June 25 Bible reading

June 25 Proverbs 15:21-30 Acts 16:16-40 1 Kings 14:21-31; 15; 16:1-7

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 25 Proverbs 15:21-30 Acts 16:16-40 1 Kings 14:21-31; 15; 16:1-7
Proverbs 15:21-30 When a person, who loves God, speaks from the heart it should be something they have carefully considered. This is an important truth which does not come naturally to most people. It’s possible to be enthusiastic and wrong. Let us carefully consider with wisdom the things that we should say to the people whom God has put in our lives.
Acts 16:16-40 Jailed for their Christian activities, Paul and Silas are praying and singing when God uses an earthquake to free them. Paul and Silas had been praying and singing as Psalms 96:1-2 suggests, by choosing, “each day” to praise a God who saves. They were putting into practice what is found in Ephesians 5:18-20, “singing psalms” etc to each other. God hears them and does the supernatural. The response of Paul and Silas brings about the salvation of the warden and his household. This story is essential to the start of the church in Philippi. In this story we find an essential truth that many today are missing.
1 Kings 14:21-31; 15; 16:1-7 Having seen idolatry in Jerusalem, Asa leads a religious reform bringing people back to worship of the one true living God. Through these decades the Hebrew people constantly fought against each other in civil way. They worshiped other gods, and saw their behavior punished as God had predicted. God gave them a choice between loving Him and self-destruction. God showed them love and was looking for love in return. It is much the same today. How should we respond?

June 24 Bible reading

June 24 Psalm 78:1-8 Acts 16:1-15 1 Kings 12:25-33; 13; 14:1-20

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?

June 24 Psalm 78:1-8 Acts 16:1-15 1 Kings 12:25-33; 13; 14:1-20
Psalm 78:1-8 Psalm 78 encourages us to tell the next generation about the amazing things God has done. They should hear about the miracles we have seen (and those that have been told to us by previous generations). We should unpack for them the supernatural works of God found in Scripture. Let’s put this into practice.
Acts 16:1-15 Paul begins to mentor Timothy. Despite having rejected circumcision as a requirement for believers, Paul has Timothy circumcised in hopes of less resistance from Jews they would attempt to reach for Christ. In choosing where they would minister Paul followed both the direction and prohibition of the Holy Spirit. Paul lived forever changed by his interaction with Jesus. Paul is grounded in a deep understanding of Scripture. Paul also lived by a constant attentiveness to the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit. We should follow this example.
1 Kings 12:25-33; 13; 14:1-20 The new king Jeroboam leads the ten tribes of Israel away from the worship of Yahweh into idolatry. As promised, God brings punishment to this unfaithfulness with events marked in the history of Israel. God’s story is one of seeking a loving relationship with His people. God proves His faithfulness and the people repeatedly prove to be unfaithful.

June 23 Bible reading

June 23 Psalm 77:10-20 Acts 15:22-41 1 Kings 11:14-43; 12:1-24

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 23 Psalm 77:10-20 Acts 15:22-41 1 Kings 11:14-43; 12:1-24
Psalm 77:10-20 After pouring out his heart, singing a lament, and not finding comfort in God overnight, Asaph recalls the many good things that God has done in the past, and then his focus changes. Did you notice that he did not ignore what he was thinking or feeling about the brokenness of our world? He was not ignorant of the problems. Asaph did not pretend that everything was perfect. We should learn from this example.
Acts 15:22-41 Leaders from the Jerusalem church returned with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch reporting their decision to reject a circumcision requirement. They spent time with this multicultural church in Palestine, bringing them encouragement and strength to their faith. People of various ethnicities from various backgrounds made up this local church. Our own history is directly connected to their journey. We should continue to pray for the Christians in Palestine.
1 Kings 11:14-43; 12:1-24 King Solomon has turned his heart away from God who had shown him favor. God brought about the punishment He had warned Solomon of. Enemies are raised up and the kingdom is split. God was looking for faithful wholehearted devotion. Despite being the wealthiest man alive, Solomon could not remain true to God. His money couldn’t buy him happiness.

June 22 Bible reading

June 22 Psalm 77:1-9 Acts 15:1-21 1 Kings 9:10-28; 10; 11:1-13

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 22 Psalm 77:1-9 Acts 15:1-21 1 Kings 9:10-28; 10; 11:1-13
Psalm 77:1-9 Asaph can’t hear a response from God, can’t find comfort for his soul, and sings his lament. It is healthy to pour out your heart to God. There’s an honesty here that is helpful. We shouldn’t be afraid to get real about what we are feeling and thinking. In the Psalms we have many examples of the benefits found in this kind of communication with God. We must consider that God desires honest communication with us.
Acts 15:1-21 Jews came to the primarily Gentile church in Antioch and taught that circumcision was required for the Christian faith. Paul and Barnabas refuted this teaching. The leaders in Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas to the Jerusalem church where it was being debated. Peter and Paul spoke against a circumcision requirement. Jesus quoted Isaiah’s prophecy of the Gentiles being included in the family of faith. James led the apostles and elders in rejecting such a requirement and bringing a focus on the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. This is an excellent example for us to follow. We must not be distracted from the grace of Jesus by various teachings.
1 Kings 9:10-28; 10; 11:1-13 Solomon grew in knowledge, wealth, and influence, as a result of God’s favor. Solomon’s heart turned away from the worship of Yahweh, and God held true to the punishment He promised for this mistake. God never wastes a hurt. God guides us because He loves us.

June 21 Bible reading

June 21 Proverbs 15:11-20 Acts 14:8-28 1 Kings 8:22-66; 9:1-9

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 21 Proverbs 15:11-20 Acts 14:8-28 1 Kings 8:22-66; 9:1-9
Proverbs 15:11-20 No one knows your heart better than our loving God. When you are depressed you see something discouraging in every day. When your heart is happy you see something good to be discovered in every day. Healing for depression is possible. The Proverbs are full of wisdom from people who found this to be true.
Acts 14:8-28 Paul and Barnabas publicly preached the Good News of Jesus and brought healing miracles. They endured persecution. They appointed elders for the new churches being birthed. They reported back to the leaders who had sent them. Many lessons here. It should be the same today. It’s a road map for the Christian church going forward.
1 Kings 8:22-66; 9:1-9 God honored His commitment to His people and showed them His unfailing love. God responds to everyone who lives for Him in wholehearted devotion. Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple carried repeated requests that God would hear the people when they repented and forgive them. God appeared to Solomon in response to his prayer, promising to be faithful as a God of mercy and justice.

June 20 Bible reading

June 20 Psalm 76 Acts 13:42-52; 14:1-7 1 Kings 7:23-51; 8:1-21

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 20 Psalm 76 Acts 13:42-52; 14:1-7 1 Kings 7:23-51; 8:1-21
Psalm 76 Today you can find jaw-dropping pictures of the geographic features of earth. You can see from the jaw-dropping viewpoints found after a difficult climb. Our God is amazing, more than the majestic mountains! The people of Israel had seen the miraculous provision of God. They recorded the events in their history. They taught their children and others about the goodness of God by describing the past experiences in song.
Acts 13:42-52; 14:1-7 Paul and Barnabas led many Jews into faith in Jesus. Some rejected this message and attacked them instead. The Good News was accepted by many Gentiles. The believers were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. They experienced a vibrant relationship with God. This is as it should be today.
1 Kings 7:23-51; 8:1-21 According to God’s instructions, King Solomon completed the construction of the Temple and brought the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant (holding the Commandment tablets of Moses) from the Tabernacle into the Temple. When people treated the place of worship with loving respect and brought sacrificial worship to God they saw God respond in a supernatural way. This is as it should be today. God fulfilled His promise to live among them. Peace had filled their land. We should pray for and work toward the same today.

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.