July 19 Bible reading

July 19 Proverbs 17:15-24 Romans 5:12-21 Amos 8; 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 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?

July 19 Proverbs 17:15-24 Romans 5:12-21 Amos 8; 9

Proverbs 17:15-24

God values justice. And injustice is detestable to God. We should be aware of this and work toward justice. The decisions and character of a son or daughter can bring joy or pain to their parents. Focus on the positive, and smile at the good stuff. Do this every day and it will be better for you than taking vitamins. In Proverbs, we clearly see the value of learning.

Romans 5:12-21

Disorder, mistakes, selfishness, and their consequences entered our world through our ancestors. But even more powerful is the grace and forgiveness coming to us through Jesus! This love of God is a gift, removing our guilt and restoring our relationship with God. In this way, new life is available to everyone. Imagine just how different your life would be if only five people, that you see every day, were transformed with this kind of love. Wow! Your life would be better. Maybe we should spend this week praying for five specific people in our lives to receive the love of Jesus.

Amos 8; 9

Through the prophet Amos, God makes His plan clear. The years of rebellion and selfish pride will be punished. God will certainly judge those who reject His guidance. God will condemn the injustice of the poor. God promised judgment on the unrepentant and restoration for the repentant. Our God is repeatedly seen as a God of justice and a God of mercy. We should learn from this. Life is short. Every person should hear the call to a loving God. Every person should hear the call away from selfishness.

July 18 Bible reading

July 18 Psalm 86:11-17 Romans 4:16-25; 5:1-11 Amos 6; 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?

July 18 Psalm 86:11-17 Romans 4:16-25; 5:1-11 Amos 6; 7

Psalm 86:11-17

David has come to realize the depth of the love that God has toward him. Quoting the way that God described His own compassion, mercy, and forgiveness (in Exodus 34:6) David asks God to forgive him. David is talking through what he believes about God’s attributes. From this relational context, David makes his request of God. David is asking God to help him learn how to live. David wants personal growth in his own lifestyle. David asks God to shape his character and give him strength. He asks for strength, favor, and love. We should take those same steps today. You should take the time to do that today!

Romans 4:16-25; 5:1-11

Abraham received God’s promise by faith. In this way, he was brought into a “right standing” relationship with God. Now through Jesus Christ, the same can be true for us today. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and was raised to life to make us right with God. We find peace with God and joy in this life by receiving this promised gift of Jesus by faith. When we choose to believe that God is able to do whatever He promises, our spirit is responding to the lead of the Holy Spirit. Our hope in Jesus will not lead to disappointment. When we run into challenges and frustrations it can help us grow in the strength of our character (and our “confident hope of salvation” including Heaven). God showed love to us by sending Jesus when we were at our worst. Jesus showed us love by laying down His life for us, to bring us into a personal relationship with God.

Amos 6; 7

Through the shepherd prophet, Amos God is calling His people back to repentance. God has seen their sinful cravings. We should also look to God our Shepherd for guidance, protection, and care. This understanding of God as our Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, brings meaningful depth to our relationship with God.

July 17 Bible reading

July 17 Psalm 86:1-10 Romans 4:1-15 Amos 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?

July 17 Psalm 86:1-10 Romans 4:1-15 Amos 5

Psalm 86:1-10

David sings a prayer of wholehearted devotion to God. In a fully committed personal love for the One True Living God, David is asking for personal rescue. He sings this prayer by describing the faithful character of God first. Psalm 86 gives us a sense of the conversations David had with God. In this, we see the benefits of a personal relationship with God. In God, there is protection, salvation, mercy, happiness, forgiveness, love, and miracles. You can have a similar relationship with God. Our loving Creator is the only one who already knows you, who you really are. This same God loves you.

Romans 4:1-15

Paul explains that the relationship Abraham had with God was based on faith, not following Jewish law, nor Jewish identity. At that time some segments of Jewish people had turned their faith into a belief system that required religious actions for a person to be accepted by God (and stated that this was possible without a personal spiritual heart-felt devotion). We earn punishment for our mistakes. The loving grace and mercy that God gives us, we receive as an undeserved gift. We see this as God gives approval based on Abraham’s decision of faith (not based on if he had followed the rules in the past). Paul shows the relevance of this truth to us today. Our reasonable response would be to immediately accept the grace of God through Jesus and “repent”, turning away from our toxic selfishness (by changing the way we are thinking and changing the direction of our lives). This is only possible through Jesus.

Amos 5

There is so much to learn from God’s relationship with the Israelites. Through the prophet Amos, God is calling them to turn back from worshiping other gods and living to please themselves, back to a healthy relationship with Him. “Come back and live with me.” Often described as a daily lifestyle, living side by side. God wants us to welcome Him into our living, day in and day out. This is meant to be a wholesome life of peace.

July 16 Bible reading

July 16 Psalm 85:8-13 Romans 3:9-31 Amos 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?

July 16 Psalm 85:8-13 Romans 3:9-31 Amos 3; 4

Psalm 85:8-13

There is a life-changing peace that comes from carefully listening to God. Our God is speaking to us through nature, the life of Jesus, the voice of the Holy Spirit, our relationships, and the Scriptures. Am I listening? Do I pay attention to God? Will I choose to give the time and energy needed to connect with God? Marking God’s forgiveness, let us listen to what God says and turn away from our mistakes. God will respond and speak with us. “He speaks peace to His faithful people.”

Romans 3:9-31

God loves you. Salvation, redemption, and blessing are coming to those who will respond to God in humble submission. We have all made mistakes. Everyone needs forgiveness. No one is perfect (or able to live up to God’s law, out of our own strength). We see our need for forgiveness when we see God’s standards. All people are equal in their need of salvation from the punishment of sin. The law of God reveals our inability to be pure, left to our own devices. We end up in toxic selfishness. God made a way for us to be cleansed of our mistakes, through faith in Jesus. Anyone who believes in Jesus as Savior will have their guilt removed and their relationship with God restored. By faith in Jesus, we can be free from the penalty of our sin. Freedom is possible! A new spiritual heart is possible.

Amos 3; 4

God continues to explain His loving relationship with the Israelites (and their need for healthy boundaries) through the role of the prophets. God will punish those who oppress the poor. Our Creator has the power to shape mountains and the ability to communicate with us. God has power over things that are far beyond our control, and yet God is also sharing the love. Are we learning from the life stories of others?

July 15 Bible reading

July 15 Proverbs 17:5-14 Romans 2:17-29; 3:1-8 Amos 1; 2

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?

July 15 Proverbs 17:5-14 Romans 2:17-29; 3:1-8 Amos 1; 2

Proverbs 17:5-14

Love is ever-expanding when we choose to forgive. We can say, “It was an oversight, so I’ll overlook it. This was done by forgetfulness, so I’ll forget it.” Obsessing on a mistake can separate close friends. Healthy family relationships are a gift that keeps on giving. So make them a priority. Growing in understanding will help you take a single comment of constructive criticism and put it to good use. An important take-away for me from this section is the importance of periodically asking myself, “Am I learning?”

Romans 2:17-29; 3:1-8

Our personal salvation is a miracle where God’s Spirit initiates faith in us and we respond by receiving God’s love. We rely on Jesus for salvation, receiving new spiritual life, and we turn away from our toxic selfishness (and self-reliant ways). Remember, it is a supernatural miracle! This produces a change of heart in us. Our relationship with God becomes the priority that directs our relationships with others. Trying to follow the directive of God without a personal relationship with God will not produce life-giving results. You need the help that only God can provide. If you are not drawing that strength for change from God you will always fall short and be frustrated. So, receive this gift from Jesus and draw your spiritual strength from this new relationship.

Amos 1; 2

Our God is alive and aware of the motives and actions of all humans. God chooses a shepherd named Amos to condemn the evil actions of specific groups of people. Our loving God does not want to see anybody suffer the pain of their own self-destructive tendencies. God calls us to repentance for our own good. God is a God of mercy and justice. God will judge those who refuse to repent. God will lift up those who repent. God shows favor to the humble. Despite all of this, people choose to create things to worship. Through the prophet Amos, God recalls the repeated sin of the people and describes their results.

July 14 Bible reading

July 14 Psalm 85:1-7 Romans 2:1-16 Jonah 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?

July 14 Psalm 85:1-7 Romans 2:1-16 Jonah 1; 2; 3; 4

Psalm 85:1-7

We should learn from the history of Israel that God forgives mistakes. This song is written by the descendants of Korah, whose family history had seen great restoration by God after Korah’s rebellion. They did not get bitter against God for the punishment Korah received. They learned about the love available in healthy relationship with God. Learning about God should lead us to recognize His unfailing love and respond by receiving it and sharing it. When we ask God for forgiveness we can recall the ways God has proven His mercy in the past.

Romans 2:1-16

Each of us can be found guilty of “missing the mark”. All humans make mistakes and should not be judgmental of others. Yahweh God has revealed Himself to be overflowing in compassion and mercy, slow to anger, forgiving. God’s kindness is intended to turn us away from sin, our self-destructive habits, our mistakes. This includes living “me first”. God will give eternal life to those who turn away from their mistakes by faith in Jesus, and God will punish those who choose to live for themselves instead. God is aware of human behavior, good and bad. As much as Yahweh revealed Himself to be overflowing with supernatural forgiveness, He also predicted that He would punish the unrepentant.

Jonah 1; 2; 3; 4

Jonah’s heart was hardened toward other people. In particular, he did not want to see God show mercy to people who would turn away from their mistakes. We see the same lesson in Psalm 85, Romans 2, and in the story of Jonah & Nineveh. Jonah knew that God is prone to mercy and forgiveness. When God showed mercy, Jonah was enraged. This is one of many stories showing God calling leaders into alignment with His grace and mercy. God wanted Jonah to learn about mercy, and His guidance of loving-kindness.

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 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?

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 the 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. Here we can sing and pray, “God where You live is where I want to be.” God is the source of good things. I draw joy from trusting God.

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. They choose to refuse to give thanks to God, in worship. They chose to worship other things instead. 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. You see, God would not stay in “holy places” where the people turned away from Him and to the worship of other things. God held people and leaders accountable for their decisions.

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 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?

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. The songwriters here had learned from God’s punishment of their ancestor Korah’s rebellion against God. They had found God to be the One who brings about redemption with repentance. Their own ability to give the choir director a song is a sign of God’s restoration.

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. An essential part of Paul’s servant-leadership is his lifestyle commitment to prayer for the people he was serving. Paul includes his prayer topics for them in the letter. Remember his focus is the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, “saving all who believe”.

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 a relationship with God. He was faithful to dismantle all of the places of worship to other gods. Josiah disrupted the cycle of idolatry. He brought the people back into the loving life-long commitment to God. It’s a wholehearted devotion. 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). This is an important lesson for us, in human history. Our God reigns in mercy and justice. He notes the shedding of innocent blood. God will not allow it to stand.

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 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?

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. Manasseh was selfish. He was telling anyone, that would listen, that his own name would be honored in the Temple (built for God’s honor) for all time. He killed innocent people throughout Jerusalem. God would not suffer the bloodshed of the innocent. Through the prophet, Huldah God revealed that he had seen and heard these atrocities. 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 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?

July 10 Psalm 83 Acts 28:1-16 2 Kings 19:14-37; 20

Psalm 83

Psalm 83 calls God into action against the 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.