Month: July 2024

1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18; Acts 28:1-31;Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 19:1-3

There is no substitute for loyalty. Loyalty is not something you do, it’s something you are. Every leader needs loyal people. Culture has said that loyal people are “yes men”. However, that is not what loyalty is. 

Loyalty is an unwavering commitment to a person or a cause that inspires you to give and do your best. So, a loyal person will not always agree but even when they don’t agree they don’t abandon you. Loyal people will share their thoughts with you openly and honestly. Every person needs loyal people. 

David had loyal men around him. When he was in battle, he had men who he knew “had his back” regardless of the circumstance. With three loyal men, David did great exploits. Men, who had broken lives, were looking for something “real” and they found David. These men wanted to be a part of this exemplary group of men. Loyalty is a very attractive character trait and no effective leader can operate without loyal people. Do you have loyal people around you? Ask God to reveal them to you!

Tomorrow’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17; Romans 1:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 19:4-5

1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14; Acts 27:21-44; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 18:23-24

God respects people who are reliable. Reliable people are settled and trustworthy. When a person is reliable, they can be made responsible for important matters. To be responsible means to be committed to something to ensure a positive outcome. To give a responsibility to an unreliable person is a recipe for frustration and failure.

Often we strive for greater responsibility (titles, positions, and prominence) without demonstrating consistent reliability. When a person who is unreliable is given a position of responsibility, they will always make excuses for why things did not go well and place the blame on someone else. When a reliable person is in a position of responsibility, they will understand that while the problem is not their fault, it is their responsibility to fix it.

When Israel was returning to Jerusalem after the exile, the families that had been judged reliable in the past resumed their responsibilities without being asked. (I suspect that even when they were in exile, they wondered what was happening with their areas of responsibility.) Before you seek responsibility, be certain that you are reliable because reliability is an essential character trait. Reliable people will always see a need and meet it. Pray that God will reveal areas in your life where you are not reliable and ask Him to help you strengthen them so that you can be entrusted with more responsibility.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18; Acts 28:1-31;Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 19:1-3

1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40; Acts 27:1-20; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 18:22

In life, there will be times when battles ensue. No believer has a guarantee of a pain-free, bed of roses life where troubles do not arise. In fact, the opposite is true. We will have to engage in battles. The type of battles you fight are not won with armor, guns and bullets. Every battle that we fight is spiritual in nature.

You may be attacked in your health when a doctor gives you a negative report. You may have to fight for your children when you see them being lead astray by the tricks of the devil. When your finances are not as you desire, you may need to engage in battle to recover everything that God promised you. The list could go on and on. Whenever your peace, joy, hope, prosperity and love are being attacked, you cannot sit idly by and let it happen. You have to fight.

Just like the tribes of Israel did, they took stock of who their warriors were. You have to do the same for your life. When you get into one of life’s battles, you should already know who will stand with you and fight the good fight of faith. These must be mighty warriors who know how to pray and stand strong with you. Identify these people in your life and enlist them as your prayer warriors. 

Tomorrow’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14; Acts 27:21-44; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 18:23-24

1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 18:20-21

God loves music! You may recall when God gave instructions on the building of the Tabernacle, he appointed certain people to perform music and sing during certain times during the year. There were strict requirements for them and their music was as an offering to God. 

This should let you know that praise is important as a part of your relationship with God. When it comes to God, you should use songs of praise to Him. He does not care if you sing on key. He does not care if you know all the words. He just likes to hear his creation sing!

As you read through the Psalms, look at how many times God encourages His children to “sing unto Him.” You don’t even need other people’s words. You can make up your own. Try it today. Sing a song of praise to your God about how good He has been to you! 

Tomorrow’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40; Acts 27:1-20; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 18:22

1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17; Acts 25:1-27; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 18:19

Does your life stand out in the crowd? In your circle of friends or family, do they know you live for God? There is a man in the Bible named Jabez. He is interesting because we know nothing of his parents or his children. We don’t know where he came from. We don’t know what tribe he was a part of.

Jabez was given a negative name. His name means pain! His mother was so traumatized in childbirth that she named her son after her pain. Jabez prayed to God and asked that God make him more than his name! What he asked was that God would bless him indeed. Jabez knew that the blessing could make his life meaningful.

What causes us to stand out in our generation? The blessing of God! A dysfunctional family, a missing parent, the lack of finances, or past mistakes cannot stop God’s blessing in your life. God’s blessing is available to you because He knows that is what can make you a blessing. He will be with you and make you a blessing.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 18:20-21

1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4; Acts 24:1-27; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 18:16-18

In the Bible, family is important. The family is important because every person ever created is important to God! Because God values everyone and wants no one to be alone, he sets us all in families. “God places the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6).

Families are interesting because they can be the source of great joy or great sorrow. They can be a lot of fun or a lot frustration. Regardless of where you are in your family, you should know that God has placed a blessing on the families that follow Him. Though you are not promised a perfect family, you can still have a blessed family. 

Ask yourself these questions: Is Christ the center of my family? Am I appreciative of every person in my family (regardless of how I feel about them)? Am I serving as a model of Christ-likeness? Have I forgiven those in my family who have offended me? If you answered, “No” on any of these questions, examine your heart and determine how you can correct it. Family is God’s idea and He wants you to enjoy it!

Tomorrow’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17; Acts 25:1-27; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 18:19

1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17; Acts 23:11-35; Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 18:14-15

What’s in a name? Today you read a lot of names from the earliest generations through the kings of Israel. In this list of names you saw notable people and ignoble people. There were names we recognized and many names we did not. 

Even more, some of the people’s names had accomplishments or bad actions associated with them. Some names had high positions, some had no position at all. Some people’s names had great meaning, others had no meaning at all. But, every one had a name.

So, when someone looks back and writes about your family line and they get to your name, what will they say? How will you be remembered for the things you did on earth? Will it just be a biographical summary about your parents and the years you lived? Or, will they be able to say that you influenced people in your generation? Will they be able to pinpoint the lives that you have touched, eternal accomplishments you made, and the values you lived by? The answer to these questions makes up your legacy. It’s never too early to think about your legacy! Think today about how you will be remembered when you are gone. Submit this to God and ask Him to help you leave a lasting legacy!

Tomorrow’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4; Acts 24:1-27; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 18:16-18

2 Kings 23:31-25:30; Acts 22:17-23:10; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 18:13

The City of Jerusalem and the Temple were built to honor God and His Name. When Israel and Judah continued in their persistent disobedience and rebellion against God, they were exiled into foreign lands. If that were not enough, the invading armies dismantled and destroyed all of the sacred objects and buildings. How would God allow all of His possessions and buildings be treated like that? 

Because those buildings were nothing more than symbols of something deeper: God’s relationship with His covenant people. Those buildings were only as good as the people who filled them! And when the hearts of the people turned away from God, those non-living structures had no meaning because the living witnesses had failed. Israel had been banished from before God’s presence because they rejected His way.

Each of us has to make a decision if we will accept or reject God’s way. If we accept it, we will spend our days and eternity in His presence. If we reject God, we will spend our everlasting days separated from Him. We do the choosing not God. Remember that God does not want the things we dedicate to Him more than He wants to be in real relationship with us!

Tomorrow’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17; Acts 23:11-35; Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 18:14-15

2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Acts 21:37-22:16; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 18:11-12

Have you ever done spring cleaning? You know, where you go top to bottom in your house and clean every room, closet, cabinet and even the garage? How about a spiritual house cleaning? This is a time when you look around at all the things you are engaged in and ask, “Are these things drawing me closer to God or drawing me away from God?”

King Josiah was the new king and he started doing temple cleaning and rebuilding. In the process he found a scroll of the Law. It painted a clear picture about what Israel had done which had caused their destruction. Josiah undertook a plan to clean out Judah from all the negative influences that pulled them away from God. His process was two-fold.

Josiah had to tear things down and destroy them. He also had to build things up in their place. What things in your life need to be torn down because they really are a distraction to your walk with God? What new things do you need to build up so that you can draw closer to God? What would happen if this exercise of spiritual house cleaning was done more frequently? It would yield the midcourse corrections that we need so that we can get to our place of purpose and destiny. Let’s do some spiritual house cleaning.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; Acts 22:17-23:10; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 18:13

2 Kings 20:1-22:2; Acts 21:18-36; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 18:9-10

Faithfulness has great value with God. People will often wonder what is the “currency” of the Kingdom of God. Unfortunately, some think it’s money or possessions, but it’s not. When God looks at us, He desires to see how faithful we have been with the opportunities He has given us.

Hezekiah was the King of Judah and had led faithfully. He was stricken with a fatal disease and Hezekiah received a word from the prophet that his life was about to end. In response to this message, Hezekiah prays to God. The King establishes his faithfulness and the fact that he did those things that pleased God.

Faithfulness will get you what money, positions, power and possessions can’t! Search your life today and ask yourself, “Am I being faithful and pleasing to God?” This should be the ongoing cry of your heart! God knows you can’t be perfect but you can be faithful! Start today because it will pay off for you.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Acts 21:37-22:16; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 18:11-12