Author: David LaFrance

Today’s Reading:  Isaiah 1-3, Psalm 9, Matthew 22

As I start my 25th year as an educator, I still get so excited, like it is my first day.    My wife will jokingly tell me I am the only one who gets that way still.  I remind her that I know many other parents who are counting down the days until school starts. (We did have a blast making the short trips around time and just being together as we did some travels.)

For myself, as we work towards the end of the summer, it is often a time of reflection. What happened? What did we learn as a family over the summer? Were there any highlight moments? The start of the summer did present itself with an opportunity to move my family.  It was hard to think of these changes.  I have been pretty content,  but looking to do or need more based on selfish and earthly family dreams. My ongoing prayer was for God to put me exactly where HE wanted me.  For now, it is still here.  Doing all I love.  These reflective moments brought me to today’s verses on judgment and hope.  Sins of selfishness brought me to my knees when I expected everything to go how I wanted things.  I, I, I was a repeat in various places.  Today’s verses reminded me about earthly idols that can impact every person.  These verses also reminded me about our Savior, who died to wash me clean.  To wash you clean.

I reflected upon everything I saw.  Lots of selfishness in so many of my decisions, looking more at things of this world and trying to live in this earthly world instead of looking towards Heaven.  I lost sight of His glory and looked to my own success or trying to please others.

These verses help remind me about God’s promises of not only judgment but hope. 

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. 19 If you are  willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;

Do the idols in life sometimes get too big to where you can fall into disobedience?  Pray for obedience daily. 

8. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made. 9 So people will be brought low
and everyone humbled— do not forgive them. (watch for idols we can create with our hands)

11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low;
the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. 12 The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted. (judgment will come) 

10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. (trust and seek Him always – He is not of this world) 

(Matthew reminds us what is truly the most important. )

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first an  greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

What do you do in the sight of the Lord? 

Today’s Readings include 2 Kings 13–14, 2 Chronicles 25, Psalm 53, and Matthew 12

As I read through our readings for the day, I was reminded of the inherited influences left for me.  Now there was no royalty involved or finances that could come close to this lifestyle, but I remember plenty of things that have impacted me throughout growing up and into my “adult” life. I wish I could say that everything growing up pointed to the Lord.  That would not be true.  In fact, there were many complicated things that I faced that were attached to sin.  This would then impact the choices that I would make growing up.  In today’s reading, Kingdoms were affected.  In my world, parents, siblings, and friends were impacted by my selfish, prideful, and insecure self.  It wasn’t until I started an authentic relationship with the Lord that some of these choices changed.  I pray that I can stay away from slipping back into these same sinful decisions each day.

2 Kings 13-14

² He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them.

In our reading today, we see Kings who followed the ways they were taught before they reigned.  We read about Kings who decided to go against the Lord’s ways. ( Not a good idea.)

As a husband, father, sibling, and friend, I pray that I continue to live out and point to the Lord.

Psalm 53

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven
on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,[b]
who seek after God.

Lesson learned from previous Kings.

• Remembering that open defiance against God may bring temporary gain but will also bring conflict, fear, and ultimately painful defeat.
• We learn that it is in futility that we attempt to “recreate” worship of God in the way that we want to do it. This counterfeit worship only leads to destruction.
• Israel had many kings, but they were not the ultimate authority in Israel. Instead, God’s covenant word was the absolute authority.

Matthew 12

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Today’s Reading is 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18, Matthew 2

Happy Tuesday – In today’s readings, you will hear the same story of Jehoshaphat joining forces with Ahab.  After feeling like I read the same chapter twice, I landed on a few verses that spoke to my heart. I pray that you will also use His truth and reflect on them today.

1 Kings 22:5  ⁵ But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.”

2 Chronicles 18:4 ⁴ And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.”

Jehoshaphat was trying to remind Ahab – Seek first the Lord… Which is what we always need to be doing.  Whether it is myself being reminded or reminding someone else, it should be our first go-to.  I have tended to go to the Lord when I need earnest prayers.  This could involve selfishness, greed, anger, untruths, pride, lust, suffering from duplicity… the list can go on.  The three-letter word that encompasses it all is SIN.

I get in trouble., I’ll call on God and pray my way out of a situation or circumstance I behaved my way into.  And then I wonder, what’s up, God? Why?  When God is really asking me, “What’s up, Dave?” what’s wrong with you?  I have given you MY WORD, and you still don’t listen.

In today’s reading, they were about to go to war.  Jehoshaphat was telling Ahab to seek the Lord, but Ahab asked for advice from 400 other prophets.  Sometimes I can act this way.  I can seek an answer from this world’s many people, places, or things. When I need to turn to the one trustworthy source that can provide the peace only He can provide.

Lord, Help me not turn to myself or the world for answers.  Help me to seek you earnestly and not run to you after I have decided to do things my way.  Let me open my ears and heart to the stories shared today.  Amen

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

 

 

 

Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 1-3, Psalm 72, 1 Thessalonians 5

Today, my wife Jennifer and I will celebrate our 14th anniversary. (Woot Woot)  As I read our readings for the day, I couldn’t help but pause and reflect on how God connects us and has His perfect timing and reasons for everything under the sun.  When we can believe and trust in reasons for love for others or only for Him.  Some interpretations of this chapter of the Songs of Solomon related it to God’s love for us. What a perfect opportunity to recognize such an amazing gesture of love between two people that only God could orchestrate.

There is beauty in marriage and a grind that we move through as we attempt to navigate this journey on earth between two imperfect people.  Thankfully we have a God through whom we can do all things when we base our love on Him.

This wedding day, love and talk of beauty remind us of all we will experience.  There is also a warning in Songs of Solomon 2:15.

Catch the foxes^[e] for us,
the little foxes
that spoil the vineyards,
for our vineyards are in blossom.”

Many commentators will use this verse as a warning as we enter marriage or relationships.  It warns us to watch out for the things that will ruin a marriage o ra relationship.  The metaphor of the fox stands for the minor problems that can eat away at marriage and cause significant issues.  As I remind you on our 14th anniversary and wherever you may be today, remember to keep God at the center of your marriage.  Don’t let the small things eat away at what God has designed to be fruitful.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

As a young writer who never loved to write but would do it when asked, I would often be asked to work on those run-on sentences. The ideas would get flowing, and the and’s would be used.  Too much to share and not enough sentences.  (haha) As I read Romans 1, I stopped after reading verses 1-7.  All one sentence.  But none of my sentences have ever been as profound as what Paul shares.

Paul, a servant[a] of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David[b] according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This greeting to the Roman Christians covers the whole gospel in these verses.  Sending an opening statement that sets our foundation for faith.  The commentary I read by Pastor John MacArthur broke these verses down by the following.

Verse 1	The preacher	Paul – preacher of the good news.
Verse 2	The promise	Gospel promised in the Old Testament. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
Verse 3	The person	His Son – Jesus
Verse 5	The provision	We will inherit grace and apostleship.  Grace that we can’t earn
Verse 6	The proclamation	To bring everyone to the obedience of faith.
Verse 7	The privilege	God loves us, and we are called to salvation.

 

So, we see the preacher of the good news, the promise of the good news, the person of the good news, the provision of the good news—grace and apostleship—the proclamation of the good news.  And it is a proclamation of obedience. Lastly, we are loved by God and called to salvation. 

What an opening statement to the Roman Christians.  What an opening statement to us today as we trust in the words of Paul in our lives today.  

I know God will be glorified in your life today as you respond to His good news and proclaim it to those we talk with today and have ears to hear.

I pray for our obedience and faith today.

 

Today’s Readings: 2 Samuel 15-17, Psalm 3, Psalm 63, Romans 1

 

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 28-29, 1 Chronicles 9, Acts 19

As I read the verses today, there were stories of mediums (1 Samuel 28) and evil spirits that beat up and ran out Jewish priests (Acts 19:14). I searched for connections.  As I continued to read, I came across a question that caused me to pause.  It was a question that caused me to reflect and take inventory.

Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?

This question made me reflect and look at the various commentaries on this question.  Paul found out that there were different stages of spiritual knowledge and understanding.

It made me think of our world. People have different thoughts about our Lord. Some people prefer the Ala-cart Lord, where we can select the part of the Bible we like to hear.  Some people are not familiar with Him at all. Some people have given their whole life to Him and have received the Holy Spirit.  This question makes me think of the Parable of the Sower Matthew 13:1-23. ( “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”)

When Christianity was established, and the new covenant was introduced, there were many Jews who found it very difficult to make all the transitions.  Some may say that transitioning from a life without the Lord to a life with the Lord is too hard.  I agree; it is hard when I try to do things myself.  When I rely on Him and the Holy Spirit — All things are possible.  Have you come into the fullness of experiencing all that God has provided for you? 

Here are a few additional verses that remind us that if you know God through Christ, the Spirit comes as a gift.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 

1 Corinthians 6:19  Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 

Ezekial 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 

 

Lord, our desire is to know the fullness of all that is granted through salvation.  We thank You for your Word and thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to be the strength of our life.

1 Samuel 11-13, Psalm 38, Acts 9

Today as I read these passages, I heard the story of two Sauls.  I was familiar with them both, but reflecting on these two stories simultaneously was interesting.

1 Samuel 11-13

The Book of Samuel is a book of great beginnings…and tragic endings. The beginning of Saul’s life talked about his humble leadership (9:21; 10:22) and was God’s choice as Isreal’s first king (10:24). His early reign was marked by leadership (chapter 11).  I will hold on to details, but eventually, Saul disobeys God, becomes jealous and paranoid, and eventually has his kingship taken away by God.  Saul’s life continues after these chapters going downward.  Eventually, deciding to take his own life.  This story will capture the reign and decline of the first king of Isreal.

Acts 9

In Acts, we find another Saul who is on the road to Damascus.  Saul was a non-believer who pursued Christians to either put them in jail or have them killed.   But on this road, he was confronted by the Lord (9:3) and brought face-to-face with the truth of the Gospel.  Saul eventually turns into the apostle Paul we read about, who shapes the history of Christianity.

Sometimes God breaks into our lives spectacularly, or sometimes conversion may include a quiet conversation.  Either way, we read today about two journeys.  I think of how Lynden mentioned the journey of encouragement, adversity, and resolution.

What is going on in your journey today? Financial issues, health-related problems, raising children, issues with your job, marriage, all of the above?  What will you decide? Who will you believe? The world or the creator of the world?  None of these decisions will be easy, and they will take lots of faith in the Lord.  I see us on the same journey as both Saul’s we read about.  Will the world take you toward a downward spiral, or will you listen to the voice of the Lord?

Psalm 38

21 Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.  22 Make hast to help me, O Lord my salvation.

 

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2

Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”