If you don't
have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to
the day's reading, http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/. This
site allows you to select from several languages and several English
translations.
OCTOBER 7
In reading the entire Bible, you could get the idea that there is a lot
of negativity going on. Obviously there is the constant testimony of God's love
and His ongoing work to rescue and redeem mankind, but there is still a lot of
judgment. We see it in the prophets, in The Psalms and in the warnings of
Proverbs. Then too, we see a lot of caution and commands in the NT to stay
awake and not live like when we were lost.
The overwhelming sense we have from the Lord is that this planet is
under judgment. Judgment will come. As disciples we know the mercy of Christ
and follow Him knowing that the time is drawing to an end. Clouds are building
on the horizon for every person, and eventually for the world itself. A time
for judgment has been set, for each individual and also for all who are on the
earth when the Tribulation begins. When Jesus sent out His disciples, their
simple gospel was that the kingdom was coming, that men should turn to God
(repent) and come to Christ. The kingdom implies both judgment and joy. It
depends on knowing God.
The constant sense of judgment in Scripture is to keep the mature
focused and alert. It is reality. A disciple hungers now and weeps now for the
world. It is a choice, because what is happening now is urgent and it is coming
to an end. Yet, it doesn't weigh us down as we work in the harvest because of
the love the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts. Knowing our Lord brings
joy. Seeing new life in Christ brings joy. Seeing those new disciples going out
and making disciples, who make disciples, brings joy. And then comes the party.
Jeremiah
8:8-9:26
Jeremiah 8:8-22
Vs. 8-12 God takes aim again at the leaders of Judah.
V. 11 This is the second time God has said this about the
leaders. You will notice that the image of a wound or incurable sickness will
come up again and again.
V. 13 I wonder if Jesus had this in mind when He cursed the
fig tree?
Vs. 14-15 The people are running for shelter. Tragically they
will call out for help, but it will be too late. God is telling them to turn to
Him now.
Vs. 16-17 The coming judgment. Dan was the northernmost tribe,
and trouble almost always came from the north.
Vs. 18-22 This seems like the lament of God and of Jeremiah.
There is no joy on God's part in punishing the rebellious. We have seen how
patient God is. His patience is to give us time to respond to Him.
V. 22 The ironic and tragic truth is that there was a cure but
the people didn't choose it.
Jeremiah 9
Vs. 1-2a are Jeremiah's thoughts. This is another example of
why he is called the Weeping Prophet. It really must have been tragic seeing
the people refusing to follow God and then seeing them punished.
Vs. 2b-6 This is God's charge against the people. Notice that
twice it says they refused to know God. Knowing God is not new to the New
Testament. It really goes right back to Adam and Eve, and it has always been
the basis of saving faith. In the process of not knowing God, they had become
corrupt toward each other.
Vs. 7-11 Look at I will.
This is God mapping out His plan of action.
Vs. 12-16 This is like God pleading His case why He has to do
this. Notice the call for the wise man.
Vs. 17-22 This is the Lord's punishment of the people. It
appears that the women are called on to lead the mourning.
Vs. 23-26 Again, who is the wise man? That would be v. 24. This sounds a little like those
first two chapters of 1 Corinthians. Notice how steadfast love, justice, and righteousness are fused together.
Notice too that the true measure of a person is understanding and knowing the
Lord. It reminds me again that what we are really asking people to do is to
know the Lord. It is a personal relationship, not a religious tradition and
lifestyle. Knowing Christ is what sets us free.
Colossians 3:1-17
Where Ephesians has six chapters, three that magnify God's grace
and three telling us how to live that grace, Colossians has four chapters with
the same breakdown. Chapters 1-2 talk about the greatness of salvation in
Christ, and now we are entering the application of how to live that truth.
Vs. 1-4 There is an old critical motto that says some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. That isn't what Paul or God is saying here; in fact, the real point here is that if you are too earthly minded you are no earthly good. Based on all of what God has done in Christ alone, our minds, hearts and lives should be captivated and empowered by that truth.
It is interesting that Paul talks about setting our minds on things above. Paul had actually, literally, been there. You can imagine that when things became hard for him, he could close his eyes and remember what he had seen and remember how that was so much more powerful than anything he was facing. That is what is meant for us too. We have the Word and the Spirit, and by faith we can see and live beyond this earth. This is why it is important for us to be in the Word every day, to keep our vision of God fresh and our understanding of His love, grace and justice in balance.
We're here reading these verses, but you have read so much more. Think of what you've read in the OT, and in the Gospels, Acts, and Romans up to here. Based on all of that, how should you live? What kind of joy should you have in life? How should you invest as a disciple in the harvest? If it could "grasp" us, it would change us. The reality is that as disciples we need to be constantly reading and allowing God's Word to remake us.
Vs. 5-11 God's judgment is coming. God's truth saved us and changes us. God opens our eyes. Jesus sets us free. Some of this sounds very similar to Ephesians. I would mention again that loving one another as disciples isn't just a command to be nice to mankind generally. We are called to love all people as God loves them. But the bond in Christ is for that group who are sent into the world by their Savior to bear witness to His work on the cross for mankind. As those saved, who are working together in the harvest, behind enemy lines, we are to cherish our relationships and have a special love for one another. Take away the harvest, and we are just being nice to each other for some general reason.
Vs. 12-17 Here it is. We are God's chosen ones, bearing His message to a dying world. Our group is supposed to reflect the oneness that each of us has with Christ Himself. The entire church is supposed to be unified in our Lord and His grace and His mission. Notice the commands to put on, and let. All of this centers on Jesus and allowing His Word to dwell in us richly.
There is a lot to grasp and absorb in these verses. It'll take a lifetime. Beyond what we learn or are taught, there has to be a very innocent sense of wonder and gratefulness in what Jesus means to us. That's why a believer with a Bible, yet without an education, in a poor third world country can have a closer relationship to Jesus than any of us, with all our blogs, books and programs. It is a matter of heart and devotion and wonder.
Psalm 78:32-55
V. 32 This is the bridge from the last section (yesterday)
into today. Tomorrow will be the same as we get into the next section of Psalm
78. Today will end on a high note, but v. 56 will bring in the sad reality of
how they acted.
Vs. 33-36 So God punished them, then they repented and
remembered God. This is the cycle seen in the book of Judges. The tragedy was
that they remembered God less and less every time they got into trouble.
Vs. 36-37 They only came back to God enough to help themselves
and get some relief. Just like us.
Vs. 38-41 It is interesting that they forgot God, but in God's
mercy He remembered the depth of their helplessness in sin. In spite of their
sin, God still had compassion on them. And He shows us this same grace and
forgiveness.
Vs. 42-55 Specifically, Israel did not remember how God
rescued them from Egypt. Notice that vs. 42-43 set up the context of the
deliverance from Egypt. Then in vs. 44-51, underline He to see all that God did for them. In v. 52 you have the
deliverance, and in 53-55 the fulfillment of His promises to them and their
fathers.
Remembering God's goodness and blessing to us is a constant
theme in The Psalms, and just a good thing to do when times are tough. So after
all of this deliverance and blessing, what did the people do? Tune in tomorrow
for the rest of the story.
Proverbs
24:27
Good advice.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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