Day 87 Bible Readings – Numbers 24: 17 (ESV)

Numbers 24 & 25, Luke 7: 11-35, Psalm 52

Numbers 24: 17 (ESV)

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”

When I first read verse 17 from Numbers 24, I immediately saw these words as a prophecy of the future King David. But then I thought about the “star” reference, and I saw the “star of Bethlehem” that rose when Christ was born. This prophecy from Balaam, who wasn’t even Jewish and whom God spoke to, was for both King David and Christ. Jesus came from the House of David, so this prophecy is also a reference that a messiah would come from the line of David. When I read through the Bible commentaries on this verse, the authors noted that early Christian and Jewish writers understood that verse 17 was a reference to the coming Messiah. I love how God talked and used a pagan seer to speak prophecy about his plans. God uses believers and non-believers as part of his plan. I think as people of faith we tend to think that God has no use for non-believers, but that’s not true. God created everyone, so why wouldn’t he use all of us to fulfill his plan on earth? What this verse tells us is we must never think we are not part of God’s plan. If God can use the pagan prophet Balaam to further his plan, he will surely be able to use someone who has faith in him.

Day 86 Bible Readings – Psalm 51: 10-12 (ESV)

Numbers 22: 21-41, Numbers 23, Luke 6: 37-49, Luke 7: 1-10, Psalm 51: 10-19

Psalm 51: 10-12 (ESV)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

When I read verses 10 through 12 from Psalm 51, tears came to my eyes. This Psalm was written by David after Nathan the prophet confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba. David begs God for mercy and in verse 10, he asks God in create a clean heart in him and to not cast him away or take his Holy Spirit from him. David also asks God to restore to him the joy of God’s salvation and to uphold him with a willing spirit. I could feel David’s sincerity when he asked God for forgiveness in these verses. I can see myself reciting these verses and meditating on them when I feel like I have sinned against God. This Psalm has given me a new appreciation for deep David was in his relationship with God, and how even after he committed a sin, he did not feel himself separated from God. When I feel guilty after committing a sin, I am like Adam and Eve and I want to hide from God. I would love to have a deep relationship with God just like David.

Day 85 Bible Readings – Luke 6: 21 (ESV)

Numbers 21, Numbers 22: 1-20, Luke 6: 12-36, Psalm 51: 1-9

Luke 6: 21 (ESV)

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”

I’ve heard and read the Beatitude given by Christ over the years, but after reading a few Bible commentaries on these verses in Luke 6 I’ve gain a new appreciation for them. In verse 21 from Luke 6, Jesus blessed those who are hungry now and said that they shall be satisfied. Previously I thought that this blessing was solely about food, but one Biblical scholar noted that the hunger referred to people who are hungry for God. Jesus is blessing people who hunger for God like they hunger for food and spend all their time seeking him to satisfy their hunger. Jesus tells them that if they have faith in him, their hunger for God will be satisfied. I love this image of seeking God like a starving seek would seek food. I don’t think I’ve ever searched for God like a starving man searches for food, and I want to experience this kind of hunger for God at least once in my life.

Then Jesus blessed those who weep now since they will one day laugh. I always thought this blessing was for people who are depressed and felt sadness in their life, and when they go to heaven they will laugh with joy. Another Biblical scholar said the weeping is not for sadness, but for people who weep because of the sins they committed in their life. Through their faith in Jesus Christ, the people who weep will laugh with joy when they find out that God has made everything right in their life. This image of laughing with joy when you find that God had made everything right in your life resonated with me, because I have laughed with joy when I realized that God answered one of my prayers.

Day 84 Bible Readings – Luke 5: 36-38 (ESV)

Numbers 19 & 20, Luke 5: 33-39, Luke 6: 1-11, Psalm 50: 16-23

Luke 5: 36-38 (ESV)

“He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.”

In verses 36 through 38 from Luke 5, many Biblical scholars have interpreted these lines to mean that Jesus did not come to begin a reform movement within the Jewish faith. Jesus came to form a new church that brings the Jewish people and the Gentiles together. God will also sometimes use new vessels/people to contain his work. Some Biblical scholars took these verses to also mean that religious establishment at any time can become not pleasing to God, and sometimes resist his work and works in direct opposition to his new teachings. I think we can take metaphor of an old garment or old wineskins and apply it to ourselves as well. We have to look at our thoughts and actions and examine them if they are still pleasing to God, and anything new he is trying to teach us. If it is not, we need to remember what Paul said in Romans about giving up our old selves every morning so we can be born again in Jesus Christ. It might be hard because change is never easy, but if we ask for help from the Holy Spirit then we can be guided to what we need to do give up old selves and be born again anew in Jesus Christ.

Day 83 Bible Readings – Luke 5: 31-32 (ESV)

Numbers 17 & 18, Luke 5: 17-32, Psalm 50: 1-15

Luke 5: 31-32 (ESV)

“And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

In verses 31 and 32 from Luke 5, the Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus why he dines with tax collectors and sinners. Christ tells them he came to call the sinners to repent because they are sick with sin. One author of a Bible commentary called Christ a “physician of the soul”. The problem with the Pharisees and scribes is that they did not think they were sinners because they strictly followed the laws, even though Jesus has called them hypocrites. If your life is good and you don’t have any pressing material needs, it can be hard to realize that you need Christ in your life. People who have committed big sins like murder or stealing know they need repentance from God. But a sin is a sin whether you’ve done the deed or just thought of doing the deed. People who tend to be very successful in life don’t think they need God. Their life is great, and they do not need anything. But whether your life is successful or not, you need to ask yourself if you are happy and if you have peace in your life. If your life is not happy and full of miracles and peace, then you need Christ in your life. Only a relationship with God can lead a person to true happiness, miraculous days and nights, and unending peace.

Day 82 Bible Readings – Psalm 49: 10-12 (ESV)

Numbers 16, Luke 4: 38-44, Luke 5: 1-16, Psalm 49

Psalm 49: 10-12 (ESV)

“For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain he is like the beasts that perish.”

In verses 10 through 12 from Psalm 49, the Psalmist tells us everyone dies including those with wealth. Even if the wealthy man owned much land and named the land after him, the final home of the wealthy man is grave. In other words, we cannot take our wealth with us when we die. Nor can our treasures be stores in the next world that we will inhabit when we Die. Despite all a person’s wealth, they will still die like any common animal. These verses applied to people during the time this Psalm was written and can still be applied to our time today. Many people pursue wealth, but in the end none of it matters when we die. If we trust in our wealth or boast of our riches, at the end of our life we will still die like an animal. We should instead trust in God and be proud of spiritual things, so we can live eternally and not go to the Pit.

Day 81 Bible Readings – Luke 4: 33-34 (ESV)

Numbers 14 & 15, Luke 4: 14-37, Psalm 48: 9-14

Luke 4: 33-34 (ESV)

“And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

In verses 33 and 34 from Luke 4, the spirit of the unclean demon recognized Jesus Christ as a holy person and called out to him. I find it so interesting that the unclean demon knew who Christ was and recognized him as a Holy person, and the Pharisees would not believe that Christ was who he said he was. The Bible tells us that detailed reports were given to Pharisees about the miracles that Christ performed, so I am going to assume The Pharisees would have read what the demons said about Christ. The Pharisees had evidence that even the demons knew who Christ was, yet they still refused to recognize Christ as even a Holy person. I was in a class at my church today and we talked about why the Jewish people did not want to believe that Christ was the Messiah. One person suggested that people in Christ’s time thought the Messiah would be someone who would free them from the occupation of the Romans. When they found out Christ came to free them sin instead, they could not accept it. But if you think about it Christ may not have freed the people of Israel from the Romans during his lifetime, but the people who had faith in Jesus Christ would conquer the Romans and religion of Christ would become the official religion of Rome. I think Christ did conquer the Romans, but not till years later. So Christ did what the people of Israel wanted a Messiah to do, just not in the way they wanted.

Day 80 Bible Readings for March 22 – Luke 4: 3-4 (ESV)

Numbers 12 & 13, Luke 3: 23-38, Luke 4: 1-13, Psalm 48: 1-8

Luke 4: 3-4 (ESV)

“The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”

In verses 3 and 4 from Luke 4, the Devil tempted Jesus to make stone into bread. Jesus had fasted while he was in the desert and was hungry. Jesus answered the Devil with a verse from the Old Testament, with Deuteronomy 8: 3. Jesus was tempted two (2) more times by the Devil and each time he answered the Devil with two more verses from Deuteronomy. Christ gave us the perfect example of how to battle temptation by knowing the Bible verses by heart and using them when we are facing temptation. The Bible has every answer to any temptation that we face. We might not know them by heart, but we can research which Bible verses to use when we are facing temptation.

Day 79 Bible Readings for March 21 – Luke 3: 4 (ESV)

Numbers 10 & 11, Luke 3: 1-22, Psalm 47

Luke 3: 4 (ESV)

“As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

In verse 4 from Luke 3, we read about the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet which was for John the Baptist. John the Baptist preached about repentance and the forgiveness of sins. I think we can ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of any place within our life where there is sin and where we need to repent. Then we can become like John the Baptist in our own life, and pray to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to free us from our sin and help us to repent and live a better life. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us to prepare the way of the Lord every day in our heart and in our life, so we can be filled with Christ who is the “bread of life” and “living water”.

Day 78 Bible Readings – Luke 2: 49-50 (ESV)

Numbers 8 & 9, Luke 2: 41-52, Psalm 46

Luke 2: 49-50 (ESV)

“And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.”

In verses 49 and 50 from Luke 2, we read about Jesus’ answer to his parent when they were looking for him at the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph did not understand their son when he said to them that he must be in his Father’s house. I think it must have been easy for Mary and Joseph to forget that Christ was a special child. They had raised him for many years, and he probably acted like any other child of his age. Since they were good parents, they panicked when they couldn’t find their son and looked everywhere for him except in the Temple. I think it’s interesting that no one in the Temple even wondered where Jesus’ parents were since he was there for three (3) days. These verses also show that Jesus must have realized that he was special, and knew about the special circumstances of his birth. These verses reminded me again that everything in life of Jesus was miraculous, and that from his birth and through his childhood they were signs that he was indeed the son of God.

Day 77 Bible Readings – Luke 2: 35-36 (ESV)

Numbers 7, Luke 2: 21-40, Psalm 45: 10-17

Luke 2: 35-36 (ESV)

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

In verses 35 and 36 from Luke 2, we read about Simeon’s prophecy about Jesus and warning for Mary. Simeon tells Mary and Joseph that their son was destined to cause the rise and fall of many people in Israel, and would be opposed by many. Then Simeon warned Mary that not only would the soul of Jesus be pierced, but that Mary herself would be pierced through her soul as well. But then Simeon said it would all be worth it because her son would reveal the thought of many hearts. When I read this passage, it makes me wonder if Mary fully comprehended what would happen to her infant son when he grew up. Did Mary know at that moment that Christ would one day die. Did she realize that watching her son die would feel like a sword piercing her own heart as Simeon was prophesying.? Or, did she and Joseph smile and then ignore Simeon’s words. Mary and Joseph knew that their son was going to be extraordinary, but I don’t think that they knew how much their infant son would one day change the world by sacrificing himself for the sins of the world.

Day 76 Bible Readings – Numbers 6: 22-26 (ESV)

Numbers 5 & 6, Luke 2: 1-20, Psalm 45: 1-9

Numbers 6: 22-26 (ESV)

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

When I read verses 22 through 26 from Numbers 6, I started thinking of the song “The Blessing” by Elevation Worship. Kari Jobe said the lyrics of the song came from scripture, but they don’t mention the Bible reference. They added so much to these verses that my Bible calls “Aaron’s Blessing”. Aaron spoke the blessing, but the words of the blessing came directly from God. I love that God gave Moses the words to this blessing and that every time I hear and sing this song, I will remember these words came from God.

Enjoy Elevation Worship’s version of Aaron’s Blessing.

Day 75 Bible Readings – Luke 1: 57-79 (ESV)

Numbers 4, Luke 1: 57-80, Psalm 44: 13-26

Luke 1: 57-79 (ESV)

In verses 57 through 79 from Luke 1, we read about the circumcision ceremony of John the Baptist, and how his father Zechariah got his voice back. Zechariah was struck with muteness after he was visited by the Angel Gabriel for doubting his words. Once Zechariah realized he voice had come back, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and he started prophesying about his son John and how we would go before the Lord to prepare his way. These verses are dramatized in Episode 1 in the 4^th season of The Chosen Series. I love how the actors they chose to portray Zechariah and Elizabeth look to be the age they are supposed to be in the Bible. Elizabeth looks to be several years beyond her childbearing age, so a pregnancy at her stage in life back then and even now would be considered a miracle. I heard one Biblical scholar say it was fitting that the birth of John the Baptist would be a miracle, since the birth of Jesus would also be another more fantastical miracle.

Enjoy this fictional dramatization showing the early start in the life of John the Baptist.

Day 74 Bible Readings – Luke 1: 46-55 (ESV)

Numbers 2 & 3, Luke 1: 39-56, Psalm 44: 1-12

Luke 1: 46-55 (ESV)

Verses 46 through 55 from Luke 1 is Mary’s song of praise when she was visiting her cousin Elizabeth. These verses are about Mary and her son Jesus Christ. The writers of The Chosen series produced a Christmas special with Mary asking Mary Magdalene to write these verses down to give to Luke. The story of how these verses came to be in Luke is fictional, but it is such a creative way to represent these verses in a television program. The writers of this scene also managed to have Mary say these verses in their entirety in the scene.

Enjoy this scene depicting Luke 1: 46-55 from The Chosen Christmas Special:

Day 73 Bible Readings for March 15 - Luke 1: 38 (ESV)

Numbers 1, Luke 1: 26-38, Psalm 43

Luke 1: 38 (ESV)

“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

In verse 38 from Luke 1, we read about Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel when he told her she would conceive a son. Mary had such incredible faith. She must have known what being pregnant without being married might have meant for her. Mary was still not married to Joseph, and he could break the marriage contract and abandon her because of her pregnancy. If Joseph did abandon Mary, she could receive the death penalty for having a child while she was still betrothed. Despite knowing all the pitfalls of what the pregnancy would cause in her life, Mary agreed and told the Angel Gabriel she was God’s servant and would accept whatever God’s plan was for her life. I don’t know if I would have Mary’s faith if an Angel appeared to me with some crazy plan of God’s for my life. I would like to think I would have said Yes as Mary did, but I don’t think that I would be to predict my actions until I was faced with a similar decision. I do know I would have told the angel, I would do it but only with God’s help. I know I could not do it on my faith alone.

Day 72 Bible Readings – Luke 1: 18-20 (ESV)

Leviticus 26: 14-46, Leviticus 27: Luke 1: 1-25, Psalm 42: 7-11

Luke 1: 18-20 (ESV)

“And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

In verses 18-20, we read about Zechariah’s questions and doubts to the Angel Gabriel and the results of his doubt. Zechariah was a devoted man to God, but when the Angel Gabriel gave him news of the upcoming birth of his son we see his doubts. Elizabeth, Zachariah’s wife, was old and for her to birth a son would have been a miracle. Even though Zechariah was a devoted man to God, he couldn’t believe what the Gabriel had told him. Zechariah and his wife had probably spent years praying for a son, so to have a son now in their old age would have been unbelievable. I can understand Zechariah’s doubts because he had probably given up on ever having a son, and to have his prayers answered now must have seemed crazy. Zechariah needed a sign, even though the Angel Gabriel speaking to him was not enough of a sign. I felt bad for Zechariah in these verses because I so understand his doubt. He didn’t want to be disappointed again, even though it was a miracle in and of itself that the Angel Gabriel was speaking to him. The news of his son having such a prominent role in the coming of the Messiah must also have seemed to be unbelievable to Zechariah. Zechariah was punished with muteness for his doubts, but God was still merciful to him because Elizabeth still became pregnant. In these verses we see an example of how even devoted people have doubts about God in their life, and of God’s mercy for these people despite their doubts.

Day 71 Bible Readings – Leviticus 25: 23 (ESV)

Leviticus 25, Leviticus 26: 1-13, Mark 16, Psalm 42: 1-6

Leviticus 25: 23 (ESV)

“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.”

In verse 23 from Leviticus 25, God reminds Moses and the people of Israel that everything belongs to God including the land. God also tells us to remember we are strangers and sojourners on his land. I love this verse because it is a reminder that earth is not our home, and that our true home is in heaven with God. If we are citizens of heaven, then while we are on earth it means we are totally dependent on God because we are sojourners on his land. Being citizens of heaven also means that our life on earth is transient, so our dependence on God for guidance to follow his divine plan becomes even more important. I like the idea of thinking myself a sojourner on God’s land, because then it makes sense that I need to follow God’s rules and plan for myself on his land.

Day 70 Bible Readings – Leviticus 23: 5-6 (ESV)

Leviticus 23 & 24, Mark 15: 33-47, Psalm 41: 7-13

Leviticus 23: 5-6 (ESV)

“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.”

In verses 5 and 6 from Leviticus 23, God tells Moses that the people need to celebrate Passover, which a feast to commemorate God delivering the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. God then tells Moses that they need to celebrate the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. The Feast of the Unleavened Bread happens the day after Passover, which is to commemorate how quickly the people of Israel had to flee Egypt. Because they had to leave in a hurry there was no time for bread to rise so it could be baked. So the people made bread that was made without rising, which they call unleavened bread.

One of the Biblical commentaries I read noted that Christ was crucified on the day that the people would have celebrated Passover. The last supper took place on the night before the Passover feast. Christ was buried the next day, which is on day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Christ would have also been resurrected during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Christ was the Passover lamb for the people when he was crucified. In 2025 Easter falls on the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and I love how we will be celebrating both feasts that God commanded in Leviticus.

Day 69 Bible Readings – Mark 15: 24 (ESV)

Leviticus 21 & 22, Mark 15: 1-32, Psalm 41: 1-6

Mark 15: 24 (ESV)

“And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.”

In verse 24 from Mark 15, we read about how the Roman guards crucified Jesus and divided his garments by casting lots. In my Bible study I read that verse 24 fulfilled the prophecy that was mentioned in verse 18 from Psalm 22; “they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” I love how the life and crucifixion of Jesus was prophesied in the Old Testament. It ties the Old and New Testaments together, and the lineage of Christ to King David and the tribe of Judah. Removing Christ’s garments also represented Jesus being stripped of his earthly identity so when Jesus died, we could be clothed in his blood and cleansed from our sins. I also read in my Bible study that this verse also shows how the Roman soldiers were concerned about earthly concerns compared to Christ who was concerned about his mission to fulfill God’s will with his death and eventual resurrection. I love how this small detail about the difference between the Roman soldiers and Christ show how up until the end, Christ was sinless and always focused on the doing the will of his father. Christ is truly the example of how we need to be focused on following God’s plan for our life.

Day 68 Bible Readings – Leviticus 19: 4 (ESV)

Leviticus 19 & 20, Mark 14: 43-72, Psalm 40: 9-17

Leviticus 19: 4 (ESV)

“Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God.”

Verse 4 from Leviticus 19 stood out for me today. Verse 4 tells us to not make idols or gods for yourselves of cast metal because God is the Lord of your life. When I think of idols or gods in a more modern sense, I think of how I’ve made an idol or god out of getting a promotion at work, making more money, eating only healthy food, wearing only certain styles of clothing, driving only certain types of cars, etc. I know that I’ve put different things in my life before God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I remember at one point in my life becoming obsessed with getting a promotion at work. I wanted to get a promotion every year, and I dedicated a huge amount of time and energy to this pursuit. It was fun and so fulfilling until the third promotion. The day after my third promotion I woke up feeling so unfulfilled that I realized it didn’t matter how many promotions I got, it would never be enough. I couldn’t even enjoy one full day of promotion without feeling so empty inside. It has taken me many years, but I now know that abiding with God has never left me feeling empty inside. Christ fills me up and leaves me feeling full for long periods of time. Do I still have idols in my life? Yes, but when I get the feeling that whatever I am pursuing is becoming more important than God I stop and pray. I ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and to help me get my focus back to Christ and make him again primary in my life.

Day 67 Bible Readings – Mark 14: 35-36 (ESV)

Leviticus 17 & 18, Mark 14: 17-42, Psalm 40: 1-8

Mark 14: 35-36 (ESV)

“And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

In verses 35 and 36 from Mark 15, we read about Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane before he was arrested. One Biblical scholar wrote that these verses show his Jesus as his most human and most divine. Jesus knew that he was going to be beaten and crucified, and he prayed to his father if there was another way to accomplish his father’s mission. Another biblical scholar noted that when Jesus called his father “Abba”, this meant he was feeling closer to him and not farther away. But instead of taking his mission away, God strengthened Christ’s resolve to fulfill what he came to earth to do. In the end, Jesus said he would do his father’s will, not his will. Jesus knew that he was going to be sacrificed like a lamb to take away all of our sins, but in the garden of Gethsemane he faced it as his human self and accepted it as his divine self. Jesus was fully human, and fully divine. Only someone who was fully divine could accept the sacrifice Jesus was making of his human life. When we think about what Jesus did for us, it’s hard for us to contemplate his sacrifice. But I think we need to do so we can fully understand the gift that Christ gave us so we can enter heaven free of all our sins.

Preface to a Novel tentatively titled "Escape from Azatlan"

I've been working a novel since 2022 which is tentatively titled "Escape from Azatlan". I wrote it in 3rd person limited, and even finished it. I was trying to edit it, but the editing wasn't going well. I recently got the inspiration to rewrite the whole novel in 1st person. Here's the preface I wrote tonight.

"When I look back at all the decisions I made in my life, there was only one that truly and irreversibly changed my life. I didn’t know it at the time though. The decision I made seemed natural, fated, inevitable, simple, and beautiful. Some who know me will say I had no choice because I was too young and naive. I don’t agree. 

When love finds you, you have to embrace it no matter what your age is. Love is the most precious thing in this world, and the hardest thing to hold onto no matter how hard you try. Love takes on many forms and it changes with time, with age, with growing up, and with the world around you. 

But mostly importantly, love forces you to make choices that goes against everything you know, everything you thought was important, everything you held dear in your life, and every future you could have imagined for yourself. Love rips you into so many pieces and then helps you to stitch yourself back together, with time, patience, and tears that never seem to end.

And the question I always end up asking myself, was it worth it? And the answer that always comes out before I can think about it, is Yes."

Day 66 Bible Readings – Psalm 39: 7-8 (ESV)

Leviticus 15 & 16, Mark 13: 32-37, Mark 14: 1-16, Psalm 39

Psalm 39: 7-8 (ESV)

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!”

In verses 7 and 8 from Psalm 39, we read about David putting his hope and expectation in God and not on himself. David has hope in God and looks to God to deliver him from his transgressions, and not himself. David understands that only God can deliver us from our sins. Many Biblical scholars believe that this psalm was written by David in the last years of his life when he was feeling the frailty of his life. I love the faith of David in this psalm. Even during the ending years of his life, David’s faith in God was unshakeable. David always relied on God for everything. He knew that God was the only person who could save him from the bad things he had done in his life. David’s ego never got the best of him, and he always seemed to know that only God could deliver him. I love these verses because they remind me that God is the only one who can deliver me from sins, and my hope needs to only be in God and not on myself.

Day 65 Bible Readings – Psalm 38: 21-22 (ESV)

Leviticus 14, Mark 13: 1-31, Psalm 38: 12-22

Psalm 38: 21-22 (ESV)

“Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!”

In verses 21 through 22, we read of David’s anguish as he talks to God. David was suffering pain from a sin he committee against God. Biblical scholars cannot agree on what event in David’s life made him write this psalm, only that in Psalm 38 we know that David was feeling God’s displeasure with him. I remember reading these verses when I was in perhaps similar circumstances to David, and I was wondering if God had forsaken me because of my sinful life. I know the feeling of wanting to feel God’s presence when I pray, and how important it was to me especially when I was in pain. I just wanted God to comfort me and by feeling his presence, I felt that God was telling me “don’t worry, everything will be okay.” Not feeling God’s presence is the depths of my misery was horrible and I let myself feel so abandoned by God. I didn’t have David’s faith to feel faithful to God even when I felt no sense of his presence in my life. Readings the psalms can be a good reminder to be faithful to God because we need only read about the trials that David went through in his life, and wonder at his continued faithfulness to God. David was always faithful to God, no matter what happened in life.

Day 64 Bible Readings – Mark 12: 29-31 (ESV)

Leviticus 13, Mark 12:28-44, Psalm 38: 1-11

Mark 12: 29-31 (ESV)

“Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

In verses 29 through 31 from Mark 12, Jesus answers the scribe who asked me which commandment is the most important of all. The authors of the Bible commentaries I read all noted that the scribe was trying to test Jesus to see if he would show disrespect for one of the Law of Moses. But Jesus was smarter than the scribe and pointed out the essence of the laws of Moses. Jesus said that the most important commandment is to love the God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then Jesus said if you love God this way, you will naturally want to obey all this commandment which in essence tells us to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Jesus teaches us that God wants us to love him first. Without this love, any obedience to the laws of Moses would be empty. If the image of God is in every person as well as in us, then we need to love our neighbor because God is in them. And what is rarely mentioned is that we need to love ourselves as well because God’s image is in us. God loves us and wants us to love ourselves as much as he loves us and our neighbors.

Day 63 Bible Readings – Mark 12: 15-17 (ESV)

Leviticus 11 & 12, Mark 12: 1-27, Psalm 37: 32-40

Mark 12: 15-17 (ESV)

“But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.”

Verses 15 through 17 from Mark 12 are famous for Jesus telling the Pharisees and Herodians that they need to pay taxes, because the Caesar’s likeness and inscription was on the form of money that they used. In one Bible commentary I read the author noted that since God’s image is stamped on us, we belong to him and we need to give our selves to him. We need to pay taxes and to submit to the government because we benefit from the government’s role in our lives. But since we also belong to God, we must be careful to note when our submission to the government infringes on our service to God. We can pay taxes to the government and when needed die in service to our country but since we belong to God, we need to live our lives for God. I like this interpretation of these verses since it reminded me that I was made in God’s image. God’s image is stamped on me like a coin, so I belong to him and my life belongs to him.

Day 62 Bible Readings – Psalm 37: 23-24 (ESV)

Leviticus 9 & 10, Mark 11: 27-33, Psalm 37: 21-31

Psalm 37: 23-24 (ESV)

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”

Verses 23 and 24 from Psalm 37 tell us that a person of faith has his life planned by God, and God is happy with his follower. Just because God has a plan for our life and we follow it, it doesn’t mean that our life will be without trouble and failure. God does not promise his followers a life that is trouble free, because our sinful nature will inevitably lead us to sometimes fail and fall. But since God is always holding our hand, we will never fall headlong into failure. God will always be there to comfort, guide, and council us through our troubles. My life has never been trouble free, but since God has always been with me, my falls and failures have not in hindsight been as bad as they should have probably been. I can honestly say I’ve lead a charmed life because God has turned every fall and failure into times of profound insights and lessons, and jumping off points to develop a closer relationship with him.

Day 61 Bible Readings – Mark 11: 13-14 (ESV)

Leviticus 7 & 8, Mark 11: 1-26, Psalm 37: 10-20

Mark 11: 13-14 (ESV)

“And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.”

In verses 13 and 14 from Mark 11, we see Jesus cursing a fig tree because it had leaves but no fruit. Jesus cursed the fig tree to have never have fruit and his disciples heard the curse. In my study Bible the fig tree is often seen as a symbol of Israel, so the curse on the fig tree can been seen as symbolic of divine judgement on Israel for appearing righteous but lacking spiritual fruit. Jesus may also have wanted to show his disciples an example of God’s punishment for spiritual barrenness. God expects that those who believe in him have faith that results in action, and not just the appearance of having faith. We need to always ask ourselves if our faith and belief in Jesus Christ can be seen in our actions. Are we reading God’s words every day and dwelling with him? Are we asking God for help in our lives? Do our actions and words show us to be people of faith? Are we behaving like Jesus when we are with other people? Christ is saying to us that our faith in him must be reflected our inward and outward life, and if it is not, we will be judged by him. When I read these words, I always ask myself if I am following the two greatest commandments that Christ said we must follow – am I loving God and am I loving my neighbor as I love myself?

Day 60 Bible Readings – Psalm 37: 7-9 (ESV)

Leviticus 5 & 6, Mark 10: 32-52, Psalm 37: 1-9

Psalm 37: 7-9 (ESV)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.”

I think verses 7 through 9 from Psalm 37 is good advice for all the chaos and confusion that seems to be happening politically today. If we believe that God is fully in charge of our world, then we have to believe that everything that happens is a part of God’s plan. Many Americans have seen things happening for years occurring in our nation that are not Biblically based. We have been praying for circumstances to change, yet it seems like the non-Biblically based things are increasing. These verses from Psalm 37 tells us that feeling anger, wrath, and worry will lead to evil, since it causes us to doubt God and his plan for the world. We need to fully trust that God will bring his justice to the world, and that the evildoers will be cut off and Biblically-based things will come back to our nation. But I know that patience is hard because at times it does seem like the evildoers are winning, and people of faith are losing. If we do lose faith in God, we need to pray for him to strengthen our faith. We know that we cannot rely on ourselves to be faithful, and we need to ask God to help us. With God, even getting over the despair that the other side is winning is possible.

Day 59 Bible Readings for March 1 - Mark 10: 26-27 (ESV)

Leviticus 3 & 4, Mark 10: 1-31, Psalm 36: 1-12

Mark 10: 26-27 (ESV)

“And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

In verses 26 and 27 from Mark 10, we read how Jesus responded to his disciples when he told it is very difficult for people with money to go to heaven. Jesus said to them if you rely on yourself, then it is impossible, But if you ask for God’s help, all things are possible. I love how Jesus responded to his disciples on what seemed like an impossible task to them. Jesus was trying to tell them that if you have faith and trust in God, then God can perform miracles in their lives. God loves everyone whether they have money or not. God can work miracles even with what seemed like to the disciples the most difficult of problems, giving up everything for God. As I grow in my faith, I find myself asking for God’s help for everything in my life. I used to think God was only interested in the big problems in my life, but as my relationship with God grows, God has become my best friend and wants to be consulted on every decision in my life – small and large. God loves me and I can rely on the Holy Spirit to advise me on everything in my life.

Day 58 Bible Readings – Leviticus 1: 3 (ESV)

Leviticus 1 & 2, Mark 9: 33-50, Psalm 35: 19-28

Leviticus 1: 3 (ESV)

“If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord.”

In verses 3 and 4 from Leviticus 1, we read about the rules for the sacrificing of a burnt offering. In reading through Bible commentaries on these verses, many authors have suggested that God gave Moses specific rules for making a sacrifice for the atonement of sins as examples of what he expected of his people. The sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin had to come from something that was of great value to the person, such as a male animal. The animal had to also be without blemish and had to be offered freely to God.

While we do not need to offer the same type of sacrifices today that was required during the time of the Bible, we need to follow these principles set down in Leviticus for our own offerings to God. When we think about tithing to God, is the amount you tithe an amount that is of great to value to you? God doesn’t care how much we tithe, but he wants us to offer a tithe that is of great value to us. God gives us his best and he deserves to have our best. When we serve God as an offering of our time, are you doing it freely or are you doing it because you feel forced? When we offer love to God, are you offering it freely or do you expect something in return? God wants us to offer our love to him freely without conditions, the way he offers his love to us freely without conditions.

Day 57 Bible Readings – Mark 9: 28-29 (ESV)

Exodus 39 & 40, Mark 9: 1-32, Psalm 35: 11-18

Mark 9: 28-29 (ESV)

“And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

In verses 28 and 29 from Mark 9, Jesus tells his disciples that they could not cast the demon out of the child because the demon could only driven out by prayer. In a Bible commentary I read, the author stated that Jesus was not saying that prayer would make them worthy to cast out demons. Jesus was trying to tell his disciples that they needed to pray more because prayer brings us closer to the heart of God and increases our faith. If our faith is strong, then we can draw on the power of God to perform miracles. The author also stated that that the disciples couldn’t drive out the demon from the child because they were relying more on themselves than on God. I like this explanation that prayer brings us closer to God and strengthens our faith. It isn’t that God needs to hear our prayers because God knows us better than we know ourselves. But we need prayer to strengthen our faith and to become closer to God.

Day 56 Bible Readings for February 26 – Mark 8: 38 (ESV)

Exodus 37 & 38, Mark 8: 1-38, Psalm 35: 1-10

Mark 8: 38 (ESV)

“For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

In verse 8 from Mark 8, Jesus talks about how his disciples cannot be ashamed of him and his words when they are surrounded by adulterous and sinful people. If they are ashamed of him, then Christ will ashamed of them after his resurrection. I find this verse to be applicable to Christians living in today’s world. We cannot be ashamed of being Christians and loving Christ, even though to love Christ and be a Christian in today’s world is not seen as a good thing by the same people who uphold sins as good things. I find it so interesting that the words from the Bible are still applicable to us in our modern day, when our world is so different from world in the times of Jesus. What this similarity does tell me is that the nature of people are the same today as they were in the times of Christ, and the Bible can still be used as a guide for how to live our life as people who believe in Christ.

Day 55 Bible Readings – Exodus 35: 30-33 (ESV)

Exodus 35 & 36, Mark 7: 31-37, Psalm 34: 11-22

Exodus 35: 30-33 (ESV)

“Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.”

In verses 30-33 from Exodus 35, we find out God has filled Uri the son of Ur with the spirit of God to help build the Tabernacle. God gave Uri skill, intelligence, and knowledge of craftsmanship to do his work. I love these verses because they tell us that if God has given us a task to do, we should not be afraid of taking it on. God would not have given us the task without give us the needed skills, intelligence, and knowledge to complete the task. God will always give us everything we need to fulfill his plan for our life and his plan for humanity. We have a good God who loves us and want us to always be happy in our lives.

Day 54 Bible Readings – Mark 7: 20-23 (ESV)

Exodus 33 & 34, Mark 7: 1-30, Psalm 34: 1-10

Mark 7: 20-23 (ESV)

“And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

In verses 20 through 23 from Mark 7, we read how Jesus responded to the Pharisees when they questioned him about why his disciples did not observe the ceremonial washing rituals before they ate food. Christ tells us that God is more concerned with what comes out of a person, then what comes into him through food. Christ tells us that food or unclean hands do not defile us. We are already defiled by our sinful nature. Christ then gives us a list of 13 evil things that live in our hearts. William Barclay wrote in his book The Gospel of Mark that “Every outward act of sin is preceded by an inward act of choice; therefore Jesus begins with the evil thought from which the evil action comes.” I like Barclay’s theory that every outward act of sin is only made because we made an inward act of choice. Every sin known to man can be connected to the list of 13 evil things that Christ said lives in our hearts. It is only with the help of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, can we hope to overcome these 13 evil things that Christ said lives within us and live a live of peace and righteousness.

Day 53 Bible Readings – Exodus 32: 1 (ESV)

Exodus 31 & 32, Mark 6: 30-56, Psalm 33: 12-22

Exodus 32: 1 (ESV)

“When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

In verse 1 from Exodus 32, we read that the people of Israel got tired of waiting for Moses because they hadn’t seen him for 40 days after he went up into the mountains to talk to God. In one Bible commentary I wrote, the author said that how we feel about God’s delays in our life is a measure of our spiritual maturity. I think the people of Israel felt abandoned by Moses and were afraid despite their miraculous passage through the red sea and all they saw God do during the 10 plagues against Egypt. They didn’t trust God or Moses enough to wait for his return, and they went back to their old ways of wanting another God to lead them. Not knowing when Moses was coming back or if he was even coming back led the people of Israel to doubt God and Moses. When we have doubts about God and his love and care for us, we often look for security and love elsewhere. Other things become our God or our Idol so we can feel that sense of security. But once we doubt God and turn to sin, we can cause even more delays to what we want. By doubting God, the people of Israel were punished and would be delayed 40 years before they entered the land promised to them. And the generation that wanted Aaron to make new idols for them did not live long enough to even enter the promised land. We see a clear example in Exodus the price we could pay for doubting God’s plan for our lives.

Day 52 Bible Readings – Mark 6: 12-13 (ESV)

Exodus 29-30, Mark 6: 1-29, Psalm 33: 1-11

Mark 6: 12-13 (ESV)

“So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

In verses 12 and 13 from Mark 6 we find out that the disciples of Jesus, who went out two by two to proclaim his teachings, were able to case out demons and heal many sick people. We have to imagine what it must have been like for the apostles of Jesus to do this work and find out that they could do miracles like Jesus. It must have been so mind-blowing to these twelve men who had never done anything like this in their lives. Here again The Chosen series has done an excellent job of depicting for us to see what might have happened when the disciples went out and the miracles they performed. You can see them doing everything Jesus told them to do on faith and their shock when they were able to heal and perform miracles. There is no dialogue in these scenes, and I think the actors did a great job to show the elation of the disciples when they were able to perform a miracle like Jesus.

Enjoy The Chosen series, Season 3, Episode 4 – Two by Two: 

Day 51 Bible Readings for February 21 – Mark 5: 41-43 (ESV)

Exodus 27 & 28, Mark 5: 21-43, Psalm 32

Mark 5: 41-43 (ESV)

“Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.”

In verses 41-43 from Mark 5, we read about the healing of the daughter of Jairus. It is an amazing miracle for Jesus to bring a little girl who had been dead long enough for mourners to come and start their traditional wailing. But Jesus healed her with only three of his disciples present and the parents of the little girl. The best depiction that I’ve seen of these verses from Mark 5 is from the series The Chosen Season 3, Episode 5. It’s one thing to read about this miracle, but it is something else to experience it as it might have actually happened in real life. You get to hear the mourners and their wailing, the fear of the girls’ parents, and their joy when they see their daughter brought to life.

Enjoy The Chosen, Season 5, Episode 3 - Raising Jairus' Daughter - 

Day 50 Bible Readings for February 20 – Mark 5: 18-20 (ESV)

Exodus 25 & 26, Mark 4: 30-41, Mark 5: 1-20, Psalm 31: 19-24

Mark 5: 18-20 (ESV)

“As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.”

Verses 18 through 20 from Mark 5 reminded me that when something miraculous happens to you, Christ wants you to proclaim it to the world as your new ministry. The man who had been possessed with demons who said his name was “Legion”, wanted to go with Jesus but Christ told the man to go home and tell his friends of how he had been healed. So the man who had been possessed with demons went back to Decapolis and told everyone how Jesus had healed him. These verses also remind me that sometimes the things we pray for and want might not be the right thing for our lives, and that God will sometimes turn us in a different direction. Decapolis was also a Gentile community, so it was part of God’s plan that the seeds of Christ’s miracles would be planted in this area which would later become an important center of Christ’s teachings after his resurrection. We have to trust that if God doesn’t answer our prayers and turns us in a different direction, that God has a plan for us and salvation of humanity.

Update on Feb 22: Caught a mild cold but too fuzzy headed to post

I picked up a mild cold which started on Thursday, but I was so fuzzy headed that the thought of reading the Bible felt too much. Feeling so much better today and I am 80% back to health, so I will get caught up on the daily Bible readings I missed. 

Day 49 Bible Readings – Mark 4: 21-23 (ESV)

Exodus 23 & 24, Mark 3: 31-35, Mark 4: 1-29, Psalm 31: 9-18

Mark 4: 21-23 (ESV)

“And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

In verses 21 through 23 from Mark 4, Jesus tells his disciples that the truth of God is like a light and that light is meant to shine and not be hidden away. Jesus talks about truth and light in common sense examples. You would not buy a light and put it under a basket, or under a bed. You would put the light on a stand so it can reveal what is in the darkness. Jesus then says that the truth of God cannot be hidden, it must be revealed. The truth of God is not a secret and must be revealed. I read a Bible commentary on these verses, and the writer commented that if you understand the word of God then it is your responsibility to spread the truth of God if God presents you with the opportunity. Jesus is telling us we cannot hide the truth of God if we have the ears to hear  and discern that truth. It’s like Jesus is saying to his disciples, you are obligated to spread the truth of God if you can discern it. I was struck by this interpretation because I never thought of Jesus obligating people who believe in him to spread his truth. Perhaps that is why the Holy Spirit inspired me to write on my blog daily what Bible verses stood out to me in my daily Bible readings, so in my small way I am doing as Jesus commanded and spreading his light to the world.  

Day 48 Bible Readings – Psalm 31: 7-8 (ESV)

Exodus 21 & 22, Mark 2: 18-28, Mark 3: 1-30, Psalm 31: 1-8

Psalm 31: 7-8 (ESV)

“I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.”

Of all the Bible readings for today, verses 7 and 8 from Psalm 31 brought tears to my eyes. I often think that God knows me better than anyone knows me, better than I know even know myself. I know that God has seen the troubles in my life because he has always helped me get through them. I know that God has seen the distress of my soul because I know I can count on God to send me healing love when I am in any kind of distress. And I definitely know that God has always taken care of me and never delivered me into the hand of my enemies because no matter what happened in my life, I always seem to end up in a better place.

Day 47 Bible Readings – Mark 2: 16-17 (ESV)

Exodus 19 & 20, Mark 1: 29-45, Mark 2: 1-17, Psalm 30: 8-12

Mark 2: 16-17 (ESV)

“And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In verses 16 and 17 from Mark 2, Jesus tells the scribes the Pharisees that he eats with tax collectors and sinners because he came to be with the sinners who are sick and not with those who have no need of a physician. I love this line from Jesus. I always think of Jesus as so amazing and when I read the stories of his disciples and other people of faith, I think of them as amazing people as well. These verses remind me that Jesus didn’t come for the amazing people. He came for the sinners. He came to redeem people from their sins, and he is the greatest doctor to heal us from our sins. But the words of Jesus also remind that he loves me exactly for who I am sins and warts and all. That I don’t have to be an amazing person but maybe with God’s help and if it’s part of his plan for my life, I will become an amazing person and follower of Jesus Christ.

Day 46 Bible Readings – Exodus 17: 11-13 (ESV)

Exodus 17 & 18, Mark 1: 1-28, Psalm 30: 1-7

Exodus 17: 11-13 (ESV)

“Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.”

Verses 11 through 13 from Exodus 17 shows us the value of having other people helping us with prayer. Moses was praying for Israel to prevail against the Amalekites by holding up his hand, but when he grew weary and lowered his hand the Amalekites started winning again. Aaron and Hur helped Moses to pray until Joshua and his men defeated the people of Amalek. If I am praying for something and it hasn’t happened yet, I often reach out to get other people to help pray with me and get their intercessory help with my prayers. Having other people pray with me or do intercessory prayer on my behalf has always helped me to get my prayers answered. Intercessory prayer isn’t always a guarantee that my prayers will be answered, but I think most of the time it does help. When I pray with other people, I am always awestruck by how other people pray. Their way of praying is so different than mine, and I am in awe of their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I love praying with other people because just listening to other people helps to strengthen my own faith.

              

Day 45 Bible Readings – Matthew 28: 12-15 (ESV)

Exodus 15 & 16, Matthew 28, Psalm 29

Matthew 28: 12-15 (ESV)

“And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’  And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”

Verses 12 through 15 from Matthew 28 shows how people have doubted the resurrection of Christ, even though there were witnesses to the many miracles that took place before, during, and after Christ died. Reading these verses makes me think this was probably the first written example of a disinformation campaign and the original conspiracy theory. The Hebrew priests were so afraid of the teachings of Christ that they came up with this coverup story of the resurrection of Christ and created a disinformation campaign so powerful that it still persists to this day. But no matter how powerful the coverup, it is testament to the power of Christ that his teachings flourished and is still going strong to this day.

Day 44 Bible Readings – Matthew 27: 45 (ESV)

Exodus 13 & 14, Matthew 27: 45-66, Psalm 28

Matthew 27: 45 (ESV)

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.”

Verse 45 from Matthew is a description of what was happening I the sky while Jesus was on the cross and dying. I’ve always found this verse so interesting. At first I thought that maybe there had been an eclipse that had happened while Jesus was dying on the cross. But as I was reading through several Bible commentaries, I found out there was not a natural eclipse of the sun. Jeus was on the cross for about 6 hours from 9 am in the morning until 3 pm in the afternoon. The darkness happened from 12 noon till about 3 pm, which is much longer than other eclipses. Bible scholars have noted that the darkness happened during a full moon, and it is said that it would be impossible for there to be a natural eclipse of the sun. I love how this darkness could be considered a miracle of sorts, and I am sure it seemed that way to the people who were watching Jesus die on the cross. It must have seemed as if the world itself was in agony when the sky darkened. If the sky getting dark wasn’t a sure sign that Jesus was the son of God, there would be more to come. But I love how the sky darkening reflected the agony that the followers of Jesus must have felt as they watched him dying on the cross.

Day 43 Bible Readings – Exodus12: 13 (ESV)

Exodus 11 & 12, Matthew 27: 11-44, Psalm 27

Exodus12: 13 (ESV)

“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Verse 13 from Exodus 12 is what God said to Moses and Aaron about the blood of the lamb that he asked the people of Israel to put on their doorposts. God said if he saw the lamb’s blood on the doorpost, the plague of the death of the firstborn will pass over the house and it occupants. When I read this verse, I was reminded of the life of Christ who came to earth to be like these lambs that were killed. Christ was crucified for our sins so the plague of death would pass over anyone who believes in him. I love how God’s plan for the life of Christ was already being hinted at in the Book of Exodus. God was seeding among this people the idea of a sacrificial lamb who could save us from death. I cannot help but think of Christ every time I come across a story in the Bible of a sacrificial lamb. The life of Jesus and how he was treated in the days leading to his crucifixion was exactly like that of a lamb chosen for sacrifice. It makes me wonder how much God is constantly hinting in my life what his plan is for my life, and all I need to do is look for the signs and the recurring themes in my life.

Day 42 Bible Readings – Exodus 10: 21-23 (ESV)

Exodus 9 & 10, Matthew 26: 69-75, Matthew 27: 1-10, Psalm 26

Exodus 10: 21-23 (ESV)

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.”

In verses 21 through 23 from Exodus 10, God tells Moses to bring a plague of darkness over the land of Egypt. The ninth plague of darkness lasted 3 days, which is similar to the amount of time that Jesus lay dead in the tomb before his resurrection. According to several Bible commentaries, the Egyptians tried to light their candles and lamps but they wouldn’t work. Since the Egyptians believed in the sun God Ra, they saw God’s display of power as going against their God. It must have been such a strange thing to witness for the Egyptian people, since the people of Israel had light where they lived. Many Bible commentaries also talked about how this ninth plague of darkness seemed supernatural and could be felt by the Egyptians. It makes me wonder if there was a total eclipse of the Sun for three days, and the Egyptians unlike the people of Israel were not able to get any artificial light. It must have been such an awesome display of God’s power, and the Pharaoh was swayed to let the people of Israel but with conditions. So God would have to level against one more plague of the ultimate darkness – death.

Day 41 Bible Readings – Exodus 7: 3-5 (ESV)

Exodus 6: 14-30, Exodus 7 & 8, Matthew 26: 47-68, Psalm 25: 16-22

Exodus 7: 3-5 (ESV)

“But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.”

In verses 3 through 5 from Exodus 7, God tells Moses and Aaron that he will harden Pharaoh’s heart. He knew that the Pharaoh would not agree easily to letting the children of Israel go, so I’ve always wondered why he decided to harden Pharaoh’s heart. But after reading several Bible commentaries, I now know that God decided that he wanted to demonstrate his power not only to Pharaoh, but to all of the people of Egypt. I think God also wanted the people of Egypt to never forget his power, so they wouldn’t come later and attack the people of Israel. When the Pharaoh finally let the children of Israel leave, the Egyptian people were so happy to let the people go because of all the plagues that they gave them all the silver, gold, jewelry, and clothing that the Hebrews asked for when they left. God always has a plan, and while it sometimes doesn’t make sense to our human mind, God’s plans always work out for the best.

Day 40 Bible Readings – Matthew 26: 33-35 (ESV)

Exodus 4-5, Exodus 6: 1-13, Matthew 26: 30-46, Psalm 25: 8-15

Matthew 26: 33-35 (ESV)

“Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.”

In verses 33 through 35, we read about Peter telling Christ he would never fall away from. Jesus told Peter he would and deny him three times. Peter denied it and the disciples did the same. I love how Jesus knew what would happen to him and what his disciples would do, but he still loved them. I read one Bible commentary where the author said that Jesus was trying to reassure his disciples that he was in command of the whole situation. Jesus also knew his disciples better than they knew themselves, and even though he knew they would desert them he still loved them and knew that their future was to grow his church.

I sometimes wonder if I would try to change my future if I knew it, even though the future was going to help me grow to be a better person. I can see the disciples denying everything that Jesus told them they would do because they couldn’t conceive at the time that they would betray Jesus like that. I think they also wondered if their betrayal would make Jesus love them less. But if God knows everything that is going to happen in our life, we need to trust that everything we go through will work to fulfill God’s plan. We might not see it at the time, but God does and if we just trust in him then we would be more at peace with whatever happens in our life.

Day 39 Bible Readings for February 9 – Exodus 3: 11-12 (ESV)

Exodus 1-3, Matthew 26: 1-30, Psalm 25: 1-7

Exodus 3: 11-12 (ESV)

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

In verses 11 and 12 from Exodus 3, we read what Moses answered when God told him of his mission. I can see how this scene with Moses is repeated with almost everyone who God calls to be on mission for him. When I discerned what I think is God’s plan for my life, I had the same reaction. There was nothing in my life that that prepared me for what I think is God’s plan for my life. I had the same, still have the same lack of self-confidence in my own abilities to fulfill God’s mission.

So I love how God responded to Moses. God told Moses, “I will be with you”, which means Moses had nothing to fear. Even if Moses thought he didn’t have the abilities to fulfill God’s plan, God will be able to supernaturally help him. Moses had such faith and confidence in God, that he took God up on his offer and did as he asked. We should all have the faith of Moses to go where God commands us to and do what he wants us to fulfill his plan on earth.

Day 38 Bible Readings – Job 42: 1-3 (ESV)

Job 40-42, Matthew 25, Psalm 24

Job 42: 1-3 (ESV)

“Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

In verses 1 through 3 from Job 42 Job told God that he realized all things came from God, good and bad. Job confessed to God that he did not understand how powerful God is, when he doubted God for all the bad things that was happening to him. Job ended up having to tell God how repentant he was having doubted him. I think the story of Job reminds us that we need to not lose our faith in God when bad things happen to us. We cannot assume that God has lost control of our life and allowed these bad things to happen us. We cannot make assumptions about the reasons that bad things happen in our life. We instead need to have constant faith that no matter what happens in our life, God is in control. We cannot presume to know God’s mind, God’s plan for our life. But what we can know is that our God is all powerful and is in control of everything that is happening in our life. All of it, including the bad things. Everything has a purpose in our life, and we need to faith that God knows what is happening to us and it’s all part of God’s plan for our life.

Day 37 Bible Readings – Psalm 23: 1-4 (ESV)

Job 37-39, Matthew 24: 32-51, Psalm 23

Psalm 23: 1-4 (ESV)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

What is it about Psalm 23 that brings tears to my eyes, especially verses 1-4. It could be all the times I’ve heard this Psalm recited at funeral church services, which brings up memories of the people who died. Hollywood has even woven Psalm 23 into many scenes where people are at their lowest, and we watch on screen how just saying Psalm 23 brings comfort to the fictional characters in the film. Or maybe it is all the times I’ve opened my Bible to find Psalm 23 so I could read it and bring comfort to my troubled mind.

There is something so soothing to my mind to think about God as a good shepherd, who looks to all of my needs and who will protect me through all evil. Even though I often think of myself as that one lost sheep that the shepherd has to leave the whole flock to find. That black sheep who keeps constantly wanting to go their own way and always wants to leave the safety of the shepherd and flock to chase that shiny thing out there. The black sheep who is  always thinking there are greener pastures out there than the fine green pasture the shepherd has found for me.

 I often think I ought to memorize Psalm 23 so its words can easily to my mind when I am troubled. But I love the physical act of opening my Bible to find Psalm 23. To read it with my eyes and mind first, and then to finally read it out loud reverently and with tears in my eyes and a catch in my throat through every word. That is power of Psalm 23 for me.

Day 36 Bible Readings – Matthew 24: 9-10 (ESV)

Job 34-36, Matthew 24: 1-31, Psalm 22: 22-31

Matthew 24: 9-10 (ESV)

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.”

Verses 9 through 11 from Matthew 24 shows Jesus warning his disciples what to expect after he dies and is resurrected and when he comes back for the second time. It makes me wonder if the disciples realized at that moment what was going to happen to them. If they didn’t then, they would eventually when they were hunted down by the Church leaders and the Romans. All of the disciples except John suffered horrible deaths. John was imprisoned on the island of Patmos and wrote Revelations, but then he was let go and died of old age. Many early followers of Christ were persecuted and eventually fell away and betrayed their fellow Christians to the authorities.

The persecution of believers in Jesus Christ still happens today. Many Christians have been jailed trying to spread the faith. In our modern Western world to be a believer in Jesus Christ is go against the current cultural milieu, although that attitude is slowly changing. Many people say the Bible is not relevant for us today, but the persecution of believers in Christ prove this falsehood wrong. Jesus predicted his followers will be hated, and that persecution still happens today.

Day 35 Bible Readings – Matthew 23: 8-10 (ESV)

Job 31-33, Matthew 23, Psalm 22: 12-21

Matthew 23: 8-10 (ESV)

“But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.”

In verses 8 through 10 from Matthew 23, Jesus told his disciples and crowds gathered around him that God is the most important person in our life. We can respect rabbis and other religious leaders for their knowledge and desire to teach about God, but God is our true teacher. We can also learn from each other for we all brothers and sisters. You can respect your biological father, but our true father who will take care of and protect is God who is in heaven. We can also respect instructors, but our true instructor is Christ. God needs to be first and foremost in our life. We need to consult God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for everything going on in our lives. Christ is our true teacher, our true father, and our true instructor. I have found this advice to be true in my life. Every time I followed the God’s advice, every decision has always worked out for the better. Even if God’s advice was sometime contradictory to what religious leaders were advising, what family was wanting, and what instructors were warning about. God’s way has always been the way for me go for everything in my life.

Day 34 Bible Readings – Matthew 22: 11-14 (ESV)

Job 28-30, Matthew 22, Psalm 22: 1-11

Matthew 22: 11-14 (ESV)

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  For many are called, but few are chosen.”

I’ve always found verses 11 through 14 from Matthew 22 hard to understand until I read several Bible commentaries on these verses. Jesus told this parable about the kingdom of heaven to the chief priests and elders who came to him as he was teaching. This parable is about a King who arranged a marriage for his son and invited several people as guests to the party. The guest in this section of the parable had been invited to the wedding, but he was not wearing wedding garments. The man had been invited, but he did not bother to change his clothes to wear garments that were expected to be worn at a wedding. The Bible commentarians wrote that the man was invited, but he did not honor the King’s son by changing into the appropriate garments. The guest showed no love for the king or the son by bothering to even change his clothes. So the King  had the guest bound and cast into darkness. The guest in the parable had found faith to believe in God, but he remained unchanged by this faith and by Jesus Christ. When we are unchanged by our faith and our relationship with Jesus Christ, we will suffer and not get into the kingdom of heaven. Christ finished the parable by saying “many are are called, but few are chosen” to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We can have the experience of being saved and invited into a relationship with God and Jesus Christ, but if our behavior is not changed by our faith or our relationship with Christ then God will not choose us to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. I love this interpretation of these verses because they make it imperative that a person of faith must demonstrate their faith in their behavior, and if you cannot do that then you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Day 33 Bible Readings – Job 27: 1-6 (ESV)

Job 25-27, Matthew 21: 33-46, Psalm 21

Job 27: 1-6 (ESV)

“And Job again took up his discourse, and said: “As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit. Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.”

In verses 1 through 6 from Job 27 Job tells his friends that even though he felt that God made his soul bitter, he did not want to tell any lies about God. Job wanted to hold on to his integrity and his righteousness. In his heart even though Job felt that God had somehow abandoned him and had let bad things happen to him, Job held on to his faith that God was a just God. I admire Job’s faith in God. Even though he had his whole life upended, he refused to give up on his faith in God. I know in my darkest days I did not have faith of Job, and I did not go through a tenth of the tragedies that Job had experienced. This year in reading Job, I have gained a new appreciation for his faith. Job’s faith in God was truly unshakable, and I would be happy to have a tenth of his faith in God.

Day 32 Bible Readings – Matthew 20: 28-31 (ESV)

Job 22-24, Matthew 21: 18-32, Psalm 20

Matthew 20: 28-31 (ESV)

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.”

In verses 28 through 31 from Matthew 20, Jesus explains to the chief priests and elder the parable of the Two Sons. In this parable, a man had two sons whom he asked to go work in the vineyard. The first said No but then changed his mind and went to work. The second son said the same, but did not go to work. Jesus asks the chief priests and elders which son did the will of the father, and they respond to Jesus and say the first son. Jesus then tells them that the first son are like the tax collectors and prostitutes who listened to John the Baptist and believed him and changed their lives. I’m sure the chief priests and elders thought they were like the first son. But Jesus told them No, because even though they say they are doing the work of God they have not changed their behavior. Jesus  explained to them that they cannot just say they are obeying God but not change their behavior. The sinners who listened to John the Baptist and changed their behavior are the ones who have really obeyed God. Jesus called out the chief priests and elders for being hypocrites, because they said to the people they were obeying God, and yet in private they were disobeying God.

Day 31 Bible Readings – Matthew 21: 12-13 (ESV)

Job 19-21, Matthew 21: 1-17, Psalm 19: 7-14

Matthew 21: 12-13 (ESV)

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

In verses 12 and 13 from Matthew 21, we read about the famous scene where Jesus drove out all of the money-changers in the Temple. Many people have interpreted these verses to mean that the church cannot ask people for money or something about Jesus not like money. But the people who write Bible commentaries have written that the money-changers were located in the outer courts of the Temple, which was the only place that the Gentiles could pray. It must have been hard for the Gentiles to pray since their whole space had been essentially turned into a market. I love how Jesus had compassion for Gentiles as well as Jews. Jesus wanted the Temple to be somewhere where all could pray, and not just Jews. The message of Jesus Christ spread very rapidly among the Gentiles first, so we in these verses how the God’s plan to include the Gentiles started with the compassionate act of Christ demanding that the prayer space for the Gentiles be as holy as the prayer space for the Jews.

Day 30 Bible Readings – Matthew 20: 21-22 (ESV)

Job 15-18, Matthew 20: 20-34, Psalm 19: 1-6

Matthew 20: 21-22 (ESV)

“And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

In verses 21 and 22 from Matthew 20, we see Jesus’ response when the mother of the disciples James and John asks if her son can sign on the right and left hand of Jesus. From reading Jesus’ response, I can imagine he must have been horrified by this request. Although Jesus had been dropping hints to his disciples about what would happen to him, they did not understand him. I think if they did understand how Jesus would die, James and John would have been horrified as well by their mother’s request. When Jesus asked the brothers if they were able to follow him, they answered yes. I think Jesus knew their future, and knew that James would die for being his follower. Although John did not die in the same way as James, he would suffer because he was a follower of Christ. I do feel sorry for the mother of James and John. She loved Jesus but she did not understand that his kingdom would be in heaven and not on earth. But they will all find out soon and I feel so much sympathy for mother of James and John, as she will realize just exactly what she was asking for when she made this request and will be fulfilled when James dies later after Christ was crucified and resurrected.

Day 29 Bible Readings – Job 12: 7-10 (ESV)

Job 11-14, Matthew 20: 1-19, Psalm 18: 43-50

Job 12: 7-10 (ESV)

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”

In verses 7 through 10 from Job 12, Job explains to his friend Zophar that all of God’s creatures know the power of God. They know that God made them and that he knows all about them, and that their whole life is overseen by God. I find Job’s response interesting since he seems to have forgotten that God made him as well, and that God has a hand in everything he does. Job doesn’t see his present difficulties as coming from God or a testing from God, at not yet. Job wonders why God allowed such difficulties to come into his life, and he starts to doubt in his faith in God. Job ask later what sin he committed because he knew he had committed no sins.

Job shows us that our faith in God can be shaken when we are facing great difficulties. But if Job had not gone through the suffering he did, his faith would not have been strengthened. God was testing Job and knew that Job would eventually reason through all of his doubts and come back to his faith.

Day 28 Bible Readings – Matthew 18: 23-24 (ESV)

Job 8-10, Matthew 19: 16-30, Psalm 18: 37-42

Matthew 18: 23-24 (ESV)

“And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

In verses 23 and 24 from Matthew 18, Jesus tells his disciples that it will be hard for someone who is reach to enter the kingdom of heaven. In the Bible commentaries I read, many scholars noted that riches are a problem for the people that have them because wealth makes you satisfied with life. If one is satisfied with one’s life, there is often no reason for a person to want to pursue a relationship with God because they have no needs or wants. There are also cases where people spend so much time seeking and then managing their riches, that they have no time to seek a relationship with God. But to not seek God even if you are satisfied with your wealth is wrong because wealth does not last. Wealth can be taken away from a person at any time, and if you do not have a relationship with God you will not be able to rely on Christ to help you get through life if a financial disaster should befall you.

Day 27 Bible Readings – Psalm 18: 28-30 (ESV)

Job 4-7, Matthew 19: 1-15, Psalm 18: 25-36

Psalm 18: 28-30 (ESV)

“For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.:

In verses 28 through 30 in Psalm 18, David talks about his confidence in the future with God on his side. David says God will help light his darkness so he can make good decision as a king. God will also give him strength to run against a troop or leap over a wall. David says God’s way is perfect, and God always fulfills his promises. David knows first hand that God is a shield and will protect all who take refuge in him. I love how David says God lights his lamp and lightens his darkness, because that is how I see God. God always lightens my darkness.

Day 26 Bible Readings – Matthew 18: 19-20 (ESV)

Job 1-3, Matthew 18: 10-35, Psalm 18: 16-24

Matthew 18: 19-20 (ESV)

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

In verses 19 and 20 from Matthew 18, Jesus talked about the power of fellowship in the church. Jesus tells us that if two people of faith have agreement in prayer, then their prayer will be answered. And if two or three people of faith are gathered in the name of God, Jesus will be among them. Many Bible scholars have said that people who do not believe in God do not have the same opportunity for fellowship and community as do people of faith. I think Jesus is so right about the fellowship you find in a church. I have found great friendships in the churches I belonged to, and it was so inspiring to talk to people who believe in the same things. I saw so many prayers answered and miracles asked for whenever they were requested in group prayer. And in a good service, one can always feel the palpable presence of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Day 25 Bible Readings – Genesis 50: 19-21 (ESV

Genesis 49 & 50, Matthew 18: 1-9, Psalm 18: 7-15

Genesis 50: 19-21 (ESV

“But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

In verses 19 through 21 from Genesis 50, we read about Joseph’s answer to his brothers when they were worried about whether he would punish him for what they did to him. Joseph told them he wouldn’t take revenge on his brothers because punishing them was God’s job. But Joseph didn’t underplay what his brothers did to him and told them they meant to do evil against him. I think more importantly what Joseph understood was that God used for good what had been done to him in evil. If we look at what happened to Joseph, we can have confidence that no matter evil happens to us God will find a way to use it for good. It may not seem that way at first and it may take years sometimes for us to find our way out of difficulties, but in the end God will use everything that happens to use for the good and to fulfil his plan for humanity.

Day 24 Bible Readings – Matthew 17: 20 (ESV)

Genesis 47 & 48, Matthew 17, Psalm 18: 1-6

Matthew 17: 20 (ESV)

“He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Verse 20 from Matthew 17 is Jesus’ response to his disciples when they asked why they couldn’t cast the demon out from the boy. I believe that Jesus is saying that it is not the amount of faith or how much faith that we have to do great things. Jesus is saying that it is the kind of faith we have that is important. Jesus tells his disciples that if they had the faith of a mustard seed, we could do great things. A mustard seed is very small and in time of Jesus, the mustard plant was used to make medicines or to use in cooking. Mustard seeds also grow quickly and spread, and the mustard plant can grow very large. So all we need is a little faith and that faith with God’s help,  will grow quickly and spread and become large and beneficial to God’s plan for earth.

Day 23 Bible Readings – Matthew 16: 4 (ESV)

Genesis 45 & 46, Matthew 16, Psalm 17: 13-15

Matthew 16: 4 (ESV)

“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.”

In verse 4 in Matthew 16, we see Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and Sadducees when they asked for a sign from heaven. Jesus told them there will be no sign except the sign of Jonah. In the Bible commentaries I read, they outlined the similarities between the story of Jonah and the coming crucifixion and resurrection of Chrit. Jesus agreed to be crucified to pay in advance for the sins of humanity, just like Jonah sacrificed himself to saved others. Jesus died on the cross and after three days he was resurrected, just like Jonah who was swallowed by a great fish and was vomited out by the fish after 3 days. Jesus preached for people to repent, It makes me wonder if the Pharisees and Sadducees got the reference to Jonah and what would happen to Jesus. Did the disciples who seemed to know the Old Testament very well understand the Jonah reference as well? I don’t think anyone got the Jonah reference because the disciples never mentioned it in any of the Gospels or even the Book of Acts. But I love how Jesus mentioned it and no one seemed to have caught on as far we know.