Daily Reading Passages
Click below for access to the passages. Biblegateway.com is an excellent site with many versions of the Bible. The link below opens in NIV. Youversion.com is a new site that allows you to annotate your own Bible, make notes, and comments once you create an account. That link opens in the TNIV version. Other versions are available at both sites.
Coaching Comments
In today's Old testament reading, Exodus 34:1 - 35:9, Moses goes back before God to get replacement tables of the law, and to get more specific instructions for the people's worship. During this exchange God renews the covenant He had established with the patriarchs with Moses and the people. But in return, He asks for their exclusive and focused worship and obedience. We also get a brief set of some of the basic laws of worship that God laid out for the people.
Note that God's laws about not intermarrying with the local people was not about race or purity. It was a law about worship. The basic issue was this: if you start marrying these people, then your sons will ultimately start worshiping the gods of their new wives. The only way to prevent this is to ban intermarriage and other contractual arrangements. The goal was to protect Israel's new faith and practice from becoming intermingled with false religion.
After getting all this, Moses returned down the mountain to the people, but his face was glowing from His interaction with God. Kind of a cool thing. It scared the people at first, and so Moses took to wearing a veil at times like this. But I love the idea that being in God's presence changes us in a noticeable way.
In Matthew, our New Testament reading, Matthew 27:15-31 continues the events of the passion week with the conclusion of Pilate's trial, and his offer of releasing Jesus or, a convicted murderer named Barabbas. Riled up by the leaders, the people demanded the release of Barabbas. And so Pilate gave Jesus over to the Roman guards who beat Him and prepared Him for crucifixion.
As we read through these passages, don't skim - like you might do with some of the Old Testament stuff. Meditate deeply on these words. This is the highest expression of God's love for you. Let it sink in deeply.
Our Psalms Reading, continued with the remainder of the 33rd Psalm. Psalms 33:12-22. These verses focus on God's protection and deliverance. None of the things we do to muster our own strength really can provide us with security. Only God can, and He offers it to those who love Him.
Our Proverbs reading today is
Proverbs 9:1-6. Setting up for more specific words of wisdom, Lady Wisdom sets a table and invites all of us to join her. This invitation is especially to those who might be considered simple. God's wisdom doesn't require a PhD. It requires obedience, and it is the highest wisdom of all.
2007 Cohort Comments
Comments (2)
Jacqui Wheelhouse said
at 10:10 am on Feb 12, 2009
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Last night I was with some friends who are very special to my heart. They are people that have seen me fall down and get up, laugh and cry, ask rediculous questions and sometimes have an insight. They are people who are on my journey and I am on theirs. If you don't have people like this in your life, I suggest you get busy finding some. These friends of mine were praying. We all were praying for one another. Our hands were linked, our hearts were bowed and our words were like whispers of love to our Savior. In the midst of this time, the Lord gave me a powerful picture. The reason I bring it up is because the scripture in Psalms today, was exactly what He spoke to my heart. He said that He is a shield about me (us) and I could see Jesus with His arms wrapped around myself and my children. His reach was enough to hold all of us in and His body was like a shield surrounding our exposed places. We were all in a huddle and then the scripture about finding ourselves hidden in Him was there too. It was a powerful visual for me and a strong word of love saying that I can trust Him in every circumstance and regardless of what I see happening around me, He is present, He is shielding us from danger and He is not going to let us go through anything alone. He will take the hit. He already has. And my (our) job is to simply rest in Him. He is good. He loves us. He carries us. He is our shield. That really moved me in a mighty way. Thank you Lord that you are trustworthy and true. We love you today and thank you for the various circumstances we are all facing in each of our lives. Use those things to mold and shape us into the people you desire us to be. People that reflect your love to a dying world. Amen
Marc Schelske said
at 10:36 am on Feb 13, 2009
Thanks for sharing that, Jacqui.
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