For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    Money acquired through get-rich-quick schemes is not valued and is as quickly lost as it was gained. The lessons learned by earning wealth by hard work teach one how to build that wealth once it has been obtained.

    The psalmist prophecies that the people of Egypt and Babylon, the people of distant lands, will be among those who know God. Certainly this is true, there are people from many lands who have come to know God through the preaching of the Gospel. However, I could not help but wonder if this prophecy might literally come true. Might the day come when the people from Egypt to Babylon (Iraq) are ruled from Jerusalem? Something to ponder.

    I love the story of Zacchaeus, but I never know if we are supposed to see Zacchaeus; or Jesus’ actions as our model in this story. The answer I think is both depending on the situation we find ourselves in. First, Zacchaeus seeks greater knowledge of Jesus and goes to some effort to obtain it. Then Zacchaeus responds to Jesus by promising to behave righteously going forward.
    Second, we have Jesus’ actions towards Zacchaeus. Jesus chose to associate with Zacchaeus. He chose to befriend Zacchaeus, even though most people condemned Him for doing so. The people disliked Zacchaeus, and they had good reasons for feeling that way. Then when Zacchaeus transformed, Jesus made sure everyone knew it. By praising Zacchaeus’ changed attitude Jesus both rewarded him for making the change AND made it harder for him to go back on his word.
    Ultimately, while I think we are called to be as excited as Zacchaeus was about getting closer to Jesus, the main point of this story is that we should befriend those who need God’s love most.

    I want to encourage you to read this passage, but I have nothing to say about it today.