April 2

Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 12:11



Pray: Maxie Dunnam, former president of Asbury Theological Seminary, is often quoted as having said, “God’s Will will not take you where God’s grace will not sustain you.” I’ve relied upon this truth often in my life. We’re under the illusion that if God leads us someplace, then everything will be easy. That’s a lie. Whether it’s from the culture or straight from the pits of hell (sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference nowadays), it’s nevertheless a lie. To confirm this, look where God’s plan took Jesus: straight to the cross, but only after a torturous beating. Back in the Old Testament, God was leading His people into the Promised Land. Yet, there would be things in that land which were not of God, and the people needed to be careful how they responded. We open up our readings today with this: “When you are in the land the Lord your God is giving you, someone may be found murdered in a field…[the elders] must say, ‘Our hands did not shed this person’s blood…O Lord, forgive your people…’ then they will be absolved of the guilt…”(Deuteronomy 21:1-8). Let your prayer today be filled with trust and humility before the Lord. Trust that no matter where you are, what your life circumstances, the Lord will take care of you. Be humble that even if your circumstances are not a result of your sins, ask Him still to forgive you and make you whole. His grace will sustain you, but only if you seek it.

Read: Jesus could have covered more ground and more territory if He would have sent the disciples out as individuals rather than as pairs. It would have been twice as effective, right? I think Jesus understood something that we don’t. Maybe we understand it in theory, but we hardly put it into practice: We’re better together! Life is better and faith is deeper when we share it with someone else. Jesus says, “Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3). There will be obstacles, the enemy will attack. It’s harder for the enemy to bring down a group of people. It’s pretty easy to pick-off a single lamb. When we do life alone, we can rationalize any behavior, and we expose ourselves to all sorts of evil temptations from the devil. When we allow others into our lives, they see what we can’t/won’t see, they speak truth to keep us from derailing, and they encourage us when we want to give up. We’re better together. Jesus knew this better than anyone. If there was ever a person who could have done life as a loner, it was the son of God. Yet, He chose to surround Himself with some other guys and they walked through life together. If togetherness is good enough for the Savior of the world, why not us?

Edify: But first… If you have spent any time around children, you’ve likely heard those words. “I’ll clean my room, but first…” “I’ll do what you asked, but first…” There always seems to be something more important than what you’ve asked them to do. In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus is confrontational with His would-be followers. They seem excited and ready to follow Jesus, but first they must get some other things taken care of in their lives. Then, they’ll follow Jesus. This kind of half-response to the Lord is unacceptable to Him. He seems to say, “Follow me wholeheartedly, without hesitation, or you’re not really following me at all.” We don’t like this, as we would prefer a more casual Christ, a comfortable Christianity. Following Jesus is anything but casual and comfortable. If Jesus were standing right in front of you at this very moment saying to you, “Follow me”, what would be your response? The truth is, Jesus is there…He is asking you to follow Him. Will you say, “I will follow you, but first let me…” or will you give up the image of a casual Christ and comfortable Christianity and follow Him wholeheartedly? What is keeping you from giving your whole self to Him?

Practice: Not long ago there existed a sense of community that we seem to have lost somehow. You may remember leaving your door unlocked or even open so that neighborhood kids could come and go as they pleased. You may even not have known how many kids would be around your dinner table each evening. The kids would leave in the morning and return in the evening. The neighborhood parents would all watch out for each others’ kids, and even correct each others’ kids when needed. We’re not there anymore as a society. Now, everybody keeps to themselves. The Lord gave instructions to His people in Deuteronomy 22: “If you see your neighbor’s ox or sheep or goat wandering away, don’t ignore your responsibility. Take it back to its owner” (verse 1). God was saying, I believe, that community is important. Everyone is to help out everyone! Today, we see sin, rebellion, brokenness, hear yelling between spouses, and even witness abuses of power in the household. We know we could help. We know we should do something. What is our response? Most of the time, we just say to ourselves, “It’s not our business. Just look the other way.” May God have mercy on us! I don't think we're called to be the busybody of our street, but our world could use more community and better neighbors who watch out for each other and help each other. How can you be the kind of neighbor God wants you to be?

April 1

Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20, Luke 9:28-50, Psalm 73:1-28, Proverbs 12:10



Pray: We are not called to be isolated. We have to interact with others, even those with whom we vehemently disagree on matters of politics, economics, religion, etc.. How do we do this without compromising our faith and relationship with God? In Deuteronomy 18:9-14, God gives instructions concerning this to His people: “…be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the people…For example…” and God gives examples of what the people were doing that should be avoided. As you go throughout your day or you look ahead to tomorrow, you likely will encounter people and practices that dishonor God. Pray to Him and ask for His help so that you can “be careful and not imitate” the practices our culture approves, but our Lord despises.

Read: God gives instructions to His people for when they go to battle in Deuteronomy 20. There was no question that battles would be fought and enemies would be faced. It was practically guaranteed. There are several instructions given, but the one that stands out to me is “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! (verse 1). We will face enemies. They may be spiritual, physical, relational, or emotional battles. They may even seem to be insurmountable. We may say to ourselves, “I just don’t know if I can get through this.” Hear the Word of the Lord: “Do not be afraid. I am with you!”

Edify: There is an old Southern Gospel song I’ve heard many times. The words ring out: “The God on the mountain is still God in the valley.” The disciples, of course, would not have heard this refrain, but instead they experienced it firsthand. Peter, James, and John were with Jesus on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured. They saw the Son of God in all His radiant glory. They saw Moses and Elijah too. What a magnificent vision the Lord gave them on that mountaintop. As is the case with life, eventually we wind from the mountaintop down into the valley. Life is different in the valley when compared to the mountaintop. What did they encounter when they came down from the mountain? Demon possession! It was so strong that only Jesus could cast it out. What a contrast it was from mountain to valley…from glory to demons! Through it all, though, the same Jesus was there on the mountain, there on the journey down, and there in the valley. Perhaps you just need to be reminded today that the God on the mountain is still God in your valley!

Practice: Have your emotions ever been misdirected? Have you ever been angry toward your wife/husband even though they didn’t deserve it? Ever lashed out toward your children over nothing? I think we’ve all been there. It’s in those moments where we must walk back into the room, humble ourselves, and say, “I’m sorry.” Then, hopefully, we look at all that is going on inside our spirits and inside our lives. We take a full self-examination in an attempt to discover what caused us to act out in the first place. When we are about to lash out at those closest to us, we would do well to remember the Lord’s instructions not to “cut down the trees.” He asks His people, “Are the trees your enemies, that you should attack them? You may only cut down trees that you know are not valuable for food” (Deuteronomy 20:19-20). In the midst of war, the Lord was concerned that in His people’s zeal, they would simply destroy everything around them, even those things that could prove most valuable to them, in this case fruit-bearing trees. When life is out of control and chaos, spiritual warfare, and stress seem to reign in your life, don’t cut down the trees God has planted in your life: your spouse, your children, your parents, a few(!) close friends, your life group, your pastor, your church. They may be just the people God has placed in your life to sustain you through the battle you’re in.

March 31

Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20, Luke 9:7-27, Psalm 72:1-20, Proverbs 12:8-9

Pray: Festivals and celebrations are how today’s readings open. It is a time to remember all the Lord has done for His people and to give thanks. You may be reading this before your day begins, as it draws to a close, or somewhere in the middle. As you pray, recall all that God has done in your life, all He has done in your day (or all you know He will do later today), and give Him thanks.

Read: Humility is something with which most of us must wrestle. It doesn’t come naturally for many. This is especially true in our me-centered culture where stock prices soared for an app promoting selfies with dog ears and rainbows coming out of mouths (that sentence is even baffling). If you don’t know what I’m referencing here, you should be thankful. Over the years, I have worked on becoming more humble. There are glimpses of humility, but it is a constant struggle. Ironically, when I feel like I’m making some progress, I become proud of my humility! In Deuteronomy 17:20, the Lord gives instructions for Israel’s potential king. Those instructions are given in order to “prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens…[and to] prevent him from turning away from [God’s] commands in the smallest way.” What rules and practices do you have in your life to prevent you from becoming proud and thinking you are above others? What guidelines have you put in place to keep you from turning away from the Lord even in the smallest way? It was important enough even for the King of Israel to have the practices and guidelines. Perhaps the Lord is asking you to do the same.

Edify: “Then [Jesus] asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’” (Luke 9:20). There has never been a more direct nor more important question asked in all the archives of history. Jesus wanted to know about the rumor mill, about what other people were saying about Him. Then, He got personal and wanted to know what His disciples thought of Him. It’s interesting today that God is known more as “Creator” and “Sustainer” than as “Father.” Jesus is known more as “Deliverer” and “Peace” than as “Lord.” The Holy Spirit is known more as “Breath” and “Wind” than as “Indweller“ or “Comforter.” In fairness, none of these titles are inaccurate. They describe attributes and actions of God. Yet, it seems to be a moving away from a personal relationship with a personal God and a moving toward a casual acquaintance with an impersonal deity. Lord, in Your mercy, forgive us for such sinful actions! When Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was, things got instantly personal. I believe Jesus is asking that same question of His followers today: “Who do YOU say that I am?” What will be your response?

Practice: I love that Jesus is never forceful. I also love that He is practical when He explains things to His disciples. I need things to be brought down to my level so that I understand them better. In Luke 9, Jesus says, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. and what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (verses 23-25). Jesus is clear that following Him is a choice, that’s why He says, “If….” We don’t have to follow Jesus, but if we do choose to follow Him, He gives us a very clear prescription. We have to “give up” our own way. We must “take up” our crosses “daily.” Then, we follow Him. We all submit to something/someone. We submit ourselves to our work calendars. We submit to our doctor’s orders (hopefully!). We submit to living within our means (again, hopefully). There’s nothing wrong with submission, even though it has a negative connotation in our current culture. The bigger issue is where our ultimate submission lies. Jesus says that in order to be His followers, we must give up our way, take up our cross, and follow Him. That sounds like full submission to Christ, and who better to submit your life to than the One who gave His life for yours?

March 30

Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23, Luke 8:40-9:6, Psalm 71:1-24, Proverbs 12:5-7



Pray: The readings today open up with a strong word from God. “Put to death” those who “try to lead you astray.” If you try to pray with your phone in your pocket, It’ll probably buzz. If you try to read the Bible with the television on, you’ll most likely get distracted. Should we throw those things in the trash? Well, maybe, but on a practical level, shut them off or go to a room/place where they’re not present. In your prayer time, ask the Lord to help reveal to you the things or the people who are leading you astray. Then, seek the Lord’s help in following only Him.

Read: What are your expectations when you pray? How about when you read Scripture, worship, give, serve, etc.? Do you even have expectations? I’m not talking about an entitlement kind of expectation, such as, “Since I serve, God must ___. I tithe, so the Lord will give me _____.” I’m talking about the kind of expectation that the people had in Luke 8:40 where they “welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for Him.” When Jesus showed up, they welcomed Him. You can see them, can’t you? They’re on the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee looking across the waters for His boat. Some have gone up onto the hill for a better view of the sea. They expect He will come! So, they watch and wait. Then, when He does show up, He’s not an uninvited, obtrusive guest. He’s welcomed. What are your expectations? Do you expect Jesus to show up in your life, your meetings, your family time, your devotional hour? Are you watching and waiting? If not, you may miss Him when He crosses the water to your side of the lake. If you are expecting Him, you won’t be surprised, and He will be welcomed.

Edify: “Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and celebrate with your household” (Deuteronomy 14:26b). A feast? A celebration? It sounds like a party, a fun and exciting event, doesn’t it? What is the Lord referencing here? He’s talking about the requirement to “Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship” (Deuteronomy 14:23). Tithing as a celebration? Yes! Often in our time of worship, the offering is laborious, tedious, frustrating, and perfunctory. God forgive us for this! There’s something to be said of the worship in Ghana (and many other countries). When the offering time comes, the music gets loud, the dancing begins, and that’s when the celebrating happens. I think we could stand to learn some things from our Ghanian brothers and sisters. The Lord reminds us that tithing should be celebratory and should include the whole household. Do you celebrate the Lord giving you 100% of everything you have as you give Him 10% back?

Practice: “Don’t take financial advice from broke people.” Dave Ramsey is known for several key phrases, and this is one. It’s fairly good advice, I’d say. You want to get financial advice and guidance from someone who has been successful at managing the resources God has given them. You also shouldn’t take relationship advice from someone who always seems to have the answers, but can never sustain their own relationship. Those without children give the best parenting advice, don’t they? It seems that today, everyone is an expert…at least in his/her own mind. Proverbs 12:5b tells us “the advice of the wicked is treacherous.” To be sure, not all people are wicked, even those who give bad advice (though we are all sinful!). The point is simply to just be extremely cautious and careful about the voices we allow to speak into our lives. We shouldn’t get our theology from a movie, whether a “Christian” movie (whatever that is) or not. We shouldn’t mimic our behaviors to those in a sitcom, especially when it glorifies sin and promiscuity. Verse 7 reminds us “The wicked [advice-givers] die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm.” What voices are speaking into your life? Are they drawing you closer to God?

March 29

Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32, Luke 8:22-39, Psalm 70:1-5, Proverbs 12:4 



Pray: What has the Lord done in your life? Have you ever felt His presence? Have you ever received His blessings? Sometimes when we pray, if we are honest, it is mostly petitioning God to act (Lord, please give, do, bless, work, etc.). Spend some time right now considering all that the Lord has done in your life. Ask Him to remind you of all His blessings. Then, give Him thanks and praise. He is worthy, isn’t He?

Read: Tony Campolo once lamented that seminary is “where they tell you what Jesus meant instead of letting you hear what Jesus said.” It is true, sometimes we skip over the simple, straightforward truth in an attempt to find some deeper, hidden meaning. This happens, especially, when we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and God wants to change something in us. God’s Word is clear in Deuteronomy 11 as He says, “today I am giving you a choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord…But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord….” It really does not get any simpler than that. If we want to live a blessed life and enjoy God’s favor over our families, our homes, our careers, and our lives, we must live in obedience to the Lord. If we choose not to be obedient to Him, it is clear that we are welcoming a curse upon our families, homes, careers, and lives. That seems an easy choice. As you read today, in what ways are you being obedient to the Lord? What areas of your life are you choosing disobedience and welcoming a curse? Make some changes (know you’re not alone in needing to make those changes) and walk in blessing.

Edify: “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” It’s a phrase often spoken by those who are not yet Christian. To be fair, they are partially correct. You don’t have to enter a church building to be a Christian, but you certainly cannot be a Christian without being a part of the Church, since the Church is the body of Christ, the people. Nevertheless, there seems to be a growing resistance toward “organized” religion and worship attendance. The average Christian attends church 3 times every 8 weeks. Perhaps God knew, even in Old Testament times, that His people needed to be reminded that sacred spaces exist for a reason. Perhaps the Lord understood that something is different when God’s people gather together to worship as one body. Perhaps that’s why He said, “bring everything I command you - your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, and your offerings to fulfill a vow - to the designated place of worship, the place the Lord your God chooses for His name to be honored” (Deuteronomy 12:11). You can’t bring anything to the designated place of worship unless you are there. You can’t honor the name of the Lord unless you show up! Sacred spaces are just that…sacred. When God’s people gather together for worship, the divide between sacred and secular is erased by His Holy presence. You don’t want to miss out on something like that.

Practice: “Whatever it takes, short of sinning” is a phrase we often use at Christ Church when talking about what we are willing to do to reach lost people for Jesus. We will do whatever it takes, short of sinning. In Deuteronomy 11, the Lord was instructing His people to do whatever it takes in order to remain committed to Him, His Word, and to live into His promises. He says of His Word, “commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands…wear them…teach them…talk about them…at home and…on the road…when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them…so that…you and your children may flourish….” Can you imagine what your life would look like if you did all these things with the Word of God, the Bible? Likely, it would be drastically different than it is now. How committed are you to God’s Word? We have the test by which to judge our commitment level. How do you measure up? Decide today to deepen your commitment to the Word and just watch what God can do.

March 28

Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22, Luke 8:4-21, Psalm 69:19-36, Proverbs 12:2-3 



Pray: In many liturgical churches/settings, prior to the Scriptures being read, there is a prayer for illumination. Most are similar to this: “Lord, as the Scriptures are read and Your Word proclaimed, may we hear with joy what You say to us today.” Let your prayer today be that as you read God’s Word, you will hear with joy what God wants to speak to you.

Read: It’s uncharted territory. You’ve never had to deal with this kind of thing before. You don’t exactly know how you’re going to face this or get through this. Perhaps it is a medical issue. Maybe you’re looking at a relationship that is struggling. Is there a loss that you’re trying to process? It could even be a happy time that brings about a monumental change (graduation, move, job/career change). As the people of Israel were about to cross into God’s Promised Land, Moses reminded them of this: “recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you….” That must have brought much comfort and peace to the people. The same God who had led them up to that point had not abandoned them (even in the midst of their rebellion and sinful actions). God was still leading them! It was true for them and it is true for you! God will cross over ahead of you into whatever uncharted land lies before you. Follow Him and you’ll never be lost.

Edify: As the Lord was about to lead His people into the Promised Land, there must have been questions. What does this mean? Will there be new responsibilities? When God delivers on His promise, then can we relax and do whatever we want? Will God hold us to an even higher standard now that we are receiving His promise? Moses answers these questions with simplistic, but profound instructions: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” God’s requirements had not changed, whether in the wilderness or the Promised Land, God remains the same. Where are you today? Are you wandering in the wilderness, trying to find your way, trying to discern God’s plan? Are you in the Promised Land attempting to understand what God now asks of you? He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Fear the Lord, live the kind of life that pleases Him, love Him, serve Him, obey Him…it’s for your own good that you do these things.

Practice: In order to have a garden that produces good crops, the soil must be prepared properly. When Jesus tells the parable of the soil, too many of us hear the story as passive Christians…or we put the emphasis upon the farmer/sower. To be sure, of the four categories of soil, the first (where “the devil” takes away the seed) doesn’t seem to have much of a defense. The other 3, however, involve soil preparation. Nobody would plant a garden among rocks. You wouldn’t expect much to grow if you planted among thorns. You only get a good harvest of crops when you plant in good soil. How receptive are you to God’s Word? In other words, how’s the soil of your soul? Are there rocks in your spirit that are preventing you from allowing the Word of God to grow deep roots in your life? Are the thorns of culture choking out what God is trying to do in your life? We want…we NEED to have good soil for God to work with. Plow up the rocks, pull out the thorns by the root, and allow the Lord to plant something within you that will yield a crop a hundred times over what you might have received before.

March 27

Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1 

Pray: Do you want some encouragement? Is being challenged or corrected what is needed most in your life right now? Pray to the Lord. As you read His Word, ask Him to meet the deepest needs of your heart and life right now. It may be from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms or Proverbs. Rest assured, God has a message for you from today’s readings. Pray and ask for revelation.

Read: In Deuteronomy 7, we read of the reason God chose Israel. It was because of His great love for them and the promise He made to their ancestors. We have a tendency in our culture to be extreme. We choose left/right (nobody likes the middle!). We are all-in or all-out. We operate in this same mentality when it comes to self-assessment. We either think we are pretty good people or we can’t possibly understand how anybody could put up with us. Extremism is all around us and even in us. The truth is, extremism is rarely productive, and often it is counterproductive. However you view yourself, and whatever is going on in your life today, remember this: “The Lord did not set His heart on you and choose you because you were more” (holy, perfect, attractive, successful, etc.) “…Rather, it is simply that the Lord loves you…” and He keeps His promises.

Edify: Look around you right now. Take notice of your surroundings: the furnishings, the decor, the people (perhaps), the area outside the window (if there are windows). Compared to much of our world, we are blessed with much more than we need in the United States. Sometimes, we feel a bit guilty about this. I don’t think it’s biblical to feel guilt about God’s blessings. I do, however, think we must be guarded when we realize just how much we have been blessed. Deuteronomy 8 gives us some instructions about this very thing: Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey His commands, regulations, and decrees. …For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in…be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God…He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful…” All that you have is a gift from the Lord: your family, your friends, your home, your car(s), your checking account, your clothing, and even the very breath of life which allows you to enjoy all of the Lord’s gifts. It’s all from Him. God wants to bless us, but He also warns us to be careful not to forget the source of our blessings and to be obedient to His commands.

Practice: If we’re open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, we’ll often find a connection, a common thread, between the daily readings. Today, the connection is made between Deuteronomy 8 and Luke 7 fairly easily. The Old Testament lesson reminds us to enjoy God’s blessings, but to keep God’s commands. In Luke 7, we find these verses: “When a certain immoral woman from that city heard [Jesus] was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” The woman with the alabaster jar of expensive perfume…how did she choose to use what God had brought into her life? She could have dabbed on the perfume and walked around town with everyone taking notice that she must be wealthy or important because of this expensive perfume. She could have placed it in her home for all her visitors to see this expensive item she owned. Instead, this “immoral woman” knelt at the feet of the Savior, washing His feet with her tears and hair. The perfume? It too, went to the feet of Jesus along with her kisses. What are you holding onto that you need to lay at the feet of the Master? Is it pride, greed, lust, anger, bitterness, resentment? Is it the resources and blessings that God has given you? Is it your very life that you need to commit/recommit to Him? The “immoral woman” left hearing these words from Jesus: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” He wishes to speak those very words to you today. Will you come and kneel at His feet?