One Year Bible Blog

February 18th readings

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Leviticus 6:1-7:27 ~ Mark 3:7-30
Psalm 37:1-11 ~ Proverbs 10:3-4

Old Testament - Today in Leviticus we read about further instructions for offerings.  Chapter 6 verse 13 I found interesting - "Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out."  Commentaries state that the fire was never to go out because the fire was started by God.   Humans were not to bring man-made fire to the altar, or they would die, as we will see Leviticus chapter 10 when we read about Nadab and Abihu.   The only real "eternal flame" that I can think of in today, that was started by God, is the Holy Spirit.  And this eternal flame of the Holy Spirit is made available to you and I through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Here's an image of the burnt offering altar from the time of Leviticus -

And - here's an image to make you think about the fire of the Holy Spirit available to you and I today through Jesus -

Can you relate to this image above?  Can you imagine what this man in this image above is experiencing?  Have you experienced this?

Leviticus chapter 7 verse 27 stands out - "Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from the community."  This was commanded for 3 reasons - 1.  to separate the Israelites from the pagans who drank blood - the pagans drank blood in the hopes of gaining the attributes of the animals from the blood they drank (speed, strength, etc.).  2.  the sin of the people was symbolically transferred to the animal before the offering, and the blood represents the life of that animal.  3.  for sanitary reasons - blood can carry some nasty diseases.

New Testament - In Mark chapter 3 verses 7 & 8 show how Jesus' ministry was quickly being noticed from all over Israel - "Jesus and his disciples went out to the lake, followed by a huge crowd from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far away as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him for themselves."   And now today think about how far and wide Jesus' ministry has gone.  Worldwide.   Why do you suppose Jesus' ministry gained such notice during his lifetime?  Why do you suppose that Jesus' ministry continues to gain such notice today?  Could it be that there is true power in Jesus' ministry?  Could it be that Jesus changes lives?  Heals people - teaches people - loves people - forgives people....  Could it be that Jesus is the Savior of the World?  Commentary from bible.org on Mark chapter 3 is at this link and at this link.

Psalms - Today we read in Psalm 37 verse 5 - "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you." Do you commit everything you do to God?  Everything?  Your waking life?  Your sleeping life?  Your job?  Your relationships?  Your family?  Your finances?  Your time?  If so, do you trust that God will help you in everything you do in your life?  Do you believe what verse 4 teaches in this Psalm - "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires." I love that thought - take delight in God.  Do you take delight in God each and every day? How do you take delight in God? Is it through prayer, joy, or maybe simply living your life with an attitude of gratitude for all of the good things that God gives you?

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 10 verse 4 today is a good reminder to work hard.

Comments from you & Question of the Day - Speaking of the Holy Spirit above in my OT reflections, a great overview of the Holy Spirit is at bible.org at this link.  A good overview of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is at this link.  And a great overview of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is at this link.   I don't know if you've ever done much study on the Holy Spirit?  If not, please do spend a good chunk of time at these 3 links above.  Also, I remember a good friend of mine was reading a book a few years ago called "Holy Spirit" - I believe...  He said it was an incredible book.  I haven't read it.  Has anyone else read it?  Know the author's name?  Or - do you have any other Holy Spirit book or other resources recommendations?  If so, can you post up in the Comments section below?  Thanks.  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 17th readings

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Leviticus 4:1-5:19 ~ Mark 2:13-3:6
Psalm 36:1-12 ~ Proverbs 10:1-2

Old Testament - Today in Leviticus we read about the Sin Offering and the Guilt Offering. Combine this with our readings from yesterday and we've covered the 5 major Old Testament sacrifices - which I'll recap below from Zondervan's NIV Study Bible.  I'd recommend taking a good mental note of these 5 Sacrifices, as we'll keep reading about them this year in various capacities in the OT -

1. Burnt Offering - Voluntary act of worship; atonement for unintentional sin in general; expression of devotion, commitment and surrender to God.  Bull, ram or male bird is offered - wholly consumed no defect.

2. Grain Offering - Voluntary act of worship; recognition of God's goodness and provisions; devotion to God. Grain, fine flower, olive oil, incense, baked bread, salt offered - accompanied burnt and fellowship offering. 

3. Fellowship Offering - Voluntary act of worship; thanksgiving and fellowship as it included a communal meal.  Any animal without defect from herd or flock offered.

4. Sin Offering - Mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sin; confession of sin; forgiveness of sin; cleansing from defilement.  Young bull for high priest & congregation offered.  Male goat for leader. Female goat or lamb for common person.  Dove or pigeon for the poor.  Tenth of an ephah of fine flower for the very poor.

5. Guilt Offering - Mandatory atonement for unintentional sin requiring restitution; cleansing from defilement; make restitution; pay 20% fine.  Ram or lamb offered.
(above 5 points from Zondervan's NIV Study Bible p. 151)

Chapter 4 verse 29 contains something new I learned recently, again from Zondervan - "They are to lay a hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered."  The sin offering included confession (see chapter 5 verse 5) and the symbolic transfer of guilt by laying hands on the sacrifice, as we see here in verse 29.  It's only recently that I've understood that the laying on of hands on the offering symbolically transferred guilt to the offering.

Chapter 4 verse 21 foreshadows Jesus' death on the cross outside the gates of Jersusalem at Golgotha - "The priest must then take what is left of the bull outside the camp and burn it there, just as is done with the sin offering for the high priest." Here's how Hebrews chapter 13 verses 11 through 14 looks back at this verse in Leviticus - "The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come."

Commentary on Leviticus chapter 4 and the Sin Offering is at this link.  Commentary on Leviticus chapter 5 and the Guilt Offering is at this link.

New Testament - Today we read about Jesus calling Levi / Matthew from his tax collector booth.

Jesus' teaching in Mark chapter 2 verse 27 is very wise for each of us to keep in mind - ""The Sabbath was made to benefit people, and not people to benefit the Sabbath."  Commentary on Mark chapter 2 is online at bible.org at this link.

Psalms - I love Psalm 36 today!  There are some powerful verses in this Psalm...  Starting off with verse 1 being a scary & true verse...  "Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them."  Wow.   I'll admit - I've been there.  I know what it is like to have sin whispering deep within my heart.  Thank God for the gift of Jesus - the savior of my world...  Thank God for the gift of the fear of God.  And thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit who directs us along the narrow path - the path of life and light.  I pray that verse 1 does not ring too true for you today - but if it does, please pray to Jesus to instead fill your heart with Jesus' Spirit, which is the only power that can truly dispel the whisper of sin within.

Verses 5 & 6 reminded me immediately of the Third Day song "Your Love Oh Lord", which borrows nicely from these verses. "Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths." I believe Third Day won the Grammy last year for their CD "Wire".  Great CD.  Props to TD for their ministry! 

Verse 9 just has so much simplicity in it's truth... I love it...  I hope you believe this too  - "For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see."  Are there really any other lights by which we may see?  Are there really any other fountains of life? 

Proverbs - We start Proverbs chapter 10 today, with the reminder that we're currently reading Proverbs of King Solomon, the son of David.  Verse 2 is another great reminder for each of us... "right living can save your life."   Do you believe this?  Do you practice this?  Below is a portrait of King Solomon by artist Guy Rowe -

Comments from you and Question of the Day - Psalm 36 verse 1 is a sobering verse - "Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them." This reminds me of an old U2 lyric from their song Acrobat - "If you just close your eyes, you can feel the enemy."  Have you ever felt sin whispering to you?  Do you think that sin can indeed whisper to our hearts?  Can it whisper from within our hearts?  Do we need more that just fear of God to restrain us from sin?   Has Jesus freed you from the whisper of sin within your heart?  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 16th readings

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Leviticus 1:1-3:17 ~ Mark 1:29-2:12
Psalm 35:17-28 ~ Proverbs 9:13-18

Old Testament / Learning to Love Leviticus! - This upcoming month of readings is what I call mission-critical. We’re beginning our journey through the book of Leviticus. As this is my 3rd time leading a crew of people through the One Year Bible, I know that Leviticus is the book where we lose many people who started out so strong over the past 6 weeks. I want to let you know this in advance, so that if you feel like maybe not reading your Bible for even just one day this upcoming month, please don’t do it! You may find Leviticus “boring” on occasion, but there truly is a lot of depth to it. And if you stop reading the One Year Bible during Leviticus, you’ll miss out on so much more of the Bible coming up – including Saul, David, Solomon, the prophets – and the list goes on.

If you read nothing else in this posting today, please take ten minutes or so to review the amazing reflection at the link below on the book of Leviticus by Bob Deffinbaugh over at Bible.org. The article at this link below titled “Learning to Love Leviticus” will bless you immensely before we embark on our study of Leviticus this week - http://bible.org/page.asp?page_id=258

An excerpt from Bob at this link above – “Up to this point in time the Book of Leviticus has been the “liver and onions” book of the Bible to me. That is, I know that it must be good for me, but I just don’t seem to have a taste for the stuff. To others, the Book of Leviticus is something like camping - they tried it once and that was enough to last them a lifetime. Having briefly looked at the Book of Leviticus, let us get down to the issue of “taste” which must be settled before we will ever benefit from this portion of God’s word. The first thing we must seek to do is to identify the reasons why we tend to dislike and thus to avoid this book.”  Again – please please read “Learning to Love Leviticus” at this link - http://bible.org/page.asp?page_id=258 – before you read anything else in this blog posting.

~Leviticus~
Author: Moses
Date: 1420 or 1220 B.C.
Content: The book of Leviticus was designed to be a handbook for the priests or Levites, hence the name Leviticus. It sets down the regulations that were to govern the life of Israel in general and specifically to give regulations concerning sacrifice and worship. All of the major sacrifices are described, as well as the way they were to be offered. All of the major festivals and holidays are discussed. There are also special sections devoted to the priesthood and regulations concerning ceremonial matters.
Theme: The central theme of this book is that God has provided a way for atonement to be made by the offering of sacrificial blood. This whole system found its fulfillment in the shedding of Christ’s blood as the one great sacrifice for the sins of the world. Leviticus also shows that worship is to be orderly and is to follow a regular pattern. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” page 2) More commentary on Leviticus is at this link – http://bible.org/page.asp?page_id=882

Commentary on Leviticus chapter 1 and The Law of Burnt Offerings is at this link.  Commentary on Leviticus chapter 2 and The Grain Offering is at this link.  Commentary on Leviticus chapter 3 and The Fellowship Offering is at this link.

New Testament - Today in Mark's readings I noticed that Jesus healed, taught, healed and healed.  3 healings and 1 teaching in today's readings. I don't know about you, but sometimes I personally seem to overlook Jesus' healing ministry.  I pay a lot of attention to what he did on the cross for us.  I pay a lot of attention to his resurrection.  I pay a lot of attention to his teachings.  But his healings?  Not so much.  And if I really stop to think about it, I know that I personally need some healing from Jesus in my life.  I have wounds.  I have issues.  I have "patterns" as the singer David Wilcox would say.  :) I need Jesus' healing touch in my life.  How about you?  Do you need Jesus' healing touch in your life?  If so, can you reflect on chapter 1 verses 40 & 41 in Mark's readings today - "A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you want to, you can make me well again," he said.  Moved with pity, Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!""  What is your "leprosy"?  Do you want to be made well again?    Do you believe that Jesus wants to heal you?  Commentary on Mark chapter 1 is at bible.org at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 35 verses 22 & 23 are two very impassioned verses that I think we should take note of - "O LORD, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Don't abandon me now, O Lord. Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord." I think what these verses do is remind me that we don't have to always speak to God in "hushed" tones or in our "church voices".  We can interact with God at any moment as we really are.  I don't think we should try to hide our emotions from God.  We should come before God at any time - as we are - and let him take us from there...  and heal us from there...  When is the last time you have literally cried out to God?

Proverbs - Proverbs verse 18 is downright scary - "But the men don't realize that her (Folly's) former guests are now in the grave."  This reminds me of Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death."  Yes, sin sells...  And sin calls...  And sin pays...  Death.  Sin/Folly pays death.  That is downright scary.  That's why we read about the sacrifice system in the Old Testament - to atone for sin, which brings death without atonement.  Thanks to the New Covenant, our sins have been paid for on the cross by Jesus.  Let us not ever forget the gravity of sin.  Let us not ever forget sin sells death.  But let us also not ever forget that Jesus paid our debt once and for all on the cross.  So, next time you hear Folly calling out to you from her doorway, walk on by in the light of salvation that was given to you freely by Jesus.  Jesus who saves us from death.

Comments from you & Question of the Day - The image of the boy crying that I posted up in the Psalms section made me wonder this - are you comfortable crying before God?  Have you ever cried before God?  Do you think it's okay for us to cry before / to God?  I just wonder if sometimes we hold back our emotions from God or try to prove to Him (and others?) that we really have it all together - when really we don't?  Why do you think that we sometimes try to hide our emotions or hide things from God? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 15th readings

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Exodus 39:1-40:38 ~ Mark 1:1-28
Psalm 35:1-16 ~ Proverbs 9:11-12

Big reading day today! We wrap up the book of Exodus and begin the Gospel of Mark!

Old Testament - Today is the final day of readings from Exodus.  I hope that your reading this past month about the Israelites Exodus from Egypt and their emergence as a nation under Moses' leadership has been a good learning experience for you?  It has been for me - thanks in large measure to the wonderful Comments everyone is posting up each day!  Thanks everyone.  More than anything - I hope that reading about God's interactions with his covenant people in Egypt, the plagues, the Red Sea, the manna from heaven, the Ten Commandments, and the plans for the Tabernacle has expanded your understanding of who God is and God's story?  If anyone wants to reflect back on what may have been an interesting learning for you in Exodus this year, please do post up in the Comments section below.

Personally, a couple of learnings for me this year from Exodus that I will share are these - 1.  Moses' leadership really stood out to me this year as I read through Exodus.  And it was interesting to me that his leadership grew over time.  Early on in Exodus Moses was asking God to "please don't choose me to free the Israelites from Egypt - pick someone else" and then by the end of the book Moses has gained enough faith to fast for 40 days on Mt. Sinai and enough confidence to ask God to "show me your glory."  I think we can see in Moses how God can transform a person's life completely  - and how God can transform our lives completely - if that person enters into a responsive, faithful, loving and obedient relationship with God.   Point #2 of my learnings this year - my interest and knowledge in some of the intricacies of the tabernacle has grown, which has been wonderful.  Bible.org's commentary on Exodus chapter 40 titled "The Consecration of the Tabernacle and the Presence of God" is at this link.

New Testament - Yesterday I didn't really get a chance to post up my closing reflections on the Gospel of Matthew this year.  I think the main thing that really stood out to me in the Gospel of Matthew readings this year was how powerfully truthful and insightful Jesus' teachings are in the parables.  Some of the parables really took on new life & meaning for me this year as I read through Matthew.  It is such an amazing thing - every time I read the Bible - or re-read portions of the Bible I should say - I gain some new insight that I never saw before.  I hope that has been the case for you as you read through Matthew this year?  Please feel free to post up any closing reflections on your reading of the book of Matthew in the Comments below if you'd like.  And today we begin the Gospel of Mark!

~Mark~
Author: Mark
Place: Rome
Date: A.D. 60-65
Content: John Mark was a companion of the apostle Paul. He finally settled in Rome where he wrote down the remembrances of the apostle Peter. Thus Mark’s Gospel reflects the words of an eyewitness of the events he describes. Mark’s purpose was to put together an expanded Gospel message. Hence it centers upon the acts of Jesus rather than his words and devotes a disproportionately large amount of material to the last week of Jesus’ life. Mark’s Gospel begins with Jesus’ public ministry and preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Several explicit predictions of his coming death are made (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34, 45) and then Jesus goes to the cross to die for the sins of the world.
Theme: Mark depicts Jesus as the Servant of God who came to do God’s will. The miracles, healings, victory over demons, and personal power show the world that Jesus was no ordinary servant, but was truly the Son of God (Mark 15:39). Jesus’ resurrection authenticated all that he did, and now we await his return in glory from heaven. Mark also wrote to encourage the Roman Christians in a time of persecution.  (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pages 21-22)  Excellent commentary on the Gospel of Mark is at this link.

You'll notice in Mark chapter 1 today that there is no nativity narrative - Mark and John's Gospels do not have the nativity narrative.  Verse 1 starts off powerfully with - "Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God."  (Good News = Gospel.  Gospel comes from the Old English word godspel, which means "good story"  or "good tidings" or "good news" and accurately translates the original Greek word: evangelion.)  And what is the Good News?  It is that God has provided salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is very Good News indeed!

I know I mentioned this when we read through the Baptism narrative in Matthew, but I think this is so powerful, that I want to mention it again.  All three persons of the Trinity are involved in Jesus' Baptism - 1.  the Father speaks 2. the Son is Baptized 3. the Holy Spirit descends on the Son.  Verses 10 & 11: "And when Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven saying, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you.""  Per Tyndale's commentary today, Jesus was baptized 1. to begin his mission to bring the message of salvation to all people; 2. to show support for John's ministry; 3. to identify with our humanness and sin; 4. to give us an example to follow.

Psalms - Per Zondervan's NIV Study Bible, Psalm 35 today is an appeal to the heavenly King, as divine Warrior and Judge, to come to the defense of his servant David who is being maliciously slandered by those toward whom he had shown only the most tender friendship.  I like verse 10 a lot - "I will praise him from the bottom of my heart: "LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the weak and helpless from the strong? Who else protects the poor and needy from those who want to rob them?"" Have you recently praised God from the bottom of your heart?  Do you think that anyone/anything compares with God?  Do you believe that God has rescued you and protected you?  Perhaps many times when you have not even realized it?  I think about this on occasion.  It is my hunch that God literally rescues us and protects us dozens if not hundreds if not thousands of times each and every day.  And I think we typically miss it....  If we knew it, I am sure we would be praising Him from the bottom of our heart very frequently!

Proverbs - Today we read in Proverbs chapter 9 verse 12 - "If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." This is one of the simplest and yet wisest verses that has jumped out at me in a long time!   Do you believe this Proverb to be true? How about if we go one step beyond this Proverb – If we become wise, will it also benefit others around us? Maybe based on how we will live our lives? And conversely, if we don't acquire wisdom would it be fair to say that others around us may suffer? Could it be that gaining wisdom is both a self-giving and self-less pursuit all at the same time?

Comments from you & Question of the Day - What are some things about the book of Exodus, which we are wrapping up today, or the Gospel of Matthew that we wrapped up yesterday, that stood out to you this year?   What new thing did you learn about God and his people in Exodus this year?  What new thing did you learn about Jesus and his teachings in Matthew this year?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 14th readings

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Exodus 37:1-38:31 ~ Matthew 28:1-20
Psalm 34:11-22 ~ Proverbs 9:9-10

Old Testament - I found 38:8 intriguing today - "The bronze washbasin and its bronze pedestal were cast from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle."  Apparently mirrored glass had not yet been invented in these days, but highly polished bronze gave off a good reflection.  This reminds me of Paul's writings in First Corinthians 13:12 - "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."  Below is an image of the type of ancient bronze mirror that could have been used in the making of the bronze washbasin (obviously this ancient bronze mirror below is not currently "highly polished" :) -

New Testament - Matthew 28 is one of the most important chapters of the Bible we will read this year.  Jesus' resurrection is the key to the Christian faith.  The resurrection is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and of Jesus' own statements.  The Christian faith stands or falls on the bodily resurrection of Jesus.  We can read more about this important point from Paul in 1 Corinthians 15.  Tyndale Publishers outlines these 5 points in their commentary today that the resurrection guarantees:
1. Jesus was truly the Son of God. (Romans 1:4)
2. God the Father accepted what Jesus did at Calvary on the basis of the resurrection. (Romans 4:25)
3. Jesus as our Risen Lord pleads for his people before the Father. (Romans 8:34)
4. Believers have the hope of eternal life. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
5. Believers will also rise and have resurrected bodies like that of Jesus.  (1 Corinthians 15:49, Philippians 3:21, 1 John 3:2)

The Great Commission at the end of Matthew chapter 28 in verses 18-20 is so important for us as followers of Jesus on Earth today - "Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.""  I like that we see the Trinity in this commission - the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen!  Zondervan's commentary today says that Jesus' Great Commission has three steps:  1.  Go  2.  Baptize them.  3.  Teach them to obey everything Jesus has commanded.  I know the Great Commission encourages many to go on mission trips, which is wonderful and makes sense.  However, I believe that often times the mission field many of us are called to "go" into is in our own backyards.  Our own towns.  Our own cities.  Maybe even our own homes.   Let us go where the Lord calls us to go - near or afar.  Will you go?

Psalms -  I love Psalm 34 verses 17 & 18 today - "The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.  He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit."  I am sure all of us have moments of needing help.  Moments of trouble.  Moments of being brokenhearted.  Moments of being crushed in spirit.  The big question is what do we do in those moments?  Or, who do we turn to?  Do you call to God in those moments?  Do you know that he will help you?  Do you know that he will rescue you?  Do you know that he is close to you?  Do you know that He is near?

Proverbs - I love this image for Proverbs 9:10 today.  Bob Deffinbaugh has a great look at this Proverbs verse - and many others - in an essay titled "God and Man in Proverbs" at this link.  A great quote from Bob at this link is - "Proverbs persists in confronting us with the urgency of coming to a decision regarding the fear of the Lord. There are only two ways, the way of wisdom and the way of folly. Those who follow their natural bent will continue on the road to destruction. Those who admit their sin and trust in God will receive life and peace and fellowship with God. Whether by decision or default, every man, woman, and child makes this choice. Do not delay to choose to follow the way of wisdom, the way of life."

Comments from you & Question of the Day - How are you participating in Jesus' Great Commission today in your life?  Are you in some way helping make disciples?  Are you in some way helping to baptize?  Are you teaching people to obey Jesus' commands?  One thing that I think we can do as Christians that is related to the Great Commission's call to disciple is to encourage our fellow believers - and non-believers - to read the Bible.  Obviously I'm a fan of the One Year Bible format, but there are so many other ways to encourage people to read the Bible.  Leading or participating in a group Bible study through your church is one great way.  Life Transformation Groups - anyone familiar with these?  Great way to read the Bible in pairs/threes.  This year will you seek ways to encourage others in your life to read God's Word?  Do you think this type of encouragement is part of the Great Commission in any way?  (Let me plant this seed - this year will you think of 5+ people you can give a One Year Bible to as a gift and will you encourage them to read the One Year Bible in 2007?  Personally, I have found that giving someone a OYB greatly increases the chances of them actually reading the Word...)  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 13th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 35:10-36:38 ~ Matthew 27:32-66
Psalm 34:1-10 ~ Proverbs 9:7-8

Old Testament - Zondervan's commentary today notes that Exodus 35:4 through 39:43 are for the most part repeated from chapters 25 through 28; 30:1-5; and 31:1-11, sometimes verbatim, but with the verbs primarily in the past rather than the future tense and with the topics arranged in different order.  This type of repetition was a common feature of ancient Near Eastern literature and was intended to fix the details of a narrative in the readers mind.  Bible.org's commentary on Exodus Chapter 35 is at this link.  Bible.org's commentary on Exodus Chapter 36 is at this link.  I really like in today's readings in chapter 35 that people freely brought their offerings for the tabernacle (much of which was likely given to them by the Egyptians as the Exodus from Egypt began, as you'll recall from Exodus 12:33-36), as we see in verses 20 through 22 - "So all the people left Moses and went to their tents to prepare their gifts. If their hearts were stirred and they desired to do so, they brought to the LORD their offerings of materials for the Tabernacle and its furnishings and for the holy garments. Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. Some brought to the LORD their offerings of gold--medallions, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind to the LORD."

New Testament - Today in Matthew 27 verse 32 we read - "As they were on the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross."

Verses 37 & 38 - "A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus' head, announcing the charge against him. It read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Two criminals were crucified with him, their crosses on either side of his...."

Today in Matthew chapter 27 verse 54 we read, just after Jesus’ death on the cross - “The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!" Reflect on these words of the Roman officers and soldiers for a moment. Do you believe these words of the soldiers are true? If these words are true, what does this mean for our lives today? Are we really living our lives in such a way that reflects that these words are true? Or, is it possible, that sometimes we just say these words of the Roman soldiers, and then just go about our lives as business as usual? If Jesus truly is the Son of God, how then should we be living our lives this very day?

Verse 51 is significant - "50Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. 51At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." The curtain separating the Most Holy Place was torn in two at Jesus' death, symbolizing that the barrier between God and humanity was removed.  Now all people are free to approach God because of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.  Hebrews chapter 10 verses 19 & 20 puts it this way - "And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us."

Verses 57 through 60 - "As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who was one of Jesus' followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock...."

Psalms - Psalm 34 verse 9 in the NIV reads- "Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing." What does fearing God mean to you?  Do you think that fearing God is a good or bad thing?  Why?  Do you think it is possible to both love God and fear God at the same time?  What do you think of when you hear the word "saints"?  Do you believe that you are a saint?  Do you want to be a saint?  Are you acting like a saint?  Do you believe that those who fear God lack nothing?  Why would this be?  Check out Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 34 entitled "The Fear of the Lord" at this link. 

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 9 verses 7 & 8 are fascinating to me: "Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get a smart retort. Anyone who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. So don't bother rebuking mockers; they will only hate you. But the wise, when rebuked, will love you all the more." I do believe this Proverb is true.  If anyone needs a definition of rebuke it is: "an act or expression of criticism and censure."  (and for that matter censure means - "harsh criticism or disapproval")  So, this Proverb teaches us that rebukes of a mocker or the wicked will bring a critical reply or even injury.  But that rebukes of the wise can bring love!  Powerful to consider!

Comments from you & Question of the Day - Based on this Proverb above, do you ever rebuke anyone?  Part of me thinks that sometimes we can become so scared of what anyone else will think that we say absolutely nothing - even when perhaps we should rebuke someone.  When do you feel it is appropriate to rebuke someone?  Is it based on a relationship?  Is it based on if they ask your opinion on a matter?  Will you ever rebuke someone even if not asked an opinion on the matter?  Are you careful to not rebuke mockers or the wicked, but only to rebuke the wise?  How do you discern who is wise and able to receive a rebuke?  Conversely, have you ever been rebuked by someone else?  Have you ultimately loved that person for the rebuke?  Even if the rebuke stung at the time, were you ultimately appreciative of receiving the rebuke? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 12th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 34:1-35:9 ~ Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22 ~ Proverbs 9:1-6

Old Testament - Exodus chapter 34 verses 6 & 7 are beautiful and we will hear these words repeated again later in the Old Testament a few times - ""I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. I show this unfailing love to many thousands by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion."  How do these words resonate with you?  Do you believe God is merciful and gracious?  Slow to anger?  And rich in unfailing love and faithfulness?  Have you asked God for forgiveness for your sins and rebellion?

Verses 33 through 35 in today's readings tell us - "When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he removed the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the LORD had given him, and the people would see his face aglow. Afterward he would put the veil on again until he returned to speak with the LORD."   

And today's guest commentary on these preceding verses is from none other than Paul!  This is the Bible giving commentary on the Bible. Here is Paul in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians verses 7 - 18 (read this carefully... read this twice... this is good....) - "That old system of law etched in stone led to death, yet it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses' face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn't we expect far greater glory when the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old covenant, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new covenant, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new covenant. So if the old covenant, which has been set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory. Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away. But the people's minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.  And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more."   Not a bad commentary, eh?  Props to Paul!  :)  Bible.org's commentary on Exodus chapter 34 is at this link.

Below is an image for verses 29 & 30 - "When Moses came down the mountain carrying the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn't aware that his face glowed because he had spoken to the LORD face to face. And when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses' face, they were afraid to come near him."

New Testament - The Passion readings today are always tough...  they bring home the reality of what Jesus did for each of us.  Tomorrow's readings are tougher.  An image of Pilate asking the crowd in verse 22 - ""But if I release Barabbas," Pilate asked them, "what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"

 

I read an interesting commentary on verse 24 today - "Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is yours!"  Tyndale's commentary said that even though Pilate verbally said the "responsibility is yours" and even though he washed his hands - his responsibility remained.  He was essentially afraid about losing his job, because there was the threat to report him to Caesar (John 19:12).  Pilate was the Roman governor from AD 26-36 for Judea and Samaria.  One of his main duties was to simply "keep the peace" in this outlying area of the Roman Empire - and to do "whatever was necessary" to maintain the "peace"...  Below is a painting by Mattia Preti from 1663 of Pilate trying to wash his hands of guilt...  Pilate seems to be looking at the viewer in this painting with a "Who are you looking at?" expression...  Who are we looking at here?

 

Psalms - Psalm 33 verse 12 today is awesome - "In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name." Does your heart literally rejoice when you think about God?  Do you trust in God's holy name?

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 9 verses 5 & 6 are a reminder that not only does Temptation call us (as we've read earlier in Proverbs this year), but Wisdom calls out to us as well!  "Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise."  Which voice are you listening to these days?  Whose invitation are you accepting?  Temptation's?  Or Wisdom's?  Whose call will you answer?

Comments from you & Question of the Day - I love all of our Proverbs readings about wisdom these days.  And obviously I think most of us would agree that we are finding wisdom in the Bible.  My question for today is this - can we find wisdom outside of the Bible?  For example, I read Jim Collins famous business book "Good to Great" a few years ago, and I'm about to read it again.  I think I will find some business wisdom in this book.  I listen to Dennis Prager's radio show and think that I gain some wisdom from his comments on occasion.   I read the Wall Street Journal and think that gives me some wisdom periodically.  I think the difference though between these 3 modern day sources and the Bible is that Good to Great, Dennis Prager, and the Wall Street journal are not 100% wisdom 100% of the time.  Whereas the Bible I believe is 100% wisdom 100% of the time.  How about you?  Do you think you get wisdom in places outside of the Bible today?  Where are those places?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 11th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 32:1-33:23 ~ Matthew 26:69-27:14
Psalm 33:1-11 ~ Proverbs 8:33-36

Old Testament - Today Exodus chapter 32 verse 1 made me think about spiritual "boredom" - "When Moses failed to come back down the mountain right away, the people went to Aaron. "Look," they said, "make us some gods who can lead us. This man Moses, who brought us here from Egypt, has disappeared. We don't know what has happened to him."  I guess what made me think in this verse was this - Moses was gone only 40 days and 40 nights, up Mt. Sinai. Granted, the Israelites were in the middle of nowhere, so this actually might be quite a long time for him to be gone in these circumstances.  But, my thought is this - Do you think maybe the Israelites had somehow gotten "bored" with God?  And I ask this because I wonder if maybe we today get "bored" with God or "bored" with our faith?  And if so...  why?  Why did the Israelites get bored?  Why do we get bored?  What makes me nervous about getting bored with our faith is that what we see take place later in this chapter to the Israelites I think can happen to us - we can pursue false Gods and indulge in dangerous sins.  Typically, I find faith in God and a relationship with God to be the most adventurous thing on earth!  However, I will admit that there have been seasons in my walk where I somehow got bored with my faith.  And I think if I honestly look back at those seasons, I think the boredom came because I stopped moving forward in my relationship with God.  I let my faith kind of stagnate as a status quo.  I started to get distracted by worldly things.  And I got spiritually bored.  And this was not good. So - I wonder - what's our cure for boredom in our faith?  What keeps our faith fresh?  Part of me thinks that daily spiritual disciplines are part of the answer.  Reading the Bible every day.  Really praying every day.  Giving thanks to God every day.  How about for you?  What do you do to keep your faith fresh?  If you have any spiritual disciplines or habits you are willing to share with others please post up in the Comments section below!  Thanks.

Today in verses 7 & 8 about the golden calf – “Then the LORD told Moses, "Quick! Go down the mountain! The people you brought from Egypt have defiled themselves. They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They have made an idol shaped like a calf, and they have worshiped and sacrificed to it. They are saying, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.'” What about us in our lives today? Are we so different from the Israelites? Do we make our own versions of “golden calves” today? Do we have idols that we worship? Money? Career? Popularity? Relationships? Addictions? Our Intelligence? Technology? Do these idols stand in the way of our worship of God? Do they stand in the way of our relationship with God? Do these idols defile us? Do we think sometimes that these idols have actually “brought us out of Egypt” – instead of God? Will we give up these false idols and return to worshipping only God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit with all of our hearts, minds, soul and strength? Will you give up your “golden calf” at the feet of Jesus today?  Below is the painting “The Adoration of The Golden Calf” by Nicolas Poussin from 1633 -

Verse 30 stood out for me in this chapter as Moses interceded to God for the people of Israel after their sin - "The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin, but I will return to the LORD on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for you.""   And today, we have one more powerful than Moses who intercedes for us to God - and that is Jesus.  Our High Priest.  The Suffering Servant.  The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Commentary on Exodus chapter 32 at bible.org is at this link.  Commentary on Exodus chapter 33 at bible.org is at this link.  Below is a portrait by artist Guy Rowe of Moses speaking to God, what looks to be the "stiff-necked" people, and the broken tablets from today's readings.  It seems like 32:31-32 might be the fitting verses for this image below - "So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."

New Testament - Well, as I read today's readings, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ movie continues to play in my mind...  I guess it was about two years ago now that this movie came out?  I believe it was on Ash Wednesday 2004 that it came out - which if I recall was later in the month of February last year.  In any case, I am obviously a fan of the movie... One other movie about Jesus that I saw last year in the theaters was The Gospel of John.  Did any one see this movie?  It was a great great film I thought.  It basically went through the entire Gospel of John - word for word - in about a 3 hour film.  Good stuff.  I may need to watch this one again soon too.  Oh - and we're coming up on the Passion play season....  anyone make a habit of seeing Passion plays?  I like seeing them if I can prior to Easter.  It's a powerful reminder of what Jesus did for us on the road to Calvary.  Below is an image of Jesus before Pilate from today's readings by the Italian artist Tintoretto from 1567 -

Psalms - Psalm 33 verse 11 is strong today - "But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken."  I think the thing that grabs me about this verse is that it is God's plans - not our plans - that stand firm forever.  Therefore, it's only logical in my mind that we should align our lives such that they are part of God's plan - God's kingdom.  I think reading the Bible each day is one excellent way to discern what God's plans are.  And then - once we know what God's plans are, will we then align our lives with his plans?  Knowing that his intentions can never be shaken?  Or will we keep trying to forge out on our own...

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 8 verse 36 today tells us - ""But those who miss me have injured themselves. All who hate me love death.""  This is a powerful reminder of why we should seek and love God's wisdom all of our lives.  Let us not injure ourselves!  Let us not hate wisdom. Let us not love death.

Comments from you & Question of the Day - The Golden Calf readings... Are we so different from the Israelites? Do we make our own versions of “golden calves” today? Do we have idols that we worship? Money? Career? Popularity? Relationships? Addictions? Our Intelligence? Technology? Do these idols stand in the way of our worship of God? Do they stand in the way of our relationship with God?  Do these idols defile us?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 10th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 30:11-31:18 ~ Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11 ~ Proverbs 8:27-32

Old Testament - Today in Exodus chapter 30 we read about the bronze basin.  The Bronze Basin was used by the priests to cleanse themselves before performing their duties. It was cast from bronze mirrors donated by women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

Chapter 31 verses 1 through 3 stood out to me today - "The LORD also said to Moses, "Look, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, intelligence, and skill in all kinds of crafts."  These verses make me wonder about our lives.  What has God chosen you for?  What has God given you as gifts and skills?  Do you believe that your gifts, skills, and wisdom come from God?  Are you using these gifts, skills, and wisdom in the service of God?

In verse 13 we read - "Tell the people of Israel to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you forever. It helps you to remember that I am the LORD, who makes you holy."  How about for you? Do you think taking one day of rest – true rest – as a Sabbath is a good idea? Is there an activity that you are doing 7 days a week, that you can do just 6 days a week? Are you over-scheduling yourself maybe 7 days a week? Can you take 1 day a week to not be scheduled? Tons of great Biblical commentary on the Sabbath is online at bible.org at this link, and at this link, and at this link.  Today's OT readings finish with verse 18 - "Then as the LORD finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God."

New Testament - In Matthew chapter 26 we read about Jesus' arrest.  Below is reproduction of a 5th century mosaic of the infamous "Judas Kiss" -

Verses 53 & 54 stood out to me today when Jesus says - "Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?""  After praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was prepared for what must happen now...  Notice how prayer came before this confidence for Jesus of what must happen now.  (and Jesus knew that he could call down angels for protection - but he knew he shouldn't)   Do you model Jesus' action of praying before embarking on a significant life decision or trial?  Below is Jesus on trial before the Council -

When Jesus is before the Council, verse 64 is so powerful when Jesus is asked if he is the Messiah, the Son of God - "Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven.""

Psalms - Today we read Psalm 32, which is a wonderful testimony of joy about God’s gift of forgiveness to us when we confess our sins to God! In Psalm 32 verses 1 & 2 we will read – “Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” Do you agree with this Psalmist that there is joy in forgiveness? Have you confessed your sins to God? Do you make a regular habit of examining your conscience and confessing your sins to God? After confessing your sins, do you continuously pray to God to heal you of sins that may be gripping you? Will you then move forward on the actions or corrective measures that God leads you to - to truly be healed of addictive sins? Will you seek the joy of God’s forgiveness? Will you seek to live your life in complete honesty to God? Below is the famous painting titled "Forgiven."  Please take a few moments to meditate upon this painting.  How does it speak to you?

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 8 verses 27 through 32 are an incredible look at how wisdom was there as God formed the earth - and how wisdom is still here today asking us to listen.  Will we listen to the voice of wisdom?  Will we listen to the voice of Truth?

Comments from you & Question of the Day - Psalm 32 is a powerful Psalm on confession and forgiveness.  How do you confess your sins these days?  Do you confess them verbally to someone else - a pastor / minister / priest / mentor / friend / accountability partner?  Why do you confess them verbally?  Do you confess your sins to God in prayer?  After confessing your sins verbally or in prayer do you feel any different?  Do you think confession is relevant? Do you think confession is a spiritual discipline?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

February 9th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 29:1-30:10 ~ Matthew 26:14-46
Psalm 31:19-24 ~ Proverbs 8:14-26

Old Testament - Today in Exodus chapter 29 we read about the dedication of Aaron and his sons as priests -

Verse 37 stood out to me in this chapter - "After that, the altar will be exceedingly holy, and whatever touches it will become holy."  It's interesting to consider the verses prior to this - with the 7 days of sacrifices of young bulls.  For some reason this verse reminded me of Jesus and how people could simply touch the tassels of his robes and they would be healed.  I think it's fair to say that Jesus was much more holy than this altar was - and Jesus did not require purification rituals or sacrificing of bulls to make Jesus holy, as this altar did.  Jesus "embodied" holiness...  (and we'll get to the power of Jesus' body in today's Matthew readings...)  Below is an image of the altar of burnt offering in use -

In Chapter 30 we read about the incense altar -

I read a commentary that said the incense from this altar represented prayers to God from his people.  We can see this similarity in Revelation chapter 8 verses 3 & 4 - "Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great quantity of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people, to be offered on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of the saints, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out."  It is wonderful imagery to realize that our prayers to God are like fragrant incense!

New Testament - Today in Matthew 26 verse 14 we read - "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver." Zondervan's commentary says that 30 pieces of silver was equivalent to about 120 denarii.  Laborers at that time typically received 1 denarius for 1 day's work.  So, Judas was basically paid about 5 months worth of work for the betrayal of Jesus.  Sad...  Bible.org has a powerful essay on "The Biography of the Betrayer" at this link.    Below is a fresco by Giotto titled "Pact of Judas."  In this fresco the two priests on the right discuss Judas's perfidy, while the third plots with Judas, who is in the clutches of the devil.

Verses 26 through 28 today certainly will remind us of why Communion / the Lord's Supper is so important to us as believers in Jesus.  This all took place the night before Jesus was crucified.  The bread represents Jesus' body, given for us.  The wine represents Jesus' blood, poured-out for many through Jesus' atoning death.  Tangent alert - Have you heard the song by the Christian band Kutless called "Sea of Faces"?  It reminds me of Communion every time I hear it - "I see the city lights all around me - Everyone's obscure.  Ten million people each with their problems - Why should anyone care? And in Your eyes I can see - that I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world. Lost in a Sea of Faces. Your body's the bread, Your blood is the wine. Because you traded Your life for mine...."  Full lyrics for this song are at this link.  Great tune... 

Verse 35 always stands out to me whenever I read it - "No!" Peter insisted. "Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same." I guess what jumps out at me in this verse is the question - are we really any different from Peter?  Would we proclaim that we would not deny Jesus if you asked us straight up?  Yes I think we would proclaim that.  But then...  I get to thinking.   About how we live our life sometimes.  About the decisions we make.  About maybe even the bad habits we foreswore off when we were a new Christian.  And yet...  do we still find ourselves going back to those bad habits - back to those sins?  And, if we are doing this conscientiously - are we in a way denying Jesus when we knowingly sin now?  Are we at times denying Jesus as our Lord by our actions?  At times, are we really that different than Peter?

The Garden of Gethsemane... certainly my imagination on this portion of the Word has been influenced by Mel Gibson's The Passion movie...  verses 38 & 39 are heartbreaking - "Jesus told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me." Jesus went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.""  Zondervan's commentary on these 2 verses really seemed to shake me up a bit about what Jesus did for us - and how we was not a typical martyr - "Jesus did not die serenely as many martyrs have.  He was no mere martyr - he was the Lamb of God bearing the penalty of the sins of the entire human race.  The wrath of God was turned loose on him.  Only this can adequately explain what took place at Gethsemane."   The atonement was coming the next day.  And Jesus knew it.  And he prayed for God's will above all else.  And God's will was done.  And those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God must be so thankful for Jesus' fervent face down prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane...  Through Jesus' atoning death, we are saved from our sins.  We are saved from God's wrath.  I think it's really worth reflecting upon - Jesus took God's wrath in our place.  Think this qualifies Jesus as Savior?

Psalms - Wonderful look at God's goodness in Psalm 31 verse 19 - "Your goodness is so great! You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world." Do you believe that God's goodness is indeed great?  Are you honoring God with your life and your actions and your thoughts each day?  Do you believe that God is storing up blessings for you?  Do you believe that God will bless you if you go to him for protection?

Proverbs chapter 8 verse 22 is powerful to consider as it speaks of Wisdom - ""The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else."  If Wisdom was created before anything else, think this lends some credence to intelligent design?  :)

Comments from you & Question of the Day - Do our readings in Matthew today remind you of Communion / The Lord's Supper at your church?  Is this a positive remembrance for you?  How important is Communion / The Lord's Supper to you personally these days?  Do you look forward to this remembrance at your church?  Have you ever experienced Communion / The Lord's Supper with others in settings outside of your normal worship experience?  Maybe at a prayer gathering or outside or in other beautiful settings?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike