Tuesday, June 12: 1 Thessalonians 2, 1 Kings 21-22 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Thessalonians 2, 1 Kings 21-22

1 Thessalonians 2:13-
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

The bible is not only words read in church or a good book for us to read, it is the Word of God.  It is a word of real & living power. Do we believe that?  This verse says that, for those who believe, it is at work.  If we are truly seeking to learn, we are promised to be changed.

Sometimes I feel like I’m so far from the person I’d like to be.  I make the same mistakes over & over again & feel like I’m no better today than I was yesterday or will be tomorrow...

Am I relying on my own abilities or believing in the power of God. He has given us his word & we have direct access to him in prayer.  If we are going to change, it won’t be in our own strength but through the power of God.

Lord, help me to read the bible, not as a book, but as your living word with the power to change.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Chronicles 16-18, 1 Thessalonians 3

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Thessalonians 1, 1 Kings 19-20

1 Thessalonians 6 says, " And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit." In our lives we need to be more like Thessalonians and receive the word with affection and desire, and have a joy and passion to grow in our faith, and be imitators of the Lord.



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2, 1 Kings 21-22

Saturday, June 9th: 1 Kings 16-18; Romans 16 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 16-18; Romans 16

I always love the story of Elijah and the battle on Mount Carmel.  I love the absolute and undeniable display of God's power.  I think that sometimes, because we don't see those type of drastic miracles anymore, we tend to forget that we serve that God.   Not only that, that power lives within us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  That's amazing!

Romans 16:19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.

I was fortunate to grow up in a Christian home, and our kids have that same blessing.  This is my prayer (one of many!) for them - that they would continue to be wise in doing what is right and to stay innocent of any wrong.  I remember as a teen sometimes thinking that my testimony was boring.  But honestly, to not have a dramatic testimony to share is a blessing in itself.  To have never known a time without Christ is truly a good thing!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 19-20, 1 Thessalonians 1

Friday, June 8th: 2 Chronicles 13-15; Romans 15 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Chronicles 13-15; Romans 15

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:38-39‬

God has chosen us to be His children. And because of this, nothing could ever separate us from His love. No matter how many times we sin, or how “bad” the sin is, He still loves us. Nothing could ever separate us from the unconditional love we receive from the Father. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 16-18; Romans 16

Thursday, June 7th: 2 Chronicles 10 - 12, Romans 14 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Chronicles 10-12, Romans 14

2 Chronicles 12:1
After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 12: 12
Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD ’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.

2 Chronicles 12: 14
He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD.

These verses, to me, summed up Rehoboam. He did evil then turned to God, who made some good out of the situation, but at the end of the day Rehoboam wasn't committed to serving God.

I also sin, then ask for forgiveness and turn back to God, but I want to be fully committed to God. I don't want to be back and forth with commitment to Him, this is my prayer.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Chronicles 13-15, Romans 15

Wednesday, June 6th: 2 Chronicles 7-9, Romans 13 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Chronicles 7-9, Romans 13

Dr Rayburn says this about the first portion of Romans 13......
Let’s sum up: 1) Paul does not mean that Christians are to do what the government commands if it commands that which God forbids; 2) but clearly the government has a role that the individual does not have and Christians are obliged to respect that role and honor that government as instituted of God; and 3) obedience is required even of those governments that are overtly hostile to the Christian faith and way of life unless and until it orders the violation of God’s law. Even then Christians are not to resist violently but to suffer as an act of reverence for God and his law and to leave the outcome to God.

Take heed. Get this clear in your minds. You may feel this is not particularly relevant to your daily life. Who is to say what will be relevant weeks, months or years from now? This is our watchword and it will be, I fear, more and more as it has been in ages past. It is by obedience to these instructions of Paul that faithful Christians have lived from the beginning and it is by this same obedience that they have remained and prospered in a hostile world in which governments, however owing their origin to the Almighty enthusiastically did and do the will of the Devil. It is today in many places in this world as it was in days gone by, Christians proving themselves the most loyal of citizens even as their governments mistreat and kill them. As Augustine reminds us, the church won the Roman world not by fighting but by suffering and in their suffering proving that there was a higher law and a greater loyalty and a much more wonderful love than anything known in the Roman world.

The last section of Romans 13 also stood out to me today.  We are to love people, we are to fight the sin in our lives, and in doing so the way we live our lives will stand out as being different from the way everyone else lives - knowing we can only do this in His strength, not our own.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Chronicles 10-12, Romans 14

Tuesday, June 5: 2 Chronicles 4-6, Romans 12 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Chronicles 4-6, Romans 12

Romans 12 is one of those passages that should be posted to read again & again to be a reminder of how we are to live.  There are so many verses in this chapter that hit me; I need to do better.

Vs 2 - don’t copy the behaviours & customs of this world but let the Word of God transform you

Vs 3 - don’t think that you’re better than you really are

Vs 6-8 - use the gifts that God has given you for his purposes

Vs 9 - don’t pretend to love others; really love them

Vs 9 - hate what is wrong

Vs 11 - never be lazy; work hard & serve the Lord

Vs 12 - be patient in trouble & keep on praying

Vs 13 - when people are in need, help them

Vs 14 - bless those that persecute you, don’t curse them

Vs 16 - don’t be proud

Vs 18 - live at peace with everyone

These verses aren’t easy & are definitely in contrast with what we find in the world, but they aren’t suggestions, they are commands for every Christian.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Chronicles 7-9, Romans 13

Monday, June 4: 1 Kings 13-15, Romans 11 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 13-15, Romans 11

Scripture: Romans 11:17-21
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Observation: Jesus came for all...Jew and Gentile and neither is more important than the other.

Application: Our faith is what brings us into the family of Christ. We don't deserve it, we didn't earn it, and we can't buy our way into it. I found this commentary:

The gospel is the greatest riches of every place where it is. As therefore the righteous rejection of the unbelieving Jews, was the occasion of so large a multitude of the Gentiles being reconciled to God, and at peace with him; the future receiving of the Jews into the church would be such a change, as would resemble a general resurrection of the dead in sin to a life of righteousness. Abraham was as the root of the church. The Jews continued branches of this tree till, as a nation, they rejected the Messiah; after that, their relation to Abraham and to God was, as it were, cut off. The Gentiles were grafted into this tree in their room; being admitted into the church of God. Multitudes were made heirs of Abraham's faith, holiness and blessedness. It is the natural state of every one of us, to be wild by nature. Conversion is as the grafting in of wild branches into the good olive. The wild olive was often ingrafted into the fruitful one when it began to decay, and this not only brought forth fruit, but caused the decaying olive to revive and flourish. The Gentiles, of free grace, had been grafted in to share advantages. They ought therefore to beware of self-confidence, and every kind of pride or ambition; lest, having only a dead faith, and an empty profession, they should turn from God, and forfeit their privileges. If we stand at all, it is by faith; we are guilty and helpless in ourselves, and are to be humble, watchful, afraid of self-deception, or of being overcome by temptation. Not only are we at first justified by faith, but kept to the end in that justified state by faith only; yet, by a faith which is not alone, but which works by love to God and man.

Prayer: Creator God, thank you for grafting us all in to your family. Help us to be supported by your roots and let us not be puffed up with pride to be part of you but remind us often that we became your heirs only by your design. Help us to contain our wild ways and submit to You, help us to avoid temptation, and help us to thrive with our new roots. Amen.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Chronicles 4-6, Romans 12

Saturday, June 2nd: 1 Kings 10-12; Romans 10 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 10-12; Romans 10

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[g]

More verses jumping out about preaching the good news.  Not just with actions, but with actual words.  We can't just "be kind to people", we need to tell them why we're doing it, we need to tell them the Good News!

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
A reminder how important it is to study the Word of God.  For initial saving faith, and also for continual development of our faith.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  1 Kings 13-15, Romans 11

Friday, June 1st: 1 Kings 7-9; Romans 9 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Kings 7-9; Romans 9

“So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?””

‭‭Romans‬ ‭9:18-20‬

I’ve often wondered why God would chose to harden some hearts and soften others. But these verses remind me that I am not God - not even close! So who am I to question His ways? We know that everything He allows to happen is all for His glory. So we need to trust that He is who He says He is: good, fair and loving. Our human minds can’t even begin to comprehend His ways, so we should stop trying to “figure God out” and start trusting that everything will work out for His glory, and for the good. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Kings 10-12; Romans 10