Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 28:1‐29:32, 1 Timothy 1:1‐20, Psalm 86:1‐17, Proverbs 25:17

Context: Paul thanks God for appointing him to service in spite of himself. 

1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

Observations:

• The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance:
  • Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
    • Of whom I am the foremost

Apply: Like Paul, I want to continue to remind myself of God’s saving work in my life.  There is no room for pride In the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When was the last time you thought about the life that God redeemed you from?

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 26:1‐27:22, 2 Thessalonians 3:1‐18, Psalm 85:1‐13, Proverbs 25:16

Context: David is praying that God will restore (v4) and revive (v6) Israel again.  He ends claiming that God will be consistent with his character and do it.

Psalm 85:12 “Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
 and our land will yield its increase.”

Observations:

• Yes – he is answering himself
• The Lord will give what is good
• Our land will yield its increase (harvest in the NIV)

While we were dating, Rebecca felt like God gave her this verse in affirmation of our future.  Last Christmas I had it framed and it is now hanging above our bed.  Over the last few months, we again find ourselves in a period of life that involves some unknowns…

Apply:  I want to “listen to what he will say” (v8) and stay near to him (v9) during this season.  He will give what is good and our land will yield its harvest.

How does the character of God give you hope in the different seasons of life?

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 23:21‐25:38, 2 Thessalonians 2:1‐17, Psalm 84:1‐12, Proverbs 25:15

Context: David is writing about the house of God.  He says later in the Psalm “a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.”

Psalm 84:1-2 “How lovely is your dwelling place,
 O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints
 for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
 to the living God”

Observations:

• God’s dwelling place is lovely.
• David’s soul longs for the courts of the Lord.
• His heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Today, I will be a pall bearer at my Grandfathers funeral.  I want Psalm 84 to be constantly on my mind.  Opa knew God – see yesterday’s journal entry – and lived his life looking forward to today.  I truly believe this day for him is better than a thousand on earth.

Apply: I want to posture my mind like David and Opa.  I want to focus my flesh’s attention and heart’s affection on being with him.

Stop and sing for joy to the living God.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 22:1‐23:20, 2 Thessalonians 1:1‐12, Psalm 83:1‐18, Proverbs 25:11‐14

Context: God is telling his people through Jeremiah that disobedience leads to punishment.  He reminds them that their father who did righteously was rewarded by God.

Jeremiah 22:15b-16

“Did not your father eat and drink
 and do justice and righteousness?
 Then it was well with him.

He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
 then it was well.
Is not this to know me?
 declares the Lord.”

Julius Frederck (my middle namesake) Holm

Observations:

• Did not your fathers
  • Eat and drink
  • Do justice and righteousness
• Then – it was well with him
  • He judged the cause of the poor and needy
• Then – it was well
• Is not this to know me?

Yesterday (after my Bible reading and journal entry) my grandfather passed away.  He “knew God (v16)” and was a spiritual patriarch for the Holm family.  You can read Opa’s obituary here.  Reading the verses in Jeremiah 22 above, I am reminded that Julius’ justice and righteousness needs to be remembered.  It should motive me to live the same way.

Apply: “Lord, thank you for Julius Holm’s righteous life.  As the Holm family focuses on his memory the next few days, inspire us to live in a similar way.”

Do you have a spiritual patriarch in your life?  Spend time thinking about the way he or she lived and how God has rewarded and will reward a righteous life.  Let it motivate you.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 19:1‐21:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:4‐28, Psalm 82:1‐8, Proverbs 25:7b‐10

Context: Paul is giving his closing comments to the church in Thessalonica.  The admonitions are somewhat scattered.  In a few verses we will read his famous line: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Observations:

• We urge you – brothers
  • Admonish (exhort or give instruction to) the idle
  • Encourage the fainthearted
  • Help the weak
  • Be patient with them all

Apply: One of my close friends is fainthearted.  Today I want to look for opportunities to encourage this brother in Christ in an uplifting way.

What is one specific way you can admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted or help the weak today?  Do it!

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 16:16‐18:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:1‐5:3, Psalm 81:1‐16, Proverbs 25:6‐7a

Context: Jeremiah is contrasting the sin of Israel with the righteousness and hope found in God.

Jeremiah 17:13 “O Lord, the hope of Israel,
 all who forsake you shall be put to shame;
those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth,
 for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.”

Springs of Engedi - Living Water in Israel

Observations:

• Lord = hope of Israel
• All who forsake / turn away from God:
  • will be put to shame
  • will be written in the earth
• Because they have forsaken the Lord
• Lord = fountain of living water

My grandfather is on his death bed.  I spent three hours with him and the extended family on Sunday.  During a time when most families would feel forsaken, the room was full of hope.  Why?  Everyone in the house knew that Opa had lived life in the fountain.  His life had been fulfilling and close to the Lord.  In addition, they knew that he would spend eternity with God.

Apply: “Lord, let me live life like Opa.  May I never forsake the fountain of living water.”

Have you forsaken the fountain of living water?  Jeremiah 2:13 – “(F)or my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 14:11‐16:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:10‐3:13, Psalm 80:1‐19, Proverbs 25:1‐5

Context: Paul is explaining to the church in Thessalonica how he shared the gospel with them. 

Verse that jumped out: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 “For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

Observations:

• Like a father with his children
  • We exhorted each one of you
  • Encouraged you
  • And charged you
    • To walk in a manor worthy of God
      • Who calls you into his own kingdom and glory
        

        Asleep in our hotel

Yesterday, I returned from over a week of vacation with my family.  One of the highlights of my trip was watching my daughter sleep in my hotel room on the last night.  As I prayed for her, I cried.  There are very few things that have puts life’s priorities into focus for me like that. 

Apply: I’m reminded that the way I show love to my own daughter is the way I am to show love to the people I minister to.  I need to exhort, encourage, and charge them to walk in a manor worthy of God.

Have you felt this kind of love from someone who is not your parent?

I will be unable to blog for the next 11 days. 

Stay current on the Reading Plan with me.

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 54:1‐57:13, Ephesians 6:1‐24, Psalm 70:1‐5, Proverbs 24:8

Context: As Paul ends the familiar passage on the armor of God with a challenge to pray for each other.  He then asks the Ehephesian church to pray for him.

Ephesians 6: 19 – …and also (pray) for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Observations:

• Pray for me
  • that words may be given to me
    • in opening my mouth boldly
      • to proclaim the mystery of the gospel
        • for which I am an ambassador in chains
• that I may declare it boldly
  •  as I ought to speak

Apply: I have prayed this prayer over myself many times before I have taught a group or spoken one-on-one with someone who does not understand the gospel.  I need to ask others to pray it over me.

Will you stop for a minute and pray this passage over me?  Will you pray it over your own life?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 51:1‐53:12, Ephesians 5:1‐33, Psalm 69:19‐36, Proverbs 24:7

Context: Paul is explaining how the Ephesian Christians should walk because of the position that they now have through Christ. 

One of the verses that stood out to me: Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…

Observations:

• Husbands , love (agapao) your wives
  • As (according to, just as, equal to)
    • Christ loved the church
    • and gave himself (handed over, delivered up) up for her

When doing weddings, one of the exciting things for me to point out is “the Gospel is the overflow of a Godly marriage.” 

Apply: I want to be Jesus to Rebecca today.  Ephesians 5:25 calls me to seek ways to sacrificially love her.

How might God want you to sacrificially love your spouse, a friend or a stranger today?