To prevent the frustration of falling behind, which most of us tend to do when following a Bible reading plan, each month of this plan gives you only twenty-five readings. Today we start a few “free days” . We encourage you to catch up on any readings you may have missed this month.
If you have finished the month’s readings, you can use these final days of the month to study the passages that challenged or intrigued you.
Daily Devotion
Walls
Walls are for safety and protection. They form a shield around us. Walls hold in the things we want to protect. Walls keep out the enemies who want to harm, tear down, and destroy. So, we must build our walls strong. Strong walls make a fortress, a strong place of defense.
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:2
To build strong walls and fortresses we must have a firm foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:11 says “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” And Luke 6:49 tells us, “But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” We can build strong walls on a strong foundation by following Paul’s instructions to Timothy.
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:13
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.” 1 Timothy 6:18-21 NIV
Walls form a layer of protection between us and the dirt and pollutants of this world that would try to contaminate everything inside our walls. We must be vigilant to protect our walls. Don’t allow things inside our walls that will damage or confuse by going places we know we should not go, doing things we know are not right, or listening to teaching that is not Biblical. Before we allow anything inside our walls we should ask ourselves; does it agree with God’s Word?
“The Spirit clearly says that in latter times some people will turn away from the faith. They will pay attention to spirits that deceive and to the teaching of demons. They will be controlled by the pretense of lying, and their own consciences will be seared.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 CEB
“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” Proverbs 25:28 NLT We need to know the truth, have strong convictions, and practice self-control to have defendable walls. When we make mistakes, we must be quick to repent and repair the breach in our walls. In chaotic times it becomes even more important to stick to what we know is right. Remember the line from the old song – All other ground is sinking sand. Stay on the firm foundation. Others depend on us to show them the way.
“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:15-16 NIV
“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Titus 1:9 NIV
“Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.” Psalm 122:7
~Kathy Johnson