July 12

Today's Reading

1 Chronicles. David's kingdom began with great joy and unity. It was probably the most unified the Jews had been in their history. It's but a picture of what Christ's kingdom will be like when we are all bound together in love and harmony.

We begin the reading of Romans today. Even though Acts concluded with Paul's arrival in Rome, you will notice that this book was written before that time -- he was planning to come, but hadn't made it yet. Romans is perhaps the deepest and richest book in the whole Bible. The great themes are introduced in this first chapter...
1. The Gospel is powerful to change people from the inside out.
2. We become righteous by faith rather than by works.

Psalms. "The wicked are trapped by their own deeds." I once knew a leader who misused his influence to get rid of a subordinate in a very harsh and humiliating way. Only a year or so later, his organization got rid of the leader using the same methods. Afterwards, someone said to me, "He taught them how."

Proverbs. Whether the issue is money or words, the truth has a way of coming out. May we live truthfully.

What do you see today? What questions come to mind?