April 8, Reading Notes

Deuteronomy 32:28-52

Notice how God refers to Himself as Israel's "Rock" throughout the entire song.

V. 44 It looks like Joshua had a part in the "singing" of this song.

Vs. 46-47 are very powerful words and apply to each of us too. As Christians, we still have the tendency to underplay the daily importance of the Word in our lives. As followers of Christ in the harvest, like the circulation of blood through our bodies, the Word has to be constantly circulating through our hearts and minds. The wreckage we see in the lives of believers is directly connected to this.

V. 48 I wonder how I would feel if I knew that when I finished my sermon, I would die? That might be a reason to preach a really long sermon. But on the other hand, what does it mean to die? We show what we really think of God and Heaven when we become overwhelmed by fear when we think of death.

Luke 12:35-59

Luke 12:35-48

I struggle with this parable a little. I take this sleeping, sloppy, grumpy servant to be a saved person. In Luke you can make a case for that; but in Matthew, this servant is punished "with" the unfaithful where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This description of weeping and gnashing is used for hell.

In both Matthew and Luke, the servant is punished or beaten, whereas in all other places, people are thrown into hell, there is no beating beforehand. My sense is that those Christians who fell asleep in the light, will be saved, but only as through fire. That "fire" of judgment for the unfaithful believer will have some aspect of punishment that will be awful like fire, but not like the fire of eternal condemnation.

I wonder what this sleeping servant looks like? I wonder if he's more common than we think. Since I mentioned "Asleep in the Light," this is a good place to watch Keith Green sing it. It's a song that has meant a lot to me and been a motivation to hunger now, and not to fall asleep.

Luke 12:49-53

Still speaking to the disciples, Jesus mentions that the effect of His Gospel will be conflict. If what He said about the broad and narrow gates is true, it stands to reason that there will be more conflict than agreement. Our job in the harvest is to tell everyone the truth of the Gospel and to find those who are open We don't know who will accept, but we do know that all men are condemned and under the power of sin. Compassion has to win out over conflict. The very fact that Jesus is warning us should assure us that we're not failures if people don't come to Christ. The only "failure" is to not bear witness to Christ. How we bear witness can be easier than we think, but there will always be resistance in our hearts and from the spiritual powers around us.

Luke 12:54-59

I think we all get this. For me it is interesting that Jesus is using verses 58-59 in another context, God being the offended party here, while in the Sermon on the Mount, it applies to a person you are in conflict with.

The message to the crowd is simple, "you know He's coming so get your business straight with God." Somewhere in everyone's heart, they understand that there is a creator and that there will be a day of giving account to Him. Before I came to Christ, I had a "sneaking suspicion" that that was true. As I was coming to the place of giving my life to Christ, as the truth was becoming clear, I remember thinking, "I knew it."

Excuse the lead-in, and the "campy" images in this next video, but it's a great song and a great message from Carmen. The video replays the song so you might only want to listen to it once.

Psalm 78:56-64

This sounds like the period of the judges before Samuel became their main judge and freed Israel from the dominance of the Philistines.

V. 61 sounds like the capturing of the Ark of the Covenant.

Proverbs 12:24

Well, I know which guy I want to be.

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.