2 Samuel 7-8; 1 Chronicles 17; 2 Corinthians 1; Psalm 2

There is a story about the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:44) being like treasure in a field, and a man who discovered it sold all he had with joy to buy the field. That’s what comes to mind as I read today. David wants to build a fine house for the Lord, but the Lord gives David a blessing instead–a blessing echoed in the other readings.

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹ And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?

2 Samuel 7:18-19, NLT

A lasting dynasty.

²⁵ “O my God, I have been bold enough to pray to you because you have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him—a dynasty of kings! ²⁶ For you are God, O Lord. And you have promised these good things to your servant. ²⁷ And now, it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing, O Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”

1 Chronicles 17:25-27, NLT

An eternal blessing.

²¹ It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, ²² and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22, NLT, emphasis added

A guarantee of his promise.

²³ Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. ²⁴ But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.

2 Corinthians 1:23-24, NLT

Full of joy.

¹⁰ Now then, you kings, act wisely!
    Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
¹¹ Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry,
    and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
    But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Psalm 2:10-12, NLT

But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

While the verses in Matthew weren’t part of the reading, the joy the man felt when he realized the treasure he owned is just like the joy (stunning, incredible, humbling, amazing) that David feels with God’s promise to him. Do I live in the joy of knowing the Lord’s promises are true? Do I live in amazement of what he can do in me? David gets a glimpse of God’s promise, which is a blessing. But I get a glimpse of things too, through God’s Word, of his sovereignty, power, and faithfulness.

⁶ Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. ⁷ We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

⁸ We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. ⁹ In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

2 Corinthians 1:6-10, NLT

Lord, who am I, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? Oh, and if I knew the plans you had in store for me, would that, should that change my perspective? Do I need to touch the wounds of your hands? You have identified me as your own. Let me take hold of joy and confidence in you, your word, and your promises instead.

Courtney (66books365)

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Deut. 19-22; Acts 28

“When the Lord your God destroys the nations whose land he is giving you, you will take over their land and settle in their towns and homes. Then you must set apart three cities of refuge in the land the Lord your God is giving you…And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors, and gives you all the land he promised them, you must designate three additional cities of refuge. (He will give you this land if you are careful to obey all the commands I have given you – if you always love the Lord your God and walk in his ways.)” Duet. 19:1-9 NLT

Many who came to these cities were literally running for their lives and God gave them a place to go. Where/who do I run to? I hope that I am running to the Lord. He is my shield and hiding place. But, when I run to other things he is always there welcoming me back with open arms. I think on the picture of the sparrow safe in the Lord’s hands. That is where I want to be and know that I am.

“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out and fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or trouble before them. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!” Deut. 20:1-4 NLT

Like the Israelites, I sometimes feel overwhelmed and defeated. God told them that he was always with them & already reuscued them from potential danger. It comforts me to know that he is not just with me, but he goes before me. Paul understood this. He continued ministering to others even when he was a shipwrecked prisoner.

“In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of the island who had diseases also came and were healed. They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.” Acts 28:7-9 NLT

Dear Father, I am so grateful that I can run to you. Thank you for your patience and mercy. Your are my safe place. I pray that I can share with others from the confident trust I have in you. Amen.

“For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.” Acts 28:30 NLT

Amy(amyctanner)

Leviticus 21-23; Acts 11; Psalm 24

I found myself skimming the text of Leviticus, glancing through requirements and feasts and festivals. Several times, I tried to slow down and pay attention.

I noticed that offerings to the Lord were of unblemished animals.

²⁰ You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. ²¹ And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.

Leviticus 22:20-22, ESV

I noticed what made a person clean or unclean.

Acts also talks about what is clean or unclean. And perhaps that’s the lesson parallel, designed by the people who composed the reading plan.

But I just sort of stopped and noticed the perfection, the holiness, the intention, the celebration, and the posture of a people. I noticed a God’s opening arms and invitation. A call to fellowship. A holy convocation.

In my life of rush and schedules, I felt a sadness in not slowing. I felt a sadness of missing out on giving my best to God. He gets a hurried conversation on a commute. A cry out in frustration of a situation outside of my control. Where is the intention? Where is the celebration? Where is the fellowship? Is this a face of a spiritual survival mode? The bare minimum?

Lord, I want to feel the embrace of your open arms.

²² The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, ²⁴ for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Acts 11:22-24, ESV

I notice Barnabas is full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. I notice his gladness.

Lord, I want to notice your grace. I want to be glad in this.

Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
¹⁰ Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    he is the King of glory!

Psalm 24:9-10, ESV

Courtney (66books365)

Leviticus 12-14; Acts 8

“On the eighth day each person being purified must bring two male lambs and a one-year-old female lamb, all with no defects, along with a grain offering of six quarts of above flour moistened with olive oil, and a cup of olive oil. Then the officiating priest will present that person with purification, along with the offerings, before the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle. This is the law for any leprous sore and scale, for the leprosy of a garment and of a house, for a swelling and a scab and a bright spot, to teach when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law of leprosy.” Leviticus 14:10&11, 54-57 NLT

God told the Israelites how to cleanse healed lepers and how to diagnose leprosy so they could avoid it or treat it. These laws were given for the people’s protection. I wonder if many of God’s laws seemed strange to the Israelites? I know that sometimes they seem strange to me. But, his laws helped the Israelites avoid physical and spiritual sickness.

“The passage of scripture he was reading was this: “He was lead like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about him or someone else?” So beginning with the same Scripture, Philip told him the new good news about Jesus. Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is the water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answers and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:32-37 NLT

Philip lead this man to Jesus using the Old Testament. I am reminded of how all of the Bible applies to me today. I can see how purposeful & intentional that the Lord is. He doesn’t waste anything.

“But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city…Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:4 -17 NLT

Thank you Father for your Holy Spirit. That the same power that lives in Christ, lives in me. Many of these Christians were facing persecution, but that didn’t stop them from sharing the gospel. What things hold me back? Thank you Father for Your word. That it is truth. And I can stand on it when the storms of life come. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

Leviticus 4-7; Acts 6

Chosen.

³ Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit …

Acts 6:3-5a, ESV, emphasis mine

He was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, a man of good repute and full of wisdom. Full.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹ Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, ¹³ and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 6:8-15, ESV, emphasis mine

Stephen was doing, serving and he met opposition. Opposition that rose up and disputed. Opposition that secretly instigated. Opposition that stirred up the people. They set up false witnesses. All this against a man full of grace and power, who was doing great wonders and signs among the people. He was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

Stephen was resilient. It’s likely the opposition’s efforts spanned days or longer. Stephen kept on. He kept his eyes on Jesus. (To the very end.)

Courtney (66books365)