April 24th One Year Bible Readings

Judges 2:10-3:31 + Luke 22:14-34 + Psalm 92:1-93:5 + Proverbs 14:1-2
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Old Testament - Today in Judges we read about Israel forgetting about God and worshiping other gods.  Sad stuff!  Judges chapter 2 verse 19 stood out: "But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They followed other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways."  I wonder if we are so different today from the Israelites in the time of the Judges?  Do we maybe shape ourselves up for short amounts of time - but then go back to our corrupt ways?  Do we ultimately refuse to give up our evil practices and stubborn ways?  Why is this?  What is the remedy to this problem?  Or - perhaps I should ask - Who is the remedy to this problem?  Who can literally rescue us from this problem?  Who can rescue us from ourselves?  Will you allow Jesus to rescue you from any evil practices and stubborn ways?

New Testament - Today in Luke chapter 22 we read about the Last Supper!

Every time I read verses 19 & 20 I am reminded of the amazing beauty of the Lord's Supper in our churches today: "Then Jesus took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you."  Do these verses remind you of the Lord's Supper at your church?  Do you find the Lord's Supper to be a beautiful experience at your church?  Why do we participate in the Lord's Supper in our churches today?

Bible.org's commentary on our Luke chapter 22 readings today titled "The Last Supper" is at this link and commentary titled "Perspective, Personal Ambition, and Prophecy" is at this link.

Psalms - Today in Psalm 92 verse 4 we read a joyful verse! “For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.” When was the last time you reflected upon God’s deeds? When was the last time you reflected upon God’s work of his hands? Do you think this might be a good daily habit? Do God’s deeds make you glad? Do you sing for joy regularly for the work of God's hands?

Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 92 titled "Worship - Our Delight and Our Duty" is at this link.

Proverbs - Today in Proverbs chapter 14 verse 2 we read – “He whose walk is upright fears the LORD.” What does it mean to you to fear the Lord? Is it possible that for us to have some fear of the Lord is healthy? Why would fear of the Lord be healthy? Don’t get me wrong – I’m not suggesting we live our lives in abject fear of God all of the time. But - this Proverb is in the Bible - and it says that someone whose walk is upright fears the Lord. So, I do humbly suggest that there is a healthy fear of God that each of us should recognize. (along with a raging LOVE of God as well of course)

Worship Video: Today feels like a great day to share with you the entire 2 hour "JESUS" film based on the Gospel of Luke. Called by some "one of the best-kept secrets in Christian missions," a number of mission experts have acclaimed the film as one of the greatest evangelistic tools of all time. Since 1979 the "JESUS" film has been viewed by several billion people all across the globe, and has resulted in more than 225 million men, women and children indicating decisions to follow Jesus. Learn more about this film and ministry at https://www.jesusfilm.org/.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-o2JHhHXys

Do you know Jesus? Click here and meet Him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Luke 22:19-20 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you will participate in the Lord's Supper remembering Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Pray that you will receive Jesus' broken body and shed blood remembering how Jesus saved you.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on our Proverb today, do you fear God at all?  Do you think that you should have any fear of God?  Why or why not?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our One Year Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our One Year Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Comments

[Ramona]

Judges 2:10-3:31
Mike to answer you question with one word, disobedience. We forget about God because we have failed to take heed of His Words to us. The younger generation fails to remember what God has done for us because we have failed to rehearse in the next generations’ ears all the things that God did for the former generations, and also what he has done for us. Even when we “religiously” go to church, we think that sitting in Sunday school, listening to a message once or twice a week with the family and possibly going to a Bible Study is all we need to do. Yet God said,

Deuteronomy 6 (Amp)
1 NOW THIS is the instruction, the laws, and the precepts which the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land to which you go to possess it,
2 That you may [reverently] fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, and keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be watchful to do them, that it may be well with you and that you may increase exceedingly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord].

5 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

6 And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]

7 You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.

8 And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets (forehead bands) between your eyes.

9 And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

10 And when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you, with great and goodly cities which you did not build, 11 And houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and cisterns hewn out which you did not hew, and vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and when you eat and are full, 2 Then beware lest you forget the Lord, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

We have failed to do particularly what the seventh verse tells us, “You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate,”

I like the idea that God will use a temptation to test and train us (Chapter 3), 1 The LORD left certain nations in the land to test those Israelites who had not participated in the wars of Canaan. We need to stop thinking that temptations are to strong for us thus giving ourselves excuses for falling down then failing to get back up, when they really may be reasons for our failures, but not excuses. God has provided a way of escape out of every temptation we have just failed to take them. Maybe if we can remember that a temptation is a test, only a test and God has provided an answer to overcome the test if we just look for it we would find ourselves passing more often. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Luke 22:14-34

The Gospel reading reminds me again that today is the first full day of Passover celebrated by the Jews, who God used to give us the Law and the Prophets. I am reminded that Jesus, The Lamb of God, has taken away the sins of the World once and for all, glory to God in the Highest. This reading about communion reminds me of what Passover really represents. It reminds me that are hearts are pure before God because Jesus was and is our Passover Lamb; it reminds me that there is nothing in and of myself that cleanses me from my sin, it is only through the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the World that I have obtained His Righteousness.
Psalm 92:1-93:5
Because I have obtained a better promise, redemption that is not secured yearly but was secured by Jesus’ death on the Cross-, I can shout and sing,

“ 1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to the Most High.
2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,

and then go on to declare,

: 1 The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty.
Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world is firmly established;
it cannot be shaken.

Proverbs 14:1-2

This Proverb is sobering,
1 A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.

No one but I can destroy my life. I can blame everyone else by playing the blame game but in truth my destruction is at my own hands because of my own failure to obey the Word of the Lord.

Today's readings seem to have a commen theme.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[mitch]

I do not believe in coincidences. Had the discussion on fleshly desires and disobedience with young man I am discipling.

Judges 1:27b
…for the Canaanites were determined to live in the land.

If land represents our walk and Canaanites represent the world/flesh. Application is how hard fleshly desires strive to stay in our walk. That is the constant battle and why God’s instructions were to be absolute in ridding the land of Canaanites, and why we are to do the same with our fleshly desires.
I will attest - not easy and convicting.

One would have hard time believing in Jesus if you thought He was going to eliminate sin in our lives. What he did was provide atonement and forgiveness of our sins, and freed us from the bondage of sin - it has no power over us. Yet - we still sin. Why? Because we say yes to sin. What gives?

A believer has to know sin has no power and that you keep saying no to the sinful desire until it is no longer a desire. Then it is a thorn (see Paul). The flesh we will always have while on earth, but it does not have power to control us - unless we allow it.

[Dee]

I do believe healthy fear in God is good. We should welcome him in our heart and love truly that's the greatness of God.