August 27, 2012

Monday: August 27, 2012

READ: Genesis 40 -41

BACKGROUND: Joseph’s integrity, humility, and passion to serve the Living GOD continue to amaze us in these two chapters. Here, Joseph the Dreamer (remember Genesis 37) becomes Joseph the dream interpreter. But it’s a far different Joseph than the young kid who angered his brothers by bragging about coats and bowing sheaves!

Principal #1: Dying to self produces the fruit of the Spirit!

Principal #2: Suffering for the LORD produces perseverance, character, and HOPE!

Genesis 40:1 – Several years have gone by. Joseph has earned a reputation in prison and is entrusted with overseeing two VIP prisoners – the King’s Chief Cupbearer and Chief Baker.

5 – Dreams were believed to have specific meanings with regard to the future. God uses this Near Eastern belief as the means to Joseph’s eventual release from prison.

14 – Re-read this heart wrenching plea…Can you almost hear Joseph’s voice catch as he tries to hold back a flood of tears. “Things will go well for you,” he tells the cupbearer, “so please, when you are released, remember me!”

15 – How often do you think Joseph must have replayed this dreadful day? The memory is fresh, the hurt is still raw….”I was forcibly carried off…..and I’ve done nothing to deserve this….”

23 – “The Chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” People will let you down….GOD never forgets!

41:40– Joseph is Second-in-Command over the most powerful nation in the world. Those suited for positions of authority are those who can submit to authority.

43: Literally “Bow your knees. Bow down.” How many people can handle that kind of exultation? GOD made sure Joseph had been humbled before he was exalted.

46 – Still a young man of 30, Joseph had royal privilege, geographical dominance, financial authority, social prestige, and political power.

THINK: Do we ever think that other folks around us have Genesis Chapter 41 lives? I mean things just seem to be going so great for them – they have great jobs, they travel, they’ve got plenty of money, and they get invited to all the best parties.  What must those ancient Egyptians have thought as Joseph paraded past them in his royal chariot, dressed in the finest robes with golden chains around his neck? Were they jealous of his fame and fortune? Did they mutter to themselves, “What has he got that I haven’t got? I could do the job twice as well as him!” Maybe those closest to the king were bitter, even resentful.

But we know the truth. We know the Genesis Chapter 37 story. We know the betrayed Joseph, the falsely accused Joseph, the abandoned Joseph, the heartbroken Joseph, the forgotten Joseph. In these stinging trials, Joseph learned a fierce devotion to the GOD who never forgets, who sees every tear, who will NEVER leave us or forsake us and who rescues us from our accuser!

Beloved, when we trust in GOD we can be sure that our Chapter 41 days are ahead! Let the unbelievers around you see GOD blessing you! God will not always prevent trials but he will go with us through the trials!

ASK: Can I live as a blessing to those around me, no matter the circumstances? Strive to be a blessing to others!

 

 

Posted by on August 27, 2012 in Uncategorized.

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August 26, 2012

Sunday: August 26, 2012

READ: Isaiah 44-46

THINK: Bel and Nebo were ancient false gods of the Israelites’ neighbors. People would orient their lives around what they believed these gods were demanding or promising. Read this translation of Isaiah 46:1-7 from The Message:

The god Bel falls down, god Nebo slumps. The no-god hunks of wood are loaded on mules and have to be hauled off,  wearing out the poor mules— dead weight, burdens who can’t bear burdens, hauled off to captivity. “Listen to me, family of Jacob, everyone that’s left of the family of Israel. I’ve been carrying you on my back from the day you were born, and I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old. I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray. I’ve done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you. So to whom will you compare me, the Incomparable? Can you picture me without reducing me? People with a lot of money hire craftsmen to make them gods. The artisan delivers the god, and they kneel and worship it! They carry it around in holy parades, then take it home and put it on a shelf. And there it sits, day in and day out, a dependable god, always right where you put it. Say anything you want to it, it never talks back. Of course, it never does anything either!”

After you read how God addresses Israel’s tendency to act like its neighbors – that than trusting and obeying him – consider what gods might be in your culture and in your life. These don’t have to be people or objects. They could be principles or beliefs that shape how we live, think, and feel every day. For example, “Having more money makes a person secure, “ or “If people just lost weight and worked out more, the opposite sex would be attracted to them.”

Identify a god that tempts you personally. Are there aspects of the true God that you find difficult to accept (such as his holiness or the facts that he is invisible and sometimes silent)? In what ways do these “no-god hunks of wood” capitalize on those doubts and make themselves appear more appealing than God? What do they promise you? Now consider: what do they really bring you? Anything lasting?

PRAY/LIVE: Read God’s plea to Israel from The Message once more. Tell God what you see in yourself and what you see in this god you’ve identified in your life. Be real. Now hear him ask you, “To whom or what will you compare me, the Incomparable?” Don’t answer immediately, but ponder the question. Ask him to help you stay committed to him and committed to working through the struggles you have with him. Watch today for when your ‘no-god hunks of wood” are the most appealing to you, for when you are most likely to “worship” them or believe their message.

By: Eugene Peterson in Solo

Posted by on August 26, 2012 in Prophecy.

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August 25, 2012

Saturday: August 25, 2012

READ: James 2.

THINK: Read James 2 again, slowly, really thinking about the words and how they apply to your life.

PRAY: There is a prayer, attributed to the great 13th-century Saint Francis of Assisi, that hangs on the wall in my office. I pray it often, and I cannot help but think of it when I read the words of James 2. Today, after having stopped to carefully consider what James writes and how it applies to you, I encourage you to pray this along with me. I’d also encourage you – if you’re willing – to spend a brief time writing down some ways in which you could live out this chapter of the Bible and this prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Posted by on August 25, 2012 in Epistles.

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August 24, 2012

Friday: August 24, 2012

READ: Judges 17-18

THINK: What confusion! I had never seen anything like it. On the road from the Leonardo da Vinci Airport to downtown Rome was an intersection where cars had converged from every direction. Each driver was inching his way forward. Horns were blaring. Passions were flaring. No stoplights or traffic cops were there to bring order to this chaos of cars. But there was one positive note: No one was breaking the law—there was no law!

Back in the days before Israel had a king, a similar situation prevailed. Although they had God’s law, people ignored it and did what was right in their own eyes (Jud. 17:6). What a bitter price they paid for such freedom! The book of Judges tells of their disobedience, which resulted in oppression by pagan neighbors.

Still today, many people, and even some professing Christians, ignore God’s clear revelation of Himself in His Word. They think they are free to form their own ideas of what God is like and what He expects. Strongly influenced by a godless culture, they live at the center of their own little world and walk in their own ways. That creates moral and spiritual confusion.

We must take God’s Word seriously if we are to show our world that Christ gives us freedom to do what’s right.

Christ came to give us liberty
By dying in our place;
Now with new freedom we are bound
To share His love and grace.

Freedom doesn’t give us the right to do what we please, but to do what pleases God.

By: Dennis J. De Haan inOur Daily Bread, July 4, 1999

ASK: Am I walking in God’s ways or my own? Are there some specific changes that I need to make?

 

Posted by on August 24, 2012 in History.

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August 23, 2012

Thursday: August 22, 2012

READ: Matthew 24-25

BACKGROUND: This is a fairly somber and sobering – if not scary – passage of Scripture. These chapters contain the apocalyptic teachings of Jesus. He is talking about the end of all things – the destruction of the world as we know it and the final judgment that is coming for all mankind. And the theme that is overwhelmingly clear is this: it is coming and everyone must be prepared. There are bound to be questions about what exactly Jesus means by some of the things he says, and it could take pages and pages to answer all of them in the “Background By Verse” section. So, I’ve included some small notes on some of the verses, but I really encourage you to post questions so that we can interact on anything I didn’t fully cover. 🙂
By Verse:
2 – The destruction of the Temple was unthinkable to the Jewish people. It was world-renowned for it’s beauty and it stood as the symbol for their entire religion. Jesus spent his life pointing them to something greater – himself – and was talking about himself (the foundation for the Jewish religion) when he said this.
9 – Sometimes we like to ignore this verse or not take it seriously. We want to be liked. And we compromise our faith to be liked. But Jesus says that we’ll be hated because of him. The message of the cross – “Hey, you’re a sinner in need of forgiveness you can’t earn” is offensive to people. No way around it.
15 – The “abomination that causes desolation” is a phrase from the book of Daniel about the destruction of the Temple and the tribulation to be endured at the end of the world.
29 – From Isaiah 13:10 & 34:4
25:1 – Virgins or Bridesmaids – It was the custom for the bridesmaids to go out to meet the groom and escort him back to the wedding.
29 – A gut-check verse. What are you doing with the gifts & abilities God has given you?
36 – God cares about the poor and the needy in our world, and he cares about how we treat them!

THINK:  Regrets. Do you have them? I do. I have a whole heaping list of them. Among them: I regret riding a wheelchair down a hill in Eldora, IA and shattering an inch out of the middle of my collarbone, getting multiple speeding tickets and even more parking tickets over the last decade, elbowing a kid in elementary school who got out in 4-square and said “Nobody gonna touch me!”…then punched me in the mouth when I did, every time I’ve gone camping…ever, jumping off the roof when the Cubs lost the NLCS in 2003 and pinching a nerve in my elbow, and the list goes on. And when I read a passage like this one – about the absolute importance and urgency of living for God and using all of my gifts and abilities to make a difference for his kingdom because the world is coming to an end and everyone is going to be judged – my list of regrets grows even longer and deeper. Because I haven’t always done that…or even come close.

Like it or not, our lives matter for eternity. Our choices and our actions count for something bigger than the moment we’re living in. That’s what Jesus is driving at when he tells the story about the 10 bridesmaids who go out to meet the groom. He says 5 of them bring oil and 5 of them are foolish. They bring their torches but they don’t bring any oil to light them with. And honestly, that’s a pretty ridiculous thing to do, because they KNOW that they need oil for their torches. They KNOW it. And they KNOW that the groom IS coming. It’s not like they just get sent out to the wilderness to see if maybe a guy shows up eventually. Not at all. They go to a specific place with the specific purpose of meeting the groom and escorting him back to the banquet. For Christians, we know that Jesus is coming back. We know what it takes to follow him, to obey, we KNOW it…it is not for a lack of knowledge that we fall short.

And then the groom is getting near, the cry goes out that he’s approaching and it’s time for them to go out and meet him.  So they all trim their lamps so that they look ready to light – they all have the outward appearance that they should, but 5 have nothing inside…nothing to actually give light…they have no oil. And they beg the others and say, “please, let us borrow some of your oil so that we can light our lamps.” And the 5 with the oil, say “No. We might not have enough for us and you. Go buy some if you need it.” And this part seems really weird, right? What is Jesus saying, here, that we should be selfish? Not sharing seems really counter-intuitive to a lot of what Jesus taught. In the context of this story what Jesus is saying is that sharing is impossible. It can’t be done. You cannot borrow someone else’s faith. You cannot borrow someone else’s obedience, someone else’s life of faith. What the 5 virgins with oil mean is this: We can’t live a life of faith for you and for us. We can’t have a personal, meaningful relationship with God for both you and us. We can’t. Each person has to have their own relationship with God. It’s not enough that your parents know God and follow after him. It’s enough that your friends know God and follow after him. It’s not enough that you go to church and your pastors know God and follow after him. You have to know him. You have to follow him. You have to have that personal relationship. You. Not me or your grandma or your mom or your dad. You.

And the 5 foolish bridesmaids, upon realizing that the groom is coming, trim up their lamps quick and try to get things in order, but there’s no fire there. There is no oil on the inside. And as they run to buy oil, he comes. And they miss him. And the groom goes to the banquet with the others. And then, finally, the 5 bridesmaids buy some oil, and they light their torches, and they hurry to the party, and they knock on the door and plead to be let in and hear the words, “I don’t know you” in response.  In this parable the banquet represents Heaven. It represents eternity with God. “I don’t know you” is a terrifying phrase in that context. Terrifying. You had the form, you looked good on the outside, you were a pretty “good” person, you went to church, but all you had was an empty lamp. I don’t know you.

Imagine the regret of that moment. Put yourself in the shoes of those bridesmaids. Imagine how you’d be kicking yourself for not bringing oil, you knew better. Imagine how you’d be kicking yourself for not really following God – not really letting Jesus be a priority in your life but neglecting him, neglecting faith, putting it on the backburner. Imagine the regret. I think one of the most interesting things about this passage is the fact that the 5 bridesmaids who didn’t bring oil aren’t called evil or wicked or sinful…they’re just called foolish. So often in my life, in my walk with God, I’m not really bad or evil and I’m not really intentionally doing wicked things or major sins. But I am just coasting.  Just drifting through life, wasting away the precious little time that I have. How many of you are in that same boat? We’ve all been there. It is so easy to get distracted. It is so easy to just drift. And when we just drift, when we waste our lives away on the unimportant we’re left with regrets.

PRAY: Spend some time confessing to God all the ways in which you haven’t lived for him, you haven’t used your time and your talents for his Kingdom, you’ve been a lamp without any oil. If you’re willing – but only if you’re really willing – commit your life to him. Ask him to help you live a life of significance without the regret that comes from drifting away from him and wasting your life away on things that don’t matter.

Posted by on August 23, 2012 in Gospels.

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August 22, 2012

Wednesday: August 22, 2012

READ: Proverbs 21-23

THINK:

An old adage says, “The best things in life are free.” There’s a lot of truth in that. Some people, however, believe that the best things in life are expensive or perhaps elusive. Recently I saw a sign that made me smile and think. It said, “The best things in life are not things.” What a great way to say it! The value of family, friends, and faith points us to the realization that what matters most in life is all wrapped up in people and the Lord.

Solomon was well qualified to speak about material things because he “surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom” (1 Kings 10:23). His advice? “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven” (Prov. 23:4-5). His recommended course of action was, “Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge. . . . For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off” (vv.12,18).

The best things in life are the eternal riches that come from God’s goodness and grace in Jesus Christ. We do not hold them in our hands, but in our hearts.

Our greatest riches are the riches we have in Christ.
By: Dave McCasland in Our Daily Bread, July 18, 2012
PRAY: Thank God for the amazing gift of his son Jesus. Thank him for all of the incredible things he’s given you!

 

Posted by on August 22, 2012 in Poetry.

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August 21, 2012

Tuesday: August 21, 2012

Read: Psalm 35

Think: I was making my little 3 year old nephew watch a video with me that was trying to teach Biblical truths. The main point was, “I will pray when I am afraid!” I found this rather cute and hoped he would remember to pray when he thought monsters were under his bed. However, I didn’t listen to the message for myself. Later that day I was driving in the twin cities, super scared about being on all those crazy roads with thousands of drivers around me. I had my 7 month old niece in the back seat and I must admit I was a little afraid. Then this truth started to come back to me. The one I had wanted a three year old to remember was the very truth I needed to hear. I repeated, “I will pray when I am afraid” in my head and began to do just that. God’s peace really did start to come over me. He calmed my fears and helped me focus. Isn’t it amazing that these basic truths hit us at every level.

David did the same thing when he was afraid. He had whole armies of enemies coming after him, and his response was to pray! He knew his fears and enemies would overtake him on his own, but he had a God who was on his side. David trusted in God’s overwhelming power and ability. David could look at his enemies and say, ”Do you know who I belong to? That’s right, GOD is my Father and he will protect me!” We can do this same thing. When fears are overwhelming you, turn to God and pray. It may seem like a simple lesson for a toddler to learn, but it is a solid truth we need to trust in and follow.

Ask: What fears do you have? Have you prayed about them and given them to God?

By: KVH

Posted by on August 21, 2012 in Uncategorized.

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August 20, 2012

Monday: August 20, 2012

READ: Matthew 22-23

BACKGROUND:

By Verse:

22:1-14 In this parable, Jesus is speaking of the way people will reject the truth of who He is. When Jesus speaks of those invited first, he was most likely referring to the Jews. The servants then go out to invite others, most likely speaking of Gentiles. In verse 11, there is a guest who is not wearing wedding clothes. In these times, it was customary for the King to provide the wedding clothes for the guests (since they were invited right off of the street). The King was enraged because the guest refused to participate fully in what had been offered freely to him.

14 –A proverbial summary of the meaning of the parable. God invites “many” (perhaps “all” in view of the Semitic usage of “many”) to be a part of his kingdom, but only a “few” are chosen by him. This does not mean that God chooses arbitrarily. The invitation must be accepted, followed by appropriate conduct. Proper behavior is evidence of being chosen. ( Zondervan NIV Study Bible)

15-22 The Pharisees enlisted the help of the Herodians to trap Jesus in his words. After trying to put him off guard with flattery, they sprang their question: “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? If he said “No,” the Herodians would report him to the Roman governor and he would be executed for treason. If he said “Yes,” the Pharisees would denounce him to the people as disloyal to his nation. ( Zondervan NIV Study Bible)

23:5 Phylacteries were boxes with scripture in them that were worn on the head and on the arm.

23:8-10 The warning is against seeking titles of honor to foster pride. Obviously we should avoid unreasonable literalism in applying such commands. ( Zondervan NIV Study Bible)

15 – Jesus is not criticizing evangelism, but the results of the Pharisees’ evangelism – converting people to being like the Pharisees, rather than true followers of Jesus.

24 – Some Pharisees would strain their drinking water through a cloth to make sure it didn’t have any gnats in it because gnats were considered unclean.

THINK:

Love God. Love People.

You’ve seen it on billboards on 35W. You’ve heard it in sermons. You’ve read it in Through in 2 devotions before. It’s a quick catchphrase to summarize Jesus’ words to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:37-40. If we use this phrase as a filter for our daily decision-making it can help us avoid becoming like the Pharisees, whose hearts were far from God.

Maybe I’m the only one, but I get some sort of a strange high while watching television shows like “Hoarders: Buried Alive” or “My Strange Addiction.” Watching these shows makes me feel so normal and organized…and proud. Unfortunately it’s easy to watch other people’s problems on the big screen and forget altogether that I too have some serious issues…they just haven’t yet been broadcast.

Sometimes I read the Bible through the same lens and think to myself “Those Pharisees had it so wrong, they didn’t have a clue what loving Jesus meant, I’m glad I’m so much better than them.” Talk about a hypocrite. I speak with complete arrogance as I condemn the arrogant.

Following the guidelines the Bible has set for us is extremely important and necessary. But when our idea of faith is built entirely on rule-following like the Pharisees and we find ourselves proud of how good we are, we have missed entirely what God intends for us. In Matthew 23:23 Jesus says, “But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness.” If we wake in the morning thinking “Love God. Love people” and we consider these commands each step of our day; we will start to experience the life and love God intends for us. If you find yourself burdened by trying to follow rules, but feeling distant from God – talk to God about that. Take time to fall in love with Him again and desire Him. Use music, books, the Word to inspire your love for God to grow. Tackle your pride by loving and serving others – with no strings attached – and without broadcasting to receive recognition.

RESPOND: Write “Love God. Love People.” on a note card somewhere where you’ll see it at the start of your day. Ask God to show you how you have acted in pride like the Pharisees. Ask for forgiveness and for strength and wisdom to pursue a real relationship with Jesus. Ask God to show you specific ways you can love Him and love people.

Posted by on August 20, 2012 in Gospels.

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August 19, 2012

Sunday: August 19, 2012

READ: Psalm 33 & 34

THINK: The National Weather Service advises that if you’re ever caught out in the open during a severe lightning storm, you should kneel down, bend forward, and put your hands on your knees. Then, if lightning strikes nearby, your body will be less likely to serve as a conductor. Maximum safety depends on keeping a low physical profile.

The same applies to Christians caught in life’s storms—we must assume a low spiritual posture. This means we must humble ourselves before the Lord (Psalm 34:18), be-cause pride and rebellion can harden us. We must speak truthfully (v.13), depart from evil, do good, and seek peace (v.14). Our heavenly Father wants us to stay close to Him when our hearts are hurting so He can impart His renewing strength and healing love.

Yes, we’ll get drenched in the driving rains of adversity, and sometimes its fierce winds will buffet us so severely that we’ll almost be swept off our feet. With each blinding flash of lightning we may be strongly tempted to get up and run. But keeping a low spiritual profile of humility and fear of God is the surest and safest way to weather the storm. David assured us that those who trust God in life’s storms will not be condemned (v.22).

It’s important for us to remember that God doesn’t shield us from life’s storms, he shelters us in life’s storms.

By: Dennis DeHaan in Our Daily Bread, April 19, 2006

PRAY: Let God know about any storms you’re facing right now. Thank him for being a shelter!

Posted by on August 19, 2012 in Psalms.

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August 18, 2012

Saturday: August 18, 2012

READ: Psalm 31 & 32

THINK: The smell at an overflowing garbage landfill site became a growing public concern. So workers installed high-pressured deodorant guns to counteract the smell. The cannons could spray several gallons of fragrance a minute over a distance of up to 50 yards across the mounds of putrefying garbage. However, no matter how many gallons of deodorant are sprayed to mask the odorous rubbish, the fragrance will serve only as a cover-up until the source of the stench is removed.

King David tried a cover-up as well. After his adultery with Bathsheba, he attempted to use silence, deceit, and piety to mask his moral failures (2 Sam. 11–12). In Psalm 32 he talks about experiencing the intense convicting hand of God when he remained silent (vv.3-4). Unable to withstand the conviction any longer, David uncovered his sin by acknowledging, confessing, and repenting of it (v.5). He no longer needed to cover it because God forgave him.

It’s futile to try to hide our sin. The stench of our disobedience will seep through whatever we use to try to cover it. Let’s acknowledge to God the rubbish in our hearts and experience the fresh cleansing of His grace and forgiveness.

PRAY: Confess your sins to God. Ask for his forgiveness and his guidance in living an obedient life.

By: Marvin Williams in Our Daily Bread, May 24, 2012

Posted by on August 18, 2012 in Psalms.

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