Monday, June 20 - Jody

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is: Proverbs 27-29, Acts 5:1-21

Happy Monday Everyone!!

There were several verses that stuck out for me today so I’ve listed them all.

Psalm 27

15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping

   of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;

16 restraining her is like restraining the wind

   or grasping oil with the hand.

I interpret these verses on a couple of levels.  A wife who is constantly picking a fight is 1) Annoying 2) Slowly destructive 3) Closed to advice or behaviour change. When we got married 12 years ago, I was against the word “submit” in my wedding vows. I was bent on maintaining my own identity and doing things exactly as I had always done them. I must say, I’ve learned a lot in the last 12 years! I’ve learned that mindset is quarrelsome. It’s annoying, it’s destructive and obstinate. I’ve also learned that I didn’t want my husband to hold fast to those things either, so why was it ok for me to? I’ve learned peace and compromise. I’ve learned that in a marriage, we both submit to each other and that through the process, I actually gain more of myself. Ironic isn’t it?

 17 As iron sharpens iron,

   so one person sharpens another.

And isn’t this verse exactly about that? In a marriage, we sharpen each other through our submission and grace.

Psalm 28

9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,

   even their prayers are detestable.

Communication with God is not just a one way street. We can pray and pray and pray, but if we turn away from his instruction, our prayers are detestable to God. This one sat with me for a long time. I imagine God just sitting there rejoicing in my every prayer – but I realize also how much he rejoices in my following of his instruction too. And that following is a tangible expression of my communication with God.

 13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

   but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

 14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,

   but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

I think that confession comes with trembling before God. It’s a lot harder to harden our hearts when we have a spirit of confession, always seeking God’s mercy for our human-nature shortcomings.

Psalm 29

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;

   they will bring you the delights you desire.

As hard as it is to stay consistent and persistent with disciplining our kids, it really is the only way to have peace and delight in parenting. Fall of 2010 we took our kids to a hotel with a huge waterpark. The kids were 5 and 3 years old. We settled into our room, put on swimsuits and headed down to the waterpark. As we stood outside the doors, kids itching to run into the water, my husband stopped them, got down on his knees and look them both in the eyes and said: “If you run on the cement, we will ask you not to run one time, after that, we’re going straight back to our room. It is too dangerous for you to run on wet cement. Do you understand?” The kids nodded and said “yes”. They understood, Dad was serious. We were there for 3 days, and didn’t have to ask the kids once to not run. We had the most wonderful weekend and we DELIGHTED in our children. All of the discipline and consistency leading up to this vacation had paid off in a weekend of fun and enjoyment of our little family.

Praying a day of blessings on all of you!

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 30-31, Acts 5:22-42

Sunday, June 19th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Proverbs 25-26, Acts 4:23-37

Happy Father's Day everyone! I hope today is a special one for you and you spend it with the ones you love.

I want to focus on this passage in Acts today....

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. Acts 4:32-33

The church was in its honeymoon state, so to speak. This was a brand new church, preaching a brand new gospel, this was the New Testament - and man, were they effective!! There are already 15,000-20,000 new converts and we're only a couple chapters into the book of Acts. Now that's effective. That's remarkable. What made the new church so effective and remarkable? Our passage tells us.

In his sermon God's Passion for a Pure Church, John MacArthur says....

This church was remarkable because of its unity. It was remarkable because of its devotion to preach the gospel. It was remarkable because it was being showered with God's power and grace. And it was remarkable because everybody looked at everything they had and saw it as belonging to whoever needed it more than they did. That is a church the way God wants a church to be. We look at the church today and we wonder if there's much resemblance. Churches struggle with a lack of unity. They equivocate on the powerful straight‑forward proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and all that is involved in gospel preaching. They seem to demonstrate very little of an abundant grace being poured out upon them and they know little or almost nothing about what it means to make sacrifices or what it means to hold everything that you hold as a stewardship not really owning any of it....

in verse 32 he says, and this is a marvelous statement, "Not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own." That is the proper perspective on all material possessions. On anything you own, any money that you possess, anything in the bank, anything in savings, any stocks, bonds, properties, it's not yours. You simply hold it for the cause of the Kingdom to be released at the prompting of the Spirit of God to accomplish spiritual [goals]. God would have us have the same attitude....

let us be reminded that the church which the Lord designed is a church that is pure and holy, a church that is united in love and righteousness, a church that is committed to preaching the pure and unadulterated gospel of the resurrection, a church that is seeing and experiencing the abundance of grace poured out by God, a church where people lovingly, sacrificially and generously share everything they have for the work of the Kingdom and the needs of others. (emphasis mine)

I want to be a part of that kind of Church!

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 27-29, Acts 5:1-21

Saturday, June 18th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Proverbs 22-24; Acts 4:1-22

Today's post is going to be a little like our Proverbs reading has been - a little of this and a little of that, all over the place - hope you can follow and that it's still meaningful to you!

"Train a child in the way he should go" Proverbs 22:6a
It seems like this verse is saying to train a child to follow Christ. And obviously, we should do that too. But what it actually means, according to my Life Application Bible (and I've heard the same from other sources before) is to train a child "according to the child's way". In other words, train them, taking into consideration their natural bent, their personality, their tendencies. We can't train all of our children exactly the same way and expect the same result. We only wish it would be that easy, right? Of course, in order to actually do that, we need to really get to know our children - not just our assumptions about them, not just the way we knew them a year ago (people change, even our kids!), but how they are now and what they need now. This is a continuous, ongoing, time-consuming process - but one that is vital to both a great relationship with our kids, and to the effectiveness of our training.

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. Proverbs 23:31-33
Wine looks beautiful as it sparkles in the wine glass. But that beauty hides many deadly results that can come from indulging too much. Obviously one glass during a special dinner is not wrong in and of itself (though motive is always to be considered in everything we do). But oh, the danger and heartache that can result from drunkenness! Even just a one time episode of it can result in a lifetime of pain and consequences. Nancy Leigh DeMoss has a great article discussing this here.

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 25:34
Convicting enough on it's own. But Josh Harris' version in his sermon Self-Control in a Wired World is even more convicting, at least to me....
“A little web surfing, a little Facebook, a little folding of the hands around the smart phone and spiritual poverty will come upon you like a robber.”
OUCH!!!
Yeah, I know, enough said.


Our Acts passage is just inspiring. Peter and John are filled with courage by the Holy Spirit and preach fearlessly in front of the rulers and elders, knowing clearly the risks in doing so, charging them with the death of Jesus Christ and boldly pronouncing His resurrection.

And the key thing is: they cannot refute this claim. They know it to be true. They cannot produce a dead body. And yet still they do not believe.

People sometimes say that they are simply not intellectually convinced that the Gospel is true. However, that is often not the underlying issue. (It may be in some cases, but careful study can solve that dilemma). Sometimes, for whatever reason, people simply do not want to believe. The rulers and elders here had all the evidence they needed. And they still chose to disbelieve.

We are not responsible for what people do with the message, but we are responsible to be a testimony, to be a witness, to be ready and willing to speak the truth fearlessly when called to do so.

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 25-26, Acts 4:23-37

Friday, June 17 ~ tammi

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Proverbs 19-21; Acts 3.

Well, it seems I'm having the same struggle with Proverbs some others here have talked about ~ there's just too much wisdom to cover in one post!  I bet you could do a year-long, in-depth study of the book and still not grasp everything it contains! So today's chapters are no exceptions, but one verse did really stand out.

I always notice the quarrelsome and nagging wife verses, of course, because they specifically advise me in my role as a wife, but this time I also noticed a verse that very closely resembles the "a wife of noble character who can find?" question that kicks off the Proverbs 31 Lady passage at the end of the book.  Only this verse refers to men:

Many a man claims to have unfailing love,

but a faithful man who can find? (20:6)

Obviously, this verse could ~ and probably was intended to ~ apply to either sex, but it's certainly one that I want to keep in mind for when my daughters start dating and thinking about marriage!!  ;)  (which isn't going to be AT LEAST another 20 years if their dad can help it!)  In any case, it seems faithful men are equally as rare as women of noble character, and as such, both are highly valued.

Anyway, movin' right along to Acts...

I love how Peter carries on Jesus' fine tradition of performing miracles as a method of opening up a platform for discussing spiritual truths. Here, he and John encounter a crippled beggar sitting at a temple gate.  This man had been crippled from birth and year after year, someone had carried him to the temple to beg because he couldn't earn a living.  His eyes are downcast.  All day long, he calls out for money and possibly food, but he never actually looks at people.  Maybe he's tired of seeing people try to avoid his gaze or pretend they haven't heard him.  I imagine he's ashamed, but helpless.

I think it's so beautiful that the apostles stop directly in front of him and Peter tells him to look up, to look AT them.  This gives the beggar hope and he looks expectantly up into Peter's face only to hear these men have no money.  I imagine the beggar's gaze drops and his heart sinks as he hears those words.  I imagine he begins to close off his mind again, to shut out the unpleasantness of his situation, but just before he stops listening altogether, he hears the words, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, WALK."  I bet it didn't even register at first, but suddenly he feels Peter's hand on his arm, pulling him to his feet.  What if this is the first physical touch from a non-family member this man has felt since his birth??  And then, even more amazing, it actually WORKS to pull him to his feet, and then there is just no stopping this man!  We don't know how old he was, but there was obviously a good many years of running, jumping, and dancing stored up that began to overflow!!

And then, just like Jesus, Peter addresses the astonished, amazed masses there at the temple and gets the opportunity to tell them all about Jesus and His Gospel message.  It'll get them into trouble, as we'll see in the next chapter, but even in the hardship that follows, EVERY opportunity to spread the Word is exploited to its full potential.

Only a few chapters ago, Peter was the man we can all identify with, humiliated by his failures, but here he begins to become the bold, faithful "fisher of men" we all want to be.

How is our bait and tackle today ~ is it ready and well-used, or a little rusty and forgotten?  I hope this time in Acts will refresh us and inspire us to get into the habit of taking every opportunity to use our rods and reels!







Tomorrow's passages: Proverbs 22-24; Acts 4:1-22.

Thursday, June 16 ~ Miriam

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Proverbs 16-18; Acts 2:22-47.

Wow, I don't know about anyone else, but I find Proverbs hard to read in bigger chunks.  Almost each verse seems to need to be re-read and pondered.  It takes me so long!  But there are some excellent and applicable nuggets in the Proverbs passages each day.  There were quite a few that stood out to me, but this one more than the others:


Proverbs 17:1 - Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. 


To me, this speaks to how much more important are our relationships and our spiritual health than our possessions or our physical beings.  You can have the most beautiful meal, or home, or car, or furnishings (or all of the above), but it is impossible to be satisfied by these things, or even enjoy them, if we are at odds with the people around us or even just personally feeling distressed or worried or upset about something, or holding onto a grudge and not forgiving someone.

I don't know if any of you have read or remember "The Mark of the Lion" series from the mid-90's by Francine Rivers.  The stories take place about 40 years after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.  I'm re-reading them right now and I can't put them down.  Through the characters and their stories, she tells the story of salvation and weaves it into the story in such a way that it is clear and unmistakable, and yet not cheesy or preachy.  She talks about the emptiness and futility of spending one's life amassing wealth and possessions.  She also talks about all the sinful attitudes, temptations and immorality in Rome and Ephesus in those days that are still going on in our society today.  Things such as abortion, homosexuality, adultery, promiscuity and others are all woven into the story in order to present a Christian viewpoint on them that is completely applicable in today's society.  If you're looking for something good to read on your next camping trip or something, I recommend them!  Just a little warning, though... be prepared to have your toes stepped on a little with regards to serving with joy, sharing the Good News with others, following God's will, turning away from temptation, or watering down the gospel to make it more palatable.

Anyway, moving along to Acts, we come to Peter's sermon.  Isn't it unbelievable that 3,000 people became Christians after hearing him speak?  Of course, their hearts had to be prepared and their eyes and ears opened by God in order for this to happen, but still... how incredible!

Peter's Sermon at Pentacost, part of a study by Bob Deffinbaugh, has the following to say:

First, let us take note of the serious consequences of rejecting Jesus as Lord and Christ. Those whom Peter addressed were Jews,¹³ many of whom were devout Jews,¹⁴ but they had also joined with those who called for the crucifixion of Jesus.¹⁵ Peter warned these Jews that the day of God’s wrath was near and that they would be the objects of that wrath. Just as Joel spoke of Gentiles enduring the wrath of God (chapter 3), so Peter warned his Jewish audience about this same wrath. God does not show partiality. Those who reject Jesus as the Messiah, Lord, and Christ will suffer divine wrath, a wrath that is drawing near.

Some today seem to think that one’s decision about who Jesus is and what He has done is a rather academic matter, with few implications. Not so! The day of the Lord is a day of restoration for Israel, and of blessing for those who have trusted in Jesus as Messiah. But the “day of the Lord” is a day of wrath for all who have rejected Him as Messiah. Determining who Jesus is and whether you will submit to Him, and receive His salvation, is the most important decision you will ever make. Do not take this matter lightly. And since the “day of the Lord” is near, don’t delay. Trust in Jesus as the One who died in your place, bearing the penalty for your sins, and you will experience the forgiveness of your sins and the blessed hope of eternity in His presence.

Second, for those who want only a serendipity gospel of happy thoughts and of a God who is too kind to condemn any, take a good look at our text again. The God who offers men forgiveness for their sins and an eternity of bliss in His presence is also the God who takes the rejection of His blessed Son seriously. The gospel is indeed good news to those who accept it, but it is bad news to those who reject it. Like it or not, divine judgment is a prominent theme in the Bible, and one we dare not ignore.

When Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32, he includes both the good news and the bad news. Let us not miss the point at which Peter ends his citation from Joel:

“‘And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Acts 2:21).

All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. This is the good news. So what hinders you from doing so? Call upon Him who is both Lord and Christ; call upon Him who died in your place and who was raised from the dead for salvation. If you do, you will be saved.

Third, I have to smile as I read Acts 2 and Peter’s sermon because I don’t believe that Peter saw the full implications of this text in Joel. Joel was a Jewish book, written to Jews, and particularly to Jews living in or near Jerusalem. Thus it was most appropriate for those gathered at Pentecost, to whom Peter preached. But Peter had not yet been enlightened concerning the extent to which God would save Gentiles, or on what basis. That will come in Acts chapters 10 and 11. It would be further clarified in Acts 15. Peter preached a text from a Jewish book (Joel) to a Jewish audience, warning them of impending judgment and offering them salvation in the name of Jesus. Little did he know or see that this same text from Joel 2 would later be cited by Paul:

11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:11-13, emphasis mine).

How often our knowledge of God’s Word is only partial. How often God’s plans and purposes exceed our own thoughts.

When Joel promised that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on “all people” (Acts 2:17; citing Joel 2:28), he meant “all people,” and not just Jewish people. When he wrote that “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved,” he meant everyone, and not just Jews. The warning of judgment and the promise of salvation that Peter proclaimed to the Jews we now have proclaimed to us (Gentiles), because of the rejection of the Jews (Romans 11:11-12, 30-32). 

Have a wonderful Thursday and a wonderful weekend!  

Tomorrow's passage:  Proverbs 19-21; Acts 3.

Wednesday, June 15 - Kathryn

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Proverbs 13-15, Acts 2:1-21

I come from a non-charismatic church tradition.  We believe in the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit, but I have not once seen or heard someone speak in tongues or a true instantaneous healing.  We pray a lot to the Father and the Son, but the Holy Spirit often gets second chair in our prayers and tradition.

That's sad.

The days of Christ, from his birth to his death and resurrection, has set the world upon it's ear.  It was the start of a new thing, a new covenant between God and man, a time of true peace.  And with Acts 2 we have another new chapter of the same book.  The Holy Spirit was given in small doses to a world gone mad before this, so we had an inkling, a taste of what was to come.  The people who had been gifted with the Holy Spirit before Pentecost were strange, different and weird by the worlds standards.  They were prophets, priests and kings who spoke the words of God for repentance.

What happened here with the gathered believers after Christs ascension is no different.  These men (and probably women) were used by the Holy Spirit to bring God's children to repentance, to bring them back to God, back in fellowship with Him.  It's been God's plan all along.  The reason for Christ and the cross, the reason for the bible.  Not for man's glory or entertainment, but rather to bring people back to Him.  It seems when the Holy Spirit 'hits' it's notable.  It was here that day and in the sprinklings back in the Old Testament.  The Holy Spirit causes people to do odd things.  And it makes people notice.

I think in my experience, we shy away from the Holy Spirit because we cannot contain Him.  We are afraid if we call on Him, or He falls on us, we will do strange and odd things.  That's very sad.  There is a reason Christ called Him the comforter.  It is a comfort, first, to be reconciled to God.  It is a comfort to be taught a better way.  It is a comfort to know the scriptures better and deeper.  It is a comfort to have a presence about us 24/7.  I often equate the Holy Spirit with such things as what happened at Pentecost, but I often forget about the still, small voice, the gentleman that He is too.

The prophecy of Joel that Peter quoted is for all people for all time, but the primary purpose of the Holy Spirit and the gifts he gives is to bring the lost to repentance.  Time is of the essence.  We cannot delay our witness.  And the Holy Spirit gives power and boldness to share that witness.  I've experienced that myself.  All we need do is ask.

Father God, forgive us for the part of you that we ignore and don't give our due to.  Help us to live lives worthy of the Holy Spirit that lives in us.  Give us that power and that boldness that we see in Peter and the disciples to bring others to repentance and belief in You.  Thank you for the gift of your spirit.  Amen.    



 Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 16-18, Acts 2:22-47

Tuesday, June 14th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Proverbs 10-12, Acts 1

Our passage in Proverbs today is the beginning of the section we commonly recognize as proverbs or wise sayings. One in particular jumped out at me today...

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

I don't think it is possible to overstate the importance of humility and the danger of pride when it comes to living out our faith authentically and growing closer to the Lord.

What is the greatest commandment?
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

I think it would be accurate to say that it is virtually impossible to truly love God with all our heart, soul and mind if we are puffed up with pride. It is likewise impossible to truly love our neighbour when we allow our pride to get in the way.

Probably nothing is a bigger stumbling block to relationships - whether with our fellow (wo)man, or with our God - than pride.

Pride does not allow anyone other than ourselves to be number one, to sit on the throne of our hearts, to be Lord of our lives.

It is only when we humble ourselves that we can accept God's grace and mercy and the salvation He offers through Christ alone.

It is only when we humble ourselves that we allow Christ to be our Lord, and not just our Saviour.

It is only when we humble ourselves that we are able to serve each other as Jesus taught us to.

It is only when we are humble that we can be the wife, mother, sister, friend, woman that Jesus wants us to be.

It is only when we are humble that we care able to rely on the strength of God and His infinite wisdom, instead of our own limited understanding.

Indeed, with humility comes wisdom!




For another really encouraging and convicting sermon by John MacArthur, you can read his message on Acts 1 here. It's about how God has given us the huge task of finishing the work begun by Jesus Christ - and to do it we need the right message (gotta know the Word to know the message!), the right manifestation (we have to have experienced Jesus for ourselves personally), the right power (the Holy Spirit), the right mystery (we don't know when He's coming back), the right mission (we're His witnesses whether we like it or not - how are we portraying Him?) and the right motivation (He is coming to reward us who are faithful).

Our goal should be to be able to say with the Apostle Paul, at the end of our lives...
"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and 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 also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Paul was ready to die because he knew he had finished the work God had for him to do.

Are we willing to do what it takes to be able to make that statement?

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 13-15, Acts 2:1-21

Monday - June 13, Jody

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is:  Proverbs 8-9, John 21

Happy Monday Everyone!! Sorry I've been out of the loop lately, our internet was down since last Monday. I must say I've missed you all and our daily reading/commentary!

Today I want to focus on the John reading, although there was much in the Proverbs reading that caught my eye. I love the story in John about Jesus and the disciples. I have this picture in my head of Jesus standing on the shoreline with a huge smile on his face watching his disciples fishing. I imagine him praying to His Father in that moment for those men and the affect they would have on the current and future generations. I imagine Jesus in heaven right now, watching us from the shorelines of Glory with a huge smile on his face, watching his disciples - US - interceding on our behalf to His Father in every moment for how we will affect current and future generations.

At the end of Chapter 21 Jesus give specific instructions to Simon Peter on exactly HOW he will affect current and future generations to love Christ. John MacArthur has a great message on John 21:15-25. I'm going to highlight some points in this post, but for the whole message go here. In his message on this portion of scripture, John MacArthur talks about Jesus' conversation with Simon Peter and highlights 4 Characteristics of a Committed Christian as the HOW on living out your love of Christ into others.

#1: His work is compelled by love. A real committed Christian operates on the basis of his love for the Lord.
#2: His way is controlled by God. He has learned how to give his life totally to God and trust Him for it.
#3: His will is content with following. He's happy to do what Jesus leads him to do.
#4: His words are concerning Jesus.

I love these 4 points, and I love the detail MacArthur gives on each of them in his message - I encourage all of you to go read the whole thing. We can reach the pinnacle of our own relationship with Christ and our outreach to the unsaved by working at building these characteristics in our lives. In closing, John MacArthur writes:

What John says is true...it's true. Jesus is the Christ, He is the Son of God, He does give life and by faith you can have that life. It's all true. Everything John said is true and he's the guy that keeps going around talking about it and talking about it. Boy, that would be a wonderful comment on my life, it would be a wonderful comment on your life if at the end of our lives somebody could say, "Oh yeah, you remember them, they were the ones that always went around talking and testifying about Jesus."
What's the topic of your conversation? What is it? A committed Christian is preoccupied with Jesus...with Jesus. Trumble(?) made a...came to a crux in his life and he made a decision, I want to give it to you, it's absolutely fantastic and a long time ago I learned this principle. He said this, "My life changed when I prayed this prayer one day." He said, "I said to the Lord these words, "God giving me the power, every time I have the opportunity to introduce the topic of conversation, it will always be of Jesus.'" Is that something? God giving me the power, every time I have the opportunity to introduce the topic of conversation, it will always be of Jesus.
My friends, if that were true of us, things would happen in a revolutionary fashion. What do you talk about? A committed disciple, so full of Jesus Christ that it's on his lips all the time. And John said there's even more I can't say. Verse 25, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself couldn't contain the books that should be written. Amen." Jesus did so much, His person is so far beyond captivity that we couldn't reduce Him to writing. And John says there's more that could be said, an infinite number of books couldn't handle the infinite love of Christ, the infinite character of His person.
Penciled on the wall of an asylum, said to be written there by a man demented, were these words, discovered after they found his dead body in this little room in a mental asylum. Here were the words that he had scratched on the wall. "Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made, were every stock on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky." He wasn't too crazy, was he? He just was saying you can't write about God's love, the whole universe couldn't handle it.
And so, John spoke words concerning Jesus and left much unsaid. I hope you know Jesus so well that you can speak about Him all the time and still leave much unsaid. Some Christians could give their testimony in five minutes and have shot their wad. That's it. That's all they know. I hope you can testify of Jesus all the time and still have much that you haven't said.
There it is. There's the pattern of real discipleship, a work compelled by love, a way committed to God, a will content with following and words concerning Jesus. And I say what John said, "So let it be."

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 10-12, Acts 1

Sunday, June 12th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Proverbs 5-7 - John 20

Our Proverbs passage today is filled with warnings to flee temptation - whether it's sexual sin, financial irresponsibility, laziness, scheming or lying - the advice is to flee, not flirt, with temptation.

It reminds of Joseph running away from Potiphar's wife.

We often make the mistake of thinking we are stronger than we are. We think we can hang out with friends of poor character and influence them for the better - when the reality is that they are far more likely to influence us for the worse. We think we can watch or listen to whatever we want without it affecting our value system. We think that as long as we stick to the "minor sins" that we'll be ok. And yet, in the list of six things that the Lord hates, seven that are detestable - included on the list are the more "minor" sins of haughtiness and stirring up dissension. (6:16-19)

By far the most often warned again sin is sexual sin. No one is immune to sexual temptation and yet it seems to be one that we like to flirt with the most. As teenagers we want to know how far is ok - concerned more with pushing the limits as far as can instead of with purity. Whether it's premarital sex or marital infidelity, the temptation is there but the effects are particularly devastating - for ourselves personally and for the families and friends around us. Our sin does not affect only ourselves - believing that is a lie.

The solution is to steep ourselves in the Word so we can recognize temptation (especially when it's disguised as something good) and rely on the Spirit to walk in the Light - and flee from temptation, not flirt with it.

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 8-9, John 21

Saturday, June 11-guest post by Pamela

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Proverbs 2-4; John 19:23-42.

As I was saying in my comment yesterday, Proverbs in my favourite book of the Bible. I remember hearing someone say once (in a conversation about wishing that children came with a manual) that God did give parents an instruction book for parenting and it's the book of Proverbs!

Have you thought of Proverbs that way?

I read over the introduction to Proverbs from Conrad's Study Bible and I thought it was worth typing out and sharing:

Many people think that what's written in the Bible has mostly to do with getting people into Heaven-getting right with God and saving their eternal souls. It does have to do with that, of course, but not mostly. It is equally concerned with living on this earth-living well, living in robust sanity. In Scriptures, heaven is not the primary concern to which the earth is the tag-along after thought; Jesus prayed "On earth as it is in heaven".

"Wisdom" is the Biblical term for this on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven everyday living. Wisdom is the art of living skillfully in whatever conditions we find ourselves. It has nothing to do with the information as such, with knowledge as such. A college degree is no certification of wisdom-nor is it primarily concerned with keeping us our of moral mud puddles, although it does have a profound moral effect on us.

Wisdom has more to do with becoming skillful in honouring our parents and raising our children, handling our money and conducting our sexual lives, going to work and excersizing leadership, using words well and treating friends kindly, eating and drinking healthily, cultivating emotions within ourselves and attitudes with others that make peace. Threaded through all these activities is the insistence that the way we think of and respond to God is the most practical thing we do. In matters of every day practical living, nothing, absolutely nothing, takes precedence over God.

Proverbs concentrates on these concerns more than any other book in the Bible. Attention to the here and now is everywhere present in the stories and legislation, the prayers and the sermons, that are spread over the thousands of pages of the Bible. Proverbs distills it all into riveting images and aphorisms that keep us connected in holy obedience to the ordinary.

~Zondervan Parallel Study Bible c2008

"... keep us connected in holy obedience to the ordinary." Most of our lives are filled with "ordinary" days. Sure, we have extraordinary times but we usually live in the ordinary. Proverbs offers us advice for every day. Advice straight from God for the ordinary days. God cares about that and wants us to honour Him through all things, not just on Sundays or special days, but in all things.

I love this passage from Proverbs 3

⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
⁸It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

and from the Message:

^5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!

Truly wise words. When we rely on God for everything and we don't try to be the master of our own plans, He will take us where we need to go. "Be ever mindful of God and serve Him with a willing and faithful heart. He will remove the obstacles from your pathway and bring you to your appointed goal."(~also from Conrad's study Bible) Also, not only will He bring you to your appointed goal but you will arrive there refreshed. I am a teacher and the last few weeks have been hectic and stressful. I long for the kind of healing and refreshment that this verse reminds us that we can have if we commit our plans to Him. Even if that means turning down some things I want to do and concentrating on what needs to be done first. I trust that God will take me through these final weeks of school and that I can experience refreshment as I reach the end of this year.

In our New Testament passage, Jesus trusted His Father with all His heart. Even though earlier he did ask if it could be another way, Jesus fully accepted God's plan and was willing to follow it. Jesus did not lean on his own understanding. In Human form, I'm sure He considered the pain and the agony that was about to come and yet it did not stop Him from submitted to God's plan. Jesus acknowledged God and this made all of the pieces fit together. Jesus fulfilled all of the scriptures just as God planned it. Through Jesus' obedience and trust in God to direct Him on the path He needed to, we all are refreshed and healed from the power of sin.

Dear Lord,

You are amazing. Each passage in Your word reveals your awesomeness. Lord, sometimes we struggle with the idea of heaven on earth and we concentrate on heaven and forget that we still need to live out our lives on earth. Thank you for Proverbs and the practical guidance for ordinary times. Help us to remember that Your Word is all we really need and that the truths in it are superior to all other advice.

Amen.

Tomorrow's passage is: Proverbs 5-7 - John 20