March 24th One Year Bible 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 today 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 do so 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 can become 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 unreleaseable sin to not give up.  Don't ever give up on victory!  Continue to take the sin 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....   Maybe... :)

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." It's interesting to read this verse when just recently I was reading a review in my local newspaper about a book that "exposes" evangelical Christians. (of which I am one)  This book really dives into how "successful" evangelical Christians are in "recruiting" young adults ages 20 to 35 with their ministries.  And this book reviewer - and the book author - were very disdainful of Christianity.  Saying it threatened secular society...  and this just made me realize that the more we do indeed make God's ways known throughout the earth - the more we introduce people to God's saving power among people everywhere - well, then the secular world will push back big time with books and reviews like the one I read.  And the secular world will even push back in more severe ways as well.  This makes me realize that indeed our efforts to make God's was known - God's love, grace, mercy, salvation, call to repentance - are being noticed by others.  But hopefully more than just being noticed by others, let us pray that our Kingdom work actually introduces others to God's only son Jesus, who transforms hearts and lives for eternity!

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.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on Psalm 67 today, how are you helping to make God's ways be known throughout the earth?  Are you sharing with other's God's saving power?  Do you want the life you live to reflect God's glory to others?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[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.

[Laura J]

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.

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

[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]

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

[Pat]

Luke 6:12-13 stood out today in our reading of the Scripture. Jesus prayed all night before choosing the 12 apostles. As our all-knowing Savior prayed all night before making His big decision, then He has set the example for us to pray earnestly and long before making big decisions in our lives.

God Bless,
Pat

[John]

Pat,

John 14:10
"Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work." NIV

I wonder if it was a big decision, or if Jesus was praying to the Father to reveal the names of the disciples to become apostles. Perhaps also he was praying for the protection of these apostles in the coming days, months, and years.

[John]

Luke

Blessings and Woes

One religious sect leader said - 'just follow the beatitudes and you will be in God's kingdom.' Implying that non-christians could get to heaven if they follow this teaching of Jesus. (Inclusive theology).

People concentrate on Matthew for the "Beatitudes", but here Luke provides a compare and contrast.

Blessed
- 'are the poor' - in spirit - those who recognize they have no standing on their own before God - that they depend on Him.

- if you are poor in spirit and hunger - for righteousness - God will satisfy you.

- 'are you who weep - over the state of your nature (sinful)- for you will laugh in heaven.

- 'are you when men hate you because of Jesus - for it shows you are not of the world but of Christ.

Woes
- to the rich - who think they are spiritually rich - that they can earn their way to heaven - your comfort is here on earth.

- 'to the well fed' - who have no hunger for righteousness in the Lord - for they will hunger for the Lord when it is too late.

- 'to those who laugh' - for they do not admit their sinful nature and weep over their condition - for you will mourn and weep in the afterlife.

- to those who get along with the world - because you have no clue. It is a false sense of comfort.

Pretty hard to follow Jesus' teaching here without accepting and receiving him as your Savior.
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Love for Enemies

Maybe this is hard for some, and maybe it is easy for others.

If it is hard for you to do - a suggestion: start with people in your assembly (church). Quit hanging out with people you are comfortable with and who are like you. Instead find someone, a family, or various persons who you would never hang out with before you became a Christian. Start being a factor in their lives.

This happened to me - not by choice, but by God thrusting these people in my life - and it has truly been a blessing.
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Luke 6:37
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

One of the most quoted by secularists, and most understood by Christians - verses in the Bible.

Judged (Krino) and condemn have to do with God's judgment. We do not know people's hearts. We cannot judge their standing before God.

" It becomes clear that from looking at the usage of usage of the Greek words KRINO and KRISIS, it is God who does this when it comes to judging the individual. It is not man’s place to KRINO another person. We may KRINO fruit, works, holidays, festivals or foods for ourselves but not others. The Bible makes it very clear that the job of judging man does not belong to mortals but to an infinite, eternal, righteous and just God." - from link below

We can and should be discerning, but judging and condemning - it is not our job.

The below link is one of the best I have found in the last year. It discusses all the verses that talk about judging and discernment - the Greek - and how it should be understood and applied.
http://www.christianarsenal.com/Apologetics/Discernment.htm

[Jenny]

Great blog today, as always, very powerful! I love it! There is so much good stuff, I can tell this is gonna be a long comment! :p

Deut. has lots of great gems! I love the dialog between God and Moses, I wonder if God’s voice was audible to Moses…I know we have dialog with God now, but I wonder what it was like for Moses…
I like this verse, I can relate to this!: Deut 2:7 “He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These…years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing”
In v.25 is very interesting…sounds like the nation of Israel today, hm? “I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you”

The Beatitudes I know we have discussed a lot in other gospels, I’ll just touch on a couple. “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted”. This isn’t referring to mourning in everyday life, like the death of a loved one, I sure don’t feel blessed! This is in reference to when we mourn over our sin, our initial conversion to Christ and every time we mourn over sin, we should! It’s a sign we are truly His child! When we mourn, there are two responses though, we can be sorry for our sins, but make the wrong choice. One example, Peter mourned after the rooster crowed and he realized he had denied the Lord. He did the right thing; he wept bitterly, mourned and repented. He turned from his sin and continued after Jesus. Then there is anther example, Judas Iscariot who mourned and wept after he betrayed Jesus. But his mourning didn’t lead to repentance, but the taking of his own life…he gave up!

I definitely think we all suffer from judging ppl, not just Christians either. It seems like a natural human tendency…you see someone and instantly make a judgment. My study Bible says this:
“This forbids hypocrisy and a condemning spirit rising from self-righteousness. It does not condemn true discernment”.
There are certain judgments we are to make! God gave us this, like for women, we make judgments and we have to. If I see a strange man hanging around, I’m gonna make a judgment! If, particularly a man, gives me a bad feeling, I listen to that! That’s not wrong. One reason God gave us judgment is to keep us safe!

I am a huge advocate for forgiveness!! Theres just no way around it, we MUST forgive!

Regarding v 29 “To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also”…I just heard a radio sermon on this and wanted to mention it. This is referring to revenge. Not to take revenge on a person…this doesnt mean we are to be wimpy, ‘easily taken advantage of’ ppl who get pushed around. When Jesus was slapped in the face after His arrest, He didn’t say, ‘hey slap the other one!’ He said, “why did you strike me?” Lets not mistake forgiveness and humility for being wimps. This is the point the pastor was making.

‘Love your enemies…pray for them.’ This is huge…remember Christians, nonbelievers are watching us, whether we realize it or not. When we profess His name...this is a distinguishing factor. this shows God in our lives, that we can love those that do us wrong and that we forgive. We have a responsibility to bring glory to God’s name.

Regarding that book you mentioned, ha, at least the author referred to ages 25-35 as young adults! I like being called young. :p
Of course I’ve heard a lot about what a danger us evangelical, Christian fundamentalists are. Ha! Well, we ARE a threat!! A threat to satan’s kingdom! Praise God! These authors are under the authority of the enemy. (my spell-check wants me to capitalize satan’s name, I refuse! Haha.)

Proverbs is awesome! “If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!”…Wow, that’s sooo true!! I love it!
Great readings…I could continue with my tangents and thoughts but I better stop…haha.

[Brandie]

I feel like the person jumping in the picture today just because it is my birthday...that is all i have to say for today !!!