Day 250 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 (ESV)

Isaiah 14-16, 2 Corinthians 9, Psalm 129

2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 (ESV)

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Verses 6 through 7 from 2 Corinthians 7 is Paul telling the Church of Corinth that when we give, we must give freely and not out of reluctance or compulsion. You cannot give in order to get something back, but to give because God wants us to give. Paul also tells us God wants us to give generously as much as we can, because someone who gives generously will receive many blessings materially and spiritually.

I think these verses also apples not only to money, but to giving of any kind. If we give our time, we must do so without reluctance or because we feel obligated to give our time. I think back to all the times when I gave of my time and was complaining the whole time. Those experiences were not fun for me because I didn’t want to give my time, but I felt obligated to volunteer my time to sometimes look good or because I felt it was my duty. I didn’t give cheerfully or out of generosity. Those experiences were miserable for me. I sowed sparingly and barely got anything back. It is better to give because you want to give, because you feel it in your heart to give, and you do not expect to get anything back. This attitude in giving will grant us the greatest gifts from God material and spiritually.

Day 249 Bible Readings – Isaiah 11: 6-9 (ESV)

Isaiah 11-13, 2 Corinthians 8: 16-24, Psalm 128

Isaiah 11: 6-9 (ESV)

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

I like verses 6 through 9 from Isaiah 11 which shows a future world where God reigns supreme on earth and we have peace on earth. The prophet Isaiah saw natural predators and prey together living in harmony with a child leading them. That child is the baby Jesus, who will come later as the Messiah. Everyone in this future world has knowledge of God including all the animals. Isaiah shows us an ideal world where there is no violence, not even the natural violence of a predator animal eating other animals for food. These verses remind me a painting I saw at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC by Edward Hicks called “Peaceable Kingdom”. But I’ve seen other paintings as well depicting these verses. You can find it here - Peaceable Kingdom by Edward Hicks.

Is it possible that we will someday see our world with less polarity and less violence? Can places where there has been historical conflict like the Middle East be at peace? I pray every day that this world of peace manifests in our world.

Day 248 Bible Readings – Isaiah 9: 6 (ESV)

Isaiah 8-10, 2 Corinthians 8: 1-15, Psalm 127

Isaiah 9: 6 (ESV)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Verse 6 from Isaiah 9 is another prophecy from the Old Testament about the birth of Jesus Christ. This verse has been used in Christmas music so it sounds so familiar. I love how the prophet Isaiah had these different names for Christ which describe what God can mean us. God is a wonderful counselor who we can turn to for advice. God is also a mighty God who shows us how his justice in the world. God is also our everlasting father, the person we can always rely on take care of us as a father does with his child. God is also the prince of peace, whom we rely on to bring peace to the world.

I also love how Isaiah tells us the government shall be upon the shoulders of God. If God has plans for each of us and the world, it makes sense that government would also fall under God’s plans. We have to pray to God that our government officials are led by God, either to mirror how God would treat us or to be used by God to bring us closer to him through trials and afflictions.

Day 247 Bible Readings – Isaiah 7: 14 (ESV)

Isaiah 5-7, 2 Corinthians 7, Psalm 126

Isaiah 7: 14 (ESV)

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Verse 14 from Isaiah 7 give us one of the most famous prophecies of the coming of Christ in the Old Testament. I love these prophecies of the birth of Christ in the Old Testament. It shows to me that God has a plan that sees far into the future what will be needed to save his people and save every one of us who has faith in Christ. I love signs. I know that we are not supposed to test God and look for signs, but I love signs. I always look for signs in my life of God’s guidance to me. They are almost all of the time small signs, but occasionally I will get a bigger sign. But to find the signs, I must always follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I have been doing intercessory prayers, and I’ve always wondered if I have been doing them correctly and prayed to God to give me guidance. I was invited to go to an event at my church this week, and while it wasn’t something that interested me the Holy Spirit told me to attend the event. When I went to the event, I found out that they are going to be studying a book on intercessory prayer. Was it a coincidence? Not for me. God heard my prayer, and I discovered inadvertently a book on intercessory prayer. Had I not followed the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I would never have found the book. God send me a sign and an answer to my prayer!