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 31:8
Proverbs 31:8
Understanding to grow in
God's word must be the centre for any revival or reformation of the church. Here the people initiate it, asking for God's law. And they get a sermon lasting half a day! He reads it to "all who were able to understand" from daybreak until noon, with the Levites explaining its meaning. We read the people listened "attentively." It's a model for all God's people in every generation. Their attitude was one of worship - praising God and bowing down as the book is opened, for when God's word is read God is present and speaking. Their response was one of repentance, mourning and weeping as they listened - no doubt remembering the exile that the nation's sin had brought on them. But with reassurance, Nehemiah urges them now to rejoice, for God had restored them to their land and temple. For eight days then, Ezra read from the law as the people celebrated the feast of booths that the law told them to celebrate in remembrance of Israel's time in the desert. Later that month, the renewal of devotion to God continued as the people mourned their sins and those of the nation - a quarter of the day listening to God's law being read, and a quarter of the day spent in confession and worship. The Levites' prayer is worth careful attention. It summarises Old Testament history, emphasizing God's faithfulness in redeeming, leading and providing for Israel - protecting them, giving them their land, continually showing them compassion; and the people's rebellion in disobeying, ignoring and forgetting God - killing his prophets and so eventually being handed over to their enemies in exile. The prayer ends acknowledging that they are still to some extent subject to foreign powers because of their sin, and makes an agreement to obey his law with three particular emphases: not intermarrying, not breaking the Sabbath, and giving tithes to the work of the temple. As you read compare your own attitude to God and his word.
God's word must be the centre for any revival or reformation of the church. Here the people initiate it, asking for God's law. And they get a sermon lasting half a day! He reads it to "all who were able to understand" from daybreak until noon, with the Levites explaining its meaning. We read the people listened "attentively." It's a model for all God's people in every generation. Their attitude was one of worship - praising God and bowing down as the book is opened, for when God's word is read God is present and speaking. Their response was one of repentance, mourning and weeping as they listened - no doubt remembering the exile that the nation's sin had brought on them. But with reassurance, Nehemiah urges them now to rejoice, for God had restored them to their land and temple. For eight days then, Ezra read from the law as the people celebrated the feast of booths that the law told them to celebrate in remembrance of Israel's time in the desert. Later that month, the renewal of devotion to God continued as the people mourned their sins and those of the nation - a quarter of the day listening to God's law being read, and a quarter of the day spent in confession and worship. The Levites' prayer is worth careful attention. It summarises Old Testament history, emphasizing God's faithfulness in redeeming, leading and providing for Israel - protecting them, giving them their land, continually showing them compassion; and the people's rebellion in disobeying, ignoring and forgetting God - killing his prophets and so eventually being handed over to their enemies in exile. The prayer ends acknowledging that they are still to some extent subject to foreign powers because of their sin, and makes an agreement to obey his law with three particular emphases: not intermarrying, not breaking the Sabbath, and giving tithes to the work of the temple. As you read compare your own attitude to God and his word.
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.