60IN60 Day 23 - Tues Sept 29

It's Day 23 and we're in Luke 9.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1 - "He. . . gave them power" - God desires to give us power that we might be able to make a difference in the world.

Help:
- Verse 18 - That's oddly phrased.  I think it means, "Jesus went away with His disciples to get some time praying alone.  While on that retreat, the disciples asked. . ."
- Verse 23 - What does that mean?  It means that put aside our desires and pursue where He's leading us.  "Taking up your cross" means being willing to make sacrifices for the Kingdom.
- Verse 24 - What does this mean?  It means that we need to pursue what God is calling us to do, even when it causes us to have to make sacrifices we'd rather not make.  We do this presuming that His leading will take us to real life.
- Verse 59 - The best explanation of this I've read is that the phrase used by the man was one that meant that that his father was not yet dead but that he wanted to wait until that had happened and was taken care of.

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:

- A comment from a 60IN60 participant: "Ecclesiastes certainly isn't my favorite books but it does hammer home the one essential truth: when we attach ourselves to things of impermanence (even high- minded pursuits) without godliness there's no rest, there's never closure.  As St Augustine wrote, 'Our hearts are not at rest until we find our rest in you.'"

60IN60 Day 22 - Mon Sept 28

It's Day 22 and we're in Ecclesiastes 3.

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 11 - He has "set eternity in their hearts."  There is something within each of us that longs for life beyond this life.  I think it's there because there is life beyond this life.

Help:
- Verse 1-22 - Remember that Ecclesiastes is written from the perspective of someone trying to make sense of life without a vibrant relationship with God in their life.  Understanding that helps passages like verses 17-22 to make more sense - those are not the words of someone who deeply understands 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.

Your Questions and Comments:

- "Did Solomon write the book of Ecclesiastes?" - Although the text does not explicitly name him, there is every reason to believe he did. He fits all the identifying remarks made within the book. 

60IN60 Day 21 - Sun Sept 27

It's Day 21 and we're in Ecclesiastes 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - Without the hope of eternal life, there is a bitterness in knowing our only legacy is left to those who may mistreat it.

Help:
- Verse 1-26 - It's essential to understand the purpose of Ecclesiastes.  It is a wise man who is not following God describing how the world seems to him.  What is why it references all these wonderful things of life that the writer (almost certainly Solomon) ultimately finds "vanity" (i.e. meaningless).  The point of Ecclesiastes is this: no matter how much of the wonders and glory of this earth you experience, if you don't have God in your life, you will ultimately find it meaningless.  Ecclesiastes is my favorite Old Testament book because it speaks so clearly to 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 20 - Sat Sept 26

It's Day 20 and we're in Ecclesiastes 1.

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 18 - More knowledge often makes your life more difficult.

Help:
- Verses 1-18 - It's essential to understand the purpose of Ecclesiastes.  It is a wise man who is not following God describing how the world seems to him.  What is why it references all these wonderful things of life that the writer (almost certainly Solomon) ultimately finds "vanity" (i.e. meaningless).  The point of Ecclesiastes is this: no matter how much of the wonders and glory of this earth you experience, if you don't have God in your life, you will ultimately find it meaningless.  Ecclesiastes is my favorite Old Testament book because it speaks so clearly to 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 19 - Fri Sept 25

It's Day 19 and we're in Colossians 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 2 - I like the idea he puts out here about "keeping alert" (NASB) in our prayers. I think too often we pray without diligently watching for and expecting an answer.

Help:
- Verse 1 - On the difficult subject of slavery, there are some passages (like this one) where Paul addresses how they should live while in bondage and other passages where he encourages them to get their freedom if they are able.

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 Sept 24

It's Day 18 and we're in Colossians 3.

Occasionally email providers route 60IN60 into spam folders. If your 60IN60 email doesn't show up one morning, check your spam to see if it got put there.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 9-10 - Fully enjoying the spiritual power that God offers us requires a daily choice to "put off" our old self and "put on" our new self. The resources are there, but we have to choose to use them.

Help:
- Verse 3 - "For you died" - This means we died spiritually. In becoming a Christian, we are spiritually "buried" with Him and then spiritually "raised to life." We are a new creation. The old (spiritual) person is dead.

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 Sept 23

It's Day 17 and we're in Colossians 2.

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 5 - It is a great encouragement when you see fellow Christians making substantive spiritual progress.

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.