November 27 - 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians: Living the Beautiful Life Until the Resurrection

Today’s Reading: 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we read two New Testament books. I want to keep each book separate in the summaries, so today I will write two summaries, one for each book. That way I do not need to condense them into one, 100-word summary.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The Thessalonians wanted to set things right but they were confused over the Resurrection.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

1 Thessalonians

Paul with Silas and Timothy greet the church at Thessalonica. You have taken God's Message to heart! Your faith is famous!
Our Message has been purified through persecution.
You follow in the original disciples' footsteps—in both faith and persecution. No praise can do you justice.
Stay holy. Set things right—such a beautiful life.
Jesus' Resurrection gives us hope. Don't worry; the dead will join us for one big family reunion! No one knows when, though.
Act like creatures of Light. Build each other up.
May God make you wholly His—body, soul, spirit.
Jesus' Grace be with you!

2 Thessalonians

Paul, Silas, and Timothy greet the Thessalonian Christians. Your faith continues to grow! We are so proud of your faith-endurance.
Problems help you condition for the Kingdom. Justice will come at Jesus' Return!
Jesus has not returned yet. The Anarchist will come first. One day, God will overwhelm his fake signs. Stay firm—God will give you life.
Pray that our Message is received where we work now.
No freeloaders! Don't enable them but don't think of them as the enemy.
May God help you get along.
I, Paul, signed with my own hand.
Jesus' Grace be with you all!

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

The Thessalonians lived what Jesus taught.

Reading through Paul's boastings about them is uplifting, especially after spending a large amount of the year reading how Israel never got it. The Thessalonians, on the other hand, not only accepted Paul's Message of Jesus they lived it out. It is a huge encouragement for people who feel like being holy is impossible. When we live holy lives, the whole world takes note and Jesus' Message is accepted. If they could do it, so can we!

Trials and persecutions purify our faith.

Paul mentions his own persecution in the first letter and the church's persecution in the second. Both are used by God to get rid of impurities in their faith. The more they are persecuted the more they realize what is important and helpful in being holy. The other things are dropped or excised. Do not be discouraged by problems. They lead you to greater trust in God.

Paul encourages them to continue what they are doing, but not by going through the religious motions.

The things Paul tells them to do in the rest of the book are not "religious-y" things but focus on holiness and setting things right. Paul does not want them to become the replacements for the Jews—enjoying the rewards of being God's Chosen People without the responsibility of setting things right. He wants them to continue "in a living, spirited dance" (1 Thessalonians 4:1, The Message). Going through religious motions does not please God. Holy people setting things right does.

The hope of Resurrection separates us from the world.

Christianity is not a religion of the cross. We are a religion of the empty tomb. Jesus' Sacrifice may have set our relationship with God right but His Resurrection gives us hope that one day we will be with Him for eternity. The Resurrection was so important to the Thessalonians they became worried that their dead relatives would miss out. Paul sets their minds at ease by declaring that everyone will return from the dead to be with God. It will be one big family reunion!

The Message of Jesus does not lead to laziness.

Paul mentions this in the first letter but dedicates a long section to it in the second. He wants to make sure the Thessalonians do not think that just because rich people are selling what they have and giving to the poor that the poor can sit back and live off the proceeds. Paul tells them this is unacceptable. He and Silas did not live off them and they had a legitimate claim! Paul even goes to the point of saying the church should cut that person off—though he does not want them to be cut out of the church. Everyone pulls their own weight. Selling and giving should be reserved for those who have unexpected needs and/or those who cannot work.
This passage sets me at odds with much of the socialist programs in the world. The problem I see is not that they help the poor but that they cannot distinguish between those who need help and those goofing off. The church from the beginning helped everyone willing to be part of them. In fact, early Christians eliminated poverty within the church by giving to the poor. Government programs cannot do this because they lack the ability to say "no" when a person doesn't work. The bureaucracies are too far removed from the individual for it to be effective. Churches know if a person is being lazy or is legitimately unable to work. The federal government cannot. The question is not over whether the poor should be helped or not. The question is over which way would be more efficient and effective in eliminating poverty. The closer the giver is to the receiver, the better and more effective charity becomes.

Whose faith do you use as an example of trusting in God?

October 17 - Matthew 14; Luke 9:1-17; Mark 6: Jesus Feeds the Wandering Crowds

Today’s Reading: Matthew 14; Luke 9:1-17; Mark 6

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

John was executed because of the pride of a powerful ruler.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Herod imprisoned John the Baptizer and later executed him to save face before a crowd of important dignitaries.
Jesus was rejected by His hometown.
He sent His Apostles to teach with orders to keep a simple life and keep a low-profile—even if rejected.
Herod believed Jesus was John reincarnated.
Jesus taught the crowds. He fed the entire group using a few loaves and fish.
Jesus sent the Apostles across the lake while He prayed alone. He joined them, walking on the water. Peter walked on the water but sank when he became afraid.
At Gennesaret, many people were healed.

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

John provides a warning to all people who publically call out people for immoral acts.

John lost his life because he was unwilling to compromise God's Truth and approve of Herod's relationship with Herodias. Although John did nothing wrong, his life shows one warning—when publically calling out a person's immorality, prepare for blowback.
Christians need to straddle the fence between silence and public condemnation. Jesus did not come to condemn the world; however He did come to call the spiritually sick to set their relationships right. We should not go out of our way to call people sinners publically or privately and we should not fail to give the plain Truth when asked about sin. It is an important balance we should keep.

Jesus fed the thousands because He wanted more time to teach them how to set things right.

Jesus said that teaching was His nourishment. In this case, He taught right up until dinner time. His Apostles asked Him to send the people home or they would be hungry (and grumpy!). Instead, Jesus did something unexpected—He fed them all with a few loaves of bread and fish. What an awesome God!

Jesus went to pray alone.

I mentioned this earlier. A friendly reminder.

Peter's fear outweighed his faith.

A few days ago I mentioned that Jesus' Mission is only hindered by those whose fears outweigh their trust in God. Peter walking on the water provides a case study in this principle. Peter was fine until he looked down and fear gripped him. When we fear something more than our trust in God, we fall.

Do you let fear control your faith?

June 23 - 1 Kings 12-14: Jeroboam Sets a New Record for Sinning Against God

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 12-14

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we begin the divided kingdom section in the history of the Jews. We now have two kings to keep track of. This becomes confusing, especially since the reigns did not always begin and end at the same time. Since we are reading chronologically, some of the confusion will be taken out. However, the two books (1 Kings then 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles) will overlap. When they do, I will summarize and comment on the life of one king the first day (today will be Jeroboam) and the other king the next day (Rehoboam).

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jeroboam was taken from nothing, given most of the kingdom of David, the man who received a promise from God, and then caused Israel to worship other gods.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

As promised, God took the kingdom away from Solomon's son. Jeroboam became king over 10 tribes.
Jeroboam worried Israel would reunify. He changed Israel's worship, built two golden calves, multiple shrines and appointed unworthy priests—blatantly sinning against God.
God sent a messenger to condemn the new altar at Bethel. A king would sacrifice its prophets there.
An old prophet of God came and tricked the messenger to his death.
Jeroboam did not change.
Jeroboam sent his wife to Ahijah on behalf of his son. Ahijah told her God would punish Jeroboam's entire household with death. His son died.

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

Jeroboam forsook God because of his unwillingness to trust God's promise.

God gave Jeroboam a kingdom—David's kingdom. Yet that promise was not sufficient for Jeroboam. He had to prevent Israel from going to Jerusalem to worship. So he instead erected altars to other gods and appointed unholy people as priests for these new gods. Saul's reign ended because he would not wait to worship God the correct way. Jeroboam not only lost the kingdom for his lineage, he forfeited the lives of all his servants! When we regard our position higher than our faithfulness to God we are on the road to death. We may not die as Jeroboam died, but we cannot be on the road to life.

The story of the holy man of God who went to Jeroboam is one of the saddest stories in the Bible.

He is one of the most pitiable people in the Bible. He was willing to stand before the king of Israel and condemn the king's actions. He was willing to obey God's instructions. His problem was believing in the wrong person. The person he believed in told a great lie. Unfortunately it turned out to be the mistake that took his life. Beware when someone, even a person who proclaims to be from God, tells you to go against God's direct commands. It may be a test to see if you trust God.

What is your highest record of sin? (Don't answer that)

March 30 - Judges 1-2: Introducing the (Need for) Judges

Today’s Reading: Judges 1-2

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we begin Judges. Chapters one and two introduce the need for judges. The first chapter repeats much of Joshua, so scan through it if you are behind or are short on time.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Israel ignored God's commands to tear down the altars to the false gods of the people in Canaan even though He repeated it so often.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

After Joshua died God told Judah to fight the Canaanites. Judah and Simeon teamed up to conquer their lands.
Eventually Israel failed to drive out the Canaanites and made them slaves.
Though God never broke His Promise Israel did not keep their promise. Because they did not tear down the alters in Canaan God allowed the Canaanites to stay. They would cause Israel to worship other gods.
When Israel worshiped other gods they were punished. God raised judges to redeem Israel but they would not listen and remained in sin. The nation of Israel would not be wholly for God.

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

The first chapter of Judges sets the background for the book.

Each book of the Bible was circulated on its own for thousands of years. This meant it needed to tell background information to set the stage for what would happen in its contents. This is why the first chapter repeats much of Joshua. People reading or listening to the text would need this chapter to remember what they read or heard a few months/years ago when they read the other book.

Israel fails to obey God's most-repeated law.

It what may be the saddest part of scripture so far, God reprimanded Israel for not following the law that was repeated more times than any other law—destroy any and every trace of the gods of the Canaanites. Because they would not do this God would no longer protect them. Canaan's unholy influence would overtake them and they would be punished. When God's Chosen People do not make themselves wholly for God (holy) then they will eventually forsake God completely.

Israel's new generation does not follow in its predecessor's footprints.

Disobeying another oft repeated law, Israel fails to pass on faith in God to their children. Whether this is the fault of the parents or of the children God does not say—most likely because it is not important. Parents must pass on to their children that that God is setting all things right on this earth or they will not be wholly for God (holy).

God provides Israel's judges.

Even though Israel is not willing to obey God, He still sends them judges to call them back into a right relationship with Him. God is willing to call His Chosen People even when they are not willing to obey Him. How wonderful is our God!

God uses the Canaanites to test Israel's faith.

Since Israel was not willing to destroy the idols of the Canaanites God would no longer drive the Canaanites out of the land. This meant Israel would not only have to fight them when they wished for revenge but they would also tempt Israel to worship their gods. When we are not holy, God allows us to keep temptations around.

In what ways has God not driven out your Canaanite temptations?

March 15 - Deuteronomy 11-13: Moses Reminds Israel of Bad Influences in Canaan

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 11-13

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God reminds the people again and again of the harmful influence brought by the people in Canaan.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses reminds the people how God was active in their lives. Canaan would be fruitful beyond their imagination.
Israel was to destroy everything about the inhabitants of Canaan's culture to prevent any form of synchronism. God would punish Canaan for all of their evil deeds. God required Israel to live a very different life.
God allowed the people to offer sacrifices without a priest if they lived too far for the journey.
If anyone mentioned worshiping another god, the people were to execute them. It did not matter who the person was. Any Israelite who worshiped another god was executed.

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

Moses reminded Israel that God, their god, was not some legend found only in myths.

This may be the hardest part of believing and obeying God today. When we read of the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, the manna every morning, and all of the other acts of God we need faith to help us believe these things happened. We cannot prove them. But Israel did not have that problem. Israel saw them happen firsthand. That is why they should have no excuse in doubting God's ability to fulfill His Promise. People who see God at work have no excuse to doubt God.
What about today? We see God working today. God may not open seas for us to cross, but He works within us. He works through. And sometimes, He works despite us. We, as God's Chosen People, must continuously see and tell others how God is working in our lives. When we slack in doing this we should not be surprised when we and others doubt God's abilities.

The land God gave the people would not be difficult to work.

Canaan was a great place to live. It was fruitful beyond measure and would be so without irrigation. Israel had a great place to live because God loved them. God richly blesses His Chosen People. This will lead to a temptation mentioned in chapter 13.

God is trying to help the people stay faithful to Him.

You may wonder why God keeps repeating this part about Canaan over and over (see March 9 for the list of times God mentioned this in Exodus-Numbers). This is the third day in a row Moses has mentioned how the people in Canaan worshiped other gods. God does not want them to forget why they are getting the land. We must continue to remind ourselves why God is blessing us and what happens when we worship other gods.

God realizes other gods may take credit for His blessings.

I had a professor at Fuller mention this in a class. Israel would enter a land where the natives had a god of the earth, Ba'al. They would pray to Ba'al and he would give them a great harvest. Because Canaan was blessed by God to be a bountiful land their sacrifices worked—or so they believed. When Israel entered Canaan they would see and hear of this and may think that Ba'al is the god of the land. "It worked for the Canaanites, let's see if it works for us." God is explicitly warning them not to let other gods take credit for their blessings because their god is the god over everything. Our god is the God of everything. We do not need any other god to help us in any aspect of life.
Another professor gave an example that shows how this problem can be adverted. In the village where he worked the people would walk around their fields praying to their earth gods for a bountiful harvest. A certain man became a disciple of Jesus. He continued walking around his field. Worried that the man continued worshiping his old gods, the missionary asked the man why he continued this practice. "I still walk around my field praying for a good harvest, but now I pray to God for that good harvest and not the gods of the past," he replied. God should replace all other gods of our past.

God does not allow for family members to be exempt from punishments against worshiping other gods.

Unfortunately, we do not want this section to be here. We are fine with strangers being punished for worshiping other gods. We may join in the punishment. But our own child, our own parent, our own sibling, our best friend, our own spouse? We want God to let us talk them down, win them back. But God is adamant to Israel,

Don't feel sorry for him and don't make excuses for him. Kill him. That's right, kill him. You throw the first stone. Take action at once and swiftly with everybody in the community getting in on it at the end. Stone him with stones so that he dies. (13:8-10, The Message)

The reason is clear, "He tried to turn you traitor against God, your God, the one who got you out of Egypt and the world of slavery" (13:10). God requires this because of the example it will set:

Every man, woman, and child in Israel will hear what's been done and be in awe. No one will dare to do an evil thing like this again. (13:11)

It may sound harsh, but God is not to be tested. All people, even your closest friend or your nearest family member, are held to the same standard—there is no other god but our God and anyone who worships another god is not worthy of God.

March 1 - Numbers 14-15; Psalm 90: God Punishes His Chosen People

Today’s Reading: Numbers 14-15, Psalm 90

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we open the book of Psalms. Since it is not a book but a collection of poems set to music we will not read them in the order they are published but in the order they were written (or the time period they were written about). They do not summarize well, so instead I will begin a new section for the Psalms called "Psalm (P)Synopsis" where I will give thoughts on each Psalm. Happy reading!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God punishes the people for their lack of faith but gives them a way to repent for accidental sins.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The people, fed up, wanted to return to Egypt. God, fed up, wanted to destroy them and use Moses as His Chosen People. Moses reminded God of how the nations would judge Him. God instead barred anyone over 20 from entering Canaan. Some tried to conquer Canaan then and were roundly defeated. The other 10 spies died.
God told the people to make grain offerings along with animal sacrifices.
God allowed offerings to forgive unintentional sin.
A man was caught working on the Sabbath. He was stoned.
God suggested installing sleeve tassels to help the people remember the Law.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 90

Moses is calling God to return because He has abandoned them to their sin. Moses realizes they are sitting ducks with God not there. It is a psalm of repentance. God's people alone have nothing but their guiltiness to dwell upon.

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

Israel infuriates God for openly doubting His Promise.

This passage is horrifying! Here are the people God has chosen, saved from slavery at a terrible cost to the Egyptians, and given water and bread by God. They stand in front of the land God has promised to wipe clean and give them on a silver platter and instead they want to brave the wilderness and return to their slavery because they don't think God can do what He has promised. This is what sets God over the edge. The people no longer doubt themselves; they doubt God. God cannot set things right when His Chosen People doubt His abilities.

Moses prevents God from wiping out the people by appealing to the other nations.

Moses realizes that God's purpose for Israel goes beyond the nation itself. God saved Israel so the nations of the world would know He is powerful and good. By wiping out the Israelites the nations would see God as inferior. God's purpose in having a Chosen People is for the world to see His power and righteousness and come to honor Him.

Some of the people repent and think it will prevent their punishment.

This is a case of "too little too late." Now the people are excited about going into Canaan and think their excitement will translate into God's forgiveness of their sin, forgetting the punishment laid against them, and blessing their new war. They are wrong. Repentance will not automatically relieve the punishment/consequence of sin.

God will forgive an accidental sin and wants to prevent it.

Do not think this passage is here accidently. God is telling the people if they sin unintentionally there is a remedy. The remedy isn't "do whatever you were suppose to do the first time," however. God does not want His Chosen People to sin, but is willing to help them not sin (tassels) and gives a way to ask for forgiveness (sacrifice).

How awesome of a man is Moses.

This is the second time Moses turns down God to become equal to Abraham. Moses does not want to be the leader of the Israelites (see yesterday's comments). He is fed up with them. Yet when God comes to wipe them out he defends them. How awesome is this man!

February 28 - Numbers 11-13: Drama in the Desert

Today’s Reading: Numbers 11-13

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You have reached the end of two months of reading the Bible through in a year! Only 10 more to go. Keep it up!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God punishes the people for their lack of faith.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Israel wanted to return to Egypt because they missed meat. God punished them because they grumbled. Moses told God he was tired of shepherding the people. God gave Moses 70 helpers, but only once.
God piled three feet of dead quail at the people's feet.
Miriam and Aaron grumbled against Moses behind his back. God struck Miriam with leprosy as punishment.
God had Moses send 12 men into Canaan to scout the land. They saw the land was abundantly fruitful. Caleb wanted to take the land then. The others were scared and did not think Israel could defeat the Canaanites.

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

God punishes the people because they want to return to Egypt.

God does not punish the people because they want meat. He does not punish them for asking for meat. The reason He punishes them is because they expected God to be their holy vending machine. When their lives do not go exactly as planned, they complain and want to return to their old lives of slavery. It is as if the manna, the Red Sea crossing, and the Egyptian plagues meant nothing to them. God will not stand for ungratefulness from His Chosen People.

Moses is tired of being the people's prophet.

Moses is suffering burnout. He has been the leader of these people for only two years but in that time great things have happened, good and bad. Moses is tired of the roller coaster and wants out. God does not let him out, though. Instead, He gives 70 men to share in the burden, though only for a short time.

Aaron and Miriam are guilty of racism.

This is a difficult part of scripture. We would like to say that Aaron and Miriam are jealous of Moses' power and/or his ability to speak directly to God and leave it there. Unfortunately, they are also guilty of not liking Moses because he married an African woman. This also shows why Moses is a great man and the reason God could speak directly to him. But it also gives a bad mark to Aaron, the other person you wouldn't expect a major character flaw from.

God wants the people to see the strength of the Canaanites to witness what He will do.

The Israelites know God has given them the land. He has also told them what He will do to prepare the land. He has rejected the people living in Canaan because of their unrighteousness. But instead of seeing Canaan as a place with strong people groups and praise God for His justice and mercy toward Israel they instead cower away and believe they could not take the land. This will be a big issue for tomorrow's reading.