Today’s Reading: Job 16:1‐19:29, 1 Corinthians 16:1‐24, Psalm 40:1‐10, Proverbs 22:1

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 – Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

Context: In his final instructions to the church in Corinth, Paul urges them to persevere, love and submit to good leaders.  It is in this section that we read these verses:

Observations:

• Be watchful – in love
• Stand firm in the faith – in love
• Act like men – in love
• Be strong – in love

Our culture has lost a Biblical view of masculinity.  I think Paul gives us the basics here.  If I were starting a fraternity, I would consider these two verses as my purpose statement. 

Apply: I want to act like a man today by being watchful and strong, standing firm in the faith, and covering everything in love.  Specifically, in a conversation I am having at work, I want to be strong and firm in what I believe is right.

Has anyone taught you to live out these principles?  Who and How?

Today’s Reading: Job 12:1‐15:35, 1 Corinthians 15:29‐58, Psalm 39:1‐13, Proverbs 21:30‐31

1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 

Context: Paul has been discussing the vital importance of Christ’s and Christian resurrection to the gospel message.  Some of the people in the the church in Corinth do not believe in the resurrection and thus believe “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”  It is to the church that contains people with this belief that he makes this statement:

Observations:

• Do not be deceived – implying that some of them (and I believe some of us) are
• Bad company – people that believe an incomplete gospel in the church
• Ruins good morals – perverts the way we live

Application:  As a leader in my church, I want to make sure we preach and teach a clear and complete gospel.

How do we balance the command to bring the gospel to the world yet make sure that those who don’t understand the gospel don’t ruin good morals for those they are around?

Today’s Reading: Job 8:1‐11:20, 1 Corinthians 15:1‐28, Psalm 38:1‐22, Proverbs 21:28‐29

Psalm 38:9 – O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my sighing is not hidden from you.

Observation:

• God knows my longing
• My sighing is not hidden from him

It is comforting to know that God knows the depths of our longings.

Apply:  Like David, I want to draw near to the God who knows and cares.  Specifically, I want to enjoy his complete knowing as I pray tonight.

How does God show you that he knows what you long for?

Today’s Reading: Job 4:1‐7:21, 1 Corinthians 14:18‐40, Psalm 37:30‐40, Proverbs 21:27

Psalm 37:30-31 – The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.

Observations:

• Describing the righteous:
• His mouth utters wisdom
• His tongue speaks justice
• The law of God is in his heart
• His steps do not slip

I want to be a righteous man and so I need to be more intentional about putting the law of God in my heart.  As I read this Psalm I am reminded that it is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.  I also see that God’s word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Apply:  After my time in the Word today, I talked with Rebecca and we have decided to start memorizing scripture together again.  Our current plan is to start with two verses a week.

What has helped you to get the law of God on your heart?

I will not be able to post the next few days.  Continue the reading with me:

Aug 18: Esther 1:1‐3:15, 1 Corinthians 11:17‐34, Psalm 35:17‐28, Proverbs 21:19‐20

Aug 19: Esther 4:1‐7:10, 1 Corinthians 12:1‐26, Psalm 36:1‐12, Proverbs 21:21‐22

Aug 20: Esther 8:1‐10:3, 1 Corinthians 12:27‐13:13, Psalm 37:1‐11, Proverbs 21:23‐24

Aug 21: Job 1:1‐3:26, 1 Corinthians 14:1‐17, Psalm 37:12‐29, Proverbs 21:25‐26

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 12:27‐13:31, 1 Corinthians 11:3‐16, Psalm 35:1‐16, Proverbs 21:17‐18

Nehemiah 13:3 – As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

Context: The book of Moses has been read in the hearing of the people.  They hear that they should not let Ammonite or Moabite people enter the assembly of God (Deut. 23:3-5)

Observations:

• As soon as the people heard the law
• They separated from Israel all those of foreign descent

Talk about immediate obedience, even though it was painfully removing people that were part of their families.

Apply: I want to be someone who hears God and obeys in this way.  Today I must walk forward ready to act in immediate obedience.  In addition, I want to teach my daughter to be someone who immediately obeys.

Is there anything that God has communicated to you that you have not responded to?

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 11:1‐12:26, 1 Corinthians 10:14‐11:2, Psalm 34:11‐22, Proverbs 21:14‐16

1 Corinthians 11:1 – Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Observations:

• Context: Context: Paul has been arguing since chapter 9 that, in regards to the differing views on clean and unclean foods, we are to be careful to act towards others in a way that will not inhibit the advance of the gospel.  At the end of Chapter 10 he caps this thought by saying “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
• Be imitators of me
  • as I am of Christ.

For years the leadership team I worked with at camp talked about making a T-shirt from this verse that had the words on the front “follow me” and on the back “as I follow Christ.”  We never did… 

This verse defines Biblical leadership.  Quoting my good friend Matt Lantz – “Leadership is followership that inspires followership.” 

Apply: I want to live life like I am wearing the 1 Corinthians 11:1 T-shirt.  I want to be a follower that inspires followers.

Could you tell the people around you to imitate you as you imitate Christ?  What do you need to change to be able to do that?

Note: Check out Kevin East’s new blog – Following to Lead.

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 9:22‐10:39, 1 Corinthians 9:19‐10:13, Psalm 34:1‐10, Proverbs 21:13

1 Corinthians 9:22b – I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

Observations:

• Context: Paul is discussing eating food that has been sacrificed to idols.  He explains that he is free from the law, but has made himself “a servant to all,” that he might win more of them.  To the Jews, he became “as a Jew, in order to win Jews.”  To those outside of the law, he became “as one outside the law… that I might win those outside of the law.”
• I have become
  • All things
    • To all people
      • That by all means
        • I might save some.

Paul’s moral reputation, his witness, was very important to him.  He was intentional to abide by the standards of the different groups he was ministering to (See also Romans 14).  However, we also know he did not let Christian leaders add a moral step to the gospel message.  In Galatians chapter 2 Paul opposes Peter to his face because he is not explaining and living in such a way that clearly shows the people he is around that faith in Christ does not need to be accompanied by circumcision. 

Apply: Today I plan to have a conversation with a group of Christian friends about moral standards for Christians.  I pray that we can understand and live out Paul’s heart.

What are some contemporary examples of “food sacrificed to idols” in our culture?

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 7:61‐9:21, 1 Corinthians 9:1‐18, Psalm 33:12‐22, Proverbs 21:11‐12

Nehemiah 8:8 – They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Observations:

• Context: Ezra reads the scrolls and “the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”  They worship in response to the reading of the Word and a group of Levites and named men “helped the people to understand.”
• They read from the book – Law of God
• Clearly
• They gave sense
• So the people understood the reading

Apply: “Lord, give me clear understanding of your Word and help me to give this sense to others.”

Can you share an experience where someone read the Bible to you, clearly, and gave you sense, so that you understood the reading?

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 5:14‐7:60, 1 Corinthians 8:1‐13, Psalm 33:1‐11, Proverbs 21:8‐10

Nehemiah 6:16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Observations:

• Context: After only 52 days, the wall of Jerusalem is rebuilt.
• When all our enemies heard of it
• All the nations around us were afraid
• and fell greatly in their own esteem
• For they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God

Apply:  Today our summer camp ministry comes to a close.  It is my prayer that everyone who has been exposed to camp will be humbled and perceive that this work has been accomplished with the help of our God.

Can the world see how God has helped you and your ministry?