60IN60 Day 30 - Tues Mar 31

It's Day 30 and we're in Matthew 22.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - Tough verse, but worthy of pondering as to why God would do that.

Help:
- Verse 7 - Verse 6 is a big help in understanding verse 7.  These people had murdered innocents.
- Verse 10 - The point here is that the invitation was widely given, but verse 12 has more to say.
- Verse 12-13 - Some were invited, but didn't make the change needed to come to the wedding.  The analogy would be those who hear the gospel invitation, but never change their lives.  Verse 13 is descriptive of hell.
- Verse 14 - God throws open the opportunity to all, but we must come having received what Christ has done for us.
- Verses 15-16 - The Pharisees and Herodians were natural enemies.  If Jesus said to pay the taxes, the Herodians would turn Him into the Romans as an enemy of the state, preaching rebellion.  If Jesus said to pay the taxes, the Pharisees would tell the people that Jesus was just a patsy for the oppressive Roman rule.  It was designed to be a no-win situation.
- Verse 24 - This was the tradition back then.  I know today that we marry for love and this seems strange to us, but it was the custom.  (And our marrying-for-love system hasn't exactly produced perfect results either.)
- Verse 30 - We will not be married to other humans in the Kingdom to come.
- Verses 41-45 - This is a little puzzle.  David is speaking of the Messiah, who will come after him.  Because David is the older, he should receive the higher honor.  Yet he refers to this Messiah as "Lord."  Why?  The answer is that the Messiah was not just going to be another human, but God incarnate.  That made the Messiah worthy of such an honor.

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 29 - Mon Mar 30

It's Day 29 and we're in 1 Thessalonians 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 17 - I want to reach a place where I'm constantly inviting God into moment-by-moment life.

Help:
- Verse 16, 18 - This is not to say that we have to be thankful for everything, but we do need to find reasons to be thankful in everything. 
- Verse 26 - This is a cultural thing from Paul's time and not a binding commandment on us 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.

Your Questions and Comments:

- "Is this to be taken literally? The dead will rise (in spirit) from the grave and the living will join Jesus in the sky? Does that mean the spirit of the dead will remain there in the grave until then? I thought when they died they went to heaven to wait until then?" - The way this is usually interpreted is that the spirits of those who are with Christ in heaven will be reunited with their earthly body, that will be then changed into a resurrection body, and then they will be part of Christ's return to earth. We are with Christ in heaven after we die, but also get to be a part of this amazing event. Some take it as a metaphor, though.

60IN60 Day 28 - Sun Mar 29

It's Day 28 and we're in 1 Thessalonians 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - God wants the sin gone from our lives.  We don't have to wonder about that - we know it's His 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.

60IN60 Day 27 - Sat Mar 28

It's Day 27 and we're in 1 Thessalonians 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - As a pastor, I get this.  The joy of seeing those in your church family grow is a big deal.

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 26 - Fri Mar 27

It's Day 26 and we're in 1 Thessalonians 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - As a pastor, I get this.  You so want to see your congregation grow spiritually.

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 25 - Thurs Mar 26

It's Day 25 and we're in 1 Thessalonians 1.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - I want to see that power.

Help:
- Verse 6 - Not that Paul was perfect, but he was trying to authentically model a true spiritual life.

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 Mar 25

It's Day 24 and we're in Psalm 28.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - I like the thought that thinking of what He's done for us fills us with joy.

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.