Exodus 16.29 NLT\\u{A0}<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
'They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord\u2019s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.'<\/p>\\n
It was vital that the weekly rhythm of life was maintained in the desert. On the face of it, this was going to be difficult to achieve with God\u2019s miraculous provision of daily food in the morning and evening. But God knew this and so provided the people with twice the normal supplies of food on a Friday in order to allow the Sabbath to be a day of rest. True to form, some of the people went out on the Sabbath to look for food and sure enough there was nothing there. The principle of a day of rest was foundational to their life together.<\/p>\\n
A day of rest continues to be of crucial importance to us today. Sundays have got progressively busier in recent years. The days when most of the people travelling on a Sunday were going to church have long gone. The shopping malls are heaving with customers; sports events are busy; car boot sales attract great swarms of people; and those who stay at home are busy on the Internet or on social media.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n
But amidst this constant activity we need to take time to stop, reflect and worship. When I was a child my parents had very strict rules about the use of Sundays. We were not to play with balls, watch television, do homework or go to shops or cinemas. I suspect that most people would question those rules (and I certainly do!) but I thank God that, from my earliest days, Sunday was something special. It couldn\u2019t be confused with the other days of the week. It stood apart and was a day for us to focus our attention on God.<\/p>\\n
The life of the people of Israel trudging through the desert could hardly be more different from our lives today, but I believe that the principle of the sabbath still holds good and that we should work hard at keeping Sunday special.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: In what ways do you seek to keep your Sundays special?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of the sabbath. Help us to use our Sundays wisely so that we can become stronger in serving you. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 194\n \"hash\" => \"88340716a79c682f7336959e47433999\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-12 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #original: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29945\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/31b582e2-62fd-3e11-8165-3c223d3c784e\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1193\n \"title\" => \"Day 43 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-43-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:14\", \"subtitle\": \"Exodus 16.29 NLT\\u{A0}\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n'They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord\u2019s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go ...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183044-BS_K_-_121121983qy.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Exodus 16.29 NLT\\u{A0}<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
'They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord\u2019s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.'<\/p>\\n
It was vital that the weekly rhythm of life was maintained in the desert. On the face of it, this was going to be difficult to achieve with God\u2019s miraculous provision of daily food in the morning and evening. But God knew this and so provided the people with twice the normal supplies of food on a Friday in order to allow the Sabbath to be a day of rest. True to form, some of the people went out on the Sabbath to look for food and sure enough there was nothing there. The principle of a day of rest was foundational to their life together.<\/p>\\n
A day of rest continues to be of crucial importance to us today. Sundays have got progressively busier in recent years. The days when most of the people travelling on a Sunday were going to church have long gone. The shopping malls are heaving with customers; sports events are busy; car boot sales attract great swarms of people; and those who stay at home are busy on the Internet or on social media.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n
But amidst this constant activity we need to take time to stop, reflect and worship. When I was a child my parents had very strict rules about the use of Sundays. We were not to play with balls, watch television, do homework or go to shops or cinemas. I suspect that most people would question those rules (and I certainly do!) but I thank God that, from my earliest days, Sunday was something special. It couldn\u2019t be confused with the other days of the week. It stood apart and was a day for us to focus our attention on God.<\/p>\\n
The life of the people of Israel trudging through the desert could hardly be more different from our lives today, but I believe that the principle of the sabbath still holds good and that we should work hard at keeping Sunday special.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: In what ways do you seek to keep your Sundays special?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of the sabbath. Help us to use our Sundays wisely so that we can become stronger in serving you. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 194\n \"hash\" => \"88340716a79c682f7336959e47433999\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-12 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #changes: []\n #casts: array:3 [\n \"episode_data\" => \"object\"\n \"published_at\" => \"datetime\"\n \"deleted_at\" => \"datetime\"\n ]\n #classCastCache: []\n #attributeCastCache: []\n #dateFormat: null\n #appends: []\n #dispatchesEvents: []\n #observables: []\n #relations: array:1 [\n \"podcast\" => App\\Models\\Podcast {#2670\n #connection: \"mysql\"\n #table: \"podcasts\"\n #primaryKey: \"id\"\n #keyType: \"int\"\n +incrementing: true\n #with: []\n #withCount: []\n +preventsLazyLoading: false\n #perPage: 15\n +exists: true\n +wasRecentlyCreated: false\n #escapeWhenCastingToString: false\n #attributes: array:17 [\n \"id\" => 12\n \"brand_id\" => 81\n \"title\" => \"Episodes\"\n \"meta_title\" => null\n \"intro\" => \"Bring some Spirit-filled peace into your hectic schedule every weekday morning with this new Daily Devotional.\"\n \"slug\" => \"episodes\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20250325131114-1200x1200BSAK.webp\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => \"thumbnails\/PwPnKXLnoWUTSPin7YwSrTjOguQlT9SfdeJlWDLn.webp\"\n \"xml_feed_url\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/be-still-and-know-daily-bible-devotion.xml\"\n \"brand_nav_order\" => null\n \"is_active\" => 1\n \"is_open_access\" => 0\n \"is_playlist\" => 0\n \"last_cached_at\" => \"2025-08-04 14:32:07\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2023-03-09 09:22:35\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2025-08-04 15:32:07\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #original: array:17 [\n \"id\" => 12\n \"brand_id\" => 81\n \"title\" => \"Episodes\"\n \"meta_title\" => null\n \"intro\" => \"Bring some Spirit-filled peace into your hectic schedule every weekday morning with this new Daily Devotional.\"\n \"slug\" => \"episodes\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20250325131114-1200x1200BSAK.webp\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => \"thumbnails\/PwPnKXLnoWUTSPin7YwSrTjOguQlT9SfdeJlWDLn.webp\"\n \"xml_feed_url\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/be-still-and-know-daily-bible-devotion.xml\"\n \"brand_nav_order\" => null\n \"is_active\" => 1\n \"is_open_access\" => 0\n \"is_playlist\" => 0\n \"last_cached_at\" => \"2025-08-04 14:32:07\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2023-03-09 09:22:35\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2025-08-04 15:32:07\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #changes: []\n #casts: array:2 [\n \"last_cached_at\" => \"datetime\"\n \"deleted_at\" => \"datetime\"\n ]\n #classCastCache: []\n #attributeCastCache: []\n #dateFormat: null\n #appends: []\n #dispatchesEvents: []\n #observables: []\n #relations: []\n #touches: []\n +timestamps: true\n +usesUniqueIds: false\n #hidden: []\n #visible: []\n #fillable: []\n #guarded: array:1 [\n 0 => \"*\"\n ]\n +parent_relationship: \"brand\"\n #forceDeleting: false\n }\n ]\n #touches: []\n +timestamps: true\n +usesUniqueIds: false\n #hidden: []\n #visible: []\n #fillable: []\n #guarded: array:1 [\n 0 => \"*\"\n ]\n +parent_relationship: \"podcast\"\n #forceDeleting: false\n }\n \"nextEpisodes\" => Illuminate\\Database\\Eloquent\\Collection {#2752\n #items: array:3 [\n 0 => App\\Models\\PodcastEpisode {#2751\n #connection: \"mysql\"\n #table: \"podcast_episodes\"\n #primaryKey: \"id\"\n #keyType: \"int\"\n +incrementing: true\n #with: []\n #withCount: []\n +preventsLazyLoading: false\n #perPage: 15\n +exists: true\n +wasRecentlyCreated: false\n #escapeWhenCastingToString: false\n #attributes: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29944\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/f6c31ea9-feef-38a7-a52a-030a0b848af9\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1194\n \"title\" => \"Day 44 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-44-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:11\", \"subtitle\": \"Exodus 18.24-25 NLT\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n'Moses listened to his father-in-law\u2019s advice and followed his suggestions. He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hund...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183040-BS_K_-_131121awkxo.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Exodus 18.24-25 NLT<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
'Moses listened to his father-in-law\u2019s advice and followed his suggestions. He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.'<\/p>\\n
Moses\u2019 father in law, Jethro, paid him a visit in the desert and was thrilled to hear about the amazing way in which God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt. But he was not so thrilled when he saw the way in which Moses handled disputes. From morning till evening Moses would listen to the people\u2019s problems and give them a ruling from God. It was all very impressive, but Jethro could see that it was unsustainable. He suggested that Moses was going to wear himself out, and the people too! He needed to change, and Jethro encouraged him to recruit other people to consider the simpler cases and to retain for himself only the more difficult ones. It was a straightforward recommendation and Moses was happy to take his father in law\u2019s advice.<\/p>\\n
Every leader needs to learn the skill of delegation. Without it, they wear themselves out, as Jethro predicted. In the life of the church, delegation is particularly important because God has deliberately given gifts to his church to enable its work to be done. If one person hugs all the tasks to themselves the church will never grow. Every leader needs to be continually looking for others who can share the responsibilities, knowing that, as they take on these tasks, they will grow and the work of the church will be extended. Effective delegation relies on the leader seeing their responsibility to train and encourage those to whom roles are delegated. When a leader off-loads a job on to another person and walks away it is called abdication, and that\u2019s precisely what mustn\u2019t happen. Such an experience makes people quickly become demoralised and give up.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n
Thank God for Jethro\u2019s wise advice and for the blessing of loving and thoughtful delegation.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: What do you need to learn about wise delegation?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Thank you, loving Lord, for those who give me wise advice. Help me to listen to it and turn it into action. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 191\n \"hash\" => \"905fe643c9b7156ba01694482632caad\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-13 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #original: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29944\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/f6c31ea9-feef-38a7-a52a-030a0b848af9\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1194\n \"title\" => \"Day 44 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-44-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:11\", \"subtitle\": \"Exodus 18.24-25 NLT\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n'Moses listened to his father-in-law\u2019s advice and followed his suggestions. He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hund...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183040-BS_K_-_131121awkxo.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Exodus 18.24-25 NLT<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
'Moses listened to his father-in-law\u2019s advice and followed his suggestions. He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.'<\/p>\\n
Moses\u2019 father in law, Jethro, paid him a visit in the desert and was thrilled to hear about the amazing way in which God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt. But he was not so thrilled when he saw the way in which Moses handled disputes. From morning till evening Moses would listen to the people\u2019s problems and give them a ruling from God. It was all very impressive, but Jethro could see that it was unsustainable. He suggested that Moses was going to wear himself out, and the people too! He needed to change, and Jethro encouraged him to recruit other people to consider the simpler cases and to retain for himself only the more difficult ones. It was a straightforward recommendation and Moses was happy to take his father in law\u2019s advice.<\/p>\\n
Every leader needs to learn the skill of delegation. Without it, they wear themselves out, as Jethro predicted. In the life of the church, delegation is particularly important because God has deliberately given gifts to his church to enable its work to be done. If one person hugs all the tasks to themselves the church will never grow. Every leader needs to be continually looking for others who can share the responsibilities, knowing that, as they take on these tasks, they will grow and the work of the church will be extended. Effective delegation relies on the leader seeing their responsibility to train and encourage those to whom roles are delegated. When a leader off-loads a job on to another person and walks away it is called abdication, and that\u2019s precisely what mustn\u2019t happen. Such an experience makes people quickly become demoralised and give up.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n
Thank God for Jethro\u2019s wise advice and for the blessing of loving and thoughtful delegation.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: What do you need to learn about wise delegation?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Thank you, loving Lord, for those who give me wise advice. Help me to listen to it and turn it into action. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 191\n \"hash\" => \"905fe643c9b7156ba01694482632caad\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-13 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #changes: []\n #casts: array:3 [\n \"episode_data\" => \"object\"\n \"published_at\" => \"datetime\"\n \"deleted_at\" => \"datetime\"\n ]\n #classCastCache: []\n #attributeCastCache: []\n #dateFormat: null\n #appends: []\n #dispatchesEvents: []\n #observables: []\n #relations: []\n #touches: []\n +timestamps: true\n +usesUniqueIds: false\n #hidden: []\n #visible: []\n #fillable: []\n #guarded: array:1 [\n 0 => \"*\"\n ]\n +parent_relationship: \"podcast\"\n #forceDeleting: false\n }\n 1 => App\\Models\\PodcastEpisode {#2750\n #connection: \"mysql\"\n #table: \"podcast_episodes\"\n #primaryKey: \"id\"\n #keyType: \"int\"\n +incrementing: true\n #with: []\n #withCount: []\n +preventsLazyLoading: false\n #perPage: 15\n +exists: true\n +wasRecentlyCreated: false\n #escapeWhenCastingToString: false\n #attributes: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29941\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/2c436894-bfbb-3013-bc67-bce14726450c\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1195\n \"title\" => \"Day 45 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-45-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:09\", \"subtitle\": \"Matthew 8.8 NLT\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nThe officer said, \u201cLord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.\u201d\\nThe officer in question was a Roman Centurion. He was a powerful person in the milit...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183039-BS_K_-_1411219e954.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Matthew 8.8 NLT<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
The officer said, \u201cLord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.\u201d<\/p>\\n
The officer in question was a Roman Centurion. He was a powerful person in the military forces that were occupying Israel at the time and was, therefore, much hated by the population who longed to be set free. However, it\u2019s difficult not to warm towards this particular soldier. He approached Jesus because of his concern for his young servant. This in itself was remarkable because servants were viewed as property and had no legal rights of their own. The fact that the Centurion was concerned about his servant and was going out of his way to seek his healing is impressive. But, more than that, we note his huge respect for Jesus. He didn\u2019t believe that he was worthy to have Jesus visit his home but, in any case, he had such great faith in Jesus\u2019 healing ability he didn\u2019t consider that such a visit would even be necessary. He was sure that all that was needed was for Jesus to pronounce healing for his servant and it would be done.<\/p>\\n
Jesus was amazed by the Roman officer and commented that his faith was beyond anything that he had seen in Israel. The Jews were looking forward to a great banquet at the end of time and Jesus affirmed that there would be plenty of Gentiles who would be sitting down at this great feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And, sadly, there would be many Jews who assumed that their tickets were booked for the banquet, who would be thrown into outer darkness, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus was clear that the doors of the Kingdom had been flung open to the world.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
God welcomes faith wherever he finds it, and we need to do so as well. We need to keep our minds and hearts open to celebrate people\u2019s faith and to encourage it to grow. This story tells us that we need to be ready to find it in the most unlikely places.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: In what unlikely places have you found people of faith?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Lord God, we praise you for the gift of faith. Increase our faith and help us to be ready to recognise and encourage it wherever we meet other men and women of faith. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 189\n \"hash\" => \"4f8dfa6240b4bd672e0a96d32211206d\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-14 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:50\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:50\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #original: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29941\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/2c436894-bfbb-3013-bc67-bce14726450c\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1195\n \"title\" => \"Day 45 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-45-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:09\", \"subtitle\": \"Matthew 8.8 NLT\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nThe officer said, \u201cLord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.\u201d\\nThe officer in question was a Roman Centurion. He was a powerful person in the milit...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183039-BS_K_-_1411219e954.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Matthew 8.8 NLT<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
The officer said, \u201cLord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.\u201d<\/p>\\n
The officer in question was a Roman Centurion. He was a powerful person in the military forces that were occupying Israel at the time and was, therefore, much hated by the population who longed to be set free. However, it\u2019s difficult not to warm towards this particular soldier. He approached Jesus because of his concern for his young servant. This in itself was remarkable because servants were viewed as property and had no legal rights of their own. The fact that the Centurion was concerned about his servant and was going out of his way to seek his healing is impressive. But, more than that, we note his huge respect for Jesus. He didn\u2019t believe that he was worthy to have Jesus visit his home but, in any case, he had such great faith in Jesus\u2019 healing ability he didn\u2019t consider that such a visit would even be necessary. He was sure that all that was needed was for Jesus to pronounce healing for his servant and it would be done.<\/p>\\n
Jesus was amazed by the Roman officer and commented that his faith was beyond anything that he had seen in Israel. The Jews were looking forward to a great banquet at the end of time and Jesus affirmed that there would be plenty of Gentiles who would be sitting down at this great feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And, sadly, there would be many Jews who assumed that their tickets were booked for the banquet, who would be thrown into outer darkness, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus was clear that the doors of the Kingdom had been flung open to the world.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
God welcomes faith wherever he finds it, and we need to do so as well. We need to keep our minds and hearts open to celebrate people\u2019s faith and to encourage it to grow. This story tells us that we need to be ready to find it in the most unlikely places.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: In what unlikely places have you found people of faith?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Lord God, we praise you for the gift of faith. Increase our faith and help us to be ready to recognise and encourage it wherever we meet other men and women of faith. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 189\n \"hash\" => \"4f8dfa6240b4bd672e0a96d32211206d\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-14 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:50\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:50\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #changes: []\n #casts: array:3 [\n \"episode_data\" => \"object\"\n \"published_at\" => \"datetime\"\n \"deleted_at\" => \"datetime\"\n ]\n #classCastCache: []\n #attributeCastCache: []\n #dateFormat: null\n #appends: []\n #dispatchesEvents: []\n #observables: []\n #relations: []\n #touches: []\n +timestamps: true\n +usesUniqueIds: false\n #hidden: []\n #visible: []\n #fillable: []\n #guarded: array:1 [\n 0 => \"*\"\n ]\n +parent_relationship: \"podcast\"\n #forceDeleting: false\n }\n 2 => App\\Models\\PodcastEpisode {#2749\n #connection: \"mysql\"\n #table: \"podcast_episodes\"\n #primaryKey: \"id\"\n #keyType: \"int\"\n +incrementing: true\n #with: []\n #withCount: []\n +preventsLazyLoading: false\n #perPage: 15\n +exists: true\n +wasRecentlyCreated: false\n #escapeWhenCastingToString: false\n #attributes: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29938\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/054c653c-3431-35cc-8300-612547ae2f99\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1196\n \"title\" => \"Day 46 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-46-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:24\", \"subtitle\": \"Matthew 8.19-20 NLT\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nThen one of the teachers of religious law said to him, \u201cTeacher, I will follow you wherever you go.\u201d But Jesus replied, \u201cFoxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his hea...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183036-BS_K_-_1511218uhpi.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Matthew 8.19-20 NLT<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, \u201cTeacher, I will follow you wherever you go.\u201d But Jesus replied, \u201cFoxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.\u201d<\/p>\\n
I\u2019ve heard some speakers talk about the Christian life as if it was a life of peace and happiness characterised by sunshine and blue skies. Jesus never spoke about it in that way. If anything, he went to exactly the opposite extreme. He spoke about the huge costs and demands of being one of his followers. In this encounter, he is particularly blunt. You might have thought that Jesus would have responded to this teacher by saying how delighted he was that he was so committed to following him. But no, he launched into a description of his own vulnerability. Even though he was the Son of Man he had no secure home. Later on, when a man asked if he could bury his father before following Jesus, he was told to leave the dead to bury their dead. It was all very blunt language.<\/p>\\n
I am absolutely clear that following Jesus is the very best life that can be imagined. In John 10.10 Jesus contrasted his role as the Good Shepherd with that of a thief. Jesus said, \u201cThe thief\u2019s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.\u201d The whole purpose of Jesus\u2019 life and ministry was to open up the way to a relationship with his Father, that would enable men and women to experience God\u2019s love, peace and joy. But the relationship would be marked by suffering for his followers just as it was for Jesus himself.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n
It was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who bravely spoke out against the Nazi regime and who was murdered at their hands just before the end of the Second World War, who said, \u201cWhen Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.\u201d Bonhoeffer\u2019s own testimony was exactly that. He was willing to put his own life at risk in order to be faithful to his Lord. He bravely opposed the Nazi regime at a time when most church leaders chose to lie low and stay quiet. Wonderful as it undoubtedly is, following Jesus will always be costly.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: How do you respond to the costliness of following Jesus?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me to follow you with conviction and strength whatever the cost. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 204\n \"hash\" => \"c9e911772d5c09a03de90e9149cef4d9\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-15 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:50\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:50\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #original: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29938\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/054c653c-3431-35cc-8300-612547ae2f99\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1196\n \"title\" => \"Day 46 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-46-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:24\", \"subtitle\": \"Matthew 8.19-20 NLT\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nThen one of the teachers of religious law said to him, \u201cTeacher, I will follow you wherever you go.\u201d But Jesus replied, \u201cFoxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his hea...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183036-BS_K_-_1511218uhpi.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Matthew 8.19-20 NLT<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, \u201cTeacher, I will follow you wherever you go.\u201d But Jesus replied, \u201cFoxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.\u201d<\/p>\\n
I\u2019ve heard some speakers talk about the Christian life as if it was a life of peace and happiness characterised by sunshine and blue skies. Jesus never spoke about it in that way. If anything, he went to exactly the opposite extreme. He spoke about the huge costs and demands of being one of his followers. In this encounter, he is particularly blunt. You might have thought that Jesus would have responded to this teacher by saying how delighted he was that he was so committed to following him. But no, he launched into a description of his own vulnerability. Even though he was the Son of Man he had no secure home. Later on, when a man asked if he could bury his father before following Jesus, he was told to leave the dead to bury their dead. It was all very blunt language.<\/p>\\n
I am absolutely clear that following Jesus is the very best life that can be imagined. In John 10.10 Jesus contrasted his role as the Good Shepherd with that of a thief. Jesus said, \u201cThe thief\u2019s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.\u201d The whole purpose of Jesus\u2019 life and ministry was to open up the way to a relationship with his Father, that would enable men and women to experience God\u2019s love, peace and joy. But the relationship would be marked by suffering for his followers just as it was for Jesus himself.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n
It was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who bravely spoke out against the Nazi regime and who was murdered at their hands just before the end of the Second World War, who said, \u201cWhen Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.\u201d Bonhoeffer\u2019s own testimony was exactly that. He was willing to put his own life at risk in order to be faithful to his Lord. He bravely opposed the Nazi regime at a time when most church leaders chose to lie low and stay quiet. Wonderful as it undoubtedly is, following Jesus will always be costly.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: How do you respond to the costliness of following Jesus?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me to follow you with conviction and strength whatever the cost. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 204\n \"hash\" => \"c9e911772d5c09a03de90e9149cef4d9\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-15 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:50\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:50\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #changes: []\n #casts: array:3 [\n \"episode_data\" => \"object\"\n \"published_at\" => \"datetime\"\n \"deleted_at\" => \"datetime\"\n ]\n #classCastCache: []\n #attributeCastCache: []\n #dateFormat: null\n #appends: []\n #dispatchesEvents: []\n #observables: []\n #relations: []\n #touches: []\n +timestamps: true\n +usesUniqueIds: false\n #hidden: []\n #visible: []\n #fillable: []\n #guarded: array:1 [\n 0 => \"*\"\n ]\n +parent_relationship: \"podcast\"\n #forceDeleting: false\n }\n ]\n #escapeWhenCastingToString: false\n }\n \"previousEpisode\" => App\\Models\\PodcastEpisode {#2740\n #connection: \"mysql\"\n #table: \"podcast_episodes\"\n #primaryKey: \"id\"\n #keyType: \"int\"\n +incrementing: true\n #with: []\n #withCount: []\n +preventsLazyLoading: false\n #perPage: 15\n +exists: true\n +wasRecentlyCreated: false\n #escapeWhenCastingToString: false\n #attributes: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29947\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/26fc2c9c-79d9-3202-865d-a5492cb853c1\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1192\n \"title\" => \"Day 42 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-42-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:24\", \"subtitle\": \"Exodus 16.19-20 NLT\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nThen Moses told them, \u201cDo not keep any of it until morning.\u201d But some of them didn\u2019t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183044-BS_K_-_111121avqeg.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Exodus 16.19-20 NLT<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
Then Moses told them, \u201cDo not keep any of it until morning.\u201d But some of them didn\u2019t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.<\/p>\\n
The rule couldn\u2019t have been simpler. The bread or manna that God gave to his people every morning would sustain them for the day ahead, but it couldn\u2019t be kept overnight. Formed by the secretion of insects, if it was left it would soon become mouldy and inedible. All the people needed to do was to obey this very simple rule and then all would be well. But people will be people, and some decided that it was a silly rule and that they would try to hang on to the food. Moses was understandably angry with them.<\/p>\\n
Why is it that human beings find it so hard to obey? The story of humanity from the Garden of Eden onwards is one of recurrent disobedience. This is tragic because all the blessings of this life are on offer to those who will obey, and disobedience invariably leads to one form of disaster or another. Jesus spoke much about obedience and made it clear that a relationship with him absolutely depended upon it. In saying that, he pointed out that his relationship with his own Heavenly Father was also based upon obedience. There is an old song which sums this up very powerfully. \u201cTrust and obey for there\u2019s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.\u201d It\u2019s so simple and yet, in our own ways, we all struggle to live completely in this way.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n
The commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples was to love one another, just as he had loved them. This is still the fundamental rule that we are commanded to obey. Loving other people is often tough and costly. When we reach out in love it is sometimes thrown back in our faces, but, whatever the circumstances, the command is always to love. Jesus knew the high price of love better than anyone, but obedience to this command is always God\u2019s way and is always the best possible way.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: Do you struggle to obey God\u2019s commands? If so, in what ways?<\/p>\\n
PRAYER: Lord God, I thank you that you are so forgiving. Teach me afresh the blessing of obedience. Amen<\/p>\"}\"\n \"duration_seconds\" => 204\n \"hash\" => \"a1a1553726a27d5d157b88aeabc50563\"\n \"published_at\" => \"2021-11-11 04:00:00\"\n \"created_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"updated_at\" => \"2024-12-19 13:37:51\"\n \"deleted_at\" => null\n ]\n #original: array:15 [\n \"id\" => 29947\n \"podcast_id\" => 12\n \"guid\" => \"bestillandknowpodcast.podbean.com\/26fc2c9c-79d9-3202-865d-a5492cb853c1\"\n \"episode_no\" => 1192\n \"title\" => \"Day 42 - Issue 39\"\n \"slug\" => \"day-42-issue-39\"\n \"original_thumbnail_img\" => \"https:\/\/pcr-rss.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308180514-BSAK-Podcast-Thumb-3000x3000.jpg\"\n \"thumbnail_img\" => null\n \"episode_data\" => \"{\"duration\": \"03:24\", \"subtitle\": \"Exodus 16.19-20 NLT\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nThen Moses told them, \u201cDo not keep any of it until morning.\u201d But some of them didn\u2019t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them...\", \"audio_src\": \"https:\/\/pcr-od.streamguys1.com\/be-still-and-know\/20230308183044-BS_K_-_111121avqeg.mp3?awCollectionId=Be+Still+and+Know&awGenre=Religion+and+Spirituality\", \"description\": \"
Exodus 16.19-20 NLT<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
Then Moses told them, \u201cDo not keep any of it until morning.\u201d But some of them didn\u2019t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.<\/p>\\n
The rule couldn\u2019t have been simpler. The bread or manna that God gave to his people every morning would sustain them for the day ahead, but it couldn\u2019t be kept overnight. Formed by the secretion of insects, if it was left it would soon become mouldy and inedible. All the people needed to do was to obey this very simple rule and then all would be well. But people will be people, and some decided that it was a silly rule and that they would try to hang on to the food. Moses was understandably angry with them.<\/p>\\n
Why is it that human beings find it so hard to obey? The story of humanity from the Garden of Eden onwards is one of recurrent disobedience. This is tragic because all the blessings of this life are on offer to those who will obey, and disobedience invariably leads to one form of disaster or another. Jesus spoke much about obedience and made it clear that a relationship with him absolutely depended upon it. In saying that, he pointed out that his relationship with his own Heavenly Father was also based upon obedience. There is an old song which sums this up very powerfully. \u201cTrust and obey for there\u2019s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.\u201d It\u2019s so simple and yet, in our own ways, we all struggle to live completely in this way.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n
The commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples was to love one another, just as he had loved them. This is still the fundamental rule that we are commanded to obey. Loving other people is often tough and costly. When we reach out in love it is sometimes thrown back in our faces, but, whatever the circumstances, the command is always to love. Jesus knew the high price of love better than anyone, but obedience to this command is always God\u2019s way and is always the best possible way.<\/p>\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n
QUESTION: Do you struggle to obey God\u2019s commands? If so, in what ways?<\/p>\\n
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[]\n<\/pre>