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 takes us into a new book, the book of Numbers. (Numbers 1:1-54) It's called Numbers because it begins with the first official census of the Israelite people. As we move through the book, we'll find more parts that are reminiscent of Leviticus - more standards and instructions for the people, but we'll also find a lot more going on. One of the hard things to keep in mind as we drudged through Leviticus is that we're still at Mount Sinai! All of Leviticus is the law that God gave Moses from the mountain. So, a whole book later, we're still camped at the base of the mountain. Now we'll begin to see a little more action as the people pack up and begin the long journey to the promised land.

Today's passage is the main body of the census. The thing to notice is how much Israel had prospered since entering into Egypt some 400 years before as a single (albeit large and extended) family.

The New Testament reading, Mark 11:1-26, shows us Jesus' return to Jerusalem. Everything that happens from here out happens with great intentionality and purpose. Jesus knows that His days are numbered and every opportunity to build into His disciples must be maximized. Every statement that He wants to still make must be made now.

First, we witness the triumphal entry. This had to be a highpoint for the disciples and a bittersweet one for Jesus. They thought this was the beginning of a whole new order. He knew that this was the fickle adulation of the crowd that in a few days would be shouting for His death. The next day, Jesus made a trip to the temple, where he cleared out the merchants who were doing business there. This action galvanized the leaders against Him even more.

On the way out of the city Jesus had the opportunity to teach the disciples a little more about faith and prayer. These words sound strange to our scientific cause-and-effect trained minds, and yet there is something here for us. God wants to work through us when we pray, and if we limit prayer to just being a way to align our hearts with God's, then we are closing down an avenue for God to work through us. It may not make sense with our view of how the world works, and yet we must humbly recognize that we still really know very little, and that when we open ourselves up to God we open ourselves up to the unexplanable. For us the question comes down to this: do we trust Jesus? Do we trust that what He said is true? If so, we are called to step past the boundaries of what our minds can comprehend and allow God to work through us.

Our Psalms reading, Psalms 46:1-11, is a powerful song of faithful worship. This Psalm is clearly a song crafted for worship. It comes in three verses, all three focused on the mighty power of God. There are several parts of this one that are worth memorizing and of great encouragement. God is our refuge. He helps the righteous. He brings peace, so that we can be still and know His presence. He is with us. He is our fortress.

The Proverbs reading, Proverbs 10:23 is another contrast between the foolish and wise, the wicked and the righteous. This time it focuses on what they enjoy. Someone who really enjoys evil conduct is foolish. Someone who really enjoys pursuing wisdom is both wise and righteous.

2007 Cohort Comments