BOOK REVIEW - "LETTERS OF PAUL IN 30 DAYS" BY TREVIN WAX

 This is part of a collection by Trevin Wax, Vice President of resources and marketing at the North American Mission Board, and a regular columnist for the Gospel Coalition. Others include "The Life of Jesus in 30 Days" and "Psalms in 30 Days."

This book is divided into Morning, Midday, and Evening readings for 30 days. Each includes a reading from Paul's epistles, but they also include other things. The Gloria Patra and the Lord's Prayer are included in each reading, meaning you're reading those portions 3 times a day, 90 times in the reading. Some of the other readings are from Scripture, but you also have the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Reforming Catholic Confession, in addition to quotes from church fathers and other Christians from the past.  

When reviewing "The Life of Jesus in 30 Days," I started out by saying, "Definitely the best liturgical book written by a Southern Baptist I've read." Well, this is tied with it. I highly recommend it. This is a good way to have an organized devotional time. 

BOOK REVIEW - "THE INSPIRATIONAL STUDY BIBLE: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD (NKJV)" BY MAX LUCADO

"The Inspirational Study Bible" by Max Lucado does a great job of being Inspirational. But as a study Bible? Not as much.

This book has an introduction to each book of the Bible. As you go through it, you will see on the margins a life lesson or two developed from the Scripture covered on the two pages you're looking at. This volume is strong on giving applications to God's Word. 

But what do I expect in a Study Bible? 

• A column containing cross references so you can see how a topic is dealt with through Scripture. This edition does not have cross references.
• Notes that deal with exegesis of the original languages, a look at the culture of the Bible time, and an explanation of difficult passages (though study Bibles and Commentaries all too often skip those tricky passages, because the author doesn't know the answer any more than you do).  This edition has some applications, but not the same kind of study notes.

I would call this a devotional Bible, but definitely not a Study Bible. This doesn't mean it lacks value. But if you want to study Scripture, I'd recommend other Study Bibles like the Scofield Bible, the Geneva Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible, the Ryrie Study Bible, or the International Inductive Study Bible, all of which have cross references and notes.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "A YEAR OF PRAYER: APPROACHING GOD WITH AN OPEN HEART WEEK AFTER WEEK" BY JOHN MACARTHUR

I will confess: I have not finished reading John MacArthur's "A Year of Prayer: Approaching God With an Open Heart Week After Week" yet. In fact, I'm not even a sixth of the way through it (I'm at week 8 of 52 at the time of writing). But this is a kind of book that you can make a fair assumption what the book is like early on and whether it's one to recommend or not.

I highly recommend this book. My wife and I are going through a section a week. It consists of a passage of Scripture (not just a verse as many devotionals do) followed by a Biblically based prayer for you to pray. 

There are books designed for a whole year that I treat as if it is for a period of days. This one can fall into that category, and finish it in 52 days, because the sections are short. But my wife and I don't want to rush through this volume and give it time to make an impact.

DEVOTIONAL ON PSALM 26:6-7

Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington, IL

"I will wash my hands in innocence;

So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,

And tell of all Your wondrous works.

Psalm 26:6-7, New King James Version.

Do you get excited about proclaiming with a voice of thanksgiving? I do. There is something exhilarating to have a heart full of gratitude to God especially, and likewise to others as well. Same thing with telling of God's wondrous works, from the beauty of His creation to His transformational work in our lives.

Of course, it's hard to do if there isn't thanksgiving in your heart to start. Likewise, we don't often proclaim God's wondrous works because we're looking for other things and/or are not recognizing His works when we see them.

Another reason we're not thankful and proclaiming God's works is dealt with in the first six verses of Psalm 26. Maybe we're not trusting in the Lord. Perhaps we're not asking Him to test our hearts. It could be that we're comfortable (or at best not uncomfortable) with the ungodly. And then, we may not be confessing our sins and seeking inner purity.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather be proclaiming with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all of God's wondrous works.

Lord, thank you for all Your wonderful works. Grant us a heart that seeks things to be thankful, and a spirit overflowing that we want to share what you've done in our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.
 

DEVOTIONAL ON PSALM 20:2

CEF International Headquarters, Warrenton, MO

"May He send you help from the sanctuary

And strengthen you from Zion."

Psalm 20:2, NKJV

What are my three favorite Psalms? Would you count me an infidel if the 23rd Psalm isn't that high? Believe it or not, it's 6th place? The top three consist of, in order, Psalms 84, 67, and 20. (For the curious, 4th and 5th, respectively, are 27 and 119.)

Today, I'm focusing on Psalm 20. Why do I place it so high? Is it verse 7, which says "Some trust in chariots and some in horses," and some paraphrase, "Some trust in Cadillacs and some in Porshes?" No, it's the first five verses.

Alex Darnall, worship leader at Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis, was doing a devotional series on the Psalms and commented on the 20th that it's in context of the King addressing his army. I didn't think of that, and it sounds good. But I looked at it as a great Psalm to pray for others, particularly the first 5 verses.

When I looked at this Psalm a couple of days ago, I felt I needed the prayer from verse 2 for me personally.

PRAYER: Lord, I need Your help; please send me help from Your Sanctuary in heaven. I need Your strength; please strengthen me from Zion. And Lord, please let me know of any brothers and sisters in You that need encouragement and need me to pray this Psalm for them.

 

DEVOTIONAL ON PSALM 16:3

 

International Learning Center, Rockville, VA

"As for the saints who are on the earth,

They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight."

Psalm 16:3, NKJV

This Psalm starts off with David stating that his trust is in the Lord, and that his goodness is nothing compared to God. But now the focus is on "the saints who are on the earth." Saints - i.e. holy ones - can mean angels, but in the New Testament it refers to the believers, and I believe that's true with a lot of the OT references, including this one.

Being with the godly is my delight. This shows up in my love for fellow believers - that is, the local church. It also is reflected in my love and prayer for Christian musicians. Yes, I like music, but those who use their gifts for God's glory are at a higher notch than the music of the world.

Too often, I see Christians looking for reasons not to delight in other Christians, or even delighting in tearing others down because of "bad doctrine" (translated beliefs different than ones I hold on what I want to make issued). That grieves me. It's enough for the world to hate us. The last thing I want to do is assist the devil in tearing other believers down. True, Christianity is a remnant, but I have a strong hunch the remnant is bigger than we may think it is.

Lord, I want to thank you for other believers: for those I fellowship with regularly in the local church,  for those who minister to my spirit through preaching the Word and through setting it to music. Help me be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEVOTIONAL ON PSALM 5:3

Baptistry at Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis

 "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; 

In the morning I direct it to You and will look up."

Psalm 5:3, NKJV

First, I will pray to God: I will communicate with Him. Too many don't take that step. To many, it's a duty, not a privilege, looking at it as a person who submits a shopping list to the store app, and then waiting to see if we receive what we ask, but not personal interaction.

Second, It's important to start in the morning as well. True, any time we pray is important. There are verses that include the evening (Psalm 92:2 for example). But I want God to be directing me from the beginning of the day. I want to ask God to lead me on His path before I start out and be dependent on Him. And I want to start following as soon as I get energy, rather than wait till bed time.

DEVOTIONAL ON PSALM 2: 11-12

Oriental Lamp Show, Chattanooga Zoo

"Serve the Lord with fear

And rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son lest He be angry 

And you perish in the way 

When His wrath is kindled but a little. 

Blessed are those who put their trust in Him."

Psalm 2:11-12, NKJV

We are in a society where many have no fear, no respect for God, a heart that like Satan exalts him/herself above God. There are also those that are complacent, thinking God will do neither good nor bad, but has just let the world go on its own (Zephaniah 1:12). This is the philosophy called Deism, and is reflected by the hit "From A Distance." Some believe God is involved, but see Him more as a doting grandfather than a disciplining father.

Unfortunately, some in the church lack a fear of God as well. In part, this is because our trust is not in God but various other things: politics, our church programs, "perfect doctrine," our own good works, and so on. 

What's the answer? Knowing that God loves us, but that He expects obedience. Realizing that we are here to serve Him, not that He's here to serve us.

Lord, give us a love tempered with the fear of You. We put our trusy completely, and long for the day when Jesus rules over the Earth.

 

DEVOTIONAL ON PSALM 1:2

At River Bluff Park, Ashland City, TN

"But His delight is in the Law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night."

Psalm 1:2, NKJV

Maybe I don't pray this daily (I do review several verses including this one on a monthly basis), but I desire first to delight in God's Word and second to have my mind saturated with it day and night.

Too often artists in particular and everybody else in general tends to practice what the Psalmist says is the opposite of being blest: walking in the paths of the ungodly, standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seat of the scornful (Psalm 1:1). This influences their worldview and behavior.

Many who know me know I love hanging around with musicians, but in particular, it's musicians who live out Psalm 1:1-3. It may be hymnists who are trying to teach and exhort believers. It may be worship leaders encouraging the congregation to focus on God. It may be rappers and metal bands who are trying to reach a generation that has separated itself from the church to bring them back to their Creator. 

Lord,grant us hearts that rejoice in Your Word, and a desire for it to be on our minds day and night. Give us discernment and wisdom to avoid ungodly influences, and surround ourselves with those devoted to Your Word as we are.