October 7 - The Choice to Save

Today's Reading:
Old Testament: Exodus 1-4
New Testament: Luke 23

Focus Verses: Luke 23:33-35
33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

Insight:
The people who sneered and mocked Jesus with the words, "He saved others, let him save himself," unintentionally highlighted the heart of the situation. Jesus could not save us if he saved himself from the pain of the cross. The incarnation of Jesus and his death on the cross are necessary for my salvation.

Response and Action:
Thank you, Jesus, for enduring the shame and suffering of the cross. You freely laid down your life in order to save mine. Help me, now, to hold fast to this great gift to me. Help me to lay down my life in surrender to you. Help me to live out surrender to you in all my choices and actions today. Amen.

Proverbs: 7:4
4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your kinsman..."

Resources:
Basic Christianity
by John Stott

October 6 - The One Who Serves

Todays Reading:
Old Testament: Genesis 48-50
New Testament: Luke 22

Focus Verses: Luke 22.24-27
24Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Insight:
Jesus is a servant. He did not serve inspite of greatness, but rather he served out of greatness. Servanthood is at the core of his greatness. To truly follow Jesus, I must become a servant.

Application:
Lord God, help me to ba a servant. I want to follow in the way of Jesus. Help me to pour out my life for others. Help me to serve my wife, my family, my neighbors, my co-workers, my students, and my community, through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Proverbs: 6:10-11
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."

Resources:
Love in Action: Experiencing the Joy of Serving (Interactions) (Paperback)
by Bill Hybels, Kevin G. Harney, Sherry Harney

October 5 - Standing Firm

Todays Reading:
Old Testament: Genesis 46-47
New Testament: Luke 21

Focus Verses: Luke 21:16-19
16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17All men will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By standing firm you will gain life.

Insight:
Jesus warns his followers of a time when, because of their faith in him, they will face betrayal, hate and even death. He tells them to stand firm in their faith because in standing firm they will gain life. Jesus speaks these words with great confidence and authority. He even appropriates the very words of God (Isaiah 40:8) as his own when he says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Application:
I have never yet faced the kind of persecution Jesus warns about in these verses, but someplace in the world today Christians are suffering because of their faith in Jesus. I must pray for them and prepare my heart and mind for the very real possibility of persecution in my future. I must follow Jesus with my heart, soul, and strength today -- acknowledging his lordship and authority -- if I am going to be ready to stand firm in him in times of trial and hardship. I must embrace Jesus' words and promises with the same confidence he speaks them to me. If I stand firm, I will gain life.

Proverbs: 5:1-2
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, 2 that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

Resources:
2 Timothy: Standing Firm in Truth (Bible Studies) (Paperback)
By John Stott

October 4 - Faith in My Redeeming God

Todays Reading:
Old Testament: Genesis 43-45
New Testament: Luke 20

Focus Verses: Genesis 45:4-5
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Insight:
God is sovereign and redemptive. He is so powerful and redemptive that he can even turn the wrongs and evils commited by people and turn them toward accomplishing good in the end. Joseph had faith in God's goodness and God's power to redeem. He believed that God had taken the wrongs done against him and turned them to accomplish the good his redemptive will. This confidence in God made it possible for him to focus on the good God was accomplishing today rather than hold grudges for wrongs done to him in the past. Joseph even urges his brothers to stop being angry at themselves and distressed about the wrongs they had done by reminding them of how God was redeeming the situation.

Application:
I need to have complete confidence in God's goodness and power to redeem in my life. God can take wrongs done to me and turn them for my good and the good of others. Even the wrongs I have done are not beyond God's power to redeem. I don't need to be distressed or angry about the wrongs I have suffered or the wrongs I have done. I need to humbly place everything in God's hands trusting in his goodness and his power to redeem all things for good.

Proverbs: 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Resources:
When God Interrupts
Finding New Life through Unwanted Change
M. Craig Barnes

October 3 - Peace & Hope

Todays Reading: Genesis 41-42 Luke 19

Focus Verses: Luke 19:41-44
41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

Insight:
Peace is often forfeited and suffering not averted because the source of peace is not recognized and the presence of God is not acknowledged.

Application:
O Lord, what peace am I missing today because I am failing to recognize you as the source of peace? What hardships will I have to face in the future if I fail to acknowledge your presence with me today? Help me to know your peace and to practice your presence today. I acknowledge Jesus as the source of peace -- Immanuel, God with us.

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:
CSF Bible Reading Plan
Tips for Bible Reading and Personal Application