Posts

Showing posts from May, 2024

"A God Who Judges" May 18 Readings: Hosea 8-14

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Hosea 8-14 Background:    Hosea is largely written against the Israelite Tribe of Ephraim. Today's reading contains a series of oracles - prophetic words - against Israel/Ephraim, ending in a word of hope. Hosea's prophecy is the first to compare marriage to the human relationship with God. Daily Devotional:   A God Who Judges "It isn't my fault." "It was just bad l

"I Am Gomer" May 17 Readings: Hosea 1-7

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Hosea 1-7 Background:    Many prophets were asked to do strange things to illustrate the message of God. Hosea's entire life became a message of grace. He married and then reclaimed a sinful woman to illustrate the infidelity of God's people. Daily Devotional:  I Am Gomer The prophets did some weird things to demonstrate the anger of God against sin and the love of God for his people.

"Pride before a Fall" May 16 Readings: 2 Kings 18:9-20:21, Psalm 46, 80, 135

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Kings 18:9-20:21, Psalm 46, 80, 135 Background:    We have actually read through the life of Hezekiah three times now - In 2 Chronicles, in Isaiah, and here in 2 Kings. We focus again today on his pride and downfall, from a slightly different perspective. There is a reason to focus on this man's life. He was such a good king that he led Judah to return to God. He was an agent of genuine

"Microwave Revival" May 15 Readings: 2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Chronicles 29-32, Psalm 48

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Chronicles 29-32, Psalm 48 Background:    The life of Hezekiah is inspirational and tragic. He was a turning point in Judah's life, leading them in a great revival, but his late-life spiritual failure also sealed their demise. He raised a son named Manasseh who became the most evil of all Judah's rulers - so wicked God determined judgment would fall. Daily Devotional

"Our Sovereign God" May 14 Readings: Isaiah 23-27

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :     Isaiah 23-27 Background:    These readings are cosmic - big issues - God's glorious judgment and his amazing power for his people. Daily Devotional:  Our Sovereign God God is mighty and powerful, sovereign over the world - but not everyone experiences that sovereignty in the same way. In Isaiah 23 and 24 we read God's judgment falls on Tyre and then on the entire world. He strips ba

"Fallen Is Babylon" May 13 Readings: Isaiah 18-22

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :     Isaiah 18-22 Background:    Isaiah turns his attention to Egypt, Cush, and then Babylon - the focus of all false religions in the world, which will one day be destroyed by the coming kingdom of Christ. Daily Devotional:  Fallen Is Babylon Its story begins in Genesis 11, when some men built a Tower that was supposed to reach to heaven. Throughout the Bible, Babylon both literally and figurat

"How You Are Fallen" May 12 Readings: Isaiah 13-17

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Isaiah 13-17 Background:    Today's readings carry the pronouncements of God against the pagan nations around Israel. Daily Devotional:   How You Are Fallen One of the great mysteries in life is where sin came from. Why would anyone, created by God and dwelling in glory with him, choose to sin? How did Satan become Satan? Due to some inadequacies in the King James translation, people have

"Why Did Israel Fall?" May 11 Readings: 2 Chronicles 28, 2 Kings 16-17

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Chronicles 28, 2 Kings 16-17 Background:    Ahaz was one of the worst of Judah's kings, but his son Hezekiah became a good kind - the best of the best - until the end of his reign. While evil king Ahaz was ruling, the last kings of Israel were ruling there and God was bringing the final judgments on that wicked land. Hezekiah, in his youth, witnessed the judgment God brought on Israel f

"Amazing Prophecies" May 10 Readings: Micah 1-7

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Micah 1-7 Background:    Micah alternates between oracles of judgment and oracles of restoration. The Hebrew form of Micah means, "Who is like Yahweh?" God pronounces judgment against his people when they sin, but always with a view toward restoration. The most famous verse in Micah is likely Micah 5:2, where Bethlehem is identified as the home of the Messiah, the ruler of Israel. D

"Prince of Peace" May 9 Readings: 2 Chronicles 27, Isaiah 9-12

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   2 Chronicles 27, Isaiah 9-12 NOTE: My plan is to be traveling back from Senegal today. I have a VERY tight connection in Atlanta. I would appreciate your prayers that all would go well in my travels.  Background:    Isaiah is a book of mountaintops. Every one of the prophets is a message from God but Isaiah's is the Himalayan range, with peaks of glory in so many places. In chapter nine w

"God's Plumb Line" May 8 Readings: Amos 6-9

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Amos 6-9 Background:    Isaiah was royalty, but Amos was a fig farmer and sheepherder - a nobody that God chose to do his work. He came from the southern kingdom of Judah but his prophecies were directed against the northern tribes of Israel. Amos likely is the first of the written prophets. Daily Devotional:   God's Plumb Line Amos 7 is a series of three visions that God gives to the pro

"Other People's Sins" May 7 Readings: Amos 1-5

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Amos 1-5 Background:    As we move through the Major Prophets we will also intersperse the 12 minor prophets among them. Amos was an early prophet who spoke to the northern 10 tribes, Israel. Daily Devotional:   Other People's Sins Amos 1 and 2 is a brilliant sermon, one that illustrates a point about sermons that appeal to the flesh as opposed to those that speak to the spirit. Amos begi

"God with Us" May 6 Readings: Isaiah 5-8

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Isaiah 5-8 Background:    Isaiah has some of the most powerful prophecies of the coming of Christ, beginning with Isaiah 7:14, the "Immanuel" prophecy.  Daily Devotional:  God with Us The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 is one of the best known of the Christmas story. A virgin will conceive and bear a son and that son will be "Immanuel" - which means "God with us." We ar

"Worship God Hates" May 5 Readings: Isaiah 1-4

Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Isaiah 1-4 Background:    Isaiah is the prince of prophets who called Israel to worship God. He was likely a member of the royal family, from a prominent family.  Daily Devotional:  Worship God Hates Isaiah is often called the prince of prophets because of the grandeur and power of his prophecy. He was a member of the royal family who spoke the word of the Lord boldly and without fear. Second