Thursday, October 6 2016: Joel 1-3 ~Cameron

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

As with all imagery in writing, its impact is diminished over time and across cultures. And with much of prophesy written using metaphors or other symbolic language, we lose something in the translation. While the Truth of the scriptures is preserved, I wish I could more deeply appreciate the layers of meaning laid down in these verses.

For instance, anyone living in an ancient agricultural society would be deeply moved by Joel 1:4. Multiple swarms of locusts cutting a swath through the countryside leaving devastation behind. I read it and understand the writer is communicating a bleak period but the emotional impact is lost on me.

So here is a quick video of a locust catastrophe a few years ago in Madagascar. The video includes footage of a 15km long swarm of locusts that destroyed more than half of the island's crops!

Verses like this were written to invoke a visceral response from those hearing or reading them.
How can we read these passages and appreciate them as more than just words on a page?
Should we bother trying to do so?
Have you tried to do this and how has it worked out?

I have a men's bible study and we have often discussed how to do this. It all started with this verse:
"Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" - Luke 9:62
We plan to take a field trip in spring and experience using a plowshare firsthand in order to better appreciate this verse.

I look forward to reading your answers in the comments below.

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

Wednesday, October 5th: 1 Chronicles 7-9 ~ Emma

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

They would spend the night around the house of God, since it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.  1 Chronicles 9:27

This verse made me think of another verse, Colossians 3:23, which reads: Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

In this case, the chief gatekeepers were working for the Lord, as they were "responsible for the rooms and treasures at the house of God" (v26).

That is a great responsibility to guard the treasures of the house of God. But when you think about it, people are the greatest treasures of God, and a lot of us are in positions where we are responsible for people.

It kinda relates to the sermon we had on Sunday about how people are not "only human". People are made in the image of God. So next time you're in charge, whether it be as a parent, a Sunday school volunteer, or the leader of a school project, remember that you are "guarding God's treasures".

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Joel 1-3

Tuesday, October 4th: 1 Chronicles 3-6 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Chronicles 3-6


Today's reading seemed to drag us through a long list of names. Most of the names seemed quite insignificant as I pushed myself through, but when I reached 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, I had to stop. After reading name after name, here was someone who had desired something in his relationship with God that the writer had to stop & take note of.

I had to stop & think, looking at my life, if someone was recording my name in a genealogy would there be any reason to take special note of something in my life. Not even an accomplishment of some kind (as great as that would be), but to be so honoured to be noted for my faith.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10-
Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me & enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, & keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Jabez was noted for his prayer, the desire of his heart. It doesn't go on to speak of any great, notable accomplishments, it just simply says “And God granted his request.”

We don't know what kind of blessings he received; I guess that shouldn't really matter because we know that God blessed him & that should be enough. But is it?  When we think of blessings, what do they look like?  Health, wealth, lots of friends, being great at sports, having the perfect figure?  Somehow I don't think those were the blessings on Jabez’s heart. He truly desired God, that He would be the center of his life. When that's truly our hearts desire, our focus adjusts from things that are valued on earth to things of eternal value.

My desire is that as I pray for God’s blessings, for Him to enlarge my territory, that I would completely give it all over to Him (my family, our health, jobs & recreation; everything). That I would truly make Him Lord over every area of my life & then let my faith in Him rest in knowing that He will bless me as he sees fit. That ultimately my focus will adjust from what I see as important now to what I know will be important eternally.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Chronicles 7-9

Monday, October 3rd: 1 Chronicles 1-2 ~ Tammy

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

I didn't have any thoughts after reading this passage :)
So, here are some thoughts from my Life Application Bible....

These records served to teach the exiles returning from Babylon about their spiritual heritage as a nation and to inspire them to renew their faithfulness to God. Although these lists show the racial heritage of the Jews, they contain the spiritual heritage for every believer. We are a part of the community of faith that has existed from generation to generation since the dawn of man.

The first section of this genealogy traces the origin of Israel all the way from Adam through Abraham. It then traces the royal lines of two nations: Edom, descended from Isaac's son Esau, and Israel, descended from Isaac's son Jacob. Israel had a great heritage to be celebrated and remembered as they returned from exile. Perhaps a reminder of their past would also help the returning Jews from repeating the mistakes of their ancestors.....

This long genealogy not only lists names but gives us insights into some of the people. Here (1 Chronicles 2:3), almost as an epitaph, the genealogy states that Er "was a wicked man," so the Lord killed him. Now, thousands of years later, this is all we know of the man. Each of us is forging a reputation, developing personal qualities by which we will be remembered. How would God summarize your life up to now? Some defiantly claim that how they live is their own business. But Scripture teaches that the way you live today will determine how you will be remembered by others and how you will be judged by God. What you do now does matter.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Chronicles 3-6

Sunday, October 2nd - Nehemiah 11-13 - Kelora

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Nehemiah 11-13

There are a couple of things that I learned in these passages.  In Chapter 11 Nehemiah asked one-tenth of the people outside of Jerusalem to volunteer to move and live in Jerusalem.  Even though the leaders of the people settled in the Jerusalem as stated in verse 1, it is interesting that Nehemiah cast lots so that one-tenth of the rest of the people also moved into Jerusalem.  It makes me wonder why not very many seemed to want to move there voluntarily.  Perhaps it meant a lot of work rebuilding their houses.  

In Chapter 12:44 - 47 these verses talk about the various men that were appointed for different tasks.  Some were in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, which were for the Priests and Levites.  In Chapter 13 Tobiah has given a storeroom to a priest named Eliashib.  When Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and sees what Tobiah has done by giving a storeroom to Eliashib which was against God's commands , Nehemiah takes action.  Nehemiah sees how the people have sinned against God and have turned away from obeying God's commands.  Nehemiah obeys God and tells the Israelites they need to change their ways and obey God's commands.   

My Life Application Bible has a great way of explaining this Book of the Bible.  It said "This book is about rebuilding the wall of a great city, but it is also about spiritual renewal, rebuilding a people's dependence on God.  When we take our eyes off God, our lives begin to crumble."

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  I Chronicles 1-2

Saturday, October 1st: Nehemiah 8-10 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Nehemiah 8-10

Nehemiah 9:28b In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!

The mercy, grace, forgiveness, and patience God showed for the Israelites was truly amazing.  Thankfully, because He was merciful, gracious, forgiving, and patient with them, we know that He will be so with us as well.

When we read summaries of Israel's history - how they repeatedly took God's favour for granted and turned away from Him, only to cry out to Him when they were in exile or other times of hardship - it's easy to shake our heads as we pat our backs for being better than they were.  But such pride can be our own downfall.  Instead, may we learn from their mistakes, and recognize those same patterns in our own lives.

As the saying goes, "those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it".  We are just as prone to sliding back into sin as the Israelites were.

We cannot be passive about our faith.

We must purposefully pursue God and both our knowledge and love of Him.
We must purposefully pursue holiness and be ruthless when it comes to ridding our lives of sin.
We must purposefully love those around us, particularly those who are "unloveable".
We must make time to read, study, meditate, and memorize God's Word.
We must then apply what we've read to our lives.
We must love God and love each other.
We can never think we have arrived at spiritual maturity.
We must never stop.  

Thankfully, when we do, He is ready and willing to rescue us, many times.

He is forever faithful - praise His name!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Nehemiah 11-13

Friday, September 30th: Nehemiah 5-7 ~ Conrad

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: Nehemiah 5-7

"I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them"  Nehemiah 5:7

One of the points I got from reading this verse is that despite the fact that Nehemiah was angry with the way the nobles were handling the people and their affairs, he first took time to ponder the situation before talking to the nobles.  How often out of frustration do we want to jump right in with the accusations and not take the required time to ponder like Nehemiah did? 

The other thought that came to mind was the concept of debt.  My Bible had a side note that related this to the fact that God loves the poor and He does not want people to take advantage of them, which is why there were strict regulations on debts.  Like the cancelation of debts at the end of every seven years, and the Year of Jubilee (cancellation of debt, the liberation of slaves, and the return of land to the original owner on the fiftieth year).  

Debt is also used as a symbol for sin.  Christ dying on the cross for our sins is how our debt has been paid.  Christ's death was the only way to pay the price, and this was something we could have never done on our own.

This verse also pointed out to me that we too are required to forgive.  God loved first so that we would love others.  He also forgave first, so that we too would forgive others.  

Nehemiah's deep concern and passion for what God's people were going through and his intense desire to help them is a model for us all to follow.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Nehemiah 8-10

Thursday, September 29: Nehemiah 1-4 ~Cameron

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Nehemiah 1-4

It's easy to focus on Nehemiah's grand story that begins with him hearing the news of Jerusalem's fate, rebuilding the walls of his ancestral city, and becoming the leader of a nation. But I want to highlight the last verse of chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2, verses 1-8.

"Now I was the cupbearer to the king." - Nehemiah 1:11

Nehemiah introduces himself as the cupbearer to the king. He was not performing menial work. He served in the king's court, a fact that undoubtedly helped him once he began leading others.

"..I took up wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence." - Nehemiah 2:1-2

Nehemiah had not been sad in the king's presence. He did his duties cheerfully and dutifully. He must have been an exceptional servant for the king to notice that he was a) not himself, b) not sick, and c) saddened.

"And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me." - Nehemiah 2:5-8

Think of the goodwill Nehemiah had to have built up with the king to even ask for the following:
- Send his servant to Jerusalem
- Issue letters to governors authorizing safe passage
- Authorize the use of royal timber to rebuild the walls, the gates, the temple, and Nehemiah's own house

It is easy to think of God performing a miracle and compelling the king to grant these requests. But when we see how Nehemiah manages the rest of his story, I think we can be confident that Nehemiah has built up substantial goodwill with the king from how Nehemiah managed his affairs in the years leading up to these requests.

Do we work at our jobs with such fervor that we would even dare ask for such things? Even if we are never in a position to leverage the goodwill for something great, we will still be noticed and that can be a testimony in itself.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Nehemiah 5-7

Wednesday, September 28th: Ezra 4:7-23, Ezra 7-10 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Ezra 4:7-23, Ezra 7-10

Our reading today in Ezra 4:7-23 reminded me of how those who don't know God, and are against Christians, have some fear in them and respect for God's power, demonstrated in their hatred for God.

Here Rehum wrote to Artaxerxes the king about how the Jews (early use of the term "Jews" here, mostly men of Judah) came back to work on and rebuild Jerusalem, and how he wanted them to stop now before they got too far, because the Jews would go on their own then and have no need for King Artaxerxes.

King Artaxerxes followed through and wanted the work to stop, before the Jews grew powerful again.

Even those that don't live for Christ can see His power at times, and are fearful of Him. This complaining from Rehum was really fear and therefore respect of God's power. He thought they should stop it now, because it would get out of his control.

Do we realize and respect the power God has and uses? Is there anything that can stop God? He is in control at all times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ezra shows that he is a man of God, and leads the Israelites back, with King Artaxerxes blessing. Two things stood out to me about Ezra, and how he humbly trusted in God for protection as he lead the Israelites away. They normally would have needed armed guards for protection as they crossed dangerous territory, but Ezra was ashamed to ask for help from King Artaxerxes, and God still protected Ezra.

The second thing was how ashamed Ezra was at the sin the Israelites returned to, shortly after getting a huge break in King Artaxerxes allowing them to leave for their homeland. The Israelite men then gave up their foreign wives and children, which couldn't have been easy, but showed a commitment to God.

Ezra's story reminded me in some ways of Moses story. Both men weren't perfect, but lead God's people to a better land, and had to deal with followers that couldn't help themselves and sinned along the way to a better place.

A good reminder of how Jesus sticks with us sinners along the way of life, we are far from perfect, but He forgives. Makes me thankful for a wonderful saviour.


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

Tuesday, September 27th: Esther 6-10 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Esther 6-10

In these chapters today we see the culmination of Esther’s obedience.
We see how God rewarded her obedience in both the punishment of Haman as well as the deliverance of the Jews.

Esther had to step out in faith, while feeling completely inadequate for the job (not to mention risking her life), trusting that God would intervene & bring justice.

When we are faced with something, we have to choose how we will respond. Are we going to pray for God's guidance & trust him, knowing our perspective is limited? Or do we demand, expecting God to follow us/our way?  Do we trust & obey, knowing God is in control even when the circumstances seem to us that he is no? Or do we despair, doubting that God can/will deliver us?

If Esther had not turned to God & trusted him to provide a way & to work things out, the outcome would likely have been very different. Even to the point of being willing to give up everything.

Do I have that kind of faith?  That I could step out, willing to take that kind of risk, trusting God to see me through?

Only when we have that kind of faith will we get to see that kind of response from God. It's like they say: “If you believe little you will see little.”

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Ezra 4:7-23, Ezra 7-10