Singin' in the rain!

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 24:1-25:18

Luke 2:1-35

Psalm 59:1-17

Proverbs 11:14

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 59:16 "But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Are we under God's authority?

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 22:21-23:30

Luke 1:57-80

Psalm 58:1-11

Proverbs 11:12-13

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Numbers 22:38 "Balaam replied, 'Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In Numbers 22, the leaders of Moab hired a prophet. They wanted him to pronounce a curse upon the Israelites believing it would undermine the strength of God's people.

Yet, the prophet (Balaam) told them that they (and he) had no authority to determine what he would say over the Israelites. He was under God's authority and could only say what God told him to say.

I wonder if a mighty movement of God could begin and sweep across our land if God's spokesmen, pastor/preachers, would take this verse to heart.

How can God be more exalted?

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 21:1-22:20
Luke 1:26-56
Psalm 57:1-11
Proverbs 11:9-11

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 57:11 "Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Quite often, in the book of Psalms, we hear the Psalmist saying things like "Be exalted, O God." 

If we aren't careful, we will come to an erroneous conclusion - that the Psalmist is praying that God could improve in some way. Nothing could be further from the truth.

To understand the meaning of phrases such as this, we simply need to realize that the Psalmist is speaking from a human point of view. He desires for God's infinite greatness to be recognized and praised by more people. God is already infinitely exalted. But, more people need to realize this and worship Him.

How do we help to fulfill the desire of this phrase?

Share the Gospel! It is through the gift of eternal life made possible by Jesus' death, burial and resurrection on our behalf that people come to know God and enjoy Him.

Do you want God to be more exalted today among the peoples? Then look for someone to tell about Jesus.

How to relax during the stresses of life

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 19:1-20:29
Luke 1:1-25
Psalm 56:1-13
Proverbs 11:8

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 56:3 "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

When my children were much younger, they seemed to not have a care in the world. I could have sweaty palms as I drove down the interstate in a blinding storm ... and they were in the backseat giggling. I could stress as I looked at the checkbook realizing that there wasn't enough money to pay a utility bill ... and they were chasing each other through the house.

That's the nature of children. They trust. And because they trust, they just don't worry.

Have you noticed as you read through the Gospels that Jesus periodically took a child up into his arms (Mark 9:36-37) and encouraged his follows to be like that child? He wants us to trust Him. When we trust Him, we become like a child who is much more carefree than we, adults, typically tend to be.

That's the beautiful truth we see in this morning's verse for today.

"But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3).

So, be an adult and do what you should in each circumstance. If the car is making a strange noise, be responsible and get it looked at. If you are struggling to make ends meet, look for a second job. If you're driving through a blinding storm, consider taking the next exit to safety.

But, through it all, learn to trust Jesus. The more you trust Him, just like a child trusts their parent, the more you will be able to rest in your spirit.

"Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,

How I've proved Him o'r and o'r.

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus,

Oh for grace to trust Him more."

Living in victory when life is tough

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 16:41-18:32
Mark 16:1-20
Psalm 55:1-23
Proverbs 11:7

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 55:22 "Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Life is tough. There's no questioning that. We definitely live in a fallen, Genesis 3 world.

So, what's a Jesus-follower to do? Live in a perpetual state of despair?

Of course not!

We are to follow the example of the Psalmist and "give (our) burdens to the Lord." That means that we go to Him in prayer, inform Him of what He already knows, and then leave the "worrying" to Him.

Essentially, we say something like: "Heavenly Father, I've done all that I can do. I know of nothing else that I need to do. So, I'm leaving this matter in your hands. If I were to fret and worry, it's not going to solve anything so I won't bother. I trust that You are working out Your perfect plan and that whatever happens has to come through Your hands. Thank you so much for taking this burden from me. It was getting far too heavy to carry. Amen."

What is the guarantee? That if we are godly (obedient and confessed up), then He won't permit us "to slip and fall." That doesn't mean that life will immediately get easier. In fact, it may be God's desire to use the difficulties to forge steadfastness and character in us. The verse means that we will be able to stand victorious even if the trials continue to rage around us. We can live confidently because we are trusting in Him to take care of it.

So, is life hard? Sometimes. But, don't lay in a pool of discouragement on the battle field. Get up, trust in the Lord, and live in victory!

I'm Barabbas? Really!?

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 15:17-16:40
Mark 15:1-47
Psalm 54:1-7
Proverbs 11:5-6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Mark 15:12 "Pilate asked them, 'Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In our verse for the day, Pilate asked the crowd what they wanted him to do with Jesus. Certain things caused this question to be asked:

- Jesus had been brought to Pilate by the envious, Jewish, religious leaders. They wanted Him killed once and for all.
- The Jewish people reminded Pilate that it was the time of year when he had traditionally released a prisoner to them.
- Pilate, believing Jesus to be innocent of any wrong-doing, offered the crowd a choice: Jesus or the murdering Barabbas (a convicted murderer and insurrectionist).
- To Pilate's shock, the crowd chose Barabbas and demanded that Jesus be crucified.

Now, friend, if we were in that crowd and watched these events play out, our hearts would have been broken at such injustice. We would have wept as these words were welling up in our hearts: "It's not fair! It's not fair!"

Yet, in this ugly scene, there is a beautiful picture. It is simply this: An obviously guilty man went free as Jesus took his place on the cross.

Friend, you and I are Barabbas in this story! We've been angry so we are just as guilty of murder as he is (Matthew 5:21-22). We've also lied, stolen, looked to lust, refused to forgive, failed to love sacrificially, been filled with jealousy, and so much more! In God's eyes, we are all lawbreakers.

But, when we place our trust in Jesus, relying upon Him to make us right in God's eyes, then He takes our place on the cross. We get to go free because He forgives us and declares us righteous.

While we look down on Barabbas and cry "injustice," his role is actually a beautiful picture of our guilt, God's love and justice, and our freedom.

Are you a good person?

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 14:1-15:16
Mark 14:53-72
Psalm 53:1-6
Proverbs 11:4

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 53:2-3 "God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

It's been my observation that most of us think we're a pretty good person. In fact, if I was walking down the street and someone asked me, "Do you think you're a good person?", I'd probably say "Yes."

Why is it so natural for us to think of ourselves as good and to proclaim that goodness to others?

Because we have watered down the definition of that word. The way we define "goodness" is not the way that God defines "goodness."

When we define goodness, we are saying that we haven't killed anyone. We haven't committed adultery. We aren't a liar. We aren't a thief.

... at least we think those statements are true of us.

So, can I ask you a few questions to see if you are a good person? Thank you.

Have you ever been angry with someone? Of course you have. We all have. Well, in Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus equates anger with murder. So, you, my friend, are a murderer. You have broken the 6th Commandment (Exodus 20:13).

Have you ever looked at someone to lust after them (arouse sexual passions in your mind/heart)? Jesus said that whoever looks to lust has committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28). So, you, my friend, are an adulterer. You have broken the 7th Commandment (Exodus 20:14).

Have you ever told a lie? Even once? Of course you have. We all have. And what do you call someone who has told a lie? A liar, right? So, you, my friend, are a liar. You have broken the 9th Commandment (Exodus 20:16).

Have you ever taken anything (no matter how small) that didn't belong to you? Of course you have. Well, what do you call someone who steals? A thief! So, you, my friend, are a thief. You have broken the 8th Commandment (Exodus 20:15).

So, by your own admonition, you are a murderer, an adulterer, a liar, and a thief. And we've only look at 4 of the 10 Commandments.

Do you see how misinformed we are when we proclaim our own goodness? Do you see how our verse for today is true when it says that God looks down from Heaven and can't find anyone who is doing good?

You may say, "Well, I'm mostly good. I'm a liar but most of the time I tell the truth."

Well, imagine with me that you are sitting in a court of law. The defendant is accused of murder. But, he speaks up and says, "I killed someone in cold blood. But, most of the time, I just leave people alone. I'm good most of the time. It's only every now and then that I kill someone."

You get the point, don't you?

So, what does a truth like the one found in today's Bible verses cause us to do? It should cause us to run, not walk, to the foot of the cross and fall down in repentance. It should cause us to trust in Jesus for our source of righteousness and stop trusting in ourselves to make us right in God's eyes.

Because we aren't morally good. Only Jesus is morally upright and fully pleasing to God. It is only as we are trusting in Jesus to make us right in God's eyes that we get forgiven and declared righteous. He takes our sin and He credits us with His righteousness.

So, if you are trusting in yourself to be good enough to make you right in God's eyes, stop it. You will never, ever be able to be good enough. Instead, trust in Jesus to make you good enough. That's precisely why He died on the cross, my friend.