August 31 Bible reading

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life, Rebecca!

August 31 Psalm 104:31-35 2 Corinthians 4 Micah 1; 2; 3; 4

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 the 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?

August 31 Psalm 104:31-35 2 Corinthians 4 Micah 1; 2; 3; 4

Psalm 104:31-35

Let us praise God with all we’ve got! With wholehearted worship. we should sing a desire to see the eternal glory of God. “The Lord takes pleasure in all He has made”. Look around the natural world and find living things that God enjoys. What is God like? Someone who has a good time in our natural environment. This helps us understand and respond to the character of who God is.

2 Corinthians 4

Have you bumped into your own limitations this year? An awareness of your limitations is not a bad thing. It can be very helpful. Paul and his ministry team invited the Corinthian believers to a life more focused on the spiritual than the natural world we see. They lived for the message of Jesus. Their own weaknesses were seen as evidence that the power they had, came from God. They persisted despite persecution for the sake of the ever-expanding Kingdom of God. In this way, they found their spirits being renewed despite the deterioration of their aging bodies. This is relevant to us today.

Micah 1; 2; 3; 4  Our God had proven that His love was faithful and that His words were reliable. Yet the people He created and redeemed spent years rejecting Him in favor of worshiping objects they had created with their own hands. They brought pain into their own homes & neighborhoods, and civil way to their land. God shows Micah that He is aware of their hearts and has seen their evil actions. We must live in an awareness that God is alert and active, paying attention to us with care for how we live.

August 30 Bible reading

August 30 Psalm 104:19-30 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 2 Chronicles 35:20-27; 36

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 the 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?

August 30 Psalm 104:19-30 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 2 Chronicles 35:20-27; 36

Psalm 104:19-30

My family and I really enjoy nature documentaries. The constant scientific discovery of varied species of animals and plants is awesome. Every year the human race learns volumes of new information about our natural world. Even the “tip of the iceberg” of annual discovery is too much for the average person. It is hard to fathom the variety in creation. Our God is the author of life. He makes all things new as He brings new life on earth. We can live out of worship from this truth.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

What a miracle! Receiving salvation, by faith in Jesus, is a complete and positive change of life. As we are “born again” into a new spiritual life, the Holy Spirit is opening our spiritual eyes to see the glory of God. Let’s reflect it to others. As believers, we live in a spiritual freedom that is life-changing. Our purpose includes inviting others into this life.

2 Chronicles 35:20-27; 36  Sadly King Josiah died because he didn’t recognize that God had spoken to the Egyptian king. Josiah did not seek a word from God about their interaction. We should learn humility and realize that God can lead people who don’t look like us, sound like us, dress like us, in ways that we don’t recognize. The Israelites then suffered control by the Egyptians and then the Babylonians. God used the prophet Jeremiah to speak to His people during horrific times, about the results of their unfaithfulness. God is constantly calling people back to repentance and the life-giving peace that comes as a result.

August 29 Bible reading

August 29 Psalm 104:1-18 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; 3:1-6 2 Chronicles 33:21-25; 34; 35:1-19

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 the 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?

August 29 Psalm 104:1-18 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; 3:1-6 2 Chronicles 33:21-25; 34; 35:1-19

Psalm 104:1-18

“Let all that I am praise the Lord!” Come on, we can sing wholeheartedly to God the praise from Psalm 104. Consider the awesome power of the natural world and the order of its function. Our God has lovingly created it by design. A starry night sky speaks of this Creator God, like a conductor directing the points of light you see. There is a melody (and a complimenting harmony) to the way that all created living things live. Sure, there is brokenness in our world. And yet there is also a majesty to it all. So much of this natural world is far beyond our complete comprehension and control. Let us praise God, heart, and soul!

2 Corinthians 2:12-17; 3:1-6

Pastor Paul writes about his genuine concern for the Corinthian church. Paul and his team had received quite varied responses from different people. People who were followers of Jesus had found Paul’s ministry to be life-giving. Lasting positive life change with a new focus is one sign of faith in Christ. This is best enjoyed in relationship, as we follow Jesus together. We think fondly of those who help us in this journey. Paul writes of these relationships and the spiritual authority of a person with a Christ-like character as a spiritual leader. This informs our values for the local church and the Kingdom of God, here and now.

2 Chronicles 33:21-25; 34; 35:1-19

At 16 years old King Josiah began to seek Yahweh, serving Him and His people faithfully. He removed the elements of idolatry and restored the Temple in place of Yahweh worship. In the rubble, they rediscovered the Scriptures and their need to humbly repent of sin to avoid God’s punishment. A prophetess, Huldah, clearly spoke the Word of God. Josiah carefully followed God’s Word, teaching it to the people and they received God’s grace and mercy. Just as God had promised, when they realized their wrong if they would turn to God and repent of it He would bring forgiveness, love, and restoration.

August 28 Bible reading

August 28 Proverbs 21:5-16 2 Corinthians 1:23-24; 2:1-11 2 Chronicles 31:2-21; 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 the 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?

August 28 Proverbs 21:5-16 2 Corinthians 1:23-24; 2:1-11 2 Chronicles 31:2-21; 32; 33:1-20

Proverbs 21:5-16

We are reading about the wisdom that God gave to Solomon. That’s remarkable. God gave him this gift. Solomon’s application of this wisdom led to him becoming the most powerful king. We should pay attention to this wisdom. It’s spelled out. How we choose to live will bring results: good or bad. God is aware of how we are living. We should respond with the attributes and decisions that are lifted up as admirable, in this passage. It would include good planning, hard work, honesty, common sense, and compassionate help for those who are poor.

2 Corinthians 1:23-24; 2:1-11

In the face of opposition from people and challenges in life, Pastor Paul continues to lead in a way that honors Jesus. Paul keeps his focus on Jesus Christ. Paul keeps a priority on reconciliation. Forced to defend his position, Paul does so without walking away from being gracious. More than once, Paul has brought the necessary correction to the thinking and behavior of the Corinthians. In his compassion for them, he writes that this has been painful for him as well. Paul directs the forgiveness and restoration of a particular troublemaker. Such forgiveness is described as one way to overcome the schemes of our enemy. We should be aware of this today. We should be alert to the danger of divisiveness. We should take action based on our shared high value on unity and restoration.

2 Chronicles 31:2-21; 32; 33:1-20

King Hezekiah completely restored the worship of Yahweh among the 12 tribes, according to God’s instructions. He sought God wholeheartedly and was successful as a result. He trusted God completely and worked hard. When attacked he asked God for help. God sent an angel to destroy the enemy. In a time of peace, he became proud and didn’t respond in the right way to a miracle healing. He repented of his pride. Hezekiah’s son Manasseh rebuilt the pagan shrines his father had destroyed. His idolatry included human sacrifice. He ignored God’s warning for a time and finally repented of his sin, tearing down idolatry and restoring the worship of Yahweh. Over and over through these generations, we see patterns of turning away from God, finding consequence for it, and some returning to God repenting.

August 27 Bible reading

August 27 Psalm 103:13-22 2 Corinthians 1:12-22 2 Chronicles 29; 30; 31:1

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 the 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?

August 27 Psalm 103:13-22 2 Corinthians 1:12-22 2 Chronicles 29; 30; 31:1

Psalm 103:13-22

No matter what, God’s love lasts forever. Those who worship God experience this benefit. Let us all choose today to praise God with the best of our energy. David sings, describing God as compassionate with our weaknesses. God’s love transcends what we see. God’s love will be enjoyed by those who respond to Him forever.

2 Corinthians 1:12-22

The Corinthian church, believers like us, have experienced difficulties including resistance to their faith in Jesus just like Paul and his team did. Paul writes to encourage their faith, teaching that God gives us the ability to stand firm in the faith. Pastor Paul (and his team) lived out their personal wholehearted devotion to Christ. Receiving the Holy Spirit is directly linked to the strength Paul writes about. They described receiving the ability to live like this from the Spirit. Today you can receive the Holy Spirit, as Guide, and the help that this Spirit brings. It’s not spooky. It’s real. It’s amazing!

2 Chronicles 29; 30; 31:1

The new king of Judah, Hezekiah, repairs the Jerusalem Temple and restores the worship of Yahweh immediately. Despite their problems, it was a priority to make a covenant commitment to the Lord in whole-hearted worship. The king then offered a peaceful return for the nation of Israel with whom they had been at civil war for many years. They enjoyed weeks of peaceful worship and feasting in a way that had not been seen since the days of Kings David & Solomon. Peace is the result of their worship.

August 26 Bible reading

August 26 Psalm 103:1-12 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 2 Chronicles 26; 27; 28

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 the 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?

August 26 Psalm 103:1-12 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 2 Chronicles 26; 27; 28

Psalm 103:1-12

Psalm 103 calls me to make time to list the amazing qualities of who God is and all that God has done. Then I should consider all of this carefully. As a result, I should choose to praise God with all I’ve got! In God, I have found new life, forgiveness, healing, redemption, and peace. In Psalm 103, David sings with his whole heart a thanksgiving to the Lord for bringing him from being sinful, ashamed, sick, dissatisfied, doomed, and decaying to becoming forgiven, crowned, healed, satisfied, redeemed, and renewed. Repeatedly we see God described as “compassionate, merciful, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing love.” This is a result of people observing God’s behavior. It is also true to the way in which God described Himself.

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

As Jesus followers, we are able to draw comfort from our relationship with God. Pastor Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians church starts with relating a story to them. When he and his team were at the end of their rope. They learned to stop relying on themselves. They turned to rely on God completely. This is the truth that when we are comforted by God, we can help others find the same comfort. We must look to God as this source of strength and comfort, no longer relying on ourselves but now relying on God. We will discover that this process is part of God’s purpose for us.

2 Chronicles 26; 27; 28

King Uzziah started out by seeking guidance from God and doing what was right. When he became powerful, pride set in and he stepped into the work of the priest, breaking God’s instructions. This resulted in leprosy. His son, the new king, Jotham became powerful because he was careful to obey the Lord. His son Ahaz rebelled turning to idolatry and worshiping other gods in the Temple. He suffered violent consequences and still refused to return to God. Rebellion and its consequences continued.

August 25 Bible reading

August 25 Psalm 102:18-28 1 Corinthians 16:5-24 2 Chronicles 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 the 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?

August 25 Psalm 102:18-28 1 Corinthians 16:5-24 2 Chronicles 24; 25

Psalm 102:18-28

There will come a day when the nations of the world will recognize God as sovereign. Those who have accepted God as Shepherd will live forever in peace. Despite the exhaustion of troubled days, the prayer of Psalm 102 describes the deliverance of God as so valuable that it must be described to future generations. In it, we also read a faith that God will provide for these future children. Let us live in the light of this truth.

1 Corinthians 16:5-24

Paul closes his first letter to the Corinthians with a directive for them to be courageous, on guard, standing strong in their faith, and doing everything with love. These words would have been read repeatedly, considered carefully, and memorized by the Corinthian believers. It would be helpful for us to do the same. What a positive impact this could have on our mindset for daily life this year!

2 Chronicles 24; 25

A new righteous King Joash restores the worship of God. He repairs the Temple according to God’s original design. After his mentor priest dies King Joash is persuaded to abandon the worship of Yahweh. He is warned by the priest’s son but responds by killing this new priest. God brings judgment on him in military defeat and death. The new king Amaziah starts off by doing right (but not wholeheartedly). He turns to violence bringing God’s judgment on them again. We should be aware of the consequences of turning from God’s guidance to whatever we think is best. We should learn from the benefits of living out of wholehearted devotion to God.

August 24 Bible reading

August 24 Proverbs 20:25-30; 21:1-4 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 16:1-4 2 Chronicles 21:4-20; 22; 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 the 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?

August 24 Proverbs 20:25-30; 21:1-4 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 16:1-4 2 Chronicles 21:4-20; 22; 23

Proverbs 20:25-30; 21:1-4

God knows what motivates us. No one knows the motives of a human heart better than our God. We would do well to live with an understanding of what this means. Choosing to live by faithful love will bring stability. We should allow God to guide our hearts.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 16:1-4

Death will be brought to an end and forever defeated by Jesus Christ. For this reason, Christ-followers must not fear natural death. When Christ returns to earth we will be transformed and will live forever. I find new spiritual strength in the amazing power of Jesus Christ. This perspective should help us be strong now and live with passion for Jesus. Not a single thing that we do for our Lord will be wasted. From this context, the Corinthian believers are encouraged to exercise courageous generosity by choosing to live on less of the money they earned so that they could send help to the Jerusalem believers. This would prove their love for others across ethnic and racially divided lines. We can now live in the same way.

2 Chronicles 21:4-20; 22; 23

God sees the evil of people who reject His call to love. God gives opportunities in this life. Evil rulers followed the example of Arab only to be met by the punishment of God. We see that God used the daughter of a king, priests, a judge, musicians, military leaders, and ordinary people to overthrow evil leadership and bring a righteous king to power. God cares about government and the righteousness (and/or varied character) of its leaders.

August 23 Bible reading

August 23 Psalm 102:12-17 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 2 Chronicles 18:28-34; 19; 20; 21:1-3

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 the 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?August 23 Psalm 102:12-17 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 2 Chronicles 18:28-34; 19; 20; 21:1-3

August 23 Psalm 102:12-17 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 2 Chronicles 18:28-34; 19; 20; 21:1-3

Psalm 102:12-17

God, we are turning away from the mistakes of our past. We believe that You will respond. Exhausted and yet crying out for help from God the prayer of Psalm 102 recognizes God as powerful (and able to help).

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

After this natural life, we will join Jesus Christ, in His resurrection life. When Christ returns to earth, we will discover our new bodies strong and ready to live forever. Physical death will be no more. The victory of Jesus will be seen like never before. We will enjoy the presence of the glorious Jesus Christ. We will live forever. We will enjoy the perfect love of our God!

2 Chronicles 18:28-34; 19; 20; 21:1-3

As the prophet predicted, King Arab was killed in a battle that God had warned of. The king did not listen to the many words from the prophet of God but rebelled to follow his own way. King Jehoshaphat has brought the anger of God by helping the evil king Arab. Jehoshaphat called the people to fasting and prayer. God responded, causing the enemy armies to kill each other leaving a vast amount of resources for the army of Judah to collect. They didn’t have to fight their own battle. Despite this miracle, Jehoshaphat did not completely remove idolatry from Judah and again helped an evil king of Israel. God brought consequences again. We should learn to live by reverent respect for God, at all times. With faithfulness, let us live with undivided hearts. Let us love God with all our hearts and souls.

Source your spiritual strength

Where does your spiritual strength come from? Even on our darkest days, spiritual strength and life-changing joy are available through Jesus. True staying power can be found in our God.

God is our source of strength, both natural and spiritual. When we need energy and endurance our God supplies it. Our God does not have a limited supply. Our God is not weak. We can draw from Him every day. We can rely on our Father God without fail. When we are weak He is strong.

It can be very helpful to use Scripture in prayer. This is a way to draw spiritual strength from your relationship with God.

• Isaiah 40:29-31 God gives strength to the powerless. Those who trust God will find new strength.
• Isaiah 41:10 God will strengthen and help you.
• Isaiah 45:24 God is the source of my strength.
• Isaiah 58:11 God will guide you and restore your strength.
• Psalm 138:3 God encourages me by giving me strength.
• Psalm 29:11 God gives His people strength. He blesses them with peace.
• Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So I will not fear.
• Psalm 73:26 My health may fail, and my spirit grows weak, but God remains the strength of my heart.
• Psalm 105:4 Search for the Lord and for His strength continually seek Him.
• Nehemiah 8:10 The joy of the Lord is my strength.
• 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.
• Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
• 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 When I am weak, then I am strong.