Friday, December 31
Be intentional in 2011
On December 30, 1842, a 29-year-old Scottish pastor named Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote a letter to his congregation. He said:
D.A. Carson provides a great resource to help us understand the Bible as we read it. This is the resource I will be using - Vol.1 of "For the Love of God" and doing the reading plan over 2 years.
Why I chose this option:
- It's available for free online
- It gives a small portion of commentary on a large portion of scripture rather than the opposite, like many devotionals.
- Carson is a brilliant expositor of Scripture, and many times I walking away from reading wondering what exactly I just read...Carson's commentary will help with that.
- During year 2 I will use Vol. 2 of his book
- This plan follows M’Cheyne's reading plan that has you read in 4 different places of the Bible each day, however I will be only reading 2 and then picking up the other 2 in the second year to help keep up.
The resource is further explained and available free in PDF format HERE.
May you press into the Lord in 2011 in ways you never have before...and May you never be the same!
Pursuing Him with You,
Dave
"MY DEAR FLOCK,—The approach of another year stirs up within me new desires for your salvation, and for the growth of those of you who are saved. “God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” What the coming year is to bring forth, who can tell? . . . Those believers will stand firmest who have no dependence upon self or upon creatures, but upon Jehovah our Righteousness. We must be driven more to our Bibles, and to the mercy-seat, if we are to stand in the evil day. Then we shall be able to say like David—, “The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from thy law.” “Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word.” It has long been in my mind to prepare a scheme of Scripture reading, in which as many as were made willing by God might agree, so that the whole Bible might be read once by you in the year, and all might be feeding in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time."
D.A. Carson provides a great resource to help us understand the Bible as we read it. This is the resource I will be using - Vol.1 of "For the Love of God" and doing the reading plan over 2 years. Why I chose this option:
- It's available for free online
- It gives a small portion of commentary on a large portion of scripture rather than the opposite, like many devotionals.
- Carson is a brilliant expositor of Scripture, and many times I walking away from reading wondering what exactly I just read...Carson's commentary will help with that.
- During year 2 I will use Vol. 2 of his book
- This plan follows M’Cheyne's reading plan that has you read in 4 different places of the Bible each day, however I will be only reading 2 and then picking up the other 2 in the second year to help keep up.
The resource is further explained and available free in PDF format HERE.
May you press into the Lord in 2011 in ways you never have before...and May you never be the same!
Pursuing Him with You,
Dave
Thursday, December 9
A friendly rebuke
Yesterday we had an unplanned visit from some good friends of ours who needed to borrow our car. During their time at our house we had some very God-ordained conversation which basically consisted of them calling us out on some things. Their biggest concern was that we had been neglecting to walk out some very specific things the Lord spoke into our life about a year ago. Their challenge was filled with love and encouragement, yet stern and truth-filled.
If I could sum up their words, it would come from Acts 4:29, "We must obey God rather than men." Lately in many ways, I have been obeying man. I have been more concerned with how people view me and my ministry, instead of knowing my acceptance in Christ and being freed up to not be concerned with man's thoughts toward me. The Apostles in this passage were able to walk in massive amounts of obedience because their focus was on the greatness of their God and his mission for their life, and not on those around them, namely the religious authorities who were telling them not to preach the gospel.
I believe part of the answer to this problem of living to please man is found in Acts 4:32 - "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
What is it that enabled the Apostles to endure the abuse and opposition of man? They were fully engaged in the Spirit, to the point where even to consider obeying man and not living out Christ's mission was not even on their minds. Why? Because their minds were full of the Lord and their spirit (The Holy Spirit) was filled with His power to walk out God's calling on them.
Questions to consider:
1. Who is speaking Truth into your life?
2. Are you allowing them to walk with you in what obedience looks like?
3. Is your focus on YOUR abilities/inabilities or HIS ever-enabling Spirit?
4. What's keeping you from walking in obedience?
Surrendering with you!
Dave
If I could sum up their words, it would come from Acts 4:29, "We must obey God rather than men." Lately in many ways, I have been obeying man. I have been more concerned with how people view me and my ministry, instead of knowing my acceptance in Christ and being freed up to not be concerned with man's thoughts toward me. The Apostles in this passage were able to walk in massive amounts of obedience because their focus was on the greatness of their God and his mission for their life, and not on those around them, namely the religious authorities who were telling them not to preach the gospel.
I believe part of the answer to this problem of living to please man is found in Acts 4:32 - "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
What is it that enabled the Apostles to endure the abuse and opposition of man? They were fully engaged in the Spirit, to the point where even to consider obeying man and not living out Christ's mission was not even on their minds. Why? Because their minds were full of the Lord and their spirit (The Holy Spirit) was filled with His power to walk out God's calling on them.
Questions to consider:
1. Who is speaking Truth into your life?
2. Are you allowing them to walk with you in what obedience looks like?
3. Is your focus on YOUR abilities/inabilities or HIS ever-enabling Spirit?
4. What's keeping you from walking in obedience?
Surrendering with you!
Dave
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