Daily Reading Week 27
Sunday
John 3 Scripture Focus John 3:1-21
Discover:
In today’s passage we see how essential it is to be “born again” in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, just as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3. No one starts life as a child of God—it takes a transformation, a change of heart brought about by the Holy Spirit. That’s why the term “born-again Christian” is actually a bit repetitive—being born again is what makes someone a Christian in the first place.
That said, the experience of being born again can be hard to describe. There’s a lot of mystery in how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. We know He’s at work, but we can’t always explain exactly how. The process of regeneration happens deep within us, invisible to the eye—something Jesus highlights in His conversation with Nicodemus.
In this passage, Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. Nicodemus is curious about Jesus but doesn’t yet fully understand what He means by being “born from above.” He’s thinking in physical terms, but Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth—a work of the Holy Spirit.
To help Nicodemus understand, Jesus compares the Spirit to the wind. In both Hebrew (ruach) and Greek (pneuma), the word for “spirit” also means “wind.” Just like we can feel the wind and see its effects—like trees swaying—we can’t see the wind itself. In the same way, we don’t see the Holy Spirit, but we can see the results of His work in our lives.
One of the clearest signs of the Spirit’s presence is the fruit He produces in us—things like love, joy, peace, and self-control. If you find in your heart a growing desire for God and a life that turns away from sin, that’s strong evidence that you’ve been born again.
Respond:
1. What does being "born again" mean to you personally?
2. How do you see the Kingdom of God in your daily life?
3. In what areas of your life do you feel the need for spiritual renewal?
Monday
Ezekiel 36 Scripture Focus Ezekiel 36:22-38
Discover:
We’ve all either known, or heard stories of, people who, in the middle of a crisis, cried out something like, “God, if You’re real, show me!”—and then something remarkable happened. Maybe it was an unexpected healing, or a chance encounter with a missionary, or some other moment that felt too perfectly timed to be a coincidence. In those moments, God made Himself known in a way that was undeniably supernatural, and it led them to believe in Jesus.
Stories like these—where someone’s life takes a complete 180 from chaos to Christ—are powerful reminders of how radically God can work in someone’s heart. Whether it’s through miraculous events or dramatic life changes, we’re left in awe of His grace and power to bring people to faith.
Here’s something important to remember though: God’s power is just as present in the quiet, ordinary stories of conversion too. Some of us can’t even remember a time when we didn’t believe—we grew up hearing about Jesus, and our earliest memories include trusting Him. Others came to faith during a regular Sunday sermon, or through a parent or Sunday school teacher who shared the gospel with us.
These stories might not seem as dramatic, but they’re no less miraculous. In those moments, the Holy Spirit was still at work—opening hearts, illuminating the truth of God’s Word, and drawing people to Himself. That’s no small thing. Every conversion, no matter how it happens, is a supernatural act of God. It’s the Spirit turning a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, just like God promised in Ezekiel 36:26.
So whether your story involves a dramatic turning point or a quiet realization over time, it’s all evidence of God’s incredible grace. He had to overcome our natural resistance either way. Every single conversion is a spectacular work of God—even if it didn’t feel spectacular at the time.
Respond:
1. Where do I see evidence of the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in my life—whether through dramatic change or quiet growth?
2. Do I truly believe that every conversion—including my own—is a miraculous act of God’s grace, not something I earned or initiated?
3. How am I responding to God’s promise to give a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26)?
Tuesday
Psalm 51
Discover:
God’s Word clearly calls us to repent—just look at passages like Psalm 7:12, Mark 1:14–15, and 1 John 1:8–9. But thankfully, Scripture doesn’t leave us guessing about what real repentance looks like. One of the clearest examples we have is in Psalm 51, where David pours out his heart to God after his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah, as described in 2 Samuel 11:1–12:15. This heartfelt prayer has helped generations of believers express genuine sorrow over their sins.
We all know that our actions can deeply affect others. Harsh words can leave emotional scars, and things like lying or stealing can cause real harm. In David’s case, his sin impacted many—Bathsheba, Uriah, and even his own army, whom he manipulated to cover up his wrongdoing. Yet in Psalm 51, David focuses on something even deeper: his sin against God (verse 4).
That doesn’t mean David is downplaying the pain he caused others. Since Psalm 51 is inspired by the Holy Spirit, we can trust that it reflects true repentance. And we know from other parts of Scripture—like Matthew 18:15 and James 5:16—that God calls us to confess our sins to one another and seek forgiveness. The Spirit doesn’t contradict Himself.
What David is doing in Psalm 51 is recognizing a profound truth: while our sins do hurt others, they are ultimately offenses against God. He is the one who defines right and wrong. So when we sin, we’re not just breaking rules—we’re rebelling against our holy Creator. To sin against someone made in God’s image is to sin against the One who gave them that dignity.
True repentance means we’re not only sorry for hurting others—we’re also deeply grieved that we’ve sinned against God Himself. He is our holy Judge, and every sin is an act of rebellion against His goodness and authority.
Respond:
1. What areas of your life do you need to bring before God in repentance?
2. How does acknowledging your need for God's mercy change your perspective on sin?
3. In what ways can you cultivate a "steadfast spirit" in your daily walk with God?
Wednesday
Titus 3 Scripture Focus Titus 3:1-8
Discover:
In his letters, the apostle Paul often roots Christian ethics in the very character of Israel’s covenant-keeping God. For instance, in Ephesians 5:1, he encourages believers to “be imitators of God, as beloved children.” He also invites his readers to follow his example as he follows Christ, as seen in 1 Corinthians 11:1. So, the standard for how we live isn’t just a list of rules—it’s the character of our Creator Himself.
This idea shows up clearly in Titus 3:1–7, where Paul reminds us that the kindness we show to others—especially those outside the faith—should reflect the kindness God showed us when we were anything but deserving.
In Titus 3:4, Paul speaks of the appearance of God’s goodness and loving kindness. As he explains in verses 5 through 7, this refers to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Of course, God’s love wasn’t unknown before Jesus came. The Old Testament makes it clear—like in Deuteronomy 7:6–8—that God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt was rooted in His deep affection for His people. But in Jesus, we see God’s goodness and love in their fullest expression. In Him, the very Son of God takes on the punishment we deserved so that we could be reconciled to God, as Romans 3:21–26 explains. In Jesus, God’s mercy becomes tangible—He meets us in our weakness to make it unmistakably clear, as Matthew Henry once put it, that “God would pity and save rather than destroy.”
In the first-century Roman world, people looked to the emperor to show kindness and generosity. But Paul points us to the true source of all grace—not an earthly ruler, but the Lord of all. God has shown us, beyond any doubt, that He is the fountain of mercy and love. And because we’ve received that grace, we’re called to reflect it—to be gracious to everyone around us.
Respond:
1. How does understanding that salvation is a gift of grace impact your relationship with God?
2. In what ways can you rely more on the Holy Spirit for guidance and renewal?
3. How can you demonstrate God's kindness and love to others in your community?
Thursday
2 Corinthians 3 Scripture Focus 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Discover:
Adam was created good, but he wasn’t yet glorious. He was placed in the garden with a purpose and a test. Had he remained obedient, he would have received glory from God. Humanity was originally designed to move from a natural life to a transfigured, glorified life. But because of sin, that journey was interrupted. Instead of progressing from life to glory, humanity fell from life into death. Thankfully, through redemption, Adam’s sin is covered, and we are restored—not just to life, but to the glorious life that was always meant to be ours. In the resurrection of Jesus, we see humanity brought into that transfigured life Adam was meant to receive.
In his original state, Adam was naked, while God was clothed in glory. As God’s image-bearer, Adam was also meant to be clothed in glory. But because of sin, he ended up in filthy rags. When we look at how the Bible describes God’s glory, we see a few key things. First, it’s often pictured as a radiant cloud—full of light, color, sweet aromas, and beautiful sounds. Second, when we look closer, we find that this cloud isn’t made of mist or vapor, but of angels—heavenly beings surrounding the throne of God, as described in Revelation 4–5. Third, we learn that this glory cloud is the work of the Holy Spirit, who glorifies both the Father and the Son.
At His transfiguration, Jesus gave us a glimpse of the glorious destiny God has in store for the children of Adam. And in His resurrection, Jesus fully entered that glorified state—His body transformed and radiant. Paul tells the Corinthians that even though we live in fragile, earthly bodies, we already share in that same glory. We are clothed with the Holy Spirit and surrounded by angelic protection. As members of God’s heavenly host, we are part of the glory cloud that surrounds His throne. The glory given to us is the very glory of God Himself—His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3–4).
This glory isn’t static—it grows. As we draw near to God, the source of all glory, we are transformed. Moses experienced this when he spoke with God, and his face shone with glory, though it eventually faded. But the glory of Jesus never fades—it only increases. And as we stay close to Him—through His Word, through obedience, and through life in Christian community—our glory grows too.
Respond:
1. What does spiritual freedom mean to you, and how do you experience it?
2. How can you allow the Holy Spirit to transform you more into the image of Christ?
3. Reflect on a time when you experienced the freedom that comes from living in the Spirit.
Friday
Jeremiah 31 (Scripture Focus Jeremiah 31:31-34
Discover:
When we look at the Mosaic covenant within the broader covenant of grace, one key takeaway is that God gave the law through Moses to make it unmistakably clear: we need grace. Even the Israelites—people God had already redeemed from Egypt—couldn’t keep His law perfectly. If they couldn’t do it, what hope does anyone else have of meeting God’s perfect standard? Paul explains in Romans 7:7–25 and Galatians 3:15–29 that the law actually highlights our sin, showing us just how much we need God to step in and make things right.
From the very beginning, it was clear that sinners couldn’t be the promised “seed of the woman” who would crush sin and Satan. That role could only be fulfilled by one singular Seed—Jesus Christ. And when we’re united to Him, we share in His victory.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the covenant of grace. He sustains the universe by His powerful word, keeping God’s promise to Noah to preserve the world as the stage for salvation. He took on the curse we deserved for breaking God’s covenant, fulfilling the promise God made to Abraham to deal with our sin. He obeyed God’s law perfectly—something Adam failed to do—so that we could be counted as righteous in Him. And He is the true King from David’s line, the one for whom God builds an everlasting house—the church, which inherits eternal life.
One of the clearest pictures of this fulfilled covenant is found in Jeremiah 31:33, where God promises to write His law on our hearts. This shows us that grace doesn’t cancel out God’s law entirely. While grace and law are opposed when it comes to justification—we’re made right with God by grace through faith, not by keeping the law—grace and law work together in our sanctification. By His grace, God gives us new hearts that want to obey Him—not to earn salvation, but to express our gratitude for it.
In his Commentary on Jeremiah, John Calvin wrote: “The Gospel brings with it the grace of regeneration: its doctrine ... penetrates into the heart and reforms all the inward faculties, so that obedience is rendered to the righteousness of God.” In other words, the gospel doesn’t just forgive us—it transforms us from the inside out.
Respond:
1. How does the promise of a new covenant written on your heart resonate with your
understanding of being born again?
2. In what ways do you experience God's law and love written on your heart in your daily life?
3. Reflect on the assurance of God's forgiveness. How does this impact your relationship with Him and others?
Saturday
Romans 8 Scripture Focus Romans 8:1-17
Discover:
Romans 8:1 marks a turning point in Paul’s letter to the Romans. It gives us one of the clearest and most hope-filled summaries of the gospel: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” It’s hard to imagine better news than that. Our deepest need is to be freed from the wrath and judgment of our Creator—and that need is fully met in Jesus.
What’s even more amazing is that this freedom from condemnation is eternal. If we’ve truly placed our trust in Christ alone, we will never again face God’s wrath. Paul already touched on this in Romans 5:1, where he speaks of the lasting peace—shalom—that Jesus brings between God and His people. That peace isn’t just for the moment we first believe; it’s the foundation of our entire life in Christ. While Romans 5 focuses on justification as the entry point into God’s kingdom, Romans 8:1 builds on Paul’s earlier discussion of the believer’s ongoing struggle with sin in chapters 6 and 7. It reminds us that the reality of our once-for-all justification continues to shape our daily walk with God.
God’s law is good—it reveals our sin and drives us to Christ. This is often called the “second use” of the law. And that role doesn’t stop once we become believers. Even after conversion, the law continues to show us our weakness and our need for a Savior. That’s why Romans 8:1 is so important. When we stumble in our sanctification—when we sin and feel the weight of our failure—we need to remember that our standing before God is secure. It doesn’t rest on our performance but on the perfect righteousness of Christ, which has been credited to us.
Because we’ve been declared righteous in Christ, the Holy Spirit also sets us free from “the law of sin and death”. Before we knew Jesus, we were trapped—only able to live according to the flesh, which leads to destruction. But now, in Christ, we live by the Spirit, and we reap eternal life. Through the Spirit’s work in our sanctification, God is preparing us for the eternal life that our justification guarantees. And even now, we get a foretaste of that life—right here, in the present.
Respond:
1. How does knowing there is no condemnation in Christ affect your view of yourself and your past?
2. In what ways can you live more fully as a child of God, led by the Spirit?
3. Reflect on the hope and assurance you have as an heir with Christ. How does this impact your daily life?