Day 303 Bible Readings – Proverbs 10: 22 (ESV)

Lamentations 3: 40-66, Lamentations 4-5, Hebrews 1, Proverbs 10: 21-30

Proverbs 10: 22 (ESV)

“The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

I like verse 22 from Proverbs 10. Solomon tells us when you have the blessing of the Lord and it brings you wealth, no sorrow comes with it. I think this happens because it means you have discerned the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and you have followed God’s plan for you and your life. The Bible tells us that God wants the people who have faith in him to have a life of abundance, and when you follow his guidance abundance will come to you. I know for myself that it is so hard to sometimes follow God’s guidance because it seems so contrary to what I thought was right for my life. But God had a plan and when I followed what he wanted even though I was full of skepticism, my life turned out better and I became more abundant. And when I didn’t, my life went sideways. So now I try to follow God’s advice, even though it’s not always easy and sometimes I am kicking and screaming and gritting my teeth as I do what God asks me to do. But I know if I don’t, then I will have sorrow in my life.

Day 302 Bible Readings – Lamentations 3: 26-29 (ESV)

Lamentations 2: 7-27, Lamentations 3: 1-39, Philemon 1, Proverbs 10: 11-20

Lamentations 3: 26-29 (ESV)

“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope;”

Verses 26 through 29 from Lamentations 3 appealed to me when I read through the commentaries for these verses. The prophet Jeremiah found hope in remembering the faithfulness of God even in a season of trouble and affliction. Even when you are in despair, Jeremiah says you can sit quietly and find hope in the faithfulness of God. Pastor David Guzik in his commentary wrote, “Under adversity, it is best to not try and figure everything out right away. These are good times for reflection (sit alone) and listening rather than speaking. In this patient seeking of God, there is reason for hope.”

I know for myself I hate waiting, even for God. I want everything done right away, and when I have to wait I always think that I did something wrong which caused the delay. But I am learning that God is waiting to see what my response is to a season of trouble. Do I turn to God or away from him? Can I wait patiently for God and try to discern what his plan is for my next steps? Or do I give up and want to do things my own way because God hasn’t answered me? I know God is teaching me to live in the present during such times; to take everything one day at a time so I can discern his plan for my life. The waiting is hard, but I know God is patient with me and I am learning to reflect on all the good things God has done for in the past to keep my home on his faithfulness.

Day 301 Bible Reading – Titus 3: 9 (ESV)

Lamentations 1, Lamentations 2: 1-6, Titus 3, Proverbs 10: 1-10

Titus 3: 9 (ESV)

“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.”

Verse 9 from Paul’s letter to Titus (Titus 3) really stood out to me today. Paul tells Titus and the Church on Crete to not argue about things that don’t matter, which he says are “foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law.” Paul even reminds us that they are “unprofitable and worthless.”  I do like to argue sometimes, but I try not to argue about things that don’t really matter. A mentor at work once told me, “Pick your battles wisely because you will exhaust yourself fighting every battle.” It takes a lot of energy to argue and sometimes arguments cause bad feelings in people, even if it’s a friendly argument. I’ve had the experience where I’ve said something in the heat of an argument, and once it was out of my mouth it was difficult to undo the hurt that my words caused. I now try to only argue or fight for something that I am very passionate about, and with someone whom I know will listen to me. I don’t argue with people whom I know are not open to changing their mind. I also try to take the attitude that if I lose the fight and cannot get my way, I won’t hold it against the other person. I think we need to have the attitude that we are okay to disagree about things, and not break friendships over it. I want all my energy devoted to God, reading his word, and doing good works. I don’t want my energy to go to meaningless arguments with people. Peace in my life is so much important than having a life of contention.

Day 300 Bible Readings – Titus 2: 7-8 (ESV)

Habakkuk 1-2, Habakkuk 3: 1-19, Titus 2, Proverbs 9: 13-18

Titus 2: 7-8 (ESV)

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”

In verses 7 and 8 in Titus 2, Paul tells Titus and the Christians in Crete how to be a good example to people of faith. Paul says to be a model and an example to people of good works. You need to show you are living like Christ and obeying the law, and not just talk about it. Paul also tells Titus that needed to have a good understanding of God’s words, so whatever you say cannot be questioned. Anyone who questions you will be ashamed because they will have nothing bad to say about you.

Paul’s advice to Titus also applies to people of faith as well. We need to be example of someone who follows Christ by our actions. We might not teach but we need to make sure that if we want to talk about God to other people, we need to have a good understanding of God’s words. We each have our own interpretation of God’s words according to our level of maturity, but as long as our logic is sound our critics will have nothing bad to say about us. God doesn’t want our perfection, but he does want our love for him and our love for his words.

Day 299 Bible Readings – Proverbs 9: 11-12 (ESV)

Jeremiah 52, Titus 1, Proverbs 9: 1-12

Proverbs 9: 11-12 (ESV)

“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

In verses 11 and 12 from Proverbs 9, Solomon talks about the benefits of having wisdom which is provided by God. Solomon says if have wisdom, you will live longer. Who doesn’t want that? Solomon also says if you are wise, be wise for the benefit of yourself. Conversely if you ignore wisdom and scoff at it, you will also bear the consequences of ignoring wisdom.

I love these verses. I do believe that if you follow the wisdom of God, you will live a longer life because God’s advice will help you to avoid the pitfalls of life. I don’t think that God is saying you won’t have trials and tribulations in life, because you will. You cannot escape the trials of life. But if you follow the wisdom of God, you will learn to avoid the things in life that could harm you. I also like what Solomon said about wanting wisdom for yourself. Yes, others may benefit, but you are the main person who will benefit from wisdom. And if you scoff at wisdom and don’t follow it, you are the only one who will suffer the consequences of your actions. Don’t follow wisdom for anyone’s benefit but your own. And if you decide not to follow wisdom thinking you will get back at someone or harm them, you are wrong. The only person you are hurting is yourself.

Day 298 Bible Readings – Jeremiah 51: 20-23 (ESV)

Jeremiah 51: 15-64, 2 Timothy 4, Proverbs 8: 32-36

Jeremiah 51: 20-23 (ESV)

“You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms; with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider; with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer; with you I break in pieces man and woman; with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth; with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman; with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team; with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.”

In verses 20 through 23 from Jeremiah 51, the prophet Jeremiah talks about the power of God and his ability to use us in his plan for the world. If you doubt the power of God and how he uses people in his plan, these verses remind from Jeremiah remind us of God’s power. Jeremiah also reminds us that God can use anyone in his plan. These verses also remind us that God can anyone to not only destroy nations and kingdoms, but ordinary people as well. In these verses, Jeremiah says that God can use individuals for judgement against his enemies, but God can also use us in other ways as well. We just need to remember that when we hear the God or the Holy Spirit telling us what to do, we need to listen and make sure we have discernment with what we are hearing. And when our discernment is clear, we need to obey what we are being told even though it might not make sense to us at the time. God has a plan and can see the big picture that we cannot, so we need to have trust in God fully that what he is telling us is part of his plan.

Day 297 Bible Readings – 2 Timothy 3: 12-13 (ESV)

Jeremiah 50: 11-46, Jeremiah 51: 1-14, 2 Timothy 3, Proverbs 8: 22-31

2 Timothy 3: 12-13 (ESV)

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Verses 12 and 13 from 2 Timothy 3 shows Paul telling Timothy about what could happen in perilous times. Paul was very prophetic, and he could be talking about what is going on in our world today. People who believe in God and/or profess to believe in God are still getting persecuted. Christians in the United States are getting cancelled and/or ridiculed in the media and social media. Hollywood has often portrayed people of faith in movies as horrible and prejudiced people. Paul also wrote how evil people will go from bad to worse. We are seeing more crime being reported and levels of human trafficking not seen in a long time It’s a wonder that some people think we are in the end times. Are we in the end times? I don’t know. But the signs are definitely there that Paul told Timothy to be aware of so he could be on his guard. We need to also be on our guard as well. We may not be in end times, but the signs are certainly there.

Day 296 Bible Readings – 2 Timothy 2: 22-23 (ESV)

Jeremiah 49: 7-39, Jeremiah 50: 1-10, 2 Timothy 2, Proverbs 8: 12-21

2 Timothy 2: 22-23 (ESV)

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”

Paul gives great advice to Timothy in verses 22 and 23 from 2 Timothy 2 on how to cleanse himself. Paul first tells Timothy to cleanse himself of bad things such youthful passions. I’ve discovered this is such great advice because I have lately become aware of how childish I am about eating. I eat like a child, meaning I eat what I want when I want. I eat with the passion of a child instead of the thoughtfulness of an adult, whose body is growing older and has different needs. But then Paul says you cannot just give up bad things because it creates a vacuum in in your life. You must fill that vacuum with the pursuit of good things like righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Then Paul also says you need to make you apply these pursuits to your relationships with people, and make sure your relationship is right with people. Paul then says we also need to put aside anything that creates quarrels with others. This makes so much sense if we want a peaceful life – why live a life full of unnecessary contention with others? We must rid ourselves of anything that could distract us from our relationship with God and his plan for us.

Day 295 Bible Readings – 2 Timothy 1: 6-7 (ESV)

Jeremiah 28, Jeremiah 49: 1-6, 2 Timothy 1, Proverbs 8: 1-11

2 Timothy 1: 6-7 (ESV)

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

In verses 6 and 7 from 2 Timothy 1, Paul reminds Timothy in his second letter to continue to focus on the gifts that God gave him, and to not be timid. Paul tells Timothy that God gave us spirit of power, love, and self-control. God did not give us a spirit of fear. Paul’s advice applies to anyone, and not just to those who are working for a church We must not be afraid of the gifts that God gave us. But from my own experience, fear does seem to come when you realize you have spiritual gifts from God. These fears are not from God or from the spiritual gift but may come from personality or some other weakness. To combat these fears we need to remember that God gave anyone with spiritual gifs, the gifts of power, love, and the ability to control ourselves. If we can remember these gifts, then fear will never us hold us back from using our spiritual gifts.

Day 294 Bible Readings – 1 Timothy 6: 17-19 (ESV)

Jeremiah 46-47, 1 Timothy 6, Proverbs 7: 21-27

1 Timothy 6: 17-19 (ESV)

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

In verses 17 through 19 from 1 Timothy 6, Paul gives advice to Timothy on what to say to people who are rich. These recommendations were ages ago but are still good advice in our modern world. Paul says there is nothing wrong with having money, but you cannot be haughty with it or think you are better than everyone else. We must always set our hopes on God because money is full of uncertainty and can be lost. If you have money to spare, you need to use your money to do good work, to be generous, and to share your money with others who are less fortunate and might have desperate need of money. Paul warned earlier that if you love money to point of hording it and cherish it above the word of God, you will wander from the faith. If you have money to spare, you need to always put God first and use it to bring people to God. It must be such an incredible feeling to look back at your life and to review and count how many people discovered and/or rediscovered their faith in God through your actions, and that you were instrumental in giving to them the gift of eternal life with God.

Day 293 Bible Readings – 1 Timothy 5: 24-25 (ESV)

Jeremiah 43-45, 1 Timothy 5, Proverbs 7: 6-20

1 Timothy 5: 24-25 (ESV)

“The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.”

I like verses 24 and 25 from 1 Timothy 5. Paul was advising Timothy on how to choose leaders for the church. Paul says some people are obviously not good, but a person’s true character cannot always be known. Paul then relates a person’s character to good works. Some good works are obvious, but even the good works you cannot see will eventually come to light. Paul advises Timothy to be cautious in appointing leaders, but to take it slow and wait on discernment from God and the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s advice is sound on choosing anything in life. We need to always be cautious and wait on discernment from God and the Holy Spirit. A friend says we need to always ask God everything about everything in our life. We might be caught up in the excitement of something that seems good for us but if we were to reflect on it further, we will realize that the thing we were excited about might not be a good thing after all. There have been friends in my life, whom I really liked at first, but who in the long run turned out to be complete nightmares. It always made me wonder if there was a red flag I ignored about the person, or if they changed somehow over the years. Now I am more cautious, and I pray to God about continuing friendship with any new person.

Day 292 Bible Readings – 1 Timothy 4: 1-4 (ESV)

Jeremiah 40: 7-16, Jeremiah 41-42, 1 Timothy 4, Proverbs 7: 1-5

1 Timothy 4: 1-4 (ESV)

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Verses 1 through 4 from 1 Timothy 4 shows Paul telling Timothy what to careful of in the end times. I find this advice from Paul very prophetic for what seems to be going on today in some churches. Many churches seem to have strayed away from what is written in the Bible and are adapting their churches to fit in with modern culture. Paul warned back in his time that this strategy was wrong. As followers of Jesus Christ, the Bible needs to be the guidance for how we live our lives. We cannot take what was written in the Bible out of context, and use it justify things that are expressly forbidden in the Bible.

I believe that is why as a believer in Jesus Christ, you must always read the Bible on your own. Your pastor should never be the final and last word on what is written in the Bible. Each believer must have a relationship with Jesus Christ and his word first, and then a relationship with a church and its pastor. The pastors at my church harp on this point constantly. They say they are hear to guide us in their interpretation of the words of Bible, and we can either agree or disagree with what they are saying. But they always emphasize that each member of the church needs to have their own relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit and the Bible first, with everything else being second. It can be hard to leave a church and the community you formed there, but if your church is straying away from the teachings of God, then you need to find a church that resonates more with what you believe. A good church will reinforce your belief in God, not take away from it.

Day 291 Bible Readings – 1 Timothy 3: 16 (ESV)

Jeremiah 38-39, Jeremiah 40: 1-6, 1 Timothy 3, Proverbs 6: 30-35

1 Timothy 3: 16 (ESV)

“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

Verse 16 from 1 Timothy shows Paul’s version of a foundation of our belief in Jesus Christ. Christ was born on earth or manifested in the flesh. Christ is part of the Holy Spirit and was seen by angels. Christ was spread to all people who believed in him through Paul, and when he died was resurrected to be with God his father. To be someone who is called a “Christian”, one must believe in these foundational truths about the life of Christ. Out of all of these, resurrection after death seems to be hardest part of the foundational truth to believe. I’ve run into many people at different churches who have confessed to me in secret that they love Christ and his teachings, but they’re not so sure about the resurrection. And I’m like what? Without the resurrection, what is the point of the faith in Jesus Christ? If you cannot believe that Christ was resurrected after death, then how can you believe that he died for our sins and that you will be absolved of your sins through belief in Jesus Christ? How can you believe that Christ came back and spoke to his disciples after his death, which is most of the Book of Acts? The resurrection of Christ is most important foundational truth of Christ’ s life for me. I wouldn’t be a follower of Christ without my belief in his resurrection and the Trinity of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Day 290 Bible Readings – 1 Timothy 2: 8-10 (ESV)

Jeremiah 35-37, 1 Timothy 2, Proverbs 6: 20-29

1 Timothy 2: 8-10 (ESV)

“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”

Verses 8 through 10 from 1 Timothy 2 shows Paul explaining to his protégé Timothy who is at the Church in Ephesus, what are the roles of men and women in church. Paul says men need to pray and lift their hands, not in anger or because they are quarreling. Paul says women must dress with modesty and self-control, and not as they say in our current day “dress to impress”. Paul tells us that only “good works” is what impresses God, and we need to only be impressed by someone “good works” and not anything else. Some might be offended by the comments on how women need to dress, but I think it makes sense. In every church I’ve attended, there have always been women who treat dressing up in church as a fashion show. I’ve also seen where dressing up for church becomes a competitive thing for many women, especially for Easter and Christmas. And of course, there are always women in any church who dress so they can attract a man and sometimes they bare a little too much of their body parts to stand out. I scolded a guy friend of mine once for staring at scantily clad woman, and he told me as a man he couldn’t stop his hormones from getting excited. I don’t blame these women for trying to attract a partner in church, because if you’re a churchgoer you want to marry a churchgoer so you can worship God together as a couple.

I think what Paul told Timothy makes sense to create an environment in church that is conducive for worship and prayer to God. If men are arguing in church against God in their prayers and women are dressing to compete against one another or to attract a partner, they all become a distraction for the group of people who have gathered to worship and pray to God. Paul wanted to make sure that when people are gathered for church, they are focused on God and his word and nothing else. When we are focused on God, we will hear and pay attention to what the Holy Spirit may be trying to tell us to deepen our relationship with God.

Day 289 Bible Readings – Proverbs 6: 16-19 (ESV)

Jeremiah 32: 26-44, Jeremiah 33-34, 1 Timothy 1, Proverbs 6: 12-19

Proverbs 6: 16-19 (ESV)

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

Verses 16 through 19 from Proverbs 6 list seven (7) things that Solomon tells us that God hates and/or are an abomination to him. The seven things seem to be very common-sense things not to do if you want to lead a peaceful and prosperous life, and they all relate to something we do with our body and/or how we treat others. The first is haughty eyes or a having a proud look, which for me translates to looking down on other people and thinking you are better than them. The second is a lying tongue which is not telling or withholding the truth from someone, which doesn’t seem that bad but why would you not want to tell the truth to someone. Lying to someone, even if it’s a white lie, always ends up hurting the other person when they find out the truth.  The third is the shedding of innocent blood which comes from the ten commandments of thou shall not kill. The fourth is the heart that devises wicked schemes, which is planning evil against someone. The fifth is having feet that make haste to run to evil or the willingness to always to evil things. The sixth is a false witness who breathes out lies, which is again one of the ten commandments about bearing false witness against your neighbor. The final one is to not sow discord among others. Everyone I think has a person in their lives who does nothing but stir up trouble, and while this person is tolerated, wouldn’t it better to have people in our lives who want the best for us and who does not constantly cause problems. If everyone tried to not do these things, I think we would have all have a more peaceful and trouble-free life.

Day 288 Bible Readings – Proverbs 6: 9-11 (ESV)

Jeremiah 31: 15-40, Jeremiah 32: 1-25, 2 Thessalonians 3, Proverbs 6: 1-11

Proverbs 6: 9-11 (ESV)

“How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

I love verses 9 through 11 from Proverbs 6 because it’s about laziness and sleeping too much. I love laying in bed all day but I know if I do that too much, I feel so lazy. It’s not that I don’t get anything done in bed because I do, but there is something about getting out of bed that makes me feel productive and not lazy. Solomon knew that laziness was not good for people so he warned that if you are lazy and don’t get out of bed, you will end up in poverty.

Because I like working in bed, I make sure I get up and make the bed. Then I wash and get dressed for the day and get back in bed and do my work. I am up and awake and not sleeping, but I am in bed and working. But I know I can’t stay in bed for a long time because it’s too tempting to take a nap, especially in the afternoon. So Solomon was right. Sleeping in for too long is not a good thing, and I love that Solomon knew this thousands of years ago.

Day 287 Bible Readings – 2 Thessalonians 2: 13 (ESV)

Jeremiah 29: 24-32, Jeremiah 30, Jeremiah 31: 1-14, 2 Thessalonians 2, Proverbs 15: 15-23

2 Thessalonians 2: 13 (ESV)

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

In verse 13 from 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul wrote to the Church of the Thessalonians that he gives thanks to God for the church members because God chose them to be saved from the beginning. In the same way, we can know that God also chose us to be saved in the beginning because of our belief and faith in Jesus Christ. God also chose and the members of the Church of the Thessalonians to be saved through sanctification. The word “sanctification” means we are “separated from the world and separated unto God.” I was listening to sermon by Pastor David Guzik on what the word sanctification, and he says there are three (3) categories of sanctification. Here’s the link to the sermon: 

The first category of sanctification is positional sanctification, which means we are automatically sanctified because of our faith in Jesus Christ. The second category of sanctification is decisive sanctification, which means we are fully surrendered to God and we choose to be set apart from the world. Pastor Guzik said we are on “Team Jesus”, but not a part of the world. Some would say we have evidence of sanctification because of our behavior and how we choose to live. And the third category of sanctification is progressive sanctification, which is the continual renewal and the growing of our surrender to God.

I like these different categories of sanctification especially the last one because in my case, surrender to God has been a continual process. I am more surrendered to God now than I have ever been in my whole life. I read the Bible daily and at the request of the Holy Spirit, I write and blog about what I’ve read so I can immerse myself more fully in God’s words. Does this mean I am saved? I don’t know because that decision will only come from the grace of God, but what I do know is that I have a deeper relationship with God that I expect to grow and deepen until the day I die. And right now, this is enough for me.

Day 286 Bible Readings – Jeremiah 29: 11 (ESV)

Jeremiah 27-28, Jeremiah 29: 1-23, 2 Thessalonians 1, Proverbs 5: 1-14

Jeremiah 29: 11 (ESV)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

In verse 11 from Jeremiah 29, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to tell the Hebrews in exile that he has plans for them even in their long season of affliction in exile in Babylon. God wanted to let his people know that his plans were for the welfare of his people and not evil. God wants to give his people a future and a hope. I love that we have assurance that God is always thinking of us even in our season of trouble. God has not forgotten us, even though in a season of trouble it often feels like God has forgotten us and will punish us even further. Our God is a good God. He has plans for our welfare so he can give us a future and a hope. God has not forgotten us, but is always drawing us closer to him in good and bad seasons of our lives.

Day 285 Bible Readings – 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22 (ESV)

Jeremiah 25: 15-38, Jeremiah 26, 1 Thessalonians 5, Proverbs 4: 20-27

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22 (ESV)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

In verses 21 through 22 from 1 Thessalonians 4 Paul gives the Church of Thessalonica in the closing of this letter to them, a final set of instructions for how to live if you are a person of faith. Paul first day to always be happy, because whatever comes your way comes from God. Paul then says people of faith need to pray without ceasing and give thanks for everything that happens in our life. Whatever is happening in our life is the will of Christ for us to bring us closer to God. Paul then says do not doubt the Holy Spirit, nor are we to despise prophecies. We need to test everything and pray to God for its meaning and hold on to what is good. And finally, to stay away from all evil.

The hardest part of Paul’s instructions for how to live as a person of faith is to always be happy and to rejoice in everything. I think it takes a tremendous amount of faith to regard everything that happens in our life as a part of God’s plan, especially in a season of trouble. But Paul’s advice to test everything is the answer to this kind of doubt.

Day 284 Bible Readings – 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12 (ESV)

Jeremiah 23: 9-40, Jeremiah 24, Jeremiah 25: 1-14, 1 Thessalonians 4, Proverbs 4: 10-19

1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12 (ESV)

“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

In verses 9 through 12 from 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul recommends to the Church at Thessolonica that they should want to lead a quiet life. If they lived a quiet life, they would have more time to be with God and read his words. Paul also recommended that people of faith need to take care of their own affairs and not meddle in the life of others, so they can lead a more peaceful life. Paul also advised that people that they needed to work instead of being lazy. People of faith cannot expect that life will be easy for them or that things will come to them easily or that God’s blessings are an excuse for laziness in life. People of faith must live a life so they can be example to those who do not have faith, and to be dependent on no one except for God.

Paul’s recommendations may seem daunting at first, but I see them as practical suggestions for how to live a life devoted to God and his word. If a person of faith lives according to the dictates of the culture around them which may not be focused on God, then they themselves will lose focus on God. I also like how Paul said that just because you believe in God doesn’t mean your life will be easy. Life is hard, but faith in God does make for an easier and more peaceful life. I also like how Paul says that our lives can be example to those without faith in Christ. Our life and the way we live it can point people to have more faith in God. Our actions in our life speak louder than words, and we can be shining examples to world of how wonderful life can be if you believe in God.

Day 283 Bible Readings – Proverbs 4: 7-8 (ESV)

Jeremiah 21-22, Jeremiah 23: 1-8, 1 Thessalonians 2: 17-19, 1 Thessalonians 3, Proverbs 4: 1-9

Proverbs 4: 7-8 (ESV)

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.”

Verses 7 and 8 from Proverbs 4 is good advice about wisdom. If you obtain wisdom you also need to get insight, but wisdom without insight is useless. If you don’t use wisdom and apply it to your life, then the information itself is useless. If you have both wisdom and insight, then you need to value this information. Wisdom and insight will bring you higher in status, and honor you if you embrace the teachings of both wisdom and insight.

But even if you have wisdom and insight, you need to pray to God and check to make sure that you are making the right decisions based on God’s plan for your life. As a person of faith, wisdom and insight without God’s blessings are not a good thing. You need all three; wisdom, insight, and faith in God; to succeed in life.

No internet service on my camping trip

I went camping with friends in northern Arizona, and there was no internet in the campground. I was hoping if I hiked the surrounding hills  to the top I would get an internet connection, but I was was wrong. 

So I couldn't post Bible Reading posts from October 11 through October 13. I plan to get caught up today, so expect more posts today!

Day 282 Bible Readings – Proverbs 3: 25-26 (ESV)

Jeremiah 18-20, 1 Thessalonians 1, 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-16, Proverbs 3: 21-35

Proverbs 3: 25-26 (ESV)

“Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”

Verses 25 and 26 from Proverbs 3 tells if you have faith in God, you do not need to afraid when bad things happen to you. You can confide in God and ask for guidance and help, and your Father-God will keep the worst from happening to you. When I read these verses, I don’t think it means that we will not experience a season of trouble or affliction. No one can escape the trials and tribulations of life. But if you have faith in God and confide in him, God will guide you and help you so you can endure a season of trouble with a calm and peaceful mind. My faith in God makes me feel like I am never alone. I also have God’s help and guidance with me in all situations, good and bad. Without faith in God, you must rely on yourself, your family, other people, the government, etc. And in my experience, reliance on anything other than God left me always fearful. I honestly don’t know why you wouldn’t want to have faith in God, because your faith leaves you much less fearful.

I often wonder if a lack of faith in God is the reason depression and suicide rates have increased in these last few years. My faith in God keeps me from getting depressed. And if I do succumb to depression, my faith in God pulls me out of my depression. Faith in God gives us a reason to hope and live for, because God promises us a better future and he always delivers on his promises.

Day 281 Bible Readings – Jeremiah 17: 9-10 (ESV)

Jeremiah 16-17, Colossians 4, Psalm 150

Jeremiah 17: 9-10 (ESV)

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Verses 9 and 10 from the prophet Jeremiah tells us not to trust your own heart and only trust in God. In the earlier verses, Jeremiah says you cannot trust people, and if you cannot trust people how can you even trust yourself. If we follow the dictates of our heart as the key to happiness, we will not find it. The people of Judah followed their heart’s desires and turned away from God, which Jeremiah saw during his lifetime. From watching the people of Judah turn away from God, Jeremiah concludes that following your heart is not a good thing. God tells Jeremiah that he searches, tests, and knows the heart and mind of every person. Pastor David Guzik remarks in his bible commentary on verse 10 that, “It is wise to trust what God says about us more than what we think or feel about ourselves.”

God made us. God planned us. God thought of us before we even entered our mother’s womb. God knows us best. And God will judge us, have mercy on us, and love us even when we cannot even love ourselves. I know for myself that I have deceived myself into thinking that God doesn’t pay attention to me, he doesn’t know how I feel, and what is really in my heart. And time and time again, God has shown me that he does me know me inside and out. God knows what I like and what I don’t like even better than I do myself. God’s taste in all things is definitely better than my own preferences, since I often choose things for the most foolish of reasons. So now I always check with Holy Spirit when I need to make a choice, always asking the question, “What choice does God want me to make?” And God is always right, even when the answer given doesn’t make sense. God has a plan for my life and if I just follow it instead of stubbornly clinging to my owns, my life runs so much better and is so much calm and peaceful.

Day 280 Bible Readings – Colossians 3: 12-14 (ESV)

Jeremiah 14-15, Colossians 3, Psalm 149

Colossians 3: 12-14 (ESV)

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

In verses 12 through 14 from Colossians 2, Paul tells the Church in Colossae how to behave if you have faith in Jesus Christ. Paul lists ways for how to treat people so we have good relationships with everyone around us. When I read this list they all seem to relate to what Jesus said in Matthew 22: 39, “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Why wouldn’t you want a random person to treat you with a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience? Why wouldn’t you want your family and friends to bear with you, forgive you if they have a complaint against you? Why wouldn’t you want the whole world to always have love in all their actions? Wouldn’t it be an amazing world if we did all these things? We would live in a more peaceful world and live in perfect harmony if we just followed the advice from Jesus Christ.

Day 279 Bible Readings – Colossians 2: 13-14 (ESV)

Jeremiah 11: 18-23, Jeremiah 12-13, Colossians 2: 6-23, Psalm 148: 7-14

Colossians 2: 13-14 (ESV)

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

Verses 13 and 14 from Colossians 2 shows Paul reminding the Church in Colossae of what they were before they came to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that before we came to faith in Christ, we are dead with our sins. Through our belief in Jesus, we are made alive together with him. Christ cancelled the debt of sins when he died for us on the cross.

I love this imagery of our sins being wiped by Christ’s death on the cross. I was at a Good Friday Service a few years ago, and they passed out papers for us to write down our sins. Then we were instructed to put them on large pieces of wood by nailing them with small nails. The pastor then told us after the service, they were going to burn the pieces of wood the next day with our pieces of paper attached to them. I love the imagery of our sins being burnt and destroyed on a cross or pieces of wood, the way Jesus wiped out our sins when he died on the cross. The kinesthetic feeling I also experienced of nailing my sin-filled paper to the piece of wood was overwhelming to me. I thought of Christ being nailed to the cross for my sins, and I was the one who was nailing him to the cross with my doubts and times of disobedience to him. It was such a powerful experience that I vividly remember to this day.

Day 278 Bible Reading – Jeremiah 10: 1-4 (ESV)

Jeremiah 9: 17-26, Jeremiah 10, Jeremiah 11: 1-17, Colossians 1: 24-29, Colossians 2: 1-5, Psalm 148: 1-6

Jeremiah 10: 1-4 (ESV)

“Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them for the customs of the peoples are vanity.  A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.”

Verses 1 through 4 from Jeremiah 10 shows God speaking through the prophet Jeremiah telling his people not to follow the ways of other nations. The people who do not believe in God believed in signs they saw in astrology and were in fear of the bad signs they sometimes saw. These people made their God out of a tree that was cut down, and then decorated with silver and gold and hammered down so it cannot move. These verses are also a reminder to us that if we do not have faith in God and Jesus Christ, we will worship a God of our own making. This “God” will only have the power we give it, but not true power like our God, the God of Abrahm.

Day 277 Bible Readings – Colossians 1: 16 (ESV)

Jeremiah 7: 30-34, Jeremiah 8, Jeremiah 9: 1-16, Colossians 1: 1-23, Psalm 147: 12-20

Colossians 1: 16 (ESV)

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

Verse 16 from Colossians 1 in Paul’s letter to the Church at Colossae shows Paul talking about Jesus Christ and how he is part of the Trinity, which include God and the Holy Spirit. Because Christ is part of the Trinity, Paul tells us that all things in heaven and earth by God and Jesus Christ. God and Jesus Christ created everything visible and invisible, include thrones and dominions or rulers and authorities.

If we believe that God and Christ created all things, we must be grateful for everything in life that comes our way including the good and bad because they are all apart of God’s plan for us. This idea can be hard to grok especially if you are going through a season of bad times, but we need to remember that everything that happens in our life is always bringing closer to God. When we are going through a season of miracles, we give praise to God. And when we are in a season of affliction, we pray to God to send us miracles to answer our prayers. We need to always remember that God always has our best interests at heart, especially in the bad times. We need to always remember that God is faithful to us and will answer our prayers. God and Jesus Christ love us, and will always be with us, now and through eternity.

Day 276 Bible Readings – Philippians 4: 6-7 (ESV)

Jeremiah 6, Jeremiah 7: 1-29, Philippians 4, Psalm 147: 1-11

Philippians 4: 6-7 (ESV)

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Verses 6 and 7 from Philippians 4 is Paul’s recommendation to the Church of Philippi about how to have peace. Paul says that if you if you always are always grateful to God and pray to him, you will have peace of mind and will not be anxious about anything. I’ve found in my life when I pray to God and tell him of my requests, I experience a sense peace that comes over me and calms me down. I know this peace of mind comes from my trust in God and my memory of all the times in my life, God fulfilled my prayers. But if you have don’t have a history of God fulfilling your prayers, you can read in the Bible of all the times God fulfilled the prayers for his people. Or you can also read books filled with the testimonials of people who have seen God answer the prayers in their life. Anyone who has seen their prayers answered by God will be able to tell you the sense of peace they have in their life because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Day 275 Bible Readings – Psalm 146: 1-2 (ESV)

Jeremiah 4: 10-31, Jeremiah 5, Philippians 3, Psalm 146

Psalm 146: 1-2 (ESV)

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

Verses 1 and 2 from Psalm 146 reminds us to praise God always in song. I love singing songs in church. I feel the presence of God increase as the congregation praises the Lord in worship. I searched on YouTube to find a song version of Psalm 146 that I really like. This psalm is short and seems like it would make for such a great song.

I hope you like song version of Psalm 146 that I found – Enjoy!

Day 274 Bible Readings – Philippians 2: 14-16 (ESV)

Jeremiah 2: 31-37, Jeremiah 3, Jeremiah 4: 1-9, Philippians 2: 12-30, Psalm 145: 14-21

Philippians 2: 14-16 (ESV)

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

In verses 14 through 16 from Philippians 2, Paul gives more practical advice to the Church at Philippi. Paul tells them to not grumble or argue when doing things. Many bible commentators believe that Paul was referencing what happened during the Exodus from Egypt when the Hebrews were complaining about their life. Charles Spurgeon gave three examples about what people of faith must not complain about: the providence of God, each other, and the ungodly world.

Spurgeon’s examples make sense to me although I know I have complained about all these things and more. I know I have complained about how God cares for me in my life because I think I know better than God. I have always complained to God and friends about other people. And I have absolutely complained to God and other people about how “ungodly” the world is now. Paul’s advice also make sense because it makes our life more peaceful if we stop complaining and arguing about everything in life.

Day 273 Bible Readings – Philippians 2: 1-4 (ESV)

Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah 2: 1-30, Philippians 1: 27-30, Philippians 2: 1-11, Psalm 145: 8-13

Philippians 2: 1-4 (ESV)

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

In verses 3 and 4 from Philippians 2, Paul gives advice to the Church in Philippi on how to have unity. The first step is to never do anything because of “selfish ambition” or for your own desire or advancement. The second step is not do anything because of “conceit” or because you fell you so important that you think no one can do it better than you. The third and final step to have unity is always do everything with an attitude of humility where you act and behave like Jesus. Jesus by his actions always put the interests of others before his own desires. Jesus healed people wherever he went and treated each person with love and care. Paul then says to act not only with you own interests in mind, but to keep in mind the welfare of others.

Paul’s advice seems easy enough, but I know the hardest thing to stop is the “conceit” and “humility” part. We are taught in our modern culture to have “good self-esteem” and to take pride in everything we do. But I know that often my pride went to my head, and I started thinking I was better than everyone else because of all the work I was doing. God gave me this gift, and I needed to show it off and get recognition for it. With these kinds of thoughts in my head, I was no longer acting with humility, but with pride and ego. I was working for myself, and not for others and certainly not for God. When recognition came for my efforts, it felt empty and meaningless because my ego and my pride were never satisfied. Had I been working instead with God and others in mind, I would have felt more satisfaction and joy for just being able to contribute my gifts for the glory of God and to help others. So now I always check myself before I do anything – am I acting in selfish ambition and conceit? Or, am I acting with my own an other people’s best interests in mind?