Category: Hiding His Word

Day 45 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 37-38; Matthew 28; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 9:9-10

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He will Teach Me the Fear of the Lord
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. – Psalms 34:11

The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. – Proverbs 9:10

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Obedience to God’s Commands
And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses. – Exodus 38:22

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The Angel of the Lord Descended from Heaven
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. – Matthew 28:1-4

He is Not Here For He is Risen
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. –Matthew 28:5-8 

As They Went to Tell His Disciples, Behold, Jesus Met Them
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. – Matthew 28:9-10

The Elders Gave Large Money to the Soldiers
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. – Matthew 28:11-15

The Eleven Disciples Went Away into Galilee
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. – Matthew 28:16-17

Go, Baptize, Teach
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:18-20  

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None that Trust Him Shall be Desolate
The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: And none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. – Psalm 34:22

Desolate – barren; devastated; lonely, abandoned; deprived; dreary, gloomy

Oh, Father, I come before You today with Your Words on my heart. You are a good, good Father, and I praise You and worship You; I love You! I love Your Son, Jesus. Father, I thank You for sending Your Holy Ghost that teaches me to fear You. I know the Holy Fear of You will bring wisdom and knowledge and understanding. I ask for wisdom. I ask You to teach me wisdom by bringing great revelation of Holy Fear into my life. Lord, Help me to be obedient to everything that You command me to do in the coming days. Help me to Go therefore wherever You say to go. Help me to teach all nations as You have commanded. Help me to remember that You are with me always, even when others can’t be or won’t be. Lord help me not to be afraid. Help me not to doubt You and Your Words. Help me to be open to the new things that You have prepared especially for me in this season – remembering always Your promise – that You redeem the soul of Your servants and if I trust in You I shall not be desolate. Help me Lord to remember always. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen! Amen!

In today’s reading in the One-Year Bible, we read passages in the Gospel of Matthew of Jesus’ crucifixion. It is tough to read what Jesus had to endure on the cross. How often have I read these verses regarding  Jesus being nailed to the cross? How often have I imagined the reality of what is described here? or can I even imagine? Can I imagine the brutality? The mockery?

Matthew 27:35 – “And they crucified him…”

Can I imagine that Jesus being nailed on a cross would mean that His hands and feet were first nailed to that cross? He was physically attached to those beams of wood with a sharp spike. A spike maybe 6 inches long, maybe longer. It was very sharp at the tip but it got wider as it got closer to the head of the spike. It was hammered – through His feet, through His hands. It was brutal. Can I imagine how unbearable that pain was? How much agony as limb by limb He bore it?

In our passage in Matthew, after they crucified Jesus, it continues  “And they crucified him and parted his garments, casting lots:” Can I imagine that the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice? Can I imagine that without my heart breaking? They played games after they killed my Savior?

We’re told from the Scriptures there were reasons that were religious and political for all of this to happen. But spiritually, there was one reason – US. He did it for you and for me.

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Tonight I was back in the Word studying for my Sunday School lesson in Hebrews 12. I came to verse 3. It says…

³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. – Hebrews 12:3

The Amplified version says it this way

³Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison to your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrew 12:3

Friends, I was in a place this morning. I woke up feeling to just sit down or maybe to lay it all down. What was it? My vision. My passion. My desire to minister in all the ways God has called me. Ever been there? I not only found myself having grown weary – but I found myself on the way to losing heart.

There is so much I have wanted to do in my life and I have done lots of things but recently so little of what I speak of here. I wonder more often than not lately – will I be like so many of the Saints we’ve studied in Hebrews 11. Will I be one to never see the promises on this side of heaven? And while I guess I should be okay with knowing His promises will be fulfilled on this side or in heaven – honestly today I was not all that okay with it.

BUT, on days like today, God always, always has a Word for me and today was no exception.

³Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison to your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:3 AMP

So I considered Him. Considered all that Jesus endured so that I could have eternal life but also so I can have this day. Considered Him and all He went through in comparison to my own trials of this day. God had me consider and meditate. Why? So that I won’t give in to the schemes of the enemy – weariness and losing heart are not of God. They are of the enemy. I know that, but like so many, sometimes the vision gets cloudy. So, I considered Him and truly, there is no comparison.

I thank God for His Word. I thank Him for His faithfulness to meet me in His Word. I thank Him that He has a way of bringing me right back to His realities being my own.

Some ask why I am so adamant about reading the Bible through each year by reading every day. Why I am almost desperate for others to get in the Word and do so every single day in some way. These nuggets right here that I have passed over so often, that is why.

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²⁰My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. ²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. ²² For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. – Proverbs 4:20-22

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Have a blessed night.

Day 44 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 35:10–36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 9:7-8

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I Sought the LORD, and He Heard Me
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. – Psalm 34:4

They that Seek the Lord Shall Not Want Any Good Thing
O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.– Psalms 34:9-10

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A Willing Offering Unto the LORD
The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. – Exodus 35:29 

Filled with the Spirit – In Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Workmanship
And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; and to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. – Exodus 35:30-35 

The Stuff They Had was Sufficient
And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. – Exodus 36:5-7

The Veil Was Made
And he made a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work. – Exodus 36:35

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A Place Called Golgotha
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. – Matthew 27:32-34 

And They Crucified Him
And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. – Matthew 27:35-38 

They Reviled Him and Mocked Him
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. – Matthew 27:39-44 

Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. –Matthew 27:45-49 

The Veil was Rent in Twain
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. – Matthew 27:50-53

Truly this was the Son of God
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. – Matthew 27:54-56 

Joseph of Arimathaea, who was also Himself Jesus’ Disciple
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. – Matthew 27:57-61 

Command Therefore that the Sepulchre Be Made Sure
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. – Matthew 27:62-66 

“When I take my first step beyond the veil, I will only have just begun Life With The Father.” ~ John G. Lake

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Rebuke a Wise Man
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. – Proverbs 9:8

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An Encounter with God
A few years ago, I had an encounter with God reading the passages for this day, and this morning, the Holy Ghost had me revisit it as I read these verses again:

O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.– Psalms 34:9-10

When I got out of bed that morning and left the room I was sleeping in with my grandkids, I forgot to take my eyeglasses. Because of that, I couldn’t see the Word to read my Bible. I could listen to the Daily Audio Bible but had difficulty reading the text, even enlarging it.

I began to scroll through Facebook and for some reason landed on a “live” video of someone I have never listened to for more than a few minutes. I tried to listen to her but she was going in all different directions and I said out loud – JUST GET TO THE POINT! I was annoyed, and as I had done many other times on this particular person’s feeds, I started to get off and move on, but for some reason, I couldn’t. It was the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost let me know loud and clear that He wanted me to stop judging people in the natural and by things like dress or speech patterns and stuff like that. He wants me to go deeper. To learn to hear with spiritual ears and see with spiritual eyes. He let me know that I had to be open to hearing many others and that He would teach me how to discern what I needed to listen to and what was false by checking to see if they lined up with the Word of God. This woman said these things, but the Holy Ghost was having every Word bear witness in my heart. And He began right then and there to teach me in a way that left me in awe.

The first thing He taught me was this. As many have been preaching and the Bible says, there is gross darkness covering the world, but in those moments, He was most concerned about the gross darkness surrounding my heart. In a Word – Jealousy. Bitterness. Offense. I am tired of what these feelings are doing to my life, and He is even more tired of it!!!

God had taken this woman to heaven, and she was talking about your spirit “talking” there – without words to others. That this was possible because hearts and thoughts are known there.

Something “clicked” in me. It wasn’t words that she spoke, but words that the Holy Ghost planted within.

If God knows our hearts here and brings conviction on us and we don’t yield and repent, we won’t be in heaven. Why? Because hearts and thoughts are known in heaven. But those thoughts of jealousy and bitterness and offenses can’t be there. They are wicked. Those seeds we secretly hold on to might be able to remain hidden from others on earth, but you can’t hide them in heaven. Your hearts and your thoughts are known in heaven. No sin is in heaven. This filled me with holy fear. I want to be in heaven with my Father. He wants me there with Him but I am the one who has to make a choice to be obedient to His directions and warnings. He said in the first scripture I posted – there is no want to them that fear Him. Thank You, my GOOD, GOOD FATHER.

On that day, it was personal to me. It applied to me. But this morning it still applied to me, but I saw it differently. This week, I felt the sting of someone jealous of me. Because of that, they lashed out in a way that embarrassed me. I barely knew this person, and that they embarrassed me as they did angered and hurt me, though I knew it was rooted in envy. What I felt was just as nasty though and that was offense!!! And the Lord said this morning – have compassion on them and pray for them like you have never prayed before. PRAY – because the jealousy that they think is no big deal and have not dealt with will have the same result. PRAY – because the offense you have because of jealousy will also have the same result. 

Oh LORD! Forgive me again for allowing offense in my life. Thank You for again convicting and helping me root that out by repenting and fearing You that I might also move freely and forward today with a clean heart. Touch the jealous and offended and open their eyes, Lord. Let them encounter You and bring that same beautiful, life-changing conviction to their heart. Lord, thank You for forgiving me and for teaching me to not harbor jealousies and offenses by teaching me the “whys.” Thank You for bring Your truths so vividly into my life. Help me now to continue to rebuke and turn away from these wicked ways each and every time the enemy raises his voice to try to destroy me. Oh Abba Father, thank You for loving me enough that as I seek You in new ways this day, You have allowed me to find You in new ways just as you did before through Your Word and bringing to remembrance this encounter of a few years ago. Take me Lord deeper in You. Cause me to crave You more than I crave the things of this world or people in this world. Set me on FIRE, FATHER!!!! Let Your FIRE cleanse and purify me. I want to be holy, like You! Help me Lord…I ask in Jesus Name. Amen!!!

Day 43 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 34:1-35:9; Matthew 27:15-31; Psalm 23:12-22; Proverbs 9:1-6

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The Lord’s Way is the Way of Understanding
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. – Proverbs 9:6

The enemy’s way is foolish. Forsake him. The way of the Lord is the way of understanding. Follow God’s way, and you will live.

Forsake – to quit or leave entirely; abandon; desert
Follow – to come after in sequence; to go or come after; to conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey; to imitate or copy, to move forward

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God Reveals Himself
And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. – Exodus 34:5-7

I have never seen something in today’s passages of Exodus. The Lord stood with Moses, and the Lord proclaimed His Name and who He was to Moses…and so to us. Yes, we should declare His Names back to Him and this dying world, but first, He has declared them to us. He is the Lord God, Merciful, Gracious, Longsuffering, abundant in Goodness, abundant in Truth, Forgiving, Just.

Proclaim – to announce or declare officially or formally; to make known publicly or openly

God Warns
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: – Exodus 34:12

God instructs the children of Israel to be careful entering into new lands; to be careful not to come into agreements with the inhabitants of the land in ways that might change their beliefs of the laws God gave them. This is a good warning for us as well. We should be careful when establishing core relationships. Whether it sounds “politically correct” or not, those we spend the most time with have the most influence on us…whether that group is a work group, a social group, or family.

Heed – to give careful attention to
Snare – anything serving to entrap or entangle; a device for capturing small game; to catch or involve by trickery or wile.

God’s Presence Changes Us
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. – Exodus 34:29-30

God was concerned that the Israelites would spend time with the inhabitants of the land and be changed. In the same type of way, when we spend time with others, we are changed. When we spend time in the Presence of God, we are changed. He changes us, and the people around us can see the change, just like the children of Israel could see Moses face shining with the Glory of God. There is only one way we can truly be carriers of the Light and that is to spend time in the Presence of the Light of the World. His Name is Jesus!

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Envy Killed Our Lord
Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. – Matthew 27:15-18 

When we allow envy into our hearts, when we accuse without the proper course, when we harbor jealousy in any form, we will enable the spirit of envy to grow within. The same spirit that took over the Jewish religious leaders and ultimately led to the death of Jesus, our Lord. 

Instead of replaying things in our mind that leads to “no good thing,” how much better had the accusers of Jesus and if we would take a breath, intentionally step away from jealousy, and allow ourselves to hear and receive what we need from the Lord Himself. If we don’t stop the enemy right there in his tracks, we will receive a seed of envy that will grow and, if not rooted up, will produce the seed of murder. It says in this verse that “for envy, they had delivered him.” What killed Jesus? It started with envy.

Getting envy out of our lives is not easy, but from what we see in the scripture above, it is necessary. Here are a few more verses to hide in our hearts to keep us vigilant about noticing and cutting off jealousy and envy in our lives. What other verses would you add to this list? 

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. – Proverbs 14:30

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. – James 3:16

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. – Galatians 5:21

Jealousy – feeling resentment against someone because of that person’s rivalry, success, or advantages
Envy – the feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another’s advantages, success, possessions.
Covetousness – eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions

What Evil Hath He Done?
When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. – Matthew 27:19-23 

His Blood Be on Us and Our Children
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. – Matthew 27:24-25 

When He Had Scourged Jesus, He Delivered Him to Be Crucified
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. – Matthew 27:26-28

They Led Jesus Away to Crucify Him
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. – Matthew 27:29-31

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The Lord Sees and Knows Each of Us
The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considerth all their works. – Psalm 33:13-15

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. – Psalms 33:18-22

The Lord is watching and sees not only what we are doing but what is in our hearts and the actions we take. 

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. The question now is, do you hope in the Lord? If we are as faithful to hope as He is merciful, what a change we would find in our lives.

Father, I come before You on bended knees thanking You for Your presence that changes me in so many great ways. Thank You Lord for Your warnings and Your Way of Knowledge. Place me on that path Lord and don’t let me stray. I want to live a life abundant in faith, and joy, and love. I want to know You. Lord forgive us when we allow foolish things to grow in our lives. Things like Jealousy, envy, pride. These things You hate because they lead only to eternal death. Show us the areas that we’ve held on to and that we need to surrender. I know that I have spent way more time than I should being jealous of others. Forgive me, Father. I want to live a life of holiness following You. Help me today! Plant Your Word in my heart and plant a life of prayer within me! Set my spirit on FIRE, Lord. I ask in Jesus Name. Amen! Amen

Day 42 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 32-33; Matthew 26:69-27:14; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 8:33-36

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If I have Found Grace in Thy Sight
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. – Exodus 33:11-16

Oh God, You know me by name, and You have extended grace to me over and over. Oh Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight today, will You extend Your grace once more and teach me Your ways? Will You tell me what You would have me to know so that I may know more about You, Lord? I want to know You, and I want to know Your ways and continue to find grace in Your sight. God, I am lonely in this place, and I need You to go with me. If not You, who will go with me? Oh Lord, draw me close to You and help me through this day. Give me FIRE and help me to live a HOLY life and a life free of regret and offense.

And God says to me as He said to Moses – My Presence shall go with thee (Melissa), and I will give thee (Melissa) rest.

Thank You, Father. I love You, my Good, Good Father, and Your beautiful Son Jesus. I adore You, wise and comforting Holy Ghost. Thank You for teaching me Your ways this morning through prayer and Your Word and Your still small voice. Thank You for Your rest.

I Beseech Thee, Shew Me Thy Glory
And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. – Exodus 33:17-23

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His Words are Truth
Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. – Matthew 26:69-75

Bewrayeth – To reveal or expose; to betray

Well, regarding Peter, I’ve been there and done that. I have been the one weeping bitterly. Sometimes we forget what the Lord has spoken as a prophecy or warning. We think we will go down the right path, and then we find that we didn’t. What a hard truth – that we have the capacity within us to deny Him unless He guides every Word.

Today, I am so thankful for a merciful and forgiving Father. Yesterday a situation came, and with it, the temptation came to use my words for the cause of evil. To curse, to speak doubt, to dishonor. These are temptations, but that is where it all starts. In the temptation, I felt as though the Lord put His mighty hand over my mouth and kept me silent. Oh yes, the Lord’s hand is all that held me back. Without Him, I would mess up my life every day. This morning I am so thankful that I surrendered to His hand.

Thank You for Your mighty Hand, Father. Please continue to put it over my mouth, eyes, and heart that all my life and every word and action would be pleasing to You. In Jesus Name, I pray!!!

They Bound Him, Led Him Away, Delivered Him to Pontius Pilate
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. –Matthew 27:1-2 

Judas Cast Down the Silver, Departed, Went, and Hanged Himself
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. –Matthew 27:3-5 

The Chief Priests Took the Silver and Bought with Them the Potter’s Field to Bury Strangers
And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. – Matthew 27:6-10 

When Jesus was Accused He Answered Nothing
And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. –Matthew 27:11-14 

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The Goodness of the Lord
For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. – Psalms 33:4-5

God allowed Moses to see His glory, and the scripture describes His glory as His goodness.

Lord, will You show me Your glory today. Would You stop everything, even this morning, in this prayer room and pass by as I sit in the “cleft of this rock.” This rock of prayer, worship, and the Word. This little crevice on my own “Mountain of God.”

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Whoso Findeth Me Findeth Life
Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death. – Proverbs 8:33-36

Oh my God, You are altogether wise. Would you speak to me today? Father, would You help me to surrender to Your wisdom and knowledge of You and Your ways? Help me watch for Wisdom, for there I find You…and I find LIFE and favor. If I have found favor, Father, touch me today and change me today and send me forth today in Your world. Send me as a light in the darkness—a light in the gross darkness that covers the earth. Lord, if warring in the Spirit in this little prayer room and learning more of Your Word and ways… is my assignment, for now, help me be content. If there is more that You would have me to do, please open Your doors and windows wide. In Jesus Name, I yield and come before You with these requests. Amen. Amen.

Day 41 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 30:11-31:18; Matthew 26:47-68; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 8:27-32

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Filled with the Spirit of God
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee. – Exodus 31:3-6

This is another scripture where the Spirit of God fills the people with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and ability. The scripture says to devise cunning works and do all kinds of crafts and “workmanship.”

Cunning – skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, craftiness; showing or made with ingenuity. Artfully subtle.

The Sabbath
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. Exodus 31:13-16

God instituted observing the Sabbath as a sign between Himself and each child. It is a part of His never-ending covenant, and honor our part of that perpetual covenant.

Perpetual – continuing or enduring forever; everlasting
Covenant – a solemn agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something. In the Bible a covenant is the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in Scripture. The agreement between God and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.

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I Will Confess My Transgressions Unto the LORD
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old Through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. – Psalm 32:2-5 

He that Trusteth
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. – Psalms 32:10

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Then Came They, Laid Hands on Jesus, and Took Him
And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. – Matthew 26:47-50 

Then All the Disciples Forsook Him, and Fled
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. – Matthew 26:51-56 

Fled – past tense of flee
Flee – to run away; as from danger or pursuers; take flight; to move swiftly.

Forsook – past tense of forsake.
Forsake – to quit or leave entirely; abandon; desert; to give up or renounce

The Chief Priests, Elders, and Council Sought False Witness
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. – Matthew 26:57-60a 

At the Last Came Two False Witnesses, Jesus Held His Peace
At the last came two false witnesses, and said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. – Matthew 26:60b-64 

He Hath Spoken Blasphemy, He is Guilty of Death
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? – Matthew 26:65-68

To me, these are a few of the most heartbreaking words in the Bible. I know the disciples were disappointed and ashamed of themselves. They may have questioned all they had done over the three years prior; everything they had learned. When circumstances disappoint, I often find myself fleeing or wanting to run. How much better would it be to be still, take a deep breath, and ask God for wisdom that we also read about today and are promised to receive?

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I Am Wisdom (part 2)
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him:
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him;
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth;
and my delights were with the sons of men.

Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
for blessed are they that keep my ways.
– Proverbs 8:27-32

Father, I enter Your presence today filled with gratitude and a heart of joy that You are covering me and carrying me through this time in my life. It is a time of much chaos personally and in our nation, but I know You are here, and You are ordering my steps. Thank You for helping me to keep my emotions in check. Thank You for granting me mercy when I have failed and made oversights. God, I ask You in these next days to help me to trust You more. To help me not to forsake You and flee when the going gets tough. I can’t remain faithful without You, so I ask You for faithfulness. Fill me with Your Spirit afresh today. I ask You for wisdom, knowledge, skill, and ability to handle what is assigned to me. Help me to let go of the dreams and “assignments” I have created, that are not Your plan. Oh God, I want to live pleasing to You. Help me to walk in Your will and Your ways. Help me to trust You alone so that Mercy may compass me about, Oh Lord. I ask this all in Jesus’ holy Name. Amen! Amen!

Day 40 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 29:1–30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 8:14-26

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I Am the LORD Their God
This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God. – Exodus 29:42-46

God wanted to dwell among His children. He wanted to be their God. His tabernacle was right at the center of all they did…and yet even so, they kept running back to idols. I think about that personally. The Holy Ghost resides in me, and so He is in the center of all I do and hears all I say; every word I type here goes through His eyes and heart. Are there areas of my life that I allow some of the world to enter in? Am I making idols of things and people right in front of His face? How sad that must make Him.

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I Am the Betrayed
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. – Matthew 26:14-25

What a sad thought that it would have been better had Judas not been born than to betray Jesus. That statement is true of me as well because there was a time that I, too, betrayed Jesus in my life. What would have become of me, had the Holy Ghost not sent some to speak with me and He Himself kept drawing me? What if they hadn’t? It would have been better had I not been born. When we think of that and make it personal, it definitely gives a reason to pause and reflect. Am I serving Jesus instead of serving man through my fear that I let run rampant?

I Am the Bread and the Wine
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. – Matthew 26:26-30 

Jesus and the disciples had gathered together to celebrate the Passover. They were there to remember what God had done for His children years ago. Jesus gave the disciples bread and wine during the Passover meal and commanded them to “do this in remembrance of Him.” He referred to the bread as His body and the wine as His blood. Remembering Jesus through the Lord’s Supper is important, not just because we are commanded to take it and remember. It is important because it took place the night before Jesus was crucified. His body and His blood both poured out for you and for me through His death.

I Am the Shepherd
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. – Matthew 26:31-35 

I Am the Son of Man
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. – Matthew 26:36-46 

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I Am the LORD Who Preserveth
Blessed be the LORD: For he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of My supplications when I cried unto thee. O love the LORD, all ye his saints: For the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, All ye that hope in the LORD. – Psalm 31:21-24

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I Am Wisdom
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom:
I am understanding;
I have strength.
By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

I love them that love me;
and those that seek me early shall find me.

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;
and my revenue than choice silver.

I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance;
and I will fill their treasures.

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth;
when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills was I brought forth:
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 
When he prepared the heavens, I was there:
when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

– Proverbs 8:14-27

The Scriptures tell us that of all the things we can seek, wisdom is best. Seek wisdom. If we seek her, she will be found. I made the passage above into a list that looks like a poem, because as I read it, that is how I saw it. A list of all Wisdom is. 

That reminds me of the passage in James about wisdom.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. – James 1:5

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Heavenly Father, I came before You today tired and perplexed about many earthly things. But Lord, I take these moments to focus on You and what You would say to me and teach me. Holy Ghost, help me to hear Your Word to the depths of my heart. Father, I do come before You and ask for wisdom, and I thank You in advance for it because wisdom is promised me just for the asking. I ask for guidance in all that I have to do today. Please put a watch over my mouth and heart. Please help me guard against offense, competition, and all those things that You would consider evil. I don’t want to be rewarded for pride, so help me avoid pride at all costs knowing that it goes before my fall. I don’t want to fall, Jesus. I ask healing for my husband. Touch and open his ear as You created when You formed him. Help us both to be on FIRE for You. Help us to be true to our callings and we will give you the GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE. In JESUS Name I ask these things. Amen! Amen!

Day 39 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31–26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13

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As a Shepherd Divideth His Sheep from His Goats
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. – Matthew 25:31-33

Unto Them On His Right – Come, Inherit the Kingdom
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. – Matthew 25:34-40

Unto Them on the Left – Depart Into Everlasting Punishment
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. – Matthew 25:41-46

Not on the Feast Day, Lest There be an Uproar
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. – Matthew 26:1-5

There Came Unto Him a Woman Having an Alabaster Box
Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. – Matthew 26:6-13

The distinction between the sheep and the goats was about who they followed and in this instruction about how they cared for people. This should be a great encouragement for anyone who lives with neglect, abuse, or any other form of suppression. When I care for those, I am caring for Jesus.

Immediately after the passage about the sheep and goats, the religious leaders meet and conspire to kill Jesus. 

And then, at the end of today’s passages, one of the once marginalized women comes and anoints Jesus with oil. Such a beautiful act of gratitude and love. We can make judgments against those that are conspiring or against the disciples for their reaction to the anointing of oil, but we probably should first examine our own heart and make sure that we are not having the same reactions and attitudes toward others. 

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Holy Garments – that He (Aaron) May Minister Unto Me
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. – Exodus 28:2-4

I love how the artisans are said to be “filled with the spirit of Wisdom.” Artistic ability of any kind is a gift from God, as is Wisdom. Expressions of art through things like needlework and sculpting were some of the earliest gifts that we read about in the Bible, and crafts such as these done as unto the Lord or for the Kingdom purposes is using your skills with wisdom. I imagine an artist would do their best work filled with the Holy Ghost? Don’t I do my best work, whether in an occupation or crafting, if I am filled with the Holy Ghost and anointed for that purpose? This passage was a great encouragement to me.

He Shall Bear the Names of the Children of Israel on His Shoulders 
And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial. – Exodus 28:9-12

He Shall Bear the Judgment of the Children of Israel On His Heart
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. – Exodus 28:29-30

HOLINESS TO THE Lord Shall Be Always Upon Aaron’s Forehead
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE Lord. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. – Exodus 28:35-38

The words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” actually have the same connotation as belonging to the Lord. Set apart for the Lord.

Everyone knows who Aaron is by the words he wears fastened to the front of his turban. They know Who he belongs to. He stands out. If I am part of the royal priesthood (and I am), shouldn’t I stand out too? Shouldn’t everyone know whose I am and what I am about not by Words on my forehead but by the way I live my life?

Anoint, Consecrate, Sanctify Them, that They May Minister Unto Me
And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. – Exodus 28:40-41

Anoint – to rub, sprinkle on, or smear with a liquid; to dedicate to the service of God
Consecrate – to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate
Sanctify – to make holy; set apart as sacred; purify; render legitimate or binding

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My Times are in Thy Hand
But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: Save me for thy mercies’ sake. – Psalm 31:14-16

Let Them Be Silent
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. – Psalms 31:15-18

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Fear of the Lord
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. – Proverbs 8:12-13

Prudence – wise in practical affairs; caution with regard to practical matters.
Arrogancy – offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.
Froward – willfully contrary; not easily managed

Day 38 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 26:1-27:21; Matthew 25:1-30; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 8:1-11

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Secret Places
And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. – Exodus 26:33

This passage reminds me that because of the price Jesus paid on the cross, there are secret places with the Lord, available to those who seek Him.

Pure Oil
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. – Exodus 27:20

There was a pure oil that burned and brought Light that was to never go out. Oil the symbol of the Holy Ghost. God charges us to remain faithful and diligent to “keep the lamp burning.” As those who are to be reflections of His light (light-bearers), we are only able to do God’s work through the power and strength granted by the Holy Ghost, who lives within and fills them.

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Watch Therefore (Parable – The Ten Virgins)
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. – Matthew 25:1-13

Everyone that Hath Shall Be Given, and He Shall Have in Abundance (Parable – The Talents)
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord’s money. After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 25:14-30

Stewardship is important to Jesus. How I handle what He’s given to me matters. The servants who stewarded well received back more and was entrusted with more. We all have a calling in our lives. You have one and I have one. What I do with my calling, my purpose, my life. What I do with my gifts matter. We have been given freedom to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; we have been given the opportunity to reflect Jesus along our way. How are we doing with that? How am I? it matters to the Master.

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Be Thou My Strong Rock
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. – Psalm 31:1-2

Hesed
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; – Psalms 31:7

David rejoiced in God’s lovingkindness. His Hesed. He has joy because he knows that God has seen his affliction and has known his troubles. God knows our troubles too. Not only because He knows all things, but because He came to earth as a man and lived and endured all the things we endure. He suffered loneliness, rejection, pain, sickness, hunger, abuse, torture, and even death. He experienced the utter sorrow of being cut off from God’s love. But these things happened so that we would have a perfect High Priest who understood our sufferings. Those sufferings brought us to God, that we may live with Him eternally.

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Wisdom is Better than Rubies
For my mouth shall speak truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. – Proverbs 8:7-11

I can desire many things – houses, land, relationships, riches, gifts, easy life, peace. But the best thing I can ever desire is WISDOM. The Word tells me here that nothing compares to it.

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A Few More Thoughts and Prayer
In yesterday’s reading of the Old Testament, God told Moses to come up to the mountain. He was going to give Moses His commandments, laws, and judgments. The Bible says, “that he had written.” Now, I don’t know whether He wrote it out by His hand or said that figuratively as, “I have written,” but then He had Moses write it out, I don’t know. 

Looking at the Scripture today, we are right in the middle of God giving out those laws and judgments. He also gives the details of He wants the Tabernacle built and furnished. There are so many details, and God is particular about His laws and His Tabernacle and everything attached to it. How could anyone ever remember all of these instructions other than for God to have written it down? There is only one other way.

I believe it’s in John 15 that says when the Holy Ghost or the Comforter comes, He will teach us all things, and He will bring all things to our remembrance. ALL THINGS! It could only be God – the Holy Ghost – with Moses that day and in the days to come as he’s teaching all of this to the children of Israel.

It’s incredible to look at all that the Holy Ghost did through Moses. If He could do that then, He can still do it today. What could He do in this world if we yielded to His voice, His presence, and His Word? What if we got ourselves up into the mountain of God for 40 days and 40 nights so that He could speak to us, share His heart with us, and teach us?

In our reading from Proverbs, the writer speaks of wisdom, knowledge, and instruction. These verses say that instruction is better than silver, knowledge better than gold…and wisdom was to be desired more than all the things that could be desired. Nothing we have or want can be compared to Godly wisdom.

Heavenly Father, we come before You today and thank You for Your instruction! We thank You for the details. How You were in all the details of the children of Israel’s lives and how You are in the details of ours. Thank You for caring for our details. I pray God that You give each of us wisdom. I pray God that You give each of us instruction. Please help us to yield to your instruction. I pray God that You give us increasing knowledge. We thank You in advance because we know that this is Your will that we have instruction, knowledge, and wisdom. We love You. Lord. We love You, and we honor You. We lift your name high. Above all other names, Jesus! We lift You high and give You all the glory, honor, and praise. And we ask this and declare this all in Jesus’ holy and precious name.

Day 37 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27

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He Shall Send His Angels with A Great Sound of a Trumpet
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. – Matthew 24:29-31

My Words Shall Not Pass Away
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. – Matthew 24:32-35

But of That Day and Hour Knoweth My Father Only
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. – Matthew 24:36-41

Watch Therefore and Be Ye Ready
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. – Matthew 24:42-47

Appoint Him His Portion with the Hypocrites
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 24:48-51

Hypocrite –
1. a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. 
2. a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

No one knows when Jesus will return. No one except the Father. It will be as in the days of Noah. No one knew until it was on them. Even Noah did not know, but Noah did know to listen and hearken unto the voice of God. God instructed Noah to get on that ark and take his family and the animals as Noah had to hearken to the voice of God we too have to hearken. We do not need to worry about when the end is coming. We need to work for the Kingdom of God as though it were today and listen and do everything that God instructs us to do.

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In His favour is life
Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. – Psalm 30:4-5

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. – Psalms 30:10

Such beautiful promises that his anger endureth but a moment, in His favor is life, and joy cometh in the morning. How do we obtain His favor? Praise Him!!! Remember His holiness!!! Hearken unto His voice!!! Know that even if you are in a season of weeping, it is only a season, and His joy is coming. Ask Him to have mercy and help you in the “night” season, but have faith in what He has promised is coming in “the morning.”

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Hearken – to hear and to give heed or attention to what is said; to listen
Listen – to give pay attention; heed; obey; to wait attentively for a sound
Attend – to take care of; minister to ; devote one’s services to; to wait upon; watch over; to be present at

Hearken to the voice of the angel
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. – Exodus 23:20-22

Many times we are unaware of what God has given us. He gives us His Word. He provides us Pastors and other ministers to guide and direct us. He gives us the Holy Ghost to teach us and comfort and be with us every step of the way. And He gives us angels. In Exodus, God told them that He had given them An Angel. They couldn’t see the angel, but they were to listen and obey his voice.

Of angels, Hebrews 1:14 says, they are ministering spirits sent to serve us (who will inherit salvation).

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

We are never alone. We have Holy Ghost who is always with us. And we have angels to do their assigned work on His behalf and for our good. In Exodus, we learn that the angel of God bears His Name. And so if the Israelites were to hear and heed the voice of His angel, so should we hearken if an angel speaks, and we should always, always hearken to what the Holy Ghost says because that is God Himself speaking.

I Will Send Hornets Before Thee
For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil. I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. – Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬-‭29‬ ‭

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Hearken Unto Him; Attend to His Words
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. – Proverbs 7:24-25

Over and over in Proverbs, we are told to hearken unto the voice of God and His Word.

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Father, Thank You for Your Word today. Thank You that You give us exactly what and who we need along this path. Thank You that You sent Your Holy Ghost to be with us and that You sent those that would write this very Word that we may hear Your instruction. Thank You that You sent angels to protect and work on our behalf. Father I don’t see the angels, but I have faith that they are there. Sometimes I feel so lonely, but I know I am not alone because the angels and Holy Ghost are in and around. Father, help me truly hearken to Your voice, Your Word, and those You send to speak to me. Help me to wait attentively while working diligently and faithfully for You and Your Kingdom. Lord, would you set me on FIRE for You and the things of You. Would You give me holy zeal to share the Gospel? Would You teach me Your Word and fill me with compassion and seal me into the secret places of prayer as even You sealed Noah into the ark. I love You, Father, and I love Your Son, Jesus. I love Holy Ghost, who is even the One helping me to ask this prayer. Fill me again today Holy Ghost that I may be pleasing and an imitator of Christ. Oh, Holy Ghost, help me reflect Jesus to this lost and dying world. In Jesus Name, I ask and pray. Amen! Amen!