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?

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?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr7i5L6kFT0

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!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are demonstrating the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life today. Pray that you have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control through a saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

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

[Ramona]

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.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Lily]

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law".

These verses are very convicting for me. I struggle with these fruits of the spirit at times.

Psalm 23:23 "The godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in him."

Though I am struggling with Galatians 5:22-23, still my refuge during storms is God. He was there when I was diagnosed with lung cancer (though I never smoked) and when I had another health scare with benign breast tumor. He is my strength and my comfort when life throws us a curve ball.

Thanks be to God.

Lily

[Lizzy Slotkin]

Dear Lily,

The passage listing the fruit of the Spirit is convicting for all of us! However, it is very exciting to see the Holy Spirit at work in us! Before I was born again, I had very very little patience, peace, gentleness, or self-control. The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I see these characteristics in me!

Praise God! It's not that we need to try harder to show the fruit of the Spirit~
We just need to draw nearer to Jesus! The Holy Spirit will help "grow" the fruit in our lives.

And remember . . . fruit grows slowly!

[Lily]

Dear Lizzy,

Thank you for your faith, wisdom and words of encouragement. Yes, sometimes we try soooooo hard but what we really need is trust in the Lord.

As Mike had mentioned more than once "Let go and let God".

Reading the Bible and being in a Bible group help me listen and feel the Holy Spirit. Praise God for that.