It's Day 25 and we're in Luke 11.
Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1 - For all of us who aren't particularly good at prayer or find prayer difficult, it's encouraging to know that the disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray and He didn't rebuke them for that.
Help:
- Verses 49-51 - This is tough to understand, but I take it to say something like, "You all are in an advantaged position - you have all the history of Israel to look back on and learn from. Yet, rather than learning, you're every bit the hypocrites that your forefathers were. Therefore the guilt just continues to pour out on you."
- Verse 52 - What is the "key to knowledge"? He doesn't say here. One obvious explanation would be that the key is Jesus. Another possibility, given the Pharisees' habits, was that the key is avoiding hypocrisy.
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 Thoughts And Questions:
- "In the Amplified version, just wanted to ask if there was any validity to 'collect my inheritance' as an interpretation of 'bury my father' in Matthew 8?" - Jesus' denial of the man's request to go and bury his father is a hard saying. That certainly seems like a reasonable request. In trying to make sense of that, several explanations have been offered. One of those is that some scholars argue that in that culture that statement would have had a lot to do with receiving his inheritance. Toward that, those scholars argue that the man's father may not have been dead, but rather the man may have been saying something like this, "Before I follow you Jesus, I have to wait on my elderly father to pass and receive my rightful inheritance." That, though, is just one interpretation of the statement.
- "I’m thankful for the pastor’s comments. I didn’t view David’s wise son like this before. To me, Solomon come across as a philosopher who is missing the whole point. The type who think their life away, idealists. Or am I off base here?" - I think that's a piece of the puzzle. Solomon definitely had that abstract thinking thing going on. I think a big piece of it is also that he got compromised by competing loyalties: to his foreign wives, to his own understanding, etc. All of that led him to not put absolute trust in God's instructions. Ecclesiastes is a fascinating example of the end result of that type of thinking. Solomon has literally everything that this world can provide him and he still finds life meaningless. Without God, life is ultimately without purpose.
- "What does the Bible say about cremation?" - Even though this wasn't in our passage, I'm always willing to answer the Biblical questions you have. Some people have strong feelings against cremation, but the Bible does not speak directly to the subject. There is no verse explicitly condemning or condoning cremation. Because there is no injunction against it, my view is that cremation is a legitimate option for the Christian if they so choose. Ultimately we all return to dust sooner or later after our death and nothing we do in that regard will intrude on God's ability to resurrect us in the last day.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
60IN60 Day 24 - Wed May 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.
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.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
60IN60 Day 23 - Tues May 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.
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.
Monday, May 28, 2018
60IN60 Day 22 - Mon May 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.
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.
Sunday, May 27, 2018
60IN60 Day 21 - Sun May 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.
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.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
60IN60 Day 20 - Sat May 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.
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.
Friday, May 25, 2018
60IN60 Day 19 - Fri May 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.
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.
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