October 4 - Matthew 3; Luke 3; Mark 1 - John and Jesus Teach the Same Message: Change Your Life

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3; Luke 3; Mark 1

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

John the Baptizer's message was simple but difficult for people accustomed to going along with the masses.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

John the Baptizer fulfilled prophecy by teaching his message: repent, the kingdom is near; being Abraham's descendents did not guarantee a good relationship with God; and soon one would clean lives and baptize with the Holy Spirit.
John baptized Jesus over his's initial objections. God showed His Approval.
After 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus' began teaching "repent, the kingdom is here."
Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John.
Jesus taught with confidence, excising demons and healing. Many flocked to be healed.
Early the next morning he left Capernaum. Soon he was unable to move freely because of the crowds.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

John's message was clear: get ready for the Kingdom by changing your life.

John wanted to make sure everyone was ready for God's Presence. His message was clear—change your life. The three examples given in the text are a sample: give to those in need when you have more than you need, work honestly, and do not defraud others. This is how Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled and the Jews readied for Jesus' appearance.

"Chosen" status does not give a person an automatic right relationship with God.

What the Pharisees and Sadducees missed in their rush to join the masses in baptism was John's message—change your life. They thought by being Abraham's descendents ("God's Chosen People") God would bless and accept them regardless of how they acted. John's response was firm—being "Chosen" does not equal "right with God". God wanted them to be more righteous than the surrounding nations, but they preferred their status and forgot their holiness. The reason they were to be better than the nations around them was God's righteousness is better than the world's righteousness. In one conversation John has explained the problem Israel had their entire history.
The obvious parallel to today is humbling. We cannot use our "Chosen"—or to use a common word heard in churches today "Saved"—status to do as we wish. Our "saved" status is meant to push us to tell others about God. We are not holy because we are great. We are holy because God is Great. God does not "need" our obedience because He is too weak to work outside of us. We are His Lighthouses to the world that His Way works!

God's work in setting things right came together in Jesus' baptism.

As a Jew, Jesus was circumcised eight days after he was born. This was the sign a person was part of the Covenant with Abraham. Later, Jesus would change the "initiation" into Abraham's Covenant from circumcision to water baptism. Jesus' baptism bridged the two and merged the two worlds.

Jesus taught with confidence—not needing backup to prove his point. He only needed to prove His Authority.

People were greatly impressed with Jesus' teaching style. He did not need to rely on scholars or theologians to provide a foundation to His words. He spoke from the Word because He was the Word. His Authority, on the other hand, needed to be proven. The works that Jesus did from here on out were meant to show His Teachings were legitimate because He was from the Father.

Jesus came to set things right in the world, not only to heal the sick.

One of the biggest debates Christians have, especially between "conservative" and "liberal" Christians is over whether we should be concerned more over spiritual or physical issues. Should we focus on everyone becoming holy or helping the poor? Jesus provides a concern for both when He healed the sick and taught the powerful not to abuse their power. However, when Jesus was presented the opportunity to continue healing the sick He moved on because His Purpose was to teach people how to set things right, not to perform miracles. The miracles were meant to help legitimize His Authority.

Those healed by Jesus became His greatest evangelists.

When Jesus excised the demons, he told them not to speak to anyone. When Jesus healed the leper he also told him not to speak to anyone. The leper, however, could not keep the news to himself. Eventually Jesus could no longer travel outside without a crowd because they knew what He could do. People healed by God become the greatest bearers of Good News.
In churches today people who have the worst pasts are often the most ashamed to share it. I think the problem is two-fold and on both sides: churches are seen as the "museums of the faithful" and people who have been healed of great sin are afraid/ashamed to share their past. When we consider if our congregations are addressing this problem or not, we need to ask how much time we set for telling our healing story. If we do not have time for it, we are a museum. Churches should encourage people with bad pasts to share how God has removed their guilt and shame. This should be done to individuals and the whole congregation, if possible.

Have you changed your life or joined the crowd to be baptized?

September 13 - Joel: God's Spirit for Everyone!

Today’s Reading: Joel

The Message

English Standard Version

Joel brings us to 31 books. Eight more to go.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God would punish the ones who treated Judah terribly.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God's Message through Joel:
"Tell future generations what has happened. Nothing will save the Temple. Nothing compares to God's all-encompassing Judgment.
"Everyone—no exception—fast and pray! Maybe God will remove our punishment!
"Celebrate! God has done great things! God will give us a Teacher. Every kind of person will have His Spirit. Everyone who calls for God's Help will receive it.
"'Yes, I will put the world back together. Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia, you sold Judeans into slavery. Prepare to be shattered!
"'Hide in Me and you will know I am your God. All things will be set right.'"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God's Judgment is serious business.

We often have difficulties accepting this aspect of God's Love. We want the John 3:16 god who loves us but we do not want the Joel 1 god who will punish us because we took matters into our own hands. But we must understand, the God who sets all things right does so by blessing those who set things right and punishing wrongdoers.

God continues to call Judah to return.

The same god who is punishing Judah greatly because they do not set things right also wants them to change their way of living. If they fasted, changed their clothes, and changed their lives God would consider changing their fate. We must include this aspect of God to understand the previous, difficult part. God always wants to set things right, even in the midst of punishment.

God would give His Spirit to ever kind of people.

All of the Old Testament prophets were Jewish men. Deborah was a judge but was still a Jew. God would one day no longer limit His Prophets to men. Women would join them. Old people, young people, servants, masters, men, and women would receive God's Spirit. Anyone who called on God would be helped, not just Israel. No longer would Israel have a monopoly on God's Spirit. God's Spirit is for anyone!

Is God your place to hide?

August 26 - Lamentations 4-5: Judah Returns Control to God

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 4-5

The Message

English Standard Version

If you have a paper schedule, we deviated a little by reading all of chapter 3 yesterday. Lamentations brings us to 29 books read! Only 10 more to go in the Old Testament!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jeremiah understands the source of their plight—disobedience.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Oh, oh, oh …
God's prized people are now cheap, broken pottery. Our mistakes have brought us misery. Better to die in battle than this slow, agonizing death by starvation. Prophets once exploiting Judah were ridden out of town. God ignores them.
Gloat, you godless nations, but you'll soon be like us! Our exile is behind us, yours is ahead.
Remember, God, what we've been through. We are orphans and slaves because of our parents' sins. Everyone dishonored, music gone, and wisdom missing we wish we had never left You! God, why have You left us? We're ready to return!

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Israel has hit bottom.

(Repeat of yesterday's thought)
Israel's and Judah's rebellions became such a stench before God that He had to act. First Israel went into exile then Judah followed. Jeremiah was present for the second and had a front-row seat. Now he lives in the remains of a once-proud city. God's Chosen People are not immune to God's Wrath. As horrifying as it may seem, God's Anger does not come lightly nor stay forever.

Judah has learned her lesson about deceiving prophets.

Judah once tried to kill Jeremiah for speaking against the Temple. Finally they turned their anger toward the ones who put Judah in exile. They rejected their message, rode them out of town on a rail, and marked them as against God. Eventually the people who obey false prophets to their own destruction will reject the false prophets.

Judah repents of leaving God.

In the very beginning I defined sin as taking control over God. Repenting, then, is just the opposite—returning control back to God. When Judah saw the cause of their great pain and anguish, they relinquished control and returned to God. When you are caught in a hard place, return control to God.

Have you decided to return control to God?

August 11 - Jeremiah 14-17: God is Beyond Convincing - Judah Must Repent or Perish

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 14-17

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

No one could convince God to spare Judah. Only Judah's repentance would save her.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

"I will not listen to Judah's prayers."
Jeremiah pleads Judah's case.
"Jeremiah, no one can change My Mind. The northern juggernaut will expend my anger against you."
"Jeremiah, don't get married, have children, or mourn the dead. Someday, Israel will not remember the Exodus; they will glory in exiting exile. Yes, Israel will return. But first they must understand who I am.
"Judah's sin—shrines for no-gods everywhere. Cursed are those who think they are protected by humans. Blessed are the ones who trust Me. Celebrate the Sabbath My way. Then you will be a city for the ages."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God would no longer listen to words—He would only listen to actions.

Jeremiah channels his inner Moses and pleads for Israel. Regrettably, God no longer is willing to listen to anyone defend Israel. The days of a prophet saving Judah are gone. Judah has turned their collective back against God; therefore, God has no choice but to punish them.

Jeremiah is starting to lose faith.

Even Jeremiah cannot stand what is happening. He is starting to question his place in God's Plan. God would continue to protect Jeremiah, even when He did not protect Judah. What we should see is that God's spokespeople are not aloof. They feel pain when they bring bad news to God's Chosen People.

God's Reputation would no longer be based on the Exodus. It would be based on returning Israel and Judah to their homes.

To Judah, one problem with remembering God is that His most-famous deed was completed hundreds of years ago. Because of that temporal distance they would not take Him serious. So God would make a new famous deed—getting Israel and Judah out of exile. Unfortunately for the ones living at the time, they would be the ones punished, not the ones saved from exile.

If Judah observed the Sabbath correctly, God would save the city.

This is a strange section coming at this point. God has told Jeremiah that nothing can save Judah then tells Judah if they observed the Sabbath correctly with their heart instead of their brains they would have an everlasting city. The Sabbath was meant to be a day of rest, not a day to do the other things you didn't have a chance to do the rest of the week. By observing the Sabbath with their heart instead of their head they would show God they were serious about turning back toward Him. Even the smallest sign of return will set our relationship right. Would Judah give Him that sign? Unfortunately, no.

What is God's most famous act to you?

August 8 - Jeremiah 4-6: God Sends Enemies to Destroy Jerusalem

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 4-6

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God wants Israel back, but only if they are willing to stay religiously monogamous.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God warns, "If you want to return, fully return. No more non-god competition.
"Disaster is coming from the north and My Chosen People dress up to seduce the enemy!
The pressure weighs on Jeremiah.
"Search Jerusalem for a righteous person to receive forgiveness." Jeremiah found none. "Why should I bother? It's pruning time. I wanted to remind you of the One, True God. But you wouldn't think of dedicating your lives to setting things right.
"I have sent enemies from the north! You will reap what you sowed. Are you all too busy making money? Terror is on its way."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God would no longer stand for partial repentance.

Several kings in Israel and Judah removed some of the shrines. God would not stand for a king to remove only some of His no-god competitors anymore. He would not accept their half-repentance any longer. God will not accept our partial repentance. We must fully return to God to have our relationship set right.

Jeremiah cannot find a righteous person anywhere.

God chose Israel to be a lighthouse to the nations. Instead, He lowered the standard and settled for sacrifices to Him alone. Now Jeremiah cannot find a single righteous person in the entire nation. We must stay vigilant or our nation, too, will have a hard time finding one righteous person.

Destruction is not God's final word.

Every so often I'll have to bring this point out, especially in Jeremiah. God's reputation is salvation, not punishment. However, because this standard is so high, those who take His Chosen Person status must live up to that calling or face removal and punishment. God will set things right in His Nation, but not all of them will be punished. God can and will weed out the wicked from the righteous.

Would God have a difficult time finding a righteous person among your group of Chosen People?

July 22 - Isaiah 31-34: God's Way vs. the Way of Punishment

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 31-34

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Nothing can protect Israel from God's punishment.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Large armies can't outmuscle God. Only repentance ensures protection.
Listen! In one year the righteous and the wicked will be separated.
God, protect us from our enemies! You are our greatest treasure!
God reassures Israel, "See how mighty I am? Sinners quake in their boots."
How can our nation survive? Set things right. When God runs this place, we are safe and guilt-free!
Everyone, hear this: God will soon punish the wicked. No one is exempt. Their land will be polluted with their remains. Chaos will rule and the earth will clean up the mess. Get ready—it's coming.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Only repentance can protect against God's wrath.

When God is angry there is nothing we can do to buy our freedom or a pardon apart from humbling ourselves to ask for forgiveness and a clean heart. No army, political structure, or business can protect you from God's punishment. When you make mistakes, repent. That is the easiest and only way to return God's blessings.

Isaiah gives the easiest answer to how we should live.

The answer’s simple:
   Live right,
   speak the truth,
   despise exploitation,
   refuse bribes,
   reject violence,
   avoid evil amusements.
This is how you raise your standard of living!
   A safe and stable way to live.
   A nourishing, satisfying way to live. (33:15-16, The Message)

Many people are discussing how to grow the middle class. We hear government programs, schemes, and taxes that will grow jobs and help the middle class. No one mentions the obvious, when people set things right, everyone benefits. Then, mistakes made by others will stand out and people can either correct, remove, or punish the person for making them. Last—the best reason—when we set things right, we live guilt-free. No one complains of mental anguish due to their sin when they set things right. We have inner peace.

No one escapes God's punishment.

The last chapter is difficult to read. Mass executions, desecration of corpses, and animals bringing God's punishment on the wicked are never things we enjoy hearing (well, maybe it's tolerable when our enemies are the victims). However, if you remember yesterday's reading, along with the story of Nineveh, God's threats of punishment are not meant to come true. They are meant to help anyone reading understand there are two options—one easy (repentance, no matter how humbling it may be), and one hard (punishment through the ways God mentioned). Today's reading would shock a person living in Edom. They have seen the acts happen before but not to this extent. God's punishment is meant to show how easy repentance can be. Why would anyone not do what God has asked?

Do you see the difference in God's way of living and the way that leads to punishment?

July 22 - Isaiah 28-30: God Teaches Ephraim the Basics Again

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 28-30

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Israel's worship is backwards. It comes from a need to be seen as righteous instead of real righteousness.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God speaks to Ephraim. They need to relearn the basics.
"Zion's foundation will be justice. Unrighteousness will be destroyed without insurance. You will be a magnet for disaster. Time to sober up!"
Jerusalem would be drowned by foreigners and natural disasters. Only numbness would suffice.
"Judah, you worship a god you care nothing about. That's backwards! In the blink of an eye, your punishment will be lifted and the Promise restored. Then worship will continue.
"You make plans without consulting Me. Your 'protectors' need protection. Bite the bullet and return. Then throw out your so-called 'gods' and reconcile our relationship."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God must return to the basics for His Chosen People.

Israel has been God's Chosen People for centuries. Unfortunately, righteousness is not inherited genetically from generation to generation. After 1200 years of being God's Chosen People they must be taught the basics again—the foundation of God's Chosen People is righteousness. If God's Chosen People do not pass on the Promise, righteousness will not survive.

Worship should come out of devotion to God, not the other way around.

Israel wanted the world to know they were God's Chosen People through worship rituals and other "religiousy" acts. Outside of their religious ceremonies they continued to do whatever they wanted. If they kept the ceremonies correct, they could claim God as their god. The world would see them as "righteous" even though their acts were completely opposite. God could be whatever they wanted Him to be—Lord, philosopher, cultural symbol. No commitment to real change was necessary. This is backwards! Inner devotion to God does not come through outward worship. Outward worship comes as a result of seeing God's Plan work from the inside.

When we walk down God's Road, all other gods look like trash.

Consider what God has to offer: righteousness, purity, holiness, reconciliation, and a community of people dedicated to these things. No other god can compete. All other gods are not pure evil, but none surpass God's ability to set things right. This is why they look subpar. None of them can compete with perfection!

All of God's threats of punishment end in calls for repentance.

God has to remind Israel of their sin and what will happen several, several times (virtually all of the prophets have this at their thesis). However, every time He speaks of punishment He ends with what would happen if they returned. It is difficult to humble yourself before God and admit that you are powerless to set things right in your life. This is why Israel does not want to do it. Fortunately for them, repentance is much easier than enduring punishment. God desires clean hearts purified through repentance. God's threats are meant to remind us that sin is worse than humility.

Do you worship from a devoted heart or by force of habit?

July 11 - Amos 1-5: God's Chosen People in the Hands of an Angry (but Forgiving) God

Today’s Reading: Amos 1-5

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God chose Israel from the entire world. God expects more from them.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The message of Amos during Uzziah's and Jeroboam (the Younger's) reign:
"God roars from Zion.
"'Aram! Gaza! Edom! Ammon! Moab! Judah! Israel! That's it! We're through!
"'Israel, I picked you, and in return you persecute the poor and delight in evil? We're going in different directions.
"'I swear your judgment is coming. You were too hardheaded to understand my messages. Now you'll listen!
"'Set things right and live. Otherwise God's punishment is coming—and it's not a pretty picture.
"'Here is what I want—rivers and oceans of setting things right. Or take your so-called gods with you into captivity.'"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God is angry. He will be heard.

These chapters are difficult to read. They drip of anger, fury, rage, and exasperation. God looks down on His Chosen People and what does He see? War crimes, slavery of God's Chosen People, promise-breaking, murder, desecration of corpses, rejection of His revelation, and persecution of the righteous and the poor. Now, God will be heard or they will wiped off the face of the earth. Beware: Anger God and your punishment will come.

Israel thanks God for taking them out of slavery by selling others into slavery.

God has given Israel all it needs: deliverance from Egypt, safe passage through the wilderness, a land flowing with milk and honey, prophets to deliver His messages, and destruction for their enemies. Israel has regressed slowly but surely away from God's influence. Now, they must repent or die. Why has this happened? They forgot what God had done for them. They stopped training their young people to set things right. This is what happens when we ignore God's direction to teach the next generation what God has done. We must always remind our children how God delivered and blessed us.

God tried to communicate His Message, but they never listened.

Before we write Amos off as a harbinger of bad news, God reminds Israel that He tried to remind them of their God by taking away what Canaan gave them. Their so-called gods could not give them bread; yet they never hungered for God. What a sad, sad statement when God called out for His Chosen People to return, but they couldn't care less. If you lack something you desperately crave, it may be God's way of telling you that you are asking the wrong source for it. Ask God and He will respond.

God, through Amos, gives this message: Come back! I don't want to punish you!

It is easy to write Amos' presentation of God off as an angry man ready to strike at the first good opportunity. Unfortunately, we have often pictured the God of the Old Testament, especially the Minor Prophets, as a beast and the God of the New Testament as a fatherly, genteel god. Conversely, the presentation of God in the Old Testament is just as gentle and fatherly as the New Testament. God wants Israel to "Seek me and live" (5:4, The Message).

I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
   When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
   I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
   That’s what I want. That’s all I want.

God wants worship that comes from setting things right, not religious grandstanding.

Are you singing to the God who sets all things right or placating an angry God bent on destruction?

June 24 - 2 Chronicles 10-12: Rehoboam Loses the Kingdom and Solomon's Riches, Returns to God

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 10-12

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Rehoboam went down the same path as Jeroboam but changed when God punished him.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Rehoboam became king. Israel asked for lighter work. Rehoboam's elders counseled him to grant the wishes. His peers wanted to intimidate Israel. Rehoboam listened to his peers and lost the kingdom, fulfilling God's promise to Solomon.
Rehoboam built forts throughout his land. At first, God prevented civil war between the two kingdoms. Later they skirmished for years.
All of the God-worshipers moved to Judah to escape Jeroboam's evil. This lasted three years.
Rehoboam stopped worshiping God. Shishak, king of Egypt, plundered Jerusalem and the Temple. Rehoboam repented and God relented.
Rehoboam died with a reputation of not obeying God.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

People will only work hard for leaders willing to be a servant and to accomplish a specific task.

We must be careful reading too much into what happened to Rehoboam, since God was behind everything. However, what the text wants us to see is that Israel was willing to follow Rehoboam like his father but only if they had lighter loads. They had faithfully obeyed Solomon to build the Temple, houses, and other important buildings in Jerusalem. Once he died, they wanted rest from the work. Unfortunately, Rehoboam's peers decided they needed a swift kick in the rear instead of lighter loads. Because he listened to his peers instead of the elders, Rehoboam lost the kingdom. There is so much Rehoboam could have done to keep his kingdom: asked God to remove the punishment, listened to the elders and followed their advice, or quickly rescinded his words once the people began to rebel. Unfortunately, he was too spoiled to do this. It is better for people to follow because they believe in the purpose of the task than obey because they fear the repercussions.

Rehoboam went down the same path as his father.

Rehoboam only learned from his initial setback until he fortified the kingdom. He continued to worship at the shrines his father erected. He abandoned God. So God punished Rehoboam with the loss of the riches Solomon had amassed over his 40-year reign.

Unlike Jeroboam, Rehoboam learned from his mistakes and returned to God.

Shemaiah and the refugees of Israel came to Rehoboam and all repented of abandoning God. Because they repented God blunted the punishment. However, they were not free. God wanted them to see the difference in serving God and serving humans. That lesson taught the people to obey God for the remainder of Rehoboam's life. When we learn from our mistakes and repent God will remove or blunt our punishment.

Have you seen the difference in serving God vs. serving humans?