THE LORD SPOKE (March 25)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 33-34

Moses did a lot of mountain climbing. He was up and down Mt. Sinai more times than a man much younger would care to do. Here in Deuteronomy 34 he climbs his last mountain. Going up from the plains of Moab on the chain of Nebo, he ascends Mt. Pisgah, the highest peak opposite Jericho.

It wasn’t a happy climb. On the threshold of the Promised Land, his sin allowed him a look but no entry. God had just recently (Deut. 32:51-52) reminded him of the reason: “because...your broke faith with me...and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.” When he came to Mt. Pisgah, Moses knew that it would be his last mountain to climb. We’re told that God buried him there.

He’d lived a long and fruitful life. “His eyes were not weak nor his strength gone” (Deut. 34:7). No other prophet ever rose higher. No other prophet ever did “all the miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do” (Deut. 34:11). No man ever had “the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel” (Deut. 34:12).

Until Jesus! Moses was a true servant but Jesus is the only begotten Son.

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (Heb 3:1-6)

The One greater than Moses has come. He alone is able to take us safely to the other side. He will be our Guide, even unto death.

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan’s fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.

I am bound for the Promised Land,
I am bound for the Promised Land.
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the Promised Land.

When shall I reach that happy place,
And be forever blest?
When shall I see my Father’s face,
And in His bosom rest?

I am bound for the Promised Land,
I am bound for the Promised Land.
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the Promised Land.


New Testament: John 16

It’s so very plain - why do we not get it? Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Note the contrast between “in me” and “in this world”. And then notice the contrast between “you will have peace” and “you will have trouble”. If we abide in Christ (remember John 15?) we will experience deep peace and quietness in our soul. If we continue to play with the world and its ways of thinking, we can expect agitation and anguish of soul. It’s as simple as that.

The disciples had just declared, “Now we understand!” But did they? If so, their understanding was still only head knowledge. Jesus Himself predicted that they would yet be scattered (Jn. 16:32: c.f. Mat. 26:31) and abandon Him. They were still depending upon themselves and He knew they would fail. But the majesty of His plan is that it’s not built on our strength but on His ability to use us even after we fail!

My sin - O, the bliss of this glorious thought -
My sin - not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

A major part of the reason we can rest secure in this thought is the utter dependability of Christ. He never fails. He always follows the Father’s plan perfectly. He has said, “I do exactly what my Father has commanded me” (Jn. 14:31) and “everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (Jn. 15:15). Like clockwork, He said “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father” (Jn. 16:28).

By the way, that’s the perfect outline of John’s gospel: “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

• came from the Father - chapter 1
• entered the world - chapters 2-11
• leaving the world - chapters 12-19
• back to the Father - chapters 20-21

That’s what makes it especially good news and so believable when He says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me...” (Jn. 14:3).

THE LORD SPOKE (March 24)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 31-32

This is Moses’ Swan Song. “The magnificence of the exordium, the grandeur of the theme, the frequent and sudden transitions, the elevated strain of the sentiments and language, entitle this song to be ranked amongst the noblest specimens of poetry to be found in the Scriptures.” (Jamison, Fausset, & Brown).

In these parting words, Moses takes a care to tell a tale, to sing a song, and to pray a prayer. Right to the end he is reminding the children of Israel of their responsibility before the Lord. This is now his last message to them. See if you can preach it.

I. GOD’S JUSTICE AND ISRAEL’S DISLOYALTY (Deut. 32:1-18)
A. God’s Past Blessings
B. Israel’s Constant Disloyalty

II. GOD’S PUNISHMENT OF ISRAEL (Deut. 32:19-30)

III. GOD’S VENGEANCE ON HIS ENEMIES (Deut. 32:31-35)

IV. GOD’S COMPASSION ON ISRAEL (Deut. 32:36-43)

Tucked in the middle, Deuteronomy 32:11 makes reference to an eagle “that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions”. There is an obvious link here with what God did and was doing with Israel but perhaps Moses saw himself in this too. After all, he had worked hard right up to the finish to see Israel now cast out of the nest, learning to fly on her own. It was scary. The watching parent cringes to see the first feeble attempts, but takes great joy in the flight that follows.

Let F.B. Meyer break out the illustration for us:

1) She stirs up her nest. When her fledglings are old enough to fly, but linger around the few bits of stick, dignified as a nest, the mother-bird breaks it up, and scatters them.... So when the Father sees His children clinging to earth's bare rocks, captured and held by the poor sticks they have gathered, and missing the ascension-glory, He breaks up the nest....

2) She flutters over her young. They stand scared and wretched on the edge of the rock, but she careers gently above them, now edging around, now mounting, then dropping far below to rise again. So would she allure them to follow her example. Here again we have an emblem of God's efforts to make us imitators of Himself, to teach us the possibilities that await us in Jesus.

3) She spreads forth her wings and takes them. Incited by the mother's endeavors, the eaglet may venture on the untried air... [but] the unaccustomed wings fail beneath its weight. It falls, but not far, for the mother swoops beneath, and bears it up and away.

This is a good description not only of what God did for Israel, but of what He does for us!


New Testament: John 15

If my life is fruitless, it doesn’t matter who praises me, and if my life is fruitful, it doesn’t matter who criticizes me. - John Bunyan

Pruning looks so brutal but its purpose is to produce more and better fruit. Rather than putting energy into producing more or thicker branches, pruning directs the energy into the fruit. Bad branches are cut out completely. Good branches are pruned back (Jn. 15:2) so that they will serve their God-given purpose and produce fruit. They are a channel, nothing more. They exist to transmit the nourishing sap from the vine to the grape.

None of those branches can produce fruit by themselves (Jn. 15:4). They must be attached to the trunk or the life-producing sap won’t flow through them. They become dried up and brittle - fit only for kindling in the stove (Jn. 15:6).

Jesus’ words, “I am the vine, you are the branches”, couldn’t be more clear. But He does clarify it by saying, “you must abide in me in order to produce fruit”. So, how does one abide in Christ? Here’s the answer from John 15:6-17.

1. remain in Him (“remain in me”) - don’t leave, don’t give up, don’t divert your attention, don’t forget your purpose, don’t lose your motivation
2. retain His words (“my words remain in you”) - read Scripture daily, internalize it regularly, apply it consistently, live by it always
3. request of Him what you wish (“ask whatever you wish”) - like a child trust Him, believe in His goodness, ask for His provision
4. reproduce Him in others (“that you bear much fruit”) -till the soil, spread the seed, cultivate the ground, water the plants, reap the harvest
5. reflect Him in your actions (“showing yourselves to be my disciples”) - be a band of brothers, lean on each other, help each other, be a mentor
6. respond to His commands (“obey my commands”) - say “yes”, look for opportunities, go out of your way to serve, get off the fence, fail falling forward
7. rejoice in Him (“so that my joy may be in you”) - talk about it, tell others about it, sing about it, let it show on your face and in your actions
8. run with His children (“love each other”) - run with the right crowd, walk a mile in their moccasins, bear one another’s burdens
9. revel in knowing Him (“everything...I have made known to you”) - think about Him, dwell upon His grace and goodness, relive the past, relish the present, and dream about the future
10. replicate His life in your own (“go and bear fruit”) - what would He do? go and do likewise!

THE LORD SPOKE (January 23)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Exodus 4-5

We’re so good at making up excuses. It’s always easier to think of ten reasons why something can’t be done or why we can’t do it. We must have learned it from Moses. In his conversation with God before leaving Midian, Moses came up with some real whoppers.

First, he uses the argument of lack of prestige. He says, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt” (Ex. 3:11), conveniently forgetting that he was uniquely qualified to do so, having been raised in the palace. No one was in a better position for the job than he.

Second, he claimed lack of authority (Ex. 3:13). Never mind he’d just heard the voice of God coming from the burning bush. Never mind he was currently in conversation with the Creator of heaven and earth. Never mind the last words he’d just heard Him speak - “I will be with you” (Ex. 3:12). God’s response is to reveal His most sacred name, “I AM...the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation” (Ex. 3:15).

Third, Moses pled a lack of credibility (Ex. 4:1) so God gave him a series of miraculous signs to use when necessary. Later, even the crafty medicine men of Egypt recognized them as “the finger of God” (Ex. 8:19).

Fourth, the mighty prophet protested a lack of eloquence (Ex. 4:10. “Slow of speech and tongue”, he said. “I’ve never been eloquent.” As if any of it depended on him in the first place. As if God couldn’t do it. God very simply and forcefully answered, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." (Ex. 4:11-12).

Finally, Moses was resorted to whining about a lack of ability (Ex. 4:13). “Please send someone else to do it.” Then the Lord, who is slow to anger (Ex. 34:6), got mad. Moses was reduced to first chair playing second fiddle. He was still God’s chosen leader but he was diminished, demoted, and downgraded from what he could have been. Even so, some of the whining carried on for some time after (see Ex. 6:12,30).

With “the staff of God [!] in his hand”, Moses started back to Egypt (Ex. 4:20). Aaron came out into the desert to meet him and, together, they went to the elders of the Israelites “and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses” (Ex. 4:29). Awkward, to say the least, but still effective for “they believed” and “they bowed down and worshiped” (Ex. 4:31).

Is there a message to give or a job to do that has your name on it? Don’t miss out on what God wants to accomplish through you.


New Testament: Matthew 23

They “sit in Moses’ seat”. It was a position of authority in the synagogue. An intact example of one was found in the excavations at Chorazin and another possible piece of one at Capernaum. It was a special chair located at the front of the synagogue prayer hall and was where the teachers of the law used to sit while teaching.

More important, it was a position of great responsibility. For to teach it and not live it yourself would be a disgrace. It would be a terrible dishonor to God and His Word. And that’s just what was happening! Jesus uses some of the harshest language recorded of Him in the entire New Testament to describe these unworthy leaders of men: hypocrites (6x), blind guides (3x), whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones, snakes and vipers. They do not practice what they preach (vs. 3), they won’t lift a finger to help others (vs. 4), everything they do is for show (vs. 5)... and on and on it goes. Some are even willing to kill (vs. 34) to advance their wicked and selfish aims.

They were full of greed and self-indulgence (vs. 25). They craved all the wrong things for all the wrong reasons, yet they had the audacity to set themselves up as masters and teachers. That’s a dangerous position. As James tells us, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (Jas. 3:1).

Jesus’ words ring out against the rabbis of His day but are also a fearsome reminder to every one of us: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (vs. 12). That has not changed, nor will it. Not far back (Mat. 18:3-4), Jesus had told His disciples, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

You can’t be full of God and full of yourself at the same time. He won’t share that space.

THE LORD SPOKE (January 22)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Exodus 1-3

It sounds so crass - “if it is a boy, kill him” and “every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile” (Ex. 1:6,22). Not really much worse than our “modern” abortion methods maybe - you still have to get rid of that disconcerting bit of tissue, don’t you? Hide the evidence. Do it quick and don’t think about it too much. O, that more of our nurses today would act like the Egyptian midwives back then. Someone, somewhere needs to say, “No! I won’t do that.” Someone needs to tell the evil abortion doctors they’re wrong and put a stop to this murder.

Someone needs to trust God for the outcome. In fact, we all need to. We need to act with integrity, obedient to God’s Word and to trust Him for the results. So what if it produces some difficulties along the way. They’re petty and inconsequential with eternity’s values in view.

Where would we be if Moses hadn’t been born? Imagine the world without Moses! Yes, it’s true that if he’d been one of the babies tossed to the Nile crocodiles God would have raised up someone else to do the job. But the fact is that Moses lived and God used him to change the entire world for good. God works through people, His wonders to perform, and few there have ever been in the history of mankind who have exercised a greater influence than Moses.

The story of Moses’ birth in Exodus 2 is a marvel of God’s grace. Amran and Jocabed (see Ex. 6:20) play their part as does big sister Miriam, but only God could have worked out such a miraculous deliverance. And then there’s the way He got the prince out of Egypt and gave him a desert education. How else could you come up with just the right combination for the job Moses was destined to do? Forty years in the university system of Egypt and then forty years at MIT/DS - the Midianite Institute of Technology / Desert Style.

When the time came to launch the operation, God performed another wonder. Shepherds don’t easily change professions. Desert rats aren’t comfortable with the idea of going to the big city. Someone who enjoys the solitude of sheep in the field isn’t probably going to jump at the chance to lead two million Chosen People subjected to slavery. But God moved Moses.

He moved him by revealing Himself. The Eternal One let Moses see the edge of His splendor and told him:

"I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' ...Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob - has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation. (Ex. 3:14-15)

The very next word was “Go” (Ex. 3:16) and Moses went. He never flagged for the next forty years. His leadership changed a nation permanently. In fact, it has continued to go on from generation to generation right down to the present.

Will you follow the Lord like Moses?


New Testament: Matthew 22

They were all coming to Him with their “questions”. The Pharisees tried repeatedly (vs. 15,34,41) but the Sadducees (vs. 34) and the Herodians (vs. 16) tried also to get in their licks. They all came away licking their own wounds. Even when they plotted together (vs. 15-16) they were unable to stump Him. He beat them repeatedly by the power of His Word. Each time the crowd and those who heard Him were amazed (vs. 22,33,46). His words left them speechless, astonished, and without a comeback.

With the Herodians, who thought they could get Him to speak against Herod’s tax system (not a hard thing to do in first century Jerusalem), He turned it around to remind them that they were created in the image of God and that God expected an even higher tax of them (vs. 21).

The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection so, with them, He cut straight to the chase. He silenced them (vs. 34) with His words and told them, “You’re wrong because you don’t know what the Bible says!” Rather than arguing with them, that should also be our response today with the cults and false thinking that surrounds us! (By the way, make sure you know what the Bible does say yourself.)

The Pharisees were the toughest nut to crack. With them, Jesus didn’t wait for their questions. He got it started by asking them some hard questions: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose Son is he?” When they came back at Him with their neat little, memorized answers, He challenged them on their own turf. To the Bible-thumpers of His day, He posed a Bible question that a child could have answered but, because it would destroy their whole theological system, they turned away without a response (vs. 46). In fact, they studiously avoided Him thereafter because they were afraid to get trapped again in His words.

And so, the living Word of God (Jn. 1:1) used the written Word of God to establish truth and make His case. We can do no better, for Scripture is “quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). It is the Bible that penetrates even the thickest skin.

It did mine.