Watch and Listen

Today's Reading: Numbers 10

	Setting-
	So Israel has been at the base of mount Sinai for about a year now… From the ESV Study Bible- Israel Strikes Camp at Sinai. The people of Israel have been at Sinai for almost a full year (see Ex. 19:1). Israel now leaves Sinai to begin its journey to the Promised Land under the guidance and direction of the shekinah glory (i.e., the dwelling glory cloud). This text describes the striking of the Israelite camp and the order of march of the tribes. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (281). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
	Sound the call!-
	Numbers 10:1–2 (ESV)10 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.

More Than Information

Today's Reading: Mark 1:21-28

	And the Word became flesh-
	Mark 1:21–22 (ESV) 21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Walking the Bank

Today's Reading: Psalm 23:1-3

	Overview of Psalm 23-
	From the Matthew Henry Commentary- Many of David’s psalms are full of complaints, but this is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God’s great goodness and dependence upon him. It is a psalm which has been sung by good Christians, and will be while the world stands, with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. I. The psalmist here claims relation to God, as his shepherd (v. 1). II. He recounts his experience of the kind things God had done for him as his shepherd (v. 2, 3, 5). III. Hence he infers that he should want no good (v. 1), that he needed to fear no evil (v. 4), that God would never leave nor forsake him in a way of mercy; and therefore he resolves never to leave nor forsake God in a way of duty (v. 6). In this he had certainly an eye, not only to the blessings of God’s providence, which made his outward condition prosperous, but to the communications of God’s grace, received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which filled his soul with joy unspeakable. And, as in the foregoing psalm he represented Christ dying for his sheep, so here he represents Christians receiving the benefit of all the care and tenderness of that great and good shepherd. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Ps 22:22–31). Peabody: Hendrickson.

Listen, Rejoice, Be Real!

Today's Reading: Acts 21

God is the Final Authority-

Acts 21:4 (ESV)4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 

Acts 21:11–12 (ESV)11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 

Worthy of Filling

Today's Reading: Ex. 39-40; Ps. 15; Acts 12

His glory filled the tabernacle- Exodus 40:34–38

Personalize it method (Rick Warren's 40 Days in the Word): Lord please illuminate your Word today by your Holy Spirit and give me the message that I am to apply to my life today.  Amen.

See that I dwell in my tabernacle Jeff- but it must be perfect.  This is why you need complete reliance on my Son.

How to Build a Tabernacle: Part 11

Today's Reading: Exodus 35

Comments:

Today I have posted my answer to question number 10 from the chapter study on Exodus 35.  Please see Part 1 for an explanation of this chapter study.

How to Build a Tabernacle: Part 2

Today's Reading: Exodus 35

Today is part 2 of a study on Exodus Chapter 35.  See yesterday's post for more information about this chapter study approach and the questions I started with- but this post lays out the first days study to answer the questions that came out of part 1. The study for question 1, 2, and 12 are begun below but are not complete. I am unsure how to post these as I continue the study so that there is not a bunch of duplicate reading but we'll see... 

Be Thee Consumed

Today's Reading: Exodus 33-34; Acts 9 (will be covered tomorrow)

Exodus 33:3 (ESV)3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

Put Down the Calf and Be My Witness

Today's Reading: Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

Exodus 30:14-16
Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives. 16 You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to aremembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives.”

Where Shall I Dwell?

Today's Reading: Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

	Exodus 25:8–9 (ESV)8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Be Filled With Boldness

Today's Reading: Exodus 21-22; Acts 4

Exodus 22:25 (ESV)25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.

Receive My Spirit and Walk in the Light

Today's Reading: Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

Exodus 14:4 (ESV) 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

To See or Not to See

Today's Reading: Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

Exodus 9:34 (ESV)34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

Surrender the Flesh

Today's Reading: Exodus 3-5, Luke 22

Exodus 3:6 6 And he said, c“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 

Whom Do You Serve?

Todays Reading: Genesis 39-41, Luke 16

Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Forsake All

Today's Reading: Genesis 34-36, Luke 14

Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Personalize it method (Rick Warren's 40 Days in the Word):

Jeff, don't cast this message of humility off as simple.  I speak of life and death, heaven and hell.  This is salvation, this is life.  One who does not humble them self before me cannot follow me.  This one will be humbled at the end by being separated from me for eternity.  Jeff, I don't think you can understand how far this humility must go.  If you are not willing to cast down every preconception of who I am and what I am asking of you and every preconception of what it is to be my follower, then you are limiting yourself by limiting (grieving) my Spirit.  If you are not willing to release your position of supposed understanding and your position of how you balance your life, then I cannot (rather- I will not) lift you up.  If you are not prepared to give up all for my sake, then you are not yet humbled.  If you are not willing to choose me every time you wake, then you do not yet see the prize.  If you knew the prize, you would gladly pay the price...nothing could hold you back from complete and absolute surrender.  This is the humility of which I speak Jeff.

Jeff, this is the foundation upon which all of your life must be built (or rebuilt).  This is the starting point to achieving great things for my kingdom.  You must start with surrender of your will to mine in all things (i.e, your time, your money, your focus, your aspirations, your body, your mind, your emotions,...YOU!).

Open you heart Jeff and hear me...

Luke 14:26-28
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Luke 14:33
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

MacArthur Study Bible Note on Luke 14:28-

Only those willing to carefully assess the cost (vv. 28–32 ) and invest all they had in his kingdom were worthy to enter. This speaks of something far more than mere abandonment of one’s material possessions; it is an absolute, unconditional surrender.

Calvin's Commentaries-

It would be absurd to insist on a literal interpretation of the phrase, as if no man were a disciple of Christ, till he threw into the sea all that he possessed, divorced his wife, and bade farewell to his children.

Yet no man truly forsakes all that he possesses till he is prepared at every instant to leave all, gives himself free and unconstrained to the Lord, and, rising above every hindrance, pursues his calling.

From a sermon by John Piper on November 9, 1980 (speaking about what Jesus watched for while guests entered a dinner party)-

He looks for what they love. Jesus always watches until he knows where our treasure is. Because where your treasure is, is where your heart is, and Jesus wants the heart!No. He looks for what they love. Jesus always watches until he knows where our treasure is. Because where your treasure is, is where your heart is, and Jesus wants the heart!

Application:
Today I will look for how I can surrender everywhere I go
Today I will pray and ask that you reveal to me how surrender on the other side of every door I open
Today I will not presume that I know what you want me to do the next moment
Today I will not presume that my life is about gaining something for me
Today I will surrender what I perceive to be my rights in every situation
Today I will ask you for the filling and the empowering of your Holy Spirit to do these things that are impossible to me

Prayer:
Thank you Lord for loving me so.  Thank you Lord for speaking to me through your Word.  How amazing it is that you meet me here when I am faithful to come before you and seek you.  Please empower me this day to live surrendered to you as the branch on the vine.  Please show me how to humble myself and how to listen for your voice, for the guidance of your Holy Spirit.  

In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!
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Strive and Confirm

Todays Reading: Genesis 31-33, Luke 13

Genesis 32:10-12
I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. ’”

May It Be You Lord

Today's Reading: Genesis 27-28, Psalms 6, Luke 11

Luke 11:2-4
And he said to them, “ When you pray, say: “ Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Bind Yourself

Today's Reading: Genesis 20-22, Luke 8

Luke 8:11-15
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Luke 8:18
Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

Be as The Worm on The Hook

Today's Reading: Genesis 12-14, Luke 5

Luke 5:2-11
and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon 's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “ Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “ Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.