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Good News Daily

Volume VIII
December 14–20, 2008
Number 50

Sunday, December 14
Psalm 63 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (v.1 NIV)

O Lord, would that I earnestly seek you as the psalmist. If only I would daily acknowledge my soul’s thirst for you and my body’s longing as in a dry and weary land!

I have seen you and beheld your power and glory in my life and the lives of my family and friends. You have shown me, again and again, that your love is better than life. You deserve nothing but unbridled praise!
But I’m ashamed, Lord, because I try to take back control of my life. I forget your provision and falsely think it my own. And soon, Lord, my soul is no longer satisfied and my body wearies.

Please, Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might remember your loving kindness even while I sleep. Let me realize that all of my nourishment is from your loving hands. As truly as your right hand upholds me, may I sing in the shadow of your wings and may my soul cling to you my God, my provider and my protector.

Isaiah 13:6-13; Hebrews 12:18-29; John 3:22-30

Monday, December 15
2 Peter 1:1-11 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (v.3)

Father, we are told in 2 Peter that you have already given us all we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of you. This is in the past tense. It’s difficult for me to grasp, given my present circumstances and constant struggles.

I heard that knowledge in the Scriptures means much more than intellectual awareness. When the Bible mentions knowing, it often relates to the intimacy between a husband and wife to create a new life. Can it be that my access to everything I need is affected by my intimacy with you?

Lord, give me a hunger, an infatuation, a yearning to know you and be known by you. And even though it will never equal your love for me, may my love for you “abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, billed with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of you” (Philippians 1:9-11).

Isaiah 8:16—9:1; Psalms 41, 52; Luke 22:39-53

Tuesday, December 16
Isaiah 9:1-7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (v.7)

Heavenly Father, one feature of your character or nature that we can clearly see in the Scriptures it is that of faithfulness. You are the original promise keeper and we give you praise and honor. By your Word the universe was made and nothing spoken by you is for naught.

Isaiah spoke for you to the nation of Judah as it faced the terrible consequences of disobedience, distrust and apostasy. Even in the midst of their troubles, however you spoke a word of hope: that those walking in darkness would see a great light; that dawn would come into the land of the shadow of death.

Your church now lives in your life “and that life was the light of men” for to us a child was born and a son given. May we boldly live into this truth with the certainty of your presence, your power and your love.

We join in calling you Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace; for Jesus now reigns on David’s throne with righteousness and justice, forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 45; 2 Peter 1:12-21; Luke 22:54-69

Wednesday, December 17
Mark 1:1-8 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (vv.4-5)

Dear Lord, the gospel of Mark has such a feeling of determination and purpose, as if to underscore your motivations when bringing to an end the curse of rebellion. Here we do not read words of origin, instead we see things take place in order to fulfill the words of the prophets.

Why do I recoil at the word repentance, Lord? Is it because I treasure too highly those things that satisfy my flesh at the cost of my relationship with you? Do I prefer the finer things in life over the simple? Would I rather just talk about spiritual matters rather than live into them?

You have come, Jesus, to baptize with the Holy Spirit. Please don’t just sprinkle me or even quickly dip me into that pool. Please immerse me, drown my old man my flesh in that living water of forgiveness and redemption. Take away my preferences and let me see others as you see them. Empower me to let go of worthless idols so as not to forfeit the grace intended for me (Jonah 2:8). Amen.

Isaiah 9:8-17; Psalm 119:49-72; 2 Peter 2:1-10a

Thursday, December 18
Psalm 50 Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (vv.1, 6)

O God, all of creation testifies to your power, your timelessness, and your infinite wisdom. The psalm teaches that you effect the dawn and the dusk and that each takes place as a deliberate act of grace.

Perhaps it is this very reliability that lulls me into thinking that the morning and the evening are just natural; that seasons, the stars, and tides are all the result of random events; that because of my optimism, rather than your faithfulness, “the sun will come out tomorrow.” Please forgive my arrogance and my reliance on religious things, rather than on you.

It is you, Lord, who made the heavens and rule them even to this day. Yet in the midst of this indescribable majesty you call your children to yourself, those you chose before creation to be holy and blameless in your sight (Ephesians 1:4).

I thank you, Father, that you have selected me to be adopted as your child. Let me live into this reality today to proclaim your righteousness for I choose to put my trust in you. Amen.

Isaiah 9:18—10:4; 2 Peter 2:10b-16; Matthew 3:1-12

Friday, December 19
Matthew 11:2-15 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” (vv.2-6)

There are times, Lord, when life’s busyness distracts me from you; when the constant clamor and noise drowns out the gentle breeze of your word. Then, after a while, I begin to feel awkward and alone and afraid. I may even call out to you, but like a child who has wandered from a parent in a crowd, I can’t see or hear you anymore and terror seizes me.

Lord, I think your servant John felt like this at times too. I can imagine that when expecting to be vindicated and witnessing the establishment of your kingdom instead being unjustly imprisoned would cause even the strongest believer to doubt.

“Are you the one?” he honestly asked. Sometimes I wonder the same, particularly when bombarded by the world and its skepticism and cynicism.

Don’t let me be just an idle spectator, Lord. Put me into the game and let me see the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the dead raised. Overcome the distractions and distrust of this present age so that I never doubt again. Amen.

Isaiah 10:5-19; Psalms 40, 54; 2 Peter 2:17-22

Saturday, December 20
Psalm 55 But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. (v.16)

“Listen to my prayer, O God.” Dear Lord, I join with the psalmist in calling to you in my distress and fear. Things are so hectic at this time of year, and so uncertain. I feel compelled to do so many things I would rather not. And in the whirlwind I find my time with you being either shortened or diminished. I am distracted in prayer, prevented in study, and asleep in meditation.

Please come to me, Holy Spirit, and confuse the enemy’s attempts to pull me away from you. Help me to plan my day according to your desires, and not my own. Empower me to use my time productively for your kingdom, and not to assuage my guilt, curry favor, or act unjustly. May I end my day assured of your approval and hearing your voice whisper, “Well done my good servant” (Luke 19:17).

Finally, Lord, let your serenity be so palpable that others would be open to hear of your grace. Give me the will to share you with others and pray for those in need. Amen.

by Mark Sholander

Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP
P. O. Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790