Day 59: Alone Time

The Daily Word: Friday, February 28^th, 2020
Leviticus 22:17-23:44
Mark 9:30-10:12
Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 10:19
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. – Mk. 9:30

As Jesus was traveling, He “did not want anyone to know it.” He didn’t publicize His ministry stops. He didn’t want a crowd! Why? Because it was time to be alone with His disciples. There were things they did not understand (v. 32); and time alone with Jesus was the only way they were going to figure it out.

There are two points to draw out of this passage. First, the goal of ministry is not to be well-known! It is to “teach…disciples.”[1] It is to make time for intimate conversation with people less spiritually mature than you into whom God has asked you to sow. So, do you want to be famous? Give up that desire! Personal discipleship is just as meaningful as public platform.

Second, Jesus always has time for intimacy. Do you have questions? Ask Him. Is there something you don’t understand? Pursue Him. He is never too busy for time alone with you.

Prayer:

Father, help me to know what You designed me for. I relinquish my desire to be well-known. I am happy to work behind the scenes for You! And I thank You for always being willing to spend time with me. Help me to make more time for You, in Jesus’ name.

Archives
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See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.
See commentary from this day in 2019.

[1] ^“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” – Matt. 28:19a

Day 58: How to Stay There

The Daily Word: Thursday, February 27^th, 2020
Leviticus 20:22-22:16
Mark 9:1-29
Psalm 43:1-5
Proverbs 10:18
For full text click here.

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

Do you want to be blessed? “Blessed” means different things to different people. Some seek financial blessing. Others are after family salvation. The pure-hearted just want to be close to Jesus! But ultimately, to be “blessed” means being right where God wants you, and staying right where God wants you.

God will bless you! He will get you there. But if you want to stay there, you have to participate. Keep His statues and His judgments. Perform them! And the land where God is bringing you (your “Promised Land”) will not, “…vomit you out.”

Don’t get regurgitated! Stay close to Jesus. Never forget that He is the One who got you there. It wasn’t your own self-effort. It wasn’t networking! It was Jesus. So if you want to stay there, it’s in your best interest to do what He says.

Prayer:

Father, keep me obedient to Your word! Help me to listen to Your heart, and to do what You ask me to do. I want to move at the sound of Your voice. I want to stay blessed in Jesus’ name!

Day 57: Are You Correctable?

The Daily Word: Wednesday, February 26^th, 2020
Leviticus 19:1-20:21
Mark 8:11-38
Psalm 42:1-11
Proverbs 10:17
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray. – Prov. 10:17

Imagine you’re a star basketball player. Wouldn’t you want the best coach? And wouldn’t you want your coach to tell you what you’re doing wrong so you can fix bad habits and get better?

Maybe you’re trying to lose weight for your own health. Wouldn’t it be frustrating if no one was willing to help you out by telling you what to eat, and how to exercise? Wouldn’t you want someone to give you the game-plan and tell you what to do – and what to avoid – to reach your goals so you could walk it out?

God is not only willing to coach you. He wants to be your Father. But when He corrects you, don’t refuse Him. Lean in to the correction of God, instead of running away. Open your ears to His instruction, and do what He says! It is only by being open to correction that you can fulfill your God-given potential and live out your destiny.

Prayer:

Father, I am open to Your correction! If I’m doing something wrong, tell me. If I can make improvements (and I know I can!) please let me know. You are amazing and You are perfect. I want to be more like You, even if it takes correction to get me there!

Day 56: Clean Before God!

The Daily Word: Tuesday, February 25^th, 2020
Leviticus 16:29-18:30
Mark 7:24-8:10
Psalm 41:1-13
Proverbs 10:15-16
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. – Lev. 16:30

When you come to God in prayer, how do you come? Do you approach Him with fear and trembling, worrying what He is going to say? Do you try to keep your secrets and guard your heart, because you’re afraid of what He might find if you actually told Him what was on your mind?

You don’t have to be afraid anymore. The blood of Jesus covers you and cleanses you! Jesus is your High Priest. He has made atonement for you! His blood covers your sin, no matter how severe. And because of His death on the Cross, you get to stand “clean from all your sins” before the Lord your God.

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

Prayer:

Father, thank You for giving Your Son Jesus Christ to die in my place. I confess that my sin is covered by His blood. I get to come into Your presence with boldness: completely unafraid! I am so grateful, in Jesus’ name.

Day 55: Word vs. Tradition

The Daily Word: Monday, February 24^th, 2020
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
Mark 7:1-23
Psalm 40:11-17
Proverbs 10:13-14
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“…making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” – Mk. 7:13

Church tradition can be beautiful! But tradition can also water down the word of God. When was the last time you saw a miracle in church? When was the last time you woke up in the morning and expected to see God do something impossible? Jesus’ plan for His people is not just to sing songs and play church; it is to experience the power of God on a daily basis.

Expect the unexpected. Plan for the Holy Spirit to move! The Word says you should, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, [and]cast out demons” (Matt. 10:8); and if your church tradition prevents you from believing that miracles are possible, you have fallen into the same trap as the religious leaders who criticized Jesus! Don’t reject the commandment of God in favor of keeping tradition (v. 9). Take God at His word, and watch Him move through your life!

Prayer:

Father, help me to value Your word over church tradition. I want to see miracles! I will pray the same prayers Jesus prayed, and expect exactly the same results. I want to take You at Your word, in Jesus’ name.

Day 54: A Healthy House

The Daily Word: Sunday, February 23^rd, 2020
Leviticus 14:1-57
Mark 6:30-56
Psalm 40:1-10
Proverbs 10:11-12
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside, all around, and the dust that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city. Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar and plaster the house. – Lev. 14:41-42

God gave a warning to Moses. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, some of their houses would be infected. There would be, “…some plague in the house” (Lev. 14:35). Remember back then that houses were built out of unfinished stone and mortar. If anything was “off” in the house, the owner was instructed to, “…cause the house to be scraped inside, all around” (v. 41). They would replace the stones that were unclean, and re-plaster the entire house.

Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? But God was sending His people a message: the most important part of the house is a healthy foundation. This speaks to your spiritual life. If something doesn’t feel right on the surface, there is probably a problem that needs to be addressed underneath. If something feels “off” in your relationship with God, or with others (!!), it is time to do some scraping. Present yourself to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to replace any stone (i.e. any part of your spiritual foundation) that is unclean. And then allow the Holy Spirit to plaster over the entire house.

A house without a healthy foundation cannot stand. Your spiritual health is of the utmost importance! Any bitterness, envy, or selfishness has to go. Ask God to scrape it out! And He will rebuild something in you that is healthy and whole.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for my clean foundation! I’m so grateful for Your willingness and commitment to making me healthy and whole. I’m asking You to take away any part of my spiritual formation that is unstable. Replace it with Your presence and Your love, in Jesus’ name!

Day 53: No Big Deal

The Daily Word: Saturday, February 22^nd, 2020
Leviticus 13:1-59
Mark 6:1-29
Psalm 39:1-13
Proverbs 10:10
For full text click here.

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

Jesus could do “no mighty work” in Nazareth because people didn’t have faith. They didn’t believe He was the Son of God! “Is this not the carpenter,” they said, “the Son of Mary… (v. 3)? But even in that environment of skepticism and unbelief, Jesus healed. He could do no mighty work, “…except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mk. 6:5).

What does this tell us? That healing is no big deal to Jesus. Even in spiritual climates that make miracles impossible, Jesus still heals! Yes, faith is important. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6)! Ask God to increase your faith. But also know that, even if your faith is far from perfect, Jesus heals wherever He goes.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your healing power. Thank You for Your healing presence! I pray that You would fill me with more faith, in Jesus’ name; but even as I wait, I know that Jesus heals wherever He goes.

Day 52: Knowing Jesus

The Daily Word: Friday, February 21^st, 2020
Leviticus 11:1-12:8
Mark 5:21-43
Psalm 38:1-22
Proverbs 10:8-9
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw [Jesus], he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” – Mk. 5:22-23

Jairus was a very religious man. As one of the rulers of the synagogue, people came to him for answers day in and day out. But eventually he encountered a crisis to which he didn’t have an answer. His daughter was sick, “…at the point of death” (v 23). And even Jairus – who was by no means a Christian – knew that the only One who could heal her was Jesus.

Knowing answers is not the same as knowing Jesus. It is good to educate yourself with theology and psychology and have your thoughts and opinions on how the world works. But when you hit a crisis head-on, head knowledge won’t be enough. Knowing about God in your head can never match receiving Jesus in your heart! So if you’ve done the first, it’s time to do the second. Receive Jesus before you hit that crisis. He will walk through it with you, so you never have to walk alone.

Prayer:

Jesus, I want to know You! I know that all the knowledge in the world can’t solve problems like pain and suffering. I need You: because You alone can save my soul.

Day 51: Are You Ready?

The Daily Word: Thursday, February 20^th, 2020
Leviticus 9:7-10:20
Mark 4:26-5:20
Psalm 37:30-40
Proverbs 10:6-7
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land…. – Ps. 37:34a

Are you ready to receive what you are asking God to give? Before you can “inherit the land,” you have to be ready to receive the inheritance. You have work to do! There is character development required. There is patience to be developed. God has to “exalt you:” to raise you up and get you ready! And the only way you can get ready is by “waiting on the Lord,” and “keeping His way.”

Does it feel like God is taking longer than you expected to do what He promised to do? Perhaps He’s making sure you’re ready to receive the blessing He promised. Maybe He’s asking you to wait on Him and keep His way: to proactively prepare your heart to inherit the land! When you wait on Him and do what He says, “He shall exalt you:” He will make you ready to receive everything He has promised.

Prayer:

Father, help me to get ready! I am asking You for some big things. I know You have to exalt me before I’m ready to inherit them. Help me to wait on You well, and help me to keep Your way, in Jesus’ name!

Day 50: Seed and Soil

The Daily Word: Wednesday, February 19^th, 2020
Leviticus 7:28-9:6
Mark 3:31-4:25
Psalm 37:12-29
Proverbs 10:5
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” – Mk. 4:20

The fruitfulness of the word depends more on the quality of the soil than the seed. We spend too much time in the church preparing good messages! And not enough time preparing hearts.

Do you know someone who needs to hear the Gospel? Don’t preach at them. Talk with them! Hear their thoughts and concerns. Pray with them and for them! Take time to prepare the soil, and the seed will take root.

Prayer:

Lord, make me a preparer of soil. You and I both know I have people in my life who need the Gospel! Show me what they need, so I can send them to You, in Jesus’ name!

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