April 19

April 19
One Year Bible Readings:
Joshua 19:1-20:9
Luke 19:28-48
Psalm 88:1-18
Proverbs 13:12-14
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.

Joshua:
Today we finish up reading about the Promised Land being divided among the tribes!  In Joshua chapter 20 we read about the Cities of Refuge.  I like that concept - a city of refuge.  A place of refuge.  This is what I think about Jesus today - He is our City of Refuge!  No matter what our past sins are, Jesus can be our City of Refuge if we will run to Him, believe, confess & repent.
 Q: How is Jesus your City of Refuge?

Luke:
In Luke chapter 19 today we read about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem - and of course, this scene of people shouting "Hosanna!" will far too soon turn toward people spitting on and mocking Jesus on the road to Golgotha as he carries his cross.  Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 19 readings today titled "The Untriumphal Entry" is at this link. Verses 41 through 44 are so beautiful as Jesus looks upon Jerusalem and cries. It makes sense because he knows that the destruction of Jerusalem in coming in 70 A.D.  Per Tyndale's commentary today, "In 66 A.D. the Jews revolted against Roman control.  Three years later Titus, son of Emperor Vespasian, was sent to crush the rebellion.  Roman soldiers attacked Jerusalem and broke through the northern wall but still couldn't take the city.  Finally they laid siege to it, and in A.D. 70 they were able to enter the severely weakened city and burn it.  Six hundred thousand Jews were killed during Titus' onslaught."  And so, Jesus wept over Jerusalem...  
Q: Have you like Jesus ever wept over a city’s condition? Should we be weeping over the condition of our cities today?

Psalm:
Psalm 88 is quite a Psalm! Interestingly many churches read this Psalm during their Good Friday liturgies, interpreting this Psalm as a prayer of Jesus suffering on the road to Golgotha. Take a read through this Psalm again with this perspective...

Proverbs:
Proverbs chapter 13 verse 12 teaches us today: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy." Do you see the wisdom in this Psalm? I do hope that each of us realizes that faith in Jesus is not hope deferred. It is a dream come true in the here and now. Faith in Jesus brings life & joy now. And yes, faith in Jesus also brings the hope of glory for eternity. But, salvation is not all just hope deferred... It is life & joy now too!
Q: How has faith brought life and joy into your life? Do you believe faith in Jesus brings eternal life and joy as well? Are you looking forward to eternal life and joy in heaven, our eternal "city of refuge"?

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