July 31, 2009

Romans 14:7-8 - "For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's." These words are given in the context of handling differences in opinion with each other in Christ. When we put ourselves in the context of the Lord's service, we gain perspective in disputes. In serving the Lord we are sensitive to the needs and opinions of others. We certainly would not press differences of opinion simply for the sake of controlling others or winning the dispute.

We live in consideration of the weaknesses of one another. Paul demonstrated this in addressing the eating of meats that had been sacrificed to idols (a major stumbling point for those new Christians who had turned from the worship of those idols to follow Christ): "Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble" (1 Corinthians 8:13).

Paul warns in Romans 14:15 - "For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died." For we live to honor Christ!

July 30, 2009

Psalm 23:1 - "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Such a comforting and powerful verse! This psalm describes the ways God is providing for us as our shepherd...providing for us in a tender and loving way...leading us through the trials and challenges of life...accompanying us through the "valley of the shadow of death."

Jesus said in John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." He came that we "may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10)...that we may "dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6). Thank You, Lord!

July 29, 2009

2 Chronicles 25:1-2 - "Amaziah was twenty five years old when he began to reign...And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart." What a statement! Doing what is right...but not with a whole heart. God has always wanted the heart of his people. The loyalties of the heart drive our actions. We see with King Amaziah his actions soon took a different direction than "what was right in the eyes of the Lord." In verse 14 we see him adopting the gods of the Edomites, worshipping them. His divided heart drives him in a direction away from and opposed to God.

Yes, as God told Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7 - "...For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." So, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life" (Proverbs 4:23).

Once again in the New Testament reading for today I find a corresponding verse: Romans 12:1 - "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." That is a description of a life wholly devoted to God...prompted by a heart 100% given to God!

July 28, 2009

I love the description of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 22:9 - "...who sought the Lord with all his heart." 2 Chronicles 17:4 described this further by saying he "sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel." Our pursuit of God is about our heart desiring the presence of God and the character of God in our lives. Jehoshaphat did this. He sought God like David did. David was described by God as a "man after His own heart" (Acts 13:22).

God, please help me to be a person after Your own heart.

July 27, 2009

2 Chronicles 20:15 - "And He said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.'" Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, fearing the imminent attack by the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites, had "set his face to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 20:3) and he proclaimed a national fast. The nation assembled to seek help from God. They humbly sought the Lord, placing their trust not in horses or chariots, but in God Almighty. And, God answered with those incredible words in verse 15: "the battle is not yours but God's." He is saying: 'this is my fight now...just stand by and watch...' "see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf" (v 17).

What an incredible thing to have heard and to have seen!!

Jehoshaphat's words following this are thus well demonstrated: "Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established" (2 Chronicles 20:20). Amen and amen!

July 26, 2009

Psalm 20:7: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." It is so easy for us to place our trust in the things we see and associate with strength on the earth. It is no wonder we so many times turn to our best strategies and devices before, or instead of, turning to God. Jesus said, "...with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). There are a number of things that are impossible for man. But, there is nothing that is impossible with God. So, where do we place our trust? What is our first course of action in response to a problem or in dealing with our daily lives?

Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

"Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear! All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer" (from the song, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus").

July 25, 2009

2 Chronicles 16:9: "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him." Sometimes we may think or teach of God's omniscience (all-knowing) and omnipresence (His presence is everywhere) only in terms of judgment (He sees you when you sin or knows your bad thoughts). I love how this passage discusses these characteristics of God as providing "strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him."

David praised God for His omnipresence in Psalm 139:7-12. He recognized that God was with him even in the darkest of places: "even the darkness is not dark to you" (v. 12). What an incredible confidence we can have in our God who is faithful and able to deliver us!

July 24, 2009

2 Chronicles 13:10: "But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him..." and then in verse 12: "Behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed." These are the words of King Abijah, the king of Judah and son of Rehoboam, as he spoke to the people of Israel and their king, Jeroboam. Israel's 800,000 soldiers were about to do battle with Judah's 400,000 soldiers. 2 to 1 odds... Hmm... Seems good odds in such a battle. Yet, King Abijah spoke the truth. God Almighty was on his side!

Israel attacked anyway with its troops virtually surrounding Judah. Judah cries out to the Lord. God defeats Jeroboam and his army. 2 to 1? That is nothing before might of the Lord.

I love how so many times in the One Year Bible reading plan the New Testament verses reinforce the reading that day from the Old Testament. For example, today the New Testament reading is in Romans 8 and includes verse 31 that says: "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" In fact, Romans 8:37 says: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." In Christ Jesus we can walk in confidence of victory in our life's battles by the might of our almighty God!

July 23, 2009

Welcome to the first post of this blog. My goal in this blog is to share Scripture from my daily reading of the One Year Bible in the English Standard Version along with a few of my comments on that Scripture.

2 Chronicles 9:23: "And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind." Solomon had asked God for wisdom (1 Kings 3:9). God gave him wisdom. We are told to pray, asking in faith, for wisdom (James 1:6). God will grant us wisdom (James 1:5). As Solomon was a blessing to those who sought to hear His wisdom from God, we too can be blessing to others. The wisdom from God is for sharing, not hording.