Riverside, California, United States - Harvest Ministry-Greg Laurie Daily Devotion for Wednesday, 30 April 2014 "The Mirror of God's Law"

Riverside, California, United States - Harvest Ministry-Greg Laurie Daily Devotion for Wednesday, 30 April 2014 "The Mirror of God's Law"
If you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.-—James 1:23–25 
Some people really like mirrors. They are always looking in them. When they are driving along, they have their rearview mirror pointed at themselves instead of the road behind them. If they are in a restaurant that has a mirror on the wall, they want to be seated across from it so they can look at themselves. They never miss an opportunity to catch a quick glance at themselves if a mirror is nearby. On the other hand, some of us don't like mirrors that much. In fact, we have come to dislike mirrors, especially first thing in the morning.
A mirror reflects your image, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For example, imagine that you're leaving a restaurant on your way back to work, and you notice everyone is smiling at you. You think, I'm feeling good! Everyone loves me. Then you catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror, and you find out why they're smiling. You didn't just eat your lunch — you're wearing it. A piece of pasta is affixed to your chin, marinara sauce and all. It's embarrassing. But better that you saw it in the mirror and dealt with the problem than spend the rest of the day with that noodle on your chin. The mirror showed you something about yourself that needed to be fixed.
In the same way, the law of God is like a moral mirror. When we look in the mirror of God's law, we see that major changes need to take place. We also realize that we can't keep things as they were. So that mirror drives us to Jesus.[Today's devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013]
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Whether or not you like mirrors, this is one mirror you can't afford to ignore.
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Today's Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 6:1 David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David arose, and went with all the people who were with him, from Baale Judah, to bring up from there God’s ark, which is called by the Name, even the name of Yahweh of Armies who sits above the cherubim. 3 They set God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 They brought it out of Abinadab’s house, which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals. 6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for God’s ark, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled. 7 Yahweh’s anger burned against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark. 8 David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah,[a] to this day. 9 David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, “How could Yahweh’s ark come to me?” 10 So David would not move Yahweh’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. 11 Yahweh’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom and all his house. 12 King David was told, “Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.”
So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy. 13 When those who bore Yahweh’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. 14 David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up Yahweh’s ark with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 As Yahweh’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in Yahweh’s ark, and set it in its place, in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies. 19 He gave to all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house. 20 Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the servants of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21 David said to Michal, “It was before Yahweh, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before Yahweh. 22 I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight. But of the servants of whom you have spoken, they will honor me.”
23 Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Footnotes:
a. 2 Samuel 6:8 “Perez Uzzah” means “outbreak against Uzzah”.
1 Chronicles 13:1 David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader. 2 David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of Yahweh our God, let us send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves to us. 3 Also, let us again bring the ark of our God back to us; for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.”
4 All the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5 So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor the brook of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.
6 David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God Yahweh’s ark that sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name. 7 They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with cymbals, and with trumpets. 9 When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10 Yahweh’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him, because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God. 11 David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?” 13 So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. 14 God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.
Psalm 68: For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.
1 Let God arise!
    Let his enemies be scattered!
    Let them who hate him also flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away,
    so drive them away.
As wax melts before the fire,
    so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad.
    Let them rejoice before God.
    Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
    Extol him who rides on the clouds:
to Yah, his name!
    Rejoice before him!
5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows,
    is God in his holy habitation.
6 God sets the lonely in families.
He brings out the prisoners with singing,
    but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
7 God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness...
Selah.
8 The earth trembled.
    The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai—
    at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You, God, sent a plentiful rain.
    You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Your congregation lived therein.
    You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord announced the word.
    The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
12 “Kings of armies flee! They flee!”
    She who waits at home divides the plunder,
13     while you sleep among the camp fires,
    the wings of a dove sheathed with silver,
    her feathers with shining gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in her,
    it snowed on Zalmon.
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains.
    The mountains of Bashan are rugged.
16 Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains,
    at the mountain where God chooses to reign?
    Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever.
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands.
    The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
18 You have ascended on high.
    You have led away captives.
You have received gifts among men,
    yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens,
    even the God who is our salvation.
Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverance.
    To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21 But God will strike through the head of his enemies,
    the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan,
    I will bring you again from the depths of the sea;
23 That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood,
    that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
24 They have seen your processions, God,
    even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after,
    among the ladies playing with tambourines,
26 “Bless God in the congregations,
    even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler,
    the princes of Judah, their council,
    the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28 Your God has commanded your strength.
    Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem,
    kings shall bring presents to you.
30 Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds,
    the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples.
Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt.
    Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth!
    Sing praises to the Lord!
Selah.
33 To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old;
    behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God!
    His excellency is over Israel,
    his strength is in the skies.
35 You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries.
    The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people.
    Praise be to God!
Matthew 17:1 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 3 Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
4 Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7 Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” 8 Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”
10 His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things, 12 but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.
14 When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
17 Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
20 He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”
22 While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.”
They were exceedingly sorry. 24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins[a] came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” 25 He said, “Yes.”
When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?”
26 Peter said to him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt. 27 But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin.[b] Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 17:24 A didrachma is a Greek silver coin worth 2 drachmas, about as much as 2 Roman denarii, or about 2 days’ wages. It was commonly used to pay the half-shekel temple tax, because 2 drachmas were worth one half shekel of silver. A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.
b. Matthew 17:27 A stater is a silver coin equivalent to four Attic or two Alexandrian drachmas, or a Jewish shekel: just exactly enough to cover the half-shekel temple tax for two people. A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, usually in the form of a silver coin.
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Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie 
P.O. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514-4000
Phone: 1(800)821-3300
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