Listening to the Word

Amos 7-9; Psalms. 104; Titus 2   “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say, ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled upright and godly lives in this present age…to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11, 14 We are born into sin, motivated by selfish desires and destined for eternal separation from God (death). That’s the bad news. If we don’t acknowledge and face that bad news, “salvation” is just another selfish desire and self-help program. We have been redeemed, or set free from the penalty of sin if we receive by faith the gift of grace, or unmerited favor by God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins. However, the same grace that saved us in Christ also motivates us to say “no” to selfish passions and sin. If we don’t say, “no” through the power of God’s grace in our lives, we have probably not experienced it. We cannot simply receive Go

  Amos 4-6; Psalms. 86; Titus 1   “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call on you…in the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me…teach me your way, O Lord,   and I will walk in your truth, give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:5, 7, 11 As we call out to the Lord and confess our need of Him and surrender our hearts to Him, He will change and transform our hearts and lives. There is no one we can trust our lives to who is more loving and faithful than the Lord God Almighty. It is because the Lord is loving and forgiving that we worship and fear Him. Our honor and respect for the Lord is the heart of worship. Without this heart of worship we live in a cold religion full of man-made rules. God is personal and desires relationship with us as we call out to Him and surrender our lives to Him. David and countless others throughout history testify to God’s goodness and love – and we can as well. “Lord God, you are my

Amos 1-3; Psalms. 80; 2 Timothy 4   “…the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but to all who long for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 What is the key to finishing well? In the last season of Paul’s life, his second letter to Timothy is full of final instructions from a mentor to his disciple. However, it is Paul’s life itself which is the loudest message. Paul is finishing well through focusing on the return of Jesus and his eternal reward. Eternity is clearly in view and eternity shapes the values Paul is living with. Paul is finishing well by fighting temptation, spiritual attacks and any distractions to his life of faith – till the end. He is running the race of faith with perseverance until the finish line. Paul’s expectation of eternal reward means that everything h

  2 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3   “   ‘My Father! My Father!’ he cried. ‘The chariots and horsemen of Israel!’                             Elisha said, ‘Get a bow and some arrows’; and he did so…‘Strike the ground.’ He struck it three times and stopped.” 1 Kings 13:14-19 God’s victory in our lives is not a formula or a charm that we can wear around our necks, nor a memorized prayer that we pray. The chariots and horsemen of Israel were the hosts of heaven that surrounded Elisha and that the king of Israel wanted to manipulate for his own purposes. Jehoash did evil in the eyes of the Lord, practiced idolatry and divination, yet still wanted God’s blessing and deliverance. Jehoash lacked zeal for the purposes of the Lord. His striking of the arrows on the ground and stopping at three times symbolized his limited obedience and zeal for God’s ways. Elisha represented a life fully yielded to the purposes and glory of God. Which person do we most identify with? “Lord Jesus, I o

Jonah 1-4; 2 Timothy 2   “Endure hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ…he wants to please his commanding officer…Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hard working farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops…” 2 Timothy 2:3-7 Why are we serving God? What motivates our service, our witness or our work? Paul uses the example of a soldier, an athlete and a farmer to describe people who serve God. What distinguishes the motivations of these three occupations? Soldiers endure hardship to please their officer. They are externally conditioned to obedience and honor. Athletes train hard to win a crown. They are internally conditioned to achievement. Farmers are motivated by the delayed gratification of growing crops to both eat and sell. They live with faith that what they have planted will produce a harvest. How would we describe our motivation? What is the most challenging goal

  Joel 1-3; 2 Timothy 1   “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill…for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand. The Lord thunders at the head of his army…and might are those who obey his command.” Joel 1:1, 11 This trumpet call is both a warning that the day of the Lord is near and Christ’s return is soon, as well as a mobilization to join His army the Church, who is on mission with Jesus. The army of the Lord is both physical and spiritual. The Church is mobilized as Christ’s Body on earth, those who obey His command. Yet we are also surrounded by the hosts of heaven, the angels of God. The call to prepare for the day of the Lord is both now and not yet. We are called to live with expectation to meet the Lord whose judgment of sin is both now and not yet. “Lord Jesus, you are my Commander, and I will obey your commands. May your trumpet be in my mouth as I call others to follow your mission and live for you and your return.”

2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6   “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…” 1 Timothy 6:11-12 What we pursue in life defines us. Those who pursue money are shaped by it. Those who pursue the values and character of the kingdom of God are transformed from glory to glory into the image of Christ. We will look and act more and more like Jesus if we daily surrender to the life and work of His Spirit at work within us. The process of transformation is very active and involves our will. We must flee from sin, pursue the fruit of the Spirit, fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of the eternal life which Jesus has offered us. This is not a passive journey, but a daily yielding of our will to the Spirit of God and the pursuit of His will and His ways. “Lord Jesus, I yield to your will and ways this day. Fil

  2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 22-23; 1 Timothy 5 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.” 1 Timothy 5:22 The laying on of hands involves the transference of authority. When it is done in setting apart someone for ministry, they are required to express that ministry for God’s glory and not their own. Young believers are not yet formed in their values and identity in the kingdom and become vulnerable to pride and abuse of their authority if given leadership too quickly. Discernment over time is essential in the calling out of leaders and those who are given authority in the church. When there is unconfessed sin in their lives, our support of their leadership and its consequences make us accountable for their leadership as well. Purity allows for God’s blessing and presence in our lives and the broader church. “Lord Jesus, I humble myself before you. Cleanse my life from anything that would dishonor your name and give us discernm

2 Kings 8-9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4   “Jehoram, son of Jehosophat, was king of Judah…he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab…Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign…He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related in marriage to Ahab’s family.” 1 Kings 8:16, 18, 25, 27 Who we marry, and the family we marry into, has a significant impact on our values, life choices and spiritual journey. When Jehosophat arranged for his son Jehoram to marry a daughter of Ahab, he invited into his family and the leadership of Judah the sins of Ahab’s house. The idolatry, witchcraft and rebellion against God that Ahab practiced were now grafted into Judah’s royal line. God’s word is clear that we are not to marry those outside of His family. When we do so, we damage our own spiritual health and that of our children for generations to

  2 Kings 6-7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3   “This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow, march down against them…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you…Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged…the Lord will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 There is great freedom in resting in the Lord. We must seek the face of God and His counsel and direction. However, once we have that direction, we can rest in faith that God will fulfill His word. Jehosophat and his men needed to take up their positions; however, they were not to fight. They were to stand firm and watch God’s deliverance. Jehosophat’s role was to stand in faith without fear; God promised deliverance. Are we striving in our flesh to do what God has already accomplished for us in Christ?   Are we afraid of an enemy that has already been defeated? The p

2 Kings 4-5; Psalms. 83; 1 Timothy 2   “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone:- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Our prayers and intercession move the hand of God and will affect the lives and destinies of people and nations. Satan targets those in authority because they have the power to influence justice and righteousness in the spheres in which they lead. Where there is peace, godliness and holiness, a society is expressing the values of God’s Kingdom and God’s blessing. In contexts like this, the salvation of God is transforming lives, relationships and the values of society. Intercession for this transformation in our lives and community is of first importance. Intercession for those in authority is of first importance. Our future depends on it. “Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit on our land. Fill our leaders with the desire

  2 Kings 1-3; Psalms.82; 1 Timothy 1   “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them, you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.” 1 Timothy 1:18-19 We follow the principles of God’s Word, not prophecies. However, God uses prophecies sometimes to confirm His call or direction in our lives. When we receive a prophecy we can ask the Lord for its application in our lives too quickly. It’s wiser to put that prophecy ‘on the shelf’ in our lives, and when we need it, the Holy Spirit will remind us of that word to us as a confirmation of what is already happening to encourage us in our faith. We are in a battle to not just hold on to our faith, but to share this faith with others. We are in a battle to maintain unbroken fellowship with God through His Spirit. The enemy wants to tempt us into sin and cloud our consciences so that we experience doubt and fear. God desires to speak to us a

1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18-19; Colossians 4   “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6   Disciples or followers of Jesus are always trying to win those they meet with the gospel. The mission that Jesus has given us is not ‘just for Sundays’ or mission trips. Every day our interactions with those we meet either advance or hinder the gospel. Our conversation either testifies that we live by the grace of God or for ourselves. The salting of our words indicates that our speech is being led by the Holy Spirit so that we speak appropriate words which preserve truth, disinfect slander and flavor conversations with God-honoring speech. Words matter to God. It requires self-control, wisdom and the Spirit’s anointing to be a consistent witness to the world around us with our speech. In order to make the most of every opportuni

  1 Kings 20-21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3   “For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God…put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…” Colossians 3:3, 5 We have died to our old life of sin and self-indulgence when we repent of our sins and receive the forgiveness and new life of Jesus Christ. However, this death to sin and self is both once for all at our conversion, and a daily choice we must make as we follow Jesus. We have died and been raised to new life in Christ, but we must also ‘put to death’ each day whatever belongs to our earthly nature (sexual immorality, impurity, greed, etc. Colossians 3:5-8). This daily discipline of ‘taking off’ and ‘putting on’ thoughts, attitudes and behaviors can only be accomplished in the power of the Spirit. “Lord Jesus, You are my life. Keep me vigilant today to the sins of the flesh and alive to the work of your Spirit.”

1 Kings 17-19; Colossians 2   “Then the Word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” 1 Kings 17:8-9 Elijah lived on mission with God. The price of that mission was obedience and faith in God as his Source – for all things. While Ahab the king hunted for him to kill him, Elijah was sent by God to Zarephath, the hometown of Ahab’s wicked wife Jezebel. God’s appointed place of refuge was a Sidonian widow from Zarephath. Even more unusual than the ravens that had already fed Elijah for some time in the Kerith Ravine, God now used a Sidonian widow to provide for Elijah’s needs. When Jesus told this story as an example of the scope of God’s kingdom mission and the depth of His mercy, the people in his hometown of Nazareth rioted (Luke 4:26). They could not accept that God’s salvation extended to the Sidonians.   Who is the ‘Widow of Zarephath’ that God wants to use in our lives today to reveal

  1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15-16; Colossians 1   “But as for you, be strong and do not give up for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him…” 2 Chronicles 16:9 Where does our strength come from? We can find strength in rest, in affirmation, in our wealth or in friends. God invites us to find our strength in Him, to be “…strong in the Lord.” Asa found his strength in the Lord against a massive Cushite army. His prayer was, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you…” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Why then did Asa rely on the Arameans years later to deliver him from Israel?   Was it because he was now wealthy and secure and he’d forgotten the early days of faith and dependency on the Lord for his strength? Last year’s testimony isn’t enough. We need new strength from God today. “Lord Jesus, You are my str

1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13-14; Philippians 4   “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God…I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Philippians 4:6, 12 What is the link between anxiety and a lack of contentment? The Western economy is based on stimulating and increasing consumption through advertising and creation of discontent with what we have. The resulting constant desire for more, and lack of contentment with what we have, can lead to anxiety. When God becomes the source and provision where our trust is placed, we can exchange anxiety for contentment and peace. Prayer is the place of exchange. When we surrender our wants and desires and anxiety for God’s peace and provision in thanking God for all we’ve received, we shift our focus from what we don’t have, to what we do have. Gratitude changes our perspective and the attitude of our heart. Unfortunately, so few have lea

  1 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 12; Philippians 3   “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 13:13-14 The focus of our lives as those living on mission with Jesus, must be forward. We live with hope, with expectation and with grace. Forgetting what is behind includes the pain of past failures and disappointments, as well as not living in the successes of the past. Today is the day. Now is the time of God’s grace and favor. Our testimony of God’s work and mercy must be current. We can’t coast on past testimonies, but continually seek to obey the Spirit today. Our goal is bringing glory to Jesus in all we do and completing His mission call for our lives. Our graduation ceremony to heaven will reveal the degree to which we completed that mission. Until then, let’s keep running with joy and perseverance! “Lord Jesus, thank you for the joy of your Spirit alive

1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10-11; Philippians 2   “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13 “So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam…” 1 Kings 12:15 Our pride and rebellion turns God’s heart against us and limits the grace that could be ours. Even though we are given the gift of salvation and forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, we are still called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Our knowledge that God is sovereign and able to move our hearts in the direction of His will and way, should motivate us to surrender ourselves to Him in all things so that His purposes for our lives and for His Church can be accomplished. Rehoboam’s rebellion against the wisdom of the elders was from the Lord. That should put the fear of God in us! What appears to be the ex

  Song 5-8; Philippians 1 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…stand firm in one Spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel, without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.” Philippians 1:27-28 The strength of our faith is not dependent on our circumstances or our feelings, but rather on Jesus Christ.   How do we live worthy of the gospel through opposition?   Paul’s call was for unity and even joy in the midst of suffering for the gospel. In the gospel, Jesus himself gave himself as a sacrifice for us; can we not also give ourselves to Him, no matter what happens? Living our mission means living in a spiritual battle. Stand firm, our leader Jesus has won the victory. “Lord Jesus, give me courage to stand firm with those who are suffering today for Christ and to live worthy of your gospel.”    

Song 1-4; Ephesians 6 “Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires…you are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.” Song of Solomon 3:5, 4:12 Waiting for God’s timing and direction in a romantic relationship is the difference between enjoying a beautiful garden and trampling through a newly planted garden and destroying the many not yet visible plants/seeds. Self-control is the capacity to wait, to defer pleasure because of a higher value. God’s best for our lives is the higher value. We live in surrender and submission to God’s will and way. Our first love for God precedes any love we have on earth and shapes those relationships and the timing with which we pursue them. “Lord Jesus, you are my first love. Thank you for pursuing me. Thank you for waiting for my readiness to respond to you. Give me that same self-control in my relationships.”  

  Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalms. 94; Ephesians 5   “If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but still will bring success.” Ephesians 10:10 Swinging harder is not the answer to breakthroughs in our spiritual journey, relationships or ministry. Keeping our axe sharp comes as we listen to the word of God every day and obey it. We also have the opportunity to sharpen each other. Speaking the truth in love keeps us sharp. When we get on our knees and listen to the Holy Spirit, it sharpens us. Success is the result of God’s Spirit bringing the breakthrough. “Lord Jesus, keep my life sharp! I offer my life, heart and mind to you for impact in your kingdom.”

  Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4   “As a prisoner for the Lord then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:1-2 We are called to be Christ’s ambassadors on earth. We represent the kingdom of God and we express the values and truths of that kingdom in how we live our lives. In Paul’s case, to live a life worthy of the calling he had received, he found himself arrested for sharing the gospel and put in prison. His response was not anger and frustration at the injustice of his situation, but love and humility. Paul was inspired by the example of Jesus, who in living a life worthy of His calling, willingly died a criminal’s death for us.   Can we live any other way?   To live worthy of the calling we have received, is to be filled with the love of God and the power of His Spirit, so that we are humble, gentle, patient, forbearing and loving. We are called to assignments and

Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalms. 18; Ephesians 3   “I pray…He may strengthen you with power…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…may have power to grasp…the love of Christ and to know this love…Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:14-21 As Paul prays for the Ephesian church, he prays three times for power: power to believe, power to respond and receive God’s love, and God’s power to act or do in us and through us what He desires.   Why do we need power to know and experience God’s presence in our lives?   Paul asks rhetorically in Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Satan and his forces are the “who”. They have an agenda to keep God’s people from knowing and experiencing God’s presence in our lives. We must resist in truths about who God is and about whom we are, to walk in intimacy with God. The power of the Spirit is available to God’s family to res

  Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalms. 45; Ephesians 2 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10 These towering words and truths have brought life and freedom to countless people through the ages. Salvation and peace with God is a gift of God’s grace and there is no amount of religious activity that will earn them. This one truth distinguishes the way of Jesus from every other religion in the world. Those who have experienced salvation and forgiveness by faith in Christ are saved for a purpose. Our lives have meaning in God’s family. We are all called to good works which God has prepared for each of us. Our lives are meant to bless others. We were blessed to be a blessing. God’s plan for our lives is not finished with our salvation. There is an abundant life

Proverbs 30-31; Psalms. 33; Ephesians 1   “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” Ephesians 1:17   We discover who God is and learn to know Him better through the person of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom is learning from past experiences and other people how to live with God’s ways. Revelation is God’s communication to us in the moment which enables us to see or perceive truth we need.   We need both timeless wisdom about who God is and who we are, as revelation of how to apply that wisdom in our current situation or stage in our journey of discipleship (following Jesus). The Spirit of God is our essential teacher if we want to know God better. “Lord Jesus, I desire to know the Father better. Open my eyes by your Spirit to show me what I need to know about the Father and myself.”

Proverbs 28-29; Psalms. 60; Romans 16   “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.” Proverbs 28:13, 14 The Lord blesses open, humble, repentant hearts and lives. When we conceal sin, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we break fellowship with God and live in fear. Fear becomes our master rather than the Lord Jesus. The fear of the Lord keeps calling us into the light and to confess so that we can find forgiveness, mercy, and freedom. A heart that has resisted the Spirit’s invitation to live in the light, in transparency, and with repentance, has in resisting become increasingly hardened. We are vulnerable because we have hardened our heart to the warnings and conviction of the Spirit and we then rely on our own understanding and strength. “Jesus, you are my guide and my deliverer. I repent for pride which hardens my heart to your co

Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15   “It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.” Proverbs 25:27 “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.” Proverbs 27:2 Pride blinds us to our own faults and prevents God’s grace from reaching us. God gives grace to the humble, but he opposes the proud. The sweetness of recognition and honor can become addictive if we have not found our identity and security in God’s love for us. The praise of men can become what we live for, and then like Saul in 1 Samuel 15, we even seek our own honor. When we are honored by others we must acknowledge that all we have and accomplish is through God’s grace. God promises to honor those who honor him. “Lord Jesus, thank you that you made yourself of no reputation and you walked the road of humility. I choose to walk that road with you, for your glory.”

Proverbs 22-24; Romans 14 “By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established, through knowledge it rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Proverbs 24:3, 4 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As we submit to God’s will and ways, we position ourselves for God’s building work in our lives and the ministries he calls us to. Understanding comes as we are led and taught by the Spirit. As we apply God’s truth and ways in our lives and relationships, we grow. Knowledge applied is like a treasure that marks our lives and is noticed by all who visit with us or the ministries we lead. For lives or ministries to grow, we require wisdom, understanding and knowledge. We acquire wisdom from God, understanding from the Spirit, and knowledge from God’s Word, the example of others and God’s revelation to us.   “Lord Jesus, thank you for wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Help me grow in these gifts through the guidance of your Spirit, your Word and other

Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13   “…clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of your sinful nature.” Romans 13:14 “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Proverbs 21:21 What we meditate on each day will shape our choices in life and ultimately our destiny. When we make Jesus the central focus of our lives we find he gives us abundant life, all we need and relational health. Jesus is the key to living with happiness, contentment and peace. However, we have a choice. The temptations of our sinful nature also call out to us for attention and response. The deciding factor each day is our will.   In which direction will we engage our will? Followers of Jesus choose every day to be clothed with Christ Jesus and his love, humility, purity and grace. Followers of Jesus choose Christ’s righteousness and love – they surrender their will to Jesus and find life. “Lord Jesus, I choose you this day. Clothe me with you