One Year Bible - March 2
Scriptures to read:
Matthew 9:1-17; Leviticus 3-4; Proverbs 20
A lot of us are just exhausted and feel like we have very little left to give in the midst of all of the uncertainty many of us have experienced over the last 12+ months. In many ways, all of the events over the last year have caused many of us, including myself, to take a closer look at our lives and what God has done and is doing in the midst of it all and it is incredibly humbling to see Him at work and I find myself thanking Him for the small wins on a daily basis.
I have read Matthew 9 before, but it was especially relevant to see how discouraged the paralytic man was after living with his condition most (if not all) of his life, and the tender response Jesus greets him with- "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." (Matt. 9:2). Jesus understood this man's humanity and reassured him that not only would he be restored physically, but even more importantly, Jesus wanted to restore him spiritually. Jesus went against the very grain of what the culture of that day looked like, and the religious leaders and scribes of that time accused Him of blasphemy once they saw him heal the paralytic and forgive the man's sins. Jesus, however, asserted His authority, refused to be distracted and instead carried on in His mission and served the most vulnerable and overlooked members of society through His ministry.
Throughout the Bible it is clear that we are called to not only trust God, but put Him first in every area of our lives. This has been an ongoing challenge for me as it can seem "safer" to compartmentalize my life at times. In Leviticus 3-4, there is mention of a peace and sin offering as was the custom during that time, but what I failed to realize was the bigger picture and how the same concepts could be applied today. An ongoing theme in these chapters is the importance of the type of offering and the quality of that offering. Every detail in these chapters is included for a specific reason, and there was emphasis on specifically offering the fat of the lamb, the fat and its whole tail, which was considered a delicacy during that time and the most valued parts of the animal. It was an act of faith and trust for the people to give this up to God as an offering, and this made me think about my life and which areas I may not be giving God the very best, the hardest parts to give up. What are some ways we can challenge ourselves to lean into God more to demonstrate our trust and faith in Him?
Memory Verse: The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. - Proverbs 20:5
Prayer: Dear Lord, please give us renewed strength and refresh us during this time of uncertainty and in the midst of so much pain going on around us. Help us to be a blessing to others and to be used as your vessels to bring hope to our neighbors during this time. Thank you for giving us everything we need through your Word and help us to lean on You and demonstrate our trust in You through our words and actions.
