July 31

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. It's easy to imagine Hezekiah pondering the sorry state of the Temple in the years leading up to his reign. He must have, for he gave the restoration order in the first month he was king. It's also a lesson that it only took 16 days to make it ready for worship again. The people had been neglecting their worship for the lack of 16 days of effort. How many "small" things do I allow to keep me from time with God?

Romans. It is easy to judge someone else when they live with a freedom we don't have. It is also easy to flaunt our freedom in front of someone who is bound in a set of rules. Both are wrong.

Psalms today is a great call to worship. Throw open the gates! Unlock the doors! Let the King of the earth and all it contains enter as we bow in reverence!

Proverbs. Cathy and I have been laughing recently. My eyesight is still pretty good, but my hearing has taken some hits. She is just the opposite. I told her I will drive and talk. She can sit and listen. I'm not sure her non-talking role will work for her. She prefers me to drive so she can do other stuff.

What are your thoughts today? Questions about the passages?

July 30

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. Uzziah's heart was humble until he got too big for his britches. Then God struck him. Ahaz started wicked and ended worse. Yet God still had people in both Judah and Israel who honored Him. No matter how bad things are, God always has a remnant. I would rather be in the remnant than "successful" and developing a hard heart. How about you?

Romans 13 should fit us like a tailored glove. I believe that it is time that we learn to humble ourselves and honor those in authority over us. It is also time that God's people learn to live as unto the Lord, no matter which direction the political winds are blowing. Our hope and salvation are from the Lord and not a political party!

Psalms. At the end of my days, may it be said that God's goodness and mercy were with me throughout my life.

Proverbs. This verse is clear enough. What does the way you act say about your loyalty and commitment?

What speaks to you today? Do you have questions?

July 29

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. The themes in Chapter 24 are pregnant with meaning. The religious leaders failed to take care of business (so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good?). The King stepped and and took care of business, but where was his heart? As soon as Jehoiada died, Joash bowed to political pressure and re-introduced pagan worship. Then, when he was warned, he was complicit in the death of Zechariah. Finally, many of his people wanted him gone and God's hand of judgment fell.

Romans 12 begins with the command to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, not conforming to this world, but being transformed. It ends with the wisdom that the way to conquer evil is by doing good. What great life lessons!

Psalms 22 started yesterday with the sacrifice that would be made by Christ. Today it pictures the end result, that every knee shall bow and all those who have acknowledged Him by choice will live with Him rejoicing.

Proverbs. O, for the wisdom of those who sit in judgment.

And what do you long for? Any questions or thoughts today?

July 28

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. Jehoram died and no one was sorry. Athaliah tried to kill every member of the royal family so she could be queen. Then Joash was rescued and became the boy king. What drama!

Romans. In Chapter 8, Paul spoke of the depth of God's love. In Chapter 9, he told about God's mysterious plan whereby He is in charge of everything, even us. In Chapter 10, he shared how God's salvation is for everyone who will call on His name. And now, he says, "Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" Amen!

Psalms. It is hard to imagine this Psalm of David being more descriptive of the crucifixion, which wouldn't happen until hundreds of years later. If David -- and later Christ -- felt alone and abandoned, we should not be surprised to feel the same way. Hold on, though. Sunday's coming!

Proverbs. I believe that integrity is when our outside walk matches up with what we say we believe on the inside. The opposite is hypocrisy. It is the tiny decisions we make every day that build our integrity.

What do you see today? Any Questions?

July 27

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. The account in Chapter 20 is one of my favorite in the Old Testament. But notice this verse in Chapter 19: "Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord..." Without doubt, the victory in Chapter 20 came partly as a result of Jehoshaphat's faithful work earlier. We never know the long-term results of the work we do today. We are often encouraged, though, by seeing some of the results from work we did long ago.

Romans. This difficult message of God "choosing" still bears down on us in today's reading. Can we fully understand it? No! But today includes the attitude that we should have about it: gratitude. Our salvation is never something to be haughty about, but something to be humbly grateful for. Also, God's involvement doesn't give us a "pass" from telling others about Him. Our faithful sharing of the message is part of His plan.

Psalms. "The king trusts in the Lord." That's not only good for the king -- it's good for the whole nation.

Proverbs. I am deeply touched when someone makes a difficult commitment, then keeps it without wavering. In my experience, such people are rare.

And what do you see today? Do you have questions or comments?

July 26

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. It always intrigues me that Micaiah walked into the throne room and immediately agreed with the false prophets. Then Ahab, who was hearing what he wanted to hear, told Micaiah that he wanted the truth. Then, when Micaiah tells him the truth, Ahab locks him up. But it was Ahab who was dead by the end of the battle.

Romans. "Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law." While Paul wrote those words about Israel, they accurately describe many of the religious people I meet in our generation. People everywhere think they are going to heaven because they are good people who try to do right.

Psalms. Ultimately and always, the final victory belongs to the Lord. We cannot overcome His ways, for they will stand until the End.

Proverbs. Are you quick to jump into an argument or a fight? There may be a time to stand up and fight, but I think it is usually better to avoid one.

What have you noticed today? Questions?

July 25

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. The account of good King Asa stands out for me. There are so many lessons I learn from reading about him. The one that most stands out is this: put your trust in God and He will accomplish His purposes. Put your trust in human strength and you will cut off some of God's blessing. A second lesson, now that I have enjoyed many years of God's blessing, is this: never divert your trust from God Himself to His past blessings. He is the eternal God who wants my intimacy and trust  today and doesn't want me to use the strength of past blessings to buy help from someone else like Asa did with the king of

Romans. we move from Chapter 8, which is one of the most comforting chapters in the Bible to Chapter 9, which is one of the most difficult. What does it mean to you?

Psalms. I know just enough about astronomy to understand something about the movements and formation of space. Still, they are a mystery to me, always coming up with surprises. It is the same way with my own heart. "How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?" As I mature in my understanding of God and His holiness, I see more and more of my own sinfulness. Then I am amazed at God's kindness to forgive me.

Proverbs. Having grown up in an era when most conservative Christians were teetotalers, I have noticed that our understanding of grace has freed up many in the church to drink a glass of wine with a meal or a beer on a hot afternoon. Such freedom is good, but it is also dangerous. Today's Proverbs verse is a good guardrail for living with this freedom.

What do you think today? Questions or comments?