Day 32 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 13:17 – 15:18; Matthew 21:23-46; Psalms 26; Proverbs 6:16-19
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Free, but still a work to be done in the wilderness
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. – Exodus 13:17-18
Free, but still a battle to be fought
And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. – Exodus 14:11-14
Free, but still a work to be seen
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. – Exodus 14:30-31
Free, but still a song to be sung
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. – Exodus 15:1-3
The children of Israel were free, and they went from slavery to the desert toward the Promised Land. They were free, but God didn’t take them the easiest and quickest route. There was a work to do in the desert, and the desert season for them would last over 40 years. Like the Israelites, I should embrace my desert seasons because there are so many lessons to be learned there.
One lesson is that even when I do everything right, many times, things get worse. In those times, the only thing I need to do is shut my mouth (stop complaining) and watch God fight and win these (His) battles.
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By What Authority Doest These Things?
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. – Matthew 21:23-27
A Certain Man Had Two Sons
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. – Matthew 21:28-32
The Wicked Husbandman
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. – Matthew 21:33-41
A Nation Bringing Forth the Fruits Thereof
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same is become the head of the corner: This is the Lord’s doing, And it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. – Matthew 21:42-46
In the passages today, Jesus told the disciples, all that were listening, and that only those who produce the fruit and give it to its rightful owner will receive a reward in the end. Am I producing fruit with the Gospel that has been entrusted to me? I must be about the Father’s business, and I must bear fruit – for His GLORY!
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I Have Loved the Habitation of Thy House
I will wash mine hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all thy wondrous works. LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, And the place where thine honour dwelleth. – Psalm 26:6-8
I will bless the Lord
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord. – Psalms 26:9-12
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Seven things the Lord hates
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. – Proverbs 6:16-19
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Oh, my Father, You are a Man of War. Thank You that You fight my battles and don’t leave me alone to do it. Thank You for leading and guiding me through this day. It hasn’t been an easy one, but You knew it wouldn’t be. Help me to keep my eyes on You and to do Your work assigned to me while there is time. Touch my mind and spirit Holy Ghost and keep me in Your presence where I know there is fulness of JOY. I love You, Jesus. Amen! Amen!
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