Category Archives: Daily Reading

Post with each day’s reading.

2015 Day 7 – John 2

07 Wednesday Jan 2015

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I love the last verse in today’s reading because it shows Jesus knows all about human nature. John 2:25 says, He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. Jesus did not and does not need man’s approval. He knows that the testimony of man is only as good as the faith they possess. Some of the people in the temple who claimed to believe Him would later be the same ones yelling “crucify him!” Faith and faithfulness must be maintained even when it is not popular to do so.

2015 Day 6 – Luke 5

06 Tuesday Jan 2015

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When Jesus talks about wine and wineskins, He is talking about the Pharisees. Luke 5:38-39 says, 38 “No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ “ As new wine ages it expands and therefore cannot be put into old, rigid wineskins because it will break the skins with the expanding wine. The Pharisees were like the old wineskins who were too rigid to handle the new covenant (new wine). Jesus could not be contained in the old traditions or rules. We must always work hard to stay pliable and follow Christ’s example of what really matters about the New Covenant; loving God and loving others.

2015 Day 5 – Luke 4

05 Monday Jan 2015

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When He was being tempted by the devil, I thought it was interesting how Jesus was offered authority over the kingdoms of the world by the devil. As God’s son, you would think Jesus already had authority over the world. The truth is God has authority over everything, but the devil is given free reign to do what he wants. In this case, Jesus chose to not even acknowledge the devil’s role or abilities. By this example, we are to do the same. Satan only has control over us when we allow him to have that control. Jesus is our Lord and the Holy Spirit lives in us, which takes away any room for the devil to live in us. If we don’t give him room, he cannot take up residence in us.

2015 Day 3 – Matthew 4

03 Saturday Jan 2015

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As Jesus is tempted in Matthew 4, we see Jesus’ example to us on how to combat temptation in our lives. Jesus focuses on the necessity rather than the want. He shows the devil there are things we need in this life as opposed to what we want, which is only something we think we need. The most important thing Jesus shows us is that we are to focus on God’s purpose for our lives. If we focus on anything other than fulfilling our purpose, then we are focusing on the wrong thing.

2015 Day 2 – Luke 3

02 Friday Jan 2015

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People tend to like extremes, especially when it comes to Biblical teaching. They either want to say we are commanded to sell everything and give it to the poor and live like John the Baptist, or they believe we should all be rich and prosperous and be good stewards as a reward for our faithfulness to God. In Luke 3, John the Baptist does not tell the tax collector to stop collecting taxes, he tells him to only collect what is owed. And when they soldier asked what he should do, John the Baptist told him to not use his power to extort and accuse people falsely. God calls us to be the best we can be with the gifts He has given us. We are no better or worse than anyone around us. To compare ourselves to others and desire what someone else has is to covet what is not intended for us. Contentment is the key.

2015 Day 1 – Matthew 3

01 Thursday Jan 2015

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John the Baptist was definitely an interesting character. One of the things I love about him is he speaks his mind and never worries about what others may say about him. John was completely single minded in his purpose on earth. There was no doubt why he was here and he devoted his entire life to announcing the coming of the Messiah and fulfilling prophesy. In Matthew 3:3, John shows through scripture what the prophet Isaiah had to say, This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “ John’s purpose was also to teach how the message of repentance is good news to those who listen and seek forgiveness through the power of God’s healing love. John’s message is no different today than it was over 2,000 years ago.

2014 Day 365 – John 21

31 Wednesday Dec 2014

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Today, as we finish up our 2014 reading plan, we find Jesus appearing to the disciples with His final instructions. I found it interesting that in the beginning of this final chapter in John, Peter went back to what he knew; fishing. It was there that Jesus first found Peter and it is there that Jesus shows Peter that He was the same from before the crucifixion. After an entire fishing trip with nothing to show for it, Jesus commands them to put down their nets on the other side; just like He did when they first met. And like the first time, they experience amazing results. While our circumstances may change, Jesus is the same now as He has ever been. We can count on the stability He brings no matter what this life throws at us. We must all try to remember this as we begin 2015. Happy New Year!!!

2014 Day 364 – John 20

30 Tuesday Dec 2014

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Call me sappy, but I just love watching videos of family members being surprised by the return of military service men and women. The joy they experience when they encounter their loved ones after a long time away. Similarly, as we read John 20, I cannot help but imagine the emotions going through Mary’s mind as she realizes it really is Jesus. John 20:16, Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). The picture of this scene reminds me of what our first moments in heaven will be like. We hang on tightly to the things of this world because we simply cannot imagine what is waiting for us when we see Jesus for the first time.

2014 Day 363 – Luke 24

29 Monday Dec 2014

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While the disciples were thrilled to see Jesus, He had to remind them that He had already told them how things would play out. In fact, all of scripture leading up to Christ was fulfilled in the process of His life and death and resurrection. Luke 24:44, He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” We often forget that the entire Bible, including the Old Testament, points to the Messiah. When we allow ourselves to see the truth as God meant for it to be, we see the whole story unfold before us and we see the purpose of Christ, our Savior, in our lives.

2014 Day 361 – Mark 16

27 Saturday Dec 2014

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There has been a lot of talk over the last several years about whether there really is a hell. Mark 16:16 plainly shows there is, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus Himself showed His disciples and, in turn us, the way to salvation and the consequences of not believing. If we believe the Bible and believe in the words recorded in scripture, we know the truth about salvation and hell. The only alternative is to believe that scripture is not accurate and therefore we make up our own conclusions.