February 25
February 25
One Year Bible Readings:
Leviticus 16:29-18:30
Mark 7:24-8:10
Psalm 41:1-13
Proverbs 10:15-16
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.
Leviticus:
Today we finish up Leviticus chapter 16 with a very simple but powerful statement in verse 34 - "Moses followed all these instructions that the LORD had given to him." Moses followed all of the instructions... That sounds so simple, but think about really how amazing it is. Moses did not veer to the left or the right. He stayed on the narrow path. He followed the instructions. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthews 5-7 is a nice summary of some instructions to us from Jesus.
Q: Can what was said of Moses be said of you today? Are you following all of the instructions Jesus has given us? Don't beat yourself up over this if the answer is no. Not one of us is perfect this side of heaven - except for Jesus. Moses was not perfect either. But, I think we can hopefully learn something from Moses' obedience to God's instructions. I do believe that each of us today can walk along the narrow path to follow Jesus in faith, follow his teachings in faith, and become more and more like Him as we go. Even if we trip or stumble along the Way, if we continue in our faith in Jesus and who he truly is, we will indeed become more like Him as we follow Him.
Q: How well are you doing at following Jesus' instructions in your life today? What are some areas in you can grow in?
Mark:
Mark chapter 7 opens up with a gentile woman begging Jesus to release her daughter from the control of a demon. Verses 27 through 29 are a fascinating look at Jesus' ministry - "Jesus told her, "First I should help my own family, the Jews. It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are given some crumbs from the children's plates." "Good answer!" he said. "And because you have answered so well, I have healed your daughter." Here we see that Jesus' ministry was initially to the Jews, but here he heals a gentile woman's daughter because of her humility and faith. And of course as we get to the Great Commission at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus' ministry is clearly for "all nations". In fact, Mark's Gospel is a good indicator of how Jesus' ministry quickly expanded beyond the Jews as Mark likely wrote this Gospel in Rome and to a primarily Roman gentile believer audience.
Q: How are you helping take the Gospel to all nations? Are you supporting missionaries or ministries doing this work? Are you doing it yourself?
Psalm:
Today we read in Psalm 41 verse 1 – “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.” For some reason this verse really opens up my heart. Something about the word “weak.” Maybe this verse really speaks to me because I myself feel weak at times. And yet, I am so blessed in so many ways. And I realize that there are so many others out there in this world who may not have the blessings that I have, and who are struggling through an extremely tough cycle of weakness. And I wonder – what am I doing to help those who are weak? Do I really have regard for the weak?
Q: Do you? What in your life really demonstrates that you have regard for the weak? How are you investing time or finances into the weak? Are you praying for the weak? Are you loving the weak?
Proverbs:
Proverbs chapter 10 verse 16 is powerful stuff! "The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin." This is so true. I know there have been times in my life in the past where I was not walking with the Lord and I absolutely squandered my money on sin - and my life was certainly not enhanced in the process. For some reason this verse also makes me think about how sometimes we pursue big salaries and big jobs or careers so that we can spend big bucks on a lavish lifestyle. And I wonder... at the end of the day what that game buys us? I don't think much. I have been thinking more and more lately about how much wisdom there is in living a simple godly life. Maybe take a job that pays less.... but where you work less... you are less stressed... but you can do things like spend more time with God, your family, your friends, and serving others.... where you can read more good books... exercise more.... sleep a full 8 hours a night.... enjoy each day and not be so worried all the time about the future... Sure - with a job that pays less you won't be able to be out and about on the town each night living the "high life". But is this really living? Really? In my own life, I do think about how much "earnings" do I really need - and if maybe.... perhaps.... somehow less is actually more?
Q: 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?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
One Year Bible Readings:
Leviticus 16:29-18:30
Mark 7:24-8:10
Psalm 41:1-13
Proverbs 10:15-16
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.
Leviticus:
Today we finish up Leviticus chapter 16 with a very simple but powerful statement in verse 34 - "Moses followed all these instructions that the LORD had given to him." Moses followed all of the instructions... That sounds so simple, but think about really how amazing it is. Moses did not veer to the left or the right. He stayed on the narrow path. He followed the instructions. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthews 5-7 is a nice summary of some instructions to us from Jesus.
Q: Can what was said of Moses be said of you today? Are you following all of the instructions Jesus has given us? Don't beat yourself up over this if the answer is no. Not one of us is perfect this side of heaven - except for Jesus. Moses was not perfect either. But, I think we can hopefully learn something from Moses' obedience to God's instructions. I do believe that each of us today can walk along the narrow path to follow Jesus in faith, follow his teachings in faith, and become more and more like Him as we go. Even if we trip or stumble along the Way, if we continue in our faith in Jesus and who he truly is, we will indeed become more like Him as we follow Him.
Q: How well are you doing at following Jesus' instructions in your life today? What are some areas in you can grow in?
Mark:
Mark chapter 7 opens up with a gentile woman begging Jesus to release her daughter from the control of a demon. Verses 27 through 29 are a fascinating look at Jesus' ministry - "Jesus told her, "First I should help my own family, the Jews. It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are given some crumbs from the children's plates." "Good answer!" he said. "And because you have answered so well, I have healed your daughter." Here we see that Jesus' ministry was initially to the Jews, but here he heals a gentile woman's daughter because of her humility and faith. And of course as we get to the Great Commission at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus' ministry is clearly for "all nations". In fact, Mark's Gospel is a good indicator of how Jesus' ministry quickly expanded beyond the Jews as Mark likely wrote this Gospel in Rome and to a primarily Roman gentile believer audience.
Q: How are you helping take the Gospel to all nations? Are you supporting missionaries or ministries doing this work? Are you doing it yourself?
Psalm:
Today we read in Psalm 41 verse 1 – “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.” For some reason this verse really opens up my heart. Something about the word “weak.” Maybe this verse really speaks to me because I myself feel weak at times. And yet, I am so blessed in so many ways. And I realize that there are so many others out there in this world who may not have the blessings that I have, and who are struggling through an extremely tough cycle of weakness. And I wonder – what am I doing to help those who are weak? Do I really have regard for the weak?
Q: Do you? What in your life really demonstrates that you have regard for the weak? How are you investing time or finances into the weak? Are you praying for the weak? Are you loving the weak?
Proverbs:
Proverbs chapter 10 verse 16 is powerful stuff! "The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin." This is so true. I know there have been times in my life in the past where I was not walking with the Lord and I absolutely squandered my money on sin - and my life was certainly not enhanced in the process. For some reason this verse also makes me think about how sometimes we pursue big salaries and big jobs or careers so that we can spend big bucks on a lavish lifestyle. And I wonder... at the end of the day what that game buys us? I don't think much. I have been thinking more and more lately about how much wisdom there is in living a simple godly life. Maybe take a job that pays less.... but where you work less... you are less stressed... but you can do things like spend more time with God, your family, your friends, and serving others.... where you can read more good books... exercise more.... sleep a full 8 hours a night.... enjoy each day and not be so worried all the time about the future... Sure - with a job that pays less you won't be able to be out and about on the town each night living the "high life". But is this really living? Really? In my own life, I do think about how much "earnings" do I really need - and if maybe.... perhaps.... somehow less is actually more?
Q: 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?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
Recent
Archive
2024
January
One Year Bible CompanionJanuary 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
February
February 1February 2February 3February 4February 5February 6February 7February 8February 9February 10February 11February 12February 13February 14February 15February 16February 17February 18February 19February 20February 21February 22February 23February 24February 25February 26February 27February 28February 29
March
Categories
no categories
No Comments