Reflections of a lost sheep

  31 Mar 26 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One Readings: Judges 3 Judges 4 Judges 5 Luke 7:31-50 When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless the LORD! (Judges 5:2).  Do you motivate others to serve the Lord? Deborah is raised up by God to stir the people to action. After Ehud dies, “the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan” (Judges 4:1-2). Deborah is an exceptional leader. Being a prophetess, she hears and proclaims the Word of the Lord (Judges 4:4). Not only that, Deborah knows how to motivate people. The prophetess desires a hesitant Barak to lead the troops. He finally agrees because she is willing to go with him (Judges 4:9). The courageous Deborah risks her life for the work of the Lord. God’s victory moves Deborah to praise the Lord through song. What a great leader!  Employment Point:  Willingly offer your...

  30 Mar 26 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One Readings: Judges 1 Judges 2 Luke 7:1-30 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7).  Does your compassion lead to action? Perhaps you’ve heard about individuals crashing a wedding. How about a funeral? Jesus interrupts a funeral procession because His heart was touched. Luke writes about the Son of Man, “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep’” (Luke 7:13). Our Lord extends mercy to a widow whose only son has died (Luke 7:12). Most likely she would have no means of support, not having a husband or son to care for her. Jesus makes Himself ceremonially unclean by choosing to come in contact with the dead. Yet He “touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise’” (Luke 7:14). Similarly, we ought to grant compassion to the needy who come upon our path.  Employment Poin...