February 28, 2015

1 Corinthians 13:   8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

This is just one of the verses on love. Love is patient, kinda selfless. Love is greater than even faith and hope. Love lasts eternally.

This has got to be one of Paul's greatest writings. I love to read this chapter and to think about everything love is. Today I am focusing on the never-ending part. I'm fascinated by prophecies, I am quite a talker (one of my many faults), and I am always seeking knowledge.  None of them will outlast love, however.

Prayer:  Help me to be more loving. Guide my thoughts, words and deeds to be reflective of the love inside me. Let me see Your people as You do, each worthy of great love.
Amen

February 27, 2015

Numbers 26:  19 
God is not a human being, that he should lie,
    or a mortal, that he should change his mind.
Has he promised, and will he not do it?
    Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Balaam is speaking. He was on his way to Balak, but an angel blocked the road. His donkey would not approach the Angel, but Balaam couldn't see it, so he struck the donkey. The donkey began to talk, and Balaam threatened its life, but God intervened. Now Balaam is making Balak angry, because he won't curse the Israelites. Balaam says he can only say what God tells him to say. 

Quite a story!  It's amazing that Balaam threatened the talking donkey. I  would have thought he would be afraid of it!  But his words about God are awesome, as they should be. This is one powerful and faithful God we serve.

Prayer:  Lord, You are so faithful. I don't deserve Your faithfulness, but I am eternally grateful for it. 

Amen

February 25, 2015

Mark 4:  32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.

Jesus talks about the mustard seed and the kingdom of God. It's the smallest of seeds, but it grows into a mighty bush. Faith is like that. It grows too.  

I was drawn to all the parables in this chapter. I am familiar with some, but I am not sure I have ever examined them so closely. The one about the scattered seeds is kind of alarming, with the image of the reaping. I do think it's an important analogy, though, with the earth itself recreating life independent of the Creator. The harvest will come someday, and you better be prepared with your well-nurtured mustard seed of faith.

Prayer:  Lord, I am trying to grow my faith. I am trying to connect with the Spirit as it moves about my life. Make my witness a comfort to those who encounter me.
Amen

February 24, 2015

Numbers 14:  34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.

God is really angry. His Chosen People are never satisfied. They complain about his BFF, Moses. They are ready to rebel. Moses sent a party to explore The Promised Land, but most of them said it would be impossible to take it. Now all of the naysayers will die during the 40 years they must wait.

Having God against you sounds so bad. What would you do to cause Him to turn against you?  The Israelites doubted both God and His messenger. In the NT verses for today, Jesus warned very specifically against speaking against the Holy Spirit. 

Prayer:  Lord, You have known many faithless generations. You have seen people turn against You no matter how hard You tried. Please forgive Your people. We fail time and again. Love us anyway.
Amen

February 23, 2015

Numbers 12:  7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
    he is faithful in all my house.

This is God speaking. He tells them that he must speak to other people in visions and dreams. He can meet Moses face to face. He is telling Miriam and Aaron that because they were talking against their brother, Moses

. 

I have thought about what makes these Bible heroes so great. Both David and Moses have their own special dialogues with God. Their faith is unshakeable. 

Prayer:  Lord, increase my faith. I know how awesome You are, and I want to know and love You better.

Amen

February 22, 2015

Mark 1:  45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

So much happened in Mark 1. This is the final verse. Jesus has healed a leper, and he tells the man to show himself to the priest, but not to tell anyone else. 

I am interested in this fame issue.  Jesus can't just walk around with the people any more. He had to stay in "lonely places."   How sad!  This reminds me of the problem faced by famous people today. And the people found him, no matter where he stayed. We need to find him now just like those ancient people did.

Prayer:  I need You and Your son.  I don't always realize how much I need You.  Come and heal me and all the others I pray for.
Amen

February 21, 2015

Acts 28:  31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Paul is in Rome. The Romans have allowed him to live under house arrest for 2 years. He explained to the local Jews that he was there because of the Jews in Jerusalem. They listened to his message, but many did not accept it. Paul proclaimed that, as Isaiah predicted, they were a people who would hear but not listen. Thus, the Gentiles would be invited to the table.

It's kind of amazing that the Romans were more open to Paul than his own people were. Paul had not been a fisherman nor a farmer; he was well versed in the Jewish religion and spoke at length about the prophecies about the Messiah. But so many of the Jews were unable to put the pieces together to see the truth. 

Prayer: I pray for all who hear but don't listen. They have Your gift right in front of them, but they won't accept it. Open their minds so that they are able to come to Your table.
Amen

February 19, 2015

Acts 26:  29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

King Agrippa has just asked Paul if he thinks he can make him into a Christian so quickly. After hearing this reply, Agrippa tells Festus that they could release Paul if he hadn't appealed to Caesar. Agrippa can see that Paul isn't guilty.

The reply reminds me of my most recent pin on my Full of Faith board on Pinterest.  "I love God and, no, I don't want to force it down your throat, but, man, you're missing out."  True.  

Prayer:  Lord, open the eyes and ears of those I love who haven't found their way to You. Help them to appreciate all You offer to us. Be with them and guide them to feel Your presence. First, grant them the gift of faith, and then strengthen it.
Amen

February 18, 2015

Acts 25:  27  "For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Festus is speaking. He's explaining how Paul was brought to him.  He expected a criminal complaint, but the charges centered on Paul's story of Jesus. Festus said they should return to the religious authorities in Jerusalem, but Paul, as a Roman citizen, demands to appeal to Caesar.

This reading doesn't offer much inspiration. Paul is smart, and he knows his rights. He won't submit to the angry Israelites. He is a mystery to the Romans, who don't see what the big deal is.  But I like the image of Festus, who is trying to do his job.

Prayer:  I pray for those who, like Paul, are imprisoned. I pray for those who work in the prison system too. This is an ugly side to any society, and I would like to think that all concerned feel Your love.
Amen

February 17, 2015

Acts 24:  26 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

He was Felix, married to a Jewish woman and familiar with Christianity. He was somewhat sympathetic to Paul, but he was hoping for a bribe from Paul, which doesn't happen. More than anything else, he wanted to keep peace with the Jews, and holding Paul in prison accomplished that. 

It was like the bird in the gilded cage. Paul wasn't free but he wasn't being tortured or killed either. Felix is a different kind of bad guy. He is self-serving, but he is not mean. As long as it doesn't bother him too much, he is happy to keep the status quo for a couple of years.

Prayer:  Don't let me become like Felix. Don't let me feel comfortable with something that isn't right just because it serves my needs. Help me to become better, striving to be more like Christ each day. 
Amen

February 16, 2015

Acts 23:  11 That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

Paul went to Jerusalem, even though everyone warned him not to go. There he has been held prisoner, and he has been removed from the group for his own safety. His nephew has heard of the plot to kill him the next day, and he will be sent away, just as the Lord told him. 

Paul leads a life of trouble for the Lord's sake. He is educated and smart, so he represents God well in diverse places. God truly used Paul's witness to change the nature of the early church. 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be Your witness. Guide my words and actions to glorify You. I praise those who came before me  paved the way with their own witness.
Amen

February 15, 2015

Psalm 25:  5  
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God who saves me.
    All day long I put my hope in you.

David is praising God again.  He asks for forgiveness from the sins of his youth.  He says that the Lord shows the correct path to humble people who honor him. He reminds the listener of God's unfailing love and faithfulness.  

This is a powerful passage. I am surprised it is not more well-known. There is such a wealth of Psalms that this one is overlooked. But consider the elements that make it up. There is a "thy will be done" element and a statement of God's power. Then there is a commitment to serve our Lord continually. Can't beat that!

Prayer:  God, I have so much to learn. Teach me all I need to know to serve You in the way You deserve. You are so mighty, so faithful. I promise to be more aware of Your presence as I go about my daily life.

Amen

February 13, 2015

Acts 20: 32 And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.

Paul is saying a final farewell to the Ephesians. He is trying to get back to Jerusalem for Pentecost. He tells them that the Holy Spirit has made it clear that he faces jail and suffering.  He reminds them of the way he has worked for their salvation. 

This is a great blessing.  It would be so good to give your friends over to God with the certainty that He would build them up and to know they would become a part of His eternal kingdom.  Paul has a lot of feeling for those people, and he is sad to be leaving them forever, but he knows that they are good with God.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for those I work with. Each has his or her own trials. You know that their hearts are good.  I entrust their futures to You as members of the family of faith.
Amen

February 12, 2015

Acts 19:  23 Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. 

 I want to write about Ephesus. Paul and his crew are there. They attract a lot of attention, and some is from those whose idol-making business is threatened by their message. Paul's followers are grabbed up by a mob and taken into the amphitheatre.

 The part that really grabbed my attention was the last sentence.  Aren't people amazing?  We are so quick to jump in with the mob. These people don't even know what they are protesting. But they are willing to cause harm to others, because "all the cool kids" are riled up.

Prayer:  Lord, give me strength to stand against the mob when the mob is wrong. I want to represent the truth and Your will for Your people. Help me to hear Your voice, and grant me the courage to follow through with Your plan for me.

Amen

February 11, 2015

Acts 18:  34 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatiaand Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

This day didn't offer a single verse which spoke to me, so I chose this summary. Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, and he traveled to various other spots. He worked with Priscilla and Aquila on tentmaking. But mostly he spent his days trying to convince others, both Jews and Gentiles, to hear the story of Jesus, our Saviour.

I still struggle with Paul. So much of the shame and scorn that people associate with Christianity comes from Paul's letters. It is good for me to be reminded of all that Paul did to spread the faith. He certainly had great faith, and he would not let any obstacle stop him from spreading it. 

Prayer:  Lord, I am listening. I can forgive, or I can make those around me and myself miserable. Help me to choose the better way, to make sure that my testimony, like Paul's, spreads Your word wherever I go.
Amen

February 10, 2015

Acts 17: 24  "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else."

I needed 2 verses to complete the thought. Paul is talking to those logical Athenians.  They have been worshipping the mythological gods, and he is explaining the nature of the one true God.  

I especially like the part about not being served by human hands. God doesn't need us, He wants us. Sometimes I get discouraged about human nature, even my own failures loom large, and I feel alienated from other people, but I always find God available. Guess that's just one part of the "everything else"He provides.

Prayer:  I am right here, O Lord. I know you don't need my service, but I want to provide it anyway. I'm committed to becoming closer to You. You are awesome and all-knowing. I want to praise Your mighty kingdom for eternity.
Amen

February 9, 2015

Acts 13:  34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

Paul and Silas are in jail after Paul removed a spirit from a woman slave who could predict the future. Her owners were incensed at the loss of income. In the middle of the night, an earthquake opens the cells. The jailer is ready to kill himself since he will be held responsible. But they don't go, and he is saved by their faith. 

I was struck by the hospitality and happiness of the jailer. The Lord moves in mysterious ways indeed. This man would never have predicted that he would become a Christian. And Paul and Silas had converted so many others, but God wasn't done with this stop on their journey. 

Prayer:  Lord, guide me so that I am available for Your call whenever it comes. You can see the opportunity I miss in my daily rush. Help me to represent You in the best way so that others might see Your light shining through me. 
Amen

February 8, 2015

Acts 15:  11  "No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Peter is talking about the Gentiles. Some have said that they must be circumcised to join the church. Peter and the other disciples disagree. The law didn't bring the Chosen People closer to the Lord, and it wouldn't work for Gentiles either. It's all about the grace. 

Now I want to make a meme out of All About the Grace. It would be to the tune of "All About that Bass."  😁  I accepted the 10 day Scripture Challenge, so I need to find a verse that stands alone, but I also need one that works for Life Journal. This one, with the backing of the rock on which the church was built, is perfect.

Prayer:  I was saved by the grace, and my prayer is for those who haven't found that peace yet. There are lots of people who could gain so much by stretching out their hands to You, my Lord. I pray that they find the faith to do that.
Amen

February 7, 2015

Leviticus 5:  5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.

There are many ways that the Chosen People might sin, even unintentionally. When they realized that sin, they were to confess and bring a sin offering. The rest of the verses tell the priests just how to handle a sin offering.

I think it's good to remember that confessing my sins is a requirement. I don't need to make a sin offering, nor do I need to find a priest. Under the new covenant, I have a pipeline to God directly. I only need to pray for forgiveness. Still, I am not as faithful in prayer as I should be.

Prayer:  Lord, I confess my sins. I am thoughtless and uncaring. I speak words I shouldn't even entertain as thoughts. I forget to do my daily Scripture reading.  Please forgive me, and I promise to work on forgiving others in my life. 
Amen

February 4, 2015

Acts 11:  21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

The stoning of Stephen has scattered the followers. That's hard on them, as they were in fear. But it turns out to be just what the church needs to spread. Peter, Barnabus and Saul are carrying the Word to new people.

This example of "God moving in mysterious ways" caught my attention.  We know so little. We don't see the big picture. All we can do is listen for God's plan for us to follow our best path.  

Prayer:  I am not going to try to second guess You, Lord. I'm going to trust that still, small voice which tells me Your will. Let my words and actions be a light to help others find their way to You.
Amen

February 2, 2015

Psalm 16: 7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.

There is so much happening in today's Scripture. Moses asks to see God, and God lets him see His back as he restores the tablets with the 10 Commandments. Saul is converted to Paul, and Peter heals and raises the dead Tabitha. David wrote this Psalm, which sums the whole thing up nicely.

I was immediately drawn to this verse. I believe it firmly. God is always with me, even as I sleep. And that still, small voice is always there. The God of Moses, Peter and Paul is real to me. 

Prayer:  I love You, Lord. I am ready to serve. Send me directions, and guide me to do Your will.  

Amen

February 1, 2015

Acts 8:  13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

Simon was a sorcerer. He had many followers, who were impressed by his sorcery. Then Philip showed up, and Simon jumped on board with him. Peter and John heard what was going on in Samaria, so they came and the believers received the Holy Spirit. This is when Simon revealed his ignorance, as he tried to pay to be able to bring the Holy Spirit to others. He was rebuked and sent away to repent. 

I relate to Simon. I wonder how incomplete my understanding of the Word is. Do I jump to conclusions without fully understanding what God wants of me?  Do I seek a shortcut which is not the path God would have me take?

Prayer:  Lord, grant me the patience to wait until Your will is fully revealed to me. I want to do things in Your time, but I am impulsive. Help me to better represent You in my daily life.
Amen