Scripture to read today:
Job 3; Job 4; Acts 8; Acts 9
Scripture that spoke to me:
Acts 9: 21
All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”
Observation:
Saul has just had a visit from Jesus, been blinded, and is healed by a believer named Ananias. Saul is now preaching the Good News about Jesus. Of course, people are paying attention, because just a week or so ago he was persecuting anyone who spoke the name of Jesus. What irony that God would use the biggest Christian persecutor to be one of its biggest proponents!
Application:
I have several friends who have spent time as athiests and now believe in the Lord. I think their message is more powerful than mine. Don’t get me wrong, I think I have a message, but to be able to look at a sinner and say “I was once where you were- I understand” is meaningful. There are things I can only imagine about how you feel and what you think when you don’t believe in God. These people lived it. They also understand what made them turn around and make a different decision.
Prayer:
Lord, today my prayer is that You would open the hearts of more athiests to You. Give them a powerful message to take Your name to the nations. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Nehemiah 9; Nehemiah 10; Acts 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
Nehemiah 9:16-17
“But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands. They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them.
Observation:
I’m reading this thinking that “our ancestors” could be us now! The Jews messed up so often, turning to other gods, letting their daily lives distract them from worship, and forgetting all the good things that God had done for them. But God was always forgiving- slow to anger and rich in love. He was giving grace then and He still offers us grace now.
Application:
I get so caught up in what has to be done today that I don’t look toward heaven. I’m sure I miss many blessings along the way. Thank goodness God is slow to anger- I’m sure He has been mad at me more than once! And He is forgiving. More than that, He knows me and understands me. He can help me become the Christian He had in mind for me to be!
Prayer:
Dear Lord, keep shaping me into the person You want me to be. Help me see that things in this life are secondary to loving and worshiping You. Amen.
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:
Jeremiah 33; Jeremiah 34; Psalm 74; 1 John 5
Scripture that spoke to me:
Jeremiah 34:17
“Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the LORD -’freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Observation:
The law of the Jews required that they free their Hebrew slaves once every 7 years. This kept the people out of bondage and kept their own countrymen free. Here, we see that it is the 7th year and the slaves have been freed and then re-captured. The Lord is telling the people that they will all be captured by the evils that they have done themselves.
Application:
The word “freedom” is what caught my eye. We are all free to do whatever we please. Sure, some things are unlawful, but we choose whether or not to follow the law, too. However, it is what we choose to do with our freedom that counts. We are free to love or hate; believe or be skeptical; choose life or choose death. Freedom doesn’t mean that we’re free to do whatever we want- freedom means we’re free to choose the path that we want to follow. Every path has its own rules and its own limitations, but to choose to follow the path of Christ is the most freeing path of all.
Prayer:
Lord, let me choose my freedom wisely, so that others see that the freedom found in Jesus is desirable. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Amos 4-5; Psalm 86, 87; Titus 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
Titus 1:16: They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Observation:
Paul warns Titus about people who claim to know God but don’t back it up with their actions. He calls them “detestable, disobedient, and unfit.”
Application:
There are Christians who give Christians a bad name! I try hard not to be this way- I want people to see me- and what I do- and say “she loves God.” Then my life is a testimony to God- not just my words.
Prayer:
Lord, let my actions and my life be a living testimony to Your goodness. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Kings 20; 1 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3
Scripture that spoke to me:
Colossians 3: 5-6, 12
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming… Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Observation:
Paul’s words are easy, but in practice they’re a seemingly insurmountable mountain. Turning away our own nature is, well, unnatural. But Jesus cane to show us that is can be done. He set an example for us to follow, even if we fall short.
Application:
I had a conversation with a friend today about giving everything to God and not taking it back. Why is our nature so hard to overcome? I want to do it all myself, on my own strength. I want to make the plans, set them in motion, and see them through. Oh, I say I trust God, but I want Him to do things my way! To do something that goes against my most innate desire, even if it is the right thing to do, is so very hard. But that is what sets us apart as Christians- we don’t live for this world. We understand that the things we gain in this life aren’t gained forever- it is what we store up in heaven that remains.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me get over myself sometimes. Help me get out of my own way and on to what You have planned. Amen
Scripture to read today:
Proverbs 30; Proverbs 31; Psalm 33; Ephesians 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
Ephesians 1:16-18
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
Observation:
Paul was truly concerned for all the people where he carried the message of Jesus. Here, he tells the people of Ephesus that he has been praying for them- for them to know Christ better, to understand the hope he brings, and the inheritance that awaits them.
Application:
This struck me today, I believe, because I tend to send prayers out where things are wrong. I pray for those who I know do not know the Lord. I have never thought to pray for people who did, that they know Him better! I marvel at how much Paul knew as a trailblazer. I am certain that his knowledge was Spirit led, because how else could he have known all these things?
Prayer:
Lord, today I pray for everyone who knows You, no matter where they are in their life or on their journey, that each day brings them closer and closer to You and Your inheritance. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
Romans 1:21-22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.
Observation:
Knowing God isn’t enough- believing in Him and following His ways makes us truly wise. Think of it this way- Satan knows God! Satan probably even understands how God works. That doesn’t make Satan any better than it does one of us who just knows without following. And to truly know God, you have to get into the Word. You have to get with other believers. You have to pray. And you have to obey.
Application:
The obey is probably the hardest part. Because, as Paul points out, our human nature trends toward instant pleasures. It is a sacrifice of our own wishes that helps us follow God. And that isn’t easy to do. I also find it difficult to know what it is that God wants me to do- not in a rules- based way, but in the actions of my life. I do know what He does NOT want me to do- at least that is a start!
Prayer:
Lord, please let me see the plans You have for my life, and help me to sacrifice my own wishes to fulfill Your will. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 19; 1 Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22
Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Observation:
The first five books of the Bible are filled with laws- things to eat, how to get along with your neighbor, what to do, and what not to do. Jesus sums everything up in two sentences. It is all about love. Love the Lord, and love your neighbor AS yourself- not almost as much as you love yourself, but on equal footing.
Application:
I’ve been wrestling this week with the desires of my heart. Are my desires something that God would be pleased with? Are they part of His plan, or only my will? If I truly love God, and love myself, and love others, God will answer my prayers because they will be prayers that benefit everyone. Do I love my neighbors? The ones I like, sure! But it is easy to harbor resentment toward the ones I don’t. I was grumbling yesterday because I found out someone was talking about a good friend of mine. They weren’t happy that he was doing something. However, they were being hypocritical because I know they’re planning to do something like it next weekend! I had to mumble and grumble because they want to persecute my friend. They’re the ones I need to love, too. (But I’d rather point out their giant flaw!)
Prayer:
Lord, help me truly love ALL my neighbors- not just the ones that are easy to love. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Samuel 13; 1 Chronicles 2; 1 Chronicles 3; 2 Corinthians 12
Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Observation:
Paul didn’t have an easy life. He went through a lot of hardships- including one that we don’t know what it is, other than he termed it “a thorn in his side.” In begging God to remove the thorn, this is what the Lord told him. He needed to be weak in order for people to know that Jesus worked through him, and not Paul through himself.
Application:
This is the part of being a Christian I like least. I honestly don’t want to be tested- don’t want to suffer hardships. I’m perfectly happy just the way I am. So if Christ will strengthen me more, shouldn’t I want the trials? Or is it that He is with me through everything and I don’t notice the trials? Looking back, I have had many.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for strengthening me when I am weak.
