Monday, June 25, 2012

Week 26: Great Role Models

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday: 2 Kings 6:1-7:20; Acts 15:36-:16:15; Psalm 142; Proverbs 17:24-25
* Monday: 2 Kings 8:1-9:13; Acts 16:16-40; Psalm 143; Proverbs 17:26
* Tuesday: 2 Kings 9:14-10:31; Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 144; Proverbs 17:27-28
* Wednesday: 2 Kings 10:32-12:21; Acts 18:1-22; Psalm 145; Proverbs 18:1
* Thursday: 2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:23-19:12; Psalm 146; Proverbs 18:2-3
* Friday: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20; Acts 19:13-41; Psalm 147; Proverbs 18:4-5
* Saturday: 2 Kings 17:1-18:12; Acts 20:1-38; Psalm 148; Proverbs 18:6-7

I'm writing this blog from my parents' home in the Netherlands where I grew up. My oldest daughter is sleeping in the same room where I used to sleep, under the same slanted roof. This is the home where I saw my mother read her Bible on a daily basis, and where my Father instructed me in the ways of the Lord. They have been great role models for me, and my wish is for me to become such a role model for my children. It all starts with delving into God's word every day. I hope you enjoy the readings this week.

In Him,

Dick

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Week 25: Full Redemption

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday: 1 Kings 18:1-46; Acts 11:1-30; Psalm 135:1-21; Proverbs 17:12-13
* Monday: 1 Kings 19; Acts 12:1-23; Psalm 136; Proverbs 17:14-15
* Tuesday: 1 Kings 20:1-21:29; Acts 12:24-13:15; Psalm 137; Proverbs 17:16
* Wednesday: 1 Kings 22; Acts 13:16-41; Psalm 138; Proverbs 17:17-18
* Thursday: 2 Kings 1:1-2:25; Acts 13:42-14:7; Psalm 139; Proverbs 17:19-21
* Friday: 2 Kings 3:1-4:17; Acts 14:8-28; Psalm 140; Proverbs 17:22
* Saturday: 2 Kings 4:18-5:27; Acts 15:1-35; Psalm 141; Proverbs 17:23

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:20
Then Elijah cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, why have you brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?"

Observation:
Elijah does not understand God. Why does the LORD kill the son of this widow, who has treated him so well? It doesn't make sense, and Elijah cries out to the LORD.

We don't know exactly why God does this, but verse 18 might hold an explanation. The woman had committed certain sins, and had kept those secret for Elijah. Perhaps she had been a prostitute to try to make a living for herself. She was a widow, and perhaps she had slept with different men, and the boy was a result of that. We don't know.

Application:
What we do know is that the woman has a lot of faith. She uses her last oil and flour to bake something for Elijah. Everything goes smoothly after that. The oil and flour do not run out, and she must enjoy this miraculous experience, until... until her son dies. Now she can no longer keep her past a secret.

God doesn't want her to keep her past a secret. He doesn't want us to keep our pasts a secret. God wants full redemption.. He wants this for the woman and for us as well. Elijah performs a miracle by raising the boy from the dead. The woman gets a second chance with her boy, and with her life. Now she knows it for sure: God is real, and Elijah is his servant (v.24).

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a God who wants full redemption and retoration for us. Thank you that you offer that redemption through your Son, Jesus Christ. He too, offered this redemption to the woman at the well, just like you did through Elijah to this widow. You don't want half redemption for us, but full and complete redemption. Thank you for giving us that. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a blessed week.

Dick

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Week 24: Three Key Truths

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday: 1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 16:31-33
* Monday: 1 Kings 8:1-66; Acts 7:51-8:13; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 17:1
* Tuesday: 1 Kings 9:1-10:29; Acts 8:14-40; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 17:2-3
* Wednesday: 1 Kings 11:1-12:19; Acts 9:1-25; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 17:4-5
* Thursday: 1 Kings 12:20-13:34; Acts 9:26-43; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 17:6
* Friday: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24; Acts 10:1-23; Psalm 133:1-3; Proverbs 17:7-8
* Saturday: 1 Kings 15:25-17:24; Acts 10:24-48; Psalm 134:1-3; Proverbs 17:9-11


Scripture: Proverbs 16:31-33
Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained by living a godly life.
Better to be patient than powerful;
better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
We may throw the dice,
but the LORD determines how they fall.

Observation:
These verses capture three distinct truths by which to live life: (1) gray hair is a crown of glory (in my case, a wreath of glory) – i.e., long life is a gift, (2) self-control is one of the greatest of all human achievements, and (3) we may make decisions, but God ultimately is in control.

Application:
The older I get, the more thankful I am for the gift of life. I want to cherish this day for the blessing it is and seek to be a blessing to those around me. I want to become more attuned to the opportunities that each moment presents to be the person God wants me to be. That requires constant attention to how I conduct myself (i.e., self-control). Finally, I want to seek to realize God’s will in every decision...and trust that God will work with whatever decision I make. In the end, God is in control...and I am grateful for that!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for this day of new life. The older I get, the more I realize how blessed I am to experience life this side of eternity. Please give me the wisdom and self-discipline I need every waking moment of the day, so that I can represent you well in every context of life. And open my eyes to see the many ways you are at work all around me, willing and working for your good pleasure. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Week 23: Look Up!

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday: 2 Samuel 20:14-21:22; Acts 1:1-26; Psalm 121:1-8; Proverbs 16:18
* Monday: 2 Samuel 22:1-23:23; Acts 2:1-47; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 16:19-20
* Tuesday: 2 Samuel 23:24-24:25; Acts 3:1-26; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 16:21-23
* Wednesday: 1 Kings 1:1-53; Acts 4:1-37; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 16:24
* Thursday: 1 Kings 2:1-3:2; Acts 5:1-42; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 16:25
* Friday: 1 Kings 3:3-4:34; Acts 6:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 16:26-27
* Saturday: 1 Kings 5:1-6:38; Acts 7:1-29; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 16:28-30

Scripture: Psalm 121:2, 3
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Observation:
These verses emphasize the fact that God and God alone is the One who helps us through life. In verse 1, the Psalmist asks whether his help comes from the distant mountains. It is not uncommon for us to look to "the horizon" for help – in other words, to look for help on the earthly, horizontal plane. When our focus is flat, the highest our sight can take us is the distant mountain range. Here the Psalmist says that in time of need we must look up...to the One who made heaven and earth.

Application:
Sometimes I've been in need of help and not known it. That's the worst of all scenarios! If I had known I was really in trouble, perhaps I would have sought help from the Maker of Heaven and Earth. As it was, I thought my problems were manageable – easily fixed through my own efforts. The outcome has never been good when I've looked no higher than the hills for help! When I "look up" as my first response, I seek the Lord's help in all its forms; directly from God and from godly counselors who won’t tell me what I want to hear but what I need to hear. They speak truth in love. But when I avail myself only of the resources on the horizontal plane, my choices are limited to food, drink, money, material possessions, worldly vices, and ungodly counsel. So in light of today's reading, my goal...under any and every circumstance...is to look up!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you and you alone are the source of true help and deliverance. My help comes from you! You watch over me constantly. You never slumber! You are my ever-present help in time of trouble. Please give me the wisdom to know when I start to take my focus off of you and let my gaze fall back to the horizon. And when that starts to happen, please quicken me by your Spirit and bid me to look up, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck