Friday, November 29th: Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 28:21-22 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 28:21-22

2 Peter 3:⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

This passage makes it clear that God's patience is merciful, and that we cannot take it for granted or mistake it for lack of judgment.  The delay is for our benefit, for another opportunity to repent.  But there will come a day when that opportunity will be over and judgment will come.

So thankful for His mercy towards me!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Daniel 7:1-28, 1 John 1:1-10, Psalm 119:153-176, Proverbs 28:23-24

Friday, October 12th: Jeremiah 4-6; 2 Peter 3 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Jeremiah 4-6; 2 Peter 3

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This, to me, was a reminder that God really does love everyone. Even those who don’t love Him. And if God loves, and is patient with everyone (even those who curse His name, who try to prove that He doesn’t exist, who claim that He isn’t good, and who hate Him), then who am I to say I can’t love, and be patient with others just because they annoy me?

My challenge today is for us all to be patient with those we usually have no patience for, and to show them the love of Christ Jesus. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 7-9; John 1:1-18

Thursday, October 11th: Jeremiah 1-3, 2 Peter 2 ~ Nathan

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

2 Peter 2: 20-22
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. [21] It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. [22] 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit ,” g and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

A good reminder for us as Christians to keep on battling to live for God and obey Him. Satan is working hard to pull us away, and works at it slowly. Only God can help us stay strong and with Him.

Is our commitment to God strong? Do we want Him to be first in our lives?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 4-6, 2 Peter 3

Wednesday, October 10th: Zephaniah 1-3, 2 Peter 1 ~ Tammy

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

Normally, I write about a verse or passage that jumps out at me, but today this passage spoke so clearly, that I just want to repeat them and have them resonate with you the way they did with me.

2 Peter 1:3-9 Growing in Faith

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
I don't want to forget!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 1-3, 2 Peter 2

Thursday, November 30th: Ezekiel 37-39; 2 Peter 2 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Ezekiel 37-39; 2 Peter 2

25 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. 26 They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. 27 When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. 29 I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Truly, God's grace is amazing!

We, like the Israelites, have betrayed God time and time again.

Still, He offers us forgiveness.
Grace.
Mercy.
Compassion.
Slate wiped clean.
Righteousness.
Relationship with God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

All glory be to God for the great things He has done for us!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Ezekiel 40-41; 2 Peter 3

Wednesday, November 29th: Ezekiel 35 - 36, 2 Peter 1 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is:  Ezekiel 35-36; 2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Peter actually saw Jesus, and was an eyewitness, therefore he told us about Jesus and the importance of living for Him. This wasn't second hand information, but rather a first hand account.

2 Peter 1: 20-21
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. [21] For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit

Here we read that the Bible is God's word and interpretation, not man's. God used man to communicate His word to us. This is humbling, we are just people, but we are God's people and we are blessed to be able to know God and experience Him. I am also thankful for all He's done for me!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Ezekiel 37-39; 2 Peter 2

Monday, December 12th: 2 Peter 1-3 ~ Tammy

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

2 Peter 3: 8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.
I think many people in society today mistake God's patience as lack of judgment, instead of delayed judgment. It can even be disheartening for believers, particularly those under persecution or trials.  God may seem slow, but this delay is evidence of His patience, waiting for more people to become saved.

But when the day of judgment finally comes, it will come suddenly, swiftly, and unexpectedly.  It may be today, it may be a thousand years.  We don't know.  But no matter how long it takes, relative to eternity, our time on earth is short.  We must not waste it, but rather realize that we have important work to do before He returns.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Hebrews 1-4

Tuesday, October 20th: 1 Samuel 19-21, 2 Peter 3 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 19-21; 2 Peter 3

In our reading today from 1 Samuel 19-21 we read mainly about how Saul tries to repeatedly kill David. At first Saul vows to not kill David in 19:6

Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

But later we read how Saul tries four times to kill David, and David escapes each time a different way.

The first time Jonathan reminded his father all that David had done for him and how David had not sinned against his father.

The second time David used his athletism to avoid a spear the own at him by Saul.

The third time David's wife helped him escape by deceiving Saul.

The fourth time God used Samuel to protect David by taking him in when Saul was chasing him.

Each time God used a different way to protect David,  for he had great future plans for him.

What are God's plans for us,  and how is he protecting us and saving us for the fulfilment of these plans? These are questions that are difficult for us to know and answer,  but if we look back on our lives we can see how God has worked to "protect" and "save" us many times. As an example,  how many times has he allowed us to travel safely, or by chance meet certain people that have become good friends?  These are things God has planned for us and has made happen not by coincidence or fluke. He is in charge and in control,  with a plan for each of us,  what a blessing!

In out New Testament reading we read about the coming day when the Lord will come. As we see how our world around us behaves we look forward to this day more and more. But we also need to remember that we need to be ready and living now the way God wants.

2 Peter 3:14
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Lets pray that we finish strong.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 1 Samuel 22-24; 1 Timothy 1

Monday, October 19th: 1 Samuel 17-18, 2 Peter 2 ~ Conrad

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 17-18; 2 Peter 2

In today's NT reading, we come across a very well known story of David and Goliath. There were a number of verses that I could have pointed out, but I thought I would narrow it down to verse 45 in chapter 17.

⁴⁵ Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

David's statement demonstrates that true success comes only through God's help.  David was not trained to be a warrior on the battlefield.  At this time, he was only a boy who had kept watch over his father's sheep.  The Bible doesn't say, but for all we know, David may not have even weighed as much as Goliath's armor did.  As inexperienced as David was in combat, he knew that God could still use him.  In vs 37, David tells Saul that the Lord will deliver him from the Philistine's hand, as He had done from the paw of the lion and bear while shepherding.  David's faith in God was larger than the 9' tall Philistine, and more dangerous than the sword and spear in hand or javelin on Goliath's back.  Even after Goliath attempts to intimidate David by saying that he would turn him into a tasty morsel for the field mice, David responded to Goliath by saying that "the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head."  David was giving credit to God even before God had done anything.  David's motives were not driven by selfish means, and was not looking to be a hero.  David was a young boy who recognized the importance of serving the Lord and placing his trust in Him.

In the morning Sunday School class at church, we have been learning about growing our faith.  Yesterday's lesson in particular was talking about a pivotal circumstance being used to grow our faith in God.  If this story of David and Goliath wasn't pivotal enough for David and everyone else around to grow their faith in God, I don't know what could!  I know in my life there are areas that I need to be more diligent in giving them over to God.  God is the one who is all powerful and all knowing.  Why wouldn't we put our trust in Him?  We will be finding ourselves fighting a losing battle when we attempt to do things on our own.  

I pray that I would be more like David who demonstrated what happens when we place our trust and give glory to God, and to be less like the other Israelites who knew what needed to be done, but couldn't do it.  Lord, I also pray that my faith would become stronger by seeing You in the situations that I am going through, and also by seeing Your work being done by the "David's" of today.  We know that we can do some things on our own, but we can only do great things with your help and by the power of the Spirit.  I also ask that my motives would be in check and that I would always give You the glory.  I would like to thank you for David and the role model that he would have been in his day, and also thank you that he can still challenge us today to be a warrior for you!  I pray this in Your name, amen.       
    

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 1 Samuel 19-21; 2 Peter 3

Sunday, October 18th: 1 Samuel 15-16, 2 Peter 1 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 15-16; 2 Peter 1

In our OT passage we see Saul once again disobeying God and attempting to gloss over his sin, and he paid a high price for it.

In 15:11 God says that He regrets having made Saul king.  My Life Application Bible says this....
was he saying he had made a mistake?  God's comment was an expression of sorrow, not an admission of error.  An omniscient God cannot make a mistake; therefore, God did not change his mind. He did, however, change his attitude toward Saul when Saul changed. Saul's heart no longer belonged to God, but to his own interests.

In v12 we see Saul building a monument to honor himself instead of giving glory to God.  How far he has fallen so quickly!  He went from hiding among the luggage to prideful disobedience and self-aggrandizement.

Saul's empty sacrifices could not make up for a disingenuous heart.  Motive is key, and Saul failed the test.  Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is still wrong.  Doing the right thing for the wrong reason but wanting to take all the credit is also still wrong.  The heart is key.

And when God chose the next king of Israel, He made it clear to Samuel that He judges, not on appearance or height, but on the heart.

What is our heart like?  Is our heart reflective of someone whom God would choose to hold a place of great responsibility, or to lead a nation?

We may not lead a nation, but we lead someone - whether it's our children, or simply the people around us.

As our NT passage shows us, we need God's power to grow in godliness.  Our pursuit of holiness proves our faith to be genuine, and is something we need to be proactive about and for which we need to rely completely on God.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 1 Samuel 17-18; 2 Peter 2

Thursday, December 1 ~ Miriam

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Ezekiel 40-41; 2 Peter 3.

Well, I have to admit that my eyes glazed over a bit while reading the Ezekiel passage.  Really... 1,000 measurements of various aspects of a temple to exist at some future time?  I did a search on Bible.org to see what information appeared there about the passage, and came across an article discussing covenant theology vs. dispensationalism.  The Relationship of the Church to Israel, if you care to look for yourself.  I have to admit that I didn't read it thoroughly, but I found myself not agreeing completely with either side.  One thing that seemed strange to me, however, was that I'd just finished reading two full chapters of measurements and detailed description (be forewarned, apparently the next seven chapters are more of the same) of a temple that covenant theology says is spiritual, not literal.  If there will never be a literal, physical temple, then why the need to describe it in excruciating detail?  In my view, a detailed physical description of the kind we find here would seem to refer to an actual place yet to be built, much like God gave Moses exact details of how the ark of the covenant and the tents, etc. were all to be constructed way back in Exodus.  Those were literal instructions (blueprints, if you will) for actual physical objects.  This would seem to me to be the same.  

As Matthew Henry says in his commentary, "When we despair to be satisfied as to any difficulty we meet with, let us bless God that our salvation does not depend upon it, but that things necessary are plain enough; and let us wait till God shall reveal even this unto us."

Moving on to Peter, WOW.  He talks in verses 3 and 4 about scoffers saying "Where is this "coming" he promised?"  Remind anyone of the fiasco earlier this year with the (of course) false prediction of the end of the world?  Then he talks about how people think "everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."  Don't we all fall into that trap at times?  I know I've sometimes thought "People have been saying it could be any time now for the last two thousand years.... why would it happen now?"  The truth is, we just don't know.  We will not know until it happens.  Peter says that the Lord is patient and giving everyone the opportunity to come to repentance, but the day of the Lord will come.  We don't know when, and it is easy to become complacent, thinking we have a lifetime, but when the day comes, you can be guaranteed that no one will feel ready.  And yet, Peter urges us to look forward to it and speed its coming!  I don't know whether any of you have experienced this, but I find it easier to look forward to the day of the Lord's coming and to heaven now than before, when my relationship with God was at a standstill.

The last verse is wonderful.  "...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever!  Amen."  Grow!  I pray that all of us have grown and continue to grow as we read and study the Word of God.  Never give up!  Just like they say about smoking... keep trying to quit and sooner or later you will.  Keep trying.  If you miss a few days of Bible reading or spending time with God, that doesn't mean you give up and don't read anymore.  Pick up and carry on and you will grow!

Happy Thursday!

 Tomorrow's passage:  Ezekiel 42-44; 1 John 1.

Tuesday, November 29th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Ezekiel 35-36, 2 Peter 1

Scripture

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peters 1:2

Observation

Grace and peace come through the knowledge of our God and Lord.

Application

My Life Application Bible says this....

Many believers want an abundance of God's grace and peace, but they are unwilling to put forth the effort to get to know him better through Bible study and prayer. To enjoy the privileges God offers us freely, we have "the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."

In today's fast-paced world, we're always looking for shortcuts. Or the easy way to do something. The fastest way to get results with the least amount of effort. And hopefully, without having to change our current lifestyle too much. That doesn't work in dieting and it doesn't work in developing a stronger spiritual life either!

A strong relationship with God does not come without effort. You get out what you put in to it. You reap what you sow. This cause and effect reality should be crystal clear to us, but somehow we seem to forget it so often. Or maybe we just plead ignorance, hoping for a pass somehow. Or we put it off one more day, and another, and another.

That was me for 30+ years. Once again, so thankful for the blog helping to shake me out of my spiritual lethargy and making my faith real and truly applicable to my life. But the journey is never over. And so we have to keep on growing in the knowledge of our God and of Jesus our Lord!

Tomorrow's passage: Ezekiel 37-39, 2 Peter 2

December 23rd

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Peter 5:12-14, 2 Peter 1-3

1 Peter was a letter of encouragement to sufferings believers, but 2 Peter focuses on problems in the church due to false teachers.

One of their false teachings was a slap in the face of God's greatest gifts - salvation. These teachers said that because salvation is not based on good deeds, believers could live however they wanted to. Truly a slap in the face.

It is true that salvation does not depend on good deeds. But it is proved genuine by good deeds, it results in good deeds.

In his sermon Confirm Your Election, John Piper says...
Virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly affection, love—these are not the wages that we pay to earn entrance into the eternal kingdom, but they are the necessary evidence that our trust in God's promise is genuine, and in that way they are the confirmation of our call and election...

Are you making every effort towards moral excellence? Are you making every effort to increase your knowledge of God's character and his will? Are you making every effort to strengthen your power of self-control? Are you making every effort to enlarge your capacity for patience? Are you making every effort to cultivate godliness to develop a heart for God? Are you making every effort to grow warm in your affection for your fellow believers? And are you making every effort to stir up love in your will for the person you dislike the most? If these things are in you and increasing, you will not be fruitless (v. 8), you will never stumble (v. 10), and you will enter the eternal kingdom of Christ (v. 11). But if these things are not your earnest concern, then it is because you have shut your eyes to the beauty of God's promises, and have forgotten the humble exhilaration of being forgiven.

Therefore, the Word of God warns us against being lazy in our faith and drifting away from Jesus Christ our only hope. And the Word encourages us to fight the good fight of faith and take hold on eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12, 19); to lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and run with perseverance the race before us (Hebrews 12:1); to press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14); to advance and grow and go forward in virtue and knowledge and self-control and patience and godliness and brotherly affection and love (2 Peter 1:5-7); and in this way to reassure our hearts and make our confidence firm that we are indeed called to share in God's glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:10, 3). (emphasis mine)

God is our power source, but we have to willing to fight the good fight of the faith.

Piper analogy: We are the light bulbs of our neighborhoods; God is the distant generator of electricity; and the cables that carry the power are God's promises.

Fight the good fight of the faith through the power of God by clinging to His promises.

Tomorrow's passage: 1 John 1-4:6