Monthly Archives: April 2015

Confrontation isn’t easy, but sometimes necessary (2 Corinthians 10), Apr 10, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Corinthians 10
Set – 1 Samuel 8; 2 Corinthians 10
Go! – 1 Samuel 8-10; 2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10
1 I, Paul, appeal to you in the same gentle and loving spirit of the Anointed—yes, I who am humble when I’m face-to-face with you but audacious to you in these letters when I’m away (I know what they say). 2 If it were up to me, I’d rather not have to be so bold when I’m with you, especially with the kind of forceful confidence I can work up when I confront those who have accused us of walking in a worldly way. 3 For though we walk in the world, we do not fight according to this world’s rules of warfare. 4 The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth. 5 We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One. 6 As soon as you choose obedience, we stand ready to punish every act of disobedience.

7 Look at what is going on right in front of you. If anyone is convinced that he belongs to the Anointed, then he should think again; even if he belongs to Him, so do we. 8 I’m not embarrassed, even if it seems to others I have gone overboard in speaking about the power the Lord has given us to edify and encourage you and not to destroy anyone who strays. 9 I don’t want it to seem as if I’m simply trying to scare you with my letters; they are not hollow. 10 For some people are saying, “Paul’s letters sound authoritative and strong, but in person he just doesn’t measure up—even his speeches don’t deliver.” 11 They need to understand this: whatever we say through our letters when we are away, that is exactly what we will do when we are looking you in the eye.

12 For we would never dare to compare ourselves with people who have based their worth on self-commendation. They check themselves against and compare themselves with one another. It just shows that they don’t have any sense! 13 So we will carefully limit our boasting to the extent only of what God has done in and through us, a reach that extends as far as you. 14 For it wasn’t as if we were overreaching into someone else’s territory by reaching out to you. Weren’t we the first ones to bring you the good news of the Anointed One? 15 We carefully put limits on our boasting and avoid taking credit for what others do. But we do hope to see your faith grow so that we can watch our mission really expand all the way to the limits God has set for us. 16 The plan includes taking the good news to people and lands beyond you. We’ve no interest in or intention of staking claim to other people’s accomplishments in their arenas. As the Scripture says, 17 ”The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.” 18 Now let’s be clear: it’s not the one who commends himself who is approved; it’s the one whom the Lord commends.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I know it’s difficult to confront people for doing wrong, especially within the church. People remember the things for which I have forgiven them and ask themselves, “How can I say something when I know how I’ve behaved in the past?” But like Paul, I expect My community to of believers to help each other keep My church moving upward not wayward. I want you to address the evil among you. I want you to help each other correct the behavior the world accepts as okay and point out the standards I want for My people.

It’s hard to confront those who are wrong. It doesn’t feel good to tell others about behavior that contradicts My word when everyone else stands by and condones or at least ignores the behavior. It isn’t easy to be a lone voice decrying the wrongs within the boundaries of My community, but it is necessary to maintain the purity of My sanctuary.

What is most difficult about the confrontation I expect, though, is I expect it to be with the same love I expressed from the cross. Love that reaches through the behavior to the heart of the individual. Love that seeks redemption and restoration rather than revenge or punishment. Genuine love that looks beyond the behavior to see My image deep within the individual and longs to restore that image within the one being confronted.

Paul understood the confrontation I expected. It was always something that must happen to keep My name pure and spotless among the believers within My community, but it was also a difficult task because it meant being personally vulnerable and loving others with a deep, godly love that reaches to the very depths of your own soul. You may help turn them from road to an eternity apart from Me. So, what happens if you don’t confront them and turn them away from that road? Don’t you think it’s worth it?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Pay it forward when you can (2 Corinthians 9), Apr 9, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Corinthians 9
Set – Psalms 72; 2 Corinthians 9
Go! – 1 Samuel 6-7; Psalms 72; 2 Corinthians 9

2 Corinthians 9
1 There’s nothing further I could add about your efforts for God’s people in Judea. 2 I know you are ready. I bragged on you throughout Macedonia, telling them how the people in Achaia have been prepared since last year; and your passion has been contagious. 3 Still I thought it would be best to send these brothers and sisters ahead to help you finish the final details so all my bragging wouldn’t be for nothing. 4 If some of the Macedonians decide to travel with me, all of us would be more than embarrassed if we arrived and you weren’t ready to give after the way we’ve been going on about you. 5 So to help you get your previously promised gift ready, it made sense to me to ask the brothers and sisters to go on ahead so you will have all the time you need to put it together as planned and so it doesn’t look thrown together or coerced.

6 But I will say this to encourage your generosity: the one who plants little harvests little, and the one who plants plenty harvests plenty. 7 Giving grows out of the heart—otherwise, you’ve reluctantly grumbled “yes” because you felt you had to or because you couldn’t say “no,” but this isn’t the way God wants it. For we know that “God loves a cheerful giver.” 8 God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share. 9 Remember what is written about the One who trusts in the Lord:

He scattered abroad; He gave freely to the poor;
His righteousness endures throughout the ages.
10 The same One who has put seed into the hands of the sower and brought bread to fill our stomachs will provide and multiply the resources you invest and produce an abundant harvest from your righteous actions. 11 You will be made rich in everything so that your generosity will spill over in every direction. Through us your generosity is at work inspiring praise and thanksgiving to God. 12 For this mission will do more than bring food and water to fellow believers in need—it will overflow in a cascade of praises and thanksgivings for our God. 13 When this mission reaches Jerusalem and meets with the approval of God’s people there, they will give glory to God because your confession of the gospel of the Anointed One led to obedient action and your generous sharing with them and with all exhibited your sincere concern. 14 Because of the extraordinary grace of God at work in you, they will pray for you and long for you. 15 Praise God for this incredible, unbelievable, indescribable gift!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The people in Jerusalem didn’t know about Paul’s mission to bring funds and needed supplies back to them. Paul sent emissaries ahead of him on his journey to tell of the offering he would take back to those struggling against the powers of Rome and the leaders of Judaism trying to destroy the fledgling congregation in the city. They needed help and needed it badly.

Paul intended to enlist the help of those who had extra and could still gain funds and needed supplies to help the Christians in Jerusalem survive. Persecution from Rome had not yet spread across the entire empire, but was very heated in this constantly rebellious area called Israel. The people refused to bow to Caesar. They refused to recognize the gods of the Roman people. They failed to make necessary sacrifices to the pagan gods of the nations that defeated and occupied their tiny nation. The Jews were a stubborn people who believed only I could help them.

Now the rebellion spread further with the preaching about Jesus rising from the dead. The Jews had someone to blame the rebellion on and didn’t hesitate to name the band of Christians as the culprits leading the revolt against Rome. They knew it to be false, but it was a way to get rid of this band of believers… Or so they thought.

Paul persecuted these same men and women earlier. He was part of that pack of leaders standing around Stephen approving of his stoning. His transformation at My hand on the road to Damascus was genuine, though. He saw the errors of his past. He wanted to make restitution for the wrongs he committed and so used his influence to raise funds on his mission trips to help those persecuted in Jerusalem.

Do you have wrongs you can make right? Do you need to make restitution for things in your past? Can you reach out with your influence to come to the aid of others and pay forward for the grace I’ve extended to you? That’s what Paul did with his collections for the Christians in Jerusalem. Many have followed his example through the centuries. How about you?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God notices your generosity (2 Corinthians 8:1-15), Apr 8, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Set – 1 Samuel 3; 2 Corinthians 8
Go! – 1 Samuel 3-5; Psalms 77; 2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8:1-15
1 Now, brothers and sisters, let me tell you about the amazing gift of God’s grace that’s happening throughout the churches in Macedonia. 2 Even in the face of severe anguish and hard times, their elation and poverty have overflowed into a wealth of generosity. 3 I watched as they willingly gave what they could afford and then went beyond to give even more. 4 They came to us on their own, begging to take part in this work of grace to support the poor saints in Judea. 5 We were so overwhelmed—none of us expected their reaction—that they truly turned their lives over to the Lord and then gave themselves to support us in our work as we answer the call of God. 6 That’s why we asked Titus to finish what he started among you regarding this gracious work of charity. 7 Just as you are rich in everything—in faith and speech, in knowledge and all sincerity, and in the love we have shown among you[a]—now I ask you to invest richly in this gracious work too. 8 I am not going to command you, but I am going to offer you the chance to prove your love genuine in the same way others have done. 9 You know the grace that has come to us through our Lord Jesus the Anointed. He set aside His infinite riches and was born into the lowest circumstance so that you may gain great riches through His humble poverty. 10-11 Listen, it’s been a year since we called your attention to this opportunity to demonstrate God’s grace, so here’s my advice: pull together your resources and finish what you started.

Remember how excited you were at first; it’s time to complete this task in the same spirit. 12 Now if there is a willingness to help, give within your means. That’s perfectly acceptable. No one expects you to go without or borrow to give. 13-14 The objective is not to go under so others will have some relief; the objective is to use this opportunity today to supply their needs out of your abundance. One day it may be the other way around, and they will need to supply your needs from what they have. That’s equality. 15 As it is written, “The one who gathered plenty didn’t have more than he needed; the one who gathered little didn’t have less.”

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Let’s talk about giving. Paul encourages the Corinthians to give an offering to the Christians in other parts of the world in need. He assumes the Corinthians will give their tithes to the place where they worship and that congregation will take care of each other within their means. The church in Jerusalem, the incubator of the church, found itself in deep trouble, however.

By this time, Rome’s leaders had begun applying intense pressure on all the religions that did not adhere to the beliefs of Rome. The rebellious Jews, Christians, and mystics that sprang up around their empire created immense pressure on the throne and Caesar’s procurators, governors, and military leaders did everything they could to stop the growing uprising around the empire.

Christians in Israel’s capital city found themselves blamed for everything going wrong in the country regardless of the source of the problem. I let those things happen to allow the dispersion of Christians throughout the world, but it was no less painful for those who suffered through the pain inflicted upon them by the citizenry and soldiers in Jerusalem.

Consequently, the Christians in Jerusalem needed help from their brothers and sisters elsewhere. They could get no jobs in Jerusalem. They lost all their funds, their homes and property. They gave up everything to follow Me. They did it gladly, but like all people, they wanted to survive and living in Jerusalem made survival difficult. But even escaping the city required resources they didn’t have. The offerings of their brothers and sisters in Christ were important to them.

So, Paul raised offerings for them wherever he went on his mission journeys. His approach is one you should remember. I don’t ask you to take out loans to fund My work. I don’t ask you to become a pauper. I ask you to give from your abundance. What does that mean? Give up some of the things that are just wants, not needs. Give up your toys, your extras, the things you can do without for the good of the kingdom, for the aid of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

One day you may need help, but when you give generously to others, it multiplies and returns to you as a harvest. You will find rewards in many ways when you give from your heart to the benefit of My children. Show them My love through your generosity. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Don’t jump to conclusions (I Samuel 1:1-18), Apr 7, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Samuel 1:1-18
Set – 1 Samuel 1; Psalms 66
Go! – 1 Samuel 1-2; Psalms 66; 2 Corinthians 7

1 Samuel 1:1-18
1 When the judges ruled over Israel, there was a man from Ramathaim-zophim, from the hill country of Ephraim. He was Elkanah, who descended from Jeroham, Elihu, Tohu, and Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives: Peninnah, who bore him sons and daughters, and Hannah, who remained childless.

3 Elkanah used to go up every year from his city to worship and offer sacrifices at the altar of the Eternal One, Commander of heavenly armies, at Shiloh, where the priests of the Eternal were Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. 4 On the days he made a sacrifice, Elkanah would share a portion of his offering with his wife Peninnah and all her children, 5 but he offered a double portion of sacrificial meat for Hannah because he loved her even though the Eternal One had not given her children. 6 Peninnah used to infuriate Hannah until Hannah trembled with irritation because the Eternal had not given Hannah children. 7 This went on year after year; and every time Hannah went up to the house of the Eternal, Peninnah would infuriate her. So, as she often did, Hannah wept and refused to eat.

Elkanah (seeing Hannah’s despair): 8 Why are you crying and not eating? Why are you so sad, Hannah? Don’t I love you more than any 10 sons could?

9-10 One day after they ate and drank at Shiloh, Hannah got up and presented herself before the Lord. It so happened that the priest Eli was sitting in a place of honor beside the doorpost of the Eternal’s congregation tent as Hannah entered. She was heartbroken, and she began to pray to the Eternal One, weeping uncontrollably as she did.

Hannah: 11 Eternal One, Commander of heavenly armies, if only You will look down at the misery of Your servant and remember me—oh, don’t forget me!—and give Your servant a son, then I promise I will devote the boy to Your service as a Nazirite all the days of his life. [He will never touch wine or other strong drink,][a] and no razor will ever cut his hair.

12 As she prayed silently before the Eternal One, the priest Eli watched her mouth: 13 Hannah’s lips were moving, but since she was praying silently, he could not hear her words. So Eli thought she was drunk.

Eli: 14 How long are you going to continue drinking, making a spectacle of yourself? Stop drinking wine, and sober up!

Hannah: 15 My lord, I am not drunk on wine or any strong drink; I am just a woman with a wounded spirit. I have been pouring out the pain in my soul before the Eternal One. 16 Please don’t consider your servant some worthless woman just because I have been speaking for so long out of worry and exasperation.

Eli: 17 Go, don’t worry about this anymore, and may the True God of Israel fulfill the petition you have made to Him.

Hannah: 18 May your servant be favored in your sight.

Then Hannah rose and went back to where she was staying. The sadness lifted from her, so she was able to eat.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The story of Hannah and her prayer in the congregation tent at Shiloh provides an example of the ease with which people jump to conclusions about the behavior of others. Eli assumed Hannah came the altar drunk because of her behavior in front of Me. He couldn’t distinguish between the external signs of deep despair and a woman who approached a with a little too much wine as she kneeled at the altar.

Both stagger under the load the carry, one with a heavy emotional burden, the other with the extra ethanol. He thought one a sad drunk when really she was crying with the burden of her childlessness. Eli though Hannah mumbled to herself unable to articulate words in her drunken state when if he could know her heart, he would know she was crying out to Me in her soundless state.

Humankind often misreads the behavior of others around them. Discernment is a gift I give to very few of My children. You cannot know the heart of those you see. And sometimes the behavior is not what you think. Sometimes it is, but only I really know the truth about a person’s heart. Just like Eli, it’s easy to make snap decisions about people and come out with wrong opinions.

Stop to find out the real story. Wait to hear the whole truth before taking actions you might regret later. Understand that unless I have given you the gift of discernment, and few have it, you cannot know the reason behind the behavior of others until they tell you. Even with the gift of discernment, you may be wrong. Only I really know the hearts of My children.

Think about Eli and Hannah the next time you are about to jump to conclusions about someone’s behavior – what they said or what they did you thought out of bounds. Perhaps, like Hannah, they are silently pleading in their way for My help or to bring glory to Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Let your feelings show (2 Corinthians 6:1-13), Apr 6, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Set – Ruth 3-4; 2 Corinthians 6
Go! – Ruth 3-4; Psalms 64-65; 2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6:1-13
1 As for those of us working as His emissaries, we beg you not to take the grace of God lightly. 2 For God says through Isaiah,

When the time was right, I listened to you;
and that day you were delivered, I was your help.
Look, now the time is right! See, your day of deliverance is here! 3 We are careful in what we teach so that our words won’t be a stumbling block and so that no one will discredit our ministry. 4 But as God’s servants, we commend ourselves in every situation. So that with great endurance we persevere even in anguish and hardship. We have been cornered by the enemy 5 suffering beatings, imprisonments, uproars, toil, sleeplessness, and starvation. 6 And by the Holy Spirit with purity, understanding, patience, kindness, and sincerest love we have proved ourselves. 7 Now with the voice of truth and power of God—armed on the right and armed on the left with righteousness from God—we continue. 8 Whether respected or loathed, praised or criticized as frauds, yet true, 9 as unknown to this world, and yet well known to God, we serve Him. We are treated as dying and yet we live, as punished and yet we are not executed. 10 Though we are sorrowful, we continually rejoice. As the poorest of the poor, we bring richness to all, and though we have nothing, we possess all things.

11 Corinthians, we have been completely open to you. We’ve exposed the truth, holding nothing back while our hearts open wide to take you in. 12 We have revealed our affection toward you—though it’s obvious you have a hard time showing your affection toward us. 13 If I could offer some fatherly advice: open yourselves up as children; share your hearts with us as we have done for you.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

In his letters to the Corinthians, Paul does something few will do today in their spiritual journey. He opens himself up to the people in the small congregation and bares his heart to them. In society today, too many hold back their heart and fail to allow themselves to reveal their spirit to those around them. They fear becoming vulnerable because someone might take advantage of the information they share.

Paul on the other hand, tells all. Needless to say, he doesn’t give intimate details of intimate relationships, but as to his spiritual journey, his life is an open book for others to examine. His sins are laid out for all to see so that they might also see the forgiveness he received from My hand. His past is apparent so others might know the dramatic change that came into his life because of My spirit living in him.

The façade many in the church put up today to give the impression that all is well too often causes those facing struggles in life to think something is wrong with their walk with Me. They feel defeated because they look at someone else with a mask on their face and assume they must not have the faith or courage they need. They allow themselves to fall and fail because they get their eyes on people with facades instead of seeing the real hurt that would be there if those around them let their real feelings show.

As Christians, you need to become vulnerable to assist those around you. You need to let others see the struggles you have and the way I am helping you through those trials. Especially when younger Christians see the way in which you handle struggles by leaning on Me, it will encourage them to know they are not unique in their struggles in life. They will know they are on still on the path of righteousness as they work through their burdens in life.

Paul says to open yourself up as children. Take some time and watch young children at play and with their parents. They are never afraid to let their feelings show. You see excitement on their faces. When they fall down, they are not afraid to cry. When they find something new, you see the joy explode in their smiles. Their feelings are evident in their expressions and their actions.

Watch the little children and learn to express yourself with the same freedom they enjoy. Become vulnerable as children to reach out to others and share My love, My freedom, My story to others. Your life will become a mirror of My love to those around you as you do.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Do you work for Me? (Ruth 2), Apr 5, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ruth 2
Set – Ruth 2; Psalms 61; 2 Corinthians 5
Go! – Ruth 1-2; Psalms 53, 61; 2 Corinthians 5

Ruth 2
1Now Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech, had a relative in Bethlehem, an honorable, wealthy man named Boaz. 2 One day Ruth (the foreign woman who returned with Naomi from Moab) approached Naomi with a request.

Ruth: Let me go out into the field and pick up whatever grain is left behind the harvesters. Maybe someone will be merciful to me.

Naomi: Go ahead, my daughter.

3 Ruth left and went into the fields to pick up the gleanings, the grain that had been left behind by the harvesters. And so it was that the portion of the field she was working in belonged to Boaz, who was a part of Elimelech’s family.

4 As she was working in his field, Boaz happened to arrive from Bethlehem, and he greeted the harvesters.

Boaz: The Eternal One be with you.

Harvesters: May the Eternal bless you!

5 Then seeing Ruth, Boaz spoke to the young man in charge of the harvesters.

Boaz: Whom does this young woman belong to?

Overseer: 6 She is the Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from Moab. 7 She came and asked my permission to pick up the grain our harvesters leave behind and gather it all into sheaves for herself. Except for one small break she has been here all day, working in the field from the morning until now.

Boaz (to Ruth): 8 Listen to me, my daughter. Do not go and glean in any other field. In fact, do not go outside my property at all but stay with the young women who work for me following the harvesters and bundling the grain into sheaves. 9 Watch the harvesters, and see which field they are working in. Follow along behind these servants of mine. I have warned the young men not to touch you. If you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars my young men have filled for the harvesters.

10 Overwhelmed, Ruth bowed down before Boaz, putting her face to the ground in front of him.

Ruth: I am just a foreigner. Why have you noticed me and treated me as if I’m one of your favorites?

Boaz: 11 I have heard your story. I know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your own husband died. I know you left your own mother and father, your home and your country, and you have come to live in a culture that must seem strange to you. 12 May the Eternal repay you for your sacrifices and reward you richly for what you have done. It is under the wings of Israel’s God, the Eternal One, that you have sought shelter.

Ruth: 13 I pray you will continue to look upon me with such favor, my lord. I am comforted by your kind words, even though I am not as worthy of them as even one of your servant girls.

14 Later during the meal, Boaz spoke to Ruth again.

Boaz: Come over here and have some of my food. Dip your piece of bread in the vinegar wine.

So Ruth sat down among the harvesters. Boaz also offered her some roasted grain. She ate as much as she wanted and even had some left over. 15 When her meal was finished, she got back up and returned to work. Then Boaz pulled some of the young harvesters aside and gave them instructions about her.

Boaz: Let her pick up grain from among the sheaves. Do not reprimand or humiliate her for gleaning where it is usually forbidden. 16 Instead, periodically pick out a stalk or two from the sheaves that have already been bound, and leave them for her to gather for herself. Make sure that no one gives her a hard time.

17 So Ruth worked in the field all day until the sun had nearly set. When she finished picking up the leftover ears, she beat her gathered barley grains from the stalks with a stick. All that work resulted in over 20 quarts of grain. 18 Then she carried it back to the city where her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Ruth took out the leftover food from what she could not eat of her midday meal and gave it to Naomi.

Naomi (to Ruth): 19 Where did you go to work today? Where did you glean all this from? May God bless the person who gave you this kind of attention.

So Ruth told Naomi the story of all that had happened to her that day and on whose land she had worked.

Ruth: The man I worked with today is named Boaz.

Naomi: 20 May the Eternal bless this man. He has not given up showing His covenant love toward the living and the dead.

This man is closely related to us—he is a kinsman-redeemer of our family.

Ruth: 21 That is not all he did. Boaz also instructed me to stay with his young workers for the remainder of his grain harvesting season.

Naomi: 22 It is best that you do as he says. Stay with his young women who bind the sheaves. They will keep you safe from the hostility and danger of working in another’s field.

23 So that is what Ruth did. She kept close to Boaz’s young female servants and picked up everything they dropped. She worked hard throughout the seven weeks of the wheat and barley seasons until the harvest was complete in early summer. And this whole time she lived at her mother-in-law’s home.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Two things I want you to take away from today’s scripture lesson – Ruth’s work ethic and Boaz’ kindness and generosity. Ruth could have used other means to gain income instead of breaking her back in the grain fields. Picking up left over stalks of grain and bundling them into sheaves in the heat of the day to thresh them later is dirty work. The left over grain is usually small, with few grains on the stalk. It’s left behind for a reason. Those left behind stalks are not worth the effort for the harvesters trouble. But for the hungry, the effort may provide the only food they get for the coming days.

So Ruth labored diligently for her mother-in-law and herself. She endured the back-breaking work. She endured the scorching sun. She endured the ridicule as one of the poorest of the poor to even be there. She endured it all and worked with all the energy she could muster to gather the scraps so she could feed the mother-in-law she pledged her life to.

I admire her work ethic in the dire circumstances in which she found herself.

I also admire Boaz’ kindness and generosity to her. My word reminds you that Boaz told his workers to protect Ruth. He instructed them to leave some extra stalks of grain for her and let her gather wherever she wanted in his field. If she happened to gather some of the grain that his harvesters cut but had not yet bundled, leave her alone and let her have the grain. Don’t take it from her even though they had a right to do so. Let her feed herself and her mother-in-law.

Boaz will later pay the price of making Ruth his wife, purchasing the land that belonged to her father-in-law and pledging to care for Ruth’s extended family in doing so. By taking Ruth as his wife, Boaz takes on the responsibility of Naomi’s welfare as well. The kindness and generosity he expresses is no less than the kind of love I show My children. Unconditional giving expecting nothing in return. Remember at this point Boaz didn’t know Ruth was kin to him.

Express My love to others in tangible ways. Let kindness and generosity be your guide. Work well and diligently as if working for Me. You’ll not regret it.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Listen to the truth (2 Corinthians 4), Apr 4, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Corinthians 4
Set – Judges 21; 2 Corinthians 4
Go! – Judges 19-21; 2 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 4
1 Since we are joined together in this ministry as a result of the mercy shown to all of us by God, we do not become discouraged. 2 Instead, we have renounced all the things that hide in shame; we refuse to live deceptively or use trickery; we do not pollute God’s Word with any other agenda. Instead, we aim to tell the truth plainly, appealing to the conscience of every person under God’s watchful eye. 3 Now if our gospel remains veiled, it is only veiled from those who are lost and dying, 4 because the evil god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers. As a result the light of the good news, the radiant glory of the Anointed—who is the very image of God—cannot shine down on them. 5 We do not preach about ourselves. The subject of all our sermons is Jesus, the Anointed One. He is Lord and Master of all. For Jesus’ sake we are here to serve you. 6 The God who spoke light into existence, saying, “Let light shine from the darkness,” is the very One who sets our hearts ablaze to shed light on the knowledge of God’s glory revealed in the face of Jesus, the Anointed One.

7 But this beautiful treasure is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us. 8 We are cracked and chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but we are not crushed by them. We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair. 9 We are persecuted, but we have not been abandoned. We have been knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our bodies the reality of the brutal death and suffering of Jesus. As a result, His resurrection life rises and reveals its wondrous power in our bodies as well. 11 For while we live, we are constantly handed over to death on account of Jesus so that His life may be revealed even in our mortal bodies of flesh. 12 So death is constantly at work in us, but life is working in you.

13 We share the same spirit of faith as the one who wrote the psalm, “I believed; therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and that belief leads us to acknowledge 14 that the same God who resurrected the Lord Jesus will raise us with Jesus and will usher us all together into His presence. 15 All of this is happening for your good. As grace is spread to the multitudes, there is a growing sound of thanks being uttered by those relishing in the glory of God.

16 So we have no reason to despair. Despite the fact that our outer humanity is falling apart and decaying, our inner humanity is breathing in new life every day. 17 You see, the short-lived pains of this life are creating for us an eternal glory that does not compare to anything we know here. 18 So we do not set our sights on the things we can see with our eyes. All of that is fleeting; it will eventually fade away. Instead, we focus on the things we cannot see, which live on and on.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I appreciate the words Paul penned in this section of his letter to the church at Corinth. It applied to them, but applies so much more to many of the pulpits today. I hear far too many sermons about today’s politics, crime rates, or even television programs. What I want to hear are sermons about the truth, My word.

Preaching about anything else allows twists and turns of opinion, deceit, and deception that My enemies use to blind people’s eyes to the truth and keep them from Me. My desire is that all would come to a saving knowledge of Me. But as long as the truth remains hidden from them, people will not hear the truth of My salvation. They will hear only the drivel the world spouts from the multitude of voices it shouts at you from everywhere.

What Paul tells his readers is what I want from every church. “Renounce all the things that hide in shame; refuse to live deceptively or use trickery; do not pollute My Word with any other agenda. Instead, aim to tell the truth plainly, appealing to the conscience of every person under My watchful eye.”

I’m tired of shades of truth. I’m tired of things that almost sound like My word. I’m tired of your agenda instead of Mine in worship. I’m tired of the thousands around the world that wear My name playing church without knowing My truth or understanding what it cost Me or what it costs you to follow Me. Engage the word and hear the truth. If you sit under a preacher who bends the truth to suit the politics of the day or the trend of the times, find a new preacher. My word doesn’t change. I’m the same past, present, and future. So is My word.

Hear the truth. Know the truth. Live the truth. My truth.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

What will your new body be? (2 Corinthians 3:7-18), Apr 3, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Set – Psalms 89; 2 Corinthians 3
Go! – Judges 17-18; Psalms 89; 2 Corinthians 3

2 Corinthians 3:7-18
7 Now consider this: if the ministry of death, which was chiseled in stone, came with so much glory that the Israelites could not bear to look at Moses’ face even as that glory was fading, 8 imagine the kind of greater glory that will accompany the ministry of the Spirit. 9 If glory ushered in the ministry that offers condemnation, how much more glory will attend the ministry that promises to restore and set the world right? 10 In fact, what seemed to have great glory will appear entirely inglorious in the light of the greater glory of the new covenant. 11 If something that fades away possesses glory, how much more intense is the glory of what remains?

12 In light of this hope that we have, we act with great confidence and speak with great courage. 13 We do not act like Moses who covered his face with a veil so the children of Israel would not stare as the glory of God faded from his face. 14 Their minds became as hard as stones; for up to this day when they read the old covenant, the same veil continues to hide that glory; this veil is lifted only through the Anointed One. 15 Even today a veil covers their hearts when the words of Moses are read; 16 but in the moment when one turns toward the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 By “the Lord” what I mean is the Spirit, and in any heart where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is liberty. 18 Now all of us, with our faces unveiled, reflect the glory of the Lord as if we are mirrors; and so we are being transformed, metamorphosed, into His same image from one radiance of glory to another, just as the Spirit of the Lord accomplishes it.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Most of you probably haven’t seen a caterpillar turn into a butterfly since you saw a film in grade school. Few have watched the miracle of the metamorphosis in person today. And fewer still could contemplate that I could turn that caterpillar into something as beautiful as the winged creature that breaks out of that cocoon at just the right time to float on the breeze in all its beauty.

Paul tries to describe the change My children experience as they transform into what I want you to become. You will become as different as the caterpillar is from the butterfly. The world will not recognize the old you, but will see the beauty of My spirit in you instead. They will see the changed created by the metamorphosis you undertake if you let Me transform your heart and mind into the person I made you to be.

Then when I come again and take you to be with Me forever, you will transform physically into your spiritual bodies, more radiant and glorious that your human language can describe. There are no words in any human tongue that can begin to explain the heavenly bodies you will inherit when you come to live with Me. People have tried, but it’s impossible for you to do so.

But really, what does it matter. Just know that you will live with Me. I have more in store for you. You will enjoy your new life, your new home, your new body. You won’t care what it looks like. You’ll just enjoy being with Me and your fellow believers in heaven. You’ll enjoy having all your questions answered. You’ll enjoy the fellowship of those that though the centuries put their trust in Me.

And that will be enough. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Train up a child…(Judges 13), Apr 2, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Judges 13
Set – Judges 13; 2 Corinthians 2
Go! – Judges 13-16; 2 Corinthians 2

Judges 13
1 Once again, though, the Israelites did evil according to the Eternal God, and He gave the Philistines power over them for 40 years. 2 During that time, a man of Zorah named Manoah, from the tribe of Dan, was married to a wife who could bear him no children.

Messenger of the Eternal One (appearing to Manoah’s wife): 3 You are barren and have no children, but all of that is about to change. You will conceive and have a son. 4 Be careful that you don’t drink wine or any other spirits (strong drink), and don’t eat anything that is ritually impure, 5 for you are going to become pregnant and have a son. Don’t ever use a razor on his head, because you will raise this boy as a Nazirite, dedicated to the True God from his conception, and he will be the one to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines.

Manoah’s Wife (to her husband): 6 A man of the True God visited me. He looked like a messenger of God, awe-inspiring. I didn’t ask where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name, 7 but he told me that I was going to become pregnant and bear a son. He told me not to drink wine or other spirits or to eat anything ritually unclean because our boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart for God from the day he is conceived until the day he dies.

Manoah (to the Lord): 8 Eternal One, please let the man of God whom you sent visit us again and teach us what to do with the boy You are giving us.

9 The True God heard Manoah and sent His messenger to visit the woman one day while she was in the fields. Manoah was not with her, 10 so she ran to tell him.

Manoah’s Wife: Look, the man who spoke to me the other day is here again!

11 Manoah got up, followed his wife, and came to where the man was.

Manoah (to the messenger): Are you the one who spoke to my wife the other day?

Messenger of the Eternal One: I am.

Manoah: 12 When your words come true, what rules should we apply to the boy? What is his mission in life?

Messenger of the Eternal One: 13 Your wife should do as I told her on my first visit. 14 She must not eat or drink of the vine, she must not drink any other strong drink, and she must not eat foods that are ritually impure. She must do all that I have commanded.

Manoah: 15 If you will wait, we would like to prepare a young goat for you to eat.

Messenger of the Eternal One: 16 Even if you try to detain me, I will not eat your food. If you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Eternal.

Manoah had not realized that he was speaking to the Eternal’s messenger. 17 That is why he asked the Eternal’s messenger a question.

Manoah: What is your name, so that we may honor you when your words become truth?

Messenger of the Eternal One: 18 Why do you ask my name? It is incomprehensible, beyond human understanding.

19 Manoah took the young goat, together with the offering of grain, and sacrificed it on a rock to the Eternal, to the wonder-working God. While Manoah and his wife watched 20 the flame going up toward heaven from the altar, the Eternal’s messenger rose up to heaven in the flames, and Manoah and his wife put their faces to the ground. 21 When he did not reappear, Manoah realized that they had seen the Eternal’s messenger.

Manoah (to his wife): 22 We are most certainly going to die, for we have seen the True God!

Manoah’s Wife: 23 If the Eternal had desired to kill us, then He would not have accepted the grain and burnt offerings from us or shown us these wonders or brought these announcements at this time.

24 In due time, the woman did bear a son, and she named him Samson. The boy grew, the Eternal God blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the Eternal One began to move in him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

One of the things I want you to understand as parents is your responsibility to raise your children in the way they should go. I tell you in My word they will not depart from it. But I must also tell you that each individual still has a choice. Samson is a good example of My rule. He eventually came back to Me and served Me well, but fell away from Me for a while because of the choices he made in his young life.

His parents started out well in their training, raising him under the strict traditions of a Nazarite, but as he got interested in women, it became evident that Samson’s strength overawed his parents and they let him get by with more than they should. Even though Samson might have been able to overpower them physically, they were still his parents and had responsibility to advise him and show him the right ways to live.

Perhaps if they had forbidden some of his early exploits and given him the reason why, Samson would not have strayed when he became a young man as far as he did. But they let him indulge in areas Manoah and his wife knew would entice him toward ways apart from God and Samson later found himself ensnared by the pagan Philistines not knowing I was no longer with him.

Some of the other parents probably thought Manoah and his wife were too strict on Samson holding him to the Nazarite vows. But others didn’t know the plans I had for Samson. Besides, since when should parents listen to the world for advice on how to raise their children? That’s part of the problem with the world today. My word give the best advice for rearing children, not the world.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Asaph points to the center of attention (Psalms 50) Apr 1, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 50
Set – Psalms 50; 2 Corinthians 1
Go! – Judges 11-12; Psalms 50; 2 Corinthians 1

Psalms 50
1 The Mighty God, the Eternal—God of past, present, and future—
has spoken over the world,
calling together all things from sunrise to sunset.
2 From Zion, that perfectly beautiful holy place,
shines the radiance of God.
3 Our God will come, and He will not enter on a whisper.
A fire will devour the earth before Him;
the wind will storm wildly about Him.
4 He calls heaven above and earth below
to assist in bringing judgment on His people.
5 “Gather up those who are aligned with Me; bring them to Me;
bring everyone who belongs to Me who have made covenant sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens shout of His justice,
for He is the True God, an honest judge.
[pause][a]
7 “Listen, My people, I have something to say:
O Israel, My testimony comes against you;
I am God, your God.
8 I am not going to scold you because of your sacrifices;
your burnt offerings are always before Me.
9 I will not accept the best bull from your fields
or goats from your meadow,
10 For they are already Mine, just as the forest beast
and the cattle grazing over a thousand hills are Mine.
11 Every bird flying over the mountains I know;
every animal roaming over the fields belongs to Me.
12 I would not come to you if I were hungry,
for the world and all it contains are Mine.
13 Do you really think I eat bull meat?
Or drink goat’s blood?
14 Set out a sacrifice I can accept: your thankfulness.
Be true to your word to the Most High.
15 When you are in trouble, call for Me.
I will come and rescue you,
and you will honor Me.”
16 But to those acting against Him, God says,
“Who do you think you are?
Listing off My laws,
acting as if your life is in alignment with My ways?
17 For it’s clear that you despise My guidance;
you throw My wise words over your shoulder.
18 You play with thieves,
spend your time with adulterers.
19 Evil runs out of your mouth;
your tongue is wrapped in deceit.
20 You sit back and gossip about your brother;
you slander your mother’s son.
21 While you did these things, I kept silent;
somehow you got the idea that I was like you.
But now My silence ends, and I am going to indict you.
I’ll state the charge against you clearly, face-to-face.
22 All you who have forgotten Me, your God, should think about what I have said,
or I will tear you apart and leave no one to save you.
23 Set out a sacrifice I can accept: your thankfulness.
Do this, and you will honor Me.
Those who straighten up their lives
will know the saving grace of God.”

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

A lot of people don’t remember who Asaph was. You see the twelve psalms ascribed to him, but probably don’t think much about what he did. If you look into the book of Chronicles, you’ll find where David made assignments to the different clans within the Levite tribe for the care and maintenance of the tabernacle and the future temple and for the acts of worship that would take place before and after the temple construction. David named Asaph the song leader, the music director, the one in charge of all the vocal and instrumental harmony that would fill My place of worship.

As you read Asaph’s psalms, you might think he would focus on the music and the worship in the temple. You might think Asaph would put together words that fill the temple with praise and happy thoughts. But as you read the words that I inspired him to write in his psalms, you’ll find instead condemnation of those who forget what worship is about. You’ll see him calling people back to Me.

Perhaps because of Asaph’s position, he saw the shallow ritual many performed and understood better than most that I didn’t need the meat sacrificed on the altars. Everything belongs to Me anyway, so I don’t need the food and drink as the other pagan religions felt their gods needed. Asaph understood I wanted the people’s praise. I wanted their true worship. I wanted them to understand who I was and what I did for them each day in giving them food to eat, water to drink, the sun to warm them, and the night to cool them.

Asaph’s psalms are filled with a call to recognize Me as the One True, Eternal God. He tried to emphasize what I wanted from My people and the consequences of not following Me. He filled his songs with judgment and justice. He also included in them My grace and mercy because He saw that side exercised on behalf of My people as they came to the temple and I released them from their heavy burdens.

Asaph served in the courts of kings, but regarded them as nothing compared to his service in My courts. He knew the place of honor I held and did his best to renew the people’s faith in Me and Me alone. Asaph knew what worship is all about. Read his psalms understanding his role in the temple and recognize the call he gives to bring everyone back to the place of worship as it should be…with Me as the center of attention.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.