July 12 – Luke 17-18

Focus before you read. . .

Today’s reading focuses on Jesus’ teachings on faith, the kingdom of God, and prayer.  In each parable or lesson, Jesus targets a specific audience and communicates a specific message. As you read these teachings, pay close attention, not just to the story itself, but to the context of the parable.  Also keep in mind that Jesus always knows the hearts of his audience and, as the ultimate teacher, delivers just the right words for the situation.  When the Pharisees ask Him about the timing of the kingdom of God, for instance, Jesus addresses their misconceptions about the very nature of the kingdom.  As you read today, examine your own heart.  If you were literally walking with the Lord, hearing his teachings, what parable or lesson would He have for you?

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. In 17:21 Jesus says that “the kingdom of God is within you.”  What does this mean?  How is this idea different from the teachings of the New Age movement that instruct followers to “find the god within them”?
2. What does Jesus teach about the end times?  What does He instruct his followers to do?
3. What is the rich young man’s real heart issue?  Why do you think Jesus required him to sell his possessions?  What larger point is He making?

Application to make after you read. . .

“How hard it is for the rich man to enter the kingdom of God?  Indeed it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  While some scholars believe that the “eye of the needle” referred to a narrow mountain passage which was difficult for a camel to go through, others believe that Jesus was speaking figuratively and was referring to a sewing needle.  Regardless, Jesus’ message is clear: “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (18:27).  The rich man’s problem was his dependence on his material possessions.  The same could be said of any of us—rich or poor—who in our self-reliance and self-sufficiency fail to realize our need to come to Jesus.  What gifts has God given you?  Are you depending on those gifts, or are you depending on the One who gave those gifts to you?

Prayer

Lord, forgive us for our self-reliance.  Lead us in our daily journey from pride to humility.

July 11 – Ezekiel 19-24

Focus before you read. . .

Today’s reading completes Ezekiel’s message of doom to the captives in Babylon, removing all hope that Jerusalem would be saved and they could return to the city.  Just as Jeremiah was prophesying in Jerusalem that the city would soon be overtaken, Ezekiel drives home the message that the captives too would not escape judgment for their sins.  “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it,” the Lord declares through the prophet, “but I found none.  So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger” (22:30-31).  As you read through the various illustrations—including the death of Ezekiel’s own wife—that explain the Lord’s judgment, pay close attention to the overarching theme of justice.  Why does God act in this way?  How do the events of the 6^th century B.C. fit into the larger narrative of God’s plan for our salvation?

Questions to ask as you read. . .

• 1. Focus on the specific illustrations of Ezekiel’s prophecy.  What do the following represent?
     • The lioness and her cubs (Ch. 19)
     • Two adulteress sisters (Ch. 23)
     • The cooking pot (Ch. 24)
     • The death of Ezekiel’s wife (Ch. 24)

2.  What is the Lord’s rationale for His actions?    Where do you see evidence of God’s patience and mercy?

• 1. What aspects of Ezekiel’s character stand out to you?  What specific burdens does he have to carry?

Application to make after you read. . .

At a time of widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness, God looked for individuals to “stand in the gap” of the broken wall around the city of Jerusalem.  Having found the superficial religious rituals of the people inadequate, He searched in vain for faithful individuals who could lead a true spiritual reconstruction.  Where is God calling you to “stand in the gap”?  How is He prompting you to help lead spiritual reconstruction in your family?  In your church?  In your neighborhood?  In your workplace?

Prayer

Lord, purify our hearts and minds so that we might be come agents of spiritual reconstruction in the lives of others.

July 10 – Proverbs 8-9

Focus before you need. . .

Today’s reading invites us to dig deeply into the nature of God’s wisdom.  In Chapter 8, wisdom is personified to highlight both its importance and its specific characteristics.  As you read this proverb, pay close attention to the foundational role wisdom plays in all of life.  In the next chapter, Solomon extends this discussion, this time underscoring the contrast between wisdom and folly by portraying each as rival young woman preparing for a feast.  Which invitation will you accept?  How do you know if one is living according to God’s wisdom?  Ask yourself these questions as you study these two proverbs carefully.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. “To fear the Lord is to hate evil” (8:13).  What do you hate?
2. What role did wisdom play in the creation of the world?  How does this proverb compare to God’s response to Job?  Read Colossians 1:15-17.  What role did Christ play in creation?
3. How does a wise man respond to correction?  How does a mocker respond? How do you respond to correction?

Application to make after you read. . .

Wisdom, according to 8:10, begins with the “fear of the Lord.”  What does it mean to fear the Lord?  Christ’s death and resurrection have made it possible for us to have reconciliation with the Father.  As Paul writes, “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5:1-2).  This relationship, however, should in no way lessen our awe of and respect for God—and our total dependence upon Him for an abundant life on earth and eternal joy in heaven.  Wisdom begins with a right view of God.  Everything we do and say is a reflection of what we think about God.  Do you believe that God really loves you and has a perfect plan for your life?  Or are you “leaning on your understanding” for your future?  Do you take the study and application of God’s word seriously?  Or do you place yourself above scripture, picking and choosing which commandments to follow?

Prayer

Father, help us to understand in our minds that all wisdom comes from You.  Help us to know in our hearts that You are more precious than anything this world has to offer.  Help us to apply this knowledge to our daily actions in a way that points others to the way, the truth, and the life.

July 9 – Psalms 78-80

Focus before you read. . .

Who is responsible for passing the good news of the gospel to the next generation?  Is it a collective (corporate) responsibility or individual?

As you read. . .

“O my people, hear my teaching…We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done…he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.  Then they would put their trust in God”

Prayer after reading. . .

Lord, help me honor this command to tell the next generation of your deeds, power, and wonders.  Through the Holy Spirit alive in me, direct me to opportunities to show and tell of your love for the children you put in my path today.

July 8 – 2 Kings 1-5

The hinge between I Kings and II Kings is twofold:

• 1. The transition from Elijah to Elisha as God’s prophet on the scene.
  2. The quickening downward spiral of Israel (NKI) after the death of Ahab.

• The kings of Israel become weaker and live in deepening and hardening

• rejection of the Lord and his requirements.

Questions to ask as you read:

Note the ellipsis, or “bookends” of 1:1 and 3:5 where the Moab’s rebellion is highlighted.

The material in between brings us up to speed for the rest of the book.

The plot of the book(s) is all about competing power structures.  How does the conflict between Elisha and the captains sent by Ahaziah let us understand the competing power

structures?

Note that the King(s) are un-named in some of the extended passages.  Compare chapters 3 and 5. What does that tell us about the relative weight of the powers involved?

Chapter 2 tells of Elijah’s being taken up by God, and Elisha’s assumption of spiritual power.  Why would Elisha not leave Elijah?   Note the prominence of water in this extended passage:  (Don’t forget the water at Carmel,  I Kings 18:33-35) Locate the water

reference in Chapters 2, 3 and 5

What is Joram’s attitude toward the Lord?  (3:10,13)  Why is this important?

List the instances of God’s unusual provision for his faithful servants.  Note that they personally experience his loving provision.

In Chapter 5, who gives the king of Aram victory?  Does this seem strange?

What did the captive slave girl know that the King of Israel did not know?

Why would Elisha not accept a gift from Naaman?

Application to make after you read:

In several places in II Kings various participants have their vision restricted or extended in either physical or spiritual dimensions.  (See 2:11; 6:8; 6:17)  How do they compare?

Has God ever extended your vision to see his hand present or his plans future for you?

What is your “obedience quotient” for doing the little things that God requires of us all?

Naaman almost missed his healing because he felt he was above doing a task that required only simply faith-obedience.  Where might you be more obedient?

Prayer:

Trust and obey—for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus;

But to trust—and obey.

July 7 – Leviticus 10-12

Focus before you read…

At Mt. Sinai God had emphasized to the people of Israel that they were to be a holy nation set

apart for Him.  This special relationship with God could only be maintained if 1) there was

togetherness, continued fellowship with Him on a regular basis; and 2) constant maintenance of

that relationship through obedience.  This is the purpose of Leviticus; it is the believers’ manual

for living as God’s holy people.  As we read through Leviticus, we need to look at each passage

in three ways: 1) What did it mean for Israel at that time? 2) What does it show us about God the

Father or the Lord Jesus Christ?: and 3) How can it apply to us today?

Questions to ask as you read…

1. How were Nadab and Abihu acting in disobedience to God’s commands?  Why was their

punishment so severe?  How did Aaron show his reverence for and obedience to God?

1. What do you think was the reason for these dietary prohibitions in chapter 11 and the ones regarding childbirth in chapter 12?  What does it show us about God?

Applications to make after you read…

Have you ever had a day that promised to be glorious and turned out to be a disaster?  That’s

what chapter 10 must have been for Aaron.  Everything about what his sons did was wrong and presumptuous!  But why was God’s discipline so harsh?  Serving God is both a great privilege

and an awesome responsibility. It is not to be taken lightly.  Chapters 11 and 12 are a picture of

God’s graciousness and protectiveness toward His people.  Whether in the protection from dangerous food or the protection of a mother and her child from undue responsibilities and

contacts, God was showing that He cared about every aspect of His people’s lives.

Prayer…

Lord, help us realize what it means to be set apart as your children.  Give us the desire to lead

that set-apart life.  Thank you for your gracious care of us in every aspect of our lives

July 6 – Philippians 3-4

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading, Paul continues with his letter of encouragement to the church at Philippi, urging believers to view life from an eternal perspective, to persevere through the challenges of this world, and to access the strength they can find only in Christ.  As you read today, pay close attention to the following contrasts Paul highlights: confidence in religious tradition vs. confidence in Christ, focusing on the problems of the past vs. focusing on the hope of the future, finding security on earth vs. finding security in heaven, anxiety vs. peace, self-reliance vs. prayer.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. The “mutilators of the flesh” are those who believed that Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to be saved.  Why is Paul so opposed to this group?  What point is he making through listing his own qualifications as a “Hebrew of Hebrews”?
2. Paul writes, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (3:12).  What is the relationship between God’s role and our responsibility?  Does God’s extension of grace end once we are saved?
3. What are the keys to contentment (Ch. 4)?

4.  Meditate on verses 4:8-9.  How is your thought life?  What do you need to filter   out of your mind?

Application to make after you read. . .

While many of us have grasped the concept that we are saved by God’s grace through faith, not by our own efforts, we sometimes act as though the power of God’s grace somehow ends once we are saved.  It’s as if God saves us, and then we’re own our own the rest of the way.  Paul teaches throughout his letters that this is simply not the case.  “I can do everything” he writes, “through him [Christ] who gives me strength” (4:13).  Do you struggle with feeling inadequate?  Are you hindered by anxiety?  Perhaps you are relying too much on your own strength, instead of accessing the power of Christ through prayer.  As Pastor Steve reminds us, what we pray for is the best indication of what we’re truly trusting God for.  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (4:6-7).  What an awesome promise!

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for relying on my own strength and worrying about the future.  Increase my faith, so that I may depend fully on you and access your strength to fulfill your purpose for my life.

July 5 – Luke 15-16

Focus before you read…

Luke 15 reminds us of God’s heart towards the unsaved, sinful world. He places great value on seeking after the lost, those individuals who are separated from God and need to hear the “good news” of Jesus.  As you read today’s passage, notice where Jesus focuses His attention and where he instructs His followers to focus our hearts and actions towards others.

Questions to ask as you read…

1. What is the key take-away from the three parables that Jesus teaches in Luke 15:4-7, 5-9, 11-31?
2. What do you think was the attitude of the Pharisees towards “sinners” based on the description in Luke 15:2?  Is this a problem in today’s church?
3. What does it mean to “leave the ninety-nine… and go after the lost sheep” in Luke 15:4?
4. How does the phrase “light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully” in Luke 15:8 apply to us and our interactions with others?
5. What can we learn about the choices that people make from the story of the younger son in Luke 15:13-20?
6. What is the significance of the gifts and celebration for the lost son detailed in Luke 15:22-24?  How does this apply today?

Application to make after you read…

God’s love for lost men is great.  In Luke 15:2, we see an attitude emerging from the teachers of the Law that sinners are to be avoided.  Jesus corrects their thinking by sharing three parables.  We learn from these parables that we are to love and actively seek after the lost people that God has put in our lives and to rejoice and celebrate when they chose to follow Jesus Christ.  We see in Luke 15:13-20 that people will make poor choices and that the consequences sometimes can be great. The father’s tenderhearted attitude towards a repentant son culminated in a celebration of the son’s return.

Do you realize that God has placed you where you are today (your neighborhood, place of employment, etc.) to help deliver the “good news” to the unsaved people that encounter each day?  These people can learn of God’s love and grace through your practical help, words of encouragement, and testimony of God’s work and faithfulness in your life.  Is your attitude toward them that of judgment and disdain or love, grace and tenderness?  Are you avoiding these people or embracing the opportunity to be used of God to positively influence them for Christ?  Identify the individuals in your life who need the Lord, seek and pray for God’s wisdom on what He would have you do, and take an active step in faith to seek after them today!

July 4 – Ezekiel 13-18

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading, Ezekiel’s prophecy focuses on false prophets, idolaters, and the unfaithfulness of Jerusalem.  While the warnings the prophet gives were delivered more than 2500 years ago, they are still relevant to our American culture today.  As you read, think about examples of “false prophets” and “idolaters” in our own times.  What core truth is Ezekiel communicating about our devotion to the Lord?  In chapters 16 and 17, Ezekiel uses the literary form of an allegory to paint a vivid picture of the consequences of Jerusalem’s sin.  An allegory is a system of symbols that work together to communicate a specific message.  Again, as you read today, pay close attention to each of the symbols within the allegory and try to determine the deeper spiritual message Ezekiel is delivering.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. What sins has Jerusalem committed?  How does Ezekiel’s prophecy compare to the messages of the other major prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah?
2. The Lord addresses Ezekiel as “Son of man.”  Be careful not to confuse this title with the “Son of Man” title used to describe Jesus.  However, do you see any prophecies that relate to the coming of Jesus Christ in this reading?  Look carefully at the message of hope at the end of chapter 17.
3. Read chapter 18 carefully.  What role does one’s parentage play in God’s judgment?  On what factor does God’s judgment depend?

Application to make after you read. . .

In chapter 13, Ezekiel paints a clear picture of false prophets who used “whitewash” to cover up their “flimsy wall” of lies with a pleasing front.  Such walls will not last, says the Lord, for He promises to send rain, hailstones, and wind.  “When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, ‘Where is the whitewash you covered it with?’” (13:12).  Such is the value of the false fronts we construct to cover our true character.  What forms of “whitewash” are you using in your own life?  Ezekiel’s prophecy reminds us of the futility of trying to hide our lies from God.  While we may succeed for a time in fooling some people, we can never hide from God—and the storms of life will eventually reveal our true character to all.

Prayer

Lord, help us to remove the “whitewash” from our lives.  May we live our lives transparent before You.

July 3 – Proverbs 7

Focus before you read. . .

Today’s proverb focuses on a father’s advice to his son to keep away from the adulteress woman.  Both the illustration and the message itself, however, can be applied to any temptation.  As you read today, try to apply the lessons of this proverb to whatever temptation you are currently facing.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. The father instructs his son to “store up” his commands and “guard” his teachings.  What do these two descriptions suggest about the purpose of instruction?
2. What strategies does the adulteress use?  How do these strategies relate to other types of temptation?
3. What are the consequences of the young man’s sin?  What did he fail to realize?

Application to make after you read. . .

Today’s proverb provides straightforward counsel on avoiding the snares of not only the adulteress woman, but temptation in general.  Here are at least three key lessons to consider:

1. “Store up” the lessons you have been taught before you face temptation.  As Paul writes in Ephesians 6, “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.”  Also, be sure to “guard” the Biblical teachings you have received from the corrupting influence of the world that may call that advice into question.
2. Don’t look for trouble or invite temptation.  The young man’s first mistake is to walk “down the street near her corner.”
3. Visualize the long-term consequences of your sin.  The young man was led astray, “little knowing it will cost him his life.”

Prayer

Father, this is my prayer:

“I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:10-11)