Archive for the ‘Daily Scripture Reading’ Category
Today’s Bible Reading: Philemon 1; Hebrews 1, 2, 3, 4
October 30, 2009 Result of Belief
Today’s Bible Reading: Job 21; Mark 5, 6
Scripture Focus:
Mark 5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Mark 5:36 “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Mark 6:5–6 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.
Mark 6:27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison.
Mark 6:50 “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Mark 6:56 Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.
Observation:
Today I’ve listed a series of amazing events involving Jesus. Mostly the stories have happy endings, but they all involved faith in Jesus—belief. I don’t claim to understand how belief works, but I know that it’s a necessary ingredient to seeing and receiving great things from God.
It seems to me, though, that belief is not wishing. It’s faith in a person who really does have the power to grant my desire.
Sometimes belief lands you in a hot spot—like John the Baptist. He languished in prison and then was beheaded. We never know where our belief might ultimately take us, and we have to be willing to entertain the possibility of suffering or death, but most of the time belief enables us to do great things or accept great things—such as healing—from God.
Application:
Jesus says to me today, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Will I believe in his power to perform what I need in my life today, or will He marvel because of my unbelief?
Prayer:
Father God, I choose to believe in you today to be my complete and adequate source of life and power to fulfill the mission you’ve given me.
Scripture Focus:
Mark 5:36 “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Mark 6:5–6 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.
Mark 6:27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison.
Mark 6:50 “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Mark 6:56 Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.
October 28, 2009 Questions And Answers
Today’s Bible Reading: Job 19; Mark 1, 2
Scripture Focus:
Mark 2:7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:16 “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
Mark 2:18 “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
Observation:
Mark 2 is mostly question and answer. Jesus does something unusual, unpredictable, or suspect, so the questions begin. And Jesus is gracious enough to answer honest questions.
Application:
Following Jesus might mean that I don’t follow customary “religious” practice, which will raise questions from the community of faith that thinks it has a corner on how a religious person should act. That’s to be expected. As long as I’m truly following Jesus and loving like he loved, the questions need not anger or bother me or make me impatient.
May God give me the ability to answer such questions graciously, but without waffling, like Jesus did.
Prayer:
Father God, may my walk be so like Jesus that people are compelled to ask questions, and may you give me the right answers, when the time comes.
Scripture Focus:
Mark 2:16 “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
Mark 2:18 “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
October 26, 2009 Don’t Dwell There
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.
Scripture Focus:
My days are extinguished,
The grave is ready for me.
And does not my eye dwell on their provocation?
October 20, 2009 Perspective Affects Attitude
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.
Scripture Focus:
My eye will never again see good.
October 14, 2009 Tree Or Chaff
Today’s Bible Reading: Nehemiah 11, 12; Psalm 1; Acts 3
Scripture Focus:
Psalm 1:3–4 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Observation:
What a comparison—a mighty tree versus chaff! One is enduring, the other floats away on the wind. What makes the difference? Whether or not we meditate on and follow the law of the Lord.
Application:
It’s very easy to get my sight off this foundational principle. So many other things vie for my attention and time. Time in the Word, time in prayer must be a priority. Life itself is short. Doing what matters most for eternity is wise.
Prayer:
Father God, I have been lax lately in coming to your Word for my daily sustenance and guidance. It should be the very air I breathe. Open my eyes to the truth today—that life is short, that eternal things count more than I imagine right now.
Scripture Focus:
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
September 27, 2009 A Bag With Holes
Today’s Bible Reading: Haggai 1, 2; Psalm 129; Luke 10
Scripture Focus:
Haggai 1:5–6 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!
“ You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
Observation:
Frequently in the Bible God lets us know that grasping at things without being generous to him and others is actually a way of losing those things. It’s like putting money into a bag with holes.
Could it be the same way with time? Time is a commodity we all crave and never seem to have enough of.
I think of the verse: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
Application:
I’m struggling with a lack of time, so I tend to hoard the little time I get. It’s been a struggle to give God my undivided attention in the morning to start the day right, but that is exactly where I need to start—giving him my best, the firstfruits of the day.
Scripture Focus:
“ You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
