Daily Reading Week 29
Sunday
John 4 (Scripture Focus John 4:1-42)
Discover:
When the Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, not everyone was taken into exile. Many Israelites stayed behind and eventually intermarried with the people the Assyrians brought in to resettle the land. Over time, this blending of cultures and beliefs gave rise to new identities in the region. Later on, during the time between the Old and New Testaments, some Jews who were drawn to Greek culture—something the religious leaders in Judea strongly opposed—ended up moving to Samaria, the same area that had been resettled earlier.
Because of these historical and cultural shifts, many Jews looked down on the Samaritans. They saw them as religious outsiders who had strayed from true Jewish beliefs. For example, Samaritans only accepted the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch) and worshiped on Mount Gerizim instead of Mount Zion in Jerusalem. As a result, Jews often avoided traveling through Samaria altogether, even if it meant taking a much longer route.
This background helps explain why the Samaritan woman was so surprised when Jesus, a Jewish teacher, asked her for a drink of water. In that time, it was unheard of for a Jewish man—especially a rabbi—to speak to a Samaritan woman, let alone ask her for a drink. But Jesus wasn’t bound by those social barriers. When she expressed her surprise, He gently began to reveal who He really was.
At first, the woman didn’t fully understand what Jesus meant. She was focused on physical thirst, and later, on religious differences—especially after Jesus pointed out her complicated personal life. But Jesus didn’t shame her or turn away. Instead, He patiently guided the conversation back to what truly mattered: that He is the source of living water, and that true worship would soon go beyond any one place or people.
Just like physical water can’t satisfy us forever, nothing in this world can truly quench our spiritual thirst—except Jesus. He offers lasting fulfillment to anyone who turns to Him in faith. That day, the Samaritan woman found grace, and her life was changed. She became a powerful witness, telling others that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
Before she met Jesus, the woman at the well was chasing fulfillment in all the wrong places. In today’s culture, it’s easy to fall into the same trap—believing we can follow every trend and still worship God with our whole hearts. But true satisfaction comes only from Christ. If you’re standing firm against the pull of a pleasure-driven world, keep going. Keep drinking from the living water He offers. It’s the only thing that can truly satisfy your soul.
Respond:
1. How does knowing that Jesus pursues you, despite your past, change your perspective on your relationship with Him?
2. What are the "wells" you keep returning to that leave you unsatisfied?
3. How can you embrace the living water Jesus offers in your daily life?
Monday
Genesis 3
Discover:
Aside from John 3:16, few verses are as foundational as Genesis 3:15, where God declares that the offspring of the woman will one day crush the serpent’s head, even though the serpent will bruise his heel. As Alec Motyer put it, “The whole of Scripture is not packed into every scripture, but we may allowably expect every scripture to prepare and make room for the whole. This is what happens in Genesis 3:15”
First, Genesis 3:15 introduces the promise of a Redeemer—a descendant of Adam and Eve. Eve mistakenly thought Cain was that promised one, but the theme of a “seed” continues throughout God’s covenant with Abraham. When Gabriel tells Mary her son “will be great” (Luke 1:32), it echoes promises made to both Abraham and David.
Second, this verse reveals God’s plan to redeem humanity. After Adam and Eve broke the covenant of works, God didn’t destroy them. Instead, He introduced the covenant of grace, promising a Savior who would suffer but ultimately defeat evil. This points to the need for substitutionary sacrifice, hinted at when God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins and seen in Abel’s accepted offering of a lamb. As Hebrews 9:22 says, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
Third, Genesis 3:15 gives a cosmic explanation for evil. The serpent—later revealed as Satan—is more than just a talking snake. Though Adam and Eve are responsible for their sin, the serpent’s deception plays a key role. Scripture later unveils more about this enemy culminating in Revelation 12’s image of the great red dragon.
Finally, this verse assures us of God’s ultimate victory. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 16:18, promising that the gates of hell won’t prevail against His church. Though we live in a world marked by spiritual warfare, the outcome is never in doubt. Satan’s final defeat is revealed in Revelation 20:10, but his doom was sealed from the beginning. As believers, we fight with confidence, knowing the decisive battle has already been won.
Respond:
1. How does understanding the fall of humanity help you appreciate the need for a Savior?
2. In what ways do you see God's pursuit of humanity throughout history?
3. How does the promise of redemption in Genesis 3 encourage you in your personal
struggles?
Tuesday
Isaiah 55
Discover:
You’ve probably heard someone say, “He’s not a Christian, but he’s searching.” It’s a common idea—that people are out there looking for God, but just haven’t found Him yet, as if He’s hiding.
But if we go back to the Garden of Eden, who was it that hid after sin entered the world? It wasn’t God. It was Adam and Eve. And ever since, humanity has been running. Scripture says, “The wicked flee when no one pursues” (Proverbs 28:1). As Martin Luther put it, even the sound of a leaf can make the guilty tremble.
The truth is, people don’t naturally seek God. They seek the benefits of God—peace, purpose, blessing—while avoiding God Himself. That’s the heart of our fallen nature: we want what God gives, but not God.
Now, the Bible does tell us to seek God. But who is being told to seek? In the Old Testament, it’s Israel—God’s covenant people. In the New Testament, it’s believers—those already in relationship with Him. These calls to seek aren’t proof that fallen people naturally pursue God; they’re commands to those whom God has already drawn near.
Respond:
1. What does it mean for you to "come to the waters" and find satisfaction in God?
2. How can you align your thoughts and ways with God's higher ways?
3. In what areas of your life do you need to trust that God's word will accomplish its purpose?
Wednesday
Psalm 139
Discover:
David wasn’t just Israel’s greatest king—he was also one of its greatest theologians. In Psalm 139:1–12, he beautifully reflects on two of God’s most awe-inspiring attributes: omniscience (God knows everything) and omnipresence (God is everywhere).
In verses 7–12, David explores God’s omnipresence. He realizes there’s nowhere he can go to escape God—not the heights of heaven, the depths of the sea, or even the darkest night. God is fully present everywhere, not just in pieces. While He may reveal Himself more clearly in certain places—like the tabernacle or temple, He is never absent from any part of His creation. Jonah learned this the hard way when he tried to run from God.
Verses 1–6 focus on God’s omniscience. David marvels that God knows everything about him—his actions, his thoughts, even his words before he speaks them. This isn’t just head knowledge; it’s deeply personal and intimate.
John Calvin warned against thinking of God’s knowledge as just a supercharged version of ours. It’s not just that God knows more—His knowledge is different. Our knowledge observes reality; God’s knowledge determines it. For example, when Paul says God “foreknew” those He would justify (Romans 8:29), he means God chose them. God’s knowing shapes reality itself.
In short, Psalm 139 reminds us that we are fully known and never alone. God is always present, always aware, and always in control.
Respond:
1. How does knowing that God knows you completely impact your relationship with Him?
2. In what ways do you try to hide from God, and how can you embrace His presence instead?
3. How can you find comfort in the fact that you are fearfully and wonderfully made?
Thursday
John 7
Discover:
As we return to the Gospel of John , we find Jesus teaching during the Feast of Booths, one of Israel’s most joyful celebrations. This feast not only marked the fall harvest but also reminded the people of God’s care during their wilderness journey after the Exodus.
On the last day of the feast, Jesus makes a powerful declaration (John 7:37–39): “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” To understand this, we need to remember two key themes from Israel’s wilderness experience—God’s provision of water, and His gift of the Spiri). Over time, prophets used these images—water and Spirit—to describe a future outpouring of God’s presence.
By the first century, water-pouring rituals had become part of the Feast of Booths, symbolizing the people’s hope for spiritual renewal. When Jesus says that those who come to Him will receive living water, He’s claiming to be the fulfillment of that hope. He is the source of the Holy Spirit, and through Him, God’s presence flows into and through His people.
This means that believers don’t just receive spiritual life—they become channels of life to others. As the Spirit works through us, we share the gospel, serve others, and help expand God’s kingdom. Our ministry, empowered by the Spirit, brings life to a thirsty world.
Respond:
1. How does Jesus' invitation to come and drink resonate with your current spiritual needs?
2. In what ways have you experienced the living water of the Holy Spirit in your life?
3.How can you respond to Jesus' invitation daily, allowing the Spirit to flow through you and impact those around you?
Friday
Jeremiah 2
Discover:
There is no greater tragedy than to turn away from the source of life and attempt to replace it with something that cannot satisfy. This is the charge God brings against His people through the prophet Jeremiah. They have not only abandoned the fountain of living waters—God Himself—but have also constructed for themselves broken cisterns, incapable of holding water.
This is not merely an ancient indictment. It is a mirror held up to every generation. We are all tempted to look for life, meaning, and satisfaction in things that cannot deliver. Whether it be wealth, status, relationships, or even religious performance, these are broken vessels. They leak. They deceive. They leave us thirstier than before.
The call of the gospel is a call to return—to forsake the empty wells and come back to the fountain. God does not merely offer refreshment; He is our refreshment. He is the living water, and in Christ, He has made Himself fully available to us. Jesus stood in the temple and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). He is the fulfillment of what Jeremiah foresaw—the One who quenches the soul’s deepest thirst.
And this living water is not meant to be hoarded. It flows through us to others. As the Spirit fills us, He empowers us to minister, to proclaim, to serve. We become conduits of grace, not reservoirs. The kingdom of God advances not by our strength, but by the overflow of His Spirit through us.
Let us not be content with substitutes. Let us drink deeply from the fountain of living water and invite others to do the same.
Respond:
1. What are the "broken cisterns" in your life that you turn to instead of God?
2. How can you realign your heart to seek satisfaction in God alone?
3. In what ways can you encourage others to turn to the living water that only God provides?
Saturday
Revelation 22
Discover:
In the book of Revelation John gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like—a place more beautiful than we can imagine. A majestic city with a high wall that has twelve gates, each guarded by an angel. The gates are named after the twelve tribes of Israel, and the wall itself rests on twelve foundations, each one honoring one of the twelve apostles.
The city is perfectly square, with walls made of jasper and foundations decorated with dazzling gemstones. The gates are made of pearls, and the entire city is crafted from pure gold—so pure, it’s as clear as glass. Even the streets shine with transparent gold!
But as breathtaking as all that sounds, the most awe-inspiring part of heaven isn’t the gold or the gems—it’s who’s there. At the heart of the city is the throne of God and the Lamb. His presence fills the city, and His people will serve Him with joy. They’ll see His face, and His name will be written on their foreheads.
Heaven is where God’s presence is fully revealed. Christ will be there in all His glory. We’ll see Him, talk with Him, hear His voice, and serve Him with joy beyond words. We may not know every detail of what heaven will be like, but one thing is certain: Jesus will be there—and that’s what makes it our true home.
Respond:
1. How does the vision of the new heaven and new earth inspire hope in your life?
2. In what ways can you live with an eternal perspective, focusing on God's promises?
3. How can you share the invitation to the water of life with others in your community?