September 30 - Time of the Church

Psalm 24 - Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. David speaks of being worthy to go up to the house of the Lord, to be in the presence of God. This was a problem for Israel throughout, so much so that God allowed the Temple to be destroyed. When I think of someone with clean hands and a pure heart ascending a hill, it reminds me of Jesus. He went to the hill, hung on the cross and was destroyed. His death, rather than being the separation from God, is our connection.

Deuteronomy 1:37-2:15 - I often think of Israel as an unstoppable force when they get to the promised land. But here it is clear that God does not always support them in battle. They are reminded, when they begin to rely on their own strength that they can do nothing apart from God. We always think of the line, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." But rarely do we think, "I can do nothing apart from Christ." What a helpful reminder to rely solely on the mercy of God.

Matthew 6:1-15 - How often my prayers become about my will rather than God's. It's good from time to time to slowly pray the Lord's Prayer in our individual prayer time.

September 28 - Time of the Church

Psalm 43 - I cannot even justify myself to others let alone God. So with the Psalmist I plead for God to vindicate me before others. And this is not in my cause but in God's light and truth.

Deuteronomy 1:1-18 - Moses appoints leaders among the people so that they can bear burdens that would be too heavy for Moses alone. Moses is often considered a type foreshadowing Christ, but Christ does literally take all the burdens on himself.

Matthew 5:1-20 - The phrase "thirst and hunger for righteousness" is loaded with all kinds of meaning. In it's context this seems to be primarily a concern with God's justice. But of course righteous is a tricky word for us. Is it being right? Is it about justice? Is it about perfection? Is it concerned with holiness? We may use the term in "churchy" settings, but do we know what it means? I've given you a taste with some of my questions, but if anyone reading wants to dive in further let me know.

September 24 - Time of the Church

Psalm 36 - Verses 5 and following are part of a very well known Third Day song. The song is very good, but it's striking how verses 1-4 are left out. From the psalmist's perspective we cannot know the greatness of God's love until we have recognized the seriousness of evil.

Nehemiah 9:22-38 - Nehemiah recounts how Israel was brought into the promised land and yet continued to rebel, cry out to God, and turn away again. Throughout all this time God had mercy, even in the midst of His judgment.

1 Timothy 6:3-21 - Paul gives his closing advice to Timothy a pastor of the Church.

September 21 - Time of the Church

Psalm 112 - The righteous man fears God and deals fairly with others. He gives to those in need.

Nehemiah 1:1-2:10 - Israel has repented for her sin against God. Now God works through the empire and Nehemiah to reestablish the temple in Jerusalem.

1 Timothy 1:1-20 - Paul lists sinners who go against the truth of the Gospel, and then speaks of how he was formerly in this group. The power of God to change lives is not a theory, but the reality for Paul and millions of others in our day and throughout history. It's easy for us to have an "us and them" mentality, but notice how Paul does not make sinners beyond the grace of God, or any less sinful than they are. Christ gives new life and calls all of us to live it.

September 17 - Time of the Church

Psalm 28 - This is a beautiful psalm but more meaningful in the midst of suffering.

2 Chronicles 36:1-23 - In a passage like this I'm always focused on the destruction that happens to God's people because of their rebellion. I forget that God's temple is also desecrated and destroyed. God allows this to happen for repentance and deliverance. Sounds like something else I've heard before.

Colossians 4:1-18 - I tend to rush through final greetings of Paul's letters. It just seems like a formality to me, but in reality the people he greets and names are the reason for his mission. Paul writes to people, connecting the truth of the Gospel to their lives. When we disconnect his teachings from people, we can encounter all sorts of problems.

September 11 - Time of the Church

Psalm 16 - "⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
¹⁰For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption."
So is David concerned with his flesh or his soul? It is a common mistake for us to read soul and interpret it as spirit. Soul is not one part of a person but the whole person. David's body is secure because God will not abandon his soul, aka him. The Psalm is prophetic in that it speaks not only about David, but even more fully about Jesus.

2 Chronicles 29:1-24 - Just reading this short passage may leave you scratching your head. Chronicles has been detailing the kings of Israel and Judah. Just about every king was rebellious and sought after other gods. But Hezekiah comes along to restore worship as it should be.

Philippians 3:1-21 - Paul goes through a list of accomplishments according to the flesh, that is the law. It seems clear that Paul was actually doing quite well by human standards, and probably wasn't struggling with massive guilt before Jesus came and blinded him on the road to Damascus. Yet his encounter with Christ radically changed him. Very often we think that people need to feel bad before they can accept the Gospel. This is true some of the time, but the key isn't in tapping into emotions, but encountering the risen Jesus. Perhaps people need us to make the introduction.

September 9 - Time of the Church

Psalm 130 - Am I to understand that God should be feared because He can forgive me? I thought I was supposed to fear God because He can squash me like a bug. This is probably the reason so many people don't like the idea of a God you fear. "I don't want to worship a god who says you have to fear him. That's archaic." And of course fear is a feeling of powerlessness. So perhaps it is fear, awe and respect for His power. This could also include power to create, power to save, power to forgive.

2 Kings 6:1-23 - Elisha is fearless, perhaps because he has the fear of Psalm 130.

Philippians 1:21-2:11 - When Paul talks of being of one mind, he's not speaking about us sitting down and haggling points of doctrine or the color of the carpet. He's speaking of selflessness and humility. The mind of Christ.

September 8 - Time of the Church

Psalm 72 - As I read this psalm I started to forget if this was about a king of Israel or Jesus.

2 Kings 5:9-27 - I like the story of Naaman being cleaned, because he's so confused about how Elisha will work the miracle. He was expecting some huge show, but all he was told to do was wash in the Jordan. He almost refused the gift of God because it seemed too plain.

Philippians 1:1-20 - Though I've read this many times it still amazes me that Paul is using a bad situation to advance the Gospel. In our culture it's tempting to equate ease with success, but Paul shows us that in his hardship the kingdom can grow.

September 4 - Time of the Church

Psalm 54 - O God save me by your name.

2 Kings 2:1-18 - It is an awesome thing not to face death, but it is far greater to face it and defeat it.

Ephesians 4:1-24 - Put on the new self, Christ.

September 2 - Time of the Church

Psalm 15 - I picture of the righteous. Having just read Jesus' words about what comes from a human heart (namely, wickedness) I can't help feeling this psalm is too optimistic. Yet, for all the wickedness and judgment found in the psalms, it is hopeful to see a picture of what following after God might look like. We see this most clearly in Jesus who is the new Adam, and it is therefore a picture of hope.

1 Kings 18:20-40 - "but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention." As powerful as this story is it is sad that it had to come to this. God's people wandered off after other gods and as people are waiting on Baal there is only silence. I say this is sad because to this day we chase after other gods and of course there is ultimately silence and emptiness in these things. It's sad that such silence has to happen for us to turn and see who God really is.

Ephesians 2:1-22 - ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

September 1 - Time of the Church

Psalm 143 - "I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands." David trusts in God to deliver him because he knows what God has done in the past.

1 Kings 18:1-19 - God's prophets never had it easy. They were charged with speaking the truth to people who rarely wanted to hear it. In this story Ahab has been hunting down and killing God's prophets, but Elijah challenges him and is about to challenge the false prophets Ahab has turned to.

Ephesians 1:1-23 - Assurance in Jesus.