Category Archives: Daily Reading

Post with each day’s reading.

2012 Day 167 – 2 Thessalonians 3

15 Friday Jun 2012

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Two verses stuck out to me in today’s reading. The first one was verse 5, May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. I love this verse because it reaffirms that I am directed into God’s love, not commanded to it. The beauty of God’s love for us is that it is not forced upon us. He wants a relationship with us, but He also wants us to chose Him. Notice that it also says that Christ has perseverance. He never gives up on us right up to the end and He never requires us to love Him back; though He anxiously waits for us. The second verse that struck me was verse 13, And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. In an attempt at transparency, let me say that sometimes I just want to be able to let loose and not worry about what is right and what is wrong. This verse reminds me that I should never tire of doing what is right. I should always look to do what is right and honoring to God, no matter what the cost.

2012 Day 166 – 2 Thessalonians 2

14 Thursday Jun 2012

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There is a quote I read last night by Mark Twain that says, “The two most important days in your life; the day you were born and the day you find out why”. It really hit me between the eyes especially since I had just read verses 13-14 in today’s reading, 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s desire is that we share in His glory because He chose us. Too often I take it for granted that God actually chose me to share in eternity with Him. There are so many times that I lose sight of the riches God has in store for me because I chose the temporary riches of this world. I know this sounds silly, but I need to remind myself daily that God deserves so much more than I give Him and yet He still loves me and blesses me. Father, remind me of my place in your heart and that my purpose is to serve you and not my selfish personal desires.

2012 Day 165 – 2 Thessalonians 1

13 Wednesday Jun 2012

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In today’s reading we see that Paul is writing a second letter of affirmation to the church in Thessalonica. They are facing persecution and Paul is encouraging them to persevere through faith. I really like the way Paul ends the chapter by telling them how much he is continually praying for them. In verses 11-12 it says, 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s prayer is not just about giving them strength to survive through their trials but that they may be called ‘worthy’ of God’s plan. Verse 12 is also powerful as Paul reminds the Thessalonians about what is important, which is for God to be glorified in them. God’s ultimate purpose is that we become like Christ. This is not something that fully happens until we see Him face to face, but it is a process that happens gradually as we build our relationships with Him and allow Him to be glorified in us.

2012 Day 164 – Psalm 125, 127, 131

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

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Psalm 127 is a great reminder to me that nothing really matters if it is not centered around God. Verse 1 says, Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Whatever I do outside of God’s protection and leading is done in vain.

2012 Day 163 – 1 Thessalonians 5

11 Monday Jun 2012

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One verse hit me between the eyes this morning. Verse 19 says, Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. I am guilty of this more times than I’d like to admit. For many reasons, but mostly because of my past upbringing and, quite frankly, it makes me uncomfortable, I have in the past dampened the Holy Spirit’s movement in my life. A great example of this is during worship in church. I grew up in a very conservative denomination and I have a very hard time raising my hands. I know this is silly, but my mind goes back to a place in my past where outward expression in church was unacceptable. Over the years I have gotten better; at least now I’m not uncomfortable when people around me are able to do it. In fact, I am now envious of people around me who are able to fully let go and let the Holy Spirit move in them… Maybe one day I’ll be able to join them.

2012 Day 162 – 1 Thessalonians 4

10 Sunday Jun 2012

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As believers we must realize more than anything that we are to be a reflection of Christ. Our lives should not be about bringing attention to ourselves, but to the creator of the universe and salvation that can only come through Christ. Everything we do should be for that singular purpose. Verses 11-12 says, Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. As this verse says, our daily lives should be enough to win the respect of others. In the context of this verse it is talking about dependency on others, but this is applicable to the notion that we are to reflect Christ. If we reflect Him and His love, then we are in line with our relationship with Him and others will see it.

2012 Day 161 – 1 Thessalonians 3

09 Saturday Jun 2012

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I’m so glad we decided to slow down our reading this year to just one New Testament chapter per day. It has allowed me to see so much more of what the Bible is try to say to me. One of the things that I’ve always felt when reading Paul’s letters was that he seemed to be so harsh at times; and sometimes he needed to be. What I’ve failed to see is that Paul was also an amazing encourager. The last three verses in this chapter paint a wonderful picture of how much Paul encouraged the various churches through his letters. Verse 11-13 says, Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

2012 Day 160 – 1 Thessalonians 2

08 Friday Jun 2012

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In verses 11-12 it’s says, For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to live lives that were worthy of God. This is a great example of how we should be an encouragement to those around us. We should be people who motivate and not tear down or destroy. We all have sin in our lives and we all come very, very short of where God wants us to be. We should constantly be reminded that God’s mercy and Christ’s sacrifice is what set us free and not the notion that we are any better than anyone else. The only thing that makes us different is our belief and acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice and nothing else.

2012 Day 159 – 1 Thessalonians 1

07 Thursday Jun 2012

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A couple of days ago we talked about how Paul modified his approach to sharing the Gospel based on his setting. Paul’s approach, while very bold, never moved to a forceful method of reaching people. In verse 3 we see the underlying method and outcome of Paul’s approach; We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere does it say your “reach powered by force”. We must have faith in God which produces labor powered by love and endures because of the hope we have in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. This seems like a pretty good formula to me.

2012 Day 158 – Acts 18

06 Wednesday Jun 2012

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I love reading Acts 18:6, But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Why do I love this particular verse? Because it is the beginning of our Gentile Christian heritage. Because the Jews rejected Christ as the Messiah and they reject Paul’s teachings, the Gentiles became the recipients of Paul’s full attention. We can trace the roots of our faith back to this very verse. God has a perfect plan for each of us. When it looks like one path is closed or closing it is usually because God wants us to go down a different path that fulfills His perfect plan.