Daily Bible Reading

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...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Today in Mark 14 we are in the thick of the unfolding drama of Christ’s crucifixion. Please take time to thank God for his orchestration of our redemption. Thank Christ for his humble willingness to endure the scorn and pain we deserve. Thank the Holy Spirit for his active involvement in seeing it all through, and for his indwelling presence that makes our thanksgiving possible.

— Pastor Mike

Deuteronomy 23-25

Those Excluded from the Assembly

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Don’t be afraid of them (Dt.20:1). How many times does God have to tell his people this basic truth? The fear of anyone or anything except God is nothing but a losing proposition. God would have us fear him alone. We should wake up each day wanting to please the Lord, with little concern for what people think. Trust in the care of your heavenly Father and live fearlessly in the face of a threatening world.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

We should be inspired by the extravagance of the woman with the alabaster flask in Mark 14. While prudence and thrift can be important general principles, there are appropriate times to seek to bring glory to Christ by pulling out all the stops and going over the top. We have many great examples in church history of resolute men and women who produced extreme and amazing works of art, music, and architecture for the glory of God.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

In the book of Deuteronomy we read a reiteration of the dietary restrictions for the Old Testament Israelites. When Christ came he rescinded this ceremonial set of rules (as we recently read in Mark 7:19). Acts 10 sheds light on the role these food regulations played in distinguishing the Jews of the Old Testament and that the abolishment of these rules should remind us of our need to reach the world for Christ.

— Pastor Mike

Deuteronomy 14-16

...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Our reading today starts with the simple and oft repeated principle that if we love God we will purpose to do what he asks. As John wrote in the New Testament, how can we say we love him and not do what he says? May this truth be made even more urgent in our hearts as we read of Christ expounding on the signs of the end of the age in Mark 13.

— Pastor Mike

Deuteronomy 11-13

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

What a terrific text today in the eighth chapter of Deuteronomy. God’s people are told that when things are going well they should never be tempted to think that their progress and prosperity came to them simply because they worked hard or were so talented. God is the giver of all good things. How often we must be impressed with the fact that we are only humble recipients of God’s varied gifts and blessings. Without him we can do nothing.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

The word “Deuteronomy” means the “second” giving of the “law.” And in chapter five we have the restatement of the central commands that God himself inscribed for his people on tablets of stone. Let us always remember that God is a Father who cares greatly about the holiness of his people. And as we read the Gospel of Mark let us also be thankful for the way Christ provided us with the perfect human template of holiness, which is applied to all of us who trust in him.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

What a great reminder in today’s Deuteronomy reading that God is an impartial God, who is willing to discipline even Moses for his disobedience. In our Mark reading we should be impressed with the wise and insightful way Jesus dealt with his enemies as they questioned his authority. May God grant us the kind of godly shrewdness that allows us to be unencumbered by those who hate God’s truth.

— Pastor Mike

Deuteronomy 3-4

The D...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

As we launch into Deuteronomy let us remember the cost of not trusting God. Israel’s lack of confidence in God when they were tested at Kadesh-barnea should remind us to walk by faith and not by sight, especially when the going gets tough. May we trust him and his unfailing promises as we go about our work today.

— Pastor Mike

Deuteronomy 1-2

The Command to Leave Horeb

1 These are the words that M...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

In our Old Testament reading today we finish the book of Numbers with a reminder of the mercy of God and of his provision for those inevitable problems the people will face in Canaan. In our New Testament reading we are challenged to consider our ambitions and to rightly understand the biblical meaning of “greatness” in God’s economy. This time in God’s word is needed each day to recalibrate our thinking as we continue to live as sojourners and exiles in this world (1Pt.2:11).

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

As some of the tribes of Israel begin to settle east of the Jordan River and we read the account of God’s leading from Egypt to the promised land, let us take time to chronicle God’s provision and providence in our own lives. God is faithful and good to provide our needs and to sovereignly lead our lives. May we be more faithful to thank him for it.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 32-33

Reuben a...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

God values the bond of our word. In a culture where lying, deception, and exaggeration are all but celebrated, may we as God’s people be distinctive by the concern we give to keeping our promises. May we, as Psalm 15 reminds us, be willing to keep our vows even when it is costly.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 30-31

Men and Vows

30 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

In our Old Testament reading today I trust we will be challenged by the review of the varied gifts and offerings that please God. And may our look at the Transfiguration in Mark 9 remind us that our Triune God is worthy of all of them. I pray, as Malachi 1 reminds us, that we will reflect the purity of our theology by the quality of what we offer to the Lord.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 28-29

Dail...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

We jump back into the fascinating story of Balaam, the “prophet for hire”, and the failure of Balak’s plan to foil the progress and success of God’s people. What a great reminder to us that “When a man’s way pleases the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Pr.16:7). Unfortunately that doesn’t last long, as the Israelites fall to sin with the daughters of Moab in Numbers 25. May we learn from both the care of God and the carelessness of God’s people in these instructive...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Here in Numbers 21 is the source of Christ’s illustration to Nicodemus regarding the faith his crucifixion will call for – “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes / trusts in him may have eternal life” (Jn.3:13-14). Let us look to the source of our forgiveness (i.e., the substitutionary death of Christ) and not the assumed value of our good deeds.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 2...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Today in Mark 7 we read some powerful words from Christ regarding the hypocrisy of drawing near to God with our words, customs, and traditions, while failing to draw near to him in the truthfulness of our spirit, heart, and behavior. Let us never justify our disobedience to God’s word because we “feel spiritual” or because we “have Christian customs”, which we think will counterbalance our sin.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 18-20

Duties of Priests and Levites

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

The Bible has so much to say about the sin of rebellion and insubordination – which is not a popular topic for Christians in the twenty-first century church. May we be receptive to the repeated warnings in the Bible about the devastation caused by rebellions, which always seem to start with the seeds of envy, jealousy, and complaining.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 16-17

Korah’s Rebellion

16 Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

This pivotal scene in Numbers 14 seals the future of an entire generation. As the writer of Hebrews exhorts us, let us learn from this dreadful decision of disregarding God’s promise and allowing the fear of man to govern the decision-making process. When God’s word is clear may we “not harden our hearts as they did in the rebellion” (Heb.3:15).

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 14-15

The People Rebel

14 Then all the congregation raised a lou...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

May we be reminded of the offense of complaining as we identify with those in the desert in Numbers 11. And let us anticipate the victory we have over the grave as we read of Christ saying “Talitha cumi” in Mark 5, showing us a foretaste of his power to one day call us forth from death into a state of permanent life, no longer subject to disease, decay, or discomfort.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 11-13

The People C...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Every time we revisit a record of the Passover celebration may we gratefully recall the work of Christ, who gave himself as our substitute so that we might be accepted before God and freed from the power and penalty of our sin. May our hearts be encouraged as we read of Christ’s power over all rival authorities in our reading of Mark 5.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 8-10

The Seven Lamps

8 Now the Lord s...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

May our reading today in the Book of Numbers encourage us to be generous stewards of the material blessings God has mercifully entrusted to us. May we be reminded of the joy of giving, and of the powerful way God uses our gifts to bring glory to himself and his work on earth. “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift” to us (2 Corinthians 9:15).

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 7

Offerings at the Tabernacle’s Consecration

7 On the day...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

God shows his concern for restoration, restitution, marital fidelity, and expressions of devotion and commitment in today’s Old Testament reading. I am praying that our reading in the Gospel of Mark will remind us to be faithful and sincere in “throwing the seed” of a biblical gospel and trusting God for this “seed” to find prepared hearts.

— Pastor Mike

Numbers 5-6

Unclean People

5 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Even in the desert, the required work was not accomplished in a haphazard way. God is a God of order and not confusion. In Mark’s Gospel we see the unique hazard of the first-century audience of Christ—wrongly assigning the work of the Messiah to Satan. It was catastrophic for them to see all of Christ’s ministry first-hand and then to summarily reject it, going on to blaspheme in assigning it all to hell’s power.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Parts of the Book of Numbers may be a bit challenging to read, with all the seemingly endless lists of hard-to-pronounce names, but remember how important it was throughout the Bible to chronicle the lineage and heritage of God’s people. This was key to demonstrate, as God continued to keep his covenant promise to Abraham and his descendants. Not to mention the special honor you would have if one of the listed people were you.

— Pastor Mike

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

We are reminded today of the folly and severity of idolatry. May we know that as God’s people we must always seek to keep first things first, loving God as we ought – with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind. And may we derive great comfort from the grace, kindness, and forgiveness we see demonstrated in the life of Christ, found in our reading of Mark chapter two.

— Pastor Mike

Leviticus 26-27

Blessings for Obed...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

The centrality of worship, the seriousness of blasphemy, rules of criminal justice, and the wisdom of both the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee are just a few of the insights we gain from today’s reading. May our New Testament text, which focuses on the power, authority, and sovereignty of Christ motivate us to live wholeheartedly for him today.

— Pastor Mike

Leviticus 24-25

The Lamps

24 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

After surveying the high standards for the Old Testament priesthood we are led to review the “feasts” of Israel in Leviticus 23. This is a helpful reminder of the appropriateness of breaks, rests, celebrations, and convocations that bring us out of the everyday activities of our various occupations to be recharged, refreshed, and refocused on the goodness and provision of God.

— Pastor Mike

Leviticus 22-23

22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and his so...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Again in Leviticus the Lord shows himself to be extremely serious about the holiness of his people. As we read about the resurrection and commission of Christ in Matthew 28, may we not forget the gravity of sin that led to such extreme suffering on the cross, and Christ’s desire to see all his disciples “observe all that he commanded them” (v.19b).

— Pastor Mike

Leviticus 20-21

Punishment for Child Sacrifice

20 The Lord spoke to M...

Pastor Mike Fabarez’s Commentary

Beyond the ceremonial regulations, we find many of the moral concerns of God throughout the book of Leviticus – most of which are reiterated in the New Testament after the abolition of the ceremonial rules. May we be careful not to confuse the fulfilled precepts regarding ceremonial “uncleanness”, with the overarching moral dictates that Paul says God will always “avenge” (1Th.4).

— Pastor Mike

Leviticus 18-19

Unlawful Sexual Relations

18 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying...