One Year Bible - November 23

EZEKIEL 45:13 - 46:24                                                                                                            DETAILS!  DETAILS!  DETAILS!:  Remember, God is VERY INTERESTED in details.  He cares about every little thing.  In fact, it is often the little things that end up ruining us.  We get into sin in little increments - and before we know it, we're trapped!  Obey God in the little things.  Yes!  We must "sweat the small stuff" - because nothing is "small" to God.  Luke 12:6-7 says, " Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."  Details! 

RESPONSE:  This means that nothing and no one is INSIGNIFICANT to God.  Nothing is hidden from Him.  This is why we don't take shortcuts, do sloppy work, skip steps, don't keep our promises - and on and on.  It's all the little things that will bring us down.  Remember that next time you speed - - just a little.

1 PETER 1:13-2:10                                                                                                                 STRENGTHENING FAITH:  Peter is our "expert" on getting our faith strengthened - Luke 22:32 is proof.  The word used for "strength" is also translated "resolute; stabilized; steadfast; encouraged; hardened."  It means "to act like a man", rather than panicking or wavering back-and-forth.  In his introduction, Peter lets us know that joy is our default!  No matter what - when we take the time to put our focus back on being God-centered (instead of self-centered), the joy is still there!  Not only that, but the source of our joy lives inside of us, having given us "new birth", guarding us, cleansing us continually, empowering us, showering us in grace and mercy, and overwhelming us with joy! 

"Salvation of your souls":  Just a reminder: Just as our spirits were saved by faith in Jesus, so our SOULS (mind, will, emotions) are saved by faith in Jesus.  Make no mistake, what the Bible calls "flesh" is also part of the soul - and it can't be "saved".  It must be "mortified".  (Rom 8:13; Col 3:5; Gal 2:20) - which is an Old English word for "killed".  The mind, will, and emotions must be submitted to the Spirit, and the "old man" (self) must be killed.  That is the way to unspeakable joy!  All that stands in the way of all that is self-preservation, and that is what the fire is for! 

"Prepare your minds for action.."  (1:13) Peter is going to teach us how to acquire this kind of strong faith is by keeping ourselves God-centered, or "holy".  "Holy" and "sanctify" (v.2) are the same word in both OT and NT.  There is an interesting definition of "holy" in Exodus 13:2: where it says, "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever first opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is Mine."  In case you didn't catch this, God is speaking there.  To be "holy" or "sanctified" is to be "distinctive because of belonging to God."  It makes us different.   The change process is called "sanctification".  Our part is to believe.  God's part is called "grace".  V. 13 says to "set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."   When you get a revelation of Who Jesus is on the inside of you - for example - His irresistible, radical love for you - the next time you are challenged by something that makes you feel UNloved, God's grace is there to stay "in rest" because that feeling is recognized as false.  (v.21) "You faith and hope are in God."  The principle here is: What God has already done and is doing inside me is eternal and everlasting; His Word stands forever;  and what is external is perishable and subject to change. 

"Lay aside anything in our flesh that draws us back into the natural realm in rebellion to Truth."  (2:1) And then stuff yourself with the Word of God as if it were food.  The Word of God will actually address all our "sinful desires" - not by saying "don't touch, don't look, don't listen."  It says, "look at Jesus!  He is not just good, He is delicious!  He is loving and kind.  His blood is more powerful than anything you may have done wrong. He brought you out into the light because He is proud of you and of your relationship to Him!  He bathes us in mercy.  He calls us His own possession!"

RESPONSE:  Faith's biggest work is getting us to lay down our lives and let Jesus live in us.  Die to self and live to God.  Don't demand my own rights, but trust God with my outcomes.  This takes strong faith, and so I cling to the thought that I belong to God.  Nothing that anyone can do to me will ever change that.  I am God's child.   My MIND is what needs to be prepared for action, NOT necessarily my mouth!  The stuff I am told to "lay aside" - are like laying clothing on the floor when I take them off.  They actually FALL OFF as I become more God-centered.  It is when I start feeling sorry for myself, or wanting to defend myself, that I get into trouble.  My mind is no longer "prepared for action". 

PSALM 119:33-48:                                                                                                                

The secret to knowing how to live the Christian life of faith in God: The Love of God's Word: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the header of this section of Psalm 119: "he"  and it means "Hey!"  Originally the hieroglyphic was of a man with both arms raised as if pointing out a great sight, or to reveal something of importance by pointing.  It came to mean "behold, look, to breathe, to speak, mouth, an opening or window.  Today it looks more like an opening or a window.  Light comes in through the window, and you can see what is outside or on "the other side", referring to the spiritual world.  And so in verses 33-40, we ask God to instruct us, teach us and give us guidance to God's world - the invisible, spiritual realms, so that we escape selfishness and self-centeredness. 

Verses 41-48 are in the section denoted by the letter "vau" which is a hook or a tent peg.  As a tent peg it was used to secure the ropes from slipping off.  As a hook, it was used to connect things, and so was used as the word "and" .  Here we plead with God to be close to us, so give us His mercy, His presence, and in return we pledge our faithfulness, which results in inner freedom and boldness to speak of our love for God.  We are connected and secured from slipping away.

PROVERBS 28:1                                                                    

Anyone with discernment can see right thru someone who thinks he already knows it all just because he has money.