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F260 Day 164: John 3-4
John 3-4 In these chapters, Jesus has a couple of interesting encounters. First, during the night, a rabbi named Nicodemus comes to Jesus. Jesus talks to him about being born again and how those who believe in him will have eternal life. While on his way to Galilee, Jesus has an encounter with a Samaritan
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F260 Day 163: Luke 12
Luke 12 One thing Jesus did during his ministry was teach the disciples how to live. He taught them that a life worth living first has a high respect and reverence for God. When you have a high respect for God you are not ashamed to proclaim him. It also means you do not walk
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F260 Day 162: Mark 9
Mark 9 The content of this chapter parallels what was read yesterday in Luke 9. The main difference is we receive greater detail for both the transfiguration and Jesus’ encounter after with the father and his demon possessed son. Of particular interest, Mark shows us the interaction between Jesus and the father before the miracle
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F260 Day 161: Luke 9:10-62
Luke 9:10-62 As Jesus begins to set his sights toward Jerusalem, we see many events in Luke’s gospel. Jesus feeds the 5,000 and heals many of their diseases and demon possession. The three witness Jesus’ transfiguration. Finally, Jesus predicts his death and resurrection twice in this chapter, but its understanding is concealed from the disciples.
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F260 Day 160: Matthew 8
Matthew 8 After Jesus finished his sermon, he continued on and performed many miracles. We see several examples of people who have great faith in Jesus and his ability to heal. Yet, we also see his closest disciples displaying a lack of faith in a trying moment. Finally, we see people sending Jesus away because
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F260 Day 159: Matthew 7
Matthew 7 Jesus ends his sermon with a discourse on human relationships. We need to be mindful of how we treat others and examine our own lives before we judge. The sermon ends with an explanation on who will enter God’s kingdom. It requires taking the narrow path and walking in obedience to the will
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F260 Day 158: Matthew 6
Matthew 6 In this part of the sermon, Jesus focuses on our actions and the audience we’re seeking. There are many things certain people do so they will be seen by others. Jesus says those who do that have their reward, especially when the correct audience for those actions is God. When we give it
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F260 Day 157: Matthew 5
Matthew 5 With a large crowd gathered, Jesus went up a mountain, sat down, and began to teach. Jesus first explains the character required to enter the kingdom of God, which are best known as the Beatitudes. From there, Jesus teaches on the Law and how it is a matter of the heart and not
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F260 Day 156: Matthew 3-4
Matthew 3-4 This is Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his ministry. Unlike Mark’s gospel, we receive a much more detailed account of Jesus’ time of temptation in the wilderness. Jesus is tempted in three specific ways. Each time he refutes the tempter by quoting Scripture. Matthew also writes about the beginning
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F260 Day 155: John 1
John 1 John begins his gospel by waxing philosophy about who Jesus is. We learn that “the Word” existed in the beginning with God and is God. All things are created through him. And “the Word” became flesh and dwelt among humanity. Through this, humanity got to see the nature of God. We then see
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F260 Day 154: Mark 1
Mark 1 Mark’s gospel begins with immediate action. John is introduced as the forerunner and he is in the wilderness baptizing people. During this time, Jesus comes to be baptized by John. After his baptism and wilderness experience, Jesus calls his first disciples and begins his public ministry, which includes preaching and performing miracles. Jesus’
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F260 Day 153: Matthew 1-2
Matthew 1-2 This is Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth. First, Matthew provides a genealogy showing the lineage of Jesus back to from Abraham to David, and from David to Jesus. We clearly see that Jesus is both a son of Abraham and David. Next we see how God speaks to Joseph and guides him over
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F260 Day 152: Luke 2
Luke 2 While traveling to Bethlehem to be registered, Mary gives birth to Jesus. After his birth, angels announce this good news to nearby shepherds, who hastily make their way into town to lay eyes on the Messiah. Joseph and Mary then encounter Simeon and Anna in the temple as they dedicate Jesus. Both of
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F260 Day 151: Luke 1
Luke 1 400 years after Malachi gave his prophecy, the Lord once again speaks to Israel. First, God sends Gabriel to the priest Zechariah. He and his wife are both blameless and righteous people. Gabriel tells Zechariah his wife will birth a son who will come in the spirit and power of Elijah and will
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F260 Day 150: Malachi 4
Malachi 4 Malachi’s final words to Israel warned of the coming day of the Lord. This day is dual purposed. For the wicked, this is a day of judgment and destruction. For the righteous, it is a day of healing, restoration, and vindication. Malachi then closes with a reminder to remember the law of Moses
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F260 Day 149: Malachi 3
Malachi 3 The third chapter of Malachi begins with a prophecy about the coming Lord. We are told that a forerunner will come before him to prepare the way, and then the Lord will come and set things right, particularly with the temple system. Malachi then reminds Israel of God’s promise to bless them if
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F260 Day 148: Malachi 2
Malachi 2 Malachi makes two bold statements in this chapter. First, he sends a warning to the priests. He reminds them that their job is to stand as God’s messenger, but their ways have caused many to stumble. Secondly, he calls out all the men who have proven themselves unfaithful in their marriages. There are
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F260 Day 147: Malachi 1
Malachi 1 God loves Israel, but the Israelites do not act like it. Instead, their priests merely go through the motions of sacrifice and offerings, giving God unacceptable items. If given to governors or officials, these offerings would be completely unacceptable, but they offer it to God as if he will accept it. God is
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F260 Day 146: Nehemiah 13
Nehemiah 13 The book of Nehemiah does not end well. Israel made promises to walk in obedience to God’s commands. As soon as Nehemiah leaves Jerusalem to return to his role as cupbearer for the king, Israel returns to its sin. The priests profane the temple. They ignore the laws for marriage. And they disregard
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F260 Day 145: Nehemiah 12
Nehemiah 12 With the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt, the only thing left to do was to dedicate the finished work back to the Lord. To do this, Nehemiah gathers the Levites to the city walls. The Levites divide into two choirs, one heading south with Ezra, the other going north with Nehemiah. There is much
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F260 Day 144: Nehemiah 11
Nehemiah 11 With the temple rebuilt and the city walls restored, the city of Jerusalem needed to be populated. To make this happen, the leaders made their home in Jerusalem, along with a tenth of the people who returned from exile. The other nine-tenths remained in their own towns and villages. This was a sacrifice
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F260 Day 143: Nehemiah 10
Nehemiah 10 After confessing their sins to the Lord, Israel makes a vow to walk in faithfulness to God’s commands. The priests, Levites, and family heads all signed their names to this covenant. Everything God commanded in the law, the Jews agreed to do. They were especially attentive to mention the things their ancestors failed
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F260 Day 142: Nehemiah 9
Nehemiah 9 After celebrating the Feast of Booths, later that month, Israel gathered again. This time they fasted, mourned, and confessed their sin to God as a nation. They spent twelve hours each day before the Lord. Israel spent six hours hearing the book of the law read to them, and another six hours in
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F260 Day 141: Nehemiah 7-8
Nehemiah 7-8 As the walls were completed, God moved Nehemiah to register the people according to their genealogy. With this, Nehemiah could know exactly who should serve as priests in the temple and Levites throughout Israel. The ones who could not be verified had to wait until the priests could be consulted. After this, Ezra