60IN60 Day 56 - Sun Dec 31

It's Day 56 and we're in Nehemiah 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 7-8, 10 - "Usury" is an Old Testament term for charging interest. This is condemned by Nehemiah as exploitative. It is a different context (a small town struggling to climb out of a mess), but it's still worth pondering that God is unhappy with them charging interest. And the interest was only 1% (verse 11). It really makes you wonder what God thinks of some of the things we do in banking.

Help:
- Verses 17-18 - Nehemiah would have had to tax the people to pay for all this stuff. Instead, he bore the cost himself.

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 55 - Sat Dec 30

It's Day 55 and we're in Nehemiah 4.

Note that we skipped chapter 3 and are on chapter 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - Once again: prayer and a plan.

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 54 - Fri Dec 29

It's Day 54 and we're in Nehemiah 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 4, 7-8 - He prayed, but he also had a plan.

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 53 - Thurs Dec 28

It's Day 53 and we're in Nehemiah 1.

Please note that as we're going through Nehemiah we'll be skipping a couple chapters. They have number details that aren't crucial to understanding the larger story.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - It usually starts with repentance.

Help:
- Verse 2 - The context of this story is that it's a time when Israel (because of their sinful disobedience) has been scattered into foreign countries and what's left in Jerusalem is a pitiful remnant. See also verse 8.

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 52 - Wed Dec 27

It's Day 52 and we're in 1 Peter 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - Trust that He'll lift you up at the right moment to a place of greater fruitfulness.

Help:
- Verse 1 - "elders" - This is the word Peter uses to speak about pastors.

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 51 - Tues Dec 26

It's Day 51 and we're in 1 Peter 4.

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

Help:
- Verse 1 - This is not saying that suffering means that we're not sinning at all, but rather that going through trials and suffering will move us closer to Christlikeness.
- Verse 6 - Most likely means "those who are now dead." That is, those who've heard the gospel and gone on to eternity.
- Verses 13-16 - We don't want suffering for the sake of suffering, but when we suffer in Christ's name, there is a sense in which it's an honor to go through that for the glory of Jesus.
- Verses 17-18 - Judgment begins with the house of God. He expects us to live to a higher standard.

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 50 - Mon Dec 25

It's Day 50 and we're in 1 Peter 3.

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

Help:
- Verses 1, 5 - The word "submissive" is obviously a controversial one. Interpretations of the verses range from "this is only applicable to that day and time" to "the husband is the head of the household."
- Verse 7 - "weaker" - That refers to physical strength, not spiritual importance.
- Verse 7 - "prayers. . . hindered" - Our relationships with those around us do impact the effectiveness of our prayers.
- Verses 19-20 - This is obscure, but some possibilities: a. Might refer to the idea that between His death and resurrection, Christ preached to the already-condemned demons; b. Might refer to the idea that between His death and resurrection, Christ preached to those people who were already dead at that point.
- Verse 21 - Thankfully it clarifies the statement that "baptism saves you" by going on and saying that's a reference to the spiritual baptism we undergo.

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.