Bible Reading Plan

Author: Jon Green

  • Isaiah 5

    Isaiah 5

    Read Isaiah 5

    The Song of the Vineyard

    5 I will sing for the one I love
        a song about his vineyard:
    My loved one had a vineyard
        on a fertile hillside.
    2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
        and planted it with the choicest vines.
    He built a watchtower in it
        and cut out a winepress as well.
    Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
        but it yielded only bad fruit.

    3 “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
        judge between me and my vineyard.
    4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
        than I have done for it?
    When I looked for good grapes,
        why did it yield only bad?
    5 Now I will tell you
        what I am going to do to my vineyard:
    I will take away its hedge,
        and it will be destroyed;
    I will break down its wall,
        and it will be trampled.
    6 I will make it a wasteland,
        neither pruned nor cultivated,
        and briers and thorns will grow there.
    I will command the clouds
        not to rain on it.”

    7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty
        is the nation of Israel,
    and the people of Judah
        are the vines he delighted in.
    And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
        for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

    Woes and Judgments

    8 Woe to you who add house to house
        and join field to field
    till no space is left
        and you live alone in the land.

    9 The Lord Almighty has declared in my hearing:

    “Surely the great houses will become desolate,
        the fine mansions left without occupants.
    10 A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath[a] of wine;
        a homer[b] of seed will yield only an ephah[c] of grain.”

    11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning
        to run after their drinks,
    who stay up late at night
        till they are inflamed with wine.
    12 They have harps and lyres at their banquets,
        pipes and timbrels and wine,
    but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord,
        no respect for the work of his hands.
    13 Therefore my people will go into exile
        for lack of understanding;
    those of high rank will die of hunger
        and the common people will be parched with thirst.
    14 Therefore Death expands its jaws,
        opening wide its mouth;
    into it will descend their nobles and masses
        with all their brawlers and revelers.
    15 So people will be brought low
        and everyone humbled,
        the eyes of the arrogant humbled.
    16 But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice,
        and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.
    17 Then sheep will graze as in their own pasture;
        lambs will feed[d] among the ruins of the rich.

    18 Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit,
        and wickedness as with cart ropes,
    19 to those who say, “Let God hurry;
        let him hasten his work
        so we may see it.
    The plan of the Holy One of Israel—
        let it approach, let it come into view,
        so we may know it.”

    20 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.

    21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
        and clever in their own sight.

    22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
        and champions at mixing drinks,
    23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
        but deny justice to the innocent.
    24 Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw
        and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
    so their roots will decay
        and their flowers blow away like dust;
    for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty
        and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.
    25 Therefore the Lord’s anger burns against his people;
        his hand is raised and he strikes them down.
    The mountains shake,
        and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets.

    Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
        his hand is still upraised.

    26 He lifts up a banner for the distant nations,
        he whistles for those at the ends of the earth.
    Here they come,
        swiftly and speedily!
    27 Not one of them grows tired or stumbles,
        not one slumbers or sleeps;
    not a belt is loosened at the waist,
        not a sandal strap is broken.
    28 Their arrows are sharp,
        all their bows are strung;
    their horses’ hooves seem like flint,
        their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.
    29 Their roar is like that of the lion,
        they roar like young lions;
    they growl as they seize their prey
        and carry it off with no one to rescue.
    30 In that day they will roar over it
        like the roaring of the sea.
    And if one looks at the land,
        there is only darkness and distress;
        even the sun will be darkened by clouds.

     

    Go Deeper

    The New English Translation of the Bible subdivides this chapter with the headings of “A Love Song Gone Sour” (v. 1-7) and “Disaster is Coming” (v. 8-30). These befitting titles nicely outline the chapter. Isaiah 5:1-7 describes a metaphorical love song. The prophet, Isaiah, taking on the role as best man, composes a love song for his friend on the occasion of his wedding. The vineyard is Israel (the bride), and the owner/lover/bridegroom of the vineyard is God. Israel is expected to bear good fruit and uphold justice, but instead produces “bad fruit” (v. 2). Specifically, God, through Isaiah, condemns the Israelites for exploiting others (v. 8-10), drunkenness (v. 11-12, 22), taking pride in sin (v. 18-19), mocking moral standards (v. 20), pride/conceit (v. 21), and perverting justice (v. 22-24). Isaiah prophesizes that judgment, in the form of destruction by one of Israel’s enemies, is coming. No longer would God protect Israel from its adversaries. In 587 B.C, over 150 years after Isaiah’s prophecy, Babylon invades Jerusalem, and destroys Solomon’s temple. Tradition holds that because of his harsh prophecy, Isaiah was eventually martyred.  

    The Israelites in the day of Isaiah neither glorified nor enjoyed God. Instead, God accuses them of many things, including exploitation of the poor by the unjust accumulation of land (v. 8). God does not condemn real estate endeavors per se, but he does condemn the way in which the rich bureaucrats accumulated property. The Israelites forgot that the land belongs to God.  As punishment, their palatial vineyards would eventually be destroyed, and farm animals allowed to graze amongst the ruins. The nation would be transformed from an affluent agricultural society into a thoroughly pastoral one.  

    In verses 11-12, we see God condemning drunkenness. God does not categorically condemn the consumption of alcohol (after all, in John 2:1-11, Jesus turns water into wine), but the depravity of Israel is evident by early morning drinking, a mark of debauchery. Later in the text, Isaiah states, “Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks.” (v. 22). Further evidence of Israel’s depravity is evidenced when they mock the Holy One of Israel (v. 19), “call evil good and good evil” (v. 20), and equate darkness to light and light to darkness (v. 20). In Ecclesiastes 1:9, we read that “there is nothing new under the sun.” Although the book of Isaiah was written over 2,500 years ago, the warnings of Isaiah are as relevant today as they were to the people to whom the book was first written.  

    Isaiah promises that “the grave” (v. 14) would be the end result of God’s judgment. The Hebrew word translated “grave” is Sheol and is the place of the dead, or more precisely, the place of the unrighteous dead. The word has the sense of a serious engagement with the reality of death, mortality, and the way one’s life impacts one’s destiny.  

    Questions

    1. What wickedness do you see playing out still today that Isaiah warned against? 
    2. What does it mean to glorify and enjoy God? 
    3. What does this passage teach you about the character of God? What does it teach you about humanity? 

    By the Way

    The concept of bearing fruit appears multiple times throughout scripture. Jesus said in Matthew 7:19-20 that the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. Galatians 5:22-23 discusses “fruits of the Spirit”.

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  • Isaiah 1

    Isaiah 1

    Isaiah Introduction

    The book of Isaiah is named after the prophet Isaiah, the author of this book, who prophesied from 739–681 B.C. under the reign of several different kings. The nation of Judah (and the city of Jerusalem) had begun going through the religious motions and offering up meaningless sacrifices instead of humbly following and serving God as they had been instructed to do. That left Isaiah, as a mouthpiece for God amongst the people, to do two things throughout these 66 chapters: warn them of impending judgment and point them to a future hope. 

    Isaiah (along with Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel) is considered to be one of the major prophet books in the Old Testament. Why is this book so important? Of all of the prophetic books in the Old Testament, Isaiah gives the most full picture of the Messiah that was going to come and reconcile the world back to God. Isaiah points to the future birth, ministry, death, and return of the Messiah throughout these pages. Even in the midst of chaos and brokenness around them, Isaiah pointed them towards a future hope. 

    As we read through the book of Isaiah for the rest of this year, let’s think about our own lives and the ways we have wandered and strayed from who God has called us to be and what He has called us to do. So often, like Judah, we can find ourselves going through the routines and rituals of what it means to be a Christian, all while missing the importance of the posture of our heart as we live out the Christian life. On top of that, look for connections to the hope that we have in Jesus. Our need for a savior is no different than Isaiah’s original audience. Isaiah (behind Psalms and Deuteronomy) is one of Jesus’s most quoted books during his earthly ministry, so as we read these ancient words, look to draw connections to the New Testament.

    Each day, ask God to reveal His truth to you as we journey through Isaiah together.

    Read Isaiah 1

    1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz sawduring the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

    A Rebellious Nation

    2 Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
        For the Lord has spoken:
    “I reared children and brought them up,
        but they have rebelled against me.
    3 The ox knows its master,
        the donkey its owner’s manger,
    but Israel does not know,
        my people do not understand.”

    4 Woe to the sinful nation,
        a people whose guilt is great,
    a brood of evildoers,
        children given to corruption!
    They have forsaken the Lord;
        they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
        and turned their backs on him.

    5 Why should you be beaten anymore?
        Why do you persist in rebellion?
    Your whole head is injured,
        your whole heart afflicted.
    6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
        there is no soundness—
    only wounds and welts
        and open sores,
    not cleansed or bandaged
        or soothed with olive oil.

    7 Your country is desolate,
        your cities burned with fire;
    your fields are being stripped by foreigners
        right before you,
        laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.
    8 Daughter Zion is left
        like a shelter in a vineyard,
    like a hut in a cucumber field,
        like a city under siege.
    9 Unless the Lord Almighty
        had left us some survivors,
    we would have become like Sodom,
        we would have been like Gomorrah.

    10 Hear the word of the Lord,
        you rulers of Sodom;
    listen to the instruction of our God,
        you people of Gomorrah!
    11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—
        what are they to me?” says the Lord.
    “I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
        of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
    I have no pleasure
        in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
    12 When you come to appear before me,
        who has asked this of you,
        this trampling of my courts?
    13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
        Your incense is detestable to me.
    New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
        I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
    14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
        I hate with all my being.
    They have become a burden to me;
        I am weary of bearing them.
    15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
        I hide my eyes from you;
    even when you offer many prayers,
        I am not listening.

    Your hands are full of blood!

    16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
        Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
        stop doing wrong.
    17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
        Defend the oppressed.
    Take up the cause of the fatherless;
        plead the case of the widow.

    18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
        says the Lord.
    “Though your sins are like scarlet,
        they shall be as white as snow;
    though they are red as crimson,
        they shall be like wool.
    19 If you are willing and obedient,
        you will eat the good things of the land;
    20 but if you resist and rebel,
        you will be devoured by the sword.”
    For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

    21 See how the faithful city
        has become a prostitute!
    She once was full of justice;
        righteousness used to dwell in her—
        but now murderers!
    22 Your silver has become dross,
        your choice wine is diluted with water.
    23 Your rulers are rebels,
        partners with thieves;
    they all love bribes
        and chase after gifts.
    They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
        the widow’s case does not come before them.

    24 Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
        the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
    “Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
        and avenge myself on my enemies.
    25 I will turn my hand against you;
        I will thoroughly purge away your dross
        and remove all your impurities.
    26 I will restore your leaders as in days of old,
        your rulers as at the beginning.
    Afterward you will be called
        the City of Righteousness,
        the Faithful City.”

    27 Zion will be delivered with justice,
        her penitent ones with righteousness.
    28 But rebels and sinners will both be broken,
        and those who forsake the Lord will perish.

    29 “You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks
        in which you have delighted;
    you will be disgraced because of the gardens
        that you have chosen.
    30 You will be like an oak with fading leaves,
        like a garden without water.
    31 The mighty man will become tinder
        and his work a spark;
    both will burn together,
        with no one to quench the fire.”

    Go Deeper

    “You are not who you are supposed to be” is the opening call in the book of Isaiah. Here, the prophet Isaiah shares the vision regarding the people of God that he has received from Heaven. While Israel was reared by their Heavenly Father, they have since rebelled from Him. They have become thieves, materialistic, murderers, and downright unjust. However, in spite of all of these things they have continued to have their festivals and sacrifices to God. It’s like they are saying, “We want to live as if God doesn’t exist but still have God in our corner”. In response to their festivals and offerings God says, “I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.” (v. 14-15). God is tired of watching this two-faced game take place. He knows that their hearts are not with Him. So are the people of God too far gone to be redeemed?

    The chapter shifts in verse 17, “’Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’” What a relief! God is willing to forgive Israel of all of their unrighteous living. But this verse is followed with an important qualifier in verse 18, “If you are willing and obedient”.

    The problems of God’s people in Isaiah’s day are similar to God’s people today. It’s easy to live for the world, but still want God on our side. He will not be played by our fickle ways. He is looking for men and women with hearts that are fully devoted to Him. No matter what you have done, God is ready, willing, and eager to forgive. But He will only forgive if you are coming to Him for His’ own sake. If He is just a pawn in your game to get more for yourself, Isaiah 1 is a sober reminder that He will not be listening.

    Questions

    1. What was most surprising to you about this passage?
    2. What similarities do you see in God’s people in Isaiah’s day compared to today? Do you think God would have a similar message?
    3. Where do you need to repent from where you have rebelled from God’s path?

    Watch This

    For a deeper dive into what’s going on in Isaiah 1, check out the sermon “The Cost of Thoughtless Gifts” from Harris Creek.

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  • Matthew 24

    Matthew 24

    Read Matthew 24

    The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

    24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

    3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

    4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

    9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

    15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

    22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

    26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

    29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

    “‘the sun will be darkened,
        and the moon will not give its light;
    the stars will fall from the sky,
        and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
     
    30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.


    The Day and Hour Unknown

    36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready,because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

    Go Deeper

    In Matthew 23, Jesus left the temple in Jerusalem crying out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…” (v. 37). Sadly, He knew the majority of His own people had rejected Him as Messiah. His public teaching is finished, and now here He is telling His disciples many prophecies of what’s to come in the future.

    The first prophecies concerned the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, which ultimately occurred in 70 AD. He then taught the disciples earthly signs of his return including false teachers, wars, world strife, famines, earthquakes, flagrant evil, and brutal persecution of Christ followers. The disciples were told to notice these “birth pains” and remain “ready” in their faith. In verse 21, Jesus said, “There will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” Verses 29-30 vividly described what His return will look like. We as believers, now, must take all these signs and descriptions to heart. Christ is telling the disciples and us to stand ready in faith in Him alone. He reminds his followers of Noah and those who did not take heed to the judgment that was coming. Unrepentant people laughed and ridiculed Noah (and God, too) over his faith and obedience. We all know how the story ended.

    While there is now way for us to know the exact time or date of Jesus’s future return (v. 42), we do know we should diligently do all that we can to further the Kingdom here on earth while we wait with hopeful anticipation of what’s to come. The joyous answer to all this is in this summary of verses 45-46:

    45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.”

    Shall we be afraid that we won’t measure up when Christ returns? No! By faith in Christ alone, we are His forever and receive our inheritance of eternal life with Him. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” When Christ returns (and He will because He said so), may all of us be found with hearts that are sincere, pure, and joyous seeing Christ face to face! 

    Questions

    1. Are you prepared to meet Him? If not, what must you do to be prepared?
    2. What is your standing today before Jesus?  
    3. Depending on your answer above, write a prayer of repentance or rededication to Christ. It will bring joy and peace to your soul!

    A Quote

    Matthew Henry wrote, “The Lord’s return will be happy to those ready! A repenting sinner looks and sees Christ. Impenitent sinners shall see who they pierced, though laughing now, will mourn and weep.”

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  • Matthew 1

    Matthew 1

    Matthew Introduction

    The Gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew, one of the original twelve disciples (also referred to as “Levi” by Mark and Luke). Matthew was originally a tax collector, but he left his life and career behind to go follow Jesus (as recorded in Matthew 9:9). This gospel account of Jesus’s life is the most Jewish-centric, full of Old Testament references that Matthew’s Jewish readers would have picked up on. 

    After 400 years of silence in between the book of Malachi and the birth of Jesus, this account of Jesus’s life serves as a reminder that God had not forgotten His people. Quite the opposite in fact! Through these 28 chapters describing Jesus’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection, we are able to see both the humanity and divinity of Jesus. We’ll read some of the most famous words Jesus said, as well as the stories of some of the miracles he performed during his ministry. The book ends with The Great Commission: That we are to go and make disciples of all nations. That instruction is no less for us today than it was to the original audience that Jesus spoke those powerful words to. 

    This book is an eyewitness account of the most impactful person in human history–and we get to read it! As you read each chapter, try to immerse yourself in the story. That’s what makes these narrative accounts of the life of Jesus so compelling! Close your eyes and picture what each one of these scenes might have looked like. Ask God to reveal Himself to you in a new way as you experience Jesus through these ancient, sacred words.

    Watch This

    For a preview of what’s to come as we read through Matthew together, check out this overview of the first half of the book from The Bible Project. 

    Read Matthew 1

    The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

    1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

    2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,

    Isaac the father of Jacob,

    Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

    3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

    Perez the father of Hezron,

    Hezron the father of Ram,

    4 Ram the father of Amminadab,

    Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

    Nahshon the father of Salmon,

    5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

    Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

    Obed the father of Jesse,

    6 and Jesse the father of King David.

    David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

    7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

    Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

    Abijah the father of Asa,

    8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

    Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,

    Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

    9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,

    Jotham the father of Ahaz,

    Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

    10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

    Manasseh the father of Amon,

    Amon the father of Josiah,

    11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

    12 After the exile to Babylon:

    Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

    Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

    13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,

    Abihud the father of Eliakim,

    Eliakim the father of Azor,

    14 Azor the father of Zadok,

    Zadok the father of Akim,

    Akim the father of Elihud,

    15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,

    Eleazar the father of Matthan,

    Matthan the father of Jacob,

    16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

    17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

    Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

    18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

    20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

    22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

    24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter starts with the genealogy of Jesus and describes how Jesus is linked to familiar characters from the Old Testament: He descends from the Messianic line of David and Abraham. These key points are meant to provide evidence that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and will bring God’s blessing to all the nations, just as God promised to Abraham. In 2 Samuel it was also foretold and explained that the Messiah would come from King David’s line, and in the very first sentence of this book, Matthew points to Jesus as the fulfillment of those promises.

    But let’s not miss that Matthew also includes some interesting characters that didn’t fulfill prophecies, but rather were meant to provide us with hope all throughout Jesus’s geneology. His mention of prostitutes and murderers and adulterers along the way, because it identifies the sinners in Jesus’s–people just like us. As the theologian Charles Spurgeon put it, Jesus “is akin to the fallen and to the lowly, and he will show his love even to the poorest and most obscure.”

    What a gift that God made sure to intentionally include the lowly in this list. It’s tangible evidence of His grace and love for us all–one more assurance that we would never have to feel that we fall outside of His forgiveness. In fact, not only does it provide assurance of forgiveness, it exhibits a picture of Ephesians 1:11 which says that we have obtained an inheritance in Jesus. Absolutely none of us are so bad that we cannot be included in the genealogy of Christ the King! 

    Today as we go about our day, let’s focus on and give thanks for a God who cared so much about us that He inspired those writing Scripture to include names like Tamar, Rahab, and David with the wife of Uriah. Names that did not have to be included, but as 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us were “God-breathed” for our benefit. What a reminder of God’s love for every single one of us, no matter our story.

    Questions

    1. Why do you think God intentionally included certain names in this list of genealogy?
    2. What can you thank God for as a result of your answer to question one?
    3. Is there anyone that you feel is beyond God’s forgiveness? Ask God to change your heart and provide you with reminders that even the “lowly” deserve Christ’s inheritance. 

    By the Way

    Romans 8:16-17 explains more about our inheritance in Christ.

    16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

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  • Micah 1

    Micah 1

    Micah Preview

    The book of Micah tells the story of another minor prophet, Micah, from a town called Moresheth Gath (an agricultural area about 25 miles from Jerusalem). Micah, similar to the prophet Amos, was concerned with those on the margins and outside of the power structures that were in existence. His prophecies were aimed towards the political and religious leaders of Samaria and Jerusalem.

    This book is significant on multiple fronts. First, it is another warning to Israel and Judah about how they treated the lowly in society. They were unfair and unethical. They treated women poorly. They didn’t care about injustice. They were content to exploit others for the sake of their own gain. And this was contrary to what God wanted from them, so Micah (like so many other prophets along the way) called on them to repent.

    This book also foretells a future where God’s kingdom will be restored and His people will live with hope. Micah speaks of a future ruler who will come from a little town called Bethlehem that will rule over Israel and, while the world will face judgment, there is a compassionate God who delights in showing mercy to His people. Micah points to the hope that is to come. As we read it, we can be reminded of that same hope!

    While we read through another minor prophet, let’s dig into each chapter and verse. Grab a journal, a pen, and a highlighter. Take note of the important words and phrases that stick out. Look out for repetition. What was God trying to teach this original audience and what is He trying to teach us now? These are the questions we should be asking ourselves as we study the book of Micah together!

    Read Micah 1

    1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

    2 Hear, you peoples, all of you,
        listen, earth and all who live in it,
    that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you,
        the Lord from his holy temple.

    Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem

    3 Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place;
        he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.
    4 The mountains melt beneath him
        and the valleys split apart,
    like wax before the fire,
        like water rushing down a slope.
    5 All this is because of Jacob’s transgression,
        because of the sins of the people of Israel.
    What is Jacob’s transgression?
        Is it not Samaria?
    What is Judah’s high place?
        Is it not Jerusalem?

    6 “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble,
        a place for planting vineyards.
    I will pour her stones into the valley
        and lay bare her foundations.
    7 All her idols will be broken to pieces;
        all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;
        I will destroy all her images.
    Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,
        as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”

    Weeping and Mourning

    8 Because of this I will weep and wail;
        I will go about barefoot and naked.
    I will howl like a jackal
        and moan like an owl.
    9 For Samaria’s plague is incurable;
        it has spread to Judah.
    It has reached the very gate of my people,
        even to Jerusalem itself.
    10 Tell it not in Gath;
        weep not at all.
    In Beth Ophrah
        roll in the dust.
    11 Pass by naked and in shame,
        you who live in Shaphir.
    Those who live in Zaanan
        will not come out.
    Beth Ezel is in mourning;
        it no longer protects you.
    12 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain,
        waiting for relief,
    because disaster has come from the Lord,
        even to the gate of Jerusalem.
    13 You who live in Lachish,
        harness fast horses to the chariot.
    You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began,
        for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
    14 Therefore you will give parting gifts
        to Moresheth Gath.
    The town of Akzib will prove deceptive
        to the kings of Israel.
    15 I will bring a conqueror against you
        who live in Mareshah.
    The nobles of Israel
        will flee to Adullam.
    16 Shave your head in mourning
        for the children in whom you delight;
    make yourself as bald as the vulture,
        for they will go from you into exile.

    Go Deeper

    The essence of the book of Micah’s first chapter is that God is pronouncing judgment on the entirety of Israel, both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, and this judgment is bad news. We could stop there, because that’s basically the point, but there has to be more here, doesn’t there?

    In verses 10-15, we read a list of cities and what will happen to the inhabitants of said cities. Most of us likely skimmed over this part, noting that it doesn’t sound good but wondering what this has to do with the point. Is this section a bunch of specifics we don’t need? Could we do without this part? These are understandable questions, to be sure, but, as many of us well know, this part wouldn’t be in Scripture if it weren’t important.

    Look back at where Micah is from in verse 1, where he is introduced as “Micah of Moresheth.” This is interesting because Micah is the only one of the prophets who is introduced by his city. Why? It is possible that this is to set up a key literary and rhetorical device used in the section mentioned earlier (v. 10-15). Read verse 14 again. Many believe that “Moresheth Gath” in verse 14 is the same as Moresheth in verse 1, Micah’s hometown. Why does this matter? Of the cities listed in verses 10-15, ancient maps indicate all are neighboring cities to Moresheth. Micah would’ve known these cities, and, more importantly, their names. God allows someone familiar with these places and people to explain why they face “disaster” (v. 12). 

    In these verses, Micah masterfully uses the rhetorical device of wordplay, which many prophets use. For example, in verse 13, we read, “You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot.” The city name “Lachish” sounds like the Hebrew word for “steed,” which makes it ironic that Micah is calling for them to saddle up the horses and run from the coming judgment.

    Why does all of this matter? The rhetorical device of wordplay (used in both Old and New Testaments) emphasizes a point. Each word is significant and carries weight. Wordplay helps bring attention to the message. What did we already say the point of this chapter is? God is pronouncing judgment on the entirety of the Israelite people. It’s a jarring reminder of how seriously God takes sin. We can even dare to say He considers it punishable by death. 

    If only there was someone who could intercede on behalf of the guilty…

    Questions

    1. Have you taken time recently to grieve your sin? If so, keep it up! If not, take this as an opportunity to put some of your sin struggles on paper and prayerfully take them before God.
    2. Who in your life are you regularly confessing your sin to? If you’re not regularly in a rhythm of doing that, schedule time to do that sometime in the next week. You can do this in the power of the Holy Spirit!
    3. It’s important for us to remember that God hates sin, but also that God is not mad at you. Continue to take this before Him in prayer. What is one sinful habit you can work on changing today?

    By the Way

    Read Romans 5:6-11 and Romans 6:23. These may help with some questions from today.

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  • Jonah 1

    Jonah 1

    Read Jonah 1

    Jonah Flees From the Lord

    1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

    3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

    4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.

    But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”

    7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”

    9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

    10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)

    11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”

    12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

    13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

    Jonah’s Prayer

    17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

    Go Deeper

    We are all probably familiar with the story of Jonah running from God and being swallowed up by the large fish, before being spit out in the land where God originally told him to go. We are also likely familiar with the lessons about God carrying out His purposes and fulfilling His plans despite our willingness to obey. However, another important lesson weaves its way through this book.

    We see Jonah’s anger and frustration with God as a thread throughout this story. And why is Jonah mad? Because God loves those Jonah considers his enemies. Jonah is a biblical example of us on the days we ask God, “Why does it feel like the bad guys always win?” 

    We are not told in this chapter why Jonah runs in the opposite direction of Nineveh, but we know that he falls asleep aboard the ship. When God sends a storm to wake Jonah up, even the pagan sailors are able to discern that this is not a normal storm. They ask Jonah to explain himself and, somewhat hypocritically, he claims to worship the God “that made the sea.” Remember, based on what we know about Jonah from 2 Kings, there should be some skepticism about Jonah’s statement. If he truly worships the God who made the sea, why is he running from that God? We also can be skeptical about Jonah’s request for the sailors to throw him overboard. While this might initially seem unselfish, it could also be another way to run from what God is telling him to do. A way to die and escape everything that Jonah feels is unjust and unfair.

    But God foils his plans when the big fish enters the story. Just as Ephesians 2 tells us, God has planned in advance good works for each of us to do. Jonah was no different. We will see in the remainder of the book how Jonah’s anger at God remained, despite God’s relentless and merciful pursuit of him–the same merciful pursuit that angered Jonah when it was aimed at his enemies. 

    We can read this book as a question to all of us: are we ok with God loving our enemies? As The Bible Project explains, the book of Jonah is like a mirror that allows us to see the worst parts of our character magnified. God puts up with the Jonah in all of us. The good news is that the vastness of God’s mercy is for all of us.

    Questions

    1. Do you feel angry when it feels like the “bad guys” are winning? If so, what do you do with those feelings?
    2. Read Matthew 5:43-48.  These verses are a reminder that it is easy to love those who love us, but as Christians, we are called to something greater. 
    3. If there is anyone that you can identify as an “enemy”, spend time today praying for that person rather than allowing seeds of anger and bitterness against them to grow in your heart.

    Watch This

    Check out this video from The Bible Project for a more thorough overview of the Book of Jonah.

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  • Amos 1

    Amos 1

    Amos Preview

    The book of Amos, another one of the minor prophets, takes place during the eight century B.C. Amos was a simple man, working as a shepherd and a farmer and living amongst normal people. He wasn’t wealthy or royalty. He wasn’t a priest, nor did he even consider himself to be a prophet. He was, however, a man who loved God with a deep devotion. God, as He did time and time again throughout the Old Testament, chose to speak through Amos to address the problems within Israel.

    As Amos looked around, he was frustrated with Israel’s lack of care for those around them. Pastor and author Chuck Swindoll says this about the book of Amos: “More than almost any other book of Scripture, the book of Amos holds God’s people accountable for their ill-treatment of others. It repeatedly points out the failure of the people to fully embrace God’s idea of justice.” To put it succinctly: Israel had wandered away from what God had called them to yet again. They were going through the motions of dead religion: gathering together, partaking in festivals, and making sacrifices. But their hearts weren’t in it. They had no interest in the things of God–they just wanted to look like they did.

    There is much for us to learn from a book like Amos. When we go through the motions and present our “Sunday best” all while our souls rot away on the inside, we make a mockery of what true faith actually looks like. Instead, through this book, we’ll see how we are to love God and love the people he’s placed around us. That is how the world will see that we are truly living out what we claim to believe.

    As you read through the book of Amos over the next couple of weeks, grab a journal and a pen. Take notes while you read. Highlight the words and phrases that stick out to you and jot down your thoughts at the end of each chapter. What does each chapter in this book teach you about God’s character? What does it teach you about humanity? What were the implications for each chapter’s original audience? What are the implications for us today? These are the questions we’ll be seeking to answer as we journey through Amos together.

    Read Amos 1

    1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.

    2 He said:

    “The Lord roars from Zion
        and thunders from Jerusalem;
    the pastures of the shepherds dry up,
        and the top of Carmel withers.”

    Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

    3 This is what the Lord says:

    “For three sins of Damascus,
        even for four, I will not relent.
    Because she threshed Gilead
        with sledges having iron teeth,
    4 I will send fire on the house of Hazael
        that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.
    5 I will break down the gate of Damascus;
        I will destroy the king who is in the Valley of Aven
    and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.
        The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,”
    says the Lord.

    6 This is what the Lord says:

    “For three sins of Gaza,
        even for four, I will not relent.
    Because she took captive whole communities
        and sold them to Edom,
    7 I will send fire on the walls of Gaza
        that will consume her fortresses.
    8 I will destroy the king of Ashdod
        and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.
    I will turn my hand against Ekron,
        till the last of the Philistines are dead,”
    says the Sovereign Lord.

    9 This is what the Lord says:

    “For three sins of Tyre,
        even for four, I will not relent.
    Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom,
        disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,
    10 I will send fire on the walls of Tyre
        that will consume her fortresses.”

    11 This is what the Lord says:

    “For three sins of Edom,
        even for four, I will not relent.
    Because he pursued his brother with a sword
        and slaughtered the women of the land,
    because his anger raged continually
        and his fury flamed unchecked,
    12 I will send fire on Teman
        that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.”

    13 This is what the Lord says:

    “For three sins of Ammon,
        even for four, I will not relent.
    Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
        in order to extend his borders,
    14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah
        that will consume her fortresses
    amid war cries on the day of battle,
        amid violent winds on a stormy day.
    15 Her king will go into exile,
        he and his officials together,”
    says the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    Amos is an interesting book. Most of the prophets we read about in the Old Testament came from a sort of “school”of prophets, having been distinctly trained for the office (some even since birth). Amos, on the other hand, is a shepherd and fig tree farmer (with no formal theological training) from a border region between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Israel has, in disobedience, rebelled against God and His installed Davidic kings, setting up their own false kings, false prophets, and false places of worship. God has had enough of this, so He sends Amos to go and tell them to right their wrongs.

    What is also strange about this text is that, even though 1:1-2 tells us that the audience of the following prophetic poetry is Israel, the subject of the first chapter is God’s judgment against the nations. This is where some knowledge of biblical geography becomes helpful. What Amos is doing here is drawing a geographical circle around the northern kingdom of Israel, using the sin of the nations around Israel to set up the weight of Israel’s own sin and their being led astray. God will not let the sin of his people go unpunished.

    What we see super clearly in this first chapter is that God takes sin seriously—especially the sin of nations and whole groups of people. Colossians 2 even suggests that he keeps a record of it. The sins that Amos lays out here are wicked things that the nations are walking in, but they aren’t just ancient history. These are the same things that we walk in today.

    We may not feel directly involved in wars, racism, or slavery, but still we play a part in conflicts, we dislike our neighbor for their differences, and we materialistically consume products that were produced by unethical labor means. We feel more removed from it, so we tend to give ourselves a pass. Just as the nations are being called out of their sin and into the righteous standard of Zion’s temple, so God is calling us out of our sin and into the righteous standard of the one in whom God’s fullness was also pleased to dwell—Jesus. Jesus takes the record of our sin and nails it to the cross, and gives us an opportunity to reject it and walk in righteousness. Let us not be a people known to the nations for our sin, but for our following of God. 

    Questions

    1. What has repentance looked like historically in your life? Can you point to particular moments or examples where you have turned from specific sins and left them in the past? 
    2. What unrepentant sin are you holding on to that God is calling you out of? 
    3. How has God used His discipline to show you how seriously He takes the sin in your life? 

    Pray This

    God, 

    Would you mercifully expose my sin? Show me what it is I need to turn from, and discipline me as much as I must be to turn from it. Thank you for taking the record of my sin and nailing it to the cross, granting me freedom. Thank you for the good news of the Gospel. Amen.

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  • Ephesians 6

    Ephesians 6

    Read Ephesians 6

    6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

    4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

    5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

    9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

    The Armor of God

    10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

    18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

    Final Greetings

    21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

    23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

    Go Deeper

    As Paul wraps up his letter to the church in Ephesus, he reminds them of the spiritual struggle they are part of. We have an enemy that is out to destroy us. As children of God, we should put on the full armor of God to stand up against the evil of the world. It is easy to think our boss, family members, or individuals we may be in conflict with are our enemies. This passage suggests it is different, and deeper, than that. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood…but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (v. 12). Our struggles with other people are really manifestations of conflict at the spiritual level.

    To overcome our spiritual struggles, we fight spiritual battles. Being faithful to God is not for the faint of heart. It’s a fight for the most important part of us–our souls. It is a matter of life and death. It’s the greatest challenge of our lives. Sometimes we may be tricked into thinking our greatest challenges are in building thriving companies, families or bank accounts. But “what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). Our faith is a dangerous fight for our souls.

    To win the fight for our souls, we need the full armor of God. Since our challenges and struggles will come from all forces of evil we must put on the full armor of God to be able to stand our ground. The full set of armor includes: truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, the Holy Spirit and God’s word. We need each piece to win the fight.

    In sum, we are in a spiritual fight against Satan and God offers us the armor (and sword) we need to succeed. Let’s take that seriously today. Serious enough to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (v. 18). Serious enough to spend time in the word of God. What will we do with that today?

    Questions

    1. Are you wearing the armor of God into your battles?
    2. Which piece(s) of the armor are you missing? 
    3. Do you sometimes forget faith is a fight?

    Watch This

    Now that we have read the book of Ephesians, watch this overview from The Bible Project to make sure you picked up on all the major themes throughout the book.

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  • Ephesians 1

    Ephesians 1

    Ephesians Preview

    Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus was written around 60 AD as Paul sat in a Roman prison. Paul was familiar with the Ephesian church, having spent significant time (about three years in total) ministering there during his second and third missionary journeys. This letter, while originally written for the Epheshians, was also meant to be circulated around to other early churches in other cities as well. 

    This book is split up into two distinct sections. The first half of the book (chapters 1-3) are more doctrinal and theological in nature. The second half is more practical and application-based in nature, answering the question “What should a Christian’s life look like?” As we read this book today, we are able to add tools to our theological toolbelt as well as understanding the practical implications for us as we follow Jesus. 

    There is much to learn from us each day as we dive into Ephesians. Each of these chapters are loaded with theological truths and practical applications for us. Pay attention to every word on the page–you don’t want to miss anything. Grab a highlighter and a journal. Take note of the words and phrases that jump off the page at you. Ask God to show you exactly what He wants you to learn each day.

    Thanks for journeying along with us!

    Read Ephesians 1

    1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

    To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

    2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

    3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

    11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

    Thanksgiving and Prayer

    15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

    Go Deeper

    Today’s chapter was a great summary of what the Gospels tell us: We have a Father who knew we would sin, so He sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for sins that we’ve done. We are forgiven, and the Lord loves us so much that He gave us the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. He did this because He knew it would be best to save us to show his love. 

    In this reading, Ephesians 1 perfectly illustrates the vast love the Lord has for us. Paul, who is writing this chapter, also tells us that it is us who must believe and know that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (v. 13), which allows us the inheritance to be in His Kingdom one day. Before Jesus, people who wanted a relationship with the Lord had to make sacrifices, such as killing animals. However, after Jesus, the Lord gave us the ability to accept the Holy Spirit and seal our relationship/inheritance with Him. This is not only a beautiful gift the Lord has given us, but He has shown his faithfulness through this action.

    This passage also shows us that the Lord knew all along that we would stray away from Him and want the fleshly desires of the world (v. 5). However, in that verse, it also tells us that we were adopted and given over to Him–a holy and blameless God. Even though it seems weird that the Lord would allow us to walk away from Him just to save us, He did it out of his “pleasure and will.” He knows what is best for humankind and our relationship with Him, even if it does not make sense.

    As we walk into today, remember this: The Lord loves you so incredibly much, to the point where He sacrificed the One He loved most just to save you. He is not a hateful or judgemental god, but a loving and wise Father. Also know that everything is in His timing. Even when it doesn’t make sense, He knows what is best for you and is doing it all within His goodness and will. Remember that as you take on today. 

    Questions

    1. What kinds of blessings does the Lord give us in the heavenly realms? (Refer to verse 3)
    2. Do you feel as though you cannot be saved? Why? 
    3. What is one thing you are struggling with that you can hand over to God? 

    Pray This

    Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for Scripture that illustrates how immense your love is while giving us instruction on how to live our lives. As I go into today, I ask that you allow me to praise your name despite all that is happening in my life right now. It is all within your pleasure and will, and I ask that you help me to believe that today. I thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross for me and all my wrongs, especially because I do not deserve it. You are a faithful Father, and you prove yourself over and over again. Thank you, Jesus. I love you. In your name, Amen.

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