I will be unable to blog the next few days. The readings are below. Please interact with this link. I look forward to discussion growing. I have enjoyed the responsive thoughts so far.

Feb 16 Lev 1:1‐3:17, Mark 1:29‐2:12, Ps 35:17‐28, Prov 9:13‐18
Feb 17 Lev 4:1‐5:19, Mark 2:13‐3:6, Ps 36:1‐12, Prov 10:1‐2

Today’s Readings: Ex 39:1‐40:38, Mark 1:1‐28, Ps 35:1‐16, Prov 9:11‐12

Exodus 40:16 This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did.

The obedience of Moses has stood out to me more than any other theme in the Exodus readings over the last few weeks. The thoroughness in the details of the tabernacle instructions and follow through has almost been overwhelming. Moses was obedient in areas he didn’t believe he was qualified for – burning bush, most people probably didn’t believe could happen – plagues / parting of the red sea, etc. – and involved an incredibly demanding lifestyle.

In my life, I want to be like Moses… “This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did.” I want to listen for God’s commands to me today and be careful to follow through completely.

What theme or themes have stood out to you?

Today’s Readings: Ex 37:1‐38:31, Matt 28:1‐20, Ps 34:11‐22, Prov 9:9‐10

One of the things that spoke to me today:
Matthew 28:13 said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ …And two verses later…they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Yesterday, my brother and I were talking about the symbols of our faith. This morning this passage struck me. The people who didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God wanted to put the cross up in a public place. However, they were paying others a “sufficient some” of money to hide the empty tomb. It is also interesting to note that this brief narrative immediately precedes the great commission of Jesus to his disciples, telling them to tell the world what had happened.

To apply this in my life today, I want to be quick to talk about the resurrection. This is the joyful hope in our faith. Our Savior has overcome death, and through him we can do the same.

How many times have you seen a picture of an empty tomb displayed in a Christian home or church? Would you wear an empty tomb around your neck?

Today’s Readings: Ex 35:10‐36:38, Matt 27:32‐66, Ps 34:1‐10, Prov 9:7‐8

Exodus 36: 5-6 (in the context of freewill offerings to the tabernacle) … “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” 6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing…

After reading this passage, I had the opportunity to be part of taking up the offering at my church this morning. I can’t imagine what it would be like for a church leader to make this kind of an announcement today.

It prompted me to read chapter 35 again. What I saw was the motive placed in each heart by God – “everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him” (35:21). I am praying for this kind of a moving in my heart in a new way.

Have you ever felt a clear move of the Holy Spirit in your heart to give?

Today’s Readings: Ex 34:1‐35:9, Matt 27:15‐31, Ps 33:12‐22, Prov 9:1‐6

Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.

I have met several Moseses in my life. Every once in a while, I cross paths with a person that knows God intimately and their face shows it. Maybe it is a different kind of glow than Moses’. This story seems to describe a visible light. But, Moses covers his face to hide that light. We are to “let our light shine (Mat 5)” and with “unveiled face (2 Cor 3)” show the Lord in us.

This last week, one of my friends and coworkers told me – “your face is a ministry.” I believe that. I want my countenance to reflect Christ. I want my inward joy to be seen outwardly.

Have you been impacted by the countenance of another person?

Today’s Readings: Ex 32:1‐33:23, Matt 26:69‐27:14, Ps 33:1‐11, Prov 8:33‐36

Psalms 33:3
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

I love how, in the context of praise, David writes that we are to “play skillfully.”

I think this applies to much more than music. Worship him through anything that you do skillfully. You are his creation. Your gifts are gifts from him. “Everything you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man” (Col 3:23).

Apply – Today I want to work skillfully for the Lord. I want to consciously notice anything that I do well as a gift from, to, and through him (Rom 11:36).

How do you give glory to God through your skills?

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?