DISPLEASING GOD
Genesis 38:1-12

The Word of God testified in Genesis 38:7, “But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him.” After the death of Er, by Law, the brother of Er, Onan, was to marry the widow of Er. Deuteronomy 25:5 stated the Law, “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.” Judah was aware of the law, and Onan, the brother of Er, knew what the law commanded. Onan abandon the command that was in the law. He did not want to go by what the law said. Onan knew what to be done and why it has to be done. Genesis 38:8-9, “And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother.” Judah played the role of father by asking Onan to do what was right, that he was to marry Er’s wife. Clearly, as it is written above from verse 9, Onan had his own agenda and it was not in doing what the Word commanded. Onan wanted to follow the law in his own way. Every Word and command requires a full response, and it is not to be changed, or to be compromised. Onan knew what was right, but failed, by not doing the right thing. Genesis 38:10, “And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.” Onan died because his action displeased God. Displeasing God is to know what to do in the Word and not do it. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God has not changed or lowered the standard of His Word. Having an agenda to compromise the Word of God is a life threatening issue. God is a merciful God and He is also gracious. Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” The command of God remains the same and that is, it cannot, and should not be violated. Displeasing God in anyway can take life. Have life by pleasing God, and do not be deleted before Him.
Prayer for today: Father, have mercy on me, and let me not take any step towards displeasing Your gracious holy name. 

PLEASING HIM
John 6:1-14

When Jesus got himself and His disciples to the place that called for the feeding of five thousand, there was no food physically in place. John 6:5-6, “Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” How could Jesus, the One that is in charge of meeting needs in the presence of lack, not know what He would do? Jesus knows the end from the beginning, and the beginning from the end. Jesus knew what He would do and He had answer in His hand before questioning the disciples. As a believer that claims the grace of salvation, do you know what to do to come out of a dead end position? There were five thousand and Jesus was asking what could be done. Without any hesitation, Philip answered Jesus, “…Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”(John 6:7) Philip was responding based on the physical, and he could not see the way Jesus was seeing. The reason why Jesus knew what He would do is evident in His testimony in John 8:29, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” Jesus was doing what pleased the Father, and the Father’s presence was always there with Him. When God’s presence becomes constant and consistent in the life of a believer, knowing what to do, and what not to do, will become the believer’s portion. The Word of God is written for our learning and it should be a clear lesson that pleasing God is what will make a difference in the life of one believer from another believer. What does it take to please God? Hebrew 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The Word of God made it clear that it is not possible to please God without faith. As a result of this, it will be right to say that it is possible to please God when there is faith. Do you have the faith that takes to please God? What does it take for faith to be built up? Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Spending time in the word of God will no doubt build up faith in the life of a believer. As the word increases, faith will also increase and pleasing Him will become a reality.
Prayer for today: Enable me not fail in walking, standing, and living in your Word, O Lord, my God, and my King.

ASSUMING WRONGLY
1 Samuel 16:1-13

Looking at the appearance, or judging people, on their appearance is evidence of a wrong assumption. Assuming wrongly in the crossroads of life can easily terminate the journey in the life of any believer. Assuming wrongly can be caused by an inability to seek the face of God for the right direction. Assuming wrongly can also be caused by not being able to get the right direction from the One that has the whole world in His hands. Assuming wrongly can happen to anyone. It does not excuse anyone regardless of title or position. Assuming wrongly happened to Samuel, who was described in 1 Samuel 3:19, “…And the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.” Samuel’s assumption could have terminated the destiny of all the children of Israel. When God gave him the direction of how to go about and anoint the new king for the children of Israel after Saul fumbled, Samuel assumed wrongly. Samuel went, “So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him!” (Samuel 16:6) God told Samuel in his directions, “…I will show you what you will do; you shall appoint for Me the one I name to you” (1 Samuel 16:3) Samuel, a man of such caliber, could not wait for God to show him, just as the Lord had mentioned. Right after Samuel had assumed wrongly, God responded, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) In answering to God’s assignment, looking at the physical is evidence of not allowing the Spirit of God to take control of the driver’s seat. Samuel was looking wrongly based on his assumption, and God was not where Samuel was looking. In your areas of decision-making, have you been looking at appearance? What has been getting your attention in the process of searching for a partner? Can you trust God in your search? Have you failed Him in any way by virtue of wrong assumption? If Samuel could be carried away by looking at appearance instead of waiting for God to show him, any believer could fall for the wrong assumption.
Prayer for today: O Lord, my God, deliver me from taking any step outside of your direction. Have mercy and let me not end up in the way of wrong assumption.

WAVERING
Romans 4

Where are you now? Are you in an unfamiliar ground or in a situation that seems like there is no way out? Every way has been blocked, and there is nowhere to turn to. In your situation, days, weeks, months, and years continue to pass and you cannot figure out a way to get out, except to hold onto the promises in the word of God. Through Jeremiah, God spoke to the children of Israel that were in captive, “For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:10-11) Any situation of captivity, or exile, makes no difference, but a constant reliance on the command, and authority, that is in the word of God makes the whole difference. The children of Israel were supposed to wait for seventy years for the Lord to bring them back from captivity. Do you know how long it will take you to come out from where you have found yourself? One thing is certain; the word of God will not fail in the life of those that turn to Him for a way out. The word that was sent to those that were in Babylon, is speaking to all that are on unfamiliar ground today. Father Abraham waited for the promise of God for almost one hundred years. Abraham was described in Romans 4: 19-21, “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” For almost one hundred years Abraham’s faith was not weakened. A weakened faith will lead to wavering in the process of waiting. Wavering will call for different options of coming out of a situation or challenge that is not familiar. Wavering can be dangerous, and could cause one to be derailed in the journey of faith. Wavering can also be the evidence of not remembering the promises of God, or to have forgotten the power of God. It can also be evidence of the loss of God’s presence in the life of a believer. Abraham was consistent in his journey of faith, to the point of gaining full confidence in the promises of God. What is playing a role in your waiting? Shut down every trace of unbelief, and you will rise to overcome.
Prayer for today: My Lord and My God, I am asking today for the grace that keeps man from wavering and failing from believing Your Word. Let me not fail in the journey of life.

ENEMY’S FIRE
Daniel 3

God alone is worthy to be trusted in all situations. He alone knows the beginning from the end, and the end from the beginning. He is the ancient of days, the Unchanging changer that changes situations from worse to great. Psalm 29:9-10, “The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” 10 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever.” There is no one that can be compared to Him. While sitting on His throne, He saw Saul running around, against time, in order to get the necessary permission from those in the government, that would enable him against the Lord’s disciples. He was all out with bad intentions, but God attended to him in His power. Saul could not see Damascus as planned because he became a blind man. No man can force against the hand of God, but all men can trust in His hand for deliverance. God on His throne, caused Saul to be blinded, “…But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” (Acts 9:8-9) Who would have thought that a man with all the power from man against the disciples of the Lord could lose his sight at the time of his wicked operation? Every wicked plan and purpose against you will meet its termination in Jesus’ name. Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, were sentenced to die by burning in a furnace because they refused to bow to another God. At the passing out of the sentence against them, they were so sure that their God would deliver them from the furnace. They also made it clear by stating, “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”(Daniel 3:18) No situation, condition, or result could change their belief. Is your belief based on getting results from God the way you want the result to be for you, or the way you want the result for God’s name to be glorified? The three friends of Daniel wanted to glorify God by refusing to accept and worship another god. Let not your situation dictate expectations. Allow God to be the center of your expectation. He will not fail because He has never failed.

Prayer for today: O Lord my God, You delivered Daniel’s three friends from the furnace of fire, let me be delivered from all fires of the enemy, that Your name will be glorified.