July 18

1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34, Romans 4:13-5:5, Psalm 14:1-7, Proverbs 19:17 



Pray: The contrast is between the generation of the wicked and the generation of the righteous. The latter group is expressed in our Psalm today of those who seek the Lord and pray for His will to be done. For the former, God is not in their hearts and they have no desire or inclination to pray.

Read: As we read yesterday, each of us have a calling as a part of the body. This is God’s design for building His church and we must give God our best. David himself was a musician, David was probably especially concerned that the music in the temple be the finest available and God gave him skilled musicians. Let us praise Him today with the gift He has given us.

Edify: It is greatly encouraging that Paul reminds us that the result of our being justified by faith is that we have peace with God through Jesus. But then Paul takes it a step further and reminds us that even our tribulations become steps on our journey of faith to become more like Jesus so we ought to rejoice in those too! Much like it says in James “consider it a pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds because the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” It is most often the difficult things of life that draw us ever closer to God. Let us thank God in the valley as well as the hilltop because He is ever at work to draw us closer to Him no matter what the circumstance.

Practice: It is better to be rich in character and poor in wealth, especially when that wealth is earned by deception. Today’s proverb reminds us how important it is that we are careful how we treat the poor because God is concerned about them.

July 17

1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11, Romans 4:1-12, Psalm 13:1-6, Proverbs 19:15-16 



Pray: Four times David asked, “How long?” He had prayed, but God had hidden Himself and not answered. David had examined his heart and knew of no reason why God should abandon him. The longer God waited, the more the enemy would succeed. When you have this same feeling, do what David did and talk to God with an honest and humble heart.

Read: A beautiful and costly temple is a waste of money unless ministry is going on for the good of God’s people and the glory of God. So, before he died, David organized the temple workers and put them under proper leadership. The work of the Lord called for dedicated service from many kinds of people: priests, Levites, musicians, treasurers, gatekeepers, soldiers, etc. This is exciting for me and should be for those of us apart of Christ Church because it means that everyone, and I mean everyone, can find a way to serve in the kingdom.

Edify: Our reading from Romans teaches us about faith. How was Abraham saved? Not by works, but by faith as it also states in Genesis 15. Salvation is not like wages that you earn or works that you can boast about. Abraham was not saved by keeping the law, because the law had not even been given yet. He also wasn’t saved by rituals, his salvation was all by God’s grace. Let us be encouraged today that our salvation does not rely upon us, but by the beautiful grace that He lavishes on us.

Practice: Let us look for those ways that God has uniquely designed us to serve Him today. It is a beautiful thought to think that God has intricately woven us together with different personalities and spiritual gifts that help to build up and further the kingdom of God. What unique way might you help the bride of Christ look more beautiful today?

July 16

1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32, Romans 3:9-31, Psalm 12:1-8, Proverbs 19:13-14



Pray: Jesus, help me see my heart. And help me to see that I cannot and will not obey all the rules. Help me to trust Christ completely and to put my faith in His righteousness and not law keeping.

Read: (Romans 3:19) “Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep the people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.

Edify: Put up a section of wooden fencing by the entrance to your church. Drill a hole in it, head high, about 2 inches in circumference. Watch people enter your church for the Sunday morning service. No one will look through the hole. The following Sunday put a law above the hole. Let the law say, “Do not look through this hole”, Sign your name under the law. Wait and see what happens. Many will look through the hole! Why? The law exposes our nature. At heart we are law breakers. The commandments and rules throughout the O.T. shined a light on the condition of the hearts of God’s people.

Practice: The law reveals our nature. We need to understand that it reveals our need for heart change. We have no excuse. The “hole in the wall” was ignored until the law came. And when the law came the heart was exposed. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

July 15

1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30, Romans 2:25-3:8, Psalm 11:1-7, Proverbs 19:10-12



Pray: God, I don’t even begin to know how to please You. Help me to love You unconditionally but also to fear You greatly.

Read: In 1 Chronicles 19 through 21 we see David and his men winning battle after battle “trusting the Lord”. But while Joab, David’s general, was out waging war David had an experience described in scripture this way, “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. David was tempted to “trust in numbers” rather than “trust the Lord”. Joab urged David not to take a census. But David would not listen. As a result of David trusting in numbers rather than trusting the Lord, God punished Israel.

Edify: When confronted by his seer David acknowledged his sin. God declared that David could choose one of three punishments. David decided that he would trust God to choose the punishment. So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel and 70,000 died as a result. The higher we go up in authority the greater the consequences when we mess up. But just as one of God’s angels was about to destroy Jerusalem David and his men dawned sackcloth and ashes and began to repent. There before David and his men was the altar of Araunah. David promptly purchased the altar and offered up sacrifices and the plague was stopped. At that time the tabernacle was at Gibeon but David was afraid to go worship God because he feared God’s presence. So, even David, a man after God’s own heart, had to grow and mature in his relationship with God.

Practice: We should listen to good counsel. David did not. We should fully understand that not every leading, not every voice, is from God. God had said many times, “Don’t count Israel but rather trust me.” David messed up. He ignored counsel and he didn’t seek the Lord. He paid a price. All Israel paid a price. Practice searching the scriptures before making a decision. Let the WORD direct you and not your feelings.

July 14

1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17, Romans 2:1-24, Psalm 10:16-18, Proverbs 19:8-9



Pray: Father, help me to see past the sins of others, to love on them, and to be honest about the hidden sins I wrestle in the darkness over.

Read: "You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God in His justice will punish anyone who does such things." (Rom. 2:1-2)

Edify: This chapter in Romans has a theme. It is simply this, “But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.” (Rom. 2:8) Who are you living for? And how do you live? I’m not talking about how you live in front of folks but how you live when no one is watching. An alcoholic bound with the chains of addiction may well be known as the town drunk for all to see. But what about the husband, father, and pastor bound by late night porn on television that no one sees?

Practice: Practice truth telling. We seem to hate in others what behind the veil we are guilty of ourselves. We might be on a soap box telling of the degradation of homosexuality while having a secret affair. Again, God sees and God wants us free. But it starts with acknowledging our sin, getting our lives into the light, and entering into worship and thanksgiving. Worship empowers. It puts God back in the place He should be in our lives.

July 13

1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36, Romans 1:18-32, Psalm 10:1-15, Proverbs 19:6-7 



Pray: Father, help me to love those who perhaps hate me passionately. Remind me that worship and thanksgiving are weapons I can use to fight off darkness while acknowledging light.

Read: Romans 1:21 says, Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

Edify: Every man or woman who has ever lived has had at least one encounter, if not many, with God. The creation itself lets all mankind know assuredly that there is a God. It is obvious. But mankind just as Adam and Eve in the garden comes to the point of choice. Are we going to worship God and be thankful or are we going to worship ourselves? We were created to worship. It is part of our DNA. But we get to choose whom we are going to believe in and how we are going to respond. Choosing to worship one’s self is like going down a rabbit hole. Once you enter everything changes. Foolish ideas prevail. Your mind becomes dark and confused. You claim to know it all but you really know nothing at all. And you begin to do shameful things and you plunge even deeper into darkness. Is there a way out? Yes, repent and believe. And WORSHIP.

Practice: Love the uncomely. The weight of foolishness and the burden of living in darkness is heavy enough without others piling on. We are to love those who oppose themselves. Is it possible to come out of the rabbit hole? With man, it is impossible. But with God, it is indeed possible.

July 12

I Chronicles 12:19-14:17, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 19:4-5



Pray: Father, help me to look for the fruit of the spirit in others. When I find it, give me holy boldness to boldly ask them to impart seed into my life. Also, help me to ask and listen to these fruit tree saints as to whether they see ground in my life that needs tilling. Help me to understand that I have not, because I didn’t ask.

Read: Read Romans 1:11. Paul longs to visit with the believers living in Rome. He wants to give them some spiritual gift that will help them grow strong in the Lord. Now read Romans 1:13. Paul wants his Roman brothers in Christ to know that he had planned many times to visit them but had been prevented until now. Now, at last, he would get to work among them and see spiritual fruit. There is a process here.

Edify: There is a process here. We can impart seed but we cannot impart fruit. Seed is given. Fruit is grown. God is more than willing to give seed to the sower. And for that matter we can give seed (if we possess seed) to others. But the seed freely given must be planted and it must grow into a fruit tree. The fruit of the spirit in our lives does not grow overnight. It takes time to grow.

Practice: Practice looking for fruit trees. When you get to know another believer that has some special fruit like love or patience or faith take the time to ask them to lay hands on you and impart a seed of love or patience or faith that will one day turn into fruit in your life. Maybe they might be willing to cultivate the seed they planted in your life. Sometimes your heart is not really ready for the seed that is planted, but don’t give up. Continue to have those that impart seed to pray for you and to till your heart until the seed planted falls on good ground.