Wednesday, May 10th: 2 Kings 10-12; John 1:29-51 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Kings 10-12; John 1:29-51

2 Kings 12: 2-3
Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. [3] The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

Joash did a lot right, but he  also failed in some ways. We do a lot of good things too, but do we knowingly sin in some ways and try to hide that part of our lives?

-------------------------------------------------------------------

John 1: 30-31
This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me .’ [31] I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John was a good man, and had some who followed him, but he had the wisdom to know that Jesus was far greater, and encouraged everyone around him to follow and know Jesus, instead of himself. What a great example, giving God the glory and not trying to take it for ourselves. The glory belongs to God only!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Kings 13-14; John 2

Tuesday, May 9: 2 Kings 7-9; John 1:1-28 ~ Jody

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: 2 Kings 7-9; John 1:1-28

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it."

I find these verses so comforting and powerful. A strong reminder of God's everlasting, sovereign power over everything! I need to remember this when I start to worry about things - the God that is described here takes care of me!!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Kings 10-12; John 1: 29-51

Monday, May 8th: 2 Kings 4-6; Luke 24:36-53 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  2 Kings 4-6; Luke 24:36-53

I enjoyed reading our OT passage today and the many miracles Elisha performed.  I was amazed at the faith of the Shunammite woman, as well as Naaman's servant - what a gracious heart this young girl had to share this good news and hope with the very one who enslaved her!

2 Kings 6:16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

There is a supernatural world right around us that we cannot see, but it doesn't make it any less real! Elisha and his servant had the incredible opportunity to see but a glimpse of God's angel army.  How amazing that must have been!  How invincible that must have made them feel!

That same army surrounds us today.  Faith is being certain of what we do not see - we cannot see God's army, but it is there, fighting on behalf of God and the saints.  Do we live as though we believe this to be true?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Kings 7-9; John 1:1-28

Sunday, May 7th: 2 Kings 1-3; Luke 24:1-35 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Kings 1-3; Luke 24:1-35

The story of the resurrection.

This is the key part of the gospel that Christians often forget to tell about. If Jesus hadn't risen from the dead, we would not be saved. How amazing and loving is our God for sending His perfect Son to die for His children. Even though we disappoint Him every day, He still loves us and wants us and forgives us. Praise God for His compassion and mercy, and thanks be to Him for the resurrection.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Kings 4-6; Luke 24:36-53

Saturday, May 6th: 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 23:26-56 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 23:26-56

In our NT passage today we read about Jesus' death.  There are a number of things that could be focused on, but I want to focus on the timing of His death.  Nothing about this was accidental.  Ray Van der Laan has a great article on this that says....


There is an abundant amount of evidence both in Scripture and in the religious practices of the Jews that God carefully planned the timing of Jesus' death and resurrection. The following are just a few examples of God's planning:

Prophecies
Prophecies given hundreds of years before Jesus was even born were precisely fulfilled when Jesus died.

Passover Lamb
The high priest's practice of killing the Passover Lamb had been in force for hundreds, perhaps a thousand years.On Friday of the year Jesus died, the Jews celebrated Passover and killed a lamb for the temple sacrifice. Jesus, the Lamb of God, died at that same time in order to take our sins upon himself.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread
The year that Jesus died, Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, was also the day on which the Jews celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast reminded the Jews of the bread that God provided for the Israelites when they left Egypt. Consider the significant parallels between this feast and Jesus' death:

First, wheat seeds must die in order to bring forth crop. Similarly, Jesus had to die and be buried in order to accomplish his ministry and be raised to a new life. Second, unleavened bread was made without yeast, because yeast represented sin (1 Cor. 5:7-8). In the same way, Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sinless.

Feast of the Firstfruits
On the Sunday following Jesus death, the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Firstfruits, which in this case celebrated the beginning of the barley harvest.

The Israelites returned to God the "first part" of everything they had been given to indicate their thankfulness for the harvest, their acknowledgement that God had given them the gifts, and their faith that God would continue to provide (Num. 15:17-21; Deut. 26:1-11). They gave the best part of what they received to God (Ex. 23:19).

Also, on that day, Jesus came to life as God's firstfruits, the guarantee that the rest would follow, including the resurrection from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20-23).
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Kings 1-3; Luke 24:1-35

Friday, May 5th: 1 Kings 19-20; Luke 23:1-25 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 19-20; Luke 23:1-25

There is so much injustice in this world - at times the guilty are set free; at times the innocent are punished or even executed.

Sometimes it's in small but personal ways - a less deserving person is promoted over you because they are willing to be deceitful and you are known for your integrity.

Sometimes it's in large scale ways where the innocent are victimized - sexual trafficking, racism, abortion, just to name a few.

Jesus can empathize.  Never in the history of the world was there a more innocent and perfect human. And yet he was condemned to die based on trumped up charges and an illegal trial.

But thankfully for us, we are also treated "unjustly".  We are all guilty of sin against God and deserving of death.  But God does not treat us as we deserve.  Instead, in order to make this injustice just, Jesus takes our punishment and gives us His righteousness in return.  Completely undeserved.

Let us be thankful for this mercy, and let us do what we can to promote justice according to God's definition - which is the only one that counts.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 23:26-56

Thursday, May 4th: 1 Kings 16-18; Luke 22:47-71 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 16-18; Luke 22:47-71

There was a lot going on in today's passages!

Today I'll focus on how our passages show that God is faithful and always keeps His promises.

1 Kings 16: 34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

Previously in Joshua 6:26 we find......

26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho.
“At the cost of his firstborn shall he
lay its foundation,
and at the cost of his youngest son
shall he set up its gates.”
It didn't matter how much time had passed between these verses - when Hiel rebuilt Jericho, he did so at the cost of his firstborn and his youngest son.

Later in our OT passage we also see that the widow's flour and oil did not run out the entire time Elijah stayed with them during the drought.

In our NT passage we see Peter deny Jesus three times, just as Jesus had said He would.

Nowadays, our society likes to think truth is subjective.  But it's not.  Truth is truth. The Bible is truth.  What God says, happens.  No matter how long a time of waiting there may be in between - sometimes hours (in the case of Peter), sometimes hundreds of years (in the case of Hiel), sometimes thousands (as we continue to wait for His return) - but make no mistake - God is faithful and every promise He has every made will come to pass.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 19-20; Luke 23:1-25

Wednesday, May 3rd: 1 Kings 14-15, Luke 22: 31-46 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 14-15, Luke 22: 31-46

In our Old Testament reading today we read about how Abijah, the son of Jeroboam, became sick, and his father - Jeroboam - told his mother to disguise herself and go see Ahijah the prophet and hopefully get their son well again. She brought with her some food for the prophet, hoping to convince him to help them,

1 Kings 14:3
Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.”

The king obviously felt that if he brought some good food to the prophet, that the prophet would help out sooner.

We can't sweet talk God like this, we can't urge him to help us sooner by bringing Him good food, meanwhile carrying on with our sinful ways. We need to come to Him honestly and offer ourselves completely to Him, asking Him to forgive our sins and clean us.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Luke 22: 43&44
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. [44] And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

In our New Testament reading from Luke 22 we get a good idea from these verses how much we mean to Jesus, and how much we are loved. He went through so much pain and agony for us, He knew it was coming and still went through it for us!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 16-18; Luke 22:47-71

Tuesday, May 2: 1 Kings 12-13; Luke 22:1-30 ~ Jody

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: 1 Kings 12-13; Luke 22:1-30

"Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves." Luke 22:25-27

In so many ways Jesus' teaching is so different from the world view. God knew we would need a different set of operating rules to make a difference in the world and impact people for Him. What sticks out for me in this passage is Jesus explaining how we need to show our faith through action, not words. Serving alongside Jesus is what we are called to do!

When eating at a restaurant, what are the characteristics of great service? Warm, friendly, attentive to what I need, always at the ready to fill my water, genuinely checking on my satisfaction and generous in solving any problems I encounter with my meal. Even petitioning to management if there is something wrong.

Do I translate this type of great service as I walk out my life as Jesus' hands and feet on earth? How do I serve others? Do I petition God on behalf of the people I am serving? Do I serve people differently based on my own personal biases or worldly view point? Am I genuine in my service?

God, help me to serve with Your full joy. As this verse says, you are among us as one who serves, help me to partner with you in serving with a full and happy heart regardless of the situation. Amen.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 14-15; Luke 22:31-46

Monday, May 1st: 1 Kings 10-11; Luke 21:20-38 ~ Kezia

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 10-11; Luke 21:20-38

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Luke 21:33

We as humans live a very physical life. We spend hours shopping for stuff we want and not just need, we worry about getting a good career, and putting enough food on the table at every meal. We act in such a way that we hope will please others. We sometimes spend hours in front of a mirror in the mornings.

But all of this is just physical.

God reminds us that the earth will one day pass away. All our earthly prized possessions will mean nothing. The only thing that will matter is our faithfulness to God.

We can also be comforted in knowing that God's words will never pass away. What he said in the Bible is true yesterday, today and forever.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 12-13; Luke 22:1-30