The Day of Judgment

Scripture:

Malachi 1 to 4


Observation:

Malachi was a contemporary of Nehemiah. There is some belief that Malachi may have written this message to Israel between Nehemiah’s two terms as governor. Malachi is addressing Israel’s loss of hope (doubting God’s love and no longer trusting His justice) and their subsequent insincere worship. Malachi warns them that God is coming as a judge, and He will judge His people first. Malachi also reminds them that God does not change, and He still offers Israel the opportunity to repent and be reformed in order to once again experience God’s blessings. Malachi urges Israel to return to God.


Application:

God knows my heart. He knows when I doubt Him and whether or not my worship is sincere. God also, in His lovingkindness, offers me the opportunity to repent and be restored in fellowship with Him after I have strayed.

One outline of Malachi might read like this:

1. You can’t fool God (with insincere worship - just “going through the motions)
2. You can’t defy God (with unfaithfulness - so guard against impurity)
3. You can’t rob God (everything is His so don’t neglect tithing)
4. You can’t escape God (judgment of sin is coming, but so is the good news!)

Prayer:

Father, thank You that You offer mercy and restored relationship to Your children who have strayed! Thank You for being faithful even when we are faithless! (II Timothy 2:13) Draw those who are not walking with You back to Yourself, I pray. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

The Story of Jonah

Scripture:

Jonah 1 to 4


Observation:

1) Running from God:

Jonah didn’t like what God told him to do, so he tried to run away. But there is no getting away from God! (Psalm 139:7)

2) Turning to God:

After Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of a big fish, he was spit up onto the shore. (Side note: Jonah was part of the vomit of a very large fish. That’s disgusting. Just saying.) Once he was freed from the fish’s belly, Jonah admitted his sin and turned back to God. This is a tremendous example of both the consequences of sin, and God’s willingness to forgive when we repent.

3) Obeying God:

Jonah preached repentance to Ninevah and they listened! God, in His mercy and compassion, sent the way of salvation to the people of Ninevah. They needed to choose whether or not to accept God’s gift. They did and experienced forgiveness and entered into a relationship with God as His children. God used Jonah to bring salvation to a nation.

4) Disappointed with God:

Jonah was unhappy because God offered the way of salvation to Ninevah. Jonah acted like He knew better than God. We’ve learned in the past that this is pride. God could have been angry with Jonah and caused the ground to swallow Jonah up (like Korah in the book of Exodus). Instead, God patiently explained to Jonah why He wanted to offer salvation to the people of Ninevah. God made them, just like He made Jonah. And God loved them, just like He loved Jonah.


Application:

God is patient, gracious, merciful and loving. He knows when I am running away, angry, or disappointed. He loves me and is ready to extend his grace and mercy to me when I turn back to Him.


Prayer:

Father, for any one reading this who is trying to run from You, I pray You would remind them of Your love and Your desire for them to turn back to You. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and patience. Please keep me in the shadow of Your wings!

Daniel in the Lions' Den

Scripture:

Daniel 6


Observation:

Daniel is a leader in King Darius’ kingdom “because an excellent spirit was in him” (v. 3). It was not because of what he had accomplished, but because of who he had become - the character he both possessed and displayed in his dealings with others. The other leaders tried to find fault with Daniel but couldn’t, so they attempted to manufacture a way to remove Daniel from power (and to take Daniel’s life!) by making his faith illegal. (We call this persecution.) Daniel responded to this persecution by continuing to pray to God. When Daniel’s violation of the new law was brought to the attention of the king, the king tried to find a loophole to avoid throwing Daniel to the lions, but none was to be found. The king, too, then “had” to resort to praying to Daniel’s God. God miraculous saved Daniel and brought Daniel’s enemies to justice. King Darius began to follow God, and ordered all his people to do so, too!


Application:

To worship God like Daniel did I need to:

1) be faithful in daily quiet times
2) work for my employer to the best of my ability
3) seek to be a woman of character from the inside out
4) continue to do what is right in the face of persecution
5) trust God with my life


Prayer:

Father, shine Your light in my heart and reveal the areas that are not yet fully surrendered to You. Please remove my human faults and replace them with Your fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Help me be faithful to You and to those whom You call me to serve. Make me a woman of character, who walks in a manner worthy of a child of Yours. And make me strong in the face of persecution, I pray. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Jeremiah's Call and Message

Scripture:

Jeremiah 1:1-3:5


Observation:

Jeremiah gets the job of telling Israel that they are about to be disciplined for their sin (idolatry). The message God gives Jeremiah to give to Israel uses the imagery of a bride who becomes a prostitute. God also sends the message that He loves Israel and that He will forgive His wayward people and their relationship will be restored.


Application:

Sin breaks our relationship with God. Forgiveness from and reconciliation to God came to Israel and to all the world through Jesus! Galatians tells us through Jesus we can be redeemed, made children of God and be given His spirit! (Galatians 4:4-6)


Prayer:

Thank You, Father, for offering us forgiveness and restored relationship! That is truly “good news!”

The Suffering Servant

Scripture:

Isaiah 51 to 53


Observation:

Week before last we read about the fall of Israel. Today we read a message of hope. Isaiah is telling the people of Israel that God will save them. Isaiah reminds the people that God has rescued them in the past and He will do so again. Isaiah shares the gospel (the word gospel means “good news”) with them that a Savior is coming. That Savior is Jesus!


Application:

Jesus came to rescue sinners from their sin. Isaiah shared that news with Israel. It is our job to share that news with people today!


Prayer:

Father, teach us how to share the truth of the gospel. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us! Help us to share the good news with others! Amen.

Reading plan as of July 11th

This week we will finish the Old Testament portion of the E-100 Bible readings and starting July 11th we will be joining Mom’s Toolbox in reading the Bible in 90 days. It takes about an hour to complete the assigned reading each day. I encourage any who desire to read along to sign up at this link.

Penney will be serving as a mentor, and if you would like to be placed in her group, please indicate so in the last box on the sign up form. If you have already signed up and want to request Penney as a mentor, please email her as soon as possible at mrssid(at)gmail(dot)com and she will forward your request to the person assigning mentor groups.

Blog posts at Better Things will be written approximately twice per week from portions of the reading. Those who aren’t feeling as though they can commit to taking on the whole challenge this summer are invited to continue to follow the blog.

I do encourage anyone who is feeling even a little interested to sign up and take the challenge. It is an experience that is well worth the time invested. Jesus will meet you in amazing ways on this journey!

We will plan to resume the E100 reading plan (the 50 New Testament readings) in October. :)

Reading Schedule - "The Prophets"

The Prophets:

46) The Suffering Servant
Isaiah 51 to 53

47) Jeremiah’s Call and Message
Jeremiah 1:1-3:5

48) Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Daniel 6

49) The Story of Jonah
Jonah 1 to 4

50) The Day of Judgment
Malachi 1 to 4

Proverbs of Solomon

Scripture:

Proverbs 16 to 18


Observation:

The Proverbs contain wisdom for living. In this excerpt from the book, we see several verses that give instructions for living. These verses can be grouped into themes. Three of the themes we see in these three chapters are wisdom, humility, and trust.


Application:

Wisdom is a treasure. God’s wisdom is more valuable than earthly riches (see 16:16). The opposite of wisdom is foolishness. Our wisdom or folly is reflected in our words. Sometimes the wisest thing is to remain silent (17:28). Wisdom is also reflected in controlling our strong emotions (17:27).

Humility is also a treasure. The opposite of humility is pride. Simply put, pride is considering yourself either more than or less than what God made you to be. That bears repeating. Simply put, pride is considering yourself either more than or less than what God made you to be. Pride is the source of downfall (16:18). We learned in James that God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). True humility is understanding who you are and Who God is.

Trust is a third treasure we see reflected in these chapters. Trust God. Trust that His way is best and that His will will be accomplished. We are responsible to do what He calls us to, and to do so with all of our hearts, but the results are up to Him (16:1-4).

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

Prayer:

Father, please forgive me for the times I have tried to take control from You. Thank You for establishing my steps! Help me to trust You more!

Godly Wisdom

Scripture:

Proverbs 1 to 4


Observation:

The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon. The first four chapters set the foundation for the book; they talk about the importance of wisdom. This chapters tells us that wisdom:

• begins with the fear of God (1:7, 2:5)
• comes from God, through His Word - the Bible (also in James 1:5)
• protects us from evil (1:10-19)
• provides us with blessings (3:13-26)

Application:

Wisdom comes from knowing and obeying God.

Know Him. Do what He says.

Know it.

Do it.


Prayer:

Father, teach us what it means to “fear” You. Fill us with a reverence for an an awe of You. Give us a love for Your Word, and give us wisdom. Thank You for hearing and answering us!