60IN60 Day 5 - Fri Nov 6

It's Day 5 and we're in Matthew 5.

Occasionally the 60IN60 emails fail to go out as scheduled. When that happens, you can usually still see that day's 60IN60 by looking on www.60in60Bible.org.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - That's a great promise to know when you're seeking God and wondering if He's going to meet you.

Help:
- Verse 39 - This does not have to do with being physically assaulted, but rather insulted - i.e. a slap on the cheek.
- Verse 48 - The idea of "perfect" here is focused on the idea of maturity. It is God's intention to get rid of all the sin in our lives, so being "perfect" is the goal we are (imperfectly in this life) striving after.

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 4 - Thurs Nov 5

It's Day 4 and we're in Matthew 4.

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:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today. Not every day is going to bring something.

Help:
- Verse 18-22 - We know from the other gospels that Jesus had previous conversations with these guys. It's not (as it sounds like here if you don't know the larger story) that He walked up to strangers, said, "Come on," and they did.

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 3 - Wed Nov 4

It's Day 3 and we're in Matthew 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 8 - Having a heart of repentance is going to be produce fitting fruit in our lives - like urgency, humility, and a desire to change.

Help:
- Verse 11 - "with the Holy Spirit and with fire" - The "fire" reference here is a little uncertain. It might mean persecution. It might refer to the Acts 2 incident. It might mean conviction.

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 2 - Tues Nov 3

It's Day 2 and we're in Matthew 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 13 - Obedience sometimes leads us to places we never expected to be.

Help: 
- Verses 13-18 - This is a heartbreaking story.  Jesus was born into a world of tragedy and suffering.  He bore much suffering Himself.  That's one reason we can bring our struggles to Him.

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:

- Matthew 1. "I just read Matthew 1 that establishes the lineage of Joseph. But Joseph did not father Jesus. What of Mary's lineage?" - Many believe that the genealogy in Matthew 1 shows Joseph's lineage and that Luke 3 shows Mary's.

- A comment from a 60IN60 participant. "I agree that the genealogy verses contained in Matthew 1 can seem to be an onerous task for the reader. However, in the past several years I have found it fruitful to research the backstories of the individuals in the lineage of Jesus. I am particularly impressed by the four pagan women included: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Tamar and Rahab especially illustrate how God can use (very) imperfect people to further His sovereign plan for our redemption. I encourage others to reflect on the mysterious ways used by the God we worship." 

60IN60 Day 1 - Mon Nov 2

It's Day 1 and we're in Matthew 1.

Because of the way the months fall, we have a little overlap between the end of the last "60IN60" cycle and the new one, so today is Day 1 of a new cycle instead of Day 57 of the old one.  "60IN60" starts the first Monday of every other month.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 24 - Sometimes the word from the Lord points you in directions that you weren't planning on going.

Help:
- Verses 1-16 - The genealogy makes for mostly dry reading, but it's in there because it's important to establish the Jewish lineage of Jesus in order to show that He is qualified to be the Messiah.

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:

- 2 Samuel 12. "I used to hate verse 15; in fact, it scared me. What kind of God was I chasing? David was the culprit. David, whose moniker was The Warrior King, didn't go out with the rest in the spring but stayed back and, for all intents and purposes, raped a married woman. A woman whose husband fought for David wholeheartedly. There's no indication in scripture that Bathsheba knew him as anything other than the King. She's bathing at night. Why is David out and about on the rooftops? He sends for her, and this wasn't a request. She conceives and David searches for a way out. Then God steps in and strikes the child. Hard as this is to accept, God's covenant was always with Israel. Time and again, God intervenes in Israel's history lest they get wiped out because if Israel ceased to be, no redeemer for  mankind could be born. Who knew how this child could have affected God's redemptive plan?. Absalom did his damage, but this child of Bathsheba's, when the truth came out, could have easily started a civil war. Uriah was loyal to his men; undoubtedly, they felt the same way about him. In all likelihood, other commanders and their troops would have joined in. The nation of Israel would have destroyed itself over a one night stand. Secondly, David (why he was given so much godly wisdom I'll never know) makes the statement, 'I am going to him, but he will not return to me.' David knew of the redemptive promise and is saying that the child is now with God. I don't believe he was speaking of the netherworld, but union with God. He's hopeful and surprisingly cheerful.  That he goes on to make Bathsheba his wife is another discussion."

60IN60 Day 56 - Sun Nov 1

It's Day 56 and we're in 2 Samuel 12.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 13 - I think the core thing that God loved about David (and the Bible makes it clear that He did love him) is wrapped up in this verse and similar ones. There is a humility in David acknowledging that he is guilty. That doesn't justify the horrific behavior, but it's something that God can work with.

Help:
- Verse 15 - I don't like this verse (I'm not saying it's not true - I'm just saying I don't like it). I understand within the larger situation why this would happen, but it would seem a much fairer punishment would be for David to get sick.

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 55 - Sat Oct 31

It's Day 55 and we're in 2 Samuel 11.

A scary thought: the Bible is "able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). That can be frightening, but know that God loves you the way you are, but too much to leave you that way. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 15 - How far are we willing to go to cover up our sin? Usually, it's farther than we would have originally guessed.

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.