Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. “THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.” (JOHN 14:26)
FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.
- What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?
- From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?
SECOND DAY READ NUMBERS 21:4-9 FIRST READING
(“So Moses prayed for the people.”)
- Why were the people complaining? Numbers 21:4
- Why is the Lord patient with you? 2 Peter 3:9
- Who did the people complain against and with what did they say they were disgusted? Numbers 21:5
- What did the Lord send as punishment among the people and what happened to them? Numbers 21:6
- Who was the most cunning of all the animals that the Lord God had made? Genesis 3:1
- What is the ancient serpent called and what did he do? Revelation 12:9
- Why must we be sober and alert and what must we do? 1 Peter 5:8-9
- Who did the people say they had sinned against, who did the people go to and what did they ask Moses to do? Numbers 21:7
- What did Moses do for the people, what did the Lord tell Moses to do and what would happen to those who had been bitten? Numbers 21:7-8
- What did Moses make and what happened to the people who looked on it?
umbers 21:9
Personal – In what area in your life have you been complaining about how God provides for you and how the leaders in the church are leading you? Examine your conscience and see if there is any anger. Read Ephesians 4:26-27
THIRD DAY READ PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11 SECOND READING
(“Jesus Christ is Lord”)
- Whose interest is Paul telling them to look out for and what are they to have among themselves? Philippians 2:4-5
- With whom did Jesus not regard equality as something to be desired? Philippians 2:6
- What did Jesus do, whose form did he come in, and how did he appear? Philippians 2:7
- Fill in the following blanks: “He_humbled_Himself, becoming_obedient to___death__even___death__on a cross.” Philippians 2:8
- What did Jesus say he was? Matthew 11:29
- To whom does God teach the way and how does He guide them? Psalm 25:9
- Son though he was, Jesus learned what? Hebrews 5:8
- What did God do and bestow on Jesus? Philippians 2:9
- What will happen to those who humble themselves? Matthew 23:12
- What must we do at the name of Jesus and what must every tongue confess? Philippians 2:10-11
Personal – From what do you need to rid yourself in order to have the same attitude as Christ?
FOURTH DAY READ JOHN 3:13-17 GOSPEL
(“……everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”)
- Who is speaking and to whom is he speaking? John 3:9-10
- Who did Jesus say has gone up to heaven and come down from heaven? John 3:13
- What did Moses lift up in the desert, who must be lifted up, and what will everyone who believes in him have? John 3:14-15
- Who has passed from death to life? John 5:24
- What is the sting of death and where do we find our victory? 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
- Who does God love, who did he give up, and for what reason? John 3:16
- What must we do in order to have eternal life and not be condemned? John 3:16-18
- How did God prove his love for us? Romans 5:8
- What did God not send His Son into the world to do and where is there no condemnation? John 3:17 and Romans 8:1
- Who can be saved through Jesus? John 3:17
Personal – Share a time you were able to love and forgive someone while they were still in sin. Share a time that you died to your needs, to yourself, and that you thought of the needs of another.
FIFTH DAY READ PSALM 78:1-2, 34-38
(“But God is merciful and forgave their sin.”)
Read and meditate on Psalm 78:1-2, 34-38
What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?
How can you apply this to your life?
SIXTH DAY READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY
NUMBERS 21:4-9
The people of Israel demonstrated a level of discontent and disobedience through their whining and grumbling. They focused on their discomfort and not on the power of God. Faith had fled them and they added an extra forty years to their trip. This happens to many of us when we are in our deserts of sickness, death or hardship. We tend to focus on what our problems are and we begin to whine and grumble.
Our attitude, like those Israelites in this passage, needs to change. We need to trust God and to see His patience and love for us as we go through our trials and tribulations. We might remember that God is preparing us both spiritually and physically for our inheritance. Psalm 78 shows us several reasons why the tribulations are more difficult for us. Many times we forget what God has done for us. We demand even more, our repentance is insincere; we are ungrateful for what God has done for us. Our complaining is, many times, very much a part of these thoughtless actions and attitude.
God used the many poisonous snakes in the desert to punish the people for their unbelief. The Israelites could not have understood the fuller meaning of the bronze snake and what Jesus would bring to this event (John 3:14-15). It was not the snake that healed the people; it was their belief in God. This is proved by their obedience.
PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11
This passage in many ways reminds us of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. Jesus’ character shows that He always has existed, and that He is equal to God because He is God (John 1:1). Though Jesus is God, He became a man in order to fulfill God’s plan of salvation and He became a man to identify with man. He gave up everything He had out of love for His Father. He died on the cross for us, so that we would not have to face eternal death.
God glorified Jesus because of His obedience. God raised Him from the dead, and He will reign forever as our Lord and Judge. We are called to put on the mind of humility like Jesus did and are called to think of others before we think of ourselves. Today many claim their so-called rights through excuses of selfishness, pride or greed. Some even claim “This is my body and I can do whatever I want with it.” It is called a reproductive right that allows a child to be murdered through abortion.
As believers we should have a different attitude, an attitude that enables us to give up our rights for the good of others. To follow Christ, we must live as He lived. We should develop His attitude of humble service even when we are not likely to get recognition. Are you selfishly clinging to your rights or are you willing to serve others like Jesus did?
JOHN 3:13-17
We heard in the last reading how God sent a plague of snakes to punish the people for their rebellious attitudes. Looking to Jesus for our salvation happens the same way. You will be saved from sin’s deadly “bite” by looking to Jesus and by believing He will save you. The gift of living forever is the promise that Jesus makes to all of us.
We are told that anyone who believes in God shall not perish but will have eternal life. This is a guarantee that you will live with Him forever in heaven. You will be free of pain, worry and fear. The entire Gospel comes to a focus in this verse. True love is not static or self-centered: it reaches out and draws in. If you love someone, you are willing to pay the price for that person’s love. We need to hear it again: God paid dearly with the life of His Son, the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life He bought for us with His own blood. When you and I share the Gospel with others our love must be like His – willingly giving up our own comfort and security. This is how others will respond and will join us in receiving God’s love. Choose Christ and live forever.
What is the sin that is so prevalent today? The sin of Pornography is holding millions in hostage and their lives are as a dead man’s. The sins of sexual perversion include men or women becoming sexually involved with others of the same sex or even sexually involved with children. We see so many men and women lose themselves in drugs and alcohol. Unless you look up to Christ on the cross the “bite” of sin will kill you. The promise He makes today is as strong as it was on the day Christ died. Christ is the only way to salvation and freedom. Fall on your knees today and repent of your sins. Ask Christ to come in and be the Lord of your heart. He will fill you completely because He has promised you your inheritance.
Application
The first reading reveals what happens when we complain. The second reading calls us to be humble. The Gospel reveals how God loves us.
Share your belief in Jesus’ Name by loving someone who is difficult to love. Do something concrete to show that love and begin with your family. Mark down every time you complain in one day and repent.