Devotionals

Daily Reading:  4-28-16

Proverbs 2:1-5  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Sometimes asking for things is difficult, but God clearly desires that we would ask for wisdom.  In the Old Testament, wisdom is broken down and described in levels.  At one level, we can connect wisdom with skilled arts (weavers, architects, goldsmiths, etc).  Another level of wisdom is described as an insight into life and offering ways of dealing with life issues.  At still another level, wisdom is described as applied truth to the lives of men and women who represent a way of thinking and conduct that is orderly, socially sensitive, and morally upright.  In the New Testament, wisdom is filled with the elements of practical advice for Christian Living.  Jesus Christ is our role model and God has caused him to be revealed wisdom for us.

 

The Benefits of Wisdom

2 

My child, listen to what I say,

    and treasure my commands.

2 

Tune your ears to wisdom,

    and concentrate on understanding.

3 

Cry out for insight,

    and ask for understanding.

4 

Search for them as you would for silver;

    seek them like hidden treasures.

5 

Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,

    and you will gain knowledge of God.

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Daily Reading:  4-27-16

Luke 10:25-28  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

How important do you think it is that we learn to love by God’s standard? Jesus said it was the most important mandate from the Father and the way to eternal life.  As I read our passage for today, it is clear that if I am going to learn to love by God’s standard, it means a change must come to my human ability to love.

 

The Most Important Commandment

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[a]

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 

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Daily Reading:  4-26-16

Psalm 133  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Yesterday we looked at our passage from the perspective of harmony and its connection to love.  Harmony is achieved when we stay focused on what is important to God.  Today, please read the passage, again, and this time when you read verse one and the word “brothers” think about the word “family.”

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Daily Reading:  4-25-16

Psalm 133  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Do you enjoy harmony in your relationships?  My father used to say, “I like peace in the valley!”  In other words, Dad loved it when everyone was together and could stay in a place of unity within the family.  It was work, but it was possible.

 

David enjoyed and wanted to achieve “peace in the valley” or unity with his fellow pilgrims as they all ascended to Jerusalem.  He wrote a song about it to keep them all focused on their purpose—working together with God and one another.

 

Psalm 133

1 

How wonderful and pleasant it is

    when brothers live together in harmony!

2 

For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil

    that was poured over Aaron’s head,

    that ran down his beard

    and onto the border of his robe.

3 

Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon

    that falls on the mountains of Zion.

And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,

    even life everlasting.

 

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Daily Reading:  4-22-16

Psalm 148  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Do you like listening to a symphony?  For my birthday this last year, our son Joseph and daughter-in-love Sarah sent us to the Mahaffey Theater to enjoy a Florida Orchestra production.  With every musician playing each of their parts with great passion, music filled the theater; it filled me.  Well, the Psalmist who wrote Book 148, was calling all of creation to make music to the Lord for His greatness; to fill the heavens and the earth with praise and worship to the point of filling every inch of space and piece of matter.  Let’s read…

 

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Daily Reading:  4-21-16

Daniel 7:13-14  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In many, many passages in the Old Testament, we will find the prophetic description of the Lord; Yeshua HaMashiach or Jesus the Messiah.  In the Old Testament, YHWH (Yahweh) told His people He would send Mashiach to rescue them, set things right again (a result of sin), and destroy evil.  Daniel dreamed about Messiah (translates the Anointed or the Christ) and how he would rule a spiritual kingdom that was eternal and supremely powerful.  During the time in which Yeshua lived on earth, kings were anointed with oil but in our reading we see Yeshua was anointed with God’s authority.  Messiah would be greater than any earthly ruler and all of creation would be called to obey and bow to his authority.

 

Daniel 7:13-14

13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.

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Daily Reading:  4-20-16

Jeremiah 50:17-20  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Jeremiah the prophet was given a word from the Lord concerning Babylon.  Babylon was a mighty empire in Jeremiah’s time.  In fact, God used Babylon to punish Judah for her sin.  When God was done with Babylon, it was destroyed by the Medes and Persians around 539BCE (Daniel 5:30-31). In our passage below, we can discern a message that spiritually applies to a time when God will wipe out all sin forever; called the end times.  It is a message of Hope found in Messiah!

 

Jeremiah 50:17-20  Hope for God’s People

17 

“The Israelites are like sheep

    that have been scattered by lions.

First the king of Assyria ate them up.

    Then King Nebuchadnezzar[a] of Babylon cracked their bones.”

18 

Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

    the God of Israel, says:

“Now I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,

    just as I punished the king of Assyria.

19 

And I will bring Israel home again to its own land,

    to feed in the fields of Carmel and Bashan,

and to be satisfied once more

    in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead.

20 

In those days,” says the Lord,

    “no sin will be found in Israel or in Judah,

    for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.

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Daily Reading:  4-19-16

Psalm 100:4-5  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Yesterday, in our daily devotional, we highlighted the invitation God extends to every person to enter and worship Him.  Remember, worship is connection, oneness, and agreement with God; He is the Source of all that is good and righteous.  Please keep that worship invitation in mind this morning as we read the rest of Psalm 100.

 

Psalm 100:4-5

4 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

    go into his courts with praise.

    Give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 

For the Lord is good.

    His unfailing love continues forever,

    and his faithfulness continues to each generation. 

 

If we offer a spirit of thanksgiving to God for His goodness and kindness to us, that spirit will also work to keep us kind and thoughtful with others.  Why?  Because when we enter into worship we experience the love and acceptance God extends to us; we know we do not really deserve what God offers us.  God offers pure, undefiled, and redeeming love and all we have to do is receive it with thanksgiving.   Without the impartation of God’s love through His Spirit, human love fades and turns toward self.  When we accept God’s invitation to enter His presence with thanksgiving, we are acknowledging our lack, as well as His greatness; we come to receive what we do not possess.  God is generous, dependable, and gives us the necessary grace to honor Him and His love as we connect with others.  So when others behave in an unkind fashion, we can be like Jesus and receive the grace to remain kind even when they do not deserve it.   This is the love that remains from generation to generation because it is eternal love.  

 

Prayer:  Father, there are many things going on around me, today.  With all the tasks forthcoming, help me to stay in a place of thanksgiving for your love and grace.   I receive what You alone can give me.  Help me to return what is from You to others in the many different encounters I will make, today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Daily Reading:  4-18-16

Psalm 100:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

Invitations are requests that come in a written or verbal form.  These invitations call for an action; to go somewhere or do something.  Depending upon the event, we may be joyful about getting an invitation to attend.  In fact, we may be saddened when we do not receive one.   I know from recent experiences it would bring great joy to me to be able to invite everyone I love and know to an upcoming wedding event, but it is absolutely impossible to do so.  Some events have limitations.  But, there is a moment-by-moment event to which every human being on earth is invited to attend; an invitation that should bring great joy.  The Host is the Creator of All.  That invitation is to come into the protective fold of the Good Shepherd and worship the Lord with gladness.

 

A psalm of thanksgiving.

1 

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

2 

    Worship the Lord with gladness.

    Come before him, singing with joy.

3 

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

    He made us, and we are his.[a]

    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

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Daily Reading:  4-15-16

Ezekiel 20:39-44  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Ezekiel is a prophetic visionary used by God to gain Israel’s attention.  God’s people—Israel—have been worshiping other gods while trying to worship the one true Lord; therefore, they are experiencing judgment. (Note: remember judgment can be translated “to distinguish”).  The Word lends Light to help us distinguish, but it’s our choice.  This situation is really no different with many professing Christians, today.  The pleasures of this tangible world can lure us to compromise our commitment to follow God’s Word and ways.  According to Romans 12:2, humanity can easily try to live with one foot in the world [conforming to the behavior and customs of the world] and one foot in the Kingdom [renewed in thought and transformed by God’s Word].  Eventually the Word will make us choose between the things that call for our allegiance or devotion.  It’s the same with Israel in our passage this morning.  God will bring a symbolic fork in the road and at the appointed time God’s people will choose the Sovereign Lord of lords and the King of kings—Jesus—the Living Word.

 

Ezekiel 20:39-44

39 “As for you, O people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go right ahead and worship your idols, but sooner or later you will obey me and will stop bringing shame on my holy name by worshiping idols. 40 For on my holy mountain, the great mountain of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord, the people of Israel will someday worship me, and I will accept them. There I will require that you bring me all your offerings and choice gifts and sacrifices. 41 When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me. And I will display my holiness through you as all the nations watch. 42 Then when I have brought you home to the land I promised with a solemn oath to give to your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord. 43 You will look back on all the ways you defiled yourselves and will hate yourselves because of the evil you have done. 44 You will know that I am the Lord, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

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