Team Daily Bible Reading and Commentary Thoughts for April 2024
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316Judith
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Good Evening Team
I will continue with Posting our Daily Bible Reading and Commentary Thoughts that are provided by many Ministry’s from YouVersion Bible Reading and Study online!
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God Bless you
From your Team Leader
Judith
I will continue with Posting our Daily Bible Reading and Commentary Thoughts that are provided by many Ministry’s from YouVersion Bible Reading and Study online!
I welcome your feedback and please share your own Bible Reading and or Study!
God Bless you
From your Team Leader
Judith
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April 1, 2024
Bible Reading
Jude chapter 1
Commentary Thoughts
Before we look more deeply at the content of the book of Jude, let's glance at who wrote it, what time period he wrote it in and what the overall message and purpose of it is.
The author identifies himself as Jude, “brother of James” (v. 1). He would not be referring to James the son of Zebedee who was martyred at an early date (Acts 12:1-2).
He surely means the well-known leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13-21; Gal 2:9) and brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3).
Therefore, Jude was also a brother of Jesus. Yet, he humbly calls himself a “servant of Jesus Christ” instead (v. 1).
Historical Background
The readers of Jude’s letter were probably Jewish Christians because of his several references to Jewish history.
He identifies them as “those who are called, loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ” (v. 1), which could be a general designation referring to believers anywhere. But he also calls them “dear friends” and addressed a specific situation, so he likely has a specific group in mind—perhaps several churches. Aside from this, we do not know who the recipients were.
It’s hard to determine the date of the letter. It must have been written within Jude’s lifetime, and we must allow time for the false teaching he addresses to have developed. A reasonable date would be between A.D. 65 and 80. Nothing in the letter points to a date beyond this period.
Message and Purpose
Jude is concerned that God’s people be delivered from deceptive teachings. He originally intended to write them about their salvation. But when he learned false teachers were infiltrating the church, he changed his plans (vv. 3-4). So he urged them to contend earnestly for their Christian faith, warned them of the destruction coming on false teachers, and exhorted them to grow in Christ and help fellow believers.0 -
April 2, 2024
Bible Reading
Jude 1:1-4
John 7:5
Mark 3:20-21
Romans 6:1-7
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Commentary Thoughts
The first four verses start off with Jude mirroring James’ same designation of a bond-slave of God (James 1:1).
Jude also lets us know he is the “brother of James.” Both are half-brothers of Jesus, but do not—perhaps out of humility—claim that title.
They are instead, servants of Christ. Jude also has a history as a skeptic of Jesus during his earthly ministry (see John 7:5; Mark 3:20-21).
Jude goes on to explain the nature of the “faith once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3): the body of truth that’s written in Scripture that was delivered to the Church.
This is faith that is founded on God’s revelation in God’s Word. This process of both defining and defending the true Scriptures and core teachings of the faith would continue for several centuries. It would result in what is called the "canon."
In verse four, Jude tells about the problem of traveling teachers who distort and twist the “faith once for all delivered.” This was an ongoing issue for the early church as seen throughout Paul’s epistles. The central heresy of these false teachers shows up for us in verse four where Jude tells us that they turn the grace of God into a license for sin. You can compare these thoughts with those found in Romans 6:1-7 and 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.0 -
April 3, 20/4
Bible Reading
Jude 1:5-16
Commentary Thoughts
Verses five through sixteen of Jude go on to cover three critical topics: the judgment of false teachers, the false teacher's rejection of authority and the selfishness of false teachers.
Three scriptural examples of judgment (with the implication of certain judgment on these false teachers) is given as an example.
First it is the Israelites in the wilderness (Jude 5). Next, Jude speaks of fallen angels (Jude 6). Lastly, Jude looks at Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 7).
With regard to the false teachers’ rejection of authority, for Jude this is one of the clear signs of their apostasy.
The fact that they reject the authority of the apostles and teachers (and even “angelic authorities,” Jude 8) who have handed down “the faith once for all delivered to the saints," sets them apart as "false."
Jude draws on numerous examples from Scripture and Jewish apocalyptic works to prove this point, the first being the dispute of Michael the archangel with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 9-10), Cain, Balaam, and Korah’s rebellion (Jude 11), and the prophecy of Enoch (Jude 14-16).
Jude then closes out this section by employing several poetic and artistic images to illustrate the false teachers’ desires to serve their own interests: hidden reefs, clouds without water, trees without fruit, crashing waves and wandering stars (Jude 12-13).0 -
April 4, 2024
Bible Reading
Jude 1:17-25
Commentary Thoughts
The final verses of Jude take a look at the foundation of the faith based on the writings of the apostles.
This starts off in verses 17-19. Through these writings, Scripture provides the firm ground, or the anchor, for a strong faith.
Instead of being biblically minded, the false teachers are said to be wordly-minded (Jude 19).
In Jude 20-23, he writes about building, growing, and tending to our faith instead of. having a stagnant, static faith.
The building materials and prayer in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20); being kept by the love of God (Jude 21); waiting for the mercy of God (an eternal perspective); being a part of the community of faith: helping the doubting, saving the perishing, and disciplining the fleshly or carnal (Jude 23).
Jude finishes his writings by speaking of the One Who secures and rules over our faith (Jude 24-25).
Jude’s benediction is then given to God who keeps us from stumbling and to Whom belongs glory, majesty, and dominion (Jude 24-25).
The “faith once for all delivered” is a secure faith because ultimately it is in the God who rules over all things “before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 25).0 -
April 6, 2024
Reading in the Book of Philippians: Study Thoughts are brought by J Vernon McGee
Bible Reading
Philippians 1:1-13
Commentary Thoughts
The Joy of Togetherness
The New Testament book of Philippians is really a love letter written by the apostle Paul to his friends in the church at Philippi.
Nestled among the trees but not too far from the rolling waves of the Mediterranean Sea, Philippi was a city in eastern Europe Paul visited during his second missionary journey.
After preaching the gospel on the riverbank to a woman named Lydia and others who were there to pray, the Lord opened hearts and a church was born.
Paul felt deeply about them because they had remained faithful to him in good times and in trials.
Paul thanks God for their “fellowship in the gospel” (1:5).
Relationships in Christ are everything for the followers of Jesus.
We can celebrate how God works in each other’s lives and how we can share the things of the Lord with them.
“Sharing in the Lord” means praying for one another, worshipping together, and financially supporting God’s work.
All this is “fellowship in the gospel.”
Paul wrote this letter to all the saints and described every believer as being set apart by God. We become saints—made holy—when we put our faith in Jesus Christ.
To be a saint is to be “in Christ Jesus.” That’s what it means to be saved—to be in Christ. The Spirit of God chose just one little word, the preposition “in,” to explain the nature of salvation.
It is to be in Christ. God places you in Christ when you trust Him as your Savior.
This kind of faithful fellowship sustains us in good times and trials.
Does anyone in your life come to mind?
We can follow Paul’s example and pray for each other to move toward a deeper understanding of the Lord and a wider experience of His love.
We can encourage each other to be the genuine item. No pretense. No putting on spiritual airs that a watching world sees right through.
Certainly, the Christian life and the preaching of the Word of God will offend someone, but loving and serving God with sincerity will give us our ultimate spiritual prize: “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (1:11).
That’s the goal of living the Christian life.
Someday, Jesus Christ will return for His children.
On that day, we will offer Him the “fruits of righteousness” that brings glory and praise to God alone. Together in the joy of fellowship with other believers, including these choice Christians in Philippi, our lives will be brought to fullness as we share not only the sufferings of Christ but also the joy of sharing the Good News together.0 -
April 8, 2024
Bible Reading
Philippians 2:1-11
Key Verse: Verse 5
Commentary Thoughts
A Humble State of Mind
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (2:5). What kind of mind did Jesus have?
In a word: humble. Jesus thinks of Himself with humility. He is God, yet He left heaven’s glory where He is worshipped to come to a world that dismissed Him, locked Him out. It’s beyond human comprehension to understand what our Lord did for us. And He did it with delight, no reluctance. He held nothing back but willingly sacrificed Himself for us.
On our own we can try, but never live with such humility. Left to ourselves, we demand our rights, we insist on our needs being met, and we easily overlook those around us who need God’s grace.
We need the Holy Spirit to form humility in us. Jesus showed us what it looks like to empty our lives of all self-serving bents and habits in order to serve other people.
Jesus lived a selfless, obedient life in order to secure our spiritual destiny. Instead of demanding others serve Him, He served others. He gave up His right to be worshipped, to be served. Instead, He acted like a servant, took the lowest position, and ultimately obeyed His Father to the point of dying a cruel death on the cross.
He did all of this so we could be forgiven of sin (2:5-8).
But God wasn’t finished with Jesus yet.
God took Him to the lowest place, but now He put Him in the highest place, and gave Him the most exalted name in the created universe—the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord (2:9-11).
God the Father’s ultimate purpose is to make sure Jesus Christ will be glorified in the universe He created and be glorified on the earth where all His creation lives and, ironically, on the planet where mankind rebelled against Him.
God now exalts Jesus and gives Him the highest name of all. His name is to be reverenced in praise and in worship. We also offer our deepest longings in prayer in His name. God will make sure every creature in heaven and on earth will bow in worship before Jesus Christ.
On that day, we will join with everything that has breath in calling out praise that Jesus—who once was a bondservant—now is Lord and master of all.
All creation will bow in full surrender and submission to Jesus Christ.
This scene prompts each of us to make certain Jesus Christ is Lord of our whole lives. It’s easy to call Him “Lord,” but it takes a deep commitment to surrender every area of our lives to make Him Lord.
In the end, it’s not enough to merely give lip service to Jesus, but we make Him Lord when we surrender control to Him and allow Him to lead (Matthew 7:21-23).
Talk with Jesus about this new picture of His proper place. Ask Him to show you any areas of your life that still await His rule and lead—those places you’ve insisted on clinging to and try to control. Let Him have all of you; surrender to Him your will and life. He is your exalted Savior. It’s time to make Him your exalted Lord.0 -
April 9, 2024
Bible Reading
Philippians 2:12-30
Philippians 3:1-9
Commentary thoughts
Faith’s Workout
Paul, like anyone, understands what it meant to be human—to struggle against acting selfishly and focusing on his own needs over meeting the needs of others. That’s why he calls us to have the mind of Jesus—which means, thinking like Jesus thinks. When we do, we will be free of petty human arguments, conflicts, and strife.
Yet, Paul remains a realist, too. The Philippians will encounter people who reject the message of Jesus and will do everything in their power to persuade them to live for themselves and worship anything and everything but the God of grace who had redeemed them. Particularly, Paul warns them to beware of the “dogs” and “evil workers” (3:2) attempting to convince them to adhere strictly to Old Testament Law by insisting they be circumcised.
Paul passionately defends against that sort of false and misguided focus on keeping religious rules. He wants them to know how lethal that approach would be to their faith. In fact, he shows how he personally had taken first place in the category of religious zeal only to discover that none of this matters to God. That’s why Paul refuses to boast about anything other than His relationship with Jesus Christ, which he had received, not by worth of his own, but as a free gift of grace from the Lord (3:3-8). Remember? That’s the mind of Christ!
God doesn’t want any of us to be duped into thinking we can find peace with God by putting confidence in the way we lived before we met Jesus. It’s not about keeping rules or living the best possible life and earning enough spiritual points to please God. We must trust Christ alone. We do not look to ourselves for the answers to our deepest needs, nor can we live for Jesus by relying on our own smarts. That’s a recipe for spiritual failure and constant frustration. It must be Christ in us.
Do you know God that way? Have you turned from trusting yourself or in a personal system of what it means to live a good life? Have you fully put your trust in Jesus, only? That’s when you will be truly converted.
Paul sums up his own personal experience of what it meant to be saved in one life-changing thought: Righteousness comes from Christ and not from ourselves (3:8-9). Trust fully in Christ alone for salvation. When you need daily motivation to “work out” your salvation—turn to God. Salvation, God’s gift of grace, flows to all who recognize their need for a Savior and who call on Him in faith. Have you done that? Will you? He will be faithful not only to begin “a good work in you” but also to “complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (1:6).0 -
April 10, 2024
Bible Reading
Philippians 3:10-21
Philippians 4:1-3
Commentary Thoughts
Help for Worriers
From zealous Jewish scholar and Pharisee, turned violent anti-Christian terrorist, to becoming the world’s most famous preacher of Christ for all time, the apostle Paul abruptly discovered it was all about Jesus and not about him.
His singular focus was on knowing Jesus more and more, experiencing His power, and being willing to suffer the deepest scorn and loss in order to have all of that. That’s what is in store for every follower of Jesus Christ who learns this important lesson.
The Philippians lived in turbulent times. Much like we do today, it was easy to not only be discouraged, but also be anxious about the future. “Enemies of the cross” also slipped into their company to lure them back into bondage to sin (3:10-19).
What’s the answer, then and now?
Look to Jesus and to the promise of eternity with Him, and keep Him as your aim, regardless of what happens on earth.
Grace always has enemies. You may have people like that in your life. Jesus calls you to resist them in His name and continue to run the race with the assurance of the prize of eternal life waiting for anyone who keeps their focus on Him.
Someday, you will not only be with Him, you will be like Him! That’s the prize for running the race of faith.
Here’s some down-to-earth advice on how to combat worry and fear in anxious times.
The Christian life is powerless without joy. This joy comes only and fully from our walk with Jesus and from the love we share with each other.
When we respond joyfully to trouble, this shines the light of Jesus to unbelievers around us. That’s why our response as followers of Jesus to our own difficult times carries such enormous impact—especially when people see the joy of the Lord in us.
If we do this, we will know pure joy. Joy is the goal, not gloom and despair the way many experience church life. The goal is to know the pure joy of a deep relationship with Jesus so we don’t give in to the temptation to despair.
In fact, God commands us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (4:4). Over and over, joy should prevail no matter the circumstances.
Whether it’s dark or bright, difficult or sublime, chock full of trouble or lined with blues skies and smooth sailing, the believer’s heart can rejoice. What a vision for our lives.
What’s the key to trading our anxiety for the peace that comes from knowing Jesus?
It’s prayer. Simply talk to Jesus about those things that made you anxious.
Instead of worrying about everything (and who doesn’t do that from time to time?), pray about everything.
That’s where the peace comes from.
This powerful peace not only guards your emotions (your heart) but also places a protective shield around your thoughts.
Wouldn’t you rather think peaceful thoughts instead of anxious ones?
Prayer is the answer—and the joy of the Lord won’t follow far behind the prayers.0 -
April 11, 2024
Bible Reading
Philippians 4:4-23
Commentary Thoughts
A Graceful Dismount
The secret of knowing God’s peace even in stressful times and periods of genuine uncertainty is to turn to the Lord in prayer with thankful hearts. Refuse to wallow in worry. God will be as faithful to us as He always has been in providing a surrounding peace for both our minds and emotions. He wants us to trust Him so that we worry about nothing and pray about everything.
And when we pray, we should do so with an attitude of “thankfulness,” which will in turn usher in a replacement for worry—the overwhelming peace of God (4:6-7).
Thankfulness is not a result of our prayers being answered, but thankfulness is what guides us to prayer in the first place. As a result, the peace of God flows into our anxious minds and brings relief and calm.
You don’t have to succumb to evil and anxious thoughts, but you can train your mind to meditate on things true, moral, reputable, authentic, compelling, and gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to malign. How easily we can pollute our thoughts with what brings us down, leads us away from purity and truth, and causes more and more anxiety. A constant stream of cultural input, though at times appealing, only further draws our attention away from those things God has given to us to raise our thoughts to Him and to His Son, Jesus.
In Jesus, everything worthy and pure, wholesome and praiseworthy, honorable and true, resides.
This battle for peace is fought in the mind. Focus your thoughts on things honoring to Jesus.
Paul praises them for their generous financial partnership, while at the same time explaining he has learned to be content in any situation (even poverty) through the strength he had in Jesus (4:13).
Because of his refreshing honesty, the Philippians felt even more motivated to join Paul in his ministry by praying for him and faithfully giving to his ministry no matter how bleak times got.
Their thoughtfulness reminded Paul of incense on the altar and how its sweet smell drifted up to God. Same as now, a Christian’s generosity to God when given in the right spirit, is more than just making a donation or taking up a collection. It is an offering, an aroma of a sweet smell to God.
It pleases God when it comes from a heart of faith (4:18).
Joyfully, Paul assures his friends that God would supply all their needs, too. They stood out as shining examples of sacrificial faith and joyful generosity among all the churches Paul served in Macedonia—they were to him his most prized congregation, and he blessed them for it (4:19). Is Jesus’ work in your life coming out in real ways like that? Do you happily share your resources—financial and otherwise—with others, particularly those serving the gospel? A byproduct of Jesus’ generosity in your life would be your sharing His goodness to others in need. That’s the way of Jesus. What better way to show your love and admiration, for instance, for Christians serving Jesus in difficult places around the world, than to support them financially and with your prayers?
Paul closes his letter with good news—they had brand-new brothers and sisters in Christ in Rome and even among royalty. How’s that for the fruit of their faithfulness?! Paul was thrilled to see so many people come to know Jesus in Rome and equally thrilled to tell the praying Philippians about it.
Paul closes the letter with, “Now to our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (4:20).
Does God get the glory in this letter of joy? Yes, He does—every time you receive and experience God’s grace yourself. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, amen.0 -
April 12, 2024
Bible Reading
Philippians 1:14-30
Philippians 2:1-6
Commentary Thoughts
No Chains for God’s Gospel
What would you expect to hear from an aging pastor stuck in prison, chained to a group of godless guards, unable to be with the people he loves so much? Discouragement? Defeat? Frustration? Bitterness? Maybe … unless you shared the mind of Christ like the apostle Paul. Instead, his heart stirred up with joy that—though he sits confined to a dark, Roman jail—the Good News of Christ’s love burns in his heart and is actually producing amazing results, not only among his captors, but also in the lives of other Christians. Paul stays upbeat about his circumstances. Why? Because he knows the power of the gospel will have its joyful end in the lives of all who hear and believe (1:12-18).
He also believes the Philippians will be encouraged to live more courageously, too. Paul uses his own struggle with whether he wants to stay alive long enough to encourage the Philippians with truth or to go to be with Christ, to challenge them to commit to deepening their faith. Growing our faith is always the goal of Jesus working in our lives—whether through times of joyful freedom or those more painful times of uncertainty and adversity. Either way, keeping our focus on Jesus is what matters most.
So he coaches them in how to keep living for Jesus when the world around them ignores His grace—he wants them to live above the mess and, instead, show the attitude of Jesus by staying one in spirit and with joy being willing to suffer for His name (1:19-30).
With equal passion for the gospel, Paul urges his friends at Philippi to stay strong in the face of persecution and to adopt a selfless attitude toward meeting the needs of others.
Others! Such an important word in the body of Christ.
For all of us as Christians, to be like Christ means to have His attitude—to think like He thinks. To not push your desires or needs first. But rather, to humble yourself and serve those around you who have significant needs. Ultimately, to spend your life sharing Jesus—whose gift of salvation is their most critical need. Is that what you want to do with your life each day? Ask God to help you live selflessly, serve others, and focus on what they need. To think of others above yourself is to let the mind and heart of Jesus Christ be the pattern of your life.0 -
April 13, 2024
Bible Reading
Matthew 11:28
Matthew 23:4
Commentary Thoughts
Jesus calls out to those who are weary and heavy-laden to come to Him and find rest.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus criticized the scribes and Pharisees because they
“Tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger” (Matthew 23:4).
In contrast to the list of rules, requirements, and legalistic observances that the scribes and Pharisees required people to keep in order to participate fully in Israel’s faith, Jesus simply called out to the weary and burdened masses to come to Him.
Jesus’s call is a summons to all of those washed up and burnt out on their own efforts to enter into a relationship with Him. This relationship comes with no prerequisites or contractual negotiations.
It is a gracious, hospitable gift offered to all who come, and Jesus promises that all who respond will be given rest (Matthew 11:28).
Why does coming to Jesus offer the hope of “rest” for the “weary and heavy-laden?”0 -
April 14, 2024
Bible Reading
Micah 4:5
Commentary Thoughts
Like any healthy Christian, you want to know God. You want to really knowHim—not just know about Him.
And in order to increase your intimacy with God, you've worked to encounter Him in several different ways.
You've studied His Word. You've prayed.
You've worshiped Him.
You've made connections and built relationships with His children as a member of the church.
All of these are good and helpful activities.
But let me ask you a simple question: do you know God's Name?
That's not a trick question. As modern Christians, we have many ways of addressing the divine Being we think of as God.
We understand Him in terms of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We recognize Him as our Creator. We speak the name of Jesus, and we proclaim Him to be the Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Most of these are titles that certainly do belong to God. However, many Christians today have little knowledge of God's deeper Name—or I should say, His Names.
In Scripture, names often carry a sense of purpose, authority, makeup, and character.
In fact, names were often used in the Bible almost as an equivalent to a person or a thing.
The name of a thing carried almost as much weight as the thing itself.
That's why when Jesus said He had made God's "name known to them, and will make it known" (John 17:26),
He was talking about more than just sounds put together in a word. Jesus, having come to earth in the flesh, unveiled God's heart, mind, will, character, and being—all through the revelation of His Name.
Because of God's depth of character, He has a name to reflect His different attributes and capacities for relating to humanity. He has many names and here are just a few:
· Elohim
· Jehova
· El Elyon
· El Shaddai
· Adonai
· Immanuel
· And many more.
What I want you to understand is that God has a name for any and every situation you can find yourself in.
I encourage you to get to know the names of God, because it is in knowing His character and His capacity that you will learn to rest and discover peace and power in His covenantal care.
In other words, learn God's Names so that you can truly know Him.0 -
April 15, 2024
Bible Reading
Exodus 3:13-14
Commentary Thoughts
Maybe you’re curious about the high number of God’s names represented in Scripture. Maybe you’re wondering, Why does God have so many names in the first place? Why can’t we know Him simply as God?
One reason God gave us so many names to refer to Him is so that we can gain a better perspective on who He is. In other words, the reason we need so many names is that one name by itself doesn’t fully describe God’s majesty and power. One name alone can’t fully communicate all of who He is.
You can see this principle at work in the way our culture responds to superstar athletes. When an individual rises above the rest and becomes truly great, we typically respond by giving him a nickname. That’s how a defensive tackle in the NFL named Charles Edward Greene became Mean Joe Greene. He was too good for just one name. That’s how Wayne Gretzky became The Great One in the National Hockey League. And that’s why you rarely hear about a basketball player named Julius Erving; you hear about Dr. J instead.
We use multiple names to highlight the unique attributes of people we consider great. It’s appropriate, then, that God uses multiple names to communicate His many attributes and the majesty of His greatness to us.
In over four decades of ministry and six decades of life, I’ve become increasingly convinced that God desires for us to know Him for all He truly is. As we understand and experience the many aspects of His goodness and power, our hearts are opened to worshiping Him.
God wants us to come face-to-face with the many layers of His significance and identity. His names reveal various facets of His character. In fact, throughout the Bible, when God wanted to reveal a new part of His character to His people, He often did so by revealing a new name.
That’s what happened with Moses during his encounter with God at the burning bush:
Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Exodus 3:13-14
Moses knew he couldn’t take command of the Israelites and lead them out of Egypt based on his own name and his own authority. That’s why he needed to know God’s name. Moses needed to connect himself to a specific attribute of God in order to display the power attached to God’s name.
God responded to Moses by revealing one of my favorite names in Scripture: “I AM WHO I AM” (v. 14). God told Moses all he needed to know about Himself for Moses to respond in obedience, and He did it by revealing His name.0 -
April 16, 2024
Bible Reading
Psalm 8:1-4
Commentary Thoughts.
The beginning of Psalm 8 is one of the most popular and most frequently quoted verses in all Scripture about the splendor of God’s name:
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! Psalm 8:1
The names of God reflect the majesty and glory that intrinsically rest within Him. His name is nothing short of pure majesty. Discovering and experiencing the manifestation of His names in your life will usher you directly into the presence of our majestic God.
My wife Lois and I recently took a trip to Alaska with several hundred partners and ministry supporters of our radio ministry, The Urban Alternative. Alaska is one of our favorite places to visit, simply because of its relaxing nature and inspiring beauty. Yet something special happened on this trip. Our cruise guide, who had hosted well over 90 cruises in the same area, told us he’d never seen the weather so perfect. Each day the skies were clear and beautiful, giving us multiple opportunities to marvel at the splendor of God’s creation.
In fact, things were so perfect that our guide named that trip the atheist cruise. He said, “If someone was an atheist when they got on this cruise, they couldn’t be by the time it was over.”
This is the kind of majesty David wrote about in Psalm 8. Like my wife and me, David had been awed by the splendor of God’s creation. He responded by recognizing his own smallness and insignificance in comparison to the majesty of God’s name expressed through creation:
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Psalm 8:3-4
Keep in mind, you won’t experience the power of His names in your life if you’ve got an inflated sense of your own worth.
The majesty of God is reserved for those who know enough to know they don’t know much of anything at all. In other words, you can’t know the splendor of God’s names until you come to grips
with the smallness of your own.0 -
April 18, 2024
Bible Reading
Revelation 17:14
John 18:37
1Samuel 8:4-7
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Commentary Thoughts
We look up to the heroes of the Bible for their accomplishments, but they were not flawless role models. In reality, they were sinful, imperfect leaders.
One reason the Bible has such power is that it tells the whole truth about these heroes and their sinfulness. Their failures are on full display.
You see, these Old Testament stories aren’t just stories of victory, but also contain reports of defeat brought on by disobedience, unfaithfulness and lack of courage.
From Joshua to Esther, the progress of the Israelites from the wilderness to conquering the Promised Land unfolds.
When God established the nation for Himself, He was to be the King of Israel. As King, He would be the perfect leader.
He would defend the people, fight their battles, expand their territory, bless their lands and govern them righteously. However, the people rejected Him and wanted a human king.
Therefore, God granted their wish knowing that a human king would only bring failure. He gave instructions for how the earthly kind should behave.
But by the end of this group of books, we see the monarchy fully established and functioning, but holistically in sinful and dysfunctional ways.
In the historical books of the Old Testament, we see cycles of disobedience, judgement, repentance and restoration. They tell the story of the moral and religious decline.
Yet, because God always keeps His promises, we see revival and restoration.
Though it’s frustrating to read the constant disobedience and failure of the kings, we must remember that the historical books still point to Christ.
They look forward to a king who will perfectly obey God’s instructions, defeat all enemies and establish a never-ending kingdom.
That King is Christ, but the enemy is not a physical one. The enemy is sin and death, both
defeated and conquered by Jesus.
What conclusions can you draw about looking to Jesus for leadership vs looking to human leaders?0 -
April 19, 2024
Bible Reading
Matthew 6:9
Isaiah 42:8
Commentary Thoughts
Jesus’ words at the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer also address the majesty of God’s name:
Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Matthew 6:9
The term hallowed comes from the Greek word we typically translate as holy. It means to be set apart or sanctified. In other words, God’s names are unique.
They’re not for us to mix up with anyone else’s name or to treat lightly. God’s names are hallowed. They’re to be honored, respected, and treated with the reverence they deserve.
For example, if the president of the United States walked into the room, you wouldn’t speak to him or her in an informal way. You wouldn’t say, “What’s up, Dude?” The position of president demands a certain degree of recognition and respect.
Obviously, God’s names are to be treated with even higher respect than what we’d give to any person on earth.
We’re commanded to hallow His names—not only the verbalization of His names but also the way we think about and reflect on them.
To hallow God’s names means to treat them as if they carry weight—as if they’re significant. It means we recognize that God isn’t an ordinary Being and that His names aren’t ordinary names.
We’re not flippant about them. Certainly we shouldn’t take His names in vain.
But we can also hallow God’s names simply by choosing to use them only in a way that communicates reverence, respect, worship, and even fear.
To know God’s names is to experience His nature, and that level of intimacy is reserved for those who are humbly dependent on Him.
Because God will not share His glory with another (see Isa. 42:8), we must humble ourselves if we really want to know Him.
We must recognize our own insignificance before we can experience the significance that comes only through Him.
God’s name is majestic. It’s unique and set apart—something worthy of being hallowed through our actions and attitudes.
Only when we hallow God’s name can we hope to truly experience its power.0 -
April 21, 2024
Bible Reading.
Ezekiel 36:26
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Colossians 1:15-20
Hebrews 1:1-4
Commentary Thoughts
What comes to mind when you hear the word “prophet” or “prophecy?” Many of us automatically think of the end of the world predictions from some crazy, disheveled person. That’s because prophecy is often confused with simply making predictions. However, there is much more to biblical prophets and prophecy.
Even though the prophetic books (Isaiah–Malachi) contain some important instances of foretelling—predictions of future events—most of their writings are forthtelling. The prophets are those who have a special connection with God which empowers them to speak on His behalf and to reveal His perspective on current events, and not just on things to come. In reality, predictive prophecy accounts for a much smaller portion of the message of the biblical prophets.
The job of the prophet was to announce any message given to him by God. God would speak directly to the prophet, who in turn would deliver that message to the people of Israel. These messages concerned the people’s current spiritual and moral state. The common theme throughout the prophets is seen in this cycle: sin, judgment, repentance and restoration. They would speak against the rebellion of the people which would result in God’s judgment, and lead to their repentance and restoration. But the messages also pointed to God fulfilling what He promised to Abraham—a coming Messiah who would rule perfectly on God’s behalf.
Therefore, it’s easy to see that Jesus is the centerpiece of the prophetic writings. Some have calculated that Jesus directly fulfilled as many as three hundred separate messianic prophecies.
This is also why the New Testament writers frequently quoted the prophets when writing about Jesus. Even more so, Jesus is the perfect prophet, since He is God and represents God perfectly in human form. That is, Jesus carried the same messages of the prophets. He spoke against their rebellion, warned of God’s judgment, called for repentance and secured ultimate restoration through His sacrificial death on the cross.
Is there any unrepentant sin in your life? If so, confess, repent, be restored and reconciled back to God.0 -
April 23, 2024
Bible Reading
Psalm 137:1-4
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Commentary Thoughts
Knowing God leads us into a deeper recognition of our spiritual identity. A deeper knowledge of God can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves as God’s sons and daughters.
In Jeremiah 29:11-14, the prophet Jeremiah was addressing a group of exiled Israelites who were tempted to lose hope. They understood that they had been defeated by the Babylonians and exiled from their homeland because of their sin, but what were they to do now? How should they live out their lives in this foreign land? As they sat down and wept by the rivers of Babylon, they asked,
“How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:1-4).
The Israelites had forgotten that even though they were exiled from their land, they were not exiled from their God. They were still God’s chosen people, and He still beckoned them in the midst of their difficult circumstances to seek after Him and come to know Him in a deeper way:
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:13-14a).
When we are overwhelmed with a sense that our lives are directionless, we must remember that our first priority as God’s people should always be to seek to know God more intimately.
Next time you find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place, rather than grumble about the circumstances you’ve been handed, search for a
deeper understanding of God.0 -
April 24, 2024
Bible Reading
Acts 13:2
Jeremiah 29:13-14
Commentary Thoughts
A deeper recognition of our spiritual identity aids us in discerning our spiritual purpose.
Jeremiah’s challenge to the exiled Israelites was not to seek their purpose but, as God’s chosen people, to first seek God in the midst of their circumstances.
However, it was in the seeking and searching after God with all their hearts (Jeremiah 29:13) that God’s purposes and plans for His people became clear:
“I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you…and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:14).
You can see a similar pattern at work in the calling of Saul and Barnabas to be missionaries in the book of Acts:
“While they (the church at Antioch) were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’" (Acts 13:2).
It was only as the church at Antioch sought after God and learned more of His heart that the Holy Spirit granted discernment concerning the calling of Saul and Barnabas to the mission that God had set for His church.
Many of our lives lack direction because we are pursuing a purpose that is inconsistent with who God is and what He has created us to be.
Like a parent correcting a child who is misusing a kitchen utensil, God is saying to many of us concerning the direction of our lives, “that’s not
what that is made for!”
Are you listening when God directs you down the path to your purpose?0 -
April 25, 2024
Bible Reading
Genesis 39:3
Genesis 39:21
Genesis 50:20
Jeremiah 29:14
Jeremiah 29:7
Jeremiah 29:11
Commentary Thoughts
Discernment of our spiritual purpose gives us hope in the midst of the trials we face.
Jeremiah’s word of encouragement to the Israelites on the brink of despair was that God was at work in the midst of their mess. Jeremiah comforted the people with these words:
“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
The Israelites could settle down, build houses, and seek the welfare of the city where God had sent them into exile (Jeremiah 29:7) because they knew God’s ultimate plans to restore their fortunes and gather them from all the nations and from all the places where He had driven them (Jeremiah 29:14).
When we understand our spiritual purpose rooted in who God is and who He created us to be, we can look back, like Joseph, over the trials and messy spots in life, knowing that God has always been with us (Genesis 39:3, 21). We can say confidently, as Joseph said to his brothers,
“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20).
I want to bring to mind a scene from the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. When the bad guys had stolen the map to find the Holy Grail from Indiana Jones and his father, Indiana was perplexed at what to do next. His father, however, reminded his son not to worry, because he was the one who had written the map in the first place.
When our own lives seem directionless, we need to remember that our Heavenly Father has
already meticulously drawn out the maps of our
lives (Psalm 139:13-16).
As we seek God and come to know Him more intimately, He will give direction to our directionless lives, granting us the benefit of spiritual purpose.0