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The Daily Bible Readings

Welcome to the daily discipline of dwelling in God’s word! Here we use the daily lectionary compiled by the Moravian Church and used by people around the world. You can sign up here to have the texts delivered daily to your email inbox.

We would love for you to share your reflections on the texts, on life, and on what God is doing in your life in the comment section at the top right of each post.

Click “How the Bible Can Speak to You” at the top of the page or the link right here for a practical way to reflect on the Bible readings.

Once again, order from chaos

Exodus 26:6 | In describing how the Tabernacle should be constructed, God instructs Moses: “You shall join the [ten panels of twisted linen] to one another with the clasps, that the Tabernacle be one whole.”

Robert Alter writes that a more literal translation would be, “that the Tabernacle be one.” He goes on to say, “This phrase leads Abraham ibn Ezra to muse over how unity in the greater world is constituted by an interlocking of constituent parts that became a transcendent whole, as in the unity of microcosm and macrocosm. One need not read this section homilectically, as he does, in order to see the power of summation of this particular phrase. All the instructions for the design of the Tabernacle — however much learned interpreters have differed in explaining the concrete architectural details — point to a perfect symmetry of nicely interlocking parts, posts fitting into sockets, clasps into loops, with crossbars shooting from end to end on both sides of the structure, and the dimensions of every component carefully measured.”

In the midst of the wild wilderness, God once more brings order out of chaos.

We are not leading the charge

Matthew 24:1-25 | There is a battle going on.

And we are right in the thick of it. Wherever we find ourselves. The battle happens in obvious and overtly violent and oppressive ways. The battle happens in subtle and unsuspecting, clever and insidious ways. We’re always up against something.

What do we do?

Persevere. Keep going. Keep hope. Stay awake. Love where love has grown cold. Recognize there are seasons to push forward. There are seasons to fall back.

And recognize this. Every season is in God’s hands. As God’s ragtag battalion (Ex 7:4) we are in the thick of it. But, we are not leading the charge. God is. Our best plan is to follow him so that we can be about what he is about. And then these pains of childbirth give way to new life.

Rhythm: What and Why?

Rhythm is the swing of a pendulum. Rhythm is time spent filling up in order to spend time pouring out. Resting to work. Abiding that expresses itself in fruitfulness.

I’ve established a new rhythm over the past several weeks – getting up early (with a smile — I am committed to joy, after all), reading the Bible, writing my reflections, posting them on the blog. I greet the dawn. I greet my kids as they awake. I’ve enjoyed it. It has shaped who I am for the day ahead.

The whole point of healthy rhythm is a healthy life. Healthy rhythms give us the space to attend to what is important. Healthy rhythms are easily sustainable. Healthy rhythms are able to be easily imitated.

Yesterday morning at my new wake up time, I was still laying in bed thanks to a major head cold and a restless night. And I was feeling the pressure of having to get up and write a blog post.

This is not something I want you to imitate. If you’re sick, you are allowed to rest. You need to rest. THAT is healthy rhythm. Don’t make it worse by getting up or by feeling guilty for not getting up. The internet will survive without you for a couple days.

It was especially silly in my case since what I was feeling the pressure to post were the daily Bible readings that are available to everyone by email every morning. I was feeling guilty for not doing something that the Moravians are already doing. I encourage you to click this link to sign up to have the Bible texts delivered daily directly to your inbox.

Here’s to healthy rhythms!

Tuesday, March 13 | Bible Readings

Psalm 35:19-28 | Exodus 19:10-20:21 | Matthew 23:23-32

O Lord our God – we set our hope on you. Jeremiah 14:22

We wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our
great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13

Almighty God, we lift our hearts to you; and our eyes are fixed upon
your unchanging glory. We rejoice in the promises of the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ in power and majesty. Amen. (from Reign of Christ
Liturgy, MBW p109)

Choose leaders who are up to the task

Exodus 18:13-27 | Moses can’t do it all by himself. Nor is he meant to. And so we see hints of the Reformation principle of the Priesthood of All Believers.

But it’s not a free-for-all. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro gives wise counsel. Some have the capacity to lead groups of thousands. Some have the capacity to lead groups of hundreds. Some have the capacity to lead groups of fifties. Some have the capacity to lead groups of tens.

Everyone has a different role to play. But not everyone is capable of filling a role just because it’s open. Choose leaders who are up to the task.

Monday, March 12 | Bible Readings

Psalm 35:11-18 | Exodus 18:7-19:9 | Matthew 23:13-22

The Lord executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger. Deuteronomy 10:18,19

We ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth. 3 John 8

God of justice, you are never biased. However, you always favor the powerless, the marginalized, the downtrodden, the hungry, the homeless and the addicted. You call upon us to do the same so we might be co-workers with the truth. Give us courage to face the forces of power and work for justice in every arena of our lives. Amen.

Sunday, March 11 | Bible Readings

Third Sunday in Lent

Watchword for the Week – For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Exodus 20:1-17 | Psalm 19 | 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 | John 2:13-22

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

Jesus said, “Who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock.” Luke 6:47-48

Omnipotent God, we continue our Lenten journey knowing Christ Jesus has walked this path before us. Because we live on this side of his cruel death and resurrection, we know that sin and death do not have the final word. Our safety is found in your grace and love. Amen.

Leaders Define Culture

Matthew 23:1-3 | “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples. ‘The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees are the authorized interpreters of Moses’ Law. So you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do; do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don’t practice what they preach.'”

Today a repost of something I wrote here.

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Every member of a system influences how the system functions. But, it is the leader who has the most influence on the culture of the organization. Whether it is a congregation or a business or a family, leaders define culture.

Leaders are effective not because they have lots of skills (though they might), but because of who they are.

Effective leaders do not impose culture. They do not tell other people what to think. They do not spend a lot of (wasted) time and energy trying to convince people to agree with them.

Instead they spend their time and energy gaining clarity about what they themselves believe. They have a vision they are committed to living out (whether people follow them or not).

Effective leaders do not spend a lot of (wasted) time and energy trying to get other people to behave as the leader wants them to behave.

Instead, flowing from their clarity of vision, they spend their time and energy choosing for themselves how to act and how to react (rather than getting caught up in the anxiety of the system). Their actions flow from their beliefs, their attitude, their Spirit. Who they are – their identity – is clear. Their doing flows from their being.

Doing flows from being for ineffective leaders, too.

Ineffective leaders are unclear about what they believe (or aren’t as clear as they could be). They don’t have a clear vision that is guiding them. Ineffective leaders fail to see they have a choice in how to act and react. Ineffective leaders readily get caught up in and take on the anxiety of others. Ineffective leaders look to others for their identity.

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If you want an anxious system, be an anxious leader.

If you want an apathetic system, be an apathetic leader.

If you want an organization that is scared about the future, be a leader who is scared about the future.

If you want a congregation full of disciples, be one who is a disciple and who disciples others.

If you want a healthy system, be a healthy leader.

It should be noted, in systems that are committed to being anxious, or apathetic, or unhealthy, it is possible to add a healthy leader and not see an improvement in the health of the system. It is not, however, because the leader has had no impact. It is because the system has reacted to the presence of the leader by resisting. The point I am making about leadership is that it is impossible for a system to function in a healthy way with an unhealthy leader.

Do you want your family, your organization to be a certain way? Be the leader it needs.

Saturday, March 10 | Bible Readings

Psalm 35:1-10 | Exodus 17:1-18:6 | Matthew 22:41-23:12

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1

Christ says, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24 (NKJV)

Grant us, this day, dear Lord, the assurance that you are a constant companion. We live in the hope that you will grant us our every need instead of our every selfish want. Amen.

There’s always more

Matthew 22:23-40 | Our understanding of how things are now often gets in the way of seeing how things could be.

But, there’s more. The Holy Spirit. Steven Pressfield calls it the Muse. God’s power. It’s the source of inspiration. Creativity. Miracles. Forgiveness. Healing. Love. New life.

When we miss the fullness of God’s power, we miss the fullness of life for us.

Friday, March 9 | Bible Readings

Psalm 34:19-22 | Exodus 15:22-16:36 | Matthew 22:23-40

My words that I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your children, or out of the mouths of your children’s children. Isaiah 59:21

The word of the Lord endures forever. That word is the good news that was announced to you. 1 Peter 1:25

We give thanks to you, gracious God, for the gift of Christ – your communication of who you are and what you want us to be. We have experienced your good news and we are determined to pass it on to future generations through our words and actions. Guide us in this endeavor. Amen.

Forget Me Not

Exodus 14:19-15:21 | God led the Israelites across Red Sea away from slavery in Egypt to freedom. God displayed overwhelming and awesome power and the Israelites were blessed by it. “They stood in awe of the Lord; and they had faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.” And they celebrated – singing and dancing and praising God!

But just a quick look ahead reminds us it doesn’t last. Oh, God’s power lasts. But, the memory. It only took three days for them to forget – three days! Really? It would be nice to be able to bottle that faith.

In a way the Israelites did. God, back in Exodus 12, instituted the celebration of the Passover. Every year. So they won’t forget.

We’re no different. We forget, too.

We need a call back. So we get one. We have community. And we have stories – which is what scripture and ritual and songs are all about. Because we forget.

We aren’t making this journey alone. We travel as a community, many of whom have come long before us. They remind us of the way.