September 9
September 9
One Year Bible Readings:
Isaiah 3:1-5:30
2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Psalm 53:1-6
Proverbs 22:28-29
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.
Isaiah:
Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20 was directed at Judah in the 8th century B.C., but I wonder if this verse can have application to our world today? "Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter." Can you think of any examples in our modern world where evil is portrayed as good and good is portrayed as evil? I can think of far too many examples unfortunately. This twisting of good and evil, light and dark, bitter and sweet did not make God happy back in eighth century B.C.
Q: Think God is happy about this twisting of good and evil today? This makes me think of Gordon Gekko's infamous lines from the movie Wall Street: "I am not a destroyer of companies. I am a liberator of them! The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind." How do you suppose Isaiah would react to hearing these words from Mr. Gekko...? :) How should we react? Or... do we react at all?
2 Corinthians:
Paul's words in Second Corinthians chapter 11 verse 14 are some of the scariest words in Scripture for each of us to take to heart: "Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light."
Q: Do you believe these words of Paul's are true? How would you know if something that appears to be good on the surface is not really good at all? Let us pray for discernment in this regards! Let us not ever be fooled by Satan and his disguises!
Psalm:
If you've ever asked yourself - or ever been asked - why do we need a Messiah? What is our need of Jesus? Well, I think this question is clearly answered in verses 2 & 3 of Psalm 53: "God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God. But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!" This is why we need Jesus. With Jesus, we indeed seek for God. With Jesus, we are blessed with the Holy Spirit to begin to have some real understanding. But without Jesus.... well, it reminds me of the old DC Talk song "In the Light" - "What's going on inside of me? I despise my own behavior. This only serves to confirm my suspicions, that I'm still a man in need of a Savior!" Amen... Q: Do you agree that apart from Jesus there no one in the entire human race who does good or has real understanding? Why do you suppose people who are not in a saving relationship with Jesus sometimes still believe people are basically "good?"
Proverbs:
Today in Proverbs chapter 22 verse 29 we read: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.†The thing I love about this Proverb is that it encourages us to be skilled in our work. Whether we are teachers, or bus drivers, or accountants, or technicians, or full time moms, I do strongly believe we are called to be skilled in our work! Do you really focus on your work and make sure you give 100% to your job? Do you avoid surfing the internet at work or chit-chatting for too long or checking personal emails? Do you work for your employer as if you were literally working for God? Do you believe that indeed no matter what your job is that you are really working for God? Do you want to give God your all? Will you give work your all? Don’t get me wrong – I’m not encouraging us to be workaholics. I just think that too often we can slack off a bit at work and think it’s no big deal. I think it is just the opposite. I believe if we slack off at work we’ll be more likely to slack off in other areas of our life, including our relationship with God.
Q: Are you skilled in your work? Do you realize that through your work you are not serving before obscure men, but you are indeed serving the King?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
One Year Bible Readings:
Isaiah 3:1-5:30
2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Psalm 53:1-6
Proverbs 22:28-29
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.
Isaiah:
Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20 was directed at Judah in the 8th century B.C., but I wonder if this verse can have application to our world today? "Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter." Can you think of any examples in our modern world where evil is portrayed as good and good is portrayed as evil? I can think of far too many examples unfortunately. This twisting of good and evil, light and dark, bitter and sweet did not make God happy back in eighth century B.C.
Q: Think God is happy about this twisting of good and evil today? This makes me think of Gordon Gekko's infamous lines from the movie Wall Street: "I am not a destroyer of companies. I am a liberator of them! The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind." How do you suppose Isaiah would react to hearing these words from Mr. Gekko...? :) How should we react? Or... do we react at all?
2 Corinthians:
Paul's words in Second Corinthians chapter 11 verse 14 are some of the scariest words in Scripture for each of us to take to heart: "Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light."
Q: Do you believe these words of Paul's are true? How would you know if something that appears to be good on the surface is not really good at all? Let us pray for discernment in this regards! Let us not ever be fooled by Satan and his disguises!
Psalm:
If you've ever asked yourself - or ever been asked - why do we need a Messiah? What is our need of Jesus? Well, I think this question is clearly answered in verses 2 & 3 of Psalm 53: "God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God. But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!" This is why we need Jesus. With Jesus, we indeed seek for God. With Jesus, we are blessed with the Holy Spirit to begin to have some real understanding. But without Jesus.... well, it reminds me of the old DC Talk song "In the Light" - "What's going on inside of me? I despise my own behavior. This only serves to confirm my suspicions, that I'm still a man in need of a Savior!" Amen... Q: Do you agree that apart from Jesus there no one in the entire human race who does good or has real understanding? Why do you suppose people who are not in a saving relationship with Jesus sometimes still believe people are basically "good?"
Proverbs:
Today in Proverbs chapter 22 verse 29 we read: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.†The thing I love about this Proverb is that it encourages us to be skilled in our work. Whether we are teachers, or bus drivers, or accountants, or technicians, or full time moms, I do strongly believe we are called to be skilled in our work! Do you really focus on your work and make sure you give 100% to your job? Do you avoid surfing the internet at work or chit-chatting for too long or checking personal emails? Do you work for your employer as if you were literally working for God? Do you believe that indeed no matter what your job is that you are really working for God? Do you want to give God your all? Will you give work your all? Don’t get me wrong – I’m not encouraging us to be workaholics. I just think that too often we can slack off a bit at work and think it’s no big deal. I think it is just the opposite. I believe if we slack off at work we’ll be more likely to slack off in other areas of our life, including our relationship with God.
Q: Are you skilled in your work? Do you realize that through your work you are not serving before obscure men, but you are indeed serving the King?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
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