My Daily Pause

Loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39) might be the second greatest command, but it is also one of the toughest to follow. Between gossip, competition and jealousy there are plenty of temptations for people to work against us and each other.

It turns out that there is a way to rise above that, to gain the respect of others, to not be one that gets hurt:

First, don’t participate.

Second, practice Solomon’s basic wisdom for how to treat others:

Whenever you are able,
do good to people who need help.
If you have what your neighbor asks for,
don’t say, “Come back later.
I will give it to you tomorrow.”
Don’t make plans to hurt your neighbor
who lives nearby and trusts you.
Don’t accuse a person for no good reason;
don’t accuse someone who has not harmed you. – Proverbs 3:27-30 NCV

The Bible is full of instruction on getting along with people. If we’re not following it, it makes it difficult to save their soul!

Daily Bible reading for May 7

Proverbs 3:21-35
Deuteronomy 8:1-9:5
Hosea 4-5
Titus 1:5-16

Trust the Lord with all your heart,
and don’t depend on your own understanding.
Remember the Lord in all you do,
and he will give you success. – Proverbs 3:5-6 NCV

God is glad to have you remember him when you are troubled, but here’s a little reminder to invite him into your life even when there is nothing you specifically need.

Did you ever ask him to guide you in a choice but forget to follow up when everything turned out well? Paul reminds us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) and to offer our prayers with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).

One of the reasons I like to include the King James Version for Bible study is for verses like Matthew 7:8:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Asketh. Seeketh. Knocketh. That “eth” on the end of those verbs makes it a continuous action. Jesus told us to ask, seek and find (Matthew 7:7) but God wants to be your first resource all the time.

Daily Bible reading for May 6

Proverbs 3:13-20
Deuteronomy 7
Hosea 3
Titus 1:1-4

My child, do not reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t get angry when he corrects you.
The Lord corrects those he loves,
just as parents correct the child they delight in. – Proverbs 3:11-12 NCV

God’s discipline might be one of the most under taught subjects today. Why would God discipline his children? Because he loves them!

The Hebrew writer quotes directly from these verses in Hebrews 12:5-6. He shows us that chastisement comes completely from the love of God. Through Hebrews 5:3-11 we see that God cares enough to:

• Help us correct our faults
• Strengthen our faith
• Promote our welfare

We also see how we should respond:

• We are not to despise God for it
• We must submit to it
• We must be exercised by the purpose of it

Sometimes we get a little too self-dependent and it takes a little shakeup to get right with God again. When we are challenged, we can be joyful for the Christian strength we will gain rather than feel sorry for ourselves. (James 1:2-4) In the end, God simply wants continual growth and service dedicated to him.

Daily Bible reading for May 5

Proverbs 3:1-12
Deuteronomy 6
Hosea 2:2-23
2 Timothy 4:9-22

Paul tells us that the scriptures were given to us by inspired writers (literally, God-breathed into them.) It has everything we need to carry out the great commission. (2 Timothy 3:16) With the scriptures we can:

• Teach others how to find salvation (Teach)
• Challenge our fellow Christians to improve (Reprove)
• Show ourselves and others where we see sin (Correct)
• Make progress toward righteousness (Train)

Solomon knew this too. In Proverbs 2 he lists the five fruits of Wisdom. Through listening and trying to understand (Proverbs 2:2) God’s words, these things begin to happen:

• We find God (Proverbs 2:1-8)
• We are rewarded with the love of knowledge (Proverbs 2:9-11)
• We are delivered from evil (Proverbs 2:12-15)
• We have safety from harlotry (Proverbs 2:16-19)
• We will receive a special inheritance (Proverbs 2:20-22)

The next step beyond a daily devotional reading, once it is a well rooted habit, is taking time to really try to understand what God has told us. A momentum begins to build and we become a reflection of his wisdom.

Daily Bible reading for June 4

Proverbs 2
Deuteronomy 5
Hosea 1:1-2:1
2 Timothy 3:10-4:8

God has laid out his complete plan. He made sure it was sufficient to make us people of God. It equips us for good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). He then sent out his people to teach and prepare others so they can have salvation too.

He pleads. He persuades. He promises. (Proverbs 1:20-33)

We see Paul customarily going to Scripture to reason with those he taught (Acts 17:2-3). No opinion. No feelings. Just God’s word.

Still, there are some that ignore parts of it. Some teach opinions based on their feelings. Some leave out parts that are “inconvenient.” Some justify their sins with flawed reasoning. These sinners are in the same danger as the five virgins – at some point the door will close on the ones who are not ready. (Matthew 25:10).

For the complete parable of the ten virgins, read Matthew 25:1-13

Daily Bible reading for May 3

Proverbs 1:20-33
Deuteronomy 4
Jonah 4
2 Timothy 3:1-9