Title: The Infectiousness of Sin/ Topic: Sin

Today’s Reading: Joshua 7; Joshua 8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5

Scripture: Joshua 7:1; 1Corinthians 5:1,12-13

1 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things ; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel.

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

Observation: The story in Joshua 7 is a very sobering account of the infectiousness of sin. The entire nation of Israel suffers defeat because of the sin of one man. It even says that the Lord's anger burned against Israel (not just the perpetrator) and 36 men are killed when they go out to battle because of Achan's sin. It actually doesn't seem just to me and also incongruent with other verses where God declares that each man will die for his own sin, not for anyone else's. The only thing I can think of is that the whole nation knew that nothing from Jericho was to be taken as plunder and that others must have seen Achan do this but didn't say anything, bringing guilt on the whole group. Whatever the reason, it does demonstrate that other innocent people are damaged when any of us sin. What we do affects those around us. The passage in 1 Cor. 5 is related. The church knows there is a man living in gross sin but does nothing to confront him. The apostle Paul gives clear instruction that we are to judge those in the Church, who claim to be Christians but are clearly disobedient to God. We are not to judge non-believers, but we are to judge those in the Body and not allow overt disobedience to God. It damages the Body by allowing others to think they can have God in their lives without having to obey Him and it also damages the witness the Church has to the world.

Application: I have a responsibility to keep my life pure and free from sin. I must do this to stay close to the Lord and have his blessing on my life but also for the sake of others in the Church. I bring harm and shame not only to myself when I do not repent of sin but also to others. I am my brother's keeper. When sin stays hidden in anyone's life it brings ineffectiveness and powerlessness to the entire Body as well as to myself.

Prayer: Father, help me to hate sin and be ruthless in my desire to root it out of my life through repentance. And also help me to properly judge others; not to put them down, but for the purpose of helping them to come to repentance so that all of your people may abide in your blessing and experience your power.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Three Odd Verses/ Topic: Various

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 22; Deuteronomy 23; Deuteronomy 24; Galatians 4

Scripture: Deuteronomy 22:10-12
10 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

11 Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.

12 Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.

Observation: These three verses always have struck me as odd and I'm not sure I really fathom the purposes of them, but I will try to put down my thoughts on the message of each. Verse 10: The strength of these two animals is very different. The message seems to be don't be cruel to a weaker animal by trying to make it work at the level of another much stronger one. Not only is it cruel to the weaker animal, it is inefficient. Neither will work well if they are so mismatched. This verse also brought to mind the verse in I Corinthians that says a believer should never be yoked together with an unbeliever. Like the ox and the donkey, they are two different creatures with two different purposes in life and they won't work well together. Verse 11: Wool holds warmth in and is great for winter weather, and linen is a light material that breathes well so people won't get overheated in the summer. Again, the emphasis seems to be on keeping things separate and using them for their intended purposes. Apparently “intended purpose” is a big deal to God. Verse 12: Okay, I must say I find this verse mostly just amusing. God as Fashion Designer! He likes tassels?

Application: I think the application to my life from these verses is: 1) be as efficient as possible in the use of resources. 2) Use things for the purposes for which they are best suited. 3) It's alright to have pretty clothes!

Prayer: Father, if I'm just not getting everything there is to get out of these verses then show me what I am missing. There is a lot of your Word that seems a little (sometimes a lot) strange to me. Give me wisdom and insight through your Spirit and also through other teachers that you bring into my life. I thank you for your Word.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Showing Us Our Need/ Topic: Purpose of the Law

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 19; Deuteronomy 20; Deuteronomy 21; Galatians 3

Scripture: Galatians 3:23-25
23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Observation: The purpose of the Law is to show us what righteousness is, and that we are utterly incapable of keeping it by our own efforts. That is why sacrifices were needed before Jesus came. The Law reveals to us our need of a Savior, for none of us can claim perfection in always obeying the ten commandments of God's Law, and yet all would agree that society would be a utopia if everyone did obey them. The Law is GOOD, yet it is unattainable for us in our sinful state. That is why it drives us to Christ.

Application: We Christians need to use the Law for the purpose for which it was given. Too many of us have beat people over the head with the commandments instead of using it to show how righteous God is and how none of us can measure up. Unless people are aware of their sin they feel no need of a Savior. The Law is needed to reveal that they cannot be holy by their own efforts. Paul gives us the key to how to use the Law of God to win people to Jesus.

Prayer: Father, help me to use your Word effectively as I share your message of life, grace, and victory over sin. Give me opportunities to share the good news of the gospel with others.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Source of Power/ Topic: Christ's Sacrifice

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 16; Deuteronomy 17; Deuteronomy 18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, 21
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Observation: Paul identifies the source of the power to live a righteous life. It is only through the sacrifice of Jesus that any of us are justified, and because we are justified through the blood of Jesus, we have the grace of God that enables us to not live in slavery to our own selfish desires but to live on a higher plane.

Application: My only source of power to live a righteous life is the same as Paul's. It comes from outside of myself. Because Jesus took the punishment for my sin, I now have access to the power of his Spirit to crucify my flesh and live in obedience to his law.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for setting me free from the law of sin and death and giving me the grace to live in obedience to your Word. May I learn to live by the Spirit more and more so that others see that it is you who live in me. I want the glory of who you are to shine through my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Serious Commitment/ Topic: Dedication

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 13; Deuteronomy 14; Deuteronomy 15; Galatians 1

Scripture: Deuteronomy 13:1-11
1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.
6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. 9 You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. 10 Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 11 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again.

Observation: Wow! Spiritual leaders, fathers, mothers, siblings, and lovers; not one of them was to be spared if they tried to lead others to worship other gods. . God is driving home the point that the biggest danger to the lives of his people is not disease, poverty, or any other malady. The biggest danger to them was worshiping anything other than God! This is serious business. It can seem cruel, but God's motivation was love; he wanted his people to live happy, fulfilled lives and serving other things or people in priority over him would be destructive to them. Today, in the age of grace, we don't kill those who try to lead us astray, but we are warned to separate ourselves from them.

Application: God needs to be the first priority in my life. I am not to place a single personal relationship above Him. It will only spell disaster for me if I do. I see a lot of people who put lovers or children before God. They are doing their loved ones no favors by letting them think they can be more important than God is to us and we do ourselves a disservice to have them as an idol in our hearts above God. This word also points out that I must never be a blind follower of any spiritual teacher. I must evaluate what I hear and if it doesn't glorify the Lord as the one true God then I must not listen to or follow that particular “prophet”.

Prayer: Father, I love you and you alone. You are the one who gives me the capacity to love others, but they will never replace you as Lord in my life. I want to follow all your decrees because you want the best for me. You know how I need to live to have fulfillment, love, peace and joy in my life. Thank you, Lord, for showing me the path of everlasting life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Learning to Listen/ Topic: Trust

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 5; Deuteronomy 6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

Scripture: Mark 14:16
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

Observation: As I was reading this passage, I felt the Lord speak to my soul, “Things will always be just as I tell you they are”. And just like the disciples that Jesus was speaking to in this story, I often don't listen to what the Lord says. He tells them that they will all desert him in his hour of trial, yet they all steadfastly deny this. He tells them that he will rise again once he is crucified and they can't believe it. Why do we question the Lord so much? I see it in myself but I see it even more clearly in others (it's always easier to see others' problems than our own).

Application /Prayer: Oh Father, I know that things will always be as you say they are. Help me to listen to what you say and apply it to my life. I want to live in your blessings and apply the promises of your Word to my life even when I can't see how it will all work out. It's when I can't see that I need to listen most and trust that you will fulfill all your great and precious promises to me. Teach me to listen and trust more and more. And thank you for the fact that I can rely on the fact that things will always be as you say.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Two Truths/ Topic: Sin and God's Love

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 3; Deuteronomy 4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

Scripture: Psalm 36:1,2, 7,8

1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: [a] There is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.

7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find [b] refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.

Observation: Two different sections of Psalm 36 caught my attention as I read them. Verses one and two speak of the thoughts of a “wicked” person (wicked intimates someone who either doesn't care about God and his sinfulness or someone who is religious and doesn't detect his sin due to an attitude of arrogant pride). Such a person has no fear of God. In other words, they do not believe God will punish them. Judgment is of no concern to them. They also are ones who flatter themselves. In other words, they think more highly of themselves than they ought to and they also value their own opinion more than God's opinion. This renders them incapable of seeing their own sin for what it is. Verses seven and eight extol the preciousness of God's love toward us and all the benefits of being his child. Comfort, protection and provision are spoken of as aspects of his love. The last sentence is particularly poetic in its depiction of God's love: He gives us drink from the river of his delights!

Application: The first application is that I must keep my heart humble and value God's opinions more than my own. Otherwise, I will not detect my own sin and repent of it. The second application is to always be thankful for God's incomparable blessings in my life. I need to rehearse and bring to mind all his benefits so that I don't take them for granted.

Prayer: Father, I love you. May my heart remain both humble so that I can receive correction and continually be being transformed into a person like you and thankful so that I express my gratitude to you constantly for all your goodness and kindness to me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.