Category: Bible Thoughts (Page 1 of 2)

God Understands Our Fear

September 14, 2025 / Cadie / 0 Comments

Judges 7:9-11 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then he went down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.

Let’s take a quick walk through Judges 6-7: Gideon’s victory over the Midianites. I was encouraged by what I found in this passage, and I hope you will be encouraged too.

The children of Israel turned away from the Lord, and He punished their wickedness by allowing the Midianites over power them for seven years. The Midianites moved into the land of Israel, taking homes, land, and livestock. The Israelites were forced to seek shelter in mountains and caves. They were impoverished and afraid. The Midianites left no sustenance (Judges 6:4).

Gideon, like his fellow countrymen, was afraid of the Midianites. He had to thresh his wheat hiding behind a winepress. But the Lord came to him and said, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour” (Judges 6:12).

Gideon responded by questioning the Lord: If the Lord is with us, why are these bad things happening? Didn’t He do miracles for our fathers? Where is He now?

The Lord didn’t get angry with Gideon’s response. Instead, He told Gideon that he – Gideon – would save Israel from the Midianites.

Gideon said, “I am poor and the youngest of my father’s house; I have no qualifications to drive out the enemy.”

The Lord responded, “Surely I will be with thee” (Judges 6:16).

“I need a sign”, said Gideon. “I need you to stay here ‘til I come back with a present for you.”

It seems like a simple sign Gideon asked for, but when he returned the Lord was still there waiting for him. Gideon prepared an offering for the Lord which the Lord received and set on fire, similar to the burning bush for Moses.

At this point, Gideon knows he was talking to the same God who brought Israel out of Egypt. He is going to deliver Israel again, this time by Gideon’s hand. Even though he knows God is on his side, Gideon is afraid. God commands that he break down the altar of Baal, but Gideon does it by night “because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city” (Judges 6:27).

After the alter of Baal was broken, Gideon called for reinforcements from four tribes of Israel to help defeat the Midianites. When they were gathered, Gideon asked for two more signs from the Lord: first that the fleece he set out overnight be the only thing with dew on it, and second, the next night, that the fleece be the only thing that is dry. God didn’t get impatient with Gideon because God understands human fear. He understands that sometimes we need continual affirmation that He is right there beside us.

Something else that was different about the signs of the fleece: Gideon wasn’t the only one present for those two signs. I heard a preacher say once that perhaps the signs of the fleece were not for Gideon, but for the children of Israel, to assure them that Gideon was God’s chosen man. Whether the signs of the fleece were for Gideon or for the children of Israel, God did not get impatient. He gave them the signs that asked for to encourage them and remind them that He was definitely going to lead them to victory.

Gideon’s army began with thirty-two thousand men, but God told them they were too many. This was God’s battle, not Israel’s. God had Gideon narrow down the men until he was left with three hundred. I’m sure Gideon started to wonder, Why is God doing this? What is going on? How do three hundred defeat multitudes like the sand of the sea?

God knows just what we need and when we need it. In His mercy, God gave Gideon a fourth sign without Gideon even having to ask for it. God told Gideon to go into the camp of the Midianites, quietly, and then He said, “But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host” (Judges 7:10). God knew Gideon was afraid. He didn’t chastise him for his fear. He simply said, “If you’re afraid, don’t go alone.” Gideon found his courage that night. He found the ultimate sign that God was with him, a sign that he hadn’t asked for, but that God willingly gave him anyway. He found two Midianites talking about a dream. When one explained that a cake of barley bread rolled into the camp and toppled a tent, the other exclaimed, “This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host” (Judges 7:14). They didn’t know Gideon could hear them. God provided the final bit of encouragement Gideon needed to lead his tiny army to victory.

Gideon returned to his camp, divided his men, and surrounded the Midianites. They brought lamps hidden inside clay pitchers and trumpets. When the men were in position, they broke the pitchers, shone their lamps, blew on their trumpets, and cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” (Judges 7:20). The Midianites were afraid and plunged into chaos trying to get away from Gideon. They turned on each other as they fled. Gideon, who had once been afraid, was now chasing a fleeing and frightened multitude. Never again does the Bible say Gideon was afraid. He chased the enemy out of Israel and sent the tribes to destroy enemy cities. Gideon’s victory over Midian led to forty years of peace in Israel – peace without fear.

Did you notice throughout Judges 6-7 God never got impatient with Gideon’s fear? He never chastised Gideon for being afraid. He did not say “No” when Gideon asked for signs; He even gave a sign that Gideon didn’t ask for. God understands that people feel fear, even when we know He is with us. How do we combat fear? We must maintain our relationship with Him by reading His Word and talking to Him through prayer. The more we know the Word, the more we know the Lord of the Word. Rest on His promises like this one: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Since God cannot lie, then He most definitely is with us, just like He was with Gideon.

I hope this encourages you today. You are not alone. You don’t have to face your fears alone. God is with you. He knows your fear, and He knows how to help you with that fear. And, best of all, He wants to help you with your fear.

God Can Still Do Great Things!

September 7, 2025 / Cadie / 0 Comments

Deuteronomy 4: 32-35 (KJV) For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him.

I was listening to Deuteronomy 4 when these verses jumped out at me. I have listened to them repeatedly over the last few weeks so they could imprint on my heart. What mighty, amazing things the children of Israel saw when they were in the wilderness. Sadly, by this time, the generation that walked on dry ground through the Red Sea had died, but they made sure to tell their children all about it, and those children grew up seeing over and over how God took care of them. Shoes that never wore out. Daily food from heaven. Battles won that – humanly speaking – should have been lost. They didn’t have to look far for miracles and for signs of God’s constant presence and protection.

Now think about your life. What have you seen God do for you? What prayers has He answered for you? Have you ever watched Him do something that only He could do? I want to tell you about what I have seen God do.

It was a Thursday in October 2022. It started with an email. Subject: My sister’s name. My husband wrote one line. “Call your mom. Your sister has been in an accident.”

My sister, a high school freshman for less than two weeks, had been hit by a car as she walked to her bus stop. My parents were on their way to the hospital. At that point, they didn’t even know how badly she was hurt. I felt like my world was crashing down around me.

I posted this picture on my Facebook page and trusted that God knew what I needed to say when I couldn’t say anything. And I knew there were people praying, even at that moment, for my whole family.

For three days, my sister was unconscious. She had a traumatic brain injury, several small brain bleeds, a broken bone in her nose, bruising around her eye, and road rash on one side. It could have been so much worse, but it was still bad. My sister, who was always so full of life and energy, was in a hospital bed with breathing tubes and IVs. Not moving. Not awake. For three days.

Many times, I thought, “I know God can work a miracle. I know He can bring her out of this. I know He has that power. But will He? Can He, really? And why would He do that for her, for my family, for me? There are other people out there that He hasn’t healed.” It was a battle. All I could pray was, “Please Lord. Please.” It’s comforting, now, to think about Romans 8:26 which says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray.

Sunday. I was making the hour drive to the hospital, listening to songs that I would turn into prayers. In Jesus Name (God of Possible) by Katy Nichole says, “I pray for your healing. That circumstances would change. I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus’ name. I pray that a breakthrough would happen today. I pray miracles over your life in Jesus’ name… He’s the God of Possible.” Arise My Love by Newsong says just that, “Arise my love!” And though I knew that song was talking about Jesus rising from the grave, I was praying that my sister, too, would rise from the grave-like hospital bed.

I am here to tell you God worked miracles that day and has worked miracles every day since. For three days, my sister was unconscious. She woke up that Sunday. She tried to smile and give us a thumbs-up. My mom and I were in the room with her early that morning. We could feel the comfort of the prayers of God’s people all across the country. She started to make great progress. Within a week, she was moved out of Pediatric ICU into a regular hospital room. One week later, she was moved into rehab. And a week after that, she was released and sent home. She was back in school one month after the accident. And in December, she was able to dance the Christmas story with her ballet school. My sister is a walking miracle, and that’s what I tell anyone who asks.

Now that I have shared with you the great things that I have seen God do, I have two challenges for you and for me. First, let God work through you to encourage someone else. Don’t underestimate how much a simple card, phone call, or text message means. Even if it goes unanswered, you may have brought a smile to someone who is hurting. Second, think of the times you have seen God work. Find some way to memorialize it. Write it down, share it with a friend, draw a picture. Give God the glory He deserves. There will be times when we don’t understand what He is doing in our lives and when we have to trust Him blindly. In those times, we can look back and remember what He has done before. He has the power to do it again.

I have seen God do great things before, but I always felt like I was on the sidelines. Since October, I’ve seen Him up close and personal. I’ve seen Him answer my own prayers. I’ve seen Him work through His people to encourage and help my parents. I have felt the peace and comfort He gives when the world seems to be crumbling. And I can say with Moses, “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else” (Deut. 4:39).

(Image credit: I apologize I do not know whose image this was originally, but it has been a great comfort to many. Thank you!)

What do You Want to be Known For?

August 10, 2025 / Cadie

Proverbs 20: 11 (KJV) Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Genesis 36: 24 (KJV) And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.

When you think of these names – these people who are mentioned in the Bible – what do you think about?

Joseph
Moses
David
Jonah
Mary
Peter
Paul

Here is what I think about: Joseph was known for his integrity. Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. David was known for victory and sin: killing Goliath and adultery with Bathsheba. Jonah had a great track record as a prophet until he ran from God and ended up inside a whale. Mary was favored of God and given the task of being the virgin mother of the Son of God. Peter was known for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, even denying the Lord three times, but when his faith was strengthened, he preached to thousands on the day of Pentecost. Paul was the Apostle who wrote most of the New Testament.

But have you ever heard these names?

Enoch (Gen 5: 22-24) – He had such an amazing walk with God that God moved him straight from earth to Heaven, skipping physical death.
Anah (Gen 36:24) – He found mules in the wilderness.
Er (Gen 38:7) – He was Judah’s firstborn, and he was so wicked God Himself killed him.
Hezekiah (Is. 38: 1-8) – He prayed, and God gave him a sign by moving time backwards.
Rhoda (Acts 12:13) – She shut the door in Peter’s face because the people inside her house were praying for Peter to be released from prison.

And here are some people who have great stories, yet they remain unnamed in the Word of God:

The Shunamite woman (2 Kings 4)
The lad with the lunch (John 6)
Naaman’s servant girl (2 Kings 5)

God thought it was important to mention each of these people in the Bible, whether they were an example of godliness or wickedness. They prove that no life is ignored or forgotten by God. Remember the woman with the alabaster box? In Matthew 26: 7-13, she poured all of her expensive ointment on Jesus’ feet. When the disciples murmured about it, Jesus said she would be mentioned everywhere the Gospel is preached. He wanted them to know that nothing is overlooked, no act is unrewarded. As Proverbs says, even a child is known by his doings.

Originally, I wrote this for a January devotional. I was thinking about people who make resolutions or decisions that are supposed to impact their lives for twelve months. Some people resolve to focus on health, so they start going to the gym and eating better foods. Others resolve to read all of the Bible that year. Still others resolve to give up bad habits like drinking or smoking. They think they can keep their resolutions by their own strength. Soon they get discouraged and many quit before January turns into February.

I want to challenge you to stop and take a few moments to think about your decisions and actions. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I do know that any of us could make a life-altering decision at any moment. You could be known for the rest of your life for a decision you are about to make. I could be known for the way that I react to something in the next hour. All Anah did was find mules in the wilderness, but God put that in the Holy Scriptures for the rest of the world to read about.

Look back at last year. What events or memories stand out to you? What do you think people will remember from your life over the last few months?

Now look forward. What do you want to be known for today? Tomorrow? Next month? Next year?

The Great Creator Became My Savior

July 27, 2025 / Cadie

John 1: 1-3, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

It was mid-January 2023, and I was trying to think about what to write for February’s monthly devotional. As I looked back on December, I took a breath and wondered at the recent Christmas season. I felt like I was still recovering from the busyness. Every weekend, I had plans and activities. One week, I had an event every night. For the two weeks before and after Christmas, my hour-long commute was made longer by heavy traffic. My brother came into town, and I got to spend some good, quality time with him and the rest of my family. But I did not spend a lot of good, quality time with my God, and because of that, it was very easy for me to lose sight of what I was really celebrating when Christmas Day arrived.

On the Sunday before Christmas, my Pastor’s sermon focused on John 1. He preached about the Word – Jesus Christ – who became flesh and dwelt as a man among men. It made me think of the song by William E Booth-Clibborn, which says, “The Great Creator became my Savior.” As I thought about what I wanted to write for the February devotional, I kept coming back to that thought: The Great Creator became my Savior. Wow.

The Great Creator: Genesis 1 recounts how God created light, darkness, time, the world, and everything in the world. My favorite verse in Genesis is Genesis 1: 16. “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” I asked Google how many stars are in the universe, and the answer is amazing: about 200 billion trillion. Written out, that’s 200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (23 zeros!). My God is so big, so great, that when He talks about creating these billions of trillions of stars, He merely says, “I made those also.”

My Savior: John 1:3 says without the Word – Jesus Christ – nothing would have been created. Yet He humbled himself and became obedient unto the death of the cross so that we could be saved from sin. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5: 8). Perhaps as He set those stars in space, He was thinking of me, knowing my sin, yet still loving me. He was thinking of you, and He was loving you. Can you imagine Him, hanging the stars like we hung our ornaments at Christmas? And all the while, He was planning how He would come to earth as a baby, live a perfect life, and die on the cross so that He could rescue all people from sin. I echo that great hymn, Hallelujah, what a Savior!

It is so easy to forget during the busyness of the Christmas season why we celebrate Christmas. I’m afraid I lost focus for a while. It’s easy to get complacent after Christmas too. I don’t want to fall into that same complacency again. I am challenging myself this month to try not to lose focus on my Great Creator and Savior. I want to get to know Him better. He cares about my life and yours, every tiny little detail. If you don’t know Him today, you can. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). If you call on Him, He will hear you. He loves you, and He wants you to know Him.

Boaz, a Type of Christ’s Love

July 20, 2025 / Cadie

Ruth 2:1 (KJV) And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

I love the book of Ruth. I am so grateful that God put Ruth in the canon of Scriptures. I can be a hopeless romantic, so when I read the book of Ruth, I see a beautiful story of human love. Though the Bible doesn’t specifically say “Boaz loved Ruth”, I believe he did love her. She wasn’t just a duty to him; he truly wanted to marry her. But the book of Ruth isn’t a romance novel. There is so much more under the surface that we can study and apply to our lives.

When I read the book of Ruth, I see not only a human love story, but also a picture of Jesus Christ. The love that Boaz showed Ruth is a picture of Jesus’ love for the church. Today, I want to show you a few of the ways Boaz is a picture of Jesus. There may be more similarities, but these are what stand out to me. (I am going to assume you have read the book of Ruth. If you have not, you should. It’s 4 chapters and will only take you about thirty minutes.)

Boaz was wealthy. Jesus is also wealthy. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” There is no end to what the Lord can give to us because everything is His.
Boaz noticed Ruth. The first thing he said was, “Whose damsel is this?” (Ruth 2:5). Boaz took an interest in Ruth from the first moment he saw her. I wonder if he began to think about being her kinsman redeemer that day. Forgive my romantic side, but could it have been “love at first sight”? Did you know the Lord Jesus fell in love with us before we were conceived? “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). God set the plan for salvation in motion when He created man. When man sinned in Genesis 3, that plan began to unfold. God promised He would send a Savior before you and I ever sinned. How amazing it is to be noticed by God.
Boaz spoke tenderly to Ruth. “It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” (Ruth 2:11). Here’s my romantic side showing again. Can you hear Boaz saying these words to Ruth? I imagine he spoke tenderly to her. He admired her for leaving Moab, staying with Naomi, and trusting the Lord. Boaz comforted her and spoke friendly toward Ruth (Ruth 2:13). Has the Lord ever spoken tenderly to you? Has He ever comforted you? He has a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12). Sometimes He shows me special things in the Word, verses that seem written just for my circumstances. For example, my favorite verse, Isaiah 61:3, says the Lord gives beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, and praise to replace heaviness. Our God is so tender and loving toward us.
Boaz made a place at his table for Ruth. He invited her to lunch that first day, and I believe he continued to invite her to eat at his table the following days. He even provided bread for her to eat. Jesus is preparing a feast for His people right now. One day, when we join Him in heaven, we will have a place at His table. No one will be left out.
Boaz was generous to Ruth. Not only did he give her lunch that day, but he also commanded his reapers to drop extra grain on purpose for Ruth. He wanted to be sure she was provided for. When Naomi saw how much Ruth brought home that day, she exclaimed, “Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.” And when he sent Ruth away in chapter 3, he gave her extra barley so she wouldn’t return to Naomi emptyhanded (Ruth 3:17). The Lord provides for us even when we think there isn’t any way that our needs can be met. He is able (and willing) to do abundantly above what we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). He wants to show us His love and His power. Sometimes He does it before we even ask.
Boaz loved Ruth even though she was an outcast. Ruth was from Moab, a people who were forbidden from being part of the congregation of Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3). She was poor and a widow. Most likely she was still in mourning when she traveled back to Bethlehem with Naomi. The picture: Jesus loves us, even though we may be outcasts, poor, mourning, or any other negative trait you can think of. Jesus loves us. Wow!
Boaz was a near kinsman. He was closely related to Elimelech (Naomi’s husband), but he was not the nearest kinsman. He gave the other kinsman an opportunity to redeem Ruth, but that man could not, or would not, do so. When the nearer kinsman chose not to redeem Ruth, Boaz claimed his legal right and married her. In the book Romance of Redemption, M.R. DeHaan describes this as a picture of the flesh and Jesus. The flesh (our nearest kinsman) could not redeem us, so Jesus stepped in and became a man. He paid the penalty for our sins to redeem us. We are now a part of His Church, the Bride of Christ.
Boaz praised Ruth’s testimony. In chapter 3, Ruth came to Boaz to ask him to fulfill his duty as the kinsman redeemer. He responded, “And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” (Ruth 3:11). The whole city knew Ruth by now, and they all agreed: she was a virtuous woman. Boaz praised her for her actions. One day, the Lord will praise us for living faithfully for Him. One of the ways Jesus praises His people is by giving them crowns. There are several crowns we can win as we live for Christ here on earth: the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19), the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), the crown of life (James 1:12), and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). But we won’t keep these crowns long. Instead, we will give them back to Jesus in praise and worship for Who He is: our Savior.

I am sure there are other ways that Boaz is a picture of Jesus, but these are the similarities that stand out to me. I love how, in His wisdom, God gave us this love story between Boaz and Ruth. I also love that, while I studied Boaz’s love for Ruth, I have come to view Jesus’ love for me in a special way. His love for me is real and tender and generous, just as Boaz’s love was toward Ruth. If you don’t know Jesus today, you can. John 3:16 is one of those tender verses God gave us to describe His love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” You can trust God means every word. He does love you. He did give His Son for you. All you have to do is believe in Him, and you can have everlasting life. His love for you is just as real as Boaz and Ruth, and ever so much better.

Jesus: The Example

July 13, 2025 / Cadie

Philippians 2: 5-8 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

I feel so unworthy to touch on the topic of self-sacrifice. This is an area that I struggle with daily. For me, the hardest place to practice self-sacrifice is when I drive. I used to drive an hour to work one way. I have been guilty of everything from speeding to anger to ugly thoughts. So, when I tried to write about the topic of self-sacrifice, I turned to the only One I could think of Who demonstrated complete self-sacrifice: the Lord Jesus Christ. He is THE example of complete self-sacrifice; He is THE standard that I must strive to live up to.

Paul wrote Philippians 2 as a demonstration to the church that they needed to learn to think and act like Jesus. Earlier in the chapter, Paul wrote that they should esteem others better than themselves and that they should consider the needs of others above their own needs. These are hard things to do. It is so much easier just to think about what I need each day without considering anyone else. But this is not Christ-like. Instead, Christlikeness is putting others before myself, no matter what. We Christians are called to be like Christ, and this is one of the many passages that helps us understand the mind of Christ.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (v. 5). There is no mystery about it – we must have the same mind-set as Jesus.

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (v. 6). Jesus is God. Saying that He is equal with God does not rob any glory or worship from God because Jesus is God.

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (v. 7). Jesus became a human with the same feelings that we all have: thirst, hunger, cold, fatigue, pain. But Jesus didn’t just become a human; He became a servant. He could have been born in a palace to a king and queen, but instead, He was born in a stable to a young couple of nobodies. Jesus is the greatest example of humility.

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (v 8). Jesus humbled himself and became a servant. Then He died on the cross like a criminal. He was sinless and perfect. Why did He have to die like that? So that anyone who believes in Him might be saved and so that God would be glorified.

Jesus is the supreme example of complete self-sacrifice and humility. If we ask Him, He will help us to humble ourselves too so that we can display Christ-like self-sacrifice to the world around us. Perhaps the key to self-sacrifice is humility. To be humbled, according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, is to be abased or made low. If we will humble ourselves, or make ourselves low in our own eyes, then we will begin to see and care about the needs of those around us.

I mentioned earlier that I struggle with self-sacrifice when I am driving. I began to wonder the other day what Jesus would do if he were behind the wheel. I realized my own shortcomings very quickly! If I humble myself, how might that change my driving habits? As Christians, we are supposed to live our lives with an attitude of “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” I want to challenge you this month to think about the areas where you know you struggle with self-sacrifice. How would Jesus approach those areas? What would He think or say or do if he was faced with your situation? He would humble Himself and put others first. We should do the same. If we fail, Jesus will forgive us and help us try again.

Consider Who We Worship

June 29, 2025 / Cadie

John 4: 25-26 (KJV) The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

The story of the woman at the well is familiar to most Christians. Jesus went out of His way to meet this sinful Samaritan woman so she could be saved. Beginning with a simple request for water, Jesus had a conversation with the woman that led from the promise of everlasting life to a confrontation about her sin to revealing that He was the true Messiah. Eventually, the woman left her waterpot at the well and ran into the city, exclaiming, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

During their course of their conversation, the woman said to Jesus, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship” (v. 20). She did what many sinners do when confronted with their sin: she dodged her need for pardon from personal sin by asking questions about religion. She brought up where God could be worshipped, and Jesus answered her that where was not as important as how God was worshipped. He said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Still not knowing Who she was speaking to, the woman said she believed the Messiah was coming and would reveal all things when He came. It seems she still wasn’t convinced Jesus knew what He was talking about until He said, “I that speak unto thee am he.”

The woman was so caught up in where and how to worship that she was blind to Who was in front of her deserving her worship. God is the most important part of our worship. Without Him, we have nothing. Without Him, we are nothing. I looked up the word worship for this study. Two words that are repeated in the definitions of worship in both the dictionary and the concordance are reverence (respect) and honor (high esteem). God deserves all the reverence and honor that we can give Him. Not only is He the Great Creator, but He is also our Loving Savior. He has literally done everything for us.

Sometimes I find myself falling into a routine or habit when I approach times for worship. At church: sing, pray, announcement, sing, sermon, pray. In my quiet time: a chapter, a moment of meditation, sometimes I write it down, done. Singing or listening to Christian songs: enjoying the lyrics, then going about my day. But worship is so much more than sermons, singing, or praying. It is me communing with God. When I think of Who He is, and who I am, it makes that time of worship so much more meaningful.

I have a challenge for us as we ponder worship. Let us consider Who we worship. Jesus, who wants to have a personal relationship with us. The Creator of the world. The Savior who gave Himself for us. He is Perfect. Everlasting. All Knowing. All Powerful. If we are in a church building, perhaps we could take an extra moment of silence before the service begins to think about what the Lord has done for us. If we are admiring nature, perhaps we could breathe a short prayer of thanksgiving for what He has made for us. If we are singing, perhaps we could take a moment to reflect on the words of the song and what they say about our God. No matter what we do, let us approach God with reverence and honor because of Who He is.

Kindness on Purpose

June 22, 2025 / Cadie

Ruth 2:15-16 (KJV) And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

I was looking for the word “purpose” in the Bible when I came across these verses in Ruth. They made me stop and think about how kind Boaz was to Ruth. Then I realized that there’s a trail of kindness throughout the book of Ruth. I’m going to take for granted you know the story of Ruth, but if you do not, please take a few moments to read it. Ruth is a short book in the Old Testament, but it’s one of my favorites.

Naomi showed kindness to Ruth first by accepting her and loving her as a daughter. Even more important, Naomi taught Ruth about the one true God, probably not just with words, but by the way she lived too. Eventually, Ruth chose Naomi’s God to be her own. Naomi didn’t have to be kind to Ruth. Ruth was her daughter-in-law, a Gentile, an idolatress. But Naomi chose to be kind because she knew she could impact Ruth’s eternity.

Unfortunately, after Naomi’s husband and sons died, she became bitter and depressed. She announced to her daughters-in-law that she was returning to Bethlehem, and they needed to return to their parents. She had nothing to give them. But Ruth would not leave Naomi alone; it was now her turn to show kindness. Ruth left everything she knew – her parents, her homeland, even the grave of her husband – to accompany a bitter old woman to a place she’d never been. As far as Ruth could see, there would be no reward for her kindness. She and Naomi would live as impoverished widows for the rest of their lives. Can you imagine their journey? Ruth 1:18 says Naomi left speaking unto Ruth. Maybe she gave her the silent treatment all the way back to Bethlehem. Yet Ruth never faltered. She would be there for Naomi until the end, taking care of her and loving her. Ruth’s kindness was Christ-like and, I believe, was a result of her newfound faith in God. Ruth may have felt that her kindness would have no reward, God would make sure that it did.

Life in those days was not easy for widows, but God had made provision for them in Leviticus 19. Reapers were to leave the dropped grains and the corners of the fields for the poor. That’s how Ruth found herself in the field of Boaz, gleaning behind his reapers. Then Boaz did something that surprised Ruth: he invited her to eat lunch with him. After lunch, he told his reapers to let Ruth glean anywhere (not just the corners). And not only that, he also told them to let extra grain fall to the ground for her to gather. “Let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her.” Ruth must have brought a lot of food home that day because Naomi exclaimed, “Where hast thou gleaned today? Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.” When Ruth asked Boaz why he would show favor to her, he replied in Ruth 2:11, “It hath fully been showed to me all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.” Ruth’s testimony was that she had left all to be with Naomi, even during her darkest moments. And Ruth was willing to go out to glean in the fields so that Naomi didn’t have to. Boaz knew this, and he chose to be kind to her because of her kindness to Naomi. It did not matter where she was from or what her previous religion had been or what her past looked like. In the end, they were married and became the great-grandparents of King David. They are part of the lineage of Jesus. What an honor!

Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz chose to show kindness on purpose, even when it wasn’t easy. God still wants His people to show kindness on purpose. Who do I need to be kind to today? What impact can my kindness have on their lives? It may be that my kindness can open the door for me to witness to a lost soul. Then I can tell them about the greatest kindness ever shown: Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the whole world, who loved us even when we were unlovable. As we go about our day, let us choose to be kind on purpose.

Obedience: Show that You Believe

June 15, 2025 / Cadie

Matthew 18: 1-5 (KVJ) At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

I want to remind you of a childhood song. Perhaps you sang it in Sunday School. Maybe you serve in a children’s ministry and still sing it frequently. I’m talking about the little song “Obedience”. I loved this song as a kid, but as I grew older, it dropped from my memory. Its truths didn’t seem to apply to my adult life. They were “little” truths, but I was adult now, and I had to think about “big” truths. And so, I tucked the little song and the “little” truths away in the recesses of my memory. Then about a month ago, I was flipping through our hymnal at church, and I came across this little song again. Did you know it has two verses? That made me so happy: a sweet memory from childhood and another verse to add to my knowledge!

Here is the song:

1. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing exactly what the Lord commands, doing it happily. Action is the key, do it immediately. Joy you will receive. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.

2. We want to live pure, we want to live clean, we want to do our best; sweetly submitting to authority, leaving to God the rest. Walking in the light, keeping our attitudes right, on the narrow way; for if we believe the Word we receive, we always will obey.

On the chorus, you spell out O – B – E – D – I – E – N – C – E and then sing again, Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.

In Matthew 18, the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a child to him and said the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those who humble themselves as little children. One of the characteristics that all parents want to teach their children is obedience. I have a friend who has taught her children that the best obedience is that which is done with a happy heart. Happy heart obedience shows the world the children’s love and respect for their parents.

Obedience isn’t just for children. It is just as important, and perhaps even more so, that as adults, we obey God and honor the authorities He has set in our lives. How will the world know that we are Christians if we do not obey the commands of God? Like the song says, obedience is the very best way to show that we believe.

I want to challenge you to think about the “little” truths that we should obey, the ones we learned on our mothers’ laps or in our primary Sunday School classes. Let us be like little children and obey the commands of the Bible with a happy heart. Here are a few examples:

Read, study, and memorize the Bible. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Honor those in authority over me. (Hebrews 13:17)
Be kind to those around me. (Proverbs 18:24)
Keep my life clean as an example to others. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Confess secret sins. (Psalm 51: 6)
Trust God, even when I don’t understand. (Psalm 34:22)
Forgive those who have wronged me. (Matthew 18:21-22)

In closing, I want to reiterate the last line of that song. “If we believe the Word we receive, we always will obey.” Obedience is not always easy. Sometimes, obeying God’s Word is the hardest thing to do. Many people struggle to trust that He will take care of us, no matter how circumstances turn out. But if we believe it, we must obey it. The God of the Bible, who took care of Joseph, Daniel, and Paul, will reward our obedience and take care of us too.

I’m Saved, but I’ve Sinned

June 8, 2025 / Cadie

Psalm 51: 1-4a & 11 (KJV) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight… Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

I heard a preacher say once that David is known for two things: killing Goliath and sinning with Bathsheba. One was a great victory; the other a great defeat. All of his life, David not only believed in God but built a close relationship with God. His life of faith is recorded by others in 1 & 2 Samuel and by himself in the Psalms. He trusted God for protection (1 Samuel 17: 37), thanked God for great military victories (2 Samuel 8), and tried to be an example to others (1 Samuel 24). However, after all of this, David was still subject to sin. He lusted after Bathsheba, sinned with her, and eventually killed her husband so he could make her his wife. It seemed as though the man after God’s own heart had turned his back on God.

Have you ever been in a situation like David, where it feels like you have forsaken your relationship with God and turned to sin instead? Those awful questions begin to rise: Have I fallen too far? Can God still hear me? Does He still love me? Could He ever forgive me? I’ve asked myself these questions before, and I found the answers in God’s forgiveness of David.

Although David had shut the door of communication between himself and God, God kept knocking and pushing that door open. He sent Nathan the prophet to confront David with his sin (2 Samuel 12). I can see him, pointing at David as he said, “Thou art the man.” And I can see David, as his walls come crashing down. David could only reply, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Perhaps by this time, he was weeping, acknowledging his sin, and knowing he needed forgiveness from God. Nathan’s reply was quick. “The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” All that was needed for God to forgive was for David to admit that he had sinned. Repentance and forgiveness happened in the same moment.

I believe it was not long after Nathan left his presence that David penned Psalm 51. I encourage you to read the full Psalm; it’s only 19 verses. This is the passage that I run to when I need forgiveness in my life. It is a constant reminder that God can forgive and that He will forgive. He is a God of mercy. To answer those questions from before: We can never fall too far. God will still hear us; He wants us to cry out to Him. He does still love us. He wants to forgive us. He wants to give us a clean heart, like a new slate, so we can start again. God didn’t throw David away, and He won’t throw us away either. God was quick to forgive when David repented, and He is just as quick to forgive us.

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