Getting some chariots: 1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17
It’s not who hear, it’s who obey: Romans 2:1-24
The Lord is King forever: Psalm 10:16-18
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul: Proverbs 19:8-9
Boy, did I let the Bible blog get behind or what? And it was with the book of Romans, my favorite book. :)
Paul makes it clear in this letter to the church in Rome that it’s not just hearing the word that matters, it’s doing the word. It’s not just being a church member that matters, it’s actually doing God’s will that matters.
This isn’t saying that we’re not saved by grace. We still can’t get big headed & think we earn eternity. Yet, Christianity has to real enough to live it, or it means nothing.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
July 13, 2009 (Monday)
July 13
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1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36
Romans 1:18-32
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 19:6-7
After a considerable amount of greetings and warm affections for the Romans, Paul gets into some of the hard truths of the world. Paul talks about the basic inability for anyone to see God, though his works are all around us! The world is content to deny and forget the power and Lordship of God although there is everything written in nature and creation to show that he exists, made all and that all are accountable to him. In forgetting God, the human race must turn to all sorts of things to fill in that need to love and worship him, instead they love and bow down to their own desires and own paths. The end of this section is a pretty brutal list of ways of describing a world that has forgotten God. It would be pretty discouraging to stop here, but take heart, the gospel is GOOD NEWS!
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1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36
Romans 1:18-32
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 19:6-7
After a considerable amount of greetings and warm affections for the Romans, Paul gets into some of the hard truths of the world. Paul talks about the basic inability for anyone to see God, though his works are all around us! The world is content to deny and forget the power and Lordship of God although there is everything written in nature and creation to show that he exists, made all and that all are accountable to him. In forgetting God, the human race must turn to all sorts of things to fill in that need to love and worship him, instead they love and bow down to their own desires and own paths. The end of this section is a pretty brutal list of ways of describing a world that has forgotten God. It would be pretty discouraging to stop here, but take heart, the gospel is GOOD NEWS!
July 12, 2009
July 12
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Having read through Acts, seeing the great boldness, action, and conviction of Paul we have to be on the edge of our seats to get into the deep matters of the gospel that he illustrates in the wonderful book of Romans. Many see Romans as the best summarization of the Christian life, justification, peace with God, new life in Christ, the coming return of Jesus, the judgment of the world, the righteousness revealed in Jesus. Paul starts things off by stating his authority as an apostle, called by God to bring good news to the church of Rome. As this is a letter to real people in a real place, Paul begins by speaking warmly to his friends, praising them for the reputation of their great faith. We should long to have the same reputation. He desires to see his friends so that they might encourage and build one another up in the faith. This shows us what the Christian life should be about, encouraging one another and building one another up. Is this an accurate picture of how we usually treat one another?
Before getting into the meat of the letter, Paul makes a wonderful claim about the gospel:
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."
He will spend the rest of the letter explaining what this gospel is all about.
Monday, July 13, 2009
July 11
July 11
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Reading the last chapter of Acts is a really good experience as we move into the great book of Romans. The second half of Acts focuses heavily upon Paul and his work of bringing the good news of Jesus to all the world. He just keeps going on and on and on, knowing that the job of bringing the gospel to all peoples will be much bigger than something he can do alone, yet he is zealous to do all he can to establish churches in parts all across the area so that those churches can do the work in their own area. This is in so many ways just like our ministry here. Someone initially set up our church and centuries later we are still here to bring the gospel to this corner of the world. As we read Romans we get a closer look at Paul's theology as he writes letters to the church of Rome. We get to see even more clearly why he is so on fire to bring this good news to the world.
July 10
July 10
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This chapter is a great indication of what it means to show Godly leadership. Though Paul was a fellow prisoner on the boat, in tumultuous times we see that he is still God's appointed leader of those here. Paul uses the encouraging word that God gives him to tell the others on the boat that he will spare their lives. It is important in the church when someone has a strong conviction or a spiritual insight into where the church should be going that we listen to them. We should always test what people say to scripture, but if someone is excited about doing great things for God it's our job to support and get behind them.
Friday, July 10, 2009
July 9 (Thursday) -- Paul Does a Gilligan's Island
More begats: 1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40
Stormy sailing: Acts 27:1-20
God is a righteous judge: Psalm 7:1-17
Finding a honey is finding God’s favor: Proverbs 18:22
Have you noticed the person of Acts in these chapters? It was written by Dr. Luke, but these chapters are in 1st person. He uses words like “we” when talking about who sailed to Italy, boarded the ship, and lost hope of being saved by the storm.
The point is that Paul was not going through this alone. The Holy Spirit was guiding Paul to allow him to ultimately witness to the emperor of Rome, but it was not an easy road. And Paul had Christian friends along with him to support him, even when Paul was in chains like a criminal.
We need to further God’s kingdom with a no-matter-the-cost kind of philosophy, and encourage each other Christians who do the same.
Stormy sailing: Acts 27:1-20
God is a righteous judge: Psalm 7:1-17
Finding a honey is finding God’s favor: Proverbs 18:22
Have you noticed the person of Acts in these chapters? It was written by Dr. Luke, but these chapters are in 1st person. He uses words like “we” when talking about who sailed to Italy, boarded the ship, and lost hope of being saved by the storm.
The point is that Paul was not going through this alone. The Holy Spirit was guiding Paul to allow him to ultimately witness to the emperor of Rome, but it was not an easy road. And Paul had Christian friends along with him to support him, even when Paul was in chains like a criminal.
We need to further God’s kingdom with a no-matter-the-cost kind of philosophy, and encourage each other Christians who do the same.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
July 8 (Wednesday) -- Griping at Agrippa
The battle was God’s: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81
In such a short time can you persuade me to become a Christian? Acts 26:1-32
Be merciful to me, O Lord: Psalm 6:1-10
The tongue has the power of life and death: Proverbs 18:20-21
Check out today’s passage from Acts. I love this stuff, because it’s not fiction. This really happened!
Paul was talking to King Agrippa, who had the authority to let the Jews execute Paul. Yet, when Paul told the king about Jesus appearing to him, he also talked about Jesus wanting Paul to tell everyone to repent & believe in God – including the Gentiles. By the way, the Gentles are all non-Jews, including the Romans. Instead of cowering in a little corner hoping King Agrippa would be nice to him, Paul took the gospel to the king knowing that it might offend the king. The king already had a religion.
Yet, it’s not over. In the last verse of today’s passage, King Agrippa said that Paul would have been set free had he not appealed to Caesar. The Holy Spirit gave Paul not only the words to say, but also the guts to say them with a no-matter-what, no-matter-who kind of attitude. This allowed Paul to eventually take the gospel to the highest authority in the Roman empire.
What goals does the Holy Spirit have for you?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
July 7 (Tuesday) -- Their Throat Is an Open Grave
A bunch of begats: 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17
More on Paul’s trail: Acts 25:1-27
Throat like a grave: Psalm 5:1-12
Offended like a barred gate: Proverbs 18:19
You know, David had to go through a lot of mess. A lot of folks wanted to kill him, at different times in his life.
And in today’s Psalm he pleaded with God to help him from his enemies’ attacks. Yet he wasn’t talking about the sword. He was talking about their words.
Verse 6 has “those who tell lies”. Verse 9 has “not a word from their mouth can be trusted”. That same verse has, “their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.”
We, as Christians, need to watch what we say about others. It’s not our place to stir up a bunch of mess toward people, even if they’ve done us wrong.
July 6, 2009
July 6
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Luke (the author of Acts) seems very interested in giving us a lot of details about Paul's trial here. I believe that one thing that is going on is his desire to show that, just like Jesus, Paul is very much falsely accused of breaking the Jewish law in following the way of Jesus. Following after Jesus in no way breaks with the Old Testament, breaks in no way with what it means to be an Israelite, to be of the people of God. As Paul talks with Felix during the trial, he speaks of the coming judgment, the judgment that will be righteous and completely true. This makes Felix nervous and he really mostly wants to have nothing to do with Paul, kind of like Pilate in Jesus' trial. He keeps Paul in prison as a favor to the Jews. He is working out of pleasing man and not pleasing God. As the Psalmist spoke of in a passage from last week, God is more to be trusted than earthly princes, earthly judges, who make bad choices and who will one day die and be no more. God's law remains forever and his people will be righteous before his throne.
July 5, 2009
July 5
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Jesus let his disciples know before he went to be with the Father, that they would themselves experience persecution as he himself had. A servant is not greater than a master. Paul is displaying this very persecution here. The Jewish leaders were adamant about holding back Paul, who was powerfully preaching the gospel all over the Mediterranean world. 40 of the Jewish leaders pledged to not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. As they were preparing an ambush, Paul learns of the plot and has the Roman guards who were holding him captive to take him somewhere safe. Though Paul is in danger, God is always with him, he is always in control of the situation.
July 4, 2009
July 4
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When reading Acts it is important to always keep in mind the great commission. The Great Commission is the speech Jesus gives to the disciples at the end of the gospel of Matthew to spread the good news of salvation to all the earth. He also says here that "I will be with you always". God is always with us and we need him especially when we are bringing his good news to the world. Sometimes this is challenging, as Paul here sees, there are many people who don't trust Paul because of his past or who outright don't like what he has to say, but in this section of Acts we see God constantly comforting, encouraging, reassuring Paul. With God's presence Paul is able to stand up to his accusers, pointing out their hypocrisy and blindness.
July 3, 2009
July 3
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After reading the final Psalm, a call for all to praise God in any way that we can we
rewind back to the first Psalm. Where that chapter summed up the entirety of Christian
living, this opening Psalm is like a jumping off point. That's a good way of thinking of
the Psalms, a guidebook for the Christian life as it is expressed in song. There may be
certain songs that mean a lot to you in your life, songs that say something special about
how you look at yourself, God, your family, your friends. This opening Psalm points us
to the pathway of Christ. This Psalms shows us that it is not blessed to sit in a council
of men who don't fear God, but it is blessed instead to meditate on God's word, to live
in the light of his salvation and revelation. This is like a tree planted next to a river,
a tree with a good source of life.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
July 2 -- Cymbals are cool!
Reversing the shadow: 2 Kings 20:1-22:2
Away with him! Acts 21:18-36
Praise him with cymbals: Psalm 150:1-6
Slackers are working for destroyers: Proverbs 18:9-10
Today I want to blog about the passage from 2nd Kings. If you recall, Hezekiah was a king of Judah who flat out loved the Lord. Hezekiah had no sons. For anybody living in that part of the world at that time, dying with no kids was the worst shame you could have. The idea was that you must be a really horrible person to be cursed with being childless. Add to that the fact that Hezekiah as a king and had no son to pass the throne too. This was no doubt part of Hezekiah’s desperation in his praying to God.
Then something kinda cool happened – God heard Hezekiah’s prayer & healed him! I say “kinda” because it may not have been the best thing. You see, because God healed Hezekiah, Hezekiah went on to have a son, who grew up to betray the Lord & even encourage others in his kingdom to do the same. Amon even sacrificed his own son, Hezekiah’s grandson, to the fire god. I bet if Hezekiah had forseen what God did, he would have prayed a prayer that was more of “Your will be done”, than “please, oh please save me.”
Martin Luther once said, “"Blessed is he who submits to the will of God; he can never be unhappy. Men may deal with him as they will...; he is without care; he knows that 'all things work together for good' for him"”
Away with him! Acts 21:18-36
Praise him with cymbals: Psalm 150:1-6
Slackers are working for destroyers: Proverbs 18:9-10
Today I want to blog about the passage from 2nd Kings. If you recall, Hezekiah was a king of Judah who flat out loved the Lord. Hezekiah had no sons. For anybody living in that part of the world at that time, dying with no kids was the worst shame you could have. The idea was that you must be a really horrible person to be cursed with being childless. Add to that the fact that Hezekiah as a king and had no son to pass the throne too. This was no doubt part of Hezekiah’s desperation in his praying to God.
Then something kinda cool happened – God heard Hezekiah’s prayer & healed him! I say “kinda” because it may not have been the best thing. You see, because God healed Hezekiah, Hezekiah went on to have a son, who grew up to betray the Lord & even encourage others in his kingdom to do the same. Amon even sacrificed his own son, Hezekiah’s grandson, to the fire god. I bet if Hezekiah had forseen what God did, he would have prayed a prayer that was more of “Your will be done”, than “please, oh please save me.”
Martin Luther once said, “"Blessed is he who submits to the will of God; he can never be unhappy. Men may deal with him as they will...; he is without care; he knows that 'all things work together for good' for him"”
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
July 1 -- hook in the nose
Hooked by the nose: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37
Ready to be bound or die for the Lord: Acts 21:1-17
Let the saints rejoice in his honor: Psalm 149:1-9
Gossip is like food: Proverbs 18:8
When I read stuff like in Acts 21, I can’t help but think about how cushy our lives are in America. We have no persecution for being a Christian, especially in Alabama. But Paul was willing to do whatever the Holy Spirit guided him to do for the Lord, even though it meant his life would be in danger.
I believe our country is slowly heading towards a day when Christians will be persecuted. If it happens in our lifetimes, I’d like to think we’d have enough spiritual mettle to stand up for the Lord with a no-matter-what, no-matter-who kind of ‘tude.
But the million dollar question is: why don’t we go ahead and stand up for the Lord now, when it doesn’t hurt us?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
June 30 -- The Tent Maker's Dissertation
Hezekiah broke Moses’ bronze snake: 2 Kings 17:1-18:12
The tent maker’s dissertation: Acts 20:1-38
CeCe Winans favorite psalm: Psalm 148:1-14
Mouth begging for a beating: Proverbs 18:6-7
Paul’s closing statement to the Ephesians talked about how important it was for them to live by his teachings. Of course, we know some of his teachings to them – they’re in the Book of Ephesians. But here in Acts, as Dr. Luke recorded it, what was the main thing Paul said that he taught them? And not just to them, but to the Jews too? (Hint, that means everybody.) That we “turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (verse 21).
Repentance goes hand-in-hand with faith in Jesus. We can’t live a life full of sin, with no intention of ever changing, all the while claiming that Jesus is our Lord. When Paul called Jesus our “Lord”, it means that He’s our master --> we do what He says.
The tent maker’s dissertation: Acts 20:1-38
CeCe Winans favorite psalm: Psalm 148:1-14
Mouth begging for a beating: Proverbs 18:6-7
Paul’s closing statement to the Ephesians talked about how important it was for them to live by his teachings. Of course, we know some of his teachings to them – they’re in the Book of Ephesians. But here in Acts, as Dr. Luke recorded it, what was the main thing Paul said that he taught them? And not just to them, but to the Jews too? (Hint, that means everybody.) That we “turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (verse 21).
Repentance goes hand-in-hand with faith in Jesus. We can’t live a life full of sin, with no intention of ever changing, all the while claiming that Jesus is our Lord. When Paul called Jesus our “Lord”, it means that He’s our master --> we do what He says.
June 29 -- Watery Words of Wisdom
King after king after king: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20
Suffering a smack-down from a demon possessed man: Acts 19:13-41
Praise the Lord: Psalm 147:1-20
Watery words: Proverbs 18:4-5
Put on some steel toe shoes before reading Proverb 18:4 – The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
If you talk like most of our fellow man, then your words are as useful as salt water, which can’t be drank. This is what’s referred to as “deep waters” in the proverb.
But speak like the Lord would have you speak and you speak words that bring life, like a bubbling brook.
Wisdom is a treasure that everybody can attain. Seek your wisdom from the Lord & I promise you’ll find it.
June 28
June 28
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Today's passage from Psalms is quite rewarding. It is great that the entire year is filled with a daily reading from the Psalms since they act like a daily spiritual renewal and reflection upon the greatness of our God. Today's Psalm speaks to where we should place our trust. Psalm 146 opens with a exclamation of praise, declaring where our trust dwells. In verse 3 we see that even the most influential and "important" of people are not a place to put our ultimate confidence in, they are mortal just as we are! Next the Psalmist contrasts earthly rulers with our heavenly Lord. The Lord God is the one who made everything and "keeps faith forever". Not only is he eternal in his being, he is also infinite in justice, "who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry". It is good to know that no matter how bad things get here, our Lord will one day set them right... We then see that he grants salvation and favor by opening the eyes of the blind, lifting up those who are brought low, watching over the 'sojourners' (which kind of means homeless, but really can mean anyone who wanders this world like it is not their home). the Psalmist ends by stating a wonderful truth "the Lord will reign forever". Our great king will reign forever. We have a reason to hope and rejoice in the kingdom of God!
June 27
June 27
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As Paul goes out to bring the gospel to the nations, it is important for us to realize that he was discouraged as well. We read in today's passage that after speaking to the Jewish people over and over, they still rejected him and his teachings, he basically tells them that he's done with them and that they are responsible for the truth he has been teaching them. He is obviously frustrated at speaking to people who reject him over and over, yet Jesus then shows up in a vision and encourages Paul, "do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you". What an encouraging thing to remember. Those who were here Sunday to hear Pastor Jack heard a lot about this encouragement. It is important to remember that Jesus promises to always be with us.
June 26
June 26
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In the book of Kings we are reading much about the adventures of the wars of Israel and the tumultuous history of the good and bad kings of Israel. In Acts there is a very contrasting story going on. Here we are reading about the very exciting account of Paul's ministry to the nations. Today's readings involve Paul in Thessalonica, which provides for a great tie in to the missionary letters he sends to the churches, read the books of Thessalonica to get a fuller picture of Paul's relationship to the churches that he founds. Next is a very interesting story about Paul speaking before the Areopagus, where a group of philosophers liked to sit around and, well, philosophize. Paul is ready to speak the gospel in a way they can understand, while in a way that is very challenging. There is an altar to "an unknown god" and Paul basically shows them that he understands the spiritual world in a way revealed by God. He reveals this unknown God as the one who has made all things and all people "in him we live and move and have our being" he says, quoting one of their philsophers. This speech results in many people becoming Christians, "but some men joined him and believed", we read.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
June 25 -- Jailhouse Rock
If the madman calls you “king”, we also call you “king”: 2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Jailhouse rock – Christian style: Acts 16:16-40
Teach me to do your will: Psalm 143:1-12
It is not good to flog officials: Proverbs 17:26
I’ve loved the story about the Lord freeing Paul & Silas from prison ever since I first read it at 14 years old!
Again, the Lord caused His followers to do supernatural things so that others would believe in Jesus. The jailer point blank asked Paul & Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The Holy Spirit is wanting to use us too if we just simply let Him. Ask Him to use you in any way He sees fit.
By the way, if anyone’s interested in a old school rendition of this story, check out one of my favorite classic Christian rock songs at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGMieqbOSSg
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