November 12 - Home Again

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 15:11-32 / Romans 6:1-14
Old Testament -
Psalms 55 / Numbers 18-20
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Luke 15:20-24
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Insight:
This story is most often called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." I guess that makes sense since the story line follows the son, and most of us probably identify more strongly with the son. The main idea of the story, however, seems to be centered in the character of the father. He was willing to let the son leave him. He longed for the son to come to his senses and be restored. He ran to welcome the son when he returned. He rejoiced and threw a party to celebrate being reunited with his estranged son. It was like receiving his son back from the dead!

Response & Action:
I recognize that God has give me the freedom to honor and serve him, or to wander and reject him. I believe that when I turn away from him, he longs for me to return and be restored. I want to have the wisdom to come home to God and to live for him. I must give thanks to God for his goodness in extending forgiveness and reconciliation to me.

I will share God's love for my brothers and sisters who are wandering. I will do what I can to find them and bring them back home. With God, I long for them to return and find their place in his family. When they return, I will run alongside God to welcome them. I will celebrate their restoration and renewal.

O God, thank you for welcoming me home. Thank you for your redeeming and saving love for all people. Thank you for giving your son, that whoever believes in him might have eternal life. Give me your heart for those who have wandered or turned away from you. Give me a readiness to reach out to them and to run to meet them with your gracious welcome. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 1 John 3:1a
1a How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Resources:
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
by Timothy Keller

November 11 - Chain Breaker

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 15:1-10 / Romans 5:12-21
Old Testament -
Psalms 54 / Numbers 15-17
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 5:17-19
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Insight:
Sin and the death it causes entered the world through the disobedience of our earliest ancestors. As we followed in their sinful steps, death came to all humankind. All of us sin, so all of us die. But Christ Jesus has broken this chain of disobedience and sin. He was faithful to obey God, even to the point of death. Just as walking in Adam's sinful steps leads to death, walking in the steps of Jesus brings life for all who follow him in faith.

Response & Action:
Jesus has broken the cycle of sin and death. Instead of being trapped in a downward spiral of disobedience and human weakness, through Christ I can take hold of righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has changed the possibilities for all of humankind. He has brought new life and the hope of transformation for all who trust in him. He has broken the chain of human failure and rebellion. Sin and death are no longer inevitable for me. Righteousness and obedience are possible for me with Jesus. He calls me to renewal, hope, and transformation.

O God, thank you for your son, Jesus, who has brought life into the world. Thank you that the life he brings is for everyone. Help me to recognize the possibilities Jesus brings. Give me the faith and the perseverance to take hold of the renewal and transformation he offers. Give me the wisdom and the will to turn away from the destructive path of sin and death. Give me the desire and diligence to follow in the life-giving and obedient steps of Jesus, my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

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

November 10 - Smart Surrender

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 14:25-35 / Romans 5:1-11
Old Testament -
Psalms 53 / Numbers 12-14
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Luke 14:28-33
28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

Insight:
Unless a person is wise enough to see that he doesn't have the resources needed to build the life he desires, he won't turn to Christ. Until a person recognizes that she doesn't have the strength to withstand the attacks, burdens, and struggles life brings, she won't turn to Christ. The wisdom to acknowledge our limitations and needs is what moves us to turn away from self-reliance and instead reach out to Jesus.

Response & Action:
I give up on my ability to build my own life. I am looking to Jesus for the direction, purpose, and resources to find my life. I give up on defending myself from the challenges and adversaries that threaten to ruin me. I am depending on Jesus to defend and sustain me. Life is too big for me, but it is not too big for God. I am ready to be a disciple of Jesus because I have given up on me. I think the smartest thing I can do is to surrender and look to Christ for the strength and provision I need.

O God, thank you for Christ Jesus and his invitation to follow him. Give me the wisdom to hear and respond to his call with all my heart. Help me to see the wisdom of recognizing my limitations and my inability to build or sustain my life without him. Help me to give up everything in order to be his disciple. Help me to find my life, my purpose, my joy, my strength, my very self in Christ. Amen.

Spiritual Formation 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; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Resources:
Following After God: What Difference Does God Make
by Daniel Hill

November 9 - Following

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 14:15-24 / Romans 4
Old Testament -
Psalms 52 / Numbers 9-11
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Numbers 9:22-23
22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

Insight:
After receiving guidance from God on Mt. Sinai, Moses and the Israelites took steps to prepare and organize themselves for their trip to the land God had promised to them. They built the Tabernacle (a portable worship center), they established a priesthood, they took a census, and they established an orderly way to set up camp and travel. It was a huge endeavor and their entourage must have been an impressive sight to see.

Even more impressive was the dramatic way God made his presence and leading visible among them. A cloud covered the Tabernacle and towered above it by day. At night the cloud appeared as fire. When the cloud lifted and began to move, the Israelites would break up camp and prepare to travel. The direction and timing of their travels was absolutely determined by the cloud.

Response & Action:
Just as Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to receive guidance from God, I want to seek God's guidance for my life's journey. The ways I organize my goals, schedule, priorities, and strategies must be informed by the instruction of Scripture and direction by the Holy Spirit.

Just as the Tabernacle was one of the first priorities of the Israelites and at the center of their encampment, I will put worship and spiritual formation first and center in my life. Just as the Israelites were sensitive to God's leading, whether that meant pulling up and moving or staying in place and waiting, I want to be sensitive to God's leading in my life. Just as they followed the cloud, I will follow Jesus and listen to him.

O God, help me to trust in you with all my heart and not depend solely on my own understanding. In all my ways, I want to acknowledge your presence, trusting you to lead me in the best path. Be my cloud by day, shielding me from the draining heat of sun. Be my fire by night, protecting me from the chill of the darkness. Through Christ, I pray. 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:
Following Jesus
by N.T. Wright

Reading Schedule for Nov. 9 - 14

John 20:30-31
30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

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

November 9 -
Luke 14:15-24 / Romans 4
Psalms 52 / Numbers 9-11

November 10 -
Luke 14:25-35 / Romans 5:1-11
Psalms 53 / Numbers 12-14

November 11 -
Luke 15:1-10 / Romans 5:12-21
Psalms 54 / Numbers 15-17

November 12 -
Luke 15:11-32 / Romans 6:1-14
Psalms 55 / Numbers 18-20

November 13 -
Luke 16:1-9 / Romans 6:15-23
Psalms 56 / Numbers 21-22

November 14 -
Luke 16:10-18 / Romans 7:1-12
Psalms 57 / Numbers 23-25

November 7 - Redemption

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 14:1-14 / Romans 3
Old Testament -
Psalms 51 / Numbers 7-8
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 3:21-24
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Insight:
Every human being has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, except for Jesus. Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, but did not sin. Though Jesus suffered the pain and hardship of sin in the world, he did not contribute to it in any way. He suffered the injustice and pain of sin, but did not perpetrate it. That is why God's righteous judgment has given Jesus the sole authority to redeem sinners and give new life.

Through his sinless death, Jesus has subverted the downward spiral of sin that held all humanity in its grip. All who put faith in Christ Jesus are justified freely by his grace. He has been given all authority for life and redemption, and offers it freely to all who believe.

Response & Action:
I understand that I am a sinner. The more I understand God's righteous law, the more I understand my need to be saved. My faith is in Christ Jesus; my redemption is made possible by his grace. I want the redemption Jesus brings to reach into every aspect of my life. My faith in Jesus must be a faith that follows, obeys, seeks, shares, and serves so that redemption and salvation can redeem all of me--my purpose, my attitudes, my goals, my relationships, my work, and my priorities.

Have mercy on me, O God, a sinner. Thank you for the hope of redemption that is mine through Christ. Help me to grow in my salvation -- to be transformed and more obedient to your will each day. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: John 3:16-17
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Resources:
Mere Christianity
by C.S. Lewis

November 6 - Goodness and Grace

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 13:22-35 / Romans 2
Old Testament -
Psalms 50 / Numbers 5-6
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 2:13; 21-23
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. - - - 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Insight:
It is not enough for me to hear God's law, or understand it, or teach it, or proclaim it. It is a path to walk and a life to be lived. This obedient life is not possible, however, without God's grace.

The Christian life is not one of trying to earn God's love or winning approval through obedience to laws. Rather, it is looking to Christ for the forgiveness, healing, and resurrection power I need to live a life that honors God.

Righteousness cannot be achieved through human strength or resolve, so those who do become righteous have nothing to brag about. The Law exposes my failure and the futility of trying to be righteous in my own strength. The grace of God reaches out to me in my weakness and makes it possible for me to be renewed, empowered, and transformed by his Spirit into the Christ-shaped person he wants me to be.

Response & Action:
I will not put my hope in a moral code, in knowledge, or in my own strength. While I recognize God's call to live in truth and righteousness, I also recognize that I cannot live that way without God's help. I need God's grace, his guidance, and the strength of the Holy Spirit. Righteousness comes by faith in Christ Jesus who makes God's grace and Spirit available to me.

I will seek God with my whole heart. I will be attentive to God's presence and learn to live by faith--relying on the strength and guidance of the Spirit. I will press on to take hold of the life that comes through faith in Christ. I will pursue every means to be shaped and led by God.

O God, teach me your ways and show me your path. Guide me in your truth and lead me. My hope is in you all day long. I want to be more than a hearer and a knower; I want to be a doer of the word. Help me, through faith and by your grace, to do the good things you have prepared for me to do. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Philippians 3:7-12
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

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

November 5 - Take Over

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 13:10-21 / Romans 1:18-32
Old Testament -
Psalms 49 / Numbers 3-4
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Luke 13:18-21
18 Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." 20 Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

Insight:
Once the Kingdom of God gets a little foothold in your life, it takes over. A mustard seed might be the smallest thing a gardener could plant, but eventually it dominates and becomes bigger than anything else in the garden. A minuscule amount of yeast in a large amount of dough will eventually work its way through the whole batch. It changes everything!

Response & Action:
I desire the mustard seed and the yeast of the Kingdom of God to take root and take over in my life. Like the gardener, I must exercise my desire by giving the mustard seed a place in my garden. Like the woman making bread, I must mix the yeast into the dough of my life. I am doing this through faith in Jesus, following him, praying, taking in the Scriptures, obeying, surrendering, thinking, applying, living, and seeking the Kingdom first.

If I am faithful to plant and mix, I will see the seed and the yeast (the truth and life of the Kingdom) become the most dominant and influential element of my life. The transforming power of the Kingdom of Christ will change everything.

O God, I long to be receptive and fertile soil for the seed of your Kingdom. May the power and grace of your Holy Spirit work its way through every aspect and dimension of my life. I want your ways to be my ways. I want my heart and mind to be controlled and shaped by your truth. Guide me, give me wisdom, and transform me that I might delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Galatians 2:20
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.

Resources:
The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time
by Tom Sine and Shane Claiborne

November 4 - Thankful for You

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 13:1-9 / Romans 1:1-17
Old Testament -
Psalms 48 / Numbers 1-2
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 1:8-12
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

Insight:
The first chapter of Romans is so loaded with important statements and profound theological concepts that we might overlook Paul's relationship with the people he is addressing. He had a deep pastoral affection for them, he thanked God for them, he constantly remembered them in prayer, and he longed to be encouraged by them. He was eager for an opportunity to see them face-to-face and to spend time with them. He wanted to encourage them in their faith and be a source of spiritual blessing to them.

Response & Action:
I want to have meaningful and beneficial relationships with my Christian brothers and sisters. I will cultivate my Christian friendships by following Paul's example. I will thank God for my Christian friends and be intentional about praying for them. I will seize opportunities to spend time with them. When we are together, I will consciously look for ways to be a spiritual blessing to them. I will make an effort to encourage them in their walk with Christ and look to them for the encouragement I need. I will also communicate my affection for them through words and through actions.

Thank you, loving God, for the Christian people you have placed in my life. Bless them and help them to grow stronger in you with each passing day. Help me to be a true friend and blessing to them. Help me to encourage them and make the most of every opportunity I have to spend time with them. May our life in you and our walk with Christ Jesus be enriched by our times spent together. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Resources:
The Pursuit of God in the Company of Friends
by Richard Lamb

November 3 - If You Follow...

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 12:49-59 / Acts 28:17-31
Old Testament -
Psalms 47 / Leviticus 26-27
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Lev. 26:3-4,14-16
3 "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. - - - 14 But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it."

Insight:
After God gave the Law to Moses, he gave solemn promises and warnings. They can be summed up like this: "If you do what I say, you will be blessed. If you turn away from me and disregard my guidance and commands, you will suffer the consequences." This is a good chapter to bookmark because you will see many of the warnings and promises are fulfilled during the destruction of Jerusalem, the years of exile that followed, and the eventual return of the exiles to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles - Esther).

Response & Action:
God is my maker. Therefore, his instruction and commands for are best for me. When I walk in his ways I am walking toward blessing. If I turn away from his ways I am turning toward disaster and destruction.

It is not enough to know his ways, I need God's help to walk in them. I have failed to follow God's commands, but Jesus' sacrifice on the cross has atoned for my sin and made forgiveness and restoration possible. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God is purifying my heart and transforming my will to turn away from sin and to delight in his ways.

O God, show me your ways. Guide me in your truth and teach me. Only you can save me from sin; my hope is in you all day long. Thank you for Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me as a sacrifice to atone for my sin. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who is changing my heart, drawing me closer to you, and helping me to live a life that honors you. Help me to walk in your ways that I might enjoy the blessing and reward you have promised me. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Psalm 25:4-5
4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Resources:
Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ
by Dallas Willard

November 2 - Rest and Trust

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 12:35-48 / Acts 28:1-16
Old Testament -
Psalms 46 / Leviticus 24-25
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Leviticus 25:18-24
18 "Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. 19 Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. 20 You may ask, 'What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?' 21 I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. 22 While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. 23 The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. 24 Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land."

Insight:
God promised to protect and provide for the Israelites if they would follow his commands. Part of those commands was to observe Sabbath rests, demonstrating faith in God's promise to provide. The commanded Sabbaths included: the seventh day of each week, special assembly days, and every seventh year. God reminded his people that they were stewards of the land, not permanent owners of the land. The use of the land was his gift to them, but the land itself belonged to God.

Response & Action:
I need to trust God to supply my needs. He knows what I need each day and he is able to provide for me. I can take time for rest and refreshment. The act of taking time to rest and be renewed is a witness of to my trust in God and is, therefore, an act of worship. I need to see my possessions as things God has temporarily entrusted to my care. I benefit from them and should use them to benefit others and bring honor to God.

The earth and all that is in it belong to you, O Lord. Help me to trust you when you say you will take care of me. Help me to depend on you, not on my own strength. Remind me that you made me with the need for rest, and that resting can be an expression and demonstration of my faith in you. Everything I have is from you, O Lord. Help me to be a faithful steward of the things you have entrusted to me, so that I might honor you and do your will. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Matthew 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Resources:
Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting
by Marva Dawn

Reading Schedule for November 2 - 7

Psalm 119:27-32
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. 28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. 29 Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. 30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. 31 I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame. 32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

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

November 2 -
Luke 12:35-48 / Acts 28:1-16
Psalms 46 / Leviticus 24-25

November 3 -
Luke 12:49-59 / Acts 28:17-31
Psalms 47 / Leviticus 26-27

November 4 -
Luke 13:1-9 / Romans 1:1-17
Psalms 48 / Numbers 1-2

November 5 -
Luke 13:10-21 / Romans 1:18-32
Psalms 49 / Numbers 3-4

November 6 -
Luke 13:22-35 / Romans 2
Psalms 50 / Numbers 5-6

November 7 -
Luke 14:1-14 / Romans 3
Psalms 51 / Numbers 7-8