The Coincidence of Scripture Reading

I heard or read somewhere once that somebody said, "The more I pray, the more coincidences seem to happen."  I've been trying to follow my one-year read through the Bible plan that is in the back of my ESV ultimate-uber study Bible.  The other night, I really wasn't feeling like reading, but I decided to do so anyway.  So, with my iPod going, I dug into some of the Scriptures and had my journal handy.  A couple of the readings for the day were 1 Chronicles 7 and Luke 3:23-4:13.

Here is what I wrote in my journal concerning the first of those two readings.  "I know there is a purpose for the geneaologies.  I supposed there is a purpose for mice and cockroaches too, but I'm not too sure what those purposes are."  I really do know that the geneaologies in the OT are important ways of tracking the lines of the Jewish people, but sometimes, especially those times when I really don't feel like reading, I just don't want to deal with the geneaologies.  And that's basically what the opening portion of Chronicles is - chapter after chapter of geneaology.

After working through the Chronicles reading, I turn to Luke, and what to my wandering eyes should appear but the geneaology of Jesus.  The more I read Scripture, the more coincidences happen.  However, the Luke reading didn't stop there.

Luke 4:1-13 is the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.  Jesus has just been baptized by John and is full of the Holy Spirit, when he is immediately tested.  Ironically enough, in tomorrow's message, I spend a little bit of time talking about "mountaintop experiences".  Is really an irony though?  And what is it that sustains Jesus throughout this period?  The word of God.  Each of the temptations that Jesus faces, he counters with Scripture - even the one where the devil takes Scripture out of context.  This just reinforces to me the importance of staying in the Word.  The more we know the Word, the more equipped we are to stand against temptation when it comes.

Just as I finish thinking through some of this stuff, a song comes on my iPod.  I don't really know why this particular CD is on my iPod.  It was on our Windows Media Player when I got the iPod, and I just transferred it over because the singer was a part of a group called Nickel Creek, who I really like.  The song is Stay Away by Chris Thile, and below are the lyrics.

You are the devil

Stay away from me

Stay away from me

Stay away

I am in trouble

But you’re not what I need

You’re not what I need

Even if I’m all alone

Crying out for help

Keep yours to yourself

Cause I’m trying to hold on

To her as long as she can stand it

You’ve been prying up my fingers one by one

Prying up my fingers one by one

I’ve been praying against you

But the damage has been done

The damage has been done

And it would take a miracle

For her to break my fall

Cause she don’t care at all anymore

And I don’t know why I still do

Why I’m telling you

Cause you are the devil

And you can stay away from me

Stay away form me

Stay away

To hell with my freedom

If it don’t come for free

And I know it don’t come for free

If I give in

Give me bitter songs to play

And some sweet heart to win

Friends I thought I lost

And times I've never been

Just don’t ever make me fall in love again

Shoulda seen us fly out that church

Devil stay away form me

Stay away from me

Stay away 

Temptation can hit anybody at anytime.  We can't let our defenses down and give the enemy an opportunity to gain a foothold.  Are you staying in the Word?  The more I read Scripture, the more coincidences happen.