Deuteronomy 28:1-68 ~ Luke 11:14-36 ~ Psalm 77:1-20 ~ Proverbs 12:18
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Old Testament - I love the blessings for obedience that open up our Deuteronomy chapter 28 readings today! I actually first heard these read at a wedding several years back. The best man in the wedding read these verses as a blessing to the bride & groom. Somehow I missed the "obedience" to God's commands part of the blessing... Obedience is quite a word I think for Christians to consider. I'm not sure that it is a popular word for us sometimes. I do believe that we are called to obedience as followers of Jesus. Jesus himself was of course obedient - obedient even to death on a cross. Is there an area of your life where you feel God might be calling you to obedience? Will you obey? Below is a little obedience humor for you... :)
New Testament - Jesus' teaching in Luke chapter 11 verse 23 is so important for us to understand - "Anyone who isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me." How does this verse speak to you? For me it convicts me. Yeah, maybe for some of my time I am helping Jesus and the Kingdom of God, but I think there is a lot of time where I am not working with Jesus. I am maybe indulging in some seemingly harmless trivial pursuits or material pleasures - but they aren't really working with Jesus. And am I then, at those times, actually working against Jesus? I don't know. I want to pray on this more. I do know that we are called to rest & relaxation in our lives - a time of Sabbath rest each week. We don't have to be frantically seeking to "do" & serve Jesus 24 x 7. But, I do think it's possible that we can live our lives more "intentionally" - meaning, examine the intent of why we do what we do. And ultimately, is what we are doing with our time helping and working with Jesus? Or is it not? I think being intentional with our time and how we are spending our lives is so important... because time flies as we all know.
Jesus' teaching in Luke chapter 11 verse 36 is powerful for each of us to consider! "If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you." That second little clause there I think is key - with no dark corners. I'll admit that I have traveled through life with some dark corners. And it is no way to go. The dark corners do affect the Light really shining in you and through you - and the dark corners I believe can affect your relationship with God. I pray that if you know you have a dark corner in your life, confess it to God and Jesus. Pray for forgiveness and repent! God will fill you with light - a light that will penetrate and remove those dark corners in your life. But, you've gotta confess them & repent of them with God... You know it's worth it. To live a radiant life, as though a floodlight is shining on you is the only way to live!
Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 11's readings today titled "Evidence that Produced Various Verdicts" is at this link.
Psalms - Today in Psalm 77 verses 11 and 12 we read – “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” I think these verses get at one of the amazing things about each of us reading the One Year Bible this year – both the Old & New Testaments. We are reading perhaps for the first time – or maybe the 17th time – about God’s miracles of long ago. We are "remembering" God’s miracles for our spiritual ancestors, for ourselves, and for those around us in our lives today whom we will teach about God’s saving love. As you are reading through the One Year Bible this year, are you truly "remembering" God’s miracles of long ago? Are you meditating on all of His mighty works and considering His mighty deeds? Are you being transformed by this process? And will you now go forth and help others in your life "remember" and meditate on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s miracles of long ago? Let us pray for "remembrance" today for ourselves and for others in our lives. If very modern day post-it notes will help you remember God's miracles and will help you meditate on all of God's works, then by all means please use as many post-it notes as you deem necessary! :)
Verse 11 of this Psalm brings up miracles. Has anyone read C.S. Lewis's book Miracles? I have not yet, but hope to soon. Please post up a quick review in the Comments section below if you've read it? Thanks.
Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 12 verse 18 is such a strong reminder that the words that come out of our mouths can either build people up - and even heal them - or tear people down - "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing." Are the words coming out of your mouth these days cutting people or are they healing people?
Worship God: Today's readings in Luke 11:36 reminds me of Tim Hughes incredible song "Here I am to Worship." Here's a live version of the song with Darlene Zschech and Hillsong United:
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Back to my Deuteronomy chapter 28 reflections on obedience - do you think about "obedience" very often when it comes to your relationship with God? Do you think obedience is a very popular concept amongst Christians today? Do you think there are blessings that come along with obedience? Have you experienced blessings in your life because of obedience? Conversely, do you think there are consequences to disobedience? 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
Yes, we are called to be obedient, and yes we know there are consequences for NOT being obedient. That being said, sometimes obedience comes with consequences too and I want to encourage you that if you are being obedient to God and His word and life is not perfect, you are not being punished. It is a lie from the enemy that will make you question if obeying God is worth the suffering you are going through. Let me assure you, it is. Take heart, be obedient, and press on!
Posted by: Lori | April 04, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Today's reading was pretty intense on the flipside of obedience. I read with some mourning knowing that parts of this curse are now found abundantly in every corner of the world now.
The blessing took so many fewer words to express than the curse and yet, I defy anyone to be discontent with a life such as the one blessed for obedience to God. It speaks to me on the way when you live obediently to the instructing of the Holy Spirit in your life, that living is not complicated. It is not some inane set of impossible rituals, but something you were created to do and do well.
I had a conversation with people last night who were the very example of what Christ spoke of with the people who are that radiant light. There is no corner in their lives not touched by the light of Christ and so they were an absolute joy just to sit and speak with over the absolute simplest of things in life that are made absolute joy by living a cornerless life.
It was convicting for me to remember that I may, in fact, live that life where everything is joy and everything is gain. Everything I survey is my inheritance, and everything that is cursed around me will fade away like a sneeze in the wind.
Posted by: Dee | April 05, 2009 at 08:05 AM
You mention about the dark corners of our lives, but the point in that statement was what He said about how the eye is the lamp of our lives - it's what we look at that taints our light, hence if we spend much of our day watching secular TV, soaps, and other such rubbish, it cuts into the light of your life. I never used to believe this to any degree, until I found myself often thinking over a plot in a soap to the point where I would end up thinking of nothing else for hours and even dreaming about it, or something in a film would play on my mind endlessly. It taught me that these things do go into our inner being in some way and Satan can use them to block out the light. Same with pornography obviously and other such media, and even just lustful looks at the opposite sex. All these things are of no value. When we "soak" ourselves in worship, scripture, and Christian films or media etc, we start to live more according to those values than the world's, hence our light is increased and shines out of us to those around us. I have to confess tho, that I'm still trying to overcome the temptation of one soap in particular, which may not be the worst, but is of no value to my life either, but it's tough :)).!!
Posted by: Romayne | April 05, 2009 at 01:17 PM
Yes it is tough, I know this all to well. But recently my internet was shut off for lack of paymen. However that is not the problem, I am now able to get print outs or save stuff on a disc to access on my pc at home, what have I been saving , bible verses and stories that work to uplift me and help me think about and focus( I hope) more on God and what he wants me to think about and read. Now that I have been without it I hardly miss it.
Posted by: Debra | April 18, 2009 at 02:31 PM