Day 335 What are Paul's qualificiations for leaders?

Leaders must set a good example. Paul has a list of qualifications for deacons..."Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons." What a list! Leaders are not rookies and they sleep well.

Day 334 What did Daniel pray?

Ever notice Daniel's prayer in chapter nine? He prayed a beautiful prayer..."We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." What a heart for God! We do not pray because we are righteousness but out of God's great mercy! Amen.

Day 333 More goals for Paul?

Paul is great with one liners. He is good with staing the goal. This one is as practical as ever written. Paul teaches..."The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Wow! Sounds like this is also the key to a good nights sleep.

Day 332 Who said "if you do not work you do not eat?"

Who said..."if you do not work you do not eat." Ben Franklin? An economist? No. It was Paul. He also warns about being a busybody and being idle. Here is what he says..."For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." Get busy!

Day 331 What led Daniel to the lions den?

Darius...did not want bring harm to Daniel. How did he wind up in the lions den? The satraps created a scandal leading that trapped Daniel. All he was doing was worshipping His God. Here is how it went down..."Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" This deceptive blindsiding sounds like other biblical stories...Joseph comes to mind with Potiphar's wife. (though the charge was different) Ultimately our Lord Jesus was put to death by Pilate who looked for a way out as Darius. Daniel was delivered and Jesus was resurrected. Trickery does not win in the end! God does!

Day 330 What does it mean to have writing on the wall?

The writing is on the wall for Belshazzar. On trouble is he cannot read it. He too needs Daniel. What did the writing on the wall mean? It meant Belshazzar had not honored the Lord and his kingdom would be short. Here is what the inscription said..."O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways."

Day 329 Is an ambitious quiet life an oxymoron?

We usually think of ambition with caution. Ambition can bring out our best. Or our worst! If our ambition starts driving our motives and we run over others. Paul gives one context of ambition that I had not conidered before...ambition to lead a quite life. Is ambition and a quiet life an oxymoron. A strange pair but perhaps a wonderful combination after all! Paul says it like this..."Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. "

Day 328 Who could stand the heat under pressure?

Who can take the heat? Stand the heat? Show grace under pressure in the midst of the heat?
The answers are provided in a chapter displaying the mighty power of God. The king with a very short memory from Daniel is furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for not worshipping as everyone else. They remain loyal to God. He orders the fire seven times hotter in the furnace and orders the three Jews burned. What follows is an incredible moment of faith. In the midst of the fire, God is with us. Isaiah would later write of God's power not to be burned. Here is the account of Daniel..."So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them." Our faith is sometimes about taking the heat and knowing God's warmth will provide the power of escape.

Day 327 Who has the power to interpret dreams?

The King wants not only a dream interpreted but also to reveal the dream. What an unfair request to "read a persons mind." Nebuchadnezzar was very unfair in the demand. When Daniel approaches the king with a desire to reveal the dream and interpret, his power is also revealed. Daniel does not claim the power but points to God. Here is the account..."'aniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries." What a powerful witness of not taking credit and recognizing the power came from the Lord!

Day 326 Is Daniel into health food?

Daniel is in to health food? Instead of being weakened by eating royal food...Daniel orders vegetables. What was the outcome? Daniel's appearance out dazzled the delicacies of dining with the king. Here is the story..."Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead." What is the point of the story? Better vegetables with the King of Kings than delicacies with an earthly king!

Day 325 How to season conversation?

Meals require seasoning to add the extra taste to a fine meal. Otherwise the meal is either bland or worse...sour. Have we ever thought of our conversation with the need of seasoning? How do we avoid the bland and sour words? Paul teaches..."Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." In your next conversation consider adding grace and a pinch of "spiritual salt." Jesus does say His disciples are the "salt of the earth."

Day 324 What is this new self?

We live in a culture of "makeover." Makeover actually has spiritual implications. Paul would say the makeover is about getting rid of bad habits. Here is how Paul states it..."You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." A Christian makeover is putting on the "new self" in Christ.

Day 323 How much do know it alls know?

How much does a "know it all" know according to Paul? Not much...here is what Paul writes..."Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to
grow." Humility is an indicator of true wisdom.

Day 322 "Can you pray for endurance?

A marathoner needs, most of all, endurance. How about a Christian? You bet. A Christian most of all must endure. How do we find the strength to endure? We pray. Paul acknowledges this in writing to the Colossians..."For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Amen.

Day 321 "What comes before Philippians 4:13?"

Philippians 4:13 is widely known and quoted..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Do you know the passage before? Paul shares the benefits of joy..."
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." What a chapter!

Day 320 Was Paul goal oriented?

Was Paul goal oriented? You bet. Modern goal oriented people would pale in comparison to Paul who wrote..."Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet 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." Paul strove for the ultimate goal of life! So should we!

Day 319 What does it mean to be like Jesus?

What does it mean to be like Jesus? Paul gives us a list..."Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Jesus the Name above all other names!

Day 318 What is better a good start or a strong finish?

Paul talks about beginning a new life in Christ in 2 Cor. 5:17..."If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation." In Philippians he talks about finishing from a strong start. In one of the most powerful verses of Paul..."being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." He speaks with confidence! In Christ we can begin with zest and finish strong. This is good news no matter the length of time we have been a Christian. We can start and finish strong! Amen!

Day 317...What to be ready for everyday?

Paul knows to be ready for anything, anwhere, anytime! He says it like this is perhaps his greatest teaching session..."Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Paul advocates readiness as a warrior with armor of God...regular and daily prayer is obvioulsy a major point of strength.

Day 316 What did Paul actually teach men about loving their wives?

The myths of Paul's teaching about marriage may impact public opinion more than the actual words of Paul in the Bible. Paul does teach about wives submitting themselves to their husband. But this is only half of the teaching! Paul teaches that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. How did Christ love the Church? He loved enough to die for her. A husbands love is to serve and offer complete love for their wife. Here are Paul's actual words..."
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." The second part changes the entire meaning of the first part.

Day 315 What is one of the most extraordinary chapters in the Bible?

Romans, chapter 12, provides an extraordinary chapter. Perhaps my favorite chapter written by Paul. Ephesians 4 has the most extraordinary teaching about the Body of Christ.

1) One Lord
2) Use gifts
3)Grow
4) Work properly
5) Love
6) Christ is the Head

Then... a whole section of spiritual nuggets. "In your anger do not sin" Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Phenomenal!

Day 314 How far does God's love reach?

One of my favorite passages appears today! How far will God's love reach? Paul says it so eloquently..."so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ"...God's love knows no bounds in height, depth, width, and or length." God is omnipresent and beyond human comprehension of space. Wow!

Day 313 What did Habakkuk pray?

What did Habakkuk pray? He prayed a beautiful prayer. He prayed the Lord to take him to new heights! " I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength;he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Amen!

Day 312 What does eyes to the heart mean?

Paul writes..."I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms." What are the eyes to the heart? The heart is a metaphor, according to Dr. Greg Clapper,...the center of who we really are and the place of our affections and allegiance. The eyes of the heart would be our conversion into the hope of Christ. I love the image of eyes to the heart. A popular praise song references this teaching of Paul.

Day 311 What might Paul put on the wall?

Ever wondered what Paul might put on the wall? Would he say "I have fought the good fight" or "pray all day"...what might Paul have to say? Today's closing of Galatians would also be a possibility. We see so much of Paul in this writing..." man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." These sentences sum up so much about Paul and what is really important.

Day 310 Would you rather devour each other or love one another?

Paul says it blountly..."do you seek to devour one another?" He was referring to the backbiting and destroying of one another. Paul lifts up a far better alternative...life in the Spirit..."
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." At times we are reminded human nature has not changed much! The choice of living in the spirit or against people is aways a choice. Let's live in the Spirit!

Day 309 What has happened?

Paul recounts his "thorn" and how the churches of Galatia rallied around him at the time of his need. His question is "what happened?" Paul wonders how the same people could be so supportive and then not loyal. Fickleness is one of the most undesirable of all qualities..."I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?" Consistency is a great quality for God's people.

Day 308 What a great message for July 4th?

What a great message for July 4th! What is it? Paul says..."There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." We are free and equal in Christ Jesus! Have a great 4th!

Day 307 Where did the tradition of the 'right hand of fellowship' begin?

Perhaps we have heard the term "right hand of fellowship" in the church. Where did this tradition begin? I do not know but the phrase appears in Galatians 2. Paul says..."
9James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Even the early Apostles knew the value of extending a welcoming hand! Fellowship is huge in the Church!

Day 306 How does Paul stay on task?

In addition to both Micah and Jeremiah referring to being bald on our same reading day...Paul states clearly the need to preach the Gospel. He stays on task by saying he cannot preach a counterfeit gospel..."I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Today, as yesterday, strength comes from preaching the Gospel!

Day 305 What does 2 Corinthians 13 say?

I Corinthians 13 is one of the most quoted in the Bible. Who has not heard the words..."though I speak in tongues of men and angels." Love is the greatest. Do we have a clue what 2 Corinthians says? How about one of the most famous prayers in the Bible. Many worship services have concluded with Paul's prayer. The words are...^"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." Amen.