60IN60 Day 26 - Fri Mar 31

It's Day 26 and we're in Job 1.

Job is the classic story of a righteous man dealing with the unfairness of life.  We're going to read the opening three chapters, which are then followed by numerous chapters of Job's "friends" giving their opinions on why he's suffering.  We'll skip those and pick up with God's response in chapter 38, then finish with Job's response in chapter 42.

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

Help:
- Verse 6 - This seems unusual to us, but one of Satan's main titles is "The Accuser."  He accuses us before God.
- Verses 6-12 - This can be troubling to read because it seems like Job is caught up as a pawn in this divine "bet."  Philip Yancey makes the great point that what's actually happening is not that Job is being mistreated by being used by God as a pawn, but rather that he's being honored by God by being His fighter in this battle.  God is "betting" His reputation on Job's faithfulness.

If you want to read the chapter, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 25 - Thurs Mar 30

It's Day 25 and we're in 1 Corinthians 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 19 - What matters?  Keeping God's commands.

Help:
- Verse 1 - What he means by this is (as he explains) that if you are not overcome by sexual temptation by being single there are many spiritual advantages to being single in the sense of being able to devote yourself more fully to working for God and not being distracted by family life.
- Verse 7 - Paul has the ability that I just commented on (see verse 1).
- Verses 10-11 - This is a hard teaching, but one that needs to be studied in the context of the other New Testament passages on divorce.  That's too much to handle here, but if anyone wants more information, I can refer you to additional resources.
- Verse 14 - This is little obscure, but I think the point he's making is: being around someone who is a Christian can have a sanctifying influence, so if you're willing to stay married to the non-Christian, do so because (among other reasons) it'll be a good influence for them spiritually.
- Verse 37 - Obviously, in their culture the father had greater authority over his household than is true in our culture.

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 24 - Wed Mar 29

It's Day 24 and we're in 1 Corinthians 6.

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 19 - An amazing thought: we have been made into the dwelling place of God.  The Holy Spirit taking up residence within us.

Help:
- Verses 2-3 - "saints will judge the world" - This might mean that Christ will allow us to assist him in Final Judgment (perhaps by offering testimony of what we saw and heard in this life) or that on the New Earth we will rule (an alternate meaning for the Greek word for "judge") with Him.
- Verse 7 - It's scary to think how far away this thinking is away from our normal way of operating.  That doesn't speak well for us.  Paul basically says we'd be better off being wronged that suing a fellow Christian.
- Verses 12-13 - In Christ I have liberty - there is not a narrow list of "you can do" and "you can't do."  I am to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  However, the fact that I have freedom on many issues doesn't mean that exercising that freedom would always be spiritually beneficial.
- Verse 15 - Because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence within us (see verse 19), we have become a temple of God.  If we have sex with a prostitute, there is something about the physicalness of that sin that makes it worse than normal.

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:

- "I Corinthians 5 - I know so many Christians who have adopted the 'do not judge' agenda, no matter what the situation or circumstances.  And maybe the word 'judge' sounds too harsh; several Bible translations use the word 'discern'. Could it be that we choose to not judge (discern) someone because we're afraid of being judged ourselves?  'Well, they have no room to talk, look at what they're doing!' Could it be that we're lazy?  It takes a lot of effort to approach someone about a fault.  We need to pray about it first, maybe even read up on scriptures concerning the issue; take the time to approach that person one-on-one and not just talk about it (gossip) to whoever crosses our path; and be prepared to not be received with a thankful attitude."

60IN60 Day 23 - Tues Mar 28

It's Day 23 and we're in 1 Corinthians 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 9-12 - We reverse this so often: we are quick to judge those outside the church and quick to excuse sin within the church.  We need to recognize that the world is doing what you would expect them to do in their condition: sinning.  (That doesn't excuse it, but it shouldn't surprise us.)  We need to also recognize that God has called us to have high spiritual expectations for each other within the church and push each other in that direction.

Help:
- Verse 3 - "passed judgment" - This throws some people off because all they reference about Christians and judgment is the Sermon on the Mount's "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1-5).  They don't read the rest of the verses: Jesus immediately uses the example of getting the plank out of your eye so that you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  That's an act of judgment and discernment - seeing what's wrong and helping him remove it.  See also John 7:24 - "Do not judge by appearance, but judge with a righteous judgment."  See also all the passages in Paul's writing that speak of church discipline.  We are not to be callously or hypocritically judgmental, but we have to use judgment and discernment in our Christian lives.
- Verse 5 - This is the act of asking God to remove the "hedge of protection" that normally a Christian would have against Satan.  It is, essentially, asking God to allow this Christian to experience the consequences of his sin in the hope that it will lead him to repentance.
- Verse 6 - A little bit of pride can puff up a whole church.
- Verse 7 - He's telling them, "Throw out the old way of thinking where you think you're really something spiritually and bring in a new understanding of how everything you have spiritually is through the power of Christ."

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have questions or comments, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 22 - Mon Mar 27

It's Day 22 and we're in 1 Corinthians 4.

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:
- Verse 20 - "not a matter of talk but of power" - Father, I want to see Your church overflowing with evidence of Your power, not merely talking about You.

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 21 - Sun Mar 26

It's Day 21 and we're in 1 Corinthians 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - We play our part, but only God can bring the growth.  We need to look more to Him than to our methods and plans.

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 Mar 25

It's Day 20 and we're in 1 Corinthians 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 16 - "the mind of Christ" - Following Jesus is as much about how we think as anything else.  He desires to work on the ways that we think and help us to get our thought patterns to where they're honoring 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.