Here is today’s Bible reading:1 Kings 9:1-10:29; Acts 8:14-40; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 17:2-3.
Proverbs 17:3 (NIV)
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.
Our trials are the furnace God uses to remove the impurities of our lives. How is God testing and refining you today? Will you thank Him for this sanctifying work that is for your good in making you more like Jesus?
Here is today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 16:31-33.
Proverbs 16:32 (NIV)
Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
“The issue is that the church in North America has, for the most part, embraced this insidious monster of consumerism in the most pragmatic manner and has used it as a principle foundation for church growth (66).”
“The difficulty is that we live in a church culture where external success is self-justifying. If more people are coming to our church, this is obviously a sign of success, and God must be pleased. The throng of people coming into the church is decisive evidence that the kingdom of God is advancing, or so we believe. And if this belief is held by the church leadership, then we will be continuously tempted to pursue pragmatic methods to attract and retain people. The insidious thing about this, of course, is that these efforts are inextricably enmeshed with teaching them how to follow Christ. In other words, our attraction all methods are not value neutral. We are training people as we attract them (67).”
Here is today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 5:1-6:38; Acts 7:1-29; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 16:28-30.
Psalm 127:1 (NIV)
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Whenever I try to take matters into my own hands, I become frustrated and ineffective. Whenever I surrender to the will and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, I experience fulfillment and a supernatural anointing. Who is building your house – your life, your family, your career, your future, your ministry?
Here is today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 3:3-4:34; Acts 6:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 16:26-27.
Psalm 126:5-6 (NIV)
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
[6] He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
This great Psalm of hope has meant a lot to me. For those in Christ, the best is always yet to come. He is in the business of taking our season of tears and turning it into joy and fruitfulness.
Acts 6:15 (NIV)
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
This guy was the real deal. He is facing death and totally at peace. It was not Stephen, but the Holy Spirit living through him.
1 Kings 3:10-13 (NIV)
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. [11] So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, [12] I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. [13] Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for–both riches and honor–so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
Good answer Solomon! We desperately need God’s wisdom.
Here is today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 2:1-3:2; Acts 5:1-42; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 16:25.
Psalm 125:1 (NIV)
A song of ascents.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
We can be unshakeable! We do not have to be tossed to and fro by our constantly changing circumstances. Regardless of who or what comes against us, we can be secure in Christ. The question is, will we trust Him?
Acts 5:18-20 (NIV)
They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. [19] But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. [20] “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
May God release us from our people pleasing prisons that we might proclaim His Truth plainly and with power.
Here is today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 1:1-53; Acts 4:1-37; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 16:24.
Acts 4:13 (NIV)
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Ordinary men become extraordinary when they spend time with Jesus.
Acts 4:20 (NIV)
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Evangelism is not a program or a strategy. It is the natural overflow of a life with Jesus.
“In today’s sophisticated and selfish society we are much more likely to criticize than praise, quicker to complain than to thank, and more ready to vent disappointment before expressing gratitude (Celia Bowering, xii).”
“Would you know him who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most alms, but it is he who is always thankful to God, who receives everything as an instance of God’s goodness and has a heart always ready to praise God for it (William Law, xii).”
Here is today’s Bible reading: 2 Samuel 23:24-24:25; Acts 3:1-26; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 16:21-23.
Why was God so displeased when David counted his troops? I believe it was because David had begun to trust in his own might rather than God’s. Pride had crept in. This is ironic because David himself had written: Psalm 20:7 (NIV) Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. This story shows us that we must be ever vigilant about exercising a humble dependence upon God. Zech. 4:6 (NIV) So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
With My Own Eyes 