For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

Proverbs 17:24-25

    A sensible person asks themselves, “Is this wise?” about every decision they make. A fool answers the question, “Well, maybe not, but look what I can get if I do this.” A wise person focuses on what is wise, the fool is distracted by glitter and glitz.

Psalm 142:1-7

    The psalmist describes a feeling we have all had at one time or another. Our troubles were so great (or perhaps are right now) that we do not know which way to turn. Every choice we see before us seems to lead to disaster. We have no one we can turn to for help, no one is willing to help us (or, at least it seems that way). When we come to that place, let us cry out to God. If we turn to God and make Him all that we desire, He will show us the way out of our troubles. He will bring into our lives those who are willing and able to give us the assistance we need. But first, we must turn to Him and desire only what He wants us to have.

Acts 15:36-16:15

    In this passage, Paul and Barnabas fought over taking John Mark with them on their next trip. We often read this and think what a shame it was that two such men of God had a falling out. What we often fail to realize is that God was working in this falling out. As a result of this disagreement, instead of one missionary journey by two men there were two missionary journeys by four men. Even if Barnabas had gotten his way and Paul and Barnabas had traveled with John Mark, John Mark would have merely been a pupil of the two men. In the actual event, John Mark went with Barnabas as his partner. In addition, if Paul and Barnabas had traveled with John Mark, Paul would almost certainly not have gotten Timothy to join him in his travels.
    So, while yes it is a shame that two such great men had a falling out, God’s kingdom was served by the event more than if they had patched things up. Paul and Barnabas each went to separate places to minister, thus doubling the number of people who could be reached. John Mark was raised to a level of greater responsibility at a time when he was ready for that. Timothy began training to be a leader in the Church. Even Silas was taken out of his comfort zone and caused to apply his gifts in ways he would not otherwise have done. We should recognize that sometimes a falling out between two Christians, or two groups of Christians, are a result of God calling them into different directions, paths that they would not otherwise follow.

2 Kings 6-7:20

    We have two stories here of how God works in ways that seem impossible until they happen. In the first story, the king of Aram sent an army to capture Elisha. Elisha’s servant was afraid because the king of Aram’s army was much greater than the defenders (or at least the defenders he was aware of). Elisha calmed his servant by showing him the forces of God arrayed on their side. Elisha’s response to the young man is always one which wells within my heart, and is one which we should always remember, “Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Let us never forget those words of comfort.
    The other story is about Samaria under siege. Things had gotten so bad that people were resorting to cannibalism. When the king learned of this, he determined to kill Elisha, rejecting Elisha’s call to wait for the Lord’s deliverance. Elisha told the king that by that time the following day, not only would the siege be broken, but food would be ridiculously cheap. One of the king’s officers told Elisha that such a thing was impossible, even for God. Elisha’s prophecy did indeed come true, and the officer who doubted God’s power was trampled by the people going to gather the spoils God had given them. Let us not make the mistake of thinking that anything is impossible for God. In both of these stories, God overwhelmed armies without resorting to force of arms.

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

Proverbs 17:19-21

    The love of quarrels is a love of sin. Some people love getting into quarrels because they believe their defenses will protect them from any attack. However, those who think their defenses will protect them from whatever trouble they can start are courting disaster. If you allow your heart to become corrupted so that all you desire is perversion you will not prosper. If you think that you can make your way through life by telling lies, those lies will lead you into trouble.

Psalm 139:1-24

    What a wonderful psalm! It is worth memorizing and meditating on.

O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
How very true this is. It is both comforting and frightening at the same time. It is frightening because there is no place I can go to hide from God. Every sin I commit is plainly in His sight. On the other hand, it is comforting because no matter where I am, God can reach out to save me and enfold me in His arms. Further the psalmist tells us that God knew all of our actions before we were born: You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
Finally the psalmist concludes by asking God to test him and correct him so that he could faithfully serve Him. I make this my prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Test me, oh God, and cleanse me of that which offends You.

Acts 13:42-14:7

    Paul’s sermon at the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia was initially well received by the Jews of that town. As a result, Paul and Barnabas were invited to speak again the following week at the synagogue. However, when a very large crowd turned out to hear Paul and Barnabas speak, some of them became jealous. Rather than rejoice in God using Paul and Barnabas to reach outsiders, they began to work to stir up sentiment against them. Those who were jealous of Paul and Barnabas were willing, and even eager, to receive their message when they thought that it was just for them as members of an exclusive group. However, when Paul and Barnabas made it clear that their message was for all who would hear it, they became hostile.
    The Gospel message is not a message for an exclusive group of people. It is a message for all who will listen. In addition,we should preach the Gospel to those who are willing to hear it. If the group we first approached rejects our message, we are not only free to move on to those who are receptive, but called to do so.

2 Kings 1-2:25

    When the king sent troops to arrest Elijah, the first two sets of troops were destroyed by fire. Yet the third was not. The difference between these three groups was the way they viewed the relationship between the Church and the state. The commanders of the first two stated that Elijah was a man of God, yet believed that because they were acting on the king’s orders that they had the authority to command Elijah’s actions. The third commander recognized that the king was unable to give him authority over a man of God, that the final authority was God. Notice that when the third commander begged Elijah to spare his life, God directed Elijah to accompany him. If we are truly men and women of God, the government will not be able to use force of arms (or any other means) to stop us from following God’s will.

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

Proverbs 17:17-18

    A friend loves when times are good and when times are bad. If you count yourself someone’s friend you will not stop loving them no matter what they do. We were born to help our family members when they face hard times.

Psalm 138:1-8

    I will give thanks to God with all my heart. When I read verse 3, I thought of a friend of mine who recently experienced a tragedy in her life. She recently posted a poem on Facebook which contained the line:

I have unanswered prayers

It also contained the lines:

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Yet the psalmist tells us:

As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.

How can these two sentiments both describe how we relate to God? The answer to that question is that God does indeed answer us as soon as we pray. However, we do not always see or understand His answer to our prayers. No matter how bad the troubles which surround us, God will protect us. He will reach out His hand and deliver us. I will give thanks to God, even when tragedy strikes.

Acts 13:16-41

    Paul and Barnabas went to a Jewish worship service where they were asked to offer any words of encouragement they might have for the people there. Paul got up to speak. He recounted the story of God’s actions with the Israelites. Then Paul told them of how the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled with Jesus’ coming, death, and resurrection. He finished his sermon with a warning that applies to us as well. Let us be careful that we are not mockers who refuse to believe what God is doing in the world around us.

1 Kings 22:1-53

    When Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to join him in battle, Jehoshaphat readily agreed. But he wanted to first ask for God’s counsel. Ahab responded by doing what many today do (and what many say was the view of most of that time). He called on his 400 prophets. The passage does not say so, but the similarity with the number of prophets of Baal which Elijah confronted at Mt Carmel seems striking. Ahab acted as if he believed, and perhaps he did, that Baal and God were the same. Jehoshaphat was having none of this. He asked once more for a prophet of God.
    Ahab admitted that there was indeed a prophet of the Lord. However, Ahab did not want to speak to him, because he never told him what he wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat chided Ahab on his attitude. It is important for a leader to hear the thoughts and opinions of those who disagree with him.

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

Proverbs 17:9-11

    Another proverb where I prefer the NIV translation. If you want to encourage love and friendship between people you will minimize or cover up what one or more of them have done which might offend or anger others. On the other hand, if you repeat what you have heard about the wrong people have done (gossip), you may cause even close friends to become enemies.

Psalm 134:1-3

    I have nothing to add to this wonderful psalm this morning:

Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
you who serve at night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up holy hands in prayer,
and praise the Lord.
Just lift up your hands, pray, and give praise to God for 30 seconds (or longer if you like) as you sit there before continuing to read more.

Acts 10:24-48

    When Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house, he informed them that it was against Jewish law for a Jewish man to enter the house of a non-Jew, or to even associate with a non-Jew. However, Peter further told them that God had revealed to him that this was not as God intended. God intended for us to think of everyone who sought to serve God as clean. No matter how sinful, or otherwise unclean, the background of a person was, if they were seeking to learn about and follow God’s commands, God has declared them clean. Let us follow Peter’s example and preach the Gospel message to anyone who is willing to listen, but especially to those who are seeking it out.
    As Peter was preaching to the members of Cornelius’ household, the Holy Spirit fell upon them. When Peter realized that this had happened, he instructed those who had accompanied him to baptize them. This is significantly different from the way we practice baptism today. Today when someone professes faith in Jesus, we typically have them take a membership class before we baptize them. In the various passages where baptism is discussed in the book of Acts, those who profess faith in Jesus and a willingness to accept Him as Lord are immediately (or as soon as practical) baptized.

1 Kings 15:25-17:24

    King after king arose in Israel, each one more wicked than the last. When Ahab became king, God raised up Elijah to prophecy and call the people back to Him. Elijah told Ahab that it would not rain in Israel for several years, not until Elijah gave the word that it would again rain. This did indeed come to pass. However, God provided for Elijah. First, by having ravens bring food for Elijah while he got his water from a particular stream. When that stream, God sent Elijah to the widow in Zarephath.
    The widow gives us a great example to follow. When Elijah first came to the woman and requested food, she told him that she had just enough food for she and her son to have one final meal before they starved. Elijah told her to go ahead and make the meal for her and her son, but first make him a bit of bread. He told her that if she did as he asked, there would always be enough flour and oil in her jars to make one more meal, until the drought ended (when she would be able to buy more). The widow did as Elijah asked and it turned out as Elijah had promised.

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