March 27th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20 ~ Luke 7:36-8:3
Psalm 69:1-18 ~ Proverbs 12:1

Old Testament - Today in Deuteronomy chapter 7, the New Living Translation has the chapter titled "The Privilege of Holiness."  Keep in mind that these chapter headings - or headings within sections of chapters - are not Biblical text.  They are not from the original Text, but are basically brief summaries from the viewpoint of the modern-day translators.  Generally speaking though, you can trust what they are telling you - but just remember, they're not Biblical text.  All this to say, I was intrigued by this chapter's title in today's readings.  Israel was indeed privileged and called to holiness.  I think one thing important for us to keep in mind is that in the Old Testament, Israel was God's chosen people.  So, yes, we do read in this chapter and future OT chapters God favoring Israel over all other nations.  However, keep in mind that through Jesus' ministry, God indeed shows love toward all nations today and wants all nations to be in relationship with him.  But, prior to Jesus, we see clearly in this chapter that Israel is, per verse 6, - "a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure."

Today in Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 10 we read – “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.” What a great verse! Many say that it is because of this verse that we traditionally say grace at meal time. Interesting that this verse indicates that the Israelites were to praise God after eating – which, actually, is sometimes how I say grace today now too – when I forget to say grace before eating! :) Do you say grace or offer up some sort of prayer of thanksgiving to God at each meal? Why or why not? Do you think it would be pleasing to God if you did? I think the other thing this verse above gets at is that we humans have a tendency to “forget” God in the good times. In the bad times, maybe we do a decent job of praying to God and trying to stay close to Him. But in the good times, I know that sometimes I can forget Who really blessed me with the good times. I think it is so important for us to remember each and every day this one thing – God has given us everything. Every single good thing we have in our life comes from God. Our family. Our friends. Our physical abilities. Even the very air we breathe. It ALL comes from God. And, while I think it is pleasing to God for us to praise him for these good things – I also think it is ultimately healthy for us to praise God for the good things he has given us. Because, when we truly thank God each and every day for even very simple things – our eyesight, our 12 year old car that still runs fine, etc. etc. – we realize how very blessed we really are, and then I think we have less of a chance of feeling sorry for ourselves. We are blessed! How are you doing on praising God for the good things he has given you in your life? Now that we are in this Easter & Spring season, will you make a conscious effort to really praise and thank God each and every day? Think this might be pleasing to God? Think this might be healthy for you?

New Testament - In Luke chapter 7 today we read about the "immoral" woman who kissed and put perfume on Jesus' feet.  Verse 39 is a powerful testament to Jesus' character - "When the Pharisee who was the host saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, "This proves that Jesus is no prophet. If God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!""  How ironic... this Pharisee thought that Jesus was not sent from God because he let a sinner touch him - when indeed it is this very act that proves that Jesus was sent from God!  Jesus loved everyone - and still loves everyone today - and wants to be in relationship with all of us.  No matter what this woman's sins were.  No matter what our sins were or are.  Jesus loves us and wants to be in relationship with us.  Like the woman in this story, will we humble ourselves and come before the feet of Jesus?  And will we ignore those who might suggest we're not "good enough" to be in relationship with God or Jesus?  Remember, Jesus came to call the sinners, the sick - and not the righteous.  Let's not act righteous before Jesus, but come to his feet as we really are and worship him for who he truly is.

Luke chapter 8 readings today are important for us to pay attention to.  Oftentimes I think we sometimes think that it was just Jesus and the twelve male disciples cruising around the Holy Land during Jesus' ministry.  Today's verses are an amazing reminder of the involvement of women in Jesus' ministry both by traveling with him and by contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and the twelve!  Verses 1 through 3 tell us today  - "Not long afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby cities and villages to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women he had healed and from whom he had cast out evil spirits. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples." Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 7's readings today, titled "Wordless Worship of an Unnamed Woman," is at this link.  Commentary on Luke chapter 8's readings today, titled "Ministry, Money and Women," is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 69 verse 16 today is such a true statement that maybe we need to be reminded of today - "Answer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful."  God does answer our prayers - perhaps not in the way we "want" Him to, but always in the way that is ultimately best for us and the Kingdom.  His unfailing love is wonderful.  His mercy is so plentiful.  But, yet, somehow I think I sometimes forget all of this.  Why?  I think I forget about God's love & mercy when I am not praying to him.  How about you?  Are you needing a reminder today about God's unfailing love and his mercy?  Are you praying to God for these very things?  Will you allow God to demonstrate both his love and mercy to you today?  Will you offer up prayers and allow God to answer in his perfect way? 

Proverbs - Wow... Proverbs chapter 12 verse 1 is so to the point and so true.  Please meditate on this one - "To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction." Do you love discipline?  Do you want to learn?  Do you hate correction?  What holy discipline might God be bringing to you in your life today?  Will you accept God's healing and holy discipline in your life?

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

[Luciano Del Monte]

I've been away from the OYB this week due to a church and culture conference (www.serioustimes.com) I attended in Charlotte, NC, so I haven't had time to post anything. But I have kept up with some of the comments that have been shared. Again, I often wonder why some of us as more 'experienced readers' have a tendency to come down hard on those asking questions. The mark of an inquisitive mind is that it does ask questions. I"ve been following Jesus for 33 years and I have more questions today than I did when I started. Is that wrong?
I have a group I study with that are either pre Christians or relatively newer followers of Jesus. They are constantly bombarding me with questions which keeps me on my 'spiritual toes'.
We spent a whole year traversing the beautiful landscape of the gospel of John, and we used the Gospel of John dvds as well as readings. However,I knew I had to get them to the Old Testament someday but they were all very reluctant. I decided to propose we use Philip Yancey's remarkable "The Bible Jesus Read book and video teaching series in our small group. Yancey addresses five books of the Old Testament to his readers, one of which is Deuteronomy. My friends who study with me are mostly professional people of some sort, and they can't wait to get to the study. I would recommend this book to anyone who is stumbling their way through some of the harder parts of Deuteronomy.
Another reference book we have used that is helpful is historian Thomas Cahill's The Gift of the Jews (not written by an evangelical) but has some very helpful material on why we need to appreciate all that we have received from our Jewish ancestry as followers of Jesus.

ONe other thought regarding the choosing of the Jews which may have come up in an earlier reading but let's remember the deuteronomic version of the 'great commmission' "See, I have taught you decrees and laws as hte LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take of possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations who will hear about these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wsie and understanding people" What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to hae such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?" deut 4:5-8

Whatever else it means for Israel to be chosen, we must never forget it was never to be an itself; Israel's way of life (much like the church today) is to point to God and the unique difference God makes in people and in culture as they live their lives under His Lordship.

[Emberglow]

I promised not to bring up Bible controversies over here. But some things are so striking that I would rather post them here for all than write about them in emails. And this one is no controversy anyways. I just cant understand these verses...?? Here is a perplexing verse. I remember reading it 2 years back and wondering what it meant... (Why would God want human child? ...as a sacrifice?)

Exodus 22:29,30 ''Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on eighth day.''

Your comments or reflections are welcome in email or on here.

[debby]

Luciano, Thank you for your comments today. Those of us who do have questions may want to discuss them here. Some of us may think we had found something wonderful we wanted to share and have gotten shot down on this blog. Thus, we quit posting.

Emberglow: Keep studying with the intent to know and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

[Vance Brown]

Deuteronomy 7 (NKJV)
6
“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 8 (NKJV)
18
“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

~~~
These are excellent focus verses, on the PURPOSE of why I am on earth.

1)
I am here to be HOLY to the Lord, to DEVELOP my intimate relationship with Him, to GLORIFY Him, and to be His VESSEL of LOVE, TRUTH, and BLESSING to others who will receive it

*** I am NOT here for myself. I am NOT chosen just so I can rejoice in being “chosen”, and then do nothing.

I am CHOSEN for a purpose.

IN A MATERIALISTIC AGE, it is a tremendous challenge to TAKE TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, and to TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY. But, this is my primary calling.

We are CHOSEN to be MODELS of GRACE ACTIVELY WORKING in our lives… to be a LIVING testimony to those around us.

2)
IF I KEEP my priorities straight, GOD’S INTENTION is to bless His people – spiritually and materially – so we CAN GIVE TO THE LORD THE FIRST AND BEST of our monies and time. In doing that, then we WILL PRIORITIZE OUR MONEY to FINANCE the Gospel to the world.

We are called to this: “He [GOD] gives you power to get wealth, [so] that He may establish His covenant [on the earth].”

THAT COVENANT is the covenant OF salvation through GRACE – which is only received through knowing the truth about Jesus, and repentance and faith in His Name to allow GRACE to operate in the lives of unbelievers.

Money IS ALWAYS a spiritual issue, and a spiritual weapon. It is a weapon FOR us or AGAINST us… depending on the state of our heart.

Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

SO...
I can use money to FURTHER ESTABLISH my heart in the Lord if I am careful to GIVE THE BEST of what God has allowed me to make to the Lord.

Or...
I can NOT give to the Lord, which will further reveal the hardness of my heart against the Lord. In that case, money will be my god and not the Living God.

God WILL… if we let Him… give us wisdom to truly prosper – that is to give us WHAT WE NEED to ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL in our lives and IN our world – to be AGENTS of the Gospel.

Vance

[Kristie Kercheval]

Thanks for the encouragements in your emails to us....I hope if anyone has fallen behind they can just pick up where we are today!

[Luciano Del Monte]

Let's make sure that we don't discourage each other as we are all trying to get to know and experience Jesus through our daily bible readings.

one thought for all of us, which includes me, who have questions is to go to some helpful websites such as www.gotquestions.org and check out if there are some possible answers to our specific queries. The fact is, reading the Bible does make one 'question a lot', but then again, I am reminded of what mark Twain said, "It's not the parts of the Bible that I don't understand that bother me, but it's the parts I do understand that I am having a hard time with." How true!!

[John]

Emberglow,

Exodus 13:11-16 explains it in more detail. Also talked about in Exodus 34.

The first born animal is sacrificed.

The donkey (unclean) is redeemed with a lamb.

The first born son is redeemed with a sacrifice. The sacrifice is on the eigth day, which I believe is also the day for "circumcision".

The reason for all this is in Exodus 13.

"Because the sparing of the Israelite firstborn was not a matter of merit, but of grace, God owned them. Since He had spared their lives, He possessed them. The rite of redeeming the firstborn was a constant reminder to the Israelites of all subsequent generations that the firstborn belonged to God, and that this was due to the sparing of the firstborn at the Exodus."

http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=139

[Ramona]

Deuteronomy 7-8:20

It’s not what you know or even what you do, as in the Old Testament, in the New it is who you know.

The Lord did not set His love upon you and choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the fewest of all people. But because the Lord loves you and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations, (Deuteronomy 7:7-9 AMP)

But if it is by grace (His unmerited favor and graciousness), it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace [it would be meaningless]. (Romans 11:6 AMP)

The grace that has been granted to Believers comes by way of Jesus Christ. He is the One we know.

There is something I just saw in the act of deliverance, Israel’s deliverance from her enemies as she entered into the promise land, that may explain why we find ourselves struggling with some things, which seem to keep us entrap as we struggle to walk the walk. There more than likely is a spiritual parallel of God’s Words to Israel, that we can apply to our lives.

Remember the great contests to which you were eyewitnesses: the miracle-signs, the wonders, GOD's mighty hand as he stretched out his arm and took you out of there. GOD, your God, is going to do the same thing to these people you're now so afraid of. And to top it off, the Hornet. GOD will unleash the Hornet on them until every survivor-in-hiding is dead. So don't be intimidated by them. GOD, your God, is among you--GOD majestic, GOD awesome. GOD, your God, will get rid of these nations, bit by bit. You won't be permitted to wipe them out all at once lest the wild animals take over and overwhelm you. (Deuteronomy 7:19-22 MSG)

While we struggle with our “stuff” God is telling us to not let said “stuff” intimidate us that He will drive them out little by little. There are things, it seems, that when we first accept Jesus Christ, we are immediately delivered from it’s effects; however, we seem to fall into traps that we struggle daily to extricate ourselves from. Yet in the above four verses God is speaking to me saying, I know that those things are there just remember how I delivered you from the first things, I will deliver you from these also. Don’t give up!

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Emberglow]

If we truly believe that Bible is the Word of God than we must be fearless of all queries as they will surely be settled. There is no question of getting discouraged. Understanding Bible is first step to understand God and have a relationship with Him.

For this very reason, we are reading the Word of God in English language and not in Hebrew or Greek. Because that's the way we understand it.

[John]

Deut 8:3-4
"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years."

Forgot about clothes not wearing out. From Calvin Klein to Walmart - this would not make retailers happy should it happen again :)

I always thought the swollen feet had to do with all the walking the Israelite nation did in Desert.

Turns out swollen feet are a sign of malnutrition. So perhaps God is pointing out that the manna was nutricious. While addressing their spiritual needs, their physical needs were "completely taken care of in the Desert.

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/998785324.html

[Ramona]

John--Swollen feet can also come from a genetic form of "flat feet," causing the ligament that connects the inside right ankle to the big toe. Swelling from that comes when the ligament is streatched because of “heal strikes” against the ground from walking and or running a lot. I think waling around 40 years in the desert qualifies. I don't know what the medical condition is called. Your find is very interesting. S, not only needs of spiritual and physical were addressed but their medical and physiological needs were addressed.