One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Tuesday, March 29th

Click Here to Listen to the Readings

Click Here to Read Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32

Map of the Promised Land

As the Israelites get ready to enter the Promised Land, once again Moses reiterates the importance of their obedience to the Lord. He recounts the fact that this new generation of children had not seen the deliverance from Egypt the Lord gave their parents. They were given a new opportunity to trust in the Lord and receive the blessings of the Promised Land. 

1. Moses reminds them of the judgment of Dathan and Abiram, whose rebellion caused they and their families to be swallowed up by the earth. 

2. The blessings of obedience were numerous. A land flowing with milk and honey, hills and valleys with plenty of rain, and most importantly a land the Lord personally cared for and watched over. 

3. The importance of teaching these commands to their children. He gives them practical ways to keep God's Word always before them like: tying them on their hands and foreheads and posting them in their homes and doorposts. This reminds us that there are three ways to learn God's Word. Listening to it, reading it, and memorizing it.  Having it on their bodies and all around them gave them constant visual reminders of God's Word. It became a part of them. The question is to we as diligently handle God's word today?

4.  We see the connection between love and obedience. Obedience was the way the Israelites showed love to God, just as we can do the same today. It is one thing to say you love someone and another thing to show it by your actions. Actions speak louder than words to humans and to God as well.  Actions test the sincerity of our heart.  Does your life show that you love God?

5. When they conquered the nations living in the Promised Land, they were to completely tear down the pagan idols and places of worship in those lands. In its place, they were to worship in a place that God himself would choose. There they would give all the offerings required by the Law and FEAST in God's presence.  Do we see worship as feasting in God's presence today? 

6. Most importantly they must not fall into the practices of the pagan nations they drove out. If they did, they would reject the blessings and fall under God's curse. God had given them his command and they were not to add to or subtract from them. Do we add to or subtract from God's Word today? I see it happening a lot in our culture. The Judeo-Christian worldview is not the dominant worldview in our culture any more by any means. 

Click Here to Read Luke 8:22-39

As the Jesus and the disciples sailed to other side of the sea, Jesus decided to take a nap down below. Just then a furious storm came up that threatened to capsize the boat. The disciples woke Jesus up in a panic. Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves, and the sea turned calm. The disciples were amazed, but Jesus asked them, "Where is your faith?" 

The disciples saw another aspect of Jesus' authority. He even could command the wind and waves to cease. Then Jesus used his authority in another manner by casting out several demons from a man, who was possessed by so many demons they identified themselves as "legion". When the demons saw Jesus, they were terrified knowing their end was coming soon. 

We see a very interesting dialogue between Jesus and the demons. Though the demons were not human they had personalities and could talk and reason. 

1. The demons asked Jesus not to torture them and send them to the bottomless pit (abyss) instead. 

2. Jesus, could we even say, had "compassion" on them and sent them into a herd of pigs, which ran into the lake and drowned. The herdsmen ran into town to tell people what happened. In another version it says they weren't happy about losing their pigs and the income they brought in. 

3. The man was completely restored to sanity and sat in clothes as evidence of his complete healing from demon possession. He had his free will back. I would have loved to know what happened to him from that point on in his life. Doubtless, he told many the story of Jesus giving him back his life.  

4. The man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go back to his hometown and spread the Good News of what happened to him. 

Click Here to Read Psalm 70

Proverbs 12:4


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