Jim Gallagher

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 31-32 & Mark 13

Old Testament: Exodus 31- Fill Me Up

Exodus 31:3
“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,”

When the time came to make the articles for the Tabernacle, God selected two men, and filled them with the Spirit of God. Under their leadership, this vast and elaborate project was completed. Normally, we associate the need for the Holy Spirit with intrinsically spiritual tasks, like leading worship, teaching the Bible, or witnessing to the lost. However… Read More
Exodus 32- Past Due

Exodus 32:3
“So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.”

More than a month before this event, Moses had ascended Mount Sinai, disappearing into the thick smoke. As the weeks passed, the people began to believe Moses must have died. In their fear and confusion, they approached Aaron, seeking spiritual counsel. They realized they needed… Read More

New Testament: Mark 13- You Snooze You Lose

Mark 13:2
“Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The stones that formed the Temple were massive. Their sheer size represented permanence. For the disciples, it would be difficult to imagine them ever being destroyed. When Jesus declared that a time was coming when the Temple would be leveled, the minds of … Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 29-30 & Mark 12

Old Testament: Exodus 29- Stained Garment

Exodus 29:20-21
“Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. And you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar, and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his garments, on his sons and on the garments of his sons with him; and he and his garments shall be hallowed, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.”

The Lord went to great detail to explain the garments that the High Priest would wear. He referred to them as holy garments, designed for glory and for beauty. In other words, they were designed to both look beautiful and to reveal some aspect of the… Read More

Exodus 30- Word Art

Exodus 30:1
“You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood.”

The book of Exodus not only tells the story of the building of the Tabernacle and it’s furnishing, it also serves as a wonderfully detailed illustration of the New Testament work of salvation. The altar serves as a portrait of the cross, which… Read More

New Testament: Mark 12- Love

 Mark 12:30
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The world is fascinated with love. Innumerable songs, books, plays and poetry have been written on the subject. Love is the favorite theme of Hollywood movies, gossip rags and television shows. We even have Valentine’s Day, where we celebrate love with flowers, candy and romantic sentiments. I grew up hearing the words “all we need… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 27-28 & Mark 11

Old Testament: Exodus 27- The Altar

Exodus 27:2
“You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze.”

One of the key furnishings for the Tabernacle was the Altar. It was a large wooden structure overlaid with bronze. It was located within the gate of the courtyard, and outside the entrance of the Tabernacle, itself. It was on the Altar, where all of Israel’s sacrifices were offered. After the construction of the Tabernacle was completed, the nation gathered around and dedicated it to the Lord; concentrating on the Altar, with its sin… Read More

Exodus 28- Burden Bearers

Exodus 28:12
“And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.”

When I am deciding on what to wear, one of the key factors is comfort. I have owned clothing that fit and might even have looked nice, but I rarely ever wore, because it simply was not comfortable. I imagine if I had a coat with two large stone shoulder pads, it would not be my first choice for a Sunday service.

When it came to the clothing of the priests ,comfort was not the goal. Instead, their clothing was designed for symbolism. Every article they wore… Read More

New Testament: Mark 11-Turntables

Mark 11:17
“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’ But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.”

Journeying through the gospels, we have many glimpses into the emotions of Christ. We see His compassion upon the multitudes and the sick, His love toward the rich young ruler, His sadness at the death of Lazarus, His tenderness toward the children, and so much more. As we encounter Him at the Temple, it is His anger… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 25-26 & Mark 10

Old Testament: Exodus 25- Glamping

Exodus 25:2
“Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

A few years ago I heard a word I had never heard before, or ever dreamed could be real. That word was “glamping.” “Glamping,” according to the urban dictionary, is “a form of glamorous camping done by urban types.” Those who “glamp” turn tents into elaborate structures with all the… Read More

Exodus 26- The Veil

Exodus 26:33
“The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.”

Moses was invited by God to ascend Mount Sinai. Upon reaching its pinnacle, he received the Law of God, and the blueprints for the Tabernacle. The Law was given to reveal the perfection of God, and the sinfulness … Read More

New Testament: Mark 10- He Is Calling You

Mark 10:49
“Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

Imagine the thrill that must have filled Bartimaeus when he heard these words. Although his eye did not allow him to see, he had heard the stories of the man from Galilee, who was healing the sick and raising the dead. Now Jesus was right there within the sound of his voice, able to hear his cries. Knowing that he had nothing to offer, Bartimaeus simply cried out for mercy. “Jesus, … Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 23-24 & Mark 9

Old Testament: Exodus 23- Following The Crowd

Exodus 23:2
“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…”

The Law of God was given as a standard to show the people their need for a Savior, and as a pattern to ensure that the people lived righteous lives. Here we find a principle that would protect Israel from becoming like the surrounding pagan nations. God is declaring that popular opinion is not what determines right from wrong. Almost every child has heard his parents say, “Would you jump off a cliff if your friends were doing it?” We attempt to instill within our children the principle that just because the crowd is behaving a certain way, it does not… Read More

Exodus 24- Faithful In All Things

Exodus 24:5
“Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord.”

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” I am quite certain most of us have heard this little slogan. The lesson in it is, there is no way to get a job done properly, unless you alone… Read More

New Testament: Mark 9- Help My Unbelief

Mark 9:24
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

We are introduced to a man facing one of life’s greatest obstacles, the illness of his son. We have little glimpses into the great love he had for his child. We are told the father cried out with tears, and although the boy had been suffering from childhood, his father stood with him, even risking his life to rescue… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 21-22 & Mark 8

Old Testament: Exodus 21- Bondservant

Exodus 21:5-6
“But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.”

Paul often referred himself as a servant, or a slave. The word he used was “dulous”, which means bond-slave, or a person who was bound to another. It is not difficult to find examples in history of people who have… Read More

Exodus 22- Pray For Our Leaders

Exodus 22:28
“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”

The purpose of Israel’s time at Mount Sinai was to develop as a nation upon the foundation stone of the Word of God. Moses went up the mountain alone, and came down the mountain with clear and detailed instructions from heaven regarding how the people should live. These instructions are referred to… Read More
New Testament: Mark 8-  Giving Up To Gain

Mark 8:35
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or opposed to common sense, but is true. The statement Jesus reveals is one of life’s greatest paradoxes. Man was created to know God. Jesus said that He came to “give us life and that more abundantly.” When our lives are lived in complete obedience to the Lord, we experience the height of living. When we hold back, unwilling to give ourselves, our time, or some sinful activity; we think we… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 19-20 & Mark 7

Old Testament: Exodus 19- Where Are You Going?

Exodus 19:4
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”

I imagine if any of the people in this massive caravan were asked where they were headed, they all would have given the same answer, “We are going to the Promised Land.” They had grown up with stories of a land flowing with milk and honey; had been dreaming of this day for generations. Their goal was to reach a land where they were free from the tyranny of Egypt. At the same time, if we were able to look up and ask the Lord where this multitude… Read More

Exodus 20- No Idols

Exodus 20:4
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;”

On the top of a mountain covered in smoke, Moses met with God, and heard the standard upon which relationship with God would be established. The Lord gives a list of ten commands that reveal His holiness, and our need for sacrifice. The first four commands reveal things about the nature of God. We learn, along… Read More

New Testament: Mark 7- Far Hearts

Mark 7:3
“For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.”

Man was created with a need to know God. In fact, we only experience the fullness of life when we are in right relationship with God. Man, apart from God, is like an expensive luxury car, purchased only to sit in the driveway under a cover. That is not what it was designed to do. Nor were we designed to live apart from God. That is… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 17-18 & Mark 6

Old Testament: Exodus 17- Hitting Rock Bottom

Exodus 17:7
“So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’”

When the sojourning camp of Israel reached Rephidim, they were horrified to discover there was no water. There are many things in life we view as necessities, which are actually comforts; water is not one of them. A person can survive in difficult desert conditions for about three days without water. Their situation was grave, to say the least. This truly… Read More

Exodus 18- Next Generation

Exodus 18:17
“So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good.’”

As the leader of the congregation of Israel, Moses was sought out for advice for the issues of everyday life. Whenever people had a dispute with a neighbor, or a family crisis, they would set up an appointment with Moses, who would give them godly counsel. While it was good for Moses to be available to the people, and understandable that they wanted to meet… Read More

New Testament: Mark 6- Limited Work

Mark 6:5
“Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”

The phrase “He could do no mighty work there…” has always fascinated me. Think about it. The one who healed the sick, calmed the seas, rebuked the demons, raised the dead, created all things, and by the word of His power, holds all things together, could do no mighty work there. Why? What is it that kept… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 15-16 & Mark 5

Old Testament: Exodus 15- New Song

Exodus 15:1
“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: . . .”

After experiencing the work of the Lord, Moses led Israel in a song of praise. This song is a beautiful example of worship. Moses begins by giving God praise for the thing He has done, moves on to worship for who God is, and ends by looking at the road ahead, in light … Read More

Exodus 16-Curiosity

Exodus 16:27
“Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none.”

Have you ever heard the proverb, “curiosity killed the cat?” It speaks to that part of our nature that wants to look into things that we shouldn’t. Not all curiosity is bad, in fact it can often lead to some pretty amazing opportunities. However, when our curiosity leads us to disobey the clear commands … Read More

New Testament: Mark 5- They Could Not Tame Him

Mark 4:36
“When they had left the multitude”

Mark 4 ends with the story of a dangerous journey on which Jesus took His disciples. Knowing all things, He knew they would face a storm on the sea. He knew this storm would be so great that those who had grown up fishing those waters, and experiencing rough conditions, would fear for their very lives. But it is not… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Exodus 13-14 & Mark 4

Old Testament: Exodus 13- Set Free

Exodus 13:3
“And Moses said to the people: ‘Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.’”

The day of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt was so important that an annual feast was established to commemorate the events. It was important to the Lord that His people never forget the severe bondage they were under before He rescued them. He knew they would face great difficulty… Read More

Exodus 14- Boxed In

Exodus 14:13
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today…’”

There can be little question that the children of Israel were following the leading of the Lord. They had a miraculous door open; freeing them from slavery. They began to march, carrying gifts from Egypt, and being led by a pillar fire and a cloud. What was… Read More

New Testament: Mark 4- Mysteries Of God

Mark 4:11
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God”

Paul wrote in1 Corinthians 2:14,

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

In other words, before we receive… Read More