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.

Proverbs 10:22     It is not material possessions which constitute true wealth, rather it is God’s blessings which I crave.

Psalm 45:1-17     This psalm always gives me trouble because it strikes me as little more than a courtier’s flattery of the king. Yet I firmly believe that everything that is in the Bible is there because God has a message in it for us. So, there must be something here the Spirit wants me see. As I look at this with that eye, I see one important point. One note necessarily directed at me, but a lesson for us today just as much as this psalm was meant to flatter the king in the day it was written. If someone with authority over others wants success and to endure in their position then let them love justice and hate evil. Those who wish to be leaders blessed by God need to defend truth humility and justice.

Mark 10:32-52     Jesus once more predicts His death and resurrection. Shortly after doing so, James and John asked to be seated in places of honour when He sat on His throne. Jesus asks them if they are able to follow the suffering path He will take to reach His throne and they respond in the affirmative. He then tells them that He does not have the authority to grant them their wish as those places have already been designated to someone by the Father. Jesus then reminds them (and us) once again that the path to greatness in His Kingdom is to be the servant of others. We are to follow the model which Jesus gave us. He came to serve others, not to be served. He came to suffer so that we would not have to. If we wish to be great in the Kingdom of God we need to serve others and be willing to suffer in order to relieve others from suffering. This is a truth that works in the workplace as well as in the Church, the path to greatness is by being of service to others.
This is capped by a story that I try to take to heart. When Blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was nearby, he began making a fuss so that he could gain Jesus’ attention. The people around him told him to be quiet and settle down, but this just made him shout louder and kick up a bigger stink. When Jesus heard him, He told the crowd to let him through. Immediately, Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, jumped to his feet, and ran to Jesus. When Jesus asked him what he wanted, Bartimaeus replied, “I want to see.” Jesus told him to go, that his faith had healed him. Instantly Bartimaeus could see and followed Jesus down the road. I never noticed the importance of this story right here in Mark’s account. Jesus had just once more told His disciples that He would soon die and they did not understand. No sooner had He told them this than they began asking for places of honour in the Kingdom. Once more He had to tell them that those only those who served others would receive honour. Then we have the story of Bartimaeus. All he wanted was to be able to see. Do we desire to have out eyes opened the way Bartimaeus wanted his sight? Do we recognize that without Jesus, we are blind? Oh Lord, I want to see. Let me see Your will. Let me see how you want me to act and then cause me to act that way.

Leviticus 25:47-27:13     This passage begins by discussing the importance of not allowing our “brothers” to be mistreated. The reason for this is that is that they are God’s servants and belong to Him. Those who mistreat God’s servants is disrespecting God. Today let us use our resources to protect God’s servants throughout the world to the best of our ability. The passage goes on to tell the people of Israel that if they faithfully follow God’s commands they will live a peaceful life and never be in want. It also warns them if they fail to follow God’s commands they will face disease, privation, and invasion. There is a universal truth in this. Those societies which honour God and attempt to behave in a righteous manner will be prosperous and face few threats. Those societies which denigrate righteousness and hold honesty in low esteem will be filled with strife and poverty.