Thursday, April 12th: 1 Samuel 19 - 21, Luke 20 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 19-21, Luke 20

Luke 20: 21-26
So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. [22] Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” [23] He saw through their duplicity and said to them, [24] “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar's,” they replied. [25] He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” [26] They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

I remember this story from reading it when I was young, and marveled then at Jesus' wisdom. The scribes and chief priests thought they had finally cornered Jesus with a question that Jesus wouldn't be able to answer, and He did and showed wisdom.

The point of this story is something we can still learn from, as we often deal with a government we don't agree with. But the wisdom that Jesus showed in answering this question was truly amazing!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Samuel 22-24, Luke 21

Wednesday, April 11th: 1 Chronicles 1-3, Luke 19 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Chronicles 1-3, Luke 19

I don't think I'm alone when I say that I've often heard about the fickleness of the crowd that shouted "Hosannah!" in this passage, quickly turning to shouts of "Crucify him" only a week later.  It turns out that this is likely a theological myth.

Click here for the entire post, but I will just include the ending summary......

So let the joyous news be spread! The crowd was not fickle. And did not praise him one day and cry out for his murder another. Two crowds were coming and going all week. Both grew stronger in their conviction as the week went along. The sheep grew sheepier. And the goats grew goatier. The later group conspired to work around the former. Later on, Peter referred to this group as “lawless men” (Acts 2:23). This better fits the crowd of chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, who could act against the law and above the law, and get away with it. Regular folk lack such power in general.

So let us join in the singing; and stand with the blind, the lame, the disciples, the children, the Cyrene, the women who later stood at a distance and look bewildered at the cross, and the general populace, who at this moment saw the truth, at least in part. “All glory laud and honor to thee, Redeemer King. To whom the lips of children make sweet hosannas ring.” Sing with them and do not diminish their child-like faith with talk of fickleness.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Samuel 19-21, Luke 20

Tuesday, April 10th: 1 Samuel 16-18, Luke 18 ~ Danae

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

Luke 18:1
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

The story goes on to show how persistent prayer pays off, God does hear & he will answer.

My life app bible comments with this:
18:1 To persist in prayer and not give up does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for him day by day, believing he will answer. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. God may delay answering, but his delays always have good reasons. As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope.

My biggest challenge, I find, isn’t that I doubt that God will answer but that the answer will be what I want (I think I know what’s best). In one breath I believe God & that he has the best in mind for me & in the other I can’t completely release control & give it over to God.

God loves us & knows what we need. We need to pray & trust knowing that,  however it turns out, God will provide. It may not happen our way or in our time, but God will do what’s best for us.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Chronicles 1-3, Luke 19

Monday, April 9: 1 Samuel 13-15, Luke 17 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 13-15, Luke 17

8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. 

I can totally understand Saul's impatience. I am not the world's most patient person and I get that if Samuel said he would come in 7 days, I would get impatient too. How often do we too, take God's timing into our own hands instead of being patient and waiting on God's timing. Saul choosing to sacrifice ahead of God's plan had consequences as likewise, we also face consequences when we deviate from God's plan.

Saul doesn't learn:

3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction[q] all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

....

 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves[r] and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

We too are slow learners to obey God's will and do what He has commanded.

and so we also face the consequences that come from disobedience. 

There is a chance for repentance and forgiveness

24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 

However, the consequences still remain even after repentance.

The new testament reminds us that after repentance comes forgiveness.

4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Finally, the readings close today with the reminder that we don't know when the kingdom of God will come but we are told:

3 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

When we put God first, obey his Commands, wait on His timing, forgive others even when they don't deserve it, then we will lose our lives according to society and yet gain the live God wants for us.

 Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Samuel 16-18, Luke 18

Saturday, April 7th: 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 16 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 16

I appreciated this explanation of the Parable of the Unjust Steward.  It's summarized as follows.....

the principle that Jesus is trying to convey is one of a just steward rather than an unjust one. The unjust steward saw his master’s resources as a means for his own personal enjoyment and advancement. Conversely, Jesus wants His followers to be just, righteous stewards. If we understand the principle that everything we own is a gift from God, then we realize that God is the owner of everything and that we are His stewards. As such, we are to use the Master’s resources to further the Master’s goals. In this specific case, we are to be generous with our wealth and use it for the benefit of others.

Jesus then goes on to expand in verses 10–13 the principle given in verse 9. If one is faithful in “little” (i.e., “unrighteous” wealth), then one will be faithful in much. Similarly, if one is dishonest in little, he will also be dishonest in much. If we can’t be faithful with earthly wealth, which isn’t even ours to begin with, then how can we be entrusted with “true riches”? The “true riches” here is referring to stewardship and responsibility in God’s kingdom along with all the accompanying heavenly rewards.

The climax of Jesus’ application is verse 13: “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (see also Matthew 6:24). If God is our Master, then our wealth will be at His disposal. In other words, the faithful and just steward whose Master is God will employ that wealth in building up the kingdom of God.

Tomorrow: Catch up Day!
Monday's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Samuel 13-15, Luke 17

Friday, April 6th: 1 Samuel 7-9; Luke 15 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 7-9; Luke 15

““If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?” - Luke‬ ‭15:4‬

This is how much God loves us, that He would leave the ninety-nine to find that one lost soul. He cares about each and every one of us that much. We should rejoice just as much when we hear one person has come to know Christ, not just when we hear numbers like 100 or 50 or even 20. And we need to remain hopeful over that one lost soul. I think of my friends at school who are against God, I need to remain hopeful and stay positive that God is searching for them. That will be a joyful day when they come to know Christ, and it will be worth all the searching and praying.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 16

Thursday, April 5th - 1 Samuel 4-6, Luke 14: 25-35 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 4-6, Luke 14:25-35

1 Samuel 6: 19-20
But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them. [20] And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?”

We see an example here from the Israelites, of a people who didn't follow exactly what God wanted. I believe they respected God, but they didn't take the time to realize they needed to follow Him completely, all the time.

Do I listen to what He wants all the time? Or do I do my own thing at times?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Samuel 7-9, Luke 15

Wednesday, April 4th: 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 14:1-24 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 14:1-24

1 Samuel 1:12 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking.

Hannah was praying at the tabernacle, but the priest thought she was drunk.  Talk about hastily jumping to conclusions without all the facts! 

This is a good reminder to me to not be quick to judge on appearances, particularly without knowing the facts. Eli was way off base here, and I'm sure I've done the same many times!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  1 Samuel 4-6, Luke 14:25-35

Tuesday, April 3rd: Ruth 1-4, Luke 13 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Ruth 1-4, Luke 13

23-25 A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?”

He said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’

26-27 “You’ll protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don’t know the first thing about me.’

28-30 “That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened.

I go to church...is that enough?

I pray...is that enough?

I read my Bible...is that enough?

Do I just do “enough” to feel good about myself or am I giving my life with God my total attention? Do I say that I know God but haven’t really given myself to him?

Am I any different than the next guy (that wouldn’t claim to be a Christian)?

~Do I love more?

~Am I kinder?

~Am I more generous?

~Am I more patient & slower to anger?

~Are my words more gentle, softer spoken, God honouring?

~Do the people around me see God in & through me?

Am I actively pursuing God? Do I seek him throughout my day? Do I strive to live a life of “Christ-likeness”?

Will he know me at that banquet table, knowing that I gave my best to him?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 14:1-24

Monday, April 2nd: Judges 19-21, Luke 12:35-59 ~ Kaden

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 19-21, Luke 12:35-59

Luke12 says, "39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Jesus' teachings tell us to always be prepared for his return to Earth, for we do not know when he is coming, we also don't know when our time is for us to go to him, when he calls us home. As Christians it is our responsibility to go out and tell people about God, so they don't miss out on their chance at eternal life in Heaven. We must also live as Christ for when Judgement Day comes there will be no uncertainty in our lives that through our whole life, we were living as the Lord has told us.



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Ruth 1-4, Luke 13