Proverb 17

In verse 3 is a proverb that uses the refiner's fire as a picture of the way Gods improves our heart. It is heat that allows the dross to be removed from precious metals. The metals need to be changed from one state to another; from a solid to a liquid. It is when silver and gold reach that state of excitement that is so radically different from their normal state that the work of the craftsman takes place. Without this process refining cannot happen; the value stays locked inside the junk of the world. The similarity to God's work should be obvious.
It took me about 4 minutes to read this chapter.

Stuart

Hebrews 1-3

At the beginning of the letter the writer makes a differentiation between Jesus as the son of God and the prophets as the servants of God.  Then in chapter 3 he names names; Moses.  From what I know of Moses (based on the Bible and writings of Josephus) he was a man from whom I would have steer clear.  Mainly out of fearful respect.  He was well educated and a military leader in Egypt.  Yet there was something missing in his life in Egyptian royalty, something his birth mother must have pressed on him as he was growing up.  After all those years of training God began to use him in ways that neither Egyptian royalty or Midian poverty had either seen.  And Moses grew so close to God that walking up to the top of Pisgah he probably longed for the time to put off his flesh and see the face of God.  But Hebrews 3:5 points out that Moses was only a servant.  Because he was a faithful servant he was put in charge of the house of God.  Jesus is also over God’s house; but not as a steward.  He is the final authority of the household of God because he is a son.  The servant has to have the owner’s permission to do anything, while the son IS the owner.  That makes the difference much clearer.

It took me about 9 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Leviticus 25-27

In 26:14-33 God explains to his people what he will do to the nation if the decendants of those who heard God speak from the mountain reject his Law. There were mentioned five steps of discipline. The last of the five included an exile. All of these steps of rebuke were not intended to eliminate the people, but to lead them back to the LORD who brought them out of Egypt.  His punishment would be difficult for any person living at the time, but there was also a chance to repent.  God made it clear that the exile would be temporary if the remnant repents.
I read this passage during two seperate time intervals. The total time was about 16 minutes.
Stuart

Leviticus 22-24

Holiness displays itself in a life of sacrifice to God.  In order for something to be a sacrifice it must have value to us.  The greater the value the greater the sacrifice.  As a community of subsistence farmers and simple traders the survival of Israeli families was based on their herds and gardens more so than their trades.  To give up a male member of the flock or herd was costly.  It might mean that there is one less blanket for the winter nights.  The offer God the first fruit pulled out of the garden or field meant going without one or more meals.  In order to sacrifice a fast would be necessary.  To offer sacrifices for most Israelites was more than just a specific quantity that they wanted to keep.  It was giving up a portion of their lives.  There were roughly 3 grain harvests in the middle-east.  The fruit of these harvest would sustain the people during the year.  By giving up 1/10^th of that harvest each Jew was showing their dependence upon God to provide for their needs for at least 30 days each year, since there was 1 or 2 days of feasting provided from the sacrifices.  I wonder if I take those 30 days for granted or whether I turn them over to God for his provisions.

It took me 14 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Leviticus 19-21

What does it mean to be holy?  God commanded his people to be holy,  but how to apply that to their lives might be difficult.  So he gave them, and us, some very specific examples as a foundation of the holiness that should be displayed in their lives.  I think it is interesting that the very first example of living a holy life is honor of parents.  Though we may be tempted to think that he is speaking to children I think we need to remember that the focus of his messages is almost always the leaders of the people.  The adult men who were leading their families were to display their holiness by speaking and displaying honor to their parents; both the living and the dead.  When the youth witnessed the household’s leader speaking well of his parents and showing them respect they would seek to replicate the same words, and practices.  Eventually honor of parents would be the standard behavior in their lives.  If we can’t honor those who raised us, whom we have seen, how can we honor the one who freed us from slavery, whom we cannot see?

It took me about 17 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Proverb 16

Verse 1 of this chapter with a very clear picture that the battle we face raged the same in Sslomon's day as it does today. The fight is still between our flesh and our spirit. The proverb says that it is the heart (read flesh) that makes plans. Often they are plans that seek to satisfy some worldly appetite. This is true even in the life of those in the faith. But for a Christian the final answer comes from a heart set of God's ways and his hope. When we follow God's plan then we will be strengthened and God will be honored.
It took me about 4 minutes to read this collection of wise statements.
Stuart

Leviticus 15-18

I can’t imagine how terrified Aaron must have been on that first Day of Atonement.  Having witness the fire of the LORD consume two sons did he begin the custom of tying a rope to his ankle so that his body could be removed from the Holy place if God struck him down?  I wonder if the smoke from the incense  formed the cloud over the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement?(Leviticus 16:2)  It must have been a double relief after Aaron had completed his tasks; not only was he still alive, but all of the sin burdens of Israel had been rolled away.  The penalty was gone and there was a freshness to life again.   Aaron was privileged to go behind the veil 40 more times during his life and I wonder at the amazement he experienced each time.   Standing in the physical place that made the first perpetual connection between God and man since the fall in the garden what did Aaron ponder?  How long did he linger there?  I wonder if he caught a glimpse of God in the way Adam may have seen him?  I wonder if he could hear the angels shouting “Holy, holy, holy.  The whole earth if full of His glory.”? (Isaiah 6:3)  I wonder if a mixture of the tears of sorrow and joy rolled down his cheeks each time he came out from behind the veil?  I wonder how different Aaron walked over the next few days and weeks as he relived the time of atonement?

It took me about 16 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Leviticus 12-14

God instructed Moses about unclean conditions. It took paragraphs to explain all of the situations to teach all of his object lessons about holiness. But the meaning behind the picture of cleansing in 14:5-7 escapes me.  The combination of water, blood, cedarwood, scarlet yarn, hyssop, and a live birds is very specific. Possibly they are representative of Jesus' sacrifical death; the blood and "water" issued from his body, he was nailed to a cedar-like tree, our scarlet sins were nailed there with him, and he was offered a drink with a hyssop branch. The live bird that flew away could be a picture of his resurrection. It was through all of these things that God brings about our cleansing.
It took me about 20 minutes of read time to finish this passage.
Stuart

Leviticus 9-11

In 10:10 the LORD spoke to Aaron about the holiness that God expects of his priests. They are to be an example to all the people of holiness. The multitudes of Israel would look to the priest's families to witness the practices of living holy. In 11:45 God's reason for the people to be selective in what they eat was to display holiness to each other and the world. Their discriminating diet was to bear witness to every person whom they encountered that they were different. I don't believe God intended this to be a bragging point, but rather to be an expression of surrender and thanksgiving to the LORD for their liberty. God gave them their freedom when he brought them out of Egypt.
It took me 12 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart

Proverbs 15

If I counted right there are 12 reference to speech in this collection. These proverbs exalt words that are compassionate, honorable, righteous, and loving. They also condemn those who speak from folly or evil. If I grasp the meaning of verse 26 God loves to hear us speak words of grace. Words that convey what people need rather than what they deserve. That goes against our sense of "fairness" but that type of speech God considers "pure". So I'm wondering if God would rather hear us speak gracious than condemning words to anyone who has offened us? Maybe even for those who have offended him.
It took me almost 5 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Leviticus 5-8

I know that I have read Leviticus 5 numerous times, but the first verse never sunk into my head.  The ninth commandment is very clear about the words we speak; “You shall not bear false testimony against your neighbor.”  The terminology points to a legal responsibility within the civil context.  If we speak about our neighbor we must speak the truth.  But Leviticus 5:1 explains that further.  Here God explains that if we witnessed an event but refuse to speak up about it, that inaction is sin.  God goes on to explain that not speaking up is the same as making a rash vow and not keeping it.  We are dishonoring our neighbor and God by being silent.  There are many New Testament passage that teach us about the responsibility we have regarding what we say (Matthew 12:37, Ephesians 4:29, James 3:5 ).  In this passage God makes it clear that we can’t get out of those responsibilities simply by avoiding the issue and being quiet.

It took me about 21 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Leviticus 1-4

The very first phrase in Leviticus 1 caught my attention; “The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting,..”  Israel was camped near the place, if not on the very spot where Moses was first called by God as recorded in Exodus 3:4 “..God called to him out of the bush,..”.  I wonder how close the tent of meeting was to that bush Moses had visited just a few months prior?  The voice of God was very similar, but the scenery was completely different.  The first time God spoke from the burning bush to Moses who may have been followed by a flock of sheep.  This time God spoke from a tent to Moses who was surrounded by a flock of Israelites.  The second time Moses knew who was speaking to him.  He had spent weeks with him on the mountain learning the Law and growing in friendship with the Creator of all things.  The message was different as well.   The first time Moses was given the task as God’s leader to deliver from slavery, the second message was to share God’s plan of identifying and atoning for sin.  I wonder if by now Moses instinctively took off his sandals when he heard God speak?

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Proverbs 14

Many of the 16th century's European explorers where seeking gold and other riches, but there were a few seeking eternal life. The fountain of youth was the desire of Ponce de Leonn. But he was lloking in the wrong place. The Proverb writer clearly explained where the fountain of life flowed; in those who respect the God of Israel (verse 27). In the preceeding verse he points out to provisions that God provides to someone whose life is surrendered to him. Eternity awaits those who put their trust in God.
It took me about 4 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Acts 26-28

Paul was traveling under the guard of some Roman soldiers, other prisoners, and travelling companions of Paul’s.  I have no idea about the number but it could have been a dozen or more.  This strange company travelled to the town of Puteoli and there Paul found some Christians and those Christians took in the whole crew.  There is so much to this story that God hasn’t revealed to us, but I get the feeling that Paul had earned the trust and maybe even the conviction of Julius the centurion and some of his other travelling comrades.  What a wonderful example those Puteoli Christians must have been to the soldiers and prisoners.  Taking in absolute strangers not for one night but they invited them for a whole week to stay.  Maybe they even threw a feast.  How many stories of lives changed did these non-believers hear from the people who visited with Paul?  How many times did they hear the story of the love of God and the death and resurrection of Jesus?  I wonder how different those prisoners where when they arrived in Rome compared to when they left the court of Festus?

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.  I’m not sure because I kept getting interrupted.

Stuart

Acts 22-25

Porcius Festus was confused with a prisoner name Paul whom he inherited from the previous governor.  The prisoner was a Roman citizen charged with capital crimes by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.  Like any good Roman politician he made plans to appease the local government who sought to quell any rebellion and planned to send this prisoner to Jerusalem for trial.  But then he gave Paul a hearing.  His account to Herod Agrippa as recorded in Acts 25:17-21 displays the confusion he must have felt.  Apparently Festus had not been introduced to Christianity before this.  The words he heard were unbelievable.  The Jesus leaders said something out a dead man, but Paul countered that the dead man was alive again.  How could a dead person come back to life?  There were no government guidelines in the first century that would help him prepare charges to deliver to the emperor in order to review the case.  The questions that must have been rolling around in Festus’ brain are just an critical today.  Dead men don’t rise to live again by any natural  power.  It is only through the power of a supernatural God that this can be accomplished.  I wonder if Festus lived the rest of his life in confusion about Christianity?

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Proverbs 13

When our physical presence in this life is ended we loose our power over out worldly inheritance.  Who inherits what we accumulate during this lifetime? Verse 22 says that it all depends upon our relationship with God. If we are righteous before God then whatever inheritance we have will be passed on to our descendants.  If we reject God's lordship and presist in rebellion against him then our inheritance will go to someone who is following God's plan. Solomon recognized the work of God's hand in our lives, but also after we have left this life.
It took me about 3 minutes to read this chapter of wisdom.
Stuart

Acts 19-21

Paul was the center of two more riots in the span of a few months. First in Ephesis and later in Jerusalem. Both riots were started because of Paul's boldness to preach the Godpel to all people. A message that if accepted will not allow people to be unchanges. In Ephesus the Gospel was driving many people away from the worship of the Greek gods. In Jerusalem the Gospel was shining a new light on the emptiness of the Law. Neither population appreciated the change that the Gospel was introducing to their culturem So both cities reacted violently.
It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart

Acts 16-18

Chapter 16 begins with Paul's introduction to Timothy in Lystra. This young man was a believer but had been raised as a Greek. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him in his ministry. Verses 3 and 4 present two actions that on the surface appear contrdictory; Paul persuaded Timothy to be circumcised and the proclaimed the decision of the leaders in Jerusalem that circumcision and following the Law was not a necessary part of being a Christian. I wonder what lesson Paul wished to present?
It took me 18 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart

Proverbs 12

Verse 14 gives evidence to the produce of gracious speech and diligent labor. Just as productive and edifying words bring a harvest of respect to the speaker so does honest work result in honest dealings with others. Fruit can only be as good as the seed that was planted. When the desired fruit is holy honor then we must begin with the seed God has given us; true words and hands ready to serve.
It took me about 3 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Acts 13-15

Paul had encountered threats before, but in Lystra those who plotted against him were able to carry out their plan of jealous vengeance.  Paul was stoned into unconsciousness.  The wounds he sustained must have looked terrible.  The crowd dragged the body out of the city, possibly to the city dump, and left him there to rot.  But God spared Paul’s life.  There was more he was to suffer for the sake of the Gospel.  The walk to Derbe must have been extremely painful for Paul.  I wonder how many people asked Paul what had happened to him to be so bruised?  Did Paul uses his scars as a means to introduce the grace of God to those questioning him?  Even after the wounds had healed and the pain subsided Paul continued to trust in God.  He visited the believers in Lystra again before journeying home to Antioch.  At the gathering in Jerusalem Paul must have mentioned this brush with death because the letter from the Apostles and Elders made reference to Paul and Barnabas risking their lives for the Gospel (15:26).  Such suffering to spread the good news of Jesus humbles me.

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Acts 10-12

Have you ever wondered about the conditions Peter faced those nights in Herod’s jail?  It sounds like Peter was held in the prison of the fort Antonia which sat next to the temple in Jerusalem.  As he was escorted about he may have passed the area where Jesus had been scourged years earlier.  I wonder if other prisoners were punished in the same way during Peter’s time there?  Was he mocked and abused by any of the same guards who had treated Jesus so roughly?  Surely he knew Herod’s plans for him.  Would he be executed on a cross or beheaded?  Peter must have know the time table as well; as soon as the feast of Unleavened Bread was past he would be the spectacle of  Jerusalem.  Would Herod wait until all the pilgrims had left or would we want to display his displeasure with Christians for all of the Jewish people to witness.  None of these concerns kept Peter awake all night.  The Jewish leaders had beaten him before and he had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus.  Maybe the same words Paul wrote to the Roman Christians echoed through his head; “If God is for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)  It wasn’t worry that kept Peter from sleeping all night; it was an angel.  An angel who came to deliver him.

It took me about 20 minutes in two different settings to read this passage.

Stuart

Proverbs 11

Abraham was given the promise of a land for his children to inherit. The same promise was made to Isaac and Jacob. Joseph the son of Jacob looked forward to the time when God would turn that promise into reality. The story of the nation of Israel is tied to the inheritence. Christians have a similar promise of an inheritence. In verse 29 Solomon displayed the truth that a troublemaker at home receives the wind as his inheritence. We all know that none of us can claim the wind as our own. We can't mark out our boundry or depend on a breeze for our comfort. We can't hang a sign on the wind when we are home. The wind has some use, but its not fixed and its always moving.
It took me about 4 minutes to read this collection of wisdom.
Stuart

Acts 7-9

Chapter 7 of acts introduces us to Saul, a young Pharisee who condemned Stephen and led the first crusade against the early church in Jerusalem.    He probably witnessed Stephen describing the vision of God’s throne with Jesus standing beside the throne in the Sanhedrin chamber.  What Stephen said infuriated all of those Jewish leaders.  Their theology would not allow anyone to have a vision of the Almighty that included Jesus.  They reacted swiftly and stoned this blasphemer.  Saul witnessed the imprisonment of numerous believers who refused to speak a word against Jesus.  Day after day Saul repeatedly heard the same name; Jesus of Nazareth.  Many Jews were calling him the Christ; the long awaited deliver.  I wonder if in a heated argument with one of the believers that he had arrested Saul boldly proclaimed something like “God Almighty would have to speak to me from Heaven before I will believe that Jesus was anything other than a demented rebel.”  I’ve heard other people make similar claims in defiance of God’s sovereignty.  Of course that conversation occurred in my imagination, but it would fit in nicely with another time when Saul heard the name of Jesus of Nazareth; on the road outside of Damascus. 

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Proverbs 10

Integrity is the word Solomon uses to describe the life of a God fearing person. When our hearts display the light of integrity our life will not be knocked off course. Does that mean we won't be attacked? Does it mean the evil people around us will not insult, threaten, or abuse us? Does a life of integrity grant us immunity to the foul events of this life? I would say "no" to each of those questions. Then how can Solomon say a life based on integrity will bring security? I believe it is the security in knowing that we are loved by God. When we realize that we can join with Jesus in looking beyond our cross; scorning whatever shame may come our way, and take up the never-fading joy of Christ as we cling to the Spirit's delivered integrity. I've don't know if I've seen that in my life, but I've seen it in the Biblical record and the history of the church. I've also met a few people who are living that secure life in Christ now.
It took me about 4 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart

Acts 4-6

Peter and John were walking into the temple with the man born lame hanging on to them.  This man was making quite a commotion which eventually drew the interests of the leaders of the temple.  I wonder if their thoughts when back to the time that Jesus gave sight to a different man who had been born blind.  Jesus had told them, “..that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3 ESV)  Surely they remembered the trouble that blind man had faced.  I wonder if Peter or John even concerned themselves with any possible consequences?  The crippled man’s healing was just the beginning of the wonders that God would perform in the name of Jesus.  Luke doesn’t list all of the things God did to amaze the people, but he does point out the response of the Jewish leaders; jealousy, intimidation, and violence.  Only the words of a wise teacher kept the priestly counsel from  resorting to murder to try and contain God’s display of power.  I wonder if Gamaliel continued to observe the work of God in these radicals, and follow in the footsteps of his disciple; Saul of Tarsus?

It took me 19 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Proverbs 9

I can never quite grasp whether this is a parable or an allegory (I believe it is the latter). The writter pictures two women seated on the highest point of the city. They are both calling out to the simple and those lacking [common] sense. But that is where the similarity of these two women stop. Their messages are on the extremes of the scales of morality. Wisdom speaks of fearing God while Folly speak about satisfying self. Wisdom's words will multiply the days of the life for those who heed her words. Folly's instructions lead down a wide and easy path; a path the goes quickly to the grave. So who would listen to Folly? I know that I have listened way too many times.
It took me about 2 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Proverbs 8

The writer of this chapter personafies wisdom as a woman calling out to the simple. Do we prepare ourselves for hearing wisdom's voice? Would we recognize her by the tone of her voice or by words she speaks? Wisdom invites us to pursue her; to seek her at all costs. Such a plea has a great reward in store for who find wisdom; life.
It took me about 3 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Acts 1-3

Through out the scriptures there are incedents where God sent heavenly messangers in human appearance to proclaim God's message to his people. Three men visited Abraham with a message of Isaac's birth and the destruction of Sodom. One man appeared to Samson's parents to speak of his coming birth. One man gave Mary of Nazareth the news of her miraclously pregnancy. While the host of Heaven proclaimed Jesus' birth to a group of shepherds. Luke recorded (Luke 24:4-7) that there where two men inside Jesus' empty tomb to help explain the amazing situation to a group of doublely heart-broken women. Each time God sent his messengers they spoke very few words and stayed only short periods of time; minutes or hours rather than days. In Acts 1:10-11 Luke noted that there where two men who joined the crowd on Olivet mountain after Jesus returned to Heaven. Their purpose was to get the small group of believers to move along. They asked them a question and then gave them the answer to the questions that no one had spoken: Where did Jesus go? When will we see him again? I wonder how long the disciple stood looking at the sky before those two men appeared and gave them God's message?
It took me about 13 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart

Exodus 38-40

The text of Exodus doesn't tell us when the craftsmen began working on the tabernacle or how long it took them to finish their work. But we do know that one year after they brought the first Passover lambs into their homes they built the tabernacle. I can imagine the excitement in that camp in the desert. There were yearling lambs calling out to one another as they were brought into the tents of their owners while the children laughed and played with their new pets. Meanwhile there was great activity in the center of the camp. With every Levite given his task it may not have taken long to set up the tabernacle. And when it was set up, before it was annointed with the oil, the cloud of God's presence covered the tent of meeting. While the families in the camp were talking about the lambs the center of the camp was paralized; in awe of the presence of the LORD.
It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart

Proverbs 7

Death and adultry. In the minds of many modern people the two are not synonomous, but to God there is little difference. When we reject God perfect design we seperate ourselves from his life giving presence. We cut ourselves off from the vine. We feed the appitites of the flesh while we starve our spirit of the one this that makes us human; the connection to God almighty. What the proverb writer recorded from his window lattice was the full picture of the careless young men encountering the brazen restlessness of a wayward wife. Both lives engage in physical passions and wake up dead to eternity.
It took me over 2 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Exodus 35-37

In 35:4-9 Moses issued the request for the materials to construct the tabernacle, its furniture, and the priestly outfits.  The people of Israel responded.  In verses 20-29 all of the people “…whose heart moved them to bring anything…” gave their material and time for the work Moses had been given.  But was it all of the people?  Did the LORD provoke the heart of every adult in Israel to provide some means?  Were there some people upon whom God’s Spirit did not lay this burden?  The text doesn’t indicate that all the people were moved, but rather that all the people whom God had burdened to give responded with gifts.  The resulting offering was an over abundance for the needs of the construction of the tabernacle.  The writer of 1 Chronicles tells a similar story in chapter 29.  At that time David called for gifts for the temple that Solomon would build and once again the people of Israel responded overwhelmingly.   

It took me about 16 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Exodus 32-34

The people of Israel faced a dilemma; Moses had disappeared on the mountain.  The manna came six mornings then was absent on the seventh, the boiling storm of the LORD presence covered the mountain day and night, babies were born, old people died, life was proceeding as normal as could be expected for this nation of fugitive slaves.  But they hadn’t seen Moses for over a month; 40 days to be exact.  The good news is that that there doesn’t appear to be an uproar among the people the go back to Egypt.  The bad news is that they demanded some physical evidence of God’s presence; if not his “lost” leader then something on which to focus their attention.  “Make us gods….”  they demanded.  The people couldn’t contain their selfish desire to depend upon something tangible that pointed to God.  They struggled with faith being sufficient.  Their children would one day follow in their steps by rejecting a ruler who required the people to see with eyes of faith and demand a human king.  I wonder;  how many more days Moses may have stayed on the mountain with the LORD almighty if they people hadn’t pushed Aaron to carve that calf?

It took me 17 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart

Proverbs 6

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of hands to rest....." I know that I have heard these words often as a rebuke to those who are prone to laziness. But how do we harmonize this passage with the fourth commandment? I think it begins with avoiding extremes in either direction. Taking time to rest is not laziness any more than feeding you baby during a Sabbath rest dishonors the Sabbath. There are times when God expects us to wait on him to move; to rest in his power that is at work in our lives and surroundings. There are also more times when God expects us to act using all of the gifts that he has developed in our lives.
It took me a little over 2 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Exodus 28-31

There were at least 14 engraved stones that adorned the garments of the high priest.  The engraving on the stones were the names of the tribes of Israel.  Whenever the high priest entered into the most holy place he went in with these reminders that he was no just one man; but a part of the whole nation whom God had called out to follow him.  When the high priest put his hands on a sacrifice and confessed the sins of the people there were the names of the tribes.  Any way his head would turn he could see at least some of the names of God’s people.  In the New Covenant God establishes a personal intimate relationship with each one of us.  But the Kingdom of God encompasses billions of believers.  It would be a good practice for me to remember some of those other people whenever I enter into the presence of God.  I need a reminder that Jesus has made me a part of the nations whom God has called to follow him.  While the impact of my work for the Kingdom is most evident in my immediate surroundings whenever I bow my head the names of those nations should be ever before me as well.

It took me 23 minutes to read through this passage.

Stuart

Proverbs 5

Adultery. It's sin that we in the church don't want to talk about. But God moved the proverb writer to discuss it with his son. It is a temptation that reaches to every level of society. Those in positions of power who sucumb to this temptaion are paraded as either liberators or villians depending on their past public stances. But the most secluded no-name also faces the same trial. The proverb writer begins and ends the discussion with the solution for this errornious choice; wisdom and discipline. These two attributes will provides us with the ability to fight victoriously against the desires of the flesh. 
It took me about 2 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Exodus 25-27

The first offering Moses asked of the people of Israel was not for salary or other human neccessities. He asked that the people provide what was needed to build what God had specified. But God left the amount and gift to be contributed in the hands of the people. Whatever God placed on their heart would be the offering that should be presented.  Before the people understood the need God moved them to give. We may face similar promptings to assist others. We need to respond just as those ancient worshipers did.
It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart