Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 21:1‐23:21, Romans 11:13‐36, Psalm 22:1‐18, Proverbs 20:7

Romans 11:18  (D)o not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Observations:

• Context: This is in the explanation of Gentile believers being grafted into the promises of God.
• Do not be arrogant toward the branches (broken off – see previous verse)
• If you are (arrogant), Remember:
  • It is not you who support the root
  • The root supports you

I am in a season in my life were I am being complimented for my faith.  I must remember that it is only because I have been grafted into the true life source.

Application:  Today I want to consciously spend time remembering where all good things in my life come from.

Have you known someone who is spiritually arrogant?  How do you know you do not come across that way?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 19:1‐20:37, Romans 10:14‐11:12, Psalm 21:1‐13, Proverbs 20:4‐6

Romans 10:17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Observations:

• Context: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
• Faith comes from hearing
• Hearing comes through the word of Christ

Apply: I want to make an effort to let others hear the word of Christ through me today.  I also need to continue to expose myself to the word of Christ.

If you are doing the daily reading with me, what verse or passage stood out to you today?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 17:1‐18:34, Romans 9:22‐10:13, Psalm 20:1‐9, Proverbs 20:2‐3

2 Chronicles 18:13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”

Observations:

• Context: Jehoshaphat has asked prophets to inquire of God and tell him if he should go into battle.  After getting a favorable response he asked the king of Israel if there are any other prophets.  The king of Israel tells him: “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” Jehoshaphat still calls Micaiah and is told by the messenger: “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”  This verse follows that statement:
• But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives… “
• “…what my God says, that I will speak.”

You are required to believe and teach what God says is true, not what you want God to say is true.  “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Apply: I must be diligent to understand what God says and be faithful to his Word when I speak.

Do you have the boldness to speak God’s Word to someone even when it is bad news?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 14:1‐16:14, Romans 9:1‐21, Psalm 19:1‐14, Proverbs 20:1

2 Chronicles 15:15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.

Observations:

• Context:  In chapter 14, Asa is submissive to the Lord and wins a great battle.  At the beginning of Chapter 15, the Spirit of the Lord comes on Asariah and he approaches Asa with these words…. “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you” (15:2).  The people respond to these words and “they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul” (15:12). 
• The people rejoiced over their oath to seek the Lord
• The oath was to seek the Lord with their:
• All their heart
• Whole desire / all their soul (v12+15)
• The Lord was found by them
• Notice this is a promise fulfilled – “If you seek him, he will be found by you…
• The Lord gave them rest all around

Are you seeking the Lord with all of your heart and soul?  What else are you seeking?  Are you willing to get rid of your idols?  Are you willing to make an oath to whole heartedly seek him?

Apply:  Pray – “Lord I want to seek you with all of my heart and soul!  Show me the idols you want me to clear out of my life.  Give me the strength to whole heartedly seek you.  Place men around me that will hold me accountable to this oath.”

What prompts you to seek God?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 11:1‐13:22, Romans 8:22‐39, Psalm 18:37‐50, Proverbs 19:27‐29

Romans 8:27 – And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Observations:

• Context: Paul explains in the verse before that when we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf.  In the verse following we read: “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
• The Spirit searches our heart
• The Spirit intercedes for the saints
• The Spirit intercedes according to the will of God

Apply: As I pray intentionally, seeking God’s will, I am comforted to know that the Spirit is interceding for me according to the will of God.

Does this verse imply that we don’t need to spend time praying for God’s will?  Why not?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 8:11‐10:19, Romans 8:9‐21, Psalm 18:16‐36, Proverbs 19:26

2 Chronicles 10:8 But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

Context: The people have asked Rehoboam to “lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us.”  Rehoboam seeks counsel with the older men first and he is told to listen to their words.  Following this verse, he listens to the counsel of younger men.  He tells the people “…My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

It is important to listen to the counsel of men who have gained wisdom with age.

Apply: I want to be diligent to seek the counsel of men older and more experienced than me throughout my life.

Where do you find the counsel of older men or women?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 6:12‐8:10, Romans 7:14‐8:8, Psalm 18:1‐15, Proverbs 19:24‐25

Romans 7:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Observations:

• Context:  Holy Spirit in us has given us the power to live righteously… Following this verse we read: “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
• Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh
• Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

What is your mind set on?  Are you focused on your job?  Are you focused on gaining man’s approval?  Are you focused on what will happen next in your favorite TV show?

Apply:  I want to set my mind on the things of the Spirit.  Specifically for me today – taking each step by faith and having a worshipful heart.

What helps you set your mind on the things of the Spirit?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 4:1‐6:11, Romans 7:1‐13, Psalm 17:1‐15, Proverbs 19:22‐23

2 Chronicles 5:14 …so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

Observations:

• Context: After the temple was built, the ark was placed, the people sing, and the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud…
• Priest – those God through David had placed in charge of the temple worship
• Could not stand to minister – they could not lead worship like they had been trained
• For the glory of the Lord filled the house of God – God’s glory was over overwhelming when his presence filled the house

Apply:  “Lord, I want your presence to fall on my ministry with this much power today!  Knock me off my feet and show me and those around me your glory.”

Has God’s glory ever, truly, knocked you off your feet?

Today’s reading: 2 Chronicles 1:1‐3:17, Romans 6:1‐23, Psalm 16:1‐11, Proverbs 19:20‐21

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Psalm 16 in the reading today says: “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel… You make known to me the path of life.”

Apply: I need to truly seek God’s purpose for my life.  Only there will I find a plan that will stand.

How can you make plans in a Biblical way?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 28:1‐29:30, Romans 5:6‐21, Psalm 15:1‐5, Proverbs 19:18‐19

Romans 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Observations:

• Context: Paul is explaining how through Adam we have a body of sin, through Christ we have a body of righteousness.  
• Adam vs Christ
• Born vs born again
• Sinfulness vs righteousness
• Sin reign vs grace reign
• Death vs eternal life

Apply: I want to focus on my identity through Christ.  I want to live who I am through Christ and let grace to rule my life.

Which body are you living in?