Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 5:18‐6:81, Acts 26:1‐32, Psalm 6:1‐10, Proverbs 18:20‐21

Acts 26:17b-18  “…Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Observation:

• Paul was the apostle sent to me and other non-Jews
• Sent to:
  • Open my eyes
  • Turn me from darkness to light
  • Show me how to receive forgiveness of sins
  • Give me a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ

Until this last year, I was concerned with how much easier and more applicable Paul’s letters were for me.  Now I know that God chose him to teach me.

Apply: I will feel more comfortable in choosing Paul’s letters to teach out of and to read myself.

Do you see Paul as God’s apostle to you – Gentile?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 4:5‐5:17, Acts 25:1‐27, Psalm 5:1‐12, Proverbs 18:19

1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

Context:

• In a long list of genealogies, the writer stops to talk about Jabez.
• Jabez’s prayer:
• Bless me
• Enlarge my border
• May your hand be with me
• Keep me from harm / pain
• God granted what he asked

What stands out to me most in the prayer is Jabez’s request to have his border enlarged.  This would not mean that life would be easier.  It would mean that he would have more influence.

Apply: “Lord, enlarge my boarders.  Use my life to influence more people for your glory.”

What is the difference between the “health and wealth” gospel and the prayer that Jabez prays?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 2:18‐4:4, Acts 24:1‐27, Psalm 4:1‐8, Proverbs 18:16‐18

Proverbs 18:16 – A man’s gift* makes room for him
and brings him before the great.

*The word gift (mattan) here is a present and not a talent. 

Being a giver is good for your future.  It makes “room” for you and brings you “before the great.”

I am reminded of a man that I want to pattern my life after.  Recently, I was on a group trip with him and every evening he invited several people to his room and he would gift them with his time, tea and chocolate.  By the end of the trip, everyone sought time with him and felt loved by him.

Apply: I want to look for opportunities to give gifts.

What gifts have you been given recently that have blessed you?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1‐2:17, Acts 23:11‐35, Psalm 3:1‐8, Proverbs 18:14‐15

Psalm 3:3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Observations:

• God is:
  • A shield about me
  • My glory
  • The lifter of my head

Apply: I want to trust God, not man, to protect me and lift my head during hard times.

Have you ever felt God lift up your head?

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 23:31‐25:30, Acts 22:17‐23:10, Psalm 2:1‐12, Proverbs 18:13

Acts 23:1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

Observations:

• Paul lived in incredible sin before Christ.  He murdered Christians
• Paul said he had lived his life before God in all good conscience
• We can have a good conscience with sin in our past if it is not part of our present

Apply: I want to live my life like Paul.  I want to allow him to totally transform my past and let me live my life before him in all good conscience.

Do you have a clear conscience?  Why or why not?

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 22:3‐23:30, Acts 21:37‐22:16, Psalm 1:1‐6, Proverbs 18:11‐12

2 Kings 23:2b-3 And he (Josiah) read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.

Observation:

• The word of God was read (Book of the Covenant – probably Deuteronomy)
• Josiah made a covenant before the Lord
• Covenant:
• Walk after the Lord
• Keep his commandments and his testimonies and statues
• Do this with all his heart and all his soul
• Perform the words of the covenant that were written in the book
• All the people joined Josiah in the covenant

Does the reading of the Word of God affect you this much?  Have you made a covenant with God to obey his commands with all you heart and soul?

Apply: I want to make a covenant to walk after the Lord with all my heart and soul. 

Prayer: Lord, tear down my idol worship and make me fully committed to obeying you.

What brings this kind of life transformation?

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 20:1‐22:2, Acts 21:17‐36, Psalm 150:1‐6, Proverbs 18:9‐10

Proverbs 18:9 – Whoever is slack in his work
is a brother to him who destroys.

I live with the fear of not getting done what God has called me to.  This principle can be applied two ways.  It is very important that I do not let those under me slack in their work.  In addition, I must be a leader that knows the work God has laid out for me and runs at it without slacking.  However, I cannot let me efforts be to please men.  Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Apply: One of my current goals in ministry is to pray continually for God to show me what I am to do with each step I take in the day.

What has helped you learn the balance between a Mary, rest with the Lord, and Martha, diligent to always be doing, work ethic?

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 18:13‐19:37, Acts 21:1‐16, Psalm 149:1‐9, Proverbs 18:8

Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.

Application: In times of trial, I have to cling to the truth that the Lord takes pleasure in me.  I must maintain a posture of humility.

Do you know that God takes pleasure in you?

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 17:1‐18:12, Acts 20:1‐38, Psalm 148:1‐14, Proverbs 18:6‐7

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Observations:

• I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself…
• if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus…
• to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Apply: I will commit this verse to memory.  I want my life to follow Christ’s example.

Do you know the “ministry” that you have “received from the Lord Jesus?”

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 15:1‐16:20, Acts 19:13‐41, Psalm 147:1‐20, Proverbs 18:4‐5

2 Kings 15:3-4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.

Observation:

• In a list of a lot of kings who did wrong, it says that Azariah “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”
• “Nevertheless…”
• “The high places were not taken away.”

Apply: Where are the high places in my life and my family that I need to destroy.  What are the high places in my ministry that I need to be aggressive to tear down?

Have you worked under an Azariah that did good things but did not destroy the “sacred cows?”  How would you describe that kind of leadership?