Deuteronomy 10—12, Mark 12:1-27 Key Verse: Mark 12:14 Not everyone liked Jesus. Some were very open in their opposition. They schemed for opportunities to turn people away from Him. One tactic was to use His own teaching against Him. To accomplish that, they would at times ask trick questions. In...

Deuteronomy 7-9, Mark 11:19-33 • Key Verse: Mark 11:25 It's easy to dismiss the person with whom you disagree or have had a disagreement. A simple, “Forget him!” and you can get on with your life. Not really. In fact, not at all! Be careful not to get infected with...

Deuteronomy 4—6, Mark 11:1—18 • Key Verse: Deuteronomy 6:12 When things are going well, it is very easy to forget God. He knew that this temptation lay in the path before the people of Israel. The way had been rough. For 40 years the people had endured the difficulties of...

Deuteronomy 1—3, Mark 10:32-52 • Key Verse: Mark 10:38 The old cartoon character Pogo rephrased the words of Admiral Perry: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” The struggles and failures so many people experience have as-their root nothing other than self. In today’s reading, self-focus clashes with...

Numbers 35-36, Mark 10:1-.31 • Key Verse: Mark 10:5 More than ever, the prefix "‘step-” is a part of our vocabulary. Sometimes due to death but more often due to divorce and remarriage, one may speak of a stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister or stepchild. The prefix “ex-” has become a word...

Joshua 4-6, Luke 1:1-20 • Key Verses: Luke 1:3-4 E-mail is both used and misused. Hardly a week goes by without some startling story, prayer request or warning of a vicious virus that is circulating. The novice belieyes whatever has been sent and forwards it on to others. Then come...

Numbers 32-34, Mark 9:30-50 • Key Verses: Numbers 32:6-7 “Looking out for number one” is an old saying, but its sentiment is as popular as ever. We have been taught that we can have it our way and that we deserve a break today. Too often a Christian can be...

Numbers 29-31, Mark 9:1—29 • Key Verse: Numbers 30:2 Although today a Christian is not under responsibility to fulfill the ceremonial law, the New Testament-.emphasis on the moral law is strong. We may not make vows as is referenced in Numbers 30:2, but we are to be truthful people. Moses...

Never forget that the Christian life is lived on the battlefield. We are in a war. The line is clearly drawn and the sides are diametrically opposed. It is the people of God versus Satan and his emissaries. Never forget which side you are on, either! Sometimes we can inadvertently...

Numbers 23-25, Mark 7:14-37 • Key Verse: Numbers 25:3 The opening verses of Numbers 25 describe a scene of immorality, idolatry and judgment, When the entire story is known, the scene is even sadder than it appears. Earlier, Balak had sought to hire Balaam to curse Israel. When initially rebuffed,...