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This is a podcast sharing thoughts and insights for the accompanying the daily reading schedule for the book, Reading the Bible Cover to Cover in 365 Days.
Welcome to day 325 of Reading the Bible Cover to Cover in 365 Days!
Let us pray:
O Lord, thank You for the wisdom in Your Word. Help us glean the nugget of wisdom You have for us today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s see what Jesus is teaching in Luke chapter 14!
Jesus is invited to a dinner hosted by one of the ruling Pharisees. Have you ever gone to a party and felt like everyone was watching you? Well, this was the case for Jesus. They were watching Him. All the while they were watching Jesus, He was watching them. It must have been quite a dinner because people carefully selected their seats. Some wanted the seats of honor and found them. However, Jesus cautioned them about picking these seats. He talked about being humiliated if they were asked to step down to a less honorable seat. We can all learn from His teaching. Jesus said, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (ranked below others who are honored or rewarded), and he who humbles himself (keeps a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly) will be exalted (elevated in rank).” Let us allow God to lift us up and not push our way to the front of the line.
There are a few short verses that are easily missed in this chapter. Jesus talks about having a dinner and inviting people who can never return the favor. In verses 13-14, He says, “Invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. Then you will be blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) because they have no way of repaying you, and you will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just (upright).” Whom could we invite to our table?
Then He tells them a story about a great dinner where many people were invited, but they all declined. Imagine that God is inviting His chosen people to be saved, and they all decline His invitation. Indeed, we are all invited. Another nugget of wisdom is when Jesus tells them to make Him all important in their lives – over their families and even themselves. Let us pray for the wisdom to see when we are not putting Him first and then for the ability to put Him first.
Revelation chapter 5!
John saw a sealed scroll, and no one could open it except Jesus, the Lamb of God. When Jesus took the scroll, the 24 elders of the Sanhedrin fell down and worshiped Him. They each had golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of God’s people. It is comforting to know our prayers are ever before the Lord.
Verses 9-10 say, “With Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God.” Let us worship our Lord and King today, knowing He suffered and died to make us part of His royal family.
Then tens of thousands in heaven proclaimed, “Deserving is the Lamb, Who was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory, splendor) and blessing!” May we worship Jesus with all of heaven today!
Let’s see what Ezekiel is writing in chapter 37!
God brought Ezekiel to a valley of dead, dry bones. He asked Ezekiel if they could be brought back to life. Ezekiel knew he couldn’t do it but believed that God could do anything. God told him to prophesy to the bones that they would live. As he stood there prophesying, the bones came together, and the people came back to life. God told Ezekiel that He would open their graves, cause the people to live, and bring them back to Israel. Verse 13 says, “And you shall know that I am the Lord [your Sovereign Ruler], when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, O My people.” God shows us His love and compassion as He cares for His people so deeply that He brings them back to life, to their land, and restores them in all ways and to Himself. He binds all His people together as one nation. The Lord shows Himself as all-powerful and glorious because all glory will be and is His. He said, “I will cleanse them. So shall they be My people, and I will be their God.” This chapter has beautiful promises for God’s people and us. May we receive them for ourselves today.
In chapter 38, God gives a prophetic word to Ezekiel, which includes nations to the north coming against Israel. There is a controversy about who Gog and some of the other nations are, but God intends to use them to invade His people in the latter days, according to verse 16. God tells about how every living thing will shake, mountains will be thrown down, and every wall will fall to the ground. And the last verse in this chapter tells us why. “Thus will I demonstrate My greatness and My holiness, and I will be recognized, understood, and known in the eyes of many nations; yes, they shall know that I am the Lord [the Sovereign Rule, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service].” Yes, one day, everyone will worship the Lord. May we worship Him today and every day.
Let’s see what we can learn from Psalm 144!
This is a psalm of praise to the Lord. Verses 1 and 2 pair well with our reading from Revelation today. David writes that the Lord is our Rock, Strength, Steadfast Love, Fortress, High Tower, Deliverer, and Shield. May we praise God for His protection over us.
David also gives God all the credit for his victory in all the wars he fought. He writes that the Lord is the One Who teaches him how to fight. Then he writes about all the wonders the Lord can do. David knows there is nothing the Lord cannot do. May we know that there is nothing the Lord cannot do for us, too.
Let us pray:
O Lord, we praise You for Who You are and all You have done and will do. Thank You for being the almighty God that You are. Thank You that Your will is always done. There is nothing You cannot do. Help us believe in You and Your power more today than yesterday. Help us follow You and be obedient to You, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.