Scripture to read today:
Habakkuk 1; Habakkuk 2; Habakkuk 3; John 8
Scripture that spoke to me:
John 8:34-36
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
Observation:
Freedom is offered by the master, but it comes at a cost- the cost of giving up sin. Many people don’t even realize that their sins enslave them- holding them captive to the sin and causing them much pain.
Application:
I have a real easy time seeing this in my older children and my ex. It is so easy to see the things that hold others captive. It is not so easy to see this in myself. I live behind rose-colored glasses sometimes and can pretend things are wonderful with the best of them. But I am not without sin, therefore I know I am a slave. When I am honest and truthful with myself, I see what my sins are and can repent of them.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for being shortsighted and intentionally ignorant of my world. Forgive me for not putting You first in most cases. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 29; Isaiah 30; Isaiah 31; James 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 30:10
They tell the seers,
“Stop seeing visions!”
They tell the prophets,
“Don’t tell us what is right.
Tell us nice things.
Tell us lies.
Observation:
Isaiah is speaking of people who refuse to listen to the Lord’s instructions. Most probably, he is talking of the leaders of that time who have enlisted the help of Egypt to protect them instead of turning to the Lord. The prophets may warn them, but they don’t want to hear it. They want “yes-men” around them, telling them what they want to hear instead of what is right.
Application:
We all want to hear nice things- even if it is a lie- because it makes us feel better about ourselves or our situation. But that feeling is short-lived, especially if the truth is hard to take. Because at some point, we will have to face that truth head-on. I don’t have a particular situation in mind, but say you’ve gained 5 lbs and you want to believe you haven’t, that you’ll still look the same and that it isn’t any big deal. Or maybe it is more weight, but at some point, you look in the mirror and realize that your clothes are tight and don’t look right. Or it could be something way more serious than that. The truth is better to take straight up, but most people like hearing the lies better.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for always being a truthful God. Even if it is hard to hear, or hard to bear, let me remember that the truth is better than and good-feeling lies. 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:
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 22; Proverbs 23; Proverbs 24; Romans 14
Scripture that spoke to me:
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Observation:
Paul points out that what one man considers right, another considers wrong. And they’re both right! Those who believe they sin by eating a certain food will sin in their hearts if they eat it. Those who think that drinking wine is wrong will feel guilty if they drink wine. But the kingdom is not determined by what we eat or drink, but by believing in Jesus and serving Him.
Application:
Scott and I got in a deep discussion about sin last night. We both agree that sin is anything that separates you from God. For instance, he believes that drinking is a sin for Him because of where it leads him and how it separates him from Christ. I can have a glass of wine at book club or out with friends and it does me no harm. It is not a sin for me. I have a tendency to separate myself from God by focusing more on other people than on Him. Therefore, I have to watch to balance my time with God and my time with others, for my enabler tendencies get in the way of my relationship with Him.
Prayer:
Lord, lead us closer to You. Remove the obstacles, which we create for ourselves, that separate us from fully loving and worshiping You. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2 Thessalonians 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
Observation:
There is an evil power at work. Thankfully, Jesus is stronger than anything Satan can throw our way and protects those who believe in Him.
Application:
There’s a popular youth skit that comes to mind (see the youtube video) where a young girl is tempted by different things of the world, but Jesus ends up protecting her with outstretched arms. This verse brought that image to my mind. Jesus died on the cross for our sins- to protect us from evil. He will hold back all our enemies, if we will only cry out to Him.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You so much for sending us Jesus. You bless us more than we ever deserve. 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:
2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15
Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 15: 11; 19
11 What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’ “
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
Observation:
The Pharisees are at it again with Jesus. They’re upset because Jesus’ disciples do not wash their hands before they eat. Now, this is not as we think about it- it wasn’t to cleanse their hands. They simply poured a small amount of water over each hand in ceremony. Jesus is telling them that these rituals mean nothing if they aren’t backed up by actions and the heart- in other words, washing your hands won’t get you into heaven. Cleaning out your heart will.
Application:
I included verse 19 to show what Jesus was speaking of cleansing your heart of. Some of these are pretty easy, and some are not. I am a work in progress. Every day I strive to do just a little bit better than yesterday. I’m cleaning out my heart, but I can’t do it without Jesus’ help.
Prayer:
Lord, purify my heart. Make it a clean temple for You. Help me to be the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Samuel 15; 1 Samuel 16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Observation:
The Lord has just finished rejecting Saul for being more concerned about his own comfort than following the orders of the Lord. Now, Samuel is out looking for who the Lord says will be the next king. He is at the home of Jesse, since the Lord is anointing one of Jesse’s sons. Samuel naturally assumes that the eldest, strongest, tallest one is the Lord’s choice. But God doesn’t look at the outward features- He looks at the heart.
Application:
I’m afraid I’d end up like King Saul. Saul really didn’t think he’d done anything wrong. He thought he’d carried out the Lord’s commands. But he was more concerned with the plunder- more concerned with what the people thought of him- than he was with following the exact directions of God. I fight with this- I believe my heart is not pure and is often very selfish.
Prayer:
Lord, cleanse my heart. I want to be Your servant but often fall short, listening to my own desires. Forgive me and help me be a better daughter for You. 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.
