Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 82, Exodus 1
But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad.
Exodus 1:12a
I recently read a quote that went something like, “When the authorities loosen their grip, the gospel spreads … and when the authorities tighten their grip, the church is trained and becomes more disciplined … but always we are in God’s hands.”
Today in reading the story of the persecution of the young Hebrew nation in Exodus 1, I saw the Lord’s hand in both spreading and training His people, but in this case, persecution is actually what caused the people to spread abroad.
Isn’t that what happened in the dispersion of the new disciples of Jesus Christ who were persecuted for their faith? And how about what happened when God confused the people’s languages at the tower of Babel in Genesis 11? God’s people were dispersed over the face of all the earth as a result of their suffering and hardship, but all the time they were in God’s hands.
I am reminded again and again as I read through the scriptures that my ways are not God’s ways. So often the very thing that seems straight from the pit of hell is exactly what God uses for His glory and my good – if I only keep my eyes open to it. No matter what, I can trust that I am in God’s hands.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, Help us to trust You no matter what. Help us to believe that You are in control even when life feels out of control. You are always on Your throne. You are working all things together for good. Let us not be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe, both the Jew and the Gentile. Help us to want for the good even of those who persecute us and shame us and say all kinds of evil about us falsely on Your account. We love You and we trust You. Increase our faith, Father. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 80, Matthew 27
When my kids were little I loved taking them to the zoo. We could spend all day there wandering around, pushing whoever was the youngest in a stroller while the oldest ones walked. Inevitably the youngest would cry out, “Mom, pick me up! I can’t see,” so I’d lift them out of the stroller and hold them high, so they could peek into the enclosure and see the coveted lion or tiger or hippo. The concrete wall designed to keep the beasts inside and the humans safely out, also prevented my children from seeing what we’d come to see.
In God’s mercy, He had commanded that a thick curtain be hung to separate the congregation from the “Holy of Holies” – first in the tabernacle and later in the temple. This curtain, estimated to be nearly 60 feet long and 4 inches thick, three times as tall as the tallest giraffe, is the one referred to in Matthew 27.
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”
Matthew 27:50-51a ESV
What is the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two? Why would God cause that to happen when Jesus died?
Click here to read how Got Questions answers the question, “What was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died?”
I hope you’ll continue on in the 2-year Bible reading plan! The next books we will be reading through are Exodus and Leviticus. In them you’ll learn so much more about the history of the tabernacle and the worship of Jehovah God. Then, we will turn to Hebrews where we will learn the purpose of these types and shadows of the Old Testament and how Christ fulfilled them.
Will you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, You have made a way through the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, for us to come into Your presence. We have been washed clean through our faith in the finished work of Jesus who paid the price that was demanded. By His death, the veil has been torn. By His death, we have received eternal life. Now, Father, let us walk in gratitude and faith in Your Son in whose name we pray. Amen.
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-23 ESV
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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 78, Matthew 25
The Lord blessed our family with four children over a span of eleven and a half years. I was a busy homeschooling mom trying my best to manage a very busy household. One way that I did this was with “chore charts” assigning various chores to each child in our household.
My oldest daughter was responsible for so many tasks around the home, from cooking and cleaning to helping with her younger siblings. My youngest son had much smaller jobs like feeding the dog or putting away the silverware.
Did I assign them the same jobs? Certainly not. Was it unjust? Absolutely not. They had different skill levels, so they were given correspondingly different jobs.
Yet, yhey were equally praised for a job well done and equally reprimanded for a job poorly done, regardless of whether they were supposed to clean the entire bathroom or merely empty the trash can.
Likewise, our perfectly wise Lord gives each of His children a different quantity of talents, but they are eligible for equal praise. To the ones who invested their talents well, whether apportioned two or five, the Lord says, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:20, 22) The one who invested well his five talents did not receive greater praise, nor did the one who invested well his two talents receive lesser praise.
The Lord is angry with the worthless servant, not because he only had one talent, but because he did not invest his one talent well. The one who received only one talent chose to hide it in the ground, saying that he knew that the master was a hard man, “reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed,” (Matthew 25:24) Surely this man doesn’t truly know the character of his Master, for if he did he would never utter such words.
Good servants know their Master, that He is good and generous to give His servants talents with which to serve Him.
When I was an atheist, I lived my life serving no one but me. I recognized no Master of my destiny except me.
Now, as a follower of Jesus Christ, it is a gift to serve my Lord and to know that I was created on purpose for a purpose. It is good news to be God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
What talents has the Lord entrusted to you?
Has He blessed you with children, a house, a skill, a passion, a testimony … all of the above?
How can you put them to good use for your master?
Heavenly Father, You are a good Father who delights in giving good gifts to Your children, and You are a good Master in giving us, Your servants, fruitful tasks to accomplish. It is a joy for our lives to have meaning and purpose. It is a joy to serve you here on earth, and it is a joy to look forward to that day we will enter into Your kingdom and hear the words we long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In the Name of our Gracious Master Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
Seeing yourself as a steward of your time, talents, treasures, and testimony
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 76, Matthew 23
“”Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:3-12 ESV
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.…
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.…
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.…
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,”
– Matthew 23:23, 25, 27, 29 ESV
I’m afraid that all too often we’re mixing up our blessings and our woes. It seems that we’re working for those things that Jesus says “woe to you,” focusing our energies on making our outsides look good – posting the perfect pictures and enrolling our kids in the perfect classes, being careful to be seen at church and PTA meetings – while neglecting the weightier matters of justice and mercy and faithfulness.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV) While the Pharisees “tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.” (Matthew 23:4 ESV)
Are we focused more on what people think or what God thinks?
Are we loving our neighbors or hurting them?
Do we look more like Christ or more like a Pharisee?
Oh, Heavenly Father, help us to love what You love and hate what You hate. Help us to listen carefully to these words Jesus spoke to these hypocritical leaders as well as the words of the prophet, Isaiah, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21)
Give us the strength and wisdom to examine our own hearts and to be diligent to pluck the log out of our own eyes. Help us to remember that our words and actions are the overflow of what’s inside our hearts, so please help us to care more about what’s inside the cup of our heart than what others can see on the outside.
We pray this for Your glory and in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Hallelujah, Salvation and Glory – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 75, Matthew 22
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”
Matthew 22:8-13 ESV
I remember one time shortly after moving to the South when I went to a “Moms Night Out” gathering for homeschooling moms. It was in the evening, and it was being hosted in a fellow homeschooling mom’s home. I showed up in what I’d been wearing all day – what I wore every day – a Christian t-shirt and jeans. My curly hair was unbrushed, and my face was make-up free. I walked into that room full of strangers and immediately wanted to turn around and walk back to the car.
Apparently I’d missed the memo that said, “Before you come, make sure you brush your hair, and put on some makeup and stylish mom-wear.”
This is not at all what Jesus was referring to in this parable of the wedding feast. Jesus doesn’t care about your makeup. He doesn’t care if you’ve brushed your hair or put on a cute new outfit. He doesn’t care how much money is in your bank account, how many square feet are in your home, or which side of the train tracks you live on. He doesn’t care how tall you are or what color your skin is. He doesn’t care about your ACT score or what kind of grades you got in high school. In fact, He doesn’t care whether you’re from the North or the South, the East or the West.
The banqueting table of the Lord is long and wide. He has invited all kinds of people – men and women, rich and poor, and every shade of skin, eye, and hair color – to His wedding feast.
Like Jesus’s parable of the net (Matthew 13:47-50), at the end of the age every kind of fish will be gathered – trout and salmon and tuna, brim and red snapper. But, ultimately, there are only two kinds of fish: good fish and bad fish.
When you breathe your last breath, what’s going to matter is this: Are you wearing a wedding garment?
This isn’t a multiple choice test where you’re offered a whole list of choices A, B, C, D, or E.
There will only be two choices: Yes or No. You are either wearing your wedding garments or you aren’t.
And there’s only one way to get those wedding garments. They must be given to you by the groom, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the man on the middle cross.
So, I’ve got to ask you: Has Jesus given you the wedding garments? Or are you trying to get in with clothes of your own making and design, not realizing they are only filthy rags?
Friends, God knows your heart. No amount of makeup or hair styling or clothing or good deeds can cover up your need for a Savior.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””
Revelation 21:1-8 ESV
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV
Have you been given the groom’s pure white wedding clothes?
Have your sins been washed away by blood of the Lamb?
May today be the day of salvation for people all around the globe, and may we be faithful heralds of the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, I come humbly before Your throne of grace and ask You to send out Your Word. Draw many into Your kingdom and clothe them in the pure white garments of the Lamb without blemish. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and make us hate sin like You do. Be our God and make us Your people. Make us new, and wash us clean in the spring of living water. Thank You for Your grace. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
The Man on the Middle Cross Said I Could Come – Sermon clip – Alistair Begg
Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 73, Matthew 20
Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:26b-28 ESV
Being a disciple is more than just being a student. Being a disciple is modeling your life after your teacher.
Jesus modeled for us what it meant to serve, willingly giving up His own life — not just preaching, healing, and multiplying bread — and being a servant even to the point of death.
If you’re like me, it’s hard to get your husband a glass of water from the kitchen. If you’re like me, it’s hard to clean up after your kids. If you’re like me, it’s hard to quit wasting time on my phone and instead start spending time wisely with my friends IRL (“in real life”).
But … I choose to do it, even though it’s hard, because I want others to be able to model their lives after mine, as I model my life after my Master’s.
My children are watching me. My brothers and sisters are watching me. Those who don’t know Christ yet are watching me.
Am I the real deal? I want to be.
Am I perfect? No. No, I’m not. Only God is perfect. But I’m not who I was…. And I pray that my changed life is evidence of Christ in me and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
I am no longer my own. I’ve been bought with a price and Christ has changed me from the inside out. I want to be a walking billboard that says, “I’M A NEW CREATION! CHRIST HAS MADE ME NEW! THE OLD IS GONE! BEHOLD THE NEW HAS COME!”
Heavenly Father, Make us more like Your Son. Help us to die to ourselves and live for You. Help us to remember that Jesus died for us and that we have the power through the Holy Spirit to overwhelmingly conquer! Teach us to be servants, servants of Christ and servants of our neighbors. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Perfect Master and Teacher and King. Amen.
Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 69, Matthew 16
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-16 ESV
How would you answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” It’s the most important question you’ll ever have to answer … And someday you will have to answer it.
Would you say,
Jesus never really lived. The whole Christian religion is all hype, made up by his followers.
Jesus was a good man who showed people how to live a moral life, but he never claimed to be God.
Jesus was a great teacher who lived in Israel in the first century. People should read the Bible to learn more about Him, so they can live better lives.
Jesus was the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary. He was the promised Messiah, the Savior of all who trust in Him. Jesus lived a sinless life and died on a cross to pay the punishment that our sins deserve. Only those who trust in Him will be saved from God’s holy wrath.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God of God, to earth, to teach and live and die and be raised to life as the all-sufficient atoning sacrifice. He is that long-awaited Messiah, the Savior, that Your people had been waiting for.
I pray for all those descendants of Abraham who missed Him, and pray that You would draw them to Your side today.
I pray for all those people who will warm seats in churches this Resurrection Sunday but whose hearts are still cold toward the gospel. Please ignite a fire in their hearts and open their eyes to the truth of Your Word.
I pray for all those across our nation and around the world who have never heard a clear explanation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I ask You to send people to talk with them. Make us Your willing ambassadors today!
Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 68, Matthew 15
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;”
Matthew 15:8 ESV
Jesus had already warned the Pharisees in Matthew 12:33-37 ESV, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
You can’t fool God by uttering false praise. He knows your heart. Saying “Lord, Lord,” when He is most certainly not your Lord, is lying and taking His name in vain – both of which are violations of God’s commands.
Lip service is “an avowal of advocacy, adherence, or allegiance expressed in words but not backed by deeds.”
Merriam-Websters dictionary
This Easter season is a perfect time to really evaluate if your allegiance to Jesus is just “lip service.” Ask yourself, “Does my heart belong to Jesus Christ? Does my life match the faith I profess?”
Heavenly Father, Give me clean hands and a pure heart. Let me worship You in Spirit and truth each and every day. Keep me from the sins of hypocrisy and pride. May my heart be true, my life be authentic, and grateful praise ever be on my lips. In the name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 67, Matthew 14
… Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
Matthew 14:27b-29 ESV
Did you notice that the storm didn’t stop when Peter got out of the boat? Sometimes we’re expecting Jesus to stop the storm, when actually He wants us to trust in the storm. The safest place we can be is with Jesus – whether that’s walking on the waves or sitting in the boat, whether that’s on a hillside on a calm, sunny day or in a boat in the middle of a tumultuous storm.
Jesus fed thousands with a few loaves and fish by His miracle-working power, and Jesus made Peter walk on water. Don’t doubt, only believe. Truly, He is the Son of God. Is there a situation in your life today where God is calling you to get out of the boat and come to Him?
Heavenly Father, please encourage our hearts today. Help us to take heart, to be strong and courageous, to get out of the safety of the boat and to walk on the water into Your waiting arms. There is so much rampant wickedness all around us. The world and the weather seem out of control. Father, remind us that You are in control. You are still on Your throne. Your eye is still on the sparrow and You are still watching over us. May our eyes be fixed on Jesus, so that we are not terrified by the winds and the storms. By Your grace and by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 66, Matthew 13
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47-50
From beginning to end of Matthew 13, Jesus was faithful to tell the whole truth, not just half the truth, for half the truth isn’t really the truth. If you only say, “When you die the angels will come and take you to heaven,” but you don’t also explain that all the evil people (that’s you and me apart from faith in Christ!) will be thrown into the fiery furnace, you are not really telling the truth.
Friends, please know that I’m writing these words to myself, because I need to hear them, but I hope they will encourage you as well. I want so desperately for people to be saved, that sometimes I only want to tell them the “Happy News about Eternal Life” … but the truth is that no one can fully appreciate the good news of the gospel until they’ve understood that every single one of us are sinners who deserve hell apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ.
So long as you think that you are a good person, that you are going to heaven by your own merit, then, who needs Jesus?
May the words of Christ fall on fertile soil and bear much fruit! Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace in telling us the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Thank You for explaining to us that every one of us is a sinner deserving of hell. Thank You for the best news I’ve ever heard – that Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin by His death on the cross, and that by believing in Him I have been saved from the fiery furnace of hell and will live with You in heaven for all eternity. This is truly the most awesome, wonderful, fantastic, marvelous news I could ever hear! May we share this truth every day of the year, but especially this weekend as we remember the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray, Amen.
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