May 7 - Rich Man

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Proverbs 7
N.T. - Matthew 19

Focus Verses:
Matthew 19:23-26 23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" 26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Insight:
Wealth can be an obstacle to living with a "kingdom of heaven" perspective. The comfort, privilege, and power that accompany material possessions, are often in conflict with Kingdom values. You cannot serve both God and money. If Jesus is Lord of our lives, our money should serve his kingdom and his righteousness. This is difficult and counter to the prevailing attitudes of the world, but with God's grace and guidance, it is possible.

Response and Action:
I recognize that I am very blessed. I live in a wealthy nation and I have many possessions. I must be careful to never let wealth and blessing possess me. My money, my house, my car, and everything else I own must be used to serve and honor God. Following Jesus and living by his Kingdom values requires that I open my eyes to the needs of people around me. Good stewardship requires generosity and concern for others.

O God, help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me to seek first your Kingdom and your righteousness. Give me eyes to see all that I have as a gift from you to be used to honor and serve you. Teach me to hold on to Jesus with all my might, and to be open-handed and generous with my possessions. Amen.

Proverbs: 7:2
"Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye."

Resources:
Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions
by Craig L. Blomberg

May 6 - Like a Child

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Proverbs 6
N.T. - Matthew 18

Focus Verses:
Matthew 18:2-4 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Insight:
Humility is essential to entering God's Kingdom. To live with Jesus as King and to enter into his purpose and will on earth, we need to be honest about our weaknesses and needs, to see ourselves as children without power, status, or ability to provide for ourselves. People who are seeking God must also have a childlike capacity for wonder, for learning, and for accepting help and guidance.

Response and Action:
I must be humble before God, honest about my needs, and ready to receive his mercy and provision. I must have a sense of wonder that moves me to seek out truth and learn how to live with joy and purpose.

Dear Father, I need you. Help me to seek you with a love and humility of a child. Help me to know you more each day. Strengthen and encourage me through your word, your people, your promises, and all that is beautiful and true. Amen.

Proverbs: 6:2-3
"If you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!"

Resources:
Humility: True Greatness
by C. J. Mahaney and Joshua Harris

May 5 - Mountaintop Experience

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Proverbs 5
N.T. - Matthew 17

Focus Verses:
Matthew 17:1-5 1After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Insight:
Peter, James, and John had an incredible experience with Jesus that dramatically validated his claims to deity. Both Peter and John make reference to this experience in their New Testament writings (see 2 Peter 1:16-18, John 1:14). This transfiguration event brings to my mind other images and events in Scripture: Moses on Mount Sinai, Elijah on Mount Carmel and Mount Horeb, and John falling down down "as though dead" before the "Son of Man" (Revelation 1).

I can't imagine what a truly awesome and life-impacting occasion this must have been for the disciples. Previously they had only heard about dramatic displays of God’s power and authority in the stories of Moses and Elijah, but now they were experiencing it firsthand as Jesus was enveloped and transfigured before their eyes. They were surrounded by the bright cloud of the Holy Spirit’s presence and they heard the thundering voice of God declare, "This is my beloved and pleasing Son. Listen to him!" The divinity of Jesus was not a story they "cleverly invented" (1 Peter 1:16-18) but rather a reality to which "they were eyewitnesses."

Response and Action:
I will remember that the New Testament stories of Jesus are the reliable accounts of eyewitnesses. Their beliefs about Jesus were rooted in powerful experiences and clear revelation from God. The genuineness of their testimony is proven by their wholehearted commitment to Jesus as the Christ, the divine Son of God, and the Savior of the world. I believe they were telling the truth. My faith is rooted in their testimony.

O God, thank you for your Son, Jesus, and the testimony of Scripture. Thank you for the testimony of eyewitnesses and the witness of history to the claims and identity of Jesus. I ask, Dear Lord, that you would also strengthen my faith and confirm the truth of Jesus in the experiences of my life. Make his glory visible to me, give me ears to listen to him, and make my heart quick to follow after him. Amen.

Proverbs 5:7
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say."

Resources:
The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is
by N.T. Wright
Jesus According to Scripture: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels
by Darrell Bock

May 4 - Who Do You Say He Is?

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Proverbs 3 - 4
N.T. - Matthew 16

Focus Verses:
Matthew 16:13-17
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

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

Insight:
Ever since the birth of Jesus, people have had many ideas about just who and what he is. When Jesus asked his disciples to recount some of the things they had heard people say about him, they had no trouble producing a variety of answers. "But what about you," Jesus asked, "What do you say?" Peter didn't have to go on hearsay and speculation; he had face-to-face, day-to-day experience with Jesus. This experience caused him to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah, God's anointed deliverer. He saw Jesus as the only Son (sharing God's divinity and authority) of the only true, living, and eternal God.

Response and Action:
Who do I say Jesus is? I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the World. I believe he is Lord, the only begotten Son of God--light from light, true God from true God, of one being with the Father. I will acknowledge him in all my ways. My life is the truest expression of what I say I believe. Whatever I say about Jesus must be confirmed in my actions, choices, and attitudes.

O God, help me to follow your Son, Christ Jesus, with a whole heart. Help me to live out my faith in my words and in my deeds. Make my path straight as I make every effort to acknowledge Jesus to be my Savior and my Master each and every day. Amen.

Resources:
Who Is This Jesus?
by Michael Green
The Incomparable Christ
by John R. W. Stott

May 3 - Out of the Heart

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Proverbs 1 - 2
N.T. - Matthew 15

Focus Verses:
Matthew 15:10-11;17-20
10Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. 11What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' " - - - 17"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "

Proverbs 2:6
6For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Insight:
The regulations that accompany tradition and ritual are not able to shape or transform the heart. Humility, surrender, reverence, and love for God are essential to being shaped and guided by him. A life lived for God must flow out of a heart devoted to God. Meaningful tradition and the observance of rituals must flow out of a heart that desires to honor and worship God. Jesus consistently warns against confusing rule-keeping with righteousness. True righteousness doesn't even require rules because the truly righteous heart is already inclined to honor God in word and deed.

Response and Action:
I want to honor God is my thoughts, my speech, my attitudes, and my action. This "want" is absolutely necessary to such a life. When my heart is shaped by God, my life will take on the shape of godliness. If my heart is guided by my love for God and surrender to his will, my life and habits will be formed by God's love and will. While honoring God will result in a disciplined and principled life, I must never confuse adherence to rules with reverence for God.

O God, help me to turn away from what is wrong and do what is right. Help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. By the power and grace of your Holy Spirit, lead me, teach me, and shape me. Give me a heart that is devoted to you, and a life that flows from your presence and your transforming work in me. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Resources:
The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives
by Dallas Willard
Renovation of the Heart
by Dallas Willard

May 2 - Give Them Something

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 145 - 150
N.T. - Matthew 14

Focus Verses:
Matthew 14:13-16
13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

Psalm 145:15-18
15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. 18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Insight:
The story of Jesus feeding the five thousand is better known than the circumstances that led up to it. I've always thought it was important to notice that it took place when Jesus was trying to get away from the crowds. He had just been told about the murder of John the Baptist and wanted to be alone. Yet, when the crowds found him out he was "filled with compassion" instead of being indignant. Rather than being upset with the people for their lack of regard for his needs, Jesus focused on their needs—healing their sick and providing them with food.

Response and Action:
The selfless love Jesus displays in this event is more impressive to me than the miracle of multiplying a small amount of fish and bread. The way he was able to produce feelings and acts of compassion out a heart that was grieving and longing for solitude is, to me, a greater miracle than producing abundant food from a little boys lunch. Maybe that's the point of this story! None of us ever really have what it takes to meet the needs of others. We don't have the emotional strength, the time, the answers, or the patience to really meet needs. I will look to God to multiply the little I have. Through Jesus, I can be a blessing to others, even when the circumstances leave me with little to offer on my own.

O God, give me a heart to look beyond my own needs and to see the needs of others. Dear Jesus, bless and multiply my meager resources so that I can bless and help others. When I feel to empty or weak to share, fill my heart and hands with good things to give. Amen.

Proverbs: 2:6
"For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

Resources:
Transforming Power: Biblical Strategies for Making a Difference in Your Community
by Robert C. Linthicum

May 1 - Word Seed

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 141 - 144
N.T. - Matthew 13

Focus Verses:
Matthew 13:22-23
22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Psalm 143:6
6I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

Insight:
Both worries and wealth—the burdens and the blessings—have the capacity to choke out the productivity of God's word in our lives. Problems and needs can lead to stress. Wealth and comfort can lead to apathy and half-heartedness. Those who are eager to receive God's word, ready to understand and respond to it, are like rich soil that welcomes a seed, letting it put down deep roots and push up a bountiful crop.

Response and Action:
I will be careful to not let the worries and concerns of life distract me from God's word. I will be just as careful to not let the comforts and blessings of life lull me into apathy toward God's word. God's word must be more important to me than worries or wealth. I must be quick to receive God's word and ready to respond to it. Allowing God's word to take deep root in my heart and mind is what prepares me for hardship and gives me peace in stressful circumstances. God’s word planted in my heart helps me remember what is most important in times of comfort and blessing.

O God, protect from the worries of life. Do not let them distract me from your guiding and sustaining word. O God, protect me from the blessings and comforts of life. Do not let them cause me to trust in them or love them more than you. Give me a love and a hunger for your word. May it teach, rebuke, correct, and train me in order that I might live a fruitful life that honors you. Amen.

Proverbs: 1:5
"...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance..."

Resources:
Transforming Bible Study:
Understanding Scripture Like You've Never Read It Before
by Bob Grahmann

April 30 - Doing Good

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 138 - 140
N.T. - Matthew 12

Focus Verses:
Matthew 12:9-12 9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" 11He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Psalm 140:6 6O LORD, I say to you, "You are my God." Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy.

Insight:
It is always right to do good. Jesus clearly counters any suggestion that God has more concern about rituals or laws than he has for the people they are intended to help.

Response and Action:
I need to be careful to notice anytime laws are moral precepts are used as a way to stop anyone from doing what is good. God's instructions and commands are not an end in and of themselves, but instead are intended to serve the very best interests of people. When applying and interpreting the commands of scripture, I will always consider what would be the most redemptive, caring, and helpful for all involved.

O God, help me to seek you and obey you with all my being. Help me to understand your word and to be obedient to your commands. Help me to grasp the spirit and heart behind your commands in order that I might apply and obey them for the right reasons and the right attitude with the right ends in mind. Amen.

Proverbs: 30:5-6
"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."

Resources:
What's So Amazing About Grace?
by Philip Yancey

April 29 - Keeping in Step

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 133 - 137
N.T. - Matthew 11

Focus Verses:
Matthew 11:27-30 27"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Insight:
Those who want to know God need to know Jesus. No one knows God like he does. He is the only one who can truly show us who God is, what God is like, what God wants, and how God leads. Walking beside Jesus -- being yoked with him -- is the way to come to know God. Just as a young ox learns how to keep in step by being yoked with an older well-trained animal, we learn by keeping in step with Jesus. Knowing Jesus and following his example and instruction for life is the sure path to knowing God and walking in his ways.

Response and Action:
I will read and study the Gospels closely to make sure I am deeply acquainted with Jesus' actions and words. I will give careful and prayerful consideration how my words and actions compare to his. I will do my best to take on his "yoke," to keep his pace, not rushing ahead or dragging behind. To walk in step with him so that I have his strength and experience sharing the load and burden of every step I take.

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my savior. My hope is in you all day long. Thank you for your son, Jesus. Help me to follow his example, walk in his ways, and keep in step with his Spirit. Amen.

Proverbs: 29:18
"Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law."

Resources:
In the Company of Jesus: Finding Unconventional Wisdom And Unexpected Hope
by Bill Donahue

April 28 - Lose to Find

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 125 - 132
N.T. - Matthew 10

Focus Verses:
Matthew 10:37-39 37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Psalm 126:5-6 5Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Insight:
It seems counterintuitive, but loving God more than anything or anyone, including yourself (especially yourself), is actually the best and most loving thing you can do for others and yourself. It's in losing our lives in surrender to Jesus that we find our deepest and richest self. The life I find, by loving Jesus above all else, fills me and enriches me in ways that result in my being more ready and more able to give more love to others. Jesus calls me to love him most because it prepares and teaches me how to love others best.

Response and Action:
I will put Jesus first in my life. By putting him first I hope to become the truest, deepest, and most loving person I can be. By loving him more than others, I hope to be able to love others more.

O Christ, help me to love you above all else. Help me to find myself in you. By the power and grace of your Spirit and the guidance of your word, lead teach, transform, shape, and strengthen me, that I might become more and more able to serve and love others. Amen.

Proverbs: 28:27
"He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe."

Resources:
The Life You've Always Wanted
by John Ortberg

April 27 - Mercy

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 120 - 124
N.T. - Matthew 9

Focus Verses:
Matthew 9:10-13 10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Psalm 123 1I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. 2As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy. 3Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. 4We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.

Insight:
The question: "Why does Jesus eat with sinners?" The answer: "Mercy." Religion that has lost sight of redemption is very far from what God desires. God desires mercy! Having a zeal for rules is not the same thing as having a heart for God. The whole point of identifying sin is to help sinners find redemption and forgiveness. Even the mosaic laws regarding sacrifice were intended to accomplish mercy. We’re all spiritually sick and in need of a doctor. Only the arrogant, blind to their own sinfulness and need for forgiveness, can look at the sins of others with contempt.

Response and Action:
I will lift up my eyes to God and look to his hand for mercy and redemption. I will follow Jesus' example of merciful fellowship and redemptive friendship. I will eat with sinners. I will not love religion at the expense of loving people. I will stay humble by always remembering that I am a sinner saved by the mercy and grace of God.

Have mercy on me, O God, a sinner. Thank you for the hope and healing that you offer to me through Jesus. Thank you that he emptied himself and lived among us, touching us and sharing our humanity. Help me, through the presence of your Holy Spirit, to live out the mercy of Jesus in my daily life. Help me share hope, healing, and redemption with everyone around me. Amen.

Proverbs: 27:19
"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."

Resources:
Living Faith: A Guide to the Christian Life
by John Schwarz

April 26 - Willing and Ready

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 119
N.T. - Matthew 8

Focus Verses:
Matthew 8:1-3
1When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
Psalm 119:173-176
173May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. 175Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. 176I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

Insight:
The leper asked Jesus "if he was willing" to heal. The psalmist hopes God will be "ready to help." The testimony of scripture is that God is both ready and willing to heal and save those who call out to him. In this chapter of Matthew, Jesus demonstrates the power of God over disease, sin, nature, mental illness, and evil spirits. He willingly speaks and his word is powerful to save. The psalmist looks to God's word (precepts, laws, commands) because the truth of God's word sustains, guides, and restores him.

Response and Action:
I am thankful that God is ready and willing to restore and save. By faith, I acknowledge that God's word is powerful to save me and truthful to guide me. I will choose God's word. I delight in the words of scripture. I look to Jesus, the good shepherd, to seek me and save me. I will seek him with all my heart and he will not let me stray from his commands (Ps. 119:10).

O God, thank you for your powerful, healing, and sustaining word. Thank you for your readiness and willingness to save all who cry out to you. Give me a heart that delights in your word and make me ready and willing to follow you. Help me to grow in faith and confidence as I walk in your ways. Amen.

Proverbs: 26:12
"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Resources:
Transforming Bible Study:
Understanding Scripture Like You've Never Read It Before
by Bob Grahmann
How Can I Ask God for Physical Healing?
by David J. Smith

April 25 - Standing on Stone

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 115 - 118
N.T. - Matthew 7

Focus Verses:
Matthew 7:24-27
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Psalm 118:8, 21-23
8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. - - - 21I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Insight:
Life is filled with struggles and hardships. To not be swept away, we all need something firm and strong to anchor and shelter us through the storms of life. Jesus says, "My words, my teachings, are a solid rock on which to build your life." This is an amazing claim, but I have seen it validated in the lives of many people and experienced it myself. The Psalmist was right when he said, "Better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." It is better to follow Jesus and build a life on him than to build on the unstable sand of my own inclinations or other views that deny or contradict him.

Response and Action:
I will follow Jesus and build my life upon his teaching and his example. I will devote myself to knowing his words. I will meditate upon his every word -- his stories, his commands, his warnings, his rebukes, his prayers, and his promises. I will commit his words to memory and give careful thought to how they apply to my life. My choices, my hopes, my actions, my attitudes, and my beliefs will all be shaped by Jesus’ words.

O God, thank you for sending your only begotten Son, Jesus, into the world. Thank you for preserving his words through the written scriptures that have be handed down through the centuries. Help me to abide in his word, and may his word abide in me. Help me to stand strong through the storms of life as I build and stand on the solid stone of Jesus' words. Amen.

Proverbs: 25:11
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."

Resources:
In the Company of Jesus:
Finding Unconventional Wisdom And Unexpected Hope
by Bill Donahue
The Divine Conspiracy:
Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God
by Dallas Willard
Jesus according to Scripture:
Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels
by Darrell Bock

April 24 - Give

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 110 - 114
N.T. - Matthew 6

Focus Verses:
Matthew 6:1-4
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Psalm 112:4-5
4Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. 5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

Insight:
Righteous living that honors God includes giving to the needy and having compassion for those in poverty. A readiness and willingness to help others is a testimony of gratitude and trust toward God. It is possible to give in a selfish way if the goal is to be noticed and praised by others. It is best to give in quiet and secret ways to keep personal motives in check. God knows and sees when we are caring and openhanded toward others, and God rewards those who are gracious and generous.

Response and Action:
My trust in and gratitude to God move me to be a giver. I will give a significant portion of all I have and receive as an act of worship and faith. I will open my eyes to the needs of others. I will open my hands and be generous to help those in need. I will open my heart to the leading of God's Spirit and let him lead me in the ways of compassion and justice. I will do this in quiet and secret ways because I am doing out of reverence for God. I want God to be praised and honored, not me.

O God, help me to love you with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my strength. Help me to love my neighbor as myself. Give me a heart of compassion and a readiness to share with others. Teach me to be generous and cheerful in my giving. Help me to always remember that caring for the needs of others is an act of thanksgiving and worship toward you. Thank you, O God, for being generous and compassionate toward me. Amen.

Proverbs: 24:11-12
"Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?"

Resources:
Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America
by Ronald J. Sider
Giving
by John Ortberg, Laurie Pederson, Judson Poling

April 23 - Sing Light

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 107 - 109
N.T. - Matthew 5

Focus Verses:
Matthew 5:14-16
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Psalm 108:2-3
2Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 3I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.

Insight:
A life lived in worship to God is a light to the world. Good deeds shine with the truth and beauty of God when they are done out of reverence for God. The testimony of a person who wholeheartedly loves and serves God is like a city on a hill that can't be hidden in the dark of night.

Response and Action:
I will follow Christ with my whole heart. I will commit my energy and efforts to living out my faith through good works and acts of love. I will spend time in the word everyday so that it can teach, rebuke, correct, and train me -- making me ready to do the good things God would have me do.

O God, help me to live for you and through you in thought, word, and deed. Give me the wisdom and the direction I need to live in your ways. Help me to walk with integrity and to do good for others. Let my love and devotion to you result in goodness and grace to everyone around me. Help me to walk so closely with you that my life is a song of praise to you and a witness for you. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Proverbs: 23:23
"Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding."

Resources:
Living the Story: Biblical Spirituality for Everyday Christians
by R. Paul Stevens

April 22 - Every Word

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 105 - 106
N.T. - Matthew 4

Focus Verses:
Matthew 4:1-4
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Psalm 105:4
4Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Insight:
In times of temptation and need, it is always wise seek God's guidance, strength, and provision. Both Jesus' forty days in the wilderness and Israel's forty years in the wilderness illustrate this important truth. Part of every temptation is the impulse to take things into our own hands or to turn to something or someone other than God for temporary relief. The person who truly has faith in God will wait on the Lord and look to God for the direction and help needed. Faith is tested and made strong through time spent in the wilderness.

Response and Action:
I need to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. I need to wait on the Lord and take in every word of truth and wisdom that comes from him. God's word can sustain me through difficult times and help me overcome temptation. I will spend time reading the Bible and meditating upon it. I will prayerfully consider God's leading in my life and hold up my actions and choices and thoughts to the light of Scripture. In the face of temptation, I will look to God for the strength to stand and the way of escape.

Thank you for your word, O God. By the power of your Holy Spirit, lead, teach, transform, shape and strengthen me that I might delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Proverbs: 22:19
“So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.”

Resources:
Transforming Bible Study: Understanding Scripture Like You'Ve Never Read It Before
by Bob Grahmann

April 21 - Fruit of Repentance

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 103 - 104
N.T. - Matthew 3

Focus Verses:
Matthew 3:8-10
8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Psalm 103:8-14
8The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Insight:
God knows my frailty and weakness. He knows I'm made of dust -- that I fail and sin -- and yet loves me. He has compassion on me as a good father has compassion on his children. God's compassion and forgiveness are given to all who have reverence for him, the humility to acknowledge sin, a heart to follow him, and the desire to live a fruitful life that honors him.

Response and Action:
Faith in God is more than a matter of words and beliefs; it is something to be lived out. True reverence for God is proven by good deeds in the way a good tree produces good fruit. True repentance results in a turning away from sin and a desire to follow God in my everyday choices and actions.

O God, have mercy upon me, a sinner. In your compassion, forgive my sin. Give me the strength and heart to live a life that honors you. Grant me the wisdom and the will to guard my heart, feed my spirit, stimulate my mind, and care for my body. Thank you for your faithfulness to forgive and purify. By the power and guidance of your Holy Spirit, help me delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.

Proverbs: 21:2-3
"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."

Resources:
Repentance: The First Word of the Gospel
by Richard Owen Roberts

April 20 - Wise Worship

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 99 - 102
N.T. - Matthew 2

Focus Verses:
Matthew 2:10-11
10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
Psalm 102:15,18-22
15The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. - - - 18Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD : 19"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, 20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." 21So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem 22when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.

Insight:
Jesus is for everyone. God sent his son into the world to save in all nations through all generations. The Magi came from afar to worship the Christ-child, and they serve as a picture of the hope expressed in the Psalmist’s cry for salvation. The "Three Kings" of the nativity story bring to mind the hope that one day all peoples and kingdoms will "assemble to worship the Lord."

Response and Action:
I must always remember that Jesus is for everyone. Salvation and hope are for all people. I want to cultivate an awareness of the many cultures around me. I want my church to be a picture of the diverse international worship that the Scriptures promise. I want my relationship with God, through Christ, to break down the cultural and ethnic barriers that separate me from others.

Thank you, O God, for sending your son into the world to save the nations. I worship Christ Jesus because he is worthy, for he has redeemed, by his blood, people from every tribe, tongue, kindred, and nation. As we come to you, O God, please heal the wounds of separation and division that grow out of our racism, nationalism, bigotry, and ethnic bias. Reconcile all people to yourself and reconcile us to one another. O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Amen.

Proverbs: 20:12
"Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.

Resources:
Diverse Worship: African-American, Caribbean & Hispanic Perspectives
by Pedrito U. Maynard-Reid
Where the Nations Meet: The Church in a Multicultural World
by Stephen A. Rhodes