TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81
Acts 26:1-32
Psalm 6:1-10
Proverbs 18:20-21
1 Chronicles 5:20 — Buried in the genealogies we see references to people who cried to God and were heard “because they put their trust in him!”
1 Chronicles 5:25-26 — However, when they sinned against the LORD, He brought judgment.
1 Chronicles 6:3-4 — Remember Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1)? The Chronicler lists them in contrast to Phinehas (Numbers 25:11).
1 Chronicles 6:8 — Remember Zadok (2 Samuel 8:17)? Now we see why biblical passages tell about someone being the son of someone else … because some names were reused.
1 Chronicles 6:27 — Did you catch what was written about Samuel and his father, Elkanah? Might have skipped it because most people just remember his mother, Hannah. Sad to remember that the sons of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:28) did not walk in his ways (1 Samuel 8:2-3).
1 Chronicles 6:33 — Now, we read as the genealogies go backward from Heman to Israel/Jacob (1 Chronicles 6:38). The Chronicler is recording their direct connection from the Temple to the founding father, Jacob/Israel.
Acts 26:2-3 — Here we see some of the tension addressed in Proverbs. Is Paul flattering King Agrippa or is he merely recognizing and appropriately acknowledging the expertise of Agrippa? Flattery is saying something false, but it’s clear that Agrippa does have special knowledge.
Acts 26:8 — Notice the continual emphasis of Paul’s message on the resurrection: he preached it in Athens (Acts 17:18, Acts 17:32), in Jerusalem (Acts 23:6-8), before Felix (Acts 24:15, Acts 24:21), and now before King Agrippa! Yes, we don’t see people resurrected daily like we see the sun rise, but if we believe that the LORD God is the Creator of the world, if He gave His life for us, then He can bring anyone back to life! Yes, Paul keeps coming back to this message (Acts 26:23), and it causes a response whenever he mentions it. The Athenians mocked (Acts 17:32), the Sanhedrin split (Acts 23:7), Felix deferred (Acts 24:22), and Festus called him “mad” (Acts 24:24).
Romans 1:4 says the resurrection is how we know Y’shua, who his neighbors thought was merely the son of Joseph & Mary but was really the Son of God with power! We can know that resurrection power (Philippians 3:10) through salvation (1 Peter 3:21). Yes, we’ll see more of Paul’s preaching on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15!
Acts 26:20 — That is the message for today! “Repent and turn to God!” The Bible is pretty clear: if you’ve repented, you will act like you have!
Psalm 6:4 — The Old Testament Psalmist prayed for salvation, yet that salvation is now open to all!
Proverbs 18:21 — So much power in so small a member. Use it wisely!
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