February 17

Leviticus 4:1-5:19, Mark 2:13-3:6, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 10:1-2



Pray: I used to hear my dad say, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it.” I’m certain he didn’t make this up, but as a young boy, that didn't matter. My dad was teaching me quite an important life lesson. We read of that very thing in our Old Testament lesson today. Though the people were unaware, they were still guilty of the sins they had committed. They needed a sacrifice and they needed forgiveness. You and I have the sacrificed Lamb of God, Jesus the Christ. Pray to the Lord and ask for an awareness of your own sin. It’s there, of that you can be sure. He’s ready to forgive, of that you also can be sure.

Read: Sit up straight! Don’t slouch! Posture is important, I’ve been told. If not given the right attention, the lasting result can be quite painful. One must pay careful attention to physical posture. If physical posture is so important, it shouldn't surprise us, then, that spiritual posture is even more important. That’s what the Hebrew people were working on in the Old Testament lesson. They couldn’t present themselves at all before the Lord unless their sins had been forgiven. Then, they would be spiritually upright. Levi/Matthew shows us a spiritual posture of obedience. Jesus says, “Follow me.” Matthew goes! The religious people had a posture of self-righteousness. The Pharisees had a posture of rule-keeping. David had a posture of praise to the Lord, even though he recognized the wickedness and evil around him. Solomon writes about postures of wisdom, foolishness, and right-living. Our posture before the Lord is quite important. How do you stand before the King?

Edify: Our Old Testament lesson may not be one you think applies much today. Yet, what I see in God’s Word as spoken in Leviticus 4 and 5 is absolutely essential…not just to theology, but to salvation. There is the issue of sin. All categories of people are covered here. That says to me that none are exempt from sin. Then, if that be the case, what does one do with sin? A sacrificial offering to the Lord must be made. Blood must be spilled, but not just any blood. There is a specific prescription of how the blood must be applied. Only after the blood is applied and the Lord accepts the sacrifice is forgiveness granted. If this sounds familiar to the Christian, that's a good thing! For, it is precisely what we find in Jesus. We have a sin-debt. The only way to pay that debt is through a spotless lamb. Enter Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Through His death on the cross, He does just that…takes away your sins and mine. It's not a different sacrifice for different classes of people or different types/degrees of sins. The cross of Christ levels the field of humanity. It's an Old Testament lesson that applies to the new life we find in Christ. For that, I am thankful!

Practice: I don’t look forward to doctor’s appointments, unless I’m sick and I know they’ll make me well. I don’t like dentist’s offices, unless my tooth hurts and then I’m grateful they worked me in. I feel the same way about truth-tellers. I don’t much care for them, until after the Lord has confirmed that what they’re saying is good and right for me. Leviticus 5:1 says, “If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.” This is truth-telling. You and I need someone to be truthful with us, even when we would rather hear anything else. We also need to be truth-tellers ourselves. Too often, we shy away because “it’s not our place to say anything.” If we know the truth, it is always our place to speak the truth, but we do it…always in love. What do you need to come clean and be truthful about today? Do you need to seek out someone who will always be honest? Now's the time.

February 16

Leviticus 1:1-3:17, Mark 1:29-2:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-18 



Pray: Jesus healed lots of people in Biblical times. We see just a few examples in our New Testament lesson today. Perhaps, like many do, you have a tendency to read about these healings and say to yourself, “Well, that’s what happened in the Bible, but it just doesn’t work that way anymore.” If that’s you, sadly you’re not alone. Let me remind you of something you already know: the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He still wants to heal. Pray to Him and bow down before Him and watch what the Lord can do.

Read: We read in the Old Testament about how to make the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and peace offerings. One thing that stands out in this reading is the importance of offering to the Lord our best (“no defects…choice flour”). What is the Lord speaking to you when you read this? Is it about what you offer to the Lord? Is it something else? In the New Testament we read of Jesus’ healing and preaching. It’s amazing to me the great lengths that people went to just to hear the Word of God and to receive healing from Him. How far are you willing to go for Him? The Psalmist cries out for help from God and he wants to honor those who have helped him: “…give great joy to those who came to my defense…” (v27). Are there people in your past, or perhaps even now, who should receive some honor? Proverbs warns us of danger. As you read today, allow this Word to sink deep into your heart and mind…memorize it! There will be a time when Folly will pass in front of us. If we're not careful and intentional, she may just get our attention.

Edify: “I never meant for this to happen.” “I don't know how I got here.” “I don't even know who I am anymore.” At this point, the offense(s) has already happened. People are in shock. But, we really shouldn't be so shocked...at least not if we took Proverbs 9:13-18 seriously. It is directly speaking of sexual temptation, but could easily be related to any type of temptation. Most troubling here is, “She calls out to men [and women] going by who are minding their own business” (v15). Evil, and his destructive sister, Folly, are not passive…they are aggressive! They wish to destroy good men and women, tear apart families, wreck careers, and bankrupt relationships. All who give in to their beckoning are “dead” (v18). Don’t give in to her, no matter how attractive she may make it seem. How do you resist? Keep reading the Scriptures! Pray! Be in fellowship with other Christians! Attend worship! Be generous! These things will help to keep you on guard.

Practice: Do you know someone who does not yet know Christ? What have you done to get them to Jesus? That’s the conviction I receive when I read Mark 2:1-12. A man who desperately needed to meet Jesus, luckily, had some friends. They knew the importance of getting their friend in front of Jesus. In fact, they must have been watching the DIY Network, because they tore the roof off of the house! That seems a bit extreme, doesn't it? Would you say it is extreme if the end result is your friend finally got to meet Jesus? What’s a roof when compared to an encounter with the Living Christ, the Son of God? These guys would stop at nothing because they had a friend who needed to meet the Lord. What is stopping you from getting your friend, your coworker, your spouse, your family member, or your neighbor in front of the Risen Christ?

February 15

Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12 



Pray: The readings today are so rich with meaning and depth. We have people using their talents and gifts for the Lord, spiritual authority, the Glory of the Lord, baptism, temptation, discipleship, calling, demon possession, engaging the enemy, and wisdom. Read through slowly. Digest today’s Word. Pray to the Lord, the Author of the Scriptures. Ask Him to reveal one or two things you may need to work on. Then, listen to His response. Don’t be quick to move on. Quiet yourself before Him and hear His voice.

Read: It is true that there are so many themes at work in today’s readings. There is one, however, that seems to connect the dots. We don't care much for spiritual authority, but it is found in many places of Scripture. Today, it is unmistakable. The people were making garments for Aaron to wear while in the Holy Place, and other priests were getting garments, too. They were the spiritual authorities. They brought the tabernacle to Moses for inspection…he was the spiritual authority. Moses set up the tabernacle because God, Moses’ spiritual authority, instructed him to do so. Then, and only then, did God’s glory fill the tabernacle. John the Baptist pointed the way to one who was greater than him, Satan was unsuccessful in tempting Jesus, the first disciples left everything to follow Jesus, evil spirits obeyed Jesus, God was called upon to fight against enemies…all perfect examples of spiritual authority in action. It’s not a dictatorship we’re talking about. It’s a covering of loving, healthy spiritual authority. Is the Lord speaking to you today about this subject?

Edify: David was a man after God’s own heart. At certain points, he has mine, too. His Psalm today is one of those times in which David captures where my heart should be, but often is not. When I am faced with enemies, my immediate response is to deal with them and the issue(s) at hand. I want to address it head-on…not in a violent sort of way, but direct. Not only does David not choose passivity, but he also does not choose self-reliance. Psalm 35 is a plea for help from the Lord. David asks that the Lord fight against David's enemies. Then, because he trusts that the Lord will indeed fight on his behalf, David offers praise to God. Who are your enemies? Is it an addiction? Is it worry/anxiety? Are there negative people in your life? Ask the Lord, the God of Heaven and earth, to fight on your behalf. David did it, and he was a man after God's own heart. Wouldn't you like to have that phrase after your name, too?

Practice: Are you under someone’s spiritual leadership/authority? I hope you are. The people built the tabernacle and brought it to Moses for inspection. I wonder what would have happened if he had said, “Start over, it’s not the right size.” I wonder, too, if John the Baptist had not redirected the attention from himself to Jesus, would he have been the one to baptize the Son of God? One can only speculate on such things, because of course, we know how they turned out. The people built as Moses commanded, and John did redirect. Do you struggle with spiritual authority? Many do. Yet, it is absolutely imperative if we are to live a life shaped by the Word. Again, not the authority of a tyrant, but someone who is loving enough to tell us the truth even if we don't want to hear it, and someone who may make some changes even if we are comfortable with the way things are. We must do our best to honor our spiritual authority, because in doing so, we honor God.

February 14

Exodus 37:1-38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 9:9-10 



Pray: Did you get all the details? You may not remember the exact amounts of gold, silver, and wood that were used, but in those details we find something very important…a plan. It wasn’t hurried, it wasn’t thrown together, it didn’t just happen. A specific design and plan moved from thought to action, from imagined to reality. Please pray and ask the Lord to help you see His plan for your life. Then, take that plan and put it into action by working toward it, daily. Here’s a hint: a big part of God's plan for you is in today’s reading from Matthew 28:19-20.

Read: “They were frightened but also filled with great joy…” Matthew 28:8. Can one be absolutely terrified while also simultaneously being overcome with joy? It was so for the women who had met the angel at Jesus’ empty tomb. It was there that they received their assignment: “Go...and tell…”(v7). An assignment so great it came from a messenger of the Lord. Is it possible to be terrified and joyful at the same time? It might be wiser to approach the answer by observing that, perhaps, when we fully hear from the Lord and we rush to live into His calling, that is the only way it happens…terrifying because it’s such an enormous, eternal task; joyful because the Lord even considered us for His work. The women ran from the empty tomb, doing exactly as God asked. What will be said of you and me?

Edify: It seems almost rhetorical to ask, “Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?” (Psalm 34:12) Only the fool would wish to have a life cut short and filled with want. But, there is no rhetoric here. There is only a prescription. “If you want the long and prosperous life,” the psalmist says, “then do these things….” (paraphrase) He’s teaching us. In verses 13 and 14, we are told, “Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” It seems simple enough, yet it is rarely carried out by many good Christian men and women. We speak evil when we post without worrying whom we will hurt. We turn toward evil by watching movies and shows glorifying promiscuity and violence. We want peace, but few…very few…work for it. “Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?” Well, at least now you know how…

Practice: We label it “The Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20). It inspires and encourages men and women from all over the world and in all times of history to do the work of evangelism. And well it should! Somehow, along the way, we have shifted this all-important commission to apply only to those who travel abroad or have the title “Evangelist” somewhere around their name. God forgive us! This commission is to all who are disciples of Jesus…all Christians. Notice it begins with the word “go.” For some, that means go across the world and plant churches in remote villages. For others, it means moving their family to a village in South America. For still others, it means go across the street and have a cup of coffee with my neighbor whom I’ve not yet met. What does Jesus mean when He tells you, “Go”?

February 13

Exodus 35:10-36:38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10, Proverbs 9:7-8 



Pray: Some brought cloth. Some brought wood. All brought something to honor the Lord in the building of His Tabernacle. What do you bring to God’s Church to honor Him? Be certain of this, you have gifts, you have talents…God has placed a dream inside you. God has a plan for you. Pray to the God in whose image you are created. Ask Him to reveal to you what He would like you to bring to help build His Church.

Read: Today’s Old Testament reading may seem odd and even insignificant to you at first. Stay with it. Don’t get burdened by the specifics, but see what is taking place. The people of God…ALL OF THEM…are practicing obedience and unity by bringing their gifts and talents together to honor God. In a culture where women were not seen as valuable as men, we are told “Both men and women came.” No matter what you’ve been told, no matter what you may FEEL, in the eyes of the Lord, you have value!

Edify: What do you do when things go bad? When life is difficult or even tragic, what is your response? As He hung on the cross in excruciating pain, listening to the insults, He cries out to God, asking a question that identifies how most people have felt at one point or another: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” At first glance, it seems as if God has suddenly become an absentee parent…He's abandoned His Son. In reality, Jesus does something remarkable here. In the middle of pain and agony most of us could never imagine, Jesus quotes Scripture! He goes back to Psalm 22 and recites those very words. Do you have any Scripture memorized? Start today! Difficult times lie ahead…of that we can be sure…it’s just life. Wouldn't you like to be reliant upon God's Word when those difficult times come? Jesus did, and so should we.

Practice: The Psalms offer us a glimpse into the full range of human emotion. Perhaps that is why many have a love/hate relationship with them. There are ones that we really like and can often quote. Then, there are others we would rather just gloss over. One thing that is undeniable about the Psalms, though, they’re honest. Today’s Psalm is a challenge for me, and perhaps for you, too. “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.” All times? Constantly? When is the last time you spoke a praise of God to someone else? When is the last time you simply praised Him for His greatness? David reminds us here to be constant in our praise. It's a challenge, to be sure, but one we ought to embrace.

February 12

Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:12-22, Proverbs 9:1-6 

Pray: Do you have kids? Did you have kids? Do you want kids? Have you ever hung around kids? No matter where you are on the spectrum of children, you will understand that sometimes they rebel, some in an open approach and some in a more passive way. Nevertheless, the rebellion of children can lead to frustration. God gets that way with us sometimes as His children. We rebel against Him and He probably gets pretty irritated. Sometimes, I bet He just shakes His head… But He loves us anyway. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving today, thanking God for His loving kindness and His forgiveness in the face of our rebellion. 

Read: Moses finds himself face to face with God again, this time getting a redo on the covenant that God had written on the stone tablets. Moses got upset with the rebellion of the Israelites while he was on Mount Sinai with God just a couple of chapters ago when he came off the mountain to find them worshiping idols. We also read of Jesus standing trial before Pilate and how the crowds have turned on Him and are now seeking for Him to be crucified. What a difference a week makes!

Edify: In both the Old and New Testament readings it is easy to see the rebellion of God’s creation. One group, the Israelites, were God’s chosen people. They had just been eye witnesses to the majesty of God from their rescue from slavery in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from Heaven, a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, and the list goes on… yet they still rebelled in their worship, desiring graven images over the one true God. On the other hand are those in Pilate’s court, many of whom, quite possibly, just a few days before had heralded the entry of Jesus into town by laying their coats and palm branches on the road, were now calling for His crucifixion. We are rebellious by nature, but we are also the sons and daughters of a God who forgives us if we ask for it. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God loves us unconditionally, even in the midst of our rebellion and betrayal!

Practice: Today starts a brand new chance… another chance to go out and change the world for Christ. Today, begin by committing to spending another day dedicated to your One Year Bible reading. Commit to prayer, praying for your family, praying for our community, praying for those far from God. Commit to giving God your very best every day. 

February 11

Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 8:33-36



Pray: Pray today that we will not find ourselves falling into the trap of reverting to our old ways when healthier habits have been fostered in our lives. If you have ever struggled with a addiction or bad habit, you know how easy it can be to “backslide” or relapse. Pray that you won’t find yourself on this slippery slope and pray that others do not as well. Let’s pray, in one voice, that we will keep to the path leading to God. 

Read: In 1980, the Isley Brothers had a chart-topping hit entitled, “Here We Go Again”. This song title is indicative of our reading from Exodus today as the Israelite people, even though they had seen the invisible God in action, find themselves reverted back to the desire for familiar gods that they could see and fashion into whatever image they desired. I wonder if things would have been different for the Israelites if they had the privilege of reading our Psalm today where it says, “But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.” And today we enter the courtroom, of sorts, where Jesus is condemned and read of Judas’ anguish over the choice he made for a mere 30 pieces of silver. 

Edify: The text today is rich with so many lessons for each of us. There is great drama in the trial and condemnation of Jesus. It’s also in these passages that Peter does the very thing that he said that he would never do. He denied Jesus… not once, not twice, but three times. He denied knowing or having anything to do with Him. Even with Jesus being mere feet away from him, Peter denied any association with the man he had spent the last three years with. If it was that easy for Petra, the Rock, to do it, then how much easier could it be for us? As followers of Christ, we will find ourselves in situations where we could easily deny our faith because of ease, but how much more powerful of a statement of faith is it for people to see you stand up for your beliefs in the midst of trials. 

Practice: Today, you are challenged to think about the idols in your life. Most people have them, we just don’t fashion them out of gold or silver or even wood today… money, sex, cars, houses, your children, notoriety at work, clothes, food…. Whatever yours may be… you are challenged to lay them down for the cause of Christ. May we spend our days focused on the God that saved us rather than the accumulation of stuff. May we lift high the God who created us rather than those things created by man.