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.

Jeremiah 48-49:22

     After the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah had prophecies for the countries and peoples who had been rooting for its destruction. He told them that now destruction would be coming for them. Their celebration of the fall of Jerusalem was short-sighted because their own destruction would surely follow.

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     As I read this passage it struck me that these prophecies apply today. First, they apply to modern Israel’s neighbors who are rooting for her destruction. They fail to see that whatever power succeeds in destroying Israel will roll over them and bring destruction and tragedy to their own lands. Second, it applies to those people and nations who are rooting for the United States to lose its preeminent status in the world. Most of them fail to see that the suffering and hardship that follows will not be confined to the United States, but will indeed effect the entire world. Finally, it applies to those who wish to see the Christian Church lose its standing as a moral authority and to see Christians forced to suffer for taking a stand for morality. In all of these cases, if the people rooting for suffering to come upon others get their way, the suffering will not be limited to those whom they wish to see suffer.

2 Timothy 4:1-22

     Paul told Timothy that the day would come when people would not be willing to listen to sound teaching. They will seek out teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, rather than teach them the truth. We are living in that day. All too many people do not want to hear the truth, whether it be about sexual morality, or greed, or selfishness, or some other sin. They explain that if the Church wants to grow it must make its teachings “relevant”. I will tell you that the word of God is always relevant. While the Church may need to change how it teaches God’s word so that people will hear it, it cannot change the message which it has been given.

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     It is important to seek out those who will tell us the things which we do not want to hear. We all have a tendency to try to limit our exposure to those who tell us things we do not want to hear. However, we are all human and need to remember that sometimes (in my case, often) God has a message for us that we do not want to hear. We do not want to change, but we need to change those places where we fall short of living according to the glory of God.

Psalm 95-96:13

     What a great psalm (actually, two great psalms). The first calls on us to bow down and worship God because He is our creator and He watches over us. It contains a plea for us to listen to His voice today. I will listen to His voice and plead with those I know to do the same. Oh how much better your life will be if only you will listen to what God has to say to You!
     If you listen to what God has to say to you, you will do as Psalm 96 advises. Those who listen to God will sing to the Lord because they will be full of joy. I cannot help myself. I have no choice but sing His praises. Following His instructions make me want everyone to know the joy which I experience. The Lord reigns! He will judge everyone with justice.

Proverbs 26:9-12

     A fool who knows a wise saying, a proverb, is as likely to apply it inappropriately as a drunk is to hit unintended targets when he swings a branch at his opponents. A fool will make the same mistakes over and over. However, as bad as being a fool is, there is more hope for someone who recognizes their foolishness than for someone who thinks they are wise.

     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.

Jeremiah 44:24-47:7

     When Jeremiah confronted the people of Judah who had fled to Egypt over their idolatry, they responded that they had done such things when times were prosperous for them and would continue doing them until they brought about prosperity once more. Jeremiah now tells them that such behavior will merely bring more destruction and misery down on their heads. Their refusal to give up the sins for which God had judged them would lead to hardship and death. However, Jeremiah also had a word for those who remained faithful. He told them that God would protect them from the coming troubles.

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     This reminds me of so many people who I know. The people to whom Jeremiah was speaking refused to recognize that the behaviors they were continuing were the ones which brought the times of prosperity to an end. They were convinced that by practicing the sins and idolatry which had brought God’s judgment against them when they had been prosperous they could return to that time of prosperity. We will not gain prosperity by continuing the mistakes that brought our prosperity to an end.

2 Timothy 2:22-3:17

     Paul tells us the key to pleasing God. I will follow his advice and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. The key to reaching those goals is spending time in fellowship with those who call on the Lord. The next thing Paul writes challenges me. All too often, I see people say foolish things and I seek to correct them. Then I allow myself to be drawn into foolish arguments. Rather than argue with those who believe things contrary to God’s truth (the only truth that there is, all truth is God’s truth), I will strive to gently point out the truth to them and allow God’s Spirit to change their hearts.
     The next part sounds so descriptive of our society today. All too many people today love only themselves and their money. People hold nothing sacred and have no self-control. Some put on a show of godliness, but do not allow God’s Spirit to govern their actions. They worm their ways into homes and take control of the gullible. The gullible ones are those who are always seeking the truth, but never willing to accept it when they find it.
     However, Paul tells us how we can both strengthen our faith and avoid being deceived by those who oppose the truth.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.(NIV)

So, I will study the Scripture so that I may avoid deceit and be equipped to accomplish whatever good work God provides for me to do.

Psalm 94:1-23

     The wicked convince themselves that God will not hold them accountable. They either think that He is not there, or that He does not care. However, the sins of the wicked will turn back on them and lead to their destruction. Those who oppress and murder the powerless will discover that their sins bring about their own destruction. God will see that justice is served.

Proverbs 26:6-8

     If you ask a fool to deliver a message for you, the message is likely to get garbled and you will be worse off than if the recipient had never received the message. A fool who knows a proverb will misuse it.

     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.

Jeremiah 42-44:23

     After the events recounted at the end of yesterday’s passage, the people remaining in Judah were frightened about what Nebuchadnezzar’s response would be. Out of fear, they prepared to flee to Egypt. However, before they fled they approached Jeremiah and requested that he pray to God asking what they should do and where they should go. When Jeremiah agreed to pray to God for guidance for them, they swore that they would follow that guidance, even if they did not like it.
     Ten days later, Jeremiah called them back and gave them God’s answer. Jeremiah told them that God had promised that if they remained in Judah, all would go well for them. But if they followed their plan and fled to Egypt the very things they feared if they stayed would follow them to Egypt and they would die of war, famine, and disease. Jeremiah completed this by telling them that they had been warned. He knew that they would not listen to his advice. Immediately, the leaders cried out that Jeremiah was lying, that he was telling them to say because he wanted them to be killed by Nebuchadnezzar, or taken away into exile. They refused to listen to the word of God which Jeremiah had given them and gathered the people and went to Egypt, forcibly taking Jeremiah with them.

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     How often do we do what the people did in this passage? We ask God, or asks someone to ask God on our behalf, for advice as to what we should do, but all we really want is God’s imprimatur on what we have already decided to do. In this passage the people were confident that they could not stay in Judah, that tragedy would overtake them if they did. There is more to it than that. They did not want to give up their sinful lifestyle and their worship of idols. Am I guilty of this? Do I ask for God’s guidance and then refuse to listen when He tells me what to do? It is my earnest desire to never do that, but I fear that all too often I ask God for guidance, hoping He will tell me to do what I have already decided I want to do.
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2 Timothy 2:1-21

     Let us serve Christ as good soldiers serve, and as successful athletes compete. A good soldier does not get caught up in civilian matters, rather he dedicates his time to military affairs. In the same way, I will focus my energy on doing those things which advance the Kingdom of God. A successful athlete spends their time training and learning to work within the rules. In the same way, I will discipline myself to live according to God’s grace and focus on following His commands.
     Rather than argue over words, we should work hard to serve God and do His will. If we spend our time doing the Lord’s work, we will not have time to get caught up in unproductive discussions. There is work to be done, let us not waste our time discussing things that do not advance God’s kingdom. Let us not waste time on things that are the equivalent of arguing which way the toilet paper roll should be hung. Let’s just put a new roll up and move on to the next task. I will not be afraid to say when questioned about things, “I do not know. But I know whom I have believed.”

Psalm 92-93:5

     Yes, I will praise the Lord in the morning and I will give thanks to Him in the evening. All day, every day, I will praise the Lord. Only fools and those who refuse to see do not trust God. The wicked may prosper for a short time, but unhappiness and destruction await them. Those who trust in the Lord will experience joy and happiness their entire lives.
     Floods and storms are mighty and unpredictable. When they rise up they destroy all in their path, but God is more powerful yet. Those who trust in the Lord will still be standing when the storms of life have passed over them.

Proverbs 26:3-5

     Today’s reading in Proverbs contains two seemingly contradictory statements. The first tells us not to argue with a fool or we will become foolish. The second tells us to be sure to argue with a fool to make sure he does not think he is wise. The point of the first of these is that when you argue against someone, do not allow them to “frame the debate”. Do not use the fool’s terms to make your case. The second one is that sometimes it is important to argue with people so that they know that not everyone thinks the way they do.

     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.

Jeremiah 39-41:18

     As Jeremiah had warned, Nebuchadnezzar returned with his army and sacked Jerusalem. King Zedekiah attempted to flee the city at night, but he was captured along with all of those with him. Because he had been afraid to follow Jeremiah’s advice to surrender to Nebuchadnezaar, Zedekiah suffered the fate he feared. Part of Zedekiah’s fate was to watch the execution of his court officials. We are told, however, that Ebed-melech, who had rescued Jeremiah from those officials seeking his death, was spared and kept safe. We see here the difference in the fate of those who followed God’s commands vs. those who refused to do so.

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2 Timothy 1:1-18

     This passage is one of great encouragement to me. I strive to follow the command which Paul gave Timothy. I will fan into flames the spiritual gifts which God has given me. God does not put His Spirit in us so that we can live timidly and in fear. Rather, He gave us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. This spirit, which God has given us, moves us to tell others about Christ without shame or fear. God has saved us and called us to live a holy life, not because we deserve such treatment, but because He planned to do so from before He created the universe.
     In this passage Paul wrote the words which inspired the hymn, “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” The words of this song touch my heart and brings me to tears of humility and joy every time I hear or read them:

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”

Each successive verse begins with “I know not…” I confess that there are many things I do not know. But, as this passage, and the refrain of the song point out, there is one thing I do know. I know that I have believed in a God who is more than able to guard and keep safe that which I have entrusted to Him. I have no need to fear condemnation and damnation because I have offered myself up to God and asked Him to transform me into His image. I know that, while I am unable to live up to His standards, He is able to transform me into His likeness, and He has promised to do so.

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Psalm 90-91:16

     The psalmist reminds us that God does not see time the way that we see time. Our lives are but a moment to God, yet He sees everything we do. There is no place we can go to sin where He will not see it. We need to recognize that our lives are short and we have only a short time to honor and glorify God. If we do, He will make us glad all of our days.
     The psalmist entreats us to find refuge in God, to rest in His shadow. If we do this we will not fear anything. The psalmist tells us the following:

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
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If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.

God promises that He will rescue those who love Him and protect those who trust Him. This is such a wonderful promise. Our lives may be short, but if we spend them honoring God, He will keep us safe and give us joy for all of our days.

Proverbs 26:1-2

     A fool is as unlikely to get honored as snow is to fall in the summer. In addition, giving an honor to a fool is as disruptive as rain during harvest.
     The more interesting proverb is the second which tells us that if someone curses us, and we do not deserve the curse, it will not come to rest upon us.