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
Understanding to
grow in
From Beersheba
in the south, Jacob heads north to visit his uncle Laban in Harran (located in in
what is now Turkey). When sleeping in the centre of what would later become
Israel he receives his dream of angels ascending and descending from heaven. It
highlights the special place of the promised land in God’s purposes. It is there
God will one day reside in his temple, and there that heaven will be directly
accessed through Jacob’s greatest descendent, as Jesus himself points out (Jn
1v51). It is significant then that we immediately learn about the parentage of those
who would become the twelve tribes of Israel. Even the start of Abraham’s great
nation came about through deception and rivalry – problems repeated throughout
its history. It means that we should not be surprised by the failings of those within the church today. But we see too the Lord’s concern for the oppressed amongst his people in
his blessing of Leah. As you read note what traits the LORD displays.
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.