Studying this morning's four readings from the St. James Daily Devotional Guide (click to subscribe), I examined myself with these questions. Where is your self-examination leading today?
Psalm 115:1-18. Verse 4, what false gods am I subtly tempted to idolize? Verse 8, in what way do I gradually become like my idols? Action point?
Numbers 14:1-45. Related: when have I rebelled against God? Or am I doing so even now? How did it happen? With what consequences? Was there a blessing I can now pay forward
Acts 13:42-52. How does the pattern of an obvious audience rejecting the gospel and an unlikely one welcoming it, repeat today? What are the implications for my church?
Mark 6:53-56. Comparing this scene to verse 5, what accounts for Jesus doing much or not much healing? What more can I and my church do to position ourselves on the "much" side?
To go deeper, see interpretive notes by Bible scholar Patrick Reardon for many of this week's readings.