60IN60 Day 43 - Mon Oct 19

It's Day 43 and we're in Luke 19.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 16 - It's enormously encouraging to know that God wants us to live productive, fruitful lives - lives that produce ten-fold, a hundred-fold.  It's also enormously challenging to know that God expects great things from our lives through the power of the Spirit.

Help:
- Verses 8-9 - It seems odd that Jesus claims salvation for Zac here even though he hasn't made a traditional "confession of faith."  I think that what Zac does is an indication of the internal change of heart that has happened.  At the end of the day, it's not saying a particular set of words that gets us right with God - it's grabbing onto Jesus and wanting Him in our hearts to change our lives that matters.

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:

- A comment from a 60IN60 participant. Acts 12. "Why don't we pray like this for people? Because we are comfortable and not in chains."

- A comment from a 60IN60 participant. Acts 12. "Interesting that God allows James to be slaughtered but miraculously saves Peter.  From a human perspective it seems so arbitrary and unfair."

60IN60 Day 42 - Sun Oct 18

It's Day 42 and we're in Luke 18.

Remember that your daily reading in the Bible isn't about gaining information - it's about changing your life to be more like Christ. That means that you need to take action on what God speaks to you about. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 29-30 - I really needed these this morning to deal with a problem I'm facing.  God supplied the promise I needed at the right moment.

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 41 - Sat Oct 17

It's Day 41 and we're in Luke 17.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - This is a cry we all need to be making regularly.

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 40 - Fri Oct 16

It's Day 40 and we're in Acts 12.

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 12 - Why don't we pray like this for people?

Help:
- Verse 15 - This is the only passage that seems to hint at the idea of guardian angels.

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 39 - Thurs Oct 15

It's Day 39 and we're in Acts 11.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - Sometimes God's message to us surprises and we have that moment when all our objections melt away in the awareness that this must be God's will.

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: "Reading verse 43, I was struck by the simplicity of the gospel as shared by Peter. I also noted that Peter made clear to Cornelius that he was '. . . just a man' and not worthy of worship. One must wonder how the papacy has morphed from the unadorned faith and life of the fisherman Simon Peter."

- Acts 10:9-16. "I was taught that this passage is referring to literal food, that all food has been made acceptable for us to consume today (although some faiths still observe restrictions, i.e. not eating pork). Does this passage, instead of literal food, refer to the Gentiles no longer being 'unclean' as compared to Jews?" - It means both. The specific vision that Peter gets from God opens up the dietary restrictions from the Old Testament Law. The key principle, stated by the voice, is 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean' (v. 15). Immediately after this vision the story of Cornelius continues (vv. 19-48). When the Holy Spirit is given to the Gentile believers (vv. 44-45), Peter realizes that God has opened salvation to Gentiles. This is a complete surprise to him and the other Jewish believers. But the same stated principle was in play: 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' God had declared Gentiles clean through Jesus.

60IN60 Day 38 - Wed Oct 14

It's Day 38 and we're in Acts 10.

One reason to be in the Bible regularly? It helps you avoid nonsense. There are so many different ideas out there today about God. It's important that we base our image of God on who He said He is, not what other people wish He was. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 35 - "is welcome to Him" - I like the inviting way that puts it.  He's eager to receive us.

Help:
- Verse 1-48 - This chapter is a milestone in the church.  Up to this point, the presumption among Jesus' followers was that the salvation Jesus brought was only offered to Jews.  This chapter details God opening up salvation to Gentiles (i.e. you and me).

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 37 - Tues Oct 13

It's Day 37 and we're in Acts 9.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 22 - All of Paul's learning in the Old Testament, even long before he had any idea that he would become a Christian, was all used by God to further His Kingdom.  God is preparing things even when we don't realize 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.