April First
Today’s One Year Bible Reading …
Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20 * Luke 9:28-50
Psalm 73:1-28 * Proverbs 12:10
"John said to Jesus, 'Master we saw someone casting out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group.' But Jesus said, 'Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.'"
Luke 9:49-50
Our words hold more power than I think we’re often aware of, and sometimes we unintentionally use them to discourage others in their journeys with Jesus. Here we see that the disciples used their words and authority to discredit an unfamiliar work, and Jesus rebukes them for their ignorance. God works in mysterious ways that are high above our understanding, so why would we presume to have the authority over who He chooses to use, and how He chooses to use them? What a contrast today between the disciples discouraging words and the glorious scene of Jesus in prayer.
"Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain to pray. And as He was praying, the appearance of His face was transformed, and His clothes became dazzling."
(Luke 9:28-29)
What a beautiful picture of how God transforms our hearts and faces as we pray! He places His dazzling glory upon us, and others are drawn to the Father because of what they see in us as we use our words to seek God. Even as God required the children of Israel to…
“build for themselves cities of refuge”
(Deuteronomy 19:9)
May our words be cities of refuge for each other. May we be like the priests that we read of today…
"When you prepare for the battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. He will say to them... 'Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the LORD your God is going with you.’”
(Deuteronomy 20:2-4)
How encouraging it must have been for the soldiers to hear these words and to be reminded of God's greatness, goodness, protection, and preservation. I pray that, like these priests, our words would be used to bring encouragement and to dispel fear. We read today that the psalmist was struggling with discouragement like we so often can, but was determined not to spread that weakness with his words.
"If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to Your people."
(Psalm 73:15)
God is the source of replenishing our faith when we are faith-less, and it was when this Psalmist came into the house of God that he was able to say…
"I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was torn up inside. Yet I still belong to You."
(Psalm 73:23)
What a privilege to run into the throne room of God with our discouraged and disillusioned hearts, and allow Him to refresh and replenish us within His presence. God’s goodness within us will even show up in the way we treat our animals.
“The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.”
(Proverbs 12:10)
God’s Word in our mouths fosters a gentleness and sweetness about us. I'm praying today for our words to be a city of refuge, an enabling force for God's work rather than a discouragement to the vessels that He desires to use! As people see a difference within us, God will shine through us in an even brighter way.
"Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God's power."
Luke 9:43
What stood out to you from today’s Bible reading?