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2 Corinthians 8-9 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15.

“For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints–” (2 Corinthians 8:3-4).

What a powerful example. Outward compliance is one thing. This shows inward motivation.

This is what I need to have and instill in others. The Macedonians did not give because Paul convinced them it was a rule to give. They begged for the opportunity to take part in this. They saw obedience and sacrifice as an opportunity, a favor. They saw it as grace itself.

Too often I spend trying to figure out what the rules are to decide what I’m going to do or to manipulate others into doing what I think they should. But then what is accomplished? Simply a controlled compliance that is useless to our souls. I’m not saying there are no rules, but if we are only doing something because it is the rule, then our hearts are not right with God.

I need to thank God today for the favor of getting to serve and sacrifice for Him. He is the great and loving God who saved my soul, why would I want to do anything else?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking the following link: Post a Comment

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Mark 7-8 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Mark 7:1-8:38.

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35).

A scene from a movie comes to my mind. Toward the end of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” they have actually found the Holy Grail. However, Dr. Elsa Schneider defied the command of the guardian and took the Grail across the seal. The earth quaked and the rock floor split open. Schneider fell in the crack and was only saved by Jones’s quick reaction of grabbing her hand. But the Grail, which had also dropped in the crack, was on a ledge just out of arm’s reach. Jones pleaded with her to let it go and let him pull her up. But how could she? If she had the Grail, she would be rich? She tried to save the life she imagined if she possessed the Grail and slipped from Jones’s hand to lose her life.

As this happened, the earth shook and now Indiana Jones was in the same position as Dr. Schneider. He was dangling in the crack, held by his father’s hands. Despite his protests for Dr. Schneider to climb out of the crack, he was being pulled by the Grail. It had been his father’s life’s work to find that Grail. He had gone through adventure, turmoil, and strife to get it. He wanted to please his father and his father’s life was in that Grail. But Henry Jones (Sean Connery’s character) calmly said, “Indiana, let it go.” Jones reached up and took his father’s hand and was pulled to safety. He gave up his life in that Grail to save his life.

For me, that is a picture of this verse. Our lives can get wrapped up in so many things–education, recreation, occupation, infatuation,etc. Sometimes we want to hold on to Jesus with one hand, while stretching out for something else that we think is what our life is all about. We hope that we can bridge the gap between the two things. But we can’t. If we try to save our lives as we see what is important about them and our goals and desires, we will lose our actual lives. However, if we are willing to give up life on our terms, we can gain real life through Jesus Christ.

We are hanging in the gap, our Grail is just out of arm’s reach. We can attempt to save our life by reaching for the Grail. But we will only lose our lives. Or we can sacrifice our lives to reach up and grab our Father’s hands and allow Him to pull us to safety, saving our lives. The choice is ours.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in this passage? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Luke 23-24 (ESV) by Wordles*

Today’s reading is Luke 23:1-24:53.

“And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him. But they all cried out together, ‘Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas’–a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder…’Why what evil has he done?’…But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will” (Luke 23:14-19, 22, 23-25).

Perhaps it should read more like this:

“And after examining Jesus before you, behold, I did not find your Son guilty of anything. Neither has anyone. Look nothing deserving of death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him. But the Father said, “Crucify my Son, release to me Edwin’–a man who had been brought into judgment for lusting, lying, selfishness, arrogance, immorality, and a host of other sins. ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But the Father was firm, demanding that Jesus should die. And His voice prevailed. So Pilate decided that the Father’s demand should be granted. He released the man who had been guilty of all manner of sin, for whom God asked, but he delivered Jesus over to the Father’s will.”

Do I need to say more?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can provide your input by clicking here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is Hebrews 9:1-10:39.

“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14).

I see that I have a problem. Even though I’m in Christ and have received forgiveness, I allow my conscience to be plagued by my past sins instead of purified from them. I know there must be a balance here. If I completely forget that I’ve sinned, I will forget my need for Jesus. However, when I allow my past sins to plague me, I generally get sucked back into them because of the guilt and shame they carry.

The Hebrew writer demonstrates that Jesus’ death cleanses and purifies my conscience. The part of me that considers right and wrong and chooses to act is set aright by Jesus. As it is purified, I’m set free from the bondage of dead works in order to serve the living God. That is exactly what I want.

If I am going to serve the living God today, my conscience must be purified by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If Jesus is going to purify my conscience, I need to quit dragging those dead works back into my conscience. Instead, I need to let them stay in the past, purified by Jesus and His death so that today I can serve the living God. Dwelling on those past mistakes doesn’t help me. It hurts me. Jesus has dealt with them. I need to let it go at that.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Hebrews 7:1-8:13.

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus didn’t have to sacrifice for His own sins. He was perfect. Therefore, His sacrifice can save me. I need to remember that. Sometimes I get so distracted by my own weaknesses and sins I get to thinking that Jesus can’t help me. I’m too bad. But the Hebrew writer reminds me that Jesus can save even me to the uttermost.

So what is my responsibility? I need to draw near to God through Jesus. Today, instead of trying to demonstrate I’m worthy of saving because I’m so good, I want to work on drawing near to God through Jesus.

What do you do to draw near to God through Jesus?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 5:1-6:17.

Yesterday, I saw that the Father was worthy of worship because of His creative power. Today, I see the Son. He is also worthy. The text says, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). The text goes on to say, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13). Then the elders fell down and worshiped. In context, they were worshiping both of those they claimed to be worthy of honor and glory. They worshiped Father and Son. The Father is worthy of worship because of His creative power. The Son is worthy of worship because of His life giving work on the cross.

Revelation 5:9-10 says, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Jesus didn’t die to save the Jewish nation. He was sacrificed so people from all tribes and nations could be saved through Him. I’m thankful. That includes me. 

Today, I need to honor and glorify Jesus because of the life He has given me. I need to acknowledge Him. I need to thank Him. He is worthy.

***Question: What do you do to honor Jesus every day?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Mark 13:1-14:72.

I find Mark 14:8 very comforting. Jesus said about the woman who anointed His head with costly ointment, “She has done what she could.” That is a real key for me in serving God. God doesn’t expect more of me than I can do. I may not be able to do what others can. I don’t have to. I only need to offer God who and what I am, offering what I can. 

When I understand this, I can quit comparing myself to everyone else. I can quit beating myself up for not having the talents and accomplishments of others. I am where I am right now by the grace of God and all I need to do today is offer to God what I am today. Most definitely, He’ll make more out of me and my ability will increase and I will be able to increasingly give more to God. But all I have to do right now is what I can do right now.

Certainly, I need to be honest. There are days when I like to deceive myself into believing I can’t do more than I’m doing. I cannot take comfort in that. However, when I am honest with myself I can take comfort that God is not going to hold me up next to you and say, “Edwin, why didn’t you do what ___________ did?” 

That is comforting.

***Question: What other scriptural principles comfort you in your service to God?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Romans 11:1-12:21.

I’m a bit under the gun today. Right now, my daughter, Tessa, is on her way to the church building where my office is in order to be baptized. I know once that happens, I won’t have time to get back on here.

So, I’ll just leave you with this little tidbit that someone shared with me once.

Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Do you know what the problem with a living sacrifice is? It keeps crawling off the altar.

Think about this and grow wise.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

The Rest of the Year

We are entering the home stretch of our reading. Everything from here on out is a writing from the apostle John. I just want to give a quick heads up about this. I remember when I was putting this material together and I read all of John’s writings in a row, I was able to see connections and themes I had missed before. So, keep your eyes open because it almost seems to me like the gospels and the letters are a series that go together and then get capped off with Revelation.

From Bibleplaces.com

What Stuck Out for Me in Today’s Reading

Today, I can’t help but be drawn to John 1:29, 36.

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said ,’Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’”

“and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’”

Go back and read Numbers 28:1-29:40 sometime and be overwhelmed at the number of sacrifices the Israelites offered to deal with sin.

They offered 2 sacrifices every day. 2 extra sacrifices on the Sabbaths. 11 extra sacrifices on the first day of each month. 77 extra sacrifices during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 11 extra sacrifices on the day of first fruits during the Feast of Weeks. 10 extra sacrifices on the first day of the seventh month. 14 extra sacrifices on the Day of Atonement (10 found in Numbers 29:8, 11 and 4 found in Leviticus 16:5-6). 199 extra sacrifices during the Feast of Booths. That’s 1252 sacrifices per year. This doesn’t include all the sacrifices offered on the day of Passover and then in Numbers 29:39 we learn there were all kinds of free will offerings in addition to this list. Over the history of Israel, that is millions of sacrifices offered to deal with sin.

Yet none of that actually dealt with sin. All of that was done to point out that we needed a real sacrifice for our sins. And here He was in John 1:29, 36–the Lamb of God, the one sacrifice for all time. What a great God we have to provide this sacrifice for us. Let’s praise Him for this today and every day.

What Stuck Out for You?

Someone asked the other day if they were allowed to comment on this blog. ABSOLUTELY!

My hope for this blog is not just to share what struck me, but to provide a forum for daily Bible readers to share how the Scripture is impacting them. Feel free to comment or question anything I have said and written. But also, please, comment and let us know what stuck out to you in the reading. We are all at different places and facing different scenarios in our lives. It stands to reason different things will stand out to us in the readings. The more people we have sharing in this forum the more all of us can grow.

So, please, please, please, let the Bible reading world hear how the Word is impacting you.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC