60IN60 Day 26 - Fri Mar 31

It's Day 26 and we're in Job 1.

Job is the classic story of a righteous man dealing with the unfairness of life.  We're going to read the opening three chapters, which are then followed by numerous chapters of Job's "friends" giving their opinions on why he's suffering.  We'll skip those and pick up with God's response in chapter 38, then finish with Job's response in chapter 42.

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

Help:
- Verse 6 - This seems unusual to us, but one of Satan's main titles is "The Accuser."  He accuses us before God.
- Verses 6-12 - This can be troubling to read because it seems like Job is caught up as a pawn in this divine "bet."  Philip Yancey makes the great point that what's actually happening is not that Job is being mistreated by being used by God as a pawn, but rather that he's being honored by God by being His fighter in this battle.  God is "betting" His reputation on Job's faithfulness.

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

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

60IN60 Day 25 - Thurs Mar 30

It's Day 25 and we're in 1 Corinthians 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 19 - What matters?  Keeping God's commands.

Help:
- Verse 1 - What he means by this is (as he explains) that if you are not overcome by sexual temptation by being single there are many spiritual advantages to being single in the sense of being able to devote yourself more fully to working for God and not being distracted by family life.
- Verse 7 - Paul has the ability that I just commented on (see verse 1).
- Verses 10-11 - This is a hard teaching, but one that needs to be studied in the context of the other New Testament passages on divorce.  That's too much to handle here, but if anyone wants more information, I can refer you to additional resources.
- Verse 14 - This is little obscure, but I think the point he's making is: being around someone who is a Christian can have a sanctifying influence, so if you're willing to stay married to the non-Christian, do so because (among other reasons) it'll be a good influence for them spiritually.
- Verse 37 - Obviously, in their culture the father had greater authority over his household than is true in our culture.

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 Mar 29

It's Day 24 and we're in 1 Corinthians 6.

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 19 - An amazing thought: we have been made into the dwelling place of God.  The Holy Spirit taking up residence within us.

Help:
- Verses 2-3 - "saints will judge the world" - This might mean that Christ will allow us to assist him in Final Judgment (perhaps by offering testimony of what we saw and heard in this life) or that on the New Earth we will rule (an alternate meaning for the Greek word for "judge") with Him.
- Verse 7 - It's scary to think how far away this thinking is away from our normal way of operating.  That doesn't speak well for us.  Paul basically says we'd be better off being wronged that suing a fellow Christian.
- Verses 12-13 - In Christ I have liberty - there is not a narrow list of "you can do" and "you can't do."  I am to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  However, the fact that I have freedom on many issues doesn't mean that exercising that freedom would always be spiritually beneficial.
- Verse 15 - Because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence within us (see verse 19), we have become a temple of God.  If we have sex with a prostitute, there is something about the physicalness of that sin that makes it worse than normal.

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:

- "I Corinthians 5 - I know so many Christians who have adopted the 'do not judge' agenda, no matter what the situation or circumstances.  And maybe the word 'judge' sounds too harsh; several Bible translations use the word 'discern'. Could it be that we choose to not judge (discern) someone because we're afraid of being judged ourselves?  'Well, they have no room to talk, look at what they're doing!' Could it be that we're lazy?  It takes a lot of effort to approach someone about a fault.  We need to pray about it first, maybe even read up on scriptures concerning the issue; take the time to approach that person one-on-one and not just talk about it (gossip) to whoever crosses our path; and be prepared to not be received with a thankful attitude."

60IN60 Day 23 - Tues Mar 28

It's Day 23 and we're in 1 Corinthians 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 9-12 - We reverse this so often: we are quick to judge those outside the church and quick to excuse sin within the church.  We need to recognize that the world is doing what you would expect them to do in their condition: sinning.  (That doesn't excuse it, but it shouldn't surprise us.)  We need to also recognize that God has called us to have high spiritual expectations for each other within the church and push each other in that direction.

Help:
- Verse 3 - "passed judgment" - This throws some people off because all they reference about Christians and judgment is the Sermon on the Mount's "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1-5).  They don't read the rest of the verses: Jesus immediately uses the example of getting the plank out of your eye so that you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  That's an act of judgment and discernment - seeing what's wrong and helping him remove it.  See also John 7:24 - "Do not judge by appearance, but judge with a righteous judgment."  See also all the passages in Paul's writing that speak of church discipline.  We are not to be callously or hypocritically judgmental, but we have to use judgment and discernment in our Christian lives.
- Verse 5 - This is the act of asking God to remove the "hedge of protection" that normally a Christian would have against Satan.  It is, essentially, asking God to allow this Christian to experience the consequences of his sin in the hope that it will lead him to repentance.
- Verse 6 - A little bit of pride can puff up a whole church.
- Verse 7 - He's telling them, "Throw out the old way of thinking where you think you're really something spiritually and bring in a new understanding of how everything you have spiritually is through the power of Christ."

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

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

60IN60 Day 22 - Mon Mar 27

It's Day 22 and we're in 1 Corinthians 4.

An encouragement as you read today: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 20 - "not a matter of talk but of power" - Father, I want to see Your church overflowing with evidence of Your power, not merely talking about You.

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 Mar 26

It's Day 21 and we're in 1 Corinthians 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - We play our part, but only God can bring the growth.  We need to look more to Him than to our methods and plans.

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 Mar 25

It's Day 20 and we're in 1 Corinthians 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 16 - "the mind of Christ" - Following Jesus is as much about how we think as anything else.  He desires to work on the ways that we think and help us to get our thought patterns to where they're honoring to 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 19 - Fri Mar 24

It's Day 19 and we're in 1 Corinthians 1.

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 24 - Christ is the power of God.  Father, unleash your power to change the lives of those around us.

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 Mar 23

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

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 2 - When the Lord declares that you're going to have victory, you're going to have victory.

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 Mar 22

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

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

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - It's a beautiful thing when God rolls back the reproach that we had been under because of a problem or struggle and we enter into a new era of our lives.

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 Mar 21

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

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - There are those mementos (whether physical or just memories) that remind us of times when God has moved in the past that we need to have to be able to get through the tough times.  There are a couple things in my own life that I think of when I'm struggling with things not going the way I thought they would.  They remind me: "God has come through before.  God has been generous to you in the past."

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 Mar 20

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

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - "Amazing things among you."

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 Mar 19

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

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - When people hear about a powerful move of God, it impacts them, even if they are not believers.

Help:
- Verses 3-5 - I understand why the lies were necessary and I understand that this is essentially a war-time situation, but it's still troubling that she lies in service of the spies.  This is not something that I've come to a solid answer concerning.

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 Mar 18

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

We begin here with the death of Moses and the ascension of Joshua as the leader of Israel.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - "I will never fail you" - The NASB translation puts the first half of that final sentence that way.  That's a powerful way to think about it and one that I needed to hear 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 12 - Fri Mar 17

It's Day 12 and we're in Psalm 37.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - Wait quietly on the Lord - that's hard to do.

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

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

60IN60 Day 11 - Thurs Mar 16

It's Day 11 and we're in Psalm 36.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - Nice phrase.

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

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

60IN60 Day 10 - Wed Mar 15

It's Day 10 and we're in Psalm 35.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 17 - How long will you wait, Lord?

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

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

60IN60 Day 9 - Tues Mar 14

It's Day 9 and we're in Psalm 34.

Where God Spoke To Me: 

- Verse 18 - A word we need when we can barely make it forward.

Help:
- Verse 20 - This is a prophecy that was fulfilled at Jesus' 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 8 - Mon Mar 13

It's Day 8 and we're in Mark 8.

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:
- Verse 2-3 - These people had such a hunger to hear what Jesus had to say.  They were willing to go a great distance and go without eating for three days!

Help:
- Verses 16-21 - The "yeast" was the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  The disciples couldn't see past the physical in what Jesus was saying.
- Verses 22-26 - Why did Jesus heal the man in this unusual way?  We don't know why He chose this particular way in this particular situation.  As you look at the fact that Jesus healed in different ways in different situations, one reason was as a reminder to us that there is no one way that God moves in every situation.  Depending on the circumstances and our needs the way that God moves varies.
- Verses 34-35 - "deny himself" - I need to put aside what I want to do and instead follow the teaching of Christ, believing that is the path to abundant life.  "lose his life" - In pursuing this path, there will be times where we feel like we're losing things that matter deeply to us and that we're therefore "losing our life," but this is also part of the path to abundant 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 7 - Sun Mar 12

It's Day 7 and we're in Mark 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - I want to make sure I don't get caught up following what people teach, but that I discover the things that God wants from me.  It's so easy to run around just looking religious.

Help:
- Verse 27 - This is harsh.  The larger context is that Jesus' specific mission was to the Jewish people.  He was focused on trying to point them to God.  In order to stay focused, you have to say "No" a lot.

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 Mar 11

It's Day 6 and we're in Mark 6.

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:
- Verse 34 - That's what so many congregations need: a shepherd to care for them and love them. They are sheep without a shepherd.

Help:
- Verses 2-3 - Before He began His ministry, apparently He was not someone who people looked at thought, "He's going to do amazing miracles some day." He blended in well.

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 Mar 10

It's Day 5 and we're in Mark 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 31 - Not everyone receives the same thing when they come near Jesus.  Those with great faith receive more.

Help:
- Verse 17 - Why would they want Jesus to leave?  I think He scared them with the change in the man and I think He worried them with the destruction of the pigs.  Some people would rather have their comfort than to encounter the real God.

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

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

60IN60 Day 4 - Thurs Mar 9

It's Day 4 and we're in Mark 4.

If you've got questions about your reading, I love answering those. Feel free to email me. Unless it's something personal, I'll usually anonymously share the question (and answer) in the following day's email so everyone can benefit from it. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 22 - I want all the truth I can get - bring it all out in the open.  Lord, take away the false things that I've learned and hold onto and reveal the fullness of Your truth to me.

Help:
- Verse 12 - The way "otherwise they might" sounds at first reading, it makes you think it's saying, "I'm doing this because I don't want them to get saved."  I think it actually should be read, "Otherwise they could turn and be forgiven!"  The issue at the center is the hardness of their hearts, not God keeping them at arm's length.

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 Mar 8

It's Day 3 and we're in Mark 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - What makes Jesus angry?  One thing is stubborn hearts.

Help:
- Verse 21 - This tells us that Jesus was not seen by His family from the beginning as Super-Savior.  Evidently before He began His ministry He did not appear all that different from everyone else.

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 Mar 7

It's Day 2 and we're in Mark 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - The spiritual miracles are even greater than the physical ones, as amazing as they were.

Help:
- Verse 14 - As I shared yesterday, Mark tends to move quickly through stories, so this sounds like Jesus walks up to Levi having never met him and gets him to follow.  In fact, from the other gospels, we know they had talked before.

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 Mar 6

It's Day 1 and we're in Mark 1.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 40 - "If you are willing" - I think a lot of people doubt whether God wants to help them.  They've messed up too much or they've wandered too far, they think.  And yet the truth is that God is always willing.

Help:
- Verses 17-20 - Because Mark tells stripped-down versions of these stories and moves through scenes quickly, this sounds like Jesus walks up to total strangers, tells them to follow Him, and they do it.  We know from other gospels, though, that Jesus had talked to them before.

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

  A new round of 60IN60 will start Monday, March 6th.

60IN60 Next Round

  A new round of 60IN60 will start Monday, March 6th. 

60IN60 Next Round

 A new round of 60IN60 will start Monday, March 6th.

60IN60 Day 60 - Thurs Mar 2

It's Day 60 and we're in Acts 8.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1 - This persecution at the time must have seemed a horrible thing, yet used it to force the believers to spread out all over the region and share the gospel.

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 Mar 1

It's Day 59 and we're in Acts 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 54 - The Word doesn't always bring out pleasant responses.  It depends on where your heart is.

Help:
- Verse 60 - "fell asleep" - This is used in different places in the New Testament as a euphemism for 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.