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.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 20:1‐49, Hebrews 9:11‐28, Psalm 107:1‐43, Proverbs 27:11

Context: The author of Hebrews has been telling the story of how much greater Christ is – sacrifice, priest, covenant, etc.  He argues that if the blood of goats, bulls and heifers help purify, then…

Hebrews 9:14 “…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

Observations

• Christ’s blood will purify our conscience from dead works
  • To serve the living God.

God’s work in us is about him.  His work in our purification which will produce works of his glorification.

Apply: “Father, I know that anything good that is my past, present and future is from you, through you, and for you (Romans 11:36).  Purify me through your blood to enable me to serve.”

Are you trying to serve God apart from the purifying work of Christ’s blood?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 16:43‐17:24, Hebrews 8:1‐13, Psalm 106:13‐31, Proverbs 27:7‐9

Proverbs 27:9 “Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
 and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”

As I move into a new ministry environment, I want to be and find sweet friends.

Apply: I want to ask those close to me to give me earnest (nephesh – soul or life) counsel.  I also want to be a man who gives this freely to those close to me.

How do you initiate earnest counsel with your friends?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 12:1‐14:11, Hebrews 7:1‐17, Psalm 105:37‐45, Proverbs 27:3

Context – David is remembering God’s awesome work in Israel’s history.

Psalm 105:43-45 – “So he brought his people out with joy,
 his chosen ones with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations,
 and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
that they might keep his statutes
 and observe his laws.

Praise the Lord!”

Observations:

• God delivered his people with joy
• So they would obey his statutes / laws

Apply: “I know you saved me from slavery to sin.  Lord, help me to walk in obedience to your Word.”

How can you obey God’s statues and laws with the next action in your life today?