TODAY’S DAILY READING: Deuteronomy 7-8 & John 13

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 7- Winning Daily Battles

Deuteronomy 7:17-18
“If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them? ’— you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt . . .”

We often feel like the struggles of our flesh are too great to ever overcome. Since we have been fighting the same battles our entire Christian life, it is easy to become discouraged, and even to allow things that should be removed, to remain. Knowing that this would be the case, Moses instructed Israel what to do when they became overwhelmed by the magnitude of the battles… Read More

Deuteronomy 8- Testophobia

Deuteronomy 8:2
“And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

Like most of us, much of my childhood was spent in school, and one of the worst words for any student to hear is “test.” For some of … Read More

New Testament: John 13- Foot Washing

John 13:10
“He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean;…”

Living in Israel at the time of Christ, it was impossible to walk the streets of Jerusalem without getting dirty. Open-toed sandals in a desert climate made for dirty streets and dirty feet. One solution was the custom of foot washing. Whenever a guest entered a home, the host was responsible for ensuring that the feet of the guest were washed. When Jesus gathered with the disciples for the Passover meal, he took on the role of the host, and began to wash their feet. As expected, Peter had something to say about the actions of Jesus. First he resisted, to which Jesus… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Deuteronomy 5-6 & John 12

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 5- 10 Commandments

Deuteronomy 5:22
“. . . and He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.”

The commandments of God were given to the people of God so they had a standard by which to govern themselves. These laws were given the highest place of honor in the nation. They were placed within the Ark of the Covenant, in the Holiest place within the Tabernacle. Years later, when the Tabernacle was replaced with Solomon’s Temple, the only articles remaining in the Ark were the two stone tablets containing the commands of God. We need… Read More
Deuteronomy 6- Teach Them Diligently

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The apostle Paul declared that all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable. That means that every page of your Bible has something valuable to teach. However there are clearly some passages that speak more loudly than others and this text is one of those. It is from this passages, that Jesus declared the most important of all the… Read More

New Testament: John 12- Spiritual Accounting

John 12:11
“On account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.”

The word “account” means “by reason of”. It means, Lazarus was the reason many put their trust in Christ. His life and his experiences with Christ were having a magnetic effect; drawing others to consider Christ for themselves.

We use the word account in another way. We refer to our bank account. At the end… Read More

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The apostle Paul declared that all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable. That means that every page of your Bible has something valuable to teach. However there are clearly some passages that speak more loudly than others and this text is one of those. It is from this passages, that Jesus declared the most important of all the commandments. He said that above all else we should love God with all our heart, soul and strength and that we should love others as we do ourselves. These two principles are the foundation stones upon which all other commands are built. If we love God first and express that love toward others we will find that we are well ahead in keeping the remaining requirements of Scripture. Moses was told that the principle of being in a love relationship with God was so important that it was to be taught to each and every generation. It became the primary responsibility of the parents to instruct their children regarding who God is and what a relationship with Him was all about. Moses even goes so far as to explain how this instruction should be given.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.”

Before a parent can instruct a child on how to follow and serve Christ, they must follow Christ themselves. The parenting style, “do what we say not what do” will result in raising children who fail to see the value of walking with Jesus and lack a model for how to make godly decisions in real life scenarios. We do not need to be perfect as parents but we do need to determine that we will put God first in our lives and seek to please Him with our behavior, goals and lifestyle. The compromises we make will often be magnified in our children. But how do we teach the principles of God to the next generation?

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Moses implements a teaching style that uses life as a backdrop. Instead of turning the living room into a classroom he suggests that we make life our classroom. Our homes should bear the marks of a family that has put Christ first. It is not enough to have a bible verse hanging on the wall, that verse ought to be the atmosphere within the home. When our kids come in they ought to be met by a model of what it means to be in a love relationship with Christ. When they head out they ought to be prepared to share it with the world around them. We can do this by using everyday life to instill biblical truth within them. When a child is mistreated by a friend, this becomes an opportunity to instruct them on how to love, forgive and show mercy. When a child loses a big game it becomes an opportunity to weep with those who weep and to help them learn that ultimate victory often has to travel the road of defeat. Whatever the situation our children are facing we can use these as an opportunity to instill the principles of scripture deep within their hearts

Jim

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Deuteronomy 3-4 & John 11

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 3- Attack

Deuteronomy 3:2
“And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’”

Moses and the congregation of Israel faced many obstacles as they made their way toward the Promised Land. In this case they would be withstood by the king of Bashan and his forces. The armies of Bashan had successfully defeated all who came against them and had established a formidable empire consisting of sixty … Read more

Deuteronomy 4- This Is Wisdom

Deuteronomy 4:6
“Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”

Life is a lot like a journey on a road we have never traveled before. We often face forks in the road without clear signage, and are left to do our best to make a good decision. If there is one thing we need in life, it is wisdom. Webster’s dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to discern” and “good sense.” We… Read More

New Testament: John 11- Difficulties With People

John 11:3
“Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

One of the great struggles of life is how to reconcile a loving God with the difficulties of life. Every day, all over the world, people are confronted with tragedies. Difficulties hit like a storm and wreak havoc on their lives. It is not until we find ourself facing one of these trying times, that we are undone by it. It is at that point, we begin to ask, “How could a loving God allow my brother to suffer like that?” or “If God loved me, He would not have taken… Read More

Deuteronomy 3:2
“And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’”

Moses and the congregation of Israel faced many obstacles as they made their way toward the Promised Land. In this case they would be withstood by the king of Bashan and his forces. The armies of Bashan had successfully defeated all who came against them and had established a formidable empire consisting of sixty well fortified cities. The army was led by a king named Og who was a giant of a man. (He was so large that after his death his furniture was preserved in an ancient museum in the city of Rabbah). From a natural standpoint it would seem that Israel had no hope of victory against such a mighty force. However their strength was not to be found in themselves but in the power of the God whom they served. As the pages turn we learn that Og and his forces were defeated and Israel enjoyed the spoils of victory.

It is not uncommon for believers today to face obstacles greater than ourselves. We, like Israel are given great and precious promises designed to guide, comfort and bless our walk with God. These promises are often met head on by the difficulties of life and these difficulties stir in us a vast array of emotions. It does not take long before our circumstances cause us to question whether or not the promises of God will ever truly come to pass. It is in times like this where we need to look past the fortified city walls and the giant enemy forces and stand firm on God’s unbreakable promises. Circumstances change, emotions vary but the Word of God will never fail. If you are facing a particularly trying time take whatever time necessary to locate a promise from God that directly addresses your situation and stand firm on that promise.

A few years ago while I was in Israel a war broke out. The nation was undergoing a massive barrage of rocket fire. Because of their advanced defense system they were able to monitor every rocket and determine its trajectory. If one of these airborne explosives was heading toward a populated area an air raid siren would sound and people would hurry into a bunker. These bunkers are well fortified and are stocked with the necessary food and water to withstand an attack lasting several weeks. We need to see the promises of God like a bunker that we run into when the difficulties of life mount an attack. No force of hell or earth is strong enough to break through walls of scripture. Jesus himself declared that heaven and earth will pass away but not the smallest part of the promises of God will ever fail.

When Og and his forces mount an attack, hide under the promises of God.

Jim

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Deuteronomy 1-2 & John 10

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 1- Walking In Circles

Deuteronomy 1:2
“It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.”

Deuteronomy begins with a recap of Israel’s history, from Mount Sinai, to the border of the Promised Land. Moses begins by reminding the people this journey that has taken a lifetime, should have taken less than two weeks.

After camping at Sinai and receiving the Word of God, the people were commanded… Read More

Deuteronomy 2- Victory In Battles

Deuteronomy 2:37
“Only you did not go near the land of the people of Ammon—anywhere along the River Jabbok, or to the cities of the mountains, or wherever the Lord our God had forbidden us.”

Israel’s journey through the wilderness serves as a vivid illustration of the believers walk with God. Here we find that God led them away from some battles and into others. This reminds me of the words of Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:13),

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and… Read More

New Testament: John 10-His Word, Our Lives

John 10:21
“Others said, ‘These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’”

Those struggling to determine if Jesus is truly the Son of God and Savior of man, are influenced by both His words, and the lives of those who believe in Him. Certainly, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, but the believer is the light of the world, casting light upon the Gospel… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Numbers 35-36 & John 9

Old Testament: Numbers 35- Refuge

Numbers 35:12
“They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.”

God established a system in Israel which ensured the safety of a person who had accidentally caused the death of another. Instead of allowing vigilantes to run rampant, Moses was instructed to have six cities built where a person could flee, find protection, and await his day in court.

Four things stand out to me about the cities of refuge. First, we are told the cities were to be distributed throughout the land for easy access. Second, in Deuteronomy 19:3, we read that good roads… Read More

Numbers 36- Looking To The Future

Numbers 36:7
“So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.”

The children of Gilead, from the tribe of Manasseh, brought an interesting case to Moses. The father of one of the families had died without having any sons, as a result they were concerned with what would become of the family inheritance if the daughters married outside of their tribe. If the land became the property of the husband’s tribe, it would… Read More

New Testament: John 9- I was Blind…

John 9:25
“One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

John 9 records an event that changed a man’s life forever. That event was an encounter with the Son of God. John tells his readers that Jesus sought out a man who had lived his whole life in darkness, and with the power of God, removed his blindness and provided him with sight. We would expect the rest of this chapter to be filled with rejoicing. Instead, we read of an environment where the work of God in a person’s life put him under scrutiny. Even this man’s parents are afraid to celebrate the work of God, because of the way they… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Numbers 33-34 & John 8

Old Testament: Numbers 33- Abundant Life

Numbers 33:52
“. . . then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; . . .”

God described the land He was giving Israel as a land that flowed with milk and honey. He was of course speaking figuratively of the blessed life that the children of Israel would experience within the land. This blessed life was conditional upon their obedience to Him, and their obedience included some driving out, and some demolition. They were instructed to tear down… Read More

Numbers 34- Innumerable Promises

Numbers 34:2
“Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries.”

Israel stood on the brink of entering the promised land. For almost five hundred years the people had heard stories of the land of their fathers. They referred to it as the land… Read More

New Testament: John 8- Set Free

John 8:34
“ Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”

James explains the process of sin,

James 1:14-16
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”

The gist of what he is saying is, while sin promises to bring… Read More

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Numbers 31-32 & John 7

Old Testament: Numbers 31- God Is Just

Numbers 31:1-2
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.’”

Webster defines vengeance as, “the act of doing something to hurt someone because that person did something that hurt you or someone else.” Some synonymous would include payback, reprisal or even revenge. We seem to be fascinated with the concept of vengeance. It is the premise… Read More

Numbers 32- That’s Far Enough

Numbers 32:5
“Therefore they said, ‘If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.’”

The request of Reuben and Gad to remain on the East side of the Jordan, outside the land of promise, was as shocking to Moses as it is to us. When he first heard it, Moses was reminded of the events almost forty years earlier, when the ten spies refused to enter the land, and discouraged the hearts of the people. After thirty-eight years of circling the desert, watching countless numbers of his friends and loved ones die, Moses wanted nothing to do with part time commitments or compromise. The tribal leaders assured Moses their request had nothing… Read More

New Testament: John 7- Popular Opinion

John 7:13
“However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.”

2000 years have passed and this still remains a problem; we withhold the message of Christ out of fear. What are we afraid of? It seems to me Jesus has always been misunderstood. Popular opinion is often based on these misunderstandings. During… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Numbers 29-30 & John 6

Old Testament: Numbers 29- Once For All

Numbers 29:13
“You shall present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a sweet aroma to the Lord…”

Moses goes into great detail to explain the sacrifices that were to be offered to the Lord. Every morning, and again, every evening, a spotless lamb was offered, with a grain and drink offering. On the Sabbath, new moon, and for each of the seven feast, additional sacrifices were added. As long as the Tabernacle or Temple stood, these offerings were to be continually presented to the Lord. An entire staff of priests was required to officiate… Read More

 

Numbers 30- To Be Honest

Numbers 30:2
“If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

A vow is a form of a promise. The person taking the vow is promising certain actions will follow. This whole chapter is emphasizing the need to be faithful to the promises made to the Lord and to others. The basic idea is that God wants His people to be honest. Honesty is a foundational principle for healthy relationships. If a person lies they cannot … Read More

New Testament: John 6- Storms

John 6:20
“It is I; do not be afraid.”

Galilee was known for sudden and unpredictable storms. The wind increases rapidly, causing the Sea of Galilee to become a turbulent and dangerous sea. We read, on a few occasions, the lives of the disciples were at risk because of these great storms. In a very practical… Read More