day no. 14,441: a prayer for paycheck to paycheck

Proverbs 30:7-9 

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

How is this for a life goal? Never to go broke, nor to get rich -- because both are dangerous with temptation -- but to live month-to-month in constant dependence on God and to do as much good with our money as we can. – Ray Ortlund, Jr

day no. 14,440: accidents and atonement

Leviticus 4:2

If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD's commandments about things not to be done

Leviticus 4:35

And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven

This chapter is dominated by two major themes: accident and atonement. People can sin by accident. Either by lack of knowledge or lack of wisdom. Sometimes a person needs to be taught the rule or regulation as principle, whereas other times they need help avoiding or interacting with situations where the rules and regulations are being worked out in practice. Either way, God does not wink at accidental sin. Sin is not entirely a matter of attitude as though doing the wrong thing with the right intention somehow removes the guilt. This would be deflating if it were not for the second dominant theme of this chapter. God eagerly provides opportunity for sinners to atone for their sins. Yes, there are many specific details here about who, how, what and when. But don't miss the point that forgiveness is being offered by a spotless God, who never makes mistakes, to a sinful people, who soil themselves by accident.

day no. 14,439: ceremony and covenant

Psalm 61

Those who fear the Lord do not do so alone. They are part of a heritage. You are not the first to follow God and by His grace, you won't be the last. And what does the life of His saints look like? Fulfilling our vows day by day. On the day of the wedding ceremony, vows are exchanged, but a marriage is built upon the fulfillment of those vows day by day going forward. People often put more time and energy into the ceremony than they do the covenant it creates. In like manner, many push all in on a conversion experience and then fail to push an inch the plow set before them.

day no. 14,438: a variance in radiance

Mark 9:15
And immediately all the crowd, when they saw Him, were greatly amazed and ran up to Him and greeted*** Him.

Spurgeon comparing and contrasting the glory of Moses' radiance communing with God on the mountain with that of Jesus' radiance after being transfigured, "the glory of the Law repels, but the greater glory of Jesus attracts."

*** "greeted" is translated by the KJV as "saluted," as in salutations, and carries with it the idea of honoring (or saluting another)

day no. 14,437: trinity and eternity

"God is our portion, Christ our companion, the Spirit our Comforter, earth our lodge, and Heaven our home." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

day no. 14,436: first and best without blemish

Leviticus 3:1, 6

“If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord… 6 “If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

Sacrifices must be the first and best or else it isn't the kind of sacrifice God requires. You can sacrifice lesser things, but you cannot make much of God by giving lesser things. He will not accept leftovers. Sacrifices must be without blemish because they are being offered to a holy, unblemished God. As much as He is dissatisfied with wonky offerings, so should we be dissatisfied with our devotion if the best we can come up with is the change in our pockets. Giving your first and your best requires prioritization. No one accidentally gives the first and best. It takes effort, energy and devotion. God deserves your worship. He is owed the position of top priority.

day no. 14,435: vain is the salvation of man

Psalm 60

Vain is the salvation of man. Both in the sense that men are limited in their ability to deliver themselves and in the sense that even when they succeed, it is only temporary salvation or deliverance from the current enemy or circumstance. Men cannot just overpower whatever they desire. There are forces at work in this world that cannot merely be overcome by grit. Sometimes it's other men opposing you, sometimes it's God, but either way, every occasion is not just "in the bag." Additionally, the salvation of men is fleeting. It may suffice for a particular moment and we are grateful for the triumph of good men over evil men in those specific encounters, but it does nothing to protect us against future trouble from other wicked men or circumstances. The man who is rescued from the pit will the next day be trampled by an ox or catch pneumonia or be overcome in the night by a thief, etc… Only the deliverance of God is full and final salvation.