March 28th One Year Bible Readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22 ~ Luke 8:4-21
Psalm 69:19-36 ~ Proverbs 12:2-3

Old Testament - Okay, I'm really appreciating the New Living Translation little commentary headers before sections of our readings - as I discussed in yesterday's post, these are not from the original manuscripts so should not be considered Biblical text.  Nonetheless, I personally do find them useful.   And I really do like the first header in Deuteronomy chapter 9 today in the NLT - "Victory by God's Grace."  You'll note that you won't actually find the word "grace" in any of the verses that follow.  However, I think we do get a good overview of how grace works in this section, and verse 6 gives an example of grace: "I will say it again: The LORD your God is not giving you this good land because you are righteous, for you are not--you are a stubborn people."  This verse made me chuckle a bit when I read it.  Because it is true.  The Israelites were a stubborn people, as we've seen in our readings.   And yet, God was still showing grace by giving them the Promised Land.  This verse primarily made me chuckle because I think that we, today, are still oftentimes a stubborn people.  Not a lot has changed in 3,000+ years.  We humans are still a stubborn people.   And God is still a God of grace.  Then and now.  God shows us humans his grace.  Thank goodness!

Later in Deuteronomy chapter 9 we read about the golden calf, and we get a great reminder of how Moses truly was a mediator between God and the Israelites - in some ways foreshadowing the mediator role that Jesus is now between God and all humankind.  Verses 18 & 19 demonstrate Moses' mediator role well - "Then for forty days and nights I lay prostrate before the LORD, neither eating bread nor drinking water. I did this because you had sinned by doing what the LORD hated, thus making him very angry. How I feared for you, for the LORD was ready to destroy you. But again he listened to me."  And check out this amazing image below of Moses laying prostrate before God on behalf the Israelites...  can you imagine doing this for 40 days and nights for someone?  Particularly for someone who just sinned greatly against God?  Moses is amazing... 

Wow.  Deuteronomy chapter 10 verses 12 through 22 are about as inspiring of a speech as any from Moses.  What a great exhortation for the Israelites to love and be obedient to God!  There are surely some words of wisdom for us in these verses today as well.  Below are a couple of great images from these verses and here are verses 12 & 13, which I love:  "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? "

(image courtesy of heartlight.org)(image courtesy of heartlight.org)

New Testament - Today in Luke chapter 8 we read the story of the farmer scattering seed.  This parable is an opportunity for us to examine the condition of our hearts.  Are our hearts rocky, thorny, or are they fertile soil?  The condition of our hearts will dictate how receptive we are to Jesus, the Word of God made flesh.  Jesus is the farmer still scattering the see of his Word among humankind today.  Is your heart receptive to the Word of God?  Per verse 15, will you "hear God's message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest"? 

As you are receiving God's Word in your heart, check out verse 18 in today's readings - "So be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them."  This is a powerful truth.  When we are open to God's Word and really study it we will be given more and more insight over time.  It should be a lifelong journey of learning from God's Word.  I know there are many of you going through the One Year Bible for more than the 1st time - one of you has even gone through the One Year Bible 16 years in a row!   And my hunch is that if we were to ask the person going through the OYB for the 16th year if she was still learning and gaining new insights from God through his Word, the answer would be a resounding yes!  I do worry to a degree when someone goes through the Bible in its entirety once, and then puts it on the shelf.  I think that is risky.  I know that we're not all called to read the Bible in its entirety in One Year every year, but I do think it is extremely wise for us to be engaged in the Bible in some way each and every day.  Otherwise, perhaps, as the end of the verse above says, "to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them."  Let us pray that our love of learning from God's Word each and every day will not be taken away from us.  Each day, in some way, let us be like this young person buried in their Bible at Bible Camp... :)

Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 8's reading today, titled "Parable of the Soils" is at this link.

Psalms - I love Psalm 69 verse 33 today - "For the LORD hears the cries of his needy ones; he does not despise his people who are oppressed."  God hears the cries of his needy ones.  Perhaps the question is then, do we hear the cries of God's needy ones?  Do we hear the cries of those starving today? Sick from lack of clean water?  Suffering from HIV / AIDS?  Spiritually poor?  Needing a friend?  How is the soil of our hearts if we are not hearing these cries?  Should we be hearing these cries?  And if we do hear them, what then should we do?   Remember Jesus' words in Matthew chapter 25 verses 34-36:  "‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’" 

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 12 verse 3 is a bit convicting for me personally - "Wickedness never brings stability; only the godly have deep roots."  I oftentimes in my life feel a bit unstable.  I jump from church to church.  Job to job.  Interest to interest.  The roots don't seem so deep sometimes.  I know the roots are deep with Jesus - and that's the one area that really matters - but I do worry about how my roots don't seem so deep in other areas of my life.  I appreciate this Proverb.  I have something to learn here... 

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on our Proverb above, how about you?  How are your roots?  Are they deep?  Are they stable?  Primarily, how are your roots with Jesus today?  Are your spiritual roots in Jesus growing each and every day?  Do you want your roots to grow?  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

[R.]

Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22

Mike—I’m going to throw something in the mix, the people who rebelled in the desert did not get in. They may have not been destroyed “immediately” when they sinned and rebelled, but they never got into the Promise Land. Those that were 20 years old and younger when they set up made it, but not their parents. All died off before, including Moses and Aaron, except Joshua and Caleb.

The grace extended to the people who made it in was the grace that the parents’ sins, which affected them—they had to wander for 40 years, did not kill them too. The grace extended was the ownership of the land that was about to be transferred to them without payment, the grace was a true reversal of fortune.

One of the things I noticed this time during the readings that after they sinned and suffered the consequences through plagues, being swallowed up in the earth, dying by snakebites before Moses made the snake to be looked upon, they admitted their sin because they were caught red-handed, however they never repented. That is the danger for me, for us, admitting we have sinned but not following through all the way. Admitting our sin because we have come face to face with the consequences and have been exposed in the media or to the community, but not really sorrowful enough to change or actions, which is really what repentance is. It is not just admitting we were/are wrong.

Sin has its own rewards and the writer of Proverbs recognized that.

His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. (Proverbs 5:22 KJVR)

Let us strive not only to recognize where we have gone wrong but to produce a change in our lifestyles to go in different directions.

After reading our Psalms reading today,I'm having trouble knowing if I'm doing the right thing or not. A couple of months ago, I took in a gentlemen to my home who was homeless and gave him a certain amount of time to find a job and move out on his own. He didn't find a job and then refused to leave. To make matters worse, he began verbally abusing me. I ended up calling the police to get him out of my home for fear of my own safety. He still calls and emails many times a day (he says he is at the FW public library). He says he has no one to turn to and no where to go. What should I do?

[Laura Jones]

In reply to the person above who left the last post, that is awesome that you were obedient to God and helped someone in need. It's too bad that we live in such a fallen world and that sometimes good and godly folks such as yourself who does a kind deed, learns to regret what they have done in the end. The only thing I can say is that a little descernment might be in order when the situation arises again. What you should of, or could of done was get them connected with a local rescue mission that could of provided food, lodging and spiritual nurishment as well. I know it's too late in this particular case but maybe if this happens to you again.

Also there are many people in need as Mike is always mentioning, that you can help through organizations such as World Vision and Compassion International that can use donations. The donations with legitement organizations such as these go directly to the people in need. You can also donate and help out at your local rescue mission.

I hope this information helps. That is too bad that you had a bad experience like you did. Perhaps you can rest on the hope that your good deed won't go unnoticed either by the individual being helped or others who observed. Some godly seeds may have been planted leading someone to salvation, and as we know, God is always in control.

[John]

Deut 9:6
"Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people." NIV

Is it any different today???? We are sinners. We do not have access to heaven based on anything we did - we are not righteous. If one does have access to heaven it is because he/she repented of their sins, turned to God, and accepted and received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is by God's Word - and His promise that if we do the above we have the right to become children of God and co-heirs to heaven. It is by His grace and mercy that we are saved.

Never make the mistake of thinking it is because we are righteous on our own, but declared righteous through the covering of Jesus' blood.
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[repost from last year]
Deut 10:15-16
"Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer." NIV

Since we had verses from John the Baptist back in Luke, I wanted to mention this passage as regarding "circumcising" the heart. John preached repentance and turning back to God. Here in Deut. is the first mention of changing the heart - how? - by circumcising.

Up to now circumcision has been the act done on males eight days after their birth.

Gen 17:10-11
"This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you." NIV

The cutting away of flesh is a sign of the covenant with God for the Jewish nation.

"Circumcision of infant sons did not save them but evidenced the faith of the father and mother in the God of Abraham. As that young child grew up, his circumcision was a sign to him that he was different from other boys—he belonged to God."
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=96

This cutting of the flesh is perhaps symbolic of removing the flesh - or things of the world - so that you are in a spiritual state (covenant) with God. Some rabbis see it that way.

If so, then circumcising the heart would be symbolic of cutting away the flesh part (of the world) of the heart and leaving the spiritual core. The part that does recognize God and would be able to worship him in truth.

This way the people will not be stubborn any longer, and go chasing after idols, women, or things of the world at the first (or perhaps fifth :) opportunity.

Also and this may be a stretch - it is not easy to turn when you are stiff-necked, but with a circumcised heart and no longer being stiff-necked - it is easier to turn back to God.

[NOTE: Last paragraph is purely conjecture on my part}

[John]

Luke 8:18

"Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." NIV

Do you just listen, or do you hear and absorb the Word of God???? Do you just read the Bible, or do you read and meditate on God's Word????

"Our Lord once told the men who had placed their faith in him that they had become "the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck-measure; but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 5:14-16)." NIV

If you truly heard and absorbed God's Word and acted on it - accepting His plan for salvation. Then you have that light - let it shine. You will be given more - grace, revelation, responsibility???? - thus more light.

If you have only listened to God's Word and think you are saved any other way than by God's plan for salvation. You do not have the light, and whatever it is that you think you know - will be for nought.
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Luke 8:21
"He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice." NIV

God's Word:
John 6:29
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

God's plan for salvation: acknowledge, believe and trust in Christ.

Christ's teaching: repent, turn to God , and believe and receive me.

If one hears God's Word and applies it - then you are in the family of God.

[P.M.]

How true it is in the Luke 8 passage about... he who has will more be given and he who has not, even what he has will be taken away from him.. In witnessing I have observed that the folks who take the time to read the Bible faithfully are the ones who actually mature and grow, while the ones who do not read the Bible on a regular basis often flounder and fall away and become tangled in sin. Only using the Bible as a "cure" rathar than a preventative measure and daily nurishment in one's faith will cause illness. I think of it like this: If a person were to only eat healthy food when they felt ill, they would end up always sick. Many Christians treat the Bible with too little importance in their lives.

I am seeking to grow and flourish in my faith -deeply rooted in the Word of God!

[Jenny]

what stood out for me: Deut 10:12-13 "what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes.."
-this command was given to the Israelites, but the same is true today for us...His children.

v. 19 "Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" in the OT, God told the ppl via Moses to love and welcome the alien. I am often reminded of this when ppl start their angry tangents on the aliens coming into their country. I wont get started on that cause i get way fired up...but God says to love the foreigner, the alien, the stranger. I cant understand ppl's lack of compassion for others who want help! thats all i'll say.

Moses' love for the ppl definitely sounds like a foreshadowing of the Christ...Moses' sacrifice and plea for the ppl was completed whed Christ came and gave up His life. As Moses acted as a mediator between God and the ppl, how much more is Christ the mediator for us to God. We have NO access to the Father but by Christ.

Ps 69:19-21
" You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor;
My adversaries are all before You. Reproach has broken my heart,
And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;
And for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food,
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink"

this is a prophecy of Jesus. My take is that He 'had no comforters', all His disciples fled and alas God the Father turned His back on Him as He became a curse for us.

I pray my roots in Christ deepen and I grow more and more everyday. I always fail, but God keeps His strong hold on me.

[Pat]

I certainly believe in Jesus and angels and I also believe that Satan and demons are real. Throughout each of the gospels we read that the demons were the first to recognize and identify Jesus as the Son of God, and they acknowledge His power over them. Yes, evil is real and so is the power of Jesus! That's why we have to be constantly on guard and depend on Jesus to keep evil from attacking our hearts.

God Bless!
Pat