Read the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 7, Isaiah 46-48
Isaiah 47:10 describes my life as an atheist.
You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me”; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.”
Isaiah 47:10 ESV
I was sincere in my beliefs, but I was sincerely wrong. Little did I know the truth that is found just one page earlier, in Isaiah 46:9b.
I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me
Isaiah 46:9b ESV
Thank You, Lord, for opening my eyes to the truth found in the pages of scripture. Thank You for showing me the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus. My Savior and King.
As a FORMER ATHEIST, I said “There is No One besides ME.” I was WRONG – FormerAtheist58
You are God Alone – Phillips, Craig, and Dean
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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 144, Isaiah 19-21
GOD CALLS FOR A FAITHFUL WATCHMAN.
He did it in Isaiah’s day, and in Ezekiel’s day, and I think He’s still doing it today. Are we faithfully watching and speaking? Are we trustworthy ambassadors for the kingdom of Christ?
For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.”
Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!”
And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.”
O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.
Isaiah 21:6-10 ESV
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life.
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.
So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”
Ezekiel 33:1-9 ESV
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 ES
God Calls for a Faithful Watchman – FormerAtheist58
House of the Lord – Phil Wickham
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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 142, Isaiah 15-16
“Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive; let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land, then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.” Isaiah 16:3-5 ESV
“Isaiah wanted Judah to be a place of refuge and protection for Moab under judgment. This is exactly what the church should [be] when people receive the judgment that fits their rebellion against God. If they humbly flee for refuge among God’s people, the church should be a place that will hide the outcasts and receive him who escapes, never to betray them.”
David Guzik
“Whenever pride is not broken by humility, it will have to be broken by justice.”
Harry Bultema
Sheltering the Outcasts – FormerAtheist58
Leaning On (Acoustic) Stephen McWhirter
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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 141, Isaiah 13-14
My Savior’s Love
I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned unclean. How marvelous! How wonderful! and my song shall ever be; How marvelous! How wonderful! is my Savior’s love to me!”
Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)
Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.
Isaiah 13:9 ESV
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ESV
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17 ESV
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“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 5:1-12 ESV
I Stand Amazed in the Presence of Jesus – FormerAtheist58
I Stand Amazed in the Presence – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Come Unto Jesus – Getty, Laura Story
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Read the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 140, Isaiah 10-12
When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes.
For [the king] says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones….”
Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it?
Isaiah 10:12-13, 15a ESV
If it is easy for an unknowing instrument of God to become proud, it is also easy for a willing instrument of God to become proud.
Jesus said we should have a different attitude: So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10) As wonderful as it is to be an instrument in the hand of God, the instrument deserves no special glory.
David Guzik
Tools in the Master’s Hands – FormerAtheist58
Led by the Master’s Hand – George Younce – Gaithers
J. D. Sumner – Touch of the Master’s Hand
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 132, Galatians 5
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14 ESV
America has been called the land of free and the home of the brave. So, fellow Americans, I must ask you, what are you using your freedom for? For watching more TV and playing more video games? For watching more cat videos and scrolling through more Facebook posts? For drinking more wine and sleeping later on Saturday mornings?
Or for sharing the gospel with more people and making more disciples of Christ? For honoring your parents more and loving your neighbor better? For giving more freely to the poor and being a more shining example of Christ in an increasingly dark world?
May we never forget, fellow Americans, that this freedom is a precious gift granted us through the blood of many men who sacrificed their lives for our country.
But what about those of you who don’t enjoy the privileges of freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of religion granted by the U.S. constitution? Have you not been freed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Have your chains not been broken by the cross? Are you enslaved to sin, the devil, and an evil empire? May it never be.
Man can oppress you, but in Christ you are free. Evil men can throw you in prison, take captive your body, and threaten your life, but you still have choices. Will you speak up or stay silent? Will you live day by day with a heart filled with bitterness or love? Will your life reflect the prince of this world or the King of all kings?
Heavenly Father, You are good! You have set free the captives by the sacrifice of Your Son! Whom the Son sets free is FREE indeed! Who can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? What can man do to me? My life is in Your hands. Make me courageous. Make me pure. Make me shine with the light of Christ burning in my heart. Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 130, Galatians 3
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of faith, the grace given to me through Jesus Christ, the righteous for the unrighteous. Thank You for the example of Abraham who was counted righteous by his faith, not by his works.
Thank You for the gift of the law as a tutor and guardian to protect us until our eyes might be opened by Your grace to the beauty of that Savior hanging on the cross.
Please help me to be a good steward of Your Word. Let me not breed little Pharisees who take pride in their own good deeds. I don’t want to raise better liars and hiders and sin-concealers. May I diligently and faithfully point my children to the perfect Lamb who kept the Law in every point, teaching them to be quick to repent, to run toward reconciliation with Jesus, with their parents, and with others.
I pray that my children would indeed be made sons and daughters of Abraham, being recipients of Your blessings because of their faith in Your Son. Protect them from believing the lie that they can be good enough to deserve Your mercy or merit Your grace. Help them to recognize that this is a lie sent from that liar, tempter, and accuser, Satan, who tempts us to sin and then accuses us when we fall.
I pray that my children would receive the gift of redemption found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. May they receive that matchless inheritance which is found not in the blood running through my earthly body, but in the blood of Jesus Christ poured out on the cross.
Grant my children the faith to believe that we are each sons and daughters of God by faith in Jesus Christ, that when we are baptized into Christ we are clothed in Christ and made one in Christ.
Help my sons take joy in being boys, and help my daughters take joy in being girls. Protect them from the sin of pride, from thinking they know better than You do.
May they humbly recognize that their eternal inheritance begins and ends in You.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 119:161-176, Micah 7
My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
Psalm 119:171-172 ESV
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19 ESV
Your Praise will EVER be on my lips – FormerAtheist58
What do you do when you find yourself in a pickle? Do you cry out to God for help? Do you beg Him for mercy? Do you plead for Him to save you?
I think many Americans run their lives on their own terms 95% of the year and then suddenly remember God when they find themselves in a jam, much like Jeroboam in 1 Kings 14.
As we read earlier in 1 Kings, Jeroboam had set up his own houses of worship complete with altars and golden calves in the Israelite cities of Bethel and Dan. And yet, when his own son, Abijah, became sick, where did Jeroboam turn? Did he send his wife to Bethel or Dan to inquire of those golden calves that he had erected? No, he didn’t. He sent her to Shiloh to inquire of the Lord’s prophet, Ahijah.
Is this genuine faith? No, it isn’t. Jeroboam’s faith is the faith of demons, not the faith of born-again believers.
Counterfeit faith says, “I know God is real, but I won’t submit my life to Him.”
Friends, genuine faith will result in obedience, daily obedience. Genuine faith says, “I know God is real, so I want to live my life for Him.”
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! …
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
James 2:19, 22-23 ESV
Do you have genuine faith? Or counterfeit faith?
Heavenly Father, You are the one true God. There are so many imposters, but You are the only One who is true. Search my heart and test me. Show me where I’ve fallen prey to the lies of the devil. Show me where I’m faking faith. Please don’t let me come to the day of judgment when my deeds will be laid bare and it will become clear that I was among those who never knew you. Do what You need to do to bring me into a right relationship with You. I want to know You more that I would love you more and walk in the daily obedience of faith. I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb who died in my place, Amen.
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