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,...

Numbers 20-22, Mark 7:1-13 • Key Verse: Numbers 21:7 Do you ever get frustrated to the point of saying, It's about time”? Maybe you have tried to get something across to another person but were unsuccessful. Then, finally, he got it and you uttered those words in exasperated relief. Actually,...

Numbers 17-19 • Key Verse: Numbers 17:8 Numbers gives interesting insight into the relationship between God's people and His appointed leaders. On numerous occasions Israel failed. They grumbled and rebelled against Moses. In fact, their actions were against God. In Numbers 17 God made it very clear for the nation...