Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

QT 28 Nov 12, Miracles have a purpose, but long-term faith is not one of them


Judg 7:15-18 (NIV) When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands." 16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

17 "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the Lord and for Gideon.'"

NOTE: So, in this case we see that a miracle gives temporary faith and courage. I say temporary because it seems as if Midian has needed repeated miracles--this is the third. The miracle in this case is the dream to the Midian soldier, and the fear within the Midian soldiers--for really no reason. Consequently, Gideon is quite bold as he charges forward (or should I say sneaks forward) with his 300 men. The basic message is still the same. Miracles have a purpose but they are short lived. To walk by faith requires much more, it requires a relationship with God. And a relationship is built through shared experiences and time together. This means that a Christian who does not want to live from Christian high to high, must have a regular devotional time with God, also called a quiet time. When we meet with God regularly, we get to know him, and as we get to know him, we trust him, and as we trust him, we act in a manner worthy of him and then see him work in our life experiences.

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