Dave Miller's 2024 Bible Reading Challenge

Today's Readings -  Ezekiel 7-8, 1 Timothy 4, Psalm 119:89–96, Proverbs 26:20–21 NOTE: If all goes well in my travel plans, I will be in Oussouye, Senegal today, beginning a pastor training session, after which I will be doing village evangelism in the Essing villages I've visited 8 times before. I would greatly appreciate your prayers.  Devotional - Feeding the Fire  Nothing like a good campfire in the chilled fall air, is there? A group of friends and family sitting around the crackling fire talking and roasting marshmallows to make smores. Makes for a great night. Of course, if you want to keep the fun going, you have to constantly add wood to the fire. The logs burn away and turn to dust, and if you don't feed the fire, it goes out. Solomon told us that the same thing happens with gossip and quarrels. Look at the vivid pictures he draws in Proverbs 26:20-21. Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down.   As charcoal for embers and wood for ...

Today's Readings -  Ezekiel 5-6, 1 Timothy 3, Psalm 119:81–88, Proverbs 26:17–19   Devotional - Trapped by Sin "I never thought it would happen to me." How many Christians who have fallen into sin have uttered those words? They were sure that the foibles and failings that had taken others over the edge would never tear them down. But they did. I remember sitting in my office talking to a man, a spiritual leader, a pastor, who had compromised his marriage, his ministry, and his integrity. I asked him how it happened, what the warning signs were. He was befuddled. Never in his life did he ever imagine that he would make the kind of a mess of things that he ended up making. That is the nature of sin. I don't know who the first person to say this was, but I've heard it all my life. Sin takes you farther than you want to go. It keeps you longer than you want to stay. It costs you more than you want to pay.  People start out thinking, "It's no big deal - just ...

Today's Readings -   Ezekiel 3-4, 1 Timothy 2, Psalm 119:73–80, Proverbs 26:15–16 Devotional - One Mediator It is an awesome thing to stand on the ancient steps of the Temple in Jerusalem, one of the few places where the original stones that Jesus walked on are still in place. There, you can imagine people for hundreds of years walking up those stairs into the Temple courtyard to offer sacrifices day after day, week after week, year after year.  Hebrews 10 tells us that those sacrifices revealed the fundamental flaw in the system - they could remind people of their sin and their need for salvation but could not provide a permanent solution for them. They could not truly wash away sin, but they were a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that God would send one day to deal with sins for real and forever. At the perfect time, God sent Jesus into this world as his permanent, "once for all" solution to our sin problem. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says, For there is one God, and there is one m...

Today's Readings -  Ezekiel 1-2, 2 Thessalonians 3, 1 Timothy 1, Psalm 119:65–72, Proverbs 26:12–14 Devotional - Solomon's Self-Esteem He may have been the wisest man who ever lived, but Solomon failed completely to understand the wisdom that has come to dominate the mindset of the American educational, sociological, and psychological mindset. "Believe in yourself. Trust your instincts. No one else can tell you what is right or wrong; that is something that only you can decide for yourself. You have to make your own rules, trust your own wisdom, seek your own path, and do it your way." In this world, it's all about self - self-confidence, self-esteem, self-direction. Solomon's wisdom moved in a different direction. He told us that the beginning of wisdom was not self-esteem and self-reliance, but humility and the fear of the Lord. Folly, he told us, is bound up in the heart of a child and must be driven away by wisdom, discipline, and the correction of the Lo...

Today's Readings -  October 27 Readings: Lamentations 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 2, Psalm 119:57–64, Proverbs 26:10–11 Devotional - Embracing Darkness  In these devotionals, I do not delve often into the end times. There are two reasons for that. Those who read this come from different perspectives on the end times and there is no reason to unnecessarily focus on that topic. The other reason is similar, but a bigger concern. Some people develop an unhealthy and morbid curiosity about the end times. In today's passage, 2 Thessalonians 2, we see great truths and one that is often misunderstood. I believe this principle is pretty much universal regardless of your view of the end times. 2 Thessalonians 2 describes the rise and reign of the Antichrist, the one who comes to stand against the work of Christ and lead the world against him. There is a perception about the Antichrist which is seen in some of the fiction that has been produced attempting to depict the events of the tribu...

Today's Readings -  Lamentations 2-3, 2 Thessalonians 1, Psalm 119:53–56, Proverbs 26:7–9 Devotional - The Last Laugh Have you watched any of the videos of atrocities committed against Christians in the Middle East in recent years? (Actually, there has been a fairly lively debate as to whether Christians ought to watch such awful videos. Some say we need to educate ourselves to the realities of the wicked world; others counter that such evil will only pollute our minds.) Christians have been put to death in the most gruesome ways because they would not deny Christ. Here in our land, there are constant reports of the basic rights of Christians being denied in our increasingly secular and seemingly hostile world. It would be easy to conclude that the enemy is winning, wouldn't it? But anyone who makes that conclusion is completely, totally and 100% wrong. In this sinful world, the powers of darkness are having their day. They do their evil and it seems they get away with it. But...

Today's Readings -  Lamentations 1, 1 Thessalonians 5, Psalm 119:49–52, Proverbs 26:5–6 Devotional - Like a Thief in the Night Jesus could come today. Well, he could! No, I'm not predicting it. In fact, I'm sick to death of the crazies who ignore the Scriptures that promised us that no one would know the day or the hour and keep embarrassing the church (and those of us who believe in the imminent return of Christ) with their ill-informed, anti-biblical predictions. Paul made it pretty clear in 1 Thessalonians 5 that Jesus would come "like a thief in the night." They seldom phone ahead and set an appointment. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord  will come just like a thief  in the night.  When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction  will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.   1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 It is going to be a big surprise, that fateful day when God's end times work be...

Today's Readings -  Jeremiah 51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4, Psalm 119:41–48, Proverbs 26:2–4 Devotional - Finding God's Will  "I just don't know what God's will is for my life. I'm praying and trying to seek his will and find it." That is a noble goal, and I believe that God, by his Spirit, will lead each of us where he wants to be and to do what he wants us to do, as he guided Paul throughout Acts. But sometimes we get so focused on seeking these individual leadings that we fail to see some specific things that the Bible reveals are most definitely the will of God for you. It is not healthy to seek to know the specific will of God if you are ignoring God's revealed and eternal word and what it tells us about the will of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (which we will read tomorrow) tells us that God's will is that we give thanks in everything. Couldn't be clearer. If I am not giving thanks, I am not following God's will. There are several verses that...

Today's Readings -  Jeremiah 49-50, 1 Thessalonians 2–3, Psalm 119:33–40, Proverbs 26:1 Devotional - On the Tightrope I watched with wonder and some sense of disbelief as Nik Wallenda walked across the Grand Canyon back in 2013. One thing is certain, a man needs to avoid straying either to the right or the left when he undertakes a task like that. It doesn't much matter whether he falls to the left or to the right, the effects are pretty much the same. Throughout the New Testament, there is a constant balance being struck between two sides of the character of God. He is good and loving and he is holy. God's holiness demanded a payment for sins and God's love moved him to redeem and forgive us. His solution, of course, was Christ. Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could experience the love of God. Now, as God is, so must we become. The church and its people must be holy, walking in purity day by day. The church that tolerates sin does not honor God. But it is also...

Today's Readings -  Jeremiah 47-48, 1 Thessalonians 1, Psalm 119:25–32, Proverbs 25:25–28 Devotional - In the Dust  "I'm lower than a snake's belly." Ever felt that way? You are down, discouraged, perhaps even depressed - not the medical kind, the kind but the kind that comes as a result of overwhelming life circumstances. One thing after another has piled up on you until you have been ground into the dust. It is just as the Psalmist described in Psalm 119:25. My life is down in the dust. That about sums it up, doesn't it? Dry. Lifeless. Everything feels as if it about to blow away. Life has turned to dust. He changes to a different metaphor to say something similar in verse 28. I am weary  from grief. The heat, the pressure, the sadness of life has worn down the man's soul, it is melting away to nothing. These two metaphors have two things in common. First, they describe a life in pain, in sorrow, in distress. A man lying face down in the dust. A man who...

Today's Readings -  Jeremiah 45-46, Colossians 3:18–4:18, Psalm 119:17–24, Proverbs 25:23–24 Devotional - Past and Future  Have you ever known someone who started their Christian life well, with commitment, conviction, and passion, but then fizzled like an Alka Seltzer? Perhaps you've known someone else who failed miserably and fell hard into sin but didn't stay there. This person sought God's forgiveness and restoration and eventually returned to effective service and fellowship. Some surprise you with their growth and some disappoint you with their failure. People surprise us. Many of Paul's books end with a series of personal greetings and instructions; Colossians is no different. Some of those identified are unknown beyond their mentions in Paul's notes. Others are significant. In Colossians 4:10-17 there are two fascinating stories at work, stories that demonstrate the ebb and flow of Christian ministry. One man with a failure in the past demonstrates he...

Today's Readings -  Jeremiah 43-44, Colossians 3:1–17, Psalm 119:9–16, Proverbs 25:20–22 Devotional - A Christian Life Primer  Colossians 3:1-17 may be one of the best descriptions of the necessities of Christian living in the Word of God. In it are twelve dynamics of successful Christian living, presented in a significant sequence. The first two steps have to do with setting our hearts and minds on the things that matter. Verse 1 tells us to "seek the things that are above," speaking to our hearts, our priorities. Instead of living for the world's pleasures, we must seek the things of God. Then, in verse 2, we must set our minds on things above, not on the things of this earth. These first two dynamics speak of our purpose, our focus, our passions. Are your mind and heart set on the things of God or are you focused on this world? Once we have set our minds and hearts, the next step is to deal with the negatives of our sinful condition. Some things have to be put to ...

Today's Readings -  Jeremiah 41-42, Colossians 1:24–2:23, Psalm 119:1–8, Proverbs 25:17–19 Devotional - Nothing Trivial  It is the answer to a commonly asked Bible trivia question: What is the longest chapter of the Bible? If you attended the Sunday Schools or VBSes that I did, you know the answer - Psalm 119. It is 176 verses long. It is very close to the center of the Bible. It is a well-known and wonderful chapter. But it is much more than the answer to a trivia question! It is one of the most carefully constructed chapters of scripture. It is an acrostic poem. Have you ever noticed that it is divided up into 22 sections of 8 verses each, and that each of those sections has a strange word at the beginning? Our reading today starts with the word "Aleph." That is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the 8 verses in this second begins with the letter aleph. The next section will be headed by the word, "Beth," and each of the verses in that section b...

Today's Readings -  Jeremiah 39-40, Colossians 1:1–23, Psalm 118:25–29, Proverbs 25:15–16 Devotional - King of the Hill Did you ever play "King of the Hill" when you were a kid? We'd find a pile of dirt or rocks and one guy would stand on top, declaring himself the king. Everyone else would try to scramble and scrape their way to the top, throwing down anyone who stands in the way. In this world, this giant hill of dirt, there is a king already established - seated firmly on the throne. There is no threat to that throne, no one who can dislodge him from his place. The one who is king of the hill today will be tomorrow and for all time. His name is Jesus. Colossians 1:15-20 describes the greatness and glory of Christ, exalting him as preeminent over all things on this earth - the king of this entire hill. And because he is the king, he is the one our lives are supposed to be about. He is our "hope of glory" (1:27). He is the image of the invisible God,  the ...

Today's Readings -  Jeremiah 37-38, Philippians 4:2–23, Psalm 118:18–24, Proverbs 25:12–14 Devotional - I Can Do All Things " I am able to do all things through him  who strengthens me.   "   What a wonderful verse - and one that is much used in this world. I can hit a home run or score a touchdown through Christ who strengthens me. I can succeed in business through Christ who strengthens me. I can achieve this personal goal through Christ who strengthens me. I can stick to my diet through Christ who strengthens me. We have turned Philippians 4:13 into a motivational mantra, a motto to be hung on the wall and to be remembered as we go through this world attempting to reach our goals, achieve our potential, find happiness and success and be all that we have hoped to be. And certainly, this verse has a wide application. God can empower us to do all that he calls us to do. But the common motivational uses of this verse are not exactly what Paul intended when he wrote i...

Today's Readings - J eremiah 35-36, Philippians 3:1–4:1, Psalm 118:11–17, Proverbs 25:10–11 Devotional - Jesus Is Better "I like myself just the way I am." "Don't try to change me." "I am who I am and you shouldn't judge me." "This is the way I was raised - my heritage." In America's self-centered and self-affirming culture, we place a greater value on being ourselves than on becoming what God wants us to be. Paul had no such issue. In Philippians 3:4-6 Paul catalogs his identity before Christ appeared to him on the Damascus Road. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:  5  circumcised the eighth day;  of the nation of Israel,  of the tribe of Benjamin,  a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law,  a Pharisee;  6  regarding zeal,  persecuting  the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,  blameless. Paul was a loyal Hebrew, a Pharisee and one who closely observed the law. He ...