Daily Reading Week 44

Monday Oct. 31

John 14

In whom should we have faith, and what can faith do for our troubles – 14:1? 

  • Where was Jesus going and why – 14:2-4?

  • Why would Jesus come back? (Think: What is Jesus talking about here?)

  • What question did Thomas ask Jesus – 14:5?

  • What was Jesus’ reply?

Respond:

  • It is hard to exhaust the multifaceted nature of Jesus’ statement here. Thomas is looking for a literal roadmap with specific directions to get where Jesus was going. But Jesus says that he himself is the way. Tellingly, the early Christians were called followers of “the Way” (Acts 9:2). Jesus’ claim of himself being the way is as timely today as it was when Jesus first spoke the words. We live in an age of religious pluralism that considers the exclusive nature of Christianity’s claims inappropriate, narrow, and intolerant. It has been said that pluralism accepts no absolute truth claims other than its contention that there is no absolute truth. Jesus is not “a way”, he is “THE Way”, and salvation is found in him alone.  

Tuesday nov 1

Joel 2

Discover:

  • According to 2:11, what has Joel been describing? Whose power is really behind the events being described?

  • What response does God hope the people will give to this warning – 2:12-14?

  • What should the people do to encourage repentance according to 2:15,16? Who should attend?

Respond:

  • As a response to his warnings, Joel encourages the people not to tear their clothing but instead to tear their hearts. He calls the people to feel sorrow for their sin, and shame for their disobedience. He is not saying that outward signs of repentance like torn clothes are inappropriate, but he is putting the emphasis on the attitude of the heart. Outward signs are useless without an accompanying change of heart. We are accustomed to thinking of repentance only as a one-time event that initiates our walk with Christ, however the entire Christian life is one of repentance. Christinas must turn from sin and towards Jesus every day of their lives.

Wednesday nov 2

John 1

Discover:

  • Who is “the Word” (cf. v14), and what does 1:1,2 tell us about Him?

  •  What did “the Word” make – 1:3?

  • What two characteristics did the Word have according to 1:4,5?

Respond:

The Greek term translated as “word” in John 1:1 is logos. Although it is translated as the simple term word, it should be noted that logos carried a lot of philosophical baggage in the ancient Greek world. Ancient Greek philosophers were concerned with answering the ultimate questions of reality, and the term they came up with was logos. The logos came to mean that which gave life and meaning to the universe. It was seen as an impersonal force, but not a personal being. When we come to his gospel, John does two things that were astounding to Greek philosophers. The logos becomes a personal being that people can receive or reject. This logos also becomes incarnate as a man that revealed the glory of God. John starts his gospel with “In the beginning” just as Genesis begins and he tells us more directly that the Word was God. This logos, which gives meaning and purpose to all things, is far from being an impersonal force or principle. This logos is Jesus Christ, the very God of the universe.

Thursday nov. 3

Acts 4

Discover:

  • What did Peter say God did for Jesus, and what did this have to do with the reason for Peter and John’s arrest (cf. v2)?

  • What Old Testament prophecy is quoted in 4:11, and what does it mean?

  • Why could the Jewish rulers not speak against the miracle done by the apostles – 4:14-16?

  • What did they decide about the apostles? What charge did they give them – 4:17,18?

  • What response did Peter and John make to this charge – 4:19,20?

Respond:

  • Reflect on a time when you felt alone or abandoned.

  • What is it that makes Jesus uniquely qualified to introduce people to God?

  • Have you ever experienced the power or presence of the Holy Spirit? What was it like?

  • How does the Spirit empower you to fulfill God’s call on your life?

friday nov. 4

Hebrews 1

Discover:

  • How did God speak “in times past” – 1:1? 

  • What were some of the various ways by which God revealed His will to prophets.

  • How has God spoken “in the last days” – 1:2?

  • How does this differ from his speaking to the prophets?

Respond:

  • God revealed himself to his people over many centuries, often giving new information that built on but did not contradict what came before. The Lord spoke to Abraham and gave him the promise of salvation. Later he spoke to Israel through Moses adding the Law. After that, the prophets gave more revelation. The final revelation came in the incarnation of God’s Son and the writings of his Apostles. This progressive revelation means that those of us living in the new covenant era are blessed to know more about God’s plan than those who lived under the old covenant. That does not mean that we ignore the old covenant because Scripture cannot be broken. We need the Old Testament as much as we need the New Testament to know our Creator and how to love and obey him.

saturday nov. 5

Ezekiel 36

Discover:

  • After reading the chapter today read John 3:5.

  • What things do you see in common?

Respond:

  • Although some traditions see a veiled reference to baptism in Jesus’ words in John 3:5, the important thing to note is that Jesus connects water and Spirit just like Ezekial did. Christ’s mentioning of the Holy Spirit and water together illustrates the Spirit’s work. Calvin commented on John 3:5, “It is a frequent and common way of speaking in Scripture, when the Spirit is mentioned, to add the word Water or Fire, expressing his power.” The Holy Spirit brings true cleansing and renewal, cleaning us so thoroughly that we regard the filthiness of sin as out of place in our soul. Water does a similar thing on an earthly level, cleaning what was dirty and establishing a contrast. Through the washing of water, Christian baptism illustrates the work of the Holy Spirit.

sunday nov. 7

GENESIS 22

Discover:

  • What test did God give Abraham – 22:1,2?

  • Despite the difficulties, how did Abraham show his willingness to obey – 22:3,4?

  • What question did Isaac ask regarding the proceedings and how did Abraham answer – 22:5-8?

  • What did God say regarding Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac – 22:14-18?

Respond:

  • Living by faith often means we grit our teeth and press on in obedience to the Lord’s command even when we are in turmoil over it. Our spouses may hurt us deeply, and we may feel like responding in kind, but we strive to respond in love, for the sake of our marriage vows made in God’s name. Since we are commanded to submit to our authorities, we go the extra mile for that boss who never thanks us even when our natural inclination is only to do the minimum. True faith, as Abraham demonstrated, serves God even if it is the last thing we feel like doing.