Tag: Matthew

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Feb 10 – Leviticus 10-12; Matthew 26:1-19 – WEEKEND EDITION

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

Our bible readings for today are Leviticus 10-12 and Matthew 26:1-19.

It is Sunday – a day when followers of Jesus gather together all across the globe to hear God speak, sing, pray, confess their sin, be reminded of the gospel of Jesus’ death & resurrection, and encourage one another to keep trusting Jesus.

Here’s a verse to encourage you to get along to church today…

Hebrews 10:24–25

[24] And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV)

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Feb 9 – Leviticus 7-9; Matthew 25:31-46 – WEEKEND EDITION

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

Our passages for today are Leviticus 7-9 and Matthew 25:31-46.

Now yesterday I shared about an elderly man who listens to this podcast while running and made a joke about how it was amazing that he’s still running at his age. Just to let you know, that wasn’t a joke about a random listener, it was actually about… my brother!

Three quick things about my brother. First, while he is 7 years older than me, he’s hardly elderly! Second, he’s actually a much better runner than me. Third, he was disappointed I didn’t share the obscure connection between Leviticus and the New York Times food review. What was it? In his translation of the Bible in Leviticus 1:8 and a few other places, it uses the word “suet” instead of fat. And apparently, the NYTimes food review used “suet” to describe fat at some pretentious restaurants. So there you go.

I also thought I’d share part of an encouraging message my brother sent me this week. Here it is,

“And what I found really helpful was your tip in your Eternity article about “don’t try to catch up”. That was so helpful because that’s where I always fall down – I fall behind a plan so get discouraged and overwhelmed and then just give up. It’s so liberating to think I don’t have to catch up – better to pick it up again somewhere random and midstream than not at all. Otherwise, you spend your life reading genesis/exodus/Matthew etc over and over again and nothing else!” (My Brother)

Thanks brother for the encouragement! It’s now mid-Feb, and I really want to keep encouraging people to press on with their Bible reading, even if it means not catching up on what they’ve missed. So maybe this weekend or in church as you speak to your friends, you can encourage them to keep going with whatever reading plan they’re doing – even if it means skipping the parts they’ve fallen behind on.

Continue reading “Feb 9 – Leviticus 7-9; Matthew 25:31-46 – WEEKEND EDITION”

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Feb 8 – Leviticus 4-6; Matthew 25:1-30 – ATONEMENT & FORGIVENESS

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

Our Old Testament reading is from Leviticus 4-6 and our New Testament reading is from Matthew 25:1-30.

Thank you to those that have sent messages and shared some of the things they’ve been learning. I appreciate the encouragement. I’ve just received a message from an elderly man I know who listens to the podcast while running (it is amazing he’s still running!) and he made some observations between the descriptions of the offerings in Leviticus yesterday and a food review he’d just read in the New Yorks Times! So there you go…

We are going to focus on Leviticus again today. So perhaps if you haven’t read the passage yet pause this podcast so you can hear God speak first.

Okay, welcome back.

ATONEMENT is our word for the day.

Atonement is the act by which God and humans are brought together in a right relationship. It’s literally to be “made at one”. A helpful way to remember what the word means is to break it down into three: at-one-ment. Atonement is to be at one with God.

Now built into the concept of atonement, by implication, is that humans are out of relationship with God and need to be brought back into relationship with God.

That’s consistent with the storyline of the Bible we have been following this year. In Genesis 1-2 we see humans are in relationship with God but by chapter 3 of Genesis they are out of relationship with God because of sin. In many ways, the storyline of the bible is then all about what God will do to bring humans back into relationship with himself.

In the midst of the blood and death of innocent animals in Leviticus, we have a kindness from God. This is because it is through the blood and death of these animals and the institution of the whole sacrificial system that the LORD has provided a way that atonement can be made. That’s good news.

Continue reading “Feb 8 – Leviticus 4-6; Matthew 25:1-30 – ATONEMENT & FORGIVENESS”

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Feb 7 – Leviticus 1-3; Matthew 24:23-51 – A PLEASING AROMA TO THE LORD

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

Our readings today are from Leviticus 1-3 and Matthew 24:23-51.

Leviticus continues on from the end of Exodus. By the end of Exodus we saw that the tabernacle and the things around it and the things inside it had all being build according to the plans that the LORD gave to Moses. Now that we are in Leviticus we will see that the tabernacle is now in use.

Let me read the opening two verses of Leviticus.

Leviticus 1:1–2

[1] The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock. (ESV)

The LORD says “when” not if you bring an offering, that is, there is a need for people to bring an offering. Leviticus will outline the whole sacrificial system and why sacrifices are needed and what they achieve. It’s also worth noting where people were to get their offering from. They weren’t to find a random wild animal, but one of their own – one that comes at a cost to themselves.

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Feb 6 – Exodus 39-40; Matthew 24:1-22 – THE GLORY OF GOD

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

Our readings for today are Exodus 39-40 and Matthew 24:1-22.

Exodus 39-40 are the final two chapters of the book. If this is the first time you’ve read through the whole of Exodus, well done!

In chapter 39 we saw the detailed account of the making of the priestly garments. And then in chapter 40 we see the tabernacle erected. Moses has obeyed God and done everything required in its construction.

Let me read the final paragraph of the book.

Exodus 40:34–38

[34] Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [35] And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [36] Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. [37] But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. [38] For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. (ESV)

The glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle. This is a remarkable moment!

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Feb 5 – Exodus 37-38; Matthew 23:23-39 – GOD’S DWELLING PLACE

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

Our two readings today are from Exodus 37-38 and Matthew 23:23-39.

My goal with this podcast is not just to give you my thoughts and reflections on the bible, but I want to be able to point you in the right direction so that you can dig deeper in God’s word on your own. And so today I want to highlight my top two Bible reference books.

I was recommended these books as an 18 year old. They are big and thick and would take a longtime to read through! But just like a dictionary, they are not meant to be read through, but to be dipped in and out of depending on what you want to look up.

What are the books? Both of them are published by IVP and they are called:

They will cost you about $40 each. John Stott says: “I doubt if there is any better value for money today than the New Bible Dictionary and the New Bible Commentary. As basic books for every thinking Christian’s library they are indispensable.”

The New Bible Dictionary is a “comprehensive A – Z of Bible terms, place names, books, people and doctrines”. The New Bible Commentary is “a one-volume commentary on the whole Bible”.

I use them pretty much every week. The paper versions have more or less fallen apart, but I now also have a digital copy of both books. You could go to www.logos.com to download the digital, or order the paper ones online.

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Feb 4 – Exodus 34-36; Matthew 23:1-22 – RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY

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

Our bible readings for today are Exodus 34-36 and Matthew 23:1-22.

According to McCrindle Research, 65% of Australians say they are negatively influenced by hypocrisy: where Christians fail to practise what they preach.

But here’s the thing, religious hypocrisy isn’t new! In fact, Jesus was against religious hypocrisy as well. In Matthew 23, Jesus speaks out against the religious leaders of his day. Most of the chapter is made up of a series of woes – or judgments – that Jesus pronounces over the Pharisees and other religious leaders for their hypocrisy.

Have a look at, Matthew 23:1–12

[1] Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, [2] “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, [3] so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. [4] They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. [5] They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, [6] and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [7] and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. [8] But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [9] And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [10] Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. [11] The greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (ESV)

They preach, but do not practice.
They place heavy burdens on people, but don’t lift a finger.
The deeds they do? They do to be seen and noticed
They love titles, but don’t love Jesus.
They exalt themselves, putting themselves at the centre of their religion.

Continue reading “Feb 4 – Exodus 34-36; Matthew 23:1-22 – RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY”