Author: Chip Bennett

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 27:14-34, Numbers 1
NT: Mark 11:1-26
Ps: Psalm 46
Pr: Proverbs 10:23

Today´s notable verse:

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

“Be still, and know that I am God;” – one of the most well-known phrases from the whole of the Psalms. What peace and comfort these words embody! We don’t need to suffer anxiety; rather, we can rest in the peace of God (Philippians 4:4-6) – the peace of knowing that God is God: soverign, benevolent, and all-powerful. Thank you, Lord, for giving us the comfort of You!

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Back to Psalm 46 verse 10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.” What does it mean to you to “Be still, and know that I am God?” Do you believe that being still during times of trouble can draw you closer to God? How do you make yourself “still” before God?

Either Mike and I think too much alike, or the Spirit just has a wonderful sense of humor! I think stillness has several aspects: stillness of mind (peace, as opposed to anxiety and worry), stillness of heart (faith, rather than fear), stillness of body (restfulness, rather than nervous restlessness). All of these characteristics/responses come from knowing that God is who He says He is. God is infinite and eternal: having created the infinitely large expanse of the universe yet concered with the infinitely small details of my life; God is omniscient: knowing everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen; God is omnipresent: being everywhere always; God is omnipotent: Creator of everything, and more powerful than anything.

Making myself “still” before God sometimes involves finding a place of physical stillness/solitude and sometimes involves finding the stillness within myself despite the turmoil surrounding me; however, making myself “still” always involves meditating on God’s Word, and offering to Him in prayer all of my concerns and struggles – and doing so out of an attitude of thanksgiving that God is in control. I referenced it earlier, but I will do so again: Philippians 4:4-9 is such a wonderful, powerful passage:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

Thus, the key to overcoming anxiety and finding the stillness of peace in God is turning over our anxiety to God in prayer, meditating on the things of God (rather than dwelling on our concerns or letting our minds wander into areas of sin), and emulating the Word of God and those who exemplify that Word.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 25:47-55, Leviticus 26, Leviticus 27:1-13
NT: Mark 10:32-52
Ps: Psalm 45
Pr: Proverbs 10:22

Today´s notable verse:

¹⁰ Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
¹¹ The king is enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.

Psalm 45:10-11 (NIV)

To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever read this Psalm before. But in doing so, I can’t help but note that this “wedding song” is prophetically allegorical to Christ as the bridegroom, and the church as His bride. Two things: one, that just like Rebekah made the choice to forsake her family and her country for the sake of God’s call to marry Isaac (Genesis 24), so the church – and we who comprise the church – are called to forsake all for God’s call; and two, I am struck by the thought of our Lord being “enthralled by [our] beauty”. Enthralled is a powerful word, meaning to be “spellbound” or “captivated”. God, captivated and spellbound by anything about me – I struggle to grasp understanding of that idea. And that God chooses to see our beauty, rather than the ugliness of our inherently sinful nature – I am awed and humbled.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – I know that many folks participate in the season of Lent, which began yesterday – and I know that many folks don’t. 🙂 If you are participating in Lent, what are you giving up or taking up? (if you’re comfortable sharing) If you don’t participate in Lent, what do you do prior to Easter to meditate upon Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection? Do you attend Passion Plays, do Passover meals, etc.? I’m just curious to hear about any spiritual practices or traditions folks participate in prior to Easter?

I’ve really never “observed” the season of Lent, or done anything special leading up the Easter. While not always foremost in my mind, every day I make decisions in which I either identify myself with the death and resurrection of Christ or else exemplify the need for His death in the first place. I thank God for His power at work in me on the days in which I “die to myself” with the decisions I make and the actions I take, and for His grace on the days that I choose not to.

I would, however, like to learn more about the Jewish Passover traditions and celebrations, so that I can better understand how they symbolized Christ, and how Christ fulfilled them.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 24, Leviticus 25:1-46
NT: Mark 10:13-31
Ps: Psalm 44:9-26
Pr: Proverbs 10:20-21

Today´s notable verse:

Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 25:17 (NIV)

I think one of the saddest things to see is one Christian taking advantage of another – especially another Christian. (Not that taking advantage of a non-believer is any more justified; but those of the world tend to live by its rules. To take advantage of a fellow Christian is to mock the trust and faith that brother has that he is dealing with one trustworthy through Christ.) What a horrendous witness! Paul admonishes the Corinthians for bringing lawsuits against one another, and so making themselves a mockery to unbelievers (I Corinthians 6:1-8).

²⁹ “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30 (NIV)

As I was discussing with one of my very close friends last night, promises such as this one are incredibly comforting to me, especially right now. While I still fully believe that God will fulfill what is one of the two greatest desires of my heart – to have a wife and children – I have likewise fully accepted that I am willing to sacrifice even that desire to Him, if to do so is what He wills. I know that He has placed this desire – I daresay, burden – on my heart for a family, but I also know that He will reward my faithfulness in being obedient to His call on my life, no matter what the cost. And in the meantime, I know that He will be faithful to satisfy my every need and desire in Himself.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – I know this will be a controversial question… so please post up gracefully and respond to others comments gracefully. I am very interested in hearing everyone’s views on Leviticus 24:17 in today’s readings – “Anyone who takes another person’s life must be put to death.” Do you think Jesus’ higher law of love changed this at all? …Theologically / Biblically, what are your views on the death penalty?

I admit, I struggle with this question. I’ve been debating it for several years. I think where I am right now – having come from a staunchly pro-death penalty viewpoint – is this position: I am not against the death penalty for murderers, but if I am forced to choose, I will err on the side of life. I am passionately pro-life with respect to abortion, human cloning/embryonic stem cell research, and euthanasia – if I am to be wrong, I would rather err in letting a condemned man live, than killing someone whom we do not have the right to kill.

God first established the law or principle of death as the punishment for murder long before the establishment of the Law and Commandments (Genesis 9:6). It is one of the earliest laws established by God, and is indicative of the sanctity of human life: “for in the image of God has God made man.” But death is permanent: decisions of salvation must be made in this life; death ends any opportunity of accepting Christ. Is it our place to end forever any opportunity for redemption? Perhaps it is, according to those verses referenced.

On the other hand, God also says that He is responsible for vengance and judgement (Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30). Also, if Christ died once, for all, did His sacrifice not atone for the sin of murder? If no sin is unforgiveable, would not murder also be forgiveable, and forgiven? If then Christ’s sacrifice atoned even for murder, then the old law that murder must be atoned for by the life of the murderer is fulfilled in the Cross along with all the rest of the sins of the world. In that case, the life has already been taken to atone for the murder, and even the murderer has been redeemed.

So, I am not yet fully decided. In the meantime, the most tenable and consistent position I can take is always to err on the side of life – even the life of a murderer, bearing in mind that, in my sin, I am no more worthy before God than he is, and I am equally responsible for Christ’s death on the cross.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 22:17-33, Leviticus 23:1-44
NT: Mark 9:30-50, Mark 10:1-12
Ps: Psalm 44:1-8
Pr: Proverbs 10:19

Today´s notable verse:

When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)

Have you ever noticed that when we have a guilty conscience about something, we are compelled to talk about it? Whatever it was that induced the guilty conscience, whether we try to rationalize it, marginalize it, seek confirmation that it wasn’t wrong, or confess it – we seem compelled to talk. I wonder if this proverb alludes to the same thing? I like the second half, and think it wise advice at any time. Being slow to speak (James 1:19) often reaps dividends.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Based on Psalm 44:3 above – as you look back on your life and at the good things that have happened to you, do you think that these things occurred because of your own power or work alone? Or, do you think it is possible that God’s hand was blessing your life through all of those good things – even if maybe you did not notice God was there at the time?

I know that God is at the root of everything I’ve accomplished in my life. Whether orchestrated directly by God, or simply a result of making use of the skills and abilities God has given me, He is the reason for any success I’ve had. I have no “power” of my own, but only the power of God working through me. In the words of Paul:

⁷ To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

II Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

I try to make this attitude my own – and I’ll be the first to admit that to do so isn’t easy! But considering that pride may be one of the most foundational of all sins, understanding the principle of this passage is one of the most empowering in all of Scripture. When we learn this kind of humility, we truly allow the full power of God to work through us.

To delight in one’s weaknesses might cause some to infer a lack of self-esteem in such a person – and they would be right! However, when one esteems oneself less in order to esteem God more highly, such lack of self-esteem is proper, good, and incredibly empowering. May I more and more become that kind of person!

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 20:22-27, Leviticus 21, Leviticus 22:1-16
NT: Mark 9:1-29
Ps: Psalm 43
Pr: Proverbs 10:18

Today´s notable verse:

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” ²³ ” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9:21-24 (NIV)

Oh, how we can relate to the boy’s father. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” I think we know this dichotomy of belief all too well. Some see it as a “head” belief and a “heart” unbelief. Some see it as the polarity between belief through faith and the doubt of common sense. Whatever the case, how aptly this declaration sums up so many of our experiences. I think the father here is really saying: I want to believe, and I choose to believe; but Jesus, I need your help to turn my desire and decision into reality. I can’t do it on my own! May my prayer be the same.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – What do you think of the image above in the Psalms section? I find it to be very powerful – and relates to the OT reflections on being “set apart.” How do you set yourself apart from the world for God? Are there particular movies or TV or radio programs that you will not watch or listen to? Should we set boundaries for ourselves on what we will and will not watch?

Over the past couple years, God has spent a lot of time in my life on the matter of holiness; it took a long time for the message and principle He was trying to teach me really to set in. The jist is this: the Old covenant gave the Israelites boundaries to keep themselves from sinning; Christ’s covenant calls us to a higher and more perfect pursuit – not merely to avoid sin, but to pursue holiness. In other words, if we are focusing on the “line” between “sin” and “not sin”, we’re looking in the wrong direction: 180 degrees in the wrong direction! Rather, we are to look toward Christ – toward holiness.

For example, instead of debating whether a certain movie is “too sinful” or “too tempting” a stimulus, I should choose to find stimuli that edify. Consider these words of Paul:

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right; whatever pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Is it making sense? Another example, rather than trying to decide what physical line is “too far” to cross in a relationship, I should focus on how I may honor God with my body in the relationship.

The benefit of this approach is that a long list of “dos” and “don’ts” is replaced by the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit. Adherence to rules is superceded by a deeper intimacy with the One whom those rules are intended to honor.

And in the process, the questions of “how far is too far” or “how much is too much” disappear completely. This principle embodies the true freedom found in the pursuit of holiness!

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 19, Leviticus 20:1-21
NT: Mark 8:11-38
Ps: Psalm 42
Pr: Proverbs 10:17

Today´s notable verses:

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? ³⁷ Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:34-37 (NIV)

I am reminded of the words of Jim Elliott, one of the Christian martyrs portrayed in the recent movie End of the Spear, who said:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

Psalm 42:7 (NIV)

This verse reminds me of the Pacific Ocean surf at Roca Blanca. The size of the waves and breakers literally swept over us (you can get an idea of the scale in this picture. Notice the size of the breakers compared with my friend, who is about to have the wave sweep over him):

Pacific Ocean surf at Roca Blanca Mission Base, Cacalote, Oaxaca, Mexico
Photo © Chip Bennett, all rights reserved.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Based on Proverbs 10:17 today, do you accept correction in your life? Do you accept correction from God? Do you accept correction from others in your life? Do you think that if you don’t accept correction in your life that you will lead others astray? Can you think of an instance in your life where you ignored correction and it ended up being bad for not only you, but others around you? Can you think of an instance in your life where you heeded correction and it ended up being good for not only you, but others around you?

I apologize. I know the “thought of the day” regards the Proverbs verse, but I am so overcome reading about Jim Elliott that everything else pales in comparison right now. Anyone who knows me, and knows my passion for mission work – especially to Mexico and Latin America – would understand.