March 5

Numbers 4:1-5:31, Mark 12:18-37, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 10:26



Prayer: God gives specific duties to those serving the Levites and of the particular “clans” as it were. Each one has a specific duty in order to enable prayer and worship. The most important responsibility you and I have now is to prepare our hearts before we read scripture to hear the Words of God as they speak to us at this moment. So let’s pray, “Dear God, grant us wisdom now. Let us have ears to hear and open our eyes as You reveal Yourself to us.” In Jesus’ name.

Read: In viewing the text today we see the importance of purity in the camp. It appears to be unfair that God would send folks out of the camp but if there was a contagious disease spread by physical contact then it is paramount that young children, babies, and pregnant women not come into contact with skin disease which could infect and kill smaller children and frail adults. So, these purifying guidelines exist only to protect persons from harm from those who are sick and cannot help their illness. This does not mean the Hebrews are to forget those who are sick. But, they also are not to allow the sick to infect others.

Edify: The Marcan account of our reading states that some Sadducees came to pose a question to Jesus about whose wife will a particular woman be in heaven after she marries several brothers due to each of them dying. The irony, and Jesus fully knew this, was that the Sadducees didn’t even believe in any afterlife so the entire question was a moot point for them. But, not for Jesus, so He ran with the query only to turn it back on them by stating the obvious fact---they do not know the scriptures. They only know their own editorial portions which they bent to justify their own faith and judgmental attitudes. Jesus nailed them when He said, “God said to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. So He is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.” Now, have I made a serious error by not trusting the Word of God? Have you made a serious error by choosing to believe some of the Word of God but not all of it? 

Practice: Love your neighbor is in the Marcan account today. We are challenged to love our neighbor not just in words but in deeds. Do you have someone on your heart to invite to worship? Pray first, then do you love them enough to invite them to join you at church?

March 4

Numbers 2:1-3:51, Mark 11:27-12:17, Psalm 47:1-9,Proverbs 10:24-25



Pray: There are persons who wander off and get lost. There are some who deliberately just leave like the prodigal son in Luke 15. There are others who drift away 2% at a time and after six months or a year they find themselves farther away from God than they ever intended. Let's pray compassionately for those who have drifted and those who have deliberately wandered away. If you are that person, please know that in this devotion I have already prayed for you.

Read: Jesus’ authority is called into question when He calls into question their own sense of authority in asking Him trick questions. Jesus often follows up a question with a question. Perhaps we should come to the Bible with more questions than preconceived notions and presumptions. Perhaps we are truly beginners when it comes to understanding the God who created the universe.

Edify: In the Old Testament text we see that everyone is counted. Why? Because in God’s economy everyone counts. The Lord doesn’t operate off of the standard that if we have the majority then that is enough. God cares for every person. As we read let's remember how the Lord had the Hebrews count every person. 

Practice:  So Jesus instructs them to render to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar and to God that which belongs to God. It appears on the surface that there is a separation of church and state. A separation of things which belong to the government and things which belong to God. Yet, when one really ponders this reality we come to understand, WOW, what do you really mean? For everything belongs to the Lord. God has created heaven and earth. God has created our bodies and they don’t belong to us but are gifts for us to steward while we are in them. One day we will give up our bodies to death and our spirits will live with God forever. One day the United States of America will end, crumble into the ash heap of history. Yet, God and His Kingdom will endure. So, Jesus is saying again, render to Caesar those things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. I would add, do everything as if it is done unto the Lord for He owns all that exists. How will your life be different today because you embrace this reality? How will you live differently?  

March 3

Leviticus 27:14-Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-26, Psalm 46:1-11, Proverbs 10:23



Pray: We usually come to worship to “get something”. That’s not wrong but often I feel we leave with not near the experience we could have if we came to worship to “give something” to God. So today, let's give God the praise and gratitude in our prayers that God deserves. Let's begin this way, then we can ask God whatever the desires of our heart might be. We can cry out to God but let's begin with honor and praise. “Our Father, Hallowed be your name….”

Read: The text today is filled with specifics. There is no interpretation needed when it comes to bringing in a tenth of our crops, or one tenth of our new flocks, and if we substitute the crops or the flocks we are to pay an additional 20%. In other words, the Lord wants the first fruits of our labor. This, of course, is what is meant in scripture by the tithe.

Edify: When God’s people bring a tenth of the crops or a tenth of the flocks as an offering, then God redeems the remaining portion of our flocks or produce. In other words, you can do more with 90% blessed by God than 100% cursed because you decided to hold it back from God instead of giving it to the Lord’s house. It’s a no brainer, is it not? You can always do more with 90% blessed.

Practice: Jesus enters the city in triumph, so it appears. This is a tremendous moment as it raises the temperature of who Jesus is before the religious leaders and others in Jerusalem. Is Jesus the Messiah? Is Jesus the one to follow? Jesus could live into the moment of praise and attention, but He gets right down to business when He sees the abuse happening in the Temple. People are being charged way too much money for the exchange rate, and instead of this being a house of prayer it has become a tool for others to make money off of pilgrims seeking God. Jesus is right, it is to be a house of prayer, not of performance, not of the multiple agendas of humankind, but a place which is listening to and talking to God in earnest prayer. Right where you are, you can make the place you are in, a house of prayer.

March 2

Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-5, Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 10:22



Pray: Our readings today speak of the actual heart of God when it comes to faithfulness and obedience to God. Our prayer this day is to ask God to open our spirits to hearing God’s direction and to apply His wisdom to our lives. So let's pray, “Dear Holy Spirit, please put within us an openness and receptivity to your Word. Give us a deep desire to live out what You reveal to us today.”

Read: As we read let's encounter the serious nature of what God is communicating to the Hebrew people when it comes to obedience. There are blessings untold for those who seek to be fully devoted followers of God. What are these blessings? Let's write down at least three of them and ask the Lord if these are not worth giving our entire life to so that our lives are a blessing to others.

Edify: When Jesus is walking through the crowds in Mark 10 we see this powerful image that with everyone around Jesus how could He possibly hear just one blind beggar? And even when the disciples tell Bartimaeus to be quiet it is Jesus who overhears his cry for healing and tells the disciples to bring him to Him. Bartimaeus’ question is our question when Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” His response to Jesus is simply, “I want to see!”. What is your blindside right now in your life? What is keeping you from seeing the future God has for you and those you love?

Practice: When Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus the scripture tells us that he immediately follows Jesus. What would your schedule look like if you really followed Jesus today? How would your schedule change? What would your bank account look like if you really decided to follow Jesus today? What would your weekend look like if you really followed Jesus this weekend? Who would you serve? Who would you make amends with? 

March 1

Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21



Pray: Lord, You give us a clear guide in Your Word today that God’s people are to set aside crops, livestock, and possessions so You might “redeem them”. Today helps us to see that You have the capacity to redeem our habits, our families, our jobs, our homes and our marriages. Let us not only pray for the redemption of these areas but give us the courage and strength to live into the redemption of these vital areas of our lives.

Read: The scriptures declare that God is just and when a sin or act of sin has been committed it must be made right through punishment or through redemption where someone beyond us or God Himself buys it back or redeems it.  Secondly, our hearts are raised in radical ways as we look at the ways God redeems persons when they are enslaved to debt, to redeem the livestock, and the land. God wants to “buy back” or redeem what was once spoiled due to sinful acts and mistakes.

Edify: Speaking of redemption, it would not be complete unless we speak of the year of Jubilee. It is adding up seven years times seven years or every 49 years to have a season when all debts are forgiven, when interest is not charged on loans, and people are preparing the hearts of the people for the Day of Atonement in the fiftieth year. The poor and the enslaved can be redeemed. In Mark’s Gospel we find the parents bringing their children to be blessed or “redeemed”, if you will, by Jesus. Can their young lives be refreshed and renewed so they might enjoy a prosperous life? 

Practice: The young ruler is struggling with “inheriting eternal life”. Jesus tells the young ruler he just lacks one thing… "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The Old Testament lesson speaks of redeeming those in prison, and those who are slaves. The young ruler believed his spiritual scorecard was so high that he was a prisoner to what he thought was most important. He was thinking solely about his salvation, his well-being, and Jesus was saying to him, “Put God first in your life, your finances, by trusting in God enough to give away what you have to the poor so God can redeem your self-focused world.”

Today, will you pray for the needs of others? Will you think of others and seek to help someone today who is in need of kindness, encouragement, or to help the poor? 

February 28

Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19



Pray: We learn what sacrifices are about in Leviticus as God’s people are to take their sin seriously. Perhaps our contemporary culture has slighted this reality and we do not take our sin seriously. In fact, we don’t even blush anymore when suggestive pictures or scenes at movies reveal way too much for the imagination. Let us pray that we might have eyes to see today, not judgmental eyes but honest eyes to see ourselves as we are, not how we like to be seen.

Read: Our Old Testament passage today speaks truth into the vital importance of two sacred observances: 1) The Day of Atonement and 2) Marriage. Everyone is to fast and sacrifice on the day of Atonement and it is clear that no one is to work on this sacred day. In fact, God’s penalty for such is quite severe. Marriage too has been treated in a trite way by our culture and even by folk in the church. Yes, there are some irreconcilable differences to be sure, yet all too often we have conjured up phrases like, “No fault divorce” which is a lie for we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s will. What is vital is that when people have gone through a divorce that she and he make every effort to learn from mistakes and shortcomings which have contributed to their separation and divorce. Sacrifice is to be observed in both the Day of Atonement/Good Friday for Christians and in living out vows of marriage.

Edify: Marriage is a sacred institution. It has been under attack since its very inception. Notice the story in the Garden of Eden had the serpent/tempter, speaking to Eve alone. Yet, when it came time to eat of the fruit she and Adam were together. The Mosaic law does allow for divorce. If a husband gives a written note in front of two witnesses this makes it legal. Yet, Jesus lifts up scriptural authority here and says, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.” There is a definitive reality that God holds marriage in a sacred trust and those who violate it for their very own selfish desires will suffer the consequences. The scripture says, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.” This goes to the intent of why a man is leaving the wife of his youth. What can we do to honor the sacredness of marriage as followers of Christ while being careful not to condemn those who have been divorced? Always remember that the truth is to help us own our mistakes and grace is to help us overcome our mistakes.

Practice: Today, how can you begin to practice sacrificial love towards those whom you are in covenant with? If you are a parent, a child or sibling, how can you love others first and yourself second or third? If you are married, how can you love sacrificially?

February 27

Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18



Pray: Today’s reading is full of powerful imagery of God inviting us to be and remain faithful, or to be more exact, to “be full of faith”. One miracle Jesus performed which He said later could not be done without prayer. So, let us pray for God’s revelation: “Dear God, as we spend time with You today to hear from You through scripture, we ask the dear Holy Spirit to reveal truth, and give us direction. Lastly, to have the courage to live out what You do reveal.” Amen.

Read: Our O.T. lesson gives us the reason for living the faith with healthy boundaries, making clear what our “non-negotiables” are in our lives and that of our family. When God says, 2 “You must keep all my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice; otherwise the land to which I am bringing you as your new home will vomit you out.”, it is clear that God doesn’t want His people to be just like the people who have inhabited the land. God wants His people to be “set apart”, in not only what they say but how they live. If your home is clear about your “non-negotiables” like honesty, respect, putting God first in everything, then when someone or yourself tries to drift away, the DNA of your home, the DNA of your faith will “vomit you out”, or call you on the carpet. Healthy organizations are clear about their “non-negotiables” in building a healthy culture. Should followers of Jesus do any less?

Edify: Jesus wanted His inner core of Peter, James and John to share a sacred moment with Him. This reading reveals the power of God revealed in Jesus. This passage underscores our basic Christian teaching on who Jesus is as He is 100% human and 100% divine. Peter wants to “do something” out of nervousness and build an altar. Jesus wants him to be personal and support him in this moment realizing who Jesus actually is. So often we get busy “doing ministry” that we fail to “encounter Jesus in the ministry”. As my mentor Bill Hybels has said, “There have been times when doing the work of ministry was killing the work of God in me.” We should serve from grace, not trying to earn it nor establish it…the grace and love of God is already abundantly available. 

Practice: Jesus wasn’t trying to impress the disciples. In fact, Jesus wants His followers to succeed in being faithful. However, sometimes we seek to “cook up ministry” out of seeing the need instead of allowing God to simmer the faith within us over time. When Jesus said, “this kind can be cast out only by prayer” He was saying, “you can’t cast out this kind of evil unless there is some kind of holiness living within you.” So, practice holiness today by spending time, as you are, reading the scriptures and applying them to your life daily. Pray for God’s presence to be with you throughout the day. Look for the Holy Spirit’s revelations and seek to love your neighbor. Over time, holiness will grow within you so you can do battle against the evil around you.