November 17 Bible reading

November 17  Psalm 127  James 1  Ezekiel 32; 33:1-20

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?

November 17  Psalm 127  James 1  Ezekiel 32; 33:1-20

Psalm 127

Yahweh God, our Creator & Redeemer, is the one who provides for us. God makes it possible for us to work and rest. If we give our best energy to a life independent of God it will ultimately be useless. In a life that honors God, children are valued as a blessing from God.

James 1

James, the pastor of the Jerusalem church, is the first to write an open letter that serves as one of the pastoral epistles of the New Testament. He writes to Jewish followers of Jesus a letter that is directly connected to Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”. He speaks to the spiritual strength we can draw from a relationship with Jesus. We should be good listeners, who choose their words carefully and are not easily angered. Seeking wisdom from God, we can learn to see our lives clearly. Perspective is critical. James warns us to not be misled, allowing ourselves to be deceived. We can receive salvation by grace and take action as a result of this new life.

Ezekiel 32; 33:1-20

Through Ezekiel, God predicts the destruction of Egypt in punishment of their sins. God instructs Ezekiel to mourn this coming judgment on the opposing nations of people who did wicked things and refused to repent. This mourning further reveals the loving heart of God for all people. Our God wants everyone to turn away from their self-destructive sin and toward His life-giving love.

 

November 16 Bible reading

November 16  Proverbs 27:23-27; 28:1-6  Hebrews 13  Ezekiel 30; 31

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?

November 16  Proverbs 27:23-27; 28:1-6  Hebrews 13  Ezekiel 30; 31

Proverbs 27:23-27; 28:1-6

God our Creator has made it possible for us to earn money. We have resources of time, energy, and money. They are temporary. Our spirit will live forever. We are stewards of the resources God has provided. Healthy decisions make good use of those resources. Diligence, hard work, and healthy decisions show your eternal perspective and appreciation for all that God has provided you.

Hebrews 13

Through Jesus, our God has made a way for us to be cleansed, forgiven, and brought into new spiritual life. In Hebrews 13:5 & Deuteronomy 31:6 we see that God has promised to never abandon us. Here we find confident hope in God our provider, a present help in time of need. For this reason we should not fear what people may do to us. We are now able to live a lifestyle of love with courageous generosity to all people. We must be on the lookout for opportunities to serve someone we have just met, someone in need, someone in prison, and anyone who is being mistreated. Let us live a life focused on Jesus. May God give us the ability to live in this way.

Ezekiel 30; 31

As a sign to all who would read it, God gave Ezekiel prophetic visions (which he wrote and distributed). These visions predicted specific events in the history of the nations of Babylon, Egypt, and Israel. As these prophecies were fulfilled the relevant written history served as further proof of Yahweh God’s sovereign control of human history. The redemptive narrative of God’s story can be seen in the big picture.

 

November 15 Bible reading

November 15  Psalm 126  Hebrews 12:14-29  Ezekiel 28; 29

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?

November 15  Psalm 126  Hebrews 12:14-29  Ezekiel 28; 29

Psalm 126

People returning to Jerusalem for worship would sing Psalm 126. They recalled a season of amazing fulfillment and happiness. They recognized the miracles God had done to make their joy possible after their season of trouble and exile. They had repented of sin and returned to a healthy relationship with God. As a result, they found a harvest of blessing at just the right time. This song reminded current-day believers of those lessons from the past.

Hebrews 12:14-29

From a faith focused on Jesus, we are called to pursue healthy relationships (in right standing) with each other (by Hebrews 12:14-15). A lifestyle of wholehearted devotion to God should include caring about the people in your life. We can help each other receive the grace of God, the healing it brings, and freedom from unresolved hurt or anger from the past. Each of us must relate with Jesus as our Mediator of a New Covenant in our relationship with the all-powerful living God.

Ezekiel 28; 29

The leaders of Tyre, Sidon, Egypt, and Babylon found their thoughts, feelings, and actions unveiled by an attentive God. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God predicted the exact ways in which they would be punished. This pre-emptive written word served as proof of Yahweh God’s sovereignty. God is all-knowing and all-powerful. We should relate to God with respect to these truths.

November 14 Bible reading

November 14  Psalm 125  Hebrews 12:1-13  Ezekiel 26; 27

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?

November 14  Psalm 125  Hebrews 12:1-13  Ezekiel 26; 27

Psalm 125

When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem they would be reminded of the protection of God, standing faithfully like the mountains that repelled would-be attackers. When we rely on God, He will not fail us and we can walk in peace. Let us spend time each day to bring our hearts in tune with God.

Hebrews 12:1-13

We found joy and received salvation through Jesus. Every day we should keep a focus on Jesus our Champion. Jesus initiates our faith and is bringing it to fulfillment. Our strength increases as we daily consider who Jesus is and how Jesus lives. This will motivate us to do anything possible to please God who has lavished love on us. When God brings guidance, reshaping our desires and correcting our behavior, we should be predisposed to respond out of humble gratitude. This adjustment, from God, comes with our best interest in mind. Our Creator knows best how we should live. Let’s not follow self-destructive desires.

Ezekiel 26; 27

Our God watched as the people of Ture lived the way that they wanted to, ignoring their Creator, and celebrating the destruction of Jerusalem. God knew their hearts. God predicted their demise in punishment and asked Ezekiel to sing a funeral song for them. Pride will bring consequences.

November 13 Bible reading

November 13  Psalm 124  Hebrews 11:17-40  Ezekiel 24; 25

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?

November 13  Psalm 124  Hebrews 11:17-40  Ezekiel 24; 25

Psalm 124

David writes a song, in Psalm 124, reminding his people of specific times when God delivered them. Where would we be without God? Without the grace of God, I would be worse than nothing. I would have been a detriment to society. God rescued me. If God has rescued you by His grace, sing about it. Your help came from the Creator of heaven and earth.

Hebrews 11:17-40

Hebrews 11 lists what some have called the “Faith Hall of Fame”. People who made life-changing decisions based on what they believed about God. They chose to “see the invisible, believe the impossible, and overcome the obstacles”. They recognized God’s purpose in their world and in their life circumstances. They lived by faith in their struggles, in their deaths, on their tedious days, and in the greatest victories of their lives. “They received what God had promised” and yet not all that God had promised. Complete fulfillment will come after Christ returns to earth and we see a great reunion in heaven.

Ezekiel 24; 25

Jerusalem had become a city of murder. God gave Ezekiel an object lesson to illustrate His efforts to cleanse the city of the stain brought by such violence. God said that it could not be cleaned and now must be judged. God instructed Ezekiel to not mourn the death of his wife in a customary way as another means of calling the Israelites to repentance. As a sign of sovereignty, God predicts the punishment of evil actions from the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines.

 

 

November 12 Bible reading

November 12  Proverbs 27:15-22 Hebrews 11:1-16  Ezekiel 22:23-31; 23

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?

November 12  Proverbs 27:15-22 Hebrews 11:1-16  Ezekiel 22:23-31; 23

Proverbs 27:15-22

In our relationships, we can benefit each other or we can cause stress. Human desire will not end until Jesus returns. We should consider this fact when we evaluate whether or not we are allowing our desires to drive our lives.

Hebrews 11:1-16

What is faith? In a sense, it is a gift from God who provides us the ability to move in the direction of what we believe. We can now see what God wants us to see. We can agree with God by choosing to believe. That is faith. Hebrews reminds us of people who chose to believe that God exists and will reward those who sincerely seek Him. Through life and death, they made choices based on who God is and their hope of Heaven. They trusted God regardless of what they saw on earth. They were looking for something better than this earth and they found it.

Ezekiel 22:23-31; 23

Through Ezekiel, God reveals that He has seen leaders destroy the lives of people for their own financial gain. God wants spiritual leaders who will serve His people with integrity. This must include a faithful commitment to rebuild the principles of healthy right-standing relationships with God and others. God wants spiritual leaders who will pray for people in intercession.

November 11 Bible reading

November 11  Psalm 123  Hebrews 10:19-39  Ezekiel 20:45-49; 21; 22:1-22

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?

November 11  Psalm 123  Hebrews 10:19-39  Ezekiel 20:45-49; 21; 22:1-22

Psalm 123

May God in Heaven be praised. We choose to exalt the living God. We watch attentively for what God may do next.  We ask God for His faithful love and mercy. We choose to look to God as our source. We choose to focus on God.

Hebrews 10:19-39

Jesus Christ our Savior has made a way for our guilt to be removed and our relationship with God restored. We had wronged God. We broke up the relationship. Jesus makes it possible for us to return. By accepting Jesus we can be in the presence of God, sitting in the same room with the all-powerful God, in a peaceful relationship. When Jesus became our Way, the great curtain keeping people out of God’s presence in the Temple’s most holy place was torn. This is symbolic of the freedom we now have. Let’s hold fast to it, encouraging each other, gathering regularly, and growing in faithfulness and an expectant confident hope of the coming reward.

Ezekiel 20:45-49; 21; 22:1-22

God will yet reveal Himself to everyone. Through Ezekiel, God communicates a broken heart at the need to punish people who refuse to repent. God predicted this in proof of His transcendent power. God details the sins He has observed in Jerusalem for which they have not repented. We must repent and turn to our Savior Jesus.