May 3

Today's Reading

As we near the end of Judges, we get a picture of just how far the people went in doing "what was right in their own eyes." Today we see conflict between the tribes of Israel and the strong ruled over the weak. We also see people holding to outward religion (idols, person priest, etc.) rather than worshiping God from the heart. These were the very things God had warned about through Moses and reminded them of through Joshua. This all helped set them up for the troubles they would encounter in years to come.

This passage in John is so familiar and yet so fresh. Nicodemus knew the Law and the Prophets, yet he didn't know what it meant to have new life. It's not enough to know the Bible; we must be born of God's Spirit and made into a new creation.

If, in an instant, you could step into a rain forest with the nearest human hundreds of miles away. If you could then transport to the top of the highest mountain and stand there. If, in the next instant, you could be at the deepest depths of the ocean and -- finally -- be standing on the surface of an uninhabited planet many light years away... God would already be there before you. That's what I thought of as I read today's Psalm.

Proverbs reminds us of how easy it is to ignore, criticize, and neglect the poor. God's blessing is upon those who don't.

That's it for today. What are your thoughts?