April 18th Bible in a Year Readings

Joshua 16:1-18:28 + Luke 19:1-27 + Psalm 87:1-7 + Proverbs 13:11
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Old Testament - In Joshua chapter 18 verse 1 today we read - "Now that the land was under Israelite control, the entire Israelite assembly gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle."  Shiloh was located about 25 miles north of Jerusalem.  The tabernacle remained in Shiloh throughout the period of the Judges, or about 300 years.  We will later read about Samuel traveling to Shiloh with his family.  The tabernacle at Shiloh may have looked something like this -

New Testament - Today in Luke chapter 19 we read the awesome story of Jesus’ interactions with Zacchaeus the Tax Collector. As we read through this story about Zacchaeus “the sinner,” does anything maybe correlate with our life story today? Consider verse 9 – “Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” What does this mean that Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost? Did Jesus seek Zacchaeus? Did Jesus save Zacchaeus? Now, take a moment if you will to reflect back on your life and your interactions with Jesus. Like Zacchaeus, were you a “sinner?” Like Zacchaeus, did Jesus seek you? Are there moments in your life where you really have felt that Jesus literally has been “pursuing” you? (I know I have had these moments in my life – thank God for them!) And, most importantly – like Zacchaeus – has Jesus saved you?

Interesting!  The Story of the Ten Servants is something I reflected on back in our readings of Matthew. But what stood out to me today was verse 11 - "The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away."  This is very interesting to note that Jesus told this story to correct the impression that the Kingdom would begin right away!  The Jewish people were looking for a Messiah that would overthrow the Roman political structure.  A fighting / revolutionary Messiah that would free Jerusalem from Rome.  Instead, as we all know, Jesus died on a cross with nails that were driven into his hands and feet by Roman soldier.  Not quite what the Jews at this time were expecting in a Messiah...  And here we have this story that's purpose is to show the Kingdom would not begin right away.  This makes sense.  It is the paradox of the Kingdom of God being already / not yet.  And while Jesus first came to usher in the Kingdom, its fulfillment is not complete until his Second Coming.  And - while we are awaiting the fulfillment of the Kingdom, how are we utilizing the talents God has given us?  How are we utilizing our time, treasure, and talents?  Is it for the Kingdom's benefit? 

Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 19 readings today titled "The Nobleman: His Slaves and His Citizens" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 87 is a celebration of Jerusalem as the City of God, as we read in verse 3 - "O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!"  As we continue to read through the One Year Bible this year it is amazing to reflect upon how much focus there is on Jerusalem as the city of God.  Truly, so many of the Psalms glorify Jerusalem, often as a foreshadowing of the Heavenly City of God.  Indeed, as this verse suggests, many glorious things are said of Jerusalem in the Bible!

Proverbs - Proverbs 13 verse 11 is a great verse to consider as we watch those late night TV infomercials... :) - "Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows."  Are we focusing our working lives on working hard or trying to get rich quick...

Worship Video: Today's readings reminded me of Mac Powell's song "River of Life:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceVLJ2Xm1UM

Have you been to the river of life? Click here and be washed clean!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time." Proverbs 13:11 NLT

Prayer Point: Pray that you will not pursue wealth from get-rich-schemes. Pray that you will work hard, give and save money, while growing your wealth over time. Pray that your ultimate investments are in God's Kingdom and not in the markets of this world.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Have you every fallen prey to the idea of "getting rich quick"?  Do you see the wisdom of hard work over get-rich-quick schemes?  From which avenue does true wealth ultimately come from?   And, really, what is true wealth?  Is it what the world offers or perhaps something God offers?  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.

p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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Comments

[Ramona]

Joshua 16:1-18:28
9 Ephraim was also given some towns with surrounding villages in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh. 10 They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.

This passage and others like it from yesterday and today’s reading are thoroughly convicting me. In the giving of the boundary lines I see God setting up boundaries in my heart and telling me to 1) root out every enemy from within the boundaries, 2) keep out enemies that are without from coming in, and 3) remain obedient to God’s commands so that I will complete the task of item one and have the strength to guard my borders from item two.

That she, Israel, failed to do that means she played with sin. It means that she took sin and used it to support other endeavors even though she may not have participated directly in the sin, she shored up her economy on the back of sin. What is in my heart that God has commanded me to root out and I have said, “It’s to hard, it’s stronger than I?” What sin n my heart have I kept in the corner supporting an “industry” that I declared will do good things for God? If Israel made slaves of her enemies, the ones she was suppose to root out, and then excused herself for doing so because now they can give more time to worshiping God, then her worship is built on a lies, deceit and corruption destined to fail. How far-off from Israel am I, are we, if we do likewise?

Luke 19:1-27

Mike in regard to your Comments on Zacchaeus, I see Zacchaeus as being saved because he knew he was lost. As the most influential Jew in the tax-collecting business, Zaccheaus had become very rich by ripping off people and he felt guilty. Although it doesn’t say that in the text one can figure that out by his behavior, climbing up a tree to get a look at Jesus and immediately declaring he would repay those he had ripped off. People may have influence amongst the people they are ripping off but that doesn’t mean they have there respect. Influential people who feel their wealth has brought them salvation would not be climbing trees, they would be summing folks to them. The Queen of England summons people to her court not the other way around.

There are a lot of people who don’t know where they are and don’t know where they are going, but haven’t admitted that to anyone, much less themselves. They can’t be saved because they don’t know they are lost.

In the story of the ten servants what struck me and caught my attention was the fifteenth verse as read in the NIV, 15 “He was made king, however, and returned home.” Despite sending a local delegation to tell the “man of noble birth,” that they didn’t want him to be their king, He was made King anyway. We can believe there is no God, we can reject God and go after other gods and submit ourselves to them; however, that doesn’t stop God from being God.
Psalm 87:1-7

In the turmoil that is the Middle East verse four and five let us know that in God there will be a Peace,

4 I will record Egypt and Babylon among those who know me--
also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia.
They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!
5 And it will be said of Jerusalem,
"Everyone has become a citizen here."
And the Most High will personally bless this city.

Proverbs 13:11

Mike, there are the late-night infomercials and then there are the State Lottery, and multi-state Power-Ball, get your one-billion to one money here, because the gifts, talents and abilities God has placed within you are always going to keep you poor. God is portrayed as not being able to supply our needs so let the state and the bookie give you what God can’t do.

If you don’t know how to make a million you won’t know how to keep a million. That is why nine out of ten lottery winners are bankrupted within five years and go to lottery winner support groups.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Dee]

Absolutely hard work pays off and not trying to cheat to get rich. It's neat that our stories foreshadow future stories in the bible..like Joshua today and shiloh..preparing that Samuel's family will come through in Judges and Jesus knowing the inner doubts about a King taking over the government of Rome and being a vicious king and God and Jesus was humble and kind and actually was nailed and crucified by those very same Roman's. Wow. History unfolding

[Dd]

Good evening, Joshua was sounding a little like stories of young when Joshua and Caleb had to search out the land and send spies ..kind of a repeat and similarities.

Luke: the story of Zacheuss. I love that story! Loved teaching to my kindergarten

Psalm: the Most High will bless this city! Blessed indeed

Proverbs: get rich quick schemes..prayers that none of my fam fall prey to that..deadly and scary.

Stay in peace. Be blessed

[DM]

Hi Mike, not sure if I ever fell for the get rich schemes but there are so many scams and click bait that people get entangled with. One time I had someone same I had won some money and that they knew my mon when she was living or something..it was wierd..they wouldn't call me it was all text..my husband helped me and let me know it's all automated and some kind of scam..its sad..and what is the saddest is when the little old elderly get tricked or abused in this situation. Thankful for God's grace and love to sustain me.

[Carol]

I thank God that although I've strayed at times, Jesus is always there and as time goes on and I grow in the Lord, the Holy Spirit will bring me back to my senses with scripture reminders of exactly what I should be doing/thinking.

I think we today sometimes have a wrong idea of who Jesus is and why He came and what He is going to do! We still want Him to do what we want/expect Him to do! He said He came to seek and to save the lost, and we are supposed to be doing that also.... but it can be hard sometimes when we are irked at the lost! (anyway I can get irked) Right now I am working on staying away from anything that will cause me not to love them as I should.

[Joyce]

Mike and everyone,
Luke 19:1-10
Today as I read the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, I felt very touched.
I see the truthful, genuine interaction between Zacchaeus and Jesus, that surpassed the displeased sentiment of the crowd.
3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. (Luke 19:3-6 NLT)
The one that Zacchaeus wanted to see was Jesus, and he strived hard to make it happen - his height and the crowd didn't stop him.
And when Jesus came up, He looked up and spoke to Zacchaeus, called him by name, and wanted to be a guest in Zacchaeus' house that very day.
The crowd all the while, I imagine, was displeased. But that didn't deter Zacchaeus - he quickly climbed down and invited Jesus as his house guest -- with great excitement and joy.
In our relationship with Jesus, sometimes, it is that personal!
If people cheer us on - great! But even if not, when Jesus has His eyes on us, and calls on us, may we respond right away, with excitement and joy -- amen.
Thank you Mike for your faithfulness in leading us to read the Bible each day!
Thank you brothers and sisters for your valuable comments!

Sincerely,
Joyce

[Bob]

The Zacchaeus story always reminds me of when I taught Vacation Bible School and the kids and I had to learn and perform this lovely little song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkd-QFD7vMA
By the way if you have kids or know someone who has kids, a great gift are the Veggie Tales CD's or DVD's. (They are also for adults)

[Duane]

I was thinking about the apostle Paul, when he was on his way to Damassus. Jesus appeared to him and called him out. Saul, as he was called then, was not seeking the Lord, he was going to have christains put in jail for following this new group called the way. Jesus sought out Saul and Saul ackowledge his sin and became converted. I believe that Jesus does seek us out. I know in my own situation, that I was miserable, I knew that Jesus was the answer, but I kept running from him.jesus kept pursuing me and a day came at his timing, when I finally surrendered my life. Zacchaues was definitely being sought by the Lord, but he was also aware of his sinfulness having heard of the reports concerning Jesus. Perhaps Zacchaues had seen people who had been healed or who were now acting completedly different as a result of having seen Jesus. This is what cause Zaccaues to become curious and started looking for answers. Perhaps I,m reading to much into it, but thats the way I see it.

[Bajo]

What if Zaccheus was not just a "wee little man" but was a Hoffa-type gangster? That's how I envision him.

[Frederick]

Luke continued to describe Zacchaeus's encounter with Jesus. Zacchaeus was a wealthy man (like the rich ruler). Yet (as Romona commented), he knew about his sins in his tax collection practice. He finally 'saw' Jesus and Jesus visited his house and have a dinner in his house. One might say that the blind beggar had nothing to lose to follow Jesus. But Zacchaeus illustrated the work of God in Zacchaeus's heart and Zacchaeus's response to Jesus. God is fair. Both the blind beggar (the poor) and Zacchaeus (the rich) received Jesus's eternal blessings. The key issue is your choice and response to Jesus.

[Lily]

The story of Zaccheaus is one of my favorite. God came to save the lost and not the righteous. If we acknowledge that we have sinned and repent of our sins, God will surely forgive us. God knows us, as he knew Zaccheaus was up on the tree and his sins of cheating people. We can not hide our sins from God. In order to be forgiven, we have to acknowledge before God are sins as Zaccheaus did in front of Jesus. I pray that I will always hear God's invitation especially when I am tempted. Thank God for His mercies.

[Jen]

Luke 19:1-27;
If we prove to be trust worthy with a little bit we will be given more responsibilities.

Psalm 87:1-7;
I wondered where Zion was when I read todays Psalm in this website http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20030116.htm it says “from the physical place where a conquering Israelite king (David) established his home for the benefit of his people, to a spiritual place where another conquering King will establish His home for the benefit of all people.”
With this in mind I reread the Psalm and learn that to born in Zion means to be a Christian. The book of life includes your and my names if we are Christains and so we will entitlement to live in the city of Zion (heaven). There we will sing praises to god and dance happily forever rejoicing that we are there we have made it home.

Proverbs 13:11
Gambling is a way of gaining money wrongly and we all too often see people lose it. Accumulating and saving money well earned through working hard grows and grows until we have a nice bit for our retirement. Not do easy to do in today’s economic environment but true nevertheless.

[Jenny]

A verse that stood out, or jumped out at me was Joshua 18:3.."Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: 'How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?'"...hmm. God spoke something personal to me there, areas of my life I am being maybe 'lazy' in. I couldnt find commentary in my study bible so i pulled out the big guns, the Vernon McGee 10 Yr Bible with commentary! ;)
regarding Josh 18:3 it says:
"This is also God's challenge to us. He has made available to us all spiritual blessings, but we are slack when it comes to claiming them. God has been so good to us. Oh, how we can thank Him for His grace, His love, His goodness, His mercy. How wonderful He is! Why dont we move in and possess the land He has given us."

Luke 19:26 kinda confused me.‘"For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him".
My Study Bible, which referred me back to Matt 25:29 says: The recipients of divine grace inherit innumerable blessings in addition to eternal life and the favor of God (cf. Rom. 8:32). But those who despise the riches of God's goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, burying them in the ground and clinging instead to the paltry and transient goods of this world, will ultimately lose everything they have.

Wow, I love that picture of the kingdom, or new Jerusalem and the clouds, thats beautiful!
Yes, I believe in working hard and no, I have never fallen for a get-rich-quick scheme, I'm too smart for that! : }

[Gina]

What a great picture of ourselves at times with the story of Zacchaeus, the "sinner"! What stands out is to me is how the crowd reacts to Jesus wanting to stay at his house. They are the first to point fingers and be judgemental - probably thinking "why would Jesus want to stay with THAT sinner...I'm way better than he is....Jesus should be staying with someone like me. I don't know about you, but I find myself, my prideful self, in that place more often than I like to be. Bottom line, this story humbles me.

I haven't fallen prey to the "get rich quick" stuff on TV, but I have falled prey to the "lose 20lbs in 2 days with this rubber band" kind of stuff! Pilates videos and other things that you can lose weight quick...waste of money, mainly because once you get the stuff home, you use if for a week then it ends up in a closet somewhere!

True wealth is the joy found in Jesus Christ - no matter what your circumstances are at that time. Money can't buy what Jesus can give you! Once you have Him, everything else becomes meaningless.

[Mae]

Luke 19:9 "Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." ~ To me, it means that Jesus came to seek for the ones that were lost and wanting to save them. Jesus defenitly came to save me 8 months ago, well ... that was the first time I was actually willing to accept Him. He, of course, came many many times knocking at my door. Yes, I was a sinner and still am a sinner. I wish I was without sins ...

Proverbs 13:11 "Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows." ~ I don't believe in 'get-rich-quick'. First of all because I don't need to be rich, and I mean 'money-rich'. And second of all ... well, there's not really a second of all, LOL, I just don't need to be rich. I'd love to be rich in: having more wisdom and having a bigger heart. But money and material mean nothing to me. I care a great deal about what God gives me and not about the things I might think I need to have. Since I'm reborn we lead a pretty basic life and that's just fine with me.