60IN60 Day 24 - Wed Sept 30

It's Day 24 and we're in Luke 10.

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:
- Verses 41-42 - How many of us need to heed this?  There are so many things to get done in a day, but "only one thing is needed."

Help:
- Verses 4-11 - These are instructions for the disciples when Jesus sent them out.  These are not instructions for all disciples at all times.
- Verse 18 - I take this to mean that Satan was accusing the disciples before God for their unworthiness for the mission that Jesus had sent them on, but the power of God overwhelmed their inadequacies.  Angry, Satan came back down to earth ("fall from heaven like lightning").
- Verse 19 - This is, like verses 4-11, only true for the disciples at that time and not all disciples for all time.

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 Sept 29

It's Day 23 and we're in Luke 9.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1 - "He. . . gave them power" - God desires to give us power that we might be able to make a difference in the world.

Help:
- Verse 18 - That's oddly phrased.  I think it means, "Jesus went away with His disciples to get some time praying alone.  While on that retreat, the disciples asked. . ."
- Verse 23 - What does that mean?  It means that put aside our desires and pursue where He's leading us.  "Taking up your cross" means being willing to make sacrifices for the Kingdom.
- Verse 24 - What does this mean?  It means that we need to pursue what God is calling us to do, even when it causes us to have to make sacrifices we'd rather not make.  We do this presuming that His leading will take us to real life.
- Verse 59 - The best explanation of this I've read is that the phrase used by the man was one that meant that that his father was not yet dead but that he wanted to wait until that had happened and was taken care of.

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:

- A comment from a 60IN60 participant: "Ecclesiastes certainly isn't my favorite books but it does hammer home the one essential truth: when we attach ourselves to things of impermanence (even high- minded pursuits) without godliness there's no rest, there's never closure.  As St Augustine wrote, 'Our hearts are not at rest until we find our rest in you.'"

60IN60 Day 22 - Mon Sept 28

It's Day 22 and we're in Ecclesiastes 3.

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:
- Verse 11 - He has "set eternity in their hearts."  There is something within each of us that longs for life beyond this life.  I think it's there because there is life beyond this life.

Help:
- Verse 1-22 - Remember that Ecclesiastes is written from the perspective of someone trying to make sense of life without a vibrant relationship with God in their life.  Understanding that helps passages like verses 17-22 to make more sense - those are not the words of someone who deeply understands 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 Questions and Comments:

- "Did Solomon write the book of Ecclesiastes?" - Although the text does not explicitly name him, there is every reason to believe he did. He fits all the identifying remarks made within the book. 

60IN60 Day 21 - Sun Sept 27

It's Day 21 and we're in Ecclesiastes 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - Without the hope of eternal life, there is a bitterness in knowing our only legacy is left to those who may mistreat it.

Help:
- Verse 1-26 - It's essential to understand the purpose of Ecclesiastes.  It is a wise man who is not following God describing how the world seems to him.  What is why it references all these wonderful things of life that the writer (almost certainly Solomon) ultimately finds "vanity" (i.e. meaningless).  The point of Ecclesiastes is this: no matter how much of the wonders and glory of this earth you experience, if you don't have God in your life, you will ultimately find it meaningless.  Ecclesiastes is my favorite Old Testament book because it speaks so clearly to 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 20 - Sat Sept 26

It's Day 20 and we're in Ecclesiastes 1.

What's the Bible say about the book you're reading today? "All Scripture is. . . profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Reading the Bible will make your day more "profitable." 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - More knowledge often makes your life more difficult.

Help:
- Verses 1-18 - It's essential to understand the purpose of Ecclesiastes.  It is a wise man who is not following God describing how the world seems to him.  What is why it references all these wonderful things of life that the writer (almost certainly Solomon) ultimately finds "vanity" (i.e. meaningless).  The point of Ecclesiastes is this: no matter how much of the wonders and glory of this earth you experience, if you don't have God in your life, you will ultimately find it meaningless.  Ecclesiastes is my favorite Old Testament book because it speaks so clearly to 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 19 - Fri Sept 25

It's Day 19 and we're in Colossians 4.

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 2 - I like the idea he puts out here about "keeping alert" (NASB) in our prayers. I think too often we pray without diligently watching for and expecting an answer.

Help:
- Verse 1 - On the difficult subject of slavery, there are some passages (like this one) where Paul addresses how they should live while in bondage and other passages where he encourages them to get their freedom if they are able.

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 Sept 24

It's Day 18 and we're in Colossians 3.

Occasionally email providers route 60IN60 into spam folders. If your 60IN60 email doesn't show up one morning, check your spam to see if it got put there.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 9-10 - Fully enjoying the spiritual power that God offers us requires a daily choice to "put off" our old self and "put on" our new self. The resources are there, but we have to choose to use them.

Help:
- Verse 3 - "For you died" - This means we died spiritually. In becoming a Christian, we are spiritually "buried" with Him and then spiritually "raised to life." We are a new creation. The old (spiritual) person is dead.

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 Sept 23

It's Day 17 and we're in Colossians 2.

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 5 - It is a great encouragement when you see fellow Christians making substantive spiritual 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 16 - Tues Sept 22

It's Day 16 and we're in Colossians 1.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 29 - What a great phrase: "struggling with all His energy." We work forward with His power, even when (or maybe "especially when") it's a struggle.

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 Sept 21

It's Day 15 and we're in Isaiah 61.

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. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1 - These are the verses Jesus quoted as He began His ministry.  They tell us so much about the kind of Kingdom He intended: one for the brokenhearted, the poor, the captive.

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:

- Isaiah 11:1--5. "I read a commentary that this is talking about the Messiah when he reigns in the New Earth after the tribulation. You said we have this same Spirit. Do we have this Spirit now, as in the Holy Spirit who comes to reside with us when we're saved? Or the Spirit we will have in our glorified eternal body? 

If this is the Spirit we have now,  a lost world should see believers who:

are wise (by God's word not worldly wisdom),

are understanding (we can't understand someone if we don't take time to listen)

are counselors (not my own ideas or opinions but direct people to the Word)

fear the Lord (not follow a bunch of rules but know that God loves us)

aren't judgmental (we don't draw conclusions on what we see or hear)

use words wisely (know scripture to slay the wicked and to speak life)

And the result if we exhibit this Spirit now?  A belt of righteousness and a sash of faithfulness (vs. 6). Accessories that go with everything!" - It's the same Holy Spirit in each case.

- A comment from a 60IN60 participant. "There’s a hymn connected with this passage in Isaiah, called 'Here I am, Lord,' and every time I hear it I either cry or hold back tears. Here’s why: Years ago, I attended  a large Methodist Church in which the left front rows had been sanctioned off for handicapped children.  Some had Down’s syndrome, others had cerebral palsy, one child was in a wheelchair, etc. The church provided special helpers to get them in and out of the pews.  One Sunday, I was in the balcony and 'Here I am, Lord' was the closing hymn. I looked down just as  the song entered 'Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?',  and saw that  every one of those children had their hands up, waving,  but for the  little girl in the wheelchair who could raise only one. I started crying because it made me feel like a hypocrite. Still does."