With My Own Eyes

I was disappointed that Votto’s knee wasn’t healthy enough to play.  I embarrassed Anna by yelling out to him and asking how he was feeling.  His response:  “Terrible.”

Here is today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; Acts 22:17-23:10; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 18:13.

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) He who answers before listening– that is his folly and his shame.

A wise person once said, “God gave you two ears and one mouth so that you would listen twice as much as you speak.” Sadly, listening has become a lost art. Contrary to the instruction of God’s word, we tend to be quick to speak and slow to listen.  How might your relationship with God be different if you spent more time listening? How might your relationship with others be different if you spent more time listening? May God grant us the discipline and patience to listen.

Two of my favorite things from the ’80s in the same picture:  former Reds OF Eric Davis and Star Wars.

No surprise that my kids can’t even agree on which team to cheer for.  (Josh has it right, by the way.)

Here is today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Acts 21:37-22:16; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 18:11-12.

Acts 22:15 (NIV)  
    You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

You can’t testify to what you have not experienced. If we want to be more effective in sharing Jesus, it begins with we ourselves having a fresh encounter with Jesus. Then we will be able to testify to what we have seen and heard.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  2 Kings 20:1-22:2; Acts 21:17-36; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 18:9-10.

2 Kings 20:16-19 (NIV)

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: [17] The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. [18] And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, that will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

[19] “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?”

Hezekiah’s attitude is disgusting. He cares only for his own comfort and not for the future of his descendents. Yet, this seems to also be the attitude of our nation in regard to debt. We seem to care only for peace and security in our lifetime with little regard for the future. May God give us a vision beyond ourselves.

Here is today’s Bible reading: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37;  Acts 21:1-16; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 18:8.

Psalm 149:6 (NIV)
May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,

This is such a great image of spiritual warfare. We are victorious over the evil one when the praise of God is on our lips and we are skillfully wielding the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

Acts 21:13-14 (NIV)
Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” [14] When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Paul once again demonstrates the proper perspective on this life and the life to come.

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?