March 24th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29 ~ Luke 6:12-38
Psalm 67:1-7 ~ Proverbs 11:27

Old Testament - Okay, I think we've come across quite an understatement in our readings tody in Deuteronomy chapter 2 verse 1 when Moses says - "We wandered around Mount Seir for a long time." Indeed... it was a long time of 3 decades plus of wandering...  :) But, it's important for us to remember why it was such a long time of wandering - because of the Israelites sin in not entering the Promised Land when they were first instructed to by God.  And, I think about this in our lives today.  When we sin.  And particularly when we consistently sin - with a bad habit or addiction that we know we should not be indulging in - we are just like the Israelites, wandering around in the wilderness for a long time...  My fear is that we can get so used to our sin and wandering around in the wilderness that we don't ever break free from it.  We stay in bondage to the sin.  And then we stay in the wilderness.  The wilderness for us today may simply be living life half-heartedly in a bit of a haze or a bit of a funk.  With some sort of cloud hanging over us.  It's no way to live life.  I guess I just want to encourage you that if you are struggling with what seems to be an unreleasable sin to not give up.  Don't ever give up against that sin.  Continue to take it to Jesus over and over and over again.  Take it to God over and over and over again.  Pray about it continuously.  Seek wise counsel from friends and pastors and professional help.  Freedom awaits you.  You can get out of the wilderness.  The Promised Land awaits you.   Please don't continue to "wander around Mt. Seir for a long time"....  Below is a painting titled "The Wanderer" by German artist George Seir from 1934 -

 

We read some significant verses at the end of Deuteronomy chapter 3 when Moses asks to enter the Promised Land, and God replies in verses 26 through 28 - "`Speak of it no more. You can go to Pisgah Peak and view the land in every direction, but you may not cross the Jordan River. But commission Joshua and encourage him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them the land you now see before you.'"  Here we see that God is standing firm in his refusal of allowing Moses to enter the Promised Land - and yet, he does show mercy in allowing Moses to view the land.   

New Testament - In Luke chapter 6 verses 12 & 13 today we read - "One day soon afterward Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles."  Every time I read about Jesus' calling of the apostles, I always think about myself.  What would I have done if I was called by Jesus to be an apostle back then?  What would I do if I was called to follow Jesus in this way today?  What would you do?  Would you leave everything behind and follow Jesus? 

Verses 22 & 23 are just no joke and so powerful for each of to consider and remember in our lives today - "God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed because you are identified with me, the Son of Man. When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were also treated that way by your ancestors." Wow... rejoice when you are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed - because you are identified with Jesus.  No, don't just rejoice - leap for joy! 

Today we read 3 amazing verses that I don't think we can hear often enough.  And my hunch is that we don't follow these teachings often enough...  they can seem initially so counter-intuitive - just like leaping for joy is when you are persecuted for loving Jesus.  But these 3 verses are clearly such an important part of living the Christian life.  And when you really meditate upon them, you'll see that they really are not counter-intuitive at all, but completely wise.  Verse 28 - "Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." And verses 35 & 36 - ""Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."  How are you doing on praying for the happiness of those who curse you or hurt you?  How are you doing in loving your enemies and doing good to them?  Do you believe we should be compassionate in these ways? 

Verse 37 I don't think we can hear often enough either - ""Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven." I really need to hear this one - stop judging others.  Stop judging others.  Stop judging others.  Okay, I think I've got it....  Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 6 readings today titled "Defining Discipleship" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 67 verse 2 today sounds very Great Commission-ish - "May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere." How are you helping to make God's ways be known throughout the earth?  Are you sharing with other's God's saving power?  Does the life you live reflect God's glory to others?   

Proverbs - Chapter 11 verse 27 is a powerful Proverb to pay heed to! "If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!" I pray each of us is consistently searching for good - and never searching for evil.

What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Roslyn]

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." AMEN!!!

Truly a great reminder of how we should treat one another, for we are ALL one in God, Christians or non-Christians.

[Roslyn]

Ramona, thanks for the heartfelt affirmation regarding the sunrise (sonrise)-sunset (sonset) post two days ago. I just read the rest of the postings last night.

May we all grow in our connection/relationship with God in different ways.

[Ramona]

Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29

Something I noticed with Israel and her wars, God gave them victory before they went to battle, ergo, God gives us the Victory over our enemies (addictions; stress; bad health; people who come against us because we are believers—whatever conflicts with a Kingdom loving, God centered lifestyle); however, we must go into the battle. I heard this from my pastor’s wife about three/four weeks ago. “Running from the battle qualifies you for captivity.”

"Get up, make your way across Wadi Arnon. Look! I have already delivered over to you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Go ahead! Take it! Engage him in war! ... The LORD said to me, "Look! I have already begun to give over Sihon and his land to you. Start right now to take his land as your possession."
(Deuteronomy 2:24, 31 NET.)

I was also tying to find the post that someone wrote (I think it was Andrew B, but I could be mistaken), when we first got into Deuteronomy, that Moses was playing the “Blame Game,” and at the end of our readings sure enough Moses again blames the “crowd” for his inability to enter the Promise Land.

But the LORD was angry at me because of you and would not listen to me. Instead, he said to me, "Enough of that! Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.
(Deuteronomy 3:26 NET.)

Grace and peace and Make it a Blessed Day!! Don’t allow circmstances and other people to control whether a day is blessed or not—Take charge [That encouragement if from me also, self-speak spoken (written) out-loud]

Ramona

Roslyn--The Word says that we Overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our Testimony (Rev. 12:11). I was just testifying how your post blessed me, helping me to be an “Overcomer”.

[Vance Brown]

Deuteronomy 3 (NKJV)
22
You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.’

~~~
MY NOTES:
I notice that, if the Israelites had kept their eyes on their Lord and Savior—Yahweh—they would have been able to resist the temptation of their weakness to rebel in fear that the enemy used against them. Their own confession, rooted in fear spawned unbelief, led them not entering the Promised Land. Those men who had instigated the rebellion were killed because of their rebellion. Their children went into the land in place of them.

What amazes me is how faithful the Lord is to His people—even in their rebellion. Of course, He must discipline us in love if we have rebelled against Him. I think once again of something I read yesterday that still speaks deeply to me from the website titled, http://hebrew4christians.com:

Reply Requested: When Convenient

OT AND NT: BUILDING OF THE TABERNACLE OF GOD

EXODUS 35:1 THROUGH EXODUS 38:20 (NKJV)

The construction of the mishkan (tabernacle) now begins with Bezalel and Oholiab leading the work. Notice that Bezalel (betzal'el) is a type of Christ, a man "called by name" from Judah who was "filled with the Spirit of God" (ruach elohim) and whose name means "in the shadow of God."

Bezalel's chief assistant is Oholiab (aholi'Av), whose name means "the Father's tent."

Notice that this is the second time that the description of the mishkan (tabernacle) and its furnishings given in the Torah…

Why is this the case?
1. FOR ONE THING, THE LORD IS SHOWING THAT HIS PURPOSES WILL NOT BE THWARTED, EVEN IF MAN'S SIN (I.E., THE MOLTEN CALF INCIDENT) CAUSES A DELAY IN GOD'S PERFECT WILL.

2. A second reason has to do with the fundamental importance of the mishkan (tabernacle) and the blood atonement rituals that allow for communion with God.

~~~

Luke 6 (NKJV)
12
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13
And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
14
Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
15
Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

19
And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

35
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

PSALM 67 (NKJV)
1
God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
2
That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

~~~
MY NOTES:
It strikes me as amazing that the Lord Jesus, the Full and Perfect Man, chose the apostles that He did. It does not amaze me that He prayed all night to do it. It is really sobering that Jesus, at the Father’s direction, chose “Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.”

Jesus had to be prayed up, humanly speaking, for He knew what His mission was—to die for the sins of the world. Every time He loved Judas, He knew Judas could be a traitor.

I note that Judas “became” a traitor. Perhaps he could have avoided it. In any event, even if Judas had not betrayed Jesus, prophecy cannot be broken, and someone else would have betrayed Jesus.

~~~
As Jesus gave, so He calls us to give. And as we give, we are NEVER to expect or demand something back from people. HOWEVER, God in His Word clearly teaches us that AS WE GIVE WITH LOVE, BEING PROMPTED BY THE SPIRIT to give in worship, then GOD HIMSELF WILL GIVE BACK TO US in His time and His way.

Luke 6: 38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

~~
As we are blessed spiritually and materially, then His way can be known on the earth. Why? For our hearts are right before God and we serve Him first as Lord. Then, because we have material blessing, then we can invest heavily in the Kingdom of God and use our money as a spiritual weapon bathed in prayer to take back what the enemy has stolen from mankind.

Vance

[tangentrider Laura]

In Deuteronomy we see history as meaning rather than as bare fact. Here the stories rewire the souls of the people, preparing them for what lay ahead. As the OT progresses, the stories are told and retold, each time telling the meaning: the truth about God, his justice, grace, sovereignty, mercy, fierce jealousy.

So, if everything points back to Torah (the first five books), how should we understand the OT?

If Torah is the story of God's gracious covenant with Israel--and not law as is often assumed--could it be the the OT is also about God's grace?

I believe this is true and this year, I'm reading to see if it is so. It has certainly been the case so far.

[Ramona]

tangentrider Laura,

I too see the "grace" of God in the Old Testament even though many people think that the God of the Old is different than the God of the new. God's grace was not always evident to me when I first began reading through the Bible 18 years ago, but every time I read though and more things are revealed in my understanding, I know without a doubt that God is the same and has always been the same throughout all eternity.

Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
(Heb 13:8)

If Jesus Christ is the Word of God and is God, as stated in the first chapter of the Book of John, than God has never changed and His grace and mercy is stamped indelibly on the universe. We confuse the consequences of our misdeeds and sinful actions, things we have set in motion because we live in a cause and effect world, with the absence of a God full of grace and mercy. If I warn my child about playing in the streets and he plays in the streets in spite of my warning, when he is hit by an 18 wheel truck that does not mean I am lacking in grace and mercy it means he didn’t listen.

Ramona

[John]

tangentrider Laura,

Absolutely, the Old Testament is replete with examples of God's grace and mercy.

"Grace of God" is defined in one dictionary (freedictionary.com):

"the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God"

The above defintion can be seen in action throughout the Old Testament.

"As we have seen, God extended His grace freely to individuals and nations who humbly sought His favor in Old Testament times. God granted His grace to Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the children of Israel, the Ninevites, David, and even kings Ahab and Manasseh when they repented of their wickedness. The Scriptures also record God's grace and blessings to those women who sought His favor, including Abraham's wife Sarah, (Gen. 21:6-7, Heb. 11:11, Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 1:16; 2:12), and Hannah, the mother of Samuel (I Sam. 1:10-19).

The entire Old Testament is a demonstration of God's gracious kindness and mercy. However, the grace and mercy which God granted during Old Testament times was in most cases limited to physical deliverance and material blessings. The Scriptures reveal that only a few in Old Testament times received God's Holy Spirit and were granted the grace of God unto eternal salvation. Nevertheless, God's blessing and grace was extended bountifully in the physical realm for those who loved God and kept His commandments. And mercy and forgiveness was extended to all who repented from the heart.

The Old Testament is a history of those who sought God with all their hearts, and received God's grace and blessing, as opposed to those who rejected God's grace and blessing, and heaped to themselves punishment and wrath for their grievous sins."

http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/grace-god-ot2.html

[Note: I have not read the whole study (Part 1 & 2), as I am heading out - but this seems a nice summary of God's Grace in the Old Testament.]

[Laura Jones]

Re: Gods grace as seen in the old testament journeys, I feel like I have just completed a long journey because I was a few days behind on my reading. I know we are supposed to skip those days, but I hate to miss anything. I can see why the journey took as long as it did because there were many cities, lands and people to conquor. I am having a struggle with these readings as I did with Leviticus and Numbers because of the long lists of names, animal sacrifices and counting of people that took place. It seems so much of these chapters are redundant too. I wonder if anyone else has had struggles with reading these chapters in the old testament as I have. I still try to look for God's grace and realize that he has those chapters in the bible for a good reason. I've been trying to give Him the glory.

On another thought that may be all my own. Where were all the animal rights activists in those days? So many animals were sacrificed daily. God must of provided an enormous abundance of animals and probably dealt severly with those who stood in the way of the work of the sacrifices performed by the Levites. Scripture leaves that part out. Am I the only inquisitive one who thinks along these lines? I of course am thankful that Jesus was the final sacrifice and that we all have access to Him now and His saving grace.

I love the bible enough and God's word to maintain my focus and have a great respect to all my fellow brothers and sisters In Christ who have been faithfull to God and this blog and who post daily. Especially, brother Mike who has set this blog up for us and goes above and beyond in his duty to serve. Welcome back Mike, I know this welcome back is late. You must be blessed by the oppourtunity it was to help out those Katrinia victims. Our church is sending out a group in June. I wish I could be a part of it, but felt that I wanted my husband to go along with me if I went. He chose not to go. I only have so much vacation time that I can take and it is about the only time my husband and I see each other. I hope God lays it on the hearts of all who have the opportunity to serve in this way and makes it possible for them to do their duty.

I am looking forward to this study of Deuteronomy and all the blessings it will offer to us.

[Anka]

"These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything."....the Israelites didn't seem to think so...they complained about the food and many other things.Looks like when God says "in all things give thanks"...he REALLY means that...even when everything seems to be crashing around you...God's still in control and he thinks..."you lack nothing"...so give thanks...hhmm praise sure can be a sacrifice when the last thing you feel like doing is praise God..in a way,that in it's self is a battle...fighting to do God's will(give thanks)when all your flesh wants is another pity party.
God is good!!!

[Anka]

He who seeks good finds goodwill,but evil comes to him who searches for it....It's amazing just how much trouble comes from making bad choices...good comes from looking up to Jesus...bad comes from listening to the whinnings of our flesh...a thousand mile journey starts with one step...pray or watch some more TV...go to church or just hang out doing something else.Choosing what we seek or guarding our hearts from interests that are against God's will is a daily sacrifice...
God bless you all

[Sandy]

Speaking of God's grace...I love the thought my husband, a pastor, has brought up about Moses being refused by God to enter the Promised Land: (and I don't know if it's an original thought with my husband): Moses represented the Law, and the law can never bring us into God's holy presence; it can only condemn us and show us the need for Jesus and His blood shed on the cross to bring us into "the Promised Land." So it was so symbolic that Moses couldn't deliver the people into the Land, but that Joshua (Jesus' name is really Joshua)-is the one God chose to bring the people into His chosen land, the place of blessing and prosperity.

Another thought that blesses me about Moses--in the story about the Transfiguration, Luke 9:30, we see Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus on the mountain, in the promised land. So God in His mercy brought His servant Moses into the land after all! He's the God of the living, not of the dead, isn't He? ;) His grace is greater than our sin and mistakes.

Blessings.

[Peggy Williams]

Today"s reading gave me a push. As I have been doing my bible study, I have had this tug on my heart that God wants me to be doing something more for Him. I have been praying everyday that He will reveal to me what it is. My nephew reminded me, "dont sit back and wait jump in and you will know God's will". Thank you for this reading. Believe you me I have been wandering in the dessert long enough. Have a Blessed day. Peggy

[Emberglow]

Just a little note to mention that Deutronomy is one of my favourite books in Bible. Some of my favourite verses come from Deutronomy. Shema is also in Deutronomy. O, how I wish I could be transported to those times when God led his people directly... guided, chided and His people... I miss that direct connection...

No direct connection with God is the reason most people become despaired, discouraged, depraved because they can't feel the presence of the Lord. I pray that Lord shows His mighty presence to all those who love Him....

[John]

Emberglow,

"No direct connection with God is the reason most people become despaired, discouraged, depraved because they can't feel the presence of the Lord. I pray that Lord shows His mighty presence to all those who love Him...."

The Lord's mighty presence is exemplified all around us in creation every day, His physical presence was here on earth 2,000 years ago, His direct fellowship as "Abba" is only a prayer away...

A prayer from a "believer" that acknowledges him, confesses sins, and asks for restoration. (Something in the vein of David in Psalm 51). When fellowship is restored with the Father, then his presence is felt. [It is what I have learned and experianced the last two years.]

A prayer from a "non-believer" that turns back to God, repents of sins, and accepts His Son as Lord and Savior and does all that with a "true" heart will find the fellowship and presence of the Lord in all its abundance.

[John]

Luke 6:37

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged."

I have been known to cringe when pundits, politicians, and activists throw this verse out to the public over various venues. I find it "ironic" that all too often these same individuals come down on Christians and judge them in a very personal way.

I struggled with this simple verse in the past. However Paul seems to expound on Jesus' words in Romans 2. The context is God's Righteous Judgment, and the greek word "krino" is the same word Jesus used in Luke and Matthew.

It would seem that Paul indicates "judgment/judging" as ascertaining one's heart - knowing one's motives - and then condemning the person. Much as a judge would in a courtroom (the condemning part). None of these things can we know, only God has that right to Judge. This would also seem to be Jesus' intention when following verses are read after Luke 6:37.

I beleive there are two types of judgment that are mentioned in the New Testament. One is as these verses indicate - a heavenly judgment that is only in God's wheelhouse. The other is a judgment of the fruits of an individual or society. A judgment of "discernment". Through the study of God's Word and the indwelt Holy Spirit we all should be able to tell good from bad in our lives - if not initially, at least as it unfolds. We should also be able to recognize the same in society. We need to speak out on these issues, but (and the tricky part is) from a position of love and firmness without getting personal or "condemning" the person(s). This last, I admittedly struggle with in day to day life.

Romans 2:1-4
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" NIV
======================================================
A different but similar view done more concisely :)

In his book "True for You, But Not for Me," Paul Copan describes the fallacy in this all too common thinking:

It has been said that the most frequently quoted Bible verse is no longer John 3:16 but Matthew 7:1: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." We cannot glibly quote this, though, without understanding what Jesus meant. When Jesus condemned judging, he wasn't at all implying we should never make judgments about anyone. After all, a few verses later, Jesus himself calls certain people "pigs" and "dogs" (Matt 7:6) and "wolves in sheep's clothing" (7:15). … What Jesus condemns is a critical and judgmental spirit, an unholy sense of superiority. Jesus commanded us to examine ourselves first for the problems we so easily see in others. Only then can we help remove the speck in another's eye – which, incidentally, assumes that a problem exists and must be confronted.

[John]

Cory,

A small point that I just realized when looking through a commentary. Luke is recording "Sermon on the PLAIN" (Gk. pedinos level place;plain). Jesus was giving much the same message as on the "mount". Repetition is sometimes what it takes for people to get the point :) Yet there are some different aspects to this sermon that Luke records.

======================================================

"Or despite having a special relationship with and plan for the church, does God also have a relationship with and plan for other people?

I would posit that God being soverign has a plan for everybody. I would propose that God does not have a "loving relationship" with other people (if other people means non-believers). Mankind broke the relationship with God in the garden, it seems to me that God's overall plan is about restoring that loving relationship through his Son. If someone does not accept his plan for restoration and rejects his Son, then why would God have a loving relationship with that person.

God loves all man(kind), but He only has loving relationships with those that have turned back to him with a repentant heart and accepts his Son.

1John2:22-23
Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also."

The Greek word for antichrist is "antichristos" meaning "adversary of the Messiah". Seems apparent that if you are adversary to the Son, you are adversary to the Father. The only relationship you would have is an "adversarial" one.

Forcing a loving relationship on one who does not want it (adversary), would not be a "true loving relationship". Seems it would violate the concept of "free will".

======================================================
"Is the bible the whole story, or just the story of Israel and the church?"

Let's see:
Creation, man's broken relationship with God, plan to restore relationship, accept or reject that plan, judgment, evil eradicated, happily ever after.

I think everyone is covered from the "Alpha to the Omega" - Trinity, inhabitants of heaven, inhabitants of earth, those awaiting judgment, Devil and his demons - did I leave out anybody? :)

Of course details and exact times are left out, but the general outline from "beginning to end" is there - and it seems to me everyone is included.