Foundations January 1, 2012

Thinking Rightly About God
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. (NIV)

What comes into your mind when you think of God? Commonly we aren’t even sure about our view
of God but our view of God is very important because it determines how we worship Him and how
we live our lives. What we leave unsaid speaks volumes about our belief system. Often people
mistakenly don’t bother with theology, they leave that to those who are intellectuals, preachers and
teachers but this is a great mistake. A right conception of God is crucial to practical Christian living.
Only through painful self-probing are we able to discover what we actually believe about God. This
month, Foundations Daily Devotional will tackle the topic of the attributes of God - who He is and why
those things matter. It is important that we get this right because thinking wrong thoughts about God
is equivalent to idolatry. Our desire as a church is to help you worship, know and love the one True
God and not to worship and love your own image of God. One of the Core values at Southland is to
love and worship God wholeheartedly. How can we love God in this way if we don’t really know who
He is? This month, let the Lord speak to you as you go through each of these devotionals. Ask Him
to broaden your perspective of who He is and take the opportunity to learn to fear Him and love Him
more!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What are some of the things that have shaped your view of who God is?
2. Are you ready and willing to let God probe your heart and your mind as we look at our beliefs
about God and His attributes?
3. Pray that throughout this month you would not just be intellectually stimulated by these
devotionals but that these devotionals would change your thinking and the way you behave.
Pray that you would learn to worship the One True God rightly!

Foundations December 31, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Samuel 19-21
NEW EARTH
Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he
said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (NIV)

This present world that we live in has been polluted by Satan and sin. In fact, many of us can’t even
fathom a world without sin since it has such a strong grip on our world. Because of this a new earth
is essential because the one we live on has been marred and broken by man`s corruption, violence
and sin. Our finite minds fail to grasp the thought of an eternity with no sin. Everything in this new
creation will be perfect as measured by the holiness of God and His church will be “without spot,
or wrinkle” or any such thing. The perpetual sunlight and joy of the eternal presence of God will be
ours: “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and
God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will
be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev.
21:3-4).
Everything in connection with this new creation will be brought into order before God and fashioned
according to His perfect mind. What a peaceful and magnificent place to be! Can you imagine – no
more death, no more mourning, no more crying and no more pain! This is the blessed HOPE that
we have to look forward to! It is this HOPE that helps us persevere under trail and in the midst of
temptation; it is this HOPE that motivates us to submit fully to God and His plan for our lives. This
life is only temporary; we have HOPE of a great and marvelous new life where we will dwell with
God and man for all eternity!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. How does the thought of an eternity without death, mourning, crying or pain bring HOPE to
your circumstances? What pains are you looking forward to leaving when you enter eternity
with Christ?
2. Entering into this new earth only comes through accepting Jesus as Lord of your life. Have
you done that? If so, pray that many more will come to know Him. If not, why don’t you submit
your life to Him today and choose to live for Him?
3. Spend some time meditating on the HOPE that we have in Jesus! Praise Him for this HOPE,
worship Him for it!

Foundations December 30, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Samuel 16-18
MILLENNIAL KINGDOM REWARDS
Matthew 5:19 Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so,
shall be called least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be
called great in the Kingdom of heaven. (KJV)

There will be many different types of heavenly rewards that believers will receive at the time of the
Second Coming. These rewards are not of secondary importance but rather are an important part
of our destiny. Therefore, all believers should be familiar with them. The heir of a great financial
fortune or one investing in venture knows the main details of what they hope to gain before they
make their investment but as Christians, do we know that which we are investing in? In Rev. 2-3,
Jesus gave His most in-depth teaching on rewards (mentioning 22 rewards). He knew what we
would need to be properly motivated and stabilized during the release of the glory and crisis in the
End-Time move of God as seen in the Book of Revelation. There will be a vast difference in the
measure of glory of each one’s reward. Some in the Kingdom will be called the least and some
the greatest (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:11; Rev. 11:18; 19:5). Rewards are not given automatically but
only to those who fulfill specific conditions. This is the time in our life when the “exchange rate” for
obedience is the highest. To believe means to “respond to Jesus in confidence and consistency”.
One aspect of being blessed is in receiving eternal rewards that are far beyond a “100-fold return”
for all that we offer Jesus in love and obedience (Mt. 19:29; Mk. 10:30; Lk 8:8; Mt. 13:8; 23). Jesus
reveals the great exchange of “few things” to “many things”. God esteems, remembers and rewards
our small expressions of obedience in our mind, emotions, and will. Those who were faithful in
“very little” will have “government over ten cities” in the Millennial Kingdom.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What sorts of small things has God called you to do (or obey) that you have figured don’t
matter or are insignificant?
2. What do you need to do in order to be “faithful” in those small things?
3. Thank the Lord for His exchange rate, how He multiples even the smallest things to bring us
great rewards in eternity!

Foundations December 29, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Samuel 13-15
RULING AS KINGS AND PRIESTS
Revelation 5:10 …have made us kings and priests to our God…we shall reign on the earth. (NKJV)

The Millennial Kingdom is the time when the saints will reign with Jesus on the earth for 1,000
years. He will establish peace and righteousness as this Kingdom will be apparent worldwide
affecting every sphere of life (political, social, agricultural, economic, spiritual, educational, law
enforcement, family, media, arts, technology, athletics, environment, social institutions, etc.). Only
those who are counted worthy (considered faithful) will be made rulers in the age-to-come. Matthew
25 is part of the Olivet Discourse, the context of which is End Times teaching. The parable of the
ten talents is part of this teaching of Christ. In this parable, the Master speaks to the faithful servant
in verse 23 ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you
over much. Enter into the joy of your master. Understanding the context of this passage shows us
that we have the opportunity to rule and reign with Jesus in the Millennial Kingdom. We won’t be
sitting on clouds and playing harps in Heaven, NO! We will be ruling and reigning with Jesus, if we
are faithful in this age. You may never get a chance to be a “somebody” on earth but you can be
a CEO for all eternity if you live your life faithfully! What HOPE this brings to us. We don’t have to
accomplish all sorts of amazing things on earth, we just have to take our talents and use them for
Christ. Whether you have five talents, two talents or one talent, commit to using them to serve the
Lord faithfully and you will be greatly rewarded in eternity.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Have you ever thought about how your choices in this life affect your job in eternity? Does this
excite you or scare you?
2. Are you using your talents so serve yourself or to serve the Lord? If you are using them to
serve the Lord are you listening in prayer regularly to make sure that you are serving Him in
the ways that He requires of you?
3. The HOPE of heavenly rewards really evens the playing field. God is just calling you to be
faithful! Spend some time praising Him and thanking Him for this! Your circumstances don’t
dictate your rewards in eternity, rather your faithfulness does!

Foundations December 28, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Samuel 8-12
PEACE ON EARTH
Isaiah 11:6-9 6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb…the calf and the young lion and the fatling
together; and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones
shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the
cobra’s hole…9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of
the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (NKJV)

In today’s news we hear a lot about peace. It seems that all humanity can agree that world
peace is something to strive for. God promises that He will bring world peace and He will do it
through Jesus. When Jesus returns He will bind Satan and begin to establish a new system of
government on earth. This will be the greatest time of peace that the world has ever seen since
Eden. This will include peace not just between nations but peace between all people groups and
even between people and animals. Animosity between animals with each other and with humans
will be removed (Rom. 8:20-21). We know that many animals today are presently carnivorous
(they eat meat) but today’s verses in Isaiah tell us that in the New Earth animals will begin to eat
vegetation so that the animals will not harm one another or harm people. Can you imagine a world
where all creation lives together in harmony and unity! What HOPE we have for this future! Can
you imagine what it will be like for children to play with all the animals on the earth? To know that
nature will no longer destroy or hurt us! What a future we have to look forward to!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. How does the future promise of peace on earth sound to you? Does it motivate you to yearn
for Christ’s return?
2. Pray that as a church we would be prepared and ready for Christ’s return and that we would
be part of a huge harvest of souls at the end of this age.
3. Pray that you would be faithful to what God calls you to do in the End Times; that you would
persevere until the end.

Foundations December 27, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Samuel 4-7
THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM
Revelation 20:4 and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (KJV)

The Millennial Kingdom is the one thousand year reign of Jesus after He defeats the antichrist
and raptures all the saints. During the Millennial Kingdom Satan is bound and banished from the
earth (Rev. 20:1-3) and the visible glory of the Lord is constantly in view on the earth. Can you
imagine what it will be like on the earth at that time? The Kingdom of God being established on
earth will affect every sphere of life (political, social, agricultural, economic, spiritual, educational,
law enforcement, family, media, arts, technology, athletics, environment, social institutions, etc.).
The result will be a 1,000-year period of unprecedented blessing for the whole earth as Jesus
establishes righteousness and prosperity, and restores the agriculture, atmosphere, and animal
life to some of the conditions that were seen in the Garden of Eden (Rev. 20:1-6; Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-
9; 11:1-16; 51:1-8; 60-62; 65:17-25; Ps. 2:6-12; 110:1-7; Deut. 8; 28; Mt. 5:5; 6:10; 17:11; 19:28;
28:19; Acts 1:6; 3:21). Jesus as King of Kings will personally govern a worldwide Kingdom from
Jerusalem. He will do this in partnership with resurrected saints (Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6;
22:5; Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rom 8:17).
In the Millennium, all the kings of the earth will be saved and worship Jesus (Ps. 72:11; 102:15;
138:4; 148:11; Isa. 62:2; Rev. 21:24) and base their national governments on God’s Word. Can
you imagine what this will be like? Does this not provide you with immense HOPE! Thank you
Jesus!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What are you doing to prepare yourself for the coming responsibilities as co-sharers of His
benevolent reign on earth during the Millennial Kingdom? Are you spending your time and
energy as a labourer in His Kingdom?
2. Spend some time listening in prayer about your ministry areas. Ask the Lord to show you
how He wants you to minister; which volunteer areas to get involved in at church and what He
requires of you.
3. Spend some time thanking Him for the opportunity to serve Him!

Foundations December 26, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 2 Samuel 1-3
FUTURE GLORY
1 Peter 1:11 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did
signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (KJV)

Scripture is clear that there are two advents of the Messiah. The first one is what we celebrate at
Christmas time, His birth. The second one is what we await, His return to reign on earth. Just
as the events of His first coming were marvellously and minutely fulfilled, His second coming
will receive a like fulfillment. Apathy, indifference, carelessness and lack of understanding of the
events associated with the Second coming will not keep it from occurring. Jesus is returning for
His people and will ultimately set up His everlasting and glorious Kingdom. This provides us with
much HOPE! There is as much prophecy of His coming back to earth a second time as there
was for His first appearance. The cross and suffering (first coming) and the crown and glory
(second coming) belong to the same person and He will come again! The numerous prophecies
concerning Him that have already been fulfilled act as guarantees that all the predictions of His
future appearance and activities will receive like fulfillment. The thought of His return can turn
us from feelings of hopelessness to feelings of joy! For the rest of the month we will be looking
at Jesus as our ultimate hope as we look at what Scripture has to say about the Millennial
Kingdom. What a golden age the Millennial Kingdom will be, when, during the thousand years of
righteousness and peace, every promise and covenant with Abraham and David as well as the
glowing predictions of the prophets, will be literally fulfilled to the uttermost. We have much to be
HOPEFUL about!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you see the Second Advent (second coming of Christ) as a hopeful event or do you
struggle with fearing it? If you struggle with fear, ask the Lord to show you why and what you
can do about it.
2. Ask the Lord to open your heart over the next few days to receive the HOPE that He wants to
bestow on you in regards to His second coming. Pray that you would receive it and it would
bring you great joy.

Foundations December 25, 2011

REST IN HARD TIMES
Matthew 11:28-30 28Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (NIV)

Today is Christmas day, the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. As we meditate on His birth
today, let’s take it one step further, let’s look at the HOPE that we have in hard times because of
Him. Jesus came to bring rest and relief to the weary but that often looks different than what we
think it should. Often Jesus doesn’t just take away our trial or hardship, instead, He wants to give
us rest in the midst of it. Jesus wants to give us HOPE in the midst of our trials and sufferings.
The HOPE that He wants to give us is the HOPE of the resurrection. This trial won’t last forever,
this isn’t heaven but rather earth - it will get better than this! In order to receive rest in hard times
we need to take on Jesus yoke and burden. The burdens that we carry are heavy and difficult but
according to Scripture His burdens are easy and light but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t BIG! This
Christmas season, let’s commit to going to Him with our trials and problems instead of holding them
ourselves. He says “come to me” and He will grant you the grace to carry the burdens that He is
calling you to carry. There are some burdens that God asks us to carry that are too big to carry –
He asked Jesus to carry the weight of the world on the cross. Whatever He asks you to carry; He
will empower you to do it!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask Jesus to give you HOPE in the midst of a trial or burden that you are carrying. Ask Him for
a word, thought or picture about that situation or circumstance.
2. Ask the Lord to show you if there are any burdens that you are carrying that He hasn’t placed
on you. What are you trying to carry on your own strength because it’s not His burden?
3. Pray that you would learn to carry only His burdens and that you would have the selfassurance
to walk away from the things that other people are demanding of you carrying only
what He desires of you to carry.

Foundations December 24, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 28-31
THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF JESUS
Phil 2:5-7 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though
he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made
himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (ESV)

Every Christmas we celebrate the person of Jesus Christ, being born, the Son of God
becoming the Son of Man. This was a momentous, history-changing, turning-point event,
where the relationship between God and man was forever altered. Paul said that the birth of
Jesus into the world was a humbling event, a lowering of Jesus’ status which means that Jesus
had to be someone pretty special BEFORE He was born. Jesus’ birth in the stable isn’t part 1
of Jesus’ story; it’s the beginning of part 2. We can’t appreciate part 2, unless we understand
part 1 (who Jesus was before He was born). Jesus has been around since eternity past, He
even took part in creation (Gen 1:26, Col 1:15-16). Every time, in the Old Testament, when
someone met with God they were meeting with Jesus. (Example – Moses in Exodus 22:20,
Numbers 14:14). Wherever people saw God and met with God in the Old Testament – if God
was in the form of a man, if they met with Him face-to-face, then THAT’S JESUS! Isaiah had
encounters with Jesus; Daniel had at least one encounter with Jesus; Isaac had encounters
with Jesus; Abraham ate with Jesus; Joshua was confronted by Jesus outside of Jericho.
77 times in the Old Testament the Angel of the Lord appears to people. But the Angel of the
Lord is no ordinary angel – He is Jesus! That’s the Christmas story. That the God of Abraham,
because of His amazing love for human beings, would lower Himself to become the Grandchild
of Abraham, so that the human race could be redeemed to God. What love, what HOPE to a
dying world!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. The Bible is full of people having encounters with Jesus! This gives us HOPE that we can
have encounters with Jesus. Ask the Lord to reveal more of Himself to you, that you can
have an encounter with Him every day, not just in your devotions but throughout the day.
2. Thank the Lord for the Love and HOPE that He has given mankind!
3. Pray that we would bring this HOPE to the dying world around us.

Foundations December 23, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 25-27
JESUS’ DIVINITY
John 1:1, 18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He
has declared Him. (NKJV)

There are three succinct reasons for the necessity of Jesus’ deity. First, only one who is infinitely
God could bear the full penalty for all the sins of all those who would believe in Him – any infinite
creature would have been incapable of bearing that penalty. Second, salvation is from the Lord
(Jonah 2:9) and the whole message of the Bible is designed to show that no human being, no
creature, could ever save man – only God Himself could. Thirdly, only someone who is truly and
fully God could be the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5), both to bring us back to
God and also to reveal God most fully to us (John 14:9). John Calvin stated, “As God He could not
suffer, and as man He could not overcome death, He united the human nature with the divine that
He might gain us the victory.” What HOPE this brings to mankind, the HOPE of salvation, the HOPE
that we are no longer slaves to sin but can have freedom in Christ. It’s all possible because of the
Divinity and Humanity of Christ. The divinity of Christ is what separates Christianity from all other
religions. Jehovah Witnesses claim that Jesus was merely Michael the Archangel in human form,
while Mormons reduce His divinity by claiming that anyone can be a god. Most cults also deny that
Christ is God. Atheists believe that Jesus was just a man. As Christians, it is important that we get
this doctrine right! Jesus was fully man AND fully God!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Why is the divinity of Christ so important to the message of Christianity?
2. Spend some time worshipping Jesus for the HOPE that He provides – for salvation, for
freedom, for anything else He brings to your mind.
3. Salvation belongs to the Lord! Praise Him for the victory that He won on the cross, for His
character, for who He is.

Foundations December 22, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 22-24
THE MEDIATOR
1 Timothy 3:16 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He
appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the
nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (NIV)

The incarnation is one of the Gospel’s greatest mysteries. God, coming to earth as a human child,
can it ever be truly fathomed? In today’s verse, Paul stated that the greatness of the mystery of
godliness was unquestionable. Jesus came to earth and took the very form of a human, what would
compel Him to do such a thing? Jesus, who lived in complete unity within the Trinity, took on flesh for
all eternity. Jesus is the God-Man, a descendant of David, born from a young maiden. This mystery
is designed to cause us to worship, not just comprehend. Jesus is 1) fully God; 2) fully human; 3) one
person; 4) possesses two distinct natures – divine and human. He is fully God and fully man in one,
undivided person. Without ceasing to be what He always been, the Eternal Son of God has become
the human Jesus; and Jesus, without ceasing to be fully human, is the Eternal Son of God. Jesus did
not “experience” God – He was God. He is God. He never “became” God for He has been God from
eternity past. What HOPE this brings mankind for this makes Jesus the perfect mediator (1 Tim. 2:5-
6). A mediator is one who represents two parties to one another in order to bring about reconciliation.
Oden Thomas states that “the mediator between God and humanity would have to be nothing less
that God and nothing less than fully human, otherwise this mediatorship would have been impossible,
for how can one mediate a conflict in which one has no capacity to empathize with one or the other
side?” O the blessed HOPE, we have a great mediator in Jesus!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Take some time to mediate on the incarnation of Jesus. He is God, He is man! What a great
mystery.
2. Spend some time thanking Him for the HOPE that He brings us as our great Mediator. Jesus,
the Mediator between God and man.
3. Pray that you would feel joy and HOPE as you receive these truths.

Foundations December 21, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 20-21
HEROD AND THE SCRIBES
Luke 2:3-4 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and
assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them… for Herod is about to
search for the child, to destroy him.

Jesus in the cradle was mightier than Herod on the throne. No wonder Herod was agitated! Herod
had been warned of the end of his dynasty therefore he sought to destroy the Child. No man has
troubled the human heart so much as Christ. Is our attitude that of the adoring shepherds or that of
Herod, mad with jealousy, trembling because of the possible loss of His throne. When the Lordship
of Jesus is truly recognized, many Herod’s are troubled. Troubled Herod sought the advice of the
Scribes and the Pharisees who knew from Scripture the place where the Messiah was to be born.
The Scribes could point the Wise men toward Jesus but they themselves remained motionless. The
attitudes of the Scribes and Pharisees teach us that it is not always those who are blessed with the
most religious privileges who give the most honor to Christ. With their knowledge of the Scriptures
prophecies they should have been the first to head to Bethlehem to look upon the Babe and worship
Him but they received Him not. But we can be the same way; we can have the Scriptures in our
head but not in our hearts. The Scribes never recognized the royalty and deity of the One born of
Mary and right until He died in agony and shame they were Christ-haters. Still today, many reject His
virgin birth and His claims as the Son of God.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What sort of things sit on the throne of your life? What things get in the way of your walk with
God?
2. Ask the Lord for a strategy for dealing with each of these things, then spend some time praying
that you would follow through on what He shows you.
3. Ask the Lord to break down any hardness in your heart so that head knowledge about God can
move down into your heart. Ask Him to soften your heart to receive more of His presence and
His love.

Foundations December 20, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 18-19
SIMEON & ANNA
Luke 2:24-28 25 Simeon was righteous and devout…It had been revealed to him by the Holy
Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ… When the parents brought in
the child Jesus…28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God (NIV)

Luke 2: 36-38 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna…, she was very old…she never left the
temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very
moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to
the redemption of Jerusalem.
Old Simeon certainly knew the words of the prophets of old and received Jesus, blessing and
praising God. Simeon declares that “his eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:30). He was not
ashamed to declare that this Child was the Saviour of the world and the light to the Gentiles. No
wonder his prophecy caused Mary and Joseph to marvel over all that was being said regarding
Jesus. Then we have the aged Anna as a witness to the Christ’s birth. This woman lived a
selfless life of fasting and prayer and received a rich reward for her godliness, seeing the longpromised
Redeemer and speaking of Him to all that would hear. We have much to imitate from
Anna’s life. Are we living our lives in the promises of Scripture, fasting and praying, patiently
awaiting the second coming of Christ? Are we yearning for complete redemption from sin,
sorrow and Satan? By character and conduct, are we anticipating His return? Notice that both a
woman and a man testified to the Lord’s birth! There is HOPE for all people; the Saviour came
to erase gender prejudice, for He loves both men and women alike and empowers them both
with His Spirit for ministry!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask the Lord to show you any areas of gender prejudice that you may have in your heart.
2. Confess the gender prejudice that has plagued the church for thousands of years. Ask the
Lord to forgive us for these sins.
3. Pray that God would raise up more women leaders in the church, women like Anna, who
live godly lives of fasting and prayer.

Foundations December 19, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 15-17
THE WISE MEN
Matthew 2:11 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed
down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold
and of incense and of myrrh. (NIV)

Among the visitors to the young child were the learned men from the East. They were also
predicted by Isaiah (42:6; 60:3, 6) the prophet. These students of Scripture were guided by a
mysterious star to the very place were Christ could be found. Why is it that the Magi came to
Christ, while the Scribes did not? It was practiced in the East to bring gifts to a King therefore
they presented Christ with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. These gifts enabled Joseph and Mary
to find their way to Egypt and back. God supernaturally provides! The Wise Men saw the Babe,
bowed down and worshipped Him as King. What a striking example of faith for they believed in
Him before they ever knew Him. They saw no miracles to convince them, only a Babe in the arms
of His mother. They didn’t hear any of His teaching, for he was still an infant, helpless and weak.
When they saw the infant they believed they saw the Divine Saviour of the world. What faith!
God’s revelation of Christ’s birth to the Wise men from the East tells us something significant. In
choosing Jewish shepherds and Gentile Magi, God is announcing to the world that Christ had
come for all people, regardless of their beliefs, nationality or status in society. This provides us
with much HOPE – for just as the Gentile Magi had to make a choice to follow the star and seek
Christ, so we must endure in seeking our King.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you have faith like the Magi or do you need tangible results, concrete answers to prayer or
evidence in order to believe?
2. In what sorts of ways are you making the choice every day to seek Christ? Has this become
legalistic for you or are you doing these things out of a heart of love for God?
3. Pray that you would serve the Lord faithfully out of a heart of love for Him, that you would give
Him your gifts and talents, money and time because you love Him, not because it’s expected
of you.

Foundations December 18, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 13-14
ANGELS & SHEPHERDS
Luke 2:8-14 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their
flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news
of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and
lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his
favor rests.”(NIV)

The first to herald the tidings that Christ was coming to save men were the angels who had never
sinned and who needed no Saviour. The first hymn honouring Christ came from a multitude of
heavenly host. How fitting that the Good Shepherd who was coming to bring life to the sheep first
announced His birth to shepherds watching over their flocks. As soon as they heard that Jesus
was born they immediately left to go and see Him. There was no debate about who should stay
back with the sheep; they just went to adore the Christ child. Jesus’ birth was one of the greatest
events in the history of the universe yet its actual occurrence was not known to all mankind.
Instead it was revealed to shepherds – the illiterate, men with little to no schooling. The angels
made known the birth of the Saviour to these shepherds not to the Scribes and the Pharisees (the
intellectuals of the day). No angelic choirs proclaimed that Christ was born in the assembly of the
Sanhedrim where the chief priests and Pharisees met together. Doesn’t this give you HOPE – God
came to save all mankind, not just the intellectuals! He is looking for humble hearts whom He can
work through, is He finding a humble heart in you?

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask the Lord to show you ways that He wants to grow you in humility. Then commit to
following through on what He shows you.
2. The Lord shows no favouritism, no matter what your background, He died for YOU! Praise
Him for that, worship Him for the equality that we have as His children.
3. Pray that as a church we would grow in accepting all people!

Foundations December 17, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 10-12
MARY & JOSEPH
Luke 1:30-34 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with
God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. 32 He
will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne
of His father David, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never
end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (NIV)

It is interesting to compare Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement with Zachariah’s
response. When the angel came to Zechariah with the announcement of John’s birth, he replied,
“How can I be sure of this?” (Luke 1:18) Yet Mary’s reply was “How will this be?” The reply
of Zechariah reports doubt, Mary’s question entertained no doubt but lack of understanding of the
manner of its accomplishment. Reverently, Mary readily complied with the purpose of God. She
knew there was nothing too hard for the Lord whom she placed her HOPE in. She also would have
known that her reputation would have been at stake but no objections were given by her. She
humbly accepted and replied, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said” (Luke
1:38). Her faith in and surrender to God enabled her to accept the situation, the suspicion of Joseph
and the world. Joseph was not the father of Mary’s baby yet he showed tender consideration and
godly character in his desire to “divorce her quietly” (Matt 1:19). God rewarded Joseph’s attitude
towards Mary by revealing His redemptive plan to Him through an angel (Matt 1:20-23). Scripture
tells us that Joseph immediately did what the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife (Matt
1:24). Joseph cared for Mary and her child with reverent devotion, even fleeing to Egypt to keep
them safe.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What things in your life do you sometimes feel are too hard for the Lord? Are you willing to give
them over to the Lord?
2. Mary’s response was one of humility, what is your response to the things that God has called
you to? Do you possess this same quality?
3. Pray that you would grow in humility and that you would feel that there is no job to small when
God has called you to it!

Foundations December 16, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 7-9
ZECHARIAH & ELIZABETH
Luke 1:13 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. (NIV)

Over the next few days we are going to look at the spectators of the birth of Christ - those who were
the witnesses of Christ’s birth and their significance. Zachariah was a priest who, together with
his wife, was upright, observing the Lords commandments blamelessly (Luke 1:6) but they had no
children. In Biblical days this was seen as an ultimate curse from the Lord. After years of praying,
God answered their prayers and they had a son, John the Baptist. Zachariah doubted God when
the angel of the Lord told Him of this news and therefore was smitten mute until John was born.
Zachariah would have known the Scriptures – the wonderful birth of Isaac, Samuel and Samson
showed what God had accomplished in the past and therefore he had no excuse to doubt. Elizabeth
had been barren throughout her childbearing years yet God answers her prayers for a child, what
HOPE this brings to those of us who have long term prayer projects! As soon as Mary conceived
she visited the home of Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s baby leapt within her womb (Luke 1:41), with clarity
and spiritual insight Elizabeth called Mary “the mother of my Lord”. Elizabeth recognized the truth
about the unborn child. What happiness these women must of experienced; what joy in submitting
themselves to God’s plan for His people.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Are there areas in your life where you doubt God? Ask the Lord to give you insight on why you
doubt Him.
2. Is there an area in your life where you are dry or barren? Do you need an infusion of Christ to
provide you with life in that area? Ask the Lord to revive you in that area and to give you a new
HOPE. Ask Him for a word, thought or picture of what He wants to do in that area.
3. Ask the Lord to empower you to keep on enduring through the tough times, to keep praying
even though the answers seem far away, to stay focused on Him and dedicated to persevering.

Foundations December 15, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 4-6
WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR, MIGHTY, EVERLASTING, PEACE
Forecast: Isaiah 9:6 …and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (KJV)
Fulfillment: Matthew 21:15 …the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful
things he did… (NIV)
Hebrews 6:17 …immutability of His counsel… (NKJV)
Matthew 11:20 …His mighty works… (ESV)
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (NIV)
John 16:33 in me you may have peace (ESV)

Isaiah gives us a galaxy of names the Divine Child was to receive at His birth yet uses the singular
– “His NAME shall be called”. It is like these five titles are actually one. As we look at each name,
think of what HOPE this brings to our weary souls! Jesus is worthy of the name Wonderful because
of all He taught and accomplished. He was wonderful in His character and His sinless life. He
is the Divine Counsellor and if we seek His counsel then we shall never walk in darkness. How
grateful should we be that we have His perfect wisdom to guide us? How foolish are we when we
don’t ask for it. We have a Counsellor that can lead us through all the complexities of life, yet do
we ask Him to? The Divine Child was the Mighty God manifest in flesh. He is Everlasting therefore
He can grant us everlasting life. Because He lives for all eternity we can also live, though His grace
we are recipients of eternal bliss. Peace dominates many Messianic prophesies as the prophets
gave the people HOPE. Jesus is the Prince of all aspects of Peace and has full power to bestow
peace upon mankind. Christ became our Peace when He reconciled us to God. Peace with God
has been made by the blood of the Cross. The Saviour is our peace and in accepting Him we
possess peace that the world cannot give or take away from us. Peace from God, peace in God.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Which of the five names of Christ that we looked at today do you need Him to be in your life?
Listen in prayer about how He wants to be that for you today.
2. Spend some time praising Him for all His attributes. What a great God we love and serve!

Foundations December 14, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: 1 Samuel 1-3
GOVERNOR
Forecast: Zechariah 9:7 …he shall be as a governor in Judah… (KJV)
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the
princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (KJV)

Another word for Governor is ruler or leader. According to Strong’s Concordance it means “to
go before, to be a leader, the leader in speech, chief spokesman, to have authority over, to
command, have rule over, a prince, one of regal power, controlling in counsel, overseers or
leaders of the churches”. Jesus is the greatest Governor there ever was or ever will be. He is still
ruling as Head of the Church. I would encourage you to read Revelation 2-3 in order to perceive
Jesus as the Governor or Overseer of His Churches. In these chapters we see Jesus guiding and
counselling seven churches. He gives them guidance, direction and warnings. He does the same
for Southland as the leaders listen to Him. Jesus is the functional Lord of this Church! Some
Governors rise from the ranks and become tyrants who are unsympathetic but our Heavenly
Governor rules with love and sways our souls not by the sword but by His scars, what HOPE
this brings! Isaiah tells us that “the increase of His government shall know no end” (Isaiah 9:7).
Universal domination will belong to Him when He reigns from shore to shore upon His second
coming. For now, can you say that He has more of you today than He had yesterday? Is His love
breaking down barriers in your heart and drawing you near to Him?

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Jesus wants to be the Governor of your life. He wants to call the shots. In what areas have
you been doing your own thing instead of listening to Him in prayer for direction? Confess
this as sin.
2. Then, spend some time listening in prayer in those areas. Let Him guide and direct you and
be Governor or Lord of your life.
3. Spend some time in thanksgiving for the way He rules with love! Pray that you would submit
to His leadership and that you would grow in giving more and more of yourself over to Him.

Foundations December 13, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Ruth 3-4
KING
Forecast: Jeremiah 23:5 5”Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up
for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice
and righteousness in the land.(ESV)
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star
when it rose and have come to worship him.” (ESV)

Jesus was born a King! Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain was born a princess and only became
Queen upon the death of her father, King George. Her son Charles was born a prince and will not
be King unless his mother dies or abdicates. Yet Jesus was born a King! This is because Jesus
lived before He was born, as the Sovereign Lord, He is an eternal King from eternity past to eternity
future. Jesus is King of kings. Yet His birthplace was a stable, not a palace. His throne was His
mother’s knee, His courtiers the lowly shepherds and His robes were swaddling clothes. Truly He
was a King in disguise. Jesus was born a King yet He came to serve, He came to be a sacrifice for
sin. Just before He died He said, “No one takes my life from me but I lay it down willingly.” In other
words, Jesus said, “no one is going to force me to die, but I the King, lay down my life, my body,
upon the cross, willingly.” Philippians 2:9-11 tells us 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and
bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Can you put your HOPE in this King?

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. In what areas of your life are you vying for recognition? Are you willing to let go of this and
walk in deeper humility in that area?
2. Jesus came to serve, are you following His example by serving in the Church? Are you
holding on to a particular ministry area or are you serving where He wants you to serve?
3. Spend some time praising Jesus, the KING, who became a baby, He deserves your praise,
bow your knee to Him in submission.

Foundations December 12, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Ruth 1-2
IMMANUEL
Forecast: Isaiah 7:14 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (ESV)
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:22-23 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the
prophet: 23”Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(ESV)

Immanuel was not a common name in Israel but a prophetic name that tells us about the
significance of this child that was to be born. Two truths are suggested by this name. First His
Deity and second His fellowship with men. He became “God manifest in flesh.” This shows us
the character of God and gives us something that we can cling to when we face dark and difficult
hours. The Mighty God is with us, giving us HOPE because of His presence within us, although we
are poor mortals made of dust. Why should we ever doubt or despair? Immanuel is a grand word
meaning “God with us” yet look at one verse previous in Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son,
and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (NIV).
They call His name “Jesus” yet this is synonymous to the name “Immanuel”. The Saviour is God
with us. Jesus: Saviour-Immanuel. The two names go together, God has come to save us, and
God is with us. If God Himself is our salvation then God is on our side, then God is our friend. We
can trust this Love. His very birth brings HOPE for His death brings the forgiveness of our sins and
the removal of God’s wrath. Yes, Jesus is God with us!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Immanuel – God with us; are you tapping into His presence on a regular basis through
listening prayer?
2. Spend some time today listening in prayer – ask Him questions about your marriage, your kids,
your finances, your job, or whatever else comes to mind. He longs to be “Immanuel” to you!
3. Spend some time thanking Him for speaking to you in those areas. Commit to spending more
time in your devotions just listening to Him.

Foundations December 11, 2011

FLIGHT TO EGYPT
Forecast: Hosea 11:1 I…called my Son out of Egypt. (KJV)
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:14-15 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left
for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said
through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (NIV)

As the time drew near for Jesus to be born, a mandatory Roman census made it necessary for
Joseph to return to his ancestral home of Bethlehem. There Mary gave birth to Jesus, and later,
wise men from the east came to worship him. The wise men’s recognition of a new King, however,
troubled King Herod and the ruling establishment in Jerusalem, and Herod sought to kill Jesus.
Joseph and his family escaped to Egypt and remained there until Herod died. If you read the
preceding verses in Matthew, you will learn that an angel was sent by God to warn Mary and Joseph
of the plot to kill the infant boys. Egypt was a logical place to find refuge, as it was outside the
dominions of King Herod, but both Egypt and Palestine were part of the Roman Empire, making
travel between them easy and relatively safe. When they returned to Palestine, they settled in
the remote district of Galilee, where Jesus grew up in the northern village of Nazareth, to avoid
the attention of the rulers in Jerusalem. Just like yesterday, this brings us much HOPE that all of
Scripture will be fulfilled. Every prophecy surrounding the Messiah’s birth that was given in the Old
Testament was fulfilled and every prophecy in the Bible that has not been fulfilled yet will one day be
fulfilled!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. God’s hand was upon every detail of Jesus birth, even down to where they would escape to
and eventually settle as a family. In what areas of your life do you need to see the hand of
God?
2. Are you willing to follow God’s will and plan for your life or are you fighting Him, begging and
pleading for your own way?
3. Ask the Lord to soften your heart to accept all circumstances that He brings your way and to
see His great work in the midst of them.

Foundations December 10, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Judges 20-21
BORN IN BETHLEHEM
Forecast: Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans
of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is
from of old, from ancient days. (ESV)
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod
the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem (ESV)

According to the prophecy in Micah, Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, sounds pretty simple
except that as Jesus birth grew near, Mary was actually living in the wrong place if her Son,
the Messiah, was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea. Yet God’s providence shines as He fulfills
His prophetic Word. A census was God’s answer. In the days of slow communication and even
slower travel, somehow, miraculously, Mary and Joseph ended up in Bethlehem – just in time
for the birth of their Son, the Messiah. Who was in charge of this timing? God was! God works
behind the scenes and is in complete control, He had timed everything right down to the last
second. God leaves nothing to chance! Is this a God that you can trust? Does God being in
complete control provide you with HOPE? Many of us are unwilling to see the hand of God’s
infinite planning of the details of Christ’s birth and His hand in executing all prophesied details of
that birth. We have heard this story time and time again that we have forgotten how significant it
is. Every pen stroke, every dot, every iota of the prophecies of God will be fulfilled. This should
provide us with much HOPE!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Have you become apathetic toward the miracles that surround Christ’s birth? Ask the Lord
to show you why. Then confess that apathy and ask Him to fulfill you with renewed vigour
and joy towards Him and His greatness.
2. Spend some time praising and thanking the Lord for His sovereignty and that He is in
complete control.
3. In what area of your life do you need to feel His sovereignty? Submit that area over to Him
today.

Foundations December 9, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Judges 18-19
VIRGIN BIRTH
Forecast: Isaiah 7:14 Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel. (KJV)

Fulfillment: Matthew 1:23 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (KJV)
Over the past few days we have been looking at the link between the timing of many prophecies of
Jesus birth and the suffering or darkness that God’s people were experiencing. We saw that each
prophecy provided HOPE for God’s children. Over the next few days we will look at some specific
prophecies of the Messiah’s birth and see how their forecast and fulfillment brings us much comfort
and HOPE. To fulfill the amazing prophecies of the birth of Christ, God performed a biological miracle.
The way in which Jesus was conceived was miraculous and supernatural. Jesus did not have a
biological human father; God was His father for He was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Mary bore
Him in childbirth, she felt real pain. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.
God chose to make His appearance on earth as a little infant. Saint Peter of Chrysologus wrote, “God
wished to be born as a little baby in order that he might teach us to love and not fear Him.” Luke tells
us that Jesus was not only born with a human body but He grew up. He had a first haircut, lost His
first tooth; He simply grew as a human being. This is one small part of the God we love and serve!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. The Christmas story is one that is quite familiar to most people. Pray that God would impress on
your heart a newness of the nativity this season. Pray that He would show you His goodness and
love this Christmas.
2. God could have just appeared as a fully adult man, why do you think He chose to be born as
an infant? Ponder this for a moment and then spend some time thanking the Lord for what He
shows you.
3. Spend some time in prayer for any of your unsaved friends and family members, that they would
be open to the gospel this Christmas and that you would be a good light to them this Christmas.

Foundations December 8, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Judges 16-17
HOPE OF RESTORATION
Daniel 9:25 Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two
‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. (NIV)
Daniel received this prophecy from the Lord during the time of the Babylonian captivity. God’s
people had been taken away from their homes and were being ruled by the evil foreign Babylon.
While the prophet Daniel was living in Babylon, God gave him several visions of the future. These
visions were often awesome and very detailed. The things in them referred to important, future
events. The prophecy in Daniel 9:25 is a very important prophecy. This prophecy was given so
that the Jews and the Gentiles would recognize the coming of the Messiah. There are many
prophetic scriptures about the Messiah, but this one is very special. The angel gave Daniel this
prophecy during one of Israel’s times of deepest distress. This prophecy is a coded message
that explains the exact amount of time between the command to restore and build Jerusalem
and when the Messiah will arrive! Wow, in the middle of exile to a foreign land they are told that
the temple would be rebuilt and that the Messiah would come. They were even given the exact
number of years between these two events! Talk about God giving His people HOPE in dark
times!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you have any relationships that are in need of restoration? Have you given up HOPE?
Ask the Lord for a word, thought or picture about these relationships, ask Him for HOPE.
2. Ask the Lord what conditions are necessary for you to experience this HOPE – what sorts of
things is He asking you to do?
3. Pray that the Lord will restore this relationship, pray that you would follow through on what
the Lord is requiring of you so that you can stand before Him one day and know that you
have done everything that He has required of you.

Foundations December 7, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Judges 14-15
HOPE OF DELIVERANCE
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give
birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (NIV)

Earlier in this chapter, we are told that King Ahaz was in great danger. He was being attacked by two
kings both of whom were stronger than he; but the Lord promised him deliverance, and commanded
him to choose a sign either in the depths of Sheol or in the heights of heaven (vs. 10). King Ahaz
refused to ask for a sign, he said that he would “not put the Lord to the test” (vs. 12) and therefore the
Lord chose to give him a sign and what a sign it was – the prophecy of the virgin birth! Verse 15 tells
us that this Son will know how to refuse evil and will choose good and verse 16 goes on to promise
that the land of the two kings that were attacking Ahaz would become deserted. This sign was a light
to Ahaz and it was God’s comfort to troubled hearts for all times. The sure HOPE of sinners, the great
joy of saints – is the incarnate Lord, Immanuel, God with us. May He be your HOPE and joy today!
He is the great Light of the people who dwell in the shadow of death! In the days of Ahaz’s trouble
(which meant trouble for the entire nation of Judah), the virgin birth was God’s promise that He would
deliver. The sign was good for Ahaz but it is better for us. If the Lord had meant to destroy us, He
would have never taken on flesh and blood. It is a miracle that the infinite became an infant who was
wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Our troubled souls can feel HOPE because the
birth of Jesus is the proof of God’s goodness. We can take comfort in the fact that our Lord was truly
man, born as other children are born, (except that His mother was virgin and He was God.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. The Infinite became an infant – mediate on this for a minute or two, ask the Lord to give you
deeper insight on what this truly means. Ask Him to reveal to you the significance of the
incarnation.
2. How is the birth of the Son of God proof of God’s goodness? In what area of your life do you
need an infusion of His goodness today?
3. Pray that you would grow in feeling His goodness and that this would provide you with much
HOPE!

Foundations December 6, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Judges 12-13
THE GOOD SHEPHERD BRINGS HOPE
Ezekiel 34:23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and He will tend them; He
will tend them and be their Shepherd. (NIV)

In order to have a good understanding of this passage, it is important to look back to verses five
and six of the chapter. These verses describe Israel as being “…scattered because there was no
shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6My sheep
wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole
earth, and no one searched or looked for them.” Once again we see that when things were at
their worst, the Lord Jesus was the one consolation in their desert of sorrows. This prophecy
came when the people were in great distress. Have you been able to see the goodness of God
over the last few days as we see this pattern of providing HOPE for His people? This HOPE was
always prophesied in the context of Jesus. Often in our lives we just pray to get out of trouble, we
pray for God to remove the hardship, we pray for a release from the trials of life. We want God to
miraculously get us out of a jam that we have gotten ourselves into because of our poor choices
or selfish ambitions. God has a better solution for our problems – it’s getting into the Word and
growing closer with Jesus. Just as in the Old Testament, when Jesus was the solution to their
troubles, He is also the solution to our troubles. Let’s humble our hearts and go to Him instead of
fighting our way through them on our own. It is then and only then when we will find perfect peace
and happiness, it comes from the HOPE that we have in our relationship with Jesus!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What areas of your life have you been praying for God to remove the trial, suffering or
hardship instead of embracing Jesus in the midst of it?
2. Make a commitment to God today, that you will go to Him instead of fighting through your
problem on your own. Ask Him to grow your prayer life so that you can hear Him and submit
to His plan.
3. Ask the Lord to give you HOPE and joy in the midst of hardships, that you would be a
testament and a light to all around you no matter what your circumstances.

Foundations November 30, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Judges 1-2
INTERCESSION

John 17:20-21; I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their
word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in
Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

This was Jesus’ prayer for all future believers. He prayed that all those who would eventually put
their faith in Him through the words of the apostles would find unity in the body of Christ. He prayed
that we would work together as a body, being one with each other and one with Him – that is, we
can do nothing on our own, but we can carry out God’s will with Christ in us, empowering us by the
Holy Spirit.
It is incredible to imagine Jesus praying for us in the Garden of Gethsemane those moments before
His arrest. It just drives home the fact that Jesus was going to the cross for you, doesn’t it?
We, also, can pray for the unknown – the believers in our nation and in faraway lands, and the
future generation. If we would set our minds adamantly against idleness, and pursue conversation
with the Spirit as much as possible, we would find ourselves praying at the most “random” times.
We would be driven to pray for the pregnant woman on the sidewalk, that her child would be born
healthy and would come to know the Lord. The babbling homeless man would not just be another
“lazy bum”; rather he would be a child in the eyes of God, in need of healing and restoration. The
news of upheaval around the world would draw us to our knees instead of to our morning coffee.
Let us be people of prayer! God told Solomon that if the people would only humble themselves
and pray, He would heal their land. Our land is drowning in the blood of the aborted, the lies of
unfaithfulness and the deadly waters of apathy. Let us bring our nation before the Lord!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to impress upon your heart something that He would like you to spend time in prayer
for. Ask Him to reveal His heart about the issue; then pray in line with His will.
2. Ask God to open your eyes to His will today. Commit to turn from idle and selfish thoughts,
and to set your mind on the heart of God. Ask Him to open your eyes to see people, situations,
words, etc in a different light. Be a person of prayer.

Foundations November 29, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 22-24
INTERCESSION

2 Peter 3:9; The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God does not want anyone to perish – to spend eternity in hell, separated from Him forever. But to
those who desire to live their lives in rejection of Him, that is their fate. This, Peter tells us, is why
the wait for Christ’s return seems so prolonged to some. For those who long to see the face of
Jesus, or to see loved ones in heaven, God’s timing may seem slow, but our perception is skewed.
God waits so that many more would repent of their sin and turn to Him.
Many of us live in a safe-zone, resting in the comfort that we know we have a solid relationship with
the Lord and are going to spend our eternity with Him, but in this zone, we lack an urgency to see
others come to know the Lord as we do. Fear, primarily, holds us back from blatantly sharing our
faith and laziness, among other things, keeps us from interceding for the lost.
Remember: God is a real being dwelling in a real place; He is almighty and sovereign. In prayer, we
communicate our hearts to him, and He communicates His to us, and in this communication our will
comes into alignment with His. And when we pray God’s will... wow!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you live your life in a safe-zone, not bothering to share your faith boldly? What stops you?
Ask God to show you why you don’t share your faith with more boldness, and how you can
take steps towards leading others closer to Christ in every conversation.
2. Ask God to show you one thing He would like you to focus on so that you can share your faith
TODAY.
3. Write down the names of a few friends/family who do not know the Lord. Ask God for insight as
to how you can best intercede for them. Ask Him to show you His heart for them, and take time
to pray that they would come to know Him.
4. Ask God to give a burden for the lost, a realization that hell is real and many will go there
because they oppose Christ and do not accept His salvation. Ask Him to help you feel the
weight of this, that it may spur you on to boldness.

Foundations November 28, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 20-21
INTERCESSION

Malachi 3:13-15; And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with
weeping and groaning because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favour from
your hand. But you say, “Why does He not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and
the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your
wife by covenant. Did He not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what
was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you
be faithless to the wife of your youth.

Infidelity and divorce is rampant in our society, and as a local church, we are attempting to
turn those tides by walking people towards healthy, Christ-centred marriages. Over 2000 years
have passed since the prophet Malachi spoke these words, but the state of the nations has not
changed, and his words are extremely relevant for us today.
We think that God will accept any prayer we toss up, while the Bible clearly says that the prayer
of a righteous man will be heard. Malachi boldly told the people that their prayers were falling on
deaf ears because they had broken their marriage covenant. Marriage is not a contract between
two people; it is a covenant between man, wife and God, sealed by the Spirit. This is a grave and
fantastic truth.
It is important that as husbands and wives, sons, daughters and grandchildren, we intercede for
our own marriages and the marriages of our family.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you the marriages He wants you to intercede for today (if you are married,
be sure to include your own).
2. Ask God to give you insight as to how to pray. Which tactics of Satan should you pray
against? How can you pray for each individual? What does God want to show you about
the state of the relationship? If you feel that some of these marriages are too far gone to
be redeemed, confess that to God, and ask Him to help you see that He has the power to
accomplish anything He wills.
3. Spend a good chunk of time praying the things God has shown you.

Foundations November 27, 2011

INTERCESSION

Matthew 5:44; Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

This verse is well-known; it just doesn’t apply to you, right? Wrong. When we stand before God
one day, painting a picture of our enemy and delving into the gory details of what he did to us will
not pardon our bitterness and unforgiveness. Jesus said clearly to love them and to pray for them.
We will finish off this month dedicated to growing godly relationships with intercession – pleading
in prayer on behalf of others. There are so many instances where we wish for change: if only
our parents would STOP _____ or our spouse would START_____! If we continue to feed our
disappointments in people with negative talk and complaining, hostility will grow in our hearts and
dissension in the relationship. They will become our enemy, and life under the same roof or in the
same class or cubicle as our enemy is no good.
We need to silence our complaints and curb our anger with intercession. Praying for change will
be much more successful than talking about what we wish would happen. Wishes go to the wind,
but our prayers go to the throne room of heaven where our God reigns in power and majesty! This
stark realization should impel us to get on our knees!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Who are some close friends and family members who have, or are starting to become
enemies? What is your complaint against them? What is it you wish they would or would not
do?
2. Can you entrust these people and your desires to the Lord? This means to push forward in
prayer and hold up on the grumbling. Can you do that?
3. Spend time in prayer for these people and your concerns. Tell God what you desire, and ask
for His will to be done in the situation, and in the lives of the other people. Ask God to give
you a desire to for the other person’s good. Commit to praying for them consistently, and
especially when the temptation to gossip or complain comes upon you.

Foundations November 26, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 18-19
LANGUAGES of Love

Song of Solomon 2:6; His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!

Song of Solomon is a poetic song about marital intimacy, doubling as an allegory of Christ’s love
for the church. There is much romance and physical intimacy in the story of two young lovers
which shows us a practical point (if we didn’t know it already) – physical touch conveys love.
We’re not just talking about sexuality, but shoulder-to-shoulder contact. For many, this is the
thing that will make them feel most loved.
Bodies are extremely personal – touch my body and you touch me, withdraw from my body and
you withdraw from me. For some people, just sitting arm to arm, or accompanying “hello” with a
hug gives them warm fuzzies. They feel valued and connected to.
Of course, there are many boundaries that come with this love language. Unwanted touch will
not be well-received, and inappropriate touch is… inappropriate. The church has a high calling
to purity, and to mask lustful desire or the desire for personal pleasure with a “hello hug” is
unholy. It would be entirely inappropriate to take the actions found in Song of Solomon and
apply them to our everyday relationships! But the book does point us to the human’s need for
intimacy and touch.
This love language comes naturally to those who possess it, and can be incredibly awkward
for those who do not. Sometimes our aversion or attraction stems from our upbringing – if
loving touch was the norm in our homes or not. Children need loving touch to become healthy
individuals. Let us practice the love language of physical touch within our families.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Does “physical touch” come naturally to you, or do you find the challenge here incredibly
awkward? If it’s uncomfortable to you, ask God to show you why. Perhaps He wants to
deal with past hurts.
2. Does your family know by your body language that you love them? Make an effort to show
your love with your body language this week through hugs, a hand on the shoulder, pat on
the back, etc.
3. Don’t be afraid of people! Go about your day with an open posture – refrain from crossing
your arms and legs and avoiding eye contact. Look at people, shake hands, smile, etc. You
can do it!

Foundations November 25, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 16-17
LANGUAGES of Love

1 Peter 4:11; If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

In the sense we are talking, service is to do anything that you know the other person would greatly
appreciate, especially if it’s done without having been told. It is sometimes seen as mundane, as the
acts of service could be as simple as to throw in a load of laundry, wash the car or dry the dishes.
An act of service, however, is not a hastily-bought gift card or a bunch of flowers, which may be
perfectly wonderful for the gift-lover. To serve requires thought, time, effort and energy, and quite
often, humility; we must be able to humble ourselves to do that which we would rather not for the
sake of the other person. For spouses, this may take a surrendering of the male/female stereotypes;
a great display of love for many wives and mothers is a husband who will touch the diapers and
grab a mop.
Service is perhaps the most directly Christ-like display of love. Jesus was the great Servant, willing
to do the things that no other would do. He sat with the prostitutes and ate with the tax collectors,
he washed dusty feet and showed patience towards His slow-learning disciples; He trod the path to
death and endured suffering for our sake.
The Bible tells us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” Our Lord had joy even in pain and death,
and this can give us strength. We can serve others, no matter how despised the task, and we can
do it joyfully because our Lord did greater things for us.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What are some things could you do around the house that would be greatly appreciated by
those you live with? Commit to do one of these each day.
2. What if your efforts go unacknowledged? Sometimes it happens that our displays of love go
unnoticed, but this does not give us allowance to skirt our commitments, or to become grumps.
Meditate on the “joy of the Lord” and ask God to fill you with HIS joy so that you can be a
humble servant.
3. Meditate on 1 Peter 4:11 and ask God how He wants to speak to you through this verse.

Foundations November 24, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 14-15
LANGUAGES of Love

Matthew 7:11; So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.

We relate the giving of gifts to love. This is not to say that our love can be bought or
manipulated, but many people very much value the thought and effort that goes into a gift.
When we receive a gift, we know that we have crossed someone’s mind, and they have gone
above and beyond to respond to the thought with action!
Some people experience love primarily this way. A gift – big or small, extravagant or homemade
– spells love to them. And even if this is not everyone’s primary love language, most people will
appreciate a “just because” present every so often.
Unfortunately some take this to the extreme, thinking that material things, surprises and
opportunities will bring contentment in a relationship. But when this happens, the gift loses the
love and becomes manipulative. Love is the end, and the gift is one of many means that can
display that end.
We can look to God as our Demonstrator. He is a Giver, constantly giving gifts to His kids. But
David wrote of the Lord, “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is
fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The gifts of God are wonderful,
but the purpose of those gifts is to point us to Him. When we see the gift as the be-all-and-endall,
we’ve lost sight of the prize. FULLNESS of JOY is in His presence! Eternal pleasures are
found at his right hand! His gifts lead us to HIM! What incredible truth! Like Christ, we can give
of our time, energy, finances and creativity to others, pointing them to Him, and to the love that
we have for them.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Who is someone in your life whom you know would be totally blessed by a gift? Choose
something that you will do for them.
2. What excuses go through your head right now that make you feel exempt from showing
love in this way? Bring those things before the Lord and ask for His perspective.
3. Are you a giver at heart? What stops you? Confess greed and ask God to help you give
generously of yourself.

Foundations November 23, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 11-13
LANGUAGES of Love

Proverbs 18:24; Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family.

Close-knit relationships cannot be developed without good, quality time spent together. We can’t
truly know people if we do not invest time into the relationships. People like to know that they are
likeable, and that others find them worth spending time with. Most of us have experienced a onesided
relationship where we feel that we’re the only one putting effort into the thing. The common
mistake, though, is to victimize ourselves and say, “Ok fine! I will not call her again until she calls
me.” Eventually the friendship dies and is reduced to awkward nods in instances where contact
is unavoidable. This is wrong! When this happens, we have become entirely self-focused! We’ve
forgotten that, as much as we crave desirability, our friend craves it too, and we had the wonderful
opportunity of affirming them in that through our repetitive pursual! When we allow the friendship to
die, we succumb to the enemy’s destructive desires.
Let’s take the focus off of ourselves, and seek to invest in others – to love our neighbour as
ourselves! A loving friend can be as close as family, but we need to be willing to invest time into the
lives of others, to figure out what they need, and to give them that. You may be a talker who likes
to give all the answers, but your friend needs you to sit in silence. You may be a laid-back cautious
kind of guy, but your friend seeks adventure – give it a try! Paul said that he would be all things to
all people. Of course he wouldn’t engage in sinful behaviour, but he was willing to be what people
needed in order to bring them closer to Christ. Let’s strive to do the same.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. How have you been selfish with your time, unwilling to give to others what they need from you?
Confess your behaviour to God.
2. How can you invest some quality time into your family, primarily? Think of one family member
that could use some quality time with you this week. What would they just love to do with you?
Make a plan to do this with them.
3. Ask God to speak to you about how you can lead people closer to Him just by spending time
with them.

Foundations November 22, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 9-10
LANGUAGES of Love

1 Thessalonians 5:11; Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…

In his book “The Five Love Languages”, Gary Chapman presents five common love languages –
ways people give and receive love.
To affirm is to tell with confidence that which is true. We need affirmation in order to succeed. We
need our worth affirmed through the kind and uplifting words of others. We tend to use weak and
vague words to encourage. We distractedly say “good job” after half-watching someone share their
talent with us. We say “thanks, hon” when our spouse does something meaningful. “Way to gos” and
“thank-yous” are a good start, but we need to be specific in our affirmation.
Are you frequently disappointed in people? Have you tried affirming them? We normally resort to
complaining and nagging when we feel that those close to us are not fulfilling our needs or following
through on their commitments. But this response is ineffective! In fact, Proverbs tells us that a
quarrelsome wife (and no doubt a husband, friend, son, etc) is like a constant drip.
One of the best ways to motivate people to step it up is to encourage and affirm them. Acknowledge
every good thing they do, and avoid badgering them about the rest. Learn what is important to that
individual, and encourage them in that area. And your tone will always trump your words. Sarcasm
and offense are not easily disguised – it is very easy to tell when affirmation and encouragement is
insincere.
Start making a deliberate choice to speak well of those whom you usually nag. Let everything you say
about them to others be affirming of their positive qualities. It will change your heart, and it just might
motivate them to action!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What does the Holy Spirit want to show you from today’s reading? Ask Him to show you
something that you need to grow in.
2. Have you spoken badly about someone because you are disappointed in them? Confess idle
words and a complaining spirit.
3. Write down the names of 3 people you will see today. How can you affirm them? Ask God for
specifics, and ask Him to remind you to affirm instead of complain.

Foundations November 21, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 6-8
Making the EFFORT

Psalm 145:7; They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

Celebration is an important part of Jewish culture. God instructed the Israelites in a number of
feasts and festivals to be celebrated each year. The people were commanded to REMEMBER the
great things God had done, and to ensure that this would happen, He instructed them in yearly
celebrations. At these festivals, the people would offer thankful sacrifices to the Lord for all He had
done, and they would celebrate with feasts.
We are to celebrate God’s abundant goodness, and to sing for joy of His righteousness. Every good
and perfect gift comes from the Father above – everything good that you have and have experienced
was a gift from the Father who loves you! We get so caught up in our disappointments and struggles
that we neglect to thank the Lord for the good He has done; in fact, we forget about the good He has
done! We need to habitually stop and remember the great things He has done to remind us that He
is still doing great things.
Celebration should be part of our relationships. It is no small matter when a friend or family member
commits, or recommits, their life to Christ. The prodigal’s father killed the fattened calf and called for
a celebration when his wayward son returned; should we not celebrate such events too? Or what
about life’s smaller successes? A new job, hard work paid off, a valiant effort, a game well played
– shouldn’t we build each other up by celebrating? Shouldn’t we come together and give heartfelt
thanks to the Lord for what He has accomplished through the person? Imagine how encouraged our
friends and family would be if we were quick to congratulate them and celebrate with them in their
victories.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time recalling great things God has done for you. Ask Him to jog your memory to
those you have forgotten. Give Him thanks and worship for being so good to you.
2. Does anything keep you from taking joy in the success of others? If so, ask Jesus to reveal why
this is. Pray that He’d help you change.
3. Who’s someone you can celebrate with this week? How’ll you do it?

Foundations November 20, 2011

Making the EFFORT

Mark 2:3; And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men.

We can be a catalyst to help our family and friends reach their greatest potential. It is good to try
new things, to take risks and to experiment with one’s abilities. David was the “sweet psalmist
of Israel” but what if he had never picked up a harp? Samson was called to be a judge of Israel
before he was even born, but what if his parents had not listened or instructed him in the ways
of a Nazarite? God told Noah that judgment was coming; what if he had never picked up his
tools?
These were radical individuals who fulfilled the call of the Lord, but surely they also had people
who stood behind them and encouraged them to soar. David was a steadfast lover of the Lord
who continually placed his hope in the Almighty during his twenty-year run from Saul. But the
accounts of Samuel tell of joyful times when mighty men pledged their allegiance to David and
banded together with him. The nameless man in this miraculous event recorded by Mark was
healed, but would never have experienced the healing had his four friends not brought him to
Jesus.
We need to inspire those around us to reach their full potential. Look for people’s strengths and
encourage them to develop those. If your child is artistic, ask her to draw your portrait; if your
friend is musical, encourage them to join a band or choir; if your spouse shows skill in a certain
area, fully support them in their attempts to further the gift. As parents, ask the Lord what your
children should be involved in and what your family should be pursuing. He has practical words
for you!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you encourage the gifts and abilities you see in your family members and close
friends? Ask God to show you something in a friend or family member that He wants you to
encourage them towards over the next week.
2. How can you inspire the people you meet to be the best they can be today and every day?
3. The paralytic needed friends to take him to the Lord. Ask God for the name of someone
who needs to be spiritually encouraged today. How does He want to use you to do this?

Foundations November 19, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 4-5
Making the EFFORT

Proverbs 17:22; A cheerful heart is good medicine

Joy is defined as “that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune,
the gratification of desire or some good possessed”. The Bible tells us that strength and joy are
in God’s very dwelling place. Joy, in the Bible, is always a result of the work of the Lord. There is
joy in rescue, joy in victory, joy in forgiveness, joy in provision and joy in His presence. We are
reminded in Scripture that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We can find great joy, at all times, in
the goodness of God.
Laughter is a good thing, though godly humour is hard to come by in this day and age. It seems
that most of the comedic material out there is crass, demeaning and sarcastic. Our humour should
never violate God’s law, which tells us to love others and to season our speech with grace. Still, it
is a wonderful blessing to experience joy and laughter, to laugh until your sides ache and tears run.
We should be quick to smile and laugh at ourselves and to let loose, that others might know us.
The Proverbs 31 woman is able to “laugh at the days to come.” She does not live in constant worry
and stress about the future of her household or of the economy. She seems to work wisely and
efficiently in the moment, and joyfully look ahead to the future.
Let us find moments to laugh in our day. Fearlessly push past your insecurities and be open
and vulnerable to those around you today. Allow yourself to laugh when you’re tempted to feel
embarrassed, to let go of pride. Be a cheerful heart in your home, your workplace and your school,
and you will bring medicine and refreshment to all you meet.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you an area of your life that you are taking too seriously. Literally open your
hands before the Lord in prayer. Place your control of this issue into your hands and give it up
to the Lord.
2. In prayer, ask God to fill your heart with the joy of the Lord. Our Lord was able to have joy in
even the most intense suffering, so we have no excuse today. Pray that His joy would overflow
into you, and that your joy would in turn overflow onto others.
3. Choose to smile at people today. Surrender your pride to God and ask Him to help you fight
embarrassment and insecurity today.

Foundations November 18, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 1-3
RADICAL Love

Romans 12:11; Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Zeal is a feeling of eagerness to accomplish, and fervour is a feeling of great warmth and
earnestness. We are to be passionate people, never lacking in this heartfelt enthusiasm. God
created you with a unique quality like no other. Your personality, your tastes, the way that you think,
your abilities, the things you enjoy, and many other facets come together to form you. Of course
our sinfulness tarnishes our radiance, but as we consistently come before the Lord in repentance,
allowing Him to restore us, we will shine as unique and godly individuals created by a good Father!
There is no one else quite like you, and this is surely something to celebrate!
But we are warned not to be slothful. The Christian is never to be seen as a lazy, idle man. We
are to be fervent in spirit – to focus our minds to enthusiasm in whatever work we are doing. And
we are to regard ourselves as servants of the Lord. We have been given only one opportunity to
live on this earth, and we’re expected to use it well. To waste time on unruly passions and fruitless
activity is unwise, since we will be held accountable for every word and action. As a result of all
your uniqueness, God has wonderful and specific use for you in His kingdom. Set your mind
against worldliness and slothful behaviour and put your mind on Christ and His calling for you.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to speak to you about your uniqueness. Ask him to show you what qualities He
delighted to create in you.
2. For each quality God showed you, ask Him how you can passionately use that in the areas
God has called you in (your job, role in the family, extracurricular activities, ministry, etc.)
3. Ask God to show you any way that you are being idle, or are wasting time. What does He
want you to change about your schedule and the way you

Foundations November 17, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 34
RADICAL Love

Philippians 2:20; I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.

Paul is boasting about Timothy, whom he takes great pride in. Timothy worked incessantly for the
gospel and while most others looked primarily after their own interests, Timothy looked after the
interests of Christ – namely people!
People love to talk about themselves. We love to know that someone else is interested in us and
what we do and like. It feels amazing to meet someone who genuinely wishes to know your thoughts
and opinions on a matter, not so that they can argue with you, but so that they can know you on a
deeper level. If we want to be radical in our love, we will become genuinely interested in others.
But what does this actually mean? Anyone can appear interested in others by making eye contact,
saying “uh-huh” and asking questions, but even those actions don’t ensure that they genuinely care.
To be genuinely interested is to sincerely care about another’s wellbeing – to desire their good, and
to make them feel valuable and loved.
Paul urged Timothy not to feel less-than the other believers because of his age; Timothy could set
an example for all believers through his life, his faith, his speech, his love and his purity. Timothy was
radical about advancing the kingdom. He did not let false-humility keep him from leading those who
were older than him; he was genuinely interested in building the church and spreading the gospel of
Christ.
Christ is urging us to love one another. The church will grow stagnant if we do not.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Who is someone that drives you nuts, someone you see frequently and try to avoid? Ask God
to show you how you can become genuinely interested in this person. Commit to practising this
next time you see them.
2. Make it your goal today that you will seek to get to know people you meet. Ask God to give you
a realistic goal that He wants you to accomplish today (such as introducing yourself to 3 new
people, having a conversation with a stranger, etc.). Ask for the boldness you need to obey.

Foundations November 16, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 33
RADICAL Love

1 Peter 4:9; Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Peter talks about the difference between those who live in worldliness and those who live for Christ.
One mark of a Christian is hospitality. According to the Noah Webster definition of 1828, hospitality
is “the act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind
and generous liberality.” This traditional definition differs from today’s definition of “a friendly and
generous reception and entertainment of guests.” The modern definition lacks the utter selflessness:
generosity without reward, even to strangers! In today’s society, many people are too paranoid to
look at a stranger, let alone welcome them into their home!
The hospitality of the first Century Christians enhanced the ministry of the apostles. Because there
were men and women willing to selflessly open their homes, the apostles were encouraged, and
thus the church as a whole was encouraged. Paul repeatedly boasts of how often he thanks the
Lord for the help and hospitality of the brothers and sisters.
This is why Jesus said that when you give food or drink to those in need you give food and drink
to Him. When the church extends her arms Jesus’ arms are extended too. When people see the
radical hospitality of Christians, they will see Christ and hopefully put their faith in Him.
We are guilty of making others out to be bother. We’re quick to come up with reasons to excuse us
from helping out: our house is too cramped to have someone stay, our shoulder too sore to help
someone move, our kids’ friend’s house too far to give them a ride home, our cooking too ordinary
to serve to important guests. In our mind they may seem valid, but to the Lord these things are often
acts of disobedience and disservice.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God how you can grow in hospitality. Ask Him for something specific that you can do this
week. Pray that He would give you immense joy as you follow through on this commitment.
2. Take some time to pray through your house this week. Perhaps you want to include your family
in this. Go from room to room and pray over your house, that everyone who walks through the
doors would feel the Spirit, and would feel at peace.

Foundations November 15, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 31-32
RADICAL Love

Jude 23; Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate
their lives.

There is clearly a fine line between accepting the person while renouncing the sin, and accepting
the person along with their sin. We are to be cautious while showing mercy. Though mercy is a
mark of a believer, it is not to be given at the cost of holiness.
Josh McDowell makes an interesting observation regarding a shift of meaning that has occurred on
certain words embraced by today’s youth versus the youth of the previous generation. One such
word is tolerance. In the adult generation, he says, tolerance means “accepting others without
agreeing with or sharing their beliefs or lifestyle choices.” Today’s youth, however, define the word
as “accepting that each individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyles, and truth claims are equal.” (The Last
Christian Generation, p 22)
This new meaning of the term is dangerous, creating a slippery slope of relativism, where “what’s
true for you is good for you, and what’s true for me is good for me.” If we lose caution while with
believers who are blatantly living in sin, we may quickly accept this belief of our culture. Our society
packages the person with the behaviour: if you dislike their action you dislike them. But the Bible
tells us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. This doesn’t mean that the persecuted
Christian shouts “Woohoo! Give me more!” in the face of torture! Neither does the one dealing with
sexual abuse give her abuser a big kiss on the cheek. We learn to love and forgive within safe
boundaries.
We are to lavish love on one another, but we mustn’t stand silently before unholiness, showing no
regard for it. If we are grounded in Christ, we will not be afraid to hold fast to our opinions that are
rooted in Biblical truth.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. How have you agreed with, or even encouraged a friend or family member’s sin by your
attitude or words?
2. Is there someone you are disappointed in because of the lifestyle choices they are making?
Ask God how you can love the person without endorsing and condoning the sin.
3. Ask God to show you any sin that’s contaminating your life. Confess.