Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Numbers 23:18-24.

King Balak of the neighboring country of Moab hired Balaam, a pagan prophet, to curse God’s people. Balak wanted to eliminate any threat that the Israelites would have against him and his land of Moab. Today’s reading is the account of what happened between God and Balaam. God declares to Balaam the unique blessing that God gives to his people.

The pagan Balaam stands in awe of the power of God. God is true to God’s word. When God blesses, who can curse?

The well known hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” based on Lamentations, 3:22–23, expresses this when we sing in praise of God: “Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not.” The Letter to the Hebrews, 13:8, expresses it this way: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Numbers 22:39—23:30

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Balak .
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.
Numbers 22:2—25:9

Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Speaking what You have me say 23:12

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 the next several weeks, the Firestarters will be from the original version of this program. For these 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 the reading.

Religion can become dangerously “outer.” Customs, traditions and “the way we do things” can substitute for that powerful, inner presence of the Lord, which alone makes religion breathe with true spirituality.

Works can be merely external. While there must be action in our lived response to Christ, works unenergized by a loving, surrendered heart to the Lord, will not produce the kind of fruit about which Jesus teaches.

What is within defines what comes out. If your heart is right, then what you say and do will be expressive of the goodness of your inner state of soul. However, if your heart is insincere, then the outer feigning of religious activity will be a sacrilege that defiles you.

Mark 7:1–23

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Washing the hands of my heart v. 3

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read
from the Gospel of Mark, this season, chapters 4 to 9.

For the next several weeks, the Firestarters will be from the original version of this program. For these 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 the Psalm.

Tap here to view a video meditation on Psalm 75.

From the songs of the mothers of Samuel and Jesus, to Jesus himself, the Bible often speaks about the humble being lifted up and the proud being brought low. Praying this psalm brings serenity, in case your heart has the thoughts here reversed, perhaps entertaining jealousy toward those who boast about all they have.

The big “horn” of power of those who are boastful will be brought low. Similar to the wisdom of Proverbs, the wisdom present in these and many psalms can reorient you to the way God sees and orders all things by the might of God’s hand.

Verses 9 and 10 place the proper order of exaltation. Singing “praises to the God of Jacob” will free your mind and heart from obsessing about anyone or anything. The Lord will lift you up on high into the presence of the One whom you are praising.

Psalm 75

Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: I will rejoice forever. v. 9

We follow a reading of the Psalms in numerical order.

For the daily 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.