Week 27: Living the Faithful Life

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: 2 Kings 17:1-18:12; Acts 20:1-38; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 18:6-7
• Monday: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Acts 21:1-17; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 18:8
• Tuesday: 2 Kings 20:1-22:2; Acts 21:18-36; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 18:9-10
• Wednesday: 2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Acts 21:37-22:16; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 18:11-12
• Thursday: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; Acts 22:17-23:10; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 18:13
• Friday: 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17; Acts 23:11-35; Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 18:14-15
• Saturday: 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4; Acts 24:1-27; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 18:16-18

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of 2 Kings:

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:5, 6
"Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses."

Observation:
Nothing better could be said about a person than was said of Hezekiah here. He was God’s man, through and through.

Application:
I want to be the same! Therefore I will do my best to be God's man today, for this day is all I have to be so.

Prayer:
O Lord, I am yours and you are mine. Please this be true in ever greater measure as that Day approaches, for Jesus' sake. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 26: Hearts Purified by Faith

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: 2 Kings 4:18-5:27, Acts 15:1-35, Psalm 141:1-10, Proverbs 17:23
• Monday: 2 Kings 6:1-7:20, Acts 15:36-16:15, Psalm 142:1-7, Proverbs 17:24-25
• Tuesday: 2 Kings 8:1-9:13, Acts 16:16-40, Psalm 143:1-12, Proverbs 17:26
• Wednesday: 2 Kings 9:14-10:31, Acts 17:1-34, Psalm 144:1-15, Proverbs 17:27-28
• Thursday: 2 Kings 10:32-12:21, Acts 18:1-22, Psalm 145:1-21, Proverbs 18:1
• Friday: 2 Kings 13:1-14:29, Acts 18:23-19:12, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 18:2-3
• Saturday: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20, Acts 19:13-41, Psalm 147:1-20, Proverbs 18:4-5

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of Acts, Chapter 15, verses 7 to 11:

Scripture:

"Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Observation:
Peter addresses the congregation in Jerusalem during a dispute about whether non-Jewish (gentile) believers in Jesus Christ should comply with 'Jewish rules and religion' by being circumcised and being forced to keep the law of Moses. Some Jewish believers had brought this issue up -- without consent from the apostles and their elders in Jerusalem. They thought that you cannot be saved, unless you're circumcised and keep the law of Moses (verse 1).

Funny how hard it can be sometimes, to let go of the 'moral rules and religion of your upbringing', and replace them with faith in Jesus Christ. These Jewish believers sure were struggling with that. But Peter is very clear in his response, our SOAP verse for today. Peter had the authority to speak out on this issue, because God had used him to be the first apostle to bring the gospel to the non-Jews, remember Acts 10 and 11. He mentions that God knows each person's heart, and that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them (the non-Jews), just as He gave his Spirit to the apostles and Jewish believers. I love what Peter says next: "God did not discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish believers, because he purified their hearts by faith."

Application:
God is the one who gives us his holy Spirit, and God is the one who purifies our hearts by faith. We can partake in the new life that Jesus Christ gives without being bound by rules and religion. Purification of the heart is not a one-time thing though. It's an on-going process! I need to continually ask God to fill me with his Spirit and to purify my heart by faith. As our Father in Heaven, he wants his children to depend on him, to have faith in him. When we learn to depend more and more on him, not on our own rules, our hearts become purer and purer, and we more and more resemble his son Jesus Christ. That's what I want for myself, and for you as well...

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you did not discriminate, and that you gave your Spirit to us. Thank you for purifying our hearts by faith. Help us to increasingly trust you in everything. Not by our own power and strength, but through your Spirit, in the power of your son Jesus Christ. In His Name we pray. Amen.

Have a great week. Pray that the gospel of Jesus Christ may continue to be proclaimed and believed by many all around the world.

Dick

Week 25: Faith First

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: 1 Kings 15:25-17:24, Acts 10:24-48, Psalm 134:1-3, Proverbs 17:9-11
• Monday: 1 Kings 18:1-46, Acts 11:1-30, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 17:12-13
• Tuesday: 1 Kings 18:1-46, Acts 11:1-30, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 17:12-13
• Wednesday: 1 Kings 20:1-21:29, Acts 12:24-13:15, Psalm 137:1-9, Proverbs 17:16
• Thursday: 1 Kings 22:1-53, Acts 13:16-41, Psalm 138:1-8, Proverbs 17:17-18
• Friday: 2 Kings 1:1-2:25, Acts 13:42-14:7, Psalm 139:1-24, Proverbs 17:19-21
• Saturday: 2 Kings 3:1-4:17, Acts 14:8-28, Psalm 140:1-13, Proverbs 17:22

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of 1 Kings:

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:12-14

12 "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die." 13 Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.' "

Observation:
Chapter 17 of 1 Kings is a remarkable testimony to God's faithfulness and provision in many ways. First, the LORD provides for Elijah by commanding ravens to supply food for him (verse 4). When the water of the Jordan river dries out after several years of drought, the LORD commands a non-Jewish woman, a widow from the town of Zarephath in Sidon, to supply food for Elijah. Next, the LORD miraculously provides for the widow, her son, and Elijah, by supplying flour and oil. At the end of the story, the LORD even provides life to the boy after he was terminally ill.

What is great about this story is that Elijah (and really God), meet the widow at her moment of despair. When he first meets her, she is in a desperate condition, see verse 12. She has just enough food left to make one more meal, after which she and her son are going to die from starvation. What happens next is remarkable. Elijah tests the woman's faith by asking her to first bring water and food to him, before making that last meal for herself and her son (verse 13). The woman goes home, and actually does what Elijah says (verse 15). She had faith! I think that is why the LORD selected her out of many... He met her in her worst condition, tested and affirmed her faith, and provide for her.

Application:
This story very much applies to our lives. Oftentimes we have to come to a desperate situation to find the LORD. The beautiful thing is that the LORD meets us at just the right time. He already went before Elijah and commanded this woman to supply food for him. The LORD goes before us and works in our lives and our situations. He wants us to depend on him, and oftentimes that means he has to break our pride and bring us to a point where all we can do is look up to him for help. The question is... do we have faith like this widow had?

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this example of this widow who showed faith in you. Help us to be like her. Thank you for meeting us in our darkest situations, and for your faithfulness and provision. Most of all, we thank you for providing your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the bread that gives life eternal. Amen.

Have a wonderful week of reading. Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there!

In Christ,

Dick

Week 24: Faith at Work

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: 1 Kings 5:1-6:38; Acts 7:1-29; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 16:28-30
• Monday: 1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 16:31-33
• Tuesday: 1 Kings 8:1-66; Acts 7:51-8:13; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 17:1
• Wednesday: 1 Kings 9:1-10:29; Acts 8:14-40; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 17:2-3
• Thursday: 1 Kings 11:1-12:19; Acts 9:1-25; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 17:4-5
• Friday: 1 Kings 12:20-13:34; Acts 9:26-43; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 17:6
• Saturday: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24; Acts 10:1-23; Psalm 133:1-3; Proverbs 17:7-8

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the Psalms:

Scripture: Psalm 127:1, 2
"Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
"Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
"It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones."

Observation:
These words from the Psalmist underscore the importance of keeping God in the center of our work. We can work hard to build a house, but if the Lord is not central to the activity, our efforts are wasted. The Bible says that we need not fret over our daily work, anxiously striving to make a living. We can do our work in peace, trusting that God is our ultimate provider and sustainer.

Application:
We tend to think of the work we do Monday through Friday as somehow existing in a separate sphere of life from "spiritual activities" like going to church on Sunday and doing daily devotions. Sometimes we think of our jobs as a necessary evil, which we have to do to survive.

God invites us to think differently about our lives. He wants to dissolve any distinctions we may have in our minds between "sacred" and "secular." God is just as active and involved in our daily activities at work as he is in every other aspect of our lives. He wants us to acknowledge him in everything we do at work and make a point of devoting everything we do in our days to his glory...construing every thought and word and action as an offering of worship and devotion.

God invites us to experience his presence and peace in every activity we engage in throughout the day. The ultimate benefits of our activity at work are not derived from the level of anxious effort we exert but by the grace that God brings to bear as we offer everything we do to his glory.

Prayer:
O Father, please help me recognize you in everything I do at work as much as I seek to acknowledge your presence when I am engaged in other forms of worship. May all that I am and do be a pleasing offering to you, for Jesus' sake. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 23: Jesus Loves us Uniquely

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: 2 Samuel 19:11-20:13; John 21:1-25; Psalm 120:1-7; Proverbs 16:16-17
• Monday: 2 Samuel 20:14-21:22; Acts 1:1-26; Psalm 121:1-8; Proverbs 16:18
• Tuesday: 2 Samuel 22:1-23:23; Acts 2:1-47; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 16:19-20
• Wednesday: 2 Samuel 23:24-24:25; Acts 3:1-26; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 16:21-23
• Thursday: 1 Kings 1:1-53; Acts 4:1-37; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 16:24
• Friday: 1 Kings 2:1-3:2; Acts 5:1-42; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 16:25
• Saturday: 1 Kings 3:3-4:34; Acts 6:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 16:26-27

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the Gospel of John:

Scripture: John 21:22, 23
"Jesus replied, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.' So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn't die. But that isn't what Jesus said at all. He only said, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?'"

Observation:
Jesus' statement to Peter was twisted into what is perhaps the first recorded rumor of the early church. When Peter saw John following along behind them, he wanted to know what would become of him. We are left to imagine why Peter asked this question...and why Jesus answered him the way he did.

Given Jesus' reply, it is possible that there had been a subtle rivalry for Jesus' attention between Peter and John. Peter was often the first to venture forth an answer or blurt out a comment (take, for example, the way he interacted with Jesus during the foot washing back in John 13...he was also the first to answer Jesus' question, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!"). Peter was also the only disciple who asked if he could walk with Jesus on water.

John, on the other hand, seemed to have a closer friendship with Jesus. Like Peter, he (and his brother, James) got carried away...and earned the title, Boanerges ("Sons of Thunder," Mark 3:17). Why? We find a glimpse in Luke 9:49-56. First, when John saw someone casting out demons in Jesus' name, he got in the person's face and told him to stop. Jesus quickly corrected him: "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you" (Luke 9:50). Right after that, when the members of a Samaritan town refused to let Jesus and his disciples pass through, John and his brother said, "Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" (Luke 9:54b). Again Jesus had to rebuke him.

All in all, however, John appeared to have a closer friendship with Jesus than Peter did. John referred to himself (numerous times throughout the Gospel of John) as "the disciples whom Jesus loved." John was the one Jesus confided in at the Last Supper regarding Judas Iscariot. John was also the one Jesus trusted to care for his mother after he died (see John 19:26, 27).

Peter for his part wanted to prove that he was more eager than the other disciples in getting to Jesus first when the disciples spotted him on the beach, jumping off the boat and swimming to shore!

Yet even after Jesus gave Peter the chance to reaffirm his love and then entrusted to him the care of his sheep, Peter was troubled when he saw John trailing behind. "What about him?"

Jesus' reply is perfect: "What does it matter to you if he stays alive until I return?"

This is a rhetorical question. The fact is it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that Peter attends to his calling and to his unique relationship with Jesus.

Application:
We get into trouble when we compare ourselves with other people's relationship with Jesus Christ...and the service they render to him. Every single one of us has a unique relationship with Jesus. No two people relate to him exactly the same way.

The key is for us to focus on our relationship with Jesus. We mustn't fret about others or their accomplishments.

Be at peace. Jesus loves you for who you are. He wants you to be nothing more or less than you.

Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for loving each of us for who we are. Please help us trust you in that and be at peace with it. And help us be true to everything that you've created and called us to be, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck