Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read
slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God,
thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for
you, your family, your church and the world.
Wisdom to chew on
Proverbs 29:23
Proverbs 29:23
Understanding to grow in
Godliness matters primarily because it pleases God. But also because it commends the gospel. So wives are called to the beauty of a willing submission to their husbands - and especially so any non-Christian husbands might be won over to consider the gospel. Such a command goes against the grain of our culture. But it is not a sanction of abuse. It is a means to harmony, recognizing that in marriage husbands are called to take the lead, caring and respecting for their wives and seeing them as equal hiers of salvation (3v7). Godliness is also to mark evangelism. Believers must "revere Christ as Lord" and so be prepared to face whatever hostility comes in sharing the gospel. But they are to share it with "gentleness and respect" to thwart those who want to speak evil of them. The principle in all this is that of living at peace with each other, and of following the example of Christ who himself suffered. 3v19-22 are much debated. Probably they are saying that there was a sense in which Christ preached the gospel through Noah to those in the days of the flood whose spirits are now imprisoned in hell. And just as only a few were being saved in Peter's day, only a few were saved then. As you read note the encouragements to evangelism. Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.