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
Jesus speaks in such a way about "the end" that keeps every generation ready. This is a much discussed passage. In reflecting on the temple, Jesus says that it will be destroyed. His disciples respond by asking when, linking it in their minds to Jesus' "coming" and "the end of the age." In Jesus' response to them, verses 4-28 almost certainly refer predominantly to the events leading up to the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem in AD70. This period will be marked by wars, natural disasters, persecution, false prophets and false claims to being the Messiah. Verse 29 then uses the word "immediately" in a prophetic sense, to say that the events of AD70 will be a marker, meaning that the next key point in God's purposes will be the return of Christ, but that it could come at any time after that. The language of verse 29 comes from the prophets and may or may not refer to literal cosmic events - although we should note the sun was literally darkened at the cross. It is then that Christ will "come" (return) just as he went (Acts 1v11) and his people gathered into his kingdom. What follows is the point: Not knowing when this will be means that every generation must be ready. As you read consider what you need to put in place to be ready for Christ.
Matthew 24
Matthew 24
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.