Category: Gospels
Walking with God
Scripture reading for January 1st: Genesis 1-3, Matthew 1
Key Scriptures: Genesis 3:8-12, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself. He said, “Who told you you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me; she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate””
God created Adam and Eve to have fellowship with Him. He placed them in a beautiful garden, with everything they needed and gave them responsibility and dominion over it. The only tree that they were commanded not to eat from was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Eve was deceived by the serpent and Adam disobeyed God and failed to protect his wife. This brought fear of punishment from God into man’s life and shame separated man from sweet fellowship with their Creator Father. But God had a plan to restore mankind through the “Seed of woman.”
Matthew 1:20-21 “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Prayer: Father God, we humbly acknowledge our tie to the first Adam and Eve in that we have sinned and separated ourselves from walking with You. As we begin this new year, we ask for grace to hear your call and to walk with You in faith and instead of drawing back in fear. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Son of God! Amen.
Thankful for fulfilled Scripture!
Scripture reading for November 8th: John 17-21
Key Scriptures: John 18:34-37 “Instead (of breaking the leg bones), one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it had given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the One they have pierced.”
John recounts his eye-witness account of Jesus’ sufferings during the crucifixion and the events that followed. The things John saw were fulfillment of holy Scriptures. None of Jesus’ bones were broken, He was pierced with a spear and blood and water released. Both events help all who read this account to believe and trust in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior, the Messiah!
Thankful for fulfilled Scripture: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10)
Thankful for no surprises!
Scripture reading for November 7th: John 13-16
Key Scriptures: John 13:18-21 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.” “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth whoever accepts anyone I send accepts Me; and whoever accepts Me accepts the One who sent me. After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray Me.”
Jesus revealed to the disciples at the Last Supper the truth that one of their own number would betray Him. It would be a fulfillment of Scripture and also noted that Jesus had warned them ahead of time so that they would believe more fully on Him. We can be thankful for a God that is not surprised or caught off guard. Jesus knows everything: past, present, and future!
Thankful for no surprises: “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, He who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. But You, O Lord, have mercy on me; raise me up, that I may repay them.” (Psalm 41:9-10)
Thankful for One Shepherd!
Scripture reading for November 6th: John 8-12
Key Scriptures: John 10:14-16 “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me–just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”
Jesus took the Book of Ezekiel and used an analogy there applying it to Himself. He told the people that He was the good Shepherd who would lay His life down for them, the sheep. He was talking to the Jews but also told them of other ‘sheep’, not of the Jewish fold who also belonged to Him as the good Shepherd. Gentiles would also be included in the Good Shepherd’s flock! In the end there would be one flock and one Shepherd! Praise our Lord one and all!
Thankful for Jesus our Shepherd: “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save My flock and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them One Shepherd, My servant David, and He will tend them; He will tend them and be their Shepherd.”” (Ezekiel 34:20-23)
Thankful for the Bread!
Scripture reading for November 3rd: John 4-7
Key Scriptures: John 6:32-35 “Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.”
Jesus had just miraculously fed bread and fish to over 5000 men plus women and children. Jesus left that region with His disciples but the people sought to follow Him. They wanted more bread from heaven as a sign that He was from God like Moses. Jesus stated that the Father had given them bread, not Moses. Then He stated that He was the Bread of Life that would fully satisfy their hunger and thirst, not only now but forever.
Thankful for God’s Bread: “The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.” (Numbers 11:7-9)
Rejoicing in the One and Only!
Scripture reading for November 2nd: Luke 23-24, John 1-3
Key Scriptures: Luke 23:34-35 “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
John 1:14, 18 “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . .No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side has made Him known.”
Jesus was mocked and ridiculed as He hung on the cross for the sins of mankind. He prayed for mercy on those who crucified Him because of their ignorance. But to those who believed on Him, they got to behold the glory of ‘the One and Only’ who sits at the Father’s right hand! They could see Him and not die but live! Hallelujah!
Rejoicing in Christ Jesus: “Dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evil men has encircled Me, they have pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones; people stare and gloat over Me. They divide My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.” Psalm 22:16-18 “But,” He said, “you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live. Then the Lord said, “There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.” (Exodus 33:20-22)
Rejoicing in King Jesus!
Scripture reading for November 1st: Luke 19-22
Key Scriptures: Luke 19: 37-40 “When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you, He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
As Jesus entered Jerusalem on Passover week, many of his disciples rejoiced and welcomed Him with shouts of blessing. The Pharisees were dismayed and warned Jesus to stop their worship! Jesus replied that if they failed to worship, the very stones of the street and temple would begin to cry out in worship! Let the worship of our Lord Jesus continue unabated until He comes again! No stones need cry out except us ‘living stones’!
Keep the stones quiet: “Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin! You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. The stones of the wall will cry out, the beams of the woodwork will echo it.” (Habakkuk 2:9-11)
Rejoice and Celebrate!
Scripture reading for October 31st: Luke 14-18
Key Scriptures: Luke 15:21-24 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Lets have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine who was dead is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate!”
Jesus told a parable of a lost son returning to his father after wasting an inheritance and living in a pig pen. When he returned, upon confessing to his father, he asked to be made a servant. Instead, the father brought one of the best robes and clothed him. He put his ring on his finger again and sandals on his feet. He threw a big feast and celebrated the returned son! This is a great picture of what happens to each person who comes home to Father God!
Rejoice and celebrate: ” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “see, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” (Zechariah 3:3-4)
Rejoicing in God’s Loving Care!
Scripture reading for October 30th: Luke 10-13
Key Scriptures: Luke 12:22-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Jesus knew the fear that beset all mankind because of the fall and their broken relationship with God. He taught His disciples not to worry about the basic necessities of life. As an example, Jesus pointed their attention to the birds of the air–in particular the ravens. These birds did not sow or reap or have storage bins to eat out of, yet God cared for them each day by supplying food. Jesus clearly stated that each person was of much more value than any bird!
Rejoicing in God’s care: God’s questions to Job concerning His ability to provide: “Do you hunt prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket? Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?” (Job 38:39-41)
Thankful for Jesus’ Mercy!
Scripture reading for October 27th: Luke 5-9
Key Scriptures: Luke 9:51-56 “As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And He sent messengers on ahead who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for Him; but the people there did not welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.”
Jesus was heading for Jerusalem and went through Samaria. He sent messengers ahead to prepare a place to stay, but was not welcomed there because of the racial strife between Jews and Samaritans. The disciples felt that this was an affront worthy of God’s fiery judgment but Jesus rebuked them! Followers of Jesus must leave all judgment to God alone! Mercy must be shown to those in ignorance and unbelief.
Thankful God knows when to judge: “Then he (King Ahaziah of Samaria) sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!'” Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.” (2nd Kings 1:9-10)