March 23 – Day 82 One-Year KJV Bible Reading
Numbers 36:1—Deuteronomy 1:46; Luke 5:29–6:11; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 11:24-26
The Lord Will Not Hear
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. – Psalm 66:18-20
Regard – to have or show respect or concern for; to think highly of; esteem
Iniquity – Gross injustice; a wicked act or thing; sin
One version says, “if you cherished iniquity in my heart.” Another says, “If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it]”
If I like my sin and refuse to turn away from it, God will not hear my prayers! What a huge, huge price to pay. To not have your Father in heaven hear your prayers. To not know that He is listening to your crys and your requests. To not know that you can commune with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. How sad that would be. Yet, that that isn’t even the highest price. The sins that we regard only lead to an eternity in hell. Turn from sin and turn to Jesus before it is too late. Even one day without a relationship with Jesus is way too high a price to pay!!! Help us all Lord.
The Lord Will Not Hear (An Example from Today’s Reading)
And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill. And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you. – Deuteronomy 1:42-45
Oh Lord, to not have You hear when I call would be way too high a price. Please show me any wicked thing in my life, any thing that I have tolerated, any bit of rebellion to Your commands that keep my prayers from Your ear. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen! Amen!
Jesus Heals – Scribes and Pharisees Filled with Madness
And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. – Luke 6:6–11
Jesus went against the beliefs of the religious leaders regarding the Sabbath laws. The rule was no work could be done on the Sabbath, and there was a constant battle over what constitutes work. They believed Jesus would sin by healing someone on the Sabbath, but Jesus wasn’t playing that game. He asked them a question. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath or evil deeds? Is this a day to save or destroy life? He looked around at each of them and then said to the man to stretch forth his hand. Jesus healed the man, right there on the Sabbath. The religious leaders were enraged and began discussing what to do with Jesus.
The Generous
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. – Proverbs 11:25
The generous are not the people who have an abundance and decide to give. The generous are the people who provide regardless of what they have. A generous person will share their last bite or the coat off of their back, even if they don’t have an extra…and they will not make you feel bad about it. A generous person will not just share their wealth, but they will share their joy, their piece, their kindness.
Lord, help me, please, to be a generous person with all of Your blessings. In Jesus Name. Amen!!!
