Consistent daily infusions of energy from a biblical perspective R.T. KENDALL
WITH LUCAS APPLYING GOD’S WORD TODAY
APRIL – JUNE 2025
On the run
A WORD FROM JEFF
WELCOME TO LIFE WITH LUCAS!
VIDEO INTRODUCTION
lifewithlucas.co.uk /intros
How do we trust God when, at any moment, our lives might be snatched from us? And how does faith work when we discover those we viewed as trustworthy friends have become turncoats? David, Israel’s greatest king, spent much of his life as a fugitive – at one stage he even had to run from his own son. But his cries to God, preserved for us in Psalms, give us unique insight into what he went through, and how he felt during these desperate times. We can learn so much from David’s prayers, hopes, rants, questions, words of desperation and songs of praise. David is specifically credited as the author of 73 of the psalms: additionally Acts 4:25 confirms he wrote Psalm 2, and Hebrews 4:7 attributes Psalm 95 to him. But the titles (called superscriptions) of fourteen psalms also identify the life episode that David was in when he wrote those specific psalms. So we will consider a broad (and occasionally breathless!) overview of David’s life to give us the context and background to some of his prayers. Over half are ‘lament’ songs, and so we’ll see, repeatedly, that the life of faith and blessing doesn’t exempt us from pain and suffering – on the contrary. Regular readers will notice I have increased the number of ‘Going Deeper’ segments. I hope you’ll find them helpful, but don’t feel any pressure to use them all! As we navigate this journey, let’s remember David was not an Old Testament version of a Christian. He loved God, and he did some terrible things which we shouldn’t try to sanitise. But he is still a picture of us all: we are all capable of foolishness and rebellion, yet also empowered and able to do great good. Thanks as always for joining me,
3
© Novio Published 2025 by Novio – Life With Lucas, PO Box 239, Unit 3 Burnt Oak Farm, Heathfield, TN21 1EH, UK All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of Novio. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version® (US version), The “NIRV”, “New International Reader’s Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Publisher. Design by Piero Regnante – Rogfog Creative | rogfog.co.uk Printed by Halcyon
4
PO Box 239, Heathfield, TN21 1EH | Tel 01892 752920
INTRODUCTION
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF LIFE WITH LUCAS! CHOOSE A TIME Find the best time that works for you, ideally the same time, same place every day, when you can concentrate and have the least number of distractions. PAUSE AND TALK TO GOD Take a moment to focus on God and ask Him to speak to you as you read and reflect on His word. READ GOD’S WORD Read the daily passage from your Bible. Don’t be tempted just to skip this part. It’s important: who knows how the Holy Spirit might speak to you as you read the actual text? MAKE NOTES
ONLINE VIDEO INTRODUCTIONS, AND GOING DEEPER When you see the video icon, this points you to a brief Video Introduction to the subject. Make the most of the occasional Going Deeper resources when you see this icon. They will help you delve further into the passage. GIVE YOUR DAY TO GOD Thank God for what you’ve learned and ask for help if the day’s notes brought to light anything especially applicable to your life at the moment.
Writing slows you down and helps you focus. Write in your Bible, a notebook, or in the white space in the devotions. Don’t hesitate to underline, write in the margins, or circle words. 5
TUES 01 APR
THE MESSAGE
READ
Psalm 1:1-6 Matthew 7:13-29
FOCUS The Lord watches over the lives of those who are godly. But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death. Psalm 1:6
GOING DEEPER
lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper
As we begin our journey, we start with Psalm 1, which is typically attributed to David. We start here because these words are generally seen as an introduction to the whole of the Hebrew prayer book, the book of Psalms. Some suggest this short passage could be viewed as a summary of the message of the entire Bible, Old Testament and New. Here we find the source of the true happiness for every human being: the blessing of God. Walking with Him in the garden of Eden, the first couple experienced paradise and then lost it. In the final and eternal garden described in the book of Revelation, there are no tears because at last we are home again with the Lord. And then walking with Him is not just a call to vague spirituality, but rather to know the truth He brings and live in it. His law, which represents His Word, brings the crystal clear clarity that we need. Ultimately, the Psalm makes it clear there are only two types of humans in the world. There are God’s people who know and follow Him, and those who reject His invitation to know Him – they are collectively described as sinners. We’re reminded Jesus taught that we have a choice between one of two pathways in life: the wide road or the narrow path. Just as there are true and false prophets and disciples, and wise and foolish builders, so how we spend our time on earth is dependent on answering this one question: do we want to walk with God, in this season of our lives, and always? Prayer: Lord, enable me today to walk with You by faith, and make choices that come from a heart of faithfulness to You and Your ways. Amen.
6
WED 02 APR
A DOWNHILL PATH
READ
Psalm 1:1-3 Acts 7:54-8:3
FOCUS
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. Psalm 1:1, NIV
GOING DEEPER
lifewithlucas.co.uk/ goingdeeper
Preaching on the book of Acts at Capital Church in Salt Lake City recently, my sermon focused on the terror campaign Paul engaged in, as he sought to destroy the church. One of my points was that, when we are heading away from God and His purposes, we walk a morally downhill pathway. In Paul’s case, three steps are noted: first, he guarded the coats of the mob stoning the Church’s first martyr, Stephen (Acts 7:58), then we hear he ‘approved’ of their actions (Acts 8:1): the word means ‘delighted in’. The third downhill step was that he began to ‘destroy the church’ (the word means to viciously rip apart like a wild beast). Before heading to the church to preach the message, I randomly decided to read Psalm 1, and was stunned to see the same downhill pathway principle. One scholar comments: ‘Note the progression – ‘walks, stands, sits’. That is the nature of involvement in sin. One begins by tuning in on evil counsel. He next ventures an occasional indulgence, in the presence of bad company, even if it means a violation of his conscience. Then, before he realises it, his life is cast in the new mould; and the change has been so complete that he has become one of that circle who take delight in sneering at goodness and ridiculing religion.1 It was clear to me the Lord wanted to gently remind us all to check our direction of travel in life. The path downhill usually leads to the destination of regret. Prayer: Lord, help me to live alert to where my life is heading, and make choices that are right and good in Your sight. Amen.
1
Tesh, S. E., & Zorn, W. D., Psalms (College Press, 1999) p87.
7