Read Through the Bible with Hillcrest

Day 332 (Tuesday) - Romans 1:16-5:11

2010-05-11T04:45:00.002-05:00

Paul starts in Romans with a reality that we all need to know. It is the reality that man is sinful and God is angered by sin. This idea of mans total depravity is the focus of many people but dwelling on it is not helpful in accepting that God has and will forgive us and accept us as righteous, without sin. Other people focus on the grace of God but dwelling on only that is not helpful in knowing that God hates sin and will punish it. It is a balance and an invitation. The truth of the matter is that those that reject God will find their reward but those that trust Him will also find theirs.

Day 331 (Monday) - Acts 27:9-28:31; Romans 1:1-15

2010-05-10T04:32:00.000-05:00

I’m excited to start the Book of Romans because it is one of the foundational books of the New Testament to help us understand Christ and his sacrificial work. The Book of Romans is primarily a work of doctrine and can be divided into four sections: righteousness needed, 1:18–3:20; righteousness provided, 3:21–8:39; righteousness vindicated, 9:1–11:36; righteousness practiced, 12:1–15:13. The main theme of this letter is obvious of course—righteousness. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul first condemns all men of their sinfulness. He expresses his desire to preach the truth of God’s Word to those in Rome. It was his hope to have assurance they were staying on the right path. He strongly points out that he is not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power by which everyone is saved.

Day 330 (Sunday) - Acts 23:26-27:8

2010-05-09T04:56:00.003-05:00

Paul will finally make it to Rome, just like God had told him. Once Paul gets there, the trail will grow cold. We have no idea, outside of tradition, as to what happened to Paul. Tradition says that Paul was beheaded in Rome, but we have no biblical or historical data to authenticate that claim. The end of Acts seems abrupt. We have followed Paul through all his trial and just before he goes before the council, it ends. Is there another ending or another lost work? Who knows?

Day 329 (Saturday) - Acts 21:1-23:25

2010-05-08T04:33:00.002-05:00

I find it inspiring that Paul is willing to risk everything by going to Jerusalem. I can hear people saying things like, “Don’t go because if you get jailed you will not be able to do more good in other areas or plant more churches.” But Paul has this great faith in God and knows that it is all in God’s hands in the first place. Paul is ready to die if he needs to. I wish I had that kind of faith all the time.

Day 328 (Friday) - Acts 19-20

2010-05-07T05:14:00.003-05:00

Paul’s preaching about Jesus in the city of Ephesus was starting to have a major impact on the community, not only on people receiving Christ but on the economy. That’s right, the preaching of Jesus was shutting down the city’s religious tourism and idol buying. The tradesmen were furious and wanted Paul to hit the road because he was affecting their businesses. It’s interesting that the issue wasn’t the loss of a god, but revenue from worshiping that god. I wonder how that correlates with the church today? Do we make decisions based on our worship of God or the revenue it generates?

Day 327 (Thursday) - Acts 16:11-18:28

2010-05-06T05:05:00.004-05:00

I love chapter 17! Paul was masterful at engaging people where they were to explain the truth about Christ. I think his tactics would be frowned upon in most churches today, but I believe he hit the nail on the head most of the time. Paul notices all the gods that people worshiped and they had one god for all the stuff they didn’t understand. Paul used that image to explain who that God was. The introduction to God caused many to seek God and many found him. Super Cool!

The picture above is a shrine to an unknown god that was found in Rome. It would have been just like the one Paul was talking about.

Day 326 (Wednesday) - Acts 14:1-16:10

2010-05-05T04:54:00.002-05:00

If you believe that church conflicts are something that the first church never experienced, you’d be dead wrong. There were major disagreements between major players in church leadership and we have one today with Peter and John-Mark. Paul did not want John-Mark to join him and Barnabas but Barnabas felt strongly that John-Mark should join them. Paul felt John-Marl lacked some form of commitment and that was his motivation for exclusion. The disagreement was so strong that Barnabas and John-Mark left Paul and Paul ended up going alone. One is a lonely number!

Day 325 (Tuesday) - Acts 12-13

2010-05-04T04:42:00.004-05:00

Religious relics are a rather interesting thing. One I’ve always found strange can be found at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains. Here is an excerpt from their web site.

The pious Eudocia, wife of Emperor Teodosio II, journeyed to Jerusalem and found the chain that had bound Peter during his second imprisonment. According to the Acts 12:6, an angel caused the chains to fall from Peter's hands and led him past slumbering guards to freedom.

The chain was eventually given as a gift to Pope St. Leo the Great (440-461). In Rome there was already a chain that was greatly prized which had bound the saint during his nine month imprisonment in the Mamertine Prison near the Forum. When the pope compared the two chains, they miraculously fused together into one unbreakable series of links. Because of this miracle, Empress Eudocia built the Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains, and dedicated it to the apostle in the year 442. The relic is now kept in a golden urn beneath the high altar, close to the famous statue of Michelangelo's Moses.

Day 324 (Monday) - Acts 9:23-11:30

2010-05-03T04:42:00.003-05:00

Peter, as the first pastor of the first church has one major message, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.” Peter goes on to say that this is the Good News. We hear about this Good News all the time in Christendom and the scriptures but it is here in 10:34 that Pastor Peter defines what the Good News is. All people in every country and every walk of life have the same access to God and the same deep love he has for all. That is Good News!

Day 323 (Sunday) - Acts 7:30-9:22

2010-05-02T05:09:00.002-05:00

Stephen was one of seven men who were selected a deacons in the church. He was preaching to the Jewish religious leaders in hope that they would receive the Good News about Christ when they dug him outside the city walls and threw stones at him until he died. Once the news made it to the church, their individual commitment and devotion to Christ was exposed. Persecution is a powerful event in the life of faith. It is interesting that the stronger the persecution the stronger the devotion of the church in the persecuted area. A persecuted church believes in what it is there for and is devoted to it. It could be that if persecution hit the western church, we would lose 90% but the remaining 10% might be the only church that was ever really there in the first place.

Day 322 (Saturday) - Acts 5:1-7:29

2010-05-01T04:44:00.003-05:00

Maybe I’m sick and twisted…ok, I am…but I love the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple tried to cheat God out of their tithe and they were struck dead right there in the church service. A few young men got the responsibility to carry out the corpses in the middle of the service (no one wants dead bodies lying around while church is going on). The next line says that the church was in great fear over the event…reeeaaaallllly! It sure does change the way you look at that little plate that passes by during the worship service. Our gifts are never to a church…they are to God and he apparently cares a lot about our hearts in the act of giving.

Day 321 (Friday) - Acts 2:14-4:37

2010-04-30T04:25:00.002-05:00

The first Christian sermon is delivered by the Pope…Pastor Peter. He lays out the basics of the Gospel plan and tells the hearers the “anyone who believes in Jesus can be saved”. This was a new idea because Judaism was exclusive and was not easily available to just any person. This new invitation was well received and those that accepted the message were over 3000 that first day…so the fist church was a mega church!

Day 320 (Thursday) - John 20-21; Acts 1:1-2:13

2010-04-29T04:51:00.003-05:00

The book of Acts is not really titled Acts, not that it really matters that much, but the proper title is Acts of the Apostles because it is the story of their acts. It is the beginning of life after Jesus’ sacrifice and the beginning of the church as we know it today. Acts is a text book on church structure, purpose and workings. The work of the apostles is an example to us and a challenge for the church of the 21st century. Buckle up because this is going to be a wild ride!

Day 319 (Wednesday) - John 17:14-19:42

2010-04-28T04:41:00.003-05:00

Did you know that we are to be one with each other as Jesus and God are one? Jesus and God are the same, though Jesus had a physical body. You and I are to be one…undivided…united. Are we? Sure we are! As Christians we never fight about anything. We always work to love each other and make sure our words build each other up and never tear each other down. We don’t argue about things like baptism, how people are saved or any other types of doctrine. Isn’t it great to be one? Oops! Let’s just skip over that verse…

Day 318 (Tuesday) - John 14:12-17:13

2010-04-27T04:49:00.003-05:00

What do you make of John 14:26? It’s a clear communication of the role of the Spirit in our lives. We are uncomfortable with the Spirit because we don’t know how we are to interact with him but he is the person of the Godhead that is most active and present with us as children of God. Do you see the work of the Spirit in your life? He is the one that reminds you of the truth and teachings of Christ. The more in tune you are with the Spirit, the more in tune you are with Christ.

Day 317 (Monday) - John 12:12-14:11

2010-04-26T04:31:00.003-05:00

I don’t like sacrifice any more than the next person but there is something about sacrifice that is more Christ-like than any other experience. Jesus said that the wheat must fall to the earth and die in order to spring to life more fruit. Jesus dies to bring us new life and we must die to resurrect something better. We don’t give up our lives very easily; we hold on to them and fight our way to the grave. What do you have to die to? What are you unwilling to let go of? What resurrection awaits your suffering?

Day 316 (Sunday) - John 10:19-12:11

2010-04-25T04:40:00.003-05:00

There is no more powerful example of God’s timing and our timing being different than the story of Lazarus’ death. It’s almost comical. Here a man dies that Jesus knows and the friends and family flock to Jesus to come. Instead of doing what they think he will do, dropping everything, he waits two more days! I would have been freaking out! Is Jesus going to come or should we bury the body? Will the smell go away even if Jesus resurrects him? Jesus has his timing and we have ours. I so do this!

Day 315 (Saturday) - John 8:21-10:18

2010-04-24T05:05:00.004-05:00

John 8 has a verse that means so much to me. Early in my adult Christian walk, I used to listen to Christian radio, not music, but teachers. I can remember listening to Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA. His radio broadcast is called Word for Today and his teachings helped me so much in those early years and if I hear him today on the radio, I’ll stick there to hear him again. At the beginning of each broadcast, the bumper music was a song called “If the Son Sets You Free” (you will be freed indeed). I can still hear that song and the message it contained. Thank God for the Chuck Smiths in the world and the truth of that song.

Day 314 (Friday) - John 6:52-8:20

2010-04-23T04:52:00.004-05:00

I love the story of the adulterous woman that Jesus forgives. I need that story because sometimes I’m the adulterous woman (the one who has sinned) and other times I’m the one who wants to call out the sin of others to take the focus off me and keep me busy with policing the world around me (also sin). I am forgiven and it is not my job to call out and identify the sin in others. I have enough work just working on me, than to have to work on everyone else as well!

Day 313 (Thursday) - John 4:39-6:51

2010-04-22T04:42:00.002-05:00

I’d like to offer a thought on 4:43-44. I was told early in my ministry that my most difficult ministry would be to those that knew me before I became a Christian or a Pastor. Because I was told this I believed it and because I believed it, I saw it. Any time I met resistance, I remembered that I will not be fruitful in my homeland and that I’d be better off somewhere else. I guess it’s true, but im not exactly sure that’s what Jesus wanted us to get from this. I still worked with a family member that was far from God and is now close. I still took the role as Lead Pastor when I was told the congregation would never accept me because I was just a lowly youth pastor…umm. Being a prophet at home might be difficult but the difficulty does not exempt you from it. I argue that some of the most rewarding fruit comes from your work at home.

Day 312 (Wednesday) - John 2:12-4:38

2010-04-21T04:33:00.004-05:00

By far, the most recognized passage in the entire Bible is John 3:16. You can see it on signs at football games and it is used more by teachers and pastors than any other scripture. In fact, many would say a presentation of the Gospel is incomplete without it. The problem is this, most people use this passage as a passage of condemnation, in other words, believe or else. I personally believe that 3:16 cannot and should not be used without verse 17 because verse 17 gives the context. We must be careful to not use verses alone but explain why God loved the world by giving Christ…it is because God did not come to condemn but to save. God’s gift is about his love for all.

Day 311 (Tuesday) - Luke 24:24-53; John 1:1-2:11

2010-04-20T04:28:00.002-05:00

The beginning of the book of John is most known for the teaching that God became human in the person of Jesus. This is not an easy teaching because of our lack of understanding outside our reality. We live in space and time, but God is separate. When we think of God coming in the form of a man we can’t help but think of God in that same time/space reality. If God is here, how can he still be there? 100% man but 100% God makes 200%...it’s confusing. We need to remember that we do not understand God or his reality at the depth necessary to put the truth that “God came as a man” into a neat little package.

Day 310 (Monday) - Luke 22:47-24:23

2010-04-19T05:06:00.003-05:00

There were Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests and Scribes but the governing body for the Jews was the Sanhedrin. It was made up of the Jerusalem nobility and Jews from each of these camps. Throughout history, their power and influence changed as the Jewish, Roman and Greek governance changed and allowed the Sanhedrin to function. During Jesus’ days, it held great power but when Herod the Great was in power, he had the entire Sanhedrin executed and held the replacement council in a tight grip during his reign.

Day 309 (Sunday) - Luke 21:10-22:46

2010-04-18T04:59:00.003-05:00

An interesting fact about the Last Supper is that the main focus of the meal (Passover Meal) was the Lamb. The Passover lamb would be sacrificed and the family would eat it at the meal. There is no mention of this lamb at the Last Supper and once the Temple was destroyed 30 years later, all Jewish Passover Meals were absent the lamb because sacrifices were no longer possible. They would, and still do, put a roasted lamb bone on the plate to remind them that the Temple is still missing.

Day 308 (Saturday) - Luke 19:28-21:9

2010-04-17T04:47:00.003-05:00

Jesus doesn’t seem to ever pull any punches when it comes to the religious leaders and teachers of his day. He is sharp with his truth about their intentions as well as their hypocrisy. As I look at the church today, I see many of the same issues and I suspect that it has always been that way in every generation. I am part of the problem. Some days it seems so clear and I know what I need to do and then the next day I become complacent and lethargic with the convictions of some other time.

Day 307 (Friday) - Luke 17:1-19:27

2010-04-16T04:33:00.003-05:00

What is life about? Why are you even here? Is there any purpose for you taking up the precious oxygen from the rest of us? Have you done anything with your life? Do you have a good reason for getting out of bed? Would anyone miss you if you were gone? If you died today, what would God say to you? I resonate with the text today and the question that come from the persistent widow, the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus. Today I turn 40 and the questions above are my questions. I want to work hard at getting it right. I want to be willing to give up everything to pursue God. I want to climb to the top of the tree because not only will I see Jesus, but he will see me!

Day 306 (Thursday) - Luke 14:12-16:31

2010-04-15T05:00:00.002-05:00

After Jesus teaches about the Shrewd Manager he makes some comments about who can be trusted with little and who can be trusted with much. So, if God does not give us greater responsibilities until we pass the little tests it shows us two things. First, it shows us God is interested in our performance and sees it. Secondly, it shows us what is important to God. Some have been frustrated with the Ted Haggard, Jimmy Swaggard and Jim Bakker types, who have so much but lead a double life, not following the call of God for the Kingdom. I’m not so sure God is interested in the kingdoms these men were building; I believe God has much greater tasks that will never envelope a 100,000 square foot facility or have tens of thousands in attendance. What can you be trusted with?

Day 305 (Wednesday) - Luke 12:13-14:11

2010-04-14T04:46:00.003-05:00

Jesus spends quite a bit of time teaching us that we should not worry. For me, worry seems to be a fact of life. I worry about if I worry too much! The reason I worry is I want a life of easy with very little suffering. I want to fulfill my dreams and I want to be liked by everyone! This is in complete conflict with the life of a Christ follower. I might do better if I started worrying about those things and started worrying less about my twisted ideas of God’s provincial care over my life.

Day 304 (Tuesday) - Luke 10:17-12:12

2010-04-13T15:46:00.000-05:00

The focus of the Good Samaritan is on the commandment Jesus gave to love your neighbor and to explain through the parable who your neighbor is. Who is your neighbor? A true neighbor is one who is willing to look past the differences that traditionally divide us and to love unconditionally and without prejudice. So how are you doing?

Day 303 (Monday) - Luke 8:26-10:16

2010-04-12T09:04:00.001-05:00

In Christian circles, it seems the conversion is always the main goal and though this is a good goal, it is not always lived out properly. Because churches want to sell Christianity, they preach easy messages of health and wealth or emphasize grace in contrast with nothing. The problem is that the life of a Christian is anything but easy…it’s hard and may cost you everything that is important to you. Job lost his family and suffered. Stephen was stoned for proclaiming Christ. John the Baptist lost his head for serving God exactly like God called him to. There is a cost for following Jesus, but to preach that would mean less money in the offering plates and isn’t that what it’s really about?

Day 302 (Sunday) - Luke 6:27-8:25

2010-04-11T09:04:00.001-05:00

The sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with the “one year’s wage” perfume, is a powerful story. The woman is in the room because uninvited guests were regularly allowed to stand on the sidelines and listen to the conversations of influential guests. The problem is this is a sinful woman and her sinfulness (probably prostitution) disgraces the room. Sometimes I feel like the outsider listening in on what God is up to. It is in those moments I need to remember that God will accept me, just the way I am.

Day 301 (Saturday) - Luke 4:1-6:26

2010-04-10T09:03:00.001-05:00

One of the great distinctions about Jesus and other Rabbis or teachers of religious law is that he offered forgiveness. This became a point of contention for those that wanted to silence Jesus and squelch his influence. Jesus is God and only God can forgive. God willingly forgave people and that forgiveness is still as relevant today as it was then, We all need forgiveness today and thank God it’s here in Jesus.

Day 300 (Friday) - Luke 2-3

2010-04-09T09:02:00.001-05:00

Angels are interesting parts of God’s creation that we know very little about. There are a lot of thoughts about angels and the way we think of them is based more on fiction than biblical certainty. For instance, cherubim are not chubby little babies with wings, they were powerful and frightening to look at (see picture above). Here in the early chapters of Luke, we see an angel named Gabriel. Gabriel is one of only two angels that are mentioned by name, the other one is Michael. Gabriel had the job of explaining the vision of 70 weeks concerning the coming of the messiah back in Daniel 9:24-27 and now he as the job of announcing the birth of that Messiah!

Day 299 (Thursday) - Mark 16; Luke 1

2010-04-08T05:13:00.001-05:00

The shorter and longer endings in Mark are troublesome. They are hard for people to understand because the truth can make them question more than the issue in Mark. If you will remember a few days back, I said that the shortest manuscripts are the most accurate. That is because over time, people add to them. This is not to add more story or false events, but people add to commentate and help explain passages. At some point, we lose what was commentary and what was original to the writer.

In Mark, the ending was originally part of the best and shortest manuscripts but since then, we have found even older ones and they don’t have the ending at all. The shorter the better. But because this rattles so many people, they keep it in there with a footnote but truth be told we should ditch the last verses.

Day 298 (Wednesday) - Mark 14:12-15:47

2010-04-07T04:23:00.001-05:00

When Peter denies Jesus it should make us gasp. Peter was the one who was always so confident. He was the one who always took a stand. He had the strength and personality to take on all of Rome with a dagger! But when Jesus needed him the most, he clamed up. I find there are times I feel uncomfortable being a follower of Jesus. I am ashamed at those moments and wish I could just overcome them. In some small way, I know how Peter felt that terrible night.

Day 297 (Tuesday) - Mark 12:13-14:11

2010-04-06T05:12:00.002-05:00

The widows offering is one of the most touching stories in Mark. The woman actually gave all she had. She gave up her security for God. She gave up her judgment, by giving to a corrupt priesthood. She gave up all of herself…and Jesus noticed.

I like to give out of my surplus and not so much out of what I think I need. My definition of need is probably 99% want anyway. I need to take steps to move closer to being like this widow. What great faith!

Day 296 (Monday) - Mark 10:13-12:12

2010-04-05T04:31:00.002-05:00

It’s a short three verses but I’ve always like the story of the fig tree that did not have fruit on it when Jesus wanted a snack, and the tree wasn’t even supposed to have fruit during that time of year! On the surface it seems like Jesus is abusing his power a bit, as if he is irritated that the tree didn’t satisfy him so he just cursed it so it would never produce again.

Mark isn’t trying to tell his audience that Jesus was angered at not having figs to eat — this would be very strange, given that he would have known that it was far too early in the year for that. Instead, Jesus is making a larger point about Jewish religious traditions. Specifically: it was not the time for Jewish leaders to “bear fruit,” and therefore they would be cursed by God never to bear any fruit ever again.

Thus, instead of merely cursing and killing a lowly fig tree, Jesus is saying that Judaism itself is cursed and will die off — “dry up at the roots,” as a later passage explains when the disciples see the tree the next day

Day 295 (Sunday) - Mark 8:1-10:12

2010-04-04T04:13:00.003-05:00

So, what’s your take on Jesus having to heal the blind man twice? Did Jesus mess up? Did he lack some ability? Why a partial healing? Many people have speculated on why this happened. Some say it was an issue with the man, others say it was an illustration of the previous events and the questions he asked his disciple (kind of like an object lesson) and others say it was two miracles, one to fix the eyes and one to fix the brain. What do you think?

Day 294 (Saturday) - Mark 6-7

2010-04-03T04:10:00.002-05:00

What a way to go…lose your head at a birthday party. After all John the Baptist did and all he did to prepare the people for Jesus, he loses his head in a dumb power struggle between the king’s wife and the followers of John. Honestly, I think this death is unbecoming of John. I would prefer if he died standing up for something like Stephen did. This death almost comes across silly when you read it. Oh well, God has yet to consult me on how things should go so I guess I should just keep my mouth shut.

Day 293 (Friday) - Mark 4-5

2010-04-02T05:09:00.002-05:00

You are probably noticing a lot of the same stories. You might think they should all be word for word. If they were, that would be troubling because these are supposed to be different accounts of the same events. We should see one account focus on one aspect and another account to not even mention that event and focus on a whole different angle. By far, my favorite demon casting story is here at the start of chapter 5. I love the image of these pigs running off the cliff possessed with demons. I can still remember the felt board lesson when I was just knee high to a grass hopper.

Day 292 (Thursday) - Mark 1-3

2010-04-01T05:19:00.001-05:00

A new day and a new book. I like Mark because it’s short and to the point. I usually suggest people start with Mark when they pick up the Bible for the first time. One of the interesting facts about reliability in the text is that the shorter the book, the more reliable it is. Many ancient manuscripts have had commentary added to it to help people understand it, Over time, it becomes unclear what is original and what is commentary. Mark is short and pure. I hope you enjoy this read as much as I do.

Day 291 (Wednesday) - Matthew 26:69-28:20

2010-03-31T05:08:00.001-05:00

No matter how many times I read this passage, it strikes a place deep within me. It could be because of the vivid images the movie Passion of the Christ impressed in my soul, but none the less, it’s hard. Jesus loves us and these pages tell the reality of that love. It’s amazing how these dates just happen to line up with Holy Week 2010.

Day 290 (Tuesday) - Matthew 25:14-26:68

2010-03-30T04:02:00.001-05:00

Does it scare you that someone so close to Jesus, his teaching and his miracles could decide to betray Jesus for some cash? I mean if someone so close to Jesus could do that, what about me? And then to read that Peter…the Rock…denied Jesus when Jesus needed him the most. What hope do I have at being the man Jesus called me to be. It’s humbling to know that he loves us and still chooses us even though he knows we will fail him

Day 289 (Monday) - Matthew 23:1-25:13

2010-03-29T19:07:00.001-05:00

As Jesus’ death came near, he continued to tell people about who he was through parables. He wanted people to know that he was the Messiah and that he would set up his Kingdom. No one seemed to get it. His disciple seemed to get it every once in a while, but they would say something stupid and prove that they never really had it in the first place. It must have been a frustrating time for Jesus. I wonder how much confusion about Jesus has changed over the years?

Day 288 (Sunday) - Matthew 21-22

2010-03-28T19:07:00.001-05:00

If there is a passage about Jesus that I think gets the most attention for the strangest of reasons, it has to be the clearing of the Temple. People who have a hard time controlling their anger or lash out at others love to quote that Jesus got angry and physically turned over tables and threw the money changers out. The difference is Jesus was God and we are not. When we put ourselves in the God category, we can justify bombing abortion clinics and starting Christian militias to take back our country or cleanse the world of some race that’s different than ours. It’s ridiculous!

Day 287 (Saturday) - Matthew 17:14-20:34

2010-03-27T19:06:00.001-05:00

I love in Matthew 20, the Parable of the Vineyard Workers. It’s a great reminder to me that fairness is not godliness. I like things to be fair. The thing I need to remember is that the gifts only come from God and he can give whatever he wants to whomever whenever he pleases. None of us deserve anything but God gives each of us better than we deserve. So who are we to complain about what God has done for one person vs. another?

Day 286 (Friday) - Matthew 14:13-17:13

2010-03-26T19:06:00.001-05:00

There are some very popular Jesus events in our reading today; the feeding of the 5000 as well as the lesser known feeding of the 4000. But I want to point out something we don’t really talk a lot about. This is the second time that Jesus has been asked to show a miraculous sign to prove who he is and Jesus points to Jonah. Did you have any idea that the events that took place when you read Jonah were to become a backdrop for Jesus death and resurrection. Some scholars believe that the book of Jonah is uncovering much more than first meets the eye.

Day 285 (Thursday) - Matthew 12:22-14:12

2010-03-25T19:05:00.001-05:00

Would you like to know a secret about Jesus’ teaching? Unless Jesus makes his parables completely clear by the content or explanation, much of the application is guess work…educated guess work but still guess work. Jesus says a lot of hard stuff. He wants us to see things and this side of eternity it is very difficult. Don’t freak out or feel like you’re not cutting the mustard if you don’t always understand every word, story or chapter in the bible, just work on the things you do understand. That will take a lifetime in itself!

Day 284 (Wednesday) - Matthew 10:16-12:21

2010-03-24T19:03:00.001-05:00

I have said it before but John the Baptist is my favorite Bible character. He was a relative of Jesus and he knew his own role as the one who God called to prepare the way for the Messiah and he knew Jesus was the Messiah. What is so striking is how deep the idea of a military Messiah was. People expected the Messiah to form an army and rebel against the Roman’s and defeat them. John the Baptist knows better but he just has to ask. Are you really the Messiah or should we be looking for someone else.

Don’t we say this to Jesus ever time things don’t go our way? Are you real or did I miss it somewhere?

Day 283 (Tuesday) - Matthew 8:1-10:15

2010-03-23T19:03:00.001-05:00

Jesus is doing a lot of healing in these passages and answering clarifying questions as to who he is and what his ministry is about. It is so obvious that people as a whole don’t understand Jesus and I think that still the norm today. The more religious the person, the harder it is for that person to hear the teaching of Jesus. We love to look down on other from a top our high horses, but following Jesus will destroy that form of self gratification and pride. Jesus didn’t come for those that don’t want him, he came for those that do…do you?

Day 282 (Monday) - Matthew 5-7

2010-03-22T19:02:00.001-05:00

The Gospel According to Matthew, or as it has been shortened to; Matthew, is a good choice to be the first book in the New Testament. Mark was probably written before Matthew but Matthew has that beautiful genealogy that links the Old Testaments with the New. It shows how God has been working and continues to work. The book is for the Jews as it shows how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecy. It has details about Jesus’ life that none of the other gospels contain. Its style and vocabulary make it a great book for public reading and has been used in the church over the millennia more than any other.

Day 281 (Sunday) - Matthew 1-4

2010-03-21T19:01:00.001-05:00

Well, you did it, you read the entire Old Testament! This is no small feat. Only a small percentage of Christians have done what you just did. In fact, here’s a post from an theist blog:

What percent of "Christians" do you think have read the entire Bible?

I will remember at the first meeting of a atheists & agnostics club at the university I went to, we were introducing ourselves and we were supposed to tell the story of becoming skeptics and this one guy said. "I was a good Christian until I finally got around to reading the Bible." Everyone laughed because we knew how true that was. I have read the Bible cover to cover five times and bits and pieces of it constantly. I love being able to quote more scripture than the fundies.

I seriously think that if every "Christian" had to read the entire Bible for themselves, about half of them would lose their faith.

This is NOT a Christian bashing thread. There are many, many Christians who I respect and have a deep, philosophical understanding of the ancient scrolls. My real beef is with the Sunday School Christians and the Pick & Choose scriptures of the Fundies.

Well Bible reader...what do you have to say? Is your faith intact?

Day 280 (Saturday) - Zechariah 14; Malachi

2010-03-20T03:55:00.002-05:00

Malachi is joked about being the Italian prophet, but in all seriousness, he is the last book in the order of the Authorized Version and 12th of the books of the Minor Prophets. Its title Malachi is taken from the opening verse of chapter 3 and means "my messenger." On internal evidence the book, a collection of prophetic oracles, is usually dated 460 BC, shortly before the reforms of Nehemiah and Ezra. After a protestation of God's love for Israel, the prophet rebukes the priests for their negligence and the people for their foreign marriages. Finally, there is a prophecy of the coming Day of Judgment, anticipated by the appearance of a messenger and the reappearance of Elijah.

Day 279 (Friday) - Zechariah 8-13

2010-03-19T04:55:00.002-05:00

The purpose of this book is not strictly historical but theological and pastoral. The main emphasis is that God is at work and plans to live again with His people in Jerusalem. He will save them from their enemies and cleanse them from sin.

Zechariah's concern for purity is apparent in the temple, priesthood and all areas of life as the prophecy gradually eliminates the influence of the governor in favor of the high priest, and the sanctuary becomes ever more clearly the centre of messianic fulfillment. The prominence of prophecy is quite apparent in Zechariah, but it is also true that Zechariah (along with Haggai) allows prophecy to yield to the priesthood; this is particularly apparent in comparing Zechariah to "Third Isaiah" (chapters 55–66 of the Book of Isaiah whose author was active sometime after the first return from exile.

Day 278 (Thursday) - Zechariah 1:12-7:14

2010-03-18T05:14:00.002-05:00

I know your reading for this was yeasterday, but I thought I'd give you some feedback on the book before we jump to the next prophet. Haggai is dated at 520 BC, it is a collection of five oracles addressed to Jews, newly returned from the Babylonian exile. The prophet summons the people to renew work on the restoration of the Temple as the necessary prerequisite for the imminent dawning of the messianic age—the time when the splendor of the Solomonic empire will be reestablished under the earthly rule of a Davidic monarch. The book is addressed to the leader Zerubbabel , a Davidic prince, and the high priest Joshua, saying that the new Temple will be less in material splendor than Solomon's, but its glory will be greater. The book concludes with a Messianic prophecy about Zerubbabel's divine purpose, the imminent overthrow of the nations, and the dawning of the rule of God. For an account of the rebuilding program, see chapters 5 and 6 of the Book of Ezra.

Day 277 (Wednesday) - Zephaniah 1:14-3:20; Haggai; Zechariah 1:1-11

2010-03-17T03:54:00.003-05:00

Zephaniah is the prophet, who lived in the reign (640-609 BC) of King Josiah of Judah, traces his genealogy to King Hezekiah . Zephaniah denounces Judah for idolatry, luxury, and for presuming on God's protection. The Day of the Lord, the prophet announces, will bring doom on Judah's people and on the nations. However, the book ends with a prediction of salvation and the return from captivity of a remnant of Israel. One oracle in chapter 3, a picture of restored Jerusalem, is almost certainly a post-exilic addition.

Day 276 (Tuesday) - Nahum 3; Habakkuk; Zephaniah 1:1-13

2010-03-16T04:23:00.001-05:00

Habakkuk is a collection of oracles, perhaps three in number, delivered against the backdrop of the Babylonian threat to Judah in 600 BC. The first—a dialogue between the prophet and God—asks how God can remain silent when the wicked prosper. God's reply is to assure the prophet that his purposes will not fail though they seem long in coming to pass. The second oracle is an indictment of the arrogant and rapacious. The third, in which Habakkuk praises God, is a liturgical psalm. It anticipates the fulfillment of divine purposes regarding the salvation of his people. An interesting fact is that a commentary on the book of Habakkuk was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Day 275 (Monday) - Micah 4-7; Nahum 1-2

2010-03-15T03:53:00.001-05:00

Did you realize how little we know of these Minor Prophets? Many people suspect that since a particular writer made it into the Scriptures that there must be some level of notoriety that accompanies their inclusion, but that’s just not the case. Nahum is another prophet we know nothing about. We do know about the city Nineveh and it should remind you of the story we just read in Jonah except this time they will be destroyed. Another interesting fact is that this is an acrostic psalm, meaning each line starts with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This is lost in English translations but is very evident in a Hebrew copy. Not all of the letters are included so we could have some missing text in this book.

Day 274 (Sunday) - Obadiah 1:10-21; Jonah; Micah 1-3

2010-03-14T04:52:00.001-05:00

The story of Jonah is well known to many people, even those that have never attended church or read the story. It’s application is clear…how often do we run away from God and what he wants of us? Our running never turns out very well, just like Jonah.

Jonah has also taken a lot of hits as to whether it is fact or fiction. I have always allowed myself to question, but after much thought and study, I have no problem with the validity of the story. Jesus seems to have no problem with it in Mathew 12. One thing that helped me was when I discovered that neither Greek nor Hebrew have a word to distinguish between a fish and a whale and if a whale is possible, this story is more than plausible.

The irony for me is when people use this story to give themselves license to disbelieve what God says in the Scriptures. It sounds like they use the story of Jonah to be a kind of Jonah of their own!

Day 273 (Saturday) - Amos 5-9; Obadiah 1:1-9

2010-03-13T04:52:00.003-06:00

We know very little about the prophet Obediah or the date of the book but the message is very clear.

There is a long history of enmity between Edom and Israel. The sad thing is that the two nations originated out of two brothers—Esau and Jacob. The hostility began in an argument over the birthright, but during the time of Obadiah it centered around trade routes. The kings highway (show on map) ran all the way from Damascus to Egypt. Whoever controlled the highway, controlled the flow of goods and became wealthy.

The book is written at a time when Edom helped an enemy attack Jerusalem and Edom took the opportunity to take over control of part of the Negev. Edom should have been Judah’s ally, instead they encouraged the Babylonians. Obadiah is writing to show that God is going to judge Edom for what she has done.

Day 272 (Friday) - Joel 2:18-3:21; Amos 1-4

2010-03-12T05:11:00.002-06:00

I love the book of Amos because he is a regular guy and I can relate to that.

Sometimes we think we are a "just-a"! We are just-a salesman, teacher or housewife. Amos would be considered a "just-a." He wasn't a prophet or priest or the son of either. He was just a shepherd, a small businessman in Judah. Who would listen to him? But instead of making excuses, Amos obeyed and became God's powerful voice for change.

God has used "just-a's" such as shepherds, carpenters, and fishermen all through the Bible. Whatever you are in this life, God can use you. Amos wasn't much. He was a "just-a." "Just-a" servant for God. It is good to be God's "just-a."

Day 271 (Thursday) - Hosea 10-14; Joel 1:1-2:17

2010-03-11T04:50:00.001-06:00

Joel is an interesting book for a few reasons. Fist off, we don’t know anything about this prophet. We have his fathers name and that’s it. There is no other mention of him in the Old Testament, which brings us to the other interesting fact; we have no idea when it was written. The book leaves us very few clues for dating it. The only clue is that Joel mentions and knows about the “Day of the Lord” so he must have been familiar with Isaiah, Amos and Ezekiel, but that is just an assumption.

A huge plague of locusts is coming and the darkness of the locusts against the sun characterizes the darkness of the day. Repent, repent, repent!

Day 270 (Wednesday) - Hosea 4-9

2010-03-10T05:50:00.001-06:00

God has many charges against Israel.

1. Lack of knowledge about God
2. Breaking Vows
3. Murder
4. Theft
5. Adultery
6. False Worship
7. Idol Worship

These charges have real consequences.

1. Land Mourns
2. People waste away
3. Animals, birds and fish disappear
4. Sin increases
5. Drought and Famine

When I look at the two lists, I see many similarities in our world today. Our culture lives as if there is no God and no consequences for our actions. If I’m honest, I do as well. When I read through the Old Testament, I get so frustrated with the stupidity of the people, always turning from God. It’s very easy to point to the issues of others. When I take inventory of my life, I find that my pattern looks very much the same as Israel’s.

Day 269 (Tuesday) - Daniel 11:14-12:13; Hosea 1-3

2010-03-09T06:50:00.004-06:00

One of the most shocking stories in the Minor Prophets is the story of Hosea. Again and again, God asks his prophets to endure terrible and uncomfortable experiences to illustrate what “we” are doing to God. God starts off asking Hosea to marry a prostitute so that he will experience her cheating on him and bearing children through the act of prostitution. It is in this way we are to see how our actions are similar to God. When we turn against God and turn to materialism, comfort, power or any other god, we are like the prostitute bearing children through that horrible act. Can you imagine that?

Day 268 (Monday) - Daniel 7:13-11:13

2010-03-08T04:08:00.004-06:00

Many of the prophecies in the book of Daniel have a macro and a micro aspect to them. There are events that are going to happen during Daniel’s day and connected events that will happen during the end of days. It’s like the antichrist. This is a specific person, prophesied in Revelation and here in Daniel 7. Now think of Hitler…does he fit the image? You bet! But since he is dead and the totality of the events of the end times didn’t happen, maybe he wasn’t the antichrist. 1 John helps us out,”1 John 2:18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.” Some of these events have and are happening on a smaller scale, but they will come to full fruition at the end of days.

Day 267 (Sunday) - Daniel 4:28-7:12

2010-03-07T05:06:00.002-06:00

I love the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity. I can still remember hearing this story in Sunday School when I was about 8 years old. I could picture his arrogance as he looked over his kingdom and then I would picture a metamorphosis (probably inspired by the 1970 hit series “The Hulk”). I could picture his hair growing out and his nails twisting as they slowly extended from his crooked fingers. He starts to hunch over and then there is a bolt of lightning as he finches with that evil “I’m going to take over the world” laugh that every evil villain used on the Justice League.

Do we need God or have we done everything on our own. Do we give him token credit or are we willing to let it all go because we know everything is his and he can replenish our storehouses if he wants to or not?

Day 266 (Saturday) - Daniel 2:31-4:27

2010-03-06T04:06:00.005-06:00

Daniel turns out to be quite the dream interpreter. He is able to interpret the King’s strange statue dream. A little history work and we can uncover the nations of the statue. The gold is the Babylonian Empire (that’s the easy one), the silver chest and arms are the Medo-Persian Empire, the bronze belly and thighs are the Greek Empire, the iron legs are the Roman Empire and the iron/clay feet is the revived Roman Empire at the second coming of Christ.

Day 265 (Friday) - Ezekiel 48; Daniel 1:1-2:30

2010-03-05T05:05:00.002-06:00

Daniel was deported from Jerusalem to Babylon and wrote to the Jews in exile. It is a book of piety but also a book of prophecy. Much of this book is connected to the book of Revelation. Right off the bat we see Daniel and his three friends make some dietary choices as not to violate God’s laws. They are only allowed this if they can prove that they can still be strong. The young men surpassed all of the others!

Day 264 (Thursday) - Ezekiel 44-47

2010-03-04T04:05:00.002-06:00

Having been to Israel, I went to the Dead Sea and got into the water. Because of the high salt content, you just float. You don’t try to float, you just float. The sea is a “dead” sea because there is no life in it. The third temple will have a river running from it that will flow into the Dead Sea and make it fresh and filled with life. You better book your trip now if you want to experience the “float”.

Day 263 (Wednesday) - Ezekiel 41-43

2010-03-03T05:04:00.002-06:00

The Temple described to Ezekiel in the vision has never been built. The There are jews who believe it will be built by the Messiah when he comes (they are right but they don’t know it’s Jesus)! The Temple Institute has constructed the temple walls and all of the instruments and is awaiting access to the temple Mount. Some “end timers” believe that the building of the Temple will happen just prior to the return of Christ.

Day 262 (Tuesday) - Ezekiel 38:10-40:49

2010-03-02T05:04:00.002-06:00

Gog? Yes, Gog. Who is Gog you might ask? Well, no one knows. It is a mystery that scholars and archeologists have yet to uncover. It seems like we should know something about this since it is such a big deal but it is either some form of imagery or the details of the event are lost or buried in some tell somewhere. Your guess is as good as anyone.

Day 261 (Monday) - Ezekiel 34:25-38:9

2010-03-01T04:03:00.002-06:00

The dry bones passage in chapter 37 is a favorite of many readers. It is strange on its own but beautiful in context. Israel is destroyed, the Temple is decimated and the people are carried off into slavery…how could God’s prophecy of a restored nation ever become a reality? It is illustrated through the dry bones. As the prophecy is spoken, the bones revive. If Israel will ever find her former glory, it will be at the hand and power of God.

Day 260 (Sunday) - Ezekiel 32:1-34:24

2010-02-28T05:02:00.002-06:00

We have been through a lot of judgment for the last few weeks of reading. Today we get a break from the judgment and we return to the blessing that God promised his people long ago through the covenant he made with Abraham. Blessing will return to Israel and as this happens, the nations will be blessed. It is ion these beautiful chapters that the Messiah is explained as the shepherd that will care for and protect God’s people.

Day 259 (Saturday) – Ezekiel 28:11-31:18

2010-02-27T05:02:00.004-06:00

God had business to do with Egypt because Egypt came to the aid of Judah. God used Babylon to defeat Egypt at home and take her wealth but the final blow would come from God when Egypt would be taken into exile with Judah.

Day 258 (Friday) - Ezekiel 25:1-28:10

2010-02-26T04:01:00.001-06:00

It is not just the people of Israel that God notices. He also notices the surrounding nations and their sin as well. And it’s not just people groups but individuals he notices. I find it fascinating that God calls out the King of Tyre and his issues with pride. The king is so prideful he believes that he is a god. As a result, his death would be ‘custom” made just for him.

Day 257 (Thursday) - Ezekiel 22:13-24:27

2010-02-25T05:01:00.002-06:00

Are you a little red in the face after reading chapter 23? Seriously, I don’t know why this book doesn’t get more attention. You can’t make this stuff up! It’s steamier than a daytime soap! Now let me bring you mind back to the reality that this is how God feels about his people. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I were married to one of these sisters or if they were one of my daughters. What grief God must feel when we follow other gods and fulfill our lusts with the things of this world.

Day 256 (Wednesday) - Ezekiel 20:18-22:12

2010-02-24T04:00:00.001-06:00

These next few chapters outline the sin of Israel. From the exile in Egypt to the current condition, God has always been there for the people but the people continue to turn from God. We would be foolish to think this pattern is over…it can’t be. Where are we in the history of God’s people? If a book of the bible were focused on your life, how would it read? This is not just something for these people long ago, it is for us today.

Day 255 (Tuesday) - Ezekiel 16:44-20:17

2010-02-23T05:00:00.001-06:00

Chapter 18 is a powerful chapter but it is defiantly one of hope. Sin is punished and the punishment goes to the one who committed the sin. The tree people in the story show who are responsible but it also shows repentance. At any time, god’s people could turn from their wicked ways and return to God. God is a God of mercy. He does not enjoy the punishments of the wicked. His hope is that all would turn to him.

Day 254 (Monday) - Ezekiel 13:1-16:43

2010-02-22T04:59:00.002-06:00

What kind of wood are we? Chapter 15 is short but it is a powerful parable. If it wasn’t for the fruit, a grape vine would have no value except to burn. God wants our lives to have fruit. Following Christ should change the way we do life and that should bring fruit. If we have no fruit, we might as well burn up.

Day 253 (Sunday) - Ezekiel 9-12

2010-02-21T04:51:00.000-06:00

Don’t be afraid of the Men in Black; be afraid of the men in white with pencils! What a wild story. Every person who does not think that the sin is detestable was marked on the forehead and killed, women and children alike. God seriously cares about the condition of our hearts. It’s not about what we say or what we do as much as it’s what we are.

Day 252 (Saturday) - Ezekiel 3-8

2010-02-20T05:32:00.003-06:00

You have got to love chapter 4! What a crazy chapter. Many times God uses his prophets in a suffering way, to show the severity of the coming judgment. Poor Ezekiel is told to make a Lego model, tie yourself up, place a Foreman Grill on your side, eat gross bread cooked over human waste and do it for 430 days! Super, when do I start? Let us NEVER complain when God asks us to do something. Oh, I almost forgot, cut off all your hair and wear some, cut some up and burn some. Cool!

Day 251 (Friday) - Lamentations 3:52-5:22; Ezekiel 1-2

2010-02-19T05:23:00.004-06:00

The book of Ezekiel is one of the least read books of the bible because it is filled with symbols and visions. It is a kaleidoscope of images, from wheels in the sky to dry bones. Interpretation can be difficult but to miss out on this book is to miss out on one of the great literary and spiritual masterpieces of the Old Testament

Day 250 (Thursday) - Lamentations 1:1-3:51

2010-02-18T05:12:00.003-06:00

Lamentations is a book that sticks real close to the title. It’s a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people. Tradition says that Jeremiah wrote the book and that is a real possibility but it is impossible to tell from the text itself. Jeremiah is in a strange place because he has been vindicated but the vindication came at the price of total destruction. Lamentations is a great title for this work.

Day 249 (Wednesday) - Jeremiah 51:11-52:34

2010-02-17T05:05:00.003-06:00

Well, there has been a lot of build up and it actually happened. Jerusalem fell and the Temple was desecrated. All the instruments of worship were taken away and most likely melted down for used in making idols. All seems to be lost…repentance will not save Jerusalem now. The days of exile have begun again like the days of Egypt. I think God has their full attention…too bad it took all of this to get it.

Day 248 (Tuesday) - Jeremiah 49:1-51:10

2010-02-16T04:56:00.003-06:00

In chapter 50, God predicted that Babylon would fall. It happened in 539 B.C. Since Jeremiah didn’t mention King Cyrus of Persia (the one who fell Babylon) many scholars and none biblical scholars note that these oracles actually took place prior to the fall and accurately tell of the unbelievable fall of Babylon. The fall was so great that the unhappy people of Babylon helped bring about its end.

Day 247 (Monday) - Jeremiah 46-48

2010-02-15T04:48:00.003-06:00

The nations seemed to be untouchable at one time but God has turned the tabled. He is the mighty one and all the efforts of the nations will fail in comparison to God’s will and plan. He might allow them to have their way with Israel for a time but they should not mistake this for God being on their side. They will get theirs and this is the prophecy of these chapters.

Day 246 (Sunday) - Jeremiah 41:11-45:5

2010-02-14T05:35:00.003-06:00

Predestination is a curious philosophical and theological discussion. In chapter 43 we see that God had destined some for death, others for captivity and others for war. We all have a destiny and God knows what that destiny is. I believe it’s all for good, but our choices can change that destiny. You may be destined for one thing and you could choose to step off a cliff one day and change that destiny.

Day 245 (Saturday) – Jeremiah 37:1-41:10

2010-02-13T05:27:00.003-06:00

It doesn’t get any easier for Jeremiah does it? The poor guy is so despised that they decide he must be killed to keep him for speaking his prophecies and lowering the moral of the people. They put him in the bottom of a well and leave him there to die. It’s not much hope when he is rescued just to go back into the prison he came from.

I find that many people try to shut out God’s voice in their life when they are living in a way they know displeases him. Instead of changing their life, they try to shut off their compass of right and wrong. It’s like the person who’s having and affair and goes to the doctor for depression. It’s not drugs you need…it’s fidelity!

Day 244 (Friday) - Jeremiah 34-36

2010-02-12T05:18:00.003-06:00

The Recabites are an interesting group of people. They maintained a nomadic order for over 200 years in obedience to what their ancestor, Jehonadab had commanded. As a result they were looked upon favorable. The nomadic lifestyle allowed them to rely on God more and lessened the temptations that came with infrastructure. Think about it, it would take great faith to step out and trust God for you food that day and every other need you have.

Day 243 (Thursday) - Jeremiah 31:21-33:26

2010-02-11T05:09:00.003-06:00

The buying of the land is a curious thing. Even though the land would be taken by the Babylonians, the jar will contain the deed waiting the day when the people will return to the land…when they do, the jar will be a testimony of God’s promise to bring the people back. We don’t know if 17 shekels were a fair price but it amounted to 1 1/2 years of a wage.

Day 242 (Wednesday) - Jeremiah 28:1-31:20

2010-02-10T04:53:00.003-06:00

Do you think you could do the work God had for Jeremiah? He is always in danger and God asks him to do some things that were just weird! From hair cutting to not allowing him to marry to smashing that pot to now wearing an Ox Yoke to prophecy the control of everything by Babylon. I’m not sure I could do it!

Day 241 (Tuesday) - Jeremiah 25-27

2010-02-09T05:47:00.003-06:00

Have you noticed how much imagery God uses in this book and to the prophet Jeremiah? The cup of the Lord’s anger is a powerful image. The foreigners will punish the people but then God will have them drink of his anger and he will punish them. God is all powerful. We cannot like that and fight against it but it will be in vain…God is God.

Day 240 (Monday) - Jeremiah 21-24

2010-02-08T04:33:00.002-06:00

What kind of fig are you? I find it amazing that no matter how bad off the people are in their relationship with God, he always keeps a door open for those that want to return to him. It’s never too late to change your way and turn to God.

Day 239 (Sunday) - Jeremiah 16:10-20:18

2010-02-07T05:33:00.002-06:00

Well, the people are finally tired of hearing the prophecies of Jeremiah. They have decided that they have enough prophets and priests already and these other ones don’t continue to let the air out of their sails. Do you ever worry that people will get tired of hearing about God and morality and they will call their “hit men” like Pashhur to put an end to it? It could be a reality. The ways of God are offensive to those who want to mock and disobey God.

Day 238 (Saturday) - Jeremiah 13:1-16:9

2010-02-06T04:32:00.002-06:00

It might seem a bit strange that God would forbid Jeremiah to attend funerals or specifically the funeral meal in verse 7. What’s so bad about the Jell-O salads and ham sandwiches with margarine on them? Ok, theirs might have been falafel with chickpea spread, but you get the point. Actually, the funeral meals were times to get drunk and engage in all kinds of inappropriate behavior. The people had gone way off the path God wanted for them and there would be consequences…significant ones.

Day 237 (Friday) - Jeremiah 9-12

2010-02-05T04:32:00.003-06:00

Did you notice Jeremiah’s question of God at the beginning of Chapter 12? We have already seen this question come many times in our read through the bible. I think it is the question most people ask who are trying to follow God but see it as a limiting act. The truth is that following God is freeing (if done correctly). We get so tied up in the materialism and fame that the world offers that we quickly forget that this life is not even measurable on the timeline of eternity. We live for something else. Honestly, why do evil people prosper? Who cares, because I’m living for something much more valuable. Think of it as delayed gratification!

Day 236 (Thursday) - Jeremiah 5:20-8:22

2010-02-04T04:31:00.002-06:00

I need the council found in 6:16. If I have the discipline to stop long enough to focus, I’m not sure I always consider what it is God wants me to do. God’s path provides rest because I don’t have to go it alone or carry my burden alone. Some people are looking for some new fangled way of connecting with God but the truth is it is an old way. God has always been reaching out to man and is more interested in how we make it through situations than the success we achieve in our endeavors. Take a moment and stop at the crossroads…walk in that old godly way.

Day 235 (Wednesday) - Jeremiah 2:26-5:19

2010-02-03T04:30:00.003-06:00

Verses 2:23-24 seem almost comical to our western culture but in the Middle East they would know exactly what is being said here. Even today, a young female camel is extremely unreliable. They wonder around aimlessly. The wild donkey is something very different. They aren’t aimless walkers; they get mad, really mad. They chase down the male donkeys until they get what they want…it’s not a pretty sight! I wonder if we chase these idols like Israel did.

Day 234 (Tuesday) - Isaiah 66; Jeremiah 1:1-2:25

2010-02-02T05:30:00.003-06:00

Jeremiah became a prophet during the darkest of days in Judah’s history, leading up to her destruction by Babylon. Because of the difficult situation the people were in and the disobedience to God that was going to result in their destruction, Jeremiah wept a lot. He is called the weeping prophet. Though Jeremiah was a part of the priestly line, he never entered the priesthood. He is another example of God using ordinary and seemingly inferior people to do his great work.

Day 233 (Monday) - Isaiah 60:10-65:25

2010-02-01T04:29:00.003-06:00

Chapter 61 is a passage about Christ. Jesus quoted 61:1-2 when he was speaking at the synagogue in Nazareth. Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” We live in the in-between time. The Good News was born with the coming of Christ but we are still awaiting his second coming for the “day of vengeance will be fulfilled. That is why Christ stopped reading at that point…it is still to come.