Here are some of the thoughts I had as I went through my devotions over the past few days:
Tuesday
VOTD
(Proverbs 21:2)
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. (Pro 21:2 ESV)
We shouldn’t just take this to mean that we can justify whatever we’re doing but saying that our heart was in the right place. We should see this as a gentle rebuke. Don’t try to do what’s right in your own eyes, search the Scriptures and find out what is right in God’s eyes.
1 Year Bible Plan
(Psalms 25:8-15, Mark 7:1-30, Exodus 33-34)
Psalms – “My eyes are continually toward Yahweh, because he will take my feet from the net.” This is the kind of verse that makes me strive to be more than I am. I wish I could say that my eyes were continually toward Yahweh. But then I remember that David wasn’t perfect and there were times that his eyes weren’t perfectly turned to Yahweh. But I guess the point is that he wanted them to be. And so do I.
Mark – Verse 19 (and its parallel verse) is one of those often used to say that all foods are able to be eaten. Many translations make some parenthetical statement at the end of the verse, like this:
So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, "because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, [thus] purifying all foods?" (Mar 7:18-19 NKJV)
But the truth of it is that there’s no word in the Greek which would be “thus”, so I read this verse to be talking about the ritual cleaning which the oral tradition taught (just like every other verse around this one). The KJV is probably a more accurate translation on this one:
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, [it] cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? (Mar 7:18-19 KJV)
I will admit that out of all the verses where people claim that the food laws have been abolished, this is probably the best argument. But if that is really what this is about, would the apostles (throughout the entirety of the book of Acts) claim to have never eaten anything unclean? Even Peter’s vision, which often people misconstrue to be about abolishing the food laws (later in the account he provides the correct interpretation – and then James does, as well, a couple chapters later – that the vision is meant to bring the gentiles into the fold as well), if Jesus had really abolished the food laws here, would Peter be so surprised by his initial understanding of the vision? Would he say that he had never eaten anything unclean before if Jesus had already abolished this? We have to look at the whole of Scripture to get our interpretations, and not just pick and choose verses.
Exodus – There’s a lot in these couple chapters. So much to choose to focus on. But I guess the best thing to focus on is always Yahweh. Moses chooses what he wants most from God and that is that he see Yahweh’s glory, so that he can know that he has Yahweh’s favor. This is kind of convicting to me. If I had the opportunity to ask for anything, can I honestly say that I would ask to see the glory of the LORD? I like to think that I’m moving toward that place, but I don’t know that I can guarantee that right now.
Wednesday
VOTD
(Galatians 6:2)
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6:2 NKJV)
Jesus is our example in life, and our model. When you see a brother falling into sin, intercede on their behalf. Approach them, exposing their sin, as Messiah did for us. At the same time, don’t let yourself get dragged down by the sin. In the world, not of the world.
1 Year Bible Plan
(Psalms 25:16-22, Mark 7:31-8:13, Exodus 35-36)
Psalms – The psalms of David are often depressing, but even in his depression, he was always able to point to Yahweh. And like in v.18 (Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins. (Psa 25:18 NKJV)) he was always seeking forgiveness of his sins, as well as justice.
Mark – People were bombarding Jesus with requests to heal these people. People wanted to see a miracle. The needed to see proof. So what did Jesus do? He took the sick away from the people who wanted to SEE the miracle, and He gave the miracle to the people in NEED of miracle.
Exodus – The Tabernacle is about to be built, and all of the Israelites gave as offerings their fine metals and fabrics to be used in its making. These people are giving all that they have, to make a tent that the won’t even be allowed inside of. It really makes the sacrifices that most of us make seem rather trivial.
Thursday
VOTD
(Proverbs 18:10)
A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe. (Pro 18:10 LEB)
This is a beautiful verse, but it confuses me why so many people (and most of the actual translations of the Bible) take away its power by not actually saying the name of God. Is it that we’re scared to mispronounce YHWH? I don’t believe you have to say it a specific way, but I think you should at least try. Especially when the verse you’re talking about say that there is strength in the name, and then it says a specific name. And the original Hebrew didn’t say “LORD”. That’d be like if I told someone that if they ever needed anything they should just call out my name and they say, “Hey, guy!” I don’t want to sound legalistic here. I think that if you call God “Lord” He’s still gonna hear you and react accordingly but, to me, it’s about respect.
1 Year Bible Plan
(Proverbs 6:1-11, Mark 8:14-9:1, Exodus 37-38)
Proverbs – This is a convicting verse. When I don’t work I love to just lay down and relax. I need to get my butt in gear. I need to start doing things I want to do. If I never start working toward things, I can’t be made when they don’t come to fruition!
Mark – I think, here, when Jesus is cautioning His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees He is speaking to their relying on the traditions of man. It was tradition for disciples to bring the food when they were traveling with their teacher. Jesus was just warning them to not concern themselves with tradition. He, Jesus (the Son of God), had provided for them in the past (the extra baskets of bread) and also in the distant past (the manna for the Israelites), so why worry about the traditions saying to rely on anyone except for God Himself for your bread…
This is another convicting verse:
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mar 8:38 NKJV)
Why is it oftentimes so hard to stand up for our faith? Are we afraid to offend others by seeming judgmental, or are we just ashamed? Either way, it seems like something we should get over!
Exodus – I really need to look more into the different significances behind the different things inside of the tabernacle. Nothing gets put into the Bible just to fill space; there’s a reason for everything being there. The fun part is figuring out the reason!
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