July 13 Bible reading

July 13 Psalm 84:8-12 Romans 1:18-32 2 Kings 24:8-20; 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?

July 13 Psalm 84:8-12 Romans 1:18-32 2 Kings 24:8-20; 25
Psalm 84:8-12 From God, we can receive love that we do not deserve. Spending time and energy in the worship of God, aware of His presence, brings life-changing joy. When we choose to do this we benefit. The people in our lives will also benefit because they will find us changed for the better. When we are at peace we are better able to bring peace into the rooms where we work and live.
Romans 1:18-32 Our Creator is powerful, faithful, and loving, with a nature that is unique from our own. Every part of creation that we see, speaks of this Creator, calling our attention to worship Him. There are people who suppress this truth, claiming to be wise, they have become foolish. Their minds have become dark and confused. Tragic symptoms come from this. God had warned people of the consequences of turning away from Him. They did not listen. Many times God tried to draw them back. Romans 1:18-22 speaks of this. Certainly, people are born into a broken world and are hurt in many ways. Each person is unique. Only God knows their internal pain and struggles. The one true living God must have more wisdom than we do. We should understand that our Creator has the right to instruct us in the way to live. Our reasonable response would be to forsake living based on our own ideas or desires above all else. Living to make myself happy first doesn’t work. Jesus called us to “repent” (change the way we are thinking and change direction). Paul is writing about such a change. This is only possible by the grace of God, given to the humble.
2 Kings 24:8-20; 25 After decades of selfish rebellion (similar to what I just described in the Romans section), the pain and consequences were too great. Finally, God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to bring destruction and take people captive. The place of worship, Jerusalem’s Temple, was destroyed. When we allow our hearts to turn away from God the results can be devastating.

 

July 12 Bible reading

July 12 Psalm 84:1-7 Romans 1:1-17 2 Kings 23; 24:1-7
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?

July 12 Psalm 84:1-7 Romans 1:1-17 2 Kings 23; 24:1-7
Psalm 84:1-7 There may a season of life where we suffer a loss. It may feel like walking through a valley of weeping. If we will draw strength from our relationship with God, we can see it turn to a season of refreshing. In the place of worship, we can find refreshing and joy. This may sound crazy, but I have found it to be true in my own life. I have also seen it happen for many others.
Romans 1:1-17 Paul writes a letter to believers in Rome, overflowing with appreciation for them because of their faith in Jesus. This faith in Jesus has made it possible for them to receive spiritual cleansing and salvation. Let’s consider how that has been true for us. It’s life changing! We should desire that the people in our lives experience the same. We can ask God for guidance, and then take steps to help share this new life with them.
2 Kings 23; 24:1-7 The new king Josiah called together all of Judah and Jerusalem to read to them all of the recently rediscovered Book of the Covenant. Josiah called the people to turn away from their sin and back into relationship with God. He was faithful to dismantle all of the places of worship to other gods. Josiah disrupted the cycle of idolatry. Sadly his sons were evil and turned people away from true worship. God was faithful to punish the killing of innocent people (done by Manasseh).

 

July 11 Bible reading

July 11 Proverbs 16:28-33; 17:1-4 Acts 28:17-31 2 Kings 21; 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?

July 11 Proverbs 16:28-33; 17:1-4 Acts 28:17-31 2 Kings 21; 22
Proverbs 16:28-33; 17:1-4 Patient self-control is a sign of faith in God and the resulting maturity. This is an area that we grow in. Gossip can break up relationships and make everything worse. So, it’s a good idea to watch what you say. Repeatedly reading the Proverbs is a helpful practice.
Acts 28:17-31 Upon his arrival in Rome, Paul calls together Jewish leaders to explain his hope in Jesus as their Messiah and provide an opportunity for a relationship with them. The leaders welcomed him. Some believed in Jesus, in response to Paul, and some did not. Their responses were not Paul’s responsibility. Their responses (in other words the “success of his ministry”) did not determine his personal value or identity. Paul was responsible to obey the call of Jesus and the specific guidance of the Holy Spirit. His identity was found there. His personal value was derived from there. Each of us should understand this value system.
2 Kings 21; 22 King Hezekiah’s son Manasseh rebelled against the faith of his father. The new king built places of worship for evil gods, including inside the Temple of Yahweh. He worshiped these gods and even sacrificed his own son in the fire. He killed innocent people throughout Jerusalem. When the new king Josiah came to power the scroll of God’s Word was discovered. It brought Josiah to repentance of the sins of the nation. By God’s grace, He uses His word to bring us to repentance of our mistakes. This benefits us and brings glory to God.

 

July 10 Bible reading

July 10 Psalm 83 Acts 28:1-16 2 Kings 19:14-37; 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?

July 10 Psalm 83 Acts 28:1-16 2 Kings 19:14-37; 20
Psalm 83 Psalm 83 calls God into action against cruel enemies of His people. It’s true that God is merciful, long-suffering, and patient. God forgives way past the human ability to do so. Yet there is a time and place when God will call into account each person. God will bring judgment on those who refuse to repent. God will bring justice and mercy.
Acts 28:1-16 A shipwrecked Paul and his companions are shown favor by the island residents who saw Paul shake off a poisonous snake bite. Paul continued to serve others whether it be by doing chores or bringing healing miracles. Both activities are ways of displaying Jesus’ characteristics to others. Paul was a Jesus-follower in word and in action (in ways public and private). We should represent the love of Jesus in the same ways.
2 Kings 19:14-37; 20 Hezekiah brought his enemies’ plan of attack to God, asking for rescue (not for the purpose of his personal gain, but instead for the express purpose of all nations knowing that Yahweh is the one true living God). God speaks through the prophet Isaiah that He heard this specific request and would bring victory for His people. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is described as passionately committed to this purpose. In fact, God won the victory over their enemy in a supernatural fashion. Hezekiah’s relationship with God included another miracle. Deathly ill, Hezekiah cried out to God who added 15 years to his life.

 

July 9 Bible reading

July 9 Psalm 82 Acts 27:13-44 2 Kings 18; 19:1-13

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?

July 9 Psalm 82 Acts 27:13-44 2 Kings 18; 19:1-13
Psalm 82 Psalm 82 calls God into action on behalf of the orphan, the oppressed, the helpless, and the poor. We should sing such songs in prayer. This Psalm helps us recognize God’s value system. We are called into compassion and action for those who are in need. Compassion is felt when we are carrying the love of God while helping others. As we serve others, we will better learn their needs and be able to pray for specific miracles.
Acts 27:13-44 Two weeks of terrifying ocean conditions and a resulting shipwreck gave Paul an opportunity to show his faith in Jesus. Paul encouraged & helped the sailors, and predicted that they would all survive. The actions and words of Paul were recorded as testimony of faith in Jesus. The way we respond, when things don’t go our way, is possibly more important than having things go our way. Think about it. The way we respond, when things don’t go our way, is possibly more important than having things go our way.
2 Kings 18; 19:1-13 King Hezekiah trusted Yahweh, doing what was right. This meant destroying the places of idolatry and pagan worship. Hezekiah was careful to obey every instruction given by God and he remained faithful to the Lord in everything. He looked for God’s help, seeking guidance through the prophet Isaiah from whom he heard encouragement from God. We should actively seek the Word of God, the thoughts and plans of God in general and His direction about challenges in particular.

 

 

July 8 Bible reading

July 8 Psalm 81:8-16 Acts 26:24-32; 27:1-12 2 Kings 16; 17

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?

July 8 Psalm 81:8-16 Acts 26:24-32; 27:1-12 2 Kings 16; 17
Psalm 81:8-16 Psalm 81 turns to a song of God’s call to His people, asking that they would listen to Him so that He could supply them and satisfy them (as seen Deuteronomy 32:13-14). Throughout human history, God is constantly calling people into a place of true peace. The people who learned about the goodness of God would sing about it, this poetry, used as a prayer book. We should do the same.
Acts 26:24-32; 27:1-12 Governor Festus and King Agrippa rejected Paul’s faith in Jesus, but honored his appeal to Ceasar. They put him on a ship that saw rough seas. Rejection and difficulty may be unavoidable on our path of following Jesus. And yet through them, we may find surprising opportunities to glorify God. This “hardship” Paul found on his “pathway to peace” (as the Serenity Prayer says). It was the means by which the Good News of Jesus was spread to many many people. We should be looking for God’s will on our good days and on our bad days.
2 Kings 16; 17 The Israelites had been worshiping idols for generations and actively breaking off their relationship with God. As a result, God allowed all but the tribe of Judah to be taken in captivity from their promised land. New people moved in to replace them and mixed the attempted worship of Yahweh with superstition, and the active worship of their own pagan gods. This practice continued for many years. God is looking for the whole-hearted devotion of His people. Anything less is not the worship that God is looking for.

 

 

July 7 Bible reading

July 7 Proverbs 16:18-27 Acts 25:23-27; 26:1-23 2 Kings 14:23-29; 15

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?

July 7 Proverbs 16:18-27 Acts 25:23-27; 26:1-23 2 Kings 14:23-29; 15
Proverbs 16:18-27 Pride is dangerous. Many people who fall, didn’t see it coming because they believed their own opinion to be most valuable. God will give grace to the humble, as seen in James 4:6 1 Peter 5:5 Proverbs 3:34. “Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.” – “Humility” by C. J. Mahaney. Humility gets God’s attention: “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,” in Isaiah 66:2 God is addressing the Israelites who were not showing humility in their relationship with him. The grace God gives provides the ability we need to change.
Acts 25:23-27; 26:1-23 Governor Festus calls Paul to defend his faith in Jesus before King Agrippa. Both leaders had heard of the people who were following Jesus as the Way to salvation. Paul reveals that he is not challenging the Scriptures and the beliefs of the Jewish faith. Paul agrees with their hope for a predicted Messiah and now believes that Jesus is this Messiah raised from dead. Paul describes his personal encounter with Jesus when he received his new purpose of bringing people to Jesus through faith and repentance. We are all called to follow this example (generally speaking).
2 Kings 14:23-29; 15 God was painfully aware of the suffering His people had brought on themselves. God even used evil kings to accomplish His will including freedom for His people who were not serving Him at the time. In this history, we see mistakes repeated through generations of kings God is not surprised. There is no sin that is new to God. He has a salvation available for every sin.