THEINC-HIM DAILY BIBLE MEDITATION: June 16

Thursday, October 22, 2009

June 16

Genesis 1:1 1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

JUNE 16

PSALMS: 16, 46, 76, 106, 136

PROVERBS: 16

OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTES 10:1 - 12:14

NEW TESTAMENT

2 CORINTHIANS 8:1 - 15

PSALMS: 16

A miktamA of David.

1Keep me safe, O God,

for in you I take refuge.

2I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;

apart from you I have no good thing."

3As for the saints who are in the land,

they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.B

4The sorrows of those will increase

who run after other gods.

I will not pour out their libations of blood

or take up their names on my lips.

5LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;

you have made my lot secure.

6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

8I have set the LORD always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken. [1]

9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

10because you will not abandon me to the grave,C

nor will you let your Holy OneD see decay.

11You have madeE known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand. [2]

PSALMS: 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.A A song.

1God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

Selah

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

8Come and see the works of the LORD,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,

he burns the shieldsB with fire.

10"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

11The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah [3]

PSALMS: 76

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

1In Judah God is known;

his name is great in Israel.

2His tent is in Salem,

his dwelling place in Zion.

3There he broke the flashing arrows,

the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.

Selah

4You are resplendent with light,

more majestic than mountains rich with game.

5Valiant men lie plundered,

they sleep their last sleep;

not one of the warriors

can lift his hands.

6At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,

both horse and chariot lie still.

7You alone are to be feared.

Who can stand before you when you are angry?

8From heaven you pronounced judgment,

and the land feared and was quiet--

9when you, O God, rose up to judge,

to save all the afflicted of the land.

Selah

10Surely your wrath against men brings you praise,

and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.A

11Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them;

let all the neighboring lands

bring gifts to the One to be feared.

12He breaks the spirit of rulers; [4]

he is feared by the kings of the earth [5]

PSALMS: 106

1Praise the LORD.A

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

2Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD

or fully declare his praise?

3Blessed are they who maintain justice,

who constantly do what is right.

4Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people,

come to my aid when you save them,

5that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,

that I may share in the joy of your nation

and join your inheritance in giving praise.

6We have sinned, even as our fathers did;

we have done wrong and acted wickedly.

7When our fathers were in Egypt,

they gave no thought to your miracles;

they did not remember your many kindnesses,

and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.B

8Yet he saved them for his name's sake,

to make his mighty power known.

9He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;

he led them through the depths as through a desert.

10He saved them from the hand of the foe;

from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.

11The waters covered their adversaries;

not one of them survived.

12Then they believed his promises

and sang his praise. [6]

13But they soon forgot what he had done

and did not wait for his counsel.

14In the desert they gave in to their craving;

in the wasteland they put God to the test.

15So he gave them what they asked for,

but sent a wasting disease upon them.

16In the camp they grew envious of Moses

and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD.

17The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;

it buried the company of Abiram.

18Fire blazed among their followers;

a flame consumed the wicked.

19At Horeb they made a calf

and worshiped an idol cast from metal.

20They exchanged their Glory

for an image of a bull, which eats grass.

21They forgot the God who saved them,

who had done great things in Egypt,

22miracles in the land of Ham

and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.

23So he said he would destroy them--

had not Moses, his chosen one,

stood in the breach before him

to keep his wrath from destroying them.

24Then they despised the pleasant land;

they did not believe his promise.

25They grumbled in their tents

and did not obey the LORD.

26So he swore to them with uplifted hand

that he would make them fall in the desert,

27make their descendants fall among the nations [7]

and scatter them throughout the lands.

28They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor

and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;

29they provoked the LORD to anger by their wicked deeds,

and a plague broke out among them.

30But Phinehas stood up and intervened,

and the plague was checked.

31This was credited to him as righteousness

for endless generations to come.

32By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD,

and trouble came to Moses because of them;

33for they rebelled against the Spirit of God,

and rash words came from Moses' lips.C

34They did not destroy the peoples

as the LORD had commanded them,

35but they mingled with the nations

and adopted their customs.

36They worshiped their idols,

which became a snare to them.

37They sacrificed their sons

and their daughters to demons.

38They shed innocent blood,

the blood of their sons and daughters,

whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,

and the land was desecrated by their blood.

39They defiled themselves by what they did;

by their deeds they prostituted themselves.

40Therefore the LORD was angry with his people

and abhorred his inheritance.

41He handed them over to the nations,

and their foes ruled over them. [8]

42Their enemies oppressed them

and subjected them to their power.

43Many times he delivered them,

but they were bent on rebellion

and they wasted away in their sin.

44But he took note of their distress

when he heard their cry;

45for their sake he remembered his covenant

and out of his great love he relented.

46He caused them to be pitied

by all who held them captive.

47Save us, O LORD our God,

and gather us from the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praise.

48Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Let all the people say, "Amen!"

Praise the LORD. [9]

PSALMS: 136

1Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

2Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

3Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

4to him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever.

5who by his understanding made the heavens,

His love endures forever.

6who spread out the earth upon the waters,

His love endures forever.

7who made the great lights--

His love endures forever.

8the sun to govern the day,

His love endures forever.

9the moon and stars to govern the night;

His love endures forever.

10to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt

His love endures forever.

11and brought Israel out from among them

His love endures forever.

12with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

His love endures forever.

13to him who divided the Red SeaA asunder

His love endures forever.

14and brought Israel through the midst of it,

His love endures forever.

15but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;

His love endures forever.

16to him who led his people through the desert,

His love endures forever.

17who struck down great kings,

His love endures forever.

18and killed mighty kings--

His love endures forever.

19Sihon king of the Amorites

His love endures forever.

20and Og king of Bashan--

His love endures forever.

21and gave their land as an inheritance,

His love endures forever.

22an inheritance to his servant Israel;

His love endures forever.

23to the One who remembered us in our low estate

His love endures forever.

24and freed us from our enemies,

His love endures forever.

25and who gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

26Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His love endures forever. [10] [11]

PROVERBS: 16

161 To man belong the plans of the heart,

but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.

2All a man's ways seem innocent to him,

but motives are weighed by the LORD.

3Commit to the LORD whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed.

4The LORD works out everything for his own ends--

even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5The LORD detests all the proud of heart.

Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;

through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

7When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,

he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

8Better a little with righteousness

than much gain with injustice.

9In his heart a man plans his course,

but the LORD determines his steps.

10The lips of a king speak as an oracle,

and his mouth should not betray justice.

11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;

all the weights in the bag are of his making.[12]

12Kings detest wrongdoing,

for a throne is established through righteousness.

13Kings take pleasure in honest lips;

they value a man who speaks the truth.

14A king's wrath is a messenger of death,

but a wise man will appease it.

15When a king's face brightens, it means life;

his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16How much better to get wisdom than gold,

to choose understanding rather than silver!

17The highway of the upright avoids evil;

he who guards his way guards his life.

18Pride goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit before a fall.

19Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed

than to share plunder with the proud.

20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,

and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21The wise in heart are called discerning,

and pleasant words promote instruction.A

22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,

but folly brings punishment to fools. [13]

23A wise man's heart guides his mouth,

and his lips promote instruction.B

24Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death.

26The laborer's appetite works for him;

his hunger drives him on.

27A scoundrel plots evil,

and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28A perverse man stirs up dissension,

and a gossip separates close friends.

29A violent man entices his neighbor

and leads him down a path that is not good.

30He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;

he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

31Gray hair is a crown of splendor;

it is attained by a righteous life.

32Better a patient man than a warrior,

a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the LORD. [14]

OLD TESTAMENT

ECCLESIASTES 10:1 - 12:14

101 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2The heart of the wise inclines to the right,

but the heart of the fool to the left.

3Even as he walks along the road,

the fool lacks sense

and shows everyone how stupid he is.

4If a ruler's anger rises against you,

do not leave your post;

calmness can lay great errors to rest.

5There is an evil I have seen under the sun,

the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

6Fools are put in many high positions,

while the rich occupy the low ones.

7I have seen slaves on horseback,

while princes go on foot like slaves.

8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;

whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;

whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

10If the ax is dull

and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed

but skill will bring success. [15]

11If a snake bites before it is charmed,

there is no profit for the charmer.

12Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious,

but a fool is consumed by his own lips.

13At the beginning his words are folly;

at the end they are wicked madness--

14 and the fool multiplies words.

No one knows what is coming--

who can tell him what will happen after him?

15A fool's work wearies him;

he does not know the way to town.

16Woe to you, O land whose king was a servantA

and whose princes feast in the morning.

17Blessed are you, O land whose king is of noble birth

and whose princes eat at a proper time--

for strength and not for drunkenness.

18If a man is lazy, the rafters sag;

if his hands are idle, the house leaks.

19A feast is made for laughter, [16]

and wine makes life merry,

but money is the answer for everything.

20Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich in your bedroom,

because a bird of the air may carry your words,

and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

111 Cast your bread upon the waters,

for after many days you will find it again.

2Give portions to seven, yes to eight,

for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

3If clouds are full of water,

they pour rain upon the earth.

Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,

in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

4Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

5As you do not know the path of the wind,

or how the body is formedA in a mother's womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God, [17]

the Maker of all things.

6Sow your seed in the morning,

and at evening let not your hands be idle,

for you do not know which will succeed,

whether this or that,

or whether both will do equally well.

7Light is sweet,

and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8However many years a man may live,

let him enjoy them all.

But let him remember the days of darkness,

for they will be many.

Everything to come is meaningless.

9Be happy, young man, while you are young,

and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart

and whatever your eyes see,

but know that for all these things

God will bring you to judgment.

10So then, banish anxiety from your heart

and cast off the troubles of your body,

for youth and vigor are meaningless. [18]

121 Remember your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

and the years approach when you will say,

"I find no pleasure in them"--

2before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

3when the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows grow dim;

4when the doors to the street are closed

and the sound of grinding fades;

when men rise up at the sound of birds,

but all their songs grow faint;

5when men are afraid of heights

and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms

and the grasshopper drags himself along

and desire no longer is stirred.

Then man goes to his eternal home

and mourners go about the streets.

6Remember him--before the silver cord is severed,

or the golden bowl is broken;

before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, [19]

or the wheel broken at the well,

7and the dust returns to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.A

"Everything is meaningless!"

9Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

11The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd. 12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man.

14For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing, [20]

whether it is good or evil.[21]

NEW TESTAMENT

2 CORINTHIANS 8:1 - 15

81And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for usA--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time [22]your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."B [23]

^{John 3:16-21 16}"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^F that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.^G ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."^H

Thursday, October 22, 2009

June 16

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John 3:16-21