June 19 Bible reading

June 19 Psalm 75 Acts 13:13-41 1 Kings 6; 7:1-22

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

June 19 Psalm 75 Acts 13:13-41 1 Kings 6; 7:1-22
Psalm 75 Even if it seems that our world is falling apart, there is stability found in a relationship with God. The one true living God is in control of all that we see. Asaph saw that defiance was futile. Asaph led people in singing about a God who is above and beyond all that we see and yet is near to us.
Acts 13:13-41 Paul unpacks the message of salvation in describing Jesus as the Messiah predicted, a descendant of King David. Paul taught that through faith in Jesus forgiveness can be found. In Jesus, a redemption was now available like never before. Paul recognized that Yahweh our Creator had brought our Redeemer Christ Jesus to earth. God made a way for us to receive forgiveness and new life. This is a life-changing realization.
1 Kings 6; 7:1-22 With great care, King Solomon follows God’s instructions in building the Temple. After he completes the Temple, Solomon built himself a palace and facility for the government. All of this was meant to serve the people as they served God. With good stewardship and great care, an inspiring place of worship was made available to the people.

June 18 Bible reading

June 18 Psalm 74:18-23 Acts 12:19-25; 13:1-12 1 Kings 3:16-28; 4; 5

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

June 18 Psalm 74:18-23 Acts 12:19-25; 13:1-12 1 Kings 3:16-28; 4; 5
Psalm 74:18-23 It’s good to honestly describe what is wrong and how it should be better. In Psalms we see repeated examples of this. You should apply it in your conversation with God today. Have you considered what God thinks could be better in this world? God has thoughts. Let’s pray, “Your Kingdom Come”!
Acts 12:19-25; 13:1-12 Proud King Herod accepted people worshiping him as though he were a god. The one true living God responded by giving Herod a terminal illness. Watch out for pride. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The leaders of the Antioch church, commissioned Barnabas and Saul on a missionary journey by prayer, fasting, and laying on of hands in response to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Leading people into next steps of following Jesus was their purpose. This example should inform our decisions today.
1 Kings 3:16-28; 4; 5 Solomon serves the people of Israel with wisdom and strategic use of knowledge from much learning. When peace had finally been won, on all sides of the kingdom, Solomon prepares to build a Temple to honor the name of God, according to the instructions given by God. In Psalms, in Acts, and in Solomon we see examples of pursuing the will of God and the plan of God.

 

June 17 Bible reading

June 17 Proverbs 15:1-10 Acts 11:19-30; 12:1-19 1 Kings 2:13-46; 3:1-15

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

June 17 Proverbs 15:1-10 Acts 11:19-30; 12:1-19 1 Kings 2:13-46; 3:1-15
Proverbs 15:1-10 The carefully chosen words of a wise person will help your motivation to learn, bring you good advice, de-escalate anger, and bring you life-giving truth. I’m thankful for example of this in my own life. God sent me people who spoke words like this to me. My prayer is to do the same for others.
Acts 11:19-30; 12:1-19 A loving community of people, from a variety of cultures and ethnicities, in Antioch, Syria of Palestine, became a church mostly comprised of Gentile Jesus followers. They experienced a life-changing faith in Jesus, and earned a reputation of being like Jesus. They sent relief to Jewish Jesus-followers in preparation for a famine. They were the first people to be called “Christians”. After Herod had James put to death and Peter imprisoned, the church prayed. They saw Peter miraculously released. We should now look at this as a specific example to us of what a Christian church should look like.
1 Kings 2:13-46; 3:1-15 A priest and a military commander were guilty of betrayal and senseless murder while seeking political power in rebellion against King David. Justice and mercy were employed by the new King Solomon. God rewards Solomon’s request for the wisdom to serve people well. If Solomon will faithfully follow God he may expect a long and prosperous life. God cares about the motives behind our prayers. What’s going on in your heart?

 

June 16 Bible reading

June 16 Psalm 74:10-17 Acts 10:23-48; 11:1-18 1 Kings 1; 2:1-12

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

June 16 Psalm 74:10-17 Acts 10:23-48; 11:1-18 1 Kings 1; 2:1-12
Psalm 74:10-17 Asaph appeals to the eternal awareness of and insurmountable power of Yahweh, calling on God to remove their enemies and restore His city. God is alive, aware, already at work, and able to bring change. Do you believe it? Are you talking with God like you believe it? Are you taking action like you believe it?
Acts 10:23-48; 11:1-18 Peter recognized the way Cornelius, an Italian captain, heard from God and responded to God’s direction. The message? “Salvation by faith in Jesus is available to everyone.” We should relay Peter’s words, “God shows no favoritism, there is peace with God through Jesus, who is Lord of all, and everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.” and live this message of inclusiveness. This is relevant to how you interact with other people, regardless of differences. Liberal? Conservative? Distinctly different from you in how they think, feel, or act? How do you treat them? How do you think about them, feel about them?
1 Kings 1; 2:1-12 Aging King David nears death and installs his son Solomon as the new king. He gives his son instruction to faithfully follow God as he serves the people. These words come from David’s study of God’s words to Joshua in a similar leadership transition. They speak of careful examination of Scripture and a courage that comes from living from God’s plan instead of our own. David learned from his own experiences. He learned from the experiences of others. He learned from the Scriptures.

 

June 15 Bible reading

June 15 Psalm 74:1-9 Acts 9:32-43; 10:1-23 2 Samuel 23:8-39; 24

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

June 15 Psalm 74:1-9 Acts 9:32-43; 10:1-23 2 Samuel 23:8-39; 24
Psalm 74:1-9 In Psalm 74 Asaph sings a lament of the destruction of Jerusalem, a city that God loves, and the place of worship designed by God. It’s right for us to mourn what is wrong. We should learn how to lament by the examples found in Scripture.
Acts 9:32-43; 10:1-23 Peter prays and sees miracle healing come to a paralyzed man and a woman raised to life from the dead. This same miracle power is available to us through Jesus today! God sends an angel to Cornelius, a captain of the Italian Regiment a cruel ruling force, affirming his faith in God and service to the poor. We should pray for more of this and affirm it when we see it. God is arranging a meeting between Peter and Cornelius that would become significant to the approach of church leadership toward Gentiles. Over and over God communicates His heart for all people.
2 Samuel 23:8-39; 24 Over his lifetime, David saw God allow consequences for sin. David learned the value of repentance and sparing no expense when seeking forgiveness from God. He knew that repentance must cost you something. This lesson helps us learn from our mistakes. We can follow the guidance of God and avoid such pain.

 

June 14 Bible reading

June 14 Psalm 73:15-28 Acts 9:1-31 2 Samuel 22; 23:1-7

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

June 14 Psalm 73:15-28 Acts 9:1-31 2 Samuel 22; 23:1-7
Psalm 73:15-28 In the house of worship, Asaph sings his lament at the success of bad people and discovers bitterness in his heart. As he sings, he becomes aware of the personal, close presence of God. His focus turns to loving gratitude for the strength he draws from his relationship with God. This is a big deal! Each of us would be happier if we would take the same steps.
Acts 9:1-31 Saul is “breathing murder” and working to lock up as many Jesus followers as possible. Jesus speaks to Saul, questioning this persecution and calling Saul to repent and accept a new commission. Saul responds to Jesus in faith and is filled with the Holy Spirit. He began preaching about Jesus with a personal conviction and powerful grasp on how the Scriptures confirmed the identity of Jesus as Messiah. He had a life-changing personal interaction with Jesus. He had worked hard to understand the Scriptures. He obeyed God’s instruction. All of this helped him respond to Jesus and discover his own personal purpose within the larger purpose of God. This is also possible for you!
2 Samuel 22; 23:1-7 Challengers tried to murder him. I’m flooded with encouragement by highlighting the action words that David uses to describe how God helped him overcome his enemies. If I consider my tempter as my enemy, I must consider that the God of David is also at work for me. There’s victory available in Jesus.

 

June 13 Bible reading

June 13 Proverbs 14:25-35 Acts 8:4-40 2 Samuel 20; 21

Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
• What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
• Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
• What should you do about that truth?

June 13 Proverbs 14:25-35 Acts 8:4-40 2 Samuel 20; 21
Proverbs 14:25-35 Responding to God with loving respect, with humility & worship, is a life-giving decision. It will protect you and bring you refreshing that is intoxicating. This will get you away from the trap of a self-centered life. Realizing that you’re not the center of the universe brings true freedom. You will be able to laugh like a kid. “Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.” – C. J. Mahaney
Acts 8:4-40 Phillip preached the Good News of Jesus, seeing many people respond in faith and many receive miracles. Freedom and healing are found in this salvation, by faith in Jesus. Phillip’s understanding of Scripture, personal relationship with Jesus, and obedience to God’s daily direction saw amazing results. Each of those three parts of his journey were essential to the joy and peace he found. Phillip found fulfillment and saw miracles. We should grow in a personal relationship with Jesus, our understanding of Scripture, and choosing to obey God’s daily direction. Are you taking steps in this direction? Are you helping someone else take steps in this direction?
2 Samuel 20; 21 David recognizes that Sheba is seeking civil war. Sheba is killed to prevent this war. God reveals to David that a famine can be stopped if he will make amends for the sins of Saul against the Gibeonites. David responds and also provides burial for Saul and his descendants. David must continue the fight against Philistine giants. In the next chapter we find the lessons to be learned from this.