December 25

Merry Christmas to you all!


Today's Reading
Zechariah. "And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” Oh, may God grant that we live in such a day and that people from around the world are turning to Him by the millions!  Perhaps that day is upon us.  God is stirring among those who seek Him. May we and our church be among them!
Revelation. In that day, God will pour out His wrath on those who have chosen to follow the dragon (Satan) and his world rulers. It will be horrible.
Psalms. If you had but one chapter of the whole Bible available to you and didn't know the rest, this chapter might lead you to believe that God's best is for us to be healthy and wealthy. Many other passages counterbalance this one, though. They help us understand that problems are a part of life's journey and should be expected and learned from.
Proverbs. What a comparison built from contrasts!
Climbing Companion, I wish you and yours a wonderful day and hope that you enjoy it to the full. I thank Jesus for you and what you mean in my life!

December 24

Today's Reading
Zechariah. Christ as often called "the Branch", but I never before noticed the following verses: "2 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord." WE are the Lord's temple! Christ has branched out all over the planet and made it possible for us to receive a new, clean heart where God can live. Amen!
Revelation. This chapter is a great contrast. On the one hand are those who rejoice because they have endured persecution and are in the presence of God. On the other hand, the angels are preparing to bring about more judgment on the wickedness of the planet.
Psalms. "8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you." I think that God loves it when we pray prayers like that!
Proverbs. It strikes me that that this little series of observations was part of Solomon's wisdom. He watched what was happening around him and pondered its meaning.
What are you pondering in today's reading?

December 23

Today's Reading
Zechariah. We met the "two witnesses" in Revelation 11 and they are surely the same two "heavenly beings" mentioned in Zechariah 4. Don't be surprised that this Old Testament book and Revelation (New Testament) are speaking of the same thing, even though they were written hundreds of years apart. When prophets saw things, they were looking outside their understanding of the realm of time. They just saw. Then they wrote it down. One other observation: we often justify "little white lies" or petty theft by the needy. What do you notice about God's attitude regarding those things?
Revelation. This chapter speaks in detail about the coming day when people will be forced to choose very carefully whom they will serve because there may be no turning back from the choice. Acceptance of the beast's mark to buy and sell (the technology already exists) will require allegiance to him and a permanent denial of God. The judgment during that time will be horrible.
Psalms . People in depression feel exactly what this chapter describes, I am told. It is a tragic set of circumstances and one that often needs a remedy beyond human encouragement. May all those who live in this experience and who know Christ end up in the last verse of the passage.
Proverbs. What an apt description!
What speaks to you today?

December 22

Today's Reading


Zechariah 3 is, I believe, a prescription for restoring spiritual leaders who have fallen. For many years I saw churches pulled into the notion that certain types of sin permanently disqualified someone from being a pastor. Divorce was one hot topic. I was a participant in this legalism for a few years. I began to see what I believe is the heart of God on the matter. God hates sin and what it does to us. We should never take it lightly. On the other hand, true brokenness and repentance should always include a way to restoration. That's where this chapter comes in. Satan, the accuser, wanted Jeshua permanently removed. The Lord rebuked Satan and gave a formula that Jeshua could participate in to be restored. Clean clothing symbolized true and full repentance and washing in Christ's sacrifice. A clean turban symbolized a new mind -- a new way of thinking ("As a man thinks in his heart, so he is."). Following God's ways meant a period of testing and accountability, earning the trust of those hurt by his fall.

Revelation. This description of the "beast" is believed by many to be the coming antichrist, who is actually Satan incarnate. Another view is that it was Caesar, who led Rome to conquer the world and proclaimed himself to be God. It's possible that both are true. Either way, the depiction of this person seems to indicate power over Africa (leopard), Russia (bear) and Europe (England uses a lion). Of note is the fact that the European Union recently chose its first president -- for the first time in centuries the old Roman Empire is coming together.

Psalms. I find it comforting that David, the man after God's own heart, sought constantly to grow in his walk with God. It's a great example that I need to follow.

Proverbs. The pictured attitude of an adulterous woman is something being lived out today. Women have felt used by men and sometimes get back by using their charms to lure men and bring them down. Then they feel justified in using the man's weakness against him.


What do you notice?

December 21

Today's Reading
Zechariah. We are almost to the end! This first chapter of Zechariah seems to give an interesting nuance of the way God's purposes work. God had allowed pagan nations to overcome Judah. This judgment was because of Judah's great sin; God removed His protection and allowed the evil to happen. However, the pagan nations went much farther than they should have and God would not stop them. Could He have stopped them from overdoing it? Of course! But He also could have stopped Judah from sinning. To do either would have been a violation of His creation of humans in His own image. Being in His image means that we must have a choice and live with the consequences of that choice.
Revelation. This chapter speaks both symbolically and literally, I believe. Satan is symbolized (clearly) by the dragon. The stars are symbolic of the angels who joined Lucifer in their heavenly rebellion and were cast out. The seven heads with ten horns likely stands for the world system; in that day it was Rome. The woman may mean Mary or Israel or the Church or all three. The conflict depicted here is real and ongoing.
Psalms. Sometimes life seems so easy and we can be thankful for rest. Sometimes, though, we realize what a battle we are in. That's when we experience just how much we need God to come to our aid!
Proverbs. Do you get the idea that God really wants us to honor our parents?
What is speaking to you today?

December 20

Today's Reading
Haggai's prophetic work took place during the time that the Temple -- destroyed by Babylon -- was in ruins. The people who were in Judah could have used the season under God's judgment to repent, but instead they were trying to just enrich themselves. Their choice to build nice homes for themselves while the Temple was in ruins was deeply offensive to God. It would be like you and me focusing only on wealth and pleasure in this life and failing to invest in our own spiritual growth and relationship with God. When they repented, God promised to bless them.
Revelation.Some believe that the two witnesses are incarnations of Moses and Elijah. They were the two who met with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration and they represent the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament. Perhaps they are two whom God raises up for this special assignment. Perhaps they are symbolic of the few true witnesses who will be alive in that dark day.
Psalms. "17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!" Wouldn't it be great if we could truly grasp this every morning when we rise to start the day?
Proverbs. May I live in such a way that nothing except God Himself so occupies me that I want Him more and more. Constantly.
Your thoughts today?

December 19

Today's Reading
Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of a good king named Josiah. Yet, while Josiah instituted many reforms, the hearts of the people were obviously not changed very much. I noted the prophecy to Nineveh: "15 This is the boisterous city, once so secure. “I am the greatest!” it boasted. “No other city can compare with me!” But now, look how it has become an utter ruin, a haven for wild animals. Everyone passing by will laugh in derision and shake a defiant fist." This made me think of New York, which some contemporaries have called "the capital of the world." Can you imagine it in ruins? It will be some day!
Revelation. Some things are being held back by God until the right time for their revealing. On the other hand, He has given many pieces of the mystery to his servants, the prophets. If you recall, many of the prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus' first coming were given in pieces to different prophets in different places at different times.
Psalms. "The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever." What a great promise!
Proverbs. We live our lives with the attitude of an ungrateful owner, who thinks we have earned everything we have and we have a right to do whatever we want. Or our attitude is of an grateful ower, who is amazed at the many opportunities we have received and want to spend our life giving back.
What is God saying to you today?