April 17th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Joshua 15:1-63 ~ Luke 18:18-43
Psalm 86:1-17 ~ Proverbs 13:9-10

Old Testament - It is interesting to read about the allotment of land to the tribe of Judah today.  It reminds me of how different these days are for the Israelites, compared to the 40 years of wandering in the desert - or the slavery in Egypt prior to that.  Times have changed!  God's Promise is being fulfilled.  I think this is important for us to remember in our lives as well.  Maybe we're in a "slavery" period in our own life where we are looking for a Savior to free us.  Jesus is of course that Savior to free us from our slavery to sin.  Or, maybe we're in a desert period of our lives.  We've decided to follow Jesus, but maybe we're really trudging through some hard times.  If we're in this type of period, hopefully we can be encouraged by knowing that God's Promises for us will not fail.  God will bring us peace that surpasses all understanding.  God will bring us to the true Promised Land for eternity.  Let us be encouraged in our own lives by our past few months of readings about the Israelites and their journey from slavery to now the Promised Land.  God's Promises will not fail.  They are eternal.  And they are the only thing in this passing world that is eternal.

Interesting side note on Joshua chapter 15 verses 61 & 62 - "In the wilderness there were the towns of Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi--six towns with their surrounding villages."  The NIV translates wilderness as "desert", which is probably more accurate.  Zondervan's commentary on this verse today says, "The desert is the chalky dry region east and south of Jerusalem that borders the Dead Sea...  Either Secacah or the City of Salt may have been the ancient name of the site of Qumran, where the scribes who produced the Dead Sea Scrolls lived."

New Testament - Today we read the story of the Rich Man in Luke chapter 18.  There are tons of commentaries on how to interpret this story - including this commentary from Bob Deffinbaugh at Bible.org titled "Blessed Babes and a Miserable Millionaire" at this link.  The verses that always speak to me the most are verses 29 & 30 where Jesus teaches - "I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come."  These are really some powerful verses for us to consider.  Basically, I read - and believe I know from experience - that truly following Jesus comes with a cost.  The cost may be loss of wealth, or worldliness, or power, or glamour or even family perhaps.  But, if we are accepting these costs for the sake of the Kingdom, then they are in my estimation our crosses that we must bear to truly follow Jesus.  Following Jesus is not always easy.  The world's temptations will do everything they can for us to not follow Jesus.  "It's too hard to follow Jesus."  "Come have fun."  "It's too much cost to follow Jesus."  But...  we really need to stay in constant prayer and stay close to God to realize that following Jesus - along w/ all the costs that may be associated with following Jesus - is the only true way to live life.  All other paths will lead to misery.  Following Jesus and accepting the costs or our crosses leads to life in abundance.  And life for eternity.   Are there costs in your life that you are willing to accept to follow Jesus?

Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 18 readings today titled "From the Sublime to the Ridiculous" is at this link.

Psalms - Wow. Today in Psalm 86 we read an amazingly wise prayer of David to God in verse 11 – “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” How do you think this verse works as a prayer? Can you imagine praying it to God? Do you want God to teach you his way? Do you want to walk in God’s Truth? What does it mean to you to have an undivided heart? It is possible that your heart is now divided in some way? Will you pray to God for an undivided heart? What does it mean to fear God’s name? Why would David pray to fear God’s name? I read an interesting commentary on this verse saying that David is wisely praying for God to save him from his frailty within himself. Oftentimes in the Psalms we will read about David praying for God to deliver him from his enemies. In this verse David is praying for deliverance from what is within. This is a critical point to consider. I think sometimes we always look toward “external” circumstances as the cause of all of our problems. When perhaps we need to look at some “internal” things going on inside of us as causes of some of our problems? And in realizing that there are some internal things that need to be fixed, perhaps we can humbly pray Psalm 86 verse 11 like David did thousands of years ago?

Proverbs - Another wow... Proverbs chapter 13 verse 9 is so beautiful to reflect upon - "The life of the godly is full of light and joy."  Ultimately, this is so true.  As I posted above, yes, there will be times of trial and times of being in the desert.  But, ultimately a godly life will bring light and joy - and if not in this life, then in eternity.  There are of course martyrs who may not experience this light and joy externally in this life - but, my hunch is that they are experiencing the light and joy internally - and ultimately, they will experience light and joy forever in God's Kingdom.  Is your life full of light and joy?  Do you believe it will be someday?  For eternity?

What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Luciano Del Monte]

Does it 'cost' to follow Jesus? Absolutely! But I believe the cost of NOT following Jesus is a lot higher. My late younger brother, whom I loved, chose to NOT follow Jesus. He thought following Jesus would have restricted his life, would have kept him from having the fun he wanted. He chose a life of drug useage, self abuse, blew up his family that I take care of now, and died way before his time. Did it cost me to follow Jesus? yes, in some ways, but it cost Bruno a lot more to not follow. I think that's the reality. I see people every day in my faith community who pretend to follow Jesus by all the overt religious paraphelia they are invested in but there is no dynamic in their faith. It's all about 'going and coming' to stuff, and filling up notebooks and going to 'service' after 'service'. Sometimes i wonder if we get so busy in our religious stuff to shield us from dealing with reality in our lives. I think jesus shows us in Luke 14 that unless we choose to pay the cost to follow Him we will have no saltiness in our lives. That's a spiritual law of influence that cannot be violated. No cross, no crown, someone once sang.

the opposite of a undivided heart from Psalm 86 is 2 Chronicles 25:2 where it speaks of Amaziah "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not WHOLEHEARTEDLY, (or with a whole heart)." As well, I Kings 11:4 says that as "Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, an his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God..." His divided heart ushered in the divided kingdom. Our unwillingness to pay the cost to follow the LORD not only impacts the quality of our lives, but impacts the future. I know this from personal experience.

I pray for myself and all my fellow OYB readers that we will choose on this DAY to keep on following the LORD with our whole hearts, and allow God to use us to influence our families and the respective worlds we are all apart of. How can't we? We have the Risen Jesus living in us, going with us wherever we go!

[Nicole]

Luciano,
Thank you for sharing that story about your brother. My family is also choosing not to follow Jesus. This is very hard for me to accept. But whenever I do talk with them, I talk about Jesus at some point. Just planting some seeds, I guess. :)
Nicole

[Micah Girl]

I have been so burdened to keep praying for my family, and so discouraged that they seem so far from God. They have just enough God to make them feel they are probably Christian (after all they celebrate Christmas and Easter) but not enough for it to give them purpose, joy and passion. I try to just share what's going on in my life and feel like we have nothing in common since our priorities are so radically different. If it weren't for the parable of the persistent widow, I think I would just give up praying.

[shane]

It is VERY difficult on the heart to keep praying for those you love to be saved; those prayers are daily admissions of your family's status as unsaved. But we have a Lord in heaven--A Lord who saved Jacob though he was a deceiver, Moses though he was a murderer, Saul, David.... God has assured us that there will be a "multitude that no man can number" that will be saved, so we must hope in that. Christ has a bride, and that bride will be redeemed. I pray that your family's eyes will be opened and their hearts changed.

[Emberglow]

This is a very sensitive issue. Most of my friends (almost all are educated with promising future or already stable jobs and they're under the age of 30) , family, acquaintances are not Christians. If I mention my Christian faith to them I get all sorts of negative reactions, from giggles, ridicules to bitter, vulgar or insulting comments. The thought of mentioning Christianity ever again (to them) makes me cringe!

Christianity has either been demonized or scrapped in this world. I cannot conclude that all those are bad people. All have their reasons to reject Bible. To be fair to them those reasons are not always based on selfish motives or their desire to live in arbitrary freedom.

I guess God will judge them accordingly, hopefully with His grace and mercy. Today, the world rejects God because it thinks God is unnecessary or a hurdle for their 'freedoms'. But if I read my Bible, people have ALWAYS been like that. It's a different matter though God used to TALK to them directly or through prophets.

I get a bit sad when I wonder and wonder how today's generation will really get the message and come to the reality of God...? They say God often would make you go through slavery or suffering to draw you to Him (very true in my case) just as He did with Israelites. But sadly, I have seen suffering taking people further away from God....

But I know bright lights of hope are shining somewhere for this world as I write this in despair.

[VICTORIA C.]

I DON'T COMMENTS VERY OFTEN, BUT TODAY'S READING HIT ME LIKE A TON OF HAPPY BRICKS.... I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME TRIALS IN MY FAMILY LIFE AND THIS READING SPOKE TO MY HEART.. ESPECIALLY LUKE 18:29 & 30 AND PROVERBS. IT MADE ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT MY SITUATION.

THANKS
MIKE...... FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US READERS>>>>>>>

[nappy]

i've just got a question about the joshua reading [i started up again today, mike!!]
joshua 15:63 says [paraphrasd] that the jebusites still live among the people of judah [because the people of juday couldn't dislodge them]. in todays terms - who are the jebusites? and are they still living among the people of juday ... in jeruselm??
thanks for any clarification that can be offered.

[Anka]

Family...ouch...got a lot of unsaved relatives who deceive themselves here in romania by bowing to pictures of saints,keeping all the festivals,praying to the saints to help them pray to God and depending on what the priest says without finding out what the bible says!!Religious without Christ:(.
"Teach me your way, O LORDand I will walk in your truth;give me an undivided heart,that I may fear your name"...I thank God that I know the truth and pray that HE teaches me His ways because there are many religious people out there on the quick road to hell.I also pray for an undivided heart cos it's so easy to be carried away by work,family...worries.I too was encouraged by the widow's persistence...so I'll keep praying for my folks while watching that I too don't fall off.
God bless you all

[Luciano Del Monte]

For those struggling with family/friends who do not believe, take this one in from John 7:5 "For EVEN his own brothers did not believe in him." But later in Acts 1:14 we're told that the followers of Jesus were constantly in prayer, including 'his brothers." Wow!! What an incentive to keep praying. Just to be clear, although my own brother died tragically he had connected with Jesus a couple of years before his death, so he did die in Christ, but his body had been so badly abused I suppose God in His providence chose to take Bruno home. My wife, my 3 sons, and sister had NEVER stopped praying for him, even though his choices often made us want to give up.
Never stop praying. Love believes all things, love hopes all things. Love endures all things. Love never fails. Replace love with "Jesus' and it's all good!!

[Jan]

Lots of God's promises are conditional...even the gift of salvation is conditional on "receiving" the gift (you have to receive it to get it). Most of His promises are met by our obedience & loving Him so much that we obey His commands & the promises follow; but no one hardly looks at it like this. The gift of salvation is free, but it must be sought after/asked for/surrendered to & received.

That is why we are given a choice to love & follow him...we make the right choice & we receive the blessing or we don't make the right choice & we are cursed...life or death is the choice/decision/condition that is to be met. We will always have a part in our promises being fulfilled because of the choices we make...in obeying Him or not.

Jan

[Ramona]

Joshua 15:1-63

Boundaries, God’s m.o. (modus operandi) are all about setting boundaries. Whether it is separating light from darkness, dry land from wet Genesis 1), sin from righteousness, death from life, God has placed boundaries upon the earth and within Believers not to cross. And when we do, well, we sadly suffer the consequences of our trespasses. Sometimes those consequences drive us toward God, repentance and acceptance of God’s way of doing things, but most often, we are driven down a path of anger, rage and rebellion toward crossing the lines God has set.

The foolishness of man subverts his way [ruins his affairs]; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord. (Proverbs 19:3 AMP)

Yet folks, there is Good News. For over 20 years, I raged against God and Jesus Christ. Because of the type of people Luciano posted about earlier in the day, I became a total raving lunatic against anything that smacked of “religion.” I would not go into a church no matter what was going on; I cursed out people, particularly black folk, who I saw reading the Bible on the public transportation system, “Why are you reading that white man’s book!!” I would yell and rant. I would get up in people’s faces all 5’3,” 98 pounds of me (I do not weight that anymore). At the time I had a gigantic afro (I’m dating myself) so I looked like a large Number 2 pencil with a great big eraser completely insane.)

I am sure that one of those people I cursed out prayed for me because years latter I went into an hysterical fit (laughing) when I realized I was now teaching the Bible I so insanely shouted about, to those who were saying the same thing. I know that God is a God of fun because He provided in His salvation, help for someone like me.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[shane]

Hmmmm, when praying for family I think I'd focus on the language of the Bible that shows God's unconditional promises, rather than His conditional ones, you might feel better if you do that. When I pray for family and friends I pray Ezekiel chapter 36. In particular verses 26-28:

"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God."

No statements of conditionality there. God is in the business of saving people, and it is He upon whom we must rely. Better to pray, in my opinion, while focusing on the works of God and not the fickleness of man. I always find more peace that way.

[Jan]

Shane, I understand what you are saying & I agree with you 90% with Ezekiel till we get to verse 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and BE CAREFUL TO KEEP MY LAWS.

27 I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you & LIVE BY MY COMMANDS.

27 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, & YOU SHALL HEED MY ORDINACES & DO THEM.

27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, & YOU WILL BE CAREFUL TO OBSERVE MY ORDINANCES.

27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, & YOU WILL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS & DO THEM.

What prophetic Words from the Ancient of Days/The Prophet of Eternity. He speaks the world into being & His Word goes forth with authority. It is still up to us meet the end of the verse in 27...I'm really not sure that they are not commands to us that we must do in order for the preceding text/Words to be fulfilled...He knows the End from the Beginning...the back to the front. I think He is saying, here is what I give you that will cause you to do this, if you will do that...of course He knows who will & who won't keep & obey Him/His commands.

If we don't have a choice on verse "27," then I don't know what it is...faith filled prophetic declarations; ever hoping they will be fulfilled by His Beloved.

Ms. Jan

[John]

Irony

Family, friends, and co-workers know I have changed. They know the "before" and after" picture of me.

None believe it has to do with accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior. Family thinks I "hit rock bottom" and had nowhere to go but up. Friends think it was a mid-life crisis turnaround. Co-workers think it was a result of a raise and more responsibility.

When given the opportunity to explain, I get the rolling of eyes, the "that's great that you found something that works for you", or the "oh no, John has turned into a Jesus freak" look.

In General: They all continue to go through life dealing with families, contributing to the community, checking in periodically at a local church, being "good" people.

I beg them to just start reading the bible - they smile and shrug their shoulders. I even buy them Bibles - but - nothing.

So all I am left with is prayer.

The real irony - it is the "strangers" that listen. They see some photos of me as a down and out "bum" - and they see me now. They listen to my story, and ask questions, They show up at my church, or a Bible Study, or see me and ask more questions.

It is the 82 year old Irish Catholic (from the old country) mother of my best friend that spent four hours with me asking questions at Christmas after hearing my story. Then asking what to read in the Bible. Seeing things she was never taught in the Church. Making her think and pray. My best friend - he thinks I am "nuts".

Go figure. You never know who you will touch. Ask God for the opportunities to talk to people. I believe that is a "prayer" God will always answer.

Keep praying for friends and family - I know my list is long - but never pass on the opportunity to share with a stranger.

[shane]

Oh Jan, I wasn't trying to start a debate here. No no no, you misunderstand. What I was saying was that there are some contingent promises, and some certain. The Ezek quote is of certain promises. For instance, "you shall heed my ordinances" is a statement of certainty caused by "the Spirit within you [to] cause you" to do so. You see, the transitive verb "cause" is performed by the subject "the Spirit." See? The same with verse 27, the idea there being that God puts His Spirit in you and causes you to do stuff--good stuff, like following His statutes. This isn't a free will/bondage will debate kinda verse. It's a promise from God, which is not modified by "if you," (examples of which do exist, most notably in Ex. 19) but rather is represented as being certain by "you shall." The verses leave no doubt as to whether He will be putting His Spirit in those people; it's a statement fact.

The certainty of that promise is why it is so beautiful and perfect to use. When praying to God we should, in my opinion, focus on the stuff God does, like putting His Spirit in people and causing them to do stuff, rather than on the responsibilities people have. You see?

For instance, if you couch a prayer of Ezek 36 this way, "Lord cause John Smith to walk in your statutes so long as he's willing to do so," you'll be praying a rather ineffectual prayer. Because, isn't that the case anyway? You're not asking God to do something He's not already gonna do, for Christ already stands at the door waiting. Praying Ezek 36, and texts like it, the way it was written places the onus on God to act, Whom we really trust more than John Smith anyway.

[Jan]

I am not debating you, just looking at it in another way. I think it is a prophetic declarative statement, because I know & experience His Spirit in me & I don't always follow his statutes, obey His commands or heed His ordinances...even with the Holy Spirit in me...we do not always obey, it is a choice for us always; even though we are filled to the over flowing with the Spirit of God. We have to choose to be obedient even with the Holy Spirit within us; yes, the Holy Spirit living within us "should" cause us to behave in those ways, but because we have a free will to obey, it is not always the case. I have given my will to Him, but sometimes my own will gets in His/Holy Spirit's way & I am not caused to follow the Spirit within me...still a choice to obey, which is a condition of disobedience or obedience. I find we have much more responsibility in this love between God & man/woman than we normally realize.

[shane]

That's cool Jan. I'm just not a free will guy so my worldview is therefore a bit different.

[Anka]

Hmm wow,it's just so amazing the before and after stories.I won't go into my story(until I tell my baby sister who's 18 1st)but my friends who were good people that went to church from time to time(without ever knowing Christ) have seen the difference in me...but won't listen when I tell them to read the bible either...my party partners have seen the difference as well but they refuse to leave their ways..But all your stories have really encouraged me to keep on keeping on.
On different views:you know the person who knows best lives right in us...I had a time when I began to wonder about some teachings...then I asked the Holy Spirit...you tell me.Wisdom is justified by her children(fruits),sometimes we want to hold on to our beliefs and ideas(doctrines)...if we go about doing the word,I'm sure God will make sure we're on the right track.
God bless you all

[shane]

Good stuff Anka.

[Jan]

Shane, I don't know if I believe in "free" will...cause it really "costs" us something to be followers of Christ & it always "will." Sure can have word play in this issue!!!

I believe God is Sovereign & whatever He wants He gets, regardless of how obedient we truly are if there is a mission/destiny He wants us to fulfill & we are not doing so. I don't really go there with permissive will & perfect will...but some people do.

I choose to believe God is sovereign above all else & nothing can change that...not even us. I'm in a situation like that right now, where I have to trust in Him & what He has told me even though it looks nowhere like what the future holds...takes lots & lots of trust in Him to beleive in this way.

[Emberglow]

I think doctrine is a secondary issue. I don't agree with much of Catholic doctrines: God-like status of Mary, Confessions to priest for forgive of sins and some other stuff. But despite all this I have great respect for their solid stands on moral values on the international stage.

If we see how madly hedonistic this world is and so mired in some other weird religions... (I see more and more teenagers and young adults drawn to Wicca , Satanism and other cults) I thank God for today's Catholic Church that brings Jesus and Bible to millions!

God is not going to condemn us over doctrines as long as we love God and know Him through Bible. We're in a spiritual warfare and we can't afford to have battles within our own camp. We may not agree with different Christian denominations, individuals and their doctrines but let's have respect for all.

[shane]

Like I said, don't want to discuss the issue on here, just giving full disclosure on worldview.

[Laura Jones]

Regarding Friends and family: Most of our family belongs to one denomination. My sister is an ordained minister in our denomination as was my late uncle(father's brother). I know some people in here will probably say that they have a problem with women ministers I do not. My own pastor is also a woman. I feel very blessed to be able to attend church together with my family.

My sister who came to faith long before I did, spent many years praying for me. I heard about Christ and the plan of salvation at a church camp at the age of 17. I had a mountain top experience than, but my faith was not firmly rooted. I spent about 20 years wondering in my own wilderness of sin. It took many years of prayer by my sister and probably countless others I will never know about.

As far as knowing whether or not my family members are on the same spiritual level in their journeys, is not for me to judge. If I had to make a personal determination, I would say no. Most of my family members go through all the motions of being Christians such as, tithing, being active in the church etc... I don't see some of them attending bible study regularly or being consistant with prayer, but I know in some way God is working on them as He still is with me. I still consider myself as a work in progress.

My youngest brother married into the Catholic faith as is raising his four children Catholic even though he himself was protestant. My mother was raised catholic, but does not follow that faith now. My mother tells me she often prays to Mother Mary. Personlly, I feel and know that is wrong because I believe we are to pray to one Triune God. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one in the same. Thus, I believe in the trinity. All I can do is pray for my mother and tell her how I feel. My mother is active in our Methodist church and we attend together. God will be her final judge and I'll let it go at that.

As far as friends are concerned, I have some friends who are Christians and some who are not. All have seen a change in me, so I guess I can say that my life has been a sort of witness, and I hope and pray that I have planted seeds in them and they in turn will come to faith.

My best friend became a Christain after I did. Her and I have always been pen pals because we live in different towns about an hour drive apart. We shared some really wild non-Christian times together in our past. When I finally did come to faith, and tried to share my faith with her, it fell on death ears at first. I than decided to pray for her and wrote out the plan of salvation to her in a letter one day. Shortly thereafter,she gave her life to Christ in church by going forward. I wasn't even there. She later got babtised. She had been a tremenous witness to her family who are all non-christian. I am sure God will answer her prayers for her family and plant many seeds in their lives.

My friend is now active in her church and community and married to a wonderful Christian man. It is the happiest I have ever seen her in all the 25 years I've known her. She has finally found the right man and they are very strong prayer warriors.

What is neat about knowing someone else before and after they have come to faith and vise versa, is that you can see the changes in each other and continue to be a postive light and encouragment to one another.