my burg

  Bible reading for June 23-- 24 Jun 23 -- Isaiah 55 and Matthew 3 Jun 22 -- Isaiah 56 and Matthew 4 ================    "...so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) HIS WORD GOES FORTH (ch 55). This is one of my favorite chapters in the OT. I know, I say that about a lot of chapters. But it's all here, the follow-up from the atonement accomplished by the suffering Servant (ch 53), which results in the covenant promises, "...my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed..." (ch 54). And now the invitation, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (55:1). Doesn't this remind you of Jesus' words, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me an...

Bible reading for weekend March 20-22: Exodus 31-33; John 10-12.  "...and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs..." (Exodus 31:3-4) Spirit and Sabbath (Ex 31). Here is the first mention of the Holy Spirit gifting people with special skills (Ex 31:1-11; cf Eph 4:7-14). This tells us that God cares not only about how we worship, but also about art, beauty, and craftsmanship.  And we learn that Sabbath-keeping is the sign of the covenant between God and Israel (31:12-18).  In the NT the keeping of the Sabbath, at least in the form as it is kept in the OT, is not continued in the same way.  The principle of taking and giving needed physical rest, ceasing from sinful and self-righteous works, and taking time for corporate worship still continues for those of us who follow Christ today, but there is more freedom as to the form that may take (see Rom 14:5-6; Col ...

Bible reading for Jan 31:  Genesis 32; Mark 3.  "I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant..."   (Gen 32:10a) Homeward bound (Gen 32).   With Laban behind him, Jacob must now face his brother Esau .  We may seek to escape unresolved conflict, but eventually we must face it.  Jacob is afraid for his family's welfare as they return to encounter Esau, now heading toward them with 400 men. In humble prayer he acknowledges his own unworthiness and rests upon God's promise to do him good (32:9-12).  This is the faith of our fathers.   God spares Jacob and his family and there will be reconciliation between the brothers.   Wrestling with an angel (32:24-32).  After taking every measure to protect his family, he is left alone and wrestles all night with "a man" . We are not told how this contest came about. He had seen angels as he entered the l...

Bible reading for Jan 30:  Genesis 31; Mark 2.  "I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred." (Gen 31:13) So, you think your family is dysfunctional? (Gen 31)   The Bible is painfully straightforward in showing all the warts of family life , whether of saints or sinners. Deception, possessiveness, envy, and manipulation can fragment any family.   Jacob has met his match in his uncle Laban -- twenty years worth -- and now, while Laban is off shearing sheep, it's time to get out of Dodge. Meanwhile, Rachel steals the family's household idols . (I'm not making this up.)  Laban and his gang overtake Jacob's caravan, but violence was quelled when God warned Laban in a dream not to say anything "either good or bad" to Jacob (31:24). Don't touch my little gods.  These gods [Heb., teraphim ] were table-top idols a family would keep at home. ...