August 16th One Year Bible Readings

Nehemiah 11:1-12:26 ~ 1 Corinthians 10:14-33 ~ Psalm 34:11-22 ~ Proverbs 21:14-16
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - Today in Nehemiah chapter 11 we read about the people of Israel occupying Jerusalem - and not necessarily by their own choice!  Lots had to be thrown to determine which 1 out of every 10 people in rural areas would move to Jerusalem.  Verses 1 & 2 tell us: "Now the leaders of the people were living in Jerusalem, the holy city, at this time. A tenth of the people from the other towns of Judah and Benjamin were chosen by sacred lots to live there, too, while the rest stayed where they were. And the people commended everyone who volunteered to resettle in Jerusalem."  I read an interesting commentary that speculated that some people did not want to move to Jerusalem from the countryside because it would mean they would have to more stringently follow God with their lives.  This would be due to social pressures of living in Jerusalem and proximity to the Temple.  And this made me wonder - are we like this in our lives today too?  Maybe we go through periods of time where we don't go to church because it means we might have to actually start living our lives like Christians due to the community that church provides?  I am always worried when I get to points in my life where I don't feel like going to church.  It is in those moments that I realize how desperately I need church - and yet how I'm trying to avoid going.  I don't want to change some behavior.  I don't want people to see me for who I really am.  I don't want to be too close to the "Temple"...  How about you.  If you're called to "move to Jerusalem" by God, will you move?  In the words of a famous Switchfoot song, "I dare you to move." Below is a nice map of Jerusalem in Nehemiah's time:

New Testament - Great great unselfish words from Paul today in First Corinthians 10 verses 31 through 33! "Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God. Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. That is the plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved."  How powerful is that?  Paul states that he doesn't just do what is best for him - what is most comfortable for him - but he does what is best for others so that they may be saved!  Beautiful.  I am afraid that all too often we get "comfortably numb" in our lives and basically end up looking out for our own needs and desires and wants - even if we love Jesus.  We become a bit lazy in our Christianity.  We need to remember that there is a world out there that is dying.  Literally.  Dying. They need the love, healing, grace, peace, and salvation of Jesus in their lives!  We must accept some level of discomfort in our own lives so that others may be saved.  How about you today?  Are you allowing there to be some discomfort in your life so that others may be saved?  Are you being discomforted by sacrificially giving to your church and to ministries that serve the poor?  Are you being discomforted by volunteering on a very regular basis?  Are you being discomforted by supporting a missionary?  Are you comfortable with being discomforted so that others may be saved?  Will you bend over backwards for others so that they may be saved?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in First Corinthians titled "Table Talk" is at this link.  Below is a great image for First Corinthians chapter 10 verse 16 -

Psalms -  I love Psalm 34 verses 17 & 18 today: "The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.  He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit."  I am sure all of us have moments of needing help.  Moments of trouble.  Moments of being brokenhearted.  Moments of being crushed in spirit.  The big question is what do we do in those moments?  Or, who do we turn to?  Do you call to God in those moments?  Do you know that he will help you?  Do you know that he will rescue you?  Do you know that he is close to you?  Do you know that He is near?

Proverbs - Well...  it doesn't get much more straightforward than Proverb 21 verse 16 today: "The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead."  Do you believe this Proverb is true?  If we stray from common sense, will we end up in the company of the dead?  How do you define what is common sense in your life?  Do you believe that the Bible is common sense?  Can you learn common sense from the Bible?  Is there any better source of common sense out there?  Will you not stray from this True source of common sense?

Worship God: Okay, so I'm starting to realize not everyone that reads this blog has the same tastes in music that I do.  :)  I honestly have a very wide range of tastes - most all of it in the Christian realm.  On occasion I'll post up a Christian rock song like this one from Switchfoot called "Dare You to Move," which I referenced above.

Are you moving with God?  Click here - I dare you to move!

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  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

[johnb]

I lost the greatest grandad that ever lived this past February 21st...

A HUGE THEME in his life is what Mike touched on concerning our Psalm today...

He used to say, "Johnny GOD takes care of HIS children"... and he lived like he meant it... And GOD did take care of him...

He lived till 89...and died in his sleep...

Folks GOD takes care of his own... In case you didn't have the Blessing like I did of a grandad that could tell you that... I'm telling you that today...

GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS

jb

[John]

1Cor 10:1-13

WARNING ON SELF-INDULGENCE

Without getting into a point-by-point comparison, Paul is reminding Corinthians that the Exodus is a similitude, example, or "type" of their own lives.

Jewish people were freed from Egyptian bondage, Christian Corinthians were freed from the bondage of sin. God had provided blessings and provisions to His people in both cases.

I believe Bob Deffingbaugh is correct. The main issue here is SELF-INDULGENCE. After all God did for the Jewish people and the Christian Corinthians they ended up (quite often) doing what they wanted when they wanted, and at least in the case of Corinthians rationalized it with their own (human) wisdom.

What both did was desire to satisfy their human "cravings" - the parallels with Corinthian's cravings should have been scary to the Christians of Corinth.
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1Cor10:11 "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." NIV

"examples: GK. "tupos" - in an ethical sense, a dissuasive (persuasive) example, a pattern of warning

"warnings" (or admonition): Gk. "nouthesia" Mild, kind, yet earnest reproof

I think it is important to note here that Paul's use of this example was given in Christian "love", not blasting people out of their seats. Paul was serious, and he was criticizing (reprimanding)the Corinthians behavior, but it was done out of "love".
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In the end it is given to the Corinthians for reflection and discernment. At best, their present course of self-indulgence will end up being punished here on earth like the people of the Exodus. God will move to correct their behavior or extinguish it.

At worst, and they need to seriously consider this, are they really SAVED? Are they really "one with Christ"? The pattern of continual self-indulgence, continual sinning - not producing the fruit that a Christian should in our regenerated state, sends up all kinds of "red flags".
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1Cor10:13
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." NIV

One of the first verses I ever memorized. With 48 years (pre-salvation) of "fleshly" baggage and rebellion against God, temptations often came to my mind.

Johnb is right in his post. When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, and yield to God by presenting yourself as a "living sacrifice" - GOD PROVIDES.

I find now that all I have to do is lift my mind and heart to God, and "the way out is provided" and I can bear the temptation and not turn it into sin.

What does this look like? For me, it is simply the act of physically raising my eyes heavenward, asking for his help, and concentrating on a verse or the reading of the day on OYB. I find that when I "fall" or "sin" - the above was not done.

[R]

Nehemiah 11-12:26

Jerusalem must have been a tough place to live in by the words of the first two verses of the 11th chapter,
1Now the leaders of the people were living in Jerusalem, the holy city, at this time. A tenth of the people from the other towns of Judah and Benjamin were chosen by sacred lots to live there, too, while the rest stayed where they were. 2And the people commended everyone who volunteered to resettle in Jerusalem.

Maybe today moving to Jerusalem from the country side may be like someone coming from a middle-class suburban background moving to the inner, inner city of Detroit.

I Corinthians 10:14-33

Mike, Vance and Arun’s comments on getting out of our comfort zones to win others to Christ has turned my focus and caused me to think about selfless acts of kindness. I intended to go somewhere else, but your words caused me to focus on an incident that was reported on the nightly news last evening, and in the paper this morning, and act of forgiveness that changed an entire courtroom and a young man who did a very thoughtless and criminal act.

When a sin is committed against us, we are likely to cry for justice and revenge, but when that sin is a criminal act that causes us severer bodily harm, well---forgiveness is difficult. But forgiveness is an act of the “will” motivated by love. A women who had been severely injured last November (2004) when a turkey thrown out of a moving car smashed through her windshield, gave forgiveness to the perpetrator and hugged and comforted him after the sentencing. [Google the name Victoria Ruvolo and be blessed] Because of her petitioning the court for lenience, a twenty-five year possible sentence was reduced to 6 months in jail with 5 years probation. Now that is going beyond one’s comfort zone.

I wonder how many people touched by her act of kindness, were drawn to the One who gave her strength to do such a thing?

Psalm 34:11-22

How do we fear the Lord? That answer can be found in verses 13-14. The Amplified Bible reads this way:

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it! (Psalms 34:13-14 AMP)

Seems so simple doesn’t it? I think departing from evil and doing good is the easiest thing on the list. It is the tongue that is the most troublesome for us and without submitting that little organ to God, we face an uphill battle doing it on our own.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna). (James 3:5-6 AMP)

Problems with the tongue is why David wrote in another Psalm, “Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.” (Psalms 141:3 AMP)

Proverbs 21:14-16

My pastor has said that Common Sense == Anointed Wisdom. And I’ve always heard the comment about Common Sense, It’s not so common and I wonder why. Why do we choose to go after foolishness?

[Arun]

Amazing Discussion! Greatly blessed by you all.

The scripture that struck me was
23You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is helpful. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is beneficial. 24Don't think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them.

The matter of priority in christian life. These verses in 10 corinthians clearly defines Paul's belief in choosing what to do in his daily life.

All things are permissable, but not all things are beneficial. Absolutely true! Yeah! I have to go by what benefit it gives, not by whether its permissable or not.

Paul further says, dont ever look for your own good but also for the people around. Our culture is intoxicated with selfishness that it believes it is perfectly normal to be selfish.This verse rings with same chord yet again of the 'Discomforts' Mike was talking about.

Great Truths!
May these truths change me!

[Vance]

I really like this challenge:

Are you allowing there to be some discomfort in your life so that others may be saved? Are you being discomforted by tithing 10% to your church?

It is so easy to even sacrifice in one way (tithing, and other ways that people can see) and not really sacrifice our lives to the Lord.

One can sacrifice many things (like the Pharisees, who sacrificed many things), but forget the true sacrifices: a broken heart and the sacrifice of love and mercy.

Love is NOT comfortable. Love, by definition, IS A SACRIFICE. Jesus' very Life and Death forever verify this truth!

"...The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit."

Whether one is "rich" or "poor" with worldly wealth,... ALL are called to have a broken heart.

It is a TRUE SACRIFICE, while making a living and earning money, to MAKE SURE TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS!

Yet, with God's help, it can be done!

I Corinthians 13 (Amplified)
3
Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c] in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing.

7
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

WONDERFULLY CONVICTING Truth!

Vance

[Vance]

Nehemiah

NOTE:
What an awesome opportunity to live in Jerusalem with the newly rebuilt Temple?

In our individualistic society in America, I wonder if the “community spirit of God’s people” is being lost.

WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST!

I Corinthians 10 (NKJV)
14
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

19
What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything?
20
Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
21
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.
22
Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

NOTE:
It is so easy to get distracted and not have our hearts really fixed on worshipping God. We cannot worship things of the world in secret and worship God at the same time.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Jesus Christ, Matthew, chapter 5

Psalm 34 (NKJV)
11
Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12
Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13
Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

NOTE:
I really need to cultivate the fear of the Lord more in my life. I can only do this as I set aside time individually, and with the local fellowship of God’s people.

Vance

[Birdie]

Thanks, JohnB, for sharing your grandfather. I did not know either of my grandfathers. In fact both my mom and dad were essentially raised by single mothers, since both of their fathers had died at an early age.
And, Mike, I want to thank you for YouTube. I like "your taste" in music and I'm not one of the "younger generation." But then I have a 45 year old son who is still very much into skateboarding (and plays guitar and drums). Thanks for keeping up with this blog. I get a lot out of it.

Birdie

[John]

1Cor10:14-33

WRAPPING UP MEAT FROM IDOLS DISCUSSION

Paul had been talking about temptation, and he says "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry."

Makes sense, but it is more than worshipping false idols. "idolatry" in Gk."eidololatreia" has also the connotation of:
" of the formal sacrificial feats held in honour of false gods"
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/1/1155791450-943.html

Wait a minute Paul, there are no weak brethren there, the Gentiles (pagans) are offering food - Why can't I sit down and eat "anything" like you do when you are with Gentiles? I am not worshipping their idol. I am just getting a "free" meal.

What is the big deal if we know idols are nothing, therefore the meat has no significance to us?

They are right. Idols mean nothing, meat has no significance, but the ceremony involved is worshipping and being offered to "demons".

The idol is nothing, the meat is nothing, but the worshipping and offering to demons IS SOMETHING in Pauls view.

Why?

Because demons exist. If they did not, then Paul would not object. Based on the same grounds as idols (themselves)and meat being insignificant to a Christian.

This is the first time, I remember Paul being so explicit on the naming of the Devil and his minions. (I could be wrong).

[I am still waiting for someone to interpret references to Satan by Christ, and "demons" here in an allegorical, metaphorical sense. As a nebulous evil force, rather than as actual entities.

As before: I promise to not respond or try to debate the issue. I just want to see the reasoning behind it. Why? So it will help when I talk to people who believe the "nebulous evil" idea outside of this blog.]
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The Corinthians have used human wisdom and rationalized all kinds of activities. There are times when they should invoke self-denial.

-Meat is in market: buy it and eat it.
-Meat is in Gentile's home - eat it.
-Meat is around a weak brother - abstain.
- Meat is offered by Gentile but referenced to "being sacrificial meat" - abstain.

Use "discernment" and in all you do give glory to God - whehter in strong faith or in yielding out of love to another.

HOWEVER,
Whatever you do, and whatever we as modern day Christians do - WE ARE NOT to be in a ceremony or sacrificial place that give honor or worship to demons or Satan. Not out of curiosity, not out of friendship to a non-believer, not for a "free meal.