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.