This plan provides a good balance between Old Testament readings and New Testament Readings because it guides you through the New Testament twice as you read through the Old Testament once. To allow time for reflection, it follows a two-year plan.
Every week I will post the readings for that week and add the daily devotionals as time permits. If you wish to print a copy of the plan without the devotions, you can find copies of it in pdf format at the link below. I like to print and use them as bookmarks in my Bible.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing
The daily readings for this week are included below.
March 5 (Read: Acts 15 & 16)
“And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:10 NAS)
What can we learn about guidance from Paul’s Macedonian call? Do we wait for specific instructions before venturing out, or do we trust in Him to lead as we go? There is no single answer that will fit every situation, but there are principles to follow. Paul did not depart for his first missionary journey until he had been set apart and sent out by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-4). By Acts Chapter 15, the command to go preach the gospel had been given and obeyed. When Paul began his second missionary journey, he desired to revisit the established churches. This he did, and then as he attempted to preach in neighbouring lands, the Holy Spirit forbade him. He would eventually go to those lands, but not immediately. God’s guidance has a lot to do with timing. There was an area he was to go to, but the Holy Spirit did not intervene in his travels unless he attempted to go in the wrong direction. It would seem simpler to us if the Lord would just come out and tell us what to do, but He chooses not to do that. It was not until he reached the port city of Troas that he received a vision.
What are some of the principles of guidance? The first principle is motive. We should always be motivated by love which issues from a pure heart (1Tim. 1:5). This is the starting point for walking with God. The second most important principle is faith. We live by faith, not by sight (2Cor. 5:7). The physical means of guidance (sight, sound, feelings) are supplementary. First, we must believe. Too often people have headed out in the way they wanted to go and asked the Lord to go with them. This is presumption, not faith. Paul’s experience shows us that we should go at His command and then trust in His guidance as we go.
Thank You, Father, that I have been given a special function as a member of the body of Christ (Rom. 12: 4; 1Cor. 12:6). I have received an abundance of grace to serve You, Lord. I go forth in obedience to Your command to love. Holy Spirit, You are always instructing and guiding me in the way I should go.
March 6 (Read: Acts 17 & 18)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
March 7 (Read: Acts 19 & 20)
“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 NAS)
When God sends forth His word, it accomplishes the purpose He intends for it (Isa. 55:11). We must see this regarding our spiritual growth. We do not grow spiritually by our own strength, but by grace. In Christ, we have access to an abundance of grace (Jn. 1:14-16). We can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence to obtain His help in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). Paul commended the Ephesian elders to the word of grace because he understood that this is how God would complete in them the good work He had begun (Phil. 1:6). The word of God is alive and powerful! (Heb. 4:12). When I need grace, I receive God’s word in my heart and trust in its ability to produce fruit. I humbly receive His word as a seed to be planted in the soil of my heart (Matt. 13:23; Jas. 1:21).
For example, if I need peace, I remind myself of His promise to give me peace (Jn. 14:27), and I choose to obey His command to let His peace rule in my heart (Col. 3:15). My spirit being is quite willing to receive God’s grace in this manner, even though my flesh might resist (Matt. 26:41). In the beginning, I may have to speak this to myself many times, but each time I experience His peace. Before long, my soul responds quickly to the promptings of the Spirit and ignores the desires of the flesh. This is the process of the renewing of the mind. With the help of the Spirit, I put to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13), and I put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14).
Thank You, Father, for Your word of grace. I receive Your words to be planted in my heart. I choose to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and to make no provision for the flesh. You, Lord Jesus, are the Living Word, full of grace and truth.
March 8 (Read: Acts 21 & 22)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
March 9 (Read: Acts 23 & 24)
“And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, ‘Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.’” (Acts 23:1 NAS)
Paul placed a very high value on having a good and blameless conscience. He took this stand before the Jewish Council, and later before Governor Felix (Acts 24:16). Why should this matter so much to Paul if he believed that we are saved by grace and not by works? From his epistles we see that it was because he was convinced that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of ourselves (Rom. 14:12). Those who have believed in Christ for righteousness will be saved, but they will still be judged to determine their reward. (2Cor. 5:10). “If any man’s work which he has built upon it (the church) remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1Cor. 3:14,15). We must not be fooled by the deceptions of false teachers. They use verses like “mercy triumphs over judgment” to say that God is merciful so He will not judge us (Jas. 2:13). “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap…Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” (Gal. 6:7,9)
Repentance is still a requirement of the gospel. Jesus came preaching “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk. 1:15). Our soul is transformed into the character of Christ, when we repent (turn) from the works of the flesh and through faith walk by the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:16).
Thank You, Father, for Your great mercy. I have chosen to repent and believe the good news of Jesus Christ. In view of Your great mercy, I present my body as a living sacrifice. I worship You with the spiritual service of obedience. I choose to no longer be conformed to this world system and I submit to the renewing of my mind, that I may prove by action what is Your good, acceptable, and perfect will. (Mk. 1:15; Rom. 12:1,2).
March 10 (Read: Acts 25 & 26)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
March 11 (Read: Acts 27 & 28)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Highway in the Wilderness 