Monday, December 16: Micah 5:1-7:20, Revelation 7:1-17, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 30:5-6 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 5:1-7:20, Revelation 7:1-17, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 30:5-6

This verse stood out for me:
Micah 5:7 Then the remnant left in Israel[c]
    will take their place among the nations.
They will be like dew sent by the Lord
    or like rain falling on the grass,
which no one can hold back
    and no one can restrain.

A "remnant" means: a small remaining quantity of something.

When we think of a remnant we think of something leftover or that is not really worth anything because it's so small. Bethlehem was the tiny village and became the birthplace of our Saviour.

Then in Psalm 135:8 
He destroyed the firstborn in each Egyptian home,
    both people and animals.
Moses should have been destroyed but he was a "remnant" left behind and God used him in remarkable ways.

When we are thinking that we are too insignificant to be used, we need to remember that God uses all the remnants and no "scrap" is ever wasted.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Nahum 1:1-3:19, Revelation 8:1-13, Psalm 136:1-26, Proverbs 30:7-9 

Friday, July 6th: Micah 1-3; Titus 3 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 1-3; Titus 3

“Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.” - Titus‬ ‭3:9‬

Many things are “black and white” in the bible, but there are also a lot of “grey areas.” These are the kinds of things that aren’t worth arguing with other believers about. 

Things like: “should we be tithing more than 10%?” “Should we let kids play sports on Sundays?” “Is dancing an “okay” form of worship?”

These arguments are not essential to our salvation and have been debated over for a long time, and as long as we’re waiting for Jesus’ return, people will keep debating them.

Instead of arguing over these “grey areas”, we should encourage each other in the faith, and pray for each other. Because we definitely don’t want to become like the Pharisees who thought religion and rules were more important than a faith and relationship with God.

Let’s focus on lifting each other up today.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Micah 4-7; Philemon 1

Friday, December 22nd: Micah 6-7; Revelation 13 ~ Conrad

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan: Micah 6-7; Revelation 13

"You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."  Micah 7:19

Forgiveness is the miracle of a fresh start, a new beginning, a second chance.  Because of God's compassion, love, grace, and mercy for us, He offers a pardon for our sins and places them out of sight, out of mind, and out of existence.   

Approaching Christmas there is always the anticipation and excitement with giving and receiving gifts.  Well the gift of forgiveness is one that we should never take for granted nor loose excitement over!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Nahum 1-3; Revelation14

Thursday, December 21st: Micah 4-5; Revelation 12 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 4-5; Revelation 12

Revelation 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
The will to live is strong.  But for the believer, death is not to be feared.  Indeed, as Paul said - to live is Christ, to die is gain.  We do not need to shrink from death.  After all, death ushers us directly into the very presence of God!

May we live our lives unafraid of death or anything else Satan tries to throw at us.  We know who wins, and we follow Him!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Micah 6-7; Revelation 13

Wednesday, December 20th: Micah 1 - 3, Revelation 11 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 1 - 3, Revelation 11

I found this reading today difficult to find verses that stood out to me. As I was reading though I got a chuckle from Micah 2:11, which says,

If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer ,’ that would be just the prophet for this people!

I found this funny at first, it reminded me of our current society. Many people live for alcohol and what it does to them or for them, they rely on it in a way. We have other things or habits that we can also use, that we place high priorities on.

Do we put these things ahead of God? Do we rely on them instead of relying on God? Do we use them as an escape so as not to deal with the sin in our lives?


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Micah 4-5; Revelation 12

Sunday, July 24th - Micah 5 - 7 - Kelora

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 5 - 7

After reading these passages one of the verses that stood out for me was Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humby with your God.”  This verse made me think about whether I show mercy to those who I feel wrong me.  God is shows us mercy and forgiveness and this verse was a good reminder that I need to do the same.  These verse is a good reminder to myself that I need to practice these areas in my life.  

One other verse that stood out for me is Micah 7:7.  “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”   The confidence Micah showed in his faith with this verse made me realize that I need to have the same faith in God that He always hears us when we call on him.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Kings 18:13-18, 2 Chronicles 32:1-8, Isaiah 36:1-3, 2 Kings 18:19-37, Isaiah 36:4-22, 2 Kings 19:1-19, 2 Chronicles 32:9-19, Isaiah 37:1-20

Saturday, July 23rd: Micah 2-4 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 2-4

As I read Micah's description of Israel and her corruption it seemed like he was talking about our society today.

You don't have to look far to find people committing injustice of all kinds - plotting evil (2:1); fraud, coveting, violence (2:2); stealing, dishonesty (2:8); hating good, loving evil (3:1-2); despising justice, distorting what is right (3:9); murder and corruption (3:10); taking bribes (3:11).

I read a commentary on Micah by Ray Stedman and found out that the name Micah means "Who is like God".

Micah was on a search for Godlikeness, and he was not successful in finding it in Israel, just as he would be hard pressed to find it in Canada and America today.

And he most certainly didn't find it in their leadership.  (I don't think I even need to make the comparable comment about our leadership today.)

Micah makes it clear to the Israelites, to us, that if we are in a position of authority, we are accountable to God.  It makes no difference if we are the leader of a country or the parents of children or the leader of a school group - we are representing God in that office, no matter how large or small it may be.

Are you representing God, or misrepresenting Him in your area of leadership?

Is the way you life your life Godlike?

Would Micah find the answer to his question in your life? In mine?

Thanks be to God that He stands ready to forgive the sins of any and all who repent!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Micah 5-7

Saturday, June 25th: Micah 1, 2 Kings 16:1-9, 2 Chronicles 28:1-15, Isaiah 7-9 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 1, 2 Kings 16:1-9, 2 Chronicles 28:1-15, Isaiah 7-9

Micah 1:13  Harness your chariot horses and flee, you people of Lachish.  You were the first city in Judah to follow Israel in her rebellion, and you led Jerusalem into sin.

My Life Application Bible says: The people of Lachish had influenced many to follow their evil example. They "led Jerusalem into sin." We often do the same when we sin. Regardless of whether you consider yourself a leader, your actions and words are observed by others who may choose to follow your example, whether you know it or not.

Clearly, we need to recognize that our actions affect more than just ourselves.  We also need to remember though, not to put on a false front of perfection, but rather to also model repentance and the grace of God to forgive us when we fail.

2 Chronicles 28:3 [Ahaz] offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.

There should be no doubt how God views the detestable practice of abortion that is literally commonplace in our society today, in number that would likely astound Ahaz.  How's that for perspective.

Our Isaiah passage has several messianic prophecies.  Most of these prophecies had two fulfillments, an immediate one and one filled with the birth of the Jesus (or His Second Coming still to come).

Isaiah 7:14-16  All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us'). By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.

This is a messianic prophecy in that Mary, a virgin, would bear a son named Immanuel.
It was also a timeline prophecy with a three year fulfillment - a young woman from the house of Ahaz who was not married yet, would marry and have a son. Before 3 years passed (one for pregnancy and two for the child to be old enough to talk) the two invading kings would be destroyed.

Biblical prophecy can often be confusing, but it sure is interesting!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Isaiah 10-12, Isaiah 17

Saturday, December 26th: Micah 6-7, Luke 22:21-46 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 6-7; Luke 22:21-46

“With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with[a] thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[b]
    and to walk humbly with your God?

It's interesting..... the last verse I've heard many times, but I've never really noticed the preceding verses.  God isn't interested in sacrifices made to appease Him so He'll leave us alone.  God wants changed lives.  He wants living sacrifices. And that is something that is impossible to do on our own strength.

So, we need to follow Micah 7:7
But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
And rejoice in the truth of Micah 7:18-20
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.  He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
In our NT passage we see Jesus' struggle in Gethsemane.  He knew what God's will was, but it did not make it easy to fulfill the plan that had been set in motion ever since the beginning of time.  I read a quote today on Facebook by Danny MacKay that referenced this exactly.....


Happy birthday my King.

You went from being the King of Heaven, to a vulnerable and helpless baby. I imagine another type of 'Gethsemane' for you on that night before you descended. Before your arrest, you wrestled in that garden with how much you were about to suffer. I bet it was similar in Heaven the night before you came to earth.

Such cost.

But You came.

You put us before yourself. Our souls were more important to you than your own blood. Our place in Heaven was more important to you than your place, so you gave up yours so we could have ours.

This goodwill is overwhelming and very much undeserved.

Today we celebrate that you wanted peace between us. No greater sign than this could ever be given:

You came.

For all the sinful, the broken, the hopeless, the dirty. The lonely, the oppressed, and the forgotten. For all who have shame. For the inexcusable.

You opened the way home.

What a marvellous hope for us that you include the word "whosoever" in this:

"For God SO loved the world, that He gave His only Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life" Jn 3:16

No single person should ever doubt their worth again.



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Zechariah 1-4; Luke 22:47-71

Friday, December 25th: Micah 4-5, Luke 22:1-20 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 4-5; Luke 22:1-20

Talk about appropriate passages for us to ready today, Christmas Day!

Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.
Micah predicts the coming of the Messiah whose birth we celebrate today.

Why was He born?  He was born to die to save us from our sins, the process of which was set in motion during our NT passage.  And how do we remember this sacrifice?  The taking of communion, also described in our NT passage today.

God's Word is amazing and continues to be relevant to our daily lives!



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Micah 6-7; Luke 22:21-46

Thursday, December 24th: Micah 1-3, Luke 21:20-38 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 1-3; Luke 21:20-38

Like most (all?) of the minor prophets, Micah warned God's people of the judgment to come, while offering pardon to all who repent.   It was originally written for both the people of Israel (northern kingdom) and Judah (southern kingdom), but particularly the people of Judah.

Micah is very clear that God's judgment will come, and today's passage mainly focus on that portion of Micah's message.  Once again we see how very serious our sin is to our holy God, and how serious we need to be about evicting it from our lives.

Our NT passage talks about the Messiah's return.

Today is Christmas Eve.  During the Christmas season we celebrate Jesus' first coming to earth.  And, indeed, Jesus' first coming is a day of rejoicing.  For Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world.  However, when Jesus returns it will be a day of judgment, and we need to be ready!



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Micah 4-5; Luke 22:1-20

Thursday, Oct. 13 ~ Miriam

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Micah 6-7; Acts 22.

Well, I have a confession to make.  I haven't done a reading since my last post.  I don't really have any good excuse.  The weekend was busy and I've had a lot going on the last couple of weeks all over, however going on the principle that Bible reading is a priority and I need to make time for it rather than just do it when I have time -- which seems to be never -- that is not a good enough reason.  I'm feeling mentally and emotionally drained the last couple of days, and I'm not sure if that's why I haven't been reading or if that's because I haven't been reading.

Anyway, a verse in Micah 6 stood out to me today, mainly because it's recognizable as a worship song.  Micah 6:8 -
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
   And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
   and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.


Sometimes it seems like the list of things we have to do and not do seems so long and intimidating that I feel like I just don't even want to try anymore.  I know that is the wrong attitude, and it doesn't last long, but sometimes it just feels like it's all futile.  We try and try and try again, and try some more, and no matter what we do we just can't get it right.  So why bother with any of it?  And then I read verses like the one above, or Matthew 22:37-40, which says 
³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Two or three things.  Yes, those two or three things cover a whole lot of individual things, but it makes me feel less overwhelmed.  If you consider these verses that condense all the dos and don'ts into an all-encompassing spirit, or attitude, or whatever term you choose to express it, it seems much more possible to live a good Christian life.  Not a perfect, sinless life.  Not self-made salvation.  Just a good, loving, Christian example.

That's all I've got today.  I'm sorry if I didn't express myself well... I'm feeling incoherent.  Happy Thursday!


 Tomorrow's passage:  Nahum 1-3; Acts 23:1-15.

Wednesday, October 12 - Kathryn

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Micah 4-5, Acts 21:18-40

Increasingly I am convinced we are living in the end.  Now I know when Jesus left he called it the end, but I do mean the end of the end.  At least, I hope so, cuz this ol world, she's been a-moaning and a-groaning way too long.  We could all use a vacation from this torment.

Anyhoo, the thing that struck me about the Roman's passage today was the sheer violence and uproar Paul started.  The man was beaten and thrown into jail!  The passage states that the whole city was aroused.  This is quite a riot.

When I am the cause of a disruption, no matter how small, and even if I am totally in the right, I feel guilty.  I want to back down and just 'keep the peace'.  I am terrified of getting in trouble and starting it.  I don't get the feeling these things bothered Paul.  Granted, I don't think he wanted to start a riot, but he wasn't into backing down.

I guess my point is, there is a day soon coming when we will be accused of being wrong.  Where what we say will incense people.  And not just a little 'agree to disagree' people will be ticked.  When I make people mad by something I've done I begin to question whether I am truly right.  How did Paul, and us when the time comes, not begin to second guess himself?  I mean when someone is beating you do you begin to doubt?  I've never been in that sort of situation before and to worry about future things is pointless, because often the Lord steps in and strengthens us.  I can only assume this was true for Paul.  I pray, I pray we are preparing as best we can now, through the word, through prayer and through just spending time in the presence of God.  Practicing the presence, so that we can know it when it comes on us.

Lord God Almighty, teach us Your truth.  Teach us how to stand and be strong for You.  Strengthen us in Your spirit and in Your word.  Help us to practice your presence.  Amen.

Tomorrow's passage: Micah 6-7, Acts 22

July 20th - Miriam

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Micah 6-7, 2 Chronicles 32:1-8, 2 Kings 18:13-37, and Isaiah 36.

Two sermons are available from Micah 7 by John Piper:
Parenting With Hope In The Worst Of Times and
When I Fall, I Will Rise.

Micah 6 talks at first about how much God has done for Israel and how far from Him they have strayed.  Many of us will recognize Micah 6:8 as a song that we've sung in church.  "He has shown thee, oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of thee.  To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."  It's a pretty short list, but man, it's a tough one to stick to on a day-in, day-out basis.  I like what the 2nd sermon above says about chapter 7 verse 9:

Do you see this in verse 9? An amazing verse from God's Word this morning!

I will bear the indignation of the Lord
because I have sinned against him . . .

 There's brokenness and contrition and remorse—"I have sinned against God! And I will not try to defend myself or in any way lessen my guilt. I will bear the indignation of the Lord. He has every right to be angry with me. I put my hand upon my mouth and my back to the rod. For I have sinned against the Lord of glory, and I am ashamed."

But then look at the next two lines of verse 9:

. . . until he pleads my cause
and executes judgment for me.

There's boldness and confidence and ruggedness—"God will plead my cause. God will execute judgment for me."

I have sinned against him, and so I am broken beneath the his holy indignation. But this very God—this very same angry God—will soon plead my cause, he will take my side and vindicate me, and so I am bold in his grace. Broken under his indignation, bold in his grace.

 What is so remarkable and helpful about this verse is that it keeps these two things so close together. Many of us feel that we can't live this way—keeping these two things so close together. If we think of God as angry with us, we collapse in despair. If we think of God as gracious to us, then we feel there is no place for brokenness and remorse. And so today we tend to separate what the Bible keeps together.

 The message today, then, is this: Let's keep these things together! When we sin, let's accept the indignation of God and not deny it or hide ourselves from it. But not only that: when we sin, let's be bold and believe that this very God will soon plead our cause and vindicate us in justice. That's today's message: in your experience of God keep together what God has joined—brokenness and boldness.

The story we read afterwards about Hezekiah and the representatives from Assyria made me think of the church, or Christianity, vs. the world.  You have the Christian community (your church or your Christian friends) telling you:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles."
Or something to that effect, befitting the situation.  Then you have the world telling you:
Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death!
Or in other words "Make it easier on yourself!  Following all those rules and being good all the time is too hard!  Take what you want and have it now!  Nevermind storing up treasures in heaven!  Who says there is a heaven anyway?"

It seems at first that you're getting the good stuff when you turn away from Christ and follow the world, but soon the flavours begin to taste like dust and the colours wear off and you see what is really underneath -- desolation, despair, hopelessness...  bondage. 
Tomorrow's passage: 2 Kings 19:1-19, Isaiah 37:1-20; 2 Chronicles 32:9-19; 2 Kings 19:20-37; Isaiah 37:21-38; 2 Chronicles 32:20-23. 

Or for less flipping: 2 Kings 19:1-37; Isaiah 37:1-38; 2 Chronicles 32:9-23.

July 19th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Isaiah 34-35, Micah 2-5

The difference between Isaiah 34 (the judgement of the wicked) and 35 (the redemption of the faithful) is incredible.

The word pictures are amazing - frightening on the one hand, and hope-filled on the other.

For the wicked....
He will totally destroy them , he will give them over to slaughter. Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will send up a stench; the mountains will be soaked with their blood. All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll (Isaiah 34:2b-4a)
The sword of the Lord is bathed in blood (34:6a)
It will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again. (34:10)

But for the faithful....
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. (35:1)
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. (35:5-6a)
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (35:6b)
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it...But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (35:8, 9b-10)

Wow, what a stark difference between the two!

As we've been going through this year's readings, as I've been studying the Word, and as I've been reading some books by Christian authors, I think I am finally starting to realize the depth of my own depravity.

We need to grasp the seriousness of our own sin.

God despises sin. Any sin. He despises my sin and He despises your sin.

The biggest obstacle to the gospel today in our culture, is the complete ignorance of our own sin. In our culture, most people think that if they are good enough they will go to heaven, that hell is only for the vilest offenders in prison. Basically everyone else is good enough. We certainly are personally. We don't see the need to be rescued because we don't understand how much God hates sin, any sin no matter how "small" or how "big".

In our current culture, we first need to convince people of the bads news (that they are sinners) before we can even begin to tell them the Good News.

The man swallowing ocean water and going under doesn't need to hear he's drowning; he needs a life preserver. But countless people today, arms flailing, as they attempt to keep their heads above water, don't believe they are drowning - and so don't think they need rescue. (from Randy Alcorn's book If God is Good, pg 77)

If we don't have a correct view of sin we will never acknowledge our need for a Saviour. And, even worse, we minimize what Christ did for us on the cross.

We don't only demonstrate evil by what we do, but also by what we fail to do, and by what we stand by and allow others to do.

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (James 4:17)

I really think that even the majority of Christians (including myself) have not truly understood how totally our sin separates us from our holy God.

When God says he is holy...he means that he constantly and actively separates himself from all sin, wickedness, evil, and moral corruption - that is, all that is common to this world...It is as if God were allergic to evil in all its forms, and he must immediately remove himself.... God is holy. That means that he is perfect, pure, and spotless in a way that we cannot imagine....His holiness defines all his other attributes. We fear his wrath because it is holy, and we admire his love precisly because it is holy. Day and night, those closest to him, the cherumbim and seraphim, cry: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts" (Isa 6:3) The cross was the most graphic demonstration of the Father's holiness in human history...... Here is the stunning truth: Such is the holiness of the Father that when his Son bore our sin and transgressions, God separated himself from him. "My God, my God," Jesus cried from the cross, "why have you forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46)... If God hates sin so much that he would separate himself even from his only Son when he bore our sin, how much more will he separate himself from our children if they are not reconciled to him through the miracle of new birth?... Because God is holy, he cannot forgive without punishing sin. The cross gave God a way to both forgive and satisfy divine justice at the same time. When God forgives a guilty sinner, it is only because his justice has been satisfied. God has punished it in his Son at the cross....God put the sins of all believers, Old and New Testament, on his Son. Then he punished those sins with the torments they deserve. In this way, God is able to forgive the offender without compromising his holy justice... The real question is not: "How can God be loving and wrathful at the same time?" Rather, the real question is: "How could God be good - infinitely good in the way the Bible describes him - and not feel intense anger at sin and evil?" Sin destroys everything it touches. It destroys the glory of God.... It corrupts families. It divides churches....Although sin often brings short-term pleasure, if not atoned for, it terminates in infinite pain. God is holy. How could he be infinitely good and apathetic toward evil at the same time? Infinite goodness must aggressively hate everything that destroys happiness.... The cross leads us to this conclusion: there are only two types of people. There are those who put their faith in Jesus and let him bear God's wrath in their place. And there are those who try to earn salvation on their own terms. They will bear this wrath themselves, in hell, for eternity. (William P Farley, from his book Gospel-Powered Parenting)

I really believe that the lack of understanding of the seriousness of our sin is the biggest hindrance to the futherance of the gospel in our culture today.

But when we finally grasp the eternal implications of sin, when we truly understand the wrath of God (as described in Isaiah 34), it makes the grace of God (as described in Isaiah 35) all that more amazing.



Tomorrow's passage: Micah 6-7, 2 Chronicles 32:1-8, 2 Kings 18:13-37, Isaiah 36

June 23rd

Today's reading in the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 2 Kings 15:32-38; 2 Chronicles 27:1-9; Micah 1:1-16; 2 Kings 16:1-9; 2 Chronicles 28:1-15; Isaiah 7:1-25.

Scripture
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9b

Observation
God sent the prophet Isaiah to give King Ahaz a message. He told Ahaz that the attack against Jerusalem would not succeed. He then gave Ahaz a challenge - will you believe? If Ahaz did not believe, the outcome of the battle wouldn't change - God had already decreed that the attack would fail, and it would fail whether Ahaz believed or not. But what WOULD change is the course of Ahaz's life and reign as king.

However, Ahaz did not believe. He did not trust in the promise of the Lord and instead purchased his safety from the Assyrians (which would eventually be Judah's downfall) - and his plan succeeded. Ahaz likely thought it was his sharp political maneuvering that saved them. However, he did not realize that if only he had believed God, he would've won the battle AND been blessed.

Application
The challenge is just as true for us as it was for King Ahaz. If we do not stand firm in our faith, we will not stand. If we will not believe God, we will not receive the blessings that He has planned for us.

We need to believe God's promises, and act on that belief. If we do so, we will be blessed. If we do not, we may have success but it will only be a pathetic shallow reflection of what might have been. We will miss out, and not even know it.

Prayer
Dear God, we thank You for the promises You have given us in Your Word. We thank You for Your great faithfulness that You have demonstrated to us over and over again - both in bible times and in our lives right now. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see, and the strength to live out the faith we claim to believe. Amen

Tomorrow's passage: Isaiah 8-11