Title: The Word For Us / Topic: Biblical Interpretation

Note: Between Tuesday, November 7 and Sunday, November 12, I will be heavily involved in the Fort Natomas Playground rebuild project. Posts during this time may be signifcantly delayed. I appreciate your understanding. I will try to get an early post up so my readers can post some of their own devotional thoughts. I invite you to share any of your own insights or ahas in the comments even before I have made my final devotional post for the day. Thanks for participating in reading and sharing.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 122; 1 Corinthians 9; 1 Corinthians 10; 1 Corinthians 11

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:9-10
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.

Observation: Paul is pointing out something very important to the Corinthians. He is teaching them about supporting the work of the Lord by supporting those who do it. But he makes a broader point in the middle of his argument. He teaches us all about the word of God and the fact that God's primary point in all of the word is for us -- that is, for our benefit.

Application: There are tons of great stories, parables, illustrations, and recorded history in the Bible. But as we read each one, we should look for the personal application or blessing. Paul tells us when God writes about oxen, that they not be muzzled when treading grain, that God is really writing about us! He likes oxen and all, but He's totally crazy about us! He wants us to be blessed. So look for the blessing every time you read the word. It's in there!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank You that you care so much for me. You wrote a whole library filled with great words for me to read and be blessed by. Help me to always get the message that You want me to receive.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Resisters / Topic: Hard Hearts

Today’s Reading: Job 35; Job 36; 1 Corinthians 7; 1 Corinthians 8

Scripture: Job 36:13 "The godless in heart harbor resentment;
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help."

Observation: This statement about the "godless in heart" is true. People who automatically reject the validity of God are not typically happy people. They are often filled with anger and resentment, as the verse says. They resent all kinds of things and people. They mock and they spit out curses. When God "fetters them," that is, brings some restriction on them to chastise them or restrict them (usually for the purpose of waking them up to the reality of God and their need for Him), they refuse to acknowledge Him and would rather die with their prideful arrogance than receive deliverance by calling to God for help.

Application: For me the application is to be aware that there are people out there that have made themselves quite unreachable. Even God can't break through the wall of pride and resistance that they have built. So if God's efforts can't get the job done, I shouldn't be surprised that my efforts sometimes fall short. Some people simply hold steadfast to their godlessness and I guess they are happy with their misery.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the joy of Your salvation. I pray that my life will be an advertisement of Your goodness and blessing. Help me to be used by You to draw even the resisters to the place of surrendering to You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Two Witnesses / Topic: Humility

Today’s Reading: Job 34; 1 Corinthians 4; 1 Corinthians 5; 1 Corinthians 6

Scripture: Job 34:5-6; 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
Job 34:5 "Job says, 'I am innocent,
but God denies me justice.
6 Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.'
1 Corinthians 4:3 ...I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Observation: Elihu and Paul make the same point in different ways. Elihu rebukes Job for considering his own evaluation of himself as the final word. Paul states that though he maintains a clear conscience, that is not the final word. Both Elihu and Paul understand that even the most noble of humans is still human, and that because of our fallen nature, we cannot fully evaluate our own condition.

Application: God is the One whose evaluation matters. He is the Judge and He is a truly righteous Judge. It is a mistake to ever think that I am without fault or sin. Even though I may be convinced of the absence of these things in my life, they can still be there. I must stay humble before God and maintain a repentant and receptive heart.

Bottom line: Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought. You are not perfect. The more a person thinks they are, the more they prove they are not. Stay humble and repent.

Prayer: Lord, keep my feet on the ground and my eyes on You. Help me to remember my failings when I am tempted to pride.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Lost In Translation / Topic: The Gospel

Today’s Reading: Job 33; 1 Corinthians 1; 1 Corinthians 2; 1 Corinthians 3

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Observation: We who love the Lord have a perspective totally foreign to those who do not. To us the message of the cross is a beautiful thing because we have experienced its power: we have become saved -- transformed from the inside out -- by it. For the unsaved person, the cross doesn't make sense. How could a lonely man, executed by foreign occupiers on a crude stand, abandoned by his supporters be important? It seems ridiculous.

Application: As a Christian, I need to be aware that the unsaved person doesn't -- in fact, cannot -- think about Jesus in any way as I do. This should affect every word and action that I share with an unsaved person. My approach to my non-Christian neighbor must be shaped to recognize that he must be carefully assisted to see things concerning God in a new light. I must also pray that the Holy Spirit illuminates and quickens the person's understanding or all my efforts will be futile.

Prayer: Lord, help me to declare You with skill and wisdom and persuasiveness to my unsaved friends. Lord, I want to lead people to know You in a deep and real way. Give me an effective voice to reach many for the Kingdom.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Freedom's Price / Topic: Vigilance

Today’s Reading: Job 31; Job 32; Galatians 5; Galatians 6

Scripture: Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Observation: Paul warns the Christians of the tendency toward bondage and even slavery.

Application: Christ won a hard fought battle to free us. But we can create new yokes of slavery with our own hands. It is the tendency of our sin nature to corrupt or spoil the simplicity and purity that God creates. Jesus boiled it down to two basic rules: 1) Love God totally; and 2) Love people as you love yourself. Every Christian, church, and ministry adds complexity and detail with doctrinal lists. We can't help ourselves. Paul says that we must stand firm against anything that creates burdens that bring us into bondage.

Prayer: Lord, help us to operate in the freedom that You gave to us in Christ. We want to avoid self-imposed bondage and stand in the purity and delight of your perfect freedom. Keep us vigilant against anyone or anything that would divert us from the freedom You have for us.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: A Tale Of Two Sons / Topic: Internal Struggle

Today’s Reading: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3; Galatians 4

Scripture: Galatians 4:29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

Observation: Paul is explaining something important to the Galatians. There is an internal struggle that most Christians deal with. Paul uses a tale of two sons to make it clear. There are two sons: one from a slave woman and one from a free woman. As a seeker of God, before Christ, a person was automatically a son of the slave woman. But since Christ, the true way to follow God is as the son of the free woman. But Paul explains that we have a choice: it is possible to go back and embrace the slave heritage. The only problem is, in doing this, I cannot have true salvation since the slave heritage is based on my own ability which rejects God's provision that brings salvation. Only in remaining free do I confirm my standing in God's grace through Jesus that truly brings salvation.

Application: There is a tendency, a constant pull of my sin nature, to want to get at least a little credit for spiritual progress in my life. It is one of the most insidious lies of my sin nature. It is dangerous because it can appear good -- after all, it is about seeking God. But it is not at all good because it promotes the idea that my personal efforts (apart from God) have the potential of making me a better God person. It is saying this: "My flesh (my sin nature) can help make me a less fleshly person." Of course, this is a lie. But our sin nature is very crafty and would like to sneak in and become a part of the process of sanctification because it hates being left out. No glory in that! But if I allow my flesh to get a toe in the door, I corrupt the process and now lies and self deception have polluted the environment of spiritual growth.

Bottom line: I must resist the tendencies of my sin nature to participate in spiritual growth. It is by grace I am saved (and being saved) and that is not of any personal works, lest any part of me should become proud and boastful. My flesh is not redeemable. I must do what Jesus said: "Take up your cross daily and follow me." (Any kind of pride in spiritual progress is a tip-off of trouble.)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You, Lord that You provided the way for me to come to You (through grace by faith in Jesus), and the way for me to grow in You (through grace by faith in Jesus). Help me to continue in Your grace and give me insight to see any deviation from it. Assist me to keep my flesh out of the arena of spiritual growth so that my walk with You can be pure and without pollution. I want to grow in Your grace.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Please Him Only / Topic: Serving God

Today’s Reading: Job 28; Job 29; Galatians 1; Galatians 2

Scripture: Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Observation: Paul is speaking some harsh words to the Galatian church. But he makes it clear that his motivation is that he is trying to please God, and not be a man pleaser.

Application: I want to be a person who speaks the truth in love, not because it will make somebody happy or mad, but because truth is truth and because speaking the truth in love is what God wants me to do. If I am to be a servant of Christ, I must not concern myself with trying to impress people.

Prayer: Lord, free me from worrying about what people think of me. I want to please You and get a good strong "Well Done!" when I stand before You in That Day. Help me to be strong in You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.