Daily Reading
Daily Thought
When we open the Bible, we read the story of God and us. We see the ebb of our disobedience and rebellion and the flow of God’s grace and mercy. We learn about ourselves and our God.
“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.” ~Nehemiah 8:1
Ezra read from the book all day, every day, for days, and when he stopped reading, “all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:9).
They worshipped their Creator, “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you” (Nehemiah 9:6).
They worshipped their Redeemer, “You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them” (Nehemiah 9:17).
They worshipped their God, “the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love” (Nehemiah 9:32).
Jesus said, “Follow me,” because transformation is a journey made over time and trouble. If it is not good yet, God is not done yet, because “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6) is God’s promise of process, persistence, and perseverance with us.
When we open the Bible, we see the big picture of our God who is faithful and wonderful and mighty and merciful. God is the author of life and it is in God we find our purpose and power and confidence. When we open the Bible, we are confronted with our sin which cries out sorrow, but more importantly, we come upon our Savior which calls forth celebration. Nehemiah rightly reminds the Israelites, and us, “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Daily Prayer
My God, I celebrate Your goodness, Your love, Your grace and mercy, Your majesty. I sing loudly with joy, because You are good and You are my God. The joy I find in You gives me strength to overcome, because nothing compares. Certainly not the cheap pleasures of this world. May I wake each day, delight in Your Word, and walk in the joy set before me.
Keep my memory fresh, God, of the ways You have worked in my life. May I draw on Your faithfulness when times are tough, when my strength wavers, when it is dark. I know You are with me, help me remember You always will be.
Amen
Daily Question
Should a Christian be an optimist or a pessimist? Why?