March 27, Reading Notes

Deuteronomy 7-8

This is such a rich section, I don't feel I need to say much. Feed your heart. There are amazing truths here that can also be applied to us.

Note that God speaks of the inhabitants of the land as if they are a danger to Israel, danger by spiritual / cultural infection. The same thing that the Spirit tells us, to not be conformed to this world.

Notice how often love is mentioned.

Notice the phrase "the Lord your God."

Or notice how often God refers to the fathers or to bringing them out of Egypt.

There is so much.

So why did God choose us to become followers of Christ? Love. If you witness to people, you understand the miracle of someone who will listen and open their heart. Why? Because they're smart or sensitive or good? Somewhere in there, I believe there is a molecule of will, so small as to be nearly inconsequential. The rest is pure grace; God choosing the foolish and the weak and low and despised to save and make followers of Christ in the harvest.

Luke 7:36-8:3

If we are talking about love in saving us, here it is again. We love because He first loved us. But, and this is a question for each of us, were we really, really, really lost, or sort of on the border? This is an event that cuts right to our hearts too. Those who follow in the harvest passionately are those who realize the miracle of their own salvation. They realize they were desperate, with no way to pay: hopeless. They love much and follow their Savior in His work, seeking the lost, working with the other redeemed, making disciples who make disciples.

What does the Lord say to you in this story?

One note here is that it is supposed that this might be Mary Magdalene. It doesn't say it is. The woman who anoints Jesus' feet is a sinner, not demon possessed. Although, obviously, He might have already cured her, but then, you wonder why Simon wouldn't have had a bigger fit. Who knows?  Mary, called Magdalene, is introduced immediately after this story.  Who knows?

What we do know is that another Mary, the rich one who lived with Martha and Lazarus, heard this story and, just before Jesus was crucified, humbled herself and did the same thing for Him that this "sinful" woman did.

At the end of this passage it mentions other women who became disciples. Why did they follow Jesus? Why do you follow Jesus?

Psalm 69:1-18

This Psalm is quoted in several places in the NT. We just have the first half of Psalm 69 today and there are at least 3 references that I can find, all of which refer to Jesus. Tomorrow there will be some more references. The Spirit designed David's experience to mirror what Jesus would someday feel. Pretty interesting that God can do that with us and our lives, to be an encouragement or lesson or model for others. He doesn't ask us first. He just does it. And since we know He loves us, and we love Him and would have been dead without Him, we rejoice in His use of our lives, knowing that, "in everything He works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."

Read this Psalm as Jesus' suffering on the cross. Notice verses 4 and 9. Also, since Paul quotes from this Psalm, I'm willing to bet it was an important Psalm to him as a disciple following Christ in the harvest.

Proverbs 12:1

There's that "L" word again.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.