Today’s Bible Reading
February 27

Old Testament 1
Exodus 18

18:10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

18:11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them

18:18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.

18:25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

18:26 So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

18:27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.

Moses' father in law, Jethro advised him on how to run the affairs without being tired and the Isrealites being tired. We should learn from Jethro here, when we get to a place or join a new community, are we adding value or are we causing troubles?!

There are in-laws that trouble their daughter or son-in-laws rather than suggest ways to make life better for their family.

Also, Moses listened to Jethro's advice. If we are in a leadership position, we should be open to advice, and take the ones that will actually help us.


Old Testament 2
Psalms 56 & 57

A psalm of praise to God

The psalmist declared that he shall not fear because he has put his trust in God.

Let's trust God even in challenges or in our struggles.

But how can you trust God if you do not know His promises and assurance for you?!

That's why studying the Bible is very important.

As it is established in Joshua 1:8; This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. When you are faced with a challenge whether physical or spiritual, the Holy Spirit will bring into remembrance what you have read and you will continue to trust God. (John 14:26;But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you).


New Testament
Acts 10:1-23

10:4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, lord? So he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

10:20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them

10:15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has cleansed you must not call common

We learn here not to discriminate.

It's unfortunate some Christians today have written some people off. They have judged them to the extent that they believe some set of people cannot be saved by God. They believe some are too gone, too deep in sin for God's reach.

This is the type belief the pharisees had. They believed they were special and salvation is only meant for the Isrealites. But even though God sees Isrealites as special people in the old testament, it was in fulfilment of His promises and covenant with Abraham, but there's a new covenant with Jesus. Israel was only part of the story in the grand scheme. It was through the lineage of Israel, Jesus was born. But Jesus' birth,death and resurrection brings about the access to God. That was why the temple veil was torn. There's no more special tribe. There's no more sacrifice of lamb, no more need for priests to mediate for us to God, there's free access to the WHOLE WORLD through JESUS CHRIST to God!

Jesus is the Mediator and there's only one special tribe; that's the tribe of Jesus Christ. None of us is born into this tribe from birth, it's a choice we make, we are born into Jesus tribe by believing He is the Son of God and He came to die for our sins and resurrected on the third day! Hallelujah!


Action Point

Be a person of value that leaves a place better than when he/she got there

Be diligent in Bible study

If you are yet to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, ask Him for forgiveness of your sins and ask Him to come into your life


Quote

“In our prayers, we talk to God, in our Bible study, God talks to and we had better let God do most of the talking”
-Dwight L. Moody

 

“A good Bible study is one of the most important tools for helping people grow in the things of God.”
-RC Sproul

 

“I spent six years in Bible study because i needed to get grounded, people really need to spend time in the Bible getting to know the God they claim to love”
-Willie Aames

Prayer Points

1. Thank God for being God

2. Ask God for Mercy

3. Pray for the Grace to be diligent in Bible study

4. Pray against distraction and for focus while studying the Bible

5. Pray for God's wisdom, knowledge and understanding

6. Pray for listening ear and discerning Spirit to recognize good advice


#BibleInAYear