July 4

2 Kings 23:31-25:30, Acts 22:17-23:10, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 18:13



Pray: Today is a special day, a day of remembrance. A day to recall the presence of God which dwells with people and governments and which honors the God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel. Today is a day to remember when a king had to surrender to another ruler. No, not England surrendering to the American Colonies, but Judah surrendering to the king of the Babylonians. A people who had known victory now suffered defeat because they had forgotten God. Let us pray for America to remember to love God and to love our neighbor in both word and deed.

Read: The apostle Paul is arrested and his life is threatened. He claims his Roman citizenship and he is spared as he now has to go before a Roman court. Have you ever thought how American citizenship does have certain privileges? For Paul it meant that he had to receive a fair hearing in front of a Roman leader. One day, each of us will receive a fair hearing in front of a just God. Our only hope will not be in God’s fairness, but in His grace through His son Jesus Christ interceding on our behalf.

Edify: This was not the story in 2 Kings 35 of a stronger army taking advantage of a weaker people. If we trace the powerful story here we realize, sadly enough, that this is the story of a strong and favored people who lost favor with a powerful God by their acts of idolatry and worship of false idols. I have often wondered, “What if?” What if the people of Judah had put God first, depended upon Him for their protection and sought the Lord in all of their endeavors? God would have fought for them as He had done in the past. What if you and I would do the same?

Practice: Paul states with conviction that, “I have always lived before the Lord with a clear conscience”. What an absolute gift to go to sleep at night and not carry any regrets with you to bed. What a relief to lay our worries on the nightstand, knowing that the God of Israel who neither slumbers nor sleeps, will be willing to work things out throughout the night as we sleep and in the morning our problems will still be there ready for Him to give direction. You and I can have this kind of assurance, this kind of peace by living today a life which is lived in the daylight and not in the dark in any way shape or form. Now that is true freedom! Happy July 4th!

July 3

2 Kings 22:3-23:30, Acts 21:37-22:16, Psalm 1:1-6, Proverbs 18:11-12



Pray: Let us begin today by giving God thanks for the simple things which we too often take for granted. Let’s express our appreciation for food, shelter, and relationships. Now let's ask God to open our ears to hear more fully and our eyes to see more clearly what He wants to reveal in our Scripture reading today.

Read: 2 Kings tells us of a king who was cleaning house, literally, in every respect. Josiah was cleansing the temple of false gods, clearing out the male and female prostitutes, and tearing down the Asherah poles and grinding them into dust. Far too long the house of the Lord had been abused and desecrated under evil kings. Josiah’s guide was the reading of the Law of Moses which gave clear guidelines in how the house of worship is to be kept and the people of God should conduct themselves.

Edify: When reading 2 Kings there is both a sound “amen” which comes from our agreement that it is about time someone cleaned house, and there is a piercing question which has to be uttered, “What idols exist in my life, in my home?” These are not easily detected for they are disguised often as things which appear good, wholesome, but anything becomes an idol when it takes first place over Jesus Christ being first in your life and my life. Work is a good thing, a job provides income for us, yet these should never be allowed to give us our ultimate identity. Children are a gift from God but they should never take first place in our lives. In fact we do our children a terrible disservice if they grow up thinking that a parent worships them, puts their sports, their extracurricular activities above worshiping God on the Sabbath day and keeping the Sabbath day holy. Marriage is likewise a beautiful creation of God, yet some have been guilty of putting their spouse in front of their ultimate allegiance to God. You see good things can become idols. Too often we think of money, possessions, and material things as obvious idols, but Satan is far more clever in causing us to have divided minds and hearts. No wonder Jesus said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God then all these other things will be added unto you.”

Practice: It’s not enough to talk about potential idols in our life. It’s time to name them, to identify things or people which have the potential to cause us to have divided loyalties when it comes to God having first place in our hearts. Be honest. List the things, activities, and people in your life which may give you divided loyalties and give these to the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to keep you focused on gaining your worth and identity, not in the things of this earth or what you do for a living, but from the Living God who created you in His image and sent His son Jesus that you may have life and have it abundantly.

July 2

2 Kings 20:1-22:2, Acts 21:18-36, Psalm 150:1-6, Proverbs 18:9-10 



Pray: “I have heard your prayers and seen your tears” (2 Kings 20:5). These could be the most astounding and hope-filled words in the entire Scriptures. Pray boldly as one who knows that the God of the universe, for whom nothing is impossible for, hears your prayers.

Read: Pay close attention to the chaos throughout today’s reading and what brings about chaos.

Edify: Just as God brought order out of chaos and beauty out of the void in creation, so God is still intimately involved in human affairs. The Lord tells Hezekiah through Isaiah what he will be doing in 3 days and over the course of his 15 years remaining on earth. What Paul suffered at the hands of the Jews in Jerusalem was predicted in yesterday’s reading and only took a week to come to pass with Paul in chains. The Lord is in control, however we have the free will to choose whether we will walk with Him or walk in the ways of chaos. The Proverb makes it clear that the Lord is our “fortress” and is the only place we find ultimate safety in all that we can’t control in this world.

Practice: Praise Him and trust His good plan for your life. Make today a day of praise and gratitude asking God to fully realize and count all the ways that He blesses you in situations you truly don’t have control over. That breath you just took. Praise Him. That drive home from work when someone didn’t cross over the center line. Praise Him. That you were born in a free country that is free of war. Praise Him. Count your blessings today and praise Him.

July 1

2 Kings 18:13-19:37, Acts 21:1-17, Psalm 149:1-9, Proverbs 18:8 



Pray: It seems nearly impossible for King Hezekiah to avoid losing heart and becoming discouraged. Is there something in your life causing you to lose heart, to become discouraged, or to doubt? Go to God in prayer like King Hezekiah did. Ask God for direction, but also don’t be afraid to ask God for courage. Ask God to move and fight for you. And trust His Word, as Hezekiah heard the Word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah and trusted Him.

Read: The Psalmist pleads, “O people of Jerusalem, exult your King” and rejoice in your Maker. How do you see this common desire of God and those faithful to Him through the entire daily reading?

Edify: It’s tough to hear the boasting of a proud enemy. It’s tough for God’s people to hear those hostile towards God mock Him and demand their own way. The great king of Assyria says to the people of Jerusalem, “What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?...Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?” (2 Kings 18:19b-20). It’s so easy to lose our temper (and eventually our witness in our reactions), and it’s easy to lose hope. Paul and the Psalm’s response to difficulty contain so much beauty in light of overwhelming odds. Paul asks them to stop weeping because he is ready to die for the sake of Jesus. The Psalmist looks at difficulty in this life and invites us to “sing,” “praise,” “exult,” “dance,” and “rejoice.” We remain strong as we remain in relationship with God through worship, prayer, and the Scriptures just as Hezekiah responded.

Practice: Take the thoughts captive that have been initiated by mocking and hostile voices. Submit them to the Lordship of Jesus Christ through ongoing prayer, singing, and Scripture meditation today. God’s people, EXULT YOUR KING!

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.