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August 30
Sing a New Song

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 96:1-6 | Job 34:1 – 36:33 | 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 | Proverbs 22:10-12

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 96

“Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the Earth” (Psalm 96:1 NIV)

Do you like to sing new songs? The Psalmist did. I do too. It’s not that there aren’t great old familiar songs to sing—and there is a place for that too. But, we dare not get stuck in a rut. Here the psalmist calls us to worship the Lord with new songs.

Why new songs? God is always doing something new and fresh. We must proclaim “his salvation day after day”. If our relationship with God is growing—if there is a newness and freshness in our walk with him—there will be new songs to express that vitality. With every fresh move of the Spirit of…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

August 29
Glowing with Glory

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 95:1-11 | Job 33:1 – 33:33 | 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 | Proverbs 22:8-9

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 3

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV)

Moses walked intimately with the Lord and the effect was sometimes seen on his face–it would glow with reflected glory. But over time, the glory would fade, so Moses began to put a veil over his face.

The New Testament promises a “surpassing glory” that goes beyond what Moses experienced. As we behold the glory of the Lord, we are transformed into the very likeness of the one we worship–the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m encouraged to know that as I…

August 28
What is that Fragrance You Are Wearing?

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 94:12-23 | Job 28:1 – 30:31 | 2 Corinthians 2:12 – 17 | Proverbs 22:7

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

“What is that fragrance you are wearing?”

“It’s called ‘fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.’ Do you like it?”

As we know and walk in the fullness of Christ, we begin to take on an aroma– the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. Wherever we go, that pleasant aroma follows us. Just by being around us, people sense Christ’s joy, or his love, or his kindness, or one of his other winsome character qualities. As Christ lives out his life in us, we become more…

August 27
Purer Than Gold

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 94:1-11 | Job 23:1-27:23 | 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11 | Proverbs 22:5-6

Today’s Scripture Focus: Job 23-27

“But he knows the way I take; When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”(Job 23:10 NIV)

Job was wrestling with feelings of abandonment from God. He wanted to state his case before the Almighty, but he seemed unable to find him. Often the trials of life bring on such feelings of abandonment. “But if I go to the east, he is not there, if I go to the west I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.”

We all have these “dark nights of the soul” where God is teaching us to trust him in the dark. They are…

August 26
Comfort Received, Comfort Given

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 93:1-5 | Job 20:1 – 22:23 | 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 | Proverbs 22:2-4

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. [5] For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV)

God reveals himself through his names. It is good to meditate on them to find a fresh revelation of the truths they contain. Think on these: “God is the Father of compassion,” He is “the God of all comfort.” We all do well to allow those truths to sink…

August 25
Refreshing

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 92:9-15 | Job 16:1 – 19:29 | 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 | Proverbs 22:1

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 16

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, [18] for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. (1 Corinthians 16:17-18 ESV)

Some people refresh the soul. Others drain it of all energy. Paul here admonishes the Corinthians to give recognition to three who were “soul refreshers.” Why? Because “they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.”

In contrast we have been reading about Job’s “miserable comforters” who are probably trying their best, but still end up draining Job of any remaining energy his soul might have.

It’s good to have people like Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus. We all need the encouragement that such people bring. An…

August 25
Refreshing

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 92:9-15 | Job 16:1 – 19:29 | 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 | Proverbs 22:1

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 16

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, [18] for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. (1 Corinthians 16:17-18 ESV)

Some people refresh the soul. Others drain it of all energy. Paul here admonishes the Corinthians to give recognition to three who were “soul refreshers.” Why? Because “they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.”

In contrast we have been reading about Job’s “miserable comforters” who are probably trying their best, but still end up draining Job of any remaining energy his soul might have.

It’s good to have people like Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus. We all need the encouragement that such people bring. An…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

August 24
Worthless Physicians

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 92:1-8 | Job 12:1 – 15:35 | 1 Corinthians 15:29-58 | Proverbs 21:30-31

Today’s Scripture Focus: Job 12-15

“You are worthless physicians, all of you! If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.” (Job 13:55 NIV)

Too many words spoken too soon. Too many cliches. Not enough answers. Job needed some friends to be there for him. But the counsel he got didn’t seem to bring any relief from the pain he was feeling. The words seemed empty and false.

When we see a friend in pain, we are often quick to spout cliches. Yet these are the very times we would usually do well to just be there and to be a good listener. James tells us to be slow to speak and quick to listen. That’s…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

August 23
No Easy Answers

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 91:9-16 | Job 8:1-11:20 | I Corinthians 15:1-28 | Proverbs 21:28-29

Today’s Scripture Focus: Job 8-11

“So what’s new? I know all this” (Job 9:1 The Message)

“God’s wisdom is so deep, God’s power so immense, who could take him on and come out in one piece?” (Job 9:3 The Message)

Job’s friends came with all the easy answers. In many cases, what they were saying would be true. But there are seldom “one size fits all” answers to life’s big questions. Job is a book about struggling with life’s mysteries when all the “right answers” don’t seem to fit.

We grow up learning the “Sunday school answers” to all of life’s questions. But life’s questions sometimes require more than just a simple answer. Especially when we are dealing with the mystery…

August 22
Under His Wings

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 91:1-8 | Job 4:1-7:21 | 1 Cor. 14:18-40 | Proverbs 21:27

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 91

“Under his wings you will find refuge” (Psalm 91:4 ESV)

I was struck by the contrast between Psalm 91, which looks with hopeful expectation for God’s protection and blessing and the readings in Job where he is trying to make sense of a situation where he feels abandoned and beat up by the circumstances of life.

Psalm 91 is filled with wonderful promises of God’s protection and blessing for the one who loves him and holds fast to him. He describes his protection like a bird gathering up her young in her wings to protect them from danger. “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.”

It’s a beautiful picture of…