Daily Reading Week 39
Sunday
Daniel 3 (Scripture Focus 16–18)
Discover:
King Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty ruler of Babylon, built a massive golden statue, as tall as a nine-story building, to boost his power and glory. He invited all the top officials—governors, counselors, and more—to its grand dedication, complete with the finest musicians. Attendance wasn’t optional; everyone had to bow to the statue or face a fiery furnace.
When the music played, nearly everyone worshipped the image, except three brave Jewish exiles: Hananiah, Mishal, and Azariah. They stood firm, choosing God’s glory over their own safety. Furious, the king confronted them, warning of the furnace if they didn’t comply. Their bold response? “Our God can save us, but even if He doesn’t, we won’t worship your statue”. Their faith shone in those words: “but even if He doesn’t.”
Like them, we’re called to stand courageously for truth, no matter the cost. Christ faced the ultimate fire for us on the cross. Now, it’s our privilege to live boldly for Him.
Respond:
1. What cultural “images” are people pressured to bow to today?
2. Why do you think the three friends refused to compromise?
3. How does trusting Christ free you from the need to impress others?
4. Where do you need courage to stand for God this week?
Monday
1 Samuel 16 (Scripture Focus verse 7)
Discover:
God gently nudges Samuel to move past his grief over Saul’s failures, saying, “It’s time to act—I’ve chosen a new king from Jesse’s sons in Bethlehem”. Samuel hesitates, worried Saul might kill him, but God suggests a plan: announce a sacrifice and invite Jesse’s family. When Samuel arrives, the Bethlehem elders are nervous, fearing judgment, but he reassures them and prepares for the sacrifice with Jesse and his sons.
As the sons parade before Samuel, he’s impressed by Eliab, the eldest, thinking, “Surely this is the one!” But God corrects him: “People look at appearances, but I see the heart”. Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, and four others don’t make the cut. Puzzled, Samuel asks Jesse if there’s another son. Jesse casually mentions the youngest, David, out tending sheep, too insignificant to even be invited. But God chooses him. When David arrives—ruddy, bright-eyed, and handsome—God says, “Anoint him.” Samuel pours oil on David, and the Holy Spirit empowers him to lead God’s people.
God loves to accomplish his will in ways that astonish us. David, the least of his brothers, became great because God was with him. Let’s celebrate God’s amazing, unexpected ways today!
Respond:
1. How do you feel pressure to “look the part”?
2. What qualities do you think God values most in your life?
3. How can you shift your focus from outward appearance to inward character?
tuesday
Matthew 23 (Scripture Focus 5–7)
Discover:
Pride, often seen as the root of all sin, makes repentance tough—nobody likes admitting they’re more flawed than they seem. In Jesus’ time, some Pharisees fed their pride by flaunting their “holiness” with oversized phylacteries—small boxes with Scripture worn on the arm and forehead during prayer and extra-long garment fringes meant to show devotion to God’s law. Jesus wore fringes too, but never to show off.
Jesus challenged the Pharisees’ love for titles and status, not because titles like “apostle” or “teacher” are wrong, but because no Christian is above another. We shouldn’t flaunt our roles or fake humility by downplaying them. As John Calvin notes, Jesus alone is the true Shepherd, and while He allows others to serve under Him, no one should demand blind loyalty. True humility, not pride, is what God desires, and Jesus’ humble path is the only way to true exaltation.
Matthew Henry puts it well: it’s great to strive for genuine holiness, but not to parade it. Are we serving God quietly or craving others’ applause? Check your heart—serve for God’s eyes, not the crowd’s.
Respond:
1. What do you think it means to “do things for show” today?
2. How do you guard against performing faith just to look good?
3. What helps you live authentically for Christ instead of applause?
Wednesday
Acts 5 (Scripture Focus 1–4)
Discover:
After Pentecost, many Jerusalem believers sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with the church, living with "all things in common". Barnabas, for example, sold a field and gave the money to the church. Some groups have misread this as a call for communism, but that misses the context.
First, the New Testament supports private property. Peter told Ananias that his land and its proceeds were his to keep or give—no one forced him to sell. Second, this was a unique moment of crisis and excitement, where radical steps, like selling property, supported the church’s mission during a pivotal time. Jesus had called for similar sacrifices in the Gospels. Third, Jesus’ warnings about Jerusalem’s coming destruction made holding property there unwise. Selling it and giving to the church showed trust in His prophecy and fueled the Gospel’s spread.
Unlike those early believers, we’re not in the same crisis or expecting Jerusalem’s fall, but we can learn from their trust and generosity. They prioritized God’s kingdom over personal wealth. Ask yourself: Are you holding your resources tightly, or are you open to using what God has given you—time, money, talents—to advance His work? Trust God with what you have, and let it serve His purpose.
Respond:
1. Why do you think they felt pressure to exaggerate their gift?
2. Where are you tempted to project a false image to others?
3. What does this story teach us about God’s view of authenticity?
THursday
Ephesians 2 (Scripture Focus Verse 10)
Discover:
Faith alone is how we receive Christ’s righteousness, the sole basis for our justification. It’s not faith itself that makes us righteous—only Christ’s obedience does that. But we can’t claim His righteousness without faith, trusting and resting in Him alone.
Why faith? Because faith is God’s gift, not something we muster on our own. In Ephesians 2:8, Paul calls salvation, grace, and faith a “gift of God”—not just grace, which is already a gift by definition. God’s mercy grants us faith through Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Even the good works we do after justification are God’s gifts, but they don’t justify us. Faith does, because it’s about receiving, not earning. Like Abraham, who simply trusted God’s promise without offering anything, saving faith is an open hand, admitting we have nothing to give.
In justification, we’re beggars before God, offering only an open hand for His mercy. True faith knows we deserve condemnation and claims no merit of our own.
Respond:
1. Do you trust God with that kind of humble dependence?
2. How does this verse challenge the world’s view of image and worth?
3. What “good works” do you think God has prepared for you to do?
Friday
Colossians 3 (Scripture Focus 9–10)
Discover:
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul celebrates our new humanity in Christ. Before trusting Jesus, the Colossians were like all fallen people—alienated, hostile, and caught in sin, as described in Colossians 1:21–23. But through Christ’s death and resurrection, they were redeemed from darkness into God’s light.
Even with this great salvation, the Colossians needed encouragement to stay strong in faith, especially with false teachers pushing ideas like angelic mediators or strict rule-keeping. Paul points them to Jesus, the only Savior in whom “all the fullness of deity dwells,” according to Colossians 1:15–20. Only Christ frees us from the brokenness of our old selves in Adam—marked by sin and powerlessness—and makes us new, complete human beings. As Christians, we’re called to live out this new humanity with love, holiness, patience, and more, reflecting God’s original design for us. The church, living this way, shows the world what true humanity looks like.
Jesus doesn’t just save us from sin; He saves us to true humanity. Let’s live like Him, bearing God’s image as we were meant to. Though sin warped our sense of humanity, it didn’t destroy God’s image in us. We learn to be truly human only in a faithful church, grounded in Christ’s Word—the perfect image of God. Without the church, we can’t fully grow or understand what it means to be human.
Respond:
1. What “old self” habits do you still struggle with?
2. How does being renewed in Christ’s image change how you see yourself?
3. What would it look like for you to reflect Christ’s image more clearly this week?
Saturday
Galatians 1 (Scripture Focus Verse 10)
Discover:
Besides preaching a false gospel, the teachers attacking Paul also targeted his character, accusing him of “flip-flopping” and changing his message to please others. Paul addresses this in Galatians 1:10, suggesting the false teachers claimed he promoted “easy believism” or “cheap grace.” They ignored that the gospel, while freeing us from the old Law’s curse, doesn’t permit lawlessness. In fact, the gospel’s call to bear one another’s burdens—spiritually, financially, and relationally, is more demanding than physical circumcision, though these deeds don’t earn salvation. The Holy Spirit empowers those justified by faith alone to fulfill Christ’s law, without meriting salvation.
The false teachers likely pointed to Paul’s circumcision of Jewish Christians like Timothy, described in Acts 16:1–5, while refusing to impose Mosaic law on Gentiles, labeling him inconsistent. They may have also twisted his willingness to “become all things to all people,” as he writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23, to question his integrity. But Paul’s approach was consistent: he preached justification by faith alone to both Jews and Gentiles. He circumcised Jewish converts like Timothy to avoid offending non-Christian Jews, respecting their cultural heritage, but only if they understood it didn’t save them. For Gentiles, circumcision was foreign and could confuse them into thinking salvation depended on it, as the Galatian situation shows.
Galatians 1:10 shows Paul was no people-pleaser—cursing false teachers in verses 8–9 proves he didn’t seek everyone’s approval. His adaptability, becoming “all things to all people,” reflects godly practicality, holding firm to the gospel while avoiding unnecessary offense. This balance should guide the church today, ensuring we don’t dilute the gospel in our efforts to reach others.
Respond:
1. Where do you most feel the pull of people-pleasing?
2. How can you remind yourself this week that God’s approval matters most?
3. What step can you take to live more boldly for Christ instead of others’ applause?