One Year Bible, March 2

LEVITICUS 25:47-27:13
Kinsman-Redeemer:  (1) A near-relative with money to redeem relatives who are sold into slavery because of debt (Lev 25:47-49). (2) A near-relative with money to redeem forfeited property (Lev 25:25). (3) A near-relative who avenged wrongs done to their kinsman (Lev 24:20; Gen 14:13-14). (4) A near-kinsman who married his widowed sister-in-law to produce an heir for his brother (Deut 25:5). As our Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus has fulfilled every obligation.

Obedience and Disobedience to the Covenant: Obedience and submission to God brings blessing and contentment and fulfillment. Disobedience to the covenant of God brings failure and death and all the other horrors listed here.

RESPONSE:    "Fleeing when no one is pursuing you" is paranoia. I've been paranoid after I've sinned. I think everyone knows and is judging me, even though they probably aren't. And the paranoia doesn't go away until I have repented. If I feel paranoid, then I do a spiritual "check-up" - because something is wrong. That's because the "peace of God" is the "umpire" or "governor" in our hearts (Col 3:15) - it is supposed to let us know when something is wrong. Maybe the opposite of peace is paranoia! Maybe this is what is means to "feel guilty"!   I prefer to be obedient and feel God's pleasure if I am going to feel anything. Nothing feels as good as pleasing God. Nothing!

MARK 10:32-52
Spiritual Ambition: Jesus is walking toward His execution. The atmosphere is tense and has a sense of impending doom. People are afraid. Jesus has explained what awaits Him in some detail, still He "set His face" to go to Jerusalem. The disciples are thinking about those 12 thrones He had promised them. There was nothing wrong with their desire, but they had no idea about the price! The price is exacted by the circumstances, by the cups and baptisms, that God puts us through, not by maneuvering or competition.  Achieving authority or power in the Kingdom of God is through servitude - meeting someone else's need. There is no chain of command in the Church! Those who have authority in God's Kingdom are those whom people have learned to respect and honor because they have been served by them, their needs met by them. The One who had every right to authority becomes the One who gives up everything to meet our needs.

As they were leaving Jericho, they were interrupted by a blind beggar, named Bartimaeus ("son of Timaeus", which means "son of honor"!!!) Jesus asked James and John, and then blind Bartimaeus the same thing (V.36 and V.51), "What would ye that I should do for you?"  All three of them were blind!   James and John were spiritually blind concerning the cups and the baptisms. But we don't have to stay that way!

RESPONSE:   Lord, I am willing to wash feet for the rest of my life. I feel Your pleasure every time I do it. I actually feel Your joy when I am serving. I look for opportunities to share Your love and joy by serving others. I am not looking for position, just for what makes You happy. I know that when I do it "In the Name of Jesus" - that reflects back on You, not me. That when I lift YOU up, You will draw people to Yourself! Thank You for allowing me to be a bit in Your Great Plan.

PSALM 45:1-17
This Psalm is prophetic and describes the love between Jesus and the Church, His Bride . It is the Royal Wedding Song, sung to us on the day we take Jesus to be our personal Savior and Lord. It counsels the Bride (us) to forget her own people and surrender herself to her Bridegroom. It describes the perfection of the King's rule and the beauty of His Bride. His Bride is His Queen and is at His right hand, the place of honor. Both are majestic and regal, strong and mighty, filled with righteousness and justice. None can compare to either of them, although everything about her is a reflection of her Groom. 

PROVERBS 10:22
"The blessing of the Lord" - "It," and it alone, is the true source of wealth. What comes from God has the required grace for it. 

RESPONSE:   Just think, I am Jesus' Queen! That must be why I am so drawn to "bling-bling"! If it is shiny, I like it! "The king is enthralled by my beauty..." This Psalm is almost as mushy as the Song of Solomon! To be truthful, I have value only because my King owns me and clothes me and adorns me for Himself.   It is a good thing to be His possession.