July 6th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4 ~ Acts 24:1-27
Psalm 4:1-8 ~ Proverbs 18:16-18

Old Testament - Chronicles 2 verse 20 mentions a man that you might easily overlook at a quick read - "Hur was the father of Uri. Uri was the father of Bezalel."  Bezalel is the master craftsman who supervised the building of the tabernacle in Exodus 31:1-5.  Bezalel is only mentioned here in Chronicles and in Exodus, but it is believed that the Chronicler is attempting in this genealogy to show Bezalel as a model for Solomon in the building of the temple.  Just a little Bible minutiae here for you.  It is fun to look for minutiae like this when reading through the genealogies!  :)   Here's an image of Bezalel's handiwork with the tabernacle -

New Testament - Today we read about Paul before the Roman Governor Felix.  I love this image below of Paul expertly laying out his case!

(image courtesty of http://www.lamp.ac.uk/hogarth/81to100.htm)

The close of today's readings are interesting.  It seems to me that Felix has a double-edged reason for keeping Paul in prison for two years.  1.  Felix enjoys talking to Paul!  Why do you suppose this is?  Do you suppose Felix was hearing the Truth from Paul?  I'm sure that he was...  2. Verse 27 tells us - "And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul in prison."  So, Felix gets to hear the Truth from Paul and hopefully keep his job by appeasing the Jewish leaders.  Sounds reasonable, right?  However... it is interesting to see that he is balancing the Truth with the World.  How often in our lives do we try to balance the Truth with the World?  I am afraid this is a tough balance to keep...  Remember always that we are to be "in the world, but not of it."  Don't let the World outweigh the Truth in your life...

Bible.org's commentary on today's Acts readings titled "Paul Stands Before Felix: The Preacher and the Politician" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 4 is a wonderful Davidic Psalm.  Verse 7 stood out to me today - "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine."  Do you believe that God's Spirit can give you greater joy than any amount of money or material goods or even human love can give?  Will you seek a deeper relationship with God this year and ask God for this holy joy?

Proverbs - Proverbs 18 verse 17 is so important for us to remember - "Any story sounds true until someone sets the record straight." I think so often we forget that there are indeed two sides to every story.  And oftentimes we'll believe what we hear about a situation or person based on the very first story we hear.  When, we really need to make sure we have the straight story.  Keep this in mind in particular if you ever hear something about someone else.  This would be gossip - which hopefully you aren't partaking in.  But, nonetheless, I am sure there will be times when you do indeed have gossip delivered to you by someone else.  Don't believe that gossip story at face value.  That person very likely does not have the story straight...  And most important - please don't be the one passing forward gossip - you may very well be passing forward a false story - which is a lie!

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

[Vance Brown]

Acts 24 (NKJV)
24
And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25
Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
26
Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

NOTE:
I admire Paul’s boldness. It is obvious he is a man who has already died to the fear of death, for as he faces physical death he is very bold with Felix who was one of the rulers of Rome.

Truly, Paul lived what he preached: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Psalm 4 (NKJV)
2
How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Selah
3
But know that the LORD has set apart [made wonderful] for Himself him who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him.
4
Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
5
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

NOTE:
I was reading some of the earlier notes that were written to me in response to some of my comments about “The Da Vinci Code” and the concept of the “divine feminine”.

I would like to ask forgiveness if —in any way—I gave the impression that I believe in or revere or honor “gods” and “goddesses” or the “divine feminine”.

Anyone —in any time in history or any place on the earth— who believes in any form of dualism or in “becoming god” through the “sacred feminine” has already exchanged the truth of God for a lie.

Those people are living examples of the people in Psalm 4:3: “HOW LONG, O YOU SONS OF MEN, WILL YOU TURN MY GLORY TO SHAME? HOW LONG WILL YOU LOVE WORTHLESSNESS AND SEEK FALSEHOOD? Selah”

At the time of my original comments against dualism and Baalism, we were reading through passages in the Scripture that were dealing with the sin of the people of Israel worshiping the evil Baalism (which is a form of dualism—with the “male” god Baal and the “female” goddess Chemosh).

Any quotes I had in my comment about becoming like “a god” through the "sacred feminine" were simply quotes directly from
"The Da Vinci Code" or from other sources explaining
“The Da Vinci Code”.

In contrast to the evil of dualism and Baalism,
may we seek the Lord with all of our hearts with God’s truth that we understand—so we can live in obedience to that.

Again, any confusion I may have caused - please forgive me.

May we allow God to glorify Himself through us. As He is glorified in us, then we are made complete and wonderful as we worship the true Lord Jesus Christ, as can be seen in Psalm 4:3 (NKJV) below:

“But know that the LORD has set apart [made wonderful] for Himself him who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him.”

Vance

[Pat Carter]

The verse that really stands out to me today is Psalm 4:4 "In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent." I think anger can bring out characteristics in each of us that are totally against our Christian nature. It makes us do, think and say things that we would not otherwise. I love the advice to lay in our bed and search our hearts and be silent. How much easier and nicer life would be if all of us would pray and sleep on it before exploding in anger or allowing the anger to grow and eat us up on the inside. Pat

[Anka]

Felix hoped Paul would bribe him...he stayed to listen to what was convenient but when it came to righteousness,self control and judgement to come he sent Paul away....When I started out as a christian,I heard so many"come to God so He'll sort out your problems"sermons that I actually believed that was what being a christian was all about...How many people today start out believing God's some genie you can order about,bribe(by sowing seeds)put into a tight corner by fasting and declaring His word till it comes to pass....I pray we all become followers of Christ(starting with me)because Christ didn't have rose petals on road or chariots taking him places..My prayer today is that this reality really sinks into my heart....
God bless you all

[Rosemary]

I reallu liked this verse of the Psalm:
"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

So many times we go to sleep with our minds troubled, when we should know that our faith should be strong enough and as true believers, talk to our Father, communicate and wait for him to do his will, meanwhile we should be in peace because we know that his work will always have the right outcome.

I feel overjoyed because I have a printed version of the One Year Bible, a gift from a dear friend. I usually read it at work before starting my day but I keep forgetting to bring it since this past weekend. I did a search and found this. It is awesome to know that no matter what I can have access to HIS word.

Love in Christ!
Rosemary

[Ramona]

1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2 KJV)

In I Chronicles 2:18 through the end of the chapter, before my very eyes, the foundation for the above prophecy found in Micah, the prophet, is laid. God has set forth the most unusual stage to bring forth His son. If we are hung up on lineage and stuck on the nobility of Jesus’ earthly ancestors we would more than likely reject Him. Caleb, the first Caleb, not the one who brought back a good report ( Numbers 13), the grandfather of that other Caleb took a wife, a concubine, Eprath, and set the sage for that little town called Bethlehem.

These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim, Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader.
(1 Chronicles 2:50-51 KJV)

The least of us, the one with the “bad” pedigree should take heart knowing that God will use the least among us to do great things for Him. The problem we have in understanding the ways of God is this: Our understanding of greatness does not line up with God’s understanding. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV)

I am reminded again a little past the halfway point on my purpose for again reading through the bible this year.

Notice the way God does things; then fall into line. Don't fight the ways of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13)

Grace and peace,
Ramona