Author Archives: chadzaucha

Here’s today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 27:14-Numbers 1:54; Mark 11:1-26; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 10:23.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
“Be still, and know that I am God;

Shhhhh. Be still.  Be quiet.  God is in control.  He is good.  He is working out all things for your ultimate good.  Trust Him completely.  

Psalm 46:11 (NIV)
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 25:47-27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22.

Mark 10:35 (NIV)
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

Sounds terrible, doesn’t it?  Yet, I treat God that way–as if He exists to do my will rather than I exist to do His will.  As if He is to serve me rather than me serve Him.  May I get these roles straight once and for all.

Yesterday was quite odd without a through the Bible in a year scheduled reading.  Glad to be back on course today.  We are now two months in!  Great job.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 24:1-25:46; Mark 10:13-31; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 10:20-21.

Mark 10:23 (NIV)
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

Mark 10:24-25 (NIV)
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

These verses ought to get our attention, because if you are reading this in the United States on a computer, you are certainly rich by the world’s standard.  We can whine about gas prices, but we are still the envy of the world because of our material prosperity.  Unfortunately, it is that same material prosperity that makes true faith in God and single-minded devotion to His Kingdom very difficult.  Our pursuit of comfort and amusement don’t square so well with “take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow Me.”  God has blessed us, but that blessing is ultimately for us to be a blessing to others.  How to apply this in our culture is one of the greatest challenges of the Christian faith.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 22:17-23:44; Mark 9:30-10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19.

Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

This may come across harsh…If you want to eliminate a lot of sin from your life…stop talking so much.  The more we talk the greater the opportunity that we are going to say things that are not honoring to God (speech marked by gossip, slander, negativity, carelessness, hurt).  The more we talk, the less we measure our words.  Plus, the more we talk the less impact our words have.  Remember those old E.F. Hutton commercials?  “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.”  A wise person once said that God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we would listen twice as much as we speak.  May God give us the grace to listen more, talk less, and speak words that matter.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 20:22-22:16; Mark 9:2-29; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 10:18.

Mark 9:28-29 (NIV)
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
[29] He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Some manuscripts read “prayer and fasting.”  This reading seems to make the most sense.  Wouldn’t the disciples have prayed in the original efforts to drive out this demon? Jesus seems to be indicating that there is a special outpouring of His presence and power that accompanies biblical fasting.  Some things will only happen in response to God’s people obediently practicing this spiritual discipline.  Is fasting a vital part of your relationship with Jesus?

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 19:1-20:21; Mark 8:11-9:1; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 10:17.

Leviticus 19:17 (NIV)
” ‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.

Way back in Genesis Cain asked the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  The answer is a resounding, “Yes.”  As the Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 12 and other passages, we are members of a Body and all the members belong to each other.  Therefore, we have a God-given responsibility to confront each other about sin.  To fail to do so is described as hate and the consequence is that we are just as guilty as the one actually committing the sin.  This is a hard teaching in our “It’s none of your business” culture.  May God give us the courage to be the Body.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 16:29-18:30; Mark 7:24-8:10; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 10:15-16.

Mark 8:5 (NIV)
“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

Seven loaves by themselves is not very much.  But seven loaves surrendered to Jesus fed a multitude.  How many “loaves” do you have?  I have so little to offer to Jesus.  I am weak, unreliable, and sinful.  But Scripture tells me that when I give what I do have to Jesus, all things are possible.  The key is to surrender what I do have–all of it–to Him.  

Some families fish in the deeps of the ocean.  Others fly-fish in a cold mountain stream.  The Zauchas fish in a man-made fun fishing pond at a resort using pieces of hot dogs as bait.

We didn’t catch any fish, but did catch this beautiful mermaid.  Apparently, she likes hot dogs.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 15:1-16:28; Mark 7:1-23; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 10:13-14.

Leviticus 15:31 (NIV)
” ‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’ ”

What makes you unclean in the eyes of God?  Are you actively separating yourself from what makes you unclean?  How seriously do you take God’s holiness and His mandate that His children be holy?  Are you running hard after holiness and away from sin?  May God give us a passion for His holiness.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 14:1-57; Mark 6:30-56; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 10:11-12.

Psalm 40:9-10 (NIV)
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
[10] I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.

If we really understood the miracle of our salvation, how much would we be talking about it?  If we really believed God is who He says He is and Has done what He said He’d do, how could we stay silent?  Do we get it?  Do our lips overflow with thanksgiving and praise for all to hear?  Or do we conceal God’s love and truth?  Unseal my lips, O Lord.  Unseal the lips of your Church.