Mercy Me - Ro. 11:25, 26

"Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved." Ro. 11:25, 26

This verse solved a lingering issue for me: If God himself blinded certain Jews so they could not recognize Jesus as Messiah, how could he hold them responsible for not accepting him? What about his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Well here it is! It is only a temporary condition until the "complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ." Thank you God that I am part of that number! In 11:11 Paul states, "Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! His purpose was to make his salvation available to the Gentiles, and then the Jews would be jealous and want it for themselves." His covenant still holds, the Jews ARE his chosen people, God IS faithful and just.

Lord, all I can do is thank you for extending, by your incredible mercy, salvation to me, a Gentile. Fill me with your power to live as a worthy representative of you.

Today's reading: Prov. 13-15; Ro. 11

It Wasn't Me! - Ro. 7:18-21

"No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don;t want to do, I am not really the one doing it, the sin within me is doing it. It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do right, I inevitably do what is wrong." Ro. 7:18-21

This sounds like the argument my kids try to use when I ask for one of them does something wrong. Their first inclination is to point their finger and blame someone other than themselves. Is that what Paul is doing here? Using his "sinful nature" as an excuse and license to sin? Not at all! He, in fact, displays the most complete grasp of the power of the cross written anywhere in the Bible in Ro. 7-8. He technically states it even more clearly in 7:3-4. He describes a woman who can no longer commit adultery after her husband dies--she is free from that law. His conclusion, "...The law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died with Christ on the cross." Should we then feel free to sin? Absolutely not! God's law has not been abolished. Will we sin? Absolutely! Our sinful natures are alive, well and thriving. The difference is that our sin no longer condemns us. We are free to do good deeds for God through the power of the Holy Spirit, without fear of condemnation due to our INEVITABLE sin. That was Paul's word, "inevitable." I find this VERY freeing! Not that I should feel good about the fact that I will sin, but that God KNOWS that I will and still has a purpose for my wretchedness in this world! He still wants to use ME! It is important that we are single-minded in this area, otherwise Satan will gain a foothold. Too many Christians live in bondage to their sinful natures, not feeling worthy to advance the Kingdom -- Sad, as this is EXACTLY what the cross set us free from.

God, forgive my weaknesses and my sinfulness--thank you for dying for me and setting me free! Keep me focused on the goals YOU put before me everyday of my life; banish Satan from my airspace.

Today's reading: Prov. 4-6; Ro. 8

Who's Glory? - 1Ki. 10:9

"The Lord your God is good indeed! He delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because the Lord loves Israel with an eternal love, he has made you King so you can rule with justice and righteousness." 1Ki. 10:9

This HAS to be God's ultimate purpose in blessing Solomon with such amazing wealth. Somehow the Queen of Sheba sees God as being behind all that Solomon has, and gives Him the glory. I wonder if this was an act of God that caused the Queen to have this insight, or something about Solomon's character? We don't have this information, but it is something we should aspire to. That our lives, and all that we have, glorify God.

Lord, I know that have not succeeded in this. I pray that somehow you will cause my life, accomplishments and possessions will point to you.

Today's reading: 1Ki. 10-11; 2Ch. 9; Ro. 6

Faith Brings Joy - Ro. 5:3-5

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love." Ro. 5:3-5

So what brings joy? Is it money, jobs, health, circumstances, accomplishment, material things, success, relationships?? The Bible teaches and illustrates for us, that while all of the above may bring joy for a season, they all have the capacity to disappoint and ultimately fail us as well. If our joy is based on these things, it is fragile indeed. Faith brings ultimate, enduring and eternal joy because, "all things God works for the good of those who love him..." Regardless of circumstance, by faith we know we serve a God who loves us, cares about us, and has designed a life and a future that is all part of his plan. A plan that is for our ultimate good and his glory.

God, thank you for knowing me and my future before I was even born.

Today's reading: 1Ki. 9; 2Ch. 8; Ps. 136; Ro. 5

Abandoned - 2Ch. 7:19-20

"But if you abandon me and disobey the laws and commands I have given you, and if you go and worship other gods, then I will uproot the people of Israel from this land of mine that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have set apart to honor my name. I will make it a spectacle of contempt among the nations." 2Ch. 7:19-20

Here God prescribes the consequences for Israel if they were to be disobedient, and sadly, this is EXACTLY what has happened! In fact, the Temple (after being destroyed and reconstructed several times in different ways and for different reasons) remains a "spectacle of contempt among the nations" to this day. And Israel still isn't even remotely close to being the people that God set them apart to be! I am sure that David and Solomon could never have envisioned a set of circumstances that could bring Israel and their beloved Temple to where it is today. Kind of reminds me of the foundational principles that this country was built on, and where we are today!

God, I pray the your Kingdom come soon!

Today's reading: 2Ch. 6, 7; ; Ps. 135; Rom. 5

Preach It! - Rom. 1:4-5

"And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name." Rom. 1:4-5

As always, Paul wastes no time--he squeezes the entire gospel message into the first few verses of Romans! What a great example he sets! Shouldn't it be that simple? Isn't this all we are called to do? Sow the seed... Paul isn't "arguing" anything here (although he does later on in the book), he is simply delivering the message. They might believe, they might not, that is not his job. He states his "job" in this passage as having "...the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere..." Do we feel the same mandate to preach the Word? We should.

Holy Spirit, make me aware of every opportunity you are giving me to communicate your message--don't let me be blinded. Give me the courage to open my mouth, let the words be yours.

Today's reading: 1Ki. 6; 2Ch. 3; Ps. 97; Rom. 1

Judgement - 2Th. 1:7-9

"He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgement on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction, forever separated from the Lord and his glorious power when he comes to receive glory and praise from his holy people." 2Th 1:7-9

I take this literally. When the Lord comes again, it will be an overwhelmingly awesome sight for all the world to see. This world will likely be devoid of any Christians, and this event will be an ominous one as those remaining realize that they were wrong--that there actually IS a God of the universe. And worse, that it is too late to change. A time of celebration for his holy people, a time of judgement for everyone else.

Lord, thank you for choosing to bring salvation to me.

Today's reading: 1Ki. 2; 1Ch. 29; Ps. 95; 2Th. 1

My God - Ps. 91:9-16

"If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your
dwelling.
For he orders his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot
on a stone.
You will trample down lions and
poisonous snakes;
you will crush fierce lions and
serpents under your feet!

The Lord says, 'I will rescue those
who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my
name.
When they call on me I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.
I will satisfy them with a long life
and give them my salvation.'"

Ps. 91:9-16

No commentary necessary

Lord, thank you for being MY God, a God I can trust.

Today's reading: 1Ki. 1; 1Ch. 28; Ps. 91; 1Th. 5

God or Satan? - 2Sam. 24:1; 1Ch. 21:1

"Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census." 2Sam. 24:1

"Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the Israelites." 1Ch. 21:1

So was it God or Satan who instructed David to take the census? I guess theologically one could say that it doesn't really matter. For Satan to have caused David to sin, he must have had permission from God -- chicken or the egg... In the end, this really isn't the point of the story anyway. The lesson is in David's response: simply taking responsibility for the fact that he sinned, and then repenting. God honors this. David describes his perspective well in today's Psalm: "Sing to the Lord, all you Godly ones! Praise his holy name. His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! ... You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent." Ps. 30:5, 11-12

God, keep my perspective more like David's. One that ceases the constant questioning and reasoning, and simply understands the sovereignty and majesty of an almighty God.

Today's reading: 2Sam. 24; 1Ch. 21; Ps. 30; 1Th. 2

Who To Trust? - Ps. 56:3-4

"But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?" Ps. 56:3-4

What great perspective to go through life with. David continues to show us an aspect of his character that is consistent throughout Psalms, and seems to allude most of us "mere mortals." When the going gets tough, David clings even tighter to God and his promises. He viewed God as his ONLY refuge in a world that could be unfair, even brutal. He knew that NO MATTER WHAT, God was on his side--a just and loving God, one who would never disappoint. Do we/I have this confidence in the face of adversity, or calamity? Or would we become, bitter, angry, disillusioned, or dare I say... lose faith? I don't even think any of these were even possibilities for David. To him God was, well... GOD. And he wasn't! End of story. He had absolute confidence that he served a God he could trust, and nothing that mere mortals could do would change his plans. He would simply wait. WOW! What a lesson!

Lord, I pray that you bless me with the unshakable faith that David had. Let me always stand firm for you and never lose confidence.

Today's reading: 2Sam. 18; Ps. 56; Mat. 27

My Share - Mat. 25:15

From 5/8/2007 reading:

"He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last--dividing it in proportion to their abilities--and then left on his trip." Mat. 25:15

It's the "in proportion to their abilities" part that scares me. It reminds me of another verse that says, "...to whom much has been given, much is expected..." I'm REAL good at following orders, if God tells me to do something, I'm on it! But how do I deal with this "proportion" and "much" stuff? Seems a little vague to me, and I hate the idea of not doing something that God is expecting of me--am I doing my share? Sometimes I wonder... because I have been given A LOT! Am I being wise with what has been given to me? Am I giving back proportionally? Will he say, "Well done"? Definitely a convicting set of verses.

Holy Spirit, keep my eyes open to the opportunities you put in front of me, kick me in the butt if you have to! I don't want to be a disappointment to you, and I don't want to squander the blessings you have poured out into my life.

Today's reading: 2Sam. 15, 16; Ps. 32; Mat. 25

My Faith, His Will - Mat. 21:21-22

"Then Jesus told them, 'I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea', and it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.'" Mat. 21:21-22

Everyone I know (myself included) has struggled, or is struggling with this passage, so I decided to ponder--here is what I came up with: WHY IS THERE A STRUGGLE?! If I believe that God is capable of ANYTHING, what's the problem? Well, I'll let you in on what none of us really wants to admit: We don't really believe that this passage is true for us, therefore, Jesus must not be speaking literally, this MUST be a figurative statement, or maybe a statement about the spiritual realm. It certainly cannot mean a REAL mountain! Well here is a truism that there is just no getting around: Since when is what GOD capable of limited by what we happen to think?! If he wants something to happen, guess what? It happens! It would be much wiser (and logical) on our part to conclude one of two things if we feel less than capable in this area: Either we lack faith and are doubters, or it was not God's will for it to happen. More likely to be weakness on our part than God's!

God, It's passages like this that makes me question why you chose us humans to carry your message here on earth--we are just SO weak in so many ways. I pray that you increase my faith--I believe, help me in my unbelief.

Today's reading: 2Sam. 8, 9; 1Chron. 18, 19; Mat. 21

God Knows - 1Chr. 17:17-18

"You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God! What more can I say about the way you have honored me? You know what I am really like." 1Chr. 17:17-18

I just LOVE David's heart! As much as God has blessed him even to this early point in his dynasty, he has not let it go to his head--he remains humble. He is not fuzzy in any way about his position relative to God. The last sentence is a telling one, "You know what I am really like." In other words, God may be telling him and the world how great he is, but David retains the knowledge of who he REALLY is--a weak, human sinner. And he knows that God knows what his real condition is--he has just CHOSEN to bless him. What a great lesson for all of us: that everything we are, have, and hope to be is all a choice that GOD has made. We like to act like we are in control, and if anyone should have been it would have been King David. But he recognized a simple truth that we too often forget: God is God and we are not.

Almighty God, I thank you for all the blessings in my life. I am not worthy of even a fraction of what you have given me. I pray that you keep me humble; like David, keep me always mindful of my position relative to you.

Today's reading: 2Sam. 7; 1Chr. 17; Ps. 2; Mat. 20

He's Only Human - Mat. 19:7-8

"'Then why did Moses say a man could merely write an official letter of divorce and send her on her way?' they asked. Jesus replied, 'Moses permitted divorce as a concession to your hard-hearted wickedness, but it was not what God originally intended...'" Mat. 19:7-8

This could not have gone over well with the Pharisees. Jesus basically said that Moses was wrong in allowing divorce. Here is Jesus, the guy that the Pharisees are skeptical of to begin with, telling them that their patriarch, Moses, was actually the one who was wrong! Worse yet, he was blaming THEM for Moses' actions! Jesus is giving them the unadulterated truth--the truth that even Moses was not strong enough to implement in the face of opposition. It's sort of refreshing (in a self-serving kind of way) to see these pillars of our faith, from time to time, show their "humanness."

Lord, thank you for all those who have gone before us who had the faith to step out constantly in your name--what an example they set! I pray that you give me the strength to not worry about my human failings and weaknesses, and simply trust you. After all, YOU CHOSE ME in spite of myself!

Today's reading: 1Chron. 16; Ps. 106; Mat. 19