Tuesday, August 5

Acts 18:12-28 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. (v.26)

Apollos had the right intentions. He loved God and wanted to evangelize. He obviously could draw a crowd and influence them. But his message was not complete. Apollos needed to be corrected. Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained the gospel to him. They didn’t chastise him in front of his followers. They handled the situation in love. Apollos’ ministry grew after that and he converted many, many people.

There are a lot of misconstrued interpretations of Scripture floating around, usually populated by preachers or TV personalities who take only half a verse and expound on it without researching the context of verses around it or considering the customs and idioms of the times. For example, they claim if we are good, God will bless us and make us prosperous. The Christian life should be a happy, stress-free one. If you are a true believer, Jesus will heal you.

When we encounter such errors how do we respond? I hope we will take Priscilla’s and Aquila’s example and quietly, respectfully have a conversation off to the side, be it on social media or in person.

2 Samuel 7:18-29; Psalm 78:1-39; Mark 8:22-33

Wednesday, August 6

Mark 8:34—9:1 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (v.34)

What does it mean to take up your cross? Surely there is yielding your will to God’s. Following what God has planned instead of your own agenda. But there is more to it. In Jesus’ day, a person the Romans deemed as a criminal would carry a wooden rod across their shoulders to the place where they were to be crucified. Along the way people would heckle them. It was meant to be demeaning and humiliating.

Christ proved that the way of the Cross did not lead to death, but eternal life and reunion with the Father. Death, and the corruption of this world, was defeated on Good Friday. But He paid the price for our sakes. He calls us to sacrifice our will to benefit others as He did.

In other words, following Christ’s ways instead of our own devices and desires it ain’t always gonna be easy, folks. People may laugh, ridicule, or even persecute us. But, in a twist of fate, they are the ones who will be condemned, and they need our prayers.

2 Samuel 9:1-13; Psalm 119:97-120; Acts 19:1-10

Thursday, August 7

Psalm 145 The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. (v.17)

Psalm 145 is a “feel good” psalm. It reminds us what an amazing God we believe in and that all is not lost. He still reigns. If you feel down or discouraged, read this psalm out loud.

But does God always seem just and kind? I think if we are honest, there are times when He feels as if He isn’t listening or has gone off to help someone else. “Hold that thought. Betty is in crisis. I’ll be back later.”

“Wait. What about me?”

No, our Lord is omnipresent and omnipotent. He never leaves. It is our perspective that may make us think that way. Maybe His silence is in order to get us to listen, or what appears to be His inaction is simply our not seeing what He is doing in the background. Perhaps, like any great parent, He doesn’t always give us what we want, just what we need.

Seek Him out. Trust in the process.

2 Samuel 11:1-27; Psalm 83; Acts 19:11-20; Mark 9:2-13

Friday, August 8

2 Samuel 12:1-14 Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” (v.7a)

God could have come to David in a dream. He could have spoken to his heart the way He did as David tended sheep and wrote songs of praise. But David had turned a deaf ear. The beloved one of God had sinned, big time. So, God spoke through the prophet Nathan to get David’s attention.

There have been times in my life when a friend has expressed what I knew to be truth from the Holy Spirit. And it pierced me. But in hindsight, I know it was the best way for God to get His point across.

If God is prompting you to speak to someone, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and words then obediently seek out that person in private. Remember earlier this week the way Priscilla and Aquilas handled Apollos?

Verse 15 says, “Then Nathan went to his house.” Nathan obeyed God and spoke to David in a way David would listen. But afterward, he left the rest up to God. We should do the same. We are only messengers, not the judge.

Psalm 88; Acts 19:21-41; Mark 9:14-29

Saturday, August 9

Acts 20:1-16 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted. (v.12 ESV)

This verse may seem strange, until we delve into it. The writer is understating the situation. In other words, to be “not a little comforted” means they were greatly relieved. It would be like us saying today, “Oh, yeah. I was so afraid.” The rhetorical response would be, of course not.

Don’t let it trip you up. This story shows Paul’s compassion. He didn’t get angry at the guy who fell asleep during his speech and caused a commotion. And because Paul didn’t, the people continued to stay and learn more about this God Paul spoke of.

The takeaway for me is to always not let me own emotions get in the way. Someone may say or do something that hurts or shocks me, but I do not know their circumstance. We all have hidden hurts and things going on in our lives.

Paul halted his agenda and came to the young man’s aid. Then he realized the people needed rest and food before he continued. He thought of others first.

I want to be more like Paul.

2 Samuel 12:15-31; Psalms 87, 90; Mark 9:30-41

Sunday, August 10

Romans 15:1-13 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (v.5 RSV)

We try to live our lives in a way that will glorify God. The key words that bring us trouble are “we try.” We look at those around us who don’t agree with us, and we try to reconcile our differences, or we try to relinquish the things that keep us from unity, or we try to convince others to relinquish their beliefs. Even the most noble of efforts are futile.

How often I have come to a place in my life where there is absolutely nothing that I can do to remedy a certain situation. When I admit that, it is almost as though I can hear an “Alleluia!” from above.

We see in Romans that it is God’s steadfastness and encouragement that is enabling us to live in harmony as we live in accord with Jesus. There is no way for one person to create “one voice” with others; one can only offer up his voice and let the Father weave his offering into the offerings of others who know and love Him. Rather than “we try” it becomes “we let,” and the harmony becomes gloriously His own.

2 Samuel 13:1-22; Psalms 66, 67; John 3:22-36

Monday, August 11

Mark 9:42-50 “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell.” (v.47)

This is not a popular Scripture in our modern culture. To modernize Mark, one would probably write: “If your eye causes you to sin, it’s okay, because you were abused and there is nothing you can do about how you react.” As Christians, we cannot do anything less than what this Scripture calls for from us.

God gives us commands not because He loves control or just wants to wield His power over us. He gives us commands because He loves us, and He wants to make our lives as unencumbered as they can be. Our inclination, like both Adam and Eve in the garden, is to blame another for our sin. Even in the blaming we are separating ourselves from God.

We need to be able to look at our loving Father and know His love in a way that makes us want to relinquish anything we embrace that is not of Him.

2 Samuel 13:23-39; Psalm 89:1-18; Acts 20:17-38

Tuesday, August 12

Psalm 97 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. (v.11)

Psalm 97 offers a rich picture of the power of God, a power that molds and shapes the earth and forms and fashions human beings. So often we get caught in the darkness, seeing what is happening in the world and in the church, and wondering where that power might be.

It is hard to wait out the dawn. I remember many a summer morning waking up and coming out of my tent before dawn. The stars had left the sky and there was a darkness that was almost paralyzing. There was no way to know, save through experience, that this darkness would soon give way to light.

“Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” As Christians we need to stand together waiting for the Light; we need to witness the dawn in one another so that we can be encouraged to wait and to trust in the One who loves us the most.

2 Samuel 14:1-20; Psalms 99, 100; Acts 21:1-14; Mark 10:1-16