TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26
Luke 10:38-11:13
Psalm 76:1-12
Proverbs 12:15-17
Deuteronomy 26:15 — Obedience brings blessing.
Deuteronomy 27:4 — Joshua 8:30-35 has the fulfillment of this command in regard to the Mount Ebal altar. When we get to Joshua 8, we’ll discuss if it’s been found!
Deuteronomy 27:15-25 — Why are these commands singled out? Verse 15 refers to the idols “in a secret place.” Verse 16 refers to a secret mockery of parents. Verse 17 is an action done in secret. Many of these actions were done in secret. The notorious sins did not need extra condemnation, but the “sins of the heart” that allegedly wouldn’t get caught needed some extra attention. Achan thought he wouldn’t get caught either (Joshua 7:21).
Luke 10:40 — Three times as many evangelicals identify with Martha instead of Mary. We’ll see why in the next chapter, but here’s the quote from Christian Today:
Tellingly, busy Martha was the Bible character evangelicals were most likely to say they identified with (43 percent).
“She was selected almost three times more than her contemplative sister Mary, indicating that busy lifestyles are a widespread feature of contemporary discipleship,” the Alliance said.
Luke 11:1 — The church is in need of being taught how to pray. The Washington Post reports that in Wisconsin only 5 minutes a day is spent on “religious activities” (prayer), as opposed to 34 minutes on housework, 37 minutes on personal grooming, 2 hours and 42 minutes spent watching television, and 5 hours and 16 minutes on leisure.
Finishing up our excerpt from Christian Today:
Although 87 percent agreed that every Christian needs to spend time alone with God on a daily basis, and that without that their faith will suffer, 42 per cent said that they find it difficult to find time on a regular disciplined basis to pray and read the Bible …
Luke 11:9 — What do we need to do in our prayer life? Ask – Seek – Knock. Repeatedly (vs. 8).
Psalm 76:7 — The anger of the Lord isn’t a common topic. Job, the oldest book in the Bible, talks about His anger (Job 4:9). God was angry with the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 32:10, Numbers 11:2, Numbers 32:13). The kings failed to lead their people to avoid His anger (2 Kings 13:3 and 17:18). The Psalmists recorded His anger (Psalm 78:59, 89:38). The prophets warned of His anger (Isaiah 13:5 and 9, Isaiah 51:20; Jeremiah 32:29; Lamentations 2:2; Ezekiel 7:8; Daniel 8:19; Habakkuk 3:12). Jesus was angry at those who defiled His Father’s house (Matthew 21:12-13). Paul warned about God’s anger (Romans 2:5).
Proverbs 12:15 — Rehoboam should have listened to his father’s advice (1 Kings 12:8).
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