#weekly devotional

by Maddie Knudtson

Many parts of the Bible give me chills. Powerful praise and wrenching stories coat this book from cover to cover, and one that will never leave me comes from Ruth. It paints a beautiful picture of loyalty, love, and endurance. My favorite part comes from Ruth 1:11-18.

"11 But Naomi said, 'Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me--even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons--13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord's hand has gone out against me!'"

In the very beginning of the chapter, Naomi loses both her husband and her two sons. Her sorrow is great, and she ends up urging her two widowed daughters-in-law to return to their homes. This isn't the shooing away of nuisance relatives, but a fond farewell. Naomi wishes the best for these women. She refers to them lovingly as daughters, intending to give them a better chance in life by freeing them to pursue other prospects. One of them, Orpah, agrees to go back. Ruth, however, refuses. 

"14 At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her. 15 'Look,' said Naomi, 'your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.' 16 But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to return back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.' 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."

Ruth's utter devotion is staggering. Even though she has permission to return back to the family she was born in to, she sticks with the family she committed herself to through marriage. Naomi finds more than a daughter-in-law in Ruth (whose name, in fact, means "friendship"). But the loyalty runs deeper than their relationship. Putting aside the gods of her youth, Ruth displays the strength of her conversion to the Lord God. She refuses to abandon her faith. 

While other people find joy in romantic love stories, my heart melts at the love between Ruth and Naomi. Ruth's words display a fierce loyalty that speaks to her character. Yes, both women lost much in the deaths of their men, but there remained much between their commitment to one another and their faith. 

-Maddie

This week I’ve put gather some Monday Scriptures to help calm anxiety. Why? Cause I deal with it. It’s Monday, and the week hasn’t even begun to settle, but your mind already feels crowded. Maybe you’re thinking about everything that needs to get done or what could go wrong. When that happens, remember that God knows how to meet you in those moments. You don’t have to rush through them. Read…

“Thou Hast Nothing to Draw With, and the Well Is Deep” Overcoming Spiritual Barriers to Access the Living Water of Christ January 8th: Acknowledging the Depth of the Well Week 2, Day 1 Scripture Reading John 4:7–11 (KJV) 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)9 Then saith the…

My dear friend, Alan, passed away a week ago. Here's a little tribute to a genuinely gentle man.

Monday, February 27 READ: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 “Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 CSB A mom dropped by my office to discuss how Malachi had traumatized her son, Miles. Miles and Malachi were best friends and in kids club together, apparently one evening Malachi told Miles that when we got to heaven no…

by Maddie Knudtson

Each year, Mother's Day specifically celebrates influential women. Even if the relationship isn't biological, there's something to be said for the feminine care and nurturing we've received in our lives. The way that God uses mothers is key to the endurance of life -- through their faith, the will of the Lord prevails through generations. And, in return, faithful mothers receive heaps of blessings.  

One mother from the Bible that I've been thinking about is Jochebed, Moses's mom. Her story is less renowned than her son's, and yet without her we lose an entire future, history that otherwise drops off into nowhere. Jochebed's fear of God outweighs any mortal fear of Pharaoh, keeping her baby alive and hidden for months. That deception of local authority would take courage. Just like concealing fire, it's only a matter of time before someone smells smoke and locates the flame.

Exodus 2:1-4: 1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

After the limits of her protection were reached, Jochebed didn't give up hope. She used the rest of her available resources in order to provide for Moses, giving all she could before placing him in that basket. It must have been agonizing to let go. But that didn't stop her from living out her faith, trusting fully in God when she could do no more. Because this one mother gave up control, not only did Moses survive to lead their nation, she received a blessing back to her: more time with Moses.

Exodus 2:5-10: 5 Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said. 7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" 8 "Yes, go," she answered. So the girl went and got the baby's mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water."

After proving Himself greater than a death order and risky separation, God continues to work good for mother and son. This may be a story of an individual blessing, but it also displays an eternal promise to those who let go of the reigns: God has a plan, He can and will make a way, and He does not forget along the way. Because Jochebed remained obedient to God, she received the worldly gifts of time and safety. That's incredible! It should encourage us that God does not neglect those who give life and strive to provide. 

Unfortunately, if we focus on what's coming with Moses rather than what is here received, her story is easy to brush past. But isn't that the way it can be with mothers? I've spent years of my life taking for granted all the times my own mom cooked for me, cleaned up after me, and carted me around to all my activities. No effective mother has glory in mind. Just like the image of the wife of noble character from Proverbs 31:10-31, motherhood requires everything from humble diligence to smart business, faithful wisdom to fear of the Lord. Before God could ever use Moses, He worked through Jochebed -- her relationship with God creates the base for all subsequent endeavors. 

Out of the oppression found in the beginning of Exodus comes a mother. Out of that mother rises hope and direction. Before celebrating the achievements enacted through Moses, we must look towards Jochebed, a woman who proves that a faith-led household can turn the tides of nations.  

by Maddie Knudtson

We are a world that understands fear. If you are not afraid for global health and individual well-being, then you may be concerned for your financial stability, or nervous about being setback after leaving an internship. It could be as simple as fearing the concept of summer -- with no vacations, potentially no job, and nowhere to go until coronavirus is put to rest, the months spent out of school could stretch for years. 

I know I fear for the summer. Although my family is wonderful and I am blessed to live where I do, it's daunting to think that a normally busy time may screech to a sedentary halt. But, for better or for worse, I also have the added complication of maybe having somewhere to go: I am still set to work at a summer camp. If I leave home to join the other camp counselors, I escape the endlessness of life at home; if I go, I don't have the reassurance of social distancing and put myself at risk by coming into contact with strangers. Camps have yet to close, and I've yet to know what to do.

Luckily, the Lord has a plan for me. He is the same Rock in this time just as in any, providing comfort and clarity. Our struggles are known to Him, and no amount of fleeting uncertainty has the power to tear us away. Instead of looking for immediate answers and escapes from our problems, it is up to us to set ourselves aside and focus on loving and following Him. Only God has the wisdom we desire.

Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (NIV): "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess."

There may not be an actual land waiting for us on the other side of our fears, but we will find rest. We should wait upon the Lord rather than allowing our unrest to multiply. I'm not yet sure whether it is wiser to serve as a camp counselor this summer or stay home to keep my family safe and supported, and may not know which path to take until the very last moment. One thing I am certain about, however, is that God has a plan for me. I want Him to use me for that purpose, no matter where that takes me. Because of that I want to choose life and prosperity. 

Even if when it's intimidating and the world makes no sense -- perhaps even because of those things -- we should stick close to His Word in obedience. Only then can we lay down some of that fear for the future, choosing to live the life and receive the blessings God designs for us. 

by Maddie Knudtson

Judges 11:29-36 (NIV)

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."

Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break."

"My father," she replied, "you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. But grant me this one request," she said. "Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry."

This passage is a dense mixture of conquest, impulsive oaths, submission, and keen loss, all-in-all troubling to consider. If Judges were just a work of fiction, it would make for a fierce story; instead, this is history, not to mention a source of learning given to us by God.

The first theme I'm struck by comes through very clearly: faithfully submitting to parents. Jephthah's daughter could complain that her father is sorely in the wrong (which he rather is), but she is still willing that his oath to God be fulfilled. Through this morbid situation she sets a powerful example of humility. God does NOT desire that human life should be sacrificed, but even a messy story such as this creates a parallel to the pure heart of Jesus--daughter and Son, both offspring, allowing the sin of others to come upon them, lives ending in sacrifice. Judges isn't a book of prophecy, yet it points towards Jesus.

The second theme I've been mulling over is the Jephthah's oath itself. Not only does it start all of this trouble, but it is deeply problematic:

It's an attempt to bargain with God,

it's vague and impulsive, showing that a person can have God with them and yet still act in foolish ways, and

vows should not be made lightly.

Proverbs warns explicitly to watch your words (Proverbs 13:3, "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."), a thing which Jephthah fails to do. As a result, he brings misery upon himself and his family. Perhaps he thought he was doing God a "favor" by promising something in exchange for success, but there are other ways to give thanks, such as praying before a battle and then making a traditional burnt offering later. Instead of improving his odds against the Ammonites, his reckless words just trap him into a moral dilemma between family and his word. In the end he does follow through with the sacrifice. It's horrific, but he certainly understood the weight of the oath and honored it.

Although tempting to condemn Jephthah for sacrificing his daughter, this passage forces us to confront our own misguidance. How often do we rely upon our wisdom and trap ourselves between a rock and a hard place? How often do we swear or create vows, bargaining with God and man without ever following through? Put aside all of the bloodshed and disaster, and we are left with two examples to live by: practice obedience and simply avoid making oaths in the first place. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:34-37, "'But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No"; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.'" Otherwise, you might find yourself backed into a highly unpleasant corner.

by Maddie Knudtson

On multiple social media platforms within the past few weeks, I've noticed a decent amount of activity centered around the end-times. Some people are interested in the destructive nature of COVID-19 and its socio-cultural ramifications, proceeding to herald Jesus' second coming. I'm not sure if these false prophets are attempting to curb fear by providing information on prophecies or actually intending to antagonize negative emotions. Either way, such people are not doing a service to anyone.  

I doubt I'm the only one who's stumbled across posts like this. I, for one, make a point to keep scrolling whenever I see them. After all, Jesus tells his disciples that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). Even if we look, we will not see the coming. It's particularly harmful to conjecture when followers of God are like a flock--in community, if one member of the group senses imminent danger, the fear will spread like a virus among the body (even if they are observing CDC guidelines and remaining six feet apart). The best thing for us to do is remain steadfast and active in our pursuit of God, anticipating Christ's second coming while never deceiving ourselves into believing we understand its timing. 

Instead, I propose we put attention where attention is due and celebrate a truth we know has passed: the empty tomb, the defeated cross, and the Resurrection of Jesus. It's true that Easter will be strange and solitary this year. Along with Christmas, this religious holiday receives large attendance from casual and charged Christians alike. Sometimes I wonder how Easter-y it will feel to stay home all weekend. Thankfully, it is not the act of gathering in a building that sets us free--if that were so, all of us would be in a terrible way. Praise God that we ourselves are the Church! The Holy Spirit in us allows us to celebrate anytime, anywhere, and with anyone, even in a livestreamed service. The Lord is not bound by space and time. He is there, not in spite of our circumstances, but within them, including our home-bound Easter Sunday.

It's easy to let fear rule our world. It's easy to get wrapped up in the what-if's and the what-now's. In the midst of it all, however, God holds out a hand, welcomes you closer, and overcomes our world with grace. If the grave could not hold Jesus, there is no way a measly virus can restrain him, either.

-Maddie

Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV)

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. but understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (NIV)

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I pass on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 

John 16:19-20 (NIV)