This week is a time to reflect on the reading and journaling you have done over the last 25 weeks. Our reading will begin again on July 1, 2024.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Saturday, June 22, 2024
Isaiah 26
SATURDAY Reflections
Chapter 26 continues looking to Jesus’ future kingdom. In verse
19, there is the promise of a life after death. They had thought their pain
brought forth nothing but God promises the dead will come back that the earth
will give birth to her dead. In many places in the Bible, there is the
promise there is more to life than this life.
Isa 26:1-21
(1) In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
(2) Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
(3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
(4) Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
(5) For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.
(6) The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
(7) The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
(8) Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
(9) With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
(10) Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
(11) LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.
(12) LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
(13) O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
(14) They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
(15) Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.
(16) LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
(17) Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.
(18) We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
(19) Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
(20) Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
(21) For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Friday, June 21, 2024
Job 21
FRIDAY Reflections
Job's words here in chapter 21 could easily
be in Ecclesiastes. There and here Job points out that though the wicked should
be punished in this life it seems as if everything goes well for them. He sees
that life doesn't always follow the rules we want them to.
The
one flaw with Job's argument is that the wicked don't always have it easy. It
does seem that when things go wrong for people who are trying to live right and it
does seem that examples of the wicked suffering are hard to find. Job's pain is
the pain of most people at some time in their life. Job's logic also seems to
be the logic of most. We can feel as it were, his pain and our own.
Job 21:2-34
(2) Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
(3) Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
(4) As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
(5) Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
(6) Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
(7) Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
(8) Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
(9) Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
(10) Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
(11) They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
(12) They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
(13) They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
(14) Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
(15) What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
(16) Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
(17) How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
(18) They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
(19) God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
(20) His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
(21) For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
(22) Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
(23) One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
(24) His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
(25) And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
(26) They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
(27) Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
(28) For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
(29) Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
(30) That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
(31) Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
(32) Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
(33) The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
(34) How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Acts 1
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| The dove has been a symbol for the Holy Spirit. |
WEEK 25 Acts 1
THURSDAY Reflections
The Acts of the Apostles
Or as it has also been called The Acts of the
Holy Spirit through believers. The reason this book has been looked at as the
work of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost in some translations) is found in verse 8
of chapter 1. In the verse, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit is what is
going to empower His followers to be his witnesses. It is through this power
that the apostles and others were able to do what they did.
It is also the power of the Holy Spirit which gives believers today the power to do the most remarkable thing in the world; to be transformed into holy people. The power to work miracles, prophecy, or even speak in tongues is small compared to the power to transform the heart of man. This power to transform, I believe, is the real power to be witnesses that Jesus is talking about.
Act 1:1-26
(1) The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
(2) Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
(3) To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
(4) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
(5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
(7) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
(8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(9) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
(10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
(11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
(12) Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
(13) And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
(14) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
(15) And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
(16) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
(17) For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
(18) Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
(19) And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
(20) For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
(21) Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
(22) Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
(23) And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
(24) And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
(25) That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
(26) And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Proverbs 5
WEDNESDAY Reflections
Sexual sins always seem good. They may feel good for a time, but eventually, they always lead to trouble. God’s plan is to have those in marriage find happiness in each other. Any other path leads to issues everything from disease, sexual dysfunctions, to the lack of enjoyment and the seeking of more dangerous forms of sexual pleasure.
The writer of Proverbs gives wisdom as the answer to misplaced desire. It is the mind and heart which the writer says is the way to overcome the base desires. However, there isn’t a prohibition from all sex. The writer says that marriage is the place we should be captivated by passion. The writer goes into nearly into rated-R detail but since it is in marriage the writer celebrates God's gift.
Pro 5:1-23
(1) My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
(2) That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
(3) For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
(4) But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
(5) Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
(6) Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
(7) Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
(8) Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
(9) Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
(10) Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
(11) And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
(12) And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
(13) And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
(14) I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
(15) Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
(16) Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
(17) Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
(18) Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
(19) Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
(20) And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
(21) For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
(22) His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
(23) He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Exodus 3
TUESDAY Reflections
There are some really good questions that
Moses asked God. Later in the story, Moses goes from asking questions to giving
excuses, but here in chapter three Moses is asking questions that are very
reasonable.
“Who am I?” This question shows a level of
humility that is needed for anyone serving God. God’s answer was He would be
going with him and would thus be not just an equalizer but the overwhelming
power which would bring the deliverance.
“Who are you?” In a society full of gods
this is a reasonable question. A god of the land might have some powers. A god
of the night might have others. All the gods of Egypt had different rites and
requirements, so Moses needed to know what and who he was serving. This is one
of the reasons we have the Bible, it gives us a picture of God like nothing
else.
In the New Testament, Jesus, as God in the Flesh, is the greatest picture we have, because of him we can know the kind of God we serve. We can know his power and his requirements.
Exo 3:1-22
(1) Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
(2) And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
(3) And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
(4) And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
(5) And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
(6) Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
(7) And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
(8) And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
(9) Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
(10) Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
(11) And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
(12) And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
(13) And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
(14) And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
(15) And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
(16) Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
(17) And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
(18) And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
(19) And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
(20) And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
(21) And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
(22) But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
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