October 1, 2015

OCTOBER 1

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Isaiah 62:6-65:25

Isaiah 62:6-12

Vs. 6-12 The watchmen are to stay alert, watching for the coming of the Messiah. They are to give God no rest, crying out to Him. As disciples this is supposed to be our attitude of heart too. The Lord's Prayer has this in it. And I think of the first verses I memorized as an Awana worker, Titus 2:11-14, For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹²training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

V. 11 Read Revelation 22:12-17 and you will see v. 11. Those verses in Revelation have the same feel as these verses in Isaiah.

Isaiah 63

Vs. 1-6 This is the Messiah coming to Zion in victory. I wonder if v. 1 was the inspiration for the song, Mighty To Save?

Vs. 7-9 What would you call this? What a statement of God's steadfast love for Israel. In spite of what Israel has done in the past and what they are now, God will never stop loving these people; and He will fulfill His promise to use them in saving the world. As regards the gospel they are enemies of God (now), for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. (Romans 11:28, RSV)

Vs. 10-14 These are the clearest references to the Holy Spirit I know of in the OT.

Vs. 15-19 The people are appealing to God, their Father, to return to them. Again, these are some of the only references in the OT where God is referred to as the Father. This is very special ground.

So in this chapter, we have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This might be one of those portions of Scripture where the Jews developed their teaching of the Trinity.

Isaiah 64

Vs. 1-7 This sounds like a continuation of the last chapter where the nation is confessing their sin to God.

Vs. 8-12 They appeal to God for help because He is their Father and because of what has happened to Zion / Jerusalem.

You notice that all of this is prophetic. The city still looked pretty good during the time of this writing. It would be about another 100 years before everything looked like a wilderness and desolation.

Isaiah 65

Vs. 1-7 These verses seem to be God's reasons for rejecting that generation of Israel.

Vs. 1-2 Paul quotes these verses at the end of Romans 10. Believe it or not, these verses are referring to the mystery of the church; that is, that for a time, God would reach the world through the people of Christ, the church.

Vs. 8-10 This is the blessing of the obedient.

Vs. 11-12 This is the cursing of the disobedient.

Vs. 13-16 In this contrast between the obedient and disobedient, can you hear some of what Jesus said in the Beatitudes; i.e., blessed are, but woe to…?

Vs. 17-25 This will be the blessing of the people in the Millennial Kingdom.

As we've seen before, God's purpose in showing us what the end will look like is to give us hope now to keep going and to keep following in the harvest.

Philippians 2:19-3:4

Philippians 2:19-30

Vs. 19-24 Paul planned to send Timothy because Timothy was a pastor and teacher. Timothy wouldn't just visit, he would strengthen, encourage, and correct. From these verses you get some good words about Timothy, and you get the idea that Paul's trial wasn't far off and that he did think he would be released.

V. 21 While this must have been true about Timothy, I wonder if any of the other workers read it and felt bad. In 2 Timothy we'll find out that when Paul was arrested, many of the faithful fled. Maybe Paul was beginning to see that many of those he thought were solid were not.

Vs. 25-30 It might have been that Epaphroditus ("E") was to have stayed with Paul longer, but everyone was worried, so Paul decided to send him back. This would also show that "E" wasn't coming home because of adversity or being chicken-hearted. There are also some good words here about "E" and on how to treat people who have worked hard in the Lord and risked their lives.

Philippians 3:1-4

These verses are the prelude to some very challenging and wonderful verses. It is interesting that out of conflict and perversity, God can bring blessing.

V. 1 We will see finally again. Apparently what is happening here is that Paul is getting off on a very blessed rabbit trail.

V. 2 There is no political correctness here. These were often Jewish Christians of the circumcision party in Jerusalem, who followed and hounded (no pun intended) Paul and disrupted churches.

A note on dogs. For me the connotation that comes to mind is that dogs were scavengers. These teachers couldn't bear fruit and begin churches, but they could come in behind Paul like scavengers and build stubble on the foundation he had laid.

V. 3 What a great definition of what it means to follow Christ. No denomination, only the worship of God in the truth of the Spirit. We live in the glory of our salvation in this person, Jesus Christ, sharing it with others. And we are always only ever sinners saved by grace.

V. 4 is a springboard into tomorrow.

Doing correction in the harvest isn't what anyone wants to do; but as you see from these verses, it not only has to be done, but there is even blessing that comes from it. As a result of this conflict, tomorrow we will read some of the greatest verses written on following Christ as a disciple in the harvest.

Psalm 73

Earlier in the year when we read this psalm we hadn't yet read Job. Psalm 73 should "feel" a little different now, having sat with Job in his ashes and misery. The interesting thing is that when you read this again next year, you will see even more here.

Vs. 1-3 This is saying that the psalmist recovered from his trial, and he is telling us what it was that caused his faith to stumble.

Vs. 4-12 Why does God allow the proud and wicked to prosper for a time? Reading all of what we've read to date, you should have some good answers.

Vs. 13-15 Verse 13 sounds like Job, or me, when I'm in a self-piteous mood. Verse 15 is the bind we are in when we know the truth. Denying the truth becomes an impossibility, even though you could think that you should just give in.

Vs. 16-17 Here was Asaph's turning point. Where is that sanctuary for you? There is no temple. I have this time alone with God in His Word and in prayer. If not for that, where would any of us be?

Vs. 18-22 We understand that God is just and that He is to be trusted, both with rescue and with judgment. Our job is to trust and follow, not to tell God when and how He should judge. This son of Asaph got the message.

Vs. 23-26 Just like David did, this man learned to focus on God, not on those who were rejecting God. God's wisdom and purpose are beyond us. We are called to live with Him. With so much we don't understand about God's working day to day, what we know of God through our Lord has to be enough for us and all we need.

Vs. 25-26 are a beautiful, poetic declaration of our hope in God.

Vs. 27-28 Amen.

Proverbs 24:13-14

We need to seek wisdom. I like the idea of the visual of seeking honey, but who of us would really take this advice? Who of us hasn't learned wisdom because of constant stumbling, falling, running into the wall at 100 mph? We who are now older need to tell our stories to help the next generation of disciples "wise up" without having to hit the wall. Thankfully there is a very gracious Father who heals our self-inflicted injuries and patiently teaches us the wisdom of listening to Him.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link ^{http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/.} If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book:  Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to ^{dgkachikis@gmail.com.}

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to ^{https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.} You can download these to use on your computer or to print.

September 30, 2015

SEPTEMBER 30

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Isaiah 60-62:5

When I read these verses, I thought what it would be like if Israel today believed this stuff. They would all call on God and say, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, and the Messiah would come. And He will come someday, and they will call Him; but it will be in the darkness of the Tribulation.

As you read today remember that Israel was chosen to represent God in His plan to redeem the world. As a result, every power of hell rained upon them to stop them. Israel failed and became a visual aid of the sin of man rebelling in the presence of God's help and love. God has shown us how desperately hopeless we are without Christ and a new birth. In the Tribulation, Israel will carry God's Word to a visibly dying world and will pay a high price for that. So, we shouldn't wonder that when the Messiah comes, all nations will understand what Israel has "borne" for the world. Jerusalem will be in ruins and the throne of Jesus will be in the temple. The nations will come, and in gratitude to God and to Israel, they will help rebuild and console this battered servant/nation of God.

Isaiah 60

Vs. 1-3 This sounds like the Tribulation and the coming of the Lord. The Lord will rise upon the Jews at the beginning of the Tribulation and they will become His servant again. At the end of the Tribulation, when Jesus returns visibly and bodily to Jerusalem and ends all the fighting, all eyes will be on His people and His city.

Ironically, as darkness covers the earth, their fearless devotion to Christ will become a light of salvation for many people on the earth.

Vs. 3-7 This looks like the nations coming to Israel to beautify the temple where Jesus will have His throne.

Vs. 8-9 This looks like nations bringing wealth to honor Israel. Notice the last part of v. 9. These are the same words found in Isaiah 55:5. This verse shows the future fulfillment of the promise made in Isaiah 55:5. These will be spectacular days in the future.

Vs. 10-14 Notice that, as in all of Isaiah, the city is still a major focus of God's attention. This is the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Tribulation. It will become the joy of the nations to rebuild Zion.

Vs. 15-16 What strikes me here is the phrase, from age to age. Those thousand years of the Millennium will be a long time, but then comes a new heaven, a new earth and a new Jerusalem.

Vs. 17-22 This is a grand summary of blessing on the city and on the people. Verse 19 is also described in Revelation 22:5.

Isaiah 61

Vs. 1-2 There are words similar to these a few chapters back, but this is the portion that Jesus read in Nazareth in Luke 4:17-21. He told the people as He read these words, that they were being fulfilled in their hearing. And they took offense at Him, meaning, they didn't believe that Jesus the carpenter could be this person. In fact, these people that Jesus grew up with tried to murder Him after He read this.

Jesus only read to the word favor in v. 2. And the day of vengeance of our God and what follows will be fulfilled at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus returns to rescue and restore Israel. In this one verse you see the gap of time that is now the age of harvest for the church.

It is interesting that it mentions that comfort will come to those who mourn. Choosing to mourn now shows an understanding of the dire situation the world and mankind is in. I wonder if Jesus had these verses in mind in Matthew 5:4 when He said, Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Vs. 3-9 This is what Jesus will do for His people.

Vs. 10-11 This will be Israel's praise of God.

Isaiah 62:1-5

V. 1 Zion and Jerusalem again. It seems that God is determined to keep preaching this in spite of the darkness of the times and the sin of the people, because this future glory and blessing is coming to Israel.

Vs. 2-5 The unity between Israel and God will be complete.

As disciples working in the harvest, we need to keep the vision of the end clearly before us. God is saying all of this for a reason. It is to give us hope and strength. In spite of what today looks like, we are to keep working in hope and joy because we know what the end will look like. I believe this is what made Paul able to do what He did in following Christ as a disciple in the harvest, making disciples, who make disciples.

Philippians 1:27-2:18

Philippians 1:27-30

Vs. 27-30 So why this call to unity? I think disunity and each man becoming absorbed in his own problems was the effect that the persecution was beginning to have on them. People may have been threatening them and they may have been very frightened. Some people might have wanted to draw back and give in.

Vs. 29-30 These are pretty big verses for a disciple. Staying out of conflict is not a part of our call to follow Christ. In fact, Jesus said that following Him would bring conflict. (Matt. 10:34 and Luke 12:51)

As we have just read in Isaiah, God will bring things to a glorious end. In light of that, the sufferings now are slight and momentary, and worth enduring, so that men and women can reach out to Christ while there is still time.

Philippians 2:1-18

Vs. 1-11 These are great verses. Songs have been written about these. So, I wonder how this call to unity above fits to the call of unity in vs. 1-2 and rolls into this description of Jesus.

It seems to me that the unity of the church is dependent upon a deep connection between members as they serve together. Especially in this stress the church was facing, with all sorts of fears and emotions flying around, it couldn't become "every man for himself;" but rather everyone had to bind together. But that binding had to be around the same mindset, which I think had to do with following Christ in the harvest.

Jesus Himself was the model for the disciples and is the model for all of His followers. In light of our salvation and the need of mankind to be saved, each disciple is called upon to serve one another as we serve in the harvest. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

Vs. 12-13 This unity would take some work and be a matter of obedience. They needed to remember that God was still working, inspiring them, and using them in the harvest.

Vs. 14-18 At first, the command to do all things (everything) without grumbling and disputing seems like a general duty; but it is related to their witness in the harvest. Since the grumbling and questioning do not have a clear object, I think it has to do with each member understanding that what was happening to them (like Job) was from God, for His purpose. Since they could never be outside of God's control, the situations they faced were sanctioned and allowed by God. If they followed Christ in love, those circumstances would put them into situations where they would be lights as they held fast the word of life.

Vs. 16-18 I take this to be Paul's hope as a maker of disciples that those for whom he had risked so much and for whom he had worked so hard would follow Christ in this time of stress, bear fruit, and make disciples, who make disciples.

V. 17 Paul seems to have understood that he might not be released but would be put to death. When Paul talks like this again at the end of 2 Timothy, he has no doubt.

Psalm 72

Verse 20 says this is a prayer of David. David was asking God to bless his son. With that in mind, I'm seeing David talking more about Jesus than Solomon. God did bless Solomon. But God really blessed the Son of David, God's own Son. Just for exercise in Bible study, circle each use of may. Also, look at what this king does. You can't fool me (especially after reading Isaiah), this is the Messiah.

Vs. 1-4 This is a call for God to bless the Son with righteousness and the power to deliver the needy.

Vs. 5-7 As the people fear and follow, He will be to them life and righteousness and peace.

Vs. 8-11 This is asking for God to give the Son of David dominion.

Vs. 12-14 This almost sounds like Isaiah 53:12, Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Vs. 15-17 His name will endure forever. How did David know?

Vs. 18-20 Amen and Amen!

Proverbs 24:11-12

Did you get this? This is a very strong warning, but it is nothing a disciple in the harvest needs to fear. That's why we are in the harvest and it is what the love of Christ compels us to do. We who have been saved know the peril of those who do not know Christ. Out of love, we know we have to do something, and that particular "something" is working in the harvest following our Lord. The last thing a disciple should say or feel is, "Who cares?"

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link ^{http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/.} If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book:  Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to ^{dgkachikis@gmail.com.}

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to ^{https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.} You can download these to use on your computer or to print.

September 29, 2015

SEPTEMBER 29

Today's Reading in the ESV One-Year Bible

Today you begin Philippians. You may want to celebrate with your favorite latte.

Isaiah 57:14-59:21

Isaiah 57:14-21

Having described the Messiah as the Servant of the Lord who will redeem both Israel and the Gentiles, this section concludes with a call to the people to prepare the way for the Messiah.

Vs. 14-15 This sounds like the message of John the Baptist. Notice that this leveling is described by God as humility that welcomes His blessing.

Vs. 16-19 As the Lord's servant, Israel failed, but in the future God will heal and restore them. I think the humility of that future generation will be the key.

Vs. 20-21 But this is a warning to all who resist God.

Isaiah 58

Chapters 58-66 are the last of three, nine-chapter blocks. This group of chapters looks at the sin of the people in Isaiah's day, and the coming of peace and prosperity to Israel and the entire earth, under the Messiah.

Vs. 1-2 This could well have been the people of Hezekiah's day. They were following the rules, but they were worshiping for their own benefit.

Vs. 3-5 They thought God should have regarded their fasting. This is God's commentary on their fasting. It makes you think of Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman that those who worship the Father must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Vs. 6-12 This is what God really wanted. Loving God with all one's heart was to turn into an outpouring of compassion for one's neighbor.

Vs. 13-14 The Sabbath was a day to delight in the Lord. It wasn't just a day off.

Isaiah 59

This sounds more like the early years of Manasseh.

Vs. 1-2 These verses state the real issue between God and man.

Vs. 3-8 I'm sure Paul had this section of Isaiah in mind when he wrote Romans 3:10-18. What Isaiah is describing here seems to indicate there was an ungodly king leading the nation.

Vs. 9-15 This is why God could not use Israel as a light to the world. Sin had infected everything about them. This is true of every man and woman on earth without Christ. All would be lost for us, But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ­--by grace you have been saved--⁶and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:4-6)

Vs. 16-21 So, with Israel failing as God's servant, God chose another to intercede. This is all about Jesus.

When I read this, I realize how well Paul knew these verses. Verse 17 sounds like the spiritual armor. Verse 20 is quoted in Romans 11:26 as proof that God has a future plan for Israel to fulfill its calling.

V. 21 is the future covenant God will make with Israel because of the work of Jesus.

When I read v. 16, I thought of the fact that Jesus isn't "named," but you know it is Him. Who is this guy? Then I thought, "Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is He." You might want to think of these verses as you listen to the second verse of this song, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

Philippians 1:1-26

Philippians is another of those amazing letters from Paul where we find great statements of what it means to walk as a disciple of Jesus in the harvest. These statements like, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, and Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God…he humbled himself…, and that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, stand alone as great teaching. But in the flow of Paul's encouragement and warnings to this church, they are expressed as the mature desires of a disciple totally in love with Christ. As we'll see, these expressions are meant to be our desires, too, as we follow Christ in the harvest.

Like Ephesians, Paul wrote this while he was being held in Rome awaiting trial. This is where we left Paul at the end of Acts. It was a polite imprisonment. Later, Paul was heard by Nero and released. Epaphroditus (a pastor or elder at Philippi) had brought a collection from the church to Paul. While there, "E" must have shared the general state of affairs in the church. He also got really sick for a while. Now that "E" was back on his feet, Paul was sending him back with this letter. As the spiritual father of the church, Paul not only thanks them for the gift, but he expresses some concern and suggestions. The biggest of these concerns is with those Jewish Christians trying to get people to obey the law to get saved. The other concern is that there seems to be a growing persecution of the church. Philippi was a very special Roman town. The people there had privileges as if they were living in Rome, but that meant that Rome had a very strong control of the city. About seven years after the writing of this letter, Roman persecution would take the lives of many Christians, Paul included. There is just a hint of it now. Generally, this letter is a thank you to a church that was very close to Paul's heart.

Vs. 3-6 The key phrase here is partnership in the gospel. The church at Philippi is the only church we know of that Paul planted and immediately, on their own, began supporting Paul financially. It wasn't just that they wanted to help the kind old man who helped them. They caught Paul's passion for following Christ: to be partners in the blessings of the gospel, reaching the lost and making disciples for Christ. They are now supporting Paul ten years after his work in Philippi.

V. 7 This is what a true partnership in missions gives the people back home. The people see what has been done by God's grace and become partakers of that grace and those blessings.

Vs. 8-11 Paul's prayer is that their love would abound more and more. The rest is important and descriptive, but don't lose sight of the focus of Paul's request. Love for Christ and others grows in the harvest, and Paul wanted it to grow in a certain way. If this love grew, the end product would be the glory and praise of God.

Vs. 12-18 This is like Job writing why it is good to suffer. Paul couldn't control the attitudes of the Christians who were trying to make him feel bad, but he was happy that the unbelieving public was hearing about Christ. God would take care of that other stuff.

V. 19 Paul had a good feeling that he would be released. We'll see this expressed again in chapter 2.

Vs. 20-21 The thought of being ashamed, I think, came from those bratty preachers trying to make Paul look small. But the real issue was that Paul was where he was, to give testimony of Jesus Christ to the Roman authorities. In this sense especially, he knew he wouldn't be ashamed. I like that line, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. Amen!

V. 21 Many Christians would say "amen" to this, but their treasure is really on earth. If they were to die they would be losing everything.

Vs. 21-26 The life that Paul describes here seems like discipleship on steroids. If you read what Paul wrote after his even bigger declaration in chapter 3, you'll see that Paul and the Spirit mean this to be normative thinking for the disciple of Jesus on earth. Why else are we here except to follow in the harvest, reaching the lost, and making disciples, who make disciples? Being with Jesus will be so much better, except this life isn't about us and what would be better for us? It is about following Jesus and reaching those He died to save.

Psalm 71

This psalm doesn't have information regarding the author; but reading it, I say, "You can't fool me. This is David." Just an older version of him, possibly before and after the civil war with Absalom. I see a lot of Psalm 40 in here, but really, it echoes all of David's praying and crying out and celebrating. The only thing that’s missing is a reference to God's steadfast love.

Vs. 1-3 If this is David, the years had passed and now there was a new threat. David had been forgiven for what he had done regarding Bathsheba and Uriah, but there were many who were unwilling to forgive. David's hope was in the Lord, and again, he was looking to the Lord to vindicate him.

Vs. 4-13 This alternates between David's plea for help and the threat of his enemies.

Vs. 14-24 The one thing that strikes me is the long celebration of hope in these verses. The writer was now old and had been following God from his early years. He had seen adversity, and yet, he had known so much deliverance. He knew God.

Proverbs 24:9-10

I guess these are good general truths. But in the context of yesterday, seeing Satan referred to as a schemer, I guess you could take that application into today. You should have a note that devising can be read "scheming."

Adversity often comes from the human and spiritual side of scheming or devising sin. To scoff at God, His existence, His holiness and justice, is an abomination. That spiritual origin of these things is literally an abomination to mankind. It degrades mankind.

So what does God do for us? He gives us the Word, the Spirit, and insight into what's really happening in life. He gives us a place in the fight, in the harvest, winning the lost, turning them into disciples. We have seen everywhere that God makes us strong through adversity, but only through that adversity that is somehow linked to the harvest. Remember that verse from yesterday about Jesus sharing the spoil with the strong? Can you see some connection to that verse and v. 10 here? The work makes us strong. To hold back makes us weak, because our strength is in the Lord and in the Spirit; and they are both active in reaching a lost world. We all need to be in the Word in the harvest. That is where we draw close to Christ, use the armor and develop spiritual strength.

Even a seasoned disciple like Timothy was shocked into fear by the sudden aggression of Nero that had risen. Paul, facing death in a Roman dungeon, wrote to Timothy to remind him to be strong in Christ in the harvest.

2 Timothy 1:7-10 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, ¹⁰and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link ^{http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/.} If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book:  Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to ^{dgkachikis@gmail.com.}

If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to ^{https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.} You can download these to use on your computer or to print.