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.
APRIL 11
Joshua 3-4
Joshua 3
Vs. 1-6 There is something in this I've never seen before. According to
the Bible Knowledge Commentary, Joshua moved the entire nation seven
miles and they camped out near the Jordan. They moved those seven miles, with
no clue as to how they were going to cross the Jordan. It was March, just
before the Passover, and apparently the snow from Mt. Hermon in the north was
melting and the river was overflowing its banks. This shows how much the people
had changed and what God had been doing in them for 40 years. This generation
of Israelites might have been the godliest generation that ever represented the
nation. They didn't complain and make problems when faced with
"impossible" circumstances. They simply followed and waited. Now they
waited three days, getting organized, but waiting for God's provision.
As disciples, following isn't easy, and that's why many don't follow in
the harvest. What if God doesn't do His part? Why get so
"uncomfortable" for nothing? God will love us anyway. But it is only
in sacrifice, following, depending and waiting in this harvest, that we really
get close to God. It is in the impossible that we see His power and bear fruit
for God. But it all comes down to faith and following, absolutely convinced
that even a "dead end" has meaning and will lead somewhere. It didn't
make sense that God led 2 million + people to the edge of a swollen river. But
He did. It doesn't make sense for us to follow from day to day without
security, for the sake of the Kingdom and for the harvest and the Lord. But we
do. And if we have a very big God, we don't have to complain.
Philippians
2:13-16 for it is God who works in you,
both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling
or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without
blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine
as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of
Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
V. 4 Notice that the people had to keep a distance from the ark. It
symbolized the presence of God, and although all they could see were the
priests carrying something draped in ornate skins, they knew to respect it.
Vs. 7-13 All of these people had only known Moses' leadership and many
had never seen what happened at the Red Sea. They would all enter the land of
promise with a unique sign that would show them the certainty of God's presence
and the authority of Joshua.
Vs. 14-17 There were a couple of miracles here. Not only did the water
gather far north, but the river bed dried up quickly. If the Levites holding
the ark were in the middle of the river, and the people had to keep a distance
of 3000 feet, it must have been a crossing that took place for miles on each
side of the ark. It might also have been a miracle for the priests to have
stood there with those poles digging into their shoulders, waiting for 2
million people to go across the Jordan.
This was not only a big day for Joshua, but also for the priests representing
God and leading the people.
Joshua 4
There are a lot of things that can feed your heart in this passage. How
incredible that God fulfilled this incredible promise. They were in the land.
Vs. 1-10 Notice the monuments for remembrance that God had the people
make. One was in the middle of the Jordan and the other was where they camped
on that first night in the land. I don't think God is into
"scrapbooking," but He does go for remembrance and education of the
next generation. What items of remembrance do you have at home, in your family,
in your office, that remind you of God's faithfulness? It is something that
disciple makers/ leaders do for a group as you work together in the harvest
making disciples, who make disciples. I have a couple of "stones of
remembrance" in my office right now that remind me of God doing great
things when it seemed like the doors were shut.
By the way, those stones that Israel moved were big stones. Those guys
must have been strong, or were made strong in a way they didn't realize. I have
carried natural stones for landscaping that were about two ft long and one ft
high and one ft thick and they were herniatingly
heavy. A pile of 12 of those wouldn't have made much of a monument. I think
that God must have given these guys superhuman strength. Also, If Joshua set up
12 stones that could be seen when the river was still flooded, how big were
those stones?
Vs. 11-14 The 2.5 tribes went first, fully armed and looking ready for
a rumble. If the Canaanites had planned a surprise party, the river going dry
and the appearance of these guys would have given them second thoughts. By the
way, you can bet there were people somewhere watching this happen. This gave
the new generation a sense of awe, both of God and of Joshua.
Vs. 15-18 What an awesome moment. After all those years since Jacob
left Canaan for Egypt, Israel is finally, completely, back in the land.
Vs. 19-24 are really great verses and 23-24 explain something important
in our own lives. God leads us through tough times, so that when He delivers
us, He can use His work in our lives as an example to others. He strengthens
our faith in following and shows others that He is mighty so that we might fear
and love the Lord forever.
Luke 14:7-35
I don't think Jesus was picking a fight here. I believe He might have
received an impulse from the Spirit as He observed how vain and petty these
important people were.
Vs. 7-11 It appears that when Jesus was invited to a party by a
Pharisee, He was a real party-pooper. Talk about having guts. Anyway, these
lessons were for the Twelve, and for us as His disciples. If you live your life
to receive the recognition of men, you cannot be a disciple. In another
conflict with the Pharisees, Jesus said to them in John 5:44, How
can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the
glory that comes from the only God? I think that verse puts this
section together pretty well. They looked to each other for recognition, but in
the parable, when invited by God, well, they were busy.
Vs. 12-14 And He had a special lesson for the host. Apparently his goal
in inviting some of these people was to receive from them.
In both of these parables, Jesus is teaching His disciples something He
has explained before; that is, if your treasure is in heaven, you can live and
serve down here with reckless abandon, without anxiousness and without the need
to win approval from others.
Vs. 15-24 This looks like someone tried to change the subject or get
Jesus to say the "amen" to his statement. Verse 16 shows that Jesus
was rebutting what this man said. Apparently it was assumed in what this guy
said, that they would all get to heaven. So, why should Jesus take all of this
so seriously? This fits together with what Jesus said yesterday about striving
to get into heaven now, while the opportunity presented itself. These people
who were invited took this all too casually. This earth is about life and
death.
Vs. 25-35 It almost seems to me that Jesus was walking later and
thinking of all that had happened. He realized that most of the people
following Him had no clue how humanly difficult it was to come to Him.
Vs. 26-27 To follow Jesus would require such an allegiance to Him that
it would take total priority over every other relationship. Following Jesus
would mean willingly going to your death.
Vs. 28-32 I think these stories are given to get people to want to
follow Him, and to do it with a serious understanding. Even today, people
become believers and remain at a place in their lives of casual commitment.
They love church and worship and pot-lucks. They'll even become missionary
tourists and paint a building in Haiti. That is not the same as living a
disciplined life of death and denial on earth every day to follow Christ, to
reach the lost and to make disciples, who make disciples.
V. 33 This is the point of all that Jesus has said. I think
"all" means "all."
Vs. 34-35 A disciple is supposed to be different and make a difference.
Psalm 80
This looks like another post-exile psalm. This psalm echoes what
Moses/God said would happen. The people would be removed from the land because
of their sin. The appeal made to God is to His faithfulness and His glory, to
remember His promise to their fathers.
This psalm breaks down nicely into three parts, each concluded by the
appeal and refrain of the psalm.
Vs. 1-3 God saved Israel from death by sending Joseph into slavery in
Egypt. Remember how Benjamin played a part in this story. When God raised up
Joseph, He gave Joe two sons who became tribes in Israel. Then comes the
refrain.
Vs. 4-7 But now after their disobedience and exile, God seems to be
ignoring them and their enemies laugh at them. Then comes the refrain.
Vs. 8-19 God brought them out of Egypt and planted them like a vineyard
with a wall. In v. 12 God broke down their walls, because of the sin of Israel,
and allowed wild animals to ravage the vineyard. In v. 17 the psalmist asks for
the son of man to come and help them
and lead them to restoration. I think that is prophetic, looking ahead to
Jesus. When they call on Jesus in those final days, the glory of His face will
shine upon them.
It is interesting to find portions of Scripture that inspired songs. I
missed mentioning one in Matthew 9:28, when Jesus asked the two blind men if
they thought He could heal them. They said to Him, Yes, Lord. You know what song that's in, right? Psalm 80 is sung
almost verbatim by a group called The Sons of Korah and is very good. And on
that note, in the NT we read Jesus’ warning for the would-be disciple to “Consider
the Cost,” which is a great song by Steve Camp.
Proverbs 12:27-28
I prefer and agree with the other reading of v. 27 given below in the
margin of The One Year Bible, "but diligence is precious wealth."
Diligence is the reward that makes a man rich. And to make the connection to v.
28, the righteous are diligent to live following the Spirit, following Christ,
in His Word, in His harvest, making disciples, who make disciples.
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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