Morning, February 29
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Bible League: Living His Word
Jesus wept.

Jesus came to earth and fulfilled every command of God perfectly, but He was not a machine. Jesus was the Second Person of the Trinity, but He was also a full-fledged human being. Jesus was the Word of God, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1), but the Word also became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Jesus was God in every respect, but He was also an individual human being in every respect.

When some friends of Jesus at Bethany, the sisters Mary and Martha, sent for Him because their brother Lazarus was ill, Jesus stayed for two days longer in the place where He was. He said: "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (John 11:4).

Some may be tempted to think that because Jesus deliberately delayed His coming to Bethany with the intention of raising Lazarus from the dead He could not have possibly wept because Lazarus had died. He must have wept because of His disappointment that even those who were close to Him did not recognize Him for who He truly was. He had told Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life," but no one fully understood what He meant.

This interpretation, however, does not do full justice to Jesus' humanity. It makes Jesus seem indifferent to our pitiful state. In contrast, some of the bystanders at the grave site correctly interpreted Jesus' weeping as a sign that He loved Lazarus (John 11:36). Jesus' weeping shows us that He was a real man with real human emotions. Jesus had true sorrow, sympathy, and compassion for the plight of Lazarus and his family. He was not a frustrated deity disappointed by the lack of faith in His followers. Jesus was reflecting His love and concern. Jesus really cared.

You can be assured today that Jesus is not indifferent to the trials, troubles, and tribulations you are going through. Just as Jesus really cared for Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, Jesus really cares for you.

Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Numbers 22, 23, 24


Numbers 22 -- Balak Sends for Balaam; Balaam and the Angel

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Numbers 23 -- The Prophecies of Balaam

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Numbers 24 -- The Prophecy from Peor

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New Testament Reading
Mark 8:1-21


Mark 8 -- Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand, Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida; Peter's Confession of Christ

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Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
Tell everyone about God's power.
        His majesty shines down on Israel;
        his strength is mighty in the heavens.
        God is awesome in his sanctuary.
        The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
Insight
Nature surrounds us with countless signs of God's wonderful power. His unlimited power and unspeakable majesty leave us breathless in his presence. How fortunate we are that God cares for us.
Challenge
When we consider all God has done for us, we should feel an overwhelming sense of awe as we kneel before the Lord in his sanctuary.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Jeremiah 31:3  With lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

The thunders of the law and the terrors of judgment are all used to bring us to Christ; but the final victory is effected by lovingkindness. The prodigal set out to his father's house from a sense of need; but his father saw him a great way off, and ran to meet him; so that the last steps he took towards his father's house were with the kiss still warm upon his cheek, and the welcome still musical in his ears.

"Law and terrors do but harden

All the while they work alone;

But a sense of blood-bought pardon

Will dissolve a heart of stone."

The Master came one night to the door, and knocked with the iron hand of the law; the door shook and trembled upon its hinges; but the man piled every piece of furniture which he could find against the door, for he said, "I will not admit the man." The Master turned away, but by-and-bye he came back, and with his own soft hand, using most that part where the nail had penetrated, he knocked again--oh, so softly and tenderly. This time the door did not shake, but, strange to say, it opened, and there upon his knees the once unwilling host was found rejoicing to receive his guest. "Come in, come in; thou hast so knocked that my bowels are moved for thee. I could not think of thy pierced hand leaving its blood-mark on my door, and of thy going away houseless, Thy head filled with dew, and thy locks with the drops of the night.' I yield, I yield, thy love has won my heart." So in every case: lovingkindness wins the day. What Moses with the tablets of stone could never do, Christ does with his pierced hand. Such is the doctrine of effectual calling. Do I understand it experimentally? Can I say, "He drew me, and I followed on, glad to confess the voice divine?" If so, may he continue to draw me, till at last I shall sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Proverbs 27:1  Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Corinthians 6:2  for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION "--

John 12:35,36  So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. • "While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.

Ecclesiastes 9:10  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

Luke 12:19-21  And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' • "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' • "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

James 4:14  Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

1 John 2:17  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Evening February 28
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