March 23

Today's Reading

Numbers closes with the settling of another small dispute. This balances out the regulation that was earlier given regarding families who had daughters, but no sons. I am in awe of God's ways. God knew that this would happen when He set the previous rule into place. Yet He waited to clarify it until they saw it for themselves.

Deuteronomy. It took me years to understand the "why" of this book. The name means "second law." Deuteronomy was a detailed re-telling of the events that are listed (primarily) in Exodus and Leviticus. It helps me understand the purpose better by imagining Moses up on the small mountain and looking out across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. He has been told by God that he can't go there. Therefore, here he is, at the end of his days, recalling God's work and words for the past 40 years. He is like a world leader writing his memoirs. He also takes advantage of this last communication before his death to warn the people that they must follow God and not go astray.

Luke. Each of these conversations with Jesus was about conflict with religious leaders. What are your thoughts about them? What do you think about His boldness when He stood the man in front of the critics, then spoke healing to the man's hand?

Psalm 66 contains two sections that have been a part of my thinking for many years. Verses 10-12 tell God's ultimate design for our trials. Verse 18 warns about the futility of prayer if we aren't honest about our sins.

Proverbs challenges us to grow in our generosity. I want to grow in that area the rest of my life. We can be generous with God's Word. We might also face a time when we must live through a catastrophe and decide whether to share the little we have in light of these verses.

How are you doing? Would your share your thoughts and questions today?