From: May 14, 2024
‘Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”’ (John 8:6-7 ESV).
When the religious leaders brought a woman accused of adultery before Jesus in order to entrap him, he stooped down and wrote in the dust of the ground with his finger. Finally, he answered, “Let the one without sin cast the first stone.” Then, he stooped down again to write in the dust once more.
Many have speculated as to what Jesus wrote. Did he merely draw doodles in the dust as many a bored student has done in the margin of their notebook? Did he begin to list the sins of each accuser, so that they lost heart and beginning with the oldest, dropped their stones and departed? Truth is, no one knows what he wrote.
Certainly, more words have been penned and books written about Jesus than any other subject. Yet, this is the only record of His writing: “Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust.”
Yet isn’t this what the Author of Life has done for you and I? He “bent down” from heaven to earth to erase our sin and write his righteousness in its place. For we are the dust He has breathed new life into, making us born again and writing our names in the Book of Life.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we don’t know what Jesus wrote in the dust, but we do know that because of Him, our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Because of Him we are no longer condemned, but counted righteous before You. We give You thanks for so great a salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 14, 2023
“And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away” (1 Samuel 16:23 NLT).
After the Lord had rejected Saul as king, His Spirit departed from Saul. And Saul became troubled, going through great bouts of distress. His servants suggested that a musician be found that could play for Saul and calm his nerves. So David, who was skillful on the harp, was brought to Saul. And Saul loved him. For whenever David played, Saul was refreshed.
The reason for Saul’s distress was both spiritual and physical. Without considering its causes, Saul was displaying a kind of disabling melancholy, affecting his mind, body and emotions. Yet when David, who was not only a skilled musician, but a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, played, Saul was both refreshed and made well. God may have sent a spirit to trouble Saul, but He also sent David to comfort him.
The 19th-century Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, wrote “Where words fail, music speaks.” Saul certainly found this to be true. And so did the apostle Paul. For Paul taught that letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, we should “sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts” (Col. 3:16).
Modern medicine has discovered this powerful link between music and healing. Music therapy has proven to boost our immune system, lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels, help decrease depression, lower pain levels, help with certain neurological conditions by reactivating speech centers of the brain, and even improve the memory of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
I remember visiting my grandmother in the nursing home. She couldn’t remember my name and had nearly lost the ability to speak. But the minute my mother and I would start singing an old hymn, she would join in with us, remembering every word and even remembering her alto part. What healing power the Lord has given us in the gift of music! And all the more when we hear and sing worship music!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for the healing power of music. All good gifts are from You. We therefore give You thanks. When we are in distress, help us to sing hymns and spiritual songs, drawing on the peace of Christ. And when we are too weak to sing ourselves, sing over us by Your Spirit as You promised the prophet Zephaniah (Zeph. 3:17). In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 14, 2016
Early in the morning, just as the rising sun dispelled the shadows in the temple courts, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” On the day after the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, when the Jews remembered their 40 years in the wilderness and lit huge lamps in the temple for the seven nights of the feast to commemorate the pillar of fire that guided them by night, Jesus said, “I am the light of life.” There in the temple courts where they came to worship the Lord, Jesus said, “I AM.” That day, as Isaiah prophesied, “the people who walked in darkness saw a great light” (Isa.9:2). Some chose to remain in darkness, but many others believed and came into the Light (John 8:30).
From: May 14, 2015
Saul’s true character is revealed. Saul led Israel to attack the Amalekites as God commanded, but he did not utterly destroy them, sparing the king and the best of the spoils. Not only did he take spoils, but he “set up a monument for himself” in Carmel, taking credit for God’s victory. Saul’s character was revealed in this. Although he started out exhibiting low self-esteem, he now shows his true heart of pride and desire for man’s approval. This is often true. Low self-esteem is really the flip side of the same coin: pride. Instead of esteeming “self,” we should esteem God. Those who esteem God over self, have a right and healthy view of self.