Tuesday, October 28
Matthew 13:1-9 “Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty.” (v.8)
Four kinds of people hear the Gospel according to Jesus’ parable (an earthly story with a heavenly meaning). The hard-hearted are like the path— they might be touched by Christmas music or a visit to a cathedral in Europe, but it does not last.
The rocky ground gives no depth for the roots—like a famous person whose life is touched by Jesus, but the person is immediately put on the platform or in the pulpit and has no chance to grow in faith. They receive the word with joy, but when hard times come they fall away.
The ground with thorns is like the new Christian who is so caught up in their job and sports and social activity that they do not make time for Bible study, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship. The cares of the world choke the word and it proves unfruitful.
Jesus says: He who has ears, let him hear.
Dear Jesus, help us be the good soil which brings forth much fruit for you.
Ezra 5:1-17; Psalm 45; Revelation 4:1-11
Wednesday, October 29
Psalm 119:49-72 This is my comfort in my affliction that thy promise gives me life. (v.50)
A wonderful way to cultivate the “attitude of gratitude” is to write down five things for which you are thankful at the end of each day. It is amazing what great benefits this little exercise gives to your spiritual health.
I have suggested to some of the young mothers in our church doing this with children at the dinner table or bedtime. Fabulous reports come back. One mom told how her children were rather flip about it at first: “Thanks, God, for my dad, my mom, my brother, my sister and my bike.” But as the weeks went on, they became much more sincere: “Thanks, God, for helping me with my spelling test, for healing Grandpa, for helping us find the cat, etc.
Our whole attitude improves when we thank God for the ordinary things: our nice lunch with a friend, the helpful clerk in the store, finding a close-by parking place in the rain, and all His other good gifts.
Dear Jesus, thanks for all the loving and generous gifts you have given me.
Ezra 6:1-22; Revelation 5:1-10; Matthew 13:10-17
Thursday, October 30
Revelation 5:11—6:11 “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (v.12)
It has been said that worship is the essence of our response to God. Worship seems to transcend time and space and meet our deepest needs. It is not what we can get from worship, but what we can give to God—the honor due His name.
In his vision, John sees and hears thousands of angels plus every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea giving blessing, honor, and glory for ever and ever to the Lamb.
One can almost hear the trumpets and great music and see the rainbow, the lightning, and the torches as the twenty-four elders (probably the twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament and the twelve apostles of the New Testament) bow in worship and cast their crowns before him.
I am so thankful to be in a church that has wonderful music and joyful yet profound worship; where we reverence the Cross and use our entire being in worship. It is preparation for heaven!
Praise to You, Lord God Almighty!
Nehemiah 1:1-11; Psalm 50; Matthew 13:18-23
Friday, October 31
Psalm 40 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. (v.3a)
It is Reformation Day! Today we remember Martin Luther and his sharing the great truth of Scripture—that we are saved by grace through faith.
Indeed, this was a new song for the people who lived in superstition and fear. Luther also gave them the Bible in their own language and many singable hymns for worship.
Faithful witnesses down through the ages have given their lives so the truth of the gospel can be proclaimed: reformers, missionaries, priests and pastors, and all the faithful people of God. The psalms speak of delighting in the will of the Lord, with His law within our hearts; may that be the case with us! Then may we speak of His faithfulness and tell the glad news of our deliverance in the great congregation.
Over five hundred years ago Luther posted his 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle church door. During the following years of trial and persecution Luther came to know more of God’s sheltering hand and shared the new song God had given him.
Dear God, You are indeed our Mighty Fortress.
Nehemiah 2:1-20; Psalm 54; Revelation 6:12—7:4; Matthew 13:24-30
Saturday, November 1
Revelation 7:4-17 I looked and behold a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb... (v.9)
Happy All Saints’ Day! We think of William Howe’s great 19th century hymn: “For all the saints who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia!”
The saints now stand in white robes with palm branches in their hands (because they have come out of the great tribulation). Now with the angels and elders and four living creatures they worship God with “blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever!”
They serve Him day and night in His temple and He shelters them with His presence. They will neither hunger nor thirst anymore, the sun will not strike them or any scorching heat. The Lamb will guide them to springs of living water and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
As the African-American spiritual says: “that great gettin’ up morning!” We have the exquisite destiny of worshiping the Lamb forever.
Dear Jesus, thank you for making us your saints.
Nehemiah 4:1-23; Psalm 55; Matthew 13:31-35
Sunday, November 2
Luke 12:22-31 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life...” (v.22 NIV)
How often have we heard Jesus’ teaching on worry and then disregarded it as we continue to fret about our lives? In this passage Jesus tells us to concentrate on the things above, the kingdom of God. If we do, we are told, all the things of this life that we are so concerned with will be given to us.
Does that mean the condo in the Rockies and the Mercedes I have always wanted? Probably not. Jesus is saying that our needs will be met when we put our trust in God. We may not always have what we want but we will always have what we need.
Quite often we get our needs and our wants confused, and that leads to our feeling deprived, or abandoned, or unappreciated, or unloved. We move through life with a level of constant anxiety that is unbiblical. Let us begin to trust God. He has made us a promise, and He always keeps His word.
Nehemiah 5:1-19; Psalms 24, 29; Acts 20:7-12
Monday, November 3
Matthew 13:36-43 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” (v.36)
Jesus spoke in parables to describe the kingdom of God. Today he explains the parable of the weeds to the disciples. From this story we understand that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness coexist side by side, at least for the present.
We could take this to mean that the enemy is not only the obvious one who blatantly thwarts the will of God but is also living within the Church. We also understand that it is not for us to decide who is in the kingdom of God and who is not. This is God’s responsibility, and we should not presume to know anyone’s heart.
This parable also emphasizes the present and future aspects of the kingdom. The seed now growing in preparation for the harvest illustrates the present aspect of the kingdom. The harvest pictures the future aspect of the kingdom. At that time the true character of all people will be revealed and judged. Meanwhile, God’s Church represents God’s kingdom here on earth, not as a separate isolated group, but as God’s people living in the midst of a fallen world. Take heart, we are not alone.
Nehemiah 6:1-19; Psalms 56, 57, 58; Revelation 10:1-11
Tuesday, November 4
Matthew 13:44-52 “When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (v.44b)
Here we have two parables, the treasure and the pearl. It is important to remember that the point is the joy of the gospel. When the man finds the treasure and the merchant finds the pearl they are overjoyed and then go and sell everything in order to buy the new reality.
Note that the selling for them was not a sacrifice, but rather a joy. Joy is the core of change and the essence of sacrifice. We need to understand that it is not by telling people to make sacrifices that they make sacrifices. It is by telling people of God’s great treasure that they are willing to sell all they have and follow Him.
We also see that joy enables selling, but only selling gets the treasure. Selling is a condition not for finding, but for having the treasure. The two great lessons of these parables then are, that the gospel has both great joy and also makes great demands on those who hear. Together they give us a complete picture of God’s plan for our lives.
Nehemiah 12:27-31a, 42b-47; Psalms 61, 62; Revelation 11:1-19