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 30:21-23
Proverbs 30:21-23
Understanding to grow in
Ezra is marked out by his list of anscestors and the refrain that "the gracious hand of his God was on him" (v6, 9). But we should note the context to that refrain. Verse 6 tell us he was "well versed" in God's law, and verse 10 that he had "devoted itself to its study." This was why God was so with him. Ezra displayed his love of God by his love for what God had to say. So the Lord "put it into the king's heart" to give Ezra charge over worship at the new temple and the administration of God's law in the area around Israel. It's an astonishing thing. It rightly moved the people to praise. It foreshadows Christ as the word made flesh, who enables us to be true worshippers and who writes his law on our hearts. But it also encourages us as to what the Lord might do in our own day to revive his church, whilst challenging us to be Ezras who so love God that we love, study and seek to administer his word. As you read note how God works.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.