June 30

2 Kings 17:1-18:12, Acts 20:1-38, Psalm 148:1-14, Proverbs 18:6-7

Pray: Paul says to the Ephesian elders that he has ONE message, “…the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21). Paul continues that he has only ONE work despite any opposition, and that is to “tell others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Ask God to be a person of one message and one work as well. Spend time applying that one message to your life as you confess sin and receive God’s forgiving work in your life through Jesus today.

Read: How does Hezekiah stand apart from the long list of kings in recent Old Testament readings? What can you learn from both Hezekiah and Paul?

Edify: Hezekiah in a difficult climate with mighty Assyria invading yet he had a singular focus to be faithful to the Lord and carefully obey all His commands. There’s a shift in the Gospels as Jesus sets His eyes toward Jerusalem because He knows the atoning and grave-conquering work that it is God’s will for and only for Him to do. Jesus has a singular focus as the initiator and perfecter of the one message and one work that we all are to be about. It is the Gospel message and the kingdom building work that Paul had a singular focus on, as he also was “bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem” with certain jail and suffering lying ahead of him. 

Practice: Carry that one message as your one work as you go about your ordinary day. Pray and be ready for the opportunity to “tell others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” This practice can make today an extraordinary day as God works through you to impact generations and store up treasures in heaven.

June 29

2 Kings 15:1-16:20, Acts 19:13-41, Psalm 147:1-20, Proverbs 18:4-5 



Pray: Mark Buchanan says, “The distinguishing mark of the purposeful is not time management. It’s that they notice. They’re fully awake.” Paul encounters an uproar and a group of people in confusion. Our culture is full of people in an uproar, so ask God for clarity that only His Spirit can give to know what the enemy is up to and what God is up to around you.

Read: You will find an ongoing tension in both Old and New Testaments between the ways of the culture and the ways of the Lord. Ask God for eyes to see it in the history in His Word, as well as, in our current generation.

Edify: “The Lord delights in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11). We see kings of God’s people sacrificing their children as the pagans do. We see those kings who are recorded as trying to be faithful to the Lord, but yet refuse to take down the pagan shrines and end the idolatry of God’s people to purify the land. In Ephesus, we see the crowd forming in fury to the threat of the Gospel of Jesus to their economic status and sexual freedom that their goddess Artemis gives them.  How different would the story be if those with influence lived in fear (astonished reverence) to God and hoped in His unfailing love? The Psalmist tells us that the story would look much more like a rebuilding of the city, a return of the outcast (exiles), a lifting up of the humble, blessing (not killing) of children, peace throughout the area, and satisfaction in the Lord’s provision. 

Practice: How is the Lord calling you today to walk in His ways, especially when it is challenging to the economic and sexual ethics of the culture? How can you grow in purity today? How can you grow generosity? How can you find peace in His unfailing love amidst the uproar in the culture? Take action today.

June 28

2 Kings 13:1-14:29, Acts 18:23-19:12, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 18:2-3 

Pray: Spend a moment in prayer today for our generation and for the leaders of our country and all around the world to do what is pleasing in the Lord’s sight.

Read: Allow today’s reading to reinforce putting our hope in the everlasting God rather than the powerful people of our current day whose influence will sooner or later fade away.

Edify: The Bible has a lot to say about power and authority. Some people in power will please the Lord and some will do what is wicked in the sight of the Lord as seen in the generational perspective that Kings gives us. Therefore the Psalmist warns us not to put our hope and confidence in powerful people. They will one day fade away, but the word of the Lord and the powerful work of His Spirit will never fade. It is the Lord who will reign throughout the generations. Paul understands this as he continually encounters those under John’s baptism. No matter how eloquent their speech or how genuine their repentance; they lacked power without receiving the Spirit of God, the baptism of fire that comes from being baptized in the name of Jesus.

Practice: Replace fearful or prideful opinions, as well as, the temptations of cutting remarks about our nation’s leaders with intercessory prayer for them. This is genuinely possible when we understand that the Lord reigns throughout the generations and it is those who have received the confidence and power of the Holy Spirit that invest in things of lasting influence.

June 27

2 Kings 10:32-12:21, Acts 18:1-22, Psalm 145:1-21, Proverbs 18:1 



Pray: Consider praying to song to begin your time with the Lord in His Word. It’s so powerful when the Psalms are sung as they were originally written to be sung. Go to www.youtube.com and search “Shane and Shane Psalm 145” to hear a beautiful rendition of Scripture to song. If you prefer to keep technology out of this time, consider simply reading Psalm 145 aloud as your prayer.

Read: As the Psalm calls God’s people to do, meditate on God’s greatness, majesty, and glorious splendor as you read His Word.

Edify: It is fascinating in the Book of Acts to see ordinary people who were tentmakers, like Aquila and Priscilla, who are about the eternal work of God’s kingdom building while faithfully working in everyday life. They lived in a tough city (think Las Vegas), and it was there they were active in ministry and in supporting and encouraging Paul’s work. The promises of Psalm 145 were coming true in their lives. God protects those who love Him (Psalm 145:20) as they attest to God’s “everlasting kingdom” as “faithful followers” in Corinth.

Practice: Make one eternal investment amidst the ordinary day. Share a Scripture with someone by writing or speaking it. Serve, give, pray with, or show hospitality towards a “Paul-like” figure in your life. 

June 26

2 Kings 9:14-10:31, Acts 17:1-34, Psalm 144:1-15, Proverbs 17:27-28



Pray: Begin praying against passivity. Pray for the wisdom to recognize the enemy of your soul and the courage to fight. Meditate on the truth that “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 NLT

Read: Today’s reading makes it clear that God’s purposes and His gospel can be disruptive when there is evil, deception, and self-serving power structures in place. This is true at a societal level as both Jehu and Paul demonstrate, but also at a personal heart level as well. This is why followers of Jesus continually “kill” the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13) with Jesus’ forgiveness to continue to live in His freedom and power. 

Edify: In 2 Kings 9:22b Jehu replies, “How can there be peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother, Jezebel, are all around us?” In other words, peace reigns in our lives when our worship is rightly directed to Jesus. This is why peace is a gift and fruit of the Spirit of God. Further, we see Paul and Silas bringing the Gospel to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens and immediately “disturb” the religious, political, and academic power structures. In order to find peace at both a personal and societal level, the Gospel of Jesus disturbs those things that have a stronghold. It’s the only pathway to lasting peace and freedom. The Great Commission is not comfortable, passive, or for spectators but requires activity, courage, and the will to contend.

Practice: Ask God for an area both personally and on behalf of others in which you need to fight. The Psalmist makes it clear that God is our rock, our ally, our rescuer, our trainer for fighting, our shield, and our delight. The truth is, we never experience the fullness of this delight that is offered until we take risks and lovingly fight for others. Who will you fight for today and bring truth and love?

June 25

2 Kings 8:1-9:13, Acts 16:16-40, Psalm 143:1-12, Proverbs 17:26



Pray: Only after an earthquake, potential job-failure, and a near-suicide did the jailer ask, “What must I do to be saved?” God gets our attention in all sorts of ways, doesn’t He? Sometimes it’s subtle, other times chains have to fall. Does God have your attention? Is He trying to get your attention? Pray and ask, “God, what must I do to follow You more closely?”

Read: When chaos reigns, we need a constant. On the stormy seas, we are glad for the lighthouse keeper. When life is out of control, we see counselors. We all need other people to keep us grounded and provide perspective. The prophet Elisha was a constant. We read through all the various kings doing evil in the Lord’s sight, following after the example of Ahab (couldn’t they have found anyone better to model?). Yet, Elisha remains constant, steadfast. He steadily seeks the Lord. We would do well to model our lives after Elisha, the consistent one.

Edify: Even demons tell the truth. That’s what we read in Acts 16. A girl was following Paul and Silas shouting out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” That was the truth. Finally, Paul turns around and commanded the demon to leave her, and instantly it left. Isn’t that how evil works? It masquerades as the truth, as something good, as something fair. Then, destruction typically follows. Be alert, be cautious. What we allow into our lives could be evil masquerading as good.

Practice What would you do if God told you to move? The move is not across town, but to a different town, a new place. What would be your response? The woman from Shunem was quite wealthy. Elisha, the prophet of God, comes to her and tells her to move. She doesn’t call a realtor or liquidate her assets. She moves and leaves behind everything except family. When she returns, seven years later, the king completely restores all she had and even the crops that were harvested in her absence. God always provides when you and I are obedient to His voice. A new campus is starting up, a non-profit is seeking a spiritual leader, God is speaking a career change for you...what is your response?

June 24

 2 Kings 6:1-7:20, Acts 15:36-16:15, Psalm 142:1-7, Proverbs 17:24-25



Pray: I read somewhere (Chuck Swindoll, I believe) that God answers prayers in three ways: Yes, No, Not Yet. I’ve found that to be true in my life. Sometimes God answers my prayers in the affirmative: Yes! Other times, God says, “No.” I can handle the first easily, the second is tough, but manageable. It’s when God says, “Not yet” that I struggle. That answer typically means I’m not ready. The timing is off. God needs to do a work within me before He can answer in the affirmative, or my motives are not pure. As you pray, be discerning. God hears and answers ALL your prayers. The answer He gives is the answer you need.

Read: Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement. They decided to separate and each go do what God was leading them to do. They didn’t demonize the other. They didn’t criticize each other. It was two adults acting like two adults. How I wish there were more adults in our world today who treated each other with respect and dignity, even when they disagree “sharply.” How do you measure up against the actions of Paul and Barnabas? Do you need to do better with this? Me too! Today is a new day filled with the grace and forgiveness of God. Let’s agree to start over again.

Edify: Trust is an interesting thing. We trust people we don’t know all the time (food workers, other drivers, pilots, etc.). We trust when we spend money online that we will actually get the item(s) we desire. When it comes to trusting our Father in Heaven, that is rare, indeed. The king’s officer in 2 Kings 7 didn’t trust and it caused him to be trampled to death by starving people. Although you and I will likely not be trampled by a starving nation, a lack of trust can be devastating in life. Choose to trust the Lord. It is a choice, typically followed by action. We trust others...why not Him?

Practice: We all have areas of life in which we need to grow and improve. I’m not great at encouragement and “checking-in” with people. Still, I need to do it. In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas decided to go back and check-in with the churches they had previously visited and preached the Gospel. They wanted to see how the new believers were doing. I admire them...it wasn’t as easy for them to do then as it is for us today. There was no email, no texting, no postal service to deliver handwritten notes. Who do you need to encourage and check-in with today just to see how they’re doing? Who do you know that needs to know they matter to you? Write the note, make the call, send the email.