January 13
January 13
One Year Bible Readings:
Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12
Supplemental Reading For The One Year Bible
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog
Genesis:
Today's Genesis chapter 28 readings begin Jacob's adventure as he leaves the land promised to Abraham and Isaac and heads for Paddan-aram to stay with his uncle. Jacob's dream at Bethel is awesome in this chapter! While this dream is often referred to as "Jacob's Ladder," many commentaries say it was probably stairs that Jacob dreamt of - similar to the stairs of a ziggurat (think tower of Babel) that winded around the outside of the tower on the way up.
Q: Have you ever had a dream anything like this one? Have dreams played a part in your spiritual journey at all?
I do have to admit - Jacob's story and the parallel stories of his uncle Laban, Jacob's wives, and his sons - culminating with Joseph in Egypt - is one of my favorite parts of the Old Testament. This is just good narrative! I think one thing that really opened my eyes to all of the small details of the story of Jacob is that I was in an amazing Bible study for about a year going through this part of Genesis. I don't know if you've been in a group Bible study before? If not, let me encourage you to join one! They are incredible. You get so many different perspectives from each person in the group - similar in some ways to what you are getting here on this blog - but more personal and I think far better. You get to go through the text with other people and really dive into things - and even have some fun joking around about things.
Matthew:
Matthew 9 Verses 37 & 38 are so powerful in today's readings: "He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields." I think each of us can reflect on this teaching from Jesus.
Q: Do you agree with Jesus that the harvest is so great? And the workers are few? Do you pray to God for more workers for his kingdom work? How are you one of God's workers in his kingdom work? What are some ways this year you could become more of worker in God’s kingdom?
Psalm:
Today we read Psalm 11, which is one that you might miss the full meaning of if you didn't know some of the commentary behind this Psalm. Basically in this Psalm King David is expressing his unshakable trust in God to other people around him who are very scared of enemy attacks. Knowing this - check out verse 1: "I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, "Fly to the mountains for safety!"
Q: Like David, do we really trust in God for our protection? Or do we sometimes rely on others or our own cunning - or, our own fear - for protection? Are there times when we are faced with a challenging situation that we feel like running away from it? “Fleeing to the mountains” for safety? When, instead, should we simply trust in God for our protection and move forward in spite of the fear within us? Is there an area of your life where you need to turn over more trust in God for ultimate protection?
Proverbs:
Wow! Proverbs chapter 3 verses 11 & 12 today are so amazing and true... Please meditate on these verses and what they mean to you and your life: "My child, don't ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." I have come to realize in recent years that correction and discipline from God is such a blessing! No, it is not fun at the time that you are going through it. But, it is so necessary for us to move forward in our relationship and walk with God this side of heaven. We need God's holy and divine discipline! I think oftentimes we avoid it. Or run away from it. Or refuse to go through it. Can you see why this Proverb starts off with "My child," :) Please let me encourage you to joyfully accept and go through God's discipline in your life. In some areas of your life it may be the only thing that will break you through to victory.
Q: Do you believe there is such a thing as godly discipline? Do you believe that God corrects those that he loves? Can you think of any areas of your life or times where God has corrected you? Is there perhaps an area of your life today where God is correcting you?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
One Year Bible Readings:
Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12
Supplemental Reading For The One Year Bible
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog
Genesis:
Today's Genesis chapter 28 readings begin Jacob's adventure as he leaves the land promised to Abraham and Isaac and heads for Paddan-aram to stay with his uncle. Jacob's dream at Bethel is awesome in this chapter! While this dream is often referred to as "Jacob's Ladder," many commentaries say it was probably stairs that Jacob dreamt of - similar to the stairs of a ziggurat (think tower of Babel) that winded around the outside of the tower on the way up.
Q: Have you ever had a dream anything like this one? Have dreams played a part in your spiritual journey at all?
I do have to admit - Jacob's story and the parallel stories of his uncle Laban, Jacob's wives, and his sons - culminating with Joseph in Egypt - is one of my favorite parts of the Old Testament. This is just good narrative! I think one thing that really opened my eyes to all of the small details of the story of Jacob is that I was in an amazing Bible study for about a year going through this part of Genesis. I don't know if you've been in a group Bible study before? If not, let me encourage you to join one! They are incredible. You get so many different perspectives from each person in the group - similar in some ways to what you are getting here on this blog - but more personal and I think far better. You get to go through the text with other people and really dive into things - and even have some fun joking around about things.
Matthew:
Matthew 9 Verses 37 & 38 are so powerful in today's readings: "He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields." I think each of us can reflect on this teaching from Jesus.
Q: Do you agree with Jesus that the harvest is so great? And the workers are few? Do you pray to God for more workers for his kingdom work? How are you one of God's workers in his kingdom work? What are some ways this year you could become more of worker in God’s kingdom?
Psalm:
Today we read Psalm 11, which is one that you might miss the full meaning of if you didn't know some of the commentary behind this Psalm. Basically in this Psalm King David is expressing his unshakable trust in God to other people around him who are very scared of enemy attacks. Knowing this - check out verse 1: "I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, "Fly to the mountains for safety!"
Q: Like David, do we really trust in God for our protection? Or do we sometimes rely on others or our own cunning - or, our own fear - for protection? Are there times when we are faced with a challenging situation that we feel like running away from it? “Fleeing to the mountains” for safety? When, instead, should we simply trust in God for our protection and move forward in spite of the fear within us? Is there an area of your life where you need to turn over more trust in God for ultimate protection?
Proverbs:
Wow! Proverbs chapter 3 verses 11 & 12 today are so amazing and true... Please meditate on these verses and what they mean to you and your life: "My child, don't ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." I have come to realize in recent years that correction and discipline from God is such a blessing! No, it is not fun at the time that you are going through it. But, it is so necessary for us to move forward in our relationship and walk with God this side of heaven. We need God's holy and divine discipline! I think oftentimes we avoid it. Or run away from it. Or refuse to go through it. Can you see why this Proverb starts off with "My child," :) Please let me encourage you to joyfully accept and go through God's discipline in your life. In some areas of your life it may be the only thing that will break you through to victory.
Q: Do you believe there is such a thing as godly discipline? Do you believe that God corrects those that he loves? Can you think of any areas of your life or times where God has corrected you? Is there perhaps an area of your life today where God is correcting you?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
Recent
Archive
2024
January
One Year Bible CompanionJanuary 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
February
February 1February 2February 3February 4February 5February 6February 7February 8February 9February 10February 11February 12February 13February 14February 15February 16February 17February 18February 19February 20February 21February 22February 23February 24February 25February 26February 27February 28February 29
March
Categories
no categories
No Comments