Sunday – Poetry
Reading – Psalms 112-115
Highlight Verse:
“Praise the Lord! Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord!”
Psalms 113:1 NLT
I have a simple challenge for you today.
Read or listen to Psalms 112-115 through.
While you read, concentrate on praising God –
• For all that He has provided for you.
• For all He has forgiven you for.
• For all that He is.
Then share what you praised Him for.
Saturday – Open Topic
Reading – Matthew 6:19-34
Highlight Verse:
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Matthew 6:21 NLT
This weekend there is a “Pirate Fest” in a nearby park.
We don’t really have the time nor inclination to attend it, but it sounds fun.
Instead, we watched “The Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Some of you might love that movie, some might hate it, some, like me, think it’s fun but strange.
Unlike most pirates, it isn’t in gold. It is in freedom from anyone commanding him.
That is a treasure always worth pursuing with wealth that will last forever.
Where does your treasure lie?
How do you pursue it?
Friday – Prophets
Reading – Jeremiah 45-47
Highlight Verse:
“Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the Lord. “I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.””
Jeremiah 46:28 NLT
Jeremiah is known for making people afraid.
Here’s the question I have to ask of the Bible for this verse, “Is the punishment spoken of here covered by the sacrifice of Jesus?”
I would say yes with a caveat.
The eternal circumstances of sin are covered by Jesus’ sacrifice for those who accept it.
For example, if you break the law, you have to pay the penalties. Likewise, if you don’t control your spending, you could be in trouble with your creditors.
But fear not, God will bring you through.
What have you learned through God’s discipline?
How has God helped you through those times?
Thursday – Letters
Reading – Philippians 1-2
Highlight Verse:
“But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”
Philippians 1:18 NLT
They’ve mostly been fundamentalists criticizing seeker sensitive churches and Christian radio.
But over the years I’ve heard seeker sensitive churches criticize fundamentalists, Pentecostals criticize seeker sensitive churches, mainline churches criticizing Pentecostals, Evangelicals criticizing mainline churches, and so on.
We are human.
Humans make mistakes.
We get selfish, we get self righteous, we take political and doctrinal sides, and we get critical.
And we let that get in the way of the Gospel.
What would happen if we concentrated on the Great Commission of bringing the Gospel to the whole world.
Unless someone is preaching against the Gospel of salvation by the grace of Jesus alone, we should work together.
Paul did it – and the world changed.
Billy Graham did it – and the Gospel flourished.
What is your favorite way to spread the Gospel?
What stands in the way of sharing the Gospel for you?
Wednesday – History
Reading – 2 Samuel 5-6
Highlight Verse:
“So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).”
2 Samuel 5:20 NLT
Today’s incident of that doesn’t have any bearing on my theology, but I’m curious what was behind it.
Why did David name that place “Baal-perazin?
Baal literally means possessor or “Master.)
David usually uses “El” or “YHWH” to describe God.
Why this change?
Commentaries are oddly vague about it.
I do have a couple of theories:
• Since this was former Philistine territory, David sticks with a local name.
• Because it was named as a result of battle, David downplayed God’s role.
• David was distracted by war and lost a little respect for God.
I could run with any of these and make a theological lesson from them.
In my opinion, that would be wrong.
There isn’t enough Biblical evidence to fully support any of these ideas.
Even if there was, I would be pulling them out of context.
While I admit I have occasionally pulled verses out of context, I try to only do that if the Bible as a whole supports the lesson. (If I mess up and try to bring lessons that are not supported by Scripture, please point it out to me).
So, what is today’s lesson?
In fact, it’s better to say that than to lead people to wrong conclusions.
What is your take on the whole “Baal-Perazim” naming?
What are other scriptures that you haven’t figured out?
Tuesday – Pentateuch
Reading – Exodus 10-11
Highlight Verse:
“(Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)”
Exodus 11:3 NLT
This puzzled me.
I would have expected them to blame Moses and Israel for the plagues.
This verse tells me they knew better.
The plagues were a result of God’s wrath against Pharaoh’s stubbornness.
The people of Egypt saw how the Israelites had favor with God and wanted to be on their good side.
I believed that’s why they gave so generously.
So why do so many people today see Christians in a negative light?
The Israelites continued to work despite Pharaoh’s cruelty and were blessed by God for their efforts.
Besides that, they had a solid faith that didn’t change with the passing of each Pharaoh.
The Egyptian belief system revolved around appeasing many gods including the self-proclaimed God Pharaoh.
Today we hold on to a solid faith in the one true God.
We have joy that comes from that faith.
But we have a history of criticizing the shortfalls of those still bound by sin.
Instead of reaching out with the love of God, we rant on social media and or stay to ourselves, not even knowing our neighbors.
I believe it is also true that our society has given the evil one the unprecedented right to indoctrinate people against Christianity.
So, what can we do about it?
I believe we are at the beginning of a great world-wide revival.
If we stay within our little Christian clubs while we let the world influence us into complacency or reactionary anger,
I for one, intend to reach out in love with the Author of all Love.
How can you press in to make your faith more solid?
What has God called you to do to reach out to others with His Love?
Sunday – Poetry
Reading – Psalms 109-111
Highlight Verse:
“How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them.”
Psalms 111:2 NLT
Here is Colorado, we need only look to the west to see the majestic Rocky Mountains. Elsewhere, the ocean with its waves and beautifully carved coasts and blazing sunsets and sunrises boggle the mind with their beauty.
The immense variety of plants and animals throughout the world is beyond human imagination.
That level of creativity and love are found in no one but God Himself.
What do you think of when you ponder the deeds of God?
Why?
NOTE to those outside the United States, today’s post is a reaction to current events in the US.
Saturday – Open Topic
Reading – Proverbs 24
Highlight Verses:
“Don’t envy evil people or desire their company. For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.”
Proverbs 24:1-2 NLT
Tyler was brought up in a typical conservative Utah family.
Then he went to college.
He rebelled against his family values and followed the radical teachings of Antifa, thinking he was rebelling against a fascist system.
Antifa’s number one enemy – Christ.
Specifically, Christians who believe in the Bible and living by the values taught within it are automatically labeled fascists.
Tyler believed so passionately in that cause that he turned to violence.
With careful planning and sadistic determination, he murdered Christian apologist Charlie Kirk.
What makes the situation twice as sad is the elated reaction of those who celebrate the death.
I don’t want to turn this into a political rant.
I want to know what the Bible teaches about it.
Today’s passage points right to one root cause. Young Tyler clung to violent teachings of evil people.
It resulted in an extreme escalation of violence.
• That the Gospel will reach the many who are drawn to investigate this situation.
• That young people will see the evil inherent in those who vilify Christ and Christians.
• That people will react against violence and bring reconciliation in our country.
I admit my first reaction is anger. I pray that anger will turn to action to advance the Gospel!
What was your first reaction to this murder?
What are you praying will be the ultimate result from this?
Friday – Prophets
Reading – Jeremiah 42-44
Highlight Verse:
“Pray that the Lord your God will show us what to do and where to go.””
Jeremiah 42:3 NLT
The remnant of people in Judah sought God’s guidance through the most reliable man of God in the land at that time – Jeremiah.
They vowed they would listen and do whatever God told them to do –
God’s instructions brought to them through Jeremiah told them to stay in the land when they were sure the right thing was to flee to Egypt.
As much as I’d like to say that I always make good decisions, I can point to a few I made without consulting God’s Word. They didn’t work out so well.
What decisions have you made after thoroughly seeking God’s will? How did they turn out?
How did things turn out when you didn’t consult God first?
Thursday – Letters
Reading – Ephesians 5-6
Highlight Verse:
“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Ephesians 5:2 NLT
32-year-old Todd boarded an American Airlines plane at Newark, New Jersey, headed to San Francisco. A third of the way through the flight, 4 men stormed the cockpit and hijacked the plane, intending to use it as a weapon.
When Todd tried to call his wife, he learned from a phone operator that this was part of a coordinated attack.
Todd rallied some of his fellow passengers and attacked the terrorists. Together, they made sure the plane crashed hundreds of miles short of the terrorist’s target, potentially saving hundreds, if not thousands of lives.
His last recorded words, “Let’s roll,” exemplified the sacrificial efforts of many heroes that fateful day 24 years ago today.
None of us know when our last day on Earth will be.
What are some practical ways we can share Christ’s sacrificial love today?
How have people showed sacrificial love to you?
Walk in the Light 