Day 32 - 50 Day Journey To Christ

Daily Reading:

Psalm 132

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

David and Zion Chosen

A song of ascents.

1 Lord, remember David

and all the hardships he endured,

2 and how he swore an oath to the Lord,

making a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3 “I will not enter my house

or get into my bed,

4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep

or my eyelids to slumber

5 until I find a place for the Lord,

a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6 We heard of the ark in Ephrathah;

we found it in the fields of Jaar.

7 Let us go to His dwelling place;

let us worship at His footstool.

8 Rise up, Lord, come to Your resting place,

You and Your powerful ark.

9 May Your priests be clothed with righteousness,

and may Your godly people shout for joy.

10 Because of Your servant David,

do not reject Your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,

a promise He will not abandon:

“I will set one of your descendants

on your throne.

12 If your sons keep My covenant

and My decrees that I will teach them,

their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion;

He has desired it for His home:

14 “This is My resting place forever;

I will make My home here

because I have desired it.

15 I will abundantly bless its food;

I will satisfy its needy with bread.

16 I will clothe its priests with salvation,

and its godly people will shout for joy.

17 There I will make a horn grow for David;

I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.

18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,

but the crown he wears will be glorious.”

Key:  Bold - Verse of the Day

Reflection:  Todays reading comes from the back of the Psalms, whats known as the Psalms of ascent.  These Psalms were sung as the Israelite made their way to Jerusalem for the yearly festivals.  The people of Israel are constantly reminded that they will have a Son, to sit on David's throne.  That Son came, clothed in humility, born of a virgin, born into poverty.  That Son is Jesus.  King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Discussion Topic:  How can we better tell the world that the King has come, and is sitting on the Throne, not only of Israel, but of the Universe.  

Jointhe Discussion on G+

Prayer:  Father in Heaven, thank you.  Thank you for giving us Your Son.  Christ the Messiah, to free us from our chains, to open our eyes, to heal our wounds.  You are the gift giver, and you gave us a Servant King.  We are forever grateful   Help us to keep our eyes on you and only you in this season of celebration.  In Jesus name, Amen! 

Acknowledgements: Text - BibleGateway.com, Artwork - David bringing Ark to Jerusalem: Bible Encyclopedia

Day 26 - 50 Day Journey To Christ

Daily Reading:

Psalm 37
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹ Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.
² For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.

³ Trust in the Lord and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act,
⁶ making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.

⁷ Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.

⁸ Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
⁹ For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.

¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;
though you look for him, he will not be there.
¹¹ But the humble will inherit the land
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.

¹² The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.
¹³ The Lord laughs at him
because He sees that his day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.
¹⁵ Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶ The little that the righteous man has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.
¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord supports the righteous.

¹⁸ The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.
¹⁹ They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish;
the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—
they will fade away like smoke.

²¹ The wicked man borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.
²² Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land,
but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.

²³ A man’s steps are established by the Lord,
and He takes pleasure in his way.
²⁴ Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord holds his hand.

²⁵ I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.
²⁶ He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.

²⁷ Turn away from evil and do what is good,
and dwell there forever.
²⁸ For the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon His faithful ones.
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.
²⁹ The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it permanently.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.
³¹ The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.

³² The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and seeks to kill him;
³³ the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.

³⁴ Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.

³⁵ I have seen a wicked, violent man
well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.
³⁶ Then I passed by and noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.

³⁷ Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the man of peace will have a future.
³⁸ But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future of the wicked will be destroyed.

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
their refuge in a time of distress.
⁴⁰ The Lord helps and delivers them;
He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in Him.

Key:  Bold - Verse of the Day

Reflection: We are not of this world.  The Lord has placed us here in enemy territory to be a witness, to be a light, to be the salt of the earth so that we may be vessels through which He can bring sight to the spiritual blind, that they may see, repent and be saved.  Although the wicked seem to succeed, they are eventually cut off and are no more.  When we are surrounded by evil, we need to pray and wait.  The Lord will deliver us!

Discussion Topic: God tells us that we're going to inherit the land, but while we wait, we have to exist in enemy territory with those who have given their loyalty to the Deceiver.  True born again believers are  belittled, ridiculed, brought before the court, tortured and even killed. What do you think is the most important thing we can do while we await the Bridegroom's return?

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Prayer: Oh my heavenly Father, I pray for those who do not yet know of your love and mercy, your grace and forgiveness.  They are influenced by the enemy and have hardened their heart against the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  I know that we are in a spiritual battle, and I pray for those I know and love; that You would soften their heart and prepare their mind so that as they see You through me and my other brothers and sisters, they will become more open to that small still Voice that leads them to salvation through Jesus Christ.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Acknowledgements: Text - BibleGateway.com, Artwork - P.Graham Dunn