Month: May 2010

Today’s Scripture: Luke 5-6

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• Jesus calls his first disciples (Peter, James and John), who were common fishermen, to become fishers of men. He astonished them with his “catch of fish” (5:1-11)
• Jesus cleanses a leprous man then charges him to tell no one but to go and show himself to a priest and make an offering for his cleansing. After this He amazes the people further by healing a paralyzed man (5:12-26).
• Jesus calls Levi to follow Him and teaches about the purpose of His earthly ministry (5:27-39).
• As controversy continues to follow Jesus, He teaches that He is Lord of the Sabbath and heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day (6:1-11).
• Jesus continues teaching His disciples, appointing 12 to be apostles, and they help Him minister to the great multitude, as Jesus pronounces the “beatitudes” and “woes,” expounds on loving our enemies, judging others, fruit-bearing and building our houses on the rock (6:12-49)

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• God enables us to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)!
• Spend much time in prayer!
• The power of God worked mightily in Jesus to heal (5:17). This same power is available to us in living sanctified lives!
• Being happy (“blessed”) is a by-product of living with correct priorities!
• Christ calls us to live with a focus on others, not on self!

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• I will focus on doing, rather than just hearing what Jesus commands (6:46-49)!
• I will re-examine my response to the call to cast my net into the deep to catch men!

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, please help me to be more like Jesus!
• Lord, please give me courage and wisdom to let down the nets where you direct!

• Lord, please be with your servant Jesse and his faithful wife Lura. Comfort and strengthen them and give them peace!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: Jeremiah 42-46

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• The survivors of the attack on Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar request a word from God (42:1-6)
• Jeremiah delivers in response to their request (42:7-22)
• They reject the word (43:1-7)
• God rejects them (43:8-13)
• God demonstrates his hatred for idolatry by consuming with sword and famine those who went to Egypt against His will (44:1-14)
• The people, nevertheless, pursue idolatry (44:15-19).
• God pronounces a final word of judgment on the faithless people (44:20-30).
• God offers hope to Jeremiah and Baruch (45:1-5)
• God judges Egypt (46:1-28)

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• Spiritual leaders bear a double burden. They deliver the message of judgment from God to people in sin. They then must bear the sorrow of seeing a wrong decision on the part of some of those to whom they have delivered the message. This causes them to say similar words to Jeremiah’s, “You have gone astray at the cost of your lives … you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your? God in anything that He sent me to tell you.” (42:20-21)
• Sometimes “insolent men” persecute the messenger of God rather than correcting their lives (43:2)
• The message is sometimes hard to deliver, but God rewards those faithful servants who “write these words in a book” (45:1)

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• Take a stand against the false God of humanism in my culture
• Positively impact my community by inviting just one other family to a Bible study in my home
• Follow through in discussing ideas for studies targeted to youth and men’s issues

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, help me to always accept the rebuke of Your Word and to conform my life to its precepts!
• Lord, help me to have the strength and courage of a Jeremiah and a Baruch to say and write what needs to be communicated to call people to serve you!
• Lord, please be with your servant Jesse and his faithful wife Lura; comfort them, give them peace and strengthen them!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: Job 41-42

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• The Lord continues to question Job about his true understanding of God’s exercise of power and judgment, asking him what he knows about Leviathan (41:1-34)
• Job responds in submission, recognizing God’s power and his own foolishness in venturing to speak where he had inadequate knowledge. He repents in dust and ashes (42:1-6).
• The Lord rebukes Job’s friends, commands them to make burnt offerings for themselves and vindicates Job before them (42:7-9).
• The Lord restores Job after his repentance, doubling his previous possessions and blessing his latter days more than his beginning (42:10-17).

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• When I presume to speak for God in those areas that are not revealed, and are therefore the “secret things,” (Deuteronomy 29:29), I expose myself to God’s rebuke.
• There may be varying degrees of satisfaction on the part of God with my attitude. God expressed a level of dissatisfaction with Job as He responds to him (38:1-42:6), but when He is speaking to Job’s friends about him, he says, “you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. (42:7-8).
• I would do well to follow Job’s example, where appropriate, to pray for my friends that God not deal with them according to their folly (42:8).

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• I will glorify the Holy name of God and reflect upon the greatness of His creation!
• I will pray for my friends and family!
• I believe that the Lord restored the fortunes of Job because he maintained his integrity, reaffirmed his faith, and was reconciled to his friends. I will look for the Lord to restore me to a position that will allow me to support my family.

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, help me to respect the voice and silence of the Scriptures!
• Lord, may the folly of my friends and family, who are not allowing you to rule in their lives, become apparent to them. I pray for them that they will submit to your will in obedience, while there is yet time.
• Lord, be with your servant Jesse and his faithful wife Lura. Give them peace, comfort, and strength!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 60-62

Things to remember in today’s reading:

· David offers a community lament. He feel that God has rejected them, expresses feelings of brokenness and prays for restoration (60:1-4)

· God’s plan to divide up the land for Israel is described (60:5-8)

· A request is made to God to grant help against the foe to lead them to Edom (60:9-12)

· An individual lament is made for help in times of trouble, using the familiar imagery, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,” from which the famous hymn gets its title (61:1-8).

· “For God alone my soul waits in silence,” declares David. His counsel to the people is, “Trust Him in all times and pour out your heart before Him (62:1-12)

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

· It is normal to feel dejected and it is wise to see restoration from God at times like these.

· God has special blessings for His children that others do not receive.

· Though we seek counsel from others, we dare not rely TOO heavily except on Him from whom our salvation comes.

Things to act on in today’s reading:

· I will pour out my heart before God!

· My soul will wait in silence for God alone!

· I will sing praises to His name!

· “I can hear my savior calling… Where He leads me I will follow. I’ll go with Him all the way! Footprints of Jesus that make the pathway glow; I will follow the steps of Jesus, wherever they go.” (Adapted from Where He Leads I Will Follow by John S. Norris and Footprints of Jesus by Mary B. C. Slade.)

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

· Lord, help me to wait for an answer from you!

· Lord, help me to recognize your voice when you call!

· Lord, please be with your servant Jesse; comfort and strengthen him!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: 2^nd Samuel 20-24

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• In direct connection to the spirit within the nation of Israel, as expressed in 19:41-43, Sheba leads a revolt against David, and in the end loses his head (20:1-14).
• Seven of Saul’s sons are hanged to atone for their father’s wrongs against the Gibeonites (21:1-14)
• Some of the Philistine wars are recounted and individuals who fought in them (Abishai, Sibbecai, Elhanan, and Jonathan)(21:15-22)
• David’s Song of Deliverance, similar to Psalm 18, uses vivid metaphor to describe the Lord’s sudden appearance to help, and emphasizes God’s control of human destiny (22:1-51).
• A section called “the last words of David” contains a song praising God for establishing his house as the ruler and contrasts the “one who rules justly” and “worthless men” (23:1-7).
• The “mighty men” of David’s army are recognized (23:8-38).
• David’s sin in taking a census to establish the strength of his army (24:1-17) and his building of and offering of atonement to avert a plague as a consequence (24:8-25).

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• The principle is set forth in Scripture, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father for the iniquity of the son.” (Ezekiel 18:20). Also put this way in Deuteronomy 24:16, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for their own sin.” We can gain from discussing situations when this general principle would be superseded by other factors (as appears to be the case with the seven sons of Saul who are hanged).
• If my house is “established,” it will be because it stands with God (23:5)
• When we act “presumptuously” (i.e. presume to take credit by citing our own strength), we anger God

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• I will keep the ways of the Lord!
• In my distress, I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised! So shall I be saved from my enemies!

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, help me to keep myself from guilt!
• Lord, please forgive me for time wasted in worthless pursuits!
• Lord, please be with your servant Jesse; comfort and strengthen him!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: Exodus 29-32

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• Instructions are given on how to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve as priests and how they were to make daily offerings.
• Instructions are given for the making of the Altar of Incense, the Census Offering, the Bronze Basin, and the Anointing Oil and Incense and for their use.
• Craftsmen that are needed for the building of the tabernacle are listed and assignments are made to Bezalel and Oholiab.
• In spite of their agreement to keep the covenant (24:13), the people become impatient for Moses’ return and break the covenant by making and worshipping an idol!

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• How important it is to consecrate ourselves and our worship and our service to God!
• We need to take heed lest we fall! One moment we can be focused on keeping our covenant with God and the next allowing an idol to occupy first place in our lives!

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• I will renew my pledge to God in my daily offerings to Him!
• I will seek the Spirit of God for the ability, intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship to continue in an avocation that honors Him!

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, keep me focused; help me to not turn aside out of the way that you have commanded!
• Be with your servant Jesse; comfort and strengthen him!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: 2^nd Corinthians 11-13

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• Paul defends his preaching and exposes those he calls “super-apostles (11:5-ESV), who were preaching “another Jesus …a different spirit ….a different gospel” (11:4) and many of whom were preaching out of greed (2:7)
• Paul boasts of things that show his weakness (11:30) and that glorify God’s grace and power
• Paul tells of his conversion and of the “thorn” he was given to keep him from becoming conceited.
• As Paul prepares for his 3^rd visit, he appeals to the rebellious to examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith. Their response to his call to repentance will be their TEST!
• Paul closes his letter to the Corinthians with five commands:
  • Aim for restoration
  • Comfort one another
  • Agree with one another
  • Live in peace
  • Greet one another with a holy kiss

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• We may be falsely accused for being zealous for God and His work.
• In all things we must never forget why we do them – to the glory of God to build up and not tear down (12:13; 13:10).
• A study of a church in turmoil shows how painful the process can be to call the rebellious to repentance and to restore the unity and harmony that God intended in the local congregation!

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• I will give thanks for my brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I have fellowship in the local work and for the elders who oversee that work and for the deacons and teachers who facilitate the public worship and the edifying of the boy of Christ!
• I will encourage the preaching of the gospel by our local evangelist, Alan Cornett, by sending him a note of appreciation

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, give me an attitude like Paul’s to “spend and be spent” for the souls of others!
• Lord, let me be content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities in doing your work!
• Be with your servant Jesse; comfort and strengthen him!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: Luke 3-4

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus.
• Jesus’ baptism, genealogy and temptation
• Jesus is rejected in Nazareth.
• Jesus begins His healing ministry.
• Jesus preaches in the synagogues of the Judea.

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• It is necessary for people today, as it was in the days of John, to remove the obstacles from their lives that hinder their reception of Jesus and His kingdom. The baptism of repentance, preached by John, had this as a key ingredient.
• Specific, personal application, when we hear the truth preached, will cause us to ask, “What shall I do?” (3:10, 122, 14)
• Be prepared, when Satan attacks, to fight him off with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!
• Rejection of the gospel message should not stop the messenger from planting the seed!

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• I will do my best to remove obstacles that hinder me in living for Jesus!
• I will focus a part of today (and every day) on reading and reflecting upon God’s Word!
• I will plant the see, as I have opportunity!

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, give me a servant’s heart that is open to the needs of others!
• “Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus, to reach out and touch Him …”
• Be with your servant Jesse; comfort and strengthen him!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: Jeremiah 37-41

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• Jerusalem’s last days:
  • Jeremiah warns Zedekiah that the Chaldeans are going to capture and burn Jerusalem.
  • Jeremiah is imprisoned then cast into a cistern because of his prediction.
  • Jeremiah is rescued from the cistern and warns Zedkiah again.
  • The fall of Jerusalem fulfills Jeremiah’s prediction.
  • The Lord delivers Jeremiah
• Judah’s futile rebellion against Babylon, against God’s will:
  • Jeremiah remains in Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem.
  • Gedeliah, Babylon’s Governor of Judah is murdered.
  • Hostages, taken during Gedeliah’s assassination, are rescued.

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• Great cities and great nations have their rise and fall in the course of history.
• It may be hard for us to imagine the depths of the corruption and apostasy during the days of Jeremiah, just as it may be hard for us to realize the full force of the discovery of the copy of the book of the law (2^nd Chronicles 34:14-33).
• Throughout history God has called for men and women of faith to stand up for truth and justice and to sound a clear call to repentance!

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• I will try to develop a greater awareness of today’s societal issues and the role that I can play, as a Christian, in molding godly responses to them.
• Observing the good influence that Jeremiah was in aiding the young king Josiah to “seek the God of David his father” (2^nd Chronicles 34:3), I will seek to mentor young people as I have opportunity!

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, please guide the political leaders of our day to have the spirit of a Josiah and the religious leaders a spirit of a Jeremiah!
• Lord, please help me to have a courage like Jeremiah to declare your judgments (Jeremiah 38:20-21) and a love like Jesus to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10)

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: Job 39-40

Things to remember in today’s reading:

In the midst of the Lord’s challenge to Job, he asks him if he knows how creation and its creatures are governed:

• Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? (1)
• Who has let the wild donkey go free? (5)
• Is the wild ox willing to serve you? (9)
• What do you know about the ostrich? (13)
• Do you give the horse his might? (19)
• Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars? (26)
• What do you know about my exercise of judgment and power on the earth? (Chapter 40)

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• The ways of the Lord are “unsearchable” and far above those of man (Romans 11:33; Isaiah 55:8-9) and when we presume to know what is hidden about Him, we make a grave mistake!
• The intricacies of nature are the realm of God. Man can observe them with awe and wonder but never have the intimate relationship with them that their creator does.

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• Observe the greatness of God’s creation! “Stop and smell the roses!”
• Reflect upon man’s care of that creation – have we been good stewards of it?

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• Lord, help me to always be in awe and to praise You for the wonders of the human body and your physical creation! (Job 37:14; Psalm 139:14; 19:1)
• Lord, help me to be a good steward of all that you have placed in my care!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton