Today’sReading: 1 Kings 2:1‐3:3, Acts 5:1‐42, Psalm 125:1‐5, Proverbs 16:25

Acts 5:38-39 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice.

Context: The Pharisee s want to kill “Peter and the apostles.”  Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, makes this argument against killing them.  They follow his advice.

Observation: Even in the eyes of unbelievers, what has happened through the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ is proof of our faith being “of God.”

Application: When I face doubters, I want to remember the passage in Acts and use it to support the truth of the gospel.

What passages in scripture give you apologetic backing to your faith?

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 1:1‐53, Acts 4:1‐37, Psalm 124:1‐8, Proverbs 16:24

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 

Observations:

• Boldness (Parresia) appears 3 times in chapter 4 (see verse 29 and 31 also)
• All three times boldness describes how the early apostles spoke of Christ
• Verses 23-31 record a prayer for the ability to speak boldly
• The response to the bold words of Peter and John was astonishment

Apply:  I serve in a less hostile environment, yet the need to speak boldly about the gospel is unchanged.  I will look for opportunities to speak boldly about my savior today.

What environment is God calling you to speak the gospel boldly in – church, home, work, school, community, missions, etc?

I’m back! The last three weeks are the busiest of my year. Two weeks of training our new summer staff, and week one of camp.

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 23:24‐24:25, Acts 3:1‐26, Psalm 123:1‐4, Proverbs 16:21‐23

2 Samuel 24:24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Observations:

• The field was offered to David as a gift
• David insists on paying for the field
• David wants his offering to the Lord to cost him something

I serve in an incredible ministry. My desire is that each day is an offering to the Lord. I also truly enjoy what I do. In many ways, I think I would pay to do it. How do I live sacrificially in this context? I don’t have to pay to be part of camp. In many ways, I get to be part of camp.

Apply: I want to look for ways that I can “pay a price” in my ministry. I want to serve sacrificially.

How can you pay a price for your offering today?

I will be unable to blog for the next few weeks.  In the meantime, here is the reading for each day.  It would be great to see some observations as comments:

• May 20 1 Samuel 26:1‐28:25, John 11:1‐53, Psalm 117:1‐2, Proverbs 15:22‐23
• May 21 1 Samuel 29:1‐31:13, John 11:54‐12:19,Psalm 118:1‐18, Proverbs 15:24‐26
• May 22 2 Samuel 1:1‐2:11, John 12:20‐50,Psalm 118:19‐29, Proverbs 15:27‐28
• May 23 2 Samuel 2:12‐3:39, John 13:1‐30, Psalm 119:1‐16, Proverbs 15:29‐30
• May 24 2 Samuel 4:1‐6:23, John 13:31‐14:14, Psalm 119:17‐32, Proverbs 15:32
• May 25 2 Samuel 7:1‐8:18, John 14:15‐31, Psalm 119:33‐48, Proverbs 15:33
• May 26 2 Samuel 9:1‐11:27, John 15:1‐27, Psalm 119:49‐64, Proverbs 16:1‐3
• May 27 2 Samuel 12:1‐31, John 16:1‐33, Psalm 119:65‐80, Proverbs 16:4‐5
• May 28 2 Samuel 13:1‐39, John 17:1‐26, Psalm 119:81‐96, Proverbs 16:6‐7
• May 29 2 Samuel 14:1‐15:22, John 18:1‐24, Psalm 119:97‐112, Proverbs 16:8‐9

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 24:1‐25:44, John 10:22‐42, Psalm 116:1‐19, Proverbs 15:20‐21

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Observations:

Jesus’ Sheep:

1. Hear His voice
2. He knows them
3. They follow Him

Apply: I need to hear and obey the voice of God.

Do you remember the last time you consciously followed the voice of God?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 22:1‐23:29, John 10:1‐21, Psalm 115:1‐18, Proverbs 15:18‐19

1 Samuel 22:1-2 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

One of the many caves at Adullam where David hid with those in distress

I was reminded in my reading today that David’s followers and friends were very needy. If we are surrounded by people that think and look like they have it all together, we may be doing something wrong. Jesus was known as someone who spent time with the tax collectors and sinners.

Apply: I want to remember to spend more time with the needy.

What currently prompts you to get time with the needy?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 20:1‐21:15, John 9:1‐41, Psalm 113:1‐114:8, Proverbs 15:15‐17

John 9:39-41 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

Beware of the spiritual pride of the Pharisees. If we think we can see, our guilt remains. Our spiritual condition may be the opposite of what we think.

Apply: I need to repent of spiritual pride. I want to live like a blind man.

What helps you to see how blind you are?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 18:5‐19:24, John 8:31‐59, Psalm 112:1‐10, Proverbs 15:12‐14

John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Observations:

• Said to believers
• If you abide in my word, then you are true disciples
• If you abide in my word, then you will know the truth
• The truth will set you free

Apply: To make sure I abide in God’s Word through the busy season of summer, I am committing to Bible reading before breakfast.

What does “set you free” mean to you in the context of this passage?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1‐18:4, John 8:21‐30, Psalm 111:1‐10, Proverbs 15:11

1 Samuel 17:39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.

You cannot fight with what you are not familiar.  David could not fight with Saul’s armor.  Saul could not fight with David’s faith.  They had not tested out those things.

Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath - Most scholars think the battle took place just below my right wrist

Apply: I want to make sure I am well acquainted with living by faith and not sight.  I have to daily be in prayer and the Word.

How do you test out the needed weapons for spiritual war?

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 15:1‐16:23, John 7:53‐8:20, Psalm 110:1‐7, Proverbs 15:8‐10

1 Samuel 15:24&30 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice… 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.”

Observation:

• Context: Saul has been told by Samuel that God would reject him as king because of his disobedience.
• Saul said the reason for his sin was because he feared the people and obeyed their voice.
• Even after knowing he will be removed as king, Saul is concerned with being honored before people.

Sin in our life happens when the fear of people and the desire for their approval surpasses our fear of God and our desire for his approval.

Apply: I want to make a conscious effort to keep God’s response, and not people’s response, as my goal.

Is the fear of people’s approval pushing you to sin against God?