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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 22 October 2023:
Daniel 7:9 — As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
Powerful nations will rise and fall, but God reigns as Sovereign and is in complete control.
Daniel 7:12 — As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
God accomplishes His purposes in His ways and on His timeline, not ours. We cannot understand the mind of God or why He does what He does the way He does it unless He reveals it to us. Prophecy is given to help us trust when we don’t understand. Rather than serving as some sort of riddle which if solved reveals the dates and times of future events, prophecy is provided to tell us God has a plan, and if you know the prophecy, you will recognize its fulfillment when it occurs or after it occurs, not usually beforehand.
The fate of the beasts was determined before it was apparent.
Daniel 7:21, 22 — As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
From these verses, it would appear that God will allow the saints to suffer until Jesus returns, and then the saints will reign with Jesus.
Daniel 7:23 — Thus he said: “As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.”
The fourth kingdom is global.
Psalm 122:1 — I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
How excited are you to go to church today? Do you have a heart to worship God in fellowship with God’s people? The Bible says that how much you really love God is revealed by how much you really love others, how much unity you have with fellow believers. Do you have a passion for your church? If not, your relationship problem starts with your relationship with God. Pray about your heart for God and others — the two are inseparable: “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20)
Psalm 122:8, 9 – For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
The way of a child of God is to seek peace for others and not to just give them comforting words of peace but also to personally work to bring them peace, meeting their needs in a tangible way, while seeking to draw them closer to the Prince of Peace, Jesus. Don’t just say, “Have a nice day,” but do something real to make it nice.
Psalm 123:2 – Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.
Keep your eyes on Jesus today; follow Him closely.
Proverbs 22:11, 9 — He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend…. Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
There are two vital and inseparable qualities of a leader – character and competence. The question people who rely on you will ask about you is: “Are you a good person, and are you good at what you do?” From character and competence come trust and confidence. Of King David, the Bible says, “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them (Psalm 78:72)” – character and competence. Today’s Proverbs tell us that with character and competence, we will serve before kings. Why does this matter? Because position is influence, and influence can be used for God’s glory. Look at the Bible characters God placed in important positions in order to influence for His glory – Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, Joseph, Nehemiah, Esther, etc.
Of course the same principles of character and competence apply to the most important position on this earth, parent. Notice that when the Bible introduces a new character, it almost always points out who the parents of that person were. I find the greatest examples of leadership among parents who sacrifice all for their children out of love without seeking personal benefit.
Whatever the roles and responsibilities we have been given, we should seek to serve not only with a pure heart but also with elite competence, not for our own glory, but for God’s glory, as an act of worship to Him, and as a sacrifice of love for others. Do you love God and others enough to be willing to put in the effort to be great and what you do without receiving any credit for yourself? Or, do you need threats or rewards to inspire you to put in your best effort?
– Ephesians 6:5-9 — Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
– 1 Corinthians 10:31 — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
– Colossians 3:22 — Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
God will train you up in the way you should go, and you won’t always like it.
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
During your formative years, did your parents train you in godliness (discipleship)? If not, your battle against ingrained habits of sinfulness is more difficult, but fortunately, the Holy Spirit empowers you to have the fruit of self-control. Don’t convince yourself that you can’t help what you do. On another note, what habits are you instilling in your children which will form the way they think and act? Is God’s word the beginning and end of your conversations?
Proverbs 22:9, 11 — Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor…. He who…whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
When we think of giving, we usually think about sharing tangible resources, but graciousness and forgiveness are also forms of giving. Often, one of the best gifts you can give someone costs you absolutely nothing at all — genuine complements and sincere, affirming words of encouragement. Sometimes it only takes a few words out of your mouth to make someone’s day. Try it today. Go out of your way to tell people in your life something about them you appreciate or admire and see what happens.
On the other hand, sometimes offering grace (giving people what they don’t deserve) and forgiveness (cancelling a debt) is costly to us. When we give grace and forgiveness we surrender our rights over something to someone who doesn’t deserve it, at least from our perspective. Genuine grace and forgiveness are gifts which cost us something we consider to be valuable, given to someone else free of charge, with no strings attached, given joyfully rather than begrudgingly. With both our resources and our emotions, the Bible tells us to give bountifully, with an abundance mentality. You have heard some people say, “Give until it hurts.” However, the Bible says that if we have the heart of Christ, we will give joyfully and bountifully, regardless the personal cost, because we see no limit to God’s riches which He freely bestows upon us. Giving tangibly and emotionally have much in common: both require faith, hope, and love. Both require an understanding that what we are giving isn’t really ours in the first place, and what has been given to us through Christ is immeasurable abundance. We are merely stewards of resources, and we surrendered our claims to rights when we accepted grace from God. The Bible says that God loves a joyful giver. If giving hurts, it is an issue with the heart. Pray that God will give you the genuine compassion for others and confidence in His provision to give and forgive freely and joyfully.
Proverbs 22:19 – That your trust may be in the Lord….
This is humility and faith. You will not trust who you do not know and love. The Bible was given to you that you would grow to know Jesus, to love Him, and to trust Him. Pour into your Bible daily and grow in humility, faith, hope, and love. Remember, the goal of the Bible is not to make you more moral and successful, it is to bring you into oneness with Jesus and conformity to His image, that you would truly “know” Him and make Him known.
Proverbs 22:21 — …to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
God’s word will give you a true answer to share with others seeking truth.
– Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) “Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 22 October 2023: Today, prayerfully consider how you can better fulfill the Great Commandment of Love by becoming excellent in the talents, skills, and jobs God has given you. How could you bring glory to God or serve others better if you improved your attitude, behavior, skills, and efforts? Commit today to do everything you do in a way which is worthy of the KING of kings.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 