June 12

1 Kings 9:1-10:29, Acts 8:14-40, Psalm 130:1-8, Proverbs 17:2-3 

Pray: Pray for God to speak to you through His word today. This world has its priorities out of place, which has caused an imbalance in lives like we have never seen before. Pray today that God will speak to your situation and provide insights into a balanced life.

Read: Today we read of Solomon’s tremendous ability to see a task through until the end. The building of the temple was a task that was immense, yet Solomon knew that it was what God wanted him to do. Solomon had a knack for getting things done and God blessed him even further because of his faithfulness as he saw it all come to fruition. We also read of Peter and John and their missionary work to the people of Samaria. Sometimes we are called to share the Gospel with people that we know and sometimes we are called to share it with people that we do not know. In both cases, it is our responsibility to be faithful so that not only the person hearing the Good News can be blessed but also you in the process. Our faithfulness can change lives. The Ethiopian eunuch’s life was changed when Philip met him on the road and read from the book of Isaiah with him. As a result of this brief, but life changing interaction, the eunuch was baptized. 

Edify: When was the last time that you could truly say that you completed everything that you had planned to do? If you are like me, it’s been a while. I get started on one project and then life happens and I have to move on to something else. Solomon spent twenty years building the Temple and his palace. Because of his faithfulness, the Lord promised Solomon that if he remained faithful and if his descendants remained faithful then they would rule over Israel forever as king. However, in the very next breath, the Lord warns Solomon of the consequences of not remaining faithful. The same is true for you and me. If we remain faithful, then God will bless us. If we choose to follow the ways of the world and turn away from Him, then there will be consequences. 

Practice: Practice your faith. Maybe it is that you have been withholding a gifting or a talent from the world because of fear. Maybe you have been holding back the tithe from God, which has caused your finances to be cursed. Maybe you have felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to share your story with someone you know (or you don’t know) and you have allowed your confidence to be shaken. I challenge you today to be bold and to finish what you have started or move toward completing something that you have planned for Jesus.

June 11

1 Kings 8:1-66, Acts 7:51-8:13, Psalm 129:1-8, Proverbs 17:1



Pray: Lord, thank You for truth. It is often sharp and cuts, but it can be a beautiful balm and healing agent as the grace is applied. May we find grace and truth in Your Word today. Amen.

Read: Solomon’s temple was a place of glory. However, despite its extraordinary beauty, it was just another building until God moved in and consecrated it. So it is with our lives and our meeting together. I remember A.W. Tozer once said, “If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, much of what the church is doing would go right on unnoticed and nobody would know the difference."

Edify: In an unbelievable act of conviction and grace, we see Stephen showing us the most beautiful way to portray grace and truth. First, Stephen doesn’t mix words and tells them exactly what they have done, rejected the truth and killed the Savior. They didn’t like to hear that and so they stoned him to death, and then Stephen shows the grace by praying on behalf of his accusers asking for Jesus to forgive them for what they are doing.

Practice: Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. In other words, there is no comparison for peace. We may not immediately think about this gift but let's find a way to give it out today.

June 10

1 Kings 7:1-51, Acts 7:30-50, Psalm 128:1-6, Proverbs 16:31-33



Pray: Father, would You make us like Stephen who was so filled with love for You that he was willing to risk his reputation and even his life for the sake of the kingdom of God. Amen.

Read: The awe inspiring words of Stephen should grip you as you listen to him share the history with the Pharisees. It should pull you in and get your attention because it’s your history too. Stephen reminds the “righteous” ones in his presence that they, throughout time, have been the ones who ignored the prophets and killed them, and they now had killed Jesus.

Edify: One of the greatest sources of encouragement for me is to remember Stephen, who was so on fire for God and knew His Word so well that even standing before the Sanhedrin he was passionately convicting them and to such a degree that his face shown like that of an angel.

Practice: In the Old Testament reading we see all the extravagance in which the temple palace was made. In reading each of these details and all the intricacies that were placed within the temple, I can’t help but think how important it is what we put in our “temple”. God put great concern into what went into the actual temple, so we should also consider what goes into our temple.

June 9

1 Kings 5:1-6:38, Acts 7:1-29, Psalm 127:1-5, Proverbs 16:28-30 

Pray: Father, thank You for the wisdom from Your Word that often challenges us each day to think and live differently. May I not ignore Your insight out of my own convenience.

Read: God gave David the design for the temple and David and the people provided most of the materials, a Gentile king provided the timber, there was a Canaanite work force and Jewish. It was a team effort overseen by Solomon. God is building His temple today and still today it is a team effort to further Jesus’ kingdom and it takes all kinds of different people with different gifts. 

Edify: We can draw great encouragement from the psalmist today, he says “ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!" We must remember that children are a wonderful blessing and gift to us from God.

Practice: Wealth beyond measure was used to build the temple but the more important task was obedience to the Lord. God is not impressed with our buildings because He provided everything we put into them to make them. He wants our loving obedience and then He can make the building a blessing.

June 8

1 Kings 3:3-4:34, Acts 6:1-15, Psalm 126:1-6, Proverbs 16:26-27



Pray: Lord, help us to read Your Word today with wisdom. When we open the pages of Your Holy Word let us not be reading to learn something new but to adhere to the wise instruction and be changed. Amen.

Read: Probably one of my favorite stories in the New Testament is the life of Stephen. In this section of his story we read that he was full of grace and power and later it says they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. What was it about Stephen that had him full of grace and power and wisdom and the Spirit of God? The only details that we have to understand this comes to us by way of telling us that Stephen was among those who were serving.

Edify: Our Psalm today gives us great encouragement and reminds us that our tears are not always in vain. Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy! We have hope in our tears that God is doing something that will lead to our joy in Him.

Practice: Stephen reminds us that real power and true authority is found in the least likely places for us. May we look for those less likely places in our lives to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

June 7

1 Kings 2:1-3:2, Acts 5:1-42, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 16:25 

Pray: Father, may we meditate on the last day of our life, when we will draw our last breath. May we have peace and wellness with our souls as we prepare for that day. Amen.

Read: Death is certain. It is an appointment we all must keep unless the Lord comes and takes us home. Before he died, David gave Solomon wise counsel about the men who were a threat to the throne. It is good to know where the enemy is hiding. It is even more valuable to have a father like David who feared God and cared for more than his own legacy, but also for the people of Israel and the generations to come.

Edify: I think the lesson to be learned from our New Testament reading today is how much Jesus values His bride the Church. I believe that more than anything else Jesus wanted to protect the thriving movement of the first church. To see people trying to lie and deceive and withhold from the Lord was working greatly against the cause, not because the church needed the land but because the church needed people of integrity.

Practice: Today, I hope to count my days. In both our Old Testament and New Testament readings there were stories of death. May we be people who do not fear death but point people to the way of life.

June 6

1 Kings 1:1-53, Acts 4:1-37, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 16:24



Pray: Father, would You earnestly teach me from Your Word today. May I not read for any other reason than to know You more. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit as I read and seek to draw closer to You. Amen.

Read: It must be humbling as leaders to be led and Nathan and Bathsheba did it wisely. David had given up the sword and now he must also surrender the scepter. A wise leader knows when to step aside. God had made it clear that Solomon was God’s choice for the throne.

Edify: Interestingly, Adonijah fled to the altar for safety, not for sanctity. Religion was something he used only for personal profit. Unfortunately, some insincere people today do the very same thing. Our motivations in coming before God must be authentic.

Practice: What do you do when they tell you to stop sharing the Gospel? What did the apostles do? Certainly they recalled the words of Jesus and depended on the Holy Spirit to help them. May we rely fully on the Holy Spirit today.