Day 174 Bible Readings – 1 Kings 11: 39 (ESV)

1 Kings 11: 14-43, 1 Kings 12: 1-24, Acts 15: 22-41, Psalm 94: 1-11

1 Kings 11: 39 (ESV)

“And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever.’”

Verse 39 from 1 Kings 11 shows the compassion of God to Solomon and his descendants, even though Solomon had disobeyed God in his old age and started worshipping other Gods. God did punish the descendants of Solomon, but because he made a promise to David who was faithful to him the punishment would not be forever. God would bring the messiah Jesus Christ who would come from the line of David.

When we are disobedient to God, we are punished but the punishment is not for all time. God remembers his promises to us and will fulfill his promise to us in the end. But in the meantime, until God does fulfill his promises to us, we will be tested in our faith. But this testing will make us stronger in our faith and more reliant on God than we had been before the testing. We need to have faith in God that he knows what is needed for us to become closer to him, even if to become closer our faith will be tested. But only in testing, can the depth of our faith be revealed to us.

Day 173 Bible Readings – Acts 15: 10-11 (ESV)

1 Kings 9: 10-28, 1 Kings 10, 1 Kings 11: 1-13, Acts 15: 1-21, Psalm 93

Acts 15: 10-11 (ESV)

“Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Verses 10 and 11 from Acts 15 is Peter’s response as to whether the Gentiles needed to follow the laws set forth by Moses when the Hebrews left Egypt. Peter’s argument is that laws of Moses were hard for even the Hebrews to bear, and they kept breaking them again and again. Peter then argued that with resurrection of Christ, the people who believe in him are saved by God’s grace and not by obedience to the laws of Moses.

Followers of Christ still had to obey God, but they were not saved by following the laws. Everyone who believes in Christ is saved by grace. I think the bigger argument is here from Peter is what is your intention for obeying God’s laws. Are you obeying God’s law to be saved? Or are you in obedience to God’s laws because you love God and Jesus so much? If you loved Christ and God so much and with all of your heart, wouldn’t you naturally want to follow his laws? For me, Peter’s argument is demanding of each believer in Christ that they examine deeply their love for God and the reasons they would obey his laws. If we aren’t saved by obeying God’s laws, then why would we need to follow God’s laws and commandments? Each believer needs to answer this question for themselves and when they do, they will I think develop a closer relationship with God because of love and not because of obedience.

Day 172 Bible Readings – Psalm 92: 12-15 (ESV)

1 Kings 8: 22-66, 1 Kings 9: 1-9, Acts 14, Psalm 92

Psalm 92: 12-15 (ESV)

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

Verses 12 through 15 from Psalm 92 describe the future of the people who follow God. They will flourish like a palm tree that stands erect and grows in the desert. They will grow like a cedar in Lebanon, which are known for being strong, large, beautiful, and useful. The people of God who are planted in the house of God will flourish, and bear fruit even in old age so they can keep praising him.

I love this image of believers in God as plants who flourish in the Garden of God. And like a good shepherd, God is a good gardener. If you are planted in God’s Garden, you will live a long life and be healthy and will prosper. May we all be plants in God’s Garden.

Day 171 Bible Readings for June 21 – Psalm 91: 14-16 (ESV)

1 Kings 7: 23-51, 1 Kings 8: 1-21, Acts 13: 43-52, Psalm 91: 9-16

Psalm 91: 14-16 (ESV)

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Verses 14 through 16 from Psalm 91 are written from the point of view of God. God talks about the promises and blessings to those who love and obey him by choice. God will deliver us and protect us because we know his name. He will answer us when we call him. He will be with us in trouble. He will rescue and honor us. He will give us a long and blessed life full of prosperity.

I love these verses because it is rare to see something written in the Bible from God’s point of view. These verses remind me of Jesus saying that God and he are the shepherds, and we are his flock. The shepherd cares for his flocks and will rejoice when even one lost sheep is found. I often feel like I am that lost sheep. God always finds me even when I don’t want him to because I’ve run away to experience freedom. He lets me experience freedom and he always welcomes me back when I’ve had enough or rescues him when I get myself into trouble. God loves everyone, even a black sheep like me.