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One of the things I have always loved about sports is that there is always a score to measure how you are doing.  One of the things I have always been frustrated about ministry is that there is no clear way to keep score.  How do churches measure how they are doing?  In our culture, we tend to use the two “B’s”, butts and bucks, to keep score.  The more B’s you have, the better you are doing as a church.  I guess Jesus wasn’t very successful, because he had very few B’s.  From my youth pastor days, I know that all I had to do to draw a crowd was announce that there would be free pizza.  Was this success?  I don’t think so.  Likewise, we can draw adult crowds to our churches with the right mix of entertainment elements and ear tickling message.  But is this success?  I think a better measuring stick is whether or not a church is fruitful.  Specifically, are they growing in their ability to manifest the fruits of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I believe this is God’s scoreboard.  It is harder to read than butts and bucks, but it is certainly more meaningful.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 33:13-35:10; Galatians 5:13-26;
Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 23:23.

Psalm 63:1 (NIV)
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

When I was a kid, I thought Twinkies were the best food in the world (now that I am a mature adult that title is now bestowed upon Krispe Kreme donuts).  Of course as kids we were told not to eat “sweets” before dinner because it would ruin our appetite for foods that actually contained nutrients.  I find that principle to be true spiritually.  If I fill up on lesser things, my appetite for God can be ruined.  I don’t long for Him like I should, because I have filled the place that rightfully belongs to Him with spiritual Twinkies–momentarily satisfying but ultimately leaving me empty.  Do you hunger for God, or lesser things?  How do you satisfy the spiritual craving of your soul?

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 30:12-33:12; Galatians 4:21-5:12; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 23:22.

Isaiah 29:16 (NIV)
You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
“He did not make me”?
Can the pot say of the potter,
“He knows nothing”?

Sin is all about role reversal.  We take the place of God.  We know better.  We will rule our lives.  As Isaiah says, “We turn things upside down.”  We live in an upside down world.  What is truly valuable is diminished and what is worthless is held in high esteem.  We desperately need to return to our rightful role as clay in the hands of a wise and loving potter who truly knows what is best for His creation.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 28:14-30:11; Galatians 3:23-4:20; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 23:19-21.

Proverbs 23:12 (NIV)
Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.

Really mature, intelligent people realize how much they don’t know and how much they need to learn.  They seek knowledge more than displaying their knowledge.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 15:1-18:7; Galatians 1:1-24; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 23:12.

Acts 1:1 – “Unfinished Business”

Every one of my tears is recorded by God.  He hears and He cares.

Psalm 56:8 (NIV)
Record my lament;
list my tears on your scroll–
are they not in your record?

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8.

2 Cor. 12:9-10 (NIV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It has always been important to me to be strong.  And I have definitely wanted to be perceived as strong.  But these impulses are not compatible with spiritual strength.  So, it is no wonder that God is taking me through a season of weakness, so that I can learn what it is to truly be strong.  Like the Apostle Paul, I have had to learn to embrace weakness, so that the power of God can be manifest in my life.  When I am weak, then I am strong.

Here is the rest of today’s Bible reading:  Isaiah 8:1-9:21; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 23:4-5.

Song 4:1 (NIV)
Lover
How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
descending from Mount Gilead.

For some reason, Christy did not respond favorably to this recitation of the Word of God.  I really did mean well.

As an aside, I think a great punishment for a Jr. High boy would be for him to have to read aloud the Song of Songs in the presence of his family.  Maybe even invite over a few friends from school.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 22:22-23.

Eccles. 12:13-14 (NIV)
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
[14] For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

There is a conclusion to this life.  What will yours be like?

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 22:20-21.