Day: July 20, 2016

Daily Reading:  8-3-16

Luke 12:22-31 The Living Bible (TLB)

By the time you read this passage, I should be back home from a much needed vacation with my husband.  We needed a time to rest, relax, and enjoy the beauty of God’s presence in creation.  God desires that each one of us would relax, stop worrying, and simply enjoy Him.  We all need to step away from the demands of life from time to time in order to be replenished.

God will always meet our needs.  He has promised to provide for us when we make His Kingdom our priority.  We make the Kingdom of God our primary concern when we allow the Holy Spirit to work Christ’s righteousness in our souls (mind, will, emotions), so we can remain in peace and be filled with joy.

In our passage, today, Jesus is teaching his disciples about the need to trust God’s care for their lives.  If God’s people will pursue and trust Him, like creation does, we will find ourselves secure, safe, fed, and warm in His love.

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Daily Reading: 8-2-16

Colossians 4:2-6  The Message (MSG)

Let’s spiritually examine our thoughts and attitudes for a minute; it’s how we listen for truth and grow in all relationships.  When you are talking to others, is it your goal to bring out the best in others during those conversations?  To set a platform for ongoing dialogue, rather than stopping at a stiff exchange of information? 

When it comes to sharing the gospel, we are to pray for God to open doors of opportunity and communication in our every day lives.  We are to step into those times filled with Grace, because we are to follow our leader, Jesus.  Scripture teaches Jesus always stepped into gospel-sharing moments in humility, gentleness, meekness, and lowliness in order to be welcomed into ongoing dialogue.  The only time we see something different in Jesus’ character is when he is communicating with the Pharisees who are simply trying to further their religious agenda by controlling others.  

In our passage, today, the Apostle Paul is in jail for speaking about Jesus, but he is still praying for the Lord to open doors of communication so he can share the abundant gospel of salvation.  No matter where Paul finds himself, it is a place that needs a Word from the Lord.

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Daily Reading: 8-1-16

Colossians 3:18-21 The Message (MSG)

Scripture seems to always reveal something about relationships. It is Christ who brings us wisdom and the measure of love we need to be victorious in all relationships.  In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is addressing marriage and parenting in Christ.  

Mutual submission is essential for a vibrant marriage.  We must truly desire God’s highest and best for one another and be willing to work through all the challenges that come against that covenant of love.  Marriages that have Christ at the center have the greatest opportunity for happiness and lasting joy.  

Children require great love and discipline; they are a blessing from God.  However, children need to be taught to love and respect the Lord’s authority over their lives.  They learn by watching their parents.  In so doing, they will learn to respect and value others as well as themselves. 

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Daily Reading: 7-28-16

Romans 11:33-36 Living Bible (TLB)

Many people are content with living their faith at a surface level; having a form of godliness but denying the deeper power.  Christ died so we might actually explore the depths of God’s love and the wisdom He desires to extend; tools for living.  Scripture teaches that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways, so God definitely has insight I need (Isaiah 55:8).  I don’t think God will be asking me for advice any time soon.  I do, however, need His guidance and wisdom so I will go deeper in His Word every day.

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Daily Reading: 7-27-16

Matthew 5:43:-48 The Voice (VOICE)

In our present culture, we are witnessing an intense level of daily discord.  Satan is hard at work trying to cause division everywhere (family, friendships, work, etc.).  Division makes us weaker by forcing isolation.  

Jesus is teaching the disciples about loving even those we see as enemies.  We are to unselfishly seek the best or higher good for them and pray for them.  And get this: when we respond this way to those who mistreat us we are revealing ourselves as God’s authentic children.   When we reflect our Father, we are living the Higher Life.

It is easy to love those who love us back, but Jesus has called us to love our enemies and pray for them.  Why would he say that?  Because it is the character of God.  He even loves those who hate Him.  God knows it is a hard thing to desire good things for hateful people, so Jesus provided the Spirit who helps us. 

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