Jeremiah 4 - 6

When I went to type today's post I realized I read the wrong the passage. I will try and have that up for you later today. Good news though, tomorrow's post is already finished.

August 7 – Jeremiah 1 - 3

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Jeremiah 1 - 3. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Sometimes a rude awakening is what we need. Other times God speaks gently and that is enough to speak volumes to us. Sometimes it’s an entirely different approach. Today God broke my heart in the reading. God talked about how Israel and Judah both had prostituted themselves to false worship, idols and images made of wood and stone. He told them that they had no need for Him, unless something was wrong. It was in the hurting moments Israel and Judah would run wildly back to God. Sadly I have seen that play out in my own life too many times.

What really hit me is a truth that I struggle with too often. If your minister is anything like me, and I bet he is, he struggles with this too. Read these words again … “The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who taught my word ignored me, the rulers turned against me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols.” (Jeremiah 2:8 NLT) Now I cannot say I have ever turned specifically over to other objects, idols, and materials in intentional worship, but as a teacher of God’s Word, as a leader in ministry, I have certainly found myself distant from God. Sadly it is so easy to do. The Bible becomes a text book. Prayer becomes something you do and often the power of it is forgotten. And quickly distance is built between my heart and God’s, even though I am talking, teaching, and praying about Him all the time.

Please pray that God is continually renewing the fire and passion your ministers have for God. Please pray that they are seeking Him more than they are seeking anything else in this life. Please pray that their leadership in your church is based on the firm foundation that is God. If they do not do this, there is no way strength will build in your church. 

August 6 – Zephaniah 1-3

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Zephaniah 1-3. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Our reading today comes from another one of God’s prophets sent to deliver a message of destruction to Judah. The time has come for God’s solid hand of punishment over his people to be issued. Here is a stark contrast … many of the prophets sent have spoken during times of moral corruption and failure. When Zephaniah preaches he does so during a time of renewal and honest worship to God under the leadership of King Josiah, Zephaniah 1:1. This is a reminder that God is always in charge.

However, no matter what judgment God has ordained to take place, there is an opportunity for individual repentance. Zephaniah writes … “Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff.” (Zephaniah 2:2 NLT) God’s judgment was going to come regardless. However, there was still ample time for individuals to make a decision for God.

God has already ordained the final day of this life, whether it be in our own individual days or the final days before the return of Christ. However, each one has the opportunity to make a decision for Christ. We who know him have been called to make sure others have the same opportunity offered to us. That means we must constantly busy ourselves with sharing the gospel, or as we say it at West Side … loving and leading people to a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ. 

August 5 – 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Could you imagine becoming a king, or president, or even a responsible adult at the age of eight years old? I certainly could not imagine it. In our reading today that is exactly what we find, an eight year old boy who becomes king over God’s people. It is assumed that he had some sort of official ruling for him until he was old enough and wise enough to actually rule. Whoever that person was, they must have been a person in love with God. The previous examples that Josiah sees in his father Amon and grandfather Manasseh had no real love for God (Manasseh developed it late in life after his world crashed around him). This was very fortunate for the people of Judah.

Unlike his father Josiah had a deep love for God himself. During his reign he did many great things to bring Judah back into worshiping God. In his effort, not only did he focus their hearts on God, but he also cut out from Judah everything that pointed to the worship of false gods. This was an important part of the heart purification. 2 Kings 23 really highlights all that Josiah did.

What lesson can we learn from Josiah? The important one is this … to truly worship God your life has to be purged of everything that does not honor God. Start with the small things. Continue working each and every day, week, month, and year to become more and more like God. Understand that it may not happen over night, but it is a process you must go through. 

August 3 – 2 Chronicles 32-33

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from 2 Chronicles 32-33. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

What happens in your brain when you come across a passage of scripture or a story in the Bible that you are familiar with? Do you struggle to read it with new understanding and insight? Do you glaze over the words simply to check your reading off for that day? I have to admit, I struggle. Today was one of those days. I have read these stories before and have preached on Hezekiah, Manasseh and his son Amon a few times for father’s day. When reading stories that you have read before and know well you have to work hard to try and focus on and learn new insights from the text. That is part of the reason I have decided to read this year from a different translation than before.

So what do you do when reading something you are familiar with? How do you breathe new life into the text? How do you grasp new understandings? Is there anything specific you do? If so share in the comments below.

August 1 – Isaiah 64-66

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Isaiah 64-66. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Akshathnkumar Shetty

I was never good when it came to molding things out of clay. Art really is not my thing. I can take a lump of clay and roll a pretty mean snake, but beyond that, I just lack the talent. It’s not for trying; I have given it my best effort. In middle school art class I tried to make a dragon, but the proportions were completely off, and the only thing right on it was possibly the green color. I thought it would be fun to sit down at the pottery wheel, but every time the urn began to form it would collapse back down. (Still the romantic scene of me and Crystal together at a pottery wheel sounds like fun!) The most memorable thing I made was a clay pot out of snake rings piled on top of each other and then smoothed over. It is midnight blue and black in color and sits in my attic today.

I love that the Bible often likens God’s work in us to Him being the potter and us being the clay. Unlike my lack of talent, God has all the ability that we could hope for. He is the master potter. He is the ultimate craftsman. He wants to mold us and shape us to his will for our lives. At least that is what Isaiah reminds us of … “you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 NLT)

Now the question is are you allowing the potter to work? Are you allowing God the Father to mold and shape you into the beautiful creation He desires you to be? Are you praying, asking God to be the potter of your life? I hope so, but you must know it takes giving up control. It takes allowing God to take you through things you might not necessarily get or understand. It takes you allowing God to put you through the pressure of His hands and through the finishing fire. It may not always be pleasant, but what comes out on the other end is magnificent. My pottery projects were disasters, but my hands are not the hands of a master potter. God’s hands are the hands of a master potter, and his works are magnificent!