Credible Christian

Prepare: Being is more important than doing.
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

The Bible gives very high priority for human relationships. The world does not. People of this world want to exploit every situation and every relationship for its own gain. So relationships are shot and shallow. Enriching relationships cost both the parties. Paul was willing to pay the cost to build up relationships.

In attitude, servant: Paul was one of the great leaders that the Church had ever produced. He used his spectacular leadership qualities in humble services. He was very careful not to become offensive in his attitude. The situations he found himself in were like tests of his actions.Hardship, imprisonment and other trials could have broken an ordinary man. But Paul's humble attitude enabled him to face all these trying situations under the watchful eye of God and to come out of them cheerfully and victoriously.

In motive, purity: Leaders need to be transparent and open. Paul wanted to be pure, patient and kind in his relationship with the church members.Leaders with enormous power need to be guarded and guided by Scriptural principles in order to be useful in building relationships with others and encourage others to maintain their relationship with one another. Motives may be hidden from man, but not from God. Pure motives bring permanent results in the lives of the people.

Respond: Let my attitude be humble and motives pure in my relationship, O Lord. 

Compelled Christian

Prepare: We are of great value in His eyes.
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

The world around us constantly influences our mind with its message. So our values are confused and our priorities are mixed up. Paul in this passage wants us to model our life after Jesus Christ. Paul argues for a life that is entirely committed to bring the message of reconciliation to a world, which is going to be judged.

Motives to life: Our lives need to be controlled by the fear of the Lord. Judgement of God is real. Love is the compelling force in our lives. As an expression of His love for us, He had sent His Son to die for us. This love gives us the inner strength to face all hardships and endure all sufferings. Christ's death demands a deep and abiding response from us. He has not only died for us, but lives today to help us. Life has the deepest fulfilment when we respond to God's call.

Message to give: Christ's death has changed values of human beings drastically. So Paul doesn't want to measure any one against the standard fixed by the world. In Christ, even the worst sinner has the possibility becoming a new creation. World around us may not believe this message, but we believe it because we have experienced this life-changing power offered by Jesus Christ.

Respond: Lord, let Your love motivate me and Your power strengthen me today to live for You.

Courageous Christian

Prepare: Life on earth to be; seen in the context of our life in Heaven.
Read: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

Suffering is a part of life for all. Especially for Christians, it is allowed by God. Protection from hardship is never promised for us. Suffering teaches important lessons in Christian life. Suffering was a constant companion to Paul. He learnt to live by looking at the future through the window of suffering.

Suffering is momentary: Suffering is not pleasing and often it affects our external body and also our mind. We groan under pressure and sigh in anxiety. We tend to think in those circumstances that suffering is going to continue forever and ever. We are tempted to give up. But the eternal glory is a gift we are going to receive after this earthly life.

Glory is eternal: Christian life is not just a life of suffering. The present suffering is a passing experience. We must learn to live in the knowledge of the reality of the future glory. The key is to learn to live by faith and not to be disturbed by what we see and experience at present. At the time of suffering, we are not to curse-either the circumstances or the people that might have caused it. We have to learn through the help of the Holy Spirit to please God who is working in us to change the mortal body into the likeness of the Son.

Respond: Holy Spirit of God, I thank You for Your indwelling presence in my earthly (mortal) body.

Covenant Christian

Prepare: Look at life in the perspective of future glory.
Read: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18


We are in covenant relationship with God, the Father. Jesus is the mediator of the covenant. The Holy Spirit strengthens the covenant relationship. This unique relationship confers privileges and gives responsibilities. Paul in this passage compares the old covenant with the new. 


New covenant gives life: The old covenant was based on the law. The new covenant is based on the relationship created by the Spirit who gives new life. God is the initiator of both the covenants and offers salvation and freedom. Law offers salvation for those who fulfill its demands. But law is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who has become our mediator through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God delivers us from condemnation and imputes righteousness and life. 


New covenant promises glory: One of the blessings of the new covenant is the hope of eternal life. This hope delivers us from the fear of condemnation and death. We believe that we are going to share the Lord's glory. This hope gives us boldness. 


Those who turn to God have new hope of sharing the glory of God. This change into glory comes from the Spirit. Change occurs in the context if covenant relationship with God and fellowship in the local church.


Respond: Thank You Lord, for sharing Your glory with me. Master, help me today, to share Your life with others. 

Correcting Christian

Prepare: Restored fellowship resists Satan.
Read: 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

In this chapter Paul corrects the erring Christian. It was an important ministry for a new church where all of them were converts. We expose ourselves to criticism when we try to correct others. In our relationship with others, if we close our eyes to the mistakes of others, it is considered as though we are failing in our duties as Christians. This ministry needs to be done with great care. Paul, as a mature leader, gives us some principles of this important, but disappointing ministry.

Paul corrects out of love: The entire chapter expresses the strong emotions of Paul. His previous letter had grieved a member of the church. Paul had done this out of love for him and concern for the whole congregation. The intention of Paul was to bring the Christian back into the fellowship. Paul took the initiative and the whole church was involved in restoring the fellowship of the erring man.

Paul corrects to expose Satan's scheme: Paul looks beyond the mistake of an individual Christian. He realizes the cunning scheme of Satan to destroy true fellowship. He exposes the destructive schemes of Satan on the congregation and protects them from disintegration.

Paul discusses his ministry and the impossibilities of ministering without strong fellowship with other Christians. God, through the restored fellowship spreads the fragrance of the Gospel everywhere. Unrestored fellowship brings discredit to the Gospel.

Respond: Lord, let Your love motivate me and Your power strengthen me today to live for You.

Confident Christian

Prepare: Leadership grows out of life.
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24

Sometimes, when we go to church, we realize lack of leadership there. Leaders with strong character are in great need everywhere. Paul faces many accusations. Trying to defend his apostleship, he exhibits marks of a committed leader. Charges of church members are not clear in this passage. But some of the principles of Christian leadership are clearly presented. A father or a mother is the leader at home. Leadership principle is the same for a mother and for the president.

Sincerity in relationship: Relationship is important in leadership. First, Paul did not keep himself out of the reach of his accusers. He faces the issues. Secondly, he does not build his relationship on hypocrisy. Thirdly, he does not want to use relationship to benefit him. His attitude is not exploitive.

Sealed in the Spirit: Christian relationship is very unique. The Triune God is at work to create and maintain our relationship. We are related to each other because of our relationship to our Father through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit seals the relationship. We belong to God, not to the world. Our leadership is an expression of this relation with God. Our security is the result of our deep relationship to the Triune God.

Respond: Lord, make me a confident leader in my house and in the place where I work.

Comforting Christian

Prepare: We are comforted when we comfort others.
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

We live in a hurting world. Actions and reactions of others, adverse circumstances, strained relationships and their factors hurt us deeply. We carry the hurts within us, unable to heal. Paul lived in circumstances same as ours. How did he manage to be a witness in a hurting world?

God is the source of comfort: Our God is a merciful God. Paul has experienced the comfort of God many times. God comforts us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We care comforted because of the sufferings of Jesus. Comfort is not the removal of suffering. It is not the assurance that everything will have a happy ending on earth. We experience comfort in spite of sufferings because of our living relationship to God through Jesus Christ.

Suffering is the path to comfort: Paul in spite of his dedication to God and commitment to the ministry, underwent suffering. Paul here speaks about a specific suffering which was very intensive. His suffering was not an expression of God's punishment. He asserts that suffering was the sign that he was truly serving God. God reveals Himself in the context of suffering as the God of comfort. We do not understand God as the source of our comfort, if we do not undergo suffering. Once we experience God's comfort,we become a source of comfort to others.

Respond: Make me O Lord, a source of comfort to others who live around me in this hurting world. 

God's Judgement on Pride

Prepare: God will change His plan for an individual when he disobeys.
Read: 1 Samuel 15:1-16

God's orders were clear, but Saul's motives were mixed. Saul was commissioned to destroy the Amalekite nation for their sins against the Israelites coming out of Egypt. This was in fulfilment of God's purpose stated about 500 years ago. Verse 9 describes Saul's disobedience to God's command which was to destroy utterly all that the Amalekites had, not sparing any man, woman, infant, suckling, ox, sheep, camel or ass. But Saul failed miserably. Saul and his army spared the Amalekite king and covered the best of the cattle and did not destroy them.

The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe who lived in the desert south of Judah. Saul is told to avenge their attack on the Israelites at the oasis of Rephidim during their journey from Egypt to Canaan (Ex.17:8-13). Amalek stands for the flesh and is the one who puts a stumbling block in our daily walk with the Lord. As they tried to prevent the Israelites from entering the Promised Land, even today the flesh fights against the spirit so that we lose heavenly blessings. As Moses vowed "war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Ex. 17:14-16), we too face spiritual battles till the end of out life.

Saul made a monument in his own honour to mark his victory over Amalek. He failed to realize his sin, and was celebrating his victory. Note the breach in Saul's relationship with God. He tells Samuel 'the Lord your God'.

Respond: Are you building monuments for yourself instead of glorifying God?

Ill - Timed Oath

Prepare: Too often we are quick to seek God's forgiveness for ourselves but slow to grant forgiveness to others.
Read: 1 Samuel 14:16-30

Five things happened to the Philistines, when the Lord was at work. 1. They trembled 2. melted away 3. beat one another down 4. tumult in the camp and 5. a great confusion. It must be the result of something supernatural  when sane, normal men of a common cause begin destroying one another.

In verse 21, the word Hebrews is used to distinguish the Israelites from the Philistines among whom they lived. It implies that many Israelites joined the Philistines against their brethren in order to escape death. But now, since God was giving His people deliverance, they rejoined their brethren. Like many today, they wished to go along with the victors and the majority, then change again when it was convenient.

Saul had pronounced a curse upon anyone who would eat that day before evening. This was a great hindrance to his own purpose, for had the people eaten freely, they could have fought better and there would have been a great slaughter among the Philistines. Saul tried to impress people with an oat, but Jonathan did what was necessary to fight the battle. Saul weekend the army; Jonathan strengthened the army and led it to new victories. Saul's lack of judgement and concern for the soldiers, was revealed by his oath and the whole army was in distress.

It was a wonderful day and had there ever been any day like that in all history a day when two men routed the whole army of one of the world's great powers.

Respond: Father help us stay committed when the going gets tough.

Farewell Speech

Prepare: The Bible has been faithful to speak of the success as well as the failure of men.
Read: 1 Samuel 12:1-15

Samuel's message was a combination of a coronation address and a revival sermon. Samuel was a little disappointed that the Israelites had asked for a king in his place. But God had told Samuel that the people had rejected Him and not Samuel (1 Samuel 8:7). So Samuel stepped down gracefully to make way for the king.

The people had rejected a proven godly leader for a man who had won only one victory and whose devotion to the Lord was as yet unknown. Samuel left office knowing that his conscience was clear. The hand of the Lord was with them when they obeyed, but it was against them when they rebelled. Verse 14 emphasizes the same secret of success that God gave to Joshua (Josh. 1:8). Rebellion became King Saul's besetting sin, and it cost him the kingdom.

Samuel could claim that he was upright throughout his career. The people affirmed that Samuel as priest and prophet had never exploited anyone to get an ox or an ass. He had neither cheated nor oppressed anyone. He had never taken any bribe from any one of them in order to condone any wrong. They had nothing against him. Samuel was a true and just judge and a godly leader.

Respond: Samuel had 60 long years of a blameless record life. How about your life?

Committed to the Right Cause

Trust God

Prepare: Are we ready to step down from our leadership to hand over the mantle to the second line believers?
Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-16

Anointing of Saul as king over Israel brought Samuel to the second spot. Yet Samuel is willing to obey the voice of God. Samuel's humility without any guile and bitterness in his heart shows his walk with God. Samuel was led constantly by the Holy Spirit. By given two loaves of bread from the sacrificial goods, ceremonially reserved for priestly use, Saul is being treated like a priest. Saul kept the news of his selection as king, secret, again showing his humility and modesty.

Saul could not understand how a man like him could lead the nation of Israel, so God gave him a series of "signs" to assure him of his new responsibilities. A leader must trust God to solve problems, to meet needs and to be given the power to lead. He must know how to hear God's Word and wait obediently on the Lord. Saul began his ministry in the strength of these assurances, but as time went on, he trusted more and more in himself and rebelled against God's Word.

Saul was a partaker of the Holy Spirit and was genuinely converted, born again, redeemed, and made a new creature at this time. Hence he enjoyed the fivefold spiritual blessing in his life: 1. The Spirit of God came upon him. 2. He prophesied 3. He was turned to another man 4. God was with him 5. God gave him another heart.

Respond: Lord keep me humble and use me for Your glory.

Wanted New Captain

God Provides

Prepare: A wise son heeds his father's instruction.
Read: 1 Samuel 8:1-22

It is possible to be faithful in ministry and yet end your life in disappointment. That is what happened to Samuel. His sons disappointed him.They were not able to carry on their father's ministry because they did not follow their father's godly example.Eli's sons yielded to the lusts of the flesh (1 Samuel 2:12-17), while Samuel's sons were lovers of money. They judged Israel, without being just in their life. They took bribes and turned justice upside down.

Samuel was disappointed in the nation, for they wanted a king. They used Samuel's sons as their excuse, but the real reason was their lack of faith in God. They wanted to be like the other nations with kings. Samuel's warnings about what the king would do made no no impression on the people. Note the repetition of the phrase "he will take". When God rules the people, He will supply or meet the needs of the people. But when a king rules the people, they have to meet all his needs as well as whims. All that Samuel worked for and prayed for seemed to have turned out differently.

If only they could have waited for 10-12 years, God Himself would have given them David as their king. If only Abraham could have waited for some time, Ishmael would not have born. We have to wait in the presence of God, for the promises of God to be fulfilled. Leaders who are faithful to God may not always appear successsful to men.

Respond: Lord, teach me to wait in Your presence.

Samuel Judges Israel

Prepare: We need godly leaders
Read: 1 Samuel 7:3-17

Samuel's leadership: The ark of God remained in the house of Abinadab for twenty years. During this period of time, God was preparing Samuel for his ministry. Samuel's position as chief ruler in Israel became firmly established. As a religious leader, he commanded the people to turn from idols. Ashtaroth was the fertility goddess frequently associated with Baal in the Old Testament. Samuel exhorted the Israelites to direct their hearts to the Lord and to serve Him alone. It is true that the ark returned to the Israelites. But how about the Israelites themselves? They should return to the Lord. So Samuel exhorted them to return to the Lord with all their hearts.The Israelites drew water and poured it out before the Lord. This is a symbolic act. They showed their willingness to spill their blood to effect a reconciliation with the Lord.

When the Philistines drew near to battle, God attacked them in a violent thunderstorm. To those simple hearted people, a visible memorial would serve as a constant reminder of God's redeeming power. The name 'Ebenezer', 'stone of help', would tell them that the One who had set them free from the enemies, desired to continue being their God.

Israel was secure and stable both externally and internally under the rule of Samuel, for the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. There was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites. Samuel's annual visits from his home town of Ramah gave the people confidence and trust in God and in Samuel's leadership.

Respond: Lord, help us to follow godly leaders who can guide us to fulfill Your purposes for our lives.

The Ark of God Returned to Israel

Prepare: Waiting upon the Lord for greater challenges.
Read: 1 Samuel 6:17-7:2

The Philistines sent golden mice and golden tumours along with the ark as a guilt offering to the Lord of Israel. The golden mice were according to the number of cities of the Philistines. They made sure that no part of the Philistine territory was left out.

Inspite of the understandable Israelite joy to see the ark returned, events soon made it clear that the ark was not to be trifled with. As a symbol of divine presence, it was holy. The Hebrew expression 'looked upon' indicates staring, and perhaps gloating. This irreverence explains why God struck some of the men, who were guilty of breaking the law in Numbers 4:20. Seventy people died.

The people of Beth Shemesh asked the people of Kiriath Jearim to take the ark of God. Kiriath Jearim lay about ten miles north east of Bethshemesh, in the direction of Shiloh. The ark of God remained in the house of Abinadab in Kiriath Jearim for about twenty years. It was during this period, God was preparing Samuel for greater tasks.

The men of Beth Shemesh were reaping the harvest when the cart with the ark came into view. The ark had been gone for six months, but the men did not allow that to keeo them from working. Even in times of defeat, there are jobs to be done and people to feed. Abinadab's house will become a tabernacle of the Lord, but should not every home be a holy dwelling place for Him?

Respond: Lord, help me to realize that the waiting time is not a wasted time.

The Ark of God among the Philistines

Reading for July 3, 2012

Prepare: The Lord will fight our battles.
Read: 1 Samuel 5:1-12

The Philistines took the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashod and set it beside Dagon, their God, in the house of Dagon. They thought that their victory was sure prrof that their God, Dagon was superior to the God of Israel. But the people of Ashod soon realized their folly when Dagon fell again and again, breaking into pieces before the ark of God. Moreover, the people of Ashod were afflicted with tumours. So they decided to send the ark of God to Gath. The people in Gath also experienced affliction and so they sent it to Ekron.

The captured ark of the covenant proved a curse among the Philistines, wherever it was taken, whether Ashod, or Gath or Ekron. At Ashod, it destrpyed the idol of Dagon and afflicted the people with tumours. At Gath, it brought great destruction and the people were afflicted with tumours. The Lord wanted the Philistines to know that He had been behind all that happened. God would fight for His people. Nobody can stand if God fights for His people.

The ark of God, which symbolized God's presence, was holy and was dangerous to the pagan people, especially when they treated it as one of their idols. The Philistines soon realized that they could not keep the ark of God in any of their territories for fear of death. They decided to send the ark back to the Israelites.

Respond: Lord, when You fight our battles, we should fight Your battles.

The Tragic End of Eli's Family

Prepare: God's judgment is sure to come.
Read: 1 Samuel 4:12-22

The death of Eli: When the news of Israel's defeat reached Shiloh, all the people of Israel mourned. There was a great lamentation in the city. Eli, now 98 years old, who could not see, but heard the great uproar, also learnt about the worst defeat of Israel at the hands of their enemies, the Philistines. His sons, Hophni and Phinehas, also died. Above all, the ark of the covenant of God was captured and taken away by the Philistines. The priests, who were entrusted with the maintenance of the ark of God,were now dead. When Eli heard all the bad news, he fell down and died in great distress. Eli was a judge for forty years. Probably, it was true in Eli's period also that "in those days there was no King in Israel; Evereyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).

The death of Eli's daughter-in-law: The wife of Phinehas, Eli's daughter-in-law, was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. The news of the death of Eli and her husband and the capture of the ark of God brouht labour pain and she delivered a boy baby. She named him Ichabod, meaning the "glory has departed", before her death. This is a very sad reading.

Those who are in God's service should be very careful about their families. The tragic end of a father unwilling to discipline his children and the sad end of the unrepentant children should be a lesson for all of us.

Respond: Lord, help us to realize that You are a righteous judge.

The Defeat of Israelites

Prepare: Are we aware of God's chastening?
Read: 1 Samuel 3:19-4:11

This passage shows how God honoured His faithful servant Samuel and punished Eli's two wicked sons.

Samuel's rise: Samuel grew in stature. As a priest, Samuel could function only at Shiloh, but as a prophet, his influence extended from Dan to Beersheba i.e., from the northermost to the southermost parts of Israel. He is thus shown as a national figure of importance and no longer an obscure person in Shiloh (1 Peter 5:6).

Israel's defeat: There is no indication in this passage to suggest that the people of Israel sought the guidance of God before launching an attack against the Philistines. They were eventually defeated by the Philistines. They thought that the physical presence of the ark of the covenant of the Lord would bring them victory. So they brought the ark from Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, came along with the ark to the battle field.

Israel had a false confidence of the presence of God among them and fought against the Philistines. Thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell on that day. The ark of God was also captured by the Philistines. Eli's sons, Hophni and Phineas also died in the battle. God's prophecy concerning Eli's sons came true.

God chastens the people He loves, as the father punishes his children to correct them. Are we willing to learn our lesson when God corrects us? Are we willing for God to correct our false ideas?

Respond: Lord, help us to recognize Your chastening and to learn from our mistakes.