Day 28 2 Kings 15-25

Day 28 2 Kings 15-25

Thank you LORD for these two good rulers Hezekiah and Josiah amongst a fairly horrendous family tree. Thank you that Hezekiah knew you are the LIVING GOD! He trusted you and not the taunts of idolatrous liars. He prayed to you and you spoke to him and gave him victory. He held fast to you (2kings 18:6=Deut 10:20). Help us to do so also right to the end. Amen. 

Day 27 2 Kings 4-15

Day 27 2 Kings 4-15

Thank you LORD for what we learn from 1) Naaman's wife's servant (5:2). An "insignificant" captive who teaches us to speak up for you and bring huge blessing. 2) Naaman. An outsider who can be cleansed in the most humble way (5:14) Gehazi. That grace is free and that God curses those who make it into a money making exercise. (5:27)

Day 26 1 kings 17- 2 kings 4

Day 26 1 kings 17- 2 kings 4

LORD the "days of Elijah" are not easy. Famine fighting and discouragement. But again and again your people are provided for, your enemies are judged just as "the word of the LORD had declared" (1 kings  22:38). Help us LORD to trust you and your unfailing word the bible through the hard times. Amen. 

Day 25 1 Kings 7-16

Day 25 1 Kings 7-16

Oh LORD what a mess. It's like judges all over again. Bad kings who go after other gods and follow them. Guard my heart O LORD (15:3,14) and protect me from worshipping worthless idols. Make my heart devoted to you and obedient to your word for even if it takes years (16:34) your word never fails. Amen. 

Day 24 2 Sam 22-1 Kings 7

Day 24 2 Sam 22-1 Kings 7

A king on the throne in Zion with influence over the nations and peace around. The temple is being built. The king is wise and victorious - surely we have "made it"? LORD you knew that this was just the prototype for the kingdom and the real thing that we look forward to and enjoy in part is so much greater. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Day 23 1 Sam 12-22

Day 23 1 Sam 12-22

LORD what s lot of opponents there are to the Messiah. What a load of pretenders seeking his throne. What time and warfare is needed before his rule is fully seen. But thank you that the true Messiah WILL reign forever and his victory will be seen. Let us align ourselves with him and his righteous ways today  Amen.

Day 22 1 Sam 28- 2 Sam 12

Day 22 1 Sam 28- 2 Sam 12

Lord what a painful roller coaster the establishing of your kingdom is. At last we see David established as the true king over his enemies, in Zion in your presence. He has come so far and has "rejoiced with trembling" in your presence (ch6 see psalm 2). And yet we are not there yet. He has blown it with Bathsheba ( though all is not lost). Thank you Lord Jesus that there is only one perfect King who will rule forever (ch7) in absolute righteousness and holiness. Come Lord Jesus! Amen. 

Day 21 1Sam 16-28

Day 21  1Sam 16-28

Jesus, you are the true anointed one of the Lord, even though we live in an situation where you are hounded and treated as worthy of nothing. Thank you that you will one day be vindicated and us with you. Father, help us to stick with him knowing true safety is with him (22:23) true provision is with him (ch21) and may we never take matters into our own hands (ch25) but entrust ourselves to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). Amen. 

Day 20 1Samuel 3-15

Day 20 1 Sam 3-15

LORD, you are holy you are awesome. You keep your word. You keep your covenant to your people. You judge your enemies. We fall before you in wonder and awe and place all we have in your hands. We know that life goes better when we depend on you and you fight for us (7:8) so make us wholeheartedly devoted to you for it is not by strength that one prevails (2:9). Amen. 

Day 19 judges 15- 1 Sam 2

Day 19 judges 15-1Sam 2

LORD the source of our problems in life is not education politics circumstances or health, but it's living as if we are king (Judges 21:25). Judges shows us what a mess that gets us into. It's going to stay messy as the people ask for a king, but get better when the true king arrives- the greater descendant of Jesse (Ruth  4:22). Jesus rule me today. Amen. 

Day 18 Judges 3-15

Day 18 judges 3-15

"The LORD, the judge" (11:27). Father it is clear that you are the true judge, the only flawless hero. You are at work in history bringing judgement on idolatry and graciously saving those who cry to you. Thank you that you use weak and very flawed vessels like Gideon and us (6:15).  Have mercy on our faults and help us to turn from our sin. And bring about your good purposes through us and despite us. Amen. 

Day 17 Joshua 15- Judges 3

Day 17 Joshua 15-judges 3

Heavenly father, these long lists of places are written evidence of your fulfilment of promise to Abraham that his numerous descendants would live in the promised land (Gen 12). Although your people are not perfect yet, (and there have been one or two pockets of resistance (16:10)) you have been thoroughly faithful to your promises (21:43-45). Help me today to trust and obey you (22:5). 

Day 16 Joshua 1-14

Day 16 Joshua 1-14

LORD it's wonderful after all the wandering in the desert to see victory and conquest, but it's clear it's only because of your great power. Help us to rely on you and never to set out on projects however worthy in self dependence (9:14) nor in self gain and covetousness (7:21). Thank you for heavenly inheritance through your Son's victory alone. 

Day 15 Deut 24-34

Day 15 Deut 24-34

It's challenging LORD to see how the ethics the new community are to live are backwards facing- they at rooted in the kindness of God in his rescue from Egypt (eg 24:28, 22). Help me today to be obedient to you and kind and just towards others because of your compassionate rescue towards me at the cross.  It is through the cross that you can be just in cursing my sin and yet enabling me to have a future. 

Day 14 Deut 8-23

Day 14 Deut 8-23

LORD, you are the one true holy God and we bow before you. We see in chapters 13 and 17 the seriousness of going after other gods and enticing others to do so. Please guard our hearts so that we are loyal and faithful to you alone.  And in this new year may we be careful to obey you and help one another to be serious about sin. Thank you that you don't bless us because of our righteousness but because of who you are

Day 13 numbers 32-Deut 7

Day 13 numbers 32-deut 7

Father, Deut 4:35-40 are good verses to focus on where we have come. Please help us to learn the lessons that the Israelites struggled to learn. You are God  though we haven't seen you and there is no other. You have spoken to us in your word to Moses, help us to obey your commands and decrees that it may go well with us. Thank you that unlike the Israelites we have your Spirit with us and your law written on our hearts to help us obey (Heb 10:16). 

Day 12 numbers 21-32

LORD, your people wandered for 40 years longer than they needed because of their sin and distrust (32:13) and the census numbers show the story esp among simeonites  Please have mercy on us and help us not to waste our time and yours. Make us like Caleb in wholehearted devotion. Thank you that you are a God whose blessing cannot be reversed (chs 22-24). You promised blessing to Abraham and we claim that blessing by faith in your Son, the sceptre and star predicted here (24:17). 

Day 11 numbers 8-21

Day 11 Numbers 8-21

LORD this whole sorry episode is one long story of rebellion unbelief testing and grumbling (14:22). Sin has consequences and you punish and discipline your people. Yet you also provide for them ( the water from the rock-20)  and lift up a Saviour (ch21- John 3:14-15). Make us wholehearted like Caleb and Joshua to fix our eyes on your sure promises in Christ- slow to anger abounding in love punishing sin yet bringing forgiveness for the sake of your name. Work in us LORD so our story is not the same as Numbers the book that should never have happened. 

Day 10 Lev 27- Num 8

Day 10 Leviticus 27- Numbers 8

Heavenly Father, your people have grown massively to over half a million, in fulfilment of your sworn promises to Abraham. You are faithful and we can trust you. May our lives reflect the ordering of your people here in Numbers and thank you for the reminder of your absolute purity and holiness and the redemption of the firstborn, and when we see the 204 animals slain just to dedicate the altar (7:88) we marvel at the once for all sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 10:12,14) which makes us perfect and holy. 

Jubilee

Reading through the commands in Leviticus shows us how realistic God is, knowing the depravity that his people will get up to. What a relief it is to have a perfect High Priest interceding for us, not relying on men (especially as the High Priest must never have uncombed hair.)

Jubilee by Michael Card

Day 9 Lev 14-26

Day 9 Leviticus 14-26

LORD , though much of this ceremonial law has been fulfilled in Christ (Mark 7:19, Acts 10:15) you still call us to be holy as you are holy. Today make me different from those around me and utterly pure in sexual ethics and in not sacrificing to false gods. Thankyou for Christ our scapegoat to whose can transfer our sin and he carries it far away and atones for it. Thank you for the day of Jubilee when you freed us your slaves at the cross.

Thoughts on Day 8 - into Leviticus

Today's reading really complemented Simon's sermon perfectly.  He challenged us to prepare ourselves for worship before coming to church, so we might meet God better.  I am grateful I don't have to slaughter an animal and have various extremities smeared with blood before I can enter God's presence.  Jesus has done it all for us, the perfect priest, who has created a new and living way, so we can enter with confidence (Heb 10:19-22).

The main thrust of the sermon was to answer Jesus' question who do you say that I am?  This is my answer, in the music of Andrew Peterson.

Day 8 Leviticus 1-14

LORD it's hard work reading about all these offerings and rules for mildew, but we do believe all this scripture is breathed out by you and is useful for us (2 tim 3:16). So please keep us mindful of your holiness and the fact that we cannot  by ourselves approach you because of our sin but that in one act of sacrifice on the cross you have completely cleansed us, and now having rescued us, call us to be holy as you are (lev 11:15). 

Day 7 Exodus 29-40

Dear LORD how horrendous is our idolatry (32). The way in which we worship other gods (self, image, control, pleasure) and have a false view of you. We find ultimate glory in your gifts rather than in you, the giver and God of Glory . Thank you for the atonement and intercession of our priest Jesus who tabernacled amongst us (Jn 1:14) and was blotted out in our place. Work in us powerfully by your indwelling  Spirit to make us worshippers only of you. 

Day 6 exodus 15-28

Thank you LORD for your law embodying your character and showing us how we are to live. Thank you for your new covenant promising your Spirit to help us to obey. Thank you for your priest Jesus. Thank you for your people precious to you and carried into your presence and looking forward to a heavenly future with you. Amen. 

Day 5 exodus 1-15

Who among the gods is like you O LORD? Who is like you-  majestic in holiness, awesome in glory working wonders? (15:11)  LORD your sovereign dealings with Egypt show your hatred of sin and pride. Your sovereign dealings with Israel show your grace and redemption. Thank you for Jesus the Passover lamb and for the mighty rescue he won. 

Day 4 Genesis 37-50

LORD the story of Joseph leads us to confession, for we see in this family our own selfishness and pride. It leads us to thanks for we see how you graciously discipline and change deceivers into disciples. And it leads us to worship for you are the sovereign and gracious King who turns suffering into salvation (50:20). 

Day 3 genesis 28-40

Heavenly Father, Jacob was a deceiver and his family was quite dysfunctional. Yet you were kind to him, you disciplined and changed him, and you gave him the great blessing of forgiveness from  and reconciliation with his brother (and in fact with you-33:10). Thank you for your forgiving accepting smiling embrace in Christ.

Day 2 - Abraham, Isaac and the most amazing God who provides

Genesis 22 is such a moving passage - the fulfilment of a lifetime s hope, the test of Abraham s willingness to put God ahead of his most treasured son, and God s perfect provision, foreshadowing Jesus own sacrifice of himself.

This video set to an Andrew Peterson song is wonderful 

Day 2 Genesis 17-28

LORD how gracious you are to a bunch of sinners like Jacob and Esau and us. You make and keep promises of blessing. Above all we praise you for doing more than Abraham (22) by walking up the mountain of sacrifice with your son "your only son whom you love" and sacrificing Him (without a scapegoat/escape goat!) as the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

Day 1 Genesis 1-16

LORD what a wonderful thing to be underway reading through "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). What a lot of foundational events in a few chapters. Thank you that you are a God of blessing (1:22, 9:1, 14:9) and you a working out your purposes to bless this world through your special family tree. May I and my brothers and sisters know your blessing today in relationship with you the promise keeping God. Amen. 

Through the gospels in 90 days

If reading through the whole bible in 90 days seems like an impossibility for you, but you would like to read through the gospels in the same amount of time, you might be interested in a new scheme I have put together called through the gospels in 90 days. You read one chapter of the gospels a day, and it takes 90 days! Well 89, but you may need a spare day to catchup or recap! To find the scheme, click on the link on the st pauls website.