November 26 - Blessed Curse

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 19:11-27 / Romans 12:9-21
Old Testament -
Psalms 67 / Deuteronomy 18-21
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Deuteronomy 21:22-23
22 If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, 23 you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Insight:
The Apostle Paul unexpectedly quotes and appropriates these verses in his letter to the Galatians (3:10-14) when he says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."

Jesus' death on the cross was perceived as a curse, but in reality it was the source of great blessing. It was the way God would fulfill his covenant promise to Abraham. It was the way God subverted our lost condition and made a way for us to receive life.

By suffering death and dignity at the hands of sinful humanity, Jesus fully embraced the tragic human condition, for every person has suffered the consequences of the sins committed by others. But Jesus, unlike every other human who has ever lived, was without sin. He committed no sin! None of the brokenness and death in the world can be traced to him.

Jesus is the only human who suffered sin, and yet lived without sin. That is why he is the only one who is able to save. It is God's justice that grants resurrection and eternal life to Jesus. It is God's grace, through Christ Jesus, that makes new life and the promise of the Spirit available to all who place their hope and faith in him.

Response & Action:
My hope for life is in Jesus. I am broken and hurt from sin in the world, but I am also a sinner who has contributed to the sinful mess the world is in. I am thankful the sinless Christ has been given the authority to graciously share the life, forgiveness, hope, and the resurrection power he has received with all those who love him. I will seek Christ with all my heart. I will take hold of the promise and life he died to give me. I will take hold of the blessings he is able to freely give because he was willing to suffer the curse of the cross.

O God, when I survey the cross on which the Prince of Glory died. My richest gain I count but loss and I pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, God, that I should boast in anything but death of Christ, my Lord. All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Galatians 2:20-21
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Resources:
The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views
by Thomas R. Schreiner

November 25 - Seeking and Sought

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 19:1-10 / Romans 12:1-8
Old Testament -
Psalms 66 / Numbers 13-17
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Luke 19:3-6
3 [Zacchaeus] wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Insight:
Zacchaeus was so motivated to see Jesus he was willing to climb a tree if that's what it took. It must have been quite a sight to see a wealthy man like Zacchaeus up a tree. This wholehearted effort was hard to miss, and when Jesus saw him, he looked up and said something to this effect: "Come down here! You're obviously a man with a story, and I've just got to hear it. Let's go to your house."

Zacchaeus was seeking out Jesus; and Jesus was "seeking the lost" (Lk. 19:10). That was a very happy convergence of searches. Today there are many people seeking a glimpse of Jesus, and it’s good to know that Jesus is still seeking them through his church and by his Spirit. Those who have found Christ need to join him in seeking out those who are still searching for him.

Response & Action:
I will join Jesus in his mission to seek and save the lost. I will continually seek Christ and draw near to him, keeping my eyes open for others who are searching for the truth, salvation, hope, forgiveness, restoration, and purpose he has for them. When I seek Jesus, I find him. And having found Jesus, I must become a seeker like him.

O God, give me the grace and discernment to see those who are seeking Jesus. Help me to draw nearer to Jesus every day, so that I might be more able to help others do the same. Thank you that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Help me to join him in seeking out those who are searching for him and all he has to offer. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Resources:
Searching for God Knows What
by Donald Miller

November 24 - These Words

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 18:31-43 / Romans 11:25-36
Old Testament -
Psalms 65 / Deuteronomy 9-12
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Deuteronomy 10:18-21
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Insight:
As Moses was recounting the experiences of Israel's journey, the instruction they had received from God, and the possibilities that were now before them, he stressed the importance of keeping God's word alive in their lives. He told them to fix God's words in their hearts and minds; to talk about God's words with their families--at mealtimes, on walks, at bedtimes; to make God's words a part of everyday life--as everyday as walking through the front doors of their homes. Faithfulness to God's word, Moses said, would lead them to long, blessed, and fulfilling lives in the new land God was giving them.

Response & Action:
God's Word--his instruction, his commands, and the story of his interaction with humankind--should be part of my everyday life. That's why I spend a little time reading Bible each and every day. It's why I spend a little time thinking, journaling, and praying about what I've read. It's why I enjoy talking about the Bible with friends and family whenever I can. It's why I love singing Scripture songs. It's why I commit verses to memory. It's why I enjoy art and books and blogs and movies and poetry and lectures and anything else that causes me to remember and delight in God's Word.

O God, I want your words to be part of my everyday life—as common as waking with the new day, as typical as a morning cup of coffee, as usual as driving to work, as frequent as checking email, as normal as brushing my teeth. Through the Scriptures, remind me of your love, spur me on toward love and good deed, and lead me in the ways of truth. May your Word be alive in my heart and mind, be heard on my lips as I talk with friends and family, and be made visible as it shapes my attitudes and actions. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Ephesians 5:19-20
19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Resources:
Holy Conversation
by Richard Peace

November 23 - Wonder and Glory

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 18:18-30 / Romans 11:1-24
Old Testament -
Psalms 64 / Deuteronomy 6-8
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 11:33-36
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Insight:
God's will and work to save humankind is beyond human comprehension. Why some respond to God's grace and mercy, why others reject it, and how both groups relate and interact with each other is something only the infinite knowledge and wisdom of God can trace out. And just how is God involved in all of that? When is he pushing, calling, influencing, revealing, or waiting? It's a mystery beyond our knowledge or reason. But in faith, we accept that all things are from God and through God and for God, and so we give him praise and honor forever.

Response & Action:
My faith rests in God. The scriptures testify that he is loving, just, all-wise, and all-powerful. I know that life, truth, and even knowledge of myself are too wonderful and deep for me to grasp and comprehend. In humble recognition of my weakness, the limitations of my understanding, the smallness of my being, and the frailty of my life, I place all my hope and trust in God.

In faith, I will take hold of the salvation and hope God has given me through Christ. In faith, I will surrender to the leading and shaping of the Holy Spirit. In faith, I will hide the Scriptures in my heart that I might be an obedient disciple. Since all I have comes from God, I will commit my all to bringing glory and honor to Him.

O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together! O God, you are my God, and I will glorify you. I will seek you in the morning. My hope is in you all day long. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 1 Corinthians 1:25
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Resources:
I Give You Glory, O God: Honoring His Righteousness in Your Private Worship
by Jerry Bridges

Reading Schedule for Nov. 23 - 28

Mark 4:13-20
13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

Schedule and Tips
2009-10 Reading Schedule
Tips for Daily Bible Readers

November 23 -
Luke 18:18-30 / Romans 11:1-24
Psalms 64 / Deuteronomy 6-8

November 24 -
Luke 18:31-43 / Romans 11:25-36
Psalms 65 / Deuteronomy 9-12

November 25 -
Luke 19:1-10 / Romans 12:1-8
Psalms 66 / Numbers 13-17

November 26 -
Luke 19:11-27 / Romans 12:9-21
Psalms 67 / Deuteronomy 18-21

November 27 -
Luke 19:28-38 / Romans 13
Psalms 68 / Deuteronomy 22-26

November 28 -
Luke 19:39-48 / Romans 14
Psalms 69:1-18 / Deuteronomy 27-28

November 21 - Humble

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 18:9-17 / Romans 10
Old Testament -
Psalms 63 / Deuteronomy 4-5
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Luke 18:13-14
13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Insight:
Jesus taught that God sees the injustices of our world and will one day bring justice and set all things right. Jesus warned those who looked down at others and felt a little too sure of their own goodness. He told them that truly righteous people understand they are sinners, and have a deep sense of their need for mercy. Humility is the mark of true righteousness.

Response & Action:
I want to be humble before God and others. I want to be quicker to see the sin in my own life than to notice the faults of others. I will deal with the log in my own eye before trying to help others with the speck in theirs. I want to draw upon God’s grace for living a righteous life. I will be careful to give God glory for any good thing he does in me. I will put aside arrogance and self-congratulation and depend on God to lift me up at the right time.

O God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Thank you for your son, Jesus, who has brought your grace and forgiveness to me. Help me to follow him in humility and full surrender. Thank you for the promise of redemption Christ brings for me and for the whole world. Give me the wisdom and the strength to join him in his redemptive work today, as he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Resources:
Why Sin Matters: The Surprising Relationship between Our Sin and God's Grace
by Mark R. McMinn

November 20 - Watched Over

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 18:1-8 / Romans 9:19-33
Old Testament -
Psalms 62 / Deuteronomy 1-3
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Deuteronomy 2:7
7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

Insight:
God took care of the Israelites during all their travels in the wilderness. Though their wandering in the wilderness was a punishment for lack of faith and obedience, God did not abandon his children or fail to meet their needs.

Response & Action:
My failures to believe in God or obey God can result in missed blessings and a more difficult journey. But even when God's hand of discipline or punishment is on me, he will not abandon me or fail to provide for me.

O God, make me quick to obey you and strong in faith toward you. Thank you for being faithful to take care of me even when I fail you. Be my guide, my strength, and my provider, by the power grace of your Spirit, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Hebrews 12:11
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Resources:
Hope Has Its Reasons: The Search to Satisfy Our Deepest Longings
by Rebecca Manley Pippert

November 19 - Choosing Christ

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 17:20-37 / Romans 9:1-18
Old Testament -
Psalms 61 / Numbers 33-36
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 9:14-16; 30-33
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
- - - 30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." 33 As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Insight:
This chapter of Romans is often very misunderstood because it is not read in context with the entire book of Romans. When we ask, "Who is chosen by God to receive his mercy (9:14)?" The greater context answers, "The one who pursues righteousness by faith (9:30-31) in Christ (9:33)."

God's sovereign choice ("compassion on whom I have compassion") is not some willy-nilly arbitrary groundless whim. The sovereign God has made a way to life and salvation-- Jesus. To pursue righteousness through placing faith in Christ is a choice I make. God's sovereign choice is to save all who choose place faith in Christ Jesus.

Read all of Romans and notice how God holds people accountable for rejecting Christ. Notice that those who do not receive mercy are those who are obstinate toward God's mercy (10:21) Though God has been extending his open arms of love to them, they are unwilling to accept his love. Instead of choosing righteousness through Christ, they exchange the truth of God for a lie (1:25). The sovereign God chooses to hold us responsible for our choices.

Response & Action:
I choose Jesus, who first chose me. I surrender to God and embrace the salvation and forgiveness he extends to me through faith in Christ Jesus. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus. I would have no hope or choice apart from God's grace, but God in his sovereignty has offered life for the choosing through Christ.

O God, thank you for extending your compassion and mercy to mankind. Help me to know your compassion and mercy in deeper and fuller ways with each new day. O Lord, I pray that you would soften hearts and open eyes so that more and more people would come to know the hope of Christ and the joy of salvation. Help me to be a witness of your mercy and a testimony of your compassion. Thank you for your promise to save all who put their faith in Christ. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 1 Timothy 2:4-6
4 [God our Savior] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

Resources:
Chosen But Free
by Norman Geisler

November 18 - Inseparable

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 17:11-19 / Romans 8:18-39
Old Testament -
Psalms 60 / Numbers 31-32
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Insight:
Because we believe Jesus is the Christ, and because we trust him to keep his promises, we live with confidence. Paul was convinced that nothing could separate him from the love of Christ, and because of this he was able to face suffering, persecution, powers, mysteries, and opposition.

Response & Action:
I want to grow in my faith in Jesus Christ. I want to trust him so completely that I live with confidence. I want to heed his instruction, follow in his steps, and know his promises so well that I am convinced of his faithfulness and love toward me. I want my choices, routines, ambitions, and confidence to be a testimony of my experience and faith in Christ.

O God, help me to know Jesus for who he really is. Give me eyes that see and ears that hear. Help me to follow him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me to experience his presence and his power so completely that I am totally convinced about his love and his promises for me. Thank you for the Scriptures that give me such a clear picture of Jesus--showing me his actions and recounting his words. I want to know Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the certainty of his love and provision. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Resources:
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
by Eugene Peterson

November 17 - Living in Me

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 17:1-10 / Romans 8:1-17
Old Testament -
Psalms 59 / Numbers 28-30
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Focus Verses: Romans 8:6-11
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Insight:
When we surrender our lives to Christ, the Spirit of God lives in us. Belonging to Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit go hand in hand. The Spirit who indwells the mortal bodies of believers is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. That same resurrection power of the Spirit is directed toward the believer's life.

Response & Action:
It's an amazing thought that the same Spirit who raised Christ Jesus from the dead is living inside my mortal body. If the Spirit has power to raise the dead, he surely has the power to give new life to the living. My mouth, my mind, my habits, my choices, my weaknesses, my strengths can now be raised to new life by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.

O God, raise me to newness of life through the resurrection power of your Spirit who lives in me. Help me to yield fully to the guidance and influence of your Holy Spirit in my life. Help me to understand your direction, and strengthen me to follow. Apply your resurrection power to every aspect of my life, that I might be raised to live as Christ. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Resources:
Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in an Everyday Life
by Eugene H. Peterson

November 16 - Convinced

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 16:19-31 / Romans 7:13-25
Old Testament -
Psalms 58 / Numbers 26-27
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Luke 16:29-31
29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30 " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

Insight:
There are honest skeptics who are truly searching for truth. There are dishonest skeptics who have no intention of looking beyond their own opinions. An honest skeptic is open to dialogue and receptive to new ideas. A dishonest skeptic would not be convinced even if someone rose from the dead--they would explain that away too.

Response & Action:
I want to be a discerning and thoughtful person. I want to develop critical thinking skills and be able to give careful consideration to difficult questions about life and faith. I do not, however, want to confuse critical thinking with dishonest skepticism. I don't want to confuse tough questions with thoughtful conclusions. I will look to the Scriptures with an open mind and a receptive heart. I will avoid the arrogance that leads to a closed mind.

O God, thank you for your son, Jesus, and for the Scriptures, and for the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the capacity to think and to believe. Grant me the courage and honesty to be open to truth. Give me the wisdom to discern my own weakness and limitations. Make me wise and give me understanding, so that I might live by the truth and give you praise. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Psalm 14:1-2
1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

Resources:
Letters from a Skeptic
by Gregory A. Boyd

Reading Schedule for Nov. 16 - 21

Colossians 3:15-17
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Schedule and Tips
2009-10 Reading Schedule
Tips for Daily Bible Readers

November 16 -
Luke 16:19-31 / Romans 7:13-25
Psalms 58 / Numbers 26-27

November 17 -
Luke 17:1-10 / Romans 8:1-17
Psalms 59 / Numbers 28-30

November 18 -
Luke 17:11-19 / Romans 8:18-39
Psalms 60 / Numbers 31-32

November 19 -
Luke 17:20-37 / Romans 9:1-18
Psalms 61 / Numbers 33-36

November 20 -
Luke 18:1-8 / Romans 9:19-33
Psalms 62 / Deuteronomy 1-3

November 21 -
Luke 18:9-17 / Romans 10
Psalms 63 / Deuteronomy 4-5

November 14 - Steadfast Song

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 16:10-18 / Romans 7:1-12
Old Testament -
Psalms 57 / Numbers 23-25
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Psalm 57:4-7
4 I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6 They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves. 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
See 1 Samuel 24 to read the story behind the Psalm

Insight:
The Psalms in today's reading are filled with descriptions of perils juxtaposed with expressions praise. In one breath David described the tongues of his enemies as sharp swords, but then in the next breath David's tongue began to praise his God. He thought of his enemies and described the trap they had spread for his feet, but his next thought was the recognition that his enemies would be the ones to ultimately trip and fall.

Many things were crumbling down around him, but David's heart was steadfast. He was confident that by God's grace he would not be brought down, and so he lifted up his voice in songs of praise.

Response & Action:
When I think of the fears and challenges in my life, I will lift them up to God in prayer. And as I cry out for help, I will also sing songs of honor and trust. I will punctuate my pleas for help with shouts of praise. Every problem I recount to God will be accompanied with an expression of hope and adoration. Every time I think of the things that threaten to bring me down, I will give thanks to the Lord who has promised to hold me up.

O God, I live in a world of danger, but you are a God of deliverance. There are things that scare me, but you have promised to save me. Traps have been set to pull me down, but your truth has been given to hold me up. In the face of every peril, I will give you praise. Thank you for Christ Jesus who has both promised and proved that you are the faithful God who has defeated every enemy--even death. Nothing can defeat those who have placed their confidence in you by trusting in your Son, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit--one God now and forever. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 2 Timothy 1:12b
12b I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Resources:
Faith & Doubt
by John Ortberg

November 13 - Free to Live

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 16:1-9 / Romans 6:15-23
Old Testament -
Psalms 56 / Numbers 21-22
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 6:19b-23
19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Insight:
Salvation is more than forgiveness; it is the transformation of our lives. Through faith in Christ Jesus, I am not just saved from the penalty of sin; I am saved from bondage to sin. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. This eternal life in Christ is a life of righteousness. Instead of being shaped by sin, I can be shaped by the grace of God, which results in ever-increasing holiness.

Response & Action:
As a Christian, I must recognize and remember that I am not a slave to sin. Through faith in Christ and by God's grace, I can say no to sin. I can offer my body to God and be shaped and refined by him.

I must always bear in mind that true salvation from sin is more than escaping a penalty; it is breaking free from the control of sin. To be truly saved is to be truly changed -- transformed to live a holy life. I can realize new possibilities and live a new life in Jesus.

O God, my Savior. Thank you for your saving grace. Thank you for Jesus has done to free me from sin. Help me surrender to you fully so that I might not only be saved from destruction, but transformed to live a righteous life that honors you, blesses others, and gives me joy and fulfillment. By the power and grace of your Holy Spirit, lead, teach, change, and shape me, that I might delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Proverbs 2:6-8
6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Resources:
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God
Dallas Willard