Day 7 Genesis 16:1-18:19; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5 God’s Chosen People I grew up with comic books: Superman, Batman, Silver Surfer, and the Fantastic Four. Of course, I also knew the names of Bible characters, and also bits and pieces of their stories. I did not read the Bible for myself, so I…
Jesus’ better way invites us to take God’s own love and perfection as our pattern. Not any human standard of honorable status, but Jesus’ model of holiness, Jesus’ descriptions of the “kingdom of God” delighted in turning the rules of honor on their heads.
What would happen if all of us truly and deeply sought this year to learn, understand, and hearken to God’s voice? He is speaking a language that can unite our hearts and spirits for the purposes of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Day 4 Gen 8:1-10:32, Matt 4:12-25, Ps 4:1-8, Prov 1:20-23 Following Jesus Is a Family Affair The reading from Matthew tells of Jesus’ call of the fishermen, Simon Peter and Andrew, and their calling of their colleagues, James and John. On the surface of it, it is a testimony to the inherent power of Jesus’…
Day 3 Genesis 5:1–7:24, Matthew 3:7–4:11, Psalm 3:1–8, Proverbs 1:10–19 The Inauguration of the Kingdom The Baptism of Jesus by John is the formal ceremonial moment marking the inauguration of his rule as the Anointed One, the Messianic King. John the Baptist’s preaching is identified as the “voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare…
Day 2 Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6; Psalm 2; Proverbs 1:7-9 The First Gospel The story of Adam and Eve from Genesis 1-3 establishes the fundamental conflict of the Bible—what is God going to do about the problem of evil? This is the age-old problem that has plagued humanity since the beginning. We do not have…
Day 1 Genesis 1:1‐2:25; Matthew 1:1‐2:12; Psalm 1:1‐6; Proverbs 1:1-6 New Beginnings! Welcome! Let’s get started with new beginnings! The opening chapters of Genesis set forth the major themes of the Bible: Creation, Fall, Redemption. God takes the chaos and void and creates by His Word vibrant light from the deep void, wondrous form and…
Day 365 Malachi 3:1-4:6; Revelation 22:1-21; Psalm 150; Proverbs 31:25-31 The Final Word, Come! The juxtaposition of the last chapter of the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, and the last chapter of the New Testament, Revelation, highlights two distinct comings of The Lord. Malachi anticipates the return of an Elijah prophet, who we…
Day 364 Malachi 1:1-2:17; Revelation 21:1-27; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 31:10-24 The Consummation of the Kingdom There is a theological tension sometimes expressed as the now and not yet. By faith we are in the Kingdom now, under the rule and reign of Christ Jesus. Spiritually, the old has passed away, and we have become a…
Day 363 >Zechariah 14:1-21; Revelation 20:1-15; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 31:8-9 Open Your Mouth, Judge Righteously, Defend the Poor and Needy! Dietrich Bonhoeffer, described in an exhaustive biography by Eric Metaxas as a pastor, martyr, prophet, and spy, was a leading figure in the Confessing Church, the center of German Protestant resistance in Nazi Germany. Early…
Day 362 Zechariah 12:1-13:9; Revelation 19:1-21; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 31:1-7 God Is Good – All the Time! We are in the final few days of our year-long journey through the Holy Scriptures. So it seems fitting that our readings remind us of some of the ultimate truths of our faith. Our God exercises His divine…
Day 361 Zechariah 10:1-11:17; Revelation 18:1-24; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 30:33 Waiting in Joyful Hope In today’s reading from Revelation, we find that in the midst of Babylon’s imminent destruction, God sends word via a second messenger to bid His people to remove themselves from the destruction of a place irreparably consumed by sin. This urging…
