Devotional Passages for Week of September 24-October 1

Monday:  Isaiah 43:14-45:10, Ephesians 3:1-21, Psalm 68:1-18, Proverbs 24:1-2

Tuesday: Isaiah 45:11-48:11, Ephesians 4:1-16, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 24:3-4

Wednesday: Isaiah 48:12-50:11, Ephesians 4:17-32, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 24:5-6

No Longer A Foreigner

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:19-20

I remember walking through the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while on a mission trip feeling completely out of place. I did not know the language, the culture, the people, where I was going or what street I was on. There was no comfort of knowing I could call 9-1-1 if I was in trouble, let alone any Ethiopian law enforcement willing to help me.  This experience has reminded me of just how thankful I am to be a citizen of the United States. Its something I don’t often think about, but nevertheless am very thankful for.  It is a privilege to be a citizen, and with it comes responsibility, loyalty and a sense of belonging. 

Devotional Passages for the Week of September 16-23

Sunday: Isaiah 22:1-24:23, Galatians 2:17-3:9, Psalm 60:1-12, Proverbs 23:15-16

Monday: Isaiah 25:1-28:13, Galatians 3:10-22, Psalm 61:1-8, Proverbs 23:17-18

Tuesday: Isaiah 28:14-30:11, Galatians 3:23-4:31, Psalm 62:1-12, Proverbs 23:19-21

Wednesday: Isaiah 30:12-33:9, Galatians 5:1-12, Psalm 63:1-11, Proverbs 23:22

Thursday: Isaiah 33:10-36:22, Galatians 5:13-26, Psalm 64:1-10, Proverbs 23:23

Friday: Isaiah 37:1-38:22, Galatians 6:1-18, Psalm 65:1-13, Proverbs 23:24

Saturday: Isaiah 39:1-41:16, Ephesians 1:1-23, Psalm 66:1-20, Proverbs 23:25-28

Sunday: Isaiah 41:17-43:13, Ephesians 2:1-22, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 23:29-35

Devotional Passages for the Week of September 9-16

Sunday: Isaiah 3:1-5:30, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, Psalm 53:1-6, Proverbs 22:28-29

Monday: Isaiah 6:1-7:25, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Psalm 54:1-7, Proverbs 23:1-3

Tuesday: Isaiah 8:1-9:21 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 23:4-5

Wednesday: Isaiah 10:1-11:16, 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 23:6-8

Thursday: Isaiah 12:1-14:32, 2 Corinthians 13:1-14, Psalm 57:1-11, Proverbs 23:9-11

Friday: Isaiah 15:1-18:7, Galatians 1:1-24, Psalm 58:1-11, Proverbs 23:12

Saturday:  Isaiah 19:1-21:17, Galatians 2:1-16, Psalm 59:1-17, Proverbs 23:13-14

Sunday: Isaiah 22:1-24:23, Galatians 2:17-3:9, Psalm 60:1-12, Proverbs 23:15-16

Devotional Passages for the Week of September 3-10

We will again be posting suggested Scripture verses for you to read.  Every week there will be Old Testament & New Testament passages, as well as a Psalm and Proverb.  Know that your ability to live faithfully outside of the camp gates are directly tied in with your reading or lack of reading the Bible.  Make it a point to print out these readings every week and sticking them in your Bible.  Don't feel like you have to read it all.  Pick a passage or two a day, then read and pray.  If you would like to comment on something you read, just click on "comment" at the bottom of this list.  Let us know how you are growing through your reading of Scripture or ask a question, we'll post your comment and respond to you.  We'll keep posting our own devotional thoughts once a week.  Next devo will be up on Monday.

Monday: Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7, Psalm 47:1-9, Proverbs 22:16

Tuesday: Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18, 2 Corinthians 7:8-16, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 22:17-19

Wednesday: Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Psalm 49:1-20, Proverbs 22:20-21

Thursday: Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16, 2 Corinthians 8:16-24, Psalm 50:1-23, Proverbs 22:22-23

The Lion in the Streets

"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!'" Proverbs 22:13

The sluggard, meaning the person who is passive, lazy, and underachieving, always has an excuse for not being pro-active.  As I thought about this proverb, what came to mind is the spiritually lazy person.  The sluggard who won't make any effort to grow spiritually.  All of us can relate to being spiritually sluggish.  We fail...

    We fail... to get into God's Word because we sleep in .
    We fail... to pray before bed because we watch too much TV then fall asleep before praying.
    We fail... to stand up for what is right, because we are too fearful of what others may think.

We are really good at coming up with excuses for our sluggishness, and often it is exactly as the sluggard says, we are fearful of what lays beyond.  We are afraid that indeed there may be great harm outside..."in the streets".  The mystery of stepping out into the unknown can be very frightening.  Can your spiritual sluggishness be traced back to fear?  Fear of trusting God with your life.  Fear of what friends/parents/siblings may think.  Fear of changing.  Fear that God may require something of you that you don't want to give up.  So like the sluggard we craft excuses, some are fabricated and completely false...others are true.

Indeed there is a lion in the streets.  "The devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." I Peter 5:8b  Peter's advice is not to flee the lion or avoid the streets, but rather to be "watchful" and "sober-minded".  Our fears ought not hamper us from getting after the business of following Christ.  We must not be sluggish in our pursuit of God, but vigilant.  Peter goes on to say, "Resist him."  Resist the lion and his schemes.  Step out into the streets ready to resist.  But be warned...