Today’s Reading: Isaiah 39:1‐41:16, Ephesians 1:1‐23, Psalm 66:1‐20, Proverbs 23:25‐28

Context: David is inviting the listener to “Come and see what God has done:
 he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.”

Psalm 66:16 –  Come and hear, all you who fear God,
 and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

Observations:

• Come – accompany or walk with me
• Hear – (Sh’ma) responsive hearing
• All who fear God
• I will tell – to recount, relate
• What he has done – God’s work, not mine
• For my soul

Apply: I want to invite others in to hear the testimony of God in my life.  I want to look for opportunities to tell what he has done.

Do you remember the last time you shared with others what God has done for you?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 37:1‐38:22, Galatians 6:1‐18, Psalm 65:1‐13, Proverbs 23:24

Context – Sennacherib has invaded Judah, insulted God and plans to take Jerusalem.  Hezekiah ends his prayer for deliverance with these words.

Isaiah 37:20 – “So now, O Lord our God, save us from (Sennacherib’s) hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”

Observations:

• What? Save us
• Why? That the kingdoms of the earth may know  that you alone are the Lord

Is this truly the motive behind most of my prayers?  Do I ask God to answer me so that his name and his renown will be made known through his response?

Apply: I need to consistently evaluate the why behind my prayers of petition.  I want to listen carefully to the heart motives in my prayers today.

What motivates the requests in your prayers?  Is it for your name’s sake or for God’s?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 33:13‐36:22, Galatians 5:13‐26, Psalm 64:1‐10, Proverbs 23:23

Context: Paul is contrasting walking by the spirit with walking by the flesh.

Galatians 5:26 – Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Observations:

• Let us not
  • Become conceited  (boastful, desirous of vainglory)
    • Provoking (challenging) one another
    • Envying one another

One of the first signs of the flesh taking over in my life is conceit.  Conceit shows itself when I provoke and/or envy others.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will control my present and future and establish me in genuine humility.

Apply: “Lord, tear pride from my life and establish me in genuine humility.”

Do you have anyone in your life, formal discipleship or conflicting relationship, pointing out your pride?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 30:12‐33:12, Galatians 5:1‐12, Psalm 63:1‐11, Proverbs 23:22

Context: David writes that his soul is experiencing a dry time and he is thirsting for God.

Psalm 63:3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
 my lips will praise you.

Observation:

Even in tough times, God’s steadfast love (loving kindness, goodness) is:

1. Better than life
2. Motivates praise

Apply: I want to spend time reflecting on God’s love for me.   I need to praise God with my lips as an overflow of my recognition of God’s steadfast love.

When the last time you spent time thinking about how much God loves you?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 28:14‐30:11, Galatians 3:23‐4:31, Psalm 62:1‐12, Proverbs 23:19‐21

Context: David is waiting for the Salvation of the Lord.

Psalm 63:8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
 pour out your heart before him;
 God is a refuge for us.

Observations:

• Trust in God at all times
• Pour out your heart before God
• God is a refuge for us

Apply: During a time of waiting in areas of my own life, I need to trust in God, pour out heart before him, and let him be my refuge.  Specifically, I want to confide in the Lord through prayer tonight.

How do you “pour out your heart before him?”

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 22:1‐24:23, Galatians 2:17‐3:9, Psalm 60:1‐12, Proverbs 23:15‐16

Paul is arguing that people are saved AND SANCTIFIED through faith and not works.

Galatians 3:3 – Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Observations:

• If you think you are saved by works of the flesh, you are foolish
• Salvation begins with the Spirit
• You are perfected by the Spirit, not the flesh

Application: This is almost an anti-application passage.  I must live by faith and not by sight, knowing that works of the flesh will never save me.  Only what Jesus did and is doing for and in me will save and sanctify me.

In a culture that is works focused, how do you stay gospel driven?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 19:1‐21:17, Galatians 2:1‐16, Psalm 59:1‐17, Proverbs 23:13‐14

Context: When Peter camp to Antioch, Paul “opposed him to his face,” because he separated himself from the Gentiles while they ate when other Jews were present.

Galatians 2:14 – But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Observations:

• When Paul saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel
• He said…

Apply: I need to be ready to speak truth when I see Christians whose conduct is not in step with the truth of the gospel.  In addition, I must pursue other Christians who will speak truth to me when they see my conduct contradict the gospel.

Do you have Pauls in your life who will tell you when your conduct is not in line with the truth of the gospel?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 15:1‐18:7, Galatians 1:1‐24, Psalm 58:1‐11, Proverbs 23:12

Context: Isaiah is prophesying the desolation of Damascus.

Isaiah 17:10-11 – For you have forgotten the God of your salvation
 and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge;
therefore, though you plant pleasant plants… the harvest will flee away
 in a day of grief and incurable pain.

Ruins on the Road to Damascus

Observations:

• Desolation will come because:
• You have forgotten the God of your salvation
• You have not remembered the Rock of your refuge (italics added)
• Though you plant pleasant plants
• The harvest will flee away in a day of grief and incurable pain

If we forget God, our work will be futile and painful.

Apply: I want to repeat the three Rs from this verse in prayer throughout today – Remember the Rock of Refuge. 

How can remembering God change the outcome of your life?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 12:1‐14:32, 2 Corinthians 13:1‐14, Psalm 57:1‐11, Proverbs 23:9‐11

Context: Ending the letter, Paul urges obedience to demonstrate true faith and then gives this charge.

2 Corinthians 13:11 – Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Observations:

• Rejoice
• Aim for restoration
• Comfort one another
• Agree with one another
• Live in peace
  • And the God of love and peace will be with you.

What a cool benediction for a community of believers.  I want to write this verse on the walls of our new men’s dorm.

Apply:  As I live today, I want to be defined by the first instruction – rejoice.  Specifically, as my wife and daughter wake this morning, I want to great them with joy.

Which one of these instructions do you need to apply to your life today?

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 10:1‐11:16, 2 Corinthians 12:11‐21, Psalm 56:1‐13, Proverbs 23:6‐8

Context: Paul is expressing concern that the Corinthian church is not responding to his message favorably.  He is afraid that the church in Corinth thinks he has a selfish motive in his ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:14-15 – Here for the third time I am ready to come to you.  And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you.  For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.  I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.  If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

Observations:

• I will not be a burden
• I seek not what is yours but you (I LOVE THIS)
• Illustration: Children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children
• I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls

Apply:  “Father, give me Paul’s heart for the people I minister to.  I want to fully say: ‘I seek not what is yours but you.  I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.’”

The Proverbs in our reading today apply directly to this passage.  Read Proverbs 23:6-8.  Are you glad to spend and be spent for the souls of others?