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From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 15
Practical Holiness

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 122:1-9 | Ezekiel 31:1 – 32:32 | Hebrews 12:14-29 | Proverbs 27:18-20

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 12:14-29

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:14-15 NIV)

As Christians, we are called to a life of holiness. But what does that mean? To some it might bring images of life in a monastery rejecting all worldly things to spend the rest of my life in prayer and solitude. To others, it means a rigid life of keeping rules and trying hard. Many of our images of holiness suggest a joyless existence–rigid and austere. But that…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 14
Keep Running

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 121:1-8 | Ezekiel 29:1 – 30:26 | Hebrews 11:32-12:13 | Proverbs 27:17

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 11:32-12:13

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2 NIV)

The life of faith is a marathon requiring great determination and endurance. The race is filled with difficulties. The heroes of faith at the end of chapter 11 sacrificed much for their faith–sometimes everything.

I suppose we all have times when we feel tired and weary and are tempted to quit. In those times we are, in essence, told by the writer, “Don’t give up, keep running…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 13
Faith That Passes the Test

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 120:1-7 | Ezekiel 27:1-28:26 | Hebrews 11:17-31 | Proverbs 27:15-16

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 11:17-31

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.” (Hebrews 11:30 NIV)

Your faith will be tested. For Abraham it was a test of “willingness.” Would he be willing to sacrifice his only son even though it made no earthly sense and seemed to contradict everything he knew about God and his promise?

Joseph’s faith was tested in numerous ways. Abandoned by his brothers, imprisoned, forgotten and betrayed. He saw the promise, but it seemed to always be delayed by the circumstances he was in. Finally though, his faith was rewarded.

Moses faced innumerable tests of faith in leading the reluctant, often rebellious, children of Israel out of…

November 12
Even When We Don’t Know Where We Are Going

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 119:169-176 | Ezekiel 24:1-26:21 | Hebrews 11:1-16 | Proverbs 27:14

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 11:1-16

By faith, Abraham . . . obeyed and went, even though he didn’t know where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8, NIV)

Faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (1). “And without faith it is impossible to please God” (6). It is the foundation for all of our life as Christians. But it isn’t always easy.

Often we find ourselves in the same place as Abraham who obeyed and went even though he didn’t know where he was going. Often faith requires us to “walk in the dark.” God gives us just enough to light to know the next step and then we must take it.

Steps of obedience when we…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 11
Spurs of Encouragement

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 119:161-168 | Ezekiel 23:1-49 | Hebrews 10:18-39 | Proverbs 27:13

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 10:18-39

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. [25] Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV)

We all need encouraging words. Often those words of encouragement are ones that we want to hear such as a word of hope when we are going through a tough time; a word of affirmation when we are discouraged. Yet, encouragement doesn’t always mean flowery words of praise for another. Sometimes encouragement…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 10
Standing in the Gap

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 119:153-160 | Ezekiel 21:1-22:31 | Hebrews 10:1-17 | Proverbs 27:12

Today’s Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 21:1-22:31

I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. (Ezekiel 22:30 NIV)

What a haunting verse. I was looking for an intercessor, a prayer warrior, someone to stand in the gap, but I found none.

God accomplishes his kingdom purposes through the prayers of his people. The role of the intercessor–the one who stands in the gap–is not to be underestimated in the accomplishment of God’s plan.

Moses stood in the gap on behalf of Israel earlier–and God spared them. But in Ezekiel’s day there was no one who…

November 9
Once For All

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 119:145-152 | Ezekiel 20:1-49 | Hebrews 9:11-28 | Proverbs 27:11

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 9:11-28

So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28 NIV)

In the Old Testament sacrificial system, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year to make atonement for his sins and the sins of the people. It was a most holy event and not taken lightly. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (9:22).

Jesus came with a better sacrifice: himself. He had lived a perfect, sinless life. He was the perfect Lamb of God who had come to take away the sins of the world. In his one time, once for…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 8
Unlimited Access

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 119:137-144 | Ezekiel 18:12-19:14 | Hebrews 9:1-10 | Proverbs 27:10

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 9:1-10

Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties; but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people. (Hebrews 9:6-17 NRSV)

As one entered into the tabernacle, access became more and more limited. The outer tent, the holy place, contained the lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the presence. Only priests who were serving in the temple, carrying out their rituals, were able to enter here.

Inside of that tent, was another, the “holy of holies” or the “most holy place.”…

Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 7
Panting for His Commands

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 119:129-136 | Ezekiel 16:43-17:24 | Hebrews 8:1-13 | Proverbs 27:7-9

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 119:129-136

I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. (Psalm 119:131 NIV)

The psalmist describes an intense longing for God’s word and his commands. He describes it like this: “I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.”

Imagine a pet dog on a hot day running toward you, his tongue hanging out, his whole torso heaving with each breath. He runs to you filled with intense longing–seeking affection, but also hungry and thirsty for sustaining water and food. The intensity you sense in the moment, the panting after affection and sustenance is like the intensity of the Psalmist’s desire to know God through his word and to obey his commands. He couldn’t use a more…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson–available from the kindle store at Amazon.com

Nov 6
Your Most Important Prayer Partner

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 119:121-128 | Ezekiel 14:12-16:42 | Hebrews 7:18-28 | Proverbs 27:4-6

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hebrews 7:18-28

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25 NIV)

Along with the duties at the temple, handling the worship and sacrifices, priests in the Old Testament were to bless the people. Intercession was an important element in their job description. Jesus is the ultimate example of this as he is described in Hebrews as the Great High Priest. In speaking of his priesthood, the author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus “always lives to intercede” for us.

How can we be sure that our faith will endure? How can we be sure that we…