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?

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 3:15‐5:13, 1 Corinthians 7:25‐40, Psalm 32:1‐11, Proverbs 21:5‐7

Nehemiah 4:23 – So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.

Observations:

• Context: As Nehemiah and the people are rebuilding the walls, they are threatened by their enemies.
• None of the workers took off their clothes
• Each kept his weapon at his right hand

Apply:  Tomorrow we will “complete the wall” in our summer camp ministry.  I will finish a season of not being able to take off my clothes or put down my weapon.  I want to affirm the guards God has placed around me this summer.

Have you gone through a season like this in life?

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 1:1‐3:14, 1 Corinthians 7:1‐24, Psalm 31:19‐24, Proverbs 21:4

Nehemiah 1:4 – As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Observations:

• Context: Nehemiah has just been told that the wall of Jerusalem has been broken down and the remnant there that survived the exile is in “great trouble and shame.”
• As soon as I heard these words:
  • I sat down
  • Wept and mourned
    • for days
• Continued fasting and praying
  • before the God of heaven

Nehemiah is known for being a man of action.  He rebuilds the wall of Jerusalem in only 52 days.  However, he didn’t act immediately.

Apply: I often try to respond to quickly.  I need to allow morning in tough times and rejoicing in good times to drive me to God.

Is there something that has happened in your life that you need to weep, morn, fast and pray over?  Have you let yourself sit down and do it?

Today’s Reading: Ezra 10:1‐44, 1 Corinthians 6:1‐20, Psalm 31:9‐18, Proverbs  21:3

Ezra 10:4 – Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”

Observations:

• Context: The people have “broken faith” with God and married foreign women.  Ezra makes confession and shows true godly sorrow, “weeping and casting himself down,” for their sin.  The people express the desire to repent and make a covenant with God to remove their foreign wives.
• Arise – move into action
• For it is your task – you are our leader, it is your responsibility
• We are with you – we will follow
• Be strong – (chazaq) take courage, be tough and resilient
• Do it – follow through, act

Apply: It became clear last night that I need to confront someone today within my ministry. 

Pray: “Show me what my task is as a leader and give me the strength to arise and do it.”

What is the task that God is calling you to lead others to do today?  Arise, be strong, and do it!

Today’s Reading: Ezra 7:1‐8:20, 1 Corinthians 4:1‐21, Psalm 30:1‐12, Proverbs  20:28‐30

Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Observations:

• Context: Ezra is leaving Babylonia to go to Jerusalem to teach the people of Israel.  He is described as “a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses.”
• Ezra had set his heart:
  • To study the Law of the Lord
  • To do it
  • To teach the Lord’s statues and rules in Israel

I love how Ezra’s heart is described in this verse.  The teachers that I have learned from the most are those who are studying and applying the Word of God to their own lives as they teach.

Apply:  I want to set my heart to study, do and teach God’s Word.

Could this verse be used to describe you?