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
Although the primary purpose of the law was to highlight the people's inability to keep it and so move them to seek God's mercy, it was also necessary to restrain sin and order their society. Chapters 20-24 are known as the book of the law. They include detailed legislation that apply the principles of the Ten Commandments to the realities of life for Israel in the desert. In today's section we see a concern that God is rightly revered, the protection of slaves and especially women, and a respect for life and property that ensures right punishment when wrong is done and restitution for harm. The seriousness of disrespect for parents is probably because of their importance in passing the faith on to the next generation. Jesus teaches that love sums the law (Lk 10v27). As God is love, this means that the law reflects what it meant to live in a Christ-like way in Israel's particular context - although with a degree of lenience because of sin. But the Spirit writes God's law on the heart of the Christian. So it's principles apply in a deeper and more heart-felt sense to us (see Matt 19v8-9 for an example). As you read consider how they might apply apply to society in a general sense and to the Christian in a fuller sense.
Exodus 20:22-22:15
Exodus 20:22-22:15
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.