One Year Bible, February 23

LEVITICUS 14:1-57
Cleansing from uncleanness: First you must be examined by a priest to see if you are continuing in your sin (leprosy). If you are truly over it, there is cleansing for you. Two birds, alive and clean (Jesus and you), scarlet yarn (blood of Jesus), cedar (largest tree) and hyssop (smallest tree). One bird (Jesus) was killed over running water (Father), and the blood collected. The other bird (you) was dipped in the blood of the sinner-bird, and loosed in an open field (forgiven and set free). The penitent himself was sprinkled 7 times, for complete forgiveness, and the blood applied to his extremities as representing the whole person. Then there was a sin offering, a burnt offering, a meal offering for complete restoration.

RESPONSE:   I am free as that bird, flying in an open heaven! I've always felt that I had wings anyway. God wants us to live in a holy house, with holy possessions, and holy children, holy clothing, holy bodies, holy marriages, holy money, holy activities. God wants it all! So, how free am I really? I certainly am not free to do my own thing. That's how I got into bondage in the first place! But I am free from living according to lies, from living unclean and isolated, from living for myself - and that's free!

MARK 6:30-56
While Jesus and His posse rowed about four miles across the lake to rest, the crowds hurried 10 miles around and met them there! When it got late, Jesus made a decision to feed everyone - 5000 men, plus women and children, primarily for the disciples' benefit. He was drawing a deliberate picture for them of Himself as the NT "Moses", or the Good Shepherd, sent by God. And so, previously there was a 12-year-old girl raised from the dead, a woman healed of a 12-year flow of blood, and now twelve baskets of leftover food. Whenever the number 12 is used in the Bible, think of dominion and rulership. That night, when Jesus came to them walking on the water, and then getting into their boat, the Living Bible says in vs. 51 that "they just sat there, unable to take it in! For they still didn't realize who he was, even after the miracle the evening before! For they didn't want to believe!"

They were absolutely flabbergasted and afraid! They still hadn't figured it out! They were unable to think outside the box. Jesus had even had the crowds seated in groups like Moses did in the wilderness camps.

How do we "come to faith"? When we fail to make an important connection in progressive revelation, we fail to come to faith. We must always be connecting with God as He is revealed at the time. Jesus is here revealed as One Who can be reliably trusted to be IN CHARGE. What brings us to faith? Putting our focus on the goodness and greatness of God!

RESPONSE:   When things get "out of control" around me, they aren't really "out of control", are they! There is no such thing! My thinking may get out of control, but the rest is watched very carefully by God. In fact, when this is an issue with me, I know to get "in faith" as quickly as I can before I blow everything out of proportion with my mouth. Look at this: "Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." (Psa 89:9) And how do I get "in faith"? I start addressing the Lord as the One in control of the Universe, He never sleeps, He is never distracted, God is faithful. I am the "apple of His eye" - don't mess with me!

PSALM 40:1-10
Although David has been rescued, he still isn't completely delivered and was still surrounded by enemies. He pressed on to please God anyway. In fact, Hebrews 10:5-9 says that Jesus prayed this Psalm as He was entering the earth into Mary's womb. Isa 50:5 says "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back." "Opened" is also "pierced". The idea is that David was made willingly obedient (Deut 17:15). As Jesus came in willing obedience, knowing He would be horribly sacrificed.

"I delight to do Thy will, O my God." I aggressively pursue giving God satisfaction for my life, because I delight in God. And so he sang a "new song" of his sudden, surprising deliverance from a "horrible pit" of "miry clay". The miry clay is found at the very bottom of the pit. There was no place to get his footing, no place to stand. This means he was trapped with no way out, no chance of rescue. For Jesus, He was raised up from the grave. Where were you lifted from?

PROVERBS 10:11-12
The words and conversations of the righteous bring life, a building-up, comfort, encouragement, and strength to those who partake of it. The wicked have the opposite effect and are deceitful about it. Stirring up the pot, provoking arguments and disagreements, is a sign of hatred. It exposes the faults of others when it happens. Love overlooks offenses when they come.

RESPONSE:   I delight to give God pleasure. When I do things in obedience to God I can actually feel His pleasure. It makes an otherwise routine duty, become a privilege and a pleasure. I love to please God. There is nothing that feels as good as giving God pleasure. Nothing!