December 31, Day 365

Dear Climbing Companion: We have almost completed our journey. I am grateful to all who joined me this year. You are welcome to invite your friends here for 2012. After conversation, I searched the wide variety of Reading Plans on YouVersion (by the way, we need to all be grateful for the wonderful service they provide) and have decided to return to the One Year Bible Plan. I love it because it allows us to read from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day. No single day is overwhelming and I love the variety. You can sign up for this plan on YouVersion here tomorrow. Just sign in or sign up on their website (it's free!). They even offer to email you with the daily readings for this plan!

I hope you join us next year!

Today's Reading

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!"

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's holy people. (Revelation 22:16, 17, 20, 21 NLT)

Congratulations! I hope to find you here in 2012.

December 30, Day 364

Dear Climbing Companion:  We have almost completed our journey.  I am grateful to all who joined me this year.  You are welcome to invite your friends here for 2012.  After conversation, I searched the wide variety of Reading Plans on YouVersion (by the way, we need to all be grateful for the wonderful service they provide) and have decided to return to the One Year Bible Plan.  I love it because it allows us to read from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day.  No single day is overwhelming and I love the variety.  You can sign up for this plan on YouVersion here, but wait until January 1.  Just sign in or sign up on their website (it's free!).  They even offer to email you with the daily readings for this plan!

I hope you join us next year!

Today's Reading

We are reading rapidly through the eons of history.  Today we move from the history of Israel to the birth of a Jewish Baby and the dragon's attempt to stop it, which fails.  Jesus Christ comes into the world to redeem humanity.  Some receive His mercy and overcome the power of the dragon.  Others are pulled deeper and deeper into sin.  Gradually the effects of sin and the judgment of God combine to set the cataclysmic Last Days into motion.

Are you ready?

December 29, Day 363

Dear Climbing Companion: We have almost completed our journey. I am grateful to all who joined me this year. You are welcome to invite your friends here for 2012. After conversation, I searched the wide variety of Reading Plans on YouVersion (by the way, we need to all be grateful for the wonderful service they provide) and have decided to return to the One Year Bible Plan. I love it because it allows us to read from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day. No single day is overwhelming and I love the variety. You can sign up for this plan on YouVersion here, but wait until January 1. Just sign in or sign up on their website (it's free!). They even offer to email you with the daily readings for this plan!

I hope you join us next year!

Todays Reading

Revelation is so mysterious. Many have written and given opinions on exactly what it means and strong Biblical scholars have arrived at different conclusions. What seems clear to me is that it describes God's systematic judgment on this planet and those that dwell here. Will those who love Him have to endure it or will they be evacuated out before the heavy stuff begins? That's one of the disagreements among conservative scholars!

December 28, Day 362

Dear Climbing Companion: We have almost completed our journey. I am grateful to all who joined me this year. You are welcome to invite your friends here for 2012. After conversation, I searched the wide variety of Reading Plans on YouVersion (by the way, we need to all be grateful for the wonderful service they provide) and have decided to return to the One Year Bible Plan. I love it because it allows us to read from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day. No single day is overwhelming and I love the variety. You can sign up for this plan on YouVersion on January 1. Just sign in or sign up on their website (it's free!). They even offer to email you with the daily readings for this plan!I

I hope you join us next year!

Today's Reading

Some Bibles title this book The Revelation of John. That's a mistake, because it is clearly the Revelation of Jesus Christ. John was in the Spirit and saw eternity opened to reveal the day of the Lord. God gave him messages for seven churches of that day, but clearly the messages speak to churches throughout the ages. Then John began to see the judgment of the earth and the ultimate glory of heaven.

December 27, Day 361

Dear Climbing Companion:  We have almost completed our journey.  I am grateful to all who joined me this year.  You are welcome to invite your friends here for 2012.  After conversation, I searched the wide variety of Reading Plans on YouVersion (by the way, we need to all be grateful for the wonderful service they provide) and have decided to return to the One Year Bible Plan.  I love it because it allows us to read from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day.  No single day is overwhelming and I love the variety.  You can sign up for this plan on YouVersion later this week.  Just sign in or sign up on their website (it's free!).  They even offer to email you with the daily readings for this plan!

I hope you join us next year!

Today's Reading

December 26, Day 360

Dear Climbing Companion:  We have almost completed our journey.  I am grateful to all who joined me this year.  You are welcome to invite your friends here for 2012.  After conversation, I searched the wide variety of Reading Plans on YouVersion (by the way, we need to all be grateful for the wonderful service they provide) and have decided to return to the One Year Bible Plan.  I love it because it allows us to read from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day.  No single day is overwhelming and I love the variety.  You can sign up for this plan on YouVersion later this week.  Just sign in or sign up on their website (it's free!).  They even offer to email you with the daily readings for this plan!

I hope you join us next year!

Today's Reading

I read this passage when I was in a fog of self-doubt and self-condemnation. If that is the position of your heart on this day after Christmas, please be cautious. John (the disciple whom Jesus loved and author of the Gospel bearing his name) seems to indict those of us who fail to love perfectly or who sometimes commit sin. I hope you don't get stuck in that false supposition. Instead, I encourage you to find hope (I did) in some of the verses in the last chapters. For instance, And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11, 12 NLT)

Jesus Christ is our righteousness. His puts His love in our hearts. This isn't about sinless perfection, but about exchanging our old life for His life. On this day when many are back in the stores exchanging Christmas gifts, take advantage of the greatest exchange of all: we can exchange our old, broken, sinful lives for His life of love, forgiveness and righteousness.

 

December 25, Day 359

Today's Reading

Merry Christmas!

I pray that you walk exceedingly in the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on this day that we honor His birth.

Peter and Jude (the half-brother of Christ, who didn't follow Him until after the resurrection) had lived for many years of early church activity when they wrote these letters. Both had noticed similar trends in the churches. Some people were lured into the lies of false teachers. Others had simply leaped into various sins, forgetting the holiness of God. For instance: I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4 NLT)

These letters were written to correct and to warn. They both speak of God's ultimate judgment this this world and our need to be ready for it. Jesus is the way; follow Him!

December 24, Day 358

Today's Reading

Paul, no doubt, was getting up in years. He had suffered various persecutions and he wrote this letter from either prison or house arrest. He was growing concerned about who would take the hard stand in favor of the Gospel when he was gone. Demas, one of his close associate, had deserted him and walked away from the faith. Was it possible that Timothy might do the same? At the very least, Paul seemed concerned about Timothy's courage. This letter is a strong dose of encouragement, warning and confidence-building we need when our spiritual knees feel weak. I challenge you to spend time here and let it speak to you.

December 23, Day 357

Today's Reading

What a word picture! We meet the roll call of faith in chapter 11, then begin Hebrews 12 with these words: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. (Hebrews 12:1, 2 NLT) It's as if those who modeled faith in the Scriptures are in the stands cheering us on as we follow Christ.

December 22, Day 356

Today's Reading

This is the essence of the Gospel: And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.
For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:21-26 NLT)

How should we respond? And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT)

What a wonderful gift He has given us!

December 21, Day 355

Today's Reading

To whom was Hebrews written and why? Those are critical questions if you want to consistently interpret the difficult passages found here. Is this epistle primarily for a groups of Jews who needed to decide if they would embrace Jesus as their Messiah? Or is it for Christians who were in danger of losing their salvation? Or (as I believe) is it to a group of Christians in danger of being stuck in a spiritual wilderness when God designed them to enter the Promised Land?

No doubt the target audience needed to deal with some false doctrines. One of those was worshiping angels. Another was making Jesus just a great teacher without recognizing that He is the Son of God. However, the core topic of this letter seems to be spiritual rest. "Come to Me, all you who labor...and I will give you rest," said Jesus. He called us to fight spiritual battles, but to do so while resting in Him; letting Him be God. It's one of our greatest challenges.

December 20, Day 354

Today's Reading

1 Peter is a letter of warning and encouragement. Peter understood that people would be tempted to walk away from the faith and back to their old lives. He also acknowledged the persecution that was happening to God's people everywhere and encouraged them to stay the course.

For instance, So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT) I have a friend who has gone back to the old way of living. My heart breaks as I read these verses.

December 19, Day 353

Today's Reading

Paul was released from Roman house arrest and wrote this letter to Titus from Nicopolis. Titus was on the island of Crete, helping the churches there. Cretans were among those who heard the Gospel in their own language on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). No doubt they went home and started churches, though they had almost no instruction to help them. Now those churches were struggling with Jewish legalism mixed in along with proclamation that Jesus, their messiah had come. Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them. (Titus 3:9-11 NLT) It's certain that this letter would stay in Crete after Titus left, helping church leaders stand against the pervasive false teaching.

December 18, Day 352

Today's Reading

Timothy was like the son Paul never had. He had the early signs of being a great influencer who would help churches long after Paul himself was gone. Timothy was overseeing the church in Ephesus, which had about 60,000 members in various house groups. This letter is a classroom on how to have a stable, effective church. Paul sates his ultimate goal for this letter: The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. (1 Timothy 1:5 NLT)

December 17, Day 351

Today's Reading

Paul was confined to house arrest when he wrote this letter to his spiritual children in Philippi. I have started to understand a little of what it means to see someone cross the line of faith, then watch them start growing in Christ. I watch them make decisions and face life challenges. I watch them weigh out whether to follow God's way or go back to their old life. I pray for them and feel concern for them. That's the way Paul was here.

His "children" were facing legalists who wanted everyone to convert (via circumcision for the males) to judaism before they could become Christ followers. Some of them were squabbling. They needed to recapture their joy as they followed Jesus. Therefore, Paul wrote this letter from captivity and the whole thing is about joy. He longed for them to experience it just as he did. It's powerful!

December 16, Day 350

Today's Reading

My reading in Ephesians today was like a long soak in a jacuzzi on a cold day. I was warmed and refreshed as I read of God's great love for us. Various passages comforted me while others challenged me. I hope you have time to read it slowly, pondering the words as you read.

I was particularly fed by a passage in the first chapter: God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. (Ephesians 1:9-11 NLT)

December 15, Day 349

Today's Reading

Paul's letter to the church at Colossae is full of deep encouragement and truth. It contains a passage that I found very difficult to comprehend until I took the time to memorize it. Since then, it is one of my most beloved in all the Bible. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (Colossians 1:13, 14 NLT) He rescued us from the darkness, even though we had loved the darkness better than the light. Then He transferred us to His kingdom, where we found freedom and forgiveness. I plan to dwell on that truth all day today!

Philemon is a wonderful little personal letter from Paul about a former runaway slave named Onesimus. Somehow God had orchestrated events so that Onesimus found Paul, then decided to follow Christ. He was radically transformed. The time came for them to deal with his status in breach of Roman law. Paul sent him back (slavery was an accepted part of their lives), telling Philemon that Onesimus his slave was now his brother in Christ. Paul was very respectful and loving while being quite straightforward in his request. It's a powerful picture of how Christ transforms people and how the Gospel can be worked out in various cultures.

December 14, Day 348

Today's Reading

One of my favorite childhood movies was Swiss Family Robinson. No doubt you remember the story: shipwrecked, the family is trapped on a desert island where they encounter great dangers and live in a treehouse. The closing scenes in Acts include a vivid description of shipwreck and danger. Paul and his fellow travelers face possible death for days. God, however, wanted Paul in Rome.

On the island of Malta, Paul prayed for father of Publius, the Roman official and the man was healed. Then Paul's team began to minister to other sick people. The word used to describe the healing of Publius' father denotes a miraculous cure. The word used to describe the other healing describes the application of medicine. Remember that Luke, who wrote this history, was a medical doctor.

In Rome, Paul was still a prisoner, but he had a certain freedom. He used it to keep preaching the Gospel. While we may find much to disagree with in the Roman Catholic church today, their earliest history springs back to the work of Paul and others.

I found Acts stimulating and refreshing. I hope you did, too.

December 13, Day 347

Today's Reading

Paul was arrested on false charges, held for political expediency and yet he continued to tell the Good News about Jesus to everyone who would listen. The events of his life were being orchestrated so that he could preach the Gospel even to Caesar. When troubles come upon me and our church, I do well to remember the One who is in charge and trust in His purposes.

December 12, Day 346

Today's Reading

We are back in the book of Acts. Paul's life and ministry were never boring, but we now enter the hair-raising conclusion of his story in Acts. On his way to Jerusalem, he stopped to encourage the Elders. He gave them the most concise job description one can imagine: "So guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. (Acts 20:28 NLT) At Stone Ridge er are blessed with godly men who live out this description every day.

December 11, Day 345

Today's Reading

We complete Romans today. Our reading includes one of my favorite verses: I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NLT)

December 10, Day 344

Today's Reading

It has been a while since I saw such a clear parallel between our reading and the times in which we live. For instance, Likewise, David said,

"Let their bountiful table become a snare,
a trap that makes them think all is well.
Let their blessings cause them to stumble,
and let them get what they deserve.
Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
and let their backs be bent forever." (Romans 11:9, 10 NLT)
Talk about sobering! Could it be that our bounty has been one of the largest roadblocks spiritually?

Two chapters later, Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. (Romans 13:13, 14 NLT) I have a growing concern that we have fallen so deeply into grace that we have taken it as license to pour our whole lives into pleasure.

December 9, Day 343

Today's Reading

Romans 8 is one of the most beautiful chapters in Scripture: "Nothing can separate us from the love of God." Romans 9 is one of the most difficult chapters in Scripture, describing the sovereignty of God. Then, chapter 10 seems to put the whole picture together: "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

How can God's sovereignty and man's freedom coexist? It's a mystery that causes debate among God's people, some arguing one extreme while others argue the opposite. I think we miss significant parts of God's character if we swing too far to either side.

December 8, Day 342

Today's Reading

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:3-8 NLT)

Now that's good news!

December 7, Day 341

Today's Reading

We turn now to Romans, which is perhaps the deepest book in the Bible. It opens with clarity that the created order is enough proclamation for people to believe in and seek God. Instead of seeking Him, humans have turned away, growing increasingly perverse as we walk the other direction. In the end, we are all guilty of sin and deserving of its penalty. The Good News (Gospel) is that we don't have to pay for our own failure. In fact, we can't afford the price.

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:20-25 NLT)

December 6, Day 340

Today's Reading

I wonder if chapters 9 and 10 are the most understood in all of Paul's letters. Is he losing it? Has he tumbled into being an egotistical maniac? I don't think so! He was far away and false teachers had come in among the Corinthian flock. They talked of their own superiority. They boasted that Paul was a "has-been" who never did much in the first place. They used these criticism to get a foothold and steer the church away from the truth in Christ. Paul countered by "boasting", not in what he accomplished, but in what he suffered to serve Christ. The false teachers were obviously wringing the cash out of the people and Paul had never done that. They were a bit like today's televangelists who promise financial prosperity to everyone who sends them a big offering.

Paul concludes the letter with the warning that he is coming back. He hoped that he wouldn't encounter a straying church who must be severely disciplined. He loved them enough to correct them, but longed to simply come and share with them the wonderful things we have in Christ.

December 5, Day 339

Today's Reading

Paul continued this deep letter with a direct reference to his first epistle: I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NLT)

Godly sorrow is a key character trait I look for in leaders for Stone Ridge. People can have many edges to their personality and signifcant baggage from past deeds. But God sorrow insures that they will listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and humbly repents as He opens their eyes. It's amazing to watch!

December 4, Day 338

Today's Reading

In his first letter, Paul told the Corinthian church to take action and discipline a man having an immoral relationship with his step-mother. They did. Now Paul writes a much more mature church. They have grown in spirit and have seen God do a work in the life of the immoral man.

I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn't want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. (2 Corinthians 2:4-8 NLT)

In the first letter, Paul needed to address many issues of practical immaturity in the church. This letter is much deeper. I pray that it will speak to us.

December 3, Day 337

Today's Reading

As Paul concludes this first letter to the church in Corinth, he moves from practical matters that were problems in the church to a critical theological issue: the resurrection. Some false teachers were running around saying there is no resurrection. Paul built a case on why the resurrection is the lynchpin of the Christian faith; without which our hope in Christ drops dead.

Before he concludes the letter, he states that he is writing from Ephesus. No doubt the Corinthians already knew that, but now we know it. We will soon read of Paul's Ephesus encounter with the riotous followers of the goddess Diana. Later we will read the powerful letter he wrote to the church that started there.

First, we have another letter to the Corinthians. Tomorrow...

December 2, Day 336

Today's Reading

Spiritual gifts, the supremacy of love and conduct in the church. These are three more chapters that never lose their relevance to followers of Christ. Do you have thoughts or questions that arise from today's reading?

December 1, Day 335

Today's Reading

Obviously, Paul faced opposition in this place where he spent so much time. It's not unusual that churches full of overt sin spend significant time and energy complaining about their leaders. It's the churches that are truly full of God that support their leaders. They still notice the flaws of those who lead, but they see them through the eyes of brokenness and grace. The people in those churches are broken because of their own sins and full of grace toward all sinners. Corinth wasn't there yet.

November 30, Day 334

Today's Reading

Today's four chapters are nuts and bolts, real-life instructions for God's people. As a pastor, I have referred to these sections over and over again. The nature of the church is to have conflicts and problems. Many of the prescriptive solutions are found here. Praise God for such practical help!

November 29, Day 333

Today's Reading

As we read 1 and 2 Corinthians over the next few days, I urge you to take the time to let it sink in. I found rich treasure in many verses today. For instance, God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. (1 Corinthians 1:28 NLT) I read on Black Friday where a pastor critically described it as the day we practice our deep beliefs in life, liberty and the purchase of happiness. Obviously the world around us grows more unhappy every year because we have missed God!

How about this one? My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. (1 Corinthians 4:4 NLT) Once our conscience is seared by the view that right and wrong are relative, even we believers must be careful to place everything in light of God's judgment.

November 28, Day 332

Today's Reading

It's easy to think of the church at Corinth as carnal. Paul told them so in his letters. However, he loved them deeply. He stayed there a year and a half because God told him that He had many people there. Those people needed to hear the Gospel. Paul worked hard to tell them. He met new coworkers. They encouraged a very brilliant apologist named Apollos. Paul continued to travel and share the Gospel, ending up today in Ephesus. The riot there was just another tool used by God to open Gospel doors.

November 27, Day 331

Today's Reading

We just read in Acts what happened in Thessalonica: But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. "Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world," they shouted, "and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus."
The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them. (Acts 17:5-9 NLT) Now we read the powerful, encouraging letters Paul wrote to the church there. He needed to correct some falsehoods flying around about Jesus' return. He wanted them to stand firm and he was proud of them for the way they were walking in faith and truth.

November 26, Day 330

Today's Reading

Each year I find places to reflect as I read the Bible through. Today I did that in Acts 17. I could imagine Paul and his team in Thessalonica. Then in Berea. (By the way, he wrote two rich letters to the Thessalonians, but none to the Bereans, who were so faithful to search the scriptures -- hmmm.) Then they went to Athens, where he joyfully debated with their brilliant minds. (Our daughter lives within five miles of Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston College, Boston University and several other prestigious institutions of higher learning -- I think that's how Athens was in the Roman Empire.) Some of those debaters wanted to hear more and some were immediately ready to follow Christ. The power of the Gospel!

November 25, Day 329

Today's Reading

It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. (Galatians 6:15 NLT)
That statement sums up this epistle. For you and me, it's like saying, "It doesn't matter whether we are religious or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." We are free in Christ, but our freedom will be destructive if we us it as license to live for our own pleasure.

November 24, Day 328

Today's Reading

The theme of Galatiane is freedom through Christ. In these first three chapters, Paul describes his early experience as a Christian, when he was taught by studying the Scriptures and seeking God on his own. After many years, he went with Barnabas and Titus up to Jerusalem. Part of their meetings there are described in Acts 15, which we read yesterday. Later, back at Antioch, Paul confronted Peter about his hypocrisy. Paul uses these events to drive home the point that we are made right with God completely apart from the Law.

November 23, Day 327

Today's Reading

Yesterday we read the letter James wrote to clarify that faith must work or it's not genuine. Today we see the respect he had gained in Jerusalem: he spoke and the discussion ended. It was Peter, though, who stated the truth about Jewish legalism clearly and concisely: So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? (Acts 15:10 NLT) It is the nature of legalism to want to attract others to itself, even though it chokes the life out of its practitioners.

Paul, the fiery leader, and Barnabas, the encourager, were destined to see things differently. Their disparate views culminated in the case of young John Mark (who later wrote Mark). Paul took Silas and went back to the churches previously started, planting others on the journey. Barnabas took John Mark and planted churches on the island of Cyprus. The Gospel continued to spread and the men (including Paul and Mark) later reconciled.

As Acts 16 begins, one of the focus points was the region of Galatia. Tomorrow we will read Paul's letter to the churches there.

It is fascinating that God kept preventing them from further work in the province called Asia. Then Paul had the Macedonian vision and they crossed the water to bring the Gospel (for the first time) to Europe.

November 22, Day 326

Today's Reading

This is one of those times we are greatly assisted by reading chronologically. Tomorrow we will read in Acts about a large controversy in the early church. The controversy will be debated among Apostles and Elders in the Jerusalem church. Finally, one man will speak and everyone else will follow what he says. His name was James and he was the half-brother of Jesus. Today, as you read the book bearing his name, you will see some of the reasons he became the leader of the Jerusalem church. What's amazing is that he didn't believe Jesus to be the messiah until after the resurrection.

November 21, Day 325

Today's Reading

As you read today, please take time to let your mind grab the significance of this first recorded missionary work.  Notice how some were so open to the message while others were so opposed.  If you saw the move Thor this year, you can imagine how the people of Lystra thought that they were gods who came down to earth.  That false, demonic view of deity was rampant in that time and place.  Watch how the crowd swiftly goes from the desire to sacrifice to them to a murderous rage.  Then, see how Paul and Barnabas got to the end of the journey and went back to strengthen each new church before they went home.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, these two chapters are worth a thousand pictures!

November 20, Day 324

Today's Reading

Last week I met with church leaders to talk about change.  Most or all of them were from churches that struggle with this and are losing ground in their quest to proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom to as many as possible.  The initial reaction of the Jewish believers to Peter demonstrates that change resistance is far from a new thing.  Praise God that they embraced taking the Gospel to the Gentiles when they heard the story of how God had orchestrated it.

November 19, Day 323

Today's Reading

I wonder what it was like for Peter as he knelt beside Dorcas' bed. Did he sense a "sure thing" as he prepared to speak life to her lifeless body? O was he willing to take a risk and see what God might do?

Notice the power of these words: Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. (Acts 10:34, 35 NLT) No favoritism. We have a story to tell to the nations. We must expect many to fear Him and do what is right.

November 18, Day 322

Today's Reading

Did you notice these verses? Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. (Acts 8:5, 6 NLT) A few years earlier, Jesus traveled through Samaria and met a woman at the well. (John 4). "Come and see!", she said. No doubt a remnant there still believed and were ready to invite their friends when God's man came.

When we go in God's power, we should expect that He has been preparing the way ahead of us! So, let's obey God and go.

November 17, Day 321

Today's Reading

What a transition today. Notice the simple, bold faith of Peter and John before the religious leaders. Imagine what it was like for the Jewish leaders as the church grew rapidly to 5,000 men, plus women and children (15,000-25,000 people would certainly be a mega church in our culture). Ponder the prayer life of the people, crying out to God for their city; then see how their boldness increased.

Did you notice God's fierce holiness in the case of Ananias and Saphira? He obviously would let nothing corrupt the purity of His power at that early stage. Then, see how problems came as the church grew even more. They sought wise ways to handle those problems without short-circuiting the work of the kingdom.

Then it started really heating up. The apostles were warned with beatings, even as wise Gamaliel intervened. Then Stephen was arrested. Martyrdom was about to begin. The path of the Gospel is paved with the blood of the martyrs.

November 16, Day 320

Today's Reading

The Acts of the Apostles, we have traditionally called it. I'm not sure that was the way Luke originally titled it. It is certainly the history of the early apostolic age, but the "acts" were more clearly the acts of the Holy Spirit among God's people. It was the days of the early church and we still have much to learn from them two millennia later.

In Acts 3, I suddenly had a picture of what it must have been like for Peter, the crusty fisherman, to be addressing a crowd of city dwellers (no doubt far more educated than he): "People of Israel," he said, "what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? (Acts 3:12 NLT) I think that Peter didn't even look religious! How could such a display of power come through him? It is time for us to quit thinking that clergy are the only channels of God's power -- in fact I expect the opposite these days. God is using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. And God gets the credit!

November 15, Day 319

Today's Reading

"And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven." (Luke 24:49 NLT) God is changing many hearts in our church. One area of repentance is to become more faithful sharing the Gospel. As I read the above verse, it struck me that sometimes we are tempted to go out too soon. We haven't really prayed and waited for God's power. Staying precedes going. Both are command.

November 14, Day 318

Today's Reading

"He isn't here; He is risen just as He said."  The sweetest words in all history!

November 13, Day 317

Today's Reading

The duplicity of the Jewish leaders always baffles me.  They accused Jesus of inciting rebellion against the Roman government.  That would insure that Pilate had Him executed.  On the other hand, they demanded release of Barabbas.  What what Barabbas' crime? Inciting rebellion against the Roman government!

November 12, Day 316

Today's Reading

Fatigue does interesting things.  I am moving at a fast pace this week and feel a little of the effects this morning.  The two chapters we read today are about the pivotal day in human history.  No matter how the secularists attempt to dilute it, history must be seen through the lens of before God came in human form and after He changed everything on the cross.  Today I read about that pivotal day.  But, in my fatigue, it didn't sink in enough.

November 11, Day 315

Today's Reading

I noticed something that Jesus did and said in today's reading. In Chapter 14, "but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. (John 14:31 NLT)" Then, in Chapter 15, "When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. (John 15:10 NLT)" Jesus showed His love by doing what the Father required. He told us to show our love that way, too.

November 10, Day 314

Today's Reading

It's easy to believe that knowing the final outcome of a trial will make the trial easier to endure. However, notice this verse: Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. (John 13:3 NLT) Did that make it easier for Jesus to face the cross? If so, why did He agonize so in Getsemani?

Actually, the above verse gives me comfort. I know where I am going and that everything will work out in the end. That won't always make the journey easy.

November 9, Day 313

 

Today's Reading

"You have said it." Jesus spoke those words twice in Matthew 26. The first time was to Judas the betrayer, who had spoken openly of the betrayal when he accepted thirty pieces of silver as blood money. No doubt Jesus knew what Judas had said; He was told by the Spirit in the same way He knew what Nathaniel had said under the fig tree in John 1.

The second time, Jesus was referring to what the High Priest had just said: "I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." (Matthew 26:63 NLT) The same simple words: spoken with earth-shaking power.

 

November 8, Day 312

Today's Reading

The bridesmaids were foolishly neglecting what was important, thinking the bridegroom wouldn't care. The servant lived in fear of the master's harshness, neglecting to use what he was given. The goats closed their eyes to the hurting world around them. In each parable, they had a false view of God and it cost them. I don't want to make their mistakes.

November 7, Day 311

Today's Reading

False Messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes…all are happening with increasing intensity.  Are we living in the last days?

November 6, Day 310

Today's Reading

The last days of Jesus' earthly ministry were characterized by changes from the earlier times:

1. He became increasingly blunt with the religious leaders.

2. He became very clear about his impending sacrifice.

3. He spoke (as in today's passage) in great detail about the last days and His ultimate return.

November 5, Day 309

Today's Reading

Jesus had been speaking and debating with the Jerusalem religious leaders since he was 12 years old. He asked them difficult questions and He answered their attempts to trap Him in something He said. Now, as He neared the cross, He told them plainly what they looked like from a spiritual perspective. I'm certain that He could have used the same description of me at various times. By His grace, I never want to be that way again!

How about you?

November 4, Day 308

Today's Reading

Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: (Mark 12:18 NLT)

If you read today's passage carefully, you will get a glimpse into the normal life of the the religious leaders in Jesus' day. They stood around and argued about mundane subjects, trying to outsmart each other. In many ways, the were the "intelligencia" and they hated Jesus for drawing more attention from the people than they got. The scene was set to crucify Him!

November 3, Day 307

Today's Reading

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, `May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." (Mark 11:22-25 NLT)

We have been studying the model prayer. In the same way that He had taught His disciples how to pray, Jesus tied answered prayer to forgiveness. If we maintain an unforgiving spirit, it will cut off our prayer effectiveness.

November 2, Day 306

Today's Reading

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." (Luke 19:10 NLT) That has become one of my favorite verses.

 

November 1, Day 305

Today's Reading

Today is a good time to talk about the contrast among details in the different Gospels.  For instance, Mark described James and John as coming to Jesus to ask the blessing of sitting on His right and left in His kingdom.  Matthew said it was their mother who made the approach.  Is this a contradiction?

Or, in another scene, Luke describes an anonymous blind man asking Jesus for his sight.  Mark says his name was Bartimaeus.  But Matthew says there were two blind men together at the side of that road.  Clearly this might be a contradiction.  Hmmmm.

If one subscribes to the theory that the Holy Spirit mechanically dictated the Scriptures, then surely He wouldn't contradict Himself.  However, if "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit…" (2 Peter 1:21) and God led them as they wrote within their own limited vocabulary, their own limited knowledge of the events and their own limited sources, then it's not contradiction, but the God-inpired recording of history.

Mark was written first, but he wasn't there; his source was Peter.  Luke was the consummate historian, but he wasn't there; his most likely source was Jesus' mother Mary.  Matthew, the tax collector, was there from the time he was called.  John, the beloved, was there.  Matthew was surely educated; John was not.  But John was "the disciple whom Jesus loved" and was very close to Jesus from the beginning.

Not contradictions.  Contrast.  Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the "synoptic Gospels".  The word means that we see the whole together through them.  They tell most of the same events from different perspectives.

I hope I didn't bore you today, but this is critical in your understanding of Scripture.

October 31, Day 304

Today's Reading

"Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. (Mark 10:29, 30 NLT)

I have tended to want Christ to give me the first part of these verses, but without the persecution. The more I think about it, even the first part doesn't fit with my worldview. Houses can mean staying with friends who provide a room. Family can mean fellow servants of His. How could someone who had no place to lay His head be talking about earthly mansions that keep me separate from the pain of the world?

October 30, Day 303

Today's Reading

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: `I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector! (Luke 18:11 NLT) Isn't this the same attitude I portray when I live as if I don't need God? It's painful to consider!

October 29, Day 302

Today's Reading

It took me a long time to accept the idea that Jesus' tears at Lazarus' grave were simply compassion for the people He loved.  Today I read it again with new eyes.  I noticed the description of Jesus' anger at their unbelief.  Martha said that she believed Him to be Messiah, but their unbelief was incompatible with that statement.  Could it be that Jesus tears really were a deep spiritual anger because they had seen so much, yet believed so little?  If that's so, how much have I seen and how little have I believed?  Ouch!

October 28, Day 301

Today's Reading

The Lord answered, "If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, `May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it would obey you!

"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, `Come in and eat with me'? No, he says, `Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.' And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, `We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.'" (Luke 17:6-10 NLT)

So, part of faith is to do what He assigns us without expecting credit. This is really speaking to me today.

October 27, Day 300

Today's Reading

I noticed today the context of Luke 14 and 15. Jesus was addressing the religious leaders. Their piety was such that they would do anything to keep from being stained by the world. That included the erection of invisible walls between themselves and the "sinners". Jesus came along and refused to live within those walls. Then He spoke about true humility, about the cost of true discipleship and about His compassion for the lost. Somehow we must figure out how to take His love to the people trapped in the muck and the mire without being sucked into it.

October 26, Day 299

Today's Reading

"So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32 NLT) The kingdom of God is in us. He delights to give it to us and to show it through us. It's what we were created for!

October 25, Day 298

Today's Reading

Jesus' command to , "pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields…" has become part of my daily prayer life.  He has been pulling my blinders back and allowing me to see the vast needs of the world.  Workers are needed in the kingdom!

October 24, Day 297

Today's Reading

“I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” (John 9:39 NLT) Jesus is still in the business of opening the eyes of those who know that they are "blind".  This can be spiritual blindness as well as physical blindness.  By His grace, some who think they can see (and have the arrogance to prove it!) discover their blindness and humble themselves before Him.

October 23, Day 296

Today's Reading

John 8 begins with Jesus' love for the woman caught in the act of adultery.  It ends with the crowd ready to stone Him after He called Himself "I Am", the Name of God used in the burning bush.  Clearly the people were looking for Messiah, but couldn't quite believe that Jesus was the one.

October 22, Day 295

Today's Reading

It seems that Jesus' message on reconciliation in Matthew 18 is in the context of local churches.  It's not that we don't need reconciliation in every part of life, but the local body of believers is where it gets lived out (we hope) most effectively.  I think it's sad that so many churches exist unreconciled with one another for years.  It's as if Jesus never spoke what was recorded here.

October 21, Day 294

Today's Reading

Moses represented the Law on the Mount where Christ was transfigured.  Elijah represented the Prophets.  The Law and the Prophets were the two pillars upon which the Jewish faith was built.  Their presence, accompanied by the miraculous sight of Jesus in glory and the voice of God, verified that He was indeed their awaited Messiah.  They were told to keep this event quiet until after the resurrection.

October 20, Day 293

Today's Reading

Some verses leave us scratching our heads. For instance, And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom." (Matthew 16:28 NLT) Most likely, Jesus was talking about the coming experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, when only Peter, James, and John would accompany Him.

October 19, Day 292

Today's Reading

Reading the Bible through each year is a great adventure. Each time I take the journey, different passages jump out at me. Today, for instance, it was this: Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn't speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:29-31 NLT)

October 18, Day 291

Today's Reading

John 6 is a chapter worth meditation. After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus spoke hard sayings to separate those looking for a political king from those who followed Messiah.

For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:40 NLT) Do you see Jesus? Believe in Him and receive eternal life!

October 17, Day 290

Today's Reading

John the Baptist served God to the extreme.  When Jesus began His ministry, John said, "He must increase, but I must decrease."  Still, John was arrested, jailed and beheaded.  Obeying God is no guarantee against persecution.

October 16, Day 289

Today's Reading

As resistance to the claims of Christ continues to grow in this age, I am more and more drawn to Jesus' words in today's passage.  He loves us.  In the worst of times, He will give us the words to say.  He will accomplish His purposes, no matter how bleak things may be for us.

October 15, Day 288

Today's Reading

Yesterday I was amazed by the sequence of events in Jesus' life recorded in Luke. Today we read them again, this time in Mark.

October 14, Day 287

Today's Reading

Today I found myself in awe as I read the sequence of these familiar events in Jesus' life. I can imagine being there as the events unfolded one after another. Amazing!

October 13, Day 286

Today's Reading

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, `A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, `Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. (Luke 11:5-8 NLT)

The older I get, the more I understand that God has a purpose in us learning to be persistent in our prayers.

October 12, Day 285

Today's Reading

"My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:27 NLT) I'm captivated by that verse this morning: "No one truly knows the Son except the Father...". I would be quick to claim that I KNOW Jesus. Could it be that He is so much more than I could ever imagine? I think so.

October 11, Day 284

Today's Reading

Today we read about so many different significant events in Jesus' life. What I came away with was His model of ministry and the target of our prayers. My heart is more passionate about this every year...

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields." (Matthew 9:35-38 NLT)

October 10, Day 283

Today's Reading

The Sermon on the Mount: enough to work on for a lifetime. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit produce these qualities in us and that you and I keep growing in Christ.

October 9, Day 282

Today's Reading

I found it very helpful that we were able to see some events in Jesus' life from three different perspectives today. The passage, though, that jumped off the page at me was, When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed. Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone. (Luke 6:17-19 NLT)

I wonder what it was like for Jesus to heal so many that day. Must have been a huge party!

October 8, Day 281

Today's Reading

It is very interesting that Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda, a pool surrounded by sick people wanting to get well. He didn't do a massive healing service, but healed just one man. Later he warned the man to stop sinning. We so easily put Jesus in boxes of false assumptions. If He could heal, why not simply heal everyone? Why didn't He tell the guy to stop sinning before He healed him? In this passage, He makes it clear. He did what He saw the Father doing. You and I are to do the same!

October 7, Day 280

Today's Reading

It doesn't matter what your ethic background is. What matters is your heart. Jesus praise the Roman officer for his belief and rejected the Jewish people who said they wanted to follow Him, but planned to put other things first.

October 6, Day 279

Today's Reading

Matthew, Mark and Luke are called "synoptic (the word means 'seeing the whole together') Gospels." They parallel each other, sharing events from Jesus' life from different perspectives. John, however, often gives information unique to his account. The water turned to wine, the encounter with Nicodemus and the woman at the well aren't found in the other Gospels.

The verse that strikes me today is You know the saying, `Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. (John 4:35 NLT) It is time for harvest at Stone Ridge.

October 5, Day 278

Today's Reading

I see such a stark contrast between the religious people and the broken people.  The religious people in Jesus' hometown seemed to love Him...until He pointed out that God loves Gentiles as well as Jews.  The broken people simply needed Him and cried out to Him with no reservations.  I know which one I want to be!

October 4, Day 277

Today's Reading

This particular chronological reading plan (there are others) uses a method that is harder for me to follow. Some plans will take a particular event and jump from one Gospel to the next, allowing each to describe that one event before moving on. This one stays with whole chapters. Therefore, we get the baptism of Jesus in Matthew, but both Mark and Luke contain other details.

You will notice that Mark's gospel is very action-oriented and doesn't spend much time on pastoral scenes. Mark 1, for example, contains so much activity that it takes Luke a few more chapters to describe the same events. Luke was the consummate historian, carefully describing both the action and the history of the time. We will learn much by reading this way, but at times it may be a little hard to follow.

October 3, Day 276

Today's Reading

You and I are shocked by the barbarous nature of Herod.  Such evil has been common all over the world since the beginning of time.  Powerful leaders crush those who threaten their power.

October 2, Day 275

Today's Reading

We have valid evidence that Matthew wasn't the first Gospel to be recorded.  Instead, Mark holds that distinction.  Why, then, is Matthew first in the New Testament order?  Simply it's because Matthew most objectively bridges the Old and New Testament.  The Old Testament resounded with the message, "Messiah is coming!  Messiah is coming!"  Matthew said, "He's here!  He came!  Jesus, born of a virgin from Galilee named Mary, is the Son of God.

I thought about this as I read Matthew today.  I can imagine religious skeptics reading his words and scoffing.  I can also imagine that Matthew had no clue how many of his words ring in the ears of people around the world and have done so for 2,000 years.

October 1, Day 274

Today's Reading

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (John 1:12, 13 NLT) What a great way to begin our reading in the New Testament!

September 30, Day 273

Today's Reading

"Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:5, 6 NLT) Those are the last words received by a prophet of God for 400 years.

Tomorrow we will read of God breaking the silence...in the New Testament.

September 29, Day 272

Today's Reading

Even though the people had seen such powerful work of God to restore them to their land and help them rebuild the Temple and the wall, they were quick to fall back into to their old patterns. They were so used to living by the customs of the world that they couldn't seem to break away from them. Many followers of Jesus struggle with the same thing.

September 28, Day 271

Today's Reading

"So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery." (Nehemiah 9:36, 37 NLT)

They were back "home" in Israel, but they still weren't free. During this time of seeking God together, they sought true freedom.

September 27, Day 270

Today's Reading

Many years ago, I served on the staff of a church in another state. We had a man in that church, one of our leaders, who frequently approached us with complaints. "People are saying..." was his typical intro to the complaint. I discovered that the "people" of whom he spoke were usually his sister and brother-in-law, two very negative folks who complained often. They were against any change, even those which would help us touch more of our city with the love of Christ.

During that time, our pastor was preaching through the book of Nehemiah. He found an amazing truth in this verse: and this is what it said:

"There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. (Nehemiah 6:6 NLT) The name "Geshem", it turns out, means something very close to "people are saying." Rebuilding the Wall would help all the Jews, but some of them were so close to their enemies that they were betraying their own people. Nehemiah stayed on task and the Wall got built!

September 26, Day 269

Today's Reading

Yesterday, we read about Ezra cleaning up the spiritual mess in Jerusalem.  About that time, Nehemiah heard about the sad condition of the walls around the city.  He tasted the food and drink of he pagan king to block poisoning him.  Now God was calling him to another mission: rebuild the walls.  He would accomplish much and face great opposition.

September 25, Day 268

Today's Reading

We are in a season of many repossessions and resale of properties.  I am told that it is common for foreclosed property to be in pretty bad shape.  Today we return to the account of Ezra.  Ezra wrote the first half of the history that bears his name, but it had happened some years before his arrival.  in today's passage, he arrives and discovers that much about Jerusalem had to be cleaned up besides the rubble and dirt.  The people's lives were a mess; even those of the spiritual leaders.  God was with him and they dealt with much of the junk that accumulated during the years God's people had been in distant lands.

September 24, Day 267

Today's Reading

Impaled on a pole? Our civilized minds don't embrace such barbarous deeds easily. They lived in a much more bloody time and place. God protected His people. That's the real story here.

September 23, Day 266

Today's Reading

The account of Esther is one if the most vivid and exciting in Scripture. I never tire of it. Each reading tells me more about the desperate plight of the Jews, the enemy's determination to annihilate them and God's love for them.

September 22, Day 265

Today's Reading

Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming... (Zechariah 14:1 NLT) All history leads toward that day and toward the new Jerusalem. I find that mysterious, yet my heart leaps with joy at the thought.

September 21, Day 264

Today's Reading

O, how God loves His people and His city Jerusalem. Though He has allowed it to suffer again and again, it is His delight.

September 20, Day 263

Today's Reading

The prophet Zechariah brought the messages of God to the exiles who had returned to their homeland from Babylon. As they were rebuilding the city and the Temple, he told them that God wanted to rebuild the life of Jeshua, the high priest, who had fallen into sin. Satan wanted Jeshua to be left broken and unusable for God, but God had a higher plan.

Chapter 4 is a powerful word. It is by God's power that He accomplishes His purposes. We are at our best when we come to Him in broken humility and call on His name in the spiritual authority He has given us. The enemy is never afraid of us until we disarm the flesh and yield totally to the Spirit.

September 19, Day 262

Today's Reading

While Ezra recorded the history of rebuilding the Temple, Haggai and Zechariah had messages from God for the people. Even though they had been sent back to their homeland with commands to complete the Temple, they got excited about being "home" and started working on their own houses. It's a common temptation to want to make your own nest comfortable before you take care of business. I have faced it and so have many of you. Sometimes we all need warnings like the ones through Haggai.

September 18, Day 261

Today's Reading

God protected the rebuilding of His Temple and even used pagan kings to do it. His people faced opposition and kept going as long as they could. Finally, it was finished. What a celebration. Meanwhile, His people still in captivity could do nothing but weep as they thought of Jerusalem.

September 17, Day 260

Today's Reading

With the return to Israel after 70 years of exile, we are nearing the end of the events of the Old Testament.  If you were with us at Stone Ridge this summer of 2011, we studied the book of Zechariah, which was received and shared during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Note how God had preserved so many articles that had been stolen from the Temple.  Note how God made a way for them to go back and rebuild.  Their captivity was judgment for their disobedience and the judgment was complete; their hearts were humble and they were ready to go back.  What a picture of how God faithfully works on us!

 

September 16, Day 259

Today's Reading

This last vision recorded by Daniel contains the most detail. He received it after many years of captivity. In fact, Cyrus of Persia was the king who sent captives back to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Centuries of events are included in the vision, which is hard for me to follow.

To me, the most interesting part of this passage is the picture it give of spiritual war going on in the invisible realm. The image of the archangel Michael fighting against the demon prince of Persia is confirmation that our true foes (Ephesians 6) are spiritual forces rather than flesh and blood.

September 15, Day 258

Today's Reading

I noticed that the visions Daniel saw in Chapters 7 and 8 were during the reign of Belshazzar. He was the king who saw the finger write on the wall. Each of those were prophetic of things to come in the distant future. Scholars have matched these visions to events in history, proving their accuracy.

Chapter 9 begins with Daniel grieving for the judgment on Jerusalem. Even though he was exiled from their when he was very young, it was the city of his dreams. He was broken to hear of its fall. As he intercedes for Jerusalem, he is given the vision of 70 weeks, often dissected and very mysterious.

September 14, Day 257

Today's Reading

Lengthy time elapsed between each if today's chapters. In Chapter 4, I am reminded of times in my life when I knew I was doing wrong, but did it anyway. Daniel had warned Nebuchadnezzar of what would happen and begged him to repent; he remanned in his denial until it was too late.

Chapter 5, according to history, on the very night the Medes cut off the river that flowed through Babylon, allowing them to crawl under the fortified walls and overtake the city.

By Chapter 6, Daniel had lived under various pagan rulers and God continued to protect him.

September 13, Day 256

Today's Reading

What must it have been like to live in the days of Nebuchadnezzar? In Daniel 1, the chief of staff was afraid of him. In Chapter 2 he declared that Daniel's God was God of God's. Then in Chapter 3 he threw the three into the fiery furnace for worshiping Him. "Erratic" is the kindest word I can think of for him.

September 12, Day 255

Today's Reading

I never fully noticed before the journey one takes through the book of Joel. It starts with the pronouncement of fierce judgment through a plague of locusts. It moves to repentance by God's people and restoration as God sees the repentance and takes action. It concludes with God and His people preparing for ward against God's enemies.

AND it contains this promise fulfilled at Pentecost as well as in us: "Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. (Joel 2:28 NLT)

September 11, Day 254

Today's Reading

On this day, take time to remember the desperate condition of our world. The work of hatred done on 9/11/01 has left its indelible imprint on our generation. The price of our freedom is more than steep; let's be thankful for all who help protect it and us.

Ezekiel concludes with a city called, "the Lord is there." Out from it a river will flow that gets deeper and deeper as it moves away from the city. The water of the river will be full of life. Trees will grow on both sides of the river and, producing fruit every month, they will contain healing. What a description!

September 10, Day 253

Today's Reading

I was fascinated today as I reflected on the cleansing of the altar and the requirements of the priests. In this day of grace, I find it too easy to lose sight of the holiness of God. How about you?

September 9, Day 252

Today's Reading

Don't get bogged down in today's reading.  We are moving rapidly to the climactic conclusion of Ezekiel.  This builder's description of the Temple is instruction enough to build one.

 

September 8, Day 251

Today's Reading

I listened to today's reading on my smartphone; I was on my way to Phoenix.  It was so good, I listened to it twice.  I prayed, "O God, would You bring life into the people of our region who are as spiritually dead as the dry bones?"  Then I listened with great interest to the prophecy about Gog and Magog.  Joel Rosenberg's book, The Ezekiel Option, is fiction; however, it masterfully dissects Ezekiel 38.

 

September 7, Day 250

Today's Reading

As you may know, the word "pastor" means "shepherd". I take it very seriously these days when I read Ezekiel 34. It's a stern warning to those of us who pastor some of God's people.

September 6, Day 249

Today's Reading

"Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, `Come on, let's go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!' So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. (Ezekiel 33:30, 31 NLT)

It is probable that many churches are populated every weekend with people who attend for some type of personal or business or political gain. People may fooled by the smiles on their faces, but God is not. I pray for a true spiritual awakening in our region and our nation.

September 5, Day 248

Today's Reading

It's obvious that Tyre's king was very powerful and Tyre was very rich. Both this account and secular history attest to this. If we look deeper in Ezekiel 28 (and a parallel passage in Isaiah 14) we can see a reason for their worldly success. In verse 11, the attention shifts from the earthly king to the spiritual power behind him, Satan. Read verses 11-19 carefully. It's quite a description!

September 4, Day 247

Today's Reading

In the same way that He had done with other prophets, God gave clear messages to Ezekiel concerning Israel's neighbors. Each nation would face judgment, no matter how rich and powerful they were. Our arrogance is laughable, if we think we have the resources to avoid God's judgment.

September 3, Day 246

Today's Reading

Furthermore, they have defiled my Temple and violated my Sabbath day! On the very day that they sacrificed their children to their idols, they boldly came into my Temple to worship! They came in and defiled my house. (Ezekiel 23:38, 39 NLT) I must remember this the next time I'm tempted to intentionally hold on to some sin and mindlessly join in worship. God notices!

September 2, Day 245

Today's Reading

The scene in Chapter 22 could just as easily be in 2011. Immorality was rampant, leaders destroyed lives for their own financial gain and religious leaders refused to call sin what it is. God's judgment was on the way. But, "I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30 NLT)

Are you standing in the gap? Are you crying out to God for the salvation of our generation?

September 1, Day 244

Today's Reading

"Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord . Repent, and turn from your sins. Don't let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord . Turn back and live! (Ezekiel 18:30-32 NLT). As I pray for lost people today, I am standing in faith on the Word of God. He doesn't desire them to perish, but to repent.

August 31, Day 243

Today's Reading

It's hard to trust God when I am steeped in the world. Today's two chapters reminded me of that. The unfaithfulness described in Chapter 16 is the seedbed of the unbelief in Chapter 17. It's the same in my life. My level of faith is either fed or destroyed by my level of faithfulness.

August 30, Day 242

Today's Reading

God continued to drive home to Ezekiel the depth of sin among God's people. Prophets were whitewashing the sins, leaders were keeping secret sins and it was so bad that God proclaimed the inability of righteous men to pray it away. If Noah, Daniel and Job couldn't save them through intercession, who could?

August 29, Day 241

Today's Reading

It is utterly amazing what took place in today's reading. Ezekiel was far away in Babylon, but the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem. God showed Ezekiel that Judah's King Zedekiah would escape through city walls under cover of darkness, which is exactly what he did. Then Zedekiah would be captured and taken to Babylon, which he was. But Zedekiah wouldn't see Babylon, which he didn't because they put his eyes out after they captured him. Just before they put his eyes out, they killed his sons in front of him so the last memory of sight he would have the rest of his life was the slaughter of his sons. God showed it all to Ezekiel hundreds of miles away. Amazing!

August 28, Day 240

Today's Reading

Ezekiel was a contemporary of Isaiah and Jeremiah. In today's passage, he was given a vivid description of God's judgment upon Jerusalem. One third would die in the city during the siege. One third would die outside the walls of the city. One third would be scattered about the earth. Then God showed him some of the detestable sins that were bringing them down. What would it do to us if God opened our eyes to see some of the sins hidden behind closed doors in our nation?

August 27, Day 239

Today's Reading

We enter the prophecy given to Ezekiel. Some prophets were like Jeremiah, speaking from the hot zone of Jerusalem while God was carrying out His judgment upon His people. Ezekiel was from the northern kingdom of Israel and was among previous exiles to Babylon. It is amazing what God showed him about what was going on in Jerusalem and what was coming soon after.

I am requiring you to bear Israel's sins for 390 days—one day for each year of their sin. After that, turn over and lie on your right side for 40 days—one day for each year of Judah's sin. (Ezekiel 4:5, 6 NLT) Having read that, can we really believe that God takes sin lightly? I shudder to think about how lightly we take it!

August 26, Day 238

Today's Reading

22 The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lamentations 3:22-24 (NLT) Sometimes, Scriptures verses are like a soaking rain in the midst of a long drought.  My prayer is that we will become known as people whose only hope is in Him!

August 25, Day 237

Today's Reading

Reading Lamentations today reminded me of the current news from Somalia and some other parts of the world. No wonder Jeremiah was writing a lament!

August 24, Day 236

Today's Reading

We leave the book of Jeremiah. Israel and Judah captives, their land in shambles. We know from his prophecies that Judah will be captives for 70 years. Then a remnant will return. There's always hope!

August 23, Day 235

Today's Reading

Announcements of pending judgment continue. Two observations. First, it's never good to side against Israel...never. Second, if you read Jeremiah 50 with a little imagination, you can almost see the armies of the world roll over Babylon (Iraq) just a few years ago.

August 22, Day 234

Today's Reading

God gave Jeremiah messages of judgment for Egypt, Philistia and Moab. He will judge all nations, including ours.

August 21, Day 233

Today's Reading

I am always amazed at this part of Jeremiah. "Jeremiah, tell us what God wants us to do and we'll do it, no matter what it is."

"Stay in Judah. Don't flee to Egypt. You'll fall under God's judgment if you go to Egypt." (Remember, Egypt symbolizes the world system in Scripture.)

"We won't do that! We MUST go to Egypt! They are the only ones who can help us. We don't CARE that we're sacrificing to other gods!" (Scary, huh!)

The message to Baruch (Jeremiah's scribe) in Chapter 45 is potent: Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don't do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the Lord , have spoken!'" (Jeremiah 45:5 NLT) I have made the mistake of seeking great things for myself. It's worthless!

August 20, Day 232

Today's Reading

I have love Habakkuk for years today was like a feast on many delicacies. It's hard to imagine one little book that is so oft quoted. The opening captured me...

How long, O Lord , must I call for help?
But you do not listen!
"Violence is everywhere!" I cry,
but you do not come to save.
Must I forever see these evil deeds?
Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look,
I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people
who love to argue and fight.
The law has become paralyzed,
and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous,
so that justice has become perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2-4 NLT) What an apt description of our time and our land.

Read this little book carefully. Ask God to speak to you through it. Get to the end with the declaration..."yet I will rejoice in the Lord!" God has called us to such a time as this!

August 19, Day 231

Today's Reading

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia,s the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah.s He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:

"This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:
"The Lord , the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are the Lord 's people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!" (2 Chronicles 36:22, 23 NLT)

Those of you who have studied Zechariah with us this summer at Stone Ridge will perhaps recognize that this fulfillment of prophecy and proclamation by Cyrus is the event that triggers the events in Ezra, Nehemiah and Zechariah. The remnant went home and built the Temple and the walls around Jerusalem.