This chapter focuses on being "on track" in life, using our God-given gifts for His glory and the Kingdom. Max illustrates this with a golf story where he unknowingly played the wrong fairway, using it as a metaphor for being off the life course. The chapter then challenges readers to embrace their role as Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:11-21), actively inviting others to church and sharing the Gospel.
In the time of the Israelites, there was a wicked false god by the name of Molech, and one of the ways they would sacrifice to this god was to bring him child sacrifices. In Leviticus 20, we read how serious God is that no one will harm one of His children in this way. Children were sacrificed on the altars of false gods then, and they are sacrificed on the altars of our false gods now. Then the god was Molech, and now the false god is ourselves. We live in the wilderness of child sacrifice, and...
In Leviticus 10, we read of the judgment that was given to Nadab & Abihu, who are Aarons sons and priests of God’s people. They did not honor God, they did not act without integrity, and God demonstrated that those who seek to serve Him are held to a higher level of accountability. The Israelites constantly had to struggle in the wilderness of poor leadership, and so do we. Paul instructs Timothy on who is counted as worthy of leading, teaching, and shepherding God’s people, and so often we ...
In Leviticus 10, we read of the judgment that was given to Nadab & Abihu, who are Aarons sons and priests of God’s people. They did not honor God, they did not act without integrity, and God demonstrated that those who seek to serve Him are held to a higher level of accountability. The Israelites constantly had to struggle in the wilderness of poor leadership, and so do we. Paul instructs Timothy on who is counted as worthy of leading, teaching, and shepherding God’s people, and so often we ...
This chapter focuses on developing a deep excitement and longing for worship—engaging in God’s Word, preaching, singing, and the Lord’s Supper. It challenges believers to reflect on whether they eagerly anticipate worship each week. Max emphasizes that worship is the most important thing Christians do, as it brings them into God’s presence. He draws from Exodus 34:29-35, where Moses' face glowed after encountering God, and asks how worship today transforms believers. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 furthe...
In Exodus 33, Moses is begging God to show him HIS full glory. Moses is tired of the Wilderness of the Now and Not Yet. This week, we are reminded of our own frustrations of only partially seeing, understanding, and experiencing what it means to be a Child of God. We know there is an incredible promised land coming where the frustrations of this wilderness will be a distant memory, but until that day, we see but in a mirror dimly. This week, we are encouraged that there will be a day that we wil...
The Israelites come to Mt Sinai and are waiting for Moses to return with instructions from God. Moses is taking a long time, so they decide to turn to something else to be their protection and provision. The Israelites make themselves an idol and replace the true worship of God for something of this world. We also walk in the wilderness of idolatry, where we often replace the true worship of God with things of this world. It might not be a golden calf, but idols come in all shapes and sizes. Any...
The Israelites come to Mt Sinai and are waiting for Moses to return with instructions from God. Moses is taking a long time, so they decide to turn to something else to be their protection and provision. The Israelites make themselves an idol and replace the true worship of God for something of this world. We also walk in the wilderness of idolatry, where we often replace the true worship of God with things of this world. It might not be a golden calf, but idols come in all shapes and sizes. Any...
While the Israelites are in Rephidim, they are attacked by Amalek, and it says in Exodus that as long as Moses held up his arms, the Israelites prevailed, but the problem was that, over time, his arms grew weary. Aaron & Hur came to prop up his arms, and they did all they could to help Moses keep his arms up so they could win the victory. I think we can all relate to being in the wilderness of weariness. When it is hard to lift our hands to bless others, to lift our arms in praise, to lift o...
The Israelites moved on from the Wilderness of Sin and entered Rephidim, and immediately, they began to quarrel with Moses because of the lack of water. To quarrel is to have a heated argument or discussion, and many times, it is related to trivial things. When people lose trust in God, they often resort to control & ego, and this will then lead to quarrels. We walk in this same wilderness of quarreling, and we all need the reminder from 2 Timothy 2:23: “Have nothing to do with foolish, igno...
The Israelites moved on from the Wilderness of Sin and entered Rephidim, and immediately, they began to quarrel with Moses because of the lack of water. To quarrel is to have a heated argument or discussion, and many times, it is related to trivial things. When people lose trust in God, they often resort to control & ego, and this will then lead to quarrels. We walk in this same wilderness of quarreling, and we all need the reminder from 2 Timothy 2:23: “Have nothing to do with foolish, igno...
This passage explores the concept of deep, intimate relationships—first with a close friend and then, ultimately, with Almighty God. It challenges the reader to reflect on their personal relationship with God and whether they experience true intimacy with Him.
As the Israelites continue in the wilderness, they come into the Wilderness of Sin, and they begin to grumble because of the lack of food. To grumble is to complain about something in a bad-tempered way. Their lack of trust in their God as their provider caused them to act entitled and prideful and led them to grumble against God Himself. The sound of grumbling is always a nasty sound in the ears of our God and something that today we repent of in our own lives and come back to a place of trust ...
As the Israelites entered the wilderness, they came to the waters of Marah but could not drink it because it was so bitter. Not only was the water bitter, but so was their attitude. To be bitter is a sharpness in taste and lack of sweetness, and as we wander the wilderness of our lives, we also can find our attitudes, our speech, and our thoughts becoming bitter. Paul speaks to this in Ephesians 4 when he says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth but only what is good for building up....
As the Israelites entered the wilderness, they came to the waters of Marah but could not drink it because it was so bitter. Not only was the water bitter, but so was their attitude. To be bitter is a sharpness in taste and lack of sweetness, and as we wander the wilderness of our lives, we also can find our attitudes, our speech, and our thoughts becoming bitter. Paul speaks to this in Ephesians 4 when he says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth but only what is good for building up....
Chapter 12 underscores Jesus’ purposeful journey toward the cross, His call for followers to live sacrificially, and His unity with the Father in fulfilling God’s plan for redemption.
This chapter encourages active listening, prayer, Scriptural engagement, and surrender to God to grow in faith and follow the Good Shepherd.
This Ash Wednesday, we look at the Wilderness of Slavery. The Israelites were enslaved people to Egypt just as humanity enslaved people to the power of sin. On Ash Wednesday, we remember the curse of the law that brings about death in our mortal bodies, but we also remember the sure and certain hope of the resurrection from the dead. Just as God heard the cries of the Israelites, God also heard the cries of humanity and sent Jesus as the one to redeem us from our slavery to sin and to bring us t...
