Through the Bible in one year 2018: 1st April

The readings for Sunday are;

Deuteronomy 28 & 29

Psalm 91

Acts 2

Through the Bible in one year 2018; 31st March

The readings for Saturday are:

Deuteronomy 26 & 27

Psalm 90

Acts 1

Through the Bible in one year 2018; 30th March

So often we find ourselves wondering if what God says to us will happen. We then start to listen Satan’s lies and begin to doubt Gods promises.

But what did Jesus say?

Stop doubting and believe (John 20 verse 27)

John finishes chapter 20 by declaring that it would be impossible to record everything that Jesus did but;

These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (Verse 31)

Its a big step to take but it you trust God and believe; you won’t regret it.

The readings for Friday are;

Deuteronomy 24 & 25

Psalm 89

John 21

Through the Bible in one year 2018; 29th March

The readings for Thursday are;

Deuteronomy 22 & 23

Psalm 88

John 20

Through the Bible in one year 2018; 28th March

Thinking about the crowds rejecting Jesus and chosing Barabbas instead, I thought how fickle we have become.

There are many things and moral standards that seem to have been reversed from even just a few years ago.

Watching a history program last night, picures were shown of a hunting party posing with their hunt. Quite rightly, the presenter commented on how shocking it was to see that taking place and how people now are justifiably upset by that. However; 40 or 50 years or so ago when the picture was taken, it was considered acceptable, we have learnt since then to be more aware of our world and environment and protect the animals we share it with, especially those now endangered species.

In the music and film industry, men are being brought to account for the abuse of their position, especially in relation to their treatment and abuse of young women.

These same women though are dressing provocatively, making music videos rolling around with amost nothing on or exposing everything in a sex scene in a movie but many old TV programs are now banned as they are “politically incorrect”or “gender stereotype”

“Soaps” are full of murder, fighting, affairs and disrespect to people they are supposed to love, and we are told “It’s real life!” If that is the case then why would you want to watch more of it for entertainment.

Our children are growing up with no model of a loving family environment (whatever that structure may be). Marriage is considered temporary (if they get married) until someone more attractive comes along.

The list goes on….babies are aborted because of inconvenience or a “one night stand”, if someone gets upset about something the solution appears to be to go and kill people.

Jesus knew all this, which is why he chose to go to the cross and die for us. He chose to show us the way of love and sacrificed himself for us. When Peter got out his sword, Jesus told him that was not the way.

Jesus showed us to love each other, to care for and respect each other.

The readings for Wednesday are;

Deuteronomy 20 & 21

Psalm 87

John 19

Through the Bible in one Year 2018; 27th March

The readings for Tuesday are;

Deuteronomy 18 & 19

Psalm 86

John 18

Through the Bible in One year 2018; 26th March

The readings for Monday are;

Deuteronomy 16 & 17

Psalm 85

John 17

Through the Bible in one year 2018; 25th March

If you are in the UK; Don’t forget to put your clock forward one hour.

The readings for Sunday are:

Deuteronomy 14 & 15

Psalm 84

John 16

Through the the Bible in one year 2018; 24th March

Several times in our readings today we are reminded to walk humbly and in obedience to God.

Deuteronomy 10 verse 12 & 13 says; “And now , Israel , what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Deuteronomy 11 verse 1 says; Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.

Then in John 14 verse 15 we see Jesus say “If you love me, keep my commands”

God wants us to obey his commands out of a love for Him and not of fear. He sees our hearts and knew that the hearts of the Israelites were far from him.

Jesus told the Pharisees that although they were obsessed with minute details of the law, their hearts were far from God.

We have though a promise that if we are obedient to Him, follow and trust him, he will bless us.

In Deuteronomy chpter 11 verse 26 to 28 we read;

See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse – the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known .

We have been reading how the Israelites struggled because they didn’t do what God had commanded and if you have read ahead you will know that they still don’t seem to learn.

We have a choice, lets choose wisely

The readings for Saturday are;

Deuteronomy 12 & 13

Psalm 83

John 15

Through the Bible in one year 2018: 23rd March

Today in Deuteronomy 8 we read how the Israelites are reminded to be careful to follow Gods commands. This warning comes with a promise that if they do, they will live and enter the land that God has promised them. It seems that they need to be continually reminded and have a tendancy to wander off and forget as soon as they take their eyes off God or He is not immediately visible to them.

How quickly we can forget what God has done for us in the past and lose faith that he will continue to be faithful to us if we remain faithful to Him.

Although some of the Law of Moses was specific to the people at that time and was designed to help them stay close to God, a lot of it is still relevant to us today a few thousand years later.

In verse 18 of chapter 8 it says;

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

The Psalmist would often complain how it seemed like the wicked were successful, his enemies prospered though they were evil and deceitful, but our hope and trust should be in God.

His promise to us is still the same today, that we will receive the reward if we stay faithful to him

The readings for Friday are:

Deuteronomy 10 & 11

Psalm 82

John 14