127 Job 36:5 Big Enough to Acknowledge the Little

JMD Devotional 127 Job 36:5 Big Enough to Acknowledge the Little

Behold! God is mighty, and yet despises no one nor regards anything as trivial; He is mighty in power of understanding and heart.

Who has not known someone who was so small (in a figurative sense) that they would not acknowledge the contributions of others less they infringe on their own prominence? Insecurity leads people to behave in perplexing ways. It can come out in hyper critical fault finding in others; or in flamboyant behavior to attain and hold the center of attention. It could lead to the magnification of one's own virtue and another's shortcomings; or in diminishing the value of other people. Being small fosters rivalry; and it confuses a person's value with their social status or what they have instead of who they are. Being small plays out as a constant undercurrent, a second agenda, a false self that obscures and distorts interpersonal relationships. In our deficit of power, our smallness craves control, so it attaches strings to every gift and favor; it seeks to make others indebted to one's self. In our lowness, self is always the object of promotion. To some degree all humanity suffers from the deficiencies of 'self.'

God does not suffer from any deficiency whatsoever. He is complete in and of Himself, He needs nothing, we can contribute nothing to His worth. He is perfect. God alone is completely free to appreciate the little things in their totality; to give freely; to love without dissimulation (no falseness nor feigning); He is big enough to be completely true, pure and objective. We can take Him at His Word; His love is real, and when it is scorned, His wrath is righteous, and earned by us, and in perfect measure.

Dear God,
You are PERFECT!
May I never loose my awe of You! Though You are so very high; I praise You because You regard the lowly, even me. Continue to reveal yourself to your people; and manifest Jesus Christ in our new nature so that we become BIG like You in heart and soul and character. May your holy influence make us fit citizens of Heaven and productive members of your kingdom, for your glory and honor evermore.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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126 Ruth 4:13-17 Better than Seven Sons

JMD Devotional 126 Ruth 4:13-17 Better than Seven Sons

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord caused her to conceive, and she bore a son. And the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, Who has not left you this day without a close kinsman, and may his name be famous in Israel. And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher and supporter in your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him. Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom and became his nurse. And her neighbor women gave him a name, saying, A son is born to Naomi. They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ].

Naomi experienced a significant loss when both of her sons died. They were her family, her ‘retirement’, her income and security, companionship and standing in the community. Famine had driven this family from Bethlehem to Moab, a foreign country for survival; in the course of time there her husband died, then she relied upon her sons, who married and sometime later they both died, relatively young. Resolved to return home, though empty-handed, she admonished her two daughter-in-laws to leave her and find other husbands, saying she could do nothing for them, that they would even be a burden. Oprah took her advice; but Ruth clung to Naomi.

Ruth 1:15-18 And Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law. And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you. When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more.

Ruth saw that there was far more to her mother-in-law than immediate financial security. She took a leap of faith that there was a better national identity and a better God than she had known among her own people. You can’t have your old identity and a new one, your old gods and the God of Israel; in order to apprehend the new the former things must be sacrificed and left behind. In the end, that faith was mightily blessed; for through it Jesus Christ was incarnated on the earth.

Dear God,
Your ways are past knowing, so far above the thoughts of man. May your people be clear on whom they serve today, to whom they belong, of their debt to Christ Jesus. May we burn the bridges leading to reprobate living, idolatry and dead works; may turning back not be an option. Grease the fence of those trying to have the best of both worlds; may worthy souls fall forward by your grace. May your people be satisfied with nothing less then ‘the Bread of Heaven.’
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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125 Ruth 4:6-10 Lock, Stock and Barrel

JMD Devotional 125 Ruth 4:6-10 Lock, Stock and Barrel

The Law of Moses had provision for selling land, which was done to get out of debt; but the sale was never permanent, for the land was deeded to a particular tribe, and lineage and family. People had the right to ‘reclaim’ and buy-back ancestral property. Boaz had the right to redeem what belonged to Naomi’s and Ruth’s former husbands; but he was not first in line, there was a closer kinsman. So at the city gate (where business was conducted), Boaz approached this kinsman in the presence of the city elders and presented the matter. At first, the kinsman was eager to obtain the land; but Boaz reminded him that in purchasing the land he would have responsibility to take care of the widows Naomi and Ruth as if they were his own family.

Vs 6-10 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest [by marrying a Moabitess] I endanger my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.
Now formerly in Israel this was the custom concerning redeeming and exchanging. To confirm a transaction, a man pulled off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the way of attesting in Israel. Therefore, when the kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for yourself, he pulled off his sandal.
And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's from the hand of Naomi. Also Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife to restore the name of the dead to his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his birthplace. You are witnesses this day.

God redeems us lock, stock and barrel; with all strings attached, all of our baggage in tow, at the cost of His own dear Son. He doesn’t buy us back and put us up in a trailer on the outskirts of town; He brings us into His Mansion, adopted, bearing His name, married into His family, integrated into His kingdom forever. We are intimate with God; our future is all about our life together, for now and forever more; because He took the risk, paid the price, went the distance and took us as His own.

Dear God,
I praise You! I worship You because of your great and comprehensive salvation with which You have saved me to the uttermost! There is no deficiency, nothing left out, no part left uncovered, I’m completely “in” Christ. You have restored all that was dead in my life…glory to God in the highest! May there be no reservation in my response of giving of myself completely to You; no division of my loyalty or allegiance, no turning back to glance at what was left behind in Egypt. The only thing that matters is our life together, You are EVERYTHING!
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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124 Ruth 3 Sit Still and Wait

JMD Devotional 124 Ruth 3 Sit Still and Wait

Vs 1-5 THEN NAOMI her mother-in-law said to Ruth, My daughter, shall I not seek rest or a home for you, that you may prosper? And now is not Boaz, with whose maidens you were, our relative? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash and anoint yourself therefore, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, notice the place where he lies; then go and uncover his feet and lie down. And he will tell you what to do. And Ruth said to her, All that you say to me I will do.

Naomi's instructions, which Ruth followed, clearly communicated to Boaz that she was interested in becoming his wife. I don't read any impropriety into her 'uncovering his feet'; in the cold desert evenings, that would get his attention so he'd discover she was there. She did her part, now the ball was in his court, the outcome was out of her control. It was up to Boaz to engage his kinsmen and negotiate her 'redemption.'

Vs 16-18 And when she came home, her mother-in-law said, How have you fared, my daughter? And Ruth told her all that the man had done for her. And she said, He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said to me, Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law. Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he finishes the matter today.

In our spiritual life, we are in a dance with God. There are moves we must make; and there are things we can't do, moves that God must make. Like music, there is an answer to every preceding note, and tension builds the longer the gap is before that note resounds; but come it will. We mess everything up when we try to play both roles; we have to know our role, play our part, and trust in God to do what only He can do. We can't 'help' Him, He doesn't need or welcome that: we just need to sit and wait after we have done our part. We can rest assured that God does all things well.

Dear God,
Please keep me from spoiling the show, from overstepping my place, from filling a void that You have deliberately left for critical effect. Thank You for displaying extraordinary patience with this clumsy 'partner'. Help me to get in sync with You; God take the lead.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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123 Ruth 2 Refuge of God

JMD Devotional 123 Ruth 2 Refuge of God

Vs 3 And [Ruth] went and gleaned in a field after the reapers; and she happened to stop at the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, The Lord be with you! And they answered him, The Lord bless you! Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, Whose maiden is this?
And the servant set over the reapers answered, She is the Moabitish girl who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came and has continued from early morning until now, except when she rested a little in the house. Then Boaz said to Ruth, Listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but stay here close by my maidens. Watch which field they reap, and follow them. Have I not charged the young men not to molest you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should notice me, when I am a foreigner? And Boaz said to her, I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to a people unknown to you before.
The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge! (Note that she had faith in coming away from that field with something; and she acted on that belief and her faith was amply rewarded.)

The Law of Moses established an agricultural welfare system; a field being harvested could not be gleaned or gone over twice by the owner; what was missed by the harvesters was to be left for the poor to gather for themselves. It had to be awkward for Ruth to be the outsider, the conspicuous foreigner, to go out and gather the scraps. Some people might rather go hungry than to humble themselves publicly. But Ruth is blessed and welcomed and given more than she could have hoped for; she is a picture of us, Gentiles, coming to the legacy of Israel for relief of our spiritual hunger, to receive a great and comprehensive salvation!

Psalm 17:6-9 (NIV) I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

John 6:37 (NIV) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Dear God,
It is awkward to come to You as a needy person, not having anything of worth with which to barter. There is a purpose to that barrier; it is like a split door with the top half closed. It keeps out the self-confident and self-sufficient person who thinks that they are walking upright; but it permits the lowly and humbled sinner to crawl through and enter your presence. Help us to recognize the magnitude of your grace and our spiritual poverty; grant us the humility to receive your blessings under the shadow of your wings.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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122 Proverbs 4:25 Optical Fidelity

JMD Devotional 122 Proverbs 4:25 Optical Fidelity

Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.

In the court of human law, eye witnesses play a significant role. Out of the many possible bystanders who may have witnessed a crime, attorneys weed out people with an overbearing prejudice, a conflicting loyalty or possible complicity in the event itself. They want to get an accurate account of actual events; but human beings unconsciously color their perception with the mental baggage they carry. A classic psychological example is a study in which people were briefly shown a photograph of a white man with a knife facing a black man; an hour later the testimony of nine out of ten individuals told of the knife being in the black man's hand (agreeing with their prejudices). Testimony is also often discredited or thrown out if the observation is through glass due to optical effects. A good attorney can argue that refraction can distort light, uneven thicknesses of glass can magnify or diminish scale, that images can be reflected and superimposed on each other, that optics can create illusions. At certain angles clear glass behaves like a mirror, so you can't be certain of the actual position of the object viewed through it (like trying to shoot a fish, it is not physically where it appears to be.)

When it comes to looking at ourselves, we require a flat mirror. A shaving mirror or a carnival mirror is warped; the bends in the glass either magnifies or reduces our image. It is just as wrong to think too little of yourself as it is to think too much of yourself; good mental health accepts yourself as you are. I am not a worm; but I'm a very insecure person. God made us just a little lower than the angels; we are at the top of the creation of physical things, the thumbprint of God is on us, we are not junk! Diminishing the value of any other people is also a distortion, a sin. There is so much more good than evil, so much more light than darkness. Strive to see yourself and others in an unprejudiced and unbiased way, look straight on, and see reality.

Dear God,
I hear criticism when none was intended, I feel disapproval and rejection when it is not really there. I don't know how much deception is stored in my memories or how much of the world's ugliness is a product of my own distorted senses! I'm a real mess God! Please correct my vision and hearing; please heal my wounded spirit. I long to love and be loved, to be social, to belong in my home, my church, my workplace and my community; but I'm a wounded animal that hides and bites and skulks in the shadows. Bring me into the well-lighted mainstream, near the hearth of human companionship, help me to live again unfettered by so much damaged past.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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121 Job 31:1-4, 11,12 Covenant with My Eyes

JMD Devotional 121 Job 31:1-4, 11,12 Covenant with My Eyes

Job 31:1 I DICTATED a covenant (an agreement) to my eyes; how then could I look [lustfully] upon a girl? For what portion should I have from God above [if I were lewd], and what heritage from the Almighty on high? Does not calamity [justly] befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity? Does not [God] see my ways and count all my steps?
Vs 11,12 For [adultery] is a heinous and chief crime, an iniquity [to demand action by] the judges and punishment. For [uncontrolled passion] is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (to destruction, ruin, and the place of final torment); [that fire once lighted would rage until all is consumed] and would burn to the root all my [life's] increase.

Everyone has an inner monologue. We talk to ourselves constantly, but is our conversation uplifting and constructive? Do you know you have the responsibility to steer, direct and 'bridle' your thoughts and impulses? Job cared so much about his personal integrity that he made a covenant with his eyes. It is too late to draft an agreement with yourself when you are in the throws of temptation; this must be considered in advance and revisited periodically to have any strength and substance. King David also spoke positive affirmations that reinforced godliness in his life:

Psalm 101:1-4 (NIV) I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will walk in my house
with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.

Dear God,
I long to make godly covenants with myself that I can keep, that honor You and keep me pure. Past experience says I'm a failure, I'm unreliable and my word is worthless: I am a compulsive promise breaker. I acknowledge that in my own flesh, I can do nothing; I appeal to You to work in me an integrity that is based on Your sufficiency rather than my feeble powers. It really is all about You, You in me, your strength, your rule, your glory. Retrain my mind to crave and seek after holiness.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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