DAILY BIBLE READING:
1 Samuel 12:1–13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
1 Samuel 12:23 "As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
The prophet Samuel was a major character in the Old Testament Jewish story. In fact, there may have been none larger than him between Moses and King David.
But, all good things must come to an end. In 1 Samuel 23, the great prophet was giving his farewell to Israel with some instructions and a warning or two.
As he was bringing his speech to a close, he made the people a promise: that he would continually pray for them and would, as long as the Lord was willing, continue to teach them how to live and think in a way that pleased the Lord.
These two activities (prayer & instruction) are the primary tools that any Jesus-following influencer uses to this day.
Do you want to influence your children? Pray for them and instruct them in God's Word.
Do you want to influence those in your Bible study class? Pray for them and instruct them in God's Word.
Do you want to influence someone in your workplace who needs to grow in their walk with Jesus? Pray for them and instruct them in God's Word.
These are the tools we have been given to influence others. These are the primary tools by which we will make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). We pray and instruct from God's Word.
So, get to it. Spend time in prayer for others today. And then look for ways to share God's truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) with others.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
1 Samuel 10:1–11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
John 6:44 (ESV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
Our Verse for Today tells us that no one goes to God in salvation unless God has initiated the relationship. God begins the process, then we respond.
This is a beautiful truth and those who deny it not only deny Scripture but also rob themselves of a blessing.
Let me illustrate...
Imagine you are a young child again. You have gathered with a group of other kids on a field and are prepared to play a fun game of kickball. Team captains are selected. Those two team captains begin to pick individual team members. Back and forth they go as the number of kids behind them grows and the pool of potential team players gets smaller.
Now imagine that there is an odd number of potential players. When both team captains have made their selections and an equal number of players stand behind them, they realize that there is one player left over. He stands awkwardly in front of everyone as the team captains decide who gets him. Then, as if to simply finish the job so that they can play ball, the lone child is told that he can choose which team he wants to play on. He sheepishly makes his pick and, with head aimed at the ground, slowly takes his place with one of the teams but silently wanders if they even want him. Honestly, he wanted to play kickball but now he just wants to go home.
Now, let me ask you a question: Would you rather be one of the children that was selected or would you rather be the one who got to make his own choice?
To tell you the truth, I would much rather be selected. That makes me feel like I'm wanted. It makes me feel valuable.
Friend, there is a paradox in Scripture regarding this matter. Certain passages tell us that the responsibility is ours to believe (John 3:36) and that absolutely anyone who chooses may come (Revelation 22:17).
But, if the choice was solely ours, we might wander if God even wants us. We may feel as if while we chose Him, would He have chosen us.
Praise the Lord that God does choose us! Our Verse for Today tells us that when we come to God, it is because He first reached out to us and drew us to Himself. That means that God did want us! We are in His family because He chose us!
... and there is incredible joy in knowing that God has chosen us!
Someone has said that there is a doorway to salvation. As we approach the door to be saved, we see that above the door it is written: "Whosoever will may come" (Revelation 22:17). And when we walk through the door and are saved, then we look back to the door and see that above this side of the door it says: "Chosen before the creation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4).
To be saved, you must choose God, my friend. There's no getting around that. If you end up spending eternity in Hell, it's not God's fault. It's yours for not choosing Him.
But, if you choose Him, you can rest assured that it's because He reached out to you first. You chose Him but He also chose you. Find comfort and joy in that thought today.
John 6:44 (ESV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."
DAILY BIBLE READING:
1 Samuel 8:1–9:27
John 6:22-42
Psalm 106:32-48
Proverbs 14:34-35
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
John 6:39 (CSB) "This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
Sometimes, it's called "security of the believer." Sometimes, "once saved, always saved."
Essentially, it is the belief rooted in Scripture that assures us that those who come to Jesus for salvation are guaranteed an eternal home in Heaven. They can never lose that standing and it can never be taken from them.
The Verse for Today is a powerful statement that undergirds this belief. We are told that it is "the will of him (God) who sent (Jesus)." Further, we are told that Jesus was clear on His responsibility: "that (he) should lose none of those (God) has given to (him) but should raise them up on the last day."
So, it is God's will and Jesus' responsibility that all who are truly saved will end up in Heaven. That not one single person will "lose" their salvation.
This belief is often misunderstood. Some take it to mean that they can get saved and then live like the world. They can claim to be a follower of Jesus but then live like they want to live. And they rest in the fact that they are on their way to Heaven and nothing can take it from them.
Yet, when we read the Bible, we realize that when someone is truly saved, God begins a work in them that he will complete (Philippians 1:6). He is about the business of enabling them to change their behavior, making them more like Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). God is joining them in working in their hearts and actions to demonstrate the fact that they have been truly saved (Philippians 2:12-13).
I could go on and on but the point is that someone who is truly saved will undergo a life change. It will affect their inner attitudes, motives and thoughts. It will affect their outer words and actions. Sure, they will sin periodically but they will, as a general rule, be becoming more like Jesus. It is only to the truly saved that the "security of the believer" applies.
Unfortunately, those who were never truly saved (but thought they were) will rely upon the hope that they are headed to Heaven. It is to them that the terrifying words will be uttered by our Lord:
Matthew 7:23 "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"
So, be sure that you are truly saved. Make certain that you are trusting in Jesus to make you right in God's eyes. If this is true of you and there is validation in your life to show that you have been truly born again, then rest in the fact that God's will and Jesus' responsibility guarantee that you will one day close your eyes in death and open them in your eternal reward.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
1 Samuel 5:1–7:17
John 6:1-21
Psalm 106:13-31
Proverbs 14:32-33
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
1 Samuel 7:9 (CSB) "Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
The Verse for Today is simple and straightforward. The prophet Samuel sacrificed an animal, he prayed for the Iraelites and God heard his prayer.
Yet, we learn quite a bit more by reading the context. The Ark of the Covenant had been previously held by the Philistines. It eventually came back into the possession of the Israelites.
But, the Israelites' deep desire was for something more. They wanted the Lord. God seemed like a million miles away to them and they wanted to enjoy Him and relish in His blessings again.
So, they went to the prophet Samuel. He told them to get rid of their foreign gods and commit to solely worshiping the one true God in their hearts. He also told them to gather at Mizpah where he would pray for them.
They gathered and a time of worship and cleansing began. Yet, the Philistines heard about the gathering and misunderstood the Israelites' intentions. They jumped to a conclusion and thought that the Israelites were preparing for war. So, the Philistines suited up for a battle, too. An attack on the Israelites seemed imminent.
So, there was an urgency to prayer. The Israelites were unprepared and terrified. They begged Samuel Samuel to pray for them.
1 Samuel 7:8 "The Israelites said to Samuel, 'Don't stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines.'"
So, what did Samuel do? He offered a sacrifice, said a prayer, and God answered his prayer.
Now, there's a lot that could be said about that three step process so I'll be brief:
The Sacrifice
Sacrificing animals was the Old Testament way of showing the severity of sin that required a death, and the substitution of an innocent creation of God on behalf of the guilty. A sacrifice is absolutely necessary if we are to approach God with our petitions and have any chance of being heard. Since Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed on behalf of all of those who will believe in Him, the first step of Samuel's three-step-process has already been accomplished.
The Prayer
To get things from God, we've got to begin by talking to Him about them in prayer. There are a handful of prayer principles that we must comply with if we are to get anything. But, when we consider what can be gained by praying the way God has told us to pray, why not learn those principles ... and then pray!
The Answer
Prayer enables us to enjoy fellowship with God. As a by-product, we receive from God the things for which we ask. In fact, Jesus said that answers to prayer is a way that we can be filled with joy (John 16:24).
So, depending upon the blood of Jesus to grant you entrance into God's presence, pray. And while praying, make sure you are applying each of the biblical prayer principles so that you can enjoy the fruit of your prayer - fellowship with God and the answer(s) for which you are asking.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
1 Samuel 2:22–4:22
John 5:24-47
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 14:30-31
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
John 5:39-40 "You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
Our Verses for Today provide a very powerful perspective on Scripture. They tell us what the Bible is ultimately about.
Jesus said that the Jews "pored over the Scriptures" in their attempt to gain eternal life. They treated the Scriptures as an end in themselves. They saw them as a list of "dos" and "don'ts". They thought that if they could comply closely enough to the Biblical standard that they would inherit eternal life.
But, Jesus said that they got it all wrong. The Scriptures were not an end in themselves. They were the means to an end.
What was the end? What do the Scriptures point to?
Jesus!
John 5:39 "You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me." (emphasis mine)
Did you get that? The Bible isn't the end of the road. It is a road sign pointing to Jesus.
But, the next verse gets even more specific. The Scriptures don't simply point to Jesus. They tell us how "to come to (Him)." They tell us how to gain eternal life through Jesus and enjoy relationship with Him. Unfortunately, the Jews didn't (wouldn't) connect the dots.
John 5:40 "But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life."
So, this morning as you pick up your Bible, don't simply read the words. Don't simply look for the dos and don'ts. Look for Jesus! Look for what it says about how you can enjoy fellowship with Him.
Because, when you see Jesus, you've come to understand the true meaning of the passage of Scripture.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
1 Samuel 1:1–2:21
John 5:1-23
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 14:28-29
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
DAILY BIBLE READING:
Ruth 2:1–4:22
John 4:43-54
Psalm 105:16-36
Proverbs 14:26-27
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
Proverbs 14:26-27 (CSB) "In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
In my Bible reading this morning, I came across a phrase that is used often in Scripture: "the fear of the Lord."
Proverbs 14:26-27 (CSB) "In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death."
Because so many people misunderstand that phrase, they find it utterly distasteful and maybe even abhorrent. They don't want to serve a God that they should fear.
Yet, when we properly understand that phrase, we realize that God is calling us to satisfy our desire for joy. Yes, you understood that correctly - fear is a pathway to joy.
Let me illustrate...
This summer, my family and a group of 7 others from Westside Baptist Church will make our way to Denver where we will work alongside some church planters at Calvary Denver. When our week of service is complete, my family has plans to head to the Grand Canyon.
Back in 1997, Kim visited the Grand Canyon with a female co-worker when work sent them out to Phoenix. Neither my sons nor I have experienced it yet. For the past 20 years, Kim has periodically told me about that trip. That 'hole in the ground' made such an impact on her that she still gets a far-off look in her eyes when she tells me about it.
What was so special about it? The colors. The vastness. But also the fear.
You see, people typically don't like to view the Grand Canyon from the parking lot. They like to step up to the railing. As they look over the railing, they see that they are standing on the edge of a cliff. That metal barrier is the only thing protecting them from falling hundreds of feet to their death. Their heart is racing, they are captivated by the beauty, they are afraid ... and they love it! That's part of the experience!
That's how God wants us to enjoy Him. To come to a greater awareness of His beauty. To understand Him more fully and enjoy His presence. But, also to understand that His power is infinite, we are frail, and we are at His mercy. Basking in His love but also in His holiness and infinite power, there is fear ... but we love it!
So, friend, "the fear of the Lord" should never cause us to get a bitter taste in our mouth. It is a call to enjoy our God. Why not ask Him to help you develop a little bit more "fear of the Lord" today?
DAILY BIBLE READING:
