Tag: One Year Bible

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.

Sorry for posting so late tonight; between the men’s retreat last night and this morning, and worship team practice for tonight’s and tomorrow morning’s church services, I’ve not had time to get my reading in until now.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 16:29-34, Leviticus 17-18
NT: Mark 7:24-37, Mark 8:1-10
Ps: Psalm 41
Pr: Proverbs 10:15-16

Today´s notable verse:

¹³ ” ‘Any Israelite or any alien living among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, ¹⁴ because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”

Leviticus 17:13-14 (NIV)

The life…is in the blood: a foreshadowing of our life found in the blood of Christ. Sin demands death, and the shed blood of Christ fulfilled that requirement, once for all.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Based on these Proverbs reflections above, do you think living with less can somehow actually add more to our lives? Is there value in living a simple life? What are some simple life habits that you are practicing these days?

I don’t think that the verse in Proverbs implies that the righteous inherently live with less – only that their motives and attitude toward their wages honor God, and add to their life. Of course, if our attitude toward our wages draws us away from God, then perhaps a change in perspective through learning to live with less is the right approach. I think Christ calls us to live a “simple life” in that we are to rely on him for the “mundane” necessities of life, and not worry about how He will provide them. Such simplicity allows God to work through us to accomplish much greater and more meaningful things than the provision of such things.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 15, Leviticus 16:1-28
NT: Mark 7:1-23;
Ps: Psalm 40:11-17
Pr: Proverbs 10:13-14

Today´s notable verse:

²⁰ “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. ²¹ He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. ²² The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert.

Leviticus 16:20-22 (NIV)

And here we have the root of the “scapegoat.” This imagery reminds me of others: Cain being sent into the desert/wilderness after God confronts him for murdering Abel; Ishmael being sent into the desert after he begins to despise and persecute Isaac. Related? I have no idea – but it’s an interesting thought.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Back to my reflections above on Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice in the OT section above. Do you believe that Jesus’ sacrifice was “once for all”? Do you believe that Jesus is your High Priest who has made Atonement for your sins? Do you believe that Jesus as your High Priest sits at the right hand of God? If so, how might fully realizing this change how you live? How you pray?

Isn’t this belief rather fundamental to Christianity? If Christ’s death and sacrifice was not “once for all”, then it was completely meaningless. The Scriptures and Christ himself leave no room for ambiguity or compromise. The power of the atoning sacrifice on the cross is the very life by which we live who identify with Christ in His death and resurrection.

This understanding of Christ’s atonement implores us not to become callous or cavalier toward sin in our lives. We are responsible for Christ on the cross, because of our past, present, and future sin. Thus, when we knowingly continue in our sin, we knowingly take advantage of the sacrifice that was made “once for all”.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 14
NT: Mark 6:30-56
Ps: Psalm 40:1-10
Pr: Proverbs 10:11-12

Today´s notable verses:

But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

Mark 6:37 (NIV)

To my reading of this account, the disciples make this statement with the implication that they do have the monetary means to provide for the multitude of people Jesus has just commanded them to feed. However, had they done so, then they would have missed out on Jesus’ miraculous provision using the loaves and fish. Is this situation true in our lives today? God may give us the means to fulfill some need of our own accord, yet when we rely on and trust Him to provide, then we enable him to perform the miraculous through us because of our faith.

¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
¹² Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.

Proverbs 10:11-12 (NIV)

So far, Proverbs 10 has been the most power-packed of all we’ve read. Maybe I’m at a place or season in my life where this chapter is speaking to me particularly, but every verse has been powerful and impactful.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Per Proverbs 10:11 above, are your words typically a fountain of life to others? Will you seek to improve in love what you say and how you say it to others around you so that your words truly will become a fountain of life to others?

What a great question – and a great reminder of the power of the spoken word, for life or for death. I try to control my tongue – and the key for me is first to control my thoughts. If I center my heart on Christ, then my thoughts and my words are likewise focused. If, however, my heart strays, then my thoughts and my words are sure to follow.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 13
NT: Mark 6:1-29
Ps: Psalm 39
Pr: Proverbs 10:10

Today´s notable verses:

When a man has lost his hair and is bald, he is clean.

Leviticus 13:40 (NIV)

Woohoo! Now that’s a motto I can live with: Bald is clean.

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

Mark 6:26 (NIV)

How sad; Herod recognized John the Baptist as a righteous and holy man, yet in his pride, he could not do what was right. Rather than admit publicly that righteousness and holiness are greater than himself, and refuse to give the order to behead John the Baptist, Herod acquiesced and allowed the heinous request to be fulfilled. Herod promised with an oath to give Herodias’ daughter up to half his kingdom; however, righteousness and holiness surpass Herod’s kingdom. I can’t help but to think that Herod’s sin with Herodias somehow led him into this situation, and facilitated the pride that precipitated his wrong decision. (Aside from the obvious, that had he not been sinning with Herodias, she would not have had reason to begrudge John the Baptist for pointing out their sin.)

Show me, O LORD, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.

Psalm 39:4 (NIV)

David is asking here for a “glimpse of eternity” – something for which we should all pray. How beneficial is this eternal perspective: if the entirety of my life is fleeting, as but a breath, then surely my trials and hardships are even more momentary and meaningless. Likewise, any glory I seek in this life fades in comparison to my coming glory in Christ at the last day – and seeking such vaporous vain glory only serves to rob myself of the eternal glory God would otherwise have for me. Instead, I should commit my fleeting life to God – the good and the bad, the glorious and the humiliating – and trust Him to work out all things for my good and for His glory.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Back to Psalm 39 verse 5 above – how does this verse speak to you? Do you feel like life moves fast sometimes? If so, how are you spending your time? Are you being intentional about how you invest your time? Are you being intentional about your work? Your friends? Your finances? Volunteering? Serving others? Loving others? Watching TV – or not watching TV? …Do you think life really is “but a breath”? Are you spending your breath wisely? With your breath are you constantly loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself?

We really must be careful how we live, not as unwise but as wise, and making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16). I don’t so much look at this verse with respect to the speed of life, but rather with respect to the relative insignificance of life. From the eternal perspective, God’s plan will be accomplished, according to His Will; I can choose either to allow God to use me for His Will, and so take part in that plan, or else I can choose to let God’s plan happen without me – and render my life absolutely meaningless. I can choose to glorify God in everything, and receive my praise from Him alone, or else I can seek to usurp His praise from men, which will lead to God reclaiming His rightful glory at the expense of my eventual disgrace.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 11, Leviticus 12
NT: Mark 5:21-43
Ps: Psalm 38
Pr: Proverbs 10:8-9

Today´s notable verse:

⁴⁴ I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. ⁴⁵ I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Leviticus 11:44-45 (NIV)

I think this whole section on clean versus unclean animals (food) comes down to this point: consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Remember, the Mosaic Law was an imperfect type, shadow, and symbol of God’s Perfect Law. Now, certainly, several practical reasons for avoiding those animals regarded as unclean existed: the science of the day knew nothing of pathogens. However, I think the primary reason for the differentiation between clean and unclean was simply to demonstrate to the Israelites the principle of consecration – setting themselves apart from the uncleanliness of sin in order to pursue the cleanliness of holiness and to approach the Holy God. Christ sums up this concept:

¹⁰ Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. ¹¹ What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’ ” …¹⁷ “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰ These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ “

Matthew 15:10-20 (NIV)

Thus, for the Israelites, the physical act of separating clean and unclean animals was intended to direct their hearts to separate between holy and sinful thoughts and attitudes.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – Related to this Proverb above, I read an article recently about how “small talk” is getting more and more prevalent in our world today… Do you think that some of our small talk is simply babbling?

Sure it is. Aside from the obvious voyeuristic appeal of “reality television” is its utter lack of anything meaningful or significant. I don’t really get into much discussion about such things. Apparently, the winter Olympics are going on, but I’ve not watched a single minute of coverage. I think there’s a time and place for diversion solely for its own sake, but it should be much more limited than it is in our culture today. I am reminded of two principles:

1) we are to be wise with the use of our time:

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

2) our words indicate our thoughts, and our thoughts have a higher calling:

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.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Quite simply, we really just don’t have time for idle chatter!

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 9:7-24, Leviticus 10
NT: Mark 4:26-41, Mark 5:1-20
Ps: Psalm 37:30-40
Pr: Proverbs 10:6-7

Today´s notable verse:

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
³¹ The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

Psalm 37:30-31 (NIV)

Wow, what a testament that would be – that everything I utter with my tongue would be wise and just! I am also reminded of Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. The key to applying this principle in our lives is found in the second verse: “The law of his God is in his heart, and also James 1:19: …Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry… I think, in light of these verses, I will be more cognizant of what I think to say, and weigh it more carefully before I actually say it.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – What do you think of my farming analogies in the NT reflections above? Has our modern world forgotten about some of the ways of farming the land? Have we forgotten that we reap what we sow? Have we lost our patience, to the point where we will not even wait for the harvest to come in at its appointed time? Are we trying to control things in our modern day life that aren’t controllable? Such as the “pace” at which a seed grows into a plant and a plant into a full harvest? In losing some of our knowledge of farming and growing, are we at risk of losing ourselves?

I have never been a farmer, but I grew up in a farming community, my house was surrounded by corn and soy fields, and I had family members who were farmers. Farming really applies many of God’s principles in very practical ways: reaping what we sow, patience, the concept of seasons, storing up in times of plenty to be ready for lean times, “if a man will not work he should not eat”, the harvest concept, etc.

Farmers are some of the best people I know; they epitomize “salt of the earth.” The American farmer represents “rugged individualism”, yet with an absolute dependence upon and acknowledgement of God’s grace providence in everything.

We all too often have left behind the farming mindset, and in so doing we retain the “rugged individualism” yet lose its context. Self-reliance replaces dependence upon God’s grace, and self-recognition and pride replace our acknowledgement of God’s providence. Devoid of our understanding that life progresses in seasons and that everything has a time and place appointed, we lose our virtue of patience and the discipline of waiting on God – instead worshipping the gods of convenience and instant gratification.

In many ways I’ve gotten soft since leaving home for college. It used to be nothing to get up at 5:00 AM – actually, it was my favorite time of the day. Now, 6:15 is a struggle.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 7:28-38, Leviticus 8, Leviticus 9:1-6
NT: Mark 3:31-35, Mark 4:1-25
Ps: Psalm 37:12-29
Pr: Proverbs 10:5

Today´s notable verse:

³³ Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for your ordination will last seven days. ³4 What has been done today was commanded by the LORD to make atonement for you. ³⁵ You must stay at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and do what the LORD requires, so you will not die; for that is what I have been commanded.

Leviticus 8:33-35 (NIV)

Out of curiosity, what of the observance of the Sabbath during this seven-day ordination period?

The One Year Bible Blog notes:

Comments from You & Question of the Day – I realize that my reflections above in the OT section on clergy at churches receiving compensation might be controversial in some ways. What are your thoughts on your clergy receiving compensation? What are your thoughts on others in other types of ministry receiving compensation? Where do we draw the line of when ministry should be done with compensation or without compensation?

Absolutely, ministers of the Word should be compensated and supported by those to whom they minister. See the words of Paul in I Corinthians chapter 9:

⁷ Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? ¹⁰ Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. ¹¹ If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? ¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

I Corinthians 9:7-14

That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it?

Further, I think ministers should be well-compensated. Financial issues should not be an inherent burden for our ministers (though, of course, they have the same responsibility of financial stewardship that the rest of us have). At the same time, I think ministers outwardly should display the utmost in humility with respect to materialism. Within those bounds, I think the Spirit will direct in such matters.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 6, Leviticus 7:1-27
NT: Mark 3:7-30
Ps: Psalm 37:1-11
Pr: Proverbs 10:3-4

Today´s notable verse:

Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog notes:

Comments from you & Question of the Day – …[D]o you have any other Holy Spirit book or other resources recommendations?

Not really. I’m still working through everything the Bible itself has to say about the Holy Spirit. I’d rather rely on God’s revelation of His Word to me directly through the Spirit, before spending too much time reading what others have to say. In other words, why read a biography of George W. Bush, when I could instead talk directly to the man? The same is true for the Holy Spirit. He is always faithful to reveal Himself to us when we ask – to guide and direct us, and to minister to us.