Scripture to read today:
Ezra 4; Psalm 113; Psalm 127; Luke 9
Scripture that spoke to me:
Ezra 4:2-4
So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.” But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.” Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.
Observation:
The Jews are working on rebuilding the tabernacle in Jerusalem. They are singleminded about their work and will not allow those who were not exiles to help in their work. This causes division among the people living there and makes the work nearly impossible to complete.
Application:
We divide ourselves more ways than we need to. Not just by religion (Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist…) but even among Christians, we have Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal…. We divide by race, by income, by the region we live in, by which ball team we like… I believe God wants us to include people, not exclude people. We need a coming together, not a tearing apart. We need to learn to work together in acceptance of each other and in acceptance of our differences, not in division.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us to work together. Help us to learn to listen to each other, and accept that there are different viewpoints. We don’t have to be alike, but we need to learn to love. Help us, please. 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.
Scripture to read today:
Hosea 2; Hosea 3; Hosea 4; Hosea 5; Hebrews 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
Hebrews 2:17-18
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Observation:
Jesus, having lived in a human body, has a good understanding of just how the world pulls at us. He suffered through temptation, through pain, and thus understands better than if he had remained above it all.
Application:
I don’t really know how this applies to my life, except for making me aware that whatever I feel I suffer, Jesus understands. And probably suffered a lot worse. I think that Jesus came to earth to show us how to live- that we can overcome our earthly desires.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for understanding me. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
2 Kings 6; 2 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Timothy 3:2-7
Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Observation:
This is Paul’s description of what a preacher should be. Someone who has managed his own life well, so that the church may be managed well, too.
Application:
I work with two preachers and also know the three at my church very well. I think they all fit this description. Not that they never make a mistake, or have flaws, but that their inner being, their character, is that of someone that people can look up to. I think of Scott, who is on track to be a minister, and see how he fits this description. I also see how God uses these fallible people to teach others about Him.
Prayer:
Lord, I pray for our ministers- that their lives are not only an example, but their hearts are, too. Be with them and their families as they set about to do Your work. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
2 Samuel 11; 2 Samuel 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23
Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 23:11-12
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Observation:
Jesus is speaking to his disciples about the Pharisees. These men like for people to look at them and see how important they are. Jesus is cautioning them to be different. Humble themselves. Serve each other- and never think that they’re too good to get their hands dirty.
Application:
Good leaders do this! I learned a long time ago that a good leader is willing to do the job of anyone he leads. That means a good CEO should be willing to take out the trash! Workers respect a leader like that, and feel that their job is more worthy if the boss is willing to do it.
Prayer:
Lord, let me be a good leader. Let me see that serving others is the best way to lead. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Samuel 11; 1 Samuel 12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11
Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Corinthians 11:29
Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
Observation:
Paul had a real love for the people he touched. He felt their pain and their suffering. He had put so much time and effort into the salvation of others that he took on their feelings as his own.
Application:
In the self-serving world we live in today, can we get to this place? Are we more concerned with our own feelings? I’m sure we are. Is there any way to get to the place Paul was- where if someone else is sad, we are, too? I think mothers can do that with their children. So our Heavenly Father does that with His children. And if we are truly His children, we should be able to feel that for each other, too.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to be aware of the feelings of others. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Judges 1; Judges 2; Judges 3; 1 Corinthians 12
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Observation:
We are not all the same. We do not have the same abilities or thoughts. We do not have the same talents or the same purpose in life. We do all come from the same Creator and are given the same Spirit. God is the glue that binds us together in similarity.
Application:
We don’t like to be different. I find it hard to disagree with people sometimes, even over simple things. I want to like what my friends like and do what my friends do. But the older I get, the more I see the value in being different. I don’t have to like all the same foods. I don’t have to like all the same activities. Doing different things gives me access to different people. If we were all the same, how could we grow? However, we are all one in Jesus Christ. That is where we come together- to worship and serve our risen Savior. As long as we are one in Christ, our other differences don’t matter- in fact, they are necessary. We are given different talents so that we can help each other. Maybe I can sing and you can’t carry a tune, but you like to hear me sing. And you can organize an event where I may be unorganized. Since we’re working together, we don’t all have to be good at everything!
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving us each other. Let us recognize our gifts and learn to be proud of the fact that ours are different from our neighbor’s. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Joshua 21; Joshua 22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Observation:
Paul is instructing the people about food. Some people may invite you to their home and offer you “unclean” food. According to Paul, since God made all things, it is permissible to eat anything. Better to do that than to insult the host. (Unless the host has offered the food to an idol, then it’s another story.) Basically, Paul believes that if you give God the glory, keep everyone focused on Him, then keep people happy so that they might be saved.
Application:
I’ve found that when dealing with non-believers, it is much better to be non-confrontational. If they know you’re a Christian, often they are waiting for you to mess up so they can point out how they think you’re a hypocrite. I try to approach people with love and understanding. I really want to know what they believe and why. Not necessarily so I can change them (because I can’t- God can!) but so that I can show them what I believe and why in the hopes that they will see, through me, the greatness of God and the joy that comes from having Him in my life. I can’t do that if I’m whining and complaining!
Prayer:
Lord, let me be a reflection of You so that others may know who You are. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Joshua 9; Joshua 10; Joshua 11; 1 Corinthians 6
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Observation:
Jesus died for us, and He lives in us. Therefore, according to Paul, everything that we do to our own bodies we do to Jesus, too. We should use our bodies to honor God.
Application:
I daresay that when I look at my body this way, I want to take better care of it. A lot of people think “why bother- I’m not taking this body with me anyway!” But if we honor God with our bodies, we will be sexually pure, eat better, and exercise more. Just one more motivation to get back into shape!
Prayer:
Lord, help me honor You by keeping my body fit and pure. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Deuteronomy 5; Deuteronomy 6; Psalm 43; Mark 14
Scripture that spoke to me:
Mark 14:36
“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Observation:
Jesus is praying in the garden moments before his arrest. He would love it if he didn’t have to go through what he is facing, but he realizes that it is his Father’s will- and his Father’s will is more important than his own.
Application:
I struggle with this- with wanting something with all my heart that may not be part of God’s plan. It usually isn’t anything that is wrong, but I don’t see the overall picture and therefore do not know that it is not the right thing. We all do this, and then think that God doesn’t answer us or that God doesn’t care about us. If he grants our requests based on love, then wouldn’t Jesus have been saved from the agony facing him? I’m so glad that God knows better than me- that He can see the entire puzzle and know where the pieces fit. All I know about it my one little piece.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to find where my piece fits. Thank You for blessing me with all that You have, and I ask that you help me see how Your will fits into my life (or my life fits into Your will.) Amen.
