“Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you.” I fall short on giving back to the Lord daily as I receive His blessing. I pray as I go about my day that I may be a blessing to someone as an out-pouring of God’s goodness to me.
I love the example Jesus sets in this verse: 51 And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”
Jesus didn’t assume what the disabled man wanted. Jesus knew what the man wanted. But he asked the man anyway. How often do we assume what the “disabled” want and what is best for them? Instead, we should be asking and listening to our brothers and sisters. Just like Jesus did.
I am over a month behind too. Started late in January and have missed a few days along the way. I’m not trying to catch up just trying to keep going! Press on ladies!!
I’m a few days behind as well. I’ve gotten behind a few times before and have set aside an hour to read and I was able to catch up… need to do that again :)
I love how it says that “no one should come to the Lord empty handed (16:16). How many times have I come expecting something but yet not willing to give up something I’ve been holding onto. Make me willing.
God is so merciful. Even when commanding His people to stone others to death. It seems crazy and horrible but He is one true life and before Jesus if there was anyone turning people away from Truth and Life, the most merciful thing God could do would be to command the extermination of those influences. And don’t our sins deserve death? They do. Even now they do. They are just as dark and evil and require just as much punishment. The difference is that God sent His own to die those painful stoning deaths for us. Our God is so Holy, when I consider it it makes me feel that it’s not crazy at all that He demanded death. Just so thankful that I am not the one who paid the death price for my sins!
when I was reading this passage I saw an interesting parallel. When approached by his disciples and by the blind beggar, Jesus used the same phrasing when he asked “what do you want me to do for you?” Then he proceeded to reveal sight to them. To the disciples it was the “least shall become first” principle and to the blind man it was his literal sight. Very interesting! May our eyes be opened to the mercies of Jesus, and may we live humbly in him.
Deuteronomy 17:18 “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests”. Any ruler had to hand write a copy of God’s law so that he would be reminded of God’s character and requirements. What an idea.
Just a thought but looking back at what God directed them to do to those who were being disobedient all came down to a matter of the heart. Pride! Pride leads to sin and allowing it to fester among people becomes like a disease that goes haywire I
God is holy and he expects us to be holy like him. That is why Jesus came. The impossible become possible! These rules he gave us all come back to a matter of the heart. He knows our hearts are full of evil when he is not in it. OT is hard to read and understand sometimes but for me I just trust that what God has planned is way better than my simple ideas. He is in control and his plans all work out to ultimately glorify him. Amen!
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”
The disciples wanted to be at his right hand, but they didn’t want to make the sacrifices to even serve. Just like in the story about the washing of the feet, none of them would volunteer. It took Jesus being that example to truly exemplify what it means to be a servant.
I know I fail on the reg, but I want to serve and be like Jesus!!
Laura this passage struck me because Jesus had just told them how he would die and these two openly turned it to themselves and their desires. I struggle with that issue… May I recall this in my times of struggle.
In the Deuteronomy passage it says several times, “you must purge all evil from Israel.” And in this God is speaking about stoning people who have disobeyed His commands. I can’t help but wonder why God was so passionate about the purity of Israel, even to the point of encouraging killing someone… Or even why He would bother to make all these meticulous rules for His people, when He obviously knew Jesus would eventually make all things right. Any thoughts, ladies? I know that’s kind of a big question :) have a blessed day!
I wonder about the same thing! Especially when Jesus came and was accepting of the sinners, teaching love thy neighbor. Maybe because God knew people wouldn’t be able to follow all of the rules and the laws would become loose? Kind of like a set up for failure so that when Jesus came people would want to learn his ways and follow him? Taking a few guesses! :)
That’s what I think too. He wanted to show that it was quite impossible to have a spotless life that was worthy to be called a saint. Jesus is the ONLY way we can even come close!!
The question we’re all plagued with is, “why does a loving God allow for suffering?” The most basic answer is free will. The current world is not the final version. The current world is the best path to the best possible world. The best possible world is a world where men and women are free to sin but freely choose not to. Where there is knowledge of good and evil, the experience of the consequences of evil, but where mankind has the freedom to choose and chooses freely to not choose self destructive behavior…. I’d like to say I thought of that all on my own but I didn’t. It’s from a series from Andy Stanley called “Prepared” which is basically what to say when the critics come calling and you don’t have a seminary degree to help you out. It’s really fantastic and very practical. I hope that answered some questions?
Jordan, I think part of this has to do with how seriously God takes sin. He is rightly jealous for the affection of His people, and idolatry is first on the list of the commandments for a reason. It’s such a reflection of our hearts. Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it, so we know that what is there is part of our tutoring to lead us to Christ, and also I think to drive us into deeper dependence upon Him and acknowledgement of what we cannot do.
It seems like this purging of evil is prevalent throughout the instructions God gives to the Israelites. The thing that stood out to me in today’s passage was:
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
I think part of the picture we can gloss over is that God was requiring His chosen people not just to mindlessly or flagrantly kill people that weren’t like them…He was putting a stop to the barbaric and horrific rituals and practices of these pagan cults (including human sacrifice). This was the only way to keep His people holy. And if we know anything about the Israelites from their journey through the desert, we know that were quick to be led astray and turn their backs on God, even when He showed His continual faithfulness to them. I think God knew that His chosen people were still flawed and would be easily led astray in the way of the evil practices. I know it still seems so drastic that the loving compassionate God who gave Jesus in the New Testament would ask for people to be put to death. However, this was before Jesus and the spread of the gospel and the church. I think it’s hard to wrap our minds around that…it certainly has been for me.
Christina- I think you gave some great points. Those nations they drove out had detestable practices. I think if we truly believed there were severe consequences for “misbehavior” we would tow the line more carefully. For example, my guess is there wasn’t a whole lot of disrespect towards parents and the elderly among the Jews because disrespect was met with stoning. (Lev 20) All those rules had to make an impact to a more civil society without crime. If you knew you would be killed as a result of killing someone with intent, you probably would not do it! Of course the law required 2 witnesses as well. Consequences for misbehavior deters bad choices… And makes us ready and eager for a Savior who can give us a new heart of flesh! :)
My pastor talks about 1) reading the Bible as a whole narrative and 2) how the heart of the Bible is God dealing with evil. In reading the Bible from cover to cover we see God trying to teach his people how to recover creation and rescue a people. I think stoning is extreme when we just look at the love in the NT. But Jesus saves us from judgement for those same sins and same deaths in the OT. Jesus love and sacrifice fulfills and restores creation fully!
It’s incredible to me that in these chapters the Lord already set up for when Israel would want a king & put in place the establishment of Godly prophetic voices in the midst of the occultic influences of their times. So good!
This is my first time to really grasp this — WHY there were prophets, what their purpose was, etc. Thankful for the increasing of my knowledge and understanding of His sovereignty (though I cannot fully grasp it)!!
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”
Praying this morning that I would willingly and humbly serve my family and those around me, not seeking recognition or praise but wanting to have a servant heart like Jesus.
What an example of serving!
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Rabbi, I want to see!
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44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
Slave of ALL. Not just the easy to love, the Christians, the family that we get along with… all.
✅
Your faith has made you well
“Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you.” I fall short on giving back to the Lord daily as I receive His blessing. I pray as I go about my day that I may be a blessing to someone as an out-pouring of God’s goodness to me.
I love the example Jesus sets in this verse: 51 And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”
Jesus didn’t assume what the disabled man wanted. Jesus knew what the man wanted. But he asked the man anyway. How often do we assume what the “disabled” want and what is best for them? Instead, we should be asking and listening to our brothers and sisters. Just like Jesus did.
✔️
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❤️
Jesus came to serve not to be served! How can we be more like Jesus and serve people in our lives?
The blind man didn’t DO anything.
All he said was that he WANTED to see. He pleaded for mercy. He was healed. Just ask and have faith.
“Your faith has made you well” !! -ellie
I am over a month behind too. Started late in January and have missed a few days along the way. I’m not trying to catch up just trying to keep going! Press on ladies!!
I’m a few days behind as well. I’ve gotten behind a few times before and have set aside an hour to read and I was able to catch up… need to do that again :)
I’m a month behind too! You’re not alone! I’m trying to read 2 or 3 days’ worth each day at this point to catch up :)
Anyone else reading a month behind at this point?
I am Beth. I decided to do this plan long after January came and went. I’m trying to catch up.
Glad I am not alone!!!
I’m here with you ladies too(:
Also just reading.
I’m even farther behind as I’m just now finishing April! We’ll get there!
I love how it says that “no one should come to the Lord empty handed (16:16). How many times have I come expecting something but yet not willing to give up something I’ve been holding onto. Make me willing.
“Make me willing,” — a prayer that echoes in my heart too. Thank you for sharing
God is so merciful. Even when commanding His people to stone others to death. It seems crazy and horrible but He is one true life and before Jesus if there was anyone turning people away from Truth and Life, the most merciful thing God could do would be to command the extermination of those influences. And don’t our sins deserve death? They do. Even now they do. They are just as dark and evil and require just as much punishment. The difference is that God sent His own to die those painful stoning deaths for us. Our God is so Holy, when I consider it it makes me feel that it’s not crazy at all that He demanded death. Just so thankful that I am not the one who paid the death price for my sins!
when I was reading this passage I saw an interesting parallel. When approached by his disciples and by the blind beggar, Jesus used the same phrasing when he asked “what do you want me to do for you?” Then he proceeded to reveal sight to them. To the disciples it was the “least shall become first” principle and to the blind man it was his literal sight. Very interesting! May our eyes be opened to the mercies of Jesus, and may we live humbly in him.
Seeking to serve and purge evil from my heart, just ass Israel had to purge evil from their nation
Deuteronomy 17:18 “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests”. Any ruler had to hand write a copy of God’s law so that he would be reminded of God’s character and requirements. What an idea.
My thoughts exactly — what a check of humility!
Don’t let evil take over you and for fill the glory of God.
Just a thought but looking back at what God directed them to do to those who were being disobedient all came down to a matter of the heart. Pride! Pride leads to sin and allowing it to fester among people becomes like a disease that goes haywire I
God is holy and he expects us to be holy like him. That is why Jesus came. The impossible become possible! These rules he gave us all come back to a matter of the heart. He knows our hearts are full of evil when he is not in it. OT is hard to read and understand sometimes but for me I just trust that what God has planned is way better than my simple ideas. He is in control and his plans all work out to ultimately glorify him. Amen!
Amen!!
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”
The disciples wanted to be at his right hand, but they didn’t want to make the sacrifices to even serve. Just like in the story about the washing of the feet, none of them would volunteer. It took Jesus being that example to truly exemplify what it means to be a servant.
I know I fail on the reg, but I want to serve and be like Jesus!!
Laura this passage struck me because Jesus had just told them how he would die and these two openly turned it to themselves and their desires. I struggle with that issue… May I recall this in my times of struggle.
In the Deuteronomy passage it says several times, “you must purge all evil from Israel.” And in this God is speaking about stoning people who have disobeyed His commands. I can’t help but wonder why God was so passionate about the purity of Israel, even to the point of encouraging killing someone… Or even why He would bother to make all these meticulous rules for His people, when He obviously knew Jesus would eventually make all things right. Any thoughts, ladies? I know that’s kind of a big question :) have a blessed day!
I wonder about the same thing! Especially when Jesus came and was accepting of the sinners, teaching love thy neighbor. Maybe because God knew people wouldn’t be able to follow all of the rules and the laws would become loose? Kind of like a set up for failure so that when Jesus came people would want to learn his ways and follow him? Taking a few guesses! :)
That’s what I think too. He wanted to show that it was quite impossible to have a spotless life that was worthy to be called a saint. Jesus is the ONLY way we can even come close!!
The question we’re all plagued with is, “why does a loving God allow for suffering?” The most basic answer is free will. The current world is not the final version. The current world is the best path to the best possible world. The best possible world is a world where men and women are free to sin but freely choose not to. Where there is knowledge of good and evil, the experience of the consequences of evil, but where mankind has the freedom to choose and chooses freely to not choose self destructive behavior…. I’d like to say I thought of that all on my own but I didn’t. It’s from a series from Andy Stanley called “Prepared” which is basically what to say when the critics come calling and you don’t have a seminary degree to help you out. It’s really fantastic and very practical. I hope that answered some questions?
Love this, will look for that series. The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel also looks into answers to those questions.
Jordan, I think part of this has to do with how seriously God takes sin. He is rightly jealous for the affection of His people, and idolatry is first on the list of the commandments for a reason. It’s such a reflection of our hearts. Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it, so we know that what is there is part of our tutoring to lead us to Christ, and also I think to drive us into deeper dependence upon Him and acknowledgement of what we cannot do.
It seems like this purging of evil is prevalent throughout the instructions God gives to the Israelites. The thing that stood out to me in today’s passage was:
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
I think part of the picture we can gloss over is that God was requiring His chosen people not just to mindlessly or flagrantly kill people that weren’t like them…He was putting a stop to the barbaric and horrific rituals and practices of these pagan cults (including human sacrifice). This was the only way to keep His people holy. And if we know anything about the Israelites from their journey through the desert, we know that were quick to be led astray and turn their backs on God, even when He showed His continual faithfulness to them. I think God knew that His chosen people were still flawed and would be easily led astray in the way of the evil practices. I know it still seems so drastic that the loving compassionate God who gave Jesus in the New Testament would ask for people to be put to death. However, this was before Jesus and the spread of the gospel and the church. I think it’s hard to wrap our minds around that…it certainly has been for me.
Christina- I think you gave some great points. Those nations they drove out had detestable practices. I think if we truly believed there were severe consequences for “misbehavior” we would tow the line more carefully. For example, my guess is there wasn’t a whole lot of disrespect towards parents and the elderly among the Jews because disrespect was met with stoning. (Lev 20) All those rules had to make an impact to a more civil society without crime. If you knew you would be killed as a result of killing someone with intent, you probably would not do it! Of course the law required 2 witnesses as well. Consequences for misbehavior deters bad choices… And makes us ready and eager for a Savior who can give us a new heart of flesh! :)
We have to come to a point that we know we are unworthy. The Ten Commandments and the Old Testament help us see God’s standard. We need a savior!
My pastor talks about 1) reading the Bible as a whole narrative and 2) how the heart of the Bible is God dealing with evil. In reading the Bible from cover to cover we see God trying to teach his people how to recover creation and rescue a people. I think stoning is extreme when we just look at the love in the NT. But Jesus saves us from judgement for those same sins and same deaths in the OT. Jesus love and sacrifice fulfills and restores creation fully!
It’s incredible to me that in these chapters the Lord already set up for when Israel would want a king & put in place the establishment of Godly prophetic voices in the midst of the occultic influences of their times. So good!
Yes! And it’s so cool to see Jesus come later and be Israel’s prophet, judge, and king! God thought of everything!
This is my first time to really grasp this — WHY there were prophets, what their purpose was, etc. Thankful for the increasing of my knowledge and understanding of His sovereignty (though I cannot fully grasp it)!!
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”
Praying this morning that I would willingly and humbly serve my family and those around me, not seeking recognition or praise but wanting to have a servant heart like Jesus.
Philippians 2:1-11 :)