July 29th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28 ~ Romans 12:1-21
Psalm 22:19-31 ~ Proverbs 20:8-10

Old Testament - Today in Second Chronicles 24 verse 1 we read - "Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years."  This is quite a young age to be crowned king!  (yep, that's Joash on the right in the image below - the priest presenting him to the people is on the left)

Did you notice in today's readings that Joash followed God in his early years, when Jehoiada the priest was alive (verses 1-16), and then turned to evil and idolatry after Jehoiada's death (verses 17-27)?  One of the saddest parts was Joash's murder of Jehoiada's grandson Zechariah in verse 20.  (Note that the text says son, but scholars believe Jehoiada's son was Berekiah, and Zechariah was Berekiah's son - Biblical genealogies sometimes skip a generation.)  Jesus Himself references the atrocity of this murder when facing His own murderers in Matthew 23:35! This quote of Jesus' comes just after delivering his seven woes in Matthew 23:  "And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar."

New Testament - Wow!  Could Romans chapter 12 be one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible??  I love this chapter...  Please take a moment to re-read this chapter if you can. Verses 1 through 3 have been so powerful for me personally since the early days of my Christian walk - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."   I really don't know what commentary I could add to these words of Paul's. I love the thought of our bodies being living sacrifices to God.  (There is of course the old joke that the only problem with a living sacrifice is that it tends to crawl off the altar... :)  And the warning to not conform any longer to the pattern of this world is so so so true.... and we all know it.  But I find myself still falling prey to the pattern of this world.  Its temptations do not cease.  But!  We can be transformed by the renewing of our minds to test and approve what God's will is.  Through a loving and growing relationship with Jesus, we can overcome the temptations and the death this world will offer us all too frequently.  In view of God's mercy, will you offer your body today as God as a living sacrifice?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Romans titled "The Road to Renewal" is at this link and "Thinking Straight about Spiritual Gifts" is at this link and "What is this Thing Called Love" is at this link.

Psalms - What's one good reason to go to church at all?  Check out Psalm 22 verse 22 - "Then I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among all your people."  Praising God with other brothers and sisters through worship, tithing, learning, serving and being in community in church is a great reason to go to church!  To declare the wonder of God's name!  To praise God among all his people.  Wow... yes...  this is church!

Proverbs - Proverbs 20 verse 10 is convicting - "The LORD despises double standards of every kind."  I am afraid that I often do have double standards in the way I live my own life.  I am afraid perhaps we all do to a degree.  We hold ourselves to one standard when we are at church and among our friends and maybe even typing on this blog... :)  But, then, late at night or early in the morning or during the day perhaps we let this standard - this Christian standard - simply go.  We become judgmental.  We gossip.  We complain.  We lust.  We give in to our old addictions.  We fall prey to a double standard.  Please don't ever forget that God calls us to the highest standard!  And he sent us his Son Jesus to set us free from the bondage of sin from the bondage of double standards.  Through faith in Jesus we are gifted with the Holy Spirit living within our very bodies, which is an amazing blessing to consider!  God gives us everything that we need to live a life of high moral standards.  Will we pray unceasingly to let our double standards go?  Will we leave the double standards behind once and for all?  Will we stop living our lives with two faces?

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Douglas Landis]

Mike, are you sure you are not getting your Zechariahs
mixed up?

Zechariah 1

1In the eighth month of the second year of (A)Darius, the word of the LORD came to (B)Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of (C)Iddo saying,...

This was during time of the Exile!

[Mike]

I might be getting them mixed up... :) any Biblical scholars out there want to weigh in on this one? Zondervan's NIV Study Bible (and a few websites of Bible study) says Jesus is referring to this Zechariah in Chronicles in Matt 23:35 (and the type of murder Jesus discusses seems to point to this Chronicles Zech.), but Douglas has a great point on Zechariah 1:1! Thanks Douglas for pointing this out! We'll figure this out. eventually... :) -Mike

p.s. actually, I just found this website that dives into the controversy:

http://www.tektonics.org/lp/matt2335.html

[Jan]

Mike, thank you for providing the link for the article "What is this Thing Called Love" - what a wonderfully truthful article & so apropos for me at this time in my walk. I have been ministering the love of God to people in such a way that they probably don't see it like that & had to deal with an issue last night (before reading the article) that grieved me to do & did with fear & trembling. As always, God confirms with His love & wisdom the next day as He usually does because I am always doubting myself. I have forwarded the article to many that I do love & some that don't love me & may be an enemy now - but I will not shrink back as the Word of God says in loving others with His love, whether it hurts them or me. Dying to ourselves daily & laying down our lives for others is usually not an easy job nor relished by many - but the fruit of our labor & reward in eternity is worth it all.

Jan

[Pat]

Mike, the concordance in my KJV, Life Application, and NIV Bibles all show Matthew 23:35 as a reference to today's reading in 2 Chronicles 24:20. Thank you for calling it to our attention. I had forgotten the story of Joash and
this Zechariah.

This OYB study is a joyous and wonderful experience. Thank you for all you do in researching and guiding us through each day of studying God's Word.

Pat

[John]

Romans 12:1-21

Paul has concluded the lecture part of Christianity 101. Up to now, we have been exposed to the background information of Condemnation, Justification, Sanctification, History, and Prophecy.

Now it is time for the lab - the practical application. Here the rubber hits the road.
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Living Sacrifices

We know how to become a Christian - you mean there is more? Yes, Salvation is more than fire insurance.

We are to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices"...

The Greek verb tenses indicate you offer (completed action) the ongoing sacrifice of your body. It is to be year by year, month by month, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

Some say martyrdom is easier than the idea of continually trying to live as a Christian 24/7. Perhaps but that is not what Paul is saying - he is asking you to yield to God, to offer "all of you" (no holding back), submit to His Will, you do not run the "show" anymore.

...holy and pleasing to God...

Wait a minute, what about our worldly "flesh" that is not going to please God.

Yielding to God is pleasing to Him. The altar in the OT is sometimes called the "Lord's table". When we offer ourselves (yielding) on the Lord's table, perhaps Ex 29:27 applies?

"Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy." NIV
-or-
"The holiness we bring to the altar is a decision for holiness, and yielding to the work of holiness in our life. As we present our bodies a living sacrifice, God makes our life holy by burning away impurities - David Guzik

...this is your rational/logical act of worship.

The sacrifice of dead animals in OT was one thing, but the greater mercies employed by God in your salvation - demand a much higher form of sacrifice - "All of You" - "A Living Sacrifice".

[NOTE: Not one mention of church, building, or ritual here - worship is 24/7 by offering yourself to God.]

Sounds good in theory, but this 24/7 thing is going to be tough to do. I don't think I can.

That is the point: YOU CAN'T.

Rom 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.." NIV

"Not conform" and "transformed" are in Greek tenses - ongoing commands to you done by an outside force. God will do it. Yield yourself to God, and let him do the work needed in you. Through the Power of the Holy Spirit and his grace. So that you will be the Living proof by your changed life to God's good, pleasing and perfect Will.
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Things to remember while God is Working in you:

Be humble. In regard to Spiritual Gifts - Do not become prideful, reflect on how and why you received them. They are to be used for the "body of Christ", not as a stump for you to proclaim yourself "special". We are to use our gifts to glorify God - not be a "showboat".

The next list is pretty straightforward, and moves in outward circles from individual to Christian brothers to the world - thoughts on a few:

1)"Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." - It may be easy to do one or the other - the Christian is to do both.

2)"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." - not the idea of being a "Holy Roller". The idea is to be internally (spiritual)boiling over in your desire to "serve" the Lord.

Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Don't be lukewarm. It is better to be "cold" and sit on the sidelines, than to be lukewarm and playacting like being a Christian.

3)"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." - We are to share our resources with other Christians (saints)in "need". Hospitality to the "world" - love and being generous.

4)"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position" - While this is good advice on the world, I believe this is in section adressing Christian interaction.

In the last two years, I have seen on occasion a shunning of people in a church that did not look or conform to the standards of the members. We are not a "club" - we are a "body".
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5)Do not repay anyone evil for evil. - AHA! I found my contradiction. OT says "eye for an eye" etc. Uh no,

"Those verses are talking about public law that deals with the nation of Israel. A nation is to have a system of justice that retaliates against evil." - John MacArthur

Verse 17 is saying YOU do not repay evil for evil. Remember back to Cain, how God put a mark on him. I do not think that was so much acceding to Cain's request for mercy - but God not allowing any indivuidual to exact revenge on Cain. There were no nations at that time to have a government in force to prosecute Cain.

6)"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - If it be possible indicates that it may not always be possible.” (Murray)

7)"...In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Interesting thought here by Keil and Delitzsch is that we are not to do good to make the person feel bad (shame him). We are to do good because we ought to do good, and the burning coals represent self-accusing repentance.