Cost of Living - Day 18
Day 18 - Wednesday, January 31
Read Exodus 20
Highlight
The Ten Commandments are probably the most well known of the over six hundred laws that God gives Moses. When Jesus comes, He simplifies the law by saying “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
God’s laws to the Israelite nation was about loving God and loving people. It was to set them apart from other nations and ultimately remind them they are not able to live out God’s laws perfectly. They will always need a sacrifice to set them right with God again, until Jesus. Tim Chester sums the relationship between the old law and the new law in this way; “The covenant of Moses was made through blood. But this “old” covenant gave way to a new covenant when Jesus was sacrificed…In the new covenant, the law of Moses written on tablets of stone is replaced by the law of the Spirit written on our hearts.”
While the Law served the purpose of leading and guiding the Israelites into the way of the Lord. It was never meant to fully sustain them, because with each sin committed a sacrifice would need to be made. It was a temporary solution until God’s time was right. It took God becoming a man and fully obeying the Law to be the blameless sacrifice needed to sustain the old law and create the new covenant.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read Exodus 20
Highlight
The Ten Commandments are probably the most well known of the over six hundred laws that God gives Moses. When Jesus comes, He simplifies the law by saying “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
God’s laws to the Israelite nation was about loving God and loving people. It was to set them apart from other nations and ultimately remind them they are not able to live out God’s laws perfectly. They will always need a sacrifice to set them right with God again, until Jesus. Tim Chester sums the relationship between the old law and the new law in this way; “The covenant of Moses was made through blood. But this “old” covenant gave way to a new covenant when Jesus was sacrificed…In the new covenant, the law of Moses written on tablets of stone is replaced by the law of the Spirit written on our hearts.”
While the Law served the purpose of leading and guiding the Israelites into the way of the Lord. It was never meant to fully sustain them, because with each sin committed a sacrifice would need to be made. It was a temporary solution until God’s time was right. It took God becoming a man and fully obeying the Law to be the blameless sacrifice needed to sustain the old law and create the new covenant.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
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