Friday, March 10th: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 12:1-27 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 12:1-27

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. 15 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.
This is something that I need to be more mindful of.  How many times do our prayers consist of requests?

We want God to bless, to heal, to protect. to guide, to calm - all good things and all things we should continue to pray for.  But how much time do I spend praising God for who He is instead of what He can do for me?

How much time do I spend acknowledging His love for me despite my unworthiness?

He is worthy!  Praise His name!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Deuteronomy 13-15; Mark 12:28-44

Thursday, March 9th: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 11:19-33 ~ Deena

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 11:19-33

A passage from today's NT reading talked about the withered fig tree. The fig tree is a picture of Israel, where it takes up space but doesn't produce fruit. A withered tree is usually chopped down. Why does God keep me around? As a Christian, am I bearing fruit or am I like a withered fig tree?
In verse 20 it says that the tree was withered to it's roots. When we stop bearing fruit the problem always begins with the roots. Further down in verse 25 Jesus reminds us that we must have FAITH and FORGIVENESS when we pray so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 12:1-27

Wednesday, March 8th: Deuteronomy 4-6, Mark 11:1-18 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: Deuteronomy 4-6, Mark 11:1-18

A couple verses that stood out to me as I read today's passage,

Deuteronomy 4:9
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Important lesson for the Israelites, to not forget all they had seen or to let them be forgotten by fading from their hearts. Important lesson for me too, do I remember things God has done for me in the past? Or do I just look forward and forget all He has done for me?

Deuteronomy 5:32
So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left

Here we see the importance of staying focused on God and not turning to side distractions that will pull us away from God. A good reminder to stay focused on Him and what He says in the bible, and not get caught up in small details that can distract us from Him.

Mark 11:9
Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord !”

A popular chorus sung in church. These words were shouted at Jesus, praising Him. A short while later there didn't seem to be anyone around who would praise Him, as He was mistreated and later killed, for you and me. I want to be consistent in my love and praise for Him, and pray for strength to do this, not turning from Him ever.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 11:19-33

Tuesday, March 7: Deuteronomy 1-3; Mark 10:32-52 ~ Jody

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: Deuteronomy 1-3, Mark 10:32-52

As I was reading through the Old Testament chapters today I was reminded how important it is to walk in close relationship with God. Listen for His instruction and obey!

‘You have now reached the hill country of the Amorites that the Lord our God is giving us. 21 Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’ Deuteronomy 1:20-21

Instead of pushing boldly ahead, confident in his directions from God that he shared in these verses, Moses listened to the people and sent in scouts to check the land out first. Of course, we read that they come back afraid of what they've seen, knowing that they cannot over take these people.

‘The Lord must hate us. That’s why he has brought us here from Egypt—to hand us over to the Amorites to be slaughtered. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have demoralized us with their report. They tell us, “The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, and their towns are large, with walls rising high into the sky! We even saw giants there—the descendants of Anak!”’ Deuteronomy 1: 27-28

And God knew this - He knew that they could only overcome them with His power and I wonder if that's why He wanted them to just move forward in faith and occupy the land. He knew that if they saw what they were up against, they would fall back in fear and lose faith.

How often do we hesitate in our obedience to God because we need to "research" or "plan" or "study" or whatever else we think we need to do to equip ourselves instead of walking forward confidently, relying on God's strength. This reinforces for me the importance of living a life in close relationship with Him. So I trust that I am hearing His voice of when to move, when to study, when to wait etc. The only way I can do this is through an intimate relationship with Him!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 4-6, Mark 11:1-18

Monday, March 6th: Numbers 35-36; Mark 10:1-31 ~ Kezia

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 35-36; Mark 10:1-31

Our life here on earth so very short. Although it might seem as though minutes are passing as hours, and the week is dragging on forever, this earthly life is so small in the big picture. 

If you take a long rope that extends forever and ever, and you tie a small knot at the very beginning of this rope, that is your whole entire life on earth. Just the length of that small knot. The rest of the rope is either everlasting life with God in heaven, or death in hell. Human life usually lasts around 80 years, yet all those years only account for less than an inch on your everlasting rope of life. The choice of where we want to go for the rest of the time on our rope is ours to make. 

Sometimes it may feel as though being a Christian is hard, unfair, and not as fun, and we often let ourselves believe it's not worth it. Let's remember why we live differently and stand out from the crowd. 

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.31

Jesus reminds us that when we suffer even the hardest of days here on earth, we will be given so much more in heaven. Why would we want temporary riches on earth when can have everlasting riches in heaven?


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 1-3; Mark 10:32-52

Sunday, March 5th: Numbers 32-34; Mark 9:30-50 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 32-34; Mark 9:30-50

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands." - Mark 9:43

If there is an area or person or thing in my life that is causing me to sin, I need to cut it out of my life. I might love it, but if it pulls me away from Jesus then it is not good and I need to get rid of it.

God, help me to get rid of whatever is keeping me from having a fully devoted relationship with you. Amen. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 35-36; Mark 10:1-31

Saturday, March 4th: Numbers 29-31; Mark 9:1-29 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 29-31; Mark 9:1-29

I believe, help my unbelief!

Summary of thoughts, and quotes are from this sermon......

I am a lifelong believer in Jesus Christ.

I am also a lifelong unbeliever.

When I think of my sins, I'm not sure He will forgive me. When I feel the power of old habits, I wonder if He can free me from them. When assuring others they can become new creatures in Christ, I often doubt that I can be re-made in His Image.
I think most of us are in the same boat.

It's hard to have faith that is unwavering. There are many forces at work to undermine our faith.  Satan doesn't want us to believe.  The world doesn't want us to believe.  Even our own flesh (the imperfect part of us, not yet sanctified) doesn't want us to believe.

All true for the father in this story.  Plus a few more roadblocks.  His son was extremely sick, and had been extremely sick for a very long time.  His own prayers for his son's healing had failed, and even the disciples hadn't been able to heal him.  He had reason to doubt.

Even the little faith the man had was given him by God (just as all faith is - we cannot believe on our own).  Jesus knew his faith was small, and He called him out on it.  And yet He still loves those who suffer with un-belief, or weak belief, or half-belief. And He wants to encourage that faith, and show us that it is well founded.

Jesus took this man's small faith, and He uses it.

He will do the same for you and me.  When we confess the smallness of our faith and ask Him for help, He will honour that request!  

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 32-34; Mark 9:30-50

Friday, March 3rd: Numbers 26-28; Mark 8 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 26-28; Mark 8

This has been a bad posting week for me!  Once again, I forgot about my day to post, and then I left for hockey provincials....  Anyway, here it is finally.

I didn't get very far into our Numbers passage before I came to a verse that made me stop and investigate a bit more thoroughly.  And what I found was an amazing picture of redemption, forgiveness, and grace.

Numbers 26:9-11 9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram,chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord 10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. 11 But the sons of Korah did not die.

I thought the sons of Korah died.  Didn't the Bible say their entire households were swallowed up by the earth?  Not quite. Going back to Numbers 16 we find......

27 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones...... 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.
Notice that verse 27 specifically talks about the wives and children of Dathan and Abiram, but does not say the same about Korah.  The ESV talks about the "people who belonged to Korah", while the NASB says the "men" who belonged to Korah.

And our passage today confirms it again - the sons of Korah did not die.

Why not?

We don't know for sure.  Perhaps Korah's adults sons were faithful to God, and did not support their father's rebellion - this would be in line with other passages that speak on God not holding the sins of the fathers against the sons. Or perhaps God showed unmerited grace to these sons.  We don't know for sure.

But what we do know is that it is is a beautiful picture of redemption, grace and forgiveness.  The sons of Korah received their positions back, and more!  Further in the biblical narrative, we see the sons of Korah given greater responsibility by King David, and they also become poets, writing several of the Psalms.

I found a commentary that pointed out this detail I had never connected to this before.......
Every so often these psalms of Korah’s sons take an autobiographical turn that leaves me breathless with wonder at the profound gratitude rising from the image itself. I discovered one of these treasures just recently. I was reflecting on Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way…”

A strong metaphor…for anyone except the sons of Korah. For them, the earth actually once had given way. The earth moved so decisively that it swallowed up their entire disaffected family. In writing Psalm 46, might they have been living in the memory of their familial rescue? In some dramatic fashion that remains veiled in this family’s history, God had been their refuge and strength on a day when the earth really did open up. So now, when I hear the Sons of Korah say there is no cause to fear—even in the midst of unprecedented human trauma—I listen with different ears.
And from now on, so will I!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 29-31; Mark 9:1-29

Thursday, March 2th: Numbers 23-25; Mark 7:14-37 ~ Deena

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 23-25; Mark 7:14-37

Mark 7:24 He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.

Are you living completely for Jesus? Is the love of Christ so obvious in your life that those who know you realize  that you are a follower of the One who "could not be hidden"? If so, the world will readily see that you are on God's side. Your influence cannot be hidden. (Henry G. Bosch)

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 26-28; Mark 8

Wednesday, March 1st: Numbers 20-22, Mark 7:1-13 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 20-22, Mark 7:1-13

Totally I forgot I was going to do today's post for Nathan - oops!

In our OT passage today we see Moses react in anger towards the Israelites constant complaining (quite understandably it seems to me!), and in the process he disobeys God, forfeiting the privilege of entering the Promised Land.

Perhaps this punishment seems extreme to us.  I know I have often thought so.  Why was this punishment so severe?

This site says.....
What did Moses do that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord? First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses says, "Must we [referring to Moses and Aaron] bring you water out of this rock?" Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses committed this sin in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Fourth, it seems that God had intended to present a type of Christ in this circumstance. The water-giving rock is used as a symbol of Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4. The rock was struck once in Exodus 17:6, just like Christ was crucified once (Hebrews 7:27). Moses’ speaking to the rock in Numbers 20 was to be a picture of prayer; instead, Moses angrily struck the rock, in effect, crucifying Christ again. His punishment for disobedience, pride, and the misrepresentation of Christ’s sacrifice was that he was barred from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).

Maybe not such a small deal after all.

But truthfully?  God doesn't need to prove Himself to me. My initial thought that it was a severe and unjust penalty shows my sinful nature.  First of all, to even think that anything God does is unjust or severe is sinful.  Secondly, it shows how easy it is, from this side of history and the cross, to presume upon God's mercy.  The instant we begin to think we somehow deserve mercy, is the moment we realize we do not understand the huge chasm that exists between God's holiness and our sinfulness.

We deserve instant death for only one of our sins. Every moment we continue to breathe is a moment God extends mercy to us.

God showed mercy to Moses.  He didn't kill him on the spot, He most certainly didn't banish Him from heaven for all eternity. Instead, He barred him from entering the Promised Land - an act that was both just and merciful.

May we daily (sometimes hourly!) be reminded to be purposefully mindful of (and thankful for!) God's mercy and grace.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Numbers 23-25; Mark 7:14-37