I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Praying, fasting, reading the Bible, and going to Church are all good things, but they are not, in and of themselves, enough to please God. If we want to please God, we will not wrongfully imprison people, nor take part in their oppression. We will feed the hungry and help the needy. In order to please God we will dedicate the Sabbath to Him, not our own interests. If we give up evil ways and turn to doing good, God will save us from the coming turmoil. If we do not intervene for the oppressed, God will do so Himself, but we may not like the consequences.
     I will strive to work so that I may have the resources in order to help those in need. I need to work to deny my own pleasures to a greater extent so that I have to help those who need more. I ask that God put His Spirit upon me to direct me to do His will and not merely satisfy my own desires.

     Once more I am challenged by Paul’s prayer life. Here is yet another group of people who Paul prays for regularly. As I am reading through Paul’s writings I am struck by all of the people he prayed for on a regular basis. It indicates that he spent a lot more time in prayer than I do and that I need to spend more time in prayer. I, also, take note of what he prayed for them. He prayed that their love become ever more and be expressed with knowledge and insight. I realize that we need to strive for knowledge and insight, but not for their own sakes. I desire that I have greater knowledge and insight so that I can better express God’s love.
     Paul discusses how his imprisonment has inspired others to preach the Gospel. Some of them are doing so in an attempt upstage Paul and gain glory and honour for themselves. It does not matter to Paul what their motives are. The important thing is that Christ is being preached. While someone who preaches the Gospel from bad motives may discredit others who preach the Gospel, it is better that the Gospel be preached with faulty motives than not preached at all.
     Paul then states the one thing that should be at the center of every Christian’s thoughts: “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” I desire to live my life so as to bring honour to Christ. If I die, I will no longer face the struggles of this life but will go to be with Christ. Something to be desired with all of my heart. Yet if I live I can do more to serve Christ and help others to know and serve Him better. I will strive to do God’s will in everything for as long as I live, but I will not fear death because what comes after death is even better than the best this life has to offer.

     I definitely identify with this psalm. I will call on God for protection in my times of trouble. He has been with me since my birth and before. God has blessed me throughout my life as a result I praise Him daily. The next phrase is a challenge to me. I am an example to many. Unfortunately, I am not always a good example. Nevertheless, I will always turn to God when times are troubled and I will praise His name and His wondrous power. The NLT translates the psalmist as saying that he is not skilled with words. This reminds us that we must allow God to direct what we say, because no matter how skilled we are with words the Spirit will better know how to express God’s will to our listeners.

     Fools scheme and connive in order to commit sin. Those who are constantly mocking others make no friends. If you cannot stand up under pressure, you need to ask God for more strength.