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
The Old Testament reading today, Numbers 26:1-51, is the results of the second census of the people of Israel. It's something you'll probably scan through, but here's the significant part, that you might not realize from the text. The forty years of wandering in the wilderness that God had given as a consequence of the people's lack of trust was nearly over. This census, with the exception of Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb and perhaps a few others, is counting people who had not been counted in the last census at Sinai. In the past forty years all of those people have died.
The New Testament reading, Luke 2:36-52, continues with the last little bit of Jesus birth story, and then moves into the only credible text we have about Jesus' childhood.
After the prophecy of Simeon (yesterday), Joseph and Mary run into another elderly person who was watching for the messiah, a prophetess names Anna. She also prayed over Jesus, and went off to tell some other people who were waiting as well. A good reminder that in any broken religious system, there are still people who'se hearts belong to God, and who are truly seeking Him.
The young life of Jesus has been the object of great speculation for a long time. There are a number of extra-biblical texts that claim to share incidents from this time, but none of them have any credibility of authorship, or were accepted by the early Christian community as true - which is a pretty good point of evaluation, since there were still people alive who could attest to the truth, as either witnesses, or first-hand sources, until as late as probably eighty or ninety A.D.
We only get two insights. A quick summary in verse 40, and one incident that happened on a Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve. In this story, it's clear that even Mary and Joseph didn't know who they really had on their hands.
The Psalms reading is the 60th Psalm, Psalms 60:1-12. It presents a different point of view about the troubles in life. In this passage the writer identifies that God has forsaken him, that in his disobedience, God has brought consequences into his life. Now, he is returning and asking for God to let the punishment be enough. While we might not like the theology of this Psalm, it makes a clear and strong point. Ultimately God is sovereign. We do right to go to Him regarding everything in our lives.
The Proverb reading today is Proverbs 11:15. This is counsel to avoid co-signing a loan for another person, the second half can even reasonably be read as counsel to avoid debt in general. Translation vary on who they say this applies to. Some translate the Hebrew word, "zuwr" as "another," while others translate it as "a stranger." Clearly, you should never co-sign a loan for a stranger. That's so obvious it doesn't need mentioning, which is why other translations broaden the scope of the word. One thing is clear. On the whole the Bible sees debt as slavery, and an impediment to being able to obey God when He gives you guidance. This is just one piece in that whole picture.
2007 Cohort Comments
Comments (7)
Rich Rawlins said
at 8:53 am on Mar 17, 2009
This morning I thought I would comment on the verse in proverbs as I haven't done a proverbs passage yet and debt is something I've studied extensively. I find it interesting that in this small verse, lies what I think is probably one of the biggest travesties of all time... the worlds debt based monetary system. There was a German philosopher dude by the name of Johann Von Goethe, that said, "there are none more hopelessly enslaved, than those who falsely believe they are free." With regard to our monetary system, I think this is an absolutely true statement. Only a handful of people who ever heard this statement have any clue at all that they are the ones to whom Goethe was referring. The truth is that every person in the civilized world is enslaved from childhood. They are enslaved in a prison without walls or bars and so very few ever even realize it. But all are enslaved none the less. And what the people of the world are enslaved to, is a system of perpetual self generating debt that is created for them, I believe wholly by design by satan himself, and the people are taught from an early age to just except this debt, along with interest, inflation, taxes and a host of other financial intricacies because this is "just the way things are." This is a subject I've studied for years, and I would venture to say, there is not 1 in 10,000 people who have even the slightest understanding of the current debt based monetary system. It was designed to collapse from the start, and ultimately will. Continued...
Rich Rawlins said
at 8:53 am on Mar 17, 2009
I thought we might see it happen shortly as I thought the sub prime lending program was the last attempt to expand debt (debt has to continually expand or the system will implode). I did not take into consideration that the government would come to the rescue by borrowing the next round of needed debt, so ultimately we will probably see at least one more cycle before a complete collapse of the debt based system. It's like a game of chess, pitting satan against humanity. If it was not for the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, it's a game we would have already lost. We are in interesting times.
...rich
Jim Huddart said
at 12:56 pm on Mar 17, 2009
If everyone understood the world situation, especially how fragile and close to total financial collapse it is, then processed that through a strictly secular point of view, I imagine there would be such a state of depression and hopelessness that mass suicides would be common place. Fortunately, there is hope. Regardless of the world situation, there is a bright future if we believe the bible to be the word of God and accept the free gift offered to us. We can have comfort and complete assurance through Jesus Christ that the life we will have after everything of the world fails will definitely be better than anything we have ever experienced. I suspect it will also be different than almost anything any of us have ever imagined simply because we are not able to wrap our minds around what it means to live completely in God’s love without the interference of sin. Thank You Lord!
Blessings to you all.
Jacqui Wheelhouse said
at 2:44 pm on Mar 17, 2009
Great thoughts and I am thankful to know that my future is secure in Christ, not the stock market!
Thanks for sharing. :)
Marc Schelske said
at 10:00 am on Mar 18, 2009
Amen to that Jacqui. It's so vital for us to remember as the church that our mission is not dependent on good living conditions, or things continuing as they always have. In some ways a total economic collapse might be the best thing ever for the church. Not saying I'd like it. Just saying that it would really force us to abandon the materialism and no-margin lifestyles that many of us live with, and live with real community and care for each other - if only because we would have to to survive. The comfortable circumstances we're used to from our past have the potential to be really numbing to our calling and spiritual journey. I guess that's a good reason for us - whether in good or bad circumstances - to keep pressing into life as a follower of Jesus.
Nate Burton said
at 1:25 pm on Mar 18, 2009
I'm with you guys. On one hand, a total financial collapse is scary for me and my worries about taking care of my family. On the other hand, it could be great 'cleansing' for our nation, the church, and our personal journeys as Marc described. I've been struggling with the idea of wanting to focus more of my time and energy on the things I believe God is calling me towards, and yet feeling weighed down with so many other seemingly necessary responsibilities. I want my family to be well provided for, but I also don't want to miss out on the life that Jesus taught us about and the joy that comes with walking more closely with Him. I realized that what I'm really feeling is that even if we're 'just getting by', by normal American standards anyway, I am still blessed far beyond what I deserve and most othere people in the world. I'm thankful that He's always been & always will be my provider.
Jacqui Wheelhouse said
at 1:47 pm on Mar 18, 2009
I have heard you talk about this numerous times Nate. I will be praying for opportunities for you to open up that allow you the freedom to go and explore some of the things that make your heart come alive!
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