2012 Day 280 – 1 Timothy 2

06 Saturday Oct 2012

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The first two verses of this chapter are timely for us in this political season. Verses 1 and 2 says, 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. No matter who is in power and controlling our government, God is still in control and allowing us to live according to His perfect plan. We should always pray for our leaders and ask God to work through them no matter who they are or what they stand for.

As for the second half of the chapter… I’m not going there!

2012 Day 279 – 1 Timothy 1

05 Friday Oct 2012

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Gods grace is all I need to be righteous in His eyes. However, He did not show me grace for me to accept it selfishly. He gave it so that I could have His example and show it to others. Verses 15 and 16 says, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. I often feel like Paul when he says he is the worst of sinners; not because of the magnitude of my sin, but because I know I am and always will be a sinner. God’s grace could never be applied to my life just once. I need it every day of my life, which He gives to me freely. In turn, I must show His mercy and grace to others as He has done it to me.

2012 Day 278 – Psalm 130, 141

04 Thursday Oct 2012

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Do you ever read a verse that smacks you right between the eyes, or in this case, smacks you on the mouth? Psalm 141:3 did that to me today, Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. This is the strongest part of my body. It has the ability to lift people up or to tear them down. In one of the notes in my Bible it says on average a normal person opens up their mouth 700 times per day (for my 15 year old daughter this number could easily be double). When David wrote this Psalm he was very wise to ask God to help keep him from speaking evil. I would do well to ask God to guard my mouth as well.

2012 Day 277 – Psalm 72, 101

03 Wednesday Oct 2012

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I don’t have a lot to say regarding today’s reading, but there were a few verses that stood out to me because according to the notes in my Bible, they are prophetic and pointing to the future messiah. Psalm 72:12-14 says, 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. 14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. This Psalm was written by Solomon and it is amazing that even though he lived almost 1,000 years before Christ, he is still pointing to what they are looking for in a savior.

2012 Day 276 – Philippians 4

02 Tuesday Oct 2012

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I really needed verse 6 today in our reading, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. It is easy for me to get caught up in all the areas of my life that are stressful. But I need to get better about lifting everything up to God and trusting in His perfect plan for my life. When I lift my worries up to Him, I allow Him to help me carry the burden. Without God’s help, on most days, my level of worry would be unbearable.

2012 Day 275 – Philippians 3

01 Monday Oct 2012

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After talking through all of his credentials as a Pharisee, Paul goes on in verse 8 to say how much of it is lost when compared to knowing and being saved by Christ; What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Paul learned long ago how little everything else matters when compared to Christ. My question to myself becomes, why do I work so hard to attain anything? Why don’t I just take Paul’s example and realize the only thing that really matters is the saving knowledge of Christ and helping others to find out the same things? It is my pride, greed, and selfishness that needs to be checked at the door of my life in order to fully enjoy a relationship with Him. Everyday I come closer to wanting nothing more than Him. May The Lord use me or take me home because everything else is rubbish.

2012 Day 274 – Philippians 2

30 Sunday Sep 2012

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While they are not meant to be a complete statement about the nature and work of Christ, verses 5-11 give us a pretty good blueprint for the example He left for us.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As believers we must take the example of Christ and lose our attitude of entitlement and allow ourselves to be used by God for the service of others. We should also adopt Christ’s attitude of humility as we serve even in the absence of recognition. Everything we do should point back to Christ and His saving grace for the salvation of others. That is our most important purpose. All glory must ultimately go to Him and God the Father.

2012 Day 273 – Philippians 1

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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I love reading Paul’s letters to the early church. There is so much to digest in almost every verse. Chapter 1, verses 23-24 shows how dedicated Paul was to the church and how much he loved Jesus, 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. While Paul loved the church and genuinely loved people, his greatest desire was to be with Jesus in heaven. I think this points to Paul’s maturity and I can relate to it. When I was younger I was afraid that God would take me from this earth too early and I would miss out on too many things. Now that I’m older, I know being with God can not compare to any experience I could ever have in heaven. While I look forward to the way God chooses to use me for the rest of my life, I know my life will pale in comparison to the eternity I will experience with Christ in heaven.

2012 Day 272 – Psalm 123, 133

28 Friday Sep 2012

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Sorry for posting this a day late… Psalm 123:2 paints a great picture, As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. We are to look up to God and wait on His mercy and His timing. It is often times difficult to do it, but God’s plan is perfect.

2012 Day 271 – Psalm 25, 86

27 Thursday Sep 2012

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I am such an admirer of David for many reasons. In Psalm 86:7 we see how much confidence he has in God to deliver him, In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. We should see this passage as an example of how David approached God when he needed deliverance. David never questions God’s ability to do anything, much less His ability to take care of all his needs; including protecting Him from his enemies.