Month: June 2023

Day 181 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 17:1–18:12; Acts 20:1-38; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 18:6-7

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After the Uproar was Ceased
And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These going before tarried for us at Troas.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬-‭5‬

There Were Many Lights in the Upper Chamber
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬-‭8

They Brought the Young Man Alive
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭

He Hasted If It Were Possible for Him
And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭

Ye Know…After What Manner I Have Been with You
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:17-21

And Now, Behold, I Go Bound
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:22-24

And Now, Behold, I Know Ye Shall See My Face No More
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:25-28

For I Know This…Shall Grievous Wolves Enter
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Acts 20:29-31

And Now, Brethren, I Commend You to God
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
Acts 20:32-33

Ye Yourselves Know, That These Hands Have Ministere
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:34-35

And When He Had Thus Spoken, He Kneeled Down, and Prayed
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Acts 20:36-38

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Hezekiah Did that Which Was Right in the Sight of the Lord
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
2 Kings 18:1-8

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Praise Ye the LORD
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
Psalm 148:1-5

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A Fool’s Mouth is His Destruction
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 18:6-7

Day 180 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 15:1–16:20; Acts 19:13-41; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 18:4-5

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His Understanding is Infinite
Great is our LORD, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5

The LORD Taketh Pleasure in Them that Fear Him
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his mercy.
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭147‬:‭11

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Thus Did Urijah the Priest, According to ALL that King Ahaz Commanded
And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire by. Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. – 2 Kings 16:10-16

King Ahaz did not worship God. He wanted an altar like he saw in Damascus and ordered Urijah the priest to build it, adding to and taking away parts of the altar that God designed. Urijah, the high priest, did anything the king commanded, disobeying the law of Moses. Moses was commanded to make the tabernacle according to what God showed him, and then the temple was constructed according to the plans God gave to David. God does not like compromise or mixture.

Urijah, the priest, followed the King’s command rather than God’s. The king ordered the changes, but Urijah is the one that made the changes.

This kind of mixture still happens today. Somebody sees something out in the world that would “fit” into the Lord’s work and perhaps make it more pleasing to the outside world, thus drawing the people in. The church starts to imitate that and, slowly, one compromise at a time, starts to look more like the world than the church God designed.

Like Urijah, the same type of compromise and mixture can happen in our hearts if we aren’t more tuned to God’s Word and God’s voice than we are to man’s. Urijah knew God’s laws, as do we. Each time there is known compromise, we have a choice to cooperate with the changes or to stand firm in God’s commands. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost, and we should take as much care of lining our hearts and souls to His, as Moses took of obeying God’s designs for the tabernacle and David for the temple.

Please help us, Lord, to see our own compromise and address it swiftly as You reveal these things. I ask this in Jesus’ Name! Amen!!!

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Jesus I Know, and Paul I Know; But Who are Ye?
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. 
Acts 19:13-20

I Must Also See Rome
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭

A Certain Man Named Demetrius
And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭23‬-‭28‬

The Whole City was Filled with Confusion
And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭29‬-‭34‬

When the Townclerk Had Appeased the People
And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭35‬-‭41‬ 

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The Wellspring of Wisdom
The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. 
Proverbs 18:4

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom]; The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a babbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].
Proverbs 18:4 AMP

Day 179 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 13:1–14:29; Acts 18:23–19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3

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Every Man Shall Be Put to Death for His Own Sin
And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭14‬:‭5‬-‭6‬

O My Father, My Father, the Chariot of Israel, and the Horsemen Thereof
Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. And Elisha died, and they buried him.
2 Kings 13:14-20a

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A Certain Jew Name Apollos
And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭18‬:‭23‬-‭28‬ ‭

Have Ye Received the Holy Ghost Since Ye Believed?
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭1-‭5‬

The Holy Ghost Came On Them
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭

All They Which Dwelt In Asia Heard the Word of the Lord Jesus
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭9‬-‭10‬

God Wrought Special Miracles By the Hands of Paul
And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭

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Happy is He that Hath the God of Jacob for His Help
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, In whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God.
Psalm 146:3-5

The Way of the Wicked He Turneth Upside Down
The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
Psalm 146:9

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A Fool Hath No Delight in Understanding
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
Proverbs 18:2

A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].
Proverbs 18:2 AMP

We all know people that give an opinion on everything but neglect to think through what they are saying. They love to hear themselves talk and often speak in fifty words what could be told in three or four. According to Proverbs, these people are fools. 

Please help me, Lord, to talk less and listen more when it comes to others and also when it comes to You, Father. Help every word out of my mouth to line up with Your holy Word. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Day 178 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 10:32–12:21; Acts 18:1-22; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 18:1

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A Certain Jew Named Aquila
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭3

Your Blood Be Upon Your Own Heads
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
Acts 18:4-6

Hold Not Thy Peace
And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭18‬:‭7‬-‭10

Insurrection with One Accord Against Paul
And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: but if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭18‬:‭11‬-‭18

Insurrection – an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government

I Must By All Means Keep This Feast that Cometh in Jerusalem
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭18‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ 

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God Save The King
And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king. And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD. And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king’s house: and there was she slain.
2 Kings 11:12-16

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Great is the Lord
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy

The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Psalm 145:3,8,9,13,14,17,18,19,20

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Having Separated Himself (from God and Man)
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Proverbs 18:1

Intermeddleth – to interfere, hamper, hinder, obstruct

He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire. He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
Proverbs 18:1 (Amp)

Day 177 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 9:14–10:31; Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 17:27-28

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He that Hath Knowledge Spareth His Words
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Proverbs 17:27

He that Shutteth His Lips is Esteemed a Man of Understanding
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭28‬ ‭

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But Jehu Took No Heed to Walk in the Law of the LORD God of Israel
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
2 Kings 10:28-31

Jehu did much that the Lord wanted him to do, and God made him a promise that his children to the fourth generation would sit on the throne of Israel. But – but this chapter ended by telling us that Jesus took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord with all of his heart. How often do we follow some of God’s instructions, and God blesses us, and we turn around and compromise. We take no heed to continue to walk in the law of the Lord. We do that…again and again. Help us, Lord. Please help me!

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Paul Reasoned with Them Out of the Scriptures
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭4‬

Moved with Envy
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭9‬

The Bereans Received the Word and Searched the Scriptures Daily
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬-‭14‬ ‭

His Spirit Stirred Within Him when He Saw the City Wholly Given to Idolatry
And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬-‭21‬

He Hath Appointed a Day
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Acts 17:22-31

Some Mocked, Some Questioned, Some Believed
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭32‬-‭34‬

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Blessed be the LORD
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
Psalm 144:1-2

My strength. My goodness. My fortress. My high tower. My deliverer. My shield.

Day 176 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 8:1–9:13 Acts 16:16-40 Psalm 143:1-12 Proverbs 17:26

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Cause Me to Hear Thy Lovingkindness in the Morning
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Psalm 143:8

The phrase “Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning” reminded me of strawberry fields. The summer before I entered high school, my siblings and I worked, along with many other kids, picking strawberries in the strawberry fields in Washington State. Every morning before daybreak, a bus came by our house to pick us up and returned us in the afternoon. It was hard work bending over and filling those flats full of strawberries. After the kids and migrants had picked all the strawberries, we moved on to the raspberry fields.

I was thirteen years old, and other than babysitting, it was my first job. Boy, was it hard work. I made $242.00 that year picking fruit and spent every bit of it on new clothes for school. Even today, I can remember the outfits I bought that summer, and I can remember the clothes they replaced. I can remember it so well because I had been wearing my brother’s hand-me-downs. I came away with a great appreciation for how much clothes cost and the pride that comes from working hard for something.

But I came away with a greater appreciation for those who work in such an environment as strawberry fields. And especially the migrant workers that arrived each year and worked in the adjacent fields. They worked much longer hours and were housed together in meager temporary shelters while all of us children returned to our more comfortable homes.

After that summer, I despised the smell and taste of strawberries. But then, one day, about 30 years later – I suddenly wanted a strawberry again.

Teach Me to Do Thy Will
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Psalm 143:10

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The Man of God is Come Hither
And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die. And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover. And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 8:7-15

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A Certain Damsel Possess with a Spirit of Divination
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭16‬-‭18‬

The Multitude Rose Up Against Paul and Silas
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬-‭24‬

At Midnight Paul and Silas Prayed and Sang Praises
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭25‬-‭34

Let Them Come Themselves and Fetch Us Out
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Acts 16:35-40

Because Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in prison openly, having done no crime, when the magistrates told the keeper to set them free, Paul and Silas refused to go. They said no, let them release us themselves.

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To Punish the Just is Not Good
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. Proverbs 17:26

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My Prayer
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Psalm 143:8

Day 175 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 6:1–7:20; Acts 15:36–16:15; Psalm 142:1-7; Proverbs 17:24-25

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Thou Art My Refuge and My Portion
I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Psalm 142:4-5

How many times have I felt all alone? How many times have I cried out to You? How many times have You shown me that You alone are my refuge and my portion?

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Open His Eyes, that He May See
Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, None, my Lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:11-17

Lord, I pray thee, open my eyes, that I may see!

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Let Us Visit Our Brethren in Every City Where We Have Preached the Word of God
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; and Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭36‬-‭41‬

A Certain Disciple Named Timotheus
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭3

So Were the Churches Established
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:4-5

If people that walked with Jesus needed churches established, how much more do we in this day need them? It says here that churches were established in the faith. What does it mean to be established?

Establish – to bring into being on a firm and stable basis; to bring about permanently; to enact, appoint, or ordain for permanence.

When these churches were established, the Bible says they increased in number daily. Are churches not growing today because while the churches have been established, we have not been ourselves established? We begin and feel like it is permanent, but we want to run at the first pinch. We will stay faithful….unless we get upset about something or offended in some way, or bored. We go through a dry season, or God takes us through a season of waiting, and instead of holding fast and true in those seasons as God does His excellent work in our lives, we cast blame on the church. So many run to the next place at moments of difficulty, saying they are not being fed. But before they run, they pull away and start attending less. Indeed, they are not fed because they aren’t there? People are called to build and establish churches, but they are also called to be part and establish themselves. You are the Holy Spirit’s temple, and you are along with every believer, the church. Faithful in it – through good times and hard times – working together in it.

Yes, I well know there are some churches people need to flee from. Some have “Icabod” written on them. But many a God-fearing, Bible-believing, Holy Ghost-filled church is established with a handful of people now attending because they weren’t as glamorous and didn’t have the number of programs as the bigger church down the street. True, our smaller church resources are more limited. But the Holy Ghost isn’t!!! And the Word isn’t!!! And the power of God isn’t!!! And you know what? At a smaller church, we don’t have the strain of debt that some larger churches have. That strain bleeds down to the people.

Help us, LORD!!! Please help us to be faithful where You have set us. Help me to remain so.

A Man from Macedonia Appeared in a Vision
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭6‬-‭10‬

By a River Where Prayer was Being Made
Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭

A Certain Woman Named Lydia
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭

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Thou Knowest My Path
I cried unto the LORD with my voice; With my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭142‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭

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Wisdom is Before Him that Hath Understanding
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24

The wise person has understanding, not because of anything of himself, but because He fills his mind with the Word of God and learns to discern and distinguish between worldly and fleshly things and the things that are of God. As you fill your mind with the Word and meditate on it, you receive counsel from God that brings that wisdom.

By contrast, the fool searches but has no wisdom. His eyes are not fixed on God and God’s Word but the ends of the earth. He looks everywhere except God’s Word for his answers. He looks to the wisdom of man, the knowledge of scholars, the thoughts and meditations of false religions, the occult, and even to drugs for enlightenment. 

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Heavenly Father, I come before You today, and I praise You and thank You. There is no God like You. You have been with me when no one else has been in these last days. You alone have been my refuge and my strength. You alone have sustained me and shown me how to navigate this new place I find myself. You alone have set me amid a small but great company of believers that search to know and honor YOU more than they search to be known by many. Thank You for Your church, oh God. Father, in our time in Your precious Word today, we learned of a servant whose eyes were opened to see in the spiritual. I ask today that You open my eyes in that way. Help me see what is unseen by the natural eye that I might clearly know Your way for me and that I might not fall into the enemies’ traps. Show me Your glory, Lord. Set me on FIRE once again and refill me to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit that I might be a light in my world today. Please help me keep Your Word always before me to meditate on it day and night and receive understanding from Your Holy Ghost. That I might know You, lift Your Son, and share the GOOD NEWS that He died for in this dark and dying world. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen! Amen!

Day 174 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 4:18–5:27 Acts 15:1-35 Psalm 141:1-10 Proverbs 17:23

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No Small Dissension and Disputation
And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭3

Why Tempt Ye God to Put a Yoke Upon the Neck of the Disciples?
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Acts 15:4-11

So often because we feel conviction to live certain ways and to do or not do certain things, we feel that God is calling every one to live in the same way. When we try to force little things that we have made big things onto others we risk putting a yoke on them that even we can’t bear? If God tells you to do something, you better do it. But do it realizing it may be something He is not telling your neighbor to do. Your neighbor may be called to give up or to do things that you aren’t, all for His purposes in their lives. There is only One standard to live by and that is the Word of God – the entire Word…not just bits and pieces. 

Help me, Father to see where I fail in this area. Please help me live and walk as a faithful follower of Jesus, looking more and more like Him each day. I ask that in Jesus’ precious Name. Amen!

Known Unto God are All His Works
Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, And will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, Saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭12‬-‭21

Necessary Things
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: and they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬-‭29‬ ‭

They Rejoiced for the Consolation
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭30‬-‭35‬

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Now I Know That There is No God in All the Earth, But in Israel
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. 
2 Kings 15:9-16

It is interesting how often the first thing we want to do when God does a miracle through someone is to lift that person up. In this passage, Naaman wanted to give the prophet an offering. But Elisha knew it was not him, but God that did the miracle, and he refused gifts for what God had done.

The LORD Pardon Thy Servant in this Thing
And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing. And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way. 
2 Kings 15:17-19

Naaman was healed and He knew it was God. He gave God the glory and wanted to worship Him but He also knew that He worked for a master that bowed to an idol and that he would be required to do that. He asked the Lord to pardon him when we was made to bow. Elisha told Naaman go in peace. God looks at the heart. 

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Set a Watch, O Lord, Before My Mouth
LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
Psalm 141:1-4

Please Lord!

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To Pervert the Ways of Judgment
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Proverbs 17:23

Day 173 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 3:1–4:17; Acts 14:8-28; Psalm 140:1-13; Proverbs 17:22

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Perceiving that He Had Faith to Be Healed
And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: the same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬-‭13‬ ‭

Through Much Tribulation…
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: and thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Acts 14:14-28

In this passage, Paul has seen a miracle, and while he did his part to point them to Jesus and the Gospel, the people saw these men instead as gods themselves and wanted to make sacrifices to them. Paul and the men tore their clothes and cried out – Why are you doing these things? We are men like you, but we bring to you the Gospel of Jesus Christ that you might turn from idols and worship the One, true and living GOD. Jews came and won over these same crowds, and they ended up stoning Paul. They took him out of the city, assuming he was dead, but as the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back to the town. The next day he and Barnabas went on their way, returning to cities they had been to before. There they preached the good news and made disciples. They encouraged the believers to remain firm in the faith, letting them know that it is through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter the Kingdom of God. They appointed elders, prayed over them and went on their way until they reached Antioch – the place where their missionary journey began. These were the ones that had sent Paul, so he spent time with them telling all that the Lord had done on the journey – the successes and the failures.

This story in our New Testament reading touched me today because I have been sent. I have faced opposition while in another place and came back having felt I failed in my mission. I am the one that returned and stood to tell all that happened during the journey – the successes and the failures. I am the one that has spent the last few years going nowhere and content with that for a season. I did my fair share of asking, “Why?” But, then, after several extended seasons of fasting – I found in my heart the longing to go again.

Today, the Holy Ghost reminded me that we must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God.

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Thou Hast Been Careful for Us
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
2 Kings 4:8-17

I love how Elisha acknowledges all this woman has done for him, all the care she has given him. He asks her, now what can I do for you? He offers suggestions – can I speak to the king or other important people on your behalf? I love her answer even more. She says I live here among my own people in peace and security. I do not need any special favors. She did all she did not to gain anything but because she had a heart to care for the man of God. Now, she was blessed beyond measure for her care of him, but the posture of her heart was to serve God through serving the man of God and making his assigned tasks a little easier. There is a great lesson here.

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Let Not an Evil Speaker Be Established
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him

The Upright Shall Dwell in Thy Presence
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Psalm 140:12

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Good Like a Medicine
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

Day 172 One Year Daily Bible Reading – 2 Kings 1:1–2:25; Acts 13:42–14:7; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 17:19-21

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He that Exalteth His Gate Seeketh Destruction
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Proverbs 17:19

If you love to argue, you love sin. If you praise and promote yourself, your position, your authority – you are working to destroy yourself.

In Scripture, gates were places where legal and business transactions were handled. Rulers met at the gate and counsel was given there, as well as public announcements. The gates were meeting places where you could speak at one time to large groups. Those with position, titles, and authority could be found sitting at the gates to proceed over things. It was the courts of their day. The gate was also a place of protection. Everyone came in or went out through the gate. If a nation controlled the gates of a city, they had conquered that city.

Exalt – To elevate by praise; to raise in rank, power, or character.
Seek – To go in search of; to try to acquire or gain

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The Spirit of Elijah Doth Rest on Elisha
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head today? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head today? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
2 Kings 2:1-15

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The Gentiles Besought That These Words Might Be Preached to Them the Next Sabbath
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭42‬-‭43‬ ‭

A Light to the Gentiles
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
Acts 13:44-49

The Jews Stirred Up the Devout and Honourable Women and the Chief Men of the City
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭50‬-‭52‬ ‭

The Unbelieving Jews Stirred Up the Gentiles
And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, they were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: and there they preached the gospel.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭

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Whither Shall I Go From Thy Spirit?
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Psalms 139:7-12

Once you figure out that there is no where you can go that God isn’t there, you can stop wasting your prayer time begging God to show up and praise Him and thank Him because He always has…and always will. 

Thank YOU, Father!!! Thank YOU, Jesus!!! Thank YOU, Holy Ghost!!!

Search Me, O God!
Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭23‬-‭24‬