August 10 | Hebrews 4:12-16

DAILY READING

Hebrews 4:12-16

For more help use this Bible Study method

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REFLECTION

Alive and Active

by Judy Webb

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Part of my morning devotions routine / quiet time has been reading from "Streams in the Desert," a familiar title to many. I have been navigating the pages of this treasure since 2008. Some may wonder why I would read/study the same devotions over and over, but I have discovered the truth of the words, "For the word of God is living and active." (verse 12a)

Each year I have been drawing closer to God and craving his Word, I can see how these same verses teach me new truths with every reading. Our lives change, our troubles are different, but God's word doesn't. It is just that my understanding deepens, and I recognize a new and fresh way to see life through the pages of my Bible. Like a fresh set of clothing or a new blanket I can snuggle into there is comfort found here.

One other thing, have you tried to journal your quiet time with God? I love to write down a scripture that captures my attention and dig into it more deeply. God often uses these specials words to speak into my life and open my eyes to your will for me. See if He doesn’t do the same for you.

Feel free to share with me what devotional you use regularly. I would love to check out a new one source.

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Father, thank you for your word and how it leads me and challenges me to be more than I am today. Grow my heart for you and give me wisdom, heavenly wisdom, follow where you lead.

August 9 | Isaiah 11:1-9

DAILY READING

Isaiah 11:1-9

For more help use this Bible Study method

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REFLECTION

The Joy of Judgment

by Dan Kidd

Today's passage is a prophetic poem from Isaiah. This is one of numerous prophecies about the long awaited anointed one: King Jesus. The Holy Spirit of wisdom and understanding would rest over Jesus. And then Isaiah speaks of Jesus and the Day of the Lord, when Jesus will return to the earth and, sitting on his throne, judge the whole earth--the living and the dead--in order to make all things right again.

For many, the notion of the day of Jesus' judgment may feel unnerving, even worrisome. We might worry that this judgment will not be entirely fair. We look at the world around us and we see what the author of Ecclesiastes muses; that the wicked all too often prosper and the righteous regularly suffer and all of that seems meaningless. Or perhaps we worry for ourselves what a truly righteous King would determine is just when our whole lives are laid out before us--everything we hid, every sin we participated in.

Most of us want justice in our lives, at least, when it pertains to the sins of others. When the wicked prosper we are somberly reminded that the gospel of God's justice is an anthem of protest. When the fissures in the foundations of our common humanity crack open we long for reconciliation. When the innocent are railroaded and the guilty are unthwarted, we join the prophets in their cries for justice to roll like a river.

Isaiah can proclaim with great hope and expectation the day of Jesus' righteous judgment because he trusts in the goodness, the wisdom, and the way of the Lord. Isaiah knows that the wicked will not prosper forever and the needy will not suffer indefinitely. Isaiah sees knows that the Lord's justice blesses and heals the poor. Christ's judgment sees through the façades of perfectionism and ego, and he won't be wooed by eloquent posturing. But the result is a return to the profound peace he designed at earth's creation: lambs and lions, wolves and goats, and calves, and yearling, and bears will all live in harmonic peace with one another. The child will no longer fear the viper's bite. As inconceivable as this is, that kind of peace of the consequence of King Jesus' judgment. On that day, the entire world will know the Lord, and all will be entirely well again.

Christians, take heart! We can join now in the great expectations of the Day of the Lord because we can trust--wholeheartedly--that what God has in store will be perfect.

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Because of the wonderful news about Christ the judge we can pray: Lord Jesus, we are so grateful that you have designed our world and humanity with a purpose. We delight in your goodness, and in our suffering, we long for the day when you make all things right again. Remove us from the thrones of judgment, and teach us to trust you. Train our eyes to see your Kingdom work around us, the spendidness of creation and all of the redemption stories you are authoring. Have mercy on us and give us mercy for one another. Amen

August 8 | Romans 14:1-4, 10-14

PRAYER PRACTICE

SPOKEN PRAYER: Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

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DAILY READING

Romans 14:1-4, 10-14

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REFLECTION

God’s Judgment Does Not Need Our Help

by Pastor Dave Mann

There are some things in Christian behavior that are clearly right or clearly wrong. But not everything falls into these categories. There are some things that are disputable, things over which devout Christians can agree to disagree.

In this passage, the apostle Paul is referring to dietary practices. Apparently, certain believers felt that it was unholy to eat certain kinds of food. We get the sense from the writing that Paul believes that there is no sin in eating any of the foods in question. But Paul’s main point is NOT to declare who is right and who is wrong. Paul’s goal is to produce harmony between the two camps of thought.

What is Paul’s foundational principle that should predispose Christian believers to avoid judging others with whom they disagree in disputable matters? That principle is this: God will judge us all.

• We will all stand before God’s judgment seat. (v. 10)

• Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. (v. 12)

If it is true that all of us will stand before the Lord on The Last Day, and if it is true that God’s judgment is just and fair, then we do not need to take judgment into our hands. God is the One who is solely equipped to do the judging. We are to stay in our lane. God can manage his job just fine – thank you! He does not need help from us who are not qualified to judge.

• Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? (v. 4)

Then, Paul in the conclusion of this passage (vv. 13-14) deals with the possibility of someone being influenced to leave the practice of something to adopt the practice of someone else. However, the first party is not fully convinced that it is okay. If we still believe that it is sinful, we should not do it even if others exert social pressure on us. We should listen to our conscience and still hold to it until we are fully convinced in the Spirit that we can change.

Lord Jesus, you alone have the pure moral integrity to judge fairly and finally. Please save me from the need to judge others. Help me to give grace when I do not agree with others. Help me to walk in love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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