Today’s Reading: Daniel 1:1‐2:23, 1 Peter 3:8‐4:6, Psalm 119:65‐80, Proverbs 28:14

Context: Peter discusses how we can gain from pain – suffering for righteousness sake.

1 Peter 3:13  “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”

Observations:

• Now who is there to harm you
  • If you are zealous for what is good?

The implied answer to this question is no one.  Peter continues on in the next verse to say that “even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.”  He is challenging our hearts to be passionate about doing good.  If we do, in the end we will be blessed.

Apply: I want to zealously pursue doing good – even more than I pursued the pumpkin pie yesterday or some people are pursuing the black friday deals today.  “Lord, show me how I can serve you through others.”

What opportunity to do good has God given you to zealously pursue today?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 47:1‐48:35, 1 Pet 2:11‐3:7, Psalm 119:49‐64, Proverbs 28:12‐13

Context: Peter instructs us to submit to authority.  He ends this section by encouraging us to submit to God’s authority because of what he has done for us through Christ.  “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (2:24).

1 Peter 2:25  “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Observations:

• You were straying like sheep
• But have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

How is your soul this Thanksgiving?  You can get a lot of family, friends, football and food and still end up empty inside.  Do you know that by Christ’s wounds you have been healed?  Have you spent time meditating on that and being thankful for it?

Apply:  This Thanksgiving I want to return to the shepherd and Overseer of my soul.  I want to meditate on the gift he as given me when he bore our sins in his body on the tree.

How can your family spend time returning to the shepherd and overseer of your souls today?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 45:13‐46:24, 1 Pet 1:13‐2:10, Psalm 119:33‐48, Proverbs 28:11

Context: To begin his letter, Peter talks of parenting and discipline to illustrate the importance of believers responding to their new position in Christ with an obedient lifestyle.

1 Peter 1:22 “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart…”

Observations:

• Having purified your souls
  • By obedience to the truth
  • For a sincere brotherly love
    • Love one another earnestly
      • From a pure heart

What a cool verse.  We learn here that we purify our souls (not in a saving way  – read verse 23) through obedience.  The result of that soul purification is the ability to love others deeply from a pure heart.  As a father, I am constantly seeking to train Anna to obey.  Over the thanksgiving break, as I talk, discipline and guide Anna, I want to be reminded of this verse.

Apply: 1. Seek ways that I can walk in obedience to the truth – aggressive obedience.  2. Love others earnestly.

Is there anyone that you will spend time with over thanksgiving that is hard to love?  Pray that God will help you to love them earnestly from a pure heart.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 44:1‐45:12, 1 Pet 1:1‐12, Psalm 119:17‐32, Proverbs 28:8‐10

Context: David expounds on the greatness of knowing and applying God’s word throughout Psalm 119.  If you want to get excited about the Bible, meditate on Psalm 119.

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
 wondrous things out of your law.

Observations:

• What? – Open my eyes
• Why? – That I may behold wondrous things out of your law

Apply:  Lord this is my prayer!  “Make my eyes wide to your truth.  Reveal your Word to me.  Help me see how wonderful your instructions are.”

Stop and pray for God to open your eyes to behold wondrous things out of his law.  Then, open the Bible and read.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 42:1‐43:27, James 5:1‐20, Psalm 119:1‐16, ñProverbs 28:6‐7

Context: James begins his discussion on praying for others in faith.

James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

Observations:

• If you are suffering – Pray
• If you are cheerful – Praise

I love how basic this verse is.  Why don’t I live this way?

Apply: I need to learn to respond to all circumstances with prayer or praise.

How do you need to be responding to your current circumstances?  Stop for a few minutes and spend time praying or praising. 

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 40:28‐41:26, James 4:1‐17, Psalm 118:19‐29, Proverbs 28:3‐5

Context: James warns against worldliness.

James 4:1 “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”

Observations:

• What causes quarrels and fights?
  • Your passions (pleasures)
    • Are at war within you (in your body)

Apply: I must find my fault first (Matthew 7) when I am in conflict.  I need to ask: Am I seeking my own passions/pleasure or God’s desires?

Are you currently involved in any quarrels or fights?  Can you see your passions at war within you?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 39:1‐40:27, James 2:18‐3:18, Psalm 118:1‐18, Proverbs 28:2

Context:  Immediately following the discussion on faith and works, James begins to talk about the importance of taming the tongue.

James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

Observations:

• Not many of you (brothers) should become teachers
  • For you know that he who teaches will be judged with greater strictness

This verse scares me.  I am aware that God hold’s teachers to a higher standard.  Feeling God’s clear lead into a ministry that will involve more teaching has not been without a healthy fear of what God requires.

Apply: I have to be careful to bridal my tongue.  My words must be true to God’s Word and the mystery of the gospel. 

How do you balance these words with the author of Hebrews telling us that we “ought to be teachers” (Hebrews 5:12)?

Today’s Readings: Ezekiel 37:1‐38:23, James 1:19‐2:17, Psalm 117:1‐2, Proverbs 28:1

Random Fun Bible Facts: Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible.  Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible.  Psalm 118 is the middle chapter in the bible – 594 chapters on both sides.

Context: Psalm 117 is sandwiched between other psalms praising God for who he is and what he has done.

Psalm 117 “Praise the Lord, all nations!

Extol him, all peoples!

For great is his steadfast love towards us,

And the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

Observations:

• ALL nations and ALL people are to praise and extol God
• For
  • Great is his steadfast love (goodness or kindness) towards us
  • The faithfulness of the Lord endures forever

God has proved loving and faithful in my life.  Even through a difficult season of illness and a changing of direction, God is loving and faithful.

Apply: I need to spend focused time on praise today.  I want to look for ways to do it in words, thoughts, and songs.

How can you praise God for his love and faithfulness towards us?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 35:1‐36:38, James 1:1‐18, Psalm 116:1‐19, Proverbs 27:23‐27

Context: David will follow this verse by saying that “your flock” will provide clothing, food and milk for you in tough times.

Proverbs 27:23 “Know well the condition of your flocks,
 and give attention to your herds…”

Observations:

• Know well / give attention to
  • The condition of your flocks
  • Your herds

Today is my first day on staff at a church.  My first reaction to this verse was to think of flocks as the people that will be in the ministry I shepherd.  However, within the context of this passage, “flocks” here seems to refer more directly to the basic level of your livelihood.  For me in my ministry, that could be the Word of God and/or the basic tools God uses to do ministry through people and also the health in which the ministry is currently functioning. 

Apply: I have spent the last week in 2 Timothy as I seek to know well the condition of my flocks and to give attention to my herds.  Last night I went through and wrote out all of the imperative commands.  This morning I want to begin to memorize them.  The next three months I need to look hard at the condition of the ministry.  I want to know it well.

What do you need to do to know well the condition of your flocks?

I will take the last week of my transition time reflecting personally without public processing.

Keep up with me as I read each day.