Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Deuteronomy 7:7-11.

A spotlight reveals only what is before it; everything else is cast into darkness. So is God’s love for his people. It is a love of great tenderness and preference. For some reason known only to God, this saving love focused as a spotlight upon this little, insignificant people; all other nations were outside in the darkness.

The ultimate plan of God is to create a new people, born from the open side of his only Son, for whom God has a love of tenderness and preference. The Son’s embrace on the cross is worldwide. No one from any nation, people, or race is excluded from this embrace. In Jesus, God has a preferential love for everyone.

God has simply decided to love you. Nothing you do can change that. Only live in the spotlight of God’s love shining from the cross.

Deuteronomy 7:1–11

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Vaethanan (I Implored) 
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year, 
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts. 

Deuteronomy 3:23—7:11

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: I, Your treasured possession v. 6

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Luke 16:19-31.

The root meaning of the Greek word, bdelugma, is often translated as “abomination,” means “a foul thing.” Thus, verse 15 could be rendered, “What society finds valuable is a stench to God!”

The parables of “The Unjust Steward” and “Dives and Lazarus” form bookends for verse 15, along with a few other teachings of the Lord that we often disregard. The stories have to do with covetousness in two forms— greed and lust, the latter being the underlying point of the prohibition against divorce.

Where do you find yourself as you pray these stories and teachings? It is about setting the Lord’s priorities in our lives. Spend time today being honest with yourself. Is there preoccupation with riches that is turning your life from being a sweet smelling fragrance into something that just doesn’t smell good to God?

Luke 16

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Lord, You know what’s in my heart. v. 15

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Luke 9—19:27.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Hebrews 7:11-28.

The Lone Ranger would mysteriously appear on the scene when someone needed help. The mask served to obscure his origin; the only focus was the immediate mission he was called to fulfill.

By relating the priesthood of Jesus to that of Melchizedek, the author of the letter to the Hebrews does two things similar to the sagas of “The Masked Man.” First, Jesus’s priesthood is linked to the king and priest of Salem whose origins are mysterious and unconnected to the house of Levi, the expected source for the Aaronic priesthood. Secondly, Jesus “suddenly meets us,” the literal meaning of the Greek, entunchano, which has come to mean “to make intercession.”

Unlike The Lone Ranger, however, Jesus meets up with you at every moment and will never leave you. Dwell on this awesome fact of union.

Hebrews 7

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: You made perfect forever v. 28

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read 1 Timothy and Hebrews.

For all the Firestarters in the original version, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these Firestarters with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.