Day 307 - May Your Faith Not Fail

Daily Reading:  Luke 22-24


"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."  Luke 22:31,32


Footnote:  Satan wanted to crush Simon Peter and the other disciples like grains of wheat.  He hoped to find only chaff and blow it away.  But Jesus assured Peter that his faith, although it would falter, would not be destroyed.  It would be renewed and Peter would become a powerful leader.


"And he went outside and wept bitterly."  Luke 22:62


Footnote:  Peter wept bitterly, not only because he realized that he had denied his Lord the Messiah, but also because he had turned away from a very dear friend, a person who had loved and taught him for three years.  Peter had said that he would never disown Christ, despite Jesus' prediction.  But when frightened, he went against all he had boldly promised.  Unable to stand up for his Lord for even 12 hours, he had failed as a disciple and as a friend.  We need to be aware of our own breaking points and not become overconfident or self-sufficient.  If we fail him, we must remember that Christ can see those who recognize their failure.  From this humiliating experience Peter learned much that would help him later when he assumed leadership of the young church.

Keep reading -- 58 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 306 - Persist in Prayer

Daily Reading:  Luke 18-21


"He said:  In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'


For some time he refused.  But finally he said to himself, Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!


And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?  Will he keep putting them off?"  Luke 18:2-7


Footnote:  To persist in prayer and not give up does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions.  Always praying means keeping our requests constantly before God as we live for him day by day, believing he will answer.  When we live by faith, we are not to give up.  God may delay answering, but his delays always have good reasons.  As we persist in prayer we grow in character, faith and hope.


If unjust judges respond to constant pressure, how much more will a great and loving God respond to us.  If we know he loves us, we can believe he will hear our cries for help.


I love it when you open God's Word and the scriptures for that day are so timely....just the encouragement you need for the moment.  Have you been praying for someone, something or a situation for what seems like a long time?  Don't give up!  Have the perseverance of this widow.


"Then Jesus said to them, 'How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?  David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies 

a footstool for your feet.'

David calls him 'Lord.'  How then can he be his son?"  Luke 20:41:44


Footnote:  The Pharisees and Sadducees had asked their questions.  Then Jesus turned the tables and asked them a question that went right to the heart of the matter -- what they thought about the Messiah's identity.  The Pharisees knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, but they did not understand that he would be more than a human descendant -- he was God in the flesh.  Jesus quoted from Psalm 110:1 to show that David knew that the Messiah would be both human and divine.  The Pharisees expected only a human ruler to restore Israel's greatness as in the days of David and Solomon.


The central issue of life is what we believe about Jesus.  Other spiritual questions are irrelevant unless we first decide to believe that Jesus is who he said he is.  The Pharisees and Sadducees could not do this.  They remained confused over Jesus' identity.


"Be careful, or your heart will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.  For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.  Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."  Luke       21: 34-36


Footnote:  Jesus told the disciples to keep a constant watch for his return.  Although nearly 2,000 years have passed since he spoke these words, their truth remains:  Christ is coming again and we need to watch and be spiritually fit.  This means working faithfully at the tasks God has given us.  Don't let your mind and spirit be dulled by careless living, drinking or the foolish pursuit of pleasure.  Don't let life's anxieties overburden you, so that you will be ready to move at God's command.

Keep reading -- 59 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

Day 305 - Count the Cost

Daily Reading:  Luke 14-17

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?  For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, This fellow began to build and was not able to finish." Luke 14:28-30

Footnote:  When a builder doesn't count the cost or estimates it inaccurately, his building may be left half completed.  Will your Christian life be only half built and then abandoned because you did not count the cost of commitment to Jesus?  What are those costs?  Christians may face loss of social status or wealth.  They may have to give up control over their money, their time, or their career.  They may be hated, separated from their family, and even put to death.  Following Christ does not mean a trouble-free life.  We must carefully count the cost of becoming Christ's disciples so that we will know what we are getting into and won't be tempted later to turn back.

So, I'm curious.....did you count the cost of the Bible Challenge?  Did you understand how many hours you would be spending reading God's Word?  Did you realize how many times you would have to say "no" to something else -- like staying in bed a few extra minutes or turning on the TV -- in order to say "yes" to your daily reading schedule?

I hope that the dividends of the Bible Challenge have far outweighed the cost.  I know they have for me!

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep."  Luke 15:4,5

Footnote:  We may be able to understand a God who would forgive sinners who come to him for mercy. But a God who tenderly searches for sinners and then joyfully forgives them must possess an extraordinary love!  This is the kind of love that prompted Jesus to come to earth to search for lost people and save them.  This is the kind of extraordinary love that God has for you.  If you feel far from God, don't despair.  He is searching for you!

Keep reading -- 60 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV

May Reading List

    May

❏1 Luke 14-17
❏2 Luke 18-21
❏3 Luke 22-24
❏4 John 1-3
❏5 John 4-6
❏6 John 7-10
❏7 John 11-13
❏8 John 14-17
❏9 John 18-21
❏10 Acts 1,2
❏11 Acts 3-5
❏12 Acts 6-9
❏13 Acts 10-12
❏14 Acts 13,14
❏15 James 1,2
❏16 James 3-5
❏17 Galatians 1-3
❏18 Galatians 4-6
❏19 Acts 15-18:11
❏21 1 Thessalonians 1-5
❏21 2 Thessalonians 1-3;
Acts 18:12-19:10
❏22 1 Corinthians 1-4
❏23 1 Corinthians 5-8
❏24 1 Corinthians 9-12
❏25 1 Corinthians 13-16
❏26 Acts 19:11-20:1;
        2 Corinthians 1-3
❏27 2 Corinthians 4-6
❏28 2 Corinthians 7-9
❏29 2 Corinthians 10-13
❏30 Acts 20:2; Romans 1-4
❏31 Romans 5-8

Junior Bible Challenge Reading List

 

MAY

❏1 Acts 16

❏2 Acts 17

❏3 Acts 26

❏4 Acts 27

❏5 Acts 28         

❏6 Romans 3

❏7 Romans 7

❏8 Romans 8

❏9 Romans 12

❏10 Romans 13

❏11 Romans 14

❏12 1 Corinthians 12

❏13 1 Corinthians 13

❏14 1 Corinthians 14

❏15 1 Corinthians 15

❏16 2 Corinthians 4

❏17 2 Corinthians 12

❏18 Galatians 3

❏19 Galatians 4

❏20 Galatians 5

❏21 Ephesians 1

❏22 Ephesians 2

❏23 Ephesians 3

❏24 Ephesians 4

❏25 Ephesians 5

❏26 Ephesians 6

❏27 Philippians 1

❏28 Philippians 2

❏29 Philippians 3

❏30 Philippians 4

❏31 Colossians 1

JUST KEEP READING!

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