Today’s readings: Ex 30:11‐31:18, Matt 26:47‐68, Ps 32:1‐11, Prov 8:27‐32

Something that jumped out to me:
Exodus 31:13&17 13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you…17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

Reading this morning I saw two reasons for honoring the Sabbath. 1 – It is a sign of the covenant between God and his people. We remember what he has done. 2 – It is following God’s example of resting from work and being refreshed. Refreshed is something we don’t seem to feel much of in our fast paced culture.

Application – I am not good at turning off my workaholic mind. Today I want to spend time with God and Rebecca talking through ways that I can honor the heart of the Sabbath in my own life.

What about you? Do you take a Sabbath? What does it look like?

Today’s Readings: Feb 9 Ex 29:1‐30:10, Matt 26:14‐46, Ps 31:19‐24, Prov 8:14‐26

Matthew 26:40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?

Have you ever struggled to understand why the disciples could not stay awake, watch and pray with Jesus? Surely the men how knew him and walked with him could stay awake with him and pray for a few hours when he was facing his most important crossroad.

As I read this passage I was reminded of our call in chapter 24 to … stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. We are not unlike the disciples. Jesus has called us to pray and seek the Lord as we wait for his return, and we fall asleep.

What are the alarms in your life that help to keep you awake with him?

Today’s readings: Feb 8 Ex 28:1‐43, Matt 25:31‐26:13, Ps 31:9‐18, Prov 8:12‐13

Proverbs 8:13a
“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.”

Over the past 6 months, I’ve spent a good amount of time thinking about, praying about and talking with others about the fear of the Lord. The Bible is clear that it is imperative in or Spiritual walk (Prov 1:7). However, it is not always something that is driving our lives.

“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.”
In our “saved by grace through faith” evangelical Christian churches, we sometimes lose sight of what a healthy fear of God is. We forget the power that is involved in this incredible grace that God extends. We forget the penalty that he had to pay to cover the evil in our lives. We forget the eternal pain that those who are without Christ will experience for their sin. If we spent more time meditating on the gospel, I think we would be driven by an incredible and healthy fear of God.

“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.”
How does this statement affect you?

Today’s readings: Ex 26:1‐27:21, Matt 25:1‐30, Ps 31:1‐8, Prov 8:1‐11

Matthew 25:21&23 (both verses are the same) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

As Christians, we live to hear these words.

This morning, I made several observations as I read and reread this passage:
• This is all in the context of “Kingdom of heaven” (25:1) and being ready for Christ’s return.
• He talks about interest, investing, and trading. As I researched talents online, it was a weight or amount, not an actual coin. Is he talking about financial stuff?
• Did anyone else notice that the two servants who had the most, invested the most? The one who was given only one talent was very frugal with that talent.
• The talents all belong to the master; they were just out on loan.

Ultimately, the message seems to be… Don’t let fear of failure stop you. Even if you don’t feel like you are the most talented person, invest what you have been given in kingdom growth.

Apply – I want to be intentional about the way I invest what God has given me. This passage has challenged me to look again at my life plan.

How are you investing your talents? Do you let fear of failure keep you from doing it?

Many of you will enjoy reading this article before the game today. I’ve heard good things about Aaron Rogers. It is cool to see how he is using this platform.

Today’s readings: Ex 23:14‐25:40, Matt 24:29‐51, Ps 30:1‐12, Prov 7:24‐27

Matt 24: 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Context: Ready = (v40-43) Awake – ready for your house to be broken into, (45-46) faithful and wise servant that is feeding his master’s household – and his master finds him doing that when he returns.

Am I ready? I know the thought of Jesus coming back excites me, but I don’t think he would find me faithfully serving at all times.

What does “ready” look like for you today?

Today’s readings: Ex 21:22‐23:13, Matt 24:1‐28, Ps 29:1‐11, Prov 7:6‐23

S – Exodus 21:29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.

O – This is a heavy penalty for someone with a violent animal. God says if you ignore the warning signs of something destructive in your life, you are fully responsible to the pay the consequence for what it destroys.

A – What things in my life are hurting other people currently? Habits, words, possessions, actions, etc… I need to clean that stuff out now. God holds me responsible.

P – Lord, show me things today that I need to remove from my life to protect those around me.

Todays Readings: Ex 19:16‐21:21, Matt 23:13‐39, Ps 28:1‐9, Prov 7:1‐5

Matthew 23: 25-26 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Wow, Jesus went off on the Pharisees today… “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” “On you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth.”

And what prompts this? As I read, it all seems to revolve around their hearts being more concerned about what others see than who they really are. They are trying to clean what is on the outside. Inside, he says they are “full of greed and self-indulgence.”

Today, I’m asking myself how I can clean my inside. I do NOT like this because I see a lot of greed and self-indulgence in my life.

Anyone have some good ideas on how to clean out your inside?

Today’s Readings: Ex 17:8‐19:15, Matt 22:34‐23:12, Ps 27:7‐14, Prov 6:27‐35

Something that jumped out to me:
Exodus 18:18 “You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.”

Context – Moses was the judge for all the Israelite people as well as the intercessor between God and the people. His father-in-law, Jethro, sees this and tells him to appoint “able men” to serve as judges under him to help him lead.

We need more people like Jethro, coaching the leaders in our culture. Some of what he said was probably a shot to Moses’ pride… “What? I can’t do it? It is too heavy for me? Have you seen my spiritual biceps?” However, Moses heeds Jethro’s words and gets help.

The spiritual life is not something we do alone. Why do we think spiritual leadership is?

Apply – Can you admit what areas of your life are currently too heavy for you? Who are the able people that God has put around you to help?

Today’s Readings: Ex 15:19‐17:7, Matt 22:1‐33, Ps 7:1‐6, Prov 6:20‐26

Proverbs 6:20-22:
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.

Your parents’ teaching being a blessing in your life is a theme throughout Proverbs. In an effort to truly apply these passages, I was challenged to pursue my parent’s teachings. In the past few months I have asked my Grandmother, Father, and Mother what they would say “their teachings” are.

Grandmother (90) – Love your family. Obey the Bible
Dad – As you lead, be open about your weaknesses.
Mom – 1) Forgive, forgive, forgive. 2) Serve – take up your cross daily. 3) Money is temporal and not as valuable as wisdom and peace (1 Tim 6:6). 4) Do things because “the Bible tells me so.”

Each conversation (Mom’s was a letter) was impactful for me. I encourage you to pursue doing the same.

What stood out for you in the readings today?