Category: Religion

Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 36, Deuteronomy 1
NT: Luke 5:29-39, Luke 6:1-11
Ps: Psalm 66
Pr: Proverbs 11:24-26

Today´s notable verses:

¹⁶ Come and listen, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
¹⁷ I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
¹⁸ If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
¹⁹ but God has surely listened
and heard my voice in prayer.

Psalm 66:16-19 (NIV)

Now here’s a reality check for effective prayer: am I harboring or cherishing any sin in my heart when I pray? If so, God certainly will not listen! Contrition and confession of sin are so vital to a right relationship with God, and are absolutely necessary if we are to have any kind of power in our prayer life. Note also that David is not simply praying to God; he is crying out to Him, and praising Him! Most of my prayer is silent, but I think I need to practice more spoken prayer.

²⁴ One man gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
²⁵ A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV)

More on these verses when I get caught up on my Crown homework postings, since this week we discussed giving. I’ll just point out here that God is revealing another of His principles. Just as we reap what we sow, when we sow generosity we reap blessing.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – (random tangential questions here based on this awesome image above… 🙂 How often do you give hugs? Who was the last person you gave a hug to? Can you give someone a hug today? Do you think giving hugs (or receiving hugs) is important? Are hugs Biblical? 🙂 (okay, now I’ve gotten silly, but what do you think – can you think of some hugs in the Bible??)

Hugging is important – nothing can quite replace a genuine, heartfelt hug. There are days when what I most need is a hug. Obviously, I tend to be a hugger. I hug all my friends – even the males, and I don’t cop out with a “guy hug”. Real men are comfortable enough with themselves to be able to show affection to one another. I probably tend to hug my male friends more than my female friends, if for no other reason so as not to give even an appearance of impropriety. I wonder how, when Paul exhorts in several of his letters to “greet one another with a holy kiss” that we could even think that a hug is somehow inherently un-biblical? Of course, then intention behind the hug could be impure – but that is true about the intention behind just about anything. But to the pure, all things are pure (Titus 1:15).

Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 33:40-56, Numbers 34, Numbers 35
NT: Luke 5:12-28
Ps: Psalm 65
Pr: Proverbs 11:23

Today´s notable verse:

²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” ²¹ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ²² Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ²⁴ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ²⁵ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. ²⁶ Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Luke 5:20-26 (NIV)

Jesus here very clearly demonstrates that He is God. What the Pharisees say is true: none but God can forgive sin. But note that Jesus doesn’t merely claim deity; He demonstrates it by healing the man. Jesus also demonstrates here that He is ultimately concerned with spiritual healing, even while He provides physical healing. Much more beneficial to the man lying on the mat in this story is his spiritual well-being, and it is this need that Jesus first addresses. Because of his faith, his sins are forgiven him. This spiritual healing benefits the man. His physical healing also benefits the man, but Jesus uses it to honor Himself as God and to bring glory to the Father by demonstrating his power, love, and compassion.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Psalm 65 has some amazing verses about nature! …When is the last time you have been inspired to shout for joy to God for the beautiful sunset he created? …When is the last time you have stood in complete silence before God because of his beautiful Creation?

I have always found nature – God’s creation – to be incredibly inspiring. Sometimes I am inspired to act, and other times I am inspired in complete silence and stillness. Though there are moments of the former (a particularly glorious daybreak that compels me to worship, usually in song), it is the latter in which I usually find myself inspired by nature. Somehow, actions or words seem likely to spoil the moment, to adulterate the experience, and to detract from awe and glory of God in which I find myself. I would much rather still myself and comtemplate and meditate upon the great and awesome God we serve – powerful and imaginative enough to create our universe, yet caring and considerate enough to create the universe in such a way to meet our every need and provide for our benefit and enjoyment.

Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 32, Numbers 33:1-39
NT: Luke 4:31-44, Luke 5:1-11
Ps: Psalm 64
Pr: Proverbs 11:22

Today´s notable verse:

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:11 (NIV)

Wow, talk about dropping everything in an instant and following Christ! Now, I don’t think that this verse implies that Peter, James, and John simply abandoned their responsibilities to follow Christ. Perhaps they handed over operation of the fishing business to subordinates, or sold their interests. Regardless of the specific details, they left behind everything they had known previously, and pursued Christ wholeheartedly. We are called to this same level of devotion.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Do you believe that Jesus still calls his followers to be fishers of people today? Are you a fisher of people? How are you fishing for people for the Lord in your life today?

Jesus’ ministry was always – and will always be – about people. God’s great plan was always for the reconciliation of His people with Himself. Thus, as we actively carry out the ministry of Christ, we are ministers of reconciliation:

¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

II Corinthians 5:18-21 (NIV)

Thus, we are still in the business of “catching men”. Or, more correctly, we are the net, and the Spirit uses us to catch men.

Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 30, Numbers 31
NT: Luke 4:1-30
Ps: Psalm 63
Pr: Proverbs 11:20-21

Today´s notable verse:

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Luke 4:13 (NIV)

“Until an opportune time” – doesn’t Satan do the same thing with us, even today? That Satan waits for an “opportune time” is all the more reason that the little things – the seemingly unimportant events, the apparently insignificant decisions – are so very critical. Satan crouches outside the door, waiting for an opening; he prowls about as a lion, seeking one vulnerable to be devoured. We must constantly be on guard – not against frontal attacks from without, but against any sign of compromise from within.

It all starts with but a thought: whether as a result of our own iniquity, or planted intentionally by Satan. Christ commands us to take captive every thought, and make it obedient to Him. In so doing, we deny even the seed of an opportunity to be planted through which Satan might tempt us.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – When faced with temptation in your life, have you ever brought to mind the Word of God? Did this change things? Do you believe that the Word of God can help us combat temptation in our life?

What else can we use with sucess other than the Word of God? God is so gracious to me, in that His Spirit brings to mind a verse or passage or word at just the right time: to combat a temptation, or to encourage a brother, or whatever the circumstance. God bringing to my mind His Word results from spending hours studying His Word, and seeking to understand and apply it to my life. I am blessed that I have parents who instilled in me both the discipline and love of studying the Word.

Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 28:16-31, Numbers 29
NT: Luke 3:23-38
Ps: Psalm 62
Pr: Proverbs 11:18-19

Today´s notable verse:

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Selah

Psalm 62:8 (NIV)

I love the imagery of pouring out my heart to God! God wants authenticity, not formality. God wants us to be real with him – sincere, honest, and open. He wants us to be ourselves with Him. God does not want our “prayer language” but the innermost thoughts and desires of our heart.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Today in Proverbs chapter 11 verse 18 we read – “who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.” Are you sowing righteousness in your life? How are you sowing righteousness in your life? Do you love others at the same level you love yourself? Are you working diligently for your employer? Are you serving the poor? Do you believe that the farming analogy of sowing and reaping in this Proverb is true? And like any good farming analogy, will you patiently sow and patiently await the time of reaping?

The principle of reaping what we sow is undoubtedly true. This verse is a very good reminder to be intentional about what I am sowing, and to be thankful to God for His grace in working through what I sow.

Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 26:52-65, Numbers 27, Numbers 28:1-15
NT: Luke 3:1-22
Ps: Psalm 61
Pr: Proverbs 11:16-17

Today´s notable verse:

²² Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. ²³ Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD instructed through Moses.

Numbers 27:22-23 (NIV)

What a seminal moment in the history of the Israelite nation! After leaving the oppresison of Egypt, the Israelites had known no leader other than Moses. In this moment, God reveals to Israel the transition from the man who lead them out of the land of bondage to the man who will lead them into the land of promise. In passing the priesthood from Aaron to Eleazar, God provided continuation of Israel’s spiritual leadership. Here, God provides continuation of Israel’s military, judicial, and organizational leadership. At this point, the era of Moses ends and the era of Joshua begins as the epic history of God’s chosen people marches inexorably onward.

Here we see the Shaddai and Jireh nature of God, as He institutes His chosen leadership, and provides for the Israelites. Is not God the same today? Do we recognize and appreciate God working similarly in our lives today?

Food for thought from the One Year Bible Blog based on today’s Psalms reading:

Do you cry out to God in prayer during the storms in your life? When your heart grows faint, do you call on God’s holy name, and allow him to lead you to his Rock? Do you believe that God can be your refuge? Your strong tower against the foe? Do you long to dwell in God’s house forever? Do you long to take refuge in the shelter of God’s wings?

Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 26:1-51
NT: Luke 2:36-52
Ps: Psalm 60
Pr: Proverbs 11:15

Today´s notable verses:

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Luke 2:40 (NIV)

As for speaking a blessing over one’s children, here’s a good place to start! Certainly Christ in us can pass on Christ to our children through a prayer based on this description of the childhood Christ: growth, strength, wisdom, and grace. Amen!

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Luke 2:49 (NIV)

Where else would one expect Christ to be, other than in his Father’s House, about his Father’s business? Shouldn’t the same be expected of us; more importantly, shouldn’t we expect the same from ourselves?

The One Year Bible Blog notes:

So, for me, the second half of this verse tonight is a good verse on boundaries – it’s better to refuse than suffer later…. I like that…. I need that….

Too many Christians think it wrong, or somehow demonstrative of weak faith, to say “no” when asked to do something. However, I think the opposite is true. It is wrong to sacrifice our best for the sake of the good – which is exactly what we do, when we willingly stretch ourselves too thin and over-commit our time and resources. We are called to be good stewards of our time, resources, abilities, and relationships. Good stewardship requires making decisions regarding how we will use that with which we have been entrusted.

Certainly, we can do all things through Christ, and with God everything is possible – but God never asks us to do everything. To do so would be contrary to His nature and will that men work interdependently with one another. God has called each of us to do something – great or small, no matter – and our responsibility is to fulfill that calling to the best of our ability. There are many good things I can do, but often, to do them would rob me of time and resources to be doing the thing I’m supposed to be doing.

Therefore, if we are to achieve the excellence to which we are called to strive, we must understand and discern when we are to say “yes” and when we are to say “no”. This discernment demonstrates both wisdom, and faith.

Spiritside, welcome to the OYB Blogroll!

Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 24, Numbers 25
NT: Luke 2:1-35
Ps: Psalm 59
Pr: Proverbs 11:14

Today´s notable verse:

¹⁶ But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
¹⁷ O my Strength, I sing praise to you;
you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

Psalm 59:16-17 (NIV)

What a beautiful, comforting perspective of God: Strength, fortress, refuge! No matter the hardships I have faced these several months, they have only served to ground me all the more firmly in my Refuge, to rely all the more completely on God my Strength, and to demonstrate all the more clearly my Fortress. These past several months truly have been a unique season in my life, but they have only resulted in increasing my desire and ability to sing praise to my God for His love and protection.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Proverbs chapter 11 verse 14 is a great teaching that it is wise to seek the counsel of others.

Yep! More thoughts on that when I get my Crown homework uploaded…