The Reading Plan Daily Devotions

We somehow think that God is far removed from the political scene. That men just do what they want, and God is nowhere to be found. But we forget the record in Scripture of how God moved upon leaders of many nations to accomplish His purposes.   A GODLESS KING MAKES A GODLY DECISION   Cyrus, the King of Persia in Ezra, Chapter 1 is a prime example. The Israelites had been captured years before and taken into captivity in Babylon. Prior to their leaving, the prophet, Jeremiah, had prophesied that they would be taken into captivity because of their sin, but would return in 70 years. At the precise moment prophesied, God moved upon a pagan king to accomplish His purposes.   Ezra 1 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Per...

The Bible is not just written for our inspiration and comfort. It is here to model to us what we are to do and be. To instruct us in effective living and ministry.   The prophet, Daniel, found himself in a culture and season that parallels ours in many respects. The words in Daniel , Chapter 9, give us powerful instruction on exactly what we should be doing right now.   READ YOUR BIBLE I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. ( Daniel 9:2 )   The source of everything that follows in Daniel was his careful study of the Scriptures in the book of Jeremiah. It informed him, corrected him, and equipped him to accurately assess and respond to what was happening around him.   This is exactly what the Bible is designed to do. It is God-breathed and "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training ...

"Are you THAT DANIEL who is one of the exiles from Judah ... Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you." ( Daniel 5:13 )   The world has never known how to handle authentic followers of God.   THEY DON'T USUALLY LIKE US ... because our lives and words are often convicting. Daniel stood like a mighty, unwavering oak in the midst of changing political administrations and godless cultures. He was ignored and seen as irrelevant when not needed. But there was something about this man that was recognizably different and a little scary to the world.   THEY CALL UPON US IN TROUBLE This has happened thousands of times. When the King (Belshazzar) encountered a message of judgment from God, he didn't know how to interpret it. His mother reminded him that there was "that Daniel” in whom was an "extraordinary spirit" who could solve difficult problems, as he had in t...

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)   Every follower of Jesus encounters moments of decision about their faith. To respond as these three Hebrew men did in face of torture and death is the highest privilege. This is a martyr's posture: to be willing to stand for Christ regardless of the consequences. Such men (or women) are our great heroes of the faith.    OUR FIRE   Most of us will never face such a life and death decision for our faith. But the reality is, we face a similar choice every day. These three men had to make a choice: would they bow to a false god, or face d...

"But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank ... " ( Daniel 1:8 )   The world and its ideas and practices press on every follower of Christ with increasing weight. How can a man not be pulled into its trajectory?   Daniel stands forever as the model and encouragement to us. Pulled into the pagan king’s court, he had every reason to accept the lifestyle around him. But something about this young man was different.   HE MADE UP HIS MIND   It called for a conscious decision from the very beginning. He could have accepted the habits of the world easily and no one would have blamed him. In fact, many would think he should have done it and not disagreed with the King’s orders.   But Daniel walked with God. Somehow, he knew that this was not the path for him to spiritual success. He determined in his heart or "made up his mind" that he did not want to even begin that path.   THAT HE WOULD...

It is one of the ways of God. Periodically in history, He opens the windows of heaven and comes down with His manifest presence. We call these moments “revival” as it affects the church and “spiritual awakening” as it impacts people without Christ.   Spiritual results happen at an accelerated pace with stunning results. These outpourings bring a course correction to nations and most importantly, they glorify God. Nationwide movements usually happen at the worst times in a culture, when the church realizes their only hope is God and lift a united cry of desperation.   ISRAEL’S EXAMPLE   The nation of Israel holds a unique place in God’s history. In Ezekiel 36, we hear from God about what He is going to do to restore Israel after a season of judgment for their rebellion. God tells them He is about to come and fulfill His covenant to them. Not because of their goodness, but His righteousness. This is God's work for God's glory. Fourteen times in Ezekiel 36:23-38, in 16 verse...

I am a very patriotic man, with no reservations. I'm grateful for the privileges and freedoms we have. It has paved the way for the freedom of religion and the propagation of the gospel, both here and around the world, that is so vital to the spread of God's truth.   But my heart is not filled with celebration about our nation, but heaviness. Today's reading in 2 Kings 25 exactly expresses what I see in our nation right now.   Now on the seventh day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the Lord, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire. So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem. Then the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon...

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness." ( Jeremiah 31:3 )   God is not speaking to everyone in this verse, but to His people He had chosen, the Israelites. These were the people who loved Him. But they were also the ones who were continually rebelling, continually forgetting, continually walking away.   And yet, time after time, God brought them back to Himself, restored them, and blessed them. Like a human family, there is love and rebellion in the mix on the human side, but—different from a human family—there is nothing but perfection from the Father.   EVERLASTING LOVE The adjective is all-important. It is not "sometimes-lasting love" or "occasional love." It is EVER-lasting. There is no beginning nor end. It is there every morning when we rise and evening when we lie down. In fact, He never slumbers or sleeps in His love, providing watchful care through our rest.   Sometimes His love is expressed i...

It is important to know and believe that God is perfect in every way. Therefore, He is perfect in His judgments and their intent. But He is equally perfect in His mercy.   JEREMIAH 21 The nation of Israel had sinned grievously against the Lord. In response, God had sent the prophet, Jeremiah, to warn them that judgment was coming. They would not listen and continued in their rebellion and sin.   “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. ( Jeremiah 25:3-4 )   True to His word, God sent the King of Babylon to Israel. Nebuchadnezzar defeated Israel and took them into captivity. They were there for 70 years, just as Jeremiah had prophesied.   JEREMIAH 29 God told them ...

God, in every age, has needed prophets. One of the great mercies of God is that He has always raised up His needed men, called by Him and equipped by Him to speak His word to His people. And as darkness increases in a nation, He needs them all the more.   Jeremiah was such a man. And the reason that he successfully did his job (and the way we should do ours) is found in the opening chapter of Jeremiah.   THE CALL Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." ( Jeremiah 1:4 )   Jeremiah's calling was not his idea. It was not, "I wonder what I could do for a living?" He was set apart. In fact, from heaven's perspective this happened while he was still in the womb. Long before the need was known for a man who would boldly proclaim God's word, there was the provision.   THE FEAR "Then I said, "Alas, Lord God! Behold...

"Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord." ... And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes ( 2 Kings 22:8 , 10-11 )   The Word of God is God just as much as your words are you. As such, it carries a might that is beyond explanation. It is living, active, and powerful.   READING THE WORD One of its great powers is to measure us as we read it prayerfully. We can feel fairly good about ourselves as an athlete until we compete with others. We can feel wonderful about our spiritual life until it is measured against the Word of God.   This measuring property of God's Word is not designed to hurt us, but to help us. Without it, we would wander and turn away like a sheep without a shepherd. Life would get dangerous and harmful. (Just look at the lives of those who pay no attention to the Bible).   When Josiah read the Word...

The two books of 1 and 2 Kings are filled with the accounts of leaders who did not obey God and the tragic results that occurred. Even the best kings didn't fully obey the Lord.   That's why the story of Hezekiah is so refreshing. It's beautiful to see a leader who is "all in" in his surrender to God. A leader who approaches the problems of the nation spiritually.   Hezekiah led Judah during a time when Israel had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians. And now, the leader of the Assyrians, Sennacherib, had come against Judah and the city of Jerusalem.    He made his taunts, which had been effective before. But what he did not know is that he was encountering a godly leader—one who would bring God into the equation.   Two things stand out in Hezekiah's leadership.   HE ENLISTED THE PRAYERS OF THE MAN OF GOD   And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the Lord. Then he sent Eliakim ...

How do you react in a time of crisis? What would you do if you were besieged by enemy’s day and night and your family was starving? The land of Israel was under attack by the Arameans. The enemy army had cut off the food supply and the Israelites were dying. But there was a prophet named Elisha. He prophesied that the next day there would be enough food for everyone to be satisfied. And here's where the story gets interesting.   THE SITTERS (2 Kings 7:2)   Some men did not believe what God had said. So, they just sat down and did not respond nor move to the Word of God. And they got nothing.   Many people are like that. When God promises them riches in His Word, they never get up believing and searching for what God has. Theirs is the greatest loss.   THE GETTERS (2 Kings 7:3-8)   There were four leprous men. Such men were untouchable outcasts in their day. They decided to get up and go down to the camp of the Arameans. And here was their reasoning: "If we sit h...

  “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren will return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. This One will be our peace. (Micah 5:2-5)   There was never a more important day than the coming of Christ, 2,000 years ago. If this had not happened, all of history would have been changed. There is so much to understand about what this day has done but notice the last line of Micah’s prophecy:  “This One will be our peace.”   THE PERSON   “This One”  ... peace is not something He has, but something...