Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 3
But their [Jewish] minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is brought to an end in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart, but WHENEVER a person TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY.
2 Corinthians 3:14-16 LSB
Heavenly Father, I pray for the people of Israel. I pray that they will turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and have their eyes opened and their sins forgiven. I pray that You will protect them from the schemes of the evil one and use this time of testing and trial for their good and for Your glory. I pray that their hope and trust will be in You, the one true God, and Jesus Christ Your Only Begotten Son, the God-man, whom You sent to take away the sins of the world. I pray that the followers of Jesus in the nation of Israel will be steadfast in sharing the gospel and making disciples where they live. And I pray that each of us around the world will do likewise. I pray for Jewish people all over the globe, that the veil will be taken from their eyes as they seek You, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life, I pray. Amen
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Corinthians 2
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV
Seeing the news about the attack on Israel makes me nervous, but it also makes me excited to think that Christ will be returning soon! Just think: we might be the generation that gets caught up alive to meet Him in the air!
Dear sisters, are you ready for His return? Are you watching and waiting with eyes wide open? Are you prepared to meet Jesus face to face?
I hope that in these last days we will be faithful to share the gospel and to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Our aroma will be pleasing to God and pleasing to fellow believers, but to the lost, it’s going to be stinky. Don’t be surprised when others reject you and ridicule you. Even when the people next to you are yelling, “Turn out the light! I’m trying to sleep over here!” Keep on shining! God is pleased with your faithfulness.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Corinthians 16
We hear 1 Corinthians 13 read at every wedding. Love is patient and kind. Love does envy or boast. Love is not proud or rude. Isn’t it beautiful?
But love is also steadfast and firm, immovable and strong. Love is a mother telling her toddler, “No,” a hundred times in the same day. Love is a grown daughter telling her alcoholic mom that she’s got a problem. Love is refusing to stand idly by while pornography tries to ruin your marriage or homosexuality tries to steal your teenager.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV
Love takes guts. Love takes strength. Love takes the stamina of a thoroughbred racehorse and the patience of Job. Love requires you to be willing to get battle scars for the sake of another because you believe they’re worth the fight.
Ladies, sisters, friends, act like men. Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Heavenly Father, Your Son, Jesus Christ, is the perfect manifestation of manhood and love. Strength and humility. Stamina and kindness. Make us more like Him. Teach us, show us, how to love like He loves, how to give up our lives for another, to be willing to suffer to save someone else. We need You, Father. We can’t do it on our own. In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Lover of my Soul. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Corinthians 15
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV
Dear friends, no one will be compelled to follow Christ by listening to you complain and criticize. Sharing haughty arguments and brilliant expositions on lofty theological ideas isn’t the way to bring lost sinners to the feet of Christ. It’s the gospel. It’s the good news of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who died for our sins and who was raised triumphant from the dead, that draws people to faith. Share the gospel.
Ask questions. Listen thoughtfully to the answers. Share transparently about the struggles and joys of your own life. And share the gospel.
Jesus is who draws and saves. And Jesus is the Savior – not you. Friends, please, share the gospel.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the best news I’ve ever heard, the good news that the lost can be found and the dead can be raised through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man who died in my place. I pray that You will send me where You want me to speak. Open my mouth to speak what You want me to say, and open my eyes to see the doors that You open for me. You are the One who saves. Make me a faithful steward of the gospel of Jesus Christ and of my testimony. For the glory of Your Name. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Corinthians 1
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:1-7 ESV
Please take the time to read this incredible sermon by Charles Spurgeon titled, “Once Dead, Now Alive.”
Here’s a brief excerpt of it that I hope will cause you to want to read the whole thing.
To find out what spiritual death means, I shall ask you to remember that this dead body here is characterized by an absence of sense.
Be not afraid, it is your brother man; come close up to him, and speak. He does not hear you. Speak more loudly; he does not answer you, he gives no sign of recognition. Shout at the very top of your voice; stoop down, and speak into his ear. Alas! it is the clay-cold ear of death, upon which no effect whatever is produced.
I remember when I was spiritually just like that. I could not hear even the voice of Jesus, though it was very soft and tender. He said, “Come unto me,” but I did not respond to his call. There were others near me who did; but I was dead, and took no notice.
Then there came a louder sound, a voice of threatening, a message of condemnation. God spoke from the top of Sinai, and hurled at me the ten great thunderbolts of his law; yet still I did not hear. I had broken all those commands, and I must bear the penalty of disobedience; the law told me so, but I did not hear.
Friends led me, sometimes, dead as I was, where both the law and the gospel were fully preached; but I did not hear, I could not hear. Sounds went past the drum of my ear, and my body heard; but the ear of my heart was not reached, I could not hear, for I was dead.
Charles Spurgeon, ‘Once Dead, Now Alive,’ 1888
Oh, save us, Lord for our nation is perishing! Our people are dying for lack of knowledge and understanding. We have trusted in ourselves and turned our backs on You, preferring the fake wisdom of man over the true wisdom of God.
Forgive us, Lord. Have mercy on our souls. Draw us back to You by Your steadfast lovingkindness.
I once was lost but now I’m found. I once was dead but now I’m alive. Praise Your Name. You opened my eyes and gave my life. You brought me out of the darkness. You set my feet on the Solid Rock. You hid me under the shelter of Your Almighty Wings. Thank You, Father!
You loved us so much that You sent Your Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Let us not waiver any longer. May we choose this day whom we will serve, and may it be You and You alone for You alone are worthy. You deserve all the praise and all the glory.In the matchless name of Jesus I pray. Amen
“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” …
“Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.”
And they said, “We are witnesses.”
He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
Joshua 24:14-15; 22-24 ESV
Heavenly Father, What foreign gods am I serving? Where is my heart not inclined toward You? Where am I still limping between the world and the Lord rather than fully surrendering all my all to You? Please show me my sin. I’m blind to my own iniquity. Open my eyes that I can see my own blindness. I want to love You more that I can serve You better for You are worthy and good. In the Name of Jesus Christ who died in my place I pray. Amen.
Every person needs every word that the Lord has given to us. Joshua read every word to all the people, and so should we. (Joshua 8:35)
We need the Old Testament as well as the New. We need all the words; those that Moses wrote and those that Jesus spoke; those that David sang and those that Isaiah prophesied; those that Peter spoke simply and that Paul penned eloquently. We need them all.
Men as well as women, children as well as adults, those who are unfamiliar with the scriptures and those who grew up with them, everyone needs God’s Word.
I understand that there is value in making our children’s ministries age appropriate. Children benefit greatly from making crafts and dancing around while singing songs about Joshua and Jericho. But children also need to study the Word as God’s inspired, true, trustworthy Word – not some fairy tale on par with “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” The Bible is more than a series of inspirational stories to teach our kids to be good and kind and helpful, not to lie or cheat or steal. The Bible is the bread of life, even for children.
Additionally, children have an incredible ability to memorize the Word. Would you rather your children memorize “Hop on Pop” and “The Cat in the Hat” or the 23rd Psalm and the Sermon on the Mount?
And let’s not forget that children have been created by God to receive with simple faith the words of their teachers and parents. Children absorb truth (and lies) like thirsty sponges. Would you rather train your children to believe in tooth fairies and boogie monsters or the Holy Trinity?
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Proverbs 30:5 ESV
Proverbs 30:5 is a great verse for you, your husband, your children, your neighbor, and everyone else to hide in their hearts.
Hold the presses … My daughter (along with my two-year-old granddaughter) just called me, so I got to have a little Grammy break to read “Inside a Barn in the Country” and a story from my old Beginners Bible story book, and sing the Ten Commandments song with hand motions.
Then, my daughter told me about a new podcast for children that she’d found called “God’s Big Story“. I just love how God shows His goodness and sovereignty in His perfect timing. Don’t you?
Have you ever heard of this podcast? Are there other children or family podcasts that you’ve found? I’d love to hear about them.
I grew up listening to my mom’s stories, stories about her life growing up on a dairy farm, how she and my dad planned a quick wedding before he went off to college out-of-state, how I was finally born three weeks past my due date, and many more. I’ve heard the same stories again and again, but somehow I can’t seem to remember all the details. I need to be reminded of these true stories that are important to my family’s life.
The Israelites had been miraculously delivered out of slavery in Egypt. They had spent 40 years wandering in the desert while the Lord miraculously fed them daily with bread from heaven. And now they are going to miraculously cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land of Israel.
Their children will need to hear these stories told again and again. They will need to be reminded of how God provided and God delivered and God led His people, not just so they’d know their people’s history but so they’d know their God.
Our children need to know how God worked in our lives, so they will trust that He can work in their lives, too.
Remember, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 ESV) Let’s tell our children some stories about how the Lord has worked in our lives, setting up some Stones of Remembrance for them to know and trust God. This is one of many reasons I wrote the story of my Jesus transformed my life from Evangelical Atheist to Evangelical Christian.
I’d love to hear your stories. Leave a comment here so others can be encouraged by how the Lord has worked in your life.
Heavenly Father, You are the eternal, unchanging God. You have always been perfect, and You always will be. But, Father, we need change. We need transformation. We need to be made new creations by the power of Your Spirit in us. And so do our children and our neighbors. Please work in us and through us, give us courage and wisdom to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with whoever You place in our path. Let us not forget the Stones of Remembrance that You have given to us. May we remember You, and how You have led us, delivered us, and provided for us. In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
For the last four years, I’ve been learning Chinese very, very slowly. Very slowly. One phrase, one word, at a time.
Hello: 你好 (nǐ hǎo)
Goodbye: 再见 (zài jiàn)
1 一 (yī) 2 二 (èr) 3 三 (sān) 4 四 (sì) 5 五 (wǔ)
Two days ago, I learned a new word from one of my students. 千 (Qiān), the Mandarin word for thousand.
Have you ever heard the Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step“? 千里之行,始于足下. (Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià.)
I was thinking about that saying this morning when I read Joshua 3.
And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.
Joshua 3:13 ESV
The priests had to step into the flooded waters of the Jordan before the Lord stopped the river from flowing. This, my friends, is what a faith walk looks like. Like Hebrews 11:1 says,”Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” God wants us to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Do you believe God inspired Paul to write these words?
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11a ESV
I do.
I am so thankful that my life is hidden in Christ, but I will still have to appear before Christ and give an account for what I said and did during my time in this fleshly body. Did I seek Him first? Did I love my neighbor as myself? Did I try to persuade others to join me in trusting Christ?
This faith journey begins with one step followed by another. Sometimes that journey has a lot of “two steps forward and one step back,” but a journey forward it is. And it begins by trusting God and His Word.
Heavenly Father, I believe in You. I believe every word of God is true. I believe You are a shield to those who take refuge in You. Give me the strength, wisdom, and courage that I need to walk by faith and not by sight. Help me to love my neighbor as myself by sharing the good news of salvation by trusting in Christ. In His Name I pray. Amen
Growing up, I fought a persistent battle with fear, especially fear of death. As an atheist, my life was the mere result of random chance. I thought I was the master of my own fate, and I knew I was not a very good master. I was just one of five billion people in the world, weak in both the physical and moral sense of the word.
Fear is a completely natural by-product of a lack of faith in a good, all-powerful God.
As God prepares Joshua for his new job as leader of the Israelite nation, God is so kind to remind Joshua that He is going with him and that He is a promise-keeping God.
Friends, if you are a child of God, God is with you, too. He will not leave you or forsake you. He is with you WHEREVER you go. But you need to be strong and courageous to do the things He has called you to do.
If he wants to reach the Promised Land, Joshua will have to step into the rushing Jordan River. Likewise, if you want to follow God, you will have to take that first step of obedience.
That first step is often the scariest. Speaking up when it’s easier to be silent. Knocking on a new neighbor’s door. Saying goodbye to a boyfriend who’s no good for you. These are hard things, but if we never take that first step we will never see where the road leads. And taking that first scary step is much, much less frightening when you know that the Lord has called you to it, and that He is with you.
I’m praying for you.
Heavenly Father, please help us to take that first step of obedience, to strike out into the unknown. Help us to be strong and courageous, believing without a doubt that You will never leave us or forsake us, that You are with us wherever we go. Please guide us by Your Holy Spirit. Convict us of our sin, our sins of unbelief, cowardice, and complacency. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For the glory of Your Name, and in the power of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen
Teach What is Good 
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