A Wrong Interpretation

Today's verse is Genesis 4:1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 

God had made Adam and Eve a promise, and this verse gives evidence that Eve was looking to that promise, even though Cain was not the even the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise. Some time later, Solomon warns us not to lean upon our own understanding, this is because our understanding is so limited, that we can often set our hopes upon the wrong thing, and when it fails, we then blame God for misleading us. But, He Did Not! His Word is still true. His promise is  still alive. A lot happened before Seth, the child of promise was born, as is often the case. So let not your misinterpretation of events cause you to lose sight of the promise God has made you. Here we see that Eve believed God’s promise and when what she thought might be the beginning of God fulfillment failed, she correctly looked elsewhere for what God promised to do. Even Better for us, is to continuously look to God the fulfillment of his promise, and in due time, all of his promised shall be fulfilled. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Genesis 3-5, Mark 2
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Genesis 6-8, Psalm 104, Mark 3

Very Good

Today's verse is Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

When everything about the Earth was six days old or younger, every thing that God had made was described as very Good. Death had not shown itself. in fact it was unknown. As some would postulate the Earth was not a grave yard, full of bones of creatures long dead, the day Adam woke up to find Eve at his side. This could not be, and still be by God’s definition “Very Good.” Neither Adam, nor Eve had sinned at this time; therefore, death had no part in all of creation, no animal feed upon another, all creatures at this time were truly Vegan, (a currently dangerous doctrine today) but even so God knew what was to happen in the days, or weeks, or months, maybe even years to come, (not recorded) and he had already decided how he would respond. God loves even you, (and me) on our worst day, so if we turn to him we will find him waiting with open arms as we come to him through Jesus Christ. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Genesis 1-2, Psalm 19, Mark 1
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Genesis 3-5, Mark 2

The Invitation To Drink Freely

Today's verse is Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

In reading the scriptures this year, I (we) have seen many things. God created the Heavens and the Earth. He created man and gave him a wife, and they soon transgressed his commandment. He was not surprised, and promised a deliverer, which in due course came, after many trials and tribulations of our own making. While Jesus was here the first time He took upon himself all of our sin and paid for them upon the cross. When he comes again, we see him wreak terrible judgment upon all that refused his cleansing gift. But all that follow him, like Job in the end receive a double portion for all of their troubles as they followed their Savior. So as the Spirit invites others to drink freely of the water of life, let us as the bride, continuously to the same. For the water that Jesus gives us will truly quench all of our thirst. Amen.

To God be The Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 40-42, Psalm 150, Revelation 22
Which concludes this year’s reading of the Bible.
Monday will begin a new reading with: Genesis 1-2, Psalm 19, Mark 1

Escaping The Reward Of Our Sins

Today's verse is Psalm 103:10 - 11
     He hath not dealt with us after our sins;
      Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
     For as the heaven is high above the earth,
      So great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

How is it that man can escape the price of his sin? How can a righteous and holy God, let any man that is full of sin and iniquity, escape their rightful punishment? The answer is none other than the Work Jesus did for us, as he took our place, when he died upon the cross, taking our sin, even our iniquities, and paying the full price for them. So let us take advantage of his mercy, knowing his wrath is to be feared, and accept his gift of mercy provided for by his Son. Selah [think about this] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 37-39, Psalm 103, Revelation 21
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 40-42, Psalm 150, Revelation 22

The Judgment And Mercy Of God

Today's verse is Revelation 20:3
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that ihe should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.


There are several things that we can glean from this verse, and the following passage. We can see the longsuffering of God, in that he gives the very source of sin, very chance to repent. We see how even in a perfect world, men would still in their hearts turn against God. But most of all we see that God, and those that follow him will triumph in the end. Let us, therefore, remember that we are frail, imperfect creatures, but God still loves us, and has empowered us, if we trust in him, to overcome, and by him we shall share his throne, and minister to those that come after. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 34-36, Revelation 20
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 37-39, Psalm 103, Revelation 21

How God Responds To Prayer

Today's verse is Psalm 102:17
     He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
      And not despise their prayer.

I think from what we have learned this year, the prayer that is not heard, is the prayer that is not prayed, except maybe one which mocks God. For even prayer which asks for things to be consumed upon our own lusts (which God despises) God’s Spirit prays with us, making request for those things that we need as we recognize God’s Authority over us. So do you find yourself in a straight? Do you find yourself in a hopeless situation? Seek God out, and make your request of him, and he will hear you, and he will answer you according to his own righteousness, and as you seek him for the forgiveness of your sin, he will quickly by the Blood of his Son, Jesus Christ, forgive you of all, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 31-33, Psalm 102, Revelation 19
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 34-36, Revelation 20

The Most Trustworthy Source

Today's verse is Job 28:5
     As for the earth, out of it cometh bread:
      And under it is turned up as it were fire.

I am not going to say that I understand the correlation found in this verse. However, there are two truths mentioned in this verse: the first is obvious, from the earth we gain our sustenance. The second, not so obvious is the structure of the earth; the make-up or pattern of how the earth is structured. The book of Job is one of the oldest books of the bible. Its story (history) covers a period that occured some time within the timeline found in Genesis, yet Job describes what we understand as the mantle.  Many will say that the Bible is not a book of Science, and they are right, but when the Bible speaks of things that Science can tell us, the Bible is always confirmed. Therefore, when the Bible speaks on the things that Science can only speculate, we can fully trust it over any such speculation. So if you have any doubt, or any conflict, between Scripture, and what any man might tell you, always, always, trust God’s Word, for it [God] will never lie to you. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 28-30, Revelation 18
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 31-33, Psalm 102, Revelation 19

Even The Wicked Fuffill God's Will

Today's verse is Revelation 17:17
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 

Such is the power of God, that unknowingly, even the wicked do his will. The scoffer says that God cannot be both good and all powerful, for evil persists, but they do not consider two things. First, good is longsuffering, and second, God is using evil to execute his judgment upon the Earth. All that have lived on this Earth, save Jesus Christ, have already earned God’s wrath, there are no innocents, only the naive, and by Jesus’ own Word we can consider any tragedy to be possible judgment of God, but as we have learned in Job, not necessarily all of them. So let us learn to fear God, and quickly turn to his Son who will quickly cover us with his Righteousness by his blood, that we can escape the worst of his wrath. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 24-27, Revelation 17
Monday’s reading will be: Job 28-30, Revelation 18

The Value God Places Upon You

Today's Verse is Job 22:2-3
     Can a man be profitable unto God,
      As he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
     Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous?
      Or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

The answer to this question, is actually central to the message that the Bible was given to us for. From one perspective, the answer is absolutely not. Man has nothing that he can offer God, we are all at our best state vanity, that is to say, Nothing. However, the value of any object, whether it be some bauble, or a person, is answered by what another is willing to pay for it. And here is the true answer to this Question, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is the price God paid so that you in his eyes might be righteous, that you, by and through his Son, might be made perfect. Selah [Think about this.] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 21-23, Psalm 101, Revelation 16
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 24-27, Revelation 17

The Most Important Thing To Know

Today's verse is Job 19:25-26
     For I know that my redeemer liveth,
      And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
     And though after my skin worms destroy this body,
      Yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Of all the things one can know, the one thing one must know with certainty is this, as Job declares here: that we have a redeemer, which lives, and that this redeemer will raise us up to be with him some day. Everything else we can forget. Everything else (outside of him) can be found false, but so long as God is God, and his Word be true, we can be sure that we have a Redeemer. I was challenged just before I received Christ by my then Pastor, to know that I know that I am Saved. So as I was challenged, so I challenge you, Know that you know you are saved; be able to defend with Scripture (the Bible) how you know that God hath saved you from your sin, for if you know this, what else truly matters? Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 18-20, Psalm 141, Revelation 15
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 21-23, Psalm 101, Revelation 16

The Patience of the Saints

Today's verse is Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

A choice has been given, broadcast by three angels: The first declares the Gospel and that we should fear God and Worship him. The second the destruction of Babylon, a city much desired of the day, and the Third declares the punishment for all that take the mark of the beast: declaring that they follow him; just so that they could have the hope of buying food in the time of famine. So here is the patience of the saints; they recognize that the times are even beyond difficult, but they do not despair, for they do not rely upon their own resources but they chose to trust in God, if they die for this they die knowing that they please him, but they also know that God is able and willing to deliver them, so they seek him and waiver not at the impossible way before them, knowing that God not only has their back, but as prepared the way before them, and has prepared them for the way. So what is your choice, God and the certainty of living with him forever, or will you take the easy way hoping for a peace of bread, but the price of that bread is hell itself? Selah [think about this] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 15-17, Revelation 14
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 18-20, Psalm 141, Revelation 15

The Devotion Demanded By The Cross

Today's verse is Joh 13:15
     Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
      But I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Is God, truly God in your life? Have you given him the full rights to all that you have, all that you do, all that you are? Is there any thing that if such should happen, you would say with the Atheist that “there is no God?” What does it mean to you that Jesus Christ took your place? Here is the place we need to be; That Jesus Christ died for me and there is nothing that I will withhold from him. He can have anything, or anyone that he has placed in my life. I am his to do with as he pleases. As I can attest, this is not an easy attitude to obtain, but considering what he has done for us, can you agree with me that he deserves such devotion? Selah [Think about this.] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 12-14, Psalm 100, Revelation 13
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 15-17, Revelation 14

How To Overcome

Today's verse is Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 

The answer to any trouble we might face is in these Words, for we do not face this world by the strength of our own might, nor by the pureness of our own deeds, but by the power of what Jesus Christ has done for us. For those of us that have trusted in Christ’s Work upon the Cross, our sins are covered by his blood, and when God sees us, he sees his Son Jesus, and we are enabled to allow Christ to be seen by others through us. Now also as Christ gave his life for us, can we do any less for him? Is there any thing compared to the Cross that is too great for him to ask us to do it? I once said yes there is, but in truth, I was wrong. What is your answer? Selah [Think about this.] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 8-11, Revelation 12
Monday’s reading will be: Job 12-14, Psalm 100, Revelation 13

Remembering God's Past Works

Today's verse is Psalm 99:8
     Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God:
      Thou wast a God that forgavest them,
      Though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

It is always a good thing to remember and recount the ways God has dealt with others, taking note both on how he forgives as well as how he corrects, or punishes (not the same thing.) We have a God that never changes, the hows and whys of what he did to or for others will inform us as to how we can expect him to treat us, and how we can obtain his blessings. There is not a one, who has ever come to God, and had been received that did not come humbly, recognizing that they have nothing to offer him, save his Son, which gave himself for us, which received in himself all that we deserved. So let us recognize that we have nothing for him, yet he loves us, and if we come to him through Jesus his Son, he will receive us unto himself, and will in due time give us all things, as he would his Son. Selah [Think about that.] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 4-7, Psalm 90, Revelation 11
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 8-11, Revelation 12

No More Delay

Today's verse is Revelation 10:6
And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 

In Psalms, the question is asked “How long?” And while there have been many times God’s Word has been fulfilled, to my recollection, this question has never been answered, except for here! This is not as some would say, the abolishment of time itself, for while later there is a place where day and night are no more, we still see the passage of months (a unit of time,) but it is the answer to the question, “How long?” At the time this is said, all of God’s unfulfilled promises will be answered, starting with full judgment of the wicked, coupled with and soon to follow the deliverance of those that are faithful to the one who died for the sins of all of mankind. So as we can be sure that God has set a time for which his promises will be fulfilled, so too has he set a time that any promise he has made you will also be fulfilled, so be patient, for God will act faithfully to fulfill his promise when it will do the most Good for all concerned, just as he came the first time at the due time. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Job 1-3, Psalm 29, Revelation 10
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 4-7, Psalm 90, Revelation 11

The Refining Of God's People

Today's verse is Malachi 3:2-3
     But who may abide the day of his coming?
    And who shall stand when he appeareth?
    For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
     And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:
    And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
    That they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Whenever we face an hardship, or difficulty, or as James calls it, a Fiery trial, and for whatever reason that trial comes into our lives. Whether for correction, or as with Job, for the proving of the Saint (and God’s Glory) or if it is as part of the fulfillment of our purpose (taking up our Cross) our God will take the occasion and use it to refine us, to rid us of some of the dross, or sin, in our lives that we might be able to walk even closer with him. So if we are facing a time of difficulty, let us do even as James and Peter command, and rejoice, for we are truly in the Hand of our Savior, and we can be confident that we will come out more like him than when we went in. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Malachi, Psalm 2, Revelation 9
Tomorrow’s reading will be: Job 1-3, Psalm 29, Revelation 10

The Prayer of God's People Saved

Today's verse is Revelation 8:3
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 

Our prayers for justice, and relief, and deliverance, do not go unheard, nor if we do not see these things will they go unanswered. For our God is saving them up, for when the wickedness of the Earth will be full, and he will remember them as he further judges the Earth with some of the things those that turned from him used to scare others to follow them. So if as you pray, if for those things that seem to go unanswered, know that your prayers are not forgotten, but are saved up, for this day that God will judge all the Earth, and none will have an excuse for where they end up, whether in Heaven with God by the blood of the lamb, or condemned by the rejection of the same. Selah [think about this] Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Nehemiah 10-13, Revelation 8
Monday's reading will be: Malachi, Psalm 2, Revelation 9

Tears Will Be Wiped Away

Today's verse is Revelation 7:16-17
     They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
     For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Though we have promises that our God will supply us our needs, especially, our needed daily food and clothes to wear, still he warns us that their may be times when it will be required of us for the Gospel’s sake that we suffer the need of even these things as well as other less necessary things. But, as we see here  that there is coming a day for all those that have trusted Jesus Christ, and followed him, that they will no longer have cause to suffer, all of the pain, all of the sorrow, all of the heartaches we have known and suffered will be a thing of the past, and none of them will ever show themselves to us again. As we face these necessities today, let us remember that we face them not in vain but each as a purpose in God’s plan, and that one day he will, as promised, remove all cause of suffering from his faithful creation. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Nehemiah 7-9, Psalm 140, Revelation 7
Monday's reading will be: Nehemiah 10-13, Revelation 8

Give Praise To The God Of Our Salvation

Today's Verse is Psalm 98:3
     He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel:
      All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

We have a God that though he ought to be feared, He is also Good and Kind and if we come through his Son Jesus, he is easily approachable. While there are times that what God is doing may be hard to understand, there will also be times when God lifts the vail, and shows  what is happening behind the scenes, allowing us to have hope for the things he has promised. So let us remember the greatest of these moments as Christ was found risen from the dead, that all men that look to him might be saved from their sin, and lifted up, and made to stand before the most Holy and Righteous God. Therefore, we rejoice and give him all of our Honor, and Glory, and all of our Praise. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Nehemiah 4-6, Psalm 98, Revelation 6
Tomorrow's reading will be: Nehemiah 7-9, Psalm 140, Revelation 7

When God's Hand Is Upon Us

Today's verse is Nehemiah 2:8
And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

I want to focus on this portion of the passage: “according to the good hand of my God upon me.” First, let us not confuse everything going our way, as approval of our God. Just consider Jonah as he was fleeing to Tarshish, or Paul as he attempted to go further into Asia. No, when the good hand of God is upon us, he is working to accomplish that work which he has set us to do. He is guiding us, and preparing us to do that which he has called us to do. When his hand is upon us everything that happens has a purpose, even the obstacles which we must overcome, as well as the obstacles which redirect us, so that we remain on the path he wishes us to be on; he will even help us to know which is which. So let us put our hand upon the work, and turn not from it, but keep our eyes upon him as we take each step, and as we do that, we can be sure that each step will be secure, and the work that we do shall be successful, and nothing that he asks of us will be in vain. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Nehemiah 1-3, Revelation 5
Tomorrow's reading will be: Nehemiah 4-6, Psalm 98, Revelation 6

The God that is Worthy

Today's verse is Revelation 4:11
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

This weekend, I got a small glimpse of the power and glory of our God. I saw how God had prepared another that he might be able to give answer to a question that had plagued me for decades. I saw how God had organized everything to happen according to a time table he had set, and how that schedule had been met according to the promise made. In this verse we are reminded that our God is worthy of all we can give him, and that our overall purpose is for his pleasure. Yet in other places we are promised that if we willing seek to fulfill this purpose and the purpose he has set for us we shall be rewarded far above that which we can imagine. So let us give him that glory and honour and power, for indeed even without such promises He is Worthy! Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Ezra 7-10, Psalm 97, Revelation 4
Tomorrow's reading will be: Nehemiah 1-3, Revelation 5

God's Chastening Hand

Today's verse is Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

When People hear of the doctrine, “Once Saved, Always Saved” their objection to it is that then one could get saved then fall back into sin and relish in their sin and it would not matter. But here is the answer to that. All that have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, are by definition one that God loves, and we see here (and other places) that who God loves he chastens, or corrects. He does not allow one of his children to stray. So then let us Rejoice, and take care, for the one that we have committed our lives to is watching over us with a true parents love; therefore, we should even fear, even be terrified and strive to remove sin from our lives as he has given us the power over it, even as he has risen from the dead. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Esther 7-10, Revelation 3
Tomorrow's reading will be: Ezra 7-10, Psalm 97, Revelation 4

God Works Behind the Scenes Continued

Today's verse is Esther 5:2-4
      And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
     And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
     And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 

And now, about five years later, we see the result of Mordecai’s action we saw yesterday. Because the King could not sleep, he listened to the reading of his history (for we all know that history puts most of us to sleep) but in hearing the history he discovered that Mordecai had saved his life, and nothing had been done to reward him for this deed. And it so happened that Haman that sought Mordecai’s life came to ask the king for it and the tables were turned. So too does God work in our lives that serve him, and the reason that we can trust him, and place all we have in his hands. He may not deliver us as he did Mordecai, or his fellow Jews, but if he does not (as he did not deliver himself from the cross) we can be sure that our suffering we not be in vain, but will bring about the desired end. Therefore, delivered or not, we shall receive the reward he has set aside for us, if we remain faithful to him. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Esther 4-6, Revelation 2
Monday's  reading will be: Esther 7-10, Revelation 3

God Works Behind the Scenes

Today's verse is Ester 2:21-22
     In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
     And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.

We see here a series of events that later will have great affect to Mordecai, but not only to Mordecai, but to all the Jews, even to all of the Kingdom of Persia. For at this time Mordecai is not honored for part in this affair. But later, even just before the day all of God’s People where to be killed, the King once again had occasion to remember this short series of events, which caused the one that had sought to destroy the Jews to be humiliated, even shamed in his own eyes, and was the turning point of the redemption of God’s People. This is all to shew us that God is always working in our lives, and that we probably will not know the whys and wherefores till much later (if at all) when we possibly see all of the pieces and how they fit together. So let us on this day of Thanksgiving, give thanks to our God that always knows, the ins and the outs, the ups from the downs, and the purpose for everything that he allows in our lives, and that we can KNOW that all things work together for Good, to them that love God, and are the called according to his purpose. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Esther 1-3, Psalm 139, Revelation 1
Tomorrow's  reading will be: Esther 4-6, Revelation 2