Wednesday, February 28th: Numbers 31-33, Hebrews 10:19-39 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 31-33, Hebrews 10:19-39

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.I love this verse.  God keeps His promises.  Always!  And we can trust that completely.  Our hope is secure.

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. What a great reminder to me that we need to be mindful about encouraging one another in our Christian walk.  Everyone can benefit from encouragement, and so often it doesn't take much to make someone's day.  If you think of something positive about someone, tell them!  The tongue is so powerful - the words we say can either tear down or build up.   Let's be intentional about using our words to build each other up!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 34-36, Hebrews 11:1-22

Tuesday, February 27th: Numbers 28-30, Hebrews 10:1-18 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 28-30, Hebrews 10:1-18

Hebrews 10:11-12-
Day after day every priest stands & performs his religious duties; again & again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God

I love the symbolism found in the Bible. It is clearly laid out for anyone to understand but, as you study, you see deeper meanings & so many intricacies woven in.

In these verses, it is mentioned that the priest continues to stand because the sacrifices offered by him were never enough. However, the new priest (Jesus) could sit after his sacrifice was offered because his work was finished.

God’s work is complete “because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (vs 14)

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 31-33, Hebrews 10:19-39

Monday, February 26: Numbers 25-27, Hebrews 9 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 25-27, Hebrews 9

I am a parent of 2 adult children and 1 almost adult child. As they were growing up, we reminded them to be mindful of the company they surround themselves with. We told them that you will become like those you hang around with. Their behaviour and actions will become the behaviour and actions you do. Their words and language will become the words and language you use. Their associations in activities will also be what people see as acceptable to you. We encouraged them to choose their circle of friends wisely.

Today's reading opens with the negative effects of choosing to surround yourselves with bad influences. Sexual promiscuity, idol worship, and blatant disrespect for morals and leaders caused the Lord to burn with anger. There are always consequences for bad behaviour. Twenty-four thousand people died including Zimri and Cozbi who were literally killed "red-handed" in their act.

Unfortunately, surrounding yourself with good people does not always mean you will make the best choices. As we read in the continuing chapters, even though people were associated with Aaron and Moses, some chose to rebel against them.
This Dathan and Abiram are the same community leaders who conspired with Korah against Moses and Aaron, rebelling against the Lord. 10 But the earth opened up its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, and fire devoured 250 of their followers. This served as a warning to the entire nation of Israel.
God answered their rebellion with flames. But there is always hope...

I like how Zelophehad's daughters admitted their father had died by his own sin but that they were still deserving of an inheritance, just as a son would have been. Laws were changed by their advocacy for their own rights. They had the chance to choose wisely from then on.

Joshua is the hope for the next generation. It would seem that in a community where men were being seduced that men like Joshua were few and far between. However, there were always men who stood firm in their beliefs and became an example and a leader to those around them.

We have hope too. Even in our disastrous life choices and surrounding ourselves with less than stellar influences, we have redemption through Christ:

1 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come.[e] He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. 


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 28-30 Hebrews 10:1-18

Saturday, February 24th: Numbers 22-24, Hebrews 8 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 22-24, Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8:8-12 is a quotation of Jeremiah 31:31-34 which compares the old and new covenants.
“The day is coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel and Judah.
9 This covenant will not be like the one
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
and led them out of the land of Egypt.
They did not remain faithful to my covenant,
so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.
10 But this is the new covenant I will make
with the people of Israel on that day,[c] says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds,
and I will write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors,
nor will they need to teach their relatives,[d]
saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’
For everyone, from the least to the greatest,
will know me already.
12 And I will forgive their wickedness,
and I will never again remember their sins.”[e]
I appreciated what my Life Application Bible says....
The old covenant was the covenant of law between God and Israel. The new and better way is the covenant of grace - Christ's offer to forgive our sins and bring us to God through his sacrificial death. This covenant is new in extent - it goes beyond Israel and Judah to include all the Gentile nations. It is new in application because it is written on our hearts and in our minds. It offers a new way to forgiveness, not through animal sacrifice but through faith. 

I am so thankful to be included in the new covenant.
I am so thankful that God gave me a new heart on which he's written this covenant of grace.
I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit continues to work in my life, giving me new desires and helping me want to obey God.
I am so thankful for His continuous grace to me.

Tomorrow: Catch up day!
Monday's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 25-27, Hebrews 9

Friday, February 23rd: Numbers 19-21; Hebrews 7 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 19-21; Hebrews 7

“For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” - Hebrews‬ ‭7:19‬

The good deeds we do are not what draws us closer to God. Only when we let Jesus change our hearts, and when we have hope and believe in Him and His promises, that is when we draw closer to God. It is through Christ that we have been saved, not through anurging we have done.

Thank you, Jesus, that your love and mercy save us everyday.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 22-24; Hebrews 8

Thursday, February 22nd: Numbers 16-18, Hebrews 6 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 16-18, Hebrews 6

4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.
I found this information to be helpful in understanding this passage.

The article describes the two interpretations in more details, but neither of them teach that we can lose our salvation.  In summary....
The first interpretation presents unbelievers rejecting Christ and thereby losing their chance of salvation; the second interpretation presents the very idea of believers losing salvation as impossible. Many scriptures make it abundantly clear that salvation is eternal (John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35, 38-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:4-5), and Hebrews 6:4-6confirms that doctrine.
19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. The first part of this verse is very well known (and was the theme verse for our church's day camp program all last summer).  And I love its truth!  Our hope is secure and totally immovable when it is anchored in God.

But the second part of the verse is also incredibly meaningful - though it is not as obvious to us without the same cultural context as the Jews. The curtain hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place which symbolized the barrier between us and God. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and even then, only one a year to stand in God's presence and atone for the sins of the entire nation.  But at the death of Jesus this curtain was torn!  When we place our faith in Jesus, we are now able to stand in God's presence at all times, not just once a year.  What an amazing symbol of the restoration of our relationship with God!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 19-21, Hebrews 7

Wednesday, February 21st: Numbers 13-15, Hebrews 5 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 13-15, Hebrews 5

I appreciated this explanation of Hebrews 5:8
8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
The immediate context runs from Hebrews 4:14 through 5:10 and deals with Jesus’ qualifications to serve as the one and only High Priest in heaven for all people, for all time. Here (and elsewhere in Hebrews) we learn that Jesus was fully divine yet fully human and that He was without sin yet experienced temptation and human weakness. Because of Jesus’ unique nature and experience, He can fully relate to our struggles as He performs the priestly duties required by the Law for the forgiveness of our sins.

Focusing on Hebrews 5:8—an inseparable part of one sentence running for three verses—we have an extremely condensed version of Jesus’ life on earth. He was the infinite Son of God who nevertheless experienced the limits of space and time and life as we do. God could have created a fully grown adult body for Jesus as He did for Adam and rushed Him to the cross, but He didn’t. Instead, Jesus left heaven, entered time (Philippians 2:5–8), and experienced for Himself ordinary human life from birth to adulthood to death. Learning and suffering and death are part of the life experience for all people, and God ensured that His own Son would be no exception. As God, Jesus did not need to learn anything, especially obedience; yet, at His incarnation, Jesus limited Himself to the human experience. He chose the weak position of having to learn and grow (Luke 2:52).

Jesus “learned obedience” not in the sense that He was prone to disobedience and had to bring rebelliousness under control, but in the sense that He fully entered the human experience. As a child, He obeyed His parents (Luke 2:51); as an adult, He obeyed the Law (Matthew 5:17) and fulfilled all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). All His life, Jesus completely fulfilled the Father’s will (John 8:29; 15:10; Hebrews 10:9). He knew what obedience was prior to His incarnation, of course, but He “learned” obedience on earth by experiencing it. In every situation, no matter how difficult, the Son was obedient to the Father: “The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me” (Isaiah 50:5–6).

Jesus learned obedience “from what He suffered.” As the divine Son of God, Jesus did not have to suffer, but as the Son of Man, suffering was required to learn obedience. The Greek word used in Hebrews 5:8 for “suffered” usually refers to enduring unpleasant experiences like disease (Mark 5:26) or persecution (Acts 8:1). But it often also implies enduring a challenging process that transforms the sufferer (Romans 5:3; 2 Corinthians 1:3–9). That is the sense in which the word is used in Hebrews 5:8 (see also Hebrews 2:10). Jesus chose to endure an unpleasant, challenging process because it was the will of His Father for His brief time on earth. After that process Jesus had been “made perfect.” It is crucial to note that perfect here means “complete,” as in finishing a full course of training or education—or, in Jesus’ case, He finished an altogether righteous human life and had a complete understanding of human frailty and suffering. It was Christ’s total human obedience, coming through extreme suffering, that qualifies Him to be our eternal High Priest, “now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death” (Hebrews 2:9).

Having been “perfected,” not morally but in relation to His ministry as our Savior, Jesus is qualified to be “the source [or author] of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus’ high priesthood is not a temporal Levitical priesthood but is everlasting, “in the order of Melchizedek” (verse 10).
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 16-18, Hebrews 6

Tuesday, February 20th: Numbers 10-12, Hebrews 4 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 10-12, Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4:15-16-
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help us in our time of need.

When I think of my many shortcomings it is easy to feel completely defeated.

We fail, we sin – but he “gets” it. Jesus was tempted in every way & he understands what we face.

I love that the verse says the we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence.” We aren’t going to be turned away, we aren’t going to be told that this was one time too many & he’s not giving up on us.

Jesus, in his temptations, did not sin. We, however, will give in too many times & in those times we will receive mercy & help to have victory over it but we also have access to that power to overcome temptations & sin. We will find “grace to help us in our time of need” when we seek him.

Let us not be defeated when faced by our failures but to meet Jesus on our knees knowing that he understands what we struggle with & he’s ready to empower us to overcome.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 13-15, Hebrews 5

Monday, February 19: Numbers 7-9, Hebrews 3 by Kaden

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: Numbers 7-9, Hebrews 3

Hebrews 3:4 says, "For every house was built by someone, but the builder off all things is God."
    I often find myself telling myself that my talents and accomplishments were done on my own doing, but I should take a step back and give God the glory he deserves, because he created all things, which includes me as well.

Hebrews 3:16 states, "For those who heard and yet rebelled?, was it not those who left Egypt led by Moses?"
    Here we are told to listen for God's voice and do as He says, because his plans are greater than ours, if Moses decided to not trust God's plan and not take God's people out of Egypt's slavery, then no one would have been able to be free, we all need to listen for God, and trust his plan and dive head first in his ways.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 10-12, Hebrews 4

Saturday, Feb 17: Numbers 4-6, Hebrews 2 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 4-6, Hebrews 2

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭NLT‬

We can never become complacent. Left to our own devices, we would drift away from the truth. Surrounded by secular society, it can be easy to become persuaded that the truth is something other than what the Bible says.

But truth must be grounded in God's Word, or it is not truth at all.

The best way to detect a counterfeit bill is to be so familiar with the real one that anything else is obviously fake. The same holds true for theology. We need to be so familiar with the Word that anything less than biblical truth is immediately detected for the false teaching it is.


Tomorrow: Catch up day

Friday, February 16th: Numbers 1-3; Hebrews 1 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Numbers 1-3; Hebrews 1

“He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:10‬

I often think that if I could go back in time to watch any part of history, it would be when God created the earth. That must’ve looked so incredibly amazing! Imagine God whipping planets across the galaxy, or molding the sun with His hands, or carefully placing very single detail into all of His creation.

It’s good to take a step back sometimes, and just think about how amazing God is. We often mention “prayer requests” when we talk to God, but it’s also important to praise Him in our prayers, and acknowledge Him for the amazing works He has done.

Thank you, God, for being so incredibly awesome. Help us to soak that in today. You are absolutely amazing.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 4-6; Hebrews 2

Thursday, February 15th: Leviticus 25 - 27, Philippians 4 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 25-27, Philippians 4

Leviticus 25:18
“ 'Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land.

A simple yet difficult verse to follow in our lives, and difficult for the Israelites as well. What makes it difficult is our own stubbornness in thinking that we know what's best for ourselves and will then do anything to achieve this. This verse is simple - it says to follow God and obey Him.

In our new testament reading we also see this,

Philippians 4: 6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A good reminder for me to leave things with God and not worry, to trust in Him fully.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 1-3, Hebrews 1

Wednesday, February 14th: Leviticus 22-24, Philippians 3 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 22-24, Philippians 3

Philippians 3:10a that I may know him
Five words that say a lot!

This was Paul's purpose, to know Jesus Christ, and it should be ours too.

Grant Richison says.....(emphasis mine)
The word “that” introduces a purpose clause. This was Paul’s life purpose. The life ambition of Paul was to know Jesus Christ better. He had known Him for a quarter of a century. Yet he wanted to know Him better. He could aim no higher. In verse 8 Paul referred to knowing Christ as “the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” There is no end to knowing about the greatness of Christ.

It is interesting how many people feel that coming to Christ initially in salvation is all there is to know of Him. Initial salvation only introduces us to Him. It does not exhaust the wonder of His person. As we grow in grace, we understand Him better:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Through the study of the Word of God, we will know Him better. The Bible is even called “the mind of Christ” (I Cor. 2:16). The Word of God is God’s thinking about Christ. We will become more intimate with Him as we grow in grace. Salvation is only the beginning, the commencement of knowing Him. His person is many splendored. It takes time to know Him.

The word “know” means to know by experience. It is not enough to know Jesus Christ academically. We must know Him personally by the experience of fellowship with Him. That experience comes primarily from the study of Scripture....

The more we center on the person of Christ, the more our spiritual life grows. If we lessen our relationship with Him, our spiritual life weakens. Are you daily studying the Word to know more of Christ? Is this your life ambition?
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Leviticus 25-27, Philippians 4

Tuesday, February 13th: Leviticus 19-21, Philippians 2 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 19-21, Philippians 2

Philippians 2:3&4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Here is yet another verse that convicts me. All too often my focus is on me, whether it be a prideful attitude or wanting things my way rather than putting others first.

Unfortunately, I fail so often (in so many areas). I read verses in the bible that speak to me & want to do better, decide to do better, but too often nothing really changes.

Verse 13 says
For it is God who works in you to will & to act according to his good purpose

I don’t have to achieve this on my own, in fact, I can’t. It is God who has to do the work in me.

This is something that has been sticking out at me lately .  God is not expecting us to be able to change, he knows that we can’t do it on our own but wants the opportunity to do it for us.

God only really has the opportunity to do this, though, if we continually give ourselves to him & seek him. Reading the bible, praying, focusing our thoughts on him daily is the only way. We need to let go of ourselves & seek him in order for him to do his work in shaping us.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 22-24, Philippians 3

Monday, February 12: Leviticus 16-18, Philippians 1 ~ by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 16-18, Philippians 1

Scripture: 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Observation: We are a (continual) work in progress.

Application: We live in a society of instant gratification. We have fast food. We have speed dialling. We have rapid transit. We have texting and instant messaging. We have instagram. We have google. We have drive thru banking. We have online banking. We have electronic money transfers. We have tap credit cards. We have click and connect grocery shopping. Got a problem? We've got an app for that. Got an illness? We've got a pill for that. Instant gratification.

As a grade 1 teacher, in my 9th year of teaching, I have already seen the effect of this instant gratification world in my students. They are less patient. They are irritable when things take time. It's so hard to get them to slow down and understand that things don't always happen instantly.

Paul says that he is confident that God is not finished with us. He also adds that God may only be finished when Christ returns. We may wait our whole lives to feel that we are completed or finished. That is a long wait and can be discouraging in a society that demands instant gratification.

However, there is encouragement in that too. Until we die, or until Christ returns, we have the opportunity to get better. Each day we are a work in progress and God is faithful during the whole journey. This is a comfort to me as I deal with a new diagnosis for Multiple Sclerosis. God is not done with me and He will be with me along the journey wherever it may lead. I may not experience the healing the way that I would like but I know that God is faithful.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Your love never fails. Help us to realize that You have the future in your hands and that we have the confidence that You are working to finish what You started. Thank you for being forever faithful. Grant us patience to remember that You are not finished with us yet. Amen.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 19-21, Philippians 2

Saturday, February 10th: Leviticus 13-15, Ephesians 6 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 13-15, Ephesians 6

6 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord,[a] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”[b]

4 Fathers,[c] do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

I like the fact that Paul addresses both children and parents in this passage (and both slaves and masters afterwards).

Yes, children are to be obedient and honour their parents, but we are supposed to parent in love, with patience and understanding, not as domineering authorities.

This transfers to other areas of authority as well - both sides need to treat each other with respect, submitting first to the Lord’s authority over our lives.


Tomorrow: Catch Up Day
Monday’s Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 16-18, Philippians 1

Friday, February 9th: Leviticus 10-12; Ephesians 5 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 10-12; Ephesians 5

“Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” - Ephesians‬ ‭5:16‬

It can be very very tiring to keep the faith in “these evil days”, as put in this verse. Sometimes it can even seem hopeless, especially when you’ve been friends or coworkers with someone who does not believe in God for years, and still they don’t believe in Him. But don’t lose heart, God is working in ways you can’t even see. You might just be the planter of seed, and it will be someone else who harvests. It can be very hard not to lose hope when everything around us seems to be without God, but we need to trust that God has a plan, and we need to “make the most of every opportunity” that He presents us with. It’s a tiring race, but it’s nothing compared to the wonderful reward we will receive at the finish line.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 13-15; Ephesians 6

Thursday, February 8th: Leviticus 7-9; Ephesians 4 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 7-9; Ephesians 4

“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” - ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:3‬

This verse serves as a good reminder that we need to work our hardest to be at peace with everyone around us, especially fellow Christians who we are supposed to be one with. We need to remember we are all God’s children, and none of us is greater than the other. Five year olds, ninety year olds, men, women, pastors, newest church goers, and everyone else. We need to act as one body because that is what we are. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 10-12; Ephesians 5

Wednesday, February 7th: Leviticus 4-6, Ephesians 3 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 4-6, Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
He is able to do more than we can even imagine.

And that amazing power is in us.

He can work in us.
He can work through us.
For His glory.

Such simple and yet profound truth.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 7-9, Ephesians 4

February 6: Leviticus 1-3, Ephesians 2 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 1-3, Ephesians 2

Scripture-
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4)

Observation-
“Even when we were dead in transgressions” - & not giving any indication that we were trying to do better or even doing “ok” but just needing a little help. He didn’t see humanity trying so hard, getting so close to doing right that he thought that he’d help us out & just finish it for us. We were dead & he gave it to us, bringing us to life. Christ didn’t just “help” us with our salvation, he gave us our salvation freely. What a merciful God!

Applications-
When we have been extended such unmerited mercy, how can we not extend mercy to those around us. Jesus died for us; giving his life for us when we were so undeserving. How can we be unwilling to forgive/show grace to those around us.
In the “little” things we can make a big impact to others & within our hearts. How about extending graciousness throughout our day to day; not getting annoyed so quickly, speaking in kindness when someone’s “getting to you”, looking for the best in someone rather than assuming the worst, etc.

Prayer-
Lord Jesus, it can be so easy to take for granted the gift of forgiveness & mercy you so willingly gave us. Help us to work from the inside out to extend mercy to those around us, to show others a taste of the love that you have for us.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 4-6, Ephesians 3

Monday, February 5: Exodus 39-40, Ephesians 1 by Kaden

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 39-40 Ephesians 1

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 1-3 Ephesians 2

Ephesians 1:9-10 "Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and  things on earth."


I often notice myself questioning what God's plan for me is, and most often I forget that his plan is only revealed to us when the time is right. God's plan cannot be predicted or changed, his plan is set and will be revealed when the time is right.

This coming week I encourage you to follow God's will, even if it seems like his plan has no point, and trust his promises as we were told, and remember that he reveals his plan when we are ready.

Saturday, February 3rd: Exodus 37-38, Galatians 6 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 37-38, Galatians 6

Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spiritshould restore that person gently.
People like to take a verse or two out of the Bible, take it out of context, and twist it to mean something it doesn't.  For example - "Judge not" is used pretty often to excuse sin and to convince believers that they have no right to hold someone accountable for their actions.  This is not true, and this is one of many verses that shows us otherwise.

We cannot judge the heart - only God can.  But we can, and should, judge actions according to the Word.

We need to hold each other accountable - but in love and in a gentle and grace-filled manner.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
This is pretty self-explanatory, and an obvious truth, and yet people like to live as though somehow they'll be the exception to this rule!  We cannot expect to sin and then escape the consequences.  There is always forgiveness, and God can redeem even the darkest situation, but there are still consequences that we have to live with.


Tomorrow: Catch Up Day!
Monday's Bible In a Year Passage:  Exodus 39-40, Ephesians 1

Friday, February 2nd: Exodus 34-36; Galatians 5 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 34-36; Galatians 5

“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
- Galatians‬ ‭5:25

In every part of our lives. We need to follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Not just the two days after a sermon that really hit home, not just during a set of worship that had your hands raised and eyes closed, not just during Sunday school where you volunteered to pray this time instead of waiting for someone to pick you, but in every part of our lives. That means after a bad day at work or school, we still need to come home and follow the Spirit’s leading. When someone offends us and all we want to do is fire insults back, when the McDonalds worker doesn’t get the order right and you’re alreafy late for work, we still need to follow Him. Yes, it’s hard, and yes, we’re going to mess up multiple times. But He “gives us new mercies everyday”. We need to follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 37-38; Galatians 6

Thursday, February 1: Exodus 31-33; Galatians 4 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 31-33; Galatians 4

“And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” - Galatians‬ ‭4:6-7‬

Being the oldest child, I have the tendency to think I can do everything myself, I don’t need help from anyone, and if I can’t do it myself then I’m a failure. I often forget, or push aside the fact that I need other people to help me, especially God.

God wants us to call out to Him, “Abba, Father.” We are His children, and He will take care of us. But we have to let Him. We can’t just push Him away saying “no, no, no, I can do this by myself.” We have to trust that He has a plan, and that He’s got everything figured out already.

So while we’re trying to battle something completely “independently”, we need to take a step back and trust that God’s got this, and He doesn’t need our help.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 34-36; Galatians 5