The Daily Word: Thursday, February 28^th, 2019
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:
Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. “For he who is not against us is on our side. – Mk 9:38-40

Churches are supposed to work together. The Body of Christ – made up of all believers – is supposed to work together! The disciples came to Jesus upset because someone from another church was casting out demons in the name of Jesus. They told him to stop. But Jesus told them to let him do it!

It doesn’t matter what man you follow; it matters if you follow the Man – Jesus Christ! Don’t get jealous because someone who goes to a different church, or supports a different ministry, is healing in the name of Jesus. Don’t get mad when someone who hasn’t been saved as long as you, or lacks your theological understanding, moves by the power of the Holy Spirit. Celebrate! This is not a competition. Any work done in His name is Kingdom work.

Prayer:

Father, whenever I see something done in your name, I am going to celebrate! It does not matter to me who does it; all that matters is that Your will be done.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, February 27^th, 2019
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:
‘You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out.’ – Lev 20:22

God’s word is more than just a list of rules; it is an explanation of your design. His word tells us what we were created to do. His word tells us how to re-establish broken connection between Heaven and Earth! His word also tells us how to position ourselves to receive from Heaven.

If you “keep” God’s word – i.e. if you are not just a hearer but also a doer of the word (Jas 1:22) – you will be divinely positioned for God’s blessings to overtake your life. Psalm 23 says that when you follow God’s leading, His goodness and mercy will “follow you” (Ps 23:6). In other words, if you divinely position yourself to receive God’s best through adherence to His word, you won’t have to chase blessings down; they will follow you!

So, do you want to be blessed? Position yourself to receive from Heaven by following God’s word!

Prayer:

Father, I want to position myself to receive Heaven’s best for my life. Whenever something doesn’t feel like it’s lining up: send me back into Your word, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, February 26^th, 2019
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:
‘Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.’ – Lev 19:3

Rest was a commandment. God took 6 days to create the Earth, and then rested on the seventh. When He gave the Ten Commandments to His people,  He told them, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex 20:8). So if rest is a commandment from Heaven, why are so many of us not listening?

God wants you to get some rest. Rest does not make you irresponsible. Rest does not make you lazy! Planning for rest actually forces you to get your work done in advance, so you can have adequate time to rest when the work is complete!

Take an honest inventory of your life. What is preventing you from getting the rest God wants you to have? What do you need to change? What do you need to get rid of? God wants you to be well rested, so you have plenty of time and energy to serve Him.

Prayer:

Father, help me to rest! I know You didn’t create me to run around like a chicken with my head cut off. I am going to change what I need to change to make sure I am getting rest, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, February 25^th, 2019
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:
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God.’” – Lev 18:2-4

God made one thing especially clear to Moses: His people were not supposed to adopt the dominant culture of the places they lived. They were to avoid adopting the culture of Egypt – the place of their past; and they were also to avoid adopting the culture of Canaan – the place of their future. Instead, they were to keep God’s judgments and His ordinances: to walk differently than the people around them!

God has called you to walk differently. Your task is to engage culture with the Gospel; but it is not to conform to culture. Don’t allow cultural pressures – of our society, or of your workplace or family – to bend your commitment to the word of God! He made you to walk differently; and He did it on purpose.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for creating me to walk differently. Help me to engage with the culture around me, but not to conform to it! I want to keep Your commandments and walk in them, no matter what the people around me think: in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, February 24^th, 2019
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:
He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” – Mk 7:9

What do you value more: the commandment of God, or your tradition? When God asks you to do something, are you willing to step out and do it: even if it makes your uncomfortable?

If you want to receive something you’ve never had before, you have to do something you’ve never done before. If you’re in a place where you feel like your prayers aren’t being answered, ask God: Lord, what do you want me to change? Do You want me to pray differently? Do You want me to switch things up? Am I just doing things because I’ve always done them that way? Am I valuing routine over relationship with You? His answer may be, “Don’t change a thing;” but it also might be, “Change everything!”

Following God’s commandment will make you uncomfortable. It will cause you to do some things you aren’t used to doing! Jesus isn’t confined to your comfort zone. Shake it up! Get out there, and follow Him!

Prayer:

Father, I want to change whatever You want me to change. If it means doing everything differently, so be it. I want to experience You like never before; so I’m willing to do things I’ve never done before, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, February 23^rd, 2019
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:
But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” – Mk 6:37

Jesus didn’t want the disciples to buy the people something to eat; He wanted the disciples to give them something to eat. You don’t have to purchase what you already own! Jesus had already given His disciples everything they needed to perform miracles and multiply provision. All they had to do was use it.

Don’t convince yourself you have to purchase anything God has already given you! He has given you spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12)! He has given you compassion for the lost. He has given you healing for the broken! He gave it to you on purpose; so use it for His glory, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer:

Father, I recognize I don’t need to earn anything that Your Son Jesus already purchased on the Cross. Help me to step into my role as a distributor of miracles. I want Your Holy Spirit to move through me like never before, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, February 22^nd, 2019
Leviticus 13:1-59
Mark 6:1-29
Psalm 39:1-13
Proverbs 10:10
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But if the bright spot stays in one place, and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. – Lev 13:23

On the surface, God was talking to His people about a skin condition called leprosy. If the priest saw someone with a spot that, “…spread over the skin” (v 22), he should pronounce him unclean because it was a contagious infection. But if the spot, “…stays in one place, and has not spread,” it was just a scar (v 23). So what does this have to do with us, in the 21^st century, when leprosy has been virtually eradicated?

The deeper message here has to do not with leprosy, but with community. Often times, Scripture has one surface-level meaning, and another deeper meaning. God is not just talking about spots on the skin here. He is telling us that when someone has been hurt, time away from community may be warranted. If someone’s wound is so fresh that his or her offense is still contagious, they are unclean: unsafe for others to be around. But if someone has a scar, there is no reason to keep them from community!

A scar is not a reason to exclude someone. If they have been through something painful but they are healed, they should be welcomed with open arms. They have been through something hurtful, but they have been repaired! I dream of the day when we – Christians in church – would be willing to roll up our sleeves and show each other our scars; because the way God brought you through your past pain will give hope to someone who needs it today!

Prayer:

Father, I want to pursue Your word for deeper meaning. Help me always to press in and discern what You are trying to say! I want to go deeper than ever in studying Your word, in Jesus’ name.

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, February 21^st, 2019
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:
And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” – Mk 5:30

Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house. He was busy! He was famous! A great multitude “followed Him and thronged Him” (v 24). Yet out of nowhere, a woman in need of serious healing, “…came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment” (v 27). “For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well’ (v 28).”

Jesus was not inconvenienced by this woman’s insistence. Not only was He not too busy to heal her; He was also not too busy to give her a face-to-face encounter with God (v 34)! This woman had great faith; and it was her insistence on getting close to Jesus that made her whole!

Sometimes we don’t ask for healing because we assume God is too busy. Surely, we think, He has more important people to focus on than little old me! But you have not because you ask not. If you need healing, come to Him! He wants to meet your need; but you have to come to Him first!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for always receiving me. Whatever I need, I know You are always there to meet me: no matter how large or small the request. I am forever grateful, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, February 20^th, 2019
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:
And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. – Lev 9:23-24

God gave Moses and Aaron specific instructions. They were to bring certain things to Him and lay them on the altar; and as they did, He would consume their sacrifice. He would burn them up with holy fire! He did exactly as He promised: “…fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar” (v 24). The glory of God was so tangible, and the power of God so palpable, that everyone who witnessed it “…shouted and fell on their faces” (v 24).

God will consume whatever you are willing to offer Him. But if you want God to consume it, you have to put it on the altar! He will not override your unwillingness to sacrifice a given part of your life to Him. So, what parts of your life do you want to burn with holy fire?

Do you want Him to bless your finances like never before? Put it on the altar. Do you want to see breakthrough in your relationships like never before? Put it on the altar. Whatever you want God to do: offer that area of your life up to Him! If you put it on the altar, He will cause it to burn with holy fire.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness! Whatever I present, You consume. Help me to offer up more of myself – and more of my life – than ever before, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, February 19^th, 2019
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:
So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. And the congregation was gathered together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. And Moses said to the congregation, “This is what the Lord commanded to be done.” – Lev 8:4-5

This was Moses’ ministry model: he did whatever God asked him to do! He didn’t question God. He didn’t have to know why God was asking him to do it. If the Lord commanded him to do something, he simply got it done.

Jesus ran His ministry the same way:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” – Jn 5:19

The word is obedience. Do you think for yourself? Or do you let the Holy Spirit do the thinking for you? When God asks you to do something, do you get it done?

Prayer:

Father, I want You to think for me. I don’t want to decide whether or not to act in faith based on how I feel, or according to what I think is right! If You call me to do something, I want to go out and get it done – in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.