MONDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 17:14-27
Acts 24
Psalm 39
Leviticus 5–7

Leviticus 5–7
The guilt offering: atonement made for an unintentional sin. I marvel at the details regarding the sacrifices offered at the tabernacle and later, the temple. Even accidental sin made a man guilty before God and therefore needed to be covered. As spelled out in Leviticus, a ram was the offering. Every human being stands guilty before God of intentional and unintentional sin. God made his standard clear in the law, but also declared that the Lamb of God came to pay the ultimate price for our sin. Aren’t you glad that our sins—even our unintentional ones—are covered by his grace?

TUESDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 18:1-14
Acts 25:1-12
Psalm 40
Leviticus 8–10

Psalm 40
In nearly every Tarzan movie I watched as a kid, someone inevitably ended up in a pit of quick sand. No one ever made it out on his own. The truth is all of us are caught in a pit of spiritual quick sand. With every unrighteous choice we are sucked in a bit deeper. We, too, are helpless; we cannot save ourselves from the muck and mire of our own sin. Our only hope is to be rescued. There is only One who is capable. Jesus lifts us out of the mire and sets our feet on solid ground.

WEDNESDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 18:15-35
Acts 25:13-27
Psalm 41
Leviticus 11–13

Matthew 18:15-35
“When someone hurts you write it in the sand; when someone helps you carve it in stone.” Forgiveness is difficult, but nothing reflects the character of God more clearly than learning to forgive. Unfortunately, we misunderstand forgiveness. It’s not letting someone off the hook or rationalizing away the offending deed. Forgiveness does not require becoming best friends with the offender. Forgiveness benefits us. When we don’t forgive, we become bitter, we stumble under the weight of a grudge, we smolder with a hot anger and are unpleasant company. All the while the offender goes on his merry way, so who’s the loser? Forgive as God has forgiven you!

THURSDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 19:1-15
Acts 26:1-18
Psalm 42
Leviticus 14–15

Matthew 19:1-15
We can learn much from children. Jesus said that unless we become like little children, we will not enter the kingdom of Heaven. What’s the key? Children exhibit incredible trust. When our daughters were young they would jump from the staircase into my arms. They never doubted I would catch them. Children find it easy to forgive; they can be hurting one moment and hugging the next. Children are eager to express love and do so genuinely. The children hurried to Jesus’ side; are we as excited to spend time with him? No wonder children set the example for life in the kingdom!

FRIDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 19:16-30
Acts 26:19-32
Psalm 43
Leviticus 16–17

Leviticus 16–17
The scapegoat. Jewish legend tells us that the High Priest tied a crimson wool cord around the scapegoat’s horns before the creature was taken away. Another portion of the same cord was hung by the temple door. Twelve miles outside of town, a priest pushed the sin-bearing goat over a cliff. As the goat died, the scarlet cord at the temple door supposedly turned white. This was a divine sign to the people that God had forgiven their sin. True or not, I love the image: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).

SATURDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 20:1-16
Acts 27:1-26
Psalm 44
Leviticus 18–20

Acts 27:1-26
Good advice is only valuable if it is heeded. Julius, the Centurion responsible for Paul’s transport to Rome, was gracious toward Paul but didn’t believe the apostle knew enough about sea travel to take his advice. He discovered too late that Paul’s insight was right on. Amid this horrendous experience, I find a touch of humor. After the cargo was jettisoned, the tackle was tossed, stomachs were empty for days, and all hope was abandoned, Paul offered his “I-told-you-so!” message. He introduced the good news of the angel’s promise with, “You should have listened to me the first time.” Don’t dismiss godly wisdom; it may save your life!