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I have started in Deuteronomy - Moses begins by telling the people the story they already know - but that’s important.  We need to know our story - the story of how we encountered God, and what He’s done for us.  Do you know the high and low points of your story with God?

Psalm 63 - Does your soul hunger and thirst for God?

Matthew 26:17-35 - the Last Supper.  As I read this, I wondered:  “Did the disciples know this was coming?  Did it catch them by surprise?”  It seems like it.  In a few hours they went from normal to unusual, to hearing Jesus tell them the worst about themselves and them living up to it.  Link this back to chapter 25 - be prepared to live your faith in a moment.

Romans 10 - Classic statements.  “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  “How will they hear without a preacher?”  “Faith come by hearing.”  This chapter is core to understanding the process of a person becoming a believer.

Numbers 26- A second census - which marks the death of the faithless generation.

Numbers 27 - Two things in this chapter - God includes women in the line of inheirtance - an important development!  Women share in the promised land.

Second, Moses is thinking about succession.  When God reiterates that Moses will not go into the Promised Land, his first reaction is:  Who will take my place?  The mark of a good leader is to be thinking about who takes your place.  This, by the way, is not something Baptist Churches do very well.

Psalm 58 - Never let injustice inhabit your heat.

Matthew 24:36-51 - Again Jesus drives home the point - be ready for the master.  Focusing on the timing of the second coming means you forget to be ready.

Romans 7:13-25 - In the clearest scripture passage on the subject, Paul explains his struggle with sin.  We know the right things to do, but sin pulls us in the other direction.  Jesus alone can resolve this for us.

For whatever reason, many of these passages spoke to me of leadership:

Numbers 15 - What impressed me about this chapter is right after the people have been punished for their lack of faith - not going into the promised land - God gives them instructions about sacrifices they are to offer when they get there.   His mercy is amazing.

Number 16 - In any church or any organization, you can bet there is some one who thinks they should be in charge.  I’ve had to deal with folks like that.  Sometimes the hardest piece of God’s will is to accept you will not be number 1.  I can be like that myself.  And if you do not accept this reality about yourself, you will damage you, your family and and your future.  It certainly did for Korah.

Numbers 17 - God always has a way of validating his chosen leaders.

Numbers 18- Priests and preachers are not the same, but every minister needs to read this chapter and think about how it applies to their lives.  God has given you responsibilities.  Be respectful of what He has given you.  He also provides for you- you get to share in His offering, and from the choicest part.  BUT remember you are to give as well (v. 26).

Numbers 20 - this chapter scares me - because Moses had done so well - but he and Aaron mess up and they pay a big price.  Why?  The margin of error is smaller for leaders.  Simple as that.

Psalm 54 and 55 - what to pray when you are under attack - and remember that attacks often can come from those closest to you.  I remember years ago hearing Rick White of the People’s Church telling about a close friend leaving the church.  I vowed it wouldn’t happen to me.  Guess what? It did.

Matthew 23:13- 39 - a leadership check list:

1.  Are you the barrier between people and God’s best?

2.  Do you convert people to the right things - to religion or relationship?

3.  Are you right about all the wrong things?

4.  Is your obession with the details getting in the way of the most important things?

5.  Are you expressing what is really inside or just trying to fake your way through?

6.  Have you cleaned up your inner world?

7.  Are you playing that most useless of leadership games - “If I had faced that choices, I’d have done it different?” 

8.  What kind of legacy are you leaving?

Romans 5:12-21 - Paul’s elegant argument - Sin came by one man - Adam - and contanimated all.  Salvation comes by one man - Jesus - and saves all who will take the gift.

Romans 6:1-14 - If you are in Christ, don’t let sin have dominance in your life!

Numbers 12 - Jealousy against God’s leader is a destructive thing.  When you read this, remember that Miriam and Aaron had both been used by God.  How often do we see ministers criticize others out of jealousy.  I know I have done it - and it is wrong.

Numbers 13 - Spies are sent to the promised land - a place Moses is curious about - trees or no trees?  Life depends on perspective - and they see themselves as small because they have forgotten God is with them. 

Numbers 14 - Their flawed perspective leads them to the wrong choice - - “Let’s go back to Egypt!”  Better take time to do a gut check - what is my perspective?  Moses once again intercedes for these people - God doesn’t wipe them out but is merciful.  Wrong decisions always have consequences - in this case, you will die in the desert.  Plus, children do suffer for the poor choices of their parents.  So if you are a parent, pray to be wise.

Psalm 53 - It’s stupid to doubt God.

Matthew 23:1-13 - Always recognize Jesus as the supreme teacher, not just people who speak in His name.

Romans 5:1-11 - Sometimes when you read scripture, you get a sense of walking in big timber - this passage is like that.  Big tree 1 - We are justified - made right, straightened out in Jesus.  Big tree 2 - We have access to grace.  Did you mess up today?  You have access to grace.  Big tree 3 - Boast in suffering - not our typical response - but notice the chain - suffering links to endurance links to character links to hope.  Don’t have enough hope in your life?  It’s probably because you have had the wrong response to suffering.  Big tree 4 - When we were weak and sinners - Jesus gave us the ultimate help we needed - he died for us so we could be made right, no longer enemies of God but reconciled.

Numbers 5 - Restitution - saying I’m sorry isn’t enough.  We also need to do our best to make things right.  The ceremony with a wife accused of being unfaithful bothers us - we wonder where is the corresponding accountability for the husband?  But, don’t miss the bigger truth - cheating on your marriage has consequences.  Can your integrity stand any test that comes?

Numbers 6 - the Nazarite vow is often misunderstood because people associate it with Samson.  Listen to these clear instructions - this is about drawing aside for a set period of time to focus on God - so avoid alcohol, grief, and cutting your hair - as an outward reminder of your inward spiritual journey.  But not Romans 2 below.

Psalm 50 - God doesn’t need our money - offerings are for us - to attack our greed and show our thanks

Matthew 22:1-14 - There is a bit in the words of Jesus.  First, don’t turn invitations from God.  Period.  You put yourself at risk.  Second, don’t come to God’s events unprepared.  Whenever God invites you, prepare yourself!

Romans 2 - God will weight your life.  You will face judgement.  Your heritage and outward signs (circumcision) count for zip.  Don’t depend on outside stuff to do inside work.

Numbers 1-4 - I know this, like some of Leviticus, seems a little boring, but there is  a great spiritual truth here.  When God works with large groups of people (and there is no question this is a large group - bigger than any church in America), organization is needed.  People need to be counted so they can be organized for God’s mission.

So if you are one of those people who think organization is of the devil - get over it!  Yes, you can over focus, but God laid out clear plans for His people.

Psalm 48 - It’s good to feel good about a sacred space.  Don’t confuse it with the God you meet there.

Psalm 49 - Don’t trust in riches, because everyone dies eventually.  How often do we need to hear this message - apparently a lot, because it often repeated in scripture!

Matthew 21:23-46:  Jesus isn’t trapped by human cleverness.  Better to do the will of God, than say you will, and not follow through.  When God sends a messenger - listen and treat him with respect!

Romans 1 - It is a scary thing to walk away from God - He gives you up to a destructive life.

Leviticus 21 - Leadership demands more; therefore the leader must be comfortable with sacrifice.  Vv. 16-23-  funny how we read this.  We tend to focus on that the fact that those with a defect can’t serve and think God is unfair.  But notice - they are stilled allowed to eat - they just can’t serve.  I think this is grace.

Leviticus 22- why so much talk about unacceptable sacrifices?  Because God knows us pretty well - How many of us go into a store and look for the highest price?  God knows we need standards.

Leviticus 23 - God knows we need rest, we need holidays (feasts) to help us remember what He has done (like Christmas and Easter); we need vacations (like Firstfruits and Festival of Weeks - where they get two weeks of vacation a week and get to eat the offerings!); and we days to remember our sins.

Psalm 45 - a wedding song for the King.

Matthew 20:17-34 - Jesus knew he would be crucified and he went anyway.  The whole ideas of serving to be first is backwards thinking - and it is the way to real success.  If Jesus asked you what you wanted, what would you answer?

Acts 27:27-44 - In the midst of the storm, the safest place to be is not with the sailors, but with the man who walks with God.

Leviticus 14-15 - okay this is alot about skin infections,mildew, dysentery, semen discharge and menustration.  Why is so much space given to these things in the Bible?  God was trying to teach His people through simple acts that they were to be holy.  Holiness happens through obedience.  Any person can follow these instructions - it’s not hard.  Now as Christians we do not follow all of these procedures because we are being transformed from the inside out - the Holy Spirit at work in us.  However, don’t miss the great truth of these chapters - Think about daily happenings of life and let God show obedience in them.

Psalm 42 - Please let my heart long for you like this.

Matthew 19:1-15 - Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce.  First, God’s intention is for marriage to last “till death do us part.”  Second, God knows the hardness of our heart - that’s why Moses allowed for divorce.  Jesus was answering one of the great controversy of his day and ours - Is casual divorce okay?  The answer is “No.”  Is divorce allowed when there is ongoing unfaithfulness?  Yes.  Other examples of permissible divorce - when the expectations of marriage are unfulfilled - food, clothing and martial rights (intimacy?) - Exodus 21:10-11.  See also 1 Corinthians 715 - when divorce is permissible when a spouse leaves because they are not a believer.

Acts 26:1-18 - When Jesus asks Paul why he kicks against the goads, you may not understand if you didn’t grow up around cows.  I did.  When you want a cow in a confined space to go in a certain direction, you poke her in the rump with a stick, also called a goad.  She will often lash out, because she wants to go at her own pace or because she wants to go in her own direction.

Here’s the truth - We are often like a cow.  God has a plan and purpose for our lives, but we kick!  We tell God we want to go our own way.  Paul has direction in life but it has been the wrong one - so quit kicking and go with God’s direction.

Two days reading here - didn’t get to blog yesterday:

Leviticus 8-10:  A great model of leader training.  God tells Moses what to do about sacrifices.  Moses models it for Aaron.  Then Aaron does it. 

Aaron’s sons, however, do not conform to the teaching.  It is dangerous to ignore God’s clear instruction.  They pay the price of life, which may seem harsh to us, but reminds us that we need to take God seriously.  Moses then gives Aaron additional instructions.  Aaron omits one step as a way to express his grief - which Moses understands.

Instruct, model, coach, correct - a model of leadership training.

Leviticus 11-13 - at first glance, you may wonder why God gives such minute instructions.  Here’s the reason - God wants His people to think about Him and standards of right and wrong every moment, and in every aspect of life.  There is no compartmentalization when it comes to following God.

Psalm 40 - Verse 8 is a great daily prayer:  I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

Psalm 41 - When you are sick - try this prayer for comfort.

Matthew 18 - This entire chapter is about relationships: 

Vv. 1-4 - be humble, not worrying about your place;

vv. 5-6 - don’t cause other people to sin and fail;

vv. 7-9 - right now I am listening to a sermon by John Piper which uses these verses.  Piper argues that we must make a violent war with ourselves, attacking sin.  I don’t really like the sermon very much, which I think is a clue from the Holy Spirit that I really need to listen to it.  Attack sin in your life, so you have a good relationship with yourself. 

vv. 10-14 - Value people who are far from God, not just the people you are comfortable with.

Vv. 15-17 - Confront the tension in your relationships - ask What is wrong.

Vv. 18-20 - These three verses are often quoted out of context to enhance the authority of the church or to falsely claim a power in prayer.  Look at what brackets them - Jesus is talking about confronting your brother and then forgiving your brother.  Therefore understand v. 18 as a call to have the standards of heaven when comes to seeking health in relationships and vv. 19-20 as a call to pray about relationships with the knowledge that Jesus is listening in.

vv. 21-34 - Take this warning from Jesus seriously - If you aren’t forgiving, you won’t be forgiven.  Forgiveness needs to be on the top of our to do list.  Let me push this a bit further - As a Christ Follower, you are never meant to be a mere receiver of grace, but also a giver of grace.

Acts 25 - Paul is given the chance to speak for Jesus to governor, the king, and eventually to the Emperor, because he has been falsely accused!  No wonder he could write, “All things work together for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).”  He had lived it! 

Leviticus 5-7 - Look for hidden diamonds in the middle of this list of rules and procedures.  Dick Lincoln showed me one:  5:7 - If he cannot afford a lamb… God knows you and I can never pay for our failures and sins.  So Jesus was provided as one for us! 

And I know this may seem self serving, but… throughout these chapters it is reiterated that the priests have a right to share in the sacrifices.  Churches should never make their ministers feel guilty for accepting a paycheck!!  So much damage has been done through the years by churches wanting to low ball their ministers.  If a minister isn’t working hard to serve the church, hold him or her accountable.  If he is, then reward him as much as you can!

Psalm 39 - A great reminder not to sin, and to number your days - what will you do with the time God gives you?

Matthew 17:14-27 - God please give me mustard seed faith - faith that can move a mountain - not much is required!

Ever so often, I encounter a Christian who says believers shouldn’t pay taxes.  Hogwash!  Verses 24-27 show that Jesus did pay the Temple tax - the fee levied on all Jews to support the Temple.  He did this even though he is the Son - the Temple belonged to Him!  But so as not to give offense, he paid the tax.  So should we.

Acts 24 - Felix’s famous postponement - When I find t convenient, I will send for you.  Do we want God to work on our time table, or will we submit to His?