Daily Bible Reading

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Today we read the context for the classic principle that “to obey is better than sacrifice.” The “sacrifice”, in context, is nothing more than Saul’s pathetic excuse for why he was greedily disobedient to the Lord’s command. May we learn to obey the clear directions of Christ even when they don’t immediately appear to satisfy our pressing desires and appetites.

— Pastor Mike

1 Samuel 15-16

The Lord Rejects Saul

15 And Samuel said to Sau...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

In 1 Samuel 13 we read of Saul’s impatience and lack of trust as he foolishly assumes the responsibilities saved for the priest. Such a mix of the priestly office and the monarchy is unacceptable in anyone except the Lord Jesus Christ, who legitimately stands qualified as our Prophet, Priest, and King. Applicable to the sin of Saul, Christ today speaks of an honor that is granted and not assumed in Luke 14.

— Pastor Mike

1 Samuel 13-14

Sa...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

God graciously works with Saul in these initial days. Of course he is not the right man for the job, but God was giving the people what they wanted. I am always reminded that we must be careful what we pray for, sometimes God will give it to us—and we will suffer for it. In Luke we read the familiar words of Christ, which we often quote from Matthew’s account. How often Jesus must have repeated this important message throughout his three years of preaching. Let us take note.

— Pa...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

As we recently learned when we read the book of Judges, the “King” that God’s people needed was God himself. Instead, to be like the other nations they wanted their own monarchy—1Sam.8:5. May we learn from Israel’s bad example of wanting to “fit in.” May we be ready to stand alone in a world that constantly wants to pour us into its mold.

— Pastor Mike

1 Samuel 7-9

7 And the men of Kiriath-jearim cam...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

We read of some dark days in 1 Samuel, as “Ichabod” became the reality for a time. May we purpose to let our corporate lampstand burn brightly and righteously so that, unlike the “Ichabod” threat to some of the churches in Revelation 2–3, we might see the full blessings of God in our church body. May the teaching of Christ to “be ready!” in Luke 12 be just what we need to fuel our passion to live ATAPAT for him.

— Pastor Mike

1 Samue...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

God again reminds us that children are a gift from him, the Giver of life. Let us be thankful for the way God sovereignly entrusts particular lives to the people he chooses. And let us be challenged by the way Hannah courageously determined that her boy’s future should be invested in the work of the Lord. May her bold selflessness stand in stark contrast to the cowardly indulgence of Eli.

— Pastor Mike

1 Samuel 1-3

Th...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Today we read the great story of Ruth, which reminds us that even in the dark days of the judges there were godly bright spots wherein God strongly supported and empowered those who looked to him. May this God-breathed story of the kinsman redeemer lead us to live distinctive lives as salt and light in the darkening generation in which we live.

— Pastor Mike

Ruth 1-4

Naomi Widowed

1 In the days when the...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

In today’s reading in Judges take note again of the anarchy and rebellion found in the community that does not carry a sense of accountability and submission to the God who sees all we do and to whom one day we will all answer. May our Old Testament reading drive us to echo the humble content in the model prayer of Jesus in Luke 11.

— Pastor Mike

Judges 20-21

Israel’s War with the Tribe of...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Judges 18 begins with a refrain that is repeated throughout the book of Judges. It is a comment that goes beyond a simple reference to their political situation. The statement that Israel “had no king” carried with it the subtle indictment that they had rejected the lordship of Yahweh over their corporate and personal lives. Even when there is no godly proxy leadership, the triune God would have us conduct our lives with him as our King and Guide to avoid the rebellion and moral collapse we see in the pages of Judges.

...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Be careful how you picture Samson. He may not have looked like a huge “muscle man.” The remarkable thing about this deliverer was that his strength was beyond natural. God’s Spirit endowed him to do what he otherwise was unable to do. Perhaps our flannel-graph cutouts of this character need to be revised – maybe more the look of a Clark Kent.

— Pastor Mike

Judges 15-17

Samson Defeats the Philistines

15 After some days, at the...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

The cycle of sin, oppression, and deliverance continues in Judges (and in most places around the world today). And we begin the narrative of Samson. In Luke, Jesus foretells his death, reminding us that he always knew full well what his costly mission was. Let us rejoice that the eternal oppression that our sins deserve has been obliterated by the substitutionary death of Christ.

— Pastor Mike

Judges 12-14

Jephthah’s Conflict with Ephraim

12...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

A short account of Tola & Jair, and then on to the dubious Jephthah and his foolish vow. If taken at face value, this curious and tragic account shows us just how dark these 335 years of the Judges were. It seems that even Israel’s deliverers were mirroring the heinous and pagan rituals of their corrupt neighbors (cf. Dt.12:31).

— Pastor Mike

Judges 10-11

Tola and Jair

10 After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola th...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Some dramatic and tragic events follow in the wake of Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites. May we learn to keep in step with God’s Spirit each time we come to God’s word – learning even from the narratives that include false worship, jealousy, and betrayal. In Luke 8 we are reminded of our perennial need to trust Christ regardless of how difficult our circumstances may be.

— Pastor Mike

Judges 8-9

Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Today we read of Gideon, the unlikely deliverer of Israel who gets more coverage in Judges than any other “judge” (with Samson coming in a close second). We can learn a lot from God’s use of this reluctant servant who is employed to do something so important for God’s glory.

— Pastor Mike

Judges 6-7

Midian Oppresses Israel

6 The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and th...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

The intriguing statements that open the third chapter of Judges remind us that in a fallen world even good and noble governments will need to know how to be able to defend themselves. We too cannot be under the delusion that the Christian life will be tranquil and peaceful. For not only do we live in a hostile world, but as God’s children we are the specific targets of the spiritual enemies of our Father. We need to be ready to “suffer hardship as good soldiers of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). We know too...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Today we begin reading about the dark and protracted period of cyclical rebellion against God’s authority. May the 335-year record of the Judges (or “Deliverers”) be a warning to us that one generation’s loyalty to Christ does not always translate to the next. May we pray more for the upcoming generation of Christians who will be challenged to abandon their loyalty to Christ under the varied pressures of the culture and the creative temptations of our spiritual enemies.

— Pastor Mike

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Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Joshua’s parting charge to those who would remain after his death is a good reminder of our need to commission the next generation who will be here when we are gone, fighting the good fight of faith in a world increasingly hostile to the truth of God’s word. May they “be very strong to keep and to do all that is written” (Josh.23:6). Or in the words of Christ from our reading in Luke, “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them… is like a man building a hou...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

In Joshua 21:45 we are reminded again that all we are reading in these Old Testament chapters is a testament to God’s faithfulness —”Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” We count on the God who keeps his promises. From his promise that in the end he will work everything out in our lives for good, to the reality that trusting in Christ gives us a full entrance into the New Jerusalem. God will always do what he...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

We may want to skim these descriptions of the allotment of land to the tribes of Israel, but consider how significant this was—for God was literally fulfilling his promise to Abraham, which he made way back in Genesis 12. God specifically said that he would settle Abraham’s descendants in the land through which he was taking Abraham as a sojourner. God keeps his promises. (And this was only “phase one” as Hebrews 11:12-16 tells us!)

— Pastor Mike

Joshu...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

A reading of the calling of the disciples is both a comfort and a challenge. It is comforting to see that God uses the simple things to shame the wise. May he utilize each of us to do something great for his glory. It is also a challenge to think about the great privilege and responsibility of being someone commissioned by Christ to do work for him. May we never be slack in representing him, serving him, and speaking for him in this generation.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

We read lots of names and geographical directives in Joshua today. While these details may seem distant and disconnected from our modern lives, let us all seek a heightened anticipation of the allotment of lands that will one day take place when the curse is lifted, our bodies are glorified, and Christ is seated on his rightful throne, leading us all in the New Jerusalem. That day is coming. May it come quickly.

— Pastor Mike

Joshua 14-15<...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Luke 4 is rich with insights regarding temptation, sin, and Christ’s sinlessness. May we read these verses with care today and find great comfort in a perfect Messiah, as well as motivation and wisdom in learning to stand strong against the schemes of the Tempter.

— Pastor Mike

Joshua 11-13

Conquests in Northern Canaan

11 When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shi...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Neglecting our due diligence in prayer, planning, and investigation is regrettably brought to the forefront in our reading of Joshua 9. May we never be presumptuous in our lives. God would have us seek him to discern his wisdom in every circumstance. In Joshua 10 we are reminded that the God who made the world and its laws has the ability to suspend them at will. The God who animates every molecule in the universe can easily put any combination of them on “pause” at his pleasure. While he rarely breaks nature’s laws, let us n...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

After such a great victory at Jericho comes the devastating defeat at Ai in Joshua 7. At the outset of God’s work in the land of Israel the people are dramatically reminded that God is a God who detests compromise, just as he showed the church at the outset of her missions work in the New Testament when he broke out against Ananias and Sapphira. May we avoid compromise and deception at all costs.

— Pastor Mike

Joshua...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

There is so much going on in today’s chapters from Joshua. God is preparing this new generation to do the work he has called them to ceremonially, spiritually, and practically. The Lord shows his strong provision for his people in the way he brings the fall of the stronghold of Jericho. The battle is clearly the Lord’s. In Luke 2, we see God sending Christ for us to do what we are incapable of doing—namely, fulfilling all righteousness and perfectly satisfying the justice of God.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

It is hard not to be motivated by the heartening words of God to Joshua as he is commissioned to take the reigns of leadership in the face of the daunting task of the conquest of the promised land. May we take hold of the divine strength and courage to face whatever challenge God has called us to, as we all work to spread the knowledge of God and the lordship of Christ in this world.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Today we read familiar words in Luke 1, which I trust will help us relive the humble deference shown by Mary when she was told of God’s plan for her life. We should also praise God when we read the final chapters of Deuteronomy, knowing that the culmination of God’s work through Moses is the arrival of Jesus, the son of David and the son of God.

— Pastor Mike

Deuteronomy 33-34

Moses’ Final Blessing o...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Our Old Testament reading shows us that God always has a succession plan. God will not leave his work without the resources and personnel it will require. Sometimes it is helpful for us to think and pray about what will happen when we are called home. God wants his earthly work to move forward when each of us is gone. May God richly bless those who will one day take our place in life, work, and ministry.

— Pastor Mike

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Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Today we read Mark 16, the ending of which is one of the few places in the Bible where multiple verses of the ancient manuscripts are significantly conflicted. Virtually every edition of the Bible transparently declares this. May this exception remind us that unlike other ancient works the New Testament is blessed with a massive body of ancient manuscripts, which in almost all cases bring to us a crisp and agreed-upon record of what the authors penned.

— Pastor Mike

D...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

In Mark 15 Jesus recites the words of Psalm 22 as he is being crucified. Christ is echoing this important psalm and not crafting a question to which he doesn’t know the answer. Christ knows that he is the Lamb of God and that he is incurring the penalty for our sins as our substitute. And yet he is joining in with the pain of the psalmist in Psalm 22. Our salvation was costly. Let us live today as though it is.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Reading the “cursings” of Deuteronomy 27 is a sobering exercise. May it help to guard us from joining in with our world in praising those who do evil. Let us remember that godliness includes “despising the vile person” (Ps.15:4). While the world is busy heaping “approval on those who practice” sinful things (Rom.1:32), may the “cursings” in today’s Old Testament reading help us perceive the sinfulness of sin.

— Pastor Mike

Deuteronomy 26-27

Offerings of Firstfruits and Tithes...