Daily Bible Reading - Wednesday Feb. 4th

Today we got into the Ten Commandments.  This is another story I really love.  I guess its partly because I love the movie Ten Commandments.  Sometimes I wish there was a movie of the whole bible that would be so interesting to watch the whole story of the bible played out in front of us.   If you noticed after the Ten Commandments comes another set of laws, pretty strict laws too.  If you read them closely most of the laws today came from these laws, it’s really interesting to see how the laws of our land today have basically stayed sort of like the laws back in Jesus day.  When you go into Matthew it seems to go right along with the old testament reading today, how cool.  I guess all in all we go back to the “D" word or discipline. That’s one thing that I am finding that is consistently throughout the bible.  You think God is trying to teach us something here?  I know for me I have needed discipline instilled in me. 

 

Today’s Reading

 

Exodus 19:16-21:21
Matthew 23:13-39
Psalm 28:1-9
Proverbs 7:1-5

 

Daily Devotional

Psalm 65:3
Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

I remember trying to fly a kite at the beach once. I would run as hard as I could in the sand, and it felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. I couldn't run fast enough to keep the kite aloft. Often dieting feels the same way. The harder we try, the farther we seem from our goal. It really doesn't seem worth all the effort it takes. However, we need to hold on. When I tried to fly my kite, a sudden gust of wind came and took it high into the sky. The Holy Spirit of God comes to us just like a gust of wind, helping us reach our goals and making the result well worth the effort.

Today's thought: Jesus will give us the extra lift we need to lose weight!

Andy... I was just thinking the same thing... the old and new testaments seems to flow right from one set of "rights and wrongs" (for lack of better term) into another... after reading both I felt kind of heavy hearted... like how could anyone do ALL of that and not "mess up"?  

But as always the Lord provides hope and cause to know we are in His care...

As going right on to Psalms reading for the day says:

Praise be to the Lord for he has heard my cry for mercy.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Save your people and bless your inheritance;  be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Now we know how we can fulfill all that the Lord has set before us and not fall into wickedness!

And to end the whole of the day Proverbs once again reminds us to:
 
"keep my words and store up my commands with in you.  Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart."

Boy all the readings flowed right together again today like they have so many of the days... do you think that is a coincidence?  I think maybe not.

Have a wonderful and blessed day.

bec

Once again, I am shown that discipline doesn't mean a thing if your heart is wrong.  As a former "Pharisee" (legalist) I kept every "rule" that was dictated yet my heart was so black.  I performed well but resented everything and everybody, including God.  I see why Jesus was so angry.  The Pharisees were taking the words of God that were meant to point to a Savior (the Old Testament) and forcing the Israelites into hell.  They were dirty cups, pretty on the outside...full of filth on the inside.  They were whitewashed tombs, pretty on the outside, full of death on the inside.  No wonder Christ's heart was broken.  He provided grace and mercy and they were so wrapped up in their rules they couldn't see the light. 

Makes me stop and examine my own heart....am I disciplined because I love the Lord?  Or am I only disciplined because it looks good? 

I pray I never forget the grace and mercy He provides and that my desire for discipline is because I love Him, not because I want to look good to others.

I love the Proverbs reading today, especially "Keep my commands and you will live. Write them on the tablet of your heart". We used to sing a gospel song that went "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run in to it and they are saved". I just have loved that image of running to the safety of the Lord. To me the strong tower in my mind resembles the round towers we saw in Ireland. I know he is always with us to help us in all our struggles - even with carbs!!! Praise the Lord who cares for us!! And write on your heart that He is our refuge and help at all times.
Lana