Isaiah 28:14-30:11 ~ Galatians 3:23-4:31 ~ Psalm 62:1-12 ~ Proverbs 23:19-21 ~ One Year Bible Blog
Isaiah 28:14-30:11 ~ Galatians 3:23-4:31 ~ Psalm 62:1-12 ~ Proverbs 23:19-21
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Old Testament - Today the Lord continues his messages of woe against Jerusalem and Judah through the prophet Isaiah!
Isaiah chapter 29 verses 15 and 16 I found to be so powerful to consider... "Destruction is certain for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who try to keep him in the dark concerning what they do! "The LORD can't see us," you say to yourselves. "He doesn't know what is going on!" How stupid can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you. You are only the jars he makes! Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "He didn't make us"? Does a jar ever say, "The potter who made me is stupid"?" How true are these words? Have you ever tried to hide your plans from God? Did it work out? How apropos the point in verse 16 is where some people said: "God didn't make us!" Ever hear words like this today from others? How sad is this? Will you pray for others in your life today who may feel that God didn't make them? Will you pray for those in your life today that do not believe in God? Will you pray for them to learn that indeed the potter who made them is not stupid? Will you pray that they learn that the Potter who made them is God who loves them so very dearly!
New Testament - I love Paul's teachings today in Galatians chapter 4 verses 3 through 7! "And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you." Do you believe these teachings of Paul's to be true? Are you a child of God? Has God sent the Spirit of Jesus into your heart? Do you today call God your dear Father? Do you believe that everything God has belongs to you because you are his child?
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Galatians titled "The Contribution of the Mosaic Covenant" is at this link, "The Inferiority of Immaturity" is at this link, and "Paul Gets Personal" is at this link. Below is a great image for Galatians 3:28 from today's readings:
Psalms - Today we read in Psalm 62 verse 11 - "God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you." This is a powerful verse - no pun intended. . . :) Really, think about it. Where does power come from? Who gives power? Who takes it away? I think it is such a blessing when we truly understand this verse and then live it out. When we realize that we really have no power of our own. Any power - any thing - we have comes from God and God alone. And thank God for that. It's when we start believing we create or own or control power that we begin to get prideful or we'll misuse the power given to us. I think a great teaching on where power truly comes from comes from Jesus when he is before Pilate in John chapter 19 verses 10 & 11 - "“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."" Where do you think your power to do anything at all comes from? Do you believe it was given to you from above? If so, how might truly realizing this change how you live your life? How might it change how you utilize the power given to you? Below is a great image for verses 7 and 8 from Psalm 62:
Proverbs - Today's Proverbs verses 19-21 in chapter 23 are very applicable to each of our lives today in this modern world... "My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right course. Do not carouse with drunkards and gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty. Too much sleep clothes a person with rags." How do these verses speak to you? Is your heart on the right course? Do you avoid carousing with drunkards & gluttons? Think this Proverb has some value for our lives today in this modern world? Is gluttony or drinking at times portrayed as "good" or hip or cool in our world today...? Do you realize the danger and poverty that this lifestyle can lead to?
Worship God: I'm not 100% sure how to tie this song into today's readings, other than I think the line of "I did not make it, though it is making me" is a great reminder of us being made by the Potter per our Isaiah readings. This song came to mind because K-LOVE radio did a tribute to Rich Mullins last year. Anyone else catch this tribute? Great stuff! Here's Rich Mullins' classic song "Creed":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tpq4MoRVV4 Do believe in God the Father? Click here and get to know the Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth!
Book Recommendation: I'm going to go out on a limb here with a book recommendation for a book that I have not yet read. I own it! :) But haven't yet found the time to read it. This book did come highly recommended to me by a trusted friend. The book is called "Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven" by James Bryan Smith. The book is described as a "devotional biography," giving readers an insight into Rich's life, but more importantly, allowing the readers to learn what was most important to Rich - urging people to draw near to God. If anyone has read this book, please post up reviews in the Comments section below for others? Thanks.
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 (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
