Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12 ~ 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7 ~ Psalm 47:1-9 ~ Proverbs 22:16
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~
Old Testament - I heard a good chunk of today's readings in the book of Ecclesiastes at a wedding a few years ago. And really, these verses work out quite nicely for a wedding if you think about it. Chapter 4 verses 9 through 12: "Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Pretty good stuff for a wedding, eh? The kicker is that last little bit about the triple-braided cord. The pastor at the wedding I was at said that God is the third strand in the triple-braided cord in marriage. I like that! Two people come together in marriage, and it's good. But, throw God into the mix of the marriage, as I'm sure we would all want to do, and you've got a very strong triple braided cord! Great stuff. If you are married, is there a triple braided cord in your marriage? Is God always part of your marriage? Part of your every day life? Billy Graham has a few words to say on all of this in our modern world today...
New Testament - Second Corinthians chapter 7 verse 1 today is powerful - "Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God." How does this verse speak to you? What promises do we have as followers of Jesus Christ? In light of these promises, should we cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body? And cleanse ourselves of everything that can defile our spirit? Are you living your life in such a way that you are moving toward complete purity? Do you believe that the Cross of Jesus Christ purifies you? What does the Cross of Jesus ultimately purify you for?
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Second Corinthians titled "Choosing Sides" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 47 is an awesome Psalm! I can almost hear and feel music and a drum beat as I read this Psalm today! This Psalm was used in later Jewish synagogue liturgies for Rosh Hashanah, the New Year Festival. This Psalm has also been used by the Christian church in the Celebration of Jesus' ascension, in particular with emphases on verse 5 - "God has ascended with a mighty shout. The LORD has ascended with trumpets blaring." Do you hear and feel the music as you read this Psalm? Verse 1 sets the stage so very well for verse 2 in the image below -"Come, everyone, and clap your hands for joy! Shout to God with joyful praise!"
Proverbs - There is an interesting "or" statement in Proverbs chapter 22 verse 16 today - "A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty." I hadn't really ever thought that showering gifts on the rich might put one in the same boat as oppressing the poor. Oppressing the poor seems like the obvious no-no. But showering gifts on the rich... why do you suppose this is a no-no as well? What's wrong with showering the gifts on the rich? I'm wondering if it is because our gifts would be better given elsewhere? e.g. to the poor? Hmmm... this actually is going to take me into a random tangent that will probably get me in trouble here... :) But, I have to confess. I don't typically buy wedding gifts for my friends any more. Yes, I know this is probably a horrible thing to admit to and say publicly. And perhaps this will cut down on my wedding invites... :) But, truly, I don't buy wedding gifts for my friends. Well - unless it's maybe a One Year Bible, :), a book or CD or something simple. I have a very hard time going to wedding registries and buying "stuff" for people that already really have a lot of stuff, generally speaking. So, what I've been doing instead lately has been to buy a goat from World Vision in honor of the wedding couple. And then World Vision nicely sends the wedding couple a card letting them know that a goat was bought in their honor. And this goat will go to a poor family somewhere in the world. A family that doesn't have much stuff at all. A family that can milk the goat for drinking milk or cheese. And can start a goat family and sell goats and feed themselves and generate some business. Somehow I just feel like this is a better investment of my $75, rather than buying a napkin holder or fork for my newly married friends. This may be really wrong...? But I guess it's where I am now with wedding gifts. If you invite me to your wedding, be forewarned. You are getting a World Vision goat! :)
If you are interested in learning how you can give a goat and other farm animals in honor of your friends for their weddings coming up (your friends are not gonna like me...), check out this website - www.worldvisiongifts.org/ Below is a powerful video from World Vision called "One Life":
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week:"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
