December 7th One Year Bible Readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Hosea 6:1-9:17 ~ 3 John 1:1-15
Psalm 126:1-6 ~ Proverbs 29:12-14

Old Testament - Today we get 4 chapters of Hosea, with pretty much a continuation of prophesying by God via Hosea on what's going to happen to Israel due to her unfaithfulness and many sins.  Hosea chapter 6's first 2 verses start things off on what seem like a hopeful note.  However, commentaries suggest that this was a very shallow pledge by Israel: "Come, let us return to the LORD! He has torn us in pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time, he will restore us so we can live in his presence." Even if this is a shallow pledge from Israel, I do really like verse 3 too: "Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him!"   Are we pressing on in our lives to know God?  Are we returning to God?  Are we seeking to continually live in His presence? 

God's reply to all of this in verse 6 is fantastic: "I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings." Are there times in our lives where we try to bring "sacrifices" of prayer or pledges of repentance or works, when really what we should be bringing to God is mercy for others and just simply the desire to know God?  Do our "acts" of repentance sometimes get in the way of our actual love relationship with God?

Chapter 7 Verse 16 stood out to me today as well: "They look everywhere except to heaven, to the Most High."  If we are hurting, sad, tired, do we look to things other than God?  Do we look to "quick fixes" from things of this world that are not healthy for us?  Do these "quick fixes" really fix the problem?  Are we looking everywhere except to heaven, to the Most High?  Will we look only for the Most High - God?

New Testament - Today we start and finish the book of Third John!  Yes, it is quite a lengthy letter...  :)  This letter, like the 2 before it were written by the disciple John in about 85 to 95 A.D.  The purpose of this letter is actually somewhat the opposite of the purpose of Second John.  In Second John - see yesterday's post below - we learned that John was warning against providing hospitality to traveling false teachers.  In Third John, John is asking Gaius to show hospitality to traveling teachers - but teachers that are teaching the truth.  The unfortunate aspect of today's letter is that there is a bit of a dictator leading the local church named Diotrephes who is not welcoming in traveling teachers who teach the truth - the Gospel.  So, I think we can learn from Second John & Third John that hospitality is obviously a very good thing - though, we should exercise caution with hospitality when there is danger of propagating a false teaching.

~ Third John ~
Author: John the apostle
Place: Uncertain, probably Ephesus
Date: A.D. 85-95
Content: This short letter is a personal note from John the apostle to his friend Gauis, encouraging him to support the traveling evangelists who are preaching the truth. He warns Gauis against such men as Diotrephes who refuse to help in spreading the gospel and commends others, such as Demetrius, for helping.
Theme: Christians are to support one another in the work of Christ. Not to do so is the work of Satan, who seeks to destroy the believers. John stresses that all believers are bound together as Christians and should work for the common good of all. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 34) A great overview of Third John by Daniel Wallace is at this link.  Below is a marble statue of John by the artist Donatello from the year 1410 -

Verse 11 stands out in this letter, following John's writing about Diotrephes behavior - "Dear friend, don't let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God."   Do we have examples of good and bad leaders in our life?  Do we follow only the example of the good?  Do you believe following the example of people doing good is proof that we are children of God?

Psalms - Psalm 126 has a great verse today.  I always love the verses in Psalms that speak about water!  I don't know what it is about these verses, but here's verse 4: "Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert." Do you believe that God can restore your life like water restores the desert?  Will you allow God's water into all the nooks & crannies in your life that are in need of renewal?

Do you believe that God is living water?  Are you thirsty for that living water in your life?  Will you drink the Water?

Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 126 titled "Joyful Deliverance from Captivity" is at this link.

Proverbs - Proverbs 29 verse 13 is a great reminder that we are all made in the image of God - "The poor and the oppressor have this in common--the LORD gives light to the eyes of both."   Is one better than the other?  Are both equal in God's sight?  Should both be equal in our sight?

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!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Mae]

"Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert." Do you believe that God can restore your life like water restores the desert? Will you allow God's water into all the nooks & crannies in your life that are in need of renewal?

~ I absolutely believe that God can restores lives like water restores the desert. He did it with my life. Days before I got saved I was afraid nothing good could come out of my life anymore. I was sorry for Jaden, my son, I felt guilty for bringing him into my life, cause there was nothing left of it. It actually felt like a desert: dry, nothing to grow and boring. The day that I got saved was a wonderful day and I emmidiatly felt the water flowing! I think water and a desert is a good example. Water is healthy, it clears out the body and I truly believe that happened to me when I found Jesus.

[Laura Jones]

Mae: Welcome to the family of God. I hope all is well with your son Jaden. Is he saved too? I am sure that you have been a good witness and good mother to him. When you love your family and others, that love will be returned to you. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and are filled with God's love and Joy.

My sister who is a pastor sent this E-mail to our family. She received it from one of her parishioners. Enjoy:
Subject: A Letter

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are
taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't
actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your
predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually
a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered
anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most
easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of
your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate
My birth just, GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that
let Me go on.

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene
depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen
and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My
followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the
town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday
tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can
and may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if
you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I
am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have
forgotten that one, look up John 15:1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my
wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My
birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to
soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time
of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them
personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the
cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him
that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow
up, and pray. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford
and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My
birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your
arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or
her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take
their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?
Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a
warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider
supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every
day.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town
calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them
a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a
"Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one.
Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much
money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at
home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary,
especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never
heard My name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in
your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will
they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and
I suspect you don't) buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the
Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me
and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in
and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in
secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your
actions that you are one of mine.

P.S. Don't forget that I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love
Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest.
Check
out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but
the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas
with all those whom you love. And remember,

I LOVE YOU.
Jesus

[SissySue]

While it seems clear to me that every book in the Bible alludes to this, I was struck in today's reading with how important it is that we recognize our dependence on God; whenever we attempt to do anything without His leading, without seeking His counsel, and acknowledging Him, -- well, we have moved away from Him, and the more independent we become, the less we recognize our need for Him.