July 12 - Beyond the Pain

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 28 - 30
N.T. - Hebrews 12

Focus Verses:
Jeremiah 30:15, 18-19
15 Why do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no cure? Because of your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you. - - - 18 "This is what the LORD says: " 'I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. 19 From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.

Insight:
The consequences of Israel's guilt and sin were painful and inevitable. Their wound could not be cured apart from the correction and discipline God was bringing upon them. God's intentions, however, were not merely punitive, but rather redemptive. God's promise was that they would come through the correction and suffering to a place of restoration and renewal. The mourning and sorrow of discipline would eventually be replaced with songs of thanksgiving and sounds of rejoicing.

Response and Action:
I must always remember that God's love and good will toward me does not mean that he will spare me from every consequence of sin. In fact, the consequences of sin are sometimes a necessary part of being refined and purified. Distress is often a part of being disciplined. The pain of correction is often a prerequisite to the blessing of renewal.

I will trust God to discipline and renew me, just as a loving father disciplines and blesses his children. When I face consequences for my sins and mistakes, I will humble myself before God, turn away from sin, and gain wisdom from lessons learned. I will also look forward with confidence in God to restore and renew me.

O God, have mercy upon me, a sinner. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of salvation and uphold me by your liberating Spirit. Help me to delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Proverbs: 12:1
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."

Resources:
The Smell of Sin: And the Fresh Air of Grace
by Don Everts

July 11 - Failure to Lead

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 25 - 27
N.T. - 1 Peter 5

Focus Verses: Jer. 26:34-37
34 Weep and wail, you shepherds; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For your time to be slaughtered has come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery. 35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee, the leaders of the flock no place to escape. 36 Hear the cry of the shepherds, the wailing of the leaders of the flock, for the LORD is destroying their pasture. 37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

Insight:
The failure of leaders to seek and honor God is a tragedy. Nations, families, churches, organizations, businesses, and ministries all need to be led and shepherded by men and women who are humble before God, love truth, and are guided by integrity. Leadership is a sacred trust and God holds leaders accountable for the way they lead.

Response and Action:
I aspire to be a good leader. Leadership is a holy responsibility. Every opportunity I have to lead must be seen as an opportunity to honor God. I will seek God, study the scriptures, pursue righteousness and integrity, and commit myself to learning sound principles of leadership. Following Christ is the first and highest principle for leading others.

O God, you are my God and I will praise you forever. I will seek you in the morning and learn to walk in your ways. Lead me every step of the way. Teach me to follow you, and as I follow you, grant me the ability to lead others to do the same. Help me to be an effective leader in my home, in my church, in my community and in every other good endeavor. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Shepherd. Amen.

Proverbs: 11:3
"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."

Resources:
Transforming Leadership: Jesus' Way of Creating Vision, Shaping Values & Empowering Change
by Leighton Ford

July 10 - Hearing Lies

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 22 - 24
N.T. - Galatians 1

Focus Verses:
Jeremiah 23:25-26, 30-32
25 "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? - - - 30 "Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The LORD declares.' 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.

Insight:
Not every claim of a message from God is true. Sometimes people say, "God told me this or that," but it's actually just a delusion at best or a flat out lie at worst. God is against those who wag their tongues and carelessly claim to speak for God or have special revelation from God. False claims of hearing from God are of no value!

Response and Action:
I will be very careful about believing or making claims about hearing from God or speaking for God. I will look to the Bible and the teaching of Jesus and the apostles for guidance. Critical thinking and faith are not mutually exclusive. Claims need to be tested and evaluated. Discernment requires humility, a readiness to ask questions, and a thorough knowledge of Scripture.

O God, show me your ways. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Help me to live with integrity and wisdom. Strengthen my faith, but protect me from foolish gullibility. I want to hear your voice clearly and never confuse it with my own thoughts or ideas. Amen.

Proverbs: 10:21
"The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment."

Resources:
God Talk: Cautions for Those Who Hear God's Voice
by Ruth Tucker

July 9 - Pain and Praise

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 19 - 21
N.T. - Romans 8:18-39

Focus Verses: Jeremiah 20:13-14
13 Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. 14 Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!

Insight:
These two consecutive verses may have the most extreme contrast of any two verses in the Bible. In one breath, Jeremiah says, "Praise God!" In the next he says, "I wish I had never been born!" In context, the admonition of verse 13 sticks out like a fragrant rose in a thicket of thorns and thistles. The message Jeremiah had been called to preach was one of doom and judgment. The responses he got from people were rejection, violence, and hate.

Jeremiah's life was filled with sorrow and pain because he was faithful to God's calling and God's message. Yet, in the midst of his pain he resolutely declared, "Sing to the Lord! Give Praise to the Lord!" Though he was suffering, Jeremiah said, "I believe God sees my need and he will rescue me from the wicked." Jeremiah's expression of praise was not a response from a place of blessing and comfort, but was instead a profound statement of faith delivered from the heart and mouth of a person in pain.

Response and Action:
Praise is more than a response to blessing, it is an act of faith! I will praise God in times of blessing, but I will also praise him in times of need. I will sing songs of thanks when I am in a place of ease and comfort, but I will also worship him when I am in distress. My praise will be more than an expression of gratitude for what God has done, it will be a testimony of my faith in what God will do.

O God, whether by life or by death may Christ be exalted in me. You are worthy of my praise at all times. I believe you are faithful to your promises and I will praise you because I believe you will never fail to keep your word. Open my mouth Lord, and my lips will declare your praise! Amen.

Proverbs: 9:12
"If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

Resources:
Where Is God When It Hurts?
by Philip Yancey

July 8 - Trust Roots

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 16 - 18
N.T. - Matthew 7:7 - 29

Focus Verses: Jeremiah 17:5-8
5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Insight:
Looking to God and trusting in him is the path to blessing and stability. Trusting in our own strength and wisdom always results in coming up short in life. Strength and blessing come from the Lord. Instead of trusting in ourselves, we should commit all our strength, energy, and will to seeking and serving God.

Response and Action:
Blessing, prosperity, stability, and confidence sound good to me. I trust that God is more able to direct my life into those things than anyone else, including me. I will commit all my strength and abilities toward knowing, loving, and following God. My trust is in the Lord.

O God, give me the wisdom to know my own limitations. Save me from the delusion of self-confidence and help me to trust in you with my whole heart. I want to acknowledge and follow you in every way and in every day. Thank you for Jesus; help me to walk in his steps. Thank you for your Holy Spirit; help me to surrender fully to him that he might transform, strengthen, and lead me. Thank you for your Holy Scriptures: help me to know the truth and hide it in my heart. Encourage me as I walk with you, O God, and give me more confidence in you with each new day. Amen.

Proverbs: 8:34,35
"Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD."

Resources:
Faith on the Edge: Daring to Follow Jesus
by Paul Tokunaga, Kevin Blue, Amy Brooke, and Robbie Castleman

July 7 - Off Track

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 13 - 15
N.T. - Galatians 5:16-26

Focus Verses: Jeremiah 14:10
10 This is what the LORD says about this people: "They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; he will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins."


Insight:
Though God had clearly shown himself to his people and given them his word, they turned from him. Though he had blessed them and been faithful to his promises, they turned to idols and foreign gods. The judgment of God, Jeremiah says, was coming upon the people because of their own actions. They had loved wandering more than they loved God. They did not make wise choices and restrain themselves, and so judgment would not be held back from them. Wandering and a lack of self-restraint lead to judgment and discipline from God.

Response and Action:
I will love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I will treasure God's word and look to God for guidance. I will value self-discipline and exercise wisdom and restraint. I will ask God to strengthen me to follow him by the power of the Holy Spirit. I will surrender my will to God and ask him to shape my heart and desires so that I would do the things that honor and please him.

O God, help me to live for you and through you in thought, word, and deed. By the power and grace 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. Grant me the wisdom and the will to guard my heart, feed my spirit, stimulate my mind, and care for my body. Help me to follow closely after you and never wander from your path and your presence. Amen.

Proverbs: 7:24,25
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths."

Resources:
Walking Away from Faith: Unraveling the Mystery of Belief and Unbelief
by Ruth Tucker

July 6 - Scarecrow Gods

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 10 - 12
N.T. - 1 John 4

Focus Verses: Jeremiah 10:1-5
1 Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. 2 This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. 5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."

Insight:
So much of what people honor, pursue, and trust is worthless. No matter how slick and attractive they make it out to be, the things they love are powerless to give joy, security, or fulfillment.

Response and Action:
I will reserve my love, honor, and worship for God. I will not chase after the worthless things that most people seem to value, love, and trust. I want to see God for who he is and see empty substitutes for what they are.

O God, show yourself to me. Help me to know you more and more each day as I follow Christ, listen to your word, and surrender myself to your 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: 6:32
"But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself."

Resources:
Jesus Among Other Gods
by Ravi Zacharias

July 5 - Deceptive Devotion

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 7 - 9
N.T. - Colossians 2

Focus Verses: Jeremiah 7:3-8
3 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!" 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

Insight:
Sometimes we deceive ourselves by thinking that we're right with God just because we say the right words, observe the right traditions, or attend the right church. None of these things has value apart from a life that is truly devoted to God. Our actions, our dealings with others, and our wholehearted devotion to God are more important than rituals, traditions, and religion.

Response and Action:
I will not settle for forms and practices of religion or tradition that are disconnected with a true relationship with God. My worship and my traditions must flow out of a true devotion to God. I will do all I can to cultivate a deep and meaningful walk with God.

O God, help me to live for you and through you in thought, word, and deed. Help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. Let my praise be more than words, for I know it's more than words that you desire. Let my life proclaim honor and reverence for you. Amen.

Proverbs: 5:21
"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths."

Resources:
The Spirit of the Disciplines
by Dallas Willard

July 4 - Blushing

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 4 - 6
N.T. - 1 John 1

Focus Verses: Jeremiah 6:15-16
15 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them," says the LORD. 16 This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." But you said, "We will not walk in it."

Insight:
"Shame on you!" is not a phrase I hear very often anymore. No one ever wants to feel ashamed, and so the whole idea of shame is not generally valued. We hear about shame-based or guilt-based methods of manipulation: "He was shamed into that." In fact, these days you should probably feel ashamed if you do or say anything that makes someone else feel guilt or shame.

While shame and guilt can be used for wrong or selfish reasons, we shouldn't forget that there are times when shame and guilt are appropriate. To forget how to blush, or be blind to personal guilt, is to be oblivious to our sin and our need for forgiveness and direction.

Response and Action:
I will humble myself before God and honestly acknowledge my wrongs. I want to cultivate a soft heart that is able to feel shame when I do the wrong thing. I will turn to God's word to find the ancient path of truth and righteousness. I will commit myself to walk in it.

O Lord, show me your ways. Guide me in your paths and teach me. Thank you for forgiving me when I am guilty. Thank you for taking away my shame and for giving me hope. Thank you for giving me the capacity to feel shame and guilt. Use them to draw me to you for the redemption and healing I need. Amen.

Proverbs: 4:23
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Resources:
Never Beyond Hope: How God Touches & Uses Imperfect People
by J. I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom

July 3 - Worthless

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Jeremiah 1 - 3
N.T. - Colossians 3:1-17

Focus Verses: Jeremiah 2:5,13
5 This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 13 "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Insight:
Jeremiah laments Israel's unfaithfulness to God. He uses the bitter language and graphic imagery of adultery to get his point across. Though God had been faithful, his people turned from him to worthless things, and became as worthless as the things they pursued. Though God was like a spring of fresh and life-giving water to them, they instead put their trust in the stale and leaking cisterns they had built for themselves. The result was a people with stale and empty hearts.

Response and Action:
The things I turn to in life are the things that will shape me. God is faithful. In seeking God, I will become faithful. God is life and truth. In pursuing God, I will find truth and life. I will turn away from worthless things and set my heart on things above. I will have experience meaning, purpose, and fullness in my life if I honor God and hold fast to him in faith.

O Lord, help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me to turn away from all that is worthless, to seek all that is true, and to do what is good. Give me the wisdom and the will to guard my heart, feed my spirit, stimulate my mind, and care for my body. Teach me faithfulness and draw me to the living water that only you can give. Amen.

Proverbs: 3:13-14
"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold."

Resources:
Who Switched the Price Tags?
by Tony Campolo

July 2 - Rest for the Stressed

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 116
N.T. - Philippians 3-4

Focus Verses: Philippians 4:6-7
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Insight:
It's not hard to be stressed out. Life is filled with burdens and problems that can lead to worry and fear. Rather than being consumed with anxiety, Paul advises prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Worry and stress accomplish nothing, but lifting up my needs to God in a spirit praise and thanksgiving accomplishes something positive. There is a peace only God can give, and only those who cast their anxieties upon the Lord experience that peace in their hearts and minds.

Response and Action:
Instead of letting the concerns and difficulties of life fill me with anxiety, I will let them motivate me toward prayer. I will make my needs and concerns known to God trusting that he will provide and care for me. As I pray, I will praise God for his goodness and thank him for all the blessings he has given me.

O Lord, you are gracious and righteous and full of compassion. I know you see my needs and hear my prayers. Guard my heart and mind with the peace of Christ. When I am stressed, give me rest as I trust in you. Amen.

Proverbs: 2:8
"For he (the Lord) guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones."

Resources:
Living Peacefully in a Stressful World: A Stategy for Replacing Stress With Peace
by Ronald Hutchcraft and Ray C. Stedman

July 1 - Sharing Life

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Psalm 101
N.T. - Philippians 1-2

Focus Verses: Philippians 1:3-8
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Insight:
Paul's opening words to the Christians in Philippi give insight into his relationship with them. He remembered them in prayer. He had joyful hope, rooted in his confidence in God, that they would experience spiritual growth. He had a brotherly love and affection for them because he saw them as partners and fellow pilgrims. He longed to be with them.

His words, attitudes, and prayers are a good example to anyone who wants to experience true fellowship in Christ. The Christian life is meant to be shared.

Response and Action:
I want to experience true Christian fellowship. I want to pursue truth and spiritual maturity in the company of real friends. I want to have warm and sincere relationships with others who are following Jesus. I will pray for my Christian friends, express my feelings for them, and spend time with them in worship, recreation, fellowship, and service.

O Lord, thank you for every brother and sister I have in Christ. Help me to show them my love and appreciation for all they contribute to my life. Help me and my Christian friends to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Help us to be true friends. Help us to encourage each other and to be faithful to pray for each other. Amen.

Proverbs: 1:32-33
"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me (wisdom) will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

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

June 30 - Esteemed by God

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Isaiah 64 - 66
N.T. - 1 Peter 5:1-10

Focus Verses: Isaiah 66:1-2
1 This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? 2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

Insight:
Most of us spend too much time thinking about how we appear to other people. We also hear a lot about the importance of self-esteem, having a good feeling about ourselves. The really important questions we should be asking ourselves are: "What kind of qualities does God look for in his people?" and, "Who is it that God esteems?"

According to the prophet Isaiah, God esteems those who are humble, those who are contrite, and those who tremble at his word.

Response and Action:
I need to be careful to humble myself before God and before other people. I want to be contrite, recognizing my weaknesses, my sins, and my need for God. I need to have great reverence and love for God's word. I will commit myself to reading, considering, obeying, memorizing, and living the truth of God given to me in the pages of Scripture.

O Lord, I humble myself before you. Show me your ways and guide me by your holy word. Give me a heart that is honest and ready to follow you. By the power and grace 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. Through Christ, help me to be a person you esteem. Amen.

Proverbs: 30:32
"If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!”

Resources:
Humility: True Greatness
by C. J. Mahaney

June 29 - Good News

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Isaiah 61 - 63
N.T. - Luke 4

Focus Verses: Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Insight:
What does the favor of God look and sound like? Healing for the brokenhearted. Freedom for captives. Light instead of darkness. Comfort for those who mourn. Beauty where there was once only ashes. Gladness replacing sorrow. Praise overcoming despair.

Isaiah spoke these words for the first time nearly seven hundred years before the time of Christ. Those were bleak and difficult years for the nation of Israel, marked by destruction, exile, captivity, poverty and political struggles. Through it all, the people held on to Isaiah's beautiful words of hope and promise for Zion. After half a millennium of hoping, the prophecy must have seemed more like a dream than a promise. Jesus began his ministry by quoting this passage in the synagogue of the town where he grew up. He declared himself to be the one who would fulfill the prophecy and bring good news.

Response and Action:
I will look to Jesus in order to experience the favor of God. Healing, forgiveness, hope, beauty, joy, and stability are found in him. As I follow Jesus, I will participate in his mission of favor and his message of hope. I will commit myself to becoming a channel of blessing and a messenger of freedom.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light. Grant that I might not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving we receive; it is pardoning we receive pardon; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Proverbs: 29:7
"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern."

Resources:
Ambassadors of Hope: How Christians Can Respond to the World's Toughest Problems
by Robert A. Seiple

June 28 - Spending Myself

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Isaiah 58 - 60
N.T. - Matthew 25:31-46

Focus Verses: Isaiah 58:6-7, 9-10
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
- - -
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Insight:
True worship and reverence for God requires attention to issues of social justice. God cares about the poor, he hears the cries of the oppressed, and he expects those who truly honor him to care about these issues and the people affected by them. It's true that the gospel of Christ is more than food, shelter, clothing, and freedom from oppression and systemic poverty and bigotry. It is impossible, however, for those who are truly following Jesus and being transformed by the Spirit, to ignore these overwhelming needs.

God calls his people to "spend themselves" on behalf of those who are in poverty. Fasting should be more than a religious exercise of restraint and self-denial. The spirit of fasting is lived out every time we do without something in order to provide for the needs of others.

Response and Action:
I must never turn a blind eye to the needs of others. To claim to honor God while ignoring the needs of the poor and hungry is offensive to God. To claim to love God who is unseen while turning a blind eye to poverty, disease, war, and suffering is hypocritical. I must give generously. I must share what God has given me with those in need. I should work, vote, influence, and pray for people to be delivered from oppression and suffering.

O God, help me to see Jesus in the faces of those who are in need. Give me a soft heart and a generous spirit. Show me ways that I can share and help. Deliver me from greed and self-indulgence. Give me wisdom so that the blessings of life will not become obstacles to true discipleship. Help me to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humble with you. Amen.

Proverbs: 28:27
"He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses."

Resources:
Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America
by Ronald J. Sider

June 27 - Satisfaction

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Isaiah 55 - 57
N.T. - John 7

Focus Verses: Isaiah 55:1-3a
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3a Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.

Insight:
Only God can give true life and true satisfaction. It is such a waste to spend time, money, and effort on things that do not ultimately fulfill or satisfy the deepest longings our hearts. How many things have I chased after, thinking they would really make life great, only to find yet another empty promise!?

Jesus said, "Let everyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. For he who believes in me will have streams of living water flowing from the innermost part of his being." If we listen to God, give attention to his words, and take hold of the life he offers, we will find ourselves delighted and truly alive in Christ.

Note: Compare Acts 8:26-40 with yesterday's reading, Isaiah 52-54. Then take another look at chapters 55 - 56 from today's reading. Can you see any reason the man in Acts 8 might have been working hard to study and understand this part of Isaiah? What did he do when he understood the passage in the light of Jesus?

Response and Action:
God invites me to find fulfillment and satisfaction in him. Jesus invites me to come to him for life and meaning and salvation. I will respond to God's invitation and take hold of his promises by placing my faith and hope in Christ Jesus. I will follow Jesus and commit heart and soul to living by faith in him.

O God, forgive me for the times I chase after the things that do not give life. Give me the wisdom and will to seek you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Only you can satisfy the desires of my heart. Only you can give my life the meaning and purpose I long for. Only you can meet my deepest needs and fulfill my highest aspirations. Thank you for Jesus and the life he gives to thirsty people like me who come to him and drink. Amen.

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

Resources:
Cries of The Heart
by Ravi Zacharias

June 26 – Wounded Healer

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Isaiah 52 - 54
N.T. - Romans 5:1-11

Focus Verses: Isaiah 53:4-6
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Insight:
God's deliverance and salvation of humanity was purchased at a great price. God sent his son, Jesus, into the world to redeem the world from sin. Christ Jesus shared our humanity, but he lived without sin. He suffered violence and death at the hands of sinful men in order to subvert mankind's bondage to sin. Jesus, like all other humans, experienced sin and evil. But unlike all other humans, he himself was without sin. He was wounded and hurt by others, but he never hurt or wounded anyone else. That is why his death is able to bring us peace. He has purchased, by his death, new life for all who turn to him in faith.

Response and Action:
I believe that Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day, he rose again, in accordance with the Scriptures. I believe that Jesus has purchased salvation and new life for sinful humanity. I believe that God loves the world, and so he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

O God, thank you for Jesus, your son, my Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for your willingness to suffer death in order to give me life. Help me to live my life by faith in you with reverence and thanksgiving. Make me a witness of your love and salvation. Help me to take up my cross and follow you. Give me a heart like yours--willing to sacrifice in order to bless others. 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:
Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in New Testament & Contemporary Contexts
by Joel B. Green and Mark D. Baker

June 25 - Faith and Fear

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Isaiah 49 - 51
N.T. - Romans 8:18-39

Focus Verses:
Isaiah 51:7, 12-14
7 "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. - - - 12 "I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, 13 that you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor? 14 The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.

Insight:
People suffer at the hands of other people every day. Sadly, men and women suffering reproach, insults, terrorism, oppression, destruction, bondage, and starvation at the hands of others is a fact of life. It's easy to live in fear of all the terrible things people do to each other. God encourages his people, "those who know what is right and have his law in their hearts," to remember and trust him. He reassures them that his power to save and deliver is greater than humanity's power to destroy or hurt. Those who trust in God do not need to fear men.

Response and Action:
I do not want to live in fear. I will put my trust in God. I will remember and cling to his promises. I will be careful to pursue righteousness and be good to others. I will commit myself to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk with my God. My confidence and hope are in the Lord.

O God, thank you for your promises to save and deliver your people. Give me a hope in you that eclipses all my fears and worries. You have said, O God, that you will never leave or forsake me, and so I have confidence for life. You are my helper, I will not be afraid. Amen.

Proverbs: 25:25
"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."

Resources:
Be Not Afraid
by David Ivaska

June 24 - The Way I Should Go

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Isaiah 46 - 48
N.T. - John 14

Focus Verses:
Isaiah 48:17-18
17This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. 18If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me."

Insight:
God wants what is best for his people. His direction and his commands are not arbitrary or selfish. God's desires and our best interests are in perfect alignment. Honoring and obeying God results in our peace and righteousness. Our peace and righteousness result in joyful lives that are both pleasing to us and pleasing to God.

Response and Action:
I want to experience peace like a river. I want waves of righteousness to continually roll up and over the shores of my life. I want God's blessings on me to be as numberless as the grains of sand. I will turn to the Scriptures and to Jesus for instruction and guidance. I will embrace God's authority in my life and ask him to show me the ways I should go.

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. You word is a lamp to my path and a guide to my feet. Give me peace, by your Spirit. Give me direction, by your word. Bless and keep me as I follow you in faith. Amen.

Proverbs: 24:14
"Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off."

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

June 23 - One Savior, One God

Today's Reading:
O.T. - Isaiah 43 - 45
N.T. - Philippians 2:1-11

Focus Verses:
Isaiah 43:11; 45:18, 22-24
43:11I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.
45:18For this is what the LORD says— he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited— he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other. - - - 22"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.' All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame."

Insight:
Only God is God. Only God can save. God created the heavens and the earth and created humanity to inhabit it. He calls out to everyone, "Turn to me and be saved. I'm the only one who can save." To reject God's invitation is to reject the only hope of salvation. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." This is not narrow-mindedness; it is simply reality. There is only one God, and only he can save. God has offered us salvation through his only Son.

Response and Action:
I recognize my need for God's grace and salvation. My faith in God gives me a real view of life and the world. I need God's guidance and strength to live. By faith, I see God's grace and salvation in Jesus. I will commit myself to know and follow Jesus. I will give thanks to God for the hope and life I have through Christ.

O God, only you are God and only you can save. Thank you for the great salvation you have offered to all people through your only son, Jesus. Help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus, who loves me and gave himself for me. Help me to live for you and through you. You alone are worthy of my praise, my honor, my life, and my all. Amen.

Proverbs: 23:17-18
"Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off."

Resources:
No God but God/Breaking With the Idols of Our Age
by Os Guinness and John Seel