October 20  Psalm 119:65-72  1 Timothy 5; 6:1-2  Jeremiah 43; 44; 45

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.

  • What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
  • Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
  • What should you do about that truth?

October 20  Psalm 119:65-72  1 Timothy 5; 6:1-2  Jeremiah 43; 44; 45

Psalm 119:65-72

What is God saying today? Have you asked yourself that question? After difficult days, the poet learned that God keeps His promises. He learned to enjoy the guidance of God. Hearing what God had to say became more valuable than money. The Word of God can get us moving in the best direction possible (walking according to God’s will). It can preserve us from trouble.

1 Timothy 5; 6:1-2

Within the church (and with all people), we should speak to each other with love and respect. It should be the way that a healthy family communicates. We should find ways to help those who have no one to care for them. Paul gives Timothy instructions for the leadership of the Ephesian church, including the support of widows. Paul provided immediate practical advice and a long-term perspective. Paul and Timothy valued their relationship with each other. They invested time and energy in the relationship. We should do the same. I have done the same with many people. This includes my own relationship with the elders of our church and the other leaders to whom I look for strategic input. This is the kind of guidance that an “apostle” provides. It is what we see here with Paul and Timothy. It is what we still put into practice today.

Jeremiah 43; 44; 45

A remnant of Judean citizens had rejected God’s instruction (to stay home in His protection). They feared the Babylonians. They refused Jeremiah’s words. They declared that they would do whatever they wanted to do. They took Jeremiah with them to hide in Egypt. God said they were choosing death in Egypt, and that He would bring punishment for idol worship. We must ask ourselves if we hold anything as more valuable than God. Is there anything that we are listening to more than God’s words?

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