Bible Reading Plan

Author: Jon Green

  • 1 Chronicles 4

    1 Chronicles 4

    Read 1 Chronicles 4

    Other Clans of Judah

    4 The descendants of Judah:

    Perez, Hezron, Karmi, Hur and Shobal.

    2 Reaiah son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.

    3 These were the sons of Etam:

    Jezreel, Ishma and Idbash. Their sister was named Hazzelelponi.4 Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah.

    These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and fatherof Bethlehem.

    5 Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

    6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah.

    7 The sons of Helah:

    Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, 8 and Koz, who was the father of Anub and Hazzobebah and of the clans of Aharhel son of Harum.

    9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

    11 Kelub, Shuhah’s brother, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12 Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Rekah.

    13 The sons of Kenaz:

    Othniel and Seraiah.

    The sons of Othniel:

    Hathath and Meonothai. 14 Meonothai was the father of Ophrah.

    Seraiah was the father of Joab,

    the father of Ge Harashim. It was called this because its people were skilled workers.

    15 The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh:

    Iru, Elah and Naam.

    The son of Elah:

    Kenaz.

    16 The sons of Jehallelel:

    Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel.

    17 The sons of Ezrah:

    Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. One of Mered’s wives gave birth to Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. 18 (His wife from the tribe of Judah gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soko, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) These were the children of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married.

    19 The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham:

    the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maakathite.

    20 The sons of Shimon:

    Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan and Tilon.

    The descendants of Ishi:

    Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.

    21 The sons of Shelah son of Judah:

    Er the father of Lekah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth Ashbea, 22 Jokim, the men of Kozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (These records are from ancient times.) 23 They were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah; they stayed there and worked for the king.

    Simeon

    24 The descendants of Simeon:

    Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah and Shaul;

    25 Shallum was Shaul’s son, Mibsam his son and Mishma his son.

    26 The descendants of Mishma:

    Hammuel his son, Zakkur his son and Shimei his son.

    27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children; so their entire clan did not become as numerous as the people of Judah. 28 They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual,29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David. 32 Their surrounding villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token and Ashan—five towns— 33 and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath. These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record.

    34 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, 35 Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel, 36 also Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37 and Ziza son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah.

    38 The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. Their families increased greatly, 39 and they went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks. 40 They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet. Some Hamites had lived there formerly.

    41 The men whose names were listed came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meuniteswho were there and completely destroyed them, as is evident to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks.42 And five hundred of these Simeonites, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, invaded the hill country of Seir. 43 They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

    Go Deeper

    Our journey through the genealogies of 1 Chronicles brings us to 1 Chronicles 4, describing the descendants of Judah and Simeon. Jacob had twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Simeon was the second. Why so much focus on Judah? If we look back to Genesis 49, we read what Jacob said would happen to his sons in the days to come. In Genesis 49:10 Jacob says, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” From the line of Judah will eventually come David, and from David will eventually come Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of Lords who will reign forever. 

    In these genealogies and detailed descriptions, we see God’s redemptive plan playing out through generations. There is a bigness about God that we see when we take a bird’s eye view through history and see God’s sovereign hand over the lives and coming and going of his people. Imagine how each of these people probably didn’t know exactly their role or significance in the grand scheme during their lifetime, but God saw it all and planned it all and knew them all personally.

    Amidst the list of genealogies, a short description of Jabez stands out in the line of Judah (4:9-10).  It’s interesting how his life is described in just a couple verses. He was “more honorable than his brothers.” His mother didn’t name him in a way that would suggest honor or blessing – his name (similar to the Hebrew for pain) was given because she “gave birth to him in pain.” Yet despite this beginning, he didn’t wallow in self pity and sit paralyzed by the pain that marked his name. Instead, he cried out to God for help. He prayed for God to bless him, to enlarge his territory, for God’s hand to be with him, and for God to protect him from harm and pain. Those were big prayers, hoping for big things. And “God granted his request.” His sad history and name didn’t determine his future–God is bigger and stronger than the pain of his past.

    Questions

    1. Is there anything in your history that makes you doubtful about what God might do in and through you? How would you live or pray differently if you fully trusted that God’s plans and power are bigger than your past?
    2. Would you characterize your prayers as sparse and small or frequent and big? What does that suggest about your dependence on God to provide all the blessing and protection you need?
    3. Reflect on a time in your life when you couldn’t see God’s perspective at the time, but only later could see how He was working in the circumstances and trials to bring about his good purposes. Consider how you could share that story with others to proclaim God’s goodness and greatness.

    Keep Digging

    How do we know if our prayers for blessing, protection, etc. are selfish or whether they are honoring God? Check out this sermon (or transcript, if you prefer) on prayer.

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  • 1 Chronicles 3

    1 Chronicles 3

    Read 1 Chronicles 3

    The Sons of David

    3 These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron:

    The firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;the second, Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel;2 the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;3 the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;and the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah.4 These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months.David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, 5 and these were the children born to him there:

    Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel. 6 There were also Ibhar, Elishua,Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet—nine in all. 9 All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.

    The Kings of Judah

    10 Solomon’s son was Rehoboam,Abijah his son,Asa his son,Jehoshaphat his son,11 Jehoram his son,Ahaziah his son,Joash his son,12 Amaziah his son,Azariah his son,Jotham his son,13 Ahaz his son,Hezekiah his son,Manasseh his son,14 Amon his son,Josiah his son.15 The sons of Josiah:Johanan the firstborn,Jehoiakim the second son,Zedekiah the third,Shallum the fourth.16 The successors of Jehoiakim:Jehoiachin his son,and Zedekiah.

    The Royal Line After the Exile

    17 The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive:Shealtiel his son, 18 Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah.19 The sons of Pedaiah:Zerubbabel and Shimei.The sons of Zerubbabel:Meshullam and Hananiah.Shelomith was their sister.20 There were also five others:Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah and Jushab-Hesed.21 The descendants of Hananiah:Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, and the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah and of Shekaniah.22 The descendants of Shekaniah:Shemaiah and his sons:Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah and Shaphat—six in all.23 The sons of Neariah:Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam—three in all.24 The sons of Elioenai:Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah and Anani—seven in all.

    Go Deeper

    Spoiler alert: the story of imperfect people leads to a perfect Christ. Before we get to that part, 1 Chronicles 3 is another instance of the re-telling of a family lineage. Although the account of each person and relationship is difficult to follow, there is a significant point to hold onto as we read this passage: hold fast to discipline, because discipline is a blessing that preserves the promise.

    First Chronicles 3 chapter has three distinct sections: David’s children (3:1-9), Solomon and the kings of Judah (v. 10-16), and the generations following the exile (v. 17-24). Each section has triumph, trials, and trauma following the family line. Take the Babylonian exile, for instance. The chosen people went through the most unthinkable circumstances.

    A recognizable character of the passage is David. God made a promise to David. “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). This would have been great if David and his descendants were as faithful to the covenant as God will always be. We read a couple verses before what is included in God’s promise to David: “I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him…” (v. 14-15).

    Wisdom is breathed out in the instruction written out in Proverbs 3:11-12: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”.

    The author of the book of Hebrews quoted this proverb and followed it with commentary. “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” (12:7). It is okay to assume that the author intended to make everyone who is a child of God aware of the importance of discipline. Discipline is a blessing that is not meant to be taken for granted by the sons and daughters of God.

    Back to the earlier spoiler: David’s lineage extends to the one that proclaims himself as the “Son of David”: Jesus Christ. Integrity in the family lineage was not only for the honor of the family on earth. It was for generations to come. Most importantly, discipline is meant to help us honor God and the covenant he makes towards His people (both then and now). 

    Questions

    1. How can you take time to creatively reflect (i.e. meditate, journal, draw, paint, play) on the way that God has brought you to reading this devotional?
    2. What part of your story have you invited Jesus into? How has that changed your life?
    3. Who can you bring alongside you in your story, especially as you ask God to help you with discipline in a particular part?

    Keep Digging

    Check out this helpful blog post about reading 1 Chronicles from The Bible Project!

    Leave a Comment below

    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.

    Join the Team

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  • Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. Each Rest Day, we will also introduce a memory verse for the week. Meditate on this week’s verse and begin to memorize it.

    Who Wrote 1 Chronicles? And Why Does it Matter?

    Jewish tradition points to Ezra as the writer (or “chronicler”) of 1 & 2 Chronicles (which was originally just one long book, like 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Samuel).  

    This book is a retelling of Jewish history, with some overlap between Kings and Samuel. For more on these similarities and differences (and why 1 Chronicles is important), check out this helpful overview from Dr. Charles Swindoll. 

    Worship with us

    Join us in person or online at 9a, 11a, or 7p at harriscreek.org/live. We’d love to worship with you! We also desire to connect everyone with a local church body where they can thrive in community and use their gifts to serve. If you’re following our Bible Reading Plan from outside of Waco and are eager to get connected with a great local church, email us at [email protected].

    Leave a Comment below
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  • 1 Chronicles 2

    1 Chronicles 2

    Editor’s Note

    First Chronicles is the first of several books that we’re going to read throughout the summer. We’re going to read 1 Chronicles, then go back and read the prophets mentioned throughout 1 Chronicles. Then we’ll move onto 2 Chronicles and do the same! 

    We believe that the Holy Spirit has preserved these books for a reason and we can’t wait see what we learn from God’s Word as we study these ancient books.

    Read 1 Chronicles 2

    Israel’s Sons

    2 These were the sons of Israel:

    Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

    Judah

    To Hezron’s Sons

    3 The sons of Judah:Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death. 4 Judah’s daughter-in-lawTamar bore Perez and Zerah to Judah. He had five sons in all.

    5 The sons of Perez:Hezron and Hamul.6 The sons of Zerah:Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol and Darda—five in all.7 The son of Karmi:Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things.8 The son of Ethan:Azariah.9 The sons born to Hezron were:Jerahmeel, Ram and Caleb.

    From Ram Son of Hezron

    10 Ram was the father ofAmminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, the leader of the people of Judah. 11 Nahshon was the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, 12 Boaz the father of Obed and Obed the father of Jesse.13 Jesse was the father ofEliab his firstborn; the second son was Abinadab, the third Shimea,14 the fourth Nethanel, the fifth Raddai, 15 the sixth Ozem and the seventh David. 16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abishai, Joab and Asahel. 17 Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.

    Caleb Son of Hezron

    18 Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah (and by Jerioth). These were her sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon. 19 When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20 Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri the father of Bezalel.21 Later, Hezron, when he was sixty years old, married the daughter of Makir the father of Gilead. He made love to her, and she bore him Segub. 22 Segub was the father of Jair, who controlled twenty-three towns in Gilead. 23 (But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair, as well as Kenath with its surrounding settlements—sixty towns.) All these were descendants of Makir the father of Gilead.

    24 After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah the wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.

    Jerahmeel Son of Hezron

    25 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron:Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.27 The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel:Maaz, Jamin and Eker.28 The sons of Onam:Shammai and Jada.The sons of Shammai:Nadab and Abishur.29 Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.30 The sons of Nadab:Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.31 The son of Appaim:Ishi, who was the father of Sheshan.Sheshan was the father of Ahlai.32 The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother:Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.33 The sons of Jonathan:Peleth and Zaza.These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.34 Sheshan had no sons—only daughters.He had an Egyptian servant named Jarha. 35 Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore him Attai.36 Attai was the father of Nathan,Nathan the father of Zabad,37 Zabad the father of Ephlal,Ephlal the father of Obed,38 Obed the father of Jehu,Jehu the father of Azariah,39 Azariah the father of Helez,Helez the father of Eleasah,40 Eleasah the father of Sismai,Sismai the father of Shallum,41 Shallum the father of Jekamiah,and Jekamiah the father of Elishama.

    The Clans of Caleb

    42 The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel:Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and his son Mareshah,who was the father of Hebron.43 The sons of Hebron:Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. 44 Shema was the father of Raham, and Raham the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai.45 The son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.46 Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.47 The sons of Jahdai:Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph.48 Caleb’s concubine Maakah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah.49 She also gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah and to Sheva the father of Makbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Aksah.50 These were the descendants of Caleb.

    The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah:Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim, 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.52 The descendants of Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim were:Haroeh, half the Manahathites, 53 and the clans of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites and Mishraites. From these descended the Zorathites and Eshtaolites.54 The descendants of Salma:Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites, 55 and the clans of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the Rekabites.

    Go Deeper

    Lists of family genealogies are key features in the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. Although they are not everyone’s favorite chapters in Scripture, there are many reasons that genealogies were important to the Jewish people and are important for us as well. They served as proof of Jewish identity which meant being an heir to the blessings promised to Abraham back in Genesis 12 of land, seed, and blessing. They were crucial in tracing the line of the Messiah. These genealogies were also evidence of the historical accuracy of the Bible. These are not just a list of names. They are real people with real stories. We know that God uses every story, and He cares about the details. We should not simply read genealogies, we should study them. 

    This chapter continues the genealogies of the descendants of Israel (Jacob) and Judah, who is the fourth son of Jacob. “Israel” is the name that God gave Jacob when he was rebranded in Genesis 32. The twelve sons of Israel is where we get the twelve tribes of Israel. His sons were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. A majority of this chapter, however, goes through the descendants of Judah. There is a section in this chapter dedicated to the line of Perez, who was Judah’s son by explicit means of his daughter-in-law, Tamar (Genesis 38). Through Perez’s line comes a man named Boaz, who married Ruth and preserved Jacob’s family. 

    The line of Perez also includes King David, and the future Messiah. There are many prophecies about Judah’s family line. In Genesis 49, Israel (Jacob) spoke blessings over his twelve sons. He said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his” (49:10). This means that the tribe of Judah will produce conquering kings, and a very specific King who will rule forever. This points to a future Victor who would come from the line of Judah: Jesus Christ. 

    Jesus has always been God’s “Plan A” to redeem and restore the broken world from the beginning (Genesis 3:15). He is called the “Lion of Judah” both in Genesis and Revelation. A lion is a symbol of a kingly tribe, and we know that King David was a descendant of Judah as well. Jesus is the long-awaited Lion of Judah who came to establish an eternal kingdom. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John received a revelation on the island of Patmos. It was said to him, “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5). Jesus is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain for us. Just as the people of Israel looked forward to the future King from the line of Judah who would reign, we get to look back on what He has done and celebrate. Jesus is a Warrior-King who will one day return and reign in glory!

    Questions

    1. What names in these genealogies were familiar to you? What do you know about these people?
    2.  What can we learn from the descendants of Judah? How does this line fit into God’s sovereign plan throughout Scripture? 
    3. What does Jesus’ family line teach us about how God accomplishes His purposes?

    Listen Here

    Check out the song “LION” by Elevation Worship! 

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  • 1 Chronicles 1 + Introduction

    1 Chronicles 1 + Introduction

    Editor’s Note

    Today marks the beginning of our plan that will carry us through the summer. We’re going to read 1 Chronicles, then go back and read the prophets mentioned throughout 1 Chronicles. Then we’ll move onto 2 Chronicles and do the same! 

    We believe that the Holy Spirit has preserved these books for a reason and we can’t wait see what we learn from God’s Word as we study these ancient books.

    1 Chronicles Overview

    In order to understand the book of 1 Chronicles and the context in which it was written, we have to go back to the beginning of God’s story. We see that all of Scripture points to God and His rescue plan through Jesus. God designed the world for people to be in perfect relationship with Him and with each other. However, man sinned, rebelled, and chose to break a relationship with a good and holy God. Immediately after sin enters the world, God promises that in spite of the brokenness He will one day send a Victor to overcome sin and death—and bring restoration. From there, we see a pattern in Scripture of man rebelling against God, doing what is right in their own eyes, and God delivering them. 

    Fast forward to 1400 B.C. The new generation of Israelites enter into the Promised Land, but they don’t want to be set apart as a nation like God commands them. They desire to look just like the rest of the people in the land. The Israelites get into these cycles of sin and God raises up military leaders called Judges to point them back to righteousness. But the people want a king. God raises up kings, even though He is the King that they really need. A majority of these kings are unrighteous, and eventually this kingdom is split into two. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC. God allowed them to return to Israel from captivity, but it is not the same. The temple and walls are broken, and the people don’t remember the Law. 

    The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles were written after the exile in order to teach the Israelites returning from exile how to faithfully serve and worship God. It is not only a rebuilding of what they were physically, but a spiritual rebuilding for the people of God. The words of this book acted as a reminder of their history, the consequences of their sin, and the promises of God to restore all things one day. God had always been their help throughout the ages. The people needed to recall God’s faithfulness and ancient covenant promises to Abraham, Moses, and David. The time frame in which this book was written mirrors 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, but broadly covers Adam all the way to the Babylonian captivity. Scholars suggest that 1 Chronicles is likely written between 450 and 425 BC. The author is unknown, but Jewish tradition credits it to the priest and scribe Ezra. As a result, the storyline reflects more of a priestly perspective compared to Samuel and Kings.   

    There are extensive genealogies written in the book of 1 Chronicles. We are about to read 10 chapters of them! Genealogies at the time this book was written were a big deal. They reveal God’s character and His promises. They tell us the full story. Circle the names you have seen before. Write down what you know about them. Ask how they fit into God’s providential plan. Some of these names and stories might sound familiar, but it’s not just a repeat! In these next 29 chapters look for examples to follow, sins to avoid, commands to keep, and promises of God to trust in. We might be tempted to skip past these chapters and get to the action, but we know that God’s Word does not return void.

    Read 1 Chronicles 1

    Historical Records From Adam to Abraham

    To Noah’s Sons

    1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methuselah,Lamech, Noah.

    4 The sons of Noah:

    Shem, Ham and Japheth.

    The Japhethites

    5 The sons of Japheth:

    Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.

    6 The sons of Gomer:

    Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.

    7 The sons of Javan:

    Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.

    The Hamites

    8 The sons of Ham:

    Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.

    9 The sons of Cush:

    Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah and Sabteka.

    The sons of Raamah:

    Sheba and Dedan.

    10 Cush was the father of

    Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.

    11 Egypt was the father of

    the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 12 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.

    13 Canaan was the father of

    Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, 14 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 16 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.

    The Semites

    17 The sons of Shem:

    Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.

    The sons of Aram:

    Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.

    18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah,

    and Shelah the father of Eber.

    19 Two sons were born to Eber:

    One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

    20 Joktan was the father of

    Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,22 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

    24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,

    25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,

    26 Serug, Nahor, Terah

    27 and Abram (that is, Abraham).

    The Family of Abraham

    28 The sons of Abraham:

    Isaac and Ishmael.

    Descendants of Hagar

    29 These were their descendants:

    Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.

    Descendants of Keturah

    32 The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine:

    Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.

    The sons of Jokshan:

    Sheba and Dedan.

    33 The sons of Midian:

    Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah.

    All these were descendants of Keturah.

    Descendants of Sarah

    34 Abraham was the father of Isaac.

    The sons of Isaac:

    Esau and Israel.

    Esau’s Sons

    35 The sons of Esau:

    Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.

    36 The sons of Eliphaz:

    Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz;

    by Timna: Amalek.

    37 The sons of Reuel:

    Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.

    The People of Seir in Edom

    38 The sons of Seir:

    Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan.

    39 The sons of Lotan:

    Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.

    40 The sons of Shobal:

    Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.

    The sons of Zibeon:

    Aiah and Anah.

    41 The son of Anah:

    Dishon.

    The sons of Dishon:

    Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.

    42 The sons of Ezer:

    Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.

    The sons of Dishan:

    Uz and Aran.

    The Rulers of Edom

    43 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:

    Bela son of Beor, whose city was named Dinhabah.

    44 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.

    45 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.

    46 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.

    47 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.

    48 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.

    49 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.

    50 When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab. 51 Hadad also died.

    The chiefs of Edom were:

    Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.

    Go Deeper

    Let’s acknowledge what you’re probably thinking: that’s a lot of names (and you may have never seen most of them before)! The book of 1 Chronicles begins with a series of continued genealogies. These lists of lineages take us from Adam and Eve to Abraham and David and beyond. To us, genealogies may seem like a bunch of names on paper, but God specifically places genealogies in the Bible to communicate His greater plan to us. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says that “All (emphasis added) Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Lord purposefully created, deeply loved, and thoughtfully used the people in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles to establish the Earth. Each name served a purpose in God’s plan, and these genealogies were intended to serve as a reminder of God’s faithful work in the lives of His people. 

    Genealogies reflect on the past to point towards the future. In 1 Chronicles, the storylines of the royal line (through David’s lineage), and the priestly line (through Aaron’s lineage) are emphasized. This is in order to orient the people of God towards the approaching reality of Jesus’ first coming. In His perfect life, sacrificial death, and miraculous resurrection He revealed Himself as the Messianic King and High Priest! Furthermore, Matthew 1 (the first book of the New Testament) follows a genealogy that includes many of the same names found in 1 Chronicles. The New Testament draws on the genealogies of the Old Testament as a way of making the theological claim for Christ as Savior, Lord, and King. Ultimately, Jesus is the centerpiece of the entire Gospel story (from Genesis to Revelation), and his family lineage plays a role in revealing His authority! 

    While the people living in the time of 1 Chronicles 1 were looking towards Jesus’ first coming, we are now a people living in the time of awaiting Jesus’ second coming. Hebrews 9:8 says, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” As we learn more deeply about the importance of reflecting on the past of Jesus’ lineage, how marvelous is it that God freely offers to include us into His eternal family? More so, let us pray to be a people that desires for our distant relatives of Adam to be brought into the eternal family that Christ freely offers through His love, power, and grace.

    Questions

    1. What is your initial reaction towards reading genealogies in the Bible? Why do you think the Lord intentionally places them throughout His Holy Word?
    2. Jesus came from a royal and priestly lineage, yet through His life, death, and resurrection has made a way for all of us to become part of His family. How significant is that to your understanding of God’s identity and your own identity?
    3. For those who are believers and have been brought into Christ’s family, how can this lead you towards eagerness to share this Good News with the lost around you?

    Watch This

    Check out this helpful overview of 1 Chronicles from The Bible Project!

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  • Romans 16

    Romans 16

    Read Romans 16

    Personal Greetings

    1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

    3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

    5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.

    Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

    6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

    7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

    8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

    9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

    10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.

    Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

    11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.

    Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

    12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

    Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

    13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

    14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

    15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.

    16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

    All the churches of Christ send greetings.

    17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

    20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

    The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

    21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

    22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

    23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

    Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. [24] 

    25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

    Go Deeper

    It would be tempting to focus our attention today on the diverse and interesting lives of the men and women Paul greets in the final pages of his letter. From co-workers, new converts, fellow prisoners, and his many brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul found them all deserving of a holy kiss to show his deep, abiding affection for each of them. His ability to recall with great detail so many people and the depth of his appreciation for each of them is amazing. Who might we greet with such intimate expressions of Christian love? Think of the people who have discipled you throughout the years. Perhaps your parents, college roommates, siblings, small group friends, pastors, mentors, and more. These relationships are important for a reason. They are transformative. 

     As Paul wraps up his kind greetings, he turns to what seems to be his final warning and strong exhortation in the book of Romans; “…watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them” (v. 17). Many scholars have written on this twin command to be vigilant in keeping an eye out for those who “by smooth talk and flattery…deceive the minds of naive people” (v. 18), and to be willing to walk away or avoid them. Paul understood the fragility of unity in the church and that the foundation for it was sound teaching and doctrinal integrity, which was being threatened then and now. It’s why he longed for the people of God to “be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil” (v.19). This is a desire we ought to have today as we seek to grow in the wisdom of the Word of God and flee the evil found in the wisdom of this present age. 

    Paul concludes his letter to the church in Rome with an expression of praise to God in verses 25-27, known as a doxology. It provides closure to his comprehensive teaching on Christianity by reaffirming the same gospel themes he opened his letter with in chapter 1 verses 1-7. From the mystery of the gospel, the revelations of the prophetic writings, our call to obedience of faith, and the ultimate aim of God’s glory being made known through Jesus Christ. May we delight in the body of Christ that surrounds us, the Word of God that unites us, and God’s glory being made known to the nations!

    Questions

    1. Who has impacted your life with the love of God and gospel of Jesus Christ? Take a few minutes to write out your “greeting list” and pray for each of them today. 
    2. Why is sound teaching so important for the local church? What teaching or doctrine do you need to learn more about it so you can better defend and proclaim the Word of God?
    3. What does it mean to be “wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil?” And what are specific ways you can pursue wisdom and innocence in your life?

    Do This

    Write out verses 25-27 and circle every mention of God or Jesus, underline all the statements that affirm what God has done for us, and identify what is the hope of the Gentiles and the ultimate aim of Christianity found in the final verse. Finally, share with someone today how the book of Romans has impacted your life. 

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  • Romans 15

    Romans 15

    Read Romans 15

    1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

    5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

    “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
        I will sing the praises of your name.”

    10 Again, it says,

    “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

    11 And again,

    “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
        let all the peoples extol him.”

    12 And again, Isaiah says,

    “The Root of Jesse will spring up,
        one who will arise to rule over the nations;
        in him the Gentiles will hope.”

    13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

    Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

    14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

    17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:

    “Those who were not told about him will see,
        and those who have not heard will understand.”

    22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

    Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

    23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

    30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

    Go Deeper

    In Romans 15, Paul urges Christians to use their God-given strengths. He describes the tasks, the goal, and the motivations we should have as we serve others. In verse 1, Paul describes our task: to use our God-given gifts to build up those around us. It is easy to deploy our skills to benefit an organization, a friend, or other “strong” people. However, we have a duty to “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace…” (1 Peter 4:9), and we must use our gifts to help the weak. Just as God actively seeks after the weak and lost, we ought to seek ways to use our gifts to build up and love the weak in our community, city, and world.  

    Secondly, this chapter describes the end goal of service: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” The end goal is to benefit the people we serve. Too often we jump into service opportunities, thinking little about how our actions or our role may harm or benefit people. The method we use to serve people can either uplift them, or it can deeply discourage them. When approaching service, we should intentionally and pragmatically consider how to fulfill the goal of building up the vulnerable. 

    Finally, Paul writes that our motivations should “not please ourselves…for Christ did not please himself…” This passage relates passages like Philippians 2:3-4 and Colossians 3:23. Rather than serving to make us feel good about ourselves or improve our status, we serve with our strengths in true humility. C.S. Lewis describes this saying, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” It is our natural tendency to think about ourselves, our needs, and our desires, but to serve effectively we must shift our attention. As we consider the weak and focus on others more than we focus on ourselves, we will begin to see true transformations in our lives. 

    Our endeavor to use our gifts and strengths in order to serve those around us—for their good and without a thought to ourselves—can seem daunting. But Paul’s prayer in verses 5-6 should encourage us to move forward. When we surrender our worries to God and move  to further God’s Kingdom around us, God will be glorified. 

    Questions

    1. What are your spiritual gifts?
    2. How are you using your strengths to serve? If you aren’t, what are some ways you can?
    3. How can you get in the habit of surrendering your service to God?

    Watch This

    Here’s a video of JP explaining how people with different spiritual gifts use them in different ways to build up the body of believers.

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  • Romans 14

    Romans 14

    Read Romans 14

    The Weak and the Strong

    1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

    5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

    10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

    “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
    ‘every knee will bow before me;
        every tongue will acknowledge God.’

    12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

    13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

    19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

    22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

    Go Deeper

    After 13 chapters of strong exhortation for the Roman church, Paul takes time to shepherd believers in this chapter. When Jesus came, died, and rose from the dead, He fulfilled the requirements of the old law and founded a new covenant with believers. Now, believers are not restricted in ways they previously were. Arguments began within the early church because of this, and here Paul clears things up. 

    Every question of sin or righteous behavior is not based on feeling for believers. To practice these things apart from conviction would be submitting to a strange form of legalism, and would be confusing with what is required of believers. Where there is room for ambiguity, the believer is to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in accordance with God’s Word, and pray about how to make the next faithful step. We are no longer bound by certain rules (like restricting us from eating certain forms of meat), but we could still sin if God clearly convicts us of something and we don’t listen. 

    Our freedom as believers must not cause others to stumble. As an illustration, if you are friends with someone who is deathly allergic to dogs, you would not bring a dog around for his or her health and safety. In the same way, sin leads to death, and if something we do might cause someone to choose something that leads them away from Jesus, then the best way to love that person is to abstain from that thing. This may look practically like not choosing to drink alcohol when breaking bread with a believer with a history of alcoholism, or abstaining from sweets with someone in your small group while they fast from them. It is our joy as believers to deny ourselves when it may prevent another believer from stumbling.

    Further, Paul encourages believers to not use newfound wisdom and maturity as a license to seat themselves on the judgement seat of Christ. We are not supposed to judge others or view ourselves as “better” believers. Further, spiritual maturity is not a requirement for fellowship. Ephesians 4 tells us that the body of Christ is designed to build itself up into the head that is Christ, and a body that is making disciples will always have new believers around. 

    Questions

    1. Have you recently done anything in your life that may have caused another believer to stumble? Have you sought their forgiveness?
    2. In what ways can you avoid being a stumbling block for those around you?
    3. Ask the Spirit if there is anything that you can abstain from that may not be universally required but may be life-giving. Consider fasting from something that is distracting you from Jesus. 

    Pray This

    Father, thank you that it is not my responsibility to sit on the judgement seat of Christ. Thank you that I am no longer bound by the law of sin and death to determine my righteousness through performance and behavior. I confess that I could not be faithful enough to you to do this if I tried. I thank you that I am instead viewed with the righteousness of Christ in your sight, and that I am now free in the law of the Spirit of Life. I thank you that Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, and show us a better way in Himself by taking on flesh. Help me to love my neighbor and avoid being a stumbling block to the believers around me, and bless me with eyes to see where others are struggling so that I might aid them in following the Way. Amen.

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  • Romans 13

    Romans 13

    Read Romans 13

    Submission to Governing Authorities
    1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

    6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

    Love Fulfills the Law
    8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

    The Day Is Near
    11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

    Go Deeper

    In chapter 12 of Romans we learn about what Christians’ conduct in the church should look like and chapter 13 addresses Christians’ conduct with the state and with governing authorities. Paul emphasises that we are to be under the authority of the government and obey the laws of the land. In doing so, we honor God who has placed those rulers in their roles. God was purposeful in His creation of government. It serves 3 distinct purposes: establishing order, punishing evil, and promoting justice. Paul is writing this while under the reign of Nero, who was perhaps one of the most evil Roman emperors. And still, he reminds us that submission to authority, whether deserving or not, is honoring to God. 

    The first 11 chapters of Romans show us how God deals with us, while the last 5 chapters are a call to action because of who we are in Christ. It’s important that the doctrine of chapters 1-11 comes before the exhortation of chapters 12-16, because reflecting on who God is motivates and empowers us to do as He says. Our action flows naturally from our identity in Him. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). In this example, and many other places in Scripture, we see that God goes before us. He takes the first step – He loves us first! He calls us His children and shows us how to live in light of our identity. 

    Verse 14 tells us to put on the Lord, Christ and to make no provision for the flesh. Paul is saying that in light of who we are, we are to act in a way that honors God. He makes a similar exhortation in his letter to the church at Ephesus. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light” (Ephesians 5:8). John Owen, a seventeenth century author, pastor, and theologian, wrote a book called The Mortification of Sin. Mortification is just a fancy word for putting to death. The subtitle and main point of this book is “Kill Sin or Sin Will Kill You.” He is serious about sin and so is Paul. Sin has dire consequences and we need to steer clear of it at all costs! Make no provision for the flesh. Christ has set us free from sin, let’s choose to walk in that freedom, not returning to the slavery of sin. 

    Questions

    1. What is your attitude/disposition toward those in authority over you? Say a prayer that God would use their leadership for His glory. 
    2. Does your identity in Christ determine your actions towards others? How can you love and care for others today out of the overflow of God’s love and care for you?
    3. What sin of the flesh do you need to mortify? What verses can you call to mind to help you kill that particular sin in your life? 

    A Quote

    “Mortification prunes all the graces of God, and makes room for them in our hearts to grow. The life and vigour of our spiritual lives consists in the vigour and flourishing of the plants of grace in our hearts.” 

    ― John Owen



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  • Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. Each Rest Day, we will also introduce a memory verse for the week. Meditate on this week’s verse and begin to memorize it.

    Memory Verse

    “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:37-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

    Memorization Tip

    Use community as a tool to help you in your scripture memorization journey! Pick a few friends, or your Life Group, with whom to memorize scripture. Practice together, hold each other accountable, and encourage one another as you work together. Remember that the best way to stick with a challenge is not to go at it alone!

    Worship with us

    Join us in person or online at 9a, 11a, or 7p at harriscreek.org/live. We’d love to worship with you! We also desire to connect everyone with a local church body where they can thrive in community and use their gifts to serve. If you’re following our Bible Reading Plan from outside of Waco and are eager to get connected with a great local church, email us at [email protected].

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    Did you learn something today? Share it with our Bible Reading Plan community by commenting below.