June 6

I Kings 1:1-53; Acts 4:1-37; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 16:24

I am having trouble deciding what to write about for today's Scripture reading. Some days, God's Word really pops out at me and I can get a clear sense of what he might be speaking to me. Other days, our Scripture is harder to apply to our personal lives and we might be tempted to think it doesn't relate to us for that particular day. On days like that, I am reminded that God's Word is alive and active. Each day we can see and rehearse, through our Scripture readings, who God is and who he calls us to be. 

So, let's do that today. First, who is our God as portrayed in Scripture today?

He is a God who fulfills his promises and let's us see those promises fulfilled. David praises him in I Kings 1:48 saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today."

Our God is a God who does miraculous healing. Peter and John do a miraculous healing in front of the crowds of Jewish people and leaders and proclaim that it was "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed" (Acts 4:10). 

Our God uses ordinary people to do amazing things. Peter and John are seen as "unschooled and ordinary men," but the leaders take note that "these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).  These men perform healings and speak boldly in front of rulers and authorities. These ordinary men pray and are "filled with the Holy Spirit [to speak] the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31). 

Our God is our protector, who keeps us from getting swept away by evil men and their evil schemes. "He has not let us be torn by their teeth....Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Ps. 124:6,8).

I could go on. As I look to see who God is, more and more of his character begins to pop out at me. But let's move on to asking the question of who God calls us to be.

God calls us to be parents actively involved in our children's lives, rebuking, correcting, and training them in the way they should go. David made the mistake of allowing too many of his sons to live according to their own devices, never asking, "Why do you behave as you do" (I Ki. 1:6)? As a result, he has much trouble with wayward sons. The incident with Adonijah is just one more example of that. 

God calls us to carry out the oaths and commitments we have made to him (see I Ki. 1:29-30).

God calls us to obey him rather than seek approval in the eyes of men. Peter and John choose not to worry about their earthly reputation or well-being. Instead of being quieted by the Jewish rulers of the law, they instead challenge them to "judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God" (Acts 4:19).

God calls us to live counter-culturally, sharing our possessions, giving our money to his work  and distributing it to the needy (see Acts 4:34-35).

God calls us to unity and frequent gathering with the believers to pray and seek his face (see Acts 4:23-37).

God calls us to speak pleasant words to one another, "sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Pr. 16:24).

I could go on and on. Praise God that his Word becomes alive and active in our lives each and every day. He is a good God and he calls us to a good life of following him and his ways.

- Mary Matthias

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.