60IN60 Day 31 - Wed Jul 31

It's Day 31 and we're in 1 Samuel 23.

As you read, listen for where God wants to speak to you. What jumps out to you? What speaks to situations you're dealing with right now?

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - In the course of the victory, God also provided the resources they needed to eat.  God can kill two birds with one stone better than anyone.

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 30 - Tues Jul 30

It's Day 30 and we're in 1 Samuel 22.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing again today.

Help:
- Verse 17 - How evil is what Saul is asking them to do?  You know it's bad when his guards are willing to disobey 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 Comments:
- "- Verse 24 - "stripped," "naked" - Yeah, that's weird." Not as weird as "bring me 100 foreskins." Ewww! LOL!"

60IN60 Day 29 - Mon Jul 29

It's Day 29 and we're in 1 Samuel 21.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Again, nothing jumped out to me today.  That's a few days in a row.  That will happen sometimes.  Nothing to get discouraged about.

Help:
- Verse 1 - "trembling" - Why was he trembling?  Maybe just that having one of the king's main guys show up all by himself was very unusual and he was concerned that it meant bad news.
- Verse 2 - David is lying.  Again, the Bible tells the stories of the heroes of the faith both when they honor God with their behavior and when they don't.
- Verse 12 - Why did he fear the king?  Presumably because he knew the king was more likely to be violent toward him if he saw David as a threat, which verse 11 says he did.
- Verses 13-15 - This is odd behavior.  Apparently David saw this as the best way to get out of the difficult situation he thought he was in.

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 28 - Sun Jul 28

It's Day 28 and we're in 1 Samuel 20.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing jumped out to me today.  There are days like that.

Help:
- Verses 17, 41 - Some have tried to make these verses into evidence that Jonathan and David had a homosexual relationship, but that really says more about us and what we're reading into the passage than it does about the passage.  Nothing like that is in mind here.  Verse 41's "kissed each other" is not a sexual kiss, but the same kind of thing that the New Testament authorizes when it says we can greet each other with a "holy kiss" - i.e. a friendly kiss on the cheek.
- Verses 40-41 - My presumption here is that the sadness of the moment caused Jonathan to abandon his plan and go and have one more conversation with his friend.

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 Jul 27

It's Day 27 and we're in 1 Samuel 19.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out today.

Help:
- Verses 8-10 - A couple issues here, which I've also addressed in previous days.  First, "an evil spirit from the Lord" most likely means that God had authorized Satan to send a demon to torment Saul.  God obviously doesn't have an evil spirits who are "on His side."  Second, why was David back in Saul's presence when Saul had tried to kill him before (18:11).  We don't know for sure, but some thoughts: a. There may have been a presumption that Saul was suffering from a mental illness that made him better sometimes and worse sometimes; b. Because the king's word was law, David's two options were to continue to be around Saul as one of his military men or to flee and essentially declare himself to be in open rebellion against the king - pursuing the second path was a big step; c. Like in domestic abuse situations we see today, we know that people don't always immediately remove themselves from dangerous situations the way you think they would.
- Verse 13 - "the household idol" - The presumption would be that it was Michal's and not David's, since we think of David as someone who served God.  Still, it's troubling that he allowed that idol worship to happen within his home.
- Verse 17 - She is lying to protect herself.  The fact that the Bible tells us about it does not mean that the Bible authorizes it.
- Verse 23 - In the Old Testament, the Spirit of the Lord coming on you was not a salvation event, but one that usually accompanied receiving power from God or having a special manifestation of the presence of God (as here).  It is odd that Saul received it too, but it was apparently something that happened to anyone who was there.  An imperfect analogy to today would be how even a non-Christian can be in a worship service where God is moving and be aware of the presence of the Spirit there even though the Spirit is not within them.
- Verse 24 - "stripped," "naked" - Yeah, that's weird.

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.

Where God Spoke To You:
- "¹¹ On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. ( the normal way it seems for even modern day Christians to respond when under attack)...
⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”( what I need to remember when I or my loved ones, or my faith is under attack)"
- "1. I LOVE the whole story of Saul. It just reminds me, "Be careful what you wish for." Also, that the verse, "...and He will give you the desires of your heart" means He will put the desires in our hearts that align w/ His will for us, and that is for what we should be praying; not that if we're wishing for a red Ferrari and we pray enough, He'll drop one in our driveway. :-)  If we are wishing for a king when we're not meant to have one, it may not work out so well for us.

2. I didn't remember that David came from Bethlehem. Of course I knew that via Joseph, Jesus is a descendant of David, but I enjoy re-reading chapters and stories I've read many times before (David and Goliath), and noting something new each time.

3. 1 Sam 17:25 "The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.” This doesn't seem to impress David. Vs 26: "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” He's more about the fact that Goliath is threatening God's people. I love that about him.

4. 1 Sam 17:45: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." This is how we should fight Satan daily, sometimes by the minute! Satan defies God at every turn, but God is always on our side and w/ HIS power, we can defeat the enemy. I need this reminder more often than I'd like to admit. Satan is fighting for my marriage, but we cannot let him win a single battle, much less the war. We have to just keep fighting in the power and name of Jesus!"

60IN60 Day 26 - Fri July 26

It's Day 26 and we're in 1 Samuel 18.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 14 - When God is with us, He opens up doors and blesses us in multiple ways.

Help:
- Verse 11 - Why does David still come around Saul?  It's hard to say, but some thoughts: a. I'm guessing there was a presumption that Saul was suffering from some mental problems by this point due to his erratic behavior - maybe it seemed to get better and then get worse; b. Unlike today where violent behavior gets you taken to jail, back then the king was the law, so he could get away with whatever he wanted; c. Like in domestic abuse situations that we see today, there is not always that immediate decision to remove yourself from a bad situation, even if that would be the smart thing to do.
- Verse 25 - Yeah, that's disgusting.

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 Jul 25

It's Day 25 and we're in 1 Samuel 17.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 34-36 - God often uses everyday experiences to prepare us for how He's going to use us in the Kingdom.

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 Jul 24

It's Day 24 and we're in 1 Samuel 16.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 2 - The Bible heroes are like us.  Here you'd like to think the man of God would be fearless to do God's will, but instead he expresses his fear of the king.

Help:
- Verse 2 - "Take a heifer" - This also serves the purpose of keeping Samuel from arousing Saul's suspicion, but he is actually going to do this so it's not a lie.
- Verse 4 - Why were they trembling?  Presumably because there would be times when the prophet of God would come with a word of condemnation or rebuke.
- Verse 13 - "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily of David" - Unlike in the New Testament when the Holy Spirit enters us at the moment of salvation and sees us all the way through this life, back in the Old Testament the Spirit coming on someone was more a sign of power than salvation.
- Verse 14 - "an evil spirit from the Lord" - This most likely means that God gave permission to Satan to torment Saul.  It essentially means that God authorized the evil spirit's presence, not that God has evil spirits that are "on His side."
- Verses 12-23 - Even though David has been anointed by Samuel and knows that God has chosen him to eventually replace Saul, as long as Saul lives he is still 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.

60IN60 Day 23 - Tues Jul 23

It's Day 23 and we're in Hebrews 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 25 - What an encouraging idea: Jesus talks to God ("intercedes") on my behalf.

Help:
- Verses 1-11 - The main idea being put forward is that the Old Testament priesthood was symbolic, but inadequate.
- Verse 3 - This is not saying that Melchizedek actually had no father, no mother, etc., but rather there was no recorded information about those things.
- Verse 16 - In the Old Testament, there were strict rules about the physical condition of those wanting to be priests.
- Verse 18 - The Old Testament system had its purpose (which was to point out how we cannot keep God's perfect standards in our own strength), but it was ultimately "weak" and "useless" to get us closer to 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.

60IN60 Day 22 - Mon Jul 22

It's Day 22 and we're in Hebrews 6.

Sometimes things get busy and you miss a day or two.  Don’t get discouraged and quit.  Just lay aside those readings you missed and jump in with today’s reading.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 11 - We can not just kinda-sorta-hope we have salvation - we can be confident in what Jesus has done for us.

Help:
- Verses 4-6 - These verses are among the most difficult in the New Testament.  Among the interpretations that people have offered: a. the verses mean that people can lose their salvation; b. the verses are a hypothetical warning to the believers to continue walking forward strong; c. it's about people who looked like believers but never were.

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 21 - Sun Jul 21

It's Day 21 and we're in Hebrews 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - It's interesting to me that it says that Jesus was heard, yet we know that His prayers were not answered in the way that He wanted.  We can find  hope in knowing that God always hears our prayers, even when the larger purposes of God require that His answer be something other than what we were hoping for.

Help:
- Verse 8 - "learned obedience" - What does that mean?  It means that while He was here on earth He consistently chose to do what the Father desired even when tempted to go in another direction.  He had to "learn" that because while He was in heaven and not saddled with human flesh, being fully God meant that He was never tempted to do anything other than what was right.
- Verse 9 - "made perfect" - What does that mean?  Jesus was sinless when He was born and continued to live faithfully to the Father's call.  He had not, however, offered Himself as a sacrifice for sins.  Also, He had not endured temptation and overcome it.  Those experiences gave Him something that He didn't have before.  It made Him "perfect" in the sense of being able to fulfill the sympathetic high priest role in a way that He could not before He came to earth.

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 Jul 20

It's Day 20 and we're in Hebrews 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 16 - I needed that reminder today that in our time of need we can approach the throne of grace to find mercy and grace.

Help:
- Verses 9-10 - The reference here to "rest" are essentially a euphemism for heaven.

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 Jul 19

It's Day 19 and we're in Hebrews 3.

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 13 - One of the needs we have in our lives to stay on track spiritually is to have people to encourage us.  It keeps us from getting discouraged and giving into sin.  It's one of many reasons that we need to have a church family that we're active in.

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 Jul 18

It's Day 18 and we're in Hebrews 2.

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 18 - It's good to know that He knows what it's like to struggle.

Help:
- Verse 3 - This is just a rhetorical way of saying, "God has done everything He could, including the life of His only son, in order to open a door to salvation.  If we reject it, what possible excuse could we have that would be adequate?"

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.

Questions You Have:
- "This is from NIV: "his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." I don't recall ever learning that Genesis 1 happened via Jesus. Is that what this is saying?" - Yes, Jesus is the creator.  Some verses on that: Colossians 1:16; John 1:1, 3, 10; Hebrews 1:1-2; Ephesians 3:8-9; Romans 11:36.

60IN60 Day 17 - Wed Jul 17

It's Day 17 and we're in Hebrews 1.

An encouragement as you read the Bible today: in Acts 17:11, it tells of some Christians in Berea who "received the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether [what we taught was Biblical]." Let's be like them.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - If you understand the Son, you understand the Father.

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.

Where God Spoke To You:
- "I needed to hear this today.  I was reminded this weekend that Jesus gives us jobs so that we may have the necessities of life AND that we may glorify His kingdom by giving back.  How often do I view my job as something just for me and leave God out of it.  Too often."

60IN60 Day 16 - Tues Jul 16

It's Day 16 and we're in Malachi 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 10, 12 - I needed to read this as a reminder that when we put God first in our financial lives He has promised to take care of our financial needs.

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 15 - Mon Jul 15

It's Day 15 and we're in Zechariah 14.

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:
- Nothing jumped out to me today in the chapter.

Help:
- Verses 4, 6-8 - This is speaking of a time in the future when events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ will cause cataclysmic events.

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 14 - Sun Jul 14

It's Day 14 and we're in Zechariah 13.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out in today's chapter.  That's ok - it's not going to happen every day.

Help:
- Verses 2-3 - This is harsh, but God is serious about getting Israel back to Him and the false prophets were a significant problem in leading the people away.
- Verses 4, 6 - The "garment of hair" is a reference to something some prophets would wear to look like the prophets of older times (like Elijah); the wounds on their body would be from the way they would sometimes cut themselves as part of getting their false god to answer their prayer.  The point is that there would come a time when the evidence of them being a false prophet would be something shameful that they would try to hide rather than exalt in.

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 13 - Sat Jul 13

It's Day 13 and we're in Haggai 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 4 - "take courage" (or some translation have it "be strong") - That's an encouraging word when we're going to through a time of struggle or doubt.  God knows we're having a hard time and He encourages us: "Take courage" because I'm going to come through for you.

Help:
- Verses 12-13 - The idea here is that uncleanness is easily transmitted but holiness is not.

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 12 - Fri Jul 12

It's Day 12 and we're in Micah 6.

We're going to be reading a few chapters in the "minor prophets."  They're called that because their books are shorter than the "major prophets" like Jeremiah and Isaiah.  Overall, their message mostly focuses on coming judgment and eventual redemption.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 7-8 - The end of verse 8 is a nice short summary of what God wants from us.

Help:
- Verses 1-2 - Why is he talking about the mountains pleading and the hill speaking?  He's saying that the land stands as a witness to what Israel has done and that if they could speak they would testify to their evil.  Kind of like our phrase "if these walls could speak."

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 11 - Thurs Jul 11

It's Day 11 and we're in Matthew 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 7, 11 - Still on the same problem I alluded to yesterday, these verses are also a reminder that He's good to take care of my needs.

Help:
- Verses 1, 5 - There is a difference between being judgmental and using discernment.  Some people presume that verse 1 means that we should never make any judgments, but verse 5 makes it clear (because what the person in doing in that verse demands discernment) that we are not to suspend all judgment.  So be discerning, but not judgmental.
- Verse 6 - This is kind of obscure.  Most think it means to be discerning about how you share spiritual truth, but it's hard to get too emphatic with something that's not real clear.

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.

Where God Spoke To You:
- "What leaped off the page for me every time it was written: 'DON'T WORRY'"

60IN60 Day 10 - Wed Jul 10

It's Day 10 and we're in Matthew 6.

An encouragement as you read today: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8).

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 8, 31-33 - I really needed these this morning as I'm waiting on God to come through for me.  It's so easy to worry about it when instead I need to keep going back to the confidence that He is good to take care of my needs.

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.

Questions You Have:
- "What does the phrase "to those of old" ( see Ch. 5: vs. 21, 27, 33) refer to?" - Basically it just means "you've always heard it said that. . .."  Another way to roughly interpret it would be "You've always been told that the Old Testament teaches. . .."

60IN60 Day 9 - Tue Jul 9

It's Day 9 and we're in Matthew 5.

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 8 - Mon Jul 8

It's Day 8 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.