November 5, 2012

Monday: November 5, 2012

READ: Psalm 54 & 55

THINK: The family car is packed to the limit. The kids have their books, tapes, and games. The car-top carrier clearly signals to all observers that our family is taking a trip. But before we leave the driveway, we always stop and pray—asking God for safety and for family unity on our trip. It’s a habit.

Prayer habits are helpful tools to remind us of our dependence on God. Perhaps you have some habits of your own. Before you eat, you pray. Maybe before the kids leave for school, you pray. Before they go to bed, you pray.

Developing prayer habits can be of tremendous help to those of us who want to develop a close relationship with the Lord but find that the busyness of the day squeezes out the time we had hoped to spend with Him. When we designate different activities of the day before or after which we always pray, we’ll help to assure ourselves of regular communication with our Creator. That could become empty ritual, but it doesn’t have to be—it can be a time of rich fellowship with our Lord.

David, who wrote Psalm 55, said that he prayed in the morning, noon, and evening (v.17). Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10). Like them, we would be wise to develop prayer habits. They’re great ways to make prayer an integral, constant part of our daily lives.

To make the most of your time, take time to pray.

ASK: Do you have regular times of prayer each day? If not, when could you set aside time to focus your thoughts on God and talk to Him?

By: Dave Brannon in Our Daily Bread, August 30, 2000

Posted by on November 5, 2012 in Psalms.

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November 4, 2012

Sunday: November 4, 2012

READ: 1 Samuel 5 & 6

BACKGROUND: The Philistines came from the island of Crete. Called the Sea People, they arrived in Canaan on boats and built cities along the coastal region of Canaan. As a culture, they were much more advanced and sophisticated than the Israelites.  Philistines were pagan, worshiping Dagon – some sort of fish god, grain god, or possibly storm god. This worship was incredibly lewd, disgusting and vile and included child sacrifice. The Israelites seemed to be no match for the Philistines in battle.
By Verse –
5:1 – Philistines bring the ark into their temple with Dagon as if to say, “Let’s see who has the bigger god!”
5:3 – Apparently the Philistines worship a god who has to be picked up every morning…The God of Israel, on the other hand, picks his people up and carries us all day long!
5:4 – The Philistines knew the God of the Israel had broken Dagon and they had a choice: Worship the true God or continue to worship a worthless idol.
6:1 – 12 – A final Philistine test: Will the cows leave their calves? No, they won’t…unless under the power of God. The cows walk, taking the ark back to the Israelites.

THINK: The Israelites knew that God was powerful and they rightly wanted him on their side! Fearful of losing in battle, they decided to go get the ark from the temple and bring it to the front lines. The problem is that they had no reverence for God! Just like the pagan Philistines, they assumed the God’s power could be manipulated just by dragging the ark around. But it is a terrible thing to fool around with the Holy things of God! Don’t make the same mistake as Israel! Israel wanted the Lord of Hosts to deliver and protect, but had no interest in obedience! Unfortunately, they adopted the attitude of pagan worship – substituting the ark for Dagon.

Too often we live as though God is an “ark” we can carry around and use at will. We want to manipulate God through prayer to get what we want. We adopt all the attitudes, philosophies, and behaviors as our pagan culture and then we wonder why we seem to be losing our daily battles! Just like Dagon, perhaps we need to fall on our face before our mighty God!

PRAY: Ask God to forgive you for you casual attitude towards him. Pray that he would be exalted in your life and your worship.

By: Deb Howard

Posted by on November 4, 2012 in History.

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November 3, 2012

Saturday: October 3, 2012

READ: Proverbs 26

THINK: In the spring of 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play the Red Sox in what was expected to be a routine baseball game. But what happened was anything but routine. The Orioles’ John McGraw got into a fight with Boston’s third baseman. Within minutes all the players from both teams had joined in the brawl.
Soon the conflict spread to the grandstands and quickly went from bad to worse. Someone set fire to the stands and the entire ballpark burned to the ground. The fire then spread to 107 other Boston buildings.

Proverbs 26:21 reminds us that “as charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” How difficult it is to take back angry words! A raised gun, a clenched fist, and an angry voice all have one thing in common—they are easier to lift up than to put down. Because God loves us and knows the awful danger of strife, He pleads with us not to play with it. We may think that a little conflict makes life (including sports) more interesting, but the Lord wants us to think of its devastating consequences.

The best time to stop a fight is before it starts!
By: Mart De Haan in Our Daily Bread

ASK: When have I spoken or acted in anger? What are the advantages of holding my tongue, stopping my hand, or giving a “soft answer”?

PRAY: Ask God to help you never forget the terrible destructive power of strife. When a desire to lash out at someone wells up within you, ask God to help you stop it before it starts a fire.

Posted by on November 3, 2012 in Poetry.

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November 2, 2012

Friday: November 2, 2012

READ: Exodus 7-8

THINK: “But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” – Exodus 7:12
This incident is an instructive emblem of the sure victory of the divine handiwork over all opposition. Whenever a divine principle is cast into the heart, though the devil may fashion a counterfeit, and produce swarms of opponents, as sure as ever God is in the work, it will swallow up all its foes. If God’s grace takes possession of a man, the world’s magicians may throw down all their rods; and every rod may be as cunning and poisonous as a serpent, but Aaron’s rod will swallow up their rods. The sweet attractions of the cross will woo and win the man’s heart, and he who lived only for this deceitful earth will now have an eye for the upper spheres, and a wing to mount into celestial heights. When grace has won the day the worldling seeks the world to come.

The same fact is to be observed in the life of the believer. What multitudes of foes has our faith had to meet! Our old sins—the devil threw them down before us, and they turned to serpents. What hosts of them! Ah, but the cross of Jesus destroys them all. Faith in Christ makes short work of all our sins. Then the devil has launched forth another host of serpents in the form of worldly trials, temptations, unbelief; but faith in Jesus is more than a match for them, and overcomes them all.

The same absorbing principle shines in the faithful service of God! With an enthusiastic love for Jesus difficulties are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, sufferings are honours. But if religion is thus a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that there are many persons who profess religion but have it not; for what they have will not bear this test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron’s rod proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If Christ be anything he must be everything. O rest not till love and faith in Jesus be the master passions of your soul!

By: Charles Spurgeon

 

Posted by on November 2, 2012 in Law.

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November 1, 2012

Thursday: November 1, 2012

READ: Isaiah 64-66

BACKGROUND: This final section of Isaiah is a powerful vision of the future – a future secured by the Almighty God who is sovereign over all. It is a reminder of God’s power and his great love for his people. His judgment is coming for the sin of the world, and destruction is inevitable, but his salvation is real. We live in an evil and broken world, but a new perfected one is coming!

THINK: Today is All Hallows Day or All Saints Day. Which means last night was All Hallows Eve, better known to us as Halloween. And we’re all familiar with the traditions of Halloween. It is a time of jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, witches, and hobgoblins. And it’s a pretty popular and highly commercialized holiday in the United States, one that was imported long ago from Ireland. The name of the old pagan festival was Samhain, and it was held to mark the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new – the passing of summer and the beginning of winter. All of the animals were brought inside and all of the excess livestock were slaughtered and bone fires were lit with the remains.

The superstition of the time held that there was danger and vulnerability during this period. Because it was a time of transition during which people believed they were located neither in the year that had passed or yet in the year to come, they felt their spirits were endangered. Oddly enough, this superstition never fully passed on even with the coming of Christianity as the holiday was taken from the old world into the new. It remains a folk-memory in our consciousness and Halloween is a dark time where evil forces, spiritual darkness, and death are widely brought to the forefront of our collective conscience.

But All Saints Day is a day is a day of celebration! It is a day of remembrance where we recall all those who have passed on into glory before us – the “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) and we celebrate the salvation that we have through our sovereign and glorious God. It is a day where we celebrate a God who holds all power and has conquered evil and death itself!

PRAY: This is a compline (bedtime) prayer of Cuthbert, a 7th century monk. I encourage you to pray it tonight – during this time of year where our culture fears the darkness – as you celebrate God’s victory over the evil and brokenness of our world and claim his peace in your life:

+ indicates that you may make the sign of the cross
Boldindicates words to be prayed out loud

 
+ (silently)
I will lie down and sleep in peace
for You alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.

O God and Spirit and Jesus,
the Three,
from the crown of my head,
O Trinity,
to the soles of my feet
mine offering be.
Come I unto Thee, O Jesus my King –
O Jesus, do Thou be my sheltering.
 
My dear ones, O God, bless Thou and keep,
in every place where they are.

Whoever has chosen
to make the shelter of
the Most High
their dwelling place
will stay in His over-shadowing

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
He is my God, and I am trusting Him.
He will rescue you
from the traps laid for your feet,
and save you
from the destroying curse.

His faithful promises are your armour.
You need no longer be afraid
of any terror by night,
or the death-arrow that flies by day.

The Lord Himself if your refuge;
you have made the Most High
your stronghold.

Be my strong rock,
a castle to keep me safe,
for You are my crag and my stronghold.

I will not lie down tonight with sin,
nor shall sin
nor sin’s shadow
lie down with me.

O God of life this night,
O darken not to me Thy light.
O God of life this night
close not Thy gladness to my sight
O God of life this night
Thy door to me, O shut not tight
O God of life this night.
 
Be it on Thine own beloved arm
O God of grace
that I in peace shall waken.

Jesus, Son of Mary!
My helper,
my encircler.
Jesus, Son of David!
My strength everlasting.
Jesus, Son of Mary!
My helper,
my encircler.

The peace of all peace
be mine this night
+ in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Posted by on November 1, 2012 in Prophecy.

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October 31, 2012

Wednesday: October 31, 2012

READ: John 5

BACKGROUND: By Verse –
2 – For more background on the Sheep Gate, see Nehemiah 3:1 & 12:39
5 – Though it’s not specified here, the inference is that the man’s problem had to do with paralysis.
8 – Jesus tells him to do the impossible. But it is Christ’s words that make him well.
10 – The rabbis had decided that carrying any type of furniture on the Sabbath counted as “work” and thus violated the 4th Commandment.
15 – The Jews here is referring to the religious authorities.
17 – Starting here and extending through the end of the chapter, Jesus clearly asserts his authority and his Divinity. By talking about his special relationship with the Father he is claiming very specifically to be the Father’s equal.
24 – Eternal life in Christ is available to all people.
29 – A day of judgment is coming for all people who have ever lived.
37 – The Father bore witness to Jesus throughout the Old Testament and at his baptism.
43 – In my Father’s name means “I am his chosen representative.”

THINK: I recently heard a new song that has been stuck in my head since I heard it. I think it stuck in part because the tune was catchy, but there is something more to it than that. The lyrics – particularly the chorus – overwhelm me a bit. They are incredibly hope-filled. And they describe a reality that all believers can live in even right now in the midst of a broken world.

In this passage Jesus heals an invalid man who is broken. But he stops, just before healing him to ask whether the man truly wants to be healed. And, at first glance, it seems like kind of a ridiculous question. It’s almost tempting to accuse Jesus of being ignorant in this case. Of course the man wants to be healed! But here’s the thing: I don’t think Jesus’ question was intended to help Jesus know whether or not the guy wanted to be healed. It was asked to force the man to think about all that it would mean to be healed. See, the experience of healing would change absolutely everything about his identity. He would no longer be who he once was – who he had been for so long. He would be new!

This is the same offer that Jesus makes all of us – broken and crippled by our sin. If we will simply turn to him and put our faith in him then he offers us eternal life. He came to earth so that we – every single one of us – might have the opportunity to be healed. He came to make us new. And here’s the cool part: we don’t have to wait for that. Sometimes it’s easy to think of Heaven and eternity as being far off – a distant dream of the distant future. But we, like the crippled man, need only to believe in Jesus to start immediately experiencing the glorious reality of eternity. We can taste it even now. By God’s grace we can live in his glorious presence and majesty this day.

PRAY: Listen to this song. (You can find lyrics here if you’d like). As you listen, make the song a prayer. Allow it to be a moment of worship and thanksgiving as you taste – in this life – the eternity that is already yours and as you feel God’s majesty surrounding you in love!

Posted by on October 31, 2012 in Gospels.

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October 30, 2012

Tuesday: October 30, 2012

READ: Mark 13

THINK: At Dublin Castle in Ireland is the Chester Beatty Library, named for an industrialist who gave generously to charity. The beautiful library includes a quaint coffee shop and a variety of exhibits.

The exhibit that grabbed my attention was the ancient manuscripts. I slowly walked through the area and viewed fragments of the New Testament Gospels dating back to the third century ad. The scrolls were among the oldest known biblical texts until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-20th century. God’s Word, preserved through the years!

As I looked at those portions of inspired text, I was moved by the permanence of the Word of God. It is because of the enduring nature of God’s Word that we can have confidence in the message it contains. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mark 13:31). Later, Jesus’ disciple Peter would write, “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:24-25).

God’s Word, enduring through the ages, is still the most trusted guide for living.

The Bible stands, and it will forever
When the world has passed away;
By inspiration it has been given –
All its precepts I will obey.  – Lillenas

Like a compass, the Bible always points you in the right direction!

By: Bill Crowder in Our Daily Bread, April 20, 2008

ASK: Am I looking to God’s Word as my guide for living?

PRAY: Thank God for giving us the Bible and for revealing himself to us in it. Ask God to point you in the right direction through his word.

Posted by on October 30, 2012 in Gospels.

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October 29, 2012

READ: Psalm 52-53

THINK: The 1960s are known for the rebellion of thousands of young people. But ever since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, people of all ages everywhere have rebelled against authority—parental, governmental, and divine.

The fool, who is referred to in Psalm 53:1, denied God’s rule over his life. People in our day do so in their hearts and in their actions.

It is obvious that rebellion pays bad dividends. It inevitably results in a sense of emptiness that often leads to alcoholism, drug addiction, bizarre religious practices, flagrant immorality, broken homes, incurable diseases, and despair. Sadly, many experience the high cost of putting what they call “my way” above “God’s way.”

The psalmist portrayed God as seeing the defiance of the wicked, observing their antagonism toward His people, and striking them with bewildered panic (Psalm 53:5). One way or another, people who “despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7) always pay a high price.

To live as if there is no God is foolish, for it leads to pain, despair, and eternal death. But to live in the “fear of God” is wise, for it leads to satisfaction, rejoicing, and everlasting life. You must decide, so choose wisely!

The fool denies that God exists,
Eternal truth defies;
But when the foolish one believes,
God’s teaching makes him wise. —Fitzhugh

He is truly wise who submits to God’s wisdom.

By: Herbert Vander Lugt in Our Daily Bread, December 7, 2000

PRAY: Admit your rebellion to God. Consider your life and your choices – where are the areas in which you have rejected him and chosen your own way. Confess that to him and ask him to help you choose to live his way.

Posted by on October 29, 2012 in Psalms.

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October 28, 2012

Sunday: October 28, 2012

READ: 1 Corinthians 9

THINK: Re-read verse 22.

A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things. Never protest by saying, “If only I were somewhere else!” All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. Unless we have the right purpose intellectually in our minds and lovingly in our hearts, we will very quickly be diverted from being useful to God. We are not workers for God by choice. Many people deliberately choose to be workers, but they have no purpose of God’s almighty grace or His mighty Word in them. Paul’s whole heart, mind, and soul were consumed with the great purpose of what Jesus Christ came to do, and he never lost sight of that one thing. We must continually confront ourselves with one central fact— “. . . Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

“I chose you . . .” (John 15:16). Keep these words as a wonderful reminder in your theology. It is not that you have gotten God, but that He has gotten you. God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose— that He may be able to say, “This is My man, and this is My woman.” We have to be in God’s hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ, just as He has placed us.

Never choose to be a worker, but once God has placed His call upon you, woe be to you if you “turn aside . . . to the right or the left . . .” (Deuteronomy 28:14). He will do with you what He never did before His call came to you, and He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way.

Written by: Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest

Posted by on October 28, 2012 in Epistles.

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October 27, 2012

Saturday: October 27, 2012

READ: Ecclesiastes 8

THINK: The blue whale is one of the largest animals in the world. In fact, it might be the biggest, but I don’t know for sure so don’t quote me on that! Anyway, researchers have found out a lot about animals and nature, and they know most of the places where animals go to have their babies. You know what they don’t know? Where the blue whale goes to have her baby. Isn’t that crazy? The biggest animal cannot be tracked by humans!

This is just one example that proves how little we can understand. Ecclesiastes isn’t saying that we should never study or research or try to understand. In fact, it talks a lot about how we should work hard and find out what we can. The more we know about God the more we fall in love with him. However, we have to admit to ourselves that we can’t figure it all out. Humility is key when studying and gaining knowledge. “Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it” Ecclesiastes 8:17.

Remember, you can only see the world through your eyes. You may see a lot, experience a lot, know a lot and maybe even understand a lot…but that is only from your point of view. You cannot not see through your own eyes. So remember humility. Remember to be gracious to those who think differently, they might be right, or at least have things you can learn from! 

Written By: KVH

Posted by on October 27, 2012 in Poetry.

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