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.