February 3

Exodus 17:8-19:15; Matthew 22:34-23:12; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 6:27-35

I had a hard time deciding what to write about today. I talked recently with a friend who’s been reading the blog who said she’s sometimes surprised that our posts don't mention things that struck her in our daily readings.  She didn’t mean it as a criticism at all – minutes before, she had been saying how much she was enjoying it – but she went on to say that if each of the Three65 bloggers were to write a post each day, we would have four totally different posts. And it’s true. What strikes one person doesn’t strike the next; what hits me one year doesn’t make as great of an impact the next. That’s how life is, and it’s how God’s word is – living and breathing.

So you may have come today hoping I would talk about Moses’ preparation of the people of Israel for the monumental event that awaits them tomorrow - the giving on the Ten Commandments. Or maybe you were struck by Jethro – he’s a convert (perhaps the first recorded pagan turned God-fearer) and a super wise guy, giving Moses such great leadership advice. (As a side note, that advice is still true for leaders today – “You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone…look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands” [Ex. 17:18, 21].  Can I get an amen? There are so many people in ministry who need to hear those words! Delegate, people!)

I digress.

Perhaps you were really moved by Jesus’ declaration of the greatest commandants and his proclamation that all of the law and prophets (e.g., all the Old Testament) are summed up by these two: love God and love your neighbor. Powerful stuff. Jesus also does a remarkable job of putting the Pharisees and Scribes in their place. My sisters and I were actually talking about this last night, how it’s always the religious leaders that Jesus comes down on, while he hangs out with the riff-raff of society. At face value, it’s not what you might expect in a great religious leader, is it? You’d think Jesus would want to align himself with the powerful spiritual leaders of his day. And he might have, had those religious leaders been what they should have been – humble, repentant of the way they’d misused God’s word and obedient to Jesus. But instead, it’s the tax collectors, lepers, adulterers and Gentiles who see their true need and prostrate themselves before Jesus, admitting they are sinners. That’s the big difference between the Pharisees and the people Jesus kept company with: the Pharisees would never admit to being sinners. If you want Jesus in your life, you really can’t get around that. We are sinners and we need a Savior.

Or maybe you were struck by the last verses in our Psalm – so beautiful, so encouraging, so comforting. “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (27:13-14). If you’re in a season of loss or longing or difficulty, may this verse speak right to your heart and give you peace. God is good and you’ll soon look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Well, did I do it? Did I hit on one of the things that struck you from today’s reading? If not, let us know what struck you and how you think God might be moving in your life! 

- Esther McCurry

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.