King Abijah, Solomon’s grandson, reigns in Judah, the southern kingdom. In general, the south remains faithful to God at this time, the northern kingdom yielding to idolatry.

In the sixth century B.C., the captives return to find their lost history, aware that “for a long time Israel has been without the true God, without teaching priest and without law” (15:3). Though similar to 1 Kings 15, the chronicler places emphasis on the life of worship in tenth century B.C., as summarized in the verse for today.

The Firestarter in the morning and the daily reading—your morning “burnt offering.” In the evening, let there be an ember-like reflective glow over the day and its union with the day’s passage—your evening burnt sacrifice. Thus from morning till evening there will be sweet incense rising from your life bringing God’s presence and love to many others.

2 Chronicles 13—16

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: You strengthen those committed. 16:9

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Proverbs 30—32
and 2 Chronicles and Ecclesiastes 9—12.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

God’s call to obedience courses through these two chapters of sermons from Zechariah. Disobedience on the part of our ancestors made them vulnerable to foreign attacks and the destruction of Jerusalem and their sacred Temple.

Just as the salvation of the one leper who returned is better than all ten healed of leprosy, so fasting and worship may be external only, never going to the heart of total obedience—that surrender which has us walk in God’s ways with our hands in God’s.

Notice what happens. Just as the ten lepers of yesterday, ten persons from every foreign nation will let go of their unfaithful ways and cling to the sleeve of a believer. Your obedience and fidelity to the Lord can prompt others to let go of the “trapeze” of their vain works and cling to the Lord by grasping the sleeve of your faith.

Zechariah 7—8

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Kingdomtide we read Habakkuk to Malachi.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: May one touching me find You. 8:23

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

The distance that God’s people kept from lepers was as great as that between Jews and Samaritans. However, for a person to be both—that is to be an outcast, indeed. Ten lepers in misery, while keeping their distance, somehow know that Jesus is not going to pull away. They cry out for divine mercy.

The ten are healed, but nine soon forget, failing to return to give God glory and praise. We know nothing about them, but the silence invites us to wonder: did the healing last without the total trapeze-like abandon to the One who could do more than have them look good from the outside?

Surrender all outer and inner needs to Jesus. Grasp the hand of God in Jesus, as the healer and the healed become one.

Luke 17:11–19

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: I return to thank you, Lord. v. 18

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year C, we generally read from the Gospel of St. Luke.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.