Good News Daily
Volume VIII
October 5–11, 2008
Number 40
Sunday, October 5
Hosea 13:4-14 I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me. (vv.5-6 NIV)
Hosea reminds Israel how it has committed spiritual adultery. Things were going well in the northern kingdom in those days. Baal had returned and the people loved it. A fashionable “life of the flesh” was once again acceptable and unchallenged. The days in the desert were long forgotten, the exclusive character of the covenant relationship ignored. Woe to Israel.
Today, with God’s help and Hosea’s warning, my “life in the flesh” is challenged. Thank you Holy Spirit! The abundance of material possessions comes not from my hand; it comes from the grace of the Father. He wants me to have good things, but only with my understanding of their true source and their true purpose. With my covenant of faith in mind, I know that I have so that I can give.
Psalm 118; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Matthew 14:1-12
Monday, October 6
Hosea 14:1-9 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.” (v.2)
I thank you Father, for Your forgiveness. You know me and love me even when I am week. My sincere repentance leads me to Your righteous path.
Ah! But acknowledgement of transgressions and true repentance is hard to do. I am easily able to point out the speck in my brother’s eye, but miss the plank stuck in my own. I can instantly detect my spouse’s tone of voice, but miss the tone of my hurtful response.
My sins have been my downfall. Lord, pour out Your grace, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, grant me the courage to confront my shortcomings. Open my eyes to the attachments I continue to have to the things of this world, which provide a stumbling block for me.
Psalm 106:1-18; Acts 22:30—23:11; Luke 6:39-49
Tuesday, October 7
Luke 7:1-17 When Jesus head this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” (v.9)
My notes indicate Jesus was only amazed twice. In this instance, he is amazed at the faith of the Centurion. In this passage, the Centurion has done at least three things right. First, he cares. He cares for the well-being of his servant. Second, he is humble. Regardless of what the Jewish elders earnestly pleaded to Jesus (“This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue”), the Centurion knows he didn’t deserve Jesus coming under his roof. And third, he truly grasped the connection of the Son’s power through the Father’s authority by recognizing Christ’s ability: “But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
Lord, no matter how high I rise in this world, keep me mindful of those who are less fortunate. Guide me, Holy Spirit, in performing good works, but never let me substitute those acts for my love of you. Christ Jesus, I rejoice in the knowledge of you and celebrate our relationship as I mature in my faith in your complete and everlasting power.
Micah 1:1-9; Psalms 120, 121, 122, 123; Acts 23:12-24
Wednesday, October 8
Psalm 119:145-176 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. (v.165)
What a revelation of wisdom this particular psalm represents. It brought to my mind a saying I heard in my youth: “Too soon old, too late smart.” When those words were spoken, the speaker almost always did it with a profoundly regretful tone.
Thankfully, it is never too late to embrace the love of God, His truth, and His law. By having a living relationship with Christ, we can forego so much regret and guilt. Some parts of my past, when I contemplate upon it, still give me feelings of remorse; but thanks to our Savior’s work on the cross, I am no longer guilty. I have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb and have been given a new life of freedom. The psalmist writes of the joy that ultimately comes from following God’s law. It doesn’t guarantee a life free from pain or suffering or want or hunger. We still get that. For some, they get it in abundance.
However, when God is in charge of our internal life and we guide our actions by His ordinances, we become justified and connected with a power that allows us to live a life with peace, praise, freedom, and no regrets.
Micah 2:1-13; Acts 23:23-35; Luke 7:18-35
Thursday, October 9
Luke 7:36-50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (v.50)
How did the sinful woman, who the Pharisee knew was sinful, get into his house for dinner? It is possible that the Pharisee had planned to lay a trap, and was anticipating ensnaring Jesus.
As the events unfold, we learn that Christ knows who the sinful woman is, just as he knows who we are. And just as her display of love impressed Jesus, our display of love should be equally impressive. While we wait for the Messiah’s return, we have innumerable opportunities to display our love for him by demonstrating it to the least of his brothers.
But let’s be clear: first, we must embrace the faith that saves us. That faith is what inspires our love to come streaming out like the tears of the sinful woman, and pour down like perfume on the feet of our Christ.
Micah 3:1-8; Psalms 131, 132, 133; Acts 24:1-23
Friday, October 10
Micah 3:9—4:5 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (v.3)
Micah prophesied that Zion would be plowed like a field and Jerusalem would be turned into a pile of rubble. But the Spirit then lead him to describe for us the wonderful promise of what awaits us in the last days—a time of true reconciliation, peace, safety and sufficiency.
I hear the news each day. I watch the body count grow. I pray for the safety of our nation’s defenders and, on a good day, I even pray for the safety of those who oppose us, asking God to turn their hearts.
Every day we are challenged to live out our lives of faith. A current challenge to our faith is presented by the acts of individuals who willingly turn themselves into living bombs to kill innocent people.
How powerful and magnificent our Lord is! He will bring an end to this. Nation will not take up sword against nation. That is a promise I await with faith and conviction. Amen.
Psalms 140, 142; Acts 24:24—25:12; Luke 8:1-15
Saturday, October 11
Luke 8:16-25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (vv.24-25)
The disciples really had a lesson taught to them that day! Scripture tell us that, in fear and amazement, they asked one another: “Who is this?” Today, we ask ourselves the same question.
On that day, the disciples witnessed a demonstration of the incomprehensible authority of the Lord over the earth. Don’t believe in the supernatural? At this point, the disciples were living in a world that they could not control. Then they were confronted by the reality of God’s sovereignty.
Today, just as he did then, Jesus asks, “Where is your faith?” Christ asks us to go beyond what we can see and touch. He wants our faith to be deep and complete, and so strong that we are not amazed at impossible results. Are you living in a world that you cannot control? Relax. God can control it. And it is our faith in that fact that allows Jesus to bring impossible results into our personal lives. Halleluiah!
by Mara McClain
Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP
P. O. Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790
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