20-20 Blog

Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 65, 66; Psalm 62; John 3

Scripture Focus:

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Observation:

When it comes to spiritual things, there is no middle ground. You either believe in Jesus and have everlasting life, or you don’t, and you’re destined for the wrath of God.

In Isaiah today I saw the same thing:
Isaiah 66:22 “ For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD,

“ So shall your descendants and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.
24 “ And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

There is so middle ground except for this: Isaiah 65:2 “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people.” God’s pleads with us to turn to him, because it’s one or the other, life or death, heaven or hell.

Application:

I want to be like God who reaches out to those who don’t know or follow him. People are headed for hell unless they turn to the Giver of life.

It’s much easier to think of “the lost” as a large, faceless category that I can pray for—sort of like praying for “the poor.” It’s much harder to pray for, or doing something about, specific people I know who are poor or who need Jesus.

Prayer:

Father God, give me a heart that yearns to see sinners like me saved and headed for heaven.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Jonah 1, 2, 3, 4; 2 Timothy 2

Scripture Focus:

Jonah 4:10–11 But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

2 Timothy 2:8–10 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Observation:

There is such a difference between Jonah’s view of the lost and Paul’s view. Jonah didn’t want to preach repentance to Ninevah and did his best to avoid God’s command to do so. When God made it clear that he wasn’t going to let Jonah off the hook, Jonah did preach to Ninevah, but he wasn’t pleased when the people of Ninevah repented, and God had mercy on them.

God demonstrated that Jonah was more concerned about his own comfort and reputation than he was about the lost, and he reminded Jonah that he is a God who has pity on the lost.

Paul, on the other hand, was so concerned for the lost, for the ones who didn’t yet know God, that he was willing to sacrifice his own comfort and even be taken prisoner for the sake of spreading the gospel, that he might lead the lost to salvation through Jesus Christ.

Application:

God wants me to be concerned for the lost. I’ll admit, this isn’t an area where I shine. I must ask God to give me his love for the lost. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Prayer:

Father God, You gave your only Son for the lost. Please give me your love for the lost.

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Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture Focus:

Matthew 13:49–50 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Observation:

One thing is sure according to the Bible. This world, as we know it, is coming to an end. It won’t be so much because we annihilate ourselves with nuclear weapons. It will be due to wickedness upon the earth, when God finally says, “Enough!”

In these verses we read that the angels will come and separate the wicked from among the just and will cast the wicked into the furnace of fire. Jesus is quite graphic about hell. It isn’t theoretical to him. It’s a place of pain—of wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Application:

As Jesus says, “He who has ears, let him hear.” Since we know the truth and God’s way is plain to us from the Scriptures, we have no excuse if we ignore the warning. It’s like staying in an earthquake danger zone when we’ve been warned. We may think we’re getting away with it, but eventually the mountain will erupt.

Prayer:

Abba Father, may I walk judiciously before you all the days of my life. May I be one who has ears to hear, and help me to warn others of the danger ahead.

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Today’s bible Reading: Judges 13–16; 2 Corinthians 2

Scripture Focus:

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Observation:

The knowledge of God is a fragrance that produces a reaction. Some will react with longing and be drawn to it and be saved. Others will shrink from it and continue on the pathway to death.

Application:

Like Paul asks, “Who is sufficient for these things?” How can I, a mere mortal, be the fragrance that brings healing and wholeness and life to someone? Only God can do it through us. He can lead me triumphant in Christ!

Prayer:

Father God, I want to be a fragrance instead of a smell or stench.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Joshua 21–22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10

Scripture Focus:

1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Observation:

It would appear that cockiness is a bad thing most of the time, and certainly here where Paul has just delineated the sins of the children of Israel under Moses. They lusted after evil things, they became idolaters, they committed sexual sin, they tempted God, and they complained.

Ouch. Why did Paul have to remember that part about complaining?

Application:

Looks like I always have something to work on. It may not be idolatry, but it’s a good bet a complaining response will rear its ugly head.

Prayer:

Father God, You have a way of humbling us when we get too cocky. Give me the sense to cut out the cockiness so I can get my nose out of the air long enough to keep on the right path.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 32–34; I Corinthians 2

Scripture Focus:

I Corinthians 2: 4–5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Observation:

We don’t have to be smooth or persuasive talkers to win people to Christ. It is more important to be so tight with the Spirit of God that his power is evident in us. The result is that people put their faith in God’s power rather than in our words.

Application:

I’d much rather have people convinced by God’s power than by my words. In fact, it’s a relief to know that my poor ability to communicate won’t hamper God, as long as I allow his power to be evident in my life.

Prayer:

Father God, I invite your Spirit to be in charge today. May I demonstrate your Spirit and power rather than my wisdom.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Leviticus 15–17; Acts 18

Scripture Focus:

Acts 18:9–10 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

Observation:

God looks at a city and knows there are people who will respond to the good news. He told Paul three things:

Don’t be afraid.
Speak—don’t keep silent
I am with you and will take care of you

Application:

God can look at a city and know who will respond, but he doesn’t expect me to know who they are. All he expects is that I will speak up for the truth. The fact that God says, don’t be afraid, shows that it can be a fearful thing to speak the truth and share the gospel.

I must be willing to see with the eyes of faith the people that will be transformed by my words of life. These are people God wants to bring into his kingdom.

Prayer:

Abba Father, Give me courage in the face of fear to speak up whenever I have an opportunity to share the good news that Jesus died for our sins, and we can be free of the bondage of sin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Leviticus 13–14; Acts 17

Scripture Focus:

Acts 17:6 These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Observation:

Christians were never meant to blend in with everyone else. Paul was accused of turning the world upside down, and he caused havoc wherever he went, or rather, I should say, his message either caused men to turn to God or respond in violent opposition.

Application:

Jesus said we should be salt and light in this world. That means others will know where we stand and will have to make a conscious decision whether to accept what I say or turn away. If that causes some havoc, so be it. I shouldn’t intentionally cause division—Paul says he became all things to all people so he might win some—but the gospel is inherently divisive. You either agree or you don’t, but my job is to speak the truth, whatever the consequences.

Prayer:

Abba Father, give me the same boldness I see in Paul to speak the words of life in a world that desperately needs them. In Jesus name, Amen

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Today’s Bible Reading: Leviticus 10–12; Acts 16

Scripture Focus:

Acts 16:14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

Acts 16: 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Observation:

I was struck by the collaborative nature of God and man working together to bring about salvation. God can certainly speak directly to an individual as he did with Paul on the road to Damascus, which led to Paul putting his trust and hope in God, but this is rare.

Normally God uses people like me to speak the words of life to someone whom God has prepared to receive those words. The gospel is really quite simple: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Application:

I can partner with God to spread the good news. It’s my responsibility to speak the words of life to people, and it’s God’s responsibility to open their hearts to receive them.

Prayer:

Abba Father, help me to fulfill my part of the bargain. May I speak the words of life to those who need them.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Exodus 21–22; Psalm 12; Acts 4

Scripture Focus:

Acts 4:29–31 Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Observation:

I love reading about the boldness of the Apostles to preach the gospel! This is an area of struggle for me, so I admire anyone who shares Jesus easily. I have to remember that it wasn’t always easy for the disciples. They were once scared to stand up for Jesus. What made the difference? Being filled with the Holy Spirit.

This filling didn’t happen just once. Here in these verses, as they prayed for boldness and for miraculous signs, God answered by shaking the house they were in and filling them with the Holy Spirit. The result? Their prayer was answered. They spoke the word of God with boldness!

Application:

If I want to be a bold witness for Jesus, I need to ask God for boldness and for the miraculous confirmation of his power. Then I need to be obedient to speak with boldness to those who need to hear the gospel.

Prayer:

God, I need your power and boldness. I need it today. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and power so I can share the gospel with boldness.

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