Day 304 - Worth More Than Many Sparrows

Daily Reading:  Luke 10-13

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  12:7

Footnote:  Our true value is God's estimate of our worth, not our peers'.  Other people evaluate and categorize us according to how we perform, what we achieve, and how we look.  But God cares for us, as he does for all of his creatures, because we belong to him.  So we can face life without fear.

Then he said, This is what I'll do.  I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I'll say to myself, You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.

But God said to him, "You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"  12:18-20

Footnote:  Why do you save money?  To retire?  To buy more expensive cars or toys?  To be secure?  Jesus challenges us to think beyond earthbound goals and to use what we have been given for God's kingdom.  Faith, service, and obedience are the way to become rich toward God.

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  12:31

Footnote:  Seeking the kingdom of God means making Jesus the Lord and King of your life.  He must control every area -- your work, play, plans, relationships.  Is the kingdom only one of your many concerns, or is it central to all you do?  Are you holding back any areas of your life from God's control?  As Lord and Creator, he wants to help provide what you need as well as guide how you use what he provides.

Keep reading -- 61 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 303 - Will You Follow?

Daily Reading:  Luke 7-9

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

He said to another man, "Follow me."

But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."  Luke 9:57-62

Footnote:  What does Jesus want from us?  Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment.  We can't pick and choose among Jesus' ideas and follow him selectively; we have to accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy.  We must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security.  With our focus on Jesus, we should allow nothing to distract us from the manner of living that he calls good and true.

Keep reading -- 62 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 302 - Take Time to Pray

Daily Reading:  Luke 4-6

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.  He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.   Luke 4:1,2

Footnote:  Sometimes we feel that if the Holy Spirit leads us, it will always be "beside quiet waters".  But that is not necessarily true.  He led Jesus into the desert for a long and difficult time of testing, and he may also lead us into difficult situations.  When facing trials, first make sure you haven't brought them on yourself through sin or unwise choices.  If you find no sin to confess or unwise behavior to change, then ask God to strengthen you for your test.  Finally, be careful to follow faithfully wherever the Holy Spirit leads.

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.  4:13

Footnote:  Christ's defeat of the devil in the desert was decisive but not final.  Throughout his ministry, Jesus would confront Satan in many forms.  Too often we see temptation as once and for all.  In reality, we need to be constantly on guard against the devil's ongoing attacks.  Where are you most susceptible to temptation right now?  How are you preparing to withstand it?

At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.  4:42

Footnote:  Jesus had to get up very early just to get some time alone.  If Jesus needed solitude for prayer and refreshment, how much more is this true for us?  Don't become so busy that life turns into a flurry of activity leaving no room for quiet fellowship alone with God.  No matter how much you have to do, you should always have time for prayer.

Footnote 6:12:  The Gospel writers note that before every important event in Jesus' life, he took time to go off by himself and pray.  This time Jesus was preparing to choose his inner circle, the 12 disciples.  Make sure that all your important decisions are grounded in prayer.

Keep reading -- 63 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 301 - Heart Transplants

Daily Reading:  Luke 1-3

And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous -- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.  Luke 1:17

Footnote:  In preparing people for the Messiah's arrival, John would do "heart transplants."  He would take stony hearts and exchange them for hearts that were soft, pliable, trusting and open to change.  Are you as open to God as you should be?  Or do you need a change of heart?

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.  "May it be to me as you have said."  Luke 1:38

Footnote:  God's announcement of a child to be born was met with various responses throughout Scripture.  Sarah, Abraham's wife, laughed; Zechariah doubted.  By contrast, Mary submitted.  She believed the angel's words and agreed to bear the child, even under humanly impossible circumstances.  God is able to do the impossible.  Our response to his demands should not be laughter or doubt, but willing acceptance.

Keep reading -- 64 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 300 - Denying Christ

Daily Reading:  Mark 14-16

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.  While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me -- one who is eating with me."

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"

Matthew 14:17-19

Footnote:  Judas, the very man who would betray Jesus, was at the table with the others.  Judas had already determined to betray Jesus, but in cold-blooded hypocrisy he shared the fellowship of this meal.  It is easy to become enraged or shocked by what Judas did; yet professing commitment to Christ and then denying him with one's life is also betraying him.  

It is denying Christ's love to disobey him; 

it is denying his truth to distrust him; 

it is denying his deity to reject his authority.  

Do your words and actions match?  If not, consider a change of mind and heart that will protect you from making a terrible mistake.

  Keep reading -- 65 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 299 - Give to Caesar

Daily Reading:  Mark 11-13

Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.  12:17

 

Footnote:  The Pharisees and Herodians thought they had the perfect question to trap Jesus.  But Jesus answered wisely, once again exposing their self-interest and wrong motives.  Jesus said that the coin bearing the emperor's image should be given to the emperor.  But our lives, which bear God's image, belong to God.  Are you giving God all that is rightfully his?  Give your life to God -- you bear his image!

 

Be on guard!  Be alert!  You do not know when that time will come.  It's like a man going away:  He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task and tells the one at the door to keep watch.  13:33,34

 

Footnote:  Months of planning go into a wedding, the birth of a baby, a career change, a speaking engagement, the purchase of a home.  Do you place the same importance on preparing for Christ's return, the most important event in your life?  Its results will last for eternity.  You dare not postpone your preparations because you do not know when his return will occur.  The way to prepare is to study God's Word and live by its instructions each day.  Only then will you be ready.

 

 Keep reading -- 66 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 298 - What Makes a Man Unclean?

Daily Reading:  Mark 7-10

He went on "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' " 7:20-23

Footnote:  An evil action begins with a single thought.  Allowing our minds to dwell on lust, envy, hatred, or revenge will lead to sin.  Don't defile yourself by focusing on evil.  Instead, follow Paul's advice in Philippians 4:8 and think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable.

During those days another large crowd gathered.  Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.  If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."  8:1-3

Footnote:  Do you ever feel that God is so busy with important concerns that he can't possibly be aware of your needs?  Just as Jesus was concerned about these people's need for food, he is concerned about our daily needs.  At another time Jesus said, "So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?".....your heavenly Father knows that you need them"  (Matthew 6:31,32).  Do you have concerns that you think would not interest God?  There is nothing too large for him to handle and no need too small to escape his interest.

  Keep reading -- 67 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 297 - Even the Wind and the Waves Obey Him

Daily Reading:  Mark 4-6

The Parable of the Four Soils -- Matthew 4

Footnote:  The four soils represent four different ways people respond to God's message.  Usually we think that Jesus was talking about four different kinds of people.  But he may also have been talking about,

1.  different times or phases in a person's life, or

2.  how we willingly receive God's message in some area of our lives and resist it in others. 

For example, you may be open to God about your future, but closed concerning how you spend your money.  You may respond like good soil to God's demand for worship, but like rocky soil to his demand to give to people in need.  We must strive to be like good soil in every area of our lives at all times.

I've never heard it explained this way but I thought it was really good and true.

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet!  Be still!"  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey him!"  4:39-41

Footnote:  The disciples panicked because the storm threatened to destroy them all, and Jesus seemed unaware and unconcerned.  Theirs was a physical storm, but storms come in other forms.  Think about the storms in your life -- the situations that cause you great anxiety.  Whatever your difficulty, you have two options:  You can worry and assume that Jesus no longer cares, or you can resist fear, putting your trust in him.  When you feel like panicking, confess your need for God and then trust him to care for you.

The disciples lived with Jesus, but they underestimated him.  They did not see that his power applied to their very own situation.  Jesus has been with his people for 20 centuries, and yet we, like the disciples, underestimate his power to handle crises in our lives.  The disciples did not yet know enough about Jesus.  We cannot make the same excuse.

 Keep reading -- 68 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 296 - Mark

Daily Reading:  Mark 1-3

My Bible says that Mark was probably the first Gospel written.  The other Gospels quote all but 31 verses of Mark.  Mark records more miracles than does any other Gospel.

Would you take some time today and share a verse or two that stands out to you?  It could be a verse God used to speak to you, a favorite verse, or anything that caused you to pause as you were reading.  Maybe you even read the verse twice.  It could be a verse from Mark or anywhere else that you are reading right now.  I'll go first:

Mark 1:13:  and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.  He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Mark 1:35:  Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Mark 2:17:  On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Mark 3:24-25:  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

 Keep reading -- 69 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 295 - And Surely I Am With You

Daily Reading: Matthew 26-28

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  28:18-20

Footnote:  When someone is dying or leaving us, his or her last words are very important.  Jesus left the disciples with these last words of instruction: 

they were under his authority;

they were to make more disciples;

they were to baptize and teach these new disciples to obey Christ;

Christ would be with them always. 

Whereas in previous missions Jesus had sent his disciples only to the Jews, their mission from now on would be worldwide.  Jesus is Lord of the earth and he died for the sins of people from all nations.

We are to go -- whether it is next door or to another country -- and make disciples.  It is not an option, but a command to all who call Jesus "Lord."  We are not all evangelists in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the Great Commission.  As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us.

The disciples were to baptize people because baptism unites a believer with Jesus Christ in his or her death to sin and resurrection to new life.  Baptism symbolizes submission to Christ, a willingness to live God's way, and identification with God's covenant people.

How is Jesus with us?  Jesus was with the disciples physically until he ascended into heaven, and then spiritually through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit would be Jesus' presence that would never leave them.  Jesus continues to be with us today through his Spirit.

 Keep reading -- 70 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 294 - Will You Be Ready?

Daily Reading:  Matthew 23-25

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  24:12,13

Footnote:  With false teaching and loose morals comes a particularly destructive disease -- the loss of true love for God and others.  Sin cools your love for God and others by turning your focus on yourself.  You cannot truly love if you think only of yourself.

At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it.  For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect -- if that were possible.  24:23,24

Footnote:  Jesus' warnings about false teachers still hold true.  Upon close examination it becomes clear that many nice-sounding messages don't agree with God's message in the Bible.  Only a solid foundation in God's Word can equip us to perceive the errors and distortions in false teaching.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  24:44

Footnote:  Jesus' purpose in telling about his return is not to stimulate predictions and calculations about the date but to warn us to be prepared.  Will you be ready?  The only safe choice is to obey him today (24:26).

 Keep reading -- 71 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Guess What?

God's Not Dead!

The tomb is empty!

Christ is risen!

Sin is broken!

He has saved us!

If you haven't seen this movie yet, get to the theater!!

Day 293 - A Ransom

Daily Reading:  Matthew 20-22

Jesus tells the parable of the Workers Paid Equally

Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?  Or are you envious because I am generous?  20:15

Footnote:  This parable is not about rewards but about salvation.  It is a strong teaching about grace, God's generosity.  We shouldn't begrudge those who turn to God in the last moments of life, because,  in reality, no one deserves eternal life.

Many people we don't expect to see in the kingdom will be there.  The criminal who repented as he was dying (Luke 23:40) will be there along with people who have believed and served God for many years.  Do you resent God's gracious acceptance of the despised, the outcast, and the sinners who have turned to him for forgiveness?  Are you ever jealous of what God has given to another  person?  Instead, focus on God's gracious benefits to you and be thankful for what you have.

Just as the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  20:28

Footnote:  A ransom was the price paid to release a slave from bondage.  Jesus often told his disciples that he must die, but here he told them why -- to redeem all people from the bondage of sin and death.  The disciples thought that as long as Jesus was alive, he could save them.  But Jesus revealed that only his death would save them and the world.

Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."  22:37-40

Footnote:  The Pharisees, who had classified over 600 laws, often tried to distinguish the more important from the less important.  So one of them, an "expert in the law," asked Jesus to identify the most important law.  Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.  By fulfilling these two commands, a person keeps all the others.  They summarize the Ten Commandments and the other Old Testament moral laws.

 Keep reading -- 72 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 292 - Worthy is the Lamb

Daily Reading:  Matthew 16-19

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  16:26

Footnote:  When we don't know Christ, we make choices as though this life were all we have.  In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity.  How we live this brief span, however, determines our eternal state.  What we accumulate on earth has no value in purchasing eternal life.  Even the highest social or civic honors cannot earn us entrance into heaven.  Evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective, and you will find your values and decisions changing.

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.  19:30

Footnote:  Jesus turned the world's values upside down.  Consider the most powerful or well-known people in our world -- how many got where they are by being humble, self-effacing, and gentle?  Not many!  But in the life to come, the last will be first -- if they got in last place by choosing to follow Jesus.  Don't forfeit eternal rewards for temporary benefits.  Be willing to make sacrifices now for greater rewards later.  Be willing to accept human disapproval, while knowing that you have God's approval.

Worthy is the Lamb!

 Keep reading -- 73 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 291 - Out of the Overflow of the Heart the Mouth Speaks

Daily Reading:  Matthew 12-15

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.  12:8

Footnote:  When Jesus said he was Lord of the Sabbath, he claimed to be greater than the law and above the law.  To the Pharisees, this was heresy.  They did not realize that Jesus, the divine Son of God, had created the Sabbath.  The Creator is always greater than the creation; thus Jesus had the authority to overrule their traditions and regulation.

The Pharisees plotted Jesus' death because they were outraged.  Jesus had overruled their authority and had exposed their evil attitudes in front of the entire crowd in the synagogue.  Jesus had showed that the Pharisees were more loyal to their religious system than to God. 

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?  For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  12:34-36

Footnote:  Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts.  What kinds of words come from your mouth?  That is an indication of what your heart is really like.  You can't solve your heart problem, however, just by cleaning up your speech.  You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives; then your speech will be cleansed at its source.

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  13:23

Footnote:  The four types of soil represent different responses to God's message.  People respond differently because they are in different states of readiness.  Some are hardened, others are shallow, others are contaminated by distracting worries, and some are receptive.  How has God's Word taken root in your life?  What kind of soil are you?

 Keep reading -- 74 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 290 - My Yoke is Easy and My Burden Light

Daily Reading:  Matthew 8-11

Matthew 8-11

He called the 12 disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  10:1

Footnote:  Jesus called his 12 disciples.  He didn't draft them, force them or ask them to volunteer; he chose them to serve him in a special way.  Christ calls us today.  He doesn't twist our arms and make us do something we don't want to do.  We can choose to join him or remain  behind.  When Christ calls you to follow him, how do you respond?

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.  10:42

Footnote:  How much we love God can be measured by how well we treat others.  Jesus' example of giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty child is a good model of unselfish service.  A child usually can't or won't return a favor.  God notices every good deed we do or don't do as if he were the one receiving it.  Is there something unselfish you can do for someone else today?  Although no one else may see you, God will notice.

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  11:28-30

Footnote:  A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen.  It is attached to a piece of equipment the oxen are to pull.  A person may be carrying heavy burdens of

1.  sin

2.  excessive demands of religious leaders

3.  oppression and persecution

4.  weariness in the search for God.

Jesus frees people from all these burdens.  The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God, not the end of all labor.  A relationship with God changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual productivity and purpose.

Keep reading -- 75 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 289 - Blessed

Daily Reading:  Matthew 5-7

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

 

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

 

Matthew 5:3-5

 

Footnote:  Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount because Jesus gave it on a hillside near Capernaum.  This sermon probably covered several days of preaching.  In it, Jesus proclaimed his attitude toward the law.  Position, authority, and money are not important in his kingdom -- what matters is faithful obedience from the heart.  The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and legalistic religious leaders of the day.  It called them back to the messages of the Old Testament prophets who, like Jesus, taught that heartfelt obedience is more important than legalistic observance.

 

Jesus began his sermon with words that seem to contradict each other.  But God's way of living usually contradicts the world's.  If you want to live for God you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world.  You must be willing to 

 

GIVE when others take,

 

to LOVE when others hate,

 

to HELP when others abuse. 

 

By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has in store for you.

 

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.......  5:17

 

Footnote:  If Jesus did not come to abolish the law, does that mean all the Old Testament laws still apply to us today?  In the Old Testament, there were three categories of law:  ceremonial, civil and moral.

 

1.  The ceremonial law related specifically to Israel's worship (see Leviticus 1:2,3, for example).  Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus' death and resurrection.  While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them -- to worship and love a holy God -- still apply.  Jesus was often accused by the Pharisees of violating ceremonial law.

 

2.  The civil law applied to daily living in Israel (see Deuteronomy 24:10,11, for example).  Because modern society and culture are so radically different from that time and setting, all of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically.  But the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct.  Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.

 

3.  The moral law (such as the Ten Commandments) is the direct command of God, and it requires strict obedience (see Exodus 20:13, for example).  The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today.  Jesus obeyed the moral law completely.

 

This is probably the best explanation of the law that I've ever read.  There are soooo many good footnotes for these chapters -- I wish I could type them all for you!  Hope you are enjoying the first few chapters of the New Testament!

 

Keep reading -- 76 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 288 - Matthew

Daily Reading:  Matthew 1-4

Footnote:  Presenting this genealogy was one of the most interesting ways that Matthew could begin a book for a Jewish audience.  Because a person's family line proved his or her standing as one of God's chosen people, Matthew began by showing that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, the father of all Jews, and a direct descendant of David, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's line.  The facts of this ancestry were carefully preserved.  This is the first of many proofs recorded by Matthew to show that Jesus is the true Messiah.

More than 400 years had passed since the last Old Testament prophecies, and faithful Jews all over the world were still waiting for the Messiah.

In the first 17 verses we meet 46 people whose lifetimes span 2,000 years.  All were ancestors of Jesus, but they varied considerably in personality, spirituality, and experience.  Some were heroes of faith -- like Abraham, Isaac, Ruth and David.  Some had shady reputations -- like Rahab and Tamar.  Many were very ordinary -- like Hezron, Ram, Nahshon, and Akim.  And others were evil -- like Manasseh and Abijah.  God's work in history is not limited by human failures of sins, and he works through ordinary people.  Just as God used all kinds of people to bring his Son into the world, he uses all kinds today to accomplish his will.  And God wants to use YOU.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 1:18

Footnote:  Why is the virgin birth important to the Christian faith?  Jesus Christ, God's Son, had to be free from the sinful nature passed on to all other human beings by Adam.  Because Jesus was born of a woman, he was a human being; but as the Son of God, Jesus was born without any trace of human sin.  Jesus is both fully human and fully divine.

Because Jesus lived as a man, we know that he fully understands our experiences and struggles (Hebrews 4:15, 16).  Because he is God, he has the power and authority to deliver us from sin (Colossians 2:13-15).  We can tell Jesus all our thoughts, feelings and needs.  He has been where we are now, and he has the ability to help.

The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."  Jesus answered, "It is written:  'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"  4:3,4

Footnote:  Jesus was able to resist all the devil's temptations because he not only knew Scripture, but he also obeyed it.  Ephesians 6:17 says that God's Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat.  Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey the Bible.  Note that Satan had memorized Scripture, but he failed to obey it.  Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's.

Keep reading -- 77 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 287 - Malachi

Daily Reading:  Malachi 1-4

See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.  He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.  Malachi 4:5

Footnote:  Malachi gives us practical guidelines about commitment to God.  God deserves the best we have to offer (1:7-10).  We must be willing to change our wrong ways of living (2:1,2).  We should make family a lifelong priority (2:13-16).  We should welcome God's refining process in our lives (3:3).  We should tithe our income (3:8-12).  There is no room for pride (3:13-15).

Malachi closes his messages by pointing to that great final day of judgment.  For those who are committed to God, judgment day will be a day of joy because it will usher in eternity in God's presence.  Those who have ignored God will be "stubble," to be burned up (4:1).  To help the people prepare for that day of judgment, God would send a prophet like Elijah (John the Baptist), who would prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah.  The New Testament begins with this prophet calling the people to turn from their sins and to turn toward God.  Such a commitment to God demands great sacrifice on our part, but we can be sure it will be worth it all in the end.

WE MADE IT!!!!!

39 BOOKS!!!

We made it all the way through the Old Testament!  Woo-hoo!!!!! 

I'm so excited to begin the New Testament!  If you feel like you've gotten too far behind to catch up, now would be a good time to jump back in.  Join us!

Keep reading -- 78 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 286 - Principles of Effective Leadership

Daily Reading:  Nehemiah 10-13

I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the first fruits. 

Remember me with favor, O my God.  Nehemiah 13:31

Footnote:  Nehemiah's life story provides many principles of effective leadership that are still valid today. 

1.  Have a clear purpose and keep evaluating it in light of God's will.  Nothing prevented Nehemiah from staying on track. 

2.  Be straightforward and honest.  Everyone knew exactly what Nehemiah needed, and he spoke the truth even when it made his goal harder to achieve. 

3.  Live above reproach.  The accusations against Nehemiah were empty and false. 

4.  Be a person of constant prayer, deriving power and wisdom from your contact with God.  Everything Nehemiah did glorified God.

Leadership appears glamorous at times, but it is often lonely, thankless, and filled with pressures to compromise values and standards.  Nehemiah was able to accomplish a huge task against incredible odds because he learned that there is no success without risk of failure, no reward without hard work, no opportunity without criticism, and no true leadership without trust in God.  This book is about rebuilding the wall of a great city, but it is also about spiritual renewal, rebuilding a people's dependence on God.  When we take our eyes off God, our lives begin to crumble.

Keep reading -- 79 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 285 - A Man of Integrity

Daily Reading:  Nehemiah 7-9

I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.

Footnote:  Integrity and fear of God were the key character traits that qualified these men to govern Jerusalem.  People of integrity can be trusted to carry out their work; God-fearing people can be expected to do so in line with God's priorities.  These men had both qualities.  If you are in a position of selecting leaders, look for integrity and reverence as two of the most important qualifications.  Although other qualities may seem more impressive, integrity and reverence pass the test of time.

Footnote 8:1-5:  The Book of the Law of Moses was probably the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible.  The people listened attentively to Ezra as he read God's Word, and their lives were changed.  Because we hear the Bible so often, we can become dulled to its words and immune to its teachings.  Instead, we should listen carefully to every verse and ask the Holy Spirit to help us answer the question, "How does this apply to my life?"

Footnote 8:13:  After Ezra read God's laws to the people, they studied them further and then acted upon them.  A careful reading of Scripture always calls for a response to these questions.  What should I do with this knowledge?  How should my life change?  We must do something about what we have learned if it is to have real significance for our lives.

 Keep reading -- 80 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 284 - Encouragement for the Task

Daily Reading:  Nehemiah 4-6

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.  Nehemiah 4:6

Footnote:  The work of rebuilding the wall progressed well because the people had set their hearts and minds on accomplishing the task.  They did not lose faith or give up, but they persevered in the work.  If God has called you to a task, determine to complete it, even if you face opposition or discouragement.  The rewards of work well done will be worth the effort.

Footnote 4:10-14:  Accomplishing any large task is tiring.  There are always pressures that foster discouragement -- the task seems impossible; it can never be finished, or too many factors are working against us. The only cure for fatigue and discouragement is focusing on God's purposes.  Nehemiah reminded the workers of their calling, their goal, and God's protection.  If you are overwhelmed by an assignment, tired, and discouraged, remember God's purpose for your life and his special purpose for the project.

 Keep reading -- 81 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 283 - No Fear

Daily Reading:  Nehemiah 1-3

...so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill?  This can be nothing but sadness of heart."

I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever!  Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"  Nehemiah 2:2,3

Footnote:  Nehemiah wasn't ashamed to admit his fear, but he refused to allow fear to stop him from doing what God had called him to do.  When we allow our fears to rule us, we make fear more powerful than God.  Is there a task God wants you to do, but fear is holding you back?  God is greater than all your fears.  Recognizing why you are afraid is the first step in committing it to God.  Realize that if God has called you to a task, he will help you accomplish it.

 Keep reading -- 82 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 282 - Spiritual Preparations

Daily Reading:  Ezra 8-10

So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.  8:23

Footnote:  Before making all the physical preparations for the journey, Ezra made spiritual preparations.  Their prayers and fasting prepared them spiritually by showing their dependence on God for protection, their faith that God was in control, and their affirmation that they were not strong enough to make the trip without him.  When we take time to put God first in any endeavor, we are preparing well for whatever lies ahead.

They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them.  And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.  9:2

Footnote:  Some Israelites had married pagan spouses and lost track of God's purpose for them.  The New Testament says that believers should not "be yoked together with" unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).  Such marriages cannot have unity in the most important issue in life -- commitment and obedience to God.  Because marriage involves two people becoming one, faith may become an issue, and one spouse may have to compromise beliefs for the sake of unity.  Many people discount this problem only to regret it later.  Don't allow emotion or passion to blind you to the ultimate importance of marrying someone with whom you can be united spiritually.

 Keep reading -- 83 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 281 - Change Your Attitude

Daily Reading: Ezra 5-7

For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.  6:22

Footnote:  There are many ways to pray for God's help.  Have you ever considered that God would change the attitude of a person or group of people?  God is infinitely powerful, his insight and wisdom transcend the laws of human nature.  While you must always change your attitude as a first step, remember that he can change the attitude of others.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials.  Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Footnote:  Ezra praised God for all that God had done for him and through him.  Ezra had honored God throughout his life, and God chose to honor him.  Ezra could have assumed that his own greatness and charisma had won over the king and his princes, but he gave the credit to God.  We, too, should be grateful to God for our success and not think that we did it in our own power.

Keep reading -- 84 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV