“Saved by Faith”

May 9, 2024

May 9, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 23, Proverbs 4, Romans 4

Have you ever thought about what someone in the Old Testament was granted salvation by? After all they did not know about Jesus (for good reason) yet? Although the full revelation of God had not been given yet through Jesus’s incarnation the criteria were the same from the Old and New Testaments. The answer is “by faith.” Paul answers this question in Romans 4 when he discusses the topic with the Christians in Rome.

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” v. 3. It was Abraham’s belief that granted him status as righteous. It was not anything He did or had to earn by following a list of laws. “Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!” v. 10. The circumcision that Abraham obediently followed was because of his faith in God and not to receive faith afterward. The good news is that Paul calls Abraham the father of all who believe. Not just the circumcised Jews, but also for the Gentiles who were not circumcised.  

What else stands out to you as you read these chapters? Any words, phrases, repeated ideas?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Wisdom”

May 6, 2024

May 6, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 20, Proverbs 1, Romans 1

If you could pick anyone in the world to sit down with for coffee or maybe spend the day with them who would it be? Think about all the people you could learn from and gain wisdom from. The Bible says that Solomon was the wisest man of his time. God gave him the ability to gain wisdom and apply it in all sorts of situations. The opening of Proverbs is the explanation of the wisdom that Solomon wrote down and the benefits it brings.

“The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” vv. 1-7.

First, we might ask what the difference between wisdom and knowledge is? Knowledge is something we learn but wisdom takes it a step further and is the application of the knowledge we have. Wisdom helps us gain discipline. Disciple refers to learning to control ourselves in various ways for our own betterment. Wisdom is for learning right from wrong. Wisdom is for everyone, both the simple and those who are already wise. Anyone can use wisdom to gain more. Wisdom is for our own guidance and helps us discern not just right from wrong but right from almost right.

There are all sorts of people with wisdom in our culture today. People with knowledge from areas all over the spectrum. But wisdom from God is supreme for a couple of reasons. First God is God, and we are not. His wisdom is complete and lacks nothing. Second, as our creator God knows us best. His wisdom gives us insight on every aspect of our lives. Do we accept God’s wisdom or reject it. Do we spurn God’s authority in our lives or receive it gladly? As you read through the book of Proverbs, read it with an understanding that it will add to your life in many ways. What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“God Told Me…”

May 4, 2024

May 4, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 18, Psalm 149, Acts 27

There are a lot of voices in our culture that are claiming that God told me… _________ (fill in the blank).
God (supposedly) told Joseph Smith to start another church, because all the others were corrupt and wrong. God (supposedly) told Charles Taze Russel and the Watch Tower Tract and Bible Society that the world was going to end in 1874, 1914, 1975, etc. God (supposedly) tells many progressive Christians today that living a life in line with the LGBTQ lifestyles is okay with Him. God (supposedly) tells some preachers that certain political leaders are going to win the presidency. Many people claim that God speaks to them today through the Holy Spirit, a dream or vision. So how do we know when God speaks to us and when He doesn’t?  There are things we can do to help us determine when God speaks to us and when it’s just bad case of Mexican food.

  • Does it agree with God’s Word? The Holy Spirit, the author of all Scripture (1 Peter 3:xx) is not going to tell you something contrary to what He has already said. God does not change, nor does his nature and moral law.  
  • Does it bring peace? This is not a full proof test. Some people can find peace in their own sins, but if a person is truly a believer and seeking to follow Jesus the decision, they make will either bring peace (Philippians 4:7) from the Holy Spirit or a sense of unrest.
  • Does it test well with the Fruits of the Holy Spirit? Does it foster the nine fruits of the Spirit in your life and the life of others? (Love, peace, Joy, faithfulness, gentleness, patience, etc. Galatians 5:22-23).
  • Does it come with confirmation? Do other mature believers agree with you? (Proverbs 15:22) Does God tell the same thing to others or at the same time?

There are a few other things we can examine when we are questioning if God has spoken or not. We find one of them right here in Deuteronomy 18. God warned Israel not to listen to or follow false prophets that came into their cities claiming to speak for God. He gives them a two question test they can use to determine whether or not God has spoken.

“You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him” vv. 21-22.

First, has the prophet called to speak in the name of the Lord? Second, does what he said come true? This will tell us everything. When God truly speaks, He does not lie or make mistakes. We must be careful to not use the phrase “God told me…” to flippantly. If God didn’t tell you and then it comes back to you, you could lose your trust with others but most importantly, cause someone to doubt God’s Word He has already spoken.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Saw It Coming”

May 3, 2024

May 3, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 17, Psalm 148, Acts 26

Have you ever been in a situation where you saw something coming. I’m not saying you had a vision or that you are a prophet, but your wisdom and experience allowed you to see what was lying ahead. Maybe it was something you were going to go through or maybe you saw a family or someone you loved headed in a direction that was not good? What did you do? Did you try and stop the person from going through it?

In Deuteronomy 17 we find a passage where God tries to warn the nation of Israel about their future kings and leaders. “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers” vv. 14-15. Moses continues to give them details about the future kings. “The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold” vv. 16-17. God warned the people to keep the king humble and not allow him to gain wealth and multiple wives. Is anyone else thinking of a certain king who fit this description? Solomon comes to mind for me.

Even further God tells the Israelites that the king must keep a copy of God’s Law with them and read it regularly. “When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel” vv. 18-20.

This is great advice for us today. If we find ourselves in a place of power and authority. We must remain humble and keep ourselves from being distracted by other things. We must remain faithful in reading and digesting God’s Word so that we will stay inside God’s blessings for our lives.

What else do you see in these chapters? What repeated words, phrases, or themes do you find here?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“A Divided Family”

April 29, 2024

April 29, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 13, Psalm 144, Acts 22

Do you have a close family or are they a little bit on the continuous side? There are many stories in the Bible of families that were very dysfunctional to say the least. Jacob and his twelve sons and David and his son Absolom are a few that come to mind. In Deuteronomy 13 we read some shocking words from Moses and the Lord. “If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. 9 You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people” vv. 6-9. We must remember that this was in the Old Testament and under the Old Covenant that we are not bound today to follow. But we should take note from this passage of how serious God took those who would worship and also entice others to worship the false gods of the other nations. It would be morally better for one person to die rather than for one person to mislead many others to join in and fall away from worshiping God. What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Compelled”

April 27, 2024

April 27, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 11, Psalm 142, Acts 20

What compels you most? Is it a goal, a role model or personal friend that encourages you? Is it the Lord? Paul was the apostle who was volun-told to serve Jesus as a missionary to the Gentiles. God had called him on the road to Damascus and he surrendered to a life of service. Paul faced many hardships and difficult situations in his serve to God. ““And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” – Acts 20:22-24. Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit, he was driven to serve the Lord in obedience and at whatever cost may come. Most people today will jump ship at the first sign of trouble or hardship. We must take a play from the life of Paul and be compelled by the Spirit to serve the Lord no matter what.

What else do you see in these chapters? Write you thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“A Record of Sins”

April 21, 2024

April 21, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 5, Psalm 130-131, Acts 14

What kinds of things do you keep a record of? Do you track your exercise, your diet, your time spent on some particular activity? I recently started helping my father to catalog and inventory his model train collection that he has built up over the last few decades. Keeping a record is a good thing most of the time. There are some times when we would prefer not to keep a record. 1 Corinthians 13:5 says the Love “does not keep a record of wrongs.” We do not want people to remember our past mistakes and we shouldn’t keep a record of their mistakes either. Here in Psalm 130 we find this encouragement, “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared” vv. 3-4. We can be glad most of all that God does not keep a record of our sins. When he forgives us, he loses the record or deletes it from his tally. We should take note do practice the same thing when it comes to our forgiveness of others.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“When a Plan Comes Together”

April 17, 2024

April 17, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 1, Psalm 122-123, Acts 10

In my early years I spent just about every Friday night watching my favorite show, the A-Team. The four members of the A-Team would be out to help someone in need, and you could garuntee by the end of the program they were going to create something to rescue and save the day. The lead role of Col. Hannibal Smith had a tag line he would say when the plan worked out. “I love it when a plan comes together!” Cue the music and then the show was off.

As I read Acts 10 I find myself wondering if God might have said the same thing when it was all said and done. Infinitely more complex and knowledgeable God pieced together a plan to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. A Gentile Roman Centurion named Cornelius was visited by an angel. “One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter” vv.3-5. At the same time God had also given Peter a vision of a sheet with animals on it and then commanded Peter to kill and eat them.  “’Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean’” v. 14. Three times God told him the same thing. Just about then the men from Cornlius house arrive and ask for Peter to come with them. God confirms it and tells Peter to go with the men. On arrival at Cornelius’s house the rest of the story is made known to Peter. Then Peter understands the plan. “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” vv. 34-35. God had to show Peter though a vision of food that the Gentiles were also clean and ready to receive the gospel from Peter. All these working parts came together to complete the mission and save the Gentiles that Cornelius had gathered at his home.

How have you been a part of God’s plan and seen God working together with others to accomplish the mission? What else do you see here in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Counted Worthy”

April 14, 2024

April 14, 2024

Read Numbers 34, Psalm 119:81-120, Acts 5-6

When’s the last time you rejoiced over something? Getting a good grade in school, getting a promotion at work, or maybe you celebrated something with your family like a birthday or anniversary? Whatever it was that you rejoiced over, I bet it was something good. In Acts 5: 41 we find the disciples rejoicing over something that most people would not rejoice over. “His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” The disciples took a beating, they were flogged and questioned and ordered not to continue talking about their faith and testimony in Jesus. They rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of their Savior. Jesus reminded them of this suffering before He returned to Heaven. He told them they would have trouble in this life, but to take courage, because Jesus had overcome the world.  Let this be a reminder for all of us, that when we face persecution from the world for our faith that we too can rejoice and be a part of good company like the disciples and Jesus himself who have faced persecution.

What else do you see in these chapters? What stands out to you most?
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Posted by John Weldon

“God’s Word from A to T”

April 12, 2024

April 12, 2024

Read Numbers 32, Psalm 119:1-40, Acts 1-2

What acrostics do you know and remember that help you remember something important? Maybe it’s the order of operations in math, (Please My Dear Aunt Sally) or the word ACTS that teaches us the different parts of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is 176 verses long. It is an anonymous psalm that is in the acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet (22 characters) from Aleph to Taw. Each letter has 8 verses and the entire psalm centers around the Word of God. You cannot tell it English, but in Hebrew each of the corresponding stanzas start with the Hebrew letter.

“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord” v. 1. The unknown author uses many different words for the Scripture from precepts, decrees, statues, laws, and commands.  What are some of the reasons you are thankful for God Word in your life? What are some of the benefits it has brought to your life?

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

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