Daily Reading Week 33
Sunday
Matthew 28 (Scripture Focus 18–20)
Discover:
In 1792, a humble English cobbler named William Carey published a small book with a bold claim: the Great Commission is still binding on every generation of Christians. Two years later, he sailed to India, never to return, devoting his life to making Christ known among the unreached. Today, Carey is remembered as the father of modern missions.
Carey’s conviction was rooted in Jesus’ words from Matthew 28:18–20. Christ, with all authority, commands His followers to make disciples of all nations. This command was not just for the apostles—it is for us. And His promise to be with us “to the end of the age” confirms that this mission continues until He returns.
In Carey’s day, many believed the task of evangelism had ended with the early church. But Carey, stirred by the writings of Jonathan Edwards and joined by faithful friends like Andrew Fuller and Samuel Pearce, began to pray and fast monthly for revival and the spread of the gospel. Their prayers led to the formation of a missionary society—and ultimately, to Carey’s departure for India.
Today, over six thousand people groups—more than 1.5 billion souls—remain unreached. The task is unfinished. But the command is clear, and the promise still stands.
Every believer shares in this mission. Whether we go, send, pray, or support, we are called to make disciples. The early church understood this. Ordinary Christians, scattered by persecution, “went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Churches like Antioch sent missionaries, and new churches joined the work.
May we, too, be found faithful. The obligation remains. The promise remains. Let us go, trusting that Christ goes with us.
Respond:
1. Have you embraced this mission as your own?
2. Which part of Jesus’ command—go, make, baptize, or teach—feels most challenging to you?
3. Who in your life needs to be discipled?
4. How are you actively following and helping others follow Jesus?
Monday
Matthew 4 (Scripture Focus verse 19)
Discover:
When Jesus settled in Capernaum (Matt. 4:13), His ministry entered a new phase. Galilee, a vibrant crossroads of commerce and culture, became the perfect place for His message to spread—among both Jews and Gentiles. Unlike Jerusalem, where opposition brewed early, Galilee offered space for ministry without constant threat.
Jesus began His public ministry with the same message as John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). Though John belonged to the old covenant and Jesus inaugurated the new, both proclaimed the same kingdom. Repentance remains the doorway to divine revelation (Isa. 66:2), and only the humble can enter.
By the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave their nets and follow Him (Matt. 4:19). Though they had met Him before (John 1:35–42), this was the moment of decisive calling. Unlike other rabbis, Jesus didn’t wait to be chosen—He chose His disciples. And He didn’t merely invite them; He commanded them to follow.
This same call echoes to us today. Christ still seeks followers who will leave behind comfort and certainty to become “fishers of men.” His call is not optional—it is a summons to obedience, rooted in love and trust.
Respond:
1. How has Jesus changed your identity and purpose?
2. What does “fishing for people” look like in your current circles?
3. Who is someone you can pray for and pursue spiritually this week?
tuesday
Proverbs 29 (Scripture Focus verse 18)
Discover:
God’s Word is precious. Before Scripture was complete, He spoke through prophets, guiding His people with divine revelation. Solomon reminds us that without this light, people stumble into moral and spiritual chaos (Prov. 29:18).
History confirms this truth. In the days of the Judges, when “the word of the Lord was rare” (1 Sam. 3:1), everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Judg. 21:25)—and it led to disorder and decline. When God’s voice is ignored, human nature takes over, and peace gives way to confusion.
But God has not left us in the dark. Through the Bible, He reveals what pleases Him. His Word is our compass in a world that often loses its way. Proverbs teaches that rejecting godly wisdom brings harm (Prov. 3:1–2; 8:32–36), but embracing it brings life.
Today, as ever, our culture needs truth. The Bible is that truth. Let us treasure it, submit to it, and share it—so that light may shine in the darkness.
Respond:
1. Are you living with a clear spiritual mission?
2. How has God given you vision for your personal life or ministry?
3. What would it look like for you to bring that vision into sharper focus?
4. What distractions tend to pull you away from mission?
Wednesday
Matthew 22 (Scripture Focus 37–39)
Discover:
The Heidelberg Catechism teaches that obedience to God’s law is a response of gratitude, a mark of true faith, and a path of sanctification. At the heart of this law are the Ten Commandments—a timeless guide to a life that pleases our Creator.
Jesus summarized the law simply: love God and love your neighbor (Matt. 22:34–40). These two commands reflect the structure of the Ten Commandments. The first four teach us how to love God; the last six show us how to love others. This twofold division has shaped Christian teaching for centuries, reminding us that true obedience is relational—rooted in love.
Whether the commandments were inscribed on one tablet or two, the message is clear: love is the fulfillment of the law. We cannot love God rightly without loving our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor rightly without loving God (1 John 4:20).
Respond:
1. Which of these two commandments do you find easier—loving God or loving people?
2. How can you deepen your love for God this week?
3. Who is one person God is calling you to love more intentionally?
4. Is there anyone you need to forgive or serve this week?
THursday
Acts 1 (Scripture Focus verse 8)
Discover:
All believers are called to bear witness to Jesus Christ. This calling is not optional—it’s part of our identity in Him. Before His ascension, Jesus declared, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). The only question is whether we will be faithful or forgetful in that role.
Witnessing and evangelism are related, but distinct. Evangelism is a specific form of witnessing—sharing the message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and calling others to trust in Him. But witnessing includes much more. It’s about making visible the invisible reign of God.
We bear witness when we love one another (John 13:34–35), showing the world that Christ rules in our hearts. We bear witness when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, proclaiming His death until He comes (1 Cor. 11:26). We bear witness through holy living, through our testimony, and through every act that reflects the reality of God’s kingdom.
Yet, only evangelism—speaking the gospel and calling for faith—can bring someone from death to life. So while all our lives should witness to Christ, we must also be ready to speak His name and share His story.
Respond:
1. Are you living as a Spirit-empowered witness in your everyday life?
2. What would it look like to be bolder in sharing your faith this week?
3. Where is your “Jerusalem” right now—your immediate mission field?
4. How can you support or engage in global missions, too?
Friday
John 13 (Scripture Focus 34–35)
Discover:
Jesus spoke in parables to reveal hidden truths—truths that had been veiled since the foundation of the world. These mysteries, now made known, are not merely intellectual curiosities. They are truths that demand transformation. And among the most profound of these is the truth that Christian love is not sentimental or superficial—it is rooted in the truth of the gospel.
In our day, unity is often pursued at the expense of truth. But true Christian unity is never built on compromise. It is built on the foundation of revealed truth—truth that Christ Himself uttered and that the Spirit has preserved in Scripture. Love and truth are not enemies; they are companions. As believers, we are called to love one another deeply, but never in a way that denies the gospel.
There are times when separation is necessary—when the fundamentals of the faith are abandoned. The gospel is non-negotiable. Yet, we must also guard against the opposite error: dividing over every difference, even when the essentials are affirmed. Too often, we seek reasons to break fellowship with those who are not like us, forgetting that Christ’s body is broader than our tradition.
If a brother or sister affirms the gospel—Christ’s deity, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith—we are bound to them in love. We may differ in practice or secondary doctrine, but we must not let those differences fracture the unity that Christ prayed for in John 17.
Respond:
1. How does your love reflect Jesus to the world?
2. Are there any strained relationships that need reconciliation?
3. What act of love can you do for someone in your church, home, or workplace?
4. What’s the difference between liking someone and loving them like Jesus does?
Saturday
2 Timothy 2 (Scripture Focus 2:2)
Discover:
Second Timothy speaks to all believers, but its message is especially important for pastors, elders, and teachers. Paul reminds Timothy—and us—that faithfulness to Christ often involves suffering, and that leaders face unique temptations, such as compromising the gospel to please crowds or grow attendance.
Knowing this, Paul urges Timothy to entrust the gospel to faithful men who will teach others (2 Tim. 2:1–2). Paul’s words carry the authority of God’s Word, and they must be passed on unchanged. True succession in the church is not about a chain of ordinations, but about preserving the purity of the gospel.
The church is found where the gospel is preached faithfully, where leaders guard God’s truth, and where only qualified men proclaim His Word. As Tertullian noted, we must reject any teaching that deviates from what Paul taught Timothy.
Ultimately, it is only by God’s grace that leaders—and all believers—remain faithful. Grace not only saves us; it sustains us in every step of the Christian life (John 1:16).
Respond:
1. Who has discipled or invested in your faith?
2. Who are you currently investing in spiritually?
3. What would it look like to become more intentional about multiplication?
4. How can you make disciples who make disciples?