Daily Reading Week 11
Sunday
Romans 15
DISCOVER
According to verses 5-6, what is the outcome when believers are living in harmony?
Verse 13 is an extremely powerful verse. Sustaining hope is directly connected to the source of your hope. What does God’s hope fill us with?
Towards the end of this chapter Paul talks about his plans to travel. What’s the motivation behind his plans? When you’re making plans, what typically motivates you?
RESPOND
Oftentimes our time of worship and praise to the King can be impaired and impacted because we choose to live in disharmony with others! Charles Spurgeon once stated, “Among Christians there must be unity, and especially in Christian families, so that all our powers may be undividedly employed in praising God.” Spend a few moments before the Lord asking him to reveal to you any disharmony that may be in your life.
It’s so exciting to know that God is The God of Hope. When we allow God to be the origin and the object of our hope, darkness is dispelled, death is defeated, and doubt is dismissed. In fact, God doesn’t want to give us enough hope so that we can just get by. God wants to give us so much hope that we’re overflowing with hope. When we live within this great truth we are able to see verses like Ephesians 3:20 become a reality and not a wish.
monday
Isaiah 55:8-11
DISCOVER
What is one thing we should always keep in mind when we second guess God’s plan for our life?
Is there something in your life right now that you’re trying to “reason” or “plead your case” with God?
Based on verse 10, what is the purpose of rain and snow from above? How does that parallel God's Word?
RESPOND
It’s so easy for us to second guess what God is up to in our life. Life doesn’t always end up the way we planned. Life has its fair share of challenges and changes. In these moments we can lose our focus and get off track. At the same time, it’s super important for us to remember that God has such lofty plans for us. This is the God of this universe…the God of creation…the God who has all knowledge. Spend a few moments in a time of worship just praising Him for caring enough about you to have such wonderful plans for you. Your Plans For Us - Eleventh Hour Worship (Lyrics)
God’s Word is intended to spring forth life. Think about that brown grass in your backyard or that sad looking plant on your back porch that is about to wither up and die. Then all of a sudden water falls from the sky, flows from the pot, or even scatters from the sprinkler head. In a few days that brown grass or sad looking plant begins to show signs of life. So it is in our life. As we spend time in God’s Word, life comes forth (John 6:33).
Tuesday
John 5:31-47
DISCOVER
Other than John, who else did Jesus say testified of Him (v 37)?
What is the intended purpose of the Scriptures (v 39)?
According to verse 46, who did Moses write about?
RESPOND
Jesus described John as a “shining lamp” and even declared that others benefit from John’s presence. John was the kind of lamp who shone brightly. He was a witness who told people where they could see, hear, and know the light. If we’re not careful we can do things, say things, and act in ways that don’t really allow God’s light to shine through us. Today, spend a few moments really searching out this question. “Lord, is my life like a lamp pointing others to You?
Jesus referenced John’s testimony as pointing others to Jesus. While John the Baptist’s ministry pointed to Jesus, the truth of Jesus and his ministry was not based on John and his testimony. The truth of Jesus is validated by the Father. God Himself placed His stamp of approval on the ministry and the life of Jesus. John the Apostle would later write in 1 John 5:9, “Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son.” In a world constantly looking for the miraculous, we can have the ultimate assurance of Jesus and His ministry based on the approval and validation from God Himself and through His word.
WEDNESDAY
Psalm 119:105-112
DISCOVER
According to verse 105, what’s the purpose of God’s Word?
Even though life has been hard for the psalmist at times, what vow does he make in verse 109?
How long is the psalmist committed to obeying God’s Word (verse 112)?
RESPOND
Psalm 119 contains 176 verses. Of the 176 verses, 174 mention God’s Word in some way. Albert Barnes states, “The general subject of the psalm is the law of God considered as a rule of life; as sanctifying the soul; as a support in trial; as imparting happiness to the mind - in its contemplation, and in obedience to it.” Psalm 119:105 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible when talking about God’s Word and the direction it offers us. The “light” shows us the direction that we’re headed in and the “lamp” aids us in our next step. The intensity of the psalmist’s commitment here is so worth noting. He has gone so far as to make a strong resolution to obey God’s Word forever. There’s a deep longing to move from a promise to putting God’s Word into practice. Interestingly the psalmist doesn’t state any specifics. The takeaway here is his desire to obey all of God’s Word. It’s only through the Bible that we truly know God and learn how to praise Him.
Thursday
Romans 5
DISCOVER
Go back and reread verses 3-5. What good things can result from suffering?
How has God demonstrated His love for us (v 8)?
What’s the similarity between Jesus and Adam? Differences? (v 12-21)
What is the relationship between the amount of sin in the world and the amount of grace that is available (v 20)?
RESPOND
Romans 5 begins with the word “therefore.” This word immediately calls for us to look back at what has previously been discussed (chapters 1-4). What now begins in chapter 5 is the effect of the events recorded in the first four chapters. Chapter 5 begins a shift in the book. This shift starts by looking at what theologians call “justification.” Justification is an act of God where He declares the Christian to be righteous because of their faith in Christ. Afterwards, we now begin to see and understand the assurance given by the gospel, which is the hope of salvation. Matthew Henry says, “A blessed change takes place in the sinner's state, when he becomes a true believer, whatever he has been. Being justified by faith he has peace with God.” This assurance and hope leads to a peace that only comes through Jesus. God has lavished us with His love (1 John 3:1) a love that is greater than our minds can comprehend. Amazingly God did all this while we were still His enemy. Now that we are saved we have the ultimate assurance that He is not going to quit on us. We can live with daily peace!
Friday
Romans 6
DISCOVER
What is the false mindset that some people have as it relates to sin (v 1-2)?
Looking back at verse 16, what choice do we have?
According to verse 22, what is the outcome of being freed from sin and being a slave to God?
Sin carries a huge price. Based on verse 23, what is that price?
RESPOND
This chapter begins Paul’s teaching about sanctification. The idea behind sanctification is setting something apart for special use. The word is closely related to holiness. This is the process that all Christians are working through daily (2 Cor 3:18). JC Ryle stated, "In justification the word to be addressed to man is believe — only believe; in sanctification the word must be 'watch, pray, and fight." The greatest thing we have to fight against is sin. Therefore, the thrust behind chapter 6 is intended for believers to understand they don’t have to be a slave to sin. Romans 6 clearly teaches that sin’s power is broken in the lives of believers (v 14). Additionally we learn in this chapter how to deal with sin and temptation from a biblical perspective. Paul maintains that we are free from sin and made alive to God through Jesus Christ. Now through Jesus, we have received the gift of God, which is eternal life.
Saturday
Romans 7
DISCOVER
What verse(s) did you connect with the most?
Based on verse 6, what is our relationship to the law?
What is the trouble that Paul mentioned in verses 14-15?
After the misery of verse 24, how does Paul find hope in verse 25?
RESPOND
The ongoing struggle that all believers have to battle is sin. Sin has always looked to destroy the Christian’s life. In the midst of this battle it’s super easy to look for scapegoats. Yet, Romans 7 clearly teaches that we only have ourselves to blame. We’ve often used the old cliche “I am my own worst enemy!” How many times have we even said, “Why did I do that!” Or even, “why didn’t I do that!” Many Christians find themselves in a similar battle. We want to do what’s right, but struggle to defeat our rebellious nature. On the contrary, we do the very things we hate and know are wrong, and when we mess up, we can often get disheartened, discouraged, and overwhelmed. Anyone who has tried to do good is aware of this struggle. We never know how hard it is to stop something until we try. This is why Paul is so intentional about God’s amazing grace here in chapter 7. Matthew Henry wrote, “the law may discover sin, and convince of sin, but it cannot conquer and subdue sin.” Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Sin has always been a struggle, but we have the Spirit of God inside us to help us.