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.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
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.
"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.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
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!
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!
Monday, September 26, 2011
September 26, Day 269
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.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
September 25, Day 268
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.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
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.
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.
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