March 30th One Year Bible Readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23 ~ Luke 8:40-9:6
Psalm 71:1-24 ~ Proverbs 12:5-7

Old Testament - Wow.  Deuteronomy chapter 13 starts off with a strong warning today - ""Suppose there are prophets among you, or those who have dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles take place. If the prophets then say, `Come, let us worship the gods of foreign nations,' do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul."  Do you believe there are false prophets in our world today?  Are there people in our world that tempt us to worship false gods?  It is possible one of the false gods we can be tempted to worship today is even our own self?  Will we reject worshiping false gods and love and worship the one true God with all of our soul and heart? 

Verse 22 is powerful for us to meditate upon - ""You must set aside a tithe of your crops--one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Bring this tithe to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored."  What might "crops we harvest" be in our modern world today?  Is there a place we can bring a tithe to God today?  Do you believe that tithing honors God?

Deuteronomy chapter 15 verses 4 and 10 & 11 stood out to me today - "There should be no poor among you, for the LORD your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession.... Give freely without begrudging it, and the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some among you who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need." How do these verses speak to you?  I find it interesting that these verses say both - there should be no poor and that there will always be some poor among you.  I wonder why this is?  It seems kind of like a kingdom of heaven ultimate reality and our fallen world temporary reality perhaps...  Do you think the command to share our resources freely with the poor and others in need is still valid today?  How are you doing in giving freely to the poor?

In verses 16 & 17 we read - "But suppose your servant says, `I will not leave you,' because he loves you and your family, and he is well off with you. In that case, take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door. After that, he will be your servant for life." 

New Testament - The structure of today's readings in Luke chapter 8 are amazing.  The narrative starts with Jairus asking Jesus to heal his daughter who is about to die - but, then, in the middle of the narrative Jesus' journey is stopped by a woman who simply wants to touch Jesus' robe so that she will be healed from a 12-year suffering.  And verse 48 in this portion is just so beautiful as Jesus says to the now healed woman - "Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has made you well. Go in peace."  You know what is really beautiful about this verse?  This woman is the only individual in all of the Gospels that Jesus addresses as "daughter."  What a beautiful Savior we have...

Then, the narrative cuts back to Jairus, but it sounds like it's too late for Jesus to come to the house.  Messengers report that the little girl has died.   Jesus simply tells Jairus in verse 50 - "Just trust me."  (which is something so powerful that I believe Jesus says to you and me today too - "Just trust me."  Don't worry about anything else in this passing life.  "Just trust me.")  And then in verses 54 & 55 we read - "Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, "Get up, my child!" And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up!" 

Luke chapter 9 verses 1 & 2 are an awesome glimpse at Jesus empowering the twelve - "One day Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick."   Do you believe that the Kingdom of God has come / is coming?  And then I love verse 12.... it's like the twelve are going on tour!  Making the circuit!   "So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick."  The tour of the twelve is definitely one tour I'd want to go see...  :)

Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 8's readings today titled "The Interrupted Miracle or Two Touching Miracles" is at this link.

Psalms - Today in Psalm 71 verses 6 through 8 we read - "Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long." So true that God has cared for each of us since we were in our mother's womb! This a beautiful thing to realize.  There is an interesting thought in these verses - if our live is an example to many - and well, yes, it really is no matter what we actually do.  Hopefully our life is a good example - but there could be seasons of bad example too. . . If our lives are good examples to many, why is this so?  I agree w/ the Psalmist - it is simply because of God in our lives. 

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 12 verse 6 is a powerful little proverb... "words of the godly save lives."  How might our words save lives?  Are the words coming out of your mouth in some way saving lives?

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on our Psalm above, is God literally your strength and protection?  Do you praise God unceasingly?   Do you declare God's glory all day long?   How do you do so?  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

[stef]

as to tithing..its the one place in the Bible where the Lord says we may test Him( Malachi 3:10) my husband and i have found the Lord to be very faithful ..we are never overflowing with financial wealth but we are looked after always and grateful for everything we have..were finding it very different here in the uk..back in south africa there is a lot of poverty and it was very easy to help ,here a lot of people dont realise how blessed they are and one tends to be working to send money to help overseas countries more than local....stef

[MG]

17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
Ps.71: 17-18

I love these verses because they remind me of my responsibility to pass on my faith to the next generation, especially my children and my college students. But no matter whether we are parents or not, or college ministers or not, there are people around us who are the next generation that are hungering to hear the story of God in our lives. We have a legacy that we must pass on.

[Peggy]

WOw Wow Wow is all I can say about today's reading With all that is going on around us today it is not a wonder that God has not come back and taken us all out. I thank God He is a patient God. I thank Him for sending us His Son.
In Deu verse 15, I thought about in todays time that when a person goes into bankrupency the debt is forgiven after 7 years. Just a thought.
Yes, I feel that we should thith. Why not our harvest (our paycheck), we make is made possible by God. Who do you think gave us the gift, health, and transportation to do and get to our jobs. So Yes, we need to give back to God what is rightfully His anyway.
I examined my own giving to the poor and I have to admit i don't do enough. I have just resently reached out in faith and joined a group in our church, that gives food to different families in our area once month. It's a start.
I just have to say again WOW. Today's reading really spoke to me today. Thanks. Have a Blessed day. Peggy

[Richard]

The story of Jairus' Daughter has always held a special position in my heart. Here we see The Teacher lift the girl from death and all was amazed. However He was was so consumed with concern for the girl that he also ordered them to give her something to eat! How complete is His love for us! I take a further message from this action. Maybe the food He was speaking of was not the kind you eat. I see it as the food of eternal life. The Bread Of Life as described by John in the next Gospel. We as parents have the obligation to involve our children in the walk with Jesus but more importantly to allow Him to walk with our children. I also loved Psalm 71:15. "...all day long I will speak of your salvation, though it is more than I can understand." This psalmist obviously was well versed in one of my other favorite quotes found in Proverbs 3:5-7.

[luciano Del Monte]

what does one do if a local church emphasizes 'storehouse titing'-all of the tithe goes to your local church, but they (the church) doesn't tithe to the poor or give generously to the poor? IF a church is going to demand people tithe to the church only, then that church has the responsibility to give to other causes other than its own self preservation.

I don't minimize that a tithe is a good place to start, but a simple reading of the new testament will reveal an emphasis on 'grace giving'--proportionate giving. See 2 Cor 8-9, 1 Cor 16:1-4, Gal 6:6, Not once do the apostles tell us to 'tithe'. A good study on this is Gary Friesen's Decision Making and the Will of God (Multnomah press)

it seems the pattern of scripture is that we need to give our largest gift to the place we receive our 'feeding and training' and then we give to other great causes--world vision, compassion, wycliffe translaters, campus ministries, and many other noble causes that our churches aren't reaching. Let's not starve those who are called by God to work in the kingdom of God that isn't 'local church oriented'....

[jean]

Proverbs 12:6 This verse really hit home with me.
The words that are spoken can bring death or live to who hears them. This verse made me think of what actually comes out of my mouth, sometimes in anger I have said things that were not meant to have been said, I pray to be the wise one who speaks words of healing and not of hurting even in anger.

[jean]

Luke 8:48. Healing by Faith.
The woman was healed by her faith, she trully believed that by touching just the hem of Christ's garment will heal her. Now that is the faith!!!!! Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we donot see. This reminds me of when Jesus healed a servant because the master told Jesus to just say the words and he knows his servant will be healed.Mat 8:5-13 That is powerful! Having to trust God and having faith in His word is what we should all strive to be.

[John]

[repost from last year; NT posting will be late tonight on tomorrow's blog]

Deut 15:16-17
"But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant." NIV

Since studying the Bible, I have understood these verses to be the defintion of bond-servant or bondslave.

Mary considered herself a bondslave to God (Luke 1:38,48). Simeon considered himself a bond-servant to God (Luke 2:29). Paul referred to himself and others as bond-servants of Jesus. Peter, James, and Jude also referred to themselves as bond-servants.
http://www.biblemaster.com/bible/search.asp?query=bond-servant&t=nas&section=2&tn=1&page=1

Jesus, himself, was referred to as a bond-servant. (Phil 2:7)

John was a bond-servant who was to show Revelation to God's bond-servants (Rev 1:1). Finally Moses was called a bond-servant (Rev 15:3).

John is called “a bond-servant” (doulos = “a slave”). The word doulos is a significant term when it is applied to believers. The doulos was the one who was owned by his master, lock, stock, and barrel. He was totally under the authority and power of his master and dependent on him for everything—his responsibilities, his daily food, housing and supplies, and his purposes in life. Ironically though, only when we become slaves to Christ do we ever find true freedom from sin, self, Satan, and the world. The simple truth is: everyone is a slave to someone or something. The only question is, who is your master? It was Bob Dylan who sang the well-known song, “You Gotta Serve Somebody!” The chorus of this song was simple: “It may be the Devil, it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody!”
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=3669

"Slave” stresses his relationship and attitude to Christ. The second part of the word is doulos and means not merely a servant, but a bondslave. A bondslave was one owned by another and so completely that he was dependant upon his master for everything in life—for his daily supply of needs, where he lived and how, for his vocation or area of service, and for the supplies needed to do his work. It shows his submission and who controlled his life. His life was not his own, he had been bought with a price. He was the Lord’s possession who guided his life and supplied his needs."
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1621

[Nicole]

The Verse in Deuteronomy 15 about the poor always being with us even though there shouldn't be any poor people was interesting. I drove through Downtown LA recently and went down Skid row, there were so many people down there, and it was just heartbreaking to see them living like that with multi-million dollar buildings all around them. To see such wealth in with the poverty, its just sad. What really stuck me was how i always just thought of them as "homeless people" and not as an actual person with a family and a story. And the verse says "give freely without begrudging it," thats really hard to so sometimes...Good verses today =0)

[P.M.]

The pastor from my childhood told me - like breathing in and breathing out, let your words always praise God - in good times, in not so good times - praise Him. He will turn 90 soon, he and his wife live a blessed life of good health and peace. They blessed God through many trying times, and of course through the joy and abundance they have been given. When I do the same - praising God like breathing in and breathing out, even the worst situations of my life have proven over and over again to be greatly used for His glory.

An aquaintance of mine at the time was asking me what my thoughts were on abortion, not knowing that it was this person's intent to terminate their own pregnancy, I spoke frankly. I quoted Ps 71: 6-8. That was over twenty years ago. She and her daughter are best friends now and she has on more than one occasion thanked me for using my words to save her daughter's life.

[Claddagh Girl]

Thought provoking

What are we really worshipping? What am I really worshipping in my busy life?

[John]

Regarding the Poor

"When there may be no poor among you: God established an economic system wherein no one had to be chronically poor. If people would obey the Lord, He would bless (both sovereignly and as the natural result of the obedience), and they would not be poor.

i. However, Deuteronomy 15:11 - just a few verses down - states: For the poor will never cease from the land. Is God contradicting Himself? Not at all. He knows that He has established a system where no one must be chronically poor, yet He knew that because of disobedience, some would, and there would always be the poor in Israel.

ii. So, God did not guarantee prosperity for any one in Israel; but He did guarantee opportunity for prosperity for an obedient Israel." - David Guzik

http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/0515.htm

[John]

Tithing

I agree with Luc on proportional giving, with the largest to go to our source of spiritual food, but definately giving also to other ministries outside the local church.

One thing I do after giving - I don't worry about how the money is used in the ministry. I give because I am satisfied with the ministry - how they use the money is their business. If they mis-use it: that is between the principals and God.

Remember - the money was never ours in the first place.