With My Own Eyes

Here is today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20;Acts 19:13-41;Psalm 147:1-20;Proverbs 18:4-5.

Acts 19:13-16 (NIV)  
    Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” [14] Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. [15] One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” [16] Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

There is an important lesson here regarding spiritual warfare. While it is absolutely true that God is far more powerful than Satan, it is also true that Satan is far more powerful than we are.  Frail human beings do not stand a chance against fallen angels.  Therefore, before we do battle, we must be certain that we are filled with God’s Spirit. Without the power of God, we will be defeated, just like the seven sons of Sceva.  Do the evil spirits know you as they know Jesus and Paul? Are you a threat to the kingdom of darkness because of your absolute allegiance to Christ and the filling of His Spirit?

Here is today’s Bible reading:  2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:22-19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3.

Proverbs 18:2 (NIV)
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.

Sounds like most exchanges I encounter on cable “news” shows.

Psalm 146:3 (NIV)
Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.

Very happy to not be counting on the government to save me.

Psalm 146:5 (NIV)
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,

Here is today’s Bible reading:  2 Kings 10:32-12:21; Acts 18:1-21; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 18:1.

Acts 18:4 (NIV)
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Not all of Paul’s ministry had instantaneous results.  He had to show up consistently and do the work–just like us.  He had to persevere–just like us.   May God give us the strength that we need to minister each day, even when it is a grind.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  2 Kings 9:14-10:31; Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 17:27-28.

Proverbs 17:27 (NIV)
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Jesus modeled this.  None of His words were wasted.  Each was carefully measured and purposeful.  May God teach us to likewise measure our words carefully.  

Here is today’s Bible reading:  2 Kings 8:1-9:13; Acts 16:16-40; Psalm 143:1-12; Proverbs 17:26.

Acts 16:25-30 (NIV)
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. [26] Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. [27] The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. [28] But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
[29] The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. [30] He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

It was as the jailer witnessed how these followers of Christ endured suffering with joyful spirit  that he was drawn to the Gospel.  Our hardships may be the best opportunities we have to share Jesus with others.  

Here is today’s Bible reading:  2 Kings 6:1-7:20; Acts 15:36-16:15; Psalm 142:1-7; Proverbs 17:24-25.

2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)
And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

May the Lord open our eyes to see beyond the physical realm and into the spiritual realm.  May He give us eyes of faith that see the unseen and trust Him completely.  

Here is today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 4:18-5:27;Acts 15:1-35;Psalm 141:1-10;Proverbs 17:23.

2 Kings 5:11-14 (NIV)  
    But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. [12] Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
    [13] Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” [14] So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

It is so like us to insist that God do things our way, as if we know best. I appreciate the fact that Naaman was alternately teachable, humbled himself, and followed through in obedience. As a result he experienced an outpouring of God’s power in his life. In what area of your life are you insisting that God do things your way, as if you know best? Will you follow the example of Naaman by humbling yourself and following through with whatever it is that God is calling you to do? An outpouring of his power is sure to follow.

“Getting what we want is part of daily life in our culture.  Our satisfaction is paramount.  If we don’t like this television show, we hit the button.  If we don’t like this song on our iPod, we hit the button.  If the church stops meeting our needs, we hit the button.  Every day, we are told that what we have is insufficient.  We are bombarded with messages to upgrade, trade in and borrow to buy.  Our economy thrives on perpetual discontentment.  The long-term consequence of this relentless marketing of dissatisfaction is that we become accustomed to having our needs met when and how we want.  We become experts at “dissatisfaction remediation” (116).”