Tag: Bible

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Feb 22 – Numbers 7; Mark 4:21-41 – PEACE! BE STILL!

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Numbers 7 and Mark 4:21-41.

I’m currently attending the Acts 29 Australia/New Zealand Conference. Acts 29 is a diverse, global family of church planting churches. Our church – City on a Hill: Brisbane – is part of this network and I love being part of what God is doing around the world as Jesus is made known through the planting of churches that plant churches.

Now, the conference is on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia… and right now there is a tropical cyclone not far off the coast, with all sorts of severe weather warnings. Yesterday, all the beaches were closed along the strip because of the massive swells.

Extreme weather, wind, and waves is the context for part of our Mark 4 reading today.

Let me read from Mark 4:35–38,

[35] On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” [36] And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. [37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (ESV)

This is a big storm! Remember – many of Jesus’ disciples were seasoned fishermen – they knew these waters, they knew what it was to be on the sea during high winds… and yet on this occasion, they are fearful that the storm will get the better of them.

Where is Jesus in the storm? He’s asleep on a cushion!

And so the disciples wake Jesus up. Did you notice they address him as “Teacher”? They know he has great authority to teach, but they want to know where he cares for them. And they want to know if he has any authority in this situation.

You can imagine the disciples bailing the water out of the boat, frantically trying to keep the boat from plunging to the depths of the sea… and yet now that Jesus is awake look at what happens in Mark 4:39-41

Continue reading “Feb 22 – Numbers 7; Mark 4:21-41 – PEACE! BE STILL!”

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Feb 19 – Numbers 1-2; Mark 3:1-21 – THE BOOK OF NUMBERS

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Numbers 1-2 and Mark 3:1-21.

As we begin the Old Testament book of Numbers I have a challenge for you today. Send a text to 3 Christian friends and ask if they have a bible reading plan. If they don’t have a plan encourage them to join in with the But First, Bible reading plan. Even if they don’t listen to these devotions, get them to start reading Numbers and Mark’s Gospel.

You can find the reading plan at butfirstbible.com, also it’s available in the ESV Phone app in the plan called ‘Read Through The Bible’, and ESV also has a podcast called ‘Read Through The Bible’ where you can listen to the Bible readings as part of this plan.

But now, to the book of Numbers.

I recently highlighted that esv.org and the ESV Bible app has given access to the Global Study Bible for free. It’s a simple companion to use as you read through books of the bible.

Today I thought I’d read to you from the Global Study Bible’s Introduction to the book of Numbers.

Continue reading “Feb 19 – Numbers 1-2; Mark 3:1-21 – THE BOOK OF NUMBERS”

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Feb 18 – Leviticus 26-27; Mark 2 – I AM THE LORD

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Today we finish Leviticus with chapters 26-27 and continue in Mark’s gospel with chapter 2.

Leviticus 26 begins with these words,

Leviticus 26:1–2

[1] “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God. [2] You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. (ESV)

As the book concludes, we are reminded again that the LORD is the God of Israel and they are to have no other gods but him.

Leviticus 26:3 then begins, “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will…” What follows is a list of blessings for Israel if they walk in obedience to the LORD who saved them.

Leviticus 26:14 then begins, “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments… then I will…” What follows is a list of punishments if they break the covenant with the LORD and walk in disobedience.

If this, then this.

The blessings are great. The punishments are to be feared.

If you know anything about the history of Israel after the book of Leviticus, you know that they will fail to walk in obedience and that Leviticus foreshadows many of the consequences for their disobedience.
Is that it for Israel? Will the LORD finally forget them and reject them?

Their disobedience doesn’t have to be the end.

Continue reading “Feb 18 – Leviticus 26-27; Mark 2 – I AM THE LORD”

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Feb 17 – Leviticus 24-25; Mark 1:23-45 – WEEKEND EDITION

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Happy Sunday!

Our bible readings for today are Leviticus 24-25 and Mark 1:23-45.

A reminder we have only just begun Mark’s Gospel – this would be a great time to encourage others to start our Bible reading plan.

Now, I have a Sunday challenge for you: in your conversations with other at your church gathering today – share one thing that has stood out to you from the Bible this week.

Here’s a verse to encourage you today to see the significance of church,

Titus 2:14

[14] [Jesus Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV)

Jesus died to make church happen! Much needs to be made of his act of redemption every time we get together as a Christians.

Continue reading “Feb 17 – Leviticus 24-25; Mark 1:23-45 – WEEKEND EDITION”

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Feb 16 – Leviticus 22-23; Mark 1:1-22 – WEEKEND EDITION

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings today as part of our streamlined weekend edition of the podcast are: Leviticus 22-23 and Mark 1:1-22.

For the last 46 days we have been slowing working our way through Matthew’s Gospel… and so today we have moved onto our second New Testament book for the year: The Gospel According to Mark.

Do you have Christian friends you’d like to encourage to read the bible regularly? Today would be a good day to share this podcast and reading plan and encourage them to jump in.

Do you have unbelieving friends you’d like to encourage to read the bible? Mark’s Gospel is a fantastic place to start. You might like to share the podcast with them, or perhaps you could arrange to meet up and read Mark with them.

I’ve got another resource that might help as well: Jesus’ Epic Story. You can find it online at epicstory.net – There are 16 shorts videos produced by The Bible Society where I walk through Mark’s Gospel with some simple insights along the way. These videos have been used by people who have been following Jesus for a long time through to those who are new to Christianity and only just considering his claims. Go to epicstory.net for more info and let me know if you use them! I’d love to pray for any of your friends who may use them too.

Continue reading “Feb 16 – Leviticus 22-23; Mark 1:1-22 – WEEKEND EDITION”

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Feb 15 – Leviticus 20-21; Matthew 28:1-20 – THE GREAT COMMISSION

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Leviticus 20-21 and Matthew 28:1-20.

Good news. Jesus’ tomb is empty! He died on the cross, but on the third day, he rose from the dead. This was surprising news for the disciples in Matthew 28. However, it shouldn’t have been a surprise as Jesus said specifically back in chapter 16, chapter 17, chapter 19 that he would suffer, die, and then be raised again.

The empty tomb of Jesus is the guarantee that all those who trust in him will also have empty tombs. Jesus died on the cross, in our place, and for our sin. Jesus rose from the dead and offers resurrected eternal life to all who trust in Him.

There’s been a bunch of mountain top experiences throughout Matthew’s Gospel, and now the final scene of this book has Jesus – once again – on a mountain top with his disciples. What is the final message that Jesus gives his disciples before he ascends back up to heaven?

Let me read from Matthew 28:18-20,

[18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

This is often called by commentators: The Great Commission. Three things to notice:

  • JESUS RULES.
  • JESUS COMMANDS.
  • JESUS PROMISES.

Continue reading “Feb 15 – Leviticus 20-21; Matthew 28:1-20 – THE GREAT COMMISSION”

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Feb 14 – Leviticus 18-19; Matthew 27:32-66 – THE DEATH OF JESUS

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings for today are Leviticus 18-19 and Matthew 27:32-66.

Today we will reflect upon the moment that the whole of Matthew’s gospel has been leading up to: the death of Jesus on the cross.

We will focus on a few verses from Matthew 27, but we will also refer back to yesterday’s Leviticus 16 reading to show how the Day of Atonement is a shadow of the events that are to come in Jesus’ death on the cross.

Let me begin by reading from Matthew 27:45–46,

[45] Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. [46] And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (ESV)

Darkness over the land at midday is not normal. Something supernatural was taking place. In the Bible light is a symbol of God’s blessing and darkness is a symbol of God’s judgement. The darkness that descends is a physical picture of the spiritual reality that is taking place at the cross. Jesus quotes Psalm 22 saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

God is acting in judgement and Jesus is being forsaken. What does that mean? This is an emphasis not just on the physical pain of crucifixion – verse 35 simply says ’they had crucified him’, but on the spiritual pain of THIS crucifixion. We’ve already seen back in Matthew 26 when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane that his soul was sorrowful even to death at the contemplation of drinking the cup of God’s wrath at the cross.

Continue reading “Feb 14 – Leviticus 18-19; Matthew 27:32-66 – THE DEATH OF JESUS”