September Reading List

September, here we come!!!!

Because it's football season AND because we're starting our THIRD month of reading..........

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Just keep going....don't quit....give it your BEST!

             September

❏1   Deuteronomy 13-16
❏2   Deuteronomy 17-19
❏3   Deuteronomy 20-22
❏4   Deuteronomy 23-25
❏5   Deuteronomy 26-28
❏6   Deuteronomy 29-31
❏7   Deuteronomy 32-34
❏8   Joshua 1-3
❏9 Joshua 4-6
❏10 Joshua 7-9
❏11 Joshua 10-12
❏12 Joshua 13-15
❏13 Joshua 16-18
❏14 Joshua 19-21
❏15 Joshua 22-24
❏16 Judges 1-4
❏17 Judges 5-8
❏18 Judges 9-12
❏19 Judges 13-15
❏20 Judges 16-18
❏21 Judges 19-21
❏22 Ruth 1-4
❏23 1 Samuel 1-3
❏24 1 Samuel 4-7
❏25 1 Samuel 8-10
❏26 1 Samuel 11-13
❏27 1 Samuel 14-16
❏28 1 Samuel 17-20
❏29 1 Samuel 21-24
❏30 1 Samuel 25-28

This is the Junior Bible Challenge reading list for September.


SEPTEMBER

❏1   Exodus 18
❏2   Exodus 19
❏3   Exodus 20
❏4   Exodus 26
❏5   Exodus 32
❏6   Exodus 33
❏7   Exodus 34
❏8   Leviticus 26
❏9   Numbers 10
❏10 Numbers 11
❏11 Numbers 12
❏12 Numbers 13
❏13 Numbers 14
❏14 Numbers 16
❏15 Numbers 17
❏16 Numbers 33
❏17 Numbers 34
❏18 Deuteronomy 1
❏19 Deuteronomy 2
❏20 Deuteronomy 4
❏21 Deuteronomy 5
❏22 Deuteronomy 6
❏23 Deuteronomy 7
❏24 Deuteronomy 8
❏25 Deuteronomy 10
❏26 Deuteronomy 11
❏27 Deuteronomy 20
❏28 Deuteronomy 28
❏29 Deuteronomy 29
❏30 Deuteronomy 30

It works really well to print your list and use it as a bookmark!

Day 62 - What Does God Expect of Me?

Daily Reading:  Deuteronomy 10-12

And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?  
                                                                Deuteronomy 10:12,13

Footnote:

Often we ask, "What does God expect of me?""  Here Moses gives a summary that is simple in form and easy to remember.  Here are the essentials: 

1. Fear God (have reverence for him).

2.  Walk in all his ways.

3.  Love him.

4.  Serve him with all your heart and soul.

5.  Observe his commands.  

How often we complicate faith with man-made rules, regulations,and requirements.  Are you frustrated and burned out from trying hard to please God?  Concentrate on his real requirements and find peace.  

Respect, follow, love, serve, and obey.

Keep reading -- 303 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 61 - Trust & Obey

Daily Reading:  Deuteronomy 7-9

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  Deuteronomy 8:3

Footnote:

Jesus quoted this verse when the devil tempted him to turn stones into bread.  Many people think that life is based on satisfying their appetites.  If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they think they are living, "the good life."  But such things do not satisfy our deepest longings, in the end they leave us empty and dissatisfied.  Real life, according to Moses, comes from total commitment to God, the one who created life itself.  It requires discipline, sacrifice, and hard work, and that's why most people never find it.

And when the Lord sent you out from Kadesh Banea, he said, "Go up and take possession of the land I have given you." But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God.  You did not trust him or obey him.  Deuteronomy 9:24

Footnote:

Moses was reminding the people of the nation's unbelief 40 years earlier, when they were afraid to enter Canaan.  The Israelites had not believed God would be able to help them in spite of all he had already done. They refused to folllow because they looked only to their own limited resources instead of to God.  Unbelief is the root of many sins and problems.  When you feel lost, it may be because you're looking everywhere but to God for your help and guidance.

Keep reading -- 304 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 60 - Obedience Commanded

Daily Reading:  Deuteronomy 4-6

Hear now, O Israel, the decrees  and laws I am about to teach you.  Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.  Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.  Deuteronomy 4:1-2

Footnote:

What is meant by adding to or subtracting from God's commands? These laws were the word of God, and they were compelte.  How could any human being, with limited wisdom and knowledge, edit God's perfect laws?  To add to the laws would make them a aburden; to subtract from the laws wouldmake them incomplete.  Thus the laws were to reamin unchanged.  To presume to make changes in God's law is to assum a position of authority over God who gave the laws.  The religious leaders at the time of Chirst di exactly this; they elevated their own lws to the same level s God's.  Jesus rebuked them for this (Matthew 23:1-4).

4:8 Footnote:

Do the laws God gave to the Israelites still apply to Christians today?  God's laws are designed to guide all people toward life-styles that are healthy, upright, and devoted to God.  Their purpose was to point out sin (or potential sin) and show the proper way to deal with that sin.  The Ten commandments, the heart of God's law, are just as applicable today as they were 3,000 years ago because they proclaim a life-style endorsed by God.  They are the perfect expression of who God is and how he wants people to live.

But God gave other laws besides the Ten Commandments.  Are these just as important?  God never issued a law that didn't have a purpose.  However, many of the laws we read in the Pentateuch were directed specifically to people of that time and culture.  Although a specific law may not apply to us, the timeless truth or principle behind the law does.

For example, Christians do not practice animal sacrifice in worship.  However, the principles behind the sacrifices -- forgiveness for sin and thankfulness to God -- still apply.  The sacrifices pointed to the ultimate sacrifice made for us by Jesus Christ.  The New Testament says that with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Old Testament laws were fulfilled.  This means that while the Old Testament laws help us recognize our sins and correct our wrongdoings, it is Jesus Christ who takes our sins away.  Jesus is now our primary example to follow because he alone perfectly obeyed the law and modeled its true intent.

Keep reading -- 305 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 59 - Deuteronomy

Daily Reading:  Deuteronomy 1-3


In Deuteronomy, Moses takes us on a trip down memory lane.  He is reminding the people of what God has done and encouraging them to rededicate their lives to him.  I am enjoying remembering the Israelites' journey.  Are you?  It's important as Christians for us to remember all that God has done in our lives as well.

1:1, 1 Footnote:

The Israelites spent 40 years on a journey that should have lasted 11 days! It wasn't distance that stood between them and the promised land. It was the condition of their hearts.

God's purpose went deeper than simply transporting a huge group of people to a new land. He was preparing them to live in obedience to him once they arrived. What good was the promised land if the Israelites were just as wicked as the nations already living there? 

 The journey was a painful but necessary part of their preparation. Through it God taught the Israelites who he was: the living God, the Leader of their nation. He also taught them who they were: people who were fallen, sinful, prone to rebellion and doubt. He gave his rebellious people the law to help them understand how to relate to God and to other people.

Your spiritual pilgrimage may be lengthy, and you may face pain, discouragement, and difficulties. But remember that God isn't just trying to keep you alive. He wants to prepare you to live in service and devotion to him.

Keep reading -- 306 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 58 - The Message of Numbers

Daily Reading:  Numbers 34-36

36:13 Footnote:

The book of Numbers covers 39 years and closes with the Israelites poised near the banks of the Jordan River with the promised land in sight. The wanderings in the desert have come to an end, and the people are preparing for their next big move -- the conquest of the land. The apostle Paul says that the events described in Numbers are EXAMPLES that warn us and help us avoid the Israelites' mistakes (1 Corinthians 10:1-12).

From their experiences we learn that unbelief is disastrous. 

We also learn not to long for the sinful pleasures of the past,

to avoid complaining, and to 

stay away from all

forms of compromise. 

If we choose to let God lead our lives, we should not ignore his message in the book of Numbers.

Keep reading -- 307 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 57 - Barbs and Thorns

Daily Reading:  Numbers 31-33

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. Numbers 33:55

31:14-16 Footnote:

Because Midianites were responsible for enticing Israel into Baal worship, God commanded Israel to destroy them (25:16-18). But Israel took the women as captives, rather than killing them, probably because of the tempting enticements of the Midianites' sinful life-style. When we discover sin in our lives, we must deal with it completely. When the Israelites later entered the promised land, it was their indifferent attitude to sin that eventually ruined them. Moses dealt with the sin promptly and completely. When God points out sin, move quickly to remove it from your life.

"At the Lord's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey...." Numbers 33:2

33:2 Footnote:

Moses recorded the Israelites' journeys as God instructed him, providing a record of their spiritual as well as geographic progress. Have you made spiritual progress lately? Recording your thoughts about God and lessons you have learned over a period of time can be a valuable aid to spiritual growth. A record of your spiritual pilgrimage will let you check up on your progress and avoid repeating past mistakes.

33:50-53 Footnote:

God told Moses that before the Israelites settled in the promised land they should drive out the wicked inhabitants and destroy their idols. In Colossians 3, Paul encourages us to live as Christians in the same manner: throwing away our old way of living and moving ahead into our new life of obedience to God and faith in Jesus Christ. Like the Israelites moving into the promised land, we can destroy the wickedness in our lives or we can settle down and live with it. To move in and possess the new life, we must drive out the sinful thoughts and practices to make room for the new.

33:50-56 Footnote:

God had several compelling reasons for commanding the Israelites to destroy the people living in Canaan:
1. God was stamping out the wickedness of an extremely sinful nation. The Canaanites brought on their own punishment. Idol worship expressed their deepest evil desires. It ultimately led to the worship of Satan and the total rejection of God.
2. God was using Moses and Israel to judge Canaan for its sins in fulfillment of the prophecy in Genesis 9:25.
3. God wanted to remove all trace of pagan beliefs and practices from the land. He did not want his people to mix or compromise with idolatry in any way. The Israelites did not fully understand God's reasons, and they did not carry out his command. This eventually led them to compromise and corruption. In all areas of life, we should obey God's Word without question because we know he is just, even if we cannot fully understand his overall purposes.

33:55 Footnote:

If you don't do the job right the first time, it often becomes much more difficult to accomplish. God warned that if the Israelites did not drive the wicked inhabitants out of the promised land, later these people would become a source of great irritation. That is exactly what happened. Just as the Israelites were hesitant to clear out all the wicked people, we are sometimes hesitant to clear out all the sin in our lives, either because we are afraid of it (as the Israelites feared the giants), or because it seems harmless and attractive (as sexual sin seemed). But Hebrews 12:1, 2 tells us to throw off "the sin that so easily entangles" us. We all have "idols" we don't want to let go of (a bad habit, an unhealthy relationship, a certain life-style). If we allow these idols to dominate us, they will cause serious problems later.

Keep reading -- 308 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 56 - Offerings

Daily Reading:  Numbers 28-30

The Lord said to Moses, "Give this command to the Israelites and say to them:  'See that you present to me at the appointed time the food for my offerings made by fire, as an aroma pleasing to me.' "  Numbers 28:1-2

28:1,2 Footnote:

Offerings had to be brought regularly and presented according to prescribed rituals under the priests' supervision. Following these rituals took TIME, and this gave the people the opportunity to prepare their hearts for worship. Unless our hearts are ready, worship is meaningless. By contrast, God is delighted, and we get more from it, when our hearts are prepared to come before him in a spirit of thankfulness.

We are no longer under the law and don't have to make these daily, weekly, etc. offerings and sacrifices. Jesus was our ultimate sacrifice! Yet God does desire to be in relationship with us.

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name." Hebrews 13:15

AND

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1


"Present your body, therefore, as a living and holy sacrifice. Take all the tasks that you have to do every day - the ordinary work at the office, the factory, the home, the school; take the tasks that you perform in your marriage relationship and the parent-child relationship; and offer all of it as worship to God." (William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, p. 168)

Pour My Love On You

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May our lives be a continual offering, poured out to the Lord, a living sacrifice. May our praise, the fruit of our lips, be a pleasing aroma to our God!

Keep reading -- 309 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 55 - A New Census

Daily Reading:  Numbers 25-27

Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families -- all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.  Numbers 26:2

Footnote:

A new census for a new generation.  Thirty-eight years had elapsed since the first great census recorded in Numbers.  During that time, every Israelite man and woman over 20 years of age --- except Caleb, Joshua, and Moses -- had died, and yet God's laws and the spiritual character of the nation were still intact.  Numbers records some dramatic miracles.  This is a quiet but powerful miracle often overlooked:  A whole nation moved from one land to another, lost its entire adult population, yet managed to maintain its spiritual direction.  Sometimes it may feel like God isn't working dramatic miracles in our lives.  But God often works in quiet ways to bring about his long-range purposes.

Keep reading -- 310 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 54 - Second Approach to the Promised Land

Daily Reading:  Numbers 21-24

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?           Numbers 23:19

This scripture gives us a glimpse of God's character. God does not lie, change His mind or break His promises! He is faithful!

21:8,9 Footnote:

When the bronze snake was hung on the pole, the Israelites didn't know the fuller meaning Jesus Christ would bring to this event (See John 3:14, 15). Jesus explained that just as the Israelites were healed of their sickness by looking at the snake on the pole, all believers today can be saved from the sickness of sin by looking to Jesus' death on the cross. It was not the snake that healed the people, but their belief that God could heal them. This belief was demonstrated by their obedience to God's instructions. In the same way, we should continue to look to Christ.


21:34 Footnote:

God assured Moses that Israel's enemy was conquered even before the battle began! God wants to give us victory over our enemies (which are usually problems related to sin rather than armed soldiers). But first we must believe that he can help us. Second, we must trust him to help us. Third, we must take the steps he shows us.


22:4-6 Footnote:

Balaam was a sorcerer, one called upon to place curses on others. Belief in curses and blessings were common in Old Testament times.


22:9 Footnote:

Why would God speak through a sorcerer like Balaam? God wanted to give a message to the Moabites, and they had already chosen to employ Balaam. So Balaam was available for God to use, much as he used the wicked pharaoh to accomplish his will in Egypt. Balaam entered into his prophetic role seriously but his heart was mixed. He had some knowledge of God, but not enough to forsake his magic and turn wholeheartedly to God. Although this story leads us to believe he turned completely to God, later passages in the Bible show that Balaam couldn't resist the tempting pull of money and idolatry (31:16; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11).

Keep reading -- 311 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 53 - 40 Years!

Daily Reading:  Numbers 18-20

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."  Numbers 20:12

It had been 37 years since Israel's first spy mission into the promised land (Numbers 13, 14) and 40 years since the exodus from Egypt.

20:3-5 Footnote:

After 37 years in the desert, the Israelites forgot that their wanderings were a result of their parents' and their own sin. They could not accept the fact that they brought their problems upon themselves, so they blamed Moses for their condition. Often our troubles result from our own disobedience or lack of faith. We cannot blame God for our sins. Until we face this reality, we will have little peace and no spiritual growth.
20:12 Footnote:

The Lord had told Moses to speak to the rock; however, Moses struck it, not once, but twice. God did the miracle; yet Moses was taking credit for it when he said, "we bring you water out of this rock." For this he was forbidden to enter the promised land. Was God's punishment of Moses too harsh? After all, the people had nagged him, slandered him, and rebelled against both him and God. Now they were at it again. But Moses was the leader and model for the entire nation. Because of this great responsibility to the people, he could not be let off lightly. By striking the rock, Moses disobeyed God's direct command and dishonored God in the presence of his people.

Keep reading -- 312 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 52 - Grumbling and Complaining

Daily Reading:  Numbers 15-17

The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.  Numbers  17:5

17:5, 10 Footnote

After witnessing spectacular miracles, seeing the Egyptians punished by the plagues, and experiencing the actual presence of God, the Israelites still complained and rebelled. We wonder how they could be so blind and ignorant, and yet we often repeat this same pattern!

We have centuries of evidence, the Bible in many translations, and the convincing results of archaeological and historical studies. But people today continue to disobey God and go their own way.

Like the Israelites, we are more concerned about our physical condition than our spiritual condition. We can escape this pattern only by paying attention to all the signs of God's presence that we have been given.

1. Has God guided and protected you?
2. Has he answered your prayers?
3. Do you know people who have experienced remarkable blessings and healings?
4. Do you know Bible stories about the way God has led his people?

Focus your thoughts on what God has done, and rebellion will become unthinkable.

Keep reading -- 313 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 51 - Fire from the Lord

Daily Reading:  Numbers 11:14

Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.  Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.  Numbers 11:1

11:4-6 Footnote:

Dissatisfaction comes when our attention shifts from what we have to what we don't have. The people of Israel didn't seem to notice what God was doing for them -- setting them free, making them a nation, giving them a new land -- because they were so wrapped up in what God wasn't doing for them. They could think of nothing but the delicious Egyptian food they had left behind. Somehow they forgot that the brutal whip of Egyptian slavery was the cost of eating that food. Before we judge the Israelites too harshly, it's helpful to think about what occupies our attention most of the time. Are we grateful for what God has given us, or are we always thinking about what we would like to have? We should not allow our unfulfilled desires to cause us to forget God's gifts of life, food, health, work and friends.


14:5-9 Footnote:

With great miracles, God had led the Israelites out of slavery, through the desolate desert, and up to the very edge of the promised land. He had protected them, fed them, and fulfilled every promise. Yet when encouraged to take that last step of faith and enter the land, the people refused. After witnessing so many miracles, why did they stop trusting God? Why did they refuse to enter the promised land when that had been their goal since leaving Egypt? They were afraid. Often we do the same thing. We trust God to handle the smaller issues but doubt his ability to take care of the big problems, the tough decisions, the frightening situations. Don't stop trusting God just as you are ready to reach your goal. He brought you this far and won't let you down now. We can continue trusting God by remembering all he has done for us.


It's sad that the Israelites never got to enter the promised land.  What "promised lands" does God have for you?? May you trust Him enough to enter!!

Keep reading -- 314 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 50 - At the Lord's Command

Daily Reading:  Numbers 7-10

At the Lord's command they encamped, and at the Lord's command they set out. They obeyed the Lord's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.  Numbers 9:23


Footnote:

The Israelites traveled and camped as God guided. When you follow God's guidance, you know you are where God wants you, whether you're moving or staying in one place. You are physically somewhere right now. Instead of praying, "God what do you want me to do next?" ask, "God, what do you want me to do while I'm right here?"

Direction from God is not just for your next big move. He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. Begin to understand God's purpose for your life by discovering what he wants you to do now!

Keep reading -- 315 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 49 - Israelite Blessing

Daily Reading:  Numbers 4-6

The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

Numbers 6:22-26

Footnote:

A blessing was one way of asking for God's divine favor to rest upon others. The ancient blessing in these verses helps us understand what a blessing was supposed to do. Its five parts conveyed hope that God would

1. bless and keep them (favor and protect);
2. make his face shine upon them (be pleased);
3. be gracious (merciful and compassionate);
4. turn his face toward them (give his approval);
5. give peace.



When you ask God to bless others or yourself, you are asking him to do these five things. The blessing you offer will not only help the one receiving it, it will also demonstrate love, encourage others, and provide a model of caring to others.

Keep reading -- 316 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 48 - Numbers

Daily Reading:  Numbers 1-3

Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.  

                                                                                   Numbers 1:2

Chapter 1 Footnote:

As the book of Numbers opens, the Israelites had been camped near Mount Sinai for more than a year. There they had received all the laws and regulations recorded in the book of Leviticus. They had been transformed into a new nation and equipped for their task. At this time, they were ready to move out and receive their land. In preparation, Moses and Aaron were told to number all the men who were able to serve in the army. This book is named for this census, or numbering, of the people.


1:20-46 Footnote

If there were 603,500 men, not counting the Levites or women and children, the total population must have numbered more than TWO MILLION Israelites. How could such a large population grow from Jacob's family of 70 who moved down to Egypt? The book of Exodus tells us that the Israelites who descended from Jacob's family "multiplied greatly" (Exodus 1:7). Because they remained in Egypt more than 400 years, they had plenty of time to grow into a large group of people. After leaving Egypt, they were able to survive in the desert because God miraculously provided the food and water they needed.

Keep reading -- 317 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 47 - God's Blessing

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 24-27

If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit.  Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.  Leviticus 26:3-5

26  Footnote:

This chapter presents the two paths of obedience and disobedience that God set before the people (See also Deuteronomy 28).  The people of the Old Testament were warned over and over against worshiping idols.  We wonder how they could deceive themselves with these objects of wood and stone.  Yet God could well give us the same warning, for we are prone to put idols before him.  Idolatry is making anything more important than God, and our lives are full of that temptation.  Money, looks, success, reputation, security -- these are today's idols.  As you look at these false gods that promise everything you want but nothing you need, does idolatry seem so far removed from your experience?

26:33-35  Footnote:

In 2 Kings 17 and 25 the warning pronounced in these verses came true.  The people persistently disobeyed, and eventually they were conquered and carried off to the lands of Assyria and Babylonia.  The nation was  held in captivity for 70 years, making up for all of the years that the Israelites did not observe the law of the sabbath year (2 Chronicles 36:21).

26:40-45  Footnote:

These verses show what God meant when he said he is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6).  Even if the Israelites chose to disobey and were scattered among their enemies, God would still give them the opportunity to repent and return to him.  His purpose was not to destroy them, but to help them grow.  Our day-to-day experiences and hardships are sometimes overwhelming; unless we can see that God's purpose is to bring about continual growth in us, we may despair. 

The hope we need is well expressed in Jeremiah 29:11, 12: 

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.' " 

To retain hope while we suffer shows we understand God's merciful ways of relating to his people.

Keep reading -- 318 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 46 - Keep All My Decrees

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 20-23

Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.     Leviticus 20:22,23

Footnote:

God gave many rules to his people -- but not without reason. He did not withhold good from them; he only prohibited those acts that would bring them to ruin. All of us understand God's physical laws of nature. For example, jumping off a ten-story building means death because of the law of gravity. But some of us don't understand how God's spiritual laws work. God forbids us to do certain things because he wants to keep us from self-destruction. Next time you are drawn to a forbidden physical or emotional pleasure, remind yourself that its consequences might be suffering and separation from the God who is trying to help you.

23:1-4 Footnote:

God established several national holidays each year for celebration, fellowship, and worship. Much can be learned about people by observing the holidays they celebrate and the way they celebrate them. Take note of your holiday traditions. What do they say about your values?

Our traditional holiday season will be here soon!  This is a good challenge to think about the ways we celebrate and WHAT we celebrate.

Keep reading -- 319 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 45 - The Blood

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 17-19

For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.  Leviticus 17:11

17:11-14 Footnote:

How does blood make atonement for sin? When offered with the right attitude, the sacrifice and the blood shed from it made forgiveness of sin possible. On the one hand, blood represented the sinner's life, infected by his sin and headed for death. On the other hand, the blood represented the innocent life of the animal that was sacrificed in place of the guilty person making the offering. The death of the animal (of which the blood was proof) fulfilled the penalty of death. God therefore granted forgiveness to the sinner. It is God who forgives based on the faith of the person doing the sacrificing.


17:14 Footnote:

Why was eating or drinking blood prohibited? The prohibition against eating blood can be traced all the way back to Noah. God prohibited eating or drinking blood for several reasons.

1. To discourage pagan practices. Israel was to be separate and distinct from the foreign nations around them. Eating blood was a common pagan practice. It was often done in hopes of gaining the characteristics of the slain animal (strength, speed, etc.). God's people were to rely on him, not on ingested blood, for their strength.

2. To preserve the symbolism of the sacrifice. Blood symbolized the life of the animal that was sacrificed in the sinner's place. To drink it would change the symbolism of the sacrificial penalty and destroy the evidence of the sacrifice.

3. To protect the people from infection because many deadly diseases are transmitted through the blood. The Jews took this prohibition seriously, and that is why Jesus' hearers were so upset when Jesus told them to drink his blood (John 6:53-56). However, Jesus, as God himself and the last sacrifice ever needed for sins, was asking believers to identify with him completely. He wants us to take his life into us, and he wants to participate in our lives as well.

 What can wash away our sins?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

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Keep reading -- 320 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 44 - Day of Atonement

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 14-16

This is to be a lasting ordinance for you:  Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.  

                                                                            Leviticus 16:34

16:1 Footnote:

The Day of Atonement was the greatest day of the year for Israel. The Hebrew word for atone means "to cover." Old Testament sacrifices could not actually remove sins, only cover them. On this day, the people confessed their sins as a nation, and the high priest went into the Most Holy Place to make atonement for them. Sacrifices were made and blood was shed so that the people's sins could be "covered" until Christ's sacrifice on the cross would give people the opportunity to have their sin removed forever.

Aaron had to spend hours preparing himself to meet God. But we can approach God anytime (Hebrews 4:16). What a privilege!! We are offered easier access to God than the high priests of Old Testament times! Still, we must never forget that God is holy nor let this privilege cause us to approach God carelessly. The way to God has been opened to us by Christ. But easy access to God does not eliminate our need to prepare our hearts as we draw near in prayer.

Did you know the scapegoat came from the Bible??

Footnote:

The two goats represented the two ways God was dealing with the Israelites' sin: 1. he was forgiving their sin through the first goat, which was sacrificed, and 2. he was removing their guilt through the second goat, the scapegoat that was sent into the desert. Jesus Christ's death replaced this system once and for all. We can have our sins forgiven and guilt removed by placing our trust in Christ!

At the Tabernacle Experience a couple of years ago, some of us talked about the strong smell of the incense. You could smell it all the way outside of the Tent.  My Bible has an interesting footnote that says: "Incense may also have had a very practical purpose. The sweet smell drew the people's attention to the morning and evening sacrifices and helped cover the sometimes foul smell."

Sweetly Broken

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Keep reading -- 321 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 43 - Be Holy

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 11-13

I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.  Leviticus 11:45

11:44,45 Footnote:

There is more to this chapter than eating right. These verses provide a key to understanding all the laws and regulations in Leviticus. God wanted his people to be holy (set apart, different, unique), just as he is holy. He knew they had only two options: to be separate and holy, or to compromise with their pagan neighbors and become corrupt. That is why he called them out of idolatrous Egypt and set them apart as a unique nation, dedicated to worshiping him alone and leading moral lives. That is also why he designed laws and restrictions to help them remain separate -- both socially and spiritually -- from the wicked pagan nations they would encounter in Canaan. Christians also are called to be holy. Like the Israelites, we should remain spiritually separate from the world's wickedness, even though unlike them, we rub shoulders with unbelievers every day. It is no easy task to be holy in an unholy world, but God doesn't ask you to accomplish this on your own. Through the death of his Son, he will "present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation" (Colossians 1:22).

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 

"Be holy, because I am holy."

1 Peter 1:15,16

Keep reading -- 322 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 42 - Instructions for the Priests

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 8-10

The Lord said to Moses, "Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast, and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."  Leviticus 8:2,3

8:2,3 footnote:

Why were priests needed in Israel? In Exodus 19:6, the Israelites were instructed to be a kingdom of priests; ideally they would all be holy and relate to God. But from the time of Adam's fall, sin has separated man and God, and people have needed mediators to help them find forgiveness. At first, the patriarchs -- heads of households like Abraham and Job -- were priests of the house or clan and made sacrifices for the family. When the Israelites left Egypt, the descendants of Aaron were chosen to serve as priests for the nation. The priests stood in the gap between God and man. They were the full-time spiritual leaders and overseers of offerings. The priestly system was a concession to people's inability, because of sin, to confront and relate to God individually and corporately. In Christ, this imperfect system was transformed. Jesus Christ himself is our High Priest. Now all believers can approach God through him.

Praise God!! We can go to the Lord anytime, any place for anything!

So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.  Leviticus 10:2

10:2 Footnote:

Aaron's sons were careless about following the laws for sacrifices. In response, God destroyed them with a blast of fire. Performing the sacrifices was an act of obedience. Doing them correctly showed respect for God. It is easy for us to grow careless about obeying God, to live our way instead of God's. But if one way were just as good as another, God would not have commanded us to live his way. He always has good reasons for his commands, and we always place ourselves in danger when we consciously or carelessly disobey them.

1 Samuel 15:22, "And Samuel said, 'Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"

Keep reading -- 323 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 41 - Offerings

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 5-7

When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned..."  Leviticus 5:5

Footnote:

The entire system of sacrifices could not help a sinner unless he brought his offering with an attitude of repentance and a willingness to confess sin. Today, because of Christ's death on the cross, we do not have to sacrifice animals. But it is still vital to confess sin, because confession shows realization of sin, awareness of God's holiness, humility before God, and willingness to turn from this sin (Psalm 51:16, 17). Even Jesus' death will be of little value to us if we do not repent and follow him. It is like a vaccine for a dangerous disease -- it won't help unless it enters the bloodstream.


The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.  Leviticus 6:12,13

Footnote:

The burnt offering was presented in the morning and evening for the whole nation (See Exodus 29:38-43). The holy fire on the altar had to keep burning because God had started it. This represented God's eternal presence in the sacrificial system. It showed the people that only by God's gracious favor could their sacrifices be acceptable. God's fire is present in each believer's life today. He lights the fire when the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, and he tends it so that we will grow in grace as we walk with him. When we are aware that God lives in us, we have confidence to come to him for forgiveness and restoration. We can carry out our work with strength and enthusiasm.

Keep reading -- 324 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 40 - Leviticus

Daily Reading:  Leviticus 1-4

Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.  Leviticus 19:2

Footnote:

We may be tempted to dismiss Leviticus as a record of bizarre rituals of a different age. But its practices made sense to the people of the day and offer important insights for us into God's nature and character. Animal sacrifice seems obsolete and repulsive to many people today, but animal sacrifices were practiced in many cultures in the Middle East. God used the form of sacrifice to teach his people about faith. Sin needed to be taken seriously. When people saw the sacrificial animals being killed, they were sensitized to the importance of their sin and guilt. Our culture's casual attitude toward sin ignores the cost of sin and need for repentance and restoration. Although many of the rituals of Leviticus were designed for the culture of the day, their purpose was to reveal a high and holy God who should be loved, obeyed and worshiped. God's laws and sacrifices were intended to bring out true devotion of the heart. The ceremonies and rituals were the best way for the Israelites to focus their lives on God.

2:1 Footnote:

Why was no yeast allowed in the grain offerings? Yeast is a bacterial fungus or mold and is, therefore, an appropriate symbol for sin. It grows in bread dough just as sin grows in a life. A little yeast will affect the whole loaf, just as a little sin can ruin a whole life. Jesus continued this analogy by warning about the "yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6 and Mark 8:15).

2:13 Footnote:


The offerings were seasoned with salt as a reminder of the people's convenant with God. Salt is a good symbol of God's activity in a person's life, because it penetrates, preserves and aids in healing. God wants to be active in your life. Let him become part of you, penetrating every aspect of your life, preserving you from the evil all around, and healing you of your sins and shortcomings.

This could be a tough book to get through but we can do it! In just 40 days we've read 3 whole books of the Bible, which is 132 chapters!!

Keep reading -- 325 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 39 - Details

Daily Reading:  Exodus 38-40

So all the work on the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses. Exodus 39:32

Footnote:

The Tabernacle was finally complete to the last detail. God was keenly interested in every minute part. The Creator of the universe was concerned about even the little things. Matthew 10:30 says that God knows the number of hairs on our heads. This shows that God is greatly interested in you. Don't be afraid to talk with him about any of your concerns -- no matter how small or umimportant they might seem.

40:1 Footnote:

Moses was careful to obey God's instructions in the smallest detail. Notice that he didn't make a reasonable facsimile of God's description, but an exact copy. We should follow Moses' example and be fastidious about our obedience. If God has told you to do something, do it, do it right, and do it completely.

So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels. Exodus 40:38

Footnote:

The Israelites were once Egyptian slaves making bricks without straw. Here they were following the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, carrying the tabernacle they had built for God. Exodus begins in gloom and ends in glory. This parallels our progress through the Christian life. We begin as slaves to sin, are redeemed by God, and end our pilgrimage living with God forever. The lessons the Israelites learned along the way we also need to learn.
Listen to the words of this song.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm7fQrlf5Hk .

The outer courts are just not enough.....let's enter in to see Jesus!

Keep reading -- 326 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 38 - Tabernacle Construction

Daily Reading:  Exodus 35-37

Moses said to the whole Israelite community, "This is what the Lord has commanded:  From what you have, take an offering for the Lord.  Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze....."  Exodus 35:5

35:5-21 Footnote:

God did not require these special offerings, but he appealed to people with generous hearts. Only those who were willing to give were invited to participate. God loves cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:7). Our giving should be from love and generosity, not from a guilty conscience.


35:21 Footnote:

Those whose hearts were stirred gave cheerfully to the Tent of Meeting. With great enthusiasm they gave because they knew how important their giving was to the completion of God's house. Generous people aren't necessarily faithful to God. But faithful people are always generous.

Isn't it interesting that God gave people the special skills they needed to complete the tabernacle? Ever wondered throughout history how people learned certain skills?  Here's the answer: God gave them the ability! He still does that today, don't you think?  When he calls you to do something, he equips you for the task.

Keep reading -- 327 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 37 - Golden Calf

Daily Reading:  Exodus 32-34

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us.  As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."  Exodus 32:1

32:1-10 Footnote:

Idols again! Even though Israel had seen the invisible God in action, they still wanted the familiar gods they could see and shape into whatever image they desired. How much like them we are! Our great temptation is still to shape God to our liking, to make him convenient to obey or ignore. God responds in great anger when his mercy is trampled on. The gods we create blind us to the love our loving God wants to shower on us. God cannot work in us when we elevate anyone or anything above him. What false gods in your life are preventing the true God from living in you?


33:11 Footnote:

God and Moses talked face to face in the Tent of Meeting, just as friends do. Why did Moses find such favor with God? It certainly was not because he was perfect, gifted, or powerful. Rather, it was because God chose Moses, and Moses in turn relied wholeheartedly on God's wisdom and direction. Friendship with God was a true privilege for Moses, out of reach for the other Hebrews. But it is not out of reach for us today. Jesus called his disciples -- and, by extension, all of his followers -- his friends. (John 15:15). He has called you to be his friend. Will you trust him as Moses did?


34:28-35 Footnote:

Moses' face was radiant after he spent time with God. The people could clearly see God's presence in him. How often do you spend time alone with God? Although your face may not light up a room, time spent in prayer, reading the Bible, and meditating should have such an effect on your life that people will know you have been with God.

Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."  Exodus 33:15

Without You - Shane & Shane

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Keep reading -- 328 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 36 - The Tabernacle and the Priesthood

Daily Reading:  Exodus 28-31


If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.  Exodus 23:22

Footnote:

Chapters 25 through 31 record God's directions for building the tabernacle. What can all these ancient, complicated construction details show us today? First, the high quality of precious materials making up the tabernacle shows God's greatness and transcendence. Second, the curtain surrounding the Most Holy Place shows God's moral perfection as symbolized by his separation from the common and unclean. Third, the portable nature of the tabernacle shows God's desire to be with his people as they traveled.

Footnote 26:31-33:

This curtain separated the two sacred rooms in the tabernacle -- the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The priest entered the Holy Place each day to commune with God and to tend to the altar of incense, the lampstand, and the table with the bread of the Presence. The Most Holy Place was where God himself dwelt, his presence resting on the atonement cover, which covered the ark of the Testimony. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place. Even he could do so only once a year to make atonement for the sins of the nation as a whole. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the curtain in the temple (which had replaced the tabernacle) tore from top to bottom (Mark 15:38), symbolizing our FREE ACCESS to God because of Jesus' death. No longer did people have to approach God through priests and sacrifices.

Footnote 29:1:

Why did God set up the priesthood? God had originally intended that his chosen people be a "kingdom of priests" with both the nation as a whole and each individual dealing directly with God. But the people's sin prevented this from happening because a sinful person is not worthy to approach a perfect God. God then appointed priests from the tribe of Levi and set up the system of sacrifices to help the people approach him. He promised to forgive the people's sins if they would offer certain sacrifices administered by the priests on behalf of the people. Through these priests and their work, God wished to prepare all people for the coming of Jesus Christ, who would once again offer a direct relationship with God for anyone who would come to him. But until Christ came, the priests were the people's representatives before God. Through this Old Testament system, we can better understand the significance of what Christ did for us (See Hebrews 10:1-14)

Thank you, Jesus!

Footnote 29:10-41:

Why were there such detailed rituals in connection with these sacrifices? Partly, it was for quality control.  A centralized, standardized form of worship prevented problems of belief which could arise from individuals creating their own worship. Also, it differentiated the Hebrews from the pagan Canaanites they would meet in the promised land. By closely following God's instructions, the Hebrews could not possibly join the Canaanites in their immoral religious practices. Finally, it showed Israel that God was serious about his relationship with them.

Footnote 29:45,46:

God's action in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt showed his great desire to be with them and protect them. Throughout the Bible, God shows that he is not an absentee landlord. He wants to live among us, even in our hearts. Don't exclude God from your life. Allow him to be your God as you obey his Word and communicate with him in prayer. Let him be your resident landlord.

Footnote 31:12-17:

The Sabbath had two purposes: It was a time to rest and a time to remember what God had done. We need rest. Without time out from the bustle, life loses its meaning. In our day, as in Moses' day, taking time out is not easy. But God reminds us that without Sabbaths we will forget the purpose for all of our activity and lose the balance crucial to a faithful life. Make sure your Sabbath provides a time of both refreshment and remembrance of God.

We have been away for a few days of refreshment and renewal.  Hopefully everyone is on track with their reading!  What do you think about Exodus so far?  Was it difficult to read all the specifications for the tabernacle, etc.?  Leave a comment!

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 Keep reading -- 329 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.