Here is today’s Bible reading: Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4.
Psalm 53:5 (NIV)
There they were, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.
How often I allow my mind to be overwhelmed with dread where there was nothing to dread. The enemy is skilled at planting seeds of anxiety and fear in our minds. The best defense is the Truth of God’s Word. It reminds us that God is at work in all things for our good. With God, I have nothing to dread.
Here is today’s Bible reading: Numbers 11:24-13:33; Mark 14:22-52; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 11:1-3.
Numbers 13:23 (NIV)
When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.
Numbers 13:27-30 (NIV)
They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. [28] But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. [29] The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
[30] Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
The children of Israel are so close to the Promised Land they can literally taste it. Yet, they are too afraid to take that final step and experience all that God has in store for them. It is right there for the taking, but they want to quit. I wonder how many times we come right to the edge of God’s best for us, but we back off and miss it. May God make us like Caleb–courageous and full of faith that God is bigger than the remaining obstacles to the blessing in store for us.
Here is today’s Bible reading: Numbers 10:1-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32.
Numbers 11:1 (NIV)
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
Why does God hate complaining so much? Because it questions His character. When we grumble we doubt His goodness. We insult Him with our ingratitude. Our job as His creation is to magnify His character, not cast a shadow over it. This is particularly convicting because we live in a complaining culture that has infiltrated the church. May God grant us grateful hearts that magnify God’s character and trust in His goodness.
Here is today’s Bible reading: Numbers 8:1-9:23; Mark 13:14-37; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 10:29-30.
Psalm 50:23 (NIV)
He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,
and he prepares the way
so that I may show him the salvation of God.”
Thanksgiving is more powerful than we realize. It opens the door to the presence of God. “Enter His gates with…thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving is an attitude but it is also a practice. When we practice thanksgiving, the attitude grows within us. How will you practice thanksgiving today?
Here is today’s Bible reading: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 9:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28.
Numbers 7:89 (NIV)
When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.
That last sentence gives me goose bumps: “And he spoke with him.” Moses spoke with Almighty God. Amazingly, you and I can do the same. Anytime. Anywhere. We have been given the awesome privilege of speaking with the Creator of the universe. Yet, we treat this gift so flippantly. We neglect it. Everything that we could ever want or need comes through that gift of prayer. May we treat it like the treasure it really is.
Here is today’s Bible reading: Numbers 4:1-5:31; Mark 12:18-37; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 10:26.
Mark 12:24 (NIV)
Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
These words of Jesus addressed to the Sadducees over 2,000 years ago could easily be for the Church today. In our quest to be attractional, we have neglected the Scriptures and forfeited the power of God. As a result, many churches excel at a good show on Sunday morning. Maybe a large crowd is there. But is God there? Is there an outpouring of His Spirit which miraculously transforms lives with deliverance and healing? May we excel at knowing personally the Scriptures and the power of God.
Here is today’s Bible reading: Numbers 2:1-3:51; Mark 11:27-12:17; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 10:24-25.
Psalm 47:5-6 (NIV)
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
[6] Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
God shows up when His people praise Him. What role does praising God play in your daily life?
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.
With My Own Eyes 