It's Day 14 and we're in Isaiah 54.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 17 - That first phrase is one that's often claimed in prayer by Christians anticipating 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.
It's Day 13 and we're in Isaiah 11.
If you come across something in your reading that doesn't make sense at first, be quick to re-read and to ask questions. If I can help answer anything, drop me an email.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 2 - We have that Spirit within us: the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. Seems like we should be listening more often to Someone that great.
Help:
- Verses 6-9 - This refers to a time in the future when the world will be as it should be. Some believe this refers to the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. Some believe this refers to the time described in Revelation 21-22 when there will be a new heaven, new earth, and New Jerusalem.
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.
It's Day 12 and we're in Isaiah 6.
We'll just be choosing a few of the best chapters from the book of Isaiah as we read over the next few days.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - Part of coming into the true presence of God is that we are made keenly aware of how inadequate we are. It's not a pleasant thing, but it's part of being near Someone so purely holy.
Help:
- Verses 9-10 - This makes it sound like God desires that they not repent. I think it's less a statement of what God desires and more a statement of the way the people actually are. God is sending Isaiah knowing the people will not respond the way He wishes they would.
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.
It's Day 11 and we're in 1 Kings 19.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - It's amazing (and true to life) how Elijah can move from such a stunning victory (chapter 18) to running for his life so quickly. I've often seen it in my life how in the space of just a few hours things can go from amazing victory to total meltdown.
Help:
- Verses 1-21 - There are tons of signs here that Elijah is dealing with what we would diagnose today as depression. Just because we are following God or working for God doesn't mean that we aren't going to deal with problems like everyone else does.
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.
It's Day 10 and we're in 1 Kings 18.
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 43 - It's odd that after that dramatic and immediate answer from God, this time he has to pray multiple times. Sometimes God works that way.
Help:
- Verse 17 - Elijah was just bringing God's message, yet he is personally condemned for 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.
It's Day 9 and we're in 1 Kings 17.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 18, 20 - How often our first instinct is to blame God.
Help:
- Verse 1 - Ahab is the king.
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:
- "In performing miracles, why did Jesus tell some to go and proclaim it and others He told to say nothing?" - It seems strange, doesn't it? If we could do a miracle, we would shout it from the rooftops! There are two big reasons I think are worth discussing. First, the timeline. Some mention that Jesus knows the timeline of what's going to happen concerning the cross and He doesn't want things advancing ahead of that. He wants to show compassion by healing but He doesn't want things to move too fast, so He tells people to say nothing. Second, often these miracles did not produce lasting faith. Jesus knows many people came just for the miracle but we're necessarily interested in following Him. I think each of those reasons could be in play in various situations. Sometimes Jesus might have been in a situation where religious fervor was running high and if people heard about more miracles they might have wanted to make Him king then and there (see John 6:14-15 for an example), so Jesus might have wanted to quiet things down. Sometimes the person who was healed might have had genuine, lasting faith and so Jesus told them to go tell. At other times perhaps Jesus knew that person wouldn't have lasting faith so He didn't want them to go tell and then be a bad witness by going back to sinful behaviors.
It's Day 8 and we're in Luke 8.
Occasionally there may be a problem with the email distribution and your daily email may not show up. Usually when that happens you can still view it at www.60in60Bible.org.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 21 - True believers are not those who say they believe in Jesus, but those who "put it into practice."
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.
