ALL – Psalm 58:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 11:12-13
OT – Numbers 22:21-23:30
NT – Luke 1:57-80
Dads love to imagine how great their sons will become, what they will accomplish, how respectable and honorable they will be. Zachariah had the best gift a father could have; he didn’t have to dream (though he could still imagine)—he knew!
And you, my little son, shall be called the prophet of the glorious God, for you will prepare the way for the Messiah. – Luke 1:76, The Living Bible
On the one hand, Zechariah knew that his son would not be the greatest man who ever lived. Bummer.
But on the other hand, Zechariah’s son John would be the man who had the joy of preparing the way for the Messiah. Zechariah knew it. John would know it. No matter how difficult his life might become, this boy’s work would have great value, because it would point the world toward the Christ. Even today, 2000 years later, John’s ministry is evidence to the world that Jesus really is the Christ! Amazing!
I have two boys, and neither of them has any hope of being the greatest man of all history. Jesus, the Christ, has already come, and they can’t top Him. Still, as a father, I dream of seeing them grow into the kind of men whose lives point the world to Jesus. May my sons lives be significant because people come to know that Jesus is the Christ through them!
What are some other great hopes we can have for our children? What are some favorite prayers you pray for your kids?
Note: The rest of the week's readings can be found below.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
March 16, 2010
ALL – Psalm 59:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 11:14
OT – Numbers 24:1-25:18
NT – Luke 2:1-35
March 17, 2010
ALL – Psalm 60:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 11:15
OT – Numbers 26:1-51
NT – Luke 2:36-52
March 18, 2010
ALL – Psalm 61:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 11:16-17
OT – Numbers 26:52-28:15
NT – Luke 3:1-22
March 19, 2010
ALL – Psalm 62:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 11:18-19
OT – Numbers 28:16-29:40
NT – Luke 3:23-38
March 20, 2010
ALL – Psalm 63:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 11:20-21
OT – Numbers 30:1-31:54
NT – Luke 4:1-30
March 21, 2010
ALL – Psalm 64:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 11:22
OT – Numbers 32:1-33:39
NT – Luke 4:31-5:11
Showing posts with label visions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label visions. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, December 6, 2009
How’s This Thing End?
Daniel 11-12; Psalm 125; Proverbs 29:9-11
The Bible isn’t always the most encouraging book in the world. Turmoil, wars, destruction and devastation are part and parcel of many Scriptural prophecies. No one could take those prophecies seriously and not come away somewhat…ok, quite disturbed.
Daniel didn’t. The last two chapters of the book of Daniel are filled with visions he had—visions foretelling the terribly depressing world history-to-be. At the end of them, he asked the question we all would ask: “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be” (Daniel 12:8)? In other words, How’s this thing end?
You want to know the answer he received? It ends with a resurrection!
He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." – Daniel 12:9-13
Many will be purified. The wicked will be wicked. You will “rest.” And at the end of the days you will rise.
These things are happening right now! Except for the rising part—we’re waiting for the resurrection, too. But since Jesus came, men and women around the world are being purified from their sins. Wicked people still exist. Believers still “rest”—they pass away. But like Daniel, they rest in the confidence that a day of resurrection is coming.
In the meantime, what are we to do? The same thing Daniel was told to do: “Go your way till the end.”
The end is coming, and when it does, Christ’s people will rise to live forever. We should live like it, because we know how this thing ends.
Has knowing that Jesus is coming again ever helped you get through a situation that you could share about here?
The Bible isn’t always the most encouraging book in the world. Turmoil, wars, destruction and devastation are part and parcel of many Scriptural prophecies. No one could take those prophecies seriously and not come away somewhat…ok, quite disturbed.
Daniel didn’t. The last two chapters of the book of Daniel are filled with visions he had—visions foretelling the terribly depressing world history-to-be. At the end of them, he asked the question we all would ask: “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be” (Daniel 12:8)? In other words, How’s this thing end?
You want to know the answer he received? It ends with a resurrection!
He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." – Daniel 12:9-13
Many will be purified. The wicked will be wicked. You will “rest.” And at the end of the days you will rise.
These things are happening right now! Except for the rising part—we’re waiting for the resurrection, too. But since Jesus came, men and women around the world are being purified from their sins. Wicked people still exist. Believers still “rest”—they pass away. But like Daniel, they rest in the confidence that a day of resurrection is coming.
In the meantime, what are we to do? The same thing Daniel was told to do: “Go your way till the end.”
The end is coming, and when it does, Christ’s people will rise to live forever. We should live like it, because we know how this thing ends.
Has knowing that Jesus is coming again ever helped you get through a situation that you could share about here?
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