Today’s Bible Reading

March 17

Old Testament I

Exodus 34:4-35 


34:1 The command to cut two tablets of stone is one of the great demonstrations of God’s mercy. Despite the failure of the people at the very time that the Lord was instructing Moses on how they should worship, He was willing to begin again with them. Once more He would instruct them concerning His righteous ways.

34:3 As in the preparation of the people in ch. 19, the warning that no man shall come up with you was meant to protect the careless or the curious who would die if they trespassed on holy ground.

 

The presence of God used to be fearful, reverend, if you weren’t holy you wouldn’t dare move closer because people understood the repercussions. 


34:30 The people were afraid to come near. With all they had seen and heard, they had reason to be cautious. 

It’s unfortunate that today, people no longer revere God because of God’s Grace and mercy. We have been emphasizing in the exposition in the previous days, the Grace and mercy of God is not a license for us to do whatever we like, but to make us responsible Disciples of God.

We have people in church today, eating during service, some won’t put their phone in airplane mode.

The church building is a physical example of the temple and God’s presence.

But most importantly, our body, our being is the temple of God.

 

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (1 Corinthian 6:19)


How do you treat your body? Are you not fornicating with it? Are you not committing adultery with it? Do you represent God well wherever you are? Your whole being should be an expression of God, but what image do people see when they are around you? Does your life express Christ?

You can’t express what you haven’t experienced or aren’t living.



Old Testament 2

Psalms 85 & 86 

Psalm 85 is a prayer for restoration that is rooted deeply in trust in God. The setting for the psalm appears to be the restoration of the people of God following a great catastrophe—perhaps the Babylonian captivity. With this psalm, the people prayed for a revival of their spirits and a renewal in their land. The ultimate fulfilment of their prayer would be in the coming glorious kingdom of the Saviour Jesus. This is one of the psalms composed by the sons of Korah (see Ps. 42; 44–49; 84; 87; 88).


The development of this psalm is in four sections:

  1. a celebration of God’s favor on the land (vv. 1–3);
  2. a petition for restoration and revival (vv. 4–7);
  3. an expectation that God will act soon (vv. 8, 9);
  4. a description of the restoration (vv. 10–13).

 

Psalm 86 is a psalm of lament in which David expresses grave concerns about his lowly state, as well as joy in the God who alone is merciful. This poem is the only one in Book III of the Psalms that has David’s name in the title.

The structure is as follows:

  1. a call for God to deliver David from distress (vv. 1–5);
  2. a call for God to hear David’s prayer (vv. 6, 7);
  3. a statement that there is none other like God (vv. 8–10);
  4. a petition for God to teach David about Himself so that he can praise Him forever (vv. 11–13);
  5. a comparison of the assaults of the wicked with the character of the Lord (vv. 14, 15);
  6. a renewed call for God to show His goodness to David in his distress (vv. 16, 17).


New Testament

Acts 20 :17 - 38

20:22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,

20:23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

20:24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

We have to note here that, The Holy Spirit is the revealer of all things.


But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10)


Paul was already aware of revelation by believers in every city he has been. The Holy Spirit is omniscient. Location is  not a barrier for Holy Spirit work.

We should also note the determination of Paul to go back to Jerusalem despite the revelation of the trials that awaits him in Jerusalem.

How determined are we to share the gospel ? How far can we go for Jesus? What sacrifice can we make? What are we willing to withstand or go through for the sake of the gospel ?!

Paul’s boldness is because of the Holy Spirit in him. It’s difficult or even impossible to have that kind of conviction. This is one of many reasons why the Holy Spirit is important in the life of a believer.

 

Action Point

Have the fear of God


tarry for the power of Holy Spirit


Quotes


The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

-Oswald Chambers



We must fear God out of love, not love Him out of fear.

-Saint Francis de Sales



True boldness for Christ transcends all, it is indifference to the displeasure of either friends or foes. Boldness enables Christians to forsake all rather than Christ, and to prefer to offend all rather than to offend Him.


-Jonathan Edwards



Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are like ships without wind. We are useless.

-Charles Spurgeon


Whenever God restores something, He restores it to a place greater than it was before.

-Bill Johnson


Prayer Points

Thank God for coming to die for your sins

thank God for His love and faithfulness

Thank God for His goodness

Ask God for mercy

Pray for the power of Holy Spirit

Pray that Holy Spirit reveals the state of your spiritual walk to you

Pray for the favour of God

Pray for restoration and revival in your life and in the world

Pray for deliverance from distress



#BibleInAYearChallenge