March 13

Numbers 19:1-20:29, Luke 1:1-25, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 11:8 

Pray: Lord, Your word tells us in Psalms today that You have kept count of my sorrows and You put my tears in Your bottle. What a comfort that is Lord that You care about my grief. You take note of my troubles. Lord may we say along with David this day with all confidence that “You are for us!” Amen.

Read: In the Old Testament reading today we see a picture of Moses and Aaron in disobedience to the Lord. This disobedience brought about the consequence of not entering into the Promise Land. God specifically told Moses to speak to the rock and water would pour out of it. Moses instead struck the rock twice to make the water come forth for the people. This reminds us how important it is for us to listen carefully to the instruction of the Lord and not to turn from it or seek to modify His commands to our liking or desires.

Edify: What is so special about the beginning of Luke is the amazing historical evidence we see in Luke writing to a historical figure in Theophilus that can be proved to be a real person in the first century. Sometimes I get caught up in the stories of scripture and forget that they are real letters written to real people. This should greatly encourage us as we read today. We can be sure of the reality, infallibility and sufficiency of the scriptures.

Practice: Zechariah had some doubts about what the angel of the Lord told him concerning the birth of John the Baptist, and it cost him. For nine months Zechariah could not speak because he doubted that the Lord could do the impossible in him and his wife in their old age. Let’s practice trusting God at His word. Let’s believe that if He says it, He will do it!