Blog Entries tagged 'Bible'

Words To Live By

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This segment only takes about 30 seconds each time but it is amazing to hear from the listeners how helpful the 'Words' have been.

Hebrews 1:1-14

Reference: v.8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom." (NIV Bible)

Explore: On the Christian radio station in Melbourne they broadcast 'Words to Live By'. A couple of times each hour the host will read a verse from the Bible. These verses are chosen to assist people in their daily walk and to remind people of what God tells us through the Bible. This segment only takes about 30 seconds each time but it is amazing to hear from the listeners how helpful the 'Words' have been. Again and again the station hears of stories where people have been really struggling with something in their life. While they are listening to the radio they hear one of the Words to Live By and they find the assurance and the encouragement they have needed. It's amazing how insightful the Bible can be for us even thousands of years after it has been written.

Application: There are often times in our lives where we need reassurance from God. Even in the early church, although they had started off so passionately, they found it hard to continue in their faith. When the writer of Hebrews wrote to the church they knew that the church was starting to falter in its belief in Jesus. And so the writer fills the beginning of the letter with verses from the Old Testament - verses that would have been familiar to the members of the church - to remind them how Jesus was the fulfilment of God's plan. Often when we start to doubt our faith, or struggle in life, we stop reading the Bible. It's often the first thing to go from our daily routine when life gets busy or chaotic. However, if we continue to read the Bible through our struggles we will find that there is much encouragement and assistance for our daily life held within the words. God is able to communicate to us in a real way through His Word. All we have to do is read it.

Prayer: Lord, it seems to take so much discipline to stay reading Your Word. Thank You for giving us such a powerful book and may we not take it for granted. Amen.

When has a verse from the Bible meant something to you?

Hillsong Conference

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Thousands of people from all across Australia, as well as from around the globe, gather together to learn more about God.

Luke 21:5-38

Reference: v.38 ...and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. (NIV Bible)

Explore: This week in Sydney there is a huge Christian conference going on called Hillsong. Thousands of people from all across Australia, as well as from around the globe, gather together to learn more about God. While I'm not there this year I have been to previous conferences and it is a great chance to sit under the teaching of some great people and learn from others in the Christian walk. Each year this conference is booked out so there are always people lining up to get the seats closest to the front. It's like with any live event you always want to position yourself as close to the front as possible so that you are also a part of the action. People are always willing to sacrifice their time to get there early so they get a better seat. When you're on a bus or at the cinema it's cool to be up the back, but when you're at a live gig everyone is pushing to be at the front.

Application: When Jesus was travelling around teaching the people he had large crowds of people sitting under his teaching. I'm guessing that in 30AD they didn't have great PA systems so there would be extra incentive to being closer to Jesus. In the 21st chapter of Luke we read some of his teaching and we hear that people were arriving early in the morning so that they could hear what Jesus had to say. When it comes to a conference or a live performance people are often eager to be where the action is. They'll put off their normal routine to get there early. But in actual fact, we have the opportunity to learn about Jesus every single day. It may not be a live performance but we have the Bible to give us insights on God, and we have access to it every single day. Do we wake up early to get to the best spot? Are we willing to sacrifice our time to learn from the best? It's always good to go to conferences and concerts however we need to remember that we can have the best seat every single day. If the Word of God is open in our hands then we are behind the greatest teacher that's ever lived.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we put your Word aside and focus on our own lives. May we strive for the best seat in the house every single day. Amen.

Is reading God's Word a priority in your life?

Free Daily Devotional App for the iPad

camthecameraman@hotmail.com — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A few days back I wrote a post Daily Devotional for the iPad and since then I have had a few more days to try different techniquies in reading God's Word everyday. I love the YouVersion Bible app, in HD for the iPad, it makes reading different versions a breeze. You may not be aware that everyday we "contribute" to this app by linking directly to the bible text on the YouVersion site. We also we add a contributor link on that site so if people are browsing the Bible and Linda has written a devotion about that text they can see her link in the list with lots of other contributors.

Let us know how you are doing you Daily Devotions of the iPad .

Lesser Characters

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The clues start out rather tricky but get easier as they go along.

Luke 1:1-80

Reference: v.25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people." (NIV Bible)

Explore: While driving along in the car with my parents the other day we started to play a game. It was like a Bible 'Who am I?' I had gathered some cards from an old Bible board game. On one side they had the name of a Biblical character and on the other side they had six clues as to who the character was. The clues start out rather tricky but get easier as they go along. While this sounds incredibly dorky, it's something that my parents and I enjoy to do as we travel along. My mother was reading the clues and the first one she said was, 'A New Testament character who fell pregnant at an old age.' Dad and I almost instinctively went to say Sarah, as she was Abraham's wife and known for falling pregnant at an old age. However Mum had emphasised the words 'New Testament'. Dad and I were stumped for some moments as we tried to move on from Sarah and think of someone else. Sure enough, our brains finally clicked in to gear and we proclaimed, 'Elizabeth! The mother of John the Baptist.' It seemed that this was going to be a long game if we were stumped on an easier question!

Application: There are many main characters throughout the Bible that are well known by many: Abraham, Joseph, David, Peter and Paul. However, there are many smaller, lesser known people who still have an amazing faith and great encounter with God. God does not love these lesser characters less, they are just not mentioned as much in history. Sometimes we can feel like a lesser character to God. Nothing amazing or outstanding is really happening to us. And yet that does not mean that we are less loved by God than other people. We all have our different paths to walk, some are in the limelight while others are diligently working backstage. But regardless of our place in this earth, God sees everyone of us as important and truly loved. He desires to move in all of our lives and for us to be blessed by our faith in Him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you care for each one of us. No one is more important in Your eyes. May we live today as knowing we are loved by the Creator of the Universe. Amen.

How has God shown you that you are important to Him?

Bible Verses

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

My friends and I wondered whether anyone would actually look up the verse if we wrote one in a card.

3 John 1:1-14

Reference: v.2 Dear friends, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (NIV Bible)

Explore: There was a common trend a little while ago that people would write a Bible verse at the end of a greeting card. There are lots of nice verses that people would refer to and it wouldn't surprise me if 3 John 1:2 was one of them. Often people would just write the reference rather than writing out the whole verse. My friends and I wondered whether anyone would actually look up the verse if we wrote one in a card. So instead of choosing a verse with thought and meaning, when we wrote cards to each other we would write a really random Bible verse to see if the other person would look it up. One of the favourites was Proverbs 26:11. (I'm not going to write out the whole verse, you'll have to dig in to your Bibles to find out what it is!)

Application: Recently I dedicated some time for prayer and fasting for my local congregation and started my time by reading Ephesians chapter 1. Within that chapter of encouragement I read the verse: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better (v.17). As I prayed for each person individually I would finish off my prayer with this verse. It was nice to be able to use words that had been written for someone else but that I also believed for the people I was praying for. Sometimes there are other people that say it better, and its nice to use other people's words to say what we are meaning. This second verse of 3 John is another example. I could see that being written in a card or prayed over loved ones. While I often find when I read the Bible I am searching for guidance for myself, it's also a great resource of words and phrases that we can hope for others too. I'm not sure I'm quite at the stage of writing a Bible verse in a greeting card, but I am open to seeing how I can use the verses of the Bible when thinking of others.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the scriptures. They enrich our lives and give us the words to pray for each other. Amen.

How does reading the Bible enrich your life?

A Mouthful of Scripture

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Linda Bailey is currently away. Her new devotionals will begin again on the 1st February, 2010. In the meantime, here is a Daily Devotion that has been significant for one of my readers..

Each verse in Proverbs is like a mouthful of my mother's roast.

Proverbs 18:1-24

Reference: v.15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. (NIV Bible)

Explore: My husband always laughs at me when I eat a roast dinner prepared by my mother. She always includes so many wonderful flavours and all my favourite vegetables. Therefore, each mouthful is like a tasty work of art. I have to be discerning and craft together the right mixture of flavours on the one forkful so that my tastebuds have a party with every single bite! When it comes to my mother's roasts and my mouthful-combinations, every forkful of food is a winner.

Application: Each verse in Proverbs is like a mouthful of my mother's roast. Each individual verse holds so much wisdom and a Godly way of looking at things. It's actually quite challenging to read a whole chapter at a time as each one is filled with 20-30 morsels of importance. It's like trying to eat a whole plateful in one bite. This is a book that you don't read once and then move on. It seems like it will be a book that makes more sense as you live life and as you process each verse individually. While reading chapter 18 means that I am half way through the book of Proverbs I can see that it will take a life time to glean even a tenth of the wisdom presented within.

Prayer: Lord, Your word truly is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. May we engage with it as we live life so that we can discern how you would have us live. Amen.

What passage have you read a number of times and received something different from it depending on your life situation?

Country Meets The City

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

One of my first memories of going to the city was seeing all the different people walking along the street. Everyone looked so different to the inhabitants of our 1450 strong country town!

2 Timothy 3:1-17

Reference: v.2 (In the last days) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy... (NIV Bible)

Explore: I grew up in country Victoria and rarely ventured to our capital city, which was three hours drive away. I recall my sister going on a primary school excursion to the city once and when she returned she brought me back some cookies and a toy from McDonalds. I thought all my Christmas' had come at once because I had never been to the restaurant of the golden arches before! One of my first memories of going to the city was seeing all the different people walking along the street. Everyone looked so different to the inhabitants of our 1450 strong country town! But one particular gentleman stood out. He was standing on one corner and he had a sandwich board on his shoulders that read, "The end of the world is near." I couldn't keep my eyes off him. So many thoughts filled my mind, "Why would he embarrass himself like that? Is he crazy? Does he know something that we don't? I wonder if anyone would go and talk to him." I brought this up with my parents and they explained that some people, through interpreting the Bible in a particular way, predicted when the world was going to end. The city brought so many new things to light for me!

Application: And yet when I read a passage like 2 Timothy 3 it is no surprise that people paint up a sandwich board and try to convert the masses. As I read through the verses I can pretty much tick off every criteria of the last days occurring in 2009. From Paul's reference to 'have nothing to do with them', it makes me think that Paul was listing things that he was currently seeing, not necessarily things that he was prophesying would happen. We live in a world that is filled with sin. God calls us to be in the world but not of it. Paul gives us a tip as to how to live a godly life: follow Scripture. It "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." It's nice to be diligent in reading a passage each day but we need to apply it to our lives so that we live according to God's way.

Prayer: Lord, there are some 'last day characteristics' that I see in my own life. Help me to live today as You would have me live. Amen.

Which of these characteristics in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 do you see as most prevalent in our world today? What can we do to help people live more according to God's plan?

Reading With Discernment

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Let's just say you could find a bumper sticker that says 'Skubula happens'.

Galatians 5:1-26

Reference: v.12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Explore: The other day my husband broke in to my Facebook account and changed my status update. It read: Linda Bailey thinks she has the most amazing husband in the world. Good looking AND talented. I love him very much and will miss him when I am in the Philippines. While I believe that this is true, I am not the kind of person to put that information on my Facebook status. Not surprisingly, people who know me well made some insightful comments. My overseas buddy Nicola wrote, "If only I thought you wrote that, Linda!" My cousin Jo wrote, "Cam wrote that, didn't he?" And my mate Susie wrote, "Has Cam been on your Facebook, Linda?" People who knew me were able to predict whether I would make such a statement. Even though the comment was on my Facebook account and readers would have seen my picture next to the statement, they were still discerning in what they read.

Application: I often find that when I read through some parts of scripture I have to be more discerning. At times I can just read a passage and take it at face value. Because it was written thousands of years ago it is sometimes challenging to understand the context or to really hear what the person is trying to say. When we don't know the writers as well as our mates, its difficult to hear what is really going on in the passage. However, the more I read of Paul's writing the more I realise how gutsy he was. He wasn't really the type of person to hold back. In Philippians Paul looks at what he personally has accomplished and then compares it to what Christ has accomplished for him. In response to this comparison he calls his personal accomplishments skubula. While we have translated this Greek word as 'rubbish' it actually means something a lot worse. It's more like poo, waste, excrement but the term he uses is a more crude. Let's just say you could find a bumper sticker that says 'Skubula happens'. And now in this passage in Galatians Paul is trying to emphasis that fulfilling religious acts will not make you righteous. Circumcision was a big deal back in Paul's day. It was a Jewish custom that was under great debate once Christ ascended into Heaven and made a new way for people to be made right with God. And Paul firmly states that it is not circumcision that counts, but faith in Christ. To put his point forward strongly he even goes to say that those who rely on circumcision rather than Jesus should just totally emasculate themselves, for the good they are doing amongst the believers. We can read Paul's letters in a monotone recitation, however when I really find myself getting in to Paul's head I find myself almost yelling through the Bible. There may not have been a great deal of punctuation in the Greek but I find most of what Paul writes would now be written in bold and then underlined, with a big exclamation mark at the end! There is no doubt he was passionate. We need to read his words with clarity and hear his voice as an apostle under persecution w [...]

Personal Note

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The personal note showed the reader that even though their friend was on the other side of the world, they were still thinking of them personally.

Deuteronomy 33:1-29

Reference: v. 12 About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders." (NIV Bible)

Explore: There was as stage in my life when it seemed that all my friends were travelling overseas for extended holidays. Every month or so I would get a long group email from one of them as they filled everyone in on their adventures. These emails were always filled with places they had visited and sites they had seen and sometimes there was even a humorous anecdote of a cultural misunderstanding. While it was always great to hear from friends, the emails were always written very generally as it would be sent to friends and family alike. Sometimes, however, the travelling writer would add some personal notes at the end of their email. After finishing their tales of overseas adventures they would add on the bottom, "Sarah: Happy Birthday, wish I could have been there with you to celebrate; Travis: Congratulations on your job promotion, mate; Chris: everything's prepared for you to come and join me, can't wait to see you..." These personal notes on the end of the email were often the most exciting part. You would quickly read through the travelling adventures just to see if you got a mention at the end. It showed the reader that even though their friend was on the other side of the world, they were still thinking of them personally.

Application: As I read through this second last chapter in Deuteronomy I felt like Moses was doing the same thing to all the tribes of Israel. He had reminded them of where they had been, he had told them of what was to come, he encouraged them to always remain faithful to God... and then he gave each tribe a little personal note. Some were longer than others but they were all mentioned. I wonder whether each tribe held on to those few words more than the rest of the chapters, just like I always would when my friend wrote a personal note to me at the end of a travelling email. Although God had chosen the Israelites as His people, Moses still left them with a little individualized blessing. Sometimes when we are reading through scripture the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to a particular verse and its like that's our own little personal message from God. Amongst all the verses and chapters there can be a personal note that is meant just for us for that time.

Prayer: Lord, You see us all individually. You never travel too far away from us and You never forget us. Open our eyes and our hearts so we can see Your personal message to us. Amen.

When have you read a piece of scripture and felt a verse really jump out and speak to you personally?

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Whenever I hear Michael Jackson’s Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough I can't help but think of my orientation week at university.

Deuteronomy 32:1-52

Reference: v.4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (NIV Bible)

Explore: Songs can be very powerful tools for memory. I know that whenever I hear Michael Jackson’s Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough I can't help but think of my orientation week at university. You see, during O Week our campus leaders taught us some choreography to this song and every time it was played we had to perform this particular group dance. Strangely enough, although this song was a hit almost 20 years before I went to university, it just happened to play at every venue we visited that week! But now, every time I hear that song played, I can't help but think of my university college.

Application: There is something very special about putting words to music. There is no surprise that there are many songs written in the Bible and many passages that have since been made in to songs. I grew up in a church where the majority of songs were psalms or hymns that put Bible passages to music. While the music did not represent the style of the current culture it certainly helped me to recognise certain passages in scripture. I will often be reading a section of the Bible and think, 'I know this verse.' It's not a moment of deja vu but a memory of a song I sung years before. It almost seems that your memory is endless when it comes to remembering words that have been put to music. Verse four from this passage triggered this kind of memory for me. Although it is worded a little differently by Mary Lou King and Mary Kirkbride Barthow, I have sung the song Ascribe Greatness, a song which is based on this verse, many many times:

Ascribe Greatness to our God, The Rock,
His work is perfect and all His ways are just.

A God of faithfulness and without injustice
Good and upright is He.

Prayer: Lord, You have given many people the gift to make music. May the songs we sing and hear help us to learn more about Your greatness. Amen.

What is a song that triggers a strong memory for you?

Long Messages

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I remember hearing a visiting preacher speak one time and he kept saying, "I'm only here for the one night so I have to give you everything I've got in this one message." Seriously, I thought we were going to be there all week!

Deuteronomy 27:1-26

Reference: v.15a "Cursed is the man..." (NIV Bible)

Explore: Have you ever sat through a sermon that seemed to go forever? It's okay, you can be honest. As a preacher, I'm sure there are many people who have sat before me and wondered when it was going to end! I remember hearing a visiting preacher speak one time and he kept saying, "I'm only here for the one night so I have to give you everything I've got in this one message." Seriously, I thought we were going to be there all week! As preachers/teachers/speakers we have to be careful not to bombard people with too much information. Sometimes we can get so passionate about a subject that we end up speaking 50 volumes in to people's lives, when all they really needed was the synopsis. The problem with a lot of 50-volume speeches is that instead of the listeners taking in all the information and becoming as passionate as the speaker, often they leave with only one thought: that was really long!

Application: I'm often intrigued at the list of commandments - or curses in Deuteronomy 27's case - that are listed in particular parts of the Bible. Due to the limited amounts of pens and paper during Moses' time, there was a heavy emphasis on people memorizing important parts of scripture. When it comes to memorizing things you've really got to be clear and to the point. There was little chance that I was going to remember everything the visiting preacher said to me and there was little chance that the Israelites were going to remember everything that Moses had said to them. And so when he got the Levites to recite the curses to the Israelites he would have had to be selective in the ones that he chose. It's not that all the commands weren't important but clearly Moses thought these were worthy to be repeated as they entered in to a new land.
We are fortunate enough to have access to a written copy of the scriptures, in fact most Christians would have multiple copies of the Bible. But it is also important for us to memorize some important parts of scripture too. I know that we can easily look up a particular passage but there's something that helps recall in our every day life when we have put a scripture in to our memory banks. We're not expected to memorize the whole Bible but maybe we could start with just a few scriptures that speak deeply in to our lives.

Prayer: Lord, the Scriptures help so much to give us Your wisdom and guide our lives. May we put them to memory so we can put them in to our daily lives. Amen.

What is the first verse you ever learnt off by heart?

Two Words

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

While at its most basic form you could possibly sum up the whole Bible in two words...

Deuteronomy 26:1-19

Reference: v.17 You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws, and that you will obey him. (NIV Bible)

Explore: The other night at our small group study we were looking at the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes. Although this book takes on a very different tone to all other books in the Bible it seemed to come to the same conclusion: obey God. One of the guys in my group said, 'If everything in the Bible was only said once, it would be a rather thin book.' It is amazing that although many different writers wrote the Bible and its time frame spans thousands of years, there is still the same theme through all of its content.

Application: While at its most basic form you could possibly sum up the whole Bible in two words: Obey God. I am not suggesting that we do away with scripture but more so notice how important these two words are. God used many people and many situations to emphasise this point and we must not miss it's importance. Whilst the end of Deuteronomy seems to be filled with many religious regulations the crux of its teaching is that we need to obey God. It's as simple and as difficult as that. Its simple in that we can easily understand these two words, its difficult in that if we are to put those two words in to action it often means we need to change our lifestyle to surrender ourselves completely to Him.

Prayer: Lord, you have shown us time and time again that you are a faithful God who loves us and knows what is best for us. Forgive us Jesus when we turn away from You. Amen.

What do the two words 'obey God' mean to you?

Instruction Manual For Life

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

An easy-to-read manual that helps us through the tricky times of parenting, dating or job interviews.

Proverbs 19:1-29

Reference: v.16 He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die. (NIV Bible)

Explore: There are many hilarious moments happening the world over as people try to construct things without reading the instructions. Ikea has multiplied these occurrences as it sells thousands of pieces of household furniture that need to be put together in the home. How hard can it be, right? Well, many people find they spend hours trying to construct something from their own understanding only to discover an important piece was forgotten near the beginning and so they almost have to start from scratch again. Reading the instructions can often seem like a waste of time but it can save many hours and a great deal of frustration.

Application: I often hear people say that it would be nice to have an instruction manual for life. An easy-to-read manual that helps us through the tricky times of parenting, dating or job interviews. And yet, if we had it, would we read it? Millions of people have the Bible in their home somewhere and yet very rarely pick it up to read it and gain instruction from it. Proverbs is filled with many pearls of wisdom that we can implement in our lives and yet so few people are delving in to it's instruction. The Bible is a book that we don't just read through once and receive all the instruction that we need but a guide that we can keep dipping in to that gives us a better understanding of God therefore a greater understanding of who we were created to be. It's the closest thing we have to an instruction manual for life. Pick it up and start reading, it could save years of wasted time and frustration.

Prayer: Lord, Your Word opens our eyes to the life you would have us lead. It may not give us a step-by-step pictorial example but it teaches us how to love You and love others. May we open it up to receive from You each day. Amen.

What 'instructions for life' from the Bible are helpful for you?

Fast Forward

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The best part of watching a TV show that you had previously taped was that you could press the fast forward buttom and skip through the advertisements.

Mark 1:1-45

Reference: v.38 Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." (NIV Bible)

Explore: I can remember when we first got a VCR at our house and we learnt to record shows from the TV. This was incredibly handy if you were not able to view the show at the time it was screened. However, the best part of watching a TV show that you had previously taped was that you could press the fast forward buttom and skip through the advertisements. Not only did this reduce the amount of boring viewing but it was quite amusing watching people in fast forward. Their movements were so jagged and their facial expressions moved through so quickly. You were still able to make out the general idea of what they were saying and the product they were promoting was still seen, however it was all done at a quicker speed.

Application: Mark is the shortest gospel in the Bible. If you ever wanted to read through the whole life of Jesus in one sitting, the book of Mark is a good place to go. Just in this very first chapter of Mark I feel that the life of Jesus is off and running. Compared to other gospels (Matthew, Luke and John) and other stories told in the Bible, it almost seems like Mark is in fast forward. He hasn't made any mention of Jesus' birth, he's starts straight off with John the Baptist preparing the way. In these 45 verses we have John's ministry, Jesus' baptism, his trials in the desert, calling his disciples, driving out evil spirits, starting his healing and teaching ministry and spending time in prayer. It was like Jesus in fast forward! While Mark gives us great insight to so many aspects of Jesus' life, we can see in this one chapter the value in holding all the scriptures in perspective. Each book of the Bible we read can help us add to our understanding of God. While it's good to dig deeply into one book at a time, it's important that we don't reduce our image of God to just one author.

Prayer: Lord, I love the last verse in the gospel of John that says, 'Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.' You are indescribable, incomprehendible and beyond our understanding. Open our eyes to know more of You. Amen.

Which book of the Bible are you particularly partial to? Is there a current author who helps to further your understanding of God?

The Sequel

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There is always the question in our minds: "Can the sequel ever be as good as the original?"

Genesis 50:1-26

Reference: v.24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (NIV Bible)

Explore: 'The sequel' is creating a very formidable industry in the movie business. It seems that if any movie does well there is automatic talk about a sequel coming quickly behind it. The 'Police Academy' movies took this to the extreme. Whilst most of the sequels of this comedy were made in the eighties there were seven done in all. But there have been many movies since who have dared to take a second, third or sometimes even fourth attempt at making a blockbuster from the same themes. There is always the question in our minds: "Can the sequel ever be as good as the original?" However, as there is more and more sequels becoming blockbusters, they are certainly starting to hold their own.

Application: Our passage today is the final chapter in the first book of the Bible. I guess if there was no sequel to this book then our faith would certainly look different! And if you are to go on and read Exodus you would find that the progression from one book to the other is quite seamless. Now, I'm not about to throw up the question of whether the sequel is better than the original, because these Biblical books do well to hold their own. However, it is important for us to continue reading, even though we have finished a mighty book in Genesis. There are many more great stories, insightful words of wisdom and majestic images of God that we can glean from the many books in the Bible. We don't have to digest them all at once but be willing to commit regularly to opening ourselves to the stories within.

Prayer: Lord, Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. May we show our diligence and faithfulness in exploring it more and more each day. Amen.

What are some of the first Bible stories you ever heard? How has your Bible knowledge changed since then?

Don't Forget the Old Testament

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There is so much more we can glean if we strive to learn from the whole Bible.

Genesis 44:1-34

Reference: v.12 Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. (NIV Bible)

Explore: The story of Joseph is my husband's favourite Bible story. He's not even that partial to musicals but there is something about Joseph's life that grabs his attention. It contains a roller-coaster ride of events and emotions and concludes with a much anticipated happy ending. We can learn a great deal from Joseph as he upholds a Godly character of faithfulness and perseverance through all the trials of his life.

Application: The story of Joseph is not the only Old Testament passage that contains much wonder and depth for us to draw from today. In our churches and Bible studies we are often more comfortable drawing examples and illustrations from the New Testament. And yet there is so much more we can glean if we strive to learn from the whole Bible. Yes, the Old Testament contains some long genealogies; yes, there are copious amounts of laws listed in it; yes, there is much gruesome fighting. But the God who lives and breathes through us today is the very same God who lived and breathed through those faithful followers in the Old Testament too. Don't rule it out as 37 books you don't understand. Show some good Old Testament perseverance and dive right in!

Prayer: Lord, you have given us many things to guide our way. We have faith communities to support us, Christian mentors to guide us and the scriptures to teach us. Help us to draw on all these strengths so that we can be greater followers of You. Amen.

What is your favourite Bible story? How do you feel about the Old Testament?

Interpreting Scripture

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In my context Jacob would have been labelled a flirt, then a namby-pamby.

Genesis 29:1-35

Reference: v.11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. (NIV Bible)

Explore: Every culture has a different way of greeting people when you meet. There are some European countries who kiss each other on the cheek, two or three times as a way of greeting. In other countries there is, some would say, an even more intimate greeting of embracing each other in a hug. And then in more formal settings a mere handshake is suffice to acknowledge each other. Within smaller intimate groups they may create their own creating, a culmination of a special handshake and an embrace. You can often feel awkward if you do not know what the standard greeting is, but once you are in the know then you can feel included and accepted.
When Jacob first met Rachel my previous Biblical knowledge reminded me that he falls in love with her. So when I read this verse that he went up to her and kissed her then started crying, I was a little surprised. To go up and kiss someone the very first time you meet them is being very forward in my culture. But to then break down into tears is not really showing your masculine side. I was starting to think that Jacob needed some tips in his pick-up lines! However as I read on I realised that when Laban - Rachel's dad - also met Jacob he greeted him with a kiss. This was a known greeting, particularly for family members, which Jacob had confessed that he was.

Application: It was natural for me to put my cultural understanding onto this story. In my context Jacob would have been labelled a flirt, then a namby-pamby. However, Jacob was being true to his culture by greeting his family member with a kiss and then showing his relief and exhaustion at finding his extended relatives. We must be so carerful when reading the Bible that we do not misinterpret a situation. It is natural for us to see each story from our own understanding, but we must not reduce the message to our own limitations. The Bible can speak truth in to our current situation, but it helps if we have an accurate understanding of what was going on in the original context. This is not always possible but it is an important reminder for us not just to read such ancient texts at face value. Because our Bibles are printed and bound nicely, or we can read them clearly on our computer screens, we tend to forget how old these scriptures really are. Each culture gleans different interpretations from them and we too must be conscious of how we read this special text.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the Bible. The knowledge and instruction we gain from reading the scriptures is invaluable. Guide our thoughts so that we can apply Your Word to our lives. Amen.

What are some unique elements of your culture or cultural setting? How does this influence your reading of scripture?

Repeating Words

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:00:00 +0100

As the original writers did not have the ability to use a different font, bold emphasis or finish a sentence with an emphatic '!', the scribes had to emphasis words using repetition.

Genesis 10:1-32

Reference: v.9 He (Nimrod, son of Cush) was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord." (NIV Bible)

Explore: Growing up as the youngest child in the family, I honed a great skill in being annoying. While I am far from a child now, I still like to put these annoying abilities to good use. The one who is inflicted with these abilities the most is my incredibly patient husband. One of my varied annoying skills is being able to repeat everything Cam says. If he is talking to me I will start by just repeating the end of his sentences. The "conversation" will run a little like this:

Cam: That was a really good movie. I really liked the ending.
Linda: I really liked the ending.
Cam: The lead actor had a hard role to play though.
Linda: Yeah, hard role to play.
Cam: Did you enjoy watching the movie?
Linda: I enjoyed watching the movie.
Cam: Are you repeating everything I say?
Linda: Me? Repeating everything you say?
Cam gives Linda a funny look and Linda cracks up laughing!

Totally annoying for Cam but absolutely hilarious for Linda!!
When I read through this passage outlining the genealogy of Noah, I couldn't help notice that in verse 9 it says the same thing twice. While I'm sure the writer of Genesis was not trying to be annoying like me, it did grab my attention.

Application: Repeated words have strong meaning when it comes to scripture. As the original writers did not have the ability to use a different font, bold emphasis or finish a sentence with an emphatic '!', the scribes had to emphasis words using repetition. The more I study the whole Bible I see similar themes from Old Testament to New Testament and many stories and commandments that are repeated in many ways throughout the different books. It is these repetitive words that should not annoy us - like my repetition does to my husband! - but should make us sit up and take notice.

Prayer: Lord, we have much to learn from the scriptures. May Your Spirit prompt us and open our eyes to Your Wisdom. Amen.

What insight have you gleaned from scripture recently? What verse, word or theme has stuck out to you?

Game Statistics

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Of course, with all sport shown on TV you don’t just have the privilege of watching the games but you also have to listen to the commentators!

Nehemiah 7:4-73

Reference: v.5b I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there… (NIV Bible)

Explore: The Australian Open has just finished. This is an international tennis tournament played in Melbourne. I was fortunate enough to go for a day of the competition and watch courtside but most of my viewing was done at home on the television. Of course, with all sport shown on TV you don’t just have the privilege of watching the games but you also have to listen to the commentators! I was amazed at how the commentators were able to draw up all these random statistics to compare the current game with previous matches. “This match has held more forehand winners than any other game in history”; “We haven’t seen this many volleys since the grand final match back in 1978”; “This player wins 73% of sets that go to a tie-breaker.” Sometimes the previous records held information that was interesting and helpful, but sometimes it just seemed a little excessive.
Here we read that Nehemiah found the genealogical records of those who had already returned to Jerusalem. While we look at this long passage and just see lists and lists of names, they actually held important information pertaining what role the new inhabitants could play.

Application: In one sense, the whole Bible is a previous record for us to draw upon. We can look back and see what God has done for His people and know that He loves and cares for us just the same. It’s also good for us to look back at more recent history and see what God has done in our own lives. It’s often only in retrospect that we see His movement and so it’s important for us to pause, every now and again, and see where God has had His hand in our own lives. We may not need to make a record of it, we may not even want to journal it, but it’s good to make a note of it in our own minds and acknowledge where God has been at play for us.

Prayer: Lord, the Bible is a great way for us to see that you do play an active role in people’s lives. Thank you for showing so much interest in us. Amen.

Where has God been active in your life lately?

Daily Bible Study - Too hard on a hot day like today?

camthecameraman@hotmail.com — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Linda's blog about Daily Bible Study discusses the necessity of a close walk with God, a Daily Bible Study can of course helps this. How do you do your study when it is as hot and energy draining as it is today in Melbourne. 40 Degrees Centigrade!!

Tell us how you do your daily bible study and do Linda's REAP artciles help? Or Daily emails were popular but unfortunately the service we were using to do this shut down. We are trying to get these working again so they can remind you, prompt you, to do a daily bible study.