Here’s where it’s at: I retroblogged yesterday’s post this morning around midnight, read for bible study this morning, read during bible study in the afternoon, and now I’m reading for this post. So as much as I feel upset for getting off my regular rhythm of posting a bit, this is slightly alleviated by having gotten so much Word in today. It’s actually quite satisfying to read your Bible a lot; I recommend it to you wholeheartedly. Now, onto the scheduled “read your Bible in a year” readings:
Today I got out a couple study bibles to see what I could figure out about Daniel 11:2-35, because I really couldn’t figure out too much at first glance. My Life Application Study Bible said that based on the reference in Daniel 11:2 about fighting the kingdom of Greece, the King was probably Xerxes I of Persia. I got out my Apologetics Study Bible and it took away a lot of the mystery: this passage was a historically accurate record of the actions of Xerxes I, written in 6 B.C., four hundred years before he lived. According to the Apologetics Study Bible, in this passage along 130 prophecies were fulfilled in the historical activity of Xerxes. So, although this passage may not be a prophecy that we can anticipate anymore, it is an interesting example of how God knows of the actions that will occur throughout time and how He has a plan for them, and lets us know His plans.
Although the history was a bit interesting, the final verse of the passage, Daniel 11:35, was just a bit more big picture and somewhat interesting. “And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.” So, no matter what wisdom you have, persecution will almost definitely come to you, but so that you will be refined to a better follower and a wiser person.
1 John 3:7-24 continues John’s recent theme of stopping habits of sinning because we are God’s children, and of loving others. It is summed up in 1 John 3:10: “So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”
Please be challenged by 1 John 3:15-19 today, which reads: “Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. {16} We know that real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. {17} If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion – how can God’s love be in that person? {18} Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. {19} Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.”
Peace be with you, and always find your sustenance and strength in the Lord and his word.