- Tuesday, 6/18/19 Zeph 2:3a, Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth... Meekness is a willingness to be governed. It’s adjusting our agenda to another’s. Moses was meek; Christ is; we are to be too. In a wife, God says this is extremely valuable. Are you willing for Him to govern you, even if He uses human authority (husband, parents, boss, law) to do it? Zeph 3:12, I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The huge calamity of national annihilation, starvation, much death, and mass deportations brought salvation through faith to some. For us: what is a huge negative this week may turn out to be a much greater positive next year. Bottom line: trust whatever God is doing/bringing in our lives.
- Wednesday, 6/19/19 Zeph 2:3ab, Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness... Whatever good qualities we have don’t last: they get corrupted or forsaken by our flesh. Keep seeking what you already have. We are to learn from history. Matthew 16:22-22, From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. Even our Saviour had to undergo an enormous short-term negative so as to produce a greater positive. So that’s how the Father operates. You and I can expect the same treatment.
- Thursday, 6/20/19 Proverbs 16:9, The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord. He didn’t say “the way of the wicked person,” but simply the lifestyle of the wicked person. Does your lifestyle (away from church) obviously emulate righteousness or a wicked man’s? Some verses in the Bible can humble us to the core immediately. And we all need that...our level of pride and complacency and arrogance and condescension must be nauseating to the Lord. Can you even read this verse out loud without your spirit nearly buckling? Psalm 119:162, I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. How excited would you be to find out you had the winning lottery ticket or just had your name picked out of the hat? That’s minuscule compared to how we should be every morning... ‘just sayin...
- Friday, 6/21/19 Psalm 119:32, I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. We must always be pushing ourselves to run faster and to get a larger heart and run even faster. Do you think you’re “fast enough”? “good enough?” “holy enough?” Luke 12:1b, [Jesus] began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. We often think of a hypocrite as one who acts better than they are, and, of course, that’s a correct illustration. However, the reverse is true. Do you ever act worse than you are so as to not be shamed for being “too holy”? So as to not be ridiculed? Are you hypocritical when you won’t admit that you don’t drink and that drinking is anti-scriptural? “Beware.” Today it’s not standing against wrong that others do; tomorrow it’ll be putting up with the wrong that you do.
- Saturday, 6/22/19 Psalm
119:24, Thy testimonies also are my
delight and my counsellors. Advice...do you get it from peers? Associates
at work? family? professionals? Or, is the Bible directing you? If you need
extra outside advice, are you first
going to the Holy Spirit and letting Him direct?
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. The question is still 100% valid today. Today’s Christians are as uncommitted as the Israelites were. But forget “most”: are you “halting” between two opinions? Remember, being luke-warm (in the middle) nauseates God.
- Sunday, 6/23/19 Acts 1:1, ...of all that Jesus began both to do and teach... Jesus did and taught. Far too many believers today never do and never teach. For most, it’s “Hear and disregard,” or, “Hear and criticize.” But forget most...are YOU like Christ in this matter? Today: listen to incorporate. Job 30:1, But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. Younger people in management positions: take note that this is very aggravating to older people. Your power/position may be greater but you yourself are NOT more important. Give respect: to age and to experience. (Remember that everyone knows things you do not, so it’s not that you are super smart in ALL areas. You have things you could learn.) Lead with humility; don’t dictate with arrogance.
- Monday, 6/24/19 Acts 1:1, ...Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up... A reminder that God doesn’t know the concept, “retirement.” We’re to work 6 days a week until we leave this world. So, what will you do for the Kingdom this week? Set your schedule. Matthew 18:13, And if so be that [the Father] find [the one who went astray], verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. If the Father rejoices over the one, what is our attitude toward the repentant sinner...even if the sin was against us? Methinks that most of us need a lot of improvement here.
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