So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.[Hebrews 6:1]
With five grandchildren, I have discovered that it is actually enjoyable to go out and shop for babies. Today products for infants are so much cooler and high-tech than when Cathe and I had our boys. It is fun to get all of the little things for children that help them along in their growth process.
At first babies don't do a whole lot because they are completely dependent on their mothers. But then they get a little bit older and start eating baby food. After a while, they can start eating food that has been chopped up in very small pieces for them. But you still have to keep them interested in what they're eating by making airplane noises with the spoon.
That is all fine. But it is not fine when a child is thirteen years old and you still have to do airplane noises. You want to teach a child to grow up. You want to teach a child to eat adult food. Eventually you want to teach a child to be a young adult and ultimately to take care of himself or herself. That is part of growing up.
There are believers today who have known the Lord for ten, fifteen, or twenty years, and they are still like infants. They need their spiritual food in small pieces. Everything needs to be entertaining. Everything needs to be fun.
But the Bible says, "So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding" (Hebrews 6:1).
I think it is time for all of us to grow up and be mature men and women of God, because the Christian life is following Jesus not only as our Savior but also as our Lord.
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Today's Bible Reading
1 Samuel 18:1 By the time David had finished speaking to Sha’ul, Y’honatan found himself inwardly drawn by David’s character, so that Y’honatan loved him as he did himself. 2 That day, Sha’ul took David into his service and would not let him go home to his father’s house any more. 3 Y’honatan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as he did himself. 4 Y’honatan removed the cloak he was wearing and gave it to David, his armor too, including his sword, bow and belt. 5 David would go out, and no matter where Sha’ul sent him, he was successful. Sha’ul put him in charge of the fighting men; all the people thought it good, and so did Sha’ul’s servants.
6 As David and the others were returning from the slaughter of the P’lishti, the women came out of all the cities of Isra’el to meet King Sha’ul, singing and dancing joyfully with tambourines and three-stringed instruments. 7 In their merrymaking the women sang,
“Sha’ul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands.”
8 Sha’ul became very angry, because this song displeased him. He said, “They give David credit for tens of thousands, but me they give credit for only thousands. Now all he lacks is the kingdom!” 9 From that day on, Sha’ul viewed David with suspicion.
10 The following day an evil spirit from God came powerfully over Sha’ul, so that he fell into a frenzy in the house. David was there, playing his lyre as on other occasions. This time Sha’ul had his spear in his hand; 11 and he threw the spear, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David dodged out of the way twice. 12 Sha’ul became afraid of David, because Adonai was with him and had left Sha’ul. 13 Therefore Sha’ul put him at a distance from himself by making him commander over a thousand; his goings and comings became public knowledge. 14 David had great success in all his ways; Adonai was with him. 15 When Sha’ul saw how very successful he was, he became afraid of him. 16 But all Isra’el and Y’hudah loved David, because they knew about all his campaigns.
17 Sha’ul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merav. I will give her to you as your wife; only continue displaying your courage for me, and fight Adonai’s battles.” Sha’ul was thinking, “I don’t dare touch him, so let the P’lishtim do away with him.” 18 David’s response to Sha’ul was, “Who am I, that I should become the king’s son-in-law? I don’t have any kind of a life, and my father’s family has no rank in Isra’el.” 19 However, when it was time for Merav Sha’ul’s daughter to be given to David, she was given to Adri’el the Mecholati as his wife. 20 But Mikhal Sha’ul’s daughter fell in love with David. They told Sha’ul, and it pleased him. 21 Sha’ul said, “I’ll give her to him, so that she can entrap him, and the P’lishtim can do away with him.” So Sha’ul said to David, “Today you will become my son-in-law through the second [daughter].” 22 Sha’ul ordered his servants to speak privately with David and say, “Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you; so become the king’s son-in-law.” 23 Sha’ul’s servants said this to David; but David replied, “Do you think being the king’s son-in-law is something to be treated so casually, given that I’m a poor man without social standing?” 24 Sha’ul’s servants reported back to him how David had responded. 25 Sha’ul said, “Here’s what you are to say to David: ‘The king doesn’t want any dowry; he wants a hundred foreskins of the P’lishtim, so that he can have vengeance on the king’s enemies.” For Sha’ul was hoping to have David killed by the P’lishtim. 26 When his servants said these words to David, it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. Even before the time [for him to be married], 27 David got up and set out, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the P’lishtim. He brought their foreskins and gave all of them to the king in order to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Sha’ul gave him Mikhal his daughter as his wife.
28 Sha’ul saw and understood that Adonai was with David and that Mikhal Sha’ul’s daughter loved him. 29 This only made Sha’ul the more afraid of David, so that Sha’ul became David’s enemy for the rest of his life.
30 The leaders of the P’lishtim would attack; but whenever they attacked, David was more successful than any of Sha’ul’s servants; so that David acquired a great reputation.
1 Chronicles 6:1 (16) The sons of Levi: Gershom, K’hat and M’rari. 2 (17) These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Livni and Shim‘i. 3 (18) The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el. 4 (19) The sons of M’rari: Machli and Mushi.
These are the families of the L’vi’im according to father’s clans: 5 (20) [The descendants] of Gershom: his son Livni, his son Yachat, his son Zimah, 6 (21) his son Yo’ach, his son ‘Iddo, his son Zerach, his son Ye’atrai.
7 (22) The descendants of K’hat: his son ‘Amminadav, his son Korach, his son Asir, 8 (23) his son Elkanah, his son Evyasaf, his son Asir, 9 (24) his son Tachat, his son Uri’el, his son ‘Uziyah and his son Sha’ul. 10 (25) The sons of Elkanah: ‘Amasai and Achimot. 11 (26) As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: his son Tzofai, his son Nachat, 12 (27) his son Eli’av, his son Yerocham and his son Elkanah. 13 (28) The sons of Sh’mu’el: Vashni the firstborn, then Aviyah.
14 (29) The descendants of M’rari: Machli, his son Livni, his son Shim‘i, his son ‘Uzah, 15 (30) his son Shim‘a, his son Hagiyah and his son ‘Asayah. 16 (31) David appointed them to be in charge of the service of song in the house of Adonai after the ark had found a permanent resting place. 17 (32) They served as singers before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Shlomo had built the house of Adonai in Yerushalayim; and they carried out their tasks in a prescribed order.
18 (33) Those who carried out these tasks and their descendants were — starting with descendants of the K’hati — Heman the singer, the son of Yo’el the son of Sh’mu’el, 19 (34) the son of Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of Eli’el, the son of Toach, 20 (35) the son of Tzuf, the son of Elkanah, the son of Machat, the son of ‘Amasai, 21 (36) the son of Elkanah, the son of Yo’el, the son of ‘Azaryah, the son of Tz’fanyah, 22 (37) the son of Tachat, the son of Asir, the son of Evyasaf, the son of Korach, 23 (38) the son of Yitz’har, the son of K’hat, the son of Levi, the son of Isra’el.
24 (39) His brother Asaf, who stood on his right, was Asaf the son of Berekhyah, the son of Shim‘a, 25 (40) the son of Mikha’el, the son of Ba‘aseyah, the son of Malkiyah, 26 (41) the son of Etni, the son of Zerach the son of ‘Adayah, 27 (42) the son of Eitan, the son of Zimah, the son of Shim‘i, 28 (43) the son of Yachat, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
29 (44) On the left were their kinsmen the descendants of M’rari: Eitan the son of Kishi, the son of ‘Avdi, the son of Malukh, 30 (45) the son of Hashavyah, the son of Amatzyah, the son of Hilkiyah, 31 (46) the son of Amtzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, 32 (47) the son of Machli, the son of Mushi, the son of M’rari, the son of Levi.
33 (48) Their kinsmen the L’vi’im were put in charge of all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
34 (49) But Aharon and his sons were the ones who offered on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the service of the Especially Holy Place and to make atonement for Isra’el, in keeping with all that Moshe the servant of God had ordered to be done. 35 (50) These are the descendants of Aharon: his son El‘azar, his son Pinchas, his son Avishua, 36 (51) his son Buki, his son ‘Uzi, his son Z’rachyah, 37 (52) his son M’rayot, his son Amaryah, his son Achituv, 38 (53) his son Tzadok and his son Achima‘atz.
39 (54) These were the settlements of the descendants of Aharon according to the territories assigned them: to the descendants of Aharon, of the clans of the K’hati — for the first lot fell to them — 40 (55) they gave Hevron in the land of Y’hudah with the open land surrounding it, 41 (56) but the fields and the dependent villages of the city they gave to Kalev the son of Y’funeh. 42 (57) To the descendants of Aharon they gave the city of refuge Hevron, also Livnah with its surrounding open land, Yatir, Esht’moa with its surrounding open land, 43 (58) Hilen with its surrounding open land, D’vir with its surrounding open land, 44 (59) ‘Ashan with its surrounding open land, Beit-Shemesh with its surrounding open land; 45 (60) and out of the tribe of Binyamin: Geva with its surrounding open land, ‘Alemet with its surrounding open land and ‘Anatot with its surrounding open land. All the cities for all their clans amounted to thirteen cities.
46 (61) The rest of the descendants of K’hat were assigned by lot, clan by clan, ten cities from the half-tribe of M’nasheh. 47 (62) The descendants of Gershom were assigned, clan by clan, thirteen cities from the tribes of Yissakhar, Asher, Naftali and M’nasheh in Bashan. 48 (63) To the descendants of M’rari were assigned by lot, clan by clan, twelve cities from the tribes of Re’uven, Gad and Z’vulun. 49 (64) So the people of Isra’el gave the L’vi’im these cities with the surrounding open land. 50 (65) From the tribes of the descendants of Y’hudah, Shim‘on and Binyamin they assigned these cities mentioned by name.
51 (66) Some of the clans of the descendants of K’hat were given cities in territory from the tribe of Efrayim. 52 (67) They gave them the city of refuge Sh’khem in the hills of Efrayim with the surrounding open land, also Gezer with the surrounding open land, 53 (68) Yokme‘am with the surrounding open land, Beit-Horon with the surrounding open land, 54 (69) Ayalon with the surrounding open land, and Gat-Rimmon with the surrounding open land; 55 (70) and out of the half-tribe of M’nasheh: ‘Aner with the surrounding open land and Bil‘am with the surrounding open land, for the rest of the clans of the descendants of K’hat.
56 (71) The descendants of Gershom were given, from the clans of the half-tribe of M’nasheh: Golan in Bashan with the surrounding open land and ‘Ashtarot with the surrounding open land; 57 (72) and from the tribe of Yissakhar: Kedesh with the surrounding open land, Davrat with the surrounding open land, 58 (73) Ramot with the surrounding open land and ‘Anem with the surrounding open land; 59 (74) and from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with the surrounding open land, ‘Avdon with the surrounding open land, 60 (75) Hukok with the surrounding open land and Rechov with the surrounding open land; 61 (76) and from the tribe of Naftali: Kedesh in the Galil with the surrounding open land, Hamon with the surrounding open land and Kiryatayim with the surrounding open land.
62 (77) To the rest [of the L’vi’im], the descendants of M’rari, were given, from the tribe of Z’vulun: Rimmono with the surrounding open land and Tavor with the surrounding open land; 63 (78) and beyond the Yarden at Yericho, on the east side of the Yarden, they were given, from the tribe of Re’uven: Betzer in the desert with the surrounding open land, Yahatz with the surrounding open land, 64 (79) K’demot with the surrounding open land and Mefa‘at with the surrounding open land; 65 (80) and from the tribe of Gad: Ramot in Gil‘ad with the surrounding open land, Machanayim with the surrounding open land, 66 (81) Heshbon with the surrounding open land and Ya‘zer with the surrounding open land.
Psalm 11: (0) For the leader. By David:
(1) In Adonai I find refuge.
So how can you say to me,
“Flee like a bird to the mountains!
2 See how the wicked are drawing their bows
and setting their arrows on the string,
to shoot from the shadows at honest men.
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 Adonai is in his holy temple.
Adonai, his throne is in heaven.
His eyes see and test humankind.
5 Adonai tests the righteous;
but he hates the wicked and the lover of violence.
6 He will rain hot coals down on the wicked,
fire, sulfur and scorching wind
will be what they get to drink.
7 For Adonai is righteous;
he loves righteousness;
the upright will see his face.
Matthew 3:1 It was during those days that Yochanan the Immerser arrived in the desert of Y’hudah and began proclaiming the message, 2 “Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” 3 This is the man Yesha‘yahu was talking about when he said,
“The voice of someone crying out:
‘In the desert prepare the way of Adonai!
Make straight paths for him!’”[a]
4 Yochanan wore clothes of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Yerushalayim, from all Y’hudah, and from the whole region around the Yarden. 6 Confessing their sins, they were immersed by him in the Yarden River.
7 But when Yochanan saw many of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim coming to be immersed by him, he said to them, “You snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming punishment? 8 If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it! 9 And don’t suppose you can comfort yourselves by saying, ‘Avraham is our father’! For I tell you that God can raise up for Avraham sons from these stones! 10 Already the axe is at the root of the trees, ready to strike; every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown in the fire! 11 It’s true that I am immersing you in water so that you might turn from sin to God; but the one coming after me is more powerful than I — I’m not worthy even to carry his sandals — and he will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire. 12 He has with him his winnowing fork; and he will clear out his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn but burning up the straw with unquenchable fire!”
13 Then Yeshua came from the Galil to the Yarden to be immersed by Yochanan. 14 But Yochanan tried to stop him. “You are coming to me? I ought to be immersed by you!” 15 However, Yeshua answered him, “Let it be this way now, because we should do everything righteousness requires.” Then Yochanan let him. 16 As soon as Yeshua had been immersed, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, he saw the Spirit of God coming down upon him like a dove, 17 and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; I am well pleased with him.”[Footnotes:
Matthew 3:3 Isaiah 40:3]
Harvest Ministries with Greg LaurieP.O. Box 4000
Riverside, California 92514-4000 United States
Phone: 1-800-821-3300
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