Daily Reading Week 23
Sunday
James 5:12
DISCOVER
What warning does James give concerning swearing?
According to the end of the verse, what’s the result of a clear “yes” and a clear “no?”
We live in a culture that has a high tolerance for lies. Why is it important for Christians to speak the truth?
RESPOND
At first glance this verse appears to be out of place. So far in chapter 5, James has been talking about remaining faithful to God in the midst of our suffering. Now we come to this verse that doesn't fit in the flow of the passage. Yet, James begins the verse by saying, “Above all.” In other words, this is a big deal. When James writes that we must not "swear," he isn't talking about using bad language/words. Nor is he speaking, necessarily, about using God's name as a cuss word. He is talking about a practice that was apparently common in this era: taking an oath to convince someone either that you were telling the truth or that you would keep a promise.
The real issue that James is addressing is truthful communication. Truthful communication is essential for good relationships because truth is essential for trust. If you don’t trust someone, you’re not going to allow that person to get close to you. Proverbs 12:22 (NIV) says, “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Sometimes we’re guilty of telling half-truth, white lies, or maybe the cover up lies. We should all work to become a person of truthful communication! What do people think when you say “yes?” What do people think when you say, “no?” As a follower of Jesus, our word should be enough!
monday
James 4:13-17
DISCOVER
In verse 14, how does James compare our life?
Instead of making the declaration in verse 13, according to verse 15 what should my attitude daily look like?
When I create my own plans, James calls boasting in verse 16. How does James categorize this boasting?
When I know what is right and I don’t do it, what does James say I am guilty of doing? (v 17)
RESPOND
James says that in our daily planning we should really seek the Lord’s guidance and direction. It’s interesting that James says failing to consider God in our plans is boasting. On the surface level verse 13 really doesn’t sound like boasting, but the attitude behind the statement assumes either they know more than God and their needs or they weren’t really interested in what God thought about their plans. James is not prohibiting us from making plans. The problem is making plans without consideration of God's plans. Since life is so short, it is super important for us to involve God in our plans and be directed by Him. Perhaps that’s why Solomon declared in Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NASB), “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, I have no pleasure in them.”
The challenge for so many of us is to try and get through life and the many decisions that come our way on our own. It’s super easy to get caught up in a self-confident mindset. While we’d never confess to this, when we do such we’re assuming the role of God.. It starts with a presumptuous attitude (v 13) which leads to a clouded mind or even deception (v 14-15). The tragic end to all of this is transgression as declared James 4:16-17.
Before making decisions, stop and pray. In addition, talk to other believers who can give Godly counsel. Do not make any decisions without seeking God and consulting His Word. Instead of boasting about your plans, humbly trust in the Lord and seek him each step of the way.
tuesday
John 9
DISCOVER
What belief about sin and sickness did Jesus’ disciples allude to concerning the blind man?
Why was this man born blind? (v 3)
How did Jesus restore the man’s sight? (v 6)
According to verses 8-9, how did the blind man’s neighbors respond to his new condition?
RESPOND
The healing of the man blind from birth is one of the most powerful miracles of Jesus. Not just because of how his sight is restored, but also how it affected the lives of the blind man and the people around him. No doubt this chapter teaches us that we have to endure hardships. At the same time we learn that Jesus notices everyone. In the midst of a chapter loaded with great lessons, it’s possible that one of the greatest lessons is on confidence in the Lord.
Here’s a guy who didn’t have all the answers. This is a guy who's never seen the sun set over the waters. Up to this point in his life, he’s never seen the beauty of a flower in bloom, the smile on the face of a child, or hands attached to his body. In contemporary thought this guy has every right to be angry with God. Many people would not fault this man one bit if he shook his fist to the Lord in frustration and questioning.
However, that is not what happens here. Jesus works a great miracle in this man’s life. This miracle was so marvelous that it was almost too good to be true. My favorite part of this passage is in verse 25. He doesn’t have all the answers. He’s never met Jesus before. Perhaps he’s unable to answer all the deep theological questions. One thing he does know…he was once blind, but now he can see!
Today there may be questions that you can’t seem to answer. You may encounter some challenging situations and some challenging people. In the middle of all these questions, let’s keep our confidence in Jesus high. We don’t have to waver in fear if Jesus is with us. Obstacles can seem overwhelming, our faith may stumble, and fear may lead our flesh to falter in its commitment. This is when we must lean into the Lord. When we do this, it places our trust back on the unshakable Savior because so much of our confidence is based on perspective.
Wednesday
Philippians 1:9-11
DISCOVER
Verse 9 begins as a prayer. What’s Paul’s prayer?
According to verse 10, what is the purpose of understanding what matters?
Based on verse 11, how do we bring glory and praise to God?
What can we learn from this prayer about our own prayers, both for other people and for ourselves?
RESPOND
One of the best ways for Paul to bring glory to Jesus Christ was to train others so that they too could have a vital relationship with Christ. He also realized that his life would not last forever and if his flame was extinguished who would carry the torch to the next generation if he didn’t train others to follow the Lord. One way that Paul longs to train these new believers is in the area of having knowledge and discernment and specifically, knowledge and discernment as it relates to saying yes and saying no.
Perhaps there a few tangible things you need to say NO to and others you should say YES to for preferring more of Christ in your life.
As you finish your connect time today, take a few minutes and select one or two people in your life and pray for them in the same manner that Paul prayed for these believers at Philippi.
Thursday
Matthew 5:33-37
DISCOVER
What are some key points that stuck out to you in this passage?
In verse 36, what reason does Jesus give for not swearing by your head?
Consider John 8:44. What does this verse say about the source of lies?
RESPOND
Jesus quotes a couple of verses from the Old Testament Law to introduce this subject of being honest. In our culture it’s pretty common to hear someone says, “I swear to God,” even when the subject matter is pretty minor. In Jewish culture it was a bit different. They would have considered a statement like this as taking God’s name in vain.
James Montgomery Boice helps us get a better feel for the abuse of oaths in the day of Christ. He writes, “People who were afraid to swear by the name of the Lord because they were not telling the full truth began to swear by things, and because mere things were not thought to be as significant as the name of God this second class of oaths we not considered to be binding. Some persons swore by their own life, or their health. Others swore by the king. Still others swore, as Jesus indicates, by their head, the earth, heaven, the temple, or Jerusalem. All such oaths were considered evasive.” In light of this, we can see that truth was not valued very deeply by the Jewish culture in Jesus’ day. In light of how the people were dividing life into categories of things you can swear by and still fudge the truth and real things by which you must be absolutely truthful, Jesus’ words make a lot of sense. He is saying life simply cannot be divided into neat little compartments, some of which are exempt from God’s presence and some of which are not. God is everywhere. Hence, truth is as important in one situation and time as another.
Friday
Genesis 25
DISCOVER
According to verses 29-30, what is Esau’s mindset when he comes in from the field?
Why did Esau sell his birthright to Jacob? (v 30-33)
What did Esau sell to Jacob in exchange for some stew? (v 34)
What does the author tell us that reveals Esau’s attitude towards his birthrigh?
RESPOND
The attitude of Esau may seem insignificant until we truly understand the bigger picture here. Here in Gen 25 we’re talking about the Promised Seed. The one through whom God would bring blessing to the nations. So, despising this birthright is a big deal. He trades the opportunity to be used by God for the salvation of the world for a bowl of soup because he is hungry. In terms we heard in this past week’s sermon, Esau missed out on the bigger and best yes. According to Hebrews 12:16-17, Esau is an example of a person who places immediate satisfaction over spiritual temperance and faith.
As we ponder how ridiculous it is that Esau would give over his birthright for a meal, it is hard not to see how we so often do the same exact thing. When God has a promise for us and a blessing if we follow His ways, but we decide to embrace a short-term pleasure, we miss out.It’s super easy for us to get so caught up in the moment and respond accordingly. However, like Esau we can miss out on the beauty of saying “no” at times because there’s a better “yes” that awaits us if we’ll just be patient.
Saturday
John 9:35-41
DISCOVER
What is the big question asked by Jesus in verse 35 to set up this conversation?
Based on the miracle that has just taken place (9:6-7), what’s so exciting about verse 37?
Once again, based on the great miracle that’s taken place and the entire audience, what’s interesting about Jesus’ statement in verse 39?
How did the Pharisees respond in verse 40 to Jesus’ statement in verse 39?
RESPOND
This whole narrative is centered around a man born blind. He was never able to see the sunset, the colors in a rainbow, or even a word to read. Yet, in a moment Jesus completely healed him, allowing him to experience so many things he’d never experienced before. Can you imagine what this must have felt like! This healing is a time of great joy and celebration.
However, the Pharisees missed out on the party. They wonder who this guy Jesus is and by what authority is He healing. In doing so, they miss the point - a man was restored and God was glorified! In a nutshell, these religious leaders continue to live in their “no.”
Interestingly, this chapter ends back at the point where it began. The disciples made an inaccurate presumption about sin’s relation to the man’s blindness (9:2). Now Jesus brings the Pharisees back to that opening point. A recognition of their blindness would free them for their sin. Instead, they refuse to recognize their inaccuracies, so their sin remains. In the case of the Pharisees, they were living in spiritual blindness. One guy experienced the joy of being freed from physical blindness, and the Pharisees were unwilling to be freed from their spiritual blindness. They were given the same opportunity as the young man born blind, but they chose to say “no” and remain in their blindness.
The Anglican cleric and former slave trader John Newton understood the truth of stepping out of darkness and into God’s light. After spending days as the captain of a slave ship, God brought him out of this darkness and into the Light. Some years laters, he’d pen these words. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but not I see.”