Wednesday, October 31st: Jeremiah 49-52, John 12:12-50 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Jeremiah 49-52, John 12:12-50

John 12:42-43

42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Does anybody else find that convicting?
Do I want to be praised by others more than I want to please God?  I pray that I would live for God's glory and not for my own!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Ezekiel 1-3, John 13

Tuesday, October 30: Jeremiah 46-48, John 11:45-12:11

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Jeremiah 46-48, John 11:45-12:11

John 12:3
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet & wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

We are told that the value of this perfume was about a year’s worth in wages. What a gift, a show of love!

Would we be willing to do this? Do we love enough that we would give up everything to show that love (& then trust enough that our needs will be met)?

How tightly we hold onto the things we value. What do we value most, the things this world offers or what Jesus offers? Do we focus on the good things here & now or the great things to come when we give it all to God?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 49-52, John 12:12-50

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: Jeremiah 43-45, John 11:1-44

John 11:35 as many know, this is the shortest book of the bible only saying, "Jesus wept." but this shows much more than what we expect if we are just reading it. Jesus knew that he was going to bring Lazarus back to life, he knew all this before he went to his house. Jesus was crying because he saw Lazarus' family crying and felt for them, this shows that Jesus was able to feel and experience things that most would think he couldn't

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 46-48, John 11:45-12:11

Saturday, October 27th: Obadiah 1; Jeremiah 40-42; John 10 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Obadiah 1; Jeremiah 40-42; John 10


John 10:5-6

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
V6 does not turn out the way you think it will after reading V5.  And, if it was the first time you were reading this story, it would not enfold the way you'd think it should either!  He loved them, so you'd think He would've gotten there in time to heal him, or even heal him from a distance like He'd done before.

But He waited.
And Lazarus died.

He answered their prayer with a "no".  Or at least, at first glance He did.

But it turns out that Jesus had something huge planned.  Through the death of His friend, Jesus would display His absolute power over death in a stunning way no one could deny, and foreshadow His own resurrection soon to come.

It appeared to them, with their limited knowledge, that Jesus first said "wait", and then said "no".  But after what was a painful wait, His answer turned into a "YES!"

We don't always get a yes answer, at least not in this life.  But sometimes when we get "wait" or "no" answers, God has far bigger and better plans in mind.  And, at the minimum, we will ultimate get a "yes" in eternity -  as we see later in 2 Corinthians 4:17....
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 43-45, John 11:1-44

Friday, October 26th: Lamentations 1-5; John 9 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Lamentations 1-5; John 9

“But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit. You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!” Yes, you came when I called; you told me, “Do not fear.””

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:55-57‬

There are days and seasons in our lives when we can’t seem to find joy no matter how hard we look. There are times we feel alone, tired of waiting, and like God has forgotten us. But when we are “deep within the pit”, our Father still sees us.

I think of the story of Jonah in the belly of the fish. Sometimes we need to be in complete darkness, all alone, before we can finally hear the still, small voice of God saying “do not fear”. 

He’s always there, even when it doesn’t seem like it. Cling to that hope, and try to listen for His voice today. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Obadiah 1; Jeremiah 40-42; John 10

Jeremiah 37-39, John 8: 31-59

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Jeremiah 37-39, John 8:31-59

Jeremiah 30:20
“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “ Obey the LORD by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared.

Finally after many warnings over the years, the Jews are about to be taken over by King Nebuchadnezzar. They are scrambling and I'm sure very worried about what will happen next. King Zedekiah is given a simple task, in order to save his life he needs to follow and obey the Lord.

A good reminder to keep it simple and just focus on God, not on worldly stresses. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Lamentations 1-5. John 9

Wednesday, October 24th: Jeremiah 34-36, John 7:53-8:30 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Jeremiah 34-36, John 7:53-8:30

John 8:24b unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.
Who do you say Jesus is?  What are you going to do about it?

That's what it all boils down to.

First - acknowledging that He is Who He says He is.  Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour of the world.

Second - repenting of your sin, accepting His sacrifice on your behalf, and living for Him.

Just the first step is not enough - even the demons know Jesus is Who He says He is.  We must also love, follow, and obey Him!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 37-39, John 8:31-59

Tuesday, October 23: Jeremiah 31-33, John 7:1-52 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Jeremiah 31-33, John 7:1-52

John 7:7
The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.

Jesus makes no apology, the world is evil.

He didn’t try to soften his words so he wouldn’t step on any toes. He didn’t sway on his convictions. He didn’t worry about what people would think of him.

He stood his ground & the world hated him for it.

We need to be prepared that when we follow God we will be hated. The world won’t like what we say because it is not what they want to hear but we can’t make apologies for it.

We need to stand firm in the truth regardless of the world says.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 34-36, John 7:53-8:30

Monday, October 22: Jeremiah 28-30, John 6:22-71 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Jeremiah 28-30, John 6:22-71

A few things that stood out from today's readings:

15 And Jeremiah the prophet said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie.16 Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the Lord.’”

This makes me think about a quote that was discussed in Sunday School yesterday:

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

― Brennan Manning

When we are not following the will and the plan of God, and yet we are professing that we are Christian, we are leading people astray. Hananiah was doing his own thing and NOT what the Lord wanted him to be doing. There are always consequences for disobedience and Hananiah paid with his life.

5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.  8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream,[a] 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.

These are the words to the exiles but are just as they were true for them, they are applicable to us living as exiles in this society that is more grey than black and white. We are to put down roots buy planting, literally and figuratively, seeds of produce and of relationships with others. We should multiply and bring up our children in the Lord. Pray for our fallen world. We should know God's truth so that we are not swayed by false prophets and fake news.

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[b] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 

We can take comfort in knowing that God has a plan for us. He hears us and when we seek Him we will find Him.

Why do you cry out over your hurt?
    Your pain is incurable.
Because your guilt is great,
    because your sins are flagrant,
    I have done these things to you.
16 Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured,
    and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity;
those who plunder you shall be plundered,
    and all who prey on you I will make a prey.
17 For I will restore health to you,
    and your wounds I will heal,
declares the Lord,

Our sins are obvious and offensive and our guilt is heavy. It can make us feel like the pain of sin is unending. But one day, the Lord will heal all our wounds and turn all of our hardship around. He is greater than all our sin.

From the NT:

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 

We are needy people. What a comfort to know that Jesus can supply all our needs. We know God keeps his promises and hearing “Truly, truly, I say to you" throughout the NT readings is a great reminder that we can have confidence in God. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Jeremiah 31-33, John 7:1-52

Saturday, October 20th: Jeremiah 25-27; John 6:1-21 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Jeremiah 25-27; John 6:1-21

The miracles in our passage are amazing, but the way it's written it almost seems like it was normal or commonplace.  Perhaps that's just because I've read or heard it so many times, I'm not sure.

But one of the miracles stood out to me more than the rest.....

¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles,^[b] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹ Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

THAT would've been cool to see.  So would Jesus walking on water, and calming the seas, and multiplying food, but still - you know what I mean.  One minute they're in the middle of the sea, and the next they're on land, that must've felt pretty surreal!

We serve an amazingly powerful God!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Jeremiah 28-30, John 6:22-71