October 16 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with 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, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

October 16  Psalm 119:41-48  1 Timothy 1  Jeremiah 32:26-44; 33; 34

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?

When we receive the unfailing love of God in salvation, we can live by God’s instruction and walk in freedom. We will find God’s Word to be life-giving. We will meditate on God’s Word and share what we have learned.

Paul writes a personal letter to Timothy, who became a Jesus follower most likely in the Lystra story found in Acts 14. 7 years later Timothy travelled with Paul. After Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, he writes a letter of encouragement and guidance for Timothy’s leadership in Ephesus. Paul gives Timothy direction in the continued effort to sop bad teachers who were misusing the Scriptures. Paul keeps a simple message as priority, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” The amazing story of God’s grace, shown by Jesus appearing to Paul despite his serious sin, continues to inform their message. You can believe in Jesus and have eternal life. This is why we must “cling” to our faith and “keep our conscience clear”.

Is anything too hard for our God? After a cleansing of sin, God puts a desire for worship and a faithfulness in the heart. Restoration and forgiveness bring joy to the heart of God. Our God will not abandon His people. A promise of the Messiah in renewal of the covenant with Abraham came through the prophet Jeremiah.

October 15 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with 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, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

October 15  Proverbs 25:1-10  2 Thessalonians 3  Jeremiah 31:15-40; 32:1-25

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?

No one person has comprehended all that there is to understand about the earth, let alone the galaxy. Our God is Creator of all that we see. Considering this leads us to respect the thoughts of God as transcendent of our own. Gossip brings damage including irreparable damage to your own reputation.

We learn to pray that the Good News of Jesus be received by an increasing number of people, from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. We read Paul’s desire that they grow in understanding and expression of God’s agape love, as well as the strength & spiritual stamina found in a personal relationship with Jesus. A healthy work ethic is seen as a priority for Jesus followers.

Jeremiah predicts the mourning after death, fulfilled in Matthew 2:17-18, and God’s promise of hope in the future. A new covenant would be an essential part of personal relationship with God. Forgiveness of sin and removal of guilt would be available through the Messiah. At a time of being attacked, Jeremiah believed that God is faithful and powerful (quoting God’s self-description found in Exodus 34:6-7) and recalling His miracles in the past. He purchased land to prove his faith in God at a time when it seemed foolish to do so.

October 14 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with 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, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

October 14  Psalm 119:33-40  2 Thessalonians 2  Jeremiah 29:24-32; 30; 31:1-14

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?

With these verses we can sing a prayer request that our God would help us understand the Scripture and live by His guidance. We read an honest call for help with healthy focus. “God help me focus on You, on what is right, and on what is most valuable.” We can pray. In this way, we find our life made new.

Paul writes to the Thessalonians an encouragement to believe that Christ will return. He warns them about false teachers and deceptive spiritual miracle workers such as the anti-christ, a figure in the future who will draw people away from following Jesus. Jesus will be victorious over such deceivers. Paul is thankful for the faith, of the Thessalonians, in Jesus. He encourages them to hold on to their faith and the truth they had been taught. Let us draw strength from a personal relationship with Jesus. God speaks, through Jeremiah, that He will punish the false prophet who leads people away. Through the prophet, God speaks both His justice and His mercy. This includes a promise of restoration for His people. God wants to provide for His people a peaceful life. We will yet see ultimate peace and victory in Jesus.

October 13 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with 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, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

October 13  Psalm 119:25-32  2 Thessalonians 1  Jeremiah 27; 28; 29:1-23

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?

On our worst days, we can sing to God. Cry out of grief, discouragement, and depression. Ask God to help us with reality and help us understand the way God’s Word is a guide to navigate it.

The church in Thessalonica had found “hardship as a pathway to peace” in following Jesus. They were growing in their faith and their agape love for each other. Paul, Silas, and Timothy celebrated their faithfulness, endurance, and spiritual growth. They asked God to give the Thessalonians the grace and ability to live in a way that pleases God. We need the daily help of God to live out a “Thank You” to Jesus for salvation. Choosing to love each other we can grow stronger spiritually. All of this is helped by expecting the return of Jesus.

Jeremiah had to deal with false prophets, and their message (that people would be safe from God’s judgment of sin). Religion would not protect people from punishment. God sent a message, promising ultimate restoration of His people who were in exile. God instructed them to pray for and work for the peace of the city where they were in exile. God said that the health of the city was directly connected to their health. Even during this season of punishment God taught them how to find peace.

October 12 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with 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, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

October 12  Psalm 119:17-24  1 Thessalonians 5  Jeremiah 25:15-38; 26

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?

The poet in Psalm 119 has found wonderful truth and wise advice in the Scripture. He is moved by a desire for the Word of God. He finds it enjoyable. Meditating on what God has said is a life-giving practice.

The return of Jesus to earth will be unexpected. No one knows when it will happen. Our responsibility is to live, full of hope, alert and clear-headed. We must encourage each other, be joyful, pray constantly, and be thankful regardless of our temporary circumstances.

God has grown weary of unrepentant evil people and the injustice of their actions. Through Jeremiah God predicts the punishment He brings and yet leaves an opening for their repentance. In response, the people wanted to kill Jeremiah. Some of the wise old men recounted the way their ancestors had responded to the prophet Micah and repented of their sin. Seeing their worship, God changed His mind. In this way, the old men kept the people from killing Jeremiah.

October 11 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with 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, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

October 11  Proverbs 24:23-34  1 Thessalonians 4  Jeremiah 23:9-30; 24; 25:1-14

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?

Proverbs points out the value of honesty and hard work. They bring value to you, your family, and your community.

Out of a personal relationship with Jesus comes new life and confident hope. This brings an inspiration and a new ability to choose a lifestyle of living for God, our Creator & Redeemer instead of living to please ourselves first. When we want to please God more than anything else we can live a “holy” life, focused on God, avoiding sexual sin. Out of “agape” love for God and others we grow in self-control. All of this springs from a belief that Jesus will return to earth with people who have loved God and experienced death. This great hope before us should inform every single day.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God spoke to the people of Judah about the way that He would punish the unrepentant and restore the repentant. We read a clear distinction between true prophets and false prophets. A true prophet is spending time in the presence of God, listening to the voice of God, and with great care and obedience speaking the word God instructed them to deliver.

October 10 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with 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, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

October 10  Psalm 119:9-16  1 Thessalonians 2:17-20; 3  Jeremiah 21; 22; 23:1-8

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?

How can we live by the guidance of God? Is a pure life possible? Carefully considering the meaning of Scripture, in an effort to apply what God has said, to our lives, is the way to go. This includes the memorization of Scripture. In this way, our personal relationship with God becomes more meaningful and we grow by using the Word of God.

Paul, Timothy, and their ministry team express love and compassion for the church in Thessalonians. Paul warned of troubles to come and brought encouragement to the Thessalonians so that they might stand strong in faith through it all. This is all set in the expectation of the return of Jesus.

The people of Jerusalem had turned away from God in favor of the worship of other gods. They had treated the Temple of God like a “lucky rabbit’s foot”, believing that it would still protect them from judgment. God said, “No, I will punish you for your sinfulness”. The church building is not protection for the unrepentant sinner. In contrast, God blessed King Josiah, in part, because he gave justice and help to the poor and needy. Josiah’s actions were seen as a sign of his relationship with God. In the middle of punishing evil rulers of Judah (descendants of David) God renews His promise to bring the Messiah from their family.