Scripture to read today:
ob 23; Job 24; Mark 11; Mark 12
Scripture that spoke to me:
Mark 12:43-44
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Observation:
This lady gave all she had to God. Jesus knew that her tiny offering represented a greater portion than those larger gifts from the others. He knew her, what was in her heart, and what was in her bank account.
Application:
I read something the other day that bothered me a little. Francis Chan, in his book Crazy Love, points out that God never told us to save money in the bank. We are to store up our riches in heaven, but on earth, sell all we have and give it to the poor. As I have been reading around the Bible, I haven’t found one place that says we must save for retirement. There is a lot about not borrowing money, about not lending money, about giving, but not about saving. This is contrary to all I was taught- get a good job, save money for retirement. And then I read this story. God wants us to do good things with our money, not hoard it. And that is really hard.
Prayer:
Lord, help me want to do good things with my money, for You. Help me not be greedy or selfish with what You have given me. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Lamentations 3; Lamentations 4; Lamentations 5; Revelation 15
Scripture that spoke to me:
Lamentations 4:17
We looked in vain for our allies
to come and save us,
but we were looking to nations
that could not help us.
Observation:
Jeremiah is lamenting the destruction of Judah. The people have been overcome by Babylon and either taken away as slaves or exiled to other lands. Egypt couldn’t help. Assyria couldn’t help. The people should have turned to the Lord, not to other men.
Application:
I’m guilty of doing the same thing, as I am sure most of us are. We get into trouble and we look to our family and friends to try to help. Many times they are there for us, but there is that one time that only God can take away what is troubling us. But if we are not used to turning to Him, we may forget that He is our best friend- the One who is always there for us. Next time there is a problem, take it to Him. He is bigger than any problem!
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for being there for us always. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ezekiel 17; Ezekiel 18; Ezekiel 19; Revelation 7
Scripture that spoke to me:
Ezekiel 18:23
“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.
Observation:
The Lord wants all of His children to come home. He doesn’t want to lose one to death. That is why He offers eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Application:
Have you ever noticed that the people who are your best friends have a lot in common with you? Tend to be from the same economic level, with the same ideals and interests? So if your friends succeed, you’re likely to also. If your friends walk with God, you may as well. So you can either surround yourself with people who are the way you would like to be, or you can help the people around you become Christians and follow God. Either way, you are really helping yourself to be the best you can be.
Prayer:
Lord, let the people who I come in contact with know You through me. Let my life be a good example, not a detriment. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 3; Jeremiah 4; John 11
Scripture that spoke to me:
Jeremiah 3:23
Our worship of idols on the hills
and our religious orgies on the mountains
are a delusion.
Only in the Lord our God
will Israel ever find salvation.
Observation:
The people have looked for salvation everywhere but where it can be found. True salvation can only come from the Lord- the One who created life.
Application:
I know people who are searching for happiness. They look in all the wrong places- in the bottom of a bottle- in another person- in possessions- in travel- in hobbies. These things can bring pleasure, but only the joy of knowing Jesus can bring true happiness. It amazes me that people will try everything else (and some is strange stuff!) but they won’t try Jesus. Why is He such a turn-off to people, when He really is the ultimate high?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for giving me a taste of joy through Your Son, Jesus. Open the hearts and minds of others to receive that same joy. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 75; 1 Peter 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, thought they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Observation:
We are aliens in the world, for we are not meant to live on earth for long. We are only visiting here for our lifetime and will move on to the heavens above. Therefore, we should try to stay away from the worldly desires. Show the people of this world what it means to live a good life, no matter what they may say about you, so that they may decide that God is almighty in the end.
Application:
I’ve enjoyed reading an interesting blog from my new friend Patrick, who recently found out some online friends were Wiccan. He has had a problem with this, and so have they, as they have tried to understand each other’s point of view. The Wiccans have tried to defend their position with things that are not Biblical (of course) and Patrick has tried to stay grounded in the scripture. He may not win anyone over to Christ, especially in an argumentative blog, but hopefully they will all remain friends and see that he is a good man who follows an awesome God. Then maybe one day they’ll want what he has! That is what I hope happens with these journal posts every day, too.
Prayer:
Lord, let me know the right things to say so that people see Your greatness. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
2 Samuel 4; 2 Samuel 5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16
Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 16:22-23
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Observation:
Jesus has just told his disciples of the things that are going to happen to him concerning his death. Peter leaps to his defense, vowing to save him from this doom. But Jesus knows that he doesn’t need to be saved. Although here, in his rebuke of Peter, we get the implied understanding that he would be tempted to try to escape his fate. Satan was the tempter, and for Jesus to call Peter “Satan” indicates to me that this was a temptation.
Application:
How many times do things sound good? It would sound right for Peter to try to rescue his friend from death. But it wasn’t God’s plan. How many times do we ask “why” when something happens? (for me, it is always!) But can you look back on something bad and see the good that came from it? Sure, it would be nice if calamity never hit, but the things I have learned from having something bad happen are those big life lessons. I don’t embrace calamity, but I do see how God can use it for His own higher purposes.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for using everything- even the bad things in our lives- to bless us. You are so wise we cannot begin to even understand most of what happens to us, and why it happens. I am grateful to know that You have a plan and that it will be carried out in my life. Save me from myself and my selfish actions. 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 18; Joshua 19; Joshua 20; 1 Corinthians 9
Scripture that spoke to me:
Joshua 18:3
So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?
Observation:
The Israelites have been in the Promised Land for a long time now- establishing themselves and conquering cities. But they have not claimed their inheritance. Joshua is organizing them to make a survey of the land and claim their inheritance.
Application:
Do we claim our inheritance? Have we really claimed what God has promised us, or are we too busy running around getting organized? Think about it- we’re busy. When is the last time that you have stopped to pray something like “thank You, Lord, for giving me Jesus.” We pray for things, and say thank you for things, and enjoy the things we have (and whine about the things we don’t) but we don’t stop often enough to claim our inheritance.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving me Jesus. Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the cross for my sins. Forgive me, cleanse me, and help me be a better daughter. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Deuteronomy 16; Deuteronomy 17; Deuteronomy 18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
Galatians 2:16
(We) know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
Observation:
The early church is not without its problems, the biggest of which seems to be the divide between the Jews (God’s chosen people) and the Gentiles, who follow different customs. Should either give up their customs in order to follow Jesus? Should the Gentiles have to be circumcised? Should all eat meat that is clean? Paul and Peter had a lot to try to reconcile in this new church. The Jews lived by the law, and for them to be told the law didn’t matter was heresy! But Jesus made the law unnecessary- He offered free forgiveness of sins.
Application:
We have some laws today that I’d like to throw away. Actually, I think we have become pretty law happy. Now they’re talking about outlawing smoking in cars with children in it. Not that I want children exposed to smoke, but it seems that the more laws we get, the more stringent our lives become. We lose free choice. This must be what it felt like to be a Jew- told what to eat, when to worship, what to offer God…. and so on. Jesus came to free people from those laws so they could focus on Him, not on whether or not they were keeping a law or not.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving us laws but more importantly, thank You for giving us freedom. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Deuteronomy 3; Deuteronomy 4; Psalm 36; Mark 13
Scripture that spoke to me:
Deuteronomy 4:9
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Mark 13:37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ “
Observation:
The Deuteronomy verse is one of Moses’ last teachings before the children of Israel enter the promised land without him. Likewise, the Mark text is one of Jesus’ last teachings to his disciples. The common word in these passages seems to mean “pay attention!” Moses was concerned with the people following the rules, staying on top of all God had taught them along the way. Jesus’ warning was more concerned about the end times- watch for the second coming and don’t get caught off guard.
Application:
Watching to me can sometimes be boring. It is a passive activity, and we like “doing” something. But in both of these cases, “watch” means something more active- keeping aware of yourself and what is going on around you. Make sure that you’re watching for Jesus because, if you are, then you’re less likely to stumble through your days. Watching gives a purpose to what is happening in everyday life. Watch and see where God is working.
Prayer:
Lord, keep me watchful for You and let me be aware of You in my daily life. Amen.
