My Bible Journey: Week of March 30, 2008

bible Creative Commons License photo credit: J. Mark Bertrand

Deuteronomy 13 = A good warning for us today. We see among us all those preaching a different Gospel than the one Christ spoke. They are following a different god. Just because they look good and act friendly and normal, doesn’t mean they are correct in their belief.
14:1 = This is in answer to both Egyptian and Canaanite practices. God wanted His people He had chosen to stand out among the people surrounding them.
14:3-21 = Another list of stuff we don’t really worry about anymore? Why? Partly because of grace—we are no longer under the law, but also because it is no longer necessary. Our knowledge and technology makes these things safe (sometimes) to eat.
14:22-28 = Let’s be honest, part of the purpose of the tithe was to take care of the Levites, the priests and ministers. God was placing the responsibility of caring for those who were caring for the people spiritually. It is no different today. Church members may not like to hear it, but it is their responsibility to take care of their minister’s needs. If a minister is in need and that need is not filled, it’s not God’s fault, it’s the people’s.
15:1-10 = Here’s another case where, though we don’t follow the Law, this is what the Church should be like. Here’s another purpose of the tithe, to take care of the needs of the greater body. Those with much have a responsibility to care for those with little. If there is someone poor in your church body and they remain poor, that’s the fault of the church. I think the soul of this passage is really not to hold debts toward anyone at all, but if you must insist on being repaid, there is still a limit. Let’s be honest, sometimes we have to give to people knowing they will likely never be able to repay, and that’s ok.
15:12-18 = Some insight on how to treat volunteers and our attitudes toward them. “they have given you services worth double the wages of hired workers”
16 = The Lord even provided help with the calendar. He thinks of everything.
16:18-20 = Don’t tell me the Lord isn’t concerned with justice as well as righteousness. True justice is a product of righteousness.
17:14-20 = See, the Lord is not surprised by anything. He was already laying plans for Saul, David, Solomon, etc.
18:1-8 = More on the care and feeding of ministers.
18:9-14 = Holy living is not just the right thing to do, it serves as an example to those watching you.
18:15-22 = Too bad that, when the Lord gave the people exactly what they asked for, they didn’t appreciate it and rejected it often. Are we the same way sometimes?
19:14-21 = More on justice. Man, I wish our justice system still looked anything like this.
20 = training a recruitment for war
21:10-14 = See an attractive woman, make her look ugly first and then see if you still like her.
21:15-17 = “Suppose a man has two wives.” My question is why would he want two in the first place? Is he an idiot?
21:18-21 = Angsty teens beware.
21:22 = One of the reason stiff-necked Jews rejected Jesus.
22:1 = Don’t ignore your responsibility.
22:13-30 = In short, don’t screw around. ‘Nuff said.
23:1 = !?!?
24:5 = This is a brilliant idea. I wish we still did this one. Either way, too late for me.
24 & 25 = Tons more on social justice and concern for the poor.
26: 16-19 = The results of obedience.
27:11-26 = What is accursed.
28:3-14 = What God promises if you live in obedience.
28:15-28 = What you get if you turn away from God. I think I’ll work harder on the obedience thing, thanks.

Luke 8:46 = “Someone DELIBERATELY touched Me.” We have to be the same in our relationship with Christ. No half-hearted reaching out, but deliberate longing to touch Him.
8:55 = Yet again, why didn’t Jesus want the news spread. Maybe because He knew people would focus too much on the miracle and not the Miracle Maker’s message?
9:5 = “And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” This may sound a little cold-hearted, but this is the way we must also be towards those who won’t follow leadership, and would rather just sit around and complain “we ain’t never done it that way before.”
9:7-9 = Herod was confused. I don’t know why, but that makes me happy.
9:13 = Jesus pushes His disciples to think creatively: ‘But Jesus said, “You feed them.”’
9:20b = Peter’s foot-in-mouth disease finally gets it right: ‘Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”’
9:23 = Don’t forget this, it’s one of the core values of being a Christ-follower: “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.”
9:33 = Just like Peter, this is often how we get ourselves into trouble: we speak without thinking.
9:41 = Even the Lord gets frustrated with people.
9:48 = Be the least.
9:50 = Note to all the critics out there of those pushing the boundaries: ‘Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”’
9:51-56 = James and John, the first fire-and-brimstone-fundamentalists, were “rebuked” by the very Lord they followed. That should tell you something right there.
9:60 = “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!” Why don’t the other translations put it this way?
10:1-12 = The attitude of a missionary.
10:16 = Let’s say it together again, “Jesus is the only way.”
10:20 = What you should really rejoice about.
10:22 = Let’s say it again, “Jesus is the only way.”
10:27 = What is most important: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.”
10:38-42 = What to be concerned about.
11:5-12 = Spiritual persistence. This is how we should pray to the Lord, not just once, but over and over and over until He gives us a clear and definitive answer. You’re not being a pest when you pray to the Father.
11:17 = Why doesn’t the Church at large really take this to heart. Yeah, I know, we sometimes have some real theological differences, and so I get the “need” for denominations and such, but come on. If we name Jesus as the Savior, we can at least be united in that one, central truth. It goes back to the “they will know you are my followers by your love for one another.” When we treat fellow Christ-followers like dirt because they don’t think EXACTLY the way we do, no wonder people see that and reject us. The problem is, when they reject us, they are ultimately rejecting Christ. That’s OUR fault.
11:28 = “even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” That should tell you something right there.
11:31-32 = Newsflash! Solomon was not the wisest person ever on earth. Jesus was.
Psalm 71:3 = “Be my rock of safety where I can always hide.”
71:14 = “But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.”
71:19 = “Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?”
72:6-7 = What earthly leadership should look like: “May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth. May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.”
72:12 = Making me rethink my views on government a bit. My politically conservative walls are shaking a little: “He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.”
73 = To every minister or servant struggling with holiness, pride, materialism, etc, this is a great reminder of what’s really going on.
75:17 = “It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.”
76:4 = “It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.”
Proverbs 12:6 = “The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.”
12:11 = LOL! “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.”
12:15 = “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.”