Devotional Thoughts on Daily Bible Reading

“And Manoah said, Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission? And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.”                                       Judges 13:12-13 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

The answer given to Manoah seems frustrating to me.  His question is clear enough.  It seems he simply wants more details so that he and his wife will know how to raise this anointed child.  Unfortunately for Manoah, the answer simply refers to what his wife has already heard . . . which isn’t much detail.  It seems a pretty clear pattern of God to reveal a step, or a piece of our life and then it is up to us to take the step before we get another glimpse of where He is taking us.  Unfortunately sometimes we continue to wait for “more detail” and we miss the opportunity to join with God in the plans He has invited us into.  What about you?  Are you asking for more detail, or have you stepped into the “glimpse” that God has given you today?

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, I ask for faith to hear even a glimpse of purpose or calling, and to follow you without having to know every detail of how Your plans and purposes will be played out.  Fill us with expectancy that You will guide us and empower us to walk alongside You in this journey of faith we call life.  I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”                     1 Cor. 15:20-23 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

This coming Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Firstfruits.  Oh sure, I realize that almost everyone refers to it as Easter Sunday.  I’m also aware that there will be bunnies, eggs and lots of beautiful clothes.  I wonder however, how many will put aside the ideas the world has added to this day, and return to the core message of the resurrection of Jesus?  That is, resurrection power and life were made possible because Jesus became the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  He is only the beginning, but what a glorious beginning He is!  It is precisely in this truth that we place our profound hope;  the hope that there is a calling and purpose beyond the world’s definitions.  The hope that our life is no more in vain than the life of Jesus was in vain.  The hope that recognizes Jesus Christ as our ONLY hope and that in HIM alone is found true life eternal.  This week and this weekend remember the good news of Jesus Christ and share the good news with at least one person.  In Jesus, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, there is eternal hope for every person alive!

Prayer:

Father, reveal yourself and Your love again through this season of Firstfruits.  May Jesus’ name and glory be seen by many who will for the first time receive the eternal life and eternal hope that comes through Him alone.  I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

“But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”     1 Corinthians 8:3 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

Do we know a lot, or are we “known” a lot?  The bottom line will is not how much you “know” (Paul actually says that anyone who imagines that he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know).  In other words, thinking we’ve “got it” is a sure sign that we don’t!  In any case, God’s invitation to us is to grow in knowledge while loving Him more and more.  It is in a love relationship with God that we are known, and true and meaningful “being known” comes.  Do you know a lot, or are you known a lot?

Prayer:

Father, protect us from a false sense of “getting it”, and draw us more and more into a love relationship with You!  Fill our hearts with Your love and the warmth of knowing that we are known . . . truly known by You, our amazing loving Father.  I ask because Jesus made it possible, Amen.

“But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan!  For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.””                        Mark 8:33 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

We don’t know exactly how Peter “rebuked” Jesus . . . perhaps he said something like “You’re not speaking faith!”, or maybe he went down the “you’re going to discourage the men with that kind of talk”, or perhaps it was more fearing for Jesus’ life and Peter was rebuking him for the statements about his death.  Whatever Peter’s rebuke was, we know Jesus’ rebuke.  It was a difference of where Peter needed to “set his mind”.  I wonder today where some of my thoughts will be based?   Will I be able to discern the things of man vs. the things of God?  Will you?

Prayer:

Father, I ask today for the grace to recognize and correct every time I set my mind on the things of men.  Correct me by Your Spirit, through Your Word, and by the words of trusted friends around me.  Turn my eyes from this world and the ways it works, and let them see Your “world” and the ways that You have worked and are working.  I ask for a church full of believers who will be focused on the “ways of God” so that your purposes will be accomplished on this earth.  I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.”                                                               Leviticus 18:1-3 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

Reading the last few days in Acts and Leviticus, and having just traveled for three weeks in and around China, the Lord has continued to impress on me the significance of His people in relation to the world.  We are not meant to “fit in”, nor are we meant to “go along” with the ways of the world.  Rather, we are called to be salt and light and to proclaim and live in such a way that the world will notice it and perhaps even be offended.  I was deeply impacted in China by a day spent with two believers who belong to a church of 1,000 pastored by a man who spent 23 years in prison for his faith.  The testimony of faithfulness that they shared with me was moving beyond anything I have personally experienced to date in the church.  I hope to be able to share more of that experience with the church soon, but suffice to say that their witness and testimony to me spoke so clearly of the need to be people who “upset the status quo” and “turn the world upside down”.  My prayer is that the church of Jesus Christ will rise up today and live a counter-culture faith that declares Jesus Christ as the only way.  May Jesus be glorified as we live our lives ever more for Him as opposed to living our lives for us, and by the values of this world.

Prayer:

Father, search our hearts and draw us to a vibrant place of life with You, one that transforms the very way we view life and makes us ever more effective for Your glory and for Your kingdom.  Make us a church that stands for truth and righteousness and that is known for our “different” view of life here on earth.  I ask in the precious name of Jesus Christ, Your only son, Amen.