20-20 Blog

Today’s Bible Reading: Job 17; Acts 24, 25, 26

Scripture Focus:

Job 17:1 “My spirit is broken,
My days are extinguished,
The grave is ready for me.

Are not mockers with me?
And does not my eye dwell on their provocation?

Observation:

Job is in a world of hurt—no doubt—and his “friends” aren’t helping him one bit. As he feels beaten down and ready to die, he admits that he’s dwelling on the provocation of his mocking friends. All he can think about is what his friends are saying, and they’re not a positive influence for him, not a good place to dwell.

Application:

My circumstances are what they are, but I must always choose to dwell on the truth, on God’s promises, and on his presence, for he is surely with me, even in the darkest hour.

Prayer:

Father God, may I sense your presence with me through today’s circumstances. May I listen to your Spirit’s leading and guiding as I lead and guide my company today.

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Today’s bible Reading: Job 6, 7, 8; Acts 12

Scripture Focus:

Job 7:7 Oh, remember that my life is a breath!
My eye will never again see good.

Observation:

Job has been dealt a mighty blow. Everything and everyone of value to him have been taken away. As he sits and bemoans this fact with his friends, he makes this observation: “My eye will never again see good.”

Those of us who have read the end of the story know this isn’t true. God abundantly blesses Job when this period of suffering is over, but at this point in his life, Job can’t imagine how that could ever be true.

Application:

When I’m in the middle of a hard situation, my perspective tends to skew my attitude. It’s hard to see beyond my current circumstances and maintain a positive, trusting attitude.

Even John the Baptist, when he was in prison, sent to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah, or should we look for someone else?”

This is where faith comes in. Later, in Job 13:15, Job is able to come to the point where he says, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.”

Prayer:

Father God, I so often feel like I’m a victim of my circumstances. Help me to look beyond the circumstances and know that you love me and have my life in your hands, no matter how I feel right now.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 11,12,13,14; Hebrews 9

Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 11:1–3 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
His delight is in the fear of the LORD . . .

Observation:

These two verses are commonly thought to be a prophecy concerning the Messiah, which was to be a direct descendant of David (whose father was Jesse). According to the New Testament, Jesus came as the Messiah, the Son of God.

It seems fitting that the Spirit of the LORD would rest upon HIm, and the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might and knowledge, but the fear of the LORD?

Then Isaiah repeats it: His delight is in the fear of the LORD . . .

Why would Jesus need to have the fear of the LORD if he was God incarnate? Not only does he have it, he delights in the fear of the LORD.

This phrase, “fear of the LORD,” has been piquing my curiosity for some time now. I’m not sure I totally understand what it means. I would like to do a word study on it.

Application:

I’ve always thought that the fear of the LORD meant to have a healthy respect for God. Whenever God appears to people in the Bible, he has to tell them NOT to be afraid, because he is so awe inspiring. Perhaps it means more to truly understand who God is. That would seem consistent with “delighting” in the fear of the LORD.

Whatever the exact nuances, I want it. Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Arthur Pink has a short little exposition of this verse regarding the fear of the Lord. It is worth reading.

Prayer:

Father God, may I learn the fear of the LORD and delight in it.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Hosea 13,14; Psalms 100,101,102; Hebrews 5

Scripture Focus:

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.

Observation:

This is so simple. I love it! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Can you feel the joy in this verse? I get the picture of a little child skipping along and singing at the top of her voice, just as happy as can be!

Application:

I need more joy in my life. One way to get it is to simply serve God with gladness. Also to come into his presence and sing. Lighten up a bit.

Prayer:

Ah, Lord God, you are worthy to praise in song and to serve with gladness!

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Today’s Bible Reading: Amos 7,8,9; Psalms 104; Titus 2

Scripture Focus:

Psalm 104: 33-34 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the LORD.

Observation:

God likes us to sing songs of praise to him. In Psalm 104 the psalmist says he will sing praises to God as long as he lives. This isn’t something we do as a child in Sunday School. This is something the old and the young get to do forever!

I love the phrase, “May my meditation be sweet to Him.” And the psalmist makes a conscious decision to be glad in the Lord.

Application:

I have a choice what I will allow myself to meditate on. Will I be worried, distracted, anxious today? Or will I meditate sweetly on God as I go about my duties today. It helps to sing songs of praise. Maybe that’s why the psalmist declares he will sing songs to the Lord as long as he lives. It’s hard to be desperate or scattered or upset when the thoughts you think and the songs you sing put God in his rightful place—in Control.

When my kids were little and I taught Sunday School, I used to turn Bible verses into little songs that made them easier to remember. I did that today with these two verses from Psalm 104, and it immediately gave me a feeling of calm.

Prayer:

Father God, you’re in control today. That’s worth singing about!

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Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3

Scripture Focus:

2 Chronicles 25:1–2 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.

2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.

Observation:

It’s quite possible to do the right thing without having a right heart. It looks pretty good to people around us, but God knows the heart.

Application:

This theme is repeated often in Scripture—probably because we need to hear it often. So, Linda, how’s your heart?

Prayer:

Father God, keep my heart tender toward you. When I stray, for we all stray, may the loyalty in my heart soon turn back to you.

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Today’s Bible Reading: 1 Kings 20–21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

Scripture Focus:

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Observation:

Paul told the Colossians to be thankful. Two verses later he repeated the “be thankful” theme. Hmmmm. Sounds like we need to be reminded of this simple rule of Christian living: Be Thankful!

Application:

What would happen if I cultivated an attitude of thanksgiving today? What if, no matter what happened, my spirit looked upward and said, “Thank you, God!” How would I act if I was being thankful all day long? It could be revolutionary!

Prayer:

Father God, I declare today to be Thanksgiving Day! May your Spirit remind me what day it is when I’m tempted to be less than thankful.

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Today’s Bible Reading: 1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13–14; Philippians 4

Scripture Focus:

Philippians 4:6–7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Observation:

These verses are very familiar to me. I’ve read them, memorized them, and tried to put them into practice: Don’t be anxious. Pray. Be thankful. The result? The overarching peace of God!

Application:

I have fairly good reason to be anxious right now, but God says, “No. Don’t be anxious. Pray. And don’t forget thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving—that’s the part I tend to forget. What if I were to pray, and then start thanking God for answering my prayers? I think that’s what he wants me to do—today.

Prayer:

Father God, would you supply my need? And, by the way, thank you so much for answering my prayers!

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Today’s Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 7–9; Ephesians 4

Scripture Focus:

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry,
For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Ephesians 4:26–27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:31–32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Observation:

Anger is spoken of in several of today’s passages. I don’t usually consider myself to be an angry person, yet it’s amazing what can bring out anger. Sometimes it’s not even another person. Sometimes it’s circumstances, like delays on the freeways, missing a turnoff, wasting half an hour driving around in an unfamiliar part of town, and having to reschedule an appointment because of it. Yes, all that happened to me this morning, and I felt very angry.

From today’s passages I can see that:
• Quick anger is a characteristic of a fool. Hmmm. Don’t want that.
• Be angry, and do not sin” seems to indicate that how we handle anger determines whether we sin or not
• If we don’t handle anger well, we give place to the devil.
• God wants us to put away wrath and anger (along with bitterness, evil speaking and malice).
• God wants us instead to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.
• Remembering that God forgave me through Christ will bring much needed perspective.

Application:

Not much to say here except “Do it.” Let anger be a flare or signal that I need to stop and get my head straight.

Prayer:

Father God, you have forgiven me all. Help me to be as generous today.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Proverbs 28–29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

Scripture Focus:

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

Observation:

The imagery in this verse is evocative. You have one set of people (the wicked) who are startled by their own shadows, retreating when no one is pursuing them, and you have the other side—the righteous who are as bold as a lion.

What makes the wicked flighty? What makes the righteous bold?

Part of the answer comes in a the next chapter of Proverbs: The fear of man brings a snare. There’s a lot we won’t do because of the fear of man. What would people think? What if I fail and look stupid? What if they don’t like me?

The antidote to that kind of thinking is found in the next phrase: but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. It doesn’t say we’ll never fail, but we’ll be safe.

Application:

How often is the fear of man holding me back, keeping me from being as bold as a lion? How much could I accomplish if I would trust in the Lord? Wow! I want to be bold today!

Prayer:

Father God, fill me with your boldness today. May I approach each task you set before me with confidence, as I trust in you!

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