Day 270 – God’s Favor with Ezra
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read Ezra is friends with Artaxerxes, the king of Persia. His blessings are not due to his own skill but because the hand of the Lord is upon him. Ezra proclaims the people should fast to humble themselves before God. He does not ask the king for protection since he…
Day 269 – The Day of Small Things
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read that the temple rebuilding was stopped in Ezra 4 and started again in Ezra 5. Officials asked who gave them permission to do so. They forgot that Cyrus had sent the people back to the Holy Land with instructions. It is important to keep track of the details. After…
Day 268 – Rebuilding the Temple
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read in Ezra that the temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem. The people remember and long for the previous temple that was once there under Solomon. The new temple is smaller than before. This is both positive and negative. The positive is that the people remember was there before. The negative…
Day 267 – Indifference and Apathy
Thoughts and Reflection Today we learn that Ezra fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah. God allowed the people of Judah to go into exile not to destroy them but to reform them. They now have the ability to go home. The book of Haggai is only two chapters but there are three parts – Apathy, discouragement,…
Day 266 – Son of the Father
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read about the sacrifice of Jesus within his trial before Pilate and the crowd choosing to free Barabbas over him. When we look at the name of Barabbas it translates to the “son of the father” however he is a murderer. Jesus is innocent and is the true Son of…
Day 265 – Sins of Omission
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read two parables. The parable of the wise virgins teaches us the importance of being prepared. Oil is a symbol of the virtues that we should be developing in our lives. The next parable of talents tells us that we must use what we have been given and not return…
Day 264 – Preaching Without Practice
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read the Pharisees and scribes are not happy with the way everyone is supporting Jesus. They are concerned about his teachings and their political ramifications of them. In the parable of the wedding feast, a king invites certain people to the feast for his son, but some make excuses for…
Day 263 – The Father’s Generosity
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read about temptation. Jesus does not want us to mame ourselves but he wants us to remove what is tempting us or making us sin. That could be a computer or smartphone. The parable of the lost sheep rejoices over the repentance of a sinner and then the righteousness of…
Day 262 – Miracle Worker
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read about more miracles from Jesus. He fed five thousand and four thousand people with leftovers. Just as the prophets Elijah and Elisha did, Jesus is feeding the hungry with food. Simon Peter shows great faith by believing that he can do what Jesus is doing. That is not humanly…
Day 261 – Ornate Souls
Thoughts and Reflection Today we read from Matthew that those who have been baptized have been brought into the kingdom of heaven. This brings us to be the sons and daughters of the Father. Baptism gives us the Holy Spirit and we can call out to God as our Father and know that we are…