Day 274 - God is Always at Work

Daily Reading:  Esther 4-6

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions. 

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall.  The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.  4:17-5:1

Footnote:  God was in control, yet Mordecai and Esther had to act.  We cannot understand how both can be true at the same time, yet they are.  God chooses to work through those willing to act for him.  We should pray as if all depended on God and act as if all depended on us.  We should avoid two extremes:  doing nothing, and feeling that we must do everything.

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.  It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 6:1,2

Footnote:  Unable to sleep, the king decided to review the history of his reign, and his servants read to him about Mordecai's good deed.  This seems coincidental, but God is always at work.  God has been working quietly and patiently throughout your life as well.  The events that have come together for good are not mere coincidence; they are the result of God's sovereign control over the course of people's lives (Romans 8:28).

Keep reading -- 91 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 273 - Esther

Daily Reading:  Esther 1-3

Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins.  So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.  2:17

Footnote:  God placed Esther on the throne even before the Jews faced the possibility of complete destruction, so that when trouble came, a person would already be in the position to help.  No human effort could thwart God's plan to send the Messiah to earth as a Jew.  If you are changing jobs, position, or location and can't see God's purpose in your situation, understand that God is in control.  He may be placing you in a position so you can help when the need arises.

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.  Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai.  Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.  3:5,6

Footnote:  Why did Haman want to destroy all Jews just because of one man's action?  1.  Haman was an Agagite (3:1), a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:20).  The Amalekites were ancient enemies of the Israelites (see Exodus 17:16; Deuteronomy 25:17-19).  Haman's hatred was directed not just at Mordecai, but at all the Jews.  2. As second-in-command in the Persian empire (3:1), Haman loved his power and authority and the reverence shown him.  The Jews, however, looked to God as their final authority, not to any man.  Haman realized that the only way to fulfill his self-centered desires was to kill all those who disregarded his authority.  His quest for personal power and his hatred of the Jewish race consumed him.

Keep reading -- 92 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 272 - Faithfulness

Daily Reading:  Daniel 10-12

Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.  But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days.  Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.  10:12, 13

Footnote:  Although God sent a messenger to Daniel, a powerful spiritual being detained the messenger for three weeks.  Daniel faithfully continued praying and fasting, and God's messenger eventually arrived assisted by Michael, the archangel.  Answers to our prayers may be hindered by unseen obstacles.  Don't expect God's answers to come too easily or too quickly.  Prayer may be challenged by evil forces, so pray fervently and pray earnestly.  Then expect God to answer at the right time.

As for you, go your way till the end.  You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.  12:13

Footnote:  Daniel stands tall in the gallery of God's remarkable servants.  Born of royal heritage, yet taken into captivity when only a teenager, Daniel determined to remain faithful to God in the land of his captivity.  Even at great personal cost,  Daniel spent his entire lifetime advising his captors with unusual wisdom.  God chose him as his servant to record some of the events of the captivity and some significant events concerning the future.  As an old man, having been faithful to God throughout his years, Daniel was assured by God that he would rise from the dead and receive his portion in God's eternal kingdom.  Faithfulness to God has a rich reward, not necessarily in this life, but most certainly in the life to come.

Keep reading -- 93 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 271 - Give an Account

Daily Reading:  Daniel 7-9

A river of fire was flowing,

coming out from before him.

Thousands upon thousands attended him;

ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

The court was seated,

and the books were opened.  7:10

Footnote:  Daniel saw God judging millions of people as they stood before him. We all must stand before almighty God and give an account of our lives.  If your life were judged by God today, what would he say about it?  How would he measure it against his will for us?  We should live each day with the full awareness that we must appear before God to give account for how we used our lives.  How will your life measure up?

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.  9:3

Footnote:  Daniel knew how to pray.  As he prayed, he fasted, confessed his sins, and pleaded that God would reveal his will.  He prayed with complete surrender to God and with complete openness to what God was saying to him.  When you pray, do you speak openly to God?  Examine your attitude.  Talk to God with openness, vulnerability, and honesty, and be ready for God's reply.

Keep reading -- 94 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 270 - Deliverer

Daily Reading:  Daniel 4-6

The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.  4:17

Footnote:  One of the most difficult lessons to learn is that God is sovereign.  He is above all of those who are above us.  He limits the power and authority of all the government, business, and religious leaders in the world.  Those who live in freedom and with a relatively high degree of autonomy find this difficult to understand.  While we may feel as though we are free to do what we please, God is sovereign over all of our plans and desires.

Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.  Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.  5:17

Footnote:  The king offered Daniel beautiful gifts and great power if he would explain the writing but Daniel turned him down.  Daniel was not motivated by material rewards.  His entire life had been characterized by doing right.  Daniel was not showing disrespect in refusing the gifts, but he was growing older himself and knew the gifts would do him little good.  Daniel wanted to show that he was giving an unbiased interpretation to the king.  Doing right should be our first priority, not gaining power or rewards.  Do you love God enough to do what is right, even if it means giving up personal rewards?

Daniel answered, O king live forever!  My God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.  Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." 

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den.  And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.  6:21-23

Footnote:   The man or woman who trusts in God and obeys his will is untouchable until God takes him or her. 

Wait!  Did you read that sentence?  Read it again and let its truth soak in.....

The man or woman who trusts in God and obeys his will is untouchable until God takes him or her.

To trust God is to have immeasurable peace.  God, who delivered Daniel, will deliver you.  Do you trust him with your life?

Keep reading -- 95 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 269 - Daniel

Daily Reading:  Daniel 1-3

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.  1:8

Footnote:  Resolve is a strong word that means to be devoted to principle and to be committed to a course of action  When Daniel resolved not to defile himself, he was being true to a lifelong determination to do what was right and not to give in to the pressures around him.  We too are often assaulted by pressures to compromise our standards and live more like the world around us.  Merely wanting or preferring God's will and way is not enough to stand against the onslaught of temptation.  Like Daniel, we must resolve to obey God.

Please test your servants for ten days:  Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  1:12

Footnote:  The Babylonians were trying to change the thinking of these Jews by giving them a Babylonian education, their loyalty by changing their names, and their life-style by changing their diet.  Without compromising, Daniel found a way to live by God's standards in a culture that did not honor God.  Wisely choosing to negotiate rather than to rebel, Daniel suggested an experimental ten-day diet of vegetables and water, instead of the royal foods and wine the king offered.  Without compromising, Daniel quickly thought of a practical, creative solution that saved his life and the lives of his companions.  As God's people we may adjust to our culture as long as we do not compromise God's laws.

What the king asks is too difficult.  No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.  2:11

Footnote:  By answering that the gods "do not live among men," the astrologers betrayed their concept of the gods.  Theirs was a hollow religion, a religion of convenience.  They believed in the gods, but that belief made no difference in their conduct.  Today many people profess to believe in God, but it is also a hollow belief.  In essence, they are practical atheists because they don't listen to him or do what he says.  Do you believe in God?  He does live among people, and he wants to change your life.

At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.  Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.  2:16-18

Footnote:  Daniel was at a crisis point.  Imagine going to see the powerful, temperamental king who had just angrily ordered your death!  Daniel did not shrink back in fear, however, but confidently believed God would tell him all the king wanted to know.  When the king gave Daniel time to find the answer, Daniel found his three friends and they prayed.  When you find yourself in a tight spot, share your needs with trusted friends who also believe in God's power.  Prayer is more effective than panic.  Panic confirms your hopelessness; prayer confirms your hope in God.  Daniel's trust in God saved himself, his three friends, and all the other wise men of Babylon.

You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue -- an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.  2:31

Footnote:  The head of gold on the statue in the dream represented Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the Babylonian empire.  The silver chest and two arms represented the Medo-Persian empire, which conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.  The belly and thighs of bronze were Greece and Macedonia under Alexander the Great, who conquered the Medo-Persian empire in 334-330 B.C.  The legs of iron represented Rome, which conquered the Greeks in 63 B.C.  The feet of clay and iron represented the breakup of the Roman empire, when the territory Rome ruled divided into a mixture of strong and weak nations.  The type of metal in each part depicted the strength of the political power it represented.  The rock cut out of the mountain depicted God's kingdom, which would be ruled eternally by the Messiah, the King of Kings.  The dream revealed Daniel's God as the power behind all earthly kingdoms. 

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.  3:17, 18

Footnote:  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to him no matter what happened!  They trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences.  If God always rescued those who were true to him, Christians would not need faith.  Their religion would be a great insurance policy, and there would be lines of selfish people ready to sign up.  We should be faithful to serve God whether he intervenes on our behalf or not.  Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first.

.....They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  3:27

Footnote:  These young men had been completely untouched by the fire and heat.  Only the rope that bound them had been burned.  No human can bind us if God wants us to be free.  The power available to us is the same that delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and raised Christ from the dead.  Trust God in every situation.  There are eternal reasons for temporary trials; so be thankful that your destiny is in God's hands, not in human hands.

Keep reading -- 96 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 268 - Everything Glorious

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 46-48

The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. 

And the name of the city from that time on will be:

THE LORD IS THERE.

Ezekiel 48:35

Footnote:  The book of Ezekiel begins by describing the holiness of God that Israel had despised and ignored.  As a result, God's presence departed from the temple, the city, and the people.  The book ends with a detailed vision of the new temple, the new city, and the new people -- demonstrating God's holiness.  The pressures of everyday life may persuade us to focus on the here and now and thus forget God.  That is why worship is so important; it takes our eyes off our current worries, gives us a glimpse of God's holiness, and allows us to look toward his future kingdom.  God's presence makes everything glorious and worship brings us into his presence.

  Keep reading -- 97 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 267 - Holy

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 43-45

This is the law of the temple:  All the surrounding area on top of the mountain will be most holy.  Such is the law of the temple.  43:12

Footnote:  The basic law of God's temple was holiness.  In all he does, God is holy, perfect and blameless.  There is no trace of evil or sin in him.  Just as God is holy, so we are to be holy (Leviticus 19:1; 1 Peter 1:15, 16).  People are holy when they are devoted to God and separated from sin.  If we do not understand the basic concept of holiness, we will never progress very far in our Christian growth.

  Keep reading -- 98 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 266 - God's Dwelling Place

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 40-42

In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city—on that very day the hand of the LORD was on me and he took me there. ² In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. ³ He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. ⁴ The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.”  Ezekiel 40:1-4

Footnote:  Ezekiel explained God's dwelling place in words and images the people could understand.  God wanted them to see the great splendor he had planned for those who lived faithfully.  This kind of temple was never built, but it was a vision intended to typify God's perfect plan for his people -- the centrality of worship, the presence of the Lord, the blessings flowing from it, and the orderliness of worship and worship duties.  Don't let the details obscure the point of this vision -- one day all those who have been faithful to God will enjoy eternal life with him.  Let the majesty of this vision lift you and teach you about the God you worship and serve.

 Keep reading -- 99 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 265 - A Covenant of Peace

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 37-39

Only 100 more days!

I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant.  I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.  My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.  Ezekiel 37:26,27

Footnote:

God's promise here goes beyond the physical and geographical restoration of Israel.  He promises to breathe new spiritual life into his people so that their hearts and attitudes will be right with him and united with one another.  This same process is described throughout God's Word as the cleansing and renewing of our hearts by God's Spirit (Titus 3:4-6).

Keep reading -- 100 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 264 - A New Heart and a New Spirit

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 34-36

Ezekiel 36

 ²⁴ “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. ²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. ²⁸ Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. ²⁹ I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. ³⁰ I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. ³¹ Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. ³² I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!
 ³³ “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. ³⁴ The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. ³⁵ They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” ³⁶ Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.’
 ³⁷ “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, ³⁸ as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Footnote:  God promised to restore Israel not only physically, but spiritually.  To accomplish this, God would give them a new heart for following him and put his Spirit within them to transform them and empower them to do his will.  Again the new covenant was promised, ultimately to be fulfilled in Christ.  No matter how impure your life is right now, God offers you a fresh start.  You can have your sins washed away, receive a new heart for God, and have his Spirit within you -- if you accept God's promise.  Why try to patch up your old life when you can have a new one?

God said his people should be ashamed of their sins.  The people had become so callous that they had lost all sensitivity to sin.  First they had to "remember" their sins, then despise them, and finally repent of them.  As we examine our lives, we may find that we too have lost our sensitivity to certain sins.  But if we measure ourselves against God's standards of right living, we will be ashamed.  To regain sensitivity we must recognize our sin for what it is, feel sorry for displeasing God, and ask his forgiveness.  The Holy Spirit will guide us, making us responsive and receptive to God's truth.

God said that if the people asked, he would come to their aid.  We cannot expect his mercy, however, until we have sought new hearts from him.  We can be thankful that his invitation is open to all.

Friday Morning Praise -- Stronger

Keep reading -- 102 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 263 - Turn From Your Evil Ways!

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 31-33

Son of man, say to the house of Israel, This is what you are saying:  Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them.  How then can we live?  Say to them, As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.  Turn!  Turn from your evil ways!  Why will you die, O house of Israel?  33:10-12

Footnote:  The exiles were discouraged by their past sins.  This is an important turning point in this book -- elsewhere in Ezekiel the people had refused to face their sins.  Here, they felt heavy guilt for rebelling against God for so many years.  Therefore, God assured them of forgiveness if they repented.  God wants everyone to turn to him.  He looks at what we are and will become, not what we have been.  God gives you the opportunity to turn to him, if you will take it.  Sincerely follow God, and ask him to forgive you when you fail.

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.  33:32

Footnote:  The people were coming to listen to Ezekiel in order to be entertained.  They weren't interested in hearing a message from the Lord and then putting it into practice.  Many people see church as entertainment.  They enjoy the music, the people, and the activities, but they don't take the messages to heart.  They don't seek to be challenged or to serve.  Have you reduced church services to the level of entertainment, or does your worship truly have an impact on your life?  Listen to God's words and then obey -- apply his words and put them into practice in your life.

 Keep reading -- 103 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 262 - Pride Revealed

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 28-30

Egypt will become a desolate wasteland.  Then they will know that I am the Lord.  Because you said, "The Nile is mine; I made it," Therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush.  29:9,10

Footnote:  The Nile was Egypt's pride and joy, a life-giving river cutting through the middle of the desert.  Rather than thanking God; however, Egypt declared, "The Nile is mine; I made it."  We do the same when we say:

"This house is mine; I built it."

or

"I have brought myself to the place where I am today."

Or

"I have built this church, business, or reputation, from the ground up." 

These statements reveal our pride.  Sometimes we take for granted what God has given us, thinking we have made it ourselves.  Of course, we have put forth a lot of hard effort, but God supplied the resources, gave us the abilities, and provided us with the opportunities to make it happen.  Instead of claiming our own greatness, as the Egyptians did, we should proclaim God's greatness and give him the credit.  (Migdol is in the north of Egypt, and Aswan in the south.  Thus, this meant all of Egypt.)

Keep reading -- 104 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 261 - The Good Purposes

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 25-27

Footnote:  Chapters 25-32 are God's word concerning the seven nations surrounding Judah.  The judgments in these chapters are not simply the vengeful statements of Jews against their enemies; they are God's judgments on nations that failed to acknowledge the one true God and fulfill the good purposes God intended for them.  The Ammonites were judged because of their joy over the desecration of the temple, the Moabites because they found pleasure in Judah's wickedness, the Edomites because of their racial hatred for the Jews, and the Philistines because they sought revenge against Judah for defeating them in battle.

Don't miss out on the good purposes God has intended for you!  Let the Lord be the One True God in your life.  Love him WHOLE-HEARTEDLY, trust him COMPLETELY and seek HIS will for your life.

Keep reading -- 105 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 260 - An Encrusted Pot

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 22-24

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
Woe to the city of bloodshed,to the pot now encrusted,whose deposit will not go away!Empty it piece by piecewithout casting lots for them.
For the blood she shed is in her midst:She poured it on the bare rock:she did not pour it on the ground,where the dust would cover it.To stir up wrath and take revengeI put her blood on the bare rock,so that it would not be covered.
Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:Woe to the city of bloodshed!I, too, will pile the wood high.So heap on the woodand kindle the fire.Cook the meat well,mixing in the spices;and let the bones be charred.
Then set the empty pot on the coalstill it becomes hot and its copper glowsso its impurities may be meltedand its deposit burned away.It has frustrated all efforts;its heavy deposit has not been removed,not even by fire.
Now your impurity is lewdness.  Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.
Ezekiel 24:6-13

Footnote:  The city of Jerusalem was like a pot so encrusted with sin that it would not come clean.  God wanted to cleanse the lives of those who lived in Jerusalem and he wants to cleanse our lives today.  Sometimes he tries to purify us through difficulties and troublesome circumstances.  When you face tough times, allow the sin to be burned from your life.  Look at your problems as an opportunity for your faith to grow.  When these times come, unnecessary priorities and diversions are purged away.  We can reexamine our lives so that we will do what really counts.

The word of the Lord came to me:  "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.  Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.  Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead.  Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners."

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died.  The next morning I did as I had been commanded.  24:15-18

Footnote:  God told Ezekiel that his wife would die and that he should not grieve for her.  Ezekiel obeyed God fully, even as Hosea did when he was told to marry an unfaithful woman (Hosea 1:2,3).  In both cases, these unusual events were intended as symbolic acts to picture God's relationship with his people.  Obeying God can carry a high cost.  Ezekiel always obeyed God wholeheartedly.  We should be wholehearted in our obedience.  We can begin by doing all that God commands us to do, even when we don't feel like it.  Are you willing to serve God as completely as Ezekiel did?

 Keep reading -- 106 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 259 - Sabbath

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 19-21

Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.  Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert.  They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws -- although the man who obeys them will live by them -- and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.  So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the desert.  20: 12,13

Footnote:  The Sabbath, instituted by God at creation, was entrusted to Israel as a sign that God had created and redeemed them.  This day of rest was a gift from a loving God, not a difficult obligation.  But the people repeatedly desecrated the Sabbath and ignored their God.  It was meant to be a memory device but they ignored it.  Today, many Christians celebrate the Lord's Day, Sunday, as their Sabbath.  Whatever the day, we must be careful to fulfill God's purpose for the Sabbath.  He wants us to rest, to refocus, and to remember him.

 Keep reading -- 107 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 258 - Is My Way Unjust?

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 15-18

Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not just.  Hear, O house of Israel:  Is my way unjust?  Is it not your ways that are unjust? 

Footnote:  A typical childish response to punishment is to say, "That isn't fair!"  In reality, God is fair, but we have broken the rules.  It is not God who must live up to our ideas of fairness; instead, we must live up to his.  Don't spend your time looking for the loopholes in God's law.  

Instead, live up to God's standards.

Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord, Repent!  Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.  Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.  Why will you die, O house of Israel?  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.  Repent and live!

Footnote:  Ezekiel's solution to the problem of inherited guilt is for each person to have a changed life.  This is God's work in us and not something we can do for ourselves.  The Holy Spirit does it (Psalm 51:10-12).  If we renounce our life's direction of sin and rebellion and turn to God, he will give us a new direction, a new love, and a new power to change.  You can begin by faith, trusting in God's power to change your heart and mind.  Then determine to live each day with him in control (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Keep reading -- 108 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 257 - Should I Let Them Inquire of Me at All?

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 12-14

Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.  Then the word of the Lord came to me:  Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces.  Should I let them inquire of me at all?  Therefore speak to them and tell them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the Lord will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry.  I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.  14:1-5

 

Footnote:  God condemned the elders for worshiping idols in their hearts and then daring to come to God's prophet for advice.  On the outside, they appeared to worship God, making regular visits to the temple to offer sacrifices.  But they were not sincere.  It is easy for us to criticize the Israelites for worshiping idols when they so clearly needed God instead.  But we have idols in our hearts when we pursue reputation, acceptance, wealth or pleasure with the intensity and commitment that should be reserved for serving God.

 

For Hebrew writers, important functions of life were assigned to different physical organs.  The heart was considered the core of a person's intellectual and spiritual function.  Because all people have someone or something as the object of their heart's devotion, they have the potential for idolatry within them.  God wants to recapture the hearts of his people.  We must never let anything captivate our allegiance or imagination in such a way to replace or weaken our devotion to God.

 

Keep reading -- 109 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 256 - An Undivided Heart

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 8-11

And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing -- the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary?  But you will see things that are even more detestable.  8:6

Footnote:  In scene after scene, God revealed to Ezekiel the extent to which the people had embraced idolatry and wickedness.  God's Spirit works within us in a similar way, revealing sin that lurks in our lives.  How comfortable would you feel if God held an open house in your life today?

Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple.  9:3

Footnote:  What is God's glory?  It is the manifestation of God's character -- his ultimate power, transcendence,and moral perfection.  God is completely above man and his limitations.  Yet God reveals himself to us so that we can worship and follow him.

They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols.  I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  11:18, 19

Footnote: "Undivided heart" indicates a unanimous singleness of purpose.  No longer will God's people seek many gods; they will be content with God.  The hard, deaf, immovable heart of stone will be radically transplanted with a tender, receptive, and responsive heart of flesh.  This new life can only be the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is God's work, but we must recognize and turn from our sin.  When we do, God will give us new motives, new guidelines, and new purpose.  Have you received your new heart?

Keep reading -- 110 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 255 - Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 4-7

But take a few strands of hair and tuck them away in the folds of your garment.  Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire and burn them up.  A fire will spread from there to the whole house of Israel.  5:3,4

Footnote:  The few strands of hair Ezekiel put in his garment symbolized the small remnant of faithful people whom God would preserve.  But even some from this remnant would be judged and destroyed because their faith was not genuine.  Where will you stand in the coming judgment?  Matthew 7:22, 23 warns that many who believe they are safe are not.  Make sure your commitment is vital and heartfelt.

Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices, I myself will withdraw my favor; I will not look on you with pity or spare you.  5:11

Footnote:  It was a serious sin to defile the temple, God's sanctuary, by worshiping idols and practicing evil within its very walls.  In the New Testament, we learn that God now makes his home within those who are his.  Our bodies are God's temple (see 1 Corinthians 6:19).  We defile God's temple today by allowing gossiping, bitterness, love of money, lying, or any other wrong actions or attitudes to be a part of our lives.  By asking the Holy Spirit's help, we can keep from defiling his temple, our bodies.

And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land a desolate waste from the desert to Diblah -- wherever they live.  Then they will know that I am the Lord.  6:14

Footnote:  The phrase "then they will know that I am the Lord" (or a variation on this phrase) occurs 65 times in the book of Ezekiel.  The purpose of all God's punishment was not to take revenge, but to impress upon the people the truth that the Lord is the only true and living God.  People in Ezekiel's day were worshiping man-made idols and calling them gods.  Today money and power have become idols for many.  Punishment will come upon all who put other things ahead of God.  It is easy to forget that the Lord alone is God, the supreme authority and the only source of eternal love and life.  Remember that God may use the difficulties of your life to teach you that he alone is God.

Keep reading -- 111 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 254 - Ezekiel

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 1-3

Ezekiel

Footnote:  God communicated to Ezekiel in visions.  A vision is a miraculous revelation of God's  truth.  These visions seem strange to us because they are apocalyptic.  This means that Ezekiel saw symbolic pictures that vividly conveyed an idea.  Daniel and John were other Bible writers who used apocalyptic imagery.  The people in exile had lost their perspective of God's purpose and presence, and Ezekiel came to them with a vision from God to show God's awesome glory and holiness and to warn the exiles of sin's consequences before it was too late.

The name Ezekiel means "God is strong" or "God strengthens." 

1:5 Footnote:  Each of the four living creatures had four faces, symbolizing God's perfect nature.  Some believe that the lion represented strength; the ox, diligent service; the man, intelligence; and the eagle, divinity.  Others see these as the most majestic of God's creatures and say that they therefore represent God's whole creation.  The early church fathers saw a connection between these beings and the four Gospels: the lion with Matthew, presenting Christ as the Lion of Judah ; the ox with Mark, portraying Christ as the Servant; the human with Luke, portraying Christ as the perfect human; the eagle with John, portraying Christ as the Son of God, exalted and divine.  The vision of John in Revelation 4 parallels Ezekiel's vision.

1:16-18 Footnote:  The "wheel intersecting a wheel" was probably two wheels at right angles to each other, one on a north-south and the other on an east-west axis.  Able to move anywhere, these wheels show that God is present everywhere and is able to see all things.  God is not restricted to Jerusalem, but rules all of life and history.  Though the exiles had experienced great change, God was still in control.

1:27,28 Footnote:  The four living creatures and the four wheels are powerful pictures of judgment, yet the rainbow over the throne symbolizes God's neverending faithfulness to his people.  Just as God sent a rainbow to Noah to symbolize his promise never again to destroy the earth by a flood (Genesis 9:8-17), so this rainbow symbolizes God's promise to preserve those who remain faithful to him.  The purpose of God's judgment is to correct us and, ultimately, to allow perfect peace and righteousness to reign on the earth forever.

And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it."  So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.  3:1-3

Footnote:  In his vision, Ezekiel ate God's message and found this spiritual food not only good for him, but also sweet as honey (See Revelation 10:8-10 for a similar use of this image).  If you "digest" God's Word, you will find that not only does it make you stronger in your faith, but its wisdom also sweetens your life.  You need to feed yourself spiritually just as you do physically.  This means doing more than simply giving God's message a casual glance.  You must make digesting God's Word a regular part of your life.

Keep reading -- 112 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 253 - Follow the Lord and Keep His Commands

Daily Reading:  2 Chronicles 33-36

The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord -- to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the word of the covenant written in this book.  34:31

Footnote:  When Josiah read the book that Hilkiah discovered (34:14), he responded with repentance and humility and promised to follow God's commands as written in the book.  The Bible is God's word to us, "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12), but we cannot know what God wants us to do if we do not read it.  And even reading God's Word is not enough; we must be willing to do what it says.  There is not much difference between the book hidden in the temple and the Bible hidden on the bookshelf.  An unread Bible is as useless as a lost one.

Ending Footnote:  Second Chronicles focuses on the rise and fall of the worship of God as symbolized by the Jerusalem temple.  David planned the temple.  Solomon built it and then put on the greatest dedication service the world had ever seen.  Worship in the temple was superbly organized.

But several evil kings defiled the temple and degraded worship so that the people revered idols more highly than God.  Finally, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed the temple.  The kings were gone, the temple was destroyed, and the people were removed.  The nation was stripped to its very foundation.  But fortunately there was a greater foundation -- God himself.  When everything in life seems stripped away from us, we too still have God -- his Word, his presence, and his promises.

Keep reading -- 113 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 252 - Eyes of Faith

Daily Reading:  2 Chronicles 26-29

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.  With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.  And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.  32:7,8

Footnote:  Hezekiah could see with eyes of faith.  The number of his opponents meant nothing as long as he was on the Lord's side.  Victory is "not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6).  Hezekiah could confidently encourage his men because he had no doubt about where he stood with God.  Are you on the Lord's side?  You may never face an enemy army, but the battles you face every day can be won with God's strength.

Keep reading -- 114 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 251 - Detestable Ways

Daily Reading:  2 Chronicles 26-29

He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.  2 Chronicles 28:3

Footnote: Imagine the monstrous evil of a religion that offers young children as sacrifices. God allowed the nation to be conquered in response to Ahaz's evil practices. Even today the practice hasn't abated. 

The sacrifice of children to the harsh gods of convenience,

                                                economy, and

                                                                                                            whim

continues in sterile medical facilities in numbers that would ASTOUND the wicked Ahaz. 

If we are to allow children to come to CHRIST (Matthew 19:14), we must first allow them to come into the world.

Keep reading -- 115 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 250 - Grudging Compliance v. True Obedience

Daily Reading:  2 Chronicles 23-25

He called together the priests and Levites and said to them, "Go to the towns of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the temple of your God.  Do it now.  But the Levites did not act at once.  24:5

Footnote:  The Levites took their time carrying out the king's order, even though he told them not to delay.  A tax for keeping the temple in order was not just the king's wish, but God's command (Exodus 30:11-16).  The Levites, therefore, were not only disregarding the king, but disregarding God.  When it comes to following God's commands, a slow response may be little better than disobedience.  Obey God willingly and immediately.

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.  25:2

Footnote:  Amaziah did what was right on the outside, but inside he often resented what he had to do.  His obedience was at best halfhearted.  When the prophet promised God's deliverance, Amaziah first complained about the money that had been lost.  And he valued military success more than God's will.  We must search our own hearts and root out any resistance to obeying God.  Grudging compliance is not true obedience.

Keep reading -- 116 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 249 - The Battle is not Yours

Daily Reading:  2 Chronicles 20-22

Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.  20:3

 

Footnote:  When the nation was faced with disaster, Jehoshaphat called upon the people to get serious with God by going without food (fasting) for a designated time.  By separating themselves from the daily routine of food preparation and eating, they could devote that extra time to considering their sin and praying to God for help. Hunger pangs would reinforce their feelings of penitence and remind them of their weakness and their dependence upon God.  Fasting still can be helpful today as we seek God's will in special situations.

 

He said:  Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem!  This is what the Lord says to you:  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's.  20:15

 

Footnote:  As the enemy bore down on Judah, God spoke through Jahaziel:  "Do not be afraid or discouraged.....  For the battle is not yours, but God's."  We may not fight an enemy army but every day we battle temptations, pressure, and "rulers........of this dark world"  (Ephesians 16:12) who want us to rebel against God.  Remember, as believers, we have God's Spirit in us.  If we ask for God's help when we face struggles, God will fight for us.  And God always triumphs. 

How do we let God fight for us?

 

1.  By realizing the battle is not ours, but God's.

2.  By recognizing human limitations and allowing God's strength to work through our fears and weaknesses.

3.  By making sure we are pursuing God's interests and not just our own selfish desires.

4.  By asking God for help in our daily battles.

 

Keep reading -- 117 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV