60IN60 Day 37 - Tues Apr 7

It's Day 37 and we're in 1 Kings 2.

We'll be reading a few of the early stories of Solomon's reign.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 46 - There is very much a "Game of Thrones" quality to this chapter: people being killed because they're a threat to the king.  I know that's the reality of power and politics, but it's still uncomfortable reading for me.

Help:
- Verses 5-9 - This is not the magnanimous ending that you might hope for, but it's a few final things to be taken care of.
- Verses 17, 22 - The Bible doesn't indicate whether his motive in asking for this wife was innocent or conniving.  It could have been either.  Given the deadly politics of a newly-established reign, we can definitely say that it wasn't a smart choice.
- Verse 29 - In the Old Testament Law, there were provisions for fleeing to the tent of the Lord under certain circumstances and no one could immediately bring revenge upon you.  There would have to be a trial before a judge.  Joab's situation is not one of those situations, but he's trying to avail himself of it anyway.  Just a move of desperation.
- Verse 37 - Presumably going with the proverb: "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

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 Apr 6

It's Day 36 and we're in Matthew 28.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 15 - I wonder why they were not personally changed (and therefore refuse the money and instead believe in Christ) by the encounter?  Fear for their 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 35 - Sun Apr 5

It's Day 35 and we're in Matthew 27.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 14 - The restraint He shows is amazing.  Because the charges were trumped up, He could have lawyered His way out, but He remained silent.

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 34 - Sat Apr 4

It's Day 34 and we're in Matthew 26.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - They were so interested in their popularity.

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 Apr 3

It's Day 33 and we're in Matthew 25.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 20 - God expects fruitfulness.

Help:
- Verse 20, 22 - God expects that we use the time, talent, and money He's entrusted to us to bear fruit.
- Verses 24-27 - The master does not agree with the servant's argument that he is an unreasonable man.  He does respond by saying, "If you really believed that, you wouldn't have just buried what I gave 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 32 - Thurs Apr 2

It's Day 32 and we're in Matthew 24.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - There is a plan.

Help:
- Verses 4-51 - This all is generally considered to have to do with "end of the world" stuff.  There's a ton of details here, but the two key verses are 36 and 42.  Verse 36 reminds us how much we don't know.  Verse 42 reminds us to always be ready.
- Verse 34 - The word "generation" can mean "generation" or "race."  Some take the verse to refer to the Fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which would put it with a generation.  Some take it to mean that it'll happen before the end of the 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 31 - Wed Apr 1

It's Day 31 and we're in Matthew 23.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 23 - I think Baptists are guilty of this too often: missing the larger issues of justice.

Help:
- Verses 6-10 - We need to be careful that we're not getting full egos off the praise of people.
- Verse 13 - The second half of the verse refers to people with genuine spiritual interest who would come to the Pharisees because they were "the religious experts."  The Pharisees' answer would point those people in the wrong direction.
- Verses 30-32 - They were both trying to claim that it was their "fathers" who made up Israel while trying to deny the ancient disobedience those old Israelites did that made God mad.
- Verses 34-35 - Because the Pharisees of Jesus' day had a vantage point to see so much and therefore have so many warnings about disobedience, it makes their guilt greater.

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.