Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 25; Isaiah 26; Isaiah 27; Isaiah 28; Hebrews 13
Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 25:9
In that day the people will proclaim,
“This is our God!
We trusted in him, and he saved us!
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.
Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”
Observation:
Put your trust and hope in God. He is the one who offers salvation to all who come to him with an open heart. He is the Savior, and He will save.
Application:
I was reading Susan’s blog this morning and she asked the question ” Doesn’t ANYONE realize that the government DOES NOT help you?” So many people are looking toward our government for answers- for relief- for health care- and money- and support. This verse stuck out at me today because they’re looking in the wrong place! You can’t place your hope in men (good or bad), your hope belongs with the Lord! He is the only one who can make things better!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for being a refuge, a rock, and my Savior. Thank you for always being there as a hope in times of trouble, as a Redeemer, and as all we need. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 22; Isaiah 23; Isaiah 24; Hebrews 12
Scripture that spoke to me:
Hebrews 12:22-24
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
Observation:
We don’t worship a god of signs- a god of idols. We don’t have to pray only at an altar, or stand in awe of a burning bush, we have the living Jesus with us always, to be with us wherever we are. We don’t have to rid ourselves of our enemies, or ride into battle; instead, we only need to lean on Jesus for our troubles to be eased.
Application:
So, leaning on Jesus sounds like an easy thing to do, but how do you do it? For me, it just means to speak to him at times throughout the day. Keep him present in my life. Then, I have a friend I can tell everything to- someone to listen and to be there whether things are good or things are bad. And all that most of us want is just to know that we’re not alone in this world- and we aren’t if we have Jesus by our side.
Prayer:
Thank you dear Jesus for being with me throughout my day- no matter what may come up, I know you are a faithful friend. I love you. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 19; Isaiah 20; Isaiah 21; Hebrews 11
Scripture that spoke to me:
Hebrews 11:1, 39
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.
Observation:
This chapter defines faith, then gives many Biblical examples of faith- Noah building the boat, Abraham leaving his country, Jacob, Joseph, Gideon… and then verse 39 is neat- none of these people received everything that God promised (or everything they wanted.) Faith isn’t about getting things. Faith is about believing in God and knowing that what you have is enough.
Application:
I like things- I like to shop and buy pretty things. Too bad I never have any money, because I could do that very well! But I know that this life isn’t about what we have- it is about what we do, who we love, how we worship. Looking at the lives of all these great men of God, even they did not get everything they wanted. And neither should I.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for blessing me with everything I have. Help me to be satisfied with all the good things around me. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 15; Isaiah 16; Isaiah 17; Isaiah 18; Hebrews 10
Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 17: 9-10a
Their largest cities will be like a deserted forest,
like the land the Hivites and Amorites abandoned
when the Israelites came here so long ago.
It will be utterly desolate.
Why? Because you have turned from the God who can save you.
You have forgotten the Rock who can hide you.
Observation:
Isaiah is prophesying destruction in Israel, because the people have turned away from the Lord and are worshiping idols. They have forgotten the One who has brought them through so many calamities.
Application:
It is easy to turn to God in a calamity. He is the first I go running to when something is wrong. But in times of ease, it is easy to sit back and forget to thank Him, to worship Him, for all that is good. When it goes wrong again, I’m right back with Him. I’m trying to do, and think I am doing, much better at being with God in both the good and the bad times. I don’t want to forget “the Rock who can hide you.”
Prayer:
Lord, thanks for being my Rock. For always being there- strong and able to withstand anything. When I am with You, I feel able to stand against anything, too. Help me remember that, even when there is nothing to stand against. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 11; Isaiah 12; Isaiah 13; Isaiah 14; Hebrews 9
Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling [a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
Observation:
This is as peaceful a scene as is found in the Scriptures. The lion and the lamb lying together. The snake not biting a child. Jesus came to show us how to live in peace- to tell us to love one another instead of fighting- and this is the example given to Isaiah.
Application:
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a peaceful place? To just love one another? Jesus said something else, though- he said that he didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword- meaning that he would bring division between people who believe in him and people who do not.. (“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39 NASB)
Prayer:
Lord, help me create peace in my own life- to bring others closer to You and closer to love. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 8; Isaiah 9; Isaiah 10; Hebrews 8
Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 10:15
Does the ax raise itself above him who swings it,
or the saw boast against him who uses it?
As if a rod were to wield him who lifts it up,
or a club brandish him who is not wood!
Observation:
Tools are handy things. They help us do our jobs and our chores better. But tools are useless if they just lie there. It takes someone to manipulate them- put them to use- in order for them to be useful. So, the tool is not more important than the one who uses it.
Application:
I hope that God is using me for something good. I try, anyway. But I have to remember, with any good thing that I do, God is the one guiding me. I am His tool. So I am not more important than He is, and the work that I accomplish is only because He is the one putting me to use.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me not to boast of my good deeds, but give You credit always for giving me the chance, the ability, and the means to help others. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Micah 5; Micah 6; Micah 7; Hebrews 7
Scripture that spoke to me:
Hebrews 7: 1-3
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
Observation:
We first meet Melchizedek in Genesis- and learn more about him in Hebrews. In reading this description, it seems that this priest is almost an early incarnation of Jesus- without beginning or end, without mother or father- like the Son of God.
Application:
This just reminds me that there is so much I do not know! I don’t understand about the ways of heaven and the people (spirits?) who live there. We were talking about angels the other day- I don’t know much about them either, other than some of them brought messages to people in the Bible. What are they doing right now? There is so much I do not know!
Prayer:
Lord, forgive my ignorance, especially if I profess to know something I really know nothing about. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Micah 1; Micah 2; Micah 3; Micah 4; Hebrews 6
Scripture that spoke to me:
Hebrews 6:4-6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Observation:
According to Hebrews, anyone who has known God- truly known him- and falls away will find it impossible (not difficult, or hard, or nearly impossible, but this says impossible) to come back.
Application:
This is the first verse I have found in the Bible that I just think is wrong. I read it several times to make sure I was understanding it like I thought I did the first time. I can’t find the basis for this in Jesus’ teachings. The parable of the Good Samaritan tells us that the father welcomes His prodigals back with celebration! I know that the one unpardonable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, but I don’t see, in this verse, where it is talking about totally forsaking God. My God wants His children to be with Him, and will welcome them home whenever they return to Him.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being a welcoming, forgiving God of second chances. Help me to see where my understanding is lacking in Your scripture, and help me understand. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Hosea 13; Hosea 14; Psalm 100; Psalm 101; Psalm 102; Hebrews 5
Scripture that spoke to me:
Psalm 100:3
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Observation:
God is our Creator- He made us, one by one, in His image and for His glory. He cares about us, just as a shepherd cares for each one of his sheep.
Application:
Have you ever made anything? I like to craft. I have a special cross-stitch that I made for Savannah when she was 1- it hangs in the hallway. I have made a couple of quilts that I dare anyone to get dirty. You handle my scrapbook with care. I cherish the things I have made- I care for them and try to keep them from being destroyed. This verse caught my eye because I know how much I care for the things I have made- and I’m trying to see how much God cares about me because He made me. I don’t care for one of my quilts over the other- even though they are different. And I don’t like one of them less because I have more of them. I can only fathom how much more than that God cares for us.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for creating me and cherishing me. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Hosea 10; Hosea 11; Hosea 12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4
Scripture that spoke to me:
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Observation:
We have a living Word- it applies just as much today as it did 2000 or more years ago. It gets down to the business of living in this world- and it gives us a way to tell if our hearts are right.
Application:
I’ve been doing this Bible study for over a year now. It has let me see just how living the Word truly is. Most days I find a verse that just speaks something to my heart about what I need to be doing, or be aware of. It is relevant to my life just as it was to the early Christians.
Prayer:
Lord, you are so good. You are able to speak to us through ancient texts and yet, speak to us as individuals today. Amen.
