July 18th One Year Bible Readings

1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34 ~ Romans 4:13-5:5 ~ Psalm 14:1-7 ~ Proverbs 19:17
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs or Daily Audio Bible ~

Old Testament - It is interesting to read about the various gatekeepers, treasurers, officials, military commanders and leaders in today's First Chronicle readings!  In some ways it is sad to read about how well organized things were - knowing that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the exile to Babylon is coming up.  All of this organization will be destroyed.  Why?  Because of sin.  Sin destroys.  Sin kills.  So sad.  It is true that the lineage from Abraham to Judah to David will of course continue through to Jesus and now to us as spiritual descendants.  But, the nation of Israel at this time of First Chronicles, with all of it's great organization, will later fall because the leaders and people will turn their backs on God in sin.  In disobedience.  Is there a lesson for us in this today?  Do you see the dangers of sin?  Of how it can destroy everything you hold dear?  Please - flee from sin.  Jesus can set you free from the bondage of sin.  Don't lose everything you hold dear to something as stupid as sin.  Sin will sell you lies and leave you with nothing.

New Testament - Wow.  Romans 5 verses 1 & 2 are so true: "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory."  It is important to note that these verses are talking about more than just a "sense of peace."  They are talking about literal "peace with God"!  Peace with God is gifted to us through faith in Jesus' life, death and resurrection to redeem us from the depravity and consequences of our sin.  Have you experienced literal peace with God?  I know that we do not always "sense the peace" with God - but I do not think it leaves us once we've entered into an eternal right relationship with Jesus.  I think we can certainly distract ourselves enough or make ourselves worried or frantic enough that we might think the peace is gone.  But eternal peace doesn't ever leave us.  I do think we need to take time to connect with and rediscover Christ's peace within us each and every day.  Reading, prayer and meditation on Scripture are great ways to do this.  I have also found getting outdoors and taking a walk in nature helps me connect with Christ's peace again.  What are other ways that you connect with Christ's peace within you?  Please post up in the Comments section below for others to learn from!  Thanks!

Verses 3 through 5 are incredible today as well: "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."  Note that these verses are not saying to rejoice "because" of problems and trials (that would be morbid), but that we can still rejoice even "when we run into" the problems and trials.  It is often difficult for us to remember to rejoice when problems and trials come our way - but please do remember these words of Paul in Romans about rejoicing during a time of trial.  Remember our readings in Acts?  Paul was ridiculed, beaten, jailed and shipwrecked - and yet, he never gave into a defeatist attitude.  He kept preaching God's love!  If anyone knows about trials and problems, it is Paul.  And he tells us to rejoice through problems and trials because in this we learn to endure.  I love that Paul says that character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation!  And that this expectation will not disappoint!  Do you believe this?  Do you have a confident expectation of salvation?

Image above courtesy of stonesoupmusic.org.  Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Romans titled "The Object of Our Faith" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 14 could be seen at first glance as a discouraging Psalm for us as we look at verse 3: "But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!"  I think it is important to keep in mind that there is truth in this verse (particularly if we ever start thinking we're "good" and others around us are not...).  But also I think it's good to keep in mind that this verse was written before Jesus came to the earth.  Jesus was perfect.  And through His resurrection we are called toward greater holiness and ultimately perfect goodness once we meet Jesus face to face in heaven.  Jesus gives us the hope spoken of in the closing of this Psalm in verse 7: "Oh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel! For when the LORD restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice."  Do you recognize the salvation that has come to us?  Are you shouting for joy for this salvation?  Are you rejoicing!?

Proverbs - Today in Proverbs 19 verse 17 we read – “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Do you believe that when you are kind to the poor you are actually lending to God? Are you someone who is consistently kind to the poor? Are you kind to the spiritually, emotionally, materially poor that God has brought into your life? Are you also kind to spiritually, emotionally, materially poor that you do not know?  Do you believe this kindness is noticed by God? Do you believe it is rewarded?

Worship Video: Today's readings in Romans reminds me of Jeremy Camp's song "Healing Hand of God:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRRYCoWOLuI

Have you felt the healing hand of God? Click here for Healing!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. " Psalm 14:3 TNIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you know that you are a sinner by nature and choice and have lived corruptly. Pray that you have repented of your sins and placed your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Pray that you are now able to do good in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Comments

[Ramona]

I Chronicles 26:12-27:34

Mike you wrote: “All of this organization will be destroyed. Why? Because of sin. Sin destroys. Sin kills. So sad.”

As soon as I read your statement, I thought of something Paul wrote,

Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.
(Jam 3:15-18 NET.)

God is order, sin is disorder because there is no truth in it. When I read how organized David was in assigning the men of Israel to temple and political duties, I was thinking how our church’s today could take a clue from David. I didn’t see the big picture showing how this order would soon fall apart because God would eventually be taken out of the Temple. The Temple to honor His name would be built, destroyed and rebuilt all because of sin and not because of an expansion project.

Romans 4:13-5:5

13 It is clear, then, that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith.
(Rom 4:13)

The above statement is so very hard for us to grasp. Either we have a hard time receiving a gift, which by its very nature is free, or it is not a gift or we think we are not worthy. It is through Jesus Christ’s righteousness that God sees those who call and believe on the Name of Jesus.

I love how the NLT begins the sixteenth verse, “1So that's why faith is the key!” If we have faith then we hold the instrument that can unlock all the doors that have been locked because we were in sin.

Psalm 14:1-7

7 Oh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel!
For when the LORD restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice

Sometimes, no most of the time, my means of escape out of a situation that is not pleasing to God is always in front of me but I fail to see it. I can usually see the way out for others but not myself. Didn’t I here something about take the beam out of my eye before I take the speak out …?

Proverbs 19:17

So often before we will lend something to someone, we behave like a lending institution, we weigh the risks. Will I get it back? And if we just give money, we really don’t give we scrutinize how the person uses the money. Sometimes we fail to really listen to what the person is saying, misjudging the need and we wind up giving what they asked for NOT what they need.

As I think on this, I realize I’m guilty of superficial giving. A women with children and no husband may be poor because she not only has no support from her children’s father but she is also lacking in employable skills. Giving her money may help buy groceries, or shoes for her children, but what she really needs is someone to watch her children so she can go to school. My time is what I am unwilling to give, my time and patience to supervise someone else’s’ children. Yikes!

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Robert Bieberdorf]

Proverbs 19:17

I really like your take on the poor Ramona. Just throwing money at them is only a bandage solution. A great help is taking care of the poor's education part and that falls in line with the great advice about fishing from Mathew 4:19 but has been put into a different form attributed to Confucius or Lao Tzu. "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you've fed him for a lifetime". I have always felt that teaching life skills is a priority in helping the poor.

Here is an example:

My friend Brian orders takeout food almost every day because he doesn’t know how to cook. Doing this for so long has burned a hole in his wallet. So I decided to give the man a fish (figuratively speaking) by teaching him how to cook.

Or maybe even a better one:
Perhaps, in fact, we should amend the proverb to read, “Give a woman a fish, and she’ll have the energy to take care of her children, do well at work, and pursue her goals. Teach her to fish and give her access to a pond full of fish, and she’ll be able to feed herself and her family for life.”
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and so-called father of microfinance.