Romans 16: More About Living Sacrifices

In Romans 12, Paul described the term “living sacrifice.” From there to the end of Romans 15, he showed how this principle works in different areas of life. Now, he does another remarkable thing—he lists person after person who were living examples of living sacrifices at that time. What a great theme for meditation!

 

Romans 15: Let's Use the Old Testament Well

In verse 4, Paul told the Roman Christians that the scriptures from former days were written for the benefit of those who live now. In order to show how to use them for our benefit, he quoted from the Old Testament at least six times in Romans 15. Take note of each one as you read, and use Paul’s methods to make good use of the rest of that part of the Bible.

 

Romans 14: Do Not Destroy Him

Getting along with one another can be one of life’s greatest challenges. Sometimes it even gets harder when we are among people who are very different from us due to background, nationality, customs, and former religions. So it was in the early church. Romans 14 is one of several places in Paul’s writing where this is discussed. In all of the advice—and commandments—that he gives, what could be more helpful than the heading of this meditation? How about the next thing he said? “Do not destroy your brother with your food, for whom Christ died” (v. 15).

 

Romans 13: Christians Obey the Law

All people should obey the law, but Christians should be leading the way. The key to it is the same thing that led us to obey the gospel in the first place—the spirit of submission (Romans 6:6-18). This spirit is in the first line of Romans 13: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.”

 

Romans 12: It Makes Sense for Us to...

As a result of being saved from sin (Romans 1-8) and being a part of the one body that includes Jews and Gentiles (Romans 9-11), Paul says that the reasonable thing for us to do is to be living sacrifices in order to show that the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect. So, in this chapter, he lists more than two dozen things that we can do in our daily lives that are acceptable to God, good for us, and helpful to the people in our lives.

 

Romans 11: That He Might Have Mercy Upon All

Romans 9, 10, and 11 are Paul’s explanation of how God is able—because He so very much desires it—to save Jew and Gentile by the gospel. The fact that sin is so terrible, and we are so helpless in saving ourselves—coupled with God’s desire for our salvation—is why the gospel was designed. The great thing to be learned from this is the conclusion of Romans 9, 10, and 11. Please read, read again, and highlight Romans 11:33-36.  

 

Romans 10: They Have Not All Obeyed

This comes from verse 16. The word “obeyed” comes from a word that means “heard,” or “hearkened.” God has the right to expect people who hear the gospel to hearken to it! Hearing—honest, fair hearing—should lead to obedience (Acts 6:7). When it does not, punishment will follow (2 Thessalonians 1:8). In the Bible, people who truly “heard” and “believed” also obeyed. Let us not disappoint Him (v. 21).

 

Romans 9: The Lord of Sabaoth

These are words in verse 29, quoted from Isaiah 1:9, where the phrase is, “The Lord of hosts.” This name of God is a reference to His position over “the hosts,” which is used in the Bible to refer to all created things (stars, planets, sun and moon) and all created beings (angels, seraphs, cherubs, and people). He is over everyone and everything—He is sovereign. He deserves our reverence, devotion, humility, obedience, and submission in all things. When we give Him these things, we are better able to see how wise He is in how He treats us—and we are then—only then—going to become “vessels of honor.”

 

Romans 8: If God Be for Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

Every chapter in Romans has many themes that would be good for meditations. This chapter is no exception. Paul is nearly through with the discussion of salvation from sin (that covers the first eight chapters). He concludes it with a paragraph that helps us to see that we are not in this battle—the battle of the daily Christian life—alone. GOD IS FOR US! Please do not rush through Romans 8—particularly verses 31-39.

 

Romans 7: The Battle Is Not Over, But It Can Be Won

Here is a great description of the difficult struggles that occur in every soul—the struggle between knowing what to do and the power of sin to fight against our will. Paul knows that the answer is not in him—but there must be an answer! “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This is the answer to the struggle. Let’s rely on Him and tell the world that they can rely on Him, too!

 

Romans 6: Free to Live

Jesus died so that we could be brought back to life. We have to die, too. We have to die to sin and be buried before we can live again. The physical act of obedience that God requires of us in order to complete the process is immersion (burial). When we come out—and Paul said “we” (including himself; Acts 22:16)—we are alive again. No wonder Peter says that baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21). Don’t let anyone mislead you, you must be born again, and it includes water (John 3:3,5; Acts 8:36-39).

 

Romans 5: Much More

Sin is much more of a problem than any of us can possibly realize. Romans 1-3 is one of the longest descriptions of sin in the Bible. Beginning at Romans 3:24, Paul shows how God unleashed the power of His grace through Jesus Christ against sin. In this chapter, he uses the term “much more” five times to help us see what heaven is doing for us so we can go to heaven (vv. 9-10,15,17,20). The last verse is the place to really do our meditating.

 

Romans 4: Blessed(ness)

God wants us to be in a “blessed” condition (Psalm 1; Matthew 5:3-12). He has made that possible through the riches of His grace, the sacrifice of His Son, and the revelation of the truth through the Holy Spirit. Paul uses this word in verses 6, 7, 8, and 9. Think carefully about this “happified” state that is possible as a result of having sins forgiven. Keep reading and meditating through Romans, and more pieces of this gospel will be described.

 

Romans 3: No, Not One

Since the Gentles are lost (Romans 1) and the Jew are lost (Romans 2) - apart from the gospel—and since everyone is one or the other, then all “are under sin” (v. 9). The world is lost because of sin—personal violations of the will of God (vv. 19-21). But God has a propitiation—a way for Him to set aside our sin and be satisfied. The propitiation (a Greek word for “mercy seat”) is Jesus Christ (vv. 24-26). Meditate on the two extremes in this reading—sin and propitiation.

 

Romans 2: Who Is the True Jew?

Romans 2 indicts the Jewish world as being in sin, just as Romans 1 does to the Gentile world. At the end of Romans 2, Paul (who was a Jew by birth) asserts that the true Jew is one who is so inwardly (that is, he has become a spiritual Jew through the gospel; Romans 1:16-17). It is just as impossible to please God today through Judaism as it is to serve Him through paganism.

 

Romans 1: So That They Are Without Excuse

This line is in verse 20 and is used to describe the real condition of people who choose not to glorify God in their lives. They are without excuse because the evidence for the existence of the God Whose character is described in the Bible—that evidence is conclusive. GOD IS: He is Creator and is seen in His creation as well as in His word (Psalm 19). Meditate on the clearly revealed things about Him and accept your accountability before Him.

 

Acts 28: Isaiah--Again

Isaiah was sent to people who were not going to listen (Isaiah 6). Jesus was sent to people who were not going to listen, and He quoted Isaiah 6 to them (Matthew 13:14-15). Paul is in Rome in Acts 28, preaching to still another generation of Jews—who did not listen and obey. So, he quoted Isaiah 6 again. Isaiah 6:9-10 applies to anyone who treats God’s word that way. So, what did Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul do? They kept on preaching until they found people who would listen. Don’t stop reading at Acts 28:27, or you will miss it.

 

Acts 27: The Ship Sank

Paul wrote to the Romans some years before Acts 27. At the beginning of Romans, he requested their prayers for a prosperous journey to them. His journey began in Acts 21, went through a few years of persecution, and continued on a ship in this reading—and then the ship sank! But all the while, Paul was prospering as a Christian, using every opportunity to tell the good news of Jesus. And his leadership in the ship led to the conclusion that not one person died when it went down.

 

Acts 26: Almost Persuaded...But There Is More

The “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” from Herod Agrippa has been the subject of millions of appeals to sinners, such as “Do not be almost persuaded as Agrippa, but altogether persuaded”; or “Almost cannot avail—almost is but to fail,” according to the songwriter. But there is much more in this chapter, including the lesson that Paul taught Agrippa (which is the third record of Paul’s conversion in Acts; see chapters 9 and 22). Please let his lesson draw you past the “almost” to the “altogether.”

 

Acts 25: I Appeal to Caesar

This persecution of Paul, which began in the middle of Acts 21, is still dragging on. Paul had been wanting to go to Rome for some time now (Romans 1:9-12). As a freeborn Roman citizen on trial in Acts 25, he had the means to guarantee a trip to Rome. So he did it—he appealed to Caesar (v. 11). Let’s think carefully about seeking for opportunities to serve God rather than merely waiting for them to fall into our laps.

 

Acts 24: He Reasoned

Paul’s life as a Christian was a life of constant trouble, turmoil, and tribulation. But it was also filled with opportunities to tell the story of Jesus. Here, he speaks to political leaders (Felix and Drusilla), who had sent for him. Felix wanted to hear what had to say. Paul’s approach was to “reason” with him, that is, he presented the message of God in a logical and sensible way so that Felix could make a good decision about Christ. Did he do that? Look for his response and examine your own response to Christ as you meditate.

 

Acts 23: Did They Keep Their Vow?

More than 40 men made a vow that they would not eat or drink until they killed Paul (vv. 12-13). Luke does not tell us if they kept their vow or not. Paul lived for about 10 more years after their vow. They did not kill him—but religious fanatics often continue on their foolish and unreasonable paths in spite of the facts. They could have avoided this foolishness by listening honestly to any of Paul’s sermons. Vows are fine—but should never be made rashly. And if there is opportunity—we should repent of the rash ones!

 

Acts 22: "How I Was Saved," by Paul

Millions of people who consider themselves Christians have referred to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Paul the apostle) as support for their view that salvation is by faith alone. They believe that he was saved on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. In this reading, after several years have passed, Paul is defending himself in the presence of the rioters by telling them how he was saved. He told them that Ananias, who visited him after he got to Damascus, said, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (v. 16). So, he was not saved on the road to Damascus—and he knew it.

 

Acts 21: Religious Riots

Paul was warned that if he went to Jerusalem there would be trouble (v. 11). The trouble was started by people who saw Paul do something and supposed that he had also done something else. They used that to cause a religious riot. How often do I go from a fact that I know, to a supposition that I do not know, to causing trouble for many others for a long time? These events started a chain reaction that continues for the rest of Acts and Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome.

 

Acts 20: The Lord's Supper

Jesus had told His disciples to observe the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-28). This included unleavened bread and grape juice. In today’s reading, we are told that they obeyed this command on Sunday. The early church met on every Sunday to worship (1 Corinthians 16:1-3) and part of that worship was for every one of them to partake of the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-29).

 

Acts 19: Magnified

The name of Jesus was made great among these people because of the evidence: He is great! A centurion at the cross came to the same conclusion. “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified (magnified) God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47). How does my life magnify my Father in heaven and His Son?

 

Acts 18: How Simple Can It Get?

People have spent centuries debating how to be saved. Here is what Acts 18:8 says about it: “...and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” This is how the church at Corinth began. It is the only way for any church that belongs to God to begin (1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 12:13). Please, if you have not done this, do it now (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16).

 

Acts 17: The Unknown God

There is a God in heaven (Daniel 2:28). There are countless gods—idols—vanities—invented by men. When Paul got to Athens, he came upon a heart-rending situation. Many people—each of whom was made in the image of God—knew many things about their idols. But they did not know about Someone to Whom they had built an altar: “THE UNKNOWN GOD.” He introduced them to their Maker and began the process of showing them how to approach Him through His risen Son. Why did he do this? He did it because judgment is coming (v. 31).

 

Acts 16: The Macedonian Call

The roots of the great Greek Empire were in Macedonia (northern Greece). It had spread like wildfire from west to east 400 years before Acts 16. Now, a more powerful force was spreading from east to west—the church of Christ. Paul received a vision in the night—calling him to come to Macedonia with the gospel. Read about it with anticipation that you are going to be thrilled by the events of this trip.

 

Acts 15: The Holy Spirit and Amos

Sometimes even the most simple truths are the hardest for us to accept. It was very difficult for the earliest Christians (who were all Jews before they were Christians) to accept the idea that God wanted the gospel preached to all people, including the Gentiles. Two infallible sources confirmed this in Acts 15—

¨ The Holy Spirit (v. 8)

¨ The prophet Amos (vv. 15-18)

The prophecy of Amos made it clear that this was God’s plan all along, and the work of the Holy Spirit was confirming it again and again in the first century.

 

Acts 14: Notable Things About God

When the early Christians began going to other lands with the gospel, they came in contact with multitudes who knew little or nothing about the One True God of the living and the dead. Verses 15-17 of today’s reading show us how these idol-worshippers were told notable things about God. As you meditate about the fact that there are billions of people on earth today who know little or nothing about the living God, think of what notable things you would say about Him to an unbeliever.

 

Acts 13: What Is Fasting?

The Holy Spirit wanted the gospel to be taken to new areas by Barnabas and Saul. The disciples chose to obey Him and send them out. One of the things they did was to engage in fasting before sending them. Luke does not tell us how or how long they fasted. But they chose to do without food (and maybe drink) for a period of time. Fasting promotes spiritual exercise of the soul. It is possibly the thing that Christians practice the least when it comes to spiritual things in the New Testament.

 

Acts 12: Another Prayer Meeting

Christians, of all people, should believe in the power of prayer. And when we get together to pray, for any good reason, the world ought to sit up and take notice. This chapter is a great testimony to the power of our prayers. God worked mightily through the praying people in this chapter. And He will work through us if we are praying people, too.

 

Acts 11: Christian

“And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isaiah 62:2). Acts 11:26 has that new name: Christian. What an honor to wear that name! It is used two more times in the New Testament (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). 

 

Acts 10: We Are Here - Ready to Listen

Verse 23 has the words for this meditation. I want to keep this one short—so let me just ask this: If I am going to learn and do the will of God, what could be more important than being “ready to listen”?

 

Acts 9: What Will Thou Have Me Do?

Aside from Jesus, Saul of Tarsus is the main character in this reading (he was introduced in Acts 7:60 and 8:1-4). He was an enemy of the way of Christ, and he needed to be dealt with. So Christ did it personally. In a twinkling of an eye, this man of slaughter realized that Jesus is the risen One. So, he asked a question, “What wilt thou have me to do?” Think about how he was answered, and ask yourself if you have done what he was told (see also Paul’s own statements about it in Acts 22 and 26, as well as Romans 6:1-4).

 

Acts 8: Samaria Again

If you have time, you should read John 4 as a help in meditating on this chapter. The middle section (vv. 5-25) is a record of the gospel going to Samaria. John 4 is a record of the work of Jesus in that same area. One lesson for us is that we should prepare the soil in an area if we want to see results some day. In fact, there were great and lasting results in both readings (for the people of Samaria and for the people who worked among the Samaritans).

 

Acts 7: Stephen's Sermon

Stephen’s sermon is a defense of God and Christ, it is a history lesson, it is an evidence of the accuracy of the Old Testament, it is an indictment against his enemies, it is an example of great courage, it is an illustration of how we should use the Old Testament, it is a glorification of the risen Lord, and it is proof that Stephen received the crown of life when he was murdered for His name.

 

Acts 6: Stephen

This is a short reading, but we are introduced to a man who is a great example—

• an example of service to those who are needy
• an example of great faith that made him useful to Jesusan
• an example of powerful preaching in the face of evil enemies of the cross

His name was Stephen—a name that means “crown.” Meditate on this word now—and again in chapter 7.

 

Acts 5: Strict Orders

One of the events of this reading has to do with the story line of chapters 3 and 4. Persecution rose again against the disciples. Their persecutors reminded them that they had been given strict orders not to teach “in this name” (the name of Jesus, v. 28). Again they refused—this time with a now famous statement, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (v. 29). No matter how strict the orders of sinful men are—God must be obeyed.

 

Acts 4: The Name

Verses 10 and 12 use the word “name” to make the point that God has chosen the name of His Son as the path to salvation—the only path. Sin has created the need for salvation. God has created the way out of sin into salvation. That way is the name of His Son. No one can be saved from sin any other way. This truth was clearly understood by those who had brought Peter and John to trial in Acts 4—and they rejected it. They were commanded then to stop speaking about the name (vv. 17-18). Thanks be to God that they refused.

 

Acts 3: Ignorance

Peter explained that some of the people who were involved in the death of Jesus did it through ignorance (v. 17). He did not say whether their ignorance was willful, because they had been led astray, or because they just didn’t know—but they were ignorant. They were also guilty. They were in need of having their sins blotted out (v. 19). Ignorance can only be eliminated by knowledge—learning what we do not know. Learn from this reading to develop your desire to know whatever you need to know so that you can be freed from sin and please God in your life.

 

Acts 2: The Hub of the Bible

The establishment of the church of Christ had been prophesied and predicted often before Acts 2 (see Daniel 2:44-45 and Matthew 16:18-19, for example). It was to occur during the lifetime of people who heard Jesus teach (Mark 9:1). After Pentecost it was spoken of as having been done (Acts 2:47; 8:12-13). Read it with this simple outline and note how both testaments radiate from it (backward and forward): vv. 1-4—the reception of the Holy Spirit; vv. 5-13—the reaction of the people; vv. 14-40—the response of the apostles; vv. 41-47—the results of that day. Old Testament prophecies (Psalm 2; Isaiah 2; Daniel 2; Hosea 2; Haggai 2; Zechariah 2) point forward to Acts 2. New Testament writers (1 Corinthians 2; Ephesians 2; Colossians 2; 1 Peter 2) point back to Acts 2.

 

Acts 1: Prayer Meetings

Lots of books begin with introductions to themes that are developed throughout the book. Acts is no exception. Take note of how Luke develops such subjects as the resurrection of Christ, the kingdom (church), the Holy Spirit, the spread of the gospel, various places and people, and, for now—the subject of prayer. The disciples are praying in verses 14 and 24—two different occasions during the days after Jesus’ ascension. They are praying together. Let it never be said that the day of prayer meetings is over.

 

Esther 10: Is God in This Book or Not?

The chapter is the shortest in the book. But don’t read it too quickly! Think about how useful Mordecai was to the purposes of God in a heathen land (modern day Iran). And remember that although the name of God is not in the book of Esther—He was doing the work that is fitting for One Who is known as “the Lord of hosts” (Psalm 46:7-8).

NOTE: The Jewish calendar still has the feast of Purim on it. In 20`3, it is to be observed today and tomorrow– February 24 and 25.

 

Esther 9: Survival

Be careful to note that the victories in this reading are over those who hated  them (v. 5). The feast of Purim, as a remembrance of their great victory, began at this time. Pur (the lot; v. 24) had been cast against the Jews—and had now been turned around to defeat their enemies. God always has the means to turn things around—even upside down—to vindicate His people. Let us learn to serve Him courageously in all things (Hebrews 13:5-6).

 

Esther 8: Here Is Why You Were Chosen

Now we are going to meditate on the high point of Esther’s service to God. She tells the king that she is a Jew and seeks a way to keep her people from being wiped out. Read carefully to see how the story unfolds. Then think of what roles you can fill in the kingdom of the Lord so He can use you in the work of salvation today (Matthew 6:33-34).

 

Esther 7: Next Comes the Inevitable

This book is packed with examples of two of the most important principles in the universe. The existence of the One True and Living God undergirds these two things. Look for them in this short, tense reading:

¨ The providence of God (Romans 8:28)

¨ The law of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7-8)

 

Esther 6: Now for the Twist

Providence made it possible for the king to learn of the events that had led to his life’s being saved by Mordecai (2:21-23). Haman was asked by the king how he thought the king should honor a worthy person. Haman’s vanity let him think that the king was thinking about him! His ideas were accepted by Ahasuerus who told him to prepare the ceremony—for Mordecai! Haman began to reap as he had sown as soon as the king made this arrangement. Examine your own temptations to vanity as you read.

 

Esther 5: Approaching a King

This reading shows that Queen Esther was not endangered in her to approach her king—even though there was a serious risk according to the law of Persia (4:10-12). She took the risk because of the situation, and she was rewarded. The King of kings (Jesus) can be approached by anyone and everyone any time and all times. He desires our approach—even commands it (Matthew 11:28-30). The risk we take is to not approach (Hebrews 4:14-16). So, let us reverently go to Him (Hebrews 12:28).

 

Esther 4: Mordecai--A Wise Relative

The story has moved quickly as the plan to exterminate the Jews has grown. But the king and Haman do not know that Esther is a Jew. Enter: The wisdom of Mordecai. He suggested that possibly she had come to her position for just this time. Now...let us think about one more thing—God has not been mentioned yet in this story (and He is not mentioned by name in the rest of the book, either). But when Mordecai gives his advice to Esther in verses 13-14, I believe he is teaching her about the real theme of this book: The providence of God. Think on this carefully and decide to do right in all situations so that God can use you, as He was about to use her.

 

Esther 3: Now for Haman

The next character to enter the story is Haman, clearly a vain, proud, and vindictive man. All of these traits are seen when Mordecai refused to bow down to him. Haman’s rage was so hate-filed that he began to develop a plan to have all of Mordecai’s people (the Jews) destroyed.

 

Esther 2: A Queen Is Needed

A comparison of 1:3 and 2:16 will show that four years passed before the final choice of a new queen was made. She was the Jewish woman, Esther (Hadassah) who had been under the guidance of her honorable relative, Mordecai. She won the approval of the king and was made queen. The last event in the chapter that prepares us for the rest of this reading is about an incident that led to the king’s life being saved when Mordecai learned of a plot against his life.

 

Esther 1: How It All Started

 History tells us that the king of this book, Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes) reigned in Persia from 486-465 BC. At a drunken feast, he called for his queen, Vashti, to come and display her beauty for the other men to see. She refused. He was furious and embarrassed, so he chose to make her stay out of his presence. Another woman was to be chosen to fill her place.

 

Nehemiah 13: Let's Read

There is a very simple way to avoid being led astray by the “great talents” of speakers and writers. As valuable as it really can be to learn from people who are good students—it is far more often the case that they are not good (or even honest) students. But they lead the human race down hundreds of paths that only “seem” right (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). The simple way to avoid all of this is in verse one of this reading. They read the Bible! In this case, they read it out loud to the people. This takes one back to the original purpose of “Let’s Meditate”—which is to encourage you to read your Bible.

 

Nehemiah 12: Dedication: What Is That About?

The Hebrew word for “dedication” has to do with a ceremony that makes it clear that something is in service. Verse 27 uses that word to refer to the newly finished wall around Jerusalem. It was a great idea and an important thing to celebrate because it honored God, uplifted His people, and sent a clear message to His enemies.

 

Nehemiah 11: Daily Tasks

Verse 23 has an interesting phrase noting that the singers would get their portion for doing their daily duties. The Bible is a book for everyday life. We can all find out what our most important daily duties are by meditating on its instructions. The wisdom of God has provided us with this so we can know what matters most each day—to do those things—and to not let the “cares of the world” choke out what matters to God. Here is how one person put it:
 

The main thing
is to keep the main thing
the main thing.

 

Nehemiah 10: A Sworn Oath

The failures of the Israelites are catalogued in generation after generation by Old Testament writers (who were also Israelites). The generation of Nehemiah was no exception. But the exceptional leadership of men like Nehemiah and Ezra led to great reforms, including an oath in this chapter to change their ways. It is in verse 29. Meditate on it carefully as you thoughtfully read the chapter.

Nehemiah 9: More Elements of Prayer

The meditation for Ezra 9 gave several elements of prayer and noted that Daniel 9 has another great example of how to pray Let me list a few things that are in this chapter that can help us to learn about prayer.

Prepare for prayer (1-4)

  Be reverent toward God (5-6)
  Pray about the things that God has done for you and others (7-25)
  Remember the results of treating God sinfully (26)
  Know that God will recompense evil (vengeance belongs to Him, 27)
  There is a place for repetition in prayer (28-30); Appeal to God carefully (31-37)
  Make a commitment to His covenant (38)

Nehemiah 8: A Lesson in Learning How to Learn

The people in this reading understood that the Law of the LORD was the way to learn what God desired of them. They knew that they had to listen carefully and respectfully as it was read. They knew that those who read it to them had to know what they were doing as they read it and explained it. And they knew that they knew the message was supposed to teach their hearts so it could lead to rejoicing before the LORD. The same principles apply now, too, whether we have a large audience as in Acts 2, or only one person as in Acts 8:26-40.

Nehemiah 7: God Put It Into My Mind

I am not going to try to explain how God put something into Nehemiah’s mind (v. 5; also translated “inclined”) but He did. Nehemiah not only gives God credit for this, he also chose to follow the inclination by leading the people in obeying God. This is the transition in the book from the building of the wall (a one-time project) to the keeping of the law (their daily duty toward God).

Nehemiah 6: 52 Days

In this chapter they had to overcome lies that their enemies told in order to stop the work. Nehemiah helped them to deal with these rumors by asking God to strengthen his hands (v. 9). God honored him—and they finished the walls. It had only taken 52 days (v. 15). And their enemies became very depressed because of God’s victory (v. 16).

Nehemiah 5: An Object Lesson Can Really Help

Great leadership learns the power of simple communication. In verse 13, Nehemiah shook his lap (the folds of his robe) and said that he wanted God to do that to everyone who did not keep the promise to do right by one another (and correct all of the wrongdoing that they had been doing to one another). And they agreed (Galatians 5:15).

Nehemiah 4: This Is Worth the Fight

The cause for which the people needed to do this work (which was already more than 70 years behind schedule) included something very precious. Note Nehemiah 4:14:

“Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord,
which is great and terrible (awe-inspiring),
and fight for your brethren, your sons,
your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

Read it again and again—highlight it—memorize it—and make it a part of your cause—our loved ones are worth the fight.

Nehemiah 3: There Is a Job for Everyone

Nehemiah demonstrated his belief in the people by delegating jobs to them all around the despised city of Jerusalem. This led to work—important work—being done at all of the strategic positions (called “gates”). The beauty of this concept—delegation—is that it is a very visible way of showing those who mock and despise us (2:19; Matthew 5:9-12) that we mean to do the Lord’s business!

Nehemiah 2: Send Me to Judah -- Please

In verses 4 and 5, Nehemiah approached God in prayer and the king by request to go to Jerusalem. He went, surveyed the situation, and then approached the hearts and minds of the people by winning them to a cause—something to believe in (v. 17). He immediately received criticism, handling it by affirming his allegiance to God—his humble leadership was already serving God and the people very well.

Nehemiah 1: A Grown Man Cried

Nehemiah was a grown man living nearly 100 years after the Jews had been allowed to go back to their homeland. He was living in a key city of the Persian Empire. The book begins with a report he was given regarding the terrible conditions in his homeland of Judah. There was no reason for things to be so bad, so this report caused him to be in grief—he wept and mourned for a long time. But this grief moved him to become one of the greatest examples of leadership in the history of the world. His story begins here. Please read it thoughtfully.

Ezra 10: Some Things Are Hard to Fix

This chapter tells the story of some arrangements (including marriages that did not please God) that involved Israel in very difficult situations. But these things needed to be fixed. So they prayed, confessed, searched, called people together, and worked out a solution that would please God. And then they put their plan into action. They did not want to face the fierce anger of God over this (v. 14). And neither do we (Hebrews 12:28-29).

Ezra 9: Elements of Prayer

Ezra 9, Nehemiah 9, and Daniel 9 are chapters that include three of the great prayers of the Bible. On the time line, Daniel was first (c. 536 B.C.), Ezra was second (458 B.C.), and Nehemiah was third (445 B.C.). As part of today’s meditation, you could read all three. Ezra 9 has several elements to note carefully—understanding the sin (v. 6), grace (v. 8), mercy (v. 9), more sin (v. 10), the character of God (v. 13), and grief (v. 15). Learning to pray, and learning how to pray, are two lifelong privileges of the child of God.

Ezra 8: Let's Humble Ourselves and Ask

In verse 21, the King James Version says “afflict ourselves”—this means that they were being challenged to humble themselves. Then, it says “to seek of him a right way”—this means that they were being challenged to ask God for help. These two things were up to them! They had to choose to become dependant on God and let Him know about it. So do we (James 4:6-10).

Ezra 7: Some Things About Ezra

It is possible, good, and pleasant for us to do the work of God and have the good hand of God upon us (v. 9). Our part includes the deliberate choice to be the kind of people that Ezra was. Verse 10 gives these points: He prepared his heart (Matthew 22:34-40) —to seek the law of the LORD (Acts 17:11) —and to do it (Acts 10:34-36) —and to teach in Israel (2 Timothy 2:2) Let the things that were true of Ezra be true of me, O Lord.

Ezra 6: Finished!

Building a temple is a great undertaking. Four years after being rebuked by Haggai and Zechariah, they finished the work (v. 14). This was truly a great time, leading to a restoration of true, joyful worship according to the law God gave to Moses. Today’s temple is the church—made of living stones—Christians (1 Peter 2:5-9). It takes a lot to build and maintain, too. But we can, and must, do it (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Ezra 5: Be Sure You Are Right, Then Go Ahead

Years go by quickly, and here it is about 16 years until Haggai and Zechariah rebuke the people for not doing anything about this situation. We are not allowed to give up merely because we meet with opposition. They accepted the rebuke, got back on God’s side (v. 5), and chose to do what was right—which included writing their own very good letter!

Ezra 4: If You Are Going to Write a Letter, Make It a Good One

But the results of chapter 3 also included the fact that Israel’s enemies heard of their successes. So they mounted a strong opposition to the work of God’s people. They chose to write to the king about it. Their letter, although full of lies, was so well written that they got their way. The work was stopped. We need to realize that those who are against us are going to work hard to get their way. We must not let our guard down.

Ezra 3: Weeping and Joy

Sometimes the same event can lead to a variety of emotions. When the former exiles finished the foundation for the new temple, the audience included people who had seen the first temple before it was destroyed (50-70 years earlier). This explains their weeping in verse 12 (And tears do not always mean that we are sad, do they?). The shouts of joy came from people who had only seen that which was before their eyes. Such experiences can produce great results. Be aware of reasons why others may express different emotions than you.

Ezra 2: Once An Exile, Always An Exile?

All through history people have been exiled (sent away) from their homeland. Many of them remained exiled for the rest of their lives. The people of Israel had been taken away starting in 722/21 B.C. The people of Judah had been taken away starting in 606 B.C. It was now about 536 B.C., and Cyrus was giving them permission to go home. God had promised through the prophets that this would happen after the land had 70 years of rest (Jeremiah 25). As always, He kept His word.

Ezra 1: I Want to Think About Cyrus Again

The Bible is the best history book ever written. Thousands of people have written histories and biographies. Research into the past is one of the most popular careers in every generation. And it can be very enlightening. But Bible history is different: It is always right. It gives information that can only be from God. It tells us things that provide lasting spiritual lessons. The histories in the world that speak of Cyrus do not give us the things we have in the Bible, which include his clear understanding of the One true God. Read it and think of your own understanding of God.

2 Chronicles 36: Cyrus and the Lord

For a long time, the prophecies about Cyrus and his statements when he found out Who God really is have been a great source of confidence in my life that God exists and that even powerful pagans can come to believe in Him. This book ends with that story (see also Isaiah 44:24-45:7; written more than 100 years before Cyrus was born).

2 Chronicles 35: Useless Death

Faithful Josiah refused to “listen to the mouth of God” (Who was speaking to him through the ruler of Egypt) and went out to fight the Egyptians. He lost his life in this moment of foolishness, but he is still spoken of as a man whose life was filled with acts of faithful love (goodness) for God. He was only 39.

2 Chronicles 34: Eight Year Old King - Who Will Help Him?

Children are precious and innocent souls. They need good examples, teaching and guidance. Make an 8-year old a king, but make sure he has help! This boy began to seek the LORD when he was about 16 (v. 3). He got help from such people as the high priest (v. 9), and the book of the Law of the LORD—which they found (vv. 14-15). Now we know one reason why things had been going so badly! How do the people of God lose His book? Thankfully, they found it, read it, and followed it.

2 Chronicles 33: Detestable - According to God

Alas, the reforms were over. The man with the longest reign, Manasseh (55 years), returned to the abominable (detestable) practices of sin. They are actually detestable because God says so. The word used here is used to refer to unclean food (Deuteronomy 14:3); idolatry (Isaiah 41:24); child sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31); wrong marriages (Malachi 2:11); and homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22). The standards of God must be learned and respected

2 Chronicles 32: But We Have Jehovah

The Assyrians, who were the destroyers of the north (Israel), now came after Judah. The faith of Hezekiah was strong. He encouraged courage, and he reminded his people that their enemies only have human strength, but “the LORD (Jehovah) our God is with us to help” (v. 8). Read the whole chapter to see how He did His work to defeat Assyria.

2 Chronicles 31: Eliminating Idols

The idolatry that had been in the land of Canaan when Israel moved in had never been eliminated, if you can believe it! They had even taken the pole that Moses erected in the wilderness and turned it into an idol (Numbers 21; 2 Kings 18:4). Hezekiah’s reforms were so far-reaching that he even eliminated that. Obviously, nearly anything can become my idol and destroy my soul—let me choose to beware (Colossians 3:5).

2 Chronicles 30: Passover at a Different Time

Centuries of failure to worship God correctly were being corrected by Hezekiah, the priests, and the people. They even chose to observe the Passover (at a different time than usual—by permission of the Law; Numbers 9:9-11). It was urgent for them to get back on track, so they did. This is truly a great chapter in their history.

2 Chronicles 29: More Temple Maintenance

How could the temple get in such terrible shape—filled with unclean things—when a whole tribe in Israel was supposed to take care of all of the priestly duties? Not only that, they had these duties for hundreds of years, they had an entire book of the Bible addressed to them (Leviticus), and they had detailed instructions given to them when the temple was being planned and built! Enough of that for now—because this chapter is about the men who decided to do the right thing (vv. 12-19). Let us learn this lesson well as God’s priesthood today.

2 Chronicles 28: Valley of Hinnom

It is amazing from one perspective to note how short the lives of most of the kings were. Ahaz, one of the most corrupt, became king when he was 20, reigned 16 years, and died (the end of a king’s reign is almost always due to his death). But this man—this man was responsible for burning children in the fire of the valley of Hinnom. This valley was known as a place where the fire never went out. In the New Testament, the word Gehenna refers to this valley at the outskirts of Jerusalem. Jesus used the word to refer to hell. Nothing good can happen there. Don’t go (Mark 9:43-48).

2 Chronicles 27: But the People

Now Jotham took the throne. He did what was right (v. 2)—but in the same verse, the chronicler adds, “And the people did yet corruptly.” In other words, they did not change. No matter what anyone else does—we (you and I) must do rightly.

2 Chronicles 26

2 Kings 14:21 helps us to know that Uzziah was also known as Azariah. He became king at the age of 16 and reigned for 52 years. He started out well, but his successes led to pride, which led to sinning in worship. God struck him with leprosy (a skin disease) which caused him to be quarantined for the rest of his life. It was during his reign that some of the prophets lived and wrote (Isaiah 1:1; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1). Hopefully, this disease humbled him to repent before Jehovah.

2 Chronicles 25: Against Edom

Edom (a nation descended from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob) was often at odds with Judah. Since the land of the Edomites was so near, it was easy for them to cause trouble. Amaziah got an army ready, listened to a prophet, and won the battle. But (here we go again!) be brought their idols back home and made them his gods. His reign got worse until he was murdered by conspirators. What does it take for us to learn that God punishes sin?

2 Chronicles 24: Maintenance on the Temple

Joash became king at the age of 7. With the good influence of Jehoiada, the priest, he was able to get back to basics. They started by doing repairs to the temple. A lesson—if we are going to use something to the glory of the Lord (for example—when the church owns property) - we must take care of it. It must not fall into disuse or become a place for the practice of evil things while it is under our control. I wish I could tell you that this whole chapter is filled with positive lessons, but it is not. Joash went into sin and died in shame. Take heed, brothers and sisters (Hebrews 3:12-13).

2 Chronicles 23: The Queen Screamed, "Treason"

The last chapter closed after Athaliah became queen. She proceeded to kill all (except one) of the royal seed (who were her grandchildren!). She reigned in sin for six years. One grandson, who was now 7, had survived her reign of terror. When she saw her reign ending, she screamed, “Treason, treason.” But she was taken and rightly executed. God was now working through a faithful and courageous priest (Jehoiada). Let us learn courage so He can use us when He needs to.

2 Chronicles 22: He Reigned One Year

If you think the last chapter was hard to read—this one is worse. A major element for all of the bad things in these years can be traced to an arranged marriage between the offspring of the kings of the two rival countries (Israel and Judah) in chapter 18. Not only were they united by that marriage, they continued marrying evil women of the north (21:6), and they practiced the idolatry of the north (22:3). This new king (22 years old) took some bad advice, associated with the north (who were now his relatives), and was killed after one year when Jehu avenged the evil house of Ahab. Meditation suggestions: bad worship, bad marriages, bad advice. To make matters worse, Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, took the throne after he was killed.

2 Chronicles 21: He Killed All of His Brothers

Every day we hear news of unspeakable things done by people in the world. We can become numb with the onslaught of information. But when it happens among us—the children of God—it is much worse. We are supposed to know better and to do better. Jehoram, the new king (whose father was Jehoshaphat), had a reasonably good background and was king in Judah, where people were normally more faithful than in the north. So how did this new king consolidate his power? Did he do it by calling on God and walking in the steps of the faithful kings in his family who went before him? No—he did it by murdering all of his brothers. When he died—eight years later—no one was sorry (v. 20).

2 Chronicles 20: A Prayer of a King

Jehoshaphat, whose reign began in chapter 17, shows his spiritual side by praying to Jehovah before the people in the temple (vv. 5-12). Read it carefully and see what items in his prayer can be helpful in your own prayers. Then note how many good things God proceeded to do through these people in chapter 20. This resulted in the terror of Jehovah being on the people of other lands (v. 29). So Judah had rest (v. 30).

2 Chronicles 19: Jehu - The Seer

There is a famous Jehu in the Bible—Jehu the king of the north. This Jehu is a prophet (the son of Hanani). He has a brief rebuke to give to Jehoshaphat about his sin in helping the wicked and loving those who hate the Lord (James 4:1-4). It seems that this went to the king’s heart, because the rest of the reading is about his good works—including his encouragement that good people are to associate with one another and do the will of Jehovah together.

2 Chronicles 18: I Hate Him

Here is yet another prophet, Micaiah, who is better known than Oded and Hanani. We also have more of his words. And we have the very well known opinion of him that was held by Ahab, the wicked king of the north. He said, “I hate him.” Micaiah was surrounded by prophets in this chapter who were telling Ahab how well everything was going to turn out. But they were liars. Read and meditate carefully about his convictions, strategy, and courage from verse 12 on. Then ask yourself, “How courageous am I?”

2 Chronicles 17: He Got Ready to Fight - Against Israel

There are struggles, battles, and even wars that we have to fight. Sometimes we have to do this in spite of who the enemy is. Jehoshaphat, the new king in the south, had to do this, too. The enemy was the north—his own people. Israel (the ten northern tribes) was part of he promised land and the tribes that lived there were descendants of Jacob, too. But they had chosen to walk in the evil ways of Jeroboam. And that made them dangerous to the faithful. Let us be strong in the Lord to do His will, no matter who is in our way (1 Corinthians 16:13).

2 Chronicles 16: Hanani Said

For the second chapter in a row, a “minor” prophet enters the reign of Asa. This time it was to rebuke Asa for not relying on the Lord. Asa was angered, put Hanani in prison, treated the people badly, did not turn to God for help, contracted a serious disease, and still did not seek the Lord. There are many possible lessons from both Hanani and Asa in this sad reading.

2 Chronicles 15: Oded Said

Oded was a prophet—one of many people in the Bible who are sometimes called “minor” characters. As you read the words Oded said and meditate on the major results that come from them, you might decide that being major or minor really is not important. Just do what God wants you to do and He will make something great out of it. One of his statements really impressed me: “Jehovah is with you when you are with Him.” King Asa took courage when he heard these things and led a great reform in Judah.

2 Chronicles 14: Asa Cried Out

When I was studying the Psalms, I began to note how often people in the Bible cried out to the Lord. There really are situations in life that are so full of danger that it is very important for us to cry out to Him. To do this means that we understand our own frailty, we understand how powerful our obstacle is, and we know that God is able to hear and to help us in all of these situations. When you get to King Asa’s cry in verse 11, pay close attention to the way he speaks to Jehovah.

2 Chronicles 13: Worthless (and Wicked) Men

This reference in verse 7 (“vain men, the children of Belial”) is to the men who came to the aid of Jeroboam so that he could resist Rehoboam. There are always people who choose so many evil things that they become vain, empty, or worthless—children of evil (Belial). Often they are in positions of power and use their evil ways to fight against all that is holy. The fact that this is so common should not cause us to fear, because the One Who is for us is greater than all of the world’s worthless people (1 John 4:4). Keep this in mind as you read about this war of Israelite against Israelite.

2 Chronicles 12: Abandon the Law - Here Comes Egypt

Rehoboam forsook (abandoned) the law. This means that he knew it and then left it. This meant that he would reap punishment. Egypt came. Egypt punished. Rehoboam humbled himself and God had mercy on him. Most of the times when we need God’s mercy, it is because we have sinned, He has brought calamity on us, and then we repent! All too often we who know that we need to repent refuse to do so until we have been “caught.” And sometimes that kind of repentance doesn’t last (vv. 13-14).

2 Chronicles 11: 28 Sons and 60 Daughters

We know little about Solomon’s family other than his son Rehoboam. Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (far fewer than Solomon’s total of 1,000). But Rehoboam had 28 sons and 60 daughters! Such a gross rejection of God’s plan for the home is a recipe for disaster—including the example he set for his 88 children.

2 Chronicles 10: Torn - 10 and 2

As quickly as the glory of Solomon’s reign grew—it was destroyed by Rehoboam (his son) and Jeroboam. The kingdom was torn in two by their self-willed evils. Read it and weep.

2 Chronicles 9: Queen of Sheba

Sheba, also known as Saba, was in the area known today as the country of Yemen. It is at the far end of the Red Sea, a long journey from Israel. It was, and is, a very strategic location in that part of the world. Their queen heard of Solomon’s greatness and went to see for herself. She was so impressed that “it took her breath away” (v. 4). When she spoke, she gave great praise to God. When we do works that God blesses with success, let it be to His glory (Mathew 5:16)!

2 Chronicles 8: The Work Continues

Buildings across the kingdom, true worship, and a navy—all important things—are in this reading. The key, which world leaders (actually nearly all leaders) nearly always miss, is the fact that God must be worshipped and He must be worshipped in spirit and truth (vv. 12-16; John 4:23-24). How much better would things be in every town, county, state, and country in this world if everything began with a proper approach to God?

2 Chronicles 7: For He Is Good

The planning, building, and praying are done. What was true in chapter 5 is still true: “For He is good; For His mercy endureth for ever” (v. 3). There were too many times in Israel when the people were not in tune (harmony) with Jehovah. But in this case they were. The Lord responded to Solomon in the night with several things that would help him understand God and His ways better. This is a good passage for today’s meditation: vv. 12-22.

2 Chronicles 6: Meditate on This Again

1 Kings 8 is a record of the same prayer that we have here. It is the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple. There is a kind of preliminary prayer in verses 1-11. The king addressed the people and reminded them about how good God had been to them in all of their generations. He was the One Who brought them to this day for their good and in keeping His promises to David. In view of this Solomon prayed to God about how they would really need God in all future times.

2 Chronicles 5: For He Is Good

The words come from verse 13. The rest of the statement is “For His mercy (faithful love) endures for ever.” God is good. God is good no matter what. But there are situations where we see it in marvelous ways. The completion of the temple, which was a work of God and His people, was an illustration of how good things are when we actually work together under His rulership. And when it is done, we have another reason to say “For He is good.”

2 Chronicles 4: He Made - They Made

In order to start and finish the hundreds of jobs that were involved in the temple project, the planning and labor of countless people was needed. When the author says, “He made” (see chapter 3) he is referring to Solomon. This does not mean that Solomon personally made all of those items (or any of them), but that it was done under his oversight (authority). Faithful talented workers obeyed their king and finished one of the greatest works of the Old Testament. They did it as co-laborers (1 Corinthians 3:9).

2 Chronicles 3: Mount Moriah

Mount Moriah is an area in Jerusalem. It is noted for being the place where Abraham took Isaac (Genesis 22), Solomon built the temple, and where Jesus was put on trial (in and around the same area). It was in this same place that Melchizedek served as priest and king (Genesis 14; Salem = Jebus Salem = Jerusalem). It is from this same city that Jesus began His reign and service as our High Priest and King in Acts 2.

2 Chronicles 2: The Value of Letters

Solomon made a choice to be the builder of the temple. To do this, he needed good help. He knew that Hiram, the king of Tyre, had been a friend to his father and that he would probably help with the temple. This reading includes the kind and carefully written letters between these two kings. Think about the elements of these letters as you read them and then write a letter to someone who is important to you in some way.

2 Chronicles 1: Ask

Most of the time when we think about what God wants us to do, we think in terms of commandments. Commandments are good, and obeying them is necessary. But God also wants us to do things that allow us to get closer to Him. In verse 7, God appeared to Solomon and encouraged Solomon to “ask.” He really desires that we do this today (Matthew 7:7-11). Asking is a form of commandment-keeping, but it is more than that—it is as a child bringing requests of all kinds to a father who can help. Let’s practice asking.