With My Own Eyes

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30; Luke 9:51-10:12; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 12:11.

Luke 9:51 (NIV)
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

I love this verse. It shows Jesus with backbone, with intestinal fortitude.  He knew what awaited in Jerusalem–chanting mobs and crucifixion on a cross.  Yet, he “resolutely” set out for Jerusalem.  He was on a mission, and nothing would stop Him.  I need some of that “resoluteness”.  I also find it interesting, though, that the verse does not say, “as the time approached for him to be crucified”.  Rather, it focuses on him being taken up to heaven.  The cross was not the end of the story.  Perhaps Jesus could be so resolute because He knew what was after the cross. In the same way, we can be resolute as we consider that this life is not the end of the story.  We too as God’s redeemed children will be taken up to heaven.  

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20; Luke 9:28-50; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 12:10.

Psalm 73:13-14 (NIV)
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
[14] All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.

Ever wonder if it is worth it?  You try to follow Jesus and life only seems to get worse, while those who live for themselves seem to be doing better in life than you.  The Psalmist felt this way and wasn’t bashful about expressing his frustration.  Following Jesus is a hard road.  But it is so worth it.  In Jesus our lives find purpose, meaning, and ultimate fulfillment.

Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV)
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
[26] My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

As the old song says, “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.”

One quarter of our journey is in the books!  Great job.  Keep going.  

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9.

Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. [25] What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Hard words.  Our culture does not understand self-denial.  In fact, the message is the opposite:  “You deserve to be happy.  Look out for yourself.  If you want something, go get it.”  But true discipleship is not only a life of self-denial, it is a life of self-death:  “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live…”  If this sounds like a depressing life, it is absolutely not.  It is only when we lose our selfish lives that we find true fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  Once again we see just how upside down the values of God’s Kingdom are in contrast to the values of this world.  Lose your life today and find the life you have been looking for.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:40-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7.

Psalm 71:20-21 (NIV)
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
[21] You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.

The Psalmist understood the sovereignty of God.  He acknowledged that God is not only responsible for the things that are easy, but also those things that are difficult–even those troubles that are “many and bitter”.  But there is comfort in God’s sovereignty because it means that our suffering is not random and pointless.  Rather, it has a purpose.  Ultimately that purpose is to shape us to be more like Jesus.  When that happens, our honor increases and we will experience the comfort that only God can give.  

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-39; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4.

Deut. 11:18-21 (NIV)
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. [19] Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. [20] Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, [21] so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Do you get the idea that God’s Word was to be central to the lives of God’s people?  They were to wear it, teach it, talk about it–morning, noon, and night.  It was even to be visible on their doorframes and gates so that every time that walked in and out they were confronted by it.  God knew that if His people were not intentional about their attention to the Word, they would all too easily be distracted by other things.  We know that all too well.  May we return God’s Word to its rightful place of priority in our lives.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 12:2-3.

Deut. 9:1-3 (NIV)
Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. [2] The people are strong and tall–Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?” [3] But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

When you live in the center of God’s will, nothing can stop you.  There is no obstacle too great or enemy too strong.  If God is for you, who can be against you?  May this truth lead you to live courageously and victoriously today.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 12:1.

Deut. 8:2 (NIV)
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

More than any other time of my life, the Lord has used this season to humble me and to test me in order to know what was in my heart.  It hasn’t been pretty.  I have certainly been humbled and recognize how much I need to grow in faith.  I am thankful that God cares enough to test me so that I can grow.

Proverbs 12:1 (NIV)
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.

One area in which I am continually challenged is in discipline.  It is interesting that in this verse there is a correlation between discipline and knowledge.  Those who are disciplined are serious about their knowledge of God and His Word.  The Church is facing a crisis of biblical illiteracy.  People who claim to know Jesus don’t know HIs Word.  Why?  Because we are too busy with other things. But if we truly believe that the Bible contains absolute Truth and is the God’s personal revelation to us, how can we not know it?  Join me in pursuing a greater discipline in seeking the knowledge of God’s Word.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25; Luke 7:11-35; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 11:29-31.

Deut. 6:13 (NIV)
Fear the Lord your God, serve him only…

We have lost the concept of the fear of the Lord.  We have tried to explain it away as “respect” or “reverence.”  Sorry, that’s just not good enough.  Ask Isaiah who said “Woe is me…” when he experienced the very presence of God.  Ask the Israelites who told Moses that they couldn’t stand to hear the voice of God and instead would like Moses to relay His words to them.  Yes, God is love.  But He is also holy, holy, holy.  The more we minimize this concept of fearing God, the more we minimize our view of His majesty.  The more we minimize His majesty, the more we minimize our worship.  

Here is today’s Bible reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Luke 6:39-7:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 11:28.

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

We are so quick to forget what God has done.  That is why it is so important that we are intentional about sharing testimonies.  These stories remind us that God is faithful and constantly at work in our lives.  It is also important to involve our children in praying so that they are able to see firsthand how God acts on behalf of His children.  This is the key to bridging Christianity from theoretical to experiential.  I think this gap is the reason so many kids who grow up in Christian homes go astray.  They need to experience God, not just be told about Him.  May testimonies of answered prayers keep fresh in our minds the presence and power of our God.

Luke 6:42 (NIV)
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.