I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Those who are wise work when it is time and do not take their leisure when there is work to be done.

     God will turn the weapons and plots of the wicked against them. I would rather be godly and poor than evil and rich. In due time the wicked will suffer for their evil, but God will care for those who trust in Him. I will allow God to direct my steps because if I do, He will not allow me to fall.

     Every time I read the parable of the sower, I fear that I am represented by the soil which has thorns. All too often I allow the worries of this life, and my desire for material things, distract me from following God. I know people who are like the footpath and will not give the Gospel message a second thought. That is clearly not me. I, also, know people who are like the rocky soil, when they first heard the Gospel they were enthusiastic, but soon they were subject to scorn because of it and went on to other things. That is, also, not me. Finally, I know people who have produced a wonderful crop of righteousness. I look at my life and do not see a similar crop. I can, however, see those times when the concerns for this life kept me too busy to do the Lord’s work. Oh God, please weed my heart so that I can produce a crop of righteousness for You to put into Your storehouses!

     The passage describes the ceremony which Aaron and his sons went through in order to be ordained priests. It was a seven-day affair. As I was reading this I thought about the effort the people of Israel put out in order to make themselves right with God. Do we work that hard? Is it important enough to us to make things right with God to put out that kind of effort? We don’t need to follow those rituals, thanks to the sacrifice of Christ. I will strive to put that much effort into serving God, not in order to be made right with Him, but because I have been made right with Him.