On Vacation

My family and I will be on vacation for the next week. A family reunion at Lincoln City, Oregon the first part of the week, and then visiting family in Idaho the remainder of the week. Would appreciate your prayers.

We will be back on track with “Reading the Word” with the first reading on August 1st. In the meantime, you will have a chance to get caught up, though I think it is safe to presume that for the most part you already are. 

Thanks so much for reading. You motivate me to keep writing. I love and appreciate each of you!

July – Day 25

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. • Augustine of Hippo

New Testament

• Luke 12:49-59
• 2 Timothy 3:14-18

Old Testament 

• Psalm 150
• 2 Chronicles 34-36

There is a great urgency to the proclamation of the Gospel. People are perishing all around us and we can be guilty of leaving evangelism to the “evangelists” and paid preachers ignoring the truth that the commandment to preach the gospel was to all Christians. Jesus came to bring a sword, knowing the end is coming and in a sense expresses the sooner the better.

We are not to associate with disobedient people in order that they might be ashamed. However, we are also not to treat them as a enemy but rather correct them as a brother.

The word commands that everything that has breath, praise the Lord. Even the rocks and stones will praise the Lord. I love how nature, with the exception to man, is always obedient to the Lord. May it be so with us.

The reign of Josiah is by far one of my favorite among the kings of Israel. I pray that the discoveries we make in God’s word would always stir us the same way.

The fall of Jerusalem was the end of a sad and unsuccessful chapter in Israel’s life, the end result of wanting an earthy king over the King of Kings.

Oh Lord, may our hearts praise you at all times, in every way. We pray that you would stir deep within us a growing urgency to proclaim the Gospel as it becomes more and more real in our own lives. Give us courage to face the opposition as we share you with others. May your word always stir out hearts in worship and in action and may you always be our only King. In Jesus name…amen. 

July – Day 24

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die. • G. K. Chesterton

New Testament

• Luke 12:35-48
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Old Testament

• Psalm 149
• 2 Chronicles 30-33

We must always be ready for all that the Lord has for us. Ready to open any door that he reveals. He wants us to be ready at all times.

We are to withdraw from the disorderly lest they draw us into their sin. If a person doesn’t work, they shouldn’t eat. Remember that this does not mean that we shouldn’t feed the poor, but that we shouldn’t enable those who are capable of working and simply don’t want to.

Sing to the Lord a new song. Worship should direct us to Jesus and not to ourselves. There is a place for songs of repentance, but it seems that too many songs today are more about us than about God, the one who made us.

The Lord takes pleasure in his people. He will beautify the humble with salvation.

The Lord longs for his creation to return to him. he is gracious and merciful and will not turn his face from us. Hezekiah prayed that the Lord would provide atonement for everyone. That prayer was answered when Jesus came on the scene. Only by his name are our sins atoned for.

Heavenly Father, help us to be ready for all that you have for us in any given day. Put a new song in our hearts that causes us to fall more in love with you. Thank you for making us beautiful through Jesus, the source and joy of our salvation. In His glorious name we pray, Amen!

July – Day 23

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? – Jesus (Matthew 6:27)

New Testament 

• Luke 12:22-34
• 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Old Testament 

• Psalms 148
• 2 Chronicles 28-29

There was a popular song in the late 80’s entitled “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” It has a catchy tune that attempted to help the listener not worry. It probably worked as long as the song lasted. It is only Jesus who can bring a sense of calm, even in the midst of much to worry about.

Our desire should be that the word of the Lord, the Gospel, might run swiftly and be glorified in us. When our hearts are directed toward the Lord, we will have great patience.

There are so many reasons to praise the Lord, he commanded that we were created, established us forever and ever, and made decrees that cannot pass away. How about that for a start!

The Lord does not take lightly anyone who would lead others astray. Hezekiah was one of the great kings of Judah. Why? He cleaned house, got rid of the rubbish in the house of the Lord, and he did it quickly.

Oh Lord, thank you that you have cleansed our hearts. Help us to not worry about things, trusting that it does no good, so that you might bring us a great calm, the only calm that will last. Thank you for creating us and establishing us forever. We love you Lord!

July – Day 22

The spirit of man is more important than mere physical strength, and the spiritual fiber of a nation than its wealth. • Dwight D. Eisenhower

New Testament

• Luke 12:13-21
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Old Testament

• Psalm 147
• 2 Chronicles 25-27

One’s life does not consist of the abundance of the things he possesses. Being rich towards God surpasses any wealth on this earth.

God chose us from the beginning for salvation. Praise his glorious name. Praise is beautiful! Great is the Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. Praise the Lord! 

It is possible to do what is right in the Lord, but not with a loyal heart. Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. 

Why do we seek after the gods of others at the expense of the One True God? Because we can make up gods that suit the lifestyles we want to live. May it never be for us!

Oh Lord, there is so much to glean from in your word. Help us to take every word to heart, letting it settle deep within our souls. Fill us with a contentment for what we have lest we be tempted by an abundance of things that will surely perish. May we embrace the beauty of praise this day and always. In Jesus name…amen. 

July – Day 21

I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. – God to Abraham (Genesis 32:12)

New Testament

• Luke 12:1-12
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Old Testament

• Psalm 146
• 2 Chronicles 22-24

Would love to know how big of a crowd listened to Jesus, innumerable. People have various opinions about Jesus and fail to realize that he has the power to cas into hell. Whoever confesses Jesus before men, those he will confess before God.

If we would but understand that it is the Holy Spirit working in and through the church that is restraining the evil one, we might take church more seriously. People reject the truths of God because of their attachement to the pleasure of unrighteousness.

We must be sure that we praise God daily, while we live. On the day we die, all of our earthly plans perish. Bummer of Praise the Lord?

We must be in prayer, cautious and wise as to whose counsel we follow. How long suffering God is to have watched his people worship false God. His heart was broken then and I believe it is broken now. 

Oh Lord, guard our hearts from worshipping anything or anyone other than you. May our hearts be filled with praise, this day and always. Help us to take your church seriously, never taking it for granted. In Jesus name…amen. 

July – Day 20

Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins. • Ralph Waldo Emerson

New Testament 

• Luke 11:37-54
• 2 Thessalonians 1:8-12

Old Testament

• Psalm 145
• 2 Chronicles 20-21

Jesus was not afraid to rebuke the Pahrisees and the Scribes for their hypocrisy. Because God knows the truth in a person’s heart, he hates hypocrisy. The only person it fools is the hypocrite. They sought to entrap Jesus which was not going to happen unless Jesus permitted it.

Paul took seriously the fate of those who chose to disobey the Gospel. He described the vengeance and wrath of God as a righteous thing? Why, because God has warned, and warned and warned, and for a person’s disobedience, by his word he is obligated to punish.

When was the last time you stopped to think about the greatness of the Lord. It is unseracheable!

The battle always belongs to the Lord. When our hearts are directed to God, harmful things will be removed from our lives. Insecurity and pride can cause us to do terrible things. 

Heavenly Father, we pray that our security might be in you and you alone. Guard our hearts from the hypocrisy that can so easily sway us. May our lives always be driven by what you think of us and never by what man thinks of us. You are great oh Lord, your ways are unseracheable. For that we praise your glorious name!

July – Day 19

Few delights can equal the presence of one whom we trust utterly. • George MacDonald

New Testament

• Luke 11:29-36
• 2 Thessalonians 1:1-7

Old Testament

• Psalm 144
• 2 Chronicles 17-19

If Jesus saw that current generation as evil, I wonder what he would say about today’s. Oh that people everywhere would repent. This is the only way that a person can leave darkness and enter into the marvelous light of Christ. Light and dark can never co-exist.

I love the picture of the church in our reading today, the love of everyone abounding towards each other. I long for that in our church. In faith I believe it is there and that it is there and growing.

The older I get the more I realize the truth of our physical state being as a breath and our days like a passing shadow. Our happiness comes not through what he have this side of heaven, but rather that God is our Lord.

Like Jehoshaphat May our hearts take great delight in the ways of the Lord. He taught God’s word throughout the cities of Judah. We must be careful in seeking counsel from those who will only say good things about us. We must be willing to receive the bad with the good.

Oh Lord, thank you for your word this morning. May we be like Jehoshaphat in delighting in you and teaching others about your truths. May we always, with humility, seek Godly counsel even when we may not fully agree with it. May our trust be in you today and always. In Jesus name…amen. 

July – Day 18

More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it! – Jesus

New Testament

• Luke 11:14-28
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Old Testament 

• Psalm 143
• 2 Chronicles 13-16

Jesus cast out demons with “the finger of God.” The only way a demon could return to his own house is if the house belonged to the demon in the first place. If the house belongs to God, a demon could never return.

It is interesting to me, in light of the emphasis that the Roman Catholic Church places on Mary, as co-redeemer, that Jesus would say that those who hear God’s word and keep it are “more blessed” than his mother.

What is the church to do? Warn those who are unruly, uphold the weak, be patient with all, see that no one renders evil for evil, pursue what is good, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, not quench the Spirit, not despise prophecies, test all things, hold fast what is good, and abstain from every form of evil. This is a pretty good list that should keep our eyes on the Lord and off of ourselves.

The worship of false gods plagued the Israelites throughout the years. Not much different today really. We too are guilty of manufacturing priests, church leaders, today.

Oh Lord, we pray that you would cause us to hear your lovingkindness in the morning, for in you alone do we trust. Cause us to know the way in which we should walk, for we lift up our souls to you. In Jesus name…amen. 

July – Day 17

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. – Mark Twain

New Testament 

• Luke 11:1-13
• 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Old Testament 

• Psalm 142
• 2 Chronicles

What a great model we see, as the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. In this particular text the “how” is omitted, which gives me pause to think they were asking, “Teach us to pray, because we have trouble taking the time to do so.” Just a thought. Either way, we are called to be persistent in prayer.

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Let us not sleep as others do, but be sober and watch expectantly for his return. There is so much to done for the proclamation of the Gospel.

We may bring before the Lord any trouble. Our persecutors may be stronger than us, but no one is stronger than the Lord.

Take note that 2 Chronicles only tracks the reigns of Solomon and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Why is this? Because from this point forward everything points to Jesus, as it relates to the kings and Jesus through their lineage.

Unlike Rehoboam, we should seek to be wise and receive counsel from older men. They have so much to offer. It would behoove us to consider the truth of what Mark Twain said. I think of it often as it relates to my own dad. I wish he was still around, so that I might glean from his wisdom.