Today´s reading:
OT: Deuteronomy 23, Deuteronomy 24, Deuteronomy 25
NT: Luke 10:13-37
Ps: Psalm 75
Pr: Proverbs 12:12-14
Today´s notable verses:
7 However, if a man does not want to marry his brother's wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, "My husband's brother refuses to carry on his brother's name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me." 8 Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, "I do not want to marry her," 9 his brother's widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, "This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother's family line." 10 That man's line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled.
Deuteronomy 25:7-10 (NIV)
Nothing profoudly spiritual to note here; this regulation just struck my curiosity. "The Family of the Unsandaled"... interesting.
18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Luke 10:18-20 (NIV)
Certainly, Jesus has given us authority; but our response is to be one not of pride, but of humility. We are to be astonished not because the things over which we have been given authority submit to that authority, but because of the grace and mercy God has shown us.
An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
but a righteous man escapes trouble.Proverbs 12:13 (NIV)
Honesty truly is the best policy! Lies always catch up to us eventually. Conversely, acting and speaking with integrity will always result in our favor.
The One Year Bible Blog asks:
What a great opening line – Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit! In your life today - are you full of joy through the Holy Spirit? Do you want to be? I read a great commentary from Tyndale’s One Year Bible companion on this verse with this wonderful Q & A - “What was Jesus’ relationship to the Holy Spirit? Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, baptized by the Holy Spirit, anointed by the Holy Spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He lives in union with the Holy Spirit, and was dependent upon the Holy Spirit.” What is your relationship with the Holy Spirit today? Are you dependent upon the Holy Spirit in your life?
I would not have survived the past several months without an intimate relationship with, ministry of, and counsel from the Holy Spirit. It really is that simple. It is such a wonderful, liberating, comforting realization truly to know what it means to be sustained and empowered beyond one's own ability to cope, withstand, or endure hardship - and it is likewise an incredibly humbling understanding.