READING:
One-year plan: Isaiah 42:1-44:23, Colossians 2:4-3:11
Two-year plan: 1 Kings 15:1-16:14, John 6:60-71
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The Word speaking into our lives can be quite convicting and challenging. Simply listing some of Paul’s standards for believers—and then critiquing our own lives on the basis of those standards—can drill deeply into our hearts. For example, Paul writes:
- “. . . put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5)
- “. . . put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth” (Col 3:8)
- “. . . Do not lie to one another” (Col 3:9)
Later texts in this chapter—which we will read tomorrow—call believers to put on things like compassion and kindness, let the Word dwell within them, and do everything in the name of the Lord. So, the Word that tells me what to put away and what to put on. Each object in these lists is a call to self-evaluation followed by confession, if needed.
Personally, I must confess today that I still cling to temporary things and occasionally allow anger to rule. I’m not always compassionate, gentle, and forgiving. Nor is it the case that I do everything I do in the name of Jesus. I have much room for growth, but that’s the power of the Word: it somehow speaks across the ages and the cultures into my heart.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you allow the Word to challenge and convict you?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, do Your work in my life.”
MONDAY’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Isaiah 44:24-48:22, Colossians 3:12-4:18
Two-year plan: 1 Kings 16:15-17:24, John 7:1-24
*portions first published in 2020