The Daily Word: Wednesday, February 28^th, 2018
Leviticus 22:17-23:44
Mark 9:30-10:12
Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 10:19
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.” – Lev 23:22

God instructs His people to provide for the poor. As He does, He introduces 1) a responsibility and 2) a blessing.

Our responsibility is to bless the “poor and…the stranger.” When farming was the dominant culture, that meant leaving for the poor 1) the corners of the field and 2) what fell to the ground during harvest. God’s people were not to taking everything for themselves; they were to make sure some was left over for the less fortunate.

But with that responsibility also came a blessing. Leftovers require abundance. God promised to bless His people with more than enough; after all, how can you feed others if you don’t even have enough to go around?

Trust God to not only provide for you, but also to provide for others through you. As you embrace His abundant provision, you will find yourself with more than enough.

Prayer:

Father, I am blessed! You blessed me to go out and be a blessing to others. Help me to remember those who are less fortunate: the poor and the stranger. Make me faithful to pour into others, as You have poured into me.

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, February 27^th, 2018
Leviticus 20:22-22:16
Mark 9:1-29
Psalm 43:1-5
Proverbs 10:18
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Speak to Aaron, saying: ‘No man of your descendants in succeeding generations, who has any defect, may approach to offer the bread of his God.” – Lev 21:17

Under the Old Covenant, anyone who had “any defect” could not approach God, or enter into His presence. The Hebrew word for “defect” is m’uwm (Strong’s 3971), which means a physical defect or moral stain. That means that before the Cross, any man who had any type of imperfection – whether physical or spiritual – was not allowed anywhere near God. Anyone who had done anything wrong was no longer permitted in His presence.

But Jesus’ death on the Cross changed everything:

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Heb 4:14-16

You are not perfect! You have “defects;” and so do I! But Jesus lived a perfect life – and died a perfect death – so that you and I could enter “boldly” into God’s presence, and be forever changed.

Jesus’ death on the Cross means that you will never have to be separated from God’s presence again!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for closing the gap. I am sinful; yet Jesus never sinned. When I trust in Him, I get to boldly enter into Your presence – the same way Jesus does – in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, February 26^th, 2018
Leviticus 19:1-20:21
Mark 8:11-38
Psalm 42:1-11
Proverbs 10:17
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. – Ps 42:1-2a

Do you thirst for God? Do you need the living God just as much as your body craves water? The average person can go three to four days without water. But some of us can go weeks without talking to God. That should not be! We must insist on spending time in God’s presence, and getting to know Him for who He truly is!

Are you thirsty? Do you crave God? Are you absolutely unwilling to go through life without Him? When the desire for God is there, the fulfillment will follow!

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. – Rev 22:17

Prayer:

Father, make me thirsty! I want to crave Your presence more than ever. Help me to cast aside any unhealthy desire, and cry out for more of You!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, February 25^th, 2018
Leviticus 16:29-18:30
Mark 7:24-8:10
Psalm 41:1-13
Proverbs 10:15-16
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. – Mk 7:24

Jesus’ reputation preceded Him. He entered a house and tried to be discreet; but He could not be hidden! The glory of God was so evident when Jesus walked into a room that it was completely impossible to go without notice.

You don’t have to spend one more day being an undercover Christian. Make this your prayer today: that it would be impossible to hide the Jesus in you! Everywhere you go, His love will spill out. Everyone you engage in conversation will recognize there is something different about you. And as people take notice, you will have the privilege of leading them into a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Father, make me more like Jesus. I pray everything I think, say, and do, would be a reflection of His glory – in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, February 24^th, 2018
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
Mark 7:1-23
Psalm 40:11-17
Proverbs 10:13-14
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

For innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart fails me. – Ps 40:12

David’s life was far from perfect. He had some things to work on! He was expecting some answers to prayer that hadn’t come yet. But he refusedto put on a fake smile and pretend everything was okay. David got honest with God. He cried out, and God heard his prayer.

Faith is not denial. It’s ok to admit you’re having a tough time! It’s ok to tell God what you’re really going through, because He knows anyway.  Faith does not mean pretending everything is going well; it means trusting that even when things aren’t going well, God will work it out. If you’re struggling: tell Him. If you messed up, tell Him! In the end, He will work all things together for good.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for always listening. Help to be honest with You, no matter what, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, February 23^rd, 2018
Leviticus 14:1-57
Mark 6:30-56
Psalm 40:1-10
Proverbs 10:11-12
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. – Psalm 40:1

It is possible to wait patiently; and it is also possible to wait anxiously. When we wait anxiously, no results are guaranteed; but when we wait patiently, God hears!

Waiting patiently (Hebrew qavah, Strong’s #6960) means waiting with expectation and hope. God’s response to our faithful waiting is profound: He, the God of the universe, inclines His ear to us!! When we wait patiently, He inclines; and when He inclines, He hears.

God will do it. Trust Him! And once you trust Him, know there is no reason to be anxious. Wait patiently – with expectation and with hope – and He will answer your prayer.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for hearing me. Thank You for answering my every prayer! I trust You, and I know You are good, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, February 22^nd, 2018
Leviticus 13:1-59
Mark 6:1-29
Psalm 39:1-13
Proverbs 10:10
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. – Mk 6:5

The people saw Jesus and were offended (v 3). “Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary…?” (v 3). How could this Boy they had seen grow up claim to be the Son of God?

Their offense (v 4) canceled the miraculous. They missed out on miracles because they didn’t believe Jesus could be the One! The people were offended, so Jesus could do “no mighty work” in that place. The people expected God to come in a different package, so they missed out on everything He wanted to do!

God shows up as He pleases, in whatever form He wants. Don’t despise the shape He takes, or the way your miracle unfolds! God knows best. Do you believe Him?

Prayer:

Father, You are in control of my miracle. I don’t want to be in charge of my breakthrough! Make it look however You want, and make it happen whenever You want, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, February 21^st, 2018
Leviticus 11:1-12:8
Mark 5:21-43
Psalm 38:1-22
Proverbs 10:8-9
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” – Mk 5:39

Genuine faith means declaring a reality that contradicts what you see. Jairus’ daughter was dead, and everyone knew it. There were people all over the house, weeping and wailing loudly (v 38), because the girl had died. Yet here was Jesus, declaring a new reality: “the child is not dead, but sleeping” (v 39)!

The people ridiculed Him (v 40). They thought He was crazy! But He didn’t care. He knew the truth, and He didn’t care what anyone else said.

God’s word is your reality. Forget what you see with your eyes, and declare what He says in His word.

Prayer:

Father, help me to see Heaven’s reality for my life! No matter what I see with my eyes, I will declare Your word with my mouth. If You’ve said it, it will be done; in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, February 20^th, 2018
Leviticus 9:7-10:20
Mark 4:26-5:20
Psalm 37:30-40
Proverbs 10:6-7
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. – Lev 10:1

When Aaron’s sons offered an unholy offering to God, He “devoured them” with fire. Wow! Under the Old Covenant, there were no second chances. If you messed up, the wrath of God would be kindled and that was it for you! If you intentionally did something God didn’t ask you to do, you were toast!

Aren’t you glad we live under the New Covenant? Under our New Covenant with God, all His wrath has already been poured out on Jesus. That means there is no wrath left for you! We don’t have to tip toe around God, worrying that He might “devour us” when we make a mistake. Thank God He poured out His wrath on Jesus, so that we could be forgiven and redeemed.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for giving me a second chance whenever I need it. Thank You that Jesus already absorbed the wrath I should have to face. He did it for me, so that I can be free!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, February 19^th, 2018
Leviticus 7:28-9:6
Mark 3:31-4:25
Psalm 37:12-29
Proverbs 10:5
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. – Mk 4:10

Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables; but He spoke to His disciples in plain language. The disciples had a relationship with Jesus; and because they knew Him, and He knew them, He revealed to them the secrets of God!

Revelation comes from relationship! If you don’t know Jesus, His words will seem like mysteries; but when you know Him face to face, everything He says will give you life!

Prayer:

Father, I need time alone with You! Help me to make space, and get the time I need with you: no matter the cost, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.