Leviticus 1

"And he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces.  The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay the wood in order on the fire." vv.6-7

Read chapter 1.
Now we get into the book about offerings.  There are many different types of offerings in the book of Leviticus and other parts of scripture, all a type pointing to Christ as THE offering He was for us.  One thing I noticed about this first chapter describing the burnt offering was he person offering, sacrificer, is the one doing the killing while the priest receives the blood.  The offerer was to offer of his own free will.  This ritual of religion was to be done in love and desire.  Also, the purpose of cutting it into pieces was to show that the whole body of the animal was without blemish, checking even the insides and not just outward appearance.  Ultimately this is a type of Christ, who was without sin to die for us because of His love and desire for us.  What do you sacrifice in your life out of desire and love for Christ?

Psalm 41

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen." v.13

Read chapter 41.
This is the last psalm of the first book of psalms.  David ends it by calling blessing of the Lord God of Israel, Yahweh Elohim of Israel.  How can a man bless the Lord?  Here the word is used for extolling or lifting up.  He indeed deserves all exaltation and there's no extolling to high for our Lord God!  
"From everlasting to everlasting" is more than just a time but a purposeful outflow of God's character and work.  It is always good and praiseworthy and as I like to say "to infinity and beyond!"
Amen is repeated here as a sure emphasized truth that has been set forth in this psalm and this first book of psalms.  Everything we read in scripture is true.  We need to read and learn and understand.  We can learn so many things from truth, why would we go without it!  How can you extol the Lord God today?

Psalm 40

"I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord."  vv.1-3

Read chapter 40.
This is one of my favorite psalms as these verses were given to me when I first became a believer after a bad accident.  Although this psalm is David talking about what was going on in his life with the Lord, it is true of us and God's promise.  David's promise was that he'd be king and waited patiently as Saul and other enemies appeared to stand in the way of that.  God founded him as king, "set his feet upon a rock,"  as he waited and cried out to the Lord.  The mess of sin that entangles, the horrible pit, the miry clay God saved David from is also what God saved us from too when we were stuck in a pit of sin that we could not get out of on our own.  We may not be established as kings yet but He has put a new song in us.  All have been saved by God out of their pit know this song and praise to God and He is continually our song of praise.  Many who see this transforming in life of a believer come to revere and fear the One True God.  Is the song of praise to God playing right now in your life?  Why or why not?

Psalm 39

"My heart was hot within me;
"While I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah" vv.3-5

Read chapter 39.

In this psalm David seems to be bottling up inside of him.  To keep himself from sinning he was silent and still and didn't even say anything (v.2).  He is gazing into the fire, similar to how one can be mesmerized by the fire and cause you to think and contemplate many things in life.  Yet David keeping to himself burned inside him and he could no longer hold in his frustration.  How often do we try to keep stuff in only to be burning inside of us no matter if it's a good thing or bad.  He doesn't explode though on his enemies but goes to talk to God.  He's still dealing with his enemies and wonders if he's at the point of death.  How different we might act if we would know the day and time we would die.  Our life is short, a handbreadth which is average about six inches, a short measurement.   So what might you be keeping in that is burning to come out?  How would you live differently if you knew how many days you had left in this life?

Psalm 38

"There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me." vv.3-4

Read chapter 38.
This psalm is a petition from David when he is facing wrath not only from his enemies but from God also because of his sin.  It's hard to tell which sin exactly David is referring to here, it could be the sexual sin that happened with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah.  We see here that the Lord's wrath has caused David to become very ill as he describes the pain and disease all over his body.  We have to realize that God was dealing with man in a different way then as He is today in this dispensation of grace.  During this time with David, God showed favor towards those that obeyed Him and punished those that disobeyed.  This is NOT how God is working today.  God is working strictly in grace in this dispensation, showing undeserved favor to the godly and ungodly.  Today we see a believer and a nonbeliever commit the same sin and can have the same results or see that nothing happens to the nonbeliever from the sin but the believer suffers something.  This isn't from what God decides but the precessions of sin and free will of man.  God still showed His grace and lovingkindness to David by hearing his prayer.  When we suffer from a disease it could be the result of our choices or someone else or just this fallen world, but God can still heal.  How have you seen results of sin affect ones health?

Psalm 37

"Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity...Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." vv.1,4

Read chapter 37.
When I first became a believer I thought being a Christian was about following certain rules I had to follow.  I'd become envious of my old life and wanted to still partake in that thinking it was more fun.  I struggled giving up certain sins because I enjoyed them too much.  Many in our culture today buy into the lies of what we see on tv, in movies and the way of this world of the attractiveness of sin that that's what is really fun and will make you happy and that you're missing out if you don't partake.  This is such a lie!  We are not to be envious of evildoers and find the true joy that being with Christ means and is.  This verse also tells us not to fret of evildoers.  How often do we live in fear of men than fear of the Lord?  Yes we need to be smart and protect ourselves from evil but to not let it consume us and hinder us from living free in Christ.
I love verse four and pray not that my selfish desire would be granted but that His desire would become my desires and not the other way around.  This will come as we delight ourselves in the Lord.  The first meaning I found of definition of the word delight is "a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment" (dictionary.com).  Can you say you delight in the Lord?  What are desires of your heart?  Can you tell if they're of the Lord or of selfish means (even if something good)?

Psalm 36

"Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep;
O Lord, You preserve man and beast." vv.5-6

Read chapter 36.
Does anyone else start singing the Third Day song when they read these verse?  His mercy, His faithfulness, His righteousness and His judgments all display God's love.  It is high as the heavens, reaches all the way to the clouds, is wide as a great mountain and deep as the ocean.  I can get so dazed staring at all these different things in an awe I can't grasp and seems to be the same with the Lord's love.  It's just like the verse in the New Testament that says "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18).  Because of this great love of His we are preserved.  Man's wickedness could easily be stopped by God cutting man out of the picture, but He loves us rich in undeserved favor and His promises.  How do you grasp/ experience/ understand this 4-dimensional reach of love?

Psalm 35

"They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart." vv.12-13

Read chapter 35.
How often do you get down when you do something good for someone and don't receive the favor back?  Or even worse that they do something horrible to you, not necessarily as in return, but just because?  This is what David seems to be struggling with.  Not that he did something good so he could get something good out of it, but the deceitfulness in those relationships that he cared about didn't care about him.  It seems that David is referencing people close to him that became like enemies and not just anyone who hated David or nation of Israel, as we see his actions both in this verse and the following "I paced about as though he were my friend or brother."  Although David is sorrowful in his soul, he leans on God his sadness, prayer and praise knowing that The Lord will "favor his righteous cause" (v.27).  When has something like this happened to you?  How did you respond?  Have those relationships been rekindled?  How can you let the Lord be your praise through situations like these?

Psalm 34

"They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed...Seek peace and pursue it." vv.5,14

Read chapter 34.
Fixing our eyes on the Lord does some amazing things. The Companion Bible suggests that if we look within, we are miserable and if we look around we are distracted, but when we look to the Lord, we become radiant! Where are you looking?
Here when those look to God, they were radiant and not ashamed. "They" could refer to the humble from verse two. I think of Stephen in Acts 6 was said to have the face of an angel while he's facing those that want to kill him proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ. You could tell he sought the Lord and was not ashamed. To seek peace with others is more than just a desire but something you have to go after. We should seek peace first with God and then with man. How can you pursue peace with God and others?

Psalm 33

"For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast." v.9

Read chapter 33.
The Lord's voice is powerful.  At the sound of His voice the earth was created.  At His word man was given life.  At His command nothing in creation wavers.  When God spoke in Genesis one the whole world was created.  When Jesus said so, a child was brought back to life.  When Jesus spoke the soldiers fell down.  We wait also for that time when God will speak anew, after this long period of silence (not absence), and bring in His kingdom where every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  The way God speaks today is through His Word and it is powerful too!  It teaches, corrects, guides, comforts, rebukes, strengthens, and more.  Can you imagine a God this powerful with just His voice?  What are other ways you've seen God's powerful voice?

Psalm 32

"When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”  And You forgave the iniquity of my sinSelah" 
vv.3-5

Read chapter 32.
Here we have David talking about unconfessed sin.  When kept silent about it, not just to other people but to the Lord too, it eats away at the body.  The guilt that is felt in our minds effects our bodies, depriving us of sleep, causing stress to the bones, maybe even gray hair, depression and multiple other ways for every individual. David is possibly thinking of a specific occasion in his life here of his sin with Bathsheba and killing her husband Uriah.  David doesn't confess this sin for around a whole year as we know it didn't happen till after the baby was born (read 2 Samuel 11 & 12 if you're unfamiliar with that story).  
When David was called out by the prophet Nathan of his sin, he admitted and repented and God forgave him.  Today we do not need to confess our sins to be forgiven as we are already forgiven all our sins by Christ's death.  We can and should confess our sins to God to give Him the weight, guilt and shame we put on ourselves, but we must not think that confession is what secures us of forgiveness.  Christ has already done the work to forgive us all our sins.  All this seems to be for the believer and not the unbeliever (although unbelievers too can carry guilt shame but for other reasons than Christ's way).
What sins are you keeping silent about that cause you guilt and affecting your daily life or body?

Psalm 31

"I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind;
I am like a broken vessel." v.12

Read chapter 31.
Another psalm of David when he seems to be facing an illness and grief from his enemies and his people (v.11).  Because of this people seem to being moving on looking for a new king as if David were already dead, starting to forget him.  David says he feels like a "broken vessel" in the sense that once it's broken, it's useless and needs another.  Yet God works contrary to man's thinking.  The Lord delivered David from his enemies and his illness and restores him back as a strong and healthy king, "preserving the faithful" (v.23).  We can see this same parallel with the man Jesus Christ in that once He died, His enemies thought that was it and wouldn't trouble them and their ways any further, but He rose and returned and put them and the devil to shame.  How often do we feel forgotten and useless because of what others have or haven't done to or for us?  How have you felt broken and not put back together yet?  Or have been made new after brokenness?

Psalm 30

“What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit?  Will the dust praise You?  Will it declare Your truth?" v.9

Read chapter 30.
This is the first psalm to be called a song in the prescript.  A song that was sung at the dedication of David's house that we see was built in 2nd Samuel 7.  It's perhaps also a dedication of not only David's establishment as king but also of the glorious future establishment of David's line that is Jesus Christ as king and His house forever.  In this verse nine I picked out we see David remembering the cry of trouble he was facing yet also gives light to what happens when our life is taken away.  David ask and declares that there is no profit if he dies. The Hebrew word for blood is Nephesh which means soul.  If his soul is brought down to the pit rather than staying alive, God has no profit from it.  We know from Genesis 3:19 the LORD declared to Adam, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” David knows that when he dies, he will become dust.  So once David returns to dust, all the praise and truth he could offer would end.  Let us not wait till we are facing death to praise and tell of God's truths.  In this same psalm we have the reassurance that even when we die and go to the grave He won't abandon us there but will raise us up (v.3).  Praise Him today and declare one His truths to someone today.

Joel 3

“Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow—For their wickedness is great.  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision.  For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.  The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness." vv.12-15

Read chapter 3.
Well looks like from these verses we get a bit more of a picture of what the judgment will look like.  It will take place in the Valley of Jehoshaphat ("Yahweh is Judge"), which is between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem.  There are a couple ideas why it's called this, possibly where King Jehoshaphat overthrew the enemies of Israel in what they called the Valley of Berachah (blessing) or wherein was also found Valley of Hinnom where a lot of idolatrous worship happened that then became the Valley of Slaughter from judgment of the Lord (Jeremiah 7:31).  Also we see happening during this judgment time that the sun, moon and stars grow dark and diminish in brightness.  This isn't necessarily not because there won't be sun, moon or stars or that it's a bad thing that they're "darkened," but that Christ's light outshines them.  What else do you see in this chapter describing that time?  What is new to you?

Joel 2

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been; nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations.  A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; the land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; surely nothing shall escape them.  Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like swift steeds, so they run...The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word.
For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it?" vv.1-4,11
Read chapter 2.
Centaurs are in the Bible!  It appears that during the kingdom of the antichrist there are supernatural beings like this people with the appearance of horses (v.4).  This chapter has a lot going on it seems like, both future happenings and the then present happenings with the nation of Israel.  A big question to ask here is what is the Day of the Lord?  From the descriptions in this chapter alone, we can see it's not all a peaceful, heaven time.  It appears to be a time when Christ is executing judgment towards the end of the time of the tribulation.  Here we see the inhabitance in Zion tremble, which seems that the tribulation is only or mainly happening in Jerusalem.  It's a day of darkness and gloominess.  A great and strong army devoting the land and people.  Yet the best is that with just Christ's voice the army against Him and His people is taken out (v.11).  The Day of the Lord is not something the faithful should fear in that time, only the unfaithful who openly rebel against the Lord during that time of tribulation, time of great testing.  It is a "great and awesome day of the LORD" (v. 31).  Begin a list of characteristics you see that define this time of the Day of the Lord as you continue to read scripture?

Joel 1

"Be ashamed, you farmers,
Wail, you vinedressers,
For the wheat and the barley;
Because the harvest of the field has perished.
12 The vine has dried up,
And the fig tree has withered;
The pomegranate tree,
The palm tree also,
And the apple tree—
All the trees of the field are withered;
Surely joy has withered away from the sons of men." vv.11-12

Read chapter 1.

In this first chapter of the book of Joel we read about destruction of the land by locusts and drought, not just haphazard but from the Lord, a time that no other generation has seen from just natural causes (v. 2-3).  This seems to be a time just before the destruction of the kingdom of Judah.This should be a time of harvest of grains and fruit yet it has all withered.  This isn't just a withering because of the autumn season when leaves fall and no more fruit is produced, but at a time when it should be flourishing.  This isn't just one type of tree that doesn't do good that year, but ALL the trees of the field.  All these trees mentioned here are trees that had great value.  The fig of great advantage to those in whose land it grew, the pomegranate used as ornaments, the palm branches used of triumphant shows, the apple ( or other citrus fruits could mean hear from the Hebrew word) was the kind that ordinarily did well and could always count on.  Yet all these trees lost their use to the people and therefor their joy.  Joy in what they were putting their hope in instead of the Lord and why they should "be ashamed" (v.11).  What type of tree in your life has withered that have caused you deep distress where your joy has gone?  

Mark 16

"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” vv.15-18

Read chapter 16.
Have you ever compared the "great commissions" in the different gospels?  They are different and that doesn't mean that the Bible is in error but that there were multiple commissions by Jesus and each one to a specific time period and purpose.   There's a lot of focusing on the words used here to determine when this was and who this was to.  For example, today when one believes we don't see these signs follow: cast out demons, speak in tongues, not hurt by poisons, healing of sick.  Yet we do see all of these true in the book of Acts during that short 30 year time period.  The word "will" describing each one of these signs is showing a sure thing, not "possibly" or "sometimes."  A lot of confusion can happen in the first part of the commission of "all the world" and "every creature" seeming that this commission can't be fulfilled till every last person and animal (creature?) is preached to.  Yet this must be more specific and something the apostles understood as we read in Acts 11:19 that they preached "to no one but the Jews" (yes we do see some gentile believers in the Acts period, but not to them as a whole yet).  I do not believe this commission in Mark 16 is for us today but that it was completed in the period of the book of Acts (noticed the past tense used in verse 20).  Now this isn't to say then we don't need to preach the gospel because yes we should share who Jesus Christ is with all people no matter Jew or Gentile and we shouldn't want to hide that light, that joy, that hope, and most importantly salvation.  Take time to compare the different commissions in each gospel. What commission are you following in your specific life?

Mark 15

"But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.  Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!” vv.11-14

Read chapter 15.
All because they believe Jesus was blaspheming they want to crucify Him.  In the Law the penalty for blasphemy was stoning (Leviticus 24:10-16), not crucifixion.  Crucitfixion was a penalty of the Roman government for treason and not one that Israel could carry out so the chief priest demand it of Pilate, this could have been Barabbas' punishment so therefore easy to transfer the punishment from one criminal to the next by the crowd.  Clearly theses priests and Pharisees are hypocrites of changing the law to get what they want out of it, taking things out of context or mixing it up.  It's interesting to think that this crowd is wanting Jesus crucified the day after all the towns people were laying down palm branches and shouting Hosanna to Him.  I believe it's because this isnt the same crowd.  We see from this chapter that it was custom for Pilate to release a prisoner, so the crowd that gathers at Pilates door most likely are followers of Barabas and want him released.  The majority of Isrealites would be at home doing all the many preparaitions for the Passover that was then and probably wouldnt have been as easily stirred up by the chief priest to let a real criminal free.  I've thought to myself today how I can be hypocritical like the Pharisees sometimes in my life with rules at work or in the state law (ex. not driving the speed limit, not being on my phone at work, etc) but then tell others what they can/cant do.  What areas of your life do you do things that will benefit you at the cost of breaking a rule or law?  What are some other times in scripture you see hypocrisy in the leaders of Israel?

Mark 14

"Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”  A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept." vv.71-72

Read chapter 14.

Here we see what happened to Peter when under pressure and stressed and then when realized the test he failed at.  The Greek word for curse here is a form of anathema, which is used also in scripture to talk about those cut off from eternity with God.  It says that Peter cursed and swore against knowing Jesus.  This doesn't mean that he said vulgar words, but rather mentioned that he'd rather be caught off from God or from Israel if he didn't speak the truth, which he clearly lied but we also know that the Lord forgave him.  Once Peter hears the rooster crow the second time he's reminded of the conversation with the Lord in verses 27-31.  Then something he never thought he'd do, this truth calls him out in his lack of faith and failure that then causes him to cry.  Let's not think our own ability will help us stand in hard times, but the Lord.  How do you respond when fear or are under stress or pressure of who the Lord is to you and in your life?  When have you realized, or what truth spoke to you, in your lack of faith or denial of Him causing you to feel remorse?  

Mark 13

"And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.  But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These arethe beginnings of sorrows. “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them."  vv.5-9

Read chapter 13.
Rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines and troubles are all just the BEGINNING of the tribulation time Jesus is speaking of here.  Sadly it's an every day headline of the wars going on all over the world, earthquakes happen regularly, famine in certain parts of the world seems like it's always been, and all these things have continued to happen even before Christ spoke these words.  So are we just in a really long beginning?  I think one key here that changes that this is NOT now is the word "rumor." This makes it seem to show that there will be a time when all these things cease for a time, so when they start up it'll be rumors to parts of the world when these begin to strike the world again.  I believe in a pre-tribulation Kingdom period, when the dead rise and Elijah restores all things (Mark 9:12).  This is a time of peace throughout the whole world, when everyone knows God, but this time will be brought to an end and the start of the tribulation by these signs of wars, earthquakes, famines, troubles.  What is your view on the tribulation time?  What scripture do you point to?  What makes understanding the tribulation hard?

Mark 12

"So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”  Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." vv.22-25

Read chapter 12.

Is there marriage in heaven?  This passage is what many use to say "No."  Yet let's take a closer look at what's being said both by the Sadducees and Jesus here.  The Sadducees who bring up this argument trying to trap Jesus don't believe in the resurrection of the dead and most likely used this same argument against the Pharisees, who do believe in the resurrection, to stump them.  In 1 Corinthians 7:39 it says that a "wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord."  So in death no one is married and start off in the resurrection as single.  Being like angels in heaven doesn't mean we become neuter beings as we know from Genesis 6 that angels impregnated women so there must at least be male type angels.  And if they were able to have sex God would then allow them to be married.  What we can be confused by then is the phrase "they neigher marry nor are given in marriage."  Men have always had free will in marriage, although arranged marriages may not seem like free will to the husband or wife, it was the free will of their families to carry out a tradition or demand.  Even those that have free will to choose who they marry feel like they got it wrong sometimes and as we see the divorce rate continually going higher and higher.  Think about it, Adam and Eve were married before the fall, marriage wasnt just a thing as a result from the fall but something God saw Adam needing a helper.  In the resurrection God will arrange marriages like He did when He created Eve for Adam.  There will be no man's arrangement in it as Jesus is refering to here.  There is the possibility that some chose right and will have the same wife or husband in heaven.  Sex was created by God as something good and it'll be in heaven too!  So whatcha thinking now? 

Mark 11

"And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” vv.13-14

Read chapter 11.

This story seems rather strange.  Jesus sees a fig tree with leaves, which usually meant there would be fruit too, but finds no figs.  The text clearly says it was NOT the season for figs, so shouldn't be expecting it.  So why then does Jesus curse the tree?  There's a lesson Jesus is trying to teach here.  It wasn't the kingdom yet or a time when Jesus was reigning and everyone confessing that He is Lord, yet to the Israelites they should've known that He was the Messiah they were waiting for and to honor Jesus as King even before the Kingdom to come.  And therefore is upset for their not being ready or understanding the time.  Just like examples we see in scripture of men honoring and following David before he was actually king on the throne or for those who today bow their knees and confess with their tongues that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:11) before the day when all will, whether believer or not.  It pleases God when we produce fruit out of season, when it may not be the time when Christ is reigning on earth we can still live like it's the kingdom with our hearts, attitudes and daily life.  How can you bear fruit out of season?

Mark 10

"Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” vv.46-48

Read chapter 10.  

The first thing I noticed when reading this chapter was that the blind man has a name, Bartimaeus.  Of course every man has a name but it seems like a lot of times in scripture they're just called "a blind man" or "a boy with a demon" or "a lame man," but here the blind man is named in scripture for all to read about and as we see has great faith in Jesus.  There were many blind beggars then as they didn't have the sort of help for blind people we have today so seem like a common situation and also reason possibly for the crowd to tell him to be quiet be more annoyed by him than compassionate.  Bartimaeus doesn't let them hide him from Jesus but cried out all the more for the Lord to have mercy on him.  How often people intimidate others in whatever their situation from turning and crying out to the Lord.  Let us never let anyone stop us from reaching out to Christ.  How does knowing this blind mans name encourage you?  When have you felt discouraged by others when turning to the Lord?  What resulted in your actions/response?