Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 13)

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 26 (Read: Job 26, 27 & 28)

“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12 NAS)

As we continue to read the book of Job, we find that Job had a lot of questions for God.  His friends were not pleased with Job’s complaints so they tried to defend God by accusing Job of having brought these troubles upon himself through sin.  Job defended his integrity and rebuked his friends for their lack of wisdom.  He went on to explain how true wisdom can be found.  After God established the heavens and the earth, He said to man, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28 NAS).  Job had discovered this wisdom.  God Himself had said of Job that he was a God-fearing man, who turned away from evil (Job 1:8; 2:3).  Would God say the same about us?  How much have we learned to hate evil? “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate.” (Prov. 8:13).  Have we forsaken the ways of this world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1Jn. 2:16)?  Are we totally convinced that sin produces death, regardless of its false promises to feed and protect us?  Are we committed to walk in love without any hindrance of sin (Gal. 5:7)? There is a very simple way to know if this is true of us.  We must ask ourselves: how well do I respond to correction?  If we resist correction, we still operate in self-protection, which is simply the pride of life.  “He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.” (Prov. 15:32).

Father, the Scriptures say that if I need wisdom, I can ask for it, so I ask now in faith.  I turn my attention to Your instruction, for wisdom comes from your mouth.  Your words are effective for my training and correction. (Jas. 1:5; Prov. 2:6;2Tim. 3:16)

March 27 (Read: Job 29 & 30)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 28 (Read: Job 31 & 32)

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1 NAS)

 A covenant is a binding agreement.  It is not made lightly because the consequences of breaking it are severe.  This is how strong Job’s commitment was to walk with a pure heart.  “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” (Matt. 6:22,23).  Job was not afraid of having God examine him because he was firmly committed to walking in a manner that pleases God (Job 31:5-7).  How do we obtain integrity of character like Job had?  By the time I came to Christ, I had allowed my heart to pursue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  The direction of my life changed immediately after believing, but character development took longer.  Changing my behavior has been a continual process of transformation through repentance and faith.  First, I had to take accountability for my thoughts, words, and actions.  In the first few months of my Christian walk, I had to do a great deal of repenting.  My need to repent and believe for character transformation has not ended; I am still seeking to grow in the Lord.  The difference now is that I am gaining new territory; not always fighting the same battles.

Thank You, Father, for saving delivering me from the dominion of darkness and setting me into the kingdom of Your Son.  You have been faithful in transforming me into the image of Christ.  I am a partaker of Your divine nature through faith.   Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your constant help and fellowship. (Col. 1:13; 2Cor. 3:18; 2Pe. 1:4).

March 29 (Read: Job 33 & 34)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 30 (Read: Job 35, 36, & 37)

“Be careful, do not turn to evil; for you have preferred this to affliction.” (Job 36:21 NAS)

Very few of us have experienced anything like the trials of Job, so we must not be too quick to blame him for his troubles.  His three religious friends did just that, but Elihu had different advice.  God rebuked the first three friends, but He did not rebuke Elihu.  The advice he gave to Job can apply to anyone going through suffering.  Basically, it says that we should be careful we do not turn to evil because we believe God has let us down.  Job did not turn to evil, but what would we have done?  There are many who have walked away from the truth because of their trials.  Rather than turning to evil, we are told to, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.” (Jas. 1:2).  I personally, do not find it easy to rejoice when I face trials.  It takes a bit of effort.  I must begin first with thanksgiving.  “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thess. 5:18).  I do not thank God for what the enemy is doing, but I to thank God “in the midst of” the situation.  He is bigger than the enemy and can turn all things around for my good (Rom. 8:28).  I do this as an act of faith.  From this stand, I can pray more effectively, and I can offer praise as a sacrifice.  It becomes easier, then, to rejoice because I can overwhelmingly conquer these trials through Him who loves me (Rom. 8:37). 

Lord, I know that the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  You are bigger than the enemy; I put my trust in You.  Nothing can separate me from Your love.  Your grace is the strength I need to endure the trials of faith. Help me rejoice when I encounter the various trials of faith. (1Pe. 5:8; 1Jn. 4:4; Rom. 8:35; 2Cor. 12:9)

March 31 (Read: Job 38 & 39)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 1 (Read: Job 40, 41 & 42)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 12)

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 19 (Read: Job 7, 8 & 9)

“Why then dost Thou not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity?” (Job 7:21 NAS)

At first, Job’s reaction to the trials that came upon him was good.  “In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10).  Then he began complaining about his troubles and wondering why God would allow this to happen.  Going through trials is never easy and what makes it even more difficult is not knowing why it is happening.  Job’s religious friends added to his troubles by telling him he that his sufferings were the result of sin in his life.  Job was not against confessing sins when he was aware of them because he trusted in God’s mercy.  

The trials became so difficult that he began despairing of life.  The Apostle Paul tells us of a time in his life when he also despaired of life.  “Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.” (2Cor. 1:8,9).  What helped Paul go through that dark time was the testimony of his conscience “that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.” (2Cor. 1:12).  It is so important for us to have a good conscience.  It will reassure us of God’s work in our lives, even when the enemy attacks us.  Here is a promise to help see us through those times of suffering:

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.  And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen ad establish you.” (1Pe. 5:8-10).

March 20 (Read: Job 10, 11 & 12)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 21 (Read: Job 13, 14 & 15)

“O that you would be completely silent, and that would be your wisdom!” (Job 13:5 NAS)

I do not want my advice to be like that of Job’s three friends.  Job needed encouragement, not false accusations.  How can we avoid making the same mistake?  We know that we should listen before we speak, but how we listen is also very important.  We must learn to listen and speak from our heart rather than from our head.  In speaking of the Messiah, Isaiah said that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, and “He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make decisions by what His ears hear”.  (Isa. 11:2,3).  We are anointed by the Holy Spirit to counsel with wisdom and understanding.  As we observe or listen, we should be attentive to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  He will give us understanding and inspire our speech with wisdom.  If we allow the Spirit to speak through us, His anointing will be upon the words we speak to give grace (strength) to the hearer.  We a competent to minister (counsel) because the Spirit of the Lord rests upon us (2Cor. 3:6). 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for anointing me with Your Holy Spirit.  You have made me competent to minister Your grace to others.  I have ears to hear, and eyes to see by the Spirit. Help me to be a good steward of Your grace, speaking, as it were, the utterances of God.  (1Pe. 4:10,11).

March 22 (Read: Job 16, 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 23 (Read: Job 19 & 20)

“And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:25,26 NAS)

How precious Job’s relationship with God must have been before he encountered this time of suffering.  Despite all these trials, he still believes in a Redeemer and a resurrection from the dead.  He is concerned, however, for his friends.  Rather than persecute him with words, should they not rather comfort him?  If they are not careful, they will receive punishment for their actions.  Later in the book we discover that to avoid punishment, the Lord advises these three friends to repent and ask Job to pray for them.  How do we apply this Bible reading to our own lives?  If we, like Job, are going through suffering, we should be strong in our faith, keeping an eternal perspective instead of a temporal one.  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8:18).  If others are suffering, we should have compassion for them.  “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Rom. 12:15).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me.  I have put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.  I know that when You appear, I shall be like You, because I shall see You as You are.  My life is hid with You in God.  Help me Lord to walk in a manner worthy of my calling.  (1Thess. 5:8; 1Jn. 3:2; Col. 3:3; Eph. 4:1)

March 24 (Read: Job 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 25 (Read: Job 23, 24 & 25)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 11)

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 12 (Read: Ps. 29, 30 & 31)

“You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.” (Ps. 31:20 NAS)

If we make the Lord our refuge, He will protect us from evil.  This does not mean that everyone will be at peace with us.  If we seek to please God, we will be persecuted (2Tim. 3:12).  To be hid in the secret place of His presence means that despite the persecution, we will be helped by His grace.  Peter said, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you.” (1Pe. 4:14).  Persecutions come, but their effect is minimized by the presence of God upon us.  Even the “strife of tongues” have little effect on us if we are hid in “the secret place of His presence”.  I have experienced this countless times.  On the other hand, if I take up my own defense instead of making the Lord my refuge, I am not so protected.  Likewise, if I judge others, I will also be affected by the judgments of men (Matt. 7:1,2).  If I want to abide in the secret place of God’s presence, I must deny myself, bear my cross, and follow Him. 

Help me, Lord God, to experience Your grace the way Paul did.  When You told him that Your grace was sufficient for him, he was able to delight in persecutions and weaknesses.  He understood that even when he was weak in himself, he was strong in You.  My desire is to be strong in Your grace.  I consider myself dead to this world and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  I will not be subject to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, because You have set me free from the law of sin and death.  I choose to obey You by grace through faith.  (2Cor. 12:9,10; 2Tim. 2:1; Rom. 6:11,17,18; 1Jn. 2:16; Rom. 8:2; Eph. 2:8-10)

March 13 (Read: Ps. 32, 33 & 34)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 14 (Read: Ps. 35 & 36)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 15 (Read: Ps. 37 & 38)

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” (Ps. 37:4,5 NASB)

Before we effectively commit our way to the Lord, we must first delight ourselves in Him.  Because we love Him and seek to please Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts.  These desires are not just what He places in our hearts to pursue but also desires we may have to enjoy life.  He loves us and wants to bless us.  When our hearts have been purified through delighting in Him, our desires will not be selfish.

Having then purposed to walk in a manner pleasing to God, we can commit our way to Him.  We can trust Him to direct our steps, even when we do not have a clear understanding of the path ahead.  We can also commit to Him the plans we make because we seek His kingdom and not the things of this world.  As we trust and obey Him, we will not be unstable; our steps will be established by the Lord (vs. 23).

Lord Jesus, as I behold Your glory, I am being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory.  You are the Living Word of God.  My soul is being purified as I understand and obey the truth of Your word.  I commit my way to You and I trust that You direct and establish my steps. (2Cor. 3:18; Jn. 1:14; 1Pe. 1:22).

March 16 (Read: Ps. 39, 40 & 41)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

March 17 (Read: Job 1, 2 & 3)

“Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10 NAS)

For some people, this verse is difficult to accept.  The problem, I believe, is due to its interpretation.  We know that the evil which came upon Job was from the devil, but none of it would have happened unless God had granted permission.  To explain this according to their traditions, some have said that Job had opened the door to the enemy through his fears.  They interpret the phrase “Behold, he is in your power” as meaning “Open your eyes, he has already opened the door to you” but this is not correct.  If that was the case, why did the devil not bring sickness to Job the first time? 

When Job’s three friends came to comfort him, they began exhorting him to repent because surely these hardships were the result of his sins.  This also is incorrect.  Consider what God said about Job: “Have you considered My servant Job?  For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:8).  If God called him blameless, how can we say otherwise?

The important point to note is that God allowed Job’s faith and devotion to be tested.  James tells us that the testing of our faith produces endurance (Jas. 1:3), and he mentions Job of someone who was blessed because of his endurance (Jas. 5:11).  We know that after his trials,  “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.” (Job 42:10).  The real issue is that we have trouble understanding why a loving God would allow our faith to be tested.  Whatever the reason, we are blessed if we endure.

Thank You, Father, for loving me.  I do not always understand why my faith gets tested, but with Your help, I can endure testing.  I know that I am blessed because of testing, so I will continue to thank You amid all my circumstances.  I will cast all my cares upon You, because You care for me. (1Thess. 5:18; 1Pe. 5:7)

March 18 (Read: Job 4, 5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 10)

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.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Week 9)

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.

February 26 (Read: Acts 3 & 4)

“Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19 NAS)

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples received a refreshing from the Lord as the Spirit fell upon them.  After the healing of the lame beggar, Peter preached to those marvelling at the miracle, that times of refreshing had not ended on the day of Pentecost.  If they would repent and return to the Lord, they would also experience a refreshing from the presence of the Lord.  As Peter had earlier preached, “the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” (Acts 2:39).  The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not meant to be a one-time experience.  The promise was for “times”, not “a time”, of refreshing.

After Peter and John returned from having been threatened by the rulers, they gathered in prayer, and “the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31).  The manifestation of the Spirit takes many forms.  The first time they experienced it, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4).  This time they were filled with boldness for preaching with great power and abundance of grace (Acts 4:33).  When Paul came to Ephesus and met with a small band of believers, they received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, and “began speaking with tongues and prophesying.” (Acts 19:6).  Later, in his epistle to the same church, he counselled them to continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Today, if we repent and believe, we can experience “times of refreshing” as the early church did.  We can be filled with boldness for preaching, speak in other tongues, prophesy, perform miracles, and experience abundance of grace.  If we draw near to God, we can be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for sending us Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your manifested presence.  I yield my spirit, soul, and body for Your use. 

February 27 (Read: Acts 5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

February 28 (Read: Acts 7)

“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit;” (Acts 7:51 NAS)

 The Holy Spirit is a Person.  Too often we think of what He does rather than Who He is.  We receive power when He comes upon us, but He works through each person individually, according to His will (1Cor. 12:11).  All three Persons of the Godhead are one God, but they each have different functions and they have different personalities.  He is gentle like a dove (Jn. 1:32) but comes to us as a fire the burns away chaff (Acts 2:3).  We must be careful as believers to not resist the Holy Spirit.  It is through Him that we have fellowship with the Father and the Son.  He is the One Who teaches us by giving us spiritual wisdom and understanding.  As our Helper, He communicates to us the words of the Father and the Son.  If we reject His presence in our lives, we reject the One Who sent Him.

As I was pondering on how to walk in the Spirit, the Lord reminded me of this verse: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:6).  When He moves upon us with a holy passion, we must not quench Him (1Thess. 5:19).  We should, instead, allow ourselves to be “fervent” or “aglow” in the Spirit” (Rom. 12:11).  If we listen to His still small voice, our ability to hear and discern spiritual things will increase (Isa. 50:4).   If we welcome His presence through obedience, we will see an increase of grace in our lives because He is the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for sending the Holy Spirit to be with me.  I welcome You, Holy Spirit.  Help me to recognize Your presence.  I know that You do not speak of Yourself, but You reveal to me the Father and the Son.  I love You and thank You for all Your help.  You are so patient, merciful, and kind.  Help me to discern Your voice and give me the grace I need to obey God’s word.  With Your help, I choose to give up my life and to let Christ be my life.

March 1 (Read: Acts 8 & 9)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

March 2 (Read: Acts 10)

“A devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually.” (Acts 10:2 NAS)

Cornellius is an example of a man who believed God and demonstrated his faith with corresponding works.  Even an angel of God said of him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (vs. 4).  What does the experience of Cornellius tell us about salvation?  Peter’s account later to the church in Jerusalem sheds a bit more light on what the angel told Cornellius.  “He shall speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 11:14).  Even Cornellius, with the testimony that he was a devout man who feared God, still had to believe in Jesus Christ.  I think of Paul’s sermon to the Athenians, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world.” (Acts 17:30,31).  There are a lot of things about the final judgment which I accept as mysteries, but what is not a mystery to me is that everyone, regardless of faith and devotion, should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.  “There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).  Jesus died for the sins of all mankind, but people must still believe in Him to receive eternal life. (Jn. 3:16).  Today is the day of salvation (2Cor. 6:2). 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me.  I am convinced that everyone everywhere should repent and believe in You for salvation.  You are so merciful and kind.  There is so much that You are preparing in heaven for those who believe in You.  I love You and desire to serve You.  Please remove from me any lies from the enemy that would make me complacent about being a witness for You.  Thank You, Father, that You work in me both the will and to do what pleases You. (Phil. 2:13). 

March 3 (Read: Acts 11 & 12)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

March 4 (Read: Acts 13 & 14)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Week 8)

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.

February 19 (Read: Genesis 48, 49 & 50)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

February 20 (Read: Psalms 17 & 18)

“Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing.” (Gen. 42:8,9 NAS)

There is a deep sense of peace that comes from knowing that God has searched your heart and tested your thoughts and found no cause for rebuke.   You cannot experience this if you have hardened your heart toward God.  To hear His voice concerning sinful patterns, you must have a good conscience, with a pure heart, and a sincere faith (1Tim. 1:5).  A pure heart renders a conscience clean, but a good conscience is more than that; it is one that is sensitive to the convictions of the Holy Spirit.  To maintain a pure heart and a sensitive conscience, you must sincerely apply your faith to receive God’s help to overcome any sinful pattern He brings to your attention.  When you walk with God in this manner, your relationship with Him is not hindered by any sin.

If God does convict you of something, when you allow Him to search your heart and try your thoughts (Ps. 139:23,24), you are not rejected or condemned.  You need only confess your sin, and the blood of Jesus will cleanse you from guilt.  The forgiveness of your sins, and a sincere application of faith to overcome sin, will reassure your heart before Him.  You will continue to have fellowship with Him, and a peace that surpasses understanding will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).

Thank You, Father, for the gift of repentance, and the precious blood of Jesus that cleanses me from all unrighteousness.  Your truth and grace have made me free indeed.  I invite You Holy Spirit to search my heart and try my thoughts, that my ways may be pleasing to my God. (2Tim. 2:25; 1Jn. 1:9; Jn. 8:36; Ps. 139:23,24)

February 21 (Read: Psalms 19 & 20)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

February 22 (Read: Psalms 21 & 22)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

February 23 (Read: Psalms 23, 24 & 25)

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  And who may stand in His holy place?” (Ps. 24:3 NAS)

When I heard about people’s experiences with ascending to heaven, I was very interested.  Hearing that it was possible to experience the presence of the Lord in a deeper way, I decided to pursue it.  As I did this, I began to experience a level of closeness that I had not experienced before.  What I discovered, however, was that not everything being taught on this topic is good.  Finding instruction that is strong biblically was challenging, so in time I put aside the pursuit.  As a result, my experiences of spiritual closeness to the Lord became less frequent.  How can I experience more of the Lord’s presence this way, without being deceived?  Psalm 24 provides the answer.  Who may ascend?  “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood” (Ps. 24:4).  If I seek to ascend to heaven through my own fleshly desires, I will be deceived.  If, on the other hand, I draw near to God with a pure heart, He will draw near to me (Jas. 4:8).  In my determination to persist in drawing near to God, I guard my heart and my mind.  I will not listen to teachers who promote hyper-grace or universalist doctrines.  Neither will I allow anyone to take me “captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (Col. 2:8).  I will guard my heart against seeking “spiritual” experiences that merely satisfy the passions of my soul, rather than equip me to serve God.  I will draw near to God to know Him and His ways, presenting my body as a living sacrifice, to demonstrate what is His good, acceptable and perfect will (Rom. 12:1,2).

Thank You, Father, for Your patience in transforming my life.  My desire is to know You and to love You with all my heart.  I thank You that You continue to work in me to both will and do what pleases You. (Jn. 17:3; Matt. 22:37; Phil. 2:13)

February 24 (Read: Psalms 26, 27 & 28)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s portion.

February 25 (Read: Acts 1 & 2)

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NAS)

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and ordained them to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  First, however, they had to be clothed with power from the Holy Spirit (Lu. 24:47-48).  We are all called to be witnesses for the Lord, but are we all attempting to do this with the power of the Holy Spirit?  As believers we receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  He is our Teacher (Jn. 14:26).  He helps us to overcome evil (Rom. 8:13).  But there is more that He desires to do.  He wants to manifest spiritual gifts through us for the common good (1Cor. 12:7).  This is not just for ministers; this is for every believer (Acts 2:38,39).  Let us not limit the work of the Holy Spirit with the doctrines of men.  Let us instead pursue love, and desire earnestly spiritual gifts (1Cor. 14:1).  The way to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to offer ourselves to Him for service, and to wait upon Him for empowerment as the early disciples did, in prayer and worship (Lu. 24:53; Acts 1:14).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me and sending Your Spirit to me as my Helper.  I yield to You, Holy Spirit.  You are my Teacher, my Guide, and my Strength.  Fill me with your power for service.  As I make love my goal, manifest Yourself through me with Your knowledge, Your wisdom, and Your power.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Week 7)

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 readings for this week are included below.

February 12 (Read: Genesis 35 & 36)

“As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.” (Gen. 33:10 NAS)

Jacob again finds himself in a difficult situation, but God intervenes for him because he has the blessing of Abraham.  Jacob returns to Bethel where God first appeared to him and he builds an altar to worship God.  There the Lord appears to him and confirms the promise to give his descendants the land as an inheritance.  The first time Jacob came to Bethel, the Lord visited him in a dream.  This time He appears and speaks to him, then something unusual happens.  The Lord allows Jacob to see Him return upward after the encounter.  This must have been quite an experience, but today we have received something even greater.  In the Book of Hebrews, we read that the fathers of faith received the promises but only saw their fulfillment from a distance (Heb. 11:13).  “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39,40).  What they were looking for, we have now come to (Heb. 12:22).  We are the living stones being built into a spiritual house for God (1Pe. 2:5).  We are the very house of God that Jacob had a vision of at Bethel.

Help me, Father, to understand, with the eyes of my heart, what You have accomplished for me in Christ.  Help me to see myself as a part of the spiritual house that You are building.  Thank You for fulfilling in these last days the promises You gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

February 13 (Read: Genesis 37 & 38)

“And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.” (Gen. 37:11 NAS)

There are some circumstances we are responsible for, and there are some that are beyond our control.  As in Joseph’s case, even when people do things to harm us, God can turn it to for our good (Rom. 8:28).  That is why, in whichever situation we find ourselves, we should be thankful (1Thess. 5:18).  It may seem at the time, that none of it makes sense, but when God’s plans come to fruition, we eventually see the signs God gave along the way.  The dreams Joseph had were some of those signs, and Jacob hid them in his heart.  In my difficult times of transition, the confirmations that I was in God’s will, helped me stay positive.  If we maintain our trust in the Lord, regardless of what happens, He will continue to reassure us that all is in His control.  We may not understand everything, but His peace will help us to continue to place our trust in Him.

Father, I commit my way to You.  I trust that You are directing my steps.  Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will help my heart and mind to stay focused on You.  (Ps. 37:5; Isa. 26:3; Phil. 4:7)

February 14 (Read: Genesis 39 & 40)

“But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.” (Gen. 39:21 NAS)

Good things and bad things will happen to us; how we react to them will determine our future.  After being sold into slavery, Joseph could have given up on faith, but instead, he trusted God to help him to serve his earthly master well.  “So Joseph found favor in his sight, and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge.” (Gen. 39:4).  But Joseph was still not where God needed him to be, so despite holding fast to his integrity, he ended up in jail.  Refusing to give in to resentment and self-pity, he decided to serve the chief jailer the way he had served Potiphar.  This allowed him to be where he needed to be when Pharoah’s chief baker and chief cupbearer were sent to jail.  The time, however, had not yet come for him to be released from prison.  How challenging this must have been for Joseph.  He had received dreams of success.  His character, gifts and abilities were maturing.  Despite all this, he was still hidden away in obscurity!  If Joseph was learning anything at all from these trials, it was perseverance (Jas. 1:2-4).  He is one of those Paul exhorts us to imitate because through faith and patience he inherited the promises (Heb. 6:12).  Like Joseph, we should let patient endurance produce in us the character we need to accomplish God’s plan for our lives.  (Rom. 5:3-5). 

Help me, Father, to be patient when my faith is tested.  I thank You that perseverance will produce in me the proven character needed to make me mature and complete, lacking nothing.  I am the work of Your hands, created for the works You prepared for me, even before I was born. (Jas. 1:2-4; Eph. 2:10)

February 15 (Read: Genesis 41)

“So Pharoah said to Joseph, ‘Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are’.” (Gen. 41:39 NAS)

The gifts and abilities God has given us will open opportunities for service.  What will ensure our success in those situations is our character.  Many highly gifted believers have failed in their calling because of poor character.  Joseph was thirty years old when he became the Prime Minister of Egypt, and he was seventeen when he shared his dream with his brothers.  This means he must have spent at least 10 years in slavery.  We can tell by the names he gives his two sons that they were not easy years.  One he called, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household”, and the other, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction”. (vs. 51,52).  It was during those difficult years that Joseph developed character.  At the end of his afflictions, he knew that the gift to interpret dreams was not his own ability but God working though him (vs. 16).  He also had learned that to abide in God’s favor, he could not hold resentments.  Once in the position of his calling, he did not grow slack, but he carried out his responsibilities with faithfulness.  If we want to succeed in our calling, we should allow godly character to develop in us during our times of preparation.  The Apostle Peter lists eight qualities a believer should possess to be successful.  “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pe. 1:8).

Thank You, Father, that there is a reward for obedience.  Help me to be ready to serve you in season and out of season.  I want to be a clean and yielded vessel, ready for Your use. (Heb. 11:6; 2Tim. 4:2; 2Tim. 3:21)

February 16 (Read: Genesis 42 & 43)

“But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.  And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them.” (Gen. 42:8,9 NAS)

The dreams Joseph had as a youth were evidence to him that God’s plans were unfolding, although he did not fully understand what they were.  All he could see was that God had sent him ahead to provide a means of deliverance through the coming famine (Gen. 45:7).  God’s plan, however, was far greater than that.  When God made a covenant with Abraham, He was preparing the way for the Messiah to come to earth.  First, the sons of Jacob had to become a large nation which God would bring back into the land promised to Abraham.  When God made a covenant with Abraham, He declared, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years, but I will judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions.”  Through Abraham’s seed (the Messiah), all nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3).  Through the nation of Israel, we received the Law and the Prophets which spoke of the atoning work of the Christ and His kingdom.  As a nation, Israel did not accept Christ, but we are nearing the time when they will accept Jesus as the Messiah (Rom. 11:25,26).  When this happens, it will be time for the Lord to return (Rom. 11:15).  “But when you see these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Lu. 21:28).

Thank You, Lord God, that You planned, before the foundation of the earth, to bring all things into Christ.  You chose us to be in Christ, and You have sealed us with Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your abiding presence, always helping us to walk in a manner pleasing to our Father. (Eph. 1:4,10,13; Rom. 8:14; Phil. 2:13)

February 17 (Read: Genesis 44 & 45)

“Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” (Gen. 45:8 NAS)

Joseph credits God with not only bringing him to Egypt but also making him ruler over all the land of Egypt.  How many of us would give God full credit for our successes?  In today’s world, when people have a measure of success, they want to go on speaking tours or write books about it.  Too often I have heard an element of pride come out of the mouths of some successful ministers.  It is difficult to balance the grace of God working through us and our own obedience of faith.  When God accomplishes something through us, it does not mean that we are not participants; we are co-workers with Christ.  Joseph certainly played a part in his success.  He served his earthly masters faithfully, as onto the Lord.  How he viewed his role, however, was minimized in his own eyes.  It reminds me of what Jesus taught: “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded of you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” (Lu. 17:10).  Joseph was humble in heart.  The Apostle Paul had the same attitude towards his own success.  “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (1Cor. 15:10).

Forgive us, Lord, when to take credit for what You accomplish through us.  We are Your servants, and faithfulness is what is required of us.  You are the One working in us to will and to do what is pleasing in Your sight.  We will speak what You inspires through us.  We will serve with the strength You provides.  Help us, Holy Spirit, to guard our hearts from pride.  (Phil. 2:13; 1Pe. 4:11).

February 18 (Read: Genesis 46 & 47)

“And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’” (Gen. 46:2 NAS)

Travelling to Egypt to reunite with Joseph was wonderful, but it left some questions unanswered.  When God makes promises to us, and the direction we take appears to be contrary to what it should be, we must seek God for confirmation.  He is always willing to guide us.  After beginning the journey, and while still in the land of Canaan, Jacob sought the Lord.  He needed to know if God would bless his travels and allow him to see Joseph before he died.  He was also concerned about his family returning to the land God promised to Abraham.  The Lord heard Jacob’s prayer and spoke to him in visions of the night.  When we walk with God by faith, He directs our steps and instructs us on the way we should go.  “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” (Ps. 37:5).  We do not make our own plans, then ask God to bless them; we commit our way to Him and trust that He will direct our steps.

Father, Your Word says that if I place my trust in You, my steps will be ordered by You. I am Your disciple; my spiritual senses have been awakened to hear Your instructions.  I trust in Your faithfulness as I commit my way to you.  (Ps. 37:5,23; Isa. 50:4)

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Week 6)

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 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 readings for this week are included below.

February 5 (Read: Genesis 22 & 23)

“And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you.’” (Gen. 25:5 NAS)

Here we see expressed in words the faith Abraham had in his heart.  Much has been said about the confession of faith; sometimes placing it ahead of faith itself.  Confessing the right words is not what makes faith, and neither can saying the wrong things nullify your faith.  It is merely an expression of the faith that is in the heart, but even as such, it is very important.  Abraham had been promised that through Isaac his descendants would be named, so he believed that God would either provide a different sacrifice, or He would resurrect Isaac (Gen. 21:12).  Either way, he was prepared to obey. 

There are most likely situations in your life where you just knew that God would come through with His promise to you.  When that was the case, you had no problem doing what God asked of you, regardless of how it looked to others.  There may also have been situations where you were not so quick at walking out in faith.  What should we do when those situations happen?  Since the issue is the condition of the faith we have in our heart, we need to build up our faith before walking out on it.  This is done by meditating on God’s promises, while fellowshipping with Him in the Spirit (Rom. 10:17).  To obtain faith, we must allow time for God’s promises to be established in our heart and to allow hope to grow.  Then, when hope is established, we act upon it in faith (Rom. 4:18; Heb. 11:1).  Knowing the condition of faith in our heart can be difficult.  What I do to discern it is to pay attention to the words I speak to others.  Do I find myself confessing faith with conviction, or is it forced?  I have learned to be more concerned about the true condition of my faith than about confessing the right things. 

Thank You, Father, for Your promises.  Help my faith to grow concerning Your provision for my spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs. You have promised to teach and guide me in the way I should walk.  Your desire is that I prosper and be in good health, even as my soul prospers. You work in me both to will and to do what pleases You.  (Ps. 32:8; 3Jn. 2; Phil. 2:13)

February 6 (Read: Genesis 24)

“Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way.’” (Gen. 24:1 NAS)

To walk in the obedience of faith as Abraham did results in much blessing.  We have seen how God regarded Abraham as a prophet and a friend.  Now he is old in age and he has one last thing to accomplish.  He wants a bride for Isaac that is from his own relatives.  Through the covenant of circumcision, he is aware that God makes a distinction between him and the people of Canaan.  He tells his servant, “I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.” (Gen. 24:3).  Abraham is confident that the Lord, who has blessed him all his life, will send an angel to accomplish this.  The servant, however, is concerned about making such an oath.  What if the girl he finds is not willing to come? 

As we read the account, we find that not only does the Lord help him find a bride for Isaac, but He has also prepared the heart of Rachel to accept the invitation.  Rachel, being sensitive to the Lord’s promptings, does not hesitate to draw water for the man’s camels.  Sensing in her heart that the Lord sent this man, she accepts the invitation, even though she must leave her family and marry a man she has never met. 

And, what about Isaac?  He is blessed, because “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” (Prov. 18:22).  Rebecca also is blessed, because Isaac accepts her as his wife, and he loves her (Gen. 24:67).

Father, You are a loving God who takes pleasure in blessing Your people.  I will not be anxious for anything, but I will seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and all my needs will be taken care of.  In prayer, I will make my requests known to You, with thanksgiving, and Your peace will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Matt.6:31-33; Phil. 4:6,7)

February 7 (Read: Genesis 25 & 26)

“And it came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac.” (Gen. 25:11 NAS)

The blessing Isaac received is the blessing associated with the covenant God made with Abraham.  “I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, for the sake of My servant Abraham.” (Gen. 26:25).  Isaac became very wealthy and it became clear even to the Philistines around him that he was now “the blessed of the Lord” (Gen. 26:29).  Ishmael also was blessed, but he did not receive the blessing of the covenant.  Isaac had two sons, but it was Jacob who received the blessing of Abraham (Gen. 28:4).  The promise to Abraham was that in him, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3).  Jesus Christ is the seed of Abraham Who has inherited Abraham’s blessing, and all those who believe in Christ are joint heirs with Him. (Gal. 3:16,29).  From all nations, those who believe in Christ are sons of Abraham (Gal. 3:7,14).  The blessing of Abraham is more than land and material blessings.  In Christ, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3).  God purposed from the very beginning that He would unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things upon the earth (Eph. 1:9,10).  He will rule over all of God’s creation, and we will rule with Him as His Bride.  We are blessed in this life, and in the one to come.  Let’s pray over ourselves the prayer that Paul prayed for the Ephesians.

I pray that the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened, so that I may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Eph. 1:17-19).

February 8 (Read: Genesis 27 & 28)

“Then the Lord will be my God…and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee.” (Gen. 28:21,22 NAS)

Jacob was about twelve years of age when his grandfather Abraham passed away.  He was old enough to have heard firsthand how God had called Abraham and made a covenant with him.  He would have also heard from Isaac how God appeared to him and promised to bless him as He had Abraham.  Jacob must have desired the blessing of Abraham because he traded with Esau for his birthright, and he deceived his father to obtain the blessing of the eldest.  But until the Lord appears to him in a dream, all the experiences were his father’s or his grandfather’s.  Now the Lord was speaking to him personally.  Experiences are important, but we should not seek them, we should seek the Lord and let Him decide how He will communicate with us.  We walk by faith, not by sight.  Until this time, Jacob had been living under Isaac’s faith.  Now, we see him beginning to live by his own faith.

The dream itself was given to Jacob, but it has significance for us as well.  The place where the dream occurs is called Bethel, the house of God.  Angels, who are messengers of God, ascend and descend between heaven and earth, at the location of God’s house.  We, as believers, are the house of God.  When we gather as believers, Christ is present in Spirit.  In His manifested presence, we can experience the ministry of His angels.  The more you believe for this, the more you will experience it.

Father, I thank You for Your Holy Spirit dwelling in me.  My body is Your temple, and I am a living stone being made into a spiritual house, which is the Body of Christ.  I love Your manifested presence, and I receive the ministry of Your angels who minister to those who have obtained salvation.  (1Cor. 6:19; 1Pe. 2:5; Heb. 1:14)

February 9 (Read: Genesis 29 & 30)

“Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her.” (Gen. 29:20 NAS)

Being blessed by God does not mean everything goes well.  Jacob worked many years before accumulating any possessions.  Laban, however, became prosperous because of him.  Instead of becoming jealous, Jacob grew in faith and patience (Heb. 6:12).  When an opportunity came for him to obtain his own flock of sheep, he applied the faith that had been growing in him and God blessed him immensely.   

To grow in faith and patience, it is necessary to endure hardships.  What makes these trials easier to bear is hope and love.  The time Jacob spent serving Laban to marry Rachel seemed to go by quickly because of his love for her, and the hope he had that they would one day be together.  Likewise, the difficulties we face as believers are much easier to endure when we are in love with the Lord.  It may seem odd, but we can even rejoice when we are persecuted because “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1Pe. 4:14).  Peter calls this the Spirit of glory because it is a special manifestation of the presence of God.

Lord Jesus, You endured much suffering for me, and You promised that if I endure with You, I will also reign with You.  Father, please forgive those who mistreat me, they do not know that what they do to me, they are doing to my Lord.  Thank You Holy Spirit for the anointing that rest upon me when I am persecuted.  Help me to see these things as the early disciples who rejoiced in their sufferings because they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for Your name. (2Tim. 2:12; Acts 5:41)

February 10 (Read: Genesis 31 & 32)

“Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.’” (Gen. 31:3 NAS)

What importance should we place on circumstances when we try to discern the will of God for our lives?  In this portion of Scripture, we find Jacob experiencing a strained relationship with Laban, after having spent many years serving him.  Is it time for him to move away?  If he leaves, where will he go?  When he left the land of Canaan, his brother Esau wanted to kill him, so how does he know if it is time to return?  At this opportune time, Jacob received a word from the Lord to go back to the land of his fathers (Gen. 31:3).  This word gave him the confidence he needed to face Esau again.

Facing difficult circumstances is not always an indication that God is directing us out of a situation.  If the Lord provides an opportunity for service, we should work with Him in it, regardless of opposition (1Cor. 16:9).  If, however, we have been serving for a while with favourable circumstances, then things turn negative, then maybe it is time for a change.  We need to seek the Lord for discernment.  Circumstances alone should never be our guide; we should always seek personal guidance from the Lord.

Thank You Lord, my Shepherd.  You always lead me to green pastures.  You give me the ability to hear Your voice and to follow You.  Help me Lord to discern Your will in all my circumstances.  I desire to do Your will, even if difficulties present themselves.  In You, Lord, I am an overcomer.  (Ps. 23:2; Jn. 10:3; Rom. 8:37)

February 11 (Read: Genesis 33 & 34)

“And Jacob said ‘No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.’” (Gen. 33:10 NAS)

Having to face Esau again was one of Jacob’s greatest struggles, but it allowed him to experience God in a very meaningful way.  The messengers he sent ahead to his brother returned with the report that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men (Gen. 32:6).  What else could this mean but destruction?  Jacob, however, turned to God, Who had instructed him to return to the land of promise.  This trial led to an encounter with the Lord that he would never forget.  When his brother arrived with his four hundred men, he received Jacob favorably.  By saying, “I see your face as one sees the face of God”, Jacob was declaring his awe and joy an answer to his prayers.  After he settled near Shechem, he bought a piece of land and erected an altar to honor God, the God of Israel.  Jacob was a new man, with a new name; he was now called Israel.

The trials we face are never pleasant, but when we face them in faith and prayer, we come out stronger.  Our relationship with God grows when we put our trust in Him.  We learn to say with the Psalmist, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” (Ps. 23:4).

I praise and thank You, Father, for your lovingkindness and faithfulness to me.  As You were with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, You are with me.  I am an heir of the same promises in Jesus Christ. (Gen. 32:10; Gal. 4:28)

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Week 5)

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 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 readings for this week are included below.

January 29 (Read: Genesis 4, 5, & 6)

“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Gen. 4:7 NAS)

From the beginning, God planned to offer His Son as a sacrificial lamb for our sins.  Abel, by faith, understood that a lamb was an acceptable offering to God, but Cain preferred to offer the work of his own hands.  God’s response to Cain’s dejection reveals an important principle concerning our relationship with God.  It is not enough to be forgiven for sins; we must master sin itself.  The way to do this was demonstrated by Abel.  “By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous.” (Heb. 11:4).  Religious works cannot please God; faith with obedience does. 

The next example we have is Enoch who “walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (Gen. 5:24).  What a witness that must have been to his generation.  But, as men continued to populate the earth, they did not learn to overcome sin.  Instead, man’s wickedness became “great upon the earth” (Gen. 6:5).  Amid that generation, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8).  He believed God and did what God commanded him to do (Gen. 6:22). 

The need to master sin is still required of us today, but God has provided the way of victory through Christ.  “And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”  (1Jn. 5:5). 

Thank You, Jesus, for taking a body like mine and overcoming sin and death for me.  Your blood has made me righteous, and through Your death, I have died to the power of sin.  I consider myself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  You live in me, and I live by faith in You. (Rom. 6:6-14; Gal. 2:20)

January 30 (Read: Genesis 7, 8, & 9)

“When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (Gen. 9:17 NAS)

Somehow, the earth changed after the flood.  God used the rainbow as a sign of His covenant to not destroy the earth again with a flood.  If the rainbow only began to occur after the flood, then the earth would have had a different atmosphere before the flood.  I have often wondered if more happened to the earth during the flood than just destruction by water.  The Apostle Peter appears to say that when Christ died, He went to preach to those who perished before the flood.  There is no mention of Him preaching to those who perished after the flood, which could mean that there is some kind of spiritual separation between both worlds.  As humans, we tend to interpret the past from the viewpoint of our present experience.  Maybe there are more dimensions to our existence than we realize.  This is another mystery which we should be open to, but not too quick to make conclusions about.  God’s thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts, and His ways so much higher than our ways (Isa. 55:8,9).  For me, this is humbling.  I can never expect to figure things out with my mind.  I must rely on the Holy Spirit to teach me all things.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for upholding all things by the word of Your power.  Your thoughts, Father, are so much higher than my thoughts.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for spiritual wisdom and understanding.  You have given me the mind of Christ.  (Heb. 1:3; 1Cor. 2:16)

January 31 (Read: Genesis 10 & 11)

“And the Lord said, ‘Behold they are one people, and they all have one language.  And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.’” (Gen. 11:6 NAS)

If the Lord had to scatter the people to prevent them from accomplishing all that they purposed, what will He do in these days of internet and artificial intelligence?  The world is coming so much closer to uniting under the false kingdom of the antichrist.  As this is happening, we are to rejoice because our redemption is drawing so much closer.  I came to realize not too long ago that if the Lord has His messengers preparing His people for His return, the devil also has his messengers preparing the way for the coming of the antichrist.  As spiritually minded people, we should be aware of his schemes and purpose to not to get caught up in them.  Personally, I believe that believers, especially in America, are too involved in politics.  In democratic countries, we have a social responsibility to vote and to serve, when possible, but we should also realize that no political party truly has the Lord as its Head.  There are two things I endeavour to do in these last days.  The first is to keep my eyes on the Lord, and to be found doing His will when He returns.  The second is to be aware of the devil’s schemes and not to be caught in his deceptions.  Both require that I stay in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit, pursuing the godly goal of loving from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (1Tim. 1:5). 

Thank You, Father, for Your patience with mankind.  Your desire is that none should perish, but that all should repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Left to ourselves, mankind would have destroyed itself a long time ago. Your great love, however, is bringing redemption to mankind as we await for the promise of eternal life on a newly created heaven and earth.  Thank You also for Your patience and kindness towards me, as I seek to do Your will, and wait patiently for Your return.  (2Pe. 3:9, 13)

February 1 (Read: Genesis 12, 13, & 14)

“And I will make you a great nation and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing.” (Gen. 12:2 NAS)

Why would God choose Abraham to make these promises to?  Firstly, he believed God and obeyed Him.  Throughout his journey, he demonstrated faith.  When the Lord appeared to him, he responded by building an altar to the Lord, and returned there later to call upon the name of the Lord (Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:4).  When he came back from defeating Chedorlaomer, he offered a tithe of the spoils to Melchizedek, not as a religious obligation, but as an act of faith.

There is another reason why God chose Abraham.  He could be trusted to “command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.” (Gen. 18:19).  We know he did this because Isaac and Jacob continued, in faith, as heirs of the promise.  When it comes to doing righteousness and justice, we need to be careful not to judge Abraham or his descendants.  The righteousness imputed by God is based on faith (Rom. 4:3).  This is a faith that takes God at His word and acts accordingly.  Doing righteousness and justice is an extension of faith when we walk according to our conscience.  “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God…and whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Rom. 14:22,23).  James called this the law of liberty: “So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.” (Jas. 2:12). 

Thank You, Father, for Your promises.  You made a nation of Abraham and sent the prophets to proclaim the coming of the Messiah.  Now we, who believe in Christ, are children of Abraham and heirs of the promises.  Bless us, Lord, that we may be a blessing to others.

February 2 (Read: Genesis 15, 16, & 17)

“And Abram said, ‘O Lord God, what wilt Thou give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” (Gen. 15:2 NAS)

By the time God appears to Abraham and promises him a son, a relationship has developed between them.  Each step along the way, the plan of God has unfolded and Abraham has continued to believe God.  He was seventy-five years old when God brought him from Haran into the land of Canaan.  Ten or so years have passed, and he has grown very prosperous.  Now God appears to him and promises to reward him greatly, but Abraham has a question in his heart.  Even though he has been very blessed, why has God withheld a son from him?  Will God be angry if he asks this question?  Because of their relationship, he dares to ask it.  God reassures him by revealing that he will have a son from his own body.  “‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God.” (Jas. 2:23). 

What made Abraham’s relationship with God that of a friend? Jesus told His disciples, “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.  No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made know to you.” (Jn. 15:14,15).  The Lord wants our relationship with Him to be that of a friend, not just a servant.  As a friend, we can ask questions that a servant would not ask.  Friendship with God requires obedience, which comes from love rather than from a sense of duty.  Do you have questions in your heart that you hesitate to talk to God about?  If you are God’s friend, you may confidently ask, and He will answer.

Lord, You called Abraham Your friend, and You told the disciples that they were also Your friends.  Help me Lord to trust and obey You as a friend.  I know I can bring my needs to You in prayer, because You care for me. (1Pe. 5:7)

February 3 (Read: Genesis 18 & 19)

“Far be it from You to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike.  Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Gen. 18:23 NAS)

Abraham was confident enough in his relationship with the Lord that he could question Him concerning His judgments.  It is not that he wished to instruct the Lord; he just wanted to understand God’s ways.  The Lord’s reply to Abraham reveals the extent of His mercy.  If there were only 10 righteous in Sodom, He would not destroy the city.  Lot and his family amounted to only four so the city was destroyed.  Even so, the Lord sent his angels to lead Lot and his family out of the city before judgment came.

Jesus told His disciples that they are the salt of the earth.  Salt is used as a preservative.  The judgment of the unrighteous of this world is still being delayed today because of the righteous few.  Can it be that judgment over a nation is held back because of the righteous in that nation?  As followers of Christ, we can influence our communities by living godly lives.  We can also fulfill our priestly function by interceding for the people and the leaders of the land “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” which will result in more people getting saved. (1Tim. 2:1-4). 

Father, I come boldly before Your throne because of the blood of Jesus.  As a priest in Your house, I intercede for the people of this land, that You would delay Your judgment and allow more to come to salvation.  In faith, I sprinkle the precious blood of Christ upon the people of this land.  Lord Jesus, Your sacrifice was sufficient to redeem these people. Thank You, Father, for Your great love and mercy.

February 4 (Read: Genesis 20 & 21)

“Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live.  But if you do not restore her, know that you will surely die, you and all who are yours.” (Gen. 20:7 NAS)

It is difficult to understand how Abraham could have asked Sarah to protect him as he did.  Nonetheless, God still regarded him as a prophet, and as such judgment fell upon Abimelech and his household.  David understood the importance of honoring God’s anointed when he refused to take Saul’s life, even though God had called him to replace Saul as king.  We have often heard the phrase, “touch not God’s anointed”, applied to ministers, but have you ever understood it from the perspective of unbelievers towards believers (Ps. 105:15)?  Every believer is a priest of the Lord, anointed by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was being crucified, He asked the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him because they did not know what they were doing.  Stephen prayed the same things when he was being stoned to death.  The Scriptures say that God will afflict those who afflict us at the appearing of Jesus our Lord (2Thess. 1:6,7).  Have you ever felt compassion instead of hatred for those who persecuted you?  How terrible it will be for those who mistreat God’s people and do not repent before the Lord returns.  If we are convinced of their coming judgment, we will pray for those who persecute or mistreat us.  “And Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.” (Gen. 20:17). 

Father, help me to understand my function as a priest of the Lord.  Help me also to be always aware that what people do to me, they are doing to Christ.  Your return, Lord Jesus, will be terrifying for all those who have refused to repent for how they have treated You and Your people.  Help me to forgive those who persecute or mistreat me.  Lead them to repentance and faith for salvation.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Week 4)

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 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 readings for this week are included below.

January 22 (Read: Luke Chapter 24)

“Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Lu. 24:45 NAS)

The disciples’ lack of understanding of the Lord’s death hindered their ability to believe the resurrection.  They kept thinking the Messiah should sit on David’s throne and deliver the nation from oppressors like Rome.  Even at His ascension, they still were asking when He would restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6).  How much of the Scriptures do we still try to interpret from an earthly perspective?  There is only one way to truly understand the Gospel; that is by the revelation of the Spirit.  When Jesus rebuked the devil through Peter, He said, “You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matt. 16:23).  Most perversions of the Gospel come from that same perspective.  They are always putting mankind’s interest before God’s.  It was necessary for Jesus to die for our sins, to rise again, and to send the Holy Spirit.  The restoration of the kingdom is first spiritual, then, at His return, it will be visible.   To properly understand Scripture, we must humbly put aside our own opinions and receive revelation from the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, Father, that Your plans for us are good, but Your thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts.  Help us to understand the Scriptures.  Forgive us for putting the temporal interests of mankind ahead of Your eternal interests.  Help us to have a healthy understanding of sin because if we confess our sins, You are faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us.  We choose to walk in the light as You are light. (1Jn. 1:5-9)

January 23 (Read: Psalm 1, 2 & 3)

“And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water…” (Ps. 1:3a NAS)

How wonderful it is to know that there is a path to fruitfulness.  I can be like a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit and prospering in whatever I do.  I want to know this path and walk in it every day.  I will delight in Your law, Lord.  Your whole law is contained in Your commandment to love.  I will hide Your words in my heart that I might not sin against You.  I will not walk in the counsel of the wicked, but I will meditate on Your words to receive spiritual understanding.  I will fellowship with You, Holy Spirit.  “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul thirsts for Thee, O God.” (Ps. 42:1).  Your manifested presence will satisfy my thirst.  Your words in my heart will grow and bear fruit in their season.  I will submit to Your pruning, Father, that I may bear more fruit (Jn. 15:2).  I will not be afraid because You are a shield to me.  I have made the Lord my refuge, even the Most High my dwelling place. (Ps. 91:9).  Because I live in You and seek to do Your will, my prayers will be answered and everything I do will prosper. 

January 24 (Read: Psalm 4, 5, & 6)

“In the morning, O Lord, Thou wilt hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch.” (Ps. 5:2 NAS)

Taking time at the start of my day to fellowship with God is very important; it sets the tone for my walk with God that day.  After this time of devotions, I try to remain sensitive to His guidance and instructions throughout the day.  It takes discipline to make this devotional time effective.  What works well for me is to start with reading Scripture.  It can be anything that the Lord impresses upon my heart to read, or it can simply be following a Bible Reading plan.  As I read, I pray and listen with my heart.  I will meditate on any verse that seems to speak to me.  As the Lord begins to open my understanding to the Scriptures, I am careful to listen and not let my mind be distracted with study.  There is a time for study, but my devotional time is for listening.  Watching in prayer, to me, means turning my focus to the Lord to see what He is saying.  The apostle John did this on the Isle of Patmos.  “And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me.” (Rev. 1:12).  The Lord began to speak to John was he was in prayer, in the Spirit (Rev. 1:10).  When I spend time in communion, I am taught as a disciple (Is. 50:4).  If I begin my day by ordering my prayer to Him, He will order my day in the fulfilment of His will.

Thank You, Lord, for opening my ears to hear and my eyes to see what You are saying.  To experience Your manifested presence is wonderful, but what You desire from me is obedience.  Your words I will hide in my heart that I may obey You.  By faith I will live in You that You may also live through me by grace.  In Christ we have all received grace upon grace. (Ps. 119:11; Gal. 2:20; Jn. 1:16).

January 25 (Read: Psalm 7, 8, & 9)

“Thou hast made him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.” (Ps. 8:6 NAS)

When quoting this verse, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews says that God is speaking of the world to come.  “But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.  But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels…” (Heb. 2:8,9).  This verse was very helpful to help me understand the order for which all things will be put under the feet of Christ.  It is not that God cannot do it all at once, but because He wants to give all of mankind the opportunity for salvation, He delays the return of Christ to rule the earth.  Paul tells us what the last enemy to be destroyed is: “But each in his own order; Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.  For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.  The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” (1Cor. 15:23-26).  Before the end comes, the nation of Israel will also be saved.  We read about this in Romans Chapter 11, and Peter referred to it in one of his sermons: “that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” (Act 3:21).  The restoration that the prophets spoke about is the restoration of the nation of Israel.

Lord Jesus, You are the King of kings, the Lord of lords.  To You has been given all authority in heaven and in earth.  You are returning soon and will destroy the last enemy which is death.  Thank You, Father, for delaying the return of our Lord until the completion of Your salvation plan.  When we say “Maranatha, our Lord come!” we pray for the completion of Your work and for our Lord’s quick return.

 January 26 (Read: Psalm 10, 11, & 12)

“O Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble; Thou wilt strengthen their heart, Thou wilt incline Thine ear.” (Ps. 10:17 NAS)

There are so many things that humans rely on for strength.  We may call it something else, but the issue is the same.  When I was struggling with quitting a smoking habit, the Lord showed me this verse: “for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods” (Heb. 13:9).  I understood immediately that I was using it as a means of calming myself, and that instead I should be receiving grace.  Pride will tell us that we do not need anything, but humility will help us confess our needs.  God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (Jas. 4:6).  This word of the Lord helped me to not only obtain victory, but it ushered me into a new spiritual experience.  I understood that the grace I would receive would strengthen my heart to develop character.   The fruit of the Spirit would be with me forever, but strength from natural things is only temporary, and it often comes with negative consequences.  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isa. 40:8).

Thank You, Father, for making abundance of grace available to me in Christ.  Strengthen my heart with power through Your Spirit.  Develop in me godly character that my soul may be transformed into the image of Christ.  Through Your promises, I can partake of Your divine nature.  (Jn. 1:16; Eph. 3:16; 2Pe. 1:4).

January 27 (Read: Psalm 13, 14, 15 & 16)

“O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent?  Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?” (Ps. 15:1 NAS)

We know that salvation is a gift; we cannot work for it.  What then is the psalmist referring to in Psalm 15?  He asks the questions above, then answers with, “He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness…” (vs. 2).  Salvation is not by works, so what then is the place of good works?  The last verse provides the answer: “He who does these things will never be shaken.” (vs. 5b).  We can abide in the blessings of the Lord, in this life on earth, if we walk in obedience.  The Apostle Peter takes this a little further: “for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” (2Pe. 1:10,11).  Walking in obedience keeps us from falling away from the faith.  Salvation does not just begin by faith; it is a walk of faith.  We express our faith through obedience to God.  We cannot begin in faith then continue in works; our obedience is by grace through faith.  Grace for living is the ability that God gives us to live righteously.  “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13). 

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of salvation.  Thank You also for the grace to live in a way that pleases You.  You are the God of all grace Who will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish me. (1Pe. 5:10).

January 28 (Read: Genesis 1, 2, & 3)

“This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord made earth and heaven.” (Gen. 2:4 NAS)

There are so many mysteries included in these first three chapters of Genesis.  “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” (Prov. 25:2).  We must be careful not to close the wells of revelation with the traditions of man.  Neither should we discard traditional teachings to adopt the latest interpretations.  We should examine every teaching and hold fast to what is good (1Thess. 5:21).  Keeping my spirit open to revelation has allowed me to see so much more in the creation account than what can be seen on the surface.  Even when we receive revelation knowledge, we cannot let our minds run off and make more of it than what has been revealed.  Confirming revelation requires patience.  If God reveals something to you in Genesis, He will confirm it in other passages of Scripture.  For example, when referring to a man and his wife cleaving together to become one flesh (Gen. 2:24), Paul declares this as a great mystery concerning Christ and His Church.  By calling it a great mystery, he is stating that there is more to it than a mere comparison.  The second Adam was formed when the Word became flesh.  The Father put the first man to sleep to make for him a wife, and He put Christ to sleep (the crucifixion) so He could make for Him a Bride (the Church).  The love relationship between Christ and the Church has eternal significance.  In an earthly marriage, we become one flesh.  In Christ we become one spirit with Him (1Cor. 6:17).  He purchased us with His blood; we are not our own, we belong to Him.

Father, Your Word contains so many mysteries that relate to Christ and the Church.  I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened so that I may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Eph. 1:18,19).