60IN60 Day 57 - Mon Jun 30

It's Day 57 and we're in Revelation 16.

Is the Bible an old dusty book? Nope - ". . . the Word of God is living and active. . ." (Hebrews 4:12). Dig into today expecting it to speak to you. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 9, 11 - Even facing great wrath, they refuse to repent. We all have moments when we dig in our heels and refuse to give in to God.

Help:
- Verse 1 - The bowl is a symbolic way to describe the judgment God is bringing.
- Verses 1-12 - These are end times judgments coming against an unbelieving and defiant world.
- Verse 13 - "frogs" - Again, presumably symbolic.
- Verse 20 - The earthquake will be so great that mountain ranges will be flattened. Wow.

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 56 - Sun Jun 29

It's Day 56 and we're in Revelation 15.

We're back in Revelation and with it comes a lot of strange imagery. Just remember that John is trying to describe images that are almost beyond imagination as well as the fact that there's a lot of symbolism here.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3 - It speaks of the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb - what's the song of my life? What are the lyrics that describe what God has done for me and what I'm doing for Him?

Help:
- Verse 7 - "bowls of wrath" - The symbolism used to describe the disasters that God brings during this time on the evil world.

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 Jun 28

It's Day 55 and we're in Ezekiel 37.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 27 - What an offer: to live in God's presence.

Help:
- Verses 12-14 - This is not a reference to the resurrection of the old, but to the reinstatement of the new.

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 Jun 27

It's Day 54 and we're in Ezekiel 34.

A tool for your reading that can be useful is a study Bible. A study Bible is just a Bible that has notes in it to help explain some of the harder passages. If you don't have one and would like me to recommend one, just let me know. I'd be happy to suggest a few good ones. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 4 - This really jumped out to me as a great description (in the negative) of what a pastor should be doing. I'm going to have to do more digging and thinking on this verse.

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 Jun 26

It's Day 53 and we're in Ezekiel 13.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - Sometimes people claim God is speaking through them when they're actually just making things up. We need to evaluate carefully messages that are purported to be from God.

Help:
- Verse 4 - That is, animals that scavenge among ruins, feasting on dead bodies.
- Verses 10-15 - The wall analogy is basically that rather than building a solid (spiritual) wall with their teaching, they are building a weak wall that has plaster to look good.
- Verse 18, 20 - Probably references to human sacrifice, which (sadly) happened at some points in Israel's history.

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 Jun 25

It's Day 52 and we're in Ezekiel 2.

Father, what do You want to teach us today through Your Word? 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - Our job is to convey the message. Whether they listen or not is their responsibility.

Help:
- Verse 6 - "scorpions" - The idea here is something like "If you're traveling somewhere to deliver My message and you encounter scorpions, don't be afraid."
- Verses 8-10 - "scroll" - Presumably because this was a vision/dream, this is merely symbolic. It is possible that Ezekiel actually eats something.

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 Jun 24

It's Day 51 and we're in Proverbs 31.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - A great wife is indeed a valuable find. (I know from personal experience.) This chapter focuses on some of the attributes of a godly wife. One thing that I think is worth noting is that while the chapter does mention the importance of what she does in the home, it also mentions her in the marketplace (see, for instance, v. 16). It doesn't square with the "1950s housewife" image that too many presume is a perfect incarnation of the Bible's view of women.

Help:
- Verse 3 - Most likely this is a reference to a king having a harem.

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.