"The commander went to Paul and asked, 'Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?' "Yes, I am,' he answered. Then the commander said, 'I had to pay a big price for my citizenship.' 'But I was born a citizen,' Paul replied. Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains." -- Acts 22:27-29

While Paul is swimming against a tide that is impossible to overcome, in this scene he is enjoying a moment of being a Roman citizen.  For by the mere virtue of being one, he has caused concern to his captors, for they know that to act against a citizen of Rome is to act against Rome itself.  On this day, citizens of the United States are celebrating their independence, and for a day, will come together as one nation.  Take time to thank God today for the freedom you have to worship, to read, and to speak about God.  May you never have to be put in chains for your faith.  But with this freedom, comes responsibility.  With your freedom, what are you choosing to do?

Readings:  

2 Kings 23:31-25:30; Acts 22:17-23:10; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 18:13

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." -- Psalm 1:1-6

If you've been reading along since the first of the year, congratulations!  It's no mistake that today's selection is from Psalm 1.  In the One Year Bible, the Psalms repeat themselves, so you have read through all of the Psalms.  But do not stop reading them... these are the songs of the ancient church.  This was their hymnal and worship guide.  To stop reading them would be like turning off the radio now that you've heard each song once.  No, instead read them again and again.  Memorize the ones you can.  As you read through the Psalms, you are actually engaged in worship and prayer.  Blessed are you, oh Reader, whose delight is in the Lord and his word.  So meditate on it day and night.

Readings:  2 Kings 22:3-23:30; Acts 21:37-22:16; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 18:11-12 

"Some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, 'Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place.'" -- Acts 22:27-28

We see here how Paul was beginning to feel the heat.  The crowds were turning against him.  Others were plotting to bring him down.  This level and amount of change was just too much for them.  Set in their ways for centuries, and living their lives within the framework of the law brought order and sanity to their world.  Now Paul, in the name of Jesus, was turning that all upside down.  He understood the radical inclusion the Gospel calls for, and allowed those who were not of his race into the holiest of sanctuaries.  This was criminal.  But to Paul, it was the loving thing to do.  Jesus lived and died for all... not just a few chosen ones.  Are we inviting all into our holy spaces?  Do we fight for the inclusion of others?

Readings:  2 Kings 20:1-22:2; Acts 21:17-36; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 18:9-10

"The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts." -- Proverbs 18:8

Isn't it interesting to find sarcasm in the Bible?  This writer knew how to use it when teaching against gossip.  It's as though he's saying that gossip causes spiritual gas.  It causes indigestion.  It resides with intestinal feces... I'm not sure how to say it, but the writer of this proverb said it so nicely with wit and sarcasm.  To describe the words of a gossip as "choice morsels" meant that they're tasty in the moment, but you just shouldn't consume them.  I remember the commercials: "I like pizza, but it doesn't like me."  Were those Alka-seltzer or Pepto commercials?  Either way, gossip is bad for the soul, like junk food is bad for the body.  Just stay away... or else I'll tell everybody all about it.

Readings:  2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Acts 21:1-16; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 18:8

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."-- Acts 20:24

We come into the world through our mothers' wombs.  We scream at first breath, as if to tell the world, "I'm here-- take notice!"  We live our days growing, learning, following, and trying to figure things out.  Once we get the hang of this "life" thing, we realize it's not as fair as we expected.  We mess up, stumble, trip... sin.  We hurt and we get hurt.  We cry and we make others cry.  But we get up and try again.  We become aware that while we only get one life, it is filled with second chances and new beginnings.  It is so only because of God's grace.  It is this grace-- receiving forgiveness when we don't deserve it-- that keeps us going. Grace is the new breath breathed into broken bodies and broken spirits that makes us new again.  That's worth talking about.  That's even worth shouting about.  Can they hear?  Are you sharing it?

Readings:  2 Kings 17:1-18:12; Acts 20:1-38; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 18:6-7

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit."-- Psalm 147:4-5

The human race is accelerating in technological advancements at hyperspeed and it will not be long before artificial intelligence overtakes human intelligence.  Sounds crazy, but that's the trajectory we're on, and unless there is divine intervention or the Second Coming, we could see this in a generation or so.  But even when smarts grow beyond the capacity of our mere mortal minds, how can we ever come close to knowing what God knows?  God knows everything there is to know.  Might we one day count the stars?  Sure.  Will we determine the number of stars?  Quite unlikely.  We will get better and better at discovering and understanding God's creation, but it will remain discovery of that which already is.  We did not make this existence.  We only experience it.  Let's remain humble humans.

Readings:  2 Kings 15:1-16:20; Acts 19:13-41; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 18:4-5

"A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions." -- Proverbs 18:2

With ears, we are to listen.  With minds, we are to understand.  With mouths we are to ask clarifying questions.  Then we listen again with ears, and process again with minds... then we share our opinion on the matter.  Seems age has a way of teaching us that better way.  But oh to learn it when we're young!  Listen up young people.  Listen up.

Readings: 2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:23-19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3