September 29th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Isaiah 57:15-59:21 ~ Philippians 1:1-26
Psalm 71:1-24 ~ Proverbs 24:9-10

Old Testament - Today in Isaiah chapter 59 we read about warnings against sin - which were written for Israel in 8th century B.C.. Do you think we should heed these warnings today as well?  Any of these warnings in chapter 59 sound like they could have been written for our modern day?   In verses 9 & 10 today we read - "It is because of all this evil that deliverance is far from us. That is why God doesn't punish those who injure us. No wonder we are in darkness when we expected light. No wonder we are walking in the gloom. No wonder we grope like blind people and stumble along. Even at brightest noontime, we fall down as though it were dark. No wonder we are like corpses when compared to vigorous young men!"

New Testament - Today we begin Paul's letter to the church in Philippi!  See # 5 on the map below -

~ Philippians ~
Author: Paul the apostle
Place: Rome
Date: A.D. 61
Content: Paul wrote this letter from prison in Rome to some very dear friends in Philippi as a response to their sending some money to him in order to meet his needs. He begins by expressing his confidence in them and then describes dome of the problems he faces in Rome. Whether he will die or not he does not know, but if death does come, he will rejoice in the presence of Christ. If he remains, he will continue to serve God by serving the churches. The example of Christ’s humility is set before the Philippians as an example to follow. False teachings are to be vigorously rejected. Two quarreling sisters are admonished to make up and all believers are admonished to set high ideals for themselves because God will supply all that one needs in life.
Theme: In this very personal letter of Paul the theme of rejoicing may be seen throughout. If one lives, he may rejoice because God loves him. Christ died for him, and all things are given to him by God for his life. If one dies, then he may rejoice by being in Christ’s presence forevermore. This does not mean that Christians will have no problems, however. Even as Jesus had to endure the cross, so we must be ready to follow that example of submission to God, if it must be. But we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:2) and should live with that thought constantly before us. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 27)

More commentary on Philippians is at these 2 links –
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1429
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1333

Today in Philippians chapter 1 we read this powerful statement of Paul's -

Psalms - Today in Psalm 71 verses 6 through 8 we will read - "Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long."  So true that God has cared for each of us since we were in our mother's womb! This a beautiful thing to realize.  There is an interesting thought in these verses - if our live is an example to many - and well, yes, it really is no matter what we actually do.  Hopefully our life is a good example - but there could be seasons of bad example too. . . If our lives are good examples to many, why is this so?  I agree w/ the Psalmist - it is simply because of God in our lives.  Is God literally your strength and protection?  Do you praise God unceasingly?   Do you declare God's glory all day long?   How do you do so?

Proverbs - Interesting Proverb chapter 24 verse 10 - "If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great."  I think sometimes we forget that pressure is where we grow.  God will not give us more than we can handle.  Our key is to not fail under pressure.  Stay with the healing / fine tuning / pruning that God is placing you under - even if it comes with pressure.  For at the end of the pressure is transformation.  Let us not fail under pressure.

What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Vance Brown]

ISAIAH 57
15
The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.
16
For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always show my anger. If I did, all people would pass away--all the souls I have made.
17
I was angry and punished these greedy people. I withdrew myself from them, but they went right on sinning.
18
I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them and comfort those who mourn.
19
Then words of praise will be on their lips. May they have peace, both near and far, for I will heal them all," says the LORD.
20
"But those who still reject me are like the restless sea. It is never still but continually churns up mire and dirt.
21
There is no peace for the wicked," says my God.

NOTE:
What more can be said?
“The Holy One, says this: ‘ I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. ’ ”

I heard a very interesting point about repentance this morning that really blessed me. The context of the discussion is that people become and stay so “sin-conscious” that they never move on past that point. They beg, cry, and really mean they are sorry—and promise never to do it again. And the problem repeats itself all over again.

The minister then went onto to say that once we confess our sins, STOP HAVING FELLOWSHIP with the sin. FOCUS on the Lord, and His wisdom and grace. The minister used this verse, which really blessed me:

Romans 6 (Amplified)
10
For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him].

The minister then said that God spoke in a very personal way through this verse and by the Spirit: Jesus died and ended His relationship to sin. Once you confess your sin, why do you keep having fellowship with the sin and the problem?

HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS! How simple! How true! How profound!

“The Holy One, says this: ‘ I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. ’ ”

PROVERBS
I like this thought:
“ Proverb chapter 24 verse 10 - "If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great." I think sometimes we forget that pressure is where we grow. God will not give us more than we can handle. ”

This makes me think of these wonderful verses—rich with glorious substance. All of God’s verses in Scripture are like fountains from which we can draw water of life!

James 1 (Amplified)
2
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
3
Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
4
But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
5
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

ISAIAH 58
13
Honor the LORD in everything you do, and don't follow your own desires or talk idly. If you do this,
14
the LORD will be your delight. I will give you great honor and give you your full share of the inheritance I promised to Jacob, your ancestor. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

NOTE:
The particular focus here is about keeping the Sabbath. Every day is for the Lord, and we need to set aside times of quiet and focus where we can yield ourselves to Jesus. So… every day is an opportunity for Sabbath rest!

Hebrews 4 (Amplified)
9
So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God;
10
For he who has once entered [God's] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own.
11
Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].
12
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
14
Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].

PHILIPPIANS 1
11
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation [Greek the fruit of righteousness] -- those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

AMEN!

Vance