February 10, 2010- Our Known God

Scripture to read today:
Leviticus 13; Leviticus 14; Acts 17

Scripture that spoke to me:
Acts 17:23
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

Observation:
The Greeks had many gods, one for every element and emotion you could think of. Many icons and idols were scattered throughout the city, including this one to “an unknown god.” Paul took the opportunity to introduce the people to Jesus.

Application:
How many people need to know about an unknown God? Some people don’t even know that there is a God. But we’re lucky that our God has made Himself known through many mighty acts. And He works in our lives so that others can see His goodness through us.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for making Yourself known to us, for allowing us to know You and love You and serve You, and for loving us. Amen.

12 Days of Grace- Day 6- Growth Through Study

Study sounds like work! It is the application of the mental, using your mind to learn, or using your faculties for the aquitition of knowledge. Study can actually become an enjoyable adventure as you begin to add to your knowledge, becoming hungry for more.

Fact is, we grow or we die. We never stop learning. Think of doctors, who probably go to school longer than anyone in any other profession, then follow up with residency, practice, and continuing education.

Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the changing of your mind.”

Christian Study:
1- Study is a constant part of our lives
2- Study requires discipline- our utmost goal. We eat and exercise for health- spiritual study takes us from destructive habits to health.
3- Study has two parts-
– It informs you of the truth
– It helps you to grow to love the subject matter as you get to know the subject better.
4- Ignorance of Christianity abounds
– Seen as passive, when in truth, it challenges us to grow and change.
5- The world is constantly changing, and we must learn about it in order to keep up.

Fields of Study:
1- Study the Good News- what to study and how it will help our lives. This study helps us understand the Gift that is Jesus Christ.
2- Scripture- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “all scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, training, correcting, and training in righteousness so man may be equipped for every good work.
3- Knowing yourself- Begin to know yourself as a child of God. Find your unique gifts.
4- Knowing others- get to know others from a spiritual perspective. This changes our minds and hearts.
5- Spiritual classics- study the lives of those like Martin Luther, Anne Graham Lott, John Wesley, Billy Graham…
6- Know the church- The church has a long history – know how it came about, what changes it has undergone, and how it has arrived where it is today.
7- History of the world- study history and the way it affects what happens today. We need to understand our world in order to navigate through it.

Excuses for not studying:
1- Time- we find time to do the things we want. This goes back to forming priorities.
2- “I don’t know what to study”- there are many resources- Sunday School, bookstores, your pastor, library, etc. Ask!
3- “I don’t like to read.” Then dont! There are great DVD’s, books on tape, podcasts, etc.
4- ” I don’t understand” – that’s why you’re reading! To learn! Check out those resources and have someone explain what you don’t understand. Join a Bible study with a good teacher and dig through some issues.
5- Theology is Confusing- sure it is, but approach it through yourself, where you are right now. Who do you know God is?

Develop a Personal Study Plan:
1- Make study a priority
2- Find a time that works
3- Find a place to study- quiet, well lit, comfortable (but not too!) and keep your materials there.
4- Choose a balance of materials
5- Keep a reading journal (I choose to do it online, but you can get a notebook and write down what you read. You may even want to write questions you want to ask your pastor in the margins!)
6- Share what you learn with others- you will learn more.
7- Learn from study groups, Bible studies, Sunday School. Use the knowledge of others.

Expose yourself to new ideas and knowledge. Don’t let the world determine how you’ll change- be intentional about it yourself.

December 11, 2009- The Living Word

Scripture to read today:
Philemon 1; Hebrews 1; Hebrews 2; Hebrews 3; 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:
Isn’t this so true! The Word is living and active. It speaks to me every day. Some days it convicts me, some days it leads me, other days it consoles me.

Application:
But it will only do these things if I read it! I really only started reading every day about 3 years ago. Up until then, I would read a passage here and there, usually connected to whatever Sunday school lesson or Bible study I was doing at the time. When I really started reading chapters a day, it is amazing the insight I was given.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving us such a wonderful book! It is so full of You, and so relevant to our lives. Only You could take ancient manuscripts and have them apply to us today. Thank You for being an incredible God! Amen.

December 6, 2009- Grow in the Knowledge

Scripture to read today:

Philippians 1; Philippians 2; Philippians 3; Philippians 4

Scripture that spoke to me:
Philipians 1:9-10
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.

Observation:
Some people think that once you invite Jesus into your heart, that is all there is. But that is only the beginning. From there, God molds and shapes you into who He wants you to be. It isn’t an instant, overnight change, but one that often takes years, even decades, to accomplish. Paul’s prayer is good- that we continue to grow in love and knowledge each day.

Application:
Learning never ends. Oh, most 18 year olds think they know it all, but it only takes one semester of college to change that. Brandon is learning that. High school was easy comparitively. It is that same journey that we take with faith. Once we accept the Lord, then the learning begins. There will be times we think we know it all, and times that we don’t feel like we know anything. We can only keep reading, keep studying, keep learning.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to grow in the knowledge of your love a little each day. Amen.

November 5, 2009- Not Good News

Scripture to read today:

Job 28; Job 29; Galatians 1; Galatians 2

Scripture that spoke to me:
Galatians 1:6-7
I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ.You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Observation:
There is a lot of misunderstanding, and a lot of truth-twisting, by those who profess to know Christ. I’m sure some of it is unintentional- misinterpretation on the part of the teacher- but some is meant to make you take your eyes from Jesus. Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders have an important job that should be taken seriously. God is found in the Bible, and the truths that are included in the Bible should be the ones that come through in teachings.

Application:
I was speaking with a friend last night who is hesitant to return to a Bible study because of some things the leader was saying. Things that were her own opinion of God and heaven, not anything that she learned by reading the Bible. This teacher needs to recognize that she is twisting the truth, perhaps leading people away from the Good News instead of to it.

Prayer:
Lord, please help me to not be like this teacher. I know there are things that I don’t understand, but let me acknowledge these as unknowns instead of making up my own explanations for these hard concepts. Let me lead no one astray from Your Word. Amen.

September 22, 2009- A Heavenly Visitor

Scripture to read today:

Daniel 9; Daniel 10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

Scripture that spoke to me:
Daniel 10:12-14
Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

Observation:
This “man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist” (v 5) was obviously a visitor from heaven sent to Daniel to answer his prayer. He doesn’t identify himself but does say that he was delayed by a spirit until helped by the Archangel Michael. He goes on to say that he will have to face other spirits and call on Michael for help.

Application:
We don’t focus much on the spirit world. Perhaps it is scary to think of, or since we can’t see it we don’t understand it, but even Jesus made much of the spirits around him. What is out there and more importantly, what spirits are trying to visit us to tell us things and we don’t even know it? Maybe we feel like our prayers are not answered simply because we don’t know how to listen.

Prayer:
Lord, help me learn to listen to you and your messengers. Help me not be afraid of things I know nothing about but call upon your strength and understanding to make things clearer. Amen.

July 29, 2009- Twisting the Word

Scripture to read today:

Isaiah 57; Isaiah 58; Isaiah 59; Psalm 103; 2 Peter 3

Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Peter 3:15-16
And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

Observation:
Peter is talking to the people about the return of Jesus- that He will come back, and just because He hasn’t yet doesn’t mean that He won’t. The Lord is patient- giving time for the word of Jesus to spread and all people to be saved- before He returns. Peter also is warning the people not to misinterpret the Scriptures.

Application:
I got in a good discussion with Sam the other night about finding the meanings in Scripture. I truly believe that the Bible is God-breathed, because it can speak to me where I am today, and a year later can speak to me in a different place. Sam was cautioning me to make sure I understand the era and the time it was written in and not to focus on two or three words, but understand the overall intent of a chapter. He is right- there are so many ways that the Bible can be misinterpreted that I don’t want to be guilty of trying to make it say what I want it to say.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me if I have misunderstood Your Word. Open my eyes to see what You would have me learn as I read. Amen.

July 28, 2009- The Trees Clap Their Hands

Scripture to read today:

Isaiah 53; Isaiah 54; Isaiah 55; Isaiah 56; 2 Peter 2

Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 55:11-12
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

Observation:
God gave us the Bible as a tool to help us prosper; as a guide book for living. Everywhere people read it, they produce fruit. Peace and joy come to those who know the Lord, and there is no better way to get close to God than through His Word.

Application:
A year and a half ago, I decided to read the entire Bible. I had read bits and pieces of it, but had never been cover to cover. Now I’ve read most of it two times, and it never stops amazing me how whatever I’m reading seems relevant to my life. It is where we get to know God, but it is also where we get to know ourselves. I find myself on the page almost every day, in some situation or other. Sometimes it shames me, other times it uplifts me. Today, I’m living with the image of the trees clapping their hands. What a wonderful way to look at nature and the way nature worships the Creator, too!

Prayer:
Lord, as the trees clap, allow me to clap also, and be a fruitful tree of Your field. Amen.

July 10, 2009- Limited Knowledge

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.

June 22, 2009- Spiritual Training

Scripture to read today:

2 Kings 8; 2 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4

Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Observation:
Paul is instructing Timothy to train himself- not physically, but spiritually. Don’t follow myths and tales, but follow the teachings from the Lord.

Application:
Myths and wives tales can teach us things- usually about human nature. They’re not necessarily something to discount. Paul isn’t saying that there is no merit in them. They’re not always false. But God is always true- and the scriptures are always right. If we put our trust and belief in them, we don’t need tales and myths- we have found the Truth.

Prayer:
Lord, let us always search for Truth in Your word. Reveal to us what you would have us know. Amen.