It's Day 41 and we're in Song of Solomon 2.
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:
- Nothing did 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.
It's Day 40 and we're in Song of Solomon 1.
The Song of Solomon is an unusual book in the Bible. It's essentially an erotic poem. Down through the years, people have interpreted it in two main ways: 1. It's a celebration of sexual love within marriage. Too often Christians seem to only have negative words to say about sex ("Don't have sex outside marriage," etc.), but we need to remember that sex was God's idea. It's something that we should see, within its proper context, as a blessing from God. 2. Others have seen the book as an analogy of God's relationship with His people. There are numerous places in the Bible where the metaphor of marriage is used as a picture of God's relationship with His people. Of the two interpretations, I think the first has more weight.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really did today.
Help:
- Verse 9a - Ok, so not every woman would find that to be a particularly good compliment! The way of complimenting was a little different in Hebrew culture, so even though it doesn't do anything for us we need to know it was something that would have been well received by the intended recipient.
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.
It's Day 39 and we're in Lamentations 5.
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 20 - It's an age-old cry that's echoed frequently today too. And yet God hadn't then, and He hasn't now.
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.
It's Day 38 and we're in Lamentations 1.
This is a book focused on the sadness over what was going on in Israel then. The people's sins had led to God's judgment in allowing a foreign nation to come in and conquer Israel. Although it's sad to read, I'm glad the Bible reflects real life: the times of joy and the seasons of sorrow.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 20 - Sometimes we bring those problems on ourselves and yet are quick to blame God.
Help:
- Verse 2 - "lovers" - He is using that as an analogy of the ways that Israel has gone after other gods - a type of spiritual adultery.
- Verse 8b-9a - This is a sexual analogy - that Israel was like a promiscuous woman out sleeping with other men. Again, a spiritual adultery analogy.
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.
It's Day 37 and we're in Matthew 14.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 27 - When we struggle, Jesus says, "Take courage!"
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.
It's Day 36 and we're in Matthew 13.
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 23 - I want to see that overflowing fruitfulness in my life.
Help:
- Verse 12 - Isn't that unfair? It sounds a little that way, but you've got to read it with the idea that the larger passage in mind. The idea that's being shared here is something like this: "To the one that grabs onto what God is trying to show them, more insight and more opportunities to go deeper will be given. To the one who ignores what God is trying to show them, even what little insight they have will fade away."
- Verses 13-16 - This is a hard passage to understand. The most important thing to grasp it is to know that this is not God saying what He hopes will happen: "I hope they don't grasp it and their eyes are blinded so they won't turn to Me." This is God saying what the people are doing: "My people hear with their ears but not with their hearts because they don't want Me. If they would turn to Me, I would eagerly heal them."
- Verse 52 - As Jesus taught, He both shared old truths in an instructive and revealing way as well as sharing new things that helped people toward 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.
Your Comments and Questions:
- "Please comment on Matthew 12:29. I may be over thinking this verse-taking it out of context." - The larger context here is the Pharisees accusing Jesus of doing miracles by the power of Satan. (It's interesting that the miracles are apparently so undeniable that the Pharisees cannot simply deny that they are in fact miraculous.) Jesus responds to their argument by saying: that doesn't make any sense. Why would Satan give Jesus evil power to drive out demons? The demons are on Satan's team so Satan wouldn't want them driven out! So Jesus points out that a kingdom divided against itself (like casting out demons by evil power) cannot stand. Then He says (and now we come to v. 29) the same point in the opposite way: if you're going to take something from a strong man (read: Satan) then you would have to be able to tie him up to render him powerless. So, again, it would be Jesus working against Satan's power, not with Satan's power.
It's Day 35 and we're in Matthew 12.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 14 - Are there obvious moves of God that I miss sometimes because I'm closed off to what He's doing?
Help:
- Verses 31-32 - The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not something that accidentally happens. It comes from the deliberate and repeated choice to ignore the leading of God and to ascribe what God is doing to other sources.
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.
It's Day 34 and we're in Matthew 11.
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 21-24 - I have been given an enormous opportunity in knowing the gospel. Because of how much God has revealed to me, He has great expectations of me. We need to realize there is a responsibility that comes with what's been revealed to us.
Help:
- Verse 3 - Amazingly, John the Baptist is now doubting whether Jesus is really the Christ. This is because Jesus is not acting in the way that John expected: setting up a kingdom to drive the Romans out.
- Verses 16-19 - The basic point is: "nothing satisfies you." John came living a spare lifestyle and you wouldn't listen to Him. Jesus came living a life of eating and drinking and you wouldn't listen 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.
It's Day 33 and we're in Matthew 10.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 39 - Feeling a lot of this lately in my life. We've got to be willing to put aside our desires and pursue what He's calling us to.
Help:
- Verses 5-6 - Why did He say this? Because while Jesus was on earth, His mission was focused on sharing the gospel with the Jews. It isn't until after they reject Him that the gospel opens up to the Gentiles (i.e. us).
- Verse 15 - Why would it be more tolerable for them? Because with Jesus doing these miracles and sharing this teaching, they had a clear opportunity to know God's will and they're rejecting it. Because they had a better opportunity than Sodom and yet rejected it, things will be worse for 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.
It's Day 32 and we're in Matthew 9.
One reason to be in the Bible regularly? It cuts through the clutter. We are surrounded by tons of information, but so much of it is essentially irrelevant to a meaningful life. The Bible speaks to the issues that matter.It's Day 31 and we're in Matthew 8.
Where God Spoke To Me:It's Day 30 and we're in 1 Samuel 26.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 21 - Saul "repents" but is unwilling to change his behavior long-term. Real repentance is less about the emotion and more about the changed behavior.
Help:
- Verses 9-11 - This is a clear explanation of why David has refused to kill Saul when presented with the opportunity.
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.
It's Day 29 and we're in 1 Samuel 25.
One reason to be in the Bible regularly? It provides the answers to life's most pressing questions: "Why am I here?" "What value does my life have?" "What does God want out of me?" "What does a life well spent look like?" For all the time we spend daily on trivial things, it's essential that we spend some time on the big questions.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - It's hard to overestimate the value of a good wife.
Help:
- Verse 8 - It would have been customary back then to reward such behavior. It's not a "shake-down." Hospitality generally was much more important in that culture than it is in our's.
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.
It's Day 28 and we're in 1 Samuel 24.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - This is a strange action. I'm not totally sure what to do with it, but one thing it points me toward is that David had a very strong belief in trusting that God would fight for him and that he should trust His timing.
Help:
- Verses 6, 12 - Why didn't David kill Saul when he had the chance? David apparently believed that only God should take the life of His anointed king. Even though David knows he is God's chosen to be the next king of Israel, he also feels that the timing of the end of Saul's reign is up to God.
- Verse 8 - To do this David was either confident in God's protection (knowing that God has chosen him to eventually be the next king) or was desperate and tired of running from the law.
- Verses 16-21 - Saul repents, but we know that his future behavior will repeat the same mistakes.
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.
It's Day 27 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.
It's Day 26 and we're in 1 Samuel 22.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 2 - It's interesting that David gathered those from the edges of society. Jesus did something similar. Do we?
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.
It's Day 25 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.
It's Day 24 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.
It's Day 23 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 view the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
It's Day 22 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.
It's Day 21 and we're in 1 Samuel 17.
Where God Spoke To Me:If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
It's Day 20 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.
It's Day 19 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.
It's Day 18 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.
It's Day 17 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.
It's Day 16 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.
It's Day 15 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.
It's Day 14 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.
It's Day 13 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.
It's Day 12 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.
It's Day 11 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:
- Verse 4 - This mountain has been the subject of endless speculation over the centuries. Someday a climactic moment will come.
Help:
- Verses 1-21 - This is speaking of a time in the future when events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ will cause cataclysmic events. The images are breathtaking and scary. It's a stark reminder to us that there will be an end to the world someday and it's important to be on the right side when that happens.
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.
It's Day 10 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.
It's Day 9 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.
It's Day 8 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.
It's Day 7 and we're in Matthew 7.
Where God Spoke To Me:If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
It's Day 6 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.
It's Day 5 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.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.
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.
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.
It's Day 53 and we're in 2 Samuel 9.
Where God Spoke To Me:If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
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.
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.
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.
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.If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It's Day 33 and we're in Jeremiah 31.
Father, what do You want to teach us today through Your Word?If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
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.
It's Day 31 and we're in Jeremiah 18.
If it's hard to understand what you're reading in the Bible, make sure you have a translation that's a good fit for you. Reading the King James (a great historic translation) can be particularly difficult because of the antiquated language. Among the good options available today: New International Version (good all-around translation), English Standard Version (good all-around translation), New American Standard (a more literal translation, closer to the original manuscripts), and New Living Translation (a translation that focuses on readability and understandability).
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - Am I willing to be molded as He desires or do I want to be the one calling the shots?
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.
