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
Even prophets stuggle to understand God's ways. Habakkuk cries out to God over the destruction and violence he sees amongst God's people, only for the LORD to reveal that he is raising up the Babylonian empire to destroy the Assyrians and bring down his justice upon Judah. In short, God is going to use evil to judge evil. This raises another question: Habakkuk asks how God can tolerate such a thing, when the wicked swallow up those more righteous. The LORD now responds that he will in turn judge Babylon for the very actions from them that he has used. And he affirms that in all this "the righteous will live by faith (or faithfulness)" (2v4). The point is that God's sovereignty and wisdom mean that he uses even people's evil acts to fulfil good purposes, without doing evil himself. It should encourage us. Even the worst of what occurs in the world has some place in God's plan. Like Job, we may never understand what that is. But it is true nevertheless. And in all the mystery, what we must do is trust God until the end. As you read note how God works justice.
Habakkuk
Habakkuk
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.