2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14 + Romans 9:1-24 + Psalm 19:1-14 + Proverbs 20:1
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Old Testament – Today in 2 Chronicles chapter 14 we read about the early years of King Asa’s reign, including his incredible prayer to God in verse 11! “Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, “O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!” Unfortunately by the end of our readings today, in chapter 16, we read about Asa falling away from God and relying on a foreign king and physicians without any prayer for healing from God. He replaced God in his life with mere men. I wonder how often we do this in our lives today? Can you think of any times in your life where you have relied on people in the place of relying on God? How did that work out? I do think we can rely on people certainly – if we are also relying on God more so and if God is in the midst of the relationship with the people we are relying on. I think all would have gone well with King Asa in his later years if he had only been taught this motto that we teach our kids today: “Be a FROG!” 🙂 Fully Rely On God! What about you in your life today? Are you a FROG? 🙂 Let us all be FROG’s!
(apologies for the silly start to this posting today… 🙂 don’t worry, I get more serious by the time we get to Proverbs as you’ll see below…)
New Testament – Powerful readings from Paul today in Romans chapter 9! In verse 5 we read one of the clearest statements in the New Testament about the deity of Jesus! “Their ancestors were great people of God, and Christ himself was a Jew as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” Paul says here that Jesus is God! So, what say you? Is Jesus God?
A portion of verse 6 made me think about Christians today: “Not everyone born into a Jewish family is truly a Jew!” Do you think that everyone born into a Christian family today is truly a Christian? I know our various denominations will have various degrees / times / ceremonies that will mark becoming a Christian. But I think many of us would agree that just because you are born into a Christian family doesn’t mean that you are necessarily Christian. Meaning, I think there has to come a time in each of our lives where we consciously believe in faith that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We need to own our faith at some point – not just be a “cultural” Christian because that’s what our family and friends are. I believe at some point in our life we need to enter into relationship with God through his son Jesus through faith. Let us pray for our friends and family members who are perhaps currently “cultural” Christians. Let us pray that they will enter into a loving and growing relationship with God through Jesus. Side note – I was prayed into the Kingdom by some amazing friends! (thanks Chad & Becky & others!) It is true. Prayer for your friends and family is powerful. Please pray for them tonight…
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Romans titled “Man Opposes; God Disposes” is at this link and “Divine Election is Questioned” is at this link.
Psalms – Today we read Psalm 19, which is one of my favorite Psalms! In large part this Psalm is one of my favorites because one of my former pastors taught from this Psalm 3 a few years ago in such a powerful way. Have you had this type of experience? Where you hear a sermon on a chapter of the Bible and then that chapter becomes one of your favorites? I do hope that this One Year Bible experience will allow you to tune-in a little bit more whenever you hear your pastors or ministers or priests teaching you from the Bible in church. I know this is the case with me. Thanks to reading the Bible each day, I now have better context of what is being taught from the pulpit and it makes going to church a richer experience overall. I also now often catch some Bible verses in the worship songs or hymns we sing as well. And this adds a lot to my worship of God now through music. This year, as you go through the One Year Bible and as you go to church, will you tune-in to the sermons and the songs in church more than ever and look for and appreciate how they tie in to the Bible?
Back to Psalm 19 – I do encourage everyone to really read through and meditate on every verse in this Psalm of David and how this Psalm might be speaking to you this week. Please do take a few minutes to go through the Psalm twice if possible and really reflect upon it. You may even want to journal to God some thoughts or ideas or prayers that come to you through reading this Psalm. I find verse 14 in this Psalm to be so powerful – again in large part because one of my former pastors often sang a worship song that simply repeats this verse over and over again – and what a beautiful prayer it is for each of us to repeat over and over again as well: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Are the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart pleasing in God’s sight? Is God your Rock? Is God your Redeemer?
Proverbs – Proverbs 20 verse 1 today reminds me of the need for and success of modern day Alcoholics Anonymous – “Wine produces mockers; liquor leads to brawls. Whoever is led astray by drink cannot be wise.” I don’t have personal experience with AA, but have heard very good things about it from several friends. I do love the AA Serenity Prayer – I think this prayer is a great prayer for all of us – “God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.” Amen.
While I’m on the subject of alcohol, since the Bible brought it up and all :), mind if I go on a bit of a tangent on this subject? Thanks. 🙂 I would be very interested to hear others views / experiences with alcohol in their lives in the Comments below. (I know that some of our denominations have very different views on alcohol.) I’ll share with you here that I struggled with alcohol abuse big time in my teens and early 20’s. Certainly this Proverb was true in my case – wine produced a mocker out of me. Liquor led to brawls – oftentimes more psychological brawls than physical. And certainly I don’t think I had the ability to be wise back in the days when I was led astray by excessive drink. Very frankly, I nearly drank myself to death the night before I graduated college. Alcohol poisoning / a black out got a hold of me that night. I’ll spare you all the details, other than to say that after my near-death experience with alcohol, I knew I had a decision to make. Keep going the way I was going and I would die. Or go another direction. I didn’t quite know what that other direction was or would look like, but I knew I had to go in the other direction away from alcohol / the party life. And thankfully God led me to Him. It took me 6 years of searching from the night I almost drank myself to death to the night when I accepted Jesus as my Savior, but it was the most important journey to undertake in my life. (The journey to Jesus is the most important journey in all of our lives…) So, yes, alcohol can be a dangerous thing, to say the least. I do know many Christians who do not / never have really struggled with it. I don’t fault anyone for drinking in moderation. (These days I don’t drink anymore – gave it up when I became a father.) I just know that many people reading this blog likely struggle with or know someone who struggles with alcohol. All I know is that if alcohol is something that you are “allergic” to, stay away from it. Don’t touch it. Get into AA if tomorrow if you need to. (please… do it if you need to…) Let each of us never forget this Proverb 20:1 – “Wine produces mockers; liquor leads to brawls. Whoever is led astray by drink cannot be wise.”
Worship Video: As we’re reading Psalm 19 today, I think it’s appropriate to share this “God of Wonders and Agnes Dei” video with Third Day and Caedmon’s Call!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkv-DFmjxNU
Do you know our God of Wonders? Click here for Mr. Wonderful!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. “ Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart today is pleasing in God’s sight.
Comments from You: 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
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
II Chronicles 14:1-16:15
Warning, warning, warning! This is what I see in the life of Asa, a warning. Asa ruled forty-one years and of those years it seems thirty-four, possibly thirty-five Asa relied, and trusted in God. But then … Why did Asa turn and trust in the treasury of silver and gold that had been acquired because he trusted in God?
A little over 85% of his reign was a good reign. He stopped running a good race after God as he got closer to the finish line. Why did he stop?
May we not follow Asa’s example and give up and give out as we approach the finish line. Take a clue from the Apostle Paul,
For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day — and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.
(2Ti 4:6-8 NET)
Romans 9:1-24
O to have the heart for my people as Paul does for his. To grieve over those who are lost. But Paul is grieving for a people who have been given the Truth and rejected it. Giving people a precious gift and having them reject it must break the heart of God. He gave us Jesus Christ, a gift, but many after having known Him, like King Asa reject the free gift of God and turn and rely on our own strength or the strength of our substance, which belongs to God anyway ‘cause He made everything. .
Psalm 19:1-14
Yes Mike this is a sweet Psalm. Verses seven through eight are awesome and give instructions on finding ones’ true identity, for emotional and mental healing, wisdom, completeness and wholeness, insight and what so many people search for but is always elusive, joy. We look for significance in what we can afford, the people we think we know and our jobs and level of education; but David writes that all that can be found in obeying the commands and commandments of the Lord.
Proverbs 20:1
WINE IS a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; and whoever errs or reels because of it is not wise.
(Pro 20:1 AMP)
This very interesting Proverb deserves to be looked at in many ways. You can either look at wine and strong drink, in this passage, literarily, figuratively and/or symbolically.
I know a young man, a youth minister who used this Proverb as a foundation scripture for speaking to youth about sex and the “pick-up” lines guys and girls use to get it. He divides those seeking to fulfill their sexual desires into two categories, wine folk and beer or hard alcohol folk. One is cunning and smooth in their approach and the other is in your face and out there being upfront in what they want. To give in based on the type of approach and not on the commands of God is all the same in the end. You find yourself falling down, stinking drunk from the effects of a mind altering and defense lowering individual.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Hank:
Mike,
Thanks for acknowledging AA and the Serenity prayer. I am a long time AA member blessed with over 20 years of sobriety. This is my first time/year going through the Bible. I have never called myself a Christian until the last year plus however I am constantly amazed how my experience with AA and the twelve steps apply to Christianity and vice versa. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous states “be quick to see where religious people are right”. Just a small line of many amazing “one liners” in the book. I highly recommend anyone to read it for additional Sprirtual inspiration as well as a solid understanding of how AA really works. http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/
Your comment on today’s Proverb inspired me to do a google search. I found an interesting link describing the brief history of the Serenity Prayer: http://open-mind.org/Serenity.htm
In addition I would like to share another Prayer common to AA:
I am not sure where it came from but it clearly has “Biblical” tone:
AA’s 3rd step. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.
AA 3rd step Prayer: God, I offer myself to Thee, to build with me and do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always. Amen
Sound like anything you have read in he Bible?
Thank you so much for doing this blog. It helps both me and my wife in this new and exciting journey to know God better through Jesus Christ.
God Bless
Anonymous: Eleven—Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.
Hank
====== Peggy:
God is my Rock, God is my Redeemer? I love those words “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” I know that quiet often the words of my mouth and my thoughts are not pleasing to God. However I know He loves me and will never forsake me. God knows my heart is in the right place, but there is room for improvement. Thank you for these words they are a reminder to me to try and keep control of my tongue, and my thoughts. This is possible if I keep God close to me.
Have a blessed day. Peggy Williams
====== Cheryl:
hey just read some of this blog and signed up… wanted to say, thanks for making the bible come alive in a blog.. and thanks for making it feel accessable and as though im not the only one doing this!!!! peace! Cheryl
====== Ramona:
2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14
So often I hear, “If God would just do this for me I would always follow Him,” or, “If I see a miracle I would believe in God.” But day after day in our readings we see men who do the right thing but do the believe the right thing after seeing, experiencing and benefiting from God’s wondrous blessings and divine intervention. Do we as believers behave in such a way that our underlying motives for our actions drown out not only our words but cancel out any benefits by way of cause and effect that would come our way if we only did the right thing for the right reason?
May we all run our race in such a way that we cross the finish line.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
====== Ramona:
Mike,
I don’t know why but neither alcohol nor drugs has ever been attractive to me. Maybe because I grew up seeing people doing horrible things while under the influence. I just have to know what’s going on around me and be able to react.
Ramona
====== Beth:
As I was finishing today’s blog and getting ready to view the utube video of God of Wonders, it came on on the Christian station I was listening to. Pretty cool! And how fitting to go with Psalm 19! I was already singing it in my heart as I read it!
Beth
====== Will:
I made a decision to receive Christ as my Lord and Savior in 1979. Since then, I have read the Bible through at least 25 times. I also was an alcoholic before accepting Christ. For years I gave up drinking because of my alcoholic past. Now I limit myself to one glass of red wine daily because it is good for me and it also gives me pleasure. I know there are some who disagree with this, yet I see no problem in this if done in moderation.
Will
====== Henry:
I COULD TAKE TODAYS READING & ALL THE COMMENTS AND SHARE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE,WHAT A BLESSING THIS BLOG HAS BEEN FOR ME!
THANK YOU JESUS!!! THANK YOU MIKE!
HENRY
====== Brian:
My Dad used to drink. When I was a child and he try to pick me up via court order at my grandparents once a month, I knew he had been drinking. I did not want to go. I told him Please stop. He went to AA and has been sober since 1990. I have seen what alcohol can do. People around me offered me alcohol and I turn it down. I thank God for saving my Dad and teaching me.
Brian
====== Sue:
All of the readings stood out to me because in 2nd Chronicles 16 – Asa falling away from God and relying on a foreign King and If Asa would have relied on God/Jehova all along – I think all would have gone well with King Asa. This talks about my family because we have not had God in our lives for a long time. During my second relationship and the children we have along with the children in both of our prior legal marriages. None of us had God in our lives, however, there are some of us that have begun such as my children’s father’s daughter-in-law, Amy, began her relationship over a year ago and I am now beginning a relationship with him after so many times of beginning one and then going astray again.
Proverbs 20 vs. 1 – Wine produces mockers, liquor leads to brawls and whoever is lead astray by alcohol cannot be wise. We have alot of alcohol in our family. The father of my children is a heavy drinker and because of that, he really had no control of his life. He is a wonderful man, he works hard, too hard for his health which would make me worry so much. I have been in so much fear that one day he would kick over dead due to cardiac arrest and I hope and pray that he would stop because of what it does to his behavior but namely what it does to his health. I would like to have him around for a long time. I truly do love this man but due to such anger that I have over his abuse of his body and my own insecurities of the reality that he doesn’t love me. I am just here because he does not want to be alone. He thinks he does and wants to believe that he does but I don’t think he knows what love is and I probably don’t either but I know what it isn’t. Due to all our fighting, he has become bitter and cold and has been in the past. My main concern is that I don’t want him to die. I don’t know if I could ever live life to my fullest without. I am glad all this has lead me to God and reading the daily word because I have learned alot from and I need to be strong. I have had suspicion that he wants to be with another woman and it is tearing me apart but if he does, I will have to accept it and go on. My fear is that I may suffer a living hell while living with hurt and humiliation with everyone around him laughing that the joke is on me.
Sue
====== Pat:
This is the beginning of an article I once wrote:
Standing before the group with knocking knees and shaking hands, she bravely walked up to the podium and sais, “Hi, My name is Jane!” The audience answered her with, “Hi, Jane!”
She said, “I am here to tell my story of how alcohol has destroyed my life, the life of my children, and there was not one thing I could do about it.”
She looked out across the various faces that sat before her and she knew they thought they understood; but they really did not know how horrible her life had been.
I finished the article; but will not relate it here; but just the ending.
After finishing her story, she started to walk away from the podium; and then she turned went back to the microphone. “Oh, I forgtot to tell you while alcohol destroyed my life, you will remember when I started I did not say, “Hi, My name is Jane, I am an alcoholic!”
The audience had missed that.
Then she merely said, “My husband was!”
Pat
====== Rachael:
Just came across your blog…looking for daily reminders and readings. Thank you. I enjoyed your posts very much.
It was a sweet reminder from God to spend time learning the Bible. Thank you!
Rachael
====== Susanne:
……………Silly start???
i don’t think so!
luv it- never seen before nor heard motto
and i’m saving it for my grandchildren!
You are a blessing Mike and i pray you’re blessed beyond measure.
Susanne
====== Ellen:
hi mike just a word about aa i’ve been sober for 3 yearsnow . after 29 of drinking it’s such a mircle i still have bouts with depression i feel mutch than i did the last time ileft a comment.yes psalms help me alot when i first got sober.
Ellen
====== John:
Alcohol
I will go ahead and share this – from the age of 19 until 41 I drank about 3/4 a bottle of liquor a day on average or the equivalent of beer. It is an average because usually I used Sunday to recover by sleeping 20+ hours. I did it to numb myself to my insecurities, to distract me from the real world, and to release me from inhibitions when approaching women.
One day, I woke up with no desire for alcohol, nor my desire to gamble (another addiction). Since that day twelve+ years ago, I have not had a drink, nor placed a wager. Nor Have I had the desire to do so.
Looking back on it, I realize God took those addictions away. However, because of my desire to be just left alone in life – God allowed me to be alone for the next seven years.
I went from clinical depression to near psychotic, and was suicidal, panic stricken, and a complete mess showering once a week and washing clothes once a month unable to go into any public place without becoming a whimpering, shaking fool with extreme anxiety attacks.
On the week before Easter in 2004, I was watching the Zefferelli film on Jesus. I had spent the three previous months trying to disprove the Bible, and when I could not, I started reading the Bible as if it was true. (Afterall. Why can’t the Creator of the Universe have a book?) During the movie I muted the sound, and began to pray to God. At first quietly, then I was screaming, admitting I was a sinner, asking for forgiveness, and admitting i could not run my life so would He do it. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Only i know what happened in that room, but the Holy Spirit entering me was palpable. I went to bed at peace knowing I was saved.
I woke up with my depression lifted (gone), panic attacks gone, all my anger gone (to this day), and my addiction to profanity (from Sports, Navy, Wall Street, etc.) gone. I have not said a curseword since being saved. You would have to know me before to know that this is probably the most remarkable thing on the list.
Went to doctors and they said no way could I have snapped out of that depression without drugs and therapy, unless I had received a cathartic shock to the brain (duh, God can’t do that?). My insides are perfect, and my IQ is ten points higher than it was in college.
When my Lord and Savior did this for me, is it any doubt why I keep harping on believers putting all their trust in God???????
John
====== Esther:
Love this verse: in 2 Chronicles 16:
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
How comforting to think that God is actively searching for people to give us the strength to do His will. I often think of my relationship with God as me seeking Him out as the people did in this passage. It really encourages and spurs me to seek Him even more to realise that He is look for my heart too. Its almost like He meets us halfway. Thank you Lord.
Esther
====== Irene:
Thank you so much for your ministry. Alcohol has created great difficulties for three generations of my family and my first husband’s family. He died of alcoholism and that was just a small result of this disease.
It causes so many problems…from the grandparents, the parents and the children that try to overcome. God Bless you. You are a great comfort.
Irene
====== Lindsay:
My husband and I were the only people there at the hospital where a friend I had known since first grade, not yet 50, died of alcohol abuse. It took God’s strength within me to quote the 23rd Psalm as she lay there almost unrecognizable connected to so many machines and IVs. An only child, her parents had already given up on her. A doctor had told her if she did not quit drinking, she would be dead in six months. She died six months later. I wish that everyone that drinks or even considers a drink could have witnessed what I did because they would never forget what the result of that first simple drink could become.
Linday
====== Eve:
I so appreciated today’s meditation, especially the proverb about alcohol. I have been a member of AA for over 20 years, and it was actually my pathway to deeper Christianity. I was definitely a Christian, even in the throes of my alcoholism— one of my favorite things to do at night was curl up with the Bible, a bottle of wine and my cigarettes. ( I look back on that picture now and laugh! ) But of course, Christ’s call is different upon everyone, and I am so thankful that even in the midst of my sin [drinking not a sin for everyone, but He definitely showed it was for me] Christ was there, reaching out to me, loving me, letting me learn more of Him and His ways. I am so thankful that this was my path, otherwise I might be such a Pharisee today! He has provided for me a beautiful life, complete with dear husband, precious children, and abiding faith; and without my besetting sins, I really think I may have fallen into a life of deeper unrepentant sin (pride) and not ever gotten to know the real Jesus. At any rate, though I don’t comment often, I love the daily Bible blog and thank you for your continual ministry to us!
Eve
====== Duane:
Mike, I would like to respond to your comments about alcohol. I belong to a group call Celebrate Recovery. It is the same as N.A. an A.A except we define who the higher power is. That Higher power is Jesus Christ.Our pastor’s take on alcohol is this, if alcohol can be addictive and cause so much trouble, then why use it. Would it not be better to abstain? Alcohol may not affect one person but to the next he or she becomes an alcoholic. We do not know how it will affect us until we try it. Why do something if it could possibly enslave you.
Duane
====== Sandra:
Before I was born again in Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior I used to drink, happy hour with my friends, house parties, with dinner at a restaurant. I used alcohol to make me feel good. If I had a bad day at work, an argument with my husband, just to forget about the challenges of life. Many times, alcohol was the reason of arguments with my spouse. Many times I made a fool out of my self in public and in private. When I came to the feet of Jesus, one of the first things I gave to God was the need of alcohol to make me feel good. Thanks to God, I experienced radical and overnight change in that area of my life. I know many Christian believe that if Jesus and the disciples drank then there is nothing wrong with it and may be there is nothing wrong but there is a verse that always come to me when I am about to do something that it seems harmless if done in balance (or so it seems): “in whatever you eat,in whatever you drink, in whatever you do, do it for the glory of God” This takes me to the motivation of our hearts in whatever we do, why are you drinking? to make you feel good of yourself? to feel some courage? to distress from an stressful day? to be cool with your friends? to be accepted with your peers? Bottom line, what is the motivation of your heart? Our motivation should and must be our Lord Jesus..If Jesus our Lord Christ is the motivation to serve a glass of wine, then so be it. Will having a party with alcohol being served bring glory to the Name of God, then so be it. I am speaking based on my life and my journey with God through my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and I wanted to share it tonight. Praise be to God forevermore. May God continue to increase you in this ministry and beyond. Amen!
Sandra
====== Bev:
I’m in the corporate world so alcohol is a big part of the culture. Once I chose to be fully committed to my relationship with Christ, I asked Him to take away the desire for alcohol — He did. So personally, I believe it is not something we as Christians should partake in because even 1 drink tends to alter your behavior and not in a good way. Ultimately it’s a decision and crossroad that each true Christian has to make or choose for him or herself.
On a lighter side, no apologies needed for starting today’s blog with something funny. Trust me, I’m sure you know that God has a sense of humor too. Outstanding blog…
Peace & a grace,
Bev
====== Duane:
Mike, I like what you said about coming into a relationship with Christ. I believe that at some point a person will truly know whether he is saved or not. I don’t want to stir in controversy about church doctrines, but going to church on Sunday’s does not make you a Christian. Anyway, I love the way you said it. Reading about King Asa defeating an army of a million through God’s intervention is amazing. But then Asa at some point in his life forgets God. Back sliding is real and hard to understand at times. It makes me wonder why a person will continue to harden his heart against God even on his death bed. I don’t always comment on this blog but I love the work you do and I try to read it and the word every day. I enjoy reading the comments of others. Thank you
Duane
====== Joyce:
FROG – Fully Rely On God, amen!
Mike, thank you for your daily ministry to spread God’s Word!
May God continue to bless and use this ministry;
many His Word, the eternal Truth, be spread to very many places in the world through this ministry – amen.
sincerely,
Joyce
====== Robert:
Celebrate Recovery is an amazing program for those who struggle, and we all struggle with something that can get in the way of our relationship with Christ. It has some roots in the 12 alstroemerias of AA but is based on the beatitudes and hence has a stronger Christian base. It helps people with hurts habits and hang ups of all kinds , including addictions, to find the healing and forgiveness that only God can provide.
Robert
====== Robert:
Proverbs 20:1
Mike thanks for sharing your story about alcohol and how you overcame it. It is pretty well my story too. If it wasn’t for Jesus my savior, I don’t know where I would be. I love Eve’s story too. The three of us should really celebrate because we have a wonderful testimony to the power of Jesus in our lives. Here is to you! Cheers! (with non-alcoholic beer or wine, of course).
Romans 9:1-24
These writings really test our intellect, eh? the one thing that stood out to me today is in verses 6 – 7 that brings up the question of what I call inoculated Christians (Jews). I was an inoculated Lutheran and never had the “born again” experience that many denominations refer to. Mine was a very God intended gradual journey and change that I can only call beautiful. I had a lot of others praying for me as I grew up, especially my dad and that is why I pray (inoculate) my kids too. I think it is really interesting to contemplate the times right now with Covid and the reasons people come up with in regard to being inoculated or not?
Verse 15-16 are so important to us too when it comes to becoming a true Christian. God did it this way to stress the gracious element as opposed to earning it.
Robert
====== Shane:
I appreciated your comments today. I also appreciated you sharing your story and struggle with alcohol. I grew up in an alcoholic family. My father was the nicest guy in the world until he drank and then the violence and sin would appear. I grew up drinking. I had a season in my early life where I partied and alcohol was a big part of my life. I look back now and see the abuse. I cant point to any scriptures that say you should not drink. I can point to several that speak to the dangers of drunkenness and one making “insert noun here” your idol. I don’t fault anyone for having a beer, glass of wine, etc. but I think when that drink becomes a “need” or an “idol” then we have a problem that needs addressed. Some people can have one beer and be done. Others have that one beer and the brokenness and addiction comes flooding back into their lives which is how the enemy will continue to control them. You cant go wrong with staying focused on God and what he provides as a substitute for any addiction that you struggle with. If the enemy can control you through booze, drugs, money, sex, etc. then you need to recognize that and seek God for help with overcoming it.
Shane
====== Dee:
Good evening! King Asa for the win ! This section. Anyway until he took his eyes off Jesus..died when he reluctantly gave authority to people ..
Romans was a hard section. I know not everyone that is a Christian in name or theory is not a true one. That I get. However I believe God’s wish is that none of us perish..all prosper in Him
Psalm 19 wow we r on this one..lots of faves in there one being may the meditation of my heart and words of my mouth be pleasing..
Proverbs..20..about wine and alcohol. I don’t drink much and never in excess..I had experience growing up with a drunk father. Don’t want a repeat! Amen
Dee
====== BC:
One of most impressive sermons I’ve heard recently was delivered by a former alcoholic…..he lost everything……couldn’t pay his rent ……lived in his car a few nights then called his parents…..in his early thirties….his father answered the phone with this reply…….” I’ve been waiting on this call…..son, it’s time for you to come home”…….that arrival at home changed his life forever ….he started attending church again ….God changed his plans for his future and he went to seminary then got a masters of Divinity and is now a minister……his sermon illustrated that God is available and waiting on us to come home to HiM……..with his arms opened wide like this man’s father ……regardless of what type of problem or idol we have in our life ……we need to draw close to HIM today…HE will help us ….we have HIS promise…but, we aren’t promised tomorrow !!
BC
====== Nancy:
I am a daughter of a functioning alcoholic. I married the same. Drinking was part of my years growing up & so didn’t think anything of it. I got saved after I married. I made the decision to not drink & thus break what some call a generational curse. So thankful that I found the Lord Jesus or rather that He found me, the lost sheep.
I am thankful for your blog. It has helped me see scripture from a man’s viewpoint.
Nancy
====== Kevin:
I so appreciate your comment regarding AA. I too struggled with alcohol (and drugs) VERY early in life. I nearly died more than once and 1 month after my 17th birthday the Lord saved me, I went into treatment and have been blessed with just over 40 years sobriety (June 25th, 1884). I didn’t actually become a Christian until about 18 years into my sobriety and when I gave my life to Christ and started going to church regularly, studying the bible (actually the first 1 year bible study for me was in 2004 or 2005 and it was following this very plan AND your blog!). When I gave my life to Christ and started studying the bible I quickly realized how AA, the 12 steps and the bible are in alignment, I truly believe the 12 steps and big book of AA were biblically inspired. All too often in church AA get’s a bad wrap and is miss understood because they don’t refer to Christ, there is a reason for that I won’t go into here but my personal testimony shows that I ultimately found Christ and I owe AA and my sobriety to this true blessing. Many Christians I have met over the years that shun at AA take issue with the format of introducing ourselves as being an “alcoholic”. My response is very simple, when I introduce myself as an alcoholic it doesn’t mean I still struggle with alcohol, the Lord has removed this desire, but I see it as a way to remind myself that I have fallen short many times in my life and my sinful nature has controlled me in the past. When I say I’m an alcoholic, I am saying I am a sinner and repent to the One who died on the cross for my sins.
Kevin
====== John:
2 Chronicles 14-16:14
15: VERSE 13
1. They had good intentions, seeking the Lord as a nation, but they went to far when they put to death those who refused to turn to God. You can’t legislate a love for God or force people to love God. What happens if you threaten people like this is that they will say they love the Lord to protect themselves when they really don’t mean it. You can’t force anyone to love God nor can you legislate a love for God. It is not a matter of the law but a matter of the heart!
http://www.ccmanitowoc.org/Library/Guglielmo-Joe/Studies/TH/14-2CH/TH1060.HTM
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2 Chronicles 16
“What we will see tonight is that Asa’s life parallels his great grandfather’s, Solomon’s. Solomon started out young and inexperienced and asked God for wisdom to lead His people by. He looked to the Lord for strength UNTIL he grew strong and wealthy. And the reason he grew strong was because he was focused on the Lord, but he took his focus off the Lord and placed it upon himself as he grew confident in his own strength. That was a big mistake. Asa is going to follow in those same footsteps towards the end of his life. He will take his eyes off the Lord and place it on the strength of man, and that is his downfall. They both did the opposite of what they should have been doing, looking to the Lord for their strength.”
16 VERSE 2
1. “What a contrast we see in what Asa did here versus what he did when the Ethiopians had him outnumbered. Then he trusted in the Lord, but now we see him trust in man. He is in trouble and he has no place to turn, so he turns to man. What happened? During those years of peace Asa did not cultivate a deep relationship with the Lord, but focused on his outward strength. Thus, his actions are born out of a empty spirit. Because of that Asa takes the treasuries of God and gives them to Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, an unbeliever, to help him with his problems.
2. You never make an alliance with the enemy, you never ask them to assist you, no matter how bad the situation is. Asa started out strong, his reforms were good, but he faded at the end of his life. That tells me that it doesn’t really matter how long you have walked with the Lord, the enemy never gives up, and thus, we can not let our guard down, even at the end of our life!”
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16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
VERSE 9
1. “This verse is important to us because it tells us that God wants to use us. He is looking for people to work through. The key here is not how strong we are, just that we are available. God wants to show Himself strong through what He does through us. You see, we don’t have to have degrees, be intelligent, be wealthy, be good looking, be tall or short, big or small, strong or weak, just available to be used by Him.”
VERSES 11-12
1. “Asa becomes sick in his feet and the intimation here is that if he would have sought the Lord he would have been healed, but instead he went to the world for his help. Now we should come before the Lord even with our physical problems, but God is not saying that physicians are evil and we should not go to them. The tragedy is that many people read this verse and come to that wrong conclusion and believe that they should never go to physicians. That is wrong. The thing that God is illustrating here is that this had become the pattern of Asa’s life, of not trusting in the Lord and trusting in the arm of man for his strength. God uses physicians to help us to heal us. When I go to the doctor I pray that God would give the doctor wisdom in treating my illness. When people go to surgery I pray that God would guide the surgeons hands. You see, my faith is in the Lord and He uses all of us for various things, He can also use physicians as His instrument to help people, and He does!
2. Asa’s walk with the Lord had been hampered. Why? Because his feet had become diseased. He no longer had that intimate relationship with the Lord and his spiritual walk was hindered by this. The same can happen in our own walk with the Lord, be sensitive to that fact!”
http://www.ccmanitowoc.org/Library/Guglielmo-Joe/Studies/TH/14-2CH/TH1061.HTM
John
====== John:
Romans 9:1-24
Next three chapters discuss Israel past, present, and future in regards to salvation.
Israel had many advantages from God: the Law, prophets, the temple, God’s personal touch on the country, Christ coming in the line of David, etc.
Yet not all Israel is saved. Individuals become believers, but not every one born a Jew is saved, they have to be children of faith.
For being saved has nothing to do with bloodlines, nor what you do good or bad.
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Example is Jacob and Esau.
9:11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
They both had the same father, and before anything was done in their lives – good or bad. One was picked and one was not picked. Why?
God chooses. That is in the repost from yesterday. We are all in rebellion, and if God did not intervene to soften one’s heart – No One would choose God. The ones in rebellion are enemies of God, and at war with God. That is what He hates, and why Esau is hated. Esau is in rebellion.
There is really nothing to love about Jacob, but He is chosen. God will progress Jacob through the chain in repost and sees Jacob as the end product. Jacob is a child of God, and as such the Father loves Jacob as any Father would his child.
You may not like this, but who are we to judge the Creator of the Universe’s motives. God is infinite and at least twelve dimensions. How can a finite human of three dimensions understand how God operates. We can’t.
We can only understand God as much as He reveals Himself to us through His Word. It will all make sense in the end, and we as believers will be filled in, but until then all we need to know is God chooses – period.
God softens hearts of the believer before they are saved, and we are drawn to Him. Perhaps the holding back of judgment on sinners, and great patience of God draws us to Him. Paul suggests that point.
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People against the idea of election get really upset at the things I say, and I am sorry they feel that way. However, no one ever shows me a consistent way to view the Bible where election is ruled out. They just don’t like it. It is not fair. The question one has to ask themselves if they do not like the idea of a sovereign God choosing His people is: Why do you feel that way? Is it because it is not the way you would do it? (see potter clay argument).
Election does not keep me from evangelism: it does not keep me from sharing the Gospel, nor from reaching out to all kinds of people, because God commanded us to share the Gospel (Great Commission).
Secondly, I go about the sharing, because I HAVE NO IDEA who God has chosen. If the world is a stage, and this is God’s play, I may know the outline of the plot (Bible-Genesis to Revelation), but I do not know the cast of characters who is a believer, and who is a non-believer). I just trust that God will choose perfectly, and am forever thankful that He chose me to be his adopted child and co-heir to heaven. It took forty eight years, and I did nothing to deserve it – it was by God’s grace and mercy that I came to Christ.
John
====== Vance:
I really like Mike’s reference to the Serenity Prayer
“God grant me the serenity:
* to accept the things I cannot change
* the courage to change the things I can
* and the wisdom to know the difference
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
trust that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen
Reinhold Neibuhr
~~~
In particular, I like this part of the prayer: “accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it”
We cannot change the sinful world, nor are we called to escape the pain of this sinful world through the “insanity” of behavior which binds us to sin and weakness.
~~~
I found this quote from a book entitled, “The Twelve Steps for Christians” which is a meditation on the Serenity Prayer:
“Our success in handling new problems is linked to our willingness to thoughtfully take action, while remembering to let go and turn it over to God.
Our faith grows as we learn to relinquish control and allow God to be the director of our lives.
The process is gradual, regenerative, and neverending. We slowly become more God-centered as we learn the true meaning of God’s love, our surrender, and spiritual serenity.
Paul captured the heart of this Twelve-step process when he said,
‘Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:13-14)”
~~~
Regarding the Twelve step process, I heard this quote which really spoke to me: “Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.”
The “same thing over and over” which is repeated refers to any behavior which keeps us bound in weakness or sin instead of learning to break through and overcome through the Lord Jesus.
I also want to share another quote from book entitled, “The Twelve Steps for Christians”:
NOTE: The twelve-step process as we know it today began with a distinctly Christian group, called the “Oxford Group”
“The Oxford Group’s teachings rested on the following six basic assumptions:
1. Human beings are sinners
2. Human beings can be changed
3. Confession is a prerequisite to change
4. The changed soul has direct access to God
5. The age of miracles has returned
6. Those who have been changed are to change others”
~~~
VERSES FROM TODAY’S READINGS about CHANGE THROUGH GOD
2 Chronicles 14 (NKJV)
5
He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.
6
And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.
2 Chronicles 16 (NKJV)
9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”
NOTE: We need to BEGIN with surrender and doing things God’s way, and then FINISH the same way as we began
Romans 9 (NKJV)
16
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
NOTE:
GRACE, received and acted on through the surrender and obedience of faith, IS THE ONLY MEANS FOR CHANGE
Psalm 19 (NKJV)
7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
13
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
NOTE:
We can only obey God’s Word through GRACE and SURRENDER to God’s Word. Then, we can access God’s authority in Christ to overcome and do God’s will.
The belief and meditation in our hearts and the words we speak allow our faith to be nurtured and to grow strong in God.
Otherwise, if we meditate and speak unbelief, our faith will become weak and useless.
~~~
FINALLY, earlier this morning I was greatly challenged and ministered to by these verses with comment from the Greek about BREAKING and LOOSING.
May we all, through the surrender and obedience of faith, find our answer in the Serenity Prayer — the courage to change the things we can change.
Christ has given us the courage to change what we can—which is ourselves.
Then, we can–as a living witness of Christ Powerful Love–share our testimony with others.
BREAK, BIND – LOOSE è receive, act on what JESUS ACCOMPLISHED ONCE FOR ALL
Matthew 5:19
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
GREEK: LUO – you loose – past tense
Matthew 16:18, 19
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [NKJV note: will have been bound… will have been loosed]
A. GREEK: DEO – you bind – past tense
B. GREEK: DEO – be bound – past, perfect tense
A. GREEK: LUO – you loose – past tense
B. GREEK: LUO – be loosed – past, perfect tense
The perfect tense in Greek corresponds to the perfect tense in English, and describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated.
Jesus’ last cry from the cross, TETELESTAI (“It is finished!”) is a good example of the perfect tense used in this sense, namely “It [the atonement] has been accomplished, completely, once and for all time.”
Matthew 16:19 (Amplified Bible)
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth [NOTE] must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth [NOTE] must be what is already loosed in heaven.
[NOTE] Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation: “The perfect passive participle, here referring to a state of having been already forbidden [or (a state of having already been) permitted].”
Matthew 18:19-20
18
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19
“Again I say [Again, assuredly, I say] to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
verse 18
C. GREEK: DEO – you bind – past tense
D. GREEK: DEO – be bound – past, perfect tense
C. GREEK: LUO – you loose – past tense
D. GREEK: LUO – be loosed – past, perfect tense
The perfect tense in Greek corresponds to the perfect tense in English, and describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated.
Jesus’ last cry from the cross, TETELESTAI (“It is finished!”) is a good example of the perfect tense used in this sense, namely “It [the atonement] has been accomplished, completely, once and for all time.”
Matthew 18:18 (Amplified Bible)
Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth [NOTE] must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth [NOTE] must be what is already permitted in heaven.
[NOTE] Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation: “The perfect passive participle, here referring to a state of having been already forbidden [or (a state of having already been) permitted].”
Vance
====== John:
Romans 9:1-24
Israel
In Romans 9,10,11 Paul deals with Israel – Past(9), Present (10), and Future (11).
Why?
The people reading Romans think:
‘Got it. We are all sinners, all are condemned. God provides Solution – Righteousness through Faith in Christ. We become justified. Sanctification process begins through Power of the Holy Spirit and process will be completed in heaven. Once justified there will be No condemnation, and No separation.
Sounds good, but what about Israel? God made promises and covenants to them. Israel let down God often, and rejected Christ? We see no blessings in Israel – they are occupied and definately not a glorious country.
Maybe God changed His mind. Israel did not hold up their end of the bargain, maybe they have lose out. If this is true, and God changed His mind about Israel, why can’t He change His mind about Salvation and us Christians?’
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Paul answers this concern beginning here in Romans 9 with Israel’s past.
Who better to teach than Paul. Paul was a student of Gamaliel, a Pharisee, and knew the scriptures. Paul is now a Christian, and an apostle appointed by God, but Paul has deep roots with Israel.
Paul begins by saying he is speaking the truth, and by identifying with Israel in an intimate way. His early life was immersed in Israel and the temple. Paul would give up his Salvation if it meant Israel could be redeemed.
Whoa! It is one thing to lay down your life for someone, but to give up “eternal life”, that is heavy. This lends the aura of “utter sincerity” to what Paul is about to say.
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Paul lists seven blessing of Israel:
“adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ..”
adoption as sons:
Ex 4:22
“Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son” NIV (idea being preeminent – superior to or notable above others)
Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
(God loved Israel so much he delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt – or is this what the verse means?)
Matt 2:15b
“And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” NIV (God loved Israel, His preeminent son, so much that He wanted to deliver them from bondage – but it was the bondage of Sin. To the Jew first, then the Gentile.)
Glory: could mean the Shekinah Glory, but to me it means the glory that comes from being a witness and testimony to God – like it was to Rahab.
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God’s Sovereignty
Children of the Promise
God could have let things go their natural course. Ishamels’s descendants included, and Esau’s descendants be the line of Israel.
But God stepped in so that it could be shown that it is not by the natural order of things – “not by works but by him who calls”. If God had not said, ‘not this one, but him’, people can say – it’s a nice story, but how do we know it is God’s plan. By divinely choosing out of the natural order of things – God’s stamp is evident on His plan.
Some have a problem with:
“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” How could God hate Esau, and while it is a literal translation, I am not sure it is the best contextual translation.
“Morris cites examples where hate clearly seems to mean something like “loved less” (Genesis 29:31, 33; Deuteronomy 21:15; Matthew 6:24; Luke 14:26; John 12:25). Yet he agrees with Calvin’s idea that the real thought here is much more like “accepted” and “rejected” more than our understanding of the terms “loved” and “hated.”
All in all, we see that Esau was a blessed man (Genesis 33:8-16, Genesis 36). God hated Esau in regard to inheriting the covenant, not in regard to blessing in this life or the next.” – David Guzik
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Well that hardly seems fair, seems unjust of God to push aside Ishmael, and deny Esau his legacy by birthright.
Vs. 15-16
“For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” NIv
We can’t plan it:
Prov16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
We can’t earn it:
Eph 2:8b-9 it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Once saved, we cannot even do it:
Rom7:18b For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
It is not about: me, we, you, or any individual; it is about God. It is through Christ and in Christ that we advance in the spiritual walk. This is all about God’s Glory.
This is a humbling concept. If this is tough to swallow – I am with you. Before I was a Christian, it was all about “me”. Since becoming a Christian, pride or thinking “I could fix things” in people is a huge stumbling block in the sanctification process. It is funny though – God keeps finding ways to humble me.
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Well, if it is all about God, then why blame man? We just march to his tune. Why should some take the rap? Doesn’t seem fair.
It is God’s plan, who are we to question it?
Is 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We can’t understand it, and won’t until we get to heaven, but Paul throws a hypothetical in here:
Since God is just, if he meted out justice – this whole earth, human thing would have been trashed a long time ago.
But if God did that – it might glorify his justice and righteousness, but it says nothing to his attributes of “mercy and grace”. Much less the fact, you and I would never have existed.
Maybe God waited and had patience, so that there would be justice, but some would be called to be “saved”. When it is all over, God’s glory would be enhanced by the objects of his mercy knowing that it could have been them destroyed. The saved were not condemnend, and it was by his Grace and Mercy prepared in advance for those he called.
God is “fully” glorified when all his attributes are glorified.
Although Paul is talking about Israel, he finds a moment to remind the readers, that God’s plan is for Jew and Gentile.
John
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