September 20th One Year Bible Readings

Isaiah 33:10-36:22 ~ Galatians 5:13-26 ~ Psalm 64:1-10 ~ Proverbs 23:23
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Old Testament - Today we read Isaiah chapter 35, which is a wonderful glimpse of God's Kingdom Come!  The preceding Chapter 34 is a message of judgment to the nations during the end times.  And then Chapter 35 is a message of hope for those who love, believe in and are obedient to the Lord. I love verse 8 in chapter 35: "And a main road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-hearted people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there."  I like that concept!  The Highway of Holiness! If you could take the Highway of Holiness right now, would you?  Do you look forward to walking on the Highway of Holiness in the future?  In the midst of our often chaotic and un-holy world, will you seek only the Highway of Holiness for your life today and forevermore? 

As I mentioned above, Isaiah chapter 34 is a message of judgment.  An interesting thing to note about the "the horned owl, the hawk, the screech owl, and the raven" listed in verse 11 and the owl and the vulture in verse 15 is that these are all unclean birds per Deuteronomy 14:11-18.  In verse 8 today we read - "For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel."

In Isaiah chapter 36 today you probably noticed that we've read this story about Sennacherib threatening Jerusalem before.  In fact, much of Isaiah chapters 36 through 39 are sometimes verbatim of Second Kings 18:13 through 20:19.  The compiler of Second Kings may have utilized Isaiah chapters 36 through 39 as a source, or it is also thought that both may have drawn from another common source.  Today in chapter 36 we are in the year 701 B.C., and we get some bold boasts before the walls of Jerusalem by King Sennacherib of Assyria's representatives...  Verse 20 includes this boast, which didn't make God too happy: "What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? Name just one! So what makes you think that the LORD can rescue Jerusalem?"

New Testament - I love Paul's teaching in Galatians 5 verses 22 & 23 today - "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."  It is incredible I think for each of us to really meditate on this question - does the Holy Spirit control your life?  I think so often - even after coming to faith in Christ - we still try to hold onto the controls of our life!  I know I do.  And yet, when I finally realize that I should instead "let go, and let God", my life gets 100 times easier.  I don't stress and worry about things any more.  When I let myself be controlled by the Holy Spirit I finally realize that this is where true LIFE is at!  It's not in hanging on so tightly to the steering wheel...   Then, as we truly let the Holy Spirit control our lives, we begin to see amazing fruits being born in us!  Do you see these fruits in your life today?  Love?  Joy?  Peace?  Patience?  Kindness?  Goodness?  Faithfulness?  Gentleness?  Self-control?  How are you doing on letting the Holy Spirit control your life these days?  Who is holding on to your steering wheel - you or the Holy Spirit?  Will you now let go of that steering wheel?  Will you "let go, and let God."  Will you let the fruits of the Spirit fully grow in your life?

Bible.org's terrific commentary on today's readings in Galatians titled "The War Without And the War Within" is at this link.  Below is a great image for Galatians 5:16 from today's readings!

Psalms - Psalm 64 verse 10 is beautiful - "The godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in him."  Do you consider God a shelter for your life?  When storms come into your life, do you find shelter in God?  How about the Bible?  Is the Bible a sort of shelter in your life?  Do you find refuge in the Bible?

Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 64 titled "A Prayer for Protection from the Conspiracy of Terror" is at this link.

Proverbs - Today in Proverbs 23:23 we read: “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” What does this Proverb mean to you?  Can you “buy the truth” or is this perhaps a metaphor?  Why shouldn’t you sell it?  Why get wisdom, discipline and understanding? Why is discipline good to get?  What is truth?  Where can you find truth? Is the Bible Truth?  Will you learn from this Truth in some way each day for the rest of your life?

Worship God:  The "Haven in a Storm" image above in the Psalms reflection reminded me immediately of the incredible Casting Crowns song "Praise You in This Storm."  I don't know what it is about all these storm songs on the radio that are resonating with me lately - MercyMe's "Bring the Rain" being my current favorite song - other than I know this:  It's not a matter of "if" storms will come in our life.  It's a matter of "when."  Storms will come.  And when they do, we have the option to try to weather the storms all on our own.  Or we have the option to invite God into the storms with us.  Well, I believe God's already there with us in the storms even if we don't realize it - so, I think we can simply open our hearts and praise God in the storms!  He will never abandon us or leave us.  Even in the midst of the worst storms this fallen world might bring, God is there with us.  Will you praise God in the storms?

Do you believe there is a God who is worthy of being praised even in the midst of storms in your life?  Click here to get to know God of heaven and earth who is worthy of being praised in the storms!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Anka]

The Assyrian commander shouted out so everyone would hear and be afraid....yet the soldiers on the wall held their peace...Their King had told them to be silent.Sometimes the world around us may be overwhelming with chaos and problems....I guess this should be a reminder that in those times we need to trust God and be silent.
God bless you all

[R]

Isaiah 33:10-36:22

Random thoughts:

Isaiah 33:
But the LORD says: "I will stand up and show my power and might. You Assyrians will gain nothing by all your efforts. Your own breath will turn to fire and kill you. (Isaiah 33:10-11)
It is our sin, our wickedness, which destroys us—sin is its own reward. The Assyrians had no relationship with God yet they could see God, the true God in how He dealt with Israel, in His relationship with Israel. Assyria would feel the effects of the consequences of her actions toward Israel, even though Israel was deep in sin; however, Israel though not in fellowship with God, she still was in relationship.

Isaiah 34:
[God’s judgment against Edom] The strongest will die--veterans and young men, too. The land will be soaked with blood and the soil enriched with fat. For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel (Isaiah 34:7-8)
Edom is Jacob’s brother, aka---Esau, yet to God that does not matter. Jacob/Israel belongs to God and as such how Edom (Esau) treated Jacob/Israel is the determent factor in receiving God’s vengeance. Don’t mess with the people of God even when they are in sin and not doing or being what they have been called to do or be.

Isaiah 36:
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. (1 Corinthians 14:10 KJV )

Standing on that wall whose voice to believe, the kings, the officials, the voices in one’s head speaking self-talk, the voice of the other nations’ gods, or the voice of God? How do we know which voices to filter out, which voice to listen too. We trust based on experiences. How do we trust a God we cannot see? We trust sitting in a chair because we have sat in them before and they held our weight. It is easy for us to read about those who went before us and declare, I wouldn’t do that, yet in the end we really don’t know whose voice we will listen to until there comes a time that many voices begin speaking to us. Which voice will we choose to hear and then obey? How do we know we really trust God until the time comes to pick his voice out of a chorus of many voices.

[carlo t sucgang]

i like galatian 5:22_23 if you let go and let GOD run your life the fruit of spirit will be upon you. so itis important to meditate the word of GOD"

[Melissa]

thank you for this blog. i enjoy reading it everyday.

[Vance]

Isaiah 33 (NKJV)
10
“ Now I will rise,” says the LORD; “ Now I will be exalted, now I will lift Myself up.”
11
“You shall conceive chaff, you shall bring forth stubble; your breath, as fire, shall devour you.”

NOTE:
Note this thought provoking verse: “your breath, as fire, shall devour you.” Every word we speak, to ourselves or to others, we are accountable for. Our words will be the basis of blessing or judgment. Words carry death or life.

I RECEIVE THIS CHALLENGE—that God would help me to be sure guard the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart.

Psalm 19 (NKJV)
14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Proverbs 18 (NKJV)
20
A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Matthew 12 (NKJV)
35
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Isaiah 33 (NKJV)
15
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil:
16
He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure.

NOTE:
“ Now I will rise,” says the LORD; “ Now I will be exalted, now I will lift Myself up.”

God will arise, because is already the Most High, the Sovereign Ruler over all. When God says, “ Now I will rise” and “ Now I will be exalted”, I take this to mean that God’s very nature as “Sovereign” and “Ruler Over All” will become manifestly evident to you and to me.

Thus, God says, “Now I will lift Myself up.”

I CHALLENGE MYSELF, first of all, and then I CHALLENGE YOU to take time to regularly praise and worship God. GOD WILL BE EXALTED one way or the other. May He—according to His greatest wish—be exalted in MERCY as we receive Him and allow His Mercy and Wisdom to be applied to our lives!

The person who has been cleansed by the Lord Jesus will exhibit the qualities of verses 15 and 16—that is, we will love God with all of our hearts and we will love our neighbor as ourselves.

Then, our obedience—out of a heart dedicated to worship—will further establish our lives in God’s Goodness and Righteousness.

On the one hand, a real faith is killed because it is “work-less”:

James 2 (NKJV)
17
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

On the other hand, works and actions through worship builds up and strengthens our faith.

James 2 (NKJV)
22
Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

May the following verses become our experience through faith and patience:

Isaiah 33 (NKJV)
5
The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6
Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure.
~~~

Isaiah 35 (NKJV) – The Future Glory of Zion
1
The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
2
It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the excellency of our God.
3
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4
Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “ Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6
Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

NOTE:
Note God’s truly amazing grace. He is holy, and His Presence of Glory will judge sin. We admire purity, and we can only be pure through His Grace and Mercy in fellowship with the Lord Jesus.

Note that even though God must judge the sin of His people, the plan for His people will not be thwarted! God will complete our salvation, and we will know God’s deliverance and freedom that Jesus has paid for.

Then, we will be more equipped to serve others in the strength of the Lord!

Isaiah 36 (NKJV)
21
But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

NOTE:
Do not answer the enemy when he provokes you.

Galatians 5 (NKJV)
16
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

NOTE:
Our human nature wants to be comfortable instead of godly, wants to be selfish rather than to serve. Because of the sinful and fallen condition of humanity, it is now “natural” that our sinful human nature wants to do the opposite of what our new nature in Christ wants or what the Spirit of God wants.

We can take comfort in the fact that we know we are made new creations in Christ by His Mercy believed and received precisely because we feel the struggle between flesh and Spirit.

Galatians 5 (NKJV)
24
And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

NOTE:
Christ has completely crucified the sinful nature, and in Christ our old man and sinful nature are totally dead.

“In Christ” – this is our position, settled once for all by the “once for all, eternal sacrifice of Jesus”

“Abide In Christ” – this is the way that we can experience who God has already made us in Christ. As we abide—that is remain and rest in Christ, not being moved from Christ—that “we live in the Spirit” and “we also walk in the Spirit”.

Vance

[R]

Isaiah 33:10-36

Isaiah 33
14 The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. "Which one of us," they cry, "can live here in the presence of this all-consuming fire?" 15 The ones who can live here are those who are honest and fair, who reject making a profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong. 16 These are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress of safety. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance.

There seems to be a Holy boldness that comes upon Christians who are steeped in the Word and know their God. These folks are not easily intimidated on the job, they are full of ideas and are good at problem solving and always strive to deal in truth. The writer of Proverbs states:

THE WICKED flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion. [Lev. 26:17, 36; Ps. 53:5.] (Proverbs 28:1 AMP)

Galatians 5:13-26

I have read verse 13 wrongly until I read it today. I’ve always had a problem really understanding what seems to me to be contradictory information. Some how I had a disconnect in placing this verse within the context of the book. But today I “got it,” or at least I think I understand it in greater depth then I had before. Our freedom in Christ is freedom from the “curse of the law” and that curse is trying to keep the law, which we can never do.

The curse of the Law could not be the consequences of not keeping the Law because the Law was only given to Israel and sickness and disease ran supreme within Israel and outside of Israel. The “Nations” did not have the law so “The Curse” had to be trying to keep all 600plus laws of the Mosaic Covenant.

I also understand clearer that we have two kinds of desires, those given to us by the Sprit and those that emanate from our “flesh” or sinful nature and they will always be at war with each other. 18 … And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and we are never free from this conflict. Our “job” should be to build up our “spirts” so that we become strong enough to override the “flesh.”

These two things that have spoken to me in today’s New Testament reading and seem to be written so clearly, yet I didn’t get i. This says to me that I must never assume that I have the full understanding or the meaning of a particular scripture and must always be open for correction and enlightenment.

Psalm 64:1-10

1 O God, listen to my complaint.
Do not let my enemies' threats overwhelm me.

This Psalm of David is not speaking about the presence or actual physical conflict with the enemy overwhelming him but their threats, the fiery words that are spewing out of their mouths. Sticks and Stones may break bones but words can definitely harm us and overwhelm us if we do not run to the High Tower that the Name of the Lord creates to shelter us.

Proverbs 23:23

Mike you wrote,

“Today in Proverbs 23:23 we read: “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” What does this Proverb mean to you? Can you “buy the truth” or is this perhaps a metaphor? Why shouldn’t you sell it? Why get wisdom, discipline and understanding? Why is discipline good to get? What is truth? Where can you find truth? Is the Bible Truth? Will you learn from this Truth in some way each day of your life?”

You have asked us some powerful questions. Truth is the core value from which everything flows and that Truth is Jesus Christ. (John 14:16) Truth is that Pearl of Great Price for which the merchant sold everything he had to posses it. (Matthew 13:46). Yes, Truth can be bought but not over the counter as a Marketplace exchange. Truth cost us relationships, promotions and positions. Truth may even cost you your family.

[Johnnie Ruth Hamill]

One of my all time favorite songs! I love it -- when we praise Him in the storm He is there. I know for me He seems to be more present with me when I'm going through something -- although I know He is always around.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Mae]

Needed this song, thanks! I'm going through a storm right now, the enemy is breathing in my neck. I just got a breakthrough, so he's not happy. God is my shelter ...

[Heidi]

You know.....every time I hear Casting Crowns "Praise you in this Storm"....I immediately flash back a few years ago....

....I used to work in a quaint little Christian bookstore. I loved it there so much. It was so Christ-centnered, and the co-corkers were amazing; I planned to bring my kids in there one day, and I told the rest of the staff that when I died I wanted to be buried under the floorboards, haha!

Well, like many good things, it all eventually came to an end. The company was too far in the hole financially to redeem itself and we had to close our doors. It was one of the hardest days of my life.

I remember on the very last day of work, I got to the store really early, put on my rollerblades, and decided to have a shake around the store. Someone had left Casting Crowns latest CD in the CD player, and that song came on. I remember feeling the breeze in my hair as I sailed around the music section, fiction, gifts. I didn't understand why my little bookstore had to end when so many other un-godly businesses were fluorishing. I was heartbroken, sad, and frustrated. But......I knew regardless of how I was feeling, I had to "Praise him in this storm".

It stayed with me all these years, and now whenever I hear it, I remember sailing around that bookstore. Good times.....

Thanks. :*)

[John]

Galatians 5:13-26

Recap: We are free in Christ, and do not need the law. the law hangs over people like a rod to punish them when they sin, it keeps count, it threatens people with disaster. The Spirit undergirds us like a road. It supports us, and if we Love God, and Love our neighbor, we will naturally through the Spirit not commit the transgressions listed in the Law. Out of love we will refrain, not because of any outside threat hanging over our heads.
======================================================
Life by the Spirit

Paul bookends in verse 16 and verse 25 by saying to "walk (live) in the Spirit. Kind of neat to look at the Greek words here for walk (live)[peripateo and stoicheo].

In verse 16 the Greek word means to walk day by day (individually) in the Spirit. In verse 25 Paul exhorts them to also walk, but as in the military - in step, walking together as a Christian community - encouraging and exhorting wach other to stay in rank and walk by the Spirit.
======================================================
The Spirit and the Flesh

Both are intangibles that represent our new life and old life. Some Christians think the old life (flesh)has power - the longer the desires of the flesh are held off the stronger the urges are to sin.

This is not true - Gal 5:24
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."

The sinful nature is dead - it will not grow or strengthen. We hear echoes of our past and they seem strong, but they are just echoes and will not get stronger. Satan will throw up your past and tempt you to sin, but it is just that - the past. The longer you walk in the Spirit, the stronger your spirit gets, and you will change and grow in your sanctification.

[Note: Remember - you cannot do this - you must yield to the Holy Sprit.]

Over time keep a journal and look back how you acted six months ago, one year ago, five years ago - and you will see the change more readily. God is good - and you will see He is slowly and surely changing you/shaping you into the image of Christ through the work of the Spirit.
======================================================
Gal 5:21b
"...I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Another verse that some take out of context and say - you can lose salvation.

"live like this" or "do such things" in the KJV can actually be translated "practice or exercise" and the Greek Present indicative indicates habitual now and in the future action.

Thus, Paul is saying those that continually practice these sin(s) will not be in Heaven?

Why? Because they are not saved. The person either did not really believe in Christ, or maybe did not trust in Christ and turn their lives over to Him - in sum their hearts were not right before the Lord when they prayed for Salvation.

If you habitually sin or have a weakness that you constantly succomb to over a long period of time. You need to examine your heart, and go to God and Repent and Believe fully in Christ (knowledge, belief, and trust). For a professing Christian to be in this position, only the individual involved and God can sort this out - it is not up to us. All Paul can do is love the person and warn the person.
======================================================
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Do you see these things in your lives? I can testify that before Salvation I had few to almost none of these characteristics. Now I see them in my life and in my Spirit - and there is nothing like it. God provides these things after Salvation, and they are great gifts and provide great comfort to the Christian believer.

[John]

Isaiah 35:8

And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it.

If you remeber back in Acts when Paul was on trial, the sect that Paul represented was not called Christianity - but "the way"

Whether figurative or literal here, the "way of Holiness is for those that walk (believe in Christ) in that "way". It is not for the unclean and fools (non-believers) - theirs will be a different lot.

[Suzan]

So blessed! I read 4 days of your blog today to catch up. I keep my own blog where now and then I am moved to give a spiritually filled message. I had an odd week where through my career path I am in contact with those who have experienced a loss of a loved one- who had gone missing at the hands of another, this week I was perplexed on what my next blog entry would be following such a loss, that I posted about just a few days before....I sat down and without knowing what to type....I just typed...and typed. after reading what I had written I named the blog "faith". When the Holy Spirit moves within and we don't know what to say it will lead us where we ought to be. I was double blessed to read your blog entry and find you had written quote "New Testament - I love Paul's teaching in Galatians 5 verses 22 & 23 today - "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." It is incredible I think for each of us to really meditate on this question - does the Holy Spirit control your life? I think so often - even after coming to faith in Christ - we still try to hold onto the controls of our life! I know I do. And yet, when I finally realize that I should instead "let go, and let God", my life gets 100 times easier. I don't stress and worry about things any more. When I let myself be controlled by the Holy Spirit I finally realize that this is where true LIFE is at! It's not in hanging on so tightly to the steering wheel... Then, as we truly let the Holy Spirit control our lives, we begin to see amazing fruits being born in us! Do you see these fruits in your life today? Love? Joy? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness? Faithfulness? Gentleness? Self-control? How are you doing on letting the Holy Spirit control your life these days? Who is holding on to your steering wheel - you or the Holy Spirit? Will you now let go of that steering wheel? Will you "let go, and let God." Will you let the fruits of the Spirit fully grow in your life? End Quote"

Your blog gave me confirmation. Thank you for your gift(s) :)
Would those who read here please pray for "Tina" she is the mother who recently found out her children who had gone missing at the hands of their father a few years ago. It has just been revealed that he did the unthinkable and they have passed. Please pray for her to be comforted.
Thank you, Suzan

http://360.yahoo.com/suzangm

[lynda]

this highway spoken of in isaiah i believe is a metaphor of how a christian is suppose to live. i don't think it will ever be a real road.