June 5 Bible reading

June 5  Proverbs 14:5-14  Acts 2:22-47  2 Samuel 7; 8

Proverbs 14:5-14

A person with faith in God can use guilt to turn them toward repentance and reconciliation. This leads to a guilt-free peace-filled life. It’s possible to become deceived while living by what seems right.

Acts 2:22-47

On the day of Pentecost, Peter explained the way in which the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled prophecy and confirmed His identity as Messiah. Peter called the crowd to turn away from their sin and turn toward a life of following Jesus. This decision was to be made a public confession of faith through baptism. 3,000 responded in the way that Peter directed. They then devoted themselves to learning Jesus’ teaching through the 12 apostles, to the Lord’s Supper, to building relationships, taking care of each other, to prayer, and to regularly gathering in large public groups and small groups in homes.

2 Samuel 7; 8

Through the prophet Nathan, God promises to establish David’s rule as King and the influence of his future generations. David did what was right and just for all people.

June 5  Proverbs 14:5-14  Acts 2:22-47  2 Samuel 7; 8

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?

June 4 Bible reading

June 4  Psalm 69:29-36  Acts 1:23-26; 2:1-21  2 Samuel 5:6-25; 6

Psalm 69:29-36

From a place of suffering David sings a call for God to rescue him, and a commitment to praise God. David understands that God hears the call of those in need and their worship.

Acts 1:23-26; 2:1-21

At least 120 of Jesus’ followers were gathered in Jerusalem, waiting on God the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had instructed. When the Holy Spirit filled them, they spoke in languages previously unknown to them. A crowd gathered, wondering what was happening. Peter explained that this fulfilled prophecy and that its purpose was pointing to Jesus the Messiah. He extended the invitation to any who would believe: salvation was to be found in Jesus.

2 Samuel 5:6-25; 6

Having been crowned king of all Israel, David leads the military conquest to free his people and return to them the ownership of their land. God gives David the ability to do so. David works to restore the worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem as God had instructed. David sees the consequences of his sinful polygamy and not following the instructions about the Ark of the Covenant.

June 4  Psalm 69:29-36  Acts 1:23-26; 2:1-21  2 Samuel 5:6-25; 6

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?

June 3 Bible reading

June 3  Psalm 69:13-28  Acts 1:1-22  2 Samuel 3:22-39; 4; 5:1-5

Psalm 69:13-28

David has been betrayed, insulted, defamed, and attacked. As he sings about the resulting depression, his song turns to a focus on the unfailing love of God. We can learn from David how to look at God as our provider on our worst days and our best days. David sings to God and prays to God with complete honesty. This is the kind of personal relationship with God we should have. We would benefit from this.

Acts 1:1-22

Dr. Luke writes a careful account of the birth of the church. It is a new group of people called out of their homes, into regular gatherings, for the specific purpose of following Jesus their Redeemer. Jesus had come back from the dead. Jesus spent time with His followers proving that He was alive, teaching about the Kingdom of God, and instructing them to wait for the Holy Spirit and the enabling power of the living God. Jesus returned to Father God and they went into Jerusalem to wait on the Holy Spirit. 120 believers gathered into that place. Peter led an effort to install a new 12th apostle after the suicide of Judas. The followers of Jesus obeyed His instructions.

2 Samuel 3:22-39; 4; 5:1-5

David attempted to negotiate peace with Abner, his enemy. Joab, one of David’s commanders, killed Abner in revenge for the death of his brother. David calls for punishment of Joab and mourns the death of his enemy Abner. David understood that peacemaking included a decision to release the right of punishing those who had wronged him to God. This meant that he did not seek revenge.

June 3  Psalm 69:13-28  Acts 1:1-22  2 Samuel 3:22-39; 4; 5:1-5

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 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?

June 2 Bible reading

June 2  Psalm 69:1-12  John 21  2 Samuel 2:8-32; 3:1-21

Psalm 69:1-12

David is facing problems and finds himself exhausted from crying for help. Yet he is still passionate about the house of God, the place of worship. We can learn from David how to look at God as our provider on our worst days and our best days. David sings to God and prays to God with complete honesty. This is the kind of personal relationship with God we should have. We would benefit from this.

John 21

A resurrected Jesus enjoyed personal time with His friends and followers. They talked, ate a good meal, and celebrated the reunion. This shows the value Jesus placed on personal relationships. The followers of Jesus carried this value forward. It shaped the “early church”. It must be in our spiritual DNA, our value system. John and other eyewitnesses gave a careful account of what they had seen so that people could know the Truth. They wanted to be sure that people in the future would have an opportunity to receive Jesus as Savior. This is a primary purpose of this book. Our quality of life will be greatly improved as we accept this truth, as we embrace this truth, and as we share this truth.

2 Samuel 2:8-32; 3:1-21

After the death of Saul, one of his commanders Abner starts a civil war, lasting a long time, a war of attrition. Abner sets up Saul’s surviving son Ishbosheth as king. Who eventually turns against Abner. Sexual sin and revenge killing are unavoidable parts of this story. Abner asks a relevant question in seeking peace with David, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result?” This lesson is relevant to our lives today. Let’s flee sexual immorality and work toward peace at all times.

June 2  Psalm 69:1-12  John 21  2 Samuel 2:8-32; 3:1-21

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 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?

June 1 Bible reading

June 1  Proverbs 13:20-25; 14:1-4  John 20:10-31  2 Samuel 1; 2:1-7

Proverbs 13:20-25; 14:1-4

Spending time with people who live by wisdom will help you grow as a person, a wise person. Taking away what a poor person had to work hard for is an injustice. God cares about making right such a wrong. Parents who love their children will provide healthy boundaries, training them to respect the consequences of bad decisions. Parents show love by preparing their children for their future lives. This includes protecting them from possible pain by teaching them how to make good decisions.

John 20:10-31

The resurrected Jesus spends time with His friends and followers in private, helping them be restored to peace. This shows the value Jesus placed on personal relationships. John states the purpose of his eyewitness account, in hope that it would be helpful, for the belief in Jesus as Messiah, “that you will have life by the power of His name”. Salvation and eternal life are coming to us if we will believe in Jesus as the Son of God and receive Him as Lord. John understood the essential nature of this simple truth. Jesus is the Savior. Let us daily hear the call to look at Jesus in this way.

2 Samuel 1; 2:1-7

King Saul had made himself an enemy of David, trying to kill him. When Saul died, David did not celebrate, but instead, he showed respect for a man God had chosen to be king. He wrote a song of lament. David had been a warrior, and in this, he chose to be a peacemaker.

June 1  Proverbs 13:20-25; 14:1-4  John 20:10-31  2 Samuel 1; 2:1-7

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 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?

May 31 Bible reading

May 31  Psalm 68:28-35  John 19:28-42; 20:1-9  1 Samuel 29; 30; 31

Psalm 68:28-35

Our reasonable response to an all-powerful God is worship, by singing our praise to Him. The one true all-powerful God will be praised in eternity future by billions of humans. Each day we should lift up praise to God.

John 19:28-42; 20:1-9

The day after Jesus’ sacrificial death was the annual Passover celebration, and it fell on the weekly day of Sabbath. Jesus had released His spirit, and in death fulfilled the prophecy that “not one of His bones will be broken”. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is met with amazement, not anticipation by His disciples because they had not understood nor believed His prediction of it. As a witness to us (of the truth), these events have been faithfully recorded. Jesus predicted His own death, burial, and resurrection. These events unfolded as He predicted. We must recognize the significance of the purpose for these events as Jesus had taught. Jesus called people to repentance and a new spiritual life found in God.

1 Samuel 29; 30; 31

People to whom David had been faithful, betrayed him in favor of the Philistines, and made it possible for the Amelikites to burn down the town where David and his men had their families living (kidnapping their families). God gave David the ability to return all that was stolen. David prevented his fighters from being selfish in the distribution. The Philistines defeated Saul’s army, killing his sons. Saul killed himself. A sad narrative.

May 31  Psalm 68:28-35  John 19:28-42; 20:1-9  1 Samuel 29; 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 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?

May 30 Bible reading

May 30  Psalm 68:21-27  John 19:1-27  1 Samuel 26; 27; 28

Psalm 68:21-27

Our God is the source of life. The sovereign God will bring justice, including the punishment of those who are unrepentant. There will be praises sung to the one true God who is worthy. We must consider this truth and respond.

John 19:1-27

The Jewish leaders, God’s chosen people (for whom God had done so much) refused to recognize Jesus as Messiah, they called for His death, condemning Him to die as one who was cursed. Pilate feared Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God. The Jewish leaders publicly ascribed their authority, their king, to be the Roman ruler Caesar. Jesus was crucified as “king of the Jews”. Jesus chose death on a cross so that we may be forgiven of sin. The Roman torture and execution was the most excruciating way to die known to human history. John’s eyewitness account has been life-changing for millions of people. Jesus predicted these events. Jesus taught His followers the purpose of these events by walking them through the Scriptures, revealing how they pointed to Him and His purpose. We must recognize the purpose of this suffering.

1 Samuel 26; 27; 28

How can I say, “Thank You” for the love poured out for me? Again David refuses an opportunity to kill Saul, who was trying to kill him, deferring to God as judge between them. Samuel the prophet dies. Saul has a medium conjure up Samuel, asking for a victory over the Philistines. Samuel reminds Saul that God was punishing Saul and taking the kingdom from him.

May 30  Psalm 68:21-27  John 19:1-27  1 Samuel 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?

May 29 Bible reading

May 29  Psalm 68:15-20  John 18:25-40  1 Samuel 24; 25

Psalm 68:15-20

Our God saves. Our God provides rescue from death. Our God will live among us. We should see here, a sovereign powerful God offering salvation for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons would include making a personal relationship with God available.

John 18:25-40

As Jesus predicted, Peter, betrays Him three times. This becomes a significant memory in the relationship between them. From this day on, every time Peter mentions forgiveness the people who heard him registered this personal significance. Jesus brings forgiveness to the repentant. Jesus forgives the sin of personal betrayal. A sin that brought Him suffering. Pilate makes a point of Jesus’ identity and the idea of Jesus being the king of the Jews. The crowd in Jerusalem betrays Jesus by asking for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Do you see a Redeemer who suffered personally?

1 Samuel 24; 25

David refuses an opportunity to kill Saul and spares his life instead. David defers to God any right to judge Saul for his wrong. David believes that God will rescue him from Saul’s attempts to kill him. Abigail practices skillful peacemaking in preventing a violent conflict between her husband Nabal and David.

May 29  Psalm 68:15-20  John 18:25-40  1 Samuel 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?

May 28 Bible reading

May 28  Proverbs 13:10-19  John 18:1-24  1 Samuel 21; 22; 23

Proverbs 13:10-19

Seeing a dream come true should be met with marked gratitude. Careful consideration before taking action requires wisdom. With wisdom, you can help people avoid some serious trouble.

John 18:1-24

In face of Roman soldiers and Temple guards, Jesus is honest about His identity. Jesus shields His followers, and not Himself. Peter attempts to protect Jesus violently. Jesus chooses to accept the suffering. As Jesus predicted, both Judas and Peter betray Him. Jesus and His followers feel the pain of these betrayals. This suffering is an important part of Jesus’ story. The High Priest of Israel ordered the beating of Jesus. This is an additional betrayal. Jesus asks why this decision has been made. Jesus maintains His innocence. Jesus is falsely accused and personally betrayed. Our Redeemer has experienced great suffering.

1 Samuel 21; 22; 23

David is described as being more faithful than any servant to King Saul. Jealous rage consumes Saul, and he kills priests who helped David flee. Saul’s son Jonathan encourages David with faith that Saul would not be able to kill David, and the belief that David would eventually be king. What life-giving words as David hides in the wilderness. Saul gave up, and David did not.

May 28  Proverbs 13:10-19  John 18:1-24  1 Samuel 21; 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?

May 27 Bible reading

May 27  Psalm 68:7-14  John 17:6-26  1 Samuel 19; 20

Psalm 68:7-14

Our God sends refreshing. The Israelites remembered the specific ways in which they had seen God do this in years past. They had been led by God through dangerous places. Their relationship with God was an essential element of their identity. As it should be for us.

John 17:6-26

In preparation for His sacrificial death, Jesus prays to Father God asking that the New Covenant be established. This would include God drawing people from every nation into a loving relationship with Him, by believing in Jesus as their Savior. Jesus prays for all people who would ever believe in Him (through the words of His disciples). Jesus asks Father God to establish this supernatural unity, through love. Our Lord Jesus has not changed. Today his heart’s desire is the same. Jesus asks Father God to keep us, to direct us with His Word, and to bring us into unity. We must ask ourselves if we are aligned with the will of Jesus.

1 Samuel 19; 20

King Saul’s son Jonathan and daughter Michal protected David from their father’s jealous rage and efforts to kill David. In this we see a contrast between faithful loyalty in personal relationships and Saul’s jealousy, mentally obsessing over comparison in a self-destructive emotional spiral. Despite Saul’s attack, David does not seek revenge or his own personal advantage.

May 27  Psalm 68:7-14  John 17:6-26  1 Samuel 19; 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?