Monthly Archives: May 2015

God doesn’t want to be co-pilot (Romans 2:17-29), May 21, 2015

Today’s Podcast

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 2:17-29
Set – 1 Kings 7; Romans 2
Go! – 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalms 98; Romans 2

Romans 2:17-29
¹⁷ Listen, if you claim to be a Jew, count on the law, and boast in your relationship with God; ¹⁸ if you know His will and can determine what is essential (because you have been instructed in the law); and ¹⁹ if you stand convinced that you are chosen to be a guide to the blind, a light to those who live in darkness, ²⁰ a teacher of foolish wanderers and children, and have in the law what is essentially the form of knowledge and truth— ²¹ then tell me, why don’t you practice what you preach? If you are going to sermonize against stealing, then stop stealing. ²² If you are going to teach others not to commit adultery, then be completely faithful to your spouse. If you hate idolatry, then stop robbing the temples! ²³ If you pride yourself in having God’s law, then stop dishonoring God by failing to keep its teaching. ²⁴ Here’s what it says: “Because of you, God’s reputation is slandered by those outside the covenant.”

²⁵ You see, circumcision is of value only if you keep the law’s teachings. But if you keep breaking God’s rules, you are no different than those without the mark. ²⁶ So if an uncircumcised man abides by God’s just precepts, doesn’t that make his standing before God the same as one who is circumcised? ²⁷ The man who is physically uncircumcised but still keeps the law, he will stand in judgment over the person who is circumcised and yet continually breaks God’s law. ²⁸ A mark that is evident doesn’t necessarily make one a Jew, and circumcision that is evident only in the flesh is not true. ²⁹ But the true Jew is Jewish on the inside—in secret places no one but God can see—and true circumcision involves the heart; it comes from the Spirit, not from some written code. The praise and reputation of that kind of Jew come from God, not from man.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Pharisaical Jews and Christians still spout their rhetoric about keeping the law today. You’d think after all this time they would realize you can’t keep it. I gave it to you to help you understand the boundaries of holy living. The things I wanted you to keep far from in your daily living. Instead, humankind saw My commands as an opportunity to try to stretch My grace and mercy. You try to stretch to see just how close you can get to the edge of the boundary without crossing it. Except most of the time, your foot slips and over you go, not just your toes, but foot leg, body and soul.

I sometimes wonder why I gave you the laws in the first place. But then again, without the laws, your behavior would mimic that of the population before the flood. I destroyed them because of their wickedness. Unfortunately, it’s happening again even with My laws. I even changed the rules and gave you My Son to teach them to you and then sent My Spirit to live in you so you could know them without memorizing them or hearing them from a rabbi or a pulpit.

My Spirit convicts the world of sin. People generally know right from wrong. Otherwise they wouldn’t commit their vile acts in darkness away from authorities or trying to hide their actions from Me. People know what actions I disapprove of and sneak around behind closed doors to hide from Me. It doesn’t work, though. I know what you do each moment of every day and every night. I never sleep. I always know your very thoughts…before you act. I even give you opportunities to escape before you commit those things you know will displease Me.

Too many do not read the exit signs and continue to march down the world’s path, though. The temporary pleasure overruns their self-control and down the guilt spiral they go. But are you much different? I tell you not to steal, do you have anything from your office at home that shouldn’t be there? Pens, pencils, paper? Did you leave early from work and still get paid for the time? That’s stealing, you know. Have you participated in the gossip circle? That gets into the hating your brother realm I talked about when I said don’t call anyone “fool.” It starts the train wreck toward murder in your heart and murders character and reputation. How about the “having no other gods before Me”? Does anything come between us when I ask you to do something for Me? If you say, “No.” I’m not your Lord, you know. I can’t be if you don’t do what I ask you to do.

My laws are simple. They are not always easy to follow in the sin-scarred world you live in, now. But that’s why I left My Spirit with you. Everything is possible with Me at your side. Just let Me act as your pilot. I never liked that “God is my co-pilot” bumper sticker. It says you’re still in charge. You can’t win that way. I want to be you pilot! Just let go and let Me drive. You’ll be amazed at where I take your life if you’ll let 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.

Which path do you choose? (Romans 1:18-32), May 20, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Romans 1:18-32
Set – 2 Chronicles 3; Romans 1
Go! – 1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; Psalms 97; Romans 1

Romans 1:18-32
¹⁸ For the wrath of God is breaking through from heaven, opposing all manifestations of ungodliness and wickedness by the people who do wrong to keep God’s truth in check. ¹⁹ These people are not ignorant about what can be known of God, because He has shown it to them with great clarity. ²⁰ From the beginning, creation in its magnificence enlightens us to His nature. Creation itself makes His undying power and divine identity clear, even though they are invisible; and it voids the excuses and ignorant claims of these people ²¹ because, despite the fact that they knew the one true God, they have failed to show the love, honor, and appreciation due to the One who created them! Instead, their lives are consumed by vain thoughts that poison their foolish hearts. ²² They claim to be wise; but they have been exposed as fools, frauds, and con artists— ²³ only a fool would trade the splendor and beauty of the immortal God to worship images of the common man or woman, bird or reptile, or the next beast that tromps along.

²⁴ So God gave them just what their lustful hearts desired. As a result, they violated their bodies and invited shame into their lives. ²⁵ How? By choosing a foolish lie over God’s truth. They gave their lives and devotion to the creature rather than to the Creator Himself, who is blessed forever and ever. Amen. ^26-27 This is why God released them to their own vile pursuits, and this is what happened: they chose sexual counterfeits—women had sexual relations with other women and men committed unnatural, shameful acts because they burned with lust for other men. This sin was rife, and they suffered painful consequences.

²⁸ Since they had no mind to recognize God, He turned them loose to follow the unseemly designs of their depraved minds and to do things that should not be done. ²⁹ Their days are filled with all sorts of godless living, wicked schemes, greed, hatred, endless desire for more, murder, violence, deceit, and spitefulness. And, as if that were not enough, they are gossiping, ³⁰ slanderous, God-hating, rude, egotistical, smug people who are always coming up with even more dreadful ways to treat one another. They don’t listen to their parents; ³¹ they lack understanding and character. They are simple-minded, covenant-breaking, heartless, and unmerciful; they are not to be trusted. ³² Despite the fact that they are fully aware that God’s law says this way of life deserves death, they fail to stop. And worse—they applaud others on this destructive path.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

There you have it. The description of humankind’s degradation. Paul saw it in the decadent conditions of the Roman empire and its influence on the rest of society. It’s happening again today. Despite America’s start based on religious freedom and faith in Me. In the nearly five hundred years since the first European settlers, the nation continues to turn further from Me and My principles of living.

Just as Paul observed in his day, you can see the escalation of humankind’s degradation today. And just as then, when men refuse to listen, I will let you make your choice and let you follow your own path. The description Paul gives shows the results of that path. Godless living, wicked schemes, greed, hatred, endless desire for more, murder, violence, deceit, and spitefulness. Any of that sound familiar today. If not, you haven’t paid attention to the headlines.

Paul goes on describing the people who continue to follow their own way and it isn’t a pretty picture. The problem is they don’t realize the penalty that comes with their actions. Just because they don’t believe in Me doesn’t mean I’m not real. Just because someone doesn’t believe there is no such thing as racism doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist today either. My word tells you there will be a day of reckoning for those who refuse to listen and obey My commands.

Unbelievers can say anything they like about My word and the events that will come to pass recorded there. One day they will know the truth, just like My followers already know the truth. Don’t let false prophets or unbelievers deceive you. Just because I have withheld My wrath for many years to pour our My mercy and grace to allow as many as possible to seek and find Me, there is still a day coming when all will face judgment for the deeds they have done.

I will come again and I will call all to account for their actions. All are guilty, but some are forgiven. Those who received the gift of forgiveness I freely offer will escape My wrath. But those who do not come to Me in repentance and receive My gift of forgiveness will feel the full force of My wrath. As Paul points out, I’ve given humankind every chance. You know the way. All you have to do is take 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.

Here’s a four letter word for you – Work! (2 Thessalonians 3), May 19, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Thessalonians 3
Set – 2 Chronicles 2; 2 Thessalonians 3
Go! – 1 Kings 4-5; 2 Chronicles 2; Psalms 101; 2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3
¹ Brothers and sisters, having shared all this, let me ask you to pray for us. Pray that this message of the Lord will spread quickly and receive the praise and respect it deserves from others as it has with you. ² Pray also that we would all be rescued from the snares of harmful, wicked people—after all, not all people are believing. ³ Still, the Lord is true to His promises; He will hold you up and guard you against the evil one. ⁴ We do not doubt the Lord’s intentions for you; we are confident that you are carrying out, and will continue to carry out, the commands we are sending your way. ⁵ May the Lord guide your hearts into God’s pure love and keep you headed straight into the strong and sure grip of the Anointed One.

⁶ For the sake of the church, brothers and sisters, we insist in the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed that you withdraw from any brother or sister who is out of order and unwilling to work, who is straying from the line of teaching we passed on to all of you. ⁷ You know how essential it is to imitate us in the way we live life. We were never undisciplined ⁸ nor did we take charity from anyone while we were with you. Instead, you saw how we worked very hard day and night so we wouldn’t be a burden to even one person in the community. ⁹ We had the right to depend on your help and hospitality, as you know; but we wanted to give you a model you could follow, to lay a path of footprints for you to walk in. ¹⁰ This is exactly why, while with you, we commanded you: “Anyone not willing to work shouldn’t get to eat!” ¹¹ You see, we are hearing that some folks in the community are out of step with our teaching; they are idle, not working, but really busy doing nothing—and yet still expect to be fed! ¹² If this is you or someone else in the community, we insist and urge you in the Lord Jesus the Anointed that you go to work quietly, earn your keep, put food on your own table, and supply your own necessities. ¹³ And to the rest of you, brothers and sisters, never grow tired of doing good.

¹⁴ If someone disregards the instructions of this letter, make a note of who it is and don’t have anything to do with that person so that this one may be shamed. ¹⁵ Don’t consider someone like this an enemy (he is an enemy only to himself) but warn him as if you were redirecting your own brother.

¹⁶ And now, dear friends, may the Lord of peace Himself grace you with peace always and in everything. May the Lord be present with all of you.

¹⁷ This final greeting is by me, Paul, written by my own hand. This is my signature, letting you know that this is a genuine letter from me, and so I write to you:

¹⁸ May the grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with all of you.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Somewhere along the line, many get the idea that society owes them something. Paul put the words down correctly when he told the church body in Thessalonica, “Anyone not willing to work shouldn’t get to eat!” I want you to take care of those unable to work for themselves. I want you to help the feeble, the sick, those who cannot work. But those who can, you do them no favors by your unbridled charity. Give them something to do so they may understand their usefulness to society.

The Garden of Eden was not a place of continual rest and relaxation. People get that misconception sometimes. Heaven won’t be a place of rest, either. I gave Adam the requirement to care for creation before the fall. That’s a lot of work, but it gave meaning and purpose to his life. The curse on Adam and Eve’s banishment was not that they would start to work, but that the earth would fight against them in their toil.

You see, I have something for you to accomplish. You have skills and talents, spiritual gifts, I’ve given you that I expect you to use to assist others in finding Me or in building My church. I expect you to use those gifts in accomplishing things for My kingdom. Using those gifts will sometimes seem like work and sometimes seem like complete and utter joy. The two go hand in hand because I made you to work, not to sit around and do nothing. I made you to accomplish tasks…for Me.

There you have it. Paul wasn’t being cruel or dispassionate when he gave those words to the Thessalonians. He passed on My thoughts and My directions. I made you as productive members of society helping each other in ways only you can help. Find your place and accomplish your tasks. Everyone can do something. So get to it and get your jobs done with joy and gladness.

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.

Prayer from the heart (1 Kings 3:1-15), May 18, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Kings 3:1-15
Set – 1 Kings 3; Psalms 78; 2 Thessalonians 2
Go! – 1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalms 78; 2 Thessalonians 2

1 Kings 3:1-15
¹ Solomon then arranged a marriage alliance with Pharaoh, Egypt’s king. He married Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the city of David. He kept her there while he constructed his own house and the Eternal One’s temple and completed the wall surrounding Jerusalem. ² However the people were still offering sacrifices at the high places because a temple had not been constructed for the Eternal until then.

³Solomon’s heart belonged to the Eternal. Solomon abided by the same laws as his father, David. The only difference was that Solomon offered sacrifices and incense at the high places. ⁴ Solomon went to Gibeon—the great high place—and presented 1,000 burnt offerings at the altar.

⁵ The Eternal revealed Himself to Solomon in a dream while he was still in Gibeon.

Eternal One: Tell me, what is your request of Me?

Solomon: ⁶ You have already revealed Your loyal love to my father, David, for he lived by Your truth and righteousness and honor during the days of his life. You have continued to show this loyal love to him by giving him a son who now reigns upon his throne. ⁷ Eternal One, my God, You have allowed me to serve as my father David served, but I am still young and inexperienced. I don’t know much about anything, ⁸ yet I am supposed to lead Your chosen people who are innumerable and even uncountable. ⁹ Please give Your servant a listening heart for judging Your people and for knowing the difference between what is good and what is evil. Who is capable of judging Your chosen ones, a great people?

¹⁰ The Lord was delighted by Solomon’s request.

Eternal One: ¹¹ Since you have asked for wisdom and not for an extended lifetime or for personal wealth or for the annihilation of your enemies, since you have instead asked for the ability to understand justice, ¹² I will honor your request. I have planted the deepest human wisdom into your heart. There has never been nor will there ever be a man like you.

¹³ I have also given you the things for which you have not asked—wealth and an honorable reputation. There will be no other kings like you for as long as you live. ¹⁴ If you live a life devoted to Me, if you remain loyal to My laws and commands just as your father David did, then I will add days to your life.

¹⁵ Solomon woke up from his dream. He then returned to Jerusalem and visited the Eternal’s covenant chest and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he prepared a great feast for all those who were in his service.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Asking from your heart for what is truly important makes a difference with Me. Solomon came to Me with a petition I didn’t refuse when he became king of Israel. He could have asked for anything. Israel still found itself surrounded by enemies. David defeated all of them and they all paid taxes to Israel, but now Solomon sat on the throne and all were eager to test this new young king and see if he would be the same kind of king they saw in his father. He could have asked for the defeat of all his enemies. But he didn’t.

Solomon could have asked for great wealth. His father spent great sums on the materials for the Temple he told Solomon to build and he gave to his friends lavishly. He brought Mephibosheth to his table and several others that didn’t deserve his benevolence, yet he still fed them and cared for them because of the grace and mercy I showed him an do he showed others. Consequently, David didn’t have great sums of personal wealth to give to Solomon, so he could have asked for wealth. But he didn’t.

Solomon could have asked for power or fame or glory or knowledge. There are many things the world held in esteem that Solomon could have asked for in his prayer to Me that day. Instead, he understood the task ahead of him as king of My people and he humbly came to Me and asked for the wisdom to rule My people. He grew up in the palace and saw some of the mess his father had made, and some of the good decisions his father had made as well.

Solomon knew he wasn’t smart enough or wise enough to take on the burden of ruling this kingdom alone and came to Me with a humble heart. I knew his prayer was genuine at the time, because I can see inside your heart and mind. I know genuine when you cannot. His prayer was genuine then. And I granted Solomon’s request. And I gave him everything else he didn’t request. I defeated his enemies, gave him great wealth, fame, power, and knowledge like no one before or since. I knew his heart and at the time it was genuine.

I’ll answer your prayers, too. But you must also know that when your mouth says, “Give me wisdom.” But your heart says, “So I can gain wealth.” I know your heart. It’s your heart, not your mouth, I listen to most. I cannot be deceived. I know what is best for you, too. Often, wealth is not what you need. Remember My words when I walked with you? “It’s harder for a rich man to make it into the kingdom than a camel to go through the eye of a needle.” You might not want to be rich after all. This world’s riches aren’t so great when you think about it in those terms.

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.

Everything belongs to God (1 Chronicles 29:10-25), May 17, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Chronicles 29:10-25
Set – 1 Chronicles 29; Psalms 95
Go! – 1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 29; Psalms 95; 2 Thessalonians 1

1 Chronicles 29:10-25
¹⁰ he blessed the Eternal in a prayer before the assembly.

David: You are blessed, O Eternal One,
God of Israel, our father, forever and ever.
¹¹ All that is great and powerful and glorious and victorious and majestic
is Yours, O Eternal One.
Indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth belongs to You.
The kingdom belongs to You, O Eternal One, and You are the head of it all.
¹² Wealth and glory come from You,
and You rule over them all.
In Your hand is power and strength,
and You use them to make great and strengthen everyone.
¹³ Because of your greatness, our God,
we testify about Your greatness and praise Your glorious name.
¹⁴ But who am I and who are my people
that we can offer up anything to You so willingly?
All our offerings come from You,
so we can give You nothing that isn’t already Yours.
¹⁵ For we are strangers before You, sojourners, as all our fathers were.
Our days on the earth are dark and temporary.
¹⁶ O Eternal One our God, we realize that all this abundance,
all that will build Your temple for Your holy name,
Is from Your hand already.
Everything is Yours.
¹⁷ O my God, You test the heart and delight when it is proven faithful,
so I, with an honest heart, have willingly offered all these things.
And now I have joyfully witnessed Your people, who are present here,
make their offerings willingly and joyously to You.
¹⁸ O Eternal One, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
sustain this purpose and thought
In the hearts of Your people forever
and guide their hearts to You.
¹⁹ Especially give to my son Solomon a perfect heart,
one that keeps Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your laws,
One that will do them all, and one that will build the temple,
for which I have made provisions.
²⁰ (to the assembly) Now bless the Eternal One your God.

Right then, the assembly obeyed David, blessing the Eternal, the God of their fathers, and bowed low in worship before the Eternal One and the king. ²¹ On the next day, they made sacrifices and burnt offerings to Him: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs. They also gave abundant drink offerings and sacrifices for all Israel. ²² Then they ate and drank before the Eternal with great gladness, and they coronated Solomon (son of David) a second time, anointing him as ruler and Zadok as priest for the Eternal. ²³ Then, for the first time, Solomon sat on the throne of the Eternal as king instead of his father David. Solomon prospered, and all Israel recognized him as their king. ²⁴ All the officials, the warriors, and the other sons of King David pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. ²⁵ The Eternal exalted Solomon as a great ruler before all Israel and gave him royal majesty greater than any king before him in Israel.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Something David recognized that many today don’t, or at least act like they don’t, is that everything is Mine. People hang on to things and hoard treasures like they belong to them instead of Me. But everything is Mine. I allow you to take care of some things for Me for a little while, but in the end, everything belongs to Me. It’s all Mine. From beginning to end, it’s all Mine.

I share things with you. I want you to enjoy the treasures the earth affords, but don’t hang on to anything too tightly. You can’t take anything with you and the events of life make the tangibles too insecure anyway. What can you hold in your hands that is really of value anyway? There is only one thing. Another human being.

Everything else is temporary and has limited, temporary value. Only another human being has eternal value. So when you hug another person or hold a baby in your hands you hold something of value. The relationship you build with people and with Me lasts forever. The things you try to hang on to disappear.

Think of the things you once thought so important to you when you were younger. Perhaps it was a new piece of furniture now battered and scarred by years of abuse by kids. Maybe it was that new car, traded many times over and probably demolished by now. Perhaps a wedding band, with designs long worn away. Precious, but it’s not the band, but the symbol of the relationship it stands for that is so important to you, not the band itself that really means so much to you.

You see, when you let go of all those tangible things, remembering they belong to Me, I often given them back to you to let you take care of them for Me for a while. But cling to the important things. Cling to your relationship with Me and other people. Those can last forever.

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.

It’s not a game of hide-n-seek (1 Chronicles 28:8-21), May 16, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Chronicles 28:8-21
Set – 1 Chronicles 28; Psalms 91; 1 Thessalonians 5
Go! – 1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 28; Psalms 91; 1 Thessalonians 5

1 Chronicles 28:8-21
David: ⁸ To you, my officials, follow the laws of the Eternal One your God as a witness to your neighbors (all Israel who are the assembly of the Eternal) and in the sight of our God so that you will retain this land and be able to pass it to your descendants forever.

⁹ To you, my son Solomon, maintain a relationship with the God of your father and serve Him with a complete heart in all your thoughts and actions. The Eternal searches all hearts for their desires and understands the intentions of every thought. If you search for Him as He searches you, then He will let you find Him. But if you abandon Him, then He will reject you forever. ¹⁰ Realize that the Eternal has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. You must be resolute and do it!

¹¹ After instructing Solomon, David gave him blueprints of the temple porch, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms, and the holy of holies for the covenant chest. ¹² And David also gave Solomon the plans he had in mind for the courts of the temple of the Eternal, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of the temple of God, and the storehouses of the dedicated gifts. ¹³ David also provided lists of the divisions of the priests and Levites and the work of the service they would perform in the temple of the Eternal. David also described how the priests and Levites would treat all the utensils of service in the house of the Eternal: ¹⁴ the ideal weight of gold for all the golden utensils for every kind of service, the ideal weight of silver for all the silver utensils for every kind of service, ¹⁵ the ideal weight of gold for each of the golden lampstands and their golden lamps, the ideal weight of silver for each of the silver lampstands and their silver lamps, ¹⁶ the ideal weight of gold for each of the tables of unleavened bread, and the silver for the silver tables, ¹⁷ the ideal weight of pure gold for the forks, the basins, and the pitchers, the ideal weight of gold for each of the golden bowls, the ideal weight for each of the silver bowls, ¹⁸ the ideal weight of refined gold for the altar of incense, for the model of the chariot, and for the winged guardian whose wings covered the covenant chest of the Eternal.

David (to the assembly): ¹⁹ All of these instructions and details were written for me by the Eternal, who was guiding me.

(to Solomon) ²⁰ Be strong, courageous, and effective. Do not fear or be dismayed. I know that the Eternal God, who is my God, is with you. He will not abandon you or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the temple of the Eternal. ²¹ You will be helped in finishing this service by the divisions of the priests and the Levites and by every willing man of any skill. The officials and all the people will be at your disposal for the completion of the temple.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

David would soon pass from this life to the next. Before he did, he passed on some important lessons to Solomon, the next king of Israel. One of those instructions was, “If you search for Him as He searches you, then He will let you find Him. But if you abandon Him, then He will reject you forever.” I don’t hide from you. I’m not one who disappears and tries to stay hidden in the mist so that you can’t find Me. I tell you often in My word that when you look for Me, you will find Me.

I want you to look for Me though. I want you to make some effort to reach for Me. It doesn’t take much effort to find Me, but it does take some. I expect you to at least open your eyes and look at My creation. I expect you to at least ask some questions. I want you to at least desire Me enough to search a little so that I know you want to worship Me, to have a relationship with Me.

Think about our relationship this way. If in your relationship with others you initiate every call, you send every card, you provide every gift, you make every move, how healthy is the relationship? If the relationship is that one-sided, is there a relationship? That’s why I want you to seek Me. It’s not that I don’t love you, I’ve already proven that in creation. I’ve already shown that by giving you breath. I’ve proven My love for you in My death on the cross. So show Me your side of the relationship by seeking Me with your heart.

What effort will you give to find Me in the places you go? To whom will you give a cup of water to find Me in them? How will you look at creation to see My handiwork? Where will you find My strength today? When will you see Me high and lifted up among the lowly around you today? I am not far from you. I want to be found. Seek Me and I will reward your efforts.

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.

Be holy, because I am holy (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12), May 15, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Set – 1 Chronicles 25; 1 Thessalonians 4
Go! – 1 Chronicles 25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
¹ So finally, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus, we ask you, we beg you to remember what we have taught you: live a life that is pleasing to God as you are already doing. Yes, we urge you to keep living and thriving in that life! ² For you know the instructions we gave you, instructions that came through the Lord Jesus. ³ Now this is God’s will for you: set yourselves apart and live holy lives; avoid polluting yourselves with sexual defilement. ⁴ Learn how to take charge over your own body, maintaining purity and honor. ⁵ Don’t let the swells of lustful passion run your life as they do the outsiders who don’t know God. ⁶ Don’t violate or take advantage of a fellow believer in such matters. As we told you before and warned you: the Lord will settle the score with anyone who does these things. ⁷ Here’s why: God does not call us to live impure, adulterous, scandalous lives, but to seek holiness and purity. ⁸ If you ignore this message, then you’re not only rejecting us but you’re rejecting God, the One who has given His Holy Spirit to live in you.

⁹ Now there’s no need for us to send you instructions on caring for your faith family because God Himself has already taught you how to love outside yourselves. ¹⁰ And it’s evident you learned that lesson well by the way you love all the people of Macedonia. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to love even more ¹¹ and make it your goal to lead a peaceful life, mind your own business, and keep your hands busy in your work, as we have instructed you. ¹² That way you will live peacefully with those on the outside, and all your needs will be met without depending on others.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul understood My word clearly as he gave instructions to his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica. “Now this is God’s will for you: set yourselves apart and live holy lives;…” I told you how to do that, too. Love Me with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as you love yourself. The problem is too many think holiness is for someone else. They assume it’s only for those cloister in monasteries and convents or so old they can no longer enjoy life.

Paul understood the truth of living a holy life, though. It means living life in a way the world doesn’t necessarily agree and clearly doesn’t understand. It means helping others. It means succeeding in the areas I think important; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. You know these as the fruit of the Spirit. They don’t grow unless My Spirit lives in and controls your life.

People can fake the fruit or have cheap substitutes for a short period of time, but Paul and all My followers discover real holiness comes only from letting Me fully control your life. It means dying to self and living for Me. That doesn’t mean becoming a pastor or a monk or hiding yourself from the world. Paul still made tents as he shared the gospel in all the cities he visited. Peter still fished to make money. Lydia still traded as a merchant in purple dye.

But all of these with their occupational pursuits kept their minds on their vocation – spreading the gospel. All were compelled by their separateness, their holiness, their dedication to Me to share the gospel with those around them. They died to self and let My Spirit send them to places and people ready to hear the good news I had for them. They didn’t let their careers or their personal desires get in the way of My desires for them.

Interesting enough, though, as you read their letters and the stories of their lives, you do not find them complaining after they received My Spirit. You hear joy in their voices. You hear excitement in their speech. Time after time they give themselves over to My direction and find themselves in situations that look like dead ends – literally – only to become the instruments that win dozens or hundreds or thousands to the kingdom because of their testimony.

I ask you to do something that goes against the grain of this world. Be holy, because I am holy. I ask you to give yourself wholly to Me so that I can do great works through you. I ask you to invest yourself completely in My kingdom so that you can inherit the kingdom. The world will never understand being holy, loving Me with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, or loving others like you love yourself.

The world says, “Me first. Don’t worry about anyone else.”

I say, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Who will you listen to today?

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.

Inspections make you better (1 Thessalonians 3), May 14, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Thessalonians 3
Set – 1 Chronicles 22; 1 Thessalonians 3
Go! – 1 Chronicles 22-24; 1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3
¹ But after all our attempts to come to you were frustrated, we decided it was best for Silvanus and me to stay behind in Athens by ourselves ² and to send Timothy (our dear brother [and servant of God], our partner in the good news of the Anointed One) to strengthen, comfort, and encourage you in your faith ³ so that you won’t be shaken by the sufferings and wither under this stress that we know lies ahead. ⁴ Certainly you remember that when we were with you, we warned you of the suffering we would have to endure; now, as you well know, it has happened. ⁵ This is why I couldn’t stand it anymore and sent Timothy to report on the state of your faith: because I was worried the tempter had tested you and, if so, all of our hard work would have come to nothing.

⁶ You can imagine my relief and joy when Timothy returned to us with such good news about you, about your faith and love for us, about how you have such good memories of us and long to see us as much as we long to see you. ⁷ Hearing this about your faith, brothers and sisters, brought comfort to us in our stress-filled days of trouble and suffering. ⁸ For if you are set firmly in the Lord, then we can truly live. ⁹ What thanks would ever be enough to offer God about you for all the jubilant celebration we’ll feel before our God because of you? ¹⁰ We remain vigilant in our prayers, night and day praying to once again see your faces and to help complete whatever may be lacking in your faith.

¹¹ May God Himself, our Father, along with our Lord Jesus, [the Anointed One, navigate our way to you. ¹² May the Lord flood you with an unending, undying love for one another and for all humanity, like our love for you, ¹³ so that your hearts will be reinforced with His strength, held blameless and holy before God, our Father, when our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, the Liberating King, appears along with all His holy ones. [Amen.]

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

People who tell you they like inspections are probably lying to you. No one likes inspections. But inspections are sometimes important. Paul sent Timothy to inspect the church he began in Thessalonica. He gave them instructions before he left. He gave them My word and left them procedures. He entrusted them with the treasure of the gospel and the objective of growing the church. He wanted to know if what he planted had grown. There was no better way to do so than to send someone back to check. That’s what an inspection does.

You’ll remember in his letter to the Corinthians, some steered away from the message he entrusted to them. The information he obtained from the Corinthians required follow up that was not so pleasant. So Paul sends Timothy to check up on the church in Thessalonica. What Timothy found was a growing vibrant church standing in the face of persecution.

Timothy found some things that needed correction and took care of them. Every organization needs improvement, including My church. Of course it needs improvement, it is filled with flawed people. Until all of you join Me in glory, it will continue to need improvement. Inspections help to find those areas that need improvement and help correct them. They are healthy for the church body just like physical examinations periodically are healthy to find those things that need correcting in your physical body.

You inspect your car. You inspect your house. You inspect all the mechanical apparatus around you to make sure it functions properly. Why do you hesitate to inspect your spiritual life? What are you afraid you will find? Don’t you want to know what is working well and what needs improvement? Don’t you want to know how to get better in your relationship with Me and others? Don’t you want to better share the gospel with those around you?

Do some self inspection. Do some inspection of your church. Look at your processes against the instructions in My word. Look at your life, your ministry, your actions in light of my guidance and see how they stand up. Then make the corrections that are necessary. Remember, inspections are an important part of making improvements wherever you are. You want to get better. It’s a natural part of what you do, just direct it to the right areas of your life. Do some serious inspecting starting today.

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.

Sacrifices aren’t free (1 Chronicles 21:18-22:1), May 13, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:1
Set – 1 Chronicles 21; 1 Thessalonians 2
Go! – 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalms 30; 1 Thessalonians 2

1 Chronicles 21:18-22:1
Messenger (commanding Gad): ¹⁸ Tell David to build an altar to the Eternal on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

¹⁹ David obeyed the instruction of the divine messenger.

²⁰ When Ornan saw the messenger, his four sons who were with him hid among the wheat. But Ornan continued threshing. ²¹ As David approached, Ornan glimpsed the king, left his chores, and prostrated himself before David.

David: ²² Sell me this threshing floor so I may build on it an altar to the Eternal. I will pay you the full price so the plague against the people may end.

Ornan: ²³ Take it; it’s yours to do with as you please. I will donate the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing tools for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give it all to you, my king.

David: ²⁴ No, I must buy it for the full price. I will not give your possessions to the Eternal as if they were my own, nor will I give a burnt offering which costs me nothing. I must sacrifice something for this offering.

²⁵ So David paid Ornan 15 pounds of gold by weight for the property. ²⁶ There David built an altar to the Eternal, sacrificed burnt offerings, and gave peace offerings. David requested His presence, and He accepted the altar and sacrifices by sending fire from heaven onto the altar of burnt offering. ²⁷ Then the Eternal commanded the divine messenger to sheath his sword. ²⁸ When David saw how the Eternal had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite by coming to the altar as fire and by stopping the plagues and the destruction of Jerusalem, David offered a sacrifice there instead of at Gibeon. ²⁹ (The congregation tent of the Eternal, which Moses had built in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were in the high place at Gibeon at that time.) ³⁰ But David could not go to Gibeon to commune with God because he still feared that the Eternal’s messenger would slay him.

²² David: Now this is the house of the Eternal God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel. We will no longer need to travel to Gibeon to sacrifice to God.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

David did a foolish thing requesting a census of the fighting strength of Israel. He had Me on his side and that was enough. Joan tried to tell him not to take the census. His other advisors tried to tell him his action was foolish, but he didn’t listen. He wanted to count his men. The price was a plague that swept across the country and killed thousands. David finally prayed to Me to stop the plague when he say My slayer at Ornan’s threshing floor.

When David understood his foolishness, repented, and prayed, I heard his cry and stopped My messenger from continuing his path of death. My messenger instructed Ornan to tell David to raise and altar to Me on the site. David went to Ornan to purchase the site. Ornan offered it free, but David insisted on paying full price for the land and the materials he would use for the altar and the sacrifice.

Several lessons come from the story that are relevant to you today as you think about your service to and worship of Me. First, repentance is the first step in My hearing you. You and I operate on different plains. I created you above all other creatures, but I am still God. When you disobey My commands, repentance is the right attitude to take in approaching Me.

David didn’t listen to My commands when counted the number of fighting men in his kingdom. All of his advisors tried to stop him. I put into the heart of every one of his advisors the foolishness of his actions and they did everything they could to dissuade David, but he wouldn’t listen. His foolish actions caused the lives of thousands.

Second, worship and offerings to Me must cost you something. David recognized that when he refused Ornan’s offer to give him the threshing floor and all the material to build the altar for My worship. David refused and payed the full price plus for the property. David used his personal wealth, not the kingdom’s coffers to pay for the altar. The land, the altar, the offering needed to come from him, not something given to him. An offering that doesn’t cost you anything isn’t an offering.

Think of it this way, I sacrifice Myself for you. If you are going to honor Me with your offerings, can you do less than sacrifice something in worship to Me? An offering that costs you nothing is no sacrifice. An offering that costs you something touches you. It reminds you that you made the sacrifice in the same way I sacrificed Myself for you. It comes from the heart.

Ornan was ready to sacrifice all of the material to Me and David refused because he knew Ornan would receive the blessing he needed. David needed to make that same sacrifice and purchased the land and materials from Ornan. Not to supersede Ornan’s offering, Ornan still received his blessings from Me for his part in stopping My messenger, but to make the offering his own.

I am a God of love and blessings, but I am also a God of wrath when evil comes near Me. As a holy God, I cannot be in the presence of evil. Only through My perfect sacrifice on the cross, My Son, all man yet all God, can I cover the sins of people who accept that sacrifice. But even then, there is a cost. You must give Me yourself. You must give Me your obedience. You Must die to self and live for 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.

Count your blessings (2 Samuel 22), May 12, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Samuel 22
Set – 2 Samuel 22; 1 Thessalonians 1
Go! – 2 Samuel 21-23; 1 Thessalonians 1

2 Samuel 22
¹ David composed the following song of praise to the Eternal because He delivered him from all of his enemies and especially from Saul.
² David: The Eternal is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
³ He is my True God, my stronghold in whom I take refuge,
My strong shield, my horn that calls forth rescue,
my tall-walled tower and strong refuge,
My savior from violence.
⁴ I call on the Eternal, who is worthy to be praised,
and I have been rescued from my enemies.
⁵ The waves of death surrounded me;
the torrents of terror tugged at me.
⁶ The sorrows of the grave tightly tangled me;
the snares of death met me.
⁷ In my time of need I called upon the Eternal One;
I called to my True God for help.
He heard my voice from His temple,
and my cry came to His ears.
⁸ Because of His great anger,
the earth shook and staggered;
the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked.
⁹ Smoke billowed out from His nostrils
and devouring fire from His mouth;
glowing coals flamed from Him.
¹⁰ He bent the heavens and descended;
darkness is beneath His feet.
¹¹ He rode upon a heavenly creature, flying;
He soared swiftly on the wings of the wind.
¹² He placed darkness around Him like a canopy
and made His home in dark watery clouds of the sky.
¹³ Out from His brightness,
hailstones and burning coals flared forth.
¹⁴ The Eternal thundered in the heavens,
the voice of the Most High speaking.
¹⁵ He shot forth His arrows and scattered the wicked;
He flung forth His lightning and struck them.
¹⁶ Then the deepest channels of the seas were revealed;
and the foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Eternal One,
at the blast of wind breathed from Your nostrils.
¹⁷ He reached down from above me, He held me;
He pulled me from the raging waters.
¹⁸ He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from all those who hated me,
for they would have overwhelmed me.
¹⁹ When my enemies came for me on the day of my destruction,
the Eternal stepped in to support me.
²⁰ He led me out onto a broad plain;
He delivered me because of His delight in me.
²¹ The Eternal One rewarded me because I sought righteousness;
He rewarded me because I kept my hands clean.
²² He rewarded me because I kept the ways of the Eternal
and have not walked away from my True God in wickedness.
²³ For all His laws were there before me,
and I did not push His statutes away.
²⁴ I made myself blameless before Him;
I kept myself from guilt and shame.
²⁵ That’s why the Eternal has rewarded me for seeking righteousness;
He’s rewarded me because He sees I have remained pure.
²⁶ To the good, You show Your goodness;
to the blameless, You prove to be blameless;
²⁷ To the pure, You show Your purity;
to the crooked, You make Yourself twisted.
²⁸ For You rescue weak people,
but the proud You bring low.
²⁹ You are the lamp who lights my way, O Eternal One,
the Eternal, who lights up my darkness.
³⁰ With Your help, I can conquer an army;
with Your help, I can vault over walls.
³¹ God has made an upright way;
the promise of the Eternal rings true;
He stands and shields all who hide in Him.
³² Who is the True God except the Eternal One?
Who stands like a rock except our God?
³³ The True God who circled me with strength
puts the upright on His way.
³⁴ He made me sure-footed as a deer
and placed me high up and safe.
³⁵ He teaches me to fight
so that my arms can bend a bronze bow.
³⁶ You have given me the shield of Your salvation,
and Your support has made me strong.
³⁷ You taught me how to walk with care
so my feet would not slip.
³⁸ I pursued my enemies and defeated them
and did not stop until all were destroyed.
³⁹ When I eliminated them, they fell down beneath my feet
so they could not rise again.
⁴⁰ For You equipped me with strength for battle,
and You made my enemies fall beneath me.
⁴¹ You made my enemies turn and run,
and all who hated me, I destroyed.
⁴² They looked everywhere, but no one came to save them;
they asked the Eternal for help, but He did not answer them.
⁴³ I beat them until they were as small as the dust of the earth;
I flung them away and beat them down like mud in the gutters.
⁴⁴ You delivered me from conflict with the peoples;
you raised me up to rule over nations;
people whom I did not know came to serve me.
⁴⁵ Strangers came to me, cringing and afraid;
as soon as they heard about me, they obeyed me.
⁴⁶ Strangers had their courage shrivel before them
and came fearfully to me from behind their high walls.
⁴⁷ The Eternal One is alive! May my Rock be blessed;
and the True God, the Rock of my deliverance be exalted,
⁴⁸ The God who avenged me
and tamed the peoples under me,
⁴⁹ Who rescued me from all my foes.
You raised me up above my enemies;
You saved me from the violent ones.
⁵⁰ For this, I will praise You, O Eternal One, among the nations
and sing praises to Your name.
⁵¹ He is a tower of salvation for His king
and shows His loyal love to His anointed,
to David and his descendants, continually.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

It’s easy to grumble about life and belly-ache about the way life treats you. But life David, every once in a while it’s important to just stop and count your blessings. Then remember where they come from. Remember all good things come from Me. I like to pour our good gifts on My children. I also like you to stop and give thanks for them every once in a while.

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.