Date: 07-31-2020

Title: Self-Righteous Smoke

(S) cripture:
    Isaiah 65:5 (NASB) (the self-righteous) “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.

(O) bservation:
    Isaiah has just listed all the “religious” things people do and then he drops the hammer. They think they are too good to be around sinners. God says the self-righteous are a stench – smoke in his nostrils and it lasts all day. It is not something that passes but the stench lasts all day.

(A) pplication:
    God has no place or time for the self-righteous. They do the right things but are useless to God. When I think I am too good or better than someone else, I am only a stench in God’s nostrils. I am a sinner saved by grace and I need to share that grace with other sinners. Lord, I want to serve you and never be a stench in your nostrils.

(P) rayer:
    Father, make me keenly aware when my self-righteous attitudes rear their ugly head. I want to be a fragrant offering not a stench in your nostrils. Use me today. Amen

Date: 07-30-2020

Title: Just Do It

(S) cripture:
    John 2:5 (NASB) His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

(O) bservation:
    Mary may not have understood everything, but she did know Jesus’ true identity. I think she wanted others to know his true identity, too. Her command is simple, “Whatever Jesus says, Do It”

(A) pplication:
    The sports equipment giant, Nike, had “Just Do It” as a slogan. Many thought it was original but now you know it was not. Long before Nike, Mary spoke to some servants about Jesus and told them, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” This is a simple instruction to some servants that I think is good for me today. It is simple and yet we so often ignore it to do what we want to do. Today I want to do what Jesus tells me to do. I will seek to do all you tell me to do. These words are simple to say and hear but difficult to live out.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I confess when I have not been obedient. Today I want to start fresh and obey you completely. Give me the grace and strength to follow through. Amen

Date: 07-29-2020

Title: God Became Flesh

(S) cripture:
    John 1:14 (NASB) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(O) bservation:
    The “Word” became flesh so that we might know God. Jesus became human so we could encounter God. In his flesh, Jesus experienced all that we experience and yet did not sin. He then died for our sins and rose again. His resurrection is a sign that God had accepted his sacrifice on our behalf. When we see Jesus we recognize that He is God’s only Son and our Savior.

(A) pplication:
    That God would become a man in order to save us is an awesome thought and act. Since He experienced everything that we experience there is nothing that happens in my life that surprises or catches Him off guard. Therefore, he can help me in any situation I might face. Today I trust the God who became flesh to save me. His work was complete and there is nothing left to be done. My life is saved by faith in his work on my behalf.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to always see your grace and truth in Jesus and let that rule my life and guide my actions. Amen

Date: 07-28-2020

Title: God’s Love Is …

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 103:8-14 (NASB) The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

(O) bservation:
    This declaration about God by the psalmist brings great joy to Christians. The psalmist follows this statement with others that expand and explain it. Verses 9-14 give great promises to God’s people: No accusations, sin removed, great love and compassion, God knows our humanity. These bring stability and joy to our lives.

(A) pplication:
    We have a God who loves, take cares and wants the very best for us. Today I want to live that life and be found fulfilled in Him. I want to experience the promises of this psalm. I want to be faithful and show my love for God who loves me like that.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I love you and want to live faithfully for you. Thank you for all you provide for my life. Thank you for taking care of my sin and loving me. Amen

Date: 07-28-2020

Title: God’s Love Is …

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 103:8 (NASB) The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

(O) bservation:
    This declaration about God by the psalmist brings great joy to Christians. The psalmist follows this statement with others that expand and explain it. Verses 9-14 give great promises to God’s people: No accusations, sin removed, great love and compassion, God knows our humanity. These bring stability and joy to our lives.

(A) pplication:
    We have a God who loves, take cares and wants the very best for us. Today I want to live that life and be found fulfilled in Him. I want to experience the promises of this psalm. I want to be faithful and show my love for God who loves me like that.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I love you and want to live faithfully for you. Thank you for all you provide for my life. Thank you for taking care of my sin and loving me. Amen

Date: 07-27-2020

Title: God’s Word

(S) cripture:
    Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

(O) bservation:
    God’s Word is powerful and active. It will not return to Him empty or void but will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. His Word, the Bible, reveals Himself to us and sets before us the life He demands from us. The Word also leads us to His Son for salvation and to His Spirit for power to live a holy life. Those are just a couple of His purposes.

(A) pplication:
    The Word of God must be in me to make a difference. My personal devotions are so important because they put me in contact with God’s Word. His Word will then fill me and accomplish God’s purpose in me. I cannot be lax in spending time in the Word. That time in the Word is an investment in life that has great returns.

(P) rayer:
    Lord let your Word do its work in me today. Amen

Date: 07-26-2020

Title: Flourish

(S) cripture:
Psalm 92:12-15 (NASB) The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, 15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

(O) bservation:
What a great picture of growing old in the Lord. Those people will flourish. They will bear fruit and stay fresh. They will not be brittle and stale.

(A) pplication:
That is the person I want to be. I want to flourish because I have grown old in the Lord and stayed faithful to Him. I want to stay fresh and continue to bear fruit for the Lord.

(P) rayer:
Lord let me stay close to you today so that I can grow and flourish in you. I want to bear fruit and stay fresh in my relationship with you. Lord, do your work in me today, let me stay close and flourish. Amen

Date: 07-25-2020

Title: “It’s All About Me”

(S) cripture:
Isaiah 47:10 (NASB) “You felt secure in your wickedness and said, ‘No one sees me,’ Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you; For you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’

    1 Peter 5:8 (NASB) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

(O) bservation:
Isaiah warns us about the “It’s All About Me” lifestyle. It is faulty wisdom and knowledge that leads to a “me only” outlook. That kind of outlook and behavior will leave us alone and on our own. Peter tells us to be alert and self-controlled watching out for the devil who is like a lion on the prowl. Lions attack the weak, sick, alone, or unaware. The “me only” person is all of these and a perfect and easy target for the lion.

(A) pplication:
Too often I focus only on myself. Now there is nothing wrong with self-care. If though I fall into the “It’s all about me” syndrome then I am in serious peril for attack from the evil one. Today I will focus on the Lord and living as he instructs and intends. I want to be alert and living a holy life (1 Peter 1:13), It’s is not about me but is about the Lord.

(P) rayer:
Lord help me keep my focus on you today. Let me walk with you and do what you have instructed me to do in your Word. Amen

Date: 07-24-2020

Title: No Other Like God

(S) cripture:
    Isaiah 43:10-11 (NASB) “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. 11 “I, even I, am the LORD, and there is no savior besides Me.

(O) bservation:
    As believers we are chosen as servants by God to know, believe, understand, and witness to the fact that He alone is God and there is none like Him. All other gods are simply idols made by man’s hands and they have no understanding or power to act. God concludes with the statement that there is no Savior apart from Him.

(A) pplication:
    We worship so many things that are made by man’s hands that cannot help or save us. I do not want to allow any person, thing, or activity in my life to rise to the level of an idol. Lord, my desire is to place my focus on you so that I can know, believe, understand what you say to me through your Word and Spirit. I want to be a witness of your mercy and grace in my life today. There is no other Savior to whom I can go. I need you.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, today let my focus be on solely on you. You are God and there is no other like you. Amen

Date: 07-23-2020

Title: Simple Instructions

(S) cripture:
    1 Peter 3:10-12 (NASB) For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. 11 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. 12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

(O) bservation:
    Peter is using instructions from the Psalm 34 (the NASB uses all caps when quoting from OT) to tell believers how to live. These are simple and direct. They are easy to understand and yet are profound in their impact on our lives.

(A) pplication:
    Today I want my speech and attitude to glorify Christ. It is the only way to experience the abundant Life that He has for us as believers. There is no place for lies and demeaning and evil speech. Those reveal a heart that is far from God. I want to seek peace in the midst of some conflict. Today I will pursue righteousness.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, use me today. Help me to keep my tongue in check, and only speak words that edify and build up the body of Christ. Amen