November 11 - John 14-17: The Spirit Helps Jesus' Disciples with God's Mission to Set All Things Right

Today’s Reading: John 14-17

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jesus would leave behind the Spirit to guide the Apostles to the Truth.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

"You can only get where I am going through Me.
"The Spirit of Truth will live in you since the world can't see God's Message in Me.
"Be connected to Me—the Vine—for an abundant harvest. Love each other.
"The world hates Our Father.
"I am leaving so the Spirit can guide you to Truth.
"My Death will help you speak directly to the Father."
The Apostles finally believed, though right before they abandoned Jesus.
Jesus prayed to God. "Protect My Disciples and their spiritual offspring from the world. Keep them unified so the world may see Our Mission."

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

Jesus is the Way to the Father.

No one who accepts God can reject Jesus because they are one. They teach the exact things because They have the same goal—to set all things right. Many Jews never understood this about Jesus, and for that reason they have rejected Him to today. To obey the Father, you must first accept Jesus.

Whatever we request from the Father, within His Will and His Being, will be granted.

I appreciate how Jesus couched this request. He does not want us to think God is obligated to grant anything we desire. However, God is generous and wants to give what we need. Ask God what you need and He will provide.

The Holy Spirit was given to guide the Apostles to the Truth.

One of the most confusing parts of God is understanding the Holy Spirit. What is His purpose? How does He work? Does He work today? The most important thing to know is the Holy Spirit's Goal. The Goal will inform every other question we have. The Holy Spirit guided the Apostles to write the truth. He gives God's Chosen People the ability to speak the Truth while on trial. The Goal of the Holy Spirit is to set things right by leading people to the Truth. How that is done today should not be our focus. Our focus should be on what Truth the Spirit leads us to.

The world cannot see Jesus because they refuse to submit to Him.

The World could not see Jesus because they did not know what to look for. Because of Jesus' celebrity status, He needed His Disciples to spread the Truth. The Spirit would help through guiding His Chosen People to provide the Truth to the world. We should not be surprised when the world cannot accept Jesus' teachings; however, we should allow the Spirit to guide us in telling the world the Truth.

The best way to love is the way Jesus loved His Apostles.

Jesus told them that the best way to love was to put your life on the line for your friends. Then Jesus called them His Friends. He would die for them. How awesome is our God!

Some will believe they are doing God's Will by persecuting Jesus' Disciples.

This will come into focus in a few days.

The Spirit will show the world how it sins.

Christians struggle with the balance of telling others that they sin and getting along. Jesus came into the world to both save the world and call sinners to repent. We should remember that we are not the one convicting others of their wrongs. The Spirit shows the world the errors of their ways. Most of the time the specific action is not the problem—a failure to submit is the real problem. Christians should realize that we are to show the world the foundation of their mistakes instead of complain that their actions are wrong. By helping others submit to God we help the Spirit show them how their actions are wrong. This is one of the major reasons Christians need to be friendly with people in the world and why Jesus ate with sinners—we cannot help them submit to God unless they have a trusting friendship with us. To use a cliché, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." Jesus showed the spiritually sick that He cared and that convinced them to submit their lives to God (or so we hope, the Gospels are vague on how well Jesus' meals changed people's lives). Christians should do the same.

Real, Eternal Life is knowing God.

When we know God, we have the ability to live in inner peace, allow that peace to permeate into our relationships, and live in peace with the world. Then we can live with God, the Creator of the universe, because He is forever peaceful.

Jesus did not want His Disciples out of the world. He wanted the world out of His Disciples.

Jesus never prayed that His Disciples would build gated communities which would keep out any person who was a bad influence. He wanted their holiness to be a shining light into the world to complete His Mission. By living as one as Jesus and God are one, we show the world that Jesus came to set things right.

Do you allow the Spirit to convict others of their sin?

June 18 - Proverbs 27-29: The End of Solomon's Proverbs

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 27-29

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The heart directs all other actions. Good hearts lead to good lives.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Allow others to draw attention to you.
Friendship restores the soul in times of trouble.
Nagging spouses are worse than leaky faucets.
Tests of the heart prove a person's true nature.
A good leader can straighten out a nation—and will be well respected and rewarded in return.
Practicing God's Law leads to wisdom.
God does not listen to one-sided prayers.
Mercy for sins is only found in confession, not in secrecy.
Sage advice can quiet an entire town.
Discipline for children works in their favor and in yours.
Don't help criminals.
Good and evil people will never get along.

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

Expressions of true feelings are better than silence, even when they aren't encouraging.

Two proverbs back-to-back mention this idea. The first is that a reprimand is better than silence. The second contrasts a wound from a lover to the kisses of an enemy. When a person's true emotions are expressed you learn more about the person. When someone hears no answer from what they do the feel ignored, uncared for, and unable to please. They feel better knowing you did not like what they did than not knowing at all. It is better to reprimand or wound than leave a person not knowing you approve.

Friendship is beautiful.

Friendship has many lovely benefits. Friends refresh each other. Friends are closer than family. Friends sharpen each other. There are few things better than a good friend.

Take care of those things which bring blessings.

Solomon tells farmers and ranchers to take care of their plants and animals. In return they will be greatly blessed. To broaden the advice out, we could apply this to anything we have that brings blessings. Take care of your possessions, especially those that bless in return. Animals, people, things need care.

God has no use for one-sided prayers.

One-sided prayers are when you pray to God for blessings but either close yourself off for God to work in you or do not stop to listen to God's words spoken to you. In essence, the purpose of prayer is not so God will know what is on our hearts but prayer is for us to know what is on God's Heart by submitting our hearts to Him. This is why God has no use for our prayers when we are unwilling to submit to Him.

Sages calm situations down through quiet, reflective advice.

Cynics do not accept wisdom. Because they do not accept any wisdom, they are constantly angry. When they are constantly angry they make accusations which stir up crowds. These stirred-up crowds can cause havoc in the city. Sages, on the other hand, accept wisdom as coming from God. Because they accept wisdom based on God, they are able to have peace. When they have peace, they are able to discern truth in times of havoc. When they discern truth, everyone calms down. Don't cause havoc in your city. Be a sage.

Do you have a reputation for wisdom?

June 8 - Proverbs 16-18: Truth Lies on Both Sides

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 16-18

The Message

English Standard Version

Today's reading begins the unfocused section of Proverbs, meaning each two lines may seem completely unrelated. Therefore, the summaries from here on out will consist of proverbs that stand out to me instead of a true "summary" of what is included in the texts.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Real truth lies under the surface.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Humans make plans and see the surface only. God's plans are truly good. God has a purpose for everything, even the wicked.
Good leaders bring out the best in their followers by showing them the right way through honesty, seriousness, and gracious speech.
A small amount with peace is better than bounty with fighting.
Generations take pride in each other.
Friends overlook wrongs and stay closer than family.
Talk is cheap; silence makes a fool seem wise.
Selfish loners destroy communities.
Fools choke on their words.
God's Name protects those who humbly submit.
Favors win friends.

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

When God is in charge of your plans they come true.

The main idea of the first section is that God can see deeper than people and therefore His plans will always come to fruition. If you want to be successful, begin your plans with God.

Good leaders model godliness.

Followers will do whatever their leaders do. If their leaders do not base their plans on God then followers will not base their plans on God. If leaders lie, cheat, and steal from others their followers will also lie, cheat, and steal from others. If good leaders promote good, truthful advisors, the entire company promotes truth. Leaders, model what you want your followers to do.

Mocking poor people insults God.

Solomon has not given poor people a pass. He has discussed how bad decisions and acts that are not according to God's Way lead people to being poor; however, mocking poor people does not honor God. Solomon understands the causes of poverty and the tragedies it causes. This is why gloating over misfortune is taken seriously. The poor may be poor because of their own doing, but gloating over misfortune only brings reproach on your own head.

Unwise children lead to pain for their parents.

Scattered throughout this section and several sections before is the call to listen and obey parents or shame will come upon them. This is written for both sides—parents should make sure to give their children wise advice and children should listen and obey their wise advice. Solomon does not put the onus on one side or the other. They must both share in setting things right.

Both sides are important in a dispute.

One part of our political system that I find annoying is the constant attempt to silence the other side through filibustering the entire debate time or demonizing the other. Both sides are important to any dispute and should be given a chance to both speak and listen. Businesses should listen to governments and non-profits. Governments and non-profits should listen to businesses. Poor people should listen to rich people. Rich people should listen to poor people. Religious people should listen to non-religious people. Non-religious people should listen to religious people. Parents should listen to children. Children should listen to parents. When we begin by marginalizing one side we end up with one-sided justice—which is no justice at all.

Do you take into account both sides?