Daily Bible Blog

“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

Revelation 16:1 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

You don’t hear a lot about the wrath of God these days.  Most people and churches seem content to focus on God’s unending love and His abundant grace.  I must admit, these are much nicer topics to dwell on rather than God’s wrath, but there is a flaw when the wrath of God is removed from the picture.  First, it simply denies a Biblical view of God.  Second, it diminishes the reality of our own need and our own failures when it comes to living as God has planned.  Revelation (the end of the story) paints a horrifying picture of what it will be like to be on the receiving end of the pouring out of God’s wrath.  No one wants to experience God’s wrath . . . and no one has to.  God’s wrath is being stored up while he waits patiently for men and women to recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior and to give Him full reign in our lives.  His wrath is for those who refuse to see the need for Him, and who choose to live their lives apart from His salvation in Jesus Christ, apart from direction of his Word, and apart from His Lordship over our everyday life.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, we ask for your patience and your grace to be on all those living today, that many more will come to know Jesus and acknowledge You as God before that dreadful day of the outpouring of Your wrath.  We ask because we know that You are patiently waiting for many more to come to You.  And we ask in Jesus’ powerful name, Amen.

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.  Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live and let me not be put to shame in my hope!  Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!”

Psalm 119:114,116-117 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

Hope grounded firmly in God’s Word and His promises; that is where I hope you find yourself today.  As we view the end of 2009 and prepare for 2010, my hope and prayer for myself, my family, and for you and yours is that we will all be grounded in a firm hope in God;  a hope and faith that comes from a deep awareness understanding of what He has revealed to us in His written word.

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful that You have revealed yourself and your promises through your written word.  Draw us to the revelation that lies within, and deepen our faith as you reveal your promises each time we open Your Word.  I ask for this in the authority of Jesus Christ, Your son, amen.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

John 14:12 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

Perhaps a familiar verse but as I read it today, I sensed the quickening of the Holy Spirit in a desire to see and participate in the “greater works”.  You and I were created for relationship with God and one another.  While we are “relating”, we have been called and anointed to fulfill the works that He set out and prepared for us to do.  (Eph. 2:10)  Why settle for the “mundane 9 to 5 get to the weekend . . . work ‘till retirement” mentality, when we can pursue and engage in greater works on a daily basis, anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit for supernatural in-breakings into our lives and the lives of those around us?

Prayer:

Father, awaken the church to the possibilities You have made available to us by the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit.  Quicken us with a desire to see You active in our daily life and be glorified as we fulfill and walk in the good works You have prepared beforehand . . . that we would walk in them.  I ask for these things in the authority given to me through Jesus Christ, Your son … Amen!

“And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

2 Peter 1:19 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments

Reading these words during the Advent season was a reminder of all of the prophetic words which were fulfilled in Jesus’ birth.  One of the things our family reviews each year during Advent is a list of 24 prophecies that were spoken of, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  These, and other prophecies from scripture are an amazing body of work which serve to validate and strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten son.  May you be encouraged and strengthened in your own faith walk with God today.

Prayer

Father and God, thank you for the ways You have confirmed Your Word over and over throughout history.  Strengthen us with a faith that is unwavering and empower us to boldly share the good news that Jesus is, to those around us.  I ask that this season we will be reminded daily of the amazing gift given to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  I ask You through His authority, amen.

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

James 1:26-27 (ESV)

Bible Reading Comments:

Where does one go with that in a practical sense? I think the heart of James’ concern had to do with people who wanted to look “religious”, but who were ultimately concerned about themselves only. What we do with what we believe is truly what we value! Do we love God enough to change our lifestyle for the sake of ministering to others? Does anyone notice anything different about my life because of Jesus Christ. Other than, of course, religious talk and church activity? My prayer today is that the Lord will search my heart, and reveal any way I have kept myself from Him and allowed the world to stain my heart. How about you?

Prayer:

Father, as our creator, search our hearts and reveal where we are living “worthless religion”. Reveal the stains of the world, and cleanse us to become and remain pure and undefiled in our walk with You. I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.