Monday: Deuteronomy 12—The Place
Six times in Deuteronomy 12, Moses used the phrase, “the place the
Lord your God will choose” (verses, 5, 11, 14, 18, 21, 26). “The
place” was a specific city that was to be determined after they
possessed the land. This is where God would put His name, where He
would dwell (verse 5). Sacrifices, vows, and tithes could only be
offered at this particular place. The annual feasts must be held in this
place. Verse 6 speaks of rejoicing in the gatherings in the place that
He chose. King David, 400 years later, established this place as
Jerusalem. It didn’t matter how far Jerusalem was from your
residence, at least 3 times per year, families, children, singles,
everyone would come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts. The
people would parade up to Jerusalem singing and rejoicing. Fifteen
Psalms, commonly referred to as the Psalms of Ascent (120-134),
were written for them to enjoy on their journey. Psalm 133, in
particular, expresses these pleasant annual reunions. It begins with,
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is when Brethren dwell
together in unity.” The emphasis of “the place God will choose” in
Deuteronomy 12 resulted in joyful gatherings of God’s people in the
simplicity and blessedness of oneness, as they worshipped God
together. Should Christian gatherings be different? Oh, how good and
pleasant it is when Christians dwell together in unity!
Tuesday: John 4—A Lesson in Gospel Preaching
Hands down, Jesus was the best gospel preacher, ever. Case in point:
the Samaritan woman in John 4. First, Jesus sent away the disciples
to “buy food,” so that the woman would not be intimidated by 13 men
asking her personal questions about her life. A one-on-one discussion
is one of the most effective gospel approaches. Second, Jesus met
the woman where she was. As He watched her draw water from the
well for herself, he asked her if she could get some for Him. He knew
that such a person would never travel to join a crowd to listen to Him
preach. He would have to come to where she was. When the woman
replied with a cynical quip about the superiority complex of the Jews,
Jesus refused to go there. Instead, He focused on her unhappiness
with her life. Using the well in front of them as a metaphor, He told
her that He could give her living water that would satisfy her thirst
forever. In other words, Jesus could satisfy her emptiness and
loneliness. Like a fisherman feeling the nibbling of the fish on the
bait, He knew that He had caught her attention, but a good fisherman
does not yank the pole at a nibble. So, when she asked for His living
water, He asked her to go get her husband first. Then it all came out.
She was empty because life had left her with 5 divorces and currently
cohabiting with a man who was not her husband. Her relationships
with men made her miserable. She was hooked. She knew she
needed the satisfaction that Jesus was offering. She left her water jar
and ran to tell her friends that she had met the Messiah Himself. And
that, folks, is how to preach the gospel.
Wednesday: John 6—Eating Jesus
Jesus was often seen by His disciples in the context of food. It was
one of His favorite subjects. Jesus fed crowds of thousands; He ate at
homes of Pharisees, sinners, and friends; He changed water into wine
at a wedding feast; He reached out to those that were “Thirsty” and
“hungry.” He told parables about feasts and dinner parties; His last
exhortation to Peter was to “feed” the sheep and His last physical
appearance was on the beach cooking breakfast for His disciples. He
was even accused of being a glutton and drunk. Although the
disciples were used to the topic of food, they were not prepared for
the discussion in John 6. Jesus told them, “I am the bread of life” (vv.
35, 48) and 48. In verse 51, He compared Himself to the manna the
Israelites ate in the wilderness: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” To
make His point crystal clear, He told them, “He who eats Me will live
because of Me (v. 57) and “whoever eats this bread (Himself) will live
forever” (v. 58). Jesus wanted His disciples to know that He is more
than a good teacher, prophet, or leader. He is food. Just as eating
tasty food brings pleasure and enjoyment to our human life, eating
Jesus through prayer and fellowship brings us joy our spiritual life;
just as nourishing food sustains us physically, enjoying Jesus in the
Word sustains us spiritually; just as food gives us energy to live
humanly, the inward experience of Jesus empowers us to express
God in our daily life. Jesus is bread for us to eat. Hallelujah!
Thursday: John 8—The Light of the World
The woman did not want to be there. She was thrust in front of Jesus
against her will. The scribes and Pharisees were only there in an
attempt to trap Jesus in His words. With a condescending tone of
voice, they told Him that the Mosaic law demanded that a woman
caught in adultery should be stoned to death and asked Him what He
would do. Both the accusers and the accused were wrong. Jesus
needed to bring this to light. First, He dealt with the accusers, with
one of the most popular Bible phrases, “He that is without sin among
you, let him cast the first stone.” This word struck home deep in their
heart. They were each “convicted in their conscience” of their own
sins, even though their sins may not have been as profane as an
adulterer. Some may have even been convicted of their malicious
motive in bringing the woman to Jesus. The oldest had lived a longer
life of sin. They left first. The younger group followed. When light
touches the conscience, no one is blameless. All have sinned. What
about the woman? Jesus spoke another popular Biblical adage,
“Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” Of course, this was
impossible. She needed a redeemer and someone who could save her
from her sinful life. This one was standing right in front of her. We
don’t know how the woman reacted, but, she hopefully repented and
sought salvation. With a few simple, yet profound statements, Jesus
enlightened both the accusers of their sin and the woman of her
need. Jesus concluded the event by declaring, as no other man in
human history could say, “I am the light of the world.”
Friday: Deuteronomy 22, 24—Marriage
In Matthew 19, the Pharisees used Deuteronomy 24 to challenge
Jesus’ stance on divorce. After Jesus quoted Genesis 2 and declared,
“What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate,” the
Pharisees wanted to know why Moses “commanded” a certificate of
divorce. Jesus, perturbed by their misinterpretation of Scripture,
corrected them: “Moses ALLOWED you to divorce.” In fact, Moses did
not sanction divorce, but rather was trying to wade through messy
marital relationships that were occurring among the people. Divorce
was presented as an aberration to God’s original intention of a man
and woman joining together as one flesh. The Bible often uses the
marital relationship to describe the loving relationship between God
and His people. So, it is not a surprise that Moses’ last words in
Deuteronomy emphasized the need of healthy marriages. Virginity
until marriage was exalted as the perfect relationship. Homosexuality
was forbidden. Those caught in adultery or rape were to receive
capital punishment. Engagement was held in honor. One of the most
striking commandments was that men were not to fight in war or be
engaged in public duty for the first year in marriage. They were to
stay home and “make their wife happy.” It was like a one-year
honeymoon, but with a specific responsibility levied on the husband—
his wife should be happy. The devoted marital relationship prescribed
by God throughout the Bible is a happy life that fosters a purposeful
human existence and consummates in a loving, inseparable
companionship that is only paralleled by the marriage of Christ and
the church.
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