May 20 - My Sure Foundation

Overview of: Mark

Today's Reading:
Mark 11:12 – 12:12
"Jesus Claims Authority"

Focus Verses: Mark 12:10-12
10 Haven't you read this scripture: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 11 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" 12 Then they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

Insight:
The authority of Jesus' words and actions were a direct confrontation to the authority of the religious establishment in Israel. This tension between the two was increasing and coming to a point of crisis. In clearing the temple, the cursing of the fig tree (see Luke 13:6-9), and the parable of the tenants, Jesus was denouncing and rejecting the authority of the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. They rejected Jesus' claims to authority, and plotted to have him arrested and silenced.

Using the words of the Psalms and the prophets, Jesus claimed to be the capstone and foundation stone of God's salvation. He said that in rejecting him, the religious leaders were ultimately rejecting God's hope and salvation. Jesus' appropriation of Psalm 118 turned it into a powerful statement of his claim to be God, the Messiah, the source of salvation, the foundation for life, and the gateway to salvation.

Response and Action:
I accept Jesus' authority. I look to him as the Son of God, the source of salvation, and the rightful Lord and master of my life. I will seek to know him, to follow him, and to obey him. I will build my life on the solid rock of his teaching. I will submit myself to his ways and trust him for the strength I need for life.

O Christ, you are my God, and I will ever praise you. I will seek you in the morning and learn to walk in your ways. Lead me step by step. Save me, strengthen me, guide me, renew me, and sustain me. Help me to know you more each day. Be the cornerstone of my life. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Psalm 118:8, 20-24
20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
In Context: Psalm 118

Proverb for Today: Prov. 20:12
"Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both."

Recommended Reading:
Praying the Psalms of Jesus
by James Sire

May 19 - Shouting Out

Overview of: Mark

Today's Reading:
Mark 10:32 – 11:11
"The Road to Jerusalem"

Focus Verses: Mark 10:48-50
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

Insight:
Each of the four sections of today's reading offer important things to think about, but the blind man, Bartimaeus, has caught my attention. There he was, a beggar, sitting along the roadside, doing the same thing he had done day after day with little hope for anything to ever change. And yet, the very moment he heard that Jesus was passing along that way, he erupted with hope began to shout out his name.

I love the way he seized upon his opportunity to encounter Jesus with such abandon and intensity. I love that when others told him to calm down and be quiet "he shouted all the more." He had, apparently, already heard a lot about Jesus and was not about to miss the opportunity to meet him.

Jesus restored Bartimaeus' sight and commended his faith. Bartimaeus left his place among the beggars and followed Jesus down the road.

Response and Action:
I want to call out to Jesus with the intensity and focus of Bartimaeus. When circumstances, people, or even my own feelings and doubts tell me to calm down and be quiet, I will shout out all the more! I believe in Jesus and in his power to save and restore. I will pursue him with abandon, asking him for healing and for hope. I will follow Jesus wherever he leads and leave my blindness and begging behind.

O God, thank you for the mercy and healing you have given through Christ Jesus, your son. Help me to seek him above all else. Give me a focus and desire for Jesus that cannot be suppressed. Help me to encounter him through the Scriptures, through the Spirit, through the Church, and through his redemptive and saving work in my life. Help me to follow him all the days of my life. Help me to press on to take hold of all the blessing and purpose he has for me. It's in his healing name that I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Psalm 146:7-8
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, 8 the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
In Context: Psalm 146

Proverb for Today: Prov. 19:8
"He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers."

Recommended Reading:
Encountering Jesus: 8 Studies for Individuals or Groups
by Douglas Connelly

Reading Schedule for May 19 - 24

May 19 - Mark 10:32 – 11:11
May 20 - Mark 11:12 – 12:12
May 21 - Mark 12:13-44
May 22 - Mark 13:1-37
May 23 - Mark 14:1-31
May 24 - John 13:1-17


You're invited to read through the Bible with Dave Burkum. Six readings each week will take you through key scripture passages from Genesis through Revelation. Click here to download your copy of the Useful Breath Reading Schedule for 2007-08.

May 17 - Power Over Death

Overview of: John

Today's Reading:
John 11:1-44
"Lazarus and Jesus"

Focus Verses: John 11:23-27
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Insight:
In raising Lazarus from the dead, Christ demonstrated his power and authority over death. He came preaching that the kingdom of God was at hand, and his miracles over nature, sickness, demons, and death were a witness of the kingdom power he had.

This kingdom power is the promise and hope for our future, and the reason we can put our trust in Jesus today. The power of Jesus isn't just hope for some distant day; it's the hope for each and every day.

Response and Action:
I believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. I believe that he has the power to redeem, sustain, deliver, and rescue me. My trust is firmly placed in Jesus. I will seek him with my whole heart. I will give myself fully to pursuing him through the scriptures, prayer, devotion, worship, service, and Christian community. I trust Jesus to raise me on the final day. I trust him to raise me and sustain me today.

O God, I believe in Jesus, your Son, my Lord and Savior. I will look to him for the power and guidance I need for life today. I will live in the joy of know that he is greater than death, and he will raise me up. I will live by faith in the Son of Man, who loved me and gave himself for me. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Job 19:25-27
25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
In Context: Job 19

Proverb for Today: Prov. 17:3
"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart."

Recommended Reading:
Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in an Everyday Life
by Eugene Peterson

May 16 - Good or Best

Overview of: Luke

Today's Reading:
Luke 10:38-42
"Mary and Martha"

Focus Verses: Luke 10:36-37
41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Insight:
It's possible to be so busy and concerned about doing what is good that we miss what is best. This particular encounter between Jesus, Mary, and Martha is a good reminder of this truth. Martha was so concerned with serving Jesus and the guests that she could not really enjoy and savor her time with them. Mary was so focused on simply being with Jesus and listening to what he had to say that she left some things unattended. Jesus commended her for this.

Response and Action:
I do not want to be so busy with serving Jesus that I have no time to enjoy him. I must take time to simply be with him, to pray, and to delight in the word. The same is true for my family and Christian friends. I must be intentional about being with them and enjoying them, not simply serving them.

O God, help me to glorify you and enjoy you all my days. May Jesus be more than Messiah, Lord, Savior, and God to me; may he be my friend, my delight, my brother, and my faithful companion. Give me a heart to serve Christ, O God, but first give me a heart to love him. Give me a hunger and affection for the scriptures. Give me a desire to pray. Give me a fullness of the Spirit and a deep awareness of his presence in every minute of my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Psalm 84:10
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere...
In Context: Psalm 84

Proverb for Today: Prov. 16:19
"Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud."

Recommended Reading:
Freedom from Tyranny of the Urgent
by Charles Hummel

May 15 - Knowing and Doing

Overview of: Luke

Today's Reading:
Luke 10:25-37
"The Good Samaritan"

Focus Verses: Luke 10:36-37
36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Insight:
When the expert in the Law of Moses asked Jesus the way to eternal life, Jesus pointed the expert to the Law and asked his expert opinion on what it said. The expert was right on track when he quoted from Deuteronomy ("love the Lord your God") and from Leviticus ("love your neighbor"). But when he began to get philosophical and ambiguous about the meaning of the word "neighbor," Jesus told a down to earth story that put the application of the Law into a real life situation. The story included a priest and a Levite who, like the expert, would surely have known the "love the Lord your God" and "love your neighbor" passages from the Law, but did not live them out. Jesus was essentially telling the expert, "It's not enough for you to know and discuss the Law, you have to live it."

Response and Action:
It's one thing to know what I should do and another to do it. I want my love for God and my love for my neighbor to be more than words. I will strive to put my beliefs and knowledge into action. If I truly love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, I will respond to his admonition to extend grace and love others. When it is within my power to help someone, I will take action. I will keep my eyes open to the needs of people around me in order to be a channel of God's love and care to them.

O God, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me show love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where their is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light. Grant that I might not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that I receive; it is in pardoning that I receive pardon; it is in dying that I am born to eternal life. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Leviticus 19:15-18
15 "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. 16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD. 17 Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. 18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."
In Context: Leviticus 19

Proverb for Today: Prov. 15:23
"The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor."

Recommended Reading:
God's Neighborhood: A Hopeful Journey in Racial Reconciliation and Community Renewal
by Scott Roley

May 14 - Seeing and Being

Overview of: Luke

Today's Reading:
Luke 10:1-24
"Sent Out by the Son"

Focus Verses: Luke 10:22-24
22 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

Insight:
Jesus clearly claimed to be the Son of God. He claimed to have an exclusive relationship with the Father. He claimed to be the only person who could truly reveal the Father. He told his disciples that they were blessed to be the ones who were seeing the things he was showing them. He claimed to fulfill and reveal the things the prophets would have longed to see and know. He sent his disciples into the world to share what he had revealed to them. He called his followers to more than belief; he called them to live out the truth he had given them, and to join him in revealing that truth and hope to others.

Response and Action:
I believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be. I believe that he is God, he is Savior, and he is Lord. I believe that he is the only one who can show me God the Father. Beyond belief, I want to live out the truth Christ Jesus has revealed. I want to not only hear his words, but also put them into practice. As I follow in his steps, I want to be a part of his taking truth and hope and life to others.

O God, thank you for sending you one and only Son into the world to save us and show us your ways--God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God. Thank you for the blessing of being able to see the things he reveals. Help me to love and follow after him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Transform and shape me so completely that my life reveals the truth of Christ and his power to save. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Psalm 98:2-3
2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
In Context: Psalm 98

Proverb for Today: Prov. 14:5
"A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies."

Recommended Reading:
Jesus: Lord and Savior
by F. F. Bruce

May 13 - Greatness

Overview of: Mark

Today's Reading:
Mark 9:1-41
"Deity, Deliverance, and Distinction"

Focus Verses: Mark 9:35-37
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Insight:
Those who are focused on achievement and personal status will not find true greatness. Those whose priority is honoring God and whose joy is serving others will discover true greatness, even though it is not their goal or motivation. The person whose goal is greatness will be too busy with important people and projects to "waste" time with those people or things that are unlikely to serve that goal.

The person who is unconcerned with greatness and accomplishment is more likely to spend an afternoon with a child or serve the needs of someone who has nothing to offer in return. And in that selflessness, such a person will discover what true greatness is all about. Whoever loses his life will find it.

Response and Action:
I will not seek after accomplishment and praise. I will seek to love, know, and honor Christ Jesus with all my heart and soul. I will endeavor to live a selfless life and cultivate a heart and readiness for serving others. I will not think of myself as more important than others. I will share time and my attention with others without thought of personal gain. I will aspire to be unpretentious, unselfish, and unreserved.

O God, thank you for Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself and became a servant. Help me, like him, to reach across barriers, to welcome the weak, to serve, and to look to the interests of others. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Psalm 113:5-7
5 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, 6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? 7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap..."
In Context: Psalm 113

Proverb for Today: Prov. 13:10
"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."

Recommended Reading:
The Incomparable Christ
by John Stott

May 12 - The Christ

Overview of: Mark

Today's Reading:
Mark 8:1-38
"Miracles, Faith, and a Prediction"

Focus Verses: Mark 8:27-29
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

Insight:
There were all sorts of ideas circulating about just who Jesus was. According to Mark's account, Peter declared what he believed with the words, "You are the Christ." Luke records Peter as saying, "You are the Christ of God" (Lk. 9:20). Matthew has the fullest statement, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Mt. 16:16). In saying that he believed Jesus to be the Christ, Peter was declaring his faith that Jesus was the Messiah and deliverer promised by the prophets. Peter believed that Jesus was the one sent to "save his people." In saying he was "of God" or "the son of the Living God," Peter was declaring his faith in Jesus' deity. Peter believed that Jesus was God.

Response and Action:
There are many theories and ideas about who Jesus was/is, but I believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be. The testimony of Scripture, the anticipation of the prophets, the witness of the apostles, the unfolding story of the Church, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit in my own heart all confirm the claims of Jesus. Like Peter, I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father--God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, of one being with the Father. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven.

O God, thank you for sending your son, Jesus, into the world to save and redeem humankind. Open the eyes of my heart that I might know him more each day, O God, and that my faith might be strengthened in new ways. Confirm and increase my faith as I follow Christ. Make my life a witness to the truth of Christ. It's in his saving name that I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Prov. 30:3-4
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!
In Context: Proverbs 30:2-6

Proverb for Today: Prov. 12:28
"In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality."

Recommended Reading:
The Incomparable Christ
by John Stott

Reading Schedule for May 12 - 17

May 12 - Mark 8:1-38
May 13 - Mark 9:1-41
May 14 - Luke 10:1-24
May 15 - Luke 10:25-37
May 16 - Luke 10:38-42
May 17 - John 11:1-44

You're invited to read through the Bible with Dave Burkum. Six readings each week will take you through key scripture passages from Genesis through Revelation. Click here to download your copy of the Useful Breath Reading Schedule for 2007-08.

May 10 - My Shepherd

Overview of: John

Today's Reading:
John 10:1-40
"The Good Shepherd"

Focus Verses: John 10:14-18
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Insight:
The religious leaders of the time had failed to shepherd the people of Israel. They did not know them; they exploited them; they didn't care for them or defend them or sacrifice for them. Jesus, on the other hand, listened to people; he understood them and loved them. He knew them by name, and they recognized the truth of God in his voice. He was willing to lay down his life for them.

Christ's sacrifice for us was his own choice. No one took his life from him; he laid it down. God gave him the authority and power to raise it up again.

Response and Action:
I recognize the truth of God in Jesus. I believe he is the good shepherd who can lead me to life, hope, and purpose. I give thanks to God for the sacrifice Jesus willingly made for me. I believe that Jesus laid down his life and raised it up again on the third day. I will follow in his steps and listen to his voice. I will do my best to be help others to find and follow him.

O God, thank you for Jesus, the good shepherd. Thank you that he knows my name and has called me to follow him. Thank you for his selfless love and the sacrifice he made to reconcile humanity to you. Give me a responsive and thankful heart, and help me to help others hear the voice of Jesus and come to find life in him. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Ezekiel 34:10-12
10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. 11 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
In Context: Ezekiel 34

Proverb for Today: Prov. 10:17
"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray."

Recommended Reading:
Shepherds After My Own Heart: Pastoral Traditions And Leadership in the Bible
by Timothy Laniak

May 9 - I Can Forgive

Overview of: Matthew

Today's Reading:
Matt. 18:21 – 19:12
"Forgiveness and Divorce"

Focus Verses: Mark 7:6-8, 13
32 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'

Insight:
Our relationships with God and with others are deeply intertwined. In Matthew 6, on the heels of "The Lord's Prayer," Jesus says, "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." In 1 John 4:20-21, the Apostle John wrote, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Response and Action:
If I truly understand and appreciate the forgiveness and grace God has extended to me through Christ, I will demonstrate it by extending forgiveness and grace to others. To refuse to forgive others is to refuse forgiveness from God. To harbor hate for others is to reject God's transforming and healing love for me. Forgiving others does not earn God's forgiveness; it proves that I have truly received it. Love and forgiveness for others does not earn God's grace, but God's grace, if it is truly received, will surely transform me and prove itself in the love and forgiveness I extend to others.

O Father, you fill the heavens and your name is holy and honored. I long to see your kingdom come to earth--your will lived out right here in my life just as it is in heaven. Provide for my needs today. Forgive my debt to you, which I cannot pay, and by the power and grace of your Holy Spirit, grant me the readiness and the heart to forgive others in the same way. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: 2 Chron. 7:14
14 "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
In Context: 2 Chronicles 7

Proverb for Today: Prov. 9:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Recommended Reading:
Forgiving and Reconciling: Bridges to Wholeness and Hope
by Everett L. Worthington

May 8 - Missing the Point

Overview of: Mark

Today's Reading:
Mark 7:1-37
"Hearts and Healings"

Focus Verses: Mark 7:6-8, 13
6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. - - - 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

Insight:
Jesus consistently confronted and denounced the religiosity that embraced external regulations, but missed God's heart and intent. What good did it do to have washed hands if your heart was filled with deceit and hate? Can lips really honor God if hearts are far from him?

You have missed the point of God's commands, Jesus told them, and reduced them to shallow rule-keeping. Worse, you have twisted God's commands and come up with ways to use them as a justification for doing the very things God condemns.

When Jesus ministered to the people of Tyre, Sidon, and Decapolis, he was taking hope and healing to people the Jews had written off as unclean. By doing this he was directly confronting the self-centered interpretations of the Mosaic Law and Abrahamic covenants that turned them into reasons to condemn an discard the Gentiles. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would bless all the nations. Jesus was living out God's covenant with Abraham when he healed the Syrophoenician woman's daughter and restored the hearing of the deaf man in Decapolis.

Response and Action:
I must be on guard against practicing religion that misses the point of God's intent. I must be careful to not replace God's heart and purposes with shallow tradition. To truly honor God, I must understand and live out his redemptive purposes in the world. As a follower of Christ, I must practice true religion that crosses barriers and shares God blessing. God's commands are intended not to cut us off from the world, but rather to help his people live in a way that blesses and saves others.

O God, save me from empty and self-deceived religion. Help me to discover true religion that loves you and lives for you. Help me to pursue holiness for the purpose of being ready to share your hope and redemption with the world around me. Help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, that I might live out your redemptive promise to bless to bless and save. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Genesis 12:2-3
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
In Context: Genesis 12:1-8

Proverb for Today: Prov. 8:35
"For whoever finds me (wisdom) finds life and receives favor from the LORD."

Recommended Reading:
Jesus Without Religion
by Rick James

May 7 - Redemption or Rocks

Overview of: John

Today's Reading:
John 8:2-11
"A Woman Caught in Adultery"

Focus Verses: John 8:10-11
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Insight:
The teachers of the Mosaic Law and the Pharisees were looking for ways to trap Jesus. The law laid out clear penalties and consequences for adultery, would Jesus just discard or contradict Moses?

For them, the law had been reduced to a list of rules and punishments. They seemed to have no regard or concern for the woman. If they were truly interested in justice, where was the adulterous man? In their pious legalism they would rather see her pounded with rocks than see her find redemption or renewal.

Jesus said, "The first rock should be thrown by whichever one of you is without sin." This simple and thought-provoking statement made it clear that every one of them deserved judgment. Without redemption, it would be rocks for everyone. All have sinned. All deserve judgment. The message of Jesus was that God’s desire was to redeem sinners, not strike them down with a rock. In the same way, we should be more interested in renewal and forgiveness than in judging and condemning. Redemption is far better than rocks.

The apostle Paul put it this way, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1

Response and Action:
I will take hold of the redemption and forgiveness God has extended to me in Jesus. I will turn away from sin. I will join Jesus in his mission to proclaim and extend grace and redemption to the world. I will value redemption and hope and lay down the rocks of judgment and condemnation. Though I recognize sin and understand it has consequences, I will always strive to bring healing and hope instead of condemnation.

O God, help me to live for you and through you this day in thought, word, and deed. Help me to turn away from what is wrong and to do what is right. By the power and grace of your Holy Spirit, redeem and renew me, that I might delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Help me to be a witness and a channel of the redeeming love and hope of Jesus to everyone around me. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Ps. 44:25
25 We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. 26 Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.
In Context: Psalm 44

Proverb for Today: Prov. 7:4-5
"Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words."

Recommended Reading:
Why Sin Matters: The Surprising Relationship between Our Sin and God's Grace
by Mark R. McMinn

May 6 - Who Else but Jesus?

Overview of: John

Today's Reading:
John 6:24-71
"The Bread of Life"

Focus Verses: John 6:66-69
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Insight:
Many people turned away from following Jesus when they found his teaching difficult to accept or understand. When Jesus turned to the twelve disciples he had chosen and asked them if they too wanted to turn away, Peter made one of his great statements of faith: “We believe and know you are the Holy One of God.” Peter had found life and hope in Jesus he could find nowhere else: "Lord, who else would we follow? Who else has the words of life?"

Response and Action:
I believe that Jesus is the Holy One of God. I follow him because he has the words of life. Even when his words are difficult, I will follow. I believe that he is the bread of life, the one who can sustain me, and the one who will raise me on the final day. Nothing and no one else has offered the hope, purpose, and life I have found in Jesus.

O God, thank you for Jesus, who for our sake and for our salvation came down from heaven. Help me to follow him, to take in all he has to say, and to build my life on the solid rock of his words by putting them into practice. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Deut. 8:2-3
2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
In Context: Deuteronomy 8

Proverb for Today: Prov. 6:23
For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life..."

Recommended Reading:
Who Was Jesus?
by Scot McKnight

May 5 - Seeking Seekers

Overview of: Luke

Today's Reading:
Luke 19:1-10
"Zacchaeus and Jesus"

Focus Verses: Luke 19:3-6
3 [Zacchaeus] wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Insight:
Zacchaeus was so motivated to see Jesus he was willing to climb a tree if that's what it took. It must have been quite a sight to see a wealthy man like Zacchaeus up a tree. This wholehearted effort was hard to miss, and when Jesus saw him, he looked up and said something to this effect: "Come down here! You're obviously a man with a story, and I've just got to hear it. Let's go to your house."

Zacchaeus was seeking out Jesus; and Jesus was "seeking the lost" (Lk. 19:10). That was a very happy convergence of searches. Today there are many people seeking a glimpse of Jesus, and it’s good to know that Jesus is still seeking them through his church and by his Spirit. Those who have found Christ need to join him in seeking out those who are still searching for him.

Response and Action:
I will join Jesus in his mission to seek and save the lost. I will draw near to Christ and keep my eyes open for others who are searching for the truth, salvation, hope, forgiveness, restoration, and purpose he has for them. Because I have found Jesus, I must become a seeker like him.

O God, give me the grace and discernment to see those who are seeking Jesus. Help me to draw nearer to Jesus every day, so that I might be more able to help others do the same. Thank you that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Help me to join him in seeking out those who are searching for him and all he has to offer. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: 1 Chron. 16:10-11
10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
In Context: 1 Chronicles 16:7-36

Proverb for Today: Prov. 5:21
"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths."

Recommended Reading:
Who Was Jesus?
by Scot McKnight

Reading Schedule for May 5 - 10

May 5 - Luke 19:1-10
May 6 - John 6:24-71
May 7 - John 8:2-11
May 8 - Mark 7:1-37
May 9 - Matt. 18:21 – 19:12
May 10 - John 10:1-40

You're invited to read through the Bible with Dave Burkum. Six readings each week will take you through key scripture passages from Genesis through Revelation. Click here to download your copy of the Useful Breath Reading Schedule for 2007-08.

May 3 - Going Home

Overview of: Luke

Today's Reading:
Luke 15:11-32
"The Welcoming Father"

Focus Verses: Luke 15:7
20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Insight:
This story is most often called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." I guess that makes sense since the story line follows the son, and most of us probably identify more strongly with the son.

The main idea of the story, however, seems to be centered in the character of the father. He was willing to let the son leave him. He longed for the son to come to his senses and be restored. He ran to welcome the son when he returned. He rejoiced and threw a party to celebrate being reunited with his estranged son. It was like receiving his son back from the dead!

Response and Action:
I recognize that God has give me the freedom to honor and serve him, or to wander and reject him. I believe that when I turn away from him, he longs for me to return and be restored. I want to have the wisdom to come home to God and to live for him. I must give thanks to God for his goodness in extending forgiveness and reconciliation to me. I will share God's love for my brothers and sisters who are wandering. With God, I long for them to come home and find their place in his family. When they return, I will run alongside God to welcome them. I will celebrate their restoration and renewal.

O God, thank you for welcoming me home. Thank you for your redeeming and saving love for all people. Thank you for giving your son, that whoever believes in him might have eternal life. Give me your heart for those who have wandered or turned away from you. Give me a readiness to reach out to them and to run to meet them with your gracious welcome. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Lam. 3:40
40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.
In Context: Lamentations 3

Proverb for Today: Prov. 3:11-12
"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."

Recommended Reading:
Coming Home to Your True Self: Leaving the Emptiness of False Attractions
by Albert Haase

May 2 - I Once Was Lost

Overview of: Luke

Today's Reading:
Luke 15:1-10
"The Lost Sheep & Lost Coin"

Focus Verses: Luke 15:7
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Insight:
The Pharisees and religious teachers were always grumbling about the sinners, tax collectors, and riffraff with whom Jesus associated. One such undesirable was a man named Zacchaeus (Lk. 19). When Jesus went to his house, he explained to the grumblers that being with these people was central to his purpose--"The son of man came to seek and save the lost."

In today's text we see Jesus telling two stories in response to the grumbling. He explained that he was like a woman sweeping the house to find a lost coin, or a shepherd who went out to find a lost sheep. He said that heaven was filled with rejoicing when the lost were found. He explained that his time spent with sinners was necessary because nothing pleased God more than a sinner who repented and turned from sin.

Response and Action:
I will give thanks to God for Jesus who came to save sinners. I will turn from sin and follow Jesus. I will join him in his mission to save. I will go wherever the lost people are. I will sweep through the house of my community. I will search out the fields of my daily associations and friendships to find the lost and help them find Jesus.

O God, have mercy upon me, a sinner. Thank you that Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost. Thank you for finding me, a lost coin, a lost sheep. Thank you that the searching and saving mission of Jesus is continually being fulfilled through his church, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Give me a heart for those who are lost. Make me a seeker with a passion to find those who need to find Jesus. It's in his name that I pray, Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Ez. 34:11-12
11 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness."
In Context: Ezekiel 34

Proverb for Today: Prov. 2:4-5
"...and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."

Recommended Reading:
What's So Amazing about Grace
by Philip Yancey

May 1 - Wise Enough to Give Up

Overview of: Luke

Today's Reading:
Luke 14:15-35
"The Call and the Cost"

Focus Verses: Luke 14:28-33
28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

Insight:
Until a person is wise enough to see that he doesn't have what it takes to build the life he needs, he won't turn to Christ. Until a person recognizes that she doesn't have the resources to withstand the attacks and struggles of life, she won't turn to Christ. The wisdom to acknowledge limitations and needs is what moves us to turn away from self and reach out to Jesus.

Response and Action:
I give up on my ability to build my own life. I am looking to Jesus for the direction, purpose, and resources to find my life. I give up on defending myself from the challenges and adversaries that threaten to ruin me. I am depending on Jesus to defend and sustain me. Life is too big for me, but it is not too big for God. I am ready to be a disciple of Jesus because I have given up on me.

O God, thank you for Christ Jesus and his invitation to follow him. Give me the wisdom to hear and respond to his call with all my heart. Help me to see the wisdom of recognizing my limitations and my inability to build or sustain my life without him. Help me to find my life, my purpose, my joy, my strength, my very self in Christ. Amen.

Old Testament for Today: Ps. 127:1
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In Context: Psalm 127

Proverb for Today: Prov. 1:32
"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them..."

Recommended Reading:
Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ
by Dallas Willard