60IN60 Day 56 - Sun Dec 31

It's Day 56 and we're in Nehemiah 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 7-8, 10 - "Usury" is an Old Testament term for charging interest. This is condemned by Nehemiah as exploitative. It is a different context (a small town struggling to climb out of a mess), but it's still worth pondering that God is unhappy with them charging interest. And the interest was only 1% (verse 11). It really makes you wonder what God thinks of some of the things we do in banking.

Help:
- Verses 17-18 - Nehemiah would have had to tax the people to pay for all this stuff. Instead, he bore the cost himself.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 55 - Sat Dec 30

It's Day 55 and we're in Nehemiah 4.

Note that we skipped chapter 3 and are on chapter 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - Once again: prayer and a plan.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 54 - Fri Dec 29

It's Day 54 and we're in Nehemiah 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 4, 7-8 - He prayed, but he also had a plan.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 53 - Thurs Dec 28

It's Day 53 and we're in Nehemiah 1.

Please note that as we're going through Nehemiah we'll be skipping a couple chapters. They have number details that aren't crucial to understanding the larger story.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - It usually starts with repentance.

Help:
- Verse 2 - The context of this story is that it's a time when Israel (because of their sinful disobedience) has been scattered into foreign countries and what's left in Jerusalem is a pitiful remnant. See also verse 8.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 52 - Wed Dec 27

It's Day 52 and we're in 1 Peter 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - Trust that He'll lift you up at the right moment to a place of greater fruitfulness.

Help:
- Verse 1 - "elders" - This is the word Peter uses to speak about pastors.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 51 - Tues Dec 26

It's Day 51 and we're in 1 Peter 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today.

Help:
- Verse 1 - This is not saying that suffering means that we're not sinning at all, but rather that going through trials and suffering will move us closer to Christlikeness.
- Verse 6 - Most likely means "those who are now dead." That is, those who've heard the gospel and gone on to eternity.
- Verses 13-16 - We don't want suffering for the sake of suffering, but when we suffer in Christ's name, there is a sense in which it's an honor to go through that for the glory of Jesus.
- Verses 17-18 - Judgment begins with the house of God. He expects us to live to a higher standard.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 50 - Mon Dec 25

It's Day 50 and we're in 1 Peter 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing jumped out to me today.

Help:
- Verses 1, 5 - The word "submissive" is obviously a controversial one. Interpretations of the verses range from "this is only applicable to that day and time" to "the husband is the head of the household."
- Verse 7 - "weaker" - That refers to physical strength, not spiritual importance.
- Verse 7 - "prayers. . . hindered" - Our relationships with those around us do impact the effectiveness of our prayers.
- Verses 19-20 - This is obscure, but some possibilities: a. Might refer to the idea that between His death and resurrection, Christ preached to the already-condemned demons; b. Might refer to the idea that between His death and resurrection, Christ preached to those people who were already dead at that point.
- Verse 21 - Thankfully it clarifies the statement that "baptism saves you" by going on and saying that's a reference to the spiritual baptism we undergo.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 49 - Sun Dec 24

It's Day 49 and we're in 1 Peter 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 11 - Our sinful lusts "wage war" on our souls. We need to understand that sin is out to kill us spiritually.

Help:
- Verse 2 - There are two aspects to our salvation. One is the justification part: I have been made right before God at the moment of salvation. The other is the sanctification part: I am being made into someone who is actually like Jesus. This refers to the latter part.
- Verses 4-5 - The analogy is that the church is like a house and we are bricks.
- Verses 7-8 - In the analogy of building a spiritual house, they rejected Jesus but now He has been made the chief Cornerstone of the church.
- Verses 13-15 - This is the general way we are to behave. Of course, when the king/government's edicts contradict what God expects of us, we have a higher obligation to God.
- Verse 18 - This is the general way it should have been. There are other passages that flesh out this truth with additional aspects, like to pursue their freedom if they had opportunity.
- Verse 24 - Our sins were laid upon Him and He paid the price for them in His death.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 48 - Sat Dec 23

It's Day 48 and we're in 1 Peter 1.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - That's a pretty good "outcome"!

Help:
- Verse 1 - "aliens" - Obviously not UFO aliens, but the meaning of a stranger, like an immigrant from a foreign country.
- Verse 2 - "sprinkled with His blood" - Not a literal thing but a spiritual thing - it is the blood of Christ that cleans us from our sins.
- Verses 15-16 - "holy" - Holy doesn't mean "holier than thou" - it means that we want sin gone out of our lives and we want to be as close to Jesus as we can get.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 47 - Fri Dec 22

It's Day 47 and we're in John 21.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 11 - The God of abundance.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 46 - Thurs Dec 21

It's Day 46 and we're in John 20.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 17 - This is the change that has happened by Christ's death and resurrection: God can now be "my God." Before, I was kept away from Him by my sins, but now through Christ there is a path to Him.

Help:
- Verse 23 - This is an amazing statement. It's part of our mission: as we proclaim the hope of Christ with the authority of Christ, when someone says, "I want Jesus" and we say, "You're forgiven through Jesus," that's true. Same thing when someone rejects Him.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 45 - Wed Dec 20

It's Day 45 and we're in John 19.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - Pilate thought he had a lot of power over Jesus. In reality, he had none except what was granted him by Jesus. We need to make sure we don't get too full of ourselves.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 44 - Tues Dec 19

It's Day 44 and we're in John 18.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 36 - He was not overwhelmed by circumstances. His Kingdom is bigger than this world. And this was part of the plan for that Kingdom's expansion.

Help:
- Verse 6 - Why did they fall down? We can't be sure, but it could have been (a) a divine display of power in His words to make it clear that He is being taken by His choice and not their power, or (b) simply a chain reaction caused by some of the soldiers being overwhelmed by being in His presence (He speaks to them, they know this is a wrong mission, they are overwhelmed by His presence and they step back away from Him, a chain reaction fall happens).
- Verse 14 - He didn't realize how prophetic his words were.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 43 - Mon Dec 18

It's Day 43 and we're in John 17.

If it's hard to understand what you're reading in the Bible, make sure you have a translation that's a good fit for you. Reading the King James (a great historic translation) can be particularly difficult because of the antiquated language. Among the good options available today: New International Version (good all-around translation), English Standard Version (good all-around translation), New American Standard (a more literal translation, closer to the original manuscripts), and New Living Translation (a translation that focuses on readability and understandability). 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 2 - That's an incredible gift: eternal life.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 42 - Sun Dec 17

It's Day 42 and we're in John 16.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 13 - I want to know more of the truth. Spirit, guide me into "all truth."

Help:
- Verses 8-11 - This unpacks some of what the Holy Spirit's specific job is. On "sin," the Spirit convicts people that they are not believing in Jesus; on "righteousness," because we don't have Jesus in front of us to give us an example of what perfect living looks like, the Spirit convicts us of shortcomings; on "judgment," that we would know that Satan has been condemned and we don't want to be on his side.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 41 - Sat Dec 16

It's Day 41 and we're in John 15.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 1-11 - This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It clearly lays out that we are expected to be fruitful with our lives as well as how to make that happen.

Help:
- Verse 7 - Note that the amazing promise of answered prayer is conditional on obedience.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 40 - Fri Dec 15

It's Day 40 and we're in Daniel 6.

Father, what do You want to teach us today through Your Word? 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 24 - I just don't like this verse. There are parts of the Bible that I don't particularly care for, but that doesn't mean they're not true. We have to keep seeking God's wisdom on those verses.

Help:
- Verse 14 - Apparently the king either hadn't thought through all the ramifications of his decision, didn't realize Daniel prayed publicly daily, didn't realize how hard-core Daniel would be about this, or just got entranced by the flattery.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 39 - Thurs Dec 14

It's Day 39 and we're in Daniel 5.

Note that we skipped chapter 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 27 - What a horrible thing to have God say directly to you: I have looked at your life and found it lacking. Live so that won't be said of you.

Help:
- Verses 11, 14 - "spirit of the holy gods" - As I mentioned yesterday, that is the way that this person understand Daniel's abilities. In fact, of course, there is only one true God.
- Verse 23 - Bringing out the items from the Jewish Temple was pretty provocative. "Don't poke the bear."

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 38 - Wed Dec 13

It's Day 38 and we're in Daniel 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me.

Help:
- Verse 14 - Given all that happened in chapter 2, you'd think that the king would know that the Hebrews weren't going to bow down. Perhaps he didn't think they'd be willing to maintain their conviction under such harsh conditions.
- Verse 25 - The presumption here is that the fourth was Jesus showing up.
- Verse 29 - The harsh penalty that the king prescribes isn't necessarily God's will. It's just his expression of amazement at what God did.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 37 - Tues Dec 12

It's Day 37 and we're in Daniel 2.

What's the Bible say about the book you're reading today? We have the Word so that as believers we can be "equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17). Read the Word so you're ready for what life throws at you. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - First thing they did: pray.

Help:
- Verses 5-6 - This is a totally unreasonable demand. A reminder: the Bible does not condone everything it reports. In this case, the king's anger was not justified and his demand was not just.
- Verse 37 - "king of kings" - This was literally true since he had conquered other kingdoms.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 36 - Mon Dec 11

It's Day 36 and we're in Daniel 1. 

Where God Spoke To Me: - Verse 9 - God can go ahead of us and give us favor, opening up doors of opportunity. 

Help: 
- Verse 2 - They were delivered to a foreign power because of their disobedience as a nation. 
- Verse 8 - There were two areas of concern for Daniel: a. much of the food was sacrificed to idols; b. much of the food was unclean according to Old Testament Law. 
- Verse 15 - "fatter" - I presume here that doesn't mean obese, but just that they were healthy and stout. 

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link. 

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 35 - Sun Dec 10

It's Day 35 and we're in Galatians 6. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 15 - What counts is the new creation.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link. 

If you have any questions or comments, email them to me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 34 - Sat Dec 9

It's Day 34 and we're in Galatians 5.

Where God Spoke to Me:
- Verse 16 - Living by the Spirit means that we're working against pursuing the lusts of our sinful nature.

Help:
- Verse 1 - This is not physical slavery, but the spiritual slavery of going back to the bondage of a rule-based religion.
- Verses 2-3 - The need to be circumcised was a big issue for the teachers who were leading the Galatian church astray. Paul is noting that if you feel like you have to be circumcised to be right, then you can't really just stop there - you need to go on and fulfill the whole Mosaic Law.
- Verse 4 - "fallen away from grace" - This idea of "falling from grace" has to be understood in the context of what's being said here. The obvious point that Paul is making here is that they are falling from the idea of being saved by grace and falling back down toward the ineffective idea of being saved by trying to keep the Mosaic Law. Some people say, "You can lose your salvation because the Bible says you can fall from grace." You have to read it in context, though, and the subject here is not salvation but wrong teaching.
- Verse 9 - Paul is saying that it only takes a few people within a church teaching things that are questionable to get the whole church messed up.
- Verse 12 - Paul is using a little exaggeration here to make his point. He's saying if these teachers think circumcision is so essential then maybe they should go all the way and emasculate themselves.
- Verses 13-14 - Rather than living under the tyranny of a rule-based religion (by trying to keep the Mosaic Law), we are called to be free. We each follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. That freedom, though, is not an open door to freely sinning, but rather to serving God and each other.
- Verse 24 - This is an important idea: when we are saved, our old, sinful nature is crucified with Christ. We are a new creation, fully capable of living victoriously for Christ.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 33 - Fri Dec 8

It's Day 33 and we're in Galatians 4.

Where God Spoke to Me:
- Nothing jumped out to me today. That's ok - we won't necessarily hear God speak every day.

Help:
- Verse 3 - Rough translation: before we became Christians (and therefore heirs of God) we were just (spiritually) children under the grip of sin.
- Verses 9-10 - Instead of living a life of grace, they had returned to trying to live by the rules and regulations that the Mosaic Law demanded. That's no way for a Christian to live.
- Verse 14 - Paul had some health problems while with them, but they were exceedingly kind to him anyway.
- Verse 15 - Many believe (although the Bible never says definitively) that Paul's health problems had to do with poor eyesight.
- Verse 27 - Rough translation: Even though Sarah was childless for so long, in the end she became a mother to countless children (both physical and spiritual) through the fulfilled promise from God.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 32 - Thurs Dec 7

It's Day 32 and we're in Galatians 3. 

One reason to be in the Bible regularly? It cuts through the clutter. We are surrounded by tons of information, but so much of it is essentially irrelevant to a meaningful life. The Bible speaks to the issues that matter. 

Where God Spoke to Me: 

- Verse 27 - A good reminder that we need to "clothe" ourselves with Christ each day - that is, we choose to "put on" all that He has given us. 

Help: 

- Verses 1-3 - They had heard the gospel of grace from Paul: you can only be saved by grace through faith. Then others began to convince them that their righteousness came from obeying the Law, which is something that can never create righteousness within us because we're always going to fall short of perfectly fulfilling the Law. Paul is asking them why they allowed themselves to get fooled.
- Verses 5-14 - Paul is here arguing that even Abraham (who lived before the Mosaic Law was given) was justified by faith and not works. The purpose of the Mosaic Law was ultimately not to provide a way to God (because we can't live out the Law perfectly) but rather to make us aware of how far short of God's perfect standard we're falling. 
- Verses 15-19 - This continues the point I just made about verses 5-14 and goes on to say that Christ is the One who was able to perfectly fulfill the Mosaic Law. 
- Verse 22 - We are imprisoned (spiritually) by our sin and Christ has come to set us free. 

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link. 

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 31 - Wed Dec 6

It's Day 31 and we're in Galatians 2. 

Where God Spoke To Me: - Verse 20 - This is an essential truth that most Christians don't grasp.  The old person is dead. 

Help: - Verses 2-3 - The first disciples were Jews.  Jesus was a Jew.  With the beginning of Christianity, there were questions about which parts of the Jewish faith were binding on the new Christians. 
- Verse 11 - There were disagreements on these Jewish issues between Paul and Peter, with Peter arguing for more of the old Jewish things being held onto and Paul arguing for more freedom.  Paul was right. 
- Verses 15-17 - You cannot get to God through the Mosaic Law.  The Law's primary purpose was to show us how far short of God's standard we are. 
- Verse 20 - This is an important truth.  My old self was crucified with Jesus on the cross.  As a believer in Jesus, I am a new creation. 

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link. 

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 30 - Tues Dec 5

It's Day 30 and we're in Galatians 1. 

A little reminder from James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!"  

Where God Spoke To Me: - Verses 8-9 - Truth matters.  It's not enough that we're sincere in our belief - we need to sincerely believe something that's true. 

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link. 

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 29 - Mon Dec 4

It's Day 29 and we're in John 14.

One thing that's important as we read daily: being eager to hear Him speak to you. Go into your reading expectant that God desires to share something with you. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 12 - I want to see "greater things" - I'm tired of only seeing small prayers answered. I want to see Him pour out His power to overflowing.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 28 - Sun Dec 3

It's Day 28 and we're in John 13.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 22 - In each of them wondering if they were the one that would betray, it reveals that each of us knows that we have a weak place within us where we're capable of terrible things.

Help:
- Verse 23 - Back in Jesus' day, you didn't sit in a chair at a table but instead you reclined, leaning on one of your arms at the low table.
- Verse 34 - It's not a new thing for God to command His people to love each other, but it's a new thing for Him to command us to love each other with the sacrificial love that Jesus had.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 27 - Sat Dec 2

It's Day 27 and we're in John 12.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - Rather than taking the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus as clear evidence of Jesus' divinity, the Pharisees instead plan to kill Lazarus. Crazy blindness. How often do I miss out on God's power and direction because I've decided ahead of time what I will do?

Help:
- Verses 7-8 - This is not an excuse to neglect the poor, but merely a statement that the present situation they found themselves in was an unusual one that merited the expensive sacrifice.
- Verses 20-26 - Jesus doesn't seem to directly answer their question. What's going on? If I had to summarize it, I would say that what Jesus had in mind is something like this: it's good that they want to talk to Me, but the time for talking is behind now and instead it's the time for My to pursue the action of going to the cross.
- Verse 25 - What does this mean? It means that rather than always pursuing what I want as the vision of my life, instead I need to be willing to pursue what God is calling me to do in order to see His abundant life. I have to "die to self" and instead of living for what I want, I live for what Jesus instructed.
- Verse 40 - This does not mean that God forced them into their blindness. It means that they were intentionally rejecting what He was saying (see verse 20-26) and so He gave them over to their desires, which resulted in spiritual blindness.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 26 - Fri Dec 1

It's Day 26 and we're in John 11.

One reason to be in the Bible regularly? It helps you avoid nonsense. There are so many different ideas out there today about God. It's important that we base our image of God on who He said He is, not what other people wish He was. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - He loved them. Not "He put up with them," but He loved them. For some reason that just kind of hit me anew: that He doesn't just put up with us - He loves us.

Help:
- Verse 26 - He means that we will never die spiritually.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 25 - Thurs Nov 30

It's Day 25 and we're in John 10.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 28 - We are sometimes so focused on the blessings that He gives us in this life that we fail to recognize what an enormous gift this is: eternal life!

Help:
- Verse 16 - "not of this sheep pen" - We know from the book of Acts that this is a reference to the fact that Jesus intended this salvation to extend to the Gentiles (i.e. the non-Jews; i.e. us). Down through the years, various cults have tried to use this verse to argue that He was referring to them.
- Verse 17-18 - This is a reference to His death and resurrection.
- Verse 34 - This is an obscure verse. I have not found an interpretation yet that satisfies me, but I'll keep looking.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 24 - Wed Nov 29

It's Day 24 and we're in John 9.

As you read, listen for where God wants to speak to you. What jumps out to you? What speaks to situations you're dealing with right now? 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 16 - The inability to see what was right in front of them is amazing. It's so easy to get focused on the way that we think God is required to act (according to the rules we've made up for Him in our religion) and miss out on things He's doing that are outside that.

Help:
- Verses 2-3 - It was widely taught by the Jewish leaders that all tragedy came directly from the sin of that person (or maybe their parents). Jesus denies that idea.
- Verses 6-7 - Why did Jesus do the healing this way? We don't know. He does healings in different ways: sometimes instantaneous, sometimes having someone go wash in a pool, sometimes total, sometimes in stages, sometimes publicly, sometimes privately. The main thing I draw out of that is that Jesus works His miracles differently in different situations. That means the miracle that He does in your life today is not necessarily the way He's going to do a miracle in my life tomorrow.
- Verse 34 - Again, the Jewish leaders presume that this man had to be a terrible sinner because he had been blind. They believed his sin (or his parent's sin) had caused it. Jesus denied that idea.
- Verse 39 - What does this mean? He saying, "I've come into the world so that those who think they can see - I'm looking at you, religious leaders - will discover their actually spiritually blind, and I've come that those who know they're spiritually blind - like the tax collectors and prostitutes - will have a chance to gain spiritual sight."

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 23 - Tues Nov 28

It's Day 23 and we're in John 8.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 31 - Such an important idea: it's not just saying we like Jesus that makes us a disciple, but that we "hold to [His] teaching." That is, that we live out what He told us to do.

Help:
- Verses 58-59 - The phrase "I AM" was one of the names that God chose for Himself in the Old Testament. When Jesus said this, He was claiming to be God. To His enemies, that was blasphemy (because they didn't believe that He was God) and worthy of stoning.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 22 - Mon Nov 27

It's Day 22 and we're in Esther 10.

We have lots of excuses for why we don't read the Bible: "I'm too busy," "I don't know where to start," "I tried it once and got confused," "I just never got around to it." I hope "60IN60" helps you to be able to overcome those excuses and experience a rewarding time in the Word. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 21 - Sun Nov 26

It's Day 21 and we're in Esther 9.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today.

Help:
- Verses 1-2, 16 - Obviously there was a significant anti-Semitic sentiment within the kingdom. The Jews have to defend themselves.
- Verse 13 - They were already dead. Being hanged was just to make a point.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 20 - Sat Nov 25

It's Day 20 and we're in Esther 8.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today. That's ok - there are days like that.

Help:
- Verse 11 - The king's edict makes me wonder why he didn't just issue a proclamation that said, "Nevermind. No killing of the Jews." Instead, he issues this proclamation that speaks more of the Jews defending themselves and even plundering those who attack. My presumption is that the proclamation is that way because there were those within the kingdom with great hatred for the Jews who might have ignored the king's retraction and then after the fact claimed they didn't get word in time.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 19 - Fri Nov 24

It's Day 19 and we're in Esther 7.

What's the Bible say about the book you're reading today? "All Scripture is. . . profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Reading the Bible will make your day more "profitable." 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - Justice with a side of irony.

Help:
- Verse 8 - "they covered Haman's face" - This is presumable the eunuchs who are mentioned in v. 9.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 18 - Thurs Nov 23

It's Day 18 and we're in Esther 6.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 1-9 - The ironic timing of these events (at least as far as Haman is concerned) is interesting. God can orchestrate things down to the second when needed.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 17 - Wed Nov 22

It's Day 17 and we're in Esther 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 11 - Such pride. It's so disgusting to see in others, yet we're tempted to do the same thing.

Help:
- Verses 6-8 - Why the delay? Why not bring up the issue right then? The Bible doesn't tell us if this was all part of her grand plan or if she just lost her nerve in that moment. I tend to think the latter.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 16 - Tues Nov 21

It's Day 16 and we're in Esther 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 14 - It's such a great line: "for such a time as this." Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of difficulties because God has put us there to stand for what's right in such a time as this.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 15 - Mon Nov 20

It's Day 15 and we're in Esther 3.

What's the Bible say about the book you're reading today? "All Scripture is inspired by God. . ." (2 Timothy 3:16). So reading the Bible helps me know how God sees things. 

Where God Spoke to Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today.

Help:
- Verse 7 - Presumably God worked behind the scenes to bring up a time when they cast lots to ensure there would be time to save the Jewish people.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 14 - Sun Nov 19

It's Day 14 and we're in Esther 2.

Where God Spoke to Me:
- Verse 22 - One of the interesting things about the book of Esther is that God doesn't make an official appearance anywhere in the book, yet you can see Him working in the circumstances to take care of His people. It's a good reminder to us that He is at work even when we don't see Him. Verse 22 is just another one of the "coincidences" that God orchestrated.

Help:
- Verses 10, 20 - Apparently Mordecai felt this would hurt her chances. He didn't instruct her to lie, but rather just not to bring it up.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 13 - Sat Nov 18

It's Day 13 and we're in Esther 1.

Where God Spoke to Me:
- Nothing jumped out to me today.  Some days are like that.

Help:
- Verses 12-22 - The king's behavior here is immature and sinful. It's important to understand that the Bible does not condone everything it describes. Some might presume that God is sympathetic toward the actions of the king. That's not true. The Bible is telling what the king did but not condoning it.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 12 - Fri Nov 17

It's Day 12 and we're in 1 John 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 11 - We have been given eternal life. What greater gift could their be?

Help:
- Verse 8 - There is some question on what each represent, but my presumption is that the Spirit obviously represents the Spirit, the water points to baptism, and the blood points to the death of Christ.
- Verse 16 - It is not totally clear what the "sin that leads to death" is. It could be the unforgivable sin that Jesus mentioned or, more likely given the context of the verse, it could have to do with someone teaching false teaching.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 11 - Thurs Nov 16

It's Day 11 and we're in 1 John 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 20 - Loving each other is an essential evidence of the authenticity of our faith.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 10 - Wed Nov 15

It's Day 10 and we're in 1 John 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 14 - Overflowing love for those around us is a tangible proof that Jesus has come into our hearts. The excuse people use for not going to church because the people are tough to love is inadequate - we have to love each other, even when we're tough to love.

Help:
- Verse 6 - This does not mean that we never, even once sin, but rather that we do not live in a pattern of ongoing, rebellious sin. As verses 7-8 note, those who are of the light live in the light and those who are of the darkness live in the dark.
- Verse 15 - I guess you could go back to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount about anger for more understanding of this: Matthew 5:21-26.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 9 - Tues Nov 14

It's Day 9 and we're in 1 John 2.

One thing that can impede God speaking to you is the presence of unconfessed sin in your life. Are you coming to the Word today with a clean heart or are you holding things back from God? 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 4 - Obedience to Jesus' teaching is a required part of being a Christian, not an option. If we are not actively obeying Jesus, we need to check our spiritual condition.

Help:
- Verse 2 - "propitiation" - This refers to the idea of making a sacrifice that turns away the anger of God.
- Verses 7-8 - Obeying God is an old command, but it is a new thing that we have the perfect example of Jesus as well as His empowering us through a new heart and the Holy Spirit to be able to live out what we're commanded.
- Verses 18-19, 22 - "many anti-Christs" - As verse 22 notes, this is a reference to those who are doing the work of Satan, not saying that they are THE Anti-Christ.
- Verse 27 - "anointing" - That is, having the Holy Spirit and His power.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 8 - Mon Nov 13

It's Day 8 and we're in 1 John 1.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - Hard words: if we're walking in darkness, that's evidence that we do not have fellowship with Him. A changed heart is the clearest proof of the presence of God in our lives.

Help:
- Verses 1-2 - These are references to the disciples actually being with Jesus when He was on earth.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 7 - Sun Nov 12

It's Day 7 and we're in John 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 38 - There is a spiritual abundance to life in Christ. Our lives will be ones that are like a fountain of living water pouring out and enriching those around us.

Help:
- Verses 8, 10 - Is Jesus lying here? No. His point is an important one: they wanted Him to go up at the beginning of the feast and provoke a confrontation. This would have messed up the timetable that Jesus was on. Instead, He went up much later in the feast. This provided an opportunity for Him to teach without provoking as large a controversy as doing it at the beginning of the feast would have created. See verses 14 and 30 for more.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 6 - Sat Nov 11

It's Day 6 and we're in John 6.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 26 - Do I love God just for who He is or merely for the blessings He's given?

Help:
- Verse 35 - This is, of course, a spiritual truth. We will never be spiritually hungry.
- Verses 52-58, 61, 63 - This is about communion, but it is no doubt a hard saying. It's easy to see why so many were confused by it. Verse 63 is key to understanding that He is talking about spiritual truths.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 5 - Fri Nov 10

It's Day 5 and we're in John 5.

One problem that regularly bothers me as I read is a wandering mind. A word in the text will make me think of something that I have to do that day and my mind is off to the races, leaving the Bible behind. I've found it helpful to have something near me that I can make a note on when that happens so I can write down that thing I need to do later and get back to concentrating on the reading in front of me.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 42 - Hard question: do I have the love of God in my heart? Is that evident?

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 4 - Thurs Nov 9

It's Day 4 and we're in John 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 34 - Is that true of me - that my greatest "hunger" is to do the will of God?

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 3 - Wed Nov 8

It's Day 3 and we're John 3.

One reason to be in the Bible regularly? It provides the answers to life's most pressing questions: "Why am I here?" "What value does my life have?" "What does God want out of me?" "What does a life well spent look like?" For all the time we spend daily on trivial things, it's essential that we spend some time on the big questions. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 29 - There is great joy in doing your part of what God has for you, especially when you see how you were a part of a much grander plan.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 2 - Tues Nov 7

It's Day 2 and we're in John 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - Jesus gives the good stuff when He blesses.

Help:
- Verse 4 - This sounds a little rude - I'm not sure I could get away with saying something like that to my mother! Jesus was very aware of the timetable He wanted to follow and He didn't want to push things too far ahead of time. Apparently (since He did the miracle) this didn't push it too far ahead even though it wasn't His original plan.
- Verses 14-16 - Jesus shows a boldness here that a lot of people don't think that He has.
- Verses 24-25 - This just means that Jesus knew that people are unreliable and you can't put your trust in them to know what's right.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 1 - Mon Nov 6

It's Day 1 and we're in John 1.

We're starting a new round today.  

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 31, 33 - It's interesting to me that John didn't know Him right away.

Help:
- Verse 1-18 - There's a lot of theology to start out John. It's deep stuff, but lots of good stuff.
- Verses 3, 10 - These verses tell us that it was Jesus, not the Father, who created the world.
- Verse 14 - The "Word" is Jesus.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Next Round

The next round of 60IN60 starts tomorrow.

60IN60 Next Round

 The next round of 60IN60 starts Monday.

60IN60 Day 60 - Thurs Nov 2

 It's Day 60 and we're in Revelation 19.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today.

Help:
- Verse 7 - "wedding" - This idea goes along with the thought that we are the "Bride of Christ."
- Verse 12 - Again, symbolism.
- Verse 15 - Obviously not a literal thing, but a symbolic way to refer to the words He speaks.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 59 - Wed Nov 1

It's Day 59 and we're in Revelation 18.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me in this chapter.

Help:
- Verses 1-24 - This chapter focuses on the judgment of the Great Babylon.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 58 - Tues Oct 31

It's Day 58 and we're in Revelation 17.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 14 - He is the Lord of lords and King of kings.

Help:
- Verses 1-6, 9-13 - There is a lot of symbolism in these verses (see, for instance, the comment in verse 18) - trying to describe things that are hard to understand.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 57 - Mon Oct 30

It's Day 57 and we're in Revelation 16.

Is the Bible an old dusty book? Nope - ". . . the Word of God is living and active. . ." (Hebrews 4:12). Dig into today expecting it to speak to you. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 9, 11 - Even facing great wrath, they refuse to repent. We all have moments when we dig in our heels and refuse to give in to God.

Help:
- Verse 1 - The bowl is a symbolic way to describe the judgment God is bringing.
- Verses 1-12 - These are end times judgments coming against an unbelieving and defiant world.
- Verse 13 - "frogs" - Again, presumably symbolic.
- Verse 20 - The earthquake will be so great that mountain ranges will be flattened. Wow.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 56 - Sun Oct 29

It's Day 56 and we're in Revelation 15.

We're back in Revelation and with it comes a lot of strange imagery. Just remember that John is trying to describe images that are almost beyond imagination as well as the fact that there's a lot of symbolism here.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - It speaks of the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb - what's the song of my life? What are the lyrics that describe what God has done for me and what I'm doing for Him?

Help:
- Verse 7 - "bowls of wrath" - The symbolism used to describe the disasters that God brings during this time on the evil world.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 55 - Sat Oct 28

It's Day 55 and we're in Ezekiel 37.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 27 - What an offer: to live in God's presence.

Help:
- Verses 12-14 - This is not a reference to the resurrection of the old, but to the reinstatement of the new.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 54 - Fri Oct 27

It's Day 54 and we're in Ezekiel 34.

A tool for your reading that can be useful is a study Bible. A study Bible is just a Bible that has notes in it to help explain some of the harder passages. If you don't have one and would like me to recommend one, just let me know. I'd be happy to suggest a few good ones. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 4 - This really jumped out to me as a great description (in the negative) of what a pastor should be doing. I'm going to have to do more digging and thinking on this verse.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 53 - Thurs Oct 26

It's Day 53 and we're in Ezekiel 13.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - Sometimes people claim God is speaking through them when they're actually just making things up. We need to evaluate carefully messages that are purported to be from God.

Help:
- Verse 4 - That is, animals that scavenge among ruins, feasting on dead bodies.
- Verses 10-15 - The wall analogy is basically that rather than building a solid (spiritual) wall with their teaching, they are building a weak wall that has plaster to look good.
- Verse 18, 20 - Probably references to human sacrifice, which (sadly) happened at some points in Israel's history.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 52 - Wed Oct 25

It's Day 52 and we're in Ezekiel 2.

Father, what do You want to teach us today through Your Word? 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - Our job is to convey the message. Whether they listen or not is their responsibility.

Help:
- Verse 6 - "scorpions" - The idea here is something like "If you're traveling somewhere to deliver My message and you encounter scorpions, don't be afraid."
- Verses 8-10 - "scroll" - Presumably because this was a vision/dream, this is merely symbolic. It is possible that Ezekiel actually eats something.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

Your Questions and Comments:

- "Proverbs 31 - When you read this chapter describing a godly woman, it's kind of exhausting!  Lol. Do you think all of these verses apply to what one woman should be?  Or do these verses point out all of the different ways a woman can be godly?" - Two things. First, I don't think is a list that every woman is supposed to exactly emulate. I think it's a picture of what one virtuous woman looks like and there are things to learn from it. But compared, for instance, to the list of the fruit of the Spirit, which we should all have, I don't think every woman has to be exactly like that. Second, I also think it's worth noting that the passage is not what a lot of people might expect from an ancient passage about a virtuous woman. For instance, this woman is quite the businesswoman (see, for instance, verses 16-17).

60IN60 Day 51 - Tues Oct 24

It's Day 51 and we're in Proverbs 31.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - A great wife is indeed a valuable find. (I know from personal experience.) This chapter focuses on some of the attributes of a godly wife. One thing that I think is worth noting is that while the chapter does mention the importance of what she does in the home, it also mentions her in the marketplace (see, for instance, v. 16). It doesn't square with the "1950s housewife" image that too many presume is a perfect incarnation of the Bible's view of women.

Help:
- Verse 3 - Most likely this is a reference to a king having a harem.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 50 - Mon Oct 23

It's Day 50 and we're in Psalm 77.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 7-8 - It's comforting to me to know that the Bible shows us that it's ok to bring our questions to God.

Help:
- Verse 3 - The writer was going through a hard time when he didn't understand why God was allowing the problems that he was going through. When he thought of God, it made him more disheartened.
- Verse 10 - This is the way the writer feels. It is not what has actually happened.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Comments and Questions:

- "Acts 26:32. Personally I think it was God's will for Paul to appear to Caesar to further Christianity to other parts of the world. If there are other comments would like to know their thoughts." - I think that is the best way to interpret those events. I suppose the main other way to understand it would be it was an accident of circumstances. That obviously seems unlikely in the case of Paul.

60IN60 Day 49 - Sun Oct 22

It's Day 49 and we're in Psalm 76.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 4 - He is "resplendent" - amazingly majestic to behold.

Help:
- Verses 5-6 - This is referring to the death of an enemy army.
- Verse 10 - When we have a justified anger, we rejoice to see God's wrath bring justice.
- Verse 12 - That means God has the right to end the lives of princes.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.