Wednesday, January 31st: Exodus 28-30, Galatians 3 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 28-30, Galatians 3

2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c]
This reminds me of the series Pastor Ron has been speaking on about living in the Spirit in covenant relationship with God - not by a checklist morality code (the law) or with a "me-first" attitude (fleshly desire, and completely misinterpreting our freedom in Christ).

28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
A great reminder that we are all of equal worth in God's eyes.  This doesn't mean that we're not different from each other, but that our worth is equal and that God's love and salvation is offered to all.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 31-33, Galations 4

January 30: Exodus 25-27, Galatians 2 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 25-27, Galatians 2

I have been crucified with Christ & I no longer live, but Christ lives on me – vs 20

I no longer live

The Message bible continues to say-
“The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave himself for me.”

When we give our lives to Christ, we give up ourselves. It should no longer be “all about me.”

How entitled do I live my life?
-I want this, I don’t want that, Why do I have to go through this?, Why me?

Am I looking to live in whatever way pleases me most & makes me the most comfortable or am I allowing Christ to live in me however he chooses?

Do I have enough faith in him to give up “me”?

Lord, help me to recognize that my life is not my own & allow you to live in & through me. You loved me enough to die for me, now help me to faithfully follow you wherever you lead.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Exodus 28-30, Galatians 3

Monday, January 29: Exodus 22-24, Galatians 1 ~by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 22-24, Galatians 1

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-7

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.


Observation: We cannot add or take away from God's word.

Application: I think distortion of the Bible is one of the biggest reasons people see the church as hypocritical. It devalues our message when we are at odds with each other as believers. Some things in the Bible are difficult to read. Sin is as bad as the Bible says it is even if society doesn't. Truth is truth. God loves, wants us, and desires the best for us. We fall short. We can't pick and choose what we want to believe as truth in God's word. How we live our lives draws others to God or pushes others away from God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, just as the Galatians needed to be reminded by Paul that we are not to turn from Christ, we too turn away from God's message to suit our own wants and desires. Help us to seek the truth and know the truth so that we might not be responsible for allow ourselves to stray and leading others down the wrong path. Lord, guide us, one step at a time, towards your plan for each of us. Amen.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 25-27, Galatians 2

Saturday, January 27th: Exodus 19-21, Mark 16 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 19-21, Mark 16

Our NT passage that describes the women finding the empty tomb is an excellent example of the integrity, accuracy, and truthfulness of the Bible.  In those days, women were not even allowed to testify in court.  If someone was making up a story about the resurrection, they would never have women as the first ones to make the discovery and witness the event!  And if someone was trying to write the events in a way to best convince the reader, instead of being concerned about historical accuracy, they would have lied and changed the story so that the men were the first to find Jesus.

There are many ways we can know that the Biblical account is accurate, and this is one of them!

Tomorrow: Catch Up Day!
Monday's Bible In a Year Passage:  Exodus 22-24, Galatians 1

Friday, January 26: Exodus 16-18; Mark 15 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 16-18; Mark 15

“The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”” - Mark‬ ‭15:29-30‬

Every time I read this part of the scripture, I get so angry at these people for ridiculing Jesus. And I always think, if I was Jesus, I would’ve wanted to prove myself to these people and show them just how powerful I was, and cast fire down from Heaven on them, or something. But that’s part of what makes the gospel as great as it is. I would imagine the human part of Jesus would’ve been tempted to do something like I said. But the God part of Jesus knew this was all part of His Father’s plan, and without dying, He wouldn’t be able to save these people if they were to one day ask for forgiveness. To think, Jesus died for all sinners, including those mockers. And those mockers, to be completely honest, have been us at different stages of our lives. How wonderful of a God we serve that He would still want us after mocking Him like that. I am so thankful for His love and forgiveness.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 19-21; Mark 16

Thursday, January 25th: Exodus 13-15, Mark 14: 32-72 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 13-15, Mark 14: 32-72

Exodus 14: 13-14
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. [14] The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

God told the Israelites to not worry or fear, He would help them

Exodus 14: 21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, [22] and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

The Israelites had seen many miracles already, and how God was helping them. Would their faith be strong enough to not worry and just trust?

Exodus 14: 31
And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

This is an amazing miracle, God helped the Israelites escape death and also proved to them again that He was with them and would help. But as the Israelites moved on in their journey they forgot how God had helped them in the past and were more concerned with their present problem of thirst.

Exodus 15:24
So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink ?”

Do we forget all that God has done for us already? He has died for us and given us the opportunity to be saved. As we face issues that come up that change our plans, and can bring us down, we need to remember the big picture - how God has loved us and cared for us and promises to keep doing this for us.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 16-18, Mark 15

Wednesday, January 24th: Exodus 10-12, Mark 14:1-31 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 10-12, Mark 14:1-31

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
One thing that stood out to me in this passage was the difference between a good choice and a better choice.

Obviously, giving money to the poor is a good choice.

But, just because something is a good choice, doesn't mean it's the best choice or even the right choice.

Motive plays a huge factor in what the best choice is as well.  Pridefully giving money to the poor may appear good on the outside, but it's a sin on the inside.

This woman honoured Jesus with her heart and her actions.  And that was the best choice.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Exodus 13-15, Mark 14:32-72

Tuesday, January 23: Exodus 7-9, Mark 13 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 7-9, Mark 13


Mark 13:5-6
Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ & will deceive many.”

Mark 13:22-23
For false Christs & false prophets will appear & perform signs & miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

I have read these verses (& others similar) many times & find them scary.  If the deception will come from within; how do we guard ourselves against it?

However, when I read vs 22 today, those words “if that were possible” really stuck out to me. After reading it again, I realized that it didn’t say that they (the false prophets) did deceive only that they came to deceive.

We have hope!  “If that were possible,” & Jesus goes on to say, “I have told you everything ahead of time.”
God has given us what we need in order to recognize truth and/or false teaching through his word & continual access to him through prayer.

Now, there will definitely be many that will be deceived.  I believe this will largely happen if we take our focus off of God & his will & turn it to our own wills & selfish desires. When we start making the bible “work for us” & reading it through our own eyes (in order to justify ourselves) instead of through God’s eyes, we have lost our focus.

We need to read God’s word, searching for true understanding from him.

Mark 13:33
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come

We don’t know when we will be confronted with false teaching (in many ways we already are when we hear of churches accepting gay lifestyles & teachings that seem to just appease the crowd rather than to “step on toes” bringing forth truth) but we need to be prepared.  Search the bible & grow in faith now, so that we will be ready & can recognize it.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 10-12, Mark 14:1-31

Monday, January 22: Exodus 4-6, Mark 12:28-44 Kaden

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: Exodus 4-6, Mark 12:28-44

I have always questioned why God said, while talking about Pharaoh to Moses, "but I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." but after reading and rereading I have come to the realization that since in chapter 4 when God hardens Pharaoh's heart, he makes his promise of deliverance in chapter 6 and told Moses that the stone heart of pharaoh will drive the Israelites with a strong hand, and thus making an easier escape from Egypt.

When Jesus answered answered the scribe that the second most important commandment is, "love you neighbour as yourself" we can find it very hard in our society to fulfill this as we tend to be very judgemental, but as we look upon everyone else in our lives we need to remember the only true judge is God, and since we need to love others as ourselves, we can only look upon others as we would look at ourselves.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 7-8; Matthew 15:1-20

Saturday, January 20th: Exodus 1-3; Mark 12:1-27 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 1-3; Mark 12:1-27

I love the story of Moses, and how God shines through every part of it.

God orchestrated Pharaoh’s daughter finding Moses and raising him in the palace so he would be familiar with the royal household and how things worked.

God gave Miriam the courage to speak up to the princess and the wisdom to offer her and Moses’ mother to nurse him, giving him the opportunity to have the Jewish faith impressed upon him at an early age.

God chose Moses right from the beginning, preparing him for the leadership role He had planned.

But He didn’t choose Moses because he was overwhelmingly qualified! Indeed, he murdered a man, fled for forty years, and gave God all kinds of excuses as to why he couldn’t lead the people.

But God chose him, and God strengthened him, and God turned him into one of the greatest leaders Israel had ever known.

All glory be to God!



Tomorrow is catch up day!
Monday's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 4-6, Mark 12:28-44