~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26 ~ Luke 10:38-11:13
Psalm 76:1-12 ~ Proverbs 12:15-17
Old Testament - Today in Deuteronomy chapter 26 verses 1 & 2 we read about the offering of first fruits - "When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, put some of the first produce from each harvest into a basket and bring it to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored."
New Testament - Today in Luke chapter 10 we read about Jesus visiting Mary & Martha and Martha becoming upset with Mary for sitting at Jesus' feet and not helping her work in the kitchen. To which Jesus says to Martha in verses 41 & 42 - "But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it--and I won't take it away from her." What do you think is the one thing worth being concerned about Jesus is referring to? Is this really the only one thing you are concerned about in your life today? Or are you possibly being distracted by other "details"?
How often do you pray the Lord's Prayer? Once a day? Once a week? Once a month? Think this would be a good prayer to pray regularly, since Jesus himself taught us to pray it? Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 11's readings today titled "Teach Us How to Pray" is at this link.
Psalms - I love Psalm 76 verse 4's reflection on God - "You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains." I wonder how often we look at nature and forget that God created nature? I think so often we can look at a beautiful sunset or a mountain or a forest or an ocean and temporarily forget that God created these beautiful things. If God created these beautiful things, then doesn't it stand to reason that God is more glorious and more majestic than all of his created things? I've said this one before on this blog: before I believed in Jesus or really even God, I honestly think I was evangelized by creation. Meaning - I would look at a starry night with my friends and say things like, "How could there be so many stars up there like that and there not be a God? Things like that can't just happen by chance!" Praise God for his creation that was evangelizing me toward Him! Has creation ever evangelized you? Do you think creation might be able to evangelize your friends who do not yet know God? Let us pray that we don't ever end up worshiping creation instead of the Creator. Let us be impressed and thankful and admire creation - but let us give the glory and the worship to the Creator, God, who is more glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains...
Proverbs - Proverbs 12 verse 15 teaches us today: ""Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others." This is a great opportunity for each of us to ask ourselves whether we think we need no advice or whether we are open to listening to others...
What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings? Please post up in the Comments section below!
Grace,
Mike
Prov 12:15.
Plenty of fools in my world!
I think we are encouraged by our pride, (and society's expectations) to not ask for advice, particularly from people we know, cause we are sure to lose face (or so we are led to believe) the moment we open our mouths to ask a question!
But the truth in this passage remains, I see the fools not asking for advice, giving unsolicited advice and not questioning the nature of their world and beliefs.
Posted by: dcypl | April 04, 2006 at 03:27 AM
Luke 11:8 "...if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you what you want..." After the Reformation most Proptestants discarded spiritual practices such as chanting "arrow prayers" ie. short phrases repeated over and over like a mantra. Orthodox blievers, however, maintained the tradition of the Jesus Prayer. The litle book "The Way of a Pilgrim" describes the Scriptural bases of "praying without ceasing". If you reapeat "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me" (Mat 15:22)constantly... you'll receive the bread of life Jesus promised the disciples who "knock long enough". Amen!
Posted by: ruben | April 04, 2006 at 04:15 AM
I like how LUke 10:38-11:13 form a helpful unit. Not only does Jesus teach that "there is really only one thing worth
being concerned about" 10:42, He also shows us in Luke 11:1ff what that 'one thing' is--could it be that the one thing to focus on in our 'structured' prayer times Is God's honour and God's Kingdom?? I also found it interesting that even though we are told to 'pray without ceasing' which implies one never stops praying, I think Jesus is much more practical and helpful. It actually says in Luke 11:1 that "Jesus had been out praying, and one of his disciples came to him as he 'finished' and then asked Jesus to teach them how to pray just as John taught his disciples to pray. It seems that in this case anyways, prayer has a 'start' time and an 'end time." We saw this in Luke 5:16 where when Jesus was being pressed upon by many people's needs it says "But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer." Again, in Luke 6:12 "one day soon afterward Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night." And then in Luke 9:18 "One day when Jesus was alone, praying..."
Wow, does this example of Jesus impress anyone else out there? If Jesus who was God incarnate, God in flesh, had this huge need to pray, how much more do I need to create space in my day to pray, to focus on 'the one thing' and to make sure The name of God and the kingdom of God have priority in my prayer thoughts. What i love about jesus' word in Luke 10 in commending Mary is that he says, "Mary has discovered it..." All true learning comes when we personally discover it, and it sticks with us.
Posted by: luciano Del Monte | April 04, 2006 at 04:39 AM
Luke 11: "Lord,teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples..." One encouraging thought: as we are humble learners from those who walk closely to God (John and his followers), we are watched and imitated by others (Jesus' followers). "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them ..and teaching them to OBSERVE (obey) all that I commanded you." Matt. 28:19,20.
I'm sure most of Jesus' prayer life was fellowship with His Father, enjoying His presence. This, in my mind, is what attracted Jesus' disciples--a close, loving relationship is always attractive to those around it. The disciples wanted in on this closeness, this intimacy with the best Friend of their closest friend.
Posted by: Sandy | April 04, 2006 at 11:55 AM
Comments on Deuteronomy:
The Holy Spirit through Paul said this in Galatians 3 (NKJV):
10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” [QUOTING, Deuteronomy 27:26]
~~~
This shows that Deuteronomy is STILL VERY RELEVANT to every person today.
Being human, I understand why -- from a human point of view -- no one likes to admit the reality of sinning against God or the reality that our human goodness will never make us acceptable to God.
THAT IS NEVER THE BASIS of our acceptance by God the Father.
The KEY to our acceptance by God is also found in Galatians 3 (NKJV):
13
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”,
14
that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
22
But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
26
FOR YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
27
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
29
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
~~~
It strikes me that A VERY UNIQUE ASPECT, and perhaps A KEY FEATURE of the Christian faith is YOU AND I CAN HAVE A REAL, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING GOD.
~~~
The other day I was speaking with a very nice young man named Mikel who is part of a faith called Falun Dafa. It has its roots in Chinese Buddhism, but has some unique features to it.
Mikel gave me a video celebrating the Chinese New Year that members of Falun Dafa participated in.
*
I WAS SURPRISED by the mention of receiving wisdom and revelation from a divine being from the heavens. I was thinking Buddhism was simply about meditating and focusing inward.
*
I WAS ALSO SURPRISED that part of the Chinese New Year celebration included an evil red dragon that needed to be killed by swordsmen. In the book of Revelation, the Holy Spirit shows us that the devil, the great deceiver of mankind, is a RED DRAGON.
~~~
However, no matter the similarities between Buddhism or Falun Dafa, THERE IS ONE NOTABLE AND DISTINCT DIFFERENCE: In Buddhism and Falun Dafa, the high God is unknowable, though that deity sends wisdom to follow.
** IN THIS CONTEXT, Mikel mentioned to me that there can be levels of teachers and divine beings between men on earth and the high God. Mikel thought that Christ was the same -- simply a mediator between God and man.
HOWEVER, I MENTIONED TO HIM THAT, though Christ IS the mediator between the high God and man, JESUS HIMSELF IS THE HIGH GOD REVEALED TO MEN.
And through the Lord Jesus, WE CAN KNOW THE HIGH GOD PERSONALLY !
I John 3 (Message)
1
What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it--we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to.
Vance
Posted by: Vance Brown | April 04, 2006 at 12:18 PM
Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26
I love this section of Deuteronomy ‘cause here I found some principals: When you …then you do …then I (God) will … God can do whatever He wants; He can bless whoever and whatever He wants, He doesn’t need our help. Yet God …He chooses to invite us to cooperate with Him. That is awesome.
The command to gather on the two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal with, I presume, a valley in between (Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death …) amplifies Proverbs 18:21. The power of our words and the agreement the words we speak not only affirm blessings and curses but hold us accountable for what we speak. If we do/keep God’s commands there are blessings that flow because of the law of cause and effect; if we don’t curses appear.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21 KJVR)
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | April 04, 2006 at 05:59 PM
As for the creation being the tool of evangelism, I have always believed in it. My own conversion started from observing stars, rain, storms and scenic beauty of nature. But even Paul mentions it so very eloquently. He says, creation itself is the proof of the existence of God, so people have no excuse for rejecting God. Here is the verse:
Romans 1:19:20 ''... since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.''
Posted by: Emberglow | April 05, 2006 at 05:10 AM