Tag: Devotions

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

9 Ways to Guard Your Personal Relationship with God – David Murray (Crossway)
Here are some things that have helped me to keep my personal relationship with God personal and avoid falling into the trap of relating to him only through my ministry to others.

Patterns of Providence – Warren Gage (Ligonier)
Like the underside of grandmother’s cross-stitch,the everyday of our lives may look to be knotted and hopelessly tangled. But when we turn the fabric over, we see design and beauty that was there all along but that we never foresaw. Joseph’s life is like that.

5 Habits to Practice the Presence of God at Work – Justin Whitmel Earley (TGC)
Here are my top five habits for practicing the presence of God in busy and tech-driven offices.

Church Should Be Your Excuse for Missing Everything Else – Grayson Gilbert (Patheos)
We convene with the local church each weekend because we are betrothed, not as individuals, but as a body, to our Lord, Jesus Christ. We assemble together because He has assembled us together. We gather while it is still called “today” because we will be gathered together in His great halls with the believers of all time.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!

Bible Reading Collection

On By BrianIn Holidays, PASSION Collections

Here are helpful thoughts and plans for reading the Bible personally and as a family in 2019:

Infographic: You Have More Time for Bible Reading than You Think (Crossway)

10 Suggestions For Your Personal Devotions in 2019 – Tim Challies

Reading The Bible Fast And Slow In 2019 – Paul Carter (Challies)

How to Read Through the Bible in a Year With Kids– J. R. Briggs (ABS)

10 Ideas and 10 Tips for Family Devotions in 2019 – Tim Challies

Reflections on Habakkuk 3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Habakkuk prays to God.

  • Salvation and Judgment – Habakkuk recognizes that God will save his people by judging their enemies (v13). Some people want God to be a Savior but not a Judge, to be loving but not holy.  Habakkuk realizes that God must be both.  In order to save his people, God must judge the wicked.
  • Joyful Trust – Habakkuk ends his book with a glorious statement of joyful trust (v17-19). Though all earthly means may fail, he will yet rejoice in the Lord who is his strength.  In what situations do you need to rejoice in the Lord as you lean on his strength?

Reflections on Habakkuk 1-2

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God tells Habakkuk that he will judge Judah thru Babylon, and then judge Babylon.

  • Trust – Throughout the first two chapters, Habakkuk struggles to understand God’s plan. God tells him that the righteous shall live by faith (2:4).  For what in your life do you need to trust God?
  • God’s Glory – Habakkuk is concerned about God’s honor (1:12). God is also concerned about his honor – he will fill the whole earth with the knowledge of his glory (2:14).  All should keep silent before him (2:20).  Are you concerned about God’s honor?  How might that show in your life?

Reflections on Zephaniah 3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Zephaniah predicts the coming day of the Lord – a time of great blessing for God’s people.

  • Future Blessings – Zephaniah ends his book with a beautiful picture of what is to come. God’s people will humbly serve God and act in righteousness and justice.  They will dwell in safety with God in their midst.  They will rejoice in the Lord even as he will rejoice in them.  What a glorious day is coming!  Rejoice and sing!

Reflections on Zephaniah 1-2

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Zephaniah predicts the coming day of the Lord – a time of great judgment.

  • Judgment for Sin – Most of Zephaniah deals with God’s judgment. The reason for this judgment is clear – “because they have sinned against the Lord” (1:17).  This includes idolatry (1:4-6), boasting (2:8), and pride (2:10, 15). God hates sin and will judge.  Sin is serious.  Are you taking sin seriously in your life?
  • Seek! – Zephaniah calls God’s people to seek the Lord, to seek righteousness, and to seek humility. Are you seeking these things?  In what ways?

Reflections on Nahum 2-3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Nahum describes the fall of Nineveh.

  • Against Sinners – Twice God says he is against Nineveh (2:13, 3:5). In truth, God is against all people because of their sin (Romans 1:18).  But in Christ there is no longer any condemnation for us; in Christ God is no longer against us, but for us (Romans 8:1, 31).  Praise the Lord!
  • Trust – Nineveh plundered the nations and was full of wealth, but their wealth was about to be plundered (2:9). They trusted in the security of their city, but like Thebes (3:8-10), their city too would fail.  What are you living for?  What are you trusting in?

Reflections on Nahum 1

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Nahum proclaims the greatness of our God and predicts the coming fall of Nineveh.

  • God’s Wrath – God hates sin. He gave Nineveh a chance to repent through Jonah, but their repentance was short lived.  Now God’s wrath would be poured out in judgment.  God’s wrath is serious.  Praise the Lord that Jesus bore our sin and God’s wrath in our place!
  • Stronghold – While this book is bad news for Nineveh, it is good news for Judah. Nineveh had come against them and almost destroyed them, but God had been their stronghold.  Now God would be their stronghold in delivering Judah from Nineveh forever (1:7).  This was good news (1:15).  How do you need God to be your stronghold today?

Reflections on II Chronicles 33-35

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

We see God’s interaction with two great kings, as the exile draws near.

  • Humility – It took capture and imprisonment to humble Manasseh. Josiah humbled himself when he heard the Word of the Lord.  How has God humbled you?  Do you humble yourself before God’s Word?
  • Judgment and Mercy – God judged Manasseh for his sins, but then showed him mercy when Manasseh humbled himself and cried out for help. God’s judgment was coming against Judah because of their sins, but God mercifully postponed his judgment because of Josiah’s humility.  How have you seen God’s judgment and mercy at work?

Reflections on II Kings 21-23

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Two evil kings are followed by Josiah – the final righteous king before the exile.  Note:

  • Influence and Consequences – Manasseh led the people of Judah astray into much evil, and God’s judgment was coming. Do you influence people towards God or away from him?  To do what is right or wrong?  Toward blessing or judgment?
  • Repentance – Josiah reads the Book of the Law and truly repents. He humbles himself, rips his clothes, and weeps over their past sin.  Then he moves in the right direction – he cleanses the temple from all the instruments of idolatry, destroys the high places, rids the land of mediums and idols, and much more.  When confronted with sin – do you seriously repent like this?