Isaiah 34-35; Micah 2-5.  “License to Sin?”

         “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness?  Of course not!  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” – Romans 6:1-2
         In the days that Micah prophesied, Israel was proud and arrogant of their standing before the Lord.  They had ignored the need for obedience and holiness and had relied on their position as God’s covenant people.  They believed they could act however they wanted without any consequences because the Lord had chosen Jerusalem as His dwelling place (3:11).
         A false understanding of grace and our assurance of salvation can lead us into a similar way of living.  However, Paul makes it clear in the above verse that grace is not a license to sin but, on the contrary, the new man in Christ is to have nothing to do with sin and is to live by righteousness.
         This is not to say that we must be perfect or that our salvation or sanctification is totally based on our obedience and holiness.  Rather, the way in which we live is not a means to righteousness, but rather is in response to the great salvation we have in Christ.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Isaiah 30-33.  “Salvation is in Christ Alone”

         “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” – John 14:6
         In today’s reading, Isaiah warns God’s people about relying on outside help for their salvation.  Israel as a small nation was weak at this point in history because of civil war and rebelliousness toward God.  It was tempting to rely on Egypt’s help in battling the Assyrians instead of relying solely on the Lord.
         These international relationships and the need for Israel as a nation to rely on the Lord (Isa. 31:1) is representative of our need to rely on the Lord for our own salvation.
         Our salvation is based in the Lord and our standing as righteous before Him is because of the work of Christ and His imputed righteousness in our life.  However, many times we attempt to attain righteousness through our own efforts.  Any time we add lists of dos and don’ts to our relationship with God, it makes our faith about earning righteousness.
         May you begin to see your salvation as complete in the work of Christ, and that you cannot do more than He has already done. 

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Isaiah 24-27; 29.  “Free Gift of Salvation”

         “God saved you by His special favor when you believed.  And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” – Ephesians 2:8-9
         I was once asked how I respond to God for His gift of salvation, considering that not everyone will receive that gift.  I think that the gratitude and joy expressed in Isaiah 25:9 sums it up well.  There is nothing more and nothing less that can be done in response to God’s salvation than to just praise Him.  You cannot claim credit for your salvation, for you did not earn it.  And it is not that your faith is greater than the next person, for the faith to believe is from God Himself (John 6:44, 65). 
         Any time you find yourself feeling proud and satisfied about your faith when standing before God, instead of feeling humble and gracious, that is an attitude that should be repented of.  The only right response toward our salvation is one of worship and gratitude for the free gift that God has given us. 

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Isaiah 18-23. “Saved from the Penalty of Sin”

         Our theme for the week is salvation.  There are a number of different topics related to salvation that we are going to look at.  My prayer is that, by the end of the week, you will be rejoicing even more in the salvation that we have in Christ. 

         Judgment, Judgment, Judgment.  Five chapters of judgment.  Judgment is not a pretty thing to look at or encounter or even to think about.  However, it is an important part of who God is.  Judgment is God’s reaction or response to man’s sin and rebelliousness and, as the verse above indicates, the judgment or penalty for that sin is death.
         This is where the need for salvation comes in.  It is because, on our own, we stand before God condemned or judged in our sin.  This salvation I speak of today is the first level or primary experience of salvation in that we are saved from the penalty of sin.  We experience or will experience salvation on two other levels, which we will discuss later in the week.
         This experience of being saved from the penalty of sin is often what we think of when we talk about being saved.  It is in this salvation that comes by faith in Christ that we experience a regeneration of life and an adoption into the family of God, becoming co-heirs with Jesus.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Download the PDF version below.

2 Kings 18:13-20:19; 2 Chronicles 32:1-31; Isaiah 18-27; 29-39; Micah 2-7

          Our theme for the week is salvation.  There are a number of different topics related to salvation that we are going to look at.  My prayer is that, by the end of the week, you will be rejoicing even more in the salvation that we have in Christ.  

July 16th

Isaiah 18-23.  “Saved from the Penalty of Sin”

         Judgment, Judgment, Judgment.  Five chapters of judgment.  Judgment is not a pretty thing to look at or encounter or even to think about.  However, it is an important part of who God is.  Judgment is God’s reaction or response to man’s sin and rebelliousness and, as the verse above indicates, the judgment or penalty for that sin is death.

         This is where the need for salvation comes in.  It is because, on our own, we stand before God condemned or judged in our sin.  This salvation I speak of today is the first level or primary experience of salvation in that we are saved from the penalty of sin.  We experience or will experience salvation on two other levels, which we will discuss later in the week.

         This experience of being saved from the penalty of sin is often what we think of when we talk about being saved.  It is in this salvation that comes by faith in Christ that we experience a regeneration of life and an adoption into the family of God, becoming co-heirs with Jesus.

July 17th

Isaiah 24-27; 29.  “Free Gift of Salvation”

         “God saved you by His special favor when you believed.  And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” – Ephesians 2:8-9

         I was once asked how I respond to God for His gift of salvation, considering that not everyone will receive that gift.  I think that the gratitude and joy expressed in Isaiah 25:9 sums it up well.  There is nothing more and nothing less that can be done in response to God’s salvation than to just praise Him.  You cannot claim credit for your salvation, for you did not earn it.  And it is not that your faith is greater than the next person, for the faith to believe is from God Himself (John 6:44, 65).  

         Any time you find yourself feeling proud and satisfied about your faith when standing before God, instead of feeling humble and gracious, that is an attitude that should be repented of.  The only right response toward our salvation is one of worship and gratitude for the free gift that God has given us.  

July 18th

Isaiah 30-33.  “Salvation is in Christ Alone”

         “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” – John 14:6

         In today’s reading, Isaiah warns God’s people about relying on outside help for their salvation.  Israel as a small nation was weak at this point in history because of civil war and rebelliousness toward God.  It was tempting to rely on Egypt’s help in battling the Assyrians instead of relying solely on the Lord.

         These international relationships and the need for Israel as a nation to rely on the Lord (Isa. 31:1) is representative of our need to rely on the Lord for our own salvation.

         Our salvation is based in the Lord and our standing as righteous before Him is because of the work of Christ and His imputed righteousness in our life.  However, many times we attempt to attain righteousness through our own efforts.  Any time we add lists of dos and don’ts to our relationship with God, it makes our faith about earning righteousness.

         May you begin to see your salvation as complete in the work of Christ, and that you cannot do more than He has already done.

Day 200 – July 19th

Isaiah 34-35; Micah 2-5.  “License to Sin?”

         “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness?  Of course not!  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” – Romans 6:1-2

         In the days that Micah prophesied, Israel was proud and arrogant of their standing before the Lord.  They had ignored the need for obedience and holiness and had relied on their position as God’s covenant people.  They believed they could act however they wanted without any consequences because the Lord had chosen Jerusalem as His dwelling place (3:11).

         A false understanding of grace and our assurance of salvation can lead us into a similar way of living.  However, Paul makes it clear in the above verse that grace is not a license to sin but, on the contrary, the new man in Christ is to have nothing to do with sin and is to live by righteousness.

         This is not to say that we must be perfect or that our salvation or sanctification is totally based on our obedience and holiness.  Rather, the way in which we live is not a means to righteousness, but rather is in response to the great salvation we have in Christ.

July 20th

2 Kings 18:13-37; 2 Chronicles 32:1-8; Isaiah 36; Micah 6-7.  “Foolishness of the Cross”

         Recently I watched an episode of Nightline, in which they moderated a debate between Christians and atheists.  The atheists in the debate worked hard at making the Christian gospel sound foolish.  Of course, this would come as no surprise to the Apostle Paul who declared in his own day that the message of the cross, the gospel, was foolishness to those who don’t believe (1 Cor. 1:18).

         This dynamic seems to parallel the scene that is taking place in 2 Kings 18 and Isaiah 36.  King Sennacherib’s representative mocks the idea of trusting in the Lord for Jerusalem’s deliverance.  Even in the Old Testament, those who did not know the Lord were unable to comprehend His power to save and deliver His people.

         Do not be surprised when you are mocked or scorned for trusting in Jesus for your salvation.  Do not respond harshly, but rather may you “live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity (Col. 4:5).  

July 21st

2 Kings 19; 2 Chronicles 32:9-23; Isaiah 37.  “Saved from the Power of Sin”

         “You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the evil powers of this world.” – Colossians 2:20

         Today we have read the magnificent account of how God responded to the faith of Hezekiah and Isaiah and delivered Jerusalem from the armies of the Assyrians.  While nothing is too difficult for God (Jer. 32:17), the defeat of the Assyrian army was no small thing.  The Assyrians were the dominant nation in the region at that time.  The army they had amassed was over 185,000 troops, and they had already taken the northern territory of Israel into captivity.  To say the least, the Assyrians were powerful and had every reason to be in control of Jerusalem except for the intervention of the Lord.

         In a similar way, sin has power and control in the lives of people.  It is only when someone experiences salvation from the Lord through faith in Christ Jesus that they are set free from this power.  And not only that, but every time we choose obedience instead of sin we are saved from the power of sin.

July 22nd

2 Kings 20:1-19; 2 Chronicles 32:24-31; Isaiah 38-39.  “Saved from the Presence of Sin”

         “He will remove all their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” – Revelation 21:4

         Hezekiah’s poem (Isaiah 38:10-20) is a beautiful response of praise to the healing that he experienced from the Lord.  In verse 17, I think we see a foreshadowing of the experience we will have when God totally does away with sin and death.

         This is the third level of our salvation experience.  Not only are we saved from the penalty and the power of sin, but we will also be saved from the presence of sin.  And it is at that point that we will no longer have to deal with the curse of sin, for that will have been done away with and all things will be made new.

         What it will be like when that curse is lifted is impossible to fully know.  But what we can know is the hope of salvation that comes from knowing Jesus Christ.

         May you with great anticipation long for that day when we will finally experience the fullness of our salvation.

Bible Discussion Guide:
Why is it so unpopular to think about God as the one who judges or condemns sin?
How many times will we be saved from the penalty of sin?  When?
How do you respond to God for His free gift of salvation?
Do you ever find yourself trying to pay God back for your salvation?  Why is this goal hopeless?
In what ways are you attempting to achieve or earn righteousness?
Why are we to not continue in sin as Christians, even though we can fall on grace?
In what ways do we as the Church or Body of Christ replicate the attitudes and actions of the people in Micah’s day?
What is it about the message of the cross, the Gospel, that sounds foolish to the world?
What do you think is our most compelling evidence for the truth of the Gospel?
How are we saved from the power of sin?
How many times can we be saved from the power of sin?  When?
How will life be different when we are saved from the presence of sin?
How many times will we be saved from the presence of sin?  When?

Psalms 136, 146-150.  “For Who He Is”

         This is a great collection of psalms to conclude this week’s theme of praise with. Recognizing God for who He is and what He has done and will do is cause for worshipping Him with an attitude of gratitude, humility, and awe.
         Psalm 136 urges us to continually give thanks to God for who He is and what He has done.
         Psalm 146 encourages us to praise God throughout our life, and to praise Him because only He is worthy of our trust and hope.
         Psalm 147 reminds us that it is good and pleasant to praise God, and it is fitting because He is great.
         Psalm 148 informs us that when we praise God, we join the rest of creation, and we should regularly praise Him for His name alone is exalted.
         Psalm 149 exhorts us to praise Him joyfully and triumphantly.
         And Psalm 150 urges us to praise God for all He has done, and to praise Him with all that we have.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Bible Discussion Guide:
- What is Godly praise? How should we praise and how did David praise God?
- When do you find it difficult to praise the Lord?
- What things or events in life are you truly passionate about?
- Are you as passionate about worshipping God as you are about your favorite hobby?
- Which of the postures for worship described in the devotional on July 12th do you resonate with the most?  Which one do you resonate with the least? 
- In what ways does remembering help you to worship God?
- Can you share a particular time when God demonstrated His faithfulness to you?
- Do you find it easier to pray for others or for yourself?
- What part of life do you find difficult to bring to God in prayer?
- Is true worship just something we do on Sunday?
- Personal application:  In what ways can you incorporate worship into your everyday life?

Psalms 128-130, 132, 134-135.  “Beyond Our Ability to Fully Understand”

         Today’s psalms provide us yet more reasons to praise God for who He is and what He does for His people. Psalm 135:6 reminds us that His power is unlimited, and He can use it as He chooses according to His holy character.
         But there may be seasons in our life when we read the first line of this verse, “The LORD does whatever pleases him,” and it does not settle well with us. For instance, I recently spoke with an angry young lady who lost her baby in childbirth, and she could not understand how God could allow such a thing.
         The Bible does not offer easy answers to those who are suffering. Reading that suffering can produce greater character in our life, or more opportunities to comfort others, or to read that it’s God way of testing the genuineness of our faith, are not comfortable answers in that moment of suffering.
         While God may not fit our description of being fair, we must remember that He is holy, just, merciful, omniscient, omnipotent, and His ways and thoughts are beyond our ability to comprehend (see Isaiah 55:8-9).

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Psalms 120-121, 123, 125-126.  “Look Around You”

         Today’s selection of psalms is one that I pray you can enjoy and find peace and encouragement in. They speak of why we can trust God, why we can praise Him, and why we can know He cares for us.
         I have always loved the way Psalm 121 begins, that if anyone questions where our help comes from, we can respond with, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!”  You will not find any help better than that.
         This psalm reminds us that everything in the heavens and on the earth bears witness to the great Creator, God, our heavenly Father. We are also reminded in this psalm that His eyes are upon us. He is concerned about us and watches over us all the time. He is with us, through the ups and the downs of life. And His care for us will go on forever.
         Spend time today contemplating things you can praise and worship God for.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Psalm 119.  “Shaped by the Word of God”

         Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and an acrostic where every eight verses begin with each successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Out of nearly 200 verses, all but two do not directly or by inference refer to the word of God. Its emphasis is clearly on the value of the word of God in the life of believers, and it is this psalm that helped change the direction of my life.
         I knew about God from the time I was young, but I would not say it affected my life greatly until I was only weeks from graduating high school. At that point I heard a pastor speak on verse 11 of Psalm 119, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
         Within this one verse we can see that the psalmist is sharing principles he has learned that help him avoid sin: 1) The psalmist desired not to sin. 2) The psalmist would have continued in sin if nothing was done. 3) The psalmist emphasized how sin came from the inner self. 4) The psalmist opened his heart to the Word of God. 5) The psalmist allowed the Word of God to shape his decisions.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Psalm 115-118.  “The Center of Praise”

         You have made it to the middle of the Bible, Psalm 118:8–9 (the 15,587th and 15,588th verses of the 31,174 verses in the Bible). The verses assure us that, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (NKJV). That is obvious cause for worship and praise, but there is more.
         Psalm 113-118 are six psalms commonly called the Egyptian Hallel. Hāllel means “praise Yahweh.” Traditionally the Jewish people would sing Psalms 113 and 114 before they ate their Passover meal, and they closed by singing Psalms 115-118.  They were also sung in celebration of several other Jewish holidays.
         These four psalms provide us with numerous reasons to praise God. Charles Spurgeon appreciated the reminders of God’s love for His saints in Psalm 116. Of verse 15 he wrote, “Saints will not die prematurely; they will be immortal until their work is done. When their time comes to die, their deaths will be precious. The Lord watches over their deathbeds, smooths their pillows, sustains their hearts, and receives their souls.”

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Psalm 107, 111-114. “Praise God”

         How might God describe how you praise Him?  Maybe God says, “Well, she praises Me every Sunday morning, and not much beyond that.”  Or, “He praises Me in the songs he sings, and that’s about it.  Well, come to think of it, he really doesn’t even do that, because the words coming out of his mouth are not the words he really means or wants to say.  What he is really wanting to sing is ‘My life is for me Lord…’ or, ‘I surrender some, some to Jesus I surrender,’ or, ‘I stand amazed at my presence…’”
         Haven’t there been times in your life when you have praised God because you were better off than someone else, or you finally felt like God was agreeing with your plan? 
         Sometimes our worship to God becomes something centered around us and not Him. 
         As per our week’s theme of praise, today’s psalms don’t disappoint, especially Psalm 113 which tries to describe God while it admits that it cannot adequately describe God. It discusses some of what God does while it exhorts us to praise Him. It opens and closes with “Hallelujah. Praise Jehovah, Yahweh.” May we do so today.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

         The theme for this week is worship and praise. This week will finish off our time in the Psalms (except for Psalm 137).  The focus of each psalm this week will be that of praising God for who He is and all He does. A variety of aspects of worship will also be discussed in the various psalms.  

Psalm 105-106. “God is Always Faithful”

         Psalm 103 and 104 pair up nicely as they both open and close with the same phrase, “Praise the LORD, O my soul.” And as you come to Psalms 105 and 106 you see that they also pair up in a similar way. Furthermore, the first five verses of Psalm 105 read very much like the first four verses of Psalm 106.
         Psalm 105 focuses on Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Psalm 106 focuses on God’s patient care for His people, even perhaps after their Babylonian captivity.
         Psalm 105 describes how God faithfully provided and cared for His chosen nation. But, Psalm 106 describes God as the one who disciplines His people and forgives them, as the psalmist lists nine serious offenses that Israel had committed.
         Psalm 105 reminds us how faithful God is, and Psalm 106 reminds us how unfaithful mankind is. It reminds me of a statement the apostle Paul makes in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, Christ remains faithful.” And because of that we also say, “Amen! Praise the Lord” (Ps. 106:48).

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Download the PDF version below.

Psalms 105-107, 111-121, 123, 125-126, 128-130, 132, 134-136, 146-150

         The theme for this week is worship and praise. This week will finish off our time in the Psalms (except for Psalm 137).  The focus of each psalm this week will be that of praising God for who He is and all He does. A variety of aspects of worship will also be discussed in the various psalms.  

July 9th

Psalm 105-106. “God is Always Faithful”

         Psalm 103 and 104 pair up nicely as they both open and close with the same phrase, “Praise the LORD, O my soul.” And as you come to Psalms 105 and 106 you see that they also pair up in a similar way. Furthermore, the first five verses of Psalm 105 read very much like the first four verses of Psalm 106.

         Psalm 105 focuses on Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Psalm 106 focuses on God’s patient care for His people, even perhaps after their Babylonian captivity.

         Psalm 105 describes how God faithfully provided and cared for His chosen nation. But, Psalm 106 describes God as the one who disciplines His people and forgives them, as the psalmist lists nine serious offenses that Israel had committed.

         Psalm 105 reminds us how faithful God is, and Psalm 106 reminds us how unfaithful mankind is. It reminds me of a statement the apostle Paul makes in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, Christ remains faithful.” And because of that we also say, “Amen! Praise the Lord” (Ps. 106:48).

July 10th

Psalm 107, 111-114. “Praise God”

         How might God describe how you praise Him?  Maybe God says, “Well, she praises Me every Sunday morning, and not much beyond that.”  Or, “He praises Me in the songs he sings, and that’s about it.  Well, come to think of it, he really doesn’t even do that, because the words coming out of his mouth are not the words he really means or wants to say.  What he is really wanting to sing is ‘My life is for me Lord…’ or, ‘I surrender some, some to Jesus I surrender,’ or, ‘I stand amazed at my presence…’”

         Haven’t there been times in your life when you have praised God because you were better off than someone else, or you finally felt like God was agreeing with your plan?  

         Sometimes our worship to God becomes something centered around us and not Him.  

         As per our week’s theme of praise, today’s psalms don’t disappoint, especially Psalm 113 which tries to describe God while it admits that it cannot adequately describe God. It discusses some of what God does while it exhorts us to praise Him. It opens and closes with “Hallelujah. Praise Jehovah, Yahweh.” May we do so today.
 
July 11th

Psalm 115-118.  “The Center of Praise”

         You have made it to the middle of the Bible, Psalm 118:8–9 (the 15,587th and 15,588th verses of the 31,174 verses in the Bible). The verses assure us that, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (NKJV). That is obvious cause for worship and praise, but there is more.

         Psalm 113-118 are six psalms commonly called the Egyptian Hallel. Hāllel means “praise Yahweh.” Traditionally the Jewish people would sing Psalms 113 and 114 before they ate their Passover meal, and they closed by singing Psalms 115-118.  They were also sung in celebration of several other Jewish holidays.

         These four psalms provide us with numerous reasons to praise God. Charles Spurgeon appreciated the reminders of God’s love for His saints in Psalm 116. Of verse 15 he wrote, “Saints will not die prematurely; they will be immortal until their work is done. When their time comes to die, their deaths will be precious. The Lord watches over their deathbeds, smooths their pillows, sustains their hearts, and receives their souls.”
 
July 12th

Psalm 119.  “Shaped by the Word of God”

         Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and an acrostic where every eight verses begin with each successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Out of nearly 200 verses, all but two do not directly or by inference refer to the word of God. Its emphasis is clearly on the value of the word of God in the life of believers, and it is this psalm that helped change the direction of my life.

         I knew about God from the time I was young, but I would not say it affected my life greatly until I was only weeks from graduating high school. At that point I heard a pastor speak on verse 11 of Psalm 119, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

         Within this one verse we can see that the psalmist is sharing principles he has learned that help him avoid sin: 1) The psalmist desired not to sin. 2) The psalmist would have continued in sin if nothing was done. 3) The psalmist emphasized how sin came from the inner self. 4) The psalmist opened his heart to the Word of God. 5) The psalmist allowed the Word of God to shape his decisions.

July 13th

Psalms 120-121, 123, 125-126.  “Look Around You”

         Today’s selection of psalms is one that I pray you can enjoy and find peace and encouragement in. They speak of why we can trust God, why we can praise Him, and why we can know He cares for us.

         I have always loved the way Psalm 121 begins, that if anyone questions where our help comes from, we can respond with, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!”  You will not find any help better than that.

         This psalm reminds us that everything in the heavens and on the earth bears witness to the great Creator, God, our heavenly Father. We are also reminded in this psalm that His eyes are upon us. He is concerned about us and watches over us all the time. He is with us, through the ups and the downs of life. And His care for us will go on forever.

         Spend time today contemplating things you can praise and worship God for.

July 14th

Psalms 128-130, 132, 134-135.  “Beyond Our Ability to Fully Understand”

         Today’s psalms provide us yet more reasons to praise God for who He is and what He does for His people. Psalm 135:6 reminds us that His power is unlimited, and He can use it as He chooses according to His holy character.

         But there may be seasons in our life when we read the first line of this verse, “The LORD does whatever pleases him,” and it does not settle well with us. For instance, I recently spoke with an angry young lady who lost her baby in childbirth, and she could not understand how God could allow such a thing.

         The Bible does not offer easy answers to those who are suffering. Reading that suffering can produce greater character in our life, or more opportunities to comfort others, or to read that it’s God way of testing the genuineness of our faith, are not comfortable answers in that moment of suffering.

         While God may not fit our description of being fair, we must remember that He is holy, just, merciful, omniscient, omnipotent, and His ways and thoughts are beyond our ability to comprehend (see Isaiah 55:8-9).

July 15th

Psalms 136, 146-150.  “For Who He Is”

         This is a great collection of psalms to conclude this week’s theme of praise with. Recognizing God for who He is and what He has done and will do is cause for worshipping Him with an attitude of gratitude, humility, and awe.

         Psalm 136 urges us to continually give thanks to God for who He is and what He has done.

         Psalm 146 encourages us to praise God throughout our life, and to praise Him because only He is worthy of our trust and hope.

         Psalm 147 reminds us that it is good and pleasant to praise God, and it is fitting because He is great.

         Psalm 148 informs us that when we praise God, we join the rest of creation, and we should regularly praise Him for His name alone is exalted.

         Psalm 149 exhorts us to praise Him joyfully and triumphantly.

            And Psalm 150 urges us to praise God for all He has done, and to praise Him with all that we have.

Bible Discussion Guide:
What is Godly praise? How should we praise and how did David praise God?
When do you find it difficult to praise the Lord?
What things or events in life are you truly passionate about?
Are you as passionate about worshipping God as you are about your favorite hobby?
Which of the postures for worship described in the devotional on July 12th do you resonate with the most?  Which one do you resonate with the least? 
In what ways does remembering help you to worship God?
Can you share a particular time when God demonstrated His faithfulness to you?
Do you find it easier to pray for others or for yourself?
What part of life do you find difficult to bring to God in prayer?
Is true worship just something we do on Sunday?
Personal application:  In what ways can you incorporate worship into your everyday life?

Psalm 98-100, 102, 104. “The Power of the Spoken Word”

         “The tongue is mightier than the blade” – Euripides, Greek poet ca. 5th century B.C.
         The power of the spoken word is often underappreciated.  The tongue, or our speech, can do much damage, oftentimes without our planning it or even our awareness of it at the time.  James compares the potential for damage by the tongue to a small spark in a forest (James 3:5).  We are all familiar with cases where someone’s reputation is damaged or their career is ruined because they said the wrong thing.  There is a tremendous power in the spoken word.  This is also true of God, who spoke creation into existence (Psalm 104:7).  We also see this in Jesus, who was able to speak healing directly into people’s lives (Luke 7:1-10).
         So why do we struggle so mightily with taming our tongues?  Why do we so often hurt people with our words?  It is because speech is permanent and conversation is often spontaneous.  Unlike the written word which can be edited, the spoken word is raw and cannot be taken back.
         May your speech be filled with grace (Colossians 4:6).

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Bible Discussion Guide:
- How can you tell the difference between genuine sincere compliments and flattery?
- What kind of damage can happen to a relationship when we use flattery?
- Why is it so difficult to tell the truth sometimes?
- Is it ever okay to lie?
- What does it mean to be still and know that He is God?
- Why can it be so difficult to be silent?
- Why is it that, once we start speaking, we listen so poorly? 
- What does it communicate when we listen poorly?  How does that affect a relationship?
- What is it about boasting or bragging that creates a problem in our lives? 
- What can we tell ourselves in order to avoid boasting?
- What do you have in life to be thankful for?
- How does being thankful impact the way we communicate with ourselves, others and with God?
- Can you share a time when you said something that you wish you could have taken back?
- Personal application:  What changes can you make to avoid hurting people with your words?

Psalm 92-97.  “Thanksgiving”

         “Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic.” – John Henry Jowett
         Yesterday we thought about boasting and pride.  One way to approach reducing our tendency towards boasting is to respond with gratitude.   As Pastor Jowett so aptly noted, gratitude is good medicine especially towards pride which leads to boastfulness.
         We have all seen this difference in the professional athletes of the 21st century.  Those who are truly thankful for their opportunity and God-given talent do not boast of their personal exploits.
         Thankfulness should be a constant theme of our lives.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “no matter what happens, always be thankful” (1 Thess. 5:18).  The psalmist in our readings today has declared that it is “good to give thanks to the Lord” (92:1), and that we are to “come before Him with thanksgiving” (95:2).  Clearly, thanksgiving should be a significant component of our relationship with the Lord.
         How else are we to respond and approach the One who has done so much for us?

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Psalm 1-2, 10, 33, 71, 91. “Boasting”

         “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.” – Galatians 6:14
         In making the above statement, the Apostle Paul sets the standard regarding boasting quite high.  This stands in stark contrast to the words of the psalmist in Psalm 10:3 about how the wicked people brag about their evil desires.
         What is it about boasting or bragging that creates a problem in our lives?  Could it be that it isn’t so much the boasting itself, but rather that boasting is a symptom of a deeper issue, pride?  When you look at the surrounding verses in Psalm 10, you will notice that the psalmist indeed connects boasting and pride.  Paul also connects these two traits in two separate lists of vices or sinful tendencies of mankind (Rom. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:2).
         Are you struggling with boasting?  Let me first encourage you to examine your heart for pride.  Second, allow me to remind you that every good and perfect thing in your life is from God so, really, your boasting is pointless (James 1:17).

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Psalm 47-49; 84-85, 87.  “Listening”

         “My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19)
         A while back, I watched a TV program about how children learn the grammatical structures of language by listening to the people speaking around them.  This got me thinking, because, before we can ever learn to speak, we can already listen.  In fact, we can listen and distinguish voices while still in the womb. 
         So, if listening is such a natural and easy thing to do, except for the hearing impaired, why is it that once we start speaking, we listen so poorly?  Why else would James feel led to write the verse above if in actuality we didn’t practice the opposite?  So many times, I find myself rushing to judgments or giving my input or trying to offer solutions when all I really need to do is just listen. 
         Is it out of pure laziness that we don’t listen, or is it a deeper spiritual reason that we don’t listen, like pride or rebelliousness?  The reasons for not listening may be as many as the times that we fail to do so.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Psalm 42-46. “Silence”

         “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word.  He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)
         Why was Jesus able to be silent in the midst of the mistreatment and accusations He faced?  Confidence.  Jesus was confident in the fact that His Father was working out His perfect plan of redemption.  He did not feel compelled to fight back or argue with His accusers because he knew his Father was in control. 
         Silence is a sign of assurance and confidence and strength.  As it says in Psalm 46:10, “Be silent, and know that I am God.”  What does it mean to know that He is God?  It means to know who God truly is, the sovereign almighty, all-knowing God whose plans are never frustrated and whose will is always accomplished.  Silence demonstrates a genuine trust in God.  God does not need a multiplicity of words to defend Himself or to reveal Himself in this world. 
         May you learn that sometimes the very best response to God is in the form of silence.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Proverbs 30-31.  “Pinocchio”

         Sometimes I wish that we could all be a little more like Pinocchio.  Not because of the strings or being made out of wood, but because of his nose.  If you recall, Pinocchio’s nose gets him into all sorts of trouble because it grows when he tells a lie.  In many ways, it would make life far easier if there was some easy way to tell if someone were lying.
         We all know the damage that can come when we choose to lie.  It is such a significant issue that Agur, the author of Proverbs 30, asked for help from the Lord to never do it.
         As a parent of young children, I have learned that you do not need to teach a child to lie, rather you must teach them the importance of telling the truth.  As sinful humans, we naturally lie to protect ourselves or others.  We lie because we fear what might happen if we tell the truth and because, ultimately, we do not trust that God is in control.
         May you come to trust that God does know the future and is in control and that you can confidently speak the truth regardless of the outcome.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

         The theme this week is communication.  The wisdom literature of the Proverbs and the poetry of the Psalms have much to say about how we communicate.  Sometimes this communication happens internally, sometimes it happens with other people, and sometimes it happens between us and God.  So much of life involves communication, so I hope that you are able to glean much from the devotionals this week.

Proverbs 25-29. “Flattery”

         I assume you have heard of the TV show American Idol.  Basically, the show is a singing competition.  My favorite part of the show is the audition segment in the first few weeks.  It never fails that a few people will audition who are poor singers, but think they are good because all their friends say they are good.  Either these friends are terrible judges of musical talent, or they were saying flattering words to boost this person’s self-esteem.
         This is the danger of flattery.  It is terribly misleading, if not entirely wrong.  Proverbs tells us that flattery causes ruin (26:28), that it is a trap for people (29:5), and that it is less appreciated than frankness (28:23).
         Flattery can be as subtle as it is destructive.  It can be easy to justify the use of flattery as well.  How bad can something we say be if it results in someone feeling better about themselves.  Even though you love and care for the person that you are speaking with, the Bible tells us to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), not speak a half-truth or choose to omit the truth.
         Flattery may sound nice, but in the end someone will get hurt.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Download the PDF version below.

Psalms 1-2, 10, 33, 42-49, 71, 84-85, 87, 91-100, 102, 104; Proverbs 25-31

         The theme this week is communication.  The wisdom literature of the Proverbs and the poetry of the Psalms have much to say about how we communicate.  Sometimes this communication happens internally, sometimes it happens with other people, and sometimes it happens between us and God.  So much of life involves communication, so I hope that you are able to glean much from the devotionals this week.

July 2nd

Proverbs 25-29.  “Flattery”

         I assume you have heard of the TV show American Idol.  Basically, the show is a singing competition.  My favorite part of the show is the audition segment in the first few weeks.  It never fails that a few people will audition who are poor singers, but think they are good because all their friends say they are good.  Either these friends are terrible judges of musical talent, or they were saying flattering words to boost this person’s self-esteem.

         This is the danger of flattery.  It is terribly misleading, if not entirely wrong.  Proverbs tells us that flattery causes ruin (26:28), that it is a trap for people (29:5), and that it is less appreciated than frankness (28:23).

         Flattery can be as subtle as it is destructive.  It can be easy to justify the use of flattery as well.  How bad can something we say be if it results in someone feeling better about themselves.  Even though you love and care for the person that you are speaking with, the Bible tells us to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), not speak a half-truth or choose to omit the truth.

         Flattery may sound nice, but in the end someone will get hurt.

July 3rd

Proverbs 30-31.  “Pinocchio”

         Sometimes I wish that we could all be a little more like Pinocchio.  Not because of the strings or being made out of wood, but because of his nose.  If you recall, Pinocchio’s nose gets him into all sorts of trouble because it grows when he tells a lie.  In many ways, it would make life far easier if there was some easy way to tell if someone were lying.

         We all know the damage that can come when we choose to lie.  It is such a significant issue that Agur, the author of Proverbs 30, asked for help from the Lord to never do it.

         As a parent of young children, I have learned that you do not need to teach a child to lie, rather you must teach them the importance of telling the truth.  As sinful humans, we naturally lie to protect ourselves or others.  We lie because we fear what might happen if we tell the truth and because, ultimately, we do not trust that God is in control.

         May you come to trust that God does know the future and is in control and that you can confidently speak the truth regardless of the outcome.

July 4th

Psalm 42-46.  “Silence”

         “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word.  He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

         Why was Jesus able to be silent in the midst of the mistreatment and accusations He faced?  Confidence.  Jesus was confident in the fact that His Father was working out His perfect plan of redemption.  He did not feel compelled to fight back or argue with His accusers because he knew his Father was in control.  

         Silence is a sign of assurance and confidence and strength.  As it says in Psalm 46:10, “Be silent, and know that I am God.”  What does it mean to know that He is God?  It means to know who God truly is, the sovereign almighty, all-knowing God whose plans are never frustrated and whose will is always accomplished.  Silence demonstrates a genuine trust in God.  God does not need a multiplicity of words to defend Himself or to reveal Himself in this world.  

         May you learn that sometimes the very best response to God is in the form of silence.

July 5th

Psalm 47-49; 84-85, 87.  “Listening”

         “My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19)

         A while back, I watched a TV program about how children learn the grammatical structures of language by listening to the people speaking around them.  This got me thinking, because, before we can ever learn to speak, we can already listen.  In fact, we can listen and distinguish voices while still in the womb.  

         So, if listening is such a natural and easy thing to do, except for the hearing impaired, why is it that once we start speaking, we listen so poorly?  Why else would James feel led to write the verse above if in actuality we didn’t practice the opposite?  So many times, I find myself rushing to judgments or giving my input or trying to offer solutions when all I really need to do is just listen.  

         Is it out of pure laziness that we don’t listen, or is it a deeper spiritual reason that we don’t listen, like pride or rebelliousness?  The reasons for not listening may be as many as the times that we fail to do so.

July 6th

Psalm 1-2, 10, 33, 71, 91.  “Boasting”

         “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.” – Galatians 6:14

         In making the above statement, the Apostle Paul sets the standard regarding boasting quite high.  This stands in stark contrast to the words of the psalmist in Psalm 10:3 about how the wicked people brag about their evil desires.

         What is it about boasting or bragging that creates a problem in our lives?  Could it be that it isn’t so much the boasting itself, but rather that boasting is a symptom of a deeper issue, pride?  When you look at the surrounding verses in Psalm 10, you will notice that the psalmist indeed connects boasting and pride.  Paul also connects these two traits in two separate lists of vices or sinful tendencies of mankind (Rom. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:2).

         Are you struggling with boasting?  Let me first encourage you to examine your heart for pride.  Second, allow me to remind you that every good and perfect thing in your life is from God so, really, your boasting is pointless (James 1:17).

July 7th

Psalm 92-97.  “Thanksgiving”

         “Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic.” – John Henry Jowett

         Yesterday we thought about boasting and pride.  One way to approach reducing our tendency towards boasting is to respond with gratitude.   As Pastor Jowett so aptly noted, gratitude is good medicine especially towards pride which leads to boastfulness.

         We have all seen this difference in the professional athletes of the 21st century.  Those who are truly thankful for their opportunity and God-given talent do not boast of their personal exploits.

         Thankfulness should be a constant theme of our lives.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “no matter what happens, always be thankful” (1 Thess. 5:18).  The psalmist in our readings today has declared that it is “good to give thanks to the Lord” (92:1), and that we are to “come before Him with thanksgiving” (95:2).  Clearly, thanksgiving should be a significant component of our relationship with the Lord.

         How else are we to respond and approach the One who has done so much for us?

July 8th

Psalm 98-100, 102, 104.  “The Power of the Spoken Word”

         “The tongue is mightier than the blade” – Euripides, Greek poet ca. 5th century B.C.

         The power of the spoken word is often underappreciated.  The tongue, or our speech, can do much damage, oftentimes without our planning it or even our awareness of it at the time.  James compares the potential for damage by the tongue to a small spark in a forest (James 3:5).  We are all familiar with cases where someone’s reputation is damaged or their career is ruined because they said the wrong thing.  There is a tremendous power in the spoken word.  This is also true of God, who spoke creation into existence (Psalm 104:7).  We also see this in Jesus, who was able to speak healing directly into people’s lives (Luke 7:1-10).

         So why do we struggle so mightily with taming our tongues?  Why do we so often hurt people with our words?  It is because speech is permanent and conversation is often spontaneous.  Unlike the written word which can be edited, the spoken word is raw and cannot be taken back.

         May your speech be filled with grace (Colossians 4:6).

Bible Discussion Guide:
How can you tell the difference between genuine sincere compliments and flattery?
What kind of damage can happen to a relationship when we use flattery?
Why is it so difficult to tell the truth sometimes?
Is it ever okay to lie?
What does it mean to be still and know that He is God?
Why can it be so difficult to be silent?
Why is it that, once we start speaking, we listen so poorly? 
What does it communicate when we listen poorly?  How does that affect a relationship?
What is it about boasting or bragging that creates a problem in our lives? 
What can we tell ourselves in order to avoid boasting?
What do you have in life to be thankful for?
How does being thankful impact the way we communicate with ourselves, others and with God?
Can you share a time when you said something that you wish you could have taken back?
Personal application:  What changes can you make to avoid hurting people with your words?

2 Chronicles 29:3-31:21.  “Faithful Reform”

Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, was a wicked king, as was Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh.  However, Hezekiah “did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight” (29:2).  Hezekiah promoted reform in Judah as had not been witnessed in years.  He developed a powerful prayer life and interceded for his people.  He instituted civil and religious reform.  He contributed generously to God’s work.  He aggressively removed evil influences from his life and from Judah.  He reformed worship in the lives of the people.  He reintroduced Passover, and rededicated the Temple.
Often our passion to reform is more in line with a failing resolution.  The element missing is the heart.  Reform works when the heart propels it.  If our heart isn’t in it, it won’t last.  This is confirmed by the statement at the end of chapter 31; “In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow the law and the commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly.  As a result, he was very successful” (v. 21).  As you commit to serve, obey, and grow in the Lord, make sure your heart is in it.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

2 Kings 16:19-20; 2 Chronicles 28:26-27; Isaiah 13-16.  “Faithful Prophecies”

It is amazing to read through the passage in Isaiah as it describes the fall of Babylon and to remember that this was written a century before Babylon even became a world power.  Assyria was the world power in the time of Isaiah, and Babylon is just a small part of that empire.  Isaiah predicts that it will not only become a world power (which it did), but that it will also fall in such a way that it will remain desolate and uninhabited.  Saddam Hussein tried for years to restore Babylon and make himself “the Nebuchadnezzar replacement”.
And the prophecies didn’t stop there.  Isaiah continues in chapters 44 and 45 to prophesy by name who it was who would overthrow Babylon.  Cyrus united the Medes and Persians and overthrew Babylon about a century after their reign as the world power.
The Medo-Persian Empire remained the world power until the Roman Empire overthrew them, which was also prophesied (very detailed in the book of Daniel).  
Moral: The Bible is 100% true 100% of the time.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Isaiah 1:21-5:30.  “Faithful Judgment”

“God is a judge who is perfectly fair” (Psalm 7:11a).  
Today’s passage testifies repeatedly of God’s coming judgment.  Israel and Judah were to be dealt with according to their disobedience.  There are actually four things to remember as you read this passage.  Number one, the judgment is warranted by the accused.  Israel rejected God and everything He asked of them.  Number two, the judgment is fitting to the offense.  Because of Israel’s rejection of God, it is appropriate that He let that choice take its course (see Rom. 1:21-32).  Number three, the Judge is righteous and fair.  Who are we to question the decisions and judgment of God?  We all know about rules when we play a game.  Rules make playing the game more enjoyable and practical.  It would not make sense without them.  Why do we balk at God’s rules?  Number four, the judgment is coming.  Beyond the judgments Israel endured there is a final judgment for all people, and the duration of that sentence will be eternal.  Choose wisely for there are but two options; Heaven or Hell.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

2 Kings 17:5-41; 18:9-12; Isaiah 1:1-20; 28:1-29.  “Faithful Treatment”

Isaiah 28 closes with a wonderful poetic parable.  The parable describes how a farmer deals uniquely with each crop.  The farmer knows what each of his various sections of land will produce the most of a specific crop.  He knows what tools will prepare the land the best.  He knows what each crop will require in order to produce the highest yield.  
It is apparent that this passage is dealing with discipline that Israel is about to receive.  Israel is about to receive God’s punishment for centuries of ignoring His rules and refusing to serve Him alone. Yet, in the parable lies the beauty of God’s compassion.  God’s actions “will be as measured and as well-timed as a farmer’s.”  God will take into account the vulnerability and character of Israel.  He will deal with them as He knows best, so that in the end the harvest will be fruitful.
God does the same for us.  He knows what we need and what we can handle.  He knows how far He will need to stretch us in order to make us the most fruitful in the end.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?