Thursday, June 29, 2023

60IN60 Day 60 - Thurs Jun 29

It's Day 60 and we're in Psalm 43.

A little reminder from James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!" 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 4 - Do I look at God as my "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. 

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

60IN60 Day 59 - Wed Jun 28

It's Day 59 and we're in Psalm 42.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - I appreciate the honesty of the Psalms about how tough life is.

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.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

60IN60 Day 58 - Tues Jun 27

It's Day 58 and we're in Psalm 41.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - You've got to be careful and not take verses like this one to be universal promises that God will always fulfill.

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.

Monday, June 26, 2023

60IN60 Day 57 - Mon Jun 26

It's Day 57 and we're in Proverbs 23.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 17 - I think it's easy to envy those deep in sin when we ignore the eventual consequences of those actions.

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.

Sunday, June 25, 2023

60IN60 Day 56 - Sun Jun 25

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.

Saturday, June 24, 2023

60IN60 Day 55 - Sat Jun 24

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.

Your Questions and Comments:
- "2 Samuel 9:12.  He had a son named Mica. No mention of a mother or wife. Did Mica live with Mephibosheth?  The child was 'young'. Who took care of him?  Is there any other references to the child?  What would be the significance of his mention in scripture?" - Not much information is given to us about him. To answer your questions: I would presume Mica did live with him; I would presume Mephibosheth and his wife raised him (although we don't have a direct mention of his wife); there are no other references to him I know of; the main significance to me (and this isn't a big thing) is just that it would be easy to think of Mephibosheth as an invalid without family but this shows him more as a regular person who happened to be crippled by an injury but seems to have had a wife and a child.

Friday, June 23, 2023

60IN60 Day 54 - Fri Jun 23

It's Day 54 and we're in 2 Samuel 10.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3-4 - So many of the problems that societies and people encounter aren't necessary. They're merely the result of our stupidity in handling situations poorly.

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.

Thursday, June 22, 2023

60IN60 Day 53 - Thurs Jun 22

It's Day 53 and we're in 2 Samuel 9. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 8 - I hope we've all experienced moments of generosity from God where we felt the same way.

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. 

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

60IN60 Day 52 - Wed Jun 21

It's Day 52 and we're in 2 Samuel 8.

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

Help:
- Verse 2 - Why David chose this unusual, random, and seemingly cruel method for executing some of his enemy is a mystery to 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 

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

60IN60 Day 51 - Tues Jun 20

It's Day 51 and we're in 2 Samuel 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - We need to hold onto some of this "who am I" no matter how long we've been walking with God.  Spiritual pride is deadly.

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.

Monday, June 19, 2023

60IN60 Day 50 - Mon Jun 19

It's Day 50 and we're in 2 Samuel 6.

Is the Bible an old dusty book? Nope - ". . . the Word of God is living and active. . ." (Hebrews 4:12). Dig into today expecting it to speak to you. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 14, 16 - When you're praising God with abandon, oblivious to others' opinions, you're probably going to end up making someone unhappy.

Help:
- Verses 7-8 - This seems like an unnecessarily harsh punishment for the "crime."  Presumably it was intended to show Israel the holiness of the Ark.

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.

Sunday, June 18, 2023

60IN60 Day 49 - Sun Jun 18

It's Day 49 and we're in 2 Samuel 5.

We're going to be reading some of the key passages where David takes over as king up through his sin with Bathsheba.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - Instead of trying harder, we need to get closer to God.  One of the consequences would be that God would move on our behalf and we would see greater things through our 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

Saturday, June 17, 2023

60IN60 Day 48 - Sat Jun 17

It's Day 48 and we're in Luke 24.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 49 - A good principle to remember: don't move till you receive power from on high.

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.

Friday, June 16, 2023

60IN60 Day 47 - Fri Jun 16

It's Day 47 and we're in Luke 23.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 39 - "Save Yourself and us!" - He couldn't do both, and He chose to save 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.

Thursday, June 15, 2023

60IN60 Day 46 - Thurs Jun 15

It's Day 46 and we're in Luke 22.

What's the Bible say about the book you're reading today? "All Scripture is inspired by God. . ." (2 Timothy 3:16). So reading the Bible helps me know how God sees things. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 35 - I needed the reminder today that He won't allow me to lack what I need.

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.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

60IN60 Day 45 - Wed Jun 14

It's Day 45 and we're in Luke 21.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 10-24 - These are frightening and upsetting ideas that we'd rather ignore, but Christ says they are a part of the future.  We've got to squarely face them. . . and be ready.

Help:
- Verse 18 - Verse 18 is a word of comfort, but you have read it in the context of verse 16.  This is not a promise that no trouble will come, but that we are eternally protected 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.

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

60IN60 Day 44 - Tues Jun 13

It's Day 44 and we're in Luke 20.

One thing that's important as we read daily: being eager to hear Him speak to you. Go into your reading expectant that God desires to share something with you. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 46-47 - God help me to live a life of spiritual honesty and not settle for a façade of spirituality the way the Pharisees did.

Help:
- Verses 41-44 - This can be a difficult passage to understand.  The gist of it is this:  The Christ was to come after David.  Given that the ancestors generally received greater honor, the Christ should have honored David (his ancestor) by calling him "Lord."  Instead, the Bible records that David calls the Christ "Lord."  Why?  The correct answer (and one that His enemies would not want to acknowledge) is that the Christ was born after David, but was greater than him because He was God Incarnate.

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.

Monday, June 12, 2023

60IN60 Day 43 - Mon Jun 12

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.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

60IN60 Day 42 - Sun Jun 11

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.

Saturday, June 10, 2023

60IN60 Day 41 - Sat Jun 10

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.

Friday, June 9, 2023

60IN60 Day 40 - Fri Jun 9

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.

Thursday, June 8, 2023

60IN60 Day 39 - Thurs Jun 8

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.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

60IN60 Day 38 - Wed Jun 7

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.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

60IN60 Day 37 - Tues Jun 6

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.

Monday, June 5, 2023

60IN60 Day 36 - Mon Jun 5

It's Day 36 and we're in 2 Kings 5.

If you struggle with the feeling that you need to hurry through the reading, it can be helpful to lay aside a certain length of time for the reading. "I'm going to spend the next ten minutes reading the Bible. If I get done early, I'll go back and re-read it. If I don't get it done, that's fine. Now I can relax and not try to hurry through so I can get on with the other things I need to get done today. I'm going to be here for ten minutes." 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 11 - Sometimes we don't just want God to move - we want Him to do things the way that we want Him to do it.  Of course, He has the right to do it however He wants.

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.

Sunday, June 4, 2023

60IN60 Day 35 - Sun Jun 4

It's Day 35 and we're in 2 Kings 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - It's interesting to me that God was willing to fill as many vessels as she brought.  Sometimes how much God gives depends on how much we ask for.

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.

Saturday, June 3, 2023

60IN60 Day 34 - Sat Jun 3

It's Day 34 and we're in Jeremiah 38.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 3-4 - How often do we only want to hear God's truth if it's something we want to hear and how often do we want to hear God's truth no matter what?

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.

Friday, June 2, 2023

60IN60 Day 33 - Fri Jun 2

It's Day 33 and we're in Jeremiah 31.

Father, what do You want to teach us today through Your Word? 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 33 - What we have today is vastly superior to the way things operated in the Old Testament.

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.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

60IN60 Day 32 - Thurs Jun 1

It's Day 32 and we're in Jeremiah 23.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 16 - I wonder how much of what gets attributed to God is actually from 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.