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
Of course we might long to have been around when Jesus lived. But we are better off now he has gone to heaven. When here he was limited to Israel. Now he is in heaven, he has poured out his presence by the Holy Spirit throughout the world. As we saw yesterday, the Holy Spirit taught the apostles the truth they have passed on. But more than that, he is at work in convicting those from the world of that truth and so of sin and righteousness and judgment. Moreover, because we belong to Jesus and he is now with his Father, we can pray boldly to the Father in his name. Jesus is honest. his people will face trouble in the world. But they can take heart that he has "overcome" it and so in him they will too. All this provides content to Jesus' prayer in chapter 17. He prays for himself - that his followers would see the glory of his obeying his Father even to the cross and being displayed as the Son by his resurrection and ascension. He prays for those followers back then - that by his word they would be protected and know joy. And he prays for us, his followers from then on - that we would live in loving unity to show the world that the one we follow is of God, and that we would in time come to see Jesus in his heavenly glory. As you read note the things Jesus is concerned for.John 16-17
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.