Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

Mark 2:18-22

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. Mark 2:18-19

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 2:18-22, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  Observations using the Sword Bible Study Method:

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God does not want empty heartless ceremonial worship practices - He seeks us, for us to love and worship Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind and then to love others.  See Matthew 22:34-40. With Jesus, we have a new covenant based on His blood - Hebrews 9:15-28.  As such, the ceremonial law of the Old Testament no longer apply - Jesus keeps the moral law but the keeping of the law is a natural response of a heart condition that seeks to please Him. God thinks of believers as new creations - vv21-22 - therefore as long as we abide in Him, He will abide in us and bear fruit (see John 15:1-9) as He day by day makes us into more of His image. 
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People have habits and grow comfortable with these habits, and often we feel as if it is very difficult to break these habits.  When we are challenged in our faith, as were the Pharisees, we should be humble and ask God to mold us into His image.  The example to follow here is Jesus who focused on humility, our heart condition and glorifying the Father vs external behaviors and earning our favor with God.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey)?: We should avoid hypocrisy - a chief sin Jesus pointed out with the scribes and Jewish leaders of Jesus' day.  We should not believe that we can earn our favor with God through our own action - the focus should be on God getting the glory - we decrease, and God increases.      

In the text today, Jesus shared how the days will come when He is taken away from us (v20).  Jesus was taken away from His followers through His death on the cross, yet He leaves us with the Holy Spirit who lives on in our hearts and lives (Galatians 2:20).  Our daily reading and study of God's Word enables us to remain in Him and Him to remain in us.       

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and mercy for me - and You pour out Your mercies without end every morning.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and bless me daily with Your mercies.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me: “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?

Zechariah 7:4-7

Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me: “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? Zechariah 7:4-6

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a unassisted review of Zechariah 7:4-7, which the commentary outlines as the second of five divisions for the text 7:1-8:23 (7:1-3/8:18-23, 7:4-7, 7:8-10, 7:11-14, 8:1-17).  Here, in response to the people of Bethel who had sent "Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the LORD" to inquire about weeping and abstaining (fasting) (vv2-3), God responded rhetorically, challenging those who are not following God's words (see post yesterday), but instead following their own wishes or what they think God wants - focusing instead on external behaviors vs a heart condition.  Expanding on His response, in v7, God refers to what He has previously told His people.  God's wants us to come to Him with a love and devotion to Him, and a love of others that flows from a love of the One True God that seeks justice and mercy and care for one another.  Looking ahead, v8 confirms what God wants and when we do look back at what God has shared with the former prophets that came before Zechariah, Hosea 6:6, and 1 Samuel 15:22 reinforce this emphasis on what God seeks from us: not ritual or ceremonial law such as sacrifices or fasting (certainly not in and of itself), but rather "steadfast love" of God, "knowledge of God," and obedience to God's Word.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.   Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love, grace, and compassion.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore love truth and peace. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

Zechariah 7:1-3 and 8:18-23

Therefore love truth and peace. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" Zechariah 8:19b-23

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 7:1-3 and 8:18-23, which the commentary outlines as the first of five divisions for the text 7:1-8:23 (7:1-3/8:18-23, 7:4-7, 7:8-10, 7:11-14, 8:1-17).  In an effort to better understand the first division, I reviewed the entirety of 7:1-8:23 and here one can see in chapter 7 God's people seeking answers on how to approach ceremonial law (specifically fasting), and how God, while He does care about external behavior, He is most concerned about our heart condition and that we focus on the most important commandments that we love Him first then love others - see also Psalm 50:8; Hosea 6:6; Psalm 51:16; Psalm 40:6–8; Isaiah 1:11–31; Jeremiah 7:21–23; Hebrews 10:4–10.  When you turn to chapter 8, you see a prophecy of a peaceful and prosperous Israel.  Of note in 8:18-23 is v23 where God's people draw others to Him because others see God in them.  For believers, we should be a light and draw others to Him. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and loved me first, while I was still hostile and an enemy of You.  Thank You Jesus!  Help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You and others as You love me.  Help me be a light to others.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:23-33 and 11:1

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to a unassisted review of 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1.  Here Paul provides commands to do everything for the glory God and so that others may be saved. A review of the text:

• vv23-24: while believers continue to follow the moral law of the first covenant with God from the Old Testament, ceremonial law no longer needs to be followed; one example of this is circumcision.  Paul also seeks to warn believers about practices, while lawful, may not be helpful to others or the church.  Paul makes this clear in v24.
  
• vv25-30: there are no restrictions about meat that is purchased in the marketplace, as v26 states that all from the earth is from God with the implication that we are to eat anything in the garden (Genesis 2:15-17) or from God; however, if offered something that will not be helpful in our efforts to save others we should avoid such acts/practices.
• vv31-33: do everything for the glory of God; be careful to avoid anything that might hinder others as we seek to share the gospel with them
• 11:1: follow Paul's example as he seeks to follow Christ
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us[.]

Leviticus 13-15

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us[.]...John 1:14

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter thirteen - Unclean! - covering Leviticus 13-15, looking specifically at the fourth theme - Jesus Transforms Access to God's Presence.  Here, the commentary starts by looking at how believers today can apply the teachings in Leviticus (including 13-15).  It starts by stating that, for believers, "God has now established the new covenant in Jesus.  God's old covenant prepared for Jesus' coming and taught us principles that help us understand the person and work of Jesus.  God always knew that when the Messiah came and He initiated the new covenant, the old covenant would become obsolete." The commentary then encourages us to see "three ways Jesus transforms access to God's presence:

• Jesus eliminates ceremonial law" - we are encouraged to review the interactions Jesus had with the Jewish leaders and how they placed emphasis on rituals as an end in of itself vs Jesus teachings, using ritual cleansing as an example, where such ritual cleansings were not a matter of external cleanliness but of internal cleanliness and our heart condition with respect to a right relationship with God; Jesus also pointed out the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders who observed the ceremonial law but not the moral law; see also John Piper on the extent to which believers are to observe ceremonial law; see also Piper on the extent to which only worship, among all the activities done within the church, is an end in itself.  The commentary refers us to Matthew 15:1-9 and Mark 2:23-28 as a scriptural basis to underscore this point.
  
• Jesus graduates us from symbol to substance" - using Colossians 2:16-17 as a scriptural basis for this point, the commentary highlights how the ceremonial laws were a "shadow" of what was to come with Jesus and the new covenant, and Jesus is the substance.  The commentary writes: "[t]he old covenant law shows us our dirtiness in God's sight, and Jesus came to be the way we become clean--not just clean on the outside, but clean on the inside, and clean forever.  He graduates us from symbol to substance."
  
• Jesus incarnates God's presence" - whereas in the Old Testament, the tabernacle, Tent of Meeting, and temple were the places that symbolized the presence of God (even though it also writes about God's omnipresence), the commentary urges us to understand that with the new covenant God is always among and within us - residing in our hearts. We are referred to John 1:14 as the scriptural basis for this takeaway. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who lives in my heart - thank You Jesus for walking with me in my journey and for sanctifying and refining me into more of Your image!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - my sins of worry, etc. continue.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Leviticus 11

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

This afternoon, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter eleven - Eating for God's Glory - covering Leviticus 11:1-47, looking specifically at the third theme - We Celebrate the Fulfillment of the Law by Jesus.  Here, in reviewing the entirety of this chapter of the commentary, we are encouraged to see several takeaways.  Broadly, the sacrifices described in Leviticus 11 for believers are no longer necessary as "Jesus is the final, once-for-all sacrifice.  Jesus fulfills the laws in Leviticus by providing (1) redemption - He purchases our freedom by going to the cross in our place; (2) purification - instead of the purification described in Leviticus that is required from how we become unclean, believers know that Jesus washes away our sin; (3) direction on how food is to be used for God's glory (vs dietary commands in Leviticus 11): (a) as a mission to reach others and share the gospel by meeting basic needs and by sharing meals with sinners as Jesus did with Zacchaeus (see Luke 19); (b) to promote fellowship among brothers and sisters in Christ (see Acts 2); (c) by avoiding consumption that causes stumbling (i.e. bad eating habits that cause poor health); (d) by subjecting eating to higher priorities as we should not worry about food as Jesus should be our highest priority (see Matthew 6). 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is the once and for all sacrifice - thank You Jesus - thank You for setting me free!  I am not deserving of how You set me free and for all the blessings You pour out for me.  I worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose Your as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14-15

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter eighteen Gospel Unity, which covers Romans 14:1-15:13.  My focus today is v14:1-12, which my commentary refers to under the heading "Liberty." With the start of Romans 14, Paul moves from a focus on living in the light (with urgency) and on loving others (including  enemies), to a warning that we not judge other believers over inconsequential matters and not to "quarrel over opinions" (v14:1). Paul argues his case that regardless of whether someone "observes the day," "eats,' or "abstains," as long as they honor and give thanks to the Lord - their worship is proper in the eyes of the Lord.  "Honor of the Lord" and "thanks to God" are mentioned thrice and twice respectively - underscoring Paul's point. Paul wraps up these verses with a sober reminder how all will face the Day of Judgement (including with reference to Isaiah 45:23), implying that our primary focus should be that each invidividual believer pursue holiness and their own journey with God. 

My commentary points out that Paul sought to drive unity among believers who focused on strict adherence to cultural and social practices (i.e. eating, etc.) versus those who ate "anything" and found freedom from the law - the commentary refers to the latter as perhaps stronger more mature Christians and likely Gentiles in Paul's day as Jews were more likely to follow the Mosaic ceremonial law even as believers.  Regardless, Paul, again drives unity among both camps around the gospel and Jesus Christ.  The commentary goes further to describe "three levels of importance" (1) matters essential for salvation, (2) matters important to the faith and the church but not important for salvation, and (3) matters of indifference--debatable nonessentials/preferences.  We should unify around (1) and (2) and not let (3) divide the church. Stronger believers should not condemn or judge weaker believers and vice-versa. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who placed supportive and encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ in my life - those who don't judge or condemn me for inconsequential matters.  They also encourage and support me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings!  My sin continues - again worry!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose Your as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. or the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 1-6

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. or the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:13-18

Day 328 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning focusing on Paul's letter to the church in Galatia, as my commentary* notes that "the letter would have been written about A.D. 50, shortly following the Jerusalem conference. The subject of Paul’s letter parallels that of the conference itself, which pertained to the problems created by those Jewish Christians who were insisting that Gentile converts submit to the rite of circumcision and observe other rituals to which the Jews were accustomed."  The letter also is used by Paul to defend His faith and teachings as my commentary* also notes how Judaizers sought to undermine Paul.

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Paul focuses a good amount of his letter (Galatians 5-6) on Christian freedom as Paul defines our freedom and urges us to express our freedom by "walk[ing] by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16) so we can avoid desires of the flesh but instead enjoy fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has given me freedom in Christ - a blessing of which I cannot fully fathom but I understand that it is a blessing.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all the ways You bless me...my sin continues, including worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Matthew 9, 12, Mark 2-3, Luke 5-6, and John 5

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13, 12:7

Day 296 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - focusing this morning on growing opposition to Jesus' ministry. My commentary notes: "[b]y indicating that he has the divine authority to forgive sins, Jesus naturally arouses immediate reaction from the Scribes and Pharisees. Since they correctly believe that only God can forgive sins, they reject the possibility that Jesus himself is divine and conclude instead that he is guilty of blasphemy....Through two parables Jesus tells them that their system of legalistic observances simply will not substitute for the true righteousness which God has always demanded....Despite growing opposition, Jesus continues to go about teaching and performing miracles, yet almost consciously without fanfare. As if to underscore the urgency of his mission in the face of opposition, Jesus appoints 12 of his disciples as specially chosen apostles to aid him in his ministry. With their added support, Jesus continues to attract even greater crowds from among the common people."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Whatever its form may be, all believers will face opposition to some degree and some of this opposition may be harsh and harmful - even physical harm for some. I think of those in places around the globe (see ministry Voices of the Martyrs ministry) where belief in Christ is unlawful and believers in these places face imprisonment or death.  Most of us, particularly those in the USA are not likely to face such opposition, we nonetheless should be prepared to stand firm in our faith and to defend it.  In Jesus' day, the Pharisees and teachers of the law focused on ceremonial law (vs moral law) and external behavior consistent with this law. Jesus wants our hearts and lives to reflect a love of the Lord (heart condition).

Once we begin to live a life that reflects a love of the Lord - an inner heart condition - we begin to develop mechanisms to defend our faith as we trust in God above all. Jesus relies on scripture as an example to defend His faith.  We must also do the same.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has transformed my heart and life and I am grateful for the many blessings You pour out for me.  You protect me and give me freedom to express my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great...and daily...including worry, gossip, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)....Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. Mark 7:18-19, Acts 10:15

Portions of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy

Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)....Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. Mark 7:18-19, Acts 10:15

Day 61 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on directives from God through Moses (Moses' Laws) for dietary regulations.

God explains the purpose of these laws as follows:

You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you. You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.  Leviticus 20:25-26

With God sending His Son to fulfill prophecy and the law (see Matthew 5 and John Piper post here), God did away with the rules of clean and unclean food.  This becomes explicit in both Mark and Acts:

Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) Mark 7:18-19 

Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. Acts 10:15

While written for Thanksgiving, this post at DesiringGod.com also sums it up nicely.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has come to both fulfill the law but also to save me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your death on the cross and Your compassion and grace.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Leviticus 12, 14-15, Numbers 19

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:11-14

Day 54 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues to focus on Moses Laws, with an emphasis on the ritual washing for ceremonial uncleanliness associated with diet, childbirth, bodily emissions and discharges, numerous diseases, and contact with the dead.

John Piper has a great post on how we may view the ritual washings and cleansings as "old and so foreign and so strange" but that these washings and cleansings served God's people at a point in time and that we must understand the purpose of these rituals in the context of that point in time if we are to understand the role of Jesus in our lives.  Using Hebrews 9, Piper writes that we must "[t]urn to the only cleansing agent in the universe that can give you relief in life and peace in death."  Of course this is Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that You allow me to come to You directly - that I may have a personal Lord and Savior that I can approach with confidence without having to go through a priest and without ceremonial sacrifices and washings - Your blood and sacrifice on the cross cleanses me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such an incredible act of love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“‘In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.’”

Portions of Exodus-Leviticus-Numbers-Deuteronomy

“‘In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.’” Numbers 29:39

Day 49 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on God's command told to the Israelites through Moses to hold sacred assemblies for the following festivals: Passover, (Numbers 28:16-25), Weeks (Numbers 28:26-31), Trumpets (Numbers 29:1-6), Atonement (Numbers 29:7-11), and Tabernacles (Numbers 29:12-38).

Moses' Laws required much of the Israelites and God knew that the Israelites would never be able to fully uphold their end of the covenant, hence we have a New Covenant with Jesus Christ that does away with many of the "ceremonial" vs "moral" laws.

I am grateful that Jesus Christ is so full of mercy and compassion for me that He gives me this new freedom in Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of mercy and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus - I am not deserving of such mercy and compassion.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.

Exodus 29-31

There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. Exodus 29:42-43

Day 29 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the consecration of Aaron and the priests, the consecration of the tabernacle, and further instructions on worship - once again no detail is spared.

My commentary* focuses on how "the tabernacle is more than just a temporary place for the Israelites to worship God: it foreshadows a more permanent temple to be built in future years, and later a spiritual temple to be known as the church".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

As I posted yesterday, it is important to understand the extent to which God focuses on the details of our lives and our obedience.  Yet as I dig deeper into moral and ceremonial law, I am so grateful that I have a God in Jesus that focuses on my heart vs my external behavior and all of the regulations given by God to Moses for worship.  There is no way the Israelites could have done all of what God requested of them so God HAD to send Jesus!

I am grateful for Jesus and the grace and mercy He has for me.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who focuses on my heart and who is full of grace and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You and help me overcome such sin.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2

Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. v3-5

Romans 3:23 and other scripture indicate how "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".  Romans 6:23 tells us that the "wages of sin are death".  As such, Paul reminds us that we are deserving of wrath - .  Jesus is that Savior - core to our identity in Christ.

Paul also shares with us how both Jews and Gentiles - all humanity - are now "brought near by the blood of Christ".

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. v13-16

As well we see the "setting aside...the law with its commands and regulations".

John Piper provides this overview of how Jesus came to fulfill the law.  Piper writes:

"When Jesus Christ came into the world, he was the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. The Old Testament had looked forward and pointed to the coming Messiah who would bring his kingdom — his new kingly rule. And when he did, they knew things would change. There was a new covenant promise where God’s law would be written on the heart. The old covenant would pass away."

And now we have an identity in Christ based on the new covenant through Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has died for me and brought me near to You by grace - thank You Jesus!  I am very clear that I am undeserving.  I sin...daily and need a Savior.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

Romans 14

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. v1

In this chapter, Paul uses the distinction of ceremonial vs moral law (the latter of which is done away with as part the new covenant with Jesus) to encourage stronger more mature believers from looking down on those who faith is either weaker or less mature.  He uses the example of clean vs unclean food (meat) that some Jewish and Gentile believers may still desire to follow Old Testament laws regarding what to eat - Paul writes that this is a disputable matter and that we should "get bent out of shape" over this with those who faith is weaker and less mature.  

Of course, we must be humble. 

We must also encourage and build other believers up in their faith - we are to grow in mature in our own faith and help others to do the same.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have grown in my heart and life and been full of grace and patience as I have often stalled in my growth.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  I worry and my sin is great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13

Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. v9

In Romans 13:8-10, Paul pivots to how we are repay our debts, and he moves on to the importance of love.  Although many Bible scholars believe Jesus new covenant focuses on moral vs ceremonial law, there is still much in moral law for us to follow.  Yet both Jesus and Paul remind us how love (of God and for others) is most important.

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You love me - more than I can ever imagine or understand.  I am grateful that You love me, because I am undeserving of Your love and for the countless ways You bless me and for Your grace.  Thank You.  Yet I worry and I have much sin - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Matthew 9

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” v16-17

John's disciples question Jesus why His disciples are not fasting as was part of the ceremonial law found in the Old Testament. Jesus explains that fasting typically accompanies mourning and there should be no morning while He is present in human form.  Jesus goes on to discuss how we have a new way of interacting with God - through His Son - and it requires following of the moral but not the ceremonial law as Jesus death on the cross fulfills all requirements of the ceremonial law.

Matthew 5:17 explains this further with: "[d]o not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them".

Both MacArthur and John Piper expand on this.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You came to rescue me and You laid down Your life for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an amazing act of grace - I am undeserving.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome such sin and turn from it towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. v6.

Yesterday, Pastor Marty gave a great sermon on chapter 6 - helping us focus on how we can avoid placing other Gods above Jesus - the one true God who is before all things and in control (Colossians 1:16-17).  

Key for me is to avoid a fake or inauthentic faith - one that has an outward appearance of faith but is weak or non-existent as a matter of the heart.  Just as God looked at David's heart vs his external appearance (1 Samuel 16:7), we should focus on our heart condition and not do what God is admonishing here in Hosea 6 - don't offer sacrifice or anything else to God as a superficial gesture.

God wants our full attention and life.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that love me - even with all of my flaws and sins - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God as I often place other gods above You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.