Daily Reading Week 20
Sunday
Nehemiah 1
Discover:
Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter one sheds light on why the restoration of the Jews to the Promised Land during the Persian period wasn't as impressive as hoped. When Nehemiah heard in Persia that the people in Jerusalem were struggling and that the walls and gates of the Holy City were in ruins, he immediately turned to the God of heaven. In his heartfelt prayer, he confessed the sins of his people, the very sins that had led to the Babylonian exile. With the king’s permission, Nehemiah set out for Jerusalem around 445 BC, nearly two generations after the first exiles had returned. His acknowledgment of Israel's sins and his sorrow for them showed that, despite some people being back, much of the nation still lacked true repentance. This lack of repentance explained why the restoration didn't live up to the glorious prophecies of earlier prophets, as Nehemiah’s prayer also highlighted that full restoration depended on genuine repentance.
The prayer in today’s passage is remarkable for its focus on the Lord’s covenant faithfulness, which God demonstrated not only by blessing His people but also by bringing about the curses He warned of in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. God is inherently faithful and keeps His promises, so when Israel blatantly violated the covenant and refused to repent, they faced the consequences. Nehemiah bravely acknowledged both sides of God’s covenant faithfulness, making this prayer a model for us. Often, we talk about the Lord’s faithfulness only when we are blessed, but God’s faithfulness also involves disciplining us for our sins. We should remember that He is still true to His covenant even when we feel His loving chastisement.
Ultimately, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and led a significant reformation in Israel, but he understood that true reformation of the covenant community had to start with heartfelt repentance, even before any societal changes. This principle remains true under the new covenant. Righteous laws can be enacted in our land, but lasting change will only come when the church puts its own house in order. Judgment always begins with the household of God.
Respond:
1. What areas of brokenness do you see in your community or personal life that need attention?
2. How can you incorporate prayer and fasting into your response to these needs?
3. In what ways can you remind yourself of God's promises when facing challenges?
Monday
Luke 19
Discover:
Martin Luther passionately declared that the church must be "profane," meaning it must move out of the temple and into the world. He drew from the Latin roots of the word "profane," which means "outside the temple." Luther believed that if Christ isn't relevant outside the church, He becomes insignificant inside it. If our faith is confined to the inner circles of the Christian community, it becomes disobedient at best and non-existent at worst.
The Pharisees were known for their doctrine of salvation by separation. They practiced segregation, believing that holiness came from avoiding contact with unclean sinners. It's no wonder they were shocked by Jesus' actions—He interacted with Samaritans, dined with tax collectors, touched lepers, and ministered to prostitutes. Jesus was accused of being a drunkard and a glutton, not because He was, but because He spent time in places where such behaviors were common.
If guilt by association were a valid accusation, Jesus would have lost His sinlessness early in His ministry. But He came to seek and save the lost, finding them in His Father's world. He commanded us to do the same. How are you responding to that command?
Respond:
1. How does Jesus' compassion for Jerusalem challenge your perspective on those who are lost or broken?
2. What steps can you take to cultivate a heart that aligns with God's heart for the world?
3. How can you be a source of hope and truth in your community?
Tuesday
Isaiah 58
Discover:
In his book A Hunger for God, John Piper says, “God rewards fasting because fasting expresses the cry of the heart that nothing on the earth can satisfy our souls besides God” Fasting doesn't force God to answer our prayers exactly as we want, but it does please Him when we humble ourselves by giving up food. This act shows our deep need for His grace at every stage of our lives, just like when we first admitted we couldn't save ourselves and called on Christ to redeem us.
Fasting among the pagan peoples around ancient Israel was quite different. They believed they could make their gods act in specific ways by fasting. Unfortunately, many Israelites adopted this belief, just as they had adopted other Canaanite practices, even worshipping Baal and other foreign gods. Isaiah 58:1–12 gives an example of how some Israelites thought their fasting could force God to act. In verse 3, the prophet records the people's complaints about why their fasting seemed to go unnoticed by the Lord—they wanted to know why He hadn't intervened for them.
Isaiah explains that God isn't obligated to respond to fasting as people might like. He gives another reason why Israel's fasting was ignored: God wanted more than just the act of giving up food. He desired an end to wickedness and oppression and for His people to care for the poor and hungry. God didn't want to abolish fasting altogether; He wanted it to be accompanied by genuine repentance and righteous actions. The Israelites were praying and fasting, which was easy, but they weren't obeying the harder command to forgive debts as prescribed in Deuteronomy 15:1–2. No amount of fasting could help while they held onto this grave sin without repenting. God's people shouldn't expect Him to answer their fasting and prayers if they knowingly and stubbornly refuse to repent and follow His will.
Respond:
1. How can you ensure that your spiritual practices are aligned with God's call for justice and mercy?
2. What are some practical ways you can "loose the chains of injustice" in your community?
3. How does this chapter challenge your understanding of worship and fasting?
Wednesday
Matthew 5:13-16
Discover:
Our Savior calls His disciples the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” two essential substances that transform the food they’re in. Just like salt and light, the church is meant to make a big difference in the world around us.
Salt is usually cheap and produced in very small grains, but it’s valuable becomes apparent through its uses. Christians are like salt, and we should make a positive impact on society, even if we don’t have much power. The meaning of Jesus’ metaphor isn’t just about one benefit we get from salt, but about its preservative quality. The church needs to keep society from rushing towards evil. Christianity has done this in the past, leading the way in advancing human rights.
Rural communities like the one Jesus was speaking to have a real appreciation of the darkness of a moonless night. But a city in the distance can give people hope and direction. Just like walking around at night without a flashlight is dangerous, Jesus calls us to be the light of the world. We should live like those who have been changed by the Spirit so that the world will notice and praise the Father.
Being salt and light isn’t impossible. Jesus first tells us what we are and then calls us to live up to that standard. In Him, we are salt and light, so we should live out what He has made us to be. If you feel like you’re not being salt or light, remember that Jesus says you are and that you can do it with the power of the Spirit.
Respond:
1. In what ways can you be "salt" and "light" in your daily life?
2. How can your actions and words reflect the love and truth of Christ to others?
3. What are some specific areas where you can make a positive impact in your community?
Thursday
James 2:14-26
Discover:
During the Protestant Reformation, Roman Catholic theologians often referred to the second chapter of James to argue that justification is not by faith alone but by faith and works. The Reformers, however, emphasized that justification is a free gift received by faith alone, supported by Paul's letters to the Romans and Galatians. At first glance, James seems to suggest that works are necessary.
But there's no conflict between Paul and James. Paul taught that salvation is by faith alone, while James explained that there is true faith and false faith. A person who "claims to have faith but has no deeds" has false faith. True faith is shown through good deeds.
The Reformers, like Luther and Calvin, said we are justified by faith alone, but true faith always produces good fruit. We are not justified by merely professing faith but by possessing it. Someone who professes faith but lives an unrighteous life is deceiving themselves with counterfeit faith.
Faith is not just "mere assent." Even demons believe that God exists, but they shudder at this knowledge. The Reformers taught that faith involves knowledge, assent, and trust or commitment. We must know God's truth and agree with it, but true faith goes beyond that—it involves a personal relationship of trust and commitment to God, and it will always show itself in deeds of love and obedience.
James used the verb "justify" when he wrote, "Was not our ancestor Abraham justified for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?". The Greek word "justify" can mean "legal justification," which Paul taught is received by faith alone, or "demonstrative justification," which is what James meant here. Abraham's good work demonstrated his justification and complemented the legal justification he received by faith.
Respond:
1. How does your faith influence your actions and decisions?
2. What are some ways you can demonstrate your faith through acts of service and love?
3. How can you ensure that your faith is not just a belief but a living, active force in your life?
Friday
Galatians 6
Discover:
Paul's command to walk by the Holy Spirit in Gal. 5:16 & 25 isn't about an individualized mysticism. Instead, following the Spirit means creating and participating in a community filled with humility, love, and mutual support. While worldly people do anything to get ahead, those who walk in the Spirit put others first.
Bearing each other's burdens is a practical way to prioritize others' needs over our own. The burdens Paul mentions in Galatians 6:2 are too heavy for one person to carry and include all kinds of problems and difficulties. For example, Joe might have a debilitating illness that prevents him from providing for his family. We bear his burden by feeding his family. Sally might have no living relatives, so we reach out to her with love and friendship, especially during the holidays, adopting her into our family. Hank might be on the brink of divorce from Carol due to an office romance. We support Carol by offering a shoulder to cry on and check in on Hank to ensure he has no further contact with his former secretary. Whatever the issue, Martin Luther reminds us that “Christians must have strong shoulders and mighty bones, that they may bear…the weakness of their brethren.”
On the cross, Jesus bore our sins, cried our tears, and carried our weaknesses. We imitate Him by bearing the burdens of fellow believers. By doing so, we fulfill the law of Christ, showing that new covenant life isn't lawlessness. This connection between bearing burdens, imitating Jesus, and keeping His law reveals that the law of Christ is His ethical teaching, exemplified in His character and conduct, and reproduced in His people by the Holy Spirit. It's not identical to the Mosaic law, but under the old covenant, it was expressed in the Torah, albeit in a shadowy form. The law of Christ is the moral law of God, testified by the Law, with Christ as the supreme example, and upheld through the Spirit's enabling, as foretold by the prophets.
Respond:
1. How can you actively support and encourage others in your community?
2. What are some practical ways you can "carry each other's burdens"?
3. How does this chapter challenge you to be more intentional in doing good?
Saturday
Ephesians 6:10-18
Discover:
After explaining how the gospel affects various relationships, in today’s passage Paul gives advice for all believers, no matter their situation. His teaching on God’s armor isn't a new topic but builds on his outline of the gospel’s consequences. The word "finally" in verse 10 shows that this section is the climax of everything he has said.
Ephesians is a summary of Christian doctrine, but theological knowledge isn't just for satisfying our curiosity. Paul didn't tell us about the gospel and the church’s purpose in chapters 1-3 so we could relax. Instead, he taught us these things so we might obey God’s will through the Spirit’s power, participating in the kingdom’s expansion.
However, if we don't know our enemy and how to defeat him, our efforts to live out the gospel are in vain. Scripture lists our main enemies as the world, the flesh, and the Devil, all of whom are formidable. Ultimately, fighting any of these is fighting the Enemy himself. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Standing against the world means standing against the Evil One, the ruler of this fallen world. Fighting our sinful nature means battling the one who introduced sin into creation. And, of course, warring against the Devil means fighting Satan directly.
John Calvin wisely noted, “There will be no danger which may not be successfully met by the power of God; nor will any who, with [the armor of God], fight against Satan, fail in the day of battle.” Every day, we should remember our identity in Christ, embracing His graces and letting go of our rebellious impulses inherited from Adam. By doing this, we are assured of success in our spiritual battles and can look forward to a hero’s welcome in glory.
Respond:
1. How can you equip yourself with the armor of God in your daily life?
2. What role does prayer play in your spiritual battles?
3. How can you stand in the gap for others through intercession and support?