Sustain: August 1-7, 2019 (Thurs-Wed): Read through 2 Chronicles, Psalms, Malachi, Titus, and Philemon

“Hope sustained us during that difficult time.”

“I don’t know if I can sustain this standard of living.”

“The roof, unable to sustain the weight of all the snow, collapsed.”

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3). That word translated as sustaining is a present participle (Ooo) which means that it’s an ongoing thing. Christ is continually holding it all together. He was on Day 1. He was on Day 1,098,894, and He is still holding it together today. It’s more than that though. He’s carrying it along. Christ is carrying creation on toward its goal. It wasn’t just set in motion. He’s moving it along purposefully. In case there’s any doubt, look at Colossians 1:17. Speaking of Jesus, Paul states, “He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” Christ was the One who created, but His hands are still fixed on creation as He sustains it. Even Greek philosopher Aristotle believed this concept that everything is “out of God” and that He holds it together. Christ holds everything together such that we have “a cosmos instead of a chaos” (Lightfoot). The Son is the “divine glue” and “spiritual gravity” that holds creation together. Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is the “rhyme and reason.” Everyone and everything is entirely dependent upon Christ whether they are atheistic or inanimate (Garland). Every day, every minute, every nanosecond, Christ keeps things in order in the universe and keeps them going toward His ultimate purpose. This includes you. You have a built-in purpose. Seek the Sustainer to discover it.

This week you’ll read…

2 Chronicles 1-11: “‘If I shut the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people, who bear My name, humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land’” (2 Chronicles 7 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Psalms 106-108: “Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever” (Psalms 106 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Malachi 1-4: “‘For look, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them,’ says the Lord of Armies, ‘not leaving them root or branches. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,’ says the Lord of Armies’” (Malachi 4 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Titus 1-3: “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Philemon 1: “I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus” (Philemon 1 in The Christian Standard Bible).

 

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

Joy in Support: July 22-31, 2019 (Mon-Wed): Read through 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Psalms, Amos, and Philippians

Philippians is a letter littered with joy, and there’s a reason. If you stop and smell the roses in your life and recognize from whom all those blessings originate, you’ll see your reasons for joy. Maybe you’re still grieving from a loss in your family or the loss of a job. Grieving is healthy, and joy is, too. Everything doesn’t have to be going your way to be joyful. In the very beginning of Philippians, Paul gives us a practical thing to do to help us find some joy.

GIVE THANKS TO GOD BECAUSE HE HAS BLESSED YOUR LIFE WITH A SUPPORTIVE BELIEVING FAMILY.

OK, maybe your family is the farthest thing from believing. That’s not the family I’m talking about. The church is to what I’m referring. Then you may say that you don’t have supportive people in your life. Ask yourself why. If you’re connected and active in a Bible-believing church, I find it hard to believe that you would not have supportive believers in your life unless you need to learn some people skills, you’re way off in left field, you distance yourself from people, or it’s a horrible church. Paul said to the Philippians, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3). You may just need to take a risk and get to know some of your church family. If you don’t meet with the church regularly, that’s most probably all on you.

PAUL WAS THANKFUL…

  • for the Philippians because they were very supportive of him and thinking of them brought him joy. “always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer” (Philippians 1:4 CSB).
  • for the Philippians because they were supportive not just by mouth but by money. “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5 CSB). “And you Philippians know that…no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. …you sent gifts for my need several times. …I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided…” (Philippians 4:15-16,18 CSB).
  • to God because He is faithful to finish what He starts. “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 CSB).
  • for the Philippians because he truly loved them from the bottom of his heart. “Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:7-8 CSB).

Look at your life. God has placed supportive believers around you which is a reason for joy. Sometimes you just need to open your eyes…or go enroll in a people-skills class.

This week you’ll read…

2 Kings 22-25: “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. He did what was right in the Lord’s sight and walked in all the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn to the right or the left” (2 Kings 22 in The Christian Standard Bible).

1 Chronicles 22-29: “Then David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said, “May You be blessed, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name” (1 Chronicles 29 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Psalms 96-105: “​My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits. He forgives all your iniquity; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle” (Psalms 103 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Amos 1-9: “Look, the days are coming—this is the declaration of the Lord God—when I will send a famine through the land: not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” (Amos 8 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Philippians 1-4: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4 in The Christian Standard Bible).

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

PROTECT: July 15-21, 2019 (Mon-Sun): Read through 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Psalms, and Mark

Where do you go for protection? Some pull out a gun. Others seek a spouse or parent. Still others invest in cameras and security systems. Others turn to their bank account and investments. Don’t forget about those who run to the government for the fix to all problems great and small. Government receives its authority from God. Money is fleeting. Security systems, weapons, and trusted people can all be blessings to us, but, ultimately, we must run to the One in control of our dangers. God is aware of our calamities and threats. Before our hands grab our guns, our minds must run to the Protector on high. Catastrophe will reveal where your confidence lies. Hard rains will expose your foundation.

Psalm 91 gives us a comforting picture of the one who finds his PROTECTion in the Lord in the midst of difficult times.

  • Seek God’s Presence.
  • See God as your Refuge.
  • Live under His Outstretched wings.
  • Flee to your strong Tower.
  • Be Established in the Lord.
  • Call upon God for help.
  • Trust in God.

Continually seek God’s Presence.

“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 CSB). Living under God’s protection and dwelling in His shadow carry the idea of being in His presence. Abiding in His presence is the way to live daily, depending on Him continually and developing a habit of seeking His presence. Go to Him today. God to Him now.

See God as your Refuge.

“I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2 CSB). A refuge is a safe place to run and a safe place to live. Your safe place is in God. Where are you running?

Live under His Outstretched wings.

“His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re perfectly safe; His arms fend off all harm” (Psalm 91:4 The Message). The picture is of baby birds living under a mama bird’s outstretched wings of protection. We are sheltered in the arms of God. When we run to other things for our protection, we’re leaving our real protection. Run to Him and stay there.

Flee to your strong Tower.

“I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2 CSB). Our God is a fortress for us. He is a strong tower of defense and safety. Why do we run to other places?

Be Established in the Lord.

“Because you have made the Lord—my refuge, the Most High—your dwelling place, no harm will come to you…Because he has his heart set on Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name” (Psalm 91:9-10,14 CSB). The psalmist refers to people who have been established in the Lord. These are not fly by night Christians. These are people who have become fixated on the Father and reliant on the Redeemer. They live and dwell with God on their minds.

Call upon God for help.

“Because he has his heart set on Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble” (Psalm 91:14-15 CSB). If God knows what we need, then why would we need to call upon Him. Coming to a place of calling for help brings us to humility. “God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 NET Bible).

Trust in God.

“I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2 CSB). The basis for all this is faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. We are saved by grace through faith and we must live that way afterward. When we start trusting other things or people to deliver us, we’ve just stepped off the bridge into turbulent waters. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV 1984). The One who did that for us is able to be trusted in every season of our lives. Keep your eyes on Him.

This week you’ll read…

2 Kings 15-21: “He [Hezekiah] trusted in the Lord God of Israel; in this regard there was none like him among the kings of Judah either before or after.” (2 Kings 18 in The NET Bible).

1 Chronicles 15-21: “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face always” (1 Chronicles 16 in The Christian Standard Bible). What would happen if we followed this one command each day?

Psalms 91-95: “For he will give his angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways. They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (Psalms 91 in The Christian Standard Bible). The devil quoted this to Jesus as he tempted Him to jump off of the temple in Jerusalem. Devil, you were out of your league.

Mark 15-16: “When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he told them. ‘You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.”’” (Mark 16 in The Christian Standard Bible).

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

Is Your Jesus Biblical? July 8-14, 2019 (Mon-Sun): Read through 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Joel, and Mark

Is your Jesus the biblical Jesus? Could your version of Jesus exist outside of American culture? Is He the Middle Eastern Jesus found in Scripture? Is your Jesus one created from your own ideas, or is He the uncreated One of heaven? We must be careful not to impose unbiblical beliefs upon Jesus. Of course, we’re not infallible in our interpretations of Scripture, yet we must strive for a correct understanding of it and of Jesus. The biblical Jesus is not American, yet He “works” in America but supersedes America. The biblical Jesus is not Chinese, but He “works” in China yet surpasses China. The biblical Jesus “works” worldwide, but He exceeds the world. He’s bigger than a country, higher than a culture, greater than the world. If your version of Jesus would have a hard time transferring to another neighborhood or nation, then your “Jesus” is an imposter. He’s not the real Jesus.

Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ closest followers. He was one of the Twelve, yet he had his own ideas of who the Messiah should be. In Mark 14, a woman showed up for supper where Jesus and the Twelve were hanging out. The woman poured an expensive perfume on Jesus’ head, and some of those present griped that the perfume should’ve been sold and the money given to the poor. In an alike passage in John 12, a similar thing happens, and it’s Judas who vocally corrects Jesus. However, John also notes Judas’ thieving motive. He was a corrupt treasurer of the group. It’s at this point in the Mark 14 account that Judas cuts a monetary deal with the Jewish chief priests and then begins looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus, the One who was not fitting into his mold of the Messiah.

We must be careful that our version of Jesus does not betray the real Jesus.

This week you’ll read…

2 Kings 8-14: The Kings and Chronicles books present a challenge to readers—keeping up with the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah and the story switching back and forth. Click the link below to see a helpful chart of the kings and prophets during the kings period.

1 Chronicles 8-14: Starting well is of vital importance, but so is finishing well. The only thing better than each is both. Some of the kings in 1 Chronicles started well but ended pathetically (Solomon). Some started well and ended well such as David and Jehoshaphat. Manasseh started evil but finished good. It may be too late for you to start well, but you can still finish strong. Make that your determination.

Joel 1-3: “Even now—this is the Lord’s declaration—turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, so you can offer grain and wine to the Lord your God” (Joel 2 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Mark 8-14: “While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had given them a signal. ‘The One I kiss,’ he said, ‘He’s the One; arrest Him and take Him away under guard.’ So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed Him. Then they took hold of Him and arrested Him” (Mark 14 in The Christian Standard Bible).

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

Paralyzed: July 1-7, 2019 (Mon-Sun): Read through 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, and Mark

I don’t give much thought to curbs and stairs, but a paralyzed person does. They’re obstacles. A six-inch curb might as well be six feet. A flight of stairs is insurmountable. Paralyzation is a dreaded condition. I had a friend named Stan who was paralyzed from the waist down, and he was a great example of joy and making the most of a tough situation. He was really in a difficult spot, but he had learned to deal with it. However, no matter how well that he had learned to cope with it, he still had two legs which didn’t work. He remembered running, walking, and lifting. I’m sure he could reminisce about the past and see in his mind how they used to function and how it used to be, but, in the present, his legs were practically lifeless.  Surely after his accident, he had gone through a grieving period and maybe still had grief at times. If he’d had had a choice in the matter, he’d have chosen for his legs to be restored to full health and use, but the choice was not up to him.

This is somewhat the situation in Mark 2 of a man who was paralyzed. However, back in Jesus’ day, a paralyzed man was in an even worse situation in that he could not rely upon a government program or insurance to provide any help. He didn’t have a handicap-fitted van or a self-propelled wheelchair. He had to rely completely upon the mercy of others which often led to begging for assistance while lying on a mat at a busy location, and I’ve not even mentioned the even harder and more dependent life of a quadriplegic. This paralyzed man in Mark 2 was in a terrible situation, but he met Jesus. Then Jesus changed everything. Here are four things we can learn in this historical account in Mark 2.

  • The paralyzed man had friends. His friends heard that Jesus was in town, and they brought him to Jesus, even breaking through the roof to get to Him. Are you bringing your friends to Jesus?
  • The paralyzed man had sins. Obviously, the man was paralyzed, but his biggest issue was spiritual. He was a sinner and needed forgiveness from the One who mattered—God. How are you dealing with your sin?
  • The paralyzed man was forgiven. Jesus recognized the faith of the friends and saw the man’s ultimate unmet need, so He forgave the man. This unleashed a firestorm in the Pharisees’ minds as they thought, Only God can forgive sins. Who does this guy think He is?
  • The point: Jesus is the Son of God from heaven. In response to the Pharisees’ unbelief, Jesus did something to prove that He was God and that He had the power to forgive sins. He gave the man a chance to be healed. He told him to get up, pick up his mat, and walk home. The man apparently believed Jesus because he attempted to move his legs, and they moved. Feeling returned, and he got up, took his mat, and walked out. Well, maybe he danced out in front of them all. Now understand that Jesus didn’t heal every paralyzed person on the planet, and He healed this one guy to prove that He was not merely a man. He healed to prove to people that He was the Lord. Is your faith firmly in the Lord?

This week you’ll read…

2 Kings 1-7: “When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. ‘Oh, sir!’ he cried. ‘It was a borrowed ax!’ ‘Where did it fall?’ the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. ‘Grab it,’ Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it” (2 Kings 6 in The New Living Translation).

1 Chronicles 1-7: “Jabez was more honored than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez and said, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez called out to the God of Israel: ‘If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not experience pain.’ And God granted his request” (1 Chronicles 4 in The Christian Standard Bible). Jabez’ name means he causes pain. In his birth, he caused pain to his mom, and Jabez didn’t want his life to be characterized by pain. He sought God, and God answered.

Mark 1-7: “‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat, and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—He told the paralytic—‘I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.’ Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’” (Mark 2 in The Christian Standard Bible).

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

Freedom: June 22-30, 2019 (Sat-Sun): Read through 1 Kings, Esther, Psalms, and Galatians

Freedom. Liberty. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians is all about freedom. Liberty in Christ is real yet unrealized in many believers’ lives. They’re living with a mentality that they must achieve in order to receive. They’re living in a legalism—trying to gain acceptance from God by their works. The truth is that Christ Jesus has paid the price for our freedom. It’s by grace through faith that we receive full acceptance from God. All of our righteousness, Isaiah said, is like filthy rags. Faith in God is what God credits as righteousness in our account. Whatever is not done in faith is sin.

The Galatians were tempted to leave the simplicity of the gospel to follow a bound-up life of following religious rules and keeping customs. He said, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law” (Galatians 5 in The New Living Translation). Paul asked them who had bewitched them because Christ had come to set them free from sin but also from religiosity.

However, Paul said to them that they shouldn’t let their freedom become a license to indulge the flesh. They shouldn’t think that Christ gave them freedom to live as they please, catering to their sinful desires. They were no longer bound by sin and the law and were free to live for Christ. He encouraged them and us to submit to the Spirit and let Him guide their lives daily and not let their sinful nature be their master. “I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5 in The Christian Standard Bible).

We must stop feeding our flesh if we’re really children of God. In this life, we’ll always struggle with our sinful nature, so we must recognize the struggle for what it is. Then we must do something about it, making some adjustments to curb the desires of the flesh and making conscious choices daily and moment-by-moment to rely on the Spirit. The following song called “Liberty” by Shane & Shane describes the truth well.

The Lord is the Spirit / Where the Spirit of the Lord is now / There is liberty / And the Spirit lives inside of me / And where the Spirit of the Lord is now / There is liberty

When the spirit of the world comes / To kill me and enslave me I will say / There is liberty / For the chains of sin that once entangled me / Have been broken now I’m singing cause I’m free / There is liberty

For freedom You’ve set me free / And, yes, I am free indeed / You rewrote my name / Unshackled my shame / You opened my eyes to see / That I am free

The storm rolled in / It was dark in the land / As the Son of Man was crucified / You don’t take His life / He laid it down / And He paid the price / And shed His blood / It is done / The veil is torn / He has won / And I am free

For freedom You’ve set me free / And, yes, I am free indeed / You rewrote my name / Unshackled my shame / You opened my eyes to see / That I am free

This week you’ll read…

1 Kings 12-22: “Elijah challenged the people: ‘How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow Him; if it’s Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!’ Nobody said a word; nobody made a move.” (1 Kings 18 in The Message Bible).

Esther 7-10: “…‘There is a gallows 75 feet tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.’ The king said, ‘Hang him on it.’ They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.” (Esther 7 in The Christian Standard Bible)

Psalm 84-90: “Better a day in Your courts than a thousand anywhere else” (Psalm 84 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Galatians 1-6: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2 in The Christian Standard Bible).

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

Love Is an Excuse: June 15-21, 2019 (Sat-Fri): Read through 1 Kings, Nehemiah, and Esther

Love is often an excuse. People can do some pretty stupid things in the name of love. Don’t get me wrong. I like love, and I love my family and try to practice love wherever I go. However, love gets blamed for a lot of foolishness in the world.

He says, “But we’ve been dating for two years. We have so much in common. I know that she’s not a believer, but we love each other.”

She says, “I know he abuses me and the kids sometimes, but I don’t want to leave him. I love him.”

He says, “I moved in with her because we love each other.”

She says, “I don’t want a man. I want to be with her because we love each other.”

He says, “My wife is not meeting my needs. This lady at work is so understanding, and we love each other.”

She says, “Yes, we had sex because I love him. I mean, we’ve been dating for six months.”

Remember that God is love (1 John 4:8,16), so love—God’s kind of love—is submissive to God’s rule. Love gets blamed for many unwise things which are really rooted in infatuation, lust, and selfishness. God’s kind of love is interested in the best for the other person, not what’s in it for me. I definitely see my love falling way short of the ideal, but I try to let God’s Spirit lead me in the right way. I just take the reins oftentimes.

Dating non-believers, excusing physical abuse, cohabitation, homosexual relationships, and having sex outside marriage are all foolishness because they all disregard God’s express commands or wise principles.

Solomon was the wisest man in the world in his time, but He disregarded the Lord’s express commands. Solomon ignored the wise principles which God had given him. He allowed his heart to be ensnared by foreign women who worshipped other gods. He started well but ended weak, miserably weak. “King Solomon loved many foreign women…from the nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, ‘You must not intermarry with them, and they must not intermarry with you, because they will turn your heart away to follow their gods.’ To these women Solomon was deeply attached in love….and they turned his heart away. When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been….Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, and unlike his father David, he did not remain loyal to the Lord….The Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had commanded him about this, so that he would not follow other gods, but Solomon did not do what the Lord had commanded” (1 Kings 11 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Let’s not blame our lust, infatuation, and selfishness on love. So grade your love. Is it following God’s ways? Is it seeking the best for others?

This week you’ll read…

1 Kings 1-11: Solomon was a blessed king, and he had wisdom beyond compare. Sadly, however, he allowed himself to be led astray by his many foreign wives who worshipped other gods, and, as a result, the kingdom was split after his death.

Nehemiah 13: “Didn’t King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin” (Nehemiah 13 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Esther 1-6: “Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, ‘Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this’” (Esther 4 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Psalm 77-83: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But My people did not listen to My voice; Israel did not obey Me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans. If only My people would listen to Me and Israel would follow My ways, I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes” (Psalm 81 in The Christian Standard Bible).

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

Sufficient: June 8-14 (Sat-Fri): Read through 2 Samuel, Nehemiah, and 2 Corinthians

Sufficient. Enough. Adequate. Plenty. God’s grace is. No matter your circumstance, believer, God’s grace will be enough for you. You don’t have to worry about running out or not having what you need.

In the middle of family turmoil—separation, divorce, infidelity, teenage rebellion—God’s grace is adequate. He will supply all that you need to deal with the situation—to heal, to forgive, to move on, to hang on, to love.

No matter what your financial worries, health concerns, and employment issues are, His grace is plenty. All that you need will be there. Trust in Him. His storehouse won’t run dry to supply all that you need at the right time. Sometimes you think that you can’t go on one more day or minute, but He gives what you need at that moment to make it through.

Even if your situation brings you to death’s door, God’s grace will be sufficient to carry you over the threshold and keep you beyond.

Rest in the all-sufficiency of Jesus.

This week you’ll read…

2 Samuel 13-24: Rape, incest, revenge, insurrection, deception, murder. The fruit of King David’s adultery with Bathsheba play out in this reading. In confronting David about his sin, God said to David through Nathan the prophet, “Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife” (2 Samuel 12:10 in The Christian Standard Bible). The consequences of sin can linger, yet even in that God’s grace is sufficient.

Nehemiah 6-12: “Remember me, my God, with favor” (Nehemiah 13 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Psalm 76: “And You—You are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?” (Psalm 76 in The Christian Standard Bible)

2 Corinthians 8-13: “For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me” (2 Corinthians 12 in The New Living Translation).

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

Two-Track Mind: June 1-7, 2019 (Sat-Fri): Read through 2 Samuel, Nehemiah, Haggai, and 2 Corinthians

If you shaved the back-right corner of many people’s heads, you’d find a small tattooed label that reads “One-Track Mind Inside.” Now if you actually go shave your head to find that label, you’ll probably find a different label there. Seriously, it seems natural to focus on one thing, yet in today’s world we’re lauded for being multitaskers. Many people have 50 irons in the fire, and their attention is spread so thin that they struggle to get anything done with the detail and passion which they want. The more that we can zero in our focus, the better it will be. Maybe you simply need to drop a few or a lot of things. When it comes to your projects, relationships, ministries, and personal devotion to Christ, robbing Peter to pay Paul just doesn’t work so well. You just need to determine prayerfully what are the non-negotiable must-haves in your life. Then do those. Spend time there. Invest in that.

After the kingdom of Judah was defeated by the Babylonians, many of the people were sent into exile to be a part of the Babylonian kingdom. Among them were Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, better known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Eventually, Babylon was conquered by the Persians. Then another Jewish man rose to some prominence under Cyrus the Persian. His name was Nehemiah, Cyrus’ cupbearer. Nehemiah eventually landed in Jerusalem, overseeing the construction of the wall of Jerusalem. Of course, not everyone was pleased with a new wall going up around the city, so they did a little threatening to Nehemiah and his crew. In a sense, the building crew could no longer be focused on one thing. “When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the trumpeter was beside me” (Nehemiah 4 in The Christian Standard Bible).

It is the same with us today. There is the work which must be done. We are called to minister in the name of Christ, but there is a battle to be fought against our spiritual enemy who doesn’t relent. We must be focused yet be multitasking using a two-track mind. We must be working and warring, serving and sparring, worshipping and walloping. Don’t be caught unaware.

This week you’ll read…

2 Samuel 1-12: Remember that no one is exempt from temptation. Let’s stay on guard. “In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. …but David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, ‘Isn’t this Bathsheba…wife of Uriah the Hethite?’ David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her.” Earlier, David declared when hearing of his friend Jonathan’s death, “How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!” Little did David know that those words would ring true about his own moral and spiritual fall with Bathsheba.

Nehemiah 1-5: Nehemiah prayed, “I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s family have sinned. We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses” (Nehemiah 1 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Haggai 1-2: “Now, the Lord of Armies says this: ‘Think carefully about your ways: You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to be happy. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.’” (Haggai 1 in The Christian Standard Bible).

2 Corinthians 1-7: “So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.” (1 Corinthians 5 in The Christian Standard Bible).

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.

God’s Treadmill: May 22-31, 2019 (Wed-Fri): Read through Ruth, 1 Samuel, Jonah, and Colossians

When I was in seminary and living on campus there, two seminary friends and I got on a jogging kick. Three days each week, we got up early in the morning and jogged around the campus together. I was already near my ideal weight, so for me it was really about getting into shape. Soon, I could run a 5K nonstop and in decent time. Eventually, we lagged and then fell out of the habit. Now, I need to exercise to get into shape and to lose some pounds.

One day, it was raining, so one of my jogging friends and I went to the seminary’s athletic center to run on the treadmill. We decided that we’d try to run our same time as usual but on the treadmill. On the non-rainy days as we jogged on campus, we saw the large variety of flowers planted along the sidewalks, roads, and entryways. We jogged past large oaks and dozens of cars. We waved at other joggers and walkers or stammered out-of-breath hellos or good mornings to passersby. However, in the athletic center on the treadmill, there was none of that. It was pretty much all the same for the duration of the run. Something else about that run: I ran for three miles without going anywhere.

That’s how it is to run from God. It’s like you’re running on a treadmill. You don’t get anywhere. Consider Jonah, the man who eventually was fish food and a bad attitude on steroids. God told him to go to Nineveh and preach to the people there about God’s impending judgment. Instead, he chose to run from God by boarding a ship headed in the opposite direction. Now what would make you run from the Creator of the universe who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present? The seminary word for that is stupid, and each of us has enough stupid ingrained within us to do just that—run from God. So running from God really is like running on a treadmill—you really get nowhere except tired out.

So here are some questions for you:

  • Are you running from God?
  • Why are you running?
  • What do you hope to achieve by running from God?
  • Do you really think that you can escape Him?
  • Would you consider following Him instead of running?

This week you’ll read…

Ruth 1-4: “But Ruth replied: ‘Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God’” (Ruth 1:16 in The Christian Standard Bible).

1 Samuel 22-31: Praise God for friendships like Jonathan and David. When David was stressed and down, Jonathan showed up. “One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ Jonathan reassured him. ‘My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.’ So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh” (1 Samuel 23 in The New Living Translation).

Psalms 66-75: Of course, David would have been worried with Saul nearby looking to kill him. Many of the Psalms which David wrote seem to fit this scenario, and Saul did chase David all over the country it seems. “Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep water, and a flood sweeps over me. I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful.” (Psalm 69 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Jonah 1-4: “I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster” (Jonah 4 in The Christian Standard Bible).

Colossians 1-4: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1 in The Christian Standard Bible).

MSG are daily readings linked to The Message Bible on BibleGateway.com.

CSB are daily readings linked to The Christian Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com.

NLT are daily readings linked to The New Living Translation on BibleGateway.com.