Victory in Christ

As we learn God’s Word, we should be like Ezra and have a zeal to share with others. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10) In his letter to the Colossians, Paul talks about the change in us that happens as we put off the old man and become Christians. Having a desire to teach others like Ezra did is one of those Christian traits that Paul talks about. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

Today’s reading: Ezra 7-10

Click the play button below to listen:

Mordecai became honored and loved because he unselfishly used what he had to help all Jews. “For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.” (Esther 10:3) Paul tells us to also live unselfishly and strive to be like the greatest Servant that man has ever known. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” (Philippians 2:3-9)

Today’s reading: Esther 6-10

Click below to listen:

Esther was about to risk her life and go before the king to beg for safety of the Jews. She gave Mordecai orders on what to do first. “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16) Esther had the right attitude; stand up for what you know is right, pray diligently to God, and let whatever happens be His will. Similarly, Paul said that our lives should be spent striving to serve and that if we are in Christ, dying is not the worst thing that can happen to us. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” (Philippians 1:21-24)

Today’s reading: Esther 1-5

Listen:

We have a proverb that reminds us where we can find protection. “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5)  There is a psalm that makes a very similar statement. “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” (Psalms 18:30) Jesus tells us that for that true and perfect word of God to be of any benefit to us, we must live by it completely. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Today’s reading: Zechariah 10-14

Listen:

The prophecy that Zechariah shared with the people included a promise from God of saving. “On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land.” (Zechariah 9:16) There was another prophecy that brought us a promise of saving. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23)

Today’s reading: Zechariah 5-9

Listen:

God has always been forced to deal with stubbornness from His people and the Bible makes it clear that this angers Him  “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 7:11-12) Paul tells us to be cautious about letting our stubborn attitudes keep us from repenting. “But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” (Romans 2:3-5)

Today’s reading: Zechariah 1-4

Listen:

God spoke thru the prophet Haggai giving the people something they needed to do. “Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways.” (Haggai 1:5) Again in verse 7 we see repeated “consider your ways”. Like was commanded to them, sometimes we need to do a self-examination and consider our ways, making sure they are in accordance with God’s Word. James reminds us to compare our lives to God’s Word, and be willing to make changes when we are not living in accordance with that Word. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22-25)

Today’s reading: Haggai 1-2

Listen:

Sometimes there are people in our life who intentionally try to cause us stress like we see in today’s reading: “Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building,” (Ezra 4:4) But just like we see here, if we stay the course and follow God it will always work out for the best even if it takes longer that we expect. “Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.” (Ezra 6:15-16)

Today’s reading: Ezra 4-6; Psalm 137

Listen:

As they were rebuilding the temple, the people got emotional. “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.’ And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” (Ezra 3:11) He had blessed them so much and they knew that His goodness has no limit and no end. “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5) We also have opportunity to receive that goodness. “The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

Today’s reading: Ezra 1-3

Listen:

A few days ago we talked a little bit about things God hates. As Christians there are things that we should also hate. “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13) It seems pretty easy to dislike evil, but what about pride? When things are going our way it is easy to start getting a sense of pride in ourselves. James also warns us about being proud. “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (James 4:6) I do not think a single one of us want to do anything that the scripture says God opposes. There is something we can be proud of and boast about. “so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31) Everything good we have is from God. Forgiveness of our sins and eternal salvation are from Him thru His son, our Savior. Our boasting should be in what God has done and continues to do for us and what He can do for everyone who follows Him.

Today’s reading: Daniel 10-12

Listen: