Simcha

My family went on it's annual ski trip last week. Three generations on the slopes. (For more info on this check in at http://justlikejunecleaver.blogspot.com/). I lead devotions for the family every night after skiing (Weather petmitting, that is. We did ski this year!). I thought I'd share the outline of those devotions with you. Discussion is the intent of the outlines.

Simcha · January 8-12, 2007
Ludlow, Vermont (Okemo)

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
-Ephesians 5:15-17

Theme: Resolutions

Monday, 1/8/07 – Resolved: Inquire of God.
Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-12.
Jehoshapat was a good king of Judah. He sent priests throughout the land instructing the people in the Law. There was relative peace in Judah during his reign. But now Jehshaphat was surrounded by enemies. Judah was on the brink of annihilation. So Jehoshaphat made a resolution. What did he resolve? What did this look like? What did it mean?
Now read verse 12. This is a good recognition for us at all times. We are not strong enough. But He is. READ also: Zephaniah 1:1-6.

Tuesday, 1/9/07 – Resolved: My mouth will not sin.
Read Psalm 17:1-5.
The first part of this Psalm is a plea to God about David’s innocence. David! This is the same David who was an adulterer and a murderer. What do you think about that? In the second half of the Psalm David pleads for God’s protection. What is David’s resolution? How would that apply to David? How does it apply to us?

Read Job 2:7-10.

Wednesday, 1/10/07 – Resolved: Abstain from choice things of the culture.
Read Daniel 1:1-8.
We know the context here. Daniel and the other three young Hebrews were selected for the “Royal Academy” at Nebuchadnezzar’s court. They were given a good life and were to eat from the King’s own food. But Daniel refused. Why? How does that translate into our time and culture? Read 1 Corinthians 6:12; then 1 Corinthians 10:23. What do these mean?

Thursday, 1/11/07 – Resolved: To know Christ and Him Crucified.
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
To know = eidenai, a word from the root oida. It means more than “know” in the intellectual sense. It also means: appreciate, be aware, become learned, be conscious of, realize, recognize, understand, understanding. It is also related to the word for “house.” So it also can have the meaning “belonging, devoted to, adherents of a thing.” So given all this sterling knowledge of the original language and given the context of the passage and the theology of the writer, what does this mean for us today as we strive to “know Jesus Christ and Him crucified?”