fell into a kingship he didn’t expect, became comfortable and maybe a little entitled over time, and because he was first, that also meant he didn’t think there would be a second. This leads me to my final point. Obedience would be easy if the requirements were short-term. True obedience is commitment until the end—not the honeymoon stages of love, but 40 years later, can you still be faithful? Will you still come home at night? Can you still preach with vigor?

Lesson- have a little grace with “Saul’s”. Over time, he might’ve let his position get to his head. But if it were me, I might’ve done the same. He was 30, which is young. But he was also the first. It’s hard being the first to do anything because you are judged for everything. Lord, help us not to judge. Help us to cover and pray.

Day 19 of 90 - Judges 20 - 1 Samuel 8

Day 19 - COMPLETE!

On Day 19, we completed Judges 20-1 Samuel 8. In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah’s story leapt from the pages, but this time, for a different reason. I saw a very practical lesson in 1 Samuel 1:22. Sure, I’ve preached about how consistent Hannah’s worship was; and I do believe, at her core, Hannah was a true worshiper. Who, other than a worshipper, would go to Shiloh year after year, to worship a God who “shut up her womb” (1 Samuel 1:6). Who, other than a worshipper, would put up with Peninnah’s provocations and not give her a “piece of her mind.” I have no doubt that Hannah was a worshipper and we see that in every season of her life. However, Hannah was a worshipper with priorities. Hannah was a worshipper with wisdom. We know this because once Samuel was born, Hannah had to make a crucial decision. Do I stay with my infant baby and wean him, or do I go up to offer my annual sacrifices to God at Shiloh. Hannah decided not to go. She loved God, but she also had her priorities in order, and she told her husband, after the boy is weaned I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there. And I love this verse “so the woman stayed at home and nursed her son.”


This hit me so hard because, as a father, I sometimes I find myself having to make difficult decisions between church and child. Do I go to ballet or bible study? Do I hop on a plane to get to Parent-Teacher Conference or do I take this preaching engagement? And this simple, practical decision that Hannah made, reminded me of this truth: before there was church, there was family.


Hannah loved God, but only she could wean her child. And for those of us in ministry, be careful not to sacrifice your child on the altar of church. Elkanah told her “do what seems best to you,” and I think some of us need to hear just that. If it’s not best for you and your family, don’t do it. Don’t put yourself in a compromising position all because you are over-committed to an organization. On the other hand, don’t use your children as an easy “out” from the commitments you’ve made. Both extremes are problematic. So I guess I’m saying, be balanced.

 

A false balance is an abomination (Proverbs 11:1) and I believe that many people have found themselves choosing church over children. Or, they have not been free from a “works righteousness” mentality so they are serving in church because they think that serving makes them more “saved.” It is not by works lest any man should boast. I am praying that God will free us from feeling like we need to apologize for having right priorities. I am also praying that we don’t miss pivotal years in our children’s lives trying to please people who will never be satisfied. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Day 18 of 90 - Judges 8 - Judges 19

Day 18 - COMPLETE!

On Day 18, we read Judges 8 - Judges 19, and at the end of our reading today, I was stunned by the horrific act recorded in Judges 19. The first verse begins with an important fact. Israel had no king. And as a result, they did whatever they wanted to do. One man, a Levite, took a concubine from Bethlehem, and she left him after being unfaithful to him (2). She goes back to live with her parents, and after 4 months, the Levite goes to convince his concubine to come back home. After prolonging his stay at her father’s house, they end up in a town they shouldn’t be in. An old man offers his home to them, and wicked men in the city start pounding on the house to engage in inappropriate behavior with the Levite.

This is where it gets crazy. The owner of the house tells the wicked men no about their request to be with the Levite, but the owner offers his virgin daughter and the Levite’s concubine. Then, after the wicked men insist, the Levite “sends the concubine outside.” They rape her, abuse her, and let her go. She returns to the house, and lays at the door until daylight. When the Levite gets up in the morning, he discovers that she is dead.

So he puts her on a donkey, travels back home, takes a knife and cuts up his concubine limb by limb into twelve parts, and spreads her parts throughout all of Israel. When those in the town see it, they are outraged and apalled, and they decide, “We must do something! So Speak up.”

Those words resonated with me because many of us see injustice happening in our neighborhoods, in our nation, and around the world. But what are we doing about it? Here are some sobering facts:

Since 2007, more than 49,000 cases of human trafficking in the US have been reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which receives an average of 150 calls per day.

In 2018, advocates tracked at least 26 deaths of transgender people in the U.S. due to fatal violence, the majority of whom were Black transgender women.

One in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult

One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives

The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12 to 14 years old, and the average age for boys is 11 to 13 years old

There are so many problematic parts of this text, but one thing I want to focus on is this: WE MUST DO SOMETHING! SO SPEAK UP. Don’t be silent another day about the injustice you see. Do more than pray…speak up. God is asking us to advocate for those on the margins, and to help those who are in dire need.

Day 17 of 90 - Joshua 20 - Judges 7

Day 17 - COMPLETE!

On Day 17, we read Joshua 20-Judges 7. The key verse for me is Judges 6:23.These words were said to Gideon who, after a series of excuses, was clearly afraid. When Judges 6 opens, God sends an angel to Gideon and says two things: “the Lord is with you” + “mighty warrior.” I love that God speaks to who we shall become, even if who we are right now is antithetical to that truth. God also makes it clear: I am with you. And, the more I read the OT, the more I appreciate those words. Because when the Lord is NOT with you, death is the consequence. But in spite of these words, Gideon coughs up more excuses. First he challenges God by saying “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” I love his honesty, because most of us would’ve said “thank you” in front of the angel’s face, and “whatever” behind his back. But Gideon asks an important question that I think leads to a common misunderstanding about God.

Many people assume that “God with us” means you will not suffer, you will not cry, and most importantly, that there are no consequences to poor decisions. But the truth is, many are the afflictions of the righteous (Psalm 34:19), and the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared to God’s glory (Romans 1:18). Both of these scriptures point to the reality of God’s presence and the reality of suffering. But our pain has purpose. Our suffering is only for a season.

Nevertheless, God strengthens Gideon, answers his questions, and empowers him to save Israel from the Midianites. Still Gideon needs a sign, and in verse 20, God causes fire to flare from the rock, and Gideon gets scared. But the Lord says to him (24) PEACE DO NOT BE AFRAID. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DIE.

those words hit me so deep. Beyond Gideon’s fear, I believe those words were spoken for us today. For those of us still nervous about dying too soon; and for those who feel like God will leave us mid-stream, hear the word of the Lord: you are not going to die. You will not just die old, you will die finished. God will empower you to accomplish everything he put inside of you. And this is the word of the LORD!

Day 16 of 90 - Joshua 7:1- Joshua 19:51

Day 16 - COMPLETE!

In the reading on Day 16, we read Joshua 7:1-Joshua 19:51. I received so many “one sentence sermons” but I can only share a few in this space. The first sentence was: your next season of connections will require critical conversations. The next one was: don’t get intimate without an interview.

These words were inspired by Joshua 9 because therein, the Gibeonites try to deceive Joshua into covering them and protecting them. Joshua engages them with a critical conversation and asks important questions in order to vet the voices. Who are you? And where do you come from? In the same way, we have to remember that some people are only approaching us because of the favor on our lives. They don’t want relationship with us; they want affiliation and association so they can appear “more godly, or more stable” than they really are.

Joshua asked the right questions, but asked the wrong people. He consulted with his peers but did not inquire of the Lord (Joshua 9:14). And like Isaac who gave Jacob the blessing after asking all the right questions but not trusting his gut, Joshua also made a bad decision. He made a treaty of peace with deceit. He allied with pretenders. He connected with counterfeit colleagues. Listen: be careful not to sign the dotted line with people who have come into your life to take advantage of you.

But because of this treaty in Joshua 9, Joshua finds himself in a bind in Joshua 10. The Gibeonites are under attack and they turn to Joshua’s people to rescue them. This is the chapter where the sun stands still and God vindicates on Israel’s behalf but can I tell you something I discovered today? This fight wasn’t even their fight, and they still won. This fight was between the Gibeonites and the surrounding kings. Nevertheless, Joshua won. And the one sentence sermon I heard today was this: God is going to help you win battles that aren’t even yours to fight.

Furthermore, in Verse 11- it wasn’t Joshua’s weapons that caused them to win; but God’s intervention. God’s hailstones were greater than their swords. And God’s weapons are greater than our words.

Lesson- sometimes we need to just trust God to win the battle for us, without us. He doesn’t need our weapons to win, so just submit to His process for your conquest.

Day 15 of 90 - Deut. 28:15-Joshua 6

On DAY 15, we read Deuteronomy 28:15 - Joshua 6, and there were so many poignant lessons and themes in our reading. But the scripture that really spoke to me in this current chapter of my life, was Joshua 4:4 “So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe.” I realized that Moses led Joshua for 80 years of his life. While in that season, Joshua was in the shadows. He was the underdog. He was around but he was not leading. And then, God moved him from the back of the line to the front of the line. But it doesn’t happen instantaneously. It happens when he is almost 90 years old. And, while we haven’t gotten to the part that speaks of Joshua’s death, he dies at 110 years old, which means he stood in the shadows much longer than he led on the frontline. It made me ask the question: can we stand the waiting period? Many people want to lead, but a lot of people have moved prematurely. And I believe that Joshua learned what to do and what not to do by watching Moses, and following his leadership. 

I also noticed how Joshua didn’t use the same leaders Moses used when he stepped into leadership. Instead, according to Joshua 4:4, he picked and appointed twelve new men one from each tribe, and those became his core team. As I read that, I wondered how many of us are trying to lead like Joshua but we are still trying to use Moses’s team? I wonder if God is trying to challenge us to see the importance of selecting a team that has your heart, without trying to force people to do what they “used to do” in another administration. If you think about it, the same happens in this country. When a new president takes office, he selects his cabinet and they become his team. How hard would it be to use an old team for a new vision? Yet, many of us spend so much time exhausting ourselves with the task of breathing new life into people who don’t see the promise the way God showed it to you. So leaders, entrepreneurs, pray for God to send a new team. Don’t beat yourself up. Maybe the issue isn’t the vision; maybe the issue is the team.

Day 14 of 90 - Deut 12 - Deut 28:12

We read Deut. 12 - Deut. 28:14, and Deut. 15:7-11 spoke to me. It says, If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

What disturbed me and enlightened me at the same time were these words: “There will always be poor people in the land.” It disturbed me because when I look at the success of a country like America, I wonder why and how can we still have so much poverty in our nation. even worse, how can we know there are people in our churches who are poor, and we, as God’s body, turn our eyes away?

According to a recent US Census (2018), 38.1 million people are in poverty. There are 329 million people in America, which means at least a tithe of the nation is living in poverty. Of those in poverty, 553,742 people experience homelessness on a given night. That means, of every 10,000 people, 17 are homeless. But what disturbs me is that we, as a nation, have spent $5.9 trillion on wars we didn’t have to fight in the Middle East and Asia since 2001.

Clearly, I am not a certified researcher but when I see these numbers, my heart breaks. Something has gone terribly wrong with the pulse of our priorities as a nation. But I can’t speak to every human in America. I can, however, ask us Christians: what are we doing about the poor? What plan do you have to contribute in some way, to eradicating poverty in your city?

I have been guilty of praying for God to help me amass enough money to purchase a car or an outfit, but am I just as adamant about asking God to lead me to the right agency to support our impoverished communities?

Day 13 of 90 - Deut 1 - Deut 11

On Day 13, we read Deut. 1 - Deut. 11, and the verses that provoked me to tears were Deut. 6:10-12. It says, “When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt.”

As I read this words, I felt God scream from the mountaintop: “Don’t Forget Me.” I remember learning how to tithe when I was a little boy. My grandmother taught me to give a dollar of every 10 dollars I received. And I remember being in that phase where I would give to God, and I would see these supernatural surprises happening out of nowhere—money found on the street, random “holy $ handshakes” and I was in awe of how faithful God was to his word. It was small to some but major to me. Then, I got older, I got “smarter,” and I started to debate within myself. But all along, I felt God pulling me to honor him with my resources, with my relationships, and by giving Him undivided time in his presence. I drifted a little, but he never stopped blessing me. And it got to the point where the more successful I became, the more excuses I made. I settled for less presence, less sacrifice, and less surrender. 

But boy did God get my attention with this scripture. I strongly believe God is bringing you into a place of supernatural provision and prosperity. I’m not just talking about success according to man’s definition; I’m talking about unfathomable favor. I’ve seen God do it. I’ve seen God whisper my name in the wind, and next thing I know, I am preaching before thousands. I’ve seen God whisper my name in the wind, and next thing I know, I’m writing for stars and millionaires.

And God has no respect of persons. If he did it for me, He will do it for you. BUT….DONT FORGET HIM. Don’t forget to honor the God of your success. Because God will remove the gift when we forget the Giver.

Day 12 of 90 - Numbers 24:1-Numbers 36

Today we read Numbers 24-Numbers 36, and I got stuck on Numbers 26:51 which says that the total number of Israelites counted, after the census was taken in the end, was 601,730 men. Now I’m sure many people are wondering why this is so important to me. But, if you read Numbers the first chapter, you will discover that another census was done when the Israelites first entered into the wilderness. Moses counts all the tribes, and the total number of able bodied men, was 603,550 (not including women and children). So that means at least a million people were transitioning from one place to the next. And during this transition, several things happened. God sends plagues to destroy the complainers. The earth opens up and swallows the followers of Korah. God also destroys anyone who preferred to have died in Egypt; and in one episode he allows them to eat so much quail that they got sick to their stomach. So, many people fell off over the 38 year journey that Numbers documents. But when we get to Numbers 26:52 the Bible says the number of men is still at 601,730 able bodied men.

In other words, NOTHING LOST, NOTHING BROKEN. God will make up the difference in the end. You may have lost much over the last 3 years of your life. You may be disappointed that the people who started with you 30 years ago, are not here with you to celebrate your current season. But know this: God will make up the difference in the end. There are more for you than against you; and every loss isn’t a loss. Sometimes God needs to shave off dead weight so that you can grow. Sometimes God needs to remove distractions that are working against your mission. But over time, he will replace and replenish what you lost and restore everything you need to succeed.

Many of us have lost a lot of money investing into people, places and things that never turned around to say thank you. But don’t worry, God is going to make up the difference in the end. For God sees all, and God is not unrighteousness to forget your labor of love.