Leviticus 14:1-57 + Mark 6:30-56 + Psalm 40:1-10 + Proverbs 10:11-12
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Old Testament – Today in Leviticus chapter 14 we read about cleansing from skin diseases and treatment of contaminated houses. I found the treatment of the mildew in the houses quite fascinating – with verse 45 telling us about the ultimatum for a house if the mildew reappears: “It must be torn down, and all its stones, timbers, and plaster must be carried out of town to the place designated as ceremonially unclean.” This chapter again goes into the clean & the unclean. If you didn’t get chance to read the Bible.org commentary on Clean & Unclean from Leviticus chapters 12 through 15, you may want to take a few minutes to read it at this link. Verses 52 & 53 today: “After he has purified the house in this way, he will release the living bird in the open fields outside the town. In this way, the priest will make atonement for the house, and it will be ceremonially clean.”
New Testament – Today we read in Mark Chapter 6 verse 46: “Afterward he (Jesus) went up into the hills by himself to pray.” What a beautiful verse for each of us to meditate upon! Jesus went by himself to pray to God. It is interesting to note that this took place just after Jesus fed the 5,000. Jesus had been working hard – he is God and yet he still felt the call to pray to the Father. I think this verse is such a great reminder that you and I need to follow Jesus’ example in this verse. And we’re so not God! 🙂 So, think about how much more crucial it is for us to pray. Jesus knew that God was his source of strength. His comfort. His wisdom. And prayer was the one sure fire way for Jesus to really connect and spend time with God. How is your prayer life these days? Are you finding a good amount of time each day to be by yourself and pray? If not, can you schedule this time into your calendar each day?
Psalms – Psalm 40 starts off in verse 1 with a beautiful reflection on David “waiting patiently for the Lord” about his prayer, and in turn God “heard his cry.” David then goes forward in the Psalm rejoicing in the Lord and culminating in this powerful statement in verse 8: “I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” How does this Psalm speak to you today? Do you wait patiently for the Lord in your prayer life? Do you desire to do God’s will? Is His law within your heart today?
Proverbs – Today we read in Proverbs chapter 10 verse 11: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” WOW! I love this Proverb on so many levels. The idea of a “fountain of life” is such a great metaphor! Because I think what comes out of our mouth is so much like a fountain – and we are hopefully pouring forth Living Water for others. However, I imagine that there are times when our fountain is not quite so clean and we’re pouring forth something else. I think what I find so meaningful about this verse is that I have really been convicted of how important and impactful our words are to others. Our words can really build people up – or tear people down if we are not careful. I don’t know about you, but I know there are times in my life when I can be negative with what I say. Then, there are times when I can be very positive and I feel like the enthusiasm is contagious to others. And these are the times when perhaps my words seem to be a bit more like a fountain of life. I say all of this to just encourage you to reflect on the words that come from your mouth.
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Mark 6 about Jesus praying and Psalm 40 about David praying reminded me of the Casting Crowns song “What If His People Prayed.” Here’s a great live version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF-lXgjEHo0
Are you praying? Click here and pray!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” Proverbs 10:11 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that your mouth would be a fountain of life to all you speak to today. Pray that your mouth would be filled with righteousness.
Comments from you & Questions of the Day: Per Proverbs 10:11 above, are your words typically a fountain of life to others? Are you cognizant of what you say and how you say it to others around you so that your words truly will become a fountain of life to others? Or are you sometimes careless with your words? Do you think our words matter? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Leviticus 14:1-57
As I read the beginning of this chapter, I heard the words, “Weren’t ten cleansed?” These are the Words of Jesus after ten men who had leprosy were sent to the Temple to show themselves to the priests in Jerusalem. The text states (Luke 17:11-19) that the men with leprosy were healed as they went, so all were healed. Yet one man, a non-Jew, a foreigner, returned to Jesus after seeing that he had been healed and worshiped, 15 Then one of them, upon seeing that he was cured, turned back, recognizing and thanking and praising God with a loud voice; (AMP). Instead of sending him back on the road to Jerusalem, Jesus sent him on his way because he gave glory to God.
Reading this text in Leviticus, one can see how “expensive” it would be to be healed, purified, and cleansed. The ten men were beggars and may not have had the income to purchase what was required to be made ritually clean. However, Jesus released that one man from the burden of the requirements of the Law. Again words spoken by Jesus come to my thoughts, words spoken to the religious leaders who believed they held the “way” to righteousness, ” 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8 NIV)
The remainder of chapter fourteen is very personal to me. In December from the first through the tenth, the inside walls of my two bedroom apartment, as well as the inside exterior walls were taken down because I had mold within the walls of my apartment. I know what it feels like to be displaced while your home is being “gut” renovated while everything you own is still inside. I know what it feels like to have practically every upholstered piece of furniture thrown out because there is too much dust from the demolition and the fear that the mold has spread to everything.
I went from a horrified fear to acceptance and thankfulness, I understood the passage in the book of Romans that states, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”(Romans 12:2) The word translated “renewing” also means, renovation, complete change for the better. I recognized that my “apartment” experience had a real life application. As we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds, we may not even be able to live in ourselves because the walls are being taken down, even the sinks and the toilet.
Mark 6:30-56
“32 They left by boat for a quieter spot. 33 But many people saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and met them as they landed.”
All I can say is “folks” gotta be running real fast to outrun a boat by passing rocky terrain. It would be such a blessing to see people pursue God with the same fervor that they pursue the world.
Psalm 40:1-10
Waiting, waiting patiently, waiting without crying out to God, “Where are you,” takes a deep abiding faith and trust in God. It takes assurance and a knowing that God will do what He says He will do. I have barley arrived to the place where I know that there is a God but my heart’s desire is to be as confident as David and state boldly, “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
Proverbs 10:11-12
The words that the godly speak may not seem godly when those words are spoken. I believe most of the time the words that lead to life cut through the pride, arrogance and greed of our lives, which are painful cuts. Some words “dung it”(Luke 13:8), to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls (Strongs’ Concordance), casing aside and loosening the soil of our lives preparing our hearts to receive the incorruptible seed that is the Word of God.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Dee:
such an awesome statement you made about the lepers, or should I say, “the one leper” who received his healing and gave thanks unto God, All were cleansed but only one was freed. That is so true. There are so many people who receive redemption through Christ but yet still live in bondage and don’t realize that the chains are gone, they have been set free, like Chris Tomlins song, Amazing Grace. Thats amazing in itself!! I wanted to speak on a few things above. The Lev. 14 reminded me of reading this last year with the one year bible group and remembering the significance of the cleanliness and why it was carried out as, blood on right ear, right thumb, and right big toe, I remember last year, it was mentioned that the uncleaned once they got sanctified and cleansed from all unrighteousness, that this “blood” was an atonement and protection for them to go and be cleansed of whatsoever they heard, touched and walked, that the blood covered and protected them in all three areas, and last but not least they placed blood offereing on forehead, and I believe that was to bless whatsoever they saw, they be blessed. Kind of a reference or reminder of those little monkeys you see at markets sometimes, hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil, but with a little more preparation and that was whatsoever they walked and went be sanctified. Also, I wanted to speak from Mikes commentary above in reference to Proverbs 10:11-12 about the mouth and it being the Fountain of Life or some could speak wrongly and produce curses rather than blessings, we spoke about that at church last night, about the Word being a seed and that when you speak the seed is going forth to be harvested and either someone comes along and speaks in opposition to the Word and it gets plucked out of the soils of our heart, and sometimes we feel like the seed going forth is not getting planted or registered when another sower comes by with the same Word and “waters” it and that “aha” feeling happens with a believer. They finally realize, hey, I got it, I finally understand what you have told me all along. That happened with some of our precious men and ladies this past weekend when they went on a mission trip to a boys camp for juveniles under lock up. The ministry that goes forth there sometimes “feels” like it falls on deaf ears but then someone else “new and unfamilier” comes in and relates the same Word to them and life goes forth to that spoken Word. Also brought to mind Hebrews 4:12 and it states, For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Be careful, all of us, of our tongue, and use it to edify the Lord. God Bless,
Dee
======= Lily:
Amen Ramona & Dee.
At times (or most of the time) we forget the consequences of our actions and the words that come out of our mouth. The people around us (especially our children) learn from us through our actions and words that come out of our mouth. Words that are unclean and hurtful have a lasting effect. I am saddened that 4 letter words are becoming part of our regular part of our societies vocabulary. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be clean and acceptable to the Lord. Remind me O Lord that I can not take back what I said that may be hurtful to others. Teach me to pause and be patient before I speak.
Lily
======= Jeff:
Ramona, the one cured leper who came back to Jesus actually did exactly as he was told, whether he realized it or not. He did “show himself to the priest,” Jesus our great High Priest! The priest at the Temple wouldn’t have accepted him, a Samaritan, but Jesus accepted his grateful worship as a sufficient sacrifice and sent him on his way.
Jeff
======= Mick:
Like Mike, I was touched by Jesus going off alone to pray. I have been doing that more often these days and it has brought me closer to Jesus. The thoughts on our words and what they can do caused me to think of the writing about the tounge in James (which we will all get to later on this year).
In Christ:
Mick
======= Micah Girl:
I cannot help but read Psalm 40 without remembering my concert days in 80’s…
It was such a thrill as a new Christian to sing a psalm at a U2 rock concert:-)
Micah Girl
======= Stef:
good morning!if you take all the desriptions of a Christian from the Bible and illustrate them you would end up with some pretty wonderful images….in Philippians 2:15 is one of my favourites..we can shine like stars in the universe holding out the word of life and now today we read our mouths can be a fountain of life( what a wonderful priviledge and responsibility )….i have learned that our words can be pretty powerful , you have the ability to build a person up, encourage them, love them and yet at the same time our words if not chosen wisely can hurt people and do damage..enough reason for us to think twice before we open our mouths and consider carefully what we say.As a Christian there is not only the onus on you to be responsible for what you say and do but i was taught by an older very mature Christian that we are responsible for the perceptions of others as well..i might know what im doing is fine and all above board but if a non Christian could view what we are doing and be offended or misconstrue it would be better not to do it in that manner, we are responsible to be at all times a living witness to Christ.What is it someone once said that we might be the only Bible a non Christian would ever read?( maybe i have the saying wrong but it reminds one of the importance of the appearance of our lives to outsiders and the way God could be using us if we are obeying Him.So lets pray that we will be able to go out today and show Gods love every time we open our mouths and in how we act towards others.
Stef
======= Phil:
Stef,
Thanks for pointing out the “we can shine like stars in the universe” verse. I just re-read the final book in the Narnian tales, The Last Battle. In Narnia, stars are actually people. In the end, all the stars fall to earth and come to live with Aslan forever.
Phil
======= Alex:
From the time between the completion of the Law of Moses (ie this stuff we’re all working diligently through!!) and Jesus, there is no record of any Israelite being healed of leprosy. Miriam was healed before the Law was given and Naaman, who was also healed, was a Syrian Gentile and not a Jew.
So this section of the Bible sat there, unused, for around 1250 years. The rabbis were, of course, aware of this mystery, so by the time of the period between Old and New Testaments the belief had arisen that the ability to heal leprosy would be one of the hallmarks of the Messiah.
The amazing thing about Lev 14 is that God set it there, over 1,000 years in advance, as a ticking time bomb! When Jesus healed a leper so early in his ministry (Mark 1) and sent him to the priests, He was in effect sending the leaders a clear claim to be the Messiah. They then would have followed a clear process – 1, was this man really a leper? 2. had he been truly cleansed of the disease? 3. who had healed him?
That’s why at the beginning of Mk 2 (the story of the paralysed man let down through the hole in the roof by his mates) there are so many leaders present [some might say typical, the clergy stop the rest of the people getting close to God : )]. This is a small rural town, yet it’s packed out with the nation’s religious leaders, all checking out Jesus’ Messianic claims. And in that context Jesus takes them on a whole stage further with His dramatic declaration of the forgiveness of sins for the man (& then, almost casually, He heals him too!). So Lev 14 really is a key portion of the Bible!
Alex
======= Anka:
“Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” When he tried to get away to rest…the crowds found him…and he was filled with compassion.Dealing with people is pretty difficult most times..but instead of getting upset{when I’m hungry and tired…I find it hard to show love:( }he had compassion,ignored his own hunger and fed the crowd.
“It’s all right,” he said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.” Wow,the words are so soothing.I’m going to meditate on that as rush off to my second job….
God bless you everyone
Anka
======= Doug:
I am sure glad I found your web site. Last year I read the bible thru using the “Daily Bread” site. It is nice to recieve diffferent incite to my daily readings. Please pray for me, as I am recovering from a major auto accident. I was in a nursing home for 2 1/2 months and have been recovering at home for the last 2. The depression I get is overcome by my faith in the LORD. And daily reading of the Bible is a great start to my day.
God Bless!
Doug
======== Jim:
Reading such detailed regulations of cleansing from infectious skin diseases, I kept asking myself the reason why God gave them. Can anyone shed some light on the reason? I know that it must be perceived in the context of Moses’ time and situation. But what is the purpose besides good hygiene practice.
Jim
======= Ann:
Maybe the strict routines we read about were concerned with teaching the importance of discipline in the worship of God. Just a thought Jit.
Ann
======= John:
Jim,
The leper is already healed, all the rituals revolve around the cleansing. Certainly the priest could have declared the leper cleansed or washed him with some water and prounounced him clean – BUT God has something else in mind here.
This is a great picture of Christ. The need for the “need” offerings I mentioned in earlier posts and then the blood is required for cleansing (not healing – which foreshadows Christ), and the oil (also needed) being the Holy Spirit.
Everything is a symbolic picture – which even if the Israelites did not understand completely – (although they should as Hebrew is a word-picture and highly symbolic language) – when Christ came and taught, the links should be pretty clear. (remember what Christ said on Road to emmaus regarding OT).
The houses represent a body – the wandering nation then and the varying assemblies of the Body of Christ today.
I encourage you to read the bottom two thirds of the link Mike provided to Ray Stedman’s sermon on Leviticus 14. It will explain everything in much greater detail – and perhaps answer your query.
John
====== Johnnie:
I love the Psalms. Today it reminds me of two things that I love about God: 1) His faithfulness and 2) His unfailing love!!!
Johnnie
======= Becky:
On the topic of being careless with words, somewhere in Scripture there’s a verse that says we will be held accountable for every word we speak. I can’t remember where it is, (help, anyone?) but whenever I come across it, it makes me stop and think. Unfortunately, I still say a lot of junk that would be better left unsaid. It is something I’m still working on.
Christ in Psalm 40
Psalm 40:6 “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire…” After having just read so much about God’s specific instructions regarding sacrifices and offerings in Leviticus, this verse puzzled me. According to A.R. Fausset, verses 6-8 are the words of Christ, which Paul quotes in Hbr 10:5, “offering Himself as a better sacrifice.” It is so thrilling to me to see how the Old and New Testaments fit together, and how Christ is their theme.
Becky
======= Jenny:
before i get to the readings…wanted to share something God put on my heart to share. dont know why or for who, i havent thought of this in a loong time.
Back in the jr high sunday school department i was in, it was very small, only a few of us, sometimes just 2! my friend tonya and I. we were about 13 so we will silly giggly kids. well our teacher was Mike, he called himself Mike the Moose. He was a nice guy n taught us bible lessons every sunday…he made it fun! but, we were young silly girls and would get the giggles a lot, i guess were a little disrepectful…i didnt think so at the time, i had no idea in fact, i thought we were just having fun!
So he taught us for quite some time, then one day at class he sat us down and he looked very sad and said, ‘you know, i just dont feel i’m getting through to you guys. i try my best and you just sit and giggle and i just think i’m not supposed to be here, i’m not doing a good job and i’m not getting through. I feel like I’ve completely failed! you guys laugh and talk and dont give me your attention, and somehow i failed’. With that he told us he was quitting and that was it. my friend and i looked at each other in shock!
Later Tonya and I talked about it, we had NOOOO idea we hurt him, we had nooo idea, why didnt he say something b4 up and quitting? We both felt awful! it was so out of the blue to us! He WAS getting through to us…we were just at that age, you know? We wondered if we should talk to him and apologize…we actually tried to when he was telling us this, but he wouldnt listen.
Anyhow, after that when Tonya or I saw him around, he would ignore us!!! not even say hi! we were so saddened by this, we didnt understand at all. Did he resent us???
So anyway…I had lots of AWESOME Sunday School teachers that i will always remember…but unfortunately when I think of Mike the Moose, i think of the guy who quit. the guy who didnt persevere. the one who got upset and frustrated and just dumped us! and never talked to us again. Looking back as i’m older I can see where he may be coming from, and i guess the enemy was attacking him telling him lies.
So just remember, try your best, do unto the lord, no matter if you think you arent getting through, God IS using you. Dont be remembered as the one who quit.
I simply love Prov 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. how true! not just what Christ did for us in covering all our sins, but in our lives. If we are loving, if our attitude is not one of revenge, anger, payback…love can cover all sins. Ive seen God do such miracles in my life regarding this! Pride is a killer tho, but sometimes…or always, we have to be the ones to back down and love others.
I liked the commentary on Mark: “None are sent empty away from Christ.” how true!
Mike said it well regarding Jesus going off and praying by Himself. I confess, my prayer life could use a boost! If Jesus who was God sought prayer, how much do we!
A radio Christian ministry i was listening to talked about the trinity. Our minds cant possibly wrap around that..but one example was how each are 3 persons. So you have the Father (1), the Holy Spirit (1), and Jesus (1)…all three separate persons. yet if you multiply all, 1 x 1 x 1, you get 1 still! in that sense all are 3, yet they are one.
Jenny
======= Mae:
This can’t be true, Jenny!!!!!!! You know … I’ve been thinking about this all week!!! Well, not about your Sunday School adventure (LOL), but about getting through to people. And what happens if I give up trying to get through … that makes me a quitter!!! I don’t want to be a quitter!!! Especially when it comes to God’s word!!! It’s 2 of my aunts, they come to church once a week on Sunday. One of them is going to this church as long as me, she doesn’t talk too much about her personal relationship with God, I don’t know weather she did or didn’t say her rebirth prayer, if she did, she did it in some personal place, she didn’t go to the altar in church, I’m not judging her it’s between her and our Father, she did got baptised … okay, my other aunt sais she doesn’t have to be saved, because she never turned her back to ‘her religion’, she also sais she doesn’t have to be baptised, because she was baptised when she was 18, so she made her own decision at the time. Okay, now, I don’t want to give you the idea that I’m judging them, because I don’t know what kind of relationship they have with God. I know I had to go to the Altar in church to be saved, even though I never turned my back to Jesus Christ, I knew my sins had to be washed away, I wanted to be baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, not only in water. But that’s me and my relationship with the Lord. BUT, the thing that bothers me is that my aunts are telling people (including my 87 year old grandmother who also joins our church since a couple of months) that they don’t need to be saved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was shocked!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, come on!!! I’m going out ‘fishing’ and they go around telling people this! I mean, they join this church, this is important for our church and they’re spreading the wrong word! One of those aunts is the mother of my cousine who was saved a couple of weeks ago, Lisa. I’m glad Lisa wasn’t around her mother when she was saved, I think she would never have done it when her mother was there. Next month we have a baptism, my mom and Rene will be baptised, but Lisa didn’t present herself yet to be baptised. So my mom asked my aunt (they’re sisters) if Lisa will be baptised. My aunt said “Maybe I will have her baptised in the Summer”. In the Summer the baptisms are outside at a small lake, very beautiful! That’s important to them, the entourage … and I think it’s not about the beauty and the fun … what we’re doing in churh is not only fun! They’re always giggling and sometimes it feels they only want to ‘join’ because it seems fun. I first thought “Mae, come on, you’re annoyed because they don’t feel the same passion as you do”. But since I know they spread the wrong word … I just don’t know WHAT to feel anymore! I went through different stages 1.) leave them and hope God will show them the right path 2.) tell them up front what I think 3.) spread the right Word to the people they talk to … and since this week I was back to stage 1 … leave it to God. But I don’t want to be remembered as the one who quit …. I just don’t really know what to do with this …
I thought about U2 the minute I started to read Psalm … My older cousine and I went to Germany to buy the single “40”, it was never released in The Netherlands. I LOVE that song! I heard them singing it live and I feel blessed that I did! I think I was 12 … maybe 13 or 14. Beautiful!!!
Psalm 40 is amazing! I love verse 2 “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along”. This I feel deep in my heart!!!! “He set my feet on solid ground”, that’s what I feel! I feel steady, I feel solid, and I thank it to Him! I also love verse 10 “I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness”. Just like I’m always talking about: I’m a Christian and I’m proud of it!!!! I gospel!!!!!!! I’m NOT a quiet Christian! I really believe that my words matter! That’s why I’m really going to think about what Jenny wrote here above. I don’t want to be a quitter! I want to share what I think, feel and what I think and feel is the right thing!
Mae
======= Gary:
Psalm 40 opened up to me in a new way today. I love the way it starts with:
“I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.”
How often I need to wait on the Lord. When I do, He does “turn to me and hear my cry.” The psalmist spills out his heart, and ends with:
“I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.”
A great reminder that we should not hide the “many wonders” that God has shown to us. I was encouraged to reveal God’s “love and truth” to a world that needs to hear it.
Gary
======= Briggs:
Thanks for the various links to the commentaries on Leviticus, particularly Bible.org. They’ve been very insightful in gleaning truth and context from among these outwardly seeming grotesque sacrifices. I completely understand now Moses’ argument to Pharaoh that the Israelites had to go into the wilderness to worship because their worship would have been abhorring to the Egyptians.
All the symbolism rings with truth when linked to the New Testament but it’s hard to imagine how I would have responded to these sacrifices without the benefit of the New Testament and the wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I grew up on a farm and I’ve helped with the butchering of large animals and I still remember some of the noxious sights, and particularly the odors, of all the blood and guts. Some of the smells linger with you for days. It’s hard to imagine a Holy place with the sights and smells of blood, guts, and burnt flesh; particularly when Solomon dedicated the temple and sacrificed thousands. It’s Interesting that there is no mention of how to clean up after these sacrifices. Were the priests allowed to wash off the blood from their ears, thumbs, and toes; their priestly garments; the alter itself? Without the benefit of context, it’s terribly difficult to imagine how the LORD was pleased with the “sweet smelling aroma” of these sacrifices. Thank God for the incense that was also burned on the altar. From an outsider’s perspective, where is God in the midst of all this public killing? Surely to any outsider this would seem appalling.
Briggs
======= Jessica:
These verses stood out to me today…
Mark 6:47-51
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning[b] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him.
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here![c]” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed
Many times we are so caught up in our struggles, trying to “row” our way through it alone, that we don’t stop to recognize that He is there with us. We have to learn to not focus on the appearance of our circumstances, and look for Him. Once we let Jesus on board, the peace will come. Another thing that stood out to me was “He intended to go past them”…I believe that God allows us to struggle our way through things in our lives to help us learn to know that even when we don’t feel like He is there, He is, and that we can look beyond our fears and find Him. How awesome is our Savior!
Thank you all for sharing your comments and insights on this blog! This is my first year to read the One Year Bible, and I love, love, love this blog!!!
God bless!
Jessica
======= Beth:
Just a quick question… what do you suppose was with the scarlet yarn and the wood thing???
Beth
======= Dee:
Beth,
I believe the scarlet yarn stood for and was significant as the blood sacrifice as was the clean animals. God gave His son for us(the clean, pure lamb of God) and we give of our self a sacrifice back(our life, our possessions, in this sense the scarlet yarn) Its just like in Joshua when the story of Rahab was told(Joshua 2, and 6:22-23), the spies told her to place a scarlet rope in her window seal for deliverance and in rememberance and covenent with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That way, her and her household would be saved even when Jericho was destroyed! This be in “rememberance of Me”–God. I hope that helps a little. I am not sure about the wood spoon, maybe significant with the tree they used in Calvary, It was a dishonor and a sinful nature to be hung on a tree. Tree/wood/ you see some comparison and a connection here? I don’t know, I may be completely off course here, but that is what I got from it. God Bless…
Dee
======= Steve:
Leviticus 14:1-57
What stood out for me in the readings today was Leviticus 14:14-17 the priest taking some of the blood from the guilt offering and applying it to the person’s right ear lobe, right thumb and the right big toe. As I imagined putting the blood on my right ear lobe, then my right thumb and my right big toe I wondered what does this mean. After putting the blood on the ear, thumb and toe, the priest then applies oil over the blood on the ear, thumb and toe.
This raised my curiosity sending me on a quest through commentaries and searches until I found this “If one considers the ear a symbol of hearing, the thumb a symbol of working, and the toe a symbol of walking, one can regard this action as indicating that priests (and later cured “lepers”) are now commissioned and established to listen to God, to work for God, and to walk with God.” The blood is ceremonial for cleansing and the oil ceremonial for anointing the person.
Thank God we no longer have to apply the blood over and over again. Jesus has fulfilled all of these ceremonies and rituals concerning sacrifice and blood once and for all. Daily we come to the source; Jesus Christ who has cleansed us from all unrighteousness and has blessed us with all spiritual blessings.
Steve
======= Jennifer:
I was wonder about psalm 40 and its foreshadowing of Jesus.
This sounds like Christ,
Another question, Did Mark not write about Peter walking on the water because he was not in the boat?
Jennifer
======= Deb:
Thank you all for the thoughtful comments. I really appreciate the added wisdom.
Deb
======= Bob:
There is valuable in listening to Ray Stedman’s commentary (1972)above in “Sick Garments and Dieseased Houses” He tackles the translations so they deal with our own spiritual and physical lives. For instance, the difference of Healing which is a sovereign act of God to Cleansing which is an understanding and change of the behavior. I enjoyed the symbols such as the 2 birds which point to the actions of what Jesus did for us. (Atonement). If you don’t have time now, I suggest to save it for another time.
Bob
======= Russ:
I have found myself trying to immediately give God praise and grattitude after every small and large daily victory. It helps to remind be that everything is his.
Russ
======= Jill:
Psalms 40:10 stood out to me today ” I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.”.
Do we tell of Gods wonder in our life? How he answers prayers and does small miracles in our life? Do we share our stories of how God has transformed us? I heard someone say we have 2 stories to tell. One is a scar story and one is a wound story . The “wound” story is where you have been hurt by someone and it never heals over. It’s always an open wound. You hang on to the pain. The other story is a “scar” story. You have been hurt but you allowed God to heal your pain and slowly it formed a scar . You tell others how God changed you and brought healing to your life! What story do you want to share?
Im exhausted reading all the cleansing rituals done back in OT! I m glad we can take our burdens right to Jesus! Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJVR). When sick as s child my mother comforted me. Now I go to my Heavenly Father.
Regarding prayer life, pray without ceasing! And tell of Gods great wonders! A bible teacher said ” you wanna know how much one loves their Saviour? Listen to their conversation . If it’s me, mine and I , then they are not sharing their faith!” Watch your words! Glorify God in conversation. Be intentional in sharing how God is working in you
Jill
======= Carol:
I’ve found myself in miry clay so many times and how wonderful it is when He lifts me out of it to firm ground again.
I love the thought of my mouth being a fountain of life and want it to be so, sort of like the thought of being fruitful. I want to pursue it and achieve it….. with God’s power and for His Glory!
I want to pray along with David today, that I desire to do God’s will and that His law is within my heart!
Carol
======= Robert:
Proverbs 10:11
How words can affect people around you. This happened a few years ago when a good friend was having troubles with his two teen sons. As he confided in me, the words I had for him came from my own experience with my sons. After talking with him that night, he honored me with expressing how my knowledge had given him great insight and he called me a sage! I felt my words were a “fountain of life” for him.
Mark 6:46
After leaving the crowd and his disciples, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Why? He doesn’t have to. It really is more of an example to us of what it is to commune with God. It will satisfy every need. I like Deedee’s comment. I don’t know if Jesus needed to do it but it is a perfect answer to what his human side needed and what we need as well. “The power of rejuvenation”.
Robert
======= Mitch:
OT – Have seen houses after hurricanes that had to be torn down because of mold. A new house was constructed. This is a picture of our salvation. Our old body was discarded (because of sin), and we became a new creation in Jesus. Mold (sin) does spread.
NT – Mark 6:52 – struggled with the idea of disciples’ hearts being hardened or dull to understanding. Then realized – they had been on the go for awhile, had seen and done much, a kind of sensory overload. Think they (and I know I do) needed to have time to reflect and take it all in and absorb all the truth and miracles they were exposed to with Jesus.
Mitch
