MONDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 22:1-14
Romans 2
Psalm 50
Number 5–6

Romans 2
Teacher’s pet—a descriptor that identifies a student as the teacher’s favorite. A good teacher doesn’t show favoritism because it creates a divisive atmosphere in the classroom. I am grateful that God doesn’t show favoritism. Can you imagine the competitive spirit that would exist between Christians if he did? We disciples tend to fight among ourselves too much the way it is. So regardless of your past, your potential, or your pedigree, know that God loves and treats us with impartiality. And if our heavenly Father shows no favoritism, shouldn’t we treat others with the same impartiality?

TUESDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 22:15-33
Romans 3
Psalm 51
Numbers 7–8

Psalm 51
Such open and genuine repentance is rare. I marvel at the prophet Nathan’s ability to confront David’s sin with the story of an innocent lamb. The king broke four of the Ten Commandments as a result of his indiscriminate gaze from the palace balcony. I also marvel that King David would compose this moving psalm of repentance for all posterity to read. When he genuinely sought God’s mercy, God genuinely forgave him. Most of all, I marvel at the Lamb of God who takes away our sin. May we be as genuine in our repentance before God as was this “man after God’s own heart.”

WEDNESDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 22:34-46
Romans 4
Psalm 52
Numbers 9–11

Numbers 9–11
The wandering Israelites had a reputation as chronic complainers. They griped about lack of water, meat, and variety in their daily menu. We tend to look at them condescendingly—we certainly would not have been so ungrateful. The truth is we don’t know how we would have behaved. During those 40 years, God faithfully led the nation as the cloud of his presence hovered over the tabernacle day and night. When he moved, the people always followed. The length of their stays varied, but not their faithfulness to follow. We would do well to follow the Lord with such commitment.

THURSDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 23:1-12
Romans 5:1-11
Psalm 53
Numbers 12–14

Psalm 53
German writer Johann Goethe made this observation, “The one and only real and profound theme of the world and of human history . . . is the conflict between belief and unbelief.” The word fool in this psalm can also be rendered vile. It is descriptive of the wicked person who seeks to divorce his behavior from God’s reality. If he truly believed in God, he could not behave as he wants. So he rationalizes that there is no God and thus there are no consequence for his choices. How foolish! Believing a fire isn’t hot won’t prevent you from being badly burned!

FRIDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 23:13-24
Romans 5:12-21
Psalm 54
Numbers 15–17

Matthew 23:13-24
Jesus’ indictment of the Jewish leadership is summed up in the seven “woes” of this chapter. The Lord didn’t mince words; he was very candid. These leaders were hypocrites (inconsistent), blind guides (ineffectual), and snakes (reminiscent of Satan himself). He condemned their condescending manner of pointing out the mistakes of others while ignoring their own. He addressed the ridiculous spiritual gymnastics used to determine which oaths were binding and which were not. We can be dismissive of those Jewish leaders, but I wonder if the watching world might level some of the same indictments at us today.

SATURDAY

Reading for Today:
Matthew 23:25-39
Romans 6:1-14
Psalm 55
Numbers 18–20

Romans 6:1-14
Could you create a moment that represents a pledge of allegiance, an act of unity, a cleansing, and a pageant of the greatest three-day period in all human history? Oh, and it must be universal; transcending time, gender, culture, and language. Baptism covers it all. We do a disservice to the Lord if we fail to remind the convert that in this sacred moment he is united with Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. As Paul clearly points out and baptism demonstrates, there is a death, a burial, and a resurrection. Only God could have created a moment so simple and yet so eternally profound.