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

Today's Old Testament reading, Deuteronomy 4:1-49, is a continuation of Moses' final sermon to the people of Israel, reminding them of everything they needed to know before they headed into the promised land without Moses.

It starts with a reminder to keep focused on what God had done for them and what He had asked of them. Moses told them to teach these things faithfully to their children. Then we get an in-depth expansion of the prohibition on making an image of any kind of God. They had heard Him speak from Sinai but they never saw any form. This prohibition, if they followed it, would keep them from falling into idolatry worshiping the gods of their neighbors.

In verse 29-31 we get an amazing Old Testament statement of grace. It begins with Moses telling the people that if they go into the land and fail to follow these laws, God will drive them out. They will experience vast and painful consequences. But, when they come around, no matter where they are in the world, and they cry out to God asking Him to restore them, He will hear them, forgive them, and bring them back to the life He had called them to. No matter when. No matter where. God would never abandon them, even in times of harsh consequences.

The New Testament reading, Luke 6:29 - 7:10, is jam-packed with the teaching of Jesus, as we finish out Luke's telling of the "Sermon on the Mount." A number of these verses could become entire expositions just on their own.

We finish off the passage about loving our enemies that we started yesterday. Then there's a passage about not judging others. Actually this teaching is much broader than this. Really it says that the attitude with which we approach the world is the attitude we will find. If we judge, we'll be judged. The more we are generous, the more we become an avenue of grace, the more we will find ourselves blessed, and receiving grace. Following this are teachings on hypocrisy and authenticity (good fruit), and how the heart is really the center of the person. The state of the heart will always come out in words and actions. The implications of this, of course, are that for our outward reality to change, our inward reality has to be transformed first. The whole thing ends with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, which is a challenge to put these teachings of Jesus into practice. To do so will be to create a solid and secure foundation for living--what we've seen in Proverbs referred to as wisdom.

Chapter 7 leaves the teaching and heads back into the ministry of Jesus. Today we see Jesus' interactions with a gentile, the Roman military commander who asked for healing for his servant, which gives us an interesting insight into the nature of faith, and of course, a great example of Jesus working outside the boxes that other people wanted to see Him in.

The Psalms reading is Psalms 68:1-18. This is the first half of a long Psalm that is a hymn to God as the great warrior. Having read the older parts of the Old Testament gives us a great context for this Psalm, and a much better understanding of the old Hebrew view of God as a warlord facing down the enemies of Israel. And yet even among the language of war, we see that this is not a violent warrior, but a great protective father. He cares for the fatherless and widows. He provided for His children, giving them a fertile land and a safe home to live in.

To me personally verses 4-6 are a moving passage. As an adopted child the idea that God "sets the lonely in families" has an immediate relevancy. God's power is aimed toward caring for and providing for His children, especially those that can't provide for themselves.

Proverbs 11:28 is the Proverbs reading for today. Choosing what we will trust in for our security in this life is a vital decision. Trusting in riches is foolish. They can disappear in a moment. Trusting in God - the path of righteousness - is the only secure path.

2007 Cohort Comments