Bible In 90 Days – Day 76

Reading: John 6:1 – 15:17

Take Away(s):

• Stones. John 8:7. I’m a stone thrower.  I think most of us are.  We need to imagine Jesus saying this to us more often.
• Simple Equation for Truth. John 8:31-32. =IF(ME=”hold_to_God’s_teaching”, Truth_Freedom, 0)
• Biff. John 8:43. Jesus sounds like Bif from Back to the Future here…
• Purpose of Suffering. John 9:1-12. In verse 3 we see the purpose of all the situations that we go through – God’s glory and fame.
• Indisputable. John 9:25. No one can dispute a changed heart and life.  The hard part is that we often feel as though we need to work hard at convincing people of our genuineness in our salvation.
• My God Cried. John 11:35. If Jesus wept and was deeply moved at Lazarus’ death – I have the freedom to have sadness too.  It bugs me when people feel that if you are sad, you are not trusting in God’s promises.  We don’t feel that way about Jesus here – why should we feel differently about others.
• Illumination. John 14:26. Some notes in the back o my bible I jotted down while reading a commentary on this passage: We need the Holy Spirit to clarify scripture for us.  God is different and we can’t understand His word without His help. The “fall” left us spiritually blind. Sin hinders our receptivity to scripture also.  We need the Holy Spirit’s illumination!
• Friend. John 15:15. We are God’s friends! Amazing!

Bible In 90 Days – Day 75

Reading: Luke 20:20 – John 5:47

Take Away(s):

• “Did I Just Say That Out Loud?”. Luke 20:21. I wonder if the spy who made this statement to/about Jesus thought, “wait, I can’t even ask my boss this question with a straight face?”
• If it was important to Him… Luke 24:27. By Jesus’ explanation of the Old Testament, we can see that knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament ought to be important to us also.  Think about this: He explained Exodus though Malachi to them…and by doing it, they connected it all.  How much more do we SEE and UNDERSTAND the completeness of the Bible when we read it ALL!
• Heavenly Father!. John 1:12-13. Amazing is HE and undeserving am I…Thank you God!
• Condemn – Pardon. John 3:16-18. I think many have this image of God as the being that seeks to condemn and punish…but He is a LIFE-GIVER!
• TRUE Satisfaction!. John 4:13-14. Ever notice how water tastes sooo good – is sooo satisfying.  Multiply that by eternity…that’s the satisfaction we find in God.  In our humanness (which is greedy and wretched) we just can’t comprehend that satisfaction – but it’s there for our asking!  AMEN!
• Good…but futile for Salvation. 5:39-40. Reading God’s word, praying, going to church, serving others,…all these things are good – God desires that we do them.  BUT – they don’t…can’t save us.  A price had to be paid for salvation.  A price we can’t pay by doing things.  IN fact, we don’t have to pay the price (even though we should’ve) – it was already paid…for you, for me, for all through Christ’s death on the cross.  We only have to confess, repent, and accept.  Those are the only actions we have to do for salvation.  After that, Reading God’s word, praying, going to church, serving others,…these become responsive, obedient actions.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 74

Reading: Luke 10:1 – Luke 20:19

Take Away(s):

• A Correct ‘tude. 10:20. It’s interesting that Jesus tells them to rejoice not in what was accomplished, but in their own salvation.  Sometimes we are tempted to lose sight of that and having that CORRECT attitude can greatly impact our insight and ministry.
• Mercy. 10:37. Just a reminder that God desires mercy more than sacrifice.
• The Better Thing. 10:41-42. Sometimes I’m too “martha-y”…  God, help me to discern when and where…and to have the courage and faith to make the right choice.
• Focus. 11:27-28. In our humanness (and pride) we often take compliments and forget the actual purpose and mission.  This is often true in ministry – but equally true for anything.  Here Jesus maintains focus on His purpose and message amid a compliment that may have distracted me…you.  There is really nothing wrong with the woman’s statement…but, if Jesus had followed that message and responded, His previous words would have had a completely different message and tone.
• Worth. 12:7. Satan would like nothing better than to convince us that we don’t matter in the world, much less to God.  He’s a LIAR – God knows us all intimately!  AMEN!
• Mind/Heart Check. 12:8. Can you imagine if we had this verse in our minds all the time?  We are so proud of sports teams, kids, cars, etc. and freely (even freakishly) acknowledge their worth and importance to all who would listen…how much more should be boast in and acknowledge GOD!
• Too Much…Enough. 12:18. I need to be mindful of this verse a little more…  Sometimes things are not a “need”…
• Prodigal God. 15:11-32. A while back, I listened to a great audio book by Timothy Keller on this passage – Prodigal God.  I recommend it – its a great reminder of the message of this passage.  The use of “prodigal” to describe God took me back at first, but if you look at the definition of the word, its appropriate in relation to how giving and loving He is!

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 72

Reading: Mark 9:14 – Luke 1:80

Take Away(s):

• Belief Mark 9:24. Every time I read this verse, its like looking in a mirror. It is so easy to say it – but if we’re honest…we are just like the boy’s father.
• Pastor John. Mark 10:13-16. Each week at church, we have a children’s message.  It is an East Valley distinctive – I don’t recall attending any other church that does this on a weekly basis.  I always think of this passage when the kids come running and sit around John on the steps of the platform.  Their innocence and wonder and honesty is convicting at times – OK, a lot of times…  I have to admit, I get a lot from these messages!  When you think about it – aren’t we all supposed to approach God with that child-like innocence and wonder and honesty?
• Conversations. Mark 13:1-2. Three thoughts on these verses: (1) We have to believe that Jesus and the disciples had “normal” conversations.  Jesus was fully God & fully man and the disciples, well, they were like you and me.  The extent of their interactions couldn’t have been limited to the profound ones we read in the Bible.  They HAD TO have had conversations about the regular “stuff” in life.  I think sometime we miss that.  (2) From those “regular” conversations, Jesus sought to have “teachable” moments with the disciples (and others).  I’m sure they weren’t all like that, but He was firm in His purpose and had the discernment (He’s God…it was PERFECT!) to know when to teach and when to just talk.  (3) It may be lost in the translation of the Greek to English, but Jesus’ response provokes an image (at least in my Seinfeld-influenced mind) of the disciple doing a “Dooh!” 🙂
• We Don’t Need Anymore. Mark 13:23, 31.  I think sometimes we read the Bible and think, “If only we had a better explanation” or “If only God had been a little more detailed in this area.”  We must realize…it’s all here.
• Access. Mark 15:38.  This verse is HUGE.  I think sometimes we miss the significance of the curtain being torn: “Access to God is now provided by the unique sacrifice of Jesus, rendering the temple sacrifices obsolete.” -ESV Study Bible
• “Could it be me?” Luke 1:69-70. I wonder if those in the line of David thought “could the fulfillment of prophecy be from me?” when they heard this?  Imagine the pressure and disappointment.  Imagine the resulting pride by those who had some form of status?.  Think about how we handle the thought of potential in our children and friends – how much more would it have been to know that the Messiah would come from your family line!

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 73

Reading: Luke 2:1 – Luke 9:62

Take Away(s):

• Reputation Luke 2:52. This verse shows Jesus’ humanness and the fact that as He grew, he had a good reputation.  We can surmise that he obeyed (with notice from all who observed) the commands of God and the laws of man.  It’s a little weird that it says that He grew in favor with God (since he was/is God), but I think the gist is that God’s favor was evident in people’s observation of Him and also in the blessings that He received as an obedient person.
• Power and Presence. Luke 4:28-30. It’s interesting to see how Jesus let the people go right to the brink of killing Him – then displayed His power as God.  We don’t know how it happened, but the mob let Him walk away.  Maybe some were convinced of His being the Messiah that day or after He was crucified when the recalled the experience.
• JDLR. Luke 5:5, 11, 28. JDLR…Just Don’t Look Right.  Simon and the others were savvy businessmen – they had to be in their respective businesses.  They knew when someone was putting them on – they knew when something JDLR.  Jesus assuaged that JDLR feeling in them and they cast their nets when they normally wouldn’t have done so (probably chasing anyone else off) AND dropped everything they were doing (life, business, etc.) when they followed Jesus.  Sometimes we have an opportunity or choice to make and we know it is from the Lord, but we hedge on the JDLR factor a little too much instead of the JTTL* factor.
• Imagine if… Luke 6:27-42. Just imagine if we actually practiced this – as a basic human trait…even if you are not a Christ Follower.  We went to Karen’s 25th High School reunion last weekend – I’m sure there were old grudges, hurts, and other junk that popped into people’s minds as they saw people from High School.  Hurt and hatred can be stifling – in these passages, Jesus is offering freedom.  Just think about how He practiced what he “preached” a short time later…now WE are free.
• Woe. Luke 6:46. Can you imagine Jesus saying this to your face?

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*Just Trust The Lord

Bible In 90 Days – Day 70

Reading: Matthew 16:1 – Matthew 26:56

Take Away(s):

• Even Me? 16:23. I wonder how many times God could have said this to me? God, all I can say is forgive me.
• Pride 18:3-4. I think sometimes we are so prideful that we just can’t have the child-like heart like Jesus calls for in this passage.  We are so wrapped up in our desire to “know” and “understand” and “control”, that we just can’t have the wonder that a child has in things.  I pray that I would have the WONDER.
• Lone Ranger. 18:20. We need each other.  I think sometimes solitary is the last thing we need.  There is power in numbers.
• Heart. 18:35. Forgive me Lord when I forgive on the outside, but don’t on the inside.  You know my heart…help me to model Yours.
• We Forget. 19:25-26. How often we forget that the same God who created the entire universe can do ANYTHING in our lives.  We are so dependent on our abilities that we figure we can cover somethings for God.  When we do this, we really diminish GOD.
• Service vs. Servant. 20:25-28. One of the thoughts that came to mind when I read this, was service versus servant.  I think sometimes we equate service to being a servant.  They are different.  Throughout the Bible, God looks at the heart (in Israel…in us today) – we can serve without having a heart for those we serve.  Being a servant involves heart.
• Hard. 22:30. I love my wife.  God brought us together and our 22.5 years together have been a true gift from God.  This verse is hard, but God’s ways are not ours…
• Theology. 22:37. In my bible, I previously circled the word MIND and wrote “Greek: Thinking and discussing God.”  Theology is not just for seminary grads – we all must be theologians.  Knowing and discussing God’s amazing Word makes us better worshipers.
• Convicted. 23:25-28. I don’t think anyone can read these verses and not be convicted.
• Imagine. 25:21, 23. Imagine…just imagine.  Now live.
• Help Me. 26:10-13. Sometimes I have the attitude of the disciples…
• Me? 26:56b. Have you ever read this and wondered what you would do?  For all our Monday-morning quarterbacking and second guessing the disciples…I think we’d have run too.

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 71

Reading: Matthew 26:57 – Mark 9:13

Take Away(s):

• Connection? Matt 276-10.  It goes without saying that the chief priests KNEW the law and the prophesies.  When I read this, I wondered it some of them thought to themselves, “This sounds a lot like something I’ve read before?”
• Time Alone. Mark 1:35. Jesus did it…we need to also.  Even if you’re not a morning person (I’m not!), we all need concentrated time alone with God.
• Wrong Things. Mark 7:8, 13. Forgive me God when I do this.  Help me to discern “my traditions” from Your ways.

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 69

Reading: Matthew 1:1 – Matthew 15:39

Take Away(s):

• Fulfillment 2:6, 15, 18, 23.  Let the fulfillment of what i just read over the past 68 days begin!
• Life-giving. 4:4. God’s word is life-giving!
• Go Fish. 4:18-22. Jesus didn’t call Peter and Andrew and tell them that He was going to make them great evangelists or church planters or healers…he called them to be fishers of men.  I’m listening to a podcast series by Andy Stanley called “Go Fish.”  If you listen to podcasts (if you’re not…start!), check this series out.
• Be-Attitudes! 5:3-12. There is so much meat in this short passage…Oh, to simply scratch the surface on any one of these!
• Pointers & Reflectors. 5:16. We are to shine in such a way so we make God and Christ shine – not us.  Our tendency is to just the opposite!
• Not Just about Love. 5:19-20. When i read this, in my mind, I thought loving others is key to shining for Christ, but obedience of God is just as important.  You can’t please God without both.  Saying, “It’s all about Love” without obeying the whole of God’s commands is not loving God wholly.
• Unlike. 5:46-48. If we are not different, we’re not like Christ.
• “WHEN” not “IF”. Chapter 6. I think we often miss the fact that verses 2, 5, and 16 say “when” not “if” – as Christ Followers, we are to give to the needy, pray, and fast.  I need to work on the third one…
• We Want Both! 6:24. If we’re honest, I think most of us would like to try and serve both. God, please help me to always be honest and conscious in this area.
• No Real Benefit. 6:27. Worrying just doesn’t provide any benefits…yet it is something that we do – thinking it does.  I like to say that I don’t worry, but I do…
• Foundational Stuff. 7:24-25. In reading these verses, we see that chapters five through seven are simply foundational for Christ Followers.  I’m so glad that I’m not expected to have them all checked off before I can call myself a Christ Follower.  If that were the case, I’d never make it…none of is would.
• I Forget Sometimes. 9:12-13. I think we forget who Christ came for…I know I do at times.  It is safe in our circle of Christian friends.  We need to take risks sometimes…  In the Andy Stanley, “Go Fish” podcast, he challenges to pray each day for boldness in sharing about Christ.  I need to make that a practice.
• Truth. 12:34b. Can you imagine if we thought about this before we acted/spoke as a default?

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 68

Reading: Zechariah 11:1 – Malachi 4:6

Take Away(s):

• All Hail! Zechariah 14:9 Foreshadow of Philippians 2:9-11!
• Just as good is NOT good! Malachi 1:6-14. Offering God our second best is wrong…and sin.  Father, forgive me for the times when I give You second best.  Help me make the choice, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, to offer You all my BEST…it is from You anyway!
• Ultimate Accountability. Malachi 2:7-9.  This was written to the priests. They had apparently forgotten Who they were accountable to for their actions as priests.  May I NEVER forget Who I am accountable to as a worship leader, teacher, and elder (and a human being!).
• Divorce. Malachi 2:13-16. I generally read two versions of the Bible: NIV and ESV. Interestingly, verse 16 reads differently in each version.  My ESV is a Study Bible and provides interesting commentary on the differing views (even stating, “The Hebrew text of this verse is one of the most difficult passages in the OT to translate, with the result that the two main alternative translations proposed for this verse are strongly disputed.”)  Either way one accepts the translation, God is not pleased with divorce “because of the destructiveness and pain that inevitably result.”
• Tithe. Malachi 3:10-13. From my Study Bible: “God is challenging the people to give the tithe that they owed him and then watch to see if he would be faithful to his promise. God promises to meet all their needs, but not necessarily all their “greeds” .” Awesome and providential God – help me to continue to have the obedience and faith in this.  Thank You for Your provision.

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NOTE: So today’s reading actually included the first four chapters of Matthew.  I wanted to make a defined break between the Old and New Testaments, so those chapters will be included in Day 69’s notes.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 66

Reading: Obadiah – Nahum

Take Away(s):

• Blissful Jonah 1:1-6. There are probably many things that can be written about this passage, but the one thing that came to mind for me was how we can be simply and blissfully content in our sin – just as Jonah was.  People all around us can see our condition, but we just ignore it and them.
• Matter of Fact? Jonah 1:10. Another observation about sin – sometimes we treat sin – which is disobeying God – with a matter of fact attitude.  Jonah knew he was disobeying God…and apparently shared that with his fellow shipmates!
• Breakable. Jonah 2:7-9. Sometimes we have to be broken to be changed.  Thank You for the times You have broken me God.  I can say that now…it was hard then.  You know what is best for me and use all things to refine me and shape me into the person You would have me be.
• Misplaced Concerns. Jonah 4:10-11. We are so foolish sometimes.  Just like Jonah, we are concerned for things that just aren’t worth it…at the expense of things that should command our complete and undivided concerned attitude.
• Messiah. Micah 5:2 Messiah!  Jesus!
• They Knew – So Do We. Micah 6:8.  Written for Israel, but a picture of what God expects of us too.  I love how this says, “He has SHOWED you…” – its not that God simply gave a message to a prophet, He showed them in many ways what was good and what He required of them.  My study Bible explains as: The Lord desires the primary forms of love—justice (do justice), mercy (love kindness), and faithfulness (walk humbly)—as the expressed response of his people to his redemptive acts. Words to live by!

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 67

Reading: Habakkuk – Zechariah 10:12

Take Away(s):

• I’ve said this…we all have! Habakkuk 1:12-13.  We naturally question God…His ways are not our ways – His thoughts are higher than ours.  BUT ITS HARD GOD!
• Worthless STUFF – False Comfort. Habakkuk 2:18-20. How often we value our STUFF (our idols…) and think it can give us any true satisfaction or real comfort.  If we’re honest, we all do this in varying degrees – sometimes just to escape our problems.  Forgive me Lord…
• Even Today. Habakkuk 3:2. We can – and should – pray Habakkuk’s prayer today.
• Amazing. Zephaniah 3:17. Can you imagine the God who created everything in sight at this very moment will sing over YOU…ME as His children! Mind boggling.  Paraphrase of my study bible’s comment puts it best: God is not aloof or emotionless – He bursts forth in joyful divine celebration over us. Again, mind boggling!!
• Right Reliance. Zechariah 4:6. Succinct guidance about where our reliance should be: in the Holy Spirit.  How we often trust in everything BUT Him.  Lord, I pray that my default would be a reliance on You and that I would be aware of the choice and have the courage to make the right one.

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 65

Reading: Joel 1:1 – Amos 9:15

Take Away(s):

• Show Joel 2:13. “Rend your heart and not your garments.” It’s easy and very convincing to have an outward response to sin…well convincing to everyone other than God.  He sees our hearts and tells us to have a response at hour heart not our outward expression.  God, I can think of times when I’ve “shown” remorse for my sin – and not had a broken heart for my sin. I pray that You would forgive me.  May Your Holy Spirit convict me immediately when I am tempted to “show” rather than have an inward – heart change.
• INSTEAD. Amos 5:21-24. When I read this, besides being convicted about the stance of my heart when I worship or even when I do anything for the Lord, my mind went to this song by Jon Foreman, Instead of a Show.  I read where he said this song is based on Isaiah (probably 1:11-17), but it fits with this passage in Amos also.

• Plumb Line. Amos 7:7-8. Our “plumb line”: Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 63

Reading: Ezekiel 47:13 – Daniel 8:27

Take Away(s):

• Integrity Daniel 1:8. Daniel took a stand about his commitment to God and was honest about his stance before his superior.  It’s one thing to take a stand in your heart or express it to those who agree with your stand.  Integrity is when you express that to the one who may or may not agree with your stand as Daniel did.  I pray that I would have the courage to make the same choice, O Lord.
• Purpose. Daniel 2:29-30. Daniel knew his ability to know and interpret wasn’t to building himself up – although he could have certainly leveraged that result.  His ability was to further God’s purposes.  How often we look at the “angles” rather than the purpose.

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 64

Reading: Daniel 9:1 – Hosea

Take Away(s):

• Sin = Shame? Daniel 9:7a. We all sin. The question is, do we have the word “shame” in our mind when we sin?  We tend to categorize our sin – it’s a human defense mechanism: we rationalize.  The truth is, all sin is seen equally in the eyes of God – it’s hard for us to get that.  We tend to think that shame is reserved for the heinous sins or those that hurt others – when, all sin should evoke a ominous shame in our hearts.  Imagine standing before God and confessing your sin – in the light of His perfection and holiness – shame WOULD manifest itself…regardless of the sin.
• Sin Affects More Than Me. Hosea 4:1b-3. As I read this, the sense that my sin effects more than just ME.  Just as Israel’s sin and unfaithfulness affected the land – so our affects those around us.