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?

Today’s Readings – Ex 13:17‐15:18, Matt 21:23‐46, Ps 26:1‐12, Prov 6:16‐19

My Soap Journal for today:

(S)cripture – Psalms 26:6-7
6 I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

(O)bservations – Clean hands/innocence – living obediently
Go around your alter – close to the Lord, worshiping
Proclaiming thanksgiving aloud – not quite about what he is thankful for
Telling all your wondrous deeds – speaking of what God has done

(A)pplication – I want to proclaim thanksgiving aloud today. I want an attitude of gratitude to come out of me today. I want those around me to know what I am thankful for.

(P)rayer – Lord, thank you for all your wondrous deeds. Forgive me for not focusing more on what you have done and responding with open thankfulness.

Today’s readings: Ex 12:14‐13:16, Matt 20:29‐21:22, Ps 25:16‐22, Prov 6:12‐15

Something that challenged me: Matthew 21:21 – And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

Rebecca and I get to go to Israel in March! Two weeks ago I finished the book “Where Jesus Walked” by Stacy. In it he pointed out that on the road from Jerusalem to Bethany – where Matthew 21 says Jesus was walking that day, both Herodium and the Dead Sea are visible. After King Herod built Herodium, people said that he was able to move mountains. Jesus says to his disciples, with faith we are able to do greater things than even the greatest human accomplishments. With faith we can speak to Herodium and it will be thrown into the Dead Sea.

Apply: I was challenged by this passage today to have a more aggressive prayer life. I want to aim for the stars for God and allow him to use me.

Do you have any stories of God doing supernatural things through your prayers?

Today’s Readings: Ex 10:1‐12:13, Matt 20:1‐28, Ps 25:1‐15, Prov 6:6‐11

Something that jumped out to me: Matthew 19:21-23 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

I think many Christians in America would agree with me when I say that I struggle with this passage. I’m not wealthy by US standards, but I’ve got so much stuff. Several years ago I heard a guy teach this passage and say that the wealthy man’s problem wasn’t just how much stuff he had, but how much he valued the stuff he had. That hit me like a ton of bricks. I often place too much value on my stuff. I’m a frugal spender and I spend slowly. Giving is never frivolous for me.

Pray with me today that God will place a real and eternal value/perspective on our stuff.

Todays Readings: Ex 7:25‐9:35, Matt 19:13‐30, Ps 24:1‐10, Prov 6:1‐5

(S)cripture- Exodus 9:16-17 (Context – As God announces the plague of hail, he tells pharaoh why he has not just killed all the Egyptians) “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go.”

(O)bservations- God has a purpose for the wicked – to show his power in punishment
What Pharaoh was doing wrong – exalting himself and not obeying God
God is passionate about his name being proclaimed to all the earth

(A)pplication- I want to humble myself and obey. I get to talk with a man today about his beliefs regarding God’s punishment of the wicked.

(P)rayer – Lord, guide my conversation today. My it be filled with the Word. I know that I often exalt myself. Make my drive proclaiming your name and not my own.