It's Day 14 and we're in Zechariah 13.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out in today's chapter. That's ok - it's not going to happen every day.
Help:
- Verses 2-3 - This is harsh, but God is serious about getting Israel back to Him and the false prophets were a significant problem in leading the people away.
- Verses 4, 6 - The "garment of hair" is a reference to something some prophets would wear to look like the prophets of older times (like Elijah); the wounds on their body would be from the way they would sometimes cut themselves as part of getting their false god to answer their prayer. The point is that there would come a time when the evidence of them being a false prophet would be something shameful that they would try to hide rather than exalt in.
If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
It's Day 13 and we're in Haggai 2.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 4 - "take courage" (or some translation have it "be strong") - That's an encouraging word when we're going to through a time of struggle or doubt. God knows we're having a hard time and He encourages us: "Take courage" because I'm going to come through for you.
Help:
- Verses 12-13 - The idea here is that uncleanness is easily transmitted but holiness is not.
If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
It's Day 12 and we're in Micah 6.
We're going to be reading a few chapters in the "minor prophets." They're called that because their books are shorter than the "major prophets" like Jeremiah and Isaiah. Overall, their message mostly focuses on coming judgment and eventual redemption.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 7-8 - The end of verse 8 is a nice short summary of what God wants from us.
Help:
- Verses 1-2 - Why is he talking about the mountains pleading and the hill speaking? He's saying that the land stands as a witness to what Israel has done and that if they could speak they would testify to their evil. Kind of like our phrase "if these walls could speak."
If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
It's Day 11 and we're in Matthew 7.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 7, 11 - Still on the same problem I alluded to yesterday, these verses are also a reminder that He's good to take care of my needs.
Help:
- Verses 1, 5 - There is a difference between being judgmental and using discernment. Some people presume that verse 1 means that we should never make any judgments, but verse 5 makes it clear (because what the person in doing in that verse demands discernment) that we are not to suspend all judgment. So be discerning, but not judgmental.
- Verse 6 - This is kind of obscure. Most think it means to be discerning about how you share spiritual truth, but it's hard to get too emphatic with something that's not real clear.
If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
Where God Spoke To You:
- "What leaped off the page for me every time it was written: 'DON'T WORRY'"
It's Day 10 and we're in Matthew 6.
An encouragement as you
read today: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God
stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8).
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 8, 31-33 - I really needed these this morning as I'm waiting on God to come through for me. It's so easy to worry about it when instead I need to keep going back to the confidence that He is good to take care of my needs.
If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
Questions You Have:
- "What does the phrase "to those of old" ( see Ch. 5: vs. 21, 27, 33) refer to?" - Basically it just means "you've always heard it said that. . .." Another way to roughly interpret it would be "You've always been told that the Old Testament teaches. . .."
It's Day 9 and we're in Matthew 5.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - That's a great promise to know when you're seeking God and wondering if He's going to meet you.
Help:
- Verse 39 - This does not have to do with being physically assaulted, but rather insulted - i.e. a slap on the cheek.
- Verse 48 - The idea of "perfect" here is focused on the idea of maturity. It is God's intention to get rid of all the sin in our lives, so being "perfect" is the goal we are (imperfectly in this life) striving after.
If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
It's Day 8 and we're in Matthew 4.
What's the Bible say about
the book you're reading today? We have the Word so that as believers we can be
"equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17). Read the Word so
you're ready for what life throws at you.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today. Not every day is going to bring something.
Help:
- Verse 18-22 - We know from the other gospels that Jesus had previous conversations with these guys. It's not (as it sounds like here if you don't know the larger story) that He walked up to strangers, said, "Come on," and they did.
If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.
If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.
