COURAGE 2 - Dare to help others!

Mut 2 - German file 

Courage 2 - English file 

Devotional Thoughts about Esther

The account of Esther is a parade example of God’s providence for His people in danger. The backdrop of the story is the opulent center of the huge Medo-Persian Empire comprised of many people groups, including Jews whose families had been torn away from their homeland gene­rations earlier.

King Xerxes, the absolute monarch, was shown in this story to be proud, moody and indifferent. Haman was an architype of an ambitious courtier, clawing his way to the top as he indulged in his anti-Semitism.

Esther was genuinely afraid of approaching the king unbidden but finally agreed to do so, only if the Jews in Susa and her own servant girls would fast with her for three days—prayer being implicit in the fasting. She was willing to risk death.

I’ve often wondered why she didn’t tell the king her request at the first banquet. Maybe she was simply afraid and just couldn’t spit it out. Yet although she couldn’t have foreseen it, the timing was impeccable because it wasn’t until that night after the first banquet that Xerxes discovered he owed his life to Mordecai and hadn’t rewarded him.

That set the scene for the worst and last day of Haman’s life. In the morning he was mortified by having to honor Mordecai. At midday he faced the doom-saying of his wife and friends. Then he went to the fatal second banquet. We’re not told why Mordecai had initially told Esther to keep the wraps on her ancestry, but she did, and it sharpened the surprise and irony when Haman’s plot was overturned.

Esther couldn’t have honestly said she wasn’t afraid. She was, and her fear wasn’t unfounded. But with Mordecais admonition, she dared to do the right thing for her people, and God blessed her intercession. Lord, please help me to do the right thing, even when I’m afraid.

Downloading lesson files  

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the third in the topic Courage.

COURAGE 1 - Fear God, not men!

Courage 1 - English file

Mut 1 - German file

Devotional Thoughts about Jonah Chapters 1 and 2

The text doesn’t actually say that Jonah was afraid to go to Nineveh, but his action speaks for him. He fled from God to keep from following His command. As God’s prophet, Jonah surely knew that there’s no place where God isn’t, and thus nowhere anyone can hide from Him, and yet he tried it.

He charted a journey so diametrically in the opposite direction as the topography would allow. And as historical accounts of the Assyrians (whose capital was Nineveh) document their extreme cruelty, Jonah’s reluctance was certainly understandable.

In the Book of Jonah, the sailors’ fear is emphasized (1:5,10). As they were people for whom storms were surely a routine occupational hazard, they must have believed that a tempest so extreme surely had a supernatural origin, and they were determined to discover it.

Once they’d identified the guilty party by throwing lots, they began peppering Jonah with questions, and he confessed. They actually turned out to be more humane than I would have expected, trying all other options before throwing Jonah into the sea. Then when the storm immediately calmed, they feared the Lord, making sacrifices and vows to Him.

When Jonah found himself alive inside the fish, he prayed, describing his misery and confessing that the Lord had saved him. After three days and three nights, the fish spit him out.

Lord, please give me the courage to obey and follow you.

Downloading lesson files  

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the second in the topic Courage. 

KINDNESS 4 - Be hospitable!

Kindness 4 - English file 

Nächstenliebe 4 - German file

Devotional Thoughts about 2 Kings 4:8-17

Those who practice hospitality resist the selfishness inherent in each of us and decide to give and share what they have with others. And classic hospitality (as opposed to “the hospitality industry”) opens up one’s own home, letting others come near and enjoy without feeling a need to repay the favor.

The adjective describing the woman in this story is translated in the Bible as “great”, “important” or “wealthy”. She clearly stood out in some way; maybe she was already known for her hospitality. When Elisha came to Shunem once, she invited—actually urged— him to come over for a meal. The visit led to a habit whenever the prophet, who seemed to travel often, came through.

She recognized Elisha as a holy man of God and discussed with her husband a plan to make him feel even more welcome on his frequent visits. They built him a room of his own on the roof of the house. He must have felt very honored to be the recipient of this luxury.

When Elisha asked what he could do for her, she said she was content. When his servant pointed out to him that she had no children, Elisha told her she’d have a son the next year, and she did.

Lord, help me to learn the joy of sharing what You’ve given me with others. 

Downloading lesson files  

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the first in the topic Courage. 

KINDNESS 3 – Be kind and calm in conflict, even when others aren’t.

Kindness 3 - English files

Nächstenliebe 3 - German files 

Devotional Thoughts about 1 Samuel Chapter 25

David spent years fleeing from place to place with King Saul in constant pursuit. Some 400 outcasts and misfits joined David in the cave of Adullam, and with no contest, he became their leader (22:2).

He enforced his high code of ethics, even insisting on a hands-off policy regarding Saul, his arch-enemy (24:10), because God had once appointed him as king.

However a new temptation awaited in the person of Nabal, a coarse, belligerent sheep tycoon in the wilderness. David and his men had been good to Nabal’s flocks and shepherds while in the area, protecting them from all predators.

David sent messengers to greet Nabal at sheep-shearing time, requesting the customary material acknowledgement of their service (feeding what had increased to be 600 men while on the run was surely a constant challenge). Nabal refused him flatly, dismissing him as a runaway servant.

That pushed all of David’s buttons. He told his men to get their swords, and 400 of them set out for Nabal’s ranch to kill everyone. In the meantime, one of the shepherds informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife, of the impending slaughter, including the backstory.

Abigail acted immediately, rustling up a large amount of food and having it loaded onto donkeys. Then she set out with them in the direction of David’s whereabouts. When she saw him, she got off her donkey and fell to his feet.

She humbly acknowledged her husband’s offence as if it were her own, offered David’s men the provisions and said that once he was king, he’d be grateful he hadn’t shed innocent blood. Abigail’s affirmation and generosity cooled David’s rage and turned him back from his murderous intent.

Abigail is a great example of how benevolence and good sense can help defuse a dangerous situation. Lord, when tempers around me get high, please help me to be the adult in the room and show Your kindness and wisdom.

Downloading lesson files  

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the fourth in the topic Kindness. 

KINDNESS 2 - Be kind to your family!

Kindness 2 - English file

Nächstenliebe 2 - German file 

Devotional Thoughts about Ruth Chapter 2

We might need to go back as far as Terah, Abraham’s father, to find a common ancestor for Ruth and Naomi (as the Moabites descended from Abraham’s nephew Lot – see Genesis 19:36,37). Yet Ruth chose to follow her mother-in-law to her hometown of Bethlehem to worship the God of Jacob with her and to live as an Israelite.

Braving any racism she might encounter, she took advantage of the Hebrew gleaning law (see Leviticus 23:22) during the barley harvest to support herself and Naomi by collecting the excess grain lying in the fields. That’s how she ended up in a field belonging to Boaz.

He inquired about her and found out that Ruth stood out by providing for an in-law of a different culture. Naomi was probably suffering at least depression after the deaths of her husband and sons. Undeterred by that layer of sorrow and her own grief over her husband, Ruth cared for her like a thoughtful daughter.

Boaz told his workers be kind to her and to make her job easier by letting yet more barley fall on the ground as they harvested.

Lord, help me be kind to others, and especially to those at home or with whom I interact daily.

Downloading lesson files  

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the third in the topic Kindness. 

KINDNESS 1 - Be friendly and helpful!

Kindness 1 - English file 

Nächstenliebe 1 - German file

Devotional Thoughts about Rebekah     Genesis Chapter 24

Abraham took God’s promise to him seriously when he decided to find a wife for his son Isaac who would not lead him into idolatry. When Abram had left Haran 60-some years earlier, there must have been some of his family members remaining there who also worshipped the true God instead of idols.

Being old and probably unable to travel himself, Abraham sent a trusted servant to Nahor's city in Mesopotamia. At the well there, this servant prayed for guidance as he saw the women of the city approaching. Rebe­kah appeared before he had even finished praying. When he asked, she gave him a drink and then offered to draw water for his camels of her own volition.

The servant praised God as Rebekah ran to tell her family, and soon they were all sitting around the table. The family all agreed that God had led him there and intended for Rebekah to become Isaac’s wife. She went to Canaan and was married to Isaac, who loved her very much.

It almost sounds like a fairy tale in which all live happily ever after, but these were real people who were sinners just like every one of us. If you read on in Genesis, you’ll discover some of their problems.

Rebekah most likely gave the servant a drink and drew water for ten camels because she was a kind, helpful person, for she wasn’t aware of of the signs the servant had requested from God. Lord please help me to show your love by being thoughtful and caring to others.

Downloading lesson files  

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the second in the topic Kindness.

PATIENCE 5 - Think about God's promises while you wait.

 Patience 5 - English files

Geduld 5 - German files 

Devotional Thoughts about Jesus’ Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:22-38)

This is one of the lesser well-known stories surrounding the Incarnation. Some people on the sidelines of Jesus’ birth—such as Herod and the population of Jerusalem men­tioned in Matthew 2:3—were taken off guard and seemed threatened by it.

But the two people introduced in this story were waiting for the event, recognized its significance and praised God for it. Among all their ancestors who’d spent their lives anti­ci­­pating the fulfillment of the promise, these two were given the privilege of seeing the Messiah with their own eyes.

Mary and Joseph went to the temple to dedicate their firstborn son to God (see Exodus 13:2 and Leviticus 12:8 for the instructions), and the Holy Spirit clearly arranged Simeon’s coinciding visit. Simeon was thrilled when his own personal promise came true that day. His prophecy was surely com­forting as well as alarming for Mary.

We’re told Anna was always in the temple, so she had a front row seat for the encounter with Simeon. She thanked God for what she’d seen and told others who were also waiting.

Lord, please help me to wait and also to tell people about what You’ve promised and have already done.

Downloading lesson files  

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the first in the topic Kindness.