Another catch up post. I find myself putting aside the blogging in lieu of staying on top of the Bible in 90 Days reading schedule – which is definitely more important than blogging! Anyway…here are BIND day 25 through 30 takeaways!
Bible In 90 Days – Day 25
Reading: 1 Kings 7:38 – 1 Kings 16:20
Take Away(s):
- God came close. 8:27. The cool part about this verse is the knowledge that God later came to earth in a completely approachable state when Jesus lives on earth. I guess we should still ask the question that Solomon asked – even with the full knowledge of the answer! At times when I am reading these passages, it profoundly gets me to think that the God who dwelt in the tabernacle and temple…lived inside my heart! HIM: Amazing! me: unworthy and grateful.
- He knows us, intimately. 8:39. How convicting to realize that the awesome God who created the universe and who came close (see above)…knows me. Lives in my heart…even though He knows my heart condition. He forgives me and loves me – again, AMAZING!
- Nooooo!. 12:28. I know this is Monday Morning Quarterbacking (for that mater, reading the bible and learning from people’s examples is a constant exercise in that action), A GOLDEN CALF? Hello, Jeroboam? Remember Moses?
Bible In 90 Days – Day 26
Reading: 1 Kings 16:21 – 2 Kings 4:37
Take Away(s):
- Responsibility. 16:26. Interesting phrase, “…in his sin, which he caused Israel to commit,…” King Omri was the cause…responsible for Israel’s sin and disobedience of God. Our sin – no mater how trivial – can and does affect and have consequences on people other than ourselves. Sobering thought – and one that we often don’t consider when we are sinning.
- Flip view of sin. 16:31. As I read this, Ahab knew what he was doing (sinning) and still did it. The ESV phrases it this way, “And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam…” That said, I am just as guilty…praise God for His Amazing Grace!
- Who says the people of God are wimps! 18:27. I can just see Elijah trash talkin the Baal worshipers…
- In the Whisper. 19:11-12. Can you imagine what people in that time thought about God? It seems that most of his presence was seen in mighty power and in great victories and miracles. Imagine Elijah’s surprise when God was in the whisper. I love this Blutree song, based on this verse.
Bible In 90 Days – Day 27
Reading: 2 Kings 4:38 – 2 Kings 15:26
Take Away(s):
- Never as we expect or think. 5:11. Just like Naaman, we often impose our expectations on how God should act or how He should respond. How easy to forget that He is God…we’re just bit players in His story.
- High places and closets. 12:3. I know this has been in past descriptions of other Kings, but as I read this today, it reminded me that I need to surrender ALL areas of my life. Joash removed the idols from the main parts of the kingdom (the visible ones), but left the ones that were at the high places (those not immediately seen…the closets).
Bible In 90 Days – Day 28
Reading: 2 Kings 15:27 – 2 Kings 25:30
Take Away(s):
- We are what we…worship. 17:15. Pretty cut and dry: “They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.” ‘nuf said on this one – kthanks.
- People are people. 17:41. “Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols.” As much as I write about the failures of the Kings and Israelites; in general, I am them…
Bible In 90 Days – Day 29
Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1 – 1 Chronicles 9:44
Take Away(s):
- Details. It is interesting that through the lists of records, some people are simply listed in name only, while others (like Nimrod [1:16] and Achar [2:7]) have specific details. Each was key, just interesting.
- Jabez. 4:9-10. Two short verses. Some have seem this as “prosperity gospel” others as praying as one prayed in the old testament. For me, it seems like I am imposing my will on God’s if I pray this and expect Him to answer my way rather than His perfect will – which doesn’t always match mine. God’s word says that God granted what Jabez asked – my expectation shouldn’t be the same.
Bible In 90 Days – Day 30
Reading: 1 Chronicles 10:1 – 1 Chronicles 23:32
Take Away(s):
- Leadership – from the trenches. 12:39. I love how it says that “The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking…” – I live to think that David wasn’t just about the kingly separation, but also lead from the trenches. Reminds me of a passage coming where the Levites (even though they had great responsibility in the Tabernacle and later in the rebuilding of the walls (Nehemiah)) actually ministered and helped the people understand the Law (Neh 8:2, 5, 7-8). I want to always have that attitude!
- Our worship must cost us something. 21:24. In this case, Araunah wanted to just give David his threshing floor to build God an alter, but David insisted on paying a price saying, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” When you think about it, our free and open worship of God cost something – Christ’s death on the cross – for our open access to God. At the same time, our worship still costs us something – our surrendered heart.
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