FRIDAY:
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 16:15-23; 2 Samuel 17; 2 Samuel 18:1-18
New Testament Reading: Acts 7:20-43
Psalms Reading: Psalm 72:1-20
SATURDAY:Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 18:19-33; 2 Samuel 19
New Testament Reading: Acts 7:44-60; Acts 8:1-3
Psalms Reading: Psalm 73:1-14
SUNDAY:
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 20; 2 Samuel 21
New Testament Reading: Acts 8:4-40
Proverbs Reading: Proverbs 14:25-35
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
BIble Readings...
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 15:13-37; 2 Samuel 16:1-14
New Testament Reading: Acts 6; Acts 7:1-19
Psalms Reading: Psalm 71:19-24
New Testament Reading: Acts 6; Acts 7:1-19
Psalms Reading: Psalm 71:19-24
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
READINGS for WEDNESDAY!
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 14; 2 Samuel 15:1-12
New Testament Reading: Acts 5:12-42
Proverbs Reading: Proverbs 14:15-24
New Testament Reading: Acts 5:12-42
Proverbs Reading: Proverbs 14:15-24
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
COMMUNISM!
Here's two interesting things I found in today's New Testament reading in Acts 4:23-37.
1. The believers's prayer. They first pray about how herod is persecuting the church even as he persecuted and killed (by God's own plan unbeknownst to them" Jesus Christ. If WE were praying this prayer, we would pray, "Lord, keep us safe so that we can preach the Gospel message!" They DID NOT pray this. They prayed, "LORD, it's very dangerous out there. But, just like with Jesus persecution, we know you are in complete control. Therefore, let us preach your word with great boldness." This is not, by far, a prayer for protection, but instead a prayer of TRUST, and a statement against the human propensity towards FEAR. Sometimes we embrace our fears in our prayers, the apostles rejected them in favor of BOLDNESS in the face of persecution, and as a result, they were all filled once again with a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit's power. Looks like God enjoyed that prayer.
2. COMMUNISM!!!! In Acts 32-27, we see communism. People didn't consider their possessions their own, but gave to anyone as he or she had need so that ALL had some. Historically, in communist countries, those who are ruled do not have a choice in the matter. They MUST, as mandated by the authorities, participate. In fact, they are commanded to do so as their patriotic duty. Here's the difference between that and what we see here in Acts. They all were filled with the Spirit, and spotaneously sold, and gave as people around them had the need out of LOVE from the Holy Spirit for God's people. I believe this kind of communism still happens as individuals give over their whole lives to the Holy Spirit's work, and see the needs of those around them through the eyes of Christ. It is not a mandated thing, it is a "compelling" thing as The Holy Spirit breaks your heart for the physical, and spiritual neexs of those around you.
COOL! THOUGHTS???
1. The believers's prayer. They first pray about how herod is persecuting the church even as he persecuted and killed (by God's own plan unbeknownst to them" Jesus Christ. If WE were praying this prayer, we would pray, "Lord, keep us safe so that we can preach the Gospel message!" They DID NOT pray this. They prayed, "LORD, it's very dangerous out there. But, just like with Jesus persecution, we know you are in complete control. Therefore, let us preach your word with great boldness." This is not, by far, a prayer for protection, but instead a prayer of TRUST, and a statement against the human propensity towards FEAR. Sometimes we embrace our fears in our prayers, the apostles rejected them in favor of BOLDNESS in the face of persecution, and as a result, they were all filled once again with a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit's power. Looks like God enjoyed that prayer.
2. COMMUNISM!!!! In Acts 32-27, we see communism. People didn't consider their possessions their own, but gave to anyone as he or she had need so that ALL had some. Historically, in communist countries, those who are ruled do not have a choice in the matter. They MUST, as mandated by the authorities, participate. In fact, they are commanded to do so as their patriotic duty. Here's the difference between that and what we see here in Acts. They all were filled with the Spirit, and spotaneously sold, and gave as people around them had the need out of LOVE from the Holy Spirit for God's people. I believe this kind of communism still happens as individuals give over their whole lives to the Holy Spirit's work, and see the needs of those around them through the eyes of Christ. It is not a mandated thing, it is a "compelling" thing as The Holy Spirit breaks your heart for the physical, and spiritual neexs of those around you.
COOL! THOUGHTS???
Tuesday's Readings...
TUEDAY'S READINGS!
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 13
New Testament Reading: Acts 4:23-37; Acts 5:1-11
Psalms Reading: Psalm 71:9-18
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 13
New Testament Reading: Acts 4:23-37; Acts 5:1-11
Psalms Reading: Psalm 71:9-18
Monday, June 7, 2010
How enjoyable...
I Love the book of Acts. This is one of my favorite passages.
"(13)When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
It was obvious that a miracle had happened. The middle-aged healed guy was standing right there, and the crowd was praising God! It was obvious that these "unschooled ordinary men" were exceptional, and the only explanation for either of these things was that "These men had been with Jesus". It's interesting that even though no other explanation could be found, those in authority, instead of putting their faith in Jesus themselves, and calling out to him "to be saved", they instead schemed how they could continue to keep themselves in politcal power, and snuff out this other-worldly threat to their human hierarchy system. The governments of the world, both religious and political, will do whatever they can to keep Jesus from wrecking the comfortable situation they have found themselves in.
In what ways do we resist Jesus call in order to keep ourselves in the comfortable situation we find ourselves in, even though we can offer no other explanation for Jesus work? It would do us well to consider how we can fully respond with our whole lives to the person of Jesus Christ rather than effectively knowing who he is, what he's done, and ignoring the things he said that no one seems to take terribly seriously. I realize this sounds like a very very general statement, but I have been so challenged by considering the personal cost TO ME of the things Christ said. He said some really harsh stuff that really draws a line in the sand for the Christian to either walk over, or not. Sorry if this ended up sounding like a lame devotional...but it just struck me that we resist The Christ sometimes as strongly as these government/religious guys in the Scriptures, and for many of the same reasons. Mainly, to maintain control of our lives, rather than giving that to God, and going where He calls. Thoughts???
Matthew 10:39
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." - Jesus
"(13)When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
It was obvious that a miracle had happened. The middle-aged healed guy was standing right there, and the crowd was praising God! It was obvious that these "unschooled ordinary men" were exceptional, and the only explanation for either of these things was that "These men had been with Jesus". It's interesting that even though no other explanation could be found, those in authority, instead of putting their faith in Jesus themselves, and calling out to him "to be saved", they instead schemed how they could continue to keep themselves in politcal power, and snuff out this other-worldly threat to their human hierarchy system. The governments of the world, both religious and political, will do whatever they can to keep Jesus from wrecking the comfortable situation they have found themselves in.
In what ways do we resist Jesus call in order to keep ourselves in the comfortable situation we find ourselves in, even though we can offer no other explanation for Jesus work? It would do us well to consider how we can fully respond with our whole lives to the person of Jesus Christ rather than effectively knowing who he is, what he's done, and ignoring the things he said that no one seems to take terribly seriously. I realize this sounds like a very very general statement, but I have been so challenged by considering the personal cost TO ME of the things Christ said. He said some really harsh stuff that really draws a line in the sand for the Christian to either walk over, or not. Sorry if this ended up sounding like a lame devotional...but it just struck me that we resist The Christ sometimes as strongly as these government/religious guys in the Scriptures, and for many of the same reasons. Mainly, to maintain control of our lives, rather than giving that to God, and going where He calls. Thoughts???
Matthew 10:39
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." - Jesus
MONDAY'S READING!!!
READING FOR MONDAY MORNING...
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 11; 2 Samuel 12
New Testament Reading: Acts 4:1-22
Psalms Reading: Psalm 71:1-8
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 11; 2 Samuel 12
New Testament Reading: Acts 4:1-22
Psalms Reading: Psalm 71:1-8
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)