Loud and Clashing Cymbals

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #23:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 28-29
- Psalm 148
- Luke 12:22-34
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Ahaz’s wickedness seems completely unreasonable to me as the reader, but it apparently made sense to him. Notice his backwards logic: “In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, ‘Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.’ But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel” (2Chron 28:22-23). Oh God, protect me from becoming so calloused to your laws and your ways that I pursue such obvious foolishness.

The qualification in Psalm 148:14 stands out to me today. “He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him.” The commas seem to separate three ways of referring to the same group: 1) His people, 2) his saints, 3) the people of Israel. Except, the qualification on #3 is “who are near to him.” Not simply the people of Israel, but those of Israel who are near to him. This reminds me of the “Remnant of Israel” in Romans 11.

“Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Lk 12:31). Just yesterday I came across a fitting exposition of this verse from CS Lewis: “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2Thess 3:5). It is worth noting that, at least in this verse, Paul doesn’t command the Thessalonians to direct their own hearts toward Christ, but rather asks the Lord to do this on their behalf.

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #24:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 30-33
- Psalm 149
- Luke 12:35-48
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

I am floored by how relentless the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles have been in giving credit to GOD for what are normally considered human “free will” decisions, with another example in today’s reading. “The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord” (2Chron 30:12).

The tasks (called “honors”) for God’s people, according to Psalm 149: Executing vengeance/punishment on the nations/peoples (vs 7), binding kings and nobles (vs 8), executing the judgment that has been “written” (vs 9). Try putting that on a t-shirt and selling it at a Christian music festival.

 ”And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating” (Luke 12:47-48). “Severe beating” vs “light beating.” I *think* this is Jesus’ first (and only?) mention of any gradation of punishment, at least eschatologically. Anybody know if I’m correct on that?

Paul gives a very clear theology and purpose for a Kingdom-centered perspective on work in today’s 2 Thessalonians reading. We all have a lazy streak, and workaholism is a very real threat for many people. Nevertheless, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (vs 11).

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #25:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 34-36
- Psalm 150
- Luke 12:49-59
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14-18

Continuing on the theme of God himself acting toward his purpose, consider verses 16-17 of 2 Chronicles 36. “But they (Judah) kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy. Therefore he (God) brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He (God) gave them all into his (Chaldean king) hand.” Two things I notice here: 1) God’s wrath was provoked to a point of no return, and 2) the Chaldeans were brought against Judah by HIM.

As a drummer, Psalm 150:5 has a special place in my heart. “Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!” Many church-goers send unhappy emails to the pastor and worship leader when the cymbals are loud and clashing. It’s good knowing I have God’s Word on my side of the discussion.

Jesus’ strong words in Luke 12:51-53 echo loudly in my mind every time I act in order to win favor for myself among my fellow humanity. “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Romans 12:18 motivates me to seek favor with ANYONE and EVERYONE, but today’s reading in Luke 12 reminds me that it will, ultimately, be impossible.

Paul’s suggestion in 2 Thess 3:14-15 for how to handle a disobedient person was DEFINITELY not on my radar until I read it just now. “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” I mean, seriously? Ignoring a person so that they feel shamed? The last part helps a little, but still… is this a realistic approach for the Church today, or is it specific to the Thessalonian community?

Success Leads to Temptation

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #21:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 22-24
- Psalm 146
- Luke 12:1-12
- 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12

“But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram” (2 Chron 22:7). The Lord ordained the downfall of Judah’s king.

A fitting text for this 2012 election season: “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish” (Ps 146:3-4).

It’s interesting that Luke 12:12 includes the phrase “that very hour,” which seems to negate both worry/anxiety AND preparation/effort. “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” No matter how much one reads the Bible or studies apologetics, it is ultimately the Spirit who gives wisdom and persuasion for the house in which it is needed.

“Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2Thess 2:11-12). Wow. If you don’t believe the truth, you will believe what is false… and it will be GOD’S doing. GOD will cause you to believe what is false, so that you will be condemned for having not believed what is true. WOW.

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #22:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 25-27
- Psalm 147
- Luke 12:13-21
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

“But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction” (2Chron 26:16). With success comes temptation. Consider this: Perhaps the Lord prohibits success from coming our way in order to save us from temptation that would overpower us. I wonder how the Health and Wealth guys feel about that.

“He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules” (Ps 147:19-20). Fact: The Lord does not deal with all people equally. Question: Is this a problem?

Here’s another one for the Health and Wealth camp: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Lk 12:15).

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2Thess 2:13). It strikes me that “belief in the truth” is not the only means of salvation in the verse, but also “sanctification by the Spirit.”

Firing At Random

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #19:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 17-19
- Psalm 144
- Luke 11:29-36
- 2 Thessalonians 1

“But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate” (2Chron 18:33). It’s fascinating to me that the term “random” is used in this verse. Oh, you know, some guy just randomly shot his arrow in the air and it just happened to land squarely in the ONE SPOT where a king has armor. The Lord declares death for Ahab, and he subsequently gets shot. And the word used IN SCRIPTURE to describe Ahab’s death is “random.”

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” (Ps 144:1). It’s interesting to cross-reference a verse like this with Matthew 5:9. Are these two verses incongruent, or are they perhaps addressing different things entirely?

“For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation” (Lk 11:30). A sign of what? A sign of their own condemnation. But it is SIMULTANEOUSLY also an indication of God’s at-the-ready mercy.

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2Thess 1:9). This is the plight of the non-believer – those who would reject Christ and his offer of redemption/forgiveness.

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #20:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 20-21
- Psalm 145
- Luke 11:37-54
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5

Sheesh. Today’s reading in 2 Chronicles is packed with intense/good/awful stuff. The thing I’m most struck by, at least at this particular moment, is verse 22 of chapter 20: “The Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.” The LORD set the ambush! The people of Judah hadn’t even arrived at the battlefield yet. This checks out with verse 17, where the Lord tells the people that they won’t even need to fight in the battle.

“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season” (Ps 145:15). The eyes of ALL. What does “all” mean here? All… of Israel? All… of every living thing? Well, “every living thing” is the exact phrase used in the very next verse (vs 16), so presumably we can equate that with the term “all” in verse 15.

In the midst of Jesus’ verbal beat down against the Pharisees is this gem: “But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you” (Lk 11:41). It is the heart, not the appearance, that matters.

Remember Harold Camping? “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way” (2Thess 2:1-3). It really seems like it couldn’t be any clearer here.

Pray Without Ceasing

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #17:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 10-12
- Psalm 142
- Luke 11:1-13
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Rehoboam’s heart against the people of Israel and his lack of wisdom in rejecting their plea for relaxed work loads from him, where did that come from? “So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the Lord might fulfill his word” (2Chron 10:15). What about the split in Israel? The revolt of Jeroboam and all the tribes against Judah, where did that come from? “Thus says the Lord, you shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me” (2Chron 11:4).

“With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead to the Lord for mercy” (Ps 142:1). I often thank the Lord for his mercy. Sometimes I plead to the Lord for mercy or forgiveness regarding a specific situation in my life. But I NEVER do it with my actual voice. It’s always simply in my mind as I pray silently. Clearly the point of this verse is that David’s cry to God is a literal speaking/crying, with his VOICE.

“And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door shall be opened to you” (Lk 11:9). How should we understand Jesus’ teaching on prayer and coming to God with requests? Will God give us whatever we ask? Is it just that simple? My summary of today’s Luke 11 reading would be this: Praying is not simply about asking God for what you want. But know that he loves you and he wants to hear your requests, and know whatever he gives you, it will be good.

What is our destiny as believers, as followers of Christ? “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1Thess 5:9-10). That, my friends, is what I call Good News.

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #18:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 13-16
- Psalm 143
- Luke 11:14-28
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

“O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed” (2Chron 13:12). Clearly the context of this verse pertains to actual warfare, but it makes me think of Jonah. Resisting the Lord, whether in battle or in one’s own soul, will always be found to be ultimately unsuccessful.

“Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you” (Ps 143:2). My own paraphrase: “Lord, please don’t act based on what I deserve, for I’m aware of the fact that nobody deserves anything from you except judgment.”

Verses 24-28 of Luke 11 are very unsettling to me. The idea that a demon can be removed from a person is great, but verse 28 doesn’t sound too hopeful: “And the last state of that person will be worst than the first.” What is Jesus’ intending communicate with this teaching? What is the application here for a Christian?

1 Thessalonians 5:17. A very short and to the point verse, and one that I imagine NO ONE fully obeys. “Pray without ceasing.”

Where Did Martha Go Wrong?

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #15:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 6-7
- Psalm 140
- Luke 10:25-37
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Once again I am struck by how often the phrase “for his steadfast love endures forever” appears in Scripture. It’s been all over the recent Chronicles readings (including chapter 7 today), and also in the Psalms. What is the significance of this? Is ANY phrase repeated throughout the Bible more often than this one?

The Psalmist’s confidence in God’s justice: “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy” (Ps 140:12).

I love it when Scripture lets the reader in on heart intent and internal monologue, which simply cannot be known without divine revelation. In Luke 10:29, the lawyer asking Jesus about salvation asks a follow-up question when Jesus’ answer is simpler than the lawyer expected. But the motive behind this follow-up question is not additional information, but rather an attempt to save face. “But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”

I memorized these incredibly clear and direct verses when I first read them last year, and I encourage any man who takes his purity seriously to do the same. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” (1Thess 4:3-8)

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #16:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 8-9
- Psalm 141
- Luke 10:38-42
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

“And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind” (2Chron 9:23). How did Solomon’s great wisdom get into his mind? God put it there.

A prayer of repentance, a prayer asking for forgiveness… these are POST-sin prayers. King David, in Psalm 141, wisely lifts a PRE-sin prayer (meaning, an attempt to avoid sin). “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!” (vs 3-4).

Today’s reading in Luke 10 is  familiar story to anyone with a Sunday school background. Martha, Martha… she is so off the mark. But what exactly is Martha’s mistake here? I’m not questioning whether she made a mistake… clearly Jesus prefers Mary’s actions to Martha’s. But what is it precisely that Martha did wrong? Is it that she is distracted (vs 40)? Is it her anxiety (vs 41)? Is it that she “chose” wrongly (vs 42)?

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1Thess 4:16). A classic “end times” passage of Scripture. Notice that the Lord is COMING in this text… to earth. He is not leaving. Christians meet the Lord in “the air.” But nobody actually goes away. Is “the air” here simply a metaphor for Heaven? That would have to be the case if this text were to be teaching that when Christ comes he will take Christians with him and they will together LEAVE earth. It really seems to me that such a teaching is NOT present in this text.

This Isn’t What I Signed Up For

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #13:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 1-2
- Psalm 138
- Luke 10:1-16
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Solomon explains the logical fallacy of thinking that God lives in a house: “But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him?” (1Chron 2:6).

“For you have exalted above all things your name and your word” (Ps 138:2). Notice what it doees NOT say. For you have exalted above all things equality and fairness? Nope. For you have exalted above all things humanity’s free will to accept or reject salvation? Nope. For you have exalted above all things peace, happiness, and prosperity throughout the world? Nope.

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Lk 10:16). This is a mind-blowing transfer of power and representation that Jesus gives the apostles. Wow.

“This isn’t what I signed up for!” We’ve all said it, at one time or another. Regarding suffering for the sake of Christ, Paul basically says the opposite: “For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know” (1Thess 3:3-4).

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #14:

- 2 Chronicles, chapters 3-5
- Psalm 139
- Luke 10:17-24
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

For those who equate wealth with sin, it is worth asking whether Solomon was sinning as he included such great riches in the building of the temple (as described in 2Chron 3-4). We can guess what Judas would have said had he been there, but we also know where his heart was at when he said that.

The Lord’s knowledge is massive. According to the Psalmist, he even knows what we are going to say before we do. “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether” (Ps 139:4).

Regarding the incredible vesting of power that Jesus gives to the apostles, he quickly reminds them where their real value lies: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Lk 10:19-20).

Paul’s prayer for his fellow believers in Thessalonica: “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints” (1Thess 3:11-13). What a selfless and edifying prayer… a far cry from “help them get that job that they want,” or whatever. The Lord is not above listening to us lay the details of our or others’ requests before him, but Paul for one aims VERY HIGH in his pleas to the Lord.

Hand to the Plow

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #11:

- 1 Chronicles, chapters 26-28
- Psalm 136
- Luke 9:37-50
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought” (1Chron 28:9). The word “for” in the middle of this verse signifies that the first half relies on and is built on the second half. Paraphrase: “Serve the Lord because he knows everything, even your heart.”

Chris Tomlin’s prominent worship song “Forever” is based on this Psalm. I smile every when I read it because when my oldest daughter Betty was very young we would use this Psalm for family devotions. She knew the tune and would respond to each line by singing the “love endures forever” line. On a different note, she is old enough now where I might need to explain to her how the call and response of verse 10 are compatible, because on the surface they sure don’t seem to be: “To him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.’ But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it” (Lk 9:43-45). Notice that Jesus both commands the disciples to hear his words, yet allows the words to be concealed so that they cannot understand.

“So we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts” (1Thess 2:4). This correlates nicely to today’s 1 Chronicles note. Are the phrases “tests our hearts” and “searches all hearts” related in their meaning? The logic in the two verses is definitely similar.

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #12:

- 1 Chronicles 29
- Psalm 137
- Luke 9:51-62
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-20

1 Chronicles 29 contains a slew of wisdom regarding giving. Verse 3: “I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God.”  Verse 9: “Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord.”  Verse 16: “O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.”

Psalm 137:9 is a tough one. Maybe the logic in Psalm 136:10 (yesterday’s reading) is a little difficult to track with, but 137:9 is another lever. Here’s a helpful paragraph on this verse that Google pulled up for me: “The Psalmist is in exile and had probably witnessed the atrocities committed against his people, babies included. In the revenge-style that was so common at the time, he wishes the same upon his enemy as a description of their utter destruction. Nowhere does it say that God approves of the Psalmist’s request or that he fulfilled it. Just because it is recorded that the Psalmist wrote the imprecation, doesn’t mean it was approved by God.”

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62). It’s interesting to me that the “hand to the plow” metaphor is what Jesus uses to describe following him. He could have instead mentioned putting faith in him, or confessing one’s sins, or any of the other common Christian themes. Instead Jesus chose “hand to the plow” as the  embodiment of the Christian journey that one must not look back from.

Paul’s view of the authority of Scripture and the Gospel: “When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (1Thess 2:13).

Who Incites David, Satan or God?

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #9:

- 1 Chronicles, chapters 20-22
- Psalm, chapters 133-134
- Luke 9:18-27
- Colossians 4:10-18

Much of 1 Chronicles parallels 2 Samuel. 1 Chron 21:1 is significant for this reason, because of the variant between that and 2 Sam 24:1. Notice where the tempting comes from in each verse… who it is that “incites” David.

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!” (Ps 133:1-2). Obviously unity is a great thing to be strived for, but I’m not sure I understand this metaphor.

The empty pursuit of the what the world offers is equated with losing one’s self: “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Lk 9:25). Implication: the pursuit of Christ and the Kingdom is equated with gaining one’s very self.

“And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea” (Col 4:16). Paul knew that his letter would be read to multiple churches and communities of faith. He wrote with this intention.

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #10:

- 1 Chronicles, chapters 23-25
- Psalm 135
- Luke 9:28-36
- 1 Thessalonians 1

“And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening” (1Chron 23:30). David, in arranging workers for the temple, appointed men whose only other job besides mixing the bread was to stand and give thanks to the Lord, both day and night.

Is the description of God’s sovereignty in Psalm 135:6 merely a reference to the absence of anyone who could oppose the Lord or stop him from doing what he pleases? Could it not also be a reverse definition of righteousness? In other words, compare Psalm 135:6 to Psalm 119:68.

“And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said” (Lk 9:33). The phrase “not knowing what he said,” describing Peter’s tents comment, is curious to me. Was he unaware of the implications or consequences of what he said, or was he in zombie mode? What is the purpose of this phrase?

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction” (1Thess 1:4-5). The Thessalonians being convinced by Paul’s gospel was not the reason or merit for their having been chosen, but rather the EVIDENCE for their having been chosen.

The Biblical Mandate for Excellence

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #7:

- 1 Chronicles, chapters 15-16
- Psalm, chapters 130-131
- Luke 8:40-56
- Colossians 3:18-25

So, I’m a drummer. I have cymbals. They are made of bronze. I forget how OLD that instrument is! “The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals” (1Chron 15:19). I wonder if anybody complained to Heman/Asaph/Ethan that their cymbals were too loud for worship.

Again, the theme of “fearing” the Lord, and it’s many variations: “But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (Ps 130:4). One who offers forgiveness is not “feared” in the same sense that one fears a predator or enemy, yet this verse directly links the forgiveness and the fearing.

“Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well” (Lk 8:50). Is this an if-then statement from Jesus?

Striving for excellence in everything: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Col 3:23). WHATEVER you do…

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #8:

- 1 Chronicles, chapters 17-19
- Psalm 132
- Luke 9:1-17
- Colossians 4:1-9

“When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever” (1Chron 17:11-12). These verses are clearly about Solomon, but are they also Messianic?

There is a direct link between verses 10 and 11 in Psalm 132. “For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one. The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: ‘One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.’” The Psalmist asks God to not turn his face away, and reminds him of his oath to David. It is Biblical to hold God to his oaths.

“And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal” (Lk 9:1-2). Jesus freely gives the power/authority to heal, but not to everyone. Only to the Twelve. And one of the Twelve was a devil.

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col 4:5-6). People of God who are reading this, please listen to me right now. I have one word in commentary on these verses: FACEBOOK.

Kids vs Debt

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #5:

- 1 Chronicles, chapters 10-11
- Psalm 128
- Luke 8:16-25
- Colossians 2:16-23

I’ve got a ton of big questions in my life right now… things that I need guidance for. This verse is really sobering all of sudden: “He (Saul)did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (1Chron 10:14).

Psalm 128 is obviously a description of how good it is to fear/serve the Lord. But in reading just now I notice especially that the description of “good” includes many kids and therefore grandkids as well (vs 3, vs 6). This gives me pause in my “family planning” and the “ideal number of kids” I’ve always pictured. I had a close friend and mentor once tell me this: “In the Bible, kids are a blessing and debt is a curse. We have it backwards in America.”

Lots of popular one-liners are found in Luke 8:16-25, but what stands out to me today is verse 17: “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” I would be so bold as to say that the MAIN and PRIMARY tool in my own failure to resist temptation is the cloak of secrecy. Turns out, it is only a mirage.

The latter half of Colossians 2 is a section of Scripture that I reference often in both my thinking and my conversation. Especially verse 23: “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” Implication: Victory over sin is not found merely in rules that you make for yourself.

Daily Scripture readings for December, set #6:

- 1 Chronicles, chapters 12-14
- Psalm 129
- Luke 8:26-39
- Colossians 3:1-17

Again, regarding guidance, seeking the Lord: “And David inquired of God, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go up, and I will give them into your hand’” (1 Chron 14:10).

Notice that both things are true… affliction, but not ultimate defeat: “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me” (Ps 129:2).

The task of the Christian: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you” (Luke 8:39).

“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Col 3:7-8). You used to be a certain way, and you must be that way no longer. The details on this are different for everyone.