Monthly Archives: September 2015

Daniel’s habit (Daniel 6), September 20, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Daniel 6

Set – Daniel 6; Psalms 130; Luke 3

Go! – Daniel 5-6; Psalms 130; Luke 3

Daniel 6
¹ Darius decided to rule by stationing 120 officers strategically over the entire empire. ² Over the officers he appointed 3 governors, including Daniel, and required each officer to report directly to them. This way the new king hoped not to lose any territories from his recent conquests or the revenue they provided. ³ Because of Daniel’s exceptional abilities, it wasn’t long before he distinguished himself over the other governors and officers. So the king decided to appoint him as head over the entire realm. ⁴ This appointment did not sit well with the other leaders, so the governors and officers tried to find reasons to level charges against Daniel for the way he supervised the kingdom. Though they tried, they could find no basis for charges or any corruption in his office. Daniel was loyal and attentive in his duties.
Conspirators: ⁵ We will never find any credible basis for charges against Daniel for how he conducts his office. Perhaps we can uncover some suitable charge in regard to the law of his God.
⁶ The governors and officers agreed and went to the king with what they thought would be a way to entrap Daniel.
Conspirators (to the king): May King Darius live forever! ⁷ All the leaders of the empire—the governors, prefects, officers, advisors, and other administrators—have consulted together and are in complete agreement that the king should issue an edict and enforce it strictly to the effect that anyone who prays to another—whether divine or human—except for you, of course, good king, for a period of 30 days, will be thrown into the lions’ den. ⁸ Now, O king, we ask that you establish such an ordinance and sign it into law, so that it cannot be changed. For the laws enacted by the Medes and Persians cannot be rescinded.
⁹ After considering their proposal, King Darius signed the ordinance and made it law. ¹⁰ Even though Daniel was aware the king had signed the ordinance into law, he continued to do what he always did. He would go home, ascend the stairs to the upper room—which had windows facing toward Jerusalem—and get down on his knees three times a day and pray to his God and praise Him. ¹¹ One day the conspirators came to his house and found Daniel on his knees praying and seeking God’s help. ¹² So they went back to the king and asked to speak to him about the edict he had made.
Conspirators: O king! Did you not sign an edict expressly forbidding anyone, regardless of his nationality, to pray to another—whether divine or human—except for you, of course, good king, for a period of 30 days or else he would be thrown into the lion’s den?
Darius: Indeed. I did sign it, and I intend to enforce it according to the laws of the Medes and Persians. It cannot be rescinded. Why do you ask?
Conspirators (to the king): ¹³ Well, recently we found your servant, Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, kneeling and praying at his home three times a day to his God. He is ignoring you, O king, and the edict you signed into law.
¹⁴ When the king heard the charge, he was very upset. He thought a great deal of Daniel, so he tried to figure out a way to help him. All day long until evening he looked for some loophole in the law to keep Daniel from falling victim to his edict. ¹⁵ The conspirators returned to press the matter further.
Conspirators (to the king): We have no need to remind the king that according to the law of the Medes and Persians, no edict established by the king can be revoked, changed, or ignored.
¹⁶ With his honor at stake, the king had no choice. He gave the order for Daniel to be captured. Before Daniel was thrown into the pit with the lions, the king spoke to him.
Darius: May your God, the God you have served so faithfully, rescue you!
¹⁷ Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den and a stone was brought in and placed over the opening to shut the mouth of the den. The king himself sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his nobles. That way no one could tamper with the pit and nothing could happen to change Daniel’s fate. ¹⁸ The king retired to his palace and spent the night fasting. That evening he stayed to himself, turning down his regular evening musical entertainment. When he finally went to bed, he could not sleep.
¹⁹ When first light of morning finally arrived, the king got up and didn’t waste any time returning to the lions’ den.
²⁰ As he drew near the den, with anguish in his voice he called out to Daniel, hoping somehow he was still alive.
Darius: Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, the One you have served so faithfully, been able to rescue you from these hungry lions?
Daniel (to the king): ²¹ Long live the king! ²² As soon as you shut the mouth of this den, My God sent His heavenly representative to shut the mouths of these hungry lions so that they could not hurt me. He has rescued me because I am as innocent before Him as I am before you, O king. I have done you no harm.
²³ The king could hardly contain his excitement and joy. He ordered that Daniel be taken up out of the lions’ den. He was removed and examined carefully, but not even a scratch was found on him—all because he put his trust in His God. ²⁴ The king gave yet another order; this time he demanded that those who accused Daniel of wrongdoing be captured and thrown into the lions’ den—but not only them—their wives and children too. As they were being pushed into the den, before they even hit the bottom, the lions jumped on them, overpowered them, and crushed their bones in their powerful jaws.
²⁵ Afterward King Darius sent a message to all the peoples through the world, regardless of their heritage, nationality, or language.
Message: May peace and prosperity be yours! ²⁶ I decree that all people everywhere who live under my sovereign rule ought to tremble before and fear the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God,
and He will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be overthrown;
His reign will know no end.
²⁷ He saves and rescues those who fear Him,
performing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth;
For He has rescued His servant Daniel
from the power of the lions.
²⁸ With his enemies defeated, Daniel continued to thrive during the reign of Darius and into the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You think your problem is bigger than Daniel’s? You think I can’t handle it? Read his story again. If I can close the mouths of a den of lions kept hungry to devour their intended prey, I can solve your problems, too. What was Daniel’s secret to My protection over him? He trusted Me in the good times and the bad. Remember his habit? He went to his room and faced Jerusalem three times a day and prayed, praising Me for his blessings. You might be surprised what a difference it makes in your life if you picked up Daniel’s habit and prayed, praising Me for your blessings.

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’s choir (Luke 2:1-20), September 19, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 2:1-20

Set – Ezekiel 47; Luke 2

Go! – Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Luke 2:1-20
¹ Around the time of Elizabeth’s amazing pregnancy and John’s birth, the emperor in Rome, Caesar Augustus, required everyone in the Roman Empire to participate in a massive census—² the first census since Quirinius had become governor of Syria. ³ Each person had to go to his or her ancestral city to be counted.
^4-5 Mary’s fiancé Joseph, from Nazareth in Galilee, had to participate in the census in the same way everyone else did. Because he was a descendant of King David, his ancestral city was Bethlehem, David’s birthplace. Mary, who was now late in her pregnancy that the messenger Gabriel had predicted, ⁶accompanied Joseph. While in Bethlehem, she went into labor ⁷and gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough because the inn had no room for them.
⁸ Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. ⁹ Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!
Messenger: ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. ¹¹ Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! ¹² You will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough.
¹³ At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers—a vast heavenly choir. They praised God.
¹⁴ Heavenly Choir: To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God!
And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!
¹⁵ As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation.
Shepherds: Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s experience what the Lord has told us about!
¹⁶ So they ran into town, and eventually they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough. After they saw the baby, ¹⁷ they spread the story of what they had experienced and what had been said to them about this child. ¹⁸ Everyone who heard their story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning. ¹⁹ Mary, too, pondered all of these events, treasuring each memory in her heart.
²⁰ The shepherds returned to their flocks, praising God for all they had seen and heard, and they glorified God for the way the experience had unfolded just as the heavenly messenger had predicted.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The only time My heavenly choir left My throne room and touched the soil of Earth was to announce the birth of Jesus. They have seen many marvelous things throughout the centuries of their existence. My choir has heralded many wonderful events in the heavens. My messengers have been to your world many times. I have sent them one at a time to announce information to individuals. Sometimes I have sent more than one to emphasize the importance of My message.

My choir, however, always stays by My throne singing My praise. Until that night in Bethlehem. Then they couldn’t contain their joy over what was happening on your home planet. I was coming to live with you in the flesh. So they wanted to sing My praises there. I didn’t hold them back. They knew the importance of this single event. I was about to unleash My perfect plan of salvation with the birth of My perfect sacrifice for the world’s sin. I was going to live in the flesh of a human. Born of virgin mother, I would walk on the Earth for just over 33 years and become the perfect sacrifice for you. I would teach you about Me through the words of My flesh-wearing self.

My choir decided to announce My coming to some of the most important people on the planet…a group of shepherds on the Bethlehem hillside. You see, the announcement to those men shows everyone is important to Me. They were among the poorest. They worked in horrid conditions for almost nothing, looking out for the welfare of someone else’s smelly sheep. But those shepherds were important enough that I wanted them to be among the first to hear the choir that sings to Me eternally. It would be a sight and sound they would not forget for the rest of their lives.

My choir continues to sing for Me and rejoiced when the sacrifice for humankind was complete and sins forgiven for those who follow My Son. It has not touched the Earth since the day I came in the flesh, though. What a day that was for you. I’m looking forward to letting you hear that choir again one day. All it takes is for you to believe in Me, in My coming to you and giving My life for the forgiveness of your sins. Like the shepherds, it will be a sight and sound you will never forget.

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 made Mary special (Luke 1:26-56), September 18, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 1:26-56

Set – Ezekiel 45; Luke 1

Go! – Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Luke 1:26-56
²⁶ Six months later in Nazareth, a city in the rural province of Galilee, the heavenly messenger Gabriel made another appearance. This time the messenger was sent by God ²⁷ to meet with a virgin named Mary, who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David himself. ²⁸ The messenger entered her home.
Messenger: Greetings! You are favored, and the Lord is with you! Among all women on the earth, you have been blessed.
²⁹ The heavenly messenger’s words baffled Mary, and she wondered what type of greeting this was.
Messenger: ³⁰ Mary, don’t be afraid. You have found favor with God. ³¹ Listen, you are going to become pregnant. You will have a son, and you must name Him “Savior,” or Jesus. ³² Jesus will become the greatest among men. He will be known as the Son of the Highest God. God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David, ³³ and He will reign over the covenant family of Jacob forever.
Mary: ³⁴ But I have never been with a man. How can this be possible?
Messenger: ³⁵ The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The Most High will overshadow you. That’s why this holy child will be known, as not just your son, but also as the Son of God. ³⁶ It sounds impossible, but listen—you know your relative Elizabeth has been unable to bear children and is now far too old to be a mother. Yet she has become pregnant, as God willed it. Yes, in three months, she will have a son. ³⁷ So the impossible is possible with God.
Mary (deciding in her heart): ³⁸ Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant. As you have said, let it be done to me.
And the heavenly messenger was gone. ³⁹ Mary immediately got up and hurried to the hill country, in the province of Judah, ^40-41 where her cousins Zacharias and Elizabeth lived. When Mary entered their home and greeted Elizabeth, who felt her baby leap in her womb, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth (shouting): ⁴² You are blessed, Mary, blessed among all women, and the child you bear is blessed! ⁴³ And blessed I am as well, that the mother of my Lord has come to me! ⁴⁴ As soon as I heard your voice greet me, my baby leaped for joy within me. ⁴⁵ How fortunate you are, Mary, for you believed that what the Lord told you would be fulfilled.
⁴⁶ Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord!
⁴⁷ My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator!
⁴⁸ For though I’m God’s humble servant,
God has noticed me.
Now and forever,
I will be considered blessed by all generations.
⁴⁹ For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
holy is God’s name!
⁵⁰ From generation to generation,
God’s lovingkindness endures
for those who revere Him.
⁵¹ God’s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.
The proud in mind and heart,
God has sent away in disarray.
⁵² The rulers from their high positions of power,
God has brought down low.
And those who were humble and lowly,
God has elevated with dignity.
⁵³ The hungry—God has filled with fine food.
The rich—God has dismissed with nothing in their hands.
⁵⁴ To Israel, God’s servant,
God has given help,
⁵⁵ As promised to our ancestors,
remembering Abraham and his descendants in mercy forever.
⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth in Judea for the next three months and then returned to her home in Galilee.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you ever wondered why I chose Mary to carry Jesus, the human side of the triune Godhead? What was so special about her that I would come to her to act as the earthly mother of My one and only Son? The answer comes from what doesn’t appear in these verses. Mary never asked, “Why me?” Despite the trouble that would come her way as an unwed mother in a society that would rather stone her than forgive her, she chose to trust Me and bear the Son of God.

What was special about Mary? She believed Me. She watched for the coming of the Messiah and knew that My promises were true. She lived the best she knew how to follow the path I had given for My people. She trusted Me with all her heart. Mary didn’t have special powers or abilities. She didn’t have some secret that others didn’t. You probably wouldn’t have recognized her or been able to point her out in a crowd. She was pretty ordinary… Except for her faith in Me.

Mary knew I could not and would not fail in My promises and when I sent My messenger to announce My intentions to her, she humbly accepted the task without question, only trust. That’s what was special about Mary. But can you trust Me? Yes. Can you accept the tasks I give you? Can you praise Me and give thanks for the situations you face? Yes. Trust Me. Believe in Me. Follow Me. I am the one that will make you special, just like I did with Mary.

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 Ready, He’s coming soon (Revelation 22:7-21), September 17, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 22:7-21

Set – Ezekiel 43; Revelation 22

Go! – Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

Revelation 22:7-21
The Anointed One: ⁷ Look now, I am coming soon! The one who remains true to the prophetic words contained in this book will truly be blessed.
⁸I, John, am the one who heard and witnessed these visions. And when I heard and witnessed them, I fell prostrate at the feet of the heavenly guide who showed them to me. ⁹ But he refused.
Guide: You must not do that! I am a servant with you, with your brothers and sisters the prophets, and with those who keep the words contained in this book. Worship God instead!
¹⁰ (continuing) Do not seal up the prophetic words contained in this book for another day, for the finale is near. ¹¹ Let the one given to evil continue down evil’s path and the one addicted to filth continue to be its servant. But let the one who is righteous journey along the righteous road, and let the holy continue in holy ways.
The Anointed One: ¹² See, I am coming soon, and I will bring My reward with Me. I will pay back every person according to the deeds he has done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and Omega, the First One and the Last One, the beginning and the end.
¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their garments. In the end, they have rightful access to the tree of life and will enter the city through its gates. ¹⁵ The dogs, the sorcerers, those who commit immoral acts, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception must remain outside the gates for all eternity.
Jesus: ¹⁶ I, Jesus, have sent My messenger to show you and guide you so that you in turn would share this testimony with the churches. I am the Root and the Descendant of David, the Bright Morning Star.
The Spirit and the Bride: ¹⁷ Come.
And let everyone who hears these words say, “Come.”
And let those who thirst come.
All who desire to drink, let them take and drink freely from the water of life.
¹⁸ Beware, everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book. Know this for certain: if anyone adds to these words, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. ¹⁹ And if anyone subtracts from the prophetic words of this book, God will remove that person’s access to the tree of life and to the holy city which are described in this book.
²⁰ The One who testifies to these realities makes this promise:
The Anointed One: Yes. I am coming soon.
To which we say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
²¹ May the grace of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with all the saints. Amen.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The close of the book ends with My words to John, “I’m coming soon.” I’m coming to give rewards to those who dared to follow Me to the end. I’m coming to finally bring My bride, the church, with Me to heaven. I’m coming to bring an end to the sorrow and pain this corrupted world has caused My children. I’m coming to set right all the wrong that has been done throughout the millenia since that first deception Satan put into men’s minds. I’m coming back.

I give blessings and I give judgments. I give indescribeable joy and I give excruciating agony. I have experienced both and I can administer both. Remember, endured the cross for you, so I know the pain and agony of bearing the sins of the world on My shoulders, but I also know the joy of bursting free from the tomb because even death could not hold My human form empowered by My heavenly glory and Spirit.

I want the best for you and give you My instructions for how to live abundantly. I ask you to live the principles and concepts laid out in the book I gave you through My inspired words. Men put them on paper as I gave them the inspiration to do so. Read and study their words. Let My words reside deep in your heart and meditate on them. Make them a part of your heart and mind so they become your principles to live by each day.

Satan will tell you there is plenty of time before My coming, but he doesn’t know when I will return. Only the Father knows. Only the Father knows the day and the hour and when He says time is no more, it will be too late. It could be another 2,000 years…or it could be today. Do you want to take the chance on My delay? The Father is merciful and gracious, but His judgment is coming and I will soon return to take My bride from this world so His wrath can flood the earth with the many plagues John mentioned in his Revelation. I am coming soon. I want to take you with Me, but it’s up to you. Be ready.

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.

John describes heaven (Revelation 21), September 16, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 21

Set – Ezekiel 41; Revelation 21

Go! – Ezekiel 40-41; Psalms 128; Revelation 21

Revelation 21
¹ I looked again and could hardly believe my eyes. Everything above me was new. Everything below me was new. Everything around me was new because the heaven and earth that had been passed away, and the sea was gone, completely. ² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride on her wedding day, adorned for her husband and for His eyes only. ³ And I heard a great voice, coming from the throne.
A Voice: See, the home of God is with His people.
He will live among them;
They will be His people,
And God Himself will be with them.
⁴ The prophecies are fulfilled:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
Mourning no more, crying no more, pain no more,
For the first things have gone away.
⁵ And the One who sat on the throne announced to His creation,
The One: See, I am making all things new. (turning to me) Write what you hear and see, for these words are faithful and true. ⁶ It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will see to it that the thirsty drink freely from the fountain of the water of life. ⁷ To the victors will go this inheritance: I will be their God, and they will be My children. ⁸ It will not be so for the cowards, the faithless, the sacrilegious, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all those who deal in deception. They will inherit an eternity in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
⁹ And then one of the seven messengers in charge of the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came over to me.
Heavenly Messenger: Come with me, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
¹⁰ He took me away in the Spirit and set me on top of a great, high mountain. As I waited for what I thought was a bride, he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. ¹¹ It gleamed and shined with the glory of God; its radiance was like the most precious of jewels, like jasper, and it was as clear as crystal. ¹² It was surrounded with a wall, great and high. There were twelve gates. Assigned to each gate was a messenger, twelve in all. And on the gates were inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’s sons. ¹³ On the east wall were three gates. On the north wall were three gates. On the south wall were three gates. On the west wall were three gates. ¹⁴ And the city wall sat perfectly on twelve foundation stones, and on them were inscribed the names of the twelve emissaries of the Lamb.
¹⁵ My guide held a golden measuring rod. With it he measured the city and the gates and the walls. ¹⁶ And the city is laid out with four corners in a perfect square, the length the same as its width. He measured the city with his measuring rod, and the result was that its length and width and height are equal: 1,444 miles, a perfect cube. ¹⁷ And my guide measured the wall; it was nearly 72 yards high, in human measurements, which was the instrument the guide was using. ¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, while the city itself was made of pure gold, yet it was as clear as glass. ¹⁹ The foundation stones of the wall of the city were decorated with every kind of jewel: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate expertly crafted from a single beautiful pearl. And the city street was pure gold, yet it was as transparent as glass.
²² And in the city, I found no temple because the Lord God, the All Powerful, and the Lamb are the temple. ²³ And in the city, there is no need for the sun to light the day or moon the night because the resplendent glory of the Lord provides the city with warm, beautiful light and the Lamb illumines every corner of the new Jerusalem. ²⁴ And all peoples of all the nations will walk by its unfailing light, and the rulers of the earth will stream into the city bringing with them the symbols of their grandeur and power. ²⁵ During the day, its gates will not be closed; the darkness of night will never settle in. ²⁶ The glory and grandeur of the nations will be on display there, carried to the holy city by people from every corner of the world. ²⁷ Nothing that defiles or is defiled can enter into its glorious gates. Those who practice sacrilege or deception will never walk its streets. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life can enter.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

John saw the city I am building for you. If you wonder if it’s large enough to accommodate all who will enter, look again at its measurements. 1,444 miles on every side, a perfect cube. Now imagine a city that stretches half-way from Maine to Los Angeles, from San Antonio to Canadian and is more than five times higher than the space lab in orbit. Ten million people live in New York City. My city can hold the population of the world many times over. You see I really do want everyone to know My saving grace. I’m preparing a place for everyone. I know that all won’t follow Me, but I’m preparing a place in the hope that all will choose Me instead of their own path. John describes it. It’s a pretty nice place. I’m still working on it for you, but it’s almost ready. You can live there by believing in Me. Choose right and join 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.

Spend time with God (Psalm 145), September 15, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 145

Set – Psalms 145; Revelation 20

Go! – Ezekiel 38-39; Psalms 145; Revelation 20

Psalms 145
¹ I will lift my praise above everything to You, my God and King!
I will continually bless Your name forever and always.
² My praise will never cease—
I will praise You every day;
I will lift up Your name forever.
3 The Eternal is great and deserves endless praise;
His greatness knows no limit, recognizes no boundary.
No one can measure or comprehend His magnificence.
⁴ One generation after another will celebrate Your great works;
they will pass on the story of Your powerful acts to their children.
⁵ Your majesty and glorious splendor have captivated me;
I will meditate on Your wonders, sing songs of Your worth.
⁶We confess—there is nothing greater than You, God, nothing mightier than Your awesome works.
I will tell of Your greatness as long as I have breath.
⁷ The news of Your rich goodness is no secret—
Your people love to recall it
and sing songs of joy to celebrate Your righteousness.
⁸ The Eternal is gracious.
He shows mercy to His people.
For Him anger does not come easily, but faithful love does—and it is rich and abundant.
⁹ But the Eternal’s goodness is not exclusive—it is offered freely to all.
His mercy extends to all His creation.
¹⁰ All creation will stand in awe of You, O Eternal One.
Thanks will pour from the mouths of every one of Your creatures;
Your holy people will bless You.
¹¹ They will not be silent; they will talk of the grandeur of Your kingdom
and celebrate the wonder of Your power
¹² Until everyone on earth who has ears to hear knows Your valiant acts
and the splendor of Your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom will never end;
Your rule will endure forever.
You are faithful to Your promise,
and Your acts are marked with grace.
¹⁴ The Eternal sustains all who stumble on their way.
For those who are broken down, God is near. He raises them up in hope.
¹⁵ All eyes have turned toward You, waiting in expectation;
when they are hungry, You feed them right on time.
¹⁶ The desires of every living thing
are met by Your open hand.
¹⁷ The Eternal is right in all His ways,
and He is kind in all His acts.
¹⁸ The Eternal stays close to those who call on Him,
those who pray sincerely.
¹⁹ All of you who revere Him—
God will satisfy your desires.
He hears the cries for help, and He brings salvation.
²⁰ All of you who love God—
He will watch out for you,
but total destruction is around the corner for all the wicked.
²¹ My lips will sing the praise of the Eternal.
Let every creature join me and praise the holy name of God—forever and always!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

David sang of Me and he sang to Me. His songs of praise filled his courts continually and filled My tabernacle day and night. I love to hear the praises of My people. David learned to trust Me in the good and bad seasons of life. He knew I was there for him. He learned I would always be with him and would never fail in My purposes for his life. Sometimes the days might look dark, but I was always in control and nothing ever happens outside of what I allow. I know you and I know what is best for those who follow Me.

Sometimes it was hard for even David to realize the situations he faced were temporary and My will for him would carry him to greater blessings. But David would stop and remember this world is temporary. You are not made for this world alone. When Adam fell to the temptations of Satan, I made a way of salvation for him and those who came behind him. Even though I made death one of the curses he faced, I also created a new home for those who accepted My salvation and turned back to Me.

Heaven is real. I have prepared it for all who believe in Me. I began preparing it at the first sin in the Garden of Eden when I also made a way of repentance and restoration for humankind’s immortal soul. I want you to desire to be with Me as much as I desire to be with you. David learned that lesson as he came to know Me on those wilderness hills tending sheep and never forgot those lessons. He put many of those lessons into verse and sang them to the sheep under his charge as a shepherd and sang them to the flock I gave him as king.

You can sing those same songs from your heart as you learn of Me, not just as God, but as your Savior, as your provider, as your creator, as your friend. David learned much about Me because he spoke with Me consistently and constantly about his life, his joys, his sorrows, his problems, his blessings. David didn’t want to know about Me, he wanted to know Me. So he spent time with Me on those Judean hillsides talking with Me. And I shared much with him that helped him write his songs.

Read David’s words again in Psalm 145 again today. Read them two or three times. Recognize the depths of understanding David had of Me. You can know Me, too. Just spend time with Me. I know you well. I’d like you to get to know Me better.

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.

Where do you focus, vengance or praise? (Revelation 19), September 14, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 19

Set – Ezekiel 36; Revelation 19

Go! – Ezekiel 36-37; Psalms 110; Revelation 19

Revelation 19
¹ The scene changed. After this, I heard the great sound of a multitude echoing in heaven.
Multitude: Praise the Lord!
Salvation and glory and power truly belong to our God,
² for true and just are His judgments.
He has judged the great whore
who polluted the entire earth with her sexual immorality,
And He has vindicated the blood of His servants, which she shed.
³ Again praise spilled from heaven.
Multitude: Praise the Lord!
The smoke rises up from her ruins forever and ever.
⁴ And the twenty-four elders and four living creatures fell on their faces and worshiped God who reigns on the throne.
Four Living Creatures and 24 Elders: Amen, Praise the Lord!
⁵ A Voice from the Throne: Give praise to our God,
all of you, God’s servants,
All who reverence Him,
small and great.
⁶ And I heard what seemed to be an immense crowd speaking with one voice—it was like the sound of a roaring waterfall, like the sound of clashing thunder.
Multitude (in unison): Praise the Lord!
For the Lord our God,
the All Powerful, reigns supreme.
⁷ Now is the time for joy and happiness.
He deserves all the glory we can give Him.
For the wedding feast has begun; the marriage of the Lamb to His bride has commenced,
and His bride has prepared herself for this glorious day.
⁸ She had been given the finest linens to wear,
linens bright and pure,
woven from the righteous deeds of the saints.
Guide:⁹ Write this down: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb.” What I am telling you are the true words of God.
¹⁰ At that, I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he refused my praise.
Guide: Stop it. Don’t you see? I am a servant like you and your brothers and sisters, all who hold fast to the testimony of Jesus. Address your worship to God, not to me! For the testimony about Jesus is essentially the prophetic spirit.
¹¹ I looked up and saw that heaven had opened. Suddenly, a white horse appeared. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with righteousness He exercises judgment and wages war. ¹² His eyes burn like a flaming fire, and on His head are many crowns. His name was written before the creation of the world, and no one knew it except He Himself. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name He was known by is The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, outfitted in fine linen, white and pure, were following behind Him on white steeds. ¹⁵ From His mouth darts a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule over them with a scepter made of iron. He will trample the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God, the All Powerful. ¹⁶ And there on His robe and on His thigh was written His name: King of kings and Lord of lords.
¹⁷ Then I looked up and saw a messenger standing in the sun; and with a loud voice, he called to all the birds that fly through midheaven.
Heavenly Messenger: Come. Gather for the great feast God is preparing for you ¹⁸ where you will feast on the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the rich and powerful, the flesh of horses and their riders—all flesh—both free and slave, both small and great.
¹⁹ I looked down, and I saw the beast I had seen earlier and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered together to wage war against the One riding the white horse and His heavenly army. ²⁰ The beast was soon captured along with the false prophet, the earth-beast I had seen earlier who performed signs to deceive those who had agreed to receive the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its detestable image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. ²¹ And all who remained met death at the blade of the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One riding on the white horse. All the birds feasted fully on their flesh.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Which part of what you just heard did you focus on? Was the first thing that came to your mind the rider on the white horse that would come to slay the beast and the kings of the earth? Did you focus on the blade that proceeded from his mouth and the blood that runs in the street at his coming? Or did you focus on the multitude singing praises to Me in heaven? Did you think first about “Praise the Lord! Salvation and glory and power truly belong to our God.”? Did you remember the praise or the in My throne room or the slaughter on the earth? Does that say anything about your focus? Do you want to praise Me more than you want to see Me avenge those who wrong you? Do you want to see salvation for the worst people you can think of? Do you really love your enemies?

I commanded you to love your enemies and do good to those who wrong you, remember? Love like I love, then you’ll focus on the praise instead of the avenger. It’s much more fun and much more productive.

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.

Sheep and shepherds (Ezekiel 34:1-24), September 13, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ezekiel 34:1-24

Set – Ezekiel 34; Revelation 18

Go! – Ezekiel 33-35; Revelation 18

Ezekiel 34:1-24
¹ The word of the Eternal came to me with a message for Israel’s leaders.
Eternal One: ² Son of man, preach against Israel’s shepherds! Speak directly to the shepherds and tell them this is what the Eternal Lord has to say: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel whose only concern is to protect and nourish themselves! Isn’t a shepherd’s job to look after the sheep? ³ Yet you exploit them in every way. You devour their fat, make soft clothes and blankets out of their wool, and slaughter the best sheep for your table. Meanwhile you don’t take care of the sheep at all. ⁴ You have not sought to nurse the weak. You have not gone out to tend to the sick. You have not bandaged the injured. You don’t bring back the strays or look for the lost. You have led them with neglect, ruled them with harshness, shepherded them with cruelty! ⁵ They had no real shepherd, so they have scattered; the entire flock was prey for wild beasts. ⁶ My sheep drifted aimlessly through all the mountains and up and down every hill. My flock was scattered all over the world, scattered like the stars in the night sky, and not a single shepherd went looking for them.”
⁷ Now pay attention, shepherds, to My word: ⁸ As surely as I, the Eternal Lord, live, because My sheep are without a shepherd, because they have become prey for all the wild beasts to feed upon, because my shepherds have not gone in search of My sheep but have only looked out for themselves and not watched after and cared for My flock; ⁹ I encourage you, shepherds, to listen to the word of the Eternal.
^10-11 Those self-centered shepherds are My enemies! As far as I am concerned, they are no longer shepherds. They will not help themselves to My sheep any longer. I will recover My flock from those corrupt shepherds. I will snatch My sheep from their mouths! My sheep will no longer provide milk, clothing, or meat to them. I will personally go out searching for My sheep. I will find them wherever they are, and I will look after them. ¹² In the same way one shepherd seeks after, cares for, and watches over his scattered flock, so will I be the guardian of My sheep. I will be their Rescuer! No matter where they have scattered, I will go to find them. I will bring them back from the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. ^13-14 I will call them out from the nations, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them in the high mountain pastures and meadows of Israel. I will feed them on good pastures; they will graze on the mountain heights of Israel. They will lie down to rest on this good ground, and they will feed on succulent grasses in bountiful pastures on the slopes of Israel’s sanctuary mountains. ¹⁵ I Myself will watch over My sheep and feed My flock. Whenever they are tired, I will lead them to rest on the cool mountain grass. ¹⁶ When they are lost, I will seek them and bring back every last stray. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. However, I will destroy the fat and powerful. I will feed them a healthy portion of judgment.
¹⁷ As for you, My flock, this is what the Eternal Lord has to say: “Watch carefully! I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and male goats.” ¹⁸ Are you not satisfied grazing in blooming pastures, feasting off rich mountain lands? Do you have to trample all of the pastures with your feet? Are you not satisfied drinking out of clear mountain streams? Do you have to muddy all of the mountain streams with your feet? ¹⁹ Why should the rest of My flock have to graze on trampled pastures and drink from muddied streams because of your careless feet?
²⁰ So this is what the Eternal Lord has to say to them: “Watch carefully! I will personally judge between the fat sheep and the skinny sheep.” ²¹ Because you fat sheep bully the weak, push them around, and threaten them with your horns until you scatter them to distant mountains, ²² I will step in and save them. I will rescue them, and they will no longer be hunted and hassled. I will judge between one sheep and another. ²³ I will designate one shepherd over the entire flock: My faithful servant, David. He will watch over them and care for them. He will be their shepherd. ²⁴ I, the Eternal, will be their God; and My faithful servant, David, will be their prince.
I, the Eternal One, have spoken.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You can learn much from the metaphor you just heard. The shepherds didn’t do their job and I expelled them. So if you are in a leadership position, remember that I hold you responsible for leading My sheep well. Care for them and nurture them as I command. If you are one of My sheep, remember that you are not privileged and should not take advantage of the blessings I give you. Just because I take care of you doesn’t mean you should trample on others. Remember that I created all humankind. Don’t muddy the water or trample the grass for those that come behind you. Take care to preserve the message of My salvation and share your blessings with those needy around you. Finally, remember there is only one shepherd. Me. I came in the flesh to be your shepherd and care for you. You need look nowhere else to find guidance for your life than 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.

God places people in power (Daniel 4:19-37), September 12, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Daniel 4:19-37

Set – Daniel 4; Psalms 81

Go! – Daniel 3-4; Psalms 81; Revelation 17

Daniel 4:19-37
¹⁹ As the interpretation of the king’s dream became clear, Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar) became visibly upset for a while. His thoughts troubled him. The king noticed, and he spoke to Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar: Belteshazzar, don’t let my dream or its meaning alarm you. Tell me what you know.
Belteshazzar: My lord, I wish the dream described those who hate you and its meaning concerned the fate of your enemies! ²⁰ The tree you saw in your vision, the one which grew tall and strong so that its top reached up to the sky and could be seen from one end of the earth to the other, ²¹ the tree whose leaves were beautiful and fruit plentiful and provided sustenance for everyone, the tree under which the wild animals came to rest in the cool shade and in which the birds built their nests on its sturdy branches— ²² that tree is you, O king! You have become great and strong. Your greatness has grown tall and reached the sky; your authority and power extend to the end of the earth. ²³ But that is just one part of your dream. The king saw the messenger, the holy watcher of heaven come down from heaven and declare, “Cut down the tree, and destroy it, but leave its stump intact, its roots in the ground, strapped down with iron and bronze, surrounded by the tender grass of the field; let the dew of heaven fall heavy on it every night and make it wet, and let him live among the wild animals off the plants of the earth, until seven times have come and gone.” ²⁴ Here is the interpretation, O king. It is a decree the Most High God has issued against you, my lord and king. ²⁵ You will be driven away from all that is human and live in the company of wild animals; you will be forced to eat grass like oxen, and night after night the dew of heaven will fall on you and make you soaking wet. Seven times will pass until you learn your lesson and acknowledge that it is the Most High God, and no other, who is the true sovereign over all kingdoms on earth, and He grants authority to anyone He wishes. ²⁶ The watcher’s order to leave the stump and roots of the tree intact means that your kingdom will be restored to you when, and only when, you acknowledge that Heaven alone is sovereign over the earth. ²⁷ So, O king, please accept my advice to you. Make a clean break with your sins and invest in what is right. Bring an end to your wicked deeds and show mercy to those you have beaten down. If you do, perhaps your future will be different and your prosperity will continue.
²⁸ But King Nebuchadnezzar forgot Daniel’s advice, so everything Daniel had predicted happened.²⁹ Twelve months later, as the king was strolling across the roof of his royal palace in Babylon, ³⁰ the king uttered foolish words:
Nebuchadnezzar: Isn’t Babylon a great city? I have built this royal residence from the ground up with my own might and ingenuity to honor my own majesty.
³¹The words had scarcely left his lips when another voice thundered from heaven.
Voice: King Nebuchadnezzar, these solemn words are for you. The kingdom has been taken away from you. ³² You will be driven away from all that is human, and you will live in the company of wild animals. You will be forced to eat grass like oxen. Seven times will pass until you learn your lesson and acknowledge that it is the Most High God, and no other, who is the true sovereign over all kingdoms on earth, and He grants authority to anyone He wishes.
³³ Instantly the heavenly decree against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from all that is human and began to eat grass as oxen do. The dew of heaven fell and drenched his body. In time his hair grew as long as the feathers on an eagle and his nails grew long and curved back on his hand like the claws of a bird.
Message: ³⁴ When these days of exile came to an end, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven and came to my senses. I blessed the Most High God and praised and gave glory to the One who lives eternally:
“His reign will endure forever;
His kingdom will last from generation to generation.
³⁵ Among all the people of the earth,
there are none who compare.
He does as He wishes with the armies of heaven
and those who live on earth.
No one can stop His hand from acting;
no one dares to ask, ‘What have You done?’”
³⁶ It was in that moment that I came to my senses. Soon my honor and splendor were restored as Daniel predicted, and the former glory of my kingdom returned. Those who had served me before, my advisors and officials, sought me and returned me to the throne of Babylon. In time my kingdom and power grew even greater than it was before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, acknowledge the true King of heaven. I praise, lift up, and glorify Him because all He does is true, all His ways are just, and He is able to cut down those who strut about in their pride.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Many like Nebuchadnezzar assume their power and position comes because of their own greatness. They couldn’t be further from the truth. Every leader has their place only because I allow it. I give promotions and I take them. I put people into power and I can remove them. Nebuchadnezzar forgot that most important piece of information even after Daniel reminded him as an interpretation of the dream I gave him.

Nebuchadnezzar found out quickly how dangerous taking credit for my work can become. He found himself living in the wild, eating grass, acting and looking more like an animal than a man. Those who refuse to acknowledge My handiwork in their lives often appear the same to Me because I look at your heart, not at your outward appearance. All of the rhetoric about giving in to your natural instincts and succumbing to your base desires makes you no better than Nebuchadnezzar when I banished him to the fields.

I made you to rise above the other animals of the fields, though. I made you with a moral choice. You do not need to lower yourself to the level of the animals of the field. You are human. My highest creation. You can live the way I want you to live…with My help. Choose to be the human I made you to be. Rise above the base wickedness Satan would pull you into with his lies.

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 never fails (Daniel 2:24-44) September 11, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Daniel 2:24-44

Set -Daniel 2; Revelation 16

Go! – Daniel 1-2; Revelation 16

Daniel 2:24-44
²⁴ So Daniel went back to Arioch, the officer charged with rounding up and executing all the wise men in Babylon, and tried to stop him.
Daniel: Stop what you are doing. It is not necessary to execute the wise men of Babylon. Instead, take me to the king, and I will tell him what the dream means.
²⁵ Arioch did not waste any time in bringing Daniel before the king.
Arioch (to Nebuchadnezzar): Mighty king, I have found a man from among the exiles from Judah who says he is able to tell the king what the dream means.
²⁶ The king turned to Daniel, who you remember had been given the Babylonian name, Belteshazzar.
Nebuchadnezzar: So, Belteshazzar, are you able to tell me what I dreamed and what it all means?
Daniel: ²⁷ The Chaldeans were correct. There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or sorcerers in all the world who are able to reveal the mystery the king requested. ²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who can reveal such mysteries. The dream you dreamed and the visions you saw, King Nebuchadnezzar, unveil the future and disclose what will happen at the end of the age. Now I will tell you what you dreamed and the visions you saw as you slept in your bed.
²⁹ Good king, as you lay in your bed that night, thoughts about the future sprang up in your mind, and the revealer of all mysteries unveiled to you what is going to happen. ³⁰ I am here today, not because I have greater wisdom than any other in the land, but because God in His wisdom has revealed this mystery to me. It is God’s plan that the king knows the meaning of this dream and understands the thoughts that raced through your mind.
Daniel: ³¹ In your dream, you were looking, O king, and suddenly a great statue of what appeared to be a man stood before you. It was enormous in size, shining bright as the sun at midday. Its appearance was frightening. ³² The head of the statue was fashioned of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its trunk and thighs of bronze, ³³ its calves of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. ³⁴ As you were watching, a special stone was quarried and cut, but not by human hands. The divinely hewn stone began to move; it struck the statue on its iron and clay feet and smashed them to pieces. ³⁵ Suddenly the entire statue collapsed—its iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were all broken into pieces and turned to dust, like the chaff carried away by the wind from the threshing floors in summer. Soon not a trace of the statue was left. But the divinely hewn stone that struck the statue became a mountain that filled the whole earth. ³⁶ That, good king, was your dream.
If you allow, we will now tell you what it all means. ³⁷ You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has conferred upon you the kingdom you now rule, along with the power and strength and glory to subdue it. ³⁸ He has placed all people everywhere and all the beasts that roam the fields and all the birds that fly in the sky under your control. He has made you ruler over them all: you are the head of gold. ³⁹ After your reign is over, another kingdom will rise, but its glory will never match yours. This lesser kingdom is the chest and arms of silver. When that kingdom has come and gone, a third and even less majestic empire will rise, which will rule over the whole earth. This kingdom is the trunk and thighs of bronze. ⁴⁰ Then, when those days are past, a fourth kingdom will come to power with the strength of iron, though lacking in grandeur. Just as iron breaks and shatters everything, so this kingdom will break and shatter all these former realms. ^41-42 But as you saw in your vision, this kingdom will be divided, with feet and toes made of both clay and iron. The strength of iron runs through it, but as the toes are made partly of iron and partly of clay, the kingdom, too, will be partly strong and partly fragile. ⁴³ Your dream envisions that this kingdom of iron mixed with clay will be of peoples mixed but not united, the kingdoms joined in the bonds of marriage but not true allies, for iron and clay form no alloy.
⁴⁴ In the days when these kings of iron and clay reign, the God of heaven will set up another kingdom, a kingdom that can never be destroyed, a kingdom that will never be ruled by others. It will crush all the other kingdoms and bring them to an end. This kingdom will last forever.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. I gave it to him to tell him what the future held for him and his descendants. I also used it to let him know wisdom doesn’t lie within the hearts and heads of men, but within Me. When Daniel came to Nebuchadnezzar with the knowledge of the dream and its interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar assumed the knowledge came from within Daniel. Daniel set him straight.

He said, “There is a God in heaven…” Daniel knew Me and knew My wisdom. He had relied on Me before. Daniel knew I wouldn’t fail him. I won’t fail you either if you will tune your ears and your mind to Mine. Get into My word and listen to My voice. Then obey My commands and you will find I won’t fail you when you need 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.