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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Scripture to read today:
2 Kings 1; 2 Kings 2; 2 Kings 3; Psalm 82; 1 Timothy 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Timothy 1:5-7
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
Observation:
Those who don’t understand can’t teach. Paul is telling Timothy to command these men to stop talking. They are not promoting Jesus, but themselves.
Application:
Bible teachers have to stop and take stock every now and then. The stories are good, the insights that a knowledgeable person has are good, but sometimes it becomes more about the knowledge of the facts than the knowledge of the Lord. Don’t get me wrong, the scriptures are where we find God. We learn who He is. But all the stories are just that- stories- if we can’t see God in them.
Prayer:
Lord, help me not to lose sight of You as I read the Bible, but come to know You better. Let me see Your hand at work, not only in the ancient histories, but in my world today. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ecclesiastes 1; Ecclesiastes 2; Ecclesiastes 3; Psalm 45; Ephesians 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
Ecclesiastes 1:18
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.
Observation:
Whoever said ignorance was bliss must have read this verse. To be uninformed about some things seems to prevent worry. The less you know the less you have to act on knowledge. This is not mean to be cynical, or to say you shouldn’t learn things, but to learn brings on a responsibility to guard that knowledge, to act upon what you have learned, or to realize that you can do neither.
Application:
My friend Susan has been doing a lot of research into prophesies lately, mostly end-of-the-world stuff. Scary stuff. I try to turn a deaf ear to it because I don’t want to have to worry about what is to come. I choose to be uninformed on things like this that I can’t do anything about. I haven’t listened to the news much lately, either, because I don’t like the direction that our leader is taking us, but I have no control. To know and to worry are useless, so I’d rather not know. (disclaimer- don’t get me wrong- I love to learn! I will read and read and read and enjoy learning new things. I’m not opposed to learning, only studying some things.)
Prayer:
Lord, help me remain peaceful about the things I can do nothing about. I know You are in charge and have a master plan, and that is all I need to know. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Proverbs 7; Proverbs 8; Proverbs 9; Romans 9
Scripture that spoke to me:
Proverbs 9:8-9
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
Observation:
If you are wise, you will know that wisdom is not an end- it is a journey. You can never know it all. Therefore, you would like to learn something every day- add to your learning. If you’re vain and foolish and think you know it all, you are not willing to be instructed in what you don’t know.
Application:
Scott is going to lead a new ministry at our church called Celebrate Recovery. This is for anyone who needs healing, from addictions, divorce, abuse, etc. I’m excited for him, but I’m thinking this could help me, too. I realize that I’m an enabler. I help too much. I’m hoping there is something in there for me as well. He made a comment that he had noticed I did something- now he can’t remember what it was- and recognized it as one of my enabler tendencies. I asked him to point out those things to me (and I can’t believe he didn’t do it anyway!) because the more I notice what I’m doing, the more I can learn from it. I want to learn, and grow, and improve- bring it on!
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please let me see that there is so much knowledge out there that I will never even be introduced to all of it, but help me receive it with a willing spirit. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chronicles 9; Matthew 10
Scripture that spoke to me:
Psalm 141:3-4
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,
to take part in wicked deeds
with men who are evildoers;
let me not eat of their delicacies.
Observation:
This prayer of David’s is still valid for me. I say things I shouldn’t. My heart is drawn to self-preservation, to pride, and to acceptance by others. Anyone who wants to argue evolution- tell me why we haven’t evolved from this! It seems like we (collectively as a people) would have learned better than this by now. But here we are, 3000 years later, and our hearts are still the same.
Application:
Jesus tells his disciples to keep watch, to pray, to stay awake. Maybe that is our clue- we have to be vigilant against the desires of our heart. We’ve been feeding them too much. There is an old Indian (Native American) parable about two wolves. A chief tells a young brave that inside him are two wolves- one good, one evil- and that they are fighting to see who will win. The young brave asks which one will be victorious, and the chief replies- the one you feed. So we should feed the good desires of our hearts and starve the bad.
Prayer:
Lord, this sounds easy but I know it is hard to do. Help me to feed the good parts of me and let the bad starve. Amen.
