Week of August 21 through August 27
Something to think about this week: What it means to be spiritually dead or alive.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Isaiah 6:1-8 – Earth Is Full of God’s Glory.
Tues. – Acts 17:22-31 – In Him We Have Our Being.
Wed. – Micah 4:1-8 – Many Will Go to God’s House.
Thurs. – Hebrews 7:11-25 – Jesus Is Able to Save Forever.
Fri. – Isaiah 26:12-21 – Awake and Sing for Joy!
Sat. – 1 Corinthians 15:1-14 – The Most Important Message.
Sun. – 1 Corinthians 15:15-28 – Jesus, the First Fruits.
Salvation can only be found in Christ. He is the right place to look for love and salvation.
Lesson 13 – August 27 – God’s Kingdom Will Be All in All
Dead or Alive
Attending a wake or funeral makes me sad. I’m a very empathetic person, so seeing someone cry almost always makes me cry. too. But what is the most horrific is attending funerals where there has been no evidence of faith in Christ. It’s true that we are not to be judges, as we learned last week. God is indeed the final judge. But when it seems there is no evidence of faith, I feel so sad.
There’s an answer for that, and it’s free to all who want it: salvation in Jesus Christ! This lesson focuses on the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead in Christ. Death came through one man, Adam, and the resurrection from the dead came through one man, Jesus Christ. We get a glimpse into what the kingdom of God will be like after Christ destroys the last enemy, death, and then reigns with His Father forever. What this means is that we, as believers, will be alive forever! Our earthly body will physically die, but at the moment we take our last breath, our soul will be with God: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8, KJV).
We truly can celebrate our life with Christ here and now, and forevermore. What a gift we’ve received! Even when life is hard, we can celebrate Christ. Even when we’re in pain, we can celebrate Christ. We are indeed alive in Christ, now and forever.
Week of August 14 through August 20
Something to think about this week: Would you say that you examine the Bible with eagerness every day?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Isaiah 41:1-14 – Fear Not; God Is with You.
Tues. – Romans 8:1-17 – No More Condemnation.
Wed. – Romans 8:18-25 – Wait for Redemption with Patience.
Thurs. – Romans 8:26-39 – The Spirit Helps in Our Weakness.
Fri. – Psalm 82 – Rescue the Weak and Needy.
Sat. – 1 Corinthians 4:1-6 – Stewards of God’s Mysteries.
Sun. – 1 Corinthians 4:7-21 – God’s Power Exhibited in Weakness.
Lesson 12 – August 20 – Judgement in the Kingdom
Leave It with God
Through the years, we’ve watched Judge Judy, Judge Mathis, Judge Steve Harvey, and a plethora of other judge shows. It seems people like to watch others being judged—and sometimes they like to do the judging themselves.
Yet God tells us not to judge, but to pay attention to ourselves, and let God be the judge of others. We shouldn’t be judging and jumping to conclusions about anyone, because we truly only know a fraction of the whole story. God, the Judge, knows the whole story. King Solomon wrote, “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart” (Prov. 21:2). He knows the motives of the heart.
In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul is teaching the Corinthian church that God is indeed the final authority, and we should not put ourselves into a position of judging others. We need to follow God’s teachings, and not create new rules based on what we think is right. We need to just stick “with the script,” so to speak.
Christ knows the hearts of people—including yours and mine. Solomon tells us, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD” (Prov. 16:2).
Oh Lord, help us follow your teachings, and not add anything to them, or take anything away from them. Make your Word clear to us, we pray in Jesus’ name.
Prior to 1 Corinthians 4, Paul had admonished his readers because there were divisions among them. He had heard from the some members of Chloe’s household that they were divided, even quarreling, about the ministers they wanted to follow, such as Paul, Apollos, and Peter. Even those who claimed to be simply followers of Christ were still separating themselves from the others in a manner that was hurtful to the Body of Christ (1:11-13). This is why he said, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (vs. 10). Though believers within a church may not always agree on everything, as our lesson helps us understand, we need neither to be disagreeable nor divisive about it. For if we are, we risk incurring the Lord’s judgment and the world’s ridicule.
Week of August 7 through August 13
Something to think about this week: What attitudes or actions reflect a proper demonstration of our faith in Jesus?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Proverbs 2:1-11 – God Guards the Paths of Justice.
Tues. – Matthew 5:3-12 – Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness.
Wed. – Matthew 5:13-20 – Righteousness in God’s Kingdom.
Thurs. – Isaiah 26:1-11 – God Keeps the Steadfast in Peace.
Fri. – Nehemiah 7:73-8:3, 5-6, 9-12 – Rejoice in God’s Word.
Sat. – Romans 12:9-21 – Rejoice in Hope.
Sun. – Romans 14:10-23 – Righteousness, Peace, and Joy.
It was 1967, and we were about to embark on learning how to square dance in my physical education class in middle school. There was a major problem with that. My church taught that dancing was sinful. So, my pastor wrote a letter asking that I be excused from that activity, which I was. As I think about it now, I feel embarrassment and sadness. But then, I felt spiritually superior to all those other kids; I was “standing up for my faith.”
I had it all mixed up. By refusing to participate in a “Do Si Do,” I wasn’t a more spiritual Christian. In fact, thinking it was making me a more spiritual Christian made me full of unhealthy pride.
Our faith doesn’t equate with following a list of rules, but rather, it is expressed in the attitudes of our heart toward Christ and people. We shouldn’t feel we are superior because of our convictions, and we shouldn’t judge others by their different biblical convictions. We should love them, and respect them. Romans 15:5-6 tells us, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Lesson 11 – August 13 – The Nature of the Kingdom
One of the consequences of getting hung up on rules or arguing about disputable matters is that outsiders—those who haven’t yet put their trust in Jesus—may see us as judgmental, contentious, or uncaring. That’s one reason why it’s important that we consider how we are demonstrating our faith in issues that God considers a matter of personal conviction. God wants our attitudes and actions to be driven by a desire for them to reflect His heart. He also wants us to focus on what edifies others and that properly represents the nature of His kingdom.
When it comes to my attitudes and actions, I often find myself experiencing the same battle Paul described in Romans 7:14-25. I know what my attitude is supposed to be. I know what I’m supposed to do. But sometimes my heart is not aligned with God’s, and I’m more inclined to do the very opposite of what God wants me to do.
There are probably situations every day where we struggle to keep our attitudes or actions aligned with God’s heart. What can help us to keep them aligned with God and the nature of His kingdom is to consider in advance how He wants us to respond to these challenges. Our goal should be for both our actions and attitudes to properly represent what God and His kingdom are like.
There is no rule book that tells us what to do in every situation, except for perhaps the rule to consider how our actions or attitudes affect others, or the one to make sure that both are always aligned with God’s heart and the nature of His kingdom.
Week of July 31 through August 6
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Something to think about this week: A time when you were so caught up doing one thing that you forgot to do something else you needed to do.
Mon. – John 3:1-9 – You Must Be Born Again.
Tues. – John 3:10-21 – God Loves the World.
Wed. – Matthew 16:21-28 – Take Up Your Cross.
Thurs. – Isaiah 44:21-28 – God Sweeps Away Our Sins.
Fri. – Isaiah 59:1-8, 15-21 – God’s Spirit and Words Remain.
Sat. – Titus 3:1-8 – Rebirth and Renewal through the Spirit.
Sun. – Galatians 5:13-26 – Called to Freedom.
Sometimes I experience both amnesia and dejà vu at the same time, and I’m like: “Yep, I’ve forgotten this before “.
Our selfish attitudes and indulgences so often trump our consideration of the needs of others.
Lesson 10 – August 6 – Inheriting the Kingdom
Let Love Be Your Umbrella
I find it interesting that Paul included the word love twice in today’s passage. The first was in the context of one of Jesus’ greatest commands, to love others as we love ourselves. The second was in the context of the fruit that comes from walking by the Spirit, love being one of nine characteristics listed.
It occurred to me as I thought about this that love is both a motivation for walking by the Spirit as well as a result of doing so. When love is the driving force in our relationships with others, it can be an umbrella that keeps us from being overwhelmed by the temptation to indulge in the selfish desires that can drench us. But it is also one of the qualities that result when this umbrella is put to good use.
I think about this often as I consider the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit and how well I’m doing in showing them. When it comes to joy, for example, do I bring the mood of others down because of my grumpiness, or do people look forward to having me around because of my positive demeanor? When someone does something that irritates me, do I respond with anger or frustration, or do I respond with patience and understanding? Am I critical of others, or do I treat them with kindness? Am I more likely to push my own ideas and convictions on others, or do I accept differences of opinion and avoid disparaging those who don’t agree with me?
Am I letting love be my umbrella? Am I putting it to good use?
It may seem like a daunting task to be known as one who is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit and who is guided by their love for others rather than as someone who has a tendency to give in to selfish indulgences. But it is a task that can be achieved if one is in tune with the Holy Spirit and is walking down the path He has laid out.
Week of July 24 through July 30
Something to think about this week: Something you consider to be one of your greatest treasures—anything from a love letter someone wrote to you to an antique bookcase handed down through your family.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Proverbs 8:1-12 – Wisdom Is Better than Jewels.
Tues. – Job 28:1-2,12-19 – Where Shall Wisdom Be Found?
Wed. – Luke 5:1-11 – A Miraculous Catch of Fish.
Thurs. – Psalm 148 – Praise the Lord from the Heavens.
Fri. – Matthew 6:19-33 – Store Up Treasures in Heaven.
Sat. – Psalm 119:161-176 – God’s Word Is Great Treasure.
Sun. – Matthew 13:44-52 – Heaven’s Hidden Treasures.
Lesson 09 – July 30 – Finding and Gathering
Kingdom Living
This lesson encourages us to consider what it means to focus on Jesus and the kingdom of heaven. The first two parables add to Jesus’ teaching about how to fulfill the greatest commandment: “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). When we seek the kingdom of heaven, we practice undistracted commitment to living a kingdom life.
In these two parables, Jesus emphasized the value of seeking and finding. The kingdom of heaven and the life it offers is more valuable than anything we have on earth. It’s worth everything we have and more—if we trade or exchange everything of value in our life, the kingdom of heaven is worth still more than that.
In the third parable, Jesus compared those who seek the kingdom of heaven (good fish) with those who do not seek God (bad fish). They may all be caught together in the net for now, as the weeds grew alongside the wheat in last week’s lesson, but in the end, they will be separated by angels.
Jesus’ audience included His disciples as well as, perhaps, teachers of the law. Anyone who heard His words, believed, and stepped into the kingdom of heaven would receive the blessings of the Kingdom.
Step into the Kingdom
What we perceive as important in life dims when we step into God’s kingdom. For
example, many of us place great value on our time. We guard our time so we can spend it as we choose. It’s healthy to block out time on the calendar for family or life-sustaining pursuits. However, when we set aside earthly desires and pursuits to spend time with God, seeking to live in and for His kingdom, all else fades away. It might be as simple as setting aside news or social media or errands to make time to read God’s Word and listen to worship music. In this way, the kingdom of heaven is like “treasure hidden in afield.” This isn’t as easy as it sounds; we struggle as we live caught in a world where the good and bad fish are currently mixed together.
But as we spend time with Jesus, we discover pearls of great value and the blessing Of seeking His righteousness as a way of lfe. We hide God’s Word in our hearts so that we may bring out of the storeroom His treasures. Once we realize the joy and value of living in God’s kingdom, we are willing to trade everything we have for it.
Week of July 17 through July 23
Something to think about this week: How many weeds have you pulled in your life and what makes those weeds so annoying?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Matthew 3:1-12 – Preparing for God’s Harvest.
Tues. – Psalm 1 – The Righteous Yield Their Fruit.
Wed. – 2 Corinthians 13:1-10 – Examine the State of Your Faith.
Thurs. – Psalm 139:11-24 – Search Me, 0 God.
Fri. – Ecclesiastes 12 – God Brings Every Deed into Judgment.
Sat. – Matthew 13:24-33 – God Will Deal with the Weeds.
Sun. – Matthew 13:34-43 – The Righteous Will Shine.
Weeds seem to multiply overnight, they crowd out the vegetables we have planted. No matter what we do the weeds always seem to come back.
Weeds, Be Gone!
When we bought our home two decades ago, the backyard was professionally landscaped, including a two-tiered garden butting up to the patio, with small evergreen shrubs and creeping phlox. It was lovely. But eventually, something else crept in and took over. It was a nasty vine, and it grew like the weed it was, growing through the gardens, across our patio, and even climbing up the brick of the house. One day I saw a bit of it poking under my back door! It seemed unstoppable. We eventually declared war, and removed all the shrubs and phlox, stripping the garden down to the dirt, and pouring weed poison on it numerous times. But that vine would not die. We continue the battle.
Weeds can cause havoc in gardens. Spiritual “weeds” can cause havoc in the Body of Christ. You’ll study the parable of the weeds today. The good news is even though we must sometimes live among the “weeds,” God’s kingdom will be sorted out in the end, the weeds divided from the wheat. We just need to keep on faithfully loving and serving our Lord, obedient to His Word, until that day comes. Galatians 6:9 encourages us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Chin up, soldier. The weeds may thrive now, but one day—they will be gone.
Lesson 08 – July 23 – The Weeds Among the Wheat
Take Heart!
In the parable, the owner of the field advised his servants to allow the wheat and weeds to grow up together. Often, we have the same tendency as the servants—to judge others and try to determine which people are wheat and which are weeds. If we are too hasty and pull up “weeds” now, we may damage tender stalks of wheat who are new or immature believers. Jesus assured us that the harvesters will take care the weeds in due time.
Meanwhile, we should be the best “wheat” we can be. We do that in part by maintaining a focus on Jesus as the sower or author (Heb. 12:2) of our faith, rather than judging “weeds.” We know the sower, Jesus, knew exactly what He was doing and that there would be weeds among the wheat. It is nothing He has done that places weeds among us, but the work of an enemy. This enemy is from without and sowed weeds when no one was paying attention. We would do well to guard the fields of our hearts from seeds of bitterness, judgment, confusion, or insensitivity.
Keeping our eyes on Jesus and His work on the Cross enables us to take heart that He has it all in control. We know the end of the story—evil will be destroyed at the end of the age. Those who remain faithful in righteousness will shine like the sun. As James said, we can take heart by remaining rooted in Christ during times of testing and suffering: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” These things produce perseverance, which leads to greater maturity and fulfillment in Christ (Jas. 1:4).
Week of July 10 through July 16
Something to think about this week: The process you went through the last time you planted something.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Mark 4:21-32 – The Kingdom’s Small Beginnings.
Tues. – Mark 4:33-41 – The Wind and Sea Obey Jesus.
Wed. – Psalm 95 – Listen to God’s Voice.
Thurs. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-8 – God’s Wisdom Is Unconventional.
Fri. – 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 – The Spirit Reveals God’s Ways.
Sat. – Isaiah 61 – God’s Harvest of Righteousness.
Sun. – Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 – Receiving and Understanding the Word.
Pete and Harry were talking one day.
“My wife asked me to buy ORGANIC vegetables from the market garden,” said Pete.
“So were you able to find some?” Harry asked.
“Well when I got to the market, I asked the gardener, ‘These vegetables are for my wife. Have they been sprayed with any poisonous chemicals?'”
“The gardener answered: ‘No, you’ll have to do that yourself.'”
Experienced Gardener Wanted
The woman applying for a job in a Florida lemon grove seemed way too qualified for the job.
“Look Miss,” said the foreman, “have you any actual experience in picking lemons?”
“Well, as a matter of fact, yes!” she replied. “I’ve been divorced three times.”
Lesson 07 – July 16 – The Sower and the Seed
Jesus often taught in parables so that people would wrestle with their meanings. His intention was, at first, to get a response along the lines of, “What was that all about?” Those who wanted to know the truth behind the stories Jesus told would eventually find their way to the practical lesson the parable taught. Those who were spiritually indifferent would quickly give up and give their fleeting attention to something else. Sometimes, Jesus would explicitly explain what was meant by a parable for those who were interested. For these stories, Jesus didn’t mind providing a short cut.
Parable of the Sower and the Seed
This is one of several parables Jesus personally explained, and He started His explanation with a call to listen. In essence He was saying, “Pay very close attention to what I’m about to say.” The seed along the path represents those who hear the message, but do not comprehend what it means, or they don’t really care. Since the Word has no pull on the person’s heart, Satan comes and snatches it away. Sometimes all the devil has to do is set up a distraction, and the Good News is soon forgotten. Often, it takes some sort of crisis for people to see their need to be reconciled with God. When things are going well, God is forgotten or irrelevant.
The person represented by the seed along the rocky ground has a deeper, joyful reaction to the Good News, but when ridicule or life’s problems come, their thin soil of belief cannot handle those concerns. The concerns consume them, and then they fall away from that which they were once excited about. When people find out the Christian walk is fraught with turmoil and suffering (Jesus was very clear about this), they think, “This isn’t worth it,” and they “quickly fall away” (vs. 21).
The third type of soil where the seed landed was surrounded by thorny weeds that blocked out the sun (and took the plant’s water). Thus, the plants become entangled with the weeds of the world. These people may see the Kingdom as not blessing them as it should (financially) and let their vain pursuit of wealth or the worries of the world stifle them. There’s no fruit on these plants.
The final type of soil is a rich environment for growing things that are not only good to eat, but help human lives flourish. What do the different levels of fruitfulness in this parable mean in the life of a Christian? The works of the fruitful Christian must be love-driven. Love is the central motivating factor in bearing fruit for God. Also, the people who bear the most fruit in life seem to have found the sacred intersection between what they care about deeply and the needs God has for them to meet. That is believers using the gifts, talents, and abilities they’re passionate about to minister fruitfully in the Kingdom.
Week of July 3 through July 9
Something to think about this week: How God’s Church can become more
united.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Luke 11:1-13 – Teach Us to Pray.
Tues. – Matthew 6:5-15 – Your Kingdom Come.
Wed. – Psalm 97 – The Lord Is King!
Thurs. – Psalm 47 – Shout to God, the King.
Fri. – Matthew 12:1-14 – The Lord of the Sabbath.
Sat. – Matthew 12:15-21 – God’s Gentle Servant.
Sun. – Matthew 12:22-32 – The Kingdom of God Has Come.
Lesson 06 – July 9 – The Kingdom Has Come Upon You
Unity, for Good or Bad
Unity, no matter what the cause, is a force to be reckoned with. Amazing things can happen when a people or group are unified. This is why God wants a unified kingdom.
God understands that a kingdom divided has no power or strength. As someone once said, “Unity is strength, division is weakness.”
However, unity for an ungodly cause provided the strength for the mission of the tower of Babel: “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves'” (Gen. 11:4). Although this is an example of “unity in error,” the perseverance it took to build this structure got God’s attention; He knew nothing would be impossible for these united people because of their oneness. God then weakened the people with division, the confusion of their languages (see Gen. 11:5-9).
But unity may also bring great good. Close to 40,000 African Americans united and boycotted the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system because of segregated seating. This successful boycott lasted for a year, from December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956. African Americans were 75% of the bus ridership, and they had the power to finally cripple the bus service.
Unity prevailed. At the age of 26, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was appointed the leader of the protest; he would later lead more protests against segregation. Rev. King told an audience just before the boycott, “I want to say that in all of our actions we must stick together. Unity is the great need of the hour, and if we are united, we can get many of the things that we not only desire but which we justly deserve.”
When we serve only the Lord, and resist the devil, we bring that kind of unity to our churches and our society still today.
Week of June 26 through July 2
Something to think about this week: How you spread the good news of Jesus with others.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Revelation 7:4-17 – The Redeemed from Every Nation.
Tues. – Isaiah 55 – God’s Invitation to Peace and Care.
Wed. – Daniel 7:1-14 – Dreams and Visions Revealed.
Thurs. – Philippians 4:4-9 – God’s Peace Will Be with You.
Fri. – Revelation 21:1-14 – God Makes All Things New.
Sat. – Revelation 21:15-27 – Glory and Honor of the Nations.
Sun. – Zechariah 9:9-17 – Rejoice! The King Is Coming!
The King has come and provides peace to all who seek it—through Him.
Lesson 05 – July 2 – Peace to the Nations
We may not fully grasp “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:7), but we can certainly appreciate the impact that it has on our lives. When circumstances trigger extreme anxiety, divine peace calms our nerves; when tension hurls us at odds with someone, divine peace soothes our temperament; and when a situation with God distresses us, divine peace restores our faith. The peace of Christ is a balm for all our troubles.
A Special Kind of Peace
At the Last Supper in the upper room, Jesus told the apostles, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). Although the apostles did not understand that their Lord would soon die and ascend into His heavenly kingdom, Jesus not only knew what would happen to Him, but He also knew that His beloved friends would suffer grievously for His sake. Therefore, He promised to leave them with His peace—a peace unlike any worldly peace, but a divine peace that would strengthen their faith and calm their spirit in any situation.
Jesus can give this special kind of peace because He is the King over all creation. Therefore, Jesus has the authority and the power to bestow this peace to His faithful followers, which He gladly does. This peace is a precious gift that we should value and in which we need to trust, for if we ignore or snub it, our spiritual journey will become far more difficult and contentious.
How the peace of Jesus brings victory in our lives is so wondrous and majestic that our hearts should overflow with joy—so much so that we cannot help but acclaim Jesus as Lord to all we know, especially those who do not comprehend how Jesus can bless their lives as well. In fact, God has commissioned us to proclaim Jesus to the world, which is in dire need of the peace only He can give.
Jesus’ peace is a special kind of peace in many ways, but the most important feature of His peace is that it gives us peace with God Almighty. The enmity between God and us was so formidable that there was nothing we could do to restore our relationship with Him; only the atoning work of Jesus on the cross could accomplish that miracle. “Therefore,. . . we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
Week of June 19 through June 25
Something to think about this week: What it means to trust in God for everything.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Jeremiah 31:1-9 – Love with an Everlasting Love.
Tues. – Jeremiah 31:27-34 – A New Covenant.
Wed. – 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 – We Walk by Faith.
Thurs. – 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 – Renewed in Christ.
Fri. – Psalm 86 – God Abounds in Steadfast Love.
Sat. – 1 Corinthians 13 – Love Is the Greatest.
Sun. – Zephaniah 3:14-20 – The Lord Is in Your Midst.
This week’s lesson focuses on why we can trust Christ to save us.
Lesson 04 – June 25 – Renewed in God’s Love
Why do we trust some people more than other people? It’s because their actions have proven to be trustworthy. There are times, however, when even trusted people fail us either unconsciously or intentionally, and it takes time for us to recover our trust in them. There are also times when our perception of God’s actions make it difficult for us to trust Him. Nevertheless, there is a huge difference between people we trust and God. Although His actions or inaction baffles us or contradicts our wishes, invariably we will come to realize that, in fact, God is doing what is really the best for us. Therefore, we should trust Him whatever our perceptions may tell us.
Trusting with All Our Heart
These are the words of the psalmist: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Ps. 20:7). The psalmist distinguishes between those who trust in God and those who do not—specifically their trust is in those things that exude power and worldly authority.
Today, chariots and horses represent a wide range of things—from such concrete things as money and material possessions to such nonmaterial things as news reports and financial predictions. None of these things are necessarily bad in themselves, but when they displace our reliance on what the Lord has taught us through Scripture and His Holy Spirit, then they can trample our relationship with God.
The key to trusting God is prayer. “Prayer is the most tangible expression of trust in God,” said Jerry Bridges, author of The Pursuit of Holiness and Holiness Day by Day. According to Bridges, as we place our trust in the Lord, He transforms us into His holiness, and we trust Him when we pray sincerely and openly.
“Trust the past to God’s mercy,” said Augustine, “the present to God’s love and the future to God’s providence.” Implicit in his statement is both the power and the compassion of God. As the Mighty Warrior, God’s Son has atoned for our sins in an act of redemption that only He could perform, and He has already secured the ultimate victory for our salvation when we will abide in His heavenly kingdom. Moreover, at this very moment the Lord is showering us with His love that is expressed in His wondrous mercy.
Therefore we agree with Solomon, who said, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).
Week of June 12 through June 18
Something to think about this week: How you would feel about serving a king in this country.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Isaiah 50:4-9 – The Confidence of God’s Servant.
Tues. – Isaiah 52:13-53:12 – God’s Servant Will Make Many Righteous.
Wed. – Mark 10:17-27 – Forsaking All for the Kingdom.
Thurs. – Mark 10:35-45 – The Greatest Must Be a Servant.
Fri. – Psalm 113 – Who Is Like the Lord?
Sat. – Mark 14:1-9 – A Humble Act of Love.
Sun. – Ezekiel 37:15-28 – God’s Servant David Shall Be King.
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Reader’s Digest Dad Jokes
Lesson 03 – June 18 – God’s Servant-King
Service to Our King
Serving our divine King is not a part-time job. Such service should be full time, for at any time of the day King Jesus may ask us to perform a service for Him or for others, and with a glad heart we must comply if we are to live a healthy spiritual life. The fact that there are influences all about us seeking to draw our attention away from our godly duties should clearly tell us how critical it is to be faithfully in step with our Lord and His guidance.
The pursuit of idols, however, propels us away from our service to our divine King. It absorbs our hearts and our mind so that we neglect our Christian obligations and forget the presence of our Lord. These idols might be as obvious as worshiping other gods or dedicating our entire lives to a political figure or as subtle as being obsessed with our careers or being overly preoccupied with a hobby. Whatever stands between Christ and us is an idol and must be abandoned.
Like the Jews in Ezekiel’s day, idols sometimes take our focus away from God, but also like God’s chosen people, the Lord still promises to abide with us and to restore us to His good graces if we humble ourselves before Him and once more dedicate our lives to His service. Jesus Himself teaches us what service means and why it is important to our heavenly Father—that is, putting God first and the needs of others before our own needs.
“Whoever serves me must follow me,” said Jesus, “and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me” (John 12:26). Among the greatest blessings is to be honored by almighty God, and such honor comes when we faithfully serve His Son, Christ Jesus.
Serve Christ Only
While the exiles dwelled in foreign lands, they yearned for deliverance from their hardships and a return to their homeland. The prophet Ezekiel then conveyed the words of their God, who promised to make them one nation again in Israel, where they would denounce idols and serve Him only. That call to faithfulness God speaks to us today—to abandon any idols that have entered our hearts and minds and to fulfill the duties that He has assigned us.
We all have some idols we need to reject so we can serve Christ. Think about how you can resist the lure of idols in order to serve Christ single-heartedly this week.
Week of June 5 through June 11
Something to think about this week: How would you answer this question: “If sin did not exist, how would your life be different?”
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Ezekiel 47:1-12 – The River of Life.
Tues. – John 16:19-33 – Receiving Everlasting Joy.
Wed. – James 3:13-18 – The Right Kind of Spirit.
Thurs. – Psalm 4 – Peace Amid Distress.
Fri. – Psalm 46 – God Is Our Refuge.
Sat. – Ephesians 2:11-22 – Christ Is Our Peace.
Sun. – Isaiah 65:17-25 – A New Heaven and Earth.
Lesson 02 – June 11 – God’s Kingdom of Peace
Suffering Then Glory
Everyone conceived in this broken cosmos experiences darkness. Suffering varies from person to person, but no one escapes death, shattered dreams, nor the pain that weakens a soul until all one can do is weep. What believer has not deeply felt, if not cried, “My God, why have You forsaken me?”
Finite humans cannot make sense of their circumstances in light of God’s promises. As the Israelites marched from Jerusalem into the desert in chains, odds are God heard the refrain, “What about your promise to Abraham, Lord? What about your oath to David?” As believers trudge through their trials, they’ll likewise wonder, “How in the world does this make me more like Christ? How does sharing in His suffering help me enjoy Him more?”
Into our darkness, God speaks. His words do not instantaneously end the sound of mourning. Life might get worse. And yet, God’s voice changes how we groan. He reaffirms His promise that, no matter how defeated we feel, no matter how much darkness we see, “There will be light.”
How can we be certain? Our confidence is this: Light has already entered the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The eternal Son of God clothed Himself in fragile flesh to be bruised with us. Paul says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).
God gave Isaiah visions of the unfathomable, that wolves and lambs will feed together. How much more mind-blowing is the promise that sinners and the Lamb will feast together (Rev. 19:9)?
Today, set your hope fully on this perfect future God has planned for His people.
Today’s lesson considers the bright future God has promised to those who believe in His Son. Isaiah 65:17-25 interrupts the regularly scheduled programming of our lives and shifts our gaze elsewhere—to another time and place. And the more we think about that future in Christ’s consummated kingdom, the more we’ll think rightly about His kingdom in the present.
We’ll also worship more rightly in the present.
Week of May 29 through June 4
This week begins a quarter on “The Righteous Reign of God.” Read Isaiah 52:7-12 and think about a time of distress when you turned to God for help and comfort.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Isaiah 42:1-7 – God’s Servant Will Establish Justice.
Tues. – Galatians 2:16b-21 – Live by Faith, Not Works.
Wed. – Isaiah 49:1-13 – My Servant Shall Restore Israel.
Thurs. – Isaiah 49:14-23 – God Will Not Forget You.
Fri. – 1 Thessalonians 3:11-4:8 – God Desires You Live in Purity.
Sat. – Colossians 3:8-17 – Clothe Yourselves with Love.
Sun. – Isaiah 52:1-12 – You Shall Be Redeemed.
Our world has been chaotic for several years now, beginning in 2020 when COVID-19 first started making unwelcome appearances. We could hardly believe we were being told to stay home, and wear masks when we did have to go out. We thought it might last a couple of weeks, perhaps. Who knew it would be for a couple of years?
God knew. He also knows about anxiety, financial challenges, and relationship problems, whether it’s been spouses, nations, or families. He knows and He cares about all the things that cause us stress and chaos. He hates sin and the results of it in our world.
In this lesson’s Scripture from Isaiah, we are reminded how God went with His people and protected them, and He will do the same for us. He is faithful and true, kind and compassionate, and He reigns now and forevermore.
Remember, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Then there’s the promise of His forever reign: “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). Hallelujah!
Lesson 01 – June 4 – God Reigns
God is continually bringing good out of bad situations (Gen. 50:20). It is not easy to admit when we have done wrong because of our pride and perhaps our fear of people laughing at us, but admitting errors is the way to finding joy and peace. When people admit their mistakes to us, we should point them to God’s forgiveness and admit that we too have our own mistakes to confess.
Shame or Celebration?
Carlita wasn’t married when she got pregnant and gave birth to her baby, a little girl she named Gabby. Her family was horrified by the scandal. They were Christians, leaders in the church. Not knowing how to break the news without breaking their reputation, they kept the pregnancy a secret and even hid the baby after she was born. Although they didn’t receive guests, one afternoon a nosy aunt stopped by for a visit as Carlita returned from a doctor’s appointment with Gabby, and the aunt saw them both—and instantly drew the correct conclusion.
Realizing that their secret had been revealed, Carlita and her mother began to cry. But Rosita, the aunt, asked to hold the baby. Cradling Gabby in her arms, Rosita held the baby’s tiny hand and kissed her gently on the forehead. “Little one,” she said, “the world is full of mistakes, but you are not one of them. May God Himself show you His purpose and make you a blessing to our whole family. Welcome, Gabriella, you are most welcome.”
Every day human beings make mistakes, big and small, but God is more than able to bring joy and blessing from them all. Sometimes we can be so overwhelmed by our own guilt and shame, and so worried about what other people will think, that we miss the opportunity to glorify God for His forgiveness and enjoy the gracious blessings He brings into our lives. If we will share with others how we have been forgiven, they can rejoice with us in the grace of God’s restoration of our lives.
Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church 