Groaning Creation

Today's Reading:  Leviticus 1-3; Mark 3

For generations, a lamb was slaughtered for our sins to make us acceptable before the Lord. In our generation, Jesus' sacrifice makes those who believe acceptable to God

__________

 

Groaning Creation

 

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  (Romans 8:18-22)

 

In more ways than one has creation suffered under the sin of its human element.  Thorns and weeds grow more readily than other plants, carnivores seek to kill and eat their weaker prey, and even the strongest among the animal kingdom succumb to human hunting needs and sporting expeditions.  Humans often will mistreat animals and randomly destroy God's creation to develop a convenience.

 

But here in Leviticus, we are are shown the most direct way that Creation groans under the weight of sin, awaiting the full redemption of man.   Animals directly paid for the wickedness of man.  Its sobering to see how many animals had to die to make temporary atonement for the sins of men and woman for many generations.  And here we see God prescribing the sacrifice of bulls, sheep, goats, turtledoves, pigeons all for the sin of people. 

 

Statutory

 

That these sacrifices are laws of God is affirmed over and over, even in 3:17, " It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”  People did not randomly come up with this plan.  It was all part of God revealing His plan to His people.

 

Sacrificial

 

It may seem an obvious observation, but I'll make it clear here:   The animal was dieing on behalf of the sinning men and women. 

 

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock." (1:2)

 

The animal was compelled to pay the price of a debt it did not incur.  This was true of the animals and fulfilled eventually in Jesus Christ:

 

 ^"For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." (Hebrews 9:13-14).

Slaughter

 

I already wrote on the gruesome nature of the sacrifices offered in a previous blog post, but in Leviticus 1-3, graphic description of the slaughter is given:

 

"Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; ⁹ but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord." (1:1-9)

 

The butchering, dismembering and burning of the bull is frankly, offensive.   Then there is the throwing the blood all over the altar.  During this period, animals were raised for this purpose.

 

Serious

 

In these opening pages, the fact that a sacrifice was needed, and that these animals would be the sacrifice created a place of grave seriousness.   Look at the death as a result of our sin!  This is no laughing matter.   Often, we take sin very lightly, but the need for these sacrifices shows how literally deadly serious this matter is.  Don't you think that a fledgling nation like Israel could have benefited from the food these animals would have produced rather than this slaughter and burning?   How about the extreme labor and resources it took to raise and prepare the animals for this?  Further, how about the dedication of God's holy word to this instruction?   Any question whether God is serious about the weightiness of sin, and the need for the animal sacrifices?   Hebrews 9:22 sums it this way:  "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."  Serious and necessary.

 

Specific

 

The prescriptions of which animals to be sacrificed, and exactly how they were sacrificed was very specific.   Parts of Leviticus describe the anatomy of an animal with medical precision.  Consider:

 

"And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, ⁴ and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys." (3:3)

 

The message came across very clear:  God is concerned with the specifics of the sacrifices.  When we think for a moment that God will lightly consider our own sin, or faults at the day of judgement, we are sorely mistaken.   God's detailed concern shown here displays a careful quality of God that should lead us to shudder over our sin.  "God doesn't distinguish the details of how I come to him, right?"  Yes He does.   For you and I, salvation is through Jesus Christ, and Him alone.

 

 Symbolic

 

All the sacrifices killed were symbolic of the ultimate fulfillment in Christ. 

 

^"Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,  for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,  so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."  (Hebrews 9:23-28)

 

Since the death of Jesus, sacrifices were no longer needed, because they symbolized His perfect sacrifice.  And once that was offered once for all, the illustration became obsolete.

 

As Creation groaned during that time, the intent was to reveal who God was to His people, and bring the weight of sin upon all humanity leading to repentance.

 

A Bloody Mess

Today's Reading: Exodus 28-30; Matthew 27 

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A Bloody Mess

 

It's impossible to read Exodus 28-30 or Matthew 27 without wincing and wiggling in my seat over the gruesome bloody mess. It's impossible to escape the fact that all that died in these actions died as sacrifices for the ransomed souls of others, including me.

 

I marvel over the extent which God goes to cermoniously illustrate the sacrifice for our sin.  In painstaking blood-shedding detail, the Lord determines who can be priests in ancient Israel, what the priests need to wear, and what the priests are to do.  This includes which specific animals need to be slaughtered.

 

I'm not a regular hunter, but I have seen a quartered deer killed, and prepared to be carried out of the woods.  Just last week, I saw a mutilated creature on the side of the state highway slain as road kill.  Blood smeared everywhere within several feet of the majority remains of the animal.  As I sped by, I was unable to be clear as to what animal this bloody mess once was.

 

The Bible is not a tidy little story of neat little events in the lives of God's little people.  There was an entire geneological line of Israelite men devoted to the systematic slaughter of thousands of lambs, goats, bulls and pigeons on every day through every year from the days of Moses until the day of Jesus' death recorded in Matthew 27 about 1600 years later.  These men--called priests--stood in a symbolic way between the sin of the Israelite people and the consuming holiness of God.

 

The sacrifice of an animal on behalf of a human dates back to the days of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Following their catastrophic choice to embrace sin, Genesis 3:21 says, "And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them."  Whatever animal that was that God killed to cover their shame, it points to these facts of acceptable sacrifice for our sin:  (1) The sacrifice is selected and killed by God's authority and (2) The sacrifice itself did not sin.  Its stunning to see God in love initiating the solution to the problem of sin from the first sacrifce in Genesis on.

 

In Exodus 28-30, the sacrifice is also selected by God, and the animal's death is demanded by God, and the particular animal did no sin of its own. 

 

In Matthew 27, the sacrifice is the perfect Son of God--God in the flesh.  His death is demanded by the Father, and Jesus Himself had never sinned.   2 Corinthians 5:21 sums it up this way:  " For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  Jesus' brutal and bloody crucifixion then finished the work of satisfactory sacrifice (John 19:30) and tore the dividing curtain of the temple symbolizing the separation between God and man due to sin (Matthew 27:51). 

 

The prophet Isaiah speaks explicitly about the sacrifice of Jesus pointing out the characteristics: 

 

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6)

 

In reality, Jesus Himself, was entirely unique.  As the true priest He stood  between the condemning sin of all people and the avenging, consuming justice of God.  But He stood as the ultimate priest and the sacrifice! 

 

Betrayal, Denial . . . Then What?

Today's Reading: Exodus 25-27; Matthew 26

God meticulously lays out plans for an ark and a tabernacle so He can be known by people; 

Judas and Peter both in the weakness of their flesh betray Jesus. What they do after their betrayals makes all the difference in their lives.

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Betrayal, Denial . . . Then What?

Some people deny Jesus right from day one.  These are, in the Bible, called "unbelievers".   This is not an insulting term, just descriptive, and consequential.  Following the oft quoted promise found in John 3:16 are other words, more sobering in their effect:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

Jesus clearly states that it isn't His mission in coming to the earth to condemn you and me in our sin;  rather, it is to rescue an entire race of people who are already condemned in their sin.  "Believing" in Jesus, then, is what makes the difference between eternal life and eternal condemnation.   The significance of denying Jesus therefore, could not be overstated in terms of consequences.   The Gospel witness John sums it up with crystal clarity: "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."  (1 John 5:11-12)

In Matthew 26, we are introduced to two key people, both of whom betray and deny Jesus.  Both do this dastardly deed in different ways.  Judas accomplishes this by losing confidence in Jesus as the promised Messiah, and selling out his former master to those who wished Him dead for the going price of a common slave.  Peter does a similar thing, but by caving in to the mounting pressure of watching from afar his master being dragged into the kangaroo court of the day, and a simple peasant girl "accusing" him of being one of Jesus' close friends.  Three times in the face of the guilt-by-association charge, he declares in escalating volume and anger:  I DO NOT KNOW THIS MAN!!!

What differentiates between a follower of Jesus and unbeliever, is, well, unbelief.  Unbelief may be a once for all declaration that is adhered to for a lifetime. but more often than not unbelief, like belief, is a growing, strengthening pattern of a person's life.   How do I respond to God's revelation in His Word?  Sensitively?  Seeking more information?  Wanting to understand the truth?   Then I am on a path that slowly develops into belief, and somewhere along this path, develops into saving faith.

Or do I respond to God's revelation in His Word with skepticism? with anger?  with rejection?  with mockery?  Then I am on a dangerous path of unbelief paving more and more miles on my path by the year.  In time, if we do not reject this path,  and turn off of it, it will take us to a point of ultimate destination: Condemnation of our sin,.

As Matthew 26 ends, we see Judas on a wickedly dangerous path of unbelief leading him to make decisions of perilous, historical, even scnadalous proportions.  And as the record of the the Gospels leaves us with Judas, never is there evidence of repentance.  Tragically his life ends in suicide, not a turning off that path toward belief, never willing to submit his own thinking to that of the Lord (Matthew 27:5).

Peter's story proceeds much differently.  Even before Matthew 26 is over, Peter is stunned by the fulfillment of Jesus' promise when the rooster crowed three times, and he wept over his sin bitterly.  As the record shows, his tears were tears of repentance, and he changed his course from denying Jesus to proclaiming Him throughout the then known world facing jeers, mockery, hatred, imprisonments and finally martyrdom without ever stepping again away from the path of increasing belief.

The question for you isn't "Have I denied Jesus?"   If you are an believer, by your very nature, you have denied Him.  Even as followers of Christ, under pressure of fear and unpopularity, rejection and persecution, we often deny Him by remaining silent when the opportunity is given to make it clear we know Him.

The question is this:  What did you do after you denied Him?  Did you continue the path of Judas in unbelief?  Than you already have sene where this will take you..   Or, did you repent of your unbelief, and your betrayal and your denial?  Then, the promise of Jesus in John 3:16 will truly be yours:  You will not perish, but have eternal life.

Revelation Of His Character

Today's Reading:  Exodus 22-24; Matthew 24

God's law--including the 10 commandments and numerous other practical laws--is given to reveal to us God's character, for our protection and care as His people and to develop healthy relationships between us.

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Revelation Of His Character

Its pretty easy to get bogged down in the reading of the portions of God's Word that provide minute details concerning various laws like this one:  “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep."  (Exodus 22:1)  Or, to be distracted with the contextual distance of laws like this one:  "You shall not permit a sorceress to live."  (Exodus 22:18); Or even to struggle with understanding or agreeing with laws like this one: "If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him."  (Exodus 23:5).

The solution is not to skim over these sections as we read through the Bible, but ask yourself three questions:

What does this law tell me about God's character?
How is God caring for His people in  this law?
How could I respond to others in light of this law?

 Don't focus right away on whether this law applies to us in these days as followers of Jesus Christ, or on whether you find the law weird, impractical or difficult to accept.  Simple recognize that all of God's Word is given to us for our instruction, not for our debate.  Consider:

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Taking this truth, then start in the laws found in Exodus 22 and 23, with the questions.

 

What does this law tell me about God's character?

This is the first and most important question to ask because God's word is all about Him, and about revealing to us who He is.  Genesis 1:1 starts the introduction of Him as the all-powerful creator,  Revelation wraps us the revealed Word by unfolding God's love, grace, faithfulness, persistence and wrath against unrepentant sinners.

So look at Exodus 22.  What do these laws tell us about God?

Verses 1-6 displays God's concern for justice.  Verse 7-9 shows God's passion for defenseless people.  Verse 10 reminds us that God is all-knowing, or omniscient.  Verse 17 shows that God highly values and works through the family unit.  Verses 18-29 show that God is the one who establishes right and wrong, not one who is subject to our determination of right and wrong.  God hates lying (23:1), perversions of justice, and social oppression.(23:9). 

His laws show that this infinite God cares deeply about the individual you, to the extent that He commands that we rest one day of every seven (23:13).  He knows that your allegiance to false gods will bring only misery in the end, and He forbids such worship.  And, in the end, the focus is on HIS GLORY (24:16).

I could go on and on about this.  Suffice it to be said that God's Word is ultimately revealing God.

Let's be honest:  If you have a problem with praising and honoring God, you're going to have a problem with His laws.   The main purpose of the laws is to show us who He is, not concerned at whether you agree or not.  Check your heart on this matter.

How is God caring for His people in this law?

While the highest purpose is His glory, His law is always for His people's good.  Whether its the pursuit of social justice, or the abandonment of idolatry or sexual sin, or even unhealthy practices (22:31, 23:19), its impossible to miss that GOD CARES FOR HIS PEOPLE.  If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior (John 1:12-13), you are one of His people.

Psalm 19:7-11 lists the various benefits of God's Word in your and my life:

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

So as you read the laws, train your mind to see the benefits God is working for His people.  Immaturity and bitterness persists if we focus on the "dos and donts" aspect.

How could I respond to others in light of this law?

Finally. consider as you read through the laws how you can learn how to treat others.  Is God concerned with honesty (22:1-2)?  Then speak the truth in love in all your speech.

Is God concerned with sexual immorality?  (22:16-19), Then pursue purity in every word and action of your relationships with others.

Is God concerned with righteous authority and protection of those under authority?  (22:7-9, 16-17), then stand up to your responsible position and lead well.

A sign of spiritual growth and maturity is the increasing ability to respect, and love God's law.   Obeying every word of God's law does not save us, trusting in Jesus Christ as our Savior saves us, but God's word tells us a lot about God so we can praise Him, a lot about how He specifically cares for us, and how we can treat our brothers and sisters in an honorable way.

A Recent Poetry Contest I Hosted

I recently hosted a poetry contest on allpoetry.com called "Growing Through Tragedy".  The prompt that I offered for the contest was this:  Write to console or to express the feelings of the people who experienced loss during the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre from December 14, 2012. Wrestle toward closure.

I'm going to post here four of the poems that competed in the contest.  The first three are the first, second and third place winners I selected.  The fourth is one that I wrote for the subject, and though I "submitted" it for the contest, it could not win, and I wrote it simply to think through the subject myself.  If you'd like to read all the poems that were submitted, go to http://allpoetry.com/contest/2589251-Growing_Through_Tragedy.

Here's the winners; first, second, third place.  Enjoy!

BROKENNESS & HOPE

By Kim Nelson

 

When I heard of the shooting
At Sandy Hook Elementary;
My heart fell to my feet
As I learned of such grave tragedy...

Why would someone do this?
What could the reason be?
We will never know or guess
The meaning of the mystery.

What does one say to a mother
Who has lost her precious son?
The screams and anguish on her face
Questions: "How can I carry on"?

How can we comfort a father
Whose daughter leaves a mournful cry?
Nightmares taunt as sleep envelopes-
Wishing he would die...

We will never really know
What brokenness these souls now carry-
The heartache and the loss
Lives etched forever- in catastrophe.

But, there is hope beyond the grave
Although the tough road home seems long;
Our loved ones wait with open arms
Our memory of them -encouraging us along.

Though we are left with souls shattered and torn-
Reminding us that evil still remains-
Our resolve to love and not to hate is tested
An undying song of hope flickers and sustains.

MY ONE LAST WISH

By Sarah Wilen

 

Bang Bang

Crayons dropping on the floor

Screaming around me

A man with a big object

Something is coming towards me

My life flashes before my eyes

Where am I now, candles before me

A happy birthday sign in my cake

Next to my family

Next to my mom

I want to be their right now

No

What is this

Screaming, crying

Blackness around me

I wake up

I am here

With my family

Oh how joyful

But wasn't I at school

 

 

I HAVE AN EXTRA BOX OF CRAYONS

By Sharon Westbrook

 

They laughed, they cried, then they died.

Their lives were only beginning.

They we excited about learning.

All I could do was hold my head in my hands,

as I begged to understand. Then I cried.

We have 5 kids and 5 grand-kids, can't imagine losing any of them this way.

There's a bond with children and parents that never goes away.

Having another child doesn't seem feasible,

for the grief can't be forgotten, that empty hole has no lid.

You can hold a little tighter to the ones left behind.

Please don't let them feel forgotten,

remember they are grieving and feel lost very often.

Everyone handles it their own way,

and some other children are so unkind.

I recall our third daughter in kindergarten,

befriended a little girl that had far less than we;

in my heart I'll always remember Marie.

One day at art time Marie begin to cry,

for she had no supplies in her carton.

The teacher told us on parent's night,

our girl had tried to make the tears all go away.

She stood up and walked over to Marie and was heard to say,

"Here, I have an extra box of crayons you can have."

Marie dried her eyes and smiled so bright.

Just take pride in memories for no psychopath can take these.

Rely on faith, you may see your child again,

won't it be a great reunion then?

All the hurts and heartbreak will be gone.

You can all be reunited in a sweet Heavenly breeze.

And, here's my poem:

FEAR & FAITH

By Curt Audet

 

If I had one gun,
I would never run.
And if I was there,
I wouldn't be scared.

To shoot a child
Is no action mild.
There's another way,
Or there's Hell to pay

How can I see
God working for me?
When evil shoots
And a demon loots?

To hold my boy,
I'm filled with joy;
Unless its said
He is now dead.

Are you here God?
It feels so odd.
For faith to trust
Yet now I must.

If you're up to it, feel free to comment on these poems and even post one of your own.

 

January 23-24, 2013

January 23-24, 2013

Today's Reading: Exodus 16-21; Matthew 23-24

God can be trusted to provide for us day to day;  God can be fully trusted with the future and our future.

40 = 55M

I regularly get email updates from the Heritage Foundation (heritage.org). I appreciate these because the good people there keep me informed about issues that are important to me. Just today, I read the piece that they had discussing Secretary of State Clinton's comments on the Benghazi, Libya situation. When criticized for her, and the Obama Administration's, actions, she countered, "Was it because of a protest or is it because of guys out for a walk one night and they decide they go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?” When I heard this in the news on Wednesday, I openly asked her, "What do you mean, 'What difference does it make'?!" Thankfully, Heritage Foundation writer James Philipps picked up on this and proceeded the answer her question. I commend his article to you: "Benghazi Terrorist Attack: The Difference It Makes".

But this is not important as a subject that they addressed that I want to put before you today. They picked up on the fact that today there was "March For Life 2013" held in Washington, DC. Why is this march done during this cold season each year? Because this week marks the anniversary of the court decision, Roe vs. Wade which legalized abortion in America.

And now, this year is memorialized by by the formula 40 = 50M.  From the Heritage Foundation article by Sarah Torre, "It’s an equation meant to reflect the enormous cost of 40 years under the ethic of Roe: Since the Supreme Court’s decision in 1973, an estimated 55 million abortions have been performed."  This is an astounding black eye of shame on our country, and a pathetic low point in American history.  And for 55 million babies, it made the difference between breathing and not breathing.

To read the whole article by Torre, go to this link:  http://blog.heritage.org/2013/01/25/march-for-life-2013-a-pro-life-generation/.

Personally, I have been "pro life" for a long time.   I don't choose this position out of political persuasion, but out of Biblical revelation and conviction.   In short, the Bible teaches followers of the Lord to value life because all humans are made in the image of God.  Genesis 1:27, this fact is unfolded in front of us:  "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them."  No qualifiers are put on this "image bearing" at all.  All humans, including all males and all females.  No races are left out, no nationalities, no people of particular stature in society are excluded.  All people, not matter what the conditions of their conception, are inherently valuable.  

 

This then, is derived value; derived from God who created us.  This is important because our country's Declaration Of Independence recognizes this, and our current culture does not.  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  Today, value is derived by self esteem, or by parental choice.  Of course, the self esteem of the unborn infant is not really weighed at this point.  But the parental choice is. 

Since 1973, in our country 55 millions preborn children have lost their lives totally within the protection of the law.  In this picture to the right, 3560 crosses are on display in Geneva, Illinois representing the children who die in abortions daily in the United States.

The Apostle Paul introduced the people of his day to their Creator with these words:  "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for 'In him we live and move and have our being’;  as even some of your own poets have said,‘For we are indeed his offspring.’"  (Acts 17:24-28).  From God we derive our value to live.

At the heart of abortion is this change of world view.  From who, or what do you and I, and all the people of the world, have value?  From where do I get the "right" to live and breath and have my being in the first place? 

The answer to these questions leads me to be "pro life".  Where do your answers lead you?

January 22, 2013

January 22, 2013

Today's Reading: Exodus 13-15; Matthew 22.

The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him.
Respond to Jesus' invitation to come to the great feast, only come clothed in His righteousness not your own.

January 21, 2013

January 21, 2013

Today's Reading: Exodus 10-12; Matthew 21

Pharaoh hardened his heart pridefully before the Lord, then the Lord further hardened Pharoah's heart to accomplish a mighty deliverance of the Israelite people. I'm thinking I want to humble my heart so God finds one useful for noble purposes.

The only miraculous act of aggression Jesus ever did was done in the Temple in response to the rampant hypocrisy of those who claimed to be God's people.

January 20, 2013

January 20, 2013

Today's Reading: Exodus 7-9; Matthew 20

God does amazing works both of judgement and mercy to make known to all that He is the Lord unique and Almighty, and to lead us all toward repentance. Often, we repent, then rescind our repentance when the trials pass; Among Jesus' followers, greatness is defined by humble, sacrificial service to others.

January 19, 2013

January 19, 2013

Today's Reading: Exodus 4-6; Matthew 19

Moses and the people of Israel were deeply tested by God before He demonstrated His awesome power in Egypt; God designed marriage to be between one man, one woman in Christ for a lifetime.

January 18, 2013

January 18, 2013

Today's Reading: Exodus 1-3; Matthew 18

God never forsakes His people no matter what circumstances look like; Do whatever it takes to repent and turn away from your sin, and to humbly forgive those who offend you.

January 17, 2013

January 17, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 49-51; Matthew 17

Intentionally extend the forgiveness and grace God gives to you toward those who have done evil and wrong against you; God the Father commends Jesus as God the Son,

January 16, 2016

January 16, 2016

Today's Reading: Genesis 46-48; Matthew 16

We can trust God with our future;  Who do you say Jesus is.  Take Peter's
example and declare it put loud!

January 15, 2013

January 15, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 43-45; Matthew 15

As God reveals His greater plan in the lives of those who trust Him, we discover that it is marvelous!
Jesus teaches that out of our heart comes all forms of evil.

January 14, 2013

January14, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 40-42; Matthew 14

God uses the places we are, the people we are with and the circumstances we are in to use us as His people to bring His Good News into their lives; like Joseph and Peter, we can totally trust Him

January 13, 2013

January 13, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 37-39; Matthew 13.

Every wicked thing we do to anyone is a sin ultimately against God.  This is why
we need to repent and trust Jesus Christ for salvation,

January 12, 2013

January 12, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 35-36; Matthew 12.

God by His grace renamed Jacob the Deceiver into Israel the one who is
Triumphant with God.  What is your "name", that is, who you are?

January 11, 2013

January 11, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 32-34; Matthew 11.

End your striving against God; Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For
my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

January 10, 2013

January 10, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 28-30; Matthew 10

Our deceitful, sinful choices in time bring about a whirlwind of consequences,
through which God's grace and purpose continues;  Jesus calls us to follow Him
as His disciples,

January 9, 2013

January 9, 2013

Reading: Genesis 25-27; Matthew 9,

In God's grace, He turns our sinful, dysfunctional choices for His glory and
purposes as we seek to follow Him; Jesus demonstrates He is God both by His
power to heal and His authority to forgive sin.

January 8, 2013

January 8, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 22-24; Matthew 8.

God calls each of us to submit our will, our lives, to Him; He has an amazing,
purposeful, fulfilling, dynamic plan for each of us.

January 7, 2013

January 7, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 19-21 Matthew 7.

Persistent, unrepentant pursuit of sin leads to God's wrath;  careful listening,
honoring, and obeying God's Word leads to His care and blessing.

January 6, 2013

January 6, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 16-18, Matthew 6.

There is no need to abandon the promises of God and take matters in your own
hands.  Abandon anxiety, pray to Him, and trust Him, He IS trustworthy.

January 5, 2013

January 5, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 13-15, Matthew 5.

Abraham trusted God, believed in His promises, and God blessed him and counted
this as righteousness.  Blessed are we as follow his example.

January 4, 2013

January 4, 2013

Today's Reading: Genesis 10-12, Matthew 4.

At the Tower of Babel,  God is committed to opposing the proud, self focused
person; yet Jesus models humility and wisdom recognizing that we cannot live
without every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

January 3, 2013

January 3, 2013

Today's Reading:  Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3

January 2, 2013

January 2, 2013

Todays Reading: Genesis 4-5; Matthew 2

January 1, 2013

January 1, 2013

Todays Reading:  Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1