60IN60 Day 55 - Sat Dec 31

It's Day 55 and we're in Revelation 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 8 - There are doors God opens that no one can shut.  That's an encouragement as we do His work.

Help:
- Verse 1 - "seven Spirits of God" - As I mentioned the other day, this is obscure.  The best guess is that it refers to the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit.
- Verse 5 - "erase his name" - Some argue that this means there is the possibility of losing your salvation; others note that there is nowhere that God says He actually does erase their name.

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 54 - Fri Dec 30

It's Day 54 and we're in Revelation 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 7, 11, 17, 26 - To the four churches in chapter 2 (as well as to all the churches addressed in chapter 3), one thing that is said to each is "to him who overcomes."  In our lives as Christians, there are going to be hardships and struggles.  We will not make it if we are not willing to overcome.

Help:
- Verse 1 - "seven stars in His right hand" - Obscure imagery, but it seems to be emphasizing His power.
- Verse 16 - "the sword of My mouth" - Just a colorful way to say "My words."
- Verse 23 - "kill her children" - Not literally children, but meaning the people who were following Jezebel.

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 53 - Thurs Dec 29

It's Day 53 and we're in Revelation 1.

Where God Spoke To Me:

- Verse 18 - He holds all the keys.  He's got this under control.
 

Help:

- Verse 4 - "seven Spirits" - This is an odd phrase and it's meaning is obscure.  The best guess I've heard is that it's referring to the Holy Spirit and the various ministries He performs.

- Verses 12-17 - These are strange descriptions.  The best way to think of it is to imagine trying to describe something of indescribable beauty.  You'd grasp for phrases.  Or imagine trying to describe a helicopter to someone who lived 3,000 years ago.  You'd grasp for phrases.  He's trying to describe something that we've never seen or imagined.
 

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 52 - Wed Dec 28

It's Day 52 and we're in Genesis 50.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 20 - God works with the bad things in our lives to try to bring something good out of them.

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 51 - Tues Dec 27

It's Day 51 and we're in Genesis 49.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1 - I'm not sure that's something I'd want to know.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment about the chapter, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 50 - Mon Dec 26

It's Day 50 and we're in Genesis 48.

Where God Spoke To Me: - Verse 15 - "The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day."

Help:
- Verse 5 - Jacob "adopts" Joseph's son for the purpose of being able to give them a blessing like his own sons.
- Verse 19 - Some things are just destined to be.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment about the chapter, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 49 - Sun Dec 25

It's Day 49 and we're in Genesis 47.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - "few and unpleasant have been the years of my life" - After all the blessings God has given him and this is his attitude?  It's amazing how ungrateful we can be.

Help:
- Verse 3 - Joseph had just told them (46:34) not to say that.  Fortunately it didn't bring the bad result expected.
- Verse 25 - Big sacrifice, but desperation leads to that.
- Verse 29 - "hand under my thigh" - It seems weird to us, but then again saying "they finalized their agreement by pressing the palms of their hands together" would be weird too.  But we shake hands anyway.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a comment or question about the chapter, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 48 - Sat Dec 24

It's Day 48 and we're in Genesis 46.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing jumped out to me today.  That's ok.  There will be days like that.

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 47 - Fri Dec 23

It's Day 47 and we're in Ephesians 6.

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

Help:
- Verses 5-9 - Slavery was a cultural reality in Paul's day, like it has been in many eras.  In other New Testament passages, Paul makes the case for being freed from slavery when that opportunity is present (see the book of Philemon).  When that possibility was not there, this instruction from Ephesians 6 was relevant.

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 46 - Thurs Dec 22

It's Day 46 and we're in Ephesians 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 32 - This is a "mystery" I've pondered quite a bit, without coming to much of a conclusion yet.  So I guess I'll just keep thinking.

Help:
- Verses 22-30 - This passage is, obviously, controversial.  Among the approaches to it: 1. It's a cultural thing from Paul's day that does not apply to us today.  2. It is applicable to today, but it's important to keep it in the context of the mutual submission mentioned in verse 21.  3.  Or more straightforward: this is the nature of the way marriage relationships are to be.

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:

- Ephesians 4: "I heard an analogy about verses 22-24. When we open our closet door, the clothes don't just jump onto our bodies. We have to put them on.  And we have to make the effort to put on the 'new' that we have in Christ, it isn't automatic."

60IN60 Day 45 - Wed Dec 21

It's Day 45 and we're in Ephesians 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 24 - This is such an important spiritual growth idea: we have to put on the new person that we've become.

Help:
- Verses 9-10 - Some argue these verses refer to Christ "descending into hell" after His death in order to preach to the spirits held captive; others believe it's a reference to Jesus coming to earth.
- Verses 22-24 - We have been given a new nature and been made into a new creation through Christ.  We still, however, are in our flesh and struggle with its earthly tendencies.  We need to make a conscious choice to "put on" the person we've been made in Christ and "put off" the old self.
- Verse 30 - "sealed" - Like a letter from a king would have been given the royal seal before it was sent, so we to have been "sealed" by the Holy Spirit as proof of God's intent to see us through the journey ahead.

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 44 - Tues Dec 20

It's Day 44 and we're in Ephesians 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - Thank the Lord for this "mystery."

Help:
- Verses 3-4, 6 - The mystery he's talking about in verses 3-4 is that the Gentiles are being allowed to be saved through the Jewish Messiah, as is noted in verse 6.

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 43 - Mon Dec 19

It's Day 43 and we're in Ephesians 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - The phrase "in coming ages" got me to thinking about some possibilities I hadn't considered before.

Help:
- Verse 2 - "ruler of the kingdom of the air" - Another title for Satan.
- Verse 14 - In this verse, he is talking about the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles has been broken down by Christ.

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 42 - Sun Dec 18

It's Day 42 and we're in Ephesians 1.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 19 - I want to see that "incomparably great power" at work in my life.  Pour it on, 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.

60IN60 Day 41 - Sat Dec 17

It's Day 41 and we're in 1 Kings 10.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 27 - To be in the middle of a time of God's blessing is a wonderful thing.

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 Dec 16

It's Day 40 and we're in 1 Kings 9.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today.  That's ok - some days will be like that.

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 Dec 15

It's Day 39 and we're in 1 Kings 8.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 56 - "not one word" - That's something I'm counting on in a couple really important matters in my life right now - that God is good to come through and fulfill His promises.  Not one word that He promised will go unfufilled.

Help:
- Verses 1-66 - We're picking up this story with the ark being brought to the Temple.
- Verse 6 - The cherubim were angel statues, not actual angels.
- Verse 8 - These are the poles that they used to carry the ark.  They were not allowed to actually touch the ark.
- Verses 33, 35, 37-38, 46 - God told them up front that there were consequences to their disobedience, if they would choose that path.

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 38 - Wed Dec 14

It's Day 38 and we're in 1 Kings 3.

Note that tomorrow we skip forward to chapter 8.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - It's an interesting phrase to me: "he loved the Lord, except. . .."  In what ways is that applicable to me?

Help:
- Verse 7 - "little child" - Not literal language, but figurative.  Solomon likely was about 20 by this point.  

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 Dec 13

It's Day 37 and we're in 1 Kings 2.

We'll be reading a few of the early stories of Solomon's reign.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 46 - There is very much a "Game of Thrones" quality to this chapter: people being killed because they're a threat to the king.  I know that's the reality of power and politics, but it's still uncomfortable reading for me.

Help:
- Verses 5-9 - This is not the magnanimous ending that you might hope for, but it's a few final things to be taken care of.
- Verses 17, 22 - The Bible doesn't indicate whether his motive in asking for this wife was innocent or conniving.  It could have been either.  Given the deadly politics of a newly-established reign, we can definitely say that it wasn't a smart choice.
- Verse 29 - In the Old Testament Law, there were provisions for fleeing to the tent of the Lord under certain circumstances and no one could immediately bring revenge upon you.  There would have to be a trial before a judge.  Joab's situation is not one of those situations, but he's trying to avail himself of it anyway.  Just a move of desperation.
- Verse 37 - Presumably going with the proverb: "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

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 36 - Mon Dec 12

It's Day 36 and we're in Matthew 28.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 15 - I wonder why they were not personally changed (and therefore refuse the money and instead believe in Christ) by the encounter?  Fear for their lives?

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 35 - Sun Dec 11

It's Day 35 and we're in Matthew 27.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 14 - The restraint He shows is amazing.  Because the charges were trumped up, He could have lawyered His way out, but He remained silent.

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 34 - Sat Dec 10

It's Day 34 and we're in Matthew 26.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - They were so interested in their popularity.

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 33 - Fri Dec 9

It's Day 33 and we're in Matthew 25.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 20 - God expects fruitfulness.

Help:
- Verse 20, 22 - God expects that we use the time, talent, and money He's entrusted to us to bear fruit.
- Verses 24-27 - The master does not agree with the servant's argument that he is an unreasonable man.  He does respond by saying, "If you really believed that, you wouldn't have just buried what I gave you."

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 32 - Thurs Dec 8

It's Day 32 and we're in Matthew 24.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - There is a plan.

Help:
- Verses 4-51 - This all is generally considered to have to do with "end of the world" stuff.  There's a ton of details here, but the two key verses are 36 and 42.  Verse 36 reminds us how much we don't know.  Verse 42 reminds us to always be ready.
- Verse 34 - The word "generation" can mean "generation" or "race."  Some take the verse to refer to the Fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which would put it with a generation.  Some take it to mean that it'll happen before the end of the world.

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 31 - Wed Dec 7

It's Day 31 and we're in Matthew 23.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 23 - I think Baptists are guilty of this too often: missing the larger issues of justice.

Help:
- Verses 6-10 - We need to be careful that we're not getting full egos off the praise of people.
- Verse 13 - The second half of the verse refers to people with genuine spiritual interest who would come to the Pharisees because they were "the religious experts."  The Pharisees' answer would point those people in the wrong direction.
- Verses 30-32 - They were both trying to claim that it was their "fathers" who made up Israel while trying to deny the ancient disobedience those old Israelites did that made God mad.
- Verses 34-35 - Because the Pharisees of Jesus' day had a vantage point to see so much and therefore have so many warnings about disobedience, it makes their guilt greater.

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 Dec 6

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 Dec 5

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.

60IN60 Day 28 - Sun Dec 4

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 Dec 3

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 Dec 2

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 Dec 1

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.

Your Comments and Questions:

- "Reading our chapter today, in Psalms, David outwardly professes that he does not associate with any kind of sinner.  He writes.

I do not sit with the deceitful,
    nor do I associate with hypocrites.
5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers
    and refuse to sit with the wicked.

But when Jesus came to earth, he did the exact opposite.  I'm glad we don't ignore those who need Jesus the most."

60IN60 Day 24 - Wed Nov 30

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.

60IN60 Day 23 - Tues Nov 29

It's Day 23 and we're in Psalm 26.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 2 - It's essential to come before God regularly and ask Him to reveal where we've still got work to do.  He wants to see us make progress.

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 Nov 28

It's Day 22 and we're in Psalm 25.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - Sometimes we're out on a limb for Him, trusting that He's going to come through.  He will not let us down.

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 Nov 27

It's Day 21 and we're in Psalm 24.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1 - All that was created was created by 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.

60IN60 Day 20 - Sat Nov 26

It's Day 20 and we're in Acts 4. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 14 - The hard-headedness is amazing.  They have no reply and know something amazing has happened (verses 15-18), but yet they are so tied to their position and their power that they won't consider changing.

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 Nov 25

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

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 19 - That's a nice phrase: "times of refreshing."

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 Nov 24

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

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 43 - I'd like to see more of that "awe" 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.

60IN60 Day 17 - Wed Nov 23

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

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - I don't remember noticing this verse before.  This has a lot to say to preachers who spend endless time speculating on end times possibilities.

Help:
- Verse 11 - The latter half of the verse is a reference to the Second Coming.
- Verses 15-26 - I think this is a mistake by Peter.  He was not told to fill that twelfth spot.  I think God had Paul in mind as being Judas' replacement and Peter did something he wasn't asked to do.  If so, that means the first major decision by a Christian after Jesus left was a mistake.

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 16 - Tues Nov 22

It's Day 16 and we're in Genesis 45.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 2 - Forgiving is hard.

Help:
- Verse 2 - This is not playacting.  This is the genuine struggle of Joseph moving from resentment to forgiveness.
- Verse 3 - Why does Joseph ask if his father is still alive?  He knows that he is from previous conversations with his brothers.  This moment simply shows Joseph's heart for wanting to see his father again.
- Verses 4-8 - His brothers do bear guilt for their sinful treatment of Joseph, but Joseph is here acknowledging that he can now see where God was working within what seemed at the time to be terrible.
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 Nov 21

It's Day 15 and we're in Genesis 44.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1-2 - In many ways Joseph has the best character of any of the Old Testament figures, yet here it shows him struggling with forgiveness.  We've all been there.

Help:
- Verse 1 - Why does Joseph do this?  I think at this point he still has bitterness and resentment toward his brothers and wants to make them squirm.  It's not until later in this chapter when Judah offers to sacrifice himself that Joseph's love for his brothers breaks through (which shows up early in chapter 45).

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 Nov 20

It's Day 14 and we're in Genesis 43.

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

Help:
- Verse 23 - The steward thought this was true, but 42:25 tells us otherwise.

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 Nov 19

It's Day 13 and we're in Genesis 42.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 24 - He is moved by their sorrow, but not enough to forgive.

Help:
- Verse 4 - Yes, Jacob is showing favoritism again and that is bad parenting.  The Bible describes what Jacob does but that doesn't mean it endorses it.
- Verses 7-17 - I think this comes from Joseph's resentment over how he was treated.  Some think Joseph is more mature than that and this is just a little drama, but I think Joseph still had hard feelings.
- Verse 28 - They were concerned they'd be accused of stealing.
- Verse 37 - Offering two sons as a bounty had to do with the honor system they had back then.
- Verse 38 - Yes, Jacob is playing favorites.

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:

- "Genesis 40 - The scriptures do not say why the chief baker was killed.  Did it have something to do with Pharoah's birthday (like when John the Baptist was beheaded)?  It was obviously a fulfillment of Joseph's interpretation, so is that the reason?" - We are not told what the baker had done to deserve to be in prison. His death, though, was not because of the vision of Joseph. Joseph's vision simply predicted what was going to happen. Presumably, the baker had done something worthy of the punishment and that sentence was carried out. (Given his position, it seems likely it might have been something like trying to poison the Pharaoh with his food.)

60IN60 Day 12 - Fri Nov 18

It's Day 12 and we're in Genesis 41.

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:
- Verses 1, 40 - The timing of the famine determined when Joseph got out of jail.  It was a longer wait than he'd have liked, but as verse 57 indicates many lives were saved by what Joseph went through.

Help:
- Verse 38 - Pharaoh gave Joseph too much credit in presuming that the divine spirit dwelt within him.  He did have help from God, but he wasn't part divine.

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 Nov 17

It's Day 11 and we're in Genesis 40.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 14-15 - Sometimes what looks like it's obviously going to be the open door fails to materialize.

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 10 - Wed Nov 16

It's Day 10 and we're in Genesis 39.

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 21 - It's an interesting comment here.  Within the larger bad thing, God showed kindness to Joseph in a smaller way.  Of course, we'd usually just avoid that struggle altogether.

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 9 - Tues Nov 15

It's Day 9 and we're in Genesis 38.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 24-25 - He was so indignant over her sin even when he had secretly committed that same sin.  What are the sins I publicly condemn while privately accommodating?

Help:
- Verses 7, 10 - This is not something that usually happens, but it does sometimes.
- Verses 14-18 - Yes, this is Jerry Springer stuff.  The Bible describes what this family does and that doesn't mean that God approves of what they do.  Pretty sick stuff.

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 Nov 14

It's Day 8 and we're in Genesis 37.

We're going to be reading the Joseph stories out of Genesis.  In many ways, he's the most impressive character in Genesis, although he does give into resentment in meeting his brothers in Egypt.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 34 - Did the brothers think about the consequence to their Dad before they did it, or were they just focused on their own feelings?

Help:
- Verse 3 - "Israel" is Jacob.
- Verse 3 - Yes, this is bad parenting.  Genesis tells what they did, but that doesn't mean what they did was always right.

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 7 - Sun Nov 13

It's Day 7 and we're in Matthew 21.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 13 - A defining characteristic of the church should be our prayer.
- Verse 43 - He wants fruit from us.

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 6 - Sat Nov 12

It's Day 6 and we're in Matthew 20.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 34 - How often am I "moved with compassion"?

Help:
- Verses 1-16 - Two possible interpretations: a. This refers to the opening door for the Gentiles to come into the Kingdom after it'd been just the Jews for so long; b. It refers to those who are saved late in life and have little time to serve God.
- Verses 22-23 - They would die for the Kingdom, but that authority had already been granted.

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 5 - Fri Nov 11

It's Day 5 and we're in Matthew 19.

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 21 - What's holding you back?  What's holding me back?  For this guy it was his possessions, but it might be something else for us.

Help:
- Verses 1-9 - This is not all the teaching on divorce that Jesus did.
- Verse 12 - This means that some are born without the "equipment" to have sex; some (not so much today, but it happened back then) were made eunuchs by people (like the man who would oversee the king's harem); some choose not to have sex because they feel God is calling them to a single life (this would not involve a physical change like the other two options).
- Verse 17 - This presumably was because the man looked at Jesus as a human teacher.
- Verses 23-26 - This is not saying it's impossible for rich people to be saved, but it is harder.  Why?  They tend to love the things of this world and put their trust in their wealth.

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 18:34-35 ~ in this story the 'master' is God and He wants us to forgive others because He has forgiven us. The verses say that the master (God) was angry at the unforgiveness and handed the slave over to the torturers. These verses do not say the master (God) tortured the slave (us). But turns the slave (us) over to the torturers. So who are the torturers ?  I think it's our own mind. Every time we see that person that we hate, or hear about that person that we've not forgiven, our mind and spirit goes into overdrive and we torture ourselves again and again. We build up more animosity. We entertain more gossip We harbor more resentment.  And Satan is more than willing to help. The verses say the slave (us) remain with the torturers UNTIL ALL THAT WAS OWED WAS PAID.  Until we forgive as God forgave us, we're going to be in a state of torture. We can't let Satan have that power over our minds. Forgive and let God handle the rest." - You raise an interesting question. I have to say I've never thought about that exact point before. I think the explanation you offer is an interesting one. I think my answer would probably be that the parables of Jesus generally have a major point that He is trying to make and sometimes if we go too deep into the analogies and details the small details may not line up perfectly. This might be one of those cases.

60IN60 Day 4 - Thurs Nov 10

It's Day 4 and we're in Matthew 18.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 34-35 - These are verses to think about slowly.  If God really feels this way, that's different than most of us think of Him.

Help:
- Verse 10 - This is one of the two New Testament verses that hint at the idea of guardian angels.
- Verses 15-18 - This is the idea of "church discipline."  It's how we are to treat serious sin within the church.

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 9

It's Day 3 and we're in Matthew 17.

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 20 - How little faith we must have, since we see so little of His power.

Help:
- Verse 4-5 - Peter's mistake was that he should have realized the point of the vision was how great Jesus was, not that all three were equally impressive.

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.