by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 1:57--80

An Old Mother to Be

This morning we read of an old warrior, now, we shall read of an old mother to be.

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son (Luk. 1:57).

Remember back in verse 7, that Luke wrote of Elizabeth, who is well advanced in years. She is old. She is past the normal ability for a woman to be able to conceive and bring forth a child. Nevertheless, it happens. How does it happen? The Lord enables her, just as He enables Caleb, whom we read about this morning.

If there is something that God wants you to do, He will enable you, regardless of your circumstances. The question is, Do I believe it?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Joshua 13--15

An Eighty Five Year Old Warrior

Don't mess with Caleb. He approaches Joshua with a request to possess a certain mountain, but Caleb prefaces his request with this,

10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in (Jos. 14:10, 11).

He makes it sound as though being an 85 year old warrior is unusual, to which I agree. He credits God for this ability. Therefore, Caleb wants to keep doing what the Lord has enabled him to do. We all know that as we age, there are things that we just cannot do anymore, but there are things that we can do. What is it that I am able to do? Am I using that ability to bring glory to God?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 1:39--56

The Humility of Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a woman well advanced in years, meaning that she is beyond the normal ability of a woman to have a child. Yet, when Mary visits Elizabeth, she says to Mary,

43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luk. 1:43).

See the honor that this older woman gives to a younger woman. What can we learn from this? How shall we imitate her today? Think about that as you meet various people today, and see if it changes your method of dealing with others.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 1:21--38

Imagine Being Mary

Imagine being Mary. You are alone when suddenly an angel of God appears to you. After the angel informs you that you are going to conceive and have a son, he says to you,

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David (Luk. 1:32).

How magnificent! You have never had a child before, and now, your first child is going to be the Son of God! The son who will come from your body will sit on the throne of David! Everything that you have learned all your life about the Messiah is going to be fulfilled in your generation, before your very eyes, and you shall bring Him into the world!

What can you say? Mary questions how this shall be possible, since she has not yet known a man. After the angel gives the explanation, her humble heart shines forth, when she says, Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word (Luk. 1:38). Mary never planned for this in her life, yet, by godly living she prepared herself to be a servant of the Lord, to do and to accept whatever He wants from her.

What does God have in store for you and me? We probably have no idea. Let us be as Mary, and when the Lord needs us, we shall be prepared.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Joshua 7--9

They Became Like That Which They Took

Israel finally enters the land of Canaan centuries after God promised to give it to Abraham's descendants. The children of Israel have waited in Egypt for over four centuries until the time was right to enter the land. They traveled for forty years in the land between Egypt and the land of Canaan. Then it happens, they enter the Promised Land. Their first attack is a glorious success. They come to the second city, but the small army of Ai humiliates the army of Israel.

What is wrong? How is it that God delivered weaponless Israel out of Egypt, provided for them in the wilderness, brought them into the land of Canaan, and leads them to victory at the first city, but now they suddenly suffer a humiliating defeat? Here is part of God's explanation,

12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you (Jos. 7:12).

What happened was this. When Israel attacked Jericho, everything in it was dedicated to the Lord. That means that the children of Israel were not allowed to take anything for themselves. God always gets the first fruits. However, a man by the name of Achan took some things. There was now sin in the camp, and rather than their enemies being accursed, Israel is accursed. Now, the explanation from God in verse 12 makes sense.

When we do not give God the first fruits, we cannot expect Him to bless us. If a congregation allows sin to go unchecked within it, that church cannot expect God to bless it.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100