Deuteronomy 33-34 - God transformed Moses from an insecure man who didn't have any desire to lead or speak in public into a mighty leader.  God allowed him to see the fulfillment of his promise to Abraham.  When God first spoke to him from the burning bush, he was a murderer on the run who was working as a shepherd for his father in law.  His only qualifications was he was humble and willing to be used by God.  Humility and obedience is all we need.  God will do the rest.

Psalm 71 - I trusted God in my childhood and he's is my strength and hope.  I praise him because he has shown his power in my life.  Let me tell the next generation about your power and goodness and about the mighty miracles you have done and will do.  No one compares with God.  

Matthew 28:11-20 - Some guards accepted a bribe to say that the disciples stole Jesus' body but this would have been logistically impossible considering that the tomb was being guarded by trained Roman soldiers who were armed.  Also, there was a stone over the tomb which would not have been easy to roll away quickly.  Our mission as followers of Jesus is to use all the days we have left to help others know and follow Jesus. 

Romans 16 - Here it mentions Phoebe who was a woman deacon.  This is one of many places that support women serving in church leadership roles.  We should stay away from anyone who stirs up division by teaching anything that doesn't align with what scripture clearly teaches. 

Deuteronomy 32 - Moses' song talks about how God took care of Israel, but they still turned away from him.  We do the same all too often, but God is gracious and merciful and restores us when we turn back to him. When they turned away from God, they welcomed his judgement. They would turn to him when life was tough.  When he rescued them and provided for them, they would turn away from him, forgetting how he had blessed them.  When life is good and we have plenty, we don't seem to rely on God the same way we do when life isn't good.  Often we even turn away from God because we forget our need for him in our lives.

Psalm 70 - Even in desperate times, we should remember that God is good and we can praise him even when life is not.  

Matthew 28:1-10 - Jesus rose from the grave, just like he said he would.  The guard saw Jesus and fainted.  I find this funny because too often we forget the humanity of the people in the stories.  The Mary's saw where Jesus had been laid and that the tomb was empty.  The angel told them to go and tell the disciples what they had seen.  On their way, Jesus appeared to them.  The multiple eye witness accounts of Jesus' resurrection is foundational to our faith.  

Romans 15:14-33 - Paul was not boasting about what he had done, but about what God had done through him.  It is important for us to share what God has done and celebrate the way he has moved.  When we do, there will be some who are insecure who may think we are boasting, but we should never back down from celebrating the power of God.  For those who are truly walking with God, it will be an encouragement.  We should always remember that it is the Holy Spirit that does the work that we never could.

Deuteronomy 29-31 - The choice God gives us is a choice between life and death.  Obedience leads to a full and satisfying life, but sin leads to death.  Obedience leads to spiritual prosperity, but sin leads to disaster. Obedience leads to blessing, but sin to curses. God desires us to choose life because he loves us and cares about us.  
To fully follow God, we must be strong and courageous, don't fear or panic because God will take care of us.  He will go before us and he will never fail.  Where God leads, he makes a way.

Psalm 69:19-36 - The humble will see God at work and be glad.  Those who truly seek God will be encouraged.

Matthew 27:57-66 - The religious leaders tried to prevent Jesus from rising from the dead or really to keep his disciples from "stealing" the body.  Maybe they thought putting the stone in from of it would prevent him from rising because when he rose Lazarus from the dead, he had them roll the stone away.  It didn't work.  

Romans 15:1-13 - We shouldn't live to simply please ourselves, but to help others follow Jesus.  God is our source of hope and when we hold on to that hope, God will fill us with joy and peace because our faith the Holy Spirit inside of us.

Deuteronomy 27-28 - God promises repeatedly and here again that he will bless the obedience of the Israelites.  This is a principle that is true about God that he blesses obedience.  The curse of sin will fall on those who disobey. Disobeying God is a display of a lack of fear or reverence for God.  If we fail to obey God, we open ourselves up to experience the full depravity of the world.  We remove ourselves from God's protection.

Psalm 69:1-18 - God has rescued me from the pit of my own sin.  Our sins are not hidden from God, so we might as well be honest with him so that he can rescue and redeem us.  He does this not because we deserve it because of his unfailing love. 

Matthew 27:45-56 - Jesus experienced the full wrath of God on our behalf.  The worst part was not the physical pain but the spiritual separation from God when Jesus took our sin on himself.  Because of his death and resurrection, we can be reconnected with God through faith in Jesus. The worst part about sin and hell is that is separates us from God - the only one who can satisfy our deepest desires of our heart.

Romans 14 - Regardless of if we live or die, the goal is to honor God.  We will all give an account of how we used the time he has given us.  Did we use it for ourselves, to build our own kingdoms, or did we use it for God to build his kingdom by helping others know and follow Jesus.  God's kingdom is not about earthly possessions, but about a life full of goodness, peace and joy that we experience through the Holy Spirit.  When we live this way, it will lead to gaining favor with God and people.  Let your conscience be your guide with things that have not been defined by scripture as right or wrong. Many times your conscience is actually the Holy Spirit leading you into what is right. 

Deuteronomy 27-28 - God promises to bless obedience, but the curse of sin will fall on those who sin.  Disobeying God shows that we don't fear or revere God properly.  If we fail to obey God, we open ourselves up to experience the full depravity of the world.  

Psalm 69:1-18 - God has rescued my from my own pit of sin and I am forever grateful for his mercy and grace.  Our sins are not hidden from God.  He is able to rescue us from any pit and redeem us to tell his story of love.  He doesn't do this because we deserve it but because of his unfailing love.

Matthew 27:45-56 - Jesus experienced the full wrath of God on our behalf when he died on the cross.  The worst part wasn't the physical pain, but the total separation from God.  That is the worst part about sin.  We are cut off from the only one who can satisfy the deepest need of our souls.  But because of Jesus' death on the cross, we can be reconnected to God through faith in Jesus.  

Romans 14 - Whether we live or die, our goal is to honor God.  We will give an account for how we steward the life God has given us.  God's kingdom isn't currently a physical one, but a spiritual one.  Living in his kingdom we find a life full of goodness, peace, and joy because of the Holy Spirit in us.  When we let the Holy Spirit lead us and guide our lives, it will lead to favor with God and people.  When we don't know what is right or wrong because it is not clearly defined, we should allow our conscience be our guide. 

Deuteronomy 22-26 - 22:5 very plainly tells us not to cross dress.  God gave other very specific instructions to the Israelites on how to live.  Their trust in God and ours should be displayed by obedience to God. 

Psalm 68 - We should look to God for protection.  We have a spiritual enemy who comes against us whether we are aware of it or not, but we have no reason to be afraid because God is our defender.  He defends those who can't defend themselves.  He cares for the orphans, and widows and puts them in families.  Because we have experienced God's power in our lives, we can celebrate regardless of what we go through because we know that nothing is too big for God.

Matthew 27:27-44 - The way that Jesus' clothes were gambled for was a fulfillment of the prophecy from Psalm 22:18. 

Romans 13 - All authorities have been placed by God, so anyone who rebells against authority is actually rebelling against God. If you do what is right, you have no reason to be afraid of authorities.  One specific example he gives is that we should pay our taxes.  The only thing we should owe others is love which fulfills the requirements of God's love.  We should remove sin like we do dirty clothing and clothe ourselves instead with righteous living and doing good deeds.  The way to do this is by clothing ourselves with God's presence daily and staying away from things that could lead you astray such as wild parties and drunkenness.

Deuteronomy 18-21 - Again, God explains that his plan to take care of those who served him by taking care of the place of worship was for people to give faithfully to God from what God had blessed them with.  The reason this is difficult for so many is they feel like what they have is theirs and want to control how God uses their gift.   
God told Israel to to destroy all the nations completely that were occupying the land they were about to take because he did not want the people there to lead them into sin by worshipping false gods. 

Psalm 67 - We should recognize that God's mercy isn't something we deserve, but something he gives because of his unfailing love.  His blessing and favor is something that we all need. 

Matthew 27:11-26 - Pilate did not believe Jesus was guilty and did not want him to be convicted.  The religious leaders wanted Jesus dead because he claimed to be the Messiah and he exposed and condemned their hypocritical behavior.  He disrupted their religious systems and did not fit their expectations for the Messiah.

Romans 12:9-21 - These are very practical ways that we should live when God transforms our lives. We should genuinely love each other and find joy in getting to honor each other.  We should be hard workers and be full of joy regardless of what we go through because of the hope that we have.  We need to be patient in trouble and do all that we can to be at peace with all people.  The way we conquer evil is by doing good. 

Deuteronomy 13-17 - Tithing, giving God the first 10% of what you make, will teach you the fear of God.  He design for taking care of those who served him in full-time ministry was through the tithe.  The Levites did not get an allotment of land, so they could not make a living for themselves. God wants his people to care for those who serve in ministry by giving back 10% of their income.  When God's people give obediently, not only will those who serve God be well taken care of, the church will be able to care for the needs of the poor and those who need help.

Psalm 66 - We need to continually remember what God has done and the ways he has shown his power.  We should praise him for it and tell others what he has done.  We need to simply tell our story and and invite others to experience God for themselves.

Matthew 27:1-10 - Judas regretted his sin and hung himself after giving the money back.  Sin will alway lead to regret.  The money was used to by the potters field which fulfilled the prophecy found in Jeremiah 32:6-9.  

Romans 12:1-8 - Becoming a living sacrifice means dying to our self so that we can lift for Christ.  This means we stop doing what our flesh wants to do, and instead let God lead us in the way we live so that in all areas of our life, we can honor God.  We don't need to just do what we see everyone else doing, but instead we need to let God change the way we live.  To do that, we need to let God change the way we think by putting his truth into our minds and not the things of the world that will deceive us.  

Deuteronomy 9-12 - God tells them that the Nations they face will be more powerful than they are, but he will cross ahead of them and subdue their enemies. For us, we should recognize that the battles ahead of us are greater than we can handle on our own, but if we will trust in God and follow his lead, he will win the battles for us.  He does this not because we are good, but because he is. 
- What God requires or desires form us is simple - fear him, live in a way that pleases him, and love and serve him with all your heart and soul.  He grew the nation of Israel from 70 to becoming as numbers as the stars in the sky.  God fulfills his promises.  Then God explains that our choices will determine the direction and quality of our future.  Obedience leads to blessing, but sin leads to disaster.  We have a choice between blessing and curses.  It is our responsibility as parents to pass God's truth down to the next generation.

Psalm 65 - God deserves all praise.  He is the only hope we have.  He is then who sends rain and causes things to grown.  Send your rain on us God, your spiritual rain!

Matthew 26:57-75 - The crowds crucified Jesus for claiming to be the Messiah - and he was.  We are often deceived by our own expectations.  We need to be humble in order to recognize God's ways because his ways are not our ways.  Jesus told Peter he would deny him 3 times, and even though Peter was adamant that he wouldn't, he did.  But God restored Peter and he became the leader of the church in Jerusalem.  I am grateful for a God who knows my sins before they happen, yet still restores me.

Romans 11:25-36 - Israel will always be God's people even though they have rejected him.  It is impossible to understand all of God's ways.  All things come from God and exist by his power and are intended for his glory.  There is nothing that we have that God did not give us and his desire is that we use all that he has given us to bring him glory.   

Deuteronomy 6-8 - Be diligent to obey God.  If we will put our efforts to loving God with our heart, soul, and strength, it will be seen in our commitment to God's commands.  Obedience demonstrates our love for God.  As parents, we are commanded to teach our children to follow and obey God.  It is not up to them to find their own way, but our responsibility to lead them to the way.  When God blesses you, don't forget that he is the one who has blessed you and given you what you have.  God did not choose Israel because they were the biggest and best, but because of his love and promise to Abraham.  We need to remember that we did not earn God's love, but God chose to love us because of his goodness, not ours.  God wanted Israel to destroy those living in the land he was giving them because he didn't want the people to tempt them to sin.  We have no reason to fear what is ahead of us if we are fully following God because we can know that God is with us and he will do what we cannot.
- God humbled Israel in the desert so they would learn to trust him and would understand that they need more than just bread to survive.  They needed God more than they needed food.  We need God more than we need physical sustenance.  His words are truth and they bring real life. 
- God disciplines us for our own good.  He knows sin will keep us from his best and destroy our lives so he disciplines us to try to get us to repent and turn back to him.  
- God is the one who gives success, so we should never lose sight of that and take credit that belongs to God.

Psalm 64 - God is our shelter who can protect us from the enemy's attacks.  Run to him for protection.

Matthew 26:36-56 - Jesus' desire was for God to not make him go through what was ahead, but he said - not my way but yours.  He yielded his will to God's.  This is what faith looks like - trusting God's way over your own.  Jesus wants us to know that our fight is not a physical fight but primarily a spiritual battle.  It is possible to fight the right fight the wrong way.  The disciples slept when it was time to fight the fight though prayer and tried to fight the physical battle when the soldiers came.  Jesus told them that living by the sword means dying by the sword. When Jesus was arrested and led away, it fulfilled the prophecies.  

Romans 11:1-24 - Abundance can become a trap that blinds us to the spiritual realities.  Prosperity is not necessarily a sign that things are good.  Jesus came for the Jews first, but they didn't accept him so salvation was offered to the gentiles which is good news for us!  God is kind and severe.  He is kind to those who trust in him and severe to those who reject him.  Those who trust in him will experience real life. 

Deuteronomy 4-5 - Moses emphasized multiple times the importance of obeying completely.  We must realize that partial obedience is disobedience.  The Israelites had to learn to listen, not just hear, but readily receive the commands and truth of God.  They also needed to grow in their understanding, because knowledge without understanding lacks application. Following understanding, they had to choose to respond in obedience. 
- Here we see a theme that is repeated throughout many of the teachings to the national of Israel that is a principle for life.  Generations are affected by sin and obedience.  Our obedience impacts not only our lives, but the trajectory of our family that follows.  If we will stay on the path God has given us to follow, he will bless our obedience. 

Psalm 63 - We need God like a dry and weary land needs water.  God's love is better than life itself.  God will satisfy us better than the richest feast.  Cling to God for help, strength, and refreshing, and joy.  You will find these things as you praise God regardless of your circumstances.

Matthew 26:36-56 - Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him and he would be arrested and killed for the sins of many before it happened.  He told them they would all desert him, even though none of them thought they would. He told Peter he would deny him 3 times, but Peter couldn't imagine that happening.  Here Matthew points out the fulfillment of another prophecy from Zechariah 13:7.  Jesus called it.  He said what would happen and it did just as he said it would.

Romans 10 - Israel refused to accept God's way of making them right with him.  They cringed to their own way instead which was through religious behavior and self righteousness.  Only those who confess Jesus as their savior and submit to his authority in their lives, and have put their faith, the full trust of their lives, in the truth of his resurrection will be saved. 

Deuteronomy 1-3 - Moses appointed those who the people considered to be wise with great understanding, have a good reputation, and to be fair.  These are qualities of the kind of leaders you want to lead you and the kind of leader we should desire to become.  When God to Israel to go in and take the promised land, they used logic and reason which led to fear.  Fear kept them from receiving what God was trying to give them.  Then in disobedience, they tried to take the land in their own strength and failed.  God's timing matters.  God sent them away to wander in the wilderness until those who had disobeyed died and there was a new generation.  If we fail to do what God tells us in one generation, he is willing to wait and use the next generation.  As he led them back to the promised land, he began preparing them to take the land by giving them victories against attacking enemies along the way.  He built their faith and prepared them for taking the land by giving them victories along the way.  This helped them realize and know that they could trust God regardless of what was ahead. 

Psalm 62 - We must learn to wait for God to move because he will give us victory.  In the waiting, learn to put your hope in him and trust him.  Make a living honestly and don't put your hope in money

Matthew 26:1-16 - Jesus approved of the woman who anointed his head with expensive perfume.  It was symbolically preparing him for death.  The disciples were upset about the money they felt was wasted, however Jesus was not.  I think we should realize that the things we do to for the gospel of Jesus deserves nothing short of excellence and nothing less than our best. 

Romans 9:19-33 - God is the potter and we are the clay.  He can use us to display his glory however he decides.  The way to be made right is not by works but by faith alone.  

Numbers 33-36 - Take time to reflect and remember the things that God has done in the past and allow what God has done to fuel your faith.  God gave each tribe their specific place to live.  This should remind us that God wants to put us exactly where he wants us if we will simply trust and follow his lead.  God then stablished the system for justice.  God wanted them to deal justly and fairly in the court system and with sin.  

Psalm 61 - When I am overwhelmed, God is my refuge and strength. 

Matthew 25:31-46 - What we do with God's love demonstrates our faith or lack of faith.  Faith will always produce the fruit of love. 

Romans 9:1-18 - Those he was writing to would have understood that the Jews believed that they were part of God's chosen people because they were descendants of Abraham, the one God had made the promise to.  Abraham had other sons, but only those born through Isaac were the "chosen".  This illustrates that one day only those who are "reborn" in Christ will be part of God's chosen.  It's not about physical birth, but spiritual birth.  God shows mercy on whoever the decides to show mercy.  He also displays his power and judgment.  Without the power and judgement, we would not fully understand and value his mercy. 

Numbers 31-32 - God's requirement to wipe out the Midianites completely harsh, but it was because he knew they would lead Israel to sin against God by worshipping false gods.  Israel had failed in this way before.  When dealing with sin in our own lives, we need to completely remove the things that tempt us to sin.  

Psalm 60 - With God's help we will do mighty things.  He will fight for us.  

Matthew 25:14-30 - Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a master who goes on a trip and leaves money for his servants to manage.  The kingdom of heaven is a spiritual kingdom that Jesus introduced to us and that is here now.  Everything we have (time, talents, resources) comes from God.  He wants us to invest what he has given us to build his kingdom here and now rather than waste it our opportunity to build God's kingdom.

Romans 8:18-39 - What we go through now is nothing compared to what we will experience one day when Jesus comes back.  The Holy Spirit in us is a taste of what is to come and gives us strength in our suffering.  Holy Spirit helps us as we pay and gives us confidence that nothing will ever separate us from God's love. 

Numbers 28-30 - We demonstrate our commitment to God when we are willing to make sacrifices for him.  Our sacrifices for him are different than the Israel.  We should sacrifice our time to serve him in his church, our old lives so we can live for him, our greed so we can be generous in our giving, and our selfishness, so we can love others the way he has loved us.  Our willingness to sacrifice is a measure of our commitment to Christ.  God wants us to keep our vows and promises, by doing what we say we will do.  When we do this, it is a reflection of the character of God in us. 

Psalm 59 - God is my refuge and will rescue me when I am innocent and being attacked.  I must simply wait on him and his strength.  He will triumph over my enemies.  He will humble the proud and trap them in their lies.  He will bring them to their knees.  I won't be distracted by the wicked but instead, I will turn to God and sing his praises because in him I find power, peace, and strength.

​Matthew 25:1-13 - The kingdom is like the brides maids who were waiting for Christ's return with lamps.  Those who ran out of oil likely represent those without genuine faith.  Their light went out in the waiting.  Those who's faith does not endure may not have ever had faith to begin with.

Romans 8:1-17 - No condemnation for those who belong to Christ.  The Holy Spirit is in you to free you from the power of sin.  The Law could not save us, which is why we needed Jesus.  Jesus broke the power of sin and the control of sin in our lives.  Jesus' death was required to satisfy the just requirement of sin.  Now we have to decide what we are going to allow to control us.  Our flesh or the Holy Spirit.  You are a slave to whatever you choose to obey.  The Holy Spirit gives you power to fully follow Jesus. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we find freedom from the power of our flesh.  Those who follow the Holy Spirit demonstrate that they are truly children of God.  The Holy Spirit in us eliminates fear and affirms our new relationship with God.  Because we will one day share in Christ's glory, we can be sure we will also share in his suffering.  

Numbers 28-30 - After 38 years in the desert, all those who failed to trust God and go into the promised land the first time had died.  Only those who were ready to trust God were still alive (Joshua, Caleb, Moses) and now it was time to get ready to go into the land.  God allowed Moses to see the land from the top of a mountain, but he didn't get to go into the land because of his sin of striking the rock for water instead of speaking to it the way God told him to.  Moses' plea is that God would give them a new leader so they wouldn't be like sheep without a shepherd.  This is a picture of great leadership.  Great leaders care for those they lead even after they are no longer leading and they want was is best for the people. 

Psalm 58 - God is a just God and will one day hold those accountable who pervert justice.  Justice will have its day.

Matthew 24:36-51 - No one can know or will know when Jesus is returning.  Period.  If someone tells you otherwise, they have been deceived and the enemy could be using them to try to lead others astray.  Even though God will give signs that the end is near, people will not even realize how close it really is until it happens.  People will be carrying on with everyday life - having parties, weddings, and feasts.  They won't see it coming.  My prayer is that just as God delivered Noah and his family from the wrath/judgement of sin by putting them in the ark, he will deliver the righteous remnant in those times and that I would trust him as Noah did and be considered part of the righteous remnant along with my family and other loved ones. 

Romans 7:13-25 - I can't win my struggle with sin on my own, but only through the spirit within can I win.  More of you Lord.  Less of me.  Fill me up!

Numbers 23-25 - Balaam refused to curse Israel and instead blessed them because that is what God told him to do.  Balak tried 3 times to get Balaam to curse Israel by changing locations hoping for a different outcome.  Often we want God to change his mind but what really needs to change is our heart.  In the end, Balaam was willing to walk away from the riches of Balak in order to obey God. 

Psalm 57 - God will fulfill his purposes for me - I must simply learn to trust him and find my refuge in him.  My confidence isn't in my own ability, but in Christ alone.

Matthew 24:15-35 - God has given us signs to look for and ways to discern the end times.  WE must let the HS lead us so we won't be deceived.  God's word stands forever.  The world we live in and everything in it will pass away, but God's truth will not. That is why we should build our lives on God's eternal truth, not things that are temporary.

Romans 7:1-12 - When we died with Christ by putting our faith in him, we put our old self to death.  We became dead to the power of sin and we were released from the law the because the law that aroused sin.  Now we can serve God by learning to live in the Spirit. 

Numbers 21-22 - The Israelites defeated the Canaanites because God gave them victory.  While this should have bolstered their faith and given them confidence in God, they instead complained again about how long the journey was taking.  They were ungrateful for the way God had provided and protected them.  As a result, God sent poisonous snakes to their camp for their sin, but still gave them a way to be healed.  God told Moses to make a replica of the snake and lift it up on a pole so that if anyone was bitten by the snakes, they could look up at the pole and they would be healed.  This is a shadow of what Jesus would come to do.   We were bitten by the poison of sin, and Jesus was raised up on a cross so that anyone who would look to him for salvation and believe in him would be saved.  
- In Ch. 22 - Balaam was God's messenger and the king wanted to use God's messenger for his own agenda and promised to reward him well financially.  People still do this today when they try to use religion for political or personal purposes.  Balaam refused to go at first, but continued to entertain the idea until God told him to go.  It may have been because of greed that Balaam entertained the idea.  On his way, God tried to stop Balaam 3 times, but he didn't see the Angel of God that his donkey saw which caused his donkey to stop or veer off the path.  Balaam's greed pushed him to want to work with the king and blinded him to what God was trying to do.  God finally God Balaam's attention when he caused his donkey to talk.  When he got his attention, he told him to only say what God told him to say. We must be careful that we don't try to use the things of God for personal gain.  Our calling is to please God, not people. 

Psalm 56 - When I am afraid, I will trust in God.  Why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? In other words, the worst thing that could happen is they kill me physically, but that would only mean I got to be present with Jesus.

Matthew 24:1-14 - Jesus tells us that in the end times, there will be war, famines and earthquakes.  He says this is only the beginning - the birth pains of what is to come.  In other words, it will get worse before it gets better.  You will be arrested, persecuted, killed, and hated for your faith.  Sin will be rampant and there will be evil people who claim to have a word from God.  Those who endure will only endure because their faith is genuine.  Fragile faith will fail. 

Romans 6:15-23 - God's grace has set us free from he power of sin, but often we remain slaves because we are slaves of whatever we choose to obey.  He tells us to give ourselves to righteous living instead of to what our sinful flesh wants us to do do.  Righteous living will lead to real life, but sin will destroy us. 

Numbers 18-20 - God used the tithes of the people to take care of the priests and those serving in the tabernacle.  It was their compensation.  This is the system that God set up so to resist or refuse to give the way that God has told us to give is a lack of faith in God's system. 
- Moses did not follow God's command.  Instead of speaking to the rock, he struck it likely out of anger.  Anger can lead us to do things our own way instead of trusting God.  

Psalm 55 - When we feel that even our friends are coming against us, we can trust that God will protect us as long as we are faithfully obedient to him.  He wants us to give our burdens and concerns to him and see that he will take care of us.  

Matthew 23:25-39 - Jesus was very angry with the Pharisees because of their hypocrisy.  He said they were like cups that had been cleaned on the outside, but dirty still on the inside.  He also compared them to whitewashed tombs - pretty on the outside, but dead on the inside.  It doesn't matter how religious you look on the outside if your haven't put your faith in Jesus and allowed him to change your heart and give you new life.  

Romans 6:1-14 - We are free from the power of sin when we believe.  We don't have to do what our sinful nature wants us to do anymore.  We are now free to follow God. 

Numbers 15-17 - God protected Moses and Aaron from the rebellion Korah was leading.  God had given Korah a special responsibility as a levite but he wanted a role that wasn't his.  God fought Moses' and Aarons' battle for them.  It is wrong to oppose God's leaders and dangerous because God himself will protect them and fight for them.

Psalm 54 - If we fully follow God and trust his ways, he will defend us and fight for us when people come against us. 

Matthew 23:13-24 - Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  They taught man-made tradition and holy emphasized the part of the law from which they benefited.  Man-made tradition holds no authority against God's truth.

Romans 5:12-21 - Through one man's sin (Adam) condemnation was brought to all mankind because all mankind sinned.  But through Jesus, God's grace was offered to all who would believe.  

Numbers 12-14 - Moses was the most humble person on earth.  Humility is essential to being positioned to be used by God.  
- Miriam was healed, but after 7 days.  The healing wasn't immediate - there were still consequences.  God will rescue us, but often he allows the consequences for a time because it is part of the refining process.  
- Instead of focussing on God's power and promise, they focussed on the power of the people. Their fear of man was greater than their faith in God and as a result, they failed to get to enter into the Promised land.  Those who did believe, Joshua and Caleb, would get to enter the land, but it wouldn't be until all the other men who were of fighting age had died. When many of them realized they had sinned, they made an attempted to go into the land anyway and failed because God was not with them.  Faith is trusting God and doing things his way.

Psalm 53 - It is foolish to fail to recognize God's power by acting as if there is no God.  We need to seek God daily and choose to do what he says knowing that we will be held accountable for what we do.

Matthew 23:1-12 - Leaders should lead in their actions, not just in what they say.  Being a spiritual leader is not about a title but about a calling.  Humility is required to fulfill that calling.  The "greatest" in God's economy is the greatest servant.  God exalts the humble so choose humility.  

Romans 5:1-11 - while we were utterly helpless, Christ died to give us life.  Through Adam, sin entered the world and caused all to become sinners.  Through Christ, all who believed in Jesus can be saved and made righteous.  Paul says - rejoice when you run into trials.  

Numbers 9-11 - The Israelites only moved when the cloud that represented God's presence moved.  They did not move at their pace, but at God's pace, trusting him and following his timing.  We can't get ahead of God or so comfortable that we don't move when he says move.  
- The people complained about not having meat to eat and neglected to recognize the miracle of manna.  They remembered the food from Egypt but had forgotten it came at the cost of the Egyptian's whips.  
- Most doubted God's ability to provide meat for everyone and God said - has my arm lost its power? If God says it, he will do it!

Psalm 52 - God will not allow the wicked to win forever.  There will be a day he judges those who think they are getting away with sin.  His justice rules and they will be held accountable.  Don't worry about the wicked, but simply trust in God with your own life. 

Matthew 22:34-46 - The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus again by getting him to discount part of the law, but they count.  His answer actually simplified all the laws by saying if we will love God and love people, all the other laws will take care of themselves.  Then Jesus stumped them with a question about the messiah, effectively taking away on of their arguments against Jesus and giving evidence to the fact the he was the Messiah. 

Romans 4 - Abraham was counted righteous, not because of his work, but because of his faith.  Wages are earned, and salvation is a gift because it was something that no one could earn.  Jesus was handed over because of our sins and raised to life wo make us right with God.  

Numbers 7-8 - Preparing to experience God's presence was a serious process and costly.  Fortunately for us, Jesus has given us direct access to God who purifies us through his sacrifice when we put our faith in Him.  
I found it interesting that the set ages for the Levites who would help in the tabernacle were 25-50.  They had to retire at 50.  I don't feel like it is a command for those who serve in the church today, but definitely interesting to consider. 

Psalm 51 - This is what a truly repentant heart looks like.  It's not about shame or guilt but about recognizing our rebellious and wicked ways, admitting them to God, and asking hm to change us.  God will not reject a truly repentant heart, but that requires humility on our part. 

Matthew 22:15-33 Both the Pharisees and the Sadducees tried to trap Jesus with questions.  Jesus navigated their questions without being trapped but also exposed their lack of true understanding.  Their human "wisdom" was actually foolishness.

Romans 3 - The Law exposes our sinfulness and our need for the savior.  No one can be good enough.  The only way to be made right is by placing our faith in Jesus.  Jesus shed blood shows that God is a fair and just God who judges sin fairly and requires payment for sin.  he demonstrated his righteousness through Jesus' bloodshed because someone had to pay the penalty of our sin.  All who believe will receive God's righteousness in exchange for sin.  Our acquittal is based on faith alone.  

Numbers 5-6 - In verse 6 - "...betray the Lord by wronging someone else." It is important to realize that when you wrong others, it isn't only an offense against them, but it is more importantly an offense against God.  

Psalm 50 - God needs nothing form us.  He desires obedience over religious rituals.  Make thankfulness your worship and obey God completely. He will rescue those who do this and when he does, they will bring him glory.  If it seems like God is silent to the sin around us, it is not a sign of his approval, but of his mercy and patience. Repentance is a prerequisite for restoration.  

Matthew 22:1-14 - The parable of the feast in this passage illustrates the truth that Jesus came first for the Jews, but even though they knew he was coming and knew the prophecies about him, they rejected him when he came because he didn't fit their expectations.  They killed many of the prophets and men of God that were sent to point them to Jesus.  Because they rejected Jesus, the invitation to God's family was extended to everyone else, which is good news for me.  But even though everyone else was invited to the "wedding feast" those who didn't show up in wedding clothes were kicked out.  The way to have our "wedding clothes" on, is to put our faith in Jesus to save us.  It is not enough to know about God or be religious or spiritual.  We must place our faith in Jesus and when we do he clothes us in his righteousness. 

Romans 2 - God is patient, kind, and tolerant but still does not approve of our sin.  His kindness is meant to lead us back to Him.  Refusing to repent of our sins will lead to judgment/destruction.  For those who do repent they will get to experience God's glory, honor, and peace.  It is not enough to simply appear righteous.  God knows our hearts and even our secret lives.  Nothing is hidden from God.  Obedience honors God, not knowledge.  A true "Jew" meaning a person who is truly one of God's people is a person who's heart is right and that only happens through the work of the Holy Spirit. A person with a right heart seeks praise from God not people.  Who are you trying to please most?

Numbers 3-4 - Here we see the record of the registration of the tribes of Israel.  Keeping up with the lineage records was important often for the specific jobs given to each tribe, but also for being able to trace the lineage of Jesus.

Psalm 49 - Wealth cannot save someone from death.  It is foolish to trust in wealth because it down not have power over the grave and God does.  You cannot take wealth with you, but you can send it ahead by building God's kingdom now.  Wealth can be tool to bless people and build God's kingdom.

Matthew 21:33-46 - The religious leaders were the wicked farmers and they realized that Jesus was telling the story about them.  The Jews, especially the religious leaders rejected Jesus. However, those who put their faith in Jesus and accept him will get to experience the blessing of His Vineyard.  Real faith produces fruit of live change.

Romans 1:18-32 - The wickedness/sinfulness of man rejects the truth, even though God has made his truth known to all people through creation itself.  Because of this, no one has an excuse for not knowing. Our problem is sin has deceived us into thinking we know better than God.  We put ourselves in the place of God and believe we are wise enough to live life our own way.  The problem is that while we think we are becoming wise, we are becoming more and more foolish.  Fools rarely can see their own folly.  God handed mankind over to their sin, allowing them to make their own decisions and experience the consequences.  As a result, sin led to more and more sin, that led to more and more pain, destruction, and broken relationships.