CRUX Daily: God+Anyone=Victory

Read: 1 Samuel 16-17

Reflect: Why did God choose to use David to defeat the giant Goliath? Where did David’s strength and courage come from? Do you trust in God like David did?

Request (Prayer): God give me courage and strength to stand up for You!

When one looks at this situation purely from a human perspective; David would definitely not be the one that anyone would choose to battle a fierce and powerful adversary such as Goliath. David was small, young, and he had no combat training. However David had one thing going for him, which made all the difference. To shed some light on this let’s check out Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.)
(more…)

CRUX Daily: Compromise

Read: Judges 16:4-22

Reflect: Sampson allowed small compromises which turned into big compromises which eventually led to his ruin. What small compromises (sins) are you allowing in your life?

Request (Prayer): Make Psalm 139:23 your prayer.

Compromise. Here’s one of the dictionary definitions: “An imperiling or surrender, as of character or reputation.” It makes other people happy, and it may make you happy, but at a cost to you. In other words, it makes you weaker, literally. Even though Samson felt secure with his strength, he slowly chipped away at his integrity as a judge dedicated to God’s service. Ironically, that integrity was the source of his strength.
(more…)

CRUX Sunday: Greatest Stories Ever Told- Sampson & Delilah

Pastor Jon continues in our series through the “Greatest Stories Ever Told” with a message from the book of Judges on the life of Sampson & Delilah.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

CRUX Daily: The Attitude of a Servant

Read: Judges 8

Reflect: Not only did Gideon’s men defeat Midian but they also continued pursuing the rest of the Midianite army. They went above and beyond God’s calling. Do you serve God half-heartedly or do you pursue God’s will passionately?

Request (Prayer): God give me the strength to serve you with my whole heart and to serve you joyfully.

I remember growing up and being taught the lessons you can learn through chores. Parents claim they teach responsibility, discipline and a heart for serving Jesus. Children think chores are of the devil, that they are rules set by the parents to mock them and laugh at them as they clean up and do their chores.

When I was younger, I had a different set of chores everyday. And each week they would repeat themselves, and I’d have to do them all over again. If there were any other form of torture in the world at that time, I’d rather have that then to do my chores. Every time I was told to do them, I would complain, throw a fit or just try to ignore my parents when they told me I needed to do them.

A rule that we had in our family in particular was this: “When you’re told the first time to do something, do it the first time.” That was a huge thing that my dad always taught me, when you’re told the first time do it then and not 3 hours later. Another encouragement he always gave to me was to go “above and beyond” what was required of me.
(more…)

CRUX Daily: Idol Factory

Read: Judges 6:28-35

Reflect: When Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal he was cleansing Israel of their idols. What idols do you have and how can you cleanse them from your life?

Request (Prayer): Father, help me to see any idols that I have in my life and to destroy them like Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal.

Imagine Gideon’s plight as he set out to destroy the altars of Baal. His fear of doing this during the day is just like our fear of calling out the idols within us and around us. We’re reluctant. Just as the idols had been so long among the people, some sins may be “near and dear” to our hearts, and we feel as though we can’t possibly leave them out of our daily lives. Yet look what God had Gideon do: he never forced the people around him to stop sinning.

He took down the altars that would allow them to sin. It’s sad that we often stumble over our supposedly “harmless” homemade altars of sports teams, magazines, and musical keys. Let’s take them down. Whatever we leave to serve Christ, he promised, we receive in a “hundredfold” to come (Mark 10:29-30).

CRUX Sundays- Greatest Stories Ever Told: Gideon’s 300

We continue in our series, “Greatest Stories Ever Told” with a message from Judges 7 about Gideon’s 300.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download