December 5 Bible reading

December 5  Psalm 139:1-10  1 John 5  Daniel 11:36-45; 12

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?

December 5  Psalm 139:1-10  1 John 5  Daniel 11:36-45; 12

Psalm 139:1-10

King David had a roller coaster of a life. He learned valuable lessons through his life experiences by considering where God had been involved. David reflected on what God had said and what God had done. These observations helped him come to the realization that God knew him very well. God was always with him. God had been at work before David arrived at any location. God followed David wherever he chose to go. God blessed David personally. Throughout his life, David found strength and guidance in his relationship with God.

1 John 5

1 John 5 is packed with essential truth beyond what I can summarize here. Everyone who will rely on Jesus as Savior experiences a new spiritual life. This brings a sense of peace and a new confidence that God hears us. We are now motivated to share God’s love with each other. Our faith in Jesus connects us to limitless spiritual power beyond our own strength. We receive salvation that came to us through the blood of Jesus. We receive the Holy Spirit. We publicly declare our faith through water baptism. Our lives are changed and we now live with a God focus.

Daniel 11:36-45; 12

Through visions and interpretations, Daniel learns about God’s sovereign control over human history. There is an eternal perspective here for those who will trust God regardless of suffering. There is a promise of resurrection and eternal life with God beyond the end of our time.

 

 

 

December 4 Bible reading

December 4  Psalm 138  1 John 4:7-21  Daniel 11:2-35

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?

December 4  Psalm 138  1 John 4:7-21  Daniel 11:2-35

Psalm 138

King David sings praises to Yahweh God, who is superior to anything else worshipped by people. His song repeatedly describes our God as one of faithful love that lasts forever. David believes the promises of God. David draws strength from his relationship with God and a constant conversation with God. At first, it seems a contradiction that out God is most powerful and yet cares for the humble. “Surrounded by troubles” as David was, he had learned to trust in the living God.

1 John 4:7-21

John writes about the faithful, patient, kind, selfless, determined love of God. We can receive this and share it with other people. When we give this kind of love it is evidence of our identity as children of God. This love is possible in our lives because we receive Jesus as our Savior. We have put our trust in His love. As we live to be fully devoted followers of Jesus, our God-kind-of-love grows into maturity and we will not fear the future. We will love each other “because He loved us first”.

Daniel 11:2-35

God placed Daniel in position to speak truth to powerful people many times over many years. Speaking to Daniel through dreams and visions, God displayed He sovereign control over the rise and fall of the nations of the earth. God predicted the specific decisions of the leaders of nations. It is our reasonable response to worship our living God.

 

 

 

December 3 Bible reading

December 3  Psalm 137  1 John 3:11-24; 4:1-6  Daniel 9:20-27; 10

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?

December 3  Psalm 137  1 John 3:11-24; 4:1-6  Daniel 9:20-27; 10

Psalm 137

The Israelites sang to bring themselves back into a place of worship, mourning their captivity in Babylon. Their captors wanted them to sing happy songs, but they lamented. They called for punishment on the Edomites and the Babylonians. God answered their cry.

1 John 3:11-24; 4:1-6

God has shown us real love by sending Jesus for us. The love of God compels us to receive Jesus as Savior. We can receive God’s love and respond with action. This should include giving love to others selflessly. Jesus brings us into right standing with God. The Holy Spirit helps us “show the truth by our actions”. We grow into a healthy lifestyle of good decisions and doing the right thing. In this way, we become children who freely believe that their Father God will answer their prayer.

Daniel 9:20-27; 10

Daniel confessed his sins and the sins of his people. He prayed for mercy. The angel Gabriel brought Daniel understanding and perspective. Throughout the kingdoms of multiple kings, Daniel continued to pray in intercession to fast and to hear from God about the future. Daniel was not indifferent to the suffering of his people (in consequence of their sin). He mourned with each painful step. God revealed to Daniel the spiritual warfare aspects of these events. God was in control throughout these events.

 

 

December 2 Bible reading

December 2  Proverbs 29:10-18  1 John 2:28-29; 3:1-10  Daniel 8:15-27; 9:1-19

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 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?

December 2  Proverbs 29:10-18  1 John 2:28-29; 3:1-10  Daniel 8:15-27; 9:1-19

Proverbs 29:10-18

Recognizing God as our Provider brings a calm to our spirit. As we learn self-control we grow in wisdom. In the context of talking about healthy parenthood, Solomon writes about the wisdom of following spiritual guidance.

1 John 2:28-29; 3:1-10

We must daily choose to be in personal relationship with Jesus. By His faithful love, our Father God has called us His children. We are excited about the future return of Jesus and how it will ultimately transform us. For this reason, we do not make a practice of sinning. We draw strength of character from our personal relationship with God. We focus our attention on God who loved us selflessly. If we make a habit of sin we are not loving God with all we’ve got. Whether we are keeping this disorder of the heart a secret or not, we must stop to ask honest questions about what we value most. Let us choose to follow Jesus more than our cravings. In this, we will find lasting peace and pleasure.

Daniel 8:15-27; 9:1-19

The angel Gabriel explains the visions of the end times that Daniel is having. Evil power will ultimately fall before our Lord Jesus. Daniel leads a public confession of corporate sin. Daniel calls on the faithful love of God to forgive their sins. Daniel reminds God of His merciful covenant agreements with people. Daniel asks God to act, not because of their actions, but instead because of His own great mercy.

 

 

December 1 Bible reading

December 1  Psalm 136:13-26  1 John 2:12-27  Daniel 7; 8:1-14

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?

December 1  Psalm 136:13-26  1 John 2:12-27  Daniel 7; 8:1-14

Psalm 136:13-26

The faithful love of God for us is eternal. That’s the theme of Psalm 136, a song that Israelites have sung over the centuries. It recounts specific events where they saw God miraculously deliver them from enemies. Constantly repeating, “God’s faithful love lasts forever”, through the song helped their meditation on this revealed truth of God. Yahweh God our Creator and Redeemer gives us love that lasts forever.

1 John 2:12-27

John was an eyewitness of Jesus, His life, His teaching, His miracles, and His life-changing call to be born again. John himself received this forgiveness of sin and wrote to people who were also on this spiritual journey. We are called to love God and others wholeheartedly, in response to this miraculous love of God for us. This becomes the ruling principle in our lives. This love becomes increasingly more important than our craving for physical pleasure, the things of this natural world, or the pride of achievements and possessions. Instead, we choose to be constantly connected with our Savior Jesus.

Daniel 7; 8:1-14

At a time when God allowed His people to be punished for their sin, God gives Daniel dreams. Daniel sees earthly kingdoms yet to come, characterized as four beasts as well as a ram and a goat. Daniel’s vision includes Father God giving His Son Jesus the power and authority over all the nations of the earth. All people will come to recognize our Lord and His Kingdom.

 

November 30 Bible reading

November 30  Psalm 136:1-12  1 John 1; 2:1-11  Daniel 5:17-31; 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 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?

November 30  Psalm 136:1-12  1 John 1; 2:1-11  Daniel 5:17-31; 6

Psalm 136:1-12

Let’s throw our Thank You at Yahweh God, who is worth it! The merciful love of God for us is faithful and forever. It was active way way back before our current problems. God’s faithful love for us is here now. It will outlast the challenges we face today. God’s faithful love for us will be there for us in the future.

1 John 1; 2:1-11

Receiving God’s faithful love for us includes a decision to turn away from our self-first focus and turn toward following Jesus as our Savior and Lord. We show our love for God by searching out the instructions of Jesus and choosing to obey them as our new lifestyle. In this new life, we come to know God through a personal relationship with Him. We are now able to love God with all we’ve got and love others in the same way that we take care of ourselves. Jesus lived this way. John was an eye witness of the lifestyle of Jesus and invites us to jump into the joy of this lifestyle.

Daniel 5:17-31; 6

King Belshazzar did not learn from his predecessor’s repentant recognition of Yahweh God as sovereign. Instead, the king mocked the God who gave him life and lived as he pleased. As Daniel predicted, Belshazzar was killed and replaced by the Medes and their new king Darius. Proven to be the best of the new king’s supervisors, Daniel was trapped by a law against his prayer habit. God preserved Daniel in a den of hungry lions. God brought judgment on those who trapped Daniel. As a result, king Darius publicly declared Yahweh as the superior God.

 

November 29 Bible reading

November 29  Psalm 135:13-21  2 Peter 3  Daniel 4:19-37; 5:1-16

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?

November 29  Psalm 135:13-21  2 Peter 3  Daniel 4:19-37; 5:1-16

Psalm 135:13-21

Historically, people have worshipped stuff that can’t listen to them or speak life-giving truth to them. Yahweh God is forever interacting with His people. Let us praise the living God.

2 Peter 3

God’s love for us, for all humans, is patiently allowing the opportunity for people to turn from selfishness and receive Jesus as Savior. God does not want anyone to suffer the consequences of rejecting His offer for salvation. Peter and Paul wrote about this truth as something they learned from Jesus. They wrote about it as a priority for us to understand. This was set in the context of their confident expectation of Christ’s return. God gives us today so that we may follow Jesus and urge others to do the same.

Daniel 4:19-37; 5:1-16

Through Daniel, God patiently extended a gracious opportunity for King Nebuchadnezzar to repent and a description of what would happen if he refused. For another year the king arrogantly ignored God’s Word and the call to repentance. As a consequence, he was driven to madness and removed from power. After the predicted amount of time passed, the king returned to his senses and worshipped Yahweh God. The king’s successor came to regret his worship of other gods and mockery of Yahweh. Daniel was again called on for spiritual wisdom.