Old Testament reading: 2 Kings 1-2

Going out in a blaze of glory. 2 Kings 1-2 brings to a dramatic conclusion the ministry of God’s man Elijah. Elijah had three encounters with soldiers sent from Ahaziah. In the first two, 102 of the king’s men were consumed by fire from heaven. The third captain of 50 came “with his hat in his hand,” and in so doing he saved his life and the lives of his men. After the death of Ahaziah, which happened according to Elijah’s word, Elijah takes Elisha beyond Gilgal, Bethel, and beyond the Jordan. Elijah is carried up to heaven in a whirlwind, and not a chariot of fire as is commonly believed. It was a chariot of fire that separated the two as Elijah was carried to heaven. I love the statement of Elisha as he returned home to assume his new duties. Standing at the Jordan, he cries, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” As he had crossed the Jordan on dry land with Elijah, he crossed back on dry land as well. Elijah’s ministry begins with miracles, particularly the “healing” of the water at Jericho and the female bears that mauled 42 disrespectful young men.

New Testament reading: Acts 9-10

Acts 9 details the conversion of Saul. Unlike what most will tell you, Saul was not converted on the road to Damascus. Yes, he changed his mind about Jesus of Nazareth, but he could not have become a Christian on the Damascus road. This is evident from the Lord commanding Saul to go to Damascus where he would receive instruction on what he must do to obey the Lord. Of interest in this reading is a phrase found in Acts 9:14 and 9:21, specifically, those who “called on the name of the Lord.” Who are these who called on the name of the Lord? A reading of Acts 2:21-41 and Acts 22:16 provides the identity of those who have called on the name of the Lord. Specifically, these are those who have obeyed the gospel by being baptized to receive the remission and washing away of sins. Ananias’ use of “brother” does not indicate that Saul was a brother in Christ, but rather that he was a fellow Jew. This moniker is used numerous times throughout Acts between Jews who were not brothers in Christ.

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 21-22

The Bible is full of great statements and even some “one liners” like the one I didn’t talk about from yesterday’s reading (cf 1 Kings 20:11). Jesus’ statement as He was crucified (“Father, forgive them…” Luke 23:34) and Peter’s statement in Matthew 16:16 (“You are the Christ,…”) come to mind. Another great, but mostly unknown statement is found in today’s reading as we are introduced to Micaiah. Micaiah is sometimes called “the 401^st prophet.” Desiring to go to war against Syria, Ahab enlists the help of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Ahab’s 400 false prophets encourage the kings go to war, saying, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king” (22:6). Unconvinced, Jehoshaphat looks for some guidance from the Lord. Ahab reluctantly calls for Micaiah to come with a word from the Lord. Why reluctantly? Because Ahab said “I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” As the 400 false prophets encourage Micaiah to fall in line with what they have told Ahab, Micaiah responds, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak” (22:14). O Lord God of Heaven and Earth! We pray that Your pulpits everywhere will be filled with Micaiahs!

New Testament reading: Acts 7-8

Perhaps the most overlooked passage concerning the exercise of spiritual gifts is Acts 8:14-19. The miraculous exercise of the gifts of the Holy Spirit came only through the laying on of the apostles’ hands (8:14-19). Philip possessed the miraculous gifts but lacked the ability to pass them on to the Samaritan converts. Thus, the apostles sent Peter and John to Samaria that these new Christians might receive the Holy Spirit. Verse 17 is clear how the apostles laid hands on the Samaritans, “and they received the Holy Spirit.” Simon also recognized this power of the apostles, and offered them money that he might have the same power to pass on the Holy Spirit. Since the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit was given through that apostles’ hands (cf Rom 1:11), how could it be given today? Finally, note these had been baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sins yet were not given the Spirit. This stands in contrast to the teaching of many that the Spirit comes first and baptism afterward.

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 19-20

Every preacher I know suffers from “Elijah Syndrome” at some point in his work, and generally more than once as he continues to work for the Lord for any period of time. “Elijah Syndrome” is a terrible malady wherein one believes he is the only one who is trying to serve the Lord in his particular location. God’s answer to Elijah’s claim informed him that there were 7000 (perhaps a little numerology here?) men “who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” I am perplexed at Elijah’s statement of despair in light of God’s miraculous provision only 40 days earlier. Every day he went in the strength of that one meal (19:8) was testimony to God’s love and care. Paul cited this account to remind the Romans that God always has a faithful remnant to serve Him (Rom 11:1-4). This reminder continues to serve God’s preachers today. One note before we leave this text. It is often said that God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, but 1 Kings 19:12-13 teaches nothing of the sort. It only says Elijah heard a still small voice, and hearing it ran to the entrance of the cave. It was there that God spoke to Elijah, and not in the still small voice as so many mistakenly believe.

New Testament reading: Acts 5-6

“It is not fit for us to wait on tables.” Acts 6 shows us the need for delegating the work of the local church. There is nothing inherently inferior with making sure widows are properly cared for, but the apostles had a greater calling than to “wait on tables.” I can’t help but think of all the local preachers who are required to “wait on tables,” taking away from their true love and calling, namely, the study and preaching of God’s word. Too many local preachers are de facto pastors, having to oversee the smallest of details in the local work. Many are trying to do their work as well as that which should be carried out by the elders and deacons. The effectiveness of the local preacher is too often measured by these things and not the true “work of an evangelist” (2 Tim 4:1-5). In a quarter century of full time minstry, I have come to realize that brethren are content to let the preacher do everything for them, including the Bible study they themselves should be undertaking.

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 17-18

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” I’m certain Newton didn’t have today’s reading in mind when proposing his third law of motion, but I couldn’t help but think of it as I pondered today’s reading. Yesterday’s Old Testament reading introduced us to Ahab, one of the sorriest characters to ever live. Conversely, today’s reading introduces us to Elijah, one of the greatest men to ever grace the earth. In Elijah we are reminded that God always has an adequate answer to all evil. When wicked men made themselves a pestilence to humanity, God raised up faithful men to call them back to the Lord. Elijah was God’s answer to the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel. Like Elijah, Christians should always serve to call wicked men at the highest levels to repent and turn to God. Chapter 18 contains one of the great events in the life of God’s man Elijah. Following God’s miraculous intervention at Mount Carmel, I am told that the chant of the people, “The Lord, He is God” (18:39), would have sounded much like the name of Elijah, God’s champion. What a magnificent image! To think of God’s name echoing off the mountains and through the valleys as it was shouted and chanted by God’s people! One day the rest of the world will join us in declaring that “Jesus is Lord!” at the great Judgment scene. But for most, this confession will come too late to have any efficacy for their souls.

New Testament reading: Acts 3-4

“The foundation of the Lord is sure, having this seal, the Lord knows those who are His” (2 Tim 2:19). Who may rightly be called a believer? In Acts 4:4, the text says that many of those who heard the word believed, and the number came to be about 5000 men. Who are these who believed and were considered part of the number? Can they be any different from those who responded as did the 3000 in Acts 2:36-47 by receiving the message of the gospel and being baptized? Throughout the book of Acts, “those who believed” (Acts 2:44) is synonymous with those who had been baptized in response to hearing and believing the gospel (Acts 2:37-41). The demons are said to believe (James 2:19), but they are not believers! You may believe, but are you a believer?

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 15-16

1 Kings 15-16 continues the parade of wicked rulers in Israel, with today’s reading introducing to us the infamous Ahab. God was willing to establish Jeroboam’s house over Israel if he had been willing to follow God. Instead, he perverted the worship of God, and only one of his descendants reigned as king. Nadab reigned two years before he was murdered by Baasha, who killed everyone of the house of Jeroboam and assumed the throne, only to have his son Elah murdered after two years as king with all his family also destroyed. It was God’s doing to punish Jeroboam and establish Baasha and his house on the throne (16:1-3). His descendants could have reigned indefinitely, but his failure to obey the Lord brought calamity and a short end to their royal status. This was followed by a succession of conspiracies, murders and civil war within Israel. The chickens are coming home to roost. We cannot leave today’s text without drawing attention to 1 Kings 16:34, wherein we see that God’s word is not diminished over time. More than 500 years had passed since Joshua’s curse upon Jericho (Joshua 6:26), yet God’s word remained living and active in the case of Jericho, being brought to fruition in the life of Hiel of Bethel.

New Testament reading Acts 1-2

“What part of ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ do you not understand?” Yes, I recognize that the apostles were not present when Jesus made that statement in John 18, but certainly such was not outside the scope of Jesus’ teaching during His three year earthly ministry. The apostles still had little concept of the kingdom that Jesus had come to establish, even after spending three years with the Lord. Jesus did not come to restore a kingdom to Israel as they imagined and hoped, nor as our premillennial friends believe and teach today. Instead, he came to establish an entirely new kingdom, one of a spiritual nature that would stand until the day of Judgment (Matt 16:18; Heb 12:28). One lesson to learn from this account is the need for patience. There doesn’t seem to be any tone of disappointment or rebuke in Jesus’ words in Acts 1:7-8. This wasn’t the time for such. Rather, Jesus reassured them that they would soon know the truth after His departure. Let us also teach others with the patience of our Lord.

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 13-14

1 Kings 13 notes an intriguing, yet sad, account of a young unnamed prophet. Sent to rebuke King Jeroboam for his sins regarding changes made to the priesthood and worship, this young prophet goes boldly and proclaims the word of the Lord. Consistent with God’s messengers and their missions, this young prophet was given the means to prove the divine origin of his message. Namely, he performed a miracle in the presence of his audience. Tragically, this same man falls prey to the lie of an older prophet, leading to his death in the jaws of a lion. He was on the very precipice of completing his mission, yet a moment of carelessness caused him to lose it all! Had he simply required the old prophet to prove the legitimacy of his word as being divine, or had he taken just a moment to inquire of God, this whole tragedy could have been avoided.

New Testament reading: John 19-21

“Choose your words carefully; you may have to eat them later.” This truism may be nowhere better illustrated than in Jesus’ exchange with Peter following the resurrection. Not content to simply (mis)speak for himself and his dedication to the Lord Jesus, Peter had to separate himself above the other apostles as noted at the beginning of yesterday’s devotional reading. During an appearance to the eleven in John 21, Jesus turns his attention to Peter and reminds him of his earlier claims. Note how Jesus questions Peter in the presence of those from whom he sought to separate himself – “Do you love me more than these?”, with “these” used in reference to the other apostles. Second, Jesus simply asks him, “Do you love Me?” In other words, ‘Forgetting what you said earlier about your brothers, let’s focus on you.’ Much has been said of John 21:15-19 concerning the different words for love used by Jesus and Peter in this exchange, and rightfully so. Briefly, in His first two questions to Peter, Jesus used agape, generally considered as a stronger form of love, while Peter used the lesser phileo. In His third inquiry, Jesus uses the lesser form to press home His point. Note, Jesus should not be considered as rubbing salt in Peter’s still open wounds, but rather using this occasion as a teachable moment for the undoubted leader among the remaining apostles.

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 11-12

The dark days of division are manifest among God’s people. Solomon, forsaking the wisdom which is from above, took to himself wives out of the forbidden nations. And just as God had warned in Deuteronomy 7:1-5, these pagans turned Solomon’s heart from following God, thus he was obliged to punish Solomon by removing the kingdom from his family. We should note that Jeroboam’s “rebellion” was authorized and commanded by God through his servant Ahijah. Rehoboam’s youthful and foolish arrogance paved the way for Jeroboam. Chapter 12 closes with the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, which pertain to the matter of acceptable worship. How important is proper and authorized worship? The nation of Israel never recovered from his transgression, and “the sins of Jeroboam became the common thread of 18 kings who followed him, ultimately resulting in the destruction of Israel.

New Testament reading: John 17-18

“Even though all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble” (Matt 26:33). Less than 12 hours after this declaration, and further declaring his willingness to go to prison and even to death with Jesus, Peter denied knowing the Lord three times, just as the Lord said. It is always easy to speak of what we would do in certain situations until those situations actually present themselves! I remember as a youth hearing some of my companions speak of what they would do if they ever saw so and so. A tremendous beating was awaiting said offender! That is, until he actually presented himself, then the braggart decided to eat his words as opposed to potentially swallowing his teeth! Thankfully, Peter repented of his sin and went on to be a great apostle and spokesman for our Lord. This account makes me appreciate Peter’s boldness as seen in Acts 4-5. We are also reminded that if we are willing to repent, God still has a place for us to serve in the kingdom. A quick note – Peter’s attack with the sword as Jesus is confronted is consistent with his earlier claims. Greatly outnumbered, Peter seemed perfectly willing to die to protect Jesus. This is why I am perplexed by his denials immediately following. Sometimes we are willing to do the greater things, but unwilling to do the lesser.

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 9-10

“You’ve come this far; finish strong.” Twenty years into Solomon’s reign, God again shows himself to Solomon and reminds him of the promises He made to Solomon and his posterity. These promises are conditioned upon Solomon’s continued faithfulness to God – “if you walk before Me… to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever” (9:4-5). In my mind, I see God’s appearance as an attempt to refocus Solomon’s attention. For twenty years, Solomon had the singular focus of building those two houses. God knew Solomon needed reminding that there was still work to be done, but that work required his continued faithfulness. One is reminded of Deuteronomy 8, wherein God warns the people not to forget him when they become prosperous, which was exactly what they did. Unfortunately, Solomon would follow in the steps of his forefathers. Once again, we see God’s people enjoying unrivaled prosperity, but a lack of diligence would bring their success to nothing. In this case, the kingdom and God’s people would soon be divided.

New Testament reading: John 14-16

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14-16 details Jesus’ final words of encouragement and exhortation before his crucifixion. This context actually begins in John 13:31 after Judas had departed to finish his wickedness.  There are three themes in this context. First, love Jesus (14:15) and one another (13:34-35). I love the Lord’s statement how our love for one another is the means by which all men would know we are His disciples. Many people claim to love the Lord yet fail to love their brethren. This same John would later explain the futility of such in 1 John 4:20-21. Second, heavenly help is coming (14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:13). These men had walked three years with Heaven’s personal representative. No doubt the thought of “losing” Jesus was most disturbing. Thus, Jesus promised a “Comforter” to come. Finally, Jesus exhorts His disciples to be at peace in every circumstance (John 14:1, 27; 16:33). The peace of Jesus does not require a lack of problems or persecution. It abides within and cannot be stolen from the faithful.

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 8

A great work is not complete unless it accomplishes its mission. 1 Kings 8 notes Solomon’s dedication of the temple and the beginning of its mission. The general furnishings and treasures dedicated by David had already been brought in (1 Kings 7:51). It was times to bring in the Ark of the Covenant, the mercy seat, the place where God met man to extend His mercy and forgiveness for sin. Moreover, what joy surely entered the hearts of God’s people as they listened to the king’s magnificent oratory and prayer extolling the great God of heaven. I am also struck by Solomon’s repeated mention of David’s inability to build a house for God (vv 14-19). It reminds me that good intentions are no substitute for Divine authority. David’s heart was in the right place, but he had no word from the Lord to pursue the building of the temple. The chapter concludes by showing how all that Solomon had done brought glory to God as opposed to himself. God’s goodness to Solomon, and by extension, God’s goodness to Israel was recognized by the people (v 66).

New Testament reading: John 12-13

“The harvest is past; the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” So lamented the weeping prophet in Jeremiah 8:20. John 12:20-23 reminds us that a time will come when it will be too late to seek out Jesus. Some of the Greeks (Jewish proselytes) who had come up to worship at the feast desired to see Jesus. True to form, Andrew was ready to bring someone to see Jesus (cf John 1:40-42). But unlike at previous times, this meeting just wasn’t to be. Jesus’ response to Philip and Andrew was, “The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” In other words, there was something much more pressing and important that had to be done. Of course, we assume that these seekers could have believed on Jesus at a later time, but one cannot help but wonder why they had delayed in the first place, or if they saw the crucified Lord and gave up any idea of meeting him. The apostles and the men on the road to Emmaus were despondent to the point of despair, so it would not be a stretch to think these might have turned away from Jesus never to return.

Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 7

“But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house.” This introduction to 1 Kings 7 seems to be set in contrast to the last line of chapter 6 where, speaking of building the Lord’s house it reads, “So he was seven years in building it.” However, there is no later evidence or mention of any difficulty in the difference in construction time. The language of 1 Kings 9:10 indicates that Solomon did not start construction of his own house until after the house of the Lord was completed. 1 Kings 7 provides incredible detail into the exquisite craftsmanship that went into every detail of the temple and its furnishings. Solomon spared no sweat or expense to construct a physical house worthy of representing the God of heaven. We would do well to be reminded of this in our own attitudes toward the temple of God today. No amount of sweat or expense should be considered too great in the awesome undertaking of advancing the kingdom of God.

New Testament reading: John 10-11

Continuing our theme of conditional promises, today’s reading includes a passage not unlike the one featured in yesterday’s reading, though not as well known. John 10:28 is often cited as a proof text of the impossibility of apostasy, more commonly known as “once saved, always saved.” In fact, it teaches nothing of the sort. The text promises eternal life and assures that one will never perish or be plucked from His hand. However, like John 8:31-32, there is a condition attached to the promises. The condition? Hearing Jesus’ voice and following him, just like the condition of “if you continue in My word” in John 8:31. The promises? Receiving eternal life and being protected from falling away. Both promises are conditional. Jesus does not promise the unconditional security of the believer, but the conditional security of those who hear his voice and follow him of their own volition and free will. If one discontinues hearing Jesus’ voice and following Him, he will end up lost. In these and other cases, reading the verse before and/or the verse after helps solve much of the confusion created by those who teach and uphold error.