February 8
February 8
One Year Bible Readings:
Exodus 28:1-43
Matthew 25:31-26:13
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 8:12-13
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.
Exodus:
Exodus chapter 28 verse 1 stood out to me in today's readings: "Your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, will be set apart from the common people. They will be my priests and will minister to me." Here we see that the priests are being set apart as mediators between the people of Israel and God. And this role is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ as our high priest. Jesus is now the mediator between God and us. Personally, I still do see so much value in pastors and clergy in our lives and churches today. We'll study more about these important roles in Paul's writings in the New Testament. However, I also personally believe that we can approach the throne of God through Jesus Christ as our mediator - and that we don't need another human mediator here on earth to approach God. Jesus is more than enough.
Q: How is Jesus your high priest today? How does Jesus mediate between you and God?
Matthew:
Today in Matthew chapter 25 we read about the Final Judgment. Verses 34 is an amazing thing to imagine coming in the future: "`Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." What a beautiful thought - come and inherit the Kingdom prepared for YOU from the foundation of the world!
Q: Do you believe in this inheritance? Do you look forward to this inheritance? How often do you think about this inheritance?
Verses 37 through 40 are so powerful for each of us to consider while we are still here on earth: "Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" Whatever we do for one of the least among us, we do for Jesus. And - what we do not do for the least among us, we do not do for Jesus.
Q: How is God calling you today to give food, give water, show hospitality, give clothing, visit the sick, or visit those in prison for the least among us? How do you do this for Jesus?
Psalm:
Have you ever felt like Psalm 31 verse 10... "I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Misery has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within." I recently read C.S. Lewis' book "A Grief Observed". Have you read this? It is a very short book. But, wow, it is a powerful short book! It is a memoir C.S. Lewis wrote after the death of his wife and it is so incredibly thoughtful and moving as C.S. Lewis works through his grief and his questions for and about God. Psalm 31:10 reminds me of this book... though not really... it seems like C.S. Lewis didn't quite get as down as the level of this verse. Anyhow - great book I think for any Christian who has lost a loved one.
Q: What has been consoling for you during a time of loss? Do you have any other book recommendations for people who might be going through grief? Books that were helpful to you when you went through a time of grief?
Proverbs:
Proverbs 8 verse 13 is a powerful look at what Wisdom hates! "That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech."
Q: When you look at your own life - do you hate pride, arrogance, corruption and perverted speech in your own behavior?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
One Year Bible Readings:
Exodus 28:1-43
Matthew 25:31-26:13
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 8:12-13
Supplemental Reading for The One Year Bible.
The following are excerpts from Mike’s One Year Bible Blog.
Exodus:
Exodus chapter 28 verse 1 stood out to me in today's readings: "Your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, will be set apart from the common people. They will be my priests and will minister to me." Here we see that the priests are being set apart as mediators between the people of Israel and God. And this role is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ as our high priest. Jesus is now the mediator between God and us. Personally, I still do see so much value in pastors and clergy in our lives and churches today. We'll study more about these important roles in Paul's writings in the New Testament. However, I also personally believe that we can approach the throne of God through Jesus Christ as our mediator - and that we don't need another human mediator here on earth to approach God. Jesus is more than enough.
Q: How is Jesus your high priest today? How does Jesus mediate between you and God?
Matthew:
Today in Matthew chapter 25 we read about the Final Judgment. Verses 34 is an amazing thing to imagine coming in the future: "`Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." What a beautiful thought - come and inherit the Kingdom prepared for YOU from the foundation of the world!
Q: Do you believe in this inheritance? Do you look forward to this inheritance? How often do you think about this inheritance?
Verses 37 through 40 are so powerful for each of us to consider while we are still here on earth: "Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" Whatever we do for one of the least among us, we do for Jesus. And - what we do not do for the least among us, we do not do for Jesus.
Q: How is God calling you today to give food, give water, show hospitality, give clothing, visit the sick, or visit those in prison for the least among us? How do you do this for Jesus?
Psalm:
Have you ever felt like Psalm 31 verse 10... "I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Misery has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within." I recently read C.S. Lewis' book "A Grief Observed". Have you read this? It is a very short book. But, wow, it is a powerful short book! It is a memoir C.S. Lewis wrote after the death of his wife and it is so incredibly thoughtful and moving as C.S. Lewis works through his grief and his questions for and about God. Psalm 31:10 reminds me of this book... though not really... it seems like C.S. Lewis didn't quite get as down as the level of this verse. Anyhow - great book I think for any Christian who has lost a loved one.
Q: What has been consoling for you during a time of loss? Do you have any other book recommendations for people who might be going through grief? Books that were helpful to you when you went through a time of grief?
Proverbs:
Proverbs 8 verse 13 is a powerful look at what Wisdom hates! "That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech."
Q: When you look at your own life - do you hate pride, arrogance, corruption and perverted speech in your own behavior?
Copyright © 2004-2012 One Year Bible Blog
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