Reading through the Bible 2025: Deuteronomy 32 and hallowing God

At this point, I have finished up the first five books of the Bible (plus the Book of Job and small portions of 1st Chronicles and other similar areas where they have done a recap of early Biblical history). My goal is to continue to periodically share things I've been learning this time through the Bible (as I've only successfully gone through it twice now, and this is my fifth attempt). At this point, I've read through the Bible's first five books five times now (obviously I've read through certain passages more times than that), so I have a decent sense of this portion of Scripture. By contrast, my knowledge of parts of the middle sections of Scripture aren't as deep, and to my surprise I didn't know as much of the New Testament (including portions of the Gospels) as well as I had assumed. This is why it's important to stay connected with the Lord through His Word, because one can lulled into a false sense of security thinking we know the Lord well when in reality we don't. Similarly, this is why I periodically will write a blog post sharing with you all whatever happened to jump out at me.

One of the main topics in the Bible that has troubled me for years (although I now know the facts which helps a lot) has been what transpired that led God to tell Moses he was no longer permitted to enter the Promised Land. There are certain hard moments in Scripture, and this is one of them. It's good to know the truth, and yet it still takes time for its full weight (both the good and the bad of it) to sink in. It's why I'm making a big deal out of finding passages that jump out to me around this topic, because the only way to be able to move through the "hard"-ness of this event is to keep seeking God. With that, I submit the below:


The ultimate reason why God forbade Moses from entering the Promised Land


Yes, Moses struck the rock when God told him to speak to it, and yes, it was because Moses lacked faith. But the below verse explains the fundamental reason:

“because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭51‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.32.51.NKJV

For context, here are the surrounding verses:

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people; because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭48‬-‭52‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.32.48-52.NKJV

Moses was set to pass out of this mortal life, and the people of Israel were set to cross over the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land. And, knowing Moses’s overall relationship with God, their conversation was nowhere close to ending, even though his time on earth was. Their relationship would continue even after Moses passed away, and so would their conversation.


Amid all this, God still made a promise to Moses:

“Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.””

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭52‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.32.52.NKJV

And of course that promise stood. And knowing what I know now about the moment of Jesus’s transfiguration, the fact that Moses was there alongside Elijah meant that he did in fact eventually get to enter the Promised Land, even if it meant only in the next life.


But one question remains: what does it mean to “hallow” God?


I took a couple screenshots of my query into ChatGPT, and below is what I got.

In case the print is too small to make out, here are the main bullet points:

• Reverencing and honoring God
• Living out our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior
• Avoiding profanity and any other wrong talk
• Recognizing Jesus as Lord
• Living to honor God
• Inclining your heart toward God
• Putting your hope in God
• Obeying God
• Sharing about God with others

Amen, in Jesus’s name.

Devotionals from my Bible app: A Generous Invitation (Revelation 3:20)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20, NKJV

A Generous Invitation


While exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and sharing his experience with Jesus, John was given a vision.


He was told to write down what he saw and send it to the seven churches. And though these messages were given to literal churches of that time, they’re still just as relevant to and representative of our modern hearts today.


Now, for some context, let’s focus on Jesus’ message to the church in Laodicea …


Jesus describes the church in Laodicea as being neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. They’re rich and comfortable, prosperous and self-sufficient, apathetic and indifferent. But despite these things, Jesus still offers a generous invitation:

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
Revelation 3:20 NLT

Do you see it? Do you feel it?


This is an invitation for intimacy, relationship, and friendship with the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of everything.


But make no mistake, Jesus is a gentleman. He refuses to force Himself upon anyone. Instead, He pursues hearts and extends invitations…


…but we must open the door.


The church in Laodicea was full, but empty. They were disoriented by a false sense of security and control. They were successful according to the world’s standards, but distracted according to God’s standards.

And yet, Jesus still called out to them. Jesus still knocked for them. Just as He’s still calling out and knocking—for you. The same God who flung planets into space and carved mountains into existence wants to be near you and with you and to save you.


So if you hear Him calling out to your soul, or you feel Him knocking on the door of your heart, it’s your move.


He is waiting with open arms.



Note after sharing the devotional: this is the same Jesus who came to His disciples in the boat by walking on the water, and it is He who makes the same invitation. Below are two accounts of the same event:

Matthew’s account: (Matthew 14:22-33, NIV)

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Mark’s account: (Mark 6:45-56, NIV)

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

When I was in college, I knew of someone who claimed that she had indeed walked on the waters of Lake Superior (and yes, she was a believer (and presumably still is)). So this type of thing is not just for back in Jesus’s day -- it is for now as well. Either way, His invitation still stands.

Prayer: God, thank You for pursuing me and wanting to intimately know me. Free me from distractions and selfish desires. I let go of my personal comforts and control. Restart my passion and heart for You! In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Devotionals from my Bible app: Mercy in Doubt (Jude 1:22)

Be merciful to those who doubt; Jude 1:22, NIV

Mercy in Doubt


In the book of Jude, we come across a simple yet profound instruction: “Be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude 1:22). These words remind us of the importance of extending God's mercy and compassion to those who may be struggling in their faith. This includes ourselves!


Doubt is a common experience in the journey of faith. It can arise from various sources, such as intellectual questions, personal struggles, or the influence of the world around us. When we encounter people who are wrestling with doubt, it is crucial that we respond with mercy and understanding.


Being merciful means showing kindness, compassion, and patience towards others. It involves listening without judgment, offering support, and providing a safe space for honest conversations. When we extend mercy to those who doubt, we create an environment where they can openly express their questions and concerns, without fear of rejection or condemnation.


As followers of Christ, we are called to imitate His example. Jesus was always compassionate towards those who were struggling in their faith. He met people where they were, offering understanding and guidance. He never turned away those who sought Him, even if they had doubts or uncertainties.


When we extend mercy to those who doubt, we not only help them on their journey but also reflect the heart of our loving Savior. We can even be merciful to ourselves when we experience doubt.


There’s room for the questions. There’s room for the uncertainties. Doubt doesn’t intimidate Jesus, and it doesn’t need to intimidate us either.


https://bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.22.NKJV

Note after sharing the devotional: In my experience I’ve noticed how today’s verse can get lost in the shuffle. Because I’m big on context, I will share the surrounding verses and then make my observation:

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:20-23, NIV

First, you may notice that I’m not using my usual preferred translation. That’s because it states it this way:

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; Jude 1:22, NKJV

And for good measure, here are a few different translations (same verse):

And of some have compassion, making a difference: (KJV)

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. (NLT)

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; (AMP)

I include the surrounding verses because I have come across them at different times, including messages that feature them. But what I’ve also noticed is that typically these messages have focused on verses 20, 21, and 23, while omitting verse 22.

The Bible does also have these two things to say regarding faith and doubt:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6, NKJV

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; James 1:6-7, NKJV

(I’m aware it appears that so far I’m setting up an argument to vilify doubt and doubters, but the point of this post is actually to do the opposite. I just like to lay out all the key opposing arguments first before I make the point that I’m really intending to make. Hang tight.)

So, I’ve laid out why it's important 1.) to have and to cultivate faith, and 2.) not to exalt doubt. But I’ve always had an issue when pastors and preachers vilify Thomas the disciple in his moments of doubting. The main argument that these speakers have used has to do with Jesus’s response when Thomas claimed that he wouldn't believe that the Lord was raised from the dead unless he saw His hands and touched His side:

27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:27-29, NKJV

What I see is that Jesus fulfilled the verse from Jude 1:22 by having mercy on Thomas in his doubting. Yes, He spoke saying that blessed are those who believe without seeing, but it does not mean that He casts away those who doubt. In my experience, and even in my reading and researching, I have never come across a person or situation where the person doubting did so for malicious or self-indulgent reasons. And especially considering the Great Commission in which us believers are sent to go preach the Gospel to nonbelievers, of course those individuals that we try to reach are going to doubt. (They already do, and then some!) And for all believers growing in their faith (or attempting to), we will encounter things that will shake us to our core and leave us questioning what we believe. That’s what life does. If we never doubted, and always had faith no matter what, then we wouldn’t need God’s continual mercy on us, especially once we first receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Oftentimes, pastors and preachers (even well-intentioned ones) who preach about how "bad" doubt is, more often than not they have not encountered the types of difficulties that cause people to doubt in the first place. Sure, they encounter their own difficulties and get through those, but either those difficulties pale in comparison to that of others, or their challenges are simply vastly different to the point that it can be difficult to really understand another person’s specific tribulation, or they’ve had a greater amount of blessings to offset the challenges.

Also, I’ve noticed that many of these same "faith is great, doubt is bad" preachers also tend to neglect another key point of the Christian faith: God's sovereignty. It’s great and important to have faith and stand on His Word the Bible (because it doesn’t fail) for things that are part of God’s will, like strength, healing, and blessing (in general). But, in our selfish society, it is so very easy for any of us (myself included, by the way) to take that message and starting believing God for things that we want that may or may not be His will. Sure, if it’s something that is God’s will that we also want, that’s generally not going to be a problem. But we can get so consumed with what we want that we automatically assume that because God wants us blessed He will bless us with whatever we want, even if it’s not necessarily His plan for us (let alone His will).

It’s why this passage is very important:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18, NKJV

Let me be clear about something: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had faith. They believed firmly that God could save them from any situation, and He ultimately did, as recorded a few verses later. But their resolve was so strong that their statement to King Nebuchadnezzar, at the risk of ticking him off (which it did), was that even if God were to not deliver them from the fire and instead let them pass into eternity right then and there, it was worth it. This passage is where the phrase "even if" that is spoken in Christian circles comes from.

Below is another example from the Bible, when Jesus is pleading with His Father in the garden of Gethsemane, inquiring if there could possibly be any other way that He could pay for mankind’s sins. For the sake of brevity, I will link you to the entire context here (Matthew 26:36-46) and only share two verses that jump out:

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39, NKJV

Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” Matthew 26:42, NKJV

I am getting away from the main topic of doubt at this point, but I want to reiterate that sometimes we don’t do a good enough job putting up a guardrail against forms of "faith" that are really just self-serving. Doubt can be a thief, but it is not always a thief. For example, the Bible does say that we can believe for supernatural healing and speak it over ourselves (I myself have been doing that regarding a condition I am continuing to battle). 

But, it would be a mistake for me to starting thinking that God is no longer God if the healing doesn’t happen. We can question the thing but still trust God. The delay (or non-occurrence, even) can make space for growth in our relationship and walk with God. Sometimes things don’t happen not because we didn’t believe but instead because this is earth and not heaven. But despite that, God is still God. He is sovereign. Yes, He wants me healed and He has the capability to do it, but He also uses times of challenge to shape us. What kind of faith would we have if we only believed God for something because we expect that the thing would materialize? What about believing God for God Himself and learning to treasure the journey with Him, completely entrusting ourselves and our journey to Him, regardless of the outcomes here on earth?

And even if I happen to have gotten some things wrong in my own analysis and arguments... Jude 1:22 still speaks to that. Have mercy on me when I doubt, just like God has had mercy on you regarding that and regarding other things.

Be merciful to those who doubt; Jude 1:22, NIV

Prayer: God, help me have a heart of mercy towards those who doubt. Help me create safe spaces for honest conversations, offering support and understanding. And most of all, thank You for staying unchanging, even when I doubt You. I want to be more like You. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Devotionals from my Bible app: The Presence of God (Psalm 27:4)

One thing I have desired of the Lord,

That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4, NKJV

The Presence of God


The writer of Psalm 27 is intentionally focusing on one of the most important aspects of our spiritual life. Throughout Scripture, we learn about the importance of the presence of God.


It is in the presence of God that we find strength and hope (Psalm 27:1). It’s also in God’s presence that our enemies lose their power over us (Psalm 27:2-3).


In Psalm 27:4 the writer of the Psalm expresses his desire to dwell within the house of the Lord, to gaze upon God’s beauty and be in His presence in the temple. In the Old Testament, the presence of God was primarily within the temple. But through spending time with God, the Psalmist found hope and restoration for his soul.


Thanks to Jesus, God’s presence is no longer confined to the temple. His presence is now available to us through the Holy Spirit who dwells within believers. We now have access to God’s presence at any time.


Just like the writer of the Psalm desired to dwell within God’s presence, we also should desire to be with God as much as possible. It is in God’s presence that we find hope, joy, beauty, and the restoration of our weary souls.


It is important that we spend time with God each and every day. We can do this through regularly reading Scripture and reflecting on what we read. We can also spend time in prayer, talking to God about what is happening in our life. Another way to spend time in God’s presence is to simply be aware that He is with you through your daily tasks each day.


https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.27.4.NKJV

Prayer: God, continue to be the focus of my daily life. Make Your presence known to me. Draw me close to You so that way I can know You more deeply. I want to seek You all the days of my life. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Devotionals from my Bible app: Wisdom for Life (James 1:5)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5, NKJV

Wisdom for Life


Wisdom is a key aspect of maturity. We often think of growing into maturity as we get older and gain more knowledge, but growing mature in wisdom transcends age. Wisdom grows when we learn to apply our knowledge to everyday choices and situations.


James, the brother of Jesus and writer of the book of James, talks about the process of growing in spiritual maturity in James 1:1-5. He tells us that anybody who seeks wisdom should simply ask God for it, and God will give it generously to anyone who asks.


Growing in spiritual wisdom happens when we use our knowledge of God, the world, and ourselves, to make right decisions about how we should act, live, and talk as Christians. It’s as we get to know God better that we grow in His wisdom and are equipped with the knowledge we need to live abundant lives that honor Him. In this way, wisdom comes from our relationship with God.


Nobody needs to lack wisdom because God offers it freely through a relationship with Him. As we seek Him and His wisdom, He gives us opportunities to practice it and grow in our trust in Him. And as we trust Him with our choices, we begin to see wisdom flourish in our lives.


So what will you do to cultivate wisdom in your life? The first step is to ask God for help. When you humbly come to God and admit your need for Him, He will generously give you all the wisdom you need.

Prayer: God, You are more than willing to give Your wisdom to me. You want me to know how to live a godly life. Please make me eager to listen and discern Your voice. Give me a desire to obey You so that when You speak, I act with joy-filled faithfulness. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Reading through the Bible 2025: Deuteronomy odds and ends

I don’t particularly have an agenda for this post. I’m currently reading through the book of Deuteronomy and below are some passages that jump out at me. Read on:

“And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭17‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.17.19-20.NKJV

Per the above, it reads as Moses’s version of what God through Paul later states about not exalting oneself above another: (underlines are my emphases)

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3, NKJV

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; Romans 12:10, NKJV

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Romans 12:16, NKJV

Shifting topics, the Bible is against cross-dressing, as per below:

““A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭22‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.22.5.NKJV

This therefore must also mean that the Bible makes it clear that anything and everything related to the so-called “trans” movement is also an abomination to the Lord. After all, there is no real “trans” individual who doesn’t cross-dress contrasted with the sex as to which they were born.


Below is a verse from the Mosaic law which refutes what some might claim as Biblical the idea that “the children must pay for the sins of their parents”:

““Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭24‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.24.16.NKJV

I think the above Scriptures reveal God’s righteousness, His justice, and His fairness. Deuteronomy 17:19-20 (buffered by Romans 12:3,10,16) is a particular challenge for me. Although I lag behind most people in many respects, in certain other respects (particularly lessons learned through experience, and experiences had) I have tended to exalt those areas in my life. But honoring and treating others well doesn’t mean I put myself down; it just means I must act humbly and be humble even in areas where my knowledge might be superior to that of others.

Deuteronomy 22:5 is a no-brainer for me.

Deuteronomy 24:16 feels like justification for me (as I have sometimes felt like I was expected to pay for other’s sins) but it is also a challenge as I still bear the weight of the responsibility of my own actual sins. Thank God for Jesus! Lately the below verse has been one on which I’ve been meditating:

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57, NKJV

Reading through the Bible 2025: Again, God will do the work

Today’s post focuses on Deuteronomy 7. Again, God will do the work.

““When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.7.1-2.NKJV

From the above, there is a particular prayer need of discernment for me regarding a few things in my life presently especially concerning the above verses. I still don’t know what falls under the Deuteronomy 7:2 jurisdiction and what doesn’t (specifically regarding earthly things and worldly people). But what I can do is think on all this some more.

“But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.7.5.NKJV

I skipped verses 3 and 4 because it talks about not giving ourselves in marriage with pagans (worldly people, basically), and I’m already married to another believer. It’s still important to note but it’s not the focus area for today.

““For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.7.6-9.NKJV

The above passage is the “why” for all the commands He has been giving His people. Why should we utterly destroy our enemies? Why should we not spare them let alone marry them, etc.? It’s because we are His chosen and because He loves us. He loves us too much to give us an opportunity to backslide and reject Him all over again.


Another reiteration of God’s promises:

““Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.7.12-15.NKJV

In sum:

• God will keep His side of the covenant He has made with you.
• God will love you, bless you, multiply you; He will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruits of your field.
• He will bless even the offspring of your flocks and herds.
• No one will be barren among you.
• God will take away all sickness and instead lay them on your enemies.

Coming off yesterday’s post, it is God who is the provider, and not we ourselves. Only God can provide the above. It is not our responsibility to take care of what is God’s. But it is our responsibility to believe and obey the Lord in all that He says both to do and not to do.

The book of Deuteronomy is a pretty rich book. I don’t know how many blog posts I will ultimately devote to this particular book during this year’s read-through, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be a lot.

Reading through the Bible 2025: Promises

The focus of today’s post comes from Deuteronomy 6:

Part 1: Jesus’s summary of the Law and the Prophets:

““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.6.4-6.NKJV

I added the 6th verse because although Jesus didn’t quote it to the Pharisees, it’s still critical for us to understand and apply the command. It’s not just about technically obeying it; it’s about doing it from the heart—a prototype, if you will, of a key component of the New Covenant, namely living by the Spirit, which includes willingly obeying all the Lord’s commands from the heart and not just for appearance.

It was always about the heart, even from the start.


Part 2: This next section lists the different provisions for committing these things to memory and consequently to practice, including writing them on the doorposts.

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.6.7-9.NKJV

Again, the sense is that it’s less about the technicality (“how many doorposts do I have in my home that I need to write these things on?”) and more about ensuring that the present generation and all future generations will be reminded of God’s provision, goodness, mercy, and love, etc, without needing to demand constant proof of it.


Part 3: This next section really got my attention in a new way, as it speaks to an area of my understanding that needs to grow and to this point has not really been developed (beyond looking back, remembering, and understanding retroactively):

““So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.6.10-13.NKJV

The lines that stood out to me are as follows:

• “Cities which you did not build”
• “Houses which you did not fill”
• “Wells which you did not dig”
• “Vineyards/trees which you did not plant”

Honestly, this is closer to how my life has worked up to this point. I live in a world and particularly a section of the world where self-sufficiency is not only a value but an expectation. “If you want the American dream [or really any other dream, for that matter], you have to go earn it yourself. That means you have to do ALL the work. You can figure it out; good luck! (Oh, yeah, Philippians 4:13 says you can do ALL things through Christ who gives you strength, so you have no excuses!)”

And yet, more often than not in the Bible, it shows that the way God provides is not through human effort but rather through His provision and His provision alone. Yes, we have to believe for it (especially when God says it), and we have to also do whatever action steps that God tells us to do while we wait for the fulfillment of His promise. But expecting something just because we on our own strength are believing for something, or even when we claim a Bible verse (but misinterpret it), our faith in whatever we’re believing for is not the be-all, end-all. The be-all, end-all is God. It’s in His Sovereignty. It’s in the truth that, whether or not we get whatever it is we are expecting (and erroneously believe we are somehow entitled to), God is still good and nothing changes that.

I live in a culture and corner of the world that seems to scream that unless we build that city, we will not possess it; that unless we fill that house, we will not claim it; that unless we dig that well, we will not drink from it; or that unless we plant that tree or that vineyard, we will not consume its fruit. But the Bible makes it clear that God’s provision is God’s provision, which means that no one else besides He can make it happen. As such, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us only when we wait on the Lord, because when we wait on the Lord we renew our strength. Similarly, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us only when we let our wills become weak and surrender to His will, because then and only then when we are weak, His strength can be made perfect. Our submissiveness, our weakness, and our waiting are what is required in order for God to move in mighty ways, whether for us or in us our through us, or even all the above. Just like what the below passages state:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/php.4.13.NKJV

“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.40.31.NKJV

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.12.9.NKJV

I would dare add a fourth passage, to reinforce the message about waiting on the Lord (because honestly I need it):

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.46.10.NKJV

Regarding receiving provision from the Lord that I did not earn or directly work for, the first example I go back to is how my wife and I first were introduced to each other. The fact that we were introduced to each other by a third-party, rather than via online dating or somehow having already been placed in the same place at the same time without a formal introduction, that was God’s provision. (Now, my disclaimer is that I did have to do some work in order to be put in a position to say yes to this. It involved almost a decade of overall personal growth work which also included a couple years of dating-specific growth work, which included a previous relationship. But it did also include a direct conversation with the Lord regarding what I was looking for in a partner, with my answering His questions essentially in a vacuum as I had not yet been introduced to my wife.)

Another example has been housing. Like every other American when I graduated from college, I expected (and was expected) to get a job and my own apartment and commence adult life, no matter how much the thought of doing so frightened me. By God’s grace – and exclusively by God’s grace – I managed to be able to do so for about a year and a half in Minnesota. He provided my first job with AmeriCorps, as well as what turned out to be the ideal living situation (and housemate situation) for where I was at at that time. But then reality set in when that AmeriCorps assignment ended and I had to move back to Chicago, relying on other people’s housing basically for the next 14 years (in which two of those situations were borderline toxic). To call either of those situations “not fun” would be a massive understatement. But it was provision. I was privileged to live rent-free (although not my preference by any means) and have food, shelter and clothing, while I was left to bumble around in the dark (often alone) trying to figure out how adult life worked, let alone being able to thrive. But as much as I could complain about the nitty-gritty details, the biggest truth is that God still provided even through these means. 14 years after moving out of my basement apartment in Minnesota, I was finally able to move into my own apartment with my wife in western suburban Chicago. I cannot say that at any time God didn’t provide, because He did.

A third example has to do with my faith and church journey. As I embark on this paragraph, I am aware of that there are yet some stones that are still unturned on this topic, namely, what I experienced in the Episcopal Church growing up. (And no, there was no abuse that I experienced personally; this wasn’t the Catholic Church! You all can breathe a sigh of relief.) But I find myself amazed, more than 20 years after I formally left the church I grew up in, as to seeing how God continually pursued me, even as I joined and then left FCA, wandered across different Protestant denominations curiously to see where I might find a home, spent a decade at the Vineyard, and now at an independent, non-denominational evangelical church where the Word is very deeply preached, more so than anywhere else that I’ve ever attended to date. I give God thanks and praise for that! What I find remarkable (and sad) is how, 20 years ago, despite being very aware of the deadness that I saw in the Episcopal Church, I still found a few people that I thought were possibly “real Christians” — and today I look at even those same people, finding that I’m pretty sure they’re not saved after all. I do feel sadness at that thought! And yet, in light of that, how even more poignant that I see God’s hand still in my life all these years later, in my life specifically out of all the people that I crossed paths with in church in all my growing-up years. Even at the Vineyard, the last half of my time there was marked by a subtle dissatisfaction with that church’s focus and direction. Until the very end, however, I found myself regularly dismissing that sense I continually felt, because I was trusting instead that somehow what the leadership was doing was still in obedience to the Lord’s direction. (Apparently it was not, but I wouldn’t find that out until I was finally leaving, and even more after I had formally left.)

Although I am currently happily married, and I’m grateful for the current blessings that my wife and I do share, I still find myself in a stuck kind of place. I do believe I’m waiting for something, but unlike previously, I’m finding myself waiting for something that I’m not even sure it is that I’m waiting for. Part of that is that what I think I’m waiting for seems to change day by day, depending on my mood.

So, somehow I find the passage from Deuteronomy very encouraging. Here it is again:

““So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.6.10-13.NKJV

I may not have a distinct “Promised Land” like the Israelites of Moses’s and Joshua’s generations did, but then again I may not need to. Because what I believe this passage is highlighting is that it’s about the Lord first and foremost. He – and only He – is the provider. There may be others who act as means of His provision, but only God is the provider. And instead of putting our faith in our faith (and in our use and interpretation of Scripture), we should be putting our faith in our God, Who made heaven and earth, Who sacrificed His one and only son Jesus Christ on the cross to die for the sins of the world, and He Who raised the same Jesus from the dead, paving a way for us to escape eternal punishment and instead enjoy eternity with Him.

In the past, God has provided for me by giving me things that I did not earn. Yes, He has work for me to do in various different areas, but His provision does not – and will not – depend on my self-sufficiency, or on any fruits thereof. This is a lie that must continually be broken in the hearts of many, many people around me. Clearly, when anyone repents, God is faithful to respond and move in their lives. But I also earnestly believe that once we as a people repent of our idolatry of self-sufficiency, will we be able to experience God in a way that I don’t think many of us, have experienced in a very, very long time.

May it once again be so of God’s amazing provision! To God and Him alone be the glory!

Devotionals from my Bible app: Christ Now. Christ Forever (Philippians 1:21)

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21, NKJV

Christ Now. Christ Forever.


For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.


If you have been around Christianity for any length of time, it is likely you have heard this verse: To live is Christ and to die is gain. It can become so familiar, it’s true meaning escapes us. What does it mean?


…to live is Christ…
The Apostle Paul, imprisoned during the period in which he wrote this letter to the church in Philippi, is communicating a simple fact: Christ is my life. If we were to paraphrase Paul further, he might say: “Jesus is not just part of my life or even most of my life; He is the entire substance and being of my very existence. Every part of it.” In the Christian life, Christ is not a a simple addition–He is the very foundation. His love, His grace, His truth, it’s all built on Him. It isn’t life + Christ. It’s life IS Christ.


…to die is gain.
Paul’s life was full of persecution and hardship, and yet, throughout his letter to the Philippians, his tone is joyful, calm, and purposeful. Paul isn’t looking at death alone when he makes this statement. He is looking beyond. What Paul considers gain in death is ‌eternity with Christ on the other side. To have Christ, all in all. To be with Him forever. All things new. Forever and ever, Paul worshipping the One he loves.


Many scholars believe that Paul was only about five years away from martyrdom when he wrote what became the book of Philippians. On that day, two things happened. The life in Christ that Paul had lived came to its end, living evidence to this day of the power and peace of God. And also, he gained. He entered Heaven. He saw Christ, the One for whom He lived his life. His all in all. And He is with Him now. Worshipping. Praising. Adoring.

Note after sharing the devotional: this is going to be my work until I die.

Prayer: God, what an incredible thing that You sent Your Son to die for my sins. I have new life in Christ because of His sacrifice. In You, I have everything I need. Life in You. Eternity with You. What a life it is. Thank You. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Devotionals from my Bible app: Keep Practicing (Philippians 4:9)

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9, NKJV

Keep Practicing


When someone is training for a job—any job—they must eventually make the shift from studying to practicing.


The apostle Paul knew how important such a transition was, which is why—even while confined to a Roman prison—he recorded the following words for the believers in Philippi, Greece:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:9 NIV

Paul had taught them. Paul had trained them. Paul had loved them. And that’s why, from the isolation of a jail cell, Paul empowered them to live out what they’d learned.


Jesus, too, was passionate about His followers not just trying to look good or to sound good, but to do good—with a heart that genuinely wanted to glorify God. James, the half brother of Jesus, also wrote about not just listening to the Word, but doing what it says.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

James 1:22-24 ESV

It’s one thing to know about something, but it’s an entirely different thing to put that knowledge into practice.


The peace of God is a gift that He gives us. It’s something we experience as we draw near to Him by living in a way that honors Him. If we know His will but don’t do anything about it—that shows that we don’t really want to honor God. But if we do His will, then our actions illustrate that our identity is rooted in Christ. And our closeness to Christ allows us to experience His peace.


Doing the will of God—not just learning about the will of God—unleashes the peace of God.


So today, study what Paul taught and modeled (which is ultimately what Jesus taught and modeled). And then, ask yourself: “What is God teaching me about Himself, myself, and other people? How can I apply His teachings to my life?”

Note after sharing the devotional: to be honest, getting myself to do anything that I haven’t been inclined to do has been an almost impossible task. I like to think that as I’ve gone further and further through life that this particular task (and task category) has become easier the more experience I get. But then there are times and issue areas where, no matter what, getting myself to change just doesn’t happen. I will say that, over the very long term, I have grown. Over the last couple years (and even continuing until now) as I’ve looked back particularly to my college years, I was very aware of what I thought and felt and desired, and overcome by my complete and utter inability to get myself to a place to be able to do most of those things.

When I first began college, I initially wanted to be a Christian, realizing that what I had grown up with was not the real thing. I heard about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior for the first time ever, and I really gravitated toward it. I had no idea that what was also required was a “choice point” where I needed to officially say that I was surrendering my life to Him, with witnesses confirming this. No one in any of the Christian groups in college (including but not limited to FCA) ever explained that step to me. It wasn’t until years later when I realized that the furthest I had ever progressed was that I “liked the idea” of receiving having Jesus as my Lord and Savior. That’s just one example; there are countless others just like this where I was brought right up to the precipice and then left high and dry because someone didn't take the time to explain it to me. (And as I've mentioned in previous posts, the end of my time in college was marked by having completely walked away, becoming even worse of an unbeliever than I was when I first started.)

When I began attending the Vineyard church after I moved back to the Chicago area, that’s when I finally began hearing about the aforementioned “choice point” or the moment of decision of receiving -- and following -- Jesus as my Lord and Savior. That’s when I also heard many other things related to what I desperately needed at that time in my life, which was healing, and a lot of it. For the first time I heard prophecies and words of encouragement, and what I was able to (with what I had) receive, I received. Over the ensuing years was when I was finally given a roadmap to address the first few layers of roadblocks to me going deeper in my faith walk with Jesus and to growing as a person. I unfortunately was nowhere near ready to take on adult life, as much as I really wanted to. It was humbling but I took it. I had to submit to the program that God had placed in front of me, and I submitted to it. Week in, week out, go back for more healing and personal growth, one week at a time. And this was to be done indefinitely until told otherwise. As hard as it was, it’s what I did.

So I did put it into practice. I can put into practice things that are placed in front of me, so long as I am able to understand and, if necessary, have it explained to me. I have too long a history of reading something and it not registering. Praise God more things in His Word make sense, click, and register in my mind than they used to. It’s why I am very grateful for the persistent messages at my current church that drill into my mind about regularly spending time with God, and regularly spending time in His Word. I need the knowledge. I need the wisdom. There was a point where, as great as my previous church was (especially at the beginning), its usefulness in ministering to me ultimately ceased. It was a great healing and prophetic church, and they did explain the Scriptures very well (I thought). But, there was a lack of emphasis about developing one’s personal relationship with God by habit, specifically by prayer and by personal Scripture study (and I’m not faulting my previous church; it’s simply acknowledging that every church has different emphases, and certain emphases worked for me while a lack of other emphases hindered me). My current church, in spite of gaps that I see here, has other areas where they are very strong, and right now an area of great strength is emphasizing daily habits and practices of spending time with God, spending time in His Word, and spending time in prayer and in praise & worship.

I’m grateful that over the last several years I have been able to begin to put these above-mentioned habits into practice. Additionally, through them God gave me a roadmap in which I finally have been able to start to gain victory over a couple of key troublesome areas in my life (and then to walk in that victory). It’s amazing. Praise God!

I can do it. It just takes a very long time when it’s not something I’m already inclined to being able to do, because that’s just the way He made me. I believe I have for the most part learned to accept that about myself. It’s just difficult when others don't demonstrate the capability or willingness to walk with me in this.

Prayer: God, thank You for teaching me through Your Word. And thank You for placing people in my life that inspire me to draw close to You. As I go about my day, please surround me with opportunities to learn more about You, and apply what I learn. Let me be on the lookout for ways to deepen my relationship with You, and the people You love. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Devotionals from my Bible app: She Saw The Lord (John 20:18)

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. John 20:18, NKJV

She Saw the Lord


Mary Magdalene is one of the most well-known women from the Bible. She was with Jesus through much of His ministry, to the end of His life and after His resurrection. The first time we meet Mary in Scripture, Jesus has already worked a miracle in her:

“...Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out…”

Luke 8:1-2 (NIV)

Imagine feeling helpless, tormented, hopeless. Indescribably crushed under the oppressive weight of evil and without any way out. You may not need to imagine it–you might already identify with what Mary was going through.


But then, Jesus came and set Mary Magdalene free.


In a moment, He relieved her of her torment. She was healed. And she saw Him. She followed Him. From a distance, she watched the crucifixion as her Savior gave His life for all (Mark 15:40). And then, she saw where he was laid (Mark 15:47).


Ever faithful, Mary Magdalene and two other women who followed Jesus rose early in the morning and went to anoint Jesus’ body.


But there was no one there.


At this empty tomb, Mary wept in grief thinking Jesus had been taken away. But then she heard Jesus’ voice:

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).”

John 20:16 NIV

Jesus then trusted her with an important task. “Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17 NIV).


The news of Jesus’ resurrection took flight through Mary Magdalene, the woman who had once been crushed by suffering. Of all the people He could have chosen for this moment of glorious discovery and critical communication, He chose her.


And she went to the disciples with the very same news that had changed her life to begin with: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18 NIV).

Note after sharing the devotional: I currently have two people in mind that I’ve been taking on opportunities to share the Gospel with. One of them I sent a text message with the passage from Jeremiah 29:11-13. I initially brushed it off as a “mistake,” because this passage came up in context with spending time in prayer regarding a current difficulty. I was however reminded that sometimes “mistakes” are actually prompts by the Holy Spirit to respond in faith regarding encouraging another person that I myself might not have initially intended to encourage. After I originally backed out of texting this person this passage, sending it instead to the person I intended to send it, I went back and also texted the first person and included a little note. I did that on faith because there’s never a wrong time to encourage anyone. I pressed “send,” and, a short while later, received a text back thanking me for the text.

Praise God for this first person being receptive to the Gospel. He and I have been in conversation about it for quite some time now (not constantly, but in waves). The second person I think is also open to the Gospel but there are some barriers of understanding that may take longer to knock down. I think my job is to persist but also persist in gentleness. This second person is a nice guy, so it doesn’t do any good to bring the battering ram, but rather the smaller delicate tools, as if I were excavating fine materials buried deep within the dirt.

There are others to whom I do believe God has prompted me to also preach, but I continue to draw a blank on how. I do suspect that a significant part of it has been because the relationship itself between them and me is not anywhere close to where the relationships between the two above-mentioned individuals and me currently stand. In one such case, I finally acted in the last couple weeks on a prompting I suspect God has given me, to gradually bridge that relational gap -- I sent them a link to my Bandcamp site. This individual has known for a while that I write music. But they’ve been in the dark about my output, until recently. There is still more work to be done there, not just with the music but also with the relationship with that person. Some of that work is indeed in my heart as well as the outward relationship.

Baby steps. That seems to be how true healing works most of the time, anyway.

Prayer: God, thank You! Thank You for the resurrection, for healing, for new life in You. You make all things new. Help me see clearly who I need to share this Good News with today. Lead me towards people who need to know Your love and healing. Thank You for new life. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Devotionals from my Bible app: The Lamb of God (John 1:29)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29, NKJV

The Lamb of God


Have you ever waited a really long time for something important? Maybe you spent weeks waiting to see an old friend, for news about a medical diagnosis, or for someone to respond to a message you sent them.


In the first century, the people of God had waited hundreds and hundreds of years for the coming of a Savior. John the Baptist was sent to be the forerunner of that coming Savior. God planned for John to prepare the people for Jesus’ arrival, and call them back to repentance.


John waited his whole life for Jesus. He spent his days in eager anticipation of the coming of a Savior who would save his people. And on that day when Jesus did arrive, John the Baptist cried out in excitement.


John calls Jesus the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. In the old covenant, lambs were sacrificed on behalf of the sins of the people. Their sacrifices were a temporary means to restore a person's relationship with God.


But Jesus’ coming heralds a new covenant between God and His people.


Jesus’ death is a sacrifice on our behalf, but one that is permanent and complete. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection pave a path for us to enjoy a restored relationship with God, and to live in freedom from sin. This is the new covenant that John the Baptist is describing—Jesus takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).


Take a moment this morning to thank God for the amazing gift that Jesus gives to each and every one of us. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness, we can walk in new life and enjoy a restored relationship with God.


Think of one small step you can take to share this good news with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. This free gift is great news for every single person, and we are given the privilege of sharing it with everyone.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your only Son to save us. Thank You for creating a way for us to know You personally. Because of Jesus’s sacrifice, my mistakes are forgiven! Please help me to never take this for granted. Help me to glorify You in every area of my life, forever. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Devotionals from my Bible app: What Does It Mean To Say Yes To Jesus?

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:23-24, NKJV

Since the beginning of the year, my Bible app has been regularly including extra prompts about spreading the Gospel of our Lord, King, and Savior Jesus Christ to nonbelievers. I've had a couple conversations so far as of the writing of this post, one over the telephone, and one more recently where a different friend indicated that, despite all that he is doing for his church, he doesn't feel spiritually grounded. I made a suggestion that he begin a Bible reading program and pray a simple prayer asking God to reveal to him something new about the Bible passage that he read that day. He responded indicating he was going to do something different (which leads me to believe that he won't take my suggestion). He doesn't have to take my suggestion, but I'm finding myself concerned that he isn't aware how seriously he (and we all) need to take regarding spending time with the Lord.

The devotional below answers the question: what does it mean to say yes to Jesus? For a long time, I had fallen into the trap that, simply because I attend church and know about Jesus meant that I had my ticket into heaven. Boy, was I wrong. I needed (and still need) to know Him personally, to have that relationship out of which fruits of obedience to the Lord grow and flourish. In a nutshell, that is what it means to say yes to Jesus. Read on below: 

The verse below paints the full picture of the reality of both our nature as well as God's nature. None of us are good enough to go to heaven. That's the bad news. But the good news is, because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross by dying and shedding His blood for us (and subsequently conquering death when God raised Him back to life on the third day afterward), we can enter into heaven upon our own natural deaths by receiving Jesus as Savior and submitting our entire lives to Him as Lord and King.

At the end of the day, it is God who makes us righteous in His sight -- it's His righteousness, not ours. And by His (Jesus's) blood, we have the opportunity to receive that necessary salvation. But we then have to take that next step: receiving Him as our Savior, submitting to and declaring Him as Lord and King of our lives, and then walking in obedience to whatever it is that He tells us to do.

Reading through the Bible 2025: Israel is still blessed (Numbers 22-23)

Similar to the progression of reactions and emotions to the book of Job, I've had a sequence of thoughts regarding the entire chapter of history of the Israelites as a people journeying from Egypt (post-Red Sea) to the Promised Land. My own awareness of the progression of my thoughts isn't as clear as it was with Job (I've read through it intently considerably less, although I've certainly been aware of the storyline for many years). As such, I will not detail it bullet by bullet, but I will mention a few key thoughts that have come up over the years. Hopefully those thoughts will be somewhat sequential.

In my earliest thoughts from reading about this journey, typical of how I process information, I simply thought, OK, they wandered in the desert for 40 years after crossing the Red Sea. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. 

Then, probably around college age (or just after), I became really aware of two things: 1.) many of the Israelites died along the way, and 2.) Moses didn't get to enter the Promised Land, even though God initially promised him he would.

Sometime later, I then learned the reason that Moses didn't get to enter the Promised Land: he struck the rock when God told him to speak to it instead. My reaction honestly was that I thought God was being unfair and in this case, broke a promise. My defense of Moses (incorrect, of course) was that Moses must've just had a bad day and snapped, and God punished him big time for it.

Then, after having a personal spiritual awakening in 2020 and 2021, I sketched a post in the fall of 2021 that ultimately ran in June 2023, where, as I was attempting to defend God and the Bible to an audience of nonbelievers (ultimately to defend why homosexuality (and all sexuality outside of God-ordained marriage) is sin and why gay "marriage" is ungodly), I listed out what I understood to be key points in Biblical history in which nonbelievers have tended to call God "cruel," and I found out that in fact, Moses did not simply have "a bad day and snapped," like I had previously characterized it. He had lost his faith which had eroded over time and simply didn't give a hoot about obeying God by that point (he probably had also demonstrated other instances of disobedience due to lack of faith) that he deliberately struck the rock out of spite, blaming God for the pileup of misfortunes and stresses that he had had. (Just like Job had also been doing right before God corrected him.)

In 2022, before my Bible reading fell off the rails, I did manage to read through this entire section of Biblical history, and my eyes were opened as to how much the generation of Israelites that had endured the hardships in Egypt were quick to whine like immature teenagers and ready go to back to captivity (an act of disobedience in their hearts and ultimately with their mouths and their actions) because they somehow decided they preferred it to the unknowns that came from traveling in the desert.

The last major piece of corrective thinking on this patch of history, in the form of an encouragement this time, was the truth that, despite what God had told him, Moses did eventually get to enter the Promised Land, as per the below passage:

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Matthew 17:1-3, NKJV

The scene of Jesus's transfiguration took place in the same area that the Old Testament Israelites' Promised Land was. Moses' presence at that location would mean that God did eventually relent and allow him to indeed enter. His punishment for his disobedience was therefore limited only to his natural life. Moses was no longer allowed to enter the Promised Land before dying, but that didn't mean that that punishment would hold for eternity. Moses was still blessed.

One piece of context that is important before I delve into the main topic of the day, which is that the people of Israel overall were still blessed by God. God did not decide to sentence the entire population to never being able to enter and live in the Promised Land; only the ones that were older and had spent much of their lives in Egypt (and as such, complained and demanded to return to slavery). The younger generation, who did not have as much life experience in Egypt, received the promise. And in the account of God speaking to Balaam (not a believer, by the way), He made it clear that He still favored the people of Israel, despite their disobedience.

With all that out of the way, here is what the Lord said in no uncertain terms to Balaam:

“And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.””

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭22‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/num.22.12.NKJV

Think about it: this is the same group of people that continued to rebel against God, including the two recent incidents where they believed the 10 spies that brought back a bad report, as well as the incident where Moses struck the rock after God told him to speak to it instead (as mentioned earlier in this post). as it is written in the last verse of Psalm 95: “I swore my anger that they will not enter into my rest.” And true to his word, no one above the age of 20, except for Joshua and Caleb, lived to enter the Promised Land.


The takeaway from Numbers 22:12 is that, despite all of the sin and all of the unbelief and all of this rebellion, God still called his people blessed.


Later, Balaam passed on his message to King Balak who had seen Israel's victories and had gotten so filled with fear that he sent Balaam to curse them:

“Then he took up his oracle and said: “Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor! “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. “He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, And the shout of a King is among them.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭23‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/num.23.18-21.NKJV

God used Balaam as an instrument of His will. And although Balaam wasn't saved and otherwise didn't follow the Lord, he did obey here.

Israel is still blessed.