Category Archives: Christian

Let God help with your legacy (Acts 20:13-38), Feb 13, 2015

Today’s Podcast

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 20:13-38
Set – Leviticus 22; Acts 20
Go! – Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

Acts 20:13-38
¹³ Again Paul wanted us to split up. He wanted to go by land by himself while we went by ship to Assos. ¹⁴ There he came on board with us, and we sailed on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ From there we sailed near Chios, passing by it the next day, docking briefly at Samos the day after that, then arriving at Miletus the following day. ¹⁶ This route kept us safely out of Ephesus and didn’t require Paul to spend any time at all in Asia, since he wanted to arrive in Jerusalem quickly—before Pentecost, he hoped.

¹⁷ In Miletus he sent word to the church in Ephesus, asking the elders to come down to meet with him. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he talked with them.

Paul: We will have many memories of our time together in Ephesus; but of all the memories, most of all I want you to remember my way of life. From the first day I arrived in Asia, ¹⁹ I served the Lord with humility and tears, patiently enduring the many trials that came my way through the plots of my Jewish opponents. ²⁰ I did everything I could to help you; I held nothing back. I taught you publicly, and I taught you in your homes. ²¹ I told everyone the same message—Jews and Greeks alike—that we must turn toward God and have faith in our Lord Jesus the Anointed. ²² Now I feel that the Holy Spirit has taken me captive. I am being led to Jerusalem. My future is uncertain, ²³ but I know—the Holy Spirit has told me—that everywhere I go from now on, I will find imprisonment and persecution waiting for me. ²⁴ But that’s OK. That’s no tragedy for me because I don’t cling to my life for my own sake. The only value I place on my life is that I may finish my race, that I may fulfill the ministry that Jesus our King has given me, that I may gladly tell the good news of God’s grace. ²⁵ I now realize that this is our last good-bye. You have been like family in all my travels to proclaim the kingdom of God, but after today none of you will see my face again. ²⁶ So I want to make this clear: I am not responsible for your destiny from this point on ²⁷ because I have not held back from telling you the purpose of God in all its dimensions.

²⁸ Here are my instructions: diligently guard yourselves, and diligently guard the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has given you oversight. Shepherd the church of God, this precious church which He made His own through the blood of His own Son. ²⁹ I know that after I’ve gone, dangerous wolves will sneak in among you, savaging the flock. ³⁰ Some of you here today will begin twisting the truth, enticing disciples to go your way, to follow you. ³¹ You must be on guard, and you must remember my way of life among you. For three years, I have kept on, persistently warning everyone, day and night, with tears.

³² So now I put you in God’s hands. I entrust you to the message of God’s grace, a message that has the power to build you up and to give you rich heritage among all who are set apart for God’s holy purposes. ³³ Remember my example: I never once coveted a single coin of silver or gold. I never looked twice at someone’s fine clothing. ³⁴ No, you know this: I worked with my own two hands making tents, and I paid my own expenses and my companions’ expenses as well. ³⁵ This is my last gift to you, this example of a way of life: a life of hard work, a life of helping the weak, a life that echoes every day those words of Jesus our King, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

³⁶ Once again, imagine this scene:

As Paul finishes speaking, he kneels down; and we all join him, kneeling. He prays, and we all join him, praying. ³⁷ There’s the sound of weeping, and then more weeping, and then more still. One by one, we embrace Paul and kiss him, ³⁸ our sadness multiplied because of his words about this being our last good-bye. We walk with him to the ship, and he sets sail.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul’s final departure from his friends in Ephesus tore at his heart as it did all of those around him. Lots of tears flowed that day. Paul and all those around him knew it would be the last time they would see each other this side of eternity. Paul had some parting words for them that I hope cause you to think about what you want others to think about you when that day comes for you.

You see, life is so much more than eating and sleeping and working and just going through motions every day. Life is more than just slogging through each day one at a time from the day you are born until the day you die. You might think you have no influence like Paul or Peter or James. Paul impacted lives because of one reason. He let me use him the way I wanted to use him. I had a specific plan for his life and he let Me into his life in a dramatic way.

The question is will you let Me into your life in the same way. I probably won’t ask you to go to Africa or China or Asia to face shipwreck and prison and beatings. But you know where I first asked Paul to go? The synagogue. His church. I asked him to speak the plain truth to his brothers and sisters who didn’t understand the truth yet. I might ask you to do that.

Did you know the hardest people for Me to get through to today are the ones who think they are Christians? The people that are farthest from Me are the ones that think they know Me because they fill a seat in a church service every week, but don’t engage with Me in a personal way. They have their names on a church roll. They put money in an offering plate sometimes, some of them even regularly. They know the words to the songs being sung.

But when they walk out the door of the church, they leave Me there. The world has no idea they know Me. Their actions look no different than the co-worker who doesn’t own a Bible. Their thoughts are no different than delinquent sitting in the holding tank at the police station. They just haven’t acted on their thoughts…yet. Maybe you are even one of those who fail to talk to Me for days at a time. How can we have a relationship like that?

Wearing My name doesn’t mean you’re Mine anymore than wearing a Spurs basketball jersey makes you professional basketball player. It’s what’s inside that counts. I can make you a person of influence and power. But My way. With My influence and My power, not the world’s. It will look like the kind of influence and power I want you to have because I have a plan only you can fulfill. It might be to talk with the person standing next to you in line. Do you have the courage to let Me direct your life the way I did Paul’s?

He never turned back and the legacy he left still lives on. You want to give Me a try? Go ahead. I won’t let you down.

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.

Use God’s name…but well (Acts 19:8-20), Feb 12, 2012

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 19:8-20
Set – Leviticus 19; Acts 19
Go! – Leviticus 18-19; Psalms 13; Acts 19

Acts 19:8-20
⁸ For three months, Paul continued his standard practice: he went week by week to the synagogue, speaking with great confidence, arguing with great persuasiveness, proclaiming the kingdom of God. ^9-10 Once again, some members of the synagogue refused to believe and insulted the Way publicly before the whole synagogue community. Paul withdrew and took those with him who had become disciples. For the next two years, he used the public lecture hall of Tyrannus, presenting the Word of the Lord every day, debating with all who would come. As a result, everyone in the region, whether Jews or Greeks, heard the message. ¹¹ Meanwhile, God did amazing miracles through Paul. ¹² People would take a handkerchief or article of clothing that had touched Paul’s skin and bring it to their sick friends or relatives, and the patients would be cured of their diseases or released from the evil spirits that oppressed them.

^13-14 Some itinerant Jewish exorcists noticed Paul’s success in this regard, so they tried to use the name of Jesus, the King, in an exorcism they were performing.

Imagine this: There are seven of them, all sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva, gathered around a demonized man in a house.

One of the Jewish Exorcists: I command you to depart, by the Jesus proclaimed by Paul!

Evil Spirit: ¹⁵ Jesus I know. Paul I know. But who are you?

¹⁶ Then the man leaps up, attacks them all, rips off their clothing, and beats them so badly that they run out of the house stark naked and covered in bruises.

¹⁷ Word of this strange event spread throughout Ephesus among both Jews and Greeks. Everyone was shocked and realized that the name of Jesus was indeed powerful and praiseworthy. ¹⁸ As a result, a number of people involved in various occult practices came to faith. They confessed their secret practices and rituals. ¹⁹ Some of them had considerable libraries about their magic arts; they piled up their books and burned them publicly. Someone estimated the value of the books to be 50,000 silver coins. ²⁰ Again, word spread, and the message of the Lord overcame resistance and spread powerfully.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Some of My children don’t think I have a sense of humor. But think about this scene from the early days of the church. Paul obviously had people’s attention as he performed miracles in My name. So much so that others wanted in on the act. And like today, there were a few charlatans in the crowd that thought they could take advantage of My name and just use it any way they wanted and make a fortune.

Quite frankly, I let some of them, just like I do today. Remember what Jesus told His disciples. If My name is being preached, let them preach it, as long as it isn’t a false gospel. As long as My message moves from one to another, I hope those who spread it live the life they preach, it’s obviously much more effective that way. But even if they aren’t living the life, if others hear my message and are saved by it, I am pleased.

Sometimes, though, I make examples of those that use My name in ways that profit only them. And sometimes I do it in humorous ways. Maybe you’re not into “slapstick” comedy, but every once in a while, I like slapstick comedy. So, when Sceva’s sons tried to use My name to expand his fortune telling business by casting out evil spirits, I turned the tables on him. I allowed the spirit those boys confronted let them know who was really in charge.

“I know Jesus. I know Paul. But who are you?”

Did you like that? The spirit didn’t care for them and they didn’t care much for the evil spirit after that. He beat them, stripped them, and let them run through the streets naked. Pretty embarrassing for these characters. Pretty funny to the onlookers. Pretty sobering for any who might want to profit from falsely using My name the same way they wanted to.

Do I always make spectacles of those who use My name falsely? Obviously not. You know people who use My name in ways they shouldn’t every day and I haven’t made them run naked in the streets…yet! But beware. My name means something. Take care of it. Understand that it is special to Me and I hold all the rights to it. The scene in Acts may add some humor to the New Testament as you let the scene play out in your mind. Unless you happen to be on the receiving end of the treatment.

But one day, and only I know when, I’m coming back. I’ll ask about how well you took care of My name. If you haven’t taken care of it and honored it and held it sacred, running through the streets naked will seem like timeout compared to the consequences you will endure. I want you to use My name to do great things. But I want to live in you and direct you to do them. Don’t take My commands lightly. This example may look humorous 2,000 years in the rear view mirror, but in a not-so-distant future, those who misuse My name will ask the mountains to fall on them rather than face 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.

Gallio says, Grow up and get along (Acts 18:1-17), Feb 11, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 18:1-17
Set – Leviticus 16; Acts 18
Go! – Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

Acts 18:1-17
¹From Athens, Paul traveled to Corinth alone. ² He found a Jewish man there named Aquila, originally from Pontus. Aquila and his wife Priscilla had recently come to Corinth from Italy because Claudius had banished all Jews from Rome. Paul visited them in their home ³ and discovered they shared the same trade of tent making. He then became their long-term guest and joined them in their tent-making business. ⁴ Each Sabbath he would engage both Jews and Greeks in debate in the synagogue in an attempt to persuade them of his message. ⁵ Eventually Silas and Timothy left Macedonia and joined him in Corinth. They found him fully occupied by proclaiming the message, testifying to the Jewish people that Jesus was God’s Anointed, the Liberating King. ⁶ Eventually, though, some of them stopped listening and began insulting him. He shook the dust off his garments in protest.

Paul: OK. I’ve done all I can for you. You are responsible for your own destiny before God. From now on, I will bring the good news to the outsiders!

⁷ He walked out of the synagogue and went next door to the home of an outsider, Titius Justus, who worshiped God. ⁸ Paul formed a gathering of believers there that included Crispus (the synagogue leader) and his whole household and many other Corinthians who heard Paul, believed, and were ceremonially washed through baptism. ⁹ One night Paul had a vision in which he heard the Lord’s voice.

The Lord: Do not be afraid, Paul. Speak! Don’t be silent! ¹⁰ I am with you, and no one will lay a finger on you to harm you. I have many in this city who are already My people.

¹¹ After such turmoil in previous cities, these words encouraged Paul to extend his stay in Corinth, teaching the message of God among them for a year and six months.

¹² During this time, some Jews organized an attack on Paul and made formal charges against him to Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia.

Jews: ¹³ This man is convincing people to worship God in ways that contradict our Hebrew Scriptures.

Paul was about to speak, but Gallio spoke first.

Gallio: ¹⁴ Look, if this were some serious crime, I would accept your complaint as a legitimate legal case, ¹⁵ but this is just more of your typical Jewish squabbling about trivialities in your sacred literature. I have no interest in getting dragged into this kind of thing.

¹⁶ So he threw out their case and drove them away from his bench. ¹⁷ They were furious and seized Sosthenes, the synagogue official; then they beat him in front of the tribunal. Gallio just ignored them.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Gallio’s words could apply to many of the churches that call themselves “Christian” today, you know. You like to point your finger at the Jews of the New Testament and talk about how petty they were and how they couldn’t see past their noses to understand that Jesus was My Son, come to redeem humankind from the chasm of sin that separates you from Me. The Jews of the synagogues in almost every city Paul and his entourage visited raised up people who would start riots and blame it on Paul.

Gallio just happened to have enough smarts to see the real problem. It wasn’t the message Paul preached. It wasn’t the change in people Gallio and other city officials saw in the lives of those Paul reached. The problem Gallio saw was the synagogue leaders didn’t have a message that changed lives anymore. They had lost their focus on what was important and their faith had become a religion instead of a relationship with Me. They went through rituals every day saying their robotic prayers and making their mandated sacrifices, but there was no heart in what they did. They had lost the reason for why they came to the synagogue in the first place.

A lot of My churches are getting that way. Why is it that there are hundreds of churches in some cities, yet hundreds of thousands that never walk in their doors? Why is it you walk past each other and they assume everyone in your congregation is bound for hell because of your actions and beliefs and, of course, your congregation is assured of the same of them? Why do you let Satan get between you and let petty things detract you from what is really important? My Son told you to love each other and told you the story of the Samaritan who cared for the victimized Jew to drive the story home about who your neighbor really is. Yet you let the world see you squabbling like bad children that can never get along.

That’s not My church. Jesus went into the temple and synagogues, but His greatest works didn’t happen there. His greatest works happened outside where the people were. He ministered in the messy, everyday lives of the people He met. That’s what My church should do. Gallio understood it. He saw the squabble that shouldn’t happen going on among My children. It’s time to grow up, get along with each other. In fact, do more than just get along, love each other as I commanded you. And get out into the world and show those that really need to know Me that My church can make a difference in lives.

How about it. Are you up for the challenge?

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.

Get on board! (Acts 17:1-15), Feb 10, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 17:1-15
Set – Acts 17
Go! – Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Acts 17:1-15
¹After leaving Philippi and passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica. There was a Jewish synagogue there. ^2-3 As he had done in other cities, Paul attended the synagogue and presented arguments, based on the Hebrew Scriptures, that the Anointed had to suffer and rise from the dead.

Paul: Who is this suffering and rising Anointed One I am proclaiming to you? He is Jesus.

He came back the next two Sabbaths—repeating the same pattern. ⁴ Some of the ethnically Jewish people from the synagogue were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas. Even more devout Greeks who had affiliated with Judaism came to believe—along with quite a few of the city’s leading women. ^5-6 Seeing this movement growing, the unconvinced Jewish people became protective and angry. They found some ruffians hanging out in the marketplaces and convinced them to help start a riot. Soon a mob formed, and the whole city was seething with tension. The mob was going street by street, looking for Paul and Silas—who were nowhere to be found. Frustrated, when the mob came to the house of a man named Jason, now known as a believer, they grabbed him and some other believers they found there and dragged them to the city officials.

Mob: These people—they’re political agitators turning the world upside down! They’ve come here to our fine city, ⁷ and this man, Jason, has given them sanctuary and made his house a base for their operations. We want to expose their real intent: they are trying to overturn Caesar’s sensible decrees. They’re saying that Jesus is king, not Caesar!

⁸ Of course, this disturbed the crowd at large and the city officials especially, ⁹ so they demanded bail from Jason and the others before releasing them.

¹⁰ The believers waited until dark and then sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. When they arrived, they went to the synagogue.

¹¹ The Jewish people here were more receptive than they had been in Thessalonica. They warmly and enthusiastically welcomed the message and then, day by day, would check for themselves to see if what they heard from Paul and Silas was truly in harmony with the Hebrew Scriptures. ¹² Many of them were convinced, and the new believers included—as in Thessalonica—quite a few of the city’s leading Greek women and important men also. ¹³ Reports got back to Thessalonica that Paul and Silas were now spreading God’s message in Berea; the Jewish people who had incited the riot in Thessalonica quickly came to Berea to do the same once again. ^14-15 The believers sent Paul away. A small group escorted him, first to the coast, and then all the way to Athens. Silas and Timothy, however, remained in Berea. Later they received instructions from Paul to join him in Athens as soon as possible.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Preaching the truth about Jesus always gets a reaction. For some the reaction is one of joy because of the freedom the message brings to a heart finally stripped of the crushing burden of sins unforgiven. That joy cannot find containment and others hear about and see the transformation that comes to men and women because of the cleansing power of the blood My Son spilled for their redemption.

The other reaction is like the unbelieving Jews Paul met in the synagogues who tried to stop My message. I find their methods interesting. Here were men and women supposedly studying My law that consistently talks about caring for the strangers among them. It says to remember they were once aliens in a foreign land and show show grace and mercy to those in need. My law says to meet the needs of widows and orphans. Just the message Paul preached and lived each day as he went to the synagogues and walked the streets trafficked by Roman soldiers. He proclaimed the same message My Son proclaimed.

Now these Jewish leaders in every town wanted to protect their sacred place in the temple and synagogues and instead of heeding My message, the found ruffians in the marketplace. They spread lies about the people I sent to spread the good news I had for all people because they had not done it as I directed them to do. To protect their place in the world they were willing to do anything, even break the commandments I told them they were to hold sacred. They lied, they cheated, they disregarded the fabric of honesty and integrity that keeps justice and equity among all classes and races of people paramount in society. They were even willing to kill to protect their positions.

How far will people go to protect their positions, their titles, their preconceived ideas of who is right or wrong when the truth is staring them in the face? Paul had been one of them. The transformation in his life should have been evidence enough that I had done something dramatic in him. The miracles that happened because of My Spirit working in his life should have been evidence enough to convince them I was present and Paul had something to say just like the now long-dead prophets had something to say to the leaders before them.

Instead of taking note of Paul’s words and listening to the message, these leaders assumed they knew better than Me and would stop and nothing to destroy Paul’s, My message. But it wouldn’t work. When I’m on the move, nothing can stop Me. Men might try, but I created men. I created everything, so heaven and earth can not stop My plans once in motion. That’s the good news for those that are on My side. Paul wrote about it in his letter to the fledgling congregation meeting in Rome when he said, “…not death, life, heavenly messengers, dark spirits, the present, the future, spiritual powers, height, depth, nor any created thing, can come between us and the love of God revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord.”

I’m unstoppable. When you get on board with Me, you are too. Paul found out on the road to Damascus. Those who opposed him on his missionary journeys found out I’m unstoppable, too. Wherever opponents of the church tried to crush it, My church has only grown faster and spread farther. I’d advise you to climb on board with Me. When you read the end of the book, I win. Second place is not very pretty. It wasn’t in Paul’s day and it won’t be at the judgment.

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.

Worship turns into a party (Acts 16:16-40), Feb 9, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 16:16-40
Set – Leviticus 10; Acts 16
Go! – Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

Acts 16:16-40
¹⁶ One day, as we were going to the place set aside for prayer, we encountered a slave girl. She made a lot of money for her owners as a fortune-teller, assisted by some sort of occult spirit. ¹⁷ She began following us.

Slave Girl (shouting): These men are slaves like me, but slaves of the Most High God! They will proclaim to you the way of liberation!

¹⁸ The next day as we passed by, she did the same thing—and again on the following days. One day Paul was really annoyed, so he turned and spoke to the spirit that was enslaving her.

Paul: I order you in the name of Jesus, God’s Anointed: Come out of her!

It came right out. ¹⁹ But when her owners realized she would be worthless now as a fortune-teller, they grabbed Paul and Silas, dragged them into the open market area, and presented them to the authorities.

Slave Owners: ²⁰ These men are troublemakers, disturbing the peace of our great city. They are from some Jewish sect, ²¹ and they promote foreign customs that violate our Roman standards of conduct.

²² The crowd joined in with insults and insinuations, prompting the city officials to strip them naked in the public square so they could be beaten with rods. ²³ They were flogged mercilessly and then were thrown into a prison cell. The jailer was ordered to keep them under the strictest supervision. ²⁴ The jailer complied, first restraining them in ankle chains, then locking them in the most secure cell in the center of the jail.

²⁵ Picture this: It’s midnight. In the darkness of their cell, Paul and Silas—after surviving the severe beating—aren’t moaning and groaning; they’re praying and singing hymns to God. The prisoners in adjoining cells are wide awake, listening to them pray and sing. ²⁶ Suddenly the ground begins to shake, and the prison foundations begin to crack. You can hear the sound of jangling chains and the squeak of cell doors opening. Every prisoner realizes that his chains have come unfastened. ²⁷ The jailer wakes up and runs into the jail. His heart sinks as he sees the doors have all swung open. He is sure his prisoners have escaped, and he knows this will mean death for him, so he pulls out his sword to commit suicide. ²⁸ At that moment, Paul sees what is happening and shouts out at the top of his lungs,

Paul: Wait, man! Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here! None of us has escaped.

²⁹ The jailer sends his assistants to get some torches and rushes into the cell of Paul and Silas. He falls on his knees before them, trembling. ³⁰ Then he brings them outside.

Jailer: Gentlemen, please tell me, what must I do to be liberated?

Paul and Silas: ³¹ Just believe—believe in the ultimate King, Jesus, and not only will you be rescued, but your whole household will as well.

^32-34 The jailer brings them to his home, and they have a long conversation with the man and his family. Paul and Silas explain the message of Jesus to them all. The man washes their wounds and feeds them, then they baptize the man and his family. The night ends with Paul and Silas in the jailer’s home, sharing a meal together, the whole family rejoicing that they have come to faith in God.

³⁵ At dawn, the city officials send the police to the jailer’s home with a command: “Let those men go free.”

^Jailer: 36 The city officials have ordered me to release you, so you may go now in peace.

Paul (loud enough that the police can hear): ³⁷ Just a minute. This is unjust. We’ve been stripped naked, beaten in public, and thrown into jail, all without a trial of any kind. Now they want to release us secretly as if nothing happened? No way: we’re Roman citizens—we shouldn’t be treated like this! If the city officials want to release us, then they can come and tell us to our faces.

³⁸ The police report back to the city officials; and when they come to the part about Paul and Silas being Roman citizens, the officials turn pale with fear. ³⁹ They rush to the jail in person and apologize. They personally escort Paul and Silas from their cell and politely ask them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ Paul and Silas oblige—after stopping at Lydia’s home to gather with the brothers and sisters there and give them parting words of encouragement.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

One of the things about being unbound by time is getting to see events again. I like this one. The slave girl’s interruption is just background noise. Paul and Silas in jail, also background noise. Their suffering for Me because of their message and finding themselves in prison for doing what I asked them to do. Nice part of the story, but background noise again. The officials with egg on their face for arresting Roman citizens without a trial? A nice twist to the day, but not of real interest to Me. Just a nice touch for Me messengers after they spent some time on the wrong side of the cell door. They had fun watching the city officials wiggle a little.

What I really like about this story in the Paul’s life, the worship service Paul and Silas conducted that so energized those around them that they didn’t want to leave. I wish the people in My churches today would take some lessons from those prisoners. Those guys were freed from physical chains and many of them would face mock trials, more floggings, some would receive amputations of hands or feet as punishment for their crimes. Some in those cells were even headed to the gallows because of what they had done to others.

But…something different happened to all of them that night. Paul and Silas introduced them to Me. Their sins met My grace and mercy. Their physical chains were nothing. But I forgave their sins and their spiritual chains fell off. Those men with Paul and Silas found real freedom in Me before I gave the jailer a little physical demonstration of what I was doing. Those men were already free regardless what the city or Roman government might think or do to them.

That’s the part I like about the story. They involved themselves in that worship service so jubilantly, so vibrantly, so wonderfully in that dark dungeon that none of them dared to leave that jail for fear they might miss something else. They stayed despite their loosened chains. They stayed despite the opened doors. They stayed despite the walls trembling around them in the earthquake. They stayed because I was there in their presence and they didn’t want to go anywhere that might take them from My presence.

A football game couldn’t make them check their watch. A kids soccer game couldn’t deter them from their worship. An opportunity on the lake didn’t wet their appetite. They wanted nothing more than to stay there and revel in My glory. They wanted to worship. That’s the part of this story I want you to remember. I want you to bring back such an excitement in worshiping Me that you don’t want to leave. I want you to gather together with other believers and lose all sense of time because I’m with you. I want you to sing and pray and shout and sing some more. I want you to see the lost come to Me in repentance and watch their chains fall away as I forgive them and free them from their past.

I want you to worship Me like Paul, Silas, and all those prisoners worshiped Me that dark night in Philippi. What a grand time I had that night. Let Me do it again. Come on, let’s party! Worship Me with all your might!

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 all about God (Acts 15/1-21), Feb 8, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 15:1-21
Set – Leviticus 9; Acts 15
Go! – Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

Acts 15:1-21
¹Their peace was disturbed, however, when certain Judeans came with this teaching: “Unless you are circumcised according to Mosaic custom, you cannot be saved.” ² Paul and Barnabas argued against this teaching and debated with the Judeans vehemently, so the church selected several people—including Paul and Barnabas—to travel to Jerusalem to dialogue about this issue with the apostles and elders there. ³ The church sent them on their way. They passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, stopping to report to the groups of believers there that outsiders were now being converted. This brought great joy to them all. ⁴ Upon arrival in Jerusalem, the church, the apostles, and the elders welcomed them warmly; and they reported all they had seen God do. ⁵ But there were some believers present who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees. They stood up and asserted,

Pharisees: No, this is not acceptable. These people must be circumcised, and we must require them to keep the whole Mosaic law.

⁶ The apostles and elders met privately to discuss how this issue should be resolved. ⁷ There was a lot of debate, and finally Peter stood up.

Peter: My brothers, you all know that in the early days of our movement, God decided that I should be the one through whom the first outsiders would hear the good news and become believers. ⁸ God knows the human heart, and He showed approval of their hearts by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did for us. ⁹ In cleansing their hearts by faith, God has made no distinction between them and us. ¹⁰ So it makes no sense to me that some of you are testing God by burdening His disciples with a load that neither our forefathers nor we have been able to carry. ¹¹ No, we all believe that we will be liberated through the grace of the Lord Jesus—they also will be rescued in the same way.

¹² There was silence among them while Barnabas and Paul reported all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among outsiders. ¹³ When they finished, James spoke.

James: My brothers, hear me. ¹⁴ Simon Peter reminded us how God first included outsiders in His favor, taking people from among them for His name. ¹⁵ This resonates with the words of the prophets:

¹⁶ “After this, I will return
and rebuild the house of David, which has fallen into ruins.
From its wreckage I will rebuild it;
¹⁷ So all the nations may seek the Eternal One—
including every person among the outsiders who has been called by My name.”
This is the word of the Lord, ¹⁸ who has been revealing these things since ancient times.
¹⁹ So here is my counsel: we should not burden these outsiders who are turning to God. ²⁰ We should instead write a letter, instructing them to abstain from four things: first, things associated with idol worship; second, sexual immorality; third, food killed by strangling; and fourth, blood. ²¹ My reason for these four exceptions is that in every city there are Jewish communities where, for generations, the laws of Moses have been proclaimed; and on every Sabbath, Moses is read in synagogues everywhere.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

It is so easy to get caught up in religion and forget the true meaning of what it’s all about. Matt Redman’s lyrics begin to get what I want from you when he wrote the words to “The Heart of Worship”:

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come…
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you,
It’s all about you, Jesus

Listen to his words the next time you hear Michael Smith sing the song. There is nothing more important to all the remembrances, practices, and rituals performed in your churches, your homes, your everyday lives than the words Matt expresses in those verses. You see worship happens every all the time. Wherever you are, worship should take place because I’m everywhere.

You can’t get away from Me no matter how hard you try. I’m in your workplace. I’m in your home. I’m with you at your parties and places of recreation. I’m wherever you go because I want to build a relationship with you that is the closest relationship you’ve ever known. I want to become the director of your life, your every action, and your every thought. I want you to worship and honor Me with your life. I want you to become a living sacrifice to Me. Driven let Me direct your paths, as David put it in his songs to Me.

It’s easy to get caught up in the ritual, the sameness, of church. Even when the “service” is filled with emotion and excitement, it’s easy to forget why everyone assembles together. It’s easy to pour into a building and get hyped up on the music and forget about the people around you that need more than a smile, a hug, and “we’re glad you’re here” as a matter of routine. I want you to give yourself as a living sacrifice to Me.

Paul and Barnabas found out ministry is messy. They had to give up their preconceived notions about what was important to Me. It took a dream for Me to teach Peter that lesson. It took Paul some hard lumps to learn what was really important, but he learned and he wasn’t going to let others impose the unimportant on My new followers. The debates in Jerusalem certainly raised a lot of My followers’ blood pressure and created quite a stir among those who came to listen to them. I’m glad James had the forethought to keep the most heated parts behind closed doors.

I’m also glad they went to their knees and asked Me about what I thought instead of relying on their own devices to make such an important decision about their next steps. I’d tell you the same as you minister to those around you. Read My Word carefully. My rules are not burdensome. Remember what I told people? “Swap your burdens for Mine because Mine are light and I’ll take your heavy burdens that you cannot bear yourself.” Well, don’t add burdens to those new converts. Listen to what James and the leaders of the new church decided.

James said the four rules were because Jews were in those cities and not living by those four rules would greatly offend them. I had a greater reason I bent that group toward those rules, just to let you know. The first, idols will trap you into worshiping something other than Me. Don’t! The second, sexual immorality doesn’t affect just you or you and your partner. It affects whole families. It affects your co-workers and neighbors. It affects every area of your life and every person you touch. Sexual immorality works through every person you touch just like yeast works through dough. The third and fourth rules deal with a covenant I made with Adam pointing forward to My perfect sacrifice for sin. As I told Adam, life is in the blood, whether physical or spiritual, it is blood that saves.

Don’t get tangled up in rituals and unnecessary practices. Just worship Me. Listen to Matt Redman’s song again. The heart of worship is all about Me. If anything else creeps into your demands for others, check what you’re doing, you might just be getting off track. Let Me worry about getting My children in line. You just worship 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.

How will you read scripture? (Acts 14/8-20), Feb 7, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 14:8-20
Set – Leviticus 6; Acts 14
Go! – Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Gen
⁸ In Lystra they met a man who had been crippled since birth; his feet were completely useless. ⁹ He listened to Paul speak, and Paul could see in this man’s face that he had faith to be healed.

Paul (shouting): ¹⁰ Stand up on your own two feet, man!

The man jumped up and walked! ¹¹ When the crowds saw this, they started shouting in Lycaonian.

Crowd: The gods have come down to us! They’ve come in human form!

¹² They decided that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes (since he was the main speaker). ¹³ Before they knew it, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was prominent in that city, came to the city gates with oxen and garlands of flowers so the Lycaonians could offer sacrifices in worship to Paul and Barnabas! ¹⁴ When they heard of this, Paul and Barnabas were beside themselves with frustration—they ripped their tunics as an expression of disapproval and rushed out into the crowd.

Paul and Barnabas (shouting): ¹⁵ Friends! No! No! Don’t do this! We’re just humans like all of you! We’re not here to be worshiped! We’re here to bring you good news—good news that you should turn from these worthless forms of worship and instead serve the living God, the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that they contain. ¹⁶ Through all previous generations, God has allowed all the nations to follow their own customs and religions, ¹⁷but even then God revealed Himself by doing good to you—giving you rain for your crops and fruitful harvests season after season, filling your stomachs with food and your hearts with joy.

¹⁸ In spite of these words, they were barely able to keep the crowds from making sacrifices to them.

¹⁹ Then unbelieving Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and incited the crowds against the Lord’s emissaries. The crowds turned on Paul, stoned him, dragged him out of the city, and left him there, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ As the disciples gathered around him, he suddenly rose to his feet and returned to the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You might think I would be enamored by the story of the lame man walking again. I’m not. I made his feet, after all. It’s not so hard for Me to fix them to demonstrate My power. But that’s not what I’m all about in this world. Fixing sick bodies isn’t My purpose as God. I do it sometimes, but that’s not what I want to do for you. Your bodies are just dust that will one day decay back into the dust from which I created you. That’s not the part of this story that I want you to remember today.

I don’t even want you to focus on Paul and Barnabas being treated like gods and so many turning toward them because of the miraculous things they did on My behalf that day. They had a tremendous opportunity to exploit the scene for their gain but didn’t because they knew the source of their power. Paul and Barnabas gave the credit for the healing to Me because they understood their mission and the healing brought an opportunity to share the news about My sacrifice and My power and the hope I give people.

I don’t even want you to remember the way I sustained Paul during and after his stoning. He suffered because of Me, but I rescued him from death. His mission wasn’t finished yet and I wasn’t ready for him to die. The crowd thought him dead as they dragged his torn, bloody body out of the city, when they stoned him. They tossed his broken heap of flesh in the city dump as if he were a discarded piece of trash. I restored him and his disciples walked with him back to Lystra before he and Barnabas left for Derbe the next day.

What I want you to focus on today is the story of the Jews that came from Antioch and Iconium to stir up trouble. These “religious” men took it upon themselves to incite men and women they knew believed in pagan gods to stone a man they knew believed in Me. Paul used the same scriptures these pious men used, but refused to really read and study. These men loved their position, power, and prestige more than they loved the truth, more than they loved me. So they closed their eyes to My Word.

Paul hadn’t written his letters yet. He used the Law I had given Moses to explain the good news about My Son. He used the Songs, the Wisdom Books, and the Prophets to share My plan of salvation through the perfect sacrifice of the God-Man, My Son, Jesus. He used the same scriptures My Son used. He used the same scriptures the rabbis used. He used the same scriptures these trouble-makers used.

Here’s the problem the “religious” can get into that I want you to hear clearly. Even Satan can use the same scriptures Jesus used to try and prove a point. Remember the temptations Luke takes about with My Son in the wilderness? Satan tried to use My words to trap Him, but he only used part of My scriptures without using the whole context, nature, and plan contained in it.

You see, you can prove or disprove anything if you use only pieces of My Word. If you close your mind and refuse to My Spirit talking to you through My Word, you will become just like those trouble-makers that tried to kill My servant, Paul. But when you read My Word with open hearts and let My Spirit speak to you, you will find hope and grace and mercy and forgiveness in those words I’ve given you.

But like the unbelieving who came from Antioch and Iconium and like Paul and Barnabas. You have a choice to make. You can choose to believe My Son is the Messiah, God Incarnate. Me in the flesh, come to redeem you. Or you can refuse to believe and become the trouble-maker like you read about in My Word. It’s still your choice. I want you to make the right one, but I won’t make it for you.

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

Tell it like it is (Acts 13:1-12), Feb 6, 2012

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 13:1-12
Set – Leviticus 1; Acts 13
Go! – Leviticus 1-3; Acts 13

Acts 13:1-12
¹The church in Antioch had grown strong, with many prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (a dark man from Central Africa), Lucius (from Cyrene in North Africa), Manaen (a member of Herod’s governing council), and Saul. ² Once they were engaged in a time of worship and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke to them, “Commission Barnabas and Saul to a project I have called them to accomplish.” ³ They fasted and prayed some more, laid their hands on the two selected men, and sent them off on their new mission. ⁴ Having received special commissioning by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went to nearby Seleucia on the coast. Then they caught a ship to the island of Cyprus.

⁵ At the city of Salamis on the east side of Cyprus, they proclaimed the message of God in Jewish synagogues, assisted by John Mark. ^6-7 They went westward from town to town, finally reaching Paphos on the western shore. There the proconsul named Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear their message. At his side was an occult spiritualist and Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus ⁸ or Elymas (which means “magician”). Elymas argued with Barnabas and Saul, trying to keep Sergius Paulus from coming to faith.

⁹ Saul, who is also known as Paul, was suddenly full of the Holy Spirit. He stared directly into Elymas’s face.

Paul: ¹⁰ You’re a son of the devil. You’re an enemy of justice, you’re full of lies, and you steal opportunities from others. Why do you insist on confusing and twisting the clear, straight paths of the Lord? ¹¹ Hear this, Elymas: the Lord’s hand is against you, and you will be as blind as a bat for a period of time, beginning right now!

At that instant, it was as if a mist came over Elymas and then total darkness. He stumbled around, groping for a hand so he could be led back home. ¹² When Sergius Paulus saw this happen, he came to faith and was attracted to and amazed by the teaching about the Lord.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Elymas is like so many I see today. He argued not just to keep Paul from talking to him about Me, but to keep him from talking to anyone else. Sometimes I just don’t understand the crowning glory of My own creation. I don’t understand why people want to hold others back from the truth. Maybe I can see that they will decide for themselves they want to play god with their life, but to try to impose that on others. I just don’t get it.

Elymas was and always would be no better than second fiddle to anyone that Rome sent to Salamis. He knew that. His trickery would allow him to stick around the court and entertain the proconsul and his guests for a while, but Elymas knew he had no real wisdom and no real answers for the proconsul. Why would he deny the truth to the man who could make a difference in the daily lives of others?

I’m appalled at how often it happens even today. Those who taunt their benevolence and goodwill, but then withhold My message of real hope and salvation are just like Elymas. I don’t understand them. They hold back the really good things in life for those in need. They present themselves as genuine and concerned and generous, but their true colors eventually come out as untrustworthy and greedy, focused on what is best only for them and not what is best for those they supposedly serve.

I’m so proud of what Paul did, though, through the prompting of My Spirit. Elymas didn’t stick around long after Paul pointed out who he really was and who he served. I think today your societal spirit of “tolerance”, that is tolerance for everything except Me, blinds the vulnerable to the truth. In that tolerant atmosphere, everyone fears identifying Satan for who he is and fails to warn others of the traps he sets around the weak. Paul put Elymas straight and warned Sergius Paulus, just like I hope you will do for My children.

As one saved from My greatest enemy, you have a responsibility to help your brothers and sisters. Fallen humanity needs people who will call out those putting others at risk by failing to let them hear My truth. It’s time to start letting My message be heard loud and strong above the clammer of lies that try to push it away.

Will you do your part? My Spirit will be there to give you strength, just like it was for Paul.

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.

Did you say that was boring? (Exodus 39/32-43), Feb 5, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Exodus 39:32-43
Set – Exodus 39; Psalms 15
Go! – Exodus 39-40; Psalms 15; Acts 12

Exodus 39:32-43
³² All the work that went into the sanctuary of the congregation tent was finally finished. The Israelites did everything exactly as the Eternal One had instructed Moses.

³³ Then the Israelites brought all they made to Moses. They brought the tent and all its furnishings, including its hooks, frame panels, crossbars, posts, and bases; ³⁴ the layers of red-dyed rams’ skins and the sea-cow skin that covered the sanctuary; the veil shrouding the most holy place; ³⁵ the covenant chest with its poles and the seat of mercy; ³⁶ the table, its tools, the bread of the Presence; ³⁷ the gold lampstand, its lamps and all its tools, the lamp oil; ³⁸ the golden altar of incense, the anointing oil and the scented incense; the fabric screen for the tent’s entrance; ³⁹ the bronze altar for burnt offerings, the bronze grating, its poles and tools, the basin and its stand; ⁴⁰ the panels that enclose the courtyard, the posts and bases, the screen that covers the court’s entrance, the cords and pegs; and all the tools used in the sanctuary of the congregation tent, ⁴¹ the finely woven clothing for priests serving in the holy place, the sacred garments worn by Aaron the high priest, and the clothes his sons are to wear when they serve as priests as well. ⁴² The Israelites completed each part of the project exactly as the Eternal One had instructed Moses.

⁴³ Moses inspected every piece of work they had completed, and he saw that they had done it all with excellence according to the specifications given to Him by the Eternal One. So Moses blessed them.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Sometimes you might wonder why I asked Moses and others to put so much detail in descriptions that can seem pretty boring to you. I know it’s been millennia since anyone stepped foot into the covenant tent that housed the articles described in these verses. Why would I want anyone to include the detail about the hooks on the poles and the sea lion skin coverings? What do you care about 4,000-year old bronze altars, screens, pans, shovels, and grates?

For one thing, the detail was important to the purity of the religion I established through Moses and Aaron. The Israelites would soon enter a land filled with pagan icons and idols, sacrifices to false gods, and abominable practices that would entice them away from the worship of Me, the only True and Living God. The preparation of the intricate handiwork required to build My tabernacle kept them focused on Me instead of the pagan gods they encountered in their wanderings.

Second, the instruments and implements noted in the building of the tabernacle showed the Israelites I am a God of order, not chaos. It showed them through the fabrication of all the things involved in the feast days, sacrifices, and worship that I had a unique plan laid out for them. Everything pointed to their past and their future and your future as you consider the placement of the furniture in the sign of a cross, the instrument of crucifixion that would later become the symbol of life.

Third, it allowed those with talents I had given them to share those talents with others and with Me. Moses inspected every item, every implement, every piece of cloth, every article that would soon find its way into its place for caring for My tabernacle and the ways I told him to carry out their means of worship. Every item he inspected he declared as excellent in workmanship. Everyone involved in the project gave their best for the project.

So, what might seem boring to you at first reading, stop and think again. Lessons can be learned there. Keep your eyes on me, not on the world’s idea of gods around you. Remember I have a plan for you just as much as I had a plan for the Israelites 4,000 years ago. And don’t forget I gave you talents to use for Me and for others. Don’t hoard them. You can do things that no one else can do. So get to it and do it with excellence.

Society doesn’t think much of God’s wisdom (Psalm 19), Feb 4, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 19
Set – Psalms 19; Acts 11
Go! – Exodus 37-38; Psalms 19; Acts 11

Psalms 19
¹ The celestial realms announce God’s glory;
the skies testify of His hands’ great work.
² Each day pours out more of their sayings;
each night, more to hear and more to learn.
³ Inaudible words are their manner of speech,
and silence, their means to convey.
⁴ Yet from here to the ends of the earth, their voices have gone out;
the whole world can hear what they say.
God stretched out in these heavens a tent for the sun,
⁵ And the sun is like a groom
who, after leaving his room, arrives at the wedding in splendor;
He is the strong runner
who, favored to win in his race, is eager to face his challenge.
⁶ He rises at one end of the skies
and runs in an arc overhead;
nothing can hide from his heat, from the swelter of his daily tread.
⁷ The Eternal’s law is perfect,
turning lives around.
His words are reliable and true,
instilling wisdom to open minds.
⁸ The Eternal’s directions are correct,
giving satisfaction to the heart.
God’s commandments are clear,
lending clarity to the eyes.
⁹ The awe of the Eternal is clean,
sustaining for all of eternity.
The Eternal’s decisions are sound;
they are right through and through.
¹⁰ They are worth more than gold—
even more than abundant, pure gold.
They are sweeter to the tongue than honey
or the drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ In addition to all that has been said,
Your servant will find, hidden in Your commandments, both a strong warning
and a great reward for keeping them.
¹² Who could possibly know all that he has done wrong?
Forgive my hidden and unknown faults.
¹³ As I am Your servant, protect me from my bent toward pride,
and keep sin from ruling my life.
If You do this, I will be without blame,
innocent of the great breach.
¹⁴ May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart
meet with Your gracious approval,
O Eternal, my Rock,
O Eternal, my Redeemer.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

David really knew how to write songs, didn’t he? I love to listen to his poems and prayers and songs. They come from his heart. He’s never afraid to tell Me what he thinks. Whether he wants to praise Me or doubts Me, it comes out in the words he pens. He’s honest and open with Me. He lets himself be vulnerable as he expresses his inmost thoughts to work through the darkest days and the brightest days of his life.

I especially like the middle part of this song. A lot of people don’t realize the truth of these words, but David did. My law turns people around and instills wisdom in open minds. If you’ve asked Me to forgive your sins and let Me take charge of your life, you know how true that first part really is. I do turn lives around. I break the shackles of the guilt sin brings into life. I give your life new meaning and purpose. I change things for you. And My word is full of wisdom. Not many people live by My rules consistently, but those that do, know wisdom pours from the pages of My Book like water flows over Niagara Falls.

Society doesn’t think much of My wisdom, but then society never made a star or a planet or a person or even a rock…from nothing. Society can’t keep their own from arguing, cheating and fighting and killing each other. Society doesn’t know what peace looks like or sounds like or feels like. Society claims it knows what love is about, but if it did, divorce rates wouldn’t hit 50% where there are marriages and living together to “see” if couples love each other wouldn’t happen.

You see, I don’t care much what society thinks of My wisdom. One day every man, woman, boy, and girl will bow to Me whether they say they believe in Me or not. They will when I come back. All will bow before Me. Until that day comes, David had it right with the closing words of his song, though. I hope his words are your words, too. More people should live by them. It would keep them out of trouble. Remember them?

“May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval, O Eternal, my rock, O Eternal, my Redeemer.”

Now there is a bit of wisdom for you today.