Judge Not - 1Cor. 4:5

"So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful." 1Cor. 4:5

It says earlier in the verse, "...it matters very little what you or anyone else thinks...," since God is the one who examines and decides. But how bad are we Christians on this point?! We/I judge people all the time, in and out of the church. As if we really knew something and as if what we thought really mattered! Unless someone comes to me to ask my opinion or advice o the matter, I should simply assume their faithfulness--if they are not, it is between them and God anyway. MY own faithfulness is enough of a full time job for me.

God, I pray that my thoughts will always honor you.

Today's reading: Josh. 3-6; 1Cor. 4

Daily Bread - Deut. 17:19-20

From 3/11/2008 reading:

"He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily so long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of this law. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens." Deut. 17:19-20

While I am not a king in the OT sense, and while it is not just the law that I read, this command holds true today. In the NT sense, I am a priest AND a king, and I have been given God's word, his Truth, in its most complete form to read. By reading it every day I open the door to the most important relationship in my life, and allow God to speak into and impact my daily living. At the very least it keeps my pride at bay, but at its best the blessings flow from eating this daily bread.

Thanks you God for your word.

Today's reading: Deut. 16-18; Ps. 38; Gal. 2

Never Forget - Deut. 6:20; 8:11

"In the future, your children will ask you, 'What is the meaning of these stipulations, laws and regulations that the Lord our God has given us?'" Deut. 6:20

"But that is the time to be careful. Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commandments, regulations and laws." Deut. 8:11

During the last couple of days of reading. I feel like God has been reminding of what he has done in my life and asking me a very simple question, "Do you remember WHY I brought you to North Carolina?" In the not too distant past, I have started to feel badly that the only major testimony in my life is that God brought us from CA to NC. Like, shouldn't there be more? Something new? How long can I "rest on my laurels" because of that singular event? God is showing me that there is nothing to be ashamed about, and that the key is to simply not forget. In the bible, God is CONSTANTLY reminding the Jews of a singular event in time when he brought them out of Egypt. Like them, my focus needs to be that it was HE that miraculously brought me here, and that there was a reason. Have I just settled into the land and forgotten God's original purpose? Prophesy has told us why we are here. We are here to take this land/region for God, and I feel like this is happening despite my lame efforts. What role am I supposed to be playing in this? Why should I feel bad that there is but a single dominating event that God has put into my life? HE put it there, and he put it there for a reason. Do my children REALLY understand? Am I reminding them enough that our family is here on a divine appointment? I seem very quick to judge the Israelites, but am I not just as guilty of a "God, what have you done for me lately" attitude?

Lord, keep me focused on the task at hand, keep me from distraction, from looking to the left or the right.