If you don't
have a one-year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to
the day's reading, http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/. This
site allows you to select from several languages and several English
translations.
JANUARY 30
What’s great about doing this reading with other people, like in a
discipleship cell, is that you can discuss and hear other observations and try
out some of your own and have people tell you that you might have overlooked
something. For example, I was talking about this stuff with my wife, who told
me that the comment I made about the magicians not being able to “create life”
had a problem because they were able to turn their sticks into snakes. I
objected because I don’t consider snakes a valid life form, just like I don’t
consider cauliflower a valid food unless you smother it in a cheese sauce,
whereas I still wouldn’t like snakes even in cheese sauce. Anyway, where was I,
oh yeah, she made a good point. Talking this stuff out in a group makes it fun
and the Spirit leads you to other insights.
One other thing. This morning I read my German one-year Bible. In the
German, the word they use for “fly,” means “biting fly.” That kind of puts a
different curve on the curse of flies. Being a city boy, I automatically think
of the common housefly, or in Latin, “buzzio obnoxyous.” If it was, in fact, a
biting fly, that adds, as the Germans would say, a little “music” to that
plague.
Exodus 10:1-12:13
Exodus 10
Vs. 1-20 Note that God does a great job of “coaching” Moses through all
of this. He encourages Moses and lets him know what’s going to happen, even up
to Pharaoh’s negative reaction. When we read this, it is very “one
dimensional.” We don’t feel the emotion or see what was happening. Moses had to
have been under tremendous pressure. Imagine walking into the White House or
the capital of Tehran and delivering this message. God is being very good to
Moses and Aaron in this very pressurized and deadly situation.
Also, this is the second time the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart. That’s
2 out of 8, meaning that Pharaoh is winning in the “who can harden my heart
more times” contest.
Egypt is now totally ruined economically. If something like this
happened to the USA, it would knock us out of “superpower” standing and the
country would be laid waste. What we don’t see, regardless of what country we
call home, is that nationally and personally, we owe God a lot more than we
think.
Egypt would never return to its former glory or strength, economically
or militarily; and, interestingly, in this “superpower” vacuum, Israel would be
able to grow, unhindered, as a nation. I guess God knew what He was doing.
Vs. 21-29 Obviously it must have been a supernatural darkness, if lamps
wouldn’t work.
God hardens Pharaoh’s heart (3 out of 9) and Pharaoh, rather than being
repentant and open, is angry and bitter. This is sort of like getting into a
fight and you know you should have stopped but you didn’t and now the other guy
has inflicted such damage on you that your pride won’t let you stop even though
you know you should.
V. 28 Although Pharaoh and Moses would meet again, it would have
nothing to do with the conflict and petition we have seen. To "see his
face," probably meant to petition him to let Israel leave. The next time
they see each other, Pharaoh will plead with Moses to leave.
Exodus 11
Vs. 1-10 Apparently, before Moses left Pharaoh, he warned him of what
was to come; and, since Pharaoh wouldn’t listen, Moses left angry with his
hardness of heart. When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, the same
thing happened. Jesus asked the Pharisees a question, and they wouldn’t answer.
Mark 3:5 says, And he (Jesus) looked
around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart. Interesting
parallel.
Exodus 12
Vs. 1-13 There is a lot to see here.
First, if you don’t know already, figure out what month this “first
month” of their year is on our calendar.
Second, God is laying in place a national/cultural/personal tradition
that will prepare them for the coming of the Christ. Talk about long-range
planning. Think about the different parts of this preparation that connect to
Jesus, salvation, and our redemption.
As disciples, our life and our call to follow Christ into the harvest,
to reach out to dying people, begins with our appreciation and love for Him
saving us. The Passover is a great picture of all of this.
When I read that they were to eat the meal fully ready to leave, it
makes me think of how we, as disciples, are supposed to live on this planet. We
are to be ready to work, to help, to share with others, to encourage and make
disciples. Down here, we are always in the harvest.
Matthew 20:1-28
The connection of these two stories is in the last sentence from our
reading yesterday about the first being last and the last being first. Jesus
will now explain what that means. It will have a meaning regarding time, God's
grace and purpose, and how a person views himself and his service.
Vs. 1-16 It looks like the time factor and the kindness of the master
are at question here. Unfortunately, I probably would have been one of the guys
complaining at the end of the story. So, what was the proper mindset?
First, each servant should have appreciation for even getting hired
(saved). I find it easy to take my salvation for granted and think that I
deserve it. The wonder of Him saving me is something that I should never “get
over.”
Second, a focus on the harvest. In Germany, we had a yard with two
cherry trees. Since it was rainy in Germany, the cherries would get ripe and
then you’d have to “mach schnell” to get everything off the trees before the
birds ate them or the cherries rotted. They’d rot right before your eyes.
Everyone was busy with other things, and I was busy, too; but I remember being
out there alone, working as quickly as I could, wishing anyone would help. I
think, with an eye on the harvest, we don’t care who comes in the last hour and
how much they are paid if we have a heart like our Savior, not wanting any to
perish.
Vs. 17-19 I don’t know if it’s just me, but doesn’t it seem like Jesus
is “coaching” His disciples just like God was “coaching” Moses? He’s telling
them, again, what is going to happen so that when it happens they can remain
strong, not panic too badly, and hold on to their faith.
With regard to the "first and last" teaching, the direction
they were going in following Jesus didn't look too glorious. This
"vineyard" looked different than the vineyard in the story Jesus
told.
Vs. 20-28 I’m not sure of all that was going on in the head of James
and John’s mother, Salome. (Salome was Jesus’ aunt, that is, His mother
Mary's sister. This means too, that James and John were Jesus’ cousins.) Did she believe Jesus was about to die? Did
she think there would be a showdown in Jerusalem, with the boys emerging
victorious? We’ll have to ask her.
Jesus was related to James and John and maybe they thought they would
be given positions of honor because of their connection. Jesus would tell them
that those places were only given by the Father, and then, they would be given
according to service and suffering.
Vs. 26-27 These words not only helped defuse the anger of the other
disciples, but they brought the discussion back to the "first and
last" teaching Jesus had given. I'm sure they had as hard a time
understanding this as we do. So who really is the "first?" Only God
knows. We know that God's goal for us is to be servants of all as we serve in
the harvest, uninterested in that position.
There is a lot of amazing stuff here for us as disciples. Are we
willing to drink the cup? Are we willing to die as He died for the sake of
saving lost people? Are we willing to be the servants of all? Read 1 Corinthians
9:19ff. Let this section sink into you.
V. 28 is worth a million dollars if we could ever internalize it and
live it. As disciples of Jesus, we are to do the same thing He did and live the
same way He lived in the harvest.
Psalm 25:1-15
I just can’t read these psalms of David, without my own heart being
pulled at because of some of the terrain the Lord has taken me through. And, I
believe, I hope, I’m closer and more useful to the Lord as a result of it.
Vs. 1-3 Notice the call to waiting. Verse 3 is quoted by Paul in Romans
9 and 10. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel.
Vs. 4-5 As we wait on the Lord, we need to learn of Him and understand
Him. Understanding God and what is happening on this planet often helps us keep
our heads in the midst of difficult circumstances. The best way to learn is to
read the Word every day.
Vs. 6-10 David calls upon God to remember His steadfast love, and he expresses his desire to be taught and to
know the ways of the Lord. David valued friendship with the Lord and He had
learned enough to know that God's love was steadfast and faithful.
Vs. 11-15 It is interesting that David had a heart like this, always
seeking God. It is what made him a man after God's own heart. In spite of his
difficulties, dangers, and sins, David always turned to God and sought Him.
We get the second half of this psalm tomorrow. I wonder what it sounded
like as a song.
Proverbs 6:6-11
Ok, grasshopper, look at the ant. (an old “kung-fu” joke)
For me, two thoughts help this “parable” apply to me.
First, this illustration has to do with anything that requires
preparation, not simply getting ready for winter.
This could be anything from training for a career to preparing to meet
God. The winter part intensifies the need; that is, “if you don’t do it now,
you’ll die later.” I often think this is what made the northern Europeans a
very organized and serious people. If you didn’t prepare, you died. And thanks
to that, we have IKEA!
Second, I qualify as this fool. And don’t be so smug, you do too. We
all do at some point, in some area of our lives. And as if the deadening power
of our own sin weren’t bad enough, we have Satan telling us to sit back, relax,
and not sweat, God is in control, so, “Hey, flip over to that channel,” or “Hey,
go and see what’s on YouTube.”
Especially in the western world, our lives become overwhelmed with
distraction and drifting, personally and in our churches. As disciples, God
gives us purpose and focus in Christ and in the harvest, and it rounds out our
lives with love and family and meaning. We have Jesus as a model, who came to
seek and to save that which is lost. Like David says above, we need to cry out
and learn His ways and seek His friendship. And then you have Jesus saying that
to follow Him you have to lose your life. But then you receive it back again in
Him.
What God is asking us, as disciples, to do here, now, on earth, in the
middle of this desperate tragedy, requires focus and work and sacrifice. What
we get in return is secondary (although great). But, it is still work. We’re
yoked to Jesus, but it is still work. But, love gives you wings.
A quote I like from Oswald Sanders’ Spiritual Leadership is,
“The heights by great men, reached and kept, were not attained by sudden
flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the
night.” (The original quote is from Longfellow).
Great disciples are great leaders/servants, reaching out and making
disciples; because they make and take the time now, to get closer to their Lord,
instead of getting lulled to sleep by distraction.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, 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 (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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